ME REX have announced their latest EP, Plesiosaur, which will be out on June 17 via Big Scary Monsters. To mark the announcement, they’ve shared a new single called ‘Jupiter Pluvius’, which is inspired by a 1819 painting by Joseph Gandy. Check it out below.
“Based on the painting of the same name by Joseph Gandy, this song is about images of God in the popular imagination — what that projection of strength and power onto a cold inanimate object says about our expectations and demands of a deity and of ourselves,” the band’s Myles McCabe said in a statement.
Last year, ME REX released their 54-track album Megabear, which they followed up with the Pterodactyl EP.
The royal guard pops the button of his black trousers and unzips his fly. His white-gloved hands thumb through the waistband of his white underwear. The silk-like material of his gloves caresses his skin just above the band, feeding the lust within him as he watches himself. He fishes out his phone from his front pocket and opens his camera. Still in his uniform and hat, the royal guard peeks through his underwear and takes a picture of his arousal, unabashed to whoever catches him at his voyeurism. Such intimacy laced with vulnerability in this artwork titled Your Royal Highness and His Prince may hint at the themes Ron Mariñas paints on his canvas, but the Filipino artist merely scratches the surface.
Mariñas tells Our Culture that his artworks reflect some personal stories that belong in a diary. “My concepts come from my experiences and perspectives in life, as well as from the people that I am acquainted well with,” he explains. Rather than letting the words remain inscribed on paper, he transforms these texts into vivid images, oftentimes underlined by the stark gold background. “My art style can be described as breaking the norms of what the old society has set. As an artist, I continue to free myself and others through combining different bold elements and breaking the old idea of how things should be,” he says.
Since childhood, Mariñas has always had a passion for arts and knew that he would not last long in an office or the corporate world. He took the artistic route and studied arts, a deviation from his family of engineers and architects. He toyed with the liberty the arts field offered him until he grounded his art style, which he deemed as a staple in the industry. “Having a signature style is an important element in the arts. I remember experiencing so much pressure early in my career. In this business, people will try hard to control and shape you to fit their standards, but I just rebelled and stood up for myself, choosing a style that fits my personality. I have always been so passionate about classical and modern arts and always combine both elements into my style while adding a touch of timelessness in the ideas that I infuse,” he shares.
A tinge of modern masculinity that winks at sensitivity, fragility, and fondness over fashion brands, luxury, and Greek statues philosophises his artworks. When asked about his view on masculinity, the artist pivots back to his experiences. “As an art student, I grew up in an environment where toxic masculinity was absent, and that made me realise, as a teenager back then, how society limits the definition of what masculinity is. All humans have a sense of sensitivity, fragility, femininity, and masculinity in them. For me, that is what masculinity is: being able to show real emotions without hesitations of what and how a man should be. It is about being able to express yourself in your truest form.”
No longer just spoken words, Mariñas showcases these beliefs through his paintings. In The False Reputation, the first man dies in the arms of the second man from the volley of paintbrushes that pierced his body. The second man bends his knees to receive the weight of the lifeless body and places his hand on the dead man’s chest, trying to stop the gush of blood. Sorrow and pain cross the second man’s face. “This work is a representation of a person holding his own body, a symbol of his reputation. It emphasises the whole story of being centered by undeserving hate and false accusations. Meanwhile, the brushes that impaled the man represent the made-up stories told by other artists. Then, in the study of arts and symbols, a key is the representation of truth. Three keys are shown being held by the second man which symbolises the people who know the real reputation and the story of the subject,” says Mariñas.
The marriage of sensitivity and fragility may overflow, so much that it translates into obsession, a feature that characterises The Circle of a Sightless Romance. The naked man and woman share their fondness over the single rose before them, a string that ties them both in their toxic relationship. The painting may not exude the subtle violence that explicitly comes up in the realm of obsession, but it brews beneath the surface, a takeaway even from the blindfold that covers the eyes – a symbol of consciousness – of the man.
“In every relationship, both people are in love, but there are times where they love each other differently,” Mariñas tells Our Culture. “And that difference does not mean it is ugly. It simply means that they are two different people who share the same thing which is the eternal love that ignites the fire between them. In this concept, the eyeball on his hand is a representation of ‘seeing things based on an action’ which, in this setting, is an after-sex scene. That means he is more likely to see love when they are being intimate. Holding a piece of her is a symbol of ownership to one another.”
Symbolisms mark the paintings of Mariñas. As he continues to narrate the backstory of the painting above: “The two subjects are obsessively in love judging by the symbols in them. A man holding a red rose stands as a portrayal of love and affection while the woman with ‘three words, eight letters, and one meaning’ tattoo on her back metaphorically describes the endless cycle of true love that knows no bounds.”
Mariñas’ attitude towards his art cleanses the texts in his diary to manifest them into tangible imagery, adding drops of sagacity, sensitivity, and sensuality to produce a cure-all body of work. “An artist’s job is to send a message through the form of art, and for me, it is a big responsibility. We were given a powerful opportunity to send a message and leave an impact that could possibly last a century. That is why it is important for me to produce an artwork that is timeless when it comes to its art movement. I believe that our paintings will be our biggest legacy, and that helps me to create not just beautiful pieces but to make every project meaningful even for generations to come. So, I treat every work in progress paintings like it’s my last.” Knowing the sources and influences, he draws from, every last panting of Ron Mariñas will surely not be his last.
Floating Points has released a new song called ‘Vocoder’, out now via Ninja Tune. The track arrives ahead of Sam Shepherd’s upcoming tour, which will take him across Australia, Europe, and the UK. Listen to ‘Vocoder’ and check out his itinerary below.
Last year, Shepherd released his collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra, Promises.
Floating Points 2022 Tour Dates:
Mar 11 Victoria, Australia – Pitch Festival
Mar 14 Adelaide, Australia – Womadelaide Festival
Mar 19 Melbourne, Australia – Duke Street Block Party
Mar 25 Brisbane, Australia – The Tivoli
Mar 26 Byron Bay, Australia – Beach Hotel Open Air
Apr 3 Sydney, Australia – Slip Inn
Apr 9 Lisbon, Portugal – Sonar
Apr 14 Las Vegas, NV – Downtown Las Vegas Events Centre *
Apr 16 Indio, CA – Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
Apr 23 Indio, CA – Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
May 13 Berlin, Germany – Funkhaus
May 28 London, England – Wide Awake Festival
Jun 4 Marseille, France – Le Bon Air
Jun 5 Dublin, Ireland – Forbidden Fruit
Jun 11 Margate, England – Sands
Jul 3 Porto, Portugal – Electrico Festival
Jul 7 Madrid, Spain – Mad Cool Festival
Jul 8 Trencin, Slovakia – Pohoda Festival
Jul 17 Dour, Belgium – Dour Festival
Aug 14 Budapest, Hungary – Sziget
Aug 19 Dronten, Netherlands – Lowlands
Aug 20 London, England – Field Day
Aug 27 Pasadena, CA – This Ain’t No Picnic
Sep 3 Bristol, England – Forwards Festival
Have you ever thought of fashion with or without eyewear? Or how can one style with eyeglasses? Doesn’t this sound interesting? In the world of contact lenses, eyeglasses have become a necessity for the fashion industry. With various eyeglasses, people look different and fashionable. For example, aviator glasses for women and men have been famous for a long time. Still, people are loving the new variations of aviators from eyewear.
Eyeglasses contribute a lot to the fashion world. Some people love to have various eyeglasses in their wardrobe. The style of the eyeglasses is made according to their attire. Various shapes and sizes of the eyeglasses made us look modish. Eyeglasses are not only needed for fashion but are required for a better vision. People wearing glasses should wear anti-glare glassesto save their eyes from the glare.
Eyeglasses not only include spectacles but also include sunglasses. People wearing both glasses and sunglasses look smart and experience a new look every time they wear different eyeglasses. Previously, people who used prescription glasses used to wear sunglasses and glasses simultaneously to see things. But with the advanced technologies, sunglasses are now available with a prescription for people who wear prescription glasses.
Types of lenses for glasses
There are various types of lenses for different people wearing prescription glasses. Doctors recommend various lenses according to the needs of the patient. But it is important to note that wearing various lenses does not stop them from doing their fashion.
Single lenses- People who need glasses either to see distant objects or near objects. In this case, people face difficulty in seeing things in front and distance and doctors recommend them to wear glasses with these lenses.
Varifocal glasses- People who face difficulties seeing both near and distant objects are recommended to wear the varifocal lenses. These lenses help people balance the three visions, far, near and intermediate. Thus glasses varifocal are a modification of the bifocal lenses and help people for a better vision.
Blue light glasses- The glasses with blue light coatings are recommended to almost all people wearing glasses or not. These are especially recommended for the ones who spent most of the time in front of the screen. The blue light emitting from the screen is harmful and thus blue light glasses are required.
Reading glasses- These are recommended usually after the age of 40 when people experience a vision disturbance with small prints. These glasses are required for reading purposes only.
These are a few common lenses that are recommended by doctors for prescription eyeglasses. With lenses comes the question of choosing the right frame for fashion purposes. Let us see what frames can help us to solve the vision problem and also follow the latest fashion trends.
When it comes to considering eyeglasses as a fashion accessory, it’s worth exploring the benefits of blue light glasses. These specialized glasses are designed to mitigate the potential harmful effects of blue light emitted by digital screens.
Frames for fashion
Oversized glasses- The hype that these glasses have created among young people are commendable. These glasses are smart and look very stylish when worn. They are unisexual glasses. The oversized glasses are available in various shapes and sizes. They are slightly bigger than the usual glasses and thus termed oversized glasses. They are also available in different variations. These glasses can be paired with denim and shirts or any casual outfits.
Geometric glasses- The geometric frames are new in the industry but are slaying the fashion industry with their uniqueness. Different geometric shapes look amazing on the faces and are very different. They are available in various shapes and sizes and are unisexual. These are also available in full-rimmed, half-rimmed, and rimless glasses. Wear different geometrical glasses with various outfits to get the proper look you want with your glasses.
Tortoiseshell glasses- The name says that these glasses were originally made from tortoiseshells and were a little heavy. But with the development of the eyewear industry and technologies, these glasses are made comfortable for people to wear. The uniqueness of the glasses lies in the colour pattern. The colour combination of the glasses is attractive and is suitable for everybody. These glasses can be styled with formals, casuals, and semi-formals. They are available in various shapes and sizes and are suitable for every face shape.
Clear glasses- The broad borders and the nude colours of the glasses do not add any extra feature to the face but uniquely highlight the face. These glasses are available in different shapes and sizes and are best suited for casual wear. Wear any coloured casual t-shirts or tops with blue denim and the clear glasses in the pub will grab people’s attention.
Square glasses- These glasses are one of the smartest glasses. They are a perfect fashion accessory with almost every outfit. Wearing formals in the office or casually at a party or a friends’ meeting, these glasses are your best friend. Wear them anywhere and at any time.
These are some of the frames that one can buy as a fashion accessory and for their eyes. They are ready to wear everywhere and will compliment your every look.
Bitcoin is nothing new, it’s been around for a while now – yet some people are still pretty skeptical when it comes to it. Science the price of one singular bitcoin reached a certain peak, many can’t obtain it – technically, not fully, there are lots of ways to get your hands on a piece of bitcoin! For various reasons many people shy away from bitcoin or other forms of cryptocurrency and deemed them as unattainable while that is not entirely true. Here’s how to find top bitcoin casinos online!
Do research
The best way to find a good bitcoin casino, it’s to do a bit of research. It’s generally not a good idea to jump into something without having prior knowledge. The same can be said for bitcoin casinos and your possible time and money investments. Knowing how those casinos work can save you both the time and the money. A lot of things go into this. It’s definitely far from a regular kind of casino, but it also holds some of the same principles. Before jumping into it and choosing the first website that pops out, make sure you know what you are dealing with beforehand!
Pick reputable sites
Picking reputable sites is essential in order to have a good experience. Nowadays anyone can open up a website and claim whatever they want – this can lead to scams and possible cyber attacks. And no one likes to be in that kind of danger, so making sure that the bitcoin casino is legitimate is key. Whilst some people are too skeptical, others are too trusting, falling for fake websites and losing money and personal data along the way. But not all websites are like that, check out this list and see some of the reputable casinos you can choose from. It’s all about making this experience safe and fun, as it should be!
Take a look at what they offer
Some betting websites offer lots of rewards and bonuses for their new clients – this is a great opportunity to get something beneficial out of it. If you have a few online casinos in mind, check out their policies for new clients, and how big and useful are the bonuses. These bonuses can be essential when starting your crypto journey, everything you get for free is a plus! It’s a good idea to take two or multiple casinos and compare them – see what option suits your needs more and what’s the most lucrative option at the end of the day! This goes hand in hand with doing research and reading reviews – it’s the best way to see what are the odds you’ll win, if others succeeded and how to get there!
Popular websites
Probably the easiest way to find a good casino online is to search for the most popular ones! This might seem like the only sane way of doing this. It’s also the quickest – all you have to do is google it! Some bitcoin casinos are popular since they are fair and square, whilst others are not as much, there is a reason why people tend to gravitate towards the same casinos all the time – so a good reputation and popularity is definitely a plus! Also, if you don’t find any of the most popular casinos interesting, the sky’s the limit when it comes to it, feel free to find something that truly speaks to you.
Laws and regulations
It’s essential for you to check out if you can even legally start your bitcoin journey. Some places welcomed bitcoin with open arms, whilst it’s not so welcomed in other places. Every state or country has its own rules and regulations when it comes to it, and not every country will have its own designated bitcoin casino. This might be just another thing to think about, but it can also be helpful in the long run. The last thing you want to do is get in trouble with the law by indulging in this behavior – seeking rules and regulations is way better getting started, not to mention that you can learn more about the law in general!
Reviews are key
Nowadays, the easiest way to test if something is worth your while is by reading the reviews, regardless of whether it’s food, a club, or something like a beautiful vacation resort. While this should always be taken with a grain of salt. It’s still pretty useful to know what other clients think about the casino, are there any bad reviews, and are they serious? This is crucial, especially if it’s your first time, before jumping into it it’s a good idea to truly take a look at the website and examine it a little bit. Seek blogs or basic reviews in order to get a sneak peek before investing your time, it’s best to know what you are getting yourself into!
Ask around
Are your friends and coworkers into cryptocurrency? They might know a thing or two about bitcoin casinos, and this is the best way to ensure that the casino is actually good! If you have someone who is experienced in something like this, try to ask them for recommendations, tips, and tricks, all to make your experience better. If you sadly don’t have anyone around you with similar interests, try mingling online and join a community of bitcoin casino regulars, and befriend them. Infiltrating into this kind of setting can be beneficial for your bitcoin journey. And you’ll also learn a lot of things in the meantime!
At the end of the day, there are lots of reasons why people should be alert and should pay attention to where they leave their sensitive information and money. While a casino might sound like lots of fun, it still has some serious things that can ruin your experience. Instead of just jumping into something like that, see other options, test out everything and enjoy the free rolls as much as you can! When it comes to bitcoin casinos, it’s all about having fun, but also gaining a bit in return, so pursuing it isn’t such a bad idea – especially when you are just starting and still enjoying the benefits.
Kate Bollinger has announced a new EP, Look at it in the Light, which arrives on April 22 via Ghostly International. To accompany the announcement, she’s shared the song ‘Who Am I But Someone’, which follows previous offering ‘Yards / Gardens’. Check out the Allyson Pierce-directed video for ‘Who Am I But Someone’ below, and scroll down for Bollinger’s upcoming tour dates.
“There have been many times when I’ve been so afraid to uproot my life in some way but just as afraid of what will happen if I don’t,” Bollinger said in a statement. “This song is a conversation with myself about avoidance, denial, being afraid of change, and being afraid of stagnating. I shot the video in Los Angeles with Allyson from Pear Juice and a cast and crew of all women (besides our amazing producer Al!). Shooting the video was like being at summer camp – it was one of the best experiences and I’m so proud of how it turned out.”
Look at it in the Light Cover Artwork:
Look at it in the Light Tracklist:
1. I Found Out
2. Who Am I But Someone
3. Look at it in the Light
4. Yards / Gardens
5. Lady In The Darkest Hour
6. Connecting Dots
Kate Bollinger 2022 Tour Dates:
Apr 1 – Norfolk, VA – LAVA MiniFest
Apr 30 – Dublin, IE – The Workman’s Club
May 3 – Bristol, UK – The Louisiana
May 4 – London, UK – Colours
May 6 – Nottingham, UK – The Bodega Social Club
May 7 – Leeds, UK – Hyde Park Book Club
May 9 – Glasgow, UK – The Hug and Pint
May 10 – Newcastle upon Tyne, UK – The Cluny
May 11 – Manchester, UK – YES
May 15 – Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso
May 16 – Brussels, BE – Botanique
May 17 – Stuttgart, DE – Café Galao
May 19 – Berlin, DE – Badehaus Szimpla
May 20 – Darmstadt, DE – Bedroomdisco
May 21 – Paris, FR – Le Pop Up!
Jun 7 – Cincinnati, OH – MOTR Pub
Jun 8 – Chicago, IL – Schubas Tavern
Jun 11 – Montreal, QC – L’Esco
Jun 12 – Boston, MA – Red Room at Cafe 939
Jun 15 – Brooklyn, NY – Elsewhere Rooftop
Jun 17 – Washington, DC – DC9
Jun 18 – Charlottesville, VA – The Southern
Father John Misty has shared the latest single from his upcoming full-length Chloë and the Next 20th Century. It’s called ‘Goodbye Mr. Blue’, and it follows previous entries ‘Funny Girl’ and ‘Q4’. Give it a listen below.
Chloë and the Next 20th Century is due for release on April 8 via Sub Pop and Bella Union. Father John Misty and his band will perform ‘Goodbye Mr. Blue’ tonight (March 9) on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.
Kynsy, the moniker of Ciara Lindsey, has released a new single called ‘New Year’. The Dublin-based artist wrote the track on New Year’s Eve and co-produced it with Charlie Andrew. Check out its music video below.
“At the time I had a real desire to celebrate the turn of the year by doing something creative,” Lindsey explained in a press release. “I had definitely been listening to a lot of Roisin Murphy around then and with the song I wanted to explore the idea of someone who is looking for meaning as the clock edges towards midnight and a new year is on the horizon.”
Of the video, she added: “I wanted to recreate the chaotic energy of the song somehow. Working with Georgia Kelly and The Collective we took inspiration from the frantic nature of old black and white silent films to make something strange and intense to try and capture that New Year energy.”
FINNEAS has shared a cover of Bon Iver’s ‘Flume’ as part of the Spotify Singles series. The platform is collaborating with many of the acts nominated for Best New Artist at this year’s Grammys on exclusive recordings, with each nominee reimagining one of their own songs as well as covering a track by a past BNA nominee. (Bon Iver won the Best New Artist Grammy in 2012.) Listen to FINNEAS’ cover of Bon Iver’s ‘Flume’ below, along with a re-recorded version of his own song ‘Medieval’.
The two tracks mark the first-ever recordings from Spotify’s new LA-based studio. “Honored to finally be able to get into the brand new and beautiful Spotify Studios to record these songs in these special arrangements,” FINNEAS said in a statement.
Olivia Rodrigo, the Kid Laroi, Jimmie Allen, Saweetie, Baby Keem, Glass Animals, Japanese Breakfast, Arlo Parks, and Arooj Aftab are also up for Best New Artist at the 64th Grammy Awards, which will take place on April 3. The ceremony will be broadcast live on CBS from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
FINNEAS released his debut album, Optimist, last year.
Automatic – the Los Angeles trio of vocalist Izzy Glaudin, drummer Lola Dompé, and bassist Halle Saxon-Gaines – have announced their sophomore album. Excess is slated for release on June 24 via Stones Throw. Lead single ‘New Beginning’ is out now alongside a video directed by Ambar Navarro and inspired the Swedish sci-fi movie Aniara. Watch and listen below.
Excess captures the intersection between the ’70s underground and the corporate culture of the ’80s; “that fleeting moment when what was once cool quickly turned and became mainstream, all for the sake of consumerism,” according to the band. Glaudin added: “The record is about what happens to our psyches when we’re conditioned to certain values, the consequences of those values, and a desire to resist them.”
Excess Cover Artwork:
Excess Tracklist:
1. New Beginning
2. On the Edge
3. Skyscraper
4. Realms
5. Venus Hour
6. Automation
7. Teen Beat
8. NRG
9. Lucy
10. Turn Away
