#(not this particular track but the album as a whole)

[cremationisirreversible]

𝕯𝖊𝖆𝖙𝖍 𝕶𝖓𝖊𝖊𝖑 – 𝔚𝔥𝔶 𝔑𝔬𝔱 𝔄𝔣𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔖𝔬 𝔏𝔬𝔫𝔤

Dawn Simulation / Chondritic Sound / 2023

[tenderlady]

26, 27, 67!

ty!!!! <3

[segemarldoodles]

[81folklore]

dress - VETTEL

pairings: sebastian vettel x famous!reader (fc: taylor swift)

summary: its known that seb has been married for a few years now despite the public never seeing is wife, its also known that yn is in a committed relationship and has been since she disappeared from public eye. maybe they are more connected than people realise

authors note: i have had this idea on my mind for SO LONG so im very pleased to finally be writing it. essentially in this, yn is taylor and seb is joe but no one has ever seen him nor know his name, if that makes sense? honestly i have no clue how this will turn out but i needed to write it

authors note 2: this is set in the midnights era however i switched the songs a bit so ‘dress’ is on midnights instead of ‘sweet nothing’ and vice versa!! also ‘dress’ is going to be a single. i also apologize for how all over the place this is, especially the tweets

authors note 3: just pretend whatever says taylor swift says your name and the photos with her hands have a wedding ring!! i also got so confused when trying to screenshot the twitter stuff so the timeline ones are backwards

authors note 4??: haha didnt realise there was a 30 pic limit... pt 2 here :)

masterlist

ynupdates

liked by user3, user18 and 10,628 others

yn on her story today, possibly posting song lyrics! thoughts?

view comments

user3: NEW ERA INCOMING

user18: OH I AM SO READY FOR THIS

user13: NEW MUSIC NEW MUSIC

user66: is this hinting at her reputation era?

user13: i was just thinking this, more specifically the time just before reputation

user72: MUSIC ABOUT LOVER?? OH I AM SO HERE FOR IT

user55: if it is about lover and the time before reputation this will BREAK ME like,, HE SAW THE BEST IN HER EVEN IN HER WORST TIMES😭😭

yourusername

liked by gracieabrams, ynupdates, olliebearman and 7,277,739 others

everyone thinks that they know us, but they know nothing about…

this album has been such a rewarding piece to create and im so glad that soon enough you will all be able to listen and enjoy it with me! one thing i love in particular about this album is the song ‘dress’

dress was originally a piece i started to write when making reputation however i felt it was right to keep it to myself, to keep it between my partner and i for a little while longer. however recently our lives have been changing for the better, and while that lid of privacy will still be on, i want to share more with you guys

you have all been on this journey with me and you have treated my partner and i with the upmost respect and for that i thank you. for me dress is a letter, its statement, its a declaration of my love for him and im very grateful to be able to give this to you all

this song is one im very proud of, i really enjoyed writing this the first time, and getting to revist and polish it up felt very special to do.

dress out now on all platforms🖤

comments on this post have been limited

sebupdates

liked by user34, user5, user88 and 23,683 others

seb in suzuka with the grid at his turn 2 bee (insect) hotels,, we've missed seeing him at the track :(

view comments

user3: of course the grid come together for him :’)

user5: im not crying!! just hay fever!!

user5: oh i have missed him SO MUCH

user7: NO BECAUSE YOU DONT GET IT HES BACK

user88: DID YOU GUYS SEE THE VIDEO OF HIM HUGGING CHARLES😭😭

user34: the way he was like a teacher throughout the whole thing😭

user18: does anyone know if hes staying the whole weekend or is it like monaco??

sebupdates: we believe hes staying the whole weekend but unsure if hes with a team or not!

user18: ok thank you :)

user77: the way the first thing lewis asked him was if his wife was okay, oh what if i cry😭😭

user66: im kind of new here, have the grid met sebs wife?

user77: i know they all at least know about her and know who she is, i dont think everyone has met her but i know lewis has met her quite a bit!!

part 2!

[jamiepaige]

Constant Companions Closeup #11: MACHINE LOVE

(also on bandcamp and spotify!)

Welcome back to the Constant Companions Closeups - a series of in-depth dives into the songs off of my latest album, Constant Companions! Yesterday was the title track, My Darling, My Companion, which means today is the final track on the album - a song about the truths that lay in hiding within artifice, and a computer falling in love - Machine Love!

Before we get started on this particularly long closeup - I'll be doing a follow-up post after this one, answering various miscellaneous questions I've gotten over the course of writing these! If you've got anything you wanna hear more from me about, album-related or otherwise, feel free to reply to this post or send me an ask! It may very well end up part of the bonus closeup :~)

---

Let's circle back to the very first track, Dyad.

In that track's closeup, I mentioned the main sonic touchstones of this release relative to my previous ones being guitars and vocal synths. The whole guitar rock thing I think I've gone into detail enough about, what with all the inspirations I've rattled off in other posts, but there likely is still a burning question for some long-time listeners.

Why vocal synths? Why am I not singing on like half of this album? I thought you were a singer, Jamie Paige, so what is this Hatsune Miku robot Vocaloid crap?

Truth be told, the Vocaloid scene and community has always been a massive source of inspiration for me. So much of my favorite music ever, music that inspires me or touches my heart or makes me go apeshit, has been sung by synthesized vocalists in a language I don't even speak. I grew up with it, and it's grown up with me - music just as intricate, mind-boggling, twisted, fun, and ridiculously creative is being put out every single day by vocal synth producers, and nowadays it's coming from English speaking musicians in droves!

Before this year began, I'd made at least one major contribution to the culture, but in spite of my genuine adoration of everything vocal synth related, I felt like I was just looking in from the other side. Caught between worlds, existing outside of any communities, simply gesturing vaguely towards what I wanted to do.

But I wanted more! I wanted to make the same kinds of things that stirred my heart and made me want to write! I wanted to sing with those same voices! I wanted it to be true - to be like you!

---

I won't lie to you and tell you Kasane Teto has always been my favorite vocal synth. That title used to go to GUMI, and in general, I wasn't particularly attached to any UTAU voicebanks as a younger vocal synth fan. (Nowadays, I genuinely open up OpenUTAU just as much as SynthV because I've fallen deeply in love with Adachi Rei, but that's a story for my next album.) Obviously, I knew of Teto, and found her presence in things like Triple Baka delightful, but for the most part, she was mostly something of an oddity, a wayward piece of vocal synth history that had her Fans like any other.

However, there was one Teto song I've been inexplicably attached to since the moment I first heard it - Song of the Eared Robot, by nwp8861. I was introduced via this particular cover, which I love, but I quickly gravitated to the original. Something about the warbly, childish nature of her very first voicebank, the ambitiously orchestrated and unabashedly digital instrumental, the lyrics referencing fundamental frequencies and Markov chains and compiling code all just spoke to me!

That song stuck with me, laying in a part of my heart that had been collecting dust, all the way to April of 2023.

Now, yes, Teto wasn't always my favorite, and I had other vocal synths I was attached to, but I don't live under a rock, and I still understood how monumental the announcement of Kasane Teto's Synth V voicebank was - to the point that I interrupted a call full of FFXIV-playing friends who knew barely anything about vocal synths and gave them an impromptu TED talk because I was so excited.

(An excerpt of a summary of that night's events, written the morning after. i was up my own ass a little bit but in my defense Kasane Teto had just been announced for Synthesizer V)

I was watching, in real time, a dream made manifest. It's literally one of the Bits with Teto! That she'd be a Vocaloid one day too! And here she was, on the fan favorite engine, sounding genuinely fucking incredible. Especially in hindsight, it's such a beautiful and perfect twist of fate for her.

I saw myself in her. A weird little outcast, explosively reborn and thrust straight into a community's open arms with love. I wanted it to be true - To be like that, too.

It didn't fully hit until later, hearing another cover of a song I'd almost forgotten.

Machine Love, my love letter to the entire world of unbridled creativity and artistry surrounding vocal synths filtered through one sentimental little song, was fully written by the start of May, maybe 4 days after I had gotten my hands on Teto SV and long before a certain compilation album was even a glint in my eye.

If you haven't heard DAEMON/DOLL yet, you really, really, really should go listen to it - yes, I mastered this album, many of my friends and collaborators are featured, and I have two entire songs on it, but I genuinely mean it when I say I believe it's some of the best fucking music that's come out this year in general. In many respects, it also feels like a companion (hah) to Constant Companions.

I had finished writing Machine Love by this point, but it was working on this album in its entirety - discovering artists like Anh Duy, Eggtan, and beat_shobon through it, and hearing everyone in top form making this twin-drilled chimera fucker sing her heart out - that not only made me confident in my decision to go down this artistic path, but that made me fall completely in love with Kasane Teto. And honestly, how could I not? She feels like a microcosm of everything that makes vocal synths so special, this community of creatives all leaving their marks and touchstones along the trail of a great big shared folk mythos. Yeah, maybe the folk hero we're all collectively mythologizing is an anime girl, but yknow maybe Odysseus could take some branding cues from hatsune miku idfk

Basically, even if he says he wants to kill me, I owe fucking everything to rice for inviting me to work on DAEMON/DOLL.

---

On that note, my vision for Machine Love's MV was pretty clear from the beginning.

the actual factual setup for the above shot, which was done entirely in-camera with my laptop, a tv, and two video files manually synced using VLC

The fundamental idea was always there - live-action shots of animation playing back on various screens, edited together to feel somewhat seamless. However, I really struggled with what exactly was going to be on said screens for a while; Big commissions were very far out of my budget, but I knew this song needed something grandiose.

Ultimately, what I arrived at was exactly the kind of scrappy, DIY bullshit it was always meant to be.

I asked my Twitter mutuals for help. And spent a couple months in Final Cut Pro and Apple Motion hell turning all the Teto art I got into a bunch of tiny little mini MVs, some of them parodying real vocal synth MVs, some of simply just evocative of vocal synth MVs, all of them painstakingly edited by yours truly and filmed with the help of some friends over the next couple months across two states and many more cities just to be painstakingly edited and synced up again by yours truly.

THE NEXT MV I DO WILL BE SMALLER IN SCOPE

---

And with that, I believe that's the album!

There's a reason it ends with Machine Love, and not with the title track. I do think that in some respects My Darling, My Companion would have made a better closer, but that song only really resolves one of the thematic strands running through the album.

There isn't really a definitive answer to the specific question "Baby, do you know what you wanna hear?", but it evokes a theme running through the entire album - wanting something, knowing that you want something, and simply needing to find the courage to do it or say it or be it. My Darling, My Companion is in many ways a declaration of intent, an acceptance of what needs to happen, but Machine Love, to me, is that action being done. The words being said!

And now, if I may give this a somewhat selfish tint - with the explosive response my works from this album have gotten, my contributions to things like DAEMON/DOLL and Flavor Foley, the collaborations I've done and that I still have in the pipeline, the friends I've made and the community I've found a spot for myself in, and the newfound voices that I can lay my heart bare with -

Well, shit, I know what I wanna hear, and I've gotten to hear it. I'm a vocaloP. It's real!

Thank you all so goddamn much for reading and listening. I'll see you back here either tomorrow or Monday for the bonus AMA post thing!! Make art and be gay, motherfuckers.

❤���💚

[bigbigtruck]

A non-comprehensive list of favorite songs that came out in 2024

Elbow, "Things I've Been Telling Myself For Years" [YOUTUBE] alt-rock Haven't been super thrilled by the past 2 or 3 Elbow albums but they're back in fine form with Audio Vertigo. Swinging for the bleachers, getting a little weird with it again, thank god. This one's got my favorite verses on the album: I'm the dashboard hula girl of nodding self-deception Here's to never accepting slight adjustment or correction... Of course I'll live to ninety-six and fix the welfare state I'll build a house with these two hands, my face above the gate I haven't paid for cabs or beers or met a cunt in twenty years Like all that outrun poverty, all I have was coming to me Things I've been telling myself for years

TWRP, "Content 4 U" [YOUTUBE] pop Highly danceable, highly relatable. First heard this on the Digital Nightmare tour this spring. After shaking my ass and giggling into the April night air, the lyrics sink in and I'm doing that dead eyed Lisa Simpson stare at the pavement because yeah that's. That's trying to live from any creative hustle in this bitch of a 21st century. Excellent work, boys, I hate it. I love it.

St. Vincent, "Big Time Nothing" [YOUTUBE] alt-pop What's the big deal this is just "Numb" over the bass line from "Army of Me" with a little Laurie Anderson and Talking Heads thrown in and wait hold up this rules

Oranssi Pazuzu, "Muuntautuja" [YOUTUBE] (link fixed!) prog/psych/black metal Goes hard and slow. A pulsating, hypnotic onslaught of black smoke and sandpaper. The whole album's incredible but this is probably my favorite track.

Kendrick Lamar, "Euphoria" [YOUTUBE] hip hop I mean, it's Kendrick Lamar. Dude's a fuckin Godzilla across the musical landscape. "Not Like Us" was the splashier hit of the summer, but this is the one that stayed with me. (Listening again while writing this and. Jesus, It's... it's 6 solid minutes of sticking your hand right on a hot burner.)

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, "Antarctica" [YOUTUBE] southern rock A fun (ironically) warm summer jam that fuckin blew the doors off live. Easily my fave from their most recent album.

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, "Wild God" [YOUTUBE] alt-rock/symphonic Really sneaks up on you, like a mumbly guy in the coffee shop. What's he writing? "Moving through your body like a prehistoric bird?" Huh, Looks intriguiOH HOLY SHIT HE HAS A CHORUS WITH HIM.

John Grant, "All That School for Nothing" [YOUTUBE] alt-pop/funk John Grant's got this particular nasty (complimentary) streak, a deep-seated gay cynicism that reminds me of Hidden Cameras at their best, but with more lush and varied instrumentals. His lyrics are always tops, and this one's no exception. The whole album, The Art of the Lie, is great, with "Marbles" being another delight.

Ninja Sex Party, "Let's Save The Earth" [YOUTUBE] comedy pop Feels silly to put this one in alongside the rest, but... I mean it's NSP. They do goofs, not a poetic dissection of the zeitgeist. I actually heard this one on tour in Fall 2022 and it brought the house down--I might actually prefer it live with audience participation TBH. This has become me and Brett's karaoke go-to.

A.G. Cook, "Soulbreaker" [YOUTUBE] electronic Deceptively simple chord progression becomes healing, memorable. The animated video for this is essential viewing, IMO. Wild art style and cool concept. This song makes me feel like things might turn out okay.

Elbow, "Balu" [YOUTUBE] alt-rock Probably my most played track of the entire year. Apparently this is a semi-fictional tribute to a beloved cousin or nephew? Once again back with the incredible lyrics. Probably my favorite line of the entire year: I'll never be home without you, but I'll never grow in your shadow. Anyway that bass/keyboard line is sending me to the center of the galaxy

[algae-tm]

Kill Bill P.7

Charles Leclerc x famous singer ex!reader

previous part next part

Author’s note : all the songs are real although I’ve played around with who’s featured on what, but I recommend everyone listen to the songs I’ve chosen not for any particular reason just cause they slap and I had such fun creating a playlist for this AU.

Also, I have WAYYY too much time on my hands now that uni is over… so hope you enjoy - Algae🌱

•••••

INSTAGRAM

yourusername

liked by y/bff/n, lewishamilton, charles_leclerc, oscarpiastri and 32,324,487 others

yourusername : ‘TIDES’ out now on all streaming platforms 💚

y/bff/n : Now you did not play me Cellophane when i listened to this earlier! Why do you have me crying in walgreens by the edamame beans??

— yourusername : girl? do you want me to come get you?

— y/bff/n : please.

— y/bff/n : HURRY UP nobody gets me started playing and the cashier is wondering why I’m using grapes to dry my tears.

user1 : y/bff/n is so real for that cause what do you mean, “didn’t I do it for you, why don’t I do it for you?” y/n please explain yourself STAT!

— user3 : no cause the most devastating part, ‘WHEN ALL I DO IS FOR YOU’ y/n I’m in your walls, how dare you start an album like that wtf?

user4 : oh okay 😀

lewishamilton : So fun collabing with you

user5 : no cause we were robbed! we should’ve had XNDA on girls need love.

— yourusername : I was not about to sing about fucking and sucking with my surrogate uncle! Even could’ve been was too much for me. y’all should be lucky I brought the old man out of retirement

— lewishamilton : glad you made that executive decision but I’m not that old :(

danielricciardo : me rn - 🎧😭🕺🪩😭😢

— yourusername : I appreciate you Danny 💚

— yourusername : but make sure you give your therapist a ring yeah?

— danielricciardo : on call with her rn!

user5 : what’s everyone’s favourite track and why is it love on the brain?

— user6 : how could you even choose?? This might be a no skip album I fear.

user8: I’m sorry y/n did not lay out the 5 minute from the heart ballad that is Ex-Factor for y’all to just not talk about it??

— user9: “no one loves you more than me, and no one ever will!” You listening Lord Perceval????

— user16: “no matter how I think we grow you always seem to let me know… IT AIN’T WORKING.”

— user13: but like if she’s trying to send a message to Charles it’s a bit disjointed no?

— user10: ex-factor isn’t to Charles Leclerc

— user11: be so fr who is it for then??

— user10: it’s obviously y/n grappling with her conflicting emotions… it’s not meant to be for Charles. This whole album is her going through it. She’s sorting thru her emotions. Are y’all dumb or stupid?

— user15: alright now

user21: AHHSHHEJSJSJSKEDVDKZKSUDJ

— user23: real.

hallebailey: call me asap for any more collabs, had such fun on Forgive Me!

— yourusername: love you hal x

— chloebailey: do not call her! She got her chance call me! (liked by yourusername)

y/bff/n: SUPERMODEL??!!?? Another one you didn’t let me listen to???

— yourusername: cause I knew you’d smack me upside the head for begging a man to see me as pretty enough.

— user24: WHO DIDN’T THINK YOU WERE PRETTY ENOUGH?! CHARLES?!! LET ME AT HIM!

oscarpiastri: on repeat 🎶

— user31: Oscar 😭 it’s giving desperate

— user26: keep commenting, she’ll reply one day!

— user27: bros talking to himself in her comments

sza: album of the year I fear

— yourusername: Solana 💚 couldn’t have done it without you

user32: @oscarpiastri are you the homeboy she’s been secretly banging like she says on supermodel?

— yourusername: I have NOT been secretly banging anyone’s homeboy! Supermodel is the only track with joint writing creds! I fear @sza came up with that lyric. (Comment deleted by yourusername)

— user34: NO Y/N let Charles think you’ve been secretly doing Oscar!

— user35: @user34 love me some psychological warfare!

landonorris: first!

— yourusername: you literally are the last person to comment😒😒

••••

Y/N Strips Off Expectations on Her New Album ‘TIDES’

R&B superstar delivers sharp barbs and haunting melodies on her long-awaited LP, amidst relationship drama with ex Charles Leclerc.

By Will Dukes

June 10, 2024

If you thought the singles released prior to the album were indicative of the direction this LP would take, think again. Y/n’s highly anticipated latest release, "TIDES," is an ambitious and masterful exploration of love's euphoria and its darker, toxic undertones. Known for her sultry R&B style, y/n transcends genre boundaries in this 15-track opus, weaving together dance, electronic, pop, and reggae influences to craft a cohesive narrative.

The album opens with "Cellophane," a haunting electronic ballad reminiscent of FKA Twigs' ethereal work. This opening track is something we’ve never seen from y/n, yet her delicate vocals float over a sparse, echoing production, setting a tone of vulnerability and foreshadowing the emotional journey ahead. This track is a stunning prologue, drawing listeners into a world where love is as fragile as the titular cellophane.

As we transition to the 3rd track of the album "Forgive Me," the album's pulse quickens. The track opens with a haunting, ethereal intro that quickly gives way to a pulsating beat and assertive bass line, setting a commanding tone. Y/n’s and Halle’s harmonies are immediately striking, blending seamlessly while each woman’s distinct vocal timbre adds depth and texture to the song. Their voices convey both strength and a sense of liberation as they sing about reclaiming their power and refusing to apologize for their choices. Mid-album, "Doo Wop (That Thing)" introduces a surprising but seamless shift. The pop-reggae rhythm provides a laid-back contrast to the preceding tracks, reflecting a momentary calm in the tumultuous relationship. Yet, y/n’s lyrics hint at something more sinister, the song can be seen as a warning, y/n clearly saying to her listeners I’ve made mistakes and here is how you can avoid them.

I won’t blame anyone for mistaking her single “Kill Bill” as the climax of the album. That is what y/n wants you to believe but the climax arrives with "Mary Magdalene" an electronic ballad that ties with the opening track “Cellophane.” For me "Mary Magdalene," is a standout, embodying the album's central themes. Drawing on the figure of Mary Magdalene, y/n reclaims and redefines her story, exploring themes of femininity, devotion, and resilience. The song's intricate layering and hypnotic rhythms create an almost spiritual experience, inviting listeners to delve into its complex emotional landscape. The production is haunting, with distorted synths and echoing beats mirroring the disintegration of trust and affection. y/n’s vocal performance here is raw and powerful, her pain palpable as she sings, "a woman’s touch, a sacred geometry. I know where you start where you end. How to please, how to curse.”

"TIDES" concludes with "Mirrored Heart," a poignant ballad that brings the narrative full circle, echoing the album’s opening. With an album so tumultuous listeners would probably wish for a sense of closure. This song does not give you that, rather you’ll be left questioning ‘what’s next.” y/n’s voice, both fragile and resilient, lingers long after the final note.

In "TIDES," y/n not only expands her musical palette but also delivers a profound and relatable story. This album is a testament to her artistry, marking her as a versatile, timeless and fearless force in contemporary music. It’s a disjointed album, songs sometimes seem out of place, but like the title “TIDES,” suggests, and given the situation that inspired the album, that is exactly the atmosphere y/n was looking to create.

••••

INSTAGRAM

charles_leclerc

Liked by landonorris, danielricciardo and 1,256,712 others

charles_leclerc : best believe I’ll move on to better things

user1: do y’all hear that?

user3: not you using lyrics from y/n’s song it’s giving desperate.

user4: poor Alex

landonorris: what is bro doing lmao

user5: oh -

arthur_leclerc: if before you had a chance now you have 0 😂

— user5: oh Arthur’s messy messy

—lorenzotl: we want our sister in law back, and this idiot isn’t doing us any favours.

user6: I’m sorry this is so disrespectful to Alex. Just cause you guys broke up doesn’t mean you can do this

user7: lmao get a life

carlossainz55: cabron… this is not what we agreed you’d do 😅

lewishamilton: 😒

— danielricciardo: 😒

— georgerussel63: 😒

— y/bff/n: 😒

— francisca.cgomes: 😒

pierregasly: brother delete this 😔

— oscarpiastri: 😂

(this post has been deleted)

••

TAGLIST

@forevercaffeinated-lee @callsignwidow

[redroomreflections]

Hotel California | Track 11: Ignore The Noise

Natasha Romanoff x fem!reader

Summary: Natasha Romanoff, frontwoman of the punk rock band Velvet Rebellion, falls hard for a woman she believes is too good for her. Their intense relationship unfolds in the chaotic world of rock 'n' roll, where they struggle to balance fame, personal demons, and their undeniable passion for each other.

W/c: 5.8k

Chapter 11/15

Masterlist | General Masterlist

Note: another week

18+ Minors DNI (mature)

Themes: love, fame, sex, drugs

"Alright," Natasha muttered, angling the phone’s camera. The faint ping of Instagram Live starting echoed in the otherwise quiet studio. She leaned back against the armrest, her knee bumping against yours as she adjusted the frame. "Do I look okay? Or do I look like someone who hasn’t slept in three days?"

"You look fine," you replied with a soft laugh. "More than fine, actually."

"Good answer," Natasha smirked, her lips quirking up before she turned her attention to the screen. "Okay, we’re live. Let’s see who’s actually bored enough to join us."

Within seconds, the chat began to flood with messages, hearts bubbling up on the side of the screen. Natasha’s username was pinned at the top, and her followers started pouring in like clockwork. You could almost swear half of her fanbase had been waiting for this, the comments streaming so quickly they were nearly unreadable.

"Hi, everyone," Natasha greeted with a quick wave, her smile easy and relaxed. "I don’t really do this whole Instagram Live thing much—I think this might be my second time ever—but here we are. We’re at the studio. Everyone’s left, so it’s just us."

She leaned back against the couch, her knee brushing against yours as she casually scrolled through the comments. "And, as I mentioned on Twitter, we’ll answer a few questions. Maybe play some music, too, if you’re lucky."

You nodded and adjusted your position, scooting closer to her so you’d both stay in the frame. "Key word being maybe," you teased, glancing at her with a playful smirk.

"Yeah, yeah," Natasha rolled her eyes, though her grin didn’t falter. She passed you the phone to give you the first pick of questions. She tapped a beat against the notebook resting in her lap. "Alright, let’s see what you’ve got for us."

You used your phone as a reader and silently tuned into Natasha's Instagram. The chat exploded with questions, some straightforward, others ridiculous. Natasha tapped a particular question asking about Carol, and you nodded. That was one you could skip over for the time being. You momentarily leaned against her shoulder as you scanned the endless comments together. The whole thing felt unfiltered, casual—the moment that made her fans adore her even more. Of course, you both knew it was meant to be lowkey PR. It's nothing unusual but also a gift to the fans.

"Okay, first question," You began, reading a comment aloud. "natalialovesshaw: 'How has the new album recording been?'"

"Oh, it's been fun," Natasha hummed, a small smile on her lips. "I don't want to sound cheesy, but it's been an incredible experience. Everyone in the studio was amazing. We recorded songs with a few special people on the track. I think you guys will like our first single. It's releasing in a few weeks."

"And, if you guys want," you said, raising your head, "she'll give us a sneak peek."

"Don't tempt me," Natasha quipped, a soft laugh escaping her lips. She playfully rolled her eyes, turning her attention back to the comments. "Let's find a good one. velvetlover29, what is the creative process like for me?"

You grinned and glanced up at her. "That's a great question. What is the creative process like for you?"

"You know," Natasha shrugged, her tone light and playful. She tilted her head slightly, the light catching her face in a way that made your breath hitch. "I don't have a step-by-step guide to write a song. There's no formula. I usually have a melody in my head for a while. Put pen to paper. Scrap that and try again fifteen times until I have a semblance of a song. Of course, Wanda and the rest of the band help write. They bring so much star power. It's interesting. "

"It is," you nodded, a soft smile on your lips. You studied her as she spoke, her green eyes focused on the phone in your hand. A few heart emojis littered the comments, and you couldn't help but smile.

Natasha looked back at you, a curious brow raised. "What?"

"Nothing," you shook your head, biting back a laugh. "I think you're cute."

Natasha scoffed, though a smile still lingered on her lips. She nudged your shoulder, her gaze turning back to the screen. "You're lucky we're live."

"I know." You grinned, turning your attention back to the stream. You spotted another question, your eyes flickering to her briefly. "Oh, I've got a good one. What is it like having Y/N around all the time?"

Natasha rolled her eyes. "It's great," she deadpanned, though a hint of amusement remained evident in her tone. "We're having a blast."

"We're living the life," you hummed in agreement, a smile lingering on your lips."Oh, this one is for me. How have your industry experiences shaped your values or beliefs?"

You paused for a moment, pursing your lips. "It was different, that's for sure. I went to a good school. I did everything the average person would do, except I had a job as a background singer. A job I got through my father's connections. Which people haven't failed to bring up to this day. So, I think I have always wanted that privacy aspect. But, it's difficult when the world wants a piece of you."

"They certainly do," Natasha mused, her lips quirking into a grin.

"But, I think my experiences have taught me to be resilient, honest, and kind," you continued, your gaze flickering from the comments and back to her. "I want to work with people that respect me. And I want to continue to live a life I'm proud of."

"And are you?" Natasha asked, her voice low. Her eyes met yours; her brows knitted together.

"Am I what?"

"Proud," Natasha replied. "Of the life you live. Of yourself."

"Yes," you murmured, swallowing hard. The sincerity in her tone caught you off guard, and your cheeks grew warm. "Of all of it."

"That's good then," Natasha nodded. "We have several questions asking about Isabella."

"That's interesting," You leaned back against the couch. "She's turning ten very soon. She's great, though." That was all you were willing to answer about her.

"She is," Natasha smiled. She cleared her throat, her attention turning back to the screen. "Alright. Any more questions?"

"I think that's a good note to end," you said. Your eyes scanned the comments, and a few people asked for a sneak peek of the new single. "But we do have something else. One last thing before we go."

"I think I know what this is," Natasha smirked. "Fine. Just a few chords."

"A few," you agreed.

Natasha grabbed the guitar from the side of the couch. She plucked a few strings, strumming them gently as she adjusted the knobs. A soft tune began to fill the air, the gentle chords washing over you. Natasha hummed softly, her fingers running over the frets as she played the melody.

You watched her with a complete smile on your face. She was in her element, and watching was a complete privilege.

When she finished, she looked back at the screen. "There you go. Our new single is coming soon."

You gave the phone a little wave. "Thanks for watching, everyone."

"See you soon," Natasha chimed in, giving a wave. She pressed the button to end the stream, setting the phone aside.

"That was great," You sighed. "Way less intimidating than I originally thought."

"You really are a shy thing?" Natasha teased.

"No, not shy," You shook your head. "Just not 100% okay with the idea of being perceived."

"Oh, is that all?" Natasha smiled. She rested her hand on the couch cushion beside you. "Sam's a majorly famous football player. How did you handle your relationship then?" The question caught you off guard. Natasha knew well enough that talking about your ex-husband could be a touchy subject. But you and Sam had managed to stay amicable for all intents and purposes. You took a breath, the memory of your past relationship still there but not as sharp as it used to be.

"It was... complicated," you said slowly, glancing down at your hands before meeting Natasha's eyes again. "I mean, Sam’s career was always the center of everything. People were always watching, always judging. It wasn’t easy, but we figured it out, at least for a while. Eventually, I had to come to terms with the fact that our lives were pulling in different directions. We had different needs. But... we’re on good terms now. We’ve both moved on. We were also quite young when we got together. Then we had Bella. Got married shortly after. We're better friends."

"Right," Natasha nodded. She hesitated momentarily, her hand moving a bit closer to yours. "Does this scare you? The idea of us?"

"Not at all," You shrugged. "I knew what I wanted when I first saw you. I knew I wanted to have you. I knew what that came with."

"Good," Natasha breathed. "Because I don't plan on letting go anytime soon."

"Is that a promise?" You whispered, a slight smirk tugging at your lips.

"Of course," Natasha hummed, her eyes flickering between your own and your lips.

"You know, you could kiss me, right?" You suggested playfully.

Natasha grinned and closed the gap, pressing her lips to yours. She pulled back for a second, her thumb caressing your jaw. "You're the one who wanted to wait," she murmured, her lips brushing against yours.

"I did," you agreed, a soft laugh escaping you. "There hasn't been a moment we've been together where we aren't kissing or..."

"Fucking?" Natasha supplied.

"Right," You laughed. "Not that I'm complaining. The sex is great. It's almost been six months of dating for us. We're still learning each other. That's a pretty big deal."

"Yeah, in high school," She snorted.

"I hate you so much," You laughed.

"Oh really?" Natasha raised a brow. "I remember last night you were telling me you loved me. Screaming my name practically." She leaned over you, pushing you to lie back on the couch.

"Mm, I can't remember that," You looked up at her.

"Probably from how many times your head bumped into the headboard, " Natasha rubbed the slightly sore spot. "I'm sorry, baby."

"I'll live," You laughed, tilting your head.

"Good," Natasha smirked, pressing a kiss to your forehead. She brushed her lips against your eyebrow, your nose, your cheek.

"Nat," You said.

"Hmm?" She hummed, her lips grazing your own.

"I love you."

"I love you too," she replied, her voice soft, carrying the kind of tenderness that made your heartache in the best way. Her green eyes flickered with adoration, and a small, genuine smile tugged at her lips.

"I want to do something tomorrow," Natasha said after a moment.

"Oh?" You raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued.

"I want to take Isabella out for lunch," she offered, her voice steady but her expression a little hesitant, as though gauging your reaction. "If that’s okay."

Your heart swelled, the unexpected offer leaving you momentarily speechless. Natasha had taken steps into your world before, but this felt different. Bigger. She had said how she felt about you—plenty of times—but this was something else. This was about Isabella. About your daughter.

"Okay," you nodded, trying to keep your emotions in check even though you were bursting inside.

"I just want to show her that I care about you," Natasha explained, her voice softening further, vulnerable in a way she rarely let herself be. "That I care about her. That she’s important to me, too." She paused. "But only if she’s ready. I don’t want to rush anything."

You couldn’t help but laugh softly, the joy bubbling out of you. "Please, if she could have you to herself, you’d be her new best friend by tomorrow," you joked, your voice light but full of warmth. "She’s going to love it. And you."

Natasha’s smile grew, her shoulders relaxing at your reassurance. "Good. Because I want her to know I’m all in. For both of you."

"You better be," You teased, brushing her hair from your face. "I'm all in for you too."

"And, I mean, she already has an amazing dad," Natasha pointed out. "It can't hurt to have an amazing step-mom."

"Step-mom," you repeated slowly, the words unfamiliar but not entirely unpleasant.

"I'm not proposing," Natasha chuckled. "Don't look so scared."

"I'm not," you said quickly. "It's just... I've never dated anyone serious enough to have that conversation."

"Well, call me crazy, but..." Natasha began, a hint of playfulness in her tone, "I'd say the woman I've been seeing for almost half a year and am completely in love with is pretty serious."

"Completely?" You echoed, a smile tugging at your lips.

"Mm," Natasha hummed. She pressed her forehead against yours. "I'm all yours. Forever, if you'll have me."

"Don't make big promises you can't keep," You murmured.

"Who says I can't?"

"No one," You smiled, tilting your chin and capturing her lips. Natasha responded immediately, her lips moving in tandem with yours. You pulled back briefly, a mischievous smile forming on your lips. "But what makes you think I'm so easily won over?"

"I don't," Natasha admitted. Her eyes glimmered. "But I'm a damn good catch."

"Oh, you're something alright," you muttered, shaking your head.

"So, you'll have me?" Natasha asked, her expression softening.

You smiled. "Yes. I'll have you. Always."

********

Natasha had underestimated how exhausting it could be to spend a day with a child. She’d heard the warnings from you—things like don’t let Isabella sit in the front seat under any circumstances and don't allow her to con you into buying anything—, but it hadn’t quite sunk in until she was in the thick of it.

Isabella, on the other hand, was completely enamored. From the second Natasha picked her up, she had chattered non-stop. Asking questions about Natasha's life, music, and the upcoming tour. When Natasha suggested that they spend the day together, Isabella practically jumped with joy. She truly enjoyed Natasha's presence when you'd hung around each other. It was only fair she got to hang out with her, too.

"So, do you like Chuck E Cheese's?" Natasha asked as she drove into the empty intersection. She wasn't up to date on what nine-year-olds like these days.

"I do," Isabella nodded enthusiastically. "But mom doesn't."

"That doesn't sound like her," Natasha smiled, glancing at the young girl through the rearview mirror.

"Oh, well," Isabella sighed dramatically. "She thinks it's too loud and doesn't like Chuck E."

"Well, what does she think about laser tag?" Natasha offered. "I hear they have an arcade at the mall."

"I don't know," Isabella replied thoughtfully. She leaned forward between the seats. "What's laser tag?"

"It's a game where you and several others go into a dark room with guns that shoot out lasers," Natasha explained, keeping her tone casual. "Put your seatbelt back on."

"Fine," Isabella sighed before throwing herself back into the seat. "Can we get my ears pierced too?"

"And have your mom break up with me instantly? I don't think so," Natasha laughed. "Are you trying to sabotage me?"

"Not intentionally, no," Isabella shrugged. "Mom's a cool mom."

"Your mom is a cool mom," Natasha agreed, glancing at Isabella in the rearview mirror. "But even cool moms have their limits. I’m pretty sure earrings are one of those limits."

Isabella pouted dramatically, crossing her arms. "But everyone in my class already has them!"

Natasha chuckled. "Nice try, kid. You’re not dragging me into that fight. Besides, you’ve got plenty of time for earrings. Let’s focus on laser tag first, yeah?"

"Okay, fine," Isabella relented, though her pout lingered. Then, her face lit up. "Can I at least pick the team name?"

"Absolutely. Team names are critical," Natasha nodded thoughtfully, playing along. "What are you thinking?"

"Something cool," Isabella said, tapping her chin like she was deep in thought. "The Dolls."

"Sounds very girly," Natasha said.

"Well, we are girls," Isabella said matter of fact.

"Touche," Natasha laughed.

After a quick stop to grab gas, they arrived at the arcade. The place was filled with screaming kids, and the smell of greasy food lingered in the air. The sounds of games, arcade music, and laughter mixed.

"Oh, this place is amazing," Isabella grinned. "This is the coolest."

"It's alright," Natasha mused, glancing around the room. She turned to Isabella. "Alright. We need a game plan. Stick beside me, and we take everyone out one by one."

"That sounds good," Isabella nodded. "Can you help me with this?" She stood up straight so Natasha could help with the team vest.

"Yeah, of course," Natasha adjusted the straps, tightening them. "There you go."

"Thanks," Isabella grinned. "What's our game plan?"

"Okay," Natasha crouched down, getting on Isabella's level. She tapped the girl's chest. "I'm going to have you be the leader of the team. You have the most important job."

"Really?"

"Yeah, and that's to watch my back," Natasha nodded.

"Got it," Isabella smirked, giving her a thumbs up.

"Great," Natasha stood. "Let's go."

The two played several rounds, and Natasha genuinely enjoyed her time with the little girl. Isabella had endless energy and an infectious enthusiasm for life. Not to mention her maniacal giggles whenever she dodged the other team's laser. By the time they were done, they were both more than hungry. Natasha decided pizza and a salad from the arcade's restaurant would be more than filling.

"So," Isabella said, pressing her pizza in half like a taco. "You and my mom are getting pretty serious."

"We are," Natasha nodded. She took a bite of her salad, swallowing the food before continuing. "Do you think it's serious?"

"Yeah," Isabella nodded, shoving a piece of her pizza in her mouth. She swallowed before speaking again. "My mom's been happy. A lot happier."

"That's good," Natasha smiled. "Was she sad before?"

"No," Isabella furrowed her brows. "Not sad. But things are good for her now. I don't know how to describe it."

"How about you say what you're thinking, and I can see if that's a good description?"

"Okay," Isabella pursed her lips. She looked down, picking at her slice. "I've never seen her talk about a relationship like this. Like, when she's on the phone, she's always smiling. Or she's telling me something about you."

"And is that a good thing for you?"

"I think so," Isabella nodded. She hesitated, biting her lip.

"What is it?" Natasha pressed gently.

"Nothing," Isabella shook her head. She sighed. "Will you be there?"

"When?"

"For my birthday," Isabella explained, her gaze fixed on her pizza. "I want to go to Paris, but Mama says I should save that for when I turn thirteen. So I decided a spa day would be cool."

"Spa days are great," Natasha agreed. "But I think Paris is a wonderful gift for your birthday."

"I've been to Paris before," Isabella shrugged.

"Have you?" Natasha raised her brows.

"Yeah, with Mom and Daddy," Isabella explained. "It was a really long time ago. When I was like two."

"Well, it is a pretty magical place," Natasha hummed. "Of course, I'll come to your party."

"It's in three months. I'll finally be double digits, and Mom will let me get my nails done," Isabella grinned, wiggling her fingers in the air. "Not just painted—like, the fancy kind. Gel or acrylic or something."

Natasha chuckled. "Big milestone. Double digits and fancy nails? Sounds like a big deal."

"It is," Isabella said matter-of-factly, taking a big bite of her pizza. She added, "Mama said I can even invite two friends to come with us."

"That sounds like fun," Natasha said, leaning her elbow on the table and resting her chin in her hand. "Do you know who you're going to invite?"

"Maybe Lenny and Sophia," Isabella mused, her face scrunching up thoughtfully. "They're my best friends, but Sophia sometimes says mean things, so maybe just Lenny."

Natasha nodded, offering a small smile. "It's your day, so spend it with the people who make you happiest."

"Yeah," Isabella agreed, then looked up at Natasha, her expression suddenly shy. "And... I’m glad you’ll be there. I like that you and Mama are, you know, together."

Natasha softened, touched by her honesty. "I am, too," she said quietly. "I like being with her. And I'm so glad I've gotten the chance to know you. I hope that's okay."

"Yeah, she'll finally have someone else to hang out with other than me," Isabella said with an exasperated sigh.

"I don't think she minds hanging out with you," Natasha teased.

"No, she doesn't. I'm the best," Isabella laughed. "But I do have a life of my own."

"So," Natasha leaned back, a smirk on her lips. "Now that you've spent time with me. What's the verdict? Do I pass the test?"

"Let's see how the rest of the day goes," Isabella patted Natasha's hand.

She couldn't argue with that.

******

A week later was the album photoshoot. With most of the tracks fleshed out and ready for post-production, it was time for other things that bands did. Natasha could do without press and pictures and all that other stuff. Cameras flashed incessantly, their brightness like miniature explosions that pierced her vision. She couldn’t pinpoint why they grated on her nerves—maybe it was the performative nature of it all, the forced energy that felt miles away from the authenticity she craved.

The microphone was cold against her hands as she leaned forward, feigning a scream into its mesh head. Equally uncomfortable in their unnatural poses, her bandmates were arranged behind her.

Steve stood by a keyboard angled awkwardly toward the camera, his brow furrowed in concentration as though he was taking the photos. His natural charm didn’t seem to help him here. Tony sat perched behind his drum kit, twirling a drumstick in one hand while resting the other on the cymbal, his cocky grin firmly in place. "I was born for this, Nat," he had joked earlier, though the shine of sweat on his brow betrayed his irritation. Bucky stood slightly off-center, his hands on his guitar as though caught mid-strum. His scowl, however, didn’t seem as performative.

And then there was Wanda, holding her bass with practiced ease, her red hair catching the light. She was the only one who looked remotely comfortable, even enjoying the attention. She locked eyes with Natasha and smirked as if to say, 'Just roll with it.'

Natasha sighed under her breath, her hair falling into her face slightly as the photographer barked directions. "Energy! Let’s see some energy!"

"We are," Natasha muttered, rolling her eyes.

"More! More! You're too stiff!"

"This is a photoshoot," Steve said, his voice tight. "Not a porno."

"Less attitude and more energy!" The photographer shouted, ignoring the jab. He sighed before lowering his camera. Mitch hurried to address the band.

"What can I do to get you guys more comfortable?"

Wanda snorted softly, earning a sharp look from the photographer. "I'm sorry, can we do away with the instruments."

"And this hair," Bucky shook his head. "I got a haircut for a reason. Spiking it up with gel is horseshit."

"Fine," Mitch agreed. "We're paying you guys to have fun, right?"

"Yeah," Tony nodded, his tone flat. "Fun. This is it."

Mitch ignored the comment and addressed the photographer. "Alright. No instruments. Let me just..."

She folded her arms and inspected the band. "Okay, Bucky, go and rinse out your hair quickly. Tony, put the glasses back on. Natasha, let's go ahead and take this jacket off."

"Better," Natasha smirked, pushing her hair from her face. "Wanda, I got you." Natasha began to fix the other woman's makeup, swiping the tiniest bit of lipstick from the woman's lip.

"You guys are excellent," Mitch praised. "Natural."

"It's because we are," Tony shrugged.

"Well, let's make it even more natural," Mitch instructed, stepping back to allow the photographer to start shooting again. "Just relax. Imagine the crowd. The energy. The heat."

"We don't usually do a lot of close-ups," Steve pointed out.

"Let's try this," Natasha asked for a chair for a nearby assistant. She didn't want to seem difficult, but their sophomore album cover needed perfection. "Remember that picnic picture we had?"

"I like this idea," Wanda smirked.

"You want us all on a chair?" Steve asked.

"Just me," Natasha said. She leaned back slightly in the sleek studio chair, gripping the microphone loosely in one hand. The chord snaked from her fingers, disappearing out of frame. Her other hand rested casually on Wanda’s shoulder.

Wanda sat cross-legged on the floor between Natasha’s legs, her bass leaning against her thigh as though it were an extension of her body. She tilted her head slightly, her red hair falling over one shoulder, eyes dark and piercing as she stared into the lens.

Around them, the men completed the picture with quiet power.

"Much better," Mitch grinned. "I like this vibe. This is the album cover. The chemistry you have together is perfect. Sexy."

"It's not sexy," Bucky snorted, adjusting his muscle shirt.

"Then how about passionate," Mitch offered.

"Sure, whatever," Bucky replied.

"Be nice," Natasha scolded.

"Okay, let's just finish this," Steve said.

"Perfect. Perfect," Mitch smiled, her eyes glued to the camera's monitor. "Alright, just a couple more shots, and we're done."

The photographer nodded. "We're wrapping up soon, guys."

"Finally," Wanda muttered, running a hand through her hair.

"Everyone say cheese," Mitch teased.

*********

The buzz around Velvet Rebllion's new album, Rebel’s Anthem had hit a fever pitch. The cover art was plastered across streaming platforms and social media. The usual raw, edgy aesthetic resonated instantly with their fans, and rumors of album features continued to swirl.

“Obvious,” the debut single, had officially claimed its spot on the charts, peaking at number six on Billboard'sHott 100. Playlists, reaction videos, and TikToks set to the rhythm were everywhere within the first twenty-four hours. Velvet Rebellion was once again the name on everyone’s lips—this time with a new name in the mix. Yours.

The streams for the song grew a whopping one hundred thousand in the first day. You tried to ignore the lighting of your phone screen as notifications continued to pour in. Suddenly, everyone wanted to know your name and what you were all about. It was an interesting feeling for people to discover you after so long of being lowkey. You were simply a musician's daughter and a football player's ex-wife. There was no way people were checking for you. But they were. This relationship with Natasha had gained the attention of new fans, and the music was adding fuel to the well-lit fire.

Even then, you still had a 9 to 5 where you welcomed the mundane. You were meeting with colleagues, exploring the PR plan of an actress/singer who'd licked a donut in a coffee shop just two days prior.

"We need to keep a positive image for the film's premiere," one exec said.

"That might be a little difficult," you admitted, flipping through the papers on your lap.

"You're telling me," he scoffed.

"Hey, can I ask you a question?" the actress turned to you, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Of course," you replied, a smile on your lips. "Anything."

"Are you the best for the job?" She asked. "With my publicist having so much publicity herself, isn't it risky?"

"Oh, you're worried that my private life will somehow get in the way of your wrongdoings?" You tilted your head.

"I'm just saying," she shrugged. "It could happen."

"Well, if it does, you have my word. I will not be involved," you assured her, standing. "Because I wouldn't let myself."

"Good," the actress nodded, a hint of a smirk on her lips.

"And, for the record, I've been doing this six years now, so if you have any more questions about my skill or knowledge," You began. "This charity event is good for you. Pet a dog. Shake some hands. Keep your mouth and tongue to yourself."

The meeting ended shortly after, and you couldn't wait to get home. You were about to pack up and call it a day when you received a video. It was from Natasha, and you clicked play immediately. She danced to your song in her kitchen in a tank top and boxer briefs. You watched as she held a whisk, twirling it around and singing into a spoon.

You laughed as you sat down at your desk to watch. You’d hope she wasn’t posting this on Instagram. The camera panned over to Wanda, who was chopping vegetables. Then it zoomed in on her face and her amusement as she continued cooking.

"What are you doing?" She laughed.

"Getting in the zone," Natasha replied, moving closer to her. She spun again, her hair whipping around her. "Can't cook without music."

"Uh huh," Wanda shook her head, a grin on her lips. "Hi, y/n, come get your girlfriend. She's driving me crazy."

Then, the video ended.

You sent Natasha a few laughing emojis back. Gosh, you loved that woman. That's when you opened up your own Instagram. For the past few months, you haven't posted anything about your relationship other than cheeky snippets on stories. It was about time you did something. Of course, the single release was a perfect excuse.

You scrolled through your photo album to find one Isabella had taken. It was of you cuddling Natasha on the couch a couple of nights ago during movie night. She looked completely relaxed and serene as you looked into her eyes adoringly.

You smiled, your finger hovering over the picture. It was a quiet, intimate moment, one of those rare slices of normalcy. The glow of the TV in the background, the way her head rested against yours—it wasn’t just a good photo; it was the photo.

You quickly typed out a caption:

"When your favorite song is also your favorite person. Congratulations on the single release, my love. ‘Obvious’ is out now, and I couldn’t be prouder of you. ❤️✨ #VelvetRebellion #RebelsAnthem"

Satisfied, you hit Post.

Within minutes, the comments started rolling in. Fans of the band—Natasha’s, yours, or both—flooded in with love.

"Omg, y’all are so cute!!! 😍"

"Wait, this is the first time you’ve posted her!!! I’m crying!!!"

"The queen deserves the love. Congrats to Natasha and the band!!! 🔥"

and then Natasha added her comment.

"You're the song and the lyrics 🖤"

And, of course, a flood of emojis followed.

Your cheeks were burning. She was so damn sweet.

Your phone vibrated again with a text from Natasha.

“You finally did it, huh? Are you posting about me now? Bold.”

You laughed, typing back:

“It’s about time. You’re worth the hype.”

Her response came almost instantly.

“I better be. Now everyone officially knows you’re mine.”

You rolled your eyes affectionately. Natasha and her little possessive streak—it always made your heart race.

A new notification popped up—this time a DM from Wanda.

"Thank you for distracting her. She’s been on a high all week because of the single, which drives me insane. You owe me coffee for keeping her in check at rehearsal."

You grinned, firing off a quick reply.

“Deal. But you know you love her too.”

But as you scrolled through the comments and watched the likes climb, the reality of the whirlwind ahead hit you. Press runs, small performances on late-night shows, endless interviews, and the tour planning that would come after—it was only the beginning. Life was about to get hectic, a blur of airports and green rooms, flashing cameras, and sleepless nights. A part of you felt excited, and you couldn't believe it. 

---> next part

[abstractnaturaldisaster]

is it over now? (was it over then?)

part five

part six: with the wilt of the rose

With the success of Eddie's Steve single as his bandmates had started to call it, the label had basically told Corroded Coffin in no uncertain terms to channel that energy into the rest of their album. It wasn't that Eddie didn't like the attention his song was getting and Steve absolutely deserved it, the lying piece of shit, but it was like getting permission to write angsty music about Steve took all the fun out of it. He was fully out of inspiration of the angst variety and had taken a hard left turn into moping, feeling sorry for himself, and being one thousand percent convinced that he was going to be single for the rest of his life and die alone.

Eddie was reclining in his giant beanbag chair (his nest as Steve used to joke with him), occasionally humming lines, strumming on his guitar, and writing more and more pathetically dramatic lyrics for most of the day until he reached his limit and pulled out his phone. It wasn't like Eddie was purposefully keeping track of people in Steve's life but over the time they were together his little gaggle of gremlins wormed his way into Eddie's life too. Unfortunately when he opened his phone it was to tweets of Dustin going low key feral over Steve's new role in some indie biopic but at the same time being crazy upset that Steve would be incommunicado as Dustin so helpfully added in his tweet. The kid was such a dweeb. Eddie flicked out of twitter and opened instagram hoping that his feed would be mostly possum memes. He scrolled idly for a while seeing new tattoo ideas and of course many cute furry animals doing many silly things until suddenly he was reminded of a particular face Steve made and Eddie (although he would never admit this) searched for Steve's public profile only a little disappointed that he hadn't posted anything more recent than when the two were together.

Because Eddie may or may not be a massive masochist and can't leave well enough alone, he decides to tab over to Steve's tagged pictures to see if there is anything recent. In between several tags of Steve being unfairly good looking in whatever movie he was currently filming, Eddie was taken aback by a post that was just of Robin and Nancy. They looked a little closer than just gal pals or whatever it was the tabloids called them while speculating how they could be friends while "fighting" over Steve. So much for modern feminism.

Before Eddie got distracted enough to go through a full rant that might include a fairly long section about how Ronnie was treated differently than the rest of his bandmates, Eddie focused back on the issue at hand. Why was Nancy who he highly suspected of stealing his fucking boyfriend posing like she was getting engaged to Steve's best friend. And why did they fucking tag him it it? Robin was snarky sure but she didn't seem like that level of bitch. Eddie took a deep breath and opened the fairly lengthy caption to see:

nancywheeler Hello World! It's been a long time coming but I am so excited to publicly announce that me and Robin (@buckster) are going steady. I know I don't post a whole lot about my person life on here (seriously, the rest of the world is so much more exciting) but you've always been so supportive of my coming out and sexuality related posts as well as understanding when I needed to set a boundary between my personal life and my online persona. I've been unable to share my most recent relationship for a really long time because of the public pressure of coming out and being a "marketable asset." Steve (@sharrington) could not have been a better support during this time and took a lot of public flak to keep Robin and I safe and comfortable until we were ready to be out publicly. He always offered up his home while I was visiting and kept me company while Robin was working. I guess us bi guys have to stick together, huh? Anyways, that's all for now. And no, we aren't engaged (yet 😈)

Eddie was floored. He had spent all his time since leaving Steve's apartment feeling very holier than thou and smug about everything that happened with Steve and the success his band was experience because of it. Although if one Miss Nancy Wheeler was telling the truth (which like as a journalist Eddie thinks she has to), Steve was actually helping his platonic soulmate find love with his exgirlfriend. If Eddie hadn't already felt kind of shitty for assuming the worst about Steve, this had to take the fucking cake. Eddie was truly done for. Put a fork in him. He's the worst person ever. Fuck. He needed reinforcements.

devilededs: uhm hi friends, i think maybe i am the asshole in the whole steve situation can u come to mine?

ronnie: you saw it? i can finally give you shit about being a total drama queen?

devilededs: what do you mean? why would you not tell me if you knew it existed.

ronnie: precisely because of this vibe right now.

devilededs: okay, everyone but ronnie pls come over i need snacks and maybe some really b grade horror but you have to indulge me in my sadness.

garbear: already on the way with your emotional support jeff and frank. we'll pick up snacks.

ronnie: if you let me problem solve for you can i come for snacks? i don't think i can handle moping eddie without trying to show you its very fixable.

devilededs: YES! FIX! ME! HOW! GET OVER HERE!

Eddie flopped back into the beanbag chair and let his notebook flop out of his lap. Thankfully his friends all had keys so he could continue to rot in place until Ronnie forcibly withdrew him from his hovel.

part seven

@lololol-1234 @swimmingbirdrunningrock @zombiethingy @grtwdsmwhr @dreamercec @anne-bennett-cosplayer @strawberryyyenthusiast @mensch-anthropos-human @kal-ology @ttyrussss @kristmkris @starman-jpg @wonderland-girl143-blog @child-of-cthulhu @legalmenace87 @adealwithher @practicallybegging @lunaraquaenby @stripey82 @lexyvey @goodolefashionedloverboi @mothmamhasyourlocation @mugloversonly (if you wanna be tagged in future parts feel free to comment! happy to add people)

[biblical-chronicles]

Fan-service

______________________________________________________

where Noel is so starstruck by the reader, that he can't even let a word out, especially as she presses against him to finally nail a riff that has been stuck in her head.

______________________________________________________

Oasis had been locked in the studio all week, grinding through new material. The days were dragging, and while Noel Gallagher could usually power through long sessions with determination, something had been throwing him off his rhythm lately. He sat hunched over his guitar, strumming idly while scribbling down half-finished lyrics, though his mind clearly wasn’t on the task at hand.

Across the room, Liam leaned casually against the wall, cigarette in hand, watching his older brother with a sly grin. “You’ve been well quiet lately,” Liam started, his voice cutting through the low hum of the amps. “Bit out of character, innit? Normally, you’re banging on about summat well boring by now.”

Noel shot him a look but didn’t reply, his focus stubbornly staying on his guitar.

“Oh, I get it now.” Liam smirked, dragging on his cigarette. “You’re thinkin’ about her, ain’t ya?”

At this, Noel’s fingers faltered on the strings. He didn’t say a word, but the slight stiffening of his shoulders was all Liam needed.

“Bloody hell, this is gold!” Liam’s laugh echoed through the room, and he gestured at Noel with his cigarette. “Our kid’s gone soft over that singer. What’s her name again? That band you’re always harping on about like some lovesick twat?”

“Shut it, Liam,” Noel snapped, his voice sharp but tinged with embarrassment.

“You’re always goin’ on about how talented she is, how her voice is, what’d you say, proper angelic?” Liam snorted, clearly enjoying himself. “It’s tragic, mate. Well tragic.”

“I’m not having this conversation,” Noel muttered, shaking his head as if it could physically remove the topic from existence.

“Well, you better sort it out, ‘cause they’re booked in the next studio soon, yeah?” Liam’s grin widened as he pointed out what Noel had been dreading. “She’s gonna be right down the hall. What’re you gonna do then, eh? Gonna spend the next few weeks hiding in the bogs every time she walks by?”

“Why don’t you do one and focus on something useful for once?” Noel barked, clearly over it.

“ooh touchy touchy aren't we, alright” said Liam holding up his hands in mock surrender, though the grin never left his face. “Just don’t come crying to me when she don’t even know you exist, mate.” He gave Noel one last pointed look before wandering off, still chuckling to himself.

A week later, the studio was buzzin with sound as your band arrived to record your new album. You’d barely had time to catch your breath with how fast things had been moving lately—gigs, interviews, and now this—but it was all part of the ride.

The first few days in the studio were a mix of excitement and frustration as you worked to fine-tune the tracks. Things were going well, but one song in particular was giving you trouble. The chorus needed something—a riff, a hook—but no matter how hard you and your band tried, nothing seemed to fit.

After hours of tinkering with no breakthrough, you decided to call it a night. “You lot head off,” you told your bandmates as they packed up their gear. “I’ll grab a bite and lock up.”

They nodded, wishing you goodnight as they headed out. Left alone, you wandered into the small kitchen area of the building, rummaging through the sparse offerings until you settled on a rather sad-looking snack. You leaned against the counter, chewing absentmindedly, humming away, when the melody suddenly hit you.

It was perfect. It tied the whole chorus together in your head, and you immediately knew that you couldn’t risk losing it. Tossing the wrapper in the bin, you rushed back down the corridor towards the studio room, humming the notes under your breath so you wouldn’t forget.

Reaching the door, you realized with a groan that it was locked. “Fuck,” you muttered, tugging at the handle uselessly. Of course your bandmates locked the room up on their way out.

You stood there for a moment, wracking your brain for a solution. That’s when you heard it—a faint melody drifting down the hall.

Following the sound, you found yourself in front of a door with “Oasis” scrawled on the sign. For a brief moment, nerves fluttered in your stomach. You’d heard the stories, seen the interviews - the Gallagher brothers weren’t exactly known for being approachable. But the riff was all you could think about, and with no time to hesitate, you pushed the door open.

Inside, the band had just finished playing a song, the final notes still humming in the air. Four pairs of eyes turned to you as you stepped in, looking a bit out of place but determined nonetheless.

“Hi,” you said, trying to sound casual despite the sudden silence. “Sorry to interrupt, but, uh... would you mind if I borrowed a guitar for a sec? I’ve got this riff stuck in me head, and I need to get it down before I forget.”

Nobody said a word, the room was eerily quiet, the only sound being the faint hum of their amps. You shifted awkwardly, wondering if you’d made a mistake.

“Everyone alright? Or did I walk in at a bad time?” you joked, laughing nervously.

Finally, Liam broke the silence, a grin spreading across his face. “Yeah, yeah, it’s all good. I’m sure Noel won’t mind you borrowing his gear. He’s a big fan.” He turned to his brother and not-so-subtly jabbed him in the ribs.

Noel, however, looked like he might spontaneously combust at any moment now. His face turned a deep shade of red as he opened his mouth to respond but found no words. Instead, he just sat there, gripping his guitar like it was the only thing tethering him to reality.

The sight sent Liam into a small fit of laughter, and it wasn’t long before the rest of the band joined in. You stood there, thoroughly confused but trying not to let it show.

“Right,” you said slowly, glancing at Liam, who was practically doubled over, already in the process of nudging Noel again. “Well, maybe don’t knock your guitarist out while you’re at it. He’s important to the band, isn’t he? And, he's kinda cute too, would be a shame to lose him.”

That only made things worse. Noel somehow managed to turn an even darker shade of red, his face now matching the hue of his knit. Liam was in hysterics at this point, the rest of the band not being far behind.

You glanced at Noel again, noticing the wide-eyed, slightly panicked expression that hadn’t left his face. His grip on the guitar seemed to tighten, and his lips parted slightly as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t quite manage it.

“Okay,” you said, trying to suppress a smile as you addressed the room. “He might be broken or summat, but listen, I really need to get this riff out before it slips away from me.”

Before anyone could respond, you walked over to Noel and, without much thought, slid your arms around him to reach the guitar. He froze completely, every muscle in his body going stiff as you gently moved his hands to make room for yours on the neck of the instrument.

“Right, let’s see if this works,” you muttered, focused on the notes in your head. You began plucking at the strings, slowly piecing together the melody as Noel sat motionless beneath you. Your body pressed lightly against his as you leaned over him to reach the frets, completely oblivious to the utter chaos you were causing in his head.

Behind you, Liam’s laughter hit a new level. “You seeing this?” he wheezed, looking around at the rest of the band, who were also struggling to keep their composure. “Our Noel! He’s gone, mate. Completely gone.”

The room erupted into more laughter, but you couldn't hear it, too focused on the riff. Yet, you could feel Noel shifting slightly under you, as if he were trying to sink into the floor.

Finally, you played the last few notes, the riff clicking perfectly into place. “That’s it,” you said, grinning as you let the final chord ring out. “Bloody hell, I’m glad I got that down.”

You leaned closer to Noel’s ear, whispering a quick, “Thanks for this. You’re a lifesaver.”

It wasn’t until you pulled back that you noticed just how red Noel’s face was. His skin was practically glowing, and his eyes had this dazed, glassy look as he stared blankly ahead. You couldn’t help but smile, the pieces finally starting to click into place.

“Well, I should probably head off now,” you said, stepping back from Noel and addressing the room. “Thanks for letting me steal your guitarist for a bit. I really appreciate it—and I’d love to hang out properly sometime with you lot. We’ll all be stuck here for weeks, yeah?”

The rest of the band nodded, offering their goodbyes and complimenting your career so far.

As you stepped out into the hallway, shutting the door behind you, you could still hear the faint sound of Liam cackling. You shook your head, chuckling to yourself as you started walking toward the main exit.

You didn’t get far before the door burst open behind you.

“Noel wants a private meet-and-greet!” Liam’s voice rang out, his laughter following soon after as he all but dragged his older brother into the hallway by the ear.

You turned to find Noel half-protesting, his mouth opening and closing like he couldn’t quite decide what to say. Liam, on the other hand, was clearly having the time of his life, practically bouncing on his feet with glee.

“Well?” you asked, raising an eyebrow as you crossed your arms. “Is that true, Noel?”

Noel opened his mouth, presumably to deny everything, but Liam cut in before he could speak. “Go on, mate. Tell her how you feel. Or d’you need me to spell it out for ya?”

“Piss off, Liam,” Noel grumbled, his voice finally returning, though his usual confidence was still nowhere to be found.

“Nah, I’ll leave you to it,” Liam said, grinning as he turned back toward the studio. “But don’t think I won’t come back if you bottle it.” With that, he disappeared back inside, leaving you and Noel alone in the hallway.

You tilted your head, studying Noel with an amused expression. “Alright, what’s this all about, then? What’s he on about?”

Noel rubbed the back of his neck, looking everywhere but at you. “It’s... it’s nothin’. He’s just taking the piss, per usual.”

“Didn’t seem like nothin’ to me,” you said, stepping closer. “Come on, Noel. Spit it out. I won’t leave you alone until you tell me what’s going on.”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Alright, fine. Look... I’m a big fan of yours, alright? I think you’re brilliant—your voice, your songwriting, the lot of it. And, uh... maybe I fancy you a little, or whatever.”

You smiled, warmth spreading through your chest at his words. “Is that so? Well, I’m flattered, really.”

“Sorry,” he muttered, looking down at his shoes. “It’s probably weird, me sayin’ all this.”

“Not weird at all,” you assured him, pulling him into a hug. “And for the record, I’d love to go out with you sometime.”

His head shot up, his eyes wide with surprise. “You serious?”

“Dead serious,” you said with a grin, though you couldn’t resist teasing him a little. “Though I can’t promise I won’t tell everyone about how red your face went earlier.”

“Not funny,” he muttered, though the smile tugging at his lips betrayed him.

You leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. His skin burned under your lips, and when you pulled back, you noticed how dazed he looked. Something about the moment felt too perfect to pass up, so you decided to close the gap again—this time pressing your lips fully to his.

Noel stiffened for just a moment before melting into the kiss, his hands slipping to your waist, tugging you firmly against him. The heat between you was immediate, as your fingers brushed along his jawline, tracing the scruff there before burying themselves in his hair. When you tugged gently, a low groan escaped him, his breath hitching audibly as he deepened the kiss, his grip on your hips tightening possessively.

His hands grew bolder, one sliding down to the curve of your hip while the other trailed up the small of your back, his fingers skimming the fabric as if itching to touch bare skin. The pressure of his hold sent a shiver through you, and you pressed yourself closer, your body molding against his in a way that left no space between you.

The kiss turned hungrier, his lips moving against yours with a fervor that sent sparks racing down your spine. His hands weren’t still for a moment, one sliding just beneath the hem of your shirt to rest on your bare lower back, the other venturing up your side, his thumb grazing tantalizingly close to your bra clasp.

With a subtle shift, Noel pressed you gently but firmly against the wall, his body following to keep you pinned there. You felt his fingers grip your shirt, bunching the fabric like he needed something to ground him, though the way his lips never left yours suggested he was perfectly content losing himself entirely. Your hands roamed freely now—one still tugging at his hair while the other drifted down to the broad expanse of his chest.

Then, as though driven by instinct, he hooked one of your legs around his hip, his hand sliding down to your thigh to hold it in place. The new position pressed you even closer together, your body arching into his as his lips never left yours.

You gasped into his mouth, your hands tightening in his hair and pulling him even deeper into the kiss. His grip on your thigh was firm, his fingers digging in slightly as though to steady both of you. His lips trailed to your jaw, his breath hot against your skin as he kissed a line down to your neck, his teeth grazing ever so slightly.

"Christ," he muttered against your skin, his voice huskier than usual, his lips brushing your ear as he spoke. "You’re gonna be the death of me"

You grinned, breathless, your thumb tracing the outline of his cheek as you whispered back, "Guess we’ll find out, won’t we?"

Before either of you could take it further, a familiar voice rang out from the hallway.

"Oi! I see the meet-and-greet’s come with some extra fan service!"

You both froze. Noel’s head snapped up, his face going a deeper shade of red than you thought humanly possible. You turned toward the doorway to find Liam standing there, leaning casually against the frame with a shit-eating grin plastered on his face.

"Honestly, Noel," Liam continued, his voice dripping with mockery, "you’re supposed to ask for an autograph, not sexual favours."

Noel scrambled to put your leg down, his hands leaving you so fast it was almost comical, though he kept his body angled slightly in front of yours as if to shield you from Liam’s teasing.

"Fuck right off, Liam!" Noel barked, his voice sharp but his face still burning.

You couldn’t help but laugh, leaning around Noel to flash Liam a cheeky grin. "Well, it’s good to know you’re keeping an eye out for your brother."

"Oh, don’t worry, love," Liam said, crossing his arms. "I’ll keep this one on a leash from now on. Can’t have him getting any more ideas."

As Liam sauntered away, you turned back to Noel, biting your lip to stifle a laugh. "Well," you said softly, brushing a thumb along his jaw, "I guess we’ll definitely need to thank your brother for that."

Noel groaned, shaking his head, but the small grin tugging at his lips told you he wasn’t entirely upset.

______________________________________________________

@shes-thunderstormssss this request was so fucking biblical, I just have to tag you, you lot please thank this absolute legend for it. Hopefully it meets your expectations, I just thought it’d be well more fun if the whole band had a laugh and tortured Noel a bit, get him proper flustered x

I proper enjoyed writin’ this, probably more than I should’ve, was expecting to have it done by tomorrow afternoon but here ya go me biblical skill knows no boundaries. Feel free to bombard me inbox with new requests, or yer apple pie recipes I don't give a toss, just love interacting with you lot xx

[omegalomania]

face in my hands. listen to me. no just. just listen. like. i think on the whole fandom tends to heavily mythologize what certain songs are "about" despite this never being solidly confirmed to be the case and fob (pete in particular) generally try not to say without question What Songs Are About because they want people to take whatever meaning they can from it. but from now on we are enemies is one of the exceptions to this rule to a very limited extent and by that i mean that on two separate occasions, during the hiatus, patrick and pete shared a little bit of what the song was about on twitter, independent of one another.

if you haven't seen the film amadeus it's about a rivalry between two historical composers, wolfgang amadeus mozart and antonio salieri. salieri loathes mozart and finds him supremely childish and annoying...but also irritatingly brilliant beyond words. salieri obsesses over wanting to see mozart fail and even plans on killing him, but they do eventually form a friendship. then mozart gets sick and dies. salieri essentially breaks and loses his mind and years down the line will claim that he murdered him.

the name of the song, "from now on we are enemies," is a direct quote from the film. but it's not talking about mozart. it's a furious diatribe that salieri flings at god himself. he's so wildly and deliriously envious of mozart that he feels like this is divine punishment and so he declares god his mortal enemy for bestowing mozart with such brilliance. from now on we are enemies, you and i.

this is, i should note, one of the last songs fall out boy wrote before the hiatus. this and "alpha dog" were considered "new" for the believers never die greatest hits compendium, but alpha dog was technically debuted before folie released, on the welcome to the new administration mixtape. then fall out boy went on hiatus and there was no guarantee of return.

like i dont know what to say about this song that hasnt already been said. its fucking deranged as all get out ill tell you that much. its fucking unhinged that this song, this song with this central thesis statement, is one of the last songs you wrote together as a band before going your separate ways without any guarantee that you would reform again. and it's THIS. IT'S THIS SONG. a song that laments about whether anyone will remember you when you're gone (reminds me of flu game, reminds me of so much (for) stardust the title track, reminds me of .... so many of the themes inherent to their eighth studio album. actually.), and a song that practically lays out its inspiration for all to see. for a band that seldom if ever discloses with actual intent the Meaning behind their songs, this is a song that discusses a HIGHLY FRAUGHT ARTISTIC RELATIONSHIP and it's hard, it's real damn hard, to see anything but what is clearly all on display. composer but never composed (patrick has always considered himself a composer first and foremost). singing the symphonies of the overdosed (pete played a song that was named after the drug he tried to overdose on with his band mere nights earlier). i'm just a man on a balcony singing no one will ever remember me (again there's the fear and dread about the legacy you leave behind just before the band goes their separate ways).

can't fucking lay out the sheer psychological damage this does to my soul just thinking about this. they played MISS MISSING YOU the night before. just, you know, one of the other Songs that's so hard to disentangle from the hiatus because of the way it was written (patrick wrote the music while making soul punk, felt like it wasn't for him, and set it aside...despite there being, again, NO guarantee that the band would ever reform at this point, and then the song was only completed once fall out boy decided to come back, with joe and andy adding instrumentation and pete adding the lyrics) and whose music video features patrick and pete literally KILLING EACH OTHER. from now on we are enemies. i need to walk into the ocean. i need to lie down. im inconsolable.

[poetry-protest-pornography]

kpop sampler

my dear @auriette was asking about my non-skz kpop feelings, and i have so many of them, so i thought it would be fun to make a little playlist.

i'm sticking with the 10 link limit (which is v hard) but if you also have a lot of kpop feelings, please rb with a song/group rec of your own!

in no particular order:

The Rose (k-rock)

i love them. They are super funny on social media, and their music is incredible. Screaming this song at the top of my lungs fixes me a little every time. Woosung is also a soloist and he's amazing.

WOODZ

This song gives me the shivers.

He also has a cover of Hype Boy that is A+

The duality of man.

I think WOODZ is vastly underappreciated, and i wish more people were as into him as i am.

Ateez

i know i already talked about them a little bit, but i have to do it again because i love them. just a bunch of insanely talented, stupidly hot weirdos. i love that they're all nerds who make legos together and that everyone but hongjoong and jongho have zero concept of personal space. wooyoung and san are medalists in the kiss your homie olympics. (woo is also bffs with changbin and also yeonjun from txt)

i'm still obsessed with this song and this MV. the ateez lore is very intricate and this is basically cinema.

TXT

insane dance skills, super talented, great music. it was hard to pick which song of theirs to include here, but this is defintely a favorite. def check out devil by the window" also.

they collabed with the jonas brothers and anitta and both songs were incredible. yeonjun just released a solo album. more talented goofballs. i love them.

OnlyOneOf

i am obsessed with OOO. they are incredible. they do most of their own choreo, they committed to making their MVs queer af and include messages of acceptance and support for the lgbtq community in the notes for all their videos. they paired themselves up and talk about kissing each other casually.

and they back it all up with high concept MVs, insane choreo, and great music that will absolutley get stuck in your head. picking a song was hard, but this choreo is too iconic

Hwasa

i am obsessed with her. she is also in mamamoo, who are great, but i am currently absolutely obsessed with her cover of lunch. but this song which is a pretty direct call out of the rampant body shaming in the industry is so much fun.

KARD

kard is the only mixed gender kpop group i know of, and we need more.

they are all adults, and their music and MVs are, too. killer dancey tracks. their friendship is a lot of fun.

BM is also a soloist, and has some very explicit horny songs that don't bother with the (barely) innuendo that kard plays with. he's also hilarious on SM, and on the daebak show

Enhypen

they're just good. i love a concept album, and they killed it with this.

Evnne

i love them.

they were all on boys planet, and i love all the groups that formed from that show (i was going to cheat and make a whole playlist of bp groups, but i'm just going to share this one and i'll make a whole separate bp post)

this video and song are just so fun, and they're so good, and i wanted to yell about them.

(all the boys planet boys are also stray kids levels of obsessed with each other, which i appreciate --zb1 is probably the worst-best about this, but they're all super close)

oh gosh only space for one more... ahhhh who to choooose

Blitzers

this is just so much fun

no one really sounds like blitzers. the horns and big band elements are wholly unique and fit surprisingly well. they are super talented and clearly having a good time with what they do, and it's just a good time.

I hope you like at least some of these songs/groups!

(Now, to play by my own rules and not add another ten in a reblog unless specifically asked to do more!)

Please add your favorite kpop/krock groups to share the joy of good music that we can all be super normal about together!

[badnewswhatsleft]

2023 september - rock sound #300 (fall out boy cover) scans

transcript below cut!

WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE

With the triumphant ‘So Much (For) Stardust’ capturing a whole new generation of fans, Fall Out Boy are riding high, celebrating their past while looking towards a bright future. Pete Wentz and Patrick Stump reflect on recent successes and the lessons learned from two decades of writing and performing together.

WORDS: James Wilson-Taylor PHOTOS: Elliot Ingham

You have just completed a US summer tour that included stadium shows and some of your most ambitious production to date. What were your aims going into this particular show?

PETE: Playing stadiums is a funny thing. I pushed pretty hard to do a couple this time because I think that the record Patrick came up with musically lends itself to that feeling of being part of something larger than yourself. When we were designing the cover to the album, it was meant to be all tangible, which was a reaction to tokens and skins that you can buy and avatars. The title is made out of clay, and the painting is an actual painting. We wanted to approach the show in that way as well. We’ve been playing in front of a gigantic video wall for the past eight years. Now, we wanted a stage show where you could actually walk inside it.

Did adding the new songs from ‘So Much (For) Stardust’ into the setlist change the way you felt about them?

PATRICK: One of the things that was interesting about the record was that we took a lot of time figuring out what it was going to be, what it was going to sound like. We experimented with so many different things. I was instantly really proud. I felt really good about this record but it wasn’t until we got on stage and you’re playing the songs in between our catalogue that I really felt that. It was really noticeable from the first day on this tour - we felt like a different band. There’s a new energy to it. There was something that I could hear live that I couldn’t hear before.

You also revisited a lot of older tracks and b-sides on this tour, including many from the ‘Folie à Deux’-era. What prompted those choices?

PETE: There were some lean years where there weren’t a lot of rock bands being played on pop radio or playing award shows so we tried to play the biggest songs, the biggest versions of them. We tried to make our thing really airtight, bulletproof so that when we played next to whoever the top artist was, people were like, ‘oh yeah, they should be here.’ The culture shift in the world is so interesting because now, maybe rather than going wider, it makes more sense to go deeper with people. We thought about that in the way that we listen to music and the way we watch films. Playing a song that is a b-side or barely made a record but is someone’s favourite song makes a lot of sense in this era. PATRICK: I think there also was a period there where, to Pete’s point, it was a weird time to be a rock band. We had this very strange thing that happened to us, and not a lot of our friends for some reason, where we had a bunch of hits, right? And it didn’t make any sense to me. It still doesn’t make sense to me. But there was a kind of novelty, where we could play a whole set of songs that a lot of people know. It was fun and rewarding for us to do that. But then you run the risk of playing the same set forever. I want to love the songs that we play. I want to care about it and put passion into what we do. And there’s no sustainable way to just do the same thing every night and not get jaded. We weren’t getting there but I really wanted to make sure that we don’t ever get there. PETE: In the origin of Fall Out Boy, what happened at our concerts was we knew how to play five songs really fast and jumped off walls and the fire marshal would shut it down. It was what made the show memorable, but we wanted to be able to last and so we tried to perfect our show and the songs and the stage show and make it flawless. Then you don’t really know how much spontaneity you want to include, because something could go wrong. When we started this tour, and we did a couple of spontaneous things, it opened us up to more. Because things did go wrong and that’s what made the show special. We’re doing what is the most punk rock version of what we could be doing right now.

You seem generally a lot more comfortable celebrating your past success at this point in your career.

PETE: I think it’s actually not a change from our past. I love those records, but I never want to treat them in a cynical way. I never want there to be a wink and a smile where we’re just doing this because it’s the anniversary. This was us celebrating these random songs and we hope people celebrate them with us. There was a purity to it that felt in line with how we’ve always felt about it. I love ‘Folie à Deux’ - out of any Fall Out Boy record that’s probably the one I would listen to. But I just never want it to be done in a cynical way, where we feel like we have to. But celebrating it in a way where there’s the purity of how we felt when we wrote the song originally, I think that’s fucking awesome. PATRICK: Music is a weird art form. Because when you’re an actor and you play a character, that is a specific thing. James Bond always wears a suit and has a gun and is a secret agent. If you change one thing, that’s fine, but you can’t really change all of it. But bands are just people. You are yourself. People get attached to it like it’s a story but it’s not. That was always something that I found difficult. For the story, it’s always good to say, ‘it’s the 20th anniversary, let’s go do the 20th anniversary tour’, that’s a good story thing. But it’s not always honest. We never stopped playing a lot of the songs from ‘Take This To Your Grave’, right? So why would I need to do a 20-year anniversary and perform all the songs back to back? The only reason would be because it would probably sell a lot of tickets and I don’t really ever want to be motivated by that, frankly. One of the things that’s been amazing is that now as the band has been around for a while, we have different layers of audience. I love ‘Folie à Deux’, I do. I love that record. But I had a really personally negative experience of touring on it. So that’s what I think of when I think of that record initially. It had to be brought back to me for me to appreciate it, for me to go, ‘oh, this record is really great. I should be happy with this. I should want to play this.’ So that’s why we got into a lot of the b-sides because we realised that our perspectives on a lot of these songs were based in our feelings and experiences from when we were making them. But you can find new experiences if you play those songs. You can make new memories with them.

You alluded there to the 20th anniversary of ‘Take This To Your Grave’. Obviously you have changed and developed as a band hugely since then. But is there anything you can point to about making that debut record that has remained a part of your process since then?

PETE: We have a language, the band, and it’s definitely a language of cinema and film. That’s maintained through time. We had very disparate music tastes and influences but I think film was a place we really aligned. You could have a deep discussion because none of us were filmmakers. You could say which part was good and which part sucked and not hurt anybody’s feelings, because you weren’t going out to make a film the next day. Whereas with music, I think if we’d only had that to talk about, we would have turned out a different band. PATRICK: ‘Take This To Your Grave’, even though it’s absolutely our first record, there’s an element of it that’s still a work in progress. It is still a band figuring itself out. Andy wasn’t even officially in the band for half of the recording, right? I wasn’t even officially the guitar player for half of the recording. We were still bumbling through it. There was something that popped up a couple times throughout that record where you got these little inklings of who the band really was. We really explored that on ‘From Under The Cork Tree’. So when we talk about what has remained the same… I didn’t want to be a singer, I didn’t know anything about singing, I wasn’t planning on that. I didn’t even plan to really be in this band for that long because Pete had a real band that really toured so I thought this was gonna be a side project. So there’s always been this element within the band where I don’t put too many expectations on things and then Pete has this really big ambition, creatively. There’s this great interplay between the two of us where I’m kind of oblivious, and I don’t know when I’m putting out a big idea and Pete has this amazing vision to find what goes where. There’s something really magical about that because I never could have done a band like this without it. We needed everybody, we needed all four of us. And I think that’s the thing that hasn’t changed - the four of us just being ourselves and trying to figure things out. Listening back to ‘Folie’ or ‘Infinity On High’ or ‘American Beauty’, I’m always amazed at how much better they are than I remember. I listened to ‘MANIA’ the other day, and I have a lot of misgivings about that record, a lot of things I’m frustrated about. But then I’m listening to it and I’m like ‘this is pretty good.’ There’s a lot of good things in there. I don’t know why, it’s kind of like you can’t see those things. It’s kind of amazing to have Pete be able to see those things. And likewise, sometimes Pete has no idea when he writes something brilliant, as a lyricist, and I have to go, ‘No, I’m gonna keep that one, I’m gonna use that.’

On ‘So Much (For) Stardust’, you teamed up with producer Neal Avron again for the first time since 2008. Given how much time has passed, did it take a minute to reestablish that connection or did you pick up where you left off?

PATRICK: It really didn’t feel like any time had passed between us and Neal. It was pretty seamless in terms of working with him. But then there was also the weird aspect where the last time we worked with him was kind of contentious. Interpersonally, the four of us were kind of fighting with each other… as much as we do anyway. We say that and then that myth gets built bigger than it was. We were always pretty cool with each other. It’s just that the least cool was making ‘Folie’. So then getting into it again for this record, it was like no time has passed as people but the four of us got on better so we had more to bring to Neal. PETE: It’s a little bit like when you return to your parents’ house for a holiday break when you’re in college. It’s the same house but now I can drink with my parents. We’d grown up and the first times we worked with Neal, he had to do so much more boy scout leadership, ‘you guys are all gonna be okay, we’re gonna do this activity to earn this badge so you guys don’t fucking murder each other.’ This time, we probably got a different version of Neal that was even more creative, because he had to do less psychotherapy. He went deep too. Sometimes when you’re in a session with somebody, and they’re like, ‘what are we singing about?’, I’ll just be like, ‘stuff’. He was not cool with ‘stuff’. I would get up and go into the bathroom outside the studio and look in the mirror, and think ‘what is it about? How deep are we gonna go?’ That’s a little but scarier to ask yourself. If last time Neal was like a boy scout leader, this time, it was more like a Sherpa. He was helping us get to the summit.

The title track of the album also finds you in a very reflective mood, even bringing back lyrics from ‘Love From The Other Side’. How would you describe the meaning behind that title and the song itself?

PETE: The record title has a couple of different meanings, I guess. The biggest one to me is that we basically all are former stars. That’s what we’re made of, those pieces of carbon. It still feels like the world’s gonna blow and it’s all moving too fast and the wrong things are moving too slow. That track in particular looks back at where you sometimes wish things had gone differently. But this is more from the perspective of when you’re watching a space movie, and they’re too far away and they can’t quite make it back. It doesn’t matter what they do and at some point, the astronaut accepts that. But they’re close enough that you can see the look on their face. I feel like there’s moments like that in the title track. I wish some things were different. But, as an adult going through this, you are too far away from the tether, and you’re just floating into space. It is sad and lonely but in some ways, it’s kind of freeing, because there’s other aspects of our world and my life that I love and that I want to keep shaping and changing. PATRICK: I’ll open up Pete’s lyrics and I just start hearing things. It almost feels effortless in a lot of ways. I just read his lyrics and something starts happening in my head. The first line, ‘I’m in a winter mood, dreaming of spring now’, instantly the piano started to form to me. That was a song that I came close to not sending to the band. When I make demos, I’ll usually wait until I have five or six to send to everybody. I didn’t know if anyone was gonna like this. It’s too moody or it’s not very us. But it was pretty unanimous. Everyone liked that one. I knew this had to end the record. It took on a different life in the context of the whole album. Then on the bridge section, I knew it was going to be the lyrics from ‘Love From The Other Side’. It’s got to come back here. It’s the bookends, but I also love lyrically what it does, you know, ‘in another life, you were my babe’, going back to that kind of regret, which feels different in ‘Love From The Other Side’ than it does here. When the whole song came together, it was the statement of the record.

Aside from the album, you have released a few more recent tracks that have opened you up to a whole new audience, most notably the collaboration with Taylor Swift on ‘Electric Touch’.

PETE: Taylor is the only artist that I’ve met or interacted with in recent times who creates exactly the art of who she is, but does it on such a mass level. So that’s breathtaking to watch from the sidelines. The way fans traded friendship bracelets, I don’t know what the beginning of it was, but you felt that everywhere. We felt that, I saw that in the crowd on our tour. I don’t know Taylor well, but I think she’s doing exactly what she wants and creating exactly the art that she wants to create. And doing that, on such a level, is really awe-inspiring to watch. It makes you want to make the biggest, weirdest version of our thing and put that out there.

Then there was the cover of Billy Joel’s ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’, which has had some big chart success for you. That must have taken you slightly by surprise.

PATRICK: It’s pretty unexpected. Pete and I were going back and forth about songs we should cover and that was an idea that I had. This is so silly but there was a song a bunch of years ago I had written called ‘Dark Horse’ and then there was a Katy Perry song called ‘Dark Horse’ and I was like, ‘damn it’, you know, I missed the boat on that one. So I thought if we don’t do this cover, somebody else is gonna do it. Let’s just get in the studio and just do it. We spent way more time on those lyrics than you would think because we really wanted to get a specific feel. It was really fun and kind of loose, we just came together in Neal’s house and recorded it in a day. PETE: There’s irreverence to it. I thought the coolest thing was when Billy Joel got asked about it, and he was like, ‘I’m not updating it, that’s fine, go for it.’ I hope if somebody ever chose to update one of ours, we’d be like that. Let them do their thing, they’ll have that version. I thought that was so fucking cool.

It’s also no secret that the sound you became most known for in the mid-2000s is having something of a commercial revival right now. But what is interesting is seeing how bands are building on that sound and changing it.

PATRICK: I love when anybody does anything that feels honest to them. Touring with Bring Me The Horizon, it was really cool seeing what’s natural to them. It makes sense. We changed our sound over time but we were always going to do that. It wasn’t a premeditated thing but for the four of us, it would have been impossible to maintain making the same kind of music forever. Whereas you’ll play with some other bands and they live that one sound. You meet up with them for dinner or something and they’re wearing the shirt of the band that sounds just like their band. You go to their house and they’re playing other bands that sound like them because they live in that thing. Whereas with the four of us and bands like Bring Me The Horizon, we change our sounds over time. And there’s nothing wrong with either. The only thing that’s wrong is if it’s unnatural to you. If you’re AC/DC and all of a sudden power ballads are in and you’re like, ‘Okay, we’ve got to do a power ballad’, that’s when it sucks. But if you’re a thrash metal guy who likes Celine Dion then yeah, do a power ballad. Emo as a word doesn’t mean anything anymore. But if people want to call it that, if the emo thing is back or having another life again, if that’s what’s natural to an artist, I think the world needs more earnest art. If that’s who you are, then do it. PETE: It would be super egotistical to think that the wave that started with us and My Chemical Romance and Panic! At The Disco has just been circling and cycling back. I  remember seeing Nikki Sixx at the airport and he was like, ‘Oh, you’re doing a flaming bass? Mine came from a backpack.’ It keeps coming back but it looks different. Talking to Lil Uzi Vert and Juice WRLD when he was around, it’s so interesting, because it’s so much bigger than just emo or whatever. It’s this whole big pop music thing that’s spinning and churning, and then it moves on, and then it comes back with different aspects and some of the other stuff combined. When you’re a fan of music and art and film, you take different stuff, you add different ingredients, because that’s your taste. Seeing the bands that are up and coming to me, it’s so exciting, because the rules are just different, right? It’s really cool to see artists that lean into the weirdness and lean into a left turn when everyone’s telling you to make a right. That’s so refreshing. PATRICK: It’s really important as an artist gets older to not put too much stock in your own influence. The moment right now that we’re in is bigger than emo and bigger than whatever was happening in 2005. There’s a great line in ‘Downton Abbey’ where someone was asking the Lord about owning this manor and he’s like, ‘well, you don’t really own it, there have been hundreds of owners and you are the custodian of it for a brief time.’ That’s what pop music is like. You just have the ball for a minute and you’re gonna pass it on to somebody else.

We will soon see you in the UK for your arena tour. How do you reflect on your relationship with the fans over here?

PETE: I remember the first time we went to the UK, I wasn’t prepared for how culturally different it was. When we played Reading & Leeds and the summer festivals, it was so different, and so much deeper within the culture. It was a little bit of a shock. The first couple of times we played, I was like, ‘Oh, my God, are we gonna die?’ because the crowd was so crazy, and there was bottles. Then when we came back, we thought maybe this is a beast to be tamed. Finally, you realise it’s a trading of energy. That made the last couple of festivals we played so fucking awesome. When you really realise that the fans over there are real fans of music. It’s really awesome and pretty beautiful. PATRICK: We’ve played the UK now more than a lot of regions of the states. Pretty early on, I just clicked with it. There were differences, cultural things and things that you didn’t expect. But it never felt that different or foreign to me, just a different flavour… PETE: This is why me and Patrick work so well together (laughs).  PATRICK: Well, listen; I’m a rainy weather guy. There is just things that I get there. I don’t really drink anymore all that much. But I totally will have a beer in the UK, there’s something different about every aspect of it, about the ordering of it, about the flavour of it, everything, it’s like a different vibe. The UK audience seemed to click with us too. There have been plenty of times where we felt almost more like a UK band than an American one. There have been years where you go there and almost get a more familial reaction than you would at home. Rock Sound has always been a part of that for us. It was one of the first magazines to care about us and the first magazine to do real interviews. That’s the thing, you would do all these interviews and a lot of them would be like ‘so where did the band’s name come from?’ But Rock Sound took us seriously as artists, maybe before some of us did. That actually made us think about who we are and that was a really cool experience. I think in a lot of ways, we wouldn’t be the band we are without the UK, because I think it taught us a lot about what it is to be yourself.

Fall Out Boy’s ‘So Much (For) Stardust’ is out now via Fueled By Ramen.

[ourpickwickclub]

The Retropop review of Bouquet is so nice and objectively fair. He gets it.

https://retropopmagazine.com/gwen-stefani-bouquet-album-review/

On 2020’s Let Me Reintroduce Myself, Gwen Stefani declared she’s ‘still the original me’, but four years later the singer – who scored a run of hits with No Doubt before launching a chart-topping solo career – reemerges as a ‘70s yacht rock siren on her fifth LP, ‘Bouquet’.

A collaboration with country producer Scott Hendricks, the 10-song LP sees the hitmaker ditch the ska, electro-pop and hip-hop sounds of her previous releases in favour of a more organic direction, resulting in her most personal body of work to date.

It’s only fitting that first single Purple Irises features Gwen’s husband, Blake Shelton, as her duet partner. Not only one of the earliest songs to emerge from the album sessions, the autobiographical track journeys through her early relationship insecurities to the pair’s life together on their Oklahoma ranch.

Lead single Somebody Else’s is something of an outlier on the record, with the storming anthem bidding farewell to the past with no uncertainty. A sure-fire radio hit, it stands out as one of the strongest tracks in her repertoire and a line in the sand as she proclaims: ‘Leaving you saved me, my God / Look at me blossom.’

The botanical theme runs through the record, with the title song and Marigolds early highlights that celebrate their connection, as she sings on the former: ‘Look at the life we made / We’re makin’ our own bouquet.’

It’s a metaphor for the album as a whole, with each song reflecting a particular moment, mood or emotion; Empty Vase is a tribute to Shelton filling her world with life and colour, while Pretty sees Gwen compare her inner glow and contentment to a dazzling diamond ring.

The understated Reminders is among the singer-songwriter’s most poignant lyrics, as she reflects upon the moments of happiness that enrich her day-to-day life, as the slow-burning Swallow My Tears sees her set aside past heartbreaks and embrace the present wholeheartedly.

"No doubt a jarring listen for longtime fans who have come to expect a signature sound from Gwen, it’s nonetheless one of the strongest releases of her career to date and further proof of the diva’s versatility in tackling a spectrum of genres with ease. It may not be her most commercial offering, but ‘Bouquet’ will surely be remembered as an essential chapter in Gwen Stefani’s decades-spanning and ever-evolving career."

A great review! Thanks for sharing it.

— M