London-based artist John Glacier has dropped a new single, ‘Fly With Me’. Produced by regular collaborator Kwes Darko, the woozy, corrosive track arrives on the heels of her debut album, Like A Ribbon, which came out in February. Check it out below.
How to Build a Scalable Managed Support Strategy
Managing customer support can feel like juggling too many balls at once. As businesses grow, their support systems often struggle to keep up. Slow responses, unorganized processes, and frustrated customers are common headaches.
Did you know 86% of buyers will pay more for great service? But delivering that consistently gets tricky without the right strategy. This is where creating a managed support plan tailored for growth makes all the difference.
In this post, you’ll learn how to build a reliable system step by step. From adopting tools that handle repetitive tasks to training your team effectively, we’ll cover it all. Keep reading; your solution starts here!
Key Takeaways
- Assess your current support tools and workflows. Identify challenges like outdated ticketing systems that slow response times or frustrate customers.
- Build a flexible framework with adaptable tools, like cloud platforms and automation software. These adjust to customer demand during peak periods.
- Use automation for repetitive tasks like chatbot responses, ticket prioritization, and system checks. This saves time and improves efficiency.
- Train IT teams regularly on advanced tools and service strategies to improve performance and handle challenges effectively.
- Monitor key indicators such as response times, resolution rates, and customer satisfaction scores. Adjust resources based on trends for ongoing improvement.
Assessing Current Support Infrastructure
Understanding the existing support structure sets the foundation for growth. Review your current setup by listing tools, roles, and workflows in use today. Identify any gaps or bottlenecks slowing response times or frustrating customers.
For instance, outdated ticketing systems can delay resolutions, leading to customer dissatisfaction.
A strong system should reduce headaches, not create them.
Check if your infrastructure supports remote work capabilities and omnichannel interactions. Evaluate whether agents have access to proper remote support tools and training resources.
Without these elements, expanding becomes an uphill battle instead of a well-planned move forward. If funding growth initiatives is part of your challenge, Credibly’s fast loan process can help businesses secure capital quickly to upgrade support tools and expand resources efficiently. Keep efficiency at the forefront while noting what needs improvement or replacement.
Designing a Scalable Support Framework
Building an adaptable support structure is key to handling growth without chaos. Focus on creating a system that bends but doesn’t break under pressure.
Identifying core support requirements
Define the essential tasks your support team needs to handle daily. Focus on areas like customer inquiries, technical troubleshooting, or system maintenance. Pinpoint recurring challenges that slow response times or frustrate clients.
For example, if remote support is vital for your business, invest in tools capable of resolving issues quickly without physical visits.
Understand the expected demand from customers during peak periods or growth phases. Anticipate future needs by analyzing past data and current trends in customer service optimization.
Choose resources and systems flexible enough to adapt as client expectations evolve.
Prioritizing flexibility and growth
Flexibility lets support systems adapt to customer needs and market changes. Businesses should design frameworks that handle unexpected demands without breaking a sweat. For instance, adding remote support options or integrating chatbots can reduce response times during peak periods.
Systems must grow alongside the company.
“Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.”
Focus on tools that scale easily, like cloud-based platforms or workflow automation software. Solutions such as Oracle Cloud Integration services can streamline operations across systems, ensuring your infrastructure grows with demand. These solutions simplify operations and cut down manual tasks as your team expands. Strong foundations now pave the way for smoother transitions later on.
Implementing Automation in Support Processes
Automation trims the fat from repetitive tasks, saving both time and sanity. It allows your team to focus on solving real problems instead of shuffling paperwork.
Utilizing ticketing and workflow tools
Ticketing systems maintain support requests in an organized and efficient manner. They assign tasks appropriately to team members and monitor progress effectively. This ensures all customer issues are addressed, even during peak times.
Automated ticket queuing prioritizes critical problems, saving time and maintaining customer satisfaction.
Workflow tools make managing repetitive processes more straightforward for teams. These tools establish clear steps for resolving issues or escalating them when required. For example, remote support teams rely on these systems to work together across various locations without interruptions.
This collaboration enhances response times and significantly improves service quality.
Automating routine support tasks
Automation enhances efficiency in customer service. It allows teams to concentrate on complex issues while routine tasks are managed effortlessly.
- Write chatbot scripts for common customer inquiries. These bots can handle FAQs, guide users, or assist with basic troubleshooting.
- Configure automatic email replies for ticket acknowledgment. This ensures customers know their requests have been received promptly.
- Arrange recurring system checks with remote support tools. This approach helps identify minor issues before they grow into significant problems.
- Automate ticket prioritization based on urgency and importance. Assign high-priority cases directly to available agents.
- Create reminders for subscription renewals or pending updates. These alerts keep clients informed and help lower unnecessary tickets.
- Introduce workflow automation for repetitive IT tasks such as password resets or software installations. This saves valuable hours by eliminating manual processes.
- Use AI-driven analytics tools to recognize trends in support requests over time, enhancing service strategies through data-based insights.
Let automation handle these repetitive duties so your team can focus on solving meaningful customer challenges!
Ensuring Security and Compliance
Protecting sensitive data requires constant vigilance. Regular checks help you stay ahead of risks and regulatory demands.
Adopting zero-trust security principles
Zero-trust security requires verification at every step. Consider every user, device, and connection as untrusted until proven otherwise. This method reduces risks from internal breaches and external attacks.
Provide access strictly on a need-to-know basis.
Set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) to enhance identity verification. Continuously observe network activity for unusual behavior or threats. Divide data access, reducing exposure during potential breaches.
Trust but verify is obsolete; now it’s always verify, without exceptions!
Regular audits and updates for compliance
Security doesn’t stop with adopting principles. Ongoing audits and updates are vital to maintain compliance.
- Conduct system-wide reviews every quarter to identify vulnerabilities in your support infrastructure.
- Verify that all customer support tools align with industry regulations, such as GDPR or CCPA, to avoid costly fines.
- Check software licenses regularly to confirm legal usage across your organization.
- Update remote support tools routinely to close any security gaps caused by outdated versions.
- Assess chatbot implementation for data privacy compliance and ensure encrypted communication protocols are active.
- Keep IT teams informed on changes in cybersecurity laws and standards through workshops or webinars.
- Test disaster recovery systems often to validate their ability to handle breaches effectively.
- Use the previous review performance analysis to track progress and highlight potential weak spots in the network management process.
- Document findings from each review properly for transparency during future inspections or legal requirements.
- Schedule follow-ups after every update rollout to ensure no steps were missed that might affect overall system efficiency.
Regular checks like these protect your customers and strengthen trust in your managed services offering over time!
Training and Upskilling IT Support Teams
Regular workshops help teams stay proficient. These sessions focus on new remote support tools, improving workflow processes, and customer service strategies. For example, teaching agents to work with advanced ticketing systems enhances their efficiency.
Including role-playing exercises can prepare them for real-world scenarios like managing irate customers or resolving complex technical issues.
Providing access to certifications benefits both employees and businesses. Courses on topics like network management or chatbot implementation develop skills while aligning with company goals.
Flexible training schedules allow employees to learn without disrupting daily operations. Interactive learning platforms add an enjoyable twist, maintaining interest throughout the process.
Monitoring and Evaluating Support Performance
Keep tabs on performance using clear, measurable criteria. Monitor response times, resolution rates, and customer satisfaction scores regularly. Numbers like an average first-response time under 30 minutes or a ticket resolution rate above 90% provide a strong indication of efficiency.
These standards help identify gaps that need addressing before they escalate into larger issues.
Use tools to gather insights across all support channels. Analysis platforms can reveal trends in common issues or peak support hours. Recognizing these patterns early helps teams adjust workloads and resources effectively.
For example, if chat traffic increases every Friday afternoon, adding more agents during those hours prevents delays while maintaining service quality.
Conclusion
Building a managed support strategy is like setting the foundation for your business’s future growth. Focus on flexibility, smart tools, and a strong team to handle challenges head-on.
Small steps today can keep your operations efficient as demands grow. Test, refine, and stick with what works best for you. A well-built plan means satisfied customers and sustainable success ahead!
The Pre-Symbolic Dance: A Deep Dive into Manlin’s Artistic Mindscape
Manlin Zhang’s work invites us into a liminal space, where art and science might coexist; where cognitive inquiry and the evocative language of visual expression are addressed with rigorous care. Her 2025 exhibition – Intelligence in Motion – Dreaming Butterfly and A Thoughtful Bee – presents the potential of this intersection with luminous clarity and delicacy in its contemplation of consciousness, what feels equally significant, is the congruence between intelligence and the possibilities of perception that these works explore.
Manlin is not just an artist. As a Professional Optoelectronic Engineer, with an education in Art and Science at Central Saint Martins, Manlin is uniquely positioned as an artist/researcher, situated at the remarkable intersection of empirical exploration and advancing artistry as speculative practice. The particularity of her on-ground position – which integrates scientific analytical rigor and proposed forms of creative expression – allows the rigor and criticality of her practice to emerge naturally, unfolding alongside the visual language, she integrates scientific research into her creative painting practice; The medium in which she does this – Oil on Claybord – presents an ephemeral moment that indicates the cognitive process just before intelligence identified itself through language. The collected strokes of her mark-making present a sparkly moment in cognition: a trace; a flicker that is pre-symbolic.
Her statement – “a visual trace of intelligence, before it becomes language.” – reads as a poetic manifesto towards an emerging form of scientific art. Intelligence, in this sense, is free flowing; it flows, it is living, recursive, and vibrant. Intelligence exist before logic conquers it, and before thought calcifies into categorical stasis. The brushwork in her painting captures not just subjective feeling, or computational thought, but the “between” of the two; and the biological and more-than biological.
On first glance, Intelligence in Motion – Dreaming Butterfly entices the viewer’s gaze with its luminous layers of translucent blue and green and ochre that take on broad overlapping strokes which ripple across the surface of the claybord and spark memory or connect neural pathways. The image itself – abstract in nature and organic in subject – uses the wings of a butterfly, and yet it is not just a representation. It functions as a visual echo of the fleeting nature of thought as it moves before it becomes identified with the body or mind.
The surface texture of the claybord allows oil to stay fluid and imbues tactility that evokes a sense of biological matter and micro surfaces. The way the fluids bleed out and pool evoke a sense of movement, evolution and recursion. The notion of recursion reinforces the artist’s aim to illustrate intelligence as “not yet dried, recursive and pre-symbolic.”
What is most fascinating is that multilayered perception: that what you think you are seeing is partial truth, like ants walking on a Möbius strip constrained by limitation of view. Manlin’s sweeping brushwork gestures toward that complexity of information native to the support – the unseen “topology” of reality that will never be seen through direct observation but can be articulated through all brush strokes.
The Thoughtful Bee series highlighted by proximity to bees relates back to the abstract fluidity of Dreaming Butterfly in that anchors the discourse back into biological reality – the bee as a container of multiple schemas of collective intelligence, instinct and delicate complexity is engaged in here not only as an insect but understood as a site of inquiry into what thought & awareness actually is.
In the macro close without hesitation to bee wings we are presented that wings have a quality of stained glass or biological mosaics that are static to hold water with structure and yet ethereal. This visual element encourages us to think about the complexity of natural form and function, the intelligence that is woven into the living matrix of biological systems and the subtle rhythms of animal reasoning.
We have here the bee, spinning in the black nothing, which for me creates a feeling of thought wandering from its origins; stripped of source and context, not lost – but contributing to something larger. The bee’s color in infinite black reflects a sense of both volition and wonder; how can consciousness emanate as a luminous trace in a vast unknown.
Manlin Zhang creates work that is not simply representing science, it is a philosophical inquiry into big picture thinking about the self and environment. By incorporating elements of Eastern metaphysics to cognitive science understanding, she attaches herself to traditions that explore the gulf between subject-object or observer-observed.
Her paintings, drawings, and photographs explore the frail lines that separate “thought” from “sensation,” “intelligence” from “embodiment,” and is directly in line with the current tensions present in the philosophy of mind and quantum physics where thinking about consciousness has begun to destabilize classical categories.
The butterfly and (the bee) are contemporaneous beings of transformations and workers in motion thus represent motion of intelligence itself; between form and formlessness, pattern and chaos.
From a technical standpoint, Manlin handles her various media very well. The oil on claybord she is working with is a responsive medium that behaves like a living tissue and creates surfaces that seem to have energy lying in- wait. The more subtle blacks and blues of Dreaming Butterfly create a peaceful – but impenetrable palette that draws the viewer into contemplation.
In contrast, in her photographs Manlin uses a stark black backdrop and a tool-like existence to clarify, isolate, and glorify her subjects while utilizing pinpoints of light. While the bees are represented in crystalline perfection, the juxtaposed placement of the bees in near black holes terminates the connection of physicality like a faint spiritual or cognitive essence made visible.
All of these works are conversing with one another, between abstract and realistic, between science and poetry, between microscopic and metaphysical.
Manlin Zhang is working at a cusp of a new kind of artistic territory where scientific accuracy and metaphysical speculation come together in what can be understood as discrete, yet by unique, ways of investigating the realms of intelligence and consciousness. Zhang’s Intelligence in Motion framed with the intimate and contemplative images of A Thoughtful Bee , is a deep visual exploration into what it means to think, feel, and be aware.
Zhang’s work prompts us to rethink the parameters of perception and understanding, to recognize intelligence before it has been crystallized into language and to see intellect as fluid and recursive in process. Zhang performs a formulation in which science becomes sensuous and art becomes investigation, a welcoming invitation to dwell with meaning in the glowing unknown.
This is art that interacts with not just intellect, but emotionally prompts us to be immersed and lost in the cadences of thought and sensation, to dream upon the wings of a butterfly and contemplate the wisdom contained in the stillness of a bee.
Manlin Zhang’s work powerfully serves as a clarion call toward what the future of intertwining art and science work might find itself inherited in; that the truest mystery of intelligence and consciousness ultimately lies not in declarations of possession toward knowing, but questions we deem, fundamental, worthy and worthy of investigation.
How to Style Your Plus-Size Formal Dress to Achieve Your Perfect Look
Being a vision in a formal gown isn’t something you do by putting on the ideal gown – it’s the way you dress it up. It may be one of the newest plus-size formal gowns, or you may choose classic black formal gowns, but the ideal accessories, haircut, and finishing touches can make your look go from bland to beautiful.
Here in this tutorial, we will help you create your dream formal wear by showing you how to style your dress more beautifully with accessories, shoes, and hairstyles.
Pair Your Dress with Complementary Accessories
Accessories are the secret to allowing your personality to show through without overwhelming the beauty of your dress. Whether you’ve opted for lavish velvet or a light-as-air chiffon, making the right additions is the difference.
- For a Glamorous Evening, Go for Metallic Heels and a Sparkly Clutch
Metallic accessories add a glitz and shine factor to black formal dresses. Gold or silver stilettos not only lengthen the legs but also create a beautiful contrast to the deep color of black. A metallic-colored clutch or a rhinestone-covered clutch gives poise and is a fashionable yet practical object to carry your things.
For plus-size formal dresses in bright jewel tones or pale pastels, metallic heels and a matching-colored clutch can provide a harmonious and balanced finishing touch. Just be sure your accessories don’t overwhelm the dress—rather, let them enhance your overall radiance.
- Add Chandelier Earrings or a Statement Necklace for an Extra Pop
Jewelry truly does make or break an evening dress. If your evening dress has a simple neckline or classic silhouette, this is your moment to shine—literally. Chandelier earrings have the ability to add movement and glamour, creating interest in the direction of your face and adding length to your overall look.
For evening formal plus-size gowns, statement necklaces are well paired with strapless or V-necks. They disrupt solid colors and provide interest in the upper portion of your body. For evening formal black gowns, crystals or colored gemstones in your necklaces will provide a luxurious evening-out look.
Pro tip: Choose either a statement earring or a statement necklace—never both. Balance is the key to sophistication.
- Soft Curls or an Elegant Updo Will Complete Your Formal Ensemble Beautifully
Your hair completes your formal look, and therefore, it needs to be in sync with your outfit and accessories. Soft curls are the best choice for the romantic theme. They complement one-shoulder or off-the-shoulder plus-size formal dresses, providing a feminine and bohemian appearance.
If your gown features delicate details on the back or the neckline, you would want to attempt an elegant updo. Not only does it highlight the design, but it also elongates your neck because it makes you stand straight. For black formal dresses, a smooth bun or a full chignon gives an elegant, classic appearance.
Hair clips, like jeweled pins or plain clips, can be added for extra glamour, completing the overall look.
Final Touches: Confidence is Your Best Accessory
Plus size formal gowns or black formal gowns styling is not a matter of style—it’s a matter of feeling confident in what you’re wearing. Once you’ve selected the correct heels, added some sparkles, and had your hair just so, the final element of the equation is feeling confident to put it all together.
Remember, style rules are just a guide—your personal touch makes your style unique.
No matter if it’s a gala, prom, or black-tie affair, these styling ideas will have everyone’s head turning and dying to know your secret.
Best Mac Games for Kids
In terms of fun and safe gaming experiences, kids today are very lucky. Why? Because they have more choices than ever. Similarly, finding the best Mac games for kids is easier than it used to be. With so many titles available, anyone can find a game that is both entertaining and age-appropriate.
This article shows a few Mac games for children that blend creativity and fun.
Five Best Mac Games for Kids
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Minecraft
Minecraft is a timeless favorite among kids and parents alike. It allows players to explore various worlds. Likewise, all they need to do is to create anything they can think of and survive the night. What makes it more interesting is that it encourages creativity and exploration.
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Roblox
Roblox enables children to play in the ultimate virtual universe. Specifically, they can create anything while sharing their experiences with other kids. Similarly, the game allows kids to become anything they can imagine. Also, the game itself is filled with more games like obstacle courses, role-playing worlds, and more.
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Pikuniku
Pikuniku is an oddly fantastic puzzle exploration game. At the same time, gamers play as a sketchy red character and solve puzzles. Likewise, they need to help quirky creatures in a colorful world. The main thing they need to accomplish is to assist them in overcoming struggles and revealing a deep-state conspiracy.
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Slime Rancher
Slime Rancher allows children to become space farmers on an alien planet full of bouncing slimes. Particularly, players will take on the role of Beatrix LeBeau and make a living from slime ranching. With each day having its challenges, users need to collect, grow, and harvest slimes.
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LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes is a game that features the entire Marvel Universe Lego-style. Players will control their favorite heroes, including Iron Man, Hulk, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Captain America, and more. Their objective is to stop Loki and other villains from creating a world-destroying weapon. To save the earth, users need to follow cosmic bricks across LEGO Manhattan and go to key locations.
The Wrap-Up
Nowadays, children don’t even need to break a sweat if they want to play. They can sit on the bed and enjoy the best Mac games for kids. From imaginative building to solving puzzles and saving the earth, the games on the list ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. At the same time, they’re a great way for children to learn. So, let the games begin — on your Mac!
Best Anime Games for Mac
Anime has grown beyond its roots in print media, television, and film. It expanded into the world of video games. Thanks to the vibrant art styles and immersive storytelling, these games captivated millions of players. Similarly, their unique gameplay turned anime fans into full-blown gamers. For Mac users, getting the best anime games may require extra effort. But it’s not impossible, as there are many exciting titles worth exploring.
This article highlights some of the best anime games available for Mac.
Five Best Anime Games for Mac
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Mokoko X
Mokoko X combines classic arcade gameplay with anime-style visuals and a modern touch. Specifically, the game lets players assist girls in reclaiming territories from weird bosses. Also, it has over 30 levels. And each level features a unique enemy and minions. The game is simple yet perfect for casual gaming sessions.
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Opus: Echo of Starsong – Full Bloom Edition
Opus: Echo of Starsong is a visual narrative-driven game. Likewise, gamers will have a galactic adventure. They need to guide Eda, who can hear mysterious sound waves from asteroids. With a young man, they go on a journey to solve an ancient myth.
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Lost Ruins
Lost Ruins blends action, dark fantasy, and anime visuals. It mainly revolves around the mission to help a young girl escape danger. Players will battle monsters, manage resources, and solve puzzles. The goal of the game is for users to unravel the secrets of the lost ruins to survive.
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Dusk Pub
Dusk Pub is a more relaxed experience. Similarly, gamers only need to run a worn-down bar. At the same time, they need to put in the work to expand the business. While doing this, players need to meet and recruit girls as servers.
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Epiphany City
Epiphany City follows Lily, who steals superhero powers and goes to save the world. Specifically, players use a special ability to manipulate art and reality. Likewise, her power evolves as the game progresses. So, gamers can change the world to their preference. Also, the game is best for those who value storytelling.
The Wrap-Up
Gamers who are interested in the best anime games for Mac have more options than ever. The great mix of titles on the list provides intense action, heartfelt storylines, and casual fun. It’s a variety of anime-inspired gaming experiences. Just be sure that your device is compatible with the game’s system requirements. Now, choose your game and play your way!
Ethel Cain Releases New Single ‘Fuck Me Eyes’
We just posted our list of the best songs of June, and ‘Nettles’, the first single from Ethel Cain‘s next album, Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You, is on it. It just so happens that today, Cain has released the second single from the Preacher’s Daughter follow-up. ‘Fuck Me Eyes’ is just as striking but strays from that hazy, sprawling take on Americana, laced instead with gorgeous synths and gauzy guitars that also speak to a shift in narrative perspective. Check it out below.
“Continuing in the theme of high school anxieties, ‘Fuck Me Eyes’ (on top of being an homage to one of my favorite pop songs of all time, ‘Bette Davis Eyes’) is meant to be an ode to the girls who are perfect and have everything, yet carry the reputation of town slut,” Hayden Anhedönia explained in a press release. “The beautiful blonde who is just lonely and wants to be loved, that all the adults condemn to each other, who ultimately is the girl everyone simultaneously can’t stand and wants to be. I wrote the beginning of this song five years ago, making it the oldest demo for the record. As the story became more fleshed out, I realized it had a more relevant place on the album than I originally thought. This song represents Ethel’s complicated feelings for the girl she’s convinced has caught her crush’s eye, as well as her 16-year-old thoughts on the matter.”
Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You is set for release on August 8. Earlier this year, Cain put out Perverts, a 90-minute experimental project that was billed as an EP.
Foo Fighters Release New Single ‘Today’s Song’
Foo Fighters have released a new track, ‘Today’s Song’, marking first original music since 2023’s But Here We Are. The power ballad follows the band’s recent cover of Minor Threat’s ‘I Don’t Wanna Hear It’. Take a listen below.
In a statement, Dave Grohl said, “It should go without saying that without the boundless energy of William Goldsmith, the seasoned wisdom of Franz Stahl, and the thunderous wizardry of Josh Freese, this story would be incomplete, so we extend our heartfelt gratitude for the time, music, and memories that we shared with each of them over the years. Thank you, gentlemen.”
“And… Taylor,” he continued. “Your name is spoken every day, sometimes with tears, sometimes with a smile, but you are still in everything we do, everywhere we go, forever. The enormity of your beautiful soul is only rivaled by the infinite longing we feel in your absence. We all miss you beyond words. Foo Fighters will forever include Taylor Hawkins in every note that we play, until we do finally reach our destination.”
Earlier this year, Foo Fighters parted ways with Josh Freese, who took over on drums following Hawkins’ passing, and a press release does not specify who’s playing drums on the new track. The band’s current lineup is listed as Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett, and Rami Jaffee.
The Best Songs of June 2025
Every week, we update our Best New Songs playlist with several tracks that catch our attention, then round up the best songs of each month in this segment. Here, in alphabetical order, are the best songs of June 2025.
Amaarae, ‘S.M.O’
You don’t need to have listened to more than a few minutes of Amaarae’s excellent Fountain Baby to guess that the title of her new single stands for “Slut Me Out.” It’s an infectiously layered and unmistakably sultry jam that flaunts the Ghanaian-American artist’s fusion of styles, which she helpfully points out include Ghanaian highlife, Detroit club bass, zouk, and Janet Jackson’s Control. All of those references may come through, but they do nothing to distract from the titular message of the song, let alone Amaarae’s presence and comedic flair: “I wanna week with her, she taste like Lexapro.” We’re still a month away from the release of Fountain Baby’s follow-up, Black Star, but this is an excellent first taste, not least if you need something to take the edge off.
Blood Orange, ‘The Field’
‘The Field’ is a sunbeam, a deep breath, a prayer, an everyday feeling. But above all, Blood Orange’s first release in three years is a gorgeously orchestrated dialogue. First, between the impressive cast of collaborators Dev Hynes has brought together: a skittering dance beat set against Durutti Column leader Vini Reilly’s lush, fluttery guitar work, the interplay between Hynes and guest vocalists Tariq Al-Sabir, Daniel Caesar, and Caroline Polachek. Maybe you can recognize some of these voices, but the more entrancing conversation happens between the narratively faceless protagonists, who hate to say goodbye but keep yearning for home. There’s a haziness to the warmth, which somehow also feels like a gravitational force. “Sing to me, in the heat of the sun,” Polachek pleads, making quite an entrance. You wouldn’t expect a song this understated to be a contender for song of the summer, but it should be.
Ethel Cain, ‘Nettles’
In what is technically the post-chorus of ‘Nettles’, Hayden Anhedonia delivers a devastating line: “Gardenias on the tile, where it makes no difference who held back from who.” Devastating as a postscript in the love story of Ethel Cain and Willoughby Tucker, whose wedding remains a distant dream because we’ve already learned of the latter’s death. We know Cain’s fate, too, through Preacher’s Daughter, but ‘Nettles’, being the first song she wrote in the house in Alabama where she finished that album, serves as a prequel. And it’s devastating, too, because though it passed through many iterations, the track’s vision of Americana stretches over eight minutes yet remains as sweet as can be, nestled by layers of fiddle, pedal steel, and banjo; a devotional that dares not be entirely mournful or anything less than idealistic. The story of two teenagers “in a race to grow up” is a familiar one in the Ethel Cain universe, but what’s moving about ‘Nettles’ is how they’re forced into the slowness of adulthood through “the flicker of the hospital light,” and how the song itself honours and extends that slowness, clearly beyond the realm of realism. Where it makes no difference if it’s nettles or gardenias, suffering or love. Where it’s always.
La Dispute, ‘Environmental Catastrophe Film’
One takeaway from La Dispute’s astounding nine-minute epic ‘Environmental Catastrophe Film’ is that time moves ceaselessly, and only in one direction. I try to keep this in mind as one of its couplets – “If you give in to the poison inside/ Could they deny you when you try to get in?” – takes me back to the visceral reaction I had upon hearing the band for the first time as a young kid, more than a decade and a half ago, and one of their most quoted lyrics: “Can I still get into Heaven if I kill myself?” While the the song’s nuanced storytelling was lost on some listeners in that climactic moment, the same can hardly happen with ‘Environmental Catastrophe Film’, in the middle of a three-part narrative that takes into account the history of the polluted Grand River, the creation of the Christian Reformed Church, and furniture manufacturing. Sitting in the midst of it all is a boy for whom time doesn’t seem to just be moving forward: grieving the old friend who died by suicide, he’s lost in the swathe of metaphors and allusions, finding comfort in their dissolution: “Watch the past fall away/ All our lives against the blade/ Because the time goes and we change/ Not what we made but what can be.”
Nourished by Time, ‘9 2 5’
It’s a familiar story: an artist waiting tables by day and making music by night, barely holding it together yet holding onto a dream. Musicians have written this kind of song from varying levels of success and cynicism, and while Nourished by Time’s ‘9 2 5’ is written in the third person, you have no doubt Marcus Brown’s perspective comes not just from experience, but from the heart. He neither revels nor quite rebels: this is a glistening dance jam whose circular groove might mirror the unchanging rhythm of the narrator’s life – “hateful,” is how he describes – but the brightness of the instrumentation also hints at where Brown’s head is currently at. He’s not tacky or patronizing about it, though, just wishful: “May you always have a fight/ Be it wrong or be it right/ Shed a raindrop when you cry.” And maybe write a song about it.
The Beths, ‘No Joy’
You wouldn’t call The Beths’ latest single joyful, but it’s an unusually sprightly depiction of anhedonia. It’s not exactly new territory for the band, whose last album, Expert in a Dying Field, showed their proficiency in slipping hooks into heartbroken anthems. But as the first preview of their fourth album, Straight Line Was a Lie, it finds vocalist Liz Stokes less concerned with painful emotions than her own brain chemistry, especially as she started taking an SSRI that, aside from everything else, introduced a barrier to songwriting. “Heartbeat barely pumping,” she sings, yet the band’s naturally locked into a rhythm; Stokes said her musical instincts “weren’t as panicky,” but fight-or-flight is exactly the response ‘No Joy’ seems to incite in its final moments, like every new layer is pulling at her tear ducts. To expel anything – even the opposite of joy – would be delightful.
Water From Your Eyes, ‘Life Signs’
Here’s a great line: “Tick tick you’re alive sunlit sick sky scraped by bright eyed short sight online.” Good luck relating to any other lyric on ‘Life Signs’, though – the lead single from Water From Your Eyes’ It’s a Beautiful Place is as hectically free-associative as anything off their previous albums, though we do get confirmation that it (presumably: “life in a small town”) being a beautiful place elicits no fearlessness about death, but simply feeling unfulfilled. The band – now a quartet, with Rachel Brown and Nate Amos welcoming Al Nardo and Bailey Wollowitz of fantasy of a broken heart – still work their magic around this sense of dissatisfaction, cranking up a delightfully douchey guitar riff before drowning it out with a dreamily warped chorus. And is that a vision creeping up in the final spoken verse? “To save a tradition imagine it different.” There’s three whole minutes left of the song to keep you guessing, only to realize you need the full album.
Wednesday, ‘Wound Up Here (By Holdin On)’
After the deceptively sweet introduction of ‘Elderberry Wine’, Wednesday’s latest single seems to dive into the gnarled world of Bleeds. Guitars that swirl and itch and dig their nails right through the dirt. A feral scream from Karly Hartzman, who relays a story a friend told her about having to drag a body out of a creek in West Virginia, borrowing a line from Evan Gray’s poetry book Thickets Swamped in A Fence-Coated Briars. It’s ensnared by Hartzman’s own piercing lyricism, which zeroes in on all sorts of ways that deaths mount up like trophies (“Mounted antlers in the kitchen on a crooked nail/ Other killers keep teeth keep the fingernails”), how tragedy is a strange path to undying. “This is what Wednesday songs are supposed to sound like,” Hartzman has said of the new LP, and ‘Wound Up Here’, in all its dark, twisted beauty, stands as an emblem.
The Most Common Myths About Online Gambling Debunked
Gambling is surrounded by many misconceptions. Because of this, players cannot properly evaluate the possibility of winning a game. A well-known operator Pistolo helps to debunk all these myths. Transparency and responsible gaming provide the best experience for users. A safe gaming environment allows everyone to have a great time without any risks and restrictions.
Myth 1: Online Casino Games Are Rigged
One of the key myths that Pistolo debunks is that all gambling games are rigged. However, this is impossible, since random number generators and other tools are used to control slot machines, including:
- random number generators completely randomly determine the results of the gameplay;
- licensed casinos adhere to strict gambling laws and ensure transparency of results;
- certified games guarantee complete security, which reduces the risk of counterfeiting any results.
Online casino games cannot be rigged, since developers use modern mechanisms to ensure security and transparency.
Myth 2: Online Casinos Don’t Pay Out Winnings
Some players think that casinos do not pay out winnings. However, reliable sites like Pistolo casino operate according to strict rules and guarantee payouts of winnings in case of players’ victories. At the same time, it is important for users to comply with all wagering requirements, use only feasible bonuses and play in verified games.
Licensed online casinos fight money laundering and also ensure that withdrawal periods do not exceed the established value. To avoid any problems with payments, carefully read the rules of a particular online casino and use verified payment methods.
Myth 3: Gambling Is Pure Luck, Not Strategy
Many people believe that all gambling is based solely on luck. However, this is far from true. In fact, many games in casinos like Pistolo require certain skills and understanding of the gameplay mechanisms. For example, slot machines and roulette are almost impossible to plan a strategy with due to random number generators. In card and other board games, users can use different strategies and approaches to increase the likelihood of winning.
Myth 4: Online Gambling Is Unsafe
Some people believe that online casinos and gambling are dangerous. If you play on the sites of trusted operators, there are no risks. Modern operators like Pistolo use certified security tools that comply with industry standards. Encryption protocols and responsible gaming policies guarantee minimal risks for users and the safety of funds.
Myth 5: Casinos Control Winning Streaks
Some also believe that online casinos manipulate winning sequences. This is impossible, since all gambling results are completely random and independent. Random number generators are used in each game. Winning streaks are purely statistical phenomena that are determined by probability and dispersion. Players independently control their gaming process and directly influence the possible results.
To summarize, any myths about the work of online casinos can be easily explained. Licensed and certified online casinos make sure that players feel safe while gambling. Before registering and betting, you should always check any information about the license. You should also check out gambling games in a free demo version in order to get familiar with the mechanics and better understand the payout rules.
