NewsletterLearn more about the best restaurants Rory Buccheri - 02/05/2025 The award reflects Bashmi’s impact on the region a result of dogged commitment and a desire to elevate Gulf cuisine to new heights it’s hard to imagine cooking was never in her plans if it hadn’t been for an unforeseen career pivot in 2009 Bashmi would not be spearheading Bahraini cuisine today seven of which I played professionally,” Bashmi says about her past playing for Bahrain’s Women's Football team before an injury cut her professional career short I had a bit of an identity crisis because that was all I defined myself as: a football player.”Bashmi played professional football before turning to cooking Her love for cooking had been simmering in the background since her childhood days spent browsing the local market with her father but it was summoned back in an unexpected way Bashmi remembers this as a moment of deep inspiration and reawakening “Seeing that joy linked to making food for others triggered something I wasn’t aware of Bashmi’s cooking career to date has taken her from running a popular home baking business It has also earned her the title of the ‘voice of modern Khaaleji cuisine’ an accolade she takes into her stride confidently and eaten in the comfort of people’s homes but they’ve never been studied in a professional culinary way,” she says Bashmi is excited at the prospect to forge “a path that hasn’t been walked” One of them is changing perceptions of what Gulf cuisine is and showing how it differs from other Middle Eastern staples and how Gulf countries may have things in common but we all do them a bit differently.” For example she notes that Bahraini cuisine doesn’t have appetisers and mains rather everything co-exists on the same spread.One of Bashmi's signature dishes was inspired by trips to the fish market with her father A traditional Bahraini spread features dishes such as salted dried shrimps on rice national cuisine makes the most of the Gulf’s richness of fish and seafood The crab saloona (a traditional Arabic stew) It brings together typically sodium-rich Gulf flavours from rice doused in bisque crab saloona to the dried scallop grated on top the triny (a citrus fruit) dessert – with labneh pistachio and jameed (fermented dried yoghurt) – is one that will never be finished I realise I can do it a little bit better – improve the texture You're never going to have a final version of the dish.” She is as fascinated by the strictly traditional as by the downright quirky “looks like a broomstick” but tastes unique “Palm pollen is my favourite native ingredient to Bahrain” Used typically as an instrument to pollinate other palm trees it’s a great snack.”Milk and Honey dessert made with smoked honey Bashmi remembers drinking the water of the palm pollen since she was a child The chef went from hating it due to its strong medicinal taste to concocting a version that made her appreciate this unique staple ingredient and created the palm pollen dish that’s in my latest menu and I accompanied it with a palm pollen water kombucha.” The next level: legacy and future projects Championing a cuisine unfamiliar to many inevitably led Chef Bashmi to become an advocate for local produce It culminated in her being appointed Gastronomy Tourism Ambassador for the United Nations World Tourism Organization in November 2024 The role entails connecting with other Bahraini chefs as well as thinking about Bahraini cuisine long-term “Sustainability goes beyond buying and eating locally it’s about how to maintain and sustain the heritage with younger generations and keeping the heritage alive through storytelling.” Bashmi is confident she will immortalise traditional recipes in a recipe book Though this is a future project for the chef her next steps offer a flavour of the same Watch the video of Tala Bashmi winning the MENA's Best Female Chef Award in 2022 a lot of people outside the Arab world didn’t know me or know I was on Top Chef Middle East,” Bashmi says She had turned down the offer to participate in the reality show twice before Her aversion to being on TV didn’t stop her from ending the show in the top three “Top Chef was when people regionally started to get to know me but after the Best Female Chef accolade it was like a snowball effect with people getting to know me and what I do.” “Something I’ve always been interested in is storytelling and how he’s brought communities together and educated people from all over the world through not just food but his voice and storytelling.”After leaving Fusions by Tala Though Bourdain’s fruitful career was centred around TV Bashmi is not as fond of the medium as she is of the matter and I would love for my future career to be able to share and showcase local stories I’ve always wanted to create that for our region “My dad would always tell me when I had a difficult day at work Discover the full list of the Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna your inside line on the world’s leading restaurants An official website of the United States government Tala Goudarzi joins the office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) both in the public and private sectors.  Tala served as Senior Advisor to the President and CEO of the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) where she corresponded directly with stakeholders and developed campaigns and policy initiatives to address industry challenges including resource adequacy issues driven by rising AI energy demand.  Tala also acted as Public Affairs and Policy Advisor to the President of Sempra Infrastructure (SI) providing strategic briefings to leadership for high-stakes engagements orchestrating executive appearances to align with corporate objectives and facilitating key partner relationships contributing to the final investment decision (FID) of SI’s Port Arthur LNG Phase One She also served as Advisor for Strategic Initiatives at the Texas Oil and Gas Association (TXOGA) writing organization content and expanding advocacy through PAC and industry events.  Department of Commerce as Senior Advisor to the Chief of Staff and Special Advisor to the Secretary she advised the Secretary and Chief of Staff on Department-wide organizational and policy issues Government in trade delegations and met with foreign dignitaries and Heads of State regarding United States trade goals Tala was also appointed to be the First Lady’s “Be Best,” Ambassador for the Department of Commerce Tala served as an Advisor to the Secretary at the DOE where she coordinated and managed the Secretary’s internal agenda and acted as a liaison for all matters pertaining to the Secretary’s foreign and domestic travel and protocol guidelines.  Tala Goudarzi brings a wealth of experience in energy policy and stakeholder engagement across both the public and private sectors With a proven track record in policy development she remains committed to driving innovation and secure reliable and abundant energy solutions at the U.S Tala holds an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin This facility marks Tala's largest capital markets transaction to date the global financial infrastructure company delivering the world's most accessible financial services is proud to announce the successful closing of a US$150 million debt facility with Neuberger Berman This facility will support the company's rapidly growing business in Mexico Tala intends to use the proceeds from this facility to enhance its lending capabilities and fuel its ongoing mission to deliver truly scalable With more than 10 million customers served globally and an increasingly robust technology platform powered by AI Tala continues to innovate and create impactful solutions that are reshaping the financial landscape in key global markets With initial committed capital of US$75 million the facility enables Tala to draw up to US$150 million making this Tala's largest capital markets transaction to date and underscoring the strength of its operations and growth trajectory in Mexico Since launching its Mexico operations in 2017 Tala has made tremendous strides in offering accessible data-first financial solutions to millions of consumers looking to build credit and unlock economic opportunities including building new businesses and bolstering consumer spending "We are excited to announce this landmark debt facility which not only reflects Tala's growing success in Mexico but also signals the significant potential we see in the market going forward," said Shivani Siroya "This funding will enable us to further expand our innovative mobile-first financial platform with a focus on our credit portfolio while also enabling future financial service options The support from Neuberger Berman's Specialty Finance team and our investors affirm the strength of our business and the opportunities ahead." "This facility is a testament to the confidence that Neuberger Berman has in Tala's leadership and operational expertise," said Peter Sterling Head of Neuberger Berman's Specialty Finance group "Tala has demonstrated an impressive track record in delivering innovative financial solutions with deep data insights that sets it apart from existing financial institutions and regional neobanks We are proud to support Tala's continued growth and success." Makiyah Ruggieri-Vesey, Tala, 1 4156191179, [email protected] Do not sell or share my personal information: Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker ‘Divorced Sistas,’ Spinoff of Tyler Perry’s ‘Sistas,’ Heads to BET+ GH’s Cameron Mathison Shares His Emotional Journey When His House Burned Down: “That Had Been the Foundation of My Life When Everything Was Falling Apart Around Me” ReelShort’s Continues Vertical Soap/Romance Series Trend with Release of ‘Wings of Fire: The Dragon Slayer Is My Ex-Lover’ GH’s Maurice Benard States That ABC “Made a Huge Mistake Cancelling All My Children and One Life to Live” Citing They Underestimated “Power of the Soap Audience” Ted Richardson Swap on ‘Beyond the Gates’ WrestleMania 41 Interviews Featuring Lyra Valkyria (INTERVIEW) ‘Beyond the Gates’ Star RhonniRose Mantilla Talks End of Chelsea’s Modeling Days EXCLUSIVE: General Hospital’s Van Hansis Talks on the Casting of Adrian Anchondo as Marco and Hopes for a “Soap Opera Romance” BEYOND THE GATES Stars: Timon Kyle Durrett and Marquita Goings Talk on Bill’s “Newfound Adversary” and How He Can’t Get Dani “Out of His System” EXCLUSIVE: Heather Tom Talks Making History Acting Directing and Writing All-Female Episode of The Bold and the Beautiful While Honoring Her Late Mom Carrie Underwood Replaces Katy Perry as Judge for Upcoming Season of ‘American Idol’ 20 Years after Winning the Title AMERICAN IDOL: Abi Carter Crowned the Winner Katy Perry Sheds Tears In Her Final Episode AMERICAN IDOL: Final Three Are Chosen; After Nationwide Vote ABC Renews ‘American Idol’ for Season 8 and ‘The Bachelor’ for Season 29 AMERICAN IDOL: Katy Perry Makes a Heartbreaking Decision as Top 7 are Revealed BEYOND THE GATES Preview: Nicole’s World Is Rocked Due to Ted’s Betrayal and Leslie’s Revelations; Eva Has Nowhere to Go ‘Beyond the Gates’ Stars Trisha Mann-Grant and Ambyr Michelle Deliver the ‘Power Performances of the Week’ ‘Beyond the Gates’ Stars Brandon Claybon and Mike Manning to Chat Live on the Michael Fairman Channel Nominations for the 78th annual Tony Awards were announced Thursday morning honoring the best in the recent Broadway season The awards will be presented on June 8th live from Radio City Music Hall live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+ with Wicked star Cynthia Erivo Maybe Happy Ending and Death Becomes Her topped the nominations with 10 each the list of Hollywood names and former soap opera alums who will be part of Broadway’s bigges makes it interesting drama for Broadway’s biggest nights there were big time snubs including: Denzel Washington while other big names including: George Clooney are in the running Soap fans should take note that Tala Ashe (ex-Ameera Ali-Aziz As the World Turns – 2007) scored her first-ever Tony nomination in the Best Featured Actress in a play category for her performance in English The play takes place in an Iranian classroom where four adult students and their teacher leapfrog through a linguistic playground stunning triumph about the universal foibles of language and miscommunication Ashe’s Ameera became involved with Luke and Noah Noah (Jake Silbermann) agreed to a marriage of convenience upsetting then boyfriend Luke Snyder (Van Hansis) One Life to Live -2007) had scored another nomination This year for his star turn as Bobby Darin in the new musical Groff is competing in the category alongside former Glee star who is nominated for his work as a retired robot in Maybe Happy Ending Interestingly enough, Jeb Brown who is nominated in the Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for Dead Outlaw, was formerly the bandmate of Beyond the Gates and General Hospital star Audra McDonald made Tony history scoring her record-setting 11th overall nomination this year for her starring role in the musical revival of Gypsy she will face-off with former Pussycat Dolls singer who plays Norma Desmond in the latest adaption of Sunset Boulevard where she is getting all the raves this Broadway season You can check out the full 78th annual Tony Award nominations here. Who do you think should take home a Tony Award next month in the Big Apple Susan Lucci Announces Second Memoir “La Lucci” Available for Pre-Order Now General Hospital’s Lucy Coe Previews 2025 Nurses’ Ball Teases Lucky Spencer Magic Milo and Unexpected Surprise on Wish List to Perform OLTL Alum Renée Elise Goldsberry Announces Debut Solo Album; Releases First Single “Staring” Nate Bargatze Named Host of 77th Annual Emmy Awards on CBS Judith Light to Lead Drama Jury at the 64th Monte-Carlo Television Festival ‘Beyond the Gates’ Marks Taping of its 100th Episode EXCLUSIVE: Van Hansis Recalls Working with Daniel Cosgrove in Luke’s Final Scenes on ATWT and Their Full-Circle Moment on ‘General Hospital’ In a night which saw General Hospital alum take home the award for Best Actress at the 31st annual SAG Awards for her performance in The Substance actors who got their starts on the soaps were highlighted during a segment which featured retrospective clips from the early days of their careers Sunday night’s SAG Awards streamed on Netflix and many featured in the “Soap Starts” package went on to win Daytime Emmys for their performances and later in their careers would add to their trophy hardware receiving primetime Emmys Academy Awards and even a SAG Award from their peers Demi Moore’s win tonight makes her a Lead Actress frontrunner for next month’s Academy Awards Moore was featured in the “Soap Starts” segment in a scene opposite Anthony Geary as Luke Spencer from 1982 Here’s a complete list of the actors included in tribute to their beginning roles in daytime below: The names and clips kept-a-coming with: Kevin Bacon (ex-Tim Taye Diggs (ex-Adrian “Sugar” Hill In case you missed it, the “Soap Starts” clip package plays at roughly the 1:47:00 mark on the 31st annual SAG Awards streaming on Netflix. did you enjoy seeing the SAG Awards pay tribute to some of your favorite celebrities and former soap stars Super Bowl LIX is in the record books with an average of over 127 million viewers tuning-in and watching the Philadelphia Eagles trounce the Kansas City Chiefs precluding the Chiefs from winning their third straight Super Bowl Sunday’s Super Bowl becomes the most-viewed Big Game in history which received 123.7 million viewers last year The ratings numbers include viewership on Fox This year’s Super Bowl also had several buzzworthy moments that didn’t happen during the actual game play on the field from the Caesers Superdome in New Orleans who was in a VIP box watching and rooting for her boyfriend got a serious round of boos when her image went up on the Jumbotron The boos came from the mostly Philadelphia Eagles contingent but it became another big headline story coming out of Sunday night coming off his two major Grammy wins for Record and Song of the year for his Drake feud diss track “Not Like Us,” took to the field with an introduction by actor Jackson who was referencing “Uncle Sam” with his seques throughout the performance took his Drake diss even further than ever before by having two of Drake’s exes as part of the his show made a cameo appearance spotlighting some dance moves performed the hit “All the Stars,” along with Lamar The rap artist’s halftime show featured dancers dressed in red, white and blue, and had social and political overtones as with all Lamar’s work. Kendrick wore very long bell-bottom pants, which also sparked some social media intrigue, when it was revealed that the throw back look cost $1300. However fans thought the jeans were the hit of the halftime show “I think Kendrick Lamar’s jeans are the real MVP Meg Ryan (ex-Betsy Stewart) appeared in a Super Bowl ad reuniting her with Billy Crystal in a redo of the famous scene in their 1989 film Meg makes plenty of noises and creates a commotion when she puts Hellmann’s mayonnaise on her sandwich the camera pans to guest star Sydney Sweeney who says  “I’ll have what she’s having” to a waitress Fox sold 30-second ads for more than $8 million for the first time in history Pregame ads were also going for as high as $4.5 million So, what did you think of all the moments from Super Bowl 59? Happy the Eagles are the champs? Did you enjoy or dislike Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show (watch it here) What did you think of the Meg Ryan commercial and a house full of boos for Taylor Swift Share your thoughts in the comment section below The multi-talented Melanie Smith (ex-Emily Stewart As the World Turns ) career has seen her go from young actress bad girl on the beloved CBS soap opera Smith enlisted some of the greatest session musicians in the jazz world for her project; many of whom played with the late Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga During an all-new visit to the Michael Fairman Channel, Smith talked about her time on ATWT why she decided to depart the show after five years how she felt about Kelly Menighan taking over the part has been a passion project she has had in mind for several years The first single from the album, the classic song, Smile, is given a new twist by Smith and is available now on Spotify and other music streaming platforms. For more on the release and all the songs on The Broken and the Breaker, many of which are co-written by Melanie, and several of which are jazz cover tunes, make sure to click here. Smith also revealed her thoughts when the soap was sadly canceled, “When the show went off the air it was so sad, But, it was so sad that the genre on the East Coast went off the air. To me, I don’t care what anybody says, reality television does not replace this art. I think it’s a loss for those of us that really loved that daily experience and those stories.” Now below check out our full conversation with Melanie. Then let us know, did you enjoy Melanie as ATWT’s Emily? What do you think of her new single “Smile” which you can preview below? Share your thoughts in the comment section. General Hospital’s Lucy Coe Previews 2025 Nurses’ Ball Teases Lucky Spencer, Magic Milo and Unexpected Surprise on Wish List to Perform, Reveals Airdate Martha Madison Leads Days of our Lives “Hogey’s Home Runners” Team To Surpass Goal At PanCAN Purple Stride Walk for Pancreatic Cancer (PHOTOS) GENERAL HOSPITAL: Laura Opens Up About Learning Lesley was Her Birth Mother; Drew is Horrified Over Fallout From ‘His Night’ with Jacinda MEN OF CBS DAYTIME: Why is Y&R’s Cole Coughing and BTG’s Bill’s Hand Shaking? Allison Lanier Exits The Young and the Restless as Summer Newman GENERAL HOSPITAL: A Drugged Drew Makes a Scene as Nina and Portia Hope Their Plan Takes Him Down For Good DAYS OF OUR LIVES Preview: Shawn Learns Bo Is Dying; Can a New Drug Save His Father’s Life? Copyright © 2024 The Michael Fairman Company. Tala Al-Sharif is a recipient of the 2025 News Creator Award.Tala Al-Sharif is a journalist a platform dedicated to amplifying Palestinian women’s voices and challenging stereotypes A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree for Social Impact she has reshaped narratives through over 100 stories reaching 25 million people Al-Sharif collaborates with UN Women and NGOs as a media consultant and brings expertise in gender equality and media literacy from her work with DW and UNESCO Her award-winning coverage of women in conflict and economic reporting continues to inspire and drive change We exposed corruption and human rights abuses working in a cross-border network supported by ICFJ P  (202) 737-3700F  (202) 737-0530E  communications@icfj.org ©2025 International Center for Journalists Tala will soon be available for adoption with our friends at the Santa Cruz SPCA! If you are interested in adopting her, please visit her profile to learn more Have you been looking for a feline friend who is always up for playtime Tala might be the energetic companion for you Tala is a confident kitty who hopes to find the right home for her in the Los Angeles area and she enjoys making new friends of all kinds She especially enjoys getting to know people by playing her favorite games She is always ready to chase after wand toys and she’ll carry her prize around proudly after catching it she happily dashes away to the next hiding spot Tala enjoys taking naps in a cat tree or keeping an eye on the neighborhood through a window When she wants to seek out some love from her friends she’ll curl up nearby and won’t say no to a relaxing brush session so she hopes to find an adopter who will take the time to get to know her She sometimes prefers to be near her people without getting pets and she likes getting attention in short doses When she gets overly excited or no longer wants pets she may communicate with soft mouthing behavior Our staff would love to help set her up for success in your home by sharing training tips and recommendations Tala dreams of living in a home where she can get lots of daily playtime with her friends who she has gotten along very well with in her foster home She would likely thrive with a playful feline sibling in the home Her adopter should be open to learning her body language and communication style and willing to help her grow out of some kitten behaviors She would also do best in a home without young children If you’re ready to adopt in the Los Angeles area, and you’d like to learn more about the wonderful and wily Tala, check out her profile ©2025 American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. All rights reserved.The ASPCA is a 501(c)(3) non-for-profit organization. Privacy Policy  Legal InfoCookie Settings Underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company In honor of Be Kind to Animals Week, take one simple action today! Pledge to fight cruelty. In honor of Be Kind to Animals Week, take one simple action today! Pledge to fight cruelty. 48 minsApr 23GuestsTala AsheFeatured ShowsEnglishAboutTala Ashe unpacks her Lortel Nominated performance as Elham in Sanaz Toossi’s Pulitzer Prize winning Play English at The Roundabout Theater Tala also compares this to her work on Legends of Tomorrow and Smash Also in this episode - Heather Headley's 2000 Tony win for Best Actress in a Musical for Disney's Aida plus Dead Outlaw Review Tala Ashe received a Best Actress Drama Desk Award nomination for her performance in English Sanaz Toossi’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama at the Atlantic Theater Company and will reprise her role for the Broadway transfer in 2025 Tala was a series regular on DC'S Legends of Tomorrow playing “Zari Tomaz,” the first Muslim-American superhero on television Her other TV work includes the upcoming Girls on the Bus for HBO Max recurring stints on Smash and American Odyssey both for NBC Tala has worked at numerous Off-Broadway and regional theaters including: The Atlantic Theater Make sure to check out Eila's book, "The Tony Awards", and all her other amazing books: https://amzn.to/43WMu5Y. © Broadway Podcast Network unsensational debut ruminates on friendship honeyed production but with a tad too much similarity ‘I’ve forgotten how I used to write my name,” Hope Tala winces in the diaristic opening bars to her debut album the soulful west Londoner is wrestling with growing pains and writer’s block – but then it all flows out The bright Lights Camera Action quotes Maya Angelou and has the serenity and sunshine of early Corinne Bailey Rae but ends with a targeted shot at a fame-hungry sell-out on her relationship to her father’s Jamaican roots unsettled drums and harmonies befitting a 90s R&B girl group Hope Tala: Hope HandwrittenIt’s not Hope’s style to sensationalise – since her first single in 2018 Hope Handwritten’s consistently mellow mood downplays the turbulence in her writing It feels a missed opportunity that tracks about religion and mental health (Magic or Medicine) and knee-trembling earth-shaking romances (Shiver) should share the same level-headed delivery and that a mid-album trio of love songs blur too easily together before worshipping at the altar of a forbidden hook-up It shows just how fresh a switch-up can sound in the hands of this talented writer With nearly $6 billion in credit provided to date Tala is unleashing economic power on a global scale the world's first financial platform for the global majority today announced a significant milestone by reaching 10 million customers across East Africa This achievement coincides with the company celebrating its ten-year anniversary Tala was founded to provide financial services to the global majority a population traditional systems could not serve due to a lack of credit scores By leveraging novel data to proxy economic activity the company achieved impressive 90% repayment and 95% repeat rates for its flagship instant credit product With nearly $6 billion in credit disbursed worldwide since the company's inception Tala is poised to continue its trajectory of serving the world's underbanked we are reimagining the financial system and demonstrating that a more equitable future is possible for all "Reaching ten million customers is a testament to Tala's unwavering mission and founding value of radical trust I'm deeply grateful to the ten million customers for placing their trust in us to our dedicated team for relentlessly working to unlock financial access and agency and for the tens of millions more we hope to have the privilege of serving we are reimagining the financial system and demonstrating that a more equitable future is possible for all," remarked Shivani Siroya 2024 was a also a momentous year for the company with new executive hires Tala plans to expand its reach in its current markets through new products and utilizing AI's true potential while also opening new markets to further unleash the economic power of the global majority Tala is the world's largest financial platform for the global majority providing credit and other financial services to underbanked communities in emerging markets With nearly $6 billion in credit disbursed and 10 million customers across East Africa Tala is providing underserved populations with access to credit and financial tools that enable them to build a better future The company's innovative approach combines mobile technology and a deep understanding of customers to deliver tailored financial solutions Media ContactMakiyah Ruggieri-Vesey, Tala, 1 4156191179, [email protected] In celebration of the upcoming release of her debut album, ‘Hope Handwritten’ (out Feb 28th), UK singer-songwriter Hope Tala hits the road on a headlining tour across North America Hope will be appearing at record signings across Bristol as well as opening for pop singer Halsey in Charlotte Of the album that took her three years to complete “It’s not perfect and could never have been but it is the biggest labour of love I have ever been a part of The album makes me feel very emotional because while all of my life seemed to be swirling around me and I became very lost All tickets for the Hope Handwritten Tour go on sale on Wednesday, February 26th at 10am local time. Fans can rsvp for the show here Fans can expect to hear many tunes from Hope on this upcoming tour Independent and fueled by love and dedication Donate to fuel us figuratively and literally Mention "☕️" or "coffee" and $5 of your donation will go to a random staff member to keep them energized Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed Congratulations, you've made it to the weekend. Friday marks the final day of meteorological winter (look it up) and we're shaking off the chill with the hottest albums out Feb KCRW's Travis Holcombe joins NPR Music's Stephen Thompson to discuss all of the essential records that made their debut on streaming services while you were sleeping Stephen and Travis give you the backstory and best songs on the following albums: Hear the discussion on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts Five more albums worthy of immediate attention: Listen to each album's best songs on our New Music Friday playlists on Spotify and Apple here are the week's new albums sorted by genre: • Host: Stephen Thompson• Guest: Travis Holcombe KCRW• Producer: Simon Rentner• Editor: Otis Hart• Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed• Vice President Become an NPR sponsor Hey! Did you know that there’s an entire aspect of KCRW music discovery that you might be missing out on? Fear not, because our 5 Songs to Hear This Week newsletter is now a weekly feature on our website. Watch this space for rundowns of the five songs that you need in your life immediately, curated by KCRW Music staff. Don’t want to wait for your latest taste of fresh tunes? Sign up for the Tuesday newsletter here and have ‘em delivered directly to your inbox This week’s Five Songs to Hear are a selection from a very special group: the “small font” artists booked to play at Coachella The music and arts festival is known for its mission of exposing rising acts to its massive audience — many of whom may come for the headliners but always end up finding new favorites on their way to the mainstage First up in the fresh act queue is this relatable charmer from young West London singer-songwriter Hope Tala Click quick for vocals that alternate between creamy-smooth… and punch-out style like slam poetry night Take a break with Venezuelan group Rawayana who've been making psych-electro-reggae-funk that’s perfectly suited to a daytrip on a boat since 2007 They’ll be making their Coachella debut this year(!) and they’re a perfect fit for the mighty desert fest and vocal grooves (with lyrics celebrating PTO) will be right at home on stage among the polo fields the cheekily-mascoted PRISON AFFAIR are just the kind of band you discover and fall in love with while romping between stages at Coachella With short and punchy production favoring synths and a BPM that never dips below hop-skip mode — this track’s gonna keep your buzz up We love to be struck dumb by a singer-songwriter presentation: Medium Build’s got it all in spades raw power vocals ranging from whisper-close to big and bold and deeply emotive lyrics that catch you off guard in the final bars… This song is one to stop the world just for a second — even the world of Coach Full days at Coachella will always top your annual step count it’s best to find a tent where you can stand and sway a band out of Arizona bringing a hard edge to the shoegaze revival Shades of Smashing Pumpkins shine through this big-sound single that’s hard like rock candy so your donation is critical to KCRW's music programming Anne Litt shares her take on the week in KCRW music Donate by midnight tomorrow and your $100 becomes $200 for KCRW thanks to a $10,000 match by music legend Moby DOuble dollars Get the latest from KCRW in your inbox 3x a week Four years after she initially planned to release her debut, West London-born Hope Tala finally unveils her first full-length project Hope Tala says she stumbled into her music career by chance What began as a private hobby for the 27-year-old West Londoner — scribbling lyrics in notebooks and humming melodies in her childhood bedroom — became her entire world in a few short years will release her debut record Hope Handwritten Talking to Hope feels like talking to an old friend sporting a navy blue fleece sweatshirt and wired headphones that bounce as she shifts in her seat she’s spending an extended holiday with her family in London but she splits her time between there and Los Angeles the home she adopted once her career started taking shape “It feels nice to finally be in the year of release because I’ve been waiting for so long to release this project,” Hope says reflecting on the years-long journey that is Hope Handwritten “I’m getting to that place where I’m nervous for people to hear it It’s always a bit of a rollercoaster [between] feeling really proud of it and really excited and thinking it's rubbish.” Though the first draft of the record was finished in 2021 becoming a far more experienced version of herself Hope recalls her relationship with music as a slow-burn love story of sorts the head of her school’s music program hosted annual Christmas concerts and summer arts festivals “Being a part of that bustling music community twice a year always felt so exciting and anticipatory,” she says Hope longed for the buzz of creating and performing music — a craving she has yet to shake Hope was tasked with building her first composition “I think most people did classical compositions and I’m sure I would’ve gotten a better grade if I had done a classical one,” she laughs I was intent that I was going to make a quote-unquote ‘pop’ song.” Hope spent the year composing the song on Logic Pro borrowing lyrics from Langston Hughes’ 1995 poem “Island.” Through this early project — one that would later inspire many of her releases — Hope discovered her passion for production and steel pan sounds from her first composition eventually evolved into Hope’s signature dreamy as she approached graduation from the University of Bristol “That’s where I felt like I hit my stride for the first time sonically,” Hope says “I was trying to explore the theme of sensitivity and voicing myself as a sensitive and emotional person I wanted to explore the ways [those traits] showed up in my life and in my relationships.” Sensitive Soul was influenced by the greats of R&B and neo-soul Hope also found inspiration from the works of her favourite writers A year and a half after finishing university in 2020 This project marked Hope’s first collection of songs that had been entirely recorded and produced in a studio “It’s a very different experience writing music with other people in the room because I had always been very shy musically [Songwriting] was something I fell into doing in a very quiet way.” What once was an intimate and vulnerable process for Hope became one she relished in sharing with others She describes the “revolutionary” feeling of watching the sonic and lyrics of Girl Eats Sun develop and strengthen with the help of her fellow writers and producers Girl Eats Sun was also Hope’s first project that took on a corresponding visual identity painted by Canadian pop surrealist artist Stephen Gibb is a whimsical interpretation of the EP’s musical themes Each song from the EP is represented in Gibb’s piece: Hope — the Girl in question — taking a bite out of a fairytale-like grinning sun a pair of “Cherries” dangling from her earlobe and a bird sporting a blue dress and boxing gloves (“All My Girls Like To Fight”) backdropped by a warm psychedelic landscape Six years after the release of Girl Eats Sun She likens her upcoming record to a bildungsroman a “spin on a self-titled album,” is a reflection on existing outside of the formal education system and navigating mental health and relationship challenges as an adult When she sent the first draft to her label “I remember being crushed by that,” she says “It’s funny looking back because thank God that version of the album didn’t come out.” Soon after this setback Hope realized that to create a record she was truly proud of “It’s ironic that I wanted it to be this profound worldly project because I really hadn’t had those experiences yet,” she says “All of that change [became] the bedrock of the album.” Only two tracks from the first draft — “Growing Pains (Prologue)” and “Jumping the Gun” — made it to the final Hope Handwritten tracklist each track representing a thoughtfully crafted chapter In the process of completing Hope Handwritten she changed the sequencing of the songs hundreds of times “I think I just wanted it to instinctively and intuitively feel just right … like the story was going from top to bottom,” she says Hope needed to find a place for each chapter With “Growing Pains” as the prologue and “Heartbeat” as the epilogue the remaining fourteen tracks comprise Hope’s coming-of-age narrative The meditative foot-tapping fourth track is an anthem of self-assurance In moments of struggling with her mental health Hope brainstorms possible remedies to make her feel whole again: practicing mindfulness Hope grounds herself in her relationships and being valued by her loved ones “I think that’s because it was the first song I had ever written that felt like it had really touched the most vulnerable place of me,” she says This moody rhythmic track encapsulates the record’s primary theme of hope — “the trajectory of having hope and finding it again.” Hope chronicles the feelings associated with the end of a relationship: first grief Hope played a headline hometown show at the O2 Academy in Islington with her family and friends making up much of the sold-out crowd “When I was singing ‘I Can’t Even Cry’ and the chorus came along I remember singing it and thinking ‘What am I hearing?’ because I had my in-ears in,” she says “I realized that a lot of people were singing along It was an embarrassing but really beautiful moment.” Hope recalls the comfort she felt as her listeners embraced the early hints of Hope Handwritten with open arms and ears Hope stresses the importance of identity and human connection to her creativity she has purposefully sought out like-minded and similar communities in both of the cities she calls home “Being a creative in these communities feels so special,” she muses “Having other queer people and people of color celebrate me and reach out to me and have conversations with me makes me feel closer to myself I just feel extra proud and excited about the future of the communities that I belong to.” For Hope the “biggest privilege” of her career has been creating art that listeners can relate to and feel understood by all the way down to the collaged cover art features a still of Hope shot by photographer Ragan Henderson and snippets of lyrics most true to the record’s musical themes “There’s something cool about the fact that the artwork was taken in motion,” Hope says referring to the still she chose from Henderson’s 60-millimeter film much like the lived experiences that inspired the record Hope Handwritten is “rough around the edges” — just like any good coming-of-age story should be When I ask Hope which lyric best embodies Hope Handwritten she quietly sings the second verse of fourteenth track “Miracle” aloud to jog her memory we’ll still have the poetry” are the words she lands on “I think that [lyric] really sums up my mid-20s,” she says but there was also so much light and joy and so many supportive people and such incredible friendship and opportunity and experience but there’s always something to live for and look forward to.” Her debut record Hope Handwritten is a testament to not just to her patience but to her acceptance and her understanding of herself it’s a testament to her commitment to learning Hope Handwritten is out now via Jasmine Music / PMR Records and Secretly Distribution Get the Best Fit take on the week in music direct to your inbox every Friday Hope Tala first made her name blending R&B with neo soul and a sprinkle of bossa nova and her debut full-length ‘Hope Handwritten’ delivers more of the same Hope takes listeners on a journey as she uses her songs to explore themes of love Bossa nova inspired opener ‘Growing Pains’ takes on the passage of time and personal growth within it with its upbeat R&B and groovy bassline questions what’s truly essential for a good time on which Hope expresses her gratitude for “dodging a bullet” after the end of a romantic entanglement - a relatable track about trusting your gut when it comes to matters of the heart Another highlight comes with ‘Breaking Isn’t What a Heart Is For’ in which Hope’s voice takes on a breathy quality as she sighs: “I knew it might get messy / When we both felt so intensely” ‘Hope Handwritten’ is an overall uplifting offering an ode to navigating the joys and messiness of falling in and out of love and finding one’s inner strength through the chaos £37.99 23.11.25 Gorilla, Manchester 25.11.25 KOKO, London classic rock mashup that absorbs and expands on the sound Car Seat Headrest have claimed as their own They’ve got their unsettling-but-intriguing aesthetic all sewn up Jensen McRae - I Don’t Know How But They Found Me Channelling a sense of crystalline intimacy Coming soon She’s also released the fifth track to be shared from the project The Neu Bulletin DIY’s essential guide to the best new music Neu Neu Get the best of DIY to your inbox each week Latest Issue April 2025 Advertise with DIY ↑ Back to the top « Back With over 20 years of experience in the entertainment and hospitality industry Mike is a seasoned and versatile leader in entertainment marketing He has worked with some of the biggest names and brands in the world and event pop-ups that generate buzz and billions of media impressions Some of his favorite collaborations from his career include Madonna either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content is a collection of sonic vignettes that feels both intimate and expansive who shared part of her process in creating the album: "All I knew was that I wanted to make a body of work that was rooted in live instrumentation; from there it became an instinctual process "I just gave myself the opportunity to follow what felt authentic to me at the time I find that there can be a bit of a toxic nagging voice that comes from the back of my head saying that I should try to repeat whatever song that I've already made is the most popular and I really try to resist that and give myself the space to grow," she shared has delivered an album that transcends genre constraints Hope Handwritten is a coming-of-age narrative Tracks like "Phoenix" include lyrics about friendships while other songs like "Lights Camera Action" show her ability to make uplifting empowering songs "My goal as a writer and as an artist is always to be honest and vulnerable While making Hope Handwritten I certainly unlocked something that felt more painful and true which has been a really beautiful experience." Tala shares that it contains multiple meanings but the crux of the album is this sense of losing hope and the struggle to find it again Writing is the most important and sacred part of my purpose in this job Hope Handwritten was released on February 28 and is available on streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsletters in your inbox See all Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More The new play “English” recently opened to rave reviews at Todd Haimes Theatre on Broadway The Pulitzer Prize-winning work made its way to the main stem after having a world premiere in 2022 at the Atlantic Theater Company “On Stage” host Frank DiLella sat down with the show’s stars to talk about bringing “English” to Broadway TheIndustry.fashion reflects on a history-making month From Prada acquiring Versace for $1.375 billion (£1.06 billion) to Trump announcing tariff hikes it's safe to say this month will be one that'll go down in the history books LVMH's Bernault Arnauld finally announced Jonathan Anderson is taking over at Dior Men meanwhile M&S shut down its e-commerce arm after a cyber threat TheIndustry.fashion has compiled a selection of the month's biggest fashion news Dries Van Noten makes stand-alone store debut in London For fans of Dries Van Noten, the wait is finally over: The cult-favourite Belgian brand opened its first-ever standalone store in London at Hanover Square Set within a former bank and spanning two floors the Chandelier-lit space blends a sense of history with a retail environment visitors can take an "immersive journey" through fashion French Connection opened a new outlet store amid fashion comeback French Connection continued its retail expansion with the opening of a new outlet store at Caledonia Park in Scotland furthering the brand’s strategic return to the outlet market features a curated selection of French Connection’s womenswear and accessories from co-ords to seasonal outerwear New Balance reopened its Oxford Street flagship with a new retail concept New Balance opened the doors to its newly transformed Oxford Street flagship marking a major milestone in the brand’s next-generation retail concept rollout The three-storey store reflects a shift towards experience-led retail creativity and storytelling rather than traditional product displays FatFace continued expansion with new store on the Isle of Man British lifestyle brand FatFace, which was acquired by high street giant NEXT in October 2023 for £115 million, has opened a new 1,697 sq ft store on the Isle of Man the opening follows hot on the heels of new FatFace store openings in Jersey and Westport on the west coast of Ireland in February 2025 Anya Hindmarch launched ‘Anya’s Dive Shop’ pop-up in Chelsea Anya Hindmarch launched its latest concept pop-up shop in The Village described as "a celebration of all things underwater" the concept is "inspired by small town coastal dive shops from Florida to Folkestone" and will cater for everyone from paddlers and rock pool day trippers to professional divers Monica Vinader opened its first Manchester boutique as part of UK expansion British jewellery brand Monica Vinader opened the doors to its first standalone boutique in Manchester marking a significant step in the company’s continued UK growth Monica Vinader has built a loyal online following in Manchester The new boutique aims to bring the brand’s ethos of craftsmanship and conscious design into a tactile the new store will officially welcome customers from 2 May Pull&Bear unveiled its upsized and relocated Oxford Street flagship Pull&Bear, the younger target market fashion brand of ZARA owner Inditex, opened a new 14,972 sq ft store over two floors at 213 Oxford Street in London a relocation and upsize from its previous site at 315 Oxford Street Described as a "bold new retail concept" that reflects the brand’s refreshed modern identity the new store "sets the tone for future openings" with its minimalist and digitised design and layout TALA made its Chelsea debut with pop-up at Anthropologie TALA is making waves in the world of activewear once again - this time with a four-week pop-up at Anthropologie's King’s Road Gallery as it sets out to expand its physical store presence marks the first time TALA’s activewear is available to shop in person in Chelsea it was exclusively sold at Selfridges on Oxford Street The new retail space showcases a curated selection of TALA’s best-selling collections from DayFlex to 365 and SkinLuxe Shirtmaker and menswear retailer T.M. Lewin has returned to the high street after a five-year hiatus with the retailer slipping into administration not once but twice writing: "We cannot wait to welcome you to our first retail store after a challenging 5 years We believe the saying goes ‘nothing that comes easy is worth having’ so here’s to that Jonathan Anderson to define new era at Dior Men It’s official: Jonathan Anderson left his post at Loewe to take the reins at Dior Men After months of speculation and high-profile departures including Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez’s recent appointments at Loewe confirmed that the Irish designer will present his first collection for Dior Men during Paris Fashion Week in June while the announcement focuses on Anderson’s role at Dior Men the question of whether he will also take over Dior Women Duran Lantink named Jean Paul Gaultier's first successor Since Jean Paul Gaultier stepped down from his namesake label in 2020, it has been helmed by guest Couturiers from Simone Rocha to Glenn Martens. However, marking a shift for the constantly evolving house, Jean Paul Gaultier named Duran Lantink its permanent Creative Director to lead both couture and ready-to-wear body-reshaping silhouettes and distorted prints menswear and genderless label in 2016 but it wasn't until 2018 when pop-star Janelle Monáe wore his 'vagina pants' in her music video that Lantink began to turn heads LVMH promoted new Fendi and Kenzo CEOs from within LVMH once again promoted from within, tapping talent from its executive bench. It appointed Ramon Ros as the new CEO of Fendi, effective 1 July and Charlotte Coupé as the CEO of Kenzo, effective 1 May Both executives are transitioning from roles at Louis Vuitton and will report directly to Sidney Toledano Senior Adviser to LVMH Chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault Wrangler and Lee owner named Managing Director to ‘elevate’ EMEA team Kontoor Brands, owner of beloved denim brands Wrangler and Lee, has named Jamie Givens as its Managing Director, EMEA, to ensure brand growth Givens boasts more than two decades of experience in the premium apparel fashion industry where he served as Chief Executive Officer of North & Central America for the past two years after leading the brand in the UK and Ireland for the previous four years Victoria's Secret named Adam Selman Executive Creative Director amid rebrand Victoria’s Secret appointed Adam Selman as its new Senior Vice President and Executive Creative Director, effective 14 April This marks a significant move in the lingerie brand’s ongoing transformation as it looks to reconnect with a more diverse audience previously the Chief Design Officer at Rihanna's lingerie brand is the first designer to take on the role of Executive Creative Director at Victoria’s Secret served as the brand’s creative lead from December 2020 to January 2024 Mr Porter's founding team reunited as Mytheresa completes YNAP acquisition Mr Porter's founding team members – Toby Bateman (pictured) and Jeremy Langmead – are back at the luxury menswear platform The news came as Mytheresa completed its acquisition of its parent company YOOX NET-A-PORTER Group to create a new global online fashion powerhouse LuxExperience John Lewis Partnership appointed interim CFO to permanent role The John Lewis Partnership confirmed the permanent appointment of Andy Mounsey as Chief Financial Officer following an interim period in the role since autumn 2024 Mounsey has served in various senior finance roles at the business for 13 years including Group Finance & Strategy Director TALA welcomed new Commercial Director as it continues expansion Activewear brand TALA appointed Darren Read, previously Regional Managing Director of cycling brand Rapha, as Commercial Director moving up the ranks from starting as Retail Communications Manager in 2013 He was instrumental in scaling the Rapha business from a £20 million turnover to £200 million Whistles named ex-Topshop Design Director as first Creative Director Premium womenswear brand Whistles appointed Jacqui Markham as its Creative Director a newly created role aimed at redefining the brand’s design direction Markham brings extensive experience from her time leading design teams at fashion giants including Topshop She will be responsible for shaping Whistles’ design direction and wider creative vision Topshop’s second act: Experts reveal how it can win over the high street The Interview: Gymshark's Wholesale & Retail General Manager on driving retail expansion Highlights from TheIndustry.fashion LIVE: Elevating the post-purchase experience The future of sustainable fashion: Transforming supply Chains for a greener industry Prada buys Versace: How will the rival labels collaborate? Fashion in Turbulent Times: Geopolitical Conflicts and Economic Uncertainty In My View by Eric Musgrave: Profiting from synthetics Securing Supply Chains for Long-Term Growth: How Fashion Brands Can Navigate Disruption and Build Resilience By clicking 'Get the Newsletter' below, you agree to receive the newsletter & marketing communications from theindustry.fashion. To find out more about our data sharing policy, please read our terms of use and privacy policy Please mark membership@theindustry.fashion (and membership@theindustry.beauty ifyou have signed up for both newsletters) a safe sender so your daily newsletter getsdelivered successfully to your inbox as some spam filters can be extremely sensitive a United States-based microlender that offers small loans to clients in Mexico and a few other countries announced on Wednesday that it has secured a US $150 million debt facility to expand its business in Mexico The California-based fintech company said in a press release that it closed on the debt facility with Neuberger Berman a New York-based investment management firm “This facility will support the company’s rapidly growing business in Mexico,” Tala said “Tala intends to use the proceeds from this facility to enhance its lending capabilities and fuel its ongoing mission to deliver truly scalable data-enabled financial infrastructure,” the company said “… With initial committed capital of US $75 million the facility enables Tala to draw up to US $150 million making this Tala’s largest capital markets transaction to date and underscoring the strength of its operations and growth trajectory in Mexico,” Tala said Tala’s CEO and founder Shivana Siroya said that many of the company’s clients in Mexico are owners of small businesses She said that Tala has more than 3 million clients in Mexico and provided loans worth more US $500 million in the country last year She said that the capital Tala will be able to access via the debt facility “is for the growth of our Mexico business.” “As we think about how to widen access it’s … starting to talk about different platforms embedded partnerships,” Siroya told Reuters “So whether that’s higher [credit] limits starting to think about specific credit products,” she said According to Tala’s Mexico website, the maximum loan is currently 10,000 pesos (about US $500) while the minimum is 500 pesos (US $25). The duration of personal loans ranges from 15 to 61 days and fixed interest rates start at 11% Clients can apply for loans using Tala’s mobile app and the company says the loans can be approved in minutes without checking a borrower’s credit history Siroya said that Tala’s average loan in Mexico is about 2,300 pesos (US $114) Siroya told Reuters that there is “more to come this year” for Tala in Latin America indicating that it will expand into other countries in the region Among the other fintechs that offer loans in Mexico are Brazil’s Nubank and Mexico City-based Konfío With reports from Reuters  ADVERTISE WITH MND COMMUNITY GUIDELINES Subscription FAQ's Privacy Policy Mexico News Daily - Property of Tavana LLC Broadway Off-Broadway Off-Off Broadway Cabaret Dance Opera Classical Music Nashville Minneapolis / St. Paul Connecticut Atlanta Chicago Los Angeles WEST END UK Regional Canada Australia / New Zealand Europe Asia Latin America Africa / Middle East TV/Movies Music BroadwayWorld spoke with Ashe about the rare experience of bringing the Off-Broadway cast and creative team to Broadway Troilus and Cressida at Shakespeare in the Park and more BroadwayWorld spoke with Ashe about the emotions of opening night on Broadway the rare experience of bringing the entire Off-Broadway cast and creative team to Broadway how her connection to the character of Elham has deepened over time Read the full interview and check out photography by BroadwayWorld's own Jennifer Broski below What stands out to you most from opening night on Broadway We had a little bit of a group meeting as a cast before we went out because there were so many things happening and we looked each other in the eyes and we said we have to do our show and keep our eye on the ball in terms of that.” So I think we did that And I kept my head in the game of the show and of telling the story of Elham And then during the curtain call it all kind of came flying back I looked out into the audience for the first time and I saw my parents in the third or fourth row It was really moving to have them there to witness this moment that means so much to me that they’ve obviously been so essential in making happen How does it feel to have made the Broadway journey with the same cast members in the show’s Off-Broadway debut It’s so rare for all components of the show So it really does feel like we have an advantage of intimacy and we’re able to skip past that early step of getting to know each other and I think it both serves the work in getting a deeper connection with the work and also we just have a better time together and cry in a sort of familial sense that you wouldn’t necessarily do with someone you met six weeks ago How has it been to grow with your character I immediately felt connected to her from the first time I did a reading of English. I was just so floored that Sanaz Toossi had written a character that was very relatable to me and connected to a world that I feel like I have one foot in Iran so that was sort of a profound revelation for me my memory of it was that it was incredibly joyful and doing that Off-Broadway… I’d been doing a TV show for five years so I also hadn’t been onstage for five years Being back onstage and doing English coming out of the pandemic was a revelation it feels like more than I could have ever asked for But my relationship with Elham feels deeper and what I’ve been through in the intervening years I think I feel the depth of her struggle maybe a little more acutely than I did three years ago And I would say the journey of the play costs me more now and it’s when she ultimately wins this Koosh ball game that they play That’s such an elated moment for someone who’s been struggling throughout the play with the English language I think the most revelatory moment both for me and for Elham in a meta way when she and the character of Marjan speak Persian on the stage And that feels like this moment that’s just for us and a lot of audience members come up and want to know what is being said I think the point in some ways is to give the audience a taste of what we experience throughout the play And to look into Marjan’s eyes and be speaking our mother tongues for 30 seconds is so What do you want to tell audience members who are planning to come and see English I would like to tell them to keep an open mind and heart and maybe even change the way you look at people who are trying to speak English as a second language that you encounter in the world Inside a one-room apartment on the outskirts of Seoul Oliver lives a happily quiet life listening to jazz records and caring for his favorite plant But what else is there to do when you’re a HelperBot 3 a robot that has long been retired and considered obsolete When his fellow HelperBot neighbor Claire asks to borrow his charger what starts as an awkward encounter leads to a unique friendship Ava Lalezarzadeh who plays Goli in English on Broadway took us backstage at the Todd Haimes Theatre to share some of her favorite backstage routines Pulitzer Prize-winning play English by Sanaz Toossi and directed by Knud Adams plays its final performance at the Todd Haimes Theatre following 21 previews and 45 regular performances ​Sanaz Toossi's Pulitzer Prize-winning play English is entering its final weeks on Broadway presented by Roundabout Theare Company and directed by Knud Adams is all about the power of communication and the part language plays in shaping our identity BroadwayWorld interviewed for Tala Ashe for the February 2025 Debut of the Month feature Ashe is currently making her Broadway debut in English and exclusive discounts on tickets to your favorite shows © 2025 - Copyright Wisdom Digital Media, all rights reserved. Privacy Policy the sustainable activewear brand founded by fitness entrepreneur Grace Beverley has raised £5 million from prominent investors including one of the early supporters of the womenswear label Me+Em.  Pembroke VCT led the funding round, with participation from existing investors Venrex and Active Partners, TALA said TALA’s mission is to bring consciously made active-inspired pieces that deliver on performance The company remains proudly women-founded and women-run with most leadership and board positions held by women distinguishing it from many other female-led companies.  The new funding reportedly will support TALA's international expansion where the brand has already seen significant customer interest and social media engagement; the company also intends to explore establishing a standalone retail presence for the first time.  “We look forward to continuing to disrupt the industry with well-thought-through activewear, wardrobe favourites and problem-solving pieces for women, by women,” the company said Jamie acts for both early and late stage companies in intellectual property rich sectors and those who invest in them including some of the most active venture capital funds Jamie has a passion for disruptive technologies He has acted on countless transactions across a broad range of sectors both in the UK and internationally but is most known for his experience in acting on investments into fintech and Artificial Intelligence companies Jamie has deep knowledge of the practice area in which he operates and market trends which he leverages to provide clear and concise advice on a range of corporate issues taking high growth technology companies from start-up through to exit He presents on corporate law and venture capital to clients and at seminars in the City including practitioners’ conferences on practical legal issues in venture capital transactions and SEIS/EIS investments An active participant in the venture capital community Jamie Moore has contributed to industry standard form documentation acted as a mentor for various Seedcamp portfolio companies and hosted office-hours for the Barclays' TechStars cohort secret or otherwise sensitive information concerning any potential or actual legal matter in this e-mail message Unsolicited e-mails do not create an attorney-client relationship and confidential or secret information included in such e-mails cannot be protected from disclosure Orrick does not have a duty or a legal obligation to keep confidential any information that you provide to us please note that our attorneys do not seek to practice law in any jurisdiction in which they are not properly authorized to do so you understand and agree that Orrick will have no duty to keep confidential any information you provide Subscribe to our mailing list to keep up to date with all things When The Horn Blows related We use cookies and similar technologies to run this website and help us understand how you use it taken from her upcoming album ‘Hope Handwritten’ shows yet again why she’s becoming one of the most exciting voices in the alternative R&B genre.  Released as the sixth track from Hope Tala’s highly anticipated debut album ‘Hope Handwritten’, ‘Survival’ builds on her recent success setting the stage for the full album release on 28th of February 2025 With a blend of soulful vocals and delicate but assertive production, ‘Survival’ feels like the culmination of Tala’s journey this year Her 2024 singles - including ‘I Can’t Even Cry’, ‘Bad Love God’, ‘Thank Goodness’, ‘Shiver’ and ‘Jumping the Gun’ - have built an intricate each track adding depth to her distinctive style Tala has crafted an immersive experience that gives each song its own identity while still weaving together seamlessly into her musical vision Tala’s voice shines with a maturity that captures vulnerability and resilience allows her lyrical storytelling to take centre stage There’s an undeniable intimacy in her delivery which makes ‘Survival’ feel like a deeply personal reflection on endurance and growth This emotional resonance may well be why her recent live shows in London proving that her fans are not just listeners - they’re fully invested in her evolving story The buzz around ‘Hope Handwritten’ speaks to Tala’s ability to captivate both long-time fans and new audiences Tala has taken her sound in a slightly different direction while maintaining a cohesive aesthetic - a rarity for many emerging artists. Survival is both a testament to her artistry and a tantalising preview of what’s to come on Hope Handwritten, and as she prepares to release the album Tala seems poised to make an indelible mark on the music scene redefining her sound with each track and showing an artistic range that sets her apart.  Fans and newcomers alike should keep an eye on her - ‘Hope Handwritten’ promises to be a landmark release This week's Band of the Week is Brighton quartet Slung - who have just released their debut album 'In Ways' via Fat Dracula An epic reprise from the indie rock collectives’ first in five years with the scholars - an ambitious nine-track rock opera magnum opus Sextile blend synth and punk together on their latest record in a way that has never looked – or sounded more fun creating music that’s impossible not to dance to Blondshell’s second record If You Asked For A Picture is a triumph Toronto's very own soul star delight Tanika Charles shares the video for new track 'Talk To Me Nice' - the third single to taken from her upcoming album 'Reasons To Stay' Cardiff rock band HIMALAYAS have just released the new album 'Bad Stars' - an impressive explosion of sound The post-punk psychedelic powerhouse group that is Squid spun the heads off of the crowd lucky enough to see them perform at Camden’s Roundhouse Dreampop outfit Portland make their return with soaring alternative pop release ‘Lay Me Down’ which hits just about as hard as our first introduction to the band; single ‘Lucky Clover’ A love letter to the city they now call home ‘Glasgow Love Story’ is the stunning new album from Scotland’s Tide Lines.  Incubus took it back to the 00s on Saturday night in London with a stellar show full of nostalgic rock turntable scratching and several unexpected covers American rockers Halestorm release new cinematic rock anthem ‘Darkness Always Wins’ This week's Band of the Week is American punk-rock band Heart Attack Man - who have just released their new album 'Joy Ride The Pale Horse' The brand’s influencer content blends fitness conversation challenges and training advice “to foster authentic relationships between fitness creators and their audiences” This has driven increases of 62% in Earned Media Value (EMV) 92% in impressions and 174% in engagements year on year   WeArisma hailed its “authentic influencer content that appeals strongly to target audiences” and said its so-called Resonance score shows that 29% of consumers who saw influencer content about the brand interacted with it Neither Adidas nor Nike ranked in the top 10 brands generating the most Resonance.It also said influencer Grace Beverley’s TALA is one of only two sports and athleisure brands to achieve WeArisma’s top Virality Grade which assesses the extent to which an influencer’s content spreads beyond their immediate audience Its branding and influencer content “appeals to younger generations who are seeking apparel that blends style and performance to suit their active lifestyles”  The report added that “as an influencer-owned business TALA exemplifies how engaged audiences boost social media presence” 21st October 2024Words: Daisy Carter West London’s Hope Tala has announced that her debut album will be released on 28th February via PMR Records this latest offering is one of the first songs Hope wrote for the LP; speaking about it she has said that it’s “one of only two that made it from the very first draft I wrote in 2021 onto the final track list - I never once considered letting it go.” Explaining more about the origins of the album’s title she has shared: “The title contains multiple meanings; I write most of my lyrics by hand in a notebook and I’ve put so much of my heart and soul into this music which is where the self-titled element came from - but it also communicates what I believe is the crux of the record which is the struggle to hold on to the feeling of hope.” You can check out ‘Jumping The Gun’ below Get tickets to watch Hope Tala live now. Album Review coffee-buying customers are surprised to realize how sweet and tasty their coffee is all by itself to release the coffee bean's natural sweetness Lilja's hobby of roasting coffee in a popcorn popper at home was the first step in what has become a thriving and successful career Lilja told Mill City Roasters that coffee was never meant to be a full-time career He met his future business partners while working as a barista at a local coffee roaster and café teammates Joanna and Stefan Tong and friend Ryan Hickman joined Lilja to open TALA Coffee Roasters in Libertyville they began serving their small-batch brews at a repurposed firehouse in Highwood Following the success of its Highwood location, TALA began offering coffee classes through its whimsically named University of TALA at its Libertyville location each giving coffeeholics an inside look at how co-owner and head roaster Keith Lilja coaxes the rich flavors and smooth finishes from every batch of beans Coffee 101 – Roastery tour and cupping Cupping, in the coffee industry refers to tasting and evaluating beans to discover their unique flavors Cupping in sports involves using cups that suction to your skin Both leave you feeling better; just one involves less sweating guests will explore the inner workings of TALA Roasters discovering the story behind its creation and growth Head roaster Lilja will walk students through the roasting journey from green beans to perfectly roasted coffee The class concludes in the Training Lab with a cupping session allowing participants to expand their palates and experience new flavors Each student will receive a complimentary bag of coffee and a 10% discount on brewing gear or merchandise for their next purchase For more information and to register, follow this link Coffee 102 – Brewing basics taste and recognize different flavor profiles They'll also refine their cupping skills and discover how to appreciate the nuances of coffee There will be demonstrations and a Q&A session to answer all students' coffee brewing questions Each student will receive a complimentary bag of coffee For more information and to register, follow this link For coffee newbies or seasoned enthusiasts TALA Roasters' Coffee classes will deepen appreciation for the craft with hands-on learning and expert guidance Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy TALA is bringing back the tenniscore trend with its new “Elevated Athletics” collection tennis-inspired silhouettes in the brand’s best-selling fabrics the new drop is the ultimate addition to any racket-lover’s wardrobe DayFlex and Club Sweats fabrics make their welcome return landing as new sportswear styles with a TALA twist Standout pieces include the DayFlex Active Dress designed with built-in shorts and a square neckline an old-money style V-neck Knitted Cricket Jumper and the Contrast Piping Track Jacket flattering tennis dresses and matching sets round out the sports-inspired offering along with classic styles like the Built-In Support V-neck Racer Vest and DayFlex Logo Waistband Legging Tala CA-based financial infrastructure company delivering accessible financial services raised US$150M in Debt Facility with Neuberger Berman The company intends to allocate the amount to accelerate its reach and deepen its impact in markets like Mexico and beyond Tala has built vertically-integrated financial infrastructure empowered by the expansive warehouse of proprietary data The company has delivered more than US$6 Billion in credit to more than 10 million customers across Latin America Southeast Asia and East Africa who have used its products to start and expand small businesses Tala has raised nearly half a billion dollars in equity and debt from investors including Upstart © Copyright 2012 - 2023 | citybiz | All Rights Reserved Activewear brand Tala is taking it to the streets—Carnaby Street to be exact—with its first-ever retail store in London opening this May and promising an immersive shopping experience The news comes a year after Tala partnered with luxury department store Selfridges and follows a £5 million (~$6.47 million) funding round led by Pembroke VCT alongside Venrex and Active Partners last summer Founded by podcaster and entrepreneur Grace Beverley (the founder and CEO of fitness tech brand Shreddy) and led by CEO Morgan Fowles the e-commerce brand is now gearing up to open a 2,000-square-foot flagship store spanning two levels on the famed London street Aligning with the consumer preferences of Gen Z Tala is committed to responsible manufacturing and inclusive options “The opening of our flagship store is a celebration of Tala’s growth and given Carnaby Street’s international footfall a strategic move to solidify our presence both in the U.K retail market and with international customers,” Fowles said “Carnaby Street has long been a destination for innovative and leading brands and this location allows us to engage directly with customers whilst complementing our strong e-commerce offering including via our success at Selfridges stores across the U.K. that they still love shopping in physical stores Carnaby Street is an incredibly exciting and well-aligned place to open our first retail store and is a key milestone in the multi-channel and international growth strategy we’re rapidly executing to support the demand for our brand and products.”  noted that the Carnaby Street flagship location will offer community events and in-store experiences “I’m most excited for visitors to feel the quality of our products and interact with the brand in a space that offers a rich 360-degree Tala experience,” she said London has proven to be a lucky charm for Gymshark, which also began as an online-only brand before opening its first flagship on Regent Street in 2022. The activewear brand has relied on in-person events, such as #LiftMiami a two-day event where attendees can sample Gymshark gear work out and mingle with well-known fitness personalities Sign Up for Our Newsletter Trusted by 100k+ Fitness Athletech News provides comprehensive media coverage of the most impactful news and trends shaping the fitness and wellness sector Our newsletter and website cover emerging fitness technology new fitness formats and the industry’s economic outlook Keep pulse with the latest in fitness news.