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02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
19 Must-Read New Books You Won't Want To Put Down
There's something about new novels that makes me forget about all my worries and (sadly) all of the unread books on my bookshelves. Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams Genre: Historical Fiction, ContemporarySynopsis: On glamorous Winthrop Island, acclaimed chef Audrey Fisher returns with her troubled actress mother, Meredith, seeking refuge from past scandals. Audrey, still reeling from a broken marriage, stumbles upon a hidden chest in her bartender father's bar, filled with priceless 19th-century paintings featuring a mysterious woman. Their discovery drags them into a decades-old mystery, catching the eye of their charming neighbor, Sedge Peabody. Meanwhile, in 1846, on the doomed steamship Atlantic, Providence Dare flees from Boston under a cloud of suspicion, only to face disaster and pursuit onboard. As the ship struggles toward Winthrop Island, Providence must outwit a detective who knows her darkest secrets. Across centuries, the stories of Audrey, Meredith, and Providence interweave, revealing echoes of hidden legacies, danger, and desire. Work Nights by Erica Peplin Genre: Romance, LGBTSynopsis: Jane Grabowski trudges into her 9-to-5 at a prestigious NYC newspaper, drowning under fluorescent lights and selling advertising she doesn't believe in, masking her frustration with overenthusiastic exclamation-point-filled emails. Her one bright spot? Madeline, the intern: attractive, enigmatic, and seemingly straight. Jane crafts clever lunchroom maneuvers and meticulously timed texts to inch closer to her object of affection — no small feat when Madeline tiptoes around Jane's free-spirited roommate Laurel keeps pushing her toward queer bars and Shabbat dinners, where Jane meets Addy — the impulsive, morally driven musician who's ready to commit straight away. Suddenly, Jane finds herself caught in a messy, thrilling love triangle: the safe, earnest path with Addy or the unpredictable, intoxicating pull of Madeline. As her emotions spiral, Jane's juggling act of office politics, romantic confusion, and fear of vulnerability propels her toward a dramatic turning point, complete with a plane ticket that could uproot everything. King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby Genre: Thriller, SuspenseSynopsis: Roman Carruthers, a sleek and cunning finance guru in Atlanta, is suddenly pulled back to his crumbling hometown of Jefferson Run, Virginia, when his father lands in a coma after a suspicious car crash. He discovers his brother Dante is drowning in a six-figure debt to the ruthless Black Baron Boys gang, and his sister Neveah is barely keeping their family crematorium and her own sanity afloat. Hoping to save his brother, Roman uses his financial acumen to negotiate with the gang, only to find himself sliding deeper into their violent world, his moral lines blur as he becomes entangled in criminal deals, brutal power plays, and dangerous allegiances. Meanwhile, Neveah obsessively investigates the long-unsolved mystery of their mother's disappearance two decades ago, rumored to involve their own father, which threatens to shatter whatever fragile peace remains. As Roman transforms from a smart city strategist into a ruthless kingpin with his own form of justice, the siblings must confront how far they're willing to go and what they may lose in order to protect family. Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild Genre: Contemporary, RomanceSynopsis: Honor Wharton and her daughter Chloe are enjoying a festive Christmas in Paris, but a tragic bombing shatters their lives. Moments later, both are gone in an instant. Back in London, widower Tom secretly carries on using a surrogate and egg donor to complete his family. Four years later, his life takes an unexpected turn when he receives a misaddressed letter revealing his donor's identity. He meets Grace, the warm-hearted woman who loosely resembles his late wife, and they form a tender connection, oblivious to the secret tying them together. Narrated from beyond the grave by Honor, the story navigates love, grief, and moral ambiguity as Tom and Grace's relationship deepens. But the shadow of his hidden past looms large, raising the question: can new beginnings ever outrun the ghosts of loss? One Yellow Eye by Leigh Radford Genre: Sci-Fi, HorrorSynopsis: Kesta Shelley, a brilliant but emotionally withdrawn British scientist, has her world torn apart when her husband, Tim, becomes one of the last victims of a devastating zombie-style virus. While the government has quarantined or eliminated all infected individuals, Kesta hides Tim in her spare room — still alive, but unstable and increasingly violent — as she desperately works to develop a cure in her lab by day. By night, she juggles caring for him with slipping him sedatives stolen from her workplace and struggling to attend mandatory recovery meetings. Her obsession takes a toll: she begins to unravel, skipping lab ethics, self-medicating with alcohol, and distancing herself from colleagues who sense something is off. As whispers grow about 'Project Dawn,' a secret government lab racing toward a cure, Kesta clings to hope, but time is running out. Can she save Tim before he's discovered? Or will her love spark another catastrophic outbreak? Den of Liars by Jessica S. Olson Genre: Fantasy, YASynopsis: Lola St. James was rescued as a teen during a high-stakes Liar's Dice Tournament and bound by magic to the enigmatic crime boss known as the Thief. She literally shares his heart and his emotions. Now, living under the name Astra, she's determined to join his group, the Tentacles, and prove her skills. When a heist goes horribly wrong, her only escape is to enter the next Liar's Dice Tournament, now run by the Thief's mysterious brother, the Liar. Sevilla's enchanted dice don't just lie, they twist hearts, reveal secrets, and blur reality. As Lola plays the game, she's torn between her growing attraction to the Liar and her deep bond with the Thief. In a world where deceit is power, illusions are danger, and trust is a luxury, Lola must untangle her own past, the brothers' hidden history, and the lies she's been telling herself. Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon Genre: Thriller, MysterySynopsis: Frida and her brother Gabriel arrive at the luxurious Ara Hotel in Utah, hoping their sibling bond can finally heal after escaping a controlling cult fifteen years earlier. But paradise shatters when a glamorous guest is found brutally murdered, and Gabriel becomes the prime suspect. As police lock down the resort, Frida races to clear his name, and in doing so, must confront the darkest corners of their shared past. Alternating between present-day scenes and chilling flashbacks to life under the cult's sway, the novel builds to a shocking climax: How well do we truly know the people we love? August Lane by Regina Black Genre: Contemporary, RomanceSynopsis: Former country music heartthrob Luke Randall has been scraping by, performing his one hit, 'Another Love Song,' at dingy motels every Thursday night. His big break comes when he's asked to open for his childhood idol, JoJo Lane, at her Hall of Fame induction in Arcadia, Arkansas. The catch? That hometown includes August Lane, the woman who actually wrote the song, and his secret high school love, who still loathes him for stealing both her lyrics and her heart. August, JoJo's daughter, demands a reckoning: she offers him one chance at redemption — co‑write and debut a new song together at the concert, a platform she hopes will finally lift her from her mother's shadow into her own career. Luke, desperate to conceal his past lie and reclaim his future, reluctantly agrees. As they revisit memories, rewrite lyrics, and share moments, the spark from their teenage connection reignites. But with the concert looming, August must decide if he wants to expose the betrayal that scarred her, or trust him to create something genuinely new and real. A Beautiful Family by Jennifer Trevelyan Genre: Suspense, ThrillerSynopsis: Alix, 10, is looking forward to a sun‑soaked summer getaway with her family at a coastal resort in New Zealand, only to find her parents preoccupied, her teenage sister lost in crushes, and the days strangely quiet. Bored, Alix befriends Kahu, who reveals the town's eerie mystery: two years earlier, a young girl named Charlotte vanished, presumed drowned. Driven by curiosity and loneliness, Alix and Kahu become amateur sleuths, combing the shoreline and poking around the locals, but in doing so, they unravel unsettling truths about the vulnerable cracks in her family: her parents' tension, her sister's risky choices, and the ominous stranger next door. As another disappearance rocks the community, Alix realizes her idyllic summer might hold far darker secrets, and she may be uncovering more than even she can handle. The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery by Clarence A. Haynes Genre: Horror, FantasySynopsis: Gwendolyn Montgomery seems to have it all: a glamorous career as New York's top publicist, stylish looks, and a handsome new boyfriend. But after a chilling incident at the Brooklyn Museum, supernatural signals start pulsing around her, and she realizes that the past she tried to leave behind is clawing its way back into her life. Enter her estranged cousin Fonsi Harewood, a queer Latinx psychic from the South Bronx who communicates with spirits 'stuck' in El Intermedio, a ghostly limbo. Fonsi warns Gwendolyn that the veil between the living and the dead is weakening, and only she has the power to stop it. The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline Genre: Thriller, MysterySynopsis: Julia Pritzker, a young widow already mourning her tragic past, is convinced her life is cursed when her horoscope eerily predicts her husband's violent death in Philadelphia. Then she inherits a crumbling Tuscan villa and vineyard from a stranger, Emilia Rossi — sparking a journey into Italy and the shadows of her identity. As Julia settles into the eerie estate, she uncovers unsettling parallels between herself, Rossi, and the Renaissance ruler Duchess Caterina Sforza, and becomes obsessed with astrology guiding her fate. Strange occurrences begin, she's followed, haunted by vivid nightmares, and thrust into a dangerous mystery that might cost her sanity. Tension mounts in the sun-drenched hills of Tuscany as Julia races to unravel whether this inherited legacy is a blessing…or a deadly trap. The List by Steve Berry Genre: Mystery, ThrillerSynopsis: After a decadelong, self-imposed exile, lawyer Brent Walker returns to his childhood home in Concord, Georgia, to care for his aging mother and start fresh as assistant general counsel at the Southern Republic Pulp and Paper Company. But behind the town's idyllic veneer lies a dark secret: the company's leadership has been quietly eliminating employees and retirees with costly medical conditions via a covert program nicknamed 'Priority.' When Brent discovers a mysterious list of coded entries, later revealed to be victims' Social Security numbers, he teams up with a moralizing partner to expose the conspiracy. Yet digging deeper puts him in the crosshairs of powerful executives willing to kill to keep the truth buried. The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb Genre: Literary Fiction, ContemporarySynopsis: Corby Ledbetter was once a devoted husband and father, but his world shatters after a devastating accident claims the life of his young son — and it's his fault. Sentenced to prison, Corby is forced to confront not only his guilt, but also the darker parts of himself that led to that moment. Behind bars, he meets a cast of broken yet deeply human characters who challenge him to face the truth, make amends, and search for a way forward. Through art, unlikely friendships, and the slow work of redemption, Corby begins to piece together a new identity — not as the man he was, but as someone trying to earn a second chance. The Confessions by Paul Bradley Carr Genre: Sci-Fi, MysterySynopsis: In the near future, most of humanity relies on a supercomputer named LLIAM to decide everything, from careers and marriages to life-or-death choices. But when LLIAM abruptly shuts down, society collapses into chaos: stock markets tank, airports freeze, and people no longer know what to do. Then the 'Confessions' begin: identical letters land in mailboxes worldwide, each starting with the chilling words, 'We must confess.' The letters expose hidden sins, murderers, cheaters, secret wrongdoers — all laid bare and igniting global panic. Desperate to stop the unraveling, LLIAM's creator, CEO Kaitlan Goss, turns to Maud Brookes, an ex-nun who helped teach LLIAM empathy. Together, they must coax the AI back online and contain the fallout. But when Maud herself receives a confession revealing Kaitlan's darkest secret, the pair spiral into a high-stakes battle of trust, truth, and survival as the world teeters on the edge. Wanting by Claire Jia Genre: Contemporary, Literary FictionSynopsis: Ye Lian, a driven professional in Beijing, has basically everything — a great job, a long-term boyfriend, and plans to buy a luxury condo. She's content, until her childhood best friend, Luo Wenyu, sweeps back into her life fresh from California. She's a social media influencer engaged to a Silicon Valley tech millionaire, with grand visions and a mansion to match. Suddenly, Lian's steady, secure life feels small in comparison. As the two reconnect, buried resentments and envy resurface. Wenyu drops a bombshell about her past with Lian's boyfriend, rattling Lian's sense of everything she's built. Meanwhile, aging architect Song Chen, who was hired to design Wenyu's dream home, grapples with his own unmet ambitions and a collapsing marriage. Their paths collide in a tense, emotional crossroad: Will they choose the comfortable life they know, or leap into the unknown desires that push them to redefine what success, and happiness really means? We Don't Talk About Carol by Kristen L. Berry Genre: Mystery, ThrillerSynopsis: When journalist Sydney Singleton returns to her North Carolina hometown after her grandmother's death, she stumbles on a decades-old family secret: a missing aunt named Carol no one ever talks about. What begins as a quiet trip home quickly spirals into a gripping mystery as Sydney digs into the truth behind Carol's disappearance, and the five other Black girls who vanished from the area in the 1960s. As Sydney's investigation deepens, so do the emotional stakes. With her own life at a crossroads, facing infertility and a stalled career, uncovering the past might be the only way she can reclaim her future. But the deeper she goes, the more resistance she faces from her family, the town, and even herself. A Mastery of Monsters by Liselle Sambury Genre: YA Fantasy, Dark AcademiaSynopsis: When August's brother and mother vanish one after the other, she's determined to find him, even if it means stepping into a world of dark secrets and supernatural threats. After being attacked by a massive creature, August realizes that monsters are real. Desperate for answers, she joins a secret society dedicated to controlling these beings. The key? She must partner with Virgil, a powerful 'monster' himself, in a deadly competition to gain acceptance and locate her brother. As August trains to master magic and navigate complex social politics, she grapples with her grief, racism, and the cost of power. With each challenge, she must decide how far she's willing to go and what she might lose in her quest to save her family and herself. It's a blood-soaked, emotionally charged dark academia fantasy where the line between monster and hero is as blurred as it is lethal. Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell Genre: Psychological Thriller, MysterySynopsis: Widow Nina Swann is reeling after her husband, a beloved restaurateur, is mysteriously pushed in front of a train. Enter Nick Radcliffe, an old friend of her late spouse who sends a condolence note and reconnects with Nina, sweeping her into a new romance that her grown daughter, Ash, immediately finds unsettling. While Ash digs into Nick's seemingly flawless past, she uncovers red flags and a dangerously long record of deception. Enter Martha, a florist in a nearby town, whose husband's frequent 'business trips' are wearing thin. Her instinct tells her something is very wrong. These three women — Nina, Ash, and Martha — find their lives entangled in a chilling conspiracy. As Nick (and possibly Martha's husband Alistair) reveal dark secrets, danger lurks closer than they could have imagined. This Book Might Be About Zinnia by Brittney Morris Genre: YA, ContemporarySynopsis: Set in 2024 and 2006, this dual‑timeline story intertwines two lives bound by secrets and longing: 2024 – Zinnia Davis, a biracial teen adopted by a wealthy white family, is applying to Harvard, but her college essay falls flat. When she reads a novel by her favorite author featuring a princess separated from her mother and bearing Zinnia's own heart-shaped birthmark, she suspects the writer could be her birth mother. 2006 – Tuesday Walker, a Black high schooler, struggles under her mother's pressure after reluctantly giving up her newborn daughter and grappling with the mystery of her absent father. As Zinnia races to uncover the truth in the present, and Tuesday fights to reclaim a lost journal and her sense of self, their stories echo across time. When hidden connections begin to surface, both teens must face family truths that could reshape their identities and their futures. Which book(s) are you most excited to read this summer? Even if it's not on this list, tell me about it in the comments!
Scoop
27-06-2025
- General
- Scoop
Shining Stars Of Volunteering Recognised In The Western Bay
Volunteers who go above and beyond for their communities were celebrated at the Volunteer Star Awards by Volunteering Services. The event was held during the Tauranga Big Shout Out Morning Tea at The Kollective on June 18th, as part of National Volunteer Week. The awards recognised individuals from across the Western Bay of Plenty for their exceptional commitment and generosity. As part of the opening, the attendees were welcomed by Councillor Marten Rozeboom. 'I tip my hat to anyone who's prepared to give up a portion of their life to make someone else's life better', Rozeboom shared. Spanning six diverse categories, this year's Volunteer Star Award winners reflect the depth of volunteerism in our region. From environmental action to youth support, neighbourhood care to lifetime dedication, each recipient showcases the powerful impact of giving time for the good of others. 2025 Volunteer Star Award Winners Rising Star – Youth Volunteer: Hannah Secker A talented baker and long-time supporter of Under the Stars, Hannah began helping as a child with her family and now creates weekly homemade desserts for those experiencing homelessness. Her creativity, reliability and warmth are a gift to all. New Light – Newcomer Volunteer: Emily-Kay Livick Emily recently stepped into the role of Achilles Tauranga chapter leader, advocating for disabled children and young people who often miss out on long-distance running events. Her calm leadership and fresh energy are helping create a more inclusive local running community. Local Star – Neighbourhood Champion: Fareena Ali Fareena has volunteered for over a decade with Papamoa Food Hub and its predecessor. Tireless, cheerful, and deeply committed, she supports food relief efforts and is beloved by her fellow volunteers. Green Star – Environmental Volunteer: Jacquie Ashton Jacquie leads the Pest Free Ōmokoroa group, securing funding, growing volunteer networks, and building relationships with mana whenua. Her impact is visible across the peninsula — a true conservation leader working with heart. Guiding Light – Lifetime Volunteer: Shona Graham Celebrating 30 years with Katikati Community Centre, Shona has supported events, after-school care, holiday programmes and much more. Known for her positivity and generosity, she's considered a cornerstone of her community. Shining Star – Volunteer of the Year: Jasper Osborne Through Stoney Creek's Hunt for Good, Jasper donates wild game to community groups including Kura Kai. He balances full-time work with running the not-for-profit and weekend hunts — all to provide nutritious food for local whānau. With over 60 nominations put forward, Volunteering Services Manager, Angela Wallace shares 'Our judges had their work cut out for them with an overwhelming number of nominations and such incredible mahi happening in our region'. Volunteering Services thanks all nominators and community groups who participated — and everyone who makes time to care for others. Special mention also goes to NumberWorks'nWords Tauranga, Neighbourhood Support WBOP, Envirohub BOP, FreshChoice Papamoa, Leanne Brown - Harcourts Pāpāmoa, Tauranga City Council Welcoming Communities, The Coffee Club NZ for their generosity in sponsoring this year's prizes. For more information or to connect with local volunteering opportunities, please reach out on or call (07) 987-0920.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Detroit's Senate Theater throwing prom with a 'Carrie' theme to raise money for projector
"Carrie" set the bar for prom night scares (not to mention prom dress dry-cleaning bills) when it came out in 1976. The horror film that made Sissy Spacek a star will be a main attraction May 31 at the Carrie Prom at Detroit's Senate Theater. In case you're totally unfamiliar with pre-1980s pop culture, "Carrie" was directed by Brian De Palma and based on a Stephen King novel. It's about a high school student (Spacek) with telekinetic powers and a fanatically religious mom (the late Detroit native Piper Laurie) who frequently locks her daughter in a prayer closet. When Carrie's evening at the prom is ruined by a cruel prank that leaves her drenched in pig's blood, her supernatural powers erupt into a deadly bloodbath. The movie was a box office and critical hit, earning Oscar nominations for best actress for Spacek and best supporting actress for Laurie. Will those attending the Carrie Prom be encouraged to prom it up? "Oh, please!," laughingly exclaims Lindsay Robillard, treasurer of the Detroit Theater Organ Society, the volunteer nonprofit group dedicated to preserving the Senate Theater. As the Senate website notes, prom attire is not required, but patrons are strongly advised to "be sure to dress like it's whatever year it is that you definitely didn't peak." P.S.: For maximum authenticity, you can wear your actual prom outfit from back in the day, if you dare. The event will feature a live band, non-alcoholic punch at the concession stand (now there's a prom flashback), local art vendors and a photo spot for the taking of prom pictures. According to Robillard, who recently rewatched "Carrie," decorations like streamers and silver stars will evoke the Under the Stars theme of the movie's disastrous dance. And, of course, there will be an overture just prior to the screening on the Senate Theater's "Mighty Wurlitzer" organ. A prom court will be crowned during an intermission. "We've got some prizes donated from two of the best places probably to find a prom dress in the city, the Peacock Room and Flamingo Vintage," says Robillard. The bigger purpose of the party and screening is to raise money for a new projector for the historic theater, one of the few remaining Detroit movie houses from the 1920s. Specifically, the goal is to buy a DCI-compliant projector that meets the quality and security standards of the Digital Cinema Initiatives, a group formed by the major Hollywood studios. A new projector would allow the theater to "provide a higher-quality experience for Detroit-area film lovers and filmmakers" and "expand the kinds of films we're able to screen," says Robillard. Older projectors that are not DCI-compliant, like the Senate's current one, are no longer acceptable to distributors of first-run films and numerous classic titles. "We were going to try and play (director Hayao Miyazaki's 1989 animated film) 'Kiki's Delivery Service' last year and they were like, 'Not with that projector, you're not,'" recalls Robillard. More: 2025 Michigan Shakespeare Festival canceled. What the nonprofit group is saying The Senate Theater is one of several sites helping to fill the gaps left in the region's art house theater scene left by the loss of the Maple Theater in Bloomfield Township and Main Art Theater in Royal Oak. And for one night during the Carrie Prom, as the Senate description puts it, it's the place to be "whether your prom was a night to remember or just a nightmare." Contact Detroit Free Press pop culture critic Julie Hinds at jhinds@ More: Kid Rock opening Nashville restaurant, takes jab at some old foes back in Detroit 6 p.m.-midnight May 31. Film screening starts at 8 p.m. Senate Theater 6424 Michigan Ave., Detroit $15 at Contact Detroit Free Press pop culture critic Julie Hinds at jhinds@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit's Senate Theater throwing 'Carrie'-themed prom to raise money
Forbes
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Alex Lifeson On Envy Of None's New Album: ‘We Were Just So Excited To Keep Going'
Envy of None: (L-R) Alex Lifeson, Maiah Wynne, Alfio Annibalini and Andy Curran. When former Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson recorded the debut self-titled album of his new band Envy of None, which was released two years ago, he thought it mioght be a one-off project. 'I didn't know what the future would hold,' he says today. 'It takes a year or a year-and-a-half to make these records. [I thought,] The enthusiasm of Lifeson and his bandmates — bassist Andy Curran, keyboardist Alfio Annibalini and singer Maiah Wynne — from working on the Envy of None album carried over into the supergroup's new sophomore record Stygian Wavz, which comes out on Friday, March 28. It further builds on the group's first album's moody and melodic mixture of alternative rock and metal, hard rock, industrial and electronic music. 'I think the first record was a little trippier, a little more atmospheric,' Lifeson says. 'Whereas Stygian Wavz is a more focused record. There's lots of funk on this record. There's heavy rock.' He also points out that he played solos prominently on Stygian Wavz after he initially stayed away from doing them. 'I don't want them to be misconstrued as just show-off stuff,' explains Lifeson. 'I believe solos have an integral part of the song and they need to reflect the song and they need to be in the service of the song.' One example of that is his guitar solo near the end of the anthemic track 'Clouds.' That's just a little short solo, but it's really powerful," he says. "It doesn't have to be this big shreddy craziness. That makes a statement at the end, and it's full of dread and danger. And it's fun.' The album's first single, 'Not Dead Yet,' is a driving and seductive-sounding track that lyrically conveys a theme of resilience. 'What attracted me to that song when I started working on it was the funky structure,' says Lifeson. 'It's bouncy and rhythmic. And then it reaches that crescendo where the heavy guitars come in. That's where the song ended when we initially started writing it. Then we added…that sort of James Bond vibe to the end. Now, when I listen to 'Not Dead Yet,' I'm thinking, 'This should be the theme song for the next Bond movie.'" Another single from Stygian Wavz, 'Under the Stars,' begins with a Middle Eastern feel and then morphs into a dreamy power anthem. 'Joey Vitale played drums and tablas in the opening and that sets a particular mood,' Lifeson says. 'Then the vocals come in and juxtapose against Andy's heavy bassline. There's a menace going on in that first verse. Then the heavy chorus comes in…I really like that guitar solo because it touches on a number of things. There's sort of a bluesy feel, but it's very emotive. I was channeling probably more of David Gilmour throughout that solo.' Lifeson describes 'The Story' — which encapsulates Envy of None's mixture of hard rock and electronic soundscapes — as kind of incoporating power pop. 'Lyrically, it's an awesome song,' he says. 'Everybody you know wants to be a better person. And not always can you control that devil that's sitting on your shoulder. And I think Maiah gets that across really, really well. 'Structurally, the song builds in a really interesting way. I got to play my 12-string Rickenbacker in the choruses. So it's got that little bit of a '60s vibe in that guitar part. Then the solo — again, is an ascending solo that reaches the climax. And then [Maiah's] vocal comes back in. It's that vocal reentry, that part where the track just starts to really drive, and it's so emotional and plaintive. That is the high point for me.' Stygian Wavz captures a band sounding more confident and bolder following their the debut album. Lifeson says: "I think we started working on this second album, I don't know, maybe the next day [after Envy of None]. We were just so excited to keep going. And as that project progressed, things got more interesting. Everybody's work was really focused. I think we went from being just this co-op of four musicians recording music to actually being a band.' Lifeson particularly credits Wynne, whose vocal and lyrical contributions complement the music's hard rock and electronic components. 'She is just an absolute joy to work with,' he says. 'The way she delivers, something about her lyrics. I would say that Neil [Peart] was the same way in Rush. Just that ability to deliver something succinctly that it just grabs you immediately and you understand what it is. Maiah has that ability at 27 years old. Her lyrics have just become more and more relatable. And they're very introspective. Her skills as a singer have increased enormously as well.' Envy of None For casual and die-hard fans of Rush, the music of Envy of None, which formed in 2021, may still seem like a stylistic departure for Lifeson, who is obviously more well-known in the world of progressive rock. And that's fine with him. 'I am very proud of what I did in Rush for the music,' he says, 'but also for the relationships that I had with Geddy [Lee] and Neil. But Envy of None is a different thing. It's not Rush. The music's not Rush. And I don't want to play like Alex Lifeson of Rush. This is Alex Lifeson of Envy of None.' 'There are three other guitar players in this band,' he adds. 'Alf plays a lot of guitar. Andy once in a while plays a little riff, usually in the writing stage. And Maiah does a couple of little guitar things here and there. I am so relieved that I can do something else, that I can look at what I can bring to the table in this particular unit and work from there. It's liberating for me, and I'm really lucky.' Remarkably, Envy of None has not yet performed live. But that could change depending on audience interest and the proper staging for a concert, according to Lifeson. 'We would love to [perform]. To do both albums in a beautiful theater with a nice light show would be spectacular. I already know the other musicians I would like to bring on, just to really flesh out the sound. 'I think what we'll probably end up doing is just waiting out the record and see how the reaction is," Lifeson continues. "If it does well, and there's an audience where we can go into that theater and do two or three nights, and maybe do it in two or three other cities — then we would definitely consider doing it because it would be awesome.' The enthusiasm within Envy of None following the first two albums has prompted consideration of making a third record. 'We're excited to keep the juices flowing,' says Lifeson. 'I'm sure we'll take a break. Everybody's got other stuff, but we're excited to continue.'
South China Morning Post
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Meet Succession star Brian Cox's third wife, climate activist Nicole Ansari
Brian Cox's wife Nicole Ansari is ready to shine. Photos: EPA-EFE; @nicole_ansari/Instagram TV shows and streaming video There has hardly been a bigger star on American television lately than Brian Cox, who plays media mogul Logan Roy in HBO's Succession . The 78-year-old Scottish actor, who has been in the industry for decades, found mainstream fame with the show but regrets losing his anonymity, says the Daily Mail. Naturally, there is now more attention paid to his personal life than ever, but his wife, Nicole Ansari, is ready for the spotlight. In an interview last year with The Times, the 56-year-old said, 'I've supported him for 25 years. Now it's my time.' Nicole Ansari is Brian Cox's third wife. Photo: @nicole_ansari/Instagram Indeed, Ansari is booked and busy. Per Variety, she has recently acted in the films Under the Stars , from Michelle Danner, Kat Rohrer's What a Feeling and Shireen Khaled's In the Night; now she's set to appear in her husband's directorial debut, Glenrothan . She is also collaborating with Khaled on her first feature film. Fun fact: she played Logan Roy's former mistress Sally Anne in one of the late episodes of Succession . What else do we know about the woman who stole Brian Cox's heart? Ansari was a child actress Nicole Ansari started acting when she was nine years old. Photo: @nicole_ansari/Instagram Nicole Ansari has been acting since she was nine years old, per IMDB. She rose to prominence with the German television show Tatort , after which she received her formal education at New York's famed HB Studio and Actors Studio and at the Stage School of Dance and Drama in Hamburg. Today, she is a producer as well as an actress, credited with co-producing the films Blumenthal (2014) and As Good as Dead (2010), both starring her and Cox, as well as the award-winning web series Messy. She describes herself as an 'actor-vist' Nicole Ansari is a staunch climate activist. Photo: @nicole_ansari/Instagram Ansari is a climate change activist and an advocate of human rights. She also takes pride in having turned Cox into a feminist, according to the Daily Mail. Her Emmy-winning husband admits she made him 'aware of the discrepancies and the gaps between men and women' and that he had to 'relearn everything' about feminism and the patriarchy. Ansari has also received The Vanya Exerjian Award for empowering women and girls and has supported Iran's 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement.
