Cobalt Issue 21 - In Medias Res

Fe a t ur i ng

He r mi t Lo s i n gSi g h t o f Sh o r e Mi d d l eo f t h eNi g h t Hi g ho f t h eMi d d l e

Pr e s i de nt ’ sLe t t e r Iha vet oadmi t , I nMedi asReshasbec omemyf a vour i t ei s s uet owor kon.

Imi ghtbeal i t t l e bi tbi as ed, bec aus et het hemer es onat edwi t hmei nawa ymuc hdeepert hanIexpec t ed.

Al ot ofusar eexper i enc i ngas ens eofmi ddl e, bet weent wos t at es :s omewher ebet weenayoung per s onandaf ul ladul t , mi dwa yi nours t udi es , s t r uc kbyper s onaldi l emmas , wher ebei ngt he mai nc har ac t eri sc hal l engi ngandr ewar di ng.

Bei ngs t uc ki nt hemi ddl eofac t i on, bei ngs t uc k ands i mpl ybei ng–al loft hos ewer eexpl or edbyCobal tc r eat or sandwe’ r ei nvi t i ngyout o di vei nt oac t i onwi t ht hes ebeaut i f ulpages .

Per haps , bei ngi nt hemi ddl ei snott oobadatal l ?

Ma r i a

Co nt e nt s Hai ku Hol l yMay ne

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Her mi t Ni naG

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TheGr eyAr eaBet ween ‘ Ar t ’and‘ Cont ent ’ J amalOj omu

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I nt heMi ds t ,IRel ec t Mohamme dS ul t an

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ACol l ec t i onofPoems i monMi c hal č í k Š

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Los i ngSi ghtoft heShor e Emi l yDor as

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Wor dsHavePower NanaY aaAdu

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her PaperPus Luc yCar t e r

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Wel c omeBas h Ke i t hMul opo

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Mi ddl eoft heNi ght S i e nnaSamr a

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Hi ghoft heMi ddl e Mar i aSe dy kh

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Iam Her e Emi l i a( I nCol l abor at i on wi t hShakeSoc )

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Poem t ot heMi dl eofyourLi f e 20 Te j i nMus t af a

I n Medi asRes-Hai ku

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Ho lly Mayne

T H E GR E Y A R EA BETWEEN ‘ AR T ’ AND ‘ CONTE NT’

So,howdi dwegether e? Tosomeext ent ,onecanpoi nt t hef i ngeratt hegl obalpandemi cwear ei nt hemi ddl eof .

Vi deost r eami ngser vi ceshavebecomeevenmor e popul art hant heyal r eadywer e,asshownbyt heone bi l l i onsubscr i berpeaki nsubscr i pt i onsr eachedi n2020.

Fur t her mor e,t heexpl osi onofpl at f or mssuchasTi kTokl ed t hewayf orcont entt obecomei ncr easi ngl ymi ni at ur i sed andhaspr ovokedot hersoci alnet wor kst of ol l owt hei r l ead.Bot hi nt er netcont entandt hear t shavebeensubj ect t ol ar gechangest omaket hei raudi encesabsor bmor e ‘ st uf f ’ f orl onger ,hencet hemovet owar dsshor t er , r epet i t i vef or mat s.Thear t shavef oundnewcont ai ner s t hatpr of oundl ychangehowt heyar eappr eci at ed;t he pandemi cr ei nf or cedt hedomi nanceoft hesenew packages.

I twoul dber at heri gnor antofmet onotacknowl edget hat ar tandcont enthavef edof feachot herf orages.The cr i t i cal l yaccl ai medani meser i esSer i alExper i ment ’ sLai n ( 1998) ,di r ect edbyt hel at eRyuut ar ouNakamur a,expl or es t hei mpactofear l yf or msofi nt er netcont ent ,suchas emai l s,onaschool gi r l ’ sbehavi ourandper sonalr eal i t y .

ShaunLevy’ sFr eeGuy( 2021)i sf ul lofi nt er t ext ual r ef er encesnotonl yt oot hermovi ef r anchi sesbutt o popul argami ngcont entcr eat or s,whohavedevel opeda l ar gef ol l owi ngbyi nt er act i ngwi t ht hear t s.Ar tandi nt er net cont enthaveal wayshar moni sedwi t honeanot her .

I sar tbegi nni ngt oi mi t at et hef or m andnat ur eof i nt er netc ont entori st her ev er s et r uei ns t ead? Our medi al ands c apehasal r eadygot t ent oapoi nt wher et het woar ei nt er dependentononeanot her f ort hei rs uc c es sbutIt hi nkwear ei nt hemi ddl eof at r ans i t i onper i odl i k enoot her ,wher eas ol i dl i ne c annotbeer ec t edbet weent het wot er ms .Wear e bear i ngwi t nes st oamaj ors hi f ti n t hewaymedi ai s pac k agedand i nt er ac t edwi t h.

Buti ft het woar esoi nt er connect ed,whatexact l ymakes ar t‘ di f f er ent ’ ? Onemayar guet hatar ti ssomewhatmor e ‘ val uabl e’ t hancont ent .Per sonal l y ,If i ndt hi sposi t i ont oo ambi guoussi nce‘ val ue’ i shi ghl ysubj ect i ve.Thear t shave spawnedanent i r eecosyst em ofonl i necont entt hat r eact s,comment sandpar odi essai dwor ks,whi chadd newl ayer sofmeani ng t opr eexi st i ngt ext s.

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Thei mpor t anceoft heor i gi nalar tpi ecesdef i ni t el yshoul d notbedownpl ayedbutt oover l ookt heval ueoft he der i vat i vest hatgr owf r om t hem woul dnotbet hebest deci si onei t her .Wi t ht her i seoft he‘ vi deoessay’ f or mat onYouTube,cr eat or shavebeenabl et opr oduce l ongf or m,i ndept hst udi esaboutal mostanyt opi ct hey seef i t .I naddi t i on,t hepr of essi onalgeart hati savai l abl e t oconsumer st hesedayshasgi vencr eat or st heabi l i t yt o cr eat econt entt hati sonparwi t ht hedocument ar i es f oundonmaj orst r eami ngpl at f or ms.Ont opoft hi s, pl at f or mshavebeenwi l l i ngt opayoutmi l l i onsofdol l ar s t ohi ghpr of i l ecr eat or st opr oducecont entexcl usi vel yf or t hei rwebsi t ebecauseoft heval uet heycr eat ef ort hei r r espect i veaudi ences.Usi ngmoneyasameasur eof val uei sr at herpr obl emat i cbuti ti shar dt odenyt hat i nt er netcont enti sal sowor t hyofmer i t .Cont enti snot i nher ent l yi nf er i ort oar torvi cever sa-t het woj ust pr ovi dedi f f er entsensesofval ue.

Never t hel ess,val uecanbemani pul at ed.Thi si swhyI dr awt hel i newheni tcomest ocr ypt ocur r ency’ spl acei n t hewor l dofar t .Out si deoft heenvi r onment alcost s, vi ewi ngar tandcont entasoneandt hesamei nt hecase ofcr ypt obecomest r oubl esomesi ncet hei rsensesof val uear edr i edoutal mosti nt hei rent i r et y .Ther ecent boom i nt het r adi ngofnonf ungi bl et okens,orNFTsf or shor t ,ar eagr eatexampl eoft hepr ocessof ‘ cont ent i f i cat i on’ f ori t sownsakei npr act i ce.Wi t hout get t i ngt oot echni cal ,t hecr eat i onofanNFTusual l y i nvol vest he‘ mi nt i ng’ ofanar tpi eceusi ngadi gi t al cur r ency .Thi sar tpi ecei st henr egi st er edont oal edger knownast he‘ bl ockchai n’ ,whi chconf i r mst heuser ’ s owner shi poft hespeci f i cdi gi t alasset .Apai nt i ng, i nj ect edwi t hi deol ogyandhumanemot i on,canbe conver t edi nt oasoul l essdi gi t alr ecei pti namat t erof mi nut es.

Ar tdevol vesf r om bei ngat hought pr ovoki ngent i t yt o beengagedwi t h,t oamer ecommodi t yt hatcanbe shownof fonsoci almedi ai nor dert odr um upmor e hypef ort hemar ket .Thi si sunf or t unat el yt her eal i t y f oral mostal lar tt hati spr oducedwi t hi nacapi t al i st syst em.Undert hi sst r uct ur e,ar ti sst r i ppedofal l cont ext ,i nt ent i onal i t yandgr avi t y ,r ender i ngi tan aest het i cassetusedt oat t r actat t ent i on,l i kea cl i ckbai tt humbnai lonYouTube’ st r endi ngpage.

Ther ei sal otofcont entt hatat t empt st obui l dont he or i gi nalwor ki ti scomment i ngonbutNFTsf ai lt odo t hi s.NFTsar eempt yhuskst hatl i ei nt hegr eyar ea bet weenar tandcont entt hatbr i ngnot hi ngexci t i ngt o t het abl e.

WH YD OE ST H I S AL L MA T T E R ?

Bot har tandi nt er netcont entar esuchcr i t i calt ool s f ori nt er pr et i ngwhati sgoi ngonar oundust oday .Al l ofwhatweencount er ,f r om vi r almemest o document ar i es,ar ear ef l ect i onoft hest at et hat soci et yi si n.Thi nki ngaboutt hear torcont entwe comeacr ossi spar tandpar celofanal ysi ng cont empor ar yl i f e.Tome,t hecont i nuous conver genceoft het wosaysal otabouthowwe i nt er actwi t ht hi ngst oday .Ar thasbecomemor eofa pr oductt obeconsumedr at hert hanani deat obe expl or ed.I ncont r ast ,i nt er netcont enthas t r ansf or medhowweengagewi t har t ,pushi ngust o seekoutcomment ar i esorpar odi esofexi st i ngwor ks.

Iam honest l ynotsur ewhet hert hecont i nuous conver genceoft het wot hi ngsi spur el ygoodorbad; f orever ymedi um,t heshi f tcomeswi t hahandf ulof advant agesandaf ai ramountofdi sadvant ages.

However ,whatIam cer t ai nofi st hatwear ei nt he mi ddl eofar at heri mpor t antcul t ur almomentt hatwi l l t r ansf or mt hemedi al andscapeweknowoft oday .

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J AMALO J OMU

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WordsHavePower Fr om c hi l dhood,myear shadbec omeac c us t omedt ot hes obbi ngwhi c h ac compani edepi s odesofpr ay er i nt ongues Al anguagewhi c hIc oul dnev erandwoul dnev erunder s t and y etmadec ompl et es ens e whent hes ewor dshappenedt obounc eof fmyt ongue I nmoment sofi nt ens eandear nes tpr ay er .

Wehadgat her edt oget hert owor s hi p,t oheart heWor d ofGod Wehadgat her edt oget hert opr ay Asi ft oget herourv oi c es ,ourpr ay er sc oul df i nal l ybe l oudenought obehear d,l oudenought obeans wer ed Bec aus ewehadgat her edt oget hert opr ay ( Fors t r engt h,f orgoodheal t h,f orpr ot ec t i on) Bec aus ewor dshav epower Andal l wec oul dof f erwer eourwor dsandours i nc er i t yandourt ear sand ours c r eami ngandourpai n Asanof f er i ng,al i v i ng,br eat hi ng,bl eedi ngof f er i ng Thatc oul dpos s i bl ypl ac at eourGod Ourmer c i f ul gr ac i ousGod

NanaYaaAdu

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WE L C OMEB A SH Thea i r ’ sf r a nt i c .

Pe opl eg yr a t i ng Wi t hc a r na lmus i cbl a r i ngTa bl e sa r enowt i nyda nc e floor s .

Fa c e suponf a c e suponf a c e s : S omef r i e ndl y, ma nyknown, Al otunknown, f e wl e f tc ol d.

Te nde rve s s e l sa r ous e d Wi t hl i quorbundl i ng , Mi ng l i ngwi t hf a l s ee a s e , S omes oe a g e rt opr ovea ndpl e a s e Eve nt houg ht he y’ r es t umbl i ng .

Whe r ei nt hi ss e as he ’ dbe , Thewoma nwhoe ns na r e smy me mor y?

S a tdown.

S hi e l de dbyha nds ome Fa c e s , myhe a r tg a l l opsa the rs i g ht .

We ’ r ef oundone a c hot he r ’ sr a da r , Ye te x pr e s s i onsr e ma i ndor ma ntI ’ m pa r a l ys e dbypr oj e c t i ons Ofs oc i a lbl e mi s he ss ur f a c i ng .

Ami ds tt hel a r g e ,mut a t i ng c l umps Andt hehubbub’ sj oya nd l a ug ht e r , I ’ mr oot e dbyune a s ea nd s ha me : Be moa ni ngmya ve r s i ont o ma s s e s , La me nt i ngmya ve r s i ont o ve nt ur e , Conc e di ngmya ve r s i ont o f ul fil l me nt .

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K E I T HMUL OP O

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HE RMI T

Ni naG

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I n TheMi ds t ,IReflect Moha mme dS ul t a n S u b Ed i t o r in my heart, These are not ripples: gentle and calm This is not the sea, crashing lovely against shore Nor a glacier melting, dripping into a mirror Not the cloud, swimming to rain Nor is it rain, tapping on my skin.

What numbers will I use To describe this chaos Which words to pick To build this poem?

Novelty, a higher high, lust, pain, Insatiated for eternity, I eat my own flesh To murky the blood bleeding Into the seductive gold.

What comes, When I am finished eating And reach my bare heart The last thing to consume My soul in my mouth What will it taste like?

This disturbance 13

Los i ngSi ghtoft heShor e Emi l yDor a s Ca r r i e dbya nunde r c ur r e ntofa ngui s h, Ye ta nc hor e dbyt hewe i ghtoft i me , Fr omt hemi ds toft heoc e a ni t ’ sof t e nha r dt ode f i ne , Thebe gi nni ngofwha twa smi ne .

Ast hes i ghtoft hes hor es t a r t st odi mi ni s h, I nt or o ughr e mna nt st ha tnol onge ra l i gn, Li keaf a de dphot ogr a pht ha twa sonc es t unni ngl ys ubl i me , Ass t r uc t ur e da sabookwi t houtas pi ne Whe r et hepa ge sbe gi nt ot a r ni s h, Re c ount i ngana r r a t i vef or e s ha dowi ngde c l i n e , Thes e aofl i f ei ss hr oude dbyas pur i ouss un s hi ne , Bl i ndi ngmef r omt hemount a i nIha veye tt oc l i mb.

Re a c hi ngt hemi ddl ei snotas i gnt of i ni s h, Butpa r t st hepa s ta ndf u t ur ebyaf i nel i ne , The i rwa ve sc r a s hl i ket wos ur gi ngs e a ss t r uggl i ngt oc ombi ne , ButI ’ l ll e tt hebuoya nc yoft hewa t e rc a r r ymet ot hef i ni s hl i ne .

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P a p e rP u s h e r Luc yCa r t e r Ed i t o r Iwa k eu pe a c hmor n i n ga n dc o n s i d e rmyo p t i o n s .

Ic a n l e a v et h i ss t u p i dj o b , ma k es o me t h i n go ft h el i f eIh a v e l e f t , o rIc a ns t a yp u t .

Ia l wa y sf i n dmy s e l fc h o o s i n gt h e l a t t e r .

I t ’ sp a r a l y s i n g , t h ef e a r .

I tc r e e p si n t omymu s c l e s , myb o n e s , l e a v i n gmeu n a b l et oe v e nr e a c ht h ed o o r , n e v e rmi n dt u r nt h eh a n d l e .

Me t a p h o r i c a ld o o r , o fc o u r s e .

An dh a n d l e .

No tt os o u n dl i k eas e c o n dr a t eWi l l i a m Bl a k e , b u tIk n o wi t ’ sa l li nmymi n d .

Noo n ei ss t o p p i n g mef r o mg o i n g , r u n n i n ga wa y .

Is e emy s e l fr a c i n gd o wna h i l l , t h ewi n di nmyh a i r , t h es u no nmys k i n .

An dt h e nI r e me mb e rI ’ ma l l e r g i ct og r a s ss or e a l i s t i c a l l yi two u l db e mo r eo fat e a r s r u n n i n g d o wn my f a c e , s n e e z ys o r to fa n a f f a i r .

Th i si sh o wmo s to fmyf a n t a s i s i n ge n d s-wi t ha n a b r u p tc r a s hb a c kdo wnt oe a r t ha sr e a l i t yd i s r u p t smy d a y d r e a mi n g .

Th e y ’ r ee n d l e s s , d a ya f t e rd a yo fr e p o r t s , a n du p d a t e s , a n dme s s a g e sf r o mo nh i g h , t e l l i n gu st h a twen e e dt o t we a kh o wwea n s we rt oe ma i l sb e c a u s ec l i e n t s“ j u s t f e e ll i k ewe ’ r eb e i n gt o oa b r u p twi t ht h e m, o k a y ? ”I f y o u ’ r en o tp r a c t i c a l l yg r o v e l l i n ga tt h e i rf e e tt h a n k i n g t h e mf o rh i r i n gy o ut h e ny o u ’ r er u d e , s n a p p y , b i t c h y , “ a b r u p t ” .

I ’ dr a t h e rb ei no n eo ft h o s ec u b i c l e s .

Atl e a s t t h e nIwo u l d n ’ th a v eaf r o n tr o ws e a tt ot h ep a t h e t i c a t t e mp t sa to f f i c er o ma n c et h a tg oo na r o u n dh e r e .

Ig u e s sIs h o u l db eg r a t e f u l .

Ih a v eaj o b , a n da l lIr e a l l y h a v et od oi ss e n de ma i l s , mo v ep a p e r sa r o u n do nmy d e s k , a n ds o u n ds o me wh a te n t h u s i a s t i ca b o u tt h e c o mp a n ye t h o s , o rv a l u e s , o rwh a t e v e rb u z z wo r dt h e y c h o o s ee a c hwe e k .

Bu tt h i sp l a c ed r a i n sme .

Iwa k eu p e v e r yd a yf e e l i n gt h es a me , d o i n gt h es a met h i n g s , j u s t wa n t i n gt oe n di ta l l , myj o bo rmyl i f e , t h et woo ft h e m Fo rmo s to fmyl i f eIt h o u g h tt h a two r k i n ga ta no f f i c e s ot i e dt o g e t h e rt h a tId o n ’ tk n o wwh i c hwo u l dd i ef i r s t . wo u l db eg r e ya n dd e p r e s s i n g , l i k ei ti si n9 0 sf i l ms ;r o ws I ’ mb e i n gd r a ma t i c , o fc o u r s e .

Bu tI ’ mt r a p p e db e t we e n u p o nr o wso fl i t t l ema k e s h i f tc u b i c l e s , t h eh u mo f t woo p t i o n s , n e i t h e ro fwh i c ha r ev e r ya p p e a l i n g .

Is t a y f l u o r e s c e n tl i g h t sa n dt h er a t t l eo fk e y b o a r d sa sp e o p l e h e r e , a n dn o t h i n gc h a n g e s ;o rIl e a v e , a n df a c et h e i n p u td a t aa n du s es p r e a d s h e e t si nas o me wh a tc o mp e t e n t u n k n o wn , b o t ho fwh i c hf e e ll i k et h e yh a v emo r ec o n s ma n n e r .

I t ’ swo r s e .

Su r e , t h eo p e np l a nd e s i g ni sl e s s t h a np r o s .

He n c et h ep a r a l y s i s . s t i f l i n gt h a nt h o s es t u f f yc u b i c l e s , b u tt h a td o e s n ’ ts t o p mewa n t i n gt oj u mpo u to ft h et a s t e f u lf l o o r t o c e i l i n g , p r i me r e a l e s t a t ewi n d o wse v e r yt i memyma n a g e rc a l l s u sa l li nf o ra“ q u i c kc h a t ” .

Li k ee v e r ye v e n i n g , Is e tmya l a r mf o rt h en e x td a ya n d f a l li n t ob e d .

An dl i k ee v e r ye v e n i n g , It h i n kt h a tma y b e I ’ l lk n o wwh a tt od oo n c eI ’ v eh a ds o mer e s t .

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MI DDL EOF T HENI GH T

Asongaboutt aki ngi tsl ow,easi ngi nt ot her hyt hm of t hemundaneandappr eci at i ngt hepr esent ,Apl i n devi at esf r om herEngl i shi ndi er oot sanddabbl esi n R&B.Youcanr eadt hesongasanode,si mi l art oJohn Keat s’“Odet oaNi ght i ngal e”i fyouwantt ogot hat f ari nt ol i t er ar yhi st or y ,butApl i nt al ksabout l i ber at i on.Shebr i ngscol ouri nt oal lt he huesofbl ueyouseei nt hemi ddl eof t heni ght ,maki ngyouexci t edf ort he r ol l i ngsunr i set hat ’ sgoi ngt ocr eep abovet hehor i zonshor t l y ,ohso soon.Bi r dschi r pi ngi nt he backgr ound,t hel i st eneri st hr ust i nt oami ddl eoft hegar denwher e t heyl i st ent ot hi ssongwi t hver y l i t t l er ushandj ustgr oovewi t h Apl i n’ sdel ect abl evocal s.

SK Y L I GH T

G AB R I E L L EAP L I N S i e nnaS a mr a Ed i t o r

H AI M

3 AM

I fyou’ r ekeen,t her e’ st heThunder catf eat ur eoft hi ssongont he del uxever si onoft hei ral bum Womeni nMusi cPar tI I I .Butnot hi ng compar est ot heor i gi nal .Hai m,abandf or medoft hr eesi st er swho ar eavi dpr omot er soft hei rJewi shf ai t h,r el easedt hi sal bum i n2020.

Whi l et hesongi sn’ tappl i cabl eenoughf ora3am movi emont age( t he wi t chi nghouri sal wayssynonymouswi t hdeep,r el axi ng,ambi ent musi c) ,t hi ssongi st heper f ectwayt oki ckst ar tt hepl ayl i st .Thesong i saboutaboot ycal l ,andweal lknow whent hosel ovet omaket hei r unsol i ci t edappear ance.I t ’ sf unky ,i t ’ sf r esh,i t ’ sal soawayf ort he bandt odi pt hei rt oesi nt oal i t t l ebi toft echni col ourR&B andj ustl i ke al lgr eatwomeni nmusi c,eschewi ngmenandt hei runi ver salwaysof sext i ng.

I t ’ sal laboutt hosesadboyhour swheni tcomest o t hemi ddl eoft heni ghtandt hati swhatPol achek doeswi t hnotonl yt hi ssongbutt heent i r et yof herdebutal bum Pang.Theal bum cent er sont he sadel ement sofbei ngheadoverheel s,soi nl ove i thur t s,i thur t ssomucht hatshedemandsher l overt ohi thersoi thur t senought of eeli t .Thi s songi saboutexper i enci ngt hechangesi nher l i f ewi t houtbei ngabl et ocont r olt hem,wher e shef eel s“l i keabut t er f l yt r appedi nsi dea pl ane”.Monot onouswi t ht heenunci at i onof hersyl l abl es,t hesongevokesr epet i t i onwi t h how t hr oat yhervocal sar e.I tsoundsl i ke she’ st al ki ngmor et hanshei ssi ngi ng, h a v i n g a c o n v e r s a t i o n wi t h t h e l i s t e ner ,a 16 hear t t ohear tasshedemandst obehi t .

H I TMEWH E R EI TH UR T S C AROL I NEP OL A C H E K

1 1 : 1 1 T AE Y E ON

“11: 11”i sasongbyKor eansi ngerTaeyeon,soyeah,i t ’ si nKor ean.( Geni usi sr i ght t her ef oryout ol ookupl yr i ct r ansl at i onsandj ustbecausei ti si nadi f f er ent l anguagedoesnotmeanyoucan’ tappr eci at egoodmusi c) .Thesongshowsa par al l elbet weent hedaycomi ngt oacl oseandt hemoment spr i ort oacoupl e’ s separ at i on.I t ’ sal laboutwi shes,count i ngonst ar sandnumber sdet er mi ni ngyour t r aj ect or yi nl i f e.Wi t hTaeyeon’ sl i ghtanddel i cat evocal sbei ngaccompani edbyt he gent l eacoust i cofagui t ar ,t heEngl i shr ef r ai n“Ibel i eveI ’ l lbeoveryou”peeksi nt o t henar r at i veandbr i ngst hel i st enert oahyper awar enessoft hei rownemot i ons.

Heavi ert hesubj ect ,t hegent l ert hemusi ci s–i swhatTaeyeonappear st ogoby , i nt r oduci ngasenseofcal mr i ghtbef or et hest or m,orr i ghtbef or ei tt ur nsmi dni ght andyouf ol di nonyour sel f ,succumbi ngt oyourdeepemot i onalwoundsofl oss.

Now,t her e’ sanabundanceofwomeni nt hi spl ayl i st ,butmyper sonalgot o f ormal evocal si nt heni ghtwoul dhavet obeDaveBayl ey ,t he si nger songwr i t er pr oduceroft heband.Thi ssonghadashout outbacki n t hesummerwhenIwr ot emyt opf i veal bumsf ort hesummer ,andi twi l l now makeanot herappear anceasIgoi nt odept habouti t sbeaut y .“Hel i um” i sr eser vedf ort hoseni ght swher et hesuni sbegi nni ngt oset ,youcansee i tt eet er i ngont heedgebef or ei tsl i psaway ,unseen,andi ti sonl yyoul ef t .

Ther e’ sar easonwhyt heal bum i scal l edDr eaml andandt heout r ooft he songsol i di f i est hathazyescapeofsl i nki ngi nt oREM,f eel i ngyourl i mbsgo l ooseandyourmi nddr i f taway .I t ’ sal laboutl ove,i t ’ sal laboutr el at i onshi p, buti t ’ sal laboutt hatf l ui dnessofhow dynami cl i f ei s.

H E L I UM

GL A SSANI MAL S

Fusi ngJapaneseCi t yPopwi t hawest er nnar r at i ve,AbelTesf aye( TheWeeknd) honour sTomokoAr an’ s“Mi dni ghtPr et ender s”i nt hi st r ack.He’ sdi st r essed, beggi ng,pl eadi ng,al mostf r ant i ci nt hi ssongf ort her et ur nofhi sl overandt he cal m cl assi csampl ei nt hebackgr oundi smocki ngl ysar doni casi tpokesf unat Tesf aye’ scr ooni ngf orasecondchance.Somepeopl enot i cedt hatt hi ssong hasaver ysi mi l arsongst r uct ur et o“IFeelI tComi ng”andt hatt heset r acks canbeover l appedwi t heachot herorcanbel i st enedt oconsecut i vel yt ohear t hedownf al lorel evat i onofTesf aye.Ji m Car r ey’ somi nousvoi cei shypnot i cat t heend,mani pul at i ngt hel i st enerwi t h“don’ tyoudar et oucht hatdi al ”, cont r ol l i ngt hem t ohal tt hei ract i onst ober et ur nedt ot hemoder ndaywaveof popmusi cwi t hsongst hatsoundnear l yi dent i cal .They’ r est ucki nt hepast , j ustl i keTesf ayewhosubmer geshi msel fi nmemor i est hatar ei nescapabl e.

OU TOFT I ME

T H EWE E K ND

Lucover sBr i t i shband10cc’ s1970shi t .Acompar i soni snecessar y bet weent het wobecausewhi l e10ccel evat est hesongt obea summersoj our nser enade,wher et her ei sanabundanceof r omant i cf eel i ngt hatappear st obehei ght ened,Lut r ansf or mst he coveri nt oami dni ghtmour ni ngsong.Thesongf l uxesbet ween f ami l i arandf or got t en,r evi vi ng10cc’ shi t .I t ’ st heper f ectsongt o l i st ent owhenyou’ r egr i evi ngf ort hel ossofaf r i end,al over ,f or yourpastsel f ,f oral lt het hi ngsyouwant edt osaybutyounevergot achance.I nst ead,youwi peyourt ear saway ,ut t er“bi gboysdon’ tcr y” underyourbr eat handski pt ot henextsongont hi spl ayl i st .Ihi ghl y r ecommendl i st eni ngt obot h10ccandLu’ ssongsbackt oback,j ust t oheart henuancesLudel i ver si nt hesong,whi l est i l l st ayi ngt r uet ot heor i gi nalandappr eci at i ngi t .

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I MNO TI NL O V E K E L SE YL U

T H EH I GHOF

Ma r i aS e dy kh P r e s i d e n t

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T H EMI D D L E ul mi na t i o no ft hec hur c hc ho i r ,pi e r c i ng Thes we l l i ngo ft hec he s twi t hde e pe s tbr e a t hi ngi n Thec s t r a i g h t t h r o u g h me . be f o r et hemi ndf ulbr e a t hi ngo ut .

Thec he s t ypa i na ndwhe e z i nga f t e rl a ught e r .

L a ug hi ngs o memo r e .

L i s t e ni ngt opo ps i ng e r st a ki ng e a c hbr e a t hbe t we e nt hel y r i c s .

Thef i na lc r unc ho fabr a nc h unde rmyf o o t .

Wa l k i ngs o s i l e nt l ya tni ght t ha tIdo n’ t he a rmyo wn s t e psi nt he da r ka nd di s a ppe a r .

Ca t c hi ngaf l e e t i ngi de aa tt hemo me ntl a s t .

Ca t c hi ngaf r e s hr a i ndr o po nl i pss a l t e dwi t hs we a t .

Be i ngs ot i r e dt ha te a c hmus c l ehums ,buz z e s ,a c he s .

F a l l i ngi nt oas pl i t .

Ri s i ngs oqui c kl yt ha tv i s i o n bl a c k e nsf o rawhi l e .

S c r a t c hi nga ni t c h.

Tur ni ng t het a pt oma k ewa t e rho te no ughf o rbo i l i ng my s e l f .

Bo i l i ngmy s e l fi nt hes ho we r .

Thef i r s tpuf f o fbr e a t hi nt hec hi l l ya i r .

S o meho bb ys pi l l i ngo uti nt oo bs e s s i o n.

L o o s i ngmy s e l fi nmus i c ,f i ndi ngmy s e l fi nc ha o t i c da nc e s .

Thei de a lr i po fgr a pes ki ni nmymo ut h.

Thi ngss os we e tt ha tma k emyt hr o a ta c he .

Thebr i e f hy pno s i so ft hef l o wi ngwa t e r .

F l a me ss oe nt i c i ng a ndv i br a ntt ha tImi ghtj us tt hr us tmyha ndi nt o t hef i r e .

Thel a s tr e ds l i v e ro f t hes unbe f o r ei t s e t s .

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