Looking to get the Vidmaster Title in Marathon for the flex? Introduced as a modern nod to the original Vidmaster challenges from Bungie’s classic Marathon trilogy, this title is easily one of the toughest unlocks in the game right now. Set within Cryo Archive, Marathon’s Vidmaster Title is basically a high-end completion badge that will push you through layered objectives and extraction routes in order to get through the punishing parts of the activity and finish its end-game run. So, if you’re looking to add it to your profile, here’s how to get the Vidmaster Title in Marathon.
Marathon: How to Get the Vidmaster Title and Complete Every Challenge
As part of the latest update in Marathon, Bungie has introduced the Vidmaster Title, which takes some of the hardest objectives in the game and places them inside Cryo Archive, ranging from combat and survival to contract-based objectives, where runs are longer, riskier, and far less forgiving.
To unlock the Vidmaster Title in Marathon, you’ll need to complete seven core challenges, followed by an eighth requirement that unlocks once the first seven are done. Here’s a look at every Vidmaster challenge in Marathon:
This is Dedication Syndrome – Complete all seven CyberAcme Cryo Archive limited contracts within a single weekend cycle
Welcome to the Stab Factory – Get 25 melee eliminations in one run without dying or extracting early
Carry Your Scars – Successfully exfil from Cryo Archive without using any healing items during the run
Jurisdictional Annihilation – Take down a UESC Warden using a grenade for the final blow
No Good Rooks – Eliminate 3 ROOK enemies in a single run
Drop 7 – Eliminate 7 enemy Runners in one Cryo Archive run before extracting
Master Class – Unlocks automatically once every other Vidmaster challenge is complete
[Redacted] – A hidden objective that becomes available after completing the rest
Each of these challenges will test a different part of your gameplay; although most of them can be completed with the right loadout and some patience. Moreover, the Cryo Archive contracts stack multiple objectives and many of these objectives also involve Vault access, so your runs will often come down to finding keys, opening Vaults, and working through their mechanics while other teams are also active in the same areas.
Completing each challenge will reward you with a high-rarity item, which includes everything from Vault Keys to Profile Background, Knife skin, Weapon Charm and even Weapon stickers. Once you’ve worked through the main set of challenges, you’ll need to complete one final hidden objective before the Title actually unlocks, though it hasn’t been fully confirmed yet. Take care of that last step, and the Vidmaster Title is yours, with nothing left to prove after that.
From that point on, anyone you take down in Marathon will know you’ve already made it through some of the toughest runs in the game. And that does it for our how to get the Vidmaster Title in Marathon guide. Good Luck out there!
When Etro hired Marco De Vincenzo back in 2022, it looked like a clean break. He was the first creative director outside the founding family, after all. A new chapter, a fresh point of view. Four years later, that chapter closes the way these things usually do, with a polite statement, and right on cue with a broader shift happening behind the scenes.
At Etro, De Vincenzo didn’t really change the formula. No reset, not even a proper shift, just a steady push in the same direction. Which is tricky when that direction goes all the way back to 1968. Prints stayed central, the styling got sharper, and the collections finally shed some of their nostalgia. His version of Etro fit the moment. It was modernized enough to be seen, yet not everyone watching reached for their wallets.
Before De Vincenzo, Etro was already limping, slow growth, post-COVID slump, a bit tired. When he came in, things spiked a little in 2022, then slid again over the next couple of years. Technically better than the worst years before him, but not by much. Nothing stabilized, nothing really grew. After 2021, the brand was sold to private equity (L Catterton). De Vincenzo came in under that new ownership, but the ride stayed bumpy. By 2025, the Etro family was completely out, leaving the company in the hands of investors still figuring out what the brand should be today.
How much past is a brand allowed to keep before it just becomes noise? A loud one too. Here’s hoping the next chapter answers that. And that Etro still feels like Etro once it finds its peace.
Skrillex has dropped a new single, the party-starting ‘Duro‘, a collaboration with Young Miko. It arrives a full year after the pair debuted it at Ultra Music Festival 2025. Check it out below.
Earlier this year, Skrillex released the EP Kora. It followed a prolific 2026, which included the release F*CK U SKRILLEX YOU THINK UR ANDY WARHOL BUT UR NOT!! <3.
The pricing plan for a software solution influences the way individuals and teams work. Most platforms provide payment structures that can flexibly cater to different needs and budgets. Lifetime and monthly payments are two very popular options, but people wonder which one is a better fit. Distinguishing between these plans provides every investor with the maximum value for their spend.
Overview of Payment Structures
When looking at the software providers, like SuiteDash, buyers are typically given a choice between two kinds of payments: either a lifetime payment (usually a one-off payment for lifetime access to specific software) or a monthly subscription for the supply of that software. Both methods have their unique advantages and drawbacks. Understanding how these SuiteDash pricing structures are built can help in making an informed choice.
Monthly Plan Benefits
Unlike the large up-front payments typical of in-house or on-premise solutions, monthly subscriptions allow users to pay as they go. Many people are fans of this setup, as it lowers the cost of admission. This allows you the flexibility to cancel the service if requirements change or if the software is not to your liking. It is also useful for budgeting since the smaller amounts are much easier to work into your normal expenses.
Lifetime Plan Advantages
One lifetime fee, and you can access it forever. This can be an appealing long-term option for an individual. A one-time program fee is required, but there are no downstream program charges to keep using the program. In time, this can amount to significant savings, particularly for individuals who intend to use the software for a few years. This model can ensure no repeat billing, so for organizations with stable requirements, they can forget about billing again and again.
Cost Comparison Over Time
The actual amount you will spend over decades shows a true difference between lifetime and monthly plans. You may look at those monthly payments and think they are manageable, but note that over time, they can add up quite a bit. A one-time purchase typically equals the cost of several years of monthly billing. Considering how long you expect to interact with the software will confirm which model brings you more value in the long run.
Commitment and Flexibility
The monthly subscription option is the most flexible because there is no long-term commitment. Users can assess the software and adapt as their situations change. However, a lifetime plan does imply continued use, so it is probably best suited to anyone who feels they have made the right choice. The combination of a lifetime option means initially taking on more risk in order to reap savings down the line.
Upgrades and Support Considerations
When choosing a pricing plan, take into account the type of ongoing support and updates offered. Although lifetime and monthly plans typically offer software updates, they may restrict priority or access to premium support features. It could be a good comfort for long-term users to know that their early investments are still paying off by having consistent updates and help
Budget Planning and Cash Flow
People or companies with low budgets paying monthly can help alleviate the financial burden. Repeat payments are a lot easier to slot into an operating budget than one big infrequent payment. On the other hand, the ones that have the resources available might prefer a lifetime plan to avoid constant payments and make accounting easier. Balancing these considerations helps ensure the payment structure aligns with financial priorities.
Who Should Choose Which Option?
Monthly subscriptions are ideal for those who favor flexibility, have unpredictable software requirements, or are considering utilizing the software. This enables users to get hands-on experience testing features to evaluate if the software is the right fit prior to making a heavy capital investment. For everyone else, lifetime payments are still a good idea if you are likely to use the software forever and want the costs to be predictable.
Final Thoughts
Choosing between lifetime and monthly pricing models will be based on a trade-off between flexibility, cost, and commitment. This can be decided by carefully evaluating certain personal or organizational needs. Both payment methods deliver unique advantages and are capable of achieving fantastic value with the right conditions. By analyzing usage expectations and financial considerations, users can make the right choice for their continuing needs.
Have you heard of the newest literary conspiracy? According to author Freddie deBoer, the onslaught of positive coverage surrounding Madeline Cash’s debut novel Lost Lambs is “a coordinated media campaign that has been, to some degree and in some way, orchestrated from above.” That The New York Times, New York Magazine, The Atlantic, LitHub, The Washington Post, and likely many other publications reviewed the book is all because “someone with connections and influence sweated their way to ensure that this rollout happened.”
That person is called a publicist, and Madeline Cash has quite the good one. But I empathize and agree with DeBoer in that there are, regardless of quality, some books that lap up all the attention and get awarded with constant coverage and interviews, leaving many others to the wayside. In her essay for The Walrus, Tajja Isen shows that even if a writer does everything correctly, publishing switch-ups or mishaps might still put them at a disadvantage to the buzzier and more popular books that are selected for mass consumption. They’re the ones that earn their spot in Vulture’s Approval Matrix, are more than briefly noted in The New Yorker, and sometimes appear on TV as part of a book club roundup. Cash accumulating all three is a lot of luck and a lot of hard work. So while there is a network of people writing and talking about Cash, they’ve been doing so for years, and it’s more than likely a result of natural waves of intrigue and word of mouth. This “conspiracy” really is just chatter.
Plus, I’d heard of Cash long before all of this, rifling through her short story collection, Earth Angel, when it was released on the indie publisher Clash, at a local store (I was in the middle of a self-imposed book spending embargo). And later, when I noticed her book deal, and later, when I saw the cover of the novel, or throughout the years seeing her literary magazine, Forever, which she runs with Anika Jade Levy, another writer whose novel got a lot of coverage, including in thesepages. So this explosion of hype around Lost Lambs hasn’t been out of nowhere, and it’s not as sinister as it’s made out to be.
Ironically, it couldn’t have happened to a better book. The Flynn family at Lost Lambs’s center revolves around a conspiracy in their town regarding Paul Alabaster, who the father, Bud, works for. One day on the family laptop, Harper—the youngest, a Stewie-like girl who learns languages in her spare time—notices some misplaced data points. Bud shrugs it off, but it turns into a catastrophe when he digs deeper at work and is thrust into a global plan that he’s suggested to knock off.
Reeling from his recently opened marriage and chastised at work, Bud enrolls in the Lost Lambs support group, where he sets his sight on Miss Winkle, the group’s administrator who complains about the church’s broken bells while not donating anything to the fundraisers. Catherine, whose relationship with her neighbor ends when she discovers his collection of clay vaginas stored in his basement, is more able to separate her emotions and make the best of their situation, pivoting to lesbianism.
But Lost Lambs centers the girls, who, like in most movies starring snarky and adventurous children, figure out the mystery. The lisping Louise chats with an online terrorist and is eventually put on the no-fly list for attempting to bring a bomb onto an airplane, and Harper starts dating a man working security at Alabaster’s mansion, who is dubbed “War Crimes Wes” as he won’t reveal what he saw in combat. And Harper, unstimulated and looking for something fulfilling, almost dies while trying to win Our Lady of Suffering’s Inner Beauty Pageant by holding her breath for as long as she can.
Cash is a natural and smart storyteller, and her Franzen-esque family novel unfolds with confidence and playfulness. There are puns and word tricks—owing to a gnat problem in the church’s basement, words like “donated” are retyped as “extermignated,” which, to me, never got old, even when cheeky business names like the bar “Olive Or Twist” were a little light)—but a genuine humor to conversations as she gets into the mind of this anxious, singular family. It feels like the narrative was always there, waiting for a talented writer to come along and imagine it. Believe the hype—or the conspiracy.
There are over 35,000 music venues operating every day across the country. And for most, the bar is the primary engine of survival. While ticket sales often barely cover the talent and lighting, the hospitality side of the house drives the actual profit margins.
Industry data shows that on average, music venue bars make $27,000 plus every month in revenue. Some high-volume spaces easily double that figure by perfecting their flow and inventory. Obviously crucial, effective service requires a delicate balance where drinks are superb, and the menu is curated for speed.
Throughput Math and Venue Flow
Managing a bar during a sold-out show is a game of seconds rather than minutes. Every moment a bartender spends searching for a bottle or waiting for a credit card processor to sync is lost revenue that never returns.
The pressure is even more intense at outdoor concert venues where weather and limited points of sale create massive bottlenecks. Staff must be trained to handle the “intermission crush” with military precision to ensure the line keeps moving.
Speed is key, the crowd is waiting, rapid service ensures maximum profit.
Engineering the High Volume Menu
A profitable menu at a music venue looks very different from a neighborhood craft cocktail bar. Speed of service dictates that every drink should be pourable in under thirty seconds to prevent fans from missing their favorite songs. Batch cocktails, limited menu choices, and simplified descriptions make this happen.
Many venues are also adopting RFID and NFC cashless payments because they can increase guest spending by up to 30% through sheer convenience. And by removing physical friction, these systems create a seamless environment where high-margin items are always just a second away.
High Output Production and Performance
Reliable equipment is the backbone of this efficiency, more so when it comes to temperature control and ice production. High output venues require machines that can keep up with the relentless demand for chilled soft drinks and mixed cocktails without breaks.
Many owners choose options like the Hoshizaki ice machines at Ice Machines Plus because they provide the consistent cube shapes and high volume capacity needed for heavy event rotation. When the house is packed, a failing ice maker is a direct threat to the night’s total receipts.
Essential Bar Components
Successful operations rely on a specific set of tools and layout choices to maintain their pace.
Ergonomic speed rails that keep high-volume spirits within arm’s reach
Draft systems with glycol cooling to prevent excessive foam and waste
Ample floor drainage to allow for rapid cleanup between sets
These physical elements ensure the staff stays focused on the customer rather than the infrastructure.
The Rise of Premium Experiences
Even in a high energy environment, customers are increasingly looking for quality over quantity. Modern trends suggest that theatrical ice and botanical garnishes are no longer reserved for quiet lounges as they now drive significant social media engagement for venues.
This “trading up” behavior allows bars to charge premium prices for specific signature serves. Watch the menu, quality drives value, premium ice creates a better drink.
Upselling Strategies
VIP sections and table service provide a massive boost to the average check size. By offering dedicated servers to high spenders, the main bar remains less crowded for the general admission fans.
Non-Alcoholic Innovation
The “sober curious” movement is a major factor in 2026 beverage planning. Offering high-end non-alcoholic spirits ensures that the 40% of younger attendees who do not drink alcohol still contribute to the bar’s bottom line.
Functional Beverage Integration
The types of drinks being consumed are shifting toward functional and experimental categories. Data from 2025 highlights that candy-flavored beers and functional beverages are seeing rapid growth among Gen Z audiences.
These products often come in cans, which is the gold standard for venue safety and disposal speed. Draft the list, the taste is changing, canned beverages offer the fastest service.
Sustainability and Ergonomic Layouts
Modern back bar design prioritizes the physical longevity of the staff and the ecological footprint of the venue. Reducing the number of steps a bartender takes to reach the garnish station or trash receptacle can shave critical seconds off every ticket.
Furthermore, integrating energy-efficient cooling and waste reduction systems appeals to the values of younger concertgoers. To implement these changes, venue owners put in place several specific hardware and design choices.
Strategic placement of high-speed glass washers to reduce single-use plastic waste
Height-adjusted work surfaces to minimize repetitive strain injuries for staff
Motion sensor LED lighting in storage areas to cut utility overhead costs
Maximizing Every Intermission
Staffing levels must be adjusted dynamically based on the specific genre of the performing artist. A folk concert might require more wine and seated service, while an electronic dance music event demands a massive stock of water and energy drinks.
Careful consideration of these variables during event planning allows the management to reduce labor waste while maximizing sales.
Leveraged Partnerships and Brand Deals
Strategic alliances with beverage brands can subsidize the high costs of venue maintenance while providing unique activations for fans. These deals often involve exclusive pouring rights or co-branded bar areas that turn standard service points into immersive marketing hubs.
For example, a tequila brand might sponsor a dedicated “margarita patio” with specialized signage and custom glassware. Such an arrangement provides the venue with guaranteed marketing dollars and a higher perceived value for the ticket holders.
Sustaining the Venue Ecosystem
The bar is the heartbeat of the live music experience. When the drinks flow quickly and the quality remains high, the audience stays longer and spends more.
Professional operators treat their beverage program as a disciplined science of logistics and hospitality. You can find more deep dives into operational efficiency by browsing through our recent posts.
Around 9,500 musicians make a living from their art, and many are lucky enough to tour globally. Each faces a unique set of logistical hurdles that can drain even the most seasoned performer.
Maintaining peak energy levels across multiple time zones is not a matter of luck, but a result of rigorous planning and the elimination of travel friction. When your office changes cities every twenty-four hours, the environment you inhabit between shows becomes your most valuable asset.
The transition from a high-adrenaline stage performance to a cramped airplane seat is a recipe for physical burnout. Artists who prioritize their recovery often find that the “tour flu” is avoidable through intentional environmental control. This involves more than just a neck pillow. It requires a commitment to hydration and light management to reset the internal clock.
Mastering The Science Of Onboard Recovery
Deep sleep is the only way to sustain a heavy international schedule without becoming totally exhausted. The cabin of a commercial airliner is rarely conducive to the REM cycles needed for cognitive function and vocal recovery. To combat this, elite performers curate a sleep kit that mimics their home environment as closely as possible.
Quality rest matters, your body needs it, and recovery is the true secret weapon. Using light-blocking accessories and high-fidelity earplugs creates a sensory vacuum that allows the brain to disengage from the hum of the engines. Consistency in these habits ensures that the artist arrives at the venue ready to work rather than desperate for a nap.
Managing the movement of delicate instruments adds another layer of complexity to the itinerary. Whether shipping a vintage synth or a custom drum kit, the risks of damage or loss are ever-present. Many professional crews now utilize ATA Carnet documents for customs to ensure that gear moves across borders without expensive delays or unexpected taxes.
Digital tracking tags inside every road case for real-time location updates
Hard-shell flight cases with custom-molded foam interiors for impact resistance
Redundant cables and power converters packed in carry-on luggage for emergencies
A single missing piece of equipment can derail an entire production. Establishing a standardized checklist for every departure prevents the “forgotten pedal” syndrome that plagues amateur tours. This level of organization allows the artist to focus entirely on the creative aspects of the show.
Enhancing Efficiency Through Private Aviation
Time is the most expensive commodity on a world tour. Spending four hours in a security line for a forty five minute flight is an inefficient use of a performer’s energy. Private charters allow for “ramp-side” departures, meaning the artist can leave the venue and be in the air within thirty minutes of the final encore.
For many high-growth acts, gaining more info about Jettly, a well-known platform for on-demand private aviation, reveals how private travel allows access to secondary markets that commercial airlines often overlook. This capability allows for more dates in a shorter window, maximizing the tour’s revenue while minimizing the days spent away from home.
Speed is vital, schedules are tight, and private travel provides the winning edge. By bypassing the traditional airport experience, the crew avoids the germ-heavy environments of crowded terminals, significantly reducing the risk of illness. This is not about luxury, it is about maintaining the integrity of the tour’s schedule.
The mental load of navigating foreign transit systems can be just as taxing as the physical travel itself. When an artist is focused on logistics, their stage presence inevitably suffers. Outsourcing the movement of people and equipment to specialized coordinators ensures that the talent stays in the “performer” mindset.
Protecting Your Mental Health On The Road
The isolation of the road is a documented challenge for creative professionals. Staying connected with a support system through scheduled video calls helps ground an artist when the geography keeps shifting. It is easy to lose track of time and self-care when every day follows the same pattern of soundcheck, show, and travel.
Current data suggest that mental health workshops and resilience training are becoming standard requirements for businesses across every industry, and this certainly applies to major-label tour support. These resources provide artists with the tools to manage the unique stressors of public life. Simple routines, such as a morning walk in a new city or a specific pre-show breathing exercise, provide a sense of stability.
Focus on breath, keep the rhythm, and remember that a quiet mind produces the best work. Without these anchors, the repetitive nature of touring can lead to detachment. A healthy artist is a productive artist, and a productive artist is one who can sustain a career for decades rather than just a few seasons.
Sustaining Long Term Professional Momentum
Success on the road is built on the foundation of small, repeatable wins in your daily routine. By taking control of how you sleep, how you move your gear, and how you value your time, you transform a grueling tour into a sustainable professional journey. Every decision should serve the goal of keeping the artist fresh for the moment the lights go up.
To further refine your approach to life as a professional artist, no matter your specialism, stick around, as we’ve got content to educate and inform you, and even help your career go from strength to strength.
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, March 26, 2026.
Paul McCartney – ‘Days We Left Behind’
Paul McCartney is releasing a new album that’s billed as an autobiographical account of his childhood in post-war Liverpool. The Boys of Dungeon Lane is led by ‘Days We Left Behind’, an acoustic tune that’s as nostalgic as you might expect. “This is very much a memory song for me,” he explained. “The album title, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, comes from a lyric in this track. I was thinking just that, about the days I left behind and I do often wonder if I’m just writing about the past but then I think how can you write about anything else? It’s just a lot of memories of Liverpool. It involves a bit in the middle about John and Forthlin Road which is the street I used to live in. Dungeon Lane is near there. I used to live in a place called Speke which is quite working class. We didn’t have much at all but it didn’t matter because all the people were great and you didn’t notice you didn’t have much.”
Jessie Ware – ‘Automatic’
Step into the world of Jessie Ware’s upcoming album Superbloom with its latest single, ‘Automatic’. It opens with a spoken word cameo from actor Colman Domingo, who says, “Do you know what you’ve got? You’ve got a perfect woman.” In a statement about the track, Ware said: “’Automatic’ was the first song where I really felt like I was bringing the dance and soul world together for this album. I wrote it with Kamille, Karma Kid and Baz. Karma had this amazing sample and groove, and it all clicked instantly. Kamille and I couldn’t stop writing; it just flowed really naturally. That’s probably what I love most about it, it feels effortless and like it can exist in any setting.” She continued:
It’s a celebration of romance and connection. I was actually the voice at the beginning at first, but I wanted someone sexier and smoother and I knew Colman Domingo was the man for the job! He comes in as this ‘voice of the love gods.’
I remember being in a strings session for the album when I had the idea to ask him, and he said yes straight away. I gave him the script and he voice noted it back within the hour! I feel really lucky to have friends who are up for indulging my ideas.
The Saddest Landscape – ‘The Invisible Hurt’ [feat. Julien Baker]
Julien Baker used to do quite a few guest features on post-hardcore tracks, including by The Armed and Touché Amoré. Although boygenius has only brought her more fame, she keeps doing that sort of thing, which rules. Today, she appears on the new single by Boston post-hardcore outfit the Saddest Landscape, ‘The Invisible Hurt’. Her voice isn’t buried in the background, which isn’t to say the seven-minute track isn’t frenetic: that buildup is incredible. “When I was growing up in Memphis, the bands I watched at house shows were referencing TSL albums,” Baker shared. “I remember listening to ‘You Will Not Survive’ and hearing a familiar beautiful voice singing among the screaming, so I looked in the liner notes and saw it was Laura Stevenson (who I loved) doing guest vocals . I was playing shows with a bunch of dudes in heavy bands, I really connected to the music but I hadn’t yet seen a lot of examples of someone with my voice integrated into that style.
“I was so elated. To see this aggressive band collaborating with someone with such a different sound, it set a precedent for me. When the band reached out I was so excited to be on the song, it felt very cyclical. I also felt very encouraged by them. I’ve definitely felt that there are certain qualities of performance that people expect from me as a musician, which is fine – one of those though is a certain emotionality or formal prettiness or something. Andy and I talked before recording about how to approach the song and when I offered wanting to explore a deliberately uglier more aggressive vocal performance they were excited and really affirming.”
girl_irl & Danny Brown – ‘Magic’
Danny Brown’s latest album, Stardust, was largely inspired by hyperpop. But the rapper’s fixation with the genre doesn’t stop there; today, he’s shared a collaboration with a pretty underground artist who goes by girl_irl. It’s called ‘Music’, and I suggest pairing it with Danny Brown collaborator underscores’ recent single of the same name.
Rare DM – ‘Compliment’
Rare DM has announced a new album, Attention, which comes out on May 29. Along with the news, she’s shared the party-starting electroclash tune ‘Compliment’, along with a Lisa Saeboe-directed clip. “‘Compliment’ started with writing lyrics with my Juno 60, using twisting bouncy arpeggiators and chopping up my original vocals into rhythmic stabs,” Erin Hoagg recalled. “It is inspired by when you are in a relationship and someone who you had eyes for (before meeting your s/o) suddenly pays attention to you. I was sent a suggestive message from someone and wasn’t single anymore. As the lyrics share: “don’t you worry about it for a second, I can take a compliment” because hey, I don’t want them to feel embarrassed or bad, they didn’t know that I met someone! This all being said… I can’t control if they are thinking of me. “You can’t have it… but you can imagine it.”
Tim Kasher’s home phone – ‘The Dying Animal’ and ‘The Collapse’
Tim Kasher (Cursive, The Good Life) is readying a new album as Tim Kasher’s home phone. He conceptualized and wrote Sponges of Experience, arriving May 22 via Born Losers, in a single four-day weekend, inspired by something he heard Elvis Costello say on a talk show. Two songs from it, the deceptively upbeat opener ‘The Dying Animal’ and the more wistful ‘The Collapse’, are out now. “This funny little trifle of a weekend project wound up meaning a lot to me,” Kasher remarked. “I love music and songwriting in a way I don’t think I’ll ever quite be able to explain, though I’m sure I’ll continue to try, and will continue to express this adoration for the rest of my days. I feel so incredibly thankful for being a songwriter, and I encourage all of you to become songwriters as well. They don’t gotta be good songs, it’s enough that they’re simply yours.”
Hold My Own – ‘Negative Shit’ [feat. Fatal Realm’s Mike Shaw]
Hardcore outfit Hold My Own have announced their debut LP, Pay No Mind – out April 17 – with the stomping, anthemic lead single ‘Negative Shit’. It features guest vocals and a guitar solo from Fatal Realm leader/Mindforce guitarist Mike Shaw.
Poison Ruïn – ‘Guts (Lay Yourself Aside)’
Poison Ruïn are releasing their new album, Hymn From the Hills, next week, and today they’ve shared the gruelling new cut ‘Guts (Lay Yourself Aside)’. It finds songwriter Mac Kennedy warning “against falling into the paralysis of false moral purity and petty fantasies of self-preservation,” per a press release.
Namasenda – ‘Bad Love’
Swedish dance-pop artist has teased her forthcoming debut album, Limbo, with a new song called ‘Bad Love’. Following earlier cuts ‘Cola’ and ‘Miami Crest’, it’s only 95 seconds long, but it gets the point across pretty infectiously.
Whether you’re planning a post-brunch activity with friends or taking yourself out on a solo date, painting pottery is a delightful way to spend an afternoon. It’s creative and calming, but just structured enough to let you switch off for a while. The only problem is turning up and realising… You have no idea what to paint. Here are ten charming designs to reach for next time you need a little inspiration.
1. Polka dots
If you’ve spent any time on ceramics Instagram lately, you’ll notice that polka dots aren’t going anywhere! From neat spots to looser, painterly versions that embrace imperfection, the key is that this pattern is simple, repeatable and forgiving for first-time painters.
Bright and cheerful, oranges are a go-to motif for a reason. Their lively colour and simple shape make them easy to paint, while still producing an eye-catching effect.
Minimal and endlessly versatile, stripes are a great way to ease into pottery painting. Experiment with spacing, colour combinations or uneven lines for something that feels modern.
Botanical ceramics are refreshing to paint and even better to live with. From delicate ferns to kaffir lime leaves or winding grapevines, there’s no shortage of leaf styles to choose from.
Whether you go for repeated tiny outlines or attempt a portrait of your own pet, dogs make for a sweet and personal design. Slightly wonky results only add to the whimsy.
A juicy design that feels especially fitting in the lead-up to summer. Try painting a bowl with ombré greens on the outside and a vibrant red interior dotted with black seeds for a playful effect.
Koi fish symbolise courage, resilience and good fortune. What beautiful sentiment to bring into the home! Their flowing shapes also lend themselves to more expressive, fluid painting styles.
There’s a reason the black and white combination remains timelessly iconic. On ceramics, it feels sharp and playful, perfect for adding a graphic, slightly retro edge to your kitchen shelves.
Paul McCartney has announced a new album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, which is due for release on May 29 via MPL/Capitol. It’s led by the nostalgic ‘Days We Left Behind’, which you can hear below.
McCartney worked on the album, his first since 2020’s McCartney III, with producer Andrew Watt. According to a press release, it’s as an autobiographical record that grapples with his childhood in post-war Liverpool.
“This is very much a memory song for me,” McCartney said of ‘Days we Left Behind’. “The album title, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, comes from a lyric in this track. I was thinking just that, about the days I left behind and I do often wonder if I’m just writing about the past but then I think how can you write about anything else? It’s just a lot of memories of Liverpool. It involves a bit in the middle about John and Forthlin Road which is the street I used to live in. Dungeon Lane is near there. I used to live in a place called Speke which is quite working class. We didn’t have much at all but it didn’t matter because all the people were great and you didn’t notice you didn’t have much.”
The Boys of Dungeon Lane Cover Artwork:
The Boys of Dungeon Lane Tracklist:
1. As You Lie There
2. Lost Horizon
3. Days We Left Behind
4. Ripples in a Pond
5. Mountain Top
6. Down South
7. We Two
8. Come Inside
9. Never Know
10. Home to Us
11. Life Can Be Hard
12. First Star of the Night
13. Salesman Saint
14. Momma Gets By
