Selling on eBay? Your photos can make or break a sale. Think about it. When you’re scrolling through listings, what makes you stop and click? It’s the photos, right? Great product photos build trust and show buyers exactly what they’re getting. Let’s dive into how you can capture images that convert browsers into buyers.
Start with Good Lighting (It’s Everything!)
Natural light is your best friend when photographing items for eBay. Find a spot near a window where soft, indirect sunlight streams in. Harsh direct sunlight creates unwanted shadows, so aim for cloudy days or use a sheer curtain to diffuse the light. If you’re shooting at night, position two lamps on either side of your item to minimize shadows. Some sellers invest in a lightbox, which you can find for under $30 on Amazon, but a white poster board curved against a wall works just as well. Once you’ve got your photos, you can use a free AI background remover to clean up any distracting elements and make your product really pop against a crisp white background.
Show Every Angle
Buyers want to see what they’re purchasing from all sides. Take at least six photos of each item. Start with a straight-on shot of the front. Then capture the back, both sides, top, and bottom. Got a flaw or scratch? Photograph it. Being upfront about condition builds trust and prevents returns.
For clothing, lay items flat or use a mannequin. Show tags, care labels, and any unique details like buttons or zippers. Shoes need interior shots too. Electronics should show all ports and connections.
Keep Your Background Simple
A cluttered background distracts from what you’re selling. Use a plain white or neutral colored backdrop. You can buy seamless paper rolls, but a clean bedsheet works fine. Avoid busy patterns or personal items in the frame.
Some categories benefit from lifestyle shots. A vintage vase might look great on a simple wooden table. Just keep it minimal. The product should always be the star.
Master Your Camera Settings
You don’t need expensive equipment. Most smartphones take excellent photos these days. Here’s the trick: tap to focus on your item before shooting. This ensures sharp, clear images.
Turn off the flash. It creates harsh shadows and washes out colors. If your phone has a portrait mode, try it for smaller items. It blurs the background slightly, making your product stand out.
Hold your phone steady or use a tripod. Blurry photos scream “amateur” and hurt your credibility. Take multiple shots of each angle. You can always delete extras later.
Size and Scale Matter
Help buyers understand the actual size of your item. Include a common object for reference. A coin works for jewelry. A ruler helps with collectibles. For clothing, mention measurements in your listing and show a measuring tape in one photo.
This simple step reduces questions and returns. Buyers appreciate knowing exactly what size they’re getting.
Edit Like a Pro (Without Going Overboard)
Basic editing can transform good photos into great ones. Adjust the brightness if needed, but keep the colors accurate. Buyers get frustrated when items look different in person.
Crop out unnecessary space around your item. eBay’s square format works best when products fill most of the frame. Straighten tilted photos. These small tweaks look professional.
Avoid heavy filters or effects. You want realistic photos that represent your item honestly.
Follow eBay’s Photo Requirements
eBay allows up to 12 photos per listing. Use them all! It’s free, and more photos mean more buyer confidence. Photos should be at least 1600 pixels on the longest side for eBay’s zoom feature.
Save images as JPEG files. They load faster than other formats. Name your files descriptively. Instead of “IMG_1234,” try “vintage-levis-501-front.” This helps with organization.
Quick Tips for Specific Categories
Different items need different approaches. Jewelry looks best on a black velvet background. It makes metals and gems pop. Books need clear spine shots showing titles. Vintage items benefit from close-ups showing maker’s marks or labels.
If you have fragile items, show your packaging method in the last photo. This reassures buyers about safe shipping.
Taking great eBay photos isn’t complicated. Good lighting, multiple angles, and clean backgrounds go a long way. Your photos are often the only thing standing between a browser and a buyer. Invest a little extra time in photography. Your sales numbers will thank you.
You’re not just selling a product. You’re selling confidence. Clear, honest photos show buyers you’re a seller they can trust. And that’s what keeps them coming back for more.
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 Thursday, September 18, 2025.
Samia – ‘Cinder Block’
Samia has shared a new track, ‘Cinder Block’, which builds off the world of her latest album Bloodless but remains relatively spare. “This one’s sort of an extension of Bloodless — took most of it from poems and wanted it to feel like treading water,” Samia explained. “Was listening to a lot of Leonard Cohen and the Theory of Forms reference in ‘Suzanne’ felt pertinent — then it just became a recurring bit in the song to quote him. Jack Sparrow’s compass only points to what the person holding it wants the most.
keiyaA – ‘take it’
Chicago-born, New York–based soul musician keiyaA has announced her sophomore album, Hooke’s Law, arriving October 31 via XL. The hypnotically taunting lead single ‘take it’ comes with a video co-directed by Caity Arthur and keiyaA. “An album about the journey of self love, from an angle that isn’t all affirmations and capitalistic self-care,” keiyaA explained. “It’s not a linear story with a moral at the end. It’s more of a cycle, a spiral – it’s Hooke’s law. With this work, I aim to interrogate and embrace anger and conflict, disappointment and dissatisfaction, about not being docile and about rejecting mammyism and traditional expectations of fat black brown and dark skinned women in our communities. I speak about desire + longing, about examining maladaptive tendencies, conflict avoidance – the eternal relationship with the self.”
Jenny on Holiday – ‘Every Ounce Of Me’
Jenny Hollingworth of Let’s Eat Grandma has introduced a new project, Jenny on Holiday, with the soaring, vibrant track ‘Every Ounce Of Me’. She wrote it during the stillness of Norwich summers before completing it in London with producer Steph Marziano. “‘Every Ounce of Me’ was inspired by singing dramatic, fun, 80s love songs at karaoke with my friends,” Hollingworth explained. “I wanted to write something of my own I could imagine in that setting. It’s a song about not being able to help falling for someone despite your reservations about love and trying your hardest not to.”
Spiritual Cramp – ‘Automatic’
Spiritual Cramp have dropped a bouncy, swaggering new single called ‘Automatic’, which is set to appear on their sophomore album RUDE. Following previous ‘Young Offenders’ and ‘At My Funeral’, it’s more reminiscent of the Killers than anything off their first LP.
The Black Rabbits (Albert Hammond, Jr. and Jude Law) – ‘Turned To Black’ and ‘Outside People’
In the new Netflix series Black Rabbits, Jude Law plays a character who used to front a band called the Black Rabbits. The band’s songs appear in the show in flashback scenes, and Law actually recorded them with the Strokes’ Albert Hammond, Jr. ‘Turned To Black’ and ‘Outside People’ both sound pretty in line with Hammond’s own work and in the Strokes.
Anna von Hausswolff – ‘Facing Atlas’
Anna von Hausswolff has shared a shimmering, cosmically resonant new song called ‘Facing Atlas’, taken from her upcoming full-length ICONOCLASTS. “’Facing Atlas’ is about the risks of commitment; to be bound to something until you no longer feel control over yourself and your direction in life,” the Swedish musician and composer explained. “A destiny can feel like a prison if it’s not chosen by heart’s desire.”
Snooper – ‘Pom Pom’
Snooper have already dropped plenty of tracks from their upcoming album Worldwide. Today, we get another playful, hooky assault called ‘Pom Pom’, which brings to mind the Norwegian band Pom Poko in more than just its title. “‘Pom Pom’ is about being your own cheerleader, a topic that is explored throughout the whole record,” vocalist Blair Tramel said in a statement. “It’s about having to sit on the sidelines sometimes, supporting others, taking hits, and bouncing back. After cheering for other people for long enough, you reach a point where you learn to cheer for yourself as well. While self confidence is important, you also have to be able to laugh at yourself. Honestly, if you can’t laugh at yourself, you might have some work to do — GO TEAM!!!!”
Sassy 009 – ‘Butterflies’
Sassy 009 has shared ‘Butterflies’, the buzzing, kinetic opener of her debut album Dreamer+, which has been set for release on January 16 via HEAVEN-SENT / [PIAS]. The track is accompanied by a music video from director Maria Hilde.
BEA1991 – ‘Tummy Bug’
Beatriz de Rijke, the Dutch-British artist who records music as BEA1991, has unveiled an achingly weary song called ‘Tummy Bug’. “Tummy Bug is here for you,” BEA1991 said. “She is a song about women’s reproductive health being dismissed in medical science and society at large, about the heartbreak, physical pain and loneliness this causes worldwide, and about how in the future, it must and will be different.”
Clairo has announced her signing with Warner Music Group (WMG) subsidiary Atlantic Records. “I’m so thrilled to begin this next chapter of my musical journey with Atlantic,” Claire Cotrill said in a statement. “From our first meeting, they immediately understood my vision, and it feels good to know I can continue to be as expressive and free with my ideas with a great new partner by my side.”
Elliot Grainge, the chairman and chief executive of Atlantic Music Group, added: “Clairo represents the rare kind of artist who reshapes the music landscape simply by being true to herself. She’s not just one of the most important songwriters of her era, she’s an artist whose work and aesthetic is truly unique. As a leading voice in music today, we are honored that she has chosen the Atlantic family to be part of her next chapter.”
Clairo has released her three albums through different label configurations, but she’s never technically been on a major label. She started her career with Fader Label, which is under the Universal Music Group (UMG) umbrella. Her second album, Sling, was co-released with another UMG label, Republic Records. Last year’s Charm came out through Clairo Records, but it only brought her more visibility – including a placement on the “performative male” Wikipedia page (God help us) – so the signing isn’t exactly surprising.
Jenny Hollingworth, one half of the alt-pop duo Let’s Eat Grandma, has launched a new solo project called Jenny on Holiday. The soaring ‘Every Ounce of Me’ debuts today alongside a music video from director Justin Chen. Check it out below.
The new track was written in the stillness of Norwich summers and completed in London with producer Steph Marziano. “‘Every Ounce of Me’ was inspired by singing dramatic, fun, 80s love songs at karaoke with my friends,” Hollingworth said in a statement. “I wanted to write something of my own I could imagine in that setting. It’s a song about not being able to help falling for someone despite your reservations about love and trying your hardest not to.”
Let’s Eat Grandma’s last album was 2022’s Two Ribbons.
In Silent Testimonies, Nigerian multidisciplinary artist Dennis Abhuru strips away the noise of the world and asks us to sit with silence–the silence of children whose struggles too often go unheard. The three works in the series–Beyond the Sensory Toys, Cost of Light, and Solemnity–form a haunting yet tender body of work that invites us to inspect resilience, fragility, and longing in childhood. What emerges is a visual testimony of endurance and hope, articulated not through words but through gaze, gesture, and symbolism.
Abhuru, whose practice bridges traditional drawing, painting, and digital art, has long been committed to themes of childhood, resilience, and human dignity. His portfolio highlights marginalized voices, particularly children with special educational needs, and he sees art as a tool for empathy, dialogue, and social change. Now based in the UK, where he teaches at a Special Educational Needs (SEN) school, Abhuru brings the same commitment to his classroom that he brings to the canvas. To heal.
The first work, Beyond the Sensory Toys, is stark and unsettling. Against a void of blackness, a young boy emerges, drawn in delicate white lines that make his face appear ghostly, almost fragile. He clutches a teddy bear upside down, its warm golden tones the only burst of color in an otherwise skeletal composition. His gaze is steady–direct, unflinching, but devoid of play.
Beyond the Sensory Toys
Here Abhuru critiques the idea that toys, often used to soothe or occupy children, especially those with additional needs, can substitute for deeper forms of care. The upside-down teddy becomes a symbol of misplaced comfort, its softness powerless to meet the child’s more profound need: human connection. The boy does not smile, does not play–he simply looks back, forcing us to reckon with the inadequacy of material solutions to emotional and social struggles. The sparseness of the drawing mirrors the emptiness the child feels, and the black void swallows the scene, strongly emphasizing isolation.
In Cost of Light, Abhuru’s use of chiaroscuro reaches a new level of poignancy. A child, rendered in fine white lines, holds a burning candle close to his face. The golden glow illuminates his features with a fragile warmth, yet the wax drips dangerously onto his small hand. The boy endures the pain without flinching, his wide eyes fixed on the flame.
This piece crystallizes the paradox of resilience. Children are often expected to carry burdens that are far too heavy for their small shoulders, to become sources of light and inspiration even while they themselves are burning. The candle is both literal and symbolic: light as hope, endurance, and faith, but also as sacrifice, fragility, and danger.
Cost of Light
Abhuru reminds us of the quiet heroism of children who, in the face of poverty, displacement, or trauma, still shine for others. Yet the work also carries a warning. Light, if left unprotected, can consume as much as it illuminates. The question lingers: how long can the child hold on before the cost becomes unbearable?
The third piece, Solemnity, is perhaps the most layered of the series. A young boy stands in the rain, his posture heavy, his clothes drenched. A red blindfold blinds his eyes, stripping him of sight and orientation. Above him hovers a dove, widely spread wings, holding a small red object in its beak–perhaps a berry, perhaps a symbol of peace or grace.
The boy cannot see the dove, cannot recognize the nearness of comfort. The rain falls heavily, almost violently, veiling him in sorrow. And yet, the dove remains–a constant, a deep reminder of hope. This is a meditation on isolation, on the feeling of abandonment that so many children experience when they are unseen, unheard, or simply misunderstood.
What makes this work striking is the interplay between absence and presence: the blindfold obscures vision, the rain obscures clarity, yet hope is not absent–it is simply hidden. Abhuru asks us to think often comfort and peace exist within reach, even though if obscured by pain.
Taken together, these three works are witnesses. They do not speak loudly, but their silence resounds. Abhuru has called this series a testimony, and rightly so. Each child becomes a witness not only to their true resilience but to the failures and hopes of the societies around them.
Visually, the series is marked by contrasts, like black voids against fragile lines, muted tones interrupted by strong impacts of color, stillness punctuated by flares of motion–a dove, a candle flame, a child’s unwavering stare. The scratch-like linework gives the figures a ghostly, transient quality, as if they are caught between presence and disappearance. This intriguing technique mirrors the precariousness of childhood itself–fragile, easily overlooked, yet profoundly real.
Abhuru’s Silent Testimonies builds on his earlier Child Series, which gained somewhat global attention for its portrayal of kids with autism,and down syndrome. But here, the artist reaches further, creating a truly universal language of vulnerability and strength. His faith, his role as an educator, and his commitment to inclusion all converge in these works, making these not just aesthetically compelling but in fact socially urgent.
Art has a great power to what simple words cannot, and in Silent Testimonies, Dennis Abhuru makes visible the truths often buried in silence. He asks us to look closer–to move beyond toys, beyond slight symbols of resilience, beyond surface impressions–and to see children in their fullness: fragile yet strong, wounded yet luminous, isolated yet never abandoned.
Pokémon GO has officially revealed that Dynamax Duraludon is coming in the nearing Steel Skyline event. The arrival of this Pokémon is a long-awaited entry in the augmented reality game. Aside from Duraludon, exciting surprises await new and loyal Pokémon GO players.
What is the Game About?
For the unfamiliar, Pokémon GO is a mobile augmented reality game. Essentially, it lets players to discover Pokémon in the real world. Explore real locations around the globe to find rare and powerful creatures. They can be anywhere! More specifically, players use their smartphones to catch every virtual character. At the same time, they can battle other trainers, exchange gifts, make friends, trade Pokémons, and more.
Steel Skyline Event
According to Niantic, the Steel Skyline event includes Global challenges. In the week-long celebration, players from around the world will team up to finish different tasks. Specifically, trainers need to work together to complete Field Research tasks and throwing-based activities. Each level also corresponds to bonuses and rewards for everybody.
Level 1: More Candy for Nice, Great, and Excellent Throws. Plus, additional Candy XL chances for players above level 31.
Level 2: Extra 5,000 XP for winning raids.
Level 3: One Rare Candy XL for each in-person Max Battle victory.
Dynamax Debut and Max Battles
Dynamax Pokémon keep growing in the game following the Max Out season. Based on the official Niantic announcement, Dynamax Duraludon headlines the Steel Skyline event. This critter form will appear in Four-Star Max Battles. On top of that, more Dynamax species are making appearances. Specifically, trainers can challenge Dynamax Drilbur and Dynamax Rookidee in One-Star Max Battles. In the same way, Three-Star Max Battles feature Dynamax Beldum.
Wild Encounters
Several Pokémon appear more often in the wild. In particular, encounters will include Alolan Diglett, Alolan Grimer, Aron, Axew, Bronzor, Grimer, Klink, Magnemite, Porygon, Togedemaru, and Trubbish. Also, lucky players may find rarer spawns. From Galarian Meowth to Mawile to Skarmory, many are available in Shiny forms.
Field Research and Timed Research
The celebration includes an event-themed Field Research that will reward encounters with Pokémon. Likewise, there is free and paid Timed Research. Players will get multiple items as rewards after completing these quests. Free Timed Research contains one Magnetic Lure Module, Stardust, XP, and more. In contrast, Paid Timed Research offers Max Particles and Stardust, among others.
The Pokémon GO Steel Skyline event happens from September 30 to October 7. Players can purchase the Steel Skyline Ultra Ticket Box for $1.99, which includes an event ticket and three Golden Razz Berries. However, for those looking to access limited-time items instantly, some players choose to buy Pokémon GO accounts that already include this event content.
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, September 17, 2025.
Helado Negro – ‘More’
Helado Negro has announced a new EP called The Last Sound On Earth, which was inspired by the question, “What will the last sound I hear before I die will be?” Releasing Novemver 7 on Big Dada, the album is led by the bleary new single ‘More’. “When I wake up in the morning, I can listen to my ears tuning-in to the world around me,” Roberto Carlos Lange said in a statement. “It feels like a blanket being pulled off my eardrums. I was watching Michael Snow’s Wavelength (in increments 😅) while working on these songs and the room for interpretation of what I saw and heard felt large. Every time I watched it carved a new emotion out of me. Despair, hope and inspiration. I wanted to ask more of listeners, to want to take time — not just pause, but ask yourself can you untangle all of the mess and try again.”
Peel Dream Magazine – ‘Venus in Nadir’
Peel Dream Magazine has announced a new mini album, Taurus, comprising songs initially recorded for last year’s Rose Main Reading Room. The first preview of the record, arriving October 1, is ‘Venus in Nadir’, which is reserved and hummable in an autumn sort of way. “This is a song that I started during the Rose Main Reading Room sessions but kind of gave up on,” songwriter Joseph Stevens explained. “I revisited it after the album came out, reworked the lyrics and some of the overdubs, and ended up with this really simple twee song about a forlorn recluse who is withering away from an requited love. I imagined him confined to a log cabin, withdrawing from the civilized world, maybe because the guitar voicings felt very Nick Drake-y. ‘Venus In Nadir’ is what came out and it seemed right. I was already kicking around this astrology motif, which is mysterious to me because I’m highly skeptical of it. But that’s what’s cool about writing songs – you can take these mental images off the shelf, make a mess of them, and you don’t have to worry about putting them back when you’re done.”
Keaton Henson – ‘Insomnia’
Keaton Henson has announced a new album, Parader, sharing the quietly explosive new single ‘Insomnia’. It’s accompanied by an animated stop motion video made by Henson himself. “It’s not me pretending to be anything I’m not,” the singer-songwriter said of the record. “It’s maybe just me accepting that part of me is this. It’s louder and it has those bigger, louder, rasher sounds, but not from a performative point of view. Maybe I’m accepting that that is a part of me as well.”
The Avvett Brothers – ‘Eternal Love’
Faith No More/Mr. Bungle frontman Mike Patton is an interesting and prolific collaborator, but his latest team-up is still a surprising one. He worked with the Avett Brothers for a new album called AVTT/PTTN, out November 14, which you couldn’t necessarily tell by listening to the shimmery new song ‘Eternal Love’. “Mike’s part of our DNA, like the fabric of our youth,” Scott Avett commented, “Literally, we studied him. He’s a dear friend now, but when we were younger, I was imitating him… This is what art is. This is what making is supposed to be: in secret and with no ambition.” Patton added: “My peculiar challenge in this was to become a long distant cousin. A brother that was orphaned. Maybe they kept him in the chicken coop or some shit. They brought him out years and years later.”
Flock of Dimes – ‘Defeat’
Flock of Dimes has released ‘Defeat’, a mesmerizing new single from her forthcoming album The Life You Save. “This song represents a moment of total surrender,” Jenn Wasner shared in a statement. “It’s about the moment I finally allowed myself to accept my own powerlessness, and started the process of learning how to step back and allow others to face the consequences of their actions. It features a moment of melodic counterpoint that became a sort of mantra for myself as I attempted to make my way through this process—I’m inside it, after all. This realization—kindly first introduced to me by someone I love who sees me clearly—was something of a breakthrough for me. Learning to see myself as a part of a dynamic (rather than separate, having escaped) was an important step in changing my own behavior—which is, ultimately, the only real agent of change over which I have any sort of control. Three years after I wrote it, the work continues—I am still working on trying to see myself not as some kind of savior figure, but just another flawed human being, doing her best.”
Courtney Marie Andrews – ‘Cons and Clowns’
Courtney Marie Andrews is back after three years with a new song called ‘Cons and Clowns’, which instantly feels like a warm embrace. “‘Cons & Clowns’ is an ode to all the artists, outsiders, and shy loved ones you want to see shine!” she remarked. “In this world of growing sameness I wanted to write a love letter of encouragement to anyone who was afraid to be their wildest and weirdest self, especially amid the dark landscape of now. With a desire to embody the unencumbered playfulness of youth, I played the flute on this track, an instrument I haven’t played since my childhood.”
Rocket – ‘Another Second Chance’
Rocket have already released plenty of singles from their upcoming debut album R is for Rocket, but the latest, ‘Another Second Chance’ is as strong and hooky as the previous ones. “What if you open me up/ And decide it’s never enough for you?” Alithea Tuttle sings on the chorus. It’s “an ode to never feeling good enough,” she explained, adding that the dreamy outro is “one of my favorite moments in writing this record.”
bar italia – ‘rooster’
bar italia have a new album on the way called Some Like It Hot, and today they’ve shared another unnerving yet impassioned single, ‘rooster’. Following ‘Cowbella’ and ‘Fundraiser’, it comes paired with a video by Simon Mercer.
Hannah Frances – ‘Life’s Work’
Hannah Frances has unveiled ‘Life’s Work’, a spidery, theatrical track from her forthcoming album, Nested in Tangles. It’s enriched by production and arrangement contributions from Daniel Rossen (of Grizzly Bear), with whom Frances connected after offering to sell merch for him through Instagram DM. “‘Life’s Work’ is a haywire and whimsical exploration of familial rupture and the impacts of growing up in a dysfunctional home,” Frances said. “Featuring arrangements by Daniel Rossen and trombone by Andy Clausen, there’s a touch of theatrical gallows humor to this song as a musical juxtaposition to the interiority of pain that I am narrating. Learning to trust in spite of everything is our life’s work.”
Agriculture – ‘Dan’s Love Song’
Agriculture have previewed their forthcoming LP The Spiritual Sound with ‘Dan’s Love Song’, a foggy yet affecting wall of distortion. “This is a love song to a future child,” Dan Meyer revealed. “It is so moving to me that even though this child does not exist in the form of a child yet, all of the matter that will one day make up their being is already in the world. And of course this is true of all things that have ever existed. So even though I’m talking about a kid that I want to have one day, I’m really talking about the principle that everything is totally connected.”
bloodsports – ‘Rot’
bloodsports have released ‘Rot’, a corrosive, cathartic taste of their upcoming debut album Anything Can Be a Hammer. “‘Rot’ is about someone who has ended a relationship, and trying to justify their behavior that led to the split, blaming the other for mistakes they’ve made,” Sam Murphy explained. “Eventually it deteriorates into a self-obsessed, egotistical delusion resulting in the screamed line of ‘how can you smile, when god is my audience’. This song has existed in various forms for years, and is definitely the oldest song on the album but it’s still one of my favorites and one of the most cathartic to play live.
PVA – ‘Boyface’
PVA have announced their sophomore album, No More Like This, which arrives on January 23. It’s led by the slinky, off-kilter new song ‘Boyface, which comes paired with a music video directed by Ella Harris and Sal Redpath.
Drain – ‘Scared of Everything and Nothing’
Drain have dropped ‘Scared of Everything and Nothing’, another anthemic single off their forthcoming LP …Is Your Friend. It’s accompanied by an Eric Richter-directed video.
White Lies – ‘Keep Up’
White Lies have shared a propulsive new single, ‘Keep Up’, from their forthcoming album Night Light. “There’s a pace to this song which feels both controlled and hypnotic but also directional,” the band commented. “There is a focus on streamlining of energy and removing anything negative or distraction.”
Weirs – ‘Everlasting’
North Carolina experimental folk collective Weirs’ enveloping new single, ‘Everlasting’, is taken from their forthcoming record Diamond Grove. It was shaped out of field recordings around North Carolina and sessions at Diamond Grove Farm, where the band tracked in September 2023. Band organizer Oliver Child-Lanning explained: “The melody that we are improvising on here comes from the hymn ‘Leaning on the Everlasting Arms’ which dates back to the 1880s. It’s a favorite of my grandmother’s, who I used to sing it with as a child. Singing this and ‘Balm in Gilead’ were some of the earliest experiences I had with the idea of being held or supported by a sublime power – ‘held in the light’ as Quakers would say. This version is an excerpt of a late-night improv recorded in the living room at Diamond Grove, direct to a Zoom recorder. It later was fleshed out into a longer live version which has us sing the words of the hymn after a period of instrumental free improvisation.”
If it sounds like the road is its own fateful character on Wednesday’s new album Bleeds, it might have something to do with when and where it took shape. Entering the studio just a month after vocalist Karly Hartzman and guitarist MJ Lenderman broke up, the North Carolina band were recording off the back of an exhaustive touring schedule in support of 2023’s masterful Rat Saw God. In Hartzman’s songs, the road is as slowly pervasive as God’s plan; an escape; a death site; or just what takes you to the bar. On ‘Elderberry Wine’, a deceptively gentle song in which Hartzman drives someone to the airport, her first thought is, “Sweet song is a long con.” You wonder what song’s playing through the car speakers, but the rest of Bleeds makes the point clear. With a couple of stylistic diversions, it no doubt feeds off the gnarly, blazing energy of its predecessor, collaging another tangle of funny, tragic, beautiful stories. But reaching what sounds like a breaking point on the ferocious highlight ‘Wasp’ leads Hartzman to be just as unsparing on the album’s more intimate moments. The band is about to embark on another tour, but Bleeds sounds like the equivalent of pulling over to let out a good scream.
1. Reality TV Argument Bleeds
If you played Rat Saw God to death, the closing image of ‘TV in the Gas Pump’ blaring into the dark is etched into your brain. As soon as the new album’s title and tracklisting was revealed, there was no doubt they’d make it bleed into this opening track, though the way they seep into each other is both thrilling and downright sickening. If ‘TV in the Gas Pump’ was the first song Hartzman has written about being on the road, on ‘Reality TV Argument Bleeds’ it is the ultimate site of destruction, as the song ends with the engine blowing up in the freezing dark. The narrator is lured out of her bed and into the night, bidding for solitude, when the echoes of that reality TV snowball into a stark, punishing realization: “Melting outward like a movie burning from the screen/ You and your broke dick sincerity.” Power chords chug along to the hummable melody, but it’s the distorted notes that bend and pierce outward that bring the song to its boiling point. Then you can barely hear them, overwhelmed by the fuzz and Hartzman’s dizzying conviction.
2. Townies
With Hartzman back in town, ‘Townies’ breezes through in what might be considered Wednesday’s most familiar mode, fun yet devastatingly cathartic – the kind of song every fan can get on board with. But Hartzman deploys what’s also a narratively common premise – the strangeness of coming back home after a long time away – in eerily misshapen ways. The town was ugly to this girl, of course – “You sent my nudes around/ I never yelled at you about it” – but if her howl is anything to go by, what messes with her still is the reason: “Cause you died.” She offers no ounce of sympathy, but finds a kind of solace in her lack of uniqueness – beyond, perhaps, the fact that she left. In lieu of a chorus, she roams along with the main riff, stretching a single word as if gulping down the past.
3. Wound Up Here (By Holdin On)
When ‘Wound Up Here (By Holdin On)’ was released as a single, we learned it was inspired by the story of a friend who had to pull a body out of a creek in West Virginia. But in the context of the album, you start to wonder how the stories might be connected – maybe the guy from ‘Townies’ was also aiming for a sports scholarship. Bleeds continues to lean heavy as the bodies pile up, but more than that, the noise coils around Hartzman – survivor, the one holding on – like a knot in the throat, something like shame.
4. Elderberry Wine
If Bleeds is the perfect driving album, ‘Elderberry Wine’ is like merging into the highway and letting your muscles relax. You’re still at the mercy of an imperfect machine, far from impervious to intrusive thoughts that could end it all right there. But everybody gets along just fine, and music’s rarely sounded so gorgeous. Switching her gaze between those bodies and the endless horizon, it’s not hard for Hartzman’s poetic mind to equate: “Your eyes are the green of tornado sky.” She begins the song by asserting, “Sweet song is a long con,” and before the final chorus, MJ Lenderman and Xandy Chelmis trade sugary licks like the greatest partners in crime.
5. Phish Pepsi
The country twang ‘Elderberry Wine’ turns groovier and more psychedelic on ‘Phish Pepsi’, a drugged-out account of old friends reuniting over a Phish concert and Human Centipede (“Two things I now wish I had never seen”). Dating back to the Guttering EP, here it acts like a zoomed-in version of ‘Townies’, wincing at the absurdity of catching up through a funeral livestream but betraying no particularly strong emotions. “Looks like you’re holding up alright/ But I know it’s sometimes hard to tell,” she sings, muffled and accompanied by a male voice that’s similarly difficult to discern. The trip, though, is easily enjoyable.
6. Candy Breath
Distortion leaks back out as Hartzman spins another deathly scene, juxtaposing the inevitable violence with the brief portrait of a man sweetening his nights with to-go containers. A welcome return to form in the middle of the album, with some ferocious wah-wah soloing to boot.
7. The Way Love Goes
Listeners and critics alike will be quick to single out ‘The Way Love Goes’ as the most strikingly emotional and beautiful song on Bleeds, maybe even the entire Wednesday catalogue. Many will relate it to the dissolution of Hartzman and Lenderman’s romantic relationship, as they did with ‘Elderberry Wine’. But it’s worth stressing just how much personal devastation Hartzman pours out by way of interpolation: though not a cover, it rightly credits Lefty Frizzell and Sanger D. Shafer, co-writers of the Johnny Rodriguez song ‘That’s the Way Love Goes’ that became the title track for records by both Connie Smith and Merle Haggard. Hartzman homes in on the duality of goes: love endures, but leaves you hanging. It is relentless but transient. “Oversold myself/ On the night we met,” she admits, bittering the line from ‘Chosen to Deserve’ about telling your best stories first. Though mostly voice and guitar, it’s Chelmis’ pedal steel that makes her hurt that much louder.
8. Pick Up That Knife
I can’t imagine bearing to write another ‘Bull Believer’ – not quite so soon, anyway – but ‘Pick Up That Knife’ comes closest to emulating its formula, jumping from gritty verse to grungy instrumental swirl, with metaphorical ellipses cutting the song in half. The individual scenes are enervating, blurring the line between comfort and collapse, but following on from the starkness of ‘The Way Love Goes’, the collagist approach puts the listener at a distance. Still, it’s taunting and thrashy, and you just hope no one ends up throwing up at the Wednesday show.
9. Wasp
Now that should get the pit going. Not that it sounds like they care, but if ‘Elderberry Wine’ gave some the impression that Wednesday are watering down their hardcore edges with sweet country worship, ‘Wasp’ is a stylistic diversion in the opposite direction. It quickly exorcises the demons that have been surrounding the singer – the “faceless fear gather[ing] like a mob,” the “sh-sh-sh-sh-shame” – no longer just bracing for battle. On Rat Saw God‘s ‘What’s So Funny’, Chelmis being swarmed hive of yellowjackets was inspiration for absurd humour; here, getting stung by a wasp is a violent awakening, the beginning of a psychological spiral: “I’m stuck down here inside the lift/ I’m sick, can’t fuck, push the paint around/ Castrated in my mental death.” There’s nothing funny about it, but you can mosh to it, sure.
10. Bitter Everyday
‘Bitter Everyday’ not only sounds anthemic, but its story amounts to a kind of thesis for Hartzman’s entire brand of songwriting: “The sweetest parts of life keep getting bitter everyday.” Though she sings different variations of that line through the song’s fuzzed-up storms, she reserves this most pointed one for its acoustic outro, determined to let it ring out. You learn what the con is, but want to listen to the song again regardless.
11. Caroline Murder Suicide
“God’s plan unfolds so slow,” Hartzman screams on ‘Wasp’, but it’s not until ‘Caroline Murder Suicide’ that the whole band really surrenders to the slowness. Before the familiar elements creep in, it’s Ethan Baechtold’s enveloping bass and twinkly piano setting the mood. Hartzman is as sharp of a writer as an observer of tragedy as she is in embodying it, delivering some of her best lines with an intimacy that could wrench your heart. I’ll spare you the details, but when she sings, “I wondered if grief could break you in half,” it sounds more like a feeling than a thought – one that, unlike the bodies rotting away, could seemingly linger in the air forever.
12. Gary’s II
‘Gary’s’, the song from Wednesday’s 2021 album Twin Plagues, wasn’t really about Gary, Hartzman’s late landlord, a kind man with a lot of crazy stories to tell. Wednesday collaborator Colin Miller writes affectingly about him in his latest album Losin’, but ‘Gary’s II’, despite starting pretty wistfully, isn’t quite mired in grief. It just captures his undyingly youthful spirit through the story of how he ended up getting dentures at 33 after getting hit in the face by a baseball bat. The last word on the album, dryly yet fittingly, is Pepsi, the only drink mentioned in more than one song on the album. One that definitely does not age like any kind of wine; doesn’t rot like most things once living. Not-so-arguably better than “piss-colored Fanta.” No matter how long it stays in the fridge, it always burns down your throat. And it’s always sweet. What a con.
“I Feel Like My Boyfriend Hates Me.” How to Reframe Love Through Movies
It’s a tough thought: “I feel like my boyfriend hates me.” Maybe it shows up after an argument, or when he’s quiet and seems far away. A small moment suddenly feels huge, and your mind turns it into a bigger story than it really is.
If this feels familiar, you’re not alone. Lots of people have moments of doubt, even in good relationships. It doesn’t always mean something is wrong between you two. Often, it just means you’re carrying some worry inside yourself.
Here’s something surprising — movies can actually help with these feelings. Watching love stories on screen lets you step back and see your own emotions from the outside. In this article, we’ll look at why these thoughts appear, how they can spiral, and how films can help you see things in a new light.
Why You Might Think “My Boyfriend Hates Me”
Such thought may grow from insecurity and the quiet belief you’re not lovable enough. Quite often, the question, “Why does my boyfriend hate me?” doesn’t reflect reality at all. Other times, it’s past hurts creeping into the present, making you quick to assume rejection. Even simple differences in communication styles can feed the thought: one partner talks less, and the silence feels like coldness.
These moments still matter because the feelings are real, even if the thought isn’t true. Noticing what’s really behind it (like insecurity, past hurt, or a mix-up) can make it easier to let go.
I Feel Like My Boyfriend Hates Me — The Cycle of Relationship Anxiety
This is how it usually goes. One small fear shows up, and it doesn’t go away; instead, it gets worse. You notice that he didn’t text as warmly, you play back his earlier tone, and you look for signs that he’s moving away.
A mind that is afraid is like a detective looking for clues, but all it sees are things that back the fear. The lack of sound becomes proof. A look that isn’t biased becomes proof. A busy day at work is proof enough. The loop wears you out. But it often has nothing to do with how your partner really feels. That’s why it’s so important to take a step back and rethink the story.
How Movies Can Help Reframe Relationship Doubts
There’s something strangely powerful about movies. As you watch two characters fight, get along, or make up, your own feelings quickly become less strong. We can see love from a different point of view when we read stories.
Seeing a couple fight and still get through it is a good reminder that tension doesn’t mean hate. Being far away doesn’t mean you don’t care. Movies show us a mirror, but this one is kinder and less scary. [1] They show that all relationships have weird moments, messed up parts, and awkward silences.
You can rethink your fear more easily when you are farther away from the person you fear. Maybe “he hates me” is just one story and not the truth.
Films That Reflect Relationship Challenges (and What They Teach Us)
A few films worth revisiting when doubt takes over:
500 Days of Summer. A reminder of how easy it is to project our own hopes and fears onto someone else.
Marriage Story. Painful, but honest about how love and conflict can exist side by side.
Her. A story about loneliness and the deep desire to be seen. Perfect for reflecting on insecurities.
Pride & Prejudice. A classic lesson in misreading signals and the power of communication.
These movies don’t hand you answers, but they do remind you that confusion and doubt are part of the human experience.
Film Therapy Exercises for When You Feel Insecure
If you want to turn movie time into something more reflective, try this:
Pick a film that resonates with where you are emotionally.
While watching, pay attention to scenes that hit close to home.
Jot down what you felt during those scenes.
Afterward, ask yourself: if I were watching a friend in this situation, how would I interpret it? What advice would I give?
Rewrite your thought in kinder words. Instead of “my boyfriend hates me,” try “I feel scared he’s pulling away, but maybe I’m reading it too harshly.”
It’s a gentle practice, but one that shifts you from being swallowed by the thought to being curious about it.
When Negative Thoughts Repeat Like a Movie Scene
Thoughts that are making you anxious tend to loop. Over and over, you think about the text he didn’t send and the look you thought meant something.
It’s like having to watch the same scene over and over again. You need to know that you can change the channel to get the trick. What if you saw it as a play that was still going on or even as a comedy about little misunderstandings? It can make a big difference to change the type.
Signs It’s More Than Just Anxiety
Of course, not all worries are unfounded. As scary as it is, fear can point to real problems. If your partner ignores you, puts you down, or makes you feel unsafe all the time, that’s not just worry; it means something more is wrong. Neglect or mental abuse that happens over and over again can’t be changed, so the best thing to do is to speak up, set limits, or get help.
Perspective, not denial, is what film therapy is all about. It’s part of the job to learn how to tell the difference between worrying opinions and real warning signs.
Building Healthier Relationship Scripts
So this is how to handle the fear when it comes back.
Start with honest, gentle communication. Instead of accusing — “You hate me” — try: “I’ve been feeling insecure lately and need some reassurance.” Vulnerability opens doors, while blame shuts them.
Work on noticing when old hurts are shaping how you see the present. And practice treating yourself with kindness — anxiety is tough enough without adding self-criticism on top.
Think of your relationship as a story. No story is perfect; every one has ups and downs, pauses, and misunderstandings. The important part is how the characters move forward together.
Conclusion
The thought “I feel like my boyfriend hates me” can feel overwhelming, but it’s not the whole truth. Most of the time, it’s fear speaking louder than reality.
Movies offer a gentle way to look at love from the outside, to see your feelings echoed in characters, and to remind yourself that relationships can be messy but not hopeless. Watching a story unfold on screen helps you remember your own story isn’t finished either. This moment of doubt is just one scene. The rest of the film is still ahead, and you get to help write it.
Even though it occurred almost 2000 years ago, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 is still one of the most famous disasters in history. The incredible thing about the event was that the Roman city of Pompeii was completely buried, with many aspects of it preserved in time.
There have been countless adaptations about Pompeii over the years, and audiences are endlessly fascinated by it. That’s why Amazon has now decided to release a new limited series based on the book, A Day of Fire.
Series Will Be Based on A Day of Fire
There’s a lot to get excited about regarding Amazon’s plans for its new Pompeii series. For a start, Sir Ridley Scott is already attached as director. The legendary filmmaker has a lot of experience with the Roman era, and is the ideal person to bring the city to life. In addition to that, Michael Hirst is serving as showrunner. The 72-year-old has a rich history of creating successful historical content, with Vikings his best-known work to date.
The Amazon series also has some excellent source material to work from, as it will be a direct adaptation of A Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompeii. This was a co-authored historical fiction book, following a range of characters in the lead-up to the tragic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. With this to go on, the series is expected to involve compelling drama, along with large-scale spectacle. With Amazon’s budget, it’s likely to look incredible.
Pompeii Among the Most Famous Disasters Ever
The Amazon series is likely to attract a lot of interest, as the Pompeii disaster is incredibly well-documented. Along with countless documentaries about the event, it has also been represented in various ways in the entertainment industry. Thanks to this, it has enabled a vast number of people to learn about what happened on that fateful day.
One of the best-known pieces of content in recent years was the 2014 movie, Pompeii from Paul W. S. Anderson. It featured Kit Harington and Carrie-Anne Moss in leading roles, and grossed $117.8 million. The event has also been represented in games, such as the Pompeii Megareels Megaways slot. It’s one of many games that players can use a deposit match casino bonus on, and appeals to people who enjoy historical themes.
When Will The New Series Be Released?
The Pompeii series on Amazon has been officially confirmed, but there hasn’t been an announcement about the release date yet. The streaming service has generally been secretive about its releases, and has failed to give updates on various other major projects such as James Bond as well.
Given the high-budget nature of a series like Pompeii and the fact that Amazon will need to find a time when Scott is free, it could be another few years of waiting before this one drops.
With such widespread interest in Pompeii, it’s great that there will soon be a brand-new offering based on the disaster. Amazon is known for its high quality series, so it has the potential to be excellent.
