Month: April 2021

Most aged spirits feature vanilla flavor notes, to some degree or another. As spirits rest in oak barrels, the cell walls of the oak release flavor compounds — the most notable of which is vanillin, also found in vanilla beans. So it should come as no surprise that bourbon, which is aged in New American Oak, can be incredibly vanilla-forward.

Now combine that vanillin note with the generally sweeter flavor profile of aged rum, and you have the potential for a vanilla bomb. Certain barrelling techniques can amplify this effect even more — time in the barrel, heat in the rickhouse, choice of finishing barrels, etc. All to the joy of the vanilla-obsessives (and rum cake bakers) out there.

This week, we asked the experts behind the bar to pick their favorite rums for fans of vanilla. Check their recommendations below!

Zacapa 23

Joan Percival, bartender at Proof Whiskey Bar & Craft Cocktails in Omaha, Nebraska

ABV: 40%
Average Price: $50

Why This Bottle?

Zacapa 23 is a solera-aged rum that has tons of barrel character. The solera aging system is unique in the way it allows a range of ages to meld with each other in the barrel. A solera system is particularly suited to rum production because the angel’s share can take a much heavier toll on spirits aged in warmer climates. The constant addition of new rum keeps the barrel full, improving the surface area available to interact with the liquid and extract those yummy vanillins.

The result is a sweet, rich, vanilla bomb that needs no mixer.

Foursquare 2008 Exceptional Cask Edition Mark XIII

Mike Reisman, bartender at The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. in Philadelphia

ABV: 60%
Average Price: $90

Why This Bottle?

Foursquare 2008 Exceptional Cask Edition Mark XIII’s price point is admittedly squarely in the “treat yourself” category, but it’s well worth every penny. This Barbados rum is sought after for good reason. It’s aged in ex-bourbon casks which impart a rich, burnt vanilla note (think creme brûlée), plus some softer fruit notes.

At a whopping 120 proof, all of those flavors present as rich and luxurious, with a long finish.

Papa’s Pilar Blonde Rum

Inga Tantisalidchai, bartender at OLEA Cellar Craft Cook in Newport Beach, California

ABV: 42%
Average Price: $30

I love Papa’s Pilar Blonde Rum. Its vanilla notes are smooth and vibrant. It’s a beautifully balanced solera blended rum. Unlike other “light rums,” Papa’s Pilar Blonde Rum utilizes the natural color of the barrels it’s aged in.

Zacapa XO

Austin Zimmer, bartender at Le Prive in New York City

ABV: 40%
Average Price: $114
Why This Bottle?

I would say Zacapa XO is one of the best rums for vanilla fans. The aromas are pretty strong, it’s a mix of vanilla, cherry, spices with cinnamon and nutmeg touches. Obviously, it’s a little more expensive than most. But the flavor and sipping quality make it completely worth it.

El Dorado 8 Year

Emily Lawson, bartender, and the owner of Foxhole Public House in Bentonville, Arkansas

ABV: 40%
Average Price: $25

Why This Bottle?

El Dorado’s 8 Year is a vanilla bomb. Pink House Alchemy’s cardamom syrup makes an incredible daiquiri with El Dorado 8. But if you sip it on your own you’ll be treated to sweet caramel, rich molasses, and toasted vanilla beans.

Bounty Spiced Rum

Joe Harvey, lead bartender of Thr3 Jack in Minneapolis

ABV: 40%
Average Price: $18.99

Why This Bottle?

Many rums will offer some sort of vanilla notes, however, Bounty Spiced Rum, made in St. Lucia, puts a focus on it. This rum immediately starts on the nose with aromas of vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and honeyed raisin. As for the taste, the vanilla and nutmeg flavors heavily shine through.

It’s a delicious choice for fans of vanilla and is versatile enough to sip on or mix in a cocktail.

Plantation Original Dark Rum

Jeff Rogers, bar director of Jester Concepts in Minneapolis

ABV: 40%
Average Price: $20

Why This Bottle?

Plantation Dark is a rum made from a blend of Barbados and Jamaican rums, then double-aged. The rums are aged in their country of origin and then blended and aged again in France. It has great flavors of banana, red fruits, dried fruits, and amazing vanilla. This rum makes wonderful cocktails made for the spring and summer.

Blend this with their Stiggins Pineapple rum for a daiquiri and your stresses will melt away.

Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced Rum

Jaiker Soto, master blender at Destilería Serrallés in Ponce, Puerto Rico

ABV: 45%
Average Price: $30

Why This Bottle?

The best rum for vanilla enthusiasts is Don Q Spiced, a blend of Puerto Rican rums that have been aged for a minimum of three years in American white oak barrels, naturally infused with aromatic baking spices.

The aromas of vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove combined with a soft touch of sweet tropical fruits, give way to a bouquet of light notes of wood. In flavor, it’s intense and opens in permanent spicy notes, rich vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg, ending with a balance of moderate sweetness and a touch of toasted caramel.

Zaya Gran Reserva 12 Year

Shaun Traxler, bartender at Vault Cocktail Bar in Fayetteville, Arkansas

ABV: 40%
Average Price: $30

Why This Bottle:

My go-to in this sweeter rum world is Zaya Gran Reserva 12 Year. It’s packed with vanilla, baking spice, and even some tobacco notes. It’s perfect as an after-dinner sipper on the rocks, in a Rum Old-Fashioned, but it also makes a heck of a Rum and Coke if you squeeze a lime wedge or two in it!

It’s a great buy for anyone looking for a rum on the vanilla-heavy, sweeter side of the category. The bottle will see plenty of use sitting atop one’s bar.

Rhum Barbancourt 8 Years

Michele Alfonso, bartender and mixology instructor at New York Bartending School in New York City

ABV: 43%
Average Price: $30

Why This Bottle?

I have chosen this spirit because as we are going towards the summer season, this rum is a great combination for warm weather-tailored cocktails. A very powerful and fruity rum with hints of vanilla and pepper which together produce an amazing balanced flavor to the palate.

Personally, I really like this bottle for its Mediterranean, citrus notes but the vanilla is definitely there, too!

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As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.

When Warrior wrapped up its second season back in October 2020, fans of the gritty, action-packed crime drama based on the writings of Bruce Lee were feeling pretty certain that the Cinemax series had come to an end. Even executive producers Justin Lin (F9) and Shannon Lee felt that was the end of the road. But then something interesting happened.

After HBO Max (whose parent company WarnerMedia also owns Cinemax) initially decided that Warrior “didn’t fit the brand” for the new streaming service, an executive change-up led to the show’s first two seasons hitting the platform in January 2021 where it quickly found an audience. In a new interview, Lin describes how Warrior‘s presence on HBO Max led to an outpouring of love for the show and, surprisingly, a third season renewal thanks to the support of Chief Content Officer Casey Bloy. Via GQ:

But being on HBO Max was great — it allowed me to have some heart-to-heart talks with Casey. When I think about the process and this business, the degree of difficulty on this one was very high. But Casey was very open. A lot of times in this business, when you have a conversation, you can tell very quickly when they’re just kind of humoring you. I never felt that with him. It all organically led to this great news.

While the renewal will undoubtedly go over with Warrior‘s growing fanbase, there will be a bit of a wait until the third season hits HBO Max. According to Lin, production on the series that’s set during the “brutal Tong Wars of San Francisco’s Chinatown in the late 19th century” won’t start until some time in 2022.

(Via GQ)

Last year, Marina marked the beginning of a new era with her charged single “Man’s World,” a song that was inspired by the surprising fact that only two percent of producers and three percent of engineers across popular music are women. Now following up on the vibrant single, Marina returns with a new track and the announcement of her next album, Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land.

Much like “Man’s World,” Marina’s new single “Purge The Poison” details the inherent power in femininity. “All my friends are witches and we live in Hollywood / Mystical bitches making our own sisterhood / While society is falling, we are quietly reforming / Protecting the planet, healing our own damage,” she sings.

Ahead of the album’s announcement, Marina said that the project was a reflection of the anxiety many are feeling in the face of climate change. “The last record, it was more about finding solace in nature, and this record almost more is like a backdrop to what’s going on,” Marina said. “We are in the time where there’s so much anxiety about how the planet is suffering. So, it doesn’t feature in a kind of rosy way as it has done in previous records.”

Listen to “Purge The Poison” above and check out Marina’s Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land album art and tracklist below.

1. “Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land”
2. “Venus Fly Trap”
3. “Man’s World”
4. “Purge The Poison”
5. “Highly Emotional People”
6. “New America”
7. “Pandora’s Box”
8. “I Love You But I Love Me More”
9. “Flowers”
10. “Goodbye”

Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land is out 6/11 via Neon Gold/Atlantic. Pre-order it here.

Marina is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The first trailer for F9 came out in January of last year, a full 15 months ago. Things were very different then. Simpler, some might say. It felt extremely normal to whoop and shout about a big-budget action trailer with the expectation you would see it in the theater in a matter of months. Lord knows I whooped and shouted about it. There was a magnet plane. Han was alive again. Charlize Theron had a bowl cut. It was beautiful. And that’s before we even got into the “Vin Diesel has a secret younger brother and that secret younger brother is John Cena” of it all, which was and is so perfect that I can’t believe it didn’t happen three movies ago.

But then, well, you know. Things went sideways. The movie got delayed. The whole world got delayed. It was not great, to understate things as grandly as possible. Things are moving in the right direction, though, finally. Vaccines are out and getting jabbed into arms. Public events are starting to happen again. Life is, to keep our analogies on-point, drifting around the corner and preparing to punch the NoS again. That means many things, most of them good. And one of those many good things is that there’s a new trailer for F9 to correspond with its new release date, June 25.

The people needed this. I needed this. It feels incredibly stupid to say but, in a way, this feels like the truest sign yet that things are getting back to the way they are supposed to be. We’re all whooping and shouting again about a movie we can see in a theater at some definitive point in the near future. It’s lovely. It’s coming. We should all meet up in someone’s backyard for burgers and Coronas and then go see this on the biggest screen we can find. Every single one of us. I am barely joking. Like this.

Which, conveniently, gets me into a discussion about the trailer, all 3:20 of it, full of more action than some entire movies. But we start, of course, with a brief meditation on memories and family.

This is Vin Diesel’s character, Dominic Toretto, watching a video of Paul Walker’s character playing with his child. It’s meant to tug on the heartstrings, and it does, but I think it’s important to note here that Paul Walker’s character in this franchise is very much still alive. He just got out of the game. His wife, Dom’s sister, is still around. Dom could conceivably FaceTime with him anytime he wants instead of watching high-definition widescreen footage of old family vacations while sighing. It’s not the weirdest thing about this franchise, not by a long shot, but it is something I think about a lot.

The action begins in earnest with Tyrese sitting in front of a huge pile of money and casually recapping events from prior movies. Planes, trains, submarines, cars flying through the air. I love that he’s essentially become the Greek chorus of the franchise, the Everyman whose job it is to acknowledge that the things they’re all doing are bonkers in the hugest way possible. There’s a point later in the trailer, after a number of magnet-related things happen, where he says “Man, we messing with magnets now?” Yes, Tyrese. We are indeed messing with magnets now.

The trailer then jumps into the Secret Brother business. We learn the following things:

• Dom may or may not have turned his back on his secret brother despite claiming to be all about family
• John Cena is pissed about it
• It is hilarious in ways I can’t really put into words that we made it nine movies into this franchise, almost 20 hours of screentime over two decades, before we learned that Dom has a secret brother who does evil military things

It’s also fun to watch that GIF up there and ask yourself at what point in the franchise Dom learned that move where he grabs the gun and turns it on someone. Did he know it back in the “lunch counter and DVD theft” days? Has he been training in Deckard Shaw’s dojo since the eighth movie? I need to know.

We have a semi-lifeless Vin Diesel splashing into a mysterious body of water and sinking to the bottom as though his torso is made of stone. Thinks are bleak. I could not possibly be more excited. Especially considering…

I know we’ve all been over the thing where Han or some Han-adjacent facsimile is alive and back in the action despite the fact that Han’s death has been depicted in the franchise two separate times and the seventh movie opens with Dominic Toretto flying to Tokyo to, we are led to believe, collect Han’s body and bring him home, but, I’m sorry, I’m still not over it. I suspect I’ll never be over it. My working theory as of this writing — after previously rotating between “it’s a robot,” “it’s his secret brother,” and “ZOMBIE HAN” — is that Dom helped him fake his death and has called him back into action as an emergency measure, as tipped off by the “we need help” line and the thing where Han shows up holding a freaking bazooka or whatever. Does it make the thing where Paul Walker’s character is alive and apparently not willing to come back and help his wife and brother-in-law and dear friends with the fate of the world on the line seem a little more flimsy? Uh, sure. But also, and I can’t stress this next part enough: shut up and leave me alone.

But let’s stay focused here. Let’s get back to the action. Let’s post a few GIFs from the trailer of people crashing through walls.

Like this one.

BAM.

POW.

But perhaps most importantly.

Ladies and gentlemen, this appears to be Dame Helen Mirren — who is in the Fast & Furious franchise, whose character is the mother of Jason Statham — drifting in a tricked-out speedmobile with Vin Diesel in the passenger seat. There is a lot going on in this trailer — magnet stuff, secret siblings, space stuff (I am very excited to talk about the space stuff) — but please do not let any of it distract you from the fact that this is a movie where Helen Mirren drifts to evade the police.

Hey, remember when I mentioned magnet stuff in that last sentence. Well, to quote Dominic Toretto, “CRANK IT ALL THE WAY UP.”

MORE MAGNET STUFF.

NOW SHOW ME VIN DIESEL GROWLING “NOT TODAY.”

NOW SHOW ME A FREAKING TRUCK TAKING OUT AN AIRPLANE

God, what a perfect movie. And it gets even better. Because after all that, after they show us the title of the movie like the trailer is about to end, after eight movies of preposterous action and hundreds of jokes by me and other lunatics about how this franchise will eventually end up in outer space, this happens.

ARE LUDACRIS AND TYRESE IN SPACE SUITS?

ARE THEY IN A SPACESHIP?

IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING?

WAIT, IS THAT A CANISTER OF NOS BETWEEN THEM?

IS THIS A NOS-POWERED SPACESHIP?

YES.

SHOW ME TYRESE AND LUDACRIS GOING TO THE COSMOS.

SHOW ME THE SPACE NOS.

Three things are worth noting here:

• It is perfect that castmembers spent almost an entire year teasing the franchise maybe going to space and it appears to just be Ludacris and Tyrese like mildly puncturing the atmosphere in some sort of duct-taped rocket
• This is the best movie franchise in the whole world and I will not hear counterarguments
• We’re going to be okay, guys

I’ll grab the burgers. You get the Coronas. This summer looks incredible

Shhh, do you hear that sound? It’s the sound of thousands of people making plans for late spring and early summer vacations as millions of Americans get vaccinated each day. Yes, it still seems surreal to say it, but it looks like we’re actually going to have a summer this year. Okay, maybe not as many overseas adventures as usual, but certainly domestic travel seems in the cards.

Think tons of road trips. Think van life. Think National Parks galore.

Meaning now is as good a time as any to get all geared up with your favorite travel fits, to ensure that whether you’re hitting the trail, climbing a mountain, or just exploring your neighborhood, you look fresh and ready for any adventure that may befall you.

There are tons of outdoor-focused style companies out there right now, so many that it’s hard to filter through them all. So we narrowed it down to a tight 20 brands — all functional, fashionable, and sure to keep you looking as fresh when the great outdoors call.

And Wander

Japanese outdoor brand And Wander comes from the design team of Keita Ikeuchi and Mihoko Mori and manages to strike that perfect balance between tech-focused functionality and street-ready style. With an expansive women’s and men’s wear line, And Wander’s collections generally consists of light outerwear that looks as good on the mountain trails as it does on the city streets

Shop And Wander here.

Arc’teryx

Canada-based brand Arc’teryx focuses primarily on tech-focused outerwear for extreme environments, whether you need lightweight climbing gear, or something warm enough to fend off a severe blizzard. If you’re all about slim silhouettes, Arc’teryx is your brand, as even their heavier jackets still manage to look sleek and flattering while offering the tech you need to meet the environments you’re traversing.

Shop Arc’teryx here.

Barbour

The originators of the waxed cotton jacket, where would adventure outwear be without Barbour?

While the brand has serious workwear roots (sailors and fishermen were the label’s first audience) it’s easy to forget that, as the brand is now more associated with a sort of luxurious Ivy-League scene. But grabbing a waxed cotton jacket is a smart and stylish option for those of us who want to keep dry on our outdoor adventures, but don’t need to tech-heavy support of something sporting GORE-TEX fabrics.

Shop Barbour here.

Columbia

We almost considered not including Columbia on this list because, well… who hasn’t heard of Columbia? It’s one of the biggest outdoors-focused streetwear-adjacent brands out there. But in the event that this brand managed to sail under your radar, here it is!

Portland-based Columbia produces high-quality and affordable outerwear. It’s not the flashiest of brands out there, but Columbia has a pretty strong reputation for being one of the best (and earliest) tech-focused brands. And thanks to some high profile collaborations with streetwear brands like KITH, Columbia has never looked as stylish as it does right now.

Shop Columbia here.

Dandy Del Mar

Okay, so Dandy Del Mar isn’t exactly an adventure brand and the label will do absolutely nothing to protect you from the elements, but if you’re looking for some leisurewear that matches the vibe of your beach vacation, Dandy Del Mar is your jam. Think of them like “post-surf clothes.”

You’re going to need something to wear while you’re sitting poolside relaxing after a morning in the waves, and Dandy Del Mar will help ensure that no matter where you’re at, you’ll look like you’re chilling at a resort, cocktail nearby.

Shop Dandy Del Mar here.

Eddie Bauer

Established in 1920 by the Pacific Northwestern outdoorsman that shares the brand’s name, Seattle-based Eddie Bauer has been producing outdoor apparel, footwear, and gear for over 100 years now. While the brand has had its ups and downs financially, the quality has never wavered — with a tech-focused approach that’ll have you adequately geared up for any environment.

If you’re taking a trip to the Pacific Northwest this summer, you could wear any of these brands, but copping some Eddie Bauer just feels right.

Shop Eddie Bauer here.

El Cosmico Provision CO

Whether you’re looking for straight-up camping gear or just want a sick robe to step out of your tent in, El Cosmico has you covered. Based in the high deserts of Marfa Texas, El Cosmico’s apparel has a rugged military vibe to it, offering a variety of patch-heavy jackets and outerwear in more shades of green than you could ever hope for.

This brand is less tech-focused and more along the lines of a vintage label, so this probably isn’t the best brand to shop from if you’re looking for something that will hold up in more extreme environments.

Shop El Cosmico Provision CO here.

Fjällräven

Maker of every college kid’s favorite backpack, Swedish-based label Fjällräven (which is Swedish for Arctic Fox) also produces outerwear in addition to their bags and other outdoor equipment. Fjällräven has a deep commitment to sustainability, the brand’s patchwork-heavy Samlaren line is constructed from leftover fabrics — which helps to eliminate waste while also creating products that are a bit more limited and rare.

These repurposed pieces feel like collector’s items in a way, appealing to the exclusivity-obsessed streetwear crowd while simultaneously trying to lessen the insane amount of waste that comes as a byproduct to the fashion industry.

Shop Fjällräven here.

Junmaven

CBD heads and stoners rejoice, there is an outdoor brand for you and they’re called Jungmaven. Another brand that holds sustainability in high regard, Junmaven produces t-shirts, sweatshirts, pants, tank tops, and other outwear completely out of hemp. There aren’t any compromises here when it comes to style, and given hemp’s smaller carbon footprint in comparison to cotton, Jungmaven makes a strong case for why more fashion brands need to look towards hemp to offset the waste they produce.

Shop Junmaven here.

Mammut

Switzerland-based brand Mammut is for serious adventures. The brand has been kicking for more than 150 years, producing high-quality tech-focused outerwear for adventurers of all stripes. Mammut’s clothing is generally composed of various tough and functional fabrics that are designed to keep you from getting beat up while you’re scaling a mountain, or sliding down a narrow trail, with slim and flattering silhouettes in vibrant colorways for increased visibility.

Shop Mammut here.

Marmot

This Colorado-based brand is serious about its outwear, offering Gore-TEX-equipped fabrics and other outdoor gear, whether you’re hitting the hiking trail, camping overnight, or engaging in some physically demanding winter sports.

Extreme conditions or light and easy “soft adventures” — Marmot’s got you covered.

Shop Marmot here.

Nanamica

Another Japanese-based brand (The best outerwear and streetwear comes from Japan if you haven’t realized that yet, you’re sleeping), Nanamica’s designs come from the mind of Eiichiro Homma, who has been producing next-level performance-driven outwear since 2003. While Nanamica has definitely got the tech, the vibe of the brand is much more casual, which is perfect for those of us looking for a fit for a weekend camping trip and not a full-blown adventure.

The silhouettes here are looser and more modern, offering a baggy and comfort-focused fit.

Shop Nanamica here.

The North Face

What would an outdoors fashion article be without some mention of The North Face. The legendary brand and streetwear staple makes some of the best and most stylish outdoor gear on the market, with a hefty price tag to match. Yes, some of the dopest North Face pieces will cost you a pretty penny, but the brand’s offerings are a true investment, this stuff will be kicking around your wardrobe for as long as you want it to.

For more stylish offerings, check out The North Face’s Purple Label, which tends to be a bit more streetwear-focused and modern.

Shop The North Face here.

Outdoor Research

The boringly named Outdoor Research is anything but. This adventure brand delivers some serious outdoor-centric tech that looks as good as it functions. The Seattle-based brand manufactures everything from outerwear to legit rock and ice climbing gear, made with an active lifestyle in mind.

It doesn’t matter if you’re paddling through white water rapids or skiing through the backcountry, Outdoor research was made to keep you safe and clothed throughout your entire journey.

Shop Outdoor Research here.

Patagonia

Patagonia is a mountaineering and climbing-focused outdoor brand with probably the most iconic logo in the entire outdoors-wear fashion space. Even if you’ve never worn a piece of Patagonia gear, you’ve probably seen the famous mountain silhouette logo on a bumper sticker somewhere, and that’s because Patagonia is a reliable brand that puts tech, ecology, and functionality above all else, but still looks so good doing it.

Shop Patagonia here.

PrAna

PrAna isn’t really an adventure brand so much as it is a yoga and travel brand. The label produces quality sustainable clothing designed to keep you at your most comfortable, which is always nice on hikes or light adventures.

While yoga is the brand’s main focus, their outdoor wear utilizes the same stretchy lightweight fabric, which should keep you ultra-comfortable. A great option for those of us who are reluctantly setting off on our first adventures outdoors after a year of quarantine.

Shop PrAna here.

REI

REI, short for Recreational Equipment INC, is a straight-up co-op, offering everything from sporting goods to camping gear, travel equipment, clothing, and educational courses. REI is another brand that makes clothing geared toward serious climbers and backpackers but features a playful and colorful aesthetic that doesn’t go too heavy for function over fashion.

It’s also fairly affordable, which is always a plus when it comes to outdoor wear.

Shop REI here.

Stone Island

The only Italian-based brand on this outerwear list, Stone Island is a bit of an anomaly as it has roots in the luxury wear space, meaning it’s probably the only brand on this list that explicitly values fashion over function. That’s not always a bad thing, either. Sure, a Stone Island jacket can’t accompany you on your off-the-grid adventure, but you can wear it on the trail and immediately head to city for drinks with friends without the need to swap fits — still turning heads no matter where you go.

Stone Island makes your walking path a luxurious runway, and that’s rare.

Shop Stone Island here.

Teätora

Teätora isn’t as tech-focused as the other brands on this list, but the brand does cater to the traveler, offering a comfort-focused line of apparel that features a minimalistic all-black aesthetic. Teätora’s silhouettes and cuts are highly modern, so not everyone is going to be able to rock these fits convincingly, but if you like taking fashion risks, this is your brand.

Shop Teätora here.

White Mountaineering

White Mountaineering is already a giant in the streetwear space thanks to several high-profile collaborations with Adidas, but the brand isn’t just borrowing an outdoor aesthetic for the looks, Yosuke Aizawa’s brand is bringing the tech and fine craftsmanship too. White Mountaineering goes all out, utilizing elaborate jacquard weaves, and hand-sewn embroidery to a space that is rightly criticized as being a little too utilitarian, expertly combining more design-focused techniques with high-performance textiles like Gore-TEX.

The North Face may be the biggest brand in the outer-wear-meets-streetwear scene, but White Mountaineering is the coolest.

Shop White Mountaineering here.

Rina Sawayama’s 2020 album Sawayama spawned a handful of singles, with one of the highlights being “Chosen Family” (which was co-written and produced by Danny L Harle). Now she has given the song some renewed attention, as she recruited Elton John to join her on a new version of the song. A video for their collaboration shows them singing the song together, with John seated behind a piano.

Sawayama said of working with John, “It was such a joy and honor to rework ‘Chosen Family’ with the legendary Elton John. The song means so much to both of us, and recording it together was such a special experience I will never forget. I got shivers when I heard his voice through the monitor and became emotional when he added the piano parts. Elton has been such a huge supporter from before the album, and when we finally met to record this song we clicked from the get go. I hope people can hear the magic!”

John also commented, “When I was sent ‘Comme Des Garçons’ for my Rocket Hour show, I stopped in my tracks and thought, ‘Who is this?’ It just blew me away from the first listen. We’ve since become friends, and it’s such a huge honor and a genuine thrill to be asked to duet with Rina. She is just an extraordinary talent. Rina doesn’t just represent the cross-cultural mix of inspiration from which the best music always thrives, but a generation who have grown up with the internet and the entire history of music at their fingertips and mix together whatever they please with real love and understanding, unconstrained by old ideas of genre or boundary. To my mind, she’s the brightest embodiment of this: a brilliant, confidence-oozing, endlessly fascinating songwriter and performer.”

Listen to the new version of “Chosen Family” above.

Many of the best episodes of Game of Thrones weren’t the season finale — they were the episode before the finale. I don’t need to summarize what happened in “Baelor,” “Blackwater,” “The Rains of Castamere,” and “Battle of the Bastards” (that one is self-explanatory) for you to remember what happened in the episode. They’re that good.

There are only two episodes of Disney+’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier left, and according to the show’s head writer, viewers should get ready for another “Baelor.”

In an interview with Comic Book published in March, Malcolm Lee was asked which The Falcon and the Winter Soldier episode he was most excited for people to see. “Hands down, five, it just gets real,” he replied. “And five, you’re going to cry.” This was before the show even premiered; that’s how confident Lee is about the next episode.

Meanwhile, on Vanity Fair‘s Still Watching podcast, producer Nate Moore teased, “Episode five gets to bring a lot of the threads that maybe felt disparate or not fully formed together… I think episode four is going to be a lot of people’s favorite episode for action reasons and big character turns, but [episode] five gets to really be the culmination of the theme. And I do think, both from an acting standpoint and from a filmmaking standpoint, it’s our strongest episode.” Sorry, episode six.

I won’t predict what’s going to happen, but if it involves numerous characters getting massacred at a colorful wedding while one of the dudes from Coldplay plays a song dedicated to Tywin Lannister, it’s been done. Episode Five premieres this Friday.

(Via Comic Book and Vanity Fair)

Aaron Rodgers’ stint as the guest host of Jeopardy! will come to an end on Friday, April 16. His aspirations of hosting the show beyond these two weeks are pretty well-documented, but should that not come to fruition, Rodgers has obviously had a blast standing at the podium where the late Alex Trebek once stood for decades.

Speaking of that podium, Rodgers shared an image to his Instagram account that highlighted how he’s used sticky notes at the podium to keep himself on track. Rodgers kept six notes on the podium to give himself little pointers that have helped him along the way — five of them are notes from himself (with one of them being a nod to Paul Rudd in Forgetting Sarah Marshall) and the sixth is from the show’s stage manager, who wanted Rodgers to make sure that he did not do anything particularly embarrassing while filming.

Rodgers has been open about how much prep work he put into making sure he was ready to host, so it probably isn’t a huge surprise that he’s got little reminders all over the place about how he can make sure he does this as well as possible. Having said that, he’d probably prefer it if the contestants knew a little more about the Packers.

While promoting his recently-released album, 1176, Oakland artist Guapdad 4000 has focused much of his press run on Filipino publications and radio stations, in honor of his Filipino roots and how they tie closely into the themes of the new album (he even collaborated on the album with a Filipino-American producer, Illmind). In a recent interview with Entertainment Inquirer, he touched on how he was affected by anti-Asian discrimination growing up due to his biracial heritage (his grandad was Black, while his grandmother was Filipino).

In the interview, Guapdad makes it a point to note the similarities between the two cultures (“A sense of family and loyalty is something we both share”), but also highlights how, due to his upbringing he was able to see how both can be negatively affected by prejudice. “My mom looks Asian and I look Black, and some people would say weird things at times,” he recalls. “Discrimination was always sneaking through the cracks.”

“I’m flamboyant with my taste in fashion,” he continues. “So, you have this handsome, flashy Black child walking around with this super modest, humble Filipino lady, and some would be like, ‘What’s going on?’ I also experienced some prejudice from older Filipinos, who would crack jokes about my dark skin. That hurt my feelings, too. So I had to dodge bullets from both sides. I usually chalk racism up to ignorance.”

He says he was able to overcome those experiences because “they made me mentally tougher.” He also shares how his partnership with 88rising helps shed light on Asian-Americans’ accomplishments in music and advocates for a better understanding of them in the mainstream and admits that, despite having a song titled “Chicken Adobo” on his album, it’s the one traditional dish he’s intimidated to try cooking. “We had some discussions, especially about trying to be more forward in letting people know that I’m Filipino; that I want to go out of my way to do stuff for us, and shine a light on what other Filipino artists people are doing. It just seemed a good fit.”

“I think it’s super cool and it’s a beautiful opportunity for Asian artists in general to have this platform. I’m excited to see what everyone else is up to. And I’m just on board as a fan in general. I’m a fan of so many of their artists before I was even part of it. I’m now reaching out to a lot of people and getting familiar with people I didn’t know about. I expect to do more collabs with Filipino artists in the future. But now I’m just warming myself up.”

You can read the full interview here.

Guapdad 4000 is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

After forming a band together at Tufts University in Boston, Crumb showcased their knack for atmospheric songwriting through two early EPs. The band eventually further explored their sound with their independently released debut album Jinx back in 2019. Lately, Crumb has been teasing another project through a handful of hypnotic singles, but they’ve now come forward to officially announce their sophomore album.

On Wednesday, Crumb unveiled details surrounding Ice Melt, their second full-length LP which is only a few weeks way from being released. About the album, vocalist Lila Ramani describes the project as a “return back down to earth,” saying that the music aims to examine “real substances and beings that live on this planet.”

While Ice Melt is another independent release from Crumb, it was conceptualized after the band’s founding members moved across the country to LA. It’s songs were written over the course of two years and recorded with producer Jonathan Rado, who is best known as a member of Foxygen.

Just ahead of the Ice Melt announcement, Crumb teased their upcoming album with a cryptic video shot from the perspective of a Pomeranian dog walking through the streets of LA.

Check out Crumb’s Ice Melt album cover and tracklist below.

1. “Up & Down”
2. “BNR”
3. “Seeds”
4. “L.A.”
5. “Gone”
6. “Retreat!”
7. “Trophy”
8. “Balloon”
9. “Tunnel (All That You Had)”
10. “Ice Melt”

Ice Melt is out 4/30 via Crumb Records. Pre-order it here.