What’s News In This Story?
-Over a hundred protestors marched east on 135th St in North Miami to demand that FIU not build a road through the Arch Creek East Environment Preserve.
-The city has opposed the plan to connect 135th St to the backside of the FIU North Campus for years because they say it would damage the preserve.
-North Miami Councilman Scott Galvin said that the city is preparing to sue in order to stop the project from going through.
Watch Another Story: Meet Miami’s Queen Bee And Her Backyard Insect Revolution
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Missy Elliott Releases First New Song In 7 Years, And Its Pretty Awesome
Missy Elliott, the still reigning queen of rap proved her title this morning after she released her first new single in over 7 years.
The song, titled “WTF (Where They From)” is a upbeat anthem that features Pharrell in puppet form. It is well worth the watch if you need a few minute break during your work day.
Check it out and tell us what you think in the comments below:
Cover Photo Credit: Screenshot/ Atlantic Records (Youtube)
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Can The 1975 Change The Music Industry As We Know It?
In recent months The 1975 has released their first single, “Love Me”, off of their highly anticipated sophomore album- I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It.
With Bowie-esque melodies and cheeky lyrics, the British quartet is shaking up the music industry with a valiant effort to challenge contemporary pop music. The 1975’s new single is a self parodying ode to the narcissism of fame in today’s youth culture.
Matt Healy, the front man for The 1975, begins the music video by singing, “I’m just with my friends online” while he drinks a bottle of champagne donning electric blue eye shadow.
Healy states this lyric derives from our generation’s obsession with social media and the alternate reality it ensues. If that’s not shocking enough he does this while provocatively enticing card board cut outs of pop icons.
He goes on to sing, “You look famous, let’s be friends and portray we possess something important” revealing the rock star’s sarcastic views on entitlement as a celebrity.
This poses the idea that artist and consumers alike falsely believe that celebrities possess qualities and thoughts that make them elite compared to the general population.
The in your face lyrics conclude with, “We’ve just come to represent a decline in the standards of what we accept!”
This is a direct questioning of the current principles of the music industry as we know it.
A scene from the music video for “Love Me.” Photo Credit: 1975/ Youtube (Screengrab)
Healy believes that pop music has become a brand and not about expressing genuine emotion through talent. He has articulated his want for the youth to be more critical about what they consume and what inspires them.
The band hopes to start a conversation what as a society we have let the music industry become.
Before releasing their single, The 1975 made a bold power move by deleting all of their social media accounts leaving fans and critics perplexed on the state of the band.
24 hours later, they reemerged with a new aesthetic, giving music lovers the opportunity to decide if pop artist can survive without a social media presence.
So what does witty one liners background with 80’s synth pop and social media blackouts mean for the The 1975’s music career? As listeners we’ll have to stay tuned but we’ll always be in awe of the band’s blatant disregard to music industry norms.
Cover Photo Credit: The 1975/ Facebook
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Kokoa Swim: A Young Miami Swim Line Grows Up Online
This piece was originally published on risemiaminews.com on July 23, 2015.
By Marcus Frias
It’s summertime and we all know what that means. It’s that time when the hottest bods strut down South Beach wearing the sexiest and spiciest swimwear pieces of the year.
For a while, all the rave has been about Wildfox, Mikoh, and San Lorenzo Bikinis, but now there’s a new girl on the block with a swimwear line that’s bold, innovative, and exciting.
Isabella Soto and her killer line—Kokoa Swim.
Soto says that she’s always had an interest in fashion although it wasn’t always something that she expressed through her clothing.
“It was something I was around constantly,” Soto said. “My mother graduated AI with a degree in fashion design and I’d constantly watch her create amazing projects.”
Read More: Swim Week Takes Miami Beach By Storm, Millennial Designers Show Out
But that all changed during her sophomore year at Miami Sunset Senior High School when she decided to stop watching and start doing.
Isabella Soto, the owner of Kokoa Swim. Photo Credit: Kokoa Swim.
“As a sophomore in high school I would sew hair bows by hand and sell them to friends for $3,” Soto said. “My senior year I launched a fashion blog and another small business. I’d purchase thrifted jeans and distress them, dye them all sorts of colors, and stud them. I would also sell these to classmates.”
With Kokoa Swim still far in the future, Soto became the fashion editor of the school’s yearbook. Fashion became more than an interest—Soto’s hard work to make a name for herself while she was still so young was both admirable and astonishing.
One of Soto’s high school teachers, Natalie Gutierrez says that Soto’s success doesn’t surprise her at all.
“Ever since I’ve known her she’s had high expectations of what she wanted to be and what she wanted to do with her life,” Gutierrez told Rise Miami News. “She’s a go-getter with a lot of passion and dedication. It is that attitude that has helped her achieve this dream of hers at such a young age.”
Still, her hardworking and ambitious attitude remains.
“This has all been such a huge learning process,” Soto said. “I started this business entirely from scratch and have made so many mistakes along the way.”
Those mistakes, though, simply motivate the youthful 20 year old to work harder.
Soto dedicates an average of 30 hours a week to the growing line—but says she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I wake up and do this until I have to head out to work. Sometimes I’ll come home from work and continue,” Soto said. “It’s not a burden. I love doing this.”
Photo Credit: Kokoa Swim
In those 30 hours Soto designs new collections, shops for fabric, handles social media accounts for Kokoa Swim, and networks for opportunities to showcase her work.
Despite participating in big events like Swim Miami Fashion Week Kokoa Swim’s success is mostly due to its internet presence.
“I am eternally thankful for social media. It’s been a huge contributor to Kokoa’s growth. Instagram, especially, has helped me network and build a following of amazing people,” Soto said. “Through social media, I was given the opportunity of participating in my first Swim Week event at the Broken Shaker. I met other local brands that are doing the same. It was amazing to see brands I’ve been following online, in action. “
Read More: An Inside Look Into One Of South Florida’s Most Important Fashion Houses
Kokoa Swim has over 8,000 Instagram followers and that number grows everyday. Models like Harley Gusman and Mahila Snyder have all hopped on the Kokoa wagon and have stepped in front of the camera to model for the swimwear line.
Soto loves the partnership with these up and coming models.
“Like myself, these girls are working hard to build a name in the industry and it’s fascinating that our work benefits each other,” Soto said.
Photo Credit: Kokoa Swim
Indeed, a name is being built.
Kokoa Swim, a line that was built on impulse—surely has consumers buying on impulse, too.
A sketchbook dream that has turned into an incredible reality, but Isabella Soto won’t stop here. She hopes to have her line available for purchase at local stores within the next year.
With all of this success tucked under her belt at the young age of 20, it is safe to say that Isabella Soto was not fashionably late, but instead fashionably focused and early to the scene.
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