#MY JAM! (songs that inspire me to write molly)

[piratewithvigor]

My first thought in regard to every band that gets played on my radio station

ACDC: Every dad’s favourite band

Adams, Bryan: Every mom’s favourite singer until Michael Buble came along

Aerosmith: haha they thought Vince Neil was a lady

Alice Cooper: he’s a Game Of Thrones fanboy and I have proof

Alice In Chains: my sister doesn’t like them because she decided AC were Alice Cooper’s initials ONLY

Allman Brothers Band: good music for dropping acid to

Allman, Gregg: That’s too many Gs for one name

Animals: House Of The Rising Sun, or who even cares

Argent: Sometimes Hold Your Head Up is really catchy

Asia: Tuesdays

Autograph: one of the members went on to be a pharmacist

Bachman-Turner Overdrive: There are just so many pop culture jokes about Taking Care Of Business that whatever I say won’t be as funny

Bad Company: with their song; Bad Company, off their album; Bad Company

Benatar, Pat: Always getting her confused with Patti Smith

Black Crowes: I like them for Lickin, but it doesn’t seem to exist outside of one shoddy video on youtube and my old CD

Blackfoot: this band name feels kind of racy

Black Sabbath: Dio was not better or worse than Ozzy; just different

Blondie: I like Call Me, but Blondie confuses me stylistically

Blue Oyster Cult: MORE COWBELL

Bon Jovi: Hello, childhood trauma, I missed you

Boston: ONE GUY. ONE GUY DID IT ALL AND NO ONE KNOWS

Bowie, David: Don’t let your children watch The Man Who Fell To Earth, or David Bowie’s will end up being the third penis they see in life

Browne, Jackson: Another musician ruined by Supernatural

Buffalo Springfield: Jack Nicholson was at the riot they sing about

Burdon, Eric: no ideas, brain empty

Bush: ditto

Candlebox: ditto once more. Who are these people?

Cars: This band feels so gay and so straight at the same time, I can only assume they’re the poster children of bisexual panic

Cheap Trick: I played Dream Police on Guitar Hero so fucking much because it was the only song anyone who played with me could keep up with

Chicago: Chicago 30 exists, but they do not have 30 albums. Fucking riddle me that

Clapton, Eric: 6 discs in one Greatest Hits is too many. That’s called “re releasing your discography”

Cochrane, Tom: For some reason, everyone thinks Rascal Flats did it better

Cocker, Joe: Belushi did it right

Collective Soul: who?

Collins, Phil: If his biggest hits were done by MCR, they would be emo anthems, but because he’s 5′6″ and from the 80s, they’re not

Cream: *Vietnam flashbacks on the hippie side*

CCR: *Vietnam flashbacks on the war side*

CSNY: David Crosby; meh

Deep Purple: THEY’RE SO MUCH MORE THAN SMOKE ON THE WATER

Def Leppard: the only music for when you’re a heartbroken bitch but also a sexy one

Derek And The Dominos: Clapton and ‘Layla’ broke up

Derringer, Rick: Tom Petty if he was from the midwest

Dio: You thought it was an anime reference, but it was me, Dio

Dire Straits: You can tell how bigoted a radio station is based on how much of Money For Nothing they censor

Doobie Brothers: I have yet to smoke weed, but I listen to the Doobies, and I think that’s pretty close

Dylan, Bob: I take back everything I said about him in my youth

Eagles: Hotel California isn’t their best song, but the memes that come from it are second to none

Edgar Winter Group: @the--blackdahlia

Electric Light Orchestra: Actually an orchestra and sound a fuckton like George Harrison

ELO: I really hesitate to ask what happens with the 7 virgins and a mule

Essex, David: no prominent memories of him

Fabulous Thunderbirds: cannot spell

Faces: Who on earth thought that was a good album name?

Faith No More: I got nothing

Fixx: One Thing Leads To Another is a damn bop

Fleetwood Mac: I ain’t straight, but I’m simply not enough of a witch to enjoy them to full potential

Fogerty, John: He got sued cause he sounded like himself

Foghat: Slow Ride slowly becoming less coherent feels like a drug trip

Foo Fighters: He was just excited to buy a grill

Ford, Lita: deserved better

Foreigner: dramatically overplayed

Frampton, Peter: a masterful user of the talk box

Free: dramatically underplayed

Gabriel, Peter: leaving Genesis changed him a lot

Genesis: if someone likes Genesis, clarify the era, because yes, it does matter

Georgia Satellites: sing like you have a cactus in your ass

Golden Earring: Twilight Zone slaps, but it doesn’t slap as hard as this station thinks it does

Grand Funk Railroad: Funk

Grateful Dead: I like their aesthetic more than their music

Great White: there are so many fucking shark jokes

Greenbaum, Norman: makes me think of Subway for some reason

Green Day: the first of the emo revolution

Greg Kihn Band: RocKihnRoll is literally the most clever album name I’ve ever seen

Guns N Roses: They have more than three good songs, but radio stations never recognize that

Hagar, Sammy: I’m still trying to figure out where he lived to take 16 hours to get to LA driving 55 and how fucking fast was he driving beforehand?

Harrison, George: He went from religious to rock, and if he had continued rocking, he would have gotten too cool 

Head East: I respect people who use breakfast foods as album names

Heart: Magic Man and Barracuda are played at least once every goddamn day. They’re not even the best songs!

Hendrix, Jimi: I have both a cousin and a sibling named after Hendrix references

Henley, Don: Dirty Laundry gives me too much inspiration

Hollies: Somehow sound like they’re both from the 60s and the 80s at the same time

Idol, Billy: he’s doing well for himself

INXS: Terminator vibes

Iris, Donnie: knockoff Roy Orbison

James Gang: too many funks

Jane’s Addiction: if TMNT had a grunge band representative

Jefferson Airplane: *assorted cheers*

Jefferson Starship: *assorted boos*

Jethro Tull: The only band to make you feel not cool enough to play the flute

Jett, Joan: icon

J. Geils Band: I requested them on the radio once and it got played

Joel, Billy: he really did just air everybody’s business like that

John Cafferty And The Beaver Brown Band: literally wtf is that name

John, Elton: yarn Elton sits in my basement, unstaring. Please someone take him from me

Joplin, Janis: Queen

Journey: Stop overplaying Don’t Stop Believing. It takes away from the rest of the repetoire

Judas Priest: literally started the gay leather aesthetic

Kansas: another fucking band Supernatural stole

Kenny Wayne Shepherd: the man confuses me to the point where he isn’t in the right place alphabetically

Kiss: Mick Mars and I will simply have to disagree on the subject

Kravitz, Lenny: runaway vibes

Led Zeppelin: Fucking fight me if you don’t think they’re the most talented band (maybe not the most talented individually, but collectively, no one comes close)

Lennon, John: My least favourite Beatle for reasons

Live: I got nothin

Living Colour: slap a decent amount

Loverboy: do you not get TURNT the fuck up to the big Loverboy hits? Who hurt you??

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Sweet Home Alabama is a Neil Young diss track

Marshall Tucker Band: no opinion

Manfred Mann’s Earth Band: VERY STRONG OPINIONS THAT THEY AREN’T GOOD

McCartney, Paul/Wings: Power couple

Meatloaf: I have nothing but respect for a man who willingly named himself Meatloaf

Mellencamp, John: voted cutest lesbian of 1987

Metallica: I liked their appearance on Jimmy Fallon

Midnight Oil: I get them confused for Talking Heads a lot

Modern English: who?

Molly Hatchet: Hollies vibes, but also Georgia Satellites vibes

Money, Eddie: DAN AVIDAN, IF YOU SEE THIS, COVER TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT

Motley Crue: Stan Mick Mars and John Corabi. They’re the only ones who deserve it

Mott The Hoople: no one loves them except for David Bowie

Mountain: props for naming an album ‘Climbing’

Nazareth: I want to make a John Mulaney joke here, but I can never come up with one

Nicks, Stevie: witch queen

Night Ranger: I get them confused with Urge Overkill

Nirvana: Kurt Cobain was the ally grunge needed

Nova, Aldo: he’s Canadian, at least

Nugent, Ted: *serves a ghost as jerky*

Offspring: nothing here

Osbourne, Ozzy: this bitch crazy

Outfield: Your Love is kind of a sketchy song, but it slaps hard

Palmer, Robert: low quality Eddie Money

Pearl Jam: *grunts in Eddie Vedder*

Petty, Tom: I have so many feelings about Tom Petty and they are all good

Pink Floyd: which one is Pink?

Plant, Robert: solo career is a crapshoot, but his voice is unparalleled

Poison: I want them to write a song called ‘Alice Cooper’

Pretenders: I want to say good things, but I have nothing to say

Queen: A doctor of astrophysics, a screaming girl, a disco queen and a diva walk into a bar. It’s Queen; they’re there to play a gig

Queensryche: neutral opinion

Quiet Riot: they got big because of a song they hated. I love that

Rafferty, Gerry: the second-sexiest sax opening in all of music

Rainbow: Ritchie Blackmore created something very magnificent

Ram Jam: one good song and they didn’t even write it

Ratt: I’m sure they have more than Round And Round, but I don’t know it

RHCP: funky, but if you have paid money to hear them, you’re going to The Bad Place (I don’t make the rules)

Red Rider: basically Golden Earring

Reed, Lou: Walk On The Wild Side would be such a cool song if it wasn’t so dull

REM: American Tragically Hip

REO Speedwagon: Props for having a dad joke as an album title

Rolling Stones: Never in my life could I imagine the drummer being named anything but Charlie

Rush: How to make being uncool the coolest fucking shit

Santana: The world needs more Santana

Scandal: There’s something really funny about The Warrior being my brother’s “song” with his girlfriend

Scorpions: Was Wind Of Change written by the CIA? Only the spotify podcast I got an ad for once could say

Seger, Bob: A different variety of Eric Clapton (frankly a better variety, but that’s just me)

Simple Minds: we ALL forgot about you

Skid Row: Sebastian Bach is prettier than all of us

Soundgarden: music that makes you feel like you dunked your head underwater

Springsteen, Bruce: my arch-nemesis. Maybe someday, he’ll find out about it

Squeeze: according to my friends, the stupidest band name ever, but they’re theatre kids, so you know

Squier, Billy: If he can make it through 1984 alive, you can make it through whatever bad day you’re having

Stealers Wheel: Yet another band who I always mistake for George Harrison

Steely Dan: my house’s nickname for the Robber in Settlers Of Catan

Steppenwolf: Either makes me think of Jay & Silent Bob, Jack Nicholson, or that time I had to cut 6lbs of onions

Steve Miller Band: when you’re in the right mood, they slap hard

Stewart, Rod: my soundtrack to summer 2015

Stills, Stephen: Love The One You’re With Is Catchy, but the lyrics are questionable

Stone Temple Pilots: the only band to write a song about goo you smear on yourself

Stray Cats: an obscene amount of merch is available for them

Styx: Supernatural would have ruined them for me too if I hadn’t been into them previously. 

Supertramp: I hunted for Breakfast In America for two years and it was worth every hunt

Sweet: I will never understand my two-month obsession with Ballroom Blitz when I was 15, but it was legit all I listened to

Talking Heads: you may find yourself in a pizza hut. And you may find yourself in a taco bell. And you may find yourself at the combination pizza hut and taco bell. And you may ask yourself; ‘how did I get here?’

Temple Of The Dog: I keep confusing them for Nazareth

Ten Years After: somehow still relevant

Tesla: not the car or the dude

The Beatles: Evokes a lot of opinions from people. Mine is that I love them

The Clash: I showed my sister the ‘Lock The Taskbar’ vine ONCE and it still kills her

The Doors: evokes teenage terror from deep within my soul

The Guess Who: Canada’s answer to confusing question-themed band names

The Kinks: kinky

The Police: wrote the theme of 2020 and everyone somehow forgot it was about a teacher resisting becoming a pedophile

The Ramones: playing all of their songs in a row wouldn’t take more than 2 hours

The Romantics: you don’t think you know them, but if you’ve seen Shrek 2, you have

The Who: If someone can explain Tommy to me, I’d be glad to hear it

The Zombies: I think they happened because of the 60s

Thin Lizzy: Could the boys maybe leave town?

Thorogood, George: blues, but make it modern

Toto: the most memed song behind All Star

Townshend, Pete: just makes me think of the end of Mr. Deeds

T-Rex: Mark Bolan is an icon

Triumph: The no-name brand of Rush

Tubes: like the yogurt

Twisted Sister: they did a christmas album and my mom does NOT hate it

U2: U2 Movers; we move in mysterious ways

Van Halen: RIP Eddie

Van Morrison: honestly, who’s named Van?

Vaughn, Stevie Ray: Steamy Ray Vaughn

Walsh, Joe: The Smoker You Drink The Player You Get

War: Foghat, but even groovier

Whitesnake: the most successful band to be named after a penis

Wright, Gary: the 90s thanks him for writing the song every movie used for the “guy sees cute girl and it’s love at first sight” scene

Yes: To Be Continued

Young, Neil: The best part of CSNY

Zevon, Warren: the album cover of Excitable Boy makes me deeply uncomfortable for reasons I don’t understand

ZZ Top: has been the same three guys since 1969. Lineup unchanged. 

3 Doors Down: They feel a little modern to be on a classic rock station, but whatever

38 Special: Why 38?

#I made this instead of doing homework #Classic Rock #Meme

[chilling-seavey]

Heartbreak Hotel (d.s.) - Chapter Ten

A/N Winter break means more time to write. Let’s see how many days in a row I can post a chapter 🥰

Daniel was elbows deep in the living room sofa when Christian came downstairs the following morning, a small pile of loose change already on the coffee table.

“Good morning, little brother.” Christian said, startling Daniel as he swung around like a deer in headlights.

“Hey.” Daniel replied, pulling out a shiny quarter from the couch cushions before diving his arm back in.

“What are you doing?”

“I need quarters.” Daniel answered, smushing his face against the couch to reach in farther, fishing around for a few more coins.

“What for?” Christian asked.

“Something.” Daniel snapped. He sighed, finally getting to his feet and he pushed the cushion back into place. “I’m gong to eat breakfast at the diner if Mum asks. I’ll see you later.” Daniel said, scooping up his pile of coins from the coffee table and headed down the hallway.

Christian narrowed his eyes in the direction of his little brother as he shut the front door behind him.

Daniel nearly floored it to Sherry’s, the wheels of the Thunderbird leaving skid marks on the street as he pulled quickly into the parking spot and jumped right out. It was barely 7:30am and he knocked impatiently on the locked restaurant door.

Jack came rushing over to let him in and then locked the door behind him again, “You owe us one. We had the closing shift and we voluntarily took the opening shift for this.”

“I know, I know. I literally owe you both my life.” Daniel said, dumping his pile of change on the front counter of the silent and empty diner.

“What’s the code to the register, Jack?” Zach asked with a tired sigh.

“0204.” Jack answered, joining him behind the counter as the register drawer opened with a loud ‘ding’.

Zach pulled out all of the quarters in the slot and Jack traded it for a few dollar bills to make up for what they were taking.

“Aren’t you gonna get in trouble for that?” Daniel asked.

“No. Still the same amount.” Jack smirked, finishing putting the bills away and then closed the drawer. Zach tossed the dozens of quarters onto the counter with Daniel’s pile and they divided the collection into three equal sections.

“We start calling at 7:45. Give it two rings and if they don’t answer then just hang up and call again until one of us gets through.” Jack instructed, checking his watch. “We have a few minutes to spare so listen up. We all have younger sisters who are all insane about this guy so we’ve gotta know some facts, right?”

“Too many facts.” Daniel nodded. “Anna’s gonna murder me if she knows I have tickets and didn’t take her.”

“Reese is kinda young, but I know the songs.” Zach said.

“We should be alright.” Jack rubbed his hands together. “My sister Ava said they’ve been asking three questions and you need to get them all correct to win the tickets; trying to see who is his ‘biggest fan’ or whatever.”

“And this is the last contest.” Daniel confirmed.

“Yep.” Jack nodded, “This is your only shot.”

“But no pressure.” Zach added.

Daniel only scoffed.

“Come on. Let’s get set up.” Jack jumped over the counter and grabbed one of the small tables from the middle of the restaurant and carried it to the back where the line of four payphones were set up against the wall. Daniel brought over the handfuls of quarters to set on the table and Zach turned on the kitchen radio so they knew when the contest was to start. The song that was playing filled the diner although it didn’t make their nervous energy any calmer, even with Daniel singing softly under his breath.

“That was Good Golly Miss Molly by Little Richard. Only good rhythm here on 96.3 to start off your morning. It’s quarter to eight and time for our final contest for your chance to win a pair of tickets to Elvis Presley’s private show in August at the Paramount Sound Stage-“

Zach shut off the radio and jumped off the counter, “Go, go, go!”

The three of them each got themselves in front of a phone and slid in the first of many quarters. They stuck to their routine, staggering their calls so one of them was always on the call while the others hung up after two rings and pushed in another quarter.

“Come on, come on.” Daniel mumbled, jamming another quarter into the pay phone and dialed the radio station like it was a number he had memorized his whole life.

“Yes!” Zach shouted almost too loudly into his receiver and looked over at his two friends. “I’m through!”

He shoved the phone at Daniel who had no choice but to grab it from him, “Hello?”

“You’re on the air with 96.3, what’s your name?”

“Daniel.”

“Well, Daniel, do you think you have what it takes to win these once-in-a-lifetime tickets?”

“Y-yeah.” Daniel said as excitedly as he could.

Jack and Zach gathered around him and they pressed their ears around the receiver to try and hear what the radio announcer was saying.

“We’ll get right to your questions then. Where was Elvis born?”

“Where was- oh! Mississippi.” Daniel answered like it was second nature.

Anna always wanted to travel to Mississippi for family vacations for the sole purpose of it being the state where her idol was born.

“That’s correct! Next question: Elvis recently bought a mansion in Tennessee. What is the name of this property?”

“Uh…” Daniel’s eyes scrunched closed in thought. “G-Graceland.”

Anna’s middle name as the name of Elvis’ property had his sister screaming about it for weeks. He’d be dumb to forget that.

“That’s correct! Last question for you, Daniel. It’s all riding on this one. What was the song that Elvis sang that is inspired about a local suicide?”

Daniel couldn’t bite back his smile as he glanced over at his two best friends who were staring at him with hopeful wide eyes. His sister went on about how Elvis had such a kind heart to sing about such things and she played that record loudly after receiving it for Christmas.

“Heartbreak Hotel.” Daniel answered coolly.

“Well, my golly, you got them all! Congratulations, Daniel! You’re going to see Elvis live at Paramount Studio Stage in August!”

#daniel seavey #why dont we #christian seavey #corbyn besson #jonah marais #jack avery #zach herron #wdw #🍓 #soulmate!wdw #soulmate au #why dont we fanfic #daniel seavey fanfic #1950s

[shemakesmusic-uk]

Jorja Smith has unveiled a standout new video for latest track ‘By Any Means’. The powerful video (directed by Otis Dominique and Ellington Hammond) shines a spotlight on communities across the UK, complimenting the track’s vital message around social issues and the civil rights movement. As noted by Jorja about the track: "The inspiration behind 'By Any Means' really came from going to the Black Lives Matter protest and leaving thinking, what can I do to keep this conversation going? It’s not just a post on social media, it's life.” ‘By Any Means’ is the first track to be unveiled from a new project titled ‘Reprise’, curated by the team at Roc Nation with the sole aim of bringing awareness to social justice issues. A portion of proceeds will go to funding organisations that support victims of police brutality, hate crimes, and other violations of civil rights. [via Dork]

Madison, WI-bred and Chicago-based band Slow Pulp recently announced Moveys, their self-produced debut album, and shared its first single 'Idaho.' Now the band shares another song off of the forthcoming record, entitled 'Falling Apart.' The track, featuring Alex G collaborator Molly Gemer on violin, is accompanied by a fantastical music video about feeling lost in a familiar landscape. Director Jake Lazovick, places Emily in a transient world, surrounded by flying objects and missing pieces. The clip features nostalgic animations, body doubles for social distancing purposes, and an homage to Massey's background as a ballet dancer. Read more about the song from Massey below: "As we were finishing up writing the album my parents got into a serious car accident and I came back home to help take care of them. A couple of weeks later COVID-19 started getting worse in the US, and quarantine began. Life felt completely surreal, everything had drastically changed and at such a rapid pace. It was especially strange because everyone was experiencing the same thing at the same time, but couldn’t be physically with each other to support each other. I felt like I couldn’t process any emotions I had about the whole ordeal because I had to keep it together to take care of my family. It became easier to stay numb, and create a facade that I was doing ok, than it was to release any type of healthy emotion for a long time. Luckily I did allow myself to have a full on breakdown induced by a stubbed toe and confusion over taxes, sometimes it’s the littlest things that finally get you."

Soap Detox met a party, and somehow their friendship sustained during the lengthy hangover that followed. A frisky Swedish three-piece with a lust for melody and good times, their raucous garage-pop is already making waves in their homeland. A full EP is incoming, with Soap Detox trailing this with their irresistible new single 'Give Me Gore'. A three minute fuzz pop wonder, it's a clanking, cheeky, subversive statement from a group who thrive on such things. The video features their shorn-headed lead singer in full form, accompanied by her band mates. Directed by Evelyn Del Carmen and Ebba Sylvan, you can check it out above. [via Clash]

It’s been a decade since we’ve heard from multi-hyphenate musician and producer The Angel, who last made a splash as a musician in 2009 with her single 'Ultra Light,' which featured the singer/producer Jhelisa on vocals. Focusing more on her career in film/TV composition and music production in recent years, she’s planning to return to recording her own music later this year with a new LP entitled Xtra Sensory Goodness. Now we’re getting the first taste of this project, which is yet another collaboration with the vocalist Jhelisa. “Jhelisa and I have become close friends over the years,” she explains. “There’s a lot of sisterly love and mutual respect between us, so Jhelisa already understood the mournful weight of the track before I asked to feature her. I’m always grateful that she’s willing to experiment with me because it’s not something she does lightly. Jhelisa beautifully channels the essence of whatever emotion needs to come through in the most evocative and visceral way.”  The song arrives beautifully packaged with an entrancing video directed by none other than Mark Pellington (along with co-directors Sergio Pinheiro and Sweeten), known for his concert docs for Pearl Jam, INXS, and The Flaming Lips, as well as an extensive music-videography including iconic visuals for Public Enemy, Nine Inch Nails, and plenty more artists. “I wanted the song to sound like a memory, like you’ve entered someone else’s dream space,” The Angel continues, noting how the video perfectly syncs to the song’s mood. “The emotion is contained, very internal, so I juxtaposed a vocal vulnerability against a driving, incessant rhythm, where you can feel the underlying tension at the same time as experiencing the gentle plea, ‘Where’s my shelter…?’” [via Flood]

A few weeks ago, Ciara gave birth to her son Win. Last night, she shared a video that she evidently recorded while she was very, very pregnant. Ciara’s new song 'Rooted' is a statement of Black pride, a clear statement of solidarity with the protest movement that’s swept across America and the rest of the world these past few months. It’s a hard, kinetic track with vocals from the songwriter Esther Dean. But the song, at least right now, feels more like a vehicle for the video. Like a lot of Ciara videos, the 'Rooted'” clip is built around bodies dancing. In this one, though, one of those bodies belongs to Ciara, who dances with her belly exposed and who looks like she’s about to give birth any second. To watch someone dance this hard while that pregnant is an actual marvel, a near-superhuman feat. The 'Rooted' video is full of Black iconography, and it features the faces of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. All throughout, Ciara presents an image of motherly strength. Annie Bercy directs. [via Stereogum]

Hazel English releases the new video for her single ‘Five And Dime’ taken from her debut album Wake UP! which is out now on Marathon Artists. ‘Five and Dime’ is a woozy, idyllic view into Hazel’s world, which is built on timeless-sounding melodies, retro-tinged soundscapes and a knack for resonant lyrics. The mid-tempo number is reminiscent of the playful love songs of ’60s pop, as Hazel frustratedly muses on a love interest who is consuming her thoughts and detracting from her focus, “Gotta get away cause you’re taking up all of my time / You know I need my space so I’m heading to the Five and Dime.” Speaking about the new video, Hazel says: “'Five and Dime' is about longing for escape and freedom so I thought it would be fun to create an idyllic beach vacation, constructed from a set with cardboard cut out waves and fake palm trees. The idea behind it is that while I'm fantasizing about escaping to a tropical place, it's clear I'm just kind of stuck in this pretend version of it. I wanted to evoke the nostalgia of Hollywood musicals from the '50s and '60s, complete with dance choreography and bright colourful costumes.”

Katy Perry has released her second video for 'Smile,' featuring the pop star playing a video game version of herself as she battles giant spiders, circus trapeze acts and more while dressed as a clown. Much of the video is in CGI, with a live-action Perry playing the video game in her house (while also dressed as a clown). [via Rolling Stone]

Global superstar, Miley Cyrus has unveiled 'Midnight Sky,' a track that showcases a new direction for the always evolving artist.  The song, which was inspired by the past year of her life, is accompanied by a video that Miley self-directed.  In creating the song and video, Miley drew from strong female musical icons, like Stevie Nicks, Joan Jett, and Debbie Harry, who have always been so generous, and have been her greatest allies and inspiration.  The video showcases Miley as her true self: unapologetic, diverse, sexy, confident, experimental, and strong. The video takes viewers through Miley’s creative vision which displays her complete control of the narrative often told through the mouths of the media. Miley is at peace with who she is and has nothing to prove. As a musician she continues to push boundaries and experiment with her sound and look. Miley has proven to be many things, but boring is not one of them.

Chelsea Collins is nonconformist pop singer with a vision. For the captivating new 'Water Run Dry,' a collaboration with rapper, singer and fellow Bay Area-native 24kGoldn, Collins's infectious pop melodies glide over a hypnotic beat. Relatable lyrics about a faltering relationship reveal a depth of experience for the 21-year-old, with a wistful chorus lamenting, "there's no good in goodbye." The Roxana Baldovin-directed visuals for the track are an eyeful — Collins and 24kGoldn play house in an oversized, colorful California dollhouse, interspersed with images of a little girl playing with literal Barbies. The message? "I wanted this song and video to execute the world that's inside of my head — somewhat similar to a weird vintage rom com where at first the drama of love is so toxic, passionate and thrilling but eventually my lover and I have a happy ending," Collins tells NYLON. "Unfortunately reality isn't as fun and it kinda feels like some cranky dude is controlling your path, who's lowkey salty whenever something feels too amazing," she continues. "My intuition will tell me to run, but I'm notorious for acting like a Stepford wife, trying to recreate my past feelings yet they're all super robotic. Maybe one day I'll get lucky and love won't have to be so bittersweet, but until then I'll learn to smile even when things blow up in my face." [via NYLON]

Kali Uchis shared the visuals for her latest single 'Aquí Yo Mando' on Monday. Featuring a verse in Spanglish by Rico Nasty, the single is Kali's first release since her TO FEEL ALIVE EP from earlier this year. The Phillipa Price-directed clip finds the pair on a weapons-filled rampage, dropping bodies in underground parking lots and filming each other along the way. With co-production by reggaeton hitmaker Tainy, the booming track sees Uchis assertively laying some ground rules over trappy 808s. "Haces todo lo que diga (You do everything that I say)," she raps. “Si estás conmigo solo mando yo (If you’re with me, only I call the shots).” [via The FADER]

#videos of the week #jorja smith #slow pulp #soap detox #the angel #jhelisa #ciara #hazel english #katy perry #miley cyrus #chelsea collins #kali uchis #rico nasty

[thewritingstar]

I would ask you 1-100 but that's a huge request and doubt you'll do it, UNLESS🤔🙃

UNLESS....

1. Name- Deanna or as everyone knows me, Star

2. Nationality- American

3. Age- 19

4. Birthday- April 5th

5. Zodiac sign (or your primal zodiac sign)- Aries

6. Gender- Female 

7. Sexuality- Bi/Pan (im fine with either)

8. Your looks (add a picture or describe yourself)- Dark brown hair, greenish eyes and body of a 12 year old boy

9. What do you/did you study?- Animation

10. What’s your current job like?/What job would you like to have?- I work in an ice cream shop just as a job but i wanna be an animator or writer for shows

-

11. Your birth order- Youngest of 2

12. How many siblings do you have?- One

13. Do you have good relations with your family?- for the most part

14. How many friends do you have?- I would say I have about 8 close friends and then just a ton of other friends

15. Your relationship status- single but accepting applications 

16. What do you look for in a SO?- usually a pulse and good hair 

17. Do you have a crush?- kinda but also no

18. When did you have your first kiss?- haven't yet :(

19. Do you prefer serious and meaningful relationships or casual dating/one night stands?- prob meaningful

20. What are your deal breakers?- smoking and drugs and how they treat others

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21. How was your day?- well i just woke up so i guess good. 

22. Favourite food & drink- Raspberry iced tea/Vanilla Lattes and Chowmein or burgers

23. What position do you sleep in?- either on my side or stomach. Im usually curled up in a ball so prime cuddle position...just saying 

24. What was your last dream about?- I think it was about cake..

25. Your fears- bugs and the overwhelming thought of me being a failure

26. Your dreams- being someone where others can be inspired by 

27. Your goals- to live a life with no regrets (i know typical right?) but also have a successful career. 

28. Any pets?- 2 doggos 

29. What are your hobbies?- drawing, painting, writing, video games, reading 

30. Any cool places in your area?- kinda but you gotta drive to them so not really 

31. What was your last awkward situation?- me stuttering over my words at work

32. What is your last regret?- idk 

33. Language/s you can speak- English and barely any French 

34. Do you believe in astrological stuff? (Zodiac, tarot, etc.)- hell yeah

35. Have any quirks?- i can make a guinea pig noise and can stand on my head for a while. 

36. Your pet peeves- having my neck being touched and mouth breathing

37. Ideal vacation- Any disney park

38. Any scars?- only mentally 

39. What does your last text message say? “Shes being a big girl and taking 5 classes.” 

40. Last 5 things from your search history- im to lazy to check but prob youtube or fics

41. What’s your [device] background?- Phone background is a painting from a museum and my computer is a bunch of Nintendo items

42. What do you daydream about?- being a voice actor or a pirate 

43. Describe your dream home- one that looks like a castle

44. What’s your religion/Your thought about religion- I was raised Catholic but i really dont practice it anymore. I think it its a beautiful thing and alot of good comes from it, however i dont like it when it is used to harm others or defend evil people

45. Your personality type- So i took a test based on the 16 different ones and I am an Advocate type which apparetnly is very rare and less than one percent of the pop are it. https://www.16personalities.com/ heres the link if you wanna take it!

46. The most dangerous thing you’ve done- I used to suck on batteries as a child

47. Are you happy with your current life?- for the most part 

48. Some things you’ve tried in your life- Snorkeling in Hawaii (which i almost died), Crystal Cave tour and donuts which i hate

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49. What does your wardrobe consist of?- hoodies and graphic tees 

50. Favourite colour to wear?- black

51. How would you describe your style?- comfortable and sometimes i look good 

52. Are you happy with your current looks?- ye

53. If you could change/add something to your appearance - impossible or not - what would it be?- I want blue hair one day 

54. Any tattoos or piercings?- have my ears and now my nose pierced but i do want tattoos in the future

55. Do you get complimented often?- usually for my hair and i find it happens often 

56. Favourite aesthetic?- Gothic and pastel 

57. A popular trend that you dislike- crop tops 

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58. Songs you’re currently obsessed with?- “Good Night Moon” by Go Radio

59. Song you normally wouldn’t admit you like.- My Little Pony and Sofia the First songs slap

60. Favourite genre?- pop punk or pop 

61. Favourite artist/band/genre? -Panic!, Taylor Swift

62. Hated popular songs/artists?- I wouldn’t say hate but im not really a fan of Billie Ellish, maybe i need to sit down and really listen but its just not my jam. I think shes a cool person and i love watching her on tv and what she stands for. By i hate Drake and Chris Brown for sure. 

63. Put your music on shuffle and list first 5- Head above Water, Happy when im sad, Love bug, Casual affair, I believe. So Avril Lavigne, Jonas Brothers and Panic!

64. Can you sing or play any instruments?- Im not the worst singer but im also not fantastic and i can’t play

65. Do you like karaoke?- sometimes

66. Own any albums?- like cds then yes

67. Do you listen to radio? What stations?- not anymore

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68. Favourite movie/series?- Any disney or pixar 

69. Favourite genre of movies/books/etc- YA like adventure books 

70. Your fictional crush/es- oh here we go. Juvia and Gray (Fairytail), Catwoman, Danny Phantom, Captain Hook and Regina Mills and Henry (Ouat), Steve (stranger things), Riddler (gotham) and Molly Hooper (Sherlock) and prob more. 

71. Which fictional character is you?- prob a mixture of Momo and Deku from My Hero and Honey from Ouran 

72. Are you a shipper? List your otps, if so. Am I a shipper? ha. aight Gruvia, Nalu, Gajevy, Jerza, Kiribaku, Kacchacko, Todomomo, tododeku, LadyNoir and the love square, Captain Swan, Outlaw Queen, The powerpuff girls and the rowdyruff boys (respected partners) and like five thousand others

73. Favourite greek god?- Hades and Persephone 

74. A legend from where you live that you like- literally nothing from where i live

75. Do you like art? What’s your favourite work or artist?- love art and i cant just pick one

76. Can you share your other social media?- i mean you can follow me on twitter at StarsnShortcake but all thats there is my shitty tweets and interactions with my friends and Voice actors lol

77. Favourite youtubers?- Mikes Mic, Macdoesit, Twamiz, Larri, Dan Howell, Amazing Phil, Jenna Marbles, Shane Dawson, Steph Inc, Garret Watts, and like a ton more

78. Favourite platform?- Tumblr or twitter

79. How much time do you spend on the internet?- too much

80. What video games have you played? Which one’s your favourite?- I love anything Nintendo

81. Your favourite books (manga also counts)- Kingdom Keepers, Suicide Notes and the Selection Series to name a few

82. Do you play board/card games?- Yes

83. Have you ever been to a night marathon in cinema?- nope

84. Favourite holiday- thanksgiving for the food

85. Are you into dramas?- ye

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86. Would you use death note, if you had one?- haha ye

87. What changes would you make in the world, no matter how impossible, if you had the power to?- no racism, sexism, homophobia and legal marriage everywhere. Also that no one goes hungry and everyone has a nice place to live.

88. Could you survive a zombie apocalypse?- probably 

89. If you had to be turned into a paranormal being, what would it be?- a hot demon

90. What would you want to happen to you after your death?- I turn into a goddess

91. If you had to change your name, what would be your pick?- ooo Celeste is a cool name 

92. Who would you switch your life with for a week?- hmmm Tara Strong 

93. Pick an emoji to be your tattoo- either the stars or the black heart or the fireworks

94. Write 3 things about yourself - only one of them must be true- Ive never eaten a chicken nugget, I can do the splits and I have cat

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95. Cold or hot?- hot

96. Be a hero or be a villain?- oooooo um im a sucker for villains

97. Sing everything you want to say or rhyme?- Rhyme

98. Shapeshifting or controlling time?- Shape shifting, i could be a plant

99. Be immortal or be immune to everything aside from natural death?- bold of you to assume i would wanna live forever

100. ….. or …..?- :0

--

HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS ANON CAUSE IT TOOK FOREVER. 

[doomedandstoned]

Oakland Doomy Bluesers Phantom Hound Roar ‘Cross The ‘Mountain Pass’

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

By Billy Goate

Album Art by Molly Stetson & Heather Hughes

I live not far from the railroad and there's something very comforting about hearing a train roll in. It's appropriate that the might and roar of that metallic convoy be responsible for opening the new record from PHANTOM HOUND.

We met them some years back, when the Oakland doom and power blues trio dropped, 'Phantom Hound' (2016), their debut EP. Now Jake Navarra (guitar, vox), Stephen Rogers (bass guitar), and Jack Stiles (drums) are back with a full-length: 'Mountain Pass' (2020). The new spin showcases a sound that's genuinely enticing, much like Guns 'n' Roses' Appetite For Destruction was when I first heard it at age 12 (the first cassette I had to buy clandestinely from my parents).

The riffmaking, from leads to solos, is strong with Mountain Pass, driving each track forward like a mighty engine, from the rush of an opener "The Northern Face" to the grinding blueser "Thunder I Am," the chugging pistons of "Irons In The Fire," and the Matt Pike-like filigrees of "The Southern Face."

Jake's powerful pipes fall somewhere in between Chris Cornell's soaring medium range, the raspy grit of Finnish vocalist Olli Suurmunne (Kaiser, Altar of Betelgeuze), and the commanding force of Australia's Chris Fisher (Field, Lamassu).

You ain't gonna bring me down You ain't gonna bleed me out You ain't gonna kill me now You ain't gonna snuff me out

In fact, if you liked Kaiser's '1st Sound' (2018), this would make a very nice companion.

A pleasant acoustic interlude, "Grace of an Angel" gives us a rest stop from the treacherous uphill journey, leading to the album's expansive namesake track and a very overcast second-half. "Devil Blues" is quite effective in conjuring the rough terrain of the California mountains and the sense of aloneness one feels when traveling deep into the wild.

Steady return into the dark Dealing again my hand the card A whisper, a spark, and a flame Has bitten me again Killing me again the same

We've now travelled from "The Northern Face" to meet "The Southern Face," the Mountain Pass closer. It's a doomy one for sure, though the intrepid tempo gives the sense of determination that this journey will be finished.

"Overall this record is about survival and living for every moment," the band told Doomed & Stoned. "A gritty reflection on what is required to actually live your life rather than be a slave to it."

And now, Doomed & Stoned is pleased to bring you the premiere of Mountain Pass by Phantom Hound, ahead of its wide release on Saturday, March 28th (pre-order here).

Give ear...

Mountain Pass by Phantom Hound

Track By Track: A Listener's Guide to Mountain Pass

We asked the guys to give us a walk-through of each number on Phantom Hound's new album. We got more than we expected and are delighted to share this in-depth breakdown with you from frontman Jake Navarra.

The Northern Face

This song started off early writing sessions for the record as a new riff when I bought a new Jazzmaster not long after that Rob Zombie show. The riff was written hours before my first audition in two years as something aggressive and impressive to take to them. The guys I jammed with didn't get the vision and we didn't click in general so I put it in my back pocket. I brought it home and kept working on it though. My love of all things Alice in Chains carved this track out to serve as our "Them Bones" This main riff would later serve me again on a second song "The Southern Face" I used the main riff from "The Northern Face" as a bridge riff after the second chorus outro in "The Southern Face" but since the song is in B-Standard on the Baritone guitar its nearly unnoticeable. The songs became the beginning and the end of the record pretty early on. Lyrically the song serves as a cry of raw life. The idea being that, we are born into this world and its a fight to stay here. Climbing the northern face is a metaphor for the listener to be the train that has set off to see its railroad completed. (Drop D)

Thunder I Am

I grew up watching old westerns with my grandpa and my old man. There's nobody that doesn't relate to Clint Eastwood's characters and this songs a direct tip of the hat to the attitude portrayed in nearly all of his films. Thunder I Am is essentially that sense of justice that will always rain down. The song wrote itself when I first plugged this guitar into my Orange. Heavily inspired by Down and Soudgarden. (B Standard)

Irons in the Fire

This song directly reflects a love for Down & Pantera. Lyrically a direct reflection on how hard our members work on a daily basis and what it takes to make a band happen these days with all the different DIY elements band members have to juggle. We can never loose faith in ourselves or let the idea of a dream die out. We simply have to stoke the fire and keep it burning at all times. We put some southern style groove at the end of this song to pay homage to some dime style breakdown riffing. (B Standard)

You Don't Know Death

This song was written during The Ether era. How it survived is beyond me. It's tough, fast, and sharp as a dagger so maybe that helped. Lyrically a reflection on the overwhelming amount of death worship. I don't feel like a lot of bands really know what they're talking about sometimes but I was also much younger when I wrote it and far more angsty. I was craving diversity from metal at the time. I simply want life to be valued at its core. Perhaps the opposite of how it sounds I guess. (Drop C Standard)

Grace of an Angel

Throughout 2018 my step mother battled liver cirrhosis. She turned 67 on Dec 11th and passed away two days after Christmas on Dec 27th. She was in my life for 20 of my 30 years and was nothing short of an angel. She brought children into this world for over 30 years in the medical industry working as an RN for Kaiser Permanente. She never drank, smoked, or swore. She retired around the age of 64 and almost instantly got sick. She did her part for a transplant but was denied a liver through the waiting list. It was the single most painful experience of my life as I was there through the end holding her hand and looking after my old man as we all watched helplessly on the wayside. During her pain and suffering she never lost her integrity and showed more strength in her final hours than I think anybody could truly understand. People leave this world in many different ways but she did it as gracefully as only an angel could. I wrote this only weeks before the end. Steve is playing a Fender Rhodes and Jack added some light drums on it. I did more takes of this than any other track on the record. (Drop C)

Mountain Pass

This song started off during the years I walked away from music as the only thing I would play on my only instrument which was the acoustic that I kept. Occasionally I thought of a record that could capture the sound I always wanted to make combining heavy influences and trying to really make a grand opus. Something long and stoneresque calling on some Matt Pike meets Jerry Cantrell riffage. As the years went by and the idea for this record started to form it really honestly felt like we were struggling at every turn to see this record through. Life changes, career changes, the economy, the price of living, the music industry. Its been a struggle for many. This song is an anthem to all of the blue collar workers and dream of the builders putting one foot in front of the other to see their journey through. We have to set examples sometimes or nothing will change. (Drop C)

Devil Blues

This song is tip of the hat to The Blues. When I started playing guitar again I decided to play with a fire and make sure above all else that we were having fun in this band and having fun at our shows. Life is incredibly short and that's all there is to it. This song is about giving into The Blues and letting that feeling live inside you and remind you to stay out late, spend the extra money, go look at the stars, and jump into the ocean. (B Standard)

The Southern Face

The journey ends here. We've fought, we've struggled, we've survived the perilous journey of life and you're all the stronger and wiser for it. a reminder that you did it with your own two hands, your wit, and that not everybody made it. It's not a perfect story and it didn't work out well for everybody. We took losses and we made gains. And when you're done its time to reflect and count your blessings. This song is a steep descent into a smooth arrival back at the destination you set out to reach. This song wraps up the story entirely and leaves a sneak peak for what's to come. You can hear Steve's wizardry as his psychedelia morphs into a trance-like sense of closure and clarity until the train drops you off and carries on. (B Standard)

Wrong Turns & Second Chances: Interview with Phantom Hound

Every band has an origin story. Sometimes if you dig a little beyond the surface and get to know the musicians behind the music, their stories become surprisingly relatable. As Doomed & Stoned is all about both the music and the stories of the heavy underground, we were curious to know more about a lesser known band with a huge sound and grand ideas called Phantom Hound. We got the scoop from frontman Jake Navarra.

The Beginning

We formed in 2013 under the name Hound. Keith Hernandez (bass and engineer) and Dominic Torres (drums) did The Ether EP with me but not long after we recorded and started mixing I got into a motorcycle accident at the end of 2014 and decided to walk away from music altogether. I had been playing music for 10 years at this point and in part of the collapse of my previous band Cast Iron Crow and the continued struggle to keep a band going in general felt that my time as a musician was done. I fucked up my right shoulder and tore my ACL in the crash, had to get reconstructive surgery on my knee, and learn how to use my left leg all over again during recovery.

Because of this and the inability to play any instrument at all I sold off all of my gear except for my acoustic guitar in order to help pay my bills and for nearly two years never looked back. It was in summer of 2016 that I found myself with some free tickets for Rob Zombie. I took my older brother out to see him as we grew up listening to White Zombie and Rob Zombie from all the old Twisted Metal video games growing up. There was a brief moment when John 5 came out on stage at the beginning of House of 1000 Corpses.

The stage went dark and a spotlight came down upon him and he had this glow in the dark Telecaster with the TV screen in between the pickups while an old horror movie was playing on it and had the whole arena at his attention with that ominous riff. My brother elbowed me and said "You're telling me you don't wanna do that anymore? That doesn't look fun to you?" a light bulb went off that night and I called Kieth Hernandez a few days later to dust off The Ether mixes and we spent the fall dialing it in and finishing what we started. I ended up getting introduced to Oz Fritz who's worked with Les Claypool in the past and has some ties in the East Bay Area. I released it digitally that Christmas as a present to close friends and family.

The Rebirth

At the start of 2017, I wanted to really get back into playing again and struggled for some time to secure a lineup. I had two line ups of close friends help me get the ball rolling and things were off to a slow start for a while as we only had the EP material which was written on a Fender Jazzmaster. In the early months of 2017 I acquired a guitar that changed everything. The Hagstrom Viking Baritone. As soon as I plugged this guitar into my amp "Thunder I Am" was the first thing that came back out of it. "Devil Blues" was second and "The Southern Face" was the third. These three songs became the basis for what would become Mountain Pass and for a year-and-a-half my renewed interest in guitar and the blues pumped new life into the band. We played two shows this year and survived only by a slow pulse.

Paths Converge

It wasn't until I met Jack Stiles (drums) in March of 2018 through craigslist and that things got serious. He was the first person in 5 years that was as motivated as myself about the project and we set out to overhaul the band immediately. Jack (44) is a business owner of 10+ years, married, and a father of two little ones with more energy than most people my age (30). Jack has been a drummer for less than 5 years and a bass player of 20+. From sheer motivation he's answered the call and taken every challenge I've thrown his way. Jack strictly plays Ludwig classics and has shaped his playing around the hooks and rhythms these songs call for. A general love for all things music he's been one of the single most important musicians to ever share the stage with.

Through Jack we met Steve Rogers (bass) a few months later in June of 2018. Steve is a guy as casual as they come. (43) 100% Irish. Here's a guy who backpacked the John Muir trail in 8 days and shrugs his shoulders over his accomplishment when you bring it up. An established sound engineer with Dolby in San Francisco he's one of the friendliest people I've ever met. At the time he was pretty upset with his previous audition with some other band because they told him he didn't have the right image. Their loss, our gain. Steve's unwavering dedication to his bass tone filled a huge gap in our sound and with his Ampeg SVT and Music Man offers a brutal low end I didn't realize these songs couldn't benefit so much from. During the recording sessions Jack and I marveled at his ability to convey how these songs should expand with our engineer Chris Hughes. His sense of temp and atmosphere is responsible for all of the psychedelia and the keys hidden in 'Mountain Pass" and "Grace of an Angel."

Phantom Hound, Jake Navarra, and Mountain Pass

In late summer of 2018, the three of us went straight to work. At this time the name "Hound" had become convoluted and our music simply couldn't be found. After much deliberation and research we expanded the name to Phantom Hound. Symbolically this further represented the folklore surrounding the concept of why I chose "Hound" in the first place. Everything from Hell Hounds of the south capturing elements of The Blues, Black Shuck 's and Phantom Hounds of the UK and America to the mighty Cerberus going all the way back to Greek mythology. The Phantom Hound is essentially a guide/gatekeeper between worlds of the living and the spiritual underworld. We felt this helped us fully mature into our sound as were a bit of a mutt ourselves in the sense that we don't particularly fit in anywhere but get by everywhere so far.

As the main guitar player, vocalist, and songwriter it is my primary goal to try and compose records with expansive styles highlighting what the guitar can offer a listener. My own personal inspiration comes a lot from the classic rock I grew up on as a kid like so many, Seattle grunge, Mississippi and Chicago Blues, NOLA sludge, Italian and East Coast Jazz, Californian desert and stoner rock, and even the eclectic resurgence of all things metal in the local Oakland scene.

After rebuilding throughout the summer of 2018 on what had now become the 4th lineup of the band and the 1st lineup of Phantom Hound we came back up for air renewed and rebranded. We spent the winter of 2018/2019 performing, writing, shaping, and designing our brand. Our love for westerns, camping, backpacking, and history brought us to the Theme of "Mountain Pass," which is a loose concept record comparing one's personal journey through adulthood and all of the challenges one faces during those years to construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. In its essence: A perilous journey inward and mission for oneself to see through to its completion.

Producing Mountain Pass

2019 was the biggest year for us by far. We went into the studio with my friend Chris Hughes in May. About 10 years earlier I met him through an old friend back in college down in southern California. During that moment in time I was discovering Sleep's Jerusalem and was so stoked on Sleep I gave it to this transplant from Denver who wanted to get his hands on anything heavy and stoner metal related. Life went on and I didn't see him again for 10 years. During that time he continued to date and eventually marry an old friend of mine from High School and pursue audio engineering up here in the Bay Area at Expressions.

Somewhere along his journey, Chris got connected with the boys in the South Bay in KOOK and they hired him to produce their first album "Kook" and again their follow up "Kook II". This time however and the reason I mention this part of the story is that KOOK is well acquainted with Billy Anderson who came down from Oregon as the executive producer on the follow up record. Chris was able to shadow Billy in these sessions and learn and assist with much of the engineering on this record.

So after not seeing Chris or my old friend Heather we bumped into each other at Bevmo here downtown in Oakland to buy some beer. We instantly caught up having one hell of a laugh that after all these years the chance encounter we had over Sleep led him to working alongside Billy Anderson himself. With Chris fresh off the sessions of Kook II and Phantom Hound locked and loaded with Mountain Pass, everything lined up right and we went into the studio together at Airship Laboratories in Richmond, California and recorded nearly everything but the vocals in the same room Metallica recorded S&M and had a blast combining all our knowledge together and reconnecting as friends.

Chris Hughes took our record to extraordinary levels and our songs gave him a solid platform to apply his newly acquired skill sets on. We continued to perform all throughout the year with as many bands around town as possible as we built our relationships and earned a place here in town. In September of 2019 through Chris Hughes we were introduced to Jeff Wilson from Kook, Heavy San Jose, and Glory or Death Records and got on the bill for his annual Beers in Hell event. This was single handedly the most important gig of the year for us last year as we got to play with tons of killer bands and open for Hippie Death Cult, Kook, Disastroid, Holy Grove, and High Tone Son of a Bitch (which included Billy Anderson on Bass that night). We then played again with Hippie Death Cult in Pacifica a few weeks later and hit it off as friends.

Mastering Mountain Pass

After mixing was completed and our shows for September were wrapped up, we took off into Nevada City to reconnect with Oz Fritz at Ancient Wave Studios. This place is located down a long dirt road deep in the woods of Gold Country. A perfect relaxing place to kick back and watch the record come to life. Oz Fritz worked with me on The Ether EP. He's worked on Primus's Antipop, several Tom Waits records, and Miles Davis to name a few. Oz is straight to the point and gets down to business quick. He was stoked on the variety of the songs he was working with and added a great layer of warmth that comes through the best on vinyl as we've heard with our test pressings. There is a photo attached of us at Ancient Wave with him working his magic. He was once asked by Tom Waits "This mix sounds great but...it needs more brown" and so he figured it out.

The Northern Face Music Video Shoot

In October, we took off to Soda Springs and rented a cabin during filming for the music video. As I mentioned above we filmed in a historical landmark. You can see us at the entrance of Tunnel #6. If you look Closely you can see the scars on the granite as if the black powder and dynamite just blew it up yesterday. The town behind me on the cliff is Truckee and the lake below is Donner Lake. It is my goal to bring our listeners into the outdoors and feel the dirt in their hands and the smell of the woods.

Tragedy nearly took place though as after we finished filming all day on Saturday and celebrating all night Saturday night. What we thought were minor electrical issues with the house itself turned out to be a near fatal one when an electrical short in the gas fireplace sparked around 3AM. The fireplace caught fire thus lighting the outside of the house and chimney on fire proceeding to fill the house with smoke while 9 of us were fast asleep.

At 3:30 AM the smoke alarms went off like a symphony and we scrambled to find the source only to quickly determine that the fireplace was the problem. Black smoke poured out everywhere from behind the fireplace and we used two fire extinguishers in an attempt to put out the flames. What we didn't know and couldn't see was that the fire crept up all the way through the chimney in between the interior and exterior of the chimney. And just like that, within 10 minutes we started evacuating the house and helping each other clear the place out of our belongings, instruments, film equipment, and vehicles. The Truckee Fire Department came out and went to work and kicked ass on the fire while we assisted with information on how the fire and extending the hoses until reinforcement arrived.

In the end we all got out ok and luckily nobody had to go to the hospital. We all got smoked out pretty bad and were pretty shaken up. It was the real deal 100%. That house was on its way to burning down the house. That's the story behind the home footage at the end. If you look closely the entire house is billowing with smoke. We were all fast asleep about 40 minutes before that was filmed.

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[stevecanmakeanythingnerdy]

Battle #12

The Vaselines : Sex With An X (Side A)

Vs.

Dead Boys: Young, Loud, and Snotty (Side II)

The Vaselines : Sex With An X (Side A)

The Vaselines are an alternative rock band from Glasgow, Scotland. Formed in Glasgow in 1986, the band was originally a duo between its songwriters Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee, later adding James Seenan and Eugene's brother Charlie Kelly on bass and drums respectively from the band Secession. The band released two short EPs, Son of a Gun, released in 1987, and Dying for It, released in 1988. The latter features two of the band’s most recognized songs, "Molly's Lips" and "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam," both of which 90’s grunge superstars Nirvana would later cover. Though they were not widely known outside Scotland during their short career, their association with Nirvana brought major exposure to the band. Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain once described Kelly and McKee as his "favorite songwriters in the whole world". With their songs "Son of a Gun" and "Molly's Lips" covered on Nirvana's album Incesticide and "Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam" covered on MTV Unplugged in New York, the band gained a new audience. I must admit, it’s totally how I heard of them. And thank goodness for that! Gems all of them! Kelly went on to found the band Captain America (later renamed Eugenius after legal threats from Marvel Comics), supporting Nirvana on their UK tour. RRW fans may remember them going quite far from a previous season of RRW. McKee founded the band Suckle and released her first solo album, Sunny Moon, in 2006. Shortly there after the band reformed on occasions and in 2010 they released this, their second full length studio album. “Ruined “ is the first track and it sounds amazing. More ballsy than the older stuff. Very produced and meaty by comparison. Drenched in melody and feedback. “Sex with an X” is the second and title track on the album. This is more like classic Vaselines. Light and jangling but still catchy like the clap (#seewhatididthere)! Following is the creepy, surf-like riffage that makes up the bulk of “The Devil’s Inside Me”. This has early Sub Pop written all over it. In fact, did Kelly find an old notebook or something?! It’s like they never broke up and we’re back in 1990. The Vaselines do such a good job of being both retro AND fresh...this is minimalist art! Beat Happenings anyone? (#seewhatididthere). “Such A Fool” is an example of another such artistic melody. Floating as if on sugar cube clouds, Frances takes lead vocals on this one. Pretty hooks and looks stunning on wax. “Turning it On” brings back the surf inspired leans into the curl and dreamboat Annies (#seewhatididthere). It’s a call and response song, and my response is brilliance. Morrissey would be proud. “Overweight but Over You” has more bounce to the ounce (#seewhatididthere). Fat man rock. An analogy to going under the knife. This is what makes them so good. Unique perspective and writing from unusual examples. Look, no matter how you slice it, this is their first output in nearly 20 years and it is sounding like they never quit. THAT is a talent all it’s own. Consistent and signature sound is everything in music and these guys have that formula down pat. They were one of the first two piece bands and with boy girl harmonies. Hipsters owe this band a LOT. PHENOMENAL.

Dead Boys: Young, Loud, and Snotty (Side II)

Dead Boys are an American punk rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. The band was among the first wave of punk bands, and had a reputation as one of the rowdiest and most violent punk groups of the era. Dead Boys were formed by vocalist Stiv Bators, lead guitarist Cheetah Chrome, rhythm guitarist Jimmy Zero, bassist Jeff Magnum, and drummer Johnny Blitz in 1976, splintering off of the band Rocket From The Tombs. They released two studio albums, Young Loud and Snotty and We Have Come for Your Children. Dead Boys were originally called Frankenstein, and as previously mentioned, they evolved out of the band Rocket From The Tombs . When the band members relocated to New York City in July 1976 at the encouragement of Joey Ramone, they adopted the Dead Boys moniker which came from the RFTT song "Down In Flames". The Dead Boys quickly gained notoriety for their outrageous live performances in the city that never sleeps. Lewd gestures and profanity were the norm. On more than one occasion, lead singer Stiv Bators slashed his stomach with his mic stand. These antics reportedly discouraged any mainstream rock following despite the relative breadth of their material beyond pure punk. Something tells me the Dead Boys didn’t give two shits about that. They frequently played at the rock club CBGB and in 1977 they released this debut album, Young, Loud and Snotty. Their song "Sonic Reducer" from it is often regarded as one of the classics of the punk genre, being covered by countless bands, some as diverse as Pearl Jam. Well, side two of this incendiary record starts off with “Caught With the Meat in Your Mouth”. That rock and roll riff, combined with Cheetah Chrome’s snot, form an animalistic ballistic statistic on this biscuit! Gimme some butter!! A great punch in the face to start. If you had any doubts if this was a punk rawk band, they are immediately shattered. “Hey, Little Girl” has a live-ish nitro. It’s about as laid back as these punx get. Another scorcher with those metallic guitar chords. “I Need Lunch” is next, and probably one of their more recognized tunes. Love that intro! Such poetic power trips here. It’s raw, uncensored, unapologetically sexist and NOT PC. In fact, it’s unadulterated filth and raunch, crawling straight out of an NYC gutter. This is what Dead Boys are known for. This captured well the short lived and self destructiveness of this band. “High Tension Wire” takes a little departure for the band. About as emo as they dare get in the times they lived in. Some good guitar work and a sad lamenting riff are all this song needs to draw you in. Nothing compares to

“Down In Flames”, though. If you listen to one Dead Boys still no in your life, make it this one. O. M. G!!! This song!! SOOOOOO GOOOOOOOD!! Again, the raw power is present and on full display. Guitar tones and fuzz on point! Brilliant screams and bleeds and leads. Even a mental breakdown right in the middle of the song, during the song! Amazing. The guttural throat scrapes are tops!! Look past the sexism and this band IS fucking rock. This is the classic album you always wish your band could write. 2017 re-issue On translucent green vinyl. Think Sex Pistols level greatness but not British, and more underground. The Stooges but on ALL of the drugs. In fact, I think you’ll get a contact high just from touching the record.

The Vaselines came back from the grave to have sex (with an X, apparently) and in doing so, wrote a slew of awesome new tunes. Wow. Re-reading that just now and it sounds pretty gross. Anyhow, They burned 143 calories over 21 minutes and 6 songs. That is 23.83 calories per song and 6.81 calories burned per minute. The Vaselines earned an impressive 15 out of 18 possible stars. The Dead Boys uprooted themselves from Ohio to New York City and became one of America’s most loved punk bands. They’re young, loud, and some of the snottiest punks you’re ever going to hear. Dead Boys burned 113 calories over 5 songs and 15 minutes. That is 22.60 calories burned per song and 7.53 calories burned per minute. The Dead Boys also managed to earn an even more impressive 13 out of 15 possible stars. Looks like those Dead Boys take the cake today!!

Dead Boys: “Down In Flames” (originally a Rocket From The Tombs song)

I just love that vintage footage exists...the audio is shit

https://youtu.be/Z3Cn4z4kYIA

Here is a better audio version

https://youtu.be/ueqTb0_jfMU

If you have half an hour to kill look up the amazing CBGB performance from 1977. It’s like having a time machine.

Oh hell here, I did it for you

https://youtu.be/QOHOM1hVM-M

#Randomrecordworkoutseasonsix

#Randomrecordworkout

#randomrecordworkout #records #vinyl #randomrecordworkoutseason5 #punk #dead boys #stiv bators #cheetah chrome #the vaselines #sub pop records #eugenius #80's music #80s music #80s #70s #70's music

[theghostpinesmusic]

Some Notes On Maps

I wrote about the history of the Triptych project, and the double-LP version of Maps that eventually came to be Ride and Maps in the notes for Ride, so if you're interested, you can check that out there so I'm not repeating the same thing in these notes. The important part here is that Maps is the third of the four new albums I conceptualized as a loose cycle, but it's also kind of a sister album to Ride. The reason I called what would have originally been a double-LP Maps was because I thought of all the songs on that album as maps themselves. I've always thought that stories (and, by extension, songs that tell stories) are maps, in a way. They not only present us with a sort of conceptual geography that tells us about the lives of the characters in the story, they also may even provide a fictional physical geography (Tolkien is a good example of an author who does this). Often, they are also maps that describe the author or songwriter's life, too: where they've come from, where they are, and maybe even where they're going. Road-tripping or traveling songs feel this way to me especially: there's a flavor to the experience of looking over a map to plan a trip and to the experience of hearing a new song for the first time that are, in some way, the same feeling for me. So, these songs are songs, but they are also meant to be maps. To, among other things maybe, me. This is why, against my better judgment, the album cover is a picture of me. It was a happy accident that in this particular photo (taken unexpectedly during a fantastic hiking day, that's a legit smile), I'm wearing my "If Lost, Return To Luigi's" shirt: a fortuitous reference to where I've come from ("Back To Ohio," anyone?) for the cover of an album that, ultimately, finds me wondering where I'm going next ("Maps," "...Still Following The Roads"). The songs here are a bit more acoustic in their arrangement than the ones on Ride, and though the albums are, conceptually, sisters, these don't aspire to the same level of sonic complexity as those. There isn't much as stripped-down as the Wilderness Amen songs here: most of the songs have multiple guitars, there is, occasionally, some piano, but you're not going to hear the kinds of long instrumental passages you hear in many of the songs on Ride and even Fire and Rain. That was intentional. If Ride is the "summer" album, a shimmery, outward-looking affair despite some heavy ruminations on life and love, Maps is the "fall" album that intends to live up to its title: this is the most autobiographical album I've ever written, and it felt immediately to me as if those songs needed to focus more on the words than on five minute guitar jams. So that's what they do. Some notes on individual songs: I went back and forth on opening the album with "Back To Ohio," and even on whether it should be included on the album at all. It's one of my oldest songs, and while I like the sentiment behind it, these days I tend to find the lyrics a little simplistic and the song itself a little flat. But, I'd recorded it for previous albums in 2005, 2007, and 2016, and never ultimately included it, and it felt like it was time. Plus, when you take the album as a whole, I think (I hope!) it works as a solid mission statement for the idea of songs as maps. You learn a lot about me (or at least how I think of myself) in this song, simple as it might be. Once in my twenties, I got so high at a party that I passed out and woke up the next morning in the front yard of a random house that I didn't remember at all. At that party was a girl named Molly, who I knew nothing about, but had decided in my own head was The Most Amazing Girl Who Had Ever Lived regardless. Once I finally made my way home the next afternoon, I sat down and wrote this song about the version of Molly that existed in my imagination (instead of the real Molly, who I'm sure was a great person but was not my ridiculously exaggerated Supergirl, obviously). Writing the song seemed better than continuing to project my own insecurities and problems onto a random girl I'd

briefly met once. And it was! "Note To Self" is literally a song I wrote as a note to myself, to remind me of lots of important things that I forget at least a few times every day. The chorus intentionally has a bit of a Tom Petty thing going on, which I like. "Dusty Roads" is another old, non-album song that finally gets its day here. Like "Back To Ohio," the lyrics are clearly written by a much younger me, but I love playing this song so much I wanted other people to be able to hear it, warts and all. "Dreams" is an autobiographical song inspired very directly by "Bob Dylan's Dream." I couldn't figure out what to call it for almost a year, and then Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" came into the news thanks to that skateboarding guy on TikTok (what even is culture anymore) and I got lazy. Jokes aside, this song makes me sad a lot and sometimes I just can't play it. "Ways To Fly (Part II)" (or, as I write it on setlists "Ways 2 Fly" because I'm clever) is intended as a sequel to "Ways To Fly," wherein the narrator has in fact found a way to fly after all. It's meant as a happy ending...but maybe an illusory one, because as Dr. John Osterman reminds us, nothing ever really ends. I recorded this song without any overdubs after being inspired by Wilco's song "Where Do I Begin," which has always sounded to me like it's just Jeff Tweedy and a single guitar, though I don't know that for sure. "English Girls" is an instrumental I wrote for a short film that didn't get made back in 2007. I've enjoyed playing it since, and it was fun to spruce it up a little for this album. Originally, "Maps" was the opening track on the album, which I guess make sense. In the end, I decided it was important to pair it immediately with "...Still Following The Roads," so it went to the back of the line, so to speak. It's one of my favorite songs, and there's a bit of a harkening back to "The Light" (from Asphalt Ghosts) in the chorus: the idea that "following the roads," while quite romantic-sounding, might be a short-term solution to a long-term problem. "...Still Following The Roads" is directly inspired by Howlin' Rain's "...Still Walking, Still Stone," the closing track on their album The Russian Wilds. I was listening to that album obsessively during the recording of Maps, and as "...Still Walking" serves as a sort of outro/coda/refrain to the previous song, "Walking Through Stone," I wanted to create an instrumental coda to "Maps" to wrap up the album as a whole.

#the ghost pines #maps #albums #writing #songwriting #music

[mrsrcbinscn]

Franny’s NPC Music Pals

Alternatively: McKala rudely writes a novel about Daniel Maitland and everyone else just gets bullet points.

.

Obvs she’s got a million but these are her main NPC music buddies that will be referenced in game.

 Daniel “Dan” Maitland (June 14, 1980)

FC: Martin Sensmeier 

Born in Alaska, moved to Payne Lake, Georgia when he and Franny were in middle school

Alaska Native, Tlingit and Koyukon Athabascan

 Beginning of his contact with Franny

Daniel has been Franny’s best friend since middle school. They were an inseparable trio with the late Molly Vaughn, who was Franny’s best friend since Kindergarten. The three of them got matching tattoos when they were twenty. It’s bluebonnets because of the song Cowboy Take Me Away

Daniel and Franny got a second matching tattoo the year Daniel was inducted into the Native American Music Awards Hall of Fame and they were both inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame -- it’s matching banjos on their wrists

  His dad always liked country music so he got into it a little as a kid, but mostly listened to rock in the early 90s, got real into grunge, but in late high school he rediscovered country and bluegrass music

He and Franny played in a rock band in their last two years of high school but they were both getting really into country and bluegrass together at this time so they’d get together and jam

 Acquiring a love for country/folk music

 Daniel has said in interviews that, “Unlike Franny, my music taste wasn’t very diverse until I was in  high school. I was a product of the 80s and 90s, you know, rock n roll, grunge, Franny and I were even part of a rock band with some classmates. I got a car and could drive us around. Franny usually commandeered the cassette player. She really opened my ears to influences outside of rock music.”

 On how a Nirvana fanboy grew up to study bluegrass music academically and become a bluegrass musician; “It was really our senior year of high school that I fell head over heels for country and bluegrass music. He isn’t always considered country, but I discovered the music of John Denver in the late nineties. After his death, Franny and I went to a record store and purchased one of his Best Of compilation albums because all we really knew [...] Country Roads, the obvious. We sat on my bedroom floor, I had my guitar, Franny had her thrift store mandolin, we played with that album and came up with harmonies until my sister bangs on my door at almost midnight to tell us to shut up. I found a cassette tape we recorded from that day actually, I still have it. We have a lot of recordings of our early- I don’t even want to call it work, we were just playing around. That night sent me down the rabbit hole.”

 He hasn’t just ditched rock music though, he’s a guitarist and backup singer in a female-fronted alt-rock band Venus and The Flytraps.

 He has a prolific career as a songwriter, a successful career as a solo artist, he and Franny Robinson form an americana-bluegrass duo called Dara & Danny, and he’s one of the members of a kind of “supergroup” of musicians living in Appalachia called Pardon My Banjo. Daniel used to play mandolin in a band called NDN Cowboys- a country-folk band made up of all Native Americans, but he left the band on friendly terms in 2010, the year after Dara & Danny was formed.

 Daniel went to East Tennessee State University to pursue a degree in Country, Bluegrass, and Old Time Music, the only place in the world to offer such a degree.

 Personal Life

 Daniel was born in Juneau, Alaska, to a Koyukon-Athabascan mother and a Tlingit and white father. His paternal grandfather is of English, Croatian, and Czech descent. Daniel maintains a home in his native Alaska, and in Kentucky, his primary residence. Shortly after his birth, he, his father, and his siblings moved to the Hoonah–Angoon Census Area where they lived in various communities with friends and relatives of his father, primarily Hoonah and Pelican, while his mother worked as a civil engineer in England and sent money home. He didn’t live with his mother until, in 1991, she got a job opportunity with the Georgia Department of Transportation, and the family relocated to the town of Payne Lake in Clayton County.

 “Payne Lake’s this little nowhere town sandwiched between Jonesboro and Lovejoy, in the rural part of Clayton County,” Maitland explained in an interview. “You’re driving south from Jonesboro, you blink and you passed through Bonanza and Payne Layne, then you’re in Lovejoy.”

 Daniel became a classmate of Franny Sor Robinson at Lovejoy Middle School and Lovejoy High School. “She’s been my best friend for 30 years,” Maitland said in a 2021 interview. “It’s been a gift to know her for long. We’ve been through marriages, kids, all of the good and bad in life together. It’s great to have somebody besides your family and partner to lean on and to knock some sense into you when you need it. Apart from my family, the only non-negotiable people in my life are Franny and, uh, Madalaine, my oldest kids’ mom. I’ve always just had a better time being one or two token guys in a friend group of mostly women.”

 In 2009, he and Robinson formed the duo Dara & Danny together after having regularly collaborated since the start of their music careers.

 Twice divorced, his divorces were the inspiration behind Dara & Danny’s “The Divorce Album”, a critically acclaimed and fan-beloved album about divorce and the lead up and aftermath. Daniel wrote most of the lyrics and Franny wrote the music to go with Dan’s lyrics, which was unusual because she usually writes most of the lyrics. In addition to his divorces, Daniel’s had several rocky serious relationships that have served as song inspiration.

 In 2003, Daniel married Madalaine Snow, daughter of English banjo-player John Mitchell and North Carolina Cherokee and Lumbee Native American activist, sociologist, poet, and musician Atsila Snow in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. They had two children together, son Larkin Maitland Snow (b. 2003), and daughter Kalia Maitland Snow (b. 2004). They divorced in 2006 but they’ve remained friends.

 Snow’s children and older step-children from her current relationship occasionally visit Kentucky with Maitland’s children. “They’re my kids’ siblings. They’re welcome in my home anytime for a trip to the mountains with or without my kids.” Maitland has said in an Instagram live with Kalia, where he was teaching other dads how to do their daughters’ hair. “Her brother -- okay, for the sake of clarity I’m going to say just once stepbrother and stepsister, but those aren’t words we really use in our family. Her brother and sister literally call me like ‘hey, Dan, can my friends and I come crash at your place some weekend this month? We want to go hiking and white water rafting somewhere different’ and I’m like ‘great, any vegans or food allergies I need to know about for dinner?’ If you are my kids’ family, you are my family too. I stay at Maddy and Eric’s house when I have a show within an hour and a half drive to hangout with them and Larkin and Kalia. Eric and I have gone on fishing weekends together. We’re very fortunate that our divorce was a very mutual, natural conclusion to that part of our relationship, and that we’ve gotten to maintain a wonderful friendship. I feel like our marriage ending made my family grow, not shrink. And I hope all of Larkin and Kalia’s siblings through Maddy and Eric feel welcome in my family. Like a weird bonus uncle.”

 Larkin and Kalia mainly lived in Swain County, North Carolina, with their mother and attended New Kituwah Academy, a private Cherokee-language-immersion K-6 school. In 2019, Kalia moved to Cumberland, Kentucky to live with Daniel so she could graduate from high school there and get Kentucky tuition at University of Kentucky.

 In 2006, Daniel began dating Canadian actress and Mohawk indigenous rights activist Gina Taylor, but they split in 2009. They have one daughter together, Ariadne Maitland (b. 2007). Daniel is on good terms with Gina, and Ariadne lives primarily in Kentucky with him. 

He briefly dated Oscar-nominated actress Amanda Dunham in 2009.

 He married Australian journalist Sasha Teller in 2010. They divorced in 2014 and had two children together, boy girl twins Jack and Maxie (b. 2011). In 2018, he sued her for primary custody, citing Teller withholding his right to see the twins. He won primary physical and joint legal custody of Jack and Maxie, and was court-ordered to have the twins spend Christmas and three weeks in the summer with Sasha in Australia.

 In 2019, his son Larkin came out as pansexual and two-spirit. Dan retweeted their tweets that clarified their pronouns are “he/xe/they” and that “I don’t dislike the terms nephew, son, grandson, but do not call me a man.” He has been supportive of his son’s identity, appearing at North Carolina and Kentucky pride events with them, his daughter, and their mother.

 In February 2016, Daniel began dating American artist, poet, writer, and singer-songwriter Whitney Sullivan (born April 8, 1991). Her mother is from the Zuni tribe and she grew up on the Zuni reservation with her siblings, mother, and her father, whose ancestry comes from the Lummi, Ute, and Omaha tribes, and one Irish great-grandfather, hence the last name. 

 On her friend’s current girlfriend, Franny Sor Robinson has said, “If Daniel don’t marry her, I might have to.”

............

Serghei Adamescu (November 24, 1982)

FC: Andrei Tiberiu Maria

Romanian-born sound engineer that Franny regularly words with

Met when he was studying at Pride U when she was getting her Masters’ there and they #vibed

He’s a dope guy

Not much to say about him other than he’s damn good at his job

 Lora Lopez (November 1, 1978)

FC: Sandra Hinojosa

Mexican-American singer and songwriter she went to NYU with

Franny’s collaborated with with and written songs for her

She stared in one of her music videos as the love interest and they got to makeout half-naked which Franny described as “fun as hell”

Lora makes music in English and Spanish

Padraig Chen (May 10, 1987)

FC: Lewis Tan

Irish-Chinese alt-rock singer and musician

Met through her Scottish Seoul Hanoi’d bandmate Max Cho 

They’ve written together a few times

Mostly just jam and vibe together

He sends her a lot of his demos for her opinion

#&&...hc

[bringinbackpod]

Interview with GRIFF

We had the pleasure of interviewing GRIFF over Zoom video! 

At the pivotal moment before the release of her first full EP, Sarah Faith Griffiths – GRIFF to friends and fans – had an epiphany. GRIFF’s music has an elemental feeling all of its own. You can trace the genesis of her blistering, sparse, emotional songs, condensed on first bow into perfect, three-minute pop moments to her deeply individual aesthetic. Though reminiscent of a more user-friendly FKA Twigs or even back to the ground-breaking sounds captured by Nelly Furtado and Timbaland, the robust, singular five tracks have reminded GRIFF of one key detail to her work. “I’m running the show here,” she says, with an infectious laugh. “Am I even allowed to say that?”

Why shouldn’t she? GRIFF is a one-woman production, song-writing and performing powerhouse, set to unleash her full future-pop powers and own 2020. On the one hand, GRIFF is your textbook good girl next door. She’s just out of school, an 18-year-old straight A student from just outside Watford. On quite the other, on account of the mastery she’s shown so far in taking complete control of her career, there is a touch of the young unicorn about her.

When the realisation hits that this is all your own handiwork, it hits hard. For GRIFF it came as she sat down to talk about the treatment for the video for Didn’t Break It Enough, the captivating electronic slow-jam which cuts straight to the core of semi-masochistic young heartbreak. Because she was used to exerting complete control of her music (“I didn’t realise how rare it was for women to produce their own stuff, until people started telling me”), why couldn’t she do it with the styling too? For GRIFF, a beautiful, striking young woman with Chinese/Jamaican heritage and the most fabulous, signature, outsized bubble pony-tail, the visuals count just as much as the music.

“I said to everyone, it’s one outfit, do we really need a stylist?” she recalls. “It’s going to cost us how much? I may as well just go to Dover Street Market and buy myself a dress with the money.” GRIFF’s big fashion awakening were the romantic dresses of Molly Goddard “Before Villenelle,” she notes. “But I always just find designers inspiring. I’m used to making clothes out of nothing. My favourite shopping is thrift.” In the event, she didn’t even need to shop for herself, taking to her sewing machine and creating a whole look in one week. “I thought I’d buy some stuff in case everyone at the label thought what we’d made was a bit shit. I brought it all out and everyone loved it.”

We shouldn’t be surprised that a young woman, left to her unfiltered imagination can write and produce material of the mesmerising quality of Paradise, Say It Again or the two tracks which have already debuted to deep public approval, Mirror Talk and Didn’t Break It Enough. After all, Kate Bush was 16 when she wrote The Man With The Child In His Eyes, Lorde 17 when she hit global number ones with Royals. That she has taken the reigns of the visual representation of herself is just a pleasing addition to the freshness of GRIFF’s mission statements.

If it feels like there is something of a happy accident to the nascent musical life of GRIFF, that’s because there is. “It just seems to have found me,” she says of her astonishing early promise. Griff was born the third of three in the “super white, super middle-class, super suburban” garden town of Kings Langley. “London was always teasing you in the distance,” she says of growing up. The first album she loved and bought was Taylor Swift’s Fearless, which she dutifully learned to play, back to front. “There was such a simplicity to the melodies and chords, you could do it very young.” Would she still be able to do it now? “Every. Single. Word.”

Looking back, there was something more to the appeal of Taylor than her basic boy/girl, in and out of love stories that appealed to the little GRIFF. “I had the most horrendous growth spurt in primary school, I was HUGE. I looked different from everybody else anyway. I think I must’ve looked at life for a blond-haired, blue eyed girl with a ponytail and thought it looked so easy.”

It didn’t take long for GRIFF to begin embracing her difference, in music and in life. A rotating cast-list of foster children passed through the Griffiths household, where she still lives, probably fifteen in total. “It teaches you something about selfless love,” she says of having so many foster siblings. “The first is and always was going to be the hardest to say goodbye to when they went to be adopted.” She was eight years old. “And I was the only girl, and the youngest. You learn not to be the focus of attention, really quickly.”

There is something in the music of GRIFF that speaks of a wisdom far beyond her years. Though Mirror Talk addresses her generation’s anxious relationship with self-perception, set against a spinetingling spider’s web of beats, she is pleasingly devoid of neuroses. “That doesn’t mean I haven’t been around them, though,” she says. GRIFF could not wait to get out of school. “Teenage girls can be hard to be around all the time,” she says, “I found my place but eventually, by the time it came to leave, that was just me and my best friend, who is now at St Martins.”

Being mixed race left her, she says “kind of not feeling like anything. I’m used to being around white girls but I’m so obviously not. I am a bit of a white girl but I never will 100% be because I look so different and I am so different. The Chinese family would come around and I’m obviouslay so westernised and removed from that. Then the black side comes round and I’m not really in touch with that, either. You’re always in this weird limbo.”

All these esoteric emotional states would be parlayed directly into the quizzical nature of her music, married to a natural ear for a pop hook. GRIFF’s production and song-writing skills were honed at home, utilising her brother’s computer software and the family piano after school. “It came naturally,” she says. “But writing music, actually, is kind of a ridiculous thing. Every day you’re expected to reinvent eight notes and marry them to a new concept.”

She found her well was deep for conjuring new worlds in song and soon attracted the attention of a family friend who began encouraging to her seek contacts in the industry. Her only worry, on signing a deal just prior to heading into the big bad world from school was that something so beloved, such a safe space for her, would now be swallowed by the machine. “My biggest fear was that music was a hobby before and it was so exciting to do, especially when school was awful. It was such a relief to go home and write. My fear was that it suddenly wouldn’t be a hobby anymore. Would the ideas still be there.”

As her debut EP merrily attests, there is so much more to come from GRIFF. “When you are doing it, you realise how much there is to say about the world and to say about yourself,” she notes. “I feel so much bigger when I am on stage.” With creation comes new ambitions. “I don’t want to be an artist who’s around for five minutes and people forget about,” she says. “I want my music to be remembered in ten, fifteen years to come.” GRIFF is making music to be played forever.

We want to hear from you! Please email [email protected].

www.BringinitBackwards.com

#podcast #interview #bringinbackpod  #foryou #foryoupage #stayhome #togetherathome #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetwork

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[unkindnessofone]

5SOS. Rooms You’re Tall In

It’s up! This was a much tougher one to write. I thought I knew where it would go, I had so many notes, but here we are. I would love to hear some feedback. Sending this one out as a thank you to the darling @gotsbadblood. They are always encouraging and supportive. I appreciate it. Also if you love Taylor Swift, it’s a blog worth checking out. 

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They had been there before together multiple times, but this felt different than following their parents around for their respective vocations and seeing Parisian life from the safety and comfort of their parent's laps. He was travelling the world as an actual musician, making money for his songs and hearing people that weren't from his neighborhood being impacted from feelings and words that had been produced by his fingers and mind. Then there was her, studying in the city to become a chef, being screamed at in a language she hardly understood while prepping plates for some of the most appetizing food she had ever seen. She wasn't Luke Hemmings daughter when she had her culinary whites on. He was still trying to shake off the shadow of his dad as it danced behind him every time he stepped on stage. 

Taking her bohemian dreams to a different level than she had been able to back home in Sydney, Penelope skipped steps on her way out of the subway pit as found herself in a more touristy part of town. She held the crochet strap of her usual purse over her chest as the bottom of her elephant pants, coloured teal, mustard yellow, and a rich purple, dragged delicately over the dirty street. Her eyes were tired, the bags beneath them almost matching the colour of her lightweight pants, but she had taken today as her first day off of work since moving to France. She couldn't spend the Saturday sleeping in and losing out on time with her best friend. Penelope walked straight into the hotel lobby as if she belonged there like any other guest and headed to the stairwell. Connor had texted her his room number and it would have been easier to take the elevator, br she had been surviving off butter, sugar, and jam. Besides, walking up the stairs felt exciting since her doctor and parents had banned almost every other physical activity. 

"Hi, rock star." Grinning from ear to ear, Penelope mustered up some energy from the vitamin she took upon leaving her place as soon as Connor threw the door open, his hair as light as it had ever been and terribly curly. As if they had a mental countdown between them, they hurried to hug one another - laughing as they did. 

"God, I missed you." Hugging her tighter, shaking at her touch, Connor moaned into her ears that were poking him back with her gold conch shell studs his mother had made for her. "You smell like...thyme? Is that thyme?" Chuckling, he asked as she started to slip out of his arms. 

Penelope lifted up her arm and smelled her elbow before yanking on the collar of her plain white t shirt and sniffing it next. She was low on laundry. From living on her own, she was learning she hated to do laundry. 

"Honestly, I smell like a pantry now. It's just my life." She shrugged, smacking her arms against both her sides. "I brought you something." She raised his brows with peaked interest as she unzipped her purse and reached around into its contents, producing a small jar of mixed berry jam. On the tightly sealed gold label, she had stamped 'Penelope Hemmings Jam' with a small conch shell in black ink. 

"Thank you." Connor held it in one hand, admiring her self made label and leaning in to hug her again, using one arm this time.

"So you can taste home wherever you go." 

"I have something for you too." He held his hotel room door open wider for her, allowing her in as he stepped through to where his suitcase was resting open on the queen sized bed. 

Fidgeting with the fabric of her pants, Penelope looked around and the room and concentrated on nothing. It felt uncomfortable to be alone in his hotel room. Connor was her best friend and they had been countless hotel suites together, but last time they had seen one another they had kissed. She wasn't sure if that had stopped meaning anything or where they were at yet. Over texts neither of them had brought it up. 

Penelope leaned her shoulders against the wallpapered stripes and watched him. He looked stronger somehow which made little sense to her as they hadn't been apart very long and she followed his life closely online. Penelope chalked it up to her head. She was trying to learn French and cooking with a permanent concussion, maybe it was making a mess of the way she saw things even a guy she knew better than the instructions to the perfect pancakes. 

"Here you go." Standing up straight again, Connor offered her a closed yellow envelope with her nickname written across it in his forever clumsy penmanship. "Four tickets to the show tonight." 

"I can't believe I am going to see you live in an arena tonight." Grinning, Penelope took the envelope and then held her arms up above her head to shake them around with wiggling excitement. 

Laughing, Connor stepped in to hug her again, picking her up and twirling her around which invited high volume laughter from his favourite girl. He snuggled his face into her neck, breathing in her new scent, but when he went to part his lips slightly and leave a kiss behind he was surprised that she leaned her neck and head away. Connor took the cue and politely put her down on an end corner of the bed.

"So are you best friends with your idol now? Or one of them." Penelope teased while leaning back comfortably onto her flat hands. Everyone knew that as much as he was inspired by the opening act, Ashton Irwin was Connor's truest idol. 

"Paul is cool." Humbly, Connor informed her. "He's living up to my expectations, but he definitely is more quiet and distant than I thought he'd be, ya know? With how crazy he is on stage." 

"People are full of surprises." She mused even though more often than not, Penelope found herself guessing what was about to happen before it did and being correct. She was a good judge of character and she figured that came from meeting so many people at once constantly as a little girl on tour. One had to learn fast who was good and who was just pretending. 

"Like Molly." Connor mused with a wiggle of his brows, sending them under his mess of curls that were someone else's nightly problem now. 

"I can't even imagine your Dad's face." Penny shook her head, eyes shut with disbelief. A dedicated cheerleader of a father, Penny imagine her Uncle Ash still hadn't picked up his frown from the floor since finding out Molly had been arrested.  

"They were way more upset she was in a relationship and didn't tell them." Honestly, Connor had been bummed out that his sister didn't confide in him either. He laid down on his back on the bed next to Penelope, hanging his legs off the edge. 

"He's really hot." Pen mentioned casually. When the news filtered through the many group chats, Emmeline had taken it upon herself to send everyone pictures from the Internet of Molly's rugby beau, Flynn O'Malley. Connor stared at her blankly, absorbing her comment and trying not to expose how much he didn't care for it. It had always been him obsessing over girls and Penelope blowing off the advances of everyone. Connor wasn't sure he had actually ever heard Penny call someone that wasn't on TV hot before. He knew now that it didn't make him feel good.  

"I guess." Connor tried to laugh it off, staring at her blond hair from where he laid like it could tell him a thousand secrets. "I got to go to a radio interview and sound check in a little but. How's your French? Can you translate for me?" 

"I could, but I'm not going to." There was nothing about a life that mirrored her dad's that interested Penelope. She wanted to stray as far away from living beneath a microscope as she could. Sometimes she considered using one of her middle names or her maiden name in place of ' Hemmings' just so she was less traceable. Penelope knew how much that would hurt her father though. They had talked about it. "People would start rumours I was your girlfriend if I showed up at interviews and your show with you." Penny laughed awkwardly.

He wanted to ask her if that would be so bad, but Connor wasn't sure his singer-songwriter could take the answer, "Is that why you're bringing a bunch of friends tonight? You don't want anyone getting ideas?" He asked instead.

"I'm just proud and I want to show the people I'm close with here to see my best friend and all can do." She was staring down at him with her usual loving eyes, but the sun bleeding through his balcony window illuminated her to look like his own personal angel. 

"You're the best." His hand reached to cover hers over the bed as they both shared smiles from one another. "I've missed you." 

"I've missed you too." She had been so busy in her new life that e didn't occupy her thoughts constantly, but once a day when she was sitting on the train or learning a new French phrase, he popped into her mind and lingered. 

Connor wanted to pull her down. He wanted to wrap her up in his arms and moan how much he craved her over and over into her hair and neck. She was keeping her distance from him though and he knew he would pummel some guy who made her uncomfortable. Connor would never forgive himself if he was that guy. 

"You're coming to the party tonight after, right? I want you to meet some people. They hired a bassist for us and he's so dope. He's from South Africa and might be completely insane." 

"Can't wait." Penny joked. "I want you to meet my friends too." Along with her, she was bringing some of her petite Paris family that she had naturally put together. Alexandra, Cerise, and Jules. "They're excited to meet you as well. I've been playing your music for anyone who will listen." Her cheeks blushed a mauve tone which felt unnatural since very little made her nervous. "You should probably get ready, huh?" She knew he had a busy day ahead and was just fitting her in for a sliver of time this morning.

Like a child, he whined, "I don't want you to leave." It was the same way he felt when she was packing for France ages ago.

"You got to go be the Connor, the Rock God. I have no choice, I'm just a lowly culinary student." Penny fished her hand out from under his, beginning to slouch her way off of the bed entirely. She still had things to do on her day off as well. Nobody was trying to interview her, but she had research for school and she planned to cut her own hair in the bathroom before going to his concert. Plus she had to go to the open market to pick up more ingredients for homemade jam and salsa. Canning had become a fun past time to do in her tiny kitchen with friends. It was a love second to surfing. Nothing would ever replace a board and waves for Penelope Hemmings, but staying up in her kitchen until 4 in the morning in her pajamas with good music playing and fruit in a pan could tide her over. 

"There is nothing lowly about you." He said with great conviction, his eyes screaming his opinion as a promise to her as he took her hand again. "You're the amazing Penelope Hemmings." 

After wishing Connor luck, Penelope let herself out of his suite. His lips had tainted her as she said goodbye with their knees knocking. Penelope felt like there were too many things to consider. She was falling in love with her new life and her independence. He was on tour and had always taken up with other girls. She imagined he was meeting so many different bodies now that his career was on it's launching pad. Of course, there was also the new people in her life to think about as well. 

As she squeezed between two doormen squabbling in French, Penelope reached into her purse and pulled out a bent thin paperback to read on the subway along with her cell phone in its Australian flag phone case. She had missed two texts from her friend, Cerise. The first one in French and second translated to English. The two girls had paired up on the first day of class and became fast friends over their mutual disdain for the know-it-all guy who sat two stations ahead of them. 

"I will see you there." Excitedly, Penelope texted back and tossed her phone back into her purse before heading to her subway stop. Somehow, Cerise had managed to score a brunch reservation at Cafe Lola and it was on Penny's long list of places to eat it mostly because of their lemon curd that was apparently the perfect balance of tart and sweet. Penelope was starving anyway. Today was going to be perfect. 

As soon as she pulled the black glass door open to the busy spot, Penny was greeted by cutlery clanking against plates and chatter so frequent that it was just static around her. It reminded her of being in the restaurant kitchen just without the heat and pressure. Penelope loved when she was in the middle of chaos which was strange given how little interest she had in drama. It was just that when she was surrounded by noise and movement she felt closer to the feeling of surfing.  She was tranquility in something made without control. It was thrilling.

Her eyes scanned around the room for the vibrant red pixie cut she sat beside every week day in class. Instead, she spotted Jules sitting by himself with a cup of coffee and a kindle in front of him. He was waving at her up high by the time she linked her eyes to him. His smile sent her waking by the hostess stand and through waiting groups of patron.

"Salut, Penelope." He stood up and greeted her with a hug, one hand resting on her back. She loved the way he said her name in Picardy influenced accent. It always sounded like he meant to say 'antelope'. 

Penelope kissed around the stubble on his cheek before taking a seat right beside him, the spot across from her vacant for their third. 

After exchanging pleasant how are you's en Francais and flagging down a server to order a lemonade for Penny, the Australian-American reached into her purse and retrieved the paperback that she had tucked back in after reading it on the subway. Jules turned off his kindle and moved it to the side, leaning in to give the beautiful girl his full attention. 

"I like this one better than The Three Musketeers." She told him, flipping through a couple dry pages of Gaston Leroux's 'Le Fantôme de l'Opéra.' with Penelope being the type desperate for adventures, Jules had assumed she would love The Three Musketeers, but she had texted him somewhere around chapter two giving it five thumbs down emojis. Penny found the page that she had drawn neon orange highlighter marks on with his permission. It was his clever way of helping her with her French. He gave her books to read and asked her to keep track of the words she didn't know. She had gone from requiring him to read her whole pages while she cooked him dinner in her suite to just needing help with a few words every couple pages or so. Penny dragged her nibbled finger nail to the word and tried to read it before noticing Jules was rubbing at his right knee. 

"Are you alright?" Even though she could say it French, she said so in her native tongue to better express her concern. Jules would have detected it in the way she leaned in and dropped what she was doing.

"I love that I can still get you with that." Chuckling, Jules tapped at his prosthetic leg and watched Penny relax with a sigh and fix him her meanest mug that was cuter than it was cruel. 

They met at the tapas restaurant they both worked at. Jules played piano with the jazz band and met Penny while rushing through the kitchen late for a gig. He had snatched a piece of baguette she was using for a bruschetta platter and found his chin at the tip of her sharp blade until he put it back down onto the surface. It wasn't until she was mixed up with directions on how to get home that they found themselves talking and getting to know one another better. He fit in with her friends from school because he was relaxed and the girls were wild. He had quickly become a very close friend. One of the only people she actually liked talking to about her surfing accident.  

"You're a gomer." Her Aussie accent shone as she rolled her eyes at him and leaned back into her book, turning it around to show him the words she was struggling with. She often looked them up on her own, but it was nice to be with a local that she trusted and have him show her better pronunciation and how to use the word. 

"Did you have a nice visit with your friend?" Very interested, Jules asked while leaning in and looking at the book he lent her. She was at the part where Christine and Raoul were hiding from the Angel of Music in the roof of the opera house, vowing to protect one another and love each other for eternity. 

"Yeah, it was quick. He has press and stuff." Penny shrugged. "But it was really nice to see him. He gave me the tickets for tonight. Thanks again for coming." She liked spending time with Jules and, like her, he had a true appreciation for live music. It wasn't just about screaming and having drinks for him which Penny liked because she detested both. 

"This word, bagarre," With a clean fingertip he poked under the word she had highlighted. "It would be like...how do you say?" Jules bit down on his bottom pink lip,  a small scar in the middle that she had noticed as soon as they met. "It's like a duel, but less formal. A brawl!" As he was talking, he figured it out. "Raoul would step outside of himself and brawl with them phantom in order to look after Christine if he needed to." Jules didn't even realize that he had begun to use his hands in front of him to explain the story. 

"That's what I thought." The rest of the sentence only made sense that way, but it was still helpful to hear her friend say the word aloud. "Bagarre." Penny repeated and celebrated mentally when he shot her a thumbs up, a gesture he liked because it seemed American. 

"C'est bon! Oui." Celebrating with her proudly, Jules reached over and squeezed her arm right before her lemonade was set down in front of them. Penny would have watched his hand over her if the server hadn't shown up. She peeled her eyes off of his hands that were strong and worn out from a lifetime of playing music so she could order a tray of pastries for the table. She hadn't forgotten how badly she wanted to try their lemon curd. Penny nodded her head into her shoulder and watched as Jules watched her, the arrival of her French friend who reminded her so much of Emmeline interrupting their sweet, but nervous silence. 

"I'm here and I'm hungry." Kissing Jules cheek first, Cerise exclaimed as fast as she could in French before rushing over to greet Penny with a kiss as well. While Cerise put herself together in her spot, stripping off her pink jean jacket and talking about her morning, Penelope watched Jules listen. His side profile was what had caught her gaze and daydreams in the first place. She was confused. He was very much her first real crush from the excitement that tickled her stomach when he texted her to the nerves that took over her mind when he waved 'bonjour' when he saw her at work, but then there was Connor. He had lusted after her for so long, written songs about her, and they kissed before she left in front of so many people. Did she talk to Connor about a long distance relationship or did she keep dreamed about the French jazz musician with eyes that she swore had flecks of 24 karat gold in them. 

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Penelope hadn't been wrong about her day. It started with a tight squeeze from Connor Irwin, followed by pastries that lived up their rave reviews, a little time sitting on a bench in Rene Binet garden with Jules, both of them reading their respective books while wishing they brought sweaters. Autumn was fast approaching. She went home in a dream-like state, having a little cheese and jam while cutting her split ends in front of her perpetually foggy bathroom mirror. 

She wasn't used to the confusion that seemed to swirl in her brain like creamer freshly poured into morning coffee. She felt like a moron the way her mind was drifting between imagining a hectic life that mirrored her parents with Connor Irwin and an easy melody with Jules where they could cook, dance, and create together. Penelope used to roll her eyes when her friends would stress about boys, but she was reading her textbook with her French to English dictionary on her bed and wondering what Connor's mouth between her knees would feel like it if the way Jules said her name would feel as good as it sounded. 

She was thankful when Alexandra texted her that she was on her way so they could get ready for the concert together. The two girls who worked in the male dominated kitchen could gab together about other topics. Alexandra dreamed of running her own catering business in the South of France, only working for the most elite events, and her dreams helped Penelope figure out where she wanted to take her new skills. So far, Penelope Hemmings just really liked making jams and salsa. It wasn't exactly a launchpad for a real career. 

Once in her favorite sweater, a blue and white check pattern that her Grandma Christie from her mother's side sent her, and slipped into a very worn out pair of black jeans, Penelope was ready to spend the night with both boys who were holding the logical side of her brain captive. She rested her butt on the edge of her claw foot bath tub and braided her friends hair, breathing in the third cigarette Alexandra had lit in the last fifteen minutes. 

"I listened to your friend's music the whole way here." The older girl spoke after her drawn out inhale, her thick almost black hair being massaged by Penny's nimble fingers. "I don't know him, but does he write about you? I felt like his songs, some of them, they were about you." Alexandra had obviously figured out that the tune 'Penny and Me' was all about her new beach loving friend.

"I think so." Forever modest, Penelope explained. They didn't have a deep enough friendship yet for her to be forthcoming. They usually just talked food and work. "We grew up together, you know? Our dads are best friends, they were in the same band. I don't think I had a day without Connor until I was, like, four." It was a slight exaggeration, but they did spend more days together than apart for most of their early years. It wasn't until they grew into preteens that they started to choose to run in the same circle. 

"It sounds like he loves you." Alexandra let the cigarette smoke curl upward as she glanced behind her to inform Penny. She wanted to see her reaction even if it was lackluster. "Do you love him?" She inquired as soon as she turned her head again.

"I didn't think we were going to talk about guys..." Nervously, Penny chuckled back. "Weren't you going to give me a recipe for some kind of bore entree?" Penelope was obsessed and wanted to soak in all the different techniques and meals she could. 

"I will." She rolled her eyes. They worked together, there was time to teach the blond how to make a bore lasagna. "Do you love him or do you still have, what do you call them, giggly eyes for the drummer?" Alexandra had been working with Jules since she was hired over a year ago. He didn't ever register in her world though until she investigated who the guy walking Penny home every night was even on the evenings he didn't work. Girls had to stick together and look out for one another, she figured. 

"Googly eyes!" Loudly laughing with her head back and her blond hair falling to the dimples above her butt, Penelope taught her. She supposed that giggly eyes still described her as well. "I don't know, Alex. I wish I did. I've never been in this situation before." 

"Wait!" Letting her second braid come completely undone as she yanked it from Penelope's hand, Alex looked up with an enlarged stare and almost blew smoke right into Penelope's almost nude face. "You're a virgin?!" It was a real plot twist for Alex. She just assumed that the daughter of an Australian rock star with legs as long as pi in its entirety would have banged out a boyfriend and a few wild strangers in-between. 

"No more. I'm not talking about this." Penelope drew her line in the sand. She readjusted her almost straight hips on the bath tubs edge and took to her friends hair again. The girl who was once known for how laid back and chill she was (like ice cubes in a finished glass of iced tea) was flustered and embarrassed. She felt like every time she entered a different room in Paris she was finding a different part of herself. It was the biggest adventure of all and she was not impressed with it.

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She was blaming it on her busy mind, but Penelope felt lost in the crowd during Connor's act at the Paul Shimnowski Band concert. She had no idea how many concerts that she had attended in her entire life, all of them she had loved, but this one she wanted to sit out. She had arrived so excited with her hair falling Cher style down her back and her phone ready to take a hundred pictures a second. Instead, she felt the headaches that she suffered randomly since her accident come on the moment she was a part of the large crowd in the concession areas. She followed Alexandra and Cerise, staying next to Jules as they squeezed through to find their floor seats. Maybe, it was because all of Connor's shows she had attended up until this point had been small venues, local ones that she had seen other decent and not-so-good bands in. This was a stadium. This was the kind of show she grew up watching her Dad put on, but of course, more folksy. The smell of weed lead the vibe of the entire show. She usually danced freely at Connor's shows. She was his biggest fan and former number one merch girl after all. She would raise her tanned arms above her space buns and turn her body in every direction she could without colliding with anyone, but not tonight. Tonight, she hugged her chest and watched her friend with a tight lipped smile. The kind that silently shouted, 'I am not okay'.

Connor looked every bit like his father with his mom's chin and jawbone. Somehow he managed to hone his mother's poise and grace while still embodying his father's goofiness and charm. It made it hard to pull your attention away from him when he was practically making out with the microphone and his hands were massaging the instrument he was playing, seducing the crowd by gyrating to his own songs. It could not be denied, as far as Penelope could see, Connor belonged to the stage. He always said he was born to play music for the world and she hadn't ever doubted him. Now she knew that nobody would be able to. The crowd around her was reasonably new to Connor. He had been relatively unknown outside of Sydney until Paul Shimnowski took him on tour, but she could hear over 5,000 other voices singing along to the song, 'Slipping Away', a ballad he wrote about her, about being with someone else and wishing he was with her, a song that Penelope had heard over a hundred times, but she couldn't remember any of the lyrics. Her head knew the words, her mouth was well acquainted with them, but her brain refused to connect them to her memory. It even struck her as a surprise when he whispered her name into the microphone, singing out loud how he felt clearly, 'Penelope she sleeps so soundly, somewhere in her bathing suit...'. She had heard the line before, even recalling the first time he played the song for her in his parent's backyard while she scratched at one of his big dog's ears, but the words were lost in the fog her head produced.

To her left, looking for sanctuary, Penny looked over at Jules by her side. He was standing still, just watching Connor with a contented look blanketed by a blue glow coming from the stage they were near to. She moved her attention down to the military green chinos he was wearing. She could see at the bottom of one pant leg the fabric outlined his metal prosthetic. He had opted to wear it over his one that better resembled a limb for reasons she knew not to be her business. The sight of his prosthetic, though covered, was a source of comfort to Penny and she leaned into him, knocking her arm against his and gaining his attention for herself.

“You're the Penelope, right?” Jules asked right in her ear, still saying her name how he knew it to be pronounced and not how Connor had just sung it. He had found her to be a small recurring theme in Connor Irwin's songs especially the sappier ones.

“Indeed.” She brought both palms to her chin as if to frame her face for him before laughing gently. “Connor invited me to an after party. Do you want to come?” She knew Alexandra couldn't because she worked in the morning and Cerise was all, but seething that she couldn't because she had obligations with her own boyfriend and his very religious family that attended church every Sunday.

“I'm going back to the restaurant.” Jules explained with a half-frown. Music was his life, just like it was Connor's, and even though he would gladly take any night off for a concert or if Penelope needed him to, he loved going to see his friends play and always wanted to find an opportunity to jump in and jam. He knew he wouldn't make it to the place they both worked at until nearly 11 pm, but he also knew that his seat behind the kit would always be warm and welcoming to him.

“I didn't know.” Penny shrugged. She didn't know which event she wanted to be at more, Connor's after party or her work where Jules would be playing with the rest of the jazz group. She felt obligated to Connor's since she had agreed to be there that morning.

“You'll be okay?”

“Oh yeah, I'll be fine. I just thought it would be fun for you to come too.” She knew it would be. He was a simple calmness that her life was missing. He chased adventures and liked new experiences as much as she did, but Jules was older by a year and needed time to lay in bed and relax. He forced Penelope to just slow down sometimes.

** * ** * ******

Still hugging her chest, Penny waited backstage against a cold white brick wall that she had once leaned against before as a three year old, waiting with a stomach ache for her Aunt Grace to take her back to the hotel for a medicine and a long nap. The way her Uncle Michael told the story was that she ate too much stinky French cheese and threw up everywhere, but the truth was just simply that she had a terrible stomach ache and both her parents were working their respective on-the-road jobs.

Penelope waited behind hoards of people. Some speaking French, but most gabbing back and forth in slang English. She wasn't invisible, eyes looked her up and down, but no one engaged with her, so she kept to herself. In her purse, she still had her copy of The Phantom of the Opera if she really needed it. From over top of a small balding man and very angry looking woman, she spotted Connor's sweat slicked forehead. Penny stepped forward in a lunge movement and waved. He was in the middle of being spoken to by two people at once, but as soon as Connor spotted her, he dove between his new manager and a label executive to talk to her.

“You were out of this world!” With delight and honesty, she squealed, throwing her arms around his neck as he twirled her around.

“You're here.” He moaned against her cheek with a smile that almost broke free from the confines of his face. “You're stunning!” Connor was never light on compliments around his favorite Hemmings, but since they kissed, he felt better about always saying how he felt and right now he felt that she was the most beautiful girl he had seen all day. “Where are your friends?” He looked around, certain that he had given Penelope more than enough passes to come see him backstage without any hassle.

“They all have cooler lives than me.” She excused, as if going to an after party for a concert wasn't anything to write home about. “You're stuck with just me.”

“I'll take you.” Connor threw his arm around Penny and started to walk her closer to the people he now shared his life with. “What did you think of the show?” Her opinion was the only one that truly mattered to him.

“I think you look like a young Ashton Irwin. It was so bizarre.” Penelope tapped both her cheeks with her open palms as she looked up at Connor. “Like, I'm not sure if you're my Uncle or not.”

“Don't be sick.” He playfully shoved her away just to pull her back with the same arm he draped around her like a useless scarf. “Did you like some of the new stuff? I'm just constantly trying out new material. Paul thinks it's the best way to figure out new music, play it live in front of as many people as you can and gage the reaction.”

“It was cool. You're getting kind of Dylan-ish.” Well acquainted in the world of music even though she didn't feel like she had much artistic talent herself, Penny critiqued him. “But like both his eras, you know? Folk and electric. I dig it.”

“Awesome.” Connor tightened his arm around her, bringing her in closer for a hug. He led her into his dressing room where his two best music buddies from back home were packing up their instruments. “I'm just going to get changed. You cool to hang with the guys?” He asked, but Penelope had already escaped his grip and was sitting on a coffee table next to a bowl of pretzels, talking to the guys she knew from spending all her free time at the Wax 'n' Wake by the beach back in Sydney. Connor watched as she easily made herself fit into any room effortlessly. He wondered if his new schedule would change how he felt for her, but his feelings were strong as ever. She was still the image that waltzed through his mind when he was working on new music or the voice he wished he could hear after a particularly challenging day.

** ** ** ************************************************

Outside, where the air was crispy through a hollow wind that was announcing October was just days away, Penelope was dressed perfectly in her cozy sweater and jeans. Inside of the club, she was cooking like one of her first attempts at baklava. It turns out hotter doesn't always make something cook faster. Penny excused herself from the booth that Connor and his ban were occupying, squeezing her way past two very drunk and very French girls to make it to the stairs. She didn't realize that Connor was following behind her until she almost slapped his face off by whipping the smoking door open and shut. 

"Are you okay?" Once outside, relief from the heat and noise greeted Penny. She moved away from the group of smokers huddled by the door and stood out in the open, admiring the street lamp between limp orange leaves in the trees. "I didn't know you were behind me." 

"It's okay. I didn't need my nose anyway." Wiggling it theatrically at her, Connor teased. "Are you doing okay?" He never quite knew where she stood on parties and clubs. She was a teetotaller which changed her experience from other people throwing back shots and sipping on mixed drinks. Even before her accident, Penelope didn't have any desire to drink. Still, Connor remembered Penelope as a staple at almost every beach bonfire or high school party he went to. She was always there with her usual cooler than the rest smile and the straps of her bathing suit top poking out of a neckline.  

"Yeah, I just couldn't breathe." Fresh air had become a requirement in Penelope's recovery. She spent her first few lunch hours at school walking outside around the building, breathing in the air, and she liked to keep a window of her bachelor suite open at all times. It helped her keep her mind clear or, at least, she felt like it did. "You seem really in your element. I can tell you're happy." It was nice to not have to check. With her brothers and Emmeline, she had to check, but Connor's joy stretched through him. It practically screamed into a room. 

"I'm even happier that you're here." Connor moved in close just as Penny was lifting up her arms to tie back all her hair, allowing a cool breeze onto her neck and her small chest to press against his. He had no complaints about the movement. "I wish I had more time here. You could show me around or I could see your apartment." He tightened his hands together behind her back, right where her dimples were. "We don't have a day off til Lyon and I'm assuming you wouldn't skip school on Tuesday to hang out there with me." 

She was shaking her head before he even finished speaking, "As much as I plan to go there, no way." If she missed a day of school, she missed an entire lesson. Culinary school was fast and Penelope wasn't as whip smart as she used to be. She really had to focus now where she could slack off before. "No." She finished the same sentiment. Somehow, and she wasn't quite sure how, Penelope's hands had left her hair and were both laying flat against his chest which made him flex out of insecurity. 

"I understand." He nuzzled his head closer to hers, making their conversation private from even the prying ears of the breeze around. "We will just have to take advantage of tonight then." It was only half past eleven anyway. Connor kissed her forehead and then her cheek. It felt safe and comforting. Penelope felt drawn in, but stepped back anyway. 

"Do you want to just go and hang out in my hotel room?" Connor asked and tried to follow her eyes that she was now hiding from him. It wasn't the first time someone had asked Penny back up to their room, but it was the first time she was tempted to agree.  

"Connor -" She sighed out his name with frustration. It confused him even though she meant to direct it at herself. Penny had a hand on her forehead and her heart in her throat. "Con, I don't know what to do." He was her best friend and she didn't want to start keeping secrets from him now. 

"We don't have to go to the hotel. I didn't mean that in a pressure filled way." Right away, he hurried to defend himself. "We could just, like, catch up or watch TV." 

"No, I'm not upset about that." She assured, her hand still massaging sat her temple. "I like you. There's a part of me lately that would love to go back to your hotel room." Enlarging Connor's pupils she surprised him. He instantly cleared his throat and fidgeted his arms at the sound that she had thought about being with him. "There's a part of me that thinks nobody could ever see me the way you do, but..."

"But?" He was stunned she could follow both those reveals with a 'but' and his voice showed it. 

Penelope stared at him, her hands finally both at her side, as she tried to read her own racing thoughts. They were four steps apart from one another and Penelope swore she could hear his nerves beating beneath the thin material of his black shirt, "I like someone else too." Like it was a sin, she admitted it, flicking the words out from behind her teeth at his frozen face with the tip of her tongue. 

It was obvious he was disappointed as his head instantly fell and a few of his lazily tamed tangles of hair fell free. Penelope figured other girls might apologize in this situation, but she didn't. She made a point not to just apologize unless she was sorry and she was not sorry for how she felt for either Connor or Jules. It was nearly autumn, the wind was cold, but she was slowly burning in the parking lot with Connor almost on fire just steps away from her. Their silence was aching and she could hear it's melody like someone slamming on out of tune piano keys. 

"It's that guy in your photos?" It took Connor a minute, but eventually he figured it out. He followed Penny's photo page online closely and the only two photos he hadn't liked was one of her in her white coat at work sitting with Jules in the walk in freezer of the restaurant and the other was just of Jules eating her jam with a large spatula on her balcony. Every other picture, he laughed and admired before giving it a heart tap. 

Penelope only nodded in response. She wanted to be truthful, not hurt him. 

"The guy with one leg?" It was obvious to Connor that the picture of them in the freezer, Jules in shorts, that he had a prosthetic limb.

"Yeah. His name is Jules." She didn't know if Connor would want that detail, but it came out of her anyway. 

"You brought him to the show?!" For a second, Connor felt stung, but he puffed out his chest as he told himself that he had put on a great set. "Wait, he's the drummer at your restaurant." It was coming together quickly now that Connor had the perimeter of the puzzle pieced. He remembered in one of their earlier phone conversations that Penny had mentioned she made friends with a musician, a drummer at the place she was working at, and he was going to show her around Paris. Connor had felt jealous initially, but when she never brought him up again he figured that it was nothing. "He's a musician." He didn't like that for some reason. Maybe it was because he didn't want to have anything in common with her crush or it was because he felt threatened. Connor was on tour and this guy worked with Penny night after night. 

"I've never known you to be into somebody." And he had known Her forever even when went through a phase where she wore a lollipop body mist that made her smell like sugar cane. Connor was flabbergasted. "I really thought tonight was going to go different. Honestly, I thought we would just pick up where we left off." Connor really did imagine Penelope's hand in his and the two of them kissing backstage, their young blood rushing around as she finally let herself be with him. 

"You want to be together while you're flying around the world?" It was Penelope's time to be surprised though she supposed she shouldn't be because Connor was always fanciful and believed in fairy tales. They were different that way. 

"Yeah. Why is that so bizarre?" She had a crooked smile on and her head was posed to the side, asking him to be real. 

"It would never work." Penny had gone over the situation in her head plenty of times. She was in school and couldn't visit him whenever and he was on tour and couldn't stop by Paris whenever he felt like it. They could never be there for one another. Right now they were too restricted. Plus, she didn't know Connor to resist the attention and affection of girls who were fans of his music. 

"And it's different with Jewel - ?" 

"Jules." She corrected before he could continue. 

"He plays music too. What is it just because he wasn't good enough to tour?" 

"Okay, easy, you're not David Bowie." Penny pointed out with her face holding a frown. She really didn't want to upset Connor, she just didn't want to lead him on either. "And Jules is really talented. There's a lot of talented undiscovered people, you know that!" It wasn't that long ago that he had been recording music in his bathroom and wishing someone would give it half a listen. "I really like both of you." She didn't even know if Jules had any feelings for her, she just knew thinking about him made her feel like there was a ticking time bomb inside of her. 

"He has one leg!" Connor laughed as he raised his voice.

"So?" She couldn't believe he was bringing that up so she made sure to narrow her eyes into him and step closer, letting him know just how crazy she thought he was being. "You have dirty blond hair." She said to try and show him how moot his point had been. 

"Well, come on, Pen, what's so special about him? I've never known you to be into someone." 

"He gets it."

"It? Gets what?" Connor squinted to better follow her. "I get you."

"He gets what it's like to have your whole world change from an accident." Sighing, Penelope told him with some embarrassment. She hated having to admit that things were different for her now. 

"Wait..." He put up both his hands and waved them in front of himself as if it helped him understand what she was saying. "You have a crush on him because he's disabled?"

"Okay, fuck you." Penelope said it like she was wishing him good luck. It was simple and sincere. On her toes, she moved forward to rush away. She didn't know where she was and she couldn't remember where Montemare was from where they were standing, but in that moment, she thought being lost would be better than arguing with someone she trusted to never hurt her. Her blond hair whipped behind her like a reptiles tail as she stalked away. She could hear Connor's voice painfully calling her name, pleading, as his feet shuffled closer. Penny inhaled deeply and ignored her instinct to keep walking when she spun around. Their chests were so close to colliding that, out of reflex, Connor jumped back. 

"You being cheesed right now is so hypocritical!" She threw her hands down in fists as she shouted into him. "I like both of you a lot, yeah, that sucks, but you dated your way through your yearbook in high school while writing songs about me the whole time!" In case e had forgotten, which he hadn't, Penny reminded him with one large breath. 

"I didn't think I had a chance with you." With Penny, she was a mermaid-like angel and, around her, he was just a human with all his flaws. Connor softened, guilt leaking into his previously burning throat, Penny wasn't finished though. He had crossed a line and poked a button. He had never seen her so wound up before and he hated that it was him who had made her feel so awful. He wished now that he could step back five minutes into the past and try to handle his emotions differently. 

"You know your parents and their perfect freaking marriage that you're lusting after? You are never going to have it if you don't like yourself on your own first. I was figuring out who I was then I had my accident and I had to figure myself out all over again. I'm not going to apologize for not having time to be your girlfriend and groupie because I was too busy figuring out who I was!" Her own impulsive foolishness had ripped memories and cognitive skills from her and Penelope was very proud of how hard she worked to become someone she liked again. 

Connor has never heard Penelope raise her voice. Any time she had been cross before, she played it off cool as a cuke. He had seen her unleash a little on her younger brothers before, not him. It stung and Connor wanted to sit down on the curb and cry. Instead, he ran all his fingers through his hair aggressively holding the ends down and trying to keep from coming undone in front of her. 

"Alright, so let's pretend there's no Jules. It's just you and me, you still wouldn't believe we could do it while I'm touring?" He couldn't change Penelope's heart. If she had feelings for two people than Connor couldn't yell at her until he got his way. "No chance?" 

"I just don't see...how." Down at the tips of her scuffed up white canvas shoes, she said quietly before looking up to notice how little he cared for her response. 

"Why?" Thrusting his chin forward, he asked assertively. "What? You think I'm going to be like your Dad?" 

"What?" 

"You think I'm going to stay out all night and get fucked up? You think I'll get caught with hookers -"

"That was a rumor and you fucking know it!" Like they were guitar strings, he was playing with her nerves now. 

"Whatever. You think I'm going to cheat and not come home just like him." 

"He didn't cheat on my Mom!" Penelope growled. She had asked her mom point blank once if he had and she promised that he never did. 

"You're still the same little girl who got teased in kindergarten because her dad was in the papers and on TV! You are scared of being happy with me because of my job. Admit it!" Connor huffed at the end. He was out of breath as it has run away with his mouth. Neither of them were used to behaving this way especially with each other. "Penny, what I should have said -" 

"Get fucked, you gomer." She didn't let him correct himself. Penny dragged her spiteful glance away from him and began to walk away. She figured she would walk until she was on a Main Street and then take the last subway home. Her emotions were so heightened that she couldn't think straight. Penelope stiffened up her mouth and fought with herself before taking her low battery phone out of her purse and calling her mom. She didn't know what she would say, but she hoped it would center her. It was almost ten in the morning back home on the next day, she assumed her mom would be up running errands or getting breakfast with friends. 

She nearly broke into tears when she heard the groggy voice of a freshly awaken Luke Hemmings pick up. It played back every horrible thing that her best friend had just said. Penelope pulled her face away from the phone and checked that she had actually clicked on her mom's name. 

"Penny? You okay?" Luke checked the time on his wife's phone as he had reached over her side to pick it up. She was in the shower. "Penny, its like midnight there. " He forgot that she was going to Connor's show that night. 

"Dad, I'm lost." She hated admitting defeat. Her frustration with herself was evident.

All at once, Luke panicked, but he chose to take a deep breath and follow the advice of Penelope's doctor and therapist. He couldn't always spring into hero mode. He had to let her learn. 

"Okay, that's okay. Can you call an uber to where you are?" He inquired, sitting up and adjusting his wife's pillow behind his back for support.

"I think I'm in a park. We went to a club to celebrate after Connor's show and...and I left..." 

"Without your friends?" He didn't hide that he didn't like that.

"It's a long story, Dad." Her sigh was long and held its exasperation until the end. "I know that I'm in Passy which is, like, less than a half hour by car to my place." He was glad Penny knew that because he neighborhoods of Paris were simply French words to him. "The subway station is by Radio France." She didn't know why she knew that, but at some point someone had mentioned that to her and it stuck in her brain. "I don't know how to get there." 

"Walk North, Penny." Luke coached her while reaching around to find his phone somewhere in the bed sheets. It was right beneath his pillow. He pulled open Google and began to search on the map for Radio France. Once he had the address, he opened up his GPS app that he used to track all three of his forever wandering children. He found Penelope quickly and changed what he told her,  "I'm sorry, Penny, turn around and go straight. I'll stay on the phone til you get to the subway or in a cab." He didn't prefer either. Luke just wished he could drive her around himself. 

"Thanks, Dad. I knew where I was and then I couldn't remember. It's been really good though until now." She had Jules to walk her home from work, but she really didn't need him to anymore. She just loved being alone with the drummer and all the tattoos that decorated his arms like lights and bulbs on Christmas tree. 

"Are you alright? You could go back to the club and get a car." 

"Yeah." Hearing his voice was giving her something positive to focus on. It made her feel closer to home even though they were just over the phone. "Maybe, I should. I just want to be home."

"You will be on December 24th." Luke reminded her while laying back down, feeling calmer now that she did. 

"I meant my apartment." 

"I know, I'm just teasing. We miss you." He told her that almost every day. "You close to the club?" He couldn't tell that on his phone app.

"Yeah, like, a minute away."  

"Just take an Uber, Pen. I will wire you some money." 

"I'm fine for money, Dad." Penelope was very proud of the fact that she supported herself. She could never be like her friends who lived off their parents back accounts. Still, Luke always helped her. It was one of the only ways he felt like he could help her from so far away. "I'm here. I'm at the club." She was standing right in the back parking lot where she and Connor acted like children fighting for no reason, but because their emotions demanded it. Connor wasn't there anymore and she assumed he had gone inside with his heart racing and hands playing with his hair.

"Okay. You feel okay?" He didn't want to patronize her and ask her to do some of her memory exercises, so Luke found a more vague way to investigate. 

"I'll be fine." She wasn't about to vent to him about how Connor hurt her heart. 

"Okay. Love you, Pen. Call anytime." He always reminded her that she could.

"Dad?" Penny didn't want him to hang up just yet.

"Yeah?" 

Sometimes, to help her recollection, Penelope would walk herself backwards through her day until she was the place she needed to remember. Right now, she was in the parking lot where Connor made her feel as small as Daphne Hood was. 

"You were a good Dad. I know you were away a lot, but I still liked having you as a Dad." Penny nodded and swallowed hard, telling herself as much as she was telling him. 

"Thanks." Luke ignored that she used past tense and softened. He had been criticized harshly by people who knew him and many who didn't, so hearing from one of the kids he raised that he earned a passing grade was as comforting as the blanket he was half beneath. "I love being your Dad." He informed her as she approaches the first cars outside of the front of the dance club. 

"I'm going to go. Goodnight. Well, morning." Once he said goodbye back, Penelope hung up and put her phone back into its bag. 

In an effort to save money and work out some of her conflicting thoughts, Penelope requested for the Uber driver to drop her off on the same block as the place she worked at. It was only a ten minute stroll to her home from there and she wanted to stop in to check her upcoming schedule for the rest of the month. 

Penelope squeezed in through the kitchen door where four line cooks were smoking and swearing about the busy night they were in the middle of. When the band came on and the cocktail specials were announced was when people started to pour in. It was a very popular after hours spot for their strong drinks and a generous tapas. 

Penny wiped off her shoes on the rubber mat and went to the wall by the office. She could hear the music playing, almost recognizing the staccato song playing. Right away though, Penny knew Jules wasn't on the drums. She checked to make sure she was given the day off before her upcoming exam and then forged forward through the boiling and hectic kitchen. Her eyes checked over moving shoulders as she glanced at different meals being prepared or plated. There was always an opportunity for her to learn. All around her, she heard her name and  greeting. She felt better already. This was her makeshift home, this was her out of town family. 

She moved closer and closer to the perpetually swinging door that separated the fun loving atmosphere for the dining room and jazz club from the stresses out sweat and swear zoo that was the kitchen. As soon as she had curled one hand around it to push it partially open, a waitress she recognized as Ismay flew by with an empty tray and an annoyed expression that could staple itself into anyone's mind. Penny glanced around the busy room and found Jules right away, sitting on a bar stool with an old fashioned and keeping the beat of the song with his hand on his knee. Due to enjoying the band, he swung slightly on his chair and waved over his head almost as soon as he spotted Penelope. He thought about nodding at her to join him, but it struck him as odd that she had left her friend's party and he could tell that something had happened. She was wearing a face he hadn't seen on her before and, while he thought she was ethereally beautiful, he did not particularly care for it. So Jules carefully hopped off the stool and moved to her. Penelope came out of the kitchen entirely, standing behind the bar in her casual wear. 

"Why did you leave?" Jules inquired, leaning into the small bar door that came up to his waist and kept them apart. "Were you not having fun with celebrities?" He couldn't resist teasing her, wiggling his brows as he asked. Jules was not impressed by fancy things and name brands. He grew up with a single mother and modest means between himself and his older sister. He played music and worked as a doorman at Le Royal Monceau.  Sure, he had dreams, but he was never impressed by anyone who flashed their success and wealth around. Jules just wanted to be happy right before he fell asleep at night. 

"No." Penny sighed and rolled her eyes halfway at the thought of it. "It was weird. I'm going to home now, I just needed to check the schedule." 

"Want a walking buddy?" It was a term she had coined for him around the third time he escorted her back to her apartment. 

"No. I got it." She was worried about getting lost again, but Penelope really did want to be by herself.

"Okay. Well I'll see you...mercredi?" He could never remember the days of the week in English. Jules hoped to see her before, but he knew that was when they would both be working together. He had picked up the habit of checking her schedule.

"Yeah." Penny promised. "Thanks for coming out with me tonight. Did you like the show?" She realized she hadn't asked after the concert. 

"Yeah, it was good. Both acts were good." He admitted while waving his hand back and forth to gesture that they were really just 'okay'. Jules wasn't a big fan of folk or pop music. He grew up on jazz and classic since that was what his grandfather that they lived with played. He was the man who taught Jules everything about rhythm and built him his first drum kit. "It was weird watching someone be so in love with you in front of all those people." He half-laughed through his awkward honesty. "Did you two date?" She had always just referred to Connor as her closest friend, but the performance has all three of Penelope's French friends wondering if they had once been more.

"No." She shook her head and reached around to tighten her ponytail. "We kissed once." She said and instantly wish she hadn't. She looked down into her purse to check the time on her phone noticing that it barely had any battery life yet. She was sitting at an uncomfortable 3%. Penny missed that Jules scrunched up his nose at what she said. 

"Do you like him?"

Penny puffed both her cheeks out and let them deflate with a long exhale at his question, zipping her bag back and wondering for a second if her feelings for Connor had changed after their fight.

"I have." Realizing it was a strange way to answer, Penny shrugged. "We sort of fought at the club and we've never fought before." Penny explained to Jules, wrapping her fingers around the bar door again. "I don't know." 

"What did you fight about? Was it bad?" He wished his English was better or that her French was more extensive in times like these. Jules felt like he couldn't be as good a companion to her when their was a language barrier between them. He didn't realize his hands had curls over hers, but Penny had and she could not stop looking at them. 

"It was just bad because it had never happened before." She spoke directly to their hands. "I hurt his feelings and then he hurt mine back." She supposed that she really just described every fight throughout history, but she wasn't quite feeling as smart as usual tonight. 

"What did you say?" In a joking manner, Jules scolded her. He narrowed his eyes in and shook his head very slowly. 

"You really want to know?" She asked before realizing that she didn't know if she wanted to honestly tell him. 

"Of course." Jules laughed and squeezed her fingers under his tenderly. He couldn't imagine her saying anything that he couldn't handle. His bet was that they just misunderstood one another or that her friend was too drunk to think before speaking. 

Penelope tightened her throat which made Jules chuckle at how strange it looked and she tried to come up with a lie. She tried to reason with herself and remember how to be the cool girl that she was known as back home on the beaches of Sydney. 

"I told him..." Penny looked up into Jules eyes, but that made the truth harder to share somehow. "I told him...I said...well..." She was embarrassed by how tongue tied she felt and just spat it out, "I told him I like somebody else too." 

"Okay." Like it was nothing, Jules accepted with a casual smirk that shrugged above his chin. "So he feels a little crushed. Anybody I know? Someone in your classes?"

"You." She had come this far. There wasn't much point in beating around the bush now. Penny sometimes wondered how different things would be with Connor if he had come out and admitted to liking her instead of just trying to tell her through poetry.

Jules hands loosened on hers and his eyes lightened as he gave her a smile she interpreted as pitying. 

"Okay, so I'm going to go jump in front of a car." Penelope uttered a sentence she had heard Emmeline say a dozen times before when she didn't get her way. The words didn't feel right in her mouth, but she pushed open the bar door and tried to squeeze past him. Jules tugged on her wrist, but she yanked it away. 

"Penelope! Penelope!" He chased her through the kitchen. After she pushed open the back door, she turned and stopped him from going outside with her. He looked concerned and as if his mouth was full of a hundred things to say.

"Don't. It's okay!" She put up her hand to stop him from coming closer or uttering a word. "Cause I like you both and I don't know what to do. So you don't have to say anything and make it more weird." She really needed to work on her eloquence. 

"Can I, please, walk you home?" Jules genuinely wanted to and took her hand in his to try and make that clear.

"I'll text you when I'm there." Penelope just assumed he felt obliged to make sure she was safe. She took her hand back and ran into the night, his eyes watching until she became a dot as dark as the sky was.

****************************

After plugging her phone in and taking a pear from her bottom fridge door, Penny ran a hot bath. She soaked in the bubble free water and watched her skin grow red from the heat. It was comforting and removed how perplexed, hurt, and rejected she felt. Penelope only ate half of her pear before her stomach couldn't bare anymore. She felt too upset and her stomach couldn't handle another bite. Once she was starting to drift off into sleep, she rose out of the bath tub and drained the dirty water. Penelope wrapped herself in her favorite multi-color striped beach towel from back home and picked up her phone from in the dry sink since she used it as a DIY speaker for the Soft Cell songs she was playing to drown out the furious pain from the evening. She noticed that she had four texts and read them as she dried off. 

"I'll be in Paris soon. MAKE TIME FOR ME AND ROMANCE MY PALE ASS!!!" Emmeline sent with a string of bright coloured emojis that had nothing to do with her sentiment. 

"Are you home safe? You didn't text." Jules wrote about twenty minutes after she arrived at her building.

"I'm really sorry, Pen. :(" Connor had sent around the same time as Jules.

However, Penelope only concentrated on her dad's message. 

"Your mum and I are really proud of you. Nice to start the morning with your voice." 

Once dry, she put on a pair of sweats and a stained 5SOS shirt from their first headlining tour way before she was born and slept on her futon. She was exhausted so she didn't even bring it down from its couch form. Penelope texted no one and fell asleep wondering where her perfect day went. 

#5sos au #5sos series #5sos imagine #luke hemmings imagine #luke hemmings one shot #penelope hemmings

[jakelace]

2017 IN FILM - FINALE (TOP 10)

10. Molly’s Game

“I was raised to be a champion. My goal was to win. At what and against whom, those were just details.”

Let’s not beat around the bush on this one. My love for this film comes almost exclusively from my love for Aaron Sorkin’s dialogue. Sorkin’s quick-witted way of writing is certainly not realistic by any stretch of the imagination, but allows for great lines and a thrilling way of telling a true to life story that might otherwise come off as a bit bland. Molly’s Game follows Molly Bloom (expertly portrayed by Jessica Chastain) who became a target of the FBI after running an underground poker game for years. It’s a truly larger than life story, which, knowing Sorkin’s penchant for twisting facts for a better story, probably is. But in the moment that doesn’t matter. I was fully engrossed by the fast paced dialogue, the top-notch performances, and the thrilling pacing of this outstanding story.

9. The Disaster Artist

“Greg, you have to be the best. You have to be the best you can be. And never give up.”

When I first heard that a film was being made all about the making of one of the best so-bad-it’s-good films ever made, I was on board. Although I would have never predicted the end product would be something so inspirational. The Disaster Artist follows Greg Sestero who, after meeting the infamous Tommy Wiseau, moves to Los Angeles to star in The Room. While the comedy and performances surrounding this retelling of a cinema-changing event are certainly very well done, it’s the inspiration I found in Wiseau that made me love this film. It’s easy to laugh along at The Room for its utter incompetence as an example of the entire medium, but when I took a step back to look at the passion and love for this story that Wiseau so obviously had, and his uncompromising dedication to making sure his directorial vision shone through, I began to see the man behind the film in a much different light, and one that inspired me to ‘be the best I can be. And never give up.’ ‘What a story, Mark!’...okay, I’m done now.

8. The Big Sick

“I’m guessing it’s a young, single Pakistani woman who just happened to be driving by our house, which is on a cul-de-sac.”

I shouldn’t have waited to watch The Big Sick as long as I did. It became instantly clear as soon as the credits began to roll that this would become the new standard that all romantic comedies are held to. Kumail Nanjiani’s performance is one of the most hilarious and heart-breaking of the year as he plays himself in a dramatization of the time Emily V. Gordon, Nanjiani’s girlfriend at the time, went into a medically induced coma with a mysterious disease. The writing is what really stands out here, with the entirety of it being written by Gordon and Nanjiani themselves. The laugh-out-loud moments mixed with the emotionally moving plot, affected me in a way few films have, making this one of the greatest rom-coms to ever exist. Oh, also, Holly Hunter is hilarious in this.

7. Get Out

“Now you’re in the sunken place.”

Get Out’s position has fluctuated the most out of any other film this year. Unsurprisingly though, it has always stayed quite high. Jordan Peele’s debut film is one that even veteran directors would be proud to have made, considering there are so few movies that even come close to how clever this film is in both its horror and social commentary. Every frame is so jam-packed with details that, though they may feel arbitrary at the time, provide us with a deeper look at characters, their motivations, and even their deeper psychology. Every moment is important with no time being wasted. Every performance (especially Daniel Kaluuya’s) is layered and nuanced with excellent characterizations. Get Out is a horror masterpiece that I am certain will be looked back on with the highest regards in years to come.

6. Star Wars: The Last Jedi

“Let the past die. Kill it, if you have to.”

I would have never guessed that putting a Star Wars film this high on an end of the year list would warrant so much controversy, but here we are. While I can understand a few of the complaints surrounding a few moments in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, I honestly cannot wrap my head around calling this an objectively bad film. It is quite possibly the most expertly shot and cleverly written film in the entire franchise, and the directions Rian Johnson decided to steer the franchise are some of the most exciting yet. It takes everything we thought we wanted out of a follow up to The Force Awakens and turns it on its head. It delivers wonderful characters to us, both new like Rose Tico, and old like Luke Skywalker. Most importantly, it gives me a story that makes me proud to be such a fan of a galaxy far, far away. Also, I’m now a huge fan of the space battles. I’m not really sure when or how that happened.

5. The Killing of a Sacred Deer

“A surgeon never kills a patient. An anesthesiologist can kill a patient, but a surgeon never can.”

Once again this year, we have another Colin Farrell led Yorgos Lanthimos film as my number five film of the year. While The Killing of a Sacred Deer is a different genre than last year’s The Lobster, his truly unique style of direction and dialogue remains. Lanthimos is a master at creating the cinematic feeling of an idyllic utopia, whilst making nearly every moving part feel off at the same time. His style is very ‘uncanny valley’ in that way, and while that may turn people off from his films, I can’t help but be glued to the screen. I was riveted by his off-kilter method of storytelling and his purposefully wooden dialogue. Farrell gives another great performance here, with Nicole Kidman stealing the show as she injects a small amount of actual emotion and fear into the picture. For those looking for something unconventional and disconcerting out of their cinema, I can’t recommend The Killing of a Sacred Deer enough.  

4. Dunkirk

“If we go there we’ll die.”

Dunkirk is, without a doubt, Christopher Nolan’s most masterfully crafted film. Inception may still stand as my favorite, but when it comes to the sheer skill and effort on display, it’s nearly impossible to see this as anything less than a technical masterpiece. Nolan’s knack for creating emotional moments, intense heart-pounding action sequences, and non-linear stories perfectly works its way into the setting of World War 2, while also introducing me to an inspiring story I had never heard before. And yes, I still like to call this Anxiety: The Movie. If you’d like to read more of my thoughts on Nolan’s magnum opus, you can do so here.

3. Baby Driver

“The moment you catch feelings is the moment you catch a bullet.”

Though I don’t normally set up my rankings with subcategories in mind, if I did, Baby Driver would win Best Soundtrack without a single hesitation. Edgar Wright’s creative vision for this music-based heist film is absolutely stellar. Each scene is interwoven with music of all different sorts of genres and time-periods, with each of the heists and action sequences in the film playing out in-time with each song. It’s honestly a marvel that it was done this expertly. From the very opening scene I was smiling ear-to-ear and tapping my foot along with every backbeat and wheel-screech I could hear. Baby Driver, though fairly played-out in its story, survives and even thrives on the style that is oozing out of every frame. Edgar Wright is a directorial genius, and I can’t wait to see what he has up his sleeve next. Oh, and it you didn’t want to drive around listening to John Spencer Blues Explosion’s “Bellbottoms” directly after listening to this...you’re lying.

2. A Ghost Story

“I don’t think they’re coming.”

Rooney Mara eats an entire pie for four and half minutes in this film, and I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t bawling with every bite she took. That’s just A Ghost Story for you though. By the time the credits began to roll my face hurt because of how long I had been ugly crying. Though I’m certain not everyone will have this strong of a reaction to the film, David Lowery’s deeply introspective film about loss and the inability to stop time from slipping through our fingers struck a massive chord with me. Every small motion, every flashback to happier times, and every major life event that flashes by left me emotionally devastated. It tapped into my own personal fears about love and legacy and whether or not we’ll be remembered when we pass, all the while providing one of the most compelling stories about the supernatural using barely any dialogue at all. A Ghost Story is a fantastically made and deliberately paced film that will haunt me for years to come...sorry, that pun was just too easy.

1. Lady Bird

“Don't you think maybe they are the same thing? Love and attention?”

Here we are, my number one favorite film of 2017. It’s been a long time coming, and we’ve discussed many other great films from the year, but in the end it could have only been Lady Bird, couldn’t it? There’s a certain undeniable love and connection I feel to coming of age films, and Greta Gerwig’s semi-autobiographical masterpiece is no exception to that. Lady Bird follows a young woman (Saoirse Ronan) in her last year of high-school as she struggles to make a place for herself in the world. Ronan is an absolute delight as Lady Bird and has a chance to show her range as one of the greatest up-and-coming actresses through outstanding comedy and emotionally heartfelt moments. It’s honestly hard for me to describe what it is I love about this film so much though. Like most coming of age films, everything I took from Lady Bird feels so personal to me. Gerwig’s writing is so uncannily realistic and resonant in my life because she is able to capture the wild absurdity of growing up while also handling complex issues and relationships in such interesting ways and through her weaving of nostalgia and comedy, she creates one of the greatest films about growing up that I have ever seen. I don’t want to spoil any larger character moments or fantastically written emotional climaxes, so I will leave you all with something I can say with the utmost confidence. Lady Bird is one of the few film experiences that everyone should have. 

#Molly's Game #The Disaster Artist #The Big Sick #Get Out #Star Wars: The Last Jedi #The Killing of a Sacred Deer #Dunkirk #Baby Driver #A Ghost Story #Lady Bird

[dancekickboxcardio]

Hmmmm... 🤔 How do you this?

I decided to write 🖊 my execution of today’s work out 💪🏾 🏃🏼‍♀️ routine. I have been up pretty early and I have not completed my nights 🌃 rest 😌 . Yes, I am going back to bed 🛌 . Surprise 😮, I have no bad hips. I was holding on to the grab bars treadmill. It was a difficult adjustment coming from a three day 📆 sit. I was dragging my feet and a touch lazy. But I did what I need to do to establish a tone. I measured myself. Ah, 📏I should totally do the body stats thing and I don’t mean just weight. The size and proportion. Thick legs 🦵🏾.

I got to catch up with some of my gym 🏃🏼‍♀️ 💪🏾 friends. I asked them about their plans for the holiday 🎄. It’s still two weeks off and yet it is fast 💨 approaching. I am waiting for the week to move along so I have my allowance 💵. I am bad. Vie, can you focus your attention on other stuff. But I love ❤️ shoes, make up 💄, clothes 👗, bag 💼. The sad 😢 part is I am getting essentials. They don’t have to be expensive 💲💲💲💲💲 and I am aware of that. But you have to realize great function when you see one. You totally can realize and be like the price you pay is commensurates the product that you are getting. Even then, I don’t pay retail. However, let’s face it. High end Lululemon is not going to put it on sale 🏷 and really it is a novelty item that I need now. I know I am annoying 😒 . It’s more than durable. Like many things I would like to be reminded that life must be enjoyed 😊 slow. Relish the time spent working on self. How many people do you thing have that? Develop not on the constraints society tells you. You dictate your terms (because you can). Merry Christmas 🎁. I have my water 💦 bottle but I got distracted to making my espresso ☕️ . Someone is training Jajamoose to have yogurt 🍦. I was having my early breakfast 🥞 snack. He loves 💕 it and he’ll be in your face at every turn.

I am not turning on podcast 🎙. But I am painting my nails 💅🏾. I would like to provide my commentaries on pictures 📸 . Artsy farsy. But that defeats the purpose of impressions right. Let’s break it down segment by.

I had a morning ☀️ similar to today. I was up at 600a and couldn’t go back to bed easily. I got up had a yogurt 🍦 and my espresso to jump start my system. I sat in my chaise 🛋 studying 🤓 👩🏼‍💻 American Constitution. I finished the four week lectures which is the equivalent of 1/8 of a semester’s course work. Maybe even less. But the condense materials 📑are nevertheless robust. I am getting a certificate 📜 . I love ❤️ collecting tokens ✨ of accomplishments apart from lipsticks 💄, blushes and eyeliners 👛.

He is sticking with me this morning. It must be the yogurt 🍦. Although he has been extra sweet 😻 lately. Then, I see him bossing his older bro’s around 😆.

I need to change my sheets.

I don’t seem to like the chicken 🍗 that I made. It needs more salt and I would love ❤️ the crispy coating. But I am eating 🍽. I’m not going to throw it away. I saw that duck 🦆 and turkey 🦃 were on sale in the grocery 🛒. But I calculated the cost of an entire weight of meat 🥩 it’s a lot. I chose not to have a gourmet meal 👩🏼‍🍳. I can almost taste 😋 the orange 🍊 glaze. I was prepped early. My Mom interrupted my sleep 😴 for a schedule 🗓 change. It was resolved. I had lunch 🍴 early and at 600p, yes I was hungry 😋 for dinner in my cool down stretches 🙆🏼‍♀️ .

Police 🚔 was in as I walked. He opened the door 🚪. I wanted to see if it was the same officer who took my report. I said hi 👋🏾 to Joe who checked me in. I smiled at the Frozen display. “Let it go. Let it go.” ❄️ I missed K. There was a new gal at the desk. I haven’t started my work out 💪🏾 🏃🏼‍♀️ and my hair is already disheveled. I looked 👀 sweaty 🥵 exhausted too. I sat in the sauna 🧖🏼‍♀️ to literally warm up my muscles. I wanted to take a picture where I was sitting and put the bag 💼 I have my eyes 👀 on. Just being silly 🙃.

I went upstairs and I didn’t take a shot of the inbody. I saw Molly and commented on having cookies 🍪. I wanted to tell her that I had some graham crackers covered in white chocolate 🍫. I tried a little bit restrained. Then, I saw Lane. I didn’t recognize him because he was in regular clothes and he was as I told him going out wild 🌲. I discovered that he was going to California for a competition. I went deep. I was like, “ have a passion for something.” Somehow I was able to complain about my tote 👜 that smelled 👃🏾 like hospital 🏥 after I smelled tea 🍵 on it last week 🗓. I don’t remem the transition. But I bid him good luck 🍀. “California. California. California.” 🎶 OC theme song. Obsessive Compulsive. Speaking of which I forgot to sanitize my mat. Freak out. It’/ cold and flu season and my nose is always running. I feel ok this morning. Thank God. Imma do moderate. No, like what I was randomly 💭 thinking in the treadmill, 90 minutes sustained cardio ❤️. Did I tell you guys how bad I was. My body was behind. Out of condition after not being in the health club for 3 days. As a result it has a steep slope. I mean mentally I wasn’t there. I wasn’t up for it and I didn’t want to weather. It was easy peasy lemon 🍋 squeezy. I decided to do the usual, make it harder but with assist. My hands 🤚🏾 where on the grab bars the entire time.

I actually decided to do moderate Tuesday. I usually charge hard esp that I am well-rested and have the energies ⚡️. I decided to warm up slow and conserve what I have to finish the week. I am not looking at it day by day. I see it in the entirety and make some sort of ways to make sure I completed ✔️ another straight 5 days of 7. Day 2 today. I wasn’t able to fill up all the blanks in my worksheet 🗒because I had no pen 🖊 in the café. I thought 💭 I kept one in my 🎒 backpack. I did back. I am not as sore. I still feel my back legs 🦵🏾 taut. I am thinking 🤔 perhaps it wasn’t the personal training session on the area. It Cardioing the Right way 👟 . My legs are now actually doing the work no hands on the bars. I wished I had a journal 📓. It would be nice not to be laser focus. Be distracted, disorderly and doing output instead on focusing input. Everybody was very aware at how they relate to the space. They were all in attention. Well others stiffer than others. But I smiled 😃 a lot. Ian was there. For some reason he came off strict and nasty mean yesterday. Just yesterday. Impatient? He’s usually the funny 😆 approachable easy going one. I love 💗 the new book 📚. I wanted to take notes on the further reads at the back book 📖 cover. But it was a mind blowing 🤯 topic. I am so eager to follow along. I had bits and pieces. I think 🤔 the Outrace area is pretty cool 😎. There was a girl she hung in one of the grab bars. I was always bad at monkey 🐒 bars. I wondered to myself why I chose the band instead of the TRX things. It came first to me and also I had to make sure I am not whooped the next day. I was ill-at-ease with my forms. Vie, that’s the idea 💡 . I have to make sure I am doing it correctly. I keep on checking my behind and make sure I am not displaying my old Victoria’s Secrets and my moon 🌝 buns.

Ugh 😑, it doesn’t always have to be the same way. Life is not in a well-controlled cog. At least for me. I keep running to the bathroom. Vie, more than the liquids and some fear at the back of your mind your belly. Yeah, I know. At least I get to freshen up and reapply make up. There was this guy who made eye contact with me and lingered. Yeah, I was malicious. Defense. Defense. 👏🏾 I put some lotion 🧴 as my lack of gloves 🧤 makes my hands dry sensitive. Also, the towels are softer and easier on the skin. Yeah, I noticed. Mariah explained to me that they have new towels and soap 🧼. Since we are at it, my water 💦 from the tap taste like peppery. I was like, is it coming from what I ate like lingering taste 😛. Weirdo. That’s my name for Mark Consuelo. I hope 🤞🏾 he doesn’t think me mean and rude and insulting. I am not catcalling him at all. Yeah. Yeah. I am just being nice.

I didn’t get a shot of my area. It was too busy at least to my perception. A lot is going on. Hysterical 😩. Vie, cool 😎 cub. I should take off my headphones 🎧 to stress 😬 me out tension. I like my listening 👂🏾 pleasure. But ok. I’ll work with on earpiece today for the heck. The suave guy waved at me and I was wondering why so I said hi 👋🏾 back. It was at the hallway. He checked in my Dad one weekend. I should have asked for his name for appreciation. I wasn’t in the tally mood because nothing was going right. I had no pen 🖊 to complete my fitness log, the Internet 🌐 is slow, I want to get to the sauna 🧖🏼‍♀️. Did I smell Eucky? It wasn’t pronounced. I wasn’t in a hurry. I had plenty of time ⏱. I ran into my Mom in the bathroom before Dance Jams 💃🏼. I met her in the classroom. I found out the name of my Korean friend and wondered if I am saying it right. I took it easy like I told Shelly. She was at it yesterday. Angie is fun 🎊. I was enjoying 😊 myself like everybody else. You don’t realize that her exercises are high in intensity. Oooh 😯, that last song 🎼 my thighs are on fire 🔥. I was thinking 💭 to hold on, “Strong legs.” I think I saw L’Tan. I was trying to get a leaving selfie 🤳🏾. I thought 💭 I look 👀 a lot like holding it in 😂. Head shake.

I was hungry 😋 before going to bed 🛏 at 1200a. I had fruits 🍍 and it didn’t cut it. What happened to intermittent fasting. But I am feeling the need to eat 🥙. The better part is it’s not sugar. Ooooh, 😮 I want those caramel cookies 🍪 . I also saw essential oils for the total health and wellness practitioner 🙏🏾. What the heck— Hip-pish-ster 👓.

[amirosebooks]

Tagged in a thing

Tagged by: @procasdeanating

Rules: Answer all questions, add one question of your own and tag as many people as there are questions.

1. Coke or Pepsi: Mexican coke 2. Disney or Dreamworks: Disney 3. Coffee or Tea: Tea or flavored coffee 4. Books or Movies: Depends on what I’m looking for 5. Windows or Mac: I like them both, but my current computer is a Mac 6. DC or Marvel: DC 7. Xbox or Playstation: Eh, they both have their pros and cons. We have an Xbox right now. 8. Dragon Age or Mass Effect: I love futuristic stuff and the name of The Geth villains (or whatever) in Mass Effect is one of my favorites ever (I don’t know why, it’s just pretty), but I think I’d enjoy playing Dragon Age more. 9. Night Owl or Early Rise: A night owl that has to get up at 4:30am everyday because adulting is bullshit 10. Cards or Chess: Cards 11. Chocolate or Vanilla: Dark Chocolate 12. Vans or Converse: converse 13. Lavellan, Trevelyan, Cadash or Adaar: Who in the fuck? 14. Fluff or Angst: BOTH. TOGETHER. OFTEN. 15. Beach or Forest: Both, both is good. (I’m from Northern California, I’m used to beaches having the woods dusted up along the shoreline.) 16. Dogs or Cats: Kitties 17. Clear Skies or Rain: Raaaaaain. 18. Cooking or Eating Out: I like food. If I have to make it, it can be fun, if someone else makes it that’s cool too. 19. Spicy Food or Mild Food: Spicy 20. Halloween/Samhain or Solstice/Yule/Christmas: Halloween. 21. Would you rather forever be a little too cold or a little too hot: Too cold, for sure. 22. If you could have a superpower, what would it be? The power to duplicate myself at will (usually used to freak people the fuck out or intimidate them). 23. Animation or Live Action: Live Action. 24. Paragon or Renegade: What? 25. Baths or Showers: I like both 26. Team Cap or Team Iron Man: Team Cap, but Iron Man did have good points. CAN’T YOU JUST GET ALONG?! 27. Fantasy or Sci-Fi: Sci-Fi, but I like Urban Fantasy a lot more than hard edged either of those genres tbh. 28. Do you have three or four favourite quotes? If so, what are they: ♠ "If I lose the light of the sun, I will write by candlelight, moonlight, no light. If I lose paper and ink, I will write in blood on forgotten walls. I will write always. I will capture nights all over the world and bring them to you." —Henry Rollins (I believe this was in his book Black Coffee Blues, but it’s been years since I’ve read it.) ♠ “Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” — Bruce Lee, from this interview ♠ “... and I shambled after as I’ve been doing all my life after people who interest me, because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes ‘Awww!’” — Jack Kerouac, On The Road (I just bought the kindle version of this because I love the quote cut exactly like this, and the internet tends to chop it up otherwise.) ♠ “Real life seeks the gentle slopes at the back of Mount Improbable, while creationists are blind to all but the daunting precipice at the front.” — Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion There you go, four quotes that I’ve thought about getting tattooed on my skin in one way or another over the last fifteen years or so. 29. YouTube or Netflix: Netflix, but I really do love both 30. Harry Potter or Percy Jackson: Harry Potter 31. When You Feel Accomplished: When I’m writing a lot. When I’ve checked off my to-do list. When I’ve made my husband genuinely smile. 32. Star Wars or Star Trek: I CAN’T CHOOSE. Star Trek: The Original Series. THERE ARE YOU HAPPY? 33. Paperback Books or Hardback Books: Paperback all the way, but I read on kindle 98% of the time these days. 34. Handwriting or Typing: Depends on what I’m trying to do. Sometimes my words flow best by hand and ink, other times I need to click them out on my laptop. 35. Velvet or Satin: Eh, I don’t really care. 36. Video Games or Movies: Movies. 37. Would you rather be the dragon or own the dragon? Own a dragon, but just a little one. Like the size of a housecat. THAT WOULD BE AWESOME. 38. Sunrise or sunset: Sunset because of the colors in the sky and the stars coming out to say hello 39. What’s your favourite song? Goddammit... “Devil’s Dance Floor” by Flogging Molly. I’m almost always in the mood to hear it and it always makes me smile. 40. Horror Movies yes or no: Yes, definitely yes, especially if it’s October. 41. Long hair or short hair: I like my hair long enough to hide behind 42. Opera or Theatre: Theatre 43. Assuming the multiverse theory is true and every story ever told has really happened somewhere, which one of the movie/book/tv show/game/etc worlds would you pick to travel to first? Oooo. My first instinct is to say one of these: X-Files, Fringe, Torchwood, Supernatural, Wynonna Earp, Lost Girl or Warehouse 13, but the fun in those would be being part of the “in the know about the weird shit” people, so as long as I can be one of those and get to shoot a gun and play with knives and maybe a badge I’d honestly be down for any of them. (Like I said earlier in this, urban fantasy is my jam.) 44: If you had to eat only one thing for the rest of your life what would it be? Carnitas plate from those Mexican restaurants we get here on the west coast where there’s always a slightly different name on the building but they all pretty much make the same food and have the same menu. 45: Older guys or young guys? Older... I guess, if I had to. Older women, for sure, but dudes... eh, that’s harder. Not younger for sure though. (By younger I mean, like, several years younger than me.) 46: If you could have a night with any fictional character doing whatever you wanted … who? Omg, thinking about potential answers to this is actually embarrassing... Uhh, Mulder and Scully (fuck you, I get two characters) just listening to them rant about whatever off the wall bullshit monster they’re looking for that week? 47: Singing or dancing? Singing 48: No internet for the rest of your life or your favourite show/book/game/whatever has an end so terrible it’s only aired once and never spoken of again? Bad ending tbh. Endings are hard and tv shows never seem to please everyone so, eh. 49: Your favourite TV show gets cancelled before an actual end or the end is just totally crappy/horrible, and you’re distraught for the rest of your life. See: Almost Human with the first part of that question 50. A movie/book/TV show that changed your life. Touch & Geaux by Abigail Roux because it 1) completely changes the rest of the six books before it in the series and 2) made me realize just what books could do and 3) inspire me to start writing. 51. Do you prefer to drive or ride in cars? I prefer to drive and I like to do it with the music turned up loud.

Tagging: @malady579 ; @authorwrightnow ; @nickyoflaherty ; @ngpeltier ; @larchwood ; @morningstarcas and whoever sees this and wants to do the thing

#memes #i definitely should be writing or making food instead of doing this #whoops #about ami

[circlesandsoundwaves]

Musings from the Editor: Why I Love Walk the Moon so much- 4/14/15

Photo and words by Molly Louise Hudelson.

When I created Circles & Soundwaves in April of 2011- almost six years ago- it was because I wanted to write about music I loved and I wanted to take pictures of bands. I had no idea what I was doing but I knew that I loved it. Over the past few years, I've become more focused on photography and haven't been writing as much. That's okay. I'm looking for touring work as a photographer, so that's where a lot of my energy has been focused, but right now I do feel inspired to write.

It hit me recently that although Walk the Moon has been my most listened-to artist on Spotify for the past two years, while I covered a show of theirs for AXS in 2015, I haven't written so much as a word about them on Circles & Soundwaves. I think for a while I thought it didn't make sense because they weren't the "right genre" for what I typically cover on here, but then I realized it doesn't really matter. The beauty of being an independent music blogger is that I have the space and the freedom to write whatever I want about whatever bands I want to write about, and I owe it to myself to take full advantage of that.

I remember hearing "Anna Sun" on the radio when it was released, but back then I never took the time to really listen to Walk the Moon. In 2014, "Shut Up and Dance" was released as a single. I was experiencing an interesting time in my life; I was writing and photographing regularly for AXS and working a ton of random "day jobs" in between. I felt motivated but also stuck; "Shut Up and Dance" was catchy and, in a way, exhilarating. The music video was hilariously 80s. The entire album, Talking Is Hard, made me feel good when I listened to it, and that was enough. It was the perfect thing to listen to when I needed something energetic to keep me going through a late-night editing session or while making a long drive to a show.

On April 14, 2015, I got an email confirming me for a photo pass for Walk The Moon's show at Terminal 5 in New York that night. That show probably changed my life; I came out of it feeling more alive and more connected than I ever had.

There are two types of music that make you feel good. There are party jams- happy, fun songs that you can dance to; and there is music that is genuinely inspiring and uplifting. When I heard Walk the Moon perform "Different Colors" live, it became more than just a party song; it became an anthem where people from all different backgrounds can get together and celebrate their differences instead of erasing them. I've never felt so inspired to tackle any roadblocks that come my way as when three thousand people sang "I Can Lift A Car" in unison.

Walk the Moon ended their set at that Terminal 5 show with "Shut Up and Dance" before they came back for a three-song encore. Before song three- "Anna Sun"- frontman Nicholas Petricca left us all with a piece of wisdom: "All this beautiful energy, you can either leave it here or take it with you as a powerful thing and make the world a better place." I chose to take it with me.

I began to dig deeper into Walk the Moon's songs; I've listened to the Talking Is Hard commentary on Spotify too many times to count and I've read and watched every interview I can get my hands on. In an interview with Idolator, Petricca commented that "the '80s and some of the '90s was a time when weird was celebrated." It gave meaning to "Shut Up and Dance" and its accompanying video: sure it's a perfect dancefloor soundtrack, but it's also an anthem for the weirdos and the dorks. Petricca told American Songwriter that it's about "encouraging people to let go of whatever it is that's bothering you and get into your body and out of your head".

More and more listens revealed more and more meaning inside these incredibly catchy songs that I couldn't stop singing along to. "Portugal" tells an all-too-familiar story of growing up and growing apart; the music was sorrowful and yet so real that it made me feel at peace. "Iscariot" is about betrayal and "I Can Lift A Car" is about heartbreak. In these songs there is always a tune of overcoming the negative and embracing and spreading the positive ("Down In The Dumps" is entirely about that). Walk the Moon's music is very genuine and honest, which is exactly what makes their music so inspiring and uplifting to me.

As someone who comes from a "punk" background- and who, in a sense, mostly exists in that music space in terms of the shows I cover and the fact that I spent last summer on Warped Tour (and hope to do so again!)- it can feel weird to say I really love a "mainstream" band. But if I've gained anything from listening to Walk the Moon, it's that "weird" is something to be embraced.  

I created this blog in 2011 to write about music that I thought was worth writing about. As a music blogger I occupy an interesting space between pure expressive writing- sharing my own thoughts and feelings- and traditional journalism- telling an unbiased story. Traditional journalism is an important part of what I do- I'll still be doing those pieces, don't worry- but sometimes it's nice to just write something about the music that moves me. I haven't done enough of that in the past few years, and doing it again feels good. It feels… right.

#update #musings #music #music blog #music blogger #music journalist #walk the moon #nicholas petricca

[laurynkranzenglishaccount-blog]

Multimodal Media Review

Lauryn Kranz

Dr. Cicci

English

26 September 2017

     Molly’s playlist consisted of two genres--pop and folk. Molly’s Middle School Jams had an interesting and enjoyable collection of song, starting with a classic pop singer and ending with an upbeat, exhilarating tune that throws millennials back to the presumably not-so-missed middle school dances. Molly’s Middle School Jams has three basic themes throughout the songs on her playlist: romance, “the struggle” and the value of time.

     “Someone Like You” by Adele is a song following a classic love story. Unlike most love songs though, Adele doesn’t go with the typical “girl hates boy” scenario. She shows her maturity through moving on and “wishing nothing but the best” for her ex-lover. Although Adele’s song may be based around a romance that is somewhat typical, her voice is most definitely not. Adele has a unique, exceptional voice that is impossible to be copied. Her vocal range is incredibly broad and Adele is hands down the best vocalist on Molly’s Middle School Jams. Adele is so emotionally connected and bare-boned to her music, it’s difficult not to feel the same thing she is singing. Similarly, “Stubborn Love” by The Lumineers is quickly noticed as a sincere and candid song. “She’ll tear a hole in you, the one you can’t repair. But I still love her, I don’t even care.” These lyrics are touching and real to many and hard to overlook. Like a beating heart, the song has a pulsing tempo that catches and holds your attention on solely “Stubborn Love”. The Lumineers wrote this song showing that a man loves this woman, despite her flaws. “I Will Wait” by Mumford & Sons talks about a particular flaw in his woman--she’s not ready to be with him. Mumford & Sons sings “I will wait, I will wait for you” clearly meaning that he’s prepared to wait for her until she decides what she wants. Mumford & Sons’ “I Will Wait” was the most interesting combination of instruments on Molly’s Middle School Jams. It incorporates both bluegrass and folk by implementing acoustic guitar, piano, bass and banjo.  “I Will Wait” is a quick paced song that draws the audience in within seconds. Comparably, “Madness” by Muse grasps your attention but from a different approach. It describes the mystery in a relationship, feelings changing and growing. Muse sings, “Now I have finally seen the light, now I have finally realized.” He realizes loving her isn’t an option, he needs to. “Madness” is a very relatable song to most people who have been in a relationship; it’s whimsical. Muse incorporated that whimsical side into “Madness” by creating a beat that pulls you in and pushes you out in a pulsing sensation. The song feels (in a good way) out of control almost, and that might have been the point: relationships are crazy and it’s so easy to lose control when people choose to love one another.

     From the struggles of love to the everyday struggles of life; “Lighters” by Bad Meets Evil (ft. Bruno Mars) is an enticing song. It includes both pop and rap, broadening the audience. Bad Meets Evil consists of Royce da 5’9” and Eminem, two rappers from Detroit, Michigan who both struggled as adolescence trying to make it to where they are now. “You and I know what it's like to be kicked down, forced to fight, but tonight we're alright”, references to Royce da 5’9” and Eminem’s past having to fight through what they did as kids, but now they made it to the top, they showed by having Mars sing “This one's for you and me, living out our dreams. We’re all right where we should be.” Mars is able to sweep the heart of his audience by his gift of being able to connect with the lyrics, while Bad Meets Evil was able to connect with the audience by being authentic and open with their pasts to the world. With all of the passion involved in Lighters, it’s easy to say that this was a brilliant collaboration between these three artists. Almost identically, “Some Nights” by Fun is about the lead singer, Nate Russ, and his journey to where he is now in fame. Russ was previously in a band whom he broke apart from to create a new life. He left his family in Arizona and everyone he loved behind, which is easy to tell as he sings, “So this is it. I sold my soul for this? I miss my mom and dad for this?” Russ does an incredible job with expressing himself throughout the entire song. It’s hard to miss the meaning and the pain under his skin. Not all people have a similar story though; not everyone makes it to where they want to be. “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster the People is about a kid, Robert, who’s had a rough life of being the underdog, being abused by family and being bullied by the “kids with the pumped up kicks” and is fed up. Consequently, Robert decides to go on a killing spree. The meaning of the song is very clear and extremely repetitive. “All the other kids with the pumped up kicks. You'd better run, better run, out run my (gun/bullet).” It’s showing the audience a graphic of gun violence and a lack of parental support for this child. Robert is taunting the “kids with the pumped up kicks” by testing them to out run his gun and bullets, which clearly with Robert’s “quick hand” isn’t possible. It’s a very dark and morbid song, but easy to remember due to the fact that Foster the People sing the same lyrics for nearly 70% of “Pumped Up Kicks”. I do have to give them this, though--it was extremely unique and to the point. You definitely don’t hear a song like that every day.

     In certain songs, such as “The Phoenix” by Fall Out Boy, the uniqueness of it is the reason it’s appealing. “The Phoenix” instantly draws the audience in to get a closer listen. It’s the kind of song that will get your heart racing. Fall Out Boy is screaming a battle cry, saying our world is falling apart and that we’re running out of time to fix it. “Hey young blood, doesn't it feel like our time running out?” Fall Out Boy sings, directing to the younger generation, that something needs to be done to change our earth before time runs out. While Fall Out Boy sings that the world needs to be changed, Imagine Dragons in their song “It’s Time” is encouraging people to remain the same. “It’s Time” was an easily relatable song. “Now don’t you understand? I’m never changing who I am.” by singing this, Imagine Dragons is expressing that no matter how far in life they go, no matter how big their career gets and where it takes them, he’s still going to be the same person he was, only with new experiences. “It’s Time” is very straight forward with the meaning, saying to be proud of who you are and to never let anything change who you want to be. Imagine Dragons really hit the nail on the head with writing this fun, confident song that everyone can relate to at some point in their life. “It’s Time” was an inspirational piece of work that allows the audience to really take in the meaning of life. Likewise, “Tonight Tonight” by Hot Chelle Rae makes the listeners examine how much time we waste being upset or not having a good time due to one minor occurrence or the next. It’s a fun, upbeat song based on making a great time out of any situation, Hot Chelle Rae shows this by singing “That life can change, that you're not stuck in vain.” “Tonight Tonight” can get people’s feet tapping in the just first few moments. Hot Chelle Rae wrote a catchy, enjoyable tune that’s always amusing to listen.

     Molly’s Middle School Jams was overall an entertaining, enjoyable and fun selection of music to listen to. She did a great job keeping her music into a small variety of genres, so that it easily made sense to the audience why she selected the songs she did. Molly had some songs that were faster tempoed and catchy, while she also had some slower, more in-depth songs that many people can relate to. Molly’s Middle School Jams also did an exceptional job of using an assortment of songs to make it more interesting and on-edge for the audience so that it never got boring. She chose songs that touched on the classic theme of romance, she selected some that grabbed your emotions by sharing a story of struggle, and others were an inspirational piece about how quickly time goes and to make the most of it. No matter what song you’re listening to on Molly’s Middle School Jams, her music will keep you entertained and hooked to hear more.