Entertainment

Altur Santos releases bouncy new reggaeton track “Vice Versa” available on all platforms April 12.

By Bobby Martin

Altur Santos has had music flowing through his veins all his life, and the saxophonist turned singer-songwriter has made a name for himself internationally for his work as a reggaeton artist.

Santos has released a brand new single titled “Vice Versa,” which not only tells the story of a girl breaking his heart, but is also something his listeners can dance and get down to. Santos compares their relationship to Bonnie and Clyde, saying inspiration comes from a girl who is very controlling, but he realizes that he knows exactly what she is doing. He is so in love with her that he is letting her mess with his head.

“The inspiration comes from a girl who is very controlling, and likes to play games,” Santos said. “One of those types. The way that I’m performing, and the lyrics, and the content of this song is in the way of the reggaeton vibe and high energy. People can relate to it, but also feel like they can play in their car and jam.”

Santos has been involved in music since he was just a child in the Dominican Republic, playing saxophone at only 11-years-old. His music was influenced heavily by his mother Ana Gil, who was a well known trumpet player.

“That is where I got my passion for music,” Santos said. “Everything started in a concert. I saw a trumpetist doing a solo and I fell in love with the music.”

By the age of 14, Santos was already playing the saxophone with famous musicians from his home country. This included the likes of well known artists like Amarfis, Omega and Sin Fronteras. Santos would also work on producing for artists in his studio when he was just a teenager. He has a love for technology, so combining the music and a computer was perfect.

Santos then went to school to study music theory, and this is when he learned how to play multiple instruments such as piano, clarinet, percussion and more. At about 18, he released his first song locally and he was well on his way to musical success.

Tragedy struck when Santos was 21, as his mother passed away leaving him so sad that he put music on hold for a short time period. But suddenly a Canadian woman came into his life who he fell in love with and married. Santos then moved to Toronto where he took his talents north to a whole new audience.

“I came to Canada, got a studio, and started making music for people,” Santos said. “But I was feeling empty because I wanted to do it for myself.”

This is when he met his manager, who saw his talent and knew he needed to sign Santos right away.

“He was like, I want to sign you,” Santos said. “He said, ‘I want to make you the biggest star.’ I was like, yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever. He was like ‘come to Toronto, I want to sign you,’ and I said ‘let’s see what you have to offer.’ I came and he had the contract ready, and everything was so smooth with him. It felt like family from day one.”

Santos told him his life story, about his time in the Dominican Republic, growing up the son of a musician, and making waves in his home island country at such a young age. This brought them both to tears and Santos knew there was a true connection here.

“He said he had my back for life,” Santos said. “That day, everything started changing.”

Santos, now 29, said since their meeting, his musical career has taken off. He has been creating new music, making music videos, collaborating with other successful musicians and everything started falling into place. Santos signed with JML Records and this was the final piece of the puzzle.

“It was actually amazing how it happened,” Santos said. “Now I am making a lot of music. I am meeting the biggest people in the industry. These are people that I grew up with that were the biggest artists. Now they are working with me. That is like an achievement I never thought I was going to see, but now it is becoming reality. Honestly, the excitement that my heart has is like a kid with a brand new toy.”

Santos said that he has learned throughout his life to let everything happen and enjoy the moment, saying “the only moment that we have is now.” He also pointed out that it is important to remember where you can from to help where you are going as a person. He has more than 330,000 fans, 40,000 monthly listeners and more than nine million streams, but has remained humble. Growing up around numerous successful artists, and playing saxophone, around him prepared him for the life he lives as an artist.

“I am so grateful for everything that has happened,” Santos said.

Santos currently goes back and forth between Toronto and Medellin, Colombia, which he said is a brand new, untapped market for his music. He has loved bringing his material to Colombia, saying that everyone who hears it has not only listened to it before, but has become a fan.

“I’m very likable there,” Santos said. “People love my music. It is easy for me to show up and play my music, and everybody’s already drawn to the attention of the music that I’m playing.”

Santos loves the freedom of playing music. The energy going through his body is a feeling that is indescribable, he said.

“It’s like I’m in another world,” he said. “That’s what I like about music. And then seeing all the people enjoying what I love, it never feels like I am working a day.”

“Vice Versa” is the first of what will be a series of singles coming out, and eventually there will be an EP released. Be sure to check out the new single available on all platforms.

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ60qD8ZnENwtXJQAY0qODw

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/022RWmmEi2RWjL5RsOPOqR?si=WQcv6iXsTDmo5xwQbZGqJQ

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/altursantos

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/altursantos/?hl=en

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/altursantos

Crypto

The Real Story Behind teemchase’s Real Estate, Music, and Crypto Empire

teemchase is the founder of ITTO Productions, an artist development company. He is also an investor in real estate, music, and crypto. His journey has been one of overcoming obstacles, including homelessness, to reach financial independence.

A Difficult Start to His Future Success

At eighteen, teemchase began his journey toward future success by choosing not to attend college and instead pursue real estate. This decision led him to live in his car, but he did not let that setback discourage him from his goal. Without family support, he continued pursuing his dream of becoming a real estate entrepreneur.

He studied for the real estate exam while homeless and invested nearly one thousand dollars in taking it eleven times. Instead of giving up, he took the test a twelfth time and finally passed. That victory became the foundation for his capital building journey. Without outside support or investors, he built his portfolio over time through discipline, persistence, and reinvestment.

He built a brand, grew his team, and reinvested profits into acquiring affordable housing and Section 8 properties. Later, he expanded into large scale private real estate investing. Through discipline, long term strategy, and aggressive reinvestment, he evolved from agent to investor.

It was this same strategy that he later applied to his ventures in crypto and music.

Long Term Positioning and Growth

In the summer of 2025, teemchase formally retired from all active executive operations. He sold his controlling interests and transitioned into a fully passive income structure fueled by consulting, real estate cash flow, and digital asset holdings.

In 2018, teemchase became an early investor in XRP, a cryptocurrency developed by Ripple Labs for rapid, low cost international payments. He has grown his original investment more than ten times and continues to trade actively.

He also entered the music industry through organic beginnings that started with informal freestyle sessions with friends. This experience later led him to found ITTO Productions.

Empowering Creators

teemchase describes himself as operating at the intersection of capital and culture. ITTO Productions was designed to empower artists by providing the infrastructure typically associated with major labels, including production and lifestyle resources. He has also ensured that artists retain ownership of their creative works.

Looking ahead, teemchase plans to scale his passive investments and expand ITTO Productions. The creator first artist development house reflects his personal priorities of ownership, fairness, and long term sustainability.

teemchase is an inspirational yet grounded investor who has built an impressive brand across multiple fields using his high school nickname. Over the years, he has blended his desire for social impact with a scalable investment strategy. His perseverance, discipline, and creativity have been the foundation of his success and will power his future endeavors.

Written in partnership with Tom White

Entertainment

Vale! ULB Drops Rhythmic Powerhouse Single ‘Devórame’

By: Nadia Sobehart

Breakthrough band and creators of “Cabana Bounce,” Vale! ULB release their latest single, “Devórame.” A musical testament to freedom of expression, the upbeat record invites listeners to lose their inhibitions, let down their hair, and dance.

The union of five musicians, each expert in their craft, Vale! ULB is a dynamic band focused on the Latin diaspora. The group is comprised of individuals from Cuba, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, and New Orleans via Mexico. Through their diverse and creative individualism, the members come together to create musical art beyond the power of one.

Leading the band on vocals is Val, the daughter of Latin Grammy winner, musician, and producer, Dante Vargas. Three-time Grammy winner Deezle (of Lil Wayne, Drake, and Nicki Minaj fame) adds depth with his bass, vocals, and production. Grammy-winning trumpeter, Emiliano, takes brass to new heights. Cuban percussionist and champion of Fiesta del Tambor (Cuba’s Festival of Drum), Anier, sets the beat. Lastly, Friki, son of the founder of Buena Vista Social Club, rounds up the sound with his expert guitar.

With over 20 years of professional experience, each member is seasoned in the industry, with a portfolio of sound unique to each. For Deezle, joining the band was a logical choice for working alongside industry greats. “What kept me going is that I never gave up and have the blessing of being around people like Carlos [our manager] and others in the business who keep going. I can’t forsake that,” shares Deezle.

A delicious mix of Latin core, New Orleans soul, and modern hip hop, the music of Vale! ULB is a showcase of “Cabana Bounce,” the band’s signature sound. While based across the U.S., the band comes together monthly to collaborate on new work. According to their manager, Carlos, “It’s the mashing and mixing of different music that makes this band super special.”

Their new single, “Devórame,” captures the power of being wanted and not being afraid to ask for what you want. “It’s a genre-bending single about the freedom of being sexy,” shares Manager Carlos. “Devórame” undoubtedly captures the voice of each band member, from the catchy opening notes to the smooth vocals weaving stories into sound.

“Devórame” was a “cool experiment that went right,” the brainchild of Deezle with contributions from each talented band member. “The band is very chill in the studio,” adds Deezle. “Everyone knows when to switch and take lead. There’s all sorts of personalities in one room, yet there’s no tension. Everyone does their own part.”

Vale! ULB hopes to reach listeners who are ready to let go of their inhibitions. “The song is about freedom of expression,” explains the band, who welcomes listeners to let loose and give in to the music. “You gotta let go when you hear the music.”

In addition to performing, Vale! ULB gives back in New Orleans through the Trombone Shorty Foundation, which seeks to mentor aspiring musicians and provide them with instruments and opportunities.

“Devórame” is available on all streaming platforms, with promotional support from Starlight PR.

Make sure to stay connected to Vale! ULB on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.

“Devórame” Spotify

Written in partnership with Tom White

Entertainment

Actor Walid Chaya in Hilarious ‘Magic Hour’ World Premiere at Santa Barbara Film Festival

By William Jones
Los Angeles — February 8, 2025

The 40th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival kicked off with a bang this year, and one of the standout moments was the world premiere of Magic Hour, an indie comedy directed by Jacqueline Christy. Walid Chaya, known for his dynamic acting talents, plays Joel, a sassy and frustrated Airbnb host who finds himself entangled in the chaotic world of filmmaking when he rents out his space to a movie crew. His character quickly finds himself caught in a tangled web of mischief, offering a humorous and nuanced performance that has audiences laughing from start to finish.

Magic Hour follows the story of Harriet, played by Younger star Miriam Shor, a woman who takes the plunge into film school while juggling her chaotic home life. As she tries to make her mark as a filmmaker, she faces obstacles both on and off set. Chaya’s character, Joel, becomes an integral part of her journey as she rents his Airbnb for her film project, only to have her secret uncovered by Joel, who is less than thrilled about the situation.

Chaya’s portrayal of Joel is nothing short of hilarious. The character is equal parts sarcastic and sincere, bringing levity and energy to the film’s more dramatic moments. His sharp comedic timing and impeccable delivery make him a scene-stealer in every interaction, especially when his character clashes with Harriet’s ambitious pursuit of filmmaking. As the film unfolds, Joel’s frustration with the film crew’s antics provides some of the most memorable comedic moments of the movie.

As the film makes its way through the festival circuit, it has already generated significant buzz for its unique blend of humor and heart. Magic Hour is a film within a film, as Harriet’s journey mirrors the behind-the-scenes challenges that come with making art while trying to balance family life. Chaya’s role as the exasperated Airbnb host adds a fresh layer of comedic tension, making him one of the standout performances in the ensemble cast.

The film is not only making waves for its humor but also its exploration of the creative process. Magic Hour takes an honest look at the struggles of an aspiring filmmaker, offering a funny yet heartfelt examination of ambition, personal growth, and the complexities of following one’s dreams.

Currently making its festival circuit tour, Magic Hour is also eyeing distribution, with many anticipating its arrival on screens soon. Chaya’s standout performance as Joel is sure to leave audiences eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this rising comedy star’s career.

With a stellar cast, a compelling storyline, and performances that truly resonate, Magic Hour is a film that deserves to be seen by audiences everywhere. For updates as this comedy feature continues its festival journey and gears up for its theatrical release, follow @walid.chaya on Instagram and visit magichour.us for more information.

Written in partnership with Tom White