There’s something so empowering about wearing a leather jacket – you just feel instantly cooler. Maybe it’s the way it toughens up the simplest outfits or how it somehow works in every season. No matter the vibes, cool, minimal, or maybe vintage, the leather jacket is a wardrobe essential.
Let’s break down how to find the perfect leather jacket through so many great options.
The Classic Biker Jacket
The biker jacket is the ultimate cool-girl staple. Originally designed for, you guessed it, bikers, it’s now a street-style favorite. Most of them have belted waists, and asymmetric zippers and work with everything. Leather jackets work great with layers, so add them over a floral dress, a shirt, or a white t-shirt. If you’re looking for a high-quality option, AllSaints has some classic ones such as the Dalby Slim Fit Leather Biker Jacket.
Credit: AllSaints
The Moto Jacket
Similar to the biker jacket but with a slightly softer look, moto jackets often have and less hardware. They’re perfect if you want that leather feel without too much extra detail. Moto jackets can be cropped or hip-length, making them super versatile. Black is classic, but don’t overlook brown, burgundy, or even pastel shades.
The Oversized Leather Jacket
If your vibe is more relaxed, an oversized leather jacket is a must. It gives off that borrowed-from-the-boys feel and is perfect for layering. This style looks great with everything from leggings to slip dresses. They have become very popular lately, especially the larger, vintage fits. If you are looking for that perfect influencer fit, wear it with tailored trousers and ankle boots, as well as some funky sunglasses. The Acne Studios’ oversized jackets nail that edgy vibe.
Credit: Acne Studios
The Leather Shirt Jacket
A leather shirt jacket, sometimes called a “shacket,” is a great in-between option. It is structured enough to elevate an outfit but relaxed enough for a normal, everyday outfit. It’s ]lightweight and slightly boxy, so you can easily layer it over sweaters or turtlenecks. Unlike heavier jackets, a shacket is perfect to keep you warm on breezy days, and to make every outfit feel more fun. The Peek & Cloppenburg Shirt jacket is a chic and budget-friendly take on this trend.
Credit: Peek & Cloppenburg
Choosing the Right Leather Jacket
When shopping for a leather jacket, consider fit, quality, and color, but most importantly, your style because there is something out there for everyone. A well-fitted jacket should hug your shoulders but allow for some movement. If you’re investing in real leather, you can even opt for a vintage or thrifted option. This way, you will get a unique, well-worn look, but you’ll also be making a more sustainable choice. With faux leather, the options have come a long way, so if you prefer vegan alternatives look for high-quality finishes.
The right leather jacket, especially one made with real leather, will stay in your wardrobe for years. So find your perfect match, take good care of it, and channel your inner cool girl.
Tattooing, one of the world’s oldest art forms, has always lived within dualities: the sacred and the profane, the public and the private, chaos and control. Today, we are honored to speak with Xiaoling Li—professionally known as Ling is eel—a top tattoo artist based in New York City. For her, these contrasts are not abstract ideas; they shape the fabric of her daily life.
An award-winning tattoo artist and illustrator based in New York City, Li was born in Beijing to immigrant parents from both North and South Korea. Her multicultural background has shaped a distinct artistic voice that bridges illustration, fine art and tattooing. After earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in 2020, she developed a refined and evolving tattoo style alongside her practice in traditional oil painting and visual storytelling. Her work has received international recognition, including a Merit Award in the 3×3 International Illustration Annual No.17 Show. In 2022 she exhibited an oil painting in Solace of the Myth, a curated group show featuring acclaimed tattoo artists such as Krish Trece, Filouino and Amon Maiden.
Today, based in New York, Li splits her practice between the unpredictable energy of traditional tattoo shops and the quiet intimacy of her own private studio. That choice, with one foot in each world, is deliberate and offers a window into what it means to be a contemporary tattooer navigating very different spaces.
The Street Shop: A Theater of Humanity
Traditional tattoo shops, often found along busy streets, announce themselves with neon signs that are equal parts daring and impulsive invitation. Inside, the atmosphere is electric. Walk-ins arrive in waves: construction workers squeezing in tattoos during lunch breaks, couples making spontaneous declarations of love, seasoned collectors and curious first-timers.
For artists, these shops offer an education in constant motion. “When you’re surrounded by other tattooers, you’re always learning,” Li says. “Watching techniques, exchanging ideas, sharing conversations, it’s like an unending apprenticeship.” The diversity of clients also means a constant stream of stories, personalities and perspectives.
But openness comes with friction. Tattooers, by nature, often bring intense personalities, and many shops are crucibles of clashing egos. For clients, vulnerability can also feel magnified. “It’s easy for someone to feel uncomfortable taking off their clothes in a crowded environment,” Li explains. “Even a small tattoo on the chest or ribs becomes a public act when there are strangers walking by.”
The shop itself is rarely neutral territory. Décor, rules and atmosphere are dictated by the owner. Even hanging personal artwork on the walls can require permission, leaving some artists feeling creatively stifled. “It’s stimulating,” Li admits. “It’s also a space where you’re constantly negotiating your autonomy.”
The Private Studio: Silence, Trust and Control
In stark contrast, Li’s private studio offers a refuge of silence. There are no walk-ins, no ringing phones and no competing egos. Every client has chosen her specifically, often after months of research and reflection.
The shift in atmosphere is profound. “It becomes more than just a tattoo,” she says. “It’s a real conversation, a private exchange that can feel almost ritualistic.” Clients are more relaxed, even when physically exposed, because the setting itself is intimate and safe. Sessions unfold slowly, with space for dialogue and trust.
The studio also doubles as a canvas for Li’s own identity. From the furniture to the artwork, every detail reflects her taste. “It’s where I can grow as an artist on my own terms,” she says. “The space itself becomes part of the tattooing process.”
Yet solitude demands resilience. There is no team to lean on when a client becomes difficult, no quick feedback from peers and no outside comparisons.
The Balance Between Two Worlds
For Li, the tension between these environments is not about choosing one over the other but understanding the unique value each brings.
The shop connects her to the raw pulse of humanity, sharpening instincts and placing her craft within a larger community. The studio allows her to refine her vision, create in safety and build deeper relationships with clients who arrive not by chance but by choice. Together, they form a complete picture of what it means to be a tattooer today: part artisan, part confidante, part business owner and part solitary visionary.
“Tattooing is never just about ink on skin,” Li reflects. “It’s about the environment, the relationship and the entire experience. The shop and the studio may feel like opposite worlds, but both have shaped me and both live in my work.”
Miley Cyrus has announced a new album, Something Beautiful, which arrives May 30 via Columbia. The pop star executive produced the 13-track LP along with Shawn Everett. In the album cover, which you can find below, Cyrus can be seen wearing archival 1997 Thierry Mugler couture, “a striking nod to the album’s bold aesthetic and visual storytelling,” per press materials. It was shot by renowned fashion photographer Glen Luchford.
Ahead of the release of their new album Patience, Moonbeam on Friday, Great Grandpa have offered up one more preview, ‘Never Rest’. The track, which begins as a gentle ballad before reaching its climax, follows previous cuts ‘Kid’, ‘Doom’, ‘Junior’, and ‘Ladybug’. Check it out below.
‘Never Rest’ literally started out as a lullaby for Pat and Carrie Goodwins’ son. “I think we all resonate with extremes and the contrast present in our daily lives and try to express that through our song’s journeys,” Pat reflected, adding:
A truffle from Amsterdam. An odyssey across Southern Denmark on bicycle. How do you become a parent? How do you make something for your child? I’ve always loved trying to incorporate uncommon modes into our music and felt the drone/Lydian elements brought a tension and spiritual quality to this song of transformation. The wonderful Jeremiah Moon contributed the beautiful syrupy cello parts that sold the teetering sea sickness and psychedelia of the journey. George Martin utilized these drooping glissando string moves to such fantastic effect in much of the Beatles’ more spiritual/psychedelic moments, and this proved to be our North Star as we worked on the arrangement.
Cass McCombs has released a new single, ‘Priestess’, which he showcased as the latest guest on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert. McCombs opened his performance with the enigmatic tune, following it up with older songs including ‘County Line’, ‘Robin Egg Blue’, and ‘Opium Flower’. He was jjoined by Brian Betancourt on bass, Frank LoCrasto on keyboards, and Austin Vaughn on drums. Check it out below.
The Bug Club have announced Very Human Features, their fourth LP and second for Sub Pop. The band made the 13-track record with producer Tom Rees, who also worked on 2024’s On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System. It’s set to drop on June 13, and it’s led by the tuneful yet furious ‘Jealous Boy’. Check it out and find the album cover, tracklist, and the Bug Club’s upcoming tour dates below.
Very Human Features Cover Artwork:
Very Human Features Tracklist:
1. Full Grown Man
2. Twirling in the Middle
3. Jealous Boy
4. Young Reader
5. Beep Boop Computers
6. Muck (Very Human Features)
7. When the Little Choo Choo Train
Toots His Little Horn
8. How to Be a Confidante
9. Living in the Future
10. Tales of a Visionary Teller
11. The Sound of Communism
12. Blame Me
13. Appropriate Emotions
The Bug Club 2025 Tour Dates:
Mar 25 – Toronto, ON – Longboat Hall
Mar 27 – Portland, OR – Polaris Hall
Mar 28 – Seattle, WA – The Vera Project
Mar 29 – Baker City, OR – Churchill School
Mar 30 – Boise, ID – Treefort Festival
Apr 1 – Denver, CO – Hi-Dive
Apr 3 – Oklahoma City, OK – 89th Street
Apr 4 – Austin, TX – The Ballroom Texas
Apr 5 – Denton, TX – Rubber Gloves
Apr 6 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
Apr 9 – Las Vegas, NV – Swan Dive
Apr 10 – Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room
Apr 11 – San Diego, CA – Whistle Stop
Apr 29 – Bruges, Belgium – Cactus Club
Apr 30 – Eindhoven, Netherlands – Altstadt
May 1 – Nijmegen, Netherlands – Doornroosje
May 2 – Utrecht, Netherlands – De Nijverheid
May 3 – Groningen, Netherlands – Vera
May 5 – Berlin, Germany – Privatclub
May 6 – Hamburg, Germany – Molotow Skybar
May 7 – Cologne, Germany – Blue Shell
May 9 – Milan, Italy – Arci Bellezza
May 10 – Ravenna, Italy – Bronson
May 13 – Paris, France – Supersonic
May 14 – Lille, France – L’Aeronef
May 15 – Brighton, UK – The Great Escape Festival, Paganini Ballroom (Early)
May 31 – Cheltenham, UK – Wychwood Festival
Jun 20-22 – Nelsonville, OH – Nelsonville Art & Music Festival
Jul 26 – Thirsk, UK – Deer Shed Festival
Aug 27 – Sheffield, UK – Don Valley Stadium ^
Aug 30 – Dorset, UK – End of the Road Festival
Back in January, Ethel Cain released Perverts, a 90-minute experimental project that was billed as an EP. Now, on her birthday, the singer-songwriter has announced the proper follow-up to her 2022 debut, Preacher’s Daughter. It’s titled Willoughby Tucker, I Will Always Love You, and it’s due for release this August.
If the name “Willoughby Tucker” sounds familiar, it’s because Cain sang about him as her high school boyfriend on the Preacher’s Daughter highlight ‘A House in Nebraska’. Cain has also today announced the Willoughby Tucker Forever Tour in partnership with the Ally Coalition, with $1 from every ticket sold donated to organizations committed to serving the trans community.
Willoughby Tucker, I Will Always Love You Cover Artwork:
Ethel Cain 2025 Tour Dates:
Aug 12-13 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre
Aug 15 – Vancouver, BC – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Aug 16 – Portland, OR – Edgefield
Aug 18 – Berkeley, CA – The Greek Berkeley
Aug 20 – Los Angeles, CA – Shrine Auditorium
Aug 22 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
Aug 24 – Dallas, TX – The Bomb Factory
Aug 25 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall
Aug 26 – Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park
Aug 28-89 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern
Aug 30 – Asheville, NC – Asheville Yards
Sep 4 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
Sep 5 – Washington, DC – The Anthem
Sep 6 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met
Sep 9 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall
Sep 10 – Brooklyn, NY – Kings Theatre
Sep 12 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner
Sep 13 – Buffalo, NY – Outer Harbor Live at Terminal B
Sep 15-16 – Toronto, ON – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Sep 17 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Cathedral Theatre
Sep 19 – St. Paul, MN – Palace Theatre
Sep 20 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed (Fairgrounds)
Oct 2 – Manchester, UK – O2 Apollo
Oct 4 – Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy Glasgow
Oct 9 – London, UK – Eventim Apollo
Oct 14 – Brussels, Belgium – Ancienne Belgique
Oct 15-16 – Utrecht, Netherlands – TivoliVredenburg
Oct 18 – Paris, France – L’Olympia
Oct 21 – Cologne, Germany – Carlswerk Victoria
Oct 23 – Berlin, Germany – Huxley’s Neue Welt
Oct 24 – Hamburg, Germany – Docks
Oct 25 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Vega
Oct 27 – Oslo, Norway – Sentrum Scene
Oct 28 – Stockholm, Sweden – Fållan
Oct 31 – Warsaw, Poland – Stodola
Nov 01 – Prague, Czech Republic – Roxy
Nov 02 – Vienne, Austria – Gasometer
Nov 04 – Zurich, Switzerland – X-tra—Zurich
Nov 05 – Milan, Italy – Alcatraz
Nov 07 – Barcelona, Spain – Razzmatazz
Nov 08 – Madrid, Spain – Teatro Eslava
Nov 09 – Lisbon, Portugal – LAV Warehouse
Korean beauty is ahead of the curve, and Korean entertainment plays a big role in shaping beauty trends around the globe. K-dramas and K-pop stars reach new levels of perfection, and their flawless beauty sets standards that many women aspire to achieve. With some little tricks and the right make-up, everyone can channel a little of the K-beauty magic. Here’s what’s in now in the K-beauty scene.
1. Glazed Doughnut Skin
Move over, glass skin, cause 2025 is all about glazed doughnut skin. This trend takes radiance to another level, focusing on ultra-hydrated, reflective skin that looks as if it’s been glazed with a glossy topcoat. Achieve this look with a lightweight base and hydrating serums under a dewy foundation. You can try the TIRTIR foundation, a very popular choice now with influencers, with a cushion application that makes it easy to get that dewy finish.
2. Aegyo Sal – The Cutest Eye Trend Returns
Aegyo sal, or “charming fat,” is the subtle puffiness under the lower lash line that makes eyes look bigger and more youthful. Unlike under-eye bags, which can make you look tired, aegyo sal is very popular in Korea right now and adds a cute appearance.
The trend leans into soft, natural highlighting. You can apply a light shimmer right on top with a fluffy brush to make the effect pop even more. Some brands are also launching aegyo sal-specific pencils and palettes to make this look effortless.
Credit: YesStyle
3. Soft Blur Blush
Blush is at the center of attention (and the face) in 2025. Instead of bold, structured blush placement, the goal is to create a dreamy watercolor effect. Think airbrushed pinks and mauves that melt into the skin. If you want to achieve this look, powder formulas with ultra-fine pigments and cushion blushes are ideal.
4. Puppy Liner 2.0
K-beauty’s signature puppy liner is evolving – instead of a sharp cat-eye, this softer eyeliner look follows the natural downward curve of the eye. To make it even better, make it colored puppy liner! Brown, burgundy, and soft navy shades are replacing blacks, and that makes everything look subtler and more playful. When you pair it with curled lashes and just a little bit of eyeshadow, it’s the perfect look to let the liner shine.
Credit: Judydoll
5. Gradient Gloss Lips
The gradient lip is a beloved Korean trend, and now it is getting a glossy upgrade. To make your lips look naturally full and hydrated, the secret weapon is the juicy gloss – and now you can even get ones that don’t transfer at all, such as the Romand dewyful tints. Start with a lip tint on the inner part of the lips, then blend outward. Finish with a light-reflecting gloss to add dimension without taking away the softness of the look.
Credit: Romand
6. Holographic Eye Shimmers
For every woman who loves a little sparkle, 2025 is your year! Holographic and multi-dimensional eye shimmers are a huge trend, and make-up companies always find ways to make it better. Think iridescent pinks, lavenders, and icy blues that catch the light beautifully, making you feel and look like a fairy. Layer them over a neutral eyeshadow or wear them alone, to be the star of every room.
Credit: Unleashia
Final Thoughts
Korea knows how to do effortless beauty – even if, behind all these products and trends, there is a lot of effort. Makeup looks in 2025 are all about softness and radiance, and the best part? These trends focus on enhancing your natural features. So grab your favorite products and have fun experimenting with this year’s K-beauty looks.
The gentler Lucy Dacus’ songs seem, the more piercing they usually are. The singer-songwriter’s sparest compositions tend to be not only the most emotionally unsparing, but points of unexpected climax in her records, with ‘Thumbs’ off 2021’s Home Video remaining the most terrific example. Since that album was released, Dacus has won three Grammys with her boygenius bandmates Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker (for the record), who both feature on Forever Is a Feeling, Dacus’ Blake Mills-produced fourth album and major label debut. Rather than expanding or polishing up her sound, it charts an ongoing evolution by refining the subtleties and zoning into the minutiae of her songwriting, whose reflections of love, fame, and trust now concern some of the very people helping to bring it to life. Save for ‘Limerence’, the album’s advance singles have mostly been bouncy and mid-tempo, but there’s an enticing tug-of-war between those songs and the deep cuts that pull back. Forever is about traveling long distances and trying to transcend them, about tasting forever in the throes of change, taking the gamble on love when you’re caught between fantasy and truth. It doesn’t always sound as big as the concepts Dacus invokes – God, Fate, Chance – but it’s in the stillest moments that you know exactly what she means, leaving you in a chokehold.
1. Calliope Prelude
The name, in Greek, literally means “beautiful-voiced,” a quality that rendered her the Muse of eloquence and epic poetry. Dacus’ musical trajectory may have been marked by a shift towards elegance, but the singer-songwriter has never presented herself as a natural embodiment of it, but something strainful and aspirational: “Believe me, I’m speaking plainly and painfully/ Trying to stay elegant, eloquent and delicate to you,” she sang on Historian’s ‘Body to Flame’. Her own voice and poetry does not yet make an appearance; the opening track is an instrumental showcase for one of the album’s principal collaborators, Phoenix Rousiamanis. “If most people’s minds have one to ten facets, hers has like a hundred,” Dacus said in press materials. You can hear them all in the stacked layers of violin, beautifully stirring the record to life.
2. Big Deal
Over shuffling drums and softly strummed guitar, Dacus makes her way to the titular point, “You’re a big deal,” which she repeats over and over. A New Yorker profile that confirmed Dacus is in a committed relationship with Julien Baker framed Forever Is a Feeling as an album about falling in love, but Dacus was also inspired by the other end of that. Yet a song as nuanced and gracious as ‘Big Deal’ blurs the line between the falling in and out, though it chronologically fits into the latter. “Everything comes up to the surface in the end/ Even the things we’d rather leave unspoken,” she sings, and that affirmation is the thing she lands on, even if a relationship between them could never flourish. Beneath the song’s own surface is a lush tapestry of sound ensuring none of the genuine emotion is misconstrued as irony – not even “sincerely happy for the both of you,” which in any other context should leave at least a small burn.
3. Ankles
I wrote about the song’s lyrics in our list of the best songs of January; what I’d like to point your attention to here is Dacus’ use of the Solina and Juno synths, which sparkle gorgeously over the violin and cello. As Dacus sings “Let me touch you where I want to,” each repetition of “there” seems to fill the ceiling with paint. The dreamy instruments soon all fall into the same rhythm, like two bodies falling into place, or fantasy taking real shape.
4. Limerence
Every layer of artifice – and most eloquent instrumentation – melts on ‘Limerence’, the record’s first real gut-punch. The piano (played by Rousiamanisis) is one with Dacus’ stream-of-consciousness; every other musical element dizzies with uncertainty, desire, guilt. Even poetry, in its vaguest definition, seems out of the question: “Everything comes up to the surface in the end/ Even the things we’d rather leave unspoken” becomes “I’m just shoveling popcorn into my mouth/ So I don’t say the things that I’m thinking out loud.” Then, of course, it all starts to spill out: wanting to break someone’s heart; dissociation; betrayals of trust. It’s all sung in such plain language that when Dacus ends the song with “the stillness might eat me alive,” it hardly sounds figurative.
5. Modigliani
“Modigliani melancholy got me long in the face,” sings Dacus on this track co-produced by Blake Mills, who also helmed the just-released and similarly baroque record by Japanese Breakfast titled For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women). Nice! The song, which also features the record’s first Phoebe Bridgers guest vocal, feels a bit aimless until Dacus makes her point clear – “You will never be famous to me” – an interesting echo of “You’re a big deal.” Celebrity has put a barrier between the singer and the other person, making her homesick for places she’s never been to. She’s still trying to find the words, which explains why ‘Modigliani’ feels more like a draft than a complete thought.
6. Talk
The record’s most dynamic and arguably damning song, ‘Talk’ mounts up tension as Dacus’ questioning escalates from “Why can’t we talk anymore?” to “Why was our best sex in hotels and our worst fights in their stairwells?” By that point, you can barely hear her voice over the avalanche of instrumentation, which includes “horror strings” by Jake Finch and “horror piano” by Collin Pastore. It may not be enough to make you flinch, but it definitely shakes up the record.
7. For Keeps
‘For Keeps’ is Dacus’ confessional songwriting at its most exacting and fully realized – it doesn’t even need the violin provided in ‘Limerence’, or Blake Mills’ illustrious production, just the accompaniment of his acoustic guitar. “If the Devil’s in the details, then God is in the gap in your teeth/ You are doing the Lord’s work every time you smile at me,” Dacus exalts. You’re waiting for the twist, the but, the reason for the song’s title. They come in order: “But I still miss you when I’m with you/ Cause I know we’re not playing for keeps.” Like sighing with a knot in your throat, a breath so sharp it threatens to eat you back alive.
8. Forever Is a Feeling
The personnel on the title track is exciting: Baker and Bridgers both lend vocals, Madison Cunningham is on 12-string acoustic guitar, Hannah Kim plays harp, Ted Poor contributes gamelan, Melina Duterte and Andrew Lappin offer intricate drum programming, and there’s additional drums, synths, and piano from Bartees Strange. But the song never really explodes like you expect it to, perhaps because forever isn’t this infinite, ever-expanding feeling in Dacus’ universe so much as a liminal one: being “in between things that make sense,” as she puts it on the previous song. Bliss makes sense, and Hell does too. Try to remember both and you get something like forever.
9. Come Out
Forever Is a Feeling was written between the fall of 2022 and summer 2024, and the way Dacus wraps a melody around the line “I miss you, I miss you, I miss you in my arms” makes me wonder if ‘Come Out’ was written after Dacus attended Mitski’s acoustic show in Los Angeles last year. (Mitski sang backing vocals on Home Video’s ‘Going Going Gone’.) A gentler counterpart to ‘Modigliani’, the song’s longing is enhanced by ethereal layers of harp, celeste, and toy piano, while the drums echo out as if to travel the whole distance. But it’s the third verse, where Dacus takes a step back, that’s the real standout. “I used to think that’d be the worst, to grow old and run out of words/ Now I have seen some incredible things/ I could never describe if I tried.” Not talking, or having nothing to say, could feel like that, too.
10. Best Guess
Speaking of what the future could feel like, we have ‘Best Guess’. As in, “You are my best guess at the future.” As in, the most uncomplicated and purely happy song on Forever Is a Feeling. There’s no doubt lyrically that Dacus is taking the bet, but there’s a sense of holding back in the music – you wonder why it’s not fully going for it.
11. Bullseye
Hozier reanimates the song when he appears in the second verse, but it’s the way his voice lifts the song that’s most transfixing. It looks back on a broken relationship with a mix of earnest nostalgia and spite, worth it for the final couplet alone: “The world that we built meant the world to me/ When one world ends, the other worlds keep spinning.”
12. Most Wanted Man
Few guitarists can play the electric or make it sound like Blake Mills does here – the sort of tangled, piercing thunder we’ve come to associate with his work on Perfume Genius’ music, which includes Glory, the album that’ll come out the same day as Forever Is a Feeling. The instrument is thrillingly synchronized with Dacus’ atypical delivery, which bolts through each confession as if it might shield the intimacy away from the listeners who don’t need a footnote to understand who “the most wanted man in West Tennessee” is. (Dacus doubles down by inviting Baker to sing on the track.) Blink and you might miss ardent promises like “I just wanna make you happy/ Will you let me spend a lifetime trying?” and “I promise anything you give to me is something I will keep.” But Dacus really makes a run for it when she sings: “If it’s not God, it’s Fate/ If it’s not Fate, it’s Chance/ If it’s my chance I’m gonna take it.” None of the hesitation of ‘Best Guess’ here.
13. Lost Time
‘Lost Time’ is to ‘Most Wanted Man’ what ‘Limerence’ is to ‘Ankles’, or maybe what ‘Come Out’ is to ‘Modigliani’ – an exhalation, simpler and gentler. But it’s also that to the entire album, and it pays off in a cathartic climax that holds enough of that ‘Night Shift’ spark to excite those who may have lost faith in Lucy Dacus ever making anything like that song – even if it’s only reserved for those who have stuck through the most patient, understated stretches of Forever Is a Feeling. “I notice everything about you,” she proclaims. “I can’t help it/ It’s not a choice, it’s been this way since we met.” When she reverse-engineers the track to close with the demo version, it works like a time machine, undiluted evidence of this way. If you’ve made it this far, you can’t help but be swept up by the feeling, the one you can never quite put a finger on.
Effective community management is vital for nurturing player relationships and building successful gaming teams in the professional gaming sector. Community managers play a critical role in connecting with players through various activities such as events, tournaments, and discussions on platforms ranging from forums to social media. When community managers understand players’ interests, whether they enjoy strategy games, multiplayer battles, or even casual sessions at platforms like Katana spin uk, they can foster genuine connections and loyalty.
Roles of a Community Manager in Gaming
In video games, community managers play very important roles by connecting players with producers. One of their main jobs is to manage social media. On sites like Twitter, Discord, and Instagram, they make interesting posts, react to player comments, and encourage ongoing conversations. Another essential job is to moderate the forum well. This means that managers have to police community rules, settle disagreements, and make sure that people talk to each other respectfully, all while keeping the forum safe and welcoming for everyone.
Community managers also plan and organise events like tournaments, gifts, and meet-ups to keep players coming back and make the community more interactive. Also, they always get comments from players and review it to improve the games and the community happier. Community managers make sure that active, vibrant gaming communities stay alive and grow by doing their jobs well. This has an effect on keeping players and the general success of the gaming brand.
Impact of Effective Community Management in Gaming
Good community management greatly increases the number of players who stay with the game by making the community a more friendly place for everyone. Community managers directly affect how happy players are by responding quickly to concerns, offering help, and getting people to participate in events and forums.
Fire Gaming says that good community management makes people more loyal and gives them a better emotional connection to the game, which keeps them playing. Additionally, making community rules clear and using flexible moderation methods help keep a polite environment, which strengthens players’ dedication even more. Active moderation and regular contact also help keep player communities healthy and lively, bringing in new members and keeping the ones that are already there.
Challenges in Community Management
Community management in gaming often encounters several common challenges:
Conflict Management: Disagreements among players can disrupt community harmony. Establishing clear conflict-resolution protocols and mediation techniques helps manage disputes effectively.
Maintaining Engagement: Sustaining player interest requires continuous creativity. Regularly organizing engaging events, competitions, and interactive activities keeps communities vibrant and connected.
Rule Enforcement and Updates: Balancing community guidelines with player freedom demands transparency. Consistently communicating the reasons behind rules while updating them according to player feedback fosters trust and compliance.
Case Studies and Success Stories
Community management that works well has been key to the success of many game teams and businesses, resulting in higher brand recognition and more players. Some important examples are:
Bungie
Bungie, renowned for developing the Halo and Destiny franchises, has effectively utilized community management to foster strong player engagement. Maintaining an active online presence through Bungie.net facilitates direct communication between developers and players, addresses feedback, and builds a loyal community. Their approach includes detailed game statistics, community forums, and regular updates.
PMS Clan
PMS Clan, originally known as “Psychotic Man Slayerz,” is one of the largest all-female gaming groups globally. Founded in 2002, the clan has successfully leveraged community management to create a supportive environment for female gamers. By organizing divisions across various gaming platforms and hosting events, PMS Clan has promoted inclusivity and diversity within the gaming community.
Gfinity
Gfinity, an esports solutions provider, has excelled in community building by creating and delivering virtual esports programs and competitions. Their partnerships with major game publishers and sports organizations have led to record-breaking viewership, such as the Virtual Grand Prix Series and the ePremier League Invitational Tournament.
