Meet GUNNAR, a rising rock sensation from Southern California, building a successful career within the music industry. Without a doubt, GUNNARβs unwavering commitment to his musical craft and connecting with audiences radiates throughout our conversation.
AFROPUNKFest 2023 is brought to you live, from Saturday, August 26th, and Sunday, August 27th; celebrating a weekend of The Circus of Soul. Afro Punk Fest has been a Brooklyn staple since 2005, bringing together the community with light, love, and music. This year’s Afro Punk Fest is bigger than ever, since its return post-pandemic.Β AFROPUNK Fest has always been held at Commodore Barry Park, but this year, they have changed locations to Green-point Brooklynβs Skyline Drive-in Theatre by the water. As a Brooklyn native, Iβve grown up each year excited to attend the festival, but this year, as the 25-year-old fashionista writer that Iβve become, I had the opportunity to cover it as media and press. My younger self would be so proud, my current self is leaping for joy and I canβt wait to tell you guys all about this 2 day affair!
AFROPUNKFest is a festival of music, fashion, and unapologetic blackness. Every year, attendees dress up in unique outfits matching the theme of the festival. The Circus of Soul is this year’s theme, and it was drawn out perfectly. There is beauty and there is a pain in the black community when it comes to the word βCircusβ. It has multiple definitions, but I had the pleasure of speaking with Sean G, Creative Director of AFROPUNK, and his inspiration for the theme was paying homage to celebrating our blackness. βThe circus, on the one hand, has a dark side to it, and we wanted to do something, AFROPUNK, by exploring what that means to us. In history, black people during slavery were sold and showcased in the circus as freaks. For example, the first black albino twins were showcased as the “Men from Mars,β in 2023, and celebrities such as Winnie Harlow are now praised for their skin discoloration.Β AFROPUNK and I explored how the blackness from white eyes, is this fear and fascination of black people, and how white supremacy objectified and put us on display, as the detriment to ourselves, but over time we found a way to take our power back, and become not the slaves, but the masters, and come to celebrate our βfreakinessβ, our βoddnessβ and let the freak show flyβ. This is a powerful quote and give us the true essence of what the AFROPUNK Festival truly is about and how we can continue to take up black power in spaces created specifically for us and by us.
AFROPUNKFest went full out on the circus theme, and so did the attendees. Once you walked in, the layout of the festival reminded me of the twists and turns in a carnival, with the excitement behind every corner. There were stilt walkers, vendors, and performers, oh my! The outfits were my favorite part because of how committed and creative everyone was. There were people painted in gold, hair as big as the sky, multiple colors, and outfits handmade and bejeweled with the brightest jewels Iβve ever seen. It was so hard to choose a favorite. AFROPUNKΒ Fest is a safe space meant for creativity and self-expression. Since 2005, the festival looks of the attendees have elevated to the most beautiful and authentic fashions Iβve seen. Fashion outside of festivals is a bit more laid back, but the boldness of the attendees was a 100/10 for me. Itβs admirable how everyone has their unique fashion sense because nothing looked the same. There wasnβt one outfit that was similar to another, which is what I craved! For more on fashion atΒ AFROPUNK Fest, I created a reel on @Theknockturnal Instagram page and interviews with attendees and performers.
@Bambiix2 on Instagram:Β http://instagram.com/bambiix2
The creativity is remarkable, iconic, and legendary. Itβs so impressive how these βcostumesβ attendees dedicate their time to get every last detail right and with a story that goes behind it. For example, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jamal, as seen below in Red. His story was so beautiful of the theme behind his red bridal dress. βMy look is red, because it’s my favorite color. It is also my father’s and lover’s favorite color, who both have unfortunately passed away. This is a look that is honoring my love and is the wedding that I never got to have,β Jamal tells me emotionally. Wow! Hearing that, made me just want to break down and we hugged for a very long time, not saying a word, only exchanging each other’s embrace and love. This love is whatΒ AFROPUNK is about.
@Kingofjamaica http://Instagram.com/kingofjamaicaand @jamalisking on instagramΒ http://instagram.com/jamalisking
My angle for approaching all the fabulous attendees are capturing their fabulous outfits, is to ask them what black joy means to you. There is so much going on in this world and our daily lives that we forget to have some fun or let our hair down for a bit, and that is why so many people love coming toΒ AFROPUNK Fest for a weekend of pure joy and excitement; a stop in normal day life. Black joy is crucial and should be celebrated with each chance we get.Β This wonderful woman in this African-inspired outfit stated, βblack joy is power, black joy is melanin and unityβ. Another attendee, Lew Caine, stated βblack joy is this! When you are around your people, spreading love, giving back, elevating and just having a good time.β Shauna Grey, Global head of Development atΒ AFROPUNK shared her meaning of Black joy. βBlack joy is watching everyone here have pure teeth while smiling, the babies walking around and those individuals fully exposed in their clothes without fear of being judged, and that’s black joy, just happiness without fear. Caroline Wanga, The President and CEO of Essence Magazine, stopped by to talk to me backstage, as Baby Tate was performing, and she shared her meaning of black joy. βI think black joy is freedom when we have to stop worrying about making black accommodate everybody elseβ.
For more interviews on black joy, check out my reel on @Theknockturnal Instagram.
AFROPUNK festβ23 has been one for the books.
Vivien Killilea / Getty Images for Sony
R&B sensation Miguel is gearing up to unveil his latest musical endeavor, and he’s taking his artistry to electrifying heightsβliterally. On the exhilarating evening of August 25th, the soulful artist, renowned for hits like “Adorn,” orchestrated an exclusive sneak peek of his upcoming album, Viscera, at the illustrious Sony Studios. What unfolded left fans both amazed and slightly unnerved, as Miguel delivered a performance that crawled under the skinβin the best possible way.
As the stage came alive, Miguel stood shirtless, flanked by a team of experts who fearlessly pierced his back with metal hooks, fastening him securely to hanging wires descending from the studio’s ceiling. A daring spectacle, no doubt. Upon closer inspection, those metal hooks delicately tugged at his bare skin, all while he floated mid-air. In this breathtaking suspension, he debuted a new song, his voice resonating with lyrics that echoed the gravity-defying act he embodied: “Iβm hanging onto nothing / Iβm hanging from the ceiling.” The very essence of his artistry pulsed with an electrifying intensity.
Vivien Killilea / Getty Images for Sony
In a candid conversation with the Los Angeles Times, Miguel peeled back the layers of his audacious performance. “If you’re only here for the predictable version of me, then you’re not truly here for me,” he candidly remarked. The body suspension, as he revealed, was a bold endeavor to transcend his boundaries. He reflected, “At the outset, it was pushing far beyond expectations. How could I showcase the extent to which I’d go for art, for dialogue? ‘Til hooks pierced my flesh, I couldn’t truly fathom my dedication to the essence of this endeavor.”
Yet, Viscera isn’t confined to jaw-dropping theatrics alone. Miguel emphasized it encapsulates the tumultuous essence of growth itself. His words held a raw honesty: “Let’s not dance around it. I’m laying it bare,” he shared. The trajectory of his career initially clashed with the music industry of yore, with labels stuck in bygone ways. Miguel’s artistic identity seemed like an enigma at that juncture. Yet, as the industry’s horizons expanded, creating room for audacious exploits like his aerial suspension, Miguel is unapologetically grasping the opportunity.
Prepare to be captivated, as Miguel readies to unleash not just an album, but a sonic journey that mirrors the relentless, often wild nature of personal evolution. In a world where the ceiling is no longer the limit, Miguel’s artistic bravery and genre-defying energy propel him to new heightsβhooks and all.
Kaitlyn Dorff, born and raised in Calabasas, California, is no stranger to the music biz.
Nearly a year to the day after releasing her sophomore studio album, Surrender, beloved singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers made her comeback to the touring scene after a three-year hiatus because of COVID-19. Before her return, Rogers’ last tour was in 2019, celebrating her beloved debut record on theΒ Heard It in A Past LifeΒ tour.
Boweβs change of musical direction is a good look for him!
On July 7, Nisha Asnani released her new album, The Pursuit of Happiness. The rap and electronic album discussed immigration, feminity, joy, and hard work. Her previous tracks have similar styles.
In 2019, she put out “Figures” and “Parade” as singles. In 2020, she published tracks such as “My Bad” and “Heaven.” She appeared on Michael Calfan and Harber’s single “Feelings After Dark.” The new record showcases Asnani’s progression as a musician.
To learn more about the album, please read the interview transcript with Asnani and the production team below.
The Knockturnal: Please describe this album’s production process.
Nisha Asnani:Β They made the album over the course of 5 years with Alex Tirheimer (Bumbasee,) and Yash Vaid. I started it in 2018, chasing a specific feeling I had found in songs like Midas, Bad Sandy, and Figures. I wanted to understand my drive; my fight, and where that came from.
When I started making this album, I was fresh off a publishing deal and a hit record with money in the bank and so many opportunities. Over the next few years, as I faced the inevitable dip and the challenges of being an independent artist, the album became a lesson in survival. The records were made with my friends Alex and Yash. I slept on floors and air mattresses and recorded in closets. I spent my rent on mixes and flights to LA.
The album is about the pursuit of happiness, my immigrant journey, being a woman and a hustler, realizing the purpose of my masculinity was to empower and protect my femininity and that freedom is an uncontrollable force that moves us whether we are ready or not.
Alex Tirheimer: Thereβs nothing better than developing a musical shorthand with an artist. Together, we managed to create a space where every idea was worth chasing and creative risks were encouraged. This body of work spans multiple chapters of our lives, but we stayed on the same page the whole process. Nisha is extremely talented and such an inspiration to work with. I am so proud of us!
The Knockturnal: What does the album cover represent?
Nisha Asnani: In 2019 I was on a writing trip to Mumbai which happened to fall during the festival of Holi. This joyous celebration of colors and chaos was one of my favorite memories as a kid: everyone getting together and letting loose on a totally different level than any other time in the year. And you get to throw paint on your aunties! It’s a playfully rebellious holiday, and this is a playfully rebellious album. As always I want my art to be a safe place to let loose. I wanted to recreate that feeling of freedom on the album cover, to connect my immigrant journey and the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness to my roots. I brought back bottles of Holi powder and kept them safe for 3 years until we shot the album cover in 2022.Β
The Knockturnal: Why did you choose “Keep Running” as the first track?
Nisha Asnani: Honestly, I have a great deal of respect for people’s time, and I asked myself if they heard one song on this album, one message – which would be the most important. The answer was Keep Running, because I wanted to prepare people for the infinite nature of desire and pursuit. There is no end to life, to consciousness. Itβs constantly evolving, and so are we. Everything is evolving, so if youβre in life, you have to find the ability, the will, and the source in yourself to stay connected and stay evolving. Itβs on one hand an encouragement and another a direction – itβs not safe to get stuck. It was like my higher self whispering to me as I came into the physical realm – donβt stop.Β
The Knockturnal: The backing track for “To The Top Freestyle” features many noises and chimes. How did you create it?
Nisha Asnani: Iβm going to pass this question along to producer Dave Berg because this track was his fully formed genius.Β
Dave Berg: The beat for βThe Topβ was made in the depths of the pandemic. I was flipping lots of samples because I was isolated from sessions and working with my regular collaborators.
The Knockturnal: What does the beginning of “DAAL” represent?
Nisha Asnani: Iβve definitely come up with 100 possible meanings for this fun song but the truth is its just a vignette that played out in my house so many times growing up: the kids coming home hungry and my mom (who happened to be an amazing cook who made us the best Indian food all the time,) trying to get us to eat leftovers instead of bully her into cooking. I also wanted to honor the home kitchens that have made us so resilient. Beyond food being a pillar of pride in our own culture, Indian food has become a representation of comfort, flavor, and care throughout the world.
The Knockturnal: The vocals on “DAAL” involve some pitch-shifting. Could you let me know why you chose that effect?
Nisha Asnani: That was all Yash – I sent him a voice memo of my mom and brother jamming out and DAAL is the genius he sent back.Β
The Knockturnal: In the first verse of “Freedom,” you mention a “spyglass.” How did you come up with this image?
Nisha Asnani: Honestly, when I am flowing, images like that come to me. This one is about the haters who I felt so far enough from me that they had to pull out telescopes and spy instruments to see what I was up to.Β
The Knockturnal: Please talk about your collaborations with Kumar, Sunita, and PAV4N.
Nisha Asnani: My brother has always wanted to make music, and I was over at his house one day and he started spitting this really funny boppy melody, and my mom jumped in. I think music is all around us, and the best music comes from that stuff you just sing to yourself in the car or the kitchen – the things that make you happy.Β
PAV4N and I met in 2019 in Mumbai and I ended up performing with him during the Bud X Festival. We remained friends, and he has been a mentor to me while working on this album. This voicemail is one of many notes of encouragement, and I just love him and his voice and wanted to use something personal and unscripted in this song.Β
The Knockturnal: Why did you choose “Found You” as the last track?
Nisha Asnani: I wrote Found You during my first official queership, a few years after I came out. It was the first time I had experienced acceptance and emotional support as non-binary in a romantic partnership. I think itβs important for us to define an endpoint for ourselves (because wanting things is infinite) and for me, that love was it. Unfortunately, although the relationship did not last or even end particularly well, it showed me what was possible, and I never forgot or let go of that feeling. Found You ultimately is not saying youβll get what you want and stop wanting anything. It just means when you find the things you really want, youβll circle them, protect them, and surrender to them.Β
Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Knox is a talented singer-songwriter rapidly ascending within the music industry. Within the last year and a half, he has signed to Atlantic Records and built a strong fanbase via TikTok, with one of his videos featuring his hit track βSneakersβ reaching nearly 2 million views overnight. βSneakersβ now has over 23 million streams across streaming platforms.
Formed in 2019, comprising musiciansΒ Alec McGarry,Β Nathan Lambert, andΒ Ryan MeaneyΒ began their musical journey as New Rules. Within the last four years, the band’s shared passion and dedication to music has made them the artist to watch and driven them to the spotlight, leaving audiences, fans, and perhaps locals walking on the streets of London where they’ve busked amazed and intrigued.
Melanie Martinez is widely recognized for her intricate and detailed production concepts for shows. Undeniably so, Melanie is dedicated to their craft. Since 2012, Melanie has been known to create alter-egos and alternate universes through her music and childhood-related themes.