Lawrence of Arabia changed cinema for good when it premiered 62 years ago. It also changed the life of one Toni Avril Gardiner. Now Princess Muna al-Hussein, mother of King Abdullah II of Jordan, the officer's daughter met a King when she was working on the set of David Lean's epic. The rest, as they say, is history. Melanie Hamrick has hung up her ballet shoes, but she’s not standing still. Between raising her son with Mick Jagger and choreographing a Rolling Stones ballet, she’s written two racy novels. In Tatler’s October 2024 issue, Rachel Johnson met Melanie Toni Avril Gardiner was born on 25 April 1941, Her father, Walter Percy ‘Tony’ Gardiner, joined the Army as a carpenter and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, while little is known of her mother, Doris Sutton. Toni spent part of her childhood abroad, including a stint in Kuala Lumpur. It is through her father’s international Army career that she ended up meeting King Hussein of Jordan, who would become her husband. King Hussein of Jordan and his wife Princess Muna al-Hussein attending a banquet at the Dorchester Hotel Princess Muna al-Hussein of Jordan with her twin daughters Princesses Aisha and Zein in 1970 Julian Fellowes’s American answer to Downton Abbey is returning to HBO, and a first look at the new season shows that times truly are changing for the Manhattan elite King Hussein of Jordan with Princess Muna and their twin daughters Princess Aisha and Princess Zein There are conflicting reports as to how this young king already a divorcé and father of a young daughter came to meet the then 19-year-old Toni Gardiner The Daily Telegraph reported at the time of Lieutenant-Colonel Gardiner’s death in 2011 that the teenager had been visiting her father in Jordan at the time had travelled out to stay with her parents securing a job at Jordan Radio and as a secretarial assistant on the set of the film Lawrence of Arabia,’ the article notes would occasionally visit to see how things were progressing which the King attended in a pirate’s outfit Toni Gardiner remarked: “It makes you look rather scruffy Your Majesty.” He was later to write: “For the first time in my life here was a girl who took an interest in me as a human being and not as a King”.’ Princess Muna at the royal wedding of her grandson Crown Prince Hussein Princess Muna with Sir Roger Moore at Elstree studios Rebel Revels: The royal brides and grooms who had unconventional weddingsBy Rebecca CopeRead MorePrincess Muna with her daughter-in-law, Queen Rania, at the wedding of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, 2004 As the king’s eldest son, Abdullah became heir apparent to the Jordanian throne. But, concerned about ongoing political instability, King Hussein chose to name an adult heir in his place: his younger brother, Prince Hassan. Hassan remained as regent from 1965 until 1999, when King Hussein updated his wishes and made Abdullah his heir just weeks before his death from cancer. Princess Muna has never remarried and continues to be based in Jordan, where she founded the Princess Muna Scholarship Fund for Nursing and the Princess Muna College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions. The British princess attended the wedding of her son to Queen Rania and remains a presence in the lives of her grandchildren, as the touching photos from Princess Iman’s wedding prove. Queen Elizabeth II’s life in pictures: 100 moments that made Her MajestyBy Isaac BickerstaffRead MorePrincess Muna (right in green) watches her granddaughter Princess Iman marry Jameel Alexander Thermiótis In Tokyo 2020, Muna competed as part of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team in the mixed team and -63kg events. She was also a member of the Refugee Olympic Team at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Dacus also brought out Irish crooner Hozier to sing “Bullseye” with her on a lovely blue velvet couch do people just like Hozier because he’s nice or does he have some music I don’t know about that doesn’t sound like Obama getting inaugurated — Daniel Bromfield (@bromf3) April 24, 2025 The most important stories and least important memes, every Friday. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. "Muna is a great addition to our team and staff," said Thomas. "She has coached athletes to run fast and be successful at championship meets but just as importantly she brings unparalleled experience from her collegiate, professional and Olympic career." Lee competed for 12 years professionally before transitioning to the coaching side for the last six years. She owns Top Tier Speed and Performance where she does private training for all ages of youth sports. She spent the 2024 season on staff at Tarleton State. Six Texans sprinters finished in the top three of their respective events at the 2024 WAC Outdoor Track Championships. Lee served on the Tennessee State staff for one season before her time at Tarleton State. Other stops along the way include Texas A&M, LSU, and Carson High School in Carson, California. Prior to her time on Tennessee State's staff, Lee made her way to UMKC, where she was an assistant coach for the Roos for three seasons. Lee spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons at Hendrix College, and helped lead athletes to eight individual conference championships, a pair of runner-up finishes and a sweep of the podium in the women's 100m hurdles in 2018. She also had four athletes achieve school record performances. She competed for four seasons at LSU from 2001-04 before making the jump to the professional ranks. She was a seven-time NCAA Champion, 12-time SEC Champion, and a 21-time All-American, notching herself as the most decorated athlete in LSU history. Lee graduated from LSU with her bachelor's in interdisciplinary studies, with minors in Communication Studies and Sports Studies. She also competed at the 2000 U.S. Olympic trials as a senior in high school, finishing with a best of 11.36 in the 100m dash, making her the fastest high school female in the nation. She is also a USATF level one certified coach, with distinction in sprints and hurdles. Lee was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, but was raised in Kansas City, Missouri. Russia’s Destruction of Ukraine’s Environment has National and International – and Personal – Consequences by THE FRONT Memories of ‘Phantom Utopias’ Are Paving the Way for Fascism Around the Globe  by History Bites Fighting Fires: A Win in Wisconsin and Cory Booker’s Stem-Winder Encourage Democracy Marchers by SOUNDS OF THE CITY So Angry You Could … Sing? by SOUNDS OF THE CITY Rocking the House for Tibet House  by BOOKS Long Before ‘The Godfather,’ Mario Puzo Put the Unspeakable Into Print by FILM Review: A ‘Bonjour Tristesse’ Update Swoons Amid Riviera Vacation Porn by Theater In ‘Just in Time,’ Jonathan Groff Shines as Bobby Darin  by Onlyfans A group of us flew to Sydney for a joint birthday trip and caught the only headline show they were doing in Austrailia Our flight got delayed and we ended up racing across the city to dump our stuff at a hostel and made it just in time for their set It was sweltering weather and we were packed inside the venue And then the second the intro music started it was like One-Direction-circa-2014 mania from the audience I was so completely in my body for the entire set which I think is actually the whole point of pop And it’s also about hearing the stranger next to you turn to their friend in between every song and go “Oh my god they are so hot oh my god oh my god.” God bless MUNA Stella Bridie performs at Night Club 101 on March 9. Her Speaking Terms EP is out now. NOTE: The advertising disclaimer below does not apply to this article, nor any originating from the Village Voice editorial department, which does not accept paid links. Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting the Village Voice and our advertisers. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno says he has resettled 6,000 families displaced by insurgency in Dikwa and Mafa Local Government Areas Mr Zulum disclosed this on Monday during a visit to the Muna Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Maiduguri which he announced plans to close down within the next few weeks The governor said the resettlement exercise was due to increased illicit activities within the camp Mr Zulum cited increasing incidents of prostitution child abuse and other crimes within the camp saying such conditions undermined efforts at restoring normalcy “Boko Haram can never be eradicated without resettlement People have to go back to their homes and earn their livelihood,” he said The governor said each of the 6,000 families would receive food items each male and female head of households would receive N100 researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories —no paywalls Mr Zulum said his administration had earlier committed to closing all formal IDP camps in Maiduguri a target that had largely been met with the closure of about 12 camps “About 75 per cent of the IDPs here at Muna have been resettled The remaining 25 per cent will return to their ancestral homes in the coming days,” he said Mr Zulum said that the decision to shut down the Muna camp was in line with his administration’s ongoing efforts to close all formal IDP camps within Maiduguri and its environs READ ALSO: Bandits kill 11 vigilante members in Bauchi oil community The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Muna established at the height of the humanitarian crisis in the state currently hosts about 10,000 displaced persons noted that about 75 per cent of its residents had already been resettled He assured the remaining inhabitants that the government would support their efforts to improve their means of livelihood as they prepared to return to their communities He said the camp’s closure would mark another significant step in the state’s transition from emergency humanitarian response to long-term recovery and resettlement NAN also reports that during his first term, Zulum had pledged to close all IDP camps in the state capital, and has closed more than 12 already. (NAN) Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility we firmly believe in the importance of high-quality journalism Recognizing that not everyone can afford costly news subscriptions we are dedicated to delivering meticulously researched fact-checked news that remains freely accessible to all Whether you turn to Premium Times for daily updates in-depth investigations into pressing national issues It’s essential to acknowledge that news production incurs expenses and we take pride in never placing our stories behind a prohibitive paywall Would you consider supporting us with a modest contribution on a monthly basis to help maintain our commitment to free TEXT AD: Call Willie - +2348098788999 All content is Copyrighted © 2025 The Premium Times, Nigeria Please enter your username or email address to reset your password All content is Copyrighted © 2025 The Premium Times, Nigeria 2024Who Is Katie Gavin Without Muna?On her new solo album the 31-year-old artist debuts “a slightly more human-size part of myself.” Photograph by Alexa VisciusNot long after Katie Gavin released “Aftertaste” this summer, a murmur of unease rippled through the Muna fandom has been known primarily as a member of the band alongside Naomi McPherson and Josette Maskin “Have you guys seen the comments of people that are really scared about Muna?” Gavin said on their podcast “We’re still coming for your ass,” Gavin added “Aftertaste” was the first single from Gavin’s new album, What a Relief, out Oct. 25—her debut as a solo artist. The record traces roughly the same period as the three records that make up Muna’s discography, as well as virtually the entirety of Gavin’s twenties. When she wrote “Casual Drug Use” in 2016 she intended for it to appear on Muna’s debut “Sketches” ended up on Saves the World; and she wrote “Aftertaste” on the same day as “Silk Chiffon,” the effervescent the boundary between Gavin solo and Gavin as one-third of Muna appears blurry Gavin has turned up the dials on her folk-country influences even further—inspired by the singer-songwriters she grew up listening to The songs feel lived-in and familiar; several times while listening to the record I paused a song to try to place what it reminded me of I realized it didn’t sound quite like anything but it inspired this strange feeling of recognition I ask Gavin whether releasing a debut that is also her fourth album still feels like a debut slightly more human-size part of myself,” she says “It’s a debut of something that’s a little more intimate—that didn’t fit up until now in the Muna world.” A Muna song becomes part of the Muna world through an alchemy that even Gavin can’t quite explain “It’s kind of one of those things where you just have to be in the room when we are talking about it,” she says She was sitting on a trove of unreleased songs when Muna signed to the Dead Oceans imprint Saddest Factory in 2021 The songs had been an outlet that allowed her to grow in a different direction from the main project especially after the band “started becoming a real thing,” came with all these preconceptions about who the band was She brought recordings she’d made to Bridgers “I just knew that it was going to be good for me—and Naomi and Jo knew this too,” she says I want them to be out and I want people to be interacting with them.” and Josette Maskin of Muna perform at the All Things Go Music Festival on September 28 Gavin recorded What a Relief with the producer Tony Berg (who also produced both of Bridgers’s albums) at Sound City Studios in Los Angeles earlier this year she really came into the studio as a songwriter,” says the musician Nana Adjoa who engineered and played bass on the record During Gavin’s sessions, Berg was recording with another artist: Sarah McLachlan. It was an unexpected alignment, given the inspiration Gavin found in Lilith Fair the music festival that McLachlan organized in 1997 “Any music where people of marginalized genders are exploring their identities as subjects in a nuanced way,” Gavin says “that doesn’t concern itself primarily with being likable or fuckable When Gavin sets out on tour this fall, accompanied by Adjoa, she’s going to play the fiddle parts herself. They wanted to challenge themselves, Adjoa says, to be ambitious. In the scheme of things, this might just be a tiny evolution. But it’s an evolution nevertheless. Borno State Governor has announced that the Muna Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp will be closed within the next two weeks is one of the largest camps housing displaced persons at the height of the humanitarian crisis in the state Announcing the closure during an early morning visit to the camp on Monday Governor Zulum promised to support and improve their means of livelihood the governor resettled 75 percent of the IDPs in the camp to areas where security situation improved in six local government areas of Bama IDPs from areas with security challenges in Mafa and Dikwa local government areas where left in the camp they made appeal through the media that the governor should consider returning them to their ancestral homes if security certify the location safe for return the governor pledged to close all camps within Maiduguri and its surrounding areas a goal he has largely achieved by shutting down more than twelve camps UPDATE NEWS: Nigerians can now earn US Dollars through domain flipping buy domain names for cheap and have it resold to earn up to $15,000 Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You Multi-year effort leverages Muna's all-in-human MiND-MAP spatial multi-omics approach to identify and validate new drug targets and treatment pathways for Alzheimer's disease validated Alzheimer's-relevant targets for drug discovery 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Muna Therapeutics (Muna) a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases today announced a research alliance with GSK to identify and validate novel drug targets for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease The companies will explore insights from Muna's MiND-MAP platform which applies spatial transcriptomics to brain samples from Alzheimer's disease patients and centenarians with and without cognitive impairment This unique dataset of exceptional breadth and resolution will fuel the discovery and development of innovative medicines for Alzheimer's disease Muna and GSK will assess postmortem human brain samples with spatial transcriptomics and other approaches to identify and validate potential new drug targets The collaboration leverages Muna's deep expertise in mapping the brain's response to pathological protein aggregates and its all-in-human platform to identify cellular mechanisms and molecular interactions that underlie brain resilience Candidate drug targets will be validated using Muna's suite of humanized cell and animal models supported by insights from patient tissue and biofluid samples "Our agreement marks a pivotal moment in Muna's evolution and in the broader Alzheimer's research landscape," said Rita Balice-Gordon "By combining GSK's commitment to breakthrough science with our MiND-MAP platform's ability to deliver novel insights into brain resilience we aim to transform the landscape of drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases and bring new hope to millions of patients worldwide." Muna will receive an upfront payment from GSK of €33.5 million Muna will be eligible to receive up to €140 million per target in milestone payments as well as tiered royalties on net sales of products Muna will expand and enhance its existing MiND-MAP dataset and will lead the identification and validation of new Alzheimer's disease targets GSK will lead drug development and be responsible for preclinical activities and commercialization resulting from work on targets discovered and validated in the collaboration "By applying spatial multi-omics to unique patient phenotypes Muna's MiND-MAP platform is able to determine the genetic and cellular basis of progression and resilience in neurodegenerative diseases," said Kaivan Khavandi M.D. SVP & Global Head of Respiratory/Immunology R&D at GSK "The alliance exemplifies our discovery ethos to utilize advanced data and platform tech to identify high-confidence which we can support with GSK's scale and expertise in clinical development and commercialization to bring desperately needed new therapeutic solutions in Alzheimer's disease." Media Contact:Lia DangelicoDeerfield GroupEmail: [email protected] Do not sell or share my personal information: Menu Listen and Many More Set for G*VE A F*CK LA Benefit Concert for LA Fire Relief will also perform on February 5 at Hollywood Palladium With 232 pages and an expanded 12″ by 12″ format our biggest print issue yet celebrates the people and Phoebe Bridgers’ Saddest Factory Records the sophomore album from the endearing Brighton duo is a jolt of punk-rock beauty The NYC-based project’s second album delights in its confident sense of chaos with vocalist Cole Haden knowing full well there’s no way we’re going to avert our gaze for a single moment Channeling Ziggy Stardust’s glam transcendence Will Toledo resurrects the album as a grandiose narrative vehicle while marking his valiant stride into the rock canon The just-announced benefit concert and auction on Wednesday February 5 at Hollywood Palladium will feature a head-spinning array of so many outright awesome music luminaries from LA and beyond along with DJ sets from Fat Tony and Harmony Tividad and a plant-based food drive in partnership with Support + Feed 100% of net ticket proceeds will benefit local organizations Altadena Girls, Friends in Deed, One Voice, and Pasadena Humane Society with all venue and ticketing service fees waived for the event by Live Nation Tickets will go on sale tomorrow, Tuesday, January 29th at 12:00 PM PST here MEDIA CONTACTS: Newsroom@ana.org (October 31, 2024, Silver Spring, MD) - Today, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) presented Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu chief nursing officer (CNO) of the World Health Organization (WHO) with the prestigious HRH Princess Muna Al Hussein Award This distinguished award recognizes individuals who have contributed significantly to international health care and demonstrated an exceptional dedication to nursing The award was conferred at the co-located ANCC National Magnet Conference® and ANCC Pathway to Excellence Conference® in New Orleans Tuipulotu’s commendable leadership and commitment to transforming global health systems for the benefit of nurses and midwives made her a clear standout for this award,” said ANCC President Laura J “Her impact on the nursing profession not only in her home country of Tonga but also worldwide It is my great honor to recognize her for her extraordinary service to the nursing profession and to public health globally.” Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu made history as the first female Minister for Health for the Kingdom of Tonga successfully leading the nation’s response to a challenging measles outbreak in 2019 impacting Tonga and the subsequent response to the COVID-19 pandemic both emergencies were managed without reported deaths She served as Tonga’s National CNO and contributed to the development of the Tonga National Professional Standards for registered nurses Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu has received various accolades for her contributions to international health care including the Knight Grand Cross: Royal Order of the Crown of the Kingdom of Tonga Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu was also named an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 2024 and holds an Adjunct Professorship from the University of Sydney Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu serves on the WHO Executive Board in addition to her current position as CNO of WHO where she champions the largest global health workforce of nurses and midwives she continues to drive health system reforms to promote health equity and the well-being of vulnerable populations worldwide The HRH Princess Muna Al Hussein Award is named in honor of Her Royal Highness Princess Muna Al Hussein of Jordan reflecting her deep commitment to advancing nursing on a global scale Recipients are selected by the ANCC president and the award is conferred when an individual’s contributions merit this distinguished honor Muna, established at the height of the humanitarian crisis in Borno, currently hosts about 10,000 displaced persons. Governor Babagana Zulum has announced plans to shutter the Muna IDP camp in Maiduguri within the next few weeks. The governor announced this during an early morning visit to the camp on Monday. Mr Zulum said the decision to shut down the camp was in line with his administration’s ongoing efforts to close all formal IDP camps within Maiduguri and its environs. The governor, however, noted that about 75 per cent of its residents had already been resettled. He assured the remaining inhabitants that the government would support improving their livelihood as they prepare to return to their communities. Mr Zulum noted that the camp’s closure would mark another significant step in the state’s transition from emergency humanitarian response to long-term recovery and resettlement. During his first term, Mr Zulum had pledged to close all IDP camps in the state capital, a goal he has largely achieved with the closure of more than 12 camps already. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices “Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.” “We are ready to discuss a candidate and launch the no-confidence process without any preconditions,” said the faction leader was bought by Endless in 2020 from Premier Foods The Securities and Exchange Commission says it has begun a technology adoption assessment for capital market operators registered by the SEC The calls were made in Abuja at a two-day workshop on National Dialogue on Business and Human Rights and Yobe have urged their governments to adopt new strategies to tackle crop theft and insurgents’ attacks ahead of the farming season The Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency has announced that it would begin airlifting of 2025 intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Hajj on May 14 © 2025 Peoples Gazette™ Limited Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso police arrested a 34-year-old Army sergeant from Fort Bliss on Wednesday for sexually abusing a 12-year-old for over six months According to an arrest report by the El Paso Police Department Jasery Manglona Muna is facing charges in connection to the sexual abuse of a teenager that happened from June 11 The report describes a forensic interview where the 12-year-old victim described the alleged abuse to an interviewer at the Advocacy Center for the Children of El Paso the victim described how Muna would allegedly grope them and have sex with them at least once a week for several months A spokesperson for Fort Bliss confirmed Muna is an infantryman assigned to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team They said the 1st Armored Division is cooperating with authorities as the investigation develops Muna was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility with a $200,000 split bond This is a developing story; check back for updates RECOMMENDED: Three men arrested in El Paso for following and robbing 78-year-old man after bank visit RECOMMENDED: El Paso man accused of 2024 kidnapping arrested again, now faces rape charges Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox The University of Nebraska–Lincoln's MUNA is hosting its fourth annual Minecraft Bedwars tournament which is a minigame similar to capture-the-flag The tournament is open to the public and all skill levels MUNA is a registered student organization oriented toward pre-med students that works to build a strong community by uniting public health and service. Some parts of this site work best with JavaScript enabled. SearchSearchThomas Announces the Hiring of Former Olympian Muna Lee8/9/2024 4:10:00 PM | Track & Field BIRMINGHAM - UAB Women's Track & Field coach Kurt Thomas announced the hiring of assistant track & field coach Muna Lee on Friday comes to the Southside from Tarleton State "Muna is a great addition to our team and staff," said Thomas "She has coached athletes to run fast and be successful at championship meets but just as importantly she brings unparalleled experience from her collegiate Lee competed for 12 years professionally before transitioning to the coaching side for the last six years She owns Top Tier Speed and Performance where she does private training for all ages of youth sports She spent the 2024 season on staff at Tarleton State Six Texans sprinters finished in the top three of their respective events at the 2024 WAC Outdoor Track Championships Lee served on the Tennessee State staff for one season before her time at Tarleton State Other stops along the way include Texas A&M Prior to her time on Tennessee State's staff where she was an assistant coach for the Roos for three seasons Lee spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons at Hendrix College and helped lead athletes to eight individual conference championships a pair of runner-up finishes and a sweep of the podium in the women's 100m hurdles in 2018 She also had four athletes achieve school record performances She competed for four seasons at LSU from 2001-04 before making the jump to the professional ranks notching herself as the most decorated athlete in LSU history Lee graduated from LSU with her bachelor's in interdisciplinary studies with minors in Communication Studies and Sports Studies finishing with a best of 11.36 in the 100m dash making her the fastest high school female in the nation She is also a USATF level one certified coach follow @UAB_TF_XC on Instagram and Twitter Watch Katie’s full acoustic set exclusively on the SiriusXM app SiriusXM’s The Coffee House channel features a laid-back mix of acoustic and stripped-down songs that invite you to settle in and unplug from the world outside News and moreAll in one place on the SiriusXM app Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has announced plans to close down the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Muna The governor said this during an early morning visit to the camp on Monday Mr Zulum said the decision to shut down the camp was in line with his administration’s ongoing efforts to close all formal IDP camps within Maiduguri and its environs The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Muna camp He assured the remaining inhabitants that the government would provide support to improve their means of livelihood as they prepare to return to their communities READ ALSO: Explosion rocks military detention facility in Borno He noted that the closure of the camp would mark another significant step in the state’s transition from emergency humanitarian response to long-term recovery and resettlement NAN also reports that during his first term Mr Zulum had pledged to close all IDP camps in the state capital a goal he has largely achieved with the closure of more than 12 camps already (NAN) Muna will receive an upfront payment of $35.2m from GSK Muna Therapeutics has entered a research alliance with GSK to expedite Alzheimer’s disease treatments by discovering and validating new drug targets The partnership is set to leverage Muna’s MiND-MAP platform’s spatial transcriptomics to analyse brain samples from groups including Alzheimer’s patients and cognitively resilient individuals It also utilises Muna’s expertise in mapping the response of the brain to pathological protein aggregates Muna will receive €33.5m ($35.2m) in an upfront payment from GSK which also includes potential milestone payments of €140m ($147.1m) per target plus tiered royalties on the net sales of any resulting products By examining postmortem human brain samples the companies will identify potential new drug targets which will be validated using Muna’s humanised cell and animal models suite with additional insights provided by patient tissue and biofluid samples Muna will be responsible for leading the target identification and validation while GSK will take the reins on drug development Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis Muna Therapeutics CEO Rita Balice-Gordon stated: “Our agreement marks a pivotal moment in Muna’s evolution and in the broader Alzheimer’s research landscape “By combining GSK’s commitment to breakthrough science with our MiND-MAP platform’s ability to deliver novel insights into brain resilience we aim to transform the landscape of drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases and bring new hope to millions of patients worldwide.” The MiND-MAP platform offers a dataset of breadth and resolution which is expected to drive the discovery and development of new therapies for Alzheimer’s This dataset will be expanded and enhanced as part of the alliance GSK respiratory/immunology research and development global head and SVP Kaivan Khavandi stated: “By applying spatial multi-omics to unique patient phenotypes Muna’s MiND-MAP platform can determine the genetic and cellular basis of progression and resilience in neurodegenerative diseases.” In November 2024, the European Commission approved GSK’s single-vial, fully liquid Menveo vaccine (MenACWY) Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network Muna will receive $35.2M as upfront payment from GSK and then get potential milestone payments of $147.1M per target plus tiered royalties on the net sales of any products “Our agreement marks a pivotal moment in Muna’s evolution and in the broader Alzheimer’s research landscape,” said Rita Balice-Gordon GSK secures the option to multiple high-value validated Alzheimer’s-relevant targets for drug discovery Muna’s MiND-MAP platform applies spatial transcriptomics to brain samples from Alzheimer’s disease patients Spatial transcriptomics involves the spatially resolved high-dimensional assessment of gene transcription MiND-MAP provides a dataset of “exceptional breadth and resolution [that] will fuel the discovery and development of innovative medicines for Alzheimer’s disease,” the company says The collaboration leverages Muna’s expertise in mapping the brain’s response to pathological protein aggregates and the biotech’s all-in-human platform to identify cellular mechanisms Candidate drug targets will be validated using Muna’s suite of humanized cell and animal models we aim to transform the landscape of drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases and bring new hope to millions of patients worldwide,” said Balice-Gordon Muna will expand and enhance its existing MiND-MAP dataset and will lead the identification and validation of new Alzheimer’s disease targets “By applying spatial multi-omics to unique patient phenotypes Muna’s MiND-MAP platform is able to determine the genetic and cellular basis of progression and resilience in neurodegenerative diseases,” said Kaivan Khavandi SVP & global head of respiratory/immunology R&D at GSK “The alliance exemplifies our discovery ethos which we can support with GSK’s scale and expertise in clinical development and commercialization to bring desperately needed new therapeutic solutions in Alzheimer’s disease,” he added Muna discovers and develops therapies that slow or stop neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease resulting in disability and death of millions of patients around the globe Entrepreneur® and its related marks are registered trademarks of Entrepreneur Media LLC a Dubai-based dessert brand specialising in gourmet hand-crafted rice crispy treats CrACKLES offers a distinct product made of premium ingredients using creative techniques Muna's journey began when she upgraded traditional rice crispy treats for her daughter's birthday party receiving enthusiastic feedback from guests that sparked a wave of demand the company features a variety of 12 delicious flavours and caters to an array of customers providing customized and uniquely designed desserts Operating primarily online across Dubai and the entire UAE the brand caters to customers through major delivery platforms and pop-up events Her entrepreneurial spirit has led to significant achievements including a long-list nomination for Deliveroo's restaurant awards and a successful pitch on Shark Tank Dubai where she secured a deal with three investors With plans to expand into new markets across the GCC Muna is committed to growing CrACKLES in the gourmet desserts segment before embarking on her entrepreneurial journey in Economics and French from the University of Toronto she explains how the company started and her plans for the future Can you give an overview of the size of the company today CrACKLES has grown significantly since its launch in 2021 evolving from a home-based concept into a successful brand with a dedicated production facility we are exploring expansion into other GCC countries We have seen exponential growth year over year sparks connections and creates smiles for people of all ages It introduces a unique niche in the region's dessert market We've tapped into an unmet demand for high-quality customizable rice crispy treats that blend indulgence with creativity Where do you see the company in 5 years' time I want CrACKLES to be synonymous with rice crispy treats A brand instantly recognized for its quality creativity and unique take on a nostalgic favourite treat Key milestones for the next five years would include strengthening our presence in the UAE What made you decide to leave the corporate world for a life as an entrepreneur I had a successful corporate career but I always had an entrepreneurial spirit The turning point was my daughter's birthday party where I made rice crispy treats for the first time since living in Dubai The overwhelming response from friends and family made me realize that there was an untapped market for gourmet versions of this nostalgic treat That moment sparked an idea that quickly turned into a business I was on a break from the corporate world and while returning to it would have offered stability my passion and belief in what I was creating drove me to take the leap into entrepreneurship What have been the biggest challenges you have faced Breaking into the very competitive F&B market in Dubai required more than just a great product It meant establishing a strong brand identity differentiating ourselves from well-established players (including global chains) and finding creative ways to capture customer attention in a crowded space Each of these challenges has strengthened our foundation and prepared us for even bigger opportunities Tell us more about how the company started It all started with a simple idea: making rice crispy treats for my daughter's birthday The guests loved them so much that I began receiving requests for more inspiring me to experiment with flavours and designs Rice crispy treats have always been a personal favourite since childhood What I love most about them is their versatility – they're like a blank canvas It didn't take long for me to realize that there was a gap in the market for high-quality customizable rice crispy treats That's when I decided to turn my passion project into something more What started as a fun activity quickly transformed into a thriving business What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs who want to follow in your footsteps We'll be in your inbox every morning Monday-Saturday with all the day’s top business news best advice and exclusive reporting from Entrepreneur Dahouk, who made her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, lost via. ippon to the ninth seed and two-time Olympian at the Champ-de-Mars Arena. The refugee athlete, who started judo in her home country at the age of six before fleeing to the Netherlands in 2019 because of war, was thrilled to make her second Games. “I am so happy to be here. We are showing people what the refugees can do even if we have had hard conditions, we can fight to do the impossible,” said Dahouk who has another shot on the Olympic stage in the mixed event. “We didn’t give up easily even if we got through circumstances beyond our control, but even these we fight, and we are showing everyone what we are.” Refugee judoka Muna Dahouk: 'Everyone has a right to dream'Discover the inspiring journey of Muna Dahouk who continued to pursue her passion for judo after fleeing war-torn Syria She shares why she’s proud to be part of the Olympic Refugee Team for Paris 2024: ‘We all share the same story but will use the experience to further her career “I was a bit nervous because the court was different who is now based in the United Kingdom after immigrating from her homeland in 2018 hopes to spend more time with some of the British players she has bonded with in Paris “I will go to the National training centre to hit and hit with them in the coming days [as] I also have a lot more international events coming up.” This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Check in on your Muna-loving friends today as they are probably mourning the death of the band’s iconic podcast Gayotic. The queer band announced via Instagram that the most recent episode, starring queer comedian Caleb Hearon, is “the last episode of [G]ayotic (for now).” View this post on Instagram A post shared by MUNA (@whereismuna) Band member Katie Gavin later reposted the clip writing “[G]oodbye [G]ayotic until after mun4 … it’s time to lock in.” pause. pic.twitter.com/weuSXFqqrW Fans took to social media to share their devastation over the end of the podcast which started back in 2021 while the band worked on their previous record fans fear Muna will join the ranks of boygenius and One Direction with their never-ending Related: Queer Creators Collection: Introducing Diana Carla Rowe goodbye goodbye goodbye….gayotic u were bigger than the whole sky… u were more than just a short time 💔💔💔 pic.twitter.com/fsXsMtRqnE gayotic hiatus (?) feels like being shot 57 times https://t.co/tlx2ed2mEp With the death of the podcast comes the birth of Muna’s fourth record Fans have been anxiously waiting for the band’s next release following the 2022 album Muna “It’s always ‘I Know a Place’ with Muna and the place is never the studio.” But it is because of their re-entry into the music studio that the podcast must come to a close “This is the last episode of this season of Gayotic We are going on a hiatus because we need to get back to work we actually have to walk the walk,” said band member Naomi McPherson on the episode.  Related: Queer Longing Wins In Berlin, Zaya Wade Becomes Cover Star, And Doechii Serves In New Song While not much was revealed about what to expect from the new record the band confirmed that they have a few really good songs and explained in the vaguest of ways that they’re “going back to certain things and moving away from other things.” Fans have been quick to look on the bright side of the podcast’s passing and embrace the fact that new Muna music is coming (finally).  last time muna locked in they made loose garment & kind of girl https://t.co/H9KXp1rxPo pic.twitter.com/gYkQBA2UvX muna podcast hiatus .. but muna 4 confirmed pic.twitter.com/Tboo43rgaK caleb episode for jo’s birthday but it’s the last gayotic in awhile but that probably means new music soon pic.twitter.com/kSQiDqh779 Fans are also celebrating that Caleb Hearon was the final guest on the show. Hearon, who hosts his own hilarious podcast So True has become a favorite in the Muna fandom and has appeared on both the podcast and the live show The top comment under the YouTube episode even reads “Giving a dog (us) chocolate (caleb) before putting it down (leaving us).” Gayotic has hosted a number of queer icons such as Phoebe Bridgers One can only hope that if the podcast is ever revived it will continue to be a space where these icons can bear witness to the gay chaos that is Muna Despite the looming presence of an increasingly anti-LGBTQ+ administration WorldPride 2025 will be a star-studded celebration of diversity—right in front of the Capitol Over 2 million fans showed up in person—but you can stream the whole show from your couch The Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project is celebrating LGBTQ+ BIPOC communities with its annual film festival Keegan Stewart’s photo series ‘Carabiners’ documents the popularity of the queer-coded fashion accessory The biggest show of Gaga’s career nearly became a target of hate Florida’s LGBTQ+ community has blocked every anti-queer bill this year On the album cover for singer-songwriter Katie Gavin’s solo debut album she sits half-dressed in the middle of her shiny sage-green bedspread with various clothes and possessions strewn around her and the floor; even the cat stands awkwardly mid-sit or stand The immediacy of this messy in-between moment conveys the intimacy Gavin reaches to again and again on the album I want you to see me When you’re not looking I want you to fuck me When we’re not touching “I Want It All,” exhumes a lust for connection so all-consuming she knows already “I’m gonna lose my mind / I’m gonna lose…” But it’s also Gavin’s thirst for and attention to these acutely relatable moments of humanity that render the album enticing And I think that in putting out songs that express that and having it met with understanding gives me that experience of like ‘we’re all humans having a human experience,’” Gavin says “I want to push myself in terms of what I allow other people to see.” Much of Gavin’s career has been with pop band MUNA (who opened for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour earlier this year) Gavin sheds her dazzling pop-star persona and the trappings of MUNA’s spectacular auditory and stage presence retaining their honesty and emotional precision is a collection of 12 songs Gavin wrote on the side over the past seven years and a clarity born of self-assurance and yearning for connection Gavin pulls up a chair to settle in for a heart-to-heart with her audience “Some days you do your best / Some days you do what gets you out of bed…” Gavin sings on “Casual Drug Use,” possessing an inscrutable ability to pinpoint reality neatly and poignantly which unfolds as a masterful look at the human condition through the micro view of Gavin’s relationships with the world she sounds so thrillingly close to the microphone it’s as if she’s singing right into your ear As she winnows down her experiences to a few kernels of truth Gavin deliberately and deftly seeks accessibility and relatability without catering to weirdness or discomfort simply to make a point as long as there’s a story and someone is saying something compelling,” she explains Her lack of pretense serves as shorthand for her palpably raw portraits of life: “But I think this is as good as it gets my love/ I think this is as good as it gets/ Pray to god that you think that it is enough…” she sings in “As Good As It Gets” – which features guest vocals by Mitski – about a relationship that is not always a fairy tale It’s an acknowledgement that you can both love someone and be underwhelmed by them “‘As Good As It Gets’ reflects this big question that I’ve had for a long time and I still have about what is reasonable to expect from a romantic relationship And how good is it supposed to feel?” she says Elsewhere on the album, in “Sanitized,” Gavin carefully takes a wet washcloth to the bottoms of her dirty feet afraid to stain her lover’s clean bed (“I lie perfectly still so I don’t mess up my hair/ I’m a sanitized girl I clean up for you my dear”); or promises not to stalk her ex online except “once in a while I’ll wanna know if you’ve died,” as she muses in “Keep Walking.” Gavin’s parents gave her free reign to explore music and she gravitated unsurprisingly to pop music entertaining preteen love for the Spice Girls and Samantha Mumba and the Weepies’ “Gotta Have You.” She also gravitated toward queer When she started writing her own music as a teenager her mother introduced her to Imogen Heap and her father stoked her folkie music interests with Jackson Browne and Jim Croce Gavin’s broad musical tastes inform her writing of course she draws particularly on her love for John Prine’s flawed weirdo songster Loudon Wainwright III whose Attempted Mustache remains one of Gavin’s favorite albums “It’s the same magic that’s in a lot of John Prine songs where these people aren’t afraid to talk about what real people experience in their real lives and then really mixing that with the profound.” Silly mixed with the profound is perhaps the best possible description of Gavin’s own music Gavin drops the bluegrass-folk portrait “Inconsolable,” about generational baggage’s impact on our well-being Wrapped around a divinely-gratifying fiddle melody (she brought in Nickel Creek’s Sara and Sean Watkins to add a little extra bluegrass cred to the track) the song is first and foremost a reflection on learning to be vulnerable while falling in love It’s an experience that feels every bit as familiar as Gavin’s messy bed but in a way that seems to make sense for the very first time – the gift of a stellar songwriter “Inconsolable” is a study in the way tiny moments elevate Gavin’s songs through her allegiance to the balance between silly and unvarnished experiences We’ve all curled up on the couch hesitant to show how we’re really feeling But I’ve seen baby lizards running in the river When they open their eyes Even though no one taught them how or why So maybe when you kiss me I can let you See me cry And if we keep going by the feeling We can get by Gavin pivots from the endearing image of baby lizards learning to swim to emotional vulnerability in a fledgling relationship with the blockbuster realization that salvation and connection again might just come from that blind leap of trust Gavin’s quest for an honest examination of emotional intelligence stems in part from time spent with her grandparents two of whom she lost in the last few years she thought about how much they endured and how many times older generations weren’t afforded a chance to be heard Elders teach both by omission and by passing the torch In “The Baton,” What A Relief’s anthemic third track dedicated to the lineage of socially and generationally inherited womanhood Gavin outlines her understanding of resilience as it passes from mother to daughter Imagining what she’d say to her own daughter Gavin also reaches to the wisdom from generations before her: I’d pass her the baton and I’d say you better run ‘Cause this thing has been going For many generations But there is so much healing That still needs to be done Gavin’s come out the other side as her own mother a sense of ownership and agency and learning to really listen to myself and trust myself like if I’m going into a situation that I’m nervous about,” she explains That’s a transformation not unlike her experiences writing the album which she started when she was 24 and concluded at the age of 31: “You’re kind of moving from this archetype of maiden to mother.” “I’m aware of a younger part of me that might be nervous and might have needs,” she says ‘You don’t need to worry that I’m gonna forget about you or give you away to somebody else or make you tap dance for somebody else.’” Part of mothering yourself is finding your pitfalls and learning to prevent them that includes thinking about addiction a lot “I can get addicted to a lot of different things; I can get addicted to different processes; I can get addicted to people; and I can get addicted to looking at furniture on Facebook marketplace,” she says “I was thinking about this idea that when we as humans get stuck in the process of addiction and our actual relationship with the world gets smaller and smaller.” That idea became the song “Sketches,” wherein Gavin distills addiction into a two-dimensional study of self reduction In a simple acoustic guitar and cello-accompanied track she imagines her character reduced to a sketch by an overbearing relationship: “That the deeper I’d go/ The smaller I’d get…” until she takes back control “The process of recovery has been really one of expansion learning that I can feel intimacy and connection and pleasure and joy from so many different experiences in life and from so many different people,” Gavin says “And there’s something that just feels very profound about that for me in this time.” Even when it comes to writing about climate change, Gavin filters her stories through our relationships to one another. It feels more effective than shaming people for not recycling, she says. In “Sparrow,” she ruminates on the dangers of the quick fix hoping in vain for the song of a sparrow in spring only to discover that the tree it would perch on has died of a cure applied rashly and without thinking But perhaps Gavin’s most profound relationship moment on the album comes when she eulogizes her dog in “Sweet Abby Girl.” “She’s taking up most of the mattress/ Can’t imagine being so un-self conscious/ She’s pushing her back up against my legs…” Abby becomes a foil for Gavin’s insecurities, as throughout the song she considers the vulnerability within unqualified love for another being. Buried late in the album, “Keep Walking,” its penultimate track, reveals Gavin’s raison d’être: “What a relief / To know that some of this was my fault.” Superficially, it’s a breakup song. But it’s also a relief for Gavin’s to put these songs into the world, to share another side of herself, and forge new connections with listeners. Fundamentally, we get through hard times by laughing with our friends, Gavin says. As she’s matured as a songwriter, she’s been drawn to including those moments of levity in her songs. Invariably, they feel like the best of conversations with friends and lend themselves well to What A Relief’s stripped-down, singer-songwriter format. “There was just something funny about this idea of putting out this part of me that had up until this point been unexpressed; it does feel like a relief to just let it out,” Gavin says. “I like the sentiment in the song … ‘what a relief to know that some of this was my fault,’ which is just agency. I haven’t behaved perfectly, and that gives me some space to have compassion and forgiveness for you.” “Real life” is such a tired phrase. Gavin’s version, though, feels scintillatingly, comfortingly relatable, and like her messy bedroom, gives the listener agency to let go and just be, too. What a relief. © 2025, THE BLUEGRASS SITUATION, LLC. View all trademarks Katie Gavin of MUNA Shares “Inconsolable” Ahead of Solo Debut What a Relief is set to arrive on October 25 via Phoebe Bridgers’ Saddest Factory Records Katie Gavin, who is known across this galaxy and many others as the lead singer of MUNA has released another single ahead of her solo debut “Inconsolable” will be featured on What a Relief which is set to drop on October 25 via Saddest Factory Records Gavin dusts off her cowboy boots and gets moving on her fiddle cooking up a bluegrass-inspired Western lament filled with lovely melodies and quotable lines “We’re from a long line of people we describe as inconsolable,” she sings “I was thinking about how being in a relationship can sometimes feel like trying to speak a language you weren’t taught We all have so much we are up against and we were all modeled very different ways of loving so it’s hard to connect and it’s very endearing that we keep trying We tried recording this song a few different ways but we landed on taking it back to bluegrass with Sara and Sean Watkins We recorded it in about ten minutes on one of our last days in the studio Check out the music video for “Inconsolable” below, which was directed by Amalia Irons, and pre-order What a Relief here. MUNA used one of their most powerful songs to highlight the fight for a free Palestine This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from “We wanted to say tonight that a huge part of being queer for us is feeling tied up in the collective liberation of people all over the world from colonialism and capitalism and racial violence,” said lead singer Katie Gavin before passing the mic to her bandmate Naomi McPherson meaning that any crowdfunds for people in Palestine have to be routed through a third party in one of the eligible countries the metaphor became all the more resonant after it the lyrics gained yet another layer of meaning “I know a place we can go / Where everyone gonna lay down their weapon,” the band sang during the chorus as the QR code for Palestine Asdiqa remained projected behind them MUNA posted a photo of the band’s festival outfits This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from “let there be meaning in our subversion,” they wrote urging their followers once again to donate to one of the GoFundMes that Palestine Asdiqa is platforming The band previously signed onto the Queer Artists for Palestine open letter in December which called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and pledged to boycott performances in Israel “until Palestinians are free.” Get the best of what’s queer. Sign up for Them’s weekly newsletter here. Singer-songwriter Katie Gavin poses for a portrait on Monday This cover image released by Saddest Factory Records shows “What A Relief” by Katie Gavin FILE - Katie Gavin of Muna performs at the Reading Music Festival LOS ANGELES (AP) — Katie Gavin is self-proclaimed “gay famous.” The pop band Muna first broke through with “Silk Chiffon,” an anthem to queer joy has dipped a toe in pop music’s mainstream Gavin spoke recently with The Associated Press about finding her creative soulmates getting in touch with her 14-year-old self and her first solo tour in the U.S. This interview has been edited for length and clarity Gavin: They’re both my creative soulmates and collaborators In some ways they helped decide the track list because the first step in the process was them rejecting songs for Muna The process of opening myself up to new people — to work creatively — is very vulnerable It feels very much in the world of crush and fantasy Which is one of my favorite kinds of pop songs to write There was a photo that she had taken — on view at Regen Projects — of a recent girlfriend in a bedroom with a bunch of stuff strewn everywhere That photo was on every mood board and every treatment that I made for this album I mainly do listen to lesbians or lesbian-adjacent women from the ’90s Except for the part of touring in the Midwest in mid-December There’s something very poetic about the solo tour for this record putting me back in Chicago in the winter Gavin: I just saw a childhood friend this weekend and he gave me the nicest compliment “I know that if we showed this to you when you were 14 you would have thought it was the coolest record.” I would love for queer people and girls at that age to find something in this record and to attach to it The music that I listened to when I was 14 and 15 is so important to me Gavin: Sometimes you have to disappoint people who want the creative direction to go a certain way .. But if you know in your heart that your vision is different Being an artist does require a lot of sacrifice I don’t have the same stability in my personal life and domestic life because of my job MUNA shared a statement on their band Instagram story today about it all Meanwhile, MUNA singer Katie Gavin has been busy getting ready to release her debut solo album What A Relief. Please don’t bother her over it. Australian singer-songwriter Stella Bridie on MUNA summoning an in-body experience. Stella Bridie: The best gig I’ve ever seen was MUNA at the Metro Theatre in 2023. A group of us flew to Sydney for a joint birthday trip and caught the only headline show they were doing in Austrailia. Our flight got delayed and we ended up racing across the city to dump our stuff at a hostel and made it just in time for their set. Stella Bridie’s Speaking Terms EP is out now. laweeklyLAWeekly Instagram: Featuring the culture of LA since 1978 ✌️ Minnesotan Muna Abdulahi is a contestant on season two of the Netflix competition show "The Mole."Courtesy NetflixPlayListen‘Ten twenty steps ahead’: How Muna Abdulahi played Netflix’s social strategic game ‘The Mole’Go Deeper.CloseCreate an account or log in to save stories We have added it to a list of your favorite stories it’s a reality competition where contestants work as a group to add money to a pot that only one of them will eventually win Among the contestants is one person who has secretly been designated “the mole,” tasked with sabotaging the group’s money-making efforts Contestant Muna Abdulahi joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about her experience on the show — with no spoilers Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all Transcription services provided by 3Play Media Check out “Portrait and Backstage Photos From Pitchfork Music Festival 2024.” We’re still digging through thousands of images but FLOOD photographers were on the grounds at all of them the bigs news was the last-minute cancellation of Chappell Roan’s highly anticipated performances in both cities But not to worry—the Chappell Roan Drag Party came to the rescue in NYC while Philly rockers Mannequin Pussy also did their best to fill in: “For those of you who don’t know us we’re Chappell Roan!” vocalist Marisa Dabice proclaimed when the band took the stage co-headliners MUNA delivered a festive cover of Roan’s “Good Luck which also saw Lucy Dacus joining them to perform “Silk Chiffon.” MUNA’s Katie Gavin was also a surprise guest during Holly Humberstone’s performance for their collaborative single “Into Your Room.” Check out scenes from both days in NYC shot by FLOOD photographer Skylar Watkins below Just when you thought the summer of 2024 had hit the limit of the feminine pop excellence Muna’s Katie Gavin swooped in with a catchy new sapphic single to prove that the limit does not exist.  Gavin’s debut single “Aftertaste,” released on July 23 gives fans a taste of Gavin’s eclectic folk inspired upcoming album “What a Relief.” Gavin first hit the scene as the frontman of Muna best known for their queer pop anthems like “Silk Chiffon” and the semi-erotic interactions that grace the stages of their live performances.  captures themes of queer love derivative of a classic Muna song while channeling an acoustic folk sound that sets Gavin’s solo work apart from the band.  Written by Gavin and produced by Tony Berg —longtime collaborator of Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers — the song describes the overwhelming emotions that come with a crush so intense it has the power to bring you out to parties and concerts just for the chance that you might see them there.  In tandem with the single, Gavin put out the “Aftertaste” music video in which she took the lyrics to a very literal level Gavin plays the role of the nude model for an art class a direct reference to the song’s chorus.  “I feel naked when you look my way,” Gavin sings.  The video served to further strengthen her vision and voice as a solo artist exciting fans with this preview of the unique and provocative perspective that we can expect throughout the rest of the record.  Along with “Aftertaste,” Gavin announced her upcoming LP titled “What a Relief,” slated to release Oct including a feature with indie singer Mitski on track five titled “As Good As It Gets.” Gavin collaborated with more than just Mitski while making the record. During an episode of Gayotic Gavin revealed that Amber Bain of the Japanese House lent a hand in the album’s production.  And for those Muna fans worried about losing their beloved trio We're still coming for your ass,” Gavin clarified on a recent episode of Gayotic.  “What a Relief” is out Oct.25. Presave the LP here.  Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.