Arts & Entertainment

Ava Max releases new anthem for ‘Kings & Queens’

Published

3 years ago

March 13, 2020

Global pop sensation Ava Max has delivered her first new song of 2020.

“Kings & Queens,” an empowering new anthem, dropped on Friday, accompanied by a brand new visualizer. The song reasserts the leadership role that the “Princess of Pop” has taken in inspiring her listeners to imagine a better world in which everyone is treated with respect, and is the first new song to be released from Ava’s hugely anticipated debut album, which is set to drop later this year.

Described by Rolling Stone as an “Artist You Need to Know,” Ava has garnered plenty of media attention, and has had high profile features in Vanity Fair, Billboard, Forbes, Paper, and other magazines. She officially sealed her pop superstar status in 2019, with the blockbuster 2x platinum certified hit, “Sweet but Psycho,” which was named among by the New York Times as one of the “54 Best Songs of 2019” and spent three weeks in the top 10 of Billboard’s “Hot 100.” Along with that success came the companion video, which has garnered over 516 million YouTube views to date.

She followed up that stellar debut with an acclaimed summer single, “Torn,” accompanied by a video from superstar director Joseph Kahn (Britney Spears’ “Toxic,” Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood”) that has achieved nearly 50 million views, and continued her streak with the songs and videos “Freaking Me Out,” “So Am I,” “Salt,” and “On Somebody.”

She’s also established herself as an international artist, teaming up with Norwegian DJ/producer Alan Walker for “Alone Pt. II,” and Spanish superstar Pablo Alborán for their hit single, “Tabú,” a platinum-certified chart-topper in Spain.

Ava ended 2019 as one of the year’s most-honored performers, counting “Best New Artist” nominations at both the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards and the 2019 MTV Europe Music Awards among her accolades. The latter resulted in her first-ever win for “Best Push Artist” and yielded show-stopping live performances of both “Torn” and “Sweet But Psycho.”

You can watch the visualizer for “Kings and Queens” below.

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Arts & Entertainment

Must-attend D.C. Pride events for 2023

Don’t miss out on these fun events during D.C. Pride

Published

1 day ago

May 31, 2023

Staff reports

Pride Month has arrived, bringing along a vibrant array of events to explore throughout the month of June. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to participate in our favorite events over the upcoming weeks!

PRIDE ON THE PIER & FIREWORKS | JUNE 10TH

The Washington Blade, in partnership with LURe DC and The Wharf, is excited to announce the 4th annual Pride on the Pier and Fireworks show during DC Pride weekend on Saturday, June 10, 2023, from 2-9 p.m.

The event will include the annual Pride on the Pier Fireworks Show presented by the Leonard-Litz Foundation at 9 p.m.

3PM: Drag Show

4PM: Capital Pride Parade Viewing on the Big Screen

9PM: Fireworks Show presented by the Leonard-Litz Foundation

GET VIP TICKETS

PRIDE PILS LAUNCH PARTY | JUNE 1ST

Once again we’re celebrating Pride in DC with the release of Pride Pils!

The 2023 design has been created and donated by the talented Chord Bezerra of District CO/OP.

Attendance is “FREE” but please RSVP via this Eventbrite or donating at the event to further support our non-profit partners SMYAL and The Blade Foundation. 100% will be donated. As always, DC Brau and Red Bear Brewing Co. will be donating all profit from the sale of this year’s Pride Pils to our non-profit partners.

RSVP

‘THE GROUND WE STAND ON’ OPENING RECEPTION | JUNE 2ND

Dupont Underground, in partnership with the Washington Blade presents The Ground We Stand On: Past and Present DC LGBTQ Changemakers. DC’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community stands as a testament to the unwavering spirit of countless individuals throughout the years. In recognition of their indomitable courage and resilience, an inspiring exhibition titled “The Ground We Stand On: Past and Present DC LGBTQ Changemakers” will showcase the remarkable journeys of both past and present changemakers who have left an indelible mark on the tapestry of Washington, DC. The exhibit underscores the enduring legacy of these remarkable individuals, serving as an inspiration for present and future generations. By shining a light on their remarkable contributions, this exhibition aims to empower and encourage the continuous evolution of the DC LGBTQ+ community and its influence that transcends boundaries.

RSVP

DRAG UNDERGROUND | JUNE 2ND

Join Dupont Underground and the Washington Blade every Friday for Drag Underground. Featuring some of the best Drag Queens in DC!

Performers include Destiny B Childs, Elecktra Gee, Jane Saw, and Shi-Queeta Lee

GET TICKETS

SPIRTS & BEER SHOWCASE | JUNE 3RD

metrobar prides itself on serving locally-produced beer, wine and spirits. As part of this mission, we are hosting a curated tasting event featuring Civic Vodka & Assembly Gin from local, woman-owned and operated distillery, Republic Restoratives. We will also have a selection of beers from DC Brau, including their annual Pride Pils for tasting.

GET TICKETS

DRAG UNDERGROUND | JUNE 9TH

Join Dupont Underground and the Washington Blade every Friday for Drag Underground. Featuring some of the best Drag Queens in DC!

Performers include Cake Pop, GiGI Paris Couture, Kabuki Bukkake, Delila B. Lee

GET TICKETS

Arts & Entertainment

Washington Blade, Dupont Underground spotlight D.C. LGBTQ Changemakers with new exhibit

‘The Ground We Stand On’ highlights 25 queer pioneers during Pride month

Published

2 days ago

May 30, 2023

Staff reports

The Washington Blade and Dupont Underground present “The Ground We Stand On: Past and Present DC LGBTQ Changemakers,” a new exhibit that highlights D.C. LGBTQ pioneers.

The exhibit, featuring 25 changemakers will be on view beginning Friday, June 2, through Sunday, June 25.

The inspiring exhibition will showcase the remarkable journeys of both past and present changemakers who have left an indelible mark on the tapestry of Washington, D.C. The exhibit underscores the enduring legacy of these remarkable individuals, serving as an inspiration for present and future generations.

The exhibition opens on June 2 at 5 p.m., where all the living honorees will be present for the opening reception, followed by Drag Underground starting at 8:30 p.m., featuring some of the best Drag Queens in DC such as Shi-Queeta Lee, Cake Pop, Jane Saw, and Destiny B Childs.

“By shining a light on their remarkable contributions, this exhibition aims to empower and encourage the continuous evolution of the D.C. LGBTQ+ community and its influence that transcends boundaries,” said Stephen Rutgers, director of Sales and Marketing for the Washington Blade.

“We are thrilled to highlight so many living changemakers who will visit us for opening night, and to honor the memories and work of those changemakers who are no longer with us,” said Ana Harvey, Dupont Underground CEO.

For more information about Dupont Underground, visit www.dupontunderground.org.

This year’s exhibition will feature the following changemakers:

Adalphie Johnson

Ba’Naka (Dustin Michael Schaad, posthumous)

David Catania

DJ’s: Ed Bailey, DJ MIM, DJ Sedrick, DJ Suspence, DJ Honey, DJ Rosie, DJ Chord, DJ Jay Jay

Earl Fowlkes

Earline Budd

Frank Kameny (posthumous)

GiGi Holliday

Jose Gutierrez

Jamil Fletcher