Ducks Ltd. and Lunar Vacation both became Artist Spotlightalumni on the strength of their 2021 debut albums: Modern Fiction and Inside Every Fig Is A Dead Wasp, respectively. Their sophomore albums followed in 2024, and we interviewed eachband about the inspirations behind them. Now, Ducks Ltd. and Lunar Vacation have teamed up for a propulsive cover of Camera Obscura’s ‘Lloyd, I’m Ready to Be Heartbroken’. Check it out below.
“I first heard the Lloyd Cole song ‘Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?’ when a friend played me Rattlesnakes, which became a favorite,” Ducks Ltd. guitarist/vocalist Tom McGreevy explained. “Later I realized the Camera Obscura track was a nod to it, and I was instantly hooked—it’s an indie pop classic that channels ’80s UK influences into something fresh. We originally covered it during a radio session around Harm’s Way, and after playing it on tour, we decided to record it properly. Gep from Lunar Vacation did a killer vocal arrangement that elevated it.”
Amanda Shires has announced a new album called Nobody’s Girl. The follow-up to 2022’s Take It Like a Man arrives September 26 via ATO. Today’s announcement comes with the release of the stirring new single ‘A Way It Goes’, which opens with the lyrics, “I can show you how he left me/ Paint a picture, growing flowers for nobody/ But I’d rather you see me thriving.” Check it out below.
Nobody’s Girl was produced by Lawrence Rothman and co-written by Shires and Rothman. It marks Shires’ first album since her divorce from Jason Isbell. “Nobody’s Girl is what came after the wreckage, the silence, the rebuilding,” she said in a press release. “It’s about standing in the aftermath of a life you thought would last forever and realizing no one is coming to save you.”
Recorded at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville, the record features Fred Eltringham and Julian Dorio on drums, Dominic Davis on bass, Peter Levin on keys, Zach Setchfield on guitar, and Rothman on guitar. Friedman also tracked at Rothman Recorders in Los Angeles, CA, with Jay Bellerose on drums, Pino Palladino and Jimbo Hart on bass, Joe Kennedy on piano and guitar, and Rothman again on guitar.
Nobody’s Girl Cover Artwork:
Nobody’s Girl Tracklist:
1. A Way It Goes
2. Maybe I
3. The Details
4. Living
5. Lose It For A While
6. Piece of Mind
7. Streetlights and Stars
8. Lately
9. Friend Zone
10. Strange Dreams
11. Can’t Hold Your Breath
Not Feeling Anything
Picture this: A figure in a frilly Lolita dress throws a punch, her blue pudding ring catching the light as her fist connects. Around her, a surreal pink landscape unfolds where kawaii meets combat, where the soft aesthetics of Japanese street fashion are transformed into weapons of cultural rebellion. This is the world that Lei Jiang has created in “Cute but Radical”, a fashion film that dares to ask: What happens when cuteness refuses to stay quiet?
Lei Jiang’s 3-minute, 45-second fashion film transforms Harajuku culture into a weapon of rebellion, challenging everything we think we know about cuteness, identity and power. The film follows Team Puppy — three outsiders who stumble into Team Kitten’s “Cute Authority”, triggering a stylised showdown that raises the question of who controls the narrative when subcultures clash with mainstream aesthetics.
Decoding the Language of Rebellion
For those who are not familiar with the visual vocabulary: Harajuku fashion stands for Japanese street styles that originated in Tokyo’s youth districts. Lolita fashion, with its Victorian-inspired dresses and doll-like aesthetic, challenges conventional femininity, while “kawaii” (cute) carries deeper significance as both aesthetic philosophy and cultural resistance.
A character embodies the film’s aesthetic philosophy, showcasing authentic Lolita fashion against a dreamlike backdrop.
“Harajuku fashion has always fascinated me as I have had a strong interest in J-fashion and animation since I was a child,” Lei explains.
“The contradiction of ‘cuteness’ as both soft and defiant mirrors my experience of navigating identity.”
Fashion as Armour
The wardrobe reads like a love letter to subcultural fashion history. Authentic pieces from the legendary Lolita brand Baby, the Stars Shine Bright anchor the film’s aesthetic, while avant-garde labels such as Comme des Garçons and Maison Margiela create unexpected dialogues between kawaii culture and high fashion. Vivienne Westwood‘s punk sensibilities collide with Angelic Pretty’s saccharine confections.
“Many of my friends and I have the same interest in collecting these lolita fashion pieces,” Lei notes.
“Usually some pieces are meant to present a princess-like, soft tone; instead we made the styling look powerful.”
This reinterpretation of traditional feminine aesthetics challenges viewers to rethink their ideas of strength and rebellion.
Sustainable Subversion: The Leiland Recreate Story
This philosophy of reclaiming power through aesthetics extends beyond borrowed pieces to Lei’s own creative practise. At the heart of her rebellion lies Leiland Recreate, an independent brand that embodies sustainable fashion activism. Founded in 2021, the label creates handmade accessories from upcycled materials, vintage finds and studio leftovers.
Through this philosophy of transformation — breathing new life into discarded materials — each accessory becomes a vehicle for what Lei calls “speculative stories about future identities.” In “Cute but Radical,” these handcrafted pieces function as both tools of expression and world-building artefacts, supporting her approach to costume design that creates “psychic landscapes” — each space reflects different aspects of identity representation, from intimate social spaces to sites of aesthetic conflict.
The bathroom confrontation: handcrafted accessories become weapons of rebellion in Lei Jiang’s surreal visual language.
The technical innovation of the film corresponds to its conceptual ambition. The mix of digital animation, practical effects and live action creates a “deliberate chaos”. The team used 3D scanning to capture performers and place them in surreal virtual environments, adding a reality-altering dimension to the dreamlike narrative. One piece is of particular significance: a blue pudding ring worn by the heroine during her powerful punch.
“These pieces started as small handmade objects in my living room,” Lei reflects. “Seeing them come alive through movement makes me feel like they’ve found their voices too.”
Cultural Dialogue Beyond Binaries
This fusion of handmade craft with digital innovation reflects Lei’s broader approach to cultural conversation.
“Cute but Radical” sees itself as a cultural dialogue rather than appropriation, with a diverse cast and crew from the communities it represents. “By remixing East Asian fashion histories with queer aesthetics, I hope it offers a new visual language for resistance,” explains Lei.
Rather than positioning cuteness against radicalism, the film argues for their synthesis. The fight isn’t between Team Puppy and Team Kitten—it’s between visibility and invisibility, expectation and possibility.
“The film is a love letter to non-conforming bodies and styles,” Lei states.“I hope it invites people to question which identities are seen as ‘valid’ or ‘serious.'”
This resistance consists of being visible, claiming the space through one’s style and refusing to diminish aesthetic choices for others’ comfort. The film’s surreal visual language creates a space where “glitches became part of the texture — our chaos was deliberate.”
Building New Worlds
For Lei Jiang, the most radical act is to simply refuse to shrink. As “Cute but Radical” seeks premiere platforms, this philosophy extends into Lei’s expanding vision for both her filmmaking and Leiland Recreate. The film represents just one facet of her broader perspective exploring speculative futures — from her underwater fashion narratives in “No-Land” to these kawaii rebellion stories, Lei continues to imagine worlds where identity becomes fluid and self-expression transcends traditional boundaries.
“I’d love to work with more performers and fashion collectives,” she says. “I’m aiming to develop ready-to-wear pieces with the accessory line to continue developing these ideas.”
Between authentic expression and acceptable presentation, “Cute but Radical” carves out a third space where cuteness becomes a weapon, fashion tells stories of resistance and the simple act of getting dressed becomes an act of defiance. With each handmade ring and surreal film frame, Lei Jiang is building a world where being unapologetically seen and expressing one’s self becomes an act of empowerment.
Watch & Follow: “Cute but Radical” is currently seeking premiere platforms. Follow Lei Jiang at @donutleij and discover Leiland Recreate at @leiland.r or lei.land.
Clipse aren’t back to claim their place in the contemporary hip-hop landscape. They may distinguish themselves from the window-shopping rappers of today, but they’ve got no such point to sell. A single listen through Let God Sort Em Out, Pusha T and Malice’s first album since 2009’s Til the Casket Drops, and it’s clear the Virginia Beach brothers are mostly just interested in recapturing the magic that happens when they team up with Pharrell, who produced the record in its entirety. As thrilling as it is to hear high-profile guests like Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, the Creator, and Nas leverage the celestial, larger-than-life – yet at times hollow – production to match the duo’s self-aggrandizement, it’s also an opportunity for them get real with each other, airing vulnerabilities as well as grievances. (Though it’s not exactly a 1:1 ratio.) Pharrell’s “This is culturally inappropriate” tag crops up one too many times, but the only culture the album’s concerned with is Clipse’s own. What’s changed is almost as enticing as everything – technical precision, chemistry, label drama – that’s stayed the same.
1. The Birds Don’t Sing
Clipse unexpectedly kick off Let God Sort Em Out with a grand, cathartic display of vulnerability. Pharrel sets the tone with somber piano before tracing a foreboding synth over Pusha’s verse, sounding virulent as ever yet humbled by the violent passage of time. Though it might be uncharted territory for Clipse, it’s a natural way for the brothers to find common ground and share emotional weight, reflecting on the near-simultaneous deaths of their parents. “You even told Dad you wished y’all never splitted/ See, you were checkin’ boxes, I was checkin’ my mentions,” Pusha admits. He sounds regretful but no less filled with gratitude than his brother, whose verse is more low-key but just as striking in its literalism: “‘I love my two sons’ was the code to your phone, now you’re gone.” The John Legend-assisted chorus bridges their separate but convergent perspectives, while Stevie Wonder shares some wise words at the end, hoping it won’t be too late by the time you take them to heart.
2. Chains & Whips [feat. Kendrick Lamar]
The first track to be previewed from the album – at the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2024 runway, of course – ‘Chains & Whips’ is made up of solid parts but feels tonally awkward, as none of them reach – or at least work together towards – the same level of menace. It’s Kendrick Lamar, more dramatic than the duo and sweeping through Pharrell’s tame beat, that delivers the most withering diagnosis: “Let’s be clear, hip-hop died again. Half of my profits may go to Rakim/ How many Judases done let me down?”
3. P.O.V. [feat. Tyler the Creator]
Clipse and Pharrell nail the sinister tone on this one, aided by an especially entrancing hook by Pusha. The Tyler, the Creator feature fits snugly after Kendrick’s, armed with a sneaky bit of self-aggrandizement: “I need God to play the lead in my biopic.” It’s followed immediately a diss that you don’t need much context to unpack: “When you become the Devil or the tap dancing negro/ I came to terms that I’ma probably outgrow my heroes.” Meanwhile two of them are standing right by his side.
4. So Be It
Both Pusha and Malice are unsparing in their ruthlessness on ‘So Be It’, which is elevated by a dizzying interpolation of ‘Maza Akoulo’ by Talal Maddah. But the most memorable lines come from Pusha, taking a shot (as we’ve long known) – at Travis Scott: “You cried in front of me, you died in front of me/ Calabasas took your bitch and your pride in front of me.”
5. Ace Trumpets
The first line of the hook, “Ballerinas doin’ pirouettes inside of my snow globe,” has the wooziness of a billy woods, but Pharrell naturally infuses the beat with real opulence. A few dustier edges wouldn’t hurt, but it’s not like Pusha or Malice struggle living up to it. In fact, few songs on Let God beat the chemistry they showcase here; Malice’s verse would sound drowned by shallow pop culture references coming from most rappers (“Drugs killed my teen spirit, welcome to Nirvana”), but he just sounds good. You don’t doubt for a second they aren’t on the same wavelength.
6. All Things Considered [feat. The-Dream]
Over a satisfyingly shadowy beat, the two rappers take a step back and reflect, sins and all. This is where Malice shines best, blurring the language of shame with that of a comeback: “The only sin left is to flirt with vengeance/ Made my exit just to make my entrance/ Revolving door, maybe I can make a difference.” The-Dream’s closing verse is a little lackluster, but it’s over before you know it.
7. M.T.B.T.T.F.
Let God Sort Em Out is filled with evidence that Clipse are back to do what they do best, but ‘M.T.B.T.T.F.’ scans as a reminder of how much they actually love it. The duo can incite beef all they want, but not even their ominous theatrics beat their sense of humour, with instantly quotable lines like “The Bezos of the nasal, that’s case closed.” The a cappellas that open each verse are proof they don’t need blockbuster backing, but Pharrell sure knows how to weave a beat around them.
8. E.B.I.T.D.A.
Two minutes where the stakes feel low are necessary on an album that borders on overproduced, but not enough for Pusha to get sleepy with it. “My third passport, I ain’t seen enough/ If you can breathe up there, it ain’t steep enough,” he raps, raising the bar for himself more than anyone else.
9. F.I.C.O.
Griselda affiliate Stove God Cooks delivers a killer hook that’s gutsier than most anything on Let God. “You don’t know what I know/ You ain’t seen what I saw” compels both Pusha and Malica to dredge up captivating stories that end, equally eerily, with “whispering ‘die slow’” and “dum diddy dum diddy dum.”
10. Inglorious Bastards
The chemistry between Clipse and longtime Re-Up Gang affiliate Ab-Liva is as undeniable as it is between the brothers, rendering ‘Inglorious Bastards’ a thrilling highlight for those truly anticipating their return. The kind of song that can make waiting for 16 years sound like no time has passed.
11. So Far Ahead
The switch between the gospel hook and buzzing synths is jarring, but rather than accentuating the titular premise as delivered by Pharrell, it just puts him at a distance. There’s something oddly corporate and unaffecting about it, a hollowness Clipse can’t quite make up for.
12. Let God Sort Em Out/Chandeliers
Now here’s a beat switch that actually works for the right reasons, or just one: Nas flexing. He doesn’t need to brag about being so far ahead. “The difference between regular spitters and bosses/ My principles’ high/ You need a glimpse of me from satellites in orbit,” he raps over some fittingly intergalactic production.
13. By the Grace of God
Pharrell’s chorus is once again a little grating, and Clipse don’t quite save the best for last, but ‘By the Grace of God’ at least ends the album with the same sincerity as its opener. While Pharrell sings about empires crumbling and falling, Pusha’s pre-chorus is all about crews breaking apart, and it’s these points of rupture that haunt Malice’s verse. His “Hard for me to breathe again” line brings to mind Pusha’s “If you can breathe up there, it ain’t steep enough,” but one thing’s certain: Clipse are willing to make the climb.
In a world where digital lifestyles, fashion, and entertainment collide, 4Rabet stands out not just as a premier betting platform, but as a modern style icon that reflects the tastes, energy, and cultural pulse of today’s generation. From sleek app design to bold brand aesthetics and influencer collaborations, 4Rabet is where gaming meets culture — and it does it with style.
Whether you’re into sports, casino games, esports, or simply enjoy digital experiences that feel fresh and modern, 4Rabet delivers more than just betting. It delivers identity — one that’s youthful, confident, and unapologetically cool.
If you haven’t explored it yet, it’s time to visit 4Rabet site and play. You’ll see why millions of users don’t just use 4Rabet for its features — they use it because it feels like a lifestyle. It’s more than a betting app. It’s a movement.
4Rabet’s Rise: Betting with Attitude
4Rabet entered the scene as a dynamic platform offering live sports betting, online casino games, and crash-style games like Aviator. But unlike many competitors, it didn’t stick to the conventional look and feel of betting sites. Instead, it launched with a vibrant visual identity, sleek mobile interface, and an influencer-friendly vibe.
From its black-and-blue color palette to clean UX and snappy animations, 4Rabet quickly positioned itself as a platform for the style-conscious generation — those who value design, speed, and seamless interaction as much as they do entertainment.
Digital Cool: More Than Just a Functional App
Let’s be real — most betting platforms are functional but boring. 4Rabet changes that.
Here’s how it brings cool into play:
Minimalist UI: Smooth, high-contrast design that’s easy on the eyes and stylish;
Mobile-first experience: Perfectly built for Gen Z and Millennials who live on their phones;
Aviator-style crash games: Addictive, modern, and trend-driven.
Whether you’re playing slots or tracking live cricket odds, the experience feels less like using a gambling app and more like being part of an exclusive club.
4Rabet and Fashion: Subtle Yet Powerful Crossovers
4Rabet doesn’t sell clothes — but make no mistake, it’s influencing lifestyle fashion.
How?
Merch drops and limited-edition giveaways during major sporting events;
Streetwear aesthetics in digital banners, promo graphics, and ambassador content;
Partnered influencers wearing 4Rabet-branded hoodies, caps, and accessories on Instagram and TikTok;
Use of urban culture elements: neon lights, graffiti backdrops, bold typography.
It all adds up to a brand that resonates with sneakerheads, gamers, sports fans, and nightlife lovers.
Influencer Culture and Gen Z Appeal
One of 4Rabet’s biggest strengths is its deep integration into social media and influencer culture. Unlike old-school bookies, 4Rabet communicates with its audience where they already are — Instagram, YouTube, and Telegram.
You’ll find:
YouTubers and Twitch streamers live-reviewing the platform;
Insta-reels and short videos featuring real players with swag;
Gaming influencers rocking 4Rabet gear and walking viewers through their betting strategies;
Collaboration with sports influencers who tie cricket, football, and MMA betting with fashion-forward commentary.
This has made 4Rabet a cultural brand — one that sits alongside streetwear labels, mobile game franchises, and music influencers.
Betting as Lifestyle: What Makes 4Rabet Different?
4Rabet users aren’t just logging in for odds — they’re logging in for an experience. It’s the equivalent of choosing Spotify over a radio, or Supreme over a generic hoodie.
What sets it apart:
Custom promotions tied to cultural events (e.g., IPL, World Cup, UEFA, UFC nights);
Interactive leaderboard games where users compete for bragging rights and cool erch;
Stylized content like meme-based promotions, GIFs, and TikTok-style betting tips;
Local flavor: 4Rabet designs are often adapted to Indian, Bangladeshi, and Middle Eastern aesthetics, reflecting regional trends and fashion.
All of this transforms betting into a part of lifestyle branding.
Community, Not Just Customers
4Rabet has built more than a user base — it’s created a community.
Players interact through in-app chat during crash games;
Telegram groups where users drop real-time tips and flex their wins;
Social media polls, memes, and gamified quizzes tied to global sporting moments;
Loyalty points and levels that gamify the user journey like a social badge of honor.
It’s not just about betting — it’s about belonging.
Sport, Style, and Swag: A Unified Identity
No brand truly becomes a style icon unless it integrates sports culture — and 4Rabet nails this balance.
You’ll notice that:
Its biggest campaigns drop during high-profile tournaments;
It runs limited promos with cricket and football themes;
Its visual branding includes motifs like stadium lights, match commentary bars, and team emblems;
Influencers post clips of live-betting during match watch parties, often in 4Rabet-themed environments.
This turns matchdays into fashion moments — where how you bet, celebrate, and style up all intersect.
4Rabet in Pop Culture: What’s Next?
As 4Rabet continues to grow, expect more crossovers into music, esports, and fashion.
Here’s what’s on the horizon:
Collabs with rappers and DJs during tournament weeks;
In-app music playlists during live games;
Potential limited-edition merch collaborations with artists or creators;
Events and livestreams with betting, gaming, and streetwear vibes all wrapped in one.
It’s not far-fetched to imagine 4Rabet headlining esports festivals or pop-up fan zones with DJ booths and gaming lounges.
Final Word: Why 4Rabet Is a Style Icon
In a digital age where culture is fast, content is king, and identity is currency — 4Rabet checks all the boxes. It’s bold, mobile, global, fashion-aware, and always evolving. For sports lovers, gamers, and digital natives, it’s more than a betting site — it’s a badge of lifestyle.
If you haven’t yet joined the movement, now is the time to visit 4Rabet site and play. Whether you’re placing a bet, exploring the latest crash games, or just vibing with the community, you’ll feel why 4Rabet is more than just a platform — it’s a culture.
When did you last hold a leaf up to the light? Really look at it – trace the delicate veins, feel its papery weight, notice how sunlight transforms it into something almost translucent? If you’re like most of us, trapped in concrete jungles and glass towers of cities, it’s probably been a while. We’ve built ourselves so far from nature that even our “green spaces” are carefully manicured performances of wildness, designed to fit our urban aesthetic rather than grow according to their instincts.
This is the world Chun Ding inhabits, and it’s the tension she explores in her triptych “Blueprint for a Soft Collision.” But rather than lamenting what we’ve lost, she finds poetry in the spaces where nature and technology brush against each other, creating unexpected moments.
Chun Ding, Blueprint for a Soft Collision, 2024. Installation view featuring two panels from the triptych.
Imagine you’re looking at what appears to be a botanical study, the kind Victorian naturalists might have made to catalogue distant flora. But something’s off. Items aren’t in isolation, and is that really a tattoo needle ghosting beneath a translucent leaf? Suddenly, you’re not looking at the documenting of nature but something far stranger – a conversation between the organic and the mechanical, played out in the language of light and shadow.
Ding uses cyanotype, a photographic process that’s nearly 200 years old, where chemicals react with sunlight to create distinctive blue images. There’s something beautifully circular about using the sun, the ultimate life force, to create art about our relationship with the natural world. It’s the same sun that scorches grass, bleaches our clothes, and makes us seek shade under trees. The same energy that powers photosynthesis now powers her art.
Instead of printing on smooth paper, she chooses fabric – a material that carries its own memory of being touched, folded, lived with. Every crease tells a story. Every thread holds history. When she prints her ethereal images onto textiles, she’s not just making art; she’s acknowledging that art lives in the same spaces we do, woven into the fabric of our daily existence.
Chun Ding, Blueprint for a Soft Collision, 2024. Installation view featuring two panels from the triptych.
The work isn’t imagining a return to a pastoral past but recognising that the natural and manmade worlds are now intertwined and we must find a way to live in harmony. In our current moment of climate anxiety, it would be easy to position technology as the villain and nature as the victim. Her “soft collision” suggests something gentler – not a violent crash but a meeting that transforms both participants. The tattoo needle isn’t attacking the leaf; it’s creating a new kind of hybrid world.
The work is small – just 18 by 12 centimetres – which means you can’t photograph it from across the room. You have to get close, really close, and spend time with it. In a world of endless scrolling and digital distraction, Ding is demanding something precious from us: our attention, our patience, our willingness to slow down and really look.
Chun Ding, Blueprint for a Soft Collision, 2024. Installation view featuring two panels from the triptych.
I would like to see the impact of her work if produced at a larger scale, and whether this could amplify the friction between the natural and mechanical worlds. Whether it makes the relationship disharmonious. Could the use of different elements from both worlds create composites that grab our attention more firmly? How would the concept behind her work transfer to other media, as it could form part of a larger project across different types of photography and potentially through film and text?
Ding’s work asks us to be archaeologists of the present moment. To dig beneath the surface of our tech-saturated lives and discover the ancient rhythms still pulsing there. Her soft collision reminds us that even in our most artificial environments, nature persists, adapts, and finds ways to speak. We just need to remember how to listen.
About the Author
Tabish Khan is an art critic specialising in London’s art scene and he believes passionately in making art accessible to everyone. He visits and writes about hundreds of exhibitions a year covering everything from the major blockbusters to the emerging art scene.
Tabish has been visual arts editor for Londonist since 2013. Contributions include reviews, previews, news, experiences and opinion pieces. He is also a regular contributor for FAD with a weekly top exhibitions to see, reviews and a column called ‘What’s wrong with art’. He also regularly reviews for Culture Whisper.
Tabish is a trustee of ArtCan, a non-profit arts organisation that supports artists through profile raising activities and exhibitions. He is also a trustee of the prestigious City & Guilds London Art School and Discerning Eye, which hosts an annual exhibition featuring hundreds of works.
Philadelphia shoegaze luminaries They Are Gutting a Body of Water have announced a new album, LOTTO. It’s out October 17 via Julia’s War/Smoking Room/ATO Records. Following 2022’s Lucky Styles and swanlike (loosies 2020 – 2023), the record features the previously unveiled single ‘american food’, as well as an astounding new track called ‘trainers’. Check it out below, and scroll down for the album cover, tracklist, and the band’s upcoming tour dates.
In a press release, singer Doug Dulgarian described ‘trainers’ as “a vignette, a day in the life; desiring something wholesome while still grappling with the reality presented clearly by my subconscious. I’ve built this life for myself, idealizing escape like we all do, I live in this house built on what I can only perceive to be bad decisions and shame, of comfort and distraction. walk to the store to buy some dumb thing that won’t help, after fantasizing about escaping it all. glance back at the comfort of my house and consider staying outside in the world tonight, because the escape isn’t big enough, it just never is.”
While previous releases focused on exploring new (and often digital) textures, LOTTO finds Dulgarian putting his guitar first and embracing a live-band sound. “In a world of perpetually increasing artifice, this record is my attempt to surface through the sea of false muck,” Dulgarian explained. “It’s rife with perceivable mistakes, ebbing and flowing with the most humanity I can place on one record. The more I utilized [technology], the softer I got. I return again and again to that world because it’s more comfortable than my physical body. The dopamine flooding my brain. And in moments of clarity, I am often very aware that we’re currently watching the homogenization of art right before our very eyes. I am afraid that technology and convenience will cure the world of life.”
LOTTO Cover Artwork:
LOTTO Tracklist:
1. the chase
2. sour diesel
3. trainers
4. chrises head
5. rl stine
6. slow crostic
7. violence iii
8. american food
9. baeside k
10. herpim
They Are Gutting a Body of Water 2025 Tour Dates:
Thu Oct 30 – Cleveland, OH – Mahall’s
Fri Oct 31 – Detroit, MI – Edgemen Printing
Sat Nov 1 – Chicago, IL – Subterranean
Sun Nov 2 – Minneapolis, MN – The Underground
Tue Nov 4 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theatre
Wed Nov 5 – Salt Lake City, UT – Soundwell
Thu Nov 6 – Boise, ID – Shrine Basement
Fri Nov 7 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
Sat Nov 8 – Vancouver, BC – Kingsway Club
Sun Nov 9 – Seattle, WA – Vera Project
Tue Nov 11 – San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop
Thu Nov 13 – Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room
Fri Nov 14 – San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
Sat Nov 15 – Mesa, AZ – The Underground
Sun Nov 16 – Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad
Tue Nov 18 – Austin, TX – 29th St. Ballroom
Wed Nov 19 – Dallas, TX – Club Dada
Fri Nov 21 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade: Purgatory
Sat Nov 22 – Raleigh, NC – Kings Barcade
Thu Dec 4 – Washington, DC – Black Cat
Fri Dec 5 – Pittsburgh, PA – Spirit
Sat Dec 6 – Toronto, ON – The Garrison
Sun Dec 7 – Montreal, QC – Bar Le Ritz
Tue Dec 9 – Somerville, MA – Arts at the Armory
Thu Dec 11 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
Fri Dec 12 – Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church
Most people think they know what a culture swap looks like. They imagine traveling, trying new food, or learning another language in school. But there’s another kind of culture swap that happens without warning. It takes place online, when you start a conversation with someone you don’t know, from a place you’ve never been. You don’t plan it. You don’t prepare for it. But you come out of it seeing life a little differently.
Talking to random strangers online can change the way you think. It’s one of the simplest ways to find out how other people live, talk, eat, and see the world. It isn’t formal. It isn’t filtered. That’s exactly why it feels real.
The Power of Unfiltered Culture
Everyone Has a Culture to Share
When two strangers talk, they bring their lives into the chat. They might not mean to. They might not even notice they’re doing it. But they use words from their town. They mention habits from their home. They talk about things that feel normal to them but are brand new to you.
You start to see how small differences matter. How often they eat. What they call their grandparents. Whether they take their shoes off at the door. These tiny things are culture in its clearest form.
It Happens Without Planning
This kind of culture exchange doesn’t need a classroom or a guide. It happens by accident. One minute you’re talking to someone about music, and the next you’re asking what time they eat dinner. Then you’re comparing how long the school day lasts in your country versus theirs.
You don’t always notice it’s happening until later. That’s the strange part. You just talk. Then the pieces add up.
In live 1-on-1 video conversations, even more of this happens. You see how they sit. You hear their voice, their timing. You might see the kitchen behind them or hear a local song in the background. That’s more than conversation. That’s an entry into their day-to-day life.
What Changes When You Talk to Strangers Online
You Drop Your Filters
When you talk to someone you’ll never meet again, you stop trying to impress. You stop holding back your questions. You can be more honest. You can also be more curious. This gives room for better answers, even for awkward ones.
People feel free to ask things that are usually off-limits. They’re not trying to be rude. They’re trying to understand. That makes it easier to explain your way of life to someone who has never seen it.
You Start to Question What You Thought Was Normal
A simple greeting, the way someone says hello or goodbye, might make you pause. You start to realize that your way isn’t the only way. You notice how much of what you do every day is just habit, not truth.
Even small things like how people queue, how they show respect, how they handle silence, start to stand out. These differences make you think more carefully about your own routines.
You Learn Without Trying
This isn’t school. You’re not being tested. But you end up learning new words, new customs, new jokes, and even how people feel about certain topics in other parts of the world. Because you’re not forcing it, the learning feels easy.
What Makes the Experience So Unexpected
Randomness Makes It Honest
You’re not selecting someone based on their background. You’re not signing up to study their culture. You just bump into them on a chat site or app. That randomness is part of what makes it feel real.
There’s no script. There’s no agenda. That’s why what they share with you feels raw and personal. It hasn’t been packaged to impress tourists. It hasn’t been edited for safety. It’s just one person telling another how things are where they live.
The Emotional Layer
Sometimes the conversation stays light. But other times, it goes deep fast. A stranger might tell you something they’ve never told anyone else. This can feel intense. But it also builds trust.
The fact that you’re far apart and probably will never meet adds a strange kind of safety. People say things they wouldn’t say to someone close to them. That’s rare in most other forms of culture exchange.
Common Topics That Lead to Culture Swap Moments
Food: What they eat, how they cook it, when they eat it.
School and work: How their day is structured, what they expect from a job or education.
Family roles: Who takes care of the house, how decisions are made.
Holidays and routines: What counts as a big day and how it’s celebrated.
Beliefs and values: Not always religion, often just simple ideas like what’s polite or what’s rude.
These are the parts of life people often take for granted. But when someone from far away questions them, they start to matter more.
When Things Get Confusing
Misunderstandings Happen
Sometimes the words don’t match. A common phrase in one language might sound rude in another. Or someone may bring up a topic that feels too personal.
The best way to fix it is to ask what they meant. Most people don’t want to offend. They just speak from their own habits.
Humor Doesn’t Always Translate
Jokes often depend on local slang, timing, or even cultural ideas. What’s funny in one place may sound strange or even offensive in another. But explaining a joke teaches a lot. You learn not just the punchline but the way people think.
How to Make the Most of It
Be curious without being pushy. Let the conversation flow naturally.
Keep your tone simple and friendly. This helps others open up.
Don’t assume your way is better. Ask, don’t preach.
Share your habits too. It’s a swap, not a lesson.
Use short messages or clear words if language is a barrier.
The point isn’t to become an expert in their culture. It’s to understand a piece of it from someone who lives it.
What Stays With You After
Once you talk to a stranger online and hear their way of life, you don’t forget it. You may not remember the person’s name. But you’ll remember that they eat dinner at 10 p.m. Or that their school starts at 6 a.m. Or that they see silence as a sign of respect.
These pieces stay with you. They pop up in your thoughts later. They shape how you speak to others, how you judge less, and how you listen more.
A Window You Didn’t Know Was Open
Most of the time, when people think about learning about others, they think big. They think of books or trips or teachers. But sometimes, you just need to open a chat window. A stranger appears. You talk. And in that short, simple talk, something changes.
You now know something you didn’t before. And that’s enough to say you’ve swapped cultures, in the most unexpected way possible.
Last week, thieves allegedly broke into an SUV used by Beyoncé’s choreographer and one of her dancers in Atlanta, Georgia. The incident occurred on Thursday (July 8), local news station WSB-TV reports, less than 48 hours before her four-night residency at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium as part of the pop star’s ongoing Cowboy Carter tour. Among the numerous stolen items were USB drives with her unreleased music, video footage for her concerts, as well as past and future setlists.
On Monday, July 14, Atlanta police issued an arrest warrant for a suspect, reviewing surveillance footage that captured the break-in. Investigators also used the Find My app to find a pair of Apple AirPods and locate where they were pinging from. Personal belongings including laptops and designer clothing were also stolen, according to the incident report
When you love someone, you always want to be close to them. Being together makes everything a lot more fun. That’s why long-distance relationships are not easy. But sometimes priorities leave couples with no choice. Still, that doesn’t mean they have to be boring. Thanks to modern technology, the PS5 games provide incredible ways for couples to stay connected. With your consoles, you and your partner can laugh together and face epic challenges side by side.
Here is a list of PS5 games that will help couples feel like they’re right next to each other.
FivePS5 Games for Long-Distance Couples
Portal 2
Portal 2 is perfect for lovers who want to think together. The game is a follow-up of the award-winning original Portal game. This time, the two-player mode has an entirely new campaign. At the same time, the cooperative gameplay features a unique plot and more test chambers. Specifically, you and your partner will solve physics-based puzzles.
A Way Out
A Way Out makes couples experience becoming two prisoners who are trying to make a prison escape. Particularly, you and your partner will take on the role of Leo and Vincent. Together, you need to solve puzzles and avoid barriers. Also, it’s an intense bonding where couples can fight, sneak, drive, and do a lot more together in a game.
It Takes Two
It Takes Two is probably the most fitting PS5 game for long-distance couples. The game is literally about Cody and May, who have a fractured relationship. They are trapped in a different world as dolls. And they need to work together to move forward.
Sea of Thieves
Sea of Thieves offers a thrilling pirate experience. Similarly, couples can explore the seas together. Plus, they can find lost treasures, fight sea monsters, and more. It’s a great way to explore with your partner because there are no set roles. So, you can approach the world however you want.
Destiny 2
Destiny 2 is where you can shoot aliens together. Specifically, couples get to explore the solar system and uncover its mysteries. At the same time, you can go on adventures, such as quests, missions, and patrols. Along the way, players get to collect unique weapons and gear.
What Did We Learn Today?
Your consoles are not just for solo entertainment. Gaming can also be a tool of passion, especially when playing together. Likewise, these PS5 games for long-distance couples turn screens into portals of love. Set it up and play your way closer!
