Halle, half of the sister duo Chloe x Halle, has released her debut solo single, ‘Angel’. Produced by Theron ‘NeffU’ Feemster, the track arrives with an accompanying video directed by Wendy Morgan. Check it out below.
“This song for me is so very special and near and dear to my heart,” Halle said in a press release. “With everything I’ve gone through the past 3-4 years, suddenly finding myself in this bubble of all these eyes and new opinions, it was easy for me to feel doubt in myself and who I was. This song for me was my climb out of those feelings, a mantra and promise to myself that the work I’m doing here on earth matters and that I matter. I wanted to be able to embrace and be proud of myself and who I am naturally through and through. I hope other brown and black girls and everyone in general feel embraced, respected, and inspired hearing the words of this song.”
Car maintenance is crucial in ensuring the longevity and safety of vehicles. Regular upkeep and adherence to essential maintenance tasks, including the use of quality components like SKF bearings, are vital for preventing breakdowns, costly repairs, and potential safety hazards. This blog post will discuss the top car maintenance tasks that should never be overlooked.
Oil Changes
Regular oil changes are crucial for maintaining optimal engine performance and extending the lifespan of a vehicle. Engine oil is vital in lubricating the engine’s moving parts, reducing friction, and preventing excessive wear and tear.
Regular oil changes are necessary because engine oil degrades over time due to heat, contaminants, and oxidation. As the oil ages, it becomes less effective in lubricating the engine components, leading to increased friction and potential damage. Similarly, performance upgrades like mustang coilovers are essential for enhancing handling and maintaining vehicle performance. By changing the oil at recommended intervals, usually every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or as specified by the manufacturer, fresh oil is introduced, ensuring proper lubrication and protection.
Clean oil is essential for engine health. It carries away dirt, debris, and combustion by-products, preventing them from accumulating and causing harmful deposits. Clean oil also helps in maintaining consistent engine temperature by dissipating heat. Regularly changing the oil removes contaminants, allowing the engine to operate smoothly and efficiently.
To ensure appropriate oil levels, vehicle owners should check the oil level regularly using the dipstick. The dipstick should be inserted fully, removed, and wiped clean before reinserting to obtain an accurate reading. Adding the recommended oil type and quantity is necessary if the oil level is low. Additionally, following the manufacturer’s guidelines for oil viscosity and quality is essential.
Regular oil changes are vital for maintaining engine performance and protecting its components. By following the recommended oil change intervals and using clean oil, vehicle owners can ensure proper lubrication, reduce friction, and prevent engine damage. Checking oil levels regularly and adhering to the manufacturer’s guidelines will help maintain optimal engine health and extend the vehicle’s life.
Brake System Checks
Maintaining a well-functioning brake system is of utmost importance for vehicle safety. The brake system is responsible for stopping the vehicle efficiently and effectively, making it crucial to ensure its proper operation at all times.
The brake system’s primary function is to slow down and stop the vehicle when needed. Regular brake system maintenance is vital to ensure that the braking components, such as brake pads, rotors, calipers, and brake fluid, are in optimal condition. Neglecting brake system maintenance can reduce braking performance, longer stopping distances, and potential safety hazards.
Regular inspection of brake pads, rotors, and fluid levels is necessary to identify signs of wear and potential issues. Brake pads wear down over time and need replacement when they reach a certain thickness. Worn-out brake pads can compromise braking performance and cause damage to the rotors. Similarly, inspecting the rotors for signs of wear, such as warping or scoring, is essential to maintain optimal contact and friction during braking. Also, checking brake fluid levels and quality is crucial, as low, or contaminated brake fluid can affect the hydraulic pressure and compromise the brake system performance.
Recognizing the signs of brake problems is vital for prompt action. Squealing or grinding noises, a spongy brake pedal, vibrations, or an illuminated brake warning light are indications of potential brake issues. Ignoring these signs can lead to further damage, reduced braking efficiency, and, in extreme cases, brake failure.
Promptly addressing brake problems is crucial for safety. Delaying brake repairs can increase the risk of accidents, as compromised braking performance can lead to longer stopping distances and decreased control over the vehicle. Regular inspections and timely repairs or replacements of brake components by professionals like Paul Campanella’s Auto & Tire Center are necessary to ensure the brake system’s proper operation and maximize safety on the road.
Battery Maintenance
The battery is critical in starting a vehicle and powering its electrical components. It is the primary source of electrical energy, providing the necessary power to start the engine and supply electricity to various systems such as lights, radio, air conditioning, etc.
Regular battery maintenance is necessary for optimal performance and longevity. Over time, the battery terminals can accumulate corrosion and dirt, hindering the flow of electricity. Cleaning the battery terminals periodically helps maintain good electrical connections and ensures an uninterrupted power supply. Additionally, checking the battery voltage levels is vital to ensure it remains within the recommended range. Low voltage can indicate a weak or failing battery, while high voltage can lead to overcharging, potentially damaging the battery and other electrical components.
To extend battery life, proper care is necessary. Keeping the battery securely fastened and minimizing excessive vibration can help prevent internal damage. Avoiding unnecessary power drain by turning off lights, electronics, and accessories when the vehicle is not in use can also preserve battery life. Regularly inspecting the battery for signs of deterioration, such as bulging, leakage, or a rotten egg odor, is crucial. These signs may indicate a failing battery that requires immediate attention.
Furthermore, extreme temperatures can impact battery performance. In cold weather, the battery’s capacity may be reduced, making it more challenging to start the vehicle. In hot weather, excessive heat can accelerate battery fluid evaporation and reduce battery life. Taking precautions like parking in shaded areas or using insulation blankets can help mitigate these effects.
Vaping is a hobby that you can get quite surprisingly involved in especially with a DIY vape. While you can start off by buying relatively simple, disposable vapes with one pound e-liquids from online stores (and that’s always the most recommended option), if you really want to get into it, you can.
People make their own custom devices, and you can have a lot of fun making your own personalised e-liquid flavours. If you feel like cooking up a storm, here’s a quick run-through of what you’ll need to do.
What is e-liquid?
First, a quick explanation of what e-liquid actually is. It’s generally made using four principal ingredients – a base made from a mix of propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG), some flavourings, water, and in most cases, nicotine. As you can see, it’s relatively simple – however, it’s important that you get the mixture just right, or it can be very dangerous.
Get some supplies
Once you’ve done your research, you can get your materials together. This will include some empty bottles with dropper pipets, a very accurate scale, some gloves and safety glasses, and syringes. You’ll also need the relevant ingredients, depending on what you’ve chosen to use.
A word of warning – nicotine is dangerous
The only really potentially dangerous ingredient in vape juice is nicotine, but it’s incredibly important to treat it with plenty of care. You should wear gloves and safety glasses, and try to ensure that you don’t have exposed skin. Make sure you leave the nicotine in a safe space, where no one might accidentally touch it.
Choose a flavour
While selecting your ingredients, you’ll want to have chosen a range of flavour concentrates to add to your creations. There are any number of options to choose between, and you can combine them to create something that’s totally unique. Be creative, but try just making small amounts of each one at first, to make sure you don’t waste materials on something that ends up being dreadful.
Flavored vapes are a great way to enjoy the delicious dessert taste without all the calories and sugar. They’re also perfect for on-the-go vaping, as there’s no need to refill or recharge them. Disposable vapes in vanilla flavors are particularly popular among people with a sweet tooth.
Measure everything out
It’s important to measure things out very accurately, in order to ensure that what you make is safe for use. You want to be incredibly careful when mixing in the nicotine, as getting it even slightly wrong can have serious implications on your health.
You can use both syringes and highly accurate scales to measure out how much of each ingredient you’re including, and make sure that you use an online nicotine calculator to get your quantities just right.
Mix and let it rest
When you have the quantities all measured out, you can mix them together. Add the base liquids first, then the nicotine, then flavours and water. It’s important to leave the e-liquid for a certain amount of time before using it, to ensure that it’s properly mixed together – the manufacturer of the ingredients you’re using should provide more information on how long to leave it.
Armed with this knowledge, you should be able to go out and start making the perfect e-liquid combinations for you. Get creative – who knows, you might strike gold!
Kali Uchis has enlisted JT of City Girls and Dominican singer El Alfa for a new Spanish-language song, ‘Muñekita’. Check it out below.
“I love bringing artists together that you’d least expect,” Uchis said of the collaboration in a press release. “El Alfa is a Latino legend and JT is someone I’ve admired forever. Both of them are known for their summer hits and high energy, so I’m incredibly excited to bring them together for a fun, sexy song like this.”
Earlier this year Uchis released her third full-length, Red Moon in Venus. It followed 2020’s Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) ∞, which was sung entirely in Spanish.
Chris Farren has released his new album, Doom Singer, via Polyvinyl. Featuring the previously shared singles ‘Cosmic Leash’, ‘Bluish’, and ‘First Place’, the follow-up to 2019’s Born Hot was produced, engineered, and mixed by Jay Som’s Melina Duterte. Farren wrote it with live drummer Frankie Impastato, and it features Rosenstock on the occasional bass and saxophone. “I wanted to open these songs up, make them less frenetic, and not feel the pressure to cram every moment,” he said in a statement.
Philadelphia alt-country band Florry have put out a new LP, The Holey Bible, via Dear Life Records. Following 2021’s Big Fall and this year’s Sweet Guitar Solos EP, the album includes the previously shared songs ‘Drunk and High’, ‘Take My Heart’, and ‘Cowgirl Living’. Alongside bandleader Francie Medosch, it features drummer Joey Sullivan, guitarist John Murray, bassist Jared Radichel, and fiddle player Will Henriksen.
Girl Ray have returned with their third album, Prestige, out now via via Moshi Moshi. The follow-up to 2019’s Girl was co-produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Ben H. Allen and the band’s singer-songwriter Poppy Hankin, who drew inspiration from the Pose soundtrack and recent records by Dua Lipa, Kylie, and Jessie Ware. Ahead of its release, the trio previewed the LP with a series of singles, including ‘Everybody’s Saying That’, ‘Give Me Your Love’, ‘Hold Tight’, ‘Up’, and ‘Love Is Enough’.
Polly Mackey, who records as Art School Girlfriend, has followed up her 2021 debut Is It Light Where You Are with a new LP, Soft Landing. “By the time it was out in the world, I felt unattached to it,” she said in press materials. “This new record truly feels like my debut.” Released via Fiction Records, the 11-track effort features the early singles ‘Heaven Hanging Low’, ‘Close to the Clouds’, and ‘A Place to Lie’.
Other albums out today:
Annie Hart, Weight of a Wave; Holy Wave, Five of Cups; Miles Kane, One Man Band; The Front Bottoms, You Are Who You Hang Out With; Stolen Jars, I Won’t Let Me Down; Current Joys, LOVE + POP; Mammoth WVH, Mammoth I; Rick Springfield, Automatic; Aria Rostami, Siren.
✞✞✞ (Crosses) – the duo comprised of Deftones’ Chino Moreno and producer/multi-instrumentalist Shaun Lopez – have announced their first album in nearly a decade. The follow-up to their 2014 self-titled debut is called Goodnight,God Bless, I Love U, Delete., and it features guest appearances from the Cure’s Robert Smith and Run the Jewels’ El-P. It’s due out October 13 via Warner. To mark the announcement, the band has shared a video for the new single ‘Invisible Hand’. Check it out below.
“When we started working on Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete., there was so much more light coming in my life, for numerous reasons,” Moreno said in a statement. “There’s a lot more optimism. Even the darker themes are more romanticized and not coming from a place of despair.”
Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete. will follow ✞✞✞’s 2022 EP PERMANENT.RADIANT, whose tracks were recently reimagined by electronic artists including Hudson Mohawke, suicideyear, AWAY, and Machinedrum on PERMANENT.RADIANT.REMIXED.
Goodnight,God Bless, I Love U, Delete Cover Artwork:
Goodnight,God Bless, I Love U, Delete Tracklist:
1. Pleasure
2. Invisible Hand
3. Found
4. Light as a Feather
5. Pulseplagg
6. Runner
7. Big Youth [feat. El-P]
8. End Youth (Reprise)
9. Last Rites
10. Ghost Ride
11. Grace
12. Eraser
13. Natural Selection
14. Girls Float † Boys Cry [feat. Robert Smith]
15. Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete.
✞✞✞ 2023 Tour Dates:
Nov 13 Los Angeles, CA – Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Nov 14 Los Angeles, CA – Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Nov 18 Huntington Beach, CA – Darker Waves Festival
Nov 28 Brooklyn, NY – Elsewhere
Dec 4 San Francisco, CA – The Chapel
Doja Cat is back with a new single called ‘Paint the Town Red’. The track comes paired with a video co-directed by Nina McNeely and based around three paintings Doja Cat designed. Watch and listen below.
Back in June, Doja Cat shared the single ‘Attention’. Her last album was 2021’s Planet Her.
If you read Megan Nolan’s debut novel, Acts of Desperation, you’d know how immediately gripping her writing is. That book, with its immediate razor-sharp examination of an unnamed narrator’s sexual experiences with a toxic and irresistible partner, is a stylistic turnaround from Ordinary Human Failings, Nolan’s second novel.
Just as engrossing as her first, Ordinary Human Failings introduces the reader to the Greens, an Irish family living in England who are suddenly entrenched in a mystery: a young girl is found murdered near a park, and the youngest Green, Lucy, seems to be the main culprit. Reeling from the loss of her supportive mother, Carmel is oddly disaffected by her daughter’s sudden suspect status, and her brother Richie is an alcoholic who is just seemingly starting to get his life back together. Hellbent on finding a juicy story, a tabloid journalist Tom exploits the family and supplies them with unlimited alcohol in order for them to reveal the truth — or at least, an engaging version of it.
Our Culture sat down with Megan Nolan to talk about the differences in her writing style, the dynamic of the family novel, and how each distinct character came to be.
Congrats on another fantastic novel! How does it feel to be out in the world?
Very moving. I didn’t really have very cynical expectations about how it’d be received, but I’ve been kind of moved by how open people are with what I was trying to do, the care I felt for the characters. I’ve been very touched by it.
I was surprised by the difference between Acts of Desperation, your debut, and Ordinary Human Failings, in their separate styles, forms, and content. Was it difficult to switch your writing format between the two?
I think it was intimidating because this new novel is more of a style that I myself like to read. It’s a kind of book that, before I’d written any fiction, if I was describing the book I’d maybe want to write, it’d be more like this than Acts of Desperation. Because I had absolutely no experience writing fiction, I didn’t feel like I had the authority to write in this more traditional, novelistic style when I was first starting out. Because Acts is tonally similar to some of my journalism, it was an easier place to start from. Having had that experience of Acts coming out and going well, it let me feel confident enough to try this new style, this style of what I originally wanted to do.
In terms of when I was actually writing it, was it difficult? Yeah, obviously it’s hard to write a book anyway, but no, I don’t think I struggled with the form. I think I was actually relieved. Part of why I wrote Acts was almost like an exorcism of this style, I wanted to stop writing in that style and I was going to do the most heightened version of it, to expel all that inclination. So I think I was very ready to try something else.
That’s so interesting: so any future fiction will follow a similar style to Ordinary Human Failings?
I dunno, I like the idea of doing a new thing every time. The thing I’m thinking about writing next will be mostly first person, with some third. Not that I’ll be doing a totally wildly different genre every time, but I like the idea of not having to figure out one style.
At its heart, the book is a family novel, where each member of the Green family is given a proper backstory. When did these people start to emerge in your mind, and did anything in particular inspire this story?
I’m trying to think of the sequence of events. The very starting point of the book was this anecdote I read in a nonfiction book called Somebody’s Husband, Somebody’s Son, a Gordon Burn book. It’s really good — very harrowing, about this British serial killer Peter Sutcliffe and it’s brilliant. It’s ostensibly true crime, but it’s genius. [Burn] went to live in this village where Sutcliffe had lived, and really embedded himself in this community. But anyway, there’s this anecdote in it which says that a tabloid journalist in the UK approached members of Sutcliffe’s family, and basically offered them — as happened in my book — a hotel or safe house and says, you can have all the alcohol you want. They’re working-class alcoholics, basically. I obviously was struck by how monstrous that was, but also by this pressure-cooker situation, with this family being forced to look at one another. I had that as a starting point, that a family would be in a hotel like that.
And then… I think they just were Irish, because again, a little bit relates to how I didn’t feel the authority to do a particular style that I didn’t feel like I had the personal experience with. So far, I struggle to have characters that don’t have any relationship to my background. Obviously, these are not people I actually know or that I am, but they’re the sorts of people I grew up around. In terms of how they emerged, Carmel was the first. It’s all a bit convoluted in a way, but I’d been reading about children like Lucy who either kill or commit serious violence, and one of the major commonalities between children who do that is either severe neglect or a more benign, general alienation from their parents. I was thinking, ‘Okay, what’s a reason this kid is so profoundly disengaged from her mother?’ Then I started thinking about the mother character, and why that might’ve been. Richie — there’s a particular person in my family who died of alcohol-related illnesses not that long ago, during the time I was writing the book, so the Richie character was a little bit of a tribute to that person.
You explore English and Irish tensions with a very personal touch, with part of the novel even taking place where you were born. Tom, the tabloid journalist, sees a way to pin the disappearance of Mia on the Green family simply because they’re foreign. Even though this is fiction, was it ever slightly difficult to write about differences that were based in reality?
Yeah, by the time I moved to England, certainly you’d never claim you were suffering any sincere prejudice, in a way that actually affects your life, but even then, I did notice some. My friend Doireann put it very well. She moved here from Ireland at a much earlier time than I did, and she said, ‘You know, your English friends would make these jokes about you being stupid because you’re Irish, and you’re laughing along, and at a certain point, you’re like, Do you actually think that?’ You’re trying to gauge the sincerity with which that is being proposed. I think that’s a real thing. There’s definitely an element of that, but it’s not something that materially affects my life. But my dad would have lived in England at a time when the IRA bombings were ongoing, and obviously during that time period, it was an act of concern, and you were openly despised by the community sometimes. I wasn’t really trying to get it out there from a personal point of view, but I am aware that it was a real thing.
I’m obsessed with the fact that while her daughter, Lucy, was playing with Mia on the night that she was last seen, she was thinking about sex. This becomes consistent through the book with Carmel as a mother; she hates being called ‘Mummy’, and, after having Lucy at a young age, she becomes a bit disaffected and almost aloof with her kid ending up being the primary suspect for the crime. We talked a little about this earlier, but where did her personality come from?
I was thinking about this feeling that, coming from Waterford as she does, it’s a small town. This yearning to be distinct and special and more than your town — to go beyond the place you’ve grown up in. I was trying to remember that feeling was so strong in Waterford for me. You know, reading music magazines and feeling like the world is out there and you have to really overcome something to be part of the world. That impulse was thwarted for me, for a really long time. I didn’t do well in my life for a good ten years after I left school. Or more, even. But about ten years not feeling like I had acquitted these impulses of mine to become special. And things did turn around for me when I published Acts. I never became ‘bitter,’ I would say, when I didn’t gain success, but I definitely got demoralized and I felt like I was a different person than I had once thought. Part of Carmel’s character is trying to imagine that sort of ambition, that sort of yearning to be a part of the world, completely thwarted. And in her case, being thwarted at a very young age, and being replaced with something so the opposite, which is parenting, and parenting a kid you didn’t want. I was trying to think about how her personality might’ve changed over the years between this really shrewd and lively and alert girl she had been, and this person who is still very intelligent, but her shrewdness works against her in a way, because she’s aware of how badly she’s failed. I wanted to convey how badly someone could be alienated from their child, which is quite an unspeakable, horrible dynamic that ends up harming Lucy enormously.
Tom is also an interesting character because he wants to find success by any means necessary, even if it means shelling out a family who might be totally innocent for a first-page story. Do you think he’s aware of this moral failure, and do you think he’d go to even greater lengths?
Yeah, I’m really curious about this, because I’ve really tried to understand the level to which these kinds of journalists are aware, and whether they are sorry, and what exactly their take on it is. But even having done quite a lot of research, I’m still sort of struggling to completely know what they think about it themselves. I read these memoirs — terrible, crappy, self-published memoirs, by tabloid journalists a long time ago.
There’s this thing called the Leveson Inquiry — ten or fifteen years ago, several different tabloids were found to be hacking phones, oftentimes celebrities. But also sometimes really dark stuff — they hacked the phone of this murdered child and listened to her voicemails, really crazy stuff. There was this huge national inquiry into the state of British media, where lots of new regulations were passed and advice was given. This was sort of a change in the culture and it meant that the tabloid industry is somewhat less viscous than it once was.
But these memoirs I was reading were all published before that happened. So they’re all completely shameless, talking about these really grotesque things, almost laughing about it. For instance, one of these memoirs is talking about a colleague of his who went to the doorstep of this grieving mother whose kid had been killed and had sex with her, even though she was demented with grief. All of these really shocking stories. I knew it was bad, and that’s why I wanted to write about it, but it went so far beyond what my perception of it was. And all the police complicity was surprising as well. But all of which to say, I think there’s this culture, and I don’t understand it or empathize with it, but it’s almost like a moral good to them to get the story, and that’s their own moral sense that you and I can’t really enter. They just don’t seem to have anywhere they won’t go to get the story.
That’s crazy. So in a perverse way, was Tom an entertaining character to write, because you could play with manipulation and see how bad someone could be?
Yeah, definitely. It was quite fun to write, and it was also an attempt to try to solve the thing I just referred to — not understanding what their moral sense is. I guess writing Tom was some attempt to explain it to myself, because the things these people do sometimes are so evil that it’s so easy and natural to see them as evil people, but obviously those journalists didn’t get into it saying, ‘Can’t wait to do a load of evil stuff.’ So I wanted to think about that a little bit, how he entered into that dynamic.
The character that stuck with me the most is probably Richie, who suffers from alcoholism but gets better enough to start a new job at an Italian restaurant, where he makes friends and does good work. This all comes crashing town, though, as one night at a party, he’s so desperate to keep a camaraderie going that at 4 AM, he breaks into the restaurant to steal wine and make a mess, and infuriates the entire staff. His loneliness and need for everything to remain perfect and happy and good, to the point where he loses his career, was so intense. What was it like to write this character that’s so flawed, but ultimately, people have sympathy for?
I find it really moving and upsetting to write him, because it’s this funny dynamic. Obviously I’m the one bringing him to his lowest point, but I’m the one going, ‘Don’t do that!’ I want to take care of him but I’m not doing that, because I’m leading him to this dark place, so I found it distressing to write that bit. There’s two things about alcoholism and its depictions — one thing is that you’re kind of not allowed to talk about it in our culture unless you’ve become sober. People don’t really want to hear, it’s too troubling and gross for them to hear about it if you haven’t already come clean. And I understand why that is, it is so uncomfortable, but I think that’s a failing of our society on addiction, that we don’t allow it any air until someone gives you the relief of going, ‘Oh, I’m sober, we can talk about it now.’ But then also, you don’t wake up going, ‘I want to be drinking a bottle of vodka in bed at noon.’ Alcoholism probably starts, with Richie, a good spirit and camaraderie, as you say, and this feeling of connection with other people that he’s struggled to feel otherwise. And it’s fun! It’s weird to say that because it’s so dark afterwards, but obviously drinking is fun and that’s why people become dependent on it. That’s why I wanted to have that scene in the apartment — where he has this bond reviving with the men he went to school with. I wanted to elaborate on why someone could be so self-destructive and show some kind of reasoning behind it, which is that it’s an actual source of joy and communion for him as well.
John’s story about his first wife, Louise, was so interesting and unexpected. He was a timid man, unfazed by his wife’s cheating, when suddenly he started to get phone calls. The first simply says, “Everybody fucks your wife,” hangs up, and the rest follow the same line of information. But when John confronts Louise about it, she denies it until she leaves him for England. How do you think this shapes him, and why did you want to put this character in this situation?
I’m interested in general about people who are sort of shamelessly, this is a gross word, but incontinent about their sexuality, and totally abandoned with it. And how completely insane and alien that would have appeared to a man in the 90s. There was something about that sort of shameless and profligate sexuality that would have been incomprehensible to somebody of John’s status in Ireland, and the humiliation of it. Because it’s so incomprehensible, it seems like there’s some misfortunes you can suffer that are considered sympathetic by society at large, even if they’re sad, they’re not necessarily socially isolating. Whereas what John experiences cements him into this really angry, alone person because he can’t commiserate with other people because it’s so weird and shameful.
The ending is really powerful. In the future, Lucy starts to have dreams about her past trauma, and Carmel sees Derek, Lucy’s father, but chooses not to dwell on the past. She even shows pictures of Rose to Lucy, and reflects that they actually were a pretty happy family. Do you think that the two of them can recover from what they went to, and that the ending suggests a trajectory towards freedom and happiness for the two?
Yeah, I don’t think I have a strong sense whether they succeed but I think the fact of their trying is as much redemption as you can give them at that point. You don’t want to be, ‘And then they were fine and they were best friends and they talked every day’ or whatever. But I feel like the attempt is the moving part for me, and I find it very moving whenever anyone tries to break out of long-solidified habits or boundaries with other people that appear to be unbreakable. Because it is obviously so difficult in a family dynamic. Even people who are totally fine and have these close, happy families, you have these roles that have calcified over the years and are really hard to reimagine. I find the ending moving because of the attempt, not because it will work. I didn’t leave with a sense of it working, but I do think the happy ending, such as it is, is about the attempt.
Finally, what’s next? Are you working on another novel or any other writing projects?
I’ve got an idea of a third novel that I’m playing around with a bit at the moment, but I’m also thinking about a nonfiction book. I’m trying to figure out over the next few months which to prioritize and what order they might come in. But by the end of this year I will have gotten stuck into one or the other or possibly both of those.
Ordinary Human Failings is available now in the UK and in February 2024 in the US.
In recent years, the fashion world has been abuzz with news of a new trend – the ‘naked shoe.’ With clear heels and straps, this minimalist style is taking the world by storm, and it isn’t hard to see why. The majority of shoe manufacturers all over the world have taken up the trend of manufacturing ‘naked shoes.’ These shoes are now highly in demand and can be availed at major online and offline stores. What makes these ‘naked shoes’ stand out from the crowd is the simple yet stylish look it provides to the users. The naked shoes can be easily paired up with any outfit without being too over-the-top. Whether you’re looking for an edgy statement piece or something more subtle, this trend can be tailored to suit your own individual style.
Here we take a closer look at why the naked shoe trend is so popular and how you can make it work for you.
The Appeal of Minimalism
One of the main reasons that many are embracing the stylish naked shoe trend is its simplicity. The clear straps and heels provide just enough detail to give an outfit an elegant touch without being too eye-catching or ostentatious. This makes them perfect for those who prefer a more understated look but still want to add some pizzazz to their ensemble. The minimalist style also works well with almost any kind of clothing, from casual jeans and t-shirts to formal dresses and skirts – meaning that you can easily incorporate them into your wardrobe, whatever your personal preferences may be!
Versatility Is Key
Another great thing about the ‘naked shoe’ trend is its versatility – they come in all sorts of different styles, shapes, and sizes, which means there’s something out there for everyone! From chunky platforms through delicate stilettos right down to strappy sandals, whatever type of footwear takes your fancy, there’s sure to be a version available in this chic design. For example, if you are searching for something subtle and elegant, go for naked shoes with beige soles. On the other hand, if bold colors are what you like, try the naked shoes fashion with a neon pink sole base. Whatever the design, naked shoes are versatile enough to make heads turn. Further, naked shoes cater to various tastes and also occasions; whether you’re going out on date night or attending a business meeting – these shoes will have you covered!
Comfort Is Paramount
Comfort should always be paramount when selecting footwear. Luckily with this style, comfort need not be sacrificed in favor of fashion – as most versions are designed with cushioning technology which ensures long-lasting comfort throughout wear. Furthermore, because they are made from lightweight materials such as PVC plastic or perspex, they don’t weigh down on feet like heavier leather designs might do, meaning no more tiredness after all-day wear! Attending meetings all day or running errands – naked shoes can be your foot’s next best friend!
How To Style It Right?
Now that we know what makes these shoes so great, let’s talk about how best to rock them! A key tip here would be not to go overboard when styling these babies. Keep things minimal by pairing them up with simple outfits such as white linen trousers or a plain black jumpsuit for maximum impact without looking overdone. As mentioned before, they work well across many occasions, so don’t feel limited either – dress them up or dress them down depending on where you’re headed!
Conclusion
So now that we’ve established why ‘naked shoes’ have become such a hit among fashionistas around the globe let’s get ready to embrace it. There’s no denying their appeal – whether dressed up with an evening gown or paired back with denim shorts during summertime. These transparent beauties will quickly become one of your staples once tried out (and trust us when we say once tried, never forgotten!). So go ahead and get yourself some ‘naked shoes’ today and join in on this must-have trend – we guarantee you won’t regret it!
When it comes to capturing moments that radiate joy and exuberance, there’s a versatile prop that never fails to deliver a burst of vividness and cheerfulness – balloons. These floating orbs of color can transform an ordinary photo shoot into an extraordinary display of vibrancy and playfulness. Whether it’s a celebration, a family gathering, or a portrait session, incorporating balloons into your photography can bring a sense of magic and excitement to the images. In this article, we’ll explore various creative ways to use balloons to add vibrancy and charm to your photo shoot.
Balloon Color Palette
The first step in using balloons to add vibrancy to your photo shoot is selecting a vibrant and cohesive color palette. Consider the mood and theme you want to convey, and then choose balloons in complementary or contrasting colors to create a striking visual impact. Bold and contrasting hues like red and blue, yellow and purple, or orange and teal can add drama and energy to the images. Alternatively, a soft and pastel color scheme can create an ethereal and dreamy atmosphere.
Balloon Backdrops
Creating a balloon backdrop is an effective way to infuse your photo shoot with colors. Inflate balloons of various sizes and colors, and arrange them into a captivating backdrop behind your subject. This backdrop not only adds vibrancy but also serves as a visually appealing focal point. Experiment with different patterns and layouts to create unique and eye-catching designs. Whether it’s a wall of balloons or an arch-shaped arrangement, a balloon backdrop will instantly enliven your photos.
Balloon Props and Accessories
Incorporate balloons as props and accessories in your photo shoot to enhance the sense of playfulness and joy. For example, have your subject hold a bunch of balloons or release them into the air for a whimsical and carefree effect. You can also tie balloons to chairs, fences, or objects in the scene to add pops of color throughout the composition. Additionally, balloon bouquets held by the subject or placed in the background can bring a touch of elegance and vibrancy to your images.
Balloon Play and Movement
Encourage your subjects to interact with the balloons, creating dynamic and candid moments that exude joy. Let children run and play with the balloons, capturing their laughter and excitement. Photograph a group of friends releasing balloons into the sky, symbolizing the freedom and happiness of the moment. Capturing the movement of balloons against the wind can also add a sense of energy and liveliness to your photos.
Dubai’s Balloon Festivals and Events
Dubai’s love for balloons goes beyond photo shoots and private celebrations. The city hosts numerous balloon festivals and events that draw both locals and tourists to witness the spectacle of colorful hot air balloons soaring across the sky. These events provide breathtaking opportunities for photographers to capture the juxtaposition of vibrant balloons Dubai, creating images that showcase the city’s unique blend of modernity and natural beauty.
Balloons and Special Occasions
Balloons are a natural fit for celebratory occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations. Use balloons as a visual representation of the theme or age being celebrated. For instance, you can arrange balloons in the shape of the age being commemorated or spell out celebratory messages using balloon letters. In addition to adding vibrancy, balloons can evoke a sense of festivity and excitement that complements the occasion.
Complementing Balloons with Wardrobe and Props
To enhance the vibrancy of your photo shoot, coordinate the wardrobe and props with the balloon color palette. Select outfits and accessories that harmonize with the balloon colors, creating a cohesive and visually captivating composition. A well-coordinated photo shoot elevates the overall aesthetic and reinforces the vibrancy of the balloons.
Post-Processing and Color Enhancement
After the photo shoot, post-processing can further enhance the vibrancy and richness of your balloon-themed images. Adjusting color saturation, contrast, and brightness can make the colors pop and intensify the overall impact of the balloons. Experiment with different editing techniques to find the perfect balance that suits your creative vision.
Conclusion
Adding vibrancy to your photo shoot with balloons is a delightful and creative endeavor that breathes life and color into your images. From vibrant balloon backdrops to underwater balloon photography, the possibilities are endless. By carefully planning your color palette, experimenting with different compositions, and encouraging interaction with the balloons, you can create captivating and joyous photographs that truly stand out. So, go ahead and let your imagination soar as you capture the magic of colors in the air with balloons in your next photo shoot.
Chris Farren has released his new album, 
Philadelphia alt-country band Florry have put out a new LP, 
Girl Ray have returned with their third album, 
Polly Mackey, who records as Art School Girlfriend, has followed up her 2021 debut Is It Light Where You Are with a new LP, 
