Search
SUBSCRIBE
Home Blog Page 714

Olivia Rodrigo Returns With New Single ‘Vampire’

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
Olivia Rodrigo Returns With New Single ‘Vampire’

Olivia Rodrigo has returned with ‘Vampire’, her first single since 2021’s Sour. It’s taken from her sophomore album GUTS, which was announced earlier this week. The track arrives with an accompanying video directed by Petra Collins, who also helmed the videos for ‘good 4 u’ and ‘brutal’. Watch and listen below.

Rodrigo made ‘Vampire’ with producer Daniel Nigro, who worked with her on her debut. Speaking to Apple Music’s Zane Lowe about the new song and the album title GUTS, Rodrigo said:

I wrote the song on the piano, super chill, in December of last year. And my producer Dan and I finished it in January and finished writing it. And I’ve just always been really obsessed with songs that are very dynamic. My favorite songs are high and low, and reel you in and spit you back out. And so we wanted to do a song where it just crescendoed the entire time and it reflects the pent-up anger that you have for a situation.

I had [the title GUTS for a long time. I had it actually when I was making SOUR. I’m like, “I want the next one to be GUTS.” I had it in my head. I’m like, “Four letters, all caps, just like SOUR.” I love it. I just think it’s an interesting word. People use it in so many interesting contexts, like spill your guts. Hate your guts, I think is a really interesting term. Means bravery, but it also means intuition, like listen to your gut. I just think it’s all of these things that coincidentally were things that I’ve really been thinking about in this chapter.

GUTS is set for release on September 8 via Geffen. “For me, this album is about growing pains and trying to figure out who I am at this point in my life,” Rodrigo said in a press release. “I feel like I grew 10 years between the ages of 18 and 20—it was such an intense period of awkwardness and change. I think that’s all just a natural part of growth, and hopefully the album reflects that.”

Taylor Swift Previews ‘Back to December (Taylor’s Version)’ in ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Season 2 Trailer

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
Taylor Swift Previews ‘Back to December (Taylor’s Version)’ in ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Season 2 Trailer

Ahead of the release of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), Taylor Swift has previewed the new re-recorded version of ‘Back to December’ in the trailer for the new season of Prime Video’s The Summer I Turned Pretty. Swift posted the trailer along with the caption: “Crying (Taylor’s Version).” It also features a snippet of her folklore song ‘August’. Check it out below.

Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) arrives on July 7. Last year, Swift previewed the re-recorded version of the 1989 track ‘This Love’ in the trailer for the first season of The Summer I Turned Pretty. The second season of the show premieres July 14.

Holly Humberstone Announces Debut Album ‘Paint My Bedroom’, Shares New Songs

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
Holly Humberstone Announces Debut Album ‘Paint My Bedroom’, Shares New Songs

Holly Humberstone has announced her debut album: Paint My Bedroom Black is set for release on October 13 via Polydor/Darkroom/Geffen. Along with the announcement, the UK singer-songwriter has shared two new songs, ‘Antichrist’ and ‘Room Service’. Check them out below, and scroll down for the album’s cover art and tracklist.

“‘Antichrist’ is about a break up I went through a couple of years ago,” Humberstone explained in a statement. “I genuinely cared about this person and wanted so badly to make it work, but I knew something wasn’t right and my heart wasn’t in it. I knew that I was inevitably going to have to hurt the person who I wanted so much to love. At the time I wrote the song, I remember feeling like I was constantly letting those around me down. Like I was falling short of being there for anyone I cared about. I basically felt like the worst person in the world; like the Antichrist. I really felt that I was toxic to be around, and the guilt and self-loathing that came with that manifested itself in this song.”

“I wrote ‘Room Service’ a little while ago when I’d just started touring full time,” Humberstone added. “I was finding myself constantly stressed out and although I was having fun, I was really missing home and my friends. I felt like I was watching them live out their lives from a phone screen, like I was being left behind. There was this swelling feeling that I was growing apart from that world that I was missing so badly, and I just didn’t want to be forgotten. AlI I wanted to do was to get a hotel room with my best friend, lock the world out and do stupid stuff like order room service. To me, this song is a simple love song to the people I care about the most, and the seemingly basic experiences you share together that can so often be taken for granted. The busier I get, the more I treasure the precious time I get with my friends and family; the more I value them in my life.”

Paint My Bedroom Black follows two EPs, 2020’s Falling Asleep at the Wheel and 2021’s The Walls Are Way Too Thin.

Paint My Bedroom Black Cover Artwork: 

Paint My Bedroom Black Tracklist: 

1. Paint My Bedroom Black
2. Into Your Room
3. Cocoon
4. Kissing In Swimming Pools
5. Ghost Me
6. Track 6
7. Antichrist
8. Lauren
9. Baby Blues
10. Flatlining
11. Elvis Impersonators
12. Girl
13. Room Service

Fantastic Casino Scenes In Movies

Our Culture Mag & Partners
-
0
Fantastic Casino Scenes In Movies

Dramatic tension, complex characters, and eye-catching visuals make casino scenes perfect for payoffs and action sequences. Some casino shots have left a lasting impression on film history, capturing the glitter and glamor, the dangerous pull of wealth, and the constant threat of loss in more ways than one.

Put on your poker face and settle down as we explore some of cinema’s most exciting casino sequences. If your favorite is missing from this list, take a look at this other list of top casino moments in movies.

The Color of Money (1986)

A classic that continues to entice the audience is “The Color of Money” (1986), where “Fast” Eddie Felson, brilliantly played by Paul Newman, returns to the gambling world and mentors a young, brash Vincent Lauria (Tom Cruise). The card-counting lesson Eddie imparts to Vincent is arguably one of the most iconic casino scenes ever, etched deep into the memory of movie lovers. It’s a masterclass in strategy, laying bare the audacious world of professional gambling.

Rounders (1998)

Few movies match the pulsating energy of “Rounders” (1998). Matt Damon’s law student-turned-poker player, Mike McDermott, will get your pulse racing in a gripping high-stakes poker tournament. This scene is a masterclass in suspense, with each fold and call increasing the tension, making it one of the most impactful casino scenes in contemporary cinema.

Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

“Ocean’s Eleven” (2001) took the casino heist narrative to another level. Danny Ocean, suavely portrayed by George Clooney, and his eleven-member crew plot to simultaneously rob three Las Vegas casinos. The precision-filled infiltration of the Bellagio casino is an edge-of-your-seat sequence, chock-full of clever planning and daring execution. It’s a high-stakes spectacle that masterfully blends suspense and thrill.

The Cooler (2003)

“The Cooler” (2003) takes a comedic twist on casino narratives. Bernie Lootz, impeccably enacted by William H. Macy, is hired to jinx gamblers from winning. His attempt to stifle a hot streak at a blackjack table descends into pure chaos, resulting in one of the most hilariously memorable casino scenes in recent times.

The Grand (2008)

The unique charm of “The Grand” (2008) revolves around a group of friends, with Richard Kind in the mix, entering a World Series of Poker tournament. The resulting action unfolds to reveal one of the most suspense-ridden casino scenes in recent cinema, heightening the thrill with every raised bet and revealing card.

Hard Eight (1996)

“Hard Eight” (1996) introduces us to the small-time gambler, John (Philip Seymour Hoffman), mentoring Sydney (Gwyneth Paltrow). The tense high-stakes poker game they engage in becomes a nail-biting battle of wits, making it one of the most intense casino scenes ever captured on film.

The Departed (2006)

In “The Departed” (2006), the memorable casino encounter between the mob mole Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) and the police mole Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) takes suspense to another level. The tension is palpable as the two moles cross paths, encapsulating the essence of this intricate cat-and-mouse narrative.

The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013)

“The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013) veers into the outrageous, with Jordan Belfort, powerfully played by Leonardo DiCaprio, throwing a wild casino party. The decadence and excess showcased make this one of the most extraordinary casino scenes, offering a disturbing glimpse into the unchecked indulgence of Wall Street excesses.

Croupier (1998)

In “Croupier,” Clive Owen’s portrayal of Jack Manfred, a London casino croupier, takes a dark turn when Jack is compelled to cheat at blackjack. It’s a scene dripping with moral ambiguity and palpable tension. Here, the allure of the casino world morphs into a moral maze, and Jack’s internal struggle becomes almost as intense as the game itself. As Jack manipulates the game with deft precision, we’re privy to one of the most intriguing and suspenseful casino scenes ever shot, leaving us questioning our own notions of right and wrong.

Lucky You (2007)

Shifting from the blackjack table to the poker face-offs, “Lucky You” (2007) offers an enthralling tale of talent and aspiration. Eric Bana’s character, Huck Cheever, is a poker player with his sights set on the grand prize of the World Series of Poker. The scene where Huck finally gets his shot at the big leagues is loaded with high stakes, escalating tension, and electric excitement. Every fold, bluff, and call Huck makes in the tournament is edge-of-your-seat stuff, epitomizing the drama of professional poker. It’s an electrifying spectacle of suspense and strategy, marking it as one of the most exhilarating casino scenes in recent cinematic history.

21 (2008)

Lastly, “21” (2008) delivers a high-octane casino scene with MIT student Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) and his card-counting team taking on the Bellagio casino’s blackjack tables. The tension of this complex game of deception and intelligence makes it an unforgettable moment in recent cinema history.

Films about glamorous, high-stakes casino gambling almost always succeed in thrilling and entertaining their viewers.  They create some of cinema’s most memorable scenes by showing the finest and worst of mankind, sometimes even in the same scene! Films like these keep viewers on the edge of their seats as they anticipate the next big hand and try to read the poker faces of the actors.

Summer Capsule Wardrobe for Men: Stay Stylish & Cool

Our Culture Mag & Partners
-
0
Summer Capsule Wardrobe for Men: Stay Stylish & Cool

Now that we are well and truly into the summer, it may be time to refresh that wardrobe with some more suitable clothes for the warm weather. Doing so can be easier said than done with so many options and styles of clothing out there. Capsule wardrobes have become popular in recent years. This refers to a collection of clothing items you can wear on many different occasions. 

These capsule wardrobes also stop you from filling up your wardrobe with clothes you may never wear and keep them minimal but still very stylish and appropriate for summer. This is especially important if you happen to live in a small apartment or room and don’t have the storage for lots of clothes and accessories. Below we will go through some of the most popular clothing items and accessories men should consider adding to their summer wardrobe. 

Versatile bottoms

First on this list are versatile bottoms, meaning they can be worn in different settings and environments. One of the best bottoms that never go out of fashion is a pair of designer shorts in neutral colours such as navy, beige or khaki. They match perfectly with both t-shirts for a more casual look and shirts if you need to look more formal for parties and dinners. It is essential to remember comfort while choosing the right bottoms. For summer, you will want a pair of breathable shorts made from a stretchy fabric to be more comfortable in the heat. 

Breathable shirts

Next up on this list are breathable shirts that are stylish and fantastic for warm weather. They look great on several occasions — including trips to the beach or dinner with friends — and are also perfect for keeping you cool when the weather gets hot. Made from materials such as cotton and linen, breathable shirts remain light on your body, providing good ventilation and stopping you from overheating. You can go with plain or graphic tees, whatever you prefer, there are lots of inspos online, patriotic outfit ideas, comfy-stylish ideas, casual outifts, you just need to mix and match. 

The great thing about these breathable shirts is that they are suitable for formal and casual events. If you need something to wear for a more formal occasion, you can opt for a button-down shirt made from linen and match it with some classy chinos for a stylish summer outfit. You’ll always go right with a polo shirt and some shorts for a more casual look. Look for these types of shirts in different styles and patterns, and browse to see what’s out there before you make any purchases. 

Shoes for every occasion

Shoes are an essential part of every outfit, especially in summer. When the sun is out, you want something on your feet that allows them to breathe but is also comfortable for walking around. White sneakers are a great choice as they go with almost every outfit, from shorts and T-shirts to chinos and a shirt. If you are looking for a pair of shoes that are great for summer holidays and more formal occasions, some boat shoes or loafers might be perfect. 

For a more casual look, comfortable sandals might be the right choice to keep your feet cool as you walk around in the heat. The best part about a good pair of sandals is they go with just about any outfit and can be worn both during the day and at night. If you are planning on going on vacation this summer, then a good pair of sandals is a fantastic idea, especially if you will walking a lot during the day when the sun is the hottest. Whether you are going for a more casual look or need to be more formal, sandals complement a summer outfit. 

Accessories

There are some essential summer accessories that you must add to your wardrobe to complete all of your outfits. These include a stylish hat that helps keep your head out of the sun and some sunglasses to protect your eyes. In addition, modern unisex sunglasses not only provide eye protection but also add a touch of contemporary style to any summer ensemble. Other useful accessories that can add style and ease to your wardrobe include a leather belt that stops your bottoms from coming loose while adding some class to your outfit. Finally, let’s remember the importance of good socks that allow for some much-needed ventilation during the summer months. While they are not essential items, wearing a watch or bracelet never goes out of style, no matter the season or weather. 

Conclusion

So there we have it. You now have all the knowledge you could need to create your summer wardrobe. It is easier than you think to create a fair number of outfits perfect for the sunny weather without sacrificing style and comfort. No longer will you be stuck in the heat of the summer struggling in unsuitable clothing!

Blur Share Video for New Song ‘St. Charles Square’

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
Blur Share Video for New Song ‘St. Charles Square’

Blur have shared a video for ‘St. Charles Square’, the second single from their upcoming album The Ballad of Darren. It follows lead cut ‘The Narcissist’. Check out the Toby L-directed clip below.

Speaking about the new single in an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, Damon Albarn said:

Well, I was just really relieved it went this way in the studio. I mean, I kind of in my demo, it sort of alluded to it, because of the chords that hold in the chorus. It’s got that chug to it. But Graham really went with that. And yeah, it’s got an amazing atmosphere. Everybody’s playing really well on that thing. Do you know what the whole thing has really felt like, we’re sort of somewhere in 1992, something like that, ’92, ’93. We’re just sort of back. I don’t know. And when we go on stage, that’s we’re where we start off really… I’ve always kind of felt like it’s not just about singing about yourself. You’ve got to kind of bring where you’re singing it and writing it with you.

The Ballad of Darren is set for release on July 21 via Parlophone.

Album Review: Grian Chatten, ‘Chaos for the Fly’

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
Album Review: Grian Chatten, ‘Chaos for the Fly’

Grian Chatten was walking along Stoney Beach one night when, he says, the entirety of his debut solo album came to him on the waves. “I just stood there and looked at them and I heard the whole fucking thing.” Good luck figuring out where, exactly, “Stoney Beach” is, but we know it’s not too far from his family home in Skerries on the Irish east coast, inspiring a collection about the dark underbelly of small town life. “See I am that wave that breaks below/ I will give you thrills and take your pain,” the Fontaines D.C. frontman sings sullenly over fingerpicked guitar on opener ‘The Score’, setting the scene. Across nine tracks, Chaos for the Fly maintains a somber, brooding tone that’s more often bitter than sweet, but it doesn’t exactly stay in one place. There’s more than meets the eye in the stories and characters he dives into, making the smallness of their lives feel universal and, even as Chatten avoids autobiographical detail, personal in their significance.

Chatten collaborated with longtime Fontaines D.C. producer Dan Carey on the album, but what they’ve come up with is more than a stripped-back version of the band’s signature sound – moodiness minus driving instrumentation. It’s strange and raw, emerging equally from a need for isolation and control. Even when the songs sound like they could be turned into material for Fontaines D.C., you can tell why they’re a better fit for this more self-contained world. A song like ‘Bob’s Casino’, then, with loungey brass and strings that evoke its namesake in haunting fashion, offers some assurance his main project is not about to follow the Arctic Monkeys trajectory, but it feels at home on Chaos for the Fly; as does the subtly layered and soothing ‘East Coast Bed’, which allows Chatten’s imaginative storytelling to unfurl cozily over five full minutes. It’s in these moments that he entertains us with the vision that struck him that night: “Fed the birds/ On a lap round town/ Got a peculiar thought/ Nearly struck me down/ Am I the wingless one that keeps me here?” he ponders on ‘Last Time Every Time Forever’, one of a few tracks featuring Chatten’s partner Georgie Jesson, whose voice softens the void.

The most memorable and striking songs, though, are those that could stand out of the context of the album. They sail a little further and are less quick to offset the darkness that underlies them, revealing a different kind of intensity than we’re used to from Fontaines D.C. ‘Fairlies’, easily the most dynamic cut here and arguably one of the best things Chatten has put his name to, brings to life the buzzing chaos alluded to by the album title but which elsewhere remains mostly a suggestion. Written between places that seem worlds away both from each other and the record’s original spark of inspiration – the Andalusian town of Jerez (where I’ve lived, so colour me biased) and Los Angeles – it gets at the burning frustration at the core of the album, a determination to make it alone fractured by glints of nostalgia and a kindling of hope: “There’s a thing about people that I suppose is alright/ It’s when they smile right at their pain through all the day and night,” he observes.

‘Fairlies’ comes into stark contrast with the piano-led ‘All of the People’, a song that seems to be about alienation festering into bitterness about humanity until it reveals itself to be about connection. “What kind of fool would follow signs that were never there?” Chatten ultimately asks, and as he repeats the titular line one last time, it’s clear he can’t rule himself out. As the heat cools off towards the back end of the album, the ballads are more pretty and plaintive. Mostly composed of guitar and vocals, ‘Salt Throwers off a Truck’ takes place on a cold winter day in New York, extending a lovely metaphor about how “the whole of the city was seasoned to taste.” Chatten’s voice is able to find some comfort and even euphoria in the isolation, but it’s unnerving just how much the album grounds itself in negative feelings, which may have been difficult to process on a Fontaines D.C. record. It’s musically restrained and emotionally unfiltered, both qualities that feel necessary. But just like there are songs here that are deceptively upbeat, even the most glaringly pessimistic lyrics can be read as ambivalent. “I doubt you find what you’re looking for/ I doubt the feeling remains,” Chatten sings on ‘Season for Pain’. It’s not the season for loving, he makes clear, at the same time implying that whatever it is will pass, too.

Beverly Glenn-Copeland Shares New Single ‘Stand Anthem’

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
Beverly Glenn-Copeland Shares New Single ‘Stand Anthem’

Beverly Glenn-Copeland has shared a new single, ‘Stand Anthem’, lifted from his upcoming album The Ones Ahead. A collaboration between Glenn-Copeland and his longtime partner Elizabeth, it follows previous offerings ‘Harbour (Song for Elizabeth)’ and ‘Africa Calling’. Check it out below.

“‘Stand Anthem’ was originally a song written to represent the essence of a one-woman show Elizabeth wrote, entitled, ‘Bearing Witness’,” Glenn-Copeland explained in a statement. “She wrote, produced, directed and performed in the show which was workshopped with the support of that inimitable (and now late) Canadian dramaturg, Sharron Pollock with the support of Mount Allison University. In the show, I and an Indigenous elder represented ‘the voice of the elders’. This was Elizabeth’s visionary, earth-activist show, and utterly brilliant.”

The Ones Ahead is slated to arrive July 28 via Transgressive.

Ratboys Release Video for New Song ‘The Window’

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
Ratboys Release Video for New Song ‘The Window’

Ratboys have released ‘The Window’, the title track from their forthcoming LP. Following ‘Black Earth, WI’ and ‘It’s Alive!’, both of which landed on our Best New Songs segment, the new single arrives with a music video directed by John TerEick. Check it out below.

“I wrote this song a few days after the death of my grandma in June 2020,” the band’s Ratboys’ Julia Steiner said in a statement. “She didn’t have COVID, but because of the pandemic my grandpa wasn’t able to visit her in person at the nursing home to say goodbye. He ended up standing outside her room and saying goodbye through an open window. A lot of the lyrics are direct quotes of things he said to her in those final moments.”

The Window will be released on August 25 via Topshelf.

Anjimile Shares New Song ‘Father’

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
Anjimile Shares New Song ‘Father’

Anjimile has unveiled ‘Father’, the latest offering from his upcoming album The King. It follows the previously released title track, which made our Best New Songs list. Listen to ‘Father’ below.

“I wrote this song with my parents in mind as a sort of gesture of appreciation and love for everything they did to try and support me before, during, and after I went to rehab and got sober in early 2016,” Anjimile shared in a statement. “Thanks, Mom and Dad.”

The King comes out September 8 via 4AD.

1...713714715...1,712Page 714 of 1,712

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.