Search
SUBSCRIBE
Home Blog Page 7

Skullcrusher Unveils New Single ‘Living’

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
Skullcrusher Unveils New Single ‘Living’

Helen Ballentine has released the latest single from her upcoming Skullcrusher LP, And Your Song Is Like a Circle. The softly ethereal ‘Living’ follows previous cuts ‘Exhale’, ‘March’, and ‘Dragon’. Check it out below, along with a live performance video.

“One day, I was wandering around Brooklyn, and I felt like I was watching everything through a window or on a screen,” Ballentine said in a statement. “I felt like everyone was moving so fluidly and certainly like moving through a piece of choreography. ‘Living’ is about being a voyeur, catching a glimpse of brief moments of people’s lives. Like watching a play through a small peep hole, or through the slit of a curtain. I wonder if I am the same. If my life feels a part of this production or if it exists in a small detail somewhere off stage.”

And Your Song Is Like a Circle is is due October 17 via Dirty Hit. Revisit our Artist Spotlight interview with Skullcrusher.

Alan Sparhawk And Benjamin Booker Share New Songs From New Benefit Compilation for Immigrants, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
Alan Sparhawk And Benjamin Booker Share New Songs From New Benefit Compilation for Immigrants, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers

Western Vinyl has announced a new charity compilation supporting immigrants, refugees, and asylum seeker. The Austin-based label will release Passages: Artists In Solidarity With Immigrants Refugees, and Asylum Seekers on December 5. Two contributions, Alan Sparkhawk’s hauntingly spare ‘No More Darkness’ and Benjamin Booker’s gently melodic ‘A Place for Us’, are out today. Take a listen below.

The benefit comp also features tracks by Dirty Projectors, Oneohtrix Point Never’s Daniel Lopatin, Tim Heidecker, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, William Tyler, Lambchop, Lonnie Holley, and more. Proceeds will be directed to Texas-based organizations American Gateways and Casa Marianella, which provide no-to-low-cost legal services, food, shelter, access to health care, and other essential services to immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.

“Home, as we know it, is under threat,” the album’s producer and organizer Rick Alverson commented. “When immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers exercise their human right to safe passage, they defend our ability to do so — and our right to be and feel at home.”

Sparhawk had this to say about ‘No More Darkness’: “Here is a song that came from the struggle to know what to say to someone who is having a hard time. There are real things that we can do to lift each other out of suffering — sometimes it is tangible charity, like this compilation to raise funds and awareness for the plight of immigrants and those who have been displaced. Sometimes it is words of encouragement. It can also just be time spent with someone who needs help getting through the moment. Let’s do our best to turn up the light.”

Booker added, “The human struggle is a family struggle. We rise together and we suffer together. There are so many things out of our control, but we can always open our hearts to love and understanding. May you find light in the darkness.”

passages cover artwork

Passages: Artists in Solidarity With Immigrants Refugees, and Asylum Seekers Tracklist:

1. Alan Sparhawk – No More Darkness
2. St. Panther – Everybody Is
3. Daniel Lopatin – Country
4. Benjamin Booker – A Place for Us
5. Lambchop – Afterburner
6. Quin Kirchner – Home [feat. Tekle Mezghebe]
7. Marisa Anderson – No Place to Rest My Head
8. Y La Bamba – Wrong Crowd
9. Lonnie Holley – A Border Is Just a Space Between Two Lines
10. Bonnie Prince Billy – The Autumn Wind (No. 71)
11. Erik Hall – Parallels
12. Dirty Projectors – One Hundred-Twenty Dollar Song
13. William Tyler – 13 Lakes
14. Aisha Burns – All That I Know
15. Anjou – Un Trayecto Largo [feat. I. Nova]
16. Heather Woods Broderick – White Sage
17. Tim Heidecker – Alone Until I’m Home

Swedish casino culture: How do Swedes gamble in 2025?

Sebastian Bickley
-
0
Swedish casino culture: How do Swedes gamble in 2025?

Swedes have always had a keen interest in gambling. From the national lottery and bingo nights in small-town community halls to today’s sleek mobile apps, playing for money has been part of Swedish entertainment culture for decades. What’s striking in 2025 is how much the landscape has shifted in just a few short years. Gambling is no longer confined to state-run operators or occasional visits to physical casinos —it’s a digital pastime that cuts across age groups, lifestyles, and even cultural debates about freedom versus responsibility.

As technology advances and regulations tighten, Swedish players are finding new ways to engage with casino entertainment. Some stay loyal to the homegrown market and its safeguards, while others explore international platforms offering a wider range of games and incentives. Together, these trends tell a story of how gambling has become embedded in Sweden’s broader cultural fabric—and why it’s changing faster than ever.

The rise of casinos without a Swedish license

One of the most striking shifts in Swedish gambling habits over the past few years is the move toward playing on platforms beyond the domestic market. In 2025, more Swedes than ever are choosing to sign up with casinos licensed outside of Sweden. The reasons are varied but often come down to choice and freedom.

Players who feel constrained by Sweden’s strict deposit limits, time controls, and bonus caps often look abroad for sites that offer larger welcome packages, ongoing promotions, and more flexible playing conditions. Beyond the bonuses, casinos without Swedish license frequently host bigger game libraries, niche slot titles, and innovative features that Swedish-licensed operators sometimes cannot provide under current rules.

For many Swedes, this isn’t about rejecting regulation altogether—it’s about entertainment value. Just as they might shop internationally for fashion or music streaming, players are increasingly open to mixing local safety with global variety in their gambling choices.

How Swedes play in 2025

Gambling in Sweden today is not just about the games themselves but also about how and where people play. By 2025, the industry has fully adapted to Sweden’s tech-driven lifestyle, and players’ habits reflect that. From quick spins on mobile slots to following live-streamed casino influencers, Swedes are embracing a digital-first culture that blends convenience, entertainment, and community.

Mobile-first gambling

In 2025, Swedish gambling is dominated by smartphones. Casino apps and mobile-optimized sites allow players to dip in and out of games during commutes, lunch breaks, or while relaxing at home. This on-the-go access has shifted the way Swedes view gambling—from a planned activity to a casual form of entertainment woven into daily routines.

Slots, live dealers, and sports

Slots remain the most played category, with classic themes still popular but new, gamified titles drawing younger crowds. Live dealer tables have seen a surge thanks to sharper video technology, creating a more social experience that resonates with Swedes who value realism and connection. Sports betting, particularly on football and ice hockey, continues to be a cultural staple, while international leagues like the Premier League and NHL command strong attention.

Esports and younger audiences

Among younger Swedes, esports betting is steadily climbing. These players, already comfortable with competitive gaming, see betting as an extension of their existing entertainment habits. It’s less about “traditional casino play” and more about merging gaming culture with gambling opportunities.

The role of influencers

Streaming platforms such as Twitch and YouTube have transformed how Swedes discover new casinos and games. Popular casino streamers provide commentary, strategies, and live reactions that make gambling feel interactive and communal. In a way, they’ve replaced the old bingo halls and horse-racing clubs as hubs for shared experiences, only now the audience is digital and international.

Community and culture

For a long time, gambling in Sweden was associated with communal activities: bingo nights in small towns, betting at the racetrack, or watching the lottery draw together on television. While those traditions still exist, the digital era has reshaped how Swedes connect around gambling.

Today, much of that sense of community is found online. Social media groups, casino forums, and live-stream chats create spaces where players swap tips, celebrate wins, and discuss strategies. Casino influencers in particular play an outsized role, turning solitary spins into shared entertainment moments.

This cultural shift reflects Sweden’s broader embrace of digital life. Just as Swedes use streaming services to discover music or join online communities around gaming, gambling too has become a form of interactive entertainment. It’s less about chasing winnings and more about being part of a scene where the thrill is collective—even if everyone is playing from their own sofa.

Regulation and responsible play

Sweden’s gambling market continues to operate under the Swedish Gambling Act, which provides one of the most detailed regulatory frameworks in Europe. The Act sets strict rules for licensing, player protection, and marketing, aiming to ensure that gambling is conducted in a safe, transparent, and socially responsible way.

Among its key provisions are requirements for licensed operators to verify players’ identities, provide clear information about odds and risks, and offer tools that support responsible play. The national self-exclusion system, Spelpaus, remains a cornerstone: players who register are automatically blocked from all licensed casinos, betting sites, and even physical venues across Sweden.

Supporters see these measures as essential for maintaining consumer protection, but critics argue that the limits on advertising, promotions, and bonuses make Swedish-licensed casinos less attractive compared to international competitors. In 2025, the ongoing policy debate centers on how to maintain strong safeguards while ensuring that players still feel engaged within the regulated system.

Conclusion: A culture of balance and choice

Swedish gambling in 2025 is defined by contrasts. On one side, a regulated market built to protect players with strict safeguards and responsible play tools; on the other, a growing curiosity for international platforms that promise more freedom, bigger bonuses, and cutting-edge innovation. Between these two worlds, Swedish players are making their own choices, shaping a culture where gambling is not just about winning money but about entertainment, community, and lifestyle.

From mobile-first habits to influencer-driven play and emerging trends like crypto casinos, the Swedish market reflects the country’s tech-savvy, globally connected identity. As regulations evolve and new technologies enter the scene, one thing is certain: gambling will remain woven into Swedish culture—not as a static pastime, but as a dynamic part of everyday entertainment.

The Cultural Impact of Livestreaming in Modern Entertainment

Our Culture Mag & Partners
-
0
The Cultural Impact of Livestreaming in Modern Entertainment

Television changed the day people discovered someone playing video games on their phone was more entertaining than primetime shows. Live streaming has revolutionized entertainment. Nobody saw it coming.

Livestreaming has evolved into a global industry, encompassing everything from video games and news broadcasts to online casinos where players can interact with real dealers and compete against others in real-time.

Chat Rooms Beat TV Commercials

Streamers engage directly with their audiences, chatting in real time and responding to messages instantly. It’s a level of interaction that easily outshines sitting through TV ads between segments.

Regular viewers become part of a tight-knit group. They know streamers’ favorite foods, pet names, and daily schedules. Some have followed the same person for three years straight. That’s friendship, just through screens.

Livestreamed matches turn strangers into instant teammates. Fans cheer together, share the highs of victory, and feel the sting of defeat as one. While the streamer breaks down key plays and explains winning strategies, viewers jump in with their own suggestions. It’s a shared experience that makes the game more than just something to watch; it becomes something to belong to.

In 2023, Twitch activity spanned over 7.3 million unique broadcasting channels and averaged around 2.45 million concurrent viewers – numbers many TV networks only dream of. 

This appetite for real-time interaction isn’t limited to gaming streams. Online casinos have embraced the same model, with real dealers hosting tables that players can join from anywhere in the world. Live casino games from NetBet illustrate this shift well, with professional hosts, chat features, and an atmosphere that feels closer to a social event than a solitary wager. 

Geography Became Meaningless

Someone in rural Scotland can teach origami to viewers in downtown Tokyo. Distance means nothing now. Language barriers still exist, but translation apps help bridge gaps.

Cooking streams introduced British audiences to authentic Korean recipes. Travel streamers show hidden gems in countries most people cannot afford to visit. Music streams feature underground artists who would never get radio play.

The barrier to entry has nearly vanished. A simple phone camera is enough to start streaming, where personality outweighs pricey gear and authenticity always wins over polish.

Society Shifted Without Anyone Noticing

Teenagers spend more time watching streams than even some of the most-viewed Netflix shows. BBC competes with bedroom broadcasters for attention. This happened gradually, then suddenly.

Streamers became trusted advisors. Their product recommendations carry more weight than celebrity endorsements. Followers believe these people understand their interests better than marketing executives.

Teachers discovered streaming works brilliantly for education. Students ask questions during lessons instead of staying confused until homework time. Language exchanges happen naturally in chat rooms.

Fitness instructors stream workouts that feel like exercising with friends. Cooking lessons become interactive experiences where viewers can ask for ingredient substitutions immediately.

Problems Nobody Talks About Enough

The livestreaming boom has its downsides. Some viewers spend staggering amounts on donations, often prioritizing support for their favorite streamers over their own bills. Mental health experts also raise concerns about people substituting real-world friendships with online relationships formed through social media streams.

For creators, the pressure is relentless. Streaming demands hours of constant performance, and many burn out under the weight of needing to be “on” every day. Even the most successful streamers often work harder than traditional entertainers to maintain momentum.

Then there’s harassment. Unlike other public figures who can avoid the spotlight between appearances, streamers face abuse in real time. Live chat moves fast, and even with moderators, keeping up with toxic comments remains a constant struggle.

Technology Keeps Pushing Boundaries

Streaming has transformed entertainment forever. With faster internet, lower costs, and VR on the horizon, viewers expect interactive, real-time experiences that traditional media struggles to match. Platforms continue to evolve with new features, making static content feel outdated. 

This cultural shift extends to gaming, sports, and even casinos, where livestreaming fosters authentic, shared experiences.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Reveals More on Upcoming Beta

Prince Addams
-
0
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Reveals More on Upcoming Beta

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has officially confirmed key details for the upcoming Beta period. The announcement comes with still over a month to go before the game’s official launch. In particular, the Beta will have two phases. These are accessible to players ahead of the popular shooter’s release on November 14. During the Beta, players will get the chance to try new maps, game modes, and earn rewards.

Black Ops 7: Early Access Beta (October 2-5)

According to the Call of Duty Staff announcement, there are two ways to join the Beta early access. First, players should pre-order the game. Second, they must subscribe to select Xbox Game Pass plans.

Players can also download the Beta through Battle.net, the Microsoft Store, the PlayStation Store, or Steam. Likewise, anyone who pre-orders digitally will not need a Beta code to participate. Their purchase comes with automatic Early Access registration.

At the same time, fans of the beloved shooter game can test out several new pieces of content during the period.

Core Multiplayer Maps:

  • Cortex
  • Exposure
  • Imprint
  • The Forge

Zombie Survival Map:

  • Vandorn Farm

Game Modes:

  • Domination
  • Kill Confirmed
  • Hardpoint
  • Team Deathmatch

Newly Added Game Mode:

  • Overload – it is a new 6v6 mode where players deliver an Overload Device to enemies.

Black Ops 7: Open Beta (October 5-8)

As per the Activision guide, the Open Beta is not like the Early Access Beta. Particularly, it does not require conditions to join. The Open Beta is available to all players across platforms.

Also, the second phase will feature all the same maps and modes during the Early Access Beta. At the same time, it adds two new maps for players to explore. Specifically, the additional multiplayer maps are Blackheart and Toshin.

Beta Rewards: Unlock and Keep

The developers also announced that players can earn items during the Multiplayer Open Beta. All they have to do is reach Player Level Milestones. Once players accomplish this, they will get exclusive cosmetic rewards.

The rewards and required levels are as follows:

  • “Beta Player” Animated Emblem (Level 2)
  • “Gun Flex” Emote (Level 6)
  • “Beta Neon” Sticker (Level 11)
  • “Beta Beasts” Weapon Charm (Level 15)
  • “Beta Maverick” JSOC Faction Operator Skin (Level 20)
  • “Beta Leader” Guild Faction Operator Skin (Level 20)
  • “Beta Survivor” Loading Screen (Level 23)
  • “Beta Conqueror” Calling Card (Level 27)
  • “Beta Legend” Weapon Blueprint – M15 Mod 0 (Level 30)

Players also do not need to worry about wasted efforts. All of these rewards carry over to the game when it fully launches next month.

Beta Schedule

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Early Access Beta begins on October 2 (10 AM PT) and runs through October 5. Meanwhile, the Open Beta starts October 5 (10 AM PT) and ends on October 8 (10 AM PT).

Planet VPN Review: Secure, Private, and Reliable Browsing Solution

Our Culture Mag & Partners
-
0
Planet VPN Review: Secure, Private, and Reliable Browsing Solution

Planet VPN is a free and premium virtual private network service that provides online protection and privacy by encrypting your internet traffic and hiding your IP address. It provides apps and extensions for various platforms, including Windows, Android, iOS and browser, which has features such as no-logs policy, kilt switch and ad-blocking abilities. Planet VPN offers a free tier with limited server locations and supports for more locations for a premium membership, fast speed and more equipment.

The main features of VPN

PlanetVPN  (virtual private networks) offer safe, private connections on public networks. Here are the main features you will usually face:

key features

  • Coding:
  • What it does: Encrupt your data into transit so that third party cannot read it.
  • General Protocol: Openvpn, Wireguard, IKEV2/IPSec, L2TP/iPSec.
  • Tunling:
  • What it does: Forms a safe tunnel between your device and VPN server.
  • Effect: Protects data from evolution on incredible network (eg, public Wi -Fi).
  • IP masking / oblivion:
  • What does it do: VPN masks its actual IP address with the IP of the server.
  • Effect: Helps hide your location and can bypass geo-building.
  • Privacy and logging policies:
  • what to see: clear privacy policy, minimum or no-log approach, auditability.
  • Note: Some providers logt metadata or connection data.
  • kill switch:
  • What it does: If the VPN connection falls, automatically blocks the Internet traffic.
  • why it matters: prevents the accidental risk of your real IP.
  • DNS leak security:
  • what it does: Ensures that DNS requests have been routed to avoid leaking your questions through VPN.
  • Why does it matter: VPN maintains secrecy even if not connected to VPN.
  • Multi-platform support:

o What does it do: works on a variety of devices (Windows, McOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Rauts).

o Benefits: An account can cover several devices.

  • Performance and speed:

o What affects it: server location, protocol, encryption power and server load.

O tip: Wireguards and customized servers often provide low overhead and better speed.

  • Server Network and Location:

o What it does: access to many servers in different countries.

o Benefits: More options to bypasses geo-related and load balance.

  • Split Tunling:

o what it does: It allows to choose which apps or traffic goes through VPN.

o use cases: Reach local network equipment while remaining private for other traffic.

  • Advertising and malware blocking (ever):

o What does it do: Some VPNs include underlying blockers or danger protection.

O Note: Not a universal facility; Verify with the provider.

  • Danger Safety and Privacy Equipment:

o Examples: https/doh, IPV6 leak protection, dNS on malware/fishing security.

  • Billing, plans and test options:

o What to consider: Free vs paid plan, money-back guarantee and feature limits.

Is the planet safe to use VPN?

Safe server and many protocols: Our servers use strong encryption to protect your data. Select several encryption protocols in settings. 8. All devices and browsers compatibility planet VPN is perfect for those who want to secure their personal information and stay private online.

Is the planet free VPN free?

No limit, no registration, only quality service! Planet VPN is a free VPN with no personal data required for registration or connection – “download and connect”.

What is the use of planet VPN?

Planet VPN – One of the best options for online security, provides complete access to any blocked web resources. When you hide your real IP address, you also get a military-grade traffic encryption on our server. No registration is necessary – just install the app and connect to VPN.

  • Overview of planet VPN Planet VPN is a virtual private network service that provides safe and anonymous internet through various servers located in many countries.
  • Security features. It encrys the Internet traffic, ensuring that the online activities of users remain private. The service provides both free and premium versions.
  • Application compatibility planet VPN is compatible with several devices, including PC and mobile application, allowing it to be accessible to a wide range of users.

What are the benefits of using VPN?

Using a VPN (virtual private network) provides many benefits, including:

  1. Safety increased
    • Data Encryption: VPNs encryps your internet traffic, protect sensitive information from hackers and cyber criminals.
    • Safe connections: They provide safe connections, especially on public Wi-Fi network.
  1. Secrecy protection
  • Unnamed browsing: VPNS masks your IP address, which makes it difficult to track your online activities.
  • Avoid monitoring: They help you topass government sensorship and monitoring.
  1. Access to restricted materials
  • Jio-block materials: VPNs allow you to reach a material that may be restricted in your area, such as streaming services or websites.
  • Bypass Firewall: They can help you bypass firewalls set by schools or workplaces.
  1. Improve online experience
  • Low throttling: VPN can prevent your ISP from throttling your connection depending on your use.
  • Fast speed: In some cases, using VPN can lead to rapid internet speed by avoiding the rush of network.
  1. Safe Remote Access
  • Safe remote functions: VPN enable employees to reach the company’s resources safely from remote places.
  • File sharing: They allow to share a safe file between users on the Internet.
  1. Cost savings
  • Ducking price judgement Some facilities offer dissimilar prices based on location; A VPN can assistance you spread better deals.

Conclusion

Consuming VPN is an operative way to upsurge your online safety, protect your privacy and spread a wide range of materials on the Internet.

How to Have More Fun with Gaming

Our Culture Mag & Partners
-
0
How to Have More Fun with Gaming

Games are an excellent hobby and way to spend your time. Not only are they fun, but they can also help reduce stress, connect with new people, engage in communities, enhance cognitive function, and increase emotional resilience. With winter coming it is likely you are going to be playing more games online with the colder weather. The last thing you want to do is get bored with your games and be stuck indoors. To help you, here are some important ways that you can have more fun with your games. 

Upgrade with virtual goods

Upgrading your gaming experience with virtual goods can enhance your experience, level up your gameplay play and make your games more enjoyable. They enable you to customize your games, express yourself more authentically via your games, and help to give you a competitive advantage. These are just some of the reasons why you may invest in virtual goods for your games. Make sure you do your research and purchase from a reputable site. With a popular game like Star Citizen, you can purchase Star Citizen products easily through well-reviewed websites. 

Play with friends 

It can get a bit boring playing on your own or with people you don’t know. So why not enhance your gaming experience by playing with your friends? Invite them to the party, get on the headset, and either compete against each other or work together to create a strategic gameplay. This can support your mental and emotional well-being, craft stronger connections, and improve your gaming skills like communication and teamwork. 

Enhance your gaming setup

With a good gaming set up, you can increase your gaming performance and give yourself a more immersive experience and a competitive edge. This can also help if you are getting a bit bored with gaming. A good spruce-up can do the trick. Consider first what set up will support you functionally and make you more comfortable, like ergonomic equipment. Next, you may consider how you can improve your visuals and create a smoother gameplay with technology and hardware. This is a great investment if you are a long-time gamer. 

Stream our gaming

Many people will only stream on YouTube or Twitch when they want to earn money. While this is a huge benefit to doing so, it is not the only reason why you should stream your gaming. You can also use it to share your interests and connect with like-minded people, deepen your community ties, and enhance community interaction. Community can be a huge part of playing games and makes it a lot more fun and memorable. You don’t have to be a professional to start streaming your gaming. All you need to do is register with YouTube or Twitch and get going. You can then interact with others and support each other through your platforms. Some people like to get together and stream competitions from different users, which can be fun. 

Don’t let gaming get boring. Use these top tips to make it fun again.

14 New Songs Out Today to Listen To: Melody’s Echo Chamber, Remember Sports, and More

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
14 New Songs Out Today to Listen To: Melody’s Echo Chamber, Remember Sports, and More

There’s so much music coming out all the time that it’s hard to keep track. On those days when the influx of new tracks is particularly overwhelming, we sift through the noise to bring you a curated list of the most interesting new releases (the best of which will be added to our Best New Songs playlist). Below, check out our track roundup for Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

Melody’s Echo Chamber – ‘In the Stars’

Melody’s Echo Chamber has a new album on the way, Unclouded, whose title comes from a quote by Hayao Miyazaki: “You must see with eyes unclouded by hate. See the good in that which is evil, and the evil in that which is good. Pledge yourself to neither side.” The mesmerizing ‘In the Stars’ serves as an early preview of that kind of cosmic awareness, and it comes with a video directed by Diane Sagnier.

Remember Sports – ‘Across the Line’

Remember Sports have returned with a dynamic, country-inflected single called ‘Across the Line’, marking their signing with Get Better Records. “This song is about a dream I had where I blew up my life by doing whatever I wanted,” Carmen Perry revealed in a statement. “I wrote it in the springtime, when the pink cherry blossom trees in Philly are in full bloom, so this song sounds like floating pink petals to me. It’s about indulging your daydreams and following different paths of what your life could look like, if only in your mind.”

Sylvan Esso – ‘WDID’

Sylvan Esso are back with a new single, but don’t look it up on Spotify. The duo of Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn is the latest band to pull its music from the platform, and while they released a statement about their decision, the riotous and discombobulating ‘WDID’ only drives the point home.

Westerman – ‘About Leaving’

Driven by shuffling percussion and beguiling piano, Westerman’s new single coils around its titular subject. “I wrote the lyrics in different places: London, America, and Greece,” the singer-songwriter explained of the A Jackal’s Wedding single. “They were always written in a fleeting way, and that became an animating principle of what kind of imagery is contained. There are different ways of looking at that, right? You can look at that from the perspective of loss, or you can look at it from the perspective of opportunity, or you can look at it from the perspective of excitement or fear. I tried to play around with all of those things in an enveloping way. I was reading The Rime of the Ancient Mariner over and over and I had an image of this person on the sea, not understanding where they’re going and not in control of anything, but unlike in the poem, finding that exciting and enjoying it for what it is.”

Tortoise – ‘Works and Days’

Tortoise have served up another taste of their forthcoming album Touch. Following ‘Oganesson’ and Layered Presence’ is ‘Works and Days’, which unfurls delicately, as if pointing to the hazy passage of time. It’s accompanied by an Alan Peoples-directed video.

Horse Jumper of Love – ‘Mansion’

Horse Jumper of Love are releasing a deluxe edition of their latest album, Disaster Trick. It will include earlier singles ‘The Idiot’ and ‘The Car Knows The Way’, as well as a new track, ‘Mansion’, whose guitar-stabbing dissonance gives way to a heavenly crescendo before falling back down. Bandleader Dimitri Giannopoulos explained: “‘Mansion’ is a song that started back in the self-titled days (2014/15-ish). I remember being into the early Swans stuff back then, and it had a pretty direct influence on the guitar and drums. I always regret not recording it when I was 20, so I could have tapped into the youthful rawness the self-titled album has. In the studio, Jamie, John, and I knew how to play it right away even though we hadn’t thought about it in almost eight years. That’s a cool part about being in a band together for so long — the collective memory we share that allowed us to record something that was almost abandoned. The song only existed in our minds that whole time, no demos or anything.”

Jordana – ‘Like That’

Jordana is gearing up for the release of a new EP called Jordanaland, and its danceable new single is called ‘Like That’. The singer-songwriter describes it as “a song about being totally encapsulated in someone, but at the same time, feeling as though they want you only for superficial reasons. It’s about knowing the situation you’re in is bad for you, even promising to others that you wouldn’t ever degrade yourself again, but your feelings are so intense, it’s difficult to navigate.”

Mei Semones – ‘Itsumo’

Mei Semones has unveiled a new track, ‘Itsumo’, the Brooklyn artist’s first since releasing her debut album Animaru earlier this year. It starts out as a showcase of Semones’ intricate guitar playing before picking up a bossa nova groove, then veering towards grunge. “‘Itsumo’ is the first song I ever wrote and recorded on a nylon string guitar,” Semones explained. “For me the song is about learning to be strong, and the strength that music has given me. I like the contrast between the bossa-style groove and bop-inspired string lines in the first half of the song and the distorted guitar layers and heavier rhythm section in the rock/grunge ending!”

Plantoid – ‘Dozer’

Plantoid have announced Flare, the follow-up to their 2024 debut album Terrapath, with the itchy, disorienting ‘Dozer’. “While making Flare, we did knowingly acknowledge that our sound had been very erratic,” drummer Louis Bradshaw said of the LP, which arrives January 30. “We never stayed on anything for too long. Before going into writing this album we wanted to slightly redefine what we were doing — it’s less directly proggy. It strays from that sound a bit, while retaining that character.”

dust – ‘Restless’

dust’s new single – the latest from their upcoming debut album Sky Is Falling – starts out feeling quite world-weary. Though it swirls into life, the Australian post-punk group retain that liminal atmosphere. Offering some context, they said: “A salient figure wanders vagrantly as an onlooker to the atrocities of a post-capitalist world. Gabe’s vocal delivery is inherently slouched, nonchalant and defeated, providing a basis for what feels like a whirlpool of instrumentation wading towards the final phrases. The lyrics stretch across a spectrum of anguish, desire, frustration and lethargy–Justin loses connection with the one addicted to their own suffering like a pair of two that can’t align their world views.”

Dorothy – ’50s song’

Dorothy – the UK trio of Jude Woodhead (aka Saint Jude), Marco Pini (of GG Skips, Sorry, RIP Magic), and Francesca Brierley (aka Artist Spotlight alumnus heka) – have announced their debut EP, Sea Songs, which comes out December 12 via Angel Tapes. First single ’50s song’ is nostalgic noise-pop bliss. “The shack is a roaring glow, filled with all kinds of folk,” Dorothy said of the track. “Stranded mariners from the far edges of the ocean. The beer flows from the taps like gold, and like a moth you flock to it again and again throughout the night. You sing at the moon of your heart’s desire.”

Destiny Bond – ‘Out Loud’ and ‘Mind to the Mirror’

Destiny Bond have shared two more rippers from their forthcoming sophomore album The Love. ‘Out Loud’ and ‘Mind to the Mirror’ follow lead single ‘Peace as a Punchline’.

Nala Sinephro – ‘Grand Prix’

Nala Sinephro has announced her debut film score for The Smashing Machine, written and directed by Benny Safdie and starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. The soundtrack album will be available digitally on 3 October and physically on January 23. Its immersive lead single, ‘Grand Prix’, is out today.

Sylvan Esso Share New Single ‘WDID’, Remove Catalog From Spotify

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
Sylvan Esso Share New Single ‘WDID’, Remove Catalog From Spotify

Sylvan Esso are back with a new single, ‘WDID’, along with the news that they’re removing their music from Spotify. Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn founded their own label, Psychic Hotline, in 2021, but the raucous new track is the duo’s first to be released through it. Give it a listen below.

“As we prepare to release new music, we have to decide what we want to be a part of and what we don’t,” Sylvan Esso said in a statement. “To that end, with Sylvan Esso being on our own label for the first time, we have decided to remove our music from Spotify. While no solution is perfect, we simply can’t continue to put our life’s work in a store that, in addition to all its other glaring flaws, directly funds war machines. Reaching towards the world we all deserve, even though we are not in it yet.”

Sylvan Esso join acts including Massive Attack, Xiu Xiu, Deerhoof, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Hotline TNT, WU LYF, Young Widows, and Deradoorian who have recently left Spotify in the wake of Daniel Ek’s investment in weapons contractor Helsing. In related news, Spotify has announced that Ek is stepping down as CEO to become the executive chair. He will be replaced by chief product and technology officer Gustav Söderström and chief business officer Alex Norström, who will serve as co-CEOs.

The Best Songs of September 2025

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
The Best Songs of September 2025

Every week, we update our Best New Songs playlist with several tracks that catch our attention, then round up the best songs of each month in this segment. Here, in alphabetical order, are the best songs of September 2025.

Cate Le Bon, ‘About Time’

Cate Le Bon fills her guitars with reverb as if forming a wave that could ripple across eternity. Half a minute in, though, she poetically declares she’s “not religious on the water.” Her voice is radiant without the weightlessness that would diffuse it, partly succumbing to the hypnotic atmosphere but mostly commanding it: “I want to sing to regret/ I just can’t pay its debt.” There is a world in which the titular refrain simply spells out the meaning of the song, but Le Bon avoids abstract thought, instead drawing a line in the sand. As rattling percussion threatens to throw her off balance, caught in a “rigid/collapse” binary, she reminds herself to stay on the firm side, collected. “There’s a softness that comes from the surrender,” Le Bon told The Guardian, opening up about the breakup that informed much of Michelangelo Dying. This is about her saying it’s time to embrace it.

Danny Brown, ‘stardust’

One of Danny Brown’s most vicious insults reveals what he’s always working against: being “a burden to instrumentals.” To match the beat Portuguese producer Holly hands over for ‘stardust’, the first single off his hyperpop-inspired new album, he revives his twitchy, ravenous vocal style, announcing his wakefulness with an Evanescence reference before hilariously relaying the impulses of the monster inside: “I ponder going bonkers then knocking out ya chompers.” Brown’s rampage is brought to a halt with a sobering epilogue from Frost Children’s Angel Prost, suggesting that as exciting it may sound, the album’s early peak, its laser-focused high, could crash out into a whole other musical realm. “We chase silence out of our world, ’til Gabriel blew his horn.” Something tells me stardust will have Brown leaning into the silence, too.

Dry Cleaning, ‘Hit My Head All Day’

In today’s climate, it’s tempting to view ‘Hit My Head All Day’ solely as a song about political manipulation, with Florence Shaw drawing inspiration from the far right’s use of social media. Its stultifying effects are made clear on the song’s first verse: “The objects outside the head control the mind/ To arrange them is to control people’s thinking.” But a concurrent influence in Shaw’s mind was undergoing physio for nerve problems: “It sounds so stupid in comparison,” she said in a press release, “But I’ve only just met her and I’m supposed to be floppy.” This creeps up on the second verse, as Shaw dryly intones, “Manipulate me, wiggle my arms.” With Cate Le Bon on production, the song toes the line between childlike stupor, curiosity, and playfulness, its dizzying sprawl either numbing you out or keeping you moving. But Shaw’s outlook is so naturally absurd it rearranges the outside world, which is its own kind of resistance.

Ratboys, ‘Light Night Mountains All That’

In the music video for ‘Light Night Mountains All That’, directed by Ratboys drummer Marcus Nuccio, footage of the band’s performance is interspersed “with some benevolent rock and roll ghosts we met along the way.” It’s an extension of the track’s central idea: “a fantastic, rural vision-quest where the days and nights blend together and nothing is quite as it seems,” as leader Julia Steiner put it. Featuring piano and production from Chris Walla, the song spreads out over six minutes, landing with the goosebumps-inducing brilliance of 2023’s ‘Black Ice, WI’. But the new track is a different beast altogether. Bristling with tension from the very beginning, a raging chord progression is bolstered by rapid-fire drums and buzzsaw bass, its distortion ratcheting up alongside Steiner’s frustration, her insistence that “you didn’t care.” That “rural vision-quest” starts to sound a lot like regular life, where one’s desire to share can feel like the sun exploding – and another’s hollow indifference can fuel a fantastic slice of rock ‘n’ roll.

Sassy 009, ‘Butterflies’

For Sassy 009 – the project of Sunniva Lindgård – style comes with a cool air of detachment. You can hear it percolating through the ethereal synths, lurching beat, and the Norwegian artist’s effected vocals on ‘Butterflies’, the lead single from their long-awaited debut LP Dreamer+. But the song also attests to Lindgård’s effort to introduce a sense of intimacy to their music, framing it as “an ode to the real ones” and celebrating them even if it’s often through the veil of metaphor. “All my friends/ Keep me safe day and night,” Lindgård sings, buzzing electronics hinting at lurking threats. “They shine,” then most of the production outclears for the sentiment to ring through, “so bright.”

Stella Donnelly, ‘Feel It Change’

When a relationship’s run its course, no judge will satisfy your need to be proven innocent better than the person who’s no longer in your life. “I made a wish upon a satellite/ That you’d come over tell me I was right/ That I’m the perfect friend who does no harm,” Stella Donnelly sings on her latest single ‘Feel It Change’, the melody so breezily agreeable, her voice so gentle – and, considering the three-year gap since her last album Flood, so missed – that even her winking sense of humour couldn’t stand in the way of believing her. Yet Donnelly is too self-aware to let the truth slide, admitting she’s lying as soon as she says she can fix it all. And while another artist might slip the most brutal confession in the margins, she makes it the chorus: “I love you baby but I’m scared to be near you.” She repeats it like someone who knows love and fear are incompatible, rubbing it in the face of the one still oblivious, and smiling it out.

Wednesday, ‘The Way Love Goes’

The obvious choice here might have been to go with ‘Townies’, a highlight from Wednesday’s Bleeds that was astonishingly not a single but naturally became the focus track on release day, getting its own music video. ‘Townies’ exemplifies the best of what Wednesday has evolved into: a hooky, shocking, stunning showcase of Karly Hartzman’s storytelling. ‘The Way Love Goes’ could never have been a single. It would never get a music video. But the more I listened to Bleeds, the more it stuck out as proof of their growth in quieter territory, their best ballad since ‘How Can You Live If You Can’t Love How Can You If You Do’. That Karly was prone to blurring pleasure and pain, tracing suffering into completeness. Here, comforted only by Xandy Chelmis’ pedal steel at her most devastated, she is simply scared and worn-out, telling it like it is. The question remains the same; that old song echoes in your mind; only this time, the hurt just cuts through.

1...678...1,752Page 7 of 1,752

Quick Access

Our Culture

Helpful

© 2025 Our Culture Mag Limited. All rights reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 2/1/2025) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated 2/1/2025). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Our Culture Mag Limited.