Cover Stories
Michigan producer Yohance Carter just wants to spread love as vibesounds
Producer, beatmaker, and self-proclaimed studio rat Yohance’ Carter, who performs rolling and atmospheric music as vibesounds, has been married to his best friend for just over a week and his head is spinning. The pair met while both were attending Wayne State University and are just months away from welcoming their “pandemic baby” into the world.…
12 metro Detroit acts we think will do big things in 2021
An anxious diva; an ambitious hip-hop cultivator; a space-rock foursome; an art-punk trio; a prolific emcee; and a singer-songwriter with a big voice and even bigger feelings. These are some of the acts you’ll find in Metro Times’ annual roundup of people making sounds that we think you should be hip to. In the past,…
Michigan singer and multi-instrumentalist Olivia Mainville puts feelings first with Via Mardot
Whatever you do, please do not hug Olivia Mainville. The Holland, Michigan native and singer/multi-instrumentalist — who makes seductive French ye-ye-steeped Tarantino-esque tunes as Via Mardot, along with Vernon James and Adam Schreiber and the occasional use of a musical saw — keeps her distance, even if her music begs for closeness. “If I see…
Detroit rapper whiterosemoxie is young and in love with the game
The future of hip-hop resides in 18-year-old Detroit rapper, chronic freestyler, and big-time dreamer whiterosemoxie, who literally cannot stop making music. Born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Detroit, whiterosemoxie, or Moxie, started his musical journey at 8 years old after he suffered an asthma attack that put him in a coma for several…
Detroit’s Gabriel Duran is bringing sexy back — and adding some spice
Justin Timberlake’s got nothing on Southwest Detroit native Gabriel Duran. OK, so Timberlake was just 21 when he released his solo debut, Justified, in 2002, and at 25, the Ramen-noodle-haired star followed it up with FutureSex/LoveSounds, one of the most infectious pop records of the new millennium that still makes us drop it low (you…
Michigan singer-songwriter John Salvage brings 15 years’ worth of music to life on debut solo record
Hamtramck-based singer-songwriter John Salvage has had a big box of 7-inch records in his living room since May of last year. The records are all copies of the 33-year-old’s debut solo record, the acoustic-leaning, Jason Isbell-steeped, modern Americana-influenced Coyote Hasten. And then, of course, the pandemic hit. So the records sit and Salvage anticipates Jan.…
Detroit wunderkind Mark Whalen wants to soothe our souls
At 21 years old, Mark Whalen is an unapologetically huge Steely Dan fan, an admission most people might only make while in their therapist’s office or in conversation with a clergy member. “They’re probably, like, one of my favorite bands of all time,” Whalen says. “They write songs that are really out there or strange…
Detroit’s Amber Chene is making space for Black genderqueer women through smooth indie-pop
There are some people who lack ambition, motivation, or the creativity beyond, like, picking a pre-programmed filter for a mirror-selfie. And then there’s Amber Chene, the 28-year-old tornadic non-binary multidisciplinary artist, fashion designer, weed cultivator, model, and musical artist who’s sitting on what they estimate is a trove of 300 or more unreleased songs she’s…
Michigan band Alluvial Fans spins out of orbit with contemplative art rock
Don’t let the carefully crafted, contemplative, and deeply introspective art-punk of Alluvial Fans fool you. Behind the playful brainwashing (and we do mean playful), the frequent droning on about Taoism (also playful), out-there ideas about ghost-detecting cats, and not-so-out there thoughts on the state of civilization is a rock band. Just a great fucking rock…
Don’t be fooled by Michigan alt-rockers Bombastic Dream Pussy
What’s in a name? Well, for Hayley McNicol, who performs lush alt-rock alone and with bandmates under Bombastic Dream Pussy, the name started as one of those jokes you come up with when you’re, like, really high and then just decide to stick with it. “So, that was kind of a joke,” McNichol snickers. “I…
Detroit band VVISIONSS time-travels with cats and Krautrock bible on hand
It’s not that VVISIONSS, the art-rock foursome that formed three years ago, claims to see the future, but they also don’t not claim to see the future, either. OK, so it’s not the entire band that has this ability, but band leader Ben Van Camp, who studied under Matthew Smith (Outrageous Cherry) and refers to…
Michigan singer-songwriter Lily Milo sorts through big feelings and invites us to do the same
It isn’t easy for Lily Milo to be vulnerable (“Lily Milo” being a pseudonym that she’s still uneasy about using). Plus, well, her blatant admission of just how difficult it is for the singer-songwriter to be publicly vulnerable may as well be the most revealing evidence that she’s actually really very good at it. “Oh…
Kynzi is the vulnerable Detroit diva we’ve been waiting for
Kynzi, the soon-to-be 21-year-old Detroit singer whose 2020 single “Siren” is like if Beyoncé and Evanescence popped into Chloe x Halle’s studio, sometimes talks about herself in the third person, and for some reason it’s not weird. Like, at all. In fact, it’s almost like she’s preparing to solidify her standing in what we believe…
How Long Does a Background Check Take? Full Guide (2023)
These days, you can never be too cautious when it comes to someone’s identity. In the past, you had to take someone’s word that they were telling you the truth about themselves. However, online background checks have made things a lot easier if you want to really find out about someone’s past and present. Of…
Best Keto Diet Pills 2021: Top BHB Ketosis Supplements For Weight Loss
The keto diet is one of the most popular diet programs in the world, thanks to its ability to melt away fat, increase energy levels, and improve mental clarity. The keto diet forces your body to reach a state of ketosis, where it begins to burn fat as a source of energy, rather than carbs.…
Como’s Bloomfield Hills pizza pop-up opens Friday
Beloved Ferndale pizza spot Como’s will expand to Bloomfield Hills with a pop-up opening on Friday. The pop-up, located next to the Maple Theater at 4135 W. Maple Road, will offer Detroit-style pizzas, salads, wings, sandwiches, desserts, cocktails, and draft beers. While the restaurant will offer 32 seats for indoor dining, it expects to do…
Michigan’s first certified organic marijuana dispensary opens in Ann Arbor
A marijuana dispensary billing itself as Michigan’s first and only certified organic cannabis company has opened its doors in Ann Arbor. Apothecare Ann Arbor is now open for both medical and adult-use recreational sales. The store’s open to the public seven days a week for in-store purchases, curbside pick-up, and delivery. The company was certified…
‘Let Them Play’ lawsuit seeks to overturn order barring winter sports in Michigan
Let Them Play, a group advocating for the full return of high school sports in Michigan, has filed a lawsuit against the state’s health department. The lawsuit filed in the Michigan Court of claims argues the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) violated the U.S. Constitution, Michigan constitution, and state law when it…
Virgil C. Smith, retired judge and ex-state lawmaker, vies for Detroit City Council seat
Virgil C. Smith, a former state lawmaker and retired Wayne County Circuit Court judge, plans to run for a seat on the Detroit City Council. The 73-year-old told The Detroit News he is running for the District 4 seat held by Councilman Andre Spivey, who plans to run for an at-large council seat in the…
Emagine Entertainment acquires Birmingham 8, announces upgrades, no changes to iconic marquee
While movie theaters across the country struggle to keep their doors open and screens aglow, luxury movie theatre chain Emagine Entertainment is expanding its footprint — this time, by adding a beloved art-house theater to its portfolio. On Tuesday Emagine announced it will take over Birmingham 8 Theatre, a first-run theater at 211 S. Old…
Michigan’s GOP candidate for governor says he’d cancel contracts with Dominion Voting Systems on ‘day one’
Austin Chenge, the Republican businessman and Army veteran from Grand Rapids who’s mounting a campaign against Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2022, says he would cancel the state’s contracts with Dominion Voting Systems on “day one.” Dominion Voting Systems make the voting machines that are at the center of a debunked conspiracy theory alleging widespread election…
Worthy dismisses 1,681 cases involving violations of Gov. Whitmer’s lockdown order
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced on Monday that her office is dismissing all of its cases stemming from violations of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s lockdown order. Worthy said there “is not a legal basis to proceed” with the 1,681 cases after the Michigan Supreme Court ruled in November that Whitmer did not have authority to…
Southern Poverty Law Center identifies 25 hate groups in Michigan in 2020
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s annual “Year in Hate and Extremism” report, released Monday, the number of active hate groups in America declined for a second year. According to the report, the SPLC identified 838 active hate groups operating across the United States in 2020 — a decrease from the 940 documented in…
COVID-19 claims lives of 9 nuns at Catholic center in Adrian
The coronavirus has swept through a Catholic center in Adrian, infecting 107 people, including 47 nuns, in the past month. Nine of the nuns at Adrian Dominican Sisters have died. They ranged in age from 79 to 97, underscoring the deadly impact of the coronavirus on elderly populations. “The impact of so many sisters dying…
Black entrepreneurs are underrepresented in Michigan’s recreational marijuana industry
Michigan’s recreational marijuana industry is blooming, generating more than a billion dollars in its first full year. But Black people, who were disproportionately jailed when marijuana was illegal, aren’t reaping the rewards of the legal industry. Only 3.8% of Michigan residents with an ownership interest in licensed recreational marijuana businesses are Black, according to a…
Detroit pysch-rock trio Shadow Show return with live performance of new-ish tunes
It could be said that 2020 was supposed to be the year for Shadow Show, Detroit’s 1960s revivalist femme trio whose shag haircuts, flared pants, and expertly placed liquid-eyeliner are as groovy as their harmony-heavy psychedelia-steeped sound. Not only did Shadow Show kick-off 2020 with being named as one of Metro Times’ Bands to Watch,…
Dogs maul 5-year-old boy and adult owner at Detroit home
A pair of dogs mauled a 5-year-old boy and their adult owner at a house on Detroit’s west side on Friday morning. The boy and 36-year-old man were in serious condition at a local hospital but are expected to recover, Detroit police said. The boy was helping feed fives large dogs at a house on…
These new polar bear cubs born at the Detroit Zoo are here to save us from ourselves
If you’re busy trying to reverse-engineer your Twitter feed to try to figure out how Reddit users have dismantled Wall Street or why famous women named “Kate” are trending while dodging WandaVision spoilers, don’t. Stop, drop your phone, and soak in the unadulterated cuteness of the Detroit Zoo’s latest fluff ball additions. Unnamed twin polar…
Rep. Meijer warns of ‘dark path’ for conspiracy-peddling Republican Party
U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer, a freshman Republican from Michigan, warned on Thursday that his conspiracy-peddling colleagues are taking the GOP down “a dark path” that could destroy the party. “We can’t be a party of conspiracy theories,” Meijer, of Grand Rapids, said on CNN. “We can’t be the party of winking and nodding at the…
Opinion: VP MI State Board of Ed: Before children go back to school, leaders must acknowledge COVID-19’s disparate impact on BIPOC
While COVID-19 has been an inconvenience for some, as noted by a Yale University epidemiologist, it has been more of a genocide by default for others. Children who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) account for 78% of all child deaths due to COVID-19 but only represent 41 percent of the U.S. child…
Rashida Tlaib blasts Robinhood app for protecting rich hedge fund investors in GameStop stock drama
By know you’ve probably heard of the drama surrounding the stock market, in which an army of amateur investors from Reddit’s WallStreetBets board banded together to massively inflate stocks as a way to stick it to rich hedge fund short-sellers who were betting on them to fail. We’re no financial experts — hence why we…
GOP candidate for governor calls Whitmer a ‘dictator’ despite alleged assassination plot against her
Governor Gretchen Whitmer is up for re-election in 2022, and she now has her first Republican challenger: Austin Chenge, a 35-year-old businessman and Army veteran from Grand Rapids who, like some of the governor’s other critics, calls her a “dictator.” “There’s a pandemic in Michigan, but it’s not the coronavirus,” Chenge says on his campaign…
University of Michigan research shows Whitmer’s tough coronavirus measures saved lives
On Wednesday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered her third State of the State address, touting her administration’s success in “flattening the curve” of coronavirus cases in Michigan. That included a “Pause to Save Lives” issued on Nov. 15, a painful blow to industries ordered to close, including bars and restaurants. But was the pause successful in…
‘Hip Hop Icons’ virtual show opens at The Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum at Saginaw Valley State University
More than 150 objects will be featured in a virtual exhibition on hip-hop culture at the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum at Saginaw Valley State University. Hip Hop Icons opens Feb. 1, 2021, in celebration of Black History Month. The items come from the personal collection of Dr. Khalid el-Hakim, who has collected Black memorabilia…
Detroit’s St. Patrick’s Parade is once again canceled due to COVID-19
Pour out some green beer — or better yet, drink a pint alone, at home, where you’ve been since, well, last St. Patrick’s Day, because this year’s festivities in Detroit are once again canceled. What would have been the 63rd annual Detroit St. Patrick’s Parade on March 14 is no longer happening because COVID-19 not…
Ex-Macomb County Prosecutor Smith pleads guilty to obstruction in embezzlement scheme
Former Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith, who spent 15 years putting people behind bars, will likely end up in jail himself after pleading guilty Wednesday to a federal felony count of obstructing justice. Smith, 54, resigned in March after federal authorities accused him of stealing about $70,000 in campaign funds. At the time, Smith said…
Testogen Review: A Safe Testosterone Booster Backed by Science
Testosterone is a crucial male hormone that determines overall masculinity. This means that it is responsible for regulating muscle mass, libido, strength, sperm production, fat loss, and even moods. According to statistics, men begin to lose testosterone at a rate of 1% per year from 30 years. This decline can also be accelerated by illness,…
Saucy Brew Works expects to open Detroit location in March
After a bit of a delay, Cleveland-based Saucy Brew Works is set to open its first location outside of Ohio when its Detroit spot sets up shop later this year. According to the company, the Detroit Brewpub and Coffeehouse is expected to open on March 3, 2021. Announced in 2019, it was originally intended to…
Leanbean Review: Is This The Ultimate Weight Loss Solution for Women?
For women, the road to achieving the perfect toned body is much different from men. This is because women struggle more with cravings and emotional eating, both of which can undo even the hardest exercise regime. Fortunately, there is a dietary supplement that can help you control your eating habits, enabling you to achieve your…
Michigan groups welcome more climate action from Biden
Conservation groups in Michigan are welcoming the Biden administration’s commitment to environmental protection. President Biden is expected to release more policies today aimed at tackling climate change and preserving public lands. Tim Minotas, legislative and political coordinator for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, felt the policies are crucial for the state, which continues to feel…
High Times has released more high-end weed in Michigan
High Times magazine is now in the business of not just writing about marijuana but selling it, too, launching its first cannabis products in Michigan last month. Now, it’s launching a new round of premium strains on Thursday, Jan. 28. Like last time, it’s a limited edition release. According to High Times, the first round…
Airplane mechanic pleads guilty in plot to kidnap Whitmer, turns on co-conspirators
A 25-year-old airplane mechanic from Hartland Township pleaded guilty Wednesday for his role in the alleged plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and has agreed to “fully cooperate” with prosecutors. Ty Garbin’s guilty plea marks the first conviction in the case. Garbin agreed to testify against the other five defendants charged in federal court as…
This fucking Panera bread glove is proof that science has gone too far
We get it. Times are hard for businesses big and small, and many are looking for creative and innovative ways to get customers in the door and hands on their product — or in the case of Panera Bread’s latest “what are we even doing?” nightmare, in their product. No, it’s not a business ploy…
Name of racist ex-Mayor Hubbard name removed from Dearborn ballroom
Former Dearborn Mayor Orville Hubbard was a notorious racist and segregationist who pledged to keep the city “lily white.” His name graces a street and buildings in the now-diverse Detroit suburb. On Tuesday, the Dearborn City Council voted to unanimously remove his name from one of the city’s buildings — the civic center ballroom. The…
Savage Love: The boyfriend experience
Sex-positive bi woman here. I’ve recommended your column to many people over the years to help them feel normal and human in their kinks, fantasies, sexuality, etc. But I’m having a more difficult time extending similar acceptance to myself. I was in a three-year relationship with a cis straight man. I recently moved across the…
Free Will Astrology (Jan. 27-Feb. 2)
ARIES: March 21 – April 19: In the 1950 film Harvey, James Stewart plays a middle-aged man named Elwood whose best friend is a tall invisible rabbit named Harvey. The relationship causes problems with the people in Elwood’s life. At one point, a psychiatrist tries to convince him to “struggle with reality.” Elwood replies, “I…
Congressional Republicans have only as much power as Democrats give them. Democrats should give them none.
Joe Biden hadn’t finished his first full day as president before Sean Hannity declared that he’d had a “disastrous first week.” This blunt-force stupidity is nothing new for Donald Trump’s lickspittle in chief, and not unexpected as Rupert Murdoch’s Pravda struggles to claw back viewers from the conspiracy loons at Newsmax and OANN. What’s interesting,…
This man and his daughter use magnets to clean debris — and the occasional guns — from the Detroit River
Eight-year-old Avery Vanderwal and her father Jason can often be found fishing alongside local waterways like the Rouge and Detroit Rivers. Dressed for the job in a sparkly unicorn coat, Avery uses all of her strength to throw an unusual looking fishing line into the water: a rope tied to a heavy-duty magnet. This isn’t…
