January 2025 Recap

Here’s what I’ve been enjoying this month!

Music

• Perverts - Ethel Cain made me feel really present in my body and in the moment I was listening to it, and I’m grateful for that. It’s inspiring me to make whatever I want to and be super unapologetic about it. I’m also looking forward to listening to her NTS.live residency episodes. Check out her Tumblr to learn more about her inspiration and process.
• Angoisse - ALVILDA brings a huge smile to my face. This band is the lovechild of The Cure and Indochine, with four Parisian women at the helm. Their debut record C’est Déjà L’heure is 30 minutes of catchy tunes, and I so wish the lyrics were available online as I overheard so many smart tournures de phrase that highlight their songwriting chops.
• Ankles - Lucy Dacus might be one of my favourite music videos ever. A YouTube comment reads: “Lucy Dacus in love music has me full on kicking my feet like I’m reading a romance novel” and, same. I had only really heard Night Shift and the early Boygenius work, I think I listened to too much Phoebe Bridgers and had sad-song’d myself out at the time. But this hits so different and I’m excited. After seeing the music video and the set design for The Tonight Show performance, I am a total convert, and you’ll catch me streaming Forever Is A Feeling when it releases March 28th.
• I’m super happy I’ve been making the time to listen to KEXP lately. It’s giving me a ton of artists to listen to, old and new. It’s also great for learning about new releases and have something to look forward to– Deep Sea Diver’s Billboard Heart is coming out in a month!

Film

• I was curious about the actress that the gays in the comments section of the Ankles music video were raving about– Havana Rose Liu– and watched Bottoms (2023). Looks like she’s got a great taste in projects, because I loved this too: a campy, queer-wish-fulfilment comedy that’s going right into my comfort movies list. There’s something thoroughly liberating to be watching a storyline unfold where the majority of characters are queer, and comfortably so. Havana Rose Liu’s a standout, with every line delivery and micro-expression on point– my eyes are peeled on that IMDb. Lurker doesn’t have a trailer yet, but is premiering at Sundance this week. Maybe I’ll just watch No Exit in the meantime. Oh, fun fact– Charli XCX scored Bottoms! And has been getting into production and acting too, which I’m curious to follow.
• Really enjoyed this video essay by Thomas Flight deconstructing modernism, postmodernism, and metamodernism in film. My main takeaway is that the reason I loved Bottoms so much (can you tell it’s living rent-free in my head?) is because it felt so sincere. Self-absorbed irony is everywhere and I’m tired of it. I have more thoughts to share on that, hopefully soon.

Games

• Patiently waiting for Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector which is coming out this week! I also got notified that my order of Citizen Sleeper: Design Works + LP + Cycles of the Eye (tarot-based solo tabletop game?) has finally shipped. All good things come at once!

Events

• Fire Aid Benefit Concert is happening on the 30th, and will be streaming across most platforms. Donations can be made directly through the website, and will help rebuild the community across Southern California.
• I’m curious how the pop girlie trifecta of 2024– Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter– will do at the GRAMMYs this week, and what kind of performances they’ll put on, as they sure know how to entertain.

That’s it from me for now!