Artist Spotlight
Issa Rae Demands Hollywood Pay Its Dues to Black TV in Fiery SXSW Keynote
In an impactful keynote speech, Issa Rae highlighted the ongoing challenges that Black television has faced over the years. She explained how, from the earliest sitcoms to today’s hit dramas, networks have prospered by telling Black stories, yet true recognition and appreciation remain hard to come by. Some may dismiss this as talk, but Rae is resolute in sharing her perspective. Her new project, Seen & Heard, aims to prove this history clearly.
“It’s one thing to hear about it,” Rae explained. “You might have encountered discussions around how certain networks have treated Black creators. But having the actual storytellers and writers document this history makes it undeniable. We wanted to create a thorough record that shows how they built their success on our stories, while we have little to show for it. It’s a sad situation, and it keeps happening again and again.” The docuseries includes perspectives from notable figures in entertainment, such as Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, and Ava DuVernay, who share their experiences and discuss Black television’s ongoing struggles.
It serves as a rallying call for recognition and ongoing support and investment in Black storytelling. Issa Rae’s career showcases the importance of authentic Black voices. From her groundbreaking show Insecure to her growing role as a producer, she has constantly pushed the industry to improve. With Seen & Heard, she’s committed to ensuring that Black TV pioneers’ contributions are remembered and valued. Hollywood tends to forget things when it suits them, but Issa Rae is ensuring that Black television will be acknowledged this time. Seen & Heard is a powerful call for change.
Artist Spotlight
Lisa Boostani creates a mesmerizing tidal realm in “Ocean”
Lisa Boostani’s “Ocean” takes you deep into a sensory world where body, spirit, and myth come together, beyond the surface of genre. Boostani makes a soundscape that is both ethereal and deeply human by combining the broad essence of psychedelic pop with the strong appeal of alternative rock.
Her voice rises as if it is coming from deep within her, shaped by emotion rather than action. She intentionally channels the intangible, turning weakness into strength rather than a source of pain, and “Ocean” tells people to get involved in this inner world, not just watch it. This release is an integral part of her first EP, “One,” which will come out in March 2026 and is based on love, sensuality, and unity.
If “Ocean” is any indication, the EP will show sensuality not as something pretty, but as a kind of spiritual intelligence, a way to know yourself by connecting with others. The song’s textures and structure have an aquatic quality, moving between clarity and delirium, rhythm and freedom. Its emotional focus is on immersion instead of resolution.
The striking quality of “Ocean” is the blend of the mystical worlds. Boostani understands that strength often shows up as gentleness and that deep feelings are better expressed through frequencies than words. She wants people to see consciousness as immediacy, sensation as truth, and openness as an undeniable strength.
Artist Spotlight
NOAH. captures the unspoken signals in enchanting R&B track “That’s Bless”
“That’s Bless” captures the unspoken late-night message, the smile that was exchanged from afar, and the feeling you sense but are afraid to say. NOAH. offers a song with a smoky R&B feel and lyrics that capture unspoken tension, firmly in the realm of emotional ambiguity, where connection is clear but not defined.
This piece concerns the subtle discomfort of mixed signals and quiet longings, when looks say more than words ever could. NOAH. handles the theme with restraint, letting the chemistry simmer rather than explode. NOAH.’s delivery shows a confident gentleness, recognizing that some feelings don’t need strict definitions to be real.
In “That’s Bless,” he captures the essence of connection and the compelling allure that endures, even when both parties pretend it is not there. The composition is based on real-life events, and it acknowledges that specific attachments endure in the heart long after one has persuaded oneself of having progressed.
“That’s Bless” is at the crossroads of closeness and distance, clarity and confusion. The song doesn’t resolve the tension it talks about, and that’s what makes it so powerful. It sums up the connection we say we don’t want but keep coming back to in memory, rhythm, and pulse.
Connect with NOAH. on Instagram
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