Latest news with #authenticity
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
I'm Italian - there is only one dried supermarket pasta I buy and you can find it at Woolworths
Italians have named the Australian supermarket pasta brand they swear by when they don't make it fresh - and it's one many often walk right past. When asked by a Sydneysider what brand Italians recommend at Woolworths, Coles or Aldi for those unable to make pasta at home, there was one that stood out from the pack. The 'golden' buy? La Molisana. Hundreds flooded a popular foodie forum to praise the brand and its 'authenticity' this week. It is sold at Woolworths, Harris Farm Markets, the odd deli and smaller Euro grocery stores. 'An Italian in Venice told me the secret. Buy the pasta with higher protein content. So, La Molisana with 14g protein/100g is the one and it's excellent,' one wrote. 'I'm second generation Australian-Italian if that still counts. La Molisana for dried pasta and Rana for fresh pasta,' another echoed. 'Can confirm - my Italian mother would only buy this when we were in Australia,' one more said. Others said the brand was 'easily the best', 'the most authentic' and led to the 'best starchy water' - especially the egg fettuccine. 'La Molisana egg fettuccine is hands down the nicest pasta I've had since I had it from scratch when I was a kid. Aussie born with Italian Dad here,' a local wrote. 'Australian-Italian, if we aren't making it, it's usually La Molisana. Go for something with high protein and a light yellow colour. The darker types haven't been air dried [for several] days.' La Molisana, owned by the Ferro family, has been in business for more than 100 years and boasts a pasta factory that is 'one of the highest in Italy' at 730m in the heart of Molise (Southern Italy). This, they claim, offers 'pristine pasta-making conditions with clean mountain air, fresh spring water and superior grain growing'. 'The techniques used by the Ferro family combine ancient practices with modern technology, maintaining the grain's original properties to create the perfect pasta,' they say. The company is the fifth largest pasta maker in Italy and they export to more than 80 countries. They also use high quality semolina flour - a must in most Italian cooking. At Woolworths, shoppers can shop a fairly wide range of options including spaghetti, linguine, penne, rigatoni, farfalle, fettuccine, pappardelle, fusilli, gnocchi and lasagne. There are also pesto and passata sauces. While La Molisana was the brand mentioned most, it wasn't the only supermarket offering recommended by Italians. At Coles, Cucina Matese was a go-to for many who described it as having a 'decent texture' and 'authentic'. Meanwhile at Aldi, shoppers recommended Armando pasta but said while it may be 'pretty decent', they only have rigatoni, fusilli and linguine available. Others recommended visiting a local delicatessen, as many provide imported and freshly made pasta that's 'miles better' than many of the supermarket options. A few more brands listed included Barilla, Remano, Woolies' Macro, Divella and Guzzi's. One more Australian-Italian summed up his go-to picks succinctly, with hundreds agreeing with his recap. 'Barilla if you need to buy cheap [and] en masse, La Molisana for the closest thing to real (dry) pasta and Rana for tortellini or ravioli,' he said. Bellissimo!
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
You'll Be Alright, Kid by Alex Warren: expressive, exhaustive, angsty man-croon
You'll Be Alright, Kid Artist : Alex Warren Label : Atlantic Alex Warren feels like the culmination of several trends in music. The 24-year-old Californian – best known for his blockbusting power ballad Ordinary – sings in a husky, over-emoted folk-pop style de rigueur among male singers who wish to communicate authenticity while also moving units by the freight-load – think Noah Kahan or Rag'n'Bone Man . These artists have conjured a specific modus of plaid-shirt corporate pop – the backwoods as the main stage, the campfire as the spotlight, sincerity as commodity. Yet for all these commercial trappings Warren's life has been marked with real tragedy. His father died of cancer when Warren was nine, while his mother was an abusive alcoholic who threw her son out of the house when he was 18 before she passed away four years ago. That's a lot of heartache, and he channels it effectively across a sprawling double album marked by a pain that glimmers through the playlist-friendly production. The other component of Warren's success is that he gained internet fame before achieving significant musical success. By the time his mother showed him the door, he had already built an online following courtesy of prank videos with titles such as 'Well that was embarrassing', which saw him amass two million YouTube subscribers. It also primed him for a new level of celebrity when TikTok came along. He duly achieved it when co-founding content creators' collective, Hype-House (with other members including soon-to-be-huge Addison Rae) – which, in turn, spawned a Netflix spin-off. A background like that suggests an artist hungry for overnight fame and willing to do anything to get in. But You'll Be Alright, Kid defies his billing as a TikTok urchin who has blagged his way into a music career. Heavy with angst, burnished with melodrama and propelled by a Hozier/Noah Kahan/Rag'n'Bone man-croon, it's expressive and exhaustive – a blizzard of woe that now and then cuts through the sheen and communicates genuine spiritual turmoil. READ MORE If there's a weakness, it's that the songs often feel like a singular idea revisited from different angles. Warren's vocals stay in the same register, and the tracks all take a more-or-less identical trajectory, where the angst builds and builds and then a dam bursts. In terms of lyrics, he wears his heart on his cuffs, with a storyteller's flair for melodrama and a hint of religious fervour (he is a practising Catholic, and his fan base is fixated by the degree to which his faith informs his writing). The Outside tells the tale of a young person seeking fame only to discover that it is a fruitless chase that leaves you hollowed out inside. 'She moved away when she turned eighteen/In search of home, didn't know what that means,' he sings. 'She thought she'd find it somewhere on the big screen ... Hollywood wasn't all that she thought.' His talent for big moments is showcased throughout the 21-track LP. Typical of that strategy is On My Mind, a Coldplay-esque ballad with backing vocals from Blackpink's Rosé (fresh from her internet slaying get-together with Bruno Mars, APT). [ New Irish albums reviewed: Sons of Southern Ulster, Poor Creature, Darragh Morgan, The Swell Season and California Irish Opens in new window ] There are occasional tweaks to the formula. Bloodline – a collaboration with country rapper Jelly Roll – has the stomping energy of a 16-wheeler with an overheated carburetor. Elsewhere, Troubled Waters lands like a barn dance restaged for the Grammys, while Chasing Shadows is sprinkled with minimal guitar. Warren's mentors have included Ed Sheeran , who has guested with him on live performances of the inescapable Ordinary. However, if he lacks something, it is Sheeran's everyman pop chops. You'll Be Alright, Kid is an agreeably portentous album. But it cries out for a lightness of touch – a sprinkling of pop stardust amid the bombast. It marks Warren as quite the paradox. Behold, the TikTok star who needs to learn how to play to the gallery.
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
American Dirt author, Jeanine Cummins, returns with a magnificent tale of family, love and loyalty
Speak to Me of Home Author : Jeanine Cummins ISBN-13 : 9781472288806 Publisher : Tinder Press Guideline Price : £20 The once venerable industry of publishing has not covered itself in glory in recent years with many writers finding their reputations tarnished or careers destroyed by activists who place ideology over art. Jeanine Cummins was one of the most high-profile victims of these witch-hunts when her novel, American Dirt , was published in 2020. Following the journey of a Mexican woman fleeing to the United States in fear of her life, the book was initially lauded before questions were raised about its authenticity. In one of the worst examples of literary bullying I've ever witnessed, 142 writers signed a letter to Oprah Winfrey demanding its removal from her book club, while making it fawningly clear they did not blame the host and still held her in the highest possible regard. A weaker person might not have survived such a public mauling, but Cummins is clearly made of strong stuff and returns in triumph with her fourth novel, Speak to Me of Home, whose central character's name – Rafaela Acuña y Daubón – will doubtless infuriate the scolds. READ MORE Set across three generations of a Puerto Rican family, the novel opens with a storm that leads to 22-year-old Daisy being knocked off her bicycle and landing in hospital in a coma. From here, we explore the two maternal figures that preceded her: her mother Ruth and her grandmother Rafaela. [ American Dirt author Jeanine Cummins' book tour cancelled after threats Opens in new window ] Much of the novel is constructed around women either leaving, missing or returning to Puerto Rico. Rafaela is the first to be exiled, when a financial scandal leaves her family no longer able to afford their privileged lifestyle. At home she had fallen for their maid's son, Candido, but in her new life she chooses a clean-cut Irish-American, leading to a marriage with its share of troubles, not least because of an unforgivable act this otherwise decent man commits at a country club. Mirroring this, Ruth, their eldest daughter, eventually finds herself also choosing between two suitors and wondering whether she made the right choice. As the second generation is mixed-race, there's a constant sense of being outsiders. Rafaela experiences racism when she arrives in the US because she's not white enough while, ironically, 20 years later, Ruth is effectively rejected from a Puerto Rican society in college because she's too white. Racial purity, it seems, matters to everyone, no matter which side of the divide you're on. This is a novel rich with story and family history. A genealogy map at the start is unnecessary as Cummins creates such singular identities that one never forgets who's who. Added to that is her skill at character development. Rafaela is likeable when she's young, becomes a virago in adulthood, and is a total hoot in old age, playing video games, going on dates and making inappropriate remarks. She's a deliberate antecedent to her grandson Carlos, the sort of gay teen who listens to the conversation around him but remains silent, before offering a hilarious remark that reduces everyone to laughter. [ American Dirt author Jeanine Cummins: 'I felt like the entire world was against me but I knew I would emerge' Opens in new window ] Loyalty and love are important throughout. Family members might snap or argue, but there's no doubting they would throw themselves in front of a train for each other, even those from whom they've long been divorced, which is why the storm that prevents them from immediately gathering by Daisy's bedside is so hard for them to bear. There's a line at the end of Stephen Frears' movie The Queen, where Elizabeth II, still bristling from her treatment during that fateful week in 1997, tells her prime minister: 'You saw all those headlines and you thought, one day this might happen to me. And it will, Mr Blair. Quite suddenly and without warning.' He stares at her in utter disbelief, convinced a person as virtuous as he could never meet such a fate. And look how that turned out. Should the 142 people who signed that reprehensible letter to Oprah read this novel, they might recognise Cummins's skill and empathy, and reflect upon the late queen's imagined words when they next fire arrows in the direction of a fellow writer. After all, if their moment of literary opprobrium ever comes – and it will, quite suddenly and without warning – they might hope their peers would rise to their defence instead of seeing a colleague's distress as an opportunity to express their moral superiority. I don't know whether Cummins is from Puerto Rico, has ever visited Puerto Rico, or could even pick out Puerto Rico on a map. Nor do I care. She's a novelist, a job that involves using one's imagination to invent lives different from one's own, and making the reader believe in and care about them. She achieves that goal magnificently here.
Forbes
5 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Finance Has A Voice: Why CFOs Belong At The Brand Table
Andrew Collis is Chief Financial Officer at Moneypenny, a seasoned CFO who is passionate about people and technology. The expectations placed on business have changed dramatically. Authenticity, trust and transparency are expected and not optional. And with that shift comes a new challenge and opportunity for chief financial officers (CFOs): to step beyond traditional finance roles and actively help shape the identity and reputation of their organizations. The days of finance being confined to spreadsheets and quarterly forecasts are over. Today, CFOs need a seat at the brand table, not just to sign off on marketing budgets but to ensure that the financial decisions that are made across the business reflect and reinforce the company's values, vision and public promises. As leaders, we know that brand is more than marketing. It's the lived reality of how a business operates, and that includes how it allocates resources, invests in people, supports sustainability and communicates risk. As a CFO, I see the financial decisions we make as external signal markers of our identity, integrity and intent. Historically, brand was the domain of marketing and communications, the territory of logos, tone of voice and campaign messaging. But the world has changed. Today's clients, consumers and employees are deeply values-driven. They're scrutinizing every element of how businesses behave, and that includes how and where they spend their money. Take sustainability as an example. It's not enough for companies to make vague pledges or plant a tree here and there. People want to see meaningful, measurable investment. At my company, our headquarters in Wrexham were built with sustainability in mind. From solar panels to rainwater harvesting systems and EV chargers, the physical footprint of our business reflects our values. But none of that would have happened without financial leadership actively championing long-term value over short-term cost savings. Or consider the growing emphasis on employee well-being. It's easy to talk about being a people-first business, but real credibility comes when that claim is backed by financial commitment. We've invested in a world-class working environment including an on-site pub, treehouse meeting rooms and dedicated well-being spaces. This is because we believe that not only is it the right thing to do but also that happy people do better work. That belief is now part of our employer brand, attracting top people and increasing retention. Once again, finance and listening to what our people wanted in their office (our founders asked every member of the team what they would like in the office and put this into the blueprint) played a key role in turning a value into a tangible reality. Financial transparency builds trust. As companies come under increasing pressure to prove that they're doing the right thing environmentally, socially and ethically, the finance function becomes a cornerstone of brand trust. Financial transparency isn't just a regulatory requirement. It's a reputational necessity. Investors and stakeholders want to see alignment between what a business says and what it does. If you claim to care about diversity, does your recruitment and leadership support that? Ultimately, it's about putting your money where your mission is—and that starts with clear, consistent reporting. This is particularly vital when it comes to environmental, social and governance (ESG) metrics. Too many businesses still treat ESG as a bolt-on, reporting it in a separate document that never quite ties back to the core strategy. But ESG is financial and the right thing to do for our employees, customers and the environment. Whether it's the cost of carbon-saving initiatives, the return on investment (ROI) of mental health programs, organizing blood donation banks in partnership with local hospitals or the risks associated with supply chain ethics, these commitments all show up in the numbers, and they shape brand perception. Move from scorekeeper to strategic storyteller. The CFO of the past was the gatekeeper, focused on managing cost, controlling risk and ensuring compliance. But today's CFO must be a storyteller too—not in the sense of crafting slogans, but in helping to shape the narrative of the business through smart, strategic financial decisions. That means collaborating closely with marketing, operations, your people and across the whole business. It also means embracing a more proactive role in brand strategy, asking: 'Does this investment reflect who we are?' or 'Will this initiative reinforce the trust we've built with our stakeholders?' This shift is happening across industries, as businesses increasingly recognize that how they spend, invest and report is just as important as what they say. Decisions around sustainability, well-being, innovation or community support all carry a brand message, and the CFO plays a crucial role in ensuring that message is consistent, credible and financially sound. The CFO's responsibility is not just to approve budgets but to help shape the financial narrative that sits behind every major initiative. It's about ensuring capital is allocated in a way that supports long-term value creation while aligning with the expectations of investors, communities and employees alike. The brand table is expanding. Business is becoming more interconnected, and so are business functions. The brand table is where real decisions are made about the future of the company, and finance must be part of that conversation. As CFOs, we bring a unique perspective: We understand trade-offs, we forecast risk, and we drive accountability. But we also have a responsibility to ensure that the financial engine of the business is fueling a brand that people believe in: a brand that's credible, consistent and capable of earning long-term trust. It's not about changing the fundamentals of the CFO role but about recognizing its wider influence and using that to support a consistent, credible brand. The information provided here is not investment, tax or financial advice. You should consult with a licensed professional for advice concerning your specific situation. Forbes Finance Council is an invitation-only organization for executives in successful accounting, financial planning and wealth management firms. Do I qualify?
The Guardian
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
An AI-generated band got 1m plays on Spotify. Now music insiders say listeners should be warned
They went viral, amassing more than 1m streams on Spotify in a matter of weeks, but it later emerged that hot new band the Velvet Sundown were AI-generated – right down to their music, promotional images and backstory. The episode has triggered a debate about authenticity, with music industry insiders saying streaming sites should be legally obliged to tag music created by AI-generated acts so consumers can make informed decisions about what they are listening to. Initially, the 'band', described as 'a synthetic music project guided by human creative direction', denied they were an AI creation, and released two albums in June called Floating On Echoes and Dust And Silence, which were similar to the country folk of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Things became more complicated when someone describing himself as an 'adjunct' member told reporters that the Velvet Sundown had used the generative AI platform Suno in the creation of their songs, and that the project was an 'art hoax'. The band's official social media channels denied this and said the group's identity was being 'hijacked', before releasing a statement confirming that the group was an AI creation and was 'Not quite human. Not quite machine' but living 'somewhere in between'. Several figures told the Guardian that the present situation, where streaming sites, including Spotify, are under no legal obligation to identify AI-generated music, left consumers unaware of the origins of the songs they're listening to. Roberto Neri, the chief executive of the Ivors Academy, said: 'AI-generated bands like Velvet Sundown that are reaching big audiences without involving human creators raise serious concerns around transparency, authorship and consent.' Neri added that if 'used ethically', AI has the potential to enhance songwriting, but said at present his organisation was concerned with what he called 'deeply troubling issues' with the use of AI in music. Sophie Jones, the chief strategy officer at the music trade body the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), backed calls for clear labelling. 'We believe that AI should be used to serve human creativity, not supplant it,' said Jones. 'That's why we're calling on the UK government to protect copyright and introduce new transparency obligations for AI companies so that music rights can be licensed and enforced, as well as calling for the clear labelling of content solely generated by AI.' Liz Pelly, the author of Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist, said independent artists could be exploited by people behind AI bands who might create tracks that are trained using their music. She referred to the 2023 case of a song that was uploaded to TikTok, Spotify and YouTube, which used AI-generated vocals claiming to be the Weeknd and Drake. Universal Music Group said the song was 'infringing content created with generative AI' and it was removed shortly after it was uploaded. It is not clear what music the Velvet Sundown's albums were trained on, with critics saying that lack of clarity means independent artists could be losing out on compensation. Pelly said: 'We need to make sure that it's not just pop stars whose interests are being looked after, all artists should have the ability to know if their work has been exploited in this way.' For some, the appearance of the Velvet Sundown is the logical next step as music and AI combine, while legislation is fighting to keep up with a rapidly changing musical ecosystem. Sign up to Sleeve Notes Get music news, bold reviews and unexpected extras. Every genre, every era, every week after newsletter promotion Jones said: 'The rise of AI-generated bands and music entering the market points to the fact that tech companies have been training AI models using creative works – largely without authorisation or payment to creators and rights-holders – in order to directly compete with human artistry.' Neri added that the UK has a chance to lead the world in ethical AI adoption in music but said there needed to be robust legal frameworks that 'guarantee consent and fair remuneration for creators, and clear labelling for listeners'. 'Without such safeguards, AI risks repeating the same mistakes seen in streaming, where big tech profits while music creators are left behind,' he added. Aurélien Hérault, the chief innovation officer at the music streaming service Deezer, said the company uses detection software that identifies AI-generated tracks and tags them. He said: 'For the moment, I think platforms need to be transparent and try to inform users. For a period of time, what I call the 'naturalisation of AI', we need to inform users when it's used or not.' Hérault did not rule out removing tagging in future if AI-generated music becomes more popular and musicians begin to use it like an 'instrument'. Deezer recently told the Guardian that up to seven out of 10 streams of AI-generated music on the platform are fraudulent. At present, Spotify does not label music as AI-generated and has previously been criticised for populating some playlists with music by 'ghost artists' – fake acts that create stock music. A spokesperson for the company said Spotify does not prioritise AI-generated music. 'All music on Spotify, including AI-generated music, is created, owned and uploaded by licensed third parties,' they said.
