Month: June 2020

Hannah Georgas was busy for most of March, releasing a single early in the month before the scale of the pandemic became clear, and another at the height of quarantine lockdown. The pair of tracks were the first tastes of All That Emotion, a forthcoming collaborative project with The National’s Aaron Dessner. It’s an album about resilience and finding hope on the other side of tough situations, with ethereal vocals that float atop pulsing indie-pop instrumentation.
To celebrate the new project, Georgas sat down to talk Alanis Morissette, the word “uncouth,” and The Cranberries in the latest Indie Mixtape 20 Q&A.
What are four words you would use to describe your music?
Personal, emotive, indie, pop.
It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
I’d like for people to feel that my music felt genuine and authentic to them. I would hope that it made them think of a time in their lives where my music helped them out in some way.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform?
I really enjoy performing in Stuttgart because the crowds are really nice. I enjoy playing in Sweden because the venues are pretty. I really enjoy playing in Vancouver because I have a lot of close friends there and it’s my second home.
Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?
I think it’s more than one person. The people that are around me in my everyday life inspire me a lot.
Where did you eat the best meal of your life?
That’s so tough… I love eating and I always feel like I’m saying mmm that was the best meal I’ve ever had. There’s an Italian place in Toronto I love called Teronni.
What album do you know every word to?
Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette.
What was the best concert you’ve ever attended?
The Cranberries at Massey Hall, Toronto in 1999.
What is the best outfit for performing and why?
High waisted pants, comfortable flats, a loose fitted top with a blazer. Comfort is really important for me on stage. I will be so in my head if I’m not comfortable in the clothes I’m wearing on stage.
Who’s your favorite person to follow on Twitter and/or Instagram?
I think Matt Berninger @greengloves777 of The National and Jack Black @jackblack are pretty funny. I also really love Peaches @peachesnisker.
What’s your most frequently played song in the van on tour?
A song called “Enemies.”
What’s the last thing you Googled?
The word uncouth. haha
What album makes for the perfect gift?
Shriek by Wye Oak. I got that album on vinyl as a gift and it has become one of my favourite albums to listen to.
Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever crashed while on tour?
A long time ago, I was opening for a band and we were all traveling in the same van and crashing at the same places. I remember one place in particular that we stayed at after a show. It was someone’s house and I just wanted to go to sleep. The people that were hosting were partying all night long. I woke up to go to the washroom in the middle of the night and I just remember seeing some nasty things in there that I won’t mention…. It was gross.
What’s the story behind your first or favorite tattoo?
I got my first tattoo in Vancouver, BC and I booked the appointment a year in advance. I thought really hard about what I wanted and was happy with how it turned out. It’s the sheet music and chorus of “All You Need Is Love” by The Beatles.
What artists keep you from flipping the channel on the radio?
Robyn, Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino.
What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?
Whenever I’m walking on the street with my partner they make me walk on the sidewalk furthest away from the road to protect me from the cars haha. I think that’s really nice and thoughtful.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
You’re gonna be okay. Keep believing in yourself and trust your gut.
What’s the last show you went to?
I’m having trouble remembering but I’m going to say Louise Burns at The Baby G in Toronto.
What movie can you not resist watching when it’s on TV?
Sleepless In Seattle.
What would you cook if Kanye were coming to your house for dinner?
I would order sushi from a place called Kibo because I would have no idea what to make… or I would ask in advance if there was something he likes to drink and maybe just stick with that.
All That Emotion is out September 4 via Arts & Crafts/Brassland. Pre-order it here.

The English Premier League resumed on Wednesday afternoon with a tilt between lowly Aston Villa and seventh-place Sheffield United. Due to COVID-19, there was a really weird vibe to the game, which was played without fans and did not always provide the most aesthetically pleasing football. But during the first half if play, we got a reminder of something familiar to those who love watching the Prem: the officiating in the league is sometimes absolutely catastrophic.
During the 41st minute of action, Sheffield’s Oliver Norwood whipped a free kick into the opposing box. He hit it well, but Villa keeper Ørjan Nyland was able to corral the ball at the far post. The issue for Nyland was that one of his teammates, Keinan Davis, pushed him into the goal. The ball went completely over the line, and Sheffield should have gone ahead, 1-0.
But for reasons that defy comprehension, the goal line technology that the Premier League possesses didn’t confirm what our eyes saw, and the Video Assistant Referee didn’t take a look. As such, no goal was given.
This was deemed to not be a goal by match officials. #AVLSHU #MyPLSummer pic.twitter.com/6i6lVEnhdV
— #MyPLSummer (@NBCSportsSoccer) June 17, 2020
The Sheffield United Twitter account was, unsurprisingly, not stoked with how this played out.
Really?
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) June 17, 2020
You, being a person capable of common sense, are probably wondering why this happened. The answer is unclear, but Sky Sports speculated that the technology used to examine this stuff was not working.
Sky suggest that the goalline technology wasn’t working in the first half, and has now been fixed. Hawkeye apparently buzzed for the goal while the referee was in the dressing room at half time. Very harsh on Sheffield United #AVLSHU https://t.co/qAzyO6qXLm
— James Nalton (@JDNalton) June 17, 2020
The Premier League adopted VAR this season, and while it has helped from time to time, you’d be hard-pressed to find too many football fans who have been happy with how it has been implemented. When viewed through that lens, it probably isn’t all that surprising that its first test during the restarted season went poorly. As for the match, it ended with a 0-0 draw.

At long last, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players’ Association appear to be actively negotiating a deal for the 2020 season that will reportedly include prorated pay for the athletes and an expanded playoff format that will include more teams.
Reporting from Jon Heyman of MLB Network indicated that commissioner Rob Manfred flew directly to Arizona, where union chief Tony Clark lives, to meet face-to-face with Clark this week. That meeting seemingly allowed each side to get closer to this deal, with the players seemingly nagging two big concessions from the league in prorated pay and the expanded playoffs.
Breaking: MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and players union chief Tony Clark had what’s being called a productive meeting face to face in Arizona. Meeting was called at Manfred’s request
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 17, 2020
Breaking: MLB and players union are closing in on an agreement to play the 2020 season, via players. Deal expected to be for prorated pay and include expanded playoffs.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 17, 2020
The precise number of games remains to be seen, but outspoken Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer put out a lengthy Twitter thread this week indicating the league could fit more than 70 games in if things moved quickly. On the other hand, MLB has repeatedly put forth offers in the neighborhood of a 50-game season. How an agreement on full prorated pay, which the league had been hesitant to include, changes this math remains to be seen, but it seems the union’s major concession was to waive any grievance against the league.
As part of the pending agreement to play the 2020 season between MLB and the players union, the union has agreed to waive any grievance.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 17, 2020
Expanded playoffs had garnered a general consensus during these negotiations as a way of earning back revenue by putting more high-stakes games on TV. Especially with a shorter season, it’s also a way to ensure high-profile, talented teams don’t miss the playoffs by way of a cold spell at the wrong time.
Despite these concessions, there was quickly pushback on Heyman’s reporting that the deal was close, with indications that it’s more that these are the first serious negotiations, not just posturing, that the two sides have done.
Source says no deal is close yet between MLB and MLBPA beccause the proposal was just sent by MLB. No agreement even in principle at this point.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) June 17, 2020
The MLBPA has received a new proposal, as is being reported. But the idea that a deal is close is “wrong,” per source. No agreement in principle.
— Travis Sawchik (@Travis_Sawchik) June 17, 2020
There is not even a deal in principle between MLB/PA, but 1 involved person said with Manfred/Clark meeting face to face the rhetoric portion of the program is over, and the real negotiations have begun.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) June 17, 2020
As has been the case for weeks, it seems the talks remain fluid, but there is at least some optimism now that the two sides are negotiating in person.

The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow, and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.
The introduction of Chloe x Halle found the Los Angeles-bred sisters thriving in two mediums. Within three months of releasing their debut album The Kids Are Alright, the pair kicked off a recurring role on the hit TV-show Grown-ish. In the two years since, Chloe x Halle have lived most of their lives on the screen, with 2020 bringing forth the duo’s musical return as they touch down with their sophomore album, Ungodly Hour.
The campaign for Ungodly Hour began with their lead single, “Catch Up.” The Swae Lee-featuring track is laced with production, supplied by Mike Will Made-It, that lives in the summertime sun and the bustling commotion of backyard kickbacks. Contextually the song finds Chloe x Halle in a never-ending cycle of problems and dissatisfaction with their partner. Pointing fingers at one another and naming their faults, both parties threaten to exit the relationship despite knowing it’s all a bluff.
Weeks later the sisters returned with “Do It,” and with both singles, it was clear a shift in sound would be present on their sophomore album, complete with a few shoulder-shimmies and the occasional pop of the hip. With their eyes set on a girls’ — and girls-only — night out, Chloe x Halle flex their ability to indulge in a night of friendship. “He say, ‘Where you from?’ Tell ’em, ‘Outer space’,” they sing, flicking away any guys who attempt to ruin their plans for the night.
Confirming the assumption from the album’s pair of singles, Ungodly Hour finds Chloe x Halle peeling back their protective layer of innocence. In doing so, the true beauty of what resides under that layer is amplified by the spotlight that shines over them. The album’s title track presents an uptick in maturity and growth, one that finds them aware of the dangers that lie ahead in love. “I know you like to play those silly games / When you’re done, call my name,” they sing in unison on “Ungodly Hour.” The song ends their once naive approach to love, replacing it with the realization that blindly falling head over heels in love isn’t always a pleasurable fall.
Chloe x Halle continue their journey into uncharted territory on “Busy Boy.” Quickly embarking on the more intimate sides of love, they turn away a notorious player’s repeated attempts of getting inside their cookie jar as they’ve caught on to his scheme, singing “I spend a little time, don’t stay with you / You ain’t never gonna get deep inside.” Further down the album, Chloe x Halle battle temptations that look to ruin their current relationship on “Don’t Make It Hard On Me.” Putting their spin on the classic saying “you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone,” Chloe x Halle attempt to stop an old lover from disrupting their happiness and their new relationship. However, they soon realize that in their ex’s return, along with their improved behavior, has slowly revitalized feelings that were once gone. “I told you not to love me,” they beg, “and now you’re growing on me.” Taking advantage of feelings that linger like a smoke trail, the once-concluded relationship has been relit, igniting the return of old feelings.
Through all the growth and journeys into previously uncharted zones, Chloe x Halle maintain one common theme throughout the album: remaining unapologetic for one’s true self. Pushing forth an idea presented on the album’s intro — “Don’t ask for permission, ask for forgiveness” — Chloe x Halle do just that on “Forgive Me.” Proud of the women they see in the mirror, the duo shows no remorse in staying true to themselves while dispelling their partner who chose to be unfaithful. Instead, they deliver a well-deserved backhanded apology, asking forgiveness for being too good and unphased by the now-concluded relationship.
Calls for Chloe x Halle to shed a bit of innocence on their next body of work are answered on Ungodly Hour. The sisters, still in their early 20s, wrestle with new topics like sex, infidelity, mischievous men, and more. Thus, the diversity on Ungodly Hour widens, giving listeners more relatable and alluring content to indulge in. While doing this, Chloe x Halle also find perfection in natural flaws and untouched beauty, a theme they hint at on the album’s artwork. With bright and glowing wings attached to their black dresses, the sisters make it clear they find true happiness in their most unaltered state. The kids were once alright, but now they’re thriving as adults.
Ungodly Hour is out now via Parkwood and Columbia. Get it here.

Fans of the Pokemon franchise got some good news on Wednesday morning during a “Pokemon Presents” livestream. In addition to a handful of other announcements — from updates within Pokemon Go to a toothbrushing app called Pokemon Smile — a remade version of a beloved old release was announced and put on display via a trailer.
New Pokemon Snap is slated to hit the Nintendo Switch sometime in the future. While the game was announced during “Pokemon Presents,” a release date is still unknown. What we do know is that the game appears slated to expand on the original game, which we learned thanks to the following video.
New Pokémon Snap – reveal trailer:pic.twitter.com/vlInu4E3YA #PokemonPresents
— Ryan Brown
(@Toadsanime) June 17, 2020
The original Pokemon Snap hit Nintendo 64s back in 1999, and while other releases in the series up until then placed an emphasis on collecting Pokemon and using them in battle against one another, this game sent players on a quest to take as many photographs of Pokemon as they possibly could. It stands to reason that a newer game could take advantage of technological advances and make it so players can explore a world instead of doing what the original game did — the main character, Todd Snap, moved along a straight path — but we’ll have to wait and see.
This was not the only new game that came from the event. A new puzzle game, Pokemon Cafe Mix, is now on the Switch and mobile devices.
Pokémon Café Mix – reveal trailer:pic.twitter.com/ilPQyHLYaU #PokemonPresents
— Ryan Brown
(@Toadsanime) June 17, 2020
And in a bit of fun news, more Pokemon information is on the way — “Pokemon Presents” will return in one week with another event on June 24.

The Aunt Jemima brand of pancake mix and syrups, a shelf staple for over 130 years, will finally be retired as PepsiCo, the brand that owns Quaker Oats (which, in turn, owns Aunt Jemima), finally acknowledges the brand’s racist roots. The Aunt Jemima brand identity has long been a target of criticism, notably in a 2015 opinion piece published in the New York Times by Cornell University professor Riché Richardson in which the professor explained and explored the logo’s links to southern racism. Richardson writes that the original Aunt Jemima logo is based on the racist depiction of a “‘mammy,’ a devoted and submissive servant who eagerly nurtured the children of her white master and mistress while neglecting her own.”
According to CNN Business, the Aunt Jemima brand and logo were originally based on a minstrel show song entitled Old Aunt Jemima, and the likeness of Nancy Green, a real-life “storyteller, cook, and missionary worker” who was born into slavery.
“As we work to make progress toward racial equality through several initiatives, we also must take a hard look at our portfolio of brands and ensure they reflect our values and meet our consumers’ expectations,” wrote Quaker Oats in a statement provided to CNN Business. Quaker Oats intends to relaunch the brand with a new name and logo sometime this fall, and the Aunt Jemima brand will donate $5 million over the next five years to organizations that will “create meaningful, ongoing support and engagement in the Black Community.”
Throughout the brand’s 130 year history, the logo has changed to offer a less stereotypical depiction of Aunt Jemima, though the brand has never been able to truly escape its racist “Mammy”-depicting origins amongst people familiar with the brand’s roots.

In recent years, Kevin Love has become one of the most outspoken athletes when it comes to discussing their own battles with mental health and trying to remove the stigma of seeking help for one’s depression, anxiety or other mental health problem.
Love opened up initially in a Players Tribune piece in 2018 titled “Everybody Is Going Through Something,” and he and with DeMar DeRozan became the NBA’s two driving forces in the league and players association working out a mental health program for players. Love has continued being an advocate for mental health off the court and will be recognized for that work at the ESPYs this Sunday when he receives the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, which he told USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt is “incredibly” humbling and only signals that he must continue his work.
“I’m incredibly humbled by it,” Love said. “It’s really a profound honor if you look back at that group of men and women who I admire. Billie Jean King, Muhammad Ali, Bill Russell, to name a few. It’s very, very humbling to see my name next to those. I just feel like I have so much more work to do. Those are people who put in a lifetime of work. With my name next to theirs, I have an obligation and opportunity to make a lot of change in the world of mental health.
“I know what Arthur Ashe stood for and what he was about, especially being around UCLA. It’s just tough for me even now to put it into words what this means because it’s so much bigger than the realm of sports.”
The Kevin Love Fund, which he established, will be a big part of that continuing effort and among his plans for what’s next is to endow a chair at his alma mater, UCLA, in the psychology department for research on mental health.
Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit shared their long-awaited album Reunions last month. While the band still can’t tour behind the record due to the pandemic, Isbell gathered his band to virtually unite for a performance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.
Joined by his five-piece band on a video call, Isbell gave an electrifying performance. The singer pulled from his ten-track Reunions record to perform the reflective number “Overseas” as well as heartfelt “Running With Our Eyes Closed.”
In a recent interview with Uproxx, Isbell revisited each one of his albums and described the songwriting process on Reunions. “The changes that I went through in the last couple of years were very significant, psychologically, to me,” Isbell said. “A lot of things wound up coming back up. I think maybe my unconscious mind was writing a concept album, but the rest of me didn’t realize that was happening.”
The singer continued to say that he tries to steer clear of over-explaining his music: “We have a bunch of weird songwriter sayings around the house, but one of them is, ‘Don’t you dare tell people that song is not about what they think it’s about, because that’s not fair. Don’t take that away from them.’ And it’s true. It’s not mine once it’s written and recorded and put out there in the world. It doesn’t really belong to me anymore.”
Watch Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit perform “Overseas” and “Running With Our Eyes Closed” on The Late Show above.
Reunions is out now via Southeastern. Get it here.