Tissot revealed a new collection titled PR516. The collection reinterprets a highly admired model from 1970, sporting an updated vintage design. The range includes several timepieces, including a mechanical chronograph model and three quartz variants.
The PR516 Chronograph Mechanical comes in a 41mm tapered case with a Valjoux A05 Chronograph Mechanical movement, which has 29 jewels, hacking seconds, and a power reserve of 68 hours. The timepiece comes in a black sunburst dial with the hour and minute baton hands coated with Super-LumiNova.
The quartz models come in two dial variations: plain black and plain blue. They are also slightly smaller in size, coming in at 40mm. They include an engraved caseback with sapphire glass, making it suitable for daily wear.
Writing blog posts is a great way to document your own journey, grow your business, or help yourself with search engine optimization. For those struggling to write a blog post, you can opt to buy blog posts. This way, you can skip the hassle of having to learn the ins and outs of writing a blog and ensure you still receive the well-needed blog traffic to boost your business or personal website. In this guide, we’ll examine the common question: is it hard to write a blog?
Start Blogging
Anyone can plan and create a blog post. They don’t have to be long and can include a few blog post headlines to make it more readable. Your blogging journey can start straightaway, and you don’t need to aim for perfection. Look at blogging platforms like Wix, WordPress, or Squarespace for blogging. It will work as long as you can put words on the keyboard.
Writing Blog Posts Consistently
The key factor that separates hobbyists from professional bloggers is the consistency in which they write. Experienced bloggers know that the more content you pump out, the more chance you’ll have of being discovered. More content will also give you a deeper look at analytics and will aid you in understanding what works and what doesn’t.
The main thing that discourages writers from writing new blogs is the lack of quick success, which you may get from uploading a few TikToks or Instagram reels. I’d encourage writers to take up blogging and focus on niche topics. To find out how to find niche questions, use keyword research and look for “low volume” keywords. This way, you can cover topics that don’t have much coverage but potentially a lot of traffic. Attempting to compete against international magazines and companies that spend thousands on their SEO budget is tough, so don’t be discouraged. Just play smart.
Writing blog pts consistently with a plan aids growth
Running a Succesful Blog
Being a full-time blogger is a dream of many bloggers. Running your own blog that generates revenue may seem far away, but implementing a strategy that works will help. Here are some brilliant tips from blog writing experts we have put together to help you out:
Find your specific niche and stick to it
Focus on low-volume keywords and untapped topics
Make your site easily navigable and accessible
Get guest authors to write a blog post on your website
Understand categories and structure
Use analytics to your advantage by understanding why something works and honing in on it
Final Thoughts
While your first blog post might seem a bit naff, you should be discouraged from writing blogs. While some see it as a dying art, it still has much space and growth in niches. Blogging isn’t just about writing but about understanding the niche you are covering and the needs of your readers. For example, if you’re a baker and you like baking cakes, your blog should reflect what you like to do and the key terms and trends people look at daily. This type of view into blogging will make your life easier and will aid you in creating a successful blog.
21 Savage was the musical guest on last night’s episode of Saturday Night Live. The rapper performed ‘Redrum’ before returning to the stage for ‘Should’ve Wore a Bonnet’ with Summer Walk and ‘Prove It’ featuring Brent Faiyaz. All three tracks are taken from Savage’s latest album American Dream. Watch it below.
For those who are looking to buy a new jewellery box, either for yourself or someone you love, there are multiple things you’ll need to consider. You can’t just purchase the first one you come across, as it might not be everything you need from a box! You must identify your wants and needs before you start shopping, or you could find yourself back on the search sooner than you would have liked.
Down below, we’re going to look at a whole range of things you should be considering so that you can make the best purchase. You know what to do if you’re interested in learning more about this.
Different Sections
The first thing that you’re going to need to think about is whether or not the box has different sections inside. Most jewellery boxes are cushioned on the inside, with space for dainty clip-on earrings or earrings to keep them safe. This typically consists of a few rows of cushions that you can wedge your earrings in between. Then you want to make sure there is somewhere for your necklaces to go so that they don’t get tangled up because spending an hour untangling them is likely not on your to-do list.
Some jewellery boxes even have side doors and openings that are designed specifically for different types of jewellery, most often necklaces or bracelets, so that they can hang.
If you’re someone who likes things to be organised, make sure that you take this into account when conducting your search.
Big Enough
It’s also essential to ensure that your jewellery box is big enough for all of your pieces, and if you know that you’re going to get more, then there needs to be space for those pieces, too. It’s no good purchasing a jewellery box that isn’t going to house all of your jewellery. So, you need to think carefully about how much you have to put in here and what size will be the best.
If you know that a lot of big pieces need to fit into the box or that there are lots of smaller pieces, this will impact which box you get. The type of jewellery that is generally worn will play a massive part in how big the box needs to be.
Pretty On The Outside
The outside aesthetic is, of course, massively important. Some people prefer a plain look on the outside to hide what treasures lie within, whereas others want something that looks beautiful inside and out. This will come down to personal preference in the end, so make sure that there is a lot of thought put into this, as it’s something that will be seen every day.
Think carefully about colour, the design, and whether it’s clunky looking or if it will fit in with the other items in the space. Consider the material that it is made of and how it feels to hold, how that material looks, what other colours it comes in, and so much more.
When it comes to how it looks, there are a lot of elements you have to get right if you want to find the correct box for you. Try not to settle for something that looks fine, as getting the best is better.
A Mirror
The final thought we’ll leave you with is that some jewellery boxes have mirrors! Most of them do these days, so it’s essential to consider the mirror’s size, whether this is important to the purchase or not, and so much more. The mirror allows you to try on pieces and decide how they look without getting up and walking around constantly, making life a little easier. It also allows you to compare two options from the box up close, as the mirrors are typically magnified.
We hope you have found this article helpful and now have a more solid understanding of what you should look for in a jewellery box. This will be entirely down to personal preference at the end of the day, so you have to go with what you like. Not everyone will enjoy the same boxes, and that’s okay, but the important thing is that you get one you love.
Fashion is one of the most competitive industries out there, and the success of your fashion brand will largely depend on your marketing campaign. You have to be able to capture the imagination and envy of your target audience and keep ahead of the trends.
If you want to conquer this challenge, it’s best to be on top of your game when it comes to your marketing strategy. Here are some tips to help you market your brand.
Identify Your Target Audience
Fashion isn’t completely ubiquitous for everyone; plenty of different styles are out there, and your brand won’t appeal to everyone. If you try to target as many people as possible, you target nobody in particular, meaning that your products won’t stand out or make any waves.
Market research is the first step of any marketing campaign because it informs everything afterwards. This is where you not only identify your target audience but also identify what appeals to them.
Conduct surveys to identify your target market and ask what they want from your brand and the fashion industry. This will help you to create a marketing plan that is catered to the people most likely to buy your products.
Define Your Niche
On a similar note, it’s important to define your niche. The fashion industry is huge, and once you know what your niche is, you know the kinds of people and trends you need to pay attention to.
Defining a niche is what creates a fashion brand. People should have an image in their heads when they hear your brand’s name. If someone says Doc Martins, you think of chunky soled boots. If someone says Chanel, you think of elegant haute fashion.
By having a strong brand identity and sticking to a well-defined niche, you massively increase the likelihood of creating loyal customers. You also stand out from the crowd and give people a reason to buy your products.
Beat the Trends
Fashion can be a fickle thing, and trends come and go. Some established brands can ride the waves of trends, but most fashion companies have to follow the trends and, ideally, beat them.
If your company is able to get ahead of the trend, it can do wonders for sales and your marketing efforts. Pay close attention to fashion shows and up-and-coming designs to better understand future trends. Tailor your marketing efforts to focus on these trends and get ahead of the game.
Discover Your Best Sellers
Speaking of brands, niches, and trends, you will find that some products sell much better than others over time. Data is vital to any business, and fashion is no exception.
When it comes to your best sellers, it’s essential to work out what makes them popular and how you can capitalise on it. You can focus your marketing attention on these products and build around them.
As well as paying attention to trends, these best sellers can become your core products, so you not only define your niche but you strengthen your brand identity.
Use Social Media to the Full
Social media can be a fashion marketer’s best friend. Social media is a fantastic marketing tool for any business, but it’s ideal for the fashion industry.
Fashion is an inherently visual industry, and social media allows that to shine. But it’s important to make the most out of social media. It’s not enough to just have an account and hope for the best. Use social media properly.
The Good Marketer’s Blog includes advice about how to best use different social media platforms for advertising, which is a great place to start. This way, you can ensure your ads are hitting the mark and focused on the right audience.
You should also take advantage of influencers and content creators because they can advertise your products directly and help you get on trend. Fashion bloggers are great for creating style guides that focus on your brand and help potential customers see themselves wearing your clothes.
This is all part of a strategy designed to incentivise people to buy your products and follow your brand.
Word of Mouth
Finally, your customers can market for you through word of mouth. Encourage them to leave reviews and testimonials. You can even include customers in your social media campaigns and offer incentives to talk about your products.
People listen to other people, so take advantage of that.
The term ‘sustainable fashion’ is starting to become more common, but it is not widely understood. Many people still believe that the principles behind sustainability are incompatible with an interest in fashion.
That is not the case at all though. It might have been in the past, when designers and clothes manufacturers were not really conscious of the environmental impact of the fabrics they used, but no longer.
They are increasingly aware of this and are creating stylish and trend-setting clothes that meet the requirements of sustainability. There is nothing to stop you from buying clothes you like while also supporting the environmental cause now.
How to Shop for Fashion Sustainably
The Fabric is the Key
At the heart of sustainable fashion is the fabrics that are used to create clothes. Many of those traditionally used by the industry – particularly synthetic fibers and cotton – have damaging effects. They contribute to crop contamination, water pollution and deforestation among other things.
Companies that are committed to sustainable fashion are producing cutting-edge clothes using recycled or green-friendly fabrics, packaging and manufacturing processes. These include bamboo and cashmere as well as biomaterials like pineapple skin and rose petal silk. When shopping for fashion, look for indicators that the fabrics and manufacturing are sustainable.
Second Hand Plan
One of the best ways in which you can shop for fashion sustainably is by buying items second hand. Doing so will reduce the amount of clothes that need to be manufactured and packaged, cutting back on the impact of those processes.
Many charity shops have high quality pieces that have only been worn once or twice before being discarded.
Buy New for the Long Term
Not everything you want will be available second hand, so how should you apply sustainable principles to buying new clothes? Prioritize stylish items that last for a long time, for example black denim jeans. That will reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing replacements.
Sustainability is about the fabrics used but also about the durability of the clothes that are produced.
Shop Around
You do not always have to buy the latest must-have clothes from the big standard retailers. There are stores that specialize in sustainable fashion, where everything is made and delivered in the right way.
Picking places like that will save you having to research the manufacturing, packaging and delivery processes of the company before buying from them.
Recycle Old Pieces
Most women get to the point where they have no space left for clothes in their wardrobes, but instead of throwing out pieces you no longer wear, you can recycle them. It is estimated that 95% of textiles put out as rubbish each year are able to be recycled.
Donating old pieces of fashion to charity shops or recycling centers instead of just throwing them away is the truly sustainable option to pick.
The Benefits of Sustainable Fashion
The Environment
The most important benefit of sustainable fashion is that it will reduce the damage done to the earth. If you care about future generations, the value of that is something that cannot be overestimated.
The Financial
We are living in a period when the cost of everyday life is rising all the time. Many of the ideas behind shopping sustainably are ones that can save you quite a lot of money.
Buying items of clothes that you like from second hand shops, or applying your skills to creating fashionable new hybrids from pieces you already own, will cost a lot less than buying new clothes all the time.
The Quality
Clothes made sustainably tend to be of higher quality, so they last longer. The fabrics used – for example silk – are also smooth and luxurious to the touch, so they are comfortable to wear as well as stylish.
Everyone wins with sustainable fashion, from the manufacturers to the customer and the environment.
There is an intriguing secret in nature that has found a coveted place in the hearts of many across the globe: the countless benefits of cbd hash. This blog aims to spell out the incredible potency and pleasures of hash products, shedding light on why they are widely revered by countless individuals.
The Potency of Hash
Hash, or hashish, is a potent product derived from the cannabis plant. Known for its high concentration of cannabinoids – the natural compounds in cannabis responsible for health benefits – hash is arguably one of the most potent cannabis derivatives. It’s available in several forms, from marble-like balls and slabs to powders, providing a degree of versatility unmatched by other products.
The potency of hash stems from its high concentration of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). THC is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis, while CBD is praised for its calming effects that counteract THC’s psychoactivity. A unique interplay between these two elements offers hash enthusiasts a rich and balanced experience.
The Pleasures of Hash
The pleasure derived from consuming hash revolves around its potential health benefits and the unique experience it provides. For centuries, hash has been used for medicinal purposes, offering relief for conditions such as pain, anxiety, and sleep disorders. The appreciation for hash extends beyond health benefits, as it offers a distinct flavor profile that is both robust and aromatic.
Moreover, the versatile nature of hash contributes to its appeal. It can be enjoyed in numerous ways, from purity consumption, smoking, and vaporizing to edibles and cosmetics. Each method of application offers a uniquely different experience, making hash a must-try for all cannabis enthusiasts.
Hash and Sustainability
In the peak of environmental concerns, hash is making a positive impression in terms of sustainability. As a product of the cannabis plant, hash production contributes to the ‘green’ economy. Cannabis plants, in their growth process, absorb harmful greenhouse gases. Thus, cultivating cannabis plants for hash production represents a small but significant step in combatting climate change.
The Legality of Hash
Despite the numerous benefits and uses, the legality of hash varies worldwide. In some jurisdictions, hash is considered a controlled substance, while others allow it for medical, recreational or both uses. A growing number of regions are revisiting their cannabis policies, with many adopting a more liberal stance. However, it’s crucial for users and potential users to acquaint themselves with the local laws governing hash.
While the complexities and nuances of hash products are vast, the core premise of its potency and pleasures remains universally true. It’s an unmatched culinary delight, a health companion, and a sustainability hero. Rediscover the joys and benefits of nature’s potent secret hash.
Feeling good about how you look can profoundly impact your self-esteem and the way you navigate the world of dating. A polished appearance not only makes a strong first impression but can also significantly elevate your confidence, allowing your personality and charm to shine through. This section delves into the symbiotic relationship between personal grooming, style choices, and the resulting boost in self-assuredness when engaging with potential partners.
Personal Grooming
Taking the time to meticulously groom yourself not only demonstrates self-respect but also showcases your attention to detail. When you present yourself well-groomed, it conveys a sense of organization and reliability.
These attributes are particularly appealing in the dating scene, where initial impressions hold significant weight. Establishing regular grooming routines, such as hairstyling, skincare, and nail care, can profoundly influence how others perceive you. If you live in the area, look into aesthetic treatments at Albuquerque medical spa for additional self-care options. Moreover, visiting a medical spa can provide customized skincare treatments and professional guidance to help enhance your natural features, ensuring that you feel your best on every date. How you perceive yourself enhances your self-confidence and allure. Engaging in personal grooming rituals can also serve as a form of self-care, allowing you to carve out moments of relaxation and pampering amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life.
Dressing to Impress
Your choice of attire serves as a potent mode of non-verbal communication. Dressing impeccably doesn’t necessarily entail adorning expensive designer labels but involves selecting garments that fit well, complement your body shape, and mirror your unique style. Feeling confident in your outfit not only elevates your mood but also boosts your self-assurance, qualities that are highly attractive to a potential partner who values effort and individuality, fostering a positive and engaging dating experience.
Experimenting with different styles and fashion trends can further enhance your self-expression, allowing you to showcase different facets of your personality through your clothing choices, which in turn can create a lasting impression that speaks volumes about your attention to detail and personal flair.
Fitness and Body Language
Maintaining a healthy physique not only enhances your physical appearance but also instills a sense of self-assurance. Regular exercise not only contributes to a more appealing aesthetic but also triggers the release of endorphins, elevating your mood and promoting overall well-being. Additionally, physical fitness positively influences your body language, with a confident posture and affirmative gestures subtly communicating self-assuredness, virtues that are particularly captivating in the realm of dating interactions. Engaging in physical activities that you enjoy can further boost your confidence and vitality, making you even more attractive to potential partners. Therefore, embracing a lifestyle that includes regular exercise can not only benefit your physical health but also enhance your mental and emotional well-being, presenting a holistic approach to personal development and self-improvement.
The Psychology of Scent
Fragrance serves as a silent yet impactful conversation starter. Choosing perfumes or colognes that resonate with your personal style can leave a lasting impression. Beyond cleanliness, a captivating scent can evoke feelings of attraction and curiosity, ensuring that you remain memorable long after the date has concluded, thereby enhancing your overall appeal and leaving a positive impression on your potential partner.
Exploring different scents and fragrances can add a layer of intrigue to your presence, creating a sensory experience that enhances your allure and creates a lasting memory in the minds of those you encounter. By carefully selecting scents that align with your personality and preferences, you can further enhance your presence and create a unique olfactory signature that sets you apart from the crowd.
Accessorizing
Selecting the right accessories enables you to highlight your best features and express your individuality. Whether it’s an elegant timepiece, a unique piece of jewelry, or a stylish handbag, these accessories have the power to captivate attention and spark engaging conversations, enriching your connection with your date and fostering a deeper level of understanding and appreciation. Experimenting with various accessories can add a touch of personality to your outfit, allowing you to showcase your creativity and style in a unique and memorable way. By incorporating accessories that reflect your personal taste and preferences, you can elevate your overall look and create a sense of sophistication that speaks volumes about your attention to detail and fashion sense.
Healthy Habits
Your lifestyle choices, including maintaining a balanced diet and staying adequately hydrated, play a pivotal role in preserving healthy skin and overall wellness. Physical well-being radiates through your skin, eyes, and hair, contributing to a glowing appearance that naturally attracts others, highlighting the importance of holistic health practices in fostering a radiant and appealing presence. Additionally, prioritizing self-care practices such as meditation, yoga, or relaxation techniques can further enhance your overall well-being, creating a sense of inner harmony that shines through in your interactions and relationships. By incorporating healthy habits into your daily routine, you can not only improve your physical health but also boost your mental and emotional well-being, presenting a well-rounded approach to personal wellness that enhances your overall attractiveness and vitality.
Mindfulness and Self-Care
Confidence transcends outward appearances, encompassing inner peace and self-acceptance. Embracing mindfulness and self-care practices can alleviate stress, enhance your emotional state, and equip you with the tools to exude a composed and present demeanor during interactions. Establishing healthy communication practices is paramount in fostering strong connections with others. Cultivating a tranquil aura can be exceptionally alluring in the sometimes anxious landscape of the dating world, fostering genuine connections and meaningful relationships.
Prioritizing self-reflection and emotional well-being can deepen your connection with yourself and others, creating a strong foundation for lasting and fulfilling relationships. By practicing mindfulness and self-care, you can not only enhance your own well-being but also create a positive and nurturing environment for your relationships to thrive, fostering a sense of emotional balance and connection that enhances the quality of your interactions and experiences.
Continuous Improvement
Enhancing your appearance for dating purposes should be viewed as an integral component of a broader self-enrichment journey. Engaging in lifelong learning, nurturing cultural interests, and acquiring new skills not only enrich your character but also expand your horizons, enhancing your overall allure and transforming you into a multifaceted and captivating individual poised for meaningful connections and personal growth. Embracing self-improvement as a continual process allows you to evolve and grow in various aspects of your life, creating a sense of fulfillment and purpose that radiates outward, attracting like-minded individuals who appreciate your dedication to personal development.
While improving your appearance can certainly boost your confidence in the dating realm, it’s your authenticity that ultimately forms the most profound connections. A refined exterior, complemented by self-care and continuous personal growth, sets the stage for presenting your best self. However, it is the sincerity of your actions, the passion in your pursuits, and the integrity of your character that create lasting allure. Dating is not merely about making an impression; it’s about expressing your true self and finding someone who appreciates the unique blend of qualities you bring to the table. As you enhance your appearance, cultivate your well-being, and enrich your life experiences, you naturally become more attractive to others—not just for how you look, but for the compelling individual you are.
Cakes da Killa has teamed up with Dawn Richard for ‘Do Dat Baby’, the latest single from his upcoming album Black Sheep. It follows the previously unveiled ‘Mind Reader’, a collaboration with Stout. Check it out below.
“‘Do Dat Baby’ is a sensual track that makes me feel like an early 2000s video vixen; the blueprint to everything that’s fabulous,” Cakes da Killa shared in a statement. “I’m super excited Dawn agreed to hop on the record. She’s an artist I’ve watched since the beginning and I’m still pinching myself.”
“I’ve been excited about the new wave of artists in house and underground dance,” Richard added. “Cakes is an energy you can’t pass up and the record is the party you want to be invited to.”
Black Sheep, the follow-up to 2022’s Svengali, is out March 22 via Young Art.
After 15 years as a band, Real Estate keep finding ways to breathe new life into their jangly, naturally welcoming sound. Having experimented with its dense, hazier edges on 2020’s The Main Thing, the band’s latest collection finds them going in the opposite direction to get to the heart of their songwriting, focusing on pop songcraft in a way that honours their roots. Breezy and naturally radiant in its simplicity, Daniel sees Martin Courtney reflecting on feelings of unease, restlessness, and disorientation, but it also makes peace with them, or at least casts them in a different light. The album was recorded over nine days in Nashville with producer Daniel Tashian, who is perhaps best known for his work on Kacey Musgraves’ Grammy-winning 2018 album Golden Hour and gorgeously layers some of the songs through the framework of melancholy Americana rather than indie rock, adding instruments like pedal steel guitar, organ, and piano. It’s not that the existential uncertainty goes away as you grow, they suggest: you just learn to get better at letting these things wash over you.
We caught up with Real Estate’s Alex Bleeker to talk about some of the inspirations behind Daniel, including The Adventures of Pete & Pete, R.E.M.’s ‘What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?’, Kacey Musgraves’ Golden Hour, and more.
The Adventures of Pete & Pete
I didn’t grow up watching it, but it was obviously an inspiration for the ‘Water Underground’ video, which stars the show’s Danny Tamberelli and Michael C. Maronna. What was your connection to it personally and as a group?
It’s so specific to where and when we grew up, which I guess I’m realizing now; when you’re a kid, you take in this media and you assume that it’s universal, but obviously it’s not, which is kind of what Pete & Pete is about. I grew up watching Nickelodeon as a kid in the mid-to-late ‘90s, and the show really resonated because it took place – it was literally filmed about an hour away from where I was living as a kid, so it speaks to my experience. The central theme of the show is the mundane, suburban life but seen through the eyes of this really creative kid – which, just saying that sentence, you can probably see how that relates to Real Estate and our sensibilities. It’s a kid show that doesn’t dumb anything down for kids. It’s pretty artistic and creative and has a high aesthetic sensibility, and it’s really smart. It still holds up. If you like our band, you will love this show – that’s the best way that I can explain it.
The reason I listed it as an inspiration was because I think it’s as influential to us as any other band, partially because there’s music in the show that’s really good as well. If you listen to that, you can hear the influence there as well, the whole ‘90s jangly aesthetic. It hardly registers as a kid’s show to me, even when I watch it now. And having bandmates who have children, through doing the video, they were able to share the show with their kids, and their kids really liked it. It’s just this timeless classic. The video was particularly poignant because it was shot in New Jersey, where we we grew up, and Danny Tamberelli was from a neighbouring town to us. He was a bit of a local legend, which added this mystique and closeness I could really relate to as a kid. When we got to do this music video and be in an episode of it ourselves, basically, it was pretty magical.
R.E.M.’s ‘What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?’
The bio mentions Automatic for the People as a reference, but Monster is obviously a different beast.
I kind of did that on purpose because we’ve talked about R.E.M. a lot in this cycle – Automatic for the People, some of the earlier records. That has been a really big touchstone for the band, but I will say that my personal relationship to R.E.M., because of the age I am, kind of like Pete & Pete – as a matter of fact, it all ties together because Michael Stipe has a role in the TV show, he plays a disgruntled ice cream man – I didn’t really know anything about R.E.M. at that age, but that single was on the radio, and it’s such a great song. Monster was one of the first CDs I ever bought for myself, I got three CDs in a pack: Weezer’s Blue Album, Green Day’s Dookie, and R.E.M’s Monster. Obviously, Monster is not the one stands the test of time from their career, but I think that song really does. It’s a great pop song, and I think that was kind of the impetus for this record, to make clear, direct, structured pop tunes. That one has the magic on it for me.
Kacey Musgraves’ Golden Hour
You sought outproducer Daniel Tashian specifically because of his work on Golden Hour, and I read that it was Martin’s daughter that really loved the album. How did you come to the decision to link up with him?
We all loved that record when it came out. It sounds so good, and the songwriting is obviously great. It’s almost the inverse of the record that we just made, because it’s country songs produced in a kind of indie rock context. At first, it kind of reminded me of Beck’s Sea Change for some reason. It’s a great record, but I put it on this list to talk about Daniel Tashian, and it is what led us to him directly. When you have a kid, and Martin’s got a few of them, with music in the house, I know that they work really hard to play adult music and not just kids music. If it’s something that resonates for the whole family, that album gets a lot of play. But you know how kids are, they want to hear the same thing over and over again, so he heard it in his house so many times, and he’s like, “Obviously the songs are good, but the sound of it, the production quality is incredible.” It’s what got him to inspired to make something that sounded sort of pristine. Usually, when the time comes to make a record and we’re thinking about a producer, we have conversations with our label and folks that we work with and we throw things out there on the mood board. Golden Hour is the one that resonated, so it was like, “How about Daniel Tashian, one of the guys who produced it?” It’s a very direct line to him, so that record influenced this record tremendously when you think about it that way.
Did you have any further conversations about it when you were in the studio with him?
Not musically in a direct way, but I think the sonic imprint is undeniably there. There are a few synthesizer moments on this record, and that’s definitely part of it. But we just talked about the process personally – we didn’t say, “Let’s pull this, kind of like you did in that song.” Just anecdotally, we were like, “What was it like working with her? How’s the new album coming along? What was it like to win that Grammy?” But having him there, he has a very distinct energy in the studio.
Bill Forsyth’s 1983 film Local Hero
I just saw the movie, so the names of all of the actors are going to escape me, but I think that’s sort of suitable for the movie itself. To be completely transparent, I didn’t see it before we made the record, so I don’t know if it technically counts as an influence, but this is how it relates to the album for me: it was so pleasant and enjoyable and has a kind of profound depth to it, and it is deeply simple. Its brilliance is drawn from the fact that it’s not high drama, and there’s not a ton of things packed into it. It’s a brilliant execution of a very clear and simple idea. If I tell the storyline to you, you’ll be like, “That sounds like many other movies.” But it’s more the specialness of the tone and the feel. It’s about this guy who’s in the American rat race, a businessman who wants all the fancy cars and money and gets sent for work to Scotland to check out a town and essentially buy the port and exploit it for oil resources.
You’d think that he’s the big evil man and the town’s trying to fight him, but it’s it’s actually the inverse of that – these simple folks who live out in the country and are like, “Yeah, we can all make money by selling all our property.” There’s not much conflict. He goes there, he’s like, “I’d like to buy it,” and they’re like, “Cool, we’d like to help you buy it.” But then, over time, he realizes – you know what I’m gonna say, there’s a priceless quality to this beautiful place and falls in love. He just gradually, without too much drama, is like, “I’d rather be here and not do this and not go back to my job.” That’s the whole arc of the movie.
It’s the type of movie that we have tons of, but there’s something meditative and simple in its elegance. It’s a unique style of movie that I’d never heard of before, so I wanted to shine a light on it. But I think there’s a reference there, because the Real Estate record stems from this very basic idea, which is: let’s dig into the pop, structured style of songwriting and not get too broad – to not focus on doing that plus a psychedelic moment, plus an experimental moment, plus an instrumental moment, where we were trying in previous records to communicate the breadth of everything that influenced us and what we were interested in. It’s a narrow focus and a classic feel, and I think the movie achieves a similar kind of success.
The relationship between Big Star and William Eggleston
‘Daniel’ cover artwork
William Eggleston was friends with Alex Chilton’s parents, and his photo is on the cover of Big Star’s Radio City, among many other classic albums. How does that connection tie into Daniel?
It got me thinking why our album cover is what it is. There’s a photographer, Sinna Nasseri, who did all the photography for the album and the whole campaign, the press photos, and if you have the actual package of the LP, there’s tons of posters and photos of us in the studio. He’s a photographer who has gotten much acclaim in the past three years, and it’s funny because we didn’t actually know him growing up, but we went to the same high school as the band, and he’s from our town. There’s a relationship there, and he was talking about how much he loves our records and our band because it reminds him of growing, so it was like, “Here’s another person from exactly where we’re from.” It’s such an important factor to our music and our story – the fact that we’ve all known each other for a long time, three of us were in a band in high school – and he locks into that same lineage, totally separately making waves as this great, in my opinion, fine art photographer.
The image of the phone, I think, in a lot of ways does relate to many Real Estate records, not just this one – that disconnection, difficulty communicating kind of thing, but not necessarily like, “Oh, that’s what it’s about.” But more like, “This image and this person is our community.” That’s when I think of this great William Eggleston photo on the cover of the Big Star album. It’s not exactly linear – like, it’s named Daniel and there’s a photo of a guy named Daniel – but this is the artistic community and lineage that we share. I was thinking of Big Star and William Eggleston being these separate artistic entities that have crossover, and they come together in the album cover album.
Do you mind talking more about what inspires you about Sinna Nasseri as a person and photographer?
Yeah, he’s a great person and a good friend, and his story is really inspiring. He was working at a law office up until four years ago, I think when COVID hit, he was a paralegal with a photography hobby. And he decided to radically change his life and say, “You know what? I’m not happy in this line of work, and I think I’m a good photographer, and I’m gonna go off and just go for it.” And he’s been wildly successful in that field, so I think that’s just a cool story. I think he has a really iconic style that is all his own – this heavy use of flash, the way he frames photos, and the way he gets people doing sort of awkward poses. He has a really strong eye, and he’s really dedicated to his work. That’s his hand on the photograph holding the phone, from the phone, so imagine what he had to do: he’s lying down on the sidewalk in New York City, holding this phone up. [laughs] You don’t often consider where the rest of the human being is when you’re looking at a photo like that.
The New York Times has some right to that photograph, which is funny. They were like, “Go photograph the last phone booths in New York City,” because they’d have them removed. Just that being a very basic, simple assignment, I don’t know how many people would have taken that shot. I’m not even sure that made it into the newspaper, but that’s where his brain is at. It’s very creative, it’s very unorthodox, and it’s working. It was actually Daniel Tashian who said this while we were recording, he put it very succinctly, in a way I hadn’t thought about before but is true: “A good album cover is one you should be able to recognize from across the room.” I think this one does that.
Haruki Murakami’s What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
Similar to Local Hero, there is an easy accessibility and a childlike innocence to his writing and the descriptions. It’s atypical for him because I think people think of this magical realism, whimsical fantasy when they think of Murakami, and this is not that. It’s him discussing his life. It’s very meditative and masterful in stripping back all the other elements and distilling something quite simple. It’s going to sound funny, and this is the highest praise I can give something so I’m not trashing our album, but nothing happens. [laughs] In the most beautiful, perfect way, where it’s not relying on any tricks – it’s reflective and accessible and easy in a way that has the same depth to it.
Was there anything that particularly resonated with you about the story itself, this intersection of Murakami’s creative and athletic pursuits and his overall journey?
That’s interesting, it’s not what I was driving at, but mentioning it – there’s this artfulness in a live well-lived and well-considered. Just speaking personally, I feel like getting older and continuing to have a dedication to a project, a rock and roll band, which is often the sport and business of young people. [laughs] The whole way everything is structured is based on doing it this one specific time. As I’m moving into this methodical, aging dedication to it, I think it’s relatable in what he’s talking about, both in his practice as a writer and his practice as a runner. There’s also something about this record, in a very adult, methodical way, where we kept regular hours in the studio, 10:00 to 18:00, and that’s an influence on the record. I think that’s a very healthy process, not this partying rock star thing – not that we’ve ever been that, but it’s really the opposite of that. And I think this book is kind of like that. It’s like, “I’m a writer, and it takes practice, and I also have to do other thiings to keep my practice sharp.” There’s a methodology and a schedule, and there’s creativity in that as well.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.
