Rochelle Mills

Rochelle Mills
The Long Road Festival

Festival Focus: Everette at The Long Road 

Festival Focus: Everette at The Long Road  Everette were one of the talking points of the whole festival! They played numerous times throughout the weekend and each time a larger crowd flocked to see them. They’ve been working hard, writing for the next record with the likes of Matt Jenkins, Aaron Raitiere and Brian Simpson to name a few and we can’t wait for it to come out.   When did you first know you wanted to be musicians?  Brent: Well, I always tell this funny story. I really have a vivid memory in my mind. From when I was a kid, telling my sister, I think I either want to be Alvin and the Chipmunks or Garth Brooks. I knew Garth Brooks got his start in Nashville. So I guess I ended up there.  Anthony: My dad bought my brother and I a cheapo guitar at a pawn shop and a little amp with a little push button for heavy metal distortion. My brother is older than me, so we started playing taking turns but I was always hogging the guitar. Then finally, he got a little bored with it. I picked it up and it started coming a little faster for me, and he got kind of angry. And so like, he would come take the guitar from me. My mum ended up buying me my own, like a harmony acoustic guitar from a magazine, in 1998 or something. I remember sitting there playing and things kind of starting to connect, like, what music feels like what it feels like to play chords to play along with your favourite songs. There’s something about that inside of me that resonated for the first time.  What sort of music did your parents make you listen to on long car journeys and what are you choosing to listen to now?  Brent: My dad listened to a lot of old country, some Merle Haggard, but he also loved old rock and roll like The Beatles, and The Stones and all that great stuff. My mum was really into the 80s pop stuff like Phil Collins and things like that. I grew up going to church a lot. My parents they loved church so we were there a lot. So all the old hymns, all the old hymns and all that it was more of an evangelical style church. So it’s very soulful, very loud, drums, guitars, lots of energy!  Anthony: Sort of a similar thing – church music. My mum and dad were divorced before I was born. So it was kind of like two different lives. When I lived with my mum and my stepdad, it was church. Every day those doors were open, we were in there. We also weren’t allowed to listen to secular music, no rock and roll radio or anything like that. But at my dad’s when I went to my dad’s house, it was like Aerosmith, Alanis Morissette. My dad was a disc jockey for AFN. So he’s playing these rock and roll records, but I wasn’t allowed to listen to them. We started sneaking stuff, and stealing from our neighbours. I remember probably the only thing I really ever truly stole was, we were at our neighbor’s house, we’re supposed to be watering their plants and they had a Green Day Dookie sitting there and I was like, you’re mine. I kept it hidden for like a year my parents never knew.  READ THE FULL ARTICLE IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF MAVERICK MAGAZINE!

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Reba McEntire Announces The Ultimate Christmas Collection

Reba McEntire announced today, Reba: The Ultimate Christmas Collection, set to release Friday, October 14. The collection is made up of favorites from her previous Christmas releases along with the stirring track “I Needed Christmas,” featured in the Lifetime movie “Reba McEntire’s Christmas In Tune.” The collection is available for pre-order now HERE. “I’m excited to share this newly packaged collection of my all-time favorite Christmas songs,” said Reba. “It was so hard to narrow down to just twelve songs, but I hope my fans enjoy this journey through time!” Fans can find limited edition holiday merch, including a sweatshirt, ornament, mug and lithograph available for pre-order now HERE. Fans can also pre-order Reba: The Ultimate Christmas Collection as a limited white vinyl, set to release November 4.

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Spotlight: Pamela Hopkins

When did you first know that you wanted to be a musician?  I wanted to become musician when I was in elementary school…that was my dream as I sat in front of the tv on Saturday mornings watching “Kids Incorporated,” singing and dancing with those kids.  I thought maybe I would have a shot at being a full-time musician when I was 19 years old when I cut my first album in Nashville, but the producer and people I was surrounded by did not pull through on their promises, so I got really jaded quickly.  I quit music for about 18 years before the urge came to me again.  At that point, I really wanted to be in music full time again, so I just made it happen.   What music did your family play to you growing up and what are you choosing to listen to now?  My mom played a lot of Elvis, Beatles, and some 60’s and 70’s popular music and some country. I listen to everything now so that I know what to play when I have to do cover songs at gigs.    What’s the songwriting process like for you, do you always start with a lyric or melody or is it different every time?  I start with an idea and a title when I write.  I get with my co-writers and we talk about a sound direction and then a melody pattern.  The song kind of develops from there.  Can you tell me the story behind your song ‘One Too Many’?  “One Too Many” was written by me and Sarah Morey back in December 2020.  I had an idea about a person sitting at a bar drowning their sorrows from a breakup from someone they loved very much.  This person just keeps drinking until the memories fade and might eventually pass out.  I always try to write things that are relatable to everyone.  Everyone has been through a heartbreak and knows that feeling of just wanting to forget the hurt they feel.  Can you tell me a little bit about the other people involved in bringing this song to life?  Sarah Morey is a great co-writer.  She is young and full of fresh ideas.  She is a recent graduate of Bellmont University in Tennessee and I believe she has her degree in songwriting.  The Nashville studio musicians on this song were instrumental in creating the sound you hear, and I couldn’t be happier with the production of it.  What’s been your proudest moment in your career so far?  I would have to say that I am extremely proud to share my musical talents entertaining the troops overseas.  I am proud that I keep being asked back time and time again.  My husband served in the Army National Guard and was activated and deployed after 911, and he was stationed in a warzone.  He missed home terribly, so for me to give back to other service members who miss their home and need some of home brought to them, I’m extremely honored and proud to perform and give them a reason to relax and cut loose while I’m there.   What’s next for you?  I plan to keep writing and releasing music regularly.  I have some more overseas military tours with Armed Forces Entertainment and ProTour Productions coming up. I leave for Japan, Guam and Hawaii in October to perform for the military; and then in December I am in Greenland, Curacao and Guantanamo Bay. My plan is to just keep moving forward! 

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Radio City Sessions return for Autumn/Winter 2022

TAE Live and The Jackson Line are delighted to announce the return of their highly anticipated Radio City Sessions songwriter rounds. Having enjoyed a hugely successful debut in autumn 2021, the Radio City Sessions have hosted some of the hottest songwriting talent in the UK country scene. The third season of the sessions will, for the first time, be welcoming some of the most exciting writers from the USA, as well as homegrown, UK based artists. These intimate sessions lift a curtain on behind-the-scenes secrets from some of the most popular hits. Writers rounds and country music have gone hand in hand for decades, with The Bluebird Café in Nashville their spiritual home. Now, with a limited audience only, people are able to enjoy this ‘listening room’ experience in the birthplace of radio. Often only with a guitar or keyboard and their voice, these stripped back performances leave no place to hide, and often show the deepest emotions of the writers themselves. “Keith (lead vocals for The Jackson Line) and I got together last year to work out how we could continue to expand the reach of country music in Essex. Having had such a great response to Tennessee Fields, we were sure there was a market for more country events in the county and songwriters sessions are such a fantastic way of engaging an audience and immersing them in the sparkle of country music. The team at Hot Box are equally as committed to supporting all genres of music, and it’s fantastic to be able to bring these evenings back for a third season!” Georgie Thorogood, TAE Live Hot Box Live is the primary venue for live music in Chelmsford. With a bar stocking over 600 spirits, retro decor and a top-class sound system, this quirky location adds authenticity and a sprinkle of magic to any live performance. Hosted by local country band The Jackson Line, the Radio City Sessions frequently bring laughter, tears and audience participation to Chelmsford, leaving every guest with a smile on their face at the end of the evening. They will be joined in October by an international trio of ladies – American artist Erin Bowman, Canadian born Tara Henton and UK artist Emilia Quinn will bring a sprinkle of glamour, award winning songwriting and emotive vocals to Hot Box for the first event of autumn 2022. TAE Live is a new promotions company, founded by the team behind Tennessee Fields Festival, who are dedicated to bringing top class country music to Essex, as well as supporting local and emerging artists and songwriters. Tickets from £11 at www.hotboxlive.co.uk/whats-on

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Spotlight: Kris James

Who within the country music genre has influenced or inspired you?  Within the country music scene I absolutely adore big little town. Obviously I’ve been writing music while before discovering them but I think they’re album tornado was absolutely brilliant and in my opinion really raise their profile across the world. I suppose it’s more pop country but I absolutely love it it’s my go to album when I’m in the car especially when I’m in America.    Can you talk me through your songwriting process, do you like to start with a lyric or melody or is it different every time?  Songwriting for me is different every time it depends who I’m working with, although I usually just work with Stew. It can either be me going in with a melody or him with a melody and guitar. Usually my melodies come to me in my head and I record them on my iPhone. It’s kind of strange because those melodies can come when I’m asleep most recently I was on a boat and I had to stop the boat in the middle of the ocean obviously it was a small boat while I record of the melody otherwise if you don’t it disappears. So yeah it’s pretty hard to define how any songwriting session is going to go but usually comes from Melody with me anyway.     Can you remember the first song you ever wrote?  This is a funny question the first song I wrote was “ I’ll never love again!”  It was when I was 10 and I was dating a girl and then she kissed one of my mates which at the time I thought that I was going to die and so I remember leaving my dad‘s pub. When I say pub I wasn’t there drinking obviously I was 10 but I remember walking down the street actually nearly crying and the lyrics and Melody just came out. To think back to then it’s quite cute and sad but of course that song never made it to any album or any release for obvious reasons!!   Country music is all about storytelling, I know ‘The Way You Move’ isn’t strictly country but can you tell me the story behind that please?  Absolutely to be honest with you I think most songs is about storytelling and for me the way you move is kind of just a feelgood track that encapsulates the moment when you’re out and about generally in a club and you see that person could be a boy or a girl that really captures your eye and the way they move just drives you insane. I don’t know I write a lot of songs about being hurt been a romantic being happy and I just decided this time I just wanted to make it about going out on the weekend I’m finding that special person almost like Love At first sight.   Can you remember a live gig that you watched that changed your life?  Absolutely I think remembering myself watching live aid was just unbelievable. From the minute it started I think the pinnacle was when Freddie Mercury with Queen came on and sang we Will Rock you those type of concerts are ingrained in our history and we must never forget them and always go back to keep the remembrance. I can’t even imagine how Friddie must of felt on stage because I know when I’m on stage it’s an exhilarating feeling. And the maximum card I’ve done is about 20,000 so that was a whole other experience and a whole lot more people so I can only imagine it was electric on stage and I would love to have been there.  You’re supporting Will Young on tour, how excited are you about that run of dates?  I am so excited about the Will young tour, I’m also in two weeks about to go on tour with Anastasia which really freaks me out because growing up we listen to all of her music especially my mum so she is probably more excited than me but I’m so excited. Anastasia tall is around Europe which I’ve never really thought so that’s gonna be exciting. But I’m super excited for the Will young tour as it’s around our own country and I get to meet all the lovely people that have been following me for years maybe even 10 years now, wow that’s a scary thought!  So yeah I’m excited, I’m happy, I’m nervous I just can’t wait.    You’re working on a new album, can you tell us more about that please?  Yes, I’m working on a new album, I’m so excited about it. I’m working with the Legendury Sam Williams who is producing it and also now cowriting which Stu Boyle. This time around were really having a lot of fun we don’t necessarily have a timing on the album so it gives us a lot of time to get it right but all I can say with seven tracks in every song is a hit and they get better and better every time so I’m super excited for you guys to hear it. We’re just making this a cool funky disco electronic ambient sounding record with throwing everything but the kitchen sink and I really can’t wait for everyone to hear it.   What’s next for you?  So what’s next for me is continuing to finish the album I’m currently going to be on tour from the 18th of August with Anastasia and then Will Young to the end of the year then in December I’m going to take a well deserved and will need a trip to Asia I’ve got some business as I recently signed a publishing deal so it will be very interesting to see how the music goes out in and around Singapore another Asian territories . It kind of makes me really excited as I really love Asian cuisine. But if you’re really interested in keeping in contact and watching

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Jeannie Seely to Celebrate 55th Grand Ole Opry Anniversary After Party by Hosting World Famous ‘Midnite Jamboree’

GRAMMY®-winning artist, Jeannie Seely, has been announced as the host for the return of the world-famous Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree on Saturday, September 17 at the Troubadour in Nashville, TN. The event will also be an after-party celebration for fans, friends and industry members to honor Jeannie for her milestone as a 55-year member of the Grand Ole Opry. This event has become a tradition for Seely who has hosted the Midnite Jamboree after milestone Opry celebrations including her 40th, 45th and 50th anniversaries. Listeners can tune in and hear the Midnite Jamboree on WSM AM 650 and online at midnight with Jeff Hoag brought to you by Springer Mountain Farms.Special guests slated to perform include Mark Wills, Sunny Sweeney, Dallas Wayne, Diane Berry & Joe Wade Smith, Moore & Moore, along with Jeannie Seely and the promise of some special guests.Jeannie Seely has performed on the Midnite Jamboree for several decades, from the time it was broadcast downtown from the Ernest Tubb Record Shop on Broadway and her association with Ernest Tubb holds a special place in her heart. Tubb recorded “Sometimes I Do” written by Seely, she was part of the weekly The Ernest Tubb Show syndicated on television and she fondly remembers and to this day follows the valuable advice he offered her.“So very glad the Midnite Jamboree is coming back!! I’m so thrilled to not only serve as host for this historic return, but also to be celebrating my Opry Anniversary here again.  My mind goes back to the first time Ernest Tubb introduced me on the Jamboree and back announced that ‘the future of country music is in the hands of this young lady,” reflects Jeannie Seely. “Hopefully he is smiling down and proud that we are carrying on his tradition. For my part, I’m hoping it shows my appreciation for the helping hand he so generously extended to me.” “It is hard to put into words just how excited I truly am to have The Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree back at the Troubadour starting this Saturday Night!” Exclaimed Troubador owner – Rodney Collins. “With the great Jeannie Seely hosting and celebrating her 55th year as a Grand Ole Opry member, history is being made this Saturday! We hope you will come and be a part of our special night.”“We are very excited to bring the Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree back to the Country music community. With the historical significance and the pedigree of the show, we could not be happier to have Jeannie Seely help us get this in motion,” stated Ernest Dale Tubb III Gives me the feeling that ET is applauding from above!”

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Chris Norman

Spotlight: Chris Norman

Chris Norman may be a familiar face to many of you. He first found fame as the original lead singer of English rock band Smokie. From 1964-86, Norman toured the world with the soft-rock group but, in 1986, Norman found success as a solo artist with the song ‘Midnight Lady’ which charted all around Europe, nestling at the top of the German charts for six weeks. After an illustrious career, with 20 solo records under his belt, Norman returns with a new album made up of some of the most beloved ‘Rediscovered Love Songs’ such as ‘Always On My Mind’. The record features songs originally made famous by the likes of Roy Orbison and The Temptations and comes out on October 21. The record was recorded and produced out in Nashville, Tennessee with some of the finest musicians in attendance. Norman joins me to talk me through the record and how he selected the songs which have been so perfectly reimagined.   When did you first know that you wanted to be a musician?  When I was about 15 years old when we formed our first band. We played at a school dance and I remember thinking I’d like to do this as a profession.  Who were your main inspirations when you were growing up?  In music, we used to listen to old time songs when I was a little kid, like from the 30s onwards. So people like Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra were interesting to me. When I was about 5 or 6 years old, rock ‘n’ roll burst onto the scene and I was inspired by Elvis Presley, Lonnie Donegan, Buddy Holly etc. Then later on the 60s music especially the Beatles were my biggest inspiration.  How did you decide which songs to put on this record?  I made a list of my favourite love song recordings and then asked friends and family to come up with some ideas of their favourites. Then I decided which were the ones that would suit my voice best and came up with the songs which are now on the album.  The classic ‘Always On My Mind’ is the lead single, what does that track mean to you?  I remember hearing Willie Nelson‘s version of this song after I was already familiar with Elvis Presley’s version and just thought that the lyrics really were timeless.  Tell me about the song ‘Stumblin In’ and it’s placement in Licorice Pizza?  Suzy Quatro and I recorded the song back in 1978 after we’d been singing together at an after show party at an award ceremony, we decided it might be cool to record something together. I didn’t know it was in licorice pizza until after the film came out so I don’t really know how it got placed in the film.  When you’re on stage and you’re performing are you completely focused or do you let your mind wander, we call it your mid-gig thoughts?  Sometimes it can happen that your mind wanders a little bit. But it’s not often for me that it’s happens as I’m concentrating and focused on the playing and  the sound and the audience reaction.  What’s next for you?  I’ll be doing some promotion for the new album next and touring in different countries and then back to writing and recording, pretty much the same as I always do.  ‘Rediscovered Love Songs’ will be out on October 21st  

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Amy Wadge

Live Review: The British Country Music Festival

It’s been a long festival season here at Maverick and we’ve seen some of the finest country stars from around the world over the course of six festivals. The British Country Music Festival saw some of the best artists from across the UK come together and showcase the stories of their roots through the genre that we’ve all come to know and love. Thursday began with a social event and a preview of the Blackpool illuminations from one of the famous heritage trams. There was music onboard and it offered festival goers a chance to meet like-minded people before the main festivities began on the Friday. As people sung along to ‘Jolene’ and ‘Country Roads’ they got in the mood for the weekend ahead. With three different stages dotted around the Winter Gardens, there was plenty of choice for attendees but it was Rosey Cale who started things off on the acoustic Arena stage. A large audience had already gathered when she kicked things off and she drew them in with her voice and storytelling lyrics. Next, it was the turn of Shellyann and her fabulous band to ramp up the energy with an upbeat set. Her powerhouse vocals demanded the attention of the room as she entertained the crowd. Following her set, Gasoline and Matches performed an extended full band show, Steven enjoying every guitar solo as Sally, with a smile on her face the whole time, confidently belted out each note. Attention turned to the Empress Ballroom where Matt Spracklen was hosting all weekend. It was Noble Jacks who opened the show with their toe-tappingly good brand of country followed by Harleymoon Kemp. Kemp broke onto the scene in lockdown and she has been entertaining crowds ever since. Dressed to the nines in a sassy, country themed red outfit, complete with cowboy hat and hooped earrings she had the audience in uproar as she told the stories, mostly about boys who have done her wrong, behind her songs. Headliner Amy Wadge couldn’t have been more different with her stripped back stage set-up, but both worked well. Wadge played an array of songs she’d written for other people including ‘Thinking Out Loud’ and a track that featured on Michael Ball’s record as well as playing songs from her own EPs and solo records including ‘Older’ and songs from the hit TV show ‘Keeping Faith’. All the while she told the stories behind each track whilst the audience listened attentively – you could hear a pin drop! She concluded on her rendition of ‘Spaceman’ the song she co-wrote for the UK’s entry to Eurovision song contest. It was a more delicate version, her voice was pure as she hit that top note. Saturday began with some jogging to and from venues as Katie O’Malley opened the Arena stage with a full band set whilst in the Horseshoe Pavillion, Celine Ellis held the audience with an endearing acoustic set. The Rising and The County Affair were standouts on the Arena stage in the early afternoon whereas it was a packed house for Kezia Gill on the Horseshoe Pavillion stage. She had the crowd laughing along as she forgot her own words and improvised a solution! She also played a couple of songs that had never been heard before, the audience obliged as she kindly requested they didn’t film and put it on the internet. Brooke Law captivated the room on the acoustic Arena stage. She was an unknown name to many before she bugged but they queued to meet her afterwards as her powerful voice reeled them in and her exemplary songwriting held them there. In the Empress Ballroom at night, people crowded the dance floor as The Wandering Hearts, with their beautiful harmonies ringing round the room took to the stage. They played a range of songs from their most recent release to their earliest singles with the audience stomping along to the likes of ‘Devil’. A surprising name followed who took the scene by surprise upon her announcement – Lucy Spraggan. But she would surprise those in attendance even further as she told the stories behind her funny and quirky songs which were performed by her very well rehearsed band. She was the talking point and the highlight for most at the festival as they began to see and hear the crossover into country that sits, deep rooted within her songwriting approach. She talked of her time on the X-Factor and played songs from that era as well as her latest album. She shared stories of the impact visiting the US has had on her craft. Headliner Tom Odell came on next, his voice was incredible and the moody lighting complemented his stripped back set full of piano ballads. Laura Evans couldn’t have been more different as she brought a lot of energy to the Blackpool stage as she closed the evening out. Her stage presence you couldn’t fault. The final day of the festival was much more relaxed. It began with a wonderful songwriters carousel hosted by Laura Oakes. It was a chance for the artists to dive into more detail about the songs they had written, how they had written them, and why. They each took it in turns and the crowd listened attentively as they went down the line three times. The rest of the day was full of energy as Robert J Hunter Band and Sunbirds played upbeat sets, the latter was a tight knit outfit with sublime harmonies and they went down a treat with the Blackpool audience. Jess Moskaluke, who was the only international act on the line up continued to ramp things up as she strutted around the stage with her powerhouse vocals echoing around the room. The Canadian has some stellar songs on her record ‘The Demos’ which she played some songs from. Everything was well thought out, from the staging, lighting, to the sound, it was such a brilliant weekend, packed full of the best country talent, Britain has

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Dolly Parton and Kelly Clarkson reimagine ‘9 to 5’

Today, Dolly Parton and Kelly Clarkson have released a compelling duet version of the classic ‘9 to 5’. It comes ahead of the highly anticipated Still Working 9 to 5 documentary (premiering September 16th). The GRAMMY Award-winning artists teamed up with the film’s executive producer Shane McAnally, Sasha Sloan & King Henry to reimagine the classic song into a melancholic yet inspirational anthem over 40 years after the original’s release as the fight for workplace equality persists. Written and recorded by Dolly Parton and produced by Gregg Berry, the original ‘9 to 5’ debuted in 1980 in tandem with the film of the same name starring Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. The song went on to receive an Academy Award nomination for Original Song and four GRAMMY Award nominations – winning two of the latter for Best Country Song and Best Female Country Vocal Performance. “Nobody sings like Kelly Clarkson. She makes any song come alive. I love her voice on 9 to 5 and I am so proud I got to sing with her on it. I’m equally as proud of the wonderful arrangement and production by Shane McAnally.” – Dolly Parton “I am so honored that Dolly asked me to reimagine this iconic song, ‘9 to 5,’ with her! She is so talented, an inspiration to all women, and one of the sweetest people you will ever meet! I hope y’all like what we did, but even if you don’t, remember I got to sing a duet with the magical Dolly Parton and now have bragging rights til the end of time!” – Kelly Clarkson “It is a wildest dream scenario to work with 2 of the world’s greatest singers on one of the all-time greatest songs. Co-produced and rearranged with my friends Sasha Sloan and King Henry, this classic has taken on a brand new life 40 years after its original chart run, and I am so grateful to be a part of the first time Dolly and Kelly have recorded together.  I have a feeling it won’t be the last.” – Shane McAnally The film 9 to 5 has taken its place in American history as a beloved comedy with serious subject matter. Multiple generations know every lyric to the iconic theme song that has become an anthem for working women everywhere who seek fairness, equality and dignity from their male counterparts. After more than 40 years, the feature documentary Still Working 9 to 5 celebrates the iconic film, while chronicling the important impact it had on the women’s movement of the time and one that continues today. Still Working 9 to 5 reunites stars Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman from original 9 to 5 film, as well as Rita Moreno from the 9 to 5 TV series, Allison Janney from the Broadway musical, and other stars from the television and stage versions of the classic film. Also featured are activists and individuals closely associated with the women’s movement both now and then. The documentary explores the comedic tone of the film and how it resonated with a wide audience at a time when the feminist message was being rejected and/or feared by a large swathe of the population. It further follows how the success of the film spawned various 9 to 5 spin-offs including a TV series (1980s) and musicals (2009 & 2019), discussing the same issues addressed in the film (and its spinoffs) and questions if the message retains its original poignancy, as well as examining what has and has not changed for women in the workplace over the last 40 years.

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