The Lazy Eyes, a four-piece band out of Sydney, Australia, released their latest single Tangerine. The song follows the band’s first release Cheesy Love Song which already passed over 300,000 streams via Spotify alone.
Talking about the song the band stated “Tangerine is the first original we ever learned to play. It’s funny looking back on it because the rhythm of the melody was so hard for everyone – especially poor Noah on the drums – to nail. Nowadays the song is a breeze and It would be weird if it wasn’t, considering we have played it more than any other song in the set. Harvey finds a new and inventive way at every show to make the guitar solo ‘interesting.’ Expect the unexpected from him. The recording came together slowly, adding layers one by one and producing it in our home studio. Sonically it’s still nostalgic of the time when we were just starting to learn to play with each other and really becoming a band.”
Emma Grace’s music is not the kind we usually cover on this segment, but the natural, raw beauty of her compositions, which traverse through the fields of classical, ambient, and folk, made it impossible to ignore. An Italian-American composer, singer, and violinist from Assisi and Florida, Grace released her first album, Backgrounds, at the age of 22, and two years later, she has come through with a new double LP, the earthy and enchanting Wild Fruits and Red Cheeks. Right from the beginning of the record, Grace displays the different elements of her music that flourish throughout – opener ‘Animated (Midnatt)’ is an ambient piece incorporating lo-fi recordings, which transitions to the more fully-formed, tension-filled, and melodic ‘Random Precision’, while ‘On Top of Our Worlds’ introduces Grace’s ethereal voice, which so naturally dances around the violin. The nearly 8-minute ‘Red Fruits’ is a flower of its own, changing form as it grows, while the guitar-based, folkier ‘The Tree’ and ‘Blue Woods’ explore a more intimate type of beauty. The slowly-unfurling ‘Climbing on Waters’ is wonderfully evocative as its propulsive rhythm pushes forward, a remaining echo first unveiled on ‘Red Fruits’. The graceful beauty of this album is undeniable upon first listen – but the journey it takes you through, the different creeks you discover along the way, is the reason you’ll want to return to it again and again.
We caught up with Emma Grace for this edition of our Artist Spotlight series, where we showcase up-and-coming artists and give them a chance to talk a bit about their music.
How and when did you decide to pursue music?
I always had the dream of touring with bands but after finishing my music studies at 13 I didn’t touch the violin for about two years. After that I started playing again on my own and also with other musicians from my neighborhood in their projects. Even though at 17 I completed my first violin composition, never had i thought about writing and playing my own music. I figured that playing music was a big inevitable part of my life once I started travelling with the violin as my only suitcase.
What are some of your biggest influences?
I think travelling has always been my greatest influence, and quite an addiction, it taught me to constantly adapt and to realize when it’s time to stop and create. The people along the way have all guided me to come up with new songs and views of the world. From the musicians i worked with in Paris, to my latest music therapy studies. Musically speaking, movie soundtracks and minimal ambient music are always a great inspiration. In this way I discover a lot of new sounds.
How did your current approach to songwriting develop, and how has it changed over the years?
I never intentionally wanted to write music, I think that the world is already full of lots of fantastic music, so much that it’s hard to keep up with it. But making music turned out to be a daily necessity.Originally I was keener on listening and accompanying others. My composing developed naturally from this. It’s probably a cliche nowadays to say the music writes itself, but when i write it really feels that way. It’s not something I want to control with my mind. I just let it happen, it can’t be planned or predicted.
Can you talk to us about the process of making ‘Wild Fruits and Red Cheeks’?
Wild Fruits and Red Cheeks started composing it self in India. I started writing one of the guitar songs “Blue woods”. Once got back to Venice “On Top Of Our Words” just came out as soon as I tried the Viola that was kindly lend to me on one of my trips back to the States. After that I remember it was raining outside and I pressed Rec when i first tried a friend’s Loop Station and then realized that I almost had a new album to work on, and probably it was going to be a double. Some tracks have remained first takes recorded in my room in Venice, others have been recorded a second time in a bathroom in the countryside in Umbria. Finally I added some sounds and songs made on my phone during my latest travels.
What were some of the inspirations behind it?
As I already mentioned, I started work on the first songs in India where I stayed a month in an orphanage working on musical activities with kids and older women. After that experience I found that I couldn’t relate to my earlier works as before, so I felt it was time to try and push “rec” again as soon as i had the possibility to do so. The album is an update to where I am now musically.
If you could collaborate with any musician, who would it be?
Always a hard question, let’s see…At the moment it would be late nights composing with Moondog, dance sets with Arthur Russel, and morning ritual writing with Franco Battiato, amongst others. Rather than working only with musicians, I would like to combine my music with other artforms and the artists I meet day to day.
What are your plans for the rest of the year?
For now I am in quarantine as we all are, so it is very difficult to plan. But it is good to stop, focus on other rhythms, daily routines, old books and new notebooks.
I will continue with my music therapy studies and perhaps will soon be pressing “rec” again! Who knows?
It is 2020 and summer is not far away, it is now the perfect time to think about what you may want to wear for the warmest season of the year. For this list, we have selected ten superb-looking shirts for you to consider getting. From what we know, bowling shirts and oversized shirts are in so we did our best to include some in our list.
Reiss Calahan Western Stitch Detail Shirt – Black
Reiss are known for some stunning shirts in the past few years at least. Combining a touch of seventies-inspired style to your summer look with the Calahan button-through shirt in black might be just the way to go. The shirt is crafted from a lightweight fabric and features a point collar, Western-stitch piping detail and buttoned cuffs. It will look great with a pair of slim fit white trousers, or even some shorts. Remember, Western styled shirts can also go with some classic denim colours, so jeans are an option.
Reiss Bowen Striped Linen-blend Cuban Collar Shirt – Navy
This is another magnificent shirt by Reiss. This shirt revives a classic silhouette with a retro-inspired polo silhouette, with a striped navy, white and navy palette and ribbed detailing. You can pair this shirt with smart chinos, or a pair of dark shorts.
This beautiful, eye-pleasing shirt with a plain washed look is made from linen. It is slim fit with a Kent collar that will help reflect a calming, chilled-out look on you. If you’re looking for something serene, this shirt will be ideal for you.
This is another stunning addition to our list by Massimo Dutti. Like the previous entry, this Linen shirt is not just comfy but also a lovely look that is casual yet elegant, perfect for summer.
This gorgeous short-sleeved shirt by Ralph Lauren is a must-have for anyone with a love for spectacular eye-catching colour. It’s not something worn every day, but one for a special occasion or when you feel just a little special.
The S/S Hawaiian Floral Shirt is constructed from a lightweight viscose poplin fabric with a repeat floral motif, featuring a notched lapel collar. Carhartt are known for some superb pieces and have become popular with the youth and this shirt showcases that quite well.
Percival Cuban Short Sleeve Shirt, Waves of Kanagawa
This Japanese hand screenprinted brushed cotton shirt is covered with a repeat pattern of the Great Waves inspired by Hokusai. It’s a stunning shirt that can be worn with simply shorts, chinos or even a pair of black jeans.
ASOS DESIGN 90s oversized stripe shirt in slub red and blue
Oversized is in now and this 90s inspired shirt will be the perfect one for you. It goes not just with jeans but also shorts and rightly matched chinos. A solid casual look.
This short-sleeved bowling shirt in a textured slub linen fabric reflects a very chilled-out look, matching the summer vibe. Far Afield have delivered a delightful piece here that I would greatly recommend.
This regular fit shirt has a revere collar and a lovely pattern perfect. It’s doesn’t go over the top whilst it remains an eye-catcher. A round of applause for The Idle Man.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer, the film by Yorgos Lanthimos, won the best screenplay at Cannes Film Festival in 2017. Alongside, the brilliant storyline, the film included some striking visuals by Thimios Bakatakis who also worked on The Lobster (2014) and Dogtooth (2009).
Gasper Sanz, a four piece band based out of Sydney, Australia, released their new single Cheryl, just a few days ago. The single marks the first in 2020, and showcases the brilliant energy, rawness and euphonious sound of the band.
Talking about the song the band stated “This song was inspired by a cat called Cheryl who used to live with Jimmy (singer) and Sammy (drummer). Cheryl was a stray who was living on the roof of our other flatmate’s previous residence and after a period of time, he ended up adopting her. She was very old and had a litany of health issues, but was a beautiful and gentle old soul, who had clearly seen some shit. The meows that are featured in the song are from Cheryl herself. Jimmy followed her around the apartment with a microphone for about half an hour to capture them.”
In 1947, two brothers, Adolf and Rudolf Dassler separated and went their separate ways. Rudolf, the older of the two, founded Puma. While, Adolf, also known as Adi, went onto form Adidas in 1949. Without the world yet knowing, it became one of the most critical moments in the history of sports. Adidas was born.
When it comes to history, The Adidas Archive. the Footwear Collection by Taschen is an instanct classic that is a must have for any footwear fanatic. It encaptulates just what Adidas is and it’s brilliant footwear history. The book’s photographs were done by Christian Habermeier and Sebastian Jäger who illustrated the stunning, groundbreaking shoe designs that Adidas have made over the years. In fact, there are over 350 models including never-before-seen prototypes and one-of-a-kind originals, making this book just that more exciting.
This book showcases the shoes worn by West Germany’s football team during its 1954 World Cup win. Moreover, those worn by Kathrine Switzer when she ran the Boston Marathon in 1967, before women were officially allowed to compete. Whilst also, including collaboration models made with the likes of Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Raf Simons, Stella McCartney, Parley for the Oceans or Yohji Yamamoto.
If you’re looking to get into sneakers or you love them in general, this book is fit for you.
When it comes to men’s fashion, it can become daunting to find real, high-quality platforms that genuinely care about fashion. Statistics show that for men it is difficult to be famous on Instagram. So it is a common thing to look for sources to buy organic Instagram followers. However, to help with this issue, I have made a shortlist of five great profiles to follow on Instagram for inspiration.
Fabio Attanasio (@fabioattanasio)
Fabio Attanasio, the founder of The Bespoke Dudes, an eyewear brand based in Italy, has become quite the figure in the world of tailoring. His social media presence is enormous and deservedly so. With some stunning classic and modern style choices, Fabio has become one of my favourites to follow on Instagram.
If you’re a fan of quality, then Bombinate will be the perfect destination for you. Bombinate believe in quality and openly oppose fast fashion. The things they sell, which include menswear mostly, but also lifestyle products are all made in Europe. Bombinate’s Instagram profile reflects not just menswear, but the lifestyle that goes with it.
MenWith Class is a superb Instagram profile, that’s connected with MenWith Streetstyle. If you’re a fan of well-styled looks that bring out confidence, smartness, and elegance, then this profile will be a perfect fit for you to follow.
Daniele Zaccone, the CEO of Italian Flair Media & Danielre, is another person worth following. Daniele has a great sense of style and fashion, which are showcased through his sophisticated and stylish outfits.
When it comes to fashion Nickelson Wooster knows it. Wooster is a well-respected fashion consultant who has worked with some of the biggest names in the world of fashion, and his Instagram profile doesn’t hide it. A must-follow for any fashionista.
Previously featured Gabor Nagy, has once again revealed his brilliance with a series of new photos named Tuscany from Above. Nagy captures the beautiful landscapes of Tuscany splendidly by utilising the aerial view and exploring the autumn colours, delicate shadows, and the majestic atmospheres.
Writing about the series Nagy stated “I spent a few memorable days in Pienza at the end of October, 2017. I visited this extraordinary region to capture the unbeatable vibes of the Tuscan autumn with my cameras and of course I wasn’t disappointed. Sometimes I felt like I fly above an infinit yellow sea formed by tenous dry waves of sand and rocks.”
With boredom setting in during quarantine, it’s hard to keep doing work. If you’re getting bored and need to break out of the same ritual but don’t have any consoles, or you a merely tired of the games you have, you can play browser games.
We have compiled a shortlist of fun games below for you to try. They are free to play, have fun and stay safe. All you need to start is a black or white wireless mouse and to start one of the following games. You can also play Solitaire Masters in this link.
Agar.io
If you haven’t yet played the addicting Agar.io, then you must get on it. The game itself is straightforward, you begin as a small cell and your goal is to gain as much mass as possible without being absorbed by another cell. After you’ve gained a lot of mass, you can split and control more than one cell but, in the end, your most important mission is to survive. The game also includes features like custom skins; these will give you a standout look against other players and make the game just that more fun.
This game is one of the internet’s beloved games, Linerider, a game in which you draw lines so that the character of the game (Bosh) can slide. Boštjan Čadež, the author of the game, went on to describe Linerider as more of a toy, than a game as it does not include goals or any score. However, in my opinion, it is still highly fun and exciting to play around with different scenarios.
If you ever loved playing the classic game of Pong, then you’ll love Cube Slam, a 3D redefined version of the original. The game itself was part of experiments with Google, and which you can play against a ‘bear’ or your friends by directly sending them a link to join. It includes WebRTC, which means you can video chat in your web browser without any additional plugins required.
If you’re looking for something more entertaining and well designed, this one will be for you.
Do you ever think about your drawing skills, and if you are well-skilled in drawing? Well, time to find out. Quick, Draw! is a game in which you draw and a neutral network guesses and decides what you have drawn. It’s a wonderfully simple yet very engaging game that will have you hooked from the get-go.
Another browser game which showcases the splendid creativity of people around us is Teachable Snake. In this light, yet enjoyable game, you use a piece of paper with an arrow as your controller, your choices will be detected by your webcam and will give the instructions to the snake in which direction to move. Sounds simple? Have a go yourself!
Street Skater
Street Skater could be another classic browser game. In this game, your goal is not to die while facing breathtaking obstacles and doing brilliant skating tricks. It is straightforward and easy to play. If at some point you get bored with this game, Kumospace offers 14 virtual games that can be played at any time.
You’re in quarantine, and you’re wondering, what if my internet goes down? Well, if you use Google Chrome, no worries for you. If you have ever lost internet while browsing on Google Chrome, you might have got a little screen with a dinosaur popping up; in fact, this is a game by Google Chrome which you can play called Dino. Moreover, even if you have internet you can still play it by simply typing in chrome://dino/ into your Google Chrome search bar. Have fun!
Hailing from the Netherlands, Lewin is the moniker of singer-songwriter Jara Holdert. In the second half of 2019, she released two intensely personal companion EPs – For the Leaving and For the Left Behind – which not only chronicle the falling out of a relationship that played a big part in Holdert’s creative process, but also reveal a transitional period for the artist herself – from a passive observer to an active participant. ‘Don’t You Dare’ is a stunning folk opener where Lewin’s dynamic voice echoes that of Joanna Newsom, as does the latest single from For the Left Behind, the slow-burning ‘Sorrow’, whose songwriting is also reminiscent of Laura Marling. But moments like the bluesy, more upbeat ‘Leather Jackets’ offer a new perspective, hinting at a more empowered self emerging out of the ashes of a broken heart. It’s that kind of acceptance that the heartfelt closer ‘Goodbye Lover’ beautifully embodies: “As snow covers our tracks and traces/ I’ll swallow my last plea/ Whatever was, whatever be/I’m tired making a fool of me.”
We caught up with Lewin for this edition of our Artist Spotlight series, where we showcase up-and-coming artists and give them a chance to talk a bit about their music.
How and when did you become interested in making music?
Music was part of my life from a very young age. I remember singing along to the Beatles without understanding any of the words, my parents had cassette tapes of Rubber Soul and Help that we would listen to in the car. My father played guitar and wrote my sister and me songs for our birthdays. And when I turned seven I asked for a ‘ghettoblaster’ to be able to play CD’s and tapes for myself – the first albums I owned were Sam Cooke and Stevie Wonder. And I was always singing – humming to myself, singing while playing, biking, doing chores – something I still do, sometimes annoying the people around me. But I’m not aware of even doing it.
I played the violin when I was young, and switched to guitar in my teens – first teaching myself from Beatles songbooks, then getting lessons for a few years from an amazing teacher. Playing guitar I was able to accompany myself singing, which felt like such an amazing freedom – singing ánd playing my favorite songs. Later, I got into jazz – applied for higher music education with the goal of becoming a jazz-singer. I learned a lot at the conservatory, but halfway through I started writing my own songs, and they didn’t feel jazzy at all. They were more guitar-based and folky.
What are some of your influences?
Early influences were The Beatles, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder. In my teens I became an avid Neil Young fan. I also listened to Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. During my jazz-years I kept listening to Joni, as she seemed to bridge that gap between folk and jazz in her very own way – that was very inspiring to me.
Can you describe the concept behind your two latest projects, ‘For the Leaving’ and ‘For the Left Behind’?
Originally, I recorded a full album, but circumstances made me decide to release the songs of the album in a few steps. It had to do with the heaviness that album embodied for me; it’s history made it very hard to release. I had written all the songs while I was in a relationship with an amazing musician and producer, who had always encouraged me to keep writing and helped me record my songs. But the songs were often about us, about our relationship, and they voiced all the doubts and fears I had; I felt we weren’t going to last, he was at some point going to leave me. We decided to record all the songs together, for my debut album. Only when we were done recording, producing and mixing it, the sword fell; we broke up. All these songs in which I saw it coming now felt prophetic, and it was hard to listen to them myself. So I had a collection of very emotional tunes, and they felt too heavy to release. I took some time, started fresh with a new name, Lewin, and decided to release the full album in a few steps.
My two EP’s ‘For The Leaving’ and ‘For The Left Behind’ are those first two steps; they both contain four songs off the album. But both EP’s have a slightly different perspective on the same situation; just as in the relationship, I was slowly shifting from feeling like a victim, being afraid to be left behind, to taking more responsibility and considering leaving myself, or at least being conscious of continuing something that would have to end sometime soon.
The full album is going to be called ‘For The Leaving and The Left Behind’, and will contain another five songs that were not on any of the EP’s.
What was the writing and recording process like?
I wrote the songs over the course of a few years, that’s why thematically, there is a slow shift – some of them feel younger, others more mature, empowered. We recorded with my band at the time, one week in Haarlems Studio Helmbreker. After we put all the band parts down it was up to me and my boyfriend/producer Aaron to finish the songs together. He was living in Berlin at the time (one of the reasons for our relationship troubles) and so I took the train from Amsterdam to Berlin once or twice a month to join him there and record my vocals, backings, to add more synths and produce and mix the tracks together. It was a beautiful but very intense process – I learned a lot about producing, felt free to be creative and involved in not only the writing and arranging, but also the producing and mixing aspect, which was very new to me at the time. But also, our love was falling apart, and to be sat in a little studio room for hours on end when you’re not feeling comfortable together – well, you have to love your art very much to make up for that.
What are your plans for the rest of the year?
I’m planning to release one or two more singles before the full album comes out – though times are weird, it feels kind of ‘wrong’ to talk about my work and my music with a pandemic going on. I hold on to the thought that it might be a nice distraction for people, or it might be a consolation in rough times. In my songs, I’m allowing for grief, making space for it. In my case it was grieving a relationship, but I hope there is space to see it can be a broader grief or sorrow – that we can allow it in, for just a moment, let it take over, and see that this sadness also needs a place to live, and is part of life.
I have many, many more new songs that aren’t recorded yet – maybe I’ll find the time to put them to tape this year. There could be another album-and-a-half in there.
I’m also releasing singles and an EP with my project The Coo (@thecoomusic) – those songs, I write together with a British songwriter I met at an open mic in Amsterdam, where I live. We heard something in each other music that we really strongly related to. Now, we’re both in isolation on different sides of the sea, but in ‘normal’ times we would be traveling to tour together and play some duo-shows. Let’s just hope that we, working together globally, can keep the spread of this virus under control and come out stronger and more together afterwards.
