#For Throwback and Soul-Inspired Fans:

[instructionsonback]

[thatimageoftomscott]

Finding out Tom met the rest of TechDiff at “Douglas Adams Society” fan club at university literally answers every single question I’ve ever had about them.

So much of Tom in general is so easily understood when I realized he’s a massive dweeb about Hitchhikers Guide. His content is so inspired by Adams’ deadpan and earnest and nihilistic sensibilities.

I need to know if he’s a Ford/Arthur fan. More than anything else in the world just need to know what his top H2G2 ships are because if it’s Arthur/Fenchurch I will be devastated beyond belief. I will take Ford/Zaphod as consolation.

Also place your bets now: was he more of an Arthur Dent kinnie or a Ford Prefect kinnie. The argument could be made he sees himself like Arthur, an Everyman coming to his own; but I also think Tom has the whimsy in his soul to the point he equally could have seen himself in the chaos that is Ford, trying to do all and see all.

godd ive been meaning to read that book for so long. im really gonna have to get around to it at some point. so yeah sadly for now your references kinda fly over my head but of course tom is a huge hitchhikers guide to the galaxy fan. that man is obsessed with sci-fi. also throwback to that one time he went to only connect with yet more people from the douglas adams society from york and their team name was the hitchhikers. obviously i have no opinion on which character he might find more relatable because again i havent read the book but 1) ive definitely seen people compare him to ford before 2) that one time on this podcast appearance (around 45:00) where he said that his brain mostly focuses on the world building instead of the characters has stuck with me because i thought it was so interesting. i need to study that man. but maybe this doesnt apply here i have no proof at all !!! people who HAVE read the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy place your bets here:

[haydenyoungappreciationweek]

(this amazing poster was made by the brilliant @sazanes!!)

It's our third year of the Hayden Young Appreciation Week!! (or fourth, if you include our one-day HYAD celebration in 2022 😄)

Hayden Young will always have a special place in our hearts, because they were first character that we (hosts @lizzybeth1986 and @sazanes) ever ran an appreciation week for, back in 2020! Now 4 years later, we still experience the same love, passion and joy this character brings, with so many other players!!

Hayden's birthday is around the corner, and as usual, we hope to celebrate it in style! We hope you can join us.

HYAW 2024 will happen from Sept 25th-29th, and we have a range of great topics you can choose for your pieces:

Day 1 - Sept 25 - Character Appreciation/Vacation

Day 2 - Sept 26 - Throwback/Pizza

Day 3 - Sept 27 - Soul/Changes

Day 4 - Sept 28 - Relationships/Psyche

Day 5 - Sept 29 - Happy Birthday Hayden!!

Any form of creative, original work is welcome - fic, art, meta, edits, moodboards, interactive media, headcanons...even screenshots of your favourite Hayden moments! The only rules are that they show a positive depiction of Hayden, and that the works center Hayden as a character. We will also accept WIPs and it is not necessary for the pieces to be put up only on the day of the theme. We also have a specific day for throwback pieces where you can share older stuff and even take us through the process of creating it if you like (here's an ask list that may help!)

Make sure you tag @haydenyoungappreciationweek, as well as hosts @lizzybeth1986 and @sazanes in your content. It would also be helpful if you used #haydenyoungappreciationweek and #HYAW in your tags!

For inspiration, you can always refer to our previous years' masterlist: HYAW 2020 | HYAD 2022 | HYAW 2023.

Various fan content blogs have helped us immensely in promoting the events, and run a range of amazing events themselves!! Check them out here: @choicesficwriterscreations, @choicesmonthlychallenge, @choicespride, @choicesprompts, @choicesholidays, @wordwarriors, @choicescommunityevents. If there are any other Choices fan content/appreciation blogs you'd like us to give a shoutout to, do let us know!

We have a month to go before we enter HYAW 2024, and we'd love to get signal boosts from the fandom! If you know any Hayden stans who would love to participate/consume content, do tag them too!

Hope to see you all at the end of September, to celebrate Hayden's birthday!! ❤️❤️

✅✅signal boosts will be much appreciated!!✅✅

[vinylspinning]

Queens of the Stone Age: Era Vulgaris (2007)

I still can't decide whether this triple 10-inch format for an album that runs a very conventional 47 minutes is really cool or terribly pretentious, but then, there's a lot I still can't decide about 2007's Era Vulgaris.

What I do know (or think I know, anyway) is that Queens of the Stone Age mastermind Josh Homme decided that a creative pivot was in order for his band's fifth studio LP, after seeing the inventive and eccentric formula of 2000's Rated R and '02's Songs for the Deaf grow stale on 05’s Lullabies to Paralyze.

As I wrote in this piece for Loudwire, Era Vulgaris found Homme seeking inspiration in the frustrations of urban living, like the tension of L.A. traffic (hey, whatever works!), to deconstruct the Q.O.T.S.A. sound into shorter, simpler songs with sharper edges.

However, this stylistic transition felt a little jarring to longtime fans like myself (and tellingly galvanized previously indifferent critics -- go figure), who didn't quite know what to make of the mechanical dissonance and nervous twitch of cuts like "I'm Designer," "Misfit Love," and "Battery Acid."

Along with first single "Sick, Sick, Sick," these songs marked a stark and definitive schism from Q.O.T.S.A.'s desert-inspired stoner rock heritage in Kyuss, but they did allow Homme and co. to embrace a cold clinical, almost pseudo-electronic brand of post-new wave.

Oh, of course there were throwbacks, such as the Mark Lanegan-crooned "Into the Hollow," the catchy staccato grooves of "3's & 7's," and the creepy easy-listening of "Suture Up Your Future," all of which my ears gobbled down like so much musical comfort food.

And in the strutting, strolling, falsetto-spiked curiosity, "Make it Wit Chu," the band delivered a Third Millennium update on The Rolling Stones' "Miss You" or "Emotional Rescue," which I previously described as "zombie soul" for reasons I can no longer remember.

Whatever it means, you gotta admit it sounds kind of cool ...

Anyway, due to all of these mixed feelings, Era Vulgaris has never quite won me over, but it has grown on me over time, and I've never denied that Q.O.T.S.A. were ripe for a change, at the time.

Unfortunately, Interscope Records felt differently and subsequently dropped the band, freeing Homme to explore other projects like the supergroup Them Crooked Vultures, the anything-but-super Eagles of Death Metal, and even production work for the Arctic Monkeys.

By the time he reconvened Queens of the Stone Age for 2013's ... Like Clockwork (released, as have been its successors, through indie Matador Records), the group's best work was unquestionably behind them, but they are still sometimes capable of exciting and confounding listeners partial to head-scratching music in equal measures.

More Queens of the Stone Age: Queens of the Stone Age, Rated R, Songs for the Deaf, Lullabies to Paralyze, … Like Clockwork.

[ivanajpeg]

ODESTA WEEK (DAY 4 THROWBACK)

Where Finnick helps Annie collecting seashells (After Finnick's games/ before Annie's games)

Note 1: this was mostly inspired in the AO3 fanfic "where soul meets body" where it says that Annie before her games used to sell jewelry made of seashells

Note 2: English is not my first language, I swear I'm trying my best

Hope you enjoy it <3

After his games, Finnick didn't had true friends. The only person that was there for him was Annie.

They met before Finnick's games. It was when their families ran to each others on a fishing point. Finnick saw that Annie was struggling with fishing, so he decided to help her. from that day on they became good friends.

Annie was a bit shy at first, the normal thing when you meet someone new but as time when on she was more confident arround him.

Annie wasn't a fan of fishing, so she diced to make jewelry with different types of seashells, ropes for nets and all kinds of sea stuff, even fishing gear.

Finnick thought that was relaxing. Sometimes he would be next to her while she was working. His favorite part was collecting things with her, it was a perfect excuse to spend more time with her.

Also in his free times he would collect thing by himself that she could use. Almost everytime he would sell them with her. It wasn´t a secret that whe Finnick was there, she would sell more, just because there was "Finnick Odair". Finnick would always tell her how talented she was and that the whole world should see her art.

At the moment, Finnick was walking by the shore. Annie was still on school, because he was a victor, he didn't had to go to school anymore. During his walk he found a shell really big and pretty, he placed it in a special place to keep it safe, he knew Annie would love it. Together they had found a special and secluded place on the beach, they would spend their afternoons talking and enjoying their company.

Finnick was there first, obviously. The day was beautiful and he was really exited. Mags had prepared for them some pastries, he would always talk about her, and he always dreamed of taking Annie with him to meet her.

Shortly after, Annie arrived.

"Finn! Hi!" she said excitedly

"Annie! you're here! I have some things for you"

"Really? For me?" she said even more excited

"Just for you" he pulled out the shell and gave it to her

"Wow! Finn... thank you, you didn't had to"

"Is my way of thanking you" he said with a smile "besides, Mags knew I was coming so... she baked us this" he pulled out the pastries.

"They look so good! I got hungry by just looking at them" she looked at them "Mags must be really nice and she must love you a lot"

"She's been like a mother to me since... well, you know. One day I'll take you home for dinner, she also wants to know the pretty girl i always talk about"

"I'll be honored" she laid her head on his shoulder.

Finnick laid his head over Annie's, he would give anything to stay in this moment forever.

"Finn... I brought something for you too" she started looking through her things "I hope you like it, I worked really hard on it"

Annie pulled out of her bag a very beautiful necklace. it was made of different stones, ropes, and complicated knots, it aslo had really pretty shells.

"Annie... this is..." it left her speechless. he was used to receive expensive, fancy and superficial jewelry from capitol people, but no one compared to this. Just knowing that Annie made him especially for him, that no one else would had anything like it made him feel special and loved "thank you... really. no one has ever give me something this special"

"Don't thank me. You've been the best friend ever and I really wanted to make something special to you, you deserve it" she said smiling.

"I swear I'm never taking it off, this is gonna be a way to have you always with me, no matter where I am" he smiled back "I think... I think I love you, Annie"

"I think I love you too, Finn"

Finnick didn't broke his promise until the day he died, he never took it off. In that moment he realized that Annie had stolen his heart completely.

[amanminushkusunminush]

an artist whose page i lurk has found a lifelong love in the Shark. its inspiring.

as in モイス茶san has inspired some love for the shark in me by proxy. i love her art style and now i also want a pet shark. good fashion good colour palette for both 1p and 2p (who designed him. i want to guess hiromi or akaman.) good songs (due to mickey masashi...i miss himb.) good accent(19, tune st: he uses 'da be" particle. kanto boy) good butt ( good seizureful animations (due to old popn). his FEVER kicks ass but dont lookat it for too long. do. not spend too long analysing the top of his head either.

mmmmwhat the fuck is this haircut. who di d this. physics? can i get a deconstructed wireframe of that to go? my impression is of a faux-hawk with some really heavy volume in the bangs or whatever. it has as name i'm sure but i hate it and what i mean by that is i hate thinhking about drawing it. fucking smug pinocchio face. i want to catch and release him like a sea bass.

warning: about to throw up abunch of thoughts. could you pass me a bucket? thanks.

the eckspand line is wavy like the ocean. apropolonios of nothing.

i think he's a japanese saw shark. prietiophorus japonicus. look at this fucking thing.

lean? mean ass eyes? pinkish? biding its time alone at the sea floor? the fucking rostrum? ordained by the gods alwaus stuck in the air? all ticked.

the decal on the back of his jacket is cool as fuck (a shortfin mako braving a seastorm?) and i want it uprezzed.

(a frame of his anims from the AC/CS1-5 illustration book, hosted on the Archive. thank you vorbnbass mwah . this sassy fucking hip. i cant w him. its even worse in his default sprite b4 the song starts. look at it. what is this. what is with the masashis having all this back. yk beside leicars. god.)

in the bg of his miss animation there are Words but theyre hard to read if i had the background isolated i could read those Words back there. speaking of. i should tell you this man is a big fan of words. he writes poetry did you know that. like secretly. kossori. i wonder what his muses are or his favourite meters. he and kagome need to compare notes.

from the arcadia poster. now unless this is blood. or fruit juice - this means the nose is of age to drink so he is at least 20 if this is any help. unnecessary side note but i like being thorough. i think he is abt 22. ok moving on.

he has an affinity for the occident but like retro. funk is a very american invention. US HARD ROCK (2p but still). UK pop '80. hes so fucking glam with the leather and the heavy makeup. unless those are his real eyelashes. is hhe just that beautiful.

(in this row: render courtesy of wiki, thank you weaky. 2nd and 3rd is from the SPECIAL page on the CS9 site.)

i will call this outfit out too because it is inhumanely 70s. this fucking animal print open chest disco blazer. and then he may be wearing bell bottoms (they are really bunched up at the bottom is my only evidence as to why) ? but they are tucked into his shin boots london punk style. this color palette is just instantly reminiscient of soul train. but then the makeup stays unchanged. im so. intrigued. with this fit. all he needs now is a big fuckoff piece of jewelry and he'll be good to get on the plane back to the inner city club that burped this up. suit and morry are spiritually inspector zenigata and arsene lupin (lup3 being another 70s property) so of course theyre having fun with it.

tidbit: shark did not orchestrate this getup himself. a fan of his band sent it in. and he loved it. so maybe that means he would orchestrate this getup himself given enough time on the throwback station. he is a young man trying to bring back the groove. very brave choices in uniform for being so self conscious. (○んぼ's story is that he was looking at some CD by a big time artist for art reference and the rest of staff thought it was so cool. someone said "shark would serve mad kunst in this" and it was over. ) ..... did he lose weight in 9 or is it just me????????

(in this row: first image courtesy of the CS5 underground site. the next i found invideos of gameplay and the omake movies for 9 courtesy of EZ2VJ. the last one is from the RANRAN illust. book. found it on モイス茶's page with a photoset which ill ref again in a minute.)

teeny tiny fucking Suit jumpscare. he might be standing farther away or something but the. the perspective. he looks Miniscule. also the tobys my sweeties. maybe this is how he meets hugh. and then they come to work toogether part time at the popn cafe. hey hey hey the point: work uniform. timbs and all.

i love the way his shirt hangs off/is wide on his shoulders and his jeans crinkle its cute. and: it doesnt violate dress code for the book store/library. a win. is he inthe habit of wearing clothes too big for him offstage? burikko shark? i'm kidding don't shoot. but maybe. kind of. dude why are you wasting eyeshadow youre at work. he just serves no matter where he goes. or he is insecure of the way his face looks without makeup on. the sheen did disappear from his hair though so maybe he uses oils and gels and shit and only has time for one or the other. look at him flipping pancakes ( ??? ) back there. he is at peace he is in his element.

(remember the photoset i mentioned from 3 paragraps ago? thank you based moisu <3 <3 <3 these be sketches for the CS9 all stars omake....

another thanks to EZ2VJ mwah mwah. bonus potomitoruto. and hoshio. child labour at the popn cafe.)

(this is from the V Rare Soundtrack (7). popn legos. this was not a real figure collection on konamistyle bc god is dead.)

if you look here he can wear better fitting clothes he just does not fucking feel like it most of the time. something abt him in waiter attire after knowing what his fashion sense is really like is funny. ig the contrast bw him in life in the world and him on the job is funny overall. can u imagine as a fan seeing him at pop'n books (or at the cafe when it opened in universe). "hey! its the sexy funk rock man! the makin love to the bone man! the strugglling to not die when customers make eye contact with him man! what!"

(they do breakfast lunch (i see garnish on soramames dishes so maybe dinner?) and dessert fuck. sign me up. konami bring back this moe for ham&fist. the ground has never been more fertile.)

this is a very cute desktop wallpaper from the pop'n world website but for the point, direct yourself to the nose on the top right. i will not lambaste this outfit because i am biased towards jumpsuits and coveralls and shit like that. its hard to tell whether its grey or blue its so golden in there. is it sunset? everything is put down backstage for the day. nobody's around but him and his poetry and his tunes. i would say hes so emo but no he llikes colours too much. and he likes friends. canon. its on his card.

SHARK "Vocalist of a popular local indie band. The songs he sings are borderline, but is it true he's really quite a shy guy?" BIRTHDAY: Nov 27 (hi shollkee hi fili <3) BIRTHPLACE: Yokohama HOBBY: Writing poetry in secret. FAVOURITE: Friends DISLIKE: My easily flustered nature/tendency to clam up (i presume that would be the intended reading of agatte in his context.) MUSIC: FUNK ROCK (+US HARD ROCK, +UK POP '80)

fucking adorable. what a button. a button with sex appeal. fantastic. this is the kind of man kirarin would lose her fucking mind about

he clearly wants to be better about socialising and not letting his shyness control him. his appearances keep saying how he's not ready to face the audience. like hes always performing with his back turned bc he chokes facing forward. i mean are his bandmates helping to coach him through this? do they have his back? i would like to think theyre friends and it would be sad if they werent because he doesnt have it in him to get closer but. konami wont feed me so ill never know either way. and speaking of the fucking band how convenient that they should bring me to part troix. or cuatro. whos counting.

the great deceit with shark is that he is just one man. this may seem fine. but this is blatant band erasure. on his desc in the CS5 site, on his normal card AND cited in kaimei riddles you are told he is the lead vocalist of a locally famous indie band. indies band. it's spelled indies but that is what i tmeans. band. band. damnit. where is the band. they dont even have a name. what is their structure how do they self promote? who's in charge of what? how long have theybeen at this? is it all a lie? am i dead? is the milkman here yet?

all you ever see is sharky. even in his animations silhouettes of bandmates arent even suggested. dude never made it out of CS purgatory and afaik there is no concept art of the definitive sharksquad. if there was i would have seen fanart already. i want this remedied. posthaste. by 7:30 tomorrow morning or the rostrum gets it.

to me they are like this if OJ sang instead of played saxophone. konami confirm or deny

i wrote a bunch of dumbie names down but i cant tell if they roll off the tongue enough grr. grrrrgghghh. i had uh

Skeleton Coast (スケレトンコースト / shortened スケレコ)

The Wreck of Essex (ザ・レックオヴエセックス / shortened Essex or レクエセ)

綾歌士 (Ayakashi / sometimes ア・ヤ・カ・シ, or A8K4)

海人殺 (Kaininzatsu / shortened KNZ)

海女イーター (Ama Eater)

引き下ろしら (Hikioroshira / shortened HKOR)

a lure (always lowercase / sometimes アルア)

OLD THUNDER (オルドサンダー / always uppercase, shortened オルサン)

MAD AHAB (マッド・エイ��ブ / always uppercase, shortened エイハブ)

Typhoon (sometimes 颱, Taifuu)

ATTACK (always uppercase / st spelled アッタック)

yes OLD THUNDER and MAD AHAB are references to mobius dickley. can you tell im going to all great lengths to theme this band after the sea abd things in it? out of all of these i think i like "a lure" "海女イーター" and "The Wreck of Essex" the best. thinking about Hikioroshira and ATTACK too. yes. yes that is a shark attack joke. please collect your busted guts before going home.

today looking at that made me think "i can take the gimick further. i can name all the members after oceanic or even freshwater predators." and then we can have something like Crocodile attack. or Snapper attack. or BP attack. you get the picture.

(1 is from the CS 1-5 illustration book. i will talk about that beautiful stud on the left later. i forgot where i saved this second one from but its probably from the RANRAN illustration book. it might have been モイス茶, a great big thanks to her if so.)

this provides groundwork for shark not just lead singing but also guitarring. this is not the last time you see him and hayata together so itd be cool if fireboy was part of the band. ( please note the flame decal on the guitar case. could it be borrowed???? fuck yeah??? ) but then formula 1 is his whole deal and guitarring is only a hobby. given you pretty much almost never see shark play an instrument after this i have the thought that he's taking lessons from hayata bc theyre cool (met up during CS5). fire and ice friendship. very cute.

(arigatou wiki. for hosting this holy print. mwah.)

i will call the hayata+shark combination yakizame bc see. i have jsut intelligently created a need that will never be fiilled because the interaction is too fringe. now i have to pioneer some shit only i will care about. calll that a fucking tuesday.

band memebers i was talking about band members i prommise im not senile?

TANGENT

before anything else i want to clarify something abt my thoughts concerning 2p. a lot of ppl have different opinonions. i subscribe to the thought that they are the memories of importanr ppl places or things in ones life manifested into an imitation the best your body can express it.

the series very vocally. and repeatedly expresses that just because a sprite looks like someone doesnt mean it is that person at all. especially in earlier games where whole characters were just palette swaps like sanaechan and reokun. think about them ttoo. yk. them. clara vs hotaru or yurichan vs margaret or fat boy vs bomber. all popn stage examples uh. dont pay attention to that. s/t 2p are just different ppl altogether like karoline & yangels or latte & lotte. or you have stuff like makoto's 2P in 5 being a ref to ash. if i remember right in pmp2 something happened to hushman to bring out his 2P and he suddenly started talking a lot smoother and changed his ademeanor up. i think im onto smth there wrt what im saying but i dont have enough lore. AAAAAwhat else is new.

in the end the student copy looks like you besides minor cosmetic changes like colours. but its not you. its your dead grandma. its your fourth grade math teacher. its fucking. hatsune miku. the imitations are as perfect +visceral as your memories.

this is made possible partially due to ? and emzee's magic. god says this gives an opponent to anyone without anyone to play with. like a ghost in mario kart. unlike in mario kart this could have horrible psychological consequences despending on who your souldecides is important enought o conjure a temporary body for. usually they can only be summoned when youre playing popn but if you know the right spells you can have access to them basically whenever.that shit is arcane knowledge for a reason and you rly rly shouldnt. this is how you get 2P colours with dedicated tracks. those ones gained a level of independence.

this can be family and it can be friends it can be enemies or lovers or mentors or pets or the living or the dead or ppl you formed a parasocial relationship with but have never met face to face.

/TANGENT

iiiiiiiiiin shark's case his 2p represents the band manager. his name is Orca (オルカ). (thank you to the weekee and the pop'n music database for hosting the following renders. to you! 10 of my finest geese.)

this post is infinity years long already so i will keep these bits brief bc i dont have much yet. if im keeping it rizzeal w you. except for orca because i have thougght a little longer about him, even since before wondering abt the band.

Orca handles the tedious shit nobody else wants to do. finances (including payout). tabulations. legalities. distro. haggling venues for gigs. scouts for extra hands to help during shows. communicates with print shops to produce ads & some merch. finding ways for them to record for cheap so losses are minimised. tbh to certain extents everyone in the project has hands in this work but orca has loviongly put himself in charge. he is a very efficient high energy cetacean and prefers to do a lot fo the legwork on his own anyway.

he is a sociable butterfly. mother fucker is so charismatic and confident and eloquent and comfortable in his skin that shark would look up to him if he wasnt a shitty piece of shit. he doesnt compromise and always fights for his way no matter who gets hurt in the process. in fact the more he hurts the better. fear builds respect kind of guy. his way or the highweay. he shamelessly steps on ppl who are weaker than him bc he cares more abt his own ego. "im here to win not make friends. gross. die." tbh he is a perfect business man. money motivatrtes not the love of the art.

he is always wearing suit jackets and collared shirts and otherwise formal attire. but like loosely. leaning left on the sliding scale of business casual. you will never catch him in a crop top or skinny jeans or any thing like that. likes pastel tones

(he bullied shark terrribly through high school bc he stepped on his shoe s once but completely forgot him after he left to America for a few years for a businesssd egree. when he comes back he seees a hometown grown indie band as wellsprings of money waiting to happpen. shark is the only one quietly pushing back against him. he makes life easy and convenient for everyone else so nobody understands his pov. )

i shamefully admit that i have no art yet but i do have visual shorthands. things to chew on while you wait for your real tray.

for all intensive porpoises this is the lead guitarist: Wanny (ワニィ).

he is second tallest behind Orca by like. an inch.

big beefy and dyed blonde. very pokey. it would be cool for himm to have have knuckle weapons.

spikey bands. like Phat Buoy.

i will probably give him shades. and maybe a long leather coat that drags

strong jaw.

bumpy

underbite. very endearing smile.

monstrious head of hair. there is simply too much

26

started guitarring in HS after being deeply inspired by finding shitty bootleg recordings of Pepper's jam session s on the internet.

he pulled his first geeter from a closing music store for dirt cheap but didnt have an amp. he did not know he needed an amp and thought the guitar sounded like that because it was cheap and broken.

did not have what it took to make it into college so he took odd jobs and couch surfed for a while until he made it to a cousin's in Yokohama. he saw an ad by "a lure" in flyer looking to audition a guitarist and called right up.

tbh he did not meet credentials but. the others were too fucking scared of him to turn him away. story of his baka life

he is astoundingly powerful physically but kinda lazy and procrastinative opportunist when it comes to fulfilling obligatioons.

forgets his own strength and breaks shit. accounts for 77% of all property damages.

very patient.

shameless abt his personal life.

possessive.

always hungry. gets snappy when he goes too long without food.

has a scary mean mug. it makes him look like a serial killer.

likes shark a lot but the way he loves is aggressive and exhausting. he doesnt get why hes scared of him.

did you know wani(鰐) was once a term to describe any big dangerous water dwelling predator, which could include sharks. the definition narrowed to later just be about crocodiles/alligators. like brothers but worse. stepbrothers. dear god

this is ther bassist: Marlin (マーリン).

tall with lean muscle. 3rd in height order. hunches a lil at the neck

his fucking beak. its almost as good as Paul's. nostril piercing

goatee is spiked out and looks like it would hurt to touch. his hair is like a dark blue or black spikey mohawk/ it looks like a fin

round wide eyes that look coked out. they are electric blue

scarred up and down his arms and back like something fucking explodeddirectly behind him

might give him tall boots w spurs, also mb a neck tatoo.

30

born in Chiba

former youth delinquent but not a dumb thug. he built his own bass guitar in his 1st year of HS using junkyard parts and stolen equipment. it is inspireed by a fish skeleton like Mikaus guitar in tloz:mm

he was 20 when doin dirt in the street put him away for 5 years voiding his ongoing college education. when he got out he suddenly had a newborn and the responsibility of finding somewhere to live + means to take care of her.

he got a shitty flat in the ass end of Kanagawa + a job as a butcher. he did live sessions with blue and his band for xtra cash. this is where ika found them and rescued them into her & shark's little project.

does some of the sound engineering with shark. but he is scary and shark rarely has the nerve to ask his help.

unexpectedly reliable

terse and concise speaker.

staring problem.

good with knives.

tsukkomi.

wants the band to be a livelihood so he can quit the butcher shop

on to the drummer: Blue(ブルー).

slouched at the hip its just poked forward when hestanding.

round face with a round nose

has a bandana that covers his eyes and forehead

very thin. he wears muscle shirts anyway. like joe elliot in the 80s

leather gloves bc the drumming makes his palms sore

he is about eye level with shark but his boots have very thick soles to make him taller.

has a back tatoo of a man o' war.

hair goes down to ass and is fanned out twisted into things that arent quite dreads but are aiming for them. curly bangs that come down to the cheekbones

dumb lanky kong arms with comparitively big hands

31

has drummed basically all his life on any hard surface anywhere its the only thing hes really good at.

flunked out of school for bein a useless druggie and got kicked out of his parents house for bein a useless druggie.

lived out of a "friend"s van in Tokyo. struggled to hold down 1! job

that friend took his all his spare change and went gambling it all away.

was in a Kanagawa based soul rock outfit that featured Sunny (she got lost, they needed a singer). they got some traction on Candy Blue but she then left to go look for her brother and they spun out. the manager worked them to starvation on Exposure. when ika got hold of him & marlin the project basically fizzled.

spacey/ drug stupoured

gregarious but awkward

doesnt talk unless its to himself. he mumblrs to himself like hes arguing with 3 different ppl . deebatably schizophrenic/

has weird habits: one is that he likes to pinch. indiscriminately

constantly getting lost

the keyboardist & backup singer. her name is Ika(イカ).

big golden eyes. maybe dark purple lipstick. not sure

like. an inch taller than shark. extends the gap w her heeled boots

has a choker with teeth hanging off of it like charms.

dk how to describe her hair. its red. big fuckoff bangs in the front and a series of separated huge ponytails in the back. there is a pin at the center part. she has a lot of hair but not as much as Wanny

wearing a tattered one piece thing with a few belts at the hips. or maybe leather shorts w tights. idk

33

born and raised in Edogawa

her parents saw she liked piano and pushed for her to get into an arts technical school after finishing HS. it was restrictive +boring as fuck.

after finishing her degree she practiced jazz piano & synth. three years of travelling towns playing gigs got her scouted by a major label who wanted her on in their girl rock group. (who she did ghostwriting for on the side)

the company exposed itself as being shitty and greedy 5 years into her contract. the cog-in-the-machine experience left a bad taste in her mouth for the pro music scene so she decided to cut ties after expiry to go indie.

she moved to yokohama with a new anticorporate attitude. but she still liked music. just a lil burned out. to fix this she goes: where else? a library. a branch of the famous pop'n books. the fuckin barnes and noble of the popn world.

its first shift and eeeeearly morning. there is a beautiful tenor comingfrom the back and she feels the click. this is it. whoever this is he is the guy. then she scares him stiff and has to take time convincing him to quit his job* and join her emo** band***. (he does not quit his job. it is more a funk fusion band. it's just her and not really a band at all.)

has a lweash on orca bc she is vigilant of overreach

type of lady who looks cool and has no social life. she is introverted inthe "ew people" way.

not a big fan of the sun

chronically dehydrated

a klepto.

clingy type but also cagey. dont ask her abt herself

she likes her bandmates as if she were an older sisteer (esp shark and wanny). dispenses life advice that is usually bogus. like an older sister

impressive drinker

this is their roadie. he provides for transportation and helps with the heavy lifting. his name is Ray(レイ). he is mysteriously always available when hes called. allegedly a friend of marlin's and is the guy hee calls when he says he "knows a guy". most chill mother fucker to ever exist.

always dragging this bulky fucking unwieldly hiking bag around on his back. st he has trouble getting in doors

just slightly shorter than Marlin.

wearing what is best called a cowboy hat with a U cut in the front of the brim

149 kegs of broad muscle.

wide nosed

he has a gf? girl follower? named remora(レモラ) who wont leave him alone. orca and wanny calls her a groupie

nobody knows that much abt him except marlin. and he wont share. his personal life is a mystery

its ok cus besides that he is a gentle giant. very supportive man.

really trustworthy. just a genuinely cool guy. easy to make friends with unless youre intimidated by his fuckin. girth. or you are anxious to throwing up at the thought of starting small talk. naming no names

uh.

haa.

ok awkwaaaard. x///x sooooo gaiz

remember fucking forever ago when i said i would talk abot that drop dead goregeous dreamboat next to shark in the sketch (where he has the haramaki on)? ok so i didnt almost forget fuck you. i remembered NOT just now. and it is making me wonder if that isnt a band member. CUS i guess that might be a previous concept for his appearance. or a fan (like yuli has his bats n shit) but its. really fucking funny just imagining shark as the only human (?) and the rest of the band is like. that. theyre like uowo just. walking talking marine life. i completely didnt consider that the bandcould literally be. a bunch of sharks. it would not bee close tot he weirdest shit you see in the pop'n world.

like theres our shark the japanese sawshark and he lead sings but then. nobody else is humanised. the lead guitarist is a shortfin mako. the drummer is a whale shark. the bassist is a frilled shark. on keyboard is a smooth hammerhead. posters with shots of evertone always look fucking hysterical.

like this but everyone is dwarfing link even more it is. a sight to behold.

now that im thinking this way what if i scrapped makking everyone above a manperson and just made them the animals i have used in placeholders? and if i do do that then shark is going to be. fucking comically small up next to everyone. it would also give him a lot more reason to be scared of trying to reach out to his bandmates to make friends bc everyone there could kill and eat him w no struggle. even if he wants to he perceives danger. it is both symbolic and literal. the art....it is coming together. hhehee

and then the only other fucker who is human is orca and despite being the "most approachable " appearance wise this venomous prick turns out to be more of a threat to his life than any of his bandies. please collect your blown mind on the way out the door. i could never be a pro writer my metapphors are so obvious CS Lewis would writhe in his grave about them. i would not make one farthing

(aside to the aside: worth noting that on BONANZA the character comment says that the band's popularity is seeping out of their hometown and then when he shows up for a puzzle in kaimei riddles they are justpopular in general. i wonder how many fans they have and how many of those fans are true fans. as in do htey like everyone or just the frisky human boy......mb the fact that shark only ever shows up by himself clues you in to the latter. or. maybe hhis bandmates stay cloistered purposefully bc they are scary sea creatures and dont want to be hunted down by racists who snitch to animal control. does the popn world have animal control....)

idk what i think anymore. fuck. why do i Deux this to myself.......

oh hey. you. are yo ustill here? yes? you poor fool? god bless you. emzee bless you. i hope you brought a fucking advil bc i didnt. i always talk thisa much. i won the verbal diarrhoea derby in 1914. jonny ray won 5000 betting on my mouth.

i think i will make this m y big fuckoff Shark shrine post. and reblogit with more things i think up when they are worth talking about. could ya spaaaaare me a second bucket. pl0x

not just to dump more thoughts but also bc i just had the idea of a fucking. saltwater crocodile stuffed into the Outfit from CS9 and it took me out. why. i nmight need an advil after all. why does the earth move anymore

[aintshitbiz]

Single: "Maneater” by John Alex Gatsby

"Maneater” is the second single off John Alex Gatsby’s debut album Mayday, dropping May 16. With an infectious groove and a nostalgic edge, the track pulses with upbeat energy while telling the tale of a heartbreak woman who leaves nothing behind. Gatsby’s smooth vocals echo the warning: “Oh here she comes, she gone take your heart and use up all your love... Have you ever seen the devil wear chanel?” Blending throwback vibes with a modern twist, “Maneater” reimagines the femme fatale story with style and swagger.

Click Link to Listen/Add to Soundcloud

John Alex Gatsby · Maneater

"When I sat down to write this track, I didn't know quite where it would lead me. All I knew from the offset was that I would allow the beat take my pen to wherever it wanted to go. I took inspiration from the greats that came before me and decided to make my own twist on the Hall and Oates classic but with a more modern feel. I tapped six time #1 Billboard Producer Brandon Alexander Hodge "BAM" and multi-platinum songwriter Omari Massenberg, "GO" to help me in the construction of this track. I believe that together we made a timeless masterpiece that pays homage to those legends who came before us, while simultaneously adding our own unique blend of sound and style as well." Bio: John Alex Gatsby is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter who made a major breakthrough in 2023 with his hit single "Therapy." The soulful track rocketed onto the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart, debuting at number 30, marking a significant milestone in his career. With heartfelt lyrics and a smooth, captivating sound, "Therapy" resonated deeply with listeners and quickly gained widespread acclaim, amassing over 439,000 views on the official YouTube video. Since his debut, John has garnered impressive attention on digital streaming platforms, landing on 68 Spotify playlists. His music has also been featured on Apple Music's "Brown Sugar" playlist, where it peaked at position 19. John’s growing fan base can’t get enough of him—not just for his music but for his adventurous spirit. With over 33k followers on Instagram, Gatsby gives fans a glimpse into his life as both a musician and a pilot/aviation business owner. Whether he's soaring through the skies or making music that hits you right in the feels, he’s always keeping it real and engaging with his audience. His ability to blend classic R&B influences, with fresh pop and contemporary sounds make him one of the most exciting new voices in the game. In a move that perfectly reflects both his aviation career and the release timing, his debut album is cleverly titled Mayday—a nod to his life as a pilot and the fact that it drops on May 1. As his music continues to gain traction, all eyes are on him as fans eagerly await his debut album’s arrival. Socials: Instagram: @johnalexgatsby TikTok: @johnalexgatsby Facebook: @gatsbymusicofficial Youtube: youtube.com/@johnalexgatsby

[delawarebeachesonline]

2025 Rehoboth Beach Bandstand Concerts: Full May & June Lineup

Rehoboth Beach Bandstand Concert Schedule for May & June 2024

🎹 We May Be Right – Billy Joel Tribute

Saturday, May 24 @ 8:00 pmFREEThis powerhouse tribute band recreates the magic of the “Piano Man” himself. Set against a backdrop of the NYC skyline, “We May Be Right” captures every nuance of Billy Joel’s hits and deep cuts. Led by Karl Dietel, a seasoned musician with decades of live performance experience, this show brings authentic vocals and spot-on instrumentation. A must-see for all ages! �� Mike Hines & the Look  

Sunday, May 25 @ 8:00 pmFREEA high-energy dance band that blends R&B, hip hop, pop, funk, Motown, and disco. Recently inducted into the Delaware Rock & Roll Society, Mike Hines and The Look have performed for decades and opened for icons like Dionne Warwick and Naughty by Nature. This show promises charisma, chemistry, and one unforgettable night. 🎼 Rehoboth Concert Band

Monday, June 2 @ 8:00 pmFREEAn ensemble of talented youth and adult musicians bringing classical, contemporary, and show tune favorites to the stage. The Rehoboth Concert Band is a community-driven performance group offering enrichment, education, and outstanding live music. 🎸 Million Dollar McGraw Show Starring Vegas McGraw  

Friday, June 13 @ 8:00 pmFREEA show-stopping tribute to country superstar Tim McGraw, led by Vegas entertainer Adam D. Tucker. This nationally recognized act won on Clash of the Cover Bands and has shared stages with Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, and more. A powerful country music experience for all ages. 🎷 Soul Crackers

Saturday, June 14 @ 8:00 pmFREEMotown magic, Memphis soul, and horn-driven classics! With lead vocals by Tommy Lepson and the “Too Much Sisters,” Soul Crackers deliver timeless hits by Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, and more. This legendary 9-piece band has even played the White House! 🎶 The Regal Beagles

Sunday, June 15 @ 8:00 pmFREEReady for a throwback? The Regal Beagles serve up ’70s and ’80s pop, yacht rock, and classic rock with smooth harmonies and unbeatable energy. It’s a feel-good dance party you won’t want to miss. 💡 Atomic Light Orchestra

Friday, June 20 @ 8:00 pmFREEA masterful tribute to Electric Light Orchestra and The Traveling Wilburys, Atomic Light Orchestra delivers faithful renditions of Jeff Lynne’s signature sound. Expect pitch-perfect harmonies and big-time nostalgia. 🚀 Frontiers – The Ultimate Journey Tribute Band

Saturday, June 21 @ 8:00 pmFREEJourney fans, this one’s for you. Frontiers nails every hit—from “Don’t Stop Believin’” to “Open Arms.” Even Steve Perry and Neal Schon have praised them. Experience the epic vocals, riffs, and emotion of Journey, live. 🌊 Love Seed Mama Jump

Sunday, June 22 @ 8:00 pmFREEDelaware’s own six-piece rock powerhouse brings high-energy pop-rock with catchy hooks and bold vocals. Known for unforgettable live shows, Love Seed has played with Dave Matthews, Matchbox 20, and the B-52s. 🎙️ Lights Out – Tribute to Frankie Valli

Friday, June 27 @ 8:00 pmFREEThis #1 tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons combines tight harmonies, high-energy choreography, and crowd participation. Lights Out offers a musical journey from the classics to the legends that inspired Frankie himself. 🎺 Jesse Garron – Tribute to Elvis

Saturday, June 28 @ 8:00 pmFREEOften called “The Closest Thing to the King,” Jesse Garron brings Elvis Presley’s concert years to life. With live musicians and dazzling stage presence, this show delivers an authentic Elvis experience that fans old and new will love. 🎵 Rock This Town Orchestra

Sunday, June 29 @ 8:00 pmFREESwing meets rockabilly with this electrifying tribute to The Brian Setzer Orchestra and The Stray Cats. Featuring brass, stand-up bass, and vintage hits like “Stray Cat Strut” and “Jump Jive & Wail,” this show is nonstop energy and fun. For More Information Contact Information:📞 Phone: (302) 644-2288📧 Email: events@rehobothbeachde.gov🌐 Website: rehobothbandstand.com Performance Schedule: Fridays: 8:00 – 9:15 PM Saturdays: 8:00 – 9:15 PM Sundays: 8:00 – 9:15 PM All performances are sponsored by the City of Rehoboth Beach and are free to attend. Bring your friends, lawn chairs, and beach vibes—it’s going to be a memorable summer! Disclaimer: Event dates and times are subject to change. For the most up-to-date schedule and announcements, please visit the official website: rehobothbandstand.com Read the full article

[captionsy1]

200+ Elton John Instagram Captions To Highlight Your Love For Music And Style

Elton John is more than a music icon; he's a style legend. His groundbreaking songs and dazzling outfits inspire fans to embrace their unique selves. Whether it’s his heartfelt lyrics or bold fashion, there’s no one like Elton.

From “Rocket Man” to “Your Song,” Elton’s music defines timeless artistry. Pair your favorite moments with captions inspired by his genius. Let his unmatched creativity and charisma add magic to your posts.

Read more: 200+ Elton John Instagram Captions To Highlight Your Love For Music And Style

If you’re sharing a musical tribute, a stylish selfie, or a throwback to his legendary concerts, there’s a perfect caption to match. Celebrate music, individuality, and flair with Elton-inspired words.

Captions Inspired By Elton John

Let The Music And Style Shine

1. Lyric-Inspired Love

“Rocket Man, burning out his fuse up here alone.” 🚀

“Your song is the soundtrack to my life.” 🎵

2. Style And Glamour

Sequins, feathers, and sunglasses—Elton would approve! ✨

Bold like Elton, fabulous like his glasses. 🕶️

3. Music Lover Vibes

Crocodile rocking with my favorite tunes. 🐊

Dancing to Elton, one hit at a time. 💃

4. Legendary Tribute

A little sparkle, a lot of Elton energy. 🌟

Celebrating the man who made music magical. 🎤

5. Playful And Fun

Tiny dancer in my heart, big energy on my feed. 💃

Goodbye yellow brick road, hello bold adventures! 💛

6. Concert Memories

Front row to the legend, back row for the vibe. 🎶

Glitter in the air, Elton on the stage. 🌌

7. Inspirational And Reflective

“Love is the cure for everything.” ❤️

Taking style notes from the ultimate Rocket Man. 🚀

8. Nostalgic Elton Moments

From vinyls to playlists, Elton forever. 💿

Living life one timeless hit at a time. 🕺

9. Love And Individuality

Love loud, live proud—just like Elton. 🌈

My vibe? A little music, a lot of sparkle. 💖

10. Ultimate Dedication

Music, style, and soul—thank you, Elton. 🎹

Every note feels like home, every lyric feels like me. 🎤

[teexmasstore]

Vintage Retro Style Wkrp In Cincinnati Thanksgiving Unisex Sweatshirt

The "Vintage Retro Style WKRP In Cincinnati Thanksgiving Unisex Sweatshirt" is a nostalgic throwback to the iconic television show. This stylish sweatshirt features a retro-inspired design, reminiscent of 70s and 80s fashion. The front showcases the show's logo in a classic font, while the back features a vintage-style illustration of the WKRP radio station. Crafted from soft, comfortable materials, this sweatshirt is perfect for cozy nights in or festive gatherings with friends and family. Whether you're a die-hard fan of the show or simply appreciate classic television, this sweatshirt is a must-have for any nostalgic soul.

[everythingbap]

📸 KPOP CONCERTS: [RECAP] Bang Yongguk Ignites a Fiery Spark in Brooklyn A/N: posted on 240427

[RECAP] Bang Yongguk Ignites a Fiery Spark in Brooklyn

After the success of The Colors of Bang Yongguk Tour last year, it wasn’t long before Bang Yongguk made his timely return to the U.S. Last month, Yongguk announced he would be back for III The U.S. Tour 2024, stopping at 11 cities.

The tour is named after his third EP 3. As mentioned by Yongguk, he began working on the album after concluding his first tour. The release came as a special present for his fans on his birthday.

“I would like to first say thank you to all my fans who gave me a lot of inspiration when I started working on the new album after concluding the world tour. I worked on this album with great joy, and I hope you’re able to resonate with that emotion while listening to this album. Please continue sending your support and love, thank you”

On April 5, attendees gathered at Warsaw in Brooklyn for the first stop of the tour. With Yongguk being a member of the boy group B.A.P, many fans brought out their bunny-shaped Matoki lightsticks for this moment.

The show opened with the “3” logo glowing bright red on the LED display as a DJ kicked off the set with curated beats. “Give it up for BYG!” he proclaimed as Yongguk’s appearance elicited abundant screams. Starting with a bang, Yongguk went right into “Off,” oozing confidence within each rap verse. By the time he performed the fan favorite “Xie Xie,” the crowd went into a frenzy and shouted along to the lyrics.

Yongguk proved to be a natural on stage from his soulful tracks to the high-tempo ones. Taking a trip down memory lane, he made sure to include the throwback hit “I Remember” in the set as it was returned with endless chants of “B.A.P!” What came as a surprise for many was when he performed “AM 4:44,” a personal song he wrote that reflects the struggles he faced. The audience watched in awe as he rapped to the emotional lyrics.

While holding a copy in his hand, Yongguk spoke about his new album – “I’m so happy to have this tour right after my new album came out.” In 3, Yongguk experimented with different genres he had never tried before. “In the album, I tried to convey what I wanted to say but haven’t had the chance yet. I encourage you guys to take on a challenge and go out of your comfort zone,” he said before asking the crowd what songs they wanted to hear next. There were many responses that Yongguk expressed his desire to perform all their requests. With the limited remaining time left, he had to include his new songs such as “MOVIMIENTO” and “BAD (feat. YOUHA)” in the set. 

“Do you want more songs?” he repeatedly asked the crowd before launching into his encore stage with second performances of “BUSS IT DOWN” and “Xie Xie.” Yongguk concluded the set with his 2019 single “Orange Drive” while clutching a Tigger plushie a fan gifted him.

For the past hour and a half, Yongguk delivered a fiery performance that displayed his talents as an artist. From his rich rap skills to his magnetic stage presence, it was safe to say that many attendees were blown away. Whether you’ve known him from his B.A.P days or through his solo work, his shows are not to be missed!

Quotations have been edited for clarity and conciseness.

[lizzygrantarchives]

Repeat, June 2010

“You might recognise Lana Del Rey already... perhaps from an old movie somewhere, but look closer and you might not. Lana Del Rey is a young singer weaving cinematic dark pop for the 21st Century – music wrapped in smoky, sultry and glamorous overtones. Born in the rural town of Lake Placid, New York, Lana then relocated to a series of places: Alabama, New Jersey and New York City, but now spends most of her time in London. No matter where in the world Lana is, her love of film noir, Italian landscapes, big churches, roller coasters and the memory of faded stars like Bette Davis, Kurt Cobain, Nina Simone and Elvis are the chorus line for her music, and her love of New York is her heartbeat.” OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

“Lizzy Grant’s lyrical connotations are at once sexy and sinister, while her vocal delivery carries a slinky, determined innocence straight from the trailer park, supported by throwback grooves evocative of Nancy Sinatra, with a jazz attitude. Her visual messages are dangerously alluring. You won’t be able to leave her songs without assigning your own personal meaning.” THE SMUDGE

Hawaiian, glam and surf noir, are just a few of the labels that Lana Del Rey (real name Lizzy Grant) has used to encapsulate her delectable, hypnotising and nostalgic songs, that are impeccable in both composition and performance! Called the “unofficial sweetheart of rock and roll” by one journalist, in late 2008 she released her debut EP, Kill Kill, followed by her self-titled debut LP in February 2009 on the NYC based label, 5 Points Records, exclusively through iTunes in the USA – both of which were produced by David Kahne (Paul McCartney, The Strokes, Regina Spektor). And with music, vocals and lyrics that are a match made in heaven, the record sounds “black and white, famous, like Coney Island and like a sad party,” as Lana poetically put it.

In an interview with The Huffington Post, when quizzed about her infatuation with Coney Island, Lana – who at one time lived in a New Jersey trailer park – replied: “All the good stuff is real but isn’t, myself included. Coney Island is a place people go to escape, but whatever you choose to be your reality is your reality. So, in a way it’s just as real as anything else. I mainly let my imagination be my reality. Fantasy is my reality. I never saw Coney Island when it had all its big attractions, but there was something desperate about the boardwalk, and I related. There was no end in sight to it, and there were people in bars you didn’t know were there. Maybe the amusement park was the touchstone because I have such a history with cheap thrills. I like things that go fast, things with bright colors, things that taste good. At Coney Island, you can get a Coca-Cola, ride the roller coaster and watch everybody.”

Of her other inspirations, the songstress declared: “Mark Ryden’s pictures drive me crazy, and Vegas makes me shine. Daytona and the Jersey Shore just kill me. Yes. Even pictures of other performers do it for me. I knew Elvis’ songs would be the soundtrack to my life as soon as I laid eyes on his photograph. I know when I love something as soon as I see it. Then, I write about it. Speaking of Elvis, it’s unfair not to mention The Beach Boys and The Flamingos as my other constant companions.”

With smouldering good looks and a sumptuous voice / sound that will dig into your soul – which should soon see her catapulted into stardom – it’s time you sampled the delights of Lana Del Rey and got to know her a little bit better, as she’s truly an artist to fall in love with who harks back to music’s golden age…

For music fans who may not yet know much about you, could you give us some background information on your musical past / tell us about when your love of music first began?

Well, I was the cantor in my church choir when I was younger and I was in choirs all throughout high school. I didn't listen to much popular music when I grew up but I did watch a lot of movies, and I was always writing music. When I got into high school I listened to a lot of rap and techno and eventually found different types of music that I loved like Elvis and Van Halen. My teacher in high school, Mr. Campbell, taught me who all the greats were in every genre and eventually I came to know what good music was.

Was it a conscious decision to be a solo artist, and where does your stage name Lana Del Rey come from / why did you choose to use this instead of your real name?

No. I wanted to be a band but the label I was with and the team I had around me absolutely wanted me to be a solo artist. Lana Del Rey came from a series of managers and lawyers over the last 5 years who wanted a name that they thought better fit the sound of the music. My music was always kind of cinematic so they wanted a name that reflected the glamour of the sound.

Turning old-school for a moment, if you were to make a Mixtape for me, including one of your own songs, what would you put on there + title the compilation?

It would be called 'Sex on Ice' and I'd probably put Gangsters Paradise on there… 2. Flamingos 'I Only Have Eyes For You' 3. Britney Spears 'Hit Me Baby One More Time' 4. The Godfather Theme 5. Lee Hazlewood & Nancy Sinatra 'Some Velvet Morning' 6. Lana Del Rey 'Hey Lolita Hey' 7. Scarface Theme 8. Ennio Morricone 'Once Upon A Time In The West' 9. Mickey Avalon 'So Rich So Pretty'

Why do you think you are so drawn to vintage ‘50s / ‘60s America?

I don't know if I'm drawn to 50s music, but I'm drawn to the quality of the recordings just as I'm drawn to the quality of the way movies were filmed in that era. There's a feeling of lasting integrity and beauty in most of the 50s music, but I suppose what mostly draws me to that musical era is that there were good singers. Today, anyone can be a singer, but back then, you had to have something special, a shining personality, whether it be good or bad.

At the moment, you’re currently based in London, when and why did you decide to relocate here?

I relocated to London because there were a lot of writers and producers who wanted to work with me. I've written in L.A. and New York, but because what I'm doing is darker and more classic then most American Pop, London is the right place for me to be. They don't expect me to dumb anything down here. They're all about the smart.

When did you first realise that you had such a special voice / how do you take care of it, and is it important to you to keep pushing yourself vocally?

Vocally I never did anything to take care of myself. I'm on the run, I'm always screaming and I eat tons of chocolate and milk, so I shouldn't be able to sing the way I do. Thanks for saying I have SUCH a special voice.

What was the first instrument that you ever owned, and is there anything that you always play when trying-out a new instrument before buying it, or any chords that never fail to fill you with inspiration?

Other than a kazoo I guess the first instrument was a guitar. If I'm looking at a new guitar to buy, I just play one of my songs I've written. But I'm shitty at the guitar so I don't find that much I can do that inspires me musically. I'd rather have Frank try it out for me and play a Van Halen Riff or something.

Do you adhere to any rules when writing and recording, in terms of how a track will sound musically, melodically or rhythmically + is there anyone whose opinions on your songs you value greatly?

Um, I go back and forth sometimes, I'm like Maria Callas, and sometimes I'm like Bob Dylan. Dylan is a 3 take man. I can usually do exactly what I wanna in 3 takes. But sometimes I like to take a long time and piece a lot of different takes together like Maria, especially if I'm working in some kind of operatic bridge.

If you could ask a musical hero anything, who would it be and what would you ask them?

I would ask Elvis if he would kiss me.

Does writing lyrics come naturally to you and is there much revision involved or do you trust your initial instinct + can you tell us about your homemade videos, as for me, visually and thematically, they seem to have been sparked off from your lyrics?

Yeah writing comes naturally to me, I spend most of my time writing and lately I edit everything because I'm working with so many writers. But my first record, even though it took years to write, was very instinctual. Yes indeed I can tell you about my homemade videos, writing songs first – movies next, but the songs first come from memories I have. So then I go online and try to find footage that is the equivalent to my life experience. It's usually super 8 footage that you can tell means a lot to whoever it belongs to. I like to take it, make it mine and mix it with footage from my own actual past. I love making movies, it's my passion. I like it as much as I like singing. The editing is the part that makes the movie special, the timing of the scene changes and use of brief flashes of light or scenery.

As you like metal and because your songs are much softer than this musical genre, from all of the artists / bands that you admire, what are some of your favourite noisy and gentle tracks?

Um, well Nirvana is my first love. I was in love with Kurt and the band as soon as I heard them. In terms of softer songs I like, the flamingos, a beautiful doo wop band who sounds like heaven.

You’re currently in the studio working on your new album, so will this be a continuation or an evolution from your debut long player?

Well at this point, I've written so many songs that I don't know if I'm regressing or evolving. But I do the same thing I've always done – I write about what I know and I try and find the most beautiful melodies I can.

I read that you “live in your songs,” so what does it mean to you to play your songs live and have there been many memorable shows for you to date?

I do live in my songs, and so I love singing them at shows or at home alone. The shows all just blend into the rest of my life since I sing all day long. But they are always memorable since I have so many weird and sexy people who come to say hello. It's always a freak show and I enjoy every show.

If you had to go shopping for someone and buy a record, a book and a film – what would they be and why?

I would buy the same things for anyone. I think everyone should have the book "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill. The movie "Don't Look Back" by D.A. Pennebaker, and for a record, I would get "Agnus Dei" composed by Samuel Barber.

Lastly, chips or cream buns?

I would truthfully do both. I'm an American girl and I'm the junk food queen. I still have a banana split almost every morning and I have french fries for dinner. I have the same tastes that I did when I was a little girl.

Originally published on repeatfanzine.co.uk with the headline Lana Del Rey On Her Past, Present & Future…

[fruitytrollroll]

hello hello! just wanted to say i’ve been a really huge fan of your work for a while. i remember reading your cuphead imp fic over and over back in 2017 and i was pleasantly surprised to find that you’re still posting. i just wanted to ask since i couldn’t find any info on it on your blog, but would you ever consider taking writing commissions? i’d be totally willing to pay for some of your work. it’s totally understandable if not though, i’m just curious! thanks so much and have a good one!

You're so kind, thank you!! 🥺✨️ Wow that one is a throwback... I was in such a particular headspace writing it that I'd need to do a little work to come back to it, but I DO still hope to finish it... Someday... I'm finally into the freaky shit I'd need to get into to TRULY do it justice, so at least that hurdle is behind me!

And thank you so much for your interest in supporting my work!! 🥺✨️ I tried to do commissions once, but I struggled to balance my desire to do my own thing with my clients' specific vision, so I ended up passing it up. 🤔 I am interested in doing them, generally, but I think I need to do some soul-searching and experimentation to figure out how I'd want to handle that in the future... Maybe if people are comfortable letting me take a ship and a prompt and running with it, or maybe workshopping a concept I could be satisfied with? I think I'd really enjoy the challenge of that! (and personally, I think my ability to inspire other people to ship the things I write about would pay dividends, but I don't want to ask anyone to pay for something they're not satisfied with, either).

So as of right now I'm on the fence about taking commissions, but I'm not opposed to doing them in the future, once I figure out how to strike that balance! Thank you again for your kind words!!

I will say if anyone wants to drop me $20 on ko-fi, I'll read one of my fics aloud and post it as a podfic—mostly because I'm already interested in doing that, but I'd like to gauge interest. (And if you do, I ask you to include the title of the fic in the donation, but to please exercise discretion if the fic in question is NSFW. Ko-fi donations are processed by PayPal, and they take none too kindly to NSFW content...)

Anyway! This got long but thank you for reaching out!!! It always delights me to hear people still enjoy my older works! :')

[kickmag]

Throwback: Mary J. Blige-You Bring Me Joy

Mary J. Blige's "You Bring Me Joy" is from her iconic 1994 sophomore album My Life. Sean Combs, Chucky Thompson, and Joel Hailey produced the song, which gets its musical base from a sample of Barry White's "It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me." Blige's ability to sing over White's groove epitomized what her hip-hop soul crown stood for. Using a digitized piece of R&B history with Blige's voice combined both genres and set up a blueprint that is still followed in 2024. Marcus Raboy, who had directed Blige's videos for "Real Love" and "Reminisce," returned for the "You Bring Me Joy" clip. Blige was filmed in a blue room with a posse of dancers that she joined in a routine on a shimmering floor. The song was the third single from My Life and another solid addition to the album that quickly became a survival totem for many of her fans.

In 1996, the My Life Remix EP was released with remixes of "Mary Jane," "You Bring Me Joy," "Be Happy," "Be With You," and "I Love You" with appearances from LL Cool J, MC Lyte, Lin Que, Smif-N-Wessun, Keith Murray and Lauryn Hill. The album was remastered and re-released in 2020 to mark its 25th anniversary. The new edition included remixes of "Mary Jane," "I'm Goin' Down," "Be Happy," "I Love You," and a cover of Aretha Franklin's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman." Amazon Prime Video released Mary J. Blige's My Life documentary about the album in 2021. Blige recorded "When I Can't Do Better" for The Color Purple album of music inspired by the 2023 film. 

[ugdigital]

(NEW ALBUM RELEASE) Pop-Soul Singer-Songwriter, JOVIAN Releases His Debut Album, "JOVIAN 2000 AD" and Releases Visuals To His Latest Single, "OCEANS" (Available Now)…

The state of soul music is looking better and better as of late. We’ve been getting some amazing music from today’s artists, and Pop/Soul artist JOVIAN is continuing that uptrend with the recent release of his new music.

Below, you’ll find the (video link) to the latest single release, "OCEANS" and pertinent information on the recently released debut album, "JOVIAN 2000 AD," from Pop-Soul singer-songwriter, "JOVIAN."

"OCEANS" is the latest offering from JOVIAN's recently released debut album, "JOVIAN 2000 AD". The 10-song throwback-futuristic album was first introduced to music lovers around the world with the single, "I'M READY.". The beautiful song was written by Jovian and Kay'vion and produced by Jovian and Blood Cultures. It was then followed by the infectious "LASER DISCS." “Laser Discs,” was the perfect alignment as the song came to be exactly when I had decided I wanted my album to be half R&B/80s Synth and half Hip-Hop," mentions Jovian. "Overall it’s about begging for someone to see your perspective despite them being unwilling to, or maybe incapable of doing so! Despite that, the memories that were shared are still something to hold dear," he adds.

"Oceans, was the first song I happened to write for the album once I discovered the direction I wanted to take my first body of work! It’s about a plea to the moon. Being in love with something you cannot attain, no matter how much you may desire it," Jovian shares. The song was written by Jovian and produced by YZ, The music video for "OCEANS" was directed by Sergio E. Miranda.

This past Friday, fans were able to full-feast themselves with Jovian's debut album, "JOVIAN 2000 AD," as it made its global release. "This album is inspired by my fascination with 70s and 80s sci-fi films and how wrong they were at depicting our future. I thought about how that alternate future would have sounded and created this body of work with that in mind!." The recently released album, "JOVIAN 2000 AD," is available under the December Records/SRG-ILS Grouplabel imprint.

JOVIAN 2000 AD (DEBUT ALBUM AVAILABLE NOW)

(VIDEO LINK) "OCEANS" by JOVIAN

"OCEANS" by JOVIAN

(VIDEO LINK) "LASER DISCS" by JOVIAN

(AUDIO LINK) "I'M READY" by JOVIAN

ABOUT JOVIAN

Jovian is a Puerto Rican/Portuguese recording artist from Brooklyn, NYC who creates sonic & cinematic experiences through sound to provide the listener with healing & words of encouragement to show them that they aren't alone in whatever sensations they may be feeling. Jovian dealt with mental health challenges growing up and he is living proof that the other side is so beautiful.

[anxiouslymalicious]

I am proud to say that I only cried a little while watching IT Chapter 2 :)