Vans Announces Anderson .Paak as Global Music Ambassador and Debuts Exclusive Footwear and Accessories Collaboration (11.13.20)

Oct 8 20 under Bands, Collaborations | Comments Off on Vans Announces Anderson .Paak as Global Music Ambassador and Debuts Exclusive Footwear and Accessories Collaboration (11.13.20)

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Vans, the original action sports brand and advocate for creative expression, is proud to announce three-time Grammy award-winning artist, musician and producer Anderson .Paak as the brand’s first Global Music Ambassador. Vans and AP share a mutual passion to promote creative expression through their active support of art and music. AP is longtime fan of the brand and always aspires to uplift the community around him, making him a natural addition to the Vans family. Having once worked at a Vans retail store in Topanga Canyon, California, AP has since gone on to perform live on the House of Vans stage and is featured as part of Vans’ global music content series, Sidestripe Sessions. This year, AP will serve as one of the global judges for the brand’s Vans Musicians Wanted competition, which aims to provide a platform for aspiring artists all around the world.

“I’m honored to be the newest member of the Vans Family and look forward to making history with one of the most respected global brands,” said Anderson .Paak. “I’m thankful for Vans’ partnership with .Paak House and can’t wait to broaden our reach to help even more people tap into their greatest potential.”

“We are inspired by AP’s multifaceted creative talent and are excited to continue to partner with him throughout the next year for curated music and art initiatives, product design and enabling creativity within the local community and around the world,” said Tierney Stout, global music marketing lead at Vans. “Anderson epitomizes creative expression and we are thrilled to officially welcome him into the Vans Family.”

The forthcoming partnership is celebrated with an exclusive footwear and accessories collection inspired by AP’s Southern California roots and his critically acclaimed breakthrough albums Venice and Malibu. The two-piece footwear assortment headlines with the ubiquitous Old Skool DX silhouette inspired by AP’s debut album, Venice which features a wavy, psychedelic upper that mixes digital print and 3D printing for added depth and texture and is finished with bold yellow eyelets and a translucent blue vinyl Sidestripe. The Sid DX pays homage to AP’s 2016 album, Malibu and showcases embroidered chenille pattern uppers complimented by tonal black laces and stitching and features a Flying-V logo embroidered at each side. Each footwear model is finished with a custom tongue label message from AP along with translucent green waffle soles, custom packaging and dust bag matching back to the collection. The Vans x Anderson .Paak collection includes a matching AP Bucket Hat that showcases each of the custom prints, silicon patches and signature quotes affixed to the brim of each hat. The Vans x Anderson .Paak collection will be available worldwide on November 13 and will retail for $40 – $110 USD.

Aligning with the launch, AP has released his latest single, “JEWELZ” today via APE SHIT exclusively distributed by 12Tone, LLC with an animated music video featuring caricatures of AP and his son, Soul “Khlex” Rasheed in a satirical take on their real life relationship. Decked out in exclusive Vans x Anderson .Paak footwear, the father-son duo battle it out in the feel good dance video directed by Anderson .Paak and Ali Graham.

Join Vans as we officially welcome Anderson .Paak to the Vans Family. The Vans x Anderson .Paak collection will be available worldwide beginning November 13 at Vans retail locations, online at Vans.com and select retail partners where Vans are sold, including Foot Locker, instore and online at Footlocker.com. For more information, please visit Vans.com/andersonpaak.

#VansxAP

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Vans Sidestripe Sessions: D Smoke

Sep 28 20 under Bands, Videos | Comments Off on Vans Sidestripe Sessions: D Smoke

This week’s session features music by Southern California musician, D Smoke performing “No Commas” and “Top of the Morning” accompanied by art by Tony Whlgn.

Hip Hop artist D Smoke, aka Daniel Anthony Farris, is the breakout star from the Netflix music competition show, Rhythm & Flow. As a vocalist, pianist, writer, and producer, D Smoke stood out among the pack because of his undeniable passion and meticulously crafted rhymes.

Growing up in a musical family in Inglewood, CA, it’s no surprise his music carries an authentic story alongside compelling production and beats. His words are often contemplative and aware.

In 2019, with the exposure of being named the winner of Rhythm & Flow, D Smoke released his EP Inglewood High and later in February of 2020 dropped his first studio album, Black Habits. The record is his life story and a “celebration of blackness”. He broke it down by saying, “I’m really collecting the best parts of my past and trying to build on those. Take people through somewhat of a history. A journey with me through my experiences.”

Watch Rhythm + Flow on Netflix and listen to D Smoke on the Vans Spotify Sidestripe Sessions Playlist: https://bit.ly/VansSpotifySidestripe

Art in this episode is created by Tony Whlgn, a multi-disciplined artist born and raised on the Eastside of Detroit. He has created art for various music albums, global fashion brands and countless murals found throughout his hometown, Detroit, where he currently lives and works. As a way to reinvest and provide the necessary learning tools for young creatives in his community, Tony and friends’ formed Whlgn®, a holistic think tank of collective creative entrepreneur studios.

Tony’s art is an imitation of his life and reflection of those he has encountered; people & experience teach us who we are. Through natural self-expression, his art should inspire engagement with self-knowledge and knowledge of the whole world, which, in a sense, is Self. Oneself. Whlgn®. TONEy.

Music Credits: “No Commas” “Top of the Morning”

Vans Musicians Wanted Campaign

Sep 28 20 under Bands, Contests, House of Vans, NEWS | Comments Off on Vans Musicians Wanted Campaign

Vans Launches ‘Musicians Wanted’ Global Music Competition to Spotlight Undiscovered Artists and Award the Chance to Share The Stage with Celebrated Musician Anderson .Paak

 Digital Music Competition is Open to Artists of All Genres Globally;

Finalists Will Earn Vans Product, Fender Gear, Spotify Playlisting and More!

 Submit Original Music Now at Vans.com/MusiciansWanted

 Vans, the original action sports brand and global icon for creative self-expression is proud to launch the Vans Musicians Wanted competition globally for the first time since its inception in 2015. Vans Musicians Wanted is the brand’s global music program that aims to provide a platform for musicians who are just starting out. The contest series will celebrate fresh, new and “Off The Wall” talent from all genres. For its 2020 global debut, each region around the world will provide undiscovered artists the chance to gain international exposure and the opportunity to share the stage with Grammy award-winning artist, Anderson .Paak. Additional prizes include Vans product, Fender gear, global music distribution, Spotify and Apple Music playlisting and more! 

Originally created by Vans’ Asia-Pacific region in 2015, the Vans Musicians Wanted competition began as a program to directly enable local, undiscovered musicians to submit their original music and be discovered on a national scale. With more than 7,000 artists that have entered the program since its inception, Vans is proud to launch the program globally to welcome artists from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, Europe and Asia-Pacific regions for a chance to share their original music with the world. Artists can submit their original music now through October 11 on Vans.com/MusiciansWanted. 

Vans evolves the 2020 global platform into competition series that is truly digital and open to all musicians and genres of music. The brand continues to curate and build experiences that are optimized for digital; allowing promising talent anywhere the opportunity to participate through digital submission of music and virtual concerts on a global scale. 

Featuring special guest judges as part of the selection process, Vans Musicians Wanted welcomes J.I.D and Bohan Phoenix, artists featured in the Vans latest brand campaign, ‘THIS IS OFF THE WALL’, European based singer-songwriter Nilüfer Yanya, and Grammy award-winning artist, Anderson .Paak to review the top-5 artists from each region. Three artists will be chosen to perform at the Vans Musicians Wanted Virtual Concert, to be held this December. One grand prize winner will be selected to receive Vans product, Fender Gear, global music distribution, Spotify and Apple Music playlisting and the opportunity to share the stage with Anderson .Paak as the opening act in 2021.

Vans’ Musicians Wanted competition is an inclusive global platform that enables creative self-expression through music and provides a direct path for undiscovered artists to step into the limelight and gain global exposure. To enter your original music now and read official contest rules, please visit Vans.com/musicianswanted.

Vans Hosts Virtual Grad Night For Class of 2020

Jun 22 20 under Bands, Events, Heritage, History, NEWS, Videos | Comments Off on Vans Hosts Virtual Grad Night For Class of 2020

Words via Vans:

“As the graduating Class of 2020 celebrates this important milestone, Vans will be hosting a special virtual grad night on Friday, June 26 at 6pm PST as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.

While circumstances have made students and families celebrate at home, Vans hopes to inspire the graduating Class of 2020 to continue to be changemakers now and into the future. Vans is dedicated to enabling self-expression and creativity among the youth by creating an inclusive community focused on supporting one another and recognizing the global connection between action sports, art, music and street culture.

Virtual grad night speakers such as Steve Van Doren, son of Vans founder Paul Van Doren, Tony Hawk, Ray Barbee, Sami Miro and more, will be sharing personal messages to the graduates, encouraging students to pursue their passions, share helpful tips towards success and what it means to live “Off The Wall.” To conclude the ceremony, there will be a live music performance by King Princess and after party DJ set by SG Lewis.”

Students, families, teachers and Vans fans can tune in at 6pm PST on Vans official YouTube, Vans.com, Vans Facebook and the Vans Family app for a fun, special event.

When: Friday, June 26, 2020 at 6:00PM PST

Who:

Where:

Vans Customs – “Foot The Bill” Initiative (500 pairs per collab)

Mar 27 20 under Art, Bands, Collaborations, Customs, Heritage, History | Comments Off on Vans Customs – “Foot The Bill” Initiative (500 pairs per collab)
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Message from Steve Van Doren:

Dear Vans Family,
We know how important small businesses are, we were one. You helped us become what we are, and we want to help our community and extended members of our Vans Family during this difficult time. We have partnered with local and community driven skate shops, restaurants, art galleries and music venues to support them with custom designed Vans footwear. Net proceeds* from the sale of each pair of Vans Customs will go directly to our small business partners in this time of need. With the purpose of continuing to enable creative expression, please join us as we lend a helping hand to our Vans Family.

Keep Going,

Steve Van Doren

 

Thoughts from us here at UTP:

This is what a real community looks like.  We’ve been saying it for years, and it’s why we’ve worked hard to foster and protect our Vans culture.  We don’t want it to be exploited, or turned out for the next culture vulture to profit and thrive off of.  Under The Palms has been doing this Vans shit for a very long time, enough to see many come and go through our ranks, and it’s the ones who’ve stuck around and didn’t get caught up in all the weekly trends who get our continued support.  On a larger scale, this is what Vans is doing for their skate shop partners who could use this opportunity right about now.  It’s awesome, and it’s pretty damn cool.  So far, the Foot The Bill webpage has 3 submissions: 510 Skateboards, 35th Ave/North, and Kingswell, but I assume more will come soon, so keep checking back.  Each collab, has their own custom artwork that you can apply to the toe panel of the Classic Slip-On (currently the only style available), but you can fully customize the rest of the shoe per usual.  This is where you get to make something cool, and completely unique, all while supporting your favorite collaborator.  I created my own “510 Skateboarding” Slip-On, which I think came out pretty sick.  Check it out on our Instagram.  Don’t forget to share your own creations, and use the #FOOTTHEBILL and #VANSFOOTTHEBILL hashtags!

 

What is Vans “Foot The Bill”?

Vans “Foot The Bill” initiative aims to assist the creative communities of our extended Vans Family around the world during this difficult time. Using our Vans Customs platform, we invite you to express your creativity and be a designer to your favorite Vans shoe, all while supporting the skate shops, music venues, art galleries, restaurants and local hangouts that enable your creative self-expression every day.

How many total partners will you be supporting?

We are committed to supporting at least 80 local and community driven small businesses including skate shops, music venues, art galleries and restaurants. Though, this amount does not include all of the amazing partners that we work with around the world, we are hopeful this program will help our communities get through this unprecedented time.

How did you select your partners?

We worked closely with our team to identify community driven small businesses like skate shops, music venues, art galleries and restaurants that have been directly impacted by COVID-19.

What portion of the proceeds will be donated to each partner?

All proceeds less the cost of production and shipment will be paid to the local and community driven skate shops, restaurants, art galleries and music venues.

How many pairs are being sold per partner?

Vans will be producing up to 500 pairs of Custom Vans per partner, based on demand.

How long will these designs be available to shop?

These one-of-a-kind designs will be available until the limit has been reached. Once they are sold out they will no longer be available. So be sure to get creative while supplies last!

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see more of  510 Skateboard’s artwork after the jump!

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Vans Partners with Spotify to Launch “Off The Wall” Wednesday – Personalized Playlist Experience for Every Listener

Nov 6 19 under Bands, Collaborations | Comments Off on Vans Partners with Spotify to Launch “Off The Wall” Wednesday – Personalized Playlist Experience for Every Listener

Experience Now : Offthewallwednesday.withspotify.com

Today, Vans, the original action sports brand and advocate for creative expression, and Spotify, the most popular global audio streaming subscription service, are launching a new weekly personalized playlist experience, “Off The Wall” Wednesday. The playlist will leverage Spotify’s unique streaming intelligence to create a personalized playlist that is curated based on your previous listening on Spotify as well as music from Vans’ over 50-year history of artist collaborations and roster of performances by artists who have played Vans events around the world. Vans “Off The Wall” Wednesday is a listening experience made just for you.

Purposefully designed to curb the hump day slump, each person who opts in will receive a personalized playlist that is curated based on their previous listening on Spotify as well as music from Vans’ many artist collaborations, including performances at House of Vans all around the world, Sidestripe Sessions, Warped Tour and more. Some of the artists included in the playlist at launch include Idles, Cautious Clay, Wallows, Gouge Away, Cuco, Tierra Whack, Quicksand and Anderson .Paak.

“Vans has championed creative expression through music since 1966 when skateboarders, musicians and artists chose to wear our brand and live ‘Off The Wall,’” said April Vitkus, Senior Director of Global Brand Marketing at Vans. “For decades, we’ve focused our legacy in music through fostering talent on the stages of Vans Warped Tour, House of Vans, Sidestripe Sessions and collaborating on everything from products to experiences. By partnering with Spotify, we have the opportunity to engage with and share the talented artists across diverse genres of music to create a one-of-a-kind listening experience for fans every week.”

“Vans is a leader in culture-driven marketing, embracing what’s next with a keen sense of irreverence,” said Danielle Lee, VP, Global Head of Partner Solutions at Spotify. “We’re thrilled to partner with Vans to give Spotify users more opportunities to discover their next favorite musician and provide a space for emerging artists to reach new audiences.”

Vans fans and Spotify listeners can discover their next favorite artist or song by opting into Vans “Off The Wall” Wednesday experience beginning today globally. For more information, please visit offthewallwednesday.withspotify.com.

House of Vans Announces Philadelphia Pop-Up (Oct. 10-13, 2019)

Sep 24 19 under Bands, Events | 1 Comment

House of Vans announces its latest destination arriving in Philadelphia, PA October 10-13, 2019. Vans will transform the industrial warehouse at 404 N. 2nd Street, 19123, into a cultural hub to celebrate art, music, action sports and street culture bringing Vans’ “Off The Wall” ethos to life. With an array of curated programming free to the community, this unique pop-up experience will be the first in Philly, following other successful House of Vans pop-ups around the world including, Paris, Berlin, Toronto, Hong Kong, Mexico City and Detroit along with permanent House of Vans locations in Chicago and London.

“Philly has a rich cultural history in music, a gifted artistic community, and a heritage in skateboarding synonymous across the world,” said Brooke Burt, Vans’ Senior Manager of Lifestyle Brand Marketing. “It is truly an honor to bring House of Vans to life in Philadelphia alongside this incredibly creative and inspiring community.”

 

The House of Vans Philly pop-up will kick-off Thursday, October 10 with a concert featuring hometown heroes including rapper, singer and songwriter Tierra Whack, indie-rockers Hop Along and multi-instrumentalist Orion Sun. Music continues through the weekend with dreamy electronic rock duo Phantogram, house artist Channel Tres and eclectic, indie-folk pop band Y La Bamba owning the mainstage on Friday, October 11.

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Vans Sidestripe Sessions – Anderson .Paak

Sep 24 19 under Bands, Collaborations, Videos | Comments Off on Vans Sidestripe Sessions – Anderson .Paak

Vans, the original action sports brand and advocate for creative expression, is proud to have Grammy Award Winning Artist, Anderson .Paak perform his hit singles “6 Summers” and “King James” as part of Vans’ global music content series, Vans Sidestripe Sessions. 

Sidestripe Sessions features different artists across all musical genres ranging from punk, experimental, indie to hip hop all filmed in a giant Vans shoe box with a rotating backdrop of art installations. Celebrating creative diversity in music and art, the video highlights Vans’ extended family of musicians through a two-song performance. Vans welcomed Grammy award-winning artist, Anderson .Paak to step into the shoe box to perform “6 Summers” off his third studio album, Oxnard and a live rendition of “King James” his latest single from the highly acclaimed album, Ventura alongside members from his band, The Free Nationals. 

As part of the experience, Anderson .Paak has selected visual artist, Dewey Sanders to transform the Vans shoe box with a Venice fueled art installation using his personal brand of psychedelia. With a pastel color palette, and bizarre juxtapositions, Sanders arranges a collection images that pay homage to the city that Anderson .Paak calls home.

Tune in to Vans Sidestripe Session at youtube.com/Vans now to catch his latest performance.

Vans BLACK RAINBOWS – Dogtown Event Recap (Friday 8.9.19)

Aug 12 19 under Art, Articles, Bands, Celebs, Events, Heritage, History, OTWS, UTP | 1 Comment

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This past Friday, I had the pleasure of being invited to the opening of BLACK RAINBOWS, a 10-day immersive experience in Venice Beach, put on by Vans, that transports visitors back to 1976 to celebrate the energetic time period and place that Vans’ first skateboarding shoe, the Era, was born.

If you want to share my experience and over 50 pics from this amazing event, read on after the jump (sort of a long read!) Read More

Vans – “25 Years Warped Tour” Sk8-Hi (Available Now!)

Jul 18 19 under Bands, Events, General Release, Heritage, History | Comments Off on Vans – “25 Years Warped Tour” Sk8-Hi (Available Now!)

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.

Created for the last Warped Tour taking place this year, the Warped Tour 25 Years Sk8-Hi combines the legendary lace-up high top with historic poster art from the past 25 years of shows. It also includes sturdy canvas and suede uppers, re-enforced toecaps to withstand repeated wear, padded collars for support and flexibility, and signature rubber waffle outsoles.

Available now by clicking on the pic above!

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