By the Zonagirante.com team @spinning zone

Greetings from the bustling beaches of the internet. It's clear that most of those who come through here stay in the comfortable arena of Facebook and Instagram, And sometimes, when they feel like fighting and beating each other up (virtually, of course), they go to X and wallow in Elon Musk's mud. To each their own, but If people pay for a monthly connection fee, they should go to deeper waters and realize how knowledge, culture, and fun expand. Because we're picky among our friends when recommending places to visit, we created this new section, in which we'll share spaces worthy of being widely known and that might just brighten anyone's day. We will talk specifically about art, in all the complexity of the word, as it is promoted and conceived in 2024. Of course we'll showcase musical corners, but we'll also turn to new forms of video, design, creative tools, and current personalities worth following and celebrating. We are breaking down the traditional boundaries of our page and will comment on world news, but we will not stop paying attention to Latin America. Here's our first digital log:

Lost Hits (https://hitsperdidos.com/)

 

For quite some time now we have been campaigning to learn more about Brazilian music, beyond the eternal classics and clichés that each country usually sells to tourists. One of the best ways to stay involved with current events is Hits Perdidos, a site that is exhaustive in its coverage of the Brazilian music scene. Sure, it's in Portuguese, but it's not so difficult that we should complain and not try. Similarly, Chrome, Safari, and Brave have effective translators that bring us closer to this data, allowing us to enjoy the diversity and high quality of the musical offerings of a nation with more than two hundred and three million inhabitants, It's a planet in itself, and there's a lot to listen to, see, and read. Their playlists are spectacular, offering an effective summary of current events. For example:

 

Nice Aunties (https://niceaunties.com/)

 

Born in the 1980s, during Singapore's nation-building era, The artist behind "Niceaunties" was shaped by the influential women in her family. Living with grandparents, aunts and uncles until the age of nine while his parents worked, the artist's education was deeply rooted in the matriarchal influences of his home. This atmosphere was marked by the presence of notable women: a great-grandmother who endured the tradition of having her feet bound, a grandmother who went from dedicated kitchen tasks to a life confined to bed for two decades, and a sociable mother, along with eleven aunts, each with their own mix of talents, passions, and repressed dreams. These women, who embody a spectrum ranging from the strange and funny to the bad and kind, profoundly influenced the artist's early life and creative narrative., laying the groundwork for the unique storytelling of "Niceaunties". By exploring themes such as aging, beauty, personal freedom, and the nuances of everyday life, Niceaunties expresses its vision through generative and digital art. Her creations are marked by a fusion of surrealism, fantasy, and the vibrant aesthetic of kawaii culture.

 

Karen X. Cheng (https://www.patreon.com/karenxcheng/)

 

We adore this American artist who has become a sensation in the creation and editing of brilliant videos made with his cell phone. Her work is of such high quality that she has been hired by major brands to promote their products, using simple, low-budget videos. She's a role model. We are showing her Patreon page because in recent hours she has expressed a complaint about social media and her dissatisfaction with its relationship with artists. Here we translate excerpts from his speech:

«"The internet wasn't always like this. What happened? Now when I scroll... it's angry people. Clickbait. Attention-seeking bait. Instead of looking for inspiration. I'm force-fed viral bait.". Corporations learned that our attention was a resource that should be exploited. That our attention could be monetized, and there was a lot of money in it. So now, every time I open my feed, andIt's a dystopia where everyone competes and fights to get attention. And the worst part is that it's changing our behavior. Humans are incredibly adaptable. When we are positively rewarded for a behavior, we do it more. Algorithms are changing our behavior. They're making us more attention-seeking, with shorter attention spans, angrier, and more anxious. I see it changing my own behavior. And I have to face uncomfortable questions. What's my role in all of this? After all, aren't I the one supplying inventory to the machine so they can monetize eyes? (...) We've reached a turning point. People are smart. People are starting to feel the effects of our digital cigarettes. And we're ready to make some changes. We've reached our tipping point, and now it's time to step back.

The full text is on their Patreon. And it's true, it's time for a change.

 

Brums Art Drums (https://sites.google.com/view/brumsartdrums)

 

And we must support the musical instrument industry in Latin America. And in our search for businesses, we found this Argentinian battery company whose catalog is quite attractive and functional. They say so in their preparation: «"We strive for constant innovation, focusing on the musician's comfort. We make lightweight, versatile, portable, original instruments with professional sound. We have products developed under standard procedures, but we also design instruments according to your needs. All products are handcrafted using raw materials of national origin. Furthermore, we are an eco-friendly company, as we do not use polluting glues or paints, and the wood is sourced from sustainably managed forests.". It's worth visiting their page and seeing what they have.

 

Zonagirante Studio (https://www.zonagirante.com/zonagirante-estudio/)

 

Finally, to conclude the first compilation of this section, We present our new project. In our space, when it comes to talking about image, We are dedicated to merging our passion for graphic design with the vibrant independent Latin music scene. Our focus is on creating impactful visuals that complement and enhance the essence of each musical project, from rock to hip hop, including electronic, pop, jazz, and the contemporary mixes that are constantly being generated with the essence of our continent. We believe in the power of visual art to tell stories and connect with audiences in a deep and meaningful way.

With years of experience in the industry, Our team specializes in working closely with artists and bands to develop unique and memorable visual identities. From album covers to promotional material, every piece of our work is designed to capture the essence of the music and convey it through captivating images. We are proud to be part of the independent music community and to contribute to the growth and recognition of emerging talent. Welcome friends!