At long last, Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Jane Lui, who's making music these days under the name Surrija, will release her long-awaited fourth album next month. Surrija will be available on April 3.
It's a been a minute since Jane, a good friend to this website, dropped a full-length. While taking a break after her last record, 2010's Goodnight Company, Jane says she wasn't even sure she had another album in her. But when she finally did start writing again, she found inspiration half a world away, in Spain.
"When I felt the songs again, I hopped on a plane to Barcelona, locked myself in a room for three weeks, and material came rushing through," Jane shared during the new album's Kickstarter campaign. "During these Barcelona sessions, I deliberately wrote away from my normal tendencies to hatch an evolution."
The result: Surrija, and a haunting new electropop sound. We're proud to debut the new single, "Gilot."
When Xenophobia Spreads Like A Virus
The global response to COVID-19 has made clear that the fear of contracting disease has an ugly cousin: xenophobia. As the coronavirus has spread from China to other countries, anti-Asian discrimination has followed closely behind, manifesting in plummeting sales at Chinese restaurants, near-deserted Chinatown districts and racist bullying against people perceived to be Chinese. NPR asked its listeners whether they had experienced this kind of coronavirus-related racism and xenophobia firsthand. Here are some of the responses.
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Dealer Drops Asian Assistant from Art Fair Due to Coronavirus 'Anxiety'
A Vietnamese curator was dropped by an exhibitor at a London art fair because she would be "seen as carrying the virus." An Nguyen posted a screenshot of an email she received from Raquelle Azran, a dealer and curator specialising in contemporary Vietnamese(!) fine art, cancelling her role as an assistant for the exhibit at the Affordable Art Fair "because your presence on the stand would unfortunately create hesitation." After this all blew up on social media, the dealer was disinvited from the art fair.
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Assembly Staffer Fired Over Anti-Asian Coronavirus Comments
This week, a Brooklyn assemblywoman's receptionist was fired for making xenophobic, anti-Asian remarks regarding the coronavirus outbreak. Assemblywoman Mathylde Frontus reportedly let go of Marilyn Franks after the staffer posted a Facebook message stating, in part: "We urge citizens to stay away from Chinese supermarkets, shops, fast food outlets, Restaurant, and Business. Most of the owners went back to China to celebrate the Chinese New [Year] Celebrations. They are returning and some are bringing along the Coronavirus. Rather be safe than sorry." And now you are fired.
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Apply to JCamp 2020
Hey, student journalists! The Asian American Journalists Association is now accepting applications for JCamp, an all-expenses-paid journalism training program for talented freshman, sophomore- and junior-level high school students of diverse backgrounds. JCamp will celebrate its 20th year in 2020 at Georgetown University in Washington DC, July 5-10. The six-day camp brings students together for intensive training in writing, photography, broadcast, online media and reporting led by professional journalists. Travel, lodging and meals will be covered for the selected students. The deadline to apply is March 29. For more information, go here.
Chinatown Restaurant Business Plummets Amid Coronavirus Fears
"Restaurateurs in Chinatown say their businesses are suffering because of the panic about coronavirus. They say that the neighborhood has been noticeably less busy, while there have been no confirmed cases in New York yet during the outbreak that has infected 28,000 people worldwide. The outbreak has provoked xenophobic and racist responses about the Chinese people and diaspora, including from those who push age-old and bigoted misperceptions of Chinese culinary habits."
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Coughing While Asian
Scared of the coronavirus? Okay. Scared of Asians because of coronavirus? Don't be racist. This silly sketch, Coughing While Asian, produced and directed by Michael Tow and Teja Arboleda, addresses the overblown xenophobia and anti-Asian sentiment that have been fueled by the virus outbreak. Get a grip, people.
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Bruno Mars Will Star In, Produce Music-Driven Theatrical Disney Film
Disney has struck a deal with Bruno Mars to develop a music-themed theatrical narrative feature starring and produced by the platinum-seling pop star. The plot is being kept under wraps, but according to Deadline, the film will reportedly consist of mostly original music created and performed by Mars.
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Sung's Garage Episode 1: Jen Yamato
If you haven't heard, Han is back. The fan favorite character returns to the Fast & Furious franchise after having seemingly died at the hands of the villainous Deckard Shaw. On the inaugural episode of his new podcast Sung's Garage, Kang invites Los Angeles Times film critic -- and originator of the #JusticeForHan movement -- Jen Yamato to discuss Han's death and resurrection, and the Fast franchise making things right.
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"Barcelona" by Surrija
"Barcelona" is the fantastic new single from Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Surrija (aka Jane Lui), from her forthcoming spring album release. The song was inspired, in part, by time spent in, yes, Barcelona.
