Entertainment

Gavin Rossdale’s Music Has Always Political — And He Has No Plan to Stop Now on September 21, 2023 at 5:48 pm Us Weekly

Published

1 year ago

September 21, 2023

Gavin Rossdale Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Getting involved with Artist for Action and Sandy Hook Promise makes sense to Gavin Rossdale as much as America’s epidemic of gun violence does not.

“It doesn’t make sense to me that 400 times this year, someone’s gone into a school and shoot more than four people,” Rossdale said while speaking with Us Weekly ahead of Bush‘s show at New York City’s Irving Plaza benefiting the anti-gun violence initiatives. “This doesn’t f—king make sense. You can’t rationalize it. It doesn’t make sense.”

Rossdale, 57, and his band Bush aren’t generally thought of as a socially-conscious rock band, but as he explains to Us, he has always been aware of what’s happening around him.

“I’m always being quite political and particularly underrated for it because I do it in a way that’s always been on the personal politics,” he says. “On the first record [Sixteen Stone], the song ‘Bomb’ is about growing up in the shadow of the IRA and the Protestants, the Orange Parade march, and things. Where I grew up in North London, there were these bombed shopping centers and buses, and people died, and it was the real thing.”

He continued: “The hunger strikes, and [IRA member] Bobby Sands and all that stuff, I grew up with that as the backdrop. And where I lived, my area was next to Kilburn. It’s where I played football for an Irish team. I went to all the Irish pubs on Quicks Road. I was really in it.”

“I’ve been quite heavily into that stuff without ever being flag bearing, just conscious of it,” he adds, “and aware of it as a human being, as anyone would be.”

Rossdale will utilize his awareness and voice on Friday, September 22, when Bush takes the stage at Irving Plaza for a show billed as “a celebration of unity in the fight against gun violence.” It’s also the first in a series of national events held by Artist For Action, a coalition of musicians working to end the epidemic of gun violence in America.

However, even Rossdale knows it’s an uphill battle. “My son [Zuma Rossdale] is a country guy. He has a whole life over there with this other side, where they’re shooting, hunting. It’s their culture,” says Rossdale, who shares 15-year-old Zuma, Kingston, and Apollo with his ex-wife, Gwen Stefani. Stefani, 53, married country star Blake Shelton in 2021 after six years of dating.

“You’re never going to take guns out of America. Never, never, never. So it’s a moot point,” explains Rossdale. “But I suppose, the [assault] rifles, to me, it’s got to be more about, how does someone in a community get so isolated?”

Rossdale — who changed his citizenship because of his love of America, and three of his four children were born in the country – sees the epidemic of shootings as not necessarily being about the actual gun. “What about the person? What about the community support, the people losing their minds, the lone wolves? How are teachers not recognizing those kids in the class?”

Rossdale wants to highlight how “the mental aspect” of this highly-politicized issue is “the most open to change.”

“How do you stop these people going so far out?” he asks.

Even Rossdale knows that it’s going to take a lot for Artist For Action and Sandy Hook Promise to end the endless shootings in America. “It’s an uphill struggle to change gun culture,” he says, “but it’s less of a struggle to try raise support for people who are driven [to violence]. Because I think, ‘Are there 400 inherently bad people, or there are 400 people that are driven beyond something?’ It is terrifying, as well.”

Rossdale says that the issue of gun violence can’t be reduced to a simple fix. “It’s not as basic as, “Oh, hello, I’m nuts, I’m going to go and kill people,’” he says. “It cannot be that basic. It has to be a culture of alienation, a culture of disconnect, a culture of a lack of support that allows these people to turn into psychotic killers. And I think that’s a huge area.”

“I’m just saying, isn’t that part of it?” he says. “It’s not just like, ‘oh, access to guns.’ What about the people pulling the f—king triggers?”

The Artist for Action show will kick off a busy season for Rossdale and Bush. His band will release a career-spanning greatest hits compilation – Loaded: The Greatest Hits 1994-2023 – on November 10 via Round Hill Records. Rossdale wrote and released a new song, “Nowhere to Go But Everywhere,” the namesake of the upcoming North American tour to commemorate the project.

“I’ve always had a weird relationship with [the collection],” Rossdale tells Us. “I’ve never wanted to do a greatest hits. It’s almost like a ‘sayonara.’ I [have always been] more interested in writing new stuff. Obviously, I did write a new song for [Loaded], but yeah. Greatest Hits.”

Rossdale doesn’t want Loaded to be the closing of his career. The group released its ninth studio album, The Art of Survival, in 2022. For new fans, Loaded will be a perfect introduction to the

“We literally [included] songs chronologically,” says Rossdale. The track list includes 90s alternative radio staples like “Everything Zen,” “Comedown,” “Machinehead,” “Swallowed” and “Glycerine.” Latter hits like “More Than Machines” and “Bullet Holes” are included, as well as a formal recording of the band’s version of The Beatles’ “Come Together.”

“There were 26 Top 40 hits, but we could only put 22 on there or something,” said Rossdale. “So there were four that didn’t make it, which is a bit of a shame, but they said, ‘We ran out of vinyl.’”

For Rossdale, Loaded is exciting because he collaborated with Chris Ashworth, graphic designer and former art director of alt-rock magazine Ray Gun: “On my first record, Sixteen Stone, I got [Ray Gun graphic designer] Dave Carson [to design the artwork].”

“When I signed a deal [with Interscope], they asked me what I would like, and I said, ‘Ray Gun is the greatest magazine there is. Can we try and contact them?’ So they contacted Dave Carson, and Dave did a fantastic job. We loved it. It had my dog on the album, jumping in Regents Park,” says Rossdale. “We had just his artwork, and it was the sensibility that I loved. And weirdly enough, then full circle, how life is, what, 30 years later, I ended up doing a piece for Marvin Magazine, [owned by] Martin Garret, who used to own Ray Gun. He even had Nylon, and now he has Marvin, and he’s like, ‘I owned Ray Gun.’”

“I said, ‘Oh, my God, I love Dave Carson.’ He goes, ‘Oh yeah, Dave’s an interesting character, but Chris Ashworth is really the guy,’” he explains.

Stephen J. Cohen/Getty Images

From there, Rossdale began to follow Ashworth on Instagram, who subsequently followed the Bush singer back. The two were in each other’s orbit when it came time to do Loaded. “I thought it’d be cool to come full circle and get Chris to do the artwork for the greatest hits,” says Rossdale. “And Chris’s work is just gorgeous, and it was such a thrill to work with him. I’ve worked with a lot of great artists. It’s such an excuse to collaborate with great people, whether it’s videos or photographers. Yesterday, I worked with Sante D’Orazio, doing the best pictures, and it was just incredible,” he adds. “I love all that stuff. So yeah, I’m so thrilled. The most exciting thing of the record, to me, is the artwork.”

Rossdale explained that during Bush’s tenure, he’s “always chosen the songs on the records, but I’ve never chosen the singles because I’m not the one who has to go and work them.” As a self-professed believer of “people staying in their lanes,” he says, Rossdale hasn’t tried to micromanage his career down to the smallest detail.

“I thought if I try to dictate what things should be, to that degree, even drifting into someone else’s job of knowing what radio wants or what’s happening? That stuff is just not my jam,” he says. “So, I’ve never chosen the singles.”

“I’ve never been surprised or disappointed, like ‘don’t bring the ballad out!’” he adds. “I deliver a record, and they tell me which song they’re excited about. And the label I have now, Round Hill, is great.”

Rossdale’s creative ambitions have seen him expand beyond music. He dabbled in acting, appearing alongside Keanu Reeves in 2005’s Constantine, in 2004’s Mayor of the Sunset Strip, and The Bling Ring in 2013. He launched the Sea of Sound fashion line and hopes to launch a cooking/interview show, spotlighting both his love of food and company.

“I have a Nutrition Facts thing, which is a guide to humanity, and it incorporates food,” Rossdale says of one of the standout pieces in Sea of Sound. “It’s kind of cool because we have labels on the back of food. I did that for fashion and humanity, a good way of living.”

Rossdale hopes to translate that passion for the culinary arts into a new venture, as he’s been working on a potential cooking/interview show. He says that he’s close now to getting it made since the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strike has resulted in studios who “turned [him] down last year” to reconsider it.

“I just always loved food,” he tells Us. “I’ve always really enjoyed it. I just found a knack, I think – I just found a connection to it, a natural ability to time things, a natural ability to flavor things, so things taste good.”

He went on to reference his seven-year split from Stefani. “When I got divorced, I thought, OK, new life, how can I do this?’” he continues. “Whenever I cook for people, people will always be a bit surprised. It’s an anomaly. I have people come to my house in LA and say, ‘Well, no one’s ever cooked for me at a house before.’ Very strange. So I just got into it.”

For Rossdale, his creative exploits are all tied together with a similar philosophy. “I’ve always been into this idea of curation. A life well lived should be a life well curated,” he explains. With cooking, however, he adds that there was a more personal reason for him to pick up the whisk and ladle. “I was honestly just trying to get straightforward ways to stay home and not be leaving my boys, not have to go on tour.”

Though Rossdale will have to hit the road soon, he seems optimistic about the future – as much as a British man with a self-described “gallows’ humor” can be. “I do believe in an order, and an energy, and a connectivity to the universe, and a timing of things,” he says toward the end of the chat. “I really believe that.”

“So, I simply have had the opportunity to make those shows or to bring that clothing line out, where it’s sort of found a way,” he says with a smile. “Now, I feel that there’s a shift where I have set myself up with the greatest opportunity.”

Getting involved with Artist for Action and Sandy Hook Promise makes sense to Gavin Rossdale as much as America’s epidemic of gun violence does not. “It doesn’t make sense to me that 400 times this year, someone’s gone into a school and shoot more than four people,” Rossdale said while speaking with Us Weekly ahead

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Advice

How to Balance Automation and Authenticity in Brand Messaging

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Bolanle Media Staff

The Challenge of Modern Marketing

In today’s digital landscape, brands face a complex challenge: leveraging the power of automation while maintaining authentic connections with their audience. This delicate balance is not just a marketing tactic, but a fundamental business imperative that can make or break customer relationships in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

The Promise and Peril of Automation

Automation has revolutionized content creation and distribution, offering unprecedented efficiency and scalability. AI-powered tools can analyze vast amounts of data to generate personalized content, schedule posts with pinpoint accuracy, and streamline repetitive tasks that once consumed valuable human resources. This technological leap allows marketers to focus on high-level strategy and creativity, potentially transforming the entire marketing ecosystem. However, the allure of automation comes with a significant risk: the production of generic, impersonal content that fails to resonate with audiences craving genuine interactions.

The Importance of Authenticity

Authenticity remains the cornerstone of effective brand messaging, a truth that has only intensified in the digital age. Consumers have developed a keen sense for detecting scripted or disconnected content, and they actively seek out brands that offer genuine, value-driven interactions. This desire for authenticity goes beyond mere preference; it’s a fundamental expectation that drives long-term loyalty and advocacy. Brands that successfully maintain an authentic voice build trust and emotional connections with their customers, creating a resilient foundation for sustainable growth.

Defining Brand Identity

The key to striking the right balance lies in a strategic approach that begins with a clear definition of brand voice, values, and messaging strategy. This foundational work serves as a guiding light for the implementation of automation tools, ensuring that all generated content aligns seamlessly with the brand’s authentic identity. Human oversight becomes crucial in this process; marketers must review and refine automated content, injecting nuance, emotional resonance, and contextual relevance that AI alone cannot provide.

Personalization Without Invasion

Personalization emerges as a critical factor in maintaining authenticity within automated messaging systems. By leveraging data insights to tailor content to individual preferences and behaviors, brands can create experiences that feel uniquely relevant to each customer. However, this personalization must be executed with care, avoiding the pitfalls of invasive or misleading practices that can erode trust. The most successful brands find ways to combine automated processes with genuine human interactions, especially for complex customer inquiries or sensitive issues that require empathy and nuanced understanding.

The Need for Continuous Evaluation

Ultimately, successful brand messaging in the age of automation demands a dynamic, ever-evolving approach. Marketers must continuously evaluate and adjust their strategies, conducting rigorous A/B testing and staying attuned to audience feedback. This iterative process allows brands to refine their automation tools and techniques while preserving the human touch that gives their messaging authenticity and impact.

Creating Synergy Between Automation and Authenticity

By thoughtfully integrating automation while steadfastly preserving authentic human elements, brands can create a powerful synergy. This balanced approach enables the creation of efficient, scalable, and genuinely engaging content that resonates deeply with target audiences. In doing so, brands not only meet the expectations of today’s discerning consumers but also position themselves for long-term success in an increasingly automated world.

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Advice

How to Win Gen Z Hearts with Purpose-Driven Content

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Bolanle Media Staff

The Purpose Revolution: Why Gen Z Demands More Than Just Products

Gen Z isn’t just a demographic; they represent a purpose-powered generation that views consumption as a form of activism. Unlike previous generations, they don’t merely buy products; they invest in movements, ideologies, and brands that authentically reflect their worldview. Research indicates that 75% of Gen Z will actively boycott or support brands based on their social and environmental stances, making purpose not just a marketing strategy but a fundamental business imperative. This generation seeks to align their purchasing decisions with their values, demanding transparency and accountability from the brands they choose to support.

Decoding Gen Z’s Value Ecosystem: Beyond Surface-Level Activism

To effectively engage with Gen Z, brands must delve deep into the intricacies of their value system. This generation has grown up with unprecedented access to global information, witnessing climate crises, social movements, and systemic inequalities in real-time. Their values encompass environmental sustainability, social justice and equity, mental health awareness, digital privacy, ethical technology, and economic transparency. Brands that attempt to superficially check diversity boxes or create performative content will quickly be exposed and rejected by this discerning audience. Authenticity isn’t just preferred; it’s expected. For Gen Z, actions speak louder than words, and they can easily discern when a brand is being disingenuous.

The Content Architecture: Crafting Meaningful Digital Narratives

Creating compelling content for Gen Z requires a multi-dimensional approach that emphasizes visual storytelling and emotional intelligence. Effective narratives often take the form of 90-second video stories that engage viewers with relatable characters and authentic experiences. Behind-the-scenes glimpses into a brand’s operations can foster transparency and trust. Furthermore, integrating user-generated content allows for a more participatory media landscape where consumers feel like active contributors rather than passive viewers. Emotional intelligence in brand communication is equally crucial; acknowledging systemic challenges while showcasing genuine commitment to change resonates deeply with this audience. Highlighting real human stories—those of individuals impacted by social issues—can create powerful connections that transcend traditional marketing.

Strategic Collaboration: Amplifying Impact Through Authentic Partnerships

In today’s landscape, Gen Z values collective action over individualistic approaches. Brands must evolve beyond transactional influencer marketing to forge meaningful collaborations that result in tangible social impact. This involves partnering with grassroots organizations and supporting emerging social entrepreneurs whose missions align with the brand’s values. By creating platforms for marginalized voices and developing transparent impact metrics, brands can amplify their efforts and demonstrate genuine commitment to social change. Such collaborations not only enhance brand credibility but also foster community engagement and loyalty among Gen Z consumers.

Measurement and Accountability: The New Marketing Paradigm

Engaging with Gen Z through purpose-driven content is not merely about creating impactful narratives; it also requires demonstrating measurable change. This generation expects brands to publish comprehensive sustainability reports that outline their environmental impact and share concrete diversity and inclusion metrics that highlight progress in these areas. Continuous learning and adaptation are vital; brands must be willing to evolve based on feedback from their audience. Establishing transparent feedback mechanisms allows consumers to voice their opinions while holding brands accountable for their commitments.

The Transformation Imperative

Ultimately, connecting with Gen Z is not just a marketing tactic; it represents a fundamental transformation within businesses themselves. Brands must reimagine their identities as purpose-driven entities that contribute meaningfully to societal progress rather than simply selling products. The companies poised for success are those that create movements, empower communities, and redefine what business can represent in the 21st century. By embracing purpose-driven content that aligns with Gen Z’s values, brands can forge lasting connections with this influential generation, fostering loyalty and engagement in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Entertainment

MrBeast’s Epic $5M Amazon Prime Show

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Bolanle Media Staff

On December 19, 2024, the highly anticipated reality competition series “Beast Games” premiered on Amazon Prime Video, marking a significant milestone in the career of YouTube sensation Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson. This new show is a culmination of Donaldson’s signature style of extreme challenges and generous prizes, now brought to a broader audience through Amazon’s streaming platform.

The Concept and Prize

“Beast Games” features an unprecedented 1,000 contestants competing over 10 episodes for the largest cash prize in television history – a staggering $5 million. The show is designed to push participants to their limits through a series of physical and mental challenges, many of which are reminiscent of the extreme stunts and giveaways that have made MrBeast a household name on YouTube.

Production and Controversy

The production of “Beast Games” has been marred by controversy. Several contestants filed a class-action lawsuit in September, alleging workplace abuses including unpaid wages and sexual harassment during filming. These allegations have cast a shadow over the show’s launch, despite Donaldson’s efforts to address the concerns and ensure a safe and fair environment for all participants.

Promotional Tour and Hype

In the lead-up to the premiere, MrBeast embarked on a multiplatform promotional tour, appearing on popular podcasts, collaborating with esports teams like FaZe Clan, and even hosting live streams on Twitch. One notable event included bringing $5 million to Times Square to visually illustrate the grand prize, generating significant buzz and excitement among fans.

Episode Release Schedule

The first two episodes of “Beast Games” were released on December 19, 2024, with subsequent episodes set to be released weekly. Here is a brief overview of the initial episodes:

Episode 1: “1,000 People Fight for $5,000,000” – Contestants enter an arena and face their first challenges.
Episode 2: “500 People Trapped In My City” – The number of contestants is halved, and the remaining participants navigate a new city built by MrBeast’s team.

Unique Elements and Collaborations

“Beast Games” is not just a competition; it’s an immersive experience. The show features elaborate sets, including a city built from scratch, and challenges that range from monster trucks to helicopter jumps. Additionally, MrBeast has collaborated with other brands and platforms, such as Roblox, where fans can participate in challenges mirroring those on the show.

Viewing and Engagement

Fans can watch “Beast Games” exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, available with a basic subscription. The show is also promoted through various Amazon services, including Amazon Fresh, which is distributing “Beast Games”-branded bags in major cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

Conclusion

“Beast Games” represents a new frontier for MrBeast, transitioning his unique brand of entertainment from YouTube to a major streaming platform. Despite the controversies surrounding its production, the show promises to deliver high-energy challenges, massive prizes, and an engaging viewing experience. As the series unfolds, it will be interesting to see how audiences respond to this ambitious project and whether it will cement MrBeast’s status as a television personality as well as a YouTube sensation.