#London Town Album

[takashimakato]

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

Photos by Henry Diltz

London Town Sessions #2

[icantalk710]

I got so carried away at this Passion Pit show--second time after their 2013 NYC show!--that I'll be such a sleepyhead tomorrow as I take a walk to work with my voice shot but I'll be alriiiiiight be aaaallright 🎶🔥😌🔥🎶

(Also maybe it was my ears being shot some but I didn't think I was so audible singing while hearing this back 😅 not sorry tho)

[soundsandnoises]

The Nightmares supporting Kids In Glass Houses in O2 Forum Kentish Town, London

18/10/2023

[shadowland]

why would you be a peter frampton fan and not like humble pie? what's your damage? it was his band in the first place

[vincentspork]

Begging the tswizzle girlies to listen to Girls Aloud - Models for actually good lyrical craft. Also stream Girls Aloud - Chemistry in its entirety

[pennielane]

HAVE YOU ALL EVEN LISTENED TO LONDON TOWN?????? DO YOU KNOW WHAT LONDON IS? DO YOU KNOW WHAT A TOWN IS????

*excluding Band on the Run, the unequivocal winner of this poll

[pinkie-quinns]

(posting some old twitter threads here for posterity's sake)

rocker eddie actor steve fame au p1 | p2 p3 p4 p5 interlude p6

Steve follows Eddie out to LA. Indiana’s home, sure, but Eddie’s got dreams bigger than the both of them. And Steve loves him, wants to be there with him the whole way through.

He does odd jobs to pass the time, nannies a lot, works on sets. Extra work pays the best, quick easy cash, so he dances to click tracks in cut scenes of teen shows and pays for their groceries. 

A producer on one of the bigger jobs picks him out on set, tells him he has a good screen presence. He gives him a contact for a proper agent. Steve books the third thing he tries out for.

It's a small role on a pilot that hasn't been picked up yet. He's excited but doesn't think much of it. Mostly he’s just happy for the paycheck. Corroded Coffin's really struggling to break through. They just got dropped from their tiny indie label and Eddie's really bummed.

And Steve uses some of the money from his big, SAG-approved paycheck to try to cheer Eddie up. Make him feel better about the whole thing. But it does the opposite. Eddie keeps acting resentful. 

It only gets worse when Steve's show does get picked up.

Turns out he tested really well with audiences. So the writers rewrote him into the main cast, extended his two episode arc into the whole season. And Steve's really grateful for it, figures they both should be. Eddie's not really working and they need the money.

Corroded coffin is still labelless and basically broken up by the time the show comes out. 

It's a smash hit. Steve's character is a fan favourite. Overnight, he finds himself within the throes of fame. He gets a manager and a PR team and a personal assistant.

He's away from home a lot, doing the media circuit to promote the show. People start prodding into his personal life. His manager, his team, and the network all advise him to appear single and available. 

Eddie makes it easy for him. He leaves without saying a word.

Years down the road, Steve is settled into his fame. He's done a couple movies (some hits, most misses). His show is heading into its final season. He's dated a lot, mostly other celebrities.

Then he walks into a CVS on Venice & sees a name he's been trying to forget for 7 years.

Right on the cover of NME. Eddie had gone to London, apparently. Finally broke through there. Was releasing his debut album later this month. 

At least that's what Steve could tell from looking at it. He doesn’t buy the magazine. He hops into his car and drives til he’s out of gas.

He used to do that back in Indiana. When everything got too loud. Used to do that with Eddie, once they finally got their shit together. Just drive until the tank is near empty & then pull up to some blinking gas station. Head home.

Steve strands himself in Santa Barbara instead.

He sleepwalks through the next few months. The town is buzzing around the impending arrival of Eddie Munson. His album, Penitence, debuted to solid numbers & has only been gaining traction since. He's promoted it in London, New York, done Glastonbury & the late festival circuit.

It's gotten to the point where it's big enough that its hit single is even terrorizing Steve's local grocery store. He knows the first three notes really well. Knows cause that's his cue to leave. 

He hasn't listened to the album. He hasn't read any of the interviews.

In his head it's a good kind of revenge. Eddie left without a trace. Steve should respect his wishes, right? That's what Eddie wanted so badly that he couldn't even call. 

He should respect that too, be staying dead instead of haunting every busboard like a poltergeist.

But he's Eddie so of course he doesn't. So instead Steve spends all his free time thinking about when he'll inevitably run into him. Will it be the VMA afterparty? Will it be the CBS lot? Will it be the whole foods he keeps running into Michelle Pfeiffer at? (Probably not that)

In the end, it's a knock at his door.

Eddie came straight from the airport. Big duffel at his feet. He looks a decade older but his eyes are the same. He doesn't say I'm sorry, or I fucked up. Doesn't get down on his knees & beg. He just asks:

"Did you listen to the album?"

There's a part of Steve that wants to throw a fit. Be big and loud and start lobbing things at Eddie. He'd seen a movie star do that on set once. Over a PA bringing him the wrong brand of flavored water. But he's not Wahlberg, so he invites Eddie inside. 

And they sit and listen to Penitence.

It's an apology. A long one. Fifteen tracks though Eddie always used to be a real asshole about albums that were longer than twelve. 

And it covers everything. All the regret and resentment and the ego that clouded him when fame happened for Steve and not for him. When Steve didn't even want it. It's sorry over and over and over again. It's I fucked up and please take me back. It's ego death. It's disgust and guilt and self-flagellation. 

And when it's over, it dawns on Steve, who feels just as heartbroken as ever, that it's not enough.

[midnightsslut]

A Guide to Red - The Quintessential Taylor Swift Album

After the release of The Manuscript, the role of Red and Red (Taylor’s Version) in Taylor’s life and discography has been highly discussed. A lot of people have referred to it as her magnum opus and most formative album. I have decided to compile a condensed list of about a dozen key interviews, performances, speeches, posts, and videos from 2011 all the way until 2024 that illustrate the importance of this record for Taylor’s personal life and career. I’m putting the list under a cut because it got pretty long. You don’t have to go through all of these, obviously, but I would suggest at least one per era. The bolded ones are essential in my opinion.

Pre-Red - These interviews hint at Taylor’s emotional state at the time and thus the content that will be explored on the Red album

2011 The New Yorker profile

Taylor Swift reveals new album is all about heartbreak - Extra TV

Bonus: an article going through Taylor’s arm lyrics on the Speak Now World Tour, which she described as mood rings for any particular show

Lover diary entries from the making of Red (credit to @cabincreaking for the scans)

- All Too Well lyrics first draft (February 2011)

- Random bursts of happiness and anxiety during the Speak Now Tour (June 17, 2011)

- Red (September 8, 2011)

- Holy Ground (February 2012)

- Nothing New (March 2, 2012)

- Working with Max Martin (June 10, 2012)

Red era - Listen to the original sixteen songs on the Red album at this point.

Red announcement livestream + Q&A

Red prologue

2012 Rolling Stone interview

2012 The Guardian interview

2012 Billboard interview

2012 Esquire interview

Sirius XM Town Hall - an hourlong interview from the day Red came out

Good Morning America - this is the first mention of the ten-minute version of All Too Well

Red track-by-track descriptions

Random interview where she discusses the connection between writing Speak Now and Red

I Knew You Were Trouble music video

Diary entry about how love is fiction and she might move to New York after all (January 6, 2014)

Diary entry from Grammy night (January 25, 2014)

Red Tour London performance of All Too Well - any performance of this song from 2013-14 will work here, but this one has a pretty comprehensive speech

Final performance of All Too Well on the Red Tour - just listen to the speech here

Post-Red era - Over the course of these interviews, you’ll see her relationship to the album evolve.

Taylor’s description of Clean (skip to 11:18)

2014 BBC Live Lounge interview

1989 World Tour interview where she mentions thinking she’d never sell as many albums as she did with Red before 1989 came out

Clean speech - a lot of these will work, but these two best describe her relationship with the Red era and heartbreak in general

All Too Well (The 1989 World Tour live)

2015 GrammyPro interview

All Too Well Super Saturday Night performance

Reputation Tour All Too Well speech

Red into Daylight performance - 2019 City of Lover concert in Paris

Re-recordings era - at this point, listen to the red vault

2020 Rolling Stone podcast

Red (Taylor’s Version) prologue

2021 Saturday Night Live performance

All Too Well: The Short Film + Behind the Scenes

Seth Meyers interview

2022 Tribeca film talk OR TIFF (both are equally good. I have a slight preference for the former, but there are some interesting new details in the latter). You could also watch directors on directors from the same year as a bonus, but it’s less comprehensive.

2022 Graham Norton - How All Too Well (10 Minute Version) came about + how the re-recordings inspired Midnights

Also listen to Midnights

The Eras Tour

All Too Well speech (Glendale Night 2 & Atlanta Night 1) - any of the speeches from March and April 2023 will work, but these two really illustrate how she feels about this time in her life now and how the fans changed the Red album for her. Obviously credit to @cages-boxes-hunters-foxes for the transcripts!

Maroon first ever live performance (‘This is a song about something that happened a long time ago, but it took place in New York’)

Aaaand finally listen to The Tortured Poets Department, especially The Manuscript

This is a lot, but it’s worth it. Enjoy!

[daisyblog]

Home To Mother

Unexpected Love Masterlist Summary: Harry introduces YN and Jacob to Anne.

Warning: mention of smut

Harry had thought about introducing YN and Jacob to his Mum for a while. But with Anne living four hours away, it wasn’t always easy especially with Harry releasing his second album, and YN and Jacob having their own things on too. 

A conversation about their Christmas plans had not risen yet, and whilst Harry wanted to spend it with YN and Jacob, he was aware that he always spent Christmas with his family in Cheshire. 

He was surprised when he spoke to his Mum on the phone one afternoon on his way to YN’s from the studio. As he drove through the streets of London, his Mums name flashed up on the screen of the handsfree. 

“Hi Mum!”. Harry’s cheerily voice answered as he kept his eyes on the busy road in front of him. 

“Hi darling…how’s my boy?”. Anne’s tone was warm, full of love as she missed her son after not seeing him for a while. 

“I’m good…just on my way home from the studio, we had some small things we needed to wrap up before the release”. Harry explained as it was only a matter of days before the release of his second album. 

He could hear his Mum’s smile through her voice. “I’m so proud of you darling…I can’t wait to hear it…I know you’ve worked so hard”. 

“Thanks Mum…this album is really special”. Harry admitted as he turned down a quieter road. 

“Hmm…I wonder why that is.” Anne teased, a small hint towards Harry’s new lover. “Speaking of YN…how is she and Jacob?”. 

Harry couldn’t help but smile at the mention of them both. “They’re fine…I’m actually on my way there now…Jacob wants to show me  his new Lego piece he’s built”. 

“Ooo sounds cool…looks like everything is going well with you all”. Anne began to prod, knowing where she was going with the conversation. “I’m not sure what your plans are around Christmas but if you’d like to…and of course YN wants to too…then I’d love for you to being YN and Jacob home with you”. 

Harry loved the idea of taking YN and Jacob home to Cheshire with him, and introducing them to his family, whilst celebrating Christmas but with Jacob having other family too, it wasn’t a decision he could make solely. “I’d love to Mum…but I’ll have to ask because of Jacob with his Dad and stuff”.

“Of course darling…I will respect your decision either way”. Harry knew his Mum was way too good for the world. 

It was a debate he was having in his own head, considering different options, until he decided to speak to one person who he knew would be able to give him the answer he was looking for. 

---

Since Harry and YN had become serious in their relationship, he had become a regular visitor to Jack and Zara’s house when YN and Jacob went to visit. 

YN and Zara had organised a Christmas shopping trip into town and Jack had asked Harry to join him and the two boys. Harry couldn’t turn down the offer and knew it was his only opportunity to talk to Jack. 

Jacob was playing with his toys in the living room of Jack and Zara’s house and Theo had just gone down for his nap, leaving Jack and Harry to catch up. 

“Whilst the girls are not here…I wanted to thank you for everything you do for Jacob…and YN too…I haven’t seen her this happy in a long time”. Jack began to the conversation as they sat on opposite sides of the sofa. 

Harry couldn’t hide his smile because really he wanted to thank them all for allowing him to be a part of their family dynamic. “Between us…I’ve waited for someone like YN for a long time and Jacob is a real credit to you both…he’s a good lad”. 

“He loves you…he talks about you a lot…I love it”. Jack explained, knowing that most of Jacob’s stories now involve Harry. 

Harry thought about how he was going to approach the Christmas conversation with Jack, until he pulled the bandaid off in one. “There was actually something I wanted to talk to you about”. Jack nodded his head, his eyes paying full attention to Harry. “My Mum has invited YN and Jacob to Cheshire for Christmas…but I don’t want to overstep your plans and traditions”. 

He was waiting for this to be the changing point for Jack to tell him he was crossing the  boundaries and that he wouldn’t allow his son to travel up North. 

“I’m guessing YN hasn’t spoken to you about Christmas?”. Jack asked and Harry wore a slight frown confused by his response but quickly shook his head. “Between us…Christmas is usually shit for them both…they go to YN’s parents house in Bath…I hate it but they only go once a year and we spend Christmas with Zara’s family”. 

Harry felt a tug on his heartstrings at the thought of YN and Jacob having a miserable Christmas, despite being surrounded by the people who should make it special. “I’m not prodding…but is this why YN doesn’t mention her family?”. 

Jack nodded, an annoyed look on his face. One that Harry could tell that Jack really disliked them. “As you can guess…they don’t like me because we had Jacob young, and they all decided to share their opinions one day…called YN everything…and I wouldn’t take it and called them all out for being narcissistic arseholes”. 

“Must be so hard for her”. Harry tried to sympathise because he was loved by his family and knowing YN didn’t have the same, hurt him. 

“She doesn’t talk about them much…I think it’s her way of dealing with it”. Jack explained, as he had experienced their backlash first hand. “So yeah…please take them home with you and introduce them to a nice family…they deserve a happy Christmas. 

---

Harry drives up the road to his Mums cosy style cottage, and YN could already tell from the outside that this house was a home and somewhere everyone came because they’d have a warm welcome. 

Anne was peaking behind the curtain through the lounge window, wanting to catch a glimpse before greeting them. She could see Harry get out of the car first, YN quick to follow. She involuntarily let out a smile as they shared a quick peck as they passed each other. Once she saw Harry head to the back door, she made her way to greet them. 

“Harry!”. The three are broken from their bubble at the sound of a woman’s voice, but YN can instantly tell that the pretty woman standing at the front step is Harry’s Mum. Anne wastes no time pulling Harry in for hug, holding him tight afraid he was going to be gone for months again. “I’ve missed you”.

“I’ve missed you too Mum”. They both pulled apart, Harry turning to YN and Jacob. “Mum…this is YN-“.

“Oh it’s so lovely to meet you love!”. Anne carefully pulled her in for a hug, smiling as she did so. “I’ve heard so much about you”. 

YN let out a nervous giggle. “All good things I hope”. She joked, as she and Harry caught each others eye. 

“Definitely all good…I knew my boy was smitten from the first date.” Anne announced without care. Whilst YN could feel the blush on her cheeks and shyness take over, Harry laughed at his mother’s words and told her not to embarrass him. “And who’s this little lad?”.

Harry scooped Jacob into his arms, as the younger boy tugged on his hand to be held. “This little monkey is Jacob!”. But with new surroundings and a new person, Jacob tucked his head into Harry’s neck. 

“What a beautiful name!”. Anne smiled up at the boy in her son’s arms, the scene being unfamiliar to her. “I feel so lucky that you did your Mummy have come to visit”. 

“Thank you for inviting us, it’s really kind of you”. YN took the chance to thank Anne, knowing how special this occasion was for them all. 

“You’re welcome here any time!”. Anne reassured her as she lovingly placed her hand on YN’s arm. “Hey Jacob…I’ve been baking all morning…and a little birdy told me that you love chocolate cookies…would you like one?”. 

With his head still lying on Harry’s shoulder, Jacob couldn’t hide his love for a chocolate cookie. “Yes please”. His voice was quiet but loud enough for the others to hear. 

“Come on in and make yourselves at home!”. 

---

A few hours after Harry, YN and Jacob had arrived, Gemma and Michal walked through the front door eager to meet them. They greeted YN with a warm hug, one that reminded her of Anne’s and they gave Jacob a bit of space for him to settle. 

With it being Christmas Eve, Anne had prepared a large spread of food for them all to eat together and had even bought them all matching pyjamas. It was a new tradition for YN and Jacob, as they were often left out of those things but it created an accepting feeling in YN’s heart at the thought of Anne thinking about her and Jacob. 

“I’ve heard you started big school”. Anne spoke to Jacob across the table, as he used his fork to pick up the food from his plate. “Are you enjoying it?”.

Jacob nodded his head because he loved going to school and being with his friends. “Harry picked me up with Mummy the other day”. He spoke about the time that they surprised him at pick up. 

“It wasn’t my greatest ideas, considering half the Mums practically announced my presence.” Harry explained to the rest of the table. 

“You were definitely the topic of conversation in the Mum’s group chat that evening”. YN added. “And Jack said they were all highly disappointed when he turned up the next day”. Which caused them all to laugh at the sight of disappointing looks in their faces. 

“What can I say…I just have that effect”. Harry sassily added, earning some eye rolls. 

After they all sat around playing a board game into the early evening, to which they all playfully shouted at Harry to stop cheating, they all gathered up some Christmas magic and helped Jacob to prepare for the big day. 

Anne had bought a personalised Christmas Eve plate for Jacob to leave carrots and snack for Santa and his reindeers. Before they knew it, they were bidding goodnight to Jacob as YN and Harry took him upstairs to settle him for the night. 

---

Harry and YN came back downstairs after around an hour of Jacob’s bedtime routine and helping him go to sleep with a nighttime book. Anne told them to help themselves to any drinks or snacks they wanted from the kitchen. 

Gemma and Anne could see into the kitchen from where they were both sat. “So what do you think Mum?”. Both their eyes still taking sneaky glances at the couple in the kitchen. Harry hands held her from behind as he whispered something in her ear that made her laugh out loud. 

Anne smiled fondly at how happy her son was and how much more content he seemed. “I like her…she seems like a lovely girl and Jacob is so polite”. 

“I really like her already…she just seems so down to earth and-“. Gemma began to give her opinion, as she watched her brother cuddle up to his girlfriend in the kitchen. 

“Not fake and full of herself?”. Michal finished Gemma’s sentence for, earning an amused grin from the two women. “What? It’s true and what you were thinking!”. 

“It was to be fair…I’ve never been a huge fan of the girls he’s introduced me to”. Anne agreed, smiling as Harry and YN were now facing each other, talking quietly as their arms were wrapped around the other. 

“As much as their affection is making me want to vomit…I will admit they’re cute”. Gemma quickly turned her eyes away as Harry leaned down to place a kiss on YN’s lips.  

---

“Merry Christmas baby”. Harry whispered in between leaving gentle pecks along YN’s neck. He could feel her melting into each one.

“Merry Christmas gorgeous”. YN’s eyes were still asleep as she enjoyed the feeling of Harry’s lips moving up her neck.

Harry carefully moved his lips to meet YN’s. Their lips moved delicately together, both enjoying the feeling of the others. As Harry moved his hand to rest at the bottom of her back, their lips began to move with more desperation. Their lips moved messily as one. But once Harry’s hand started to move down south, YN pulled her lips away, causing Harry to pout.

“Oh c���mon…that’s not fair.” Harry whined as he tried to kiss her again, but YN only laughed at his pout. “We can be quick!”. 

“I am not doing anything with your mother in the next room.” YN gave her reasons, as they were still cuddled as one under the duvet. 

“I’ll make sure it’s the best five minutes of your life”. Harry gave it another shot, practically begging. 

YN had to cover her mouth to stop the loud laugh from waking others who were still asleep. “I don’t doubt you would…but I’m not having sex with you with your mother asleep in the next room…are you mad!”. 

“Makes it more exciting I think”. Harry continued to tease her. “Set myself a challenge to see if I can make you cum without making a noise”. 

“Highly doubt it!”. 

---

Christmas morning had a slow start to it. They all gathered in the living room near the tree where they all watched with excitement as Jacob opened his presents that were left by Santa the night before. YN was taken back by how a family, who had only just met Jacob treated him with so much love and affection already.

Anne had gifted him a football stadium Lego set, along with some smaller toys and some money for him to choose something to buy. Jacob ran over to her and wrapped small arms around her and thanked her.

Gemma and Michal had taken a similar approach and gifted him a generous gift card for a sports store for him to spend as he pleased. Like he did with Anne, he wrapped his arms around Gemma, before giving Michal a fist pump.

The rest of the morning was spent playing with all of Jacob’s news toys and counting down until they were all sat around the table eating their roast. Jacob insisted on sitting next to Harry whilst they ate because he wanted to pull the Christmas crackers with him.

Later on in the evening, Harry’s extended family of his aunt, uncle and cousins joined them for a night of fun and laughter.

It was the first year Harry had brought someone home for Christmas, so being the joker his uncle was didn’t miss out on winding his nephew up after he introduced YN and Jacob to them.

The large group were coming towards the end of their quiz, with Harry’s team in the lead by one point. The last question asked was “In the 2009-10 Premier League season, Manchester United finished second on the league table. Who finished first?”. Jacob pressed the buzzer without thinking and the pure shock on Harry’s face was priceless, because the rule was whoever pressed the buzzer needed to answer.

“What’s the answer Jacob?”. YN asked, as she stood behind him wondering if he knew it.

“C’mon Jakey…you can do this!” Harry cheered him on, giving him a nudge of encouragement.

Jacob debated the answer as he moved around, before shouting “Chelsea!”. Everybody waited to see if the answer was right.

“Correct!”. Harry lifted Jacob up into the air as their team celebrated their win.

As the evening went on, Jacob started to show signs of tiredness. Deciding he wanted to go to bed, YN encouraged him to say goodnight to the party. As YN and Harry trailed behind the little boy, a voice stopped them.

“Oh would you look at that!”. Everybody turned to look at Harry’s Uncle Mike, confused at what he was talking about. But Mike motioned to where Harry and YN were standing, and like coincidence there was a mistletoe above them.

YN giggled at the sight, but there was a tad of nervousness in the laugh. “Kiss your girl then H!”.

Harry didn’t seem the harm in a quick peck. He leaned down quickly capturing YN’s lips in his. The kiss was kept short, for the sake of everyone else around them.

Whilst Anne smiled at her son’s affection, Mike and Harry’s cousin made kissing noises along with hollowing cheers to tease the pink cheeked boy.

“Oh stop it!” Harry could be heard chucking as he left the room.

---

Harry had been lying awake for a while, YN was sleeping next to him, small breathes leaving her body as she slept. The sound of small footsteps entering their room at Anne’s caused Harry to lift his head up from the plump pillow. 

“Hey JJ!” Harry used the nickname he created for him. “Did you sleep okay?”. 

Jacob nodded as he rubbed his eyes with the knuckles of his fingers, as he approached Harry. 

“Shall we go downstairs for some breakfast? Leave Mummy have some sleep?”. Harry suggested, as he began to reach for his hoodie and joggers. “Do you know what you want?”. 

“Pancakes please”. Jacob patiently waited for Harry to finish getting dressed before they descended down the stairs together. 

The two of them chatted together as they walked through the hallway into the large kitchen. Anne was sat at the table already, donning her fluffy dressing gown as she sipped of her warm cup of tea. 

“Morning boys!”. She greeted them both as she watched Harry place some pancakes into the toaster, and flicking the kettle switch down. 

“Morning Mum!”. Harry was cheery as he moved around the kitchen effortlessly, gathering some plates and mugs. “Jakey…say good morning lad”. 

“Morning!”. Jacob pulled the chair out next to Anne to sit on. Harry couldn’t help but smile as he glanced over, Jacob was starting to become more comfortable around his family. “Anne?”. 

“Yes darling?”. Anne’s full attention was on Jacob, waiting for him to speak. 

“Can I play football in your garden please?”. He asked with his big pleading eyes on display, the ones that got him everything he wanted. 

“Of course you can sweetheart!”. Anne brought her hands up to her chest as the little boys cuteness and manners were too much. “I’m sure Harry will take you out there after you’ve finished your breakfast…I would take you but I’m not very good at football”.

Jacob chuckled out loud at Anne’s honestly. “You can come to my house and I can teach you…I have cones and-and everything in my garden…I can ask my Mummy if you can come to play”. 

Anne’s heart melted and she looked to Harry to share her happy smile. “You’re very kind Jacob, I’d love to come and visit you and Mummy one day…maybe you can show me around London”. 

“Me..Mummy..and Harry went to the market…and girls were following us…we had to go home.” Jacob said as a matter of fact, causing Anne to look at Harry with a little concern on her face. 

She quickly turned back to Jacob, hiding her previous look. “I’m not as cool as Harry…but maybe we could go somewhere quieter when I visit…how does that sound?”. 

Jacob excitedly nodded his head, as Harry placed his breakfast in front of him and giving his hair a little fuss as he walked past. 

As promised Harry took Jacob outside to play football in the garden after breakfast. Anne was sat on the chair, watching as they ran around kicking the ball, playfully tackling each other and equally desperate to kick the ball in the pretend goal. 

A presence next to Anne, disturbed her thoughts. “Good morning!”. YN’s voice was gentle, almost quiet. 

“Good morning love!”. Anne’s smile showed her pearly whites, as she brought her eyes back to the two boys running around the garden. “I’m going to let you in on a secret….i’ve never seen Harry this content and happy”. 

YN couldn’t take all the credit. “He’s changed my life for the better…you’ve raised an amazing man and I wish I’d met him sooner”. She didn’t hold back, she knew she’d fallen in deep. Not only did he make her feel special but he’d accepted Jacob as part of her and she will always be grateful. 

“He won’t thank me for this…but I know my boy and he’s besotted with you and Jacob”. Anne knew Harry would tell her off for discussing him with YN, but she didn’t care. 

“That makes us both!” YN couldn’t take her eyes away from her two favourite people as Harry swung Jacob around in circles in victory for scoring a goal. 

Anne wrapped her arm around YN in a cuddle. “Welcome to the family my darling!”. 

Taglist:

@ell0ra-br3kk3r @vikiii07-blog @sleutherclaw

[the-bluebird-you-need]

Only counting everyone's canon studio albums. Wings is counted for Paul. There were some date discrepancies, I had to decide what made the most sense in those cases. They will all be listed below the cut in date of the year order.

January 10 Look Up (R)

January 12 Y Not (R)

January 14 Liverpool 8 (R)

January 17 Yellow Submarine (B)

January 27 Milk and Honey (J)

January 30 Ringo 2012 (R)

February 1 Off the Ground (P)

February 6 Kisses on the Bottom (P)

February 14 George Harrison (G)

February 17 Rock 'n' Roll (J)

March 22 Please Please Me (B)

March 25 Ringo Rama (R)

March 26 Wings at the Speed of Sound (P)

March 27 Sentimental Journey (R)

March 31 London Town (P), Postcards from Paradise (R)

April 17 McCartney (P)

April 21 Bad Boy (R)

April 26 Tug of War (P)

May 4 Red Rose Speedway (P)

May 5 Flaming Pie (P)

May 8 Let It Be (B)

May 16 McCartney II (P)

May 17 Ram (P)

May 22 Time Takes Time (R)

May 26 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (B)

May 30 Venus and Mars (P), Living in the Material World (G)

June 1 Somewhere in England (G)

June 4 Memory Almost Full (P)

June 5 Flowers in the Dirt (P)

June 7 Choose Love (R)

June 8 Back to the Egg (P)

June 12 Some Time in New York City (J)

June 16 Old Wave, Vertical Man (R)

July 10 A Hard Day's Night (B)

August 5 Revolver (B)

August 6 Help! (B)

August 25 Press to Play (P)

September 7 Egypt Station (P)

September 9 Imagine (J)

September 12 Chaos and Creation in the Backyard (P)

September 15 Give More Love (R)

September 17 Ringo's Rotogravure (R)

September 20 Ringo the 4th (R)

September 22 Extra Texture (G)

September 25 Beaucoups of Blues (R)

September 26 Abbey Road (B)

September 29 Walls and Bridges (J)

October 4 Run Devil Run (P)

October 11 New (P)

October 19 I Wanna Be Santa Claus (R)

October 22 Give My Regards to Broad Street (P)

October 25 What's My Name (R)

October 27 Stop and Smell the Roses (R)

October 29 Mind Games (J)

October 31 Pipes of Peace, CHOBA B CCCP (P)

November 2 Cloud Nine (G), Ringo (R)

November 5 Gone Troppo (G)

November 12 Driving Rain (P)

November 15 Goodnight Vienna (R)

November 17 Double Fantasy (J)

November 19 Thirty Three & 1⁄3, Brainwashed (G)

November 22 With the Beatles, The White Album (B)

November 27 Magical Mystery Tour (B), All Things Must Pass (G)

November 30 Band on the Run (P)

December 3 Rubber Soul (B), Wild Life (P)

December 4 Beatles for Sale (B)

December 9 Dark Horse (G)

December 11 John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (J)

December 18 McCartney III (P)

[allwaswell16]

A One Direction fic rec of fics that deal with addiction and/or recovery as requested in this ask. If you enjoy the fics, please leave kudos and comments for the writers. You can find my other recs here.

- Louis / Harry -

⊹ Cocaine for Breakfast by guccikings *

(NR, 309k, drug dealing) Louis Tomlinson is a drug addict, sent away from his beloved party-scene to recover. There, he discovers that small towns have just as much access to drugs as London did, plus something even better that he just can't get enough of.

⊹ Branching Out by kikikryslee / @flamboyantommo

(M, 266k, famous/not famous) the one where Louis is the star of a reality TV show and wants Harry to be on it, and Harry still hasn't forgotten the drugged out Louis that he met in a restaurant bathroom four years ago.

⊹ barefoot in the wildest winter (series) by bravestyles

(NR, 118k, famous/not famous) Harry has a heroin addiction, and Louis doesn't know how much longer he can stay.

⊹ Tired Tired Sea by MediaWhore / @mediawhorefics

(M, 113k, famous/not famous) As a B&B owner on the most remote of all the British Isles, Louis Tomlinson is used to spending the coldest half of the year in complete isolation, with his dog and the sea as sole companions. Until, one day, a mysterious stranger on a quest to rebuild himself rents a room for the winter.

⊹ Own the Scars by @crinkle-eyed-boo

(E, 144k, rehab) After an accident that nearly costs him his life, Louis' parents send him to rehab where he’s forced to face his demons. On the long and difficult road to recovery, Louis must confront the truths he’s been avoiding about his future, his relationships, and his sense of self-worth. 

⊹ A Thousand Miles From Comfort by @littlelouishiccups

(E, 74k, famous/not famous) In which Louis is a closeted gay actor and a recovering addict with a troubled past. Harry is the personal trainer who helps him get his life back in shape.

⊹ Bring It Back That Old Feeling by Rearviewdreamer / @all-these-larrythings *

(M, 57k, established relationship) After six years together, Harry thought there wasn’t anything that he didn’t know about his husband, and no problem they couldn’t solve with a kiss and a snuggle. After a painful year of booze and heartache, he realizes some problems are much harder to fix, but the wait is always worth it.

⊹ The Fire and the Fate by dimpled_halo / @comebackassholes

(E, 56k, A Star Is Born au) Harry is a troubled musician about to reach the end of his rope when he finds Louis singing in a club one night. He’s instantly mesmerised by the man with blue eyes and breathtaking voice.

⊹ take a sad song and make it better by amory

(NR, 43k, canon divergence) Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson, once best friends and two fourths of the biggest band of all time, are now complete strangers. The only thing that connects them is Jude, Harry's son and Louis' beloved godson.

⊹ sent by the sun by etherealbliss / @givesuethemoon

(E, 51k, historical) In 1970s Los Angeles, Harry is a groupie who aches to feel alive. Louis is the lead singer of a rock band who aches to know him.

⊹ With These Arms Folded by @taggiecb

(NR, 21k, songwriting) Harry receives a curious email one sunny summer morning, and his life almost immediately gets turned upside down buy a force that's bigger than any storm he's seen outside his window

- Rare Pairs -

⊹ Live a Thousand Lifetimes by Layne Faire / @laynefaire

(E, 47k, Zayn/Liam) After secretly writing and producing their first album in ten years, One Direction is weeks away from releasing their first new single and announcing a world tour.

⊹ It’s a Craving Not a Crush by LetTheMusicMoveYou / @letthemusicmoveyou28

(E, 9k, Liam/Louis)  the one where Liam and Louis are best bros who end up getting married so that Liam has the insurance he needs to go to rehab. Now that he’s sober, they can get divorced. But do they want to?

[riaaanna]

Queen drummer Roger Taylor remembers his childhood in King’s Lynn

In 1999, Roger Taylor spoke to the EDP's arts editor Trevor Heaton about his childhood in King's Lynn.

EASTERN DAILY PRESS, Saturday 20th March 1999

Roger Taylor was the King's Lynn schoolboy who grew up to be a superstar as part of rock group Queen. He talked to Trevor Heaton about his early life in the town, and his strong links to its ancient fishing community.

THE DAYS OF MY LIFE IN LYNN.

King's Lynn was proud of the new maternity wing at the West Norfolk and Lynn Hospital, off London Road. So, when it was announced that the Queen would be coming to open it officially, it was the icing on the cake for townsfolk and the band of health workers and volunteers who supported the hospital's work.

When the Queen (now the Queen Mother) arrived for her two-hour tour of the hospital on Saturday 1st August 1949, she was handed a golden key to perform the official ceremony, watched by serried ranks of the great and the good of Lynn. The opening over, the Queen chatted to the 16 mothers or mothers-to-be in the new unit.

The first one she spoke to was Mrs Winifred Taylor, who lived with her husband Michael at 87 High Street, in the heart of the town's shopping centre. The Queen told her how lucky patients were to have "such a lovely place". She chatted with Mrs Taylor about her new son, and his name.

Family home: Beulah Street, Off Wootton Road, Gaywood.  " A funny narrow house, and I had a tree house in the garden".

And thus, at just six days old, Roger Meddows Taylor found himself at the centre of attention.

It was something he would have to get used to. For years later, he joined with Brian May, John Deacon and one Freddie Bulsara - who had changed his name to the much-more memorable "Mercury" - to form Queen, and went on to grab the world of rock music by its collective scruff of the neck and sell countless millions of singles and albums.

But let's press the rewind button for Roger Taylor, the superstar singer, songwriter and musician and go back to a little four-year-old who was trying his best to resist his mother's efforts to get him to start his first day at Rosebery Avenue School in Gaywood on an autumn day in 1954.

School Days: Rosebery Avenue First School.

"I remember being dragged off to school on my first day hanging onto the ice cream sign because I didn't want to go", he laughs.

But, with a bit of persuasion, he let go and found himself travelling the few hundred yards from Beulah Street to the school, where he joined 40 or so pupils in the reception class and settled down to this new phase in his life.

Roger's parents, Winifred and Michael, a manager with the Potato Marketing Board, had moved to the street, off Gaywood's arterial Wootton Road, soon after his birth.

Beulah Street is now much as it was then, a neat collection of classic early 20th century town villas. Sturdy, no-nonsense houses, the bricks-and-mortar equivalent to a pair of sensible shoes.

A couple of years after the houses were put up around 1913, the Germans sent Zeppelins over the East Coast, and people from the town used to come and stay in the houses to escape the bombs.

Nowadays, a bridge goes over the Gaywood river which runs at the bottom of the road, joining Wootton Road to the River Lane sports pitches.

Wootton Road itself is much busier than in the early 1950s, with a constant stream commuters going back and forth to the hundreds of houses which have sprung up on the outskirts of Lynn over the past generation.

But back then, things were quieter, and Beulah Street was a cul-de-sac, with the road petering out by the river (a fact which caused many a missed heartbeat to unwary drivers over the years), and then looking out over miles of heath and farmland to the town proper.

Not a bad place to grow up in, as Roger readily concedes. "The road used to be very quiet. I remember going down to the end of the street and looking into the river. I used to see the odd pike or two. I was constantly being warned not to fall in" he says (he didn't).

The Taylors' home - "a funny narrow house and I had a tree house in the garden" - brought them into contact with the Spinks family, Edna and Ron. Ron was like Michael, what used to be a "white-collar worker".

Mrs Spinks, who later remarried after her husband's death and is now Mrs Corbyn, recalls: "We were close neighbours, with the Taylors the length of time they were in Beulah Street. Michael and Win and Ron and I often used to play cards together on a Saturday night. And we had Christmas, birthday and Bonfire Night parties at my house. We had a big kitchen table and we all used to get around it. The children used to go round in a big group over to Rosebery Avenue" she recalls.

"There was my son John, Jimmy Gathercole, Roger and Pam and Judy Raven. Roger used to go around with John and looked up to him because he was two years older. He used to say "I'll be glad when I'm as old as John Spinks" ", she chuckles.

"They used to do the things boys do - riding their bikes around, that sort of thing. They were good neighbours and we missed them when they left".

Roger, and later his younger sister Clare - who had arrived on the scene three years after Roger - also used to play at the home of Beryl and Norman Raven, who lived in a house on Wootton Road, which backed on to the cul-de-sac.

Mrs Raven - now Mrs Chadwick - recalls: "I remember Roger and his little sister well. Roger and his friend John used to play cricket in our back garden".

Stick 'Em Up - From left, Roger Taylor (standing on a box!), John Spinks, Jimmy Gathercole, Leonard Fiddy

"My dad worked for the Potato Marketing Board, based in Lynn. He used to go out and visit the farmers, and occasionally I'd go out with him", he says. "I used to go regularly on the train to Hunstanton and Heacham… I remember it was a hell of a long way to get out to the sea. I remember those times with very great fondness. We used to go sledging down those sand pits in Wootton Woods, when they were covered in snow. I remember my toboggan well. And then we used to go to see Castle Riding as well".

But as well as his immediate close-knit circle of family and friends, older members of his family exerted a considerable influence on his life. His great-grandfather, Charlie Fysh, was a former fisherman, and a stalwart of the old North End fishing community, who lived to the ripe old age of 95. The Fysh family can be traced back hundreds of years in the town.

North End Link: Roger's great grandfather, Charlie Fysh, pictured around 1949.  "He was a real character... a very, very funny man".

"He was a real character" says Roger. "He used to go on the radio singing slightly naughty sea shanties - and make up rude rhymes for me. He was a very, very funny man. He used to go for a walk every day of his life with his navy blue sweater and fishing cap on, and he had this big white moustache. During the war he used to sew up all his money in his trousers!"

Charlie Fysh was also an expert at the old Norfolk art of step-dancing, and his radio broadcasts included a 1957 BBC broadcast in the River and Byways of England programme. The North End Trust - which works so hard at preserving the memory of this centuries-old community - believes a tape of this broadcast still exists in the Wisbech area, but, tantalisingly, had never been able to track it down.

And then there were his grandparents, Arthur and Annie Hickman, who lived in Birchwood Street. Even after the Taylor family moved to Cornwall in 1957, the grandparents - especially Annie - remained an important part of Roger's life.

"I was very close to my grandmother. I used to come every summer holiday and stay with her. She was another one who lived a long time - she was 93 or 95 when she died. She had a very strong personality and a very strict moral code, although her politics weren't like mine - in fact, she was a little bit right win. She used to say things like "Never, ever borrow money", and "Don't ever, ever do that". I was very close to her".

Roger managed to keep in close touch even when he was in the globe-trotting superstar bracket, sending her regular postcards and visiting as often as he could.

Michael Taylor was brought up in Cornwall, and the family moved there in 1957 when his job permitted. It was in Truro that the now teenaged Roger first became serious about his music, but moved to London to begin studies in dentistry at the Royal London Hospital. Unluckily for dentistry but luckily for rock, he joined the group Smile, and then helped to form Queen. 

And as for Queen? Well, the story has so many highlights... The 40-plus hit singles, including Bohemian Rhapsody - regularly at the top of "best single ever" lists... Roger's own classic compositions such as Radio Ga Ga and These Are The Days Of Our Lives... the stunning performance at Live Aid... playing to a quarter of a million fans in Rio De Janeiro...

Roger, now set to return to Norfolk with his new band, is constantly amazed at how the Queen phenomenon lives on, even though it is now more than eight years since Mercury's death.

"Well, it'll always be the thing for which I'm best known - and that's fine by me" he says. " It was a fantastic 25 years. We were a very strong team and I'm still good friends with Brian and John".

The musician might now live "in the depths of Surrey, close to London but out in the country"... but Lynn will always be able to claim him as one of its own..

My note - this post has been collated from these sources: this original site, this photo print, and this online article.

[mdemorita]

new pics❕

Tobias in the Rise Above Records store in London

📸 - Jeremy Miller. 21st March 2011 at St Bartholomew the Great, West Smithfield

📸 - Lee Dorrian. 21st March 2011 at St Bartholomew the Great, West Smithfield

📸 - Lee Dorrian. 21st March 2011 at Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington

“When we first signed Ghost to Rise Above Records, after hearing their amazing demo tape, we knew that the band were something special. That demo version of Ritual must have been played by me at least 10 times a day for weeks on end, until the album was finally delivered. To see where the band have elevated to since then is nothing short of mind-blowing! When you consider that their debut London show in 2010 was at The Camden Underworld, then fast forward to their most recent London show, which was headlining the 02 Arena in 2022, it shows you exactly how far they've come in those 14 years. All power to them.

Tobias was in town this week for the premiere of the Ghost Movie: Rite Here, Rite Now, which goes on general worldwide release today. It was, as always, nice to be invited and the movie itself is phenomenal, though everyone in attendance was sworn to secrecy regarding the leaking of spoilers.”

[📸 - @/rise_above_records_and_relics on instagram]

[gumballavocadoharry]

Secret songs, unspoken verses:

Harry adjusted his tie, the silk feeling smooth against his skin. Even after years in the spotlight, the pre-show jitters still fluttered in his stomach like trapped butterflies. From the window of his dressing room, the sprawling cityscape of London glittered, a familiar and beloved sight. Tonight was the Brit Awards, a pinnacle in the UK music scene, and he was nominated for Song of the Year. He took a deep breath, the crisp air doing little to calm the nervous energy thrumming through him.

He was Harry, the singer everyone knew for his upbeat melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Kind, sweet, gentle – the media often used these words to describe him, and he hoped they were true. He tried to be all those things, to radiate the warmth and understanding he genuinely felt for the fans who made his dreams possible. Beneath the charming exterior, though, beat a protective heart, fiercely guarding the most precious parts of his life.

He glanced at the lyrics scribbled on the notepad beside him. The words were raw, vulnerable, a stark contrast to the polished pop he was known for. These were the lyrics he wrote with ‘Skylark’, his mysterious songwriting partner. Skylark, whose words resonated with his on a level no one else’s ever had. Skylark, whose kindness mirrored his own, whose gentle spirit soothed his restless soul.

A soft knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. “Come in,” he called out, his voice warm.

His manager, James, entered, his usual brisk energy filling the room. “Ready, Harry? They’re about to start the red carpet.”

Harry nodded, forcing a smile. He was ready for the cameras, the flashing lights, the endless questions about his latest album and upcoming tour. But under his carefully constructed persona, a secret pulsed, a truth he held close, guarded as fiercely as a lion protected its cubs.

Across town, in a similarly opulent dressing room, Yn smoothed down the shimmering fabric of her gown. The dress, the makeup, the whirlwind of stylists – it was all part of the performance, the carefully curated image expected of a pop star. Inside, Yn felt a familiar shyness prickle her skin. She was known for her powerful vocals and emotionally charged ballads, songs that resonated with millions. Kind, sweet, compassionate – these were the words often used to describe her, labels she sometimes felt fell short of capturing the complexities within.

She glanced at the screen of her phone, a message from ‘Phoenix’: Nervous?

A small smile touched her lips as she replied: Terrified. You?

The response came back almost instantly: Immensely. But seeing you later will make it all worthwhile.

Phoenix. The pen name Harry used. The man who saw past the carefully constructed image, who understood the quiet whispers of her heart. Their connection was their sanctuary, a hidden garden where they could shed the weight of fame and simply be themselves. Their shared love for music had drawn them together, their shared vulnerability had forged an unbreakable bond. Their writing sessions, conducted in secret, late-night calls and encrypted messages, were the highlight of her often-chaotic life. His words were warm, loving, just like the man she knew him to be.

The secrecy was a burden, a constant tightrope walk. Every whispered conversation in a crowded room, every coded message, every carefully worded interview was a reminder of the world outside their bubble, a world that might not understand. But it was also a testament to their love, a testament to their desire to protect something so precious.

Later, backstage at the awards show, the air buzzed with anticipation. Harry navigated the crowded corridors, exchanging greetings with fellow artists, his smile never faltering. He caught a glimpse of Yn across the room, her emerald eyes sparkling under the bright lights. Their eyes met for a fleeting second, a silent acknowledgment, a shared breath in the chaotic symphony of the evening.

He felt a pang of longing, a yearning to reach out, to take her hand, to share the moment with her openly. But the cameras were everywhere, the watchful eyes of the media relentless. He forced himself to focus on the conversation with the artist beside him, the secret burning a little brighter within him.

Yn felt his gaze and a shiver ran down her spine. He looked dashing in his tailored suit, his dark brown hair styled perfectly, his green eyes holding a familiar warmth that calmed her anxieties. She offered a polite smile to the presenter interviewing her, her mind racing. Tonight was the night. The night they had planned, rehearsed, and agonized over.

The awards ceremony began, a blur of dazzling performances and heartfelt speeches. Harry’s heart pounded as his category was announced. He walked to the stage, a practiced smile on his face, and accepted the award for Song of the Year. His speech was graceful, humble, thanking his collaborators, his fans, his family. But he deliberately avoided mentioning ‘Skylark’, a silence that felt heavy, pregnant with unspoken words.

Yn watched from the audience, her palms damp. Her own nomination for Artist of the Year felt insignificant compared to the momentous decision they were about to make. When her name was called, she walked to the stage, her heart a frantic drum against her ribs. Her speech was short, her voice a little shaky with nerves.

As she walked backstage, Harry was waiting for her, his eyes filled with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. He took her hand, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through her.

“Ready?” he whispered, his voice low and intimate.

Yn squeezed his hand, a surge of boldness coursing through her. “More than ready.”

They walked hand-in-hand towards the main stage, a decision that sent a ripple of surprise through the backstage crew. The presenter looked at them, a question in his eyes.

Harry took the microphone, his voice clear and confident. “Thank you all for this incredible honor. There’s something I’ve wanted to share for a long time.” He glanced at Yn, his eyes filled with love. “Many of you know me as a solo artist, but I’ve had an incredible partner in my songwriting journey, someone whose words have inspired and challenged me.”

He paused, letting the anticipation build. “That person is the incredibly talented Yn, who many of you know for her own amazing work. But what you might not know is that Yn is also the writer behind the pen name ‘Skylark’.”

A collective gasp rippled through the audience. Cameras flashed, capturing the stunned expressions on the faces of the celebrities and industry executives.

Yn stepped forward, her voice clear and strong. “And Harry, the man I’m so proud to stand beside, is the writer behind ‘Phoenix’.”

Harry smiled, his eyes shining with happiness. “We’ve kept this part of our lives private for a long time, nurturing our connection away from the spotlight.” He took Yn’s hand again, his thumb gently stroking her knuckles. “And that connection,” he continued, his voice filled with warmth and love, “goes beyond songwriting. Yn and I are in love.”

The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the frantic clicking of cameras. Then, a wave of applause erupted, starting tentatively, then growing in volume, fueled by surprise, excitement, and genuine warmth.

Yn leaned into Harry, her heart overflowing. He squeezed her hand, his gaze filled with adoration. The relief of finally sharing their truth washed over them, a sweet release after months of careful concealment.

Later, as they left the awards show, a sea of flashing lights and cheering fans greeted them. They walked hand-in-hand, no longer hiding, no longer whispering in the shadows. The world was watching, and for the first time, they were sharing their whole selves, their music, their love, their truth. Under the glittering lights of London, Harry and Yn, the singers who had found solace and strength in each other’s words, stepped into their future, together. The journey wouldn't be without challenges, but they faced it with open hearts, their love a melody finally sung for all the world to hear.

[thesleeptokenarchive]

Heavy Metal Music Awards 2021

On this day: September 2 2021

In 2021 on this day, Sleep Token performed at the Heavy Metal Music Awards at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London, UK. They were not nominated for any awards that year but were eventually awarded Best UK Artist in 2023 and Best Album in 2024 for Take Me Back To Eden.

The setlist for this ritual was reported as:

The Night Does Not Belong to God The Offering Alkaline Sugar The Love You Want (Live Debut) Higher Blood Sport

Photographic imagery by James North [Link]

Additional imagery by Stephen Pryke [FB]

A playlist of available videos from this night.

This event also was supposed to have a live stream but it was canceled due to wardrobe exposure from a previous band.

Additionally, from what this curator was able to find, this was the first ritual with a message during the ritual. Or in this case, opened their ritual as an intro. The first time the message below was played was at Download Pilot in June 2021. It is most well known for being captured from the Heavy Metal Music Award ritual in September of 2021.

Let's not deceive ourselves. There is a reason we are here. It follows us wherever we go. We were in love. We. Are. In. Love. It is what floats above us as we try to sleep. It is what stands beside us as we gaze into nothingness. It is drowning us. It is eating us alive. A million outstretched palms in complete darkness. They. Will. Reach. Forever. Remind me. We're both dying to find out what happens when we die. We're both scared of being. We're both stolen pieces of each other. We're both exploring our own frontiers of grief. We're both just strangers. We're both just particles. We're both so lost in what it means to be lost. We're both a house that remained unoccupied for too long. Let's not deceive ourselves.

[deep-dive]

2024 year-end:

albums: A. G. Cook - Britpop Actress - Statik Amnesia Scanner & Freeka Tet - HOAX Astrid Sonne - Great Doubt Belong - Realistic IX Bibio - Phantom Brickworks (LP II) Billy Bultheel - Two Cycles Biosphere - Patashnik (Decrypted By Sketch) Bladee - Cold Visions Body Meat - Starchris Broadcast - Spell Blanket & Distant Call (Collected Demos 2000-2009) Camila Cabello - C,XOXO Caribou - Honey Chanel Beads - Your Day Will Come Charli xcx - Brat Cindy Lee - Diamond Jubilee Colin Self - lemniscate d’Eon - Leviathan Dawn Richard & Spencer Zahn - Quiet in a World Full of Noise DJ Sabrina the Teenage DJ - Hex Eiko Ishibashi - Evil Does Not Exist Erika de Casier - Still ESP - Promise Felicia Atkinson - Space As an Instrument Fennesz - Mosaic Geotic - The Anchorite Good Sad Happy Bad - All kinds of days Hesaitix - Noctian Airgap Iglooghost - Tidal Memory Exo Jack J - Blue Desert Joanne Robertson & Dean Blunt - Backstage Raver Joseph Shabason, Nicholas Krgovich & M. Sage - Shabason, Krgovich, Sage Julia Holter - Something in the Room She Moves Kali Malone - All Life Long Klein - marked Laurel Halo - Octavia Loidis - One Day Merely & Malibu - Essential Mixtape Mk.gee - Two Star & The Dream Police Molina - When you wake up Mount Kimbie - The Sunset Violet Naemi - Dust Devil NEW YORK - Side A/B Nilüfer Yanya - My Method Actor Oliver Coates - Throb, shiver, arrow of time Otha - Club 20 Pet Shop Boys - Nonetheless Priori - This but More Saint Etienne - The Night Shinichi Atobe - Discipline ssaliva - Eat the Night Original Soundtrack Tems - Born in the Wild Tindersticks - Soft Tissue Total Blue - Total Blue Torus - Summer of Love (2024) Toxe - Toxe2 v/a - Hypersensitivity: A Decade Of Allergy Season v/a - TRANSA: Selects Vegyn - The Road to Hell Is Paved with Good Intentions Xiu Xiu - 13” Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips Yung Lean & Bladee - Psykos

songs: Actress - Ray A. G. Cook - Crescent Sun A. G. Cook - Crone Amnesia Scanner - AS Over Astrid Sonne - Give my all Baths - Sea of Men Billy Bultheel - Snows of Venice - Snow Cycle Bladee - END OF THE ROAD BOYZ Boy Harsher - Machina (ft. Mariana Saldaña) [Dark Mix] Carolina Polachek - Coma Chanel Beads - Embarassed Dog Charli xcx - 360 remix featuring robyn & yung lean Colin Self - Doll Park Doll Park Contrahouse - Big Time Sensuality 2 crushed - milksugar (DJ Python Remix) deBasement - FTDJ (Thank God) d’Eon - Gilded Cutlass (Kallisti Version) DJ Sabrina the Teenage DJ - Come In, Carmen Dorian Concept - Hide (Bibio Rework) Dua Lipa - Houdini (Dally L Harle Slowride Mix) Erika de Casier - Test It ESP - Break Free Fennesz - Love and the Framed Insects Fibre Optixx - What Is Love (Priori Dee-Dub Remix) Geotic - The Going Herbert - Fallen (ft. Momoko Gill) Hesaitix - Santorosae (Black Dolphin) Hesaitix - Anticrime HTRK - Dream Symbol (Loraine James Remix) Iglooghost - Coral Mimic Jack J - At Last James K - Blinkmoth (July Mix) Jensen Sportag - Power Sergio Jim Legxacy - aggressive Joanne Robertson & Dean Blunt - she’s lost control again Job - Fun Town ‘24 Joseph Shabason, Nicholas Krgovich & M. Sage - Patti Jump Source - Balance Kode9 - Nuvola Loidis - Wait & See Marie Davidson - Sexy Clown Merely & Malibu - appregiated romance Mica Levi - Slob Air Milan W. - Days in My Arms Mk.gee - Dream police Mk.gee - ROCKMAN Molina - Flowers Mount Kimbie - A Figure in the Surf Naemi - Ambergris NEW YORK - ah Oklou - family and friends Oliver Coates - Backprint radiation (ft. Faten Kanaan) Otha - Effin Pet Shop Boys - New London boy Physical Therapy & Patrick Holland - 7PM Drive Priori - Moonstone (ft. Ben Bondy) Rat Heart - Picky Eater Rat Heart - U Can See Alex Park From Ere Ryota Kozuka - Da’at: shinjuku gyoen Sade - Young Lion Saint Etienne - Daydream Shinichi Atobe - SA DUB 8 SINN6R - Ay Caramba SOPHIE - Love Me Off Earth (ft. Doss) ssaliva & DJ KIT - I see the future Tems - Burning Tindersticks - Always a Stranger Torus - Lose Control Total Blue - Heart of the World Tove Lo & SG Lewis - Heat Toxe - Som En Sol Toxe - Eating Hearts Vegyn - Makeshift Tourniquet witchcell - Killswitch Xiu Xiu - Maestro One Chord Yung Lean & Bladee - Sold Out [playlist]

movies: 103 fever (Conner O’Malley) Caught by the Tides (Jia Zhangke) Challengers (Luca Guadagnino) Chime (Kiyoshi Kurosawa) Cloud (Kiyoshi Kurosawa) Dune: Part Two (Denis Villeneuve) Evil Does Not Exist & Gift (Ryūsuke Hamaguchi) Fallen Leaves (Aki Kaurismäki) Furiosa (George Miller) Juror #2 (Clint Eastwood) La Chimera (Alice Rohrwacher) Misericordia (Alain Guiraudie) Monster (Hirokazu Kore-eda) Problemista (Julio Torres) Red Rooms (Pascal Plante) The Shrouds (David Cronenberg) Smile 2 (Parker Finn) Stress Positions (Theda Hammel) The Taste of Things (Trần Anh Hùng) Trap (M. Night Shyamalan)

games: Animal Well Astrobot Balatro Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Metaphor: ReFantazio Persona 3 Reload Unicorn Overlord Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance – Armored Core: For Answer (2008) Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth (2020) Resident Evil (2002) Vampire Survivors (2022) Xenoblade Chronicles X (2015)