Stormzy: Superheroes

British grime artist Stormzy (aka Michael Owuo Jr) has released Taz Tron Delix-directed visuals to accompany his mellow but moving “Superheroes.” Dedicating the animated video to Chadwick Boseman, Stormzy shared a statement with fans: “You are a superhero in your own right, and don’t ever forget that.” While referencing Nina Simone, Little Simz, Malorie Blackman, Venus and Serena Williams, the lyrics ultimately focus on young …

Amanda Palmer + Rhiannon Giddens: It’s A Fire

With recording artist Amanda Palmer on lockdown in New Zealand and MacArthur “Genius” Grant-recipient Rhiannon Giddens quarantined in Ireland, the duo determined to collaborate remotely on “It’s A Fire,” an entrancing Portishead cover with a message that resonates through current circumstances the world over. Palmer tapped regular collaborator Jherek Bischoff to arrange the track from LA (where he hired local string players to record in …

Wired’s Guide to Surviving a Volcanic Eruption

Using the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and its impact upon Pompeii as an example, Wired writer Cody Cassidy (author of Who Ate The First Oyster?) delves into the factual ways people survived the perils of magma, raining ash and explosive gas. With the help of Pier Paolo Petrone (forensic anthropologist at the University of Naples) and James Moore (volcanologist and scientist emeritus at the US Geological Survey), …