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Albums Out Today: MGMT, Real Estate, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Allie X, and More

In this segment, we showcase the most notable albums out each week. Here are the albums out on February 23, 2024:


MGMT, Loss of Life

MGMT are back with their fifth studio album and first for Mom+Pop, Loss of Life. The follow-up to 2018’s Little Dark Age was co-produced by past collaborator Patrick Wimberly, mixed by Dave Fridmann, and features additional production from Oneohtrix Point Never, Danger Mouse, and live MGMT member James Richardson. The record also has the first-ever duet on an MGMT release, from Christine and the Queens, who appears on ‘Dancing in Babylon’, which preceded the album along with ‘Mother Nature’, ‘Bubblegum Dog’, and ‘Nothing to Declare’. “All joking aside (never!), we are very proud of this album and the fact that it was a relatively painless birth after a lengthy gestation period, and are happy to be releasing this baby into the world with Mom+Pop,” the duo commented. “Musically speaking, we are running at around 20% adult contemporary and no more than this, please.” Read our review of Loss of Life.


Real Estate, Daniel

Real Estate have released their sixth LP, Daniel, via Domino. Following 2020’s The Main Thing, the album was previewed by the singles ‘Haunted World’‘Water Underground’, and ‘Flowers’. Martin Courtney, Alex Bleeker, Matt Kallman, Julian Lynch, and Sammi Niss recorded it at Nashville’s RCA Studio A with producer Daniel Tashian; according to a press release, they named the album Daniel “simply because it seemed like a good idea to bestow a human name upon a record. Was it for Daniel Tashian? Maybe. Was it the sign of a band that has now been around long enough to take its music seriously without taking itself or its perception too seriously? Absolutely.” Read our inspirations interview with Real Estate.


Hurray for the Riff Raff, The Past Is Still Alive

Alynda Segarra has returned with a new Hurray for the Riff Raff album, The Past Is Still Alive, out now via Nonesuch. The follow-up to 2022’s Life on Earth features the previously unveiled singles ‘Colossus of Roads’, ‘Snake Plant (The Past Is Still Alive)’, ‘Alibi’, and the title track. The record was produced by Brad Cook, mixed by Mike Mogis, and has contributions from Anjimile, Conor Oberst, and S.G. Goodman on vocals, as well as musicians Libby Rodenbough, Matt Douglas, Meg Duffy, Mogis, Phil Cook, and Yan Westerlund. According to a press release, inspirations include “radical poetry, railroad culture, outsider art, the work of writer Eileen Myles, and the history of activist groups like ACT UP and Gran Fury.”


Allie X, Girl With No Face

Allie X has followed up her 2020 LP Cape God with a new album, Girl With No Face. Marking the Toronto-born, LA-based singer-songwriter’s first self-produced record, with additional production from Justin Meldal-Johnsen, it features the early singles ‘Off With Her Tits, ‘Black Eye’, ‘Weird World’, and the title track. “It’s very hard to sum up a body of work you’ve spent thousands of hours on, but here’s an attempt,” X said in a press release. “There is a death in this music, as well as the beginning of a rebirth. I needed to make something that came completely from me. If only once, and if only to prove to myself that I could do it. I would describe these songs as angry, stubborn, honest, dry, melodramatic, fast, and indulgent… the same way some people describe me ha. I hope everyone likes it but if not, try turning it up a bit.”


Mary Timony, Untame the Tiger

Mary Timony has issued Untame the Tiger, her first solo album in more than 15 years, via Merge. The record was made following the dissolution of a long-term relationship and bookended by the deaths of her father and mother; Timony wrote many of the songs over a two-year period while serving as the primary caregiver for her ailing parents. “This was the hardest thing I’ve been through. Every week I had to manage a new crisis,” she said, adding: “Because I was making impossible decisions on behalf of my parents, creative choices now seemed more manageable. Since I had to confront the reality of loss, I realized what was important to me about being alive, and I became less scared. The record became my anchor in a time when I was losing so much around me. It felt like all I had — a guide that helped me through, and gave me hope.”


Glitterer, Rationale

Glitterer have put out a new album called Rationale. Following 2021’s Life Is Not a Lesson, it’s the first full-band LP from the former solo project of Title Fight’s Ned Russin, featuring Nicole Dao on keys, Jonas Farah on drums, and Connor Morin on guitar. Frequent collaborator Arthur Rizk produced the LP. “I had a few different ideas of how to expand Glitterer, but after spending a year practicing songs about loneliness by myself, I decided a cohesive band was the only way to go,” Russin commented in press materials. “It has been, and always will be, my preference to be in a collaborative, creative unit, I just had to figure out how to get there.”


Laetitia Sadier, Rooting for Love

Stereolab’s Laetitia Sadier has released Rooting for Love, her first solo LP in seven years. Out now via Drag City, the album was preceded by the singles ‘Une Autre Attente’‘Panser L’Innaceptable’, and ‘Who + What’. It follows 2017’s Find Me Finding You, which came out under the name Lætitia Sadier Source Ensemble, as well as Modern Cosmology, a collaborative album with Brazilian group Mombojó. The record features organ, guitar, bass, synth, trombone, vibraphone, live and programmed drums, and a vocal assembly billed as the Choir.


Colouring, Love to You, Mate

Colouring – the moniker of Nottingham-based songwriter and producer Jack Kenworthy – has unveiled his latest album, Love to You, Mate. The story behind the album largely revolves around Kenworthy’s life brother-in-law Greg Baker, who died of cancer in early 2022, almost a year after being diagnosed. “Love to You, Mate is a love letter to my wife, family and Greg for what they all did; a photograph of that time,” Kenworthy shared in a statement. “We were this tight-knit, inseparable group of friends for a whole year… a year we look back on with great pride. I really feel we’ve made this music together.”


Other albums out today:

The Body & Dis Fig, Orchards of a Futile Heaven; Maya Shenfeld, Under the Sun; Nadine Shah, Filthy Underneath; Little Kid, A Million Easy Payments; Church Chords, elvis, he was Schlager; Remo Drive, Mercy; Jazmin Bean, Traumatic Livelihood; Molly O’Leary, Marigold; Erick the Architect, I’ve Never Been Here Before; Carlos Nino & Idris Ackamoor & Nate Mercereau, Free, Dancing …; Mama Zu, Quilt Floor; Persher, Sleep Well; Whispering Sons, The Great Calm; Amaranthe, The Catalyst; Joëlle Léandre & Pascal Contet, Miniatures.

Justin Timberlake Drops New Song ‘Drown’

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Justin Timberlake has shared a new single, ‘Drown’, taken from his upcoming album Everything I Thought It Was. Following lead offering ‘Selfish’, the track was written by Timberlake, Louis Bell, Henry Walter, Amy Allen, and Kenyon Dixon, and produced with Bell and Cirkut. Check it out below.

Everything I Thought It Was arrives on March 15 via RCA. Last month, Timberlake debuted the new song ‘Sanctified’, featuring Tobe Nwigwe, on Saturday Night Live.

SZA Shares New Single ‘Saturn’

SZA has dropped a new single called ‘Saturn’. She teased the song in a Mastercard advertisement during the 2024 Grammys broadcast, where she performed ‘Kill Bill’ and ‘Snooze’. SZA, Carter Lang, Rob Bisel, Solomonophonic, and Monsune co-wrote the track, which you can hear below.

The Jesus and Mary Chain Release New Song ‘Girl 71’

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The Jesus and Mary Chain have released a new single called ‘Girl 71’. It’s taken from their first album in seven years, Glasgow Eyes – whose release date has been pushed back from March 8 to March 22 – and follows previous outings ‘Chemical Animal’ and ‘jamcod’. Give it a listen below.

Album Review: MGMT, ‘Loss of Life’

When you hear that MGMT are back with their first album in six years, one that’s supposedly more optimistic than 2018’s doomy yet oddly danceable Little Dark Age, you’d guess they’d have come up with a different title than Loss of Life. “I wish I was joking,” Andrew VanWyngarden sings on the second to last track, not at all oblivious to the acronym for the record – one that’s pointedly more philosophical and existential than anything the duo, now officially indie after leaving longtime label Columbia Records, have ever put out. Recording the album in 2021 and 2022, VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser were anything but impervious to the proliferation of apocalyptic art in the wake of the pandemic, and they almost responded in their own irreverent way with a novelty song called ‘Oh No Corona’, which their management advised against releasing. “I’m kind of into being home” is another lyric on ‘I Wish I Was Joking’, but Loss of Life isn’t MGMT’s upbeat dance record about strange, life-altering events, nor does it double down on the somber mood of Little Dark Age, whose title track unexpectedly reached TikTok virality. But in searching for greater meaning amidst the darkness, they deliver some of the richest and most emotionally potent material of their storied career.

With the new album, MGMT manage to cross the youthful naivety and exploratory tendencies that marked their early albums with the pervasive anxiety and newly streamlined sound of Little Dark Age. That sounds like a lot, and if you’ve only heard the singles, perhaps hyperbolic. Most of the advance tracks – with the exception of ‘Bubblegum Dog’, which originated in the previous album’s sessions and is a little wonkier – point to a warm, delicate palette, which does permeate the album but varies significantly in scale and sentiment. On ‘Mother Nature’, the album’s first proper song, the singer makes a case for holding onto the idea of love by contrasting fantastical language (“open castle gates and let me go inside”) with mundane activities like throwing out the trash, anticipating the listener’s skepticism: “You know what comes right after the dark/ But I understand your hesitation.” ‘Nothing to Declare’ takes a more serene approach, finding freedom in the absence of self-definition, of purpose for one’s wandering.

What comes after the dark isn’t as obvious as it sounds, and in that wandering, MGMT sound both settled and unburdened. This allows them to lean back into their roots, or reconcile them – the absurdism and genre-hopping of their early performances, the earnestness of the classic rock they’d cover in college. If anything, the template of Loss of Life is more faithful to the definition of classic rock that congeals when you listen to the radio as opposed to the obsessive classification of online music nerdom, so the ‘90s alt-rock influences of ‘Mother Nature’ and ‘Bubblegum Dog’ flow into the cinematic soft rock of ‘People in the Streets’ and the power balladry of ‘Dancing in Babylon’, a collaboration with Christine and the Queens that would have fit snugly in his latest opus, unabashedly sentimental and slightly off-kilter in its romantic declarations.

With past collaborators Patrick Wimberly and Dave Fridmann back into the fold, there’s a sense of familiarity here, but the group also widen their creative circle in ways that foster their eccentric impulses and prevents this from being dubbed their “most accessible” record. One prominent contributor is Oneohtrix Point Never (aka Daniel Lopatin), whose additional production is surely responsible for at least some of the twitchy electronics of ‘Dancing in Babylon’, but whose influence – his tendency to warp and stretch out songs into journeys that feel nostalgic yet abstract – is more pronounced on the two tracks he co-produced, which also represent the album’s opposite sides. Like many of the tracks on the album, ‘Phradie’s Song’ presumably started on acoustic guitar, and while its tender, lullaby-like qualities are preserved, it’s the dreaminess that swells in its dramatic conclusion; the closing title track, on the other hand, expands in unpredictable ways that justify the lyric “undressing cosmic knots.” On the epic ‘Nothing Changes’, which goes far as to reference their  immortal hit ‘Time to Pretend’, VanWyngarden sings, “If I could change/ Then I wouldn’t be here.” MGMT are still here, of course, and they keep changing – a fact as natural as it is a little magic.

Blending Illustration and Tattoo: Insights from Tattoo Artist Ningjia Zhai

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Ningjia Zhai, a distinguished illustrator and tattoo artist based in New York City, is presently employed at the tattoo studio Beanbeantattoo. During her early life, she discovered a deep appreciation for tattoos and began her apprenticeship under a renowned tattoo artist in 2017. Today, we will interview her to learn more about her journey and insights.

Fascinated by tattoos for their captivating imagery, Ningjia found her true passion lay in illustration. Initially, she pursued painting as her primary artistic outlet. It wasn’t until eight years ago that she decided to delve into tattooing. During that time, she apprenticed under a talented tattoo artist and became deeply inspired by the distinctive style of Dr. Woo. “His intricate single-needle designs, reminiscent of monochrome artistry, greatly influenced  my own artistic direction in the early stages.” Ningjia said.

Combining illustration and tattoo art is a fascinating and wondrous fusion. It creates a unique form of body expression by showcasing intricate artwork on the human canvas. Illustration encompasses a myriad of artistic schools, ranging from the editorial illustrations often seen in magazines to the delicate intricacies of monochrome sketches. Similarly, in the realm of tattoos, there is a distinct style known as flash tattoos. These pre-prepared designs offer customers a diverse array of topics and styles to choose from, eliminating the need for custom designs. Drawing from Ningjia’s background in illustration, she integrates her artistic skills into the creation of tattoo flash designs. According to her, “I view my practice in watercolor painting as foundational to my tattooing career.”  These two artistic disciplines allow her to develop a unique style that resonates with both illustration and tattooing pursuits.

Artists draw inspiration and knowledge from various predecessors. Asian art and culture serve as some of her biggest influences and passions. One master she highlights is the Japanese ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai from the Edo period. She was astonished by the linear manga he drew when she randomly visited a bookstore. She found that she could incorporate this into her artistic style—monochrome, vividly expressing nature without color. She also wants to mention the Chinese artist Zheng Banqiao. She admires his use of linearity, particularly in his depiction of rocks, where, despite the overall form having edges and corners, each individual line is unequivocally straight. Significantly influenced by their works, she draws inspiration from the uninhibited representations of nature and animals found in ancient Asian art and strives to incorporate them into her art.

Through the honest and blunt conversation, Ningjia also shared that one of her biggest challenges was incorporating linearity into tattoo art, inspired by Katsushika Hokusai and Zheng Banqiao. To learn this style, she acquired rice paper, brushes, and silk-bound sketchbooks. “Initially, it was a somewhat bumpy road because there was no one to teach me—this style is so unique that few have attempted it.” She experimented with various forms and eventually settled on using a 6B pencil. Unlike the brush, the pencil allows for a certain abruptness and spaces where the art can ‘breathe.’ Since most of her drawings feature plants, pets, and lines, the pencil lends her art a sense of freedom and breathability.

Through her journey as a tattoo artist, she has discovered that her work goes beyond mere craftsmanship. Each tattoo she creates carries with it a story, a memory, and a piece of someone’s heart. The bond formed between her and her clients during these intimate sessions is profound and heartwarming. She cherishes the moments when clients share their personal stories, their triumphs, and their sorrows, allowing her to create meaningful and deeply personal tattoos that resonate with their experiences. It’s these connections and the ability to touch people’s lives in such a profound way that truly makes tattooing a fulfilling and rewarding endeavor for her.

Ningjia told this inspiring story to us: “One day, a guest reached out to me just a day after her dog passed away. I was taken aback, and the raw emotion in her voice made it clear that she was in pain. She revealed that she had been silently following my work, always dreaming of getting her dog inked. However, when her pup was alive and kicking, she opted for quality time over tattoos. Tragically, her beloved furry friend left this world just a day ago, leaving her heartbroken. The irreplaceable loss pushed her to fulfill the postponed dream of immortalizing her canine companion on her skin. As a fellow dog owner, I couldn’t hold back tears, and I hoped my art would be a source of solace for her. Post-tattoo, she gazed at the inked tribute for what felt like an eternity. An initial sense of nervousness on my part was quickly replaced by the power of her choked-up words: ‘Thank you for bringing my precious one back to me.’ It was a moment that transcended the art; it was an emotional embrace that words couldn’t fully capture.”

From that point forward, a flood of clients approached Ningjia, sharing tales of their departed pets—dogs, cats, squirrels, lizards, and even feathered friends. The human-animal connection became the heartbeat of her craft. Each client’s story became a melody, and every stroke of her tattoo needle transformed into a dance of emotions, turning these creatures into living artworks on their owners. “After completing their tattoos, clients would look at me with misty eyes, expressing that it felt like their beloved companions had returned. This profound connection gave me not just the power to create but also the courage to continue this meaningful journey, where art becomes a bridge between cherished memories and the forever bond with our furry friends.” Ningjia added.

How to recycle old objects and transform them into decorations

If you are looking for a new and interesting way to make your home stand out, then you might be keen to think about the way in which you are decorating its interior. You can always approach this in a range of ways, and doing so could be one of the best ways to ensure that you are truly proud of your home. With so many ways to approach this, however, how do you know what you should be doing here?

One of the things you might want to consider is finding some old objects that you can recycle to transform into decorations. In the current mode of sustainable living and decorating, this is very popular, and if you do it right, it could mean great things for how your home looks. So, let’s look at how you might do this and make it work for you.

Old Baskets

If you have any old baskets lying around, there are a lot of things you can do with it. One of the options to consider is to turn it into a great recycling centre in the home. That’s an easy craft project and one that will help you to actually keep your home eco as well – and the point is that if the basket is attractive enough, you should also be able to keep it as a decoration too.

All you need to do is place it where you need it and perhaps paint it if necessary. The holes are not a problem if you are using it for recycling only, so that’s something that you should definitely be aware of here. It’s a simple but very effective way to recycle any old baskets you might have.

Mason Jars

Jars are a great option when you want to create some decorations. There are just so many things you can do with them. You might turn them into plant pots, for instance, or living vivariums. To that end, you could even have an indoor living garden, perhaps a herb garden. This is an example of a kind of decoration that can also have a practical purpose, and there’s just something really nice about killing two birds with one stone in that way.

So take any mason jars or similar you may have and, clean them out and prep them. This is a great use of them and an excellent example of home upcycling.

Skateboards

Maybe your kids had a skateboard that they no longer use, and you’re wondering if this could also be a great form of decoration. This is a very easy object to turn into a decoration. You might have even noticed in people’s homes that they have a skateboard on their wall hung up just as-is. This is the simplest thing you can do with it, or you could opt instead to create a kind of collage with it, which is a particularly modern and funky approach to take.

If you go down that route, do all you can to make the room modern and vibrant. Hang up some canvas wall art, paint the walls the right, bright colours, and you will find that the old skateboard really pops as a part of all this.

Vinyl

You might also have a lot of vinyl that you are wondering about. Suppose any of it is particularly unlikely to fetch any money, and it’s not of particularly sentimental value to you. In that case, it can be used in a lot of different ways to create some decorative items around the home. For instance, those little 7-inches could be made into table decorations, or you might want to simply hang some vinyl from the ceiling in your music room. These are just examples, but you should be able to see that there is so much you can do.

Farm Tools

For the rustic vibe, take any farm tools you have that are no longer suitable to their purpose and consider hanging them up on the walls. Pairing this with the right colours – some hay-like hues, for instance – can create a really interesting country feel. It’s a simple idea, but often, that’s all you need when you are trying to transform objects into works of art in the home.

Those are just some ideas for recycling old objects and turning them into beautiful – and sometimes even functional – decorations.

10 Iconic models who defined 60’s Style

The sixties was the decade when the supermodel was truly born. While there were celebrities and fashion icons in the previous years, things changed dramatically during the decade of free love and self-expression, and it’s no surprise a few fashion icons were leading the way and dictating what was in, what was out, and what was coming up. If you’re looking for sixties-inspired fashion, there’s no better way to learn than from those who pioneered it.

Understanding the distinction between model vs supermodel helps clarify the extraordinary influence these individuals had in the fashion world. This era marked the evolution from traditional modeling into the realm of supermodel stardom.

Twiggy

You cannot discuss sixties supermodels without mentioning Twiggy. The undisputed Queen of Mod, Twiggy, stood out with her unique style, including cropped hair and slick, straight outfits that offered something different from other models of the time. She rose to fame at just 16 and encapsulated what it meant to be a modern icon still renowned today.

Jean Shrimpton

Considered by many to be the world’s first supermodel, Jean Shrimpton was the quintessential cover girl who came out of the London scene during the Swinging Sixties. Jean basically had it all, and her multiple cover shoots across a range of fashion magazines gave women of the time the inspiration they needed to try something unique, empowering a generation and liberating styles worldwide.

Penelope Tree

Penelope Tree inspired songs and is someone many people associate with vintage trousers, even 60 years after she first rose to fame. Though people knew about her from the high-slit dress, she quickly became one of the most recognisable and alluring supermodels of the time and could always be found around London during the heyday of the sixties.

Peggy Moffit

An instantly recognisable supermodel, Peggy Moffit, had a look you could not tear your eyes from. She embraced extreme fashion and loved to make a statement, most evident with her topless monokini bathing suit in 1964. Besides that, her haircut and look-at-me eye makeup were her signature look that women all over loved to replicate to capture some of Peggy’s allure.

Marisa Berenson

Marisa Berenson got her break in the sixties when her style and beauty made her one of the highest-paid models at the time. Her allure was enhanced as she became the Queen of the Scene, being a regular fixture at clubs and events that ensured everyone knew who she was.

Verushka

Richard Avedon famously called Verushka the most beautiful woman in the world, a big claim in a decade when every supermodel had the right to claim that title. She perfectly encapsulated the sixties vibe with her famously boho look that was easy for women and girls worldwide to replicate. Her influence continued throughout the years, and she walked the runway during the Giles Spring Show in 2011 at age 71.

Donyale Luna

The world’s first African cover girl deserves a spot on any iconic, era-defining models list. Donyale is arguably the archetype for the modern supermodel, with her 5’11” frame and captivating eyes. When she walked into a room, people paid attention, and she was one of the many personalities that populated Andy Waerhol’s films, helping her stand out as a true–if tragic–fixture of the industry.

Pattie Boyd

Even if you’ve not heard of Pattie Boys, you’ve likely heard of The Beatles’ ”Something” and “Layla” by Eric Clapton, both of which were written for Pattie. Although much of the sixties focused on new styles, Pattie Boyd’s style perfected the blend of classic, feminine looks with the more ambitious and creative styles found all around London during the sixties.

Linda Keith

Linda Keith also inspired many of the decade’s most influential rock stars. She dated Keith Richards but was also much more than simply arm-candy. Linda’s work for Vogue during the 60s catapulted her to fame, and she became a crucial part of London’s bohemian collective that championed living your life the way you want to rather than listening to anyone else telling you what to do. If you dress in boho style, you have Linda Keith to thank for that.

Linda Morand

Linda Morand will forever be linked to the sixties for several reasons. Her uncanny resemblance to Jackie Kennedy (later Jackie Onassis) helped her establish the quintessential vision of American beauty. Yet she also expanded her influence and quickly became one of the most in-demand models of the time when featured in French haute couture shows to cement her legacy.

Model Behavior

These models were famed for their innovation and daring approach to fashion as much as their looks. They are the perfect starting point for anyone who wants to replicate the sixties style and bring it to the forefront. Whether you’re looking for something daring to make a statement or simply want to bask in the subtle elegance of the finest outfits, you should only learn from the very best.

How To Declutter Your Home in One Day

What’s so wrong with having a cluttered home? Well, whether it’s old clothing piling up in the wardrobe (or on the floor), stacks of papers on your desk, or just a lot of ‘stuff’ all over the place, the fact is that a cluttered house is not a relaxing place to be – whether consciously or subconsciously, clutter causes stress.

However, the house of decluttering can be just as stressful, especially if you have a busy schedule and if you don’t know where to start. The good news is we’re here to help with both of those issues; we’ve got some useful advice about how to declutter your home in one day, so keep reading to find out more.

Have A Goal

Before you can start with your decluttering task, think about the areas of your home that really do need the most attention. Once you’ve worked that out, create a list of specific goals you want to achieve by the end of your one day of decluttering, starting with the jobs that will focus on the worst areas. For example, if you find pests while decluttering, consider reaching out to Turner Pest Control in Daytona Beach to handle any infestations effectively.

Your list could include decluttering your wardrobe, organising your kitchen cabinets, or perhaps clearing out your home office – it doesn’t matter what it is as long as you have an excellent place to start and you know how you want things to look by the end of the day.

Gather Supplies

Surely the last thing you’ll need when you’re decluttering is more stuff in the house? That’s true, but when you’re gathering supplies to help you declutter, they’re not going to make more mess – they’re going to reduce it.

The supplies we’re talking about could include bin bags, storage containers, cardboard boxes, markers for labelling those boxes and cleaning supplies. If you’ve got everything on hand to get the job done, you won’t have to keep stopping to find those items, and your focus and flow won’t be broken, making you a lot more productive.

Don’t Organise

What do we mean when we say don’t organise? It’s sometimes hard to know the difference between decluttering and organising, and the former is a lot more useful than the latter, so working that difference out is crucial.

Decluttering is all about getting rid of items you no longer need or use, but organising is more about keeping those items and just arranging them in a tidier way – as you can see, there is quite a difference here. Start by sorting through each item and decide whether to keep, donate, recycle, or reuse it, and be as ruthless as possible because your home will be much clearer and less stressful.

Use The Four-Box Method

The four-box method is a really simple but fantastically effective way to declutter your home. You only need to label four boxes with ‘keep’, ‘donate’, ‘sell’, and ‘rubbish’. As you go through each item, put it in the right box based on what you want to do with it. When you work in this way, it speeds up the process and makes sure that you look at every item and decide about it.

Whether you’re decluttering because you’re about to decorate your home, because you’re moving and want your North London removals company to have less to take from place to place, or simply because you want a more comfortable place to live, working in a methodical way like this will undoubtedly help you declutter in just one day.

Set A Timer

One of the problems with decluttering is that even if you start off with all good intentions, sooner or later, you’re going to start getting tired and distracted – after all, decluttering isn’t the most entertaining or fun thing in the world to do, and you’ll probably rather be doing something else. That’s why the slightest disruption means you’ll get distracted, and the job might not get finished at all.

The best way to combat this is to set a timer for 30 minutes at a time. You can speed through half an hour of decluttering without getting too unfocused, knowing that at the end, you can take a ten-minute break to do something more fun. Set a timer at the end of ten minutes and head back to decluttering for another 30 minutes, and soon enough, you’ll find you’re really making progress.

Reward Yourself

It’s really important to look back at everything you’ve achieved over the course of a day and reward yourself in whatever way suits you best once you’re done. Whether it’s enjoying a cup of tea in your newly organised kitchen or taking a luxurious bath in a spotless bathroom, the good feeling you get will help motivate you to do more when the time comes.

Virak TikTok Hair Trends of 2024 so far

Isn’t hair a great thing? Perhaps you’ve never thought about it before, but your hair can say a lot about your personality, who you are, and what you like. Hair can be fashioned into so many shapes, styles, and colours that no matter what kind of person you are or what you want people to know about you, you can instantly tell them your whole story.

Of course, it can be tricky to decide exactly how you want your hair, and until you come up with a style that really suits you, some experimentation is often in order. That’s where TikTok can come in handy, as strange as it might seem. Viral TikTok hair trends can be a great way to work out what suits you and what doesn’t, and since they’re easy to find and follow on the social media app, you can get started right away. With that in mind, keep reading to find out what some of these trends are so far in 2024.

The Jersey Headband

This idea is less of a style and more of a look, but it’s definitely gained traction lately, and it’s fun to get started with if you want to make changes slowly. It’s the idea of wearing a jersey headband, which dates back to the 1990s but is now making a massive comeback.

When we say a jersey headband, that’s precisely what we mean – a stretchy, wide headband in a colour of your choice (right now, the hot colours are white, black, or grey), that you wear at the front of your head, right on the hairline. It’s a cool look and an easy one to achieve that you don’t have to spend any time over, making it great for those in a rush who still want to look stylish.

Bubble Braids

As the name suggests, a bubble braid is a hairstyle that means you create a series of bubbles (or sections) in the braid itself, and it’s a fun and playful style that gives you plenty of volume and texture. Use hair oil sets to make your hair look healthier, and this look can shine – literally.

Start by brushing or combing your hair so it’s nice and smooth, and then decide where you want to start your braid – it could be a bubble braid down the back of your head, off to the side, or as a traditional ponytail, so you’ll need to know what you want before you begin. Then, divide the section of hair you want to brain into three equal parts (like a normal braid or plait). You’ll start braiding your hair as normal, but once you’re a little way down, you’ll want to start making the bubbles, which you do by taking a small section of hair from each side of the braid and gently pulling them apart to make that area looser – then tie it with a hairband to create the actual bubble. Do that a few times (how many will depend on how long your hair is), and you’ll have a fun bubble braid to enjoy.

Wolf Cut

The wolf cut is a versatile and edgy look that has grown in popularity, mainly thanks to TikTok. It’s a shaggy layered look with shorter layers framing the face and longer ones at the back – it’s kind of like a fashionable mullet (it looks much cooler than it sounds!).

If you want a wolf cut, the best thing to do is speak to your hairdresser. Yes, technically, you can do it yourself, but do you want to run the risk of it going wrong? Once you start cutting in layers (especially if there were no layers before), then you do need to know what you’re doing for the end result to come off well, so speaking to a professional and getting them to do it for you is really the ideal option.

The key to the wolf cut is layering, and that’s not only going to give you the look you want but plenty of volumes as well, plus, you’ll get some great texture to the hair that makes it look a lot more interesting than before. When the shorter tousled layers frame your face, you can add an extra dimension to the look, ensuring that it suits you just right. Plus, don’t forget that although you can keep things natural with a wolf cut, you can also style your hair – straightening your locks with this kind of style can look great, giving you a classy and sophisticated air, for example.