Pioneering Japanese Fashion Designer Issey Miyake Dies at 84

This morning, Miyake Design Studio announced the passing of its founder, Issey Miyake, the pioneering Japanese fashion designer who first rose to fame in the ’80s for eye-catching, avant-garde designs. Miyake was born in Hiroshima in 1938 and studied graphic design at Tokyo’s Tama Art University. He moved to Paris where he transitioned from studies at the renowned École de la Chambre Syndicale de la …

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Surreal art-pop, mellow R&B, exquisite indie-folk and a farewell to two funk icons

Caroline Polachek: Billions Caroline Polachek’s ethereal psych-pop track “Billions” enthralls listeners from the first eerie pulses and clanks. Featuring vocals from London’s Trinity Boys & Girls Choir, the song shape-shifts over its almost-five minutes, from stark to spectral to a rich, resplendent treasure. The mesmerizing video—by Polachek and her frequent collaborator Matt Copson—takes viewers on a surreal ride. Bree Runway: Pressure Bree Runway’s first release …

Syl Johnson: Different Strokes

An icon of blues, soul, funk and R&B, Syl Johnson has passed away at 85. Born in Mississippi and raised in Chicago, Johnson was a singer, songwriter, musician and producer whose lyrics often delved into complex social and political issues. His 1969 song “Is It Because I’m Black,” inspired by the murder of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr, was a piercing statement on race relations …