Kate Elpo’s “Be-Longing”: A Reminder of What Makes Us Human
Belonging is an essential human need. Community, relationships, confirmation of dignity—all of these are what defines our humanity. There’s a reason why famed psychologist Abraham Maslow designated belonging as a prerequisite for establishing esteem and self-actualization. On his hierarchy of needs, feeling socially and emotionally validated is of the utmost importance, third only to meeting […]
“Johnny” by Lawn: Catchy, Welcoming Indie Rock
There is something satisfying and bare-knuckle about kicking back and listening to a wonderfully simple, well-crafted, and laid-back indie-rock tune. It’s the kind of song that makes you nod your head along to the cool beat and smile because it reminds you of simpler times. “Johnny” – the title track of the second studio album […]
Michael Baker’s “Caught in the Crossfire”: An Exploration of Connection and Perspective
If I’m going to be honest with myself, I have to admit that I am rather terrible at being in the present. Unless my mental spiraling is pointed out to me by a concerned friend or family member, my mind rarely slows down enough to be present in the moment. Although I know that I […]
Honey Joy’s “The Healer”: Noisy Yet Life-Affirming
For those who have struggled with mental illness, sometimes you can look back on a particularly turbulent period and find it tough to recognize the person that you were. Piecing together the person that you were during and after struggles with mental health can be a painful experience, but in some ways it can also […]
“I Wanna Disappear” by SHYAWAY: Involvement from a Distance
With how interconnected the world is today, it’s no wonder how social movements can be so widespread. No longer does an injustice go unnoticed due to lack of publication or suppression of information. Despite being based in Brighton, United Kingdom, Adam Macaulay (also known by his musical moniker SHYAWAY) wanted to get involved with the […]
Emily Barker’s “Where Have The Sparrows Gone?”: A Haunting, Timely Tale of Environmental Collapse
Last week in California, the skies turned orange, a sight that seemed taken straight out of everybody’s post-apocalyptic nightmare. Except for it wasn’t a nightmare, but a reality: a harrowing reminder of the wildfires raging across the West Coast. The scariest thing is that these disastrous headlines seem to be becoming less and less surprising; […]
Ryan Lott of Son Lux on Classical Influences, Collaborating with Legends, and Scoring Films
“Only (Chasing You)” is a rework of a track from Son Lux’s most recent album, Tomorrows I (the first part of a planned trilogy). The original song was simply called “Only”, and featured Ryan Lott’s gritty, yearning voice delivering the lyrics over the kind of music we’ve come to expect from Son Lux: elegant yet […]
oddnesse’s “Summer’s Almost Over” Is Bright, Catchy, and Original
As I write this, it’s a little over a week until summer ends and autumn begins. Personally, the end of summer was never as much of a bummer for me as it was for other people. For one thing, I went to day camp, which meant that I never got the sense of aimless freedom […]
The Beauty and Agony of Reflection in Caitlin Pasko’s “Quiet Weather”
“When I think of you I take a shovel to my chest And dig as deep as I can get.” Those lyrics come at the end of “Quiet Weather”, the devastating climax of Caitlin Pasko’s new album Greenhouse. I’ve listened to “Quiet Weather” every day for the past week preparing to write this review, and […]
“Solipsism” by Fenne Lily: Embracing Yourself
At some point in life, you have to take a step back to realize who you are and what type of environment surrounds you. Do you want to be a product of your environment, or do you want your environment to form around who you are? Of course, the latter is more desirable, however it […]
