As the world continues to adapt to the new normal of spending more time at home, it’s easy to fall into a routine of wearing comfortable, yet unflattering loungewear. However, just because you’re not leaving the house doesn’t mean you can’t look chic and put-together. With a few simple tips and tricks, it’s possible to elevate your at-home style game.
One way to instantly look more polished is to focus on your accessories. While you may not be wearing a full outfit, adding a statement necklace or a pair of earrings can make all the difference. Additionally, swapping out your slippers for a pair of stylish flats or sneakers can elevate your entire look.
Another tip for looking chic at home is to invest in comfortable yet stylish loungewear. Opt for pieces that are made from high-quality fabrics and have a flattering fit. This way, you’ll feel comfortable and confident while still looking put-together. By following these simple tips, you can look chic and stylish even when you’re spending the day at home.
Defining Chic: Comfort Meets Style
The Basics of a Chic Home Wardrobe
Accessorizing at Home
Investing in Quality Over Quantity
Personal Grooming and Presentation
Defining Chic: Comfort Meets Style
Looking chic at home is all about finding the perfect balance between comfort and style. Chic is not about wearing uncomfortable clothes or following the latest fashion trends blindly. It is about feeling good in what you wear and looking put together without trying too hard.
To achieve a chic look at home, start with comfortable basics that fit well and flatter your body type. Think soft cotton T-shirts, cozy sweaters, and relaxed-fit pants. These pieces can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.
Accessories are also key to achieving a chic look. A statement necklace or a pair of earrings can instantly elevate a simple outfit. A scarf or a hat can add a touch of sophistication and style to any look.
When it comes to colors and patterns, neutral tones and classic prints like stripes and polka dots are always a safe bet. These timeless styles never go out of fashion and can be easily mixed and matched.
Remember, looking chic is not about following strict rules or trends. It is about finding your own personal style and expressing it in a comfortable and effortless way.
The Basics of a Chic Home Wardrobe
To look chic even at home, one must have a wardrobe that reflects comfort and style. Here are some basics of a chic home wardrobe that can help anyone achieve a fashionable yet comfortable look:
1. Comfortable Loungewear
Comfortable loungewear is a must-have for a chic home wardrobe. It includes comfortable sweatpants, leggings, oversized t-shirts, and hoodies. One should opt for soft and breathable fabrics like cotton, linen, or bamboo that are comfortable to wear for extended periods.
2. Versatile Basics
Versatile basics are the foundation of a chic home wardrobe. One should invest in timeless pieces like a classic white t-shirt, a pair of high-waisted jeans, and a black blazer that can be dressed up or down. These pieces are easy to mix and match with other items in the wardrobe.
3. Stylish Activewear
Stylish activewear is perfect for those who want to stay active and comfortable at home. One should choose activewear that is both functional and fashionable, like leggings with mesh detailing or sports bras with trendy cutouts.
4. Cozy Outerwear
Cozy outerwear is perfect for those who want to stay warm and stylish at home. One should opt for cozy knit cardigans, oversized sweaters, and soft fleece jackets that can be layered over other pieces in the wardrobe.
By incorporating these basics into a home wardrobe, anyone can look chic and stylish while staying comfortable at home.
Accessorizing at Home
Accessories can add a touch of glam to any outfit, even if you’re just lounging around at home. Here are some tips on how to accessorize at home and look chic:
1. Jewelry
Jewelry is a great way to add some sparkle to your outfit. A simple necklace or pair of earrings can make all the difference. For a more casual look, try wearing a delicate chain necklace or some simple studs. If you want to make a statement, go for a chunky necklace or some bold earrings.
2. Scarves
Scarves are a versatile accessory that can be worn in many different ways. You can wear a scarf around your neck, as a headband, or even as a belt. Choose a scarf in a bright color or bold pattern to add some interest to your outfit.
3. Hats
Hats are not only practical but also stylish. A wide-brimmed hat or a cute beanie can add some flair to your outfit. Plus, they’re perfect for hiding a bad hair day.
4. Slippers
Even if you’re just hanging out at home, you can still look chic from head to toe. Invest in a pair of cozy and stylish slippers, like sheepskin slippers, to keep your feet warm and fashionable.
Remember, the key to accessorizing at home is to keep it simple and comfortable. Choose accessories that complement your outfit and make you feel confident.
Investing in Quality Over Quantity
When it comes to looking chic at home, investing in quality pieces over quantity can make a big difference. Quality pieces not only look better, but they also last longer, saving you money in the long run.
One way to invest in quality is to choose classic, timeless pieces that never go out of style. For example, a well-made cashmere sweater or a pair of leather loafers will always look chic, no matter what the current fashion trends are.
Another way to invest in quality is to choose natural, high-quality fabrics. Natural fabrics like cotton, silk, and wool not only feel better against the skin, but they also look better and last longer than synthetic fabrics.
When shopping for quality pieces, it’s important to pay attention to the details. Look for pieces with well-finished seams, sturdy hardware, and high-quality stitching. These details may seem small, but they can make a big difference in the overall look and longevity of a piece.
In summary, investing in quality pieces over quantity is a smart way to look chic even at home. By choosing classic, timeless pieces made from natural, high-quality fabrics and paying attention to the details, you can build a wardrobe that looks and feels great for years to come.
Personal Grooming and Presentation
Looking chic at home doesn’t mean sacrificing personal grooming and presentation. In fact, paying attention to these details can make a big difference in how put-together and stylish one looks. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Maintain good hygiene: Even if one is not leaving the house, it’s important to keep up with basic hygiene practices like showering, brushing teeth, and washing hands regularly. This will not only help one feel better but also prevent any unpleasant odors or appearances.
Wear clothes that fit well: Wearing clothes that are too baggy or too tight can make one look sloppy or unflattering. Opt for clothes that fit well and are comfortable, such as a well-fitted t-shirt or a pair of tailored sweatpants.
Accessorize: Adding a few accessories can elevate any casual outfit. Consider wearing a statement necklace, a pair of stylish earrings, or a trendy scarf to add some personality and flair to one’s look.
Experiment with makeup and hairstyles: Just because one is at home doesn’t mean they can’t have fun with their makeup and hairstyles. Trying out a new hairstyle or experimenting with a bold lip color can be a fun way to switch up one’s look and feel more put-together.
By paying attention to personal grooming and presentation, one can look and feel chic even when staying at home.
Case opening simulators, based on the popular first-person shooter game CS2, have become an intriguing facet for gamers worldwide. These simulators offer a virtual counterpart to the in-game feature, allowing players to experience the excitement of opening cases without actual monetary investment. This article delves into how these simulators work, their benefits, and what potential users can expect when diving into this virtual activity.
What Are CS2 Case Opening Simulators?
Case opening simulators are designed to mimic the case opening process found in the actual CS2 game. These platforms use virtual items and currency to recreate the thrill of obtaining in-game assets like weapon skins, without real-world financial stakes. These simulators are developed to give a close-to-real experience, where each virtual case could contain a rare or common item, similar to the real game’s mechanics.
How Do These Simulators Function?
These simulators operate on a simple premise: replicate the excitement of opening CS2 game cases in a risk-free environment. Players begin by selecting a simulator that has a good reputation and positive feedback from the community. Once a simulator is chosen, participants can browse through a range of virtual cases, each resembling its real-game counterpart with various potential contents.
The process of opening a case typically involves selecting a case and initiating the opening sequence, which is often accompanied by an animation showing the items being unveiled. Post-reveal, the simulator provides details about the items, such as rarity, appearance, and hypothetical market value. This adds an educational layer for users to understand the dynamics of item valuation within the game.
Key Features to Look for in a CS2 Case Opening Simulator
When choosing a simulator, certain factors enhance the user experience significantly:
Reputation and Reliability: Opt for simulators with positive user reviews and testimonials.
Diverse Item Collections: The more varied the items available for unlocking, the more engaging the simulator.
User-Friendly Interface: Ease of use and an intuitive interface are crucial for enjoyable gameplay.
Additional Tools: Features like item drop statistics or price comparison tools can significantly enrich the simulator experience.
Benefits of Using CS2 Case Opening Simulators
The primary advantage of using case opening simulators is the ability to engage in part of the gaming experience without financial repercussions. This is particularly beneficial for new players or those who are hesitant to spend real money. Simulators provide a platform to:
Experiment: Try out different strategies for opening cases and managing virtual inventory.
Learn: Gain a deeper understanding of the game’s economy and how item values fluctuate.
Enjoy Risk-Free Fun: Experience the thrill of potentially getting a rare item, without the fear of losing money.
Is Investing Time in CS2 Case Opening Simulators Worth It?
For gamers who relish the case opening aspect of CS2 but want to avoid the gamble of real-world spending, simulators are an excellent alternative. They offer a balance of entertainment, learning, and strategy without financial risk. Moreover, they can serve as a practical tool for improving one’s understanding of market trends and item rarity within the game.
Conclusion
CS2 case opening simulators stand out as a fascinating and practical extension of the gaming experience. They allow players to indulge in the thrill of uncovering new skins and items, while providing valuable insights into the virtual economy of CS2. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a newcomer to the scene, these simulators can offer a comprehensive and exhilarating way to explore the game’s features without the associated costs. By choosing a reputable and feature-rich simulator, gamers can significantly enhance their understanding and enjoyment of CS2’s dynamic world.
Cryptocurrency is slowly regaining its value. While it may not be at the lofty heights it once was, it does give you two options: sell it or use it. Like any currency, when it goes up in value it goes further and allows you to do more things and purchase more goods. If you have been hoarding Bitcoin and Ethereum, now may be the time to use it and we can show you how.
Go on Holiday
With crypto and fuel being consistently volatile in price, you would think that many airline carriers would avoid the payment method like the plague. Yet some third-party bookers are taking advantage of crypto, seeing the many advantages it can bring. If you can find one, then you can use the currency to pay for your next trip abroad.
It is not just the travel option either. You will also find many hotels now welcome crypto with open arms. Some countries, such as Japan, have also embraced the technology wholeheartedly and will let you pay for services with it while you are there. Do your research before you go, and you may find you can have a whole holiday using it!
Casino Games
The online casino industry was one of the first to allow online payments in cryptocurrency. There are several distinct advantages for players and the casino when using crypto, with the main benefit being that withdrawals are both ultra-secure and fast.
However, not all online casinos that accept crypto are created equal and they often have varied rules. Some will take your crypto payment and convert it to fiat currency, allowing you to cash it in and play. Others will have dedicated crypto games, such as a section offering Bitcoin casino games that can be played using the currency alone. You may find some casino deals only in crypto, whereas others will be standard casinos that accept a range of payment methods. Do your homework and shop around to see which is best for you.
Space Travel
For this one, you may need a lot of Bitcoin and you may not be going to Mars anytime soon. However, you will at least get into the outer atmosphere and further than most of your friends have been on holiday. Virgin Galactic is the operator of this one, the famous company founded by billionaire Richard Branson. The company is developing commercial spacecraft and it does accept Bitcoin as payment.
Formerly known as “The Spaceship Company,” Branson aims to bring commercial flights as quickly as possible. They have already had some success with their VSS Unity crafts, which have carried passengers into space. However, this definition of space is only by the US calculation that states space begins at 50 miles above the earth’s surface. The rest of the world views it as 62 miles, known as the Karman Line.
The use of crypto will follow the path of any currency. For a time, it will be a little unstable before becoming more even. This means you will see more and more entertainment options arrive shortly.
Due to its convenient features, high quality, and easy-to-follow maintenance, Vaporesso has a huge fan base. However, electrical devices come with some technical issues and also with the solutions.
Though at reliable vape shops like Vape Deals, you would get several different Vaporesso pod vapes, the problems are often the same.
One of the most common questions we noticed in vapers is, ” Why is my Vaporesso not working?”
Today, we’ll explore all the possible ways that can be helpful for you.
Too Late/Didn’t Read
There can be several reasons why the Vaporesso is not working.
Check out the followings-
Make sure your device is turned on
Check if the device’s battery is charged enough
Inspect the connection point
Check if the Vaporesso pod’s fire button is plunged
Ensure you have properly set the pod while replacing
Why Is My Vaporesso Not Working? [4 Problems+Solutions]
Whether Luxe 80 S, Luxe XR, or Luxe X, all Vaporesso pod systems have the basic device structure, as described in the image above.
The pod’s battery will let you know about its current status with three different LED colors.
Red Color– Low battery level (0%-30%)
Blue Color– Medium level of batt (30%-70%)
Green Color– Fully-charged battery (70%-100%)
So, users can easily get to know the battery level while vaping and put the device on charging once the LED color is indicated. However, what would you do if your Vaporesso isn’t working, firing up, or hitting up?
There can be several reasons why your pod isn’t working properly:
An empty battery
Improper connection of the pod’s parts
Problem with the power button
1. Vaporesso Pod Isn’t Turning On
This problem can occur if you have turned on and off the device too often. Vaporesso pods get turned off by pressing the firing button a few times. This can be done 3 to 6 times based on what brand of pod or battery you’re using.
To turn on or off a Vaporesso pod, click its power button 5 times within 2 seconds. But if you press the fire button more than that in just a shorter time, it won’t work out.
Solution
In such a case, give your device a factory reset. After installing the tank, the device will identify the coil’s material and resistance. Then press the Up (+) key for reset and if you want to use the existing set up press the down (-) key. Now, start the vape by pressing the fire button. We recommend that people not vape for more than 10 seconds at one time to be safety conscious.
2. Vaporesso Isn’t Working After The Charge
It is another common problem with vapers. You might have kept the device on charge for hours, but at the time of vaping, it’s not turning on.
Solution
If the device has a full charge, but the LED color is saying something else, inspect the charging parts.
Cross-check if you’re using the right charger compatible with the battery. When you start to chagrin the vape device, it will show a signal indicating charging progress.
If it isn’t, please inspect if the charger is working normally. You should have changed the charger if it failed to give a 5V voltage output or had any other issues.
Even if the cable is in good condition, it can hamper charging. Grime can be collected from the USB port. To check this, replace the cable with another charging cord and test it.
Also, don’t forget to inspect the LED color itself on the vape device. Make sure it’s on work according to the user manual.
If you haven’t charged your Vaporesso for many days or the low battery indication is there for several days, it means either the battery is damaged or over-discharged. Even after charging for 10-15 minutes, you can’t recover the batt. So, we recommend replacing the battery.
3. Problem With The Fire Button
When your Vaporesso isn’t working, have you ever thought the problem could be hidden in the power button?
Solution
Check out if the power button on your device is stuck or if the pod is properly installed. If you see any fault there, rectify it.
Additionally, check the manual guide with your Vaporesso vape pod to see any indication of insufficient power, short circuit, or disconnection of the device and the coil.
4. Connection Issue
This can happen due to dust and dirt while you have replaced the pod.
Solution
Always keep the battery and tank or pod’s internal terminal clean. Use cotton buds to clear up the gunked-up e-liquid and dust particles.
Another important reason that may lead to non-functional Vaporesso pods is internally damaged components. Remember, if you have ever dropped the device on a hard surface or in water, ending with power failure.
7 Vaporesso Maintenance Tips
Always keep the pods clean. Rinse your pod using warm water. Make sure it’s completely dry before you refill it.
Based on how frequently you use your vape, we recommend changing your coil in one or two weeks.
Never completely drain out the battery. Make sure you keep it on recharge when the battery life capacity is within 20-30%.
If you want to save your coils from degradation, don’t use e-juice that is highly sweetened.
To prevent leakage, don’t overfill the pod.
Regularly clean the pod device with isopropyl alcohol using a cotton bud.
After use, store your device in a cool and dry place out of the sunlight.
Got Your Solution?
You might face hindrances like the power button not working, charged but still not working, and not functioning after replacing the pods, etc. Where there is a problem, there is a way, you know!
Try our techniques; they would possibly work unless there isn’t any internal permanent damage in your pod.
Similar to any other electrical device, Vaporesso pods can also have some issues after using several times. However, if the vape device is under warranty, you should take it to the retailer from which you bought it. Also, if the warranty duration has passed, no worries. You’ll get different ranges for replacing your pod’s parts.
In today’s financial markets, trading bots have become an indispensable tool, revolutionizing how trades are executed across various platforms. These automated systems, driven by sophisticated algorithms, manage and execute trades with unprecedented speed and efficiency, catering to the needs of both casual traders and large-scale investors. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) has further enhanced the capabilities of these bots, enabling them to analyze vast amounts of data, make predictions, and adapt strategies in real-time. This technological evolution is reshaping the landscape of trading by minimizing human error, maximizing profitability, and transforming trading into a more accessible and efficient practice. As we delve deeper, we will explore how AI-infused trading bots not only streamline operations but also open new possibilities for market engagement and strategy development.
What Are Trading Bots?
Trading bots are sophisticated automated trading bots that execute trades based on specific, pre-defined algorithms. These tools are designed to automate the trading process, making it more efficient and effective across various financial markets. Among the common types of trading bots are high-frequency trading bots, which capitalize on minor price fluctuations by executing a large volume of trades at high speeds. Another prevalent type is the arbitrage bots, which seek to profit from price discrepancies across different exchanges or markets by simultaneously buying and selling an asset.
These bots analyze market conditions, using historical data and real-time insights to make informed trading decisions. By removing the emotional element of trading and enhancing the speed of execution, trading bots help traders and institutions maximize their potential returns while minimizing risk and exposure. Their ability to operate continuously without fatigue makes them a valuable asset in the fast-paced world of trading.
How Trading Bots Transform Markets
Trading bots have fundamentally transformed financial markets by enhancing market efficiency and liquidity. By automating trading processes, these bots can execute orders at superhuman speeds, enabling high-frequency trading (HFT) strategies that capitalize on minute price changes observable only on a microsecond scale. This capability allows for a significant volume of trades to be executed rapidly, which in turn provides a more fluid market with narrower bid-ask spreads, benefiting all market participants.
Moreover, trading bots play a critical role in price discovery, the process by which market prices are determined. They continuously analyze market data, executing trades that reflect the latest information regarding asset values. This real-time processing and reaction help align prices more closely with actual market conditions, promoting more efficient markets. However, the influence of bots can also lead to greater market volatility, as algorithmic trading can sometimes amplify price movements, especially during market stress.
The impact of bots on market dynamics extends to pattern recognition and execution, where they can detect trends faster than human traders, sometimes leading to predictive behaviors that can precede significant market moves. This aspect of trading bots underscores their dual role in both stabilizing and destabilizing market conditions, depending on the underlying strategy and market context.
Benefits of Trading Bots
The benefits of using trading bots in cryptocurrency and traditional financial markets are manifold. Primarily, these bots offer increased execution speed, which is crucial in leveraging opportunities that exist for only a short time. Faster execution means traders can capitalize on price changes more effectively before they disappear, which can be particularly beneficial in the volatile crypto market.
Additionally, trading bots help reduce operational costs. By automating trades, they eliminate the need for constant manual oversight, thereby reducing the labor costs associated with trading and also minimizing the possibility of human error. The precision of automated systems ensures that strategies are executed exactly as planned, enhancing the overall effectiveness of trading operations.
Trading bots also contribute significantly to risk management. They can be programmed to follow strict trading rules, such as setting stop-loss orders and taking profits at predetermined levels, which helps protect investments. Furthermore, the ability to execute complex trading strategies, like those involving simultaneous trades across multiple markets, allows for sophisticated hedging opportunities that can minimize risk while potentially increasing returns.
By automating routine and strategic trading tasks, bots allow traders and firms to focus on broader market analysis and strategy development, thus aligning operational efforts with long-term financial goals.
Challenges and Risks
While trading bots offer numerous advantages in financial markets, they also introduce several challenges and risks that can impact market stability and fairness. One significant risk is the potential for market manipulation. Automated trading bots can execute large volumes of trades at extremely high speeds, which in certain cases, can be used to artificially inflate or deflate prices to create favorable trading conditions for some at the expense of others. This tactic, known as quote stuffing or layering, can distort the true supply and demand balance within the market.
Furthermore, the widespread use of bots can lead to systemic vulnerabilities. If many bots are programmed to respond to market signals in a similar way, it could potentially lead to a ‘flash crash’ scenario, where prices plummet rapidly due to simultaneous automated selling. The interconnectivity of bot strategies might amplify market movements, both upward and downward, creating cycles of volatility that are hard to predict or control.
Ensuring fairness and transparency in markets dominated by bots is another critical challenge. The complex algorithms that guide trading bots are often proprietary and lack transparency, making it difficult for regulators and even users to understand how decisions are being made. This opaqueness can undermine trust in the financial markets, as traders may be unaware of how these automated systems are influencing market dynamics. Additionally, the competitive advantage that sophisticated trading bots offer to large institutions can widen the gap between professional traders and the general public, raising concerns about market equality and access.
Conclusion
As trading bots continue to evolve and integrate deeper into financial markets, they bring both tremendous benefits and significant challenges. Balancing innovation with regulation and ethical considerations will be crucial for ensuring that the deployment of these bots contributes positively to market dynamics and fairness. Moving forward, the focus must be on fostering transparency and equitable access to ensure that all market participants can benefit from the advancements in trading technology.
beabadoobee has announced her next album: This Is How Tomorrow Moves will arrive on August 16 via Dirty Hit. Today, Bea Kristi has offered a preview of the Beatopia follow-up with the single ‘Take a Bite’, which comes with a video directed by Jake Erland. Check it out below.
beabadoobee recorded This Is How Tomorrow Moves with producer Rick Rubin at his Shangri-La studio. “I love this album,” Kristi shared in a press release. “I feel like it’s helped me so much more than anything else has in navigating this new era, this new understanding of where I’m at. I guess it’s about becoming a woman.”
“I think I’m more aware of my actions in these songs,” she added. “In my previous records, I would consistently sing about my reaction towards other people’s doings, like a blame game. But in this record, it’s accepting that there’s an inevitability of my fault in there too. Whether it’s childhood trauma or relationship issues, it takes two to tango in everything.”
Commenting on the new single, she said: “It’s me feeling introspective about my thoughts and unhealthy way of living. It’s finding comfort in a familiar place – finding comfort in chaos, because that’s what I know. So, I bring it into every aspect of my life, especially with relationships. And it’s just tapping into this part of my brain where I just jump straight to the most negative, most chaotic thought ever known to man and make and make that into my reality.”
Double Wish – the Orange County-based duo of Adam Sabolick and Philippe Andre – have announced a new EP, Universe Sometimes, which drops June 28 via Hit the North. Lead single ‘Periwinkle Pantone’ was co-written with producer Casey Lagos, and it arrives with a video directed by ronny k and Sabolick. Check it out below.
“This is a song about friendship, and our innate need for one another,” Sabolick explained in a statement. “I wanted to capture the sensation of being stuck inside alone for days because of the rain, and when the weather breaks, getting high and going for a hike with a friend. All the colors of nature become so vivid, the smell of the wet dirt is unforgettable, and the magic of a rainbow curving through the sky. In a lot of ways, lyrically and conceptually, ‘Periwinkle Pantone’ was inspired by those sensations — being alone and then not alone, and partaking in sublime nature together. If the song were a painting, it would be a blissful landscape.”
Of the visual, he added: “I am alone searching and longing for something. When the band appears things lighten up and become playful. As with all of our music, there is the constant push and pull between light and dark, happy and sad. I don’t think it’s something we consciously set out to do, I think it’s just the reality of existing.”
Universe Sometimes Cover Artwork:
Universe Sometimes Tracklist:
1. Floating
2. Periwinkle Pantone
3. Papers
4. Universe Sometimes
Pedro the Lion has unveiled two new songs, ‘Spend Time’ and ‘Don’t Cry Now’, from the upcoming album Santa Cruz. They follow lead single ‘Modesto’. Take a listen below.
“On ‘Spend Time’, and at this point on the album I was starting to write songs for It’s Hard To Find a Friend and reading everything i could find within christendom searching for a theological justification to make art for its own sake, instead of using music as a tool to share my faith,” David Bazan explained in a press release. “Once I found the permission to write for myself, I finally began to process grief, and that’s part of the background of this song. Like so many of the tunes on these records in this series, it’s a song about masking. And being ashamed of who I really was and what I really wanted to do.”
Of ‘Don’t Cry Now’, he added: “The music began when my friend Andy sent me a little loop and I just started jamming on it and made this phrase where the bassline moves around. I had the chorus for a long time and once I had a short version of the song, I listened to it over and over and really enjoyed it. I was really glad that this loop found a place on the record in this way. Again, it’s a song about masking very directly. For some reason it was really important to me that I was able to effectively sell the lie that I was OK. I felt like a lot depended on it.”
Santa Cruz is slated for release on June 7 via Polyvinyl.
Blushing is the Austin, Texas-based band composed of two married couples, Christina and Noe Carmona and Michelle and Jacob Soto. The group came together after Christina and Michelle, who met through their husbands, started playing music together in 2016, andby 2018, Blushing had released two EPs, Tether and Weak. The band then teamed up with Ringo Deathstarr’s Elliott Frazier to produce their 2019 self-titled debut album and its 2022 follow-up, Possessions, which also featured collaborations with Miki Berenyl of Lush and Mark Gardener of Ride. As soon as they finished recording Possessions, they began writing material for what would become Sugarcoat, their third LP, which was once again produced by Frazier, mastered by Gardener, and boasts lead guitar from the Smashings Pumpkins’ Jeff Schroeder on the song ‘Seafoam’. On the new album, Blushing’s dream-pop sound is as enveloping and more dynamic than ever, shot through with elements of psychedelia, twee pop, goth rock, and other shoegaze-adjacent subgenres. More than their blend of influences, however, what sets Blushing apart is the harmony they achieve between the density and warmth of their music: Sugarcoat is infectious, to be sure, but not without layers upon layers to unpack.
We caught up with Blushing’s Christina and Noe Carmona for the latest edition of our Artist Spotlight series to talk about the band’s origins, what inspires them about each other, their collaborative process, and more.
Christina, you and Michelle started jamming together in 2016. What are your memories of that time?
Christina Carmona: We were already friends because our husbands knew each other, so if you think about it in a way that goes further back in time – Jake and Noe were friends from high school, they grew up together in a Texas town called El Paso and they played in a band together – so in some ways, Blushing was already kind of starting when you guys met each other. They met Michelle and me, and they both ended up moving to Austin. Our band is built so much on friendship – the friendship between the guys and then the friendship that Michelle and I developed on our own, and then eventually the four of us came together. Our band did start out as Michelle and I, she had some song ideas and we were like, “Okay, let’s try to make a band.” We started getting together for the first time, and it was like these little friend dates. I would light candles and buy beer or wine for her to come over; it really felt like we were dating each other, courting each other. [laughs] At first, I just thought I was going to try to play guitar, but I’m not a great guitar player, so I just decided to pick up bass. But once we started practicing at home – I think that’s probably where your memories kick in from what you remember about the band.
Noe Carmona: Yeah, I remember the girls were writing some songs downstairs, and they were so catchy and so cool. I kind of just invited myself into the band, I was like, “Let me help you write these songs.” I just wanted to be a part of it, but it was really the girls that sparked everything. They just have great chemistry and their creativity blossoms even to this day. We’ve almost been doing it for eight years, so it’s pretty cool to be a part of.
Noe, how were you inspired by Jake when you were playing together in high school? And Michelle, how were you inspired by Michelle in those early days before the guys joined the band?
NC: Jake is a couple of years older than me, and when we were growing up in El Paso, I was really interested in playing music, but I had just started my first band. I’d have probably been about 12 or 13 years old. He played in a hardcore band, and I saw a flyer and went to go see his band play, and they absolutely blew my mind. It was life-changing – it’s one of those things when you’re so formidable at that age, and you see that one band that kind of changes everything. His band was that band. I started my own band, we ended up playing with their band all the time, and we became really great friends. I don’t know if I inspire him, but he definitely inspired me. [laughs]
CC: Yeah, that’s how I feel about Michelle. If you see Michelle in person, she just looks really cool. She has really cool tattoos, she has a great style. Even when I first met her before the band started, I was just like, “Wow, this girl’s way too cool to be my friend.” And still sometimes I just look at her and I’m like, “You’re so cool and pretty.” So there’s that connection to each other on a woman-to-woman basis, but once we actually started becoming closer and writing songs together – I’m still inspired by how much of a hard worker Michelle is. Michelle is what I like to call a doer. I am a thinker, so I think about stuff, and sometimes I start a project with really good intentions, but I don’t finish it. I’ll still have the fabric or whatever I bought for a project hanging up in my closet a year later because I just don’t do things. But Michelle is like, “Okay, let’s do it. We have a plan. We’re gonna get it done tomorrow. This is what we’re gonna do.” She’s so organized and on top of it, and she’s such a driving force for our band in terms of all of our accomplishments. We just never stop, and she really keeps the momentum going. She still blows me away with her work process and her creativity.
There’s always a number of external factors that influence how your process changes over time – obviously the pandemic, the people you’ve brought in over the years – but in terms of your internal dynamic as a band, is it tangible to you how those roles are structured?
CC: At least through my experience, it’s been important for us to really understand the roles that we play in the band so that we can make sure that we are fulfilling those roles and we are doing our part, because it’s a four-person collaboration. I definitely don’t want to be someone who is dragging their feet or seen as someone who’s not contributing equally. The way that I see the roles – we all write music together; it takes all four of us to make a song. But in addition to the creative part, there’s also the business component of it. Jake is so good at networking and talking to people, making friends, making deals, and getting things done on that business side. Michelle is fantastic at design. She actually has a degree in graphic design, so having her has just been absolutely wonderful. She understands things like aesthetic or software like Adobe InDesign. She knows already how to do all those things that we didn’t have to learn how to do. Noe is really fantastic at touring. He’s just really good at helping everybody and seeing a spot where someone needs help and just diving in there and being like, “Okay, what do you need? I got you.” He can really take a load off of other people.
And then there’s just me, and I feel like I really try to practice a ton. I help out where I can when it comes to business and all of the other great things that they do, but I feel like it’s my responsibility to try to be the frontperson on stage. I play two instruments, and I just practice a ton and try to hold it down musically for the live show and constantly think about things that maybe we could do to improve that, which Noe is also really good at. That’s kind of how I think our roles work together. Would you agree with that?
NC: Yeah, we all kind of do our own thing. I think a big thing is also understanding what you’re good at and what you’re not good at. I’ve been in a lot of bands throughout the years, and you can’t have too many chefs in the kitchen.
CC: That same idea has also translated into our songwriting and the roles that we play in writing our songs. By this point in our experience together, it doesn’t take us very much time to write our songs anymore because we already know who’s good at what. If we’re working on a song, maybe we’re not gonna focus on this one element of it because we know somebody else is gonna come in and nail it with their part. So we’ve really refined, and I like to say that we’ve settled into, our songwriting. I definitely feel like we’ve been hinting at certain tones and sounds that came out in Sugarcoat, like they’ve always been there, but now we’re like, “Okay, this is how we’re doing it.” It makes more sense to us, it’s a bit more streamlined, while still being fully creative.
Is that partly why you were able to jump into writing new material as soon as you recorded Possessions? Did it feel like a new burst of energy, or was it more about carrying the momentum from your previous record?
CC: I think it was a little of both. A lot of these songs were being written as we were recording Possessions, so there was some carryover. For example, ‘Fizz’ was a song that we were trying to put on Possessions. But that was just a hard song for us to write because nothing was working. It was one of those songs that didn’t fall out of the sky ready to be written. [laughs] We’re happy with the way that it turned out, it just wasn’t meant to go on that record. It was meant to go on this one. So there was a lot of overlap with Possessions, and I think after that, then the burst came, and this whole other vibe and sound came. What do you think?
NC: Yeah, I think so. We’ve had bursts of creativity where everything just comes at once, where we decide, “Okay, let’s start writing a record.” We come up with 15 ideas, and they’re complete songs. We have a chorus, a verse, lyrics to it. We get those big bursts of creativity, and I’ve noticed that it kind of happens after we tour. We’re really inspired by all the people we’ve met and the music we’ve been listening to and we’re on that high. Because tour blues is real, man – you come home and back to your life and you still want that high, so I think that inspires us, too, when we’re writing songs.
What did you most enjoy about the recording process this time around?
NC: One of my favorite things is really the collaboration. If I have an idea, I’ll record it on my GarageBand or something just to get a feel of this idea, and then I send it to Jacob and Michelle and they come up with something, and we just go back and forth like that. It’s really cool to see that develop. I can’t wait to send them ideas, and of course, with their type of work ethic, they’ll have 15 ideas in like 10 minutes. [laughs]
CC: To take those demos and work on them, and then go to the studio and expand them – we know at this point that we need to get our songs to a certain percentage of feeling like it’s done, maybe 80-85% done, understanding that there’s going to be room for more expansion and more writing and changes that Elliott [Frazier]’s going to bring to the table or things that magically unfold when you’re in the recording process. My favorite part of the studio is watching the lead guitar get recorded because it’s just the most fun part of the process. You get to create really cool sounds, you get to experiment, you get to swap pedals out, turn knobs all the way up to 10, and just see what comes out. One of the great things about Noe, he’s such a fantastic guitar player and songwriter that Elliot can say, “Why don’t you play that same part, but play it in a different spot on the neck,” and he’s so good at adapting. I really have to think and concentrate and focus on what I’m doing, and then he’s like, “Change it,” and I’m like, “What? This is what I’ve been practicing.” But Noe way is so fantastic at being like, “Okay,” and just does it. I love watching that part of the recording process, and it can completely change a song.
How did you decide to reach out to Jeff Schroeder for ‘Seafoam’?
CC: We were talking to him after a Smashing Pumpkins show, I think it was October 2022. Two weeks later, we started recording the album. We were talking to him and just asked him if he would be interested in playing on one of our songs. At that point, we didn’t know which song, and he said, “Yeah, sure.” We thought, “Okay, well, is he really gonna do it? Or was he just saying, ‘Yeah, sure, I’ll do it’?” So then, as we started really recording the songs, we started thinking what song he would like enough to maybe be interested in contributing. We had narrowed it down to ‘Seafoam’ – I was also maybe thinking ‘Slice’, because ‘Slice’ was the very last song that we wrote for the record, so it didn’t have as many parts to it at that point. But I think ‘Seaform’ was at 100% when we sent it to Jeff. I think we were all kind of like, “I wonder what he’s gonna do,” because we felt the song was already at 100%.
We followed up with him when the song was ready for him, and he’s just the most kind and generous person. He was on tour at that point, and he said, “I’m on tour, but don’t worry, I brought all my stuff with me.” I think it took him about a week to get it back to us, maybe less. And he recorded when he was on the road, so maybe he was feeling that creative excitement that we feel when we’re on tour or coming back from tour. But he sent it to us, and we were blown away by what he contributed. I love the lead guitar parts that he wrote and the solo that he wrote, and now I couldn’t imagine the song without it. It took it from 100% to 200%.
I think Sugarcoat is the perfect title for the album, but it really takes on a new meaning outside the context of the title track, which isn’t exactly optimistic. How did it end up sticking?
CC: I’ve already mentioned that we have a band full of people that can get things done quickly, but it’s also very diplomatic. We are two couples, after all, so we all decide on things together. We had a list of names that we were all contributing to – we have shared documents that everybody contributes ideas to – so we compiled a list of names we liked, adding to it for about a month. I’m pretty sure Sugarcoat was one of the names Michelle came up with. We were in the mixing phase at that point, and that one just felt right to all of us. Every single one of us really liked it. I love the themes of sugar in general because I have the biggest sweet tooth of anybody you’ll ever meet. [laughs] I really like things that are sugary and maybe seem cute but are kind of not if you dig a little deeper, like a Sour Patch Kid. It seemed like the obvious choice to all of us.
Do you mind sharing one thing that inspires you about each other?
CC: People ask us all the time, “What is it like to be in a band with your spouse?” First of all, I couldn’t imagine it any other way. But I truly feel it’s another form of intimacy to work with your partner creatively. When he’s making music – that’s who he is, at his core, is a talented musician – to see the way his brain works when he’s in his element, it’s a really intimate experience. Having that bond with your partner and really strengthening it, it’s just a different form of intimacy that I love. I get to see him in his zone, and I get to be a part of that. He’s such a great songwriter and he’s got such a good ear. I love the way that he’s open to changes and new ideas, and he really gets inspired more organically than I do. Sometimes I wonder if that’s because of my classical background – it’s ingrained in me to play other people’s music, to read sheet music, to take music a little bit more more seriously, and maybe I don’t feel like I have the autonomy to add creatively because that’s not in the dynamic markings of the music. That’s the world that I came from, and I’m changing now, and I’ve been changing over the course that we’ve been in the band. But I’m so inspired that Noe doesn’t have those restrictions mentally, and these ideas just come to him, or he’s inspired by something that doesn’t even seem like it would be inspiring.
NC: With Christina, we’ve been together for 12 years, and 12 years ago, she hadn’t picked up an instrument. She was playing guitar, and she had that feel, she had that muscle coordination, but when we started Blushing and she started playing bass, it just skyrocketed so quickly. My favorite thing about Christina is seeing her live. She’s just a natural, she’s so graceful and beautiful on stage. When you see videos and pictures, I mean, it looks like she was meant to be there. It’s just so effortless. She’s playing bass, she’s rocking out, headbanging. What really inspires me about Christina is her natural ability to be beautiful and graceful, but also have that punk rock aspect to her performance. It’s just so hard to do. You can’t really teach that.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.
