Yesterday, Taylor Swift announced her new album, The Life of a Showgirl. She shared the title of the record in a teaser for the latest episode of New Heights, the podcast her boyfriend Travis Kelce hosts with his brother Jason. The cover artwork was blurred out, but now that the full episode is out, she’s revealed it along with the release date and tracklist.
The Life of a Showgirl, the follow-up to 2024’s The Tortured Poets Department, will be released on October 3. Its 12 tracks feature production from Max Martin, Shellback, and Swift herself, while Sabrina Carpenter appears on one song. Ahead of the announcement, Swift shared a Spotify playlist comprising 22 songs of hers that were produced by Martin and Shellback.
The Life of a Showgirl Cover Artwork:
The Life of a Showgirl Tracklist:
1. The Fate of Ophelia
2. Elizabeth Taylor
3. Opalite
4. Father Figure
5. Eldest Daughter
6. Ruin The Friendship
7. Actually Romantic
8. Wi$h Li$t
9. Wood
10. CANCELLED!
11. Honey
12. The Life Of A Showgirl [feat. Sabrina Carpenter]
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 Wednesday, August 13, 2025.
David Byrne – ‘The Avant Garde’
David Byrne is pretty upfront about the subjects of his songs in his Who Is the Sky? singles. After ‘Everybody Laughs’ and ‘She Explains Things To Me’, we get to hear his thoughts on ‘The Avant Garde’. “Some people will hear this and say, ‘David is calling bullshit on his friends’, but it’s more nuanced than that,” Byrne explained. “Anyone who knows me knows that I go to plenty of shows that might be classified as avant-garde or experimental. Edgy and untraditional work is hugely inspiring to me, as it often changes the way I think and influences what I do (without me simply appropriating the ideas, I hope).”
“That said, trying something unproven and radically new is risky,” he continued. “Sometimes, as with anything risky, it doesn’t quite hit the bullseye. There’s no guarantee that it will achieve what it aims to do, but when it does, the emotional and intellectual rewards are worth it. That is the risk one takes while making something new and unconventional. So yes, there are times when it doesn’t mean shit, but often there are times when something wholly original comes into being and it’s all worth it. I love that the Ghost Train folks and Kid Harpoon took what could have been a fairly conventional song I’d written (musically at least), and steered it into something that to me sounds like Led Zeppelin meets Dirty Projectors.”
Alexa Rose – ‘Where the Magic Lives’
It’s been four years since Alexa Rose’s last full-length, Headwaters, which earned her an Artist Spotlight feature. Today, she’s announcing a new record, Atmosphere, out October 31 on First City Artists, with the gorgeous and searching ‘Where the Magic Lives’. “Have you ever been in some situation you should be enjoying but somehow just can’t? It’s happened to me at the best concerts and under the starriest skies. This song is about fighting to find enchantment again, and making peace with the time that feels lost. I was thinking a lot about growing up in the early aughts, before I always had a phone in my pocket, and how I felt a curiosity about the world that couldn’t be answered with a quick Google search. Sometimes I think leaving a little mystery is what we need to be able to run towards those dreams, to let ourselves bask in a question before we know the answer.”
Skullcrusher – ‘March’
You can take a breath between every piano chord on Skullcrusher’s new single, ‘March’. On first listen, I felt like doing that intuitively, until I was struck by Helen Ballentine’s emotive lyrics, the way she stretches the words beautiful and terrible. “‘March’ is like a confession,” Ballentine reflected. “It felt like surrendering myself to the things I’ve lost, the things I don’t understand, the confrontation of life & responsibility. While I reflect on things, familiar situations take different forms. I make a friend cry as I play them my song, I make them cry because I said something hurtful. There is beauty and terror in the unknown.”
Eliza McLamb – ‘Every Year’
Don’t let the shiny indie rock of ‘Every Year’, Eliza McLamb’s latest single, distract you from its fantastic lyrics. “My stories kept me safe but now I understand/ A story is a lifeboat and sometimes there is land/ You can get out, tie your story to the dock/ Now there’s so much more you can think about,” she sings. The song, McLamb explained, “is the thesis of the record. It provides the context that every other song lives in.”
Asher White – ‘Cobalt Room: Good Work / Silver Saab’
Asher White has unveiled ‘Cobalt Room: Good Work / Silver Saab’, an ambitious 7-minute single from her forthcoming LP 8 Tips For Full Catastrophe Living. Both jazzy and jagged, White has this to say about it: “It’s the sequential sum of what I was listening to and reading at the time. I was interested in pulling every idea to its extreme. Because it’s just me recording, I can pursue the most whimsical, outrageous aspects of the music. What would be the funniest or most cartoonish place to take this? And how can I make that rewarding still?”
King Princess – ‘Girls’
King Princess has shared ‘Girls’, the stormy third single from her upcoming album Girl Violence, and also at the heart of it. “Girl violence is very sneaky,” Mikaela Straus said in a statement. “It’s not physical, it’s deeply emotional, spiritual, and spooky. Women are both amazing and sinister — including myself — and it’s my curiosity to understand all the love, loss, and changes that come out of my love for women. Why are we so inclined to cause and receive chaos?”
Chrissie Hynde – ‘Always on My Mind’ [feat. Rufus Wainwright]
Chrissie Hynde’s new duets album features the Killers’ Brandon Flowers, Julian Lennon, Cat Power, Depeche Mode’s Dave Gahan, Blondie’s Debbie Harry, Low’s Alan Sparhawk, Garbage’s Shirley Manson, Lucinda Williams, the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, and the late Mark Lanegan. Today’s announcement comes with the release of her take on the classic ‘Always on My Mind’ featuring Rufus Wainwright.
Miya Folick – ‘Elton John’
Miya Folick has released ‘Elton John’, a heart-wrenching single from the deluxe edition of her latest LP Erotica Veronica. “After my dad died, I spent the following weeks at my parents’ house, getting used to the idea of calling it ‘mom’s house’ and helping her plan the funeral,” she explained. “The first time I came back up to LA, I drove aimlessly through the city, listening to music and crying. I felt the presence of my dad as a young man, living in Los Angeles just like me, loving music just like me. We were different in many ways, but my dad and I could always connect through music. When I had a show at the Troubadour, my dad was excited because he’d been going there since he was a teenager. He liked talking about how he saw Elton John play there in 1970. What an iconic moment. What a part of music history. That’s where the title and the idea of this song comes from. “Elton John” is a song about grief and Los Angeles, and how the people we love are so richly present after we lose them.”
Shame – ‘Spartak’
Shame keep toying with different genres on their Cutthroat singles, and ‘Sparktak’ is pretty countrified. According to guitarist Sean Coyle-Smith, it came about as he “was basically trying to write a Wilco song.” Charlie Steen added: “I guess this disdain towards cliques comes from how shit I was made to feel by the cool kids growing u. I was a chubby teenager who liked the wrong type of music and wore the wrong type of clothes. It’s just another time I’d like to say fuck you to those people, and to anyone who makes someone feel shitty for not fitting in.”
Dance Gavin Dance have tapped Parliament-Funkadelic leader George Clinton for their new single, which is called ‘Space Cow Initiation Ritual’. It sounds like an odd team-up – until, that is, it actually gets funky. “Getting to work with an icon like George Clinton was surreal,” guitarist Will Swan commented. “It pushed us to dig deeper into the funk and find a balance between his iconic groove and our own post-hardcore edge. ‘Space Cow Initiation Ritual’ blends those worlds in a way that feels fresh but familiar – I think fans of both camps are gonna vibe with it.”
Agriculture – ‘The Weight’
“‘The Weight’ is part of a series of songs on the album that bears witness to queer life,” Leah Levinson said of the latest single from Agriculture’s The Spiritual Sound.” It was written reflecting on a particular month last year when so much seemed heightened. It seemed like many of my friends were being harassed in public—both verbally and physically—for being trans, for being queer, and/or for being women (it’s not always clear which). This was also a time when I was feeling a lot of love and a lot of community. I wanted this song and the songs around it to honestly reflect both these elements. I wanted to write about transness but didn’t want to rely on political aphorisms and indulgent images of suffering. I wanted to paint a holistic portrait of queer life.”
Constant Smiles – ‘Time Measured in Moonflowers’ [feat. Cassandra Jenkins]
Cassandra Jenkins lends her voic to ‘Time Measured in Moonflowers’, the gently swirling new single from Constant Smiles. Moonflowers, the New York project’s debut on Felte, arrives on November 7. “I became obsessed with The Wind Rises by Hayao Miyazaki and would watch it constantly,” Ben Jones explained. “Unlike his other films, this one felt much more direct, beautiful and meditative, but it took me a while to fully understand it. I was fascinated, so I kept coming back to it. The song grew out of that experience, built around the idea of riding inspiration when it comes, like the wind, letting it arrive naturally, take flight, and guide you.”
He added: “It’s also about how time slips through your fingers, how life moves like the wind, and the importance of appreciating it while you can. I was deeply inspired by the people around me, which is why I wanted to include so many of them on the track, people who have truly shaped me.”
“Cassandra’s music was a big influence on this record, so having her sing on it made perfect sense. I’ve looked up to P.G. Six since high school when I saw him perform for the first time it genuinely changed my path. Steven R. Smith has long been an inspiration, and I even had the chance to release one of his records on my own small label. Collaborators like Jen, Shahzad, Leon, and Adam Lipsky have all taught me so much.”
The Belair Lip Bombs – ‘Hey You’
The Belair Lip Bombs, who recently signed to Third Man Records, have announced their first album for the label, Again, out on Halloween. It’s led by the soaring and synthy new single ‘Hey You’. “Having a synth loop driving a whole song is something that we’ve never done before,” singer Maisie Everett said in a statement. Daniel “Dev” Devlin added, “We kind of leaned into that and pushed to make the scope of the song bigger than some of the other songs in the album.”
Fleshwater – ‘Last Escape’
Fleshwater have dropped a new single from their upcoming album, ‘Last Escape’, which rips. It follows 2000: In Search of the Endless Sky‘s equally good first single, ‘Jetpack’.
Beverly Glenn-Copeland – ‘What’s Going On’ and ‘Heal The Children’ (Marvin Gaye Covers)
Beverly Glenn-Copeland has covered two Marvin Gaye classics, making them sound as pertinent as ever. “Marvin Gaye was my teacher,” Glenn-Copeland shared. “Though I didn’t get the chance to meet him in this life, his untimely death broke my heart. I still listen and learn from his wisdom. Marvin’s music is prophetic, and his message of unity through love still rings true today. I’m honored to be covering these two deeply meaningful songs that captured the zeitgeist of a nation at a pivotal time in our shared history. Listen to his introspective lyrics. Dance to his soulful grooves. Get yourself alive in the hands of a master and heed his call.”
William Tyler – ‘Passport to Magonia’ and ‘Covert Services’ [feat. claire rousay]
As if releasing his mesmeric album Time Indefinite earlier this year and prepping a full-length collaboration with Four Tet wasn’t enough, William Tyler has shared two new tracks, the misty, claire rousay-featuring ‘Covert Services’ and ‘Passport to Magonia’. “I’ve been a fan of claire’s since discovering her music and have been grateful to develop a friendship,” Tyler shared. “I would like to think this track is our version of pop music, a little bit Stereolab, a little bit Burial.” He added of ‘Passport to Magonia’: “This song was recorded as an improvisation at The TANK in Rangely, Colorado, a singular place of remarkable reverb in the middle of nowhere western Colorado. The space itself is an abandoned seven story steel water tower. The title of this piece comes from the classic book on ancient alien folklore by Jacques Vallee.”
Guitar – ‘Pizza for Everyone’
Next week, Mac DeMarco will release his new album Guitar, which has nothing to do with the newly announced album from Portland’s Guitar, We’re Going to the Lake. Lead single ‘Pizza for Everyone’, though, has some of that slacker rock energy, with bandleader Saia Kuli explaining, “This song is both an epic non-sequitur rally cry and also about being broke and bored sitting on a couch.”
Neko Case – ‘Winchester Mansion of Sound’
Neko Case has previewed her forthcoming album Neon Grey Midnight Green with a new song, ‘Winchester Mansion of Sound’, a beautiful ballad that struck with me with the line, “Your gravity un-designs you all the time.” It was inspired by the ‘Down Down Baby’ nursery rhyme, the Robbie Basho song ‘Orphans’ Lament’, and Case’s late friend and collaborator Dexter Romweber of the Flat Duo Jets.
Drain – ‘Who’s Having Fun’
Sometimes you feel like you don’t have a partner, and sometimes you feel like you’re the only one who’s having fun. Drain make a great case for the latter on their new single, which is lifted from their upcoming album …Is Your Friend. “‘Who’s Having Fun?’ is summertime music written to be played really loud in the car with your friends and the windows down on a beautiful sunny day,” vocalist Sammy Ciaramitaro explained. “It’s what happens when you just write music that makes you feel happy and don’t really care about fitting into a box or meeting someone else’s genre criteria. DRAIN is gonna do whatever the hell we want. This was the first song that we wrote for this album — it started out as a pretty barebones punk rock song, but we kept adding little moments and flare and all the sudden we turned it into a badass song that truly encapsulates everything that DRAIN is. This song can be about whatever you want it to be — but I think when looking for the truth in life, a good rule of thumb is to ask yourself: Who’s Having Fun? Hopefully it’s you.”
Wicca Phase Springs Eternal – ‘Magic Moment’ and ‘Settler’s Bend’
Wicca Phase Springs Eternal has shared two more songs from his new album Mossy Oak Shadow. (Not to be confused with Cass McCombs’ Interior Live Oak, which is out this Friday; we’ll have to wait another month for this one). Adam Andrzejewski recorded them with producer/engineer Ben Greenberg (Depeche Mode, Drab Majesty, Show Me The Body), accompanied by just a drummer and keyboardist. If you told me they’re taken from Springsteen’s seemingly endless vault, I’d believe you.
Google Earth – ‘endless corridor’
John Vanderslice and James Riotto have a new Google Earth song out, ‘endless corridor’, from for Mac OS X 10.11. It’s groovy and off-kilter. “This is one of those songs that flows effortlessly but took 100 hours to tetris in,” Vanderslice shared. “It almost didn’t make the record until Andrew Maguire added percussion and a blurring of the lines between drum machine and live room recording! Like all Google Earth songs, most of the song was recorded by Jamie and me in a 2 hour improv session. We then built it out from there.”
“Years ago I got stoned and went to see Interstellar in IMAX, and before the movie there was a sort of demonstration of the Dolby Sound system with lots of groovy, very hi-fi, but also quite silly, percussion music,” Rioto added. “I actually think John was with me, and we laughed so hard in the theater as it played. Endless Corridor sort of reminds me of that music.”
Spite House – ’10 Days’
Montreal melodic hardcore band Spite House have dropped ’10 Days’, the second preview of their upcoming sophomore album Desertion. “’10 Days’ about the time I spent by my mom’s side in the hospital after we learned she had cancer,” vocalist/guitarist Max Lajoie explained. “She was gone 10 days after her diagnosis. The song captures what I felt for leaving her behind years earlier, for all the things I couldn’t do, for not being able to stop time.”
“I’m a material bitch,” Amaarae declares on ‘100DRUM’, “but I know the worth of a mind.” On ‘B2B’, she repeats the word “heart” more times than probably any body part mentioned on her new album. And yes, it’s called Black Star and Naomi Campbell appears on one song, but its best track is probably the PinkPantheress duet, which says a lot about its yearning emotionality. Black Star is as exuberant, reckless, and lavish as the Ghanaian American visionary’s major label debut, Fountain Baby, but it’s also mindful and sensitive as it expands on her globalist, Afrodiasporic vision of club music. The more time she spends in the club, the softer – yet no less inventive – her music becomes. You can get off a dozen different drugs, she knows, but no high can match that of a love that outlasts the rush.
1. Stuck Up
The opener frames Black Star as a clubbier record than its predecessor: buzzing, jagged, and outright funny. “If I fuck a bitch in a truck, hmm, did I put a 10 in a coma?” she quips, before declaring that her album “went Blackinum.” Black Star deserves the same recognition, and then some.
2. Starkilla [feat. Bree Runway and Starkillers]
Amaarae and Bree Runway repeat the words “ketamine, coke and molly” over a house beat on the chorus, offering little context beyond the fact they’re about to serve somebody. Their voices glitch in the background, part of a few subtle switches to an otherwise straightforward song. But the real twist, foreshadowed by Amaarae’s reminder that “love is free,” comes from Runway: “Ketamine, molly and I don’t even take that shit/ I’m already high as shit off of my life and shit.” Different kind of shit worth exalting in.
3. ms60 [feat. Naomi Campbell]
It’s funny that Naomi Campbell strutted her way into both Black Star and the latest Miley Cyrus album; there isn’t a whiff of a story to her appearance here, as there was on Something Beautiful, but it has a similar effect – converging, of course, on the word “pose.” With rumbling drums and bass that contort at the last minute, it raises the pulse even higher.
4. Kiss Me Thru The Phone pt 2 [feat. PinkPantheress]
Love may be free, but it’s not easy, especially in a digital world. Serving as a sequel to the Soulja Boy original, Amaarae’s PinkPantheress collab languishes in that kind of yearning. It’s Black Star’s unlikely gem, a 180 from the album’s boastful opening run that showcases its gentle heart. On an album where skin-to-skin contact is paramount and various substances course through your body, the loneliness of ‘Kiss Me’ is all the more sharp.
5. B2B
At first, ‘B2B’ seems to turn her attention back to the simple dynamics of sex, but it doesn’t take long for the melancholy of ‘Kiss Me’ to stream back in. Unlike the amapiano of ‘ms60’, the beat here disintegrates to the rhythm of the relationship in question, with Amaarae admitting, “I can’t even miss your body/ Your spirit needs too much work.” Over Spanish guitar that puts a delicate spin on her vulnerability, she keeps landing on the phrase “my heart” as if holding on to it. It’s as sad as a house track can get, and you’ll want to play it that much louder.
6. She Is My Drug
As she spins Cher’s ‘Believe’, you’d be forgiven for mishearing Amaarae sing “Do you believe in love after drugs?”, but “off the drugs” is much more fitting. Feeding off the complicated tension of ‘B2B’, you can feel her faith withering away over muted production, her vocals breaking apart at “Really don’t think you’re strong enough.”
7. Girlie-Pop
The album’s thesis arrives exactly at the halfway point, revelling in the simple pleasure of “switching genres into pop.” But in context, it’s also about the “sweet release of love,” the kiss that felt so distant on the PinkPatheress duet. ‘Girlie-Pop’ is the shortest track on the record, evidence that you don’t need much more to fuel your daydreams.
8. S.M.O.
Two months after the single’s release, I still can’t stop thinking about the line “I wanna week with her, she taste like Lexapro.” But now I can’t ignore how the unabashedly sweaty track also dissolves towards the end, with the singer’s lover threatening to “blow my high” and bring her to tears with a single look. “You don’t need sex to slut,” she declares at one point. You don’t need it for power, either.
9. Fineshyt
Amaarae can do pure hedonism just fine, but she wants a little more, which is exactly the subject of ‘Fineshyt’. “The rush has subsided,” she admits early on, yet lingers in it over trance synths that are a little too sparse to feel like a throwback. “Don’t you feel the sadness?” By this point, you surely do, but you want to stay for that final stretch.
10. Dove Comeron
No, there’s no hidden feature here – Amaarae can really switch up her cadence like that, the most interesting element of a song that otherwise doesn’t add much to the progression of Black Star.
11. Dream Scenario [feat. Charlie Wilson]
Amaarae has been holding back tears this whole time, but no more. She does away with drums and fashions an orchestra around her vocals, never more moving than in their high-pitched, AutoTuned falter. “I know my heart is sensitive,” she sings, leaning forward: “What are you gonna do with it?” Charlie Wilson’s appearance turns the song into something transcendent, like the heavenly breath Amaarae longs for. At the end of the day, it can overpower every misalignment.
12. 100DRUM [feat. Zacari]
After owning her sincerity on ‘Dream Scenario’, Amaarae’s voice sinks even lower, veering into paranoia. The song itself is subtly mesmeric until the breakdown, where it’s slathered with effects and barely holds itself together.
13. FREE THE YOUTH
Hyped-up and abrasive like the record’s first few songs, ‘FREE THE YOUTH’ makes Black Star feel like a spiral, both spiritually and musically akin to post-After Hours the Weeknd (‘tears in the club’ producer El Guincho worked on the track). It jumps and jitters at the edge of ecstasy, its refrain of “Day by day I used to pray” turning it into an anthem of defiance. As she wraps up her vision of Black pop stardom, she may be in line with some of her decadent contemporaries, but she’ll always be on a different high.
The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde has announced a new duets album, Duets Special, which arrives on October 17 via Rhino. Credited to Chrissie Hyde & Pals, it features the Killers’ Brandon Flowers, Julian Lennon, Cat Power, Depeche Mode’s Dave Gahan, Blondie’s Debbie Harry, Low’s Alan Sparhawk, Garbage’s Shirley Manson, Lucinda Williams, the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, and the late Mark Lanegan. They cover songs from Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Morrissey, Low, 10cc, the Righteous Brothers, Billy Paul, and Brenda Holloway. Check out the lead single, a cover of ‘Always On My Mind’ with Rufus Wainwright, below.
“I never thought about doing a Duets album before. I think the idea came about in 2023,” Hynde said in a statement. “I was talking to Jörn, Rufus Wainwright’s husband, on the phone. I think we were recommending novels to each other, and for some reason, I said Hey, maybe Rufus and I should do something, and quickly scribbled out 10 songs off the top of my head. So Jörn asked Rufus, who was up for it, and that’s how it started. A spontaneous and what I thought would be a fun thing.”
Duets Special Tracklist:
1. Me & Mrs Jones [feat. k.d. lang]
2. Can’t Help Falling In Love [feat. Mark Lanegan]
3. Sway [feat. Lucinda Williams]
4. Dolphins [feat. Dave Gahan]
5. First Of The Gang To Die [feat. Cat Power]
6. Always On My Mind [feat. Rufus Wainwright]
7. Every Little Bit Hurts [feat. Carleen Anderson]
8. I’m Not In Love [feat. Brandon Flowers]
9. It’s Only Love [feat. Julian Lennon]
10. Try To Sleep [feat. Debbie Harry]
11. County Line [feat. Alan Sparhawk]
12. Love Letters [feat. Shirley Manson]
13. (You’re My) Soul And Inspiration [feat. Dan Auerbach]
Radiohead have surprise-released a new album of live recordings from the Hail to the Thief era. It features performances of most of the album’s tracks – omitting ‘Backdrifts’ and ‘A Punch Up at a Wedding’ – captured in London, Amsterdam, Buenos Aires, and Dublin between 2003 and 2009. Following the digital edition that’s out today, a one-off vinyl pressing will be released on Halloween, available for pre-order now. Listen to it below.
Hail to the Thief (Live Recordings 2003-2009) was mixed by Ben Baptie and mastered by Matt Colton. In a statement about the record, Thom Yorke said, “In the process of thinking how to build arrangements for the Shakespeare Hamlet/Hail to the Thief theatre production I asked to hear some archive live recordings of the songs. I was shocked by the kind of energy behind the way we played and it really helped me find a way forward. For us, back in the day, the finishing of this record was particularly messy and fraught, we were very proud of it but there was a taste left in our mouths, it was a dark time in so many ways. Anyway we decided to get these live recordings mixed (it would have been insane to keep them for ourselves) by Ben Baptie, who did an amazing job. It has all been a very cathartic process, we very much hope you enjoy them.”
The first thing you notice walking into Undercurrent at Artflow Studio Ltd is that it doesn’t shout for attention. It’s quiet, but not in a cold way — more like it’s got something brewing under the surface and you’re being pulled in before you’ve even decided to step closer. The white walls and bare floor make the air feel a bit sharper, like every sound in the room has space to bounce back at you. The works aren’t crammed in — they’ve got breathing room — but they still feel like they’re passing a message between each other when you’re not looking.
There are a lot of voices here, twenty-one artists all told, and somehow it doesn’t turn into a noisy mess. Installation next to paintings, video a few steps from sculpture, textiles hanging near photography. You get the sense the connections are loose but deliberate, like someone arranged a dinner party knowing half the guests might never talk, but the room would still hum. The theme — forces you can’t see but can definitely feel — isn’t handled like a school project. It’s slower, stranger. Sometimes you only catch it in the corner of your mind.
You get moments where the works almost push against you. Syntax by Yiyi Song has four ceramic pieces leaning into each other, none able to stand alone. They look steady enough, but you can tell one wrong move and the whole thing’s done for. Abbas Khan’s Jaws of Success is sharper, almost nasty — that gnawing feeling of being eaten alive by the job you thought you wanted. Xin Zhang’s Growing Pain hits in a quieter way, all bricks and walls standing in for how identity gets built and chipped at over time. Then you get Baoyue Zhang’s Blue Entropy, which just blows the whole scale out to the size of the universe — order and chaos circling each other while machines and memory fight it out.
Memory’s everywhere in this show. Not the neat, photo-album kind, but the way it actually works in your head — bent, hazy, bits missing. Lingjun Feng’s The unraveling of memories is all liquid blur, almost like it’s trying to get away from you. Amar Shrestha’s Reflection of Camden Market flips this around, catching quick, raw moments in market mirrors that weren’t meant for art at all. Both feel real in different ways, like the stuff you remember without meaning to.
Some works are about the body — what it holds onto, what it loses. Haopeng Yang’s The Diamond Cutter uses a hanging spine and medical images to talk about living with pain, and it’s not pretty or tidy. Jordan Leung’s Untitled feels like a dare to get close to nature again, even if it cuts. Lingfei Shen’s BLUE somehow makes an empty stretch of sea feel full of something you can’t name.
Other pieces dig into folklore or history, but not in a stuck-in-the-past way. Anna Yan’s AWU brings back an old Guangdong ghost story, the kind of thing kids would whisper about to scare each other. Bingge Liu’s silk landscapes need time to look at — the kind where you almost have to slow your breathing to see the details. These works aren’t rushing to make their point, and maybe that’s why they stick.
A few pieces are direct in their challenge. Xinyue Liang’s Defying the Vase is exactly what it says — not letting women be treated like something you put flowers in and leave on the table. Alina Burkovska’s I Was Whole is softer in tone, more about piecing yourself back together without pretending it’s all fine.
Not everything here is heavy. Anni Li’s A Liminal Dream floats somewhere between being a kid and an adult, half-clear, half-not. Sammy Lai’s Daydreaming catches the way a city moves, not through buildings or traffic, but through the rhythms of the people walking past you. PinChing Wu’s pieces feel like they were made on the move — part travel diary, part self-portrait — where you’re not sure what’s true and what’s made up. Minyu Zhu’s Interweave is tactile, almost like you could read it with your hands.
The works don’t wrap things up neatly. Abbas Khan’s All Fawksed Up might have flames, but it’s not about the fire you see — it’s about the quieter, slower kind that works its way in over time. Nothing here really hands you an answer, and that’s probably the point. You’re meant to take your time, even if that means standing there longer than you thought you would.
Artflow Studio’s Undercurrent pulls this off without over-explaining itself. It trusts you to connect the dots — or not — and to notice the small things that shift inside you when you’re looking. That trust feels rare. You walk out with the sense something in you has moved a bit, even if you can’t pin down what. And maybe you’re not supposed to.
Exhibition name: Undercurrent
Exhibition Date: 1 – 7 August 2025
Curated Team:HongQian Zhang and Huan Zhou
Artist list: Baoyue Zhang, Sammy Lai, Xiaobin Zhang, Jordan Leung, Yingxin Yan, Amar Shrestha, Alina Burkovska, Lingfei Shen, Haopeng Yang, PinChing Wu, Xinyue Liang, Minyu Zhu, Anni Li, Xiang Li, Xin Zhang, Abbas Khan, Yiping Gu, Longfei Jiang, Yiyi Song, Bingge Liu
Volunteer: Tizi Pu, Longfei Jiang
Photographer: Amar Shrestha
*This exhibition is presented in collaboration with Our Culture, Jenny Ping Lam Lin and Dr. Quanliu, continuing Artflow Studio’s mission to connect emerging voices with diverse audiences.
THCA carts are gaining popularity among vaping enthusiasts as they offer a unique experience compared to traditional cannabis products. In this article, we will guide you through the world of THCA carts, providing insights to help you make well-informed purchase decisions and clear up any confusion surrounding these products. Let’s dive into what makes a quality THCA cart and the standards that ensure safety and satisfaction.
Understanding THCA Carts
THCA carts are pre-filled cartridges designed for vaping, containing tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), the non-psychoactive precursor to THC. When heated, THCA converts to THC, offering benefits such as:
Health Benefits: THCA has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, as suggested by studies. Explore more about THCA’s potential benefits on Harvard Health Blog.
Reduced Psychoactive Effects: THCA does not produce a “high” until heated, allowing users to enjoy benefits without intense psychoactive effects.
Key Features to Consider When Buying a THCA Cartridge
Choosing the right THCA cart is crucial for a satisfying vaping experience. Consider the following key features:
Potency: Check the THCA content level for suitable effects according to your needs.
Brand Reputation: Opt for reputable brands with a history of customer satisfaction.
Purity: Look for carts free from unnecessary additives and contaminants.
Extraction Method: Prefer CO2 extraction for efficient and quality products.
Flavor: Choose natural flavors over synthetic ones for a better experience.
Safety and Quality Standards for THCA Carts
Ensuring safety and quality in THCA carts is paramount to a satisfactory vaping experience. Consider the following:
Lab Testing: Reliable manufacturers conduct third-party lab tests for potency and purity.
Certificates: Look for a certificate of analysis (COA) for detailed product information.
Recognizing Quality Products and Avoiding Counterfeits: Ensure tamper-proof packaging, clear appearance, and natural scent, and always purchase from reputable vendors.
THCA Cart vs. THCA Vape Cartridges for Sale
Understanding the distinctions between THCA carts and vape cartridges is crucial for informed purchasing decisions.
Understanding THCA Carts and THCA Vape Cartridges
THCA Carts: Standard cartridges filled with THCA oil for reusable vape pens.
THCA Vape Cartridges: Offer varied experiences with additional ingredients.
Market Differences and Consumer Preferences
Customization: THCA carts offer more customization, while vape cartridges are more portable.
Cost: Carts may be more budget-friendly as they are reusable.
Consumer Trends
Quality, variety, and convenience are key consumer priorities.
Difference Between THCA Carts and THCA Live Resin Disposable
Understanding the differences between THCA carts and live resin disposables is essential for choosing the right product.
THCA Live Resin Disposables: Single-use options offering rich flavors.
Factors to Consider
Ease of Use: Disposables are convenient for beginners or travel.
Cost and Experience: Consider cost-effectiveness and flavor preference.
Where to Buy THCA Carts for Sale
Finding credible sources to purchase THCA carts is vital for quality and safety. Consider the following recommendations:
Online Retailers: Opt for reputable online cannabis shops with detailed product information.
Dispensaries: Legitimate dispensaries provide knowledgeable staff and safe products.
Summing it All Up
To conclude, research potency, brand reputation, and purity when purchasing THCA carts. Prioritize lab-tested products, compare different options, and choose sources like online retailers or dispensaries for a satisfying experience. This guide aims to empower consumers in making informed choices for their THCA vaping journey.
Casino bonus offers come in various types, each designed to reduce risk on your deposits and enhance your winning chances. Identifying the packages is essential for optimising your gameplay and maximising possible returns. From welcome bonuses to cashback programs, each type varies across online casinos. According to Statista, online casino revenue is expected to reach $226.9 billion by the end of 2025.A considerable portion is allocated to rewards, designed to attract and retain bettors.
This online casino bonus guide provides data-backed information you will need to understand each reward. We will discuss the most common bonuses available and the hidden terms most operators are hiding from you. It concludes with an examination of rising trends and how to capitalize on them. Gaining a deep understanding of how bonuses work is key to improving your experience and planning strategies.
7 Types Every Player Should Know
Online casino bonuses are unique incentives that attract and retain new players. They provide extra funds or opportunities to extend playtime. Each online casino bonus serves a specific purpose, from encouraging new registrations to rewarding loyal players. Casinos also utilize these packages to differentiate themselves in the competitive market.
Understanding the types of online casino bonuses can improve your playing style. This includes learning about their values, terms, and conditions, as well as any possible restrictions. There are no standards, allowing each gaming site to design its online casino promotion bonus as it sees fit. Here are the most common offers you will find, along with their key features, the target audience they appeal to, and any applicable time limits.
Bonus Type
Average Value
Wagering Req.
Success Rate
Best For
Time Limit
Welcome Bonus
100% + 100 spins
35x
23%
New players
30 days
No Deposit
$10-25
40x
8%
Risk-free testing
7 days
Reload
50% match
25x
35%
Regular players
7 days
Cashback
10-20%
None
100%
Consistent players
Weekly
VIP
Custom
15x
78%
High rollers
60 days
Crypto
150% + perks
30x
28%
Crypto users
14 days
No-Wager
10-50 spins
0x
100%
All players
24 hours
Welcome Bonuses
Welcome casino bonuses are the most popular rewards in the online gambling market. It is reserved for new players who have completed the registration requirements. This package typically includes a matched deposit, free spins, or both. A match deposit rewards players with a percentage of their deposit. For instance, a 100% deposit offer could yield an additional $100 bonus for a $100 deposit. Free spins allow players to wager on slot machines without using their own money. The average market value for welcome deposit casino bonuses is about 100% up to $1000, while free spins range from 50 to 500.
No Deposit Bonuses
This casino bonus type is also popular, offering players a cash amount or free spins upon signing up. They are highly appealing because they don’t require a deposit and offer the lowest risk you will find among all the types of casino bonuses. Yet, their terms and conditions are strict, including access to limited games and small withdrawal limits. Their value ranges from $5 to $20, making them a low-risk advantage for new players.
Reload and Cashback Bonuses
Reload and cashback bonuses are strictly for regular or loyal players. Cashback bonus returns a percentage of the entire lost bets (ranges from 10%-35%). Reload also pays a percentage, but it is based on the total deposit amount. Each promotion is calculated after a period, which can be a week or a month. You will find that these offers have fewer terms and conditions, suiting consistent players who prefer long-term rewards.
VIP and High Roller Bonuses
VIP and high-roller promotions are designed for big spenders, offering exclusive perks. They are the best casino bonuses online if you prefer to stake high. Offers often include dedicated account managers, high withdrawal limits, or unique cashback deals.
New and Emerging Bonus Types
New, trendy online casino deposit bonuses are already emerging in 2025. Offers such as crypto casino bonuses, gamified loyalty rewards, and no-wagering bonuses deliver cryptocurrency benefits. However, they also include the volatility of market prices.
Bonus Terms Decoded: What Operators Don’t Want You to Know
Ever wonder why your $100 casino bonus feels impossible to clear? Many online casinos offer extremely generous rewards, but their terms may contain hidden traps. Identifying and avoiding these harsh promotions will help you save time and your precious money.
Protection strategies:
Impossible Wagering: Many deposit casino bonuses have incredibly high wagering requirements, making them mathematically impossible to meet. For instance, a bonus with a wagering requirement of 50x means you must play up to $5000 to clear a $100 bonus. The higher this playthrough requirement, the more you must wager before placing a withdrawal request.
Phantom bonuses: Some bonuses outrightly disappear after signing up. It’s possible that you are attracted by an advertised offer but cannot find it on the promotions page. These “Phantom bonuses” have unclear terms that disappear once you make a deposit. Our research suggests that a common underlying factor contributing to these causes is the failure to utilise a specific deposit method.
Operator reliability: Operators offering the largest online casino bonuses typically hold valid operational permits. Each platform on magyarcasinobonus.com is licensed by popular regulatory bodies, which hold them to high standards on fair casino bonus terms and conditions.
Complaint patterns: Some sites are known for having a pattern of complaints regarding bonuses. Check player review forums to understand their casino’s reputation on bonus terms first.
How Location Affects Your Offers
Geography is a crucial factor in determining what type of casino bonus is available for your pleasure. This is based on different conditions that shape the online gambling market in a particular location. The major rules are based on local regulations, currency considerations, and market competition.
Jurisdiction comparison: All jurisdictions have different rules regarding all types of online casino bonuses. For instance, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has strict rules regarding wagering limits and the availability of promotions. However, the Curaçao Gaming Control Board and Malta Gaming Authority have relaxed regulations. This attracts international operators who prefer relaxed policies.
Market maturity: In competitive markets, such as the UK, online casinos offer highly valuable rewards. This is to help them catch new players. However, locations with emerging markets may display more basic rewards.
Regulatory impact: You will find that laws regarding online gambling are evolving in high markets, such as the UK. The UKGC considers responsible gambling and the prevention of underage betting a priority in setting its regulations.
Currency considerations: Multi-currency bonuses are rising in popularity. This means you can access any casino bonus in a preferred currency. A unique trend is the rise of crypto-based promotions, which appeal to international players. This provides promotions outside their central location.
Wagering Requirements Demystified
Wagering requirement is a key feature of most deposit casino bonuses. It can be tricky, especially for new players. Learning how it works helps you make an efficient casino bonus strategy and to calculate how to make money from online casino bonuses. Let’s break down what it means, the difference between bonus-only and deposit + bonus wagering conditions, and the actual cost involved.
Expected Value
Wagering requirements can vary, depending on whether you’re betting both the bonus and the deposit or only the bonus. A bonus-only bet may have lower standards, making them easy to fulfil. Deposit + bonus are generally higher, with stricter rules on time frame limits.
For instance, if a casino awards you a $100 bonus with a 35x wagering requirement. It means you would need to stake $3,500 to clear the reward ($100 x 35). However, if the term is a deposit + bonus offer, it may have a high wagering requirement. If the casino bonus is a $100 bonus with a 50x wagering requirement on a $100 deposit, the total amount becomes $10,000 ($200 x 50).
Here’s a breakdown of the calculations:
35x Bonus Wagering only on $100 bonus. $100 bonus x 35 = $3,500 bet requirement.
50x deposit requirement. ($100 deposit + $100 bonus) x 50 = $10,000 bet requirement.
Reality Check
Every wagering requirement for a casino bonus is influenced by game mechanics, including Return to Player (RTP) rate. The RTP feature applies to free slot bonuses with its average value at 95%. This means for every $100 bet, you would get only $95. Depending on the number of bets you need to place, you could lose about $150-$300 when clearing a $100 cash bonus.
Certain games contribute to clearing wagering requirements in different amounts. For instance, online slots often offer 100% while table games only contribute 10-20% or nothing (depending on the casino). Always check what amount a game category contributes to the wagering requirement.
Success Rate Statistics
Data show that only 23% of players can successfully fulfil a wagering requirement exceeding 40x. This only shows the difficulty in clearing this condition. It’s essential to study a casino bonus’s terms and conditions before committing.
There are certain factors you should note that can influence a bonus. They determine how easily a casino bonus and potential winnings can be unlocked.
Time frame. The time frame varies based on the type of wagering requirement. Bonus-only promotions offer more extended expiry periods, but bonus + deposit promotions are restricted to only a few days.
Maximum bet limits. Certain casinos have a max bet limit for a wagering requirement. For instance, you may not be allowed to stake above $5 per spin or hand.
Maximum payout from the bonus. We recommend confirming whether you can withdraw both the bonus and winnings, or only the cash prize. Some sites only pay out the cash prize from the bonus after the wagering requirements are fulfilled. Others limit withdrawals to a specific figure.
Final Words
A casino bonus can significantly impact your gaming experience. Each type has its features and value when applied to a group of players. However, they have complex terms and conditions that need understanding. All kinds of casino bonuses have their uses, but they often come with terms.
Learning about the wagering requirements and game contributions can help you make informed decisions and avoid common mistakes. Always begin by assessing the actual value of a bonus. Consider major factors such as realistic wagering expectations, time frames, and eligible games.
We recommend gambling responsibly. Bonuses can only enhance your play style and not create unrealistic expectations of winning. Confirm if the site is transparent by looking through our metrics on how to identify a licensed online casino. By using a casino bonus wisely, you can boost your chances of winning for a more rewarding experience. For more updated reviews on the biggest online casino bonuses, check out additional casino bonus guides on our site.
Performance: Not for Sale, Choreographer: Hui-Hsin Lu, Performers: Yueting Liu, Zhou Jie, Junxin Zhang, Ka Ki Christina Lai
In a quiet corner of Archway, London, a functioning shibari studio has been transformed into a charged space of discipline, desire, and nocturnal introspection. Nightfall Division brings together an international roster of artists, among them Annette Harvest, Caijing Kuang, Mingzhang Sun, and Louise Hapton, to explore what happens when the sun sets and the rules shift.
The exhibition takes the night as both metaphor and method, presenting it as a rupture in the social order, a place where shame, fear, and longing emerge from the shadows. Drawing on the symbolism of BDSM culture and the haunting logic of Liu Cixin’s “Dark Forest” theory, the show asks a disquieting question: in a world that champions personal freedom, what does liberty truly mean when systems of control have already been internalised?
At its entrance, a carved tombstone declaring RIP SHAME serves as both provocation and invitation. From there, the exhibition unfolds across three interconnected rooms. The first, devoted to installation and painting, interrogates the ways identity is moulded, constrained, and resisted through material and symbolic languages. The second and third spaces, housing photography, video, and sound, pull the viewer into a more visceral realm, where staged imagery and sensory immersion dissolve the boundary between audience and subject. Here, interpretation gives way to feeling, and meaning emerges in a haze of uncertainty.
Zhaoyao Chen’s Mao Zedong Triptych (2024); Yulai Xu’s Fishtail(2025); Mengzhu Li’s Seeing Higher on the Shoulders of Giants (2023) Chenqi Jiang’s Self-Portrait 1 & Self-Portrait 2 (2025)
The venue itself is no passive host. Raw, intimate, and steeped in symbolism, the shibari studio amplifies the show’s central themes of power, submission, and exposure. This spatial honesty strips away the sterility of the traditional white cube, replacing it with something riskier, more human.
On opening night, the live performance Not for Sale by choreographer Hui-Hsin Lu heightened this tension. Performed with minimal staging, it relied on the physical presence of the body to explore resistance, vulnerability, and the politics of being seen. The work, much like the exhibition as a whole, was less about offering answers than about inhabiting the questions.
Hui-Hsin Lu‘s Not for sale (2025)
BDSM, in this context, is not presented as spectacle but as metaphor. It becomes a lens through which to examine how power is enforced, and how its rules become part of our own instincts. Liu’s “Dark Forest” analogy in which survival depends on silence and invisibility resonates throughout, suggesting that in contemporary life we are simultaneously predator and prey, concealing parts of ourselves in order to endure.
Exhibition Poster designed by: Jocelin Cheng, Jase Cooper
Nightfall Division resists neat resolution. Instead, it invites the viewer to linger in the tension between repression and recognition. By staging its inquiry within a working space of knots, bindings, and human vulnerability, it ensures that every step through its rooms is a negotiation with power, not as spectacle, but as the possibility of transformation.
Lafayette, LA, has a thriving community that faces the full spectrum of complex injury cases, from serious traffic collisions to workplace and offshore accidents. While local public records on injury claim outcomes are limited, statewide data reveal that Louisiana averages more than 10,000 personal injury claims filed annually, with a growing share involving multiple parties and intricate legal issues. In Lafayette, where families and professionals alike rely on roadways, oilfield sites, and active workplaces, understandinglegal strategies to maximize compensation is critical.
Against this backdrop, Galloway Jefcoat has earned a reputation in Lafayette for understanding these layered cases and guiding clients to navigate them with confidence and clarity. Whether leveraging expert medical testimony, strategically determining liability, or dissecting insurance policy nuances, legal professionals apply tailored approaches that reflect the unique challenges of Lafayette, LA, and the firm’s deep commitment to securing fair outcomes for injury victims.
Thorough Documentation
A strong case foundation lies in comprehensive documentation. Gathering solid facts makes all the difference. Legal experts pull together your medical files, what witnesses said, and pictures from the injury spot. Just as a building needs every brick, a powerful argument requires solid proof from every angle. Legal work moves faster when your papers are neat and easy to find, and your arguments strengthen.
Expert Testimonies
Leveraging expert testimonies can significantly enhance the credibility of an injury claim. Medical experts will tell you how an injury affects you now and what to expect later. Imagine a court case loaded with medical terms or engineering facts. These specialists break down the complex science so judges and juries can truly follow every part of the story. If you want top dollar, it is best to go with experienced, trusted professionals.
Understanding Legal Rights
Knowing one’s legal rights is fundamental in injury cases. They can explain all the money you might be owed. This includes your doctor bills, lost income, and suffering. If you truly grasp your rights, you’ll grab every bit of money you’re owed. That builds a complete claim.
Negotiation Skills
Effective negotiation is vital in achieving a fair settlement. Legal representatives with strong negotiation skills can advocate for the injured party’s best interests. Picture them, strong and steady, going toe-to-toe with insurance adjusters or the lawyers representing the opposition. A smart negotiator can hammer out a deal that compensates fairly for your injury. It covers the actual harm and how it threw your life off course.
Emphasizing Long-Term Impacts
Injury cases often involve consideration of long-term effects. You might face long-term medical care or rehabilitation and earn less. You need to highlight the costs and difficulties that may be encountered in the future. That’s how you get paid what’s right. To make sure an injured person receives the right help, legal and medical teams need to join up. They map out all the future care and costs.
Utilizing Technology
Technology can play a significant role in injury cases. With digital assistance, paperwork gets organized, messages fly, and accident details can be replayed. Dynamic visuals like animated sequences or realistic simulations can show the mechanics of an injury or its ongoing effects on a person’s routine. Using technology effectively can make the case more compelling and understandable.
Pre-Trial Preparation
Adequate pre-trial preparation can influence the case’s success. First, they look for every bit of information. Then, they collect the proof and arrange witness accounts. Preparing for potential challenges or counterarguments can strengthen the case. When a legal team truly masters the details, it can build an argument that hits hard and lands a win.
Choosing the Right Legal Representation
Selecting the right attorney is a critical decision in complex injury cases. Seasoned lawyers understand well how complicated these cases can be. You get advice that’s built just for your situation. They make sure every legal step you take works out right. A skilled attorney can significantly impact the compensation outcome by advocating assertively and strategically.
Emotional and Psychological Considerations
Injury cases often involve emotional and psychological aspects. It is crucial to understand these things well if you hope to get what you’re owed. Anxiety or depression, and other mental health struggles, can be part of your claim. When lawyers account for everything, they see how an injury changes someone’s entire world.
Contingency Fee Arrangements
Many legal professionals offer contingency fee arrangements for injury cases. This means legal fees are only paid if the case is successful. This arrangement with a good lawyer means you don’t pay legal fees until later, if your case is successful. Injured people can seek fairness without the burden of paying legal costs right away.
Final Thoughts
Complex injury cases require a strategic approach to ensure fair compensation. A solid legal challenge always starts with substantial evidence on paper, compelling words from those who know their stuff, and a clear idea of what the law allows you to do. Skillful talks matter. Considering the long term and putting technology to work makes success much more likely. Pre-trial preparation, choosing the right legal team, and addressing emotional considerations complete the strategy. When you use these legal approaches, you can maximize compensation. That extra money gives you the support you need to recover and live comfortably.
