The Minajaissance is Upon Us

February 16, 2022

Calling all Barbz! Nicki is back – and she’s here to stay. The queen of rap climbed the charts last week with her new single, “Do We Have a Problem” featuring Lil Baby. Before even giving fans time to relish in the Nicki Minaj renaissance, the duo rejoined forces for their second surprise release, “Bussin.” According to the artist, these songs merely hint at “a lot more to come.”

Not only did the Queen make her musical comeback, but she also returned to the screen with a music video for “Do We Have a Problem.” Directed by Benny Boom, the nine-minute musical narrative doubles as a gritty-glam short film. Alongside actors Joseph Sikora and Cory Hardrict, Minaj and Lil Baby star as partners in crime who find themselves at the center of a modern Bonnie and Clyde-esque bank heist.

Text by Megan Hein
Photos courtesy of Republic Records

In between the money stacks and mobsters, Minaj sports a “Bussin” necklace towards the end of the video – hinting at the new song that would follow. With promises of more upcoming work, all we can do now is look out for any other Easter eggs alluding to the artist’s much-anticipated future releases.

Both songs are available to stream now. Check out the video for “Do We Have a Problem” below.

Music

Mercy Land Drops Their || control || Remix

March 06, 2026

Mercy Land just dropped their remix of Bodhi Landa's || control || and it's taking us on a dark dance medley. It all started in New Orleans where Laura Jinn and tantrum, both singer-producers, came together to churn out single after single. This remix taps into something distinctly American, the dark side of suburban upbringings and the counter-emotions it tends to lend itself to. It’s a song where isolation meets pounding bass and minds in crisis meet a the never-ending emptiness of the Texas Hill Country.

The band has big plans for 2026, bringing their dark yet bouncy sound to stages throughout the year. The collaboration takes the listener on a musical and visual journey symbolized through the feeling of a long, late-night drive in the middle of nowhere. Mixed by Davey Badiuk and mastered by Shawn Hatfield, || control || ; represents a new dimension of exploration in the duo’s dark house repertoire.

Check out the full visualizer below.

Photos Courtesy of Feature Bug Studios

Music

Angèle Returns

Angèle reflects: “I went to say hi in their dressing room after their show, which I’d loved. It was the first time we met, and we talked a lot about our careers and our creative visions. I spontaneously suggested they come to the studio. We spent an afternoon listening to the demos I’d been working on on my computer. I had this track, ‘What You Want,’ a slightly sultry, sensual, offbeat song I’d written. But since I wasn’t completely satisfied with it, I’d put it aside. I thought Justice could bring the electro-club expertise — and the tension — that were missing from that first version. After we met, I sent them the demo, and they came back with this version that I found absolutely brilliant. They understood everything! They brought a power to the track that the intention and balance had been missing. Bringing our worlds together without losing our identities — that’s the greatest success of this song!”

Justice’s Xavier de Rosnay and Gaspard Augé share: “Spending a bit of time with Angèle confirmed the intuition we had about her: she’s an excellent musician and producer. Making ‘What You Want’ with her felt as easy as it was natural. Although her music is different from ours, the track called for something sensual and brutal that we instinctively connected with, without compromise.”

(LA)HORDE adds: “We wondered how, after the Olympic buzz around her collaboration with Phoenix and Kavinsky, a woman of her generation could make the codes of the French Touch her own — a powerful artistic movement, but also a very male-dominated one. We found it incredibly exciting to support this meeting between the fathers of electro and Angèle’s own universe.”

Music

Igloofest: The Sub-Zero Dance Party We Didn't Know We Needed

February 12, 2026

I never thought I would be dancing at a music festival in -15 degrees, but there’s a first time for everything. This month, Igloofest invited office out to Montréal to experience the music festival in all its winter-time glory and I can say for certain I’ve never experienced anything like it. Usually when packing for a festival, people are searching the depths of their closet to find something that will keep them from burning up on the dancefloor — but for this one, you’re going to want to dust off your thermals.

Claiming the title of the coldest festival in the world, Igloofest has been bringing people together since its inaugural year in 2007. Eighteen years later and they have expanded the icy rave throughout Canada into Quebec, Gatineau, and Edmonton. Montréal is the epicenter and birthplace of it all — bringing top DJs like Disco Lines, Sofi Tukker, DJ Snake, and more to a city whose going-out scene is rich with good music and something for everyone. Ski clothes packed and copious amounts of layers on hand, we jumped on a quick 75-minute flight from New York, and off we went to Igloofestland.

Keep reading for the full recap below.

Words by Abby Dillingham
Photos by Abby Dillingham and Courtesy of Igloofest

When we touched down in Montréal’s Old Port, it was snowing hard as if the weather was prepping the quaint streets for the festivities to come. Over dinner in a rooftop igloo at Terrasse William Gray we were able to overlook the festival for the first time. The stage design and graphics popped even from a distance and we headed down to catch the end of Madeon's set.Upon walking in, you are greeted by a Liquid IV tent with “bartenders” handing out free products as well as shots on shots of the hangover-halting drink itself.

The main area is packed with bars and food trucks serving classic Canadian dishes like poutine (which we were told Montréalers make the best). When you’re facing some of the chilliest nights of the year, it’s important to stay well-fed (and well-hydrated, if you know what we mean). Tasha Prentice, the festival’s Brand Market Expansion Director shared her pride for the event with us saying, "Igloofest has prevailed in the industry because it’s deeply rooted in French Canadian culture and the way people here show up. There’s this instinct to gather and to celebrate together, even when conditions aren’t let's say... easy.” Despite the sub-zero temperatures, people are dedicated and down for nights go far into the early morning hours.

The ambition isn't to replicate the format to a T, but to create a cultural experience that takes place at a time of year when joy might be a little harder to find and that truly belongs the city it's in.

After a long night of dancing at the très chic Vino Disco, we headed to Bota Bota Spa the next morning for some much-needed relaxation and warmth. It seems like everyone who has been to Montreal has paid a visit to this legendary spot at some point. Complete with both indoor and outdoor areas—Bota Bota is home to all of the saunas, steam rooms, and pools you could need. It’s an especially unique experience to go during the colder winter months, when the steam radiates off the pools allowing guests to find a sense of oasis amidst the city. In honor of their 15th anniversary, they are adding a new vessel to their ever-expanding haven making room for more guests and opportunity for the coming years.

Night Two of the festival sported an epic all-female lineup on the main stage with performances by Nicole Moudaber and Mistress Barbara. Despite the weather leaning into the negatives, the crowds rolled in ready for the hard-hitting beats that the two techno powerhouses were set to provide. Prentice acknowledged the unique lively energy on the floor and how they hope to bring a version of it to other cities. She explained how, “that same strong spirit drives Igloofest's Canadian expansion. The ambition isn't to replicate the format to a T, but to create a cultural experience that takes place at a time of year when joy might be a little harder to find and that truly belongs the city it's in."

As the spectacle grows and adapts to each location it's important to maintain what she desribes as the, "playfulness of the crowd and the pride that comes with being stronger than the cold and the darkness at this time of year." There are some things that will stay the same no matter which iteration you end up at. Festival go-ers come dressed up in all sorts of snow-themed outfits, expressing themselves in a way that can feel more challenging when you're focused on bundling up. Whether they’re in a bedazzled ski mask or vintage apparel from the seventies — the attendees certainly find a way to make a statement. It’s only right that their mascot is a Yeti who runs around dancing with his fans.

There’s this instinct to gather and to celebrate together, even when conditions aren’t let's say... easy... and that's the energy we want to share as we make way into new like-minded provinces.

If we ever needed a change of pace, we headed over to the B-stage which had some standout performances throughout the night featuring up-and-coming DJ’S San Farina, Monib, and Siren Mars. Closing out the show with a surprise B2B, Moudaber and Mistress Barbara did not come to mess around. The night brought in techno-lovers from all over the city and beyond, solidifying the festival's mission to bring something for everyone. Each night, after some teeth-chattering hours outside, the party heads indoors. Official after-parties are hosted at clubs all throughout the city and we ended up at New City Gas for Maddix’s set. With the ravier crews under his sway, he kept the packed club in a trance and sealed the night with the most epic dance moment of the weekend.

For the last night of the weekend, Skull Machine, Nostalgix, and Kat2Kat graced the stage for just enough time to make their listeners forget about the fact that it was -15 degrees. Montrealer’s definitely don’t mess around when it comes to having a good time. They know that despite the cold, it’s important to go see the people you love and take advantage of all the city has to offer (even if you’re freezing while doing it).

After a weekend at one of the world’s most frigid dance parties, we left with the impression that this festival is far more than an excuse to get drunk in your ski goggles. While that part is definitely fun, we found the experience to be a central part of Montreal’s culture. Throughout our time there, everyone seemed to have a story about Igloofest. Our uber driver told us about a time he saw Tiesto play. Our concierge told us his plans to hopefully go this winter. Even at Bota Bota, the receptionist recalled how years back her sister met her husband there! Creating community and focusing on a set of shared values, Igloofest gives people a chance to come together and bring some celebration to the city… all in their signature French-Canadian style.