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Best Prime Day speaker deals on JBL, Bose, Sonos and others

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Prime Day is the time to trawl Amazon for the best in all things, including high-quality speakers at bargain prices. For much less than usual, you can add a new lynchpin to your soundsystem. That could be a space-saving soundbar for a smaller space, a smart speaker to jam out while you’re busy in the kitchen or a bluetooth speaker you can bring with you anywhere. We’ve rounded up a list that includes Echo, JBL, Beats, Anker Soundcore and more of the best audio brands — so if you’re ready to hear every last eighth-note of your favorite tracks, let’s get started.

Our portable bluetooth speaker picks are some of the best all-around mobile music devices to ever hit the shelves: smaller and lighter than a boombox, better audio than an iPod, and way easier in the long run than learning to play guitar. We’ve sifted through Prime Day offerings to find the best portable speakers in all shapes and sizes.

  • Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 for $56 (20 percent off): This tiny portable speaker packs a wallop — you won’t believe how high you can crank the volume on such a small, light device. Weighing in at about one pound, it includes a rubber strap for attaching it to your backpack or bike, and comes with a USB charging port.

  • Beats Pill for $98 (35 percent off): The Beats Pill is one of the few portable bluetooth speakers we liked enough to give it a full review. Those of you who love the classic Beats bluetooth speakers will be happy to know they’re back in fine form. Nobody can beat the Pill for bass, and its sound is crisp and lossless at almost any frequency and volume. For some reason, only the Kim Kardashian branded version is on sale, but it’s the exact same speaker.

  • Soundcore Motion 300 for $53 (34 percent off): The Motion 300 is that rare portable speaker that outperforms at both high and low frequencies. Its upper range goes into 40 kHz, while its bass can deliver bone-shaking thumps even outdoors. All that in 1.7 pounds with 13 hours of battery life — and it’s even partially waterproof.

  • Anker Soundcore Motion+ for $75 (24 percent off): Tough, sturdy construction makes this speaker an excellent choice for home bluetooth. Its battery lasts for 12 hours in the wild, and it always sounds great, but it’s a bit heavy for pedaling through the park. There’s also an option for wired connections, and it even works as a backup soundbar.

  • Anker Soundcore 2 for $28 (38 percent off): The Soundcore 2 is an older bluetooth speaker, but it holds up — fully waterproof, with 24 hours of battery life and bass you can hear on the other side of a pool. It’s on sale for less than $30.

  • Soundcore Select 4 for $19 (46 percent off): This 9.3-ounce speaker is a massive improvement over built-in smartphone audio. It can fill a room at a decent range of frequencies, and works well in room-sized outdoor spaces — plus, with IP67 waterproofing, it can survive a dip in the pool. It’s currently almost half off.

  • UE Everboom for $190 (30 percent off): If you want something stronger than the Wonderboom but the Hyperboom isn’t portable enough, the Everboom is a great middle ground. Its ideal range is a little narrow, but it makes up for that with 360-degree sound and extreme durability (i.e. so waterproof it literally floats).

  • JBL Go 3 for $28 (30 percent off): The JBL Go 3 improves on its predecessor with a carabiner-friendly design, five hours of battery life, and IP67-rated waterproofing and dustproofing. It’s not exactly powerful, but it’s way better than a phone speaker for driving, trekking or camping.

  • JBL Go 3 Eco for $28 (30 percent off): This is the same as the JBL Go 3, but made from mostly recycled materials — 90 percent of the plastic and 100 percent of the fabric is post-consumer.

  • JBL Pulse 5 for $200 (20 percent off): The Pulse 5 is JBL’s latest and greatest party speaker, throwing out 360-degree light bursts that sync up to the music. There’s substance behind the flash, too, with speakers designed around the bass frequencies and 12 hours of battery life.

  • Bose SoundLink Flex 2nd Gen for $99 (33 percent off): This mini speaker from Bose is one of our favorites on the list for hands-free phone calls. It supports both Google Assistant and Siri and runs up to 12 hours on one charge, all while being smaller than a clutch purse. It also kills as a portable music player, though the sound doesn’t stretch far enough to fill a room.

  • Bose Soundlink Revolve+ Series II for $179 (40 percent off): The Revolve series was Bose’s first line of 360-degree outdoor speakers, and they’re still a strong choice today. The Revolve+ weighs about two pounds and can run for 17 hours without recharging.

  • Bose Soundlink Max for $299 (25 percent off): Bose’s Soundlink Max marries a classic carrying-case design with audio that sounds like it’s coming from a much bigger unit. It comes with a 20-hour battery and IP67-rated protection against the elements.

  • Marshall Emberton II for $95 (47 percent off): Marshall has been making audio equipment for more than 60 years, and still has a thing or two to teach the young’ns. The Emberton II looks like a classic amp, but weighs a quarter of a pound and provides balanced sound for more than 30 hours per charge.

  • Marshall Acton III for $200 (33 percent off): All right, so a six-pound speaker isn’t exactly portable — but if you can stand lugging it around, the Acton III can be a highly versatile device. From music to outdoor parties to pulling double duty as a soundbar, this is a low-setup, low-overhead option for nearly all audio tasks.

Smart speakers aren’t just about getting a disembodied voice to do your bidding (or at least as much of your bidding as Alexa can do without hands). On top of assistant support, the picks below serve up legitimately great audio quality alongside useful extra features. The only downside is that they’re often overpriced, but that’s what Prime Day is for.

  • Amazon Echo Dot for $32 (36 percent off): Amazon may not have updated the Echo Dot since 2022, but that just goes to show how well this spherical smart speaker serves as the perfect host for Alexa. Both music and speech sound clear, and it’s easy to integrate with other smart home devices. Right now, it’s marked down more than a third.

  • Amazon Echo Pop for $22 (45 percent off): The latest Echo Pop release continues the trend of making Alexa’s best features available on a mini-sized, reasonably priced device. Its half-spherical design fits on any desk or shelf, and its sound output is consistently clear — and gets louder than you might believe.

  • Sonos Era 100 for $179 (10 percent off): Smart speakers from the Amazon Echo line play perfectly good music, but true audiophiles in need of assistant support should look to Sonos. The Era 100 has tweeters and woofers precisely arranged for clear, full-room sound, and it’s easy to hook up to your other audio gear. Just be warned it only supports Alexa, not Google Assistant.

  • JBL Authentics 200 for $200 (47 percent off): JBL’s Authentics line is modeled after a product it sold in the 70s. Its old-school bookshelf-friendly design belies its advanced feat of running Google Assistant and Alexa simultaneously (as opposed to other smart speakers where you have to pick just one).

  • JBL Authentics 300 for $300 (33 percent off): The JBL Authentics 300 can host both Alexa and Google Assistant at the same time, which impressed us enough that we gave it a full review. While we had some issues — namely its tendency to over-emphasize vocals — we can’t quibble with its high-range performance or retro design.

Flatter, lighter and larger TV screens are nice for visuals, but often sacrifice sound quality to lose weight. If you’ve found yourself turning on the subtitles for your shows more often lately, you might need a soundbar to augment your TV’s built-in speakers. We found a few of the best on sale for Prime Day — Sonos leads this space, but it’s not without competitors.

  • Bose Smart for $400 (20 percent off): In our full review of the Bose Smart, we noted that two drivers in the center make its sound feel directional without any other speakers needed — simply cranking up those makes any audio more immersive. You can also link it to a pair of Ultra Open Earbuds (not included) for a private surround sound experience.

  • Bose Smart Ultra for $700 (22 percent off): The Smart Ultra upgrades the Bose Smart with a more sophisticated calibration system which adjusts sound settings to fill whatever room it’s in. If you want the Smart’s personal surround experience for more than one person, the Smart Ultra is for you.

  • Sonos Beam for $369 (26 percent off): The Sonos Beam is a fantastic choice for a mid-budget soundbar. It’s one of the most accessible Dolby Atmos systems, and uses careful audio alterations to achieve a much more immersive sound than other bars of its size.

  • Sonos Ray for $169 (15 percent off): If you’re looking to pay a bit less, go with the Sonos Ray to maximize sound quality on a budget. The audio won’t wrap around your room like it might from a more premium model, but it’s still a vast improvement on nearly all built-in TV speakers.

  • Sony HT-S400 for $178 (41 percent off): Sony built the HT-S400 for everyone who wants a soundbar but not an entire home theater. It’s a 2.1-channel system that still manages immersive surround sound and is easy to integrate with Sony TVs. Right now, it’s 40 percent off, one of the best prices we’ve seen on any soundbar.

  • Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 for $448 (31 percent off): One of Sony’s newest audio products, the Bravia Theater Bar 6 is a 3.1.2 soundbar that can bend audio in more directions to fill your theater space. It can handle Dolby Atmos, and has an integrated AI feature that recognizes and clarifies human voices.

  • VIZIO 2.0 for $78 (22 percent off): Vizio’s budget soundbar makes a worthy alternative to the Sonos Ray. It punches above its weight and gets as close as possible to Dolby Atmos surround sound as a single unit can manage. For less than $100, you’ll never mishear a line of dialogue again.

  • JBL Bar 9.1 for $760 (37 percent off): The 9.1 is JBL’s first sound bar to be compatible with Dolby Atmos, and it doesn’t disappoint. Each unit comes with two wireless speakers you can move around your viewing room, and there’s even a 4K passthrough input to ensure your sound system doesn’t mess with image quality.

  • Sennheiser Ambeo Mini for $600 (25 percent off): We recommend the Sennheiser Ambeo Mini for a relatively cheap premium soundbar. It excels in smaller spaces (though it needs an extra subwoofer to fill larger ones), and its connected app includes several sound presets you can use to optimize its virtual speakers.



This story originally appeared on Engadget

‘Prey’ Finally Getting Funko Pops Featuring Predator & Naru

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It’s been nearly three years since Prey was released on Hulu, but the wait is finally over. Predator fans can now add another set of detailed merch to their collection with Funko’s batch of Pops honoring the 2022 spin-off film. It’s already been a great year for the Predator, with Killers of Killers nabbing franchise-best reviews, and it is only set to get even better.

Funko has announced that they are releasing two new Pops for Prey, and, of course, they are based on the most prominent characters in the film. Naru, played by Amber Midthunder, finally gets her own Pop figure, and she is joined by her on-screen dog, Sari. The impressive details include some glow-in-the-dark goo, remnants of her bloody battle against her alien adversary. Speaking of which, Prey fans can also own the Feral Predator, based on the film’s unique design for the Yautja. Both figures cost $14.99 and will be available on Funko.com. You can check them out below.

Related


Predator Battles a Kaiju in Action-Packed First Trailer for ‘Predator: Badlands’

The first trailer for Dan Trachtenberg’s next ‘Predator’ film is unlike anything we’ve seen from the series.

Prey was released exclusively on Hulu on August 5, 2022. It did not take long for critics and audiences to fall in love with the Predator offshoot, which boasts a 94% Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. Prey is now widely regarded as the best entry in the franchise since the 1987 original film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Director Dan Trachtenberg has taken the long-standing film series in a bold new direction, and one that continues to pay dividends if Killer of Killers is any indication. In addition to Amber Midthunder, the cast of Prey features Dakota Beavers as Taabe, Dane DiLiegro as Feral Predator, Michelle Thrush as Aruka, Julian Black Antelope as Chief Kehetu and Stormee Kipp as Wasape. Read the film’s official synopsis:

Set in the Comanche Nation 300 years ago, ‘Prey’ is the story of a young woman, Naru, a fierce and highly skilled warrior. She has been raised in the shadow of some of the most legendary hunters who roam the Great Plains, so when danger threatens her camp, she sets out to protect her people. The prey she stalks, and ultimately confronts, turns out to be a highly evolved alien predator with a technically advanced arsenal, resulting in a vicious and terrifying showdown between the two adversaries.

Is Naru Making a ‘Predator’ Return?

During an interview for her 2025 action flick Novocaine, Amber Midthunder spoke about a potential return as Naru in a Prey sequel, or in another entry in the Predator franchise. While the character ended up making a cameo appearance in Killer of Killers, it is still unclear when or if she will have a significant role in a new Predator story. Midthunder seemed to be as out of the loop as the fans, but it is clear that she is more than down to reprise her fan-favorite Comanche warrior.

I don’t know. I don’t know what’s happening. [Laughs] I genuinely don’t. I also want to do another one. I would be happy to do another one. I love Dan Trachtenberg with my whole heart. I love that world, I love that character, and I think that there’s some fun ideas out there that I’ve heard that are very cool. I’m really excited. He obviously has Badlands coming out this year, so I’m really excited to see that. Whatever Dan does, I will always be his fan.”

While a Prey sequel is up in the air, director Dan Trachtenberg already has his next Predator film set for release later this year. Starring a Yautja as the protagonist, Predator: Badlands heads into uncharted territory in theaters on November 7, 2025.


prey-2022-poster.png


Prey

Release Date

August 5, 2022

Writers

Patrick Aison






This story originally appeared on Movieweb

Dune 3 First Look Revealed By Denis Villeneuve As Filming Begins

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The first look at Dune: Part Three has been revealed by Denis Villeneuve as filming begins. After the critical and commercial success of his two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel, Dune, the director is now adapting Dune Messiah, the second novel in the series, and will continue the story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet).

Dune: Part Three‘s cast features the return of Zendaya as Chani, Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, and Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho. Two new cast members have officially been added – Nakoa-Wolf Momoa as Leto II Atreides and Ida Brooke as Ghanima Atreides. Robert Pattinson was also reportedly in talks for the role of the villain Scytale.

On X, formerly Twitter, the official Dune account shared a post announcing that production on Dune: Part Three has begun. The post also included a photo of the Arrakis desert, taken by Villeneuve himself, and the quote “…on a journey into that land where we walk without footprints.” Check out the post below:

What Dune: Part Three’s Filming Start Means For The Movie

It’s Running On Schedule

Dune: Part Three‘s production start means that everything is running on schedule, as filming was reportedly expected to start in the summer of 2025. If filming takes approximately five months, as it did on Dune: Part Two, the third film should be finishing around November, and should have no trouble making its scheduled release one year later in December 2026.

The quote “a journey into that land where we walk without footprints” is from the book Dune: Messiah, and is used to describe Paul Atreides’ spiritual transformation and ascension to a near-prophetic state. It signifies a state beyond physical presence, where one’s actions and influence transcend the limitations of the material world and leave no discernible physical trace.

The photo of Arrakis was likely taken by Villeneuve in either the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan or the Liwa Oasis in Abu Dhabi, which is where the desert scenes in Dune: Part Two were filmed. Reports have indicated that Dune: Part Three started filming a few days ago at Origo Film Studios in Budapest.

Our Take On Dune: Part Three’s Filming Start

It’s Incredibly Exciting

Since there was a time when filming wasn’t expected to start until 2026, it’s exciting to see that Dune: Part Three has started production and is actually going to make its release date in December 2026, which feels both incredibly close and impossibly far away, but it’s exciting to know we’re that close to another epic cinematic event.

Related


10 Moments From The Dune: Messiah Book I Can’t Wait To See Denis Villeneuve Adapt In Dune 3

Dune Messiah is a very polarizing novel, but countless book scenes could make Villeneuve’s upcoming adaptation an all-time great sci-fi movie.

With cameras already rolling, it’s clear that director Denis Villeneuve and company are eager to bring the next chapter of Paul Atreides’ journey to life. The journey through the sands of Arrakis is far from over – and we can’t wait for Dune: Part Three.

Dune: Part Three is scheduled for release on December 18, 2026.

Source: Dune/X



This story originally appeared on Screenrant

Grammys 2026: Addison Rae among 3,600 invited to join Recording Academy

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Thanks to breakout singles like “Diet Pepsi” and to praise from the likes of Charli XCX and Lana Del Rey, Addison Rae is considered by many prognosticators to be in the mix for a best new artist nomination at next year’s 68th Grammy Awards.

Now the 24-year-old singer could help determine the results of the ceremony as well.

The Recording Academy on Wednesday said that it’s invited nearly 3,600 music professionals to become members of the organization behind music’s most prestigious awards ceremony — among them the former TikTok star who’s become a major pop presence in the last 12 months or so.

In addition to Rae, the academy extended invites to the rapper Joey Badass, the singer Mariah the Scientist, the comedian Nikki Glaser and the members of the K-pop-style girl group Katseye and the regional Mexican music band Grupo Firme.

In a statement, Rae called the invitation “a huge honor” and said she’s “so lucky to be surrounded by talent and poise that inspires me to create fearlessly.” Added Glaser: “This is the greatest thing the Grammys have given me since the half of Benson Boone’s tuxedo I kept” after February’s show.

Of the 3,600 new invitees, approximately 2,600 (including the aforementioned artists) are being offered voting membership in the academy. The group currently has around 13,000 members who vote on the Grammys; last year, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. told The Times that in addition to adding new members — part of a broader effort to diversify an electorate long criticized for being too old, too male and too white — the group was shedding voters that no longer met the organization’s qualifications for membership.

As an example, Mason described “voters that maybe had a hit record or a song published in the ’70s or ’80s and just kept voting.” His goal, he added, was a voting body composed of “relevant music people.”

In its statement, the academy said that 49% of the new invitees are women, 56% are people of color and 60% are people under the age of 40. Those invited have until July 31 to accept the invitation in order to take part in next year’s ceremony. First-round voting for the 68th Grammys (in which nominations are determined) opens Oct. 3; the show itself will take place Feb. 1 at Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles.



This story originally appeared on LA Times

Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs Among ACM Special Awards Honorees

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Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Eric Church, Rissi Palmer, Randy Travis, Luke Combs and Cody Johnson are among this year’s recipients of the Academy of Country Music’s special awards, and will be feted during the 18th Academy of Country Music Honors celebration, which will take place Wednesday, Aug. 20, at The Pinnacle in Nashville.

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Wilson will be honored with the ACM artist-songwriter of the year accolade, while songwriter Jessie Jo Dillon (“Halfway to Hell,” “Am I Okay?”) will be honored with the songwriter of the year award. The ACM Honors will also recognize studio recording award and industry award winners.

Jelly Roll will be honored with the ACM lifting lives award, which recognizes a country music artist, duo/group or industry member who has devoted themselves to improving lives through music and is committed to serving others. The honor is voted on by the ACM lifting lives board of directors. Jelly Roll is being honored for his philanthropic work. He teamed with Live Nation to donate $1 from each ticket sold on his Backroad Baptism Tour, raising more than $600,000 for at-risk youth. He has also visited over 10 juvenile facilities, four rehabilitation centers and several homeless shelters to help bring hope and encouragement. He also testified before Congress to advocate for the Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence Off Fentanyl Act.

Church and Ben Vaughn, president/CEO of Warner Chappell Music Nashville until his passing earlier this year, are the recipients of the ACM icon award, given to presented to a country music artist, duo/group or industry leader who has advanced the popularity of the genre through their contributions throughout their career. Church, a seven-time ACM Award winner, spearheaded the Concert for Carolina alongside Luke Combs, raising more than $24 million for Hurricane Helene relief efforts. For Church’s 2024 release “Darkest Hour,” he signed over all of his publishing royalties to aid those impacted by the floods in his homestate of North Carolina. During his career leading Warner Chappell Music Nashville, Vaughn was instrumental in developing numerous artists and songwriters including Dan+Shay, Kacey Musgraves, Lady A, Thomas Rhett and Chris Stapleton.

Johnson is the recipient of the ACM spirit award, inspired by the late country music legend Merle Haggard. The award is presented to a singer-songwriter who continues the legacy of Haggard by following their own path, crafting compelling songs and presenting them through high-caliber performances. Johnson has earned two No. 1 Billboard Country Airplay hits, “‘Til You Can’t” and “The Painter.”

Combs will be honored with the ACM international award, which celebrates a country music artist, duo/group or industry leader for outstanding contributions to the growth of country music globally. Combs’ headlining tours have sold out in the U.K., Ireland, the Netherlands and Australia, demonstrating his global appeal and fanbase.

Palmer will be feted with the ACM’s lift every voice award, which is presented to a country music artist, duo/group, industry leader or affiliate/partner who elevates underrepresented voices in the country music genre. The nominee for this category is proposed by the rising leaders in the ACM’s LEVel UP: Lift Every Voice professional development program. In addition to leading her own music career, Palmer is the creator and host of Apple Music’s Color Me Country Radio with Rissi Palmer, which celebrates diversity and inclusion in the country music genre and spotlights artists of color.

Mac McAnally will be recognized with the ACM poet’s award, which honors a country music songwriter for longstanding musical contributions to country music. In addition to writing his own music, this Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member has had songs recorded by Jimmy Buffett (“It’s My Job”) Kenny Chesney (“Down the Road”), Alabama (“Old Flame”), Sawyer Brown (“I Will Leave the Light On”), Shenandoah (“Two Dozen Roses”) and more.

Country Music Hall of Fame member Travis will be honored as the recipient of the ACM milestone award, which is presented to a country music artist, duo/group or industry leader for outstanding achievements in country music during the preceding calendar year. Travis incorporated AI-assisted vocals to re-imagine and revive older and previously unheard songs, preserving and continuing his unmistakable sound.

The ACM film award, which recognizes an outstanding movie, series or feature film released during the preceding calendar year that prominently features country music, will be presented for the film Twisters. The film’s soundtrack featured music from Luke Combs, Megan Moroney, Jelly Roll and more.

Executive Lori Badgett is the recipient of the ACM service award, which is given to an outstanding country music artist, duo/group or industry leader to recognize years of dedication and service to the ACM. In her work at City National Bank, Badgett has helped establish the bank’s presence in Nashville and she now plays an essential role in the ACM and its charitable arm ACM Lifting Lives, having chaired both organizations. Badgett’s leadership was instrumental in the Academy’s transition from Los Angeles to Nashville and she continues to serve on multiple committees for both organizations.

“This year’s ACM Special Awards honorees each have played an essential role in Country Music’s success,” Kerri Edwards, chair of the ACM Special Awards committee, said in a statement. “From some of country music’s legendary artists to the incredible songwriters and powerhouse executives, we are so excited to celebrate these well-deserved recipients next month at The Pinnacle in Nashville. Congratulations to all the honorees.”

Tickets for the ACM Honors will be available to ACM A-List newsletter subscribers and Academy members in a pre-sale starting July 10. General onsale tickets will be available starting July 11 through AXS.



This story originally appeared on Billboard

Bogdan Yasinski Talks Volchek Killing Wife, What He Thinks of Meachum (Exclusive)

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[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Countdown Season 1 Episode 5 “Blurred Edges.”]

In Countdown‘s present, the task force is trying to stop Volchek (Bogdan Yasinski) and the major threat he poses to Los Angeles. In the Wednesday, July 9, episode, flashbacks to 2018 and 2019 reveal just how dedicated he is to his cause.

First, he figures out how to get another man to withdraw a bid for a partnership he wanted, but then he learns that his embezzlement has been discovered. As a result, he must flee Belarus in 2019 … and he does so by faking his own death. But also on the plane he blows up to do so is his wife, waiting for him.

Below, Bogdan Yasinski unpacks Volchek’s shocking move, shares his impression of the “enigma” that is Meachum (Jensen Ackles) so far, and more.

In faking his own death, Volchek kills his wife. Was she just collateral damage? What went into that decision for him?

Bogdan Yasinski: It’s a complex decision making process. You got to wave some pros and cons, I would say. Yeah, look, I had no idea what this was really going to be, and I remember when I read this script, I’m like, “Oh my God, this is really going for it.” I think this is a person that made a decision, right? “I’m doing this no matter what, no matter what the cost.” And later we kind of reveal the consequences of that. But yeah, that’s a commitment to a cause. That’s a level of commitment. I don’t know if I’ve ever committed to anything like that. So he had to sell it. He had to sell it. That was the only way he was making it out. I think that’s the pivotal moment for him where he really turns bad because it’s like once you do something like that, then doing what comes next and what’s kind of the central theme of this entire show, it’s not too far off. It’s already kind of in the same bucket. So I think that’s a pivotal moment because it really explains how does someone really escalate to the level that the show does? Because me personally, I don’t know, take a breathwork class, maybe do a little meditation, walk on the beach, do that first before you start making all these plans. But yeah, I think that one really sets things off.

Is that something that haunts him or was he able to kind of just move on? Because it seemed like they had at least a decent relationship.

I mean, there’s all this planning and it seemed like they had quite a long history, that she’s kind of been there as he’s been coming up and supportive. And so I don’t know. I mean, part of me thinks — this is just my own theory — that something must have happened to him when he was serving in the Army. Because a part in one of the episodes where it’s revealed that he’s former military and he served in Chechnya, which was just horrendous. That’s up there as just a really brutal situation. What people went through from all sides, regardless who was right or wrong, just the soldiers, the actual people that were there saw some horrific things. And so I think that to me gives away — so it’s like with some of the events in Episode 2 and some of the things that kind of set off that initial fuse, I think to me, it must have unlocked something from his past. That’s how I saw it, because that’s a coldness that’s atypical. But in other times, he seems warm and very reasonable. So there’s almost like a duality to him where he can just shut off his humanity in some ways.

It’s kind of weighing the cause versus anything else against each other, and the cause just keeps coming out on top.

Right. It’s just singular vision and focus. This is what we’re doing, this is how we’re going to execute. There’s nothing else.

So in 2018, Volchek goes up against Matt Woodley for that partnership and gets him to withdraw his bid. But after, he warns him he’s about to find out what it looks like to play dirty. And then Volchek finds out about his embezzlement being discovered. But how does Volchek feel about moves like that and others from his opponents? Does any part of him respect it?

Great question. For me, I feel like yes, right? I mean, it is a complicated thing, right? Growing up, I used to do a lot of martial arts, competed and boxing and Muay Thai stuff like that. And I’ve won and I’ve lost, and losing is hard to swallow, but it’s such a weird blend of emotions because you almost feel — you can easily just hug your opponent afterwards. And most people do. It’s very, very common because you feel this dump of adrenaline, but you also have this like, “Hey, I know what I did to get here. I know what I’ve been ready for, and you did the same. You stood here with me.” It’s like, “You brought this out of me. You facilitated this growth in me.” I think there’s for sure a bit of that. I don’t know how much of that has shown, but for me personally, it’d be like, “Alright, okay, fair enough.” Because he started it, as my son would say, you started it. So there’s a certain level of responsibility there, and I think there’s a little bit of admiration.

Prime Video

Volchek is digging into Meachum’s undercover alias, and so far he knows that there’s no court case for him. Meachum is very much an unknown for him at this point in the season. So what’s his take on him so far?

I mean, for him, it’s this enigma. It’s just completely out of left field. There’s all these factors and contingencies that he’s prepared for. He’s done everything. He’s taking care of the supply side of things. He’s taking care of any open-ended questions on his plan and how things are going to be delivered. And his whole plan, his whole room is kind of contained in this dance hall. Then this random American just is poking around. And I think Volchek is — this is not a naive kind of amateur. This is a seasoned guy. Like we said, he was in ordinance. He was in Chechnya, he ran this company, he became this oligarch. This is a person that’s seen all kinds of things, hardened, and that means his instincts are going to be pretty sharp. And so I think in that first scene where we meet, there’s an instant, something’s going on here. This is not just some random accident. And so it becomes this obsession for him, I believe, because it’s almost offensive to him that somebody could get the jump on him like that. But it’s also kind of exciting because there is this other game I get to play. Let me play this game of cat and mouse with this other guy, too. So I think it’s kind of weirdly satiating for Volchek to meet Meachum.

Is it also kind of like he’s recognizing he’s the other side of the coin of him almost?

I guess it depends on where we look, at which point in the story, but I think it definitely becomes that way. I think there’s some parallels to be drawn like that.

Countdown, Wednesdays, Prime Video




This story originally appeared on TV Insider

Brazil’s Acoustic Duo Going Global


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(Versâo em Português)

ANAVITORIA who? There is something in the Brazilian air. Something rhythmic. Something timeless. For more than a century, the world has tuned its ears to the sound of Brazil. It is complex, emotional, defiantly joyful, even in sorrow.

From the gentle sway of bossa nova to the poetic rebellion of tropicália, from the percussive pulse of samba to the romantic intimacy of MPB (Música Popular Brasileira), Brazil has never stopped composing the soundtrack of its contradictions. But this is not a history lesson. This is a love letter to what comes next.

The evolution of Brazilian music is not a straight line. It is a living, breathing spiral. With each generation, new artists emerge not to replace what came before, but to remix, reinterpret, and re-humanise it. In this ongoing dialogue between past and future, ANAVITORIA has quietly and confidently become one of the most honest and moving voices of their time.

They were not born in the great cultural hubs of Rio or São Paulo. Their story begins in Araguaína, a modest city in the northern state of Tocantins. That setting is part of what makes their music so rare. It does not try to imitate anyone. It does not chase trends. It sounds like a diary. A moment. A conversation between two friends who grew up writing songs to feel less alone, and who now help others feel the same.

Ana Caetano and Vitória Falcão, the duo behind ANAVITORIA, have crafted a sound that feels like a whisper carrying the weight of a confession. Intimate, acoustic, feminine. But never fragile. Their melodies are soft, but their impact is profound. Their music was not built for algorithms or viral hooks. It was made for quiet moments, shared spaces, road trips, slow mornings, and reflective evenings.

Since their debut in 2015, ANAVITORIA has written and released a body of work that reflects youth, love, heartbreak, self-discovery, and everything in between. Their songs have travelled across Brazil and found homes abroad. They have collaborated with some of Brazil’s most respected artists, won Latin Grammys, and in 2025 performed on one of the most iconic stages in the world: the Montreux Jazz Festival. This is no longer a local phenomenon. ANAVITORIA is a global voice carried in Portuguese.

This article is the cornerstone. If you have never heard of ANAVITORIA, this is where you begin. If you already love them, let this be your deep dive. We will explore who they are, the shape of their music, the evolution of their sound, and their growing place in the global music landscape.

Because ANAVITORIA is not just a pop duo, they are a feeling. A return to something soft, slow, and sincere in a world that so often forgets how to listen.

Two Voices, One Soul: Who is ANAVITORIA?

The story of ANAVITORIA begins with a message. A simple request from one teenage girl in a small town to another. “Let’s sing together.” That was all it took, no marketing strategy. No audition. No producer waiting in the wings. Just two voices, one guitar, and a shared instinct that they had something worth sharing.

It was in Araguaína, in the heart of northern Brazil, that Ana Caetano and Vitória Falcão met. They had known each other at school, but it was only later, when Ana posted original songs online, that Vitória heard something in the words and in the sound that made her reach out. Their friendship and their eventual partnership would soon become one of the most sincere and recognisable duos in contemporary Brazilian music.

What makes ANAVITORIA so striking is not just their talent, but their chemistry. Their voices do not compete. They complete. One grounded and articulate, the other instinctive and soaring. Together, they created a musical language built on harmony, honesty, and restraint.

Ana Caetano: The Architect of Intimacy

Photo source: https://www.hojenocinema.com

Ana Caetano is the quiet engine of ANAVITORIA. A natural composer and storyteller, she writes with a sensitivity that recalls the great lyricists of MPB, yet with a distinctively modern eye. Born in 1994, Ana had already been exploring her creative voice in music education long before the duo was formed. Her background in both poetry and classical guitar gave her a toolkit to shape complex emotions into clear, elegant melodies.

She is known for her introspective style, always writing from a place of vulnerability. In interviews, Ana often speaks of her process as something deeply internal, almost like keeping a journal. Her lyrics are personal without being exclusive, poetic without becoming abstract. In a 2024 interview with Tracklist, she said:

“What I write is often how I try to understand myself. It’s not a lesson. It’s a question I’m asking out loud.”

Ana Caetano, The Tracklist 2024

Her compositions often centre around relationships, memory, self-love, and absence. But unlike the dramatic tradition of romantic Brazilian music, Ana’s work refuses to overstate. She trusts silence. She trusts the suggestion. And in doing so, she has become one of the most admired young lyricists of her generation.

Beyond her writing, Ana also serves as a creative director of sorts for the duo. She shapes the conceptual tone of each album and tends to guide the collaborative relationships they form with other musicians and producers. She is the pulse behind the polish.

Vitória Falcão: The Voice of Emotion

Vitória Falcão Anavitoria
Photo source: https://caras.com.br / Instagram

If Ana builds the song, Vitória brings it to life. With a voice that can glide, ache, and swell within a single phrase, she embodies the emotional core of ANAVITORIA’s work. She does not perform like a pop star. She performs like someone who is living inside the lyrics.

Born in 1995, also in Araguaína, Vitória was not initially pursuing a music career. Her early interviews show someone who struggled with visibility, unsure of her role on stage. But what began as timidity has transformed into quiet confidence. Her voice, recognisable after just a few notes, has become a central part of the duo’s identity.

She is frequently praised for the sincerity of her interpretation. Unlike technical vocalists who dazzle with range, Vitória stuns with presence. In live performances, she often sings with her eyes closed, hands resting gently on the microphone, as if holding something delicate. Speaking to Veja magazine during the pandemic, she reflected:

“We don’t need to scream to be heard. We believe in softness. We believe in being real.”

Vitória Falcão, Veja magazine

As their fame grew, Vitória also became the emotional compass of the group, especially in their interactions with fans. Her openness, online vulnerability, and soft humour have made her beloved by her audience.

The Spark: From YouTube to Tiago Iorc

The duo’s rise was unexpected but organic. In 2015, Ana and Vitória recorded a cover of Tiago Iorc’s Um Dia Após o Outro and shared it online. The video, humble and unproduced, caught attention for one reason: its purity. It felt like two friends singing in a bedroom. Which it was.

Tiago Iorc saw the video. Moved by their tone and style, he offered to produce their debut album. This gesture of belief from an established name changed everything.

Their first release, ANAVITÓRIA (2016), arrived not with fanfare but with curiosity. And almost instantly, it found its audience. The album was a mosaic of love songs, acoustic arrangements, and lyrical tenderness. It did not scream for attention. It invited intimacy. With tracks like “Agora Eu Quero Ir” and “Singular,” they crafted a sound that felt timeless yet entirely new.

Anavitoria reviews
Photo source: https://vejasp.abril.com.br

Albums That Mark the Journey

ANAVITÓRIA (2016)

The debut introduced the blueprint: two voices in conversation, acoustic guitars, and a refusal to dramatise emotion. It earned a Latin Grammy nomination and gave Brazilian pop something it had been missing—a quiet revolution.

O Tempo É Agora (2018)

A maturation of sound and theme. More structured, more cinematic. The album won the Latin Grammy for Best Contemporary Pop Album in Portuguese and marked the moment ANAVITORIA moved from indie success to national recognition. Tracks like “Ai Amor” and “Porque Eu Te Amo” became generational love anthems.

N (2019)

A bold side project. A full-length tribute to Nando Reis, one of Brazil’s great rock poets. The album deepened their roots in national songwriting history and showed their interpretive power. It felt like a love letter to their musical DNA.

Cor (2021)

Written during the pandemic, Cor (Colour) was a meditation on solitude and presence. Sparse, reflective, and beautifully minimal, it presented ANAVITORIA at their most introspective. There was a maturity in how they held back, allowing space between words to convey their meaning.

Esquinas (2023)

The most recent chapter. A shift in mood and perspective. Still intimate, but more exploratory in structure and sonics. We will explore this album in full later, but it deserves its place as a marker of growth, not only artistically, but emotionally.

ANAVITORIA is not simply a musical act. They are a case study in authenticity. Built not on hype, but on harmony. Not on algorithms, but on artistry. Their presence in Brazilian music has already left a lasting mark, and yet, they remain rooted in their origins, never chasing a sound that does not feel authentic. They began with a whisper, and somehow, that whisper is being heard in every corner.

From Araguaína to the World: ANAVITORIA Goes Global

When a musical duo from a small city in northern Brazil starts filling concert halls in Lisbon, Amsterdam and Montreux, something meaningful is happening. It is not just about international reach. It is about emotional truth crossing borders. ANAVITORIA, once a local phenomenon, has become an unexpected global voice, singing in Portuguese, yet heard far beyond.

Their path to international recognition has not followed the usual pattern. They were not launched by a multinational label or catapulted into fame by a viral hit. Their journey was quieter, slower, and more organic. But it is precisely that intimacy that audiences from Paris to São Paulo have come to cherish.

Grammys and Global Gaze

The turning point in their career came in 2018, when their second studio album, O Tempo É Agora, won the Latin Grammy for Best Contemporary Pop Album in Portuguese. The win was a surprise to many in the industry. The album had no explosive hit single, no flashy marketing campaign. What it had was sincerity, craft, and an undeniable sense of timing.

That same year, they were nominated in the coveted Song of the Year category for Trevo (Tu), a delicate ballad featuring their mentor, Tiago Iorc. The track had already become a beloved staple in Brazilian weddings and playlists. Still, the Grammy spotlight opened the door to new international listeners curious about these two young women who sang about love with such disarmingly honest lyrics.

In 2021, they were nominated once again, this time for “Cor,” an album born during the pandemic’s solitude. Though the world was still partially closed, their sound was quietly travelling. That album reached listeners far outside Brazil, particularly in Portugal and parts of Western Europe, where Lusophone communities connected deeply with the themes of longing, silence and emotional presence.

anavitoria grammy
Photo source: https://s2-g1.glbimg.com

The European Tour: Rooms Filled with Emotion

In 2024, ANAVITORIA embarked on a carefully curated European tour, choosing intimate venues in cultural capitals. Their concerts were not designed to flood arenas but to create shared spaces. In Lisbon, fans sang every lyric with a kind of collective tenderness. In Paris, they played a sold-out evening that drew a mix of Brazilian expatriates and curious locals. In Amsterdam’s Melkweg, the atmosphere was warm and hushed, more like a storytelling session than a performance.

By June 2025, they had been booked at Botanique in Brussels, a venue known for launching introspective, boundary-pushing artists. The stage design was minimalist. No digital fireworks, no elaborate costume changes. Just two voices, harmonising over fingerpicked guitars and gently layered keyboards. The reception was consistently moving. Fans queued in the rain, spoke of how ANAVITORIA’s music had become part of their emotional lives, even if they did not speak Portuguese.

A listener in Belgium described their show as “a kind of soft revolution.” In interviews, ANAVITORIA acknowledged that performing in Europe brought a different kind of pressure. “It’s not about impressing. It’s about connecting,” Ana shared. And connect they did.

Montreux 2025: A New Pinnacle

Anavitoria in Montreux 2025
Photo source: https://c.anibis.ch

The invitation to perform at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2025 was more than a booking. It was a recognition. The Swiss festival, founded in 1967, has hosted legends from Nina Simone to Radiohead. It is a place where music is taken seriously, and where the eclectic nature of the line-up always reflects cultural evolution.

ANAVITORIA’s performance was scheduled for a mid-evening slot on one of the more intimate stages, and yet it drew a crowd that spilt into standing areas. There was a buzz beforehand, a curiosity. Who were these two women with soft voices and acoustic guitars, and why were so many people speaking of them in such hushed, reverent tones?

They opened with Te Amar É Massa Demais from their latest album, Esquinas. The song begins with simplicity, but like much of their work, unfolds gently into emotional complexity. By the time they reached Trevo (Tu), the audience was entirely theirs. Some sang along. Some closed their eyes. Some wept.

It was a performance without spectacle. No dramatic crescendos. No vocal acrobatics. Just presence. And presence, in a world saturated with distraction, is more radical than it seems.

A review in a Swiss arts magazine described their set as “a meditation disguised as a concert.” That line captures something important. ANAVITORIA do not perform for applause. They create space for reflection.

Not Just Exported: Embraced

It is easy to speak of “international expansion” in market terms. But what is happening with ANAVITORIA is more than branding or positioning. It is a form of cultural recognition. People are not just discovering their music; they are also discovering themselves. They are finding in it something they needed. A reminder that softness can still be powerful. That sincerity can still be cool. That two women with guitars can fill a room without ever raising their voices.

Their growing success abroad is not due to adapting to what global audiences want. It comes from holding fast to what they already are. And it turns out that what they are is precisely what is needed right now.

In a digital landscape where noise often wins, ANAVITORIA continues to choose clarity. In a culture of irony, they choose tenderness. In a marketplace of spectacle, they choose intimacy. And in a world that often rewards disconnection, they prefer to connect with grace, precision, and open hearts.

Their journey from Araguaína to Montreux is not just impressive. It is emblematic. It shows that music built on honesty, rooted in craft, and offered with care can travel any distance. And that sometimes, the most powerful revolutions begin with just two voices and a guitar.

Esquinas: A New Corner for Brazilian Pop

Anavitoria esquinas album

In Portuguese, the word “esquinas” refers to the corners of a street, those ordinary yet poetic places where paths shift direction. With the release of their 2024 album Esquinas, ANAVITORIA invites the listener to those quiet intersections: between past and future, clarity and confusion, presence and longing. It is a record about moments suspended, about change that doesn’t make noise, and about emotion felt in its most elemental form.

More than a collection of songs, Esquinas feels like a series of internal monologues shared between friends. It is the duo’s most intimate work to date, but also their most cinematic. There is no rush, no hook-driven urgency. Instead, ANAVITORIA allows each track to unfold like a letter, measured, gentle, and full of space.

The Language of Stillness

Esquinas continues the sonic minimalism that defined Cor, but evolves it into something fuller and more textured. The production, led by Ana Caetano alongside their long-time collaborator Felipe Simas, leans into ambient folk-pop with unexpected flourishes: brushed percussion, soft synths, and ghostly vocal layers that appear, shimmer, and disappear again.

Nothing here is accidental. Each pause, each breath, each shift in harmony is placed with care. Listening to Esquinas feels like walking through an early morning city, quiet, unsure, tender. You are alone, but never abandoned.

Full Tracklist & Thematic Arc

  1. Se eu usasse sapato – 2:45 A thoughtful opener that plays with metaphor and identity. “If I wore shoes,” they sing, gently questioning the masks we wear and the selves we suppress.
  2. Minto pra quem perguntar – 3:07 A confessional ballad about the small lies we tell others to protect what hurts. The chorus is restrained, yet strikingly raw.
  3. Não sinto nada (feat. Jorge Drexler) – 3:43 A standout moment. This duet with Uruguayan master Jorge Drexler explores emotional numbness with exquisite simplicity. Two voices blend into a single tone of resignation, making absence feel strangely present.
  4. Ter o coração no chão – 3:15 “To have your heart on the ground.” A track about vulnerability, rooted in humility. There’s no drama here—only honesty.
  5. Ponta solta – 3:16 One of the most poetic pieces on the record. It captures that feeling when something unresolved lingers, like a thread left hanging.
  6. Espetáculo estranho – 3:33 Perhaps the most abstract moment on the album. This “strange spectacle” is a meditation on self-awareness, identity and the performance of emotion.
  7. Água-viva – 2:49 Delicate and transparent, like its title (jellyfish). This song floats. There is a fluidity to the melody that evokes the ocean and the body alike.
  8. Eu, você, ele e ela – 3:46 The most narrative-driven track. A relationship quadrangle told with subtle wit and emotional layering. The arrangement is gentle, but the lyricism carries weight.
  9. Mesma trama, mesmo frio – 4:41 A slow-burning masterpiece. The longest track on the album and possibly its emotional centrepiece. “Same plot, same cold.” A reflection on cycles, repetition, and unresolved desire.
  10. Quero contar pra São Paulo – 3:31A love letter and a confession. São Paulo becomes both city and symbol of change, of modernity, of stories waiting to be told.
  11. Doce futuro – 3:41 “Sweet future.” A song of hope, not naïveté. It acknowledges the weight of what has passed, but still dares to lean forward.
  12. Navio ancorado no ar – 4:31 The closing track is metaphorical and surreal: “a ship anchored in the air.” It leaves us with the sense that some things, such as dreams, feelings, and memories, are untethered from gravity.

Jorge Drexler and the Art of Quiet Collaboration

The inclusion of Jorge Drexler is a landmark in ANAVITORIA’s discography. His voice, famously delicate and literate, mirrors their ethos. On Não sinto nada, there is no attempt at vocal theatrics. Instead, it is a shared breath, a melancholic meditation, sung in perfect balance. The pairing is as elegant as it is unforced.

This collaboration elevates the album without disrupting its tone. It feels like an old friend joining a conversation that was already underway.

Production, Process and Aesthetic Identity

Ana Caetano’s fingerprints are on every inch of this album. Her growth as a producer is evident in the textural control, the sparseness, and the light. She allows silence to function not as absence, but as canvas.

The visual language of Esquinas mirrors the music. The cover, promotional materials, and typography all favour muted tones, natural light, and softness. There is no branding excess. The corner, once again, is a metaphor: understated, but full of depth.

Even the album’s release was modest. No grand announcement. No global campaign. Just a quiet upload, a listening link, and the gradual embrace of a loyal fanbase.

Reception: Critics and Listeners

Critics in Brazil described Esquinas as “a lesson in lyrical economy” and “the most consistent album of the duo’s career”. The maturity in tone and concept was widely praised. There was particular admiration for how ANAVITORIA avoided repetition, offering evolution without alienation.

Fans responded in kind. On streaming platforms, the album was added to curated playlists featuring introspective pop and soft Latin indie. On social media, lyrics from “Ponta solta” and “Doce futuro” became miniature mantras for those navigating breakups, therapy, or simply moments of self-reflection.

Unlike previous releases that leaned more clearly into romance, Esquinas is emotionally broader. It explores themes of memory, routine, dissatisfaction, and curiosity. It invites reflection rather than catharsis.

Between Two Voices, a Map

If Cor was an album of internal reckoning, Esquinas is one of observation. It is not about heartbreak as rupture, but about how emotion settles. ANAVITORIA are no longer singing as two girls discovering the world. They are artists observing it with care, humour, and patience.

There is no hit single engineered for virality. There is no attempt to shift lanes. Instead, ANAVITORIA remains precisely where they are, on the corner and from there, they offer one of the most affecting albums in recent Brazilian pop.

In a culture too often obsessed with momentum, Esquinas is an act of resistance. It tells us that you can stay still and still go deeper. The slightest shift in direction can change the entire view.

Anavitoria biography
Photo source: https://midias.em.com.br

Everything Happens at the Corner: ANAVITORIA and the Future of Brazilian Music

Seismic shifts mark the history of Brazilian music. The crashing chords of tropicalismo, the sophisticated rebellion of bossa nova, the politically charged samba of the seventies. Each movement was shaped by artists determined to change everything, and to do so with a loud voice. But sometimes, evolution is not explosive. Sometimes it happens in a whisper. In a breath. In a corner.

That is where ANAVITORIA have taken their place. Not as protestors or provocateurs, but as guardians of something older, quieter, and no less radical: emotional sincerity.

In the lineage of Brazilian music, they represent a return to intimacy, but not to nostalgia. They are not trying to sound like anyone who came before. And yet, through their harmonies, their lyricism, and their regional rootedness, they channel the spirit of artists such as Nara Leão, Adriana Calcanhotto, and Mallu Magalhães. Artists who trusted softness. Who believed that the personal could be political. That a guitar, gently played, could be more potent than a crowd shouted down.

Redefining the Sound of Now

While mainstream Brazilian pop has often gravitated toward extravagance with electronic beats, fast rhythms and hyper-production, ANAVITORIA have chosen a different path. Their music is built around acoustic textures, layered vocals and poetic restraint. This is not just an aesthetic decision. It is an artistic stance.

In their refusal to perform performativity, they have created a new kind of presence. A musical identity that does not beg for attention but earns it through honesty. They are, in many ways, the opposite of the digital age’s default posture. Where irony dominates, they offer sincerity. Where speed is king, they offer patience.

This is not regression. It is a redefinition, a recalibration of what modern Brazilian pop can be.

Anavitoria biography full
Photo source: https://www.diariodopara.com.br

Feminine, but Never Fragile

In a musical landscape where women are often expected to either glamourise or dramatise, ANAVITORIA choose neither. Their femininity is central to their sound, but never commodified. There is no attempt to mould themselves into a palatable pop image. No theatrics. No glittered armour.

Instead, they present womanhood as lived experience. Complex, shifting, and understated. Their lyrics do not romanticise pain, nor do they disguise vulnerability as strength. They allow both to coexist. In doing so, they have become powerful symbols for a generation of listeners, particularly young women, who want representation without caricature.

They sing about love, but never in clichés. About endings, but without bitterness. About memory, but without sentimentality. This emotional clarity has helped shape a new emotional vocabulary in contemporary Brazilian songwriting.

The Regional as Universal

There is something quietly revolutionary in the fact that ANAVITORIA emerged not from Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo, but from Araguaína, in the northern state of Tocantins. It is not a city known for exporting artists. It is not positioned at the heart of Brazil’s cultural machine.

And yet, that origin story matters. It reflects a decentralisation of Brazilian music culture. A movement that allows new voices to emerge from overlooked geographies. ANAVITORIA sing from the margins. And in doing so, they have reshaped the centre.

Their regionality is not exoticised. It is simply there, folded into their language, their metaphors, their musical references. When they sing about daily life, it feels specific and local. But it also resonates far beyond their borders. They remind us that universality is not about erasing context. It is about telling the truth so clearly that it speaks to everyone.

anavitoria new album
Photo source: https://www.correiobraziliense.com.br

Legacy in Progress

It is tempting to think of ANAVITORIA as part of a tradition. And they are. But they are also creating one. Their influence is already visible among emerging Brazilian artists. Singers are embracing acoustic formats again, lyricists are daring to write plainly, and new duos and trios are forming that do not fear silence. They are not just responding to the culture. They are shaping it.

Through their musical decisions, independent spirit, and consistent refusal to compromise, ANAVITORIA have become a model of how to grow without betraying their sound. That is a legacy in itself.

A Bridge Between Eras

ANAVITORIA’s work bridges the sensibility of MPB’s poetic era with the digital minimalism of Gen Z. They understand the intimacy of voice notes, the aesthetics of lo-fi, and the need for music that comforts rather than performs.

And yet, they are never gimmicky. There is no false vintage here, only timelessness.

This ability to connect generations, from those who grew up on Chico Buarque and Gal Costa to those who first discovered music through algorithmic playlists, places them in rare company. They are interpreters, translators, and carriers of something essential.

Why They Matter Now

To listen to ANAVITORIA is to be reminded that music can be kind. Those lyrics can be generous. That slowness can be a strength. In a world defined by urgency and noise, they are an invitation to pause. To feel. To be.

They matter because they make space. For emotion, for reflection, for subtlety. They remind us that not all art must be influential. Sometimes, art holds up a mirror and waits.

A Future Written in Lowercase

If you look at the titles of ANAVITORIA’s songs, you will notice something subtle. They are all in lowercase. It is a small aesthetic choice, but it speaks volumes. There is no shouting. No proclamation. Just a quiet presence. That is how they will continue. Not through dominance, but through depth. Not through visibility, but through resonance.

Their future does not need reinvention. It requires only one thing. To stay true to the music that brought them here, and to keep writing from that quiet corner where everything already happens.

In conclusion, with heart, with colour, with time: The Journey of ANAVITORIA.

To speak of ANAVITORIA is to talk not of spectacle, but of substance. Not of loud arrivals, but of meaningful presence. They are not the kind of artists who break the silence. They are the kind who teach us how to sit with it.

From the earliest simplicity of Trevo (Tu) to the shimmering introspection of Cor, and now the tender intricacies of Esquinas, their discography reads like a diary of emotional evolution. Not just their own, but ours as well. They offer songs the way some offer tea. Slowly, warmly, with both hands.

They do not make music for the sake of the moment. They make music for the memory. And in a cultural moment increasingly built on speed, ANAVITORIA continue to choose duration. They remind us that the softest voices often leave the deepest impressions.

Their path, from Araguaína to Latin Grammys to the stage at Montreux, has never followed the expected route. And it never needed to. What they have built is not a career defined by trend, but a body of work shaped by truth. They are part of Brazil’s musical present, but also of its future. A future that is more introspective, more emotionally articulate, more accepting of the quiet as an act of strength.

Their titles tell the story. O tempo é agora whispered that the time is now. Cor offered a palette of feeling in a world afraid of nuance. And Esquinas gave us corners. Places where we pause, shift, and reflect. This is how they build their music. Not as linear ascent, but as a series of rooms, each one smaller, softer, and more precise.

In the end, perhaps this is why ANAVITORIA matters. Not because they are louder than the rest. But because they trust that the listener will lean in. The most honest art does not need to chase the world. It waits patiently for the world to find it.

So, let us follow their map. Let us move with heart, with colour, with time. And when we arrive at the next corner, let us hope they are still there, singing, beautifully, as they always have.

José Amorim
This article was created exclusively for LuxuryActivist.com. All content is protected by copyright. Images are used for illustrative purposes under fair use. If you own the rights to any image and wish it to be removed, please don’t hesitate to contact us, and we will act promptly.



This story originally appeared on Luxuryactivist

Sarah Haines Gets Emotional Over Mariska Hargitay’s Documentary About Jayne Mansfield


Instagram/@sarahaines

Sarah Haines for The View spoke of the near emotional elation she felt when Mariska Hargitay’s documentary film on Hargitay’s late mother, Jayne Mansfield, was aired. The topic was also discussed in the Behind the Table podcast, where Haines gave Hargitay some of the highest praise: a masterwork that works on many levels.

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Haines felt the documentary was really not about honoring Mansfield; it is about a much more gritty and real level of family membership with which the spectator will undoubtedly relate with some aspects of their own life. She suggested that it is an experience where first there is no way the audiences would not fall in love with Mansfield’s family; then the audiences looked at themselves and their family and thought, “Hey, there are a few parallels there”; and finally, they got utterly overwhelmed and amazed at the talent, creativity, and power of Hargitay’s storytelling. “She really wrapped this with a bow. I mean, she killed this documentary,” Haines said.

This really started amping up our feelings. If the movie were tears, there was no ugly cry from Haines. Expressed by many after watching, some called her after to say they initially felt she was exaggerating until they saw it themselves.

The comment section showered the comments with congratulations and congruence. One called it “one of the most emotional, compelling documentaries I’ve seen in years” while another admitted to already having watched it seven times. My Mom Jane is streaming now on HBO and surely has already created a sentimental bond for many.

Unfortunately, there were some who could not gush about the film. There were some critics who claimed Haines constantly cut off guests mid-sentence. Others claimed she interrupted by spoiling a joke Sarah Silverman was telling. Things, however, returned to the effect of the documentary; the masses credited Haines for nudging them to actually watch it.

It’s not just about Mansfield’s ill-fated death; rather, it’s about her complicated life, relationships, and legacy. Haines described some of the most heartfelt moments for her watching the restoration of a piano by Hargitay’s husband that symbolizes love and continuity, while the interviews with Hargitay’s half-siblings were another that touched her deeply: “authentic, really.”

However long you’ve been an admirer of Mansfield, or barely recently got here into her tale, this documentary has to get viewed! Judging by Haines’ teary endorsement, a box or two of tissues won’t come amiss.

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Another coup for Hargitay’s versatility-not just an actress but one who can tell a story so memorably. For Haines, it’s proof sometimes you cannot will that kind of reaction.




This story originally appeared on Celebrityinsider

Is the Lloyds share price taking a breather before its next move up?


Image source: Getty Images

It has been a brilliant few years for shareholders in Lloyds (LSE: LLOY). The Lloyds share price has soared 148% over the past five years.

However, since the second half of May, the share has essentially been treading water.

Could this be a pause before the price growth continues – and if so, should I take advantage of it to add some of the shares to my ISA?

Looking to the long term

As a long-term investor, I tend not to pay much attention to short-term price movements when it comes to assessing the investment case for a share.

However, that does not mean I ignore them altogether. After all, sometimes a short-lived movement in a share price can offer a buying opportunity at an attractive valuation. A plateau in a rising share price may last for some time before it then starts moving again.

Over recent years, the Lloyds share price has done very well. From an even longer-term perspective, though, it has not. Neither the share price nor dividend per share has got anywhere close to where they were before the 2008 banking crisis.

Lloyds today is a different beast to what it was then, having learnt some valuable lessons from that crisis. But that long-term picture is a valuable reminder of some of the risks inherent in banking, such as a weakening economy driving up loan default rates and hurting bank profits.

Uncertain economic outlook

In fact, I think awareness of that risk might help explain why the Lloyds share price has been drifting in recent weeks. It is not alone in this regard – rival Natwest has seen share price growth of 278% over five years, but its share price has shown a decline over the past month or so.

For now, there are no clear and present alarm bells for the British economy. That matters a lot for Lloyds, as it is the UK’s largest mortgage lender.

Still, the mood music is giving me cause for concern. The global economic outlook is not only weak, it also seems fairly unstable due to an ongoing mix of sluggish demand, geopolitical risks, and tariff disputes. Last month saw UK property prices flatten as concerns about the job market grew.

No rush to buy

Despite such uncertainty, Lloyds continues to generate large profits. It has a proven model and trades under a portfolio of well-known brands.

If the economy does not deteriorate but gets better, its current valuation could turn out to offer decent value in the long term. The Lloyds share price-to-earnings ratio of 12 does not strike me as especially high.

However, I fear the share price might not just keep drifting but move sharply downwards if the UK economy – and especially the housing market – shows signs of weakening.

So for now, I will not be buying a single Lloyds share for my ISA.



This story originally appeared on Motley Fool

Families describe wildfire ‘nightmare’ as Marseille came close to disaster | World News

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Standing by the charred remains of the Marseille wildfire, you appreciate how close France’s second-largest city came to disaster.

The inferno raced down the hillside towards the northern suburbs, fanned by 45mph winds.

At its peak, the fire front was moving by 1.2km every minute.

Somehow – whether it was heroics of the 1,000 firefighters or just chance – the flames skirted the very edge of houses on the hill.

Then it came to a halt just the width of a road from a complex of apartment blocks.

John speaking to Thomas Moore in Marseille. For Thomas Moore copy on wildfires 09 July 2025.
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John said the fire reached the edge of his street

We met John, who stood out on the street with his young family, watching the flames advance towards his house.

He told me the smoke was so dense he could not even see the helicopters hovering overhead, dropping tonnes of water on the burning scrub.

Marseille wildfires. For Thomas Moore copy on wildfires 09 July 2025.

“We could see helicopters dropping off water on the fire. We could actually also see the fire on the edge of the road,” he said.

“It was very serious. Everywhere was like it was fog. The clouds were black, there was smoke everywhere.

“It was a big shock. Yesterday was a nightmare, but now we are waking from that bad dream.”

Not everybody has been so lucky. At least 60 houses have been damaged, some destroyed.

Marseille wildfires. For Thomas Moore copy on wildfires 09 July 2025.

According to the authorities, more than 700 hectares have been burnt so far.

The intensity of the fire has eased, but it’s still active on the edges where there is grass and scrub, tinder dry from weeks of scorching heat and not a drop of rain. A smell of smoke lingers in the air.

French firefighters check a house destroyed by a wildfire in the L'Estaque district of Marseille, southern France, July 9, 2025. REUTERS
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Firefighters check a home in Marseille. Pic: Reuters

Two dozen or so people are in hospital. Another 110 have minor injuries.

The French interior minister said it was incredible nobody died.

Summer wildfires are common around the Mediterranean. But the fire season has started early this year.

Read more:
More than 110 injured in wildfire
Wildfire is ‘at the gates’ of Marseille

And with temperatures still high, and no sign of rain, the risk of more – and perhaps worse – fires remain high.

People living on the edge of urban areas would have once gazed out on the forests and seen beauty.

But having witnessed wildfires sweep so close to their homes, they will now understand them as a potential threat.



This story originally appeared on Skynews