Arts & Entertainment
Ava Max releases new anthem for ‘Kings & Queens’
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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Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates 45 years at annual gala
‘Sapphire & Sparkle’ Spring Affair held at the Ritz Carlton
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington held the annual Spring Affair gala at the Ritz Carlton Washington, D.C. on Saturday. The theme for this year’s fete was “Sapphire & Sparkle.” The chorus celebrated 45 years in D.C. with musical performances, food, entertainment, and an awards ceremony.
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington Executive Director Justin Fyala and Artistic Director Thea Kano gave welcoming speeches. Opening remarks were delivered by Spring Affair co-chairs Tracy Barlow and Tomeika Bowden. Uproariously funny comedian Murray Hill performed a stand-up set and served as the emcee.
There were performances by Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington groups Potomac Fever, 17th Street Dance, the Rock Creek Singers, Seasons of Love, and the GenOUT Youth Chorus.
Anjali Murthy, a member of the chorus and a graduate of the GenOUT Youth Chorus, addressed the attendees of the gala.
“The LGBTQ+ community isn’t bound by blood ties: we are brought together by shared experience,” Murthy said. “Being Gen Z, I grew up with Ellen [DeGeneres] telling me through the TV screen that it gets better: that one day, it’ll all be okay. The sentiment isn’t wrong, but it’s passive. What I’ve learned from GMCW is that our future is something we practice together. It exists because people like you continue to show up for it, to believe in the possibilities of what we’re still becoming”
The event concluded with the presentation of the annual Harmony Awards. This year’s awardees included local drag artist and activist Tara Hoot, the human rights organization Rainbow Railroad as well as Rocky Mountain Arts Association Executive Director, Dr. Chipper Dean.
(Washington Blade photos and videos by Michael Key)
Equality Prince William Pride was held at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas, Va. on Saturday, May 16.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
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PHOTOS: Blade Summer Kickoff Party
Ashley Biden accepts award for Beau Biden at annual Rehoboth fundraiser
The 19th annual Blade Foundation Summer Kickoff Party was held on Friday, May 15 at Diego’s in Rehoboth Beach, Del. An award presentation was held for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden. Ashley Biden accepted the award on her brother’s behalf and gave remarks. Other speakers included Delaware state Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall, CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Dr. Robin Brennan and Washington Blade Editor Kevin Naff. The event was a fundraiser for the Steve Elkins Memorial Fellowship in Journalism.
(Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt)
Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates 45 years at annual gala
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Intersex lives, constitutional freedom, and the dangerous future of Ghana’s Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill
Doc on Blade reporter Chibbaro scores Emmy nomination
Don’t let Rehoboth rain deter you, there’s lots to do for Memorial Day
HIV Vaccine Awareness Day set for May 18
‘The Inheritance’ is most-nominated at this year’s Helen Hayes Awards
Calendar: May 15-21
United Night Out set for Saturday
