Securing the cuff has changed considerably throughout history. From the 13th century, depending on your position in society, cuffs would be tied with strong, or bits of ribbon. By the 1600s, wealthier classes were designing and creating pieces of jewellery using precious stones and metals, establishing their more superior role.
By the 17th century buttons were beginning to make their appearance. This coincided with the Industrial Revolution, when the advances in manufacturing technology enabled the mass production of buttons and shirts.
As a result, the use of cufflinks became synonymous with wealth and class, incorporating the individual skills of tailors with an array of different cufflink options which positioned their wearer as someone with a more superior standing in society.
At the other end of the scale, cheaper, more mass produced shirts could be fitted quickly with buttons, making them more accessible to working men with less budgets who could not afford the luxury of a pair of cufflinks.
The modern perception of cufflinks bs buttons
Today that stark differentiation between the two options is no longer steeped in social judgement. Rather, the choice as to whether to wear one or the other usually comes down to personal preference, practicality, or the nature of the event that you are attending.
A greater disposable income
These days, despite the cost of living crisis, men have a larger disposable income and access to a much flatter social world in which your sartorial choices are no longer dictated by class. Many cufflinks for men are made using a much wider range of materials – it is perfectly acceptable for precious stones and metals to be replaced by stainless steel, semi precious stones and other more interesting artefacts which showcase a more eccentric and creative approach to men’s accessories.
Some of the more adventurous designs can take inspiration from industry or technology, evoking an individual’s unique personality.
Convenience for the everyday
For the majority of men, however, choosing to wear cufflinks rather than a shirt with buttons will come down to the nature of the event they are attending. While a special occasion, such as a wedding or a black tie event, is an obvious call out to wear special a bit special, a normal day at the office might need the ease and convenience of a shirt with buttons.
Depending on the nature of your role, the ability to take off your work jacket and roll up your sleeves is a great ‘leveller’ when it comes to motivating your team – as many a politician can testify. It sends the message that you are one of the team, that you can get stuck in with the best of them to solve a problem and get the job done. Faffing around with taking off cufflinks and then finding somewhere to store that would significantly take away from the ‘one of the team’ vibes that you have cultivated.
Setting boundaries
Wearing a button cuffed shirt, rather than donning a pair of cufflinks, also sets clear boundaries between every day attire and a special occasion. Were you to wear cufflinks every single day, it might actually detract from the specialness of a special occasion, rather than that occasion being something extraordinary.
Fundamentally, the decision as to whether to wear one over and above the other is purely down to an individual taste and preference. While the ease and convenience of a buttoned cuff is great for every day wear, a smart pair of cufflinks might actually elevate an individual’s confidence as they go about their day.
And these days the use of everyday materials can create a range of different cufflinks which don’t have to cost the earth, meaning you can save the really precious ones for those special occasions.
You can’t see it when you’re out and about. Others can’t see it. But the items of clothing that you wear underneath your everyday outfits is probably more important, and has an even greater impact on your general mood and wellbeing than anything else you are wearing.
In the 21st century we are all very fortunate to have been born into an era where comfort is the name of the game. While our ancestors – particularly the female ones – had to struggle through their days strapped into garments that were so restrictive that many women had trouble breathing. The fashion for tiny waists and elevated busts put such pressure on the rib cage that a women passing out was a regular occurrence.
Luckily we are all very much more relaxed these days, and the advancement in textiles and designs, combined with a more comfortable and realistic approach to a woman’s silhouette places comfort and support above anything.
The foundation of every outfit
Our bodies are amazing things – and every single one is different in shape, size, and proportion. It is these differences that underwear embraces, creating a foundation for what goes on to the surface.
For women, the bust is the one part of their body that requires specialist care, and making sure that they choose that right size and shape for their individual needs is essential. An ill-fitting bra can ruin an outfit – it can spoil the line of a beautiful dress, it can cause bulges and where none need exist.
But perhaps even more important – and this is an area that is not given enough attention by the media – a badly fitting bra can also be damaging to a woman’s overall physical health. Studies show that a badly fitting bra can lead to a number of different health issues. If there is a lack of support, it can lead to the woman experiencing breast pain, and breast skin damage.
It can also lead to back and shoulder pain, bad posture, and skin chaffing. And although there has been some suggestion that wearing an underwired bra can lead to breast cancer, it is important to note that this claim is NOT verified and there is no evidence to suggest that it does.
As a result, the fit of the bra is important on many different levels, and manufacturers such as Ivory Rose are beginning to niche down into the specialized production of bras which fulfill certain important criteria.
Quality over quantity
The tailoring and materials used in the production of quality lingerie play their part in creating the best foundation for your every day style and comfort. While fast cheap fashion has led to an explosion of ‘pile ‘em high sell ‘em cheap’ lingerie products, these garments inevitably wear thin in a short period of time, stitches can come loose, and consequently the support and coverage which is so instrumental to creating that foundation are quickly compromised.
Cotton underwear is the best choice when it comes to long-lasting comfort and skin health. Unlike synthetic fabrics, cotton is breathable and moisture-wicking, which helps prevent irritation and discomfort, especially in sensitive areas. For instance, Q for Quinn organic cotton underwear women and Hanes briefs are great options that focus on both comfort and durability. These high-quality, breathable garments are soft on sensitive skin while providing excellent support throughout the day. With organic cotton, you’re investing in higher-quality garments that prioritize both comfort and sustainability, making them an ideal choice for everyday wear.
Good underwear needs to be considered important investment pieces. A quality seamstress will create a piece of underwear that is robust, durable, and fit for purpose. It fits like a glove, gives the right amount of support and lift, and feels like a second skin when you wear it. And of equal importance, it looks absolutely beautiful too. Woman do not wear their lingerie for men, but for themselves, and this sense of pride and confidence in their underwear inevitably manifests in the way that woman carries herself in the world.
A sustainable way forward
And as the world focuses more and more on sustainability, investing in premium, quality underwear will ensure that less spoiled textiles end up in landfill.
Achieving the perfect blend of blonde highlights on brown hair can transform your look, giving you that sun-kissed elegance that’s both sophisticated and effortlessly chic. The allure of dark brown hair interspersed with blonde streaks is timeless, offering a stunning contrast that brightens your appearance and adds depth to your locks. Whether you’re aiming to refresh your style or contemplating a significant change, mastering the art of incorporating blonde highlights into brown hair is an art worth exploring. Here’s your comprehensive guide to getting it right.
Understanding the Basics
Before diving into the world of highlighting, it’s crucial to grasp the essentials. Blonde highlights on brown hair create a multi-dimensional look, bringing warmth and light to your overall style. This technique involves lightening sections of your dark brown hair to various shades of blonde, achieving a natural, sun-kissed effect. The key is to select the right shade and intensity of blonde to complement your natural hair color, ensuring the highlights blend seamlessly for a natural and flattering finish.
Choosing the Right Shade
The first step in your highlighting journey is selecting the appropriate blonde hue that harmonizes with your brown base. The spectrum of blonde ranges from warm golden tones to cool ash blondes, each capable of creating a different impact. Your choice should be influenced by your skin tone, the natural undertone of your hair, and the level of maintenance you’re comfortable with. Warm, golden highlights suit those with warmer skin tones, while cooler, ashier blondes are ideal for individuals with cooler skin undertones.
The Highlighting Process
Achieving the perfect blonde highlights requires a methodical approach, especially when working with dark brown hair. The process typically involves bleaching sections of your hair to lift the color before applying the blonde dye. Precision is key, as the aim is to create a natural, blended look rather than stark, contrasting stripes. Techniques like balayage or foiling allow for a more customized, natural-looking result, enabling the highlights to mimic the way hair naturally lightens in the sun.
Tailoring the Technique
The technique you choose for your highlights can significantly affect the outcome. Traditional foiling methods provide a more structured, uniform look, while balayage offers a softer, more organic result. Your desired end result—be it subtle shimmer or bold contrast—will determine the best approach. Additionally, the placement of the highlights is crucial; strategically placed streaks can frame the face, enhance your features, and give your hair movement and depth.
Customizing Your Look
Personalization is at the heart of great highlights. Consider how bold or subtle you want the contrast to be, the size of the highlights, and how they’ll blend with your natural hair color. It’s not just about the color but the overall effect you’re aiming to achieve. Your hairstylist can help you visualize the outcome, ensuring that the highlights complement your haircut, hair texture, and personal style.
Maintaining Your Highlights
Once you’ve achieved your beautiful blonde highlights, maintaining their vibrancy and preventing brassiness is crucial. Investing in a good color-safe shampoo and conditioner, along with occasional toning treatments, can help maintain the color’s integrity. Regular trims and deep conditioning treatments will keep your highlighted hair healthy, shiny, and vibrant.
Aftercare and Upkeep
Proper aftercare is essential to ensure your blonde highlights remain as stunning as when you first got them. Using products specifically formulated for color-treated hair can help extend the life of your highlights, keep your hair healthy, and preserve the vibrancy of the color. Regular salon visits for touch-ups will also prevent your highlights from losing their luster and prevent any harsh demarcation lines as your hair grows.
Embracing the Change
Adjusting to your new look involves more than just getting used to the color; it’s about embracing a new vibe and the confidence it brings. Your updated hair color can influence your makeup choices, wardrobe, and even your mood. Enjoy the transformative power of your new highlights and the fresh energy they add to your personal style.
Experimenting with Styles
Blonde highlights can redefine your look and open up a world of styling possibilities. Experiment with different hairstyles to showcase the dimension and depth of your new color. From cascading waves that highlight the interplay of shades to sleek, straight looks that reflect the light, your blonde accents can elevate any style.
Conclusion
Embarking on the journey to perfect highlights on brown hair is an exciting venture that promises a rewarding transformation. With the right preparation, technique, and maintenance, you can achieve a beautifully blended, natural-looking result that enhances your natural beauty and elevates your style. Remember, the key to stunning highlights lies in the art of subtlety and the skillful interplay of shades, ensuring a seamless transition and a radiant, sun-kissed finish. Embrace the change, enjoy your new look, and carry your blonde highlights with confidence and flair.
With the change in technology, crypto casinos in Singapore have made a significant impact on online gambling. Playing at crypto casinos offers numerous benefits that set them apart from their traditional counterparts.
Firstly, the exclusive acceptance of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum provides users with faster transactions and lower fees, enhancing overall convenience. Additionally,Singapore online casinos prioritize user privacy, allowing players to engage in gambling activities anonymously and fostering a more discreet and secure gaming environment.
There are several other benefits that make crypto casinos stand out. In this article, we will talk about the benefits of crypto casino. We will also discuss the difference between Bitcoin casinos and Traditional establishments.
Benefits of Playing in an Online Casino in Singapore
Singaporean online casinos offer many benefits, making them increasingly popular in the gambling industry. Here are some key advantages:
Anonymity: Crypto casinos are popular due to the anonymity they offer. Unlike traditional online casinos that require extensive personal information for registration and transactions, cryptocurrency transactions are pseudonymous, providing users with a layer of privacy and security. This means that users can enjoy gambling without worrying about their personal information being compromised.
Global Accessibility: Cryptocurrency casinos remove the obstacles associated with conventional banking systems, enabling users from different parts of the world to take part in online gambling without worrying about currency conversion or international transaction fees. This greater accessibility opens up new markets and opportunities for players and operators alike.
Faster Transactions: Cryptocurrency transactions are processed faster than traditional banking methods. Deposits and withdrawals can be done within minutes, providing instant access to funds.
Lower Fees: Cryptocurrency transactions often have lower fees than traditional banking methods. This is especially beneficial for international transactions as it helps avoid costly conversion fees and intermediary charges.
Provably Fair Gaming: Many cryptocurrency casinos use blockchain tech to provide provably fair gaming experiences. Players can verify the fairness and transparency of each game through cryptographic algorithms, ensuring that the casino does not manipulate outcomes.
Security: Blockchain technology provides enhanced security measures compared to traditional online casinos. The decentralized nature of blockchain networks makes them resistant to hacking and fraud, reducing the risk of funds being compromised.
How are Crypto Casinos Different from Traditional Casinos?
Cryptocurrency casinos stand apart from traditional casinos in several fundamental ways. Firstly, they operate on a different payment model, exclusively accepting cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum instead of conventional fiat currencies. This distinction not only affects how players deposit and withdraw funds but also influences transaction speed and fees.
Moreover, crypto casinos prioritize user privacy, offering a higher level of anonymity compared to traditional casinos. With cryptocurrency transactions being pseudonymous, players can engage in gambling activities without divulging personal information. This emphasis on privacy fosters a more discreet and secure gambling environment.
Additionally, crypto casinos leverage blockchain technology to implement robust security measures. The decentralized nature of blockchain networks makes them resistant to hacking and fraud, enhancing the overall security and transparency of transactions.
Gambling with Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies can be exhausting; by using tips and strategies, you can increase your chances of winning. You can check this source to learn more about the latest online casino trends in Singapore.
Final Words: Benefits of Playing at Crypto Casinos in Singapore
In conclusion, playing at Singapore crypto casinos offers many advantages that make them an appealing choice for modern-day gamers. The convenience of faster transactions and lower fees facilitated by exclusive cryptocurrency acceptance to heightened privacy and security.
The innovative gaming options available on these platforms further enhance their appeal, providing players with unique and exciting opportunities.
In addition, the option of lower fees and quicker withdrawals make it a favorable choice for players. We hope that this article will help you with all the information you are looking for.
Some people consider the fashion world to be magical. However, once you start exploring it in more detail, you start noticing practical things, and all the magic disappears. Writing a thesis on fashion design sounds exciting and overwhelming at the same time. The good news is that you can still believe in magic while writing it if you know what topic you want to discuss. Therefore, choose something you are passionate about to keep the motivation level high throughout the process.
Students often get stuck during the writing process. They can be caught in their doubts about whether to start over again or continue struggling with the topic they’ve chosen. Many of them turn to a reliable thesis writing service to hire an experienced assistant. It can be an effective approach to overcoming self-doubts and writing challenges. Here are some more tips you can use to create an impressive thesis.
Start writing early
It does not matter what topic you choose and which methodology you prefer, the best first tip for coping with a massive project like writing a thesis is to start as early as possible. Don’t wait until the last minute to start writing your paper. Give yourself plenty of time to do your research, write, and revise.
Consider the historical and cultural context of your topic
History and culture heavily influence fashion design. It is almost impossible to discuss aspects of fashion development without digging deep into the historical and cultural context. Understanding the context will strengthen your arguments. It will also showcase your profound involvement in the topic and analysis of the historical circumstances under which fashion design was evolving.
Focus on the technical aspects
If your topic allows you to go beyond theoretical findings and conclusions, you can try to focus on technical aspects. You can explore construction techniques, patternmaking, or textile properties. Choose an angle that relates to your thesis and interests you. For instance, you can do a research study on the evolution of construction techniques of a popular fashion brand or designer throughout the last few decades. It can be interesting to underline key turning points and upgraded approaches.
Use digital tools for design and analysis
As we are already discussing the evolution of tools, consider using software programs and online platforms that can enhance your design process and analysis. Discuss how you’ve incorporated these tools in your research or design development.
Analyze the work of specific designers
Use the work of established or emerging designers to support your arguments and showcase your knowledge of the field. If you’ve decided to explore the future of fashion design, you can focus on recent fashion shows, analyze future trends, and draw your own conclusions. Even though fashion trends are circular, you can turn your imagination on to foresee upcoming fashion engineering solutions. Consider emerging technologies like 3D printing or sustainable materials. Discuss how these advancements might influence future fashion creation and consumption.
Incorporate primary sources
Interviewing designers, tailors, or vintage clothing experts can add unique insights and personal narratives to your thesis. Luckily, you are living in a time of no geographical boundaries and can reach out to almost any person in the world. Just like you can review the social media profiles of popular writing services like Custom Writings, you can ask a designer who inspires you for an interview.
Explore the ethical and sustainability aspects of fashion
Without a doubt, it remains to be a growing concern in the industry. You can analyze its impact on design practices and suggest possible solutions to the growing problem. Even though many fashion brands make popular statements about their responsible attitude towards sustainability, not all of them show that in practice.
Connect your design concept to current trends and social issues
When writing about your design concept, ensure you clearly describe the main idea behind it. People are looking for things that have more than just a beautiful design. They want to see an exciting story behind any form of art, including fashion. Is your design a commentary on a specific social movement or a response to a current trend? Explain your thought process. Also, calculate the estimated cost of producing your design and define its reasonable price point. Discuss the materials, production methods, and potential target market (if relevant).
Incorporate visual aids specific to fashion design
Images are worth a thousand words when it comes to fashion design. Therefore, include relevant visual aids to support your ideas. Use sketches, technical drawings, mood boards, or photographs of your own designs. Doing so will make your project truly unique.
Embrace interdisciplinary research
Explore how other fields like sociology, psychology, or technology influence fashion design. For example, you can analyze how wearable tech is shaping garment functionality or how user psychology impacts clothing choices. Exploring the motivation people use to buy fashion brands might also be interesting. Ensure to analyze the way the different kinds of motivation impact the design approaches of the modern fashion industry.
Summing Up
Writing a thesis on fashion design is not as frightening as it may seem. Just have a detailed outline and create a schedule. It will be easy to follow your schedule when you know what to do and how to do it. Hopefully, now you have the answers to both of these questions.
h. pruz is the moniker of Queens singer-songwriter Hannah Pruzinsky, who also plays in the band Sister. and collaborates with Mutual Benefit and Told Slant. They released their gentle yet visceral debut EP, again, there, recorded with MJ Lenderman/Wednesday collaborator Colin Miller, in November 2022. The project touched on cycles of change and growth by relating recent experiences to shelved memories, a theme Pruzinsky gets to really home in on with her recently unveiled debut full-length, No Glory. Co-produced with Felix Walworth, also of Florist, the album was largely written and recorded in a small cabin in upstate New York, where Pruzinsky’s diaristic reflections come to life in vivid yet subdued fashion. You can hear the complex tangle of thoughts as they unfold in their mind, but you can also feel the atmosphere of the room and the people with which they take shape. It’s a solemn, stirring, and quietly profound record that holds space for darkness and uncertainty but reverberates, however achingly, with hope. “Hold a piece of fabric over what you see,” Pruzinsky sings at the very end. “There are details we might misread, that the all was everything/ But the all was everything.”
We caught up with h. pruz for the latest edition of our Artist Spotlight series to talk about their earliest musical memories, the process behind No Glory, feeling powerless to change, and more.
Do you mind sharing some of your earliest musical memories?
My parents always say that I started to sing before I was talking a lot as a child. But the earliest stuff I remember is just how private music felt to me. I would only sing in a car alone to myself or in the shower, any place that was very private, and it was really something that I didn’t want to share. I think over the past 15 years or something, it’s just been a slow releasing of different pieces of that. I’ve sung in a lot of choirs, and communal things are easier, but I think having a singular voice and sharing that has always been a fully different situation for me. Even though I’ve released stuff in a band, this record feels like a fully different situation, to be alone and doing that. So much I hope comes across like you’re in a room alone, hearing these things in the same way they were largely made; a lot of it was just myself and Felix, my partner, recording the stuff.
After playing in bands, what was it like to take your songwriting back to a context that was no longer entirely private, but still more personal?
The first time I started to release music under this project, it just felt very anonymous and hidden. When I first released a single, I just threw it up onto Bandcamp myself. The moniker that I use was also in hopes to be a little more anonymous than my full name. But I think slowly, over time, it’s evolved in a way where, when I made my EP, the person, Colin [Miller], that I produced it with, was like, “People should hear this. This is interesting.” I think being able to make things with other people, even just in the realm of production or the other instrumentation on it, has helped me see that there’s worth in sharing it. For me, it feels like an important sentiment to share with this album, and that’s what makes it feel okay to let go of, although still a little nerve-racking. This album touches on guilt a lot, and hope within guilt, while still seeing the ugliness of things. That’s something that I want to convey, and I feel like I need to, to show that maybe a change that a lot of people have only seen what has come of it – there is a dark side to it.
On ‘Useful’, the final song on the album, to what extent is the chorus also addressed to the listener? For you, is it important that the space you hold in a song is useful?
I think in the moment, it wasn’t in the front of my mind, but I’m hoping that people will want to share that same space that I want to share, or pause in a space that I also want to pause in. I also think, with an album, if you’re deciding to listen to it, I’m kind of forcing you to do that, too. [laughs] When I’ve re-listened to it since finishing it, these new meanings come from the songs that are also directed towards me and towards someone that has no relationship to it at all. I think that’s really beautiful with how songs can evolve. I’d like for people to take from that whatever they want to, but in that moment, it was a mantra for myself, and also for a person very dear to me.
On that song, you also sing, “I’m aware of how I shake things as they form.” Those things are explored throughout the album, but I’m curious how that line applies to your creative process, too – whether you’re conscious of a certain instinct to experiment with the form or sentiment of a song as it emerges.
That’s a great question. I think it can apply to that. I don’t think the first thing that always comes or grows and merges is necessarily the right thing, but I am trying to what comes with the disruption of ideas. I’m doing some writing now again after a long pause, and I’m feeling drawn to more dissonant things. But yeah, wanting to shake things up is something I resonate with. [laughs]
When come back after a break from writing, do you usually feel like you’re approaching things from an entirely different place – not just emotionally, but in your songwriting?
In the past, it has felt different. Like right now, as I’m approaching writing new things, it’s less of an obvious spilling out of me, which is interesting, and I’m having to pull at a lot more sticky areas of my brain. Also, when there’s not obvious turmoil in my life, it’s even more interesting, I think. Like, what are we sitting on as individuals? What are we not looking at if there’s not a crazy breakup or you quit your job or you’re moving? So now, I’m like, “Okay, I guess I need to maybe see even more uncomfortable truths?” But also see contentment, which is something that’s harder to see sometimes.
When it comes to shaping the songs, I’m thinking of the song ‘Like Mist’, which is the longest on the album. Given that it’s about uncertainty in the early stages of a relationship, was letting it stretch on a way of feeling it out through the music?
Yeah, definitely. That recording was also unaltered from the demo, other than the other elements added later on. I was just like, “Oh wow, I can like feel it in the way I’m singing this, the uncertainty and the anxiousness.” And I didn’t want to lose that in trying to reproduce it, because I really am dragging it out and searching for every detail of hope and solace in something that has no grounding. When I sing that song now, I’m like, “Wow, this is so long-winded, why am I going on so long?” But it is kind of a desperate feeling. When we were making the album and we listened back to the demos, I was like, “This is so sad, I can’t redo this,” because I don’t feel sad or uncertain in that same way. It’s a very brief moment in time, because it will truly just go one way or the other.
The song feels like one way of making it last, and the way you contend with time on the album in general is interesting. On ‘Dawn’, you follow an extended instrumental passage with, “After we’ve had forever,” which I love. The sentiment reminds me of Adrianne Lenker’s ‘not a lot, just forever’. Was that final part planned out?
Yes, it was in the demo, however the demo was very different. Felix really convinced me to finish that song. I think sharing the emotions of settling into at least the first stages of trusting someone – that’s a lot harder for me to want to share than these other things surrounding guilt and shame, which seemed a lot more familiar. That instrumental section really came to life by playing the song live with Felix. It’s the one song where they were playing the guitar part, because I always had such a hard time playing it and singing it at the same time while wanting to really feel space, so we were really just listening to each other in that. Because the line had always existed, and it does feel like something, at least when I wrote it, that I needed to add on. It was supposed to emulate the feeling of a breeze, of feeling overtaken by that. I wanted it to be like, “We have a little bit of grounding, and the grounding is all of forever.”
You recorded ‘I Keep Changing’ in this attic above the cabin where you ended up recording the album, and even if you weren’t singing about running, there’s a real physicality to it. What was it like to revisit the song and hear that theme of change, so visceral and urgent in that moment, from a new perspective?
It was very spooky to return to the same building to record most of this stuff. Kind of a stereotypical way to frame it, but I did feel like I was really going insane in this attic the summer before in the cabin. That’s another one where the demo became the roots of that song, because again, it feels correctly frenzied in a way that would be hard to reproduce, and I just became so tied to it. But it was interesting to revisit that – even the way I was singing that song was different than the way I typically choose to sing now or use my voice. It left me craving that same feeling of change and of urgency, like once things start happening, they just can’t stop. It was special being in the main room of the cabin revisiting it, to have drums added to it for the first time that felt almost like a freight train or something, like you’re just going to collapse. My friend James [Chrisman] also added that piano part. We were talking about this yesterday as we were practicing for these shows, he was like, “I remember that day, I had a massive Red Bull can and stayed up really late.” It was cool to have other people giving into their, like, hedonistic musical impulses in that song.
How did the environment affect your headspace as you were making these songs?
I had gone upstate in the summer for maybe two weeks, but it was right after this big breakup. So I was like, “I need time alone, and I’m gonna just write music.” My friends have this cabin, and it was also a time where I was largely not writing music, saying yes to many things in my life, and giving in to all my impulses. It was a very magical period. I was meeting a lot of people, but it felt very private in that so much of it was just me in the cabin, sweating in the heat of an attic, writing songs, running in these back roads, and then exploring new love and desire. It just felt really frenzied.
You used the phrase “correctly frenzied” ealier to describe the kind of emotional accuracy of the recording. But it sounds like it was also “correct” in the sense that it had a positive impact on your life.
Yeah, it was definitely positive. I was holding so much of my life in this very particular order and I had already determined so many ends, so it was nice to be like, “I have no idea how anything at all is going to go in my life now.” And it’s good that I don’t know that. I just remember feeling like I was just floating through so much of my life, which is a scary thing, and I think that’s why I was writing songs like ‘Like Mist’. ‘Worldfire’ was another one that I wrote in that week, but that was the polar opposite side of that positive frenzy state, when I would settle into, like, “Oh, there’s something happening here. [laughs] And it’s really sad, but also inevitable.”
The album title, No Glory, comes from the lyrics in ‘Worldfire’, where it seems to be about leaving space for doubt. There’s different ways to look at it, but for you, what makes that phrase ultimately hopeful – in the context of the song, but also removing it from that?
In the song itself, it does feel a lot more hopeful in the way that you just described it. The phrase was just this part of a goodbye, where no matter what you say, it’s always wrong. I think it was mainly trying to show that I’m not emerging from leaving something in a state of power or righteousness, necessarily, which I think can often be portrayed in some breakup music and art. But at the same time, there’s a solemness that doesn’t have to be all bad. I think the sentiment of that song encapsulates a lot of what I’m trying to get across with all of these themes – beyond heartbreak, with family dynamics and relationships that are rooted in cycles that feel never-ending. There’s no glory within that cycle, but in also deciding to leave it. But there’s hope. Even when I was writing that song, it felt like I wasn’t ready to see all of what it meant for me, so I still feel like I’m unpacking parts of that sentiment. But in terms of the whole album, I think it’s important to sit in the throes of change, the darker moments, and to feel them all, to learn grace within it. Learning it for myself was one of the hardest parts of it.
I feel like it puts a positive spin on the idea of being powerless to change, which can also be what drives you toward it. It can mean being open to change, and the feeling of powerlessness at the end of a relationship can also be different from that same feeling at the start of something new.
I love the way you phrased that, powerlessness to change. I think that’s really helpful, in new change, in the beginning. That was something I was learning, just being like, “I don’t need to know how all of these things will play out.” At the time, I remember talking a lot about certainty and how it feels like something that I want so much of, but at the same time, the beauty of these things that are forming, peeking through the surface – so much of that is reliant on uncertainty. You just can’t know, and that’s why you like so much of it. Now, coming from a place of seeming certainty in my life, it’s much more helpful for me to not just enjoy, but appreciate the things in my life when I see them from a perspective of uncertainty, than just being like, “I have this, it’s so good and not going away.” It’s obviously good to trust things, but I think it’s also good to not expect.
How do you see that realization of an ending in ‘Worldfire’, in hindsight, from that place of seeming certainty?
There are just aspects to the closing of a story that you just can’t know at that time. They sometimes require an addendum, and you sometimes just have to go back to it. I think I’m still trying to figure out how some of these events in my life end or continue or start. There’s real people involved, and it’s complicated. I’m just seeing that they needed that time, and that they just simply couldn’t have figured it all out in those moments. The imagery of being completely destroyed, but then being open to new growth, really resonates with me. Sometimes you need to have a structure completely dismantled in order to be like, “Oh, wow! It could have been so much better this way.”
Another thing that fascinates me is the way you engage with the language of pain: you talk about wearing it out on ‘I Keep Changing’, but there’s also an implication throughout the record of the ways you wear it; this idea of pain as something so familiar it barely registers as a threat. Could you talk about reconciling those things? Accepting the pain you’ve internalized, but also allowing it to fade and wear out?
My relationship to pain differs depending on the circumstance, but I think I’ve just seen it as something – not to be dramatic, but there are aspects of pain in everyone’s life that are constant, and we become really numb to them. I think in those ways, it’s unknowingly shaping us. But it’s these newer insults onto one’s body or emotional body – that’s the pain that is easier to learn from. With ‘I Keep Changing’, I was able to really see that and and be like, “This is touching me, and ultimately I’ll become better for it.” But in something like ‘Hurting’, it’s a pain that I’m so numb to that it’s harder to see what I’m already wearing and what I can do with that. It depends on the kind of pain, I think.
What are you most proud of with No Glory?
I feel really proud in a lot of the ways we made the album, ways that would have usually scared me in making music. Every take, as far as vocal takes, was a full take through, and there is no cutting of things, which is something I love to do to get things sounding exactly as I want, feeling that control that I like to have. Even the process of making it with Felix was another lesson to me of just trusting the feeling of a moment and capturing a moment. There are some vocal takes where I’m like, “I could have hit those notes better,” but I think the way it is is the way it has to be. More so than how it’s performed, it’s how it’s felt that I really feel proud of.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.
TOPS’ Jane Penny has released a new track, ‘Beautiful Ordinary’, taken from her debut solo EP Surfacing. The project, out this Friday via Luminelle, was announced in January with the song ‘Messages’. Check ‘Beautiful Ordinary’ below.
“This song is about being afraid to lose someone that you love,” Penny explained in a press release. “When I listen to it now it sounds like an anthem for codependency. At that time I thought that the more afraid you are to lose someone, the stronger your love was. I’ve come to see those fears in a different way, but I know they were very real emotions. I love dark 80s music, Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys etc., and I thought that 80s vibe suited a song about such angsty juvenile feelings.”
David Bazan has announced a new Pedro the Lion album, Santa Cruz, due for release on June 7 via Polyvinyl. It continues a planned five-album arc that began with 2019’s Phoenix and 2022’s Havasu. Check out director Cody Cloud‘s video for the first single, ‘Modesto’, below, and scroll down for the album cover, tracklist, and the band’s upcoming tour dates.
“Of all the tunes on these records, I can’t think of another tune where I was really expressing my own agency,” Bazan said of the new song. “It was the first time where I really had a choice of what I wanted to do. It became really clear in those six months when I lived in Modesto that I didn’t want to work any other job – I wanted to try and make music. This song definitely feels like the launch pad for what became the life that I chose.”
Santa Cruz Cover Artwork:
Santa Cruz Tracklist:
1. It’ll All Work Out
2. Santa Cruz
3. Little Help
4. Tall Pines
5. Don’t Cry Now
6. Remembering
7. Teacher’s Pet
8. Parting
9. Modesto
10. Spend Time
11. Only Yesterday
Pedro the Lion 2024 Tour Dates:
Jun 16 – Boise, ID – Visual Arts Collective +
Jun 17 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge +
Jun 19 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater +
Jun 22 – St. Paul, MN – Turf Club +
Jun 23 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon +
Jun 24 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall +
Jun 25 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi +
Jun 27 – Detroit, MI – El Club +
Jun 28 – Toronto, ON – The Great Hall +
Jun 30 – Boston, MA – Crystal Ballroom +
Jul 1 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg #
Jul 2 – Philadelphia, PA – The Foundry #
Jul 3 – Washington, DC – The Atlantis #
Jul 6 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle – Back Room #
Jul 7 – Asheville, NC – The Grey Eagle #
Jul 8 – Nashville, TN – Basement East #
Jul 9 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West #
Jul 11 – Birmingham, AL – Saturn #
Jul 13 – Fort Worth, TX – Tulips #
Jul 14 – Austin, TX – Mohawk #
Jul 16 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom %
Jul 18 – San Diego, CA – Music Box %
Jul 19 – Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room %
Jul 20 – Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room %
Jul 22 – Felton, CA – Felton Music Hall %
Jul 23 – San Francisco, CA – The Chapel %
Jul 25 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom %
Jul 26 – Seattle, WA – Neumos %
+ with Squirrel Flower
# with Flock of Dimes
% with Danielle Durack
Washer – the indie rock duo of Mike Quigley and Kieran McShane – have unveiled a new song, ‘Come Back as a Bug’. It’s the title track to their new digital 7″, which features last month’s ‘You’re Also a Jerk’ and marks the band’s first new music since 2023’s Improved Means To Deteriorated Ends. Listen below.
“‘Come Back As A Bug’ is about externalizing depression as a way to act outside of it,” vocalist and guitarist Mike Quigley explained in a statement. “To carry on even if out of spite. It’s not necessarily optimistic, but I think there is a sort of agency in slogging through the rough shit, waiting for the sun to explode and wrap up this whole thing.”
Swamp Dogg has teamed up with Jenny Lewis for ‘Count the Days’, the latest single from his upcoming album Blackgrass: From West Virginia to 125th St. It follows lead offering ‘Mess Under That Dress’. Check out a video for it below.
Blackgrass: From West Virginia to 125th St also features guest appearances from Margo Price, Vernon Reid, Justin Vernon, and the Cactus Blossoms. It’s set to arrive on May 31 via Oh Boy Records.
