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Top Eco-Friendly Brands to Watch in 2025: Sustainable Choices for a Greener Future

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Top Eco-Friendly Brands to Watch in 2025: Sustainable Choices for a Greener Future

As the push for sustainable living gains momentum, more consumers are turning to eco-friendly brands that reflect their values. In 2024, the spotlight is on companies that prioritize the environment through sustainable practices, ethically sourced materials, and low-waste packaging. From home essentials crafted with organic materials to everyday products designed with minimal environmental impact, these brands are paving the way for a greener future.

This roundup explores some of the top eco-conscious companies leading the charge in creating products that are not only good for the planet but also deliver high quality and style. Whether you’re looking to make more sustainable choices in your home, beauty routine, or lifestyle, these brands offer an inspiring glimpse into how eco-friendly products can seamlessly fit into everyday life.

1. Tofino Soap Company

Description:

Based in Tofino, British Columbia, Tofino Soap Company creates handcrafted, natural skincare products that reflect the purity of the West Coast. The brand uses ethically sourced, organic ingredients free from synthetic chemicals to produce environmentally gentle skincare items.

Features:

  • Eco-friendly, reusable, and recyclable packaging.
  • Natural ingredients, including sustainably sourced local botanicals.
  • Cruelty-free and free from artificial fragrances and dyes.
  • Small-batch production to maintain quality and reduce waste.
  • Active supporter of local environmental conservation initiatives.

Why Consider It:
Tofino Soap Company offers thoughtfully crafted, nature-inspired skincare products, allowing consumers to enjoy luxurious self-care with a minimal environmental impact.

2. Friendly Turtle

Description:

Friendly Turtle is a UK-based eco-conscious online store offering over 1,700 sustainable, zero-waste, and ethical products. The company is committed to helping consumers make environmentally friendly choices in everyday life, from personal care to home essentials.

Features:

  1. Wide range of plastic-free and biodegradable products.
  2. Cruelty-free skincare and beauty items.
  3. Zero-waste household cleaning products.
  4. Reusable items like coffee cups, water bottles, and lunch boxes.
  5. Ethical, plastic-free packaging for all orders.

Why Consider It:

Friendly Turtle provides a vast selection of eco-friendly products, making sustainable living convenient and accessible for consumers looking to reduce their environmental footprint.

3. Delilah Home

Description:

Delilah Home offers luxurious, sustainable bedding and bath products made from organic cotton and hemp. Inspired by a rescued golden retriever, the company is dedicated to producing eco-friendly linens that are safe for people with allergies and sensitive skin.

Features:

  1. Organic cotton and hemp bed sheets.
  2. 100% vegan certified products.
  3. Hypoallergenic and toxin-free materials.
  4. Recycled materials used for Drytek sports towels.
  5. Eco-friendly packaging and shipping.

Why Consider It:

Delilah Home provides eco-conscious consumers with high-quality, sustainable products, ensuring comfort, health, and a positive environmental impact.

  1. Green Eco Dream

Description:

Green Eco Dream is an online marketplace dedicated to offering eco-friendly and sustainable products across various categories, including health and beauty, home goods, and on-the-go essentials. Their mission is to provide effective alternatives that help reduce waste and promote environmental responsibility.

Features:

  1. Eco-Friendly Skincare Solutions: Their skincare collection includes products like the Activist Skincare Sea to Skin Cleansing Gel, formulated with natural ingredients to promote healthy skin while minimizing environmental impact.
  2. Reusable Kitchen Essentials: Green Eco Dream offers items such as bamboo bottle brushes and soap dishes, designed to replace single-use plastics in the kitchen.
  3. Sustainable Backpacks: The marketplace features backpacks made from organic cotton and recycled materials, suitable for work, school, or travel, promoting sustainable fashion choices.
  4. Natural Hair Care Products: They provide hair care options like the HiBAR Shampoo & Conditioner Set, which are free from harmful chemicals and packaged without plastic, aligning with eco-conscious beauty routines.
  5. Zero-Waste Food Storage: Green Eco Dream offers reusable food wraps and storage containers, aiming to eliminate the need for single-use plastics in food storage.

Why Consider Green Eco Dream:

  • Sustainability Commitment: All products are consciously curated, ethically produced, and sourced, ensuring they meet high environmental standards.
  • Wide Variety: With a range of products across multiple categories, Green Eco Dream serves as a one-stop shop for sustainable living needs.
  • Support for Ethical Brands: The marketplace collaborates with brands that share their values, promoting fair trade and environmentally friendly practices.

Transparent Values: The company openly shares its mission and background, building trust with customers who are committed to sustainability.

5. Battle Green

Description:

Battle Green is a small, UK-based business founded by Dave and Lucy in 2018, located in Eryri, North Wales. The company specializes in handmade vegan cosmetics, sustainable packaging, and plastic-free products designed for eco-conscious living. Motivated by the growing concerns around plastic waste and environmental harm, Battle Green offers eco-friendly alternatives to everyday items, from personal care products to home essentials, to help reduce waste and plastic consumption.

Features:

  1. Handmade & Vegan: Battle Green’s cosmetics and personal care products are handcrafted with vegan ingredients, ensuring no animal-derived materials or animal testing.
  2. Sustainable Packaging: All products come in sustainable, plastic-free packaging, reducing environmental impact and promoting zero-waste living.
  3. Eco-Friendly Alternatives: The brand offers a variety of everyday products designed to replace single-use plastics, from toiletries to reusable home goods.
  4. Award-Winning Products: Battle Green’s products have been recognized for their quality and eco-conscious design, garnering awards in sustainability.
  5. Carbon neutral and plastic free shipping: Battle Green ensures that its shipping process is both carbon neutral and plastic-free, offsetting carbon emissions and using only sustainable, recyclable packaging materials to minimize environmental impact.

Why Consider It:

For those looking to reduce their environmental impact, Battle Green offers high-quality, sustainable alternatives that make it easier to transition to a more eco-conscious lifestyle. By supporting a small business with a deep commitment to sustainability, consumers can actively contribute to a more waste-free world while enjoying effective, ethical products. Whether you’re aiming to minimize plastic use or simply looking for eco-friendly options, Battle Green provides solutions that align with your values and support the protection of our planet.

Conclusion

 The eco-friendly options available in 2024 provide a range of sustainable products that cater to different aspects of everyday life, from home essentials to personal care and bedding. With a focus on biodegradable materials, zero-waste packaging, and cruelty-free certifications, these brands aim to reduce environmental impact without sacrificing quality or comfort. Choosing eco-conscious alternatives not only benefits the planet but also promotes healthier living, making it easier for individuals to incorporate sustainable practices into their daily routines.

6. Gravotonics

Description:

Gravotonics, established in 2003 in Bali, Indonesia, is a family-owned business specializing in the production of high-quality yoga swings and aerial fitness equipment. Their products are handcrafted by skilled artisans, ensuring durability and comfort for users worldwide.

Features:

  • Premium Materials: Constructed from high-quality nylon parachute fabric, providing strength and breathability.
  • Handcrafted Quality: Each product is meticulously handmade in Bali by experienced craftsmen.
  • Adjustable Design: Features multiple handles and adjustable configurations to accommodate various yoga styles and fitness levels.
  • Lightweight and Portable: Designed for easy setup and transport, suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
  • Safety Certified: Holds the Indonesian Industrial Design Certificate, ensuring adherence to high safety and quality standards.

Why Consider It: Gravotonics offers yoga practitioners and fitness enthusiasts durable, versatile, and ethically made aerial yoga equipment. Their commitment to quality craftsmanship and sustainability makes their products a valuable addition to any wellness routine.

7. RenewSkin Co

Description:

RenewSkin Co, formerly known as Taut, is a premium luxury skincare brand specializing in anti-aging and beauty supplements. Established in 2006, the company is renowned for its innovative collagen-based products that enhance skin health and radiance. RenewSkin Co prioritizes a scientific approach to skincare, focusing on transformative solutions for long-lasting results.

Key Features:

  1. High-Dose Marine Collagen: The flagship Taut® Premium Collagen Drink delivers 13,000 mg of marine collagen peptides per serving, designed to improve skin elasticity and reduce wrinkles.
  2. Natural Ingredients: The formulations include skin-nourishing ingredients like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and grape seed extract.
  3. Comprehensive Skincare Programs: Offers curated programs that combine topical and ingestible products for holistic skin rejuvenation.
  4. Dermatologist-Tested: Products are rigorously tested to ensure efficacy and suitability for sensitive skin types.
  5. Eco-Friendly Initiatives: RenewSkin Co uses sustainable sourcing for its marine collagen and eco-conscious packaging, aligning with environmentally responsible practices.

Why Consider RenewSkin Co:

RenewSkin Co combines cutting-edge science with luxury to deliver effective anti-aging solutions. Their products are crafted for those seeking radiant, youthful skin through natural, high-quality ingredients and eco-conscious choices. Whether you’re new to skincare or looking to elevate your routine, RenewSkin Co offers a trusted solution backed by decades of expertise.

  1. Kapow Meggings

Description:

Kapow Meggings is an independent brand known for its bold and colorful leggings. Beyond standout designs, the company is firmly committed to ethical production and managing its environmental impact. By keeping a small supply chain and making yearly visits to all partner factories, Kapow ensures safe working environments, fair wages, and compliance with labor laws. Their approach centers on transparency, recycled materials, and minimizing waste.

Key Features:

  • Ethical Production: Kapow’s small supply chain allows for close oversight. They visit partner factories annually to confirm fair pay, no child labor, and safe working conditions, in line with legal regulations.
  • GRS Certification: Every manufacturer Kapow works with is Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certified. This ensures that the materials used are genuinely recycled and that social, environmental, and chemical standards are met.
  • Recycled & Recyclable Packaging:Kapow uses packaging made from recycled materials that can be recycled again, reducing overall waste. Their postcards and inserts use Forest Stewardship Council-certified, 100% recycled paper.
  • Recycled Fabrics: The ECO Range is made from post-consumer plastic—like PET bottles, fishing nets, and ring pulls—converted into durable, lightweight yarn. This process also uses less energy than producing virgin polyester.
  • Third-Party Testing: All product ranges undergo independent third-party testing to ensure they meet global standards for safety and quality.

Why Consider Kapow Meggings

Kapow proves that style and sustainability can coexist. Whether you’re looking for eye-catching activewear or statement fashion pieces, Kapow Meggings offers a planet-friendly option without sacrificing performance or flair.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

  • What makes a product eco-friendly?

 Eco-friendly products are made from sustainable, biodegradable, or recycled materials, using ethical practices that reduce environmental impact, such as minimizing waste, water use, and carbon emissions.

  • How can eco-friendly brands help reduce plastic waste? 

Many eco-friendly brands offer reusable or biodegradable alternatives to single-use plastics, such as kitchenware, personal care items, and packaging, reducing reliance on plastic products.

  • Are eco-friendly products as durable as traditional ones? 

Yes, many sustainable products are designed to be long-lasting, using high-quality, durable materials like organic cotton, hemp, or stainless steel, ensuring longevity while reducing waste.

  • What certifications should I look for when choosing eco-friendly brands?

 Look for certifications such as Fair Trade, B Corp, USDA Organic, and Vegan Certified, which ensure products meet specific environmental and ethical standards.

  • Why should I consider switching to eco-friendly products? 

Switching to eco-friendly products helps reduce your carbon footprint, supports ethical manufacturing, and promotes a healthier lifestyle by avoiding harmful chemicals commonly found in conventional products.

Top Grooming Habits Every Man Should Adopt for a Confident Look

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Top Grooming Habits Every Man Should Adopt for a Confident Look

Whether you’re heading to a business meeting or a casual outing, maintaining proper grooming habits is essential for every man. From skincare routines to choosing the right fragrance, here are the top grooming habits every man should adopt for a confident look.

The Importance of Fragrance

A signature scent is a subtle yet powerful element of personal grooming. The right fragrance not only pleases the senses but also leaves a lasting impression. When selecting a fragrance, consider options that resonate with your personality and suit different occasions. One refined choice is the Christian Dior aftershave, known for its sophistication and long-lasting appeal. A well-chosen fragrance can boost your confidence and ensure you leave a mark wherever you go.

Skincare: The Foundation of Grooming

A good grooming routine starts with skincare. Healthy skin is the canvas on which the rest of your grooming efforts are built. Begin by identifying your skin type – oily, dry, sensitive, or combination – as this will influence the products you choose. A basic skincare routine should include cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing.

Cleansing your face twice a day helps remove dirt, oil, and impurities, preventing breakouts and keeping your skin fresh. Exfoliating two to three times a week removes dead skin cells, revealing a smoother complexion. It’s crucial to use a suitable moisturizer daily to keep your skin hydrated and protected from environmental pollutants. Additionally, applying sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every morning shields your skin from harmful UV rays, preventing premature aging and skin damage.

Hair Care: More than Just a Style

Your hair is an extension of your personality, and caring for it goes beyond merely choosing a stylish haircut. Regular washing is essential, using a shampoo and conditioner suitable for your hair type. For those with longer hair, incorporating a deep conditioning treatment once a week can help maintain moisture and manageability. 

Styling products like gels, pomades, or waxes can add texture and hold, but it’s important not to overuse them to prevent buildup and damage. Remember to invest in a quality haircut from a professional barber who understands your hair type and can suggest styles that complement your facial features.

Grooming Your Beard and Mustache

Facial hair requires regular maintenance to keep it looking its best. Whether you prefer a clean-shaven look or a full beard, it’s crucial to keep it neat and well-groomed. Trimming your beard regularly helps maintain its shape and prevent split ends. Use a beard oil or balm to keep your facial hair soft and hydrate the skin underneath, reducing itchiness and flakiness.

For those who prefer to shave, using a high-quality razor and shaving cream can protect your skin from irritation and razor burns. Consider investing in a post-shave balm to soothe your skin and minimize redness.

Nail Care: Don’t Overlook the Details

Neglecting your nails can undermine an otherwise polished look. Keep your nails clean and neatly trimmed, filing any rough edges to prevent snagging. Regularly moisturizing your hands and cuticles keeps them looking healthy and prevents dryness or cracking. A quick weekly manicure, whether at home or professionally, can make a significant difference.

Oral Hygiene for a Winning Smile

A radiant smile can work wonders for your confidence and overall appearance. Brush your teeth at least twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste, and don’t forget to floss daily to remove plaque and food particles. Regular dental check-ups help maintain oral health and address any issues promptly. Consider incorporating mouthwash into your routine for extra freshness and using whitening products if necessary to enhance your smile.

Personal Grooming Tools

Investing in quality grooming tools can elevate your routine and ensure effective care. A good set of clippers, scissors, and combs allows you to maintain your hair and facial hair with precision. Additionally, an electric toothbrush, a high-quality razor, and a reliable skincare kit can streamline your grooming process and deliver professional-level results at home.

Conclusion

Adopting these grooming habits can transform not just your appearance, but also the way you feel about yourself. When you invest time and effort into maintaining your look, it shows in the confidence you exude. Remember, grooming is not just about vanity; it’s about embracing a lifestyle that reflects who you are. So, take charge of your grooming routine and step out with a confident look that leaves a lasting impression.

A Journey Through Objects and Origins: Xinrui Qiu’s Identity Formation

Abbie Wilson
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A Journey Through Objects and Origins: Xinrui Qiu’s Identity Formation

Xinrui Qiu’s artistic practice is a striking reflection on the complexities of identity, both personal and collective. Her work gracefully oscillates between the deeply personal and broader societal themes, often inviting viewers into a space that feels simultaneously intimate and expansive. With an MA in Photography: The Image and Electronic Arts from Goldsmiths, University of London, and a diverse exhibition history that spans the globe, Qiu’s creations are enriched by her academic background and cultural experiences. In her pieces “Nowhere But Home” and “I Thought You Would Like It,” Qiu examines universal questions of belonging and self-conception, yet through vastly different approaches: one, a meditative reflection on cultural displacement, the other, an exploration of the seemingly lighthearted but profound act of gift-giving. In both, she pushes the audience to look deeper, encouraging a more nuanced engagement with the intricate layers of identity.

Nowhere But Home (2023, ongoing, Analogue Photography)

In “Nowhere But Home,” Qiu delves into the unsettled feelings and complexities that come with a diasporic identity, with a particular focus on young Chinese individuals who find themselves alienated both at home and abroad. As political and social conditions in China grow more restrictive, many young people are compelled to seek new opportunities overseas. Yet, as Qiu powerfully conveys, even in foreign lands, these individuals often find themselves in a state of in-betweenness—unable to fully integrate into their new surroundings, while simultaneously feeling distanced from the cultural and emotional ties of their homeland.

Her use of analogue photography serves as more than just a stylistic choice; it adds a sense of timelessness and fragility, enhancing the emotional depth of the work. The soft tones and muted colors of the photographs mirror the existential struggles many in the diaspora face as they attempt to reconcile their identities across different cultural landscapes. The title “Nowhere But Home” is a poignant paradox—suggesting both the impossibility of finding a true home and the unshakeable pull of one’s roots.

What makes this work particularly compelling is its quiet yet profound examination of the emotional weight of displacement. Qiu’s ability to structure and explore this paradoxical space allows her to offer a deeply personal reflection on her own experience of diaspora. At the same time, she invites viewers to consider the broader human experience of belonging, alienation, and the universal search for identity—a theme that resonates even more strongly in today’s increasingly globalized world.

I Thought You Would Like It (2022)

“I Thought You Would Like It” takes a markedly different approach to the theme of identity, with Qiu focusing on the ways personal relationships and material objects shape our sense of self. The work, a concertina book format, is itself a playful nod to the unfolding and evolving nature of identity. Inside, Qiu juxtaposes images of birthday gifts she received from friends alongside handwritten notes and wishes, each offering a glimpse into how her friends perceive her.

The title hints at the subtle assumptions embedded in the act of gift-giving—we project our interpretations of someone onto the items we choose for them. It’s a simple act on the surface, but Qiu reveals a more intricate dynamic: each gift reflects not only the giver’s understanding of Qiu, but also how she may have shaped those perceptions, whether intentionally or not. This interplay between self-presentation and external perception lies at the heart of the piece, as it challenges viewers to think about the fluid nature of identity and how it is constantly molded by others’ views.

Though personal in tone, “I Thought You Would Like It” also speaks to larger social dynamics, particularly the ways materialism and consumer culture influence our relationships and self-image. Qiu’s inclusion of poetic and, at times, absurd phrases such as “Having sex with yourself is the very first step to fuck the world” adds a layer of humor and irreverence. These phrases offer a counterbalance to the more intimate elements of the work, encouraging viewers to reflect on the contradictions of human connection and the often bizarre ways we try to make sense of ourselves and others.

The combination of text and image creates a layered experience for the viewer, drawing them into an intimate yet playful space where material objects become metaphors for deeper social dynamics. The concertina format itself reflects the unfolding nature of identity, with each page revealing new dimensions of how we see ourselves and are seen by others.

Xinrui Qiu’s work masterfully navigates the themes of identity, belonging, and perception, exploring these concepts through very different yet interconnected lenses. Both “Nowhere But Home” and “I Thought You Would Like It” ask viewers to reflect on their own experiences of identity—whether it’s through the lens of cultural displacement or personal connections. With her thoughtful use of analogue photography and the innovative concertina book format, Qiu invites the audience into a conversation that feels both deeply personal and universally relevant. Her ability to weave together the personal and the collective is what makes her work not only insightful but also profoundly relatable.

R.E.M., MJ Lenderman, Sharon Van Etten, and More Contribute to 135-Track Western North Carolina Benefit Comp

Konstantinos Pappis
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R.E.M., MJ Lenderman, Sharon Van Etten, and More Contribute to 135-Track Western North Carolina Benefit Comp

R.E.M., Sharon Van Etten, MJ Lenderman, the War on Drugs, Angel Olsen, Feist, Wye Ok, Waxahatchee, and more than 100 other artists contributed unreleased songs and live recordings to a new compilation called Cardinals at the Window. The download-only collection benefits victims of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, with proceeds going directly to three organizations doing relief work in the communities most impacted by the natural disaster: Rural Organizing and Resilience, BeLoved Asheville, and the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. Buy the compilation here, and find the full tracklist below.

Cardinals at the Window was compiled by musician and community organizer Libby Rodenbough, New Commute founder David Walker, and music journalist Grayson Haver Currin, with help from Shirlette Ammons, Martin Anderson, Anna Morris, Cory Rayborn, and Rusty Sutton. Sylvan Esso’s Nick Sanborn and Asheville native Clay Blair offered free audio engineering work.

Other artists on the compilations include Jeff Tweedy, Hotline TNT, Karly Hartzman, Phish, the Mountain Goats, Lonnie Holley, Fleet Foxes, Indigo De Souza, H.C. McEntire, Kevin Morby, Little Brother, the Hold Steady, Tim Heidecker, Archers Of Loaf, Iron & Wine, the Avett Brothers, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Jason Isbell, Real Estate, and many more.

“There were just so many folks who, like us, had witnessed the destruction of these holy places from the outside and felt their hearts trying to break out of their chests,” Rodenbough said in a statement. “It was instant, the way people signed on. They also feel what I feel, that these mountains are the cradle of some deep and ineffable magic.”

“In the aftermath of a ‘natural disaster,’ it’s important to situate this manifestation of ecological collapse within a history of inequitable exploitation of land and people,” Rodenbough continued. “This is a region that has suffered in the name of human progress for a long time. I hope we’re going to take this opportunity to start building a different kind of world in Western North Carolina and beyond.”

Cardinals at the Window Tracklist:

1. The War on Drugs – Harmonia’s Dream (Live from New York)
2. Angel Olsen – Can’t Wait Until Tomorrow (Live At Echo Mountain)
3. Sluice – Hard Times
4. S.G. Goodman feat. Bonnie “Prince” Billy – Nature’s Child
5. Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats – Smilin’
6. Rosali – Hey Heron
7. Luke Schneider – Vapor Ascensus
8. Fleet Foxes – Blue Ridge Mountains (Live from The Spring Recital)
9. Floating Action – We Live Inside A Dream
10. The Dead Tongues – Daylily (Demo)
11. Lambchop – Is There a Doctor in the House?
12. R.E.M. – King of Birds (Live in Greensboro, 1989)
13. Little Brother feat. BeMyFiasco x Denaine Jones – The Way
14. Yasmin Williams – Untitled
15. Setting – Night Divers
16. Magic Tuber Stringband – Flotsam
17. Weirs – The Carolina Lady
18. Tyler Childers – Bus Route (Live)
19. Waxahatchee – Wrecking Ball
20. Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings – Hashtag (Live from Newport Folk Festival 2024)
21. Oak City Slums — Electric Trible
22. Shirlette Ammons – Corner Pocket (Small Pond Sessions)
23. Helado Negro – Running (Live at Drop of Sun)
24. William Tyler – Near a Thousand Tables
25. Sylvie – On The Wind
26. John Andrew & The Yawns – Talking To Me
27. Keven Louis Lareau – Your Tender Loving Care
28. Spencer Cullum, Sean Thompson & Rich Ruth – Levon’s Bark
29. Geologist & D.S. – Route 9 Falls
30. Daniel Bachman – Lovers On The Turnpike
31. The Avett Brothers – Cheap Coffee (Live)
32. Terry Allen & The Panhandle Mystery Band – Rainy Day
33. Jason Isbell – Children of Children – Live At The Ryman 10/15/17
34. Dawes & Hiss Golden Messenger – Haunted House
35. Deer Tick – Time To Leave
36. The Nude Party – Fallin’ Rain
37. Tim Heidecker – Property (Live at Dynasty Typewriter)
38. Chuck Johnson – Arctic Halo
39. Laraaji – Music Laughter Episode Track 78
40. Universal Light – Minor Suite
41. Feist – Borrow Trouble (Demo)
42. Kevin Morby – American Holly
43. Jeff Tweedy (feat. Karly Hartzman) – How Hard It Is For Desert To Die (Live from Solid Sound)
44. Mipso – Cornfields
45. Danny Paul Grody – Distant Blue
46. Real Estate – Pink Sky
47. Real Companion – Long Leaf Overtime (iPhone Demo)
48. Sam Evian – Long, Long, Long
49. The Go-Betweens – Ashes On The Lawn
50. M. Duffy – Easy and Down
51. Indigo De Souza – Hungry & Croaking
52. BeMyFiasco – Take My Strong Hand
53. Marta Salogni – For Vibraphone and Tapes
54. Pachyman – NYC
55. Skylar Gudasz – Lean Closer To Me Now
56. Lou Hazel – Bulldog
57. Blue Cactus – The Gift (Demo)
58. Nathan Bowles – Gadarene (Tarboro)
59. Drive-By Truckers – Baggage (Live, 2018)
60. MJ Lenderman – Pianos
61. American Aquarium – Crier (Live at Red Rocks 5/9/24)
62. The Hold Steady – Certain Songs (Live at 9:30 Club)
63. H.C. McEntire – Dovetail (Get Down Version)
64. Futurebirds – 5am (Live from Moodright’s)
65. Fust – The Highlands of the Heart
66. Joseph Allred – Marion
67. Libby Rodenbough – Oh What A Beautiful Morning
68. Uwade – Belvedere
69. Iron & Wine – How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
70. Tyler Ramsey – New Lost Ages (A Parkway Session, from Asheville)
71. Bahamas – Say What You Like (Live at Massey Hall)
72. Water Liars – Swannanoa (Demo Version)
73. Joseph Decosimo & Jake Xerxes Fussell – Bob Wills Stomp (Live at Nightlight 7.26.22)
74. Lonnie Holley (with Jacknife Lee) – Tonky’s Rocket Ship
75. Sophie Thatcher – My Friend
76. Riggings – Strep Season
77. Etran De L’Aïr – Ighre Massina (Live at Madame Lou’s)
78. the Mountain Goats – Hand of Death
79. Superchunk – Wild Loneliness (Live for the Current)
80. Archers of Loaf – Great Holding Down
81. Hotline TNT – Candle
82. Karly Hartzman – Baby Me (Demo)
83. Squirrel Flower – Finally Rain (Live in St. Louis)
84. Object Hours – Street Scene (Live at Shadowbox)
85. Adeem The Artist – Freight Train (From DR Byen)
86. Sy Smith – Bigger Than The Work
87. Hayden Pedigo – John Frusciante’s Trailer House
88. Little Mazarn & Jonathan Horne – Lightning in the Water (Live at the Historic Dry Creek Cafe 10/17/21)
89. Carpenter / Cohen – Monuments
90. Jenks Miller & Rose Cross NC – Summerland
91. Christopher Paul Stelling – Me and I
92. Matthew E. White – Shine a Light (Solo Piano)
93. James Elkington – MEQZ
94. Rich Ruth – Super 8
95. Darien Brockington – Only One (Zo! & Tall Black Guy Remix)
96. Sylvan Esso – One More
97. Sonny Miles – Silverpieces
98. pat junior – U.D.O.
99. Flock of Dimes – Potential
100. Fancy Gap – Starlight Motel
101. Carlitta Durand – Slip Up
102. Wye Oak – No Good Reason
103. Eric Slick – Another Sunset
104. RIBS – The Blues II
105. Lydia Loveless – Loser
106. Julianna Riolino – Don’t Put Me In The Middle
107. Mary Lattimore – I’ll See You Tomorrow
108. BCNC – PB Yards
109. Wood Ear – Ex Winter
110. Eli Winter Trio – Dayenu (Live)
111. Little Wings – Honey Bird’s Power Outage
112. Sharon Van Etten – Weather
113. Boulevards – Mad Man
114. The Foreign Exchange – Can’t Turn Around (Nicolay’s Hostile Takeover Mix)
115. Daughter of Swords – Alone Together
116. Tune-Yards – Hypnotized (Live from Brooklyn)
117. Calexico – Across The Wire (Live from Tollhaus)
118. The Decemberists – William Fitzwilliam (Live)
119. Bill Orcutt – Sad And Familiar
120. Ethan Baechtold – small talk between friends
121. Watchhouse – Harvest Moon
122. Sarah Louise – Dancing and Keening (My Body is a Part of the Earth)
123. Wet Tuna – So Much Vibe in the World (A Sweet Pond Nug)
124. Sunburned Hand of the Man with Mazozma – JJ Fale
125. David Michael Moore – A Little Spanish Delight
126. Les Savy Fav – Four Divided By One
127. Six Organs of Admittance – Sunrise at Sunset
128. Mind Over Mirrors – Rushing Airglow
129. Eric Bachmann – Wicked Little Dream
130. Wooden Wand – Sky Blue Aster (Homegrown Version)
131. Edsel Axle – Wipe Your Eyes and See
132. House Band – Three
133. Tropical Fuck Storm – Chameleon Paint (Live at Lincoln Hall)
134. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Change (Demo 4)
135. Phish – Sand (Live at Reynolds Coliseum, 1999)

The Cure Release New Song ‘A Fragile Thing’

Konstantinos Pappis
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The Cure Release New Song ‘A Fragile Thing’

The Cure have released a new single, ‘A Fragile Thing’, the second preview of their forthcoming album Songs of a Lost World. It arrives on the heels of the LP’s opening track, ‘Alone’. Check it out below.

Songs of a Lost World, the Cure’s first album in 16 years, is slated for release on November 1.

Artist Spotlight: Holly Macve

Konstantinos Pappis
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Artist Spotlight: Holly Macve

Born in Galway in western Ireland, Holly Macve grew up surrounded by music. Her mother – who, fleeing an abusive relationship, took six-month-old Macve and her sister to live with their grandparents in West Yorkshire – is a songwriter, while her grandfather was a classical musician. At 18, Macve moved to Brighton and began singing on open mic nights in a café. Bella Union boss Simon Raymonde frequented the café and went on to sign her at the label, which released Macve’s debut album, Golden Eagle, in 2017. Macve co-produced her second LP, 2021’s Not the Girl, with band member Max Kinghorn-Mills, and the record was mixed by Collin Dupuis, who worked on Lana Del Rey’s Ultraviolence. After Del Rey, an inspiration to Macve since her teenage years, followed her on Instagram a few years ago, the singer-songwriters met in person; following a difficult breakup, Del Rey then hosted Macve in her Los Angeles home and heard her new demos. There, they recorded ‘Suburban House’, the collaboration that’s at the heart of Macve’s February EP Time Is Forever. The songs on the EP are featured on her latest album, Wonderland, which is out this Friday via her own label, Loving Memory. Though musically nostalgic in its evocation of an otherworldly past, Macve employs her wistful, breathtaking voice and lush instrumentation in a way that doesn’t linger on old memories so much as it reaches for a starry, beautiful future, one she can wholly call her own.

We caught up with Holly Macve for the latest edition of our Artist Spotlight series to talk about her earliest musical memories, the making of Wonderland, collaborating with Lana Del Rey, and more.

Tell me about the journey of self-releasing Wonderland, which you also did with the Time Is Forever EP. How has doing things DIY changed your perspective on the process?

You’re so much more involved in every minute detail. It makes it more exciting because you’re just so invested in every single area. I’ve definitely been doing it in a very DIY way, and it’s a learning curve, but I enjoy that process. I do all my visuals, I edit all the videos myself, and it’s a lot of work, but the reward is greater, I guess. The only worry is that when you get into that mindset, it’s kind of scary, then, losing control of that and starting to collaborate with people again. Maybe for my next project, I’ll try to get back into that mindset and do some more collaborations, because you end up wanting to not give away any creative control, and I think that can be dangerous as well.

How early did you know that the songs on the EP would end up on the record? What was the relationship between the two projects as you were working on the songs?

It’s kind of hard to really articulate that. The record feels like a chapter of my life as a whole, and it felt like it should be in one piece of work. I feel like it’s bookending a certain period in my life, from beginning to end. When the EP came out, I kind of knew that I wanted these songs to be part of an album as well. I had a lot of the songs written for the record as a whole, but I hadn’t yet finished them. It felt like the right time to release some music, so I put the EP out, but it was always a plan to have them on an album.

One sequencing choice that I love about bringing the EP songs into Wonderland is ‘Almost a Miracle’ going into ‘Time Is Forever’, juxtaposing the idea that nothing lasts forever with the permanence of time. I don’t know if it was a conscious decision to pair those songs.

Actually, I love that. I think some of these things come out subconsciously, but in terms of the lyrics, that wasn’t something I thought of, so it’s really interesting that you mention that.

There’s a lot of reflection on the concept of forever, so it makes sense that it would come up in different ways.

It’s a theme, I think, in my songwriting in general. I think about the concept of time, the beginning and end of things. That’s something that’s reoccurring, so I guess I may not have noticed it as much because I feel like it comes into my music lot.

I read that the first show you went to with friends was Red Hot Chili Peppers. What do remember about that experience?

I was a big Chili Peppers fan. When I was growing up, one of the first instruments I ever got was the bass – I actually still use it, it’s right next to me right now – but I call that bass Flea. [laughs] That’s the first thing I started learning on – and piano as well. I mean, this is awful, but the main experience I take from that – because I was really small, I was probably 15 or 16, and I was always the smallest within the group – and I remember someone in front of me giving me a shoulder lift so that I could see. But the guy that gave me a shoulder lift was so sweaty that I remember it being transferred onto me. [laughs] That wasn’t so pleasant, but the actual show, I just remember it being so magical. Hearing all those songs that you’d grown up with for the first time was fun.

Are there any other early showgoing experiences that have stuck with you?

I was kind of surrounded by music as a kid in general, so that was the first one that was outside my family. But my mom – me and my sister used to travel with her to these little venues. I remember going to one, I feel like it was Blackpool in the UK, I was about four years old, and just watching her. That’s actually my very earliest memory of music. And my dad was a classical musician, so I used to go and watch that, and I think at the time I didn’t really appreciate it in the way I do now. As a kid, I didn’t quite get it, and I remember growing up and it connecting with me, realizing how much it was to witness him. Those were my earliest memories of going to concerts, but it was more within my family.

Did you make that connection before getting into songwriting yourself?

I think it’s one of those things that you take for granted. That’s just all I knew when I was growing up – I didn’t think it was something out of the ordinary, to have all these instruments around me and everything. As I grew up, I realized that that was quite a special thing, and it definitely enabled me – even to just have the instruments in the house that I could pick up and explore with. I don’t think I recognized that until I was probably in my late teens, and then my grandad passed away, and I started reflecting on all of that stuff. Actually, my first record was titled after my grandad – I wrote ‘Golden Eagle’ [the title track], and it was about him.

So it was through song as well.

Yeah. To be honest, I think I learn about myself through my own songwriting, because the songs I write tend to have very personal lyrics, and there’s a little bit of therapy or something like that. I’m getting all of my ideas out of my brain, and then I see it on paper and I’m like, “Oh yeah, that makes sense. That’s what I was thinking.” It’s like writing diaries or journaling, I suppose.

Growing up, was there a divide between the sort of contemporary artists you were hearing about or going to see and this older world of music that you were fascinated by? I know one of your earliest obsessions was Elvis.

I guess the things that I was drawn to were things that reminded me of music of the past. When I heard voices that took me to that place, that were timeless or made me feel nostalgic, that’s what I was always drawn to. I remember going to see Angel Olsen when I was 18 or something, and I remember it doing that for me. She’s got one of those voices that could be from any time; I think she’s super inspiring. And obviously, Lana’s voice is like that. I love that timeless thing, something that’s gonna take you to a bit of another world, which is why I’m drawn to old film and Elvis and the Everly Brothers.

Another influence you mention in the song ‘Dreamer’ is Sylvia Plath. I know The Bell Jar inspired ‘Eye of the Storm’ from Not the Girl. Is she an inspiration you keep turning to poetically as well?

She definitely is. Not even just her poetry, but her as a person and her mind. I don’t know if you’ve ever read it, but there’s a whole book of her diaries, and there’s something about the fact that she just wanted to dedicate her life to her art – I find that really inspiring. There’s a loneliness or something that I can relate to with her, and I think a lot of women artists maybe do.

Yeah, and I’m now going through the complete collection of her letters that was recently published. I find that with these artists whose work we idealize at an early age, we’re then drawn to understand their personal lives or the nuances of their personhood. There’s definitely some of that with the Priscilla and Elvis movies that have come out in recent years. Does that resonate with you?

Definitely. I suppose the more you get to know the person behind the art, you can almost figure out how the art came about as well. It all makes sense. I definitely feel that. I really have enjoyed all the Elvis stuff that’s been coming out. I’ve actually got a big Elvis poster behind me, as you can see. [laughs]

You’ve described Not the Girl as a coming-of-age album, but Wonderland seems to embrace a different perspective. To me, it’s more reflective and weighted in the way it’s looking back. You said that it represents a specific period in your life – how do you now see that period reflected on the record?

You’re right, I remember saying that about Not the Girl. It felt like that at the time. I think I felt more unsure of myself, and I think Wonderland is me feeling like I’ve actually really got to know myself and who I am. I think Wonderland is meant to represent this chapter of looking forward, maybe, rather than back. I went through a lot during that process of writing Wonderland, a lot of big life changes. Living situations, coming out of the pandemic, going through a big breakup. Spending a lot of time in LA, and then spending a lot of time on my own as well after not doing that for years. There was a lot reflecting that happened and a lot of time that I had to get to know myself – who I am on my own without being in a relationship, what I want in life, what my dreams and aspirations are as an individual person. I think it’s very much getting to know myself again after maybe going through a period of time where I didn’t.

There is this diaristic quality to a lot of the songs on the album, but it also seems like you’re addressing your younger self in a way that takes away some of the darkness from the past, like when you sing, “It was just the beginning, I thought it was the end” on ‘Beauty Queen’. Was it freeing to write from this perspective?

Definitely. I like the way that you worded that. With ‘Beauty Queen’, it was quite a cathartic thing, because I felt almost like I was nurturing my younger self. That song is about an experience I had as a young woman, and I think at the time, I was very unkind to myself and was just seeing it in a very different light. In hindsight, I can look back at that, and it was like I was looking after my younger self, in the hope that if there are women who have had similar experiences, maybe the song could speak to them in the way that I was speaking to my younger self.

Has it been a learning curve, too, finding ways to be kinder to yourself in the writing process?

I think it probably is. As a writer, you’re always evolving and changing, and I think in my earlier writing, I probably was harder on myself. And maybe with these songs, I feel like there’s a lot of darkness being covered, but hopefully it’s done in a kind of lighter way than my earlier songwriting.

There’s a sense of sisterhood on songs like ‘Beauty Queen’ and ‘Cold Water Canyon’ as well.

Yeah, that’s very true. I have been surrounded by some really special women over the past few years, and that probably has come out in the songwriting. After coming out of a relationship, leaning on the women in my life, that felt important – and making new connections there as well. That’s definitely a part of it.

How did ‘Suburban House’ become the song that you decided to sing with Lana Del Rey?

It was actually quite spontaneous. I’d written this song, and I was going through a time where I really felt like I needed to do something different, and I flew to LA really spontaneously. Lana and I met previously only once, I think, but we’ve had a friendship over the years through writing to each other. I was hanging out with her, and I played that song because I’d just written it. I played it live on the piano to her, and her dad was there as well. It was a beautiful little day where we were hanging out and sharing music together. There was something that clicked while I was playing; we’d been wanting to do some sort of collaboration, we’d spoken about it, but it wasn’t clear what it was. When I played that song, she started singing along, and we realized then and there that that was the one we wanted to do together. It felt right. Then, a couple of weeks later, we recorded it. But as soon as I heard her singing the verse, it kind of felt like I’d written it for her or something. Whenever I sing that verse on my own, I’m like, “I wish Lana was here singing that,” because it feels like it’s her verse. I’m so grateful to have her on it because she’s incredible.

In a press release for the song, she mentioned how your vocals have inspired her over the years. In what ways does she inspire you, be it musically or personally?

Definitely both personally and musically. Musically, I was probably 15 or 16 when ‘Video Games’ came out, and I remember someone sending it to me. Like what I was talking about earlier with those voices that take you to another world, I remember hearing that and it was unlike anything I was listening to at the time or any kind of current music. It just felt so timeless. I love how she’s always made her own world and she’s just so unique. Personally as well, she’s a very inspiring person. She’s just so authentically herself – she’ll just do whatever feels right to her, and she’s not trying to fit into any box or anything. She doesn’t care. She’s just following her own path, and I think that’s really inspiring.

Could you walk me through the timeline of writing and recording Wonderland?

Actually, ‘Beauty Queen’ was one of the first songs that I wrote for the album – it’s interesting because we were talking about it being this thing of looking back. That set the tone, maybe. I also started writing ‘San Fran Honey’ first, but that kept on – I usually write a song in a day and I’ll stick with it how it is, but with ‘San Fran Honey’, it was a process of rewriting things. But that was also one of the earlier ones. I guess that was a few years ago, and I didn’t really sit down to write the record – like diary entries, it all just came quite naturally over a few years.

The recording was a mixture of – I did some of it at home, some of it evolved from early demos I had. And then I spent some time in LA in a beautiful studio called Valentine Studio, which is all old analog gear; that was a really great experience. And then I met Dan Rothman from London Grammar – I’d say that was part two of the EP/album. When I met Dan, that was kind of the second half of it, but it felt like the songs needed the first songs as well. It was just perfect timing, because I felt like he really understood what I was trying to do. That’s when we brought in a guy called David Saunders, who did the string arrangements. That was a click moment where it was the kind of sound I was looking for ever since I’ve been making music. When we got him on board, it was really special and magical.

I’m assuming the title track is one of the songs that came later, because it’s more indicative of this looking ahead. Even just the way it begins: “This time, I will not follow.”

Definitely, yeah. That’s very perceptive, because actually, that was the last song that was written for the record, even though it’s one of the first ones I released, and it’s the opening track. And you’re right, it’s very much looking forward rather than back. I wanted to set the tone of the album; I wanted it to have a hopeful feel about it.

I love the atmospheric flourishes throughout ‘Best of Your Heart’. What was it like piecing that one together?

That was one of those moments where it all made sense. Dan did these amazing soundscapes on that. I think it was ‘Wonderland’ and then that was the was the first one that Dan really worked on production-wise, and he was feeling really inspired. That’s when we’d just got David on board doing strings, and it was this moment where we all felt really excited and inspired.

What are you most proud of yourself for with the release of Wonderland?

The way I’ve done it in a pretty DIY way, all of the visual stuff, I feel like it’s aiming to create a little world – and I think when you are making a lot of the creative choices yourself, it ends up being a little world you make. I hope other people feel like that and enjoy stepping into that world with me.

You mentioned possibly opening up that world to more collaborators in the future – what excites you about that?

This is the thing – when you do it yourself and it’s all an internal little world, and then you open that up to other people and other artists, it ends up being something you could never have made on your own. I’m excited to step out of that for the next project. I’ve done the more insular thing, the diary thing – maybe I’ll end up opening it up and creating something that I feel like is something I never could have done just on my own. That’s the beautiful thing about collaborating.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.

Holly Macve’s Wonderland is out October 11 via Loving Memory.

Daughter of Swords Releases New Song ‘Alone Together’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Daughter of Swords Releases New Song ‘Alone Together’

Daughter of Swords – the project of North Carolina singer-songwriter Alex Sauser-Monnig, who has released music with the bands Mountain Man and The A’s – has returned with a new single called ‘Alone Together’. The track was made with Amelia Meath (Sylvan Esso, Mountain Man), Nick Sanborn (Sylvan Esso, Made of Oak), Jenn Wasner (Wye Oak, Flock of Dimes), TJ Maiani (Weyes Blood and Neneh Cherry), and Caleb Wright (Hippo Campus, Samia). Check it out below.

“‘Alone Together’ is a song about reckoning with the need to connect when the rest of your life is locked in and satisfying,” Sauser-Monning explained in a statement. “The cracking of the veneer of self sufficiency. Its content was mirrored in its recording, in the way recording a song demands vulnerability and community to bring it into fullness and reality.”

Daughter of Swords’ debut LP, Dawnbringer, was released in 2019.

Clairo Shares Cover of Margo Guryan’s ‘Love Songs’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Clairo Shares Cover of Margo Guryan’s ‘Love Songs’

Sub Pop is paying tribute to Margo Guryan, the pop singer-songwriter who passed away in 2021, with a forthcoming covers compilation called Like Someone I Know. Empress Of, TOPS, Frankie Cosmos, Kate Bollinger, and Margo Price are among the artists featured on the album, and today, we get to hear Clairo’s take on ‘Love Songs’. The cover was produced by Leon Michaels, with whom Clairo worked on her latest album Charm. Take a listen below.

Like Someone I Know: A Celebration of Margo Guryan is set for release on November 8. A portion of the proceeds from the album will be donated to providing and advocating for affordable reproductive health services.

Ekko Astral Release New Song ‘Pomegranate Tree’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Ekko Astral Release New Song ‘Pomegranate Tree’

Ekko Astral have returned with a new song called ‘Pomegranate Tree’. It follows June’s ‘Holocaust Remembrance Day’. Check out a video for the song below.

“It’s exhaustingly heartbreaking to watch a symbol of your childhood community transform into a symbol for genocide, or to watch people you used to respect defend the actions of an extremist right-wing government,” drummer Miri Tyler said of the single. “Jael and I grew up Jewish in America. We were taught we had a ‘homeland’ that we had an obligation to. We were *not* taught about the human beings that lived there prior. We were taught to celebrate victories. We were taught simply that they hated us. We were taught that this violence was righteous. But there is no such thing as righteous genocide, and experts around the world agree– including Jewish survivors of the Holocaust – the violence being carried out by the IOF is indeed genocidal. And the fact that these atrocities are being carried out in the name of our faith, culture, and community– well, it’s enough to keep us up at night.”

Ekko Astral’s debut LP, pink balloons, dropped in April. Check out our Artist Spotlight interview with Ekko Astral.

Kim Gordon Shares Video for New Song ‘Bangin’ on the Freeway’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Kim Gordon Shares Video for New Song ‘Bangin’ on the Freeway’

Today, Kim Gordon has shared the deluxe edition of her second solo album, The Collective. It includes the previously released single ‘ECRP’, as well as a new song, ‘Bangin’ On the Freeway’, which comes with a video directed by Coco Gordon Moore and starring Kim and Coco on a road trip. Watch and listen below.

In a press release, Gordon said: “Feel like I’m just getting started! Thanks for all the love!”

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