Friday, August 9, 2019

Dreamland II

For The Winn
Billy Winn
Billy Winn Awakens Dreamland II, The Final EP of His Two-Part Series

Billy Winn’s Dreamland II releases everywhere on August 9 and it picks up where the first album left off.  Thematically, at least.  Both EPs tell stories from the perspective of a queer kid of color who has had his heart broken.  “It’s the only position that I can write from and it’s one that I can’t recall ever hearing in pop music,” Winn explains.  “My hope is that regardless of where you come from, who you are now, or who you are becoming; you’re able to find something in these songs that resonates and makes you want to play them over and over again.”

Billy Winn was listening to a lot of TLC and Janet Jackson while he was working on Dreamland II.  “Specifically, Crazy, Sexy, CoolFanmail, and Janet’s Velvet Rope album.  At the same time, I was listening to artists like Flume, Owl City, Robyn, and Tove Lo; trying to find a place musically where they could all co-exist or become something completely different altogether.”

He was also inspired by a series of circumstances in his life, including the death of his father.  “He and I weren’t close but at the end of his life, I was asked to return home to take care of him and my family.  It was an extremely emotional situation, and definitely something that I’m still healing from.”


It is one of the reasons Dreamland II is angrier than the first album.  While Dreamland I explored life as a perception of fantasy and guilty pleasures, Dreamland II reveals more pain beneath the surface.  There is an overriding theme throughout that it’s all fun and games until someone catches feelings.

Billy Winn is a Billboard-charting singer, songwriter, recording artist, and performer whose music ranges from high energy dance records to emotionally charged EDM.  Some of his most popular singles include “Seal It with a Kiss”, “Crash,” and “Future X Boyfriend.”

Dreamland I was a major turning point for the young artist and its success allowed Winn to tour and expand his fan base.  It has also taught him to not doubt or second guess himself.    “I’m trusting my instincts a lot more these days and I have to admit I’m pretty confident in the road ahead.” 
Billy Winn released “Another Broken Heart,” the debut single from Dreamland II, in June.  The next release from the album, “Tell Him,” is scheduled to release in early fall.
 
Billy Winn’s Dreamland II is being distributed by Ferocious Music and OneRPM and is available on iTunes, Spotify and all digital platforms.  For more information, visit BillyWinn.com or follow him on Facebook.

Thursday, August 8, 2019

Michael's Musings

Step Into My Lair
Michael Shinafelt
"What good is sitting, alone in your room? come hear the music play! Life is a cabaret, old chum! Come to the cabaret!" Cabaret, Liza Minnelli 

For some reason my mind landed on planet Cabaret this morning. Hey, creativity is the one thing I don't question in this world. It's my safe word, say it with me... C-R-E-A-T-I-V-I-T-Y - rolls off the tongue like buttah

Let's get this Cabaret started minions!

Barbara Streisand & Ariana Grande singing No More Tears/Enough Is Enough at Madison Square Garden feels like a pivotal moment in Queer studies of the future

Scary Drag Queens, discuss...

A hobo called me a bimbo once

Use a Dustbuster after eating your Nacho Cheese Doritos on the Porcelain God please

In the name of all that is Holy. Find something Holy I double dog dare you!!!

Bizarre Quote of the Week - "Spend more time on your knees than on the internet." Mike Pence. Ummmmm, sounds like a come on, I'll pass 😒

R.I.P. Toni Morrison

Lean in to the frequency and give in to the funk. This is your super power.



Woman Crush of the Week - Zoe Kravitz

Green eggs & ham are gross, Sam I Am can suck it!

 Lock the door Patricia Mae Andrzejewski (Pat Benatar's real name)

Nacho, Nacho, Man, I wanna be a Nacho Man

Oh look at that, a living, breathing dumpster fire

WTF did a visual of Christopher Meloni naked on OZ just flash through my mind? Oh nevermind...

Find out who let the dogs out by following me at:

https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt  

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Macbeth

Tristan Waldron (Macbeth) & Megan Ruble (Lady Macbeth)
Photo:
Ashly Covington
134 West Presents
William Shakespeare’s
Macbeth
“We are yet but young in deed.”
Directed by Alyssa Escalante
At Art Share L.A. in DTLA
Thursday, August 15 – Saturday, September 7, 2019
• Opening Night: Saturday, August 17
• Talkback: Thursday, August 29
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth gets a daring new production in Downtown LA’s arts district thanks to 134 West. Directed by Alyssa Escalante, thisMacbeth, set in a near future desert landscape, will have a limited engagement at Art Share L.A. from Thursday, August 15 through Saturday, September 7, 2019. Produced by Susan Lambert Hatem, Macbeth persists as one of Shakespeare’s most popular and most produced plays because of its deeply human themes. And yet, there remains so much to be discovered in its haunting poetry. The 134 West team will transform Art Share LA.’s space, known for its many artistic and creative events, for Macbeth, which has the distinction of being the first play to have a full run in the space. For information and tickets, please visit http://macbethla.com.

“This production offers an alternate perspective of ambition, specifically through the lens of youth,” says director Escalante. “This Macbeth is a cautionary coming of age story about the decisions we face in pursuit of our goals and the futileness of satisfaction.”

134 West will mount twelve Macbeth performances over the four-week run, every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8:00pm. Tickets cost $20 for general admission and $40 for limited VIP premium seats. Suggested age limit is equivalent to a PG-13 rating due to violence, mental health issues and suicide. Opening night will take place on Saturday, August 17 with two preview performances leading up to it. The first preview, on Thursday, August 15, will be a Pay What You Can (PWYC) Night. Patrons may pay any amount at the door or secure online tickets that start at $5.00. Tickets for the second preview performance on Friday, August 16 cost $15 or $40. During the third weekend of the run, there will be a Talkback with Cast & Creatives on Thursday, August 29. Art Share L.A. is located at 801 E. 4th Place, Los Angeles, CA 90013. For more information on the venue, please call 213-687-4278 or visit hhttps://artsharela.org.

MACBETH SYNOPSIS:
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a coming of age story of a young man at a crossroads in which he is confronted with the man he is and the man he has always imagined himself to be. Offered his heart’s desire, and supported by the powerful love of his “dearest partner,” Macbeth goes against his very nature to become king, but at the cost of his soul and the destruction of his sanity. The partners take a course of action, which simultaneously brings them all they ever dreamed possible while destroying the world around them and each other, leaving them with a haunting wisdom far beyond their years.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION:
Set in the beautiful but dangerous landscape of the desert in a future reality, 134 West’s production offers an alternative perspective of ambition, specifically powered by youth. Who better to bring the boldness required to conquer such a production than young artists who are in the midst of wrestling with ambition themselves?

The youthful but experienced production team from 134 West has collaborated before onHomeward LA and Confidence (and The Speech), but Macbeth offers an exciting opportunity to produce one of Shakespeare’s most challenging plays. And Art Share L.A.’s unique event space is the perfect venue to realize the vision for this production. “Art Share L.A. has been a great partner for us,” explains producer Lambert Hatem, “They have presented so many artistic and exciting events, but Macbeth is the first full-run of a play in their space. Our designers are inspired to transform the space and bring the audience into the world of our Macbeth.”

LINKS:
 Macbeth - http://macbethla.com
 Macbeth Facebook Event Page - https://www.facebook.com/macbethLA2019
 Macbeth Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/macbethla
 Macbeth Twitter - https://twitter.com/macbethla2019
• 134 West Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/134West
• 134 West Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/134west
• 134 West Twitter - https://twitter.com/134_West

Monday, August 5, 2019

Sh!t Leslie Grossman Says

Savagely Wicked
Leslie Grossman
I follow a number of celebrities on Twitter of varying degrees and for various reasons like the rest of you. Well today I wanted to pay tribute to one of the funnier ones Leslie Grossman. Leslie first appeared on my radar with her savagely wicked portrayal of Merry Cherry on the short lived, but brilliant show Popular.

Of late she joined Ryan Murphy's repertoire of players on American Horror Story in Cult as Meadow Wilton in another savagely wicked turn, thus returning every season since. Can you guess where I am going with this? "Yes" Leslie's Tweets are savagely wicked. Thus here is some of my favorite "Sh!t Leslie Grossman Says!" -

"Only interested in politicians with an F rating from the NRA"

"TRULY SO HAPPY AND THRILLED FOR EVERYONE I KNOW ON AMAZING SUMMER VACATIONS WHILE I SPEND MY SUMMER STUCK IN TRAFFIC ON THE 405 BLESSINGS TO YOU AND YOUR LIFE ALTERING TRIPS WHILE I STAY HOME INHALING SMOG AND ENLARGING MY PORES"

"I just ate pretzel m+m’s AND a few fistfuls of mini Oreos so don’t let anyone ever tell you your dreams can’t come true"

"The person next to me on this plane brought their own bag of HARD BOILED EGGS. I AM A GOOD PERSON I CAN’T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS HAPPENING."

"I have no time to do anything yet I am always fully caught up on all franchises of the Real Housewives and my commitment is either impressive or pathetic I can’t decide"

"Important update: from here on out I will only call Southern Charm “Bapadoo”. I realize this is an incredibly niche tweet."

"Let’s vote legendary asshole Mitch McConnell out and take back the senate in 2020 WE CAN DO THIS"

"That specific relief when that person bombing your insta feed with their AMAZING VACATION finally comes the fuck home"

Follow Leslie on Twitter, like me...

Sunday, August 4, 2019

Happy Friendship Day!

Donna & Kelly Friends 4 Life!
Tori Spelling & Jennie Garth
"Yes" in case you are out of the loop today is National Friendship Day, time to celebrate those in our lives that we hold near and dear. 

Thus I thought what better way to get the friendship train rolling than featuring two BFF's Tori Spelling and Jennie Garth who forged a bond on the set of a little show called Beverly Hills 90210. These two woman have been friends that damn long, and always have each others backs publicly and privately.

Well here there are celebrating the 90210 Reunion series which airs this Wednesday on FOX. Note the way cool dresses with their respective characters names from the show painted on them. 

Hey, want to hear something really interesting? I never really watched 90210 when it initially aired it was one of those shows I most have seen in syndicated reruns on Pop TV. It is one of my lazy day guilty pleasures, and "Yes" I will be tuning in to see these two friends for life reunite this Wednesday.

Time to Text, PM & E-mail my friends and wish them well...

TTFN - Ta Ta For Now, minions!

Beverly Hills 90210 on Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverly_Hills,_90210

Saturday, August 3, 2019

Once Upon A Time...On Saturday

Angry Birds???
Leonardo DiCaprio 
With Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood" being the summer's hottest ticket right here, right now, when I stumbled across this photo of star Leonardo DiCaprio caught making a face only he could explain, well I just had to run it. Why? Because we all need fun in our lives.

Trust me this is not meant to make fun of Leonardo it's to have fun with him. I'm pretty 100% sure he knew he was making this face by the looks of it, I would venture to say he was not caught off guard by some tricky paparazzi.

So it's Saturday a day to chill and not take life too seriously. Perhaps even engaging in the Tomfoolery of making a goofy face in public for no other reason than to put a smile on your face and others.

You only have one life after all, lighten up bitches.

Mic Drop!

Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood on Wikipedia -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_Upon_a_Time_in_Hollywood