Life is a song worth singing

If you ever find yourself cruising around Los Angeles, you might see Erika Nuri Taylor's signs announcing a house for sale in Simi Valley or a condo listing in Van Nuys. What you might not know is that the Realtor is also a Grammy-nominated songwriter with a long and storied career working with the likes of Enrique Iglesias, Janelle Monáe and Fantasia. Or that she co-wrote the Meghan Trainor song "Woman Up" playing in that "80 for Brady" movie trailer that's sure to dominate our televisions during the Super Bowl. So, you might wonder, why on earth is she selling houses? The 65th Grammy Awards ceremony, that annual celebration of (mostly mainstream, American, Top 40) radio, arrives once again on Sunday, with performances from the industry's top earners, including Lizzo, Harry Styles and Luke Combs. The glitzy gathering can obscure the fact that making a living in the industry is increasingly hard for most songwriters and musicians in the streaming era. Royalties tend to be … [Read more...] about In the Spotify era, many musicians struggle to make a living

Listen to this article Like Pierre Gasly before him, Albon found life difficult as Max Verstappen's teammate, especially given the Dutchman's particular driving style which the team had developed the car around. While the Thai driver was retained by the Red Bull family as Sergio Perez came in to replace him, a season in the DTM only made him more determined to prove his worth. Albon admitted being nervous going into 2022, but off the back of solid performance on track and signing a new multi-year deal at Williams, those early nerves made way for a sense of calm. "I’d say there's a sense of calmness with everything," Albon told Motorsport.com in an exclusive interview. "I guess the last two years, one of those years being very stressful, and the other one being nervous, and I guess gearing up for the year I didn’t know what to expect. "I’ve signed a contract which is maybe one of the best feelings, long-term. It's a privilege in Formula 1, if I’m honest. I’m feeling very … [Read more...] about Analysis: How Albon made the most of his second F1 chance with Williams

What kind of a Formula 1 team is Williams Racing? Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free For the last two-and-a-half years, Williams Grand Prix Engineering, formerly owned by its founder family, has been in a state of transition. Its new owners, American investment firm Dorilton, have invested considerable time, effort and funds to rebuild neo-Williams in their own image. Through swanky promotional films with Hollywood actors or hosting public exhibitions during grand prix weekends to bring the team to the fans, Williams has sought to write a new narrative for itself while still proudly embracing its illustrious heritage. But while the team appears to have clarity over how it wishes to present itself, it has struggled to find its footing on the race track in that same time. Rooted to the rear of the grid, sucked into the black hole that tends to hold down any team that falls to the back of the field, Williams would have been disappointed with their 2022 … [Read more...] about Is this the year Williams break free from the back of the grid? · RaceFans

H-Town will be well represented at the Recording Academy's 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday. Several well-known artists with Houston-area ties, including Beyoncé and Lizzo, could take home a coveted gold gramophone. Beyoncé, who recently announced tour dates for her upcoming Renaissance World Tour , is ahead of the pack with a total of nine nominations this year , according to a Grammy press release and nominees list . She now has a total of 88 nominations to date, making her one the most nominated musical acts in Grammy's history — a tied record she shares with her husband and fellow artist Jay-Z. With 28 awards already under her belt, the Houston icon is already one of the biggest Grammy winners of all time. She ties with music producer Quincy Jones, who's also won 28 awards, and falls just short of conductor Georg Solti's 31 award wins, per previous reports from the Grammy Awards . Depending on Sunday night's outcome, Beyoncé could break the tie and smash Solti's … [Read more...] about Beyoncé and other Houston artists could win big at Sunday’s Grammy Awards

WHEN Lyle Lovett went to Trinity Lutheran Church in Klein last Sunday -- it's the church his family has attended forever -- several members congratulated him on headlining the upcoming RodeoHouston. "I could tell from the greetings that, finally, because I'm playing the rodeo, I'm doing OK. This (music career) might work out," he says with a grin. The 43-year-old singer-songwriter, who has won several Grammy Awards and acted in movies (he's a favorite of director Robert Altman 's), is thrilled about performing at the rodeo for the first time, on Feb. 19. But if music is Lovett's passion, motorcycles rank a close second. When Lovett was 7, his family vacationed in Galveston. His father rented a small Honda sport bike, and they took a ride on the beach. "It was exhilarating. I had never felt anything like it," he recalls. "And I felt comfortable and safe, because I had my arms around my dad." Ever since that day on the beach, Lovett has held intense feelings about … [Read more...] about Lyle Lovett found peace on the seat of a Harley

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 11 FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European Union is taking another big step toward cutting its energy ties with Russia. The 27-nation bloc is banning Russian refined oil products like diesel fuel and joining the U.S. and other allies in imposing a price cap on sales to non-Western countries. Europe's ban takes effect Sunday following its embargo on coal and most oil from Russia. The move is meant to further slash reliance on Russian energy and payments into the Kremlin's war chest as the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine nears. The newest energy sanctions have risks: Diesel prices have already jumped since the war started on Feb. 24, and there's uncertainty about how the EU embargo and price cap by the Group of Seven major democracies will affect the market for a fuel crucial to the global economy. Most things people buy or eat … [Read more...] about How will EU ban and West’s price cap on Russian diesel work?

Visitors of the 2023 Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, California were in for a treat this weekend as the latest creation by vehicle designer Sean Smith was unveiled. Smith, known for his work with companies such as Saleen Automotive, Rockstar Games, Ringbrothers, and SpeedKore, has over 20 years of experience in the automotive industry. He was approached by car owner Michael Shields to build a custom 1969 Chevy Camaro that would rival a similar Smith-designed Camaro that debuted at the 2019 SEMA Show . Gallery: Custom 1969 Chevrolet Fenix Camaro 30 Photos The result is a 1,180-horsepower (868-kilowatts) supercharged Chevy Camaro named Fenix, which combines luxury and elegance with performance. The build team, led by Mikey Dascoli at Driven Speed Shop, worked virtually with Smith to bring his vision to life. The body was painted in stunning Silver … [Read more...] about This Custom 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Is Called Fenix, Makes 1,180 HP

Listen to this article After McLaren decided last summer to replace him for 2023 by rookie Oscar Piastri , Ricciardo's chances of landing a solid seat for this season were dwindling when the Australian decided to take a sabbatical instead. Ricciardo said he wanted to use 2023 to take a break and mentally reset after two punishing years with McLaren, in which he failed to get to grips with the car and was outshone by teammate Lando Norris . His third driver role at his old Red Bull team was designed to give him that chance, with his focus initially more on marketing and simulator work than driving. The 33-year-old says his first grand prix appearance this year, when he attends his home race in Melbourne at the end of March, will probably give him a good indication on whether the fire is still burning to come back, or whether he is satisfied with life outside Formula 1. "I'll be watching the first race from likely television, so I think that'll start to maybe warm … [Read more...] about Ricciardo: Australian GP buzz will tell me a lot about F1 comeback

Juan Pablo Montoya believes “a different Lewis Hamilton” will be on show in 2023, if Mercedes are onto a winner with the W14. Hamilton went a full season without a win for the first time in his Formula 1 career last year, with Mercedes struggling for pace compared to Ferrari and Red Bull alongside their issues with porpoising on the W13. While he still took nine podium finishes, Hamilton used the first part of the season to take experimental setups on his car as the team searched for solutions, while team-mate George Russell racked up consecutive top-five finishes. Russell would outscore Hamilton over the course of the season, though, as the younger Mercedes driver earned his first pole position and victory in Formula 1 in Hungary and Brazil respectively. Montoya praised Hamilton for his pragmatic approach to driving and not pushing too hard when he didn’t need to last season, but he predicted the seven-time World Champion will be back to his best again in the year ahead. … [Read more...] about Juan Pablo Montoya predicts we will see ‘a different Lewis Hamilton’ in 2023