Skullcrusher has announced a new album, And Your Song is Like a Circle, which arrives October 17 via her new label home Dirty Hit. Today, Helen Ballentine has unveiled the lead single ‘Exhale’, her first new music since under the moniker since 2022’s Quiet the Room. The track swirls with inspiration and lets it all out in a wondrous haze. Ballentine conceptualized its accompanying video in collaboration with director Adam Alonzo and shot it in Upstate New York in and around her mother’s house. Check it out below.
“’Exhale’ is about noticing the moment when a song is first conceived,” Ballentine explained. “There is a part of me that wants to stop there and leave the song unfinished, before structure settles in and the song evolves. Instead, I allow it to form & accept whatever it may become. This process feels natural, like taking a pause at the top of your inhale before letting it all out. Maybe through acknowledging this process I can feel more at peace with change in general. When thoughts, words & sounds interact in a certain way they can reveal a path forward. Sometimes I want to linger before this path, in a space that feels hidden and safe, but in the end I take the path & surrender to change.”
Ballentine tracked the new album at home, with apob in Los Angeles, and co-producer Isaac Eiger (Lauren Balthrop, Cassandra Jenkins) in New York. “I like thinking about my work as a collection, and every time I add more to it, I’m adding a rock,” she remarked. “Eventually it might form a circle. Each time Imake something, I’m putting another line around the body of work. It feels like I’ll be trying to trace it for my whole life.”
They say loving is tough. But nothing’s tougher than being in a long-distance relationship. One day, you’re sharing a couch while streaming. Then, all of a sudden, you can’t even steal fries off each other’s plates. So, the next best thing is sharing a screen while playing the best Steam games out there. With the library of games, couples will surely find titles that will keep the love alive. To get things started, here are five solid picks to try.
Five Steam Games for Long-Distance Couples
Project Zomboid
Project Zomboid will test your love for one another. Nothing says commitment more than surviving a zombie apocalypse together. Play with your partner in the multiplayer mode and navigate a zombie-infested sandbox. Also, you get to fight, build defenses, loot houses, and manage hunger. However, the ultimate challenge is to remain alive.
Unravel Two
Unravel Two is a heartwarming, story-driven game. As a couple, you will play as yarn characters. In particular, you need to solve challenges and form friendships along the way. At the same time, the game allows you to explore enchanting worlds together. The more puzzles you solve, the more special abilities you unlock.
Among Us
Among Us proves that every relationship needs a pinch of chaos. Likewise, this game presents teamwork and betrayal — in space! Plus, you can even invite your friends to play with you. The group will take turns becoming the impostor. Specifically, that player needs to go on a mission of taking out the crew. And the rest of the group will have to determine who’s the impostor before everything is too late.
Castle Crashers
Castle Crashers is an arcade adventure game on Steam. You and your partners will work as knights and save the princesses. Also, users need to defend the kingdom and smash some castles. You can even unlock several characters and weapons on your way to victory.
Overwatch 2
Overwatch 2 offers team-based shooter gameplay. Similarly, players can choose from more than 40 extraordinary heroes. Team up with your partner, and the ultimate goal is to emerge victorious! At the same time, your journey together will uncover conflicts and surprise team-ups. Become a true power couple by flanking together and protecting each other.
What Did We Learn Today?
Distance doesn’t have to mean disconnect. With the right Steam games, having endless gaming dates is possible. Likewise, you may not be physically together, but you’ll be doing fun stuff with each other. And honestly, that’s what counts.
Loving someone is no joke. But so is being away from the one you love. Similarly, long-distance relationships take effort, trust, and a great deal of creativity. All of that is to maintain a strong and deep connection. With technology, you can feel closer through texts and video calls. However, that can feel repetitive over time. But there’s an underrated solution — gaming together. If you don’t know where to start, try some of these Xbox games we’ve listed for you!
FiveXBOX Games for Long-Distance couples
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley provides a quiet digital life in the countryside. As players, you and your partner will work on a farm. Together, you will try to turn overgrown fields from your grandfather into a home. Specifically, your job is to plant crops, raise animals, mine, fish, and start an orchard. Work together to maximize resources and develop the local community.
Monster Hunter Rise
Monster Hunter Rise is the complete opposite of the first suggestion. This one delivers chaos. As hunters in the village of Kamura, you and your loved one will go on a quest to prevent the rampage in your area. Likewise, you will gather weapons and track monsters. Each monster you take down will result in new materials to create stronger equipment.
KeyWe
KeyWe caters to couples who want less serious games. It’s a fun puzzler title. Also, players will take on the role of two kiwi birds. Partner up to work in a post office. All you have to do is get the messages delivered on time — whatever it takes.
Human: Fall Flat
Human: Fall Flat is another light-hearted game. This one is set in floating dreamscapes. The main objective is to navigate a castle by overcoming all kinds of weird obstacles. At the same time, each dream level features new surroundings to explore. So, prepare to flop, stumble, and fumble in this hilarious platformer.
Overcooked
Overcooked will test your cooking chemistry with your partner. But the twist is you’ll have to work in unusual kitchens. Similarly, the mission is to become master chefs by cooking different dishes. However, you also have to make sure that customers get served on time, or they will leave.
What Did We Learn Today?
There’s no reason to settle with Facetime and Messenger. Your long-distance relationship can thrive better with Xbox games. Likewise, gaming isn’t just about passing time. It’s about creating it together. Who knows, playing together might even open new core memories and shared experiences.
There’s so much music coming out all the time that it’s hard to keep track. On those days when the influx of new tracks is particularly overwhelming, we sift through the noise to bring you a curated list of the most interesting new releases (the best of which will be added to our Best New Songs playlist). Below, check out our track roundup for Tuesday, July 15, 2025.
Jeff Tweedy – ‘One Tiny Flower’, ‘Out In The Dark’, ‘Stray Cats In Spain’, and ‘Enough’
Jeff Tweedy has announced a triple album, Twilight Override, and shared not one, not two, not three, but four songs from it. ‘One Tiny Flower’ is whimsically breezy, ‘Out in the Dark’ is sparkling, ‘Enough’, ‘Stray Cats in Spain’ is the most touching, while ‘Enough’, the project’s closer, is described by Tweedy as “a summation.” He explained, “This is the light you’re working towards the whole record. It is the light that just comes to terms with–okay, it’s never gonna be enough. It’s never gonna be fully okay. You’re never gonna completely fill yourself up with all this stuff you love. You’re endless, you’re deep, you’re insatiable…if you’re doing it right. Stop thinking so fucking much about things that you can’t control.”
The Autumn Defense – ‘The Ones’
As if Jeff Tweedy announcing a triple album weren’t enough, the Autumn Defense – the duo of longtime Wilco members Pat Sansone and John Stirratt – have announced their first album in more than 11 years. Here and Nowhere will be released on October 10, and the breezily contemplative ‘The Ones’ is out now. The track is “a meditation on impermanence, and wrestling with the loss of people and things that have been meaningful in a life,” according to Sansone. “Musically, the song takes inspiration from some songs that were popular on the radio in my childhood, in which now I recognize a certain eeriness or disquiet. I thought this musical backdrop fit well with the theme of the fading of a familiar world.”
They Are Gutting a Body of Water – ‘trainers’
Few – if any – modern shoegaze bands can make fuzz sound as all-consuming as They Are Gutting a Body of Water, who are back today with the announcement of a new album LOTTO. Singer Doug Dulgarian described ‘trainers’, which only adds fuel to the argument, as “a vignette, a day in the life; desiring something wholesome while still grappling with the reality presented clearly by my subconscious. I’ve built this life for myself, idealizing escape like we all do, I live in this house built on what I can only perceive to be bad decisions and shame, of comfort and distraction. walk to the store to buy some dumb thing that won’t help, after fantasizing about escaping it all. glance back at the comfort of my house and consider staying outside in the world tonight, because the escape isn’t big enough, it just never is.”
Amanda Shires – ‘A Way It Goes’
“I can show you how he left me/ Paint a picture, growing flowers for nobody/ But I’d rather you see me thriving” are the opening lines on the first single off Nobody’s Girl, Amanda first album since her divorce from Jason Isbell. It’s nothing short of devastating. “Nobody’s Girl is what came after the wreckage, the silence, the rebuilding,” Shires shared. “It’s about standing in the aftermath of a life you thought would last forever and realizing no one is coming to save you.”
Guerilla Toss – ‘Life’s a Zoo’
Guerilla Toss have shared another preview of their Stephen Malkmus-produced fifth LP, You’re Weird Now. The joyously overstimulating ‘Life’s a Zoo’ also features vocals from Malkmus, as well as Ben Katzman vocals and guitar.
King Princess – ‘Cry Cry Cry’
King Pricess has shared a new single from her forthcoming album, Girl Violence, and it’s full of angst. “You’re gonna cry, cry, cry when you hear this,” she sings on the track, which is “about a friendship with a lady that did not work out,” according to Mikaela Straus. “Sometimes two divas create an explosion.”
Upchuck – ‘Forgotten Token’ and ‘Un Momento’
After sharing the Ty Segall-prodyced single ‘Plastic’ last month, Upchuck have announced a whole album produced and mixed by the indie rocker. I’m Nice Now, the Atlanta punk outfit’s third LP, is led by two weighty yet cathartic tracks, ‘Forgotten Token’ and ‘Un Momento’. “In this world of constant distractions and stressors it’s important to keep your mind, body, and spirit sane and sound enough to continue through this seemingly never-ending fight,” singer KT reflected. “Being a POC, by default, you’re gonna have that rage. You’re gonna have that desire for change, and that desire for the fuckery to end.”
Stay Inside – ‘Oh, Longshoreman’
Brooklyn emo band have announced a new album, Lunger, arriving October 3 on Tiny Engines, with a nocturnal, self-assuring new song ‘Oh, Longshoreman’. The follow-up to last year’s Ferried Away was co-produced by vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Chris Johns and Brian DiMeglio.
Daphni – ‘Clap Your Hands’
When Dan Snaith implores you to ‘Clap Your Hands’, you simply cannot relent. Daphni’s new single is as enchanting as the recent ‘Sad Piano House’, but with a lot more oomph.
”this is a bit of a vibe shift from the restraint of sad piano house… i made this one for a set at Rainbow Disco Club in Japan and have been playing it everywhere ever since,” Snaith commented. “i’ve got a whole bunch of unreleased daphni stuff ready to go and i’m pretty much letting what fans are asking me about the most decide what comes out next. it feels great to know that there are people who have heard it in my sets that are waiting for it. it’s simple and intuitive – once i’d got the basic idea together the key was to just get out of the way and not overcomplicate it. just to make sure it hit hard and that the timing was right so that it keeps you waiting for new elements to come in just long enough.”
Winter – ‘Without You’
“This song is diving into that feeling of longing, of what we call in portuguese ‘saudades’” Samira Winter shared of her latest single Adult Romantix single. “It’s a word that is not translatable to English and describes a deep emotional state of nostalgic longing for something or someone that is absent, lost, or unattainable.” Winter makes it feel graspable.
Wombo – ‘Spyhopping’
Wombo have shared a whimsical, off-kilter song called ‘Spyhopping’, which is lifted from their upcoming album Danger in Fives. Vocalist Sydney Chadwick explained: Spyhopping is a behavior by marine animals like whales, where they are checking their surroundings by poking one eye out of the water while keeping the rest of their body safely underneath. The lyrics resemble my broken train of thoughts, going from one direction to the next, and my attempt to ‘reel it in’ and become centered again. Like being underwater, and needing to, every now and then, resurface for clarity.”
The Sophs – ‘Death in the Family’
Recent Rough Trade Recordssignees The Sophs have dropped a hooky yet vulnerable new song, ‘Death in the Family’. Frontman Ethan Ramon said it’s “one of the most personal songs I’ve ever written. It confronts my complicated relationship with shame, and how, at a certain point, I had convinced myself I’d rather grieve a loved one than take any kind of accountability. Releasing it almost feels like purging those thoughts. Maybe it’s because I finally feel like I’m explaining myself clearly. Maybe I feel protected by my vulnerability. All I know is it means something to me.”
Water From Your Eyes – ‘Playing Classics’
The first single from Water From Your Eyes’ upcoming album It’s a Beautiful Life hinted at the record’s amalgamation of influences, and ‘Playing Classics’ is a straight-up dance track. As soon as Rachel Brown says “Look,” she has your attention. “’Playing Classics’ started as an attempt to transform an existing guitar piece that I had stalled on into a dance number after Rachel requested that the next album have a disco song on it – the original version was 12 minutes long,” Nate Amos explained. Brown added, “It was probably my favorite instrumental that Nate sent so it was my favorite to work on lyrically. I love disco and dance music and I had been begging him to make a super dance targeted track. I was focusing on the idea of dancing in a club despite the world falling apart outside. It was written during Brat Summer, so Charli definitely had an influence.”
Ducks Ltd. – ‘Lloyd, I’m Ready to Be Heartbroken’
Ducks Ltd. have teamed up with Lunar Vacation for a shimmering take on Camera Obscura’s ‘Lloyd, I’m Ready to Be Heartbroken’. “I first heard the Lloyd Cole song ‘Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?’ when a friend played me Rattlesnakes, which became a favorite,” Ducks Ltd. guitarist/vocalist Tom McGreevy explained. “Later I realized the Camera Obscura track was a nod to it, and I was instantly hooked—it’s an indie pop classic that channels ’80s UK influences into something fresh. We originally covered it during a radio session around Harm’s Way, and after playing it on tour, we decided to record it properly. Gep from Lunar Vacation did a killer vocal arrangement that elevated it.”
Pile – ‘Bouncing In Blue’
Pile have shared ‘Bouncing in Blue’, the wistful final single off their forthcoming album Sunshine and Balance Beams. Per a press release, it’s “a track about releasing control, letting go of certainty, and finding freedom from expectation.”
Margo Price – ‘Don’t Wake Me Up’ [feat. Jesse Welles]
Margo Price has teamed up with Jesse Welles for a new single, ‘Don’t Wake Me Up’, which comes paired with a video that pays homage to Bob Dylan’s ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’. “This song began as a poem a few years ago and was initially inspired by poet Frank Stanford,” Price explained. “My husband and co-writer, Jeremy Ivey, found the idea I had scribbled from my abandoned notebook, and we resurrected it with a melody. The whole thing came together in ten minutes in one of those lightning bolt moments where you’re tapped into something bigger than yourself. I wanted to remind people of all the places and ways that we are still allowed to dream even when the outside world seems like a nightmare.”
Wyldest – ‘All It Would Take Is a Phone Call’
Wyldest is back with a stirring new song, ‘All It Would Take Is A Phone Call’, along with a video she filmed on the moors of Connemara in Western Ireland. “I came across a big egg-shaped monument called the Marconi and was fascinated by it,” she shared. “It was in the middle of nowhere – standing alone as a tribute to Guglielmo Marconi, the inventor of the first wireless telecommunication device. I thought, ironically, that was a great link.”
Drain – ‘Stealing Happiness From Tomorrow’
Drain has dropped a ripper called ‘Stealing Happinness From Tomorrow’, taken from their upcoming album …Is Your Friend. It comes with a video showng the band on the road, where they spend most of their time, without their founding drummer Tim Flegal, who’s had to sit sit out recent shows as he fights cancer at home.
Saul Williams, Carlos Niño & Friends – ‘Sound then Words’
International Anthem has announced Saul Williams Meets Carlos Niño & Friends At TreePeople, a new collaborative LP that’s out August 28. It was recorded in December in Los Angeles’ Coldwater Canyon Park, on the grounds of the conservationist organization TreePeople. Previewed by the track ‘Sound then Words’, the record features Kamasi Washignton’ ontenor sax, the group includes Nate Mercereau on samples and guitar synthesizer, Aaron Shaw on flute and saxophone, Andres Renteria on a bunch of different forms of percussion, sound design and electronics from Francesca Heart, and Maia on flute, vibraphone, and vocals.
Verses GT – ‘Your Light’ [feat. George Riley]
Verses GT – the duo of Jacques Greene and Nosaj Thing —have announced their self-titled debut LP, arriving September 12. The hazily intoxicating lead single ‘Your Light’, featuring George Riley, is out today. “It’s been inspiring to trust our instincts and go for it,” Jason Chung (Nosaj Thing) shared. “It feels even more meaningful doing this now, after each of us has put out a few solo records.” Philippe Aubin-Dionne (Jacques Greene) added, “I feel like trust is the key word and concept around this project, this is a 50/50 relationship and the give-and-take that comes with it.”
Groceries! – ‘Angel Number’
‘Angel Number’, the new single from Groceries!’s debut album Human Extinctions, is a delicate stunner. The record will self-released this Friday, July 18.
Jeff Tweedy has announced a triple album called Twilight Override. It’s slated for release on September 26 via dBpm Records. To mark the news, the Wilco frontman has fittingly shared three lead tracks – one from each disc: ‘One Tiny Flower’, ‘Out in the Dark’, and ‘Stray Cats in Spain’ – as well as the radio single ‘Enough’. They’re all quite lovely, but ‘Stray Cats in Spain’ stuck out to me as the most affecting. Take a listen below.
Tweedy recorded and self-produced Twilight Override at his Chicago studio, The Loft, with engineering and mixing from Tom Schick. It features friends and frequent collaborators including James Elkington, Sima Cunningham, Macie Stewart, Liam Kazar, and Tweedy’s children Spencer and Sammy. In a statement, Tweedy shared:
When you choose to do creative things, you align yourself with something that other people call God. And when you align yourself with creation, you inherently take a side against destruction. You’re on the side of creation. And that does a lot to quell the impulse to destroy. Creativity eats darkness. Sort of an endless buffet these days—a bottomless basket of rock bottom. Which is, I guess, why I’ve been making so much stuff lately. That sense of decline is hard to ignore, and it must be at least a part of the shroud I’m trying to unwrap. The twilight of an empire seems like a good enough jumping-off point when one is jumping into the abyss. Twilight sure is a pretty word, though. And the world is full of happy people in former empires, so maybe that’s not the only source of this dissonance. Whatever it is out there (or in there) squeezing this ennui into my day, it’s fucking overwhelming. It’s difficult to ignore. Twilight Override is my effort to overwhelm it right back. Here are the songs and sounds and voices and guitars and words that are an effort to let go of some of the heaviness and up the wattage on my own light. My effort to engulf this encroaching nighttime (nightmare) of the soul.
Tweedy noted that while he did not have a cohesive story planned out for the record, “the way that this ended up falling together and being arranged—it does tell a story that I think I wanted to tell. That’s what a process does for me. This is why it sounded right to me in this order, aside from tempos and music.”
Twilight Override Cover Artwork:
Twilight Override Tracklist:
Disc 1
1. One Tiny Flower
2. Caught Up in the Past
3. Parking Lot
4. Forever Never Ends
5. Love Is for Love
6. Mirror
7. Secret Door
8. Betrayed
9. Sign of Life
10. Throwaway Lines
Disc 2
1. KC Rain (No Wonder)
2. Out in the Dark
3. Better Song
4. New Orleans
5. Over My Head (Everything Goes)
6. Western Clear Skies
7. Blank Baby
8. No One’s Moving On
9. Feel Free
Disc 3
1. Lou Reed Was My Babysitter
2. Amar Bharati
3. Wedding Cake
4. Stray Cats in Spain
5. Ain’t It a Shame
6. Twilight Override
7. Too Real
8. This Is How It Ends
9. Saddest Eyes
10. Cry Baby Cry
11. Enough
Jeff Tweedy 2025-26 Tour Dates:
Jul 24 – Treehouse Brewing, Deerfield MA
Jul 27 – Newport Music Festival, Newport RI
Sep 5 – Iowa City Songwriters Festival, Iowa City IA
Sep 6 – Ellnora Guitar Festival @ Krannert Center for the Performing Arts of Illinois, Urbana IL
Oct 8 – Acorn Theater, Three Oaks MI *
Oct 10 – The Concert Hall, Toronto ON #
Oct 11 – Théâtre Beanfield, Montreal QC !
Oct 13 – Higher Ground, Burlington VT *
Oct 14 – Lebanon Opera House, Lebanon NH #
Oct 16 – State Theatre, Portland ME !
Oct 17 – District Music Hall, Norwalk CT *
Oct 18 – Royale, Boston MA #
Oct 20 – Union Transfer, Philadelphia PA *
Oct 22- Brooklyn Steel, Brooklyn NY !
Oct 24 – Patchogue Theatre, Patchogue NY #
Oct 25 – Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond VA !
Oct 26 – Lincoln Theatre, Washington DC *
Oct 27 – 9:30 Club, Washington DC #
Oct 29 – The Caverns, Grundy County TN !
Oct 30- Headliners Music Hall, Louisville KY *
Nov 1 – Salt Shed (Indoors), Chicago IL #
Nov 5 – Pabst Theater, Milwaukee WI !
Nov 6 – First Avenue, Minneapolis MN *
Nov 8 – Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS #
Nov 9 – Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa OK !
Nov 11 – Longhorn, Dallas TX *
Nov 12 – Paramount Theatre, Austin TX #
Nov 14 – The Heights, Houston TX !
Nov 15 – Chickie Wah Wah, New Orleans LA *
Nov 16 – Chickie Wah Wah, New Orleans LA #
Nov 18 – Hattiesburg Saenger Theater, Hattiesburg MS
Nov 20 – Temple/Live Scottish Rite Theatre, Peoria Il *
Nov 21 – Shannon Hall, Madison WI !
Feb 11 2026 – Teatro Eslava, Madrid
Feb 12 – Paral·lel 62, Barcelona
Feb 14 – Alhambra, Paris
Feb 15 – Antigel Festival, Geneva
Feb 17 – De Roma, Antwerp
Feb 18 – TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht
Feb 20 – Islington Assembly Hall, London
* with Sima Cunningham
# with Macie Stewart
! with Liam Kazar
Ducks Ltd. and Lunar Vacation both became Artist Spotlightalumni on the strength of their 2021 debut albums: Modern Fiction and Inside Every Fig Is A Dead Wasp, respectively. Their sophomore albums followed in 2024, and we interviewed eachband about the inspirations behind them. Now, Ducks Ltd. and Lunar Vacation have teamed up for a propulsive cover of Camera Obscura’s ‘Lloyd, I’m Ready to Be Heartbroken’. Check it out below.
“I first heard the Lloyd Cole song ‘Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?’ when a friend played me Rattlesnakes, which became a favorite,” Ducks Ltd. guitarist/vocalist Tom McGreevy explained. “Later I realized the Camera Obscura track was a nod to it, and I was instantly hooked—it’s an indie pop classic that channels ’80s UK influences into something fresh. We originally covered it during a radio session around Harm’s Way, and after playing it on tour, we decided to record it properly. Gep from Lunar Vacation did a killer vocal arrangement that elevated it.”
Amanda Shires has announced a new album called Nobody’s Girl. The follow-up to 2022’s Take It Like a Man arrives September 26 via ATO. Today’s announcement comes with the release of the stirring new single ‘A Way It Goes’, which opens with the lyrics, “I can show you how he left me/ Paint a picture, growing flowers for nobody/ But I’d rather you see me thriving.” Check it out below.
Nobody’s Girl was produced by Lawrence Rothman and co-written by Shires and Rothman. It marks Shires’ first album since her divorce from Jason Isbell. “Nobody’s Girl is what came after the wreckage, the silence, the rebuilding,” she said in a press release. “It’s about standing in the aftermath of a life you thought would last forever and realizing no one is coming to save you.”
Recorded at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville, the record features Fred Eltringham and Julian Dorio on drums, Dominic Davis on bass, Peter Levin on keys, Zach Setchfield on guitar, and Rothman on guitar. Friedman also tracked at Rothman Recorders in Los Angeles, CA, with Jay Bellerose on drums, Pino Palladino and Jimbo Hart on bass, Joe Kennedy on piano and guitar, and Rothman again on guitar.
Nobody’s Girl Cover Artwork:
Nobody’s Girl Tracklist:
1. A Way It Goes
2. Maybe I
3. The Details
4. Living
5. Lose It For A While
6. Piece of Mind
7. Streetlights and Stars
8. Lately
9. Friend Zone
10. Strange Dreams
11. Can’t Hold Your Breath
Not Feeling Anything
Picture this: A figure in a frilly Lolita dress throws a punch, her blue pudding ring catching the light as her fist connects. Around her, a surreal pink landscape unfolds where kawaii meets combat, where the soft aesthetics of Japanese street fashion are transformed into weapons of cultural rebellion. This is the world that Lei Jiang has created in “Cute but Radical”, a fashion film that dares to ask: What happens when cuteness refuses to stay quiet?
Lei Jiang’s 3-minute, 45-second fashion film transforms Harajuku culture into a weapon of rebellion, challenging everything we think we know about cuteness, identity and power. The film follows Team Puppy — three outsiders who stumble into Team Kitten’s “Cute Authority”, triggering a stylised showdown that raises the question of who controls the narrative when subcultures clash with mainstream aesthetics.
Decoding the Language of Rebellion
For those who are not familiar with the visual vocabulary: Harajuku fashion stands for Japanese street styles that originated in Tokyo’s youth districts. Lolita fashion, with its Victorian-inspired dresses and doll-like aesthetic, challenges conventional femininity, while “kawaii” (cute) carries deeper significance as both aesthetic philosophy and cultural resistance.
A character embodies the film’s aesthetic philosophy, showcasing authentic Lolita fashion against a dreamlike backdrop.
“Harajuku fashion has always fascinated me as I have had a strong interest in J-fashion and animation since I was a child,” Lei explains.
“The contradiction of ‘cuteness’ as both soft and defiant mirrors my experience of navigating identity.”
Fashion as Armour
The wardrobe reads like a love letter to subcultural fashion history. Authentic pieces from the legendary Lolita brand Baby, the Stars Shine Bright anchor the film’s aesthetic, while avant-garde labels such as Comme des Garçons and Maison Margiela create unexpected dialogues between kawaii culture and high fashion. Vivienne Westwood‘s punk sensibilities collide with Angelic Pretty’s saccharine confections.
“Many of my friends and I have the same interest in collecting these lolita fashion pieces,” Lei notes.
“Usually some pieces are meant to present a princess-like, soft tone; instead we made the styling look powerful.”
This reinterpretation of traditional feminine aesthetics challenges viewers to rethink their ideas of strength and rebellion.
Sustainable Subversion: The Leiland Recreate Story
This philosophy of reclaiming power through aesthetics extends beyond borrowed pieces to Lei’s own creative practise. At the heart of her rebellion lies Leiland Recreate, an independent brand that embodies sustainable fashion activism. Founded in 2021, the label creates handmade accessories from upcycled materials, vintage finds and studio leftovers.
Through this philosophy of transformation — breathing new life into discarded materials — each accessory becomes a vehicle for what Lei calls “speculative stories about future identities.” In “Cute but Radical,” these handcrafted pieces function as both tools of expression and world-building artefacts, supporting her approach to costume design that creates “psychic landscapes” — each space reflects different aspects of identity representation, from intimate social spaces to sites of aesthetic conflict.
The bathroom confrontation: handcrafted accessories become weapons of rebellion in Lei Jiang’s surreal visual language.
The technical innovation of the film corresponds to its conceptual ambition. The mix of digital animation, practical effects and live action creates a “deliberate chaos”. The team used 3D scanning to capture performers and place them in surreal virtual environments, adding a reality-altering dimension to the dreamlike narrative. One piece is of particular significance: a blue pudding ring worn by the heroine during her powerful punch.
“These pieces started as small handmade objects in my living room,” Lei reflects. “Seeing them come alive through movement makes me feel like they’ve found their voices too.”
Cultural Dialogue Beyond Binaries
This fusion of handmade craft with digital innovation reflects Lei’s broader approach to cultural conversation.
“Cute but Radical” sees itself as a cultural dialogue rather than appropriation, with a diverse cast and crew from the communities it represents. “By remixing East Asian fashion histories with queer aesthetics, I hope it offers a new visual language for resistance,” explains Lei.
Rather than positioning cuteness against radicalism, the film argues for their synthesis. The fight isn’t between Team Puppy and Team Kitten—it’s between visibility and invisibility, expectation and possibility.
“The film is a love letter to non-conforming bodies and styles,” Lei states.“I hope it invites people to question which identities are seen as ‘valid’ or ‘serious.'”
This resistance consists of being visible, claiming the space through one’s style and refusing to diminish aesthetic choices for others’ comfort. The film’s surreal visual language creates a space where “glitches became part of the texture — our chaos was deliberate.”
Building New Worlds
For Lei Jiang, the most radical act is to simply refuse to shrink. As “Cute but Radical” seeks premiere platforms, this philosophy extends into Lei’s expanding vision for both her filmmaking and Leiland Recreate. The film represents just one facet of her broader perspective exploring speculative futures — from her underwater fashion narratives in “No-Land” to these kawaii rebellion stories, Lei continues to imagine worlds where identity becomes fluid and self-expression transcends traditional boundaries.
“I’d love to work with more performers and fashion collectives,” she says. “I’m aiming to develop ready-to-wear pieces with the accessory line to continue developing these ideas.”
Between authentic expression and acceptable presentation, “Cute but Radical” carves out a third space where cuteness becomes a weapon, fashion tells stories of resistance and the simple act of getting dressed becomes an act of defiance. With each handmade ring and surreal film frame, Lei Jiang is building a world where being unapologetically seen and expressing one’s self becomes an act of empowerment.
Watch & Follow: “Cute but Radical” is currently seeking premiere platforms. Follow Lei Jiang at @donutleij and discover Leiland Recreate at @leiland.r or lei.land.
Clipse aren’t back to claim their place in the contemporary hip-hop landscape. They may distinguish themselves from the window-shopping rappers of today, but they’ve got no such point to sell. A single listen through Let God Sort Em Out, Pusha T and Malice’s first album since 2009’s Til the Casket Drops, and it’s clear the Virginia Beach brothers are mostly just interested in recapturing the magic that happens when they team up with Pharrell, who produced the record in its entirety. As thrilling as it is to hear high-profile guests like Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, the Creator, and Nas leverage the celestial, larger-than-life – yet at times hollow – production to match the duo’s self-aggrandizement, it’s also an opportunity for them get real with each other, airing vulnerabilities as well as grievances. (Though it’s not exactly a 1:1 ratio.) Pharrell’s “This is culturally inappropriate” tag crops up one too many times, but the only culture the album’s concerned with is Clipse’s own. What’s changed is almost as enticing as everything – technical precision, chemistry, label drama – that’s stayed the same.
1. The Birds Don’t Sing
Clipse unexpectedly kick off Let God Sort Em Out with a grand, cathartic display of vulnerability. Pharrel sets the tone with somber piano before tracing a foreboding synth over Pusha’s verse, sounding virulent as ever yet humbled by the violent passage of time. Though it might be uncharted territory for Clipse, it’s a natural way for the brothers to find common ground and share emotional weight, reflecting on the near-simultaneous deaths of their parents. “You even told Dad you wished y’all never splitted/ See, you were checkin’ boxes, I was checkin’ my mentions,” Pusha admits. He sounds regretful but no less filled with gratitude than his brother, whose verse is more low-key but just as striking in its literalism: “‘I love my two sons’ was the code to your phone, now you’re gone.” The John Legend-assisted chorus bridges their separate but convergent perspectives, while Stevie Wonder shares some wise words at the end, hoping it won’t be too late by the time you take them to heart.
2. Chains & Whips [feat. Kendrick Lamar]
The first track to be previewed from the album – at the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2024 runway, of course – ‘Chains & Whips’ is made up of solid parts but feels tonally awkward, as none of them reach – or at least work together towards – the same level of menace. It’s Kendrick Lamar, more dramatic than the duo and sweeping through Pharrell’s tame beat, that delivers the most withering diagnosis: “Let’s be clear, hip-hop died again. Half of my profits may go to Rakim/ How many Judases done let me down?”
3. P.O.V. [feat. Tyler the Creator]
Clipse and Pharrell nail the sinister tone on this one, aided by an especially entrancing hook by Pusha. The Tyler, the Creator feature fits snugly after Kendrick’s, armed with a sneaky bit of self-aggrandizement: “I need God to play the lead in my biopic.” It’s followed immediately a diss that you don’t need much context to unpack: “When you become the Devil or the tap dancing negro/ I came to terms that I’ma probably outgrow my heroes.” Meanwhile two of them are standing right by his side.
4. So Be It
Both Pusha and Malice are unsparing in their ruthlessness on ‘So Be It’, which is elevated by a dizzying interpolation of ‘Maza Akoulo’ by Talal Maddah. But the most memorable lines come from Pusha, taking a shot (as we’ve long known) – at Travis Scott: “You cried in front of me, you died in front of me/ Calabasas took your bitch and your pride in front of me.”
5. Ace Trumpets
The first line of the hook, “Ballerinas doin’ pirouettes inside of my snow globe,” has the wooziness of a billy woods, but Pharrell naturally infuses the beat with real opulence. A few dustier edges wouldn’t hurt, but it’s not like Pusha or Malice struggle living up to it. In fact, few songs on Let God beat the chemistry they showcase here; Malice’s verse would sound drowned by shallow pop culture references coming from most rappers (“Drugs killed my teen spirit, welcome to Nirvana”), but he just sounds good. You don’t doubt for a second they aren’t on the same wavelength.
6. All Things Considered [feat. The-Dream]
Over a satisfyingly shadowy beat, the two rappers take a step back and reflect, sins and all. This is where Malice shines best, blurring the language of shame with that of a comeback: “The only sin left is to flirt with vengeance/ Made my exit just to make my entrance/ Revolving door, maybe I can make a difference.” The-Dream’s closing verse is a little lackluster, but it’s over before you know it.
7. M.T.B.T.T.F.
Let God Sort Em Out is filled with evidence that Clipse are back to do what they do best, but ‘M.T.B.T.T.F.’ scans as a reminder of how much they actually love it. The duo can incite beef all they want, but not even their ominous theatrics beat their sense of humour, with instantly quotable lines like “The Bezos of the nasal, that’s case closed.” The a cappellas that open each verse are proof they don’t need blockbuster backing, but Pharrell sure knows how to weave a beat around them.
8. E.B.I.T.D.A.
Two minutes where the stakes feel low are necessary on an album that borders on overproduced, but not enough for Pusha to get sleepy with it. “My third passport, I ain’t seen enough/ If you can breathe up there, it ain’t steep enough,” he raps, raising the bar for himself more than anyone else.
9. F.I.C.O.
Griselda affiliate Stove God Cooks delivers a killer hook that’s gutsier than most anything on Let God. “You don’t know what I know/ You ain’t seen what I saw” compels both Pusha and Malica to dredge up captivating stories that end, equally eerily, with “whispering ‘die slow’” and “dum diddy dum diddy dum.”
10. Inglorious Bastards
The chemistry between Clipse and longtime Re-Up Gang affiliate Ab-Liva is as undeniable as it is between the brothers, rendering ‘Inglorious Bastards’ a thrilling highlight for those truly anticipating their return. The kind of song that can make waiting for 16 years sound like no time has passed.
11. So Far Ahead
The switch between the gospel hook and buzzing synths is jarring, but rather than accentuating the titular premise as delivered by Pharrell, it just puts him at a distance. There’s something oddly corporate and unaffecting about it, a hollowness Clipse can’t quite make up for.
12. Let God Sort Em Out/Chandeliers
Now here’s a beat switch that actually works for the right reasons, or just one: Nas flexing. He doesn’t need to brag about being so far ahead. “The difference between regular spitters and bosses/ My principles’ high/ You need a glimpse of me from satellites in orbit,” he raps over some fittingly intergalactic production.
13. By the Grace of God
Pharrell’s chorus is once again a little grating, and Clipse don’t quite save the best for last, but ‘By the Grace of God’ at least ends the album with the same sincerity as its opener. While Pharrell sings about empires crumbling and falling, Pusha’s pre-chorus is all about crews breaking apart, and it’s these points of rupture that haunt Malice’s verse. His “Hard for me to breathe again” line brings to mind Pusha’s “If you can breathe up there, it ain’t steep enough,” but one thing’s certain: Clipse are willing to make the climb.
In a world where digital lifestyles, fashion, and entertainment collide, 4Rabet stands out not just as a premier betting platform, but as a modern style icon that reflects the tastes, energy, and cultural pulse of today’s generation. From sleek app design to bold brand aesthetics and influencer collaborations, 4Rabet is where gaming meets culture — and it does it with style.
Whether you’re into sports, casino games, esports, or simply enjoy digital experiences that feel fresh and modern, 4Rabet delivers more than just betting. It delivers identity — one that’s youthful, confident, and unapologetically cool.
If you haven’t explored it yet, it’s time to visit 4Rabet site and play. You’ll see why millions of users don’t just use 4Rabet for its features — they use it because it feels like a lifestyle. It’s more than a betting app. It’s a movement.
4Rabet’s Rise: Betting with Attitude
4Rabet entered the scene as a dynamic platform offering live sports betting, online casino games, and crash-style games like Aviator. But unlike many competitors, it didn’t stick to the conventional look and feel of betting sites. Instead, it launched with a vibrant visual identity, sleek mobile interface, and an influencer-friendly vibe.
From its black-and-blue color palette to clean UX and snappy animations, 4Rabet quickly positioned itself as a platform for the style-conscious generation — those who value design, speed, and seamless interaction as much as they do entertainment.
Digital Cool: More Than Just a Functional App
Let’s be real — most betting platforms are functional but boring. 4Rabet changes that.
Here’s how it brings cool into play:
Minimalist UI: Smooth, high-contrast design that’s easy on the eyes and stylish;
Mobile-first experience: Perfectly built for Gen Z and Millennials who live on their phones;
Aviator-style crash games: Addictive, modern, and trend-driven.
Whether you’re playing slots or tracking live cricket odds, the experience feels less like using a gambling app and more like being part of an exclusive club.
4Rabet and Fashion: Subtle Yet Powerful Crossovers
4Rabet doesn’t sell clothes — but make no mistake, it’s influencing lifestyle fashion.
How?
Merch drops and limited-edition giveaways during major sporting events;
Streetwear aesthetics in digital banners, promo graphics, and ambassador content;
Partnered influencers wearing 4Rabet-branded hoodies, caps, and accessories on Instagram and TikTok;
Use of urban culture elements: neon lights, graffiti backdrops, bold typography.
It all adds up to a brand that resonates with sneakerheads, gamers, sports fans, and nightlife lovers.
Influencer Culture and Gen Z Appeal
One of 4Rabet’s biggest strengths is its deep integration into social media and influencer culture. Unlike old-school bookies, 4Rabet communicates with its audience where they already are — Instagram, YouTube, and Telegram.
You’ll find:
YouTubers and Twitch streamers live-reviewing the platform;
Insta-reels and short videos featuring real players with swag;
Gaming influencers rocking 4Rabet gear and walking viewers through their betting strategies;
Collaboration with sports influencers who tie cricket, football, and MMA betting with fashion-forward commentary.
This has made 4Rabet a cultural brand — one that sits alongside streetwear labels, mobile game franchises, and music influencers.
Betting as Lifestyle: What Makes 4Rabet Different?
4Rabet users aren’t just logging in for odds — they’re logging in for an experience. It’s the equivalent of choosing Spotify over a radio, or Supreme over a generic hoodie.
What sets it apart:
Custom promotions tied to cultural events (e.g., IPL, World Cup, UEFA, UFC nights);
Interactive leaderboard games where users compete for bragging rights and cool erch;
Stylized content like meme-based promotions, GIFs, and TikTok-style betting tips;
Local flavor: 4Rabet designs are often adapted to Indian, Bangladeshi, and Middle Eastern aesthetics, reflecting regional trends and fashion.
All of this transforms betting into a part of lifestyle branding.
Community, Not Just Customers
4Rabet has built more than a user base — it’s created a community.
Players interact through in-app chat during crash games;
Telegram groups where users drop real-time tips and flex their wins;
Social media polls, memes, and gamified quizzes tied to global sporting moments;
Loyalty points and levels that gamify the user journey like a social badge of honor.
It’s not just about betting — it’s about belonging.
Sport, Style, and Swag: A Unified Identity
No brand truly becomes a style icon unless it integrates sports culture — and 4Rabet nails this balance.
You’ll notice that:
Its biggest campaigns drop during high-profile tournaments;
It runs limited promos with cricket and football themes;
Its visual branding includes motifs like stadium lights, match commentary bars, and team emblems;
Influencers post clips of live-betting during match watch parties, often in 4Rabet-themed environments.
This turns matchdays into fashion moments — where how you bet, celebrate, and style up all intersect.
4Rabet in Pop Culture: What’s Next?
As 4Rabet continues to grow, expect more crossovers into music, esports, and fashion.
Here’s what’s on the horizon:
Collabs with rappers and DJs during tournament weeks;
In-app music playlists during live games;
Potential limited-edition merch collaborations with artists or creators;
Events and livestreams with betting, gaming, and streetwear vibes all wrapped in one.
It’s not far-fetched to imagine 4Rabet headlining esports festivals or pop-up fan zones with DJ booths and gaming lounges.
Final Word: Why 4Rabet Is a Style Icon
In a digital age where culture is fast, content is king, and identity is currency — 4Rabet checks all the boxes. It’s bold, mobile, global, fashion-aware, and always evolving. For sports lovers, gamers, and digital natives, it’s more than a betting site — it’s a badge of lifestyle.
If you haven’t yet joined the movement, now is the time to visit 4Rabet site and play. Whether you’re placing a bet, exploring the latest crash games, or just vibing with the community, you’ll feel why 4Rabet is more than just a platform — it’s a culture.
