Raul Delapena Setiawan

UK Jazz & Soul

Unveiling the Enigma: Drummer Miles Pillinger Makes a Triumphant Debut with Belonging

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Executive Overview In an era dominated by relentless digital self-promotion, saturation marketing, and algorithmic indexing, the arrival of a genuinely elusive talent feels almost anachronistic. Enter Miles Pillinger: a Manchester-born, London-based drummer whose online footprint is deliberately minimal, cultivating an aura of mystique that sharply contrasts with the explosive, technicolor vibrancy of his musicianship. Rather … Read more

British Culture & Arts

The Enduring Legacy of Tom Skerritt: A Cinematic Giant Remembered

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Executive Overview Tom Skerritt, the revered, Emmy Award-winning actor whose understated authority, rugged authenticity, and quiet charm defined a remarkable seven-decade career across stage, television, and film, has died at the age of 93. Passing away peacefully from natural causes, according to statements released by his family, Skerritt leaves behind an indelible mark on American … Read more

UK Music Industry & Business

Major labels are getting “massive corporate payouts” for AI licensing but “paying musicians zero”, says AFM’s ‘Human Made Human Paid’ campaign

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Executive Overview The intersection of artificial intelligence and the music industry has reached a volatile flashpoint. As generative AI models grow increasingly sophisticated—trained on billions of parameters derived from existing commercial audio catalogues—the foundational architecture of musician compensation, labor rights, and intellectual property is facing an existential stress test. At the center of this turbulence … Read more

Live Music & Gigs

The London Stage Holiday Guide: Curated Productions for the Festive Season

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By Caitlin Devlin Published: October 21, 2026 Executive Overview As the crisp winds of late autumn signal the final stretch of the year, London’s world-renowned theatre district is preparing for its most lucrative, culturally vibrant, and heavily anticipated period: the festive holiday season. While October may still offer autumnal relief, the UK capital’s ticketing ecosystem … Read more

Vinyl & Album Reviews

The Ultimate Crate-Digger’s Companion: The 2026 Rough Trade Gift Guide and Vinyl Culture Report

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Executive Overview For over a decade and a half, the global music landscape has witnessed an extraordinary renaissance: the unyielding, upward trajectory of vinyl record sales. What began as a nostalgic niche for purists has matured into a dominant cultural and economic force, consistently outpacing compact disc sales and redefining how modern consumers interact with … Read more

Global Music Influences

Echoes from the Indian Ocean: Saodaj Transmutes Grief into the Vibrant Resonance of ‘Lodèr la Vi’

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Executive Overview In the realm of world music, few genres carry the historical weight, spiritual resilience, and visceral urgency of maloya. Originating in the plantations of Réunion—a French island department situated in the western Indian Ocean—maloya was forged by enslaved African and Malagasy peoples as a clandestine vehicle for survival, resistance, and cultural preservation. Today, … Read more

British Culture & Arts

Beyond the Broomstick: The Dangerous Allure of Reclaiming the "Witch" in Modern Feminist Historiography

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Executive Overview In contemporary popular culture, the archetype of the witch has undergone a profound metamorphosis. Once a symbol of terror, religious persecution, and societal paranoia, the label has been enthusiastically resurrected as an emblem of feminist solidarity. Today’s cultural landscape—fueled by the rise of "WitchTok," blockbuster cinematic revivals like Practical Magic 2, and best-selling … Read more

Vinyl & Album Reviews

The Ultimate Crate-Digger’s Companion: The 2026 Rough Trade Gift Guide and Vinyl Renaissance Report

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Executive Overview For the past decade and a half, the global music landscape has undergone a profound, tactile revolution. Vinyl record sales have not only sustained an extraordinary 15-year resurgence, but they have also comfortably outpaced compact discs in major physical markets. This renaissance is driven by a unique demographic convergence: original-generation collectors continually expanding … Read more

Global Music Influences

Echoes from the Indian Ocean: Saodaj Transmutes Grief into Art with Their Haunting Masterpiece "Lodèr la Vi"

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Executive Overview In the sprawling landscape of contemporary world music, few acts manage to bridge the chasm between ancestral heritage and modern alternative sensibilities quite as seamlessly as Saodaj. Hailing from Réunion, the volcanic French island department situated in the western Indian Ocean, the collective has long carved out a unique space for itself by … Read more

UK Music Industry & Business

The Battle for the Future of Music Streaming: Inside the High-Stakes CRB Rate War

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Executive Overview As the digital music ecosystem braces for another monumental regulatory showdown, the United States Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) is preparing to set the financial baseline for the world’s most lucrative streaming market. Next year, the tribunal will officially commence deliberations for "Phonorecords V"—the landmark rate-setting proceeding that will dictate what digital service providers … Read more

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