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Wenxin Fu: A Surreal Explorer in Screendance

The graceful human body in motion, minimalist performance settings, the touch of others and self—these are the most immediate visual experiences for audiences viewing Wenxin Fu’s dance films. As an innovative artist who blends modern dance, dance film, and interdisciplinary art, Wenxin Fu is not just a dancer but also a film director. She has long been committed to expanding the sensory experience of dance films beyond traditional human perception, exploring the mysterious connection between vision and touch.

Wenxin Fu’s work delves deep into complex emotional and psychological themes such as intimate relationships, dreams, and psychological trauma. Her representative work, the “Light Distortion” series, redefines the traditional two-dimensional space of film through the use of light refraction and mirrored paper. In these works, she explores the choreography of the camera, deconstructing the dancer’s body to create a surreal visual effect. This style not only challenges the audience’s conventional understanding of dance films but also opens a door to the mysteries of touch through visual representation.

In Wenxin Fu’s works, the external and internal aspects of the human experience are often mirrored, sometimes starkly different, sometimes echoing each other. Using mirrored paper as a medium, she portrays the struggle and interaction between external appearance and inner reality through changes in light and shadow. The dancer, reflected in the mirrored paper, may represent the external projection or the internal reflection, both engaging in a struggle for existence within the dance, displaying emotions such as oppression, conflict, comfort, and acceptance. This exploration not only reflects the complexity of the human psyche but also reveals the subtle relationship between the body and space.

Wenxin Fu’s artistic achievements stem not only from her ongoing exploration in creative fields but also from her solid professional background. She began studying dance at a young age, underwent 12 years of professional training, earned her bachelor’s degree in Modern Dance from the London Contemporary Dance School, and later pursued a master’s degree in Creative Practice: Transdisciplinary Arts at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London. During her graduate studies, she deeply researched the combination of dance and film, gradually forming her unique artistic style and creative philosophy. Her works have been exhibited and performed in the UK, Italy, China, Hong Kong, and have received widespread acclaim in the international art world. She continually challenges and transcends her artistic expression, drawing audiences into the dreamlike world she creates.

Wenxin Fu’s artistic creation consistently revolves around the core question of how to integrate tactile experience into film. Through the precise use of camera choreography and light, she breaks down the boundaries between vision and touch, transforming dance films from mere visual presentations into explorations of touch. Wenxin Fu’s works lead the audience into a space beyond reality, allowing them to feel the texture of the body and the warmth of emotion within the visual experience. Her artistic practice not only redefines the relationship between dance and film but also opens up a new exploration of human sensory experience, highlighting her exceptional creativity and deep thinking as a transdisciplinary artist.

How to Manage Your Emotions in High-Stakes Online Poker Games

Online poker with large stakes tests one psychologically as well as an enjoyable game. Pressure to win, fear of losing money, and thrill of the contest could cause emotional turbulence. Keeping emotions under control will enable you to be clear-headed and make logical decisions right now. These strategies will enable you to regulate your emotions during big-stakes online poker.

Understand the Emotional Rollercoaster of Poker

Like many card games, poker depends more on psychology than on skill. The swings experienced sometimes are really strong. Losing a vital hand, for example, can generate worry or depression; winning a big jackpot could make one happy. Knowing this truth will enable one to begin the process of managing such emotional swings that develop during the game.

  • Acknowledge that during a game you may feel thrilled, nervous, or even angry—normal emotions. Understanding your emotions can help you to relate how they influence your gaming.
  • List the particular events that set off intense emotional reactions. Is the beat awful? A major setback? Knowing your triggers will let you be ready for them in the next games.

Develop a Pre-Game Routine

Establishing a pre-game routine will enable you to psychologically prepare for the upcoming challenges. This exercise should help you center on mental relaxation and excellent tone before you sit down at the virtual table.

  • Spend some minutes either meditating or practicing mindfulness to help you to center yourself. This helps you to clear your thoughts and reduces stress.
  • Imagine yourself playing well and under control of your emotions. Imagine yourself making intelligent decisions apart from the outcomes.
  • Clearly state the goals you want to achieve during the session. Having properly defined goals will enable you to remain grounded regardless of your priorities—that of maintaining a good mood or rendering the necessary decisions.

Practice Emotional Detachment

Among the strongest techniques for underlining control of emotions in poker is emotional detachment. This is detaching the results of the game from your value.

  • Focus on making the best decisions you can rather than obsessing on either winning or losing. This change of emphasis can help you release some of your own pressure.
  • You didn’t play badly just because a hand didn’t go your way. Review your choices in light of the knowledge at the time, not the result at last.

Make Wise Use of Breaks

Maintaining emotional stability over extended play depends on regular rests at the right times. You can recover strength and focus when you are not playing.

  • Particularly while playing for great stakes, it is advisable to have frequent quick breaks. Stretch, sip something, and rejuvenate yourself during these moments.
  • Think back on your activities and emotions. Did you lose it? Then consider how bad this type of playing is for you.
  • Take a longer pause if you find you are on tilt and playing poorly due to some emotional pain. It is better to stand away than keep playing the game and expose yourself to more losses.

Develop a Support System

Having a support system is equally beneficial in managing emotions while playing high-stakes poker. Chatting individuals may provide support as well as different views.

  • Communicate with other poker players who understand that the game is an emotional challenge. Exchanging experiences could be very educational and help normalize your feelings.
  • Consult reliable friends or mentors for feedback on your performance after every game. They will help you take into account different points of view and give valuable advice.
  • Participate in internet discussion groups or social media networks created for poker lovers. Such platforms offer moral support and make one feel part and parcel of something bigger.

Conclusion

Now the next time you download poker, remember that to win at high-stakes games, one must be able to control their feelings. It is important that you know how to deal with emotions in the game, have some rituals before starting to play, train on staying calm, take breaks when needed, create a network of people who will support you, and always work on becoming better at what you do. Remember that poker examines both your hand and your ability to overcome emotional challenges.

Albums Out Today: Charly Bliss, Horse Jumper of Love, Tinashe, Wishy, and More

In this segment, we showcase the most notable albums out each week. Here are the albums out on August 16, 2024:


Charly Bliss, Forever

Charly Bliss are back with a new album, Forever, out now via Lucky Number. The follow-up to 2019’s Young Enough and the Supermoon EP includes the previously released tracks ‘Nineteen’‘Waiting for You’, ‘Calling You Out’, and ‘Back There Now’. The band’s own Sam Hendricks co-produced the LP with Hippo Campus frontman Jake Juppen and Caleb Wright. The group set out to write Forever with a simple directive: “It has to be fun.” Read about how friendship, Lexapro, HAIM, and more inspired the record in our new interview with Charly Bliss.


Horse Jumper of Love, Disaster Trick

Horse Jumper of Love have today dropped their new LP, Disaster Trick, through Run for Cover. Following the 2023 mini-album Heartbreak Rules, the 11-track effort includes the previously shared songs ‘Wink’‘Snow Angel’, ‘Today’s Iconoclast’, and ‘Word’. Recorded at Asheville, North Carolina’s Drop of Sun Studios with producer Alex Farrar, it features contributions from Wednesday’s MJ Lenderman and Karly Harzman and Squirrel Flower’s Ella Williams. Read our interview with frontman Dimitri Giannopoulos about how Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s The Idiot, Leonard Cohen’s Songs From a Room, seeing Codeine live, and more inspired the LP.


Tinashe, Quantum Baby

Tinashe has returned with a new record, Quantum Baby. Featuring the early singles ‘Nasty’ and ‘Getting No Sleep’, the album is billed as the second installment in a trilogy that began with last year’s with BB/Ang3l. “Quantum Baby is about getting to know me on a deeper level,” the singer said in a press release. “It’s about exploring who I am as a person and who I am as an artist. I’ve never been one to be put into a box, so the name ‘Quantum Baby’ encompasses all the different parts that make up who I am as a creative.”


Wishy, Triple Seven

Wishy have come through with their debut album, Triple Seven. The follow-up to last year’s Paradise EP is out now via Winspear, having been previewed with the singles ‘Sick Sweet’‘Love on the Outside’, ‘Just Like Sunday’, and the title track. “It’s an angel number that symbolizes spiritual awakening and knowing one’s self,” the band’s Nina Pitchkites said of the album title in press materials. Pitchkites and fellow songwriter Kevin Krauter are joined on the LP by guitarist Dimitri Morris, bassist Mitch Collins, and drummer Conner Host.


Post Malone, F-1 Trillion

Post Malone is back with his sixth studio album and first-ever country record, F-1 Trillion. The follow-up to 2023’s Austin was promoted with ‘Pour Me a Drink’, a duet with country star Blake Shelton, and the Morgan Wallen collab ‘I Had Some Help’. Dolly Parton, Jelly Roll, Tim McGraw, Ernest, Hank Williams Jr., Lainey Wilson, Brad Paisley, Sierra Ferrell, HARDY, and Chris Stapleton also guest on the record. The album’s cover art was shot by Gonzalo Lebrija.


Rosie Lowe, Lover, Other

Rosie Lowe has issued a new album, Lover, Other, via Blue Flowers. The 15-track collection features the previously unveiled singles ‘Gratitudes’, ‘Mood to Make Love’, ‘Something’, and ‘In My Head’. The singer-songwriter took on recording, writing, and production duties on the new record, working with her brother Louis Hemming-Lowe on music videos, opera singer Isabelle Peters on vocals, Sylvie Pyne on the artwork, and Harvey Grant and D’Monk on production.


Hamish Hawk, A Firmer Hand

Hamish Hawk has unveiled his new album, A Firmer Hand, via Fierce Panda. The follow-up to last year’s Angel Numbers was preceded by the tracks ‘Big Cat Tattoos’‘Nancy Dearest’, and ‘Men Like Wire’. “Writing this album, I opened up my closet, and a skeleton came out,” Hawk said in a statement. “The thing that links all of the songs is a sense of the unsaid, whether out of guilt, shame, repression, embarrassment, coyness, whatever it might have been. I realised: I am going to say these things, and not all of them are going to make me look good. The album made so many demands, and I just gave myself over to it.”


Pom Poko, Champion

Pom Poko have put out their third LP, Champion, via Bella Union. The follow-up to 2021’s Cheater includes the advance tracks ‘Growing Story’, ‘Go’, and the title track, which accompanied the album’s announcement. “The word ‘champion’ was there from the beginning,” vocalist Ragnhild Fangel Jamtveit explained. “I built the lyrics around that title, just one evening, in my apartment. There’s a big parking lot in front of my building, and I was just sitting there and looking out at it. I was just struck with this image of being in our van, and touring, and all the parking lots we’ve ever been in. It’s a song about growing older and not feeling like you have to take over the world anymore. We’re just doing this for ourselves, really. If we can be in a band that lasts for 20 years, that’s amazing. We’re not champions, but we are at the same time.”


Other albums out today:

Lindsay Reamer, Natural Science; Foster the People, Paradise State of Mind; Chuck Johnson, Sun Glories; Delicate Steve, Delicate Steve Sings; Combat, Stay Golden; NoCap, Before I Disappear Again; Morgan Wade, Obsessed; Melinda Sullivan & Larry Goldings, Big Foot; Matty, POPS; The Script, Satellites; Family Dinner, God Looks Out For Fools; Etelin, Patio User Manual.

Literary Trendsetters: How Thought Leaders are Shaping the Future of Literature

The landscape of contemporary literature is being reshaped by a diverse array of influential voices.

From bestselling authors to respected critics and keynote speakers at literary festivals, these figures wield significant power in steering the direction of modern storytelling. Their insights and perspectives are not only inspiring emerging writers but also influencing the reading habits and preferences of audiences worldwide.

This article delves into the profound impact these thought leaders have on today’s literary trends and how they continue to shape the stories of tomorrow.

The Role of Bestselling Authors in Shaping Literary Trends

Bestselling authors hold a unique position of influence in the literary world. Their works not only captivate vast audiences but also set new standards and trends within the industry. When an author achieves widespread success, their style, themes, and narrative techniques often become templates for other writers, eager to tap into the same cultural zeitgeist.

For instance, the surge in popularity of dystopian fiction over the past decade can be traced back to the enormous success of series like The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. This trend sparked a wave of similar narratives, with authors and publishers recognizing the demand for stories set in bleak, alternative futures. Similarly, the rise of the “domestic thriller” genre was fueled by the success of authors like Gillian Flynn, whose Gone Girl became a blueprint for countless psychological suspense novels.

Beyond their written works, many bestselling authors extend their influence by participating in literary festivals and speaking engagements. As keynote speakers, they offer insights into their creative processes and share their visions for the future of storytelling. These platforms allow them to connect with other writers and readers, further solidifying their role as trendsetters in the industry.

Additionally, publishers and literary event organizers often seek to feature these authors to attract wider audiences. Their involvement not only boosts event attendance but also provides invaluable exposure to emerging writers who share the stage with them.

Literary Critics and Their Impact on Modern Literature

Literary critics wield significant power in shaping the course of modern literature. Their reviews and analyses can either elevate a book to bestseller status or challenge its reception in the market. Through thoughtful critiques, they highlight emerging voices, question established norms, and push the boundaries of what is considered mainstream.

Critics influence literature in several key ways:

  1. Curating Must-Read Books: A glowing review in a major publication can catapult a debut novel into the spotlight, driving sales and encouraging similar works. Conversely, a negative critique can signal the decline of certain genres or styles.
  2. Shaping Public Perception: Critics often provide readers with the tools to engage with complex narratives. Their interpretations help to shape how a book is received and discussed within literary circles.
  3. Guiding Emerging Writers: By discussing what works—or doesn’t—critics indirectly guide emerging authors. Writers often look to critical feedback to refine their craft and align with or push against current trends.

Moreover, at literary festivals, critics play a vital role by participating in panels and discussions that dive deeper into the works being showcased. Their insights not only offer context but also enrich the audience’s understanding of contemporary literature. This engagement helps to bridge the gap between readers and writers, making the literary experience more interactive and meaningful.

By amplifying voices that might otherwise go unheard, literary critics steer the evolution of modern storytelling. Their influence ensures that literature remains a dynamic and ever-evolving art form.

Keynote Speakers at Literary Festivals: Voices That Resonate

Keynote speakers at literary festivals are more than just highlights of the event—they are the voices that often set the tone for the entire festival. These speakers, often bestselling authors, renowned critics, or thought leaders, bring unique perspectives that resonate deeply with audiences and leave a lasting impact on the literary community.

Why Keynote Speakers Matter:

  1. Inspiration and Insight: Keynote speakers share their journeys, offering valuable insights into the creative process. For emerging writers, hearing firsthand experiences can be incredibly motivating. These talks often provide practical advice, from writing techniques to navigating the publishing world.
  2. Setting Literary Trends: When a prominent figure discusses a particular genre, theme, or issue, it can influence the direction of future literary works. For example, when a keynote speaker emphasizes the importance of diversity in literature, it encourages both writers and publishers to prioritize diverse voices.
  3. Engaging Discussions: These speakers often participate in panel discussions, engaging with other authors, critics, and audience members. This interaction creates a dynamic environment where ideas are exchanged, and new literary movements can be born.

The Organizational Advantage:

For organizations, featuring thought leaders as keynote speakers offers significant benefits. It enhances the event’s prestige, attracts larger audiences, and provides attendees with memorable experiences. Moreover, the presence of such influential figures can elevate the entire festival, drawing media attention and boosting the profile of the event.

When considering keynote speakers, understanding speaker fees is crucial for budgeting and planning.

The Benefits of Featuring Thought Leaders at Literary Events

Featuring thought leaders at literary events offers numerous advantages that extend far beyond the event itself. These influential figures bring credibility, attract diverse audiences, and create memorable experiences that resonate long after the event concludes.

Key Benefits:

  1. Increased Attendance: A well-known author or critic can draw larger crowds, boosting ticket sales and overall event visibility.
  2. Media Attention: High-profile speakers often attract media coverage, providing valuable exposure for the event and its organizers.
  3. Inspiring Content: Thought leaders share insights that can inspire both writers and readers, sparking new ideas and fostering creativity within the community.
  4. Long-Term Impact: The discussions and ideas generated by these speakers often influence the literary landscape, leaving a lasting impact on attendees and beyond.

For organizations, the investment in securing these speakers is well worth the return. Partnering with agencies like Gotham Artists ensures access to a diverse range of thought leaders, making it easier to craft an event that truly resonates. Whether the goal is to inspire, educate, or entertain, thought leaders play a crucial role in the success of any literary gathering.

Conclusion

Influential voices—whether bestselling authors, critics, or keynote speakers—play a pivotal role in shaping the future of literature. Their insights inspire new trends, guide emerging writers, and enrich the reading experience for audiences worldwide. For organizations, featuring these thought leaders at events offers a powerful way to engage and impact the literary community.

Gaming Burnout and Tips for Student Gamers to Avoid It

Gaming provides a relaxing and exciting escape from daily stressors. However, lately, there’s been an increase in burnout among student gamers, and it’s affecting other parts of their lives, including academics. It negatively affects a student’s ability to focus while studying, which, in turn, affects their grades. For example, it can affect one’s productivity in assignments, and the student might be asked to rewrite essay because of poor quality. On top of that, affected student gamers tend to experience strained relationships because of their social withdrawal.

Luckily, it’s a problem students can avoid, and this article should help. It covers key information about video game burnout, such as what it is, symptoms, causes, and several tips to avoid or combat this issue.

What Is Gaming Burnout?

Gaming burnout is the physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion from excessive or compulsive gaming. Students commonly characterize it as losing interest in gaming, but there are other symptoms, including:

  • Difficulty sleeping.
  • Feeling annoyed or angry while playing.
  • Feeling sad or anxious while playing.
  • Social isolation.
  • Physical discomfort from playing for long hours.
  • Procrastinating responsibilities.

Video game burnout sometimes negatively impacts other parts of a student’s life, making them neglect other responsibilities and lose interest in things they love doing.

Causes of Gaming Burnout

The best way to solve video game burnout is to prevent it, but we’ll also cover ways to deal with it. Student gamers should judicially balance gaming with academics and other parts of their lives. Thus, knowing what causes gaming burnout is important to protect yourself and your future. Here are some of the main causes of gaming burnout to watch out for.

Excessive Gaming

Gaming is a lot of fun. But playing video games for extended hours without rest routinely can quickly take the fun out of it. Many student gamers suffering from video games play these games excessively and even prioritize the games over other essential activities like eating, sleeping, exercising, and social interactions. So, if you find yourself gaming excessively to the point that you have no time for assignments and must delegate them to professional writers like those discussed in the PayForEssay review, it might be time to pump the brakes.

Playing the Same Games Repeatedly

Sometimes, gamers feel burnt out from gaming because they play the same games simultaneously. It is a habit many gamers have, especially those who play first-person shooter games. Understandably, some game titles are a lot of fun, especially online multiplayer, but playing that one game repeatedly eventually gets boring.

Modern Game Practices

Video game burnout is not always entirely on gamers. Game developers are using every tool to keep gamers playing even when bored. Games used to be adventures players could complete in a few days; however, developers nowadays want you to spend hundreds of hours on one title.

Online games are the worst at this, whereby a student gamer will keep playing for hours daily to avoid losing their progress or dropping on leaderboards. Thus, they eventually burn out.

Pressure to Keep Playing

Gamers can also burn out because of the pressure of gaming. Competitive gamers are under pressure to perform in online tournaments and spend lots of hours perfecting their gameplay. Some gamers face burnout because of the pressure to play from their friends and social connections. They feel they have to keep playing to maintain these friendships.

External Factors

The things happening around you can affect your relationship with gaming. Family issues, worldwide events, relationship troubles, and other factors can push gamers to compulsive gaming to try and cope. Student gamers can also get frustrated when struggling to balance gaming with school and other responsibilities, leading to burnout.

Tips Student Gamers Can Use to Avoid and Deal with Gaming Burnout

The best way to avoid gaming burnout is to anticipate and address the above causes before they affect you. Here are some valuable tips.

Set Time Limits for Gaming

Set limits to avoid spending too much time gaming. Create specific gaming times in your schedule and keep track of your game time by setting alarms. It will help you enjoy gaming without compromising other parts of your life.

Take Breaks

Take breaks during gaming sessions to refresh your mind and relax your eyes. For example, gaming for 6+ hours straight is not healthy. You can instead add short 10-30 minute breaks in between, take a walk, or participate in any activity that gets you away from the screen. You can also split it into two 3-hour sessions. It will help prevent over-obsession, which often leads to burnout.

Diversify Your Catalogue

You don’t have to play that one exciting game every time. It will get boring. Switch it up and consider even changing the genre to avoid getting bored. If you’re used to multiplayer games, try an interesting offline RPG occasionally; it keeps things interesting and can prevent a gaming rut where you don’t feel like playing anything.

Play for Fun

Prioritize fun in gaming unless you’re a successful competitive gamer. Some games are designed to get you hooked and make you log in daily with attractive transactions and “responsibilities.”

Some survival games slowly become chores, and gamers don’t realize it until they’re hooked. So, prioritize interesting titles that you can easily put away when needed. Take your time to read game reviews to identify the best games.

Balance Your Life

Create a healthy balance between the different aspects of your life. Student gamers are likely to become compulsive gamers to cope with challenges outside gaming. For example, you can avoid stressors such as poor grades by taking your academic responsibilities seriously. You can also talk to someone about the external stressors contributing to excessive gaming.

Shutting Down

Gaming should be fun, so feeling burnt out means it’s time to make some changes. The above tips should help avoid gaming burnout. However, you should know when to seek professional assistance, especially if you’re burnt out but can’t stop gaming; it might be a sign of gaming addiction.

Kacey Musgraves Joins Vlad Holiday on New Song ‘I Don’t Wanna Party Anymore’

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Romania-born, Nashville-based musician Vlad Holiday has enlisted Kacey Musgraves for a new song, ‘Don’t Wanna Party Anymore’. Listen to it below.

‘Don’t Wanna Party Anymore’ is “about the feeling the day after a long bender, sick of going through the serotonin dip over and over again, realizing you should probably change your ways and be better to yourself — BUT getting pulled back in and having the process start all over again,” Holiday shared in a statement.

Earlier this month, Kacey Musgraves released the deluxe edition of her new album Deeper Well.

Blackpink’s Lisa and Rosalía Team Up for New Song ‘New Woman’

Blackpink’s Lisa has teamed up with Rosalía for a new solo single, ‘New Woman’. The track was co-produced by Max Martin and Ilya, and it was co-written by Tove Lo, who is also on background vocals. It arrives with an accompanying video directed by Dave Meyers and shot in Los Angeles. Check it out below.

Last month, Lisa returned with ‘Rockstar’, her first solo material since 2021. Since releasing Motomami in 2022, Rosalía has shared one-off singles including ‘Despechá’, ‘LLYLM’, ‘TUYA’, and the Björk collab ‘Oral’.

Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars Join Forces on New Song ‘Die With a Smile’

Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars have teamed up for a new song called ‘Die With a Smile’. The pair co-produced the single with Andrew Watt and D’Mile. Check out a video for it below.

“Bruno and I have a lot of mutual respect for each other and were talking about collaborating,” Gaga said in a press release. “I was finishing up my own album in Malibu and one night after a long day he asked me to come to his studio to hear something he was working on. It was around midnight when I got there and I was blown away when I heard what he had started making. We stayed up all night and finished writing and recording the song. Bruno’s talent is beyond explanation. His musicianship and vision is next level. There’s no one like him.”

Mars added, “Getting to work with Gaga has been an honor. She’s an icon and she makes this song magical. I’m so excited for everyone to hear it.”

Last month, Lady Gaga performed as the first musical act during the Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony.

Cold Cave Unveil New Single ‘Siren Song’

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Since March, Cold Cave have been releasing a song on the 15th of each month, leading up to the announcement of their new album, Passion Depression, a month ago. Today, they’ve unveiled a new single called ‘Siren Song’, which you can hear below.

Passion Depression is due for release on October 15. So far, it’s been previewed with the songs ‘She Reigns Down’, ‘Shadow Dance’, ‘Blackberries’, and ‘Hourglass’.

Glare Drop New Single ‘Mourning Haze’

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Glare – an alt-rock/shoegaze five-piece from the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas – have released their latest single, ‘Mourning Haze‘, via Deathwish, Inc./Sunday Drive. The song is “about grief, and how dreams play a role in processing it,” according to guitarist Toni Ordaz. Check it out below.

“‘Mourning Haze’ had been with us for awhile, written around the time we were doing ‘Void in Blue’ and developing what would later become ‘Heavenly’,” Ordaz explained in a statement. “Immediately, we knew it sounded way different from what we did before and decided early on that it was going to be a part of what would become the album. The lyrics didn’t come much later until the recording sessions, but I think they are very much a reflection of what we were all going through at the time.”