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Free Face Swap Apps That Actually Look Realistic

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Beyond entertainment and trends, digitally swapping faces is a form of creative expression. At the same time, it has become a key tool for people to fulfill their aspirations of becoming movie stars, celebrities, or any other individual of their liking — at least in photos or videos. Yet, finding free face swap apps that produce believable results can be surprisingly tricky. Many options promise realism but fall short, leaving users with awkward distortions and unnatural edits.

With that said, stumbling upon this guide is a blessing in disguise. You won’t have to search for a needle in a digital haystack anymore, as we will round up five standout free face swap apps that are not only accessible but also strikingly realistic.

Five Best Free Face Swap Apps of 2026

1. Simfa

Free Face Swap Apps
Image Credit: Simfa

Simfa is a revolutionary face swap app that is rapidly becoming a favorite among creators, as it helps them create engaging images and short-form videos for social media platforms. It delivers output that looks natural rather than AI-generated. In addition, Simfa stands out for its calibration-first process, ensuring that the face swap takes into account light conditions, facial geometry, and skin tone. This particular pipeline delivers results faster than any rival app, promising a quick turnaround time without compromising quality.

Key features:

  • Calibration-first pipeline
  • AI-powered face-swapping system
  • User-friendly interface
  • Compatible with various file formats
  • Delivers results in seconds

2. PIXLR

Free Face Swap Apps
Image Credit: PIXLR

Another face swap tool creators should try is PIXLR. It enables users to become whoever they want to be through its three-step face swap feature. Additionally, PIXLR boasts a diverse collection of templates everyone can choose from. The choices range from a superhero to a sports person, allowing endless face swaps. PIXLR also integrates advanced AI technology to deliver accurate, authentic, and natural output.

Key features:

  • Extensive template library
  • Realistic transformations
  • Effortless process

3. Magic Hour AI

Free Face Swap Apps
Image Credit: Magic Hour AI

Magic Hour AI may be a newcomer in the field of face swapping, but it comes with promising features. With plenty of free daily credits, users can access photo face swap, video face swap, and GIF face swap tools. Moreover, Magic Hour AI supports multi-face swap. The results come in high-quality formats and are professional grade. What makes it appealing is that it has no watermark and no sign-up deal, even in its free tier offering.

Key features:

  • Better realism with less cleanup
  • Commercial-ready outputs
  • No watermark on photos

4. Higgsfield

Higgsfield
Image Credit: Higgsfield

Creators looking for a reliable option should also consider Higgsfield. From artistic styles and photorealistic portraits to digital art and animation, this AI-powered tool is capable of generating consistent face swap outputs. It also preserves the source face while delivering high-quality results. Higgsfield is even optimized to swiftly provide the output. However, it is limited to five free credits per day.

Key features:

  • High-resolution output
  • Сross-style swapping
  • Easy export for animation

5. VidMage

VidMage
Image Credit: VidMage

VidMage offers effortless face-swapping features for images and videos. Using its advanced AI tool, users can browse through several templates and swap faces in a matter of minutes. From movie roles and celebrity options to daily memes, VidMage generates fun and realistic results that can be used for personal or business purposes.  

Key features:

  • Seamless and realistic results
  • Ease-to-follow procedure
  • Fast turnaround

Ethical Considerations When Using Free Face Swap Apps

Tools for face swapping provide endless creative opportunities. However, just as with deepfake apps, responsible usage is also necessary. Always obtain consent before swapping someone else’s face and avoid creating content for manipulation, as there are several legal concerns associated with these. By observing privacy and copyright, everyone can explore innovation while being safe and respectful.

Choosing the Right Free Face Swap Apps in 2026

At first glance, swapping faces might seem limited to being a source of laughter and amusement. Truth is, it is more than that. Face-swapping apps have taken social media and digital content creation by storm, as they are also being used in advertising, film & TV, and other fields. Hence, it is a good time to explore these innovative tools.

Today’s options cater to various creative needs, proving they are more than gimmicks. With these five top-notch free face swap apps at your disposal, you can start swapping faces and creating viral content with endless possibilities.

For those looking for the most reliable and realistic results, Simfa clearly sets the standard in the current landscape of face swap tools. It is a practical pick for creators of all levels, as it delivers output that looks convincing, eliminating the awkwardness that once plagued the genre.

Los Thuthanaka Releasing New Project ‘Waq’a’ This Week

Over the weekend, Los Thuthanaka’s Chuquimamani-Condori appeared on the Nashville public radio station WNXP. In addition to debuting some unreleased music, they announced that the duo will release a new project on Friday, April 3 via Bandcamp. It’s called Waq’a.

The record will comprise three instrumental tracks: two set before the creation of the sun, and one about its implied ending. It will be accompanied by a booklet, published exclusively in Aymara and co-curated with Shana Inofuentes and Eber Miranda of Ch’ama Native Americas.

Waq’a will serve as the follow-up to Los Thuthanaka’s 2025 self-titled debut. Earlier this year, Chuquimamani-Condori’s brother and bandmate, Joshua Chuquimia Crampton, released the album Anata.

Bob Dylan Launches Patreon With Historical Writing

I know what you’re thinking: That doesn’t sound right. But apparently, it’s true. Bob Dylan has launched a Patreon. Yesterday, the Nobel Prize-winning singer-songwriter posted a promo graphic for a new series on the platform, Lectures From the Grave. If he hadn’t shared it on various accounts, one might assume the page is fake, not least because some of the writing on there – even the poster for it – appears to utilize AI. Users can purchase access for $5 per month.

Currently, there are different kinds of posts on Dylan’s Patreon. One is a link to a live performance by Mahalia Jackson, which is in line with his Instagram account, where he’s been sharing various clips without context. (He once famously posted a 2016 performance by Machine Gun Kelly, which led to him narrating mgk’s Lost Americana.) The following posts are more confounding. Most of them are audio essays: about Thomas Jefferson’s vice-president Aaron Burr, 19th-century outlaw Frank James, and American Old West folk hero Wild Bill. They seem to be read out loud by an AI voice.

This is content “curated by Bob Dylan,” which seems to be an important distinction. There is a fictional letter from Mark Twain to Rudolph Valentino, posted under the pen name Herbert Foster. Another post, authored by Marty Lombard, is called ‘Bull Rider (short story)’. Besides those social media teasers, there’s no mention of the Patreon on Dylan’s website. He already has a collection of essays whose audiobook features the likes of Jeff Bridges, Helen Mirren, and Oscar Isaac, which I can easily recommend. This is Dylanesque at best.

Furies Season 3: Cast, Rumours & Release Date

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Crime series Furies is back with its sophomore season, exhibiting no signs of slowing down. With 1.9 million views last week, the French production is among the most-watched shows on Netflix, globally.

On top of that, it made the Top 10 in 13 countries where the platform is available. Given that it promises to take fans on a journey through the Paris underworld, its appeal is undeniable. Could even more episodes be released somewhere down the line?

Furies Season 3 Release Date

At the time of writing, Netflix is yet to greenlit Furies season 3. That doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen.

The service often waits a while to assess viewership, and the second season just came out. If all goes well, more episodes could arrive in a couple of years.

Furies Cast

  • Lina El Arabi as Lyna Guerrab
  • Marina Foïs as Selma
  • Mathieu Kassovitz as Driss
  • Jeremy Nadeau as Élie
  • Steve Tientcheu Simon
  • Sandor Funtek as Orso
  • Quentin Faure as Nicolas
  • Eye Haïdara as Keïta

What Could Happen in Furies Season 3?

In the shadowy underworld of Paris, six powerful crime families are secretly kept in balance by a single enforcer known as “the Fury.” Catchy name.

The series revolves around Lyna, a young woman whose life is shattered by a personal tragedy. After serving time in prison for refusing to cooperate with police, she sets out for revenge. That’s how Lyna is drawn into the orbit of Selma, the current Fury.

As Lyna infiltrates the criminal network, she uncovers a complex system of power and loyalty. The Fury’s role is not just to punish but to maintain a fragile peace among rival factions.

The second season, dubbed Furies: Resistance, delivers an even more chaotic power struggle after the balance of Paris’s underworld collapses. A ruthless organisation takes control, so Lyna and Selma are forced into an uneasy alliance. Selma orchestrates a rebellion against the regime, while Lyna plays a dangerous double game. What could possibly go wrong?

Furies season 3 would likely continue on the same note, tracking the complicated relationship between the two women. The enticing premise has a lot of room for growth, so the story could expand in several interesting directions. For now, all we can do is wait and see whether Netflix gives the French series a chance to make another comeback.

Are There Other Shows Like Furies?

If you love Furies, you should check out more riveting action series. Titles recently making waves include Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Daredevil: Born Again, One Piece, Paradise, The Night Agent, and Cross.

Steel Ball Run JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Season 2: Cast, Rumours & Release Date

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Humour, action, and drama blend in Netflix anime Steel Ball Run JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. With 4.7M views last week, it’s now the second most-watched non-English show on the platform, while also climbing the top 10 in 45 countries.

Despite dropping only one episode so far, the anime is getting plenty of buzz, especially from veteran fans of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. There’s no wonder many are eager to find out what happens next. Here’s everything we know so far.

Steel Ball Run JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Season 2 Release Date

At the time of writing, Netflix is keeping the future of the anime vague. The first episode is dubbed as 1st Stage, with the platform confirming a 2nd Stage is on the way.

This 2nd Stage could be considered as the Steel Ball Run JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure season 2. However, no official release date is available yet. The only thing certain is that it will come out later in 2026.

Steel Ball Run JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Cast

  • Daman Mills as Johnny Joestar
  • Kaiji Tang as Gyro Zeppeli
  • Damien Haas as Diego Brando
  • Frankie Kevich as Lucy Steel
  • Jamieson Price as Steven Steel
  • Alejandro Antonio Ruiz as Sandman
  • Cedric Williams as Pocoloco

What Is Steel Ball Run JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure About?

Set in 1890 America, Steel Ball Run JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure follows Johnny Joestar, a once-celebrated jockey, now paralyzed after a mysterious accident. Luckily, the jockey’s life changes when he encounters the enigmatic outlaw Gyro Zeppeli. His strange “Spin” technique appears to momentarily restore Johnny’s ability to move.

Drawn by equal parts desperation and curiosity, Johnny joins Gyro in the Steel Ball Run, a brutal cross-country horse race from San Diego to New York with a $50 million prize. However, the race quickly turns into something far more dangerous. Gear up for the classic Jojo chaos longtime fans are probably used to by now.

Steel Ball Run adapts Part 7 of Hirohiko Araki’s manga. While it features familiar names and themes, it takes place in a separate continuity from Parts 1–6. Many fans regard it as the strongest arc in the series, so the hype is warranted. Until Steel Ball Run JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure season 2 or 2nd Stage arrives, the first episode gives you plenty to chew on.

Are There Other Shows Like Steel Ball Run JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure?

If you enjoyed Steel Ball Run JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure but are new to the universe, consider catching up with previous five seasons of the anime, also streaming on Netflix.

Other popular anime on the platform include BAKI-DOU: The Invincible Samurai, Record of RagnarokThe Fragrant Flower Blooms With DignityThe Summer Hikaru Died, and Tougen Anki. The One Piece live action series might be up your alley as well.

Why Trust in Skincare Matters More Than Ever in the Age of Viral Beauty Trends

The modern beauty industry feels more crowded than ever, with new skincare labels, celebrity launches, and influencer collaborations appearing so often that even regular followers struggle to keep track. 

What once felt like a slow cycle of seasonal releases now moves at social-media speed, where a product can trend for a week and disappear just as quickly. AI-generated adverts, exaggerated marketing, and campaigns built around personality rather than formulation have added to the sense that the market is drifting toward style over substance.

In a space built on constant releases, the question is no longer what becomes popular, but what manages to outlive the hype. Skincare makes that shift easiest to see. As viral trends make it harder to tell which products are built to last, this article looks at why trust in skincare matters more than ever.

Why Skincare Became the First Place Consumers Started Looking for Proof

Skincare has quietly become one of the first areas where audiences started demanding more than branding alone. In the social media age, cosmetic appearance and visual markers are the first impressions you’ll have on people. Skincare remains the largest segment of the beauty market, accounting for about 44% of total sales, and the global sector is projected to reach around US$206.6 billion in 2026

Skincare routines are now discussed with the same scrutiny once reserved for training or diet. Brands such as OkoaSkin are often mentioned in that context, not because of aggressive promotion, but because their formulations are presented as something intended for consistent use rather than short-term visibility. 

Highly researched and scrutinised product reviews are now shared openly online, with people comparing ingredients, questioning claims, and paying closer attention to how products are actually formulated. As more releases compete for attention, the wider beauty market is starting to face the same demand for proof.

How the Conversation Around Skincare Changed

One of the clearest signs of this shift can be seen in how people now talk about ingredients rather than branding. Product discussions that once focused on packaging, scent, or celebrity backing increasingly revolve around formulation, active compounds, and how different products fit into a routine. 

Ingredient names that used to sound technical are now part of everyday conversation, and it is no longer unusual to see consumers comparing percentages or questioning whether a product actually contains what it claims to contain.

Figuring out how to choose the best skincare ingredients has meant the conversation has shifted away from marketing language and toward understanding what a formula is designed to do. The more familiar people become with how products work, the less convincing hype alone tends to feel, and the wider beauty market is starting to adjust to an audience that expects proof rather than promises.

When Every Brand Goes Viral, Trust Becomes the Only Differentiator

Greater awareness of ingredients has arrived as the number of brands has multiplied, creating a market where visibility is easier to achieve but harder to believe. Influencer-led labels appear constantly, celebrity skincare lines launch with built-in attention, and AI-generated ads can make products look established long before results are proven.

Say a product becomes popular overnight. The question now, almost immediately, is how long that popularity will last. Trend cycles move so quickly that repeated claims lose their impact, and audiences have become more cautious about what they trust. 

For example, brands experimenting with AI influencers, such as virtual influencer Lil Miquela, risk weakening consumer trust, with studies finding that audiences respond more negatively when products are promoted by artificial personalities rather than by real people.

In a space where hype is easy to create, credibility begins to matter more than reach, turning trust into the only real differentiator.

Routine Culture Is Replacing the Search for Quick Fixes

The way people approach skincare has started to change. Instead of buying whatever happens to be trending, more consumers are putting together routines they expect to use for months rather than days, paying closer attention to how products work together and whether results come from consistency rather than novelty.

Dermatology advice, industry-expert reviews, and science-backed guides now carry more weight than short viral clips, reflecting a shift toward habits that can be maintained instead of constantly replaced.

There are many reasons to switch up your skincare routine, but most come down to the same idea: skin responds better to careful adjustments over time than to constant product swapping. 

As routines become more deliberate, impulse buying loses its appeal, and expectations change with it. People are less interested in chasing the next release and more interested in the results they can repeat.

Why the Brands Built on Trust Are More Likely to Last

The beauty industry is unlikely to slow down, and new launches will continue to appear as quickly as trends form online. 

What has changed is how audiences respond to that constant flow. Shorter hype cycles, repeated claims, and greater familiarity with ingredients have made consumers more cautious, especially in skincare, where results are expected to show over time rather than overnight.

Longevity depends less on visibility and more on whether a product can justify its place in a routine. As viral beauty culture moves faster, trust is starting to look less like a bonus and more like the only thing that lasts.

Unique U.S. Outdoor Music Venues: Architecture & Design

Commercial real estate encompasses far more than corporate office parks and multi-family housing developments. Specialized entertainment properties, particularly outdoor music venues, represent a highly unique sector of land use and architectural engineering. These sites require a careful balance of geographical integration, acoustic management, and structural innovation.

Evaluating outdoor music venues provides valuable insights into how developers and urban planners utilize natural topography and advanced materials. From naturally occurring acoustic basins to highly engineered urban parks, the structural diversity of these properties is vast. The success of these venues relies heavily on their spatial design and their ability to accommodate large crowds safely while maintaining structural integrity.

Understanding the architectural and geographical foundations of these locations helps property investors and urban planners see the potential in unconventional parcels of land. This article examines some of the most structurally and geographically unique outdoor music venues across the United States, highlighting the engineering and real estate principles that make them viable commercial entities.

BarD Chuckwagon, Durango, CO

Situated in the red rock canyons of Durango, the BarD Chuckwagon presents a stark contrast to urban venues like the Pritzker Pavilion. This property exemplifies rural commercial land utilization, operating as both a dining facility and an outdoor performance space. The venue leverages its natural topography to create an enclosed, immersive environment for patrons.

The property design integrates rustic, western-style structures with the natural pine forests and canyon walls. The canyon itself serves as a natural acoustic barrier, containing the sound of the traditional western music performances while blocking external noise pollution. For real estate professionals evaluating rural entertainment properties, the BarD Chuckwagon serves as an excellent case study in minimizing structural interference while maximizing the commercial viability of a natural landscape. The site requires specific zoning considerations, balancing agricultural aesthetics with commercial hospitality requirements.

Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison CO

No analysis of outdoor venue real estate is complete without examining Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado. This property is a prime example of adaptive reuse of a naturally occurring geological formation. The seating area and stage are situated between two massive sandstone monoliths, Ship Rock and Creation Rock, which provide a natural acoustic boundary and structural framework.

Developing a commercial venue within a geological park requires extensive civil engineering to ensure stability and public safety. The integration of seating, lighting, and stage infrastructure into the existing rock formations involved precise topographical surveying and specialized construction techniques. This property highlights how unique geological assets can be transformed into high-yield commercial entertainment properties while maintaining their natural integrity.

The Gorge Amphitheatre, Washington

Located near the Columbia River in Washington State, The Gorge Amphitheatre is a masterclass in remote property development. Situated on a massive rural parcel, the venue utilizes the natural slope of the river gorge to provide unobstructed sightlines for up to 27,500 patrons.

The real estate value of this property is heavily tied to its location and topography. Developing a venue of this scale in a remote area requires substantial logistical planning, including the installation of independent utility infrastructure, extensive parking facilities, and temporary camping zones for multi-day events. The Gorge demonstrates how large tracts of remote, sloped land can be effectively converted into profitable seasonal entertainment venues.

Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD

Merriweather Post Pavilion, located in Columbia, Maryland, is another exemplary venue that merges natural surroundings with modern entertainment infrastructure. Opened in 1967, this amphitheater was designed by the renowned architect Frank Gehry, blending functionality with a distinctive aesthetic. With a seating capacity of approximately 19,000, the venue features a combination of covered pavilion seats and lawn seating, ensuring a versatile experience for a wide range of audiences.

Its location, nestled amidst 40 acres of Symphony Woods, adds to its charm and acoustic quality, creating a natural amphitheater effect. The pavilion continually evolves, with recent renovations improving amenities such as upgraded seating, expanded concessions, and sustainability measures like solar panels and advanced water management systems. Merriweather Post Pavilion exemplifies how a venue can balance cultural significance, environmental consciousness, and profitability in the live entertainment industry.

Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena, Stateline, NV

The Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys is a premier open-air venue located in the scenic town of Stateline, Nevada. Nestled against the backdrop of the stunning Sierra Nevada mountains and the crystal-clear waters of Lake Tahoe, the arena provides an unforgettable setting for concerts, festivals, and live performances. With a seating capacity of approximately 9,300, the venue combines an intimate atmosphere with world-class production capabilities, making it a favorite destination for both artists and audiences. The seasonal arena operates primarily during the summer months, taking full advantage of Tahoe’s mild weather and breathtaking surroundings. Its dedication to delivering high-quality entertainment in a sustainable manner includes efforts such as waste reduction programs and partnerships with local organizations to protect the pristine natural environment. This balance of innovation and environmental stewardship has solidified the Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena as a leading example of how outdoor venues can harmoniously integrate with their natural settings while offering premier entertainment experiences.

Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Chicago, IL

Located within Millennium Park just off the Loop, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion is a marvel of modern urban planning and acoustic engineering. Designed by architect Frank Gehry, this venue demonstrates how highly specialized commercial structures can anchor a major public space. The pavilion stands out due to its massive brushed stainless steel headdress, which frames the stage and sets a distinct visual precedent for the surrounding cityscape.

The most notable structural achievement of this property is its acoustic trellis. Instead of relying on traditional speaker towers that can obstruct sightlines and create uneven sound distribution, the engineers designed a web of steel pipes suspended over the Great Lawn. This trellis supports an advanced distributed sound system. From a real estate perspective, this design maximizes the usable square footage of the lawn, allowing the venue to accommodate up to 11,000 attendees without compromising the auditory experience for those furthest from the stage.

Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh, NY

If you’ve ever wanted to watch your favorite band perform while enjoying a cool sea breeze, the Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, NY, is the place to be. This remarkable venue showcases how creative engineering can blend with natural landscapes to create an unforgettable experience. Imagine this: when the theater first opened, its stage was a literal island in Zach’s Bay, with performers making a grand entrance by boat! While the stage has since been connected to the land, the theater still perches right on the water’s edge, offering stunning bay views and a unique maritime atmosphere that few other venues can match. This iconic seaside amphitheater, a jewel of Long Island’s summer entertainment scene, was brought to life through the ambitious vision of Robert Moses, the mastermind behind the sprawling Jones Beach State Park.

The Best Albums of March 2026

In this segment, we round up the best albums released each month. From underscores to Snail Mail, here are, in alphabetical order, the best albums of March 2026.


Anjimile, You’re Free to Go

you're free to goAfter working with Shawn Everett on 2023’s starkly dramatic, grief-stricken The King, his 4AD debut following 2020’s critically acclaimed Giver Taker, Anjimile linked up with Brad Cook (Bon Iver, Waxahatchee, Hurray for the Riff Raff) to help craft the airier, relaxed, and quietly cathartic songs that emerged from a period of renewed freedom. “It comes in waves/ Memory and empathy/ It stays and waits with me,” he sings on ‘Waits for Me’, patiently letting them ripple across and crash into his music, often retreating into a question instead of resolving. Whether for something as abstract as freedom and embodiment or palpably simple like kissing a partner, you want the desire to wash over you, and Anjimile makes it sound easy. Read our Artist Spotlight interview with Anjimile.


Avalon Emerson & the Charm, Written Into Changes

Written into Changes

Avalon Emerson deepens her emotive songwriting on Written Into Changes, which encompasses five years of constant travel, including moving from Berlin to Los Angeles to New York. “Too young to die/ Too old to break through,” she sings on the glistening chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’, getting more reflective in the verses: “I have wasted all these years/ Collecting and perfecting this game.” But whatever the extent of Emerson’s sonic perfectionism and industry know-how, it builds no barrier to vulnerability on her second album with a band, or to cosmically upscaling her writing, like on the early single ‘Jupiter and Mars’. But just as she zooms out to the solar system, Emerson homes in on the small, persistent pleasures that seem equally, even frustratingly, miraculous, like drinking a cold beer. “How dare it cradle me in my tears so gently?” she wonders. Listening to Written Into Changes, you might find yourself asking the same question.


Gladie, No Need to Be Lonely

No Need To Be LonelyBy the time Augusta Koch sent demos of Gladie’s galvanizing new record, No Need to Be Lonely, to Jeff Rosenstock, they weren’t just demo friends but friends friends, putting Rosenstock in the general category of people that many songs on the album feed off of and serve to uplift. “I brace myself to embrace you,” roars the chorus of one early single; “Know that I look to you, just to keep myself moving,” goes another. Rosenstock decided to produce the record, and they tracked it live to tape with Jack Shirley at Atomic Garden in Oakland. It’s no surprise the most dynamic songs on No Need to Be Lonely end up sounding eruptive, but the collaborative spirit enriches and sweetens the quieter songs, too, from the devastating catharsis of ‘Fix Her’ to the raw confessions of ‘Blurry’. It’s the rare gut-punch of a record that makes you feel lighter each time you play it. Read our In Conversation feature with Gladie and Jeff Rosenstock.


Grace Ives, Girlfriend

Girlfriend album cover“I’m no stranger to that sage advice/ If you love her, let her find her life,” Grace Ives sings on the outro to the penultimate song of her incandescent new album, Girlfriend. Headed for the freeway, she’s “off with my little mind,” and if you’ve loved Ives’ past work, you know “little” is the kindest compliment. Charting her journey to sobriety, she and co-producers Ariel Rechtshaid and John DeBold dig through the wreckage to uncover an artist more big-hearted, bold, and buzzed with life than the introvert who’d shrink at the scale of it. You can catch Ives on the road on many of these songs (and playing them); you can also hear her marveling. Read the full review.


Kim Gordon, PLAY ME

PLAY ME cover artworkAs ‘BUSY BEE’ weaves in a sample of Kim Gordon and her Free Kitten bandmate Julia Cafritz co-hosting MTV’s Beach House, a sentence reverberates through its clattering noise: “The pressure to relax, it was just too much for her.” Sure enough, Dave Grohl’s drums thunder back in, resuming PLAY ME‘s gnarly flow. ‘BYE BYE’, a highlight from the Sonic Youth co-founder’s previous solo album The Collective, spawned TikTok videos of teens going through their own packing list, as Gordon chaotically did on that track – can you imagine going on vacation these days, she now seems to say, let alone enjoying it? The pressure to make music for “chillin’ after work,” as she puts it on the opening track, is too much for Gordon – so she soundtracks the doomscrolling, the brain fog, the post-Everything. Shorter and more spontaneous than its predecessor, PLAY ME‘s restlessness is nearly just as fruitful. Read the full review.


Robyn, Sexistential

SexistentialAt one point on her self-financed, self-titled, and first independently released album, Robyn assumed the role of a captain attempting a crash landing before launching into a song called ‘Crash and Burn Girl’, echoing her description of Sexistential as feeling “like a spaceship coming through the atmosphere at a really high speed.” More than two decades after Robyn, and aided by early collaborators like Teddybears member Klas Åhlund, Sexistential still prioritizes the pleasure principle – “I’m never inspired by pain,” she told one celebrity fan, Tinashe – while defiantly eschewing the trappings of a “maturing” pop star. Read the full review.


Snail Mail, Ricochet

Ricochet Cover ArtworkThere was a time when Lindsey Jordan harboured the illusion that she could only write in her Maryland childhood bedroom, where she made the songs that brought her indie fame right on the cusp of adulthood. By the time she was in the process of making her latest record, Ricochet, she’d bought her own house, dodging any impulse to write somewhere more nostalgically familiar. Working with Aron Kobayashi Ritch, the bassist and producer of New York’s Momma, it finds her transposing a period of self-imposed yet heavenly isolation into her most comfortably subdued songs to date. There’s still a delicate tension gnawing beneath the surface, as solitude’s gorgeous quiet borders on obsessive dissocation. Jordan, though, will go a long way to dance around it.  Read the full review.


underscores, U

U Cover ArtworkU is shorthand for underscores, but it’s also how, at least 50 times on her sort-of-self-titled album, April Harper Grey spells her object of desire. U has a compressed, equalizing power, leveling the playing field when it comes to mathematizing its relationship to I, which gets a typical definition early on: “I get what I want and then find out right after I get it, I don’t even want it.” It’s a reductive way of looking at underscores’ own trajectory, as U abandons the complex conceptual framework of 2023’s Wallsocket for a concise, escapist psychodrama, which is a way of understating that it’s an early contender for the most irresistible pop album of the year. In truth, you get what you want and then you find out right after you want it all over again: that’s U in a capsule. Read the full review.


Various Artists, HELP(2)

HELP(2) ArtworkHELP(2) has the return of Arctic Monkeys and Cameron Winter’s first song since the explosion of Geese. More than thirty years after the first benefit compilation from War Child UK brought together Stone Roses, Suede, Blur, and Oasis, the James Ford-produced sequel features Pulp and members of Blur alongside a string of younger bands who have outgrown their post-punk origins, from Black Country, New Road to Wet Leg. It has every reason to exist but no business weaving all these voices together so effectively. HELP(2) would be a good album just by virtue of supporting the organization’s mission of delivering aid, education, mental health support, and protection to children in conflict zones. But there’s something all the more poignant about everyone involved caring enough to make it a great one. Read the full review.


waterbaby, Memory Be a Blade

, Memory Be a BladeWorking with her primary collaborator Marcus White – who also arranged the lush contributions from violinist Oliva Lundberg, cellists Filip Lundberg and Kristina Winiarski, saxophonist Sebastian Mattebo, trombonist Hannes Falk Junestav, and flutist Pelle Westlin – waterbaby retains a preciously intimate and intuitive approach on her debut album, Memory Be a Blade, even going as far as to improvise a lot of the lyrics on the record. “Steady waters asking me to leave again” are the first words that come out of her mouth as she embraces this flow, illustrating that steadiness is an illusion, a trick of lonely shadows and lights. Still, we’re left with no choice but to paddle on.

Not Sure If I Just Saw a Telenovela or a Zara x Willy Chavarria Drop

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Kidding. Zara made sure it was both. If fashion had its own little telenovela, Zara would be in it. Probably too much. After landing Steven Meisel for a 50-year celebration, dressing Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl, the random John Galliano tease, and now the Willy Chavarria capsule, that would feel about right. But since the short film situation belongs to Chavarria as much as to Zara, Christy Turlington fills that gap just fine.

Zara x Willy Chavarria A film directed by Glen Luchford featuring Christy Turlington and Alberto Guerra.
@zara via Instagram

VATÍSIMO, a few dramatic minutes from Glen Luchford and Chavarria messing with Zara’s archives, basically means the ultimate vato. In case that’s new to you, vato is Chicano slang for your homies, your ride-or-die, the one you text at 2 AM to see if they’re down for tacos. Not sure about tortillas, but Alberto Guerra tags along with Turlington for the campaign. He also agrees to get tossed in a pool. But then again, I’d do it too in Chavarria, who actually arrived right on cue, making it easily the most satisfying scene of the campaign.

Zara x Willy Chavarria A film directed by Glen Luchford featuring Christy Turlington and Alberto Guerra.
@zara via Instagram

The two brands worked on everything. For clothing, picture floral blouses with padded shoulders, leather jackets following that bold shoulder philosophy, almost ten times cheaper than his original leather ruff riders. Slip and button-up dresses bear a rose or a little lace, while men’s suits and bottoms do their loose-but-structured, sometimes barrelled thing, still looking very much intentional. Brooches look like his favorite flowers, pumps stay round-toed, and bags lean a bit slouched-up. Zara just looks good in Chavarria.

Alix Earle’s Reale Actives Launch Is Making Acne Look Sexy

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Not to brag, but I went most of my life without a single pimple. I still remember the day I discovered moisturizer wasn’t optional, when I suddenly found myself sharing a roof with three girls and their aggressively pink make up pouches. Imagine my shock when the skincare-obsessed of the group (still my most trusted reviewer) pulled out an azelaic acid serum. Fast forward a couple of years later, and azelaic acid proudly sits on the very top of my 2 AM TikTok searches. Guess who had hormonal acne crash the party.

But before serums took over my for you page, Alix Earle did. Get ready with me, get unready with me, outfit of the night, and chit-chat videos made her early content. Then came the bare-faced selfies. And suddenly, she was basically unavoidable. Ten times bigger, almost overnight. Next up, “leaving the house with nothing but acne” challenges and brutally open convos about… literally everything. Skin, accutane, life, you name it. Years passed and that girl went mega, her face was everywhere. The Super Bowl, Dancing With The Stars, late night shows, magazines, billboards, red carpets, even giant puzzles on NYC walls. All part of peak marketing, especially the puzzles.

Alix Earle's Reale Actives Skincare Launch
@realeactives via Instagram

A few days before the official launch, the no-context account @wtfisalixdoing (which turned out to be @realeactives), had already hundreds of thousands of followers connecting dots and spiraling. Big white boxes started showing up at people’s doors. Inside, a cryptic note and a giant puzzle piece, sitting on a passcode-locked suitcase. Honestly, the tease was cinematic. But by March 25, the secret was finally out.

Alix Earle's Reale Actives Skincare Launch
@realeactives via Instagram

Earle had been working closely with Dr. Kiran Mian, who is no stranger to us, or her 8 million followers, on an acne-first skincare brand. The first four products go by the names of get bare, a melting cleansing balm that shaves out and weirdly reminds me of flowers, go deep, a mandelic acid serum you tap instead of squeeze, pore power, an exfoliating gel cleanser, and dew more, a barrier-boosting moisturizer. After Rhode, skincare packaging will never look the same. Earle admitted she was done with the very unsexy, pharma-style products everyone shoves behind closed bathroom doors.

Alix Earle's Reale Actives Skincare Launch
@realeactives via Instagram

“Hot and acne can be used in the same sentence,” she wrote on Instagram. Which, given the very bare campaign photos as much as the unedited ones, is a big part of the line’s message. Between all the digital tweaks and fake lighting, we’re starting to forget skin actually has… skin. Texture, imperfections, and, you know, parts. Who knew breakouts and marks look this good far away from concealer.