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Building Strong Personal and Romantic Relationship Skills

Success in dating Ukrainian women hinges on strong personal and romantic relationship skills. Understanding and mastering these skills can significantly enhance your connection and increase the likelihood of a successful, long-term relationship. Engaging in Ukraine dating online provides a unique opportunity to meet and connect with Ukrainian women, but it also requires a deep understanding of cultural nuances and effective communication strategies.

Effective Communication with Ukrainian Ladies

Communication serves as the foundation upon which all successful relationships are built. In the realm of online dating with Ukrainian women, the importance of clear and honest communication cannot be overstated. While language barriers may present obstacles, surmounting them can pave the way for a more profound and meaningful connection to flourish.

It is imperative to express your thoughts and feelings openly and honestly. Transparency regarding your intentions and relationship desires is key to establishing trust and mutual understanding. Active listening plays an important role in this process. By attentively listening to your partner’s words, demonstrating genuine interest, and responding thoughtfully, you not only convey that she is valued but also contribute to the cultivation of a deeper emotional bond between you both.

Furthermore, fostering an environment of open communication enables both partners to share their perspectives, concerns, and aspirations freely. Through this exchange, mutual respect and empathy are nurtured, fostering a relationship characterized by trust, understanding, and mutual support.

Trust and Respect in Relationships with Ukrainian Women

Respecting and understanding cultural differences is paramount when dating someone from another country. Ukrainian culture boasts its own set of traditions, values, and social norms that may diverge from your familiar customs. Demonstrating respect for her cultural background can significantly enrich your relationship.

Learn about Ukrainian customs, traditions, and holidays to gain insight into her way of life. Engage in cultural activities with genuine interest and enthusiasm, showcasing your willingness to embrace her world. This effort not only demonstrates your respect for her heritage but also fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation between you both, minimizing misunderstandings and strengthening your bond.

Trust and loyalty serve as foundational pillars in any healthy relationship. Establishing trust requires consistent effort and dedication, particularly in the context of online relationships where physical presence is limited. Demonstrating reliability and honesty in your words and actions is essential for laying the groundwork for trust.

Consistency is paramount to building trust. Uphold your promises and demonstrate dependability in your behavior. Show your Ukrainian partner that you are fully committed to the relationship and that she can rely on you. Remember, trust is a reciprocal endeavor – encourage her to share openly and honestly with you as well. By cultivating mutual trust, you fortify the foundation of your relationship, paving the way for its long-term success and growth.

Romantic Gestures in Long-Distance Relationships

Small romantic gestures can have a significant impact on your relationship. These gestures show that you care and think about her, even when you are not physically together.

  • surprise messages: sending a thoughtful message or a small gift unexpectedly can brighten her day and show that you are thinking about her;
  • shared activities: engage in activities that both of you enjoy, even if it is through virtual means – watch movies together, play online games, or cook the same meal while on a video call;
  • personalized gifts: Give her something meaningful that reflects her interests and your understanding of her – personalized gifts can show that you have put thought and effort into making her feel special.

Long-distance relationships require extra effort to maintain connection and intimacy. Technology plays a crucial role in bridging the physical gap and keeping the relationship strong.

Regular video calls are essential. Seeing each other’s faces and hearing each other’s voices helps in maintaining a sense of closeness. Use messaging apps to stay in touch throughout the day, sharing small moments and experiences to keep each other updated on your lives. Plan visits whenever possible to spend quality time together in person. These visits are crucial for sustaining the relationship and creating shared memories.

Resolving Conflicts in Relationships

Every relationship faces conflicts and problems. How you handle these situations can significantly affect the health and longevity of your relationship. While conflicts are inevitable, they also offer opportunities for growth and understanding between partners. Approach conflicts with patience and a genuine desire to understand the other person’s point of view. Rather than resorting to accusations or criticism, try to remain open-minded and empathetic. By actively listening to your partner’s concerns and viewpoints, you can foster a sense of mutual respect and cooperation.

Be patient when resolving conflicts, especially when cultural differences and language barriers are involved. Recognize that misunderstandings can arise from differences in views or communication styles. If you approach these issues with patience and a willingness to learn, you can overcome obstacles together and strengthen your relationship. You can use these conflict resolution and patience strategies:

  • open communication: maintain an atmosphere in which both partners feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and feelings openly;
  • empathy and understanding: seek to understand your partner’s point of view and validate their emotions, even if you don’t agree with them;
  • mutual respect: treat each other with respect and dignity, even in times of disagreement – do not resort to personal attacks or derogatory remarks;
  • compromise: seek solutions that take into account the needs and preferences of both partners – be willing to make concessions and find a middle ground wherever possible.

Effective conflict resolution involves open communication, empathy and mutual respect. Be patient with each other, especially when cultural differences and language barriers are involved. With effort and dedication, conflicts can be resolved constructively, resulting in stronger and more sustainable relationships.

The Basics Of Online Dating With Ukrainian Women

Building strong personal and romantic relationship skills is essential for successful online dating with Ukrainian women. Effective communication, understanding and respecting cultural differences, building trust, and showing thoughtfulness through romantic gestures are key elements in fostering a meaningful connection. Maintaining the relationship through regular contact and handling conflicts with patience further strengthens the bond. UADreams offers the opportunity to meet and connect with Ukrainian women who share your relationship goals. By embracing these relationship skills, you can create a deep and lasting connection, leading to a fulfilling and harmonious relationship.

Siyu Ding: Celebrated 3D Artist with Over 12 years at Leading Gaming Companies

Siyu Ding, a 3D artist from Shanghai, China, has an impressive background, having worked at major companies such as EPIC and Activision Blizzard, and served notable domestic gaming giants like Tencent and NetEase. With over 12 years of extensive industry experience, she has contributed to renowned titles such as “Blade & Soul,” “Tera,” “Destiny 2,” “Justice Online,” “Call of Duty: Vanguard,” “Call of Duty: Mobile,” and “Call of Duty: MW3,” among other internationally recognized online games and AAA projects.

Despite her extensive involvement in numerous major projects and having 12 years of experience in the gaming industry, Siyu is only 35 years old. She embarked on her journey as a game art designer straight after graduating from college, driven by a deep passion for artistry.

From a young age, she loved drawing and asked to learn sketching during her elementary years. With a strong aspiration towards the anime art domain, she delved deeper into this field during high school as computer networks began to flourish. Exposure to computer games fueled her dream of becoming an anime artist. During her high school years in 2004, she founded an anime club, serving as its president and exhibiting her own artworks. She even submitted her creations to the well-known anime magazine “Cartoon King,” with her work ultimately featured in the magazine.

During her undergraduate studies, in addition to completing her animation coursework, Siyu co-founded an anime club with classmates, independently creating and publishing their own comic books. She also participated in Shanghai’s prominent CP Anime Exhibition, a rare feat for college students in 2008. Together with four university peers, she formed a small team, polishing their fan art in their spare time. Concurrently, Siyu reached out to printing houses, publishing her own fan art books that garnered impressive sales figures. She also self-taught 3D software to create her artistic pieces.

During her undergraduate internship, Siyu engaged in 3D post-production projects for renowned Chinese director Tsui Hark’s film “Flying Swords of Dragon Gate,” laying a solid foundation for her subsequent role as a 3D artist in the gaming industry. Graduating with distinction, she entered the esteemed gaming company EPIC, crafting exquisite 3D game characters for the large-scale Korean online game “Blade & Soul.” She later transitioned to projects with Tencent and NetEase, contributing to well-known Chinese mobile and online games like “Justice Online,” “Jian wang 3 MMO,” and “Ze Tian Ji.”

After honing her skills for over five years, Siyu joined Activision Blizzard’s Shanghai division as a senior 3D artist, creating stunning 3D models for “Call of Duty Online.” Her outstanding aesthetics and exceptional 3D artistry led her to be recognized as an expert artist and subsequently sent to Seattle, USA, to collaborate on Bungie’s acclaimed sci-fi FPS AAA title “Destiny 2.” She designed numerous futuristic tech-themed game character sets, greatly appreciated by players. Her works have been featured multiple times in the game’s promotional posters on major gaming forums, with several character sets prominently showcased in DLC promotional videos.

Siyu is an artist keen on researching 3D art techniques. After completing her work on “Destiny 2,” she contributed to “Call of Duty: Mobile,” creating impressive 3D characters and garnering remarkable results. Her designed characters once again took center stage in major mainstream media’s promotional videos and posters. The game generated approximately $209 million in IAP revenue, accumulating nearly $1.5 billion in total revenue since its launch.

Seeking fresh challenges, she ventured into the hard surface 3D art domain, a departure from her previous character design work. This new endeavor required extensive knowledge of mechanical structures and industrial design thinking. To create realistic WWII-era firearm game models for the “Call of Duty: Vanguard” series, enhancing players’ gaming experience, Siyu dedicated months to studying firearm structures, gaining inspiration from live shooting ranges, and tirelessly modifying design models overnight. Her goal was to provide a realistic gaming feel and visual quality while adhering to WWII-era settings. As a team leader, she formed her own team, simultaneously managing outsourcing vendors and collaborating with the US-based studio Sledgehammer Games to accomplish a substantial amount of 3D art for “Call of Duty” weapons. Siyu and her team’s designed 3D game models are frequently referenced in the Call of Duty wiki’s Vanguard series firearm image collection.

This year, Siyu participated in the production of “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III,” with her work once again prominently featured as primary weapons in the official promotional video “Aftermarket Parts” Intel Drop | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.”

Her portfolio showcases her expertise across various domains like character design, hard surface modeling, weapons, and vehicles. Siyu can effortlessly create exquisite cartoon-style characters, demonstrate intricate realistic firearms, and craft futuristic-themed props and character sets. Truly evolving into a polyhedral 3D expert artist, she navigates through any style with unbounded creativity.

Family Fun in the Sun: Keeping Your Eyes Protected with Goodr Sunglasses

As the sun shines bright and the temperature rises, it’s time to gear up for some family fun in the sun! Whether you’re heading to the beach, park, or backyard for a day of outdoor adventures, it’s essential to keep your family’s eyes protected from harmful UV rays. Goodr sunglasses offer a stylish and practical solution for sun protection, ensuring that your entire family can enjoy the sunshine safely. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of keeping your eyes protected during family outings and how Goodr sunglasses can help you do just that.

UV Protection for All Ages: 

Children’s eyes are particularly susceptible to damage from UV rays, making it essential to protect them from an early age. Goodr sunglasses offer 100% UV protection, shielding your children’s eyes from harmful rays and reducing the risk of long-term damage. With a range of fun colors and designs, Goodr sunglasses make sun protection a stylish affair for the whole family.

Comfortable Fit for Active Kids: 

Family outings often involve running, jumping, and playing, so it’s crucial to choose sunglasses that can keep up with your kids’ active lifestyle. Goodr sunglasses feature lightweight frames and soft, flexible materials that provide a comfortable fit for even the most energetic youngsters. With non-slip nose pads and grippy arms, Goodr sunglasses stay securely in place, allowing your kids to focus on having fun without constantly adjusting their shades.

Durable Construction for Rough Play: 

Kids can be rough on their belongings, but Goodr sunglasses are up to the challenge. Constructed from durable materials, Goodr sunglasses can withstand drops, bumps, and tumbles without losing their shape or functionality. Whether your kids are building sandcastles at the beach or climbing trees in the park, Goodr sunglasses are built to last through all their outdoor adventures.

Fashionable Styles for Trendy Teens: 

As children grow into teenagers, their sense of style becomes increasingly important. Goodr sunglasses offer a range of trendy designs and colors that appeal to fashion-forward teens, ensuring they look cool while staying sun-safe. Whether they prefer classic aviators or bold neon frames, Goodr sunglasses allow teens to express their personality and stand out from the crowd.

Parent-Approved Quality: 

As a parent, you want the best for your children, and that includes their eyewear. Goodr sunglasses are parent-approved for their quality construction, UV protection, and stylish designs. With a reputation for durability and reliability, Goodr sunglasses provide peace of mind knowing that your children’s eyes are protected during outdoor play.

Affordable Options for Budget-Conscious Families: Family outings can add up quickly, but sun protection shouldn’t break the bank. Goodr sunglasses offer affordable options for budget-conscious families, providing high-quality eyewear at accessible prices. With their unbeatable value and durable construction, Goodr sunglasses allow you to protect your family’s eyes without compromising on quality or style.

Easy Online Shopping: 

With the convenience of online shopping, outfitting your family with stylish sunglasses has never been easier. Goodr’s website offers a user-friendly shopping experience, allowing you to browse their full collection of sunglasses from the comfort of your home. With detailed product descriptions, sizing information, and virtual try-on features, you can find the perfect pair of sunglasses for every member of your family with just a few clicks.

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Practices: 

As environmentally conscious consumers, it’s essential to support companies that prioritize sustainability and eco-friendly practices. Goodr is committed to reducing its environmental footprint by using recycled materials, minimizing packaging waste, and supporting sustainable manufacturing processes. By choosing Goodr sunglasses for your family, you’re not only protecting their eyes but also supporting a company that cares about the planet.

Customer Satisfaction Guarantee: 

https://goodr.ca/ stands behind the quality of its products and offers a customer satisfaction guarantee on all purchases. If you’re not completely satisfied with your sunglasses, you can return them for a full refund or exchange within a specified time frame. This commitment to customer satisfaction ensures that you can shop with confidence, knowing that Goodr has your family’s best interests at heart.

Shop Goodr Sunglasses for Your Family: 

Ready to keep your family’s eyes protected during outdoor adventures? Visit Goodr to explore their full collection of sunglasses designed for all ages. With stylish designs, UV protection, and durable construction, Goodr sunglasses are the perfect choice for family fun in the sun. Shop now and ensure that your family stays sun-safe and stylish on all your outdoor outings.

How to Always Have a Stylish Hair: Practical Tips to Consider

Keeping your hair stylish can be a challenge in today’s fast-paced world, but it is certainly achievable with the right approach. Hair is an essential part of your overall look, and maintaining its style can enhance your confidence and appearance. Whether you’re aiming for a classic look or following the latest trends, there are practical tips to consider to ensure your hair always looks its best.

Know Your Hair Type and Texture

Understanding your hair type and texture is crucial for maintaining a stylish appearance. Different hair types—whether straight, wavy, curly, or coily—require specific care routines. For instance, curly hair tends to be drier and needs more moisture, while straight hair might get oily quickly and require frequent washing.

Invest in high-quality hair care products designed for your specific hair type. Shampoos, conditioners, and styling products should complement your hair’s natural characteristics. Regular use of these products can enhance your hair’s texture and make styling easier.

Adopt a Consistent Hair Care Routine

Consistency is key when it comes to hair care. Establishing a regular routine ensures your hair remains healthy and stylish. Start with a basic regimen that includes washing, conditioning, and moisturizing. Adjust the frequency based on your hair type—some may need daily care, while others might only require attention a few times a week.

Regular trims are essential to avoid split ends and keep your hairstyle looking fresh. Aim for a trim every six to eight weeks. This not only maintains the shape of your style but also promotes healthier hair growth.

Embrace Heat Protection and Minimal Use of Heat Tools

Heat styling tools, such as flat irons, curling wands, and blow dryers, are popular for achieving various looks. However, excessive use of these tools can damage your hair. To maintain a stylish and healthy mane, it’s crucial to use heat tools sparingly and always apply a heat protectant.

Heat protectants create a barrier between your hair and the high temperatures, reducing the risk of damage. Look for products that offer thermal protection up to at least 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Apply the protectant evenly before using any heat tool to ensure your hair is shielded.

Explore Extensions and Accessories

Sometimes, adding a little extra to your hair can make all the difference. Hair extensions and accessories are fantastic options for enhancing your style without making permanent changes. For example, 20 inch clip in hair extensions can add length and volume instantly, giving you the versatility to experiment with different looks. Extensions come in various styles, lengths, and colors, allowing you to customize your look effortlessly. They are also perfect for special occasions when you want to make a statement with your hair. Additionally, hair accessories like clips, headbands, and scarves can elevate your hairstyle with minimal effort.

When using extensions, ensure they match your natural hair color and texture for a seamless blend. Take care to attach them properly to avoid any damage to your natural hair. Regularly clean and maintain your extensions to keep them looking fresh and stylish.

Prioritize Scalp Health

A healthy scalp is the foundation of beautiful hair. Neglecting your scalp can lead to issues like dandruff, itchiness, and hair loss, which can affect your overall style. Incorporate scalp care into your routine to ensure your hair grows strong and looks its best.

Regularly exfoliate your scalp to remove dead skin cells and product buildup. Use a gentle scalp scrub or a brush designed for this purpose. This not only keeps your scalp clean but also stimulates blood circulation, promoting healthier hair growth.

Moisturize your scalp with oils or serums designed for scalp care. Ingredients like tea tree oil, jojoba oil, and aloe vera can soothe and nourish the scalp, preventing dryness and irritation. Keeping your scalp in good condition ensures your hair remains healthy and stylish.

Stay Updated on Trends and Techniques

Staying informed about the latest hair trends and techniques can inspire you to keep your hair stylish. Follow hairstylists and beauty influencers on social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube. These sources often provide tutorials, tips, and product recommendations that can help you achieve trendy looks.

Participate in hair workshops or classes to learn new styling techniques and discover the latest products. Many salons offer educational sessions where professionals share their knowledge and skills. These opportunities can expand your understanding of hair care and styling, allowing you to experiment with new ideas confidently.

Don’t be afraid to try new styles and techniques. Experimentation is part of finding what works best for you. Embrace change and enjoy the process of discovering different ways to keep your hair looking stylish.

Maintaining stylish hair involves understanding your hair type, adopting a consistent care routine, protecting your hair from heat, and exploring accessories like extensions. Prioritizing scalp health and staying updated on the latest trends can also enhance your hair’s appearance. By incorporating these practical tips into your daily routine, you can ensure your hair always looks its best, boosting your confidence and complementing your overall style.

Flexible Travel Plans: The Family-Friendly Alternative to Timeshares Explained

Choosing the right vacation plan for your family can often feel overwhelming, especially with the numerous options available today. Many families consider timeshares, but these can be inflexible and costly. Fortunately, flexible travel plans offer a great alternative. Flexible travel plans allow families to save money and enjoy a variety of destinations without being locked into a specific property or timeframe. By exploring options such as vacation rentals, travel clubs, and budget-friendly hotels, families can tailor their vacations to suit their needs and preferences, ensuring a memorable experience for everyone.

One key advantage of flexible travel plans is the ability to adapt travel dates. Travelling during off-peak seasons often means lower costs for flights and accommodations, making it easier for families to stick to their budget. Additionally, unlike timeshares, which may require specific yearly commitments, travel plans that include options like vacation rentals or club memberships provide the freedom to choose different destinations each year. This way, families can visit new places without being tied down to a single location. With this flexibility, travelling abroad cheaply becomes more feasible, allowing families to explore international destinations without breaking the bank.

In contrast to timeshares, conventional travel options provide more variety and flexibility. While timeshares require a long-term commitment to one property, vacation rentals through platforms like Airbnb or staying at various hotels and resorts offer families a more comprehensive range of choices. Flexible options also cater to varying family sizes and preferences, ensuring that every trip can be customized. Ultimately, flexible travel plans are more adaptable and can lead to significant cost savings, making them a smart choice for families looking to maximize their vacation experiences.

Avoiding Timeshare Pitfalls

Timeshares can be complex legal and financial commitments that must align with everyone’s travel needs and preferences. Before entering into a timeshare contract, it is important to carefully consider the long-term obligations and potential challenges.

Some key factors to be aware of include:

  • Long-term contracts: Timeshare agreements often span 20-50 years, locking owners into long-term financial responsibilities.
  • Ongoing fees: Timeshare owners must typically pay annual maintenance fees, special assessments, and other recurring costs.
  • Resale challenges: Selling a timeshare can be very difficult, and owners may lose a significant portion of their initial investment.
  • Contractual obligations: Timeshare owners are legally bound by the terms of their contract, which can make it hard to exit the arrangement.

For those looking to avoid the pitfalls of timeshares, more flexible vacation options like hotels, vacation rentals, and travel packages may be worth considering. It’s essential to weigh the tradeoffs carefully and do thorough research before making any long-term timeshare commitment. For information on how to cancel a timeshare, see https://howtocancelmytimeshare.com/.

 

Understanding Flexible Travel Plans

Flexible travel plans offer a more adaptable alternative to traditional timeshares, allowing families to modify their vacation schedules and destinations. This approach can save both time and money while providing a more enjoyable and stress-free travel experience.

Defining Flexible Travel Plans

Flexible travel plans refer to travel arrangements that allow for changes in dates, destinations, and accommodations without heavy penalties. Unlike timeshares, where travellers are locked into specific dates and properties, flexible plans permit adjustments. This could involve booking flights and hotels with flexible cancellation policies or using travel services that offer discounts for last-minute changes. These plans often include options like travel insurance that covers various contingencies. This adaptability is particularly valuable for families, as it accommodates the unpredictability of life events and individual member preferences.

Benefits Over Traditional Timeshares

Traditional timeshares require buyers to commit to a specific property and time every year. While this can be appealing due to its stability, it lacks the freedom flexible travel plans provide. Flexible plans give more control over travel choices, allowing families to explore new destinations rather than returning to the same place each year. This advantage can lead to a more enriching travel experience. Additionally, flexible plans often reduce financial risk. If a family needs to cancel or change their trip, they will avoid facing the steep penalties common with timeshares. This financial flexibility is a significant benefit, making travel more feasible and less stressful.

How Flexibility Enhances Family Vacations

Family vacations come with many variables, from school schedules to sudden illnesses. Flexible travel plans cater to these changes effortlessly, ensuring the family can still enjoy their time together despite unexpected events. For example, if a child falls sick, parents can reschedule the trip without losing their investment. Both children and adults may have different interests that change over time. Flexible plans allow families to choose destinations and activities that suit everyone’s evolving tastes. These adaptable plans also help make last-minute decisions, whether extending a stay because everyone is having a great time, or cutting it short if needed. This ability to tailor the vacation enhances the overall experience and creates cherished memories.

Implementing Flexible Travel Options

Flexible travel options offer a convenient and cost-effective alternative to traditional timeshares. Families can enjoy more spontaneous vacations without strict schedules or high costs by focusing on adaptable travel plans.

Choosing the Right Flexible Travel Plan

Selecting the ideal flexible travel plan involves assessing a family’s needs and preferences. There are various programs available, each with unique features. For instance, some plans allow reservations to be altered without penalties, which is crucial for families with unpredictable schedules. Look for travel plans that offer lenient cancellation policies and the ability to rebook without financial loss. Understanding these options ensures families are not locked into rigid schedules and can adapt their plans as needed. This flexibility can provide peace of mind, knowing unexpected changes won’t result in hefty charges.

Planning Strategies for Maximum Flexibility

To maximize flexibility, families should consider several strategies. First, keep travel dates open-ended. Being willing to travel on different dates can lead to significant savings on flights and accommodations. Additionally, consider alternative destinations that may offer similar experiences at lower costs. Using travel apps and websites that specialize in flexible booking options can help find the best deals. It’s also wise to book longer layovers. This can reduce airfare costs and provide opportunities to explore new cities. Researching and staying informed about travel trends and deals can enhance the overall flexibility of travel plans.

Navigating Peak Seasons and Last-Minute Deals

Traveling during peak seasons can be challenging, but families can find better opportunities with flexibility. Consider planning trips during shoulder seasons, which are just before or after peak season. These times often offer lower prices and fewer crowds. Take advantage of last-minute deals that can be found on various travel platforms. Last-minute travel can offer significant discounts on flights and hotels because companies want to fill up remaining spots. Staying alert to these deals and being ready to act quickly can lead to substantial savings. By using these strategies, families can enjoy more affordable and enjoyable vacations.

Families can avoid the rigid schedules and high costs associated with traditional timeshares by focusing on adaptable travel plans.

Timeshares vs. Conventional Travel

Timeshares require a long-term commitment and often involve hefty upfront costs and maintenance fees. These costs can add up quickly and limit the flexibility of travel plans. Timeshare owners must often commit to a specific timeframe and location each year, reducing spontaneity. In contrast, conventional travel offers more freedom and options. Families can choose different destinations and travel dates annually, adjusting plans as needed. This flexibility can particularly benefit families with unpredictable schedules or changing travel preferences. Conventional travel also avoids long-term financial commitments and allows families to take advantage of seasonal deals and promotions. This can result in significant savings and more varied travel experiences.

Benefits of Rythmia Costa Rica Healing Center for Your Spiritual Journey

The Rythmia Center provides a personal journey of connectedness and peace for anyone looking for deeper spiritual enlightenment and love. It is due to its diversity of traditional and modern techniques in holistic therapies that make this healing center unique, hence leading to more and more people visiting to replenish their minds, bodies, and souls. The following are some of the amazing benefits one could derive from a spiritual awakening at Rythmia.

Holistic Health Programs

There are several specialized healing programs offered at Rythmia Costa Rica that can be administered as per the needs of the guests. See these programs Integrate traditional shamanism shamanic ceremonies, plant medicine ceremonies, yogic, meditation, and other therapies. All of these elements together create a well-rounded approach to health and wellness at Rythmia. Experienced shamans prescribe traditional plant medicine, notably Ayahuasca, which can induce deep revelations within the spiritual realm, as well as emotional suffering.

Expert Guidance and Support

It is staffed with professional, certified staff like medical doctors, psycho-spiritual counselors, and experienced shamans. This provides a safe and supportive treatment environment during the guest’s stay. A medical team on site helps keep those who are newer to plant medicine and holistic healing practices at ease. The staff is devoted to seeing you healthy here and delivers an individualized approach to helping you address your unique journey.

Healing Environment

Located in the heart of Costa Rica, Rythmia is conveniently surrounded by nature, and this in itself, is a significant healer. Surrounded by the lush tropical terrain and soothing soundscapes nature offers, it is sure to help further transport you into your spiritual journey. Everything about the design of the center and its facilities is planned to help people relax and reflect through meditation, yoga, or unwinding — you name it.

Blending Modern and Ancient Wisdom

This is not what separates Rythmia Costa Rica but how it understands the integration of groundbreaking therapeutic techniques with the ancient wisdom of thousands of years past. The workshops and lectures give the guests the power and tools to take the skills learned to continue the journey of getting better when they leave. A combination of these modern and ancient aids gives the visitors a glimpse of where they are in their spiritual quest and how far it is.

Community and Connection

It features a strong community spirit that is the main contributing factor in everyone supporting each other. The communal aspect of the retreat provides a safety net (both during the retreat and afterward) – an experience of companionship that fosters the kind of fellowship that is important for continued spiritual transformation.

Detoxification and Wellness

The retreat also focuses on physical health with its detox programs, organic meals, and wellness therapies. Clean the body inside out with the nutrients it needs along with detox practices and the body becomes a better recipient of spiritual and emotional healing. To assist in relaxation and physical rejuvenation, the resort also offers wellness therapies like massage and hydrotherapy.

Personal Transformation

Most guests describe their experience in Rythmia Costa Rica as life-changing. Such a combination of inner work usually ends up translating into breakthroughs in self-understanding, expressing oneself better, and pinpointing direction in life. They may be better relationships, self-love or self-respect, a career, or the direction of what you want to do in your life.

Green and Sustainable Practices

The operation of the center is programmed to be nature-friendly and respects the natural environment. This dedication to sustainability provides that connection to nature and is in line with the spiritual virtues of freegans to live gently on the earth for the future of all things.

One of the best places to start a spiritual journey is Rythmia Costa Rica. With its extensive healing programs, knowledgeable mentors, and nurturing spiritual community, coupled with the peace and calmness of the natural surroundings, it ensures all the perfect conditions necessary for transformative personal and spiritual growth.

Artist Spotlight: This Is Lorelei

This Is Lorelei is the solo outlet of Brooklyn-based musician Nate Amos, who is also one-half of the groups Water From Your Eyes (with vocalist Rachel Brown) and My Idea (with Palberta’s Lily Konisberg). When we last interviewed Amos, he was gearing up for the release of Water From Your Eyes’ Matador debut, the charmingly absurdist and innovative Everyone’s Crushed, but he says the project really crystallized with 2019’s Somebody’s Else Song, around the same time he began experimenting with more straightforward songwriting in the form of This Is Lorelei’s Move Around EP. In the decade that Amos has been dropping material under the moniker – unfiltered bedroom recordings that range from sort-of Americana to lo-fi pop – it’s never really settled into one thing. But leaning into, and self-consciously poking fun at, classic singer-songwriter tropes was the catalyst for This Is Lorelei’s first traditional LP and debut proper, Box for Buddy, Box for Star.

Written, recorded, and produced by Amos in the summer of 2022, the album is sneakily earnest and playful at the same time, committing to the bit without veering into cliché. Prioritizing pure melody, it’s a collection of songs as shiny and gorgeous as it is disorienting; but unlike Amos’ experiments with Water From Your Eyes, the wry humour and chaos aren’t contained in the music so much as his lyricism, whose stream-of-consciousness sincerity is affecting as much as it can throw you off guard. But even when he shifts between perspectives and laces his voice in AutoTune for the sake of the song, the album’s romanticism and emotional pathos feel earned, precisely because of the funny, quotable ways Amos finds to present them. “I don’t mind the present and I like the past,” he sings on ‘Perfect Hand’, somewhat off-handedly capturing peace. “I think that the future’s worth it.”

We caught up with This Is Lorelei’s Nate Amos for the latest edition of our Artist Spotlight series to talk about the history of the project, the making of Box for Buddy, Box for Star, holding space for multiple musical outlets, and more.


How does it feel to be rolling out Box for Buddy, Box for Star while you’re touring with Water from Your Eyes?

It feels normal because that seems to be the nature of the two projects coexisting. When I was working on the Lorelei album, I was in the process of figuring out the Water from Your Eyes record deal, so it’s like one project always has business stuff going on and the other has more creative stuff going on. This album’s coming out, I’m promoting it, but my headspace is very much in working on the new Water album. I think that’s just the way it’s going to be from now on, as long as I’m doing both projects, which I want to be doing.

Is that back-and-forth creatively inspiring? Does it feel like the projects are fueling each other in some way?

I don’t know if they fuel each other – both of them existing allows each project to fully be what it is. If there was only one thing, I’d have to cram all of this stuff into that one. Who knows, maybe that would work, but they’re such different projects – they represent two sides of music I want to be working on, and neither could fully be what it is without the other. It’s nice to have two different very writing projects, otherwise I’d be living in one all the time and go crazy. Switching from project to project, you kind of have to come above water for a minute to make the switch.

This Is Lorelei has existed as a side project longer than any other band you’ve had. How would you trace its timeline and what it’s served for you as an outlet?

Lorelei was invented as a side project. Lorelei was what I would do by myself, a secret stomping ground for trying out anything. That’s very much what it was for about 6-8 years before there was a sound that came into focus. And that kind of happened around the same time it happened for Water from Your Eyes, too. That was probably around 2019, when it went from being just a pile of stuff that I could put things in whatever bucket needed them, to now being fully different projects. That’s something that’s only really been the case for the last five years or so.

What made both projects come into focus around that time?

Honestly, there were two things happened. The Water from Your Eyes album that came out in 2019 had a song called ‘Break’  on it, which was the last song made for it. But it got made and I was like, “Fuck, I finally found Water From Your Eyes.” And then the album Structure was based off of some of the musical concepts presented in that song – the idea of putting the same melody in multiple contexts so that it comes across totally differently, and using repetition as this hypnotic or meditative element. With Lorelei, I got obsessed with ‘All the Small Things’ by Blink-182. For weeks, I only listened to that song, but different versions of that song – there’s a bluegrass cover, there’s a lullaby cover to play for your baby as they fall asleep. That got me thinking about how a really good song is awesome regardless of the genre or sonic template you use to present it. Every version I heard, I was just like, “Damn, it’s still a fucking great song.” But it’s also a silly song; it’s a pop song, it’s fast, it’s catchy. That’s not all there is to it, but those are the rules of that song: it’s like a fast heist, they’re in and out in two and a half minutes, and it leaves a lasting impact in a very short amount of time.

That was the inspiration for the Lorelei EP that came out that year called Move Around. I kind of view Somebody Else’s Song as the first Water from Your Eyes album and Move Around as the first Lorelei release in terms of what the projects have become. That year was when both projects crystallized into more tangible things. Even immediately before that, there were Lorelei albums like The Mall, the Country and The Dirt, the Dancing that were made at the same time as Somebody Else’s Song, and there were lots of things on both of those albums that could have gone to either project. After that year, the projects were very much on individual paths in a way that was cool because I no longer had to think about, “What do I want to do with this?” The thing presented itself, and now I can just follow those things rather than look for things, if that makes sense.

Box for Buddy, Box for Star is billed as your first traditional LP under this moniker. What did it mean for you to make that decision?

It wasn’t really a decision that was made before the album was written. I just wanted to write some songs that summer. I had gotten really into Shane MacGowan, the singer-songwriter from the Pogues, and it got me thinking about melody. Essentially, what I decided was to make an album with melodies that could function with or without a chord pattern, which is the opposite of the thing with Water From Your Eyes, where the melody is liquid depending on what you put it in. The idea for this Lorelei album was to create an album of melodies that would make sense if you were singing them by yourself walking through the woods as they do on the album. There are certain songs that this applies more to, like ‘I’m All Fucked Up’ and ‘Dancing in the Club’.

But I also didn’t want it to be – if it’s this fully earnest thing, I tend to get bored and lose focus. So it was genuine admiration for that stuff, leaning into the idea of embracing a lot of these traditional things, while also – not exaggerating the stereotypes, but playing into things that I wouldn’t normally write about: good and evil, saving money and gasoline, all these classic singer-songwriter motifs. I saw an interview where someone said it was stupid to write about money, and I was like, “Cool, I’m just gonna put that in a ton of songs.” Because it is overplayed, but it is ultimately a relevant and relatable thing. It was a weird combination of studying serious songwriting and, in my own way, trying to simultaneously pay respects to it but also poke fun at it a little bit. Do you know the album 12 Golden Country Greats by Ween?

I’ve heard of it.

I love that album so much. It’s such a shitpost, but it’s also honest. You can feel their love for that kind of music, and the songs are just so good. Obviously, there are things on that album that are way more directly funny than anything on the Lorelei album. With the Lorelei album, it might just be things that I find funny for my own convoluted reasons, because ultimately, I listened to it a month ago and thought, “Fuck, this is kind of gnarly and depressing.” At the time, I didn’t really feel that way, and I think approaching it in a way where it was half a joke to me allowed for the honest side of it to be more honest. I think a lot of this album, I wouldn’t have been able to be as direct without laughing while I did it. I’m sure that’s something to talk to my therapist about or whatever. [laughs] A lot of this album is a reflection and commentary on ways I’ve fucked up along the dust trail, and that shit’s funny – there’s something funny about being the pathetic one.

There are a lot of earnest self-reflections on the album, and you’ve even called them “aggressive self-reflections.” When you’re writing, how does your brain react when you’re in that earnest mode? Is it something you wrestle with?

It wasn’t really like there was a ratio that I was monitoring where it’s like, “I’m going to be this earnest for one song and this funny for this song.” I think that concept developed very naturally; it was almost more of an observation I made after I’d done the writing. I wrote close to 70 songs for this album and tried not to think too hard while I was doing it. It became more like, “Oh, I see what I was doing there,” but for me, if something felt funny, I’d remember it’s not funny for whatever reason. It’s funny, because that period of time – I was fucking miserable when I was making this album, and finding humor in what I could was the only thing that allowed me to be as productive as I was. I don’t know how much it shows in the final album, but for me, humor was really critical to its creation. If I listen to this album, I don’t hear the music; I just remember what it was like to make it, because these are songs I’ve heard hundreds of times as I was making them. It kind of sounds like a sink left on to me, I can’t really focus on it. But that’s just for me; maybe it can be something else to other people.

I know the record started as an experiment to make music without getting high. When did you realize that it was turning into something bigger?

Honestly, after the first couple of songs. I think the first five songs I wrote, I threw away. I had myself a little psyched out because I decided to stop smoking weed for a while, and I wanted to be sober for a year, fully. I didn’t really know what was going to happen, because the last time I wrote a song without some substance being involved was probably when I was 11 or something. It’s not something I’ve done in my adult life. The funny thing is, it ended up being really easy. I was having all sorts of anxiety about not being able to focus enough to write. Because that’s the thing with weed, for me; if I smoke weed, I can focus on something in a healthy way, whereas if I’m sober, I’m either completely distracted or hyper-fixated to the point where the rest of my life suffers as a result.

And that’s what happened with this album. I was able to write, but I wasn’t able to do anything else. It was entirely the focus; it was about two and a half months of just thinking about this album for 18 hours a day. The funny thing I didn’t anticipate is that in terms of actually writing, it ended up not that different, except I was writing too much. Almost every song on this album is significantly shorter than the first version. The original version of ‘I’m All Fucked Up’, I couldn’t put the lyrics in the priavate SoundCloud link because there’s more than 1,000 words in the song, and that’s definitely not something I’ve encountered before. The song had six verses originally, and now it only has three, and those three I also made shorter.

Focus one, like I said, was making melodies of a certain quality that don’t need help from chord progressions to function as complete melodies. Focus two was writing lyrics that I’m happy with, instead of just doing it as fast as I can. I used to be much more about: I don’t need to understand the lyrics because on some subconscious level, there was a reason I said that in that moment, and then you’re gambling being like, “Well, I hope it’s good or can mean something to somebody.” But with this album, I really worked hard on the lyrics. Instead of making a ton of music and cutting it down, I just wrote a ton of words, and the musical component was more of an afterthought.

That was really what was different about the album, that was primarily about the vocals and the words. That’s the first time I’ve ever made an album like that. Usually, the vocals are an accompaniment to the music. Music is what I’ve always been more interested in, and I haven’t been good at interpreting people’s lyrics. There are songs I grew up with where I know all the words but never bothered to think about what the person is trying to say because that’s just not so much what I’m interested in. I’m more interested in the sound of the words and the overall vibe. With this album, I really focused on one particular component and prioritized that. I don’t know if that’s how I’m going to write for Lorelei from now on, or if this album is just a blip in its differentness. The idea of releasing it on a record label kind of played into the bit of it being a classic songwriter album: 10 songs, 40 minutes.

Is ‘Where’s Your Love Now’ the longest song in This Is Lorelei’s catalog?

I think so. Actually, that song got cut down too. It’s like six minutes now, but it was closer to eight minutes at one point. The original version of this album, I was showing it to people and everybody unanimously was like, “The songs are just a little too long.” I was like, “The only thing that can happen is, if I’m able to cut them down in a way that I’m happy with, then it’s just gonna be more focused on the good parts.” I think it really helped it overall, because to me, this album is the longest format album that I would want to make with any project right now. I feel like people’s attention spans – including my own, I have a hard time focusing through a full-length album, that’s why I feel like a lot of the things that hit me the hardest and feel the most cohesive to me are in the half-hour range. I think that’s kind of the ideal length.

With ‘Where’s Your Love Now’ in particular, given the weight of it, it sounds like it’s the longest because it’s also the most important song on the album. I assume it must have been a struggle to even cut it down or complete. 

That one was funny because the parts that I cut from that song were actually largely instrumental parts. I kind of refused to cut any of the words out of that song, and that’s because that song just wrote itself. There were songs on this album where I really labored over the lyrics, making them better and better. That song was just straight up the first pass at the lyrics. I didn’t write any words for that song that didn’t stay in there. That was definitely one that fell out of the air, and I just had it all of a sudden. I don’t think it took more than half an hour to write that song. It went from not existing to being fully recorded and mixed in one evening, and then months later I made it a little shorter. But yeah, I think if this album does have a focal point, it’s that song. It’s kind of the heart of the album, or everything else is orbiting around it.

Sometimes you can never really tell, but why do you think it came so quickly?

I don’t know, it just did. Some of the other songs would start with some idea and drift away. Like ‘I’m All Fucked Up’, someone was like, “You should write a song called ‘I’m All Fucked Up’, and I was like, “Okay,” and then it happened. With ‘Where’s  Your Love Now?’, I just sat down with the guitar and  was like, “I’m gonna try and write a song.” The chord progression was the first thing I played, the words were the first thing I wrote down. I didn’t really begin to analyze it. Like a lot of the songs on this album, there are things about that song that are super honest and relate to particular situations, but it’s not like a direct retelling of anything. I wasn’t like, “I’m gonna write a song about this thing that happened to me.” It was more vibing out on a feeling that I had gotten over a longer period of time. But that song probably had the least conscious thought put into it. It dropped down and I just had to write it down and record it.

You’ve described the record as a “delayed recovery album,” and I feel like the delay is maybe the most important aspect of that process.

Yeah. When I was trying to get sober, all I could really do for a year or so, maybe less than a year – all of my conscious effort went to just not imbibing or whatever. It wasn’t until I had gotten past the physical part of that that I felt like I had the energy to go back and be like, Okay, now that I’m physically healthy enough, how did that happen? Because it doesn’t feel like me – I can’t imagine being in that place now that I’m not there anymore. But when I was there, it just felt like that was how it was going to be. So I think the delay was mostly just time spent physically recovering before I could really take a look and reflect on everything that led to a point where I had to drastically alter my lifestyle. A lot of that stuff was probably brewing subconsciously, but a lot of this album is just me thinking about that for the first time.

Also, I hadn’t made any music in like five months, which at the time was way longer than I was used to, because that was right after our first season of touring. Before the year this album got made, I was very much like, “I just live in my room, and I make music, and that’s what I spend the bulk of my time doing, and now I spend the bulk of my time in a van driving around to shows.” You can’t really do it in the same way, so I had the sense that I had all this built-up stuff because I was used to writing constantly and I hadn’t really been able to. But also realizing I’m not gonna have time to write all the time, so if I’m gonna do something, I better do it and capitalize on this moment because I don’t know when the next time I’m gonna have two and a half months to write an album is. And then it was hard to stop – I hit a point where it was like, “I have like a month before the next tour, and I really have to stop writing so I can put this album together, actually.” Which was hard to do, because I very much felt like I could have kept writing at that pace for like a year if that had been an option. But it was already too much stuff. There’s an early version that was like 8 songs, but then it blew up and it was a 32-song album for a while, and it just felt way too long.

It’s not like you haven’t written vulnerable songs for This Is Lorelei in the past – my mind goes to ‘Go Away’ from OK N8, for example. But I’m curious if there was a different kind of vulnerability in the way that you tracked and pitched your vocals specifically on this album.

I think I disguised it less on this album. Unless I had a particular conceptual justification for disguising my voice somehow, I tried to just have things be vocal takes, not messing with it because. In the past, like with the different speeds, that’s something that makes it easy to put some space in between you and the music. On this album, for the most part, I tried not to do that at all. ‘Dancing in the Club’ has the AutoTune, but that’s specifically because of the song concept, nothing else on the album does. A couple of the songs have the pitched-up vocals, but that’s really just to make it clear that there are different characters through them. It’s not about hiding inside of it, it’s more just about giving a clue to the listener if they’re trying to figure out what’s making the song tick. But at the same time, it also is just a continuation of all the same stuff. It’s all one long train of thought, album to album, so this album is certainly indebted to the process of making all the albums that came before it.

Given the kind of record you realized you were making, did you consider bringing other people in at any stage?

No, I never really seriously considered that. I was moving really quickly and I was writing so much – in the time that it would have taken to bring in a guest vocalist or a guest instrumentalist and record something, it’s like, “I could spend today doing that, or I could spend today writing two more songs. Maybe one of them will be good enough to put on. The recordings themselves are secondary to the songs on this album. The way everything was laid out was just a gut reaction based on the nature of the song itself. I wasn’t adjusting any drum mics or anything; everything on this album is pretty much one take. The recording process wasn’t enough of a priority that bringing other people was something I considered much. Also, I was in a very antisocial place. I did not want to be hanging out with people. I wanted to be alone in my room writing songs, and I had a very low tolerance for being around other people that summer. I was doing some intense therapy at the time, so I was focused on writing and working on doing my best with my mental state. I guess bringing other people into the project wasn’t something I even thought of as a possibility. If nothing else, the baseline reason was that I just didn’t want to be around anybody.

There’s a line that stuck out to me from ‘My Boy Limbo’, “I carried past instead of tending to the presence in my hand,” which feels like it captures the tension between past and present that unfolds throughout the album. 

That line can go a couple of different ways. You have the past-present thing, being too caught up in another time to focus on a particular moment. Or you can think about it like gifts, in which case you’re all of a sudden walking by someone trying to give you something and be a part of your life. It meant a variety of things to me, but it was also just wordplay, playing with the idea of what presence can mean in that situation, whether past applies to past as in the time or if you’re walking past something, ignoring the physical and emotional implications of holding something; caring for it, tending to it. I haven’t thought about that line in a while – that song wrote itself a little bit, so it’s a little more rambly and less coherent than others. It wasn’t so much of a concept, more like a train of thought you might have while trying to fall asleep or something.

Circling back to what we started talking about, does it seem daunting to hold space for different creative outlets, in terms of the energy it requires?

I wouldn’t say it’s scary. Sometimes the pressure can be overwhelming, but most of the time, it’s energizing because ultimately, I have two different things I’m trying to do at the same time, and they’re both things I really like and want to be doing. I guess now that the projects have become a thing I’m taking more seriously and that more people are hearing, it feels like the whole thing has a little more purpose now. For years and years, music was just an escape; it didn’t feel like I was really contributing to anything, I just wanted to spend my time doing something I wanted to do instead of trying to fit into a world I didn’t have much interest in. It can definitely be a lot to handle, but it’s what I want to do, and I never anticipated doing what I wanted to do intersecting with my reality beyond my inner space – my head, my bedroom, whatever.

That’s the weirdest part, that people actually – not an insane amount of people, but there are people that listen to the things I make now. There always were, but that number has slowly grown from like 5 people to whatever it is now. That’s the spooky part. Wearing the two different hats – I can do that, it’s like playing soccer one day and basketball the next. They’re both fucking sports, just slightly different formats. I have to do mental gymnastics to get myself to relax enough to write, because if I sit down to write a song, I think about having to write a song fans will like and music journalists will like, and then I just get freaked out and watch Survivor instead. I have to convince myself it really doesn’t matter at all. If I look at music I’ve made that I like, the recurring pattern is that when it was being made, I had no idea if it would come out or not. The outside world wasn’t something that was considered in the least.


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

This Is Lorelei’s Box for Buddy, Box for Star is out now via Double Double Whammy.

Remi Wolf Shares Video for New Single ‘Motorcycle’

Remi Wolf has dropped a new single, ‘Motorcyle’, which will appear on her forthcoming sophomore LP Big Ideas. She made the track with Kenny Beats, Leon Michels, and the Dap-Kings. Check out its Sweetiepie-directed video below.

“Lyrically the song dives into this internal dichotomy I experience a lot in my life,” Wolf explained in a statement. “One side of me is always wanting to slow down and settle down and be in love and be normal and have babies and shit, while the other, very forceful, part of me needs to be restlessly independent and stubborn and free. The song is essentially a fantasy about me living in a reality where both sides of me can exist simultaneously……. Secret lives of the wives of Harley Davidson type….”

Big Ideas is set to land on July 12 via EMI.

Albums Out Today: Normani, This Is Lorelei, John Cale, the Decemberists, and More

In this segment, we showcase the most notable albums out each week. Here are the albums out on June 14, 2024:


Normani, Dopamine

Normani’s long-promised debut album, Dopamine, has arrived via RCA. The ex-Fifth Harmony member promoted the record with the singles ‘1:59’ and ‘Candy Paint’; it also includes 2021’s ‘Wild Side’ featuring Cardi B, as well as appearances from Gunna, Starrah, and James Blake. “The album feels like liberation, like a season of freedom,” Normani said in an interview with Who What Wear. “Not just because the record is finally coming out, but because it’s a celebration of everything I have been through to get to this moment. During this process, I heard God say to me, ‘Trust me. I know you’re afraid, but trust me anyway. Dare to trust me anyway. Now is the time.’”


This Is Lorelei, Box for Buddy, Box for Star

This is Lorelei, the solo project of Water From Your Eyes member Nate Amos, has released a new album, Box for Buddy, Box for Star, via Double Double Whammy. Though Amos has dropped dozens of EPs and hundreds of songs under the moniker, this is his first attempt at a traditional album. “I had just finished a tour with Water From Your Eyes, during which I laid on the ground at Stonehenge for 40 minutes and decided to stop smoking weed,” he explained. “Initially, this album was just a challenge to make music without getting high, and I was worried I wouldn’t come up with anything at all. I isolated myself from pretty much everyone and wrote songs all summer. I was pretty broke and significantly depressed, but also in a sort of healthy mental demolition mode, trying to reimagine how I wanted to move forward with my life. For better or worse, what I made ended up being a delayed recovery album, largely dealing with more significant addictions that I kicked a year earlier.”


John Cale, POPtical Illusion

John Cale has issued a new album titled POPtical Illusion. Out now via Double Six/Domino, the follow-up to last year’s MERCY was produced by Cale and longtime collaborator Nita Scott in his Los Angeles studio. In contrast to MERCY, which featured collaborations with Animal Collective, Weyes Blood, Sylvan Esso, Laurel Halo, and more, the new album finds him burrowing “mostly alone into mazes of synthesizers and samples, organs and pianos, with words that, as far as Cale goes, constitute a sort of swirling hope, a sage insistence that change is yet possible,” per a press release. The 13-track LP was preceded by the singles ‘Shark-Shark’ and ‘How We See the Light’.


The Decemberists, As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

The Decemberists are back with their first album in six years, As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again. The follow-up to I’ll Be Your Girl is a double LP split into four thematic sides, and it was produced by lead singer Colin Meloy and Tucker Martine. Ahead of its release, the band unveiled the songs ‘Burial Ground’, the 19-minute ‘Joan in the Garden’, ‘All I Want Is You’, and ‘Oh No’. After a run of nearly two decades with Capitol, the new album also marks the band’s first on their own label YABB Records.


Martha Skye Murphy, Um

Martha Skye Murphy has put out her debut full-length, Um, via AD 93. The UK artist co-produced the LP with Ethan P. Flynn, with Marta Salogni and Heba Kadry handling the mixing and mastering, respectively. It features contributions from claire rousay, Roy Montgomeryca, caroline’s Alex McKenzie, Squid’s Laurie Nankivell, and more. “I wanted the album to feel like this constant tension between being in a very intimate domestic space, and then propelled into a far stranger environment that is difficult to situate,” Murphy explained in a statement. “I want people to feel disoriented, erotically charged by the intimacy of a bedroom, then catapulted into a desert.”


Cola, The Gloss

Cola – the project of former Ought members Tim Darcy and Ben Stidworthy and US Girls drummer Evan Cartwright – have put out their sophomore album, The Gloss, via Fire Talk. The follow-up to 2021’s Deep in View includes the previously unveiled tracks ‘Keys Down If You Stay’‘Bitter Melon’, ‘Pallor Tricks’, ‘Albatross’ and ‘Pulling Quotes’. The band decamped to NDG in the southwest of Montreal to track the album with their frequent collaborator Valentin Ignat (Helena Deland, Corridor).


Kneecap, Fine Art

Irish rap trio Kneecap have come through with their debut album, Fine Art, via Heavenly Recordings. The group made the 12-track effort with producer Toddla T, and it features contributions from Lankum’s Radie Peat, Grian Chatten of Fontaines D.C., and Jelani Blackman. “When we got into the studio with Toddla T, we scrapped every song we had and started from complete scratch,” the group’s Mo Chara explained in a statement. “T’s idea was to tell the story of Kneecap. So the record was conceived as the listener stepping into Kneecap’s world. That’s where the idea came to set whole thing in a pub. You walk into a pub at the start, there’s someone offering you a drink, there’s a singsong… really, it’s us taking you by the hand and leading you into our world.”


Raveena, Where the Butterflies Go in the Rain

Raveena has released a new album, Where the Butterflies Go in the Rain, via Empire. Following 2022’s Asha’s Awakening, the record was preceded by the tracks ‘Pluto’, ‘Lucky’, and ‘Junebug’ featuring JPEGMAFIA. “Butterflies are so delicate that they have to hide in leaves and flowers until the rain passes so that their wings don’t get crushed in the rain,” Raveena said in press materials. “I felt like that was kind of a metaphor for where I was in my life. I needed to go back to comfort—to deep rest—and stop weathering storms.”


Mike Lindsay, supershapes volume 1

Mike Lindsay – Mercury Prize-winning producer, co-founder of the folk band Tunng, and one-half of LUMP with Laura Marling – has issued his debut solo album, supershapes volume 1. It’s the first installment in a series of albums that explore “the miraculous in the mundane,” according to Lindsay, diving into “everyday domestic objects, especially tables, coffee table books, and the daily rituals that shape us, heavily focusing on the majestic in the domestic.” Anna B Savage’s vocals are featured prominently through the record, which also includes contributions from multi-instrumentalist Ross Blake, saxophonist Robert Stillman (of the Smile’s live band), and drummer Adam Betts (Three Trapped Tigers, Squarepusher).


Bored at My Grandmas House, Show & Tell

Show & Tell is the debut LP by Bored at My Grandmas House, the project of Leeds-based singer-songwriter Amber Strawbridge. “The main overall theme of this album is connection,” Strawbridge said of the follow-up to 2021’s Sometimes I Forget You’re Human Too EP. “Connection with myself, connection with the world and connection to the people around me who I love. This album is for me first and foremost and was a way for me to internally process. The origin of these tracks all stem from me wanting to understand these connections and process my emotions surrounding them. The album covers topics such as the power of queer love, humanity and its ‘delusions of grandeur’, reflection and purpose.”


Other albums out today:

Mike Lindsay, supershapes volume 1; Moby, always centered at night; Staples Jr. Singers, Searching; Sea Girls, Midnight Butterflies; John Grant, The Art of the Lie; Jess Cornelius, CARE/TAKING; KRM & KMRU, Disconnect; Florrie, The Lost Ones; Zsela, Big For You; James Vincent McMorrow, Wide Open, Horses; Walt Disco, The Warping; RJD2, Visions Out of Limelight; Carlos Niño & Friends, PlacentaREZN, Burden; Russian Baths, Mirror; Lindsey Stirling, Duality; Meghan Trainor, Timeless;

The Blessed Madonna Enlists Daniel Wilson, KON, and Yuki Kanesaka on New Single ‘Count on My Love’

The Blessed Madonna has teamed up with Daniel Wilson, KON, and Yuki Kanesaka for the new single ‘Count on My Love’. It arrives on the heels of February’s ‘Happier’, featuring Clementine Douglas. Take a listen below.

“The whistling is just Daniel Wilson on a hot demo mic,” the Blessed Madonna said of the track in a statement. “He whistles in session to practice or find melodies and it just fit so well.”

“The piano interlude was Yuki being asked to play it like Bruce Hornsby, which is amazing,” she added. “At the end of the session with KON and Yuki, I literally took all the magnificent jazz and funk playing, ran it through two distortion units and added a 909 on top, and I was like ‘I swear this is gonna to be a good one’.”