Music

Asian American Heritage Month – Dolly Ave Debuting ‘Sleep’ Album

Dolly Ave is releasing her debut album titled “Sleep” on May 7th, 2021. Having had a break-out hit with her 2020 collaboration on “Sunlight, Quiet, Flowers” with rapper Charlie Curtis-Beard – which trended #1 on TikTok’s Original Music charts for 7 days straight and over 428K streams on Spotify (and counting) – Dolly Ave is ready to make her own mark on the music scene with her first full-length offering to fans.

Written towards the end of 2019, Dolly’s seven-track record Sleep is a collection of lo-fi songs that sit at the intersection of pop, R&B, and bedroom vulnerability, as the tracks move through the ebb and flows of a relationship. “It’s not a heartbreak album,” Dolly insists, though she created the album freshly after a break-up while she was still in the throes of finding closure. “It’s definitely me finding empowerment in the vulnerability of each stage.”

Dolly Ave is not only an emerging artist in the creative industry, but also an award-winning photographer who has worked with the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper, and the Migos. Raised in Kansas City, Missouri by two immigrant parents from Vietnam, Dolly Ave speaks of her inspiration to pursue a creative career with an undeniable fervor saying that she makes music “for young artists, for the underprivileged, and for the misunderstood.” Dolly’s parents worked as nail technicians and frequently moved the family between Sikeston, Missouri, and Kansas City in their search for jobs during her childhood. Dolly describes Kansas City as a “very strange place to immigrate to”: a small, midwestern town with not many other Asians, and with just as modest and simple expectations for life — to grow up and get a good job. Still, Dolly dreamed of bigger things. Her family was a creative one – her father played the guitar, and Dolly grew up listening to “all sorts of stuff,” from The Beatles to Vanessa Carlton, who specifically left a sizable impression on Dolly when she was younger because Carlton played the piano and sang at the same time.

In school, Dolly did theatre and choir, where she learned to sight-read and where one of her teachers remarked that the way she sang was “Eastern-wise,” she remembers. The advent of the Internet and with it, the vast and new world of YouTube, also played a significant role in Dolly’s formative years. “I noticed a lot of musicians would turn on the webcam and play their songs,” she says. “It blew my mind, like, ‘Wow people are just putting this out there in the world?’” Though she was shy and didn’t share any original music of her own on the platform, she was writing and singing little songs in her bedroom: sad and sweet tunes about feeling alone. “I was 12 singing about being lonely and sad,” she says now, laughing. As Dolly ventured deeper into the YouTube music community, she followed along as the creators she admired, among them Daniela Andrade, AJ Rafael, Tim Atlas, and Sam Tsui, grew their careers from homegrown cover videos full-blown careers in their own right. “That sparked a lot in my journey in music and the arts,” she says. “This is not just something that always has to be a hobby. There are avenues, or channels to make this a real thing, and [to] enjoy your life making it.” Eventually, at 18, Dolly left the narrow confines of Kansas City for art school in Chicago, where she bloomed. Propelled by the bustling and rich underground music and art scene of the city, one she describes to be tight-knit and immensely collaborative, Dolly found her footing in her own creative endeavors. She navigated the music community by way of her camera, having nurtured a childhood hobby into a career, taking photos and filming videos for local artists. All the while, she continued to write songs on her own.

Mainstage

Shannon Sharpe Steps Away From ESPN Amid Explosive Lawsuit

Pro Football Hall of Famer and a popular personality on ESPN, Shannon Sharpe, has decided to step away from his job at the network temporarily. This decision comes after a $50 million lawsuit was filed against him this week by an anonymous woman who accuses him of sexual assault. Sharpe strongly denies these claims. Sharpe addressed the situation directly in a message on social media, making it clear that he believes the relationship in question was completely consensual. He emphasized that while the accusations are serious, he is not trying to avoid them but rather to confront them head-on.

In his message, he announced, “At this juncture, I am electing to step aside temporarily from my ESPN duties. I will be taking this time to focus on my family and to respond to these false allegations against me.” He reassured fans and colleagues that he plans to return to ESPN by the start of the upcoming NFL season, expressing gratitude for the support he has received. ESPN has expressed agreement with Sharpe’s decision to take a break, acknowledging the seriousness of the situation in a brief statement.

Check out this article: Shannon Sharpe Claps Back with NSFW Ammo in $50M Lawsuit Drama

Sharpe is known for his strong opinions and charismatic presence on shows like First Take, and his absence is sure to be felt by fans. Despite the controversy, many feel that this is not a permanent farewell but rather a difficult pause in his career. While the allegations hang over him, Sharpe’s determination to address the situation could pave the way for a comeback in the media world. The public’s acceptance of his return will likely depend on both the legal proceedings and how they perceive the situation, as public opinion can shift dramatically, often before any final decisions are made in court.

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Artist Spotlight

“Young Man” by Highrise echoes soul-stirring lessons from the flames of his past

Produced entirely from his home studio in Kansas City, Highrise crafts chapters of life experiences, transforming into the spotlight with “Young Man,” a song that sparks an open conversation we all recognize but often try to forget. This rap-rock anthem features smooth guitar arpeggios woven together with clean vocals, modern hip-hop drums, and hard-won wisdom that resonates with emotion and intention.

At first listen, “Young Man” radiates like one part heartfelt advice tossed to the wind, a cautionary tale directed at the younger men of the next generation as they navigate chaos. But dig a little deeper, and it’s revealed this song is a mirror reflecting Highrise’s own younger self, haunted by the echoes of choices made and paths taken. The production balances rawness and refinement, giving the track a lived-in yet polished musical quality.

Vocally, Highrise shines with a melodic and emotionally charged delivery, comfortably occupying a sonic space that fans of MGK, Bryce Vine, or Ryan Caraveo will find familiar, yet it feels uniquely his own. The standout bridge hits hard: “Take it from me, I’ve been down this road…” a poetic gut-punch for anyone who’s been too stubborn to listen before learning the hard way.

Inspired partly by his late grandfather, the track carries a weight of generational reflection. It tiptoes through the complexities of enduring legacy and shifting perspectives with age, acknowledging the scars of youthful mistakes while nodding to the lessons passed down. “Young Man” doesn’t preach; it empathizes, and humility makes it particularly impactful. It is an anthem for anyone who looks back at their younger self and wishes they could whisper, “Slow down.”

Highrise has established his influence in making music and building a legacy, one brutally honest track at a time, telling truths that echo long after the song ends.

CLICK HERE TO STREAM Highrise’s “Young Man“ on Spotify.
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