Meld the power of Adele with the eclecticism of Kate Bush, the intimacy of Tori Amos, the charming flair of Stevie Nicks and a dash of Taylor Swift, what do you have? You have Samsara, of course. Hailing from the UK, singer-songwriter Samsara traipses across jazz, pop, country and rock with her evocative vocals and melodies. From fronting a teenage band at the age of 15 to singing with stars like Don Henley, Steve Winwood, and Bryan Adams, and now releasing music as a solo artist, Samsara is an exciting artist to say the least.
After leaving music behind because of a cumulative abusive marriage where her husband wouldn’t allow her to sing, Samsara steps up to prove she may have taken a step back, but music is in her soul. Reaching audiences across the globe with chart-topping songs like ‘Love For All Time’, ‘Without You’ and ‘Hard To Love’, Samsara is difficult to ignore and we’re taking a gander into her single ‘Invisible’.
Released in 2022, ‘Invisible’ followed her single ‘Anything’ and brought listeners a soft, soothing country sound. Easily placed on any stage in Nashville, ‘Invisible’ has a toe-tapping element reminiscent of acts like Reba McIntyre and Tori Amos. Yet, while there is a powerful mainstream country sound, Samsara’s obscure vocals add a unique tinge to the ballad. Rich, confident and warm, her voice pulls you tight in a big hug while the instrumentation wraps you both in a comfortable blanket. Interestingly, while the song has a simplistic acoustic soundscape, the single is kaleidoscopic with a charming harmony in the arrangement.
A natural storyteller, Samsara shares reflective songs of life, love and journeys. ‘Invisible’ uses an intimate personal narrative to resonate with people who “feel invisible”. Yet, while there is a melancholic tone, hopefulness also exists in the moving single.
In addition to the single, Samsara released a lyric music video for ‘Invisible’. You can view the video below or on her YouTube channel.
For more from Samsara, check out her Facebook, TwitterInstagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Mikala Jones, a professional surfer known for his photography and videos filmed from inside the barrels of breaking waves, died after the fin from his surfboard sliced an artery in his leg while he was surfing in Indonesia, his family and a person who helped him after the accident said.
Mr. Jones’s father, John Jones, told The Associated Press on Monday that his son, 44, had been on a trip to the Mentawai Islands off the western coast of Sumatra on Sunday. The fin cut his femoral artery, which supplies blood to the lower limbs, he said.
Mr. Jones had been in the water with his nephew and other surfers as sets of waves rolled through. Then an eight-foot wave appeared, Aimar Abilleira, a resort owner who helped Mr. Jones, said in an interview on Thursday.
“He was waiting for it,” Mr. Abilleira said. “He really knew what kind of wave he wanted. He was really patient.”
“He got the wave, pulling into the barrel, the tube, and he did not make it. The waves closed out,” he said. “So we figured out, when he fell out his fin cut the main artery.”
Keala Ashton, Mr. Jones’ nephew, who was in the water with him in the isolated region, said the environment was “as tough as it gets.” “I tried my absolute best to do everything I could and I’m sorry it wasn’t enough,” he wrote on Instagram.
This week, the online surf world mourned a member of its tribe and circulated some of Mr. Jones’s most popular works, including a photograph that showed him peering through the barrel of a breaking wave as he rode it into an opening of sunlight.
Isabella Jones, one of his daughters, and professional surfers wrote messages on social media about Mr. Jones, who grew up on the east side of Oahu, Hawaii, and later lived in Indonesia with his wife, Emma Brereton, Isabella and another daughter, Violet.
As described in a profile in The Surfer’s Journal published in 2014, Mr. Jones sets out from Hawaii to Papua New Guinea, Panama, Sri Lanka and the Azores to find waves. In Sumatra, “he bagged more than one cover shot standing tall in the belly of the beast,” the article said.
“It’s like a disease,” Mr. Jones was quoted as saying. “But when you pull up at a spot you’ve been researching and the swell is there, the wind is right and you’re about to paddle out to empty perfection, that’s what it’s all about. That’s where I get my fix.”
“I love the travel. I love surfing. But right at the point where the two come together — for me that’s the best moment. That’s what I keep chasing,” he said.
Mr. Jones was among a generation of “free-surfers” who researched where the best waves were and pursued them throughout the world, Nathan Myers, the author of the article who was also Mr. Jones’s neighbor in Canggu, Bali, for a decade, said in an interview on Wednesday.
“They are chasing storms,” Mr. Myers said, “and they would take amazing photos. He became one of the very best POV guys,” he said, using the cinematic shorthand for point of view.
That quest took him to the Mentawai Islands on June 30, when he and his family settled in at Mr. Abilleira’s Awera resort, planning to stay until July 10. On Sunday, the resort was full, so Mr. Abilleira did not join Mr. Jones and others in the water, as he had on previous occasions.
“Suddenly I received a call,” he said. Mr. Jones had been injured.
“He asked for help, he was really calm and said, ‘I think I cut my artery’ to rest the people in the water,” Mr. Abilleira said. “More waves were coming. Four people in the water helped him, but he had to do another two waves by himself, so he took out the leash of the board to make sure he did not receive further impact, and he managed to go through.”
By board and boat, Mr. Jones was brought ashore, where Mr. Abilleira met them and was told how the ordeal in the water unfolded. They rode in an ambulance to a small hospital about 6 miles away. Mr. Jones was barely breathing and had lost consciousness. A tourniquet, fashioned from the surfboard leash and a piece of wood, oxygen, chest compressions and other measures failed, Mr. Abilleira said.
The medical staff concluded he had lost most of his blood in the water from the nearly 4-inch-deep cut, he said.
“We stayed one hour trying to make him alive,” Mr. Abilleira said.
Mr. Jones made some of the sport’s best point-of-view videos while riding barrels, using techniques that he had worked on for more than a decade before he started a collaboration with GoPro.
He also published footage of his work on his Instagram page. In one of his last posts, he filmed himself standing up on a surfboard as the walls of a wave folded around him. “Time to live,” he wrote. Besides his wife and children, he said, surfing was “all I need.”
Product photography is often considered one of the most complicated and challenging genres. Besides having the right lenses and props to decorate the shot, you’ll need a variety of light shaping options to create the best looking photos. This is where the $399 Halumin H18 Soft Light brings something interesting to the table.
Obviously to create great looking product and food images takes a lot of practice and a deep understanding of how light will behave when pointed at different reflective surfaces. To help lower the impact of that learning curve, Halumin hopes its ring light-esque modifier will make it faster and easier to create high-quality images for photographers at any level, and at an affordable price.
According to the company, the H18 modifier was designed to transform small product, food, and beverage photography (and video lighting) via an easy to control, versatile, and portable system.
At a glance the H18 doesn’t seem that special, but a close inspection changes that. Where you would normally find light pushing forwards out of the ring to light subjects in front of the modifier, the H18 instead has it’s diffusion pointed inwards in a patent pending “open cylindrical” design.
Image courtesy of Halim Photo
The modifier itself starts at $399 and has accessories and bundles that can bring the price up to $848 depending on how expansive you want to go. The question is, just how useful and user-friendly is it, and more importantly, is it worth the money?
Halumin H18: Design and Build Quality
The H18 modifier is pretty well built. The system itself ships in a small duffle bag and folds up much the same as a standard reflector would to save space and travel easier. It’s made with a very rugged and durable polyester ripstop laminate, nylon, and even tempered steel with tough rubber tabs on key stress points of the device to reduce wear and tear along the edges.
The thicker fabric is supposed to enhance the durability of the modifier and minimize any chance of light leakage, ensuring the only place light should come out from is the intended inner circle which is enhanced by the use of an inner lining of reflective silver.
While that is true where it counts, my unit did exhibit a little bit of leakage along the inner seam where the diffusion panel is connected. It is quite minimal and you can only see it if you are actually looking for it. In real-world usage this is completely unnoticeable to the eye and had basically zero effect on the actual images captured, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention it.
When opened and assembled, the H18 modifier has an interior “Staging Area” of 18 inches and measures 36x 36 x 8 inches in total, basically allowing for a shoot space of about four by four feet if you’re in a pinch for space. When collapsed and in it’s travel bag, the H18 measures just about 15 x 15 x 8 inches (if you don’t make use of the speed-light pouches) making it very easy to store and travel with when compared to many other light modifiers . The bag includes two pouches to carry speed-lights (or other small sized accessories) that can fit most speed-lights on the market, including the larger Profoto A, Westcott FJ80, and Godox “round” style heads.
The outer ring of the modifier has several fixed points that help the system maintain its shape. These “ribs” are secured using velcro and positioned alone the heavy rubber points along the outer edge of the ring. Then there are the two slots on opposing sides (we’ll say they are at the three o’clock and six o’clock positions for the purposes of this review) where you can mount the lighting system of choice using the included speed-light adapters, or optional studio light mounts. These ship by default with a Bowens mount, but additional adapters can be purchased to connect to nearly any other lighting system including Profoto which I used for this review.
The speedlight setup uses a system of snap-ties and velcro with a “rib” to connect to either side of the modifier, whereas the studio light uses larger metal and plastic clamp-based designed that connect over the thick rubber outer lining of the modifier . Even though its quite a simple setup, it can feel pretty confusing at first, so I’d recommend taking the time to watch a setup guide just so you don’t waste time.
Inside of the ring where the diffusion is, you may notice two thick rings of a heavy-duty velcro like material. These are built to act as a sort of “barn-door” to give you more control over how much light you want to spread on your subjects. This includes the use of some included “blackout materials” which we’ll dive into in the section below on using the modifier.
Finally, the Halumin H18 modifier has an optional $269 accessory leg which locks onto the support ribs of the modifier and can articulate in nearly any direction to help support the H18 and its attached lights in a variety of positions. You can use these to help balance the modifier when being used at an angle or even as a “stand” to hold the modifier upright.
The collapsable leg(s) can extend out to 30 inches (13 inches collapsed) giving users a flexible range of lengths and angles to position them. At first they felt rather clunky, but after a bit of practice it started to feel second in nature for helping balance tricky angles and setups.
Halumin H18: How Do You Use It?
If you don’t read the instructions (or watch the handy series of YouTube videos) the first setup can be a little confusing, but even then it didn’t take me long to figure out.
Once you figure out the intricacies of the H18, setting it up using either speed-lights, LED’s, or strobes shouldn’t take you any more than a few minutes. Depending on the complexity of your lights attached and if you need stand support, it might take you a bit longer to reposition the lights the way you want than to set it up or tear it down.
When you first take the modifier out, you need to connect a few rigid “ribs” along the outer lining to keep the system expanded for use. These are positioned along the four corners of the modifier with openings at the three o’clock and six o’clock positions to mount the light of choice for your shoot. If you use the speed-light option, the H18 has a built-in reflective cover to fold over the speed-light to ensure there’s no light leaked when in use.
If you use the strobe/LED mount option, the base of the mount covers the entire opening, ensuring the light goes exactly where it’s needed and nothing is spilled out of the sides.
As I mentioned, the inner ring of the H18 has a set of 360-degree velcro “barn doors” that when turned inward keep the light contained in a really narrow area with a hard drop off. The idea here is that you can isolate the light in a tight space and only light your subject and not spill out onto the background. If you flip one of the rings outwards, it lets light come out at a wider angle. This lets you get a little more light on the product and/or the background.
Additionally, you can also flip part of the ring on both sides open to allow the light to be stronger on one side of the ring so you can manipulate the light by having to change the settings of each flash as often.
Since they are Velcro you can control the light even more by taking the included blackout strips and using them totally block the light from select areas. According to the company, “This is for situations like, if you have a reflection on part of your subject that you want to eliminate or some of your subject is too close to the edge of the ring and you want to block that light so it’s not hot in that spot.”
The design itself is meant to be able to reduce the number of lights and modifiers needed to achieve a soft all-encompassing light setup which would typically need four or more lights to achieve a similar look, so while it still feels a bit big, it really does cut down on the space and quantity of lights needed to get a very smooth looking product shot. This was especially useful for me, being rather new to that side of the world of photography.
Halumin H18: Performance and Results
I tested the Halumin H18 in a few different setups from the small dining area of my home to some lay-flat and table setups in the studio to see just how good it was, and maybe it was the beginner product photographer in me speaking, but I was pretty impressed with it. Yes it’s kind of weird to look at, but it actually works really well, especially if you want to create that dramatic product shot.
For the first few tests, I used a C-stand arm with a Manfrotto/Lastolite micro-arm and mini-clamp combination to hold a bunch of different items and almost straight out of the camera they were ready to release.
To clean things up a little better and reduce my editing time, I simply draped a black t-shirt over the reflective c-stand arm and was left with just photoshopping out the actual “clamp” for the final shot. Other than adjusting my exposure, it was pretty easy to get a great shot right out of the camera. Granted, the images could have been made much more attractive had I added additional lights or colored gels for the background but I wanted to focus on using the Halumin H18 on its own to show what it is actually capable of.
Halumin H18: Awkward At First, But Incredibly Useful
In each of the vertical floating setup, lay-flat, and the corner/table setup, the $399 Halumin H18 Light Modifier was the only light used, and each shot was used with the modifier positioned at a few different angles with the inner “ barn doors” held in a variety of positions to make subtle changes to the lighting. But in each and every case, it was clear that the H18 Softlight handled the reflections on shiny objects exceptionally well, making it an ideal tool for those who are serious about food, beverage and product photography.
Being new to that world myself, It was kind of exciting to be able to capture images this way with such ease, especially since the modifier on its own seemed to make the product shot with it just pop out of the background. It was pretty quickly clear that spending more time finding the right angles or adding additional accent lights could make the product shot with this modifier absolutely jump off the screen. The only downside would be if you had to photograph larger products, then this modifier would be effectively useless for you.
For many new to the product world, the cost of entry may be a bit of a deterrent given that the modifier starts at $399 for the base system and goes up to as much as $848 for a bundle with the accessory legs and adapter mounts for studio lighting (more if you need to buy adapters for a light other than Bowens)
But, given that good product photography lighting, sets, accessories and props are expensive, adding a high qualify modifier like the H18 just makes sense as it can significantly cut down the amount of gear and lighting required to get “the shot” as well as save you a ton of time both on set and in post production.
Are There Alternatives?
One alternative that is kind of close in the end result would be a much more affordable $139 V-Flat World Light Cone bundle by Karl Taylor which would require additional setups but can deliver somewhat similar ending images.
Outside of that though, there really isn’t any other close alternative which makes the Halumin H18 modifier unique. Yes, there are tons of other ring-lights out there, but they are all front-facing designs, not “inwards” as the H18 acts. Meaning, you can get other similar shaped light modifiers, but they would require a significant amount of additional customization to even begin to get close to replicating the setup, which would defeat the entire purpose, and likely make the cost and or space required to use much more significant.
Should You Buy It?
Yes, if you’re serious about food, beverage, and product photography.
We present to you the latest Album Titled “Uthingo Le Nkosazana” from Nkosazana DaughterFt. Murumba Pitch & Young Jonn, Nkosazana Daughter release a new album download that hits the internet today and we are delighted to inform you of the latest fresh out of the Conner. This zip album covers multiples songs and that’s what the fans have been waiting for. A top request from fans this period,
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Ring Ring Ring (feat. Master KG, Lowsheen & Murumba Pitch) (feat. Murumba Pitch)
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valentines
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Known for melding poetic introspection in soul-stirring melodies, US-based singer-songwriter Ben Freeman weaves intimate adventure into his music. First releasing his EP Providence in 2015, Freeman’s journey began quite a few years ago; however, it was only several years later that he “…arrived in a place of wanting to make music in a sustained way…the first summer of the pandemic became the context where a lot of other things that had previously seemed important fell away and I was able to get real with myself that this is what I wanted to do” (quote taken from our interview with Ben Freeman). The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘Long Distance’.
Following his well-received album Quiet Fury, ‘Long Distance’ is Freeman’s first release in 2023. A collaborative project with long-time friend, collaborator and fellow artist Nora Rothman, ‘Long Distance’ oozes old-school soul with a passionate slick of alternative pop. The multi-layered vocals showcase not only Rothman’s inspiring voice but also Freeman’s wide vocal range. Bold and starting with a hint of soulful sensuality, ‘Long Distance’ is one of those tracks you could play alongside Sade. Yet, while there is a nostalgic flair to the melody, it has a contemporary feel making it perfect for a Bruno Mars meets Shawn Mendes playlist.
Produced with Jackson Hoffman at Hoffman’s studio in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, ‘Long Distance’ is the first track off Freeman’s upcoming EP. Groovy and laid back, the single has an elegant charm in its sophisticated arrangement. Yet, it appears to look at the core of human feeling in an intimate, slightly vulnerable way. Freeman explains that “this is a song about feeling close and far from someone at the same time. It’s nostalgia, ambivalence and desire in sonic form…”
For more from Ben Freeman, check out his Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
We present to you the latest Album Titled “4GOD II” from Rob49 Ft. Roddy Ricch, G Herbo, Trippie Redd & NoCap, Rob49 release a new album download that hits the internet today and we are delighted to inform you of the latest fresh out of the Conner. This zip album covers multiples songs and that’s what the fans have been waiting for. A top request from fans this period,
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ALBUM: Sexyy Red – Hood Hottest Princess (Zip)
ALBUM: Janelle Monáe – The Age of Pleasure (Zip)
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Bentley Mulsanne
Woedy
Cuz I
TRX (feat. Roddy Rich)
Tweakin’
Pill Head
I Believe You (Lick Me)
Shake Sum
Staying to Myself
BMF
pressure
Flex Hard
Scheme (feat. G Herbo)
4GOD II
Hate It or Love It
My Hittas (feat. Trippie Redd)
No Love (feat. NoCap)
To Serve You Better! IF you Experience difficulties trying to download any of our song(s), PLEASE Kindly hit the contact us page or use the chat-us button below the left-bottom of the screen.
Despite being only 19 years old, a freshman in college, singer-songwriter Sean Kennedy has the sophistication, maturity and elegance to stand up among his contemporaries. We spoke with Kennedy about his new album Forever Usbeing a musician in the 21st century, and much more.
OSR: What does music mean to you?
Kennedy: Music is my way of expressing myself. Each of my records is like a time capsule that preserves the emotions and stories of myself from that time.
OSR: What inspired you to become a musician?
Kennedy: I started writing songs when I was 9 years old, and I immediately fell in love with it. I did it every day and eventually, I learned how to record. I started putting out music because I wanted to share what I had been making with the world, and I haven’t stopped since.
OSR: What can you tell us about your album Forever Us? Is there a backstory or theme to it?
Kennedy:Forever Us is a very special album for me. It’s about my first relationship, and the emotions surrounding it as I was getting ready to leave school. It’s a record that revolves around love and loss, but at its center, it’s an album about feeling lucky enough to experience love. It’s very different both sonically and thematically from my previous work.
OSR: What was the most exciting and least exciting thing about creating Forever Us?
Kennedy: Making this record was beyond exciting. Working with Francesco Massidda, a producer from Italy, was so creatively fulfilling. My last three records were made primarily on my own, so working with different collaborators, especially my friends, this time around was such a nice change. I don’t think there was anything not exciting about this album’s process.
OSR: What do you hope people take from your music?
Kennedy: I hope people find themselves within my music. I want people to be able to take my songs and set them for their own lives.
OSR: If you could change one thing about Forever Us, what would it be?
Kennedy: I took some time off between my last album and this one to really hone in on my craft and conceptualize a clear idea of what I wanted the next record to sound like. This album is exactly what I set out for it to be, so I don’t think I’d change anything about it
OSR: Of all the songs you have ever released, which is your absolute favorite and why is that one?
Kennedy: My absolute favorite song tends to change a lot. I don’t listen to my music much after it’s been released, so I think my favorite always tends to be whatever I’m currently working on. The song ‘Golden’ on this record is one of my current favourites, though.
OSR: What bad decision did you make that turned out to be a good decision?
Kennedy: I think some people in my life were very pessimistic when I made plans to release my debut single. I had just turned 15, I didn’t know what mixing or mastering was, and I was doing it all on my own. Some people told me I should wait, but I think releasing that song was the best decision I’ve ever made. It introduced me to the music industry and I wouldn’t be where I am today without it.
OSR: What do you think are the challenges and advantages of being a musician in this digital era?
Kennedy: I think the digital age made it possible for artists like myself to get out there without signing to a label first. Just a few years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to just decide to start releasing music. I think the downside to this is that the market is more oversaturated than ever, so it can be hard to stand out.
OSR: Do you have future plans as an artist?
Kennedy: I’m not sure what the future holds for me after this album. For so long I felt the need to always have a plan and I like that recently I’ve been letting the music come to me instead. I’ve been in talks with some very cool people within the industry, so I’m very excited to see what the future holds.
OSR: What message do you have for our readers?
Kennedy: I would tell the readers to remember to find the purpose in everything they do. Don’t go through the motions, find meaning.
Many thanks to Sean Kennedy for speaking with us. For more from Sean Kennedy, check out his official website, Facebook, TwitterInstagram and Spotify.
We present to you the latest Album Titled “Pistolz & Pearlz” from Kodak Black Ft. VVSNCE, Loe Shimmy, GorditoFlo, EST Gee, Lil Crix, Syko Bob, Wam SpinThaBin & WizDaWizard, Kodak Black release a new album download that hits the internet today and we are delighted to inform you of the latest fresh out of the Conner. This zip album covers multiples songs and that’s what the fans have been waiting for. A top request from fans this period,
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Pistolz & Pearlz
Roses (feat. VVSNCE) (feat. VVSNCE)
Get Away (feat. Loe Shimmy) (feat. Loe Shimmy)
Flirting With Death (feat. GorditoFlo) (feat. GorditoFlo)
Dirt McGerk (feat. EST Gee & Lil Crix) (feat. EST Gee & Lil Crix)
Dope Boy Magic
Tryna Figure Why
Follow Me
Murder Mystery
Church On Saturday (feat. WizDaWizard, Wam SpinThaBin & Syko Bob) (feat. Syko Bob, Wam SpinThaBin & WizDaWizard)
Beretta Love
X&O’s
DieToday
Gunsmoke Town
That For Real
A Beautiful Rainbow
Snipers And Robbers
balance
No Love For A Thug
Stay
Down With You
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We present to you the latest EP collection Titled “Sweetboy Savage” from Eugy Ft. Maleek Berry & LADIPOE, Eugy release a new album download which hit the internet today and we are delighted to inform you the latest fresh out of the Conner. This zip covers multiple songs and that’s what the fans have been waiting for. A top request from fans this period,
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I’ll Be There
Bring Your Body Down
Let Me Treat You
Push It To The Limit
Medicine (feat. Maleek Berry & LADIPOE)
Enough For Me
Thinking Bout You
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Even though teenage bands are not something new, I continue to be amazed at the amazing talent coming from adolescents these days. One of the more intriguing teenage bands to hit my virtual desk is Culture Shock!. Originally formed about four years ago by Ben Archer (bass and vocals) and Ethan Reinek (drums), Culture Shock! began as some jamming between old friends. In 2020, the lads met Travis Rains (guitar and mouth noises) and they haven’t looked back since. The latest addition to their discography is the single ‘Empire’.
Inspired by the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Santana, TOOL and Muse, one can imagine the US-based trio to have a hard-hitting rock sound – and this is just what we get from them. Following their debut single ‘Flashflood’, ‘Empire’ has a nostalgic breath fluttering through the melody with inclinations to Nirvana and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Yet, we also hear tinges of TOOL and System of a Down flickering in the hard-hitting tune.
Leaning toward the sounds of the 90s, I feel very comfortable listening to Culture Shock! and remember rocking about to CDs in my bedroom. I can feel the blare of scorching music blasting from my speakers – then I need to remind myself that this is not Nirvana or Green Day. While the eclectic arrangement elegantly staggers pounding drums, powerful guitars and gruff vocals, there is an eccentric whole where all aspects harmonically come together.
Recorded at Cape Coral, Florida’s The Star Sound Studio, Culture Shock! worked with an engineer to create something raw and brutal, but also soothing and soul-stirring. It is this raw oozing edginess from the gruff instrumentation that makes ‘Empire’ palpably gritty. In other words, the kids seem really naïve, but this immaturity masks an overwhelming sophistication. This is only their sophomore single, so I cannot wait to hear what else Culture Shock! has in store.
For more information about Culture Shock!, check out their official website, Facebook, TwitterInstagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
