Do earworms multiply in stressful times? Maybe those songs you can't get out of your head are a soundtrack to the apocalypse
This was a bad week for those who suffer from earworms.
Kendrick Lamar was nominated for 10 American Music Awards? 'Not Like Us' is now stuck in many heads. YouTube turned 20 this week? 'Gangnam Style' is now stuck in many heads. Monday is election day? 'Livin' on a Prayer' is now stuck in many heads.
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Toronto Star
3 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Kendrick Lamar performs in Toronto for first time since explosive Drake feud. Here's everything to know
For over a year, Canadians have watched with anxiety as a brazen figure from south of the border, unconcerned with decorum, steadily gained momentum and trampled timid expressions of resistance. This figure is, of course, Kendrick Lamar — the Compton hip hop superstar with 21 Grammy wins and a Pulitzer — who handily vanquished hometown hero Drake in the most high-profile rap feud of the century last summer. The beef sparked a series of diss tracks, tested famous friendships and culminated with Lamar performing his chart-topping 'Not Like Us' at the Super Bowl.
CBC
a day ago
- CBC
Teddy Swims was terrified to shift from covers to his own songs
You might know Teddy Swims as the Grammy-nominated artist behind the megahit Lose Control, which was the No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2024. Later this month, Swims will release the complete edition of his two-part debut album, I've Tried Everything But Therapy, which has already turned him into a global superstar. But despite his success, Swims hasn't always been confident about writing original music because he got his start performing cover songs on YouTube. On June 25, 2019, he uploaded his first video: a cover of Michael Jackson's Rock with You. "It was 10 years from Michael Jackson's passing," Swims recalls in an interview with Q 's Tom Power. "I was just like, 'Let's just upload it and let's sing it and put it up and see what happens.' And then sure enough, like overnight, it had 10,000 views…. I was in bands at the time, so we were writing all the time … but I didn't expect [cover songs] to be the thing that connected." WATCH | Teddy Swims's full interview with Tom Power: After the success of his first video, Swims gave himself six months to make it in the music business by spending all of his free time recording more YouTube covers. In October of 2019, he uploaded a tender and powerful cover of You're Still The One by Shania Twain, which went massively viral and ultimately landed him a record deal. Today, the video has more than 200 million views on YouTube. "Me and Luke, my manager, I remember our first trips to L.A. and New York and we're meeting with everyone," Swims tells Power. "We would never take flights or hotel rooms from them … because we wanted to convince them that, 'Oh, we got this amazing YouTube business … so we don't need any of you.' But this whole time, we're going to L.A. and we're sleeping on the floor of Luke's sister's house and we're really roughing it." WATCH | Teddy Swims - You're Still The One (Shania Twain Cover): Swims is now famous for writing soulful anthems about his personal experiences with toxic relationships and healing. But he says the transition to writing his own music felt "terrifying" because he was constantly comparing his songs to some of the greatest songs ever written. That's the most relatable thing — the thing that you think only you are going through. - Teddy Swims "I can see why so many people get stuck in a cover world where they never break out," he says. "It tore me up to be like, 'How the hell am I ever going to write a [ You're ] Still the One?'" The other challenge was that Swims didn't know at first how to write an authentic song that his fans could connect to in the same way as they did with his cover songs. "It turns out when you're trying to write something to be relatable, that is so not the relatable thing," he says. "I find that if you write things so, so super-ly specific about you, that's the most relatable thing — the thing that you think only you are going through, because it turns out everybody's going through the same damn thing." I've Tried Everything But Therapy (Complete Edition) is out everywhere on June 27.
Global News
a day ago
- Global News
Susan Yara: From newsrooms to skincare stardom – how one journalist built a beauty empire
The Curator independently decides what topics and products we feature. When you purchase an item through our links, we may earn a commission. Promotions and products are subject to availability and retailer terms. When Susan Yara speaks, there's a sense of clarity and purpose that feels earned – honed through years in front of the camera, behind the scenes and in the fast-paced world of beauty entrepreneurship. From broadcast journalism to founding the skincare brand Naturium, Yara's career reflects a rare mix of reinvention, intuition and grit. Today, she's one of the most influential voices in beauty, but her journey started in the world of hard news. From News to Digital Media Pioneer Yara began her career believing she'd be a traditional news reporter. After graduating, she landed her first role in New York City covering local news. But the rigid structure of hard news didn't quite fit. 'It just wasn't exactly what I liked,' she recalls. That realization led her to pivot into lifestyle journalism, landing at Forbes at a pivotal time – right as the publication was beginning its digital transformation. Story continues below advertisement Being part of Forbes' early push into dot-com media gave her a front-row seat to the evolving nature of content. From there, she went on to help build digital platforms for People, PopSugar and NewBeauty. The experience eventually inspired her to start her own venture: Mixed Makeup, a YouTube channel aimed at skincare and cosmetic education. Becoming the Brand When Yara first started Mixed Makeup, she approached it like a magazine. 'I wasn't thinking of myself as an influencer,' she explains. She focused on high-quality content, often featuring multiple people and treating herself more as a journalist than the face of the brand. But as influencer culture evolved, so did her strategy. Viewers wanted personality, relatability and consistency – and that meant more of her. 'At some point it really shifted where I became the personality,' Yara says. That personal branding move would eventually fuel her success – not only as a creator but also as a founder. Building Naturium Years of studying skin and beauty through content – and listening closely to her audience – led to a realization: there was a gap in the skincare market. High-performance products were either overpriced or under-delivering. People, including her own mother, were hesitant to use luxury skincare regularly for fear of 'wasting' it. Story continues below advertisement So she launched Naturium, a line of science-backed skincare products designed to be effective yet affordable. 'The only time you really see results with your skin is if you're consistent,' she explains. 'And to be consistent, you need products that you can afford to actually use.' More from The Curator Inside Bubble Skincare: Shai Eisenman's mission to make high-quality beauty affordable Her strategy was smart, data-driven and deeply rooted in community insight. Unlike brands that spend heavily on packaging and marketing, Yara poured 80% of Naturium's budget into the formulas. The goal? Deliver clinical-level skincare that people could trust – and afford. In 2022, Naturium was acquired by e.l.f. Beauty, a move that gave the brand global distribution power. 'We needed the power of a bigger company,' Yara says, pointing to the logistical challenges of scaling an indie brand. With Naturium now in major retailers like Shoppers Drug Mart and Amazon, the acquisition has only amplified what Yara and her team started. Despite the sale, she remains actively involved. 'They wanted us to stay on board and do exactly what we're doing – just with their help,' she says. The partnership has allowed her to keep building the brand's identity while expanding its reach. Marketing with Authenticity As someone with deep roots in digital strategy, Yara is refreshingly non-gimmicky when it comes to marketing. Naturium doesn't rely on flashy influencer campaigns; instead, it focuses on authentic word-of-mouth. 'We like to find people who naturally talk about the product,' she explains. Her team prioritizes micro-influencers, real customers and genuine reviews – often turning passionate user testimonials into paid ads. Story continues below advertisement This approach mirrors her own standards as a creator. 'I always needed to try a product and develop a real opinion before I could ever do a sponsorship,' she says. Breaking Beauty Myths One of Yara's biggest missions has been education. She challenges the idea that expensive skincare is inherently better and debunks misleading claims around 'medical grade' labels. Her content emphasizes consistency over quick fixes and ingredient efficacy over brand prestige. 'The truth is, skincare is just a cosmetic,' she says. 'It's not a prescription. You have to use it every day for at least six weeks before you see real results.' Finding Fulfillment in Impact Despite her high-profile career, Yara remains grounded by one simple reward: helping people. 'Almost every time I leave the house, someone tells me I helped change their skin,' she says. For Yara, that's the most fulfilling part of the job. Advice for Aspiring Creators and Entrepreneurs When asked for advice, Yara gets personal. 'People talk a lot about imposter syndrome, but if you're working hard, you deserve to be here,' she says. Her philosophy? Build relationships, embrace community over competition and trust your instincts. 'Nobody's success has ever stopped my success,' she adds. 'The more I support people, the more they support me.' Story continues below advertisement From a newsroom rookie to the founder of one of skincare's most buzzed-about brands, Susan Yara's journey is a testament to the power of evolution, connection and showing up – consistently. Just like great skincare. What is Susan Currently Loving? The Perfector Salicylic Acid Body Wash Say hello to The Perfector Salicylic Acid Body Wash – your new bestie for smooth, happy skin! It gently smooths away pesky bumps, tackles those stubborn ingrown hairs and evens out your skin tone, especially on your back and arms. Yara swears by starting her routine with this little wonder to keep problem areas in check. $18.69 at Shoppers Drug Mart (was $21.99) Glow Getter Multi-Oil Hydrating Body Wash After The Perfector, treat your skin to Natruium Glow Getter Multi-Oil Hydrating Body Wash for a burst of hydration and a radiant glow. It leaves skin nourished and perfectly prepped for lotion. $36.64 on Amazon Story continues below advertisement Naturium Vitamin C Complex Face Serum Yara applies the Naturium Vitamin C Complex Face Serum almost every morning and has been obsessed with it for ages! It's her must-have for brightening her skin and keeping it protected all day. $33.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart Naturium Multi-Peptide Advanced Serum She also uses the Naturium Multi-Peptide Advanced Serum every morning for its anti-aging and hydrating powers. Packed with peptides that act as humectants, it plumps her skin and keeps it beautifully hydrated all day. $39.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart Story continues below advertisement Laneige Cream Skin Refillable Toner & Moisturizer The Laneige Cream Skin Refillable Toner & Moisturizer melts like milk into the skin, combining the refreshing lightness of a toner with the lasting hydration of a cream. Yara uses this as a gentle, hydrating toner for her dry, sensitive while traveling because it's watery, milky and easy to absorb. $48.5 on Amazon Milk Makeup Matte Cream Bronzer Stick The Milk Makeup Matte Cream Bonzer Stick is her favorite bronzing stick is one of her staples. Creamy, blendable, and perfect for that sun-kissed, just-back-from-vacation vibe. $33.00 at Sephora Huda Beauty Easy Bake Blurring Loose Baking & Setting Powder The Huda Beauty Easy Bake Blurring Loose Baking & Setting Powder sets makeup beautifully without settling into fine lines – perfect for mature skin. $53.00 at Sephora Story continues below advertisement Naturium Phyto-Glow Lip Balm - Latte Naturium's Phyto-Glow Lip Balm is the perfect swipe of juicy hydration and glow – cushiony, nourishing and just the right amount of shine for everyday radiance. $14.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo Yara loves this duo for its neutral pink undertone and high-quality finish. Creamy on one side, silky on the other, for the perfect pop of colour that lasts all day. $53.00 at Sephora Make Up For Ever Super Boost Lightweight Moisturizing Skin Tint with Hyaluronic and Polyglutamic Acids Can't forget a good skin tint! Make Up For Ever's Super Boost Lightweight Moisturizing Skin Tint does it all – blending the glow of makeup with the care of skincare. Infused with hyaluronic and polyglutamic acids, it hydrates, smooths and plumps while giving lightweight coverage for a natural, your-skin-but-better finish. $49.00 at Shoppers Drug Mart Story continues below advertisement You may also like: Tatcha The Brightening Serum – $125.00 Quantum Mud Mask – $65.99 Dermalogica Discover Healthy Skin Kit – $59.00 Rhode Pocket Blush – $24.00 Tatcha The Serum Stick – $64.00 Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Oil – $26.99
