#like i objectively know that i use YouTube for music that's not on spotify

[mxrisacoulter]

so looking at youtube music stats was even more of a mistake I guess

[syoish-aot]

"I Found You (too)" - EREN/READER - REINCARNATION AU (chapter 2)

eren/reader

Rating: M

2020s reincarnation of marleyan nurse reader & undercover eren

2.8k words

also on Ao3

note: this chapter includes the song Please, Please, Please by Sabrina Carpenter (spotify / youtube). I recommend listening to it when the scene plays (it's obvious when to start the music).

<- chapter 1 | chapter 3 ->

“Hey, Armin.”

“What’s up?”

Eren took a shaky breath as he pressed the phone harder against his ear. “You know how you told me that she-… that she’s not from before?”

“...yeah?” Armin slowly answered.

“Well um-… Well, I think we were wrong…”

A Quaint Apartment

Everything felt like a dream…

Which you found odd considering how when you normally woke up everything was a nightmare.

But not this time… this time it was a dream. A wonderful, peaceful, happy dream; and because of that, you felt inclined to enjoy every moment of it.

“What’s that?” You excitedly asked Mr. Kruger as you pointed to the strange object at the further end of the room. It looked like a picture frame but it was glowing like a light! 

“It’s the TV.” Mr. Kruger said.

“Tee… vee…” You repeated slowly before you gasped. “It’s amazing…”

“Um... yeah it’s- it’s pretty cool.” He stuttered in reply.

“And what’s that!” You excitedly asked again.

“A microwave.” Mr. Kruger told you.

“That!?”

“The-- The fridge.”

You continued to dart around the apartment pointing at all the new sights around you and asking for explanations of what they were. It was amazing! Everything was amazing!! It was all so shiny and clean, the complete opposite of the grimy life that you were used to!

As you buzzed around the apartment, Eren’s eyes followed you.

He knew how you felt right now. Exactly how you felt, actually; because he’d experienced the same thing just that morning. He'd also woken up with no memories of the modern world, completely swept up in his first lifetime and amazed by the lack of war, death, and even the absence of titans. He knew how it felt to leave the last world and wake up in this one but… it wasn't supposed to be the same for you.

Armin said that you weren't like them. That you hadn't been from before and you only existed here, in the better world. But Armin had been wrong because just over an hour ago, as Eren had finished retaining his own memories from his modern life, you lost yours.

Which explained why you, his girlfriend of six years, kept calling him Mr. K-

“Mr. Kruger what is this place?” You asked, finally coming to a stop in front of him, wearing a smile so wide that his stomach flipped as the sparkle of excitement in your eyes made his heart race.

“Well uh- it’s-... it’s where you live.” He awkwardly answered.

“I live here!!” 

“Uh- yeah…” Eren cleared his throat. “And… I- I do too.”

Your eyes somehow grew even wider. “You do too?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“W-Well uh-” Eren looked away from you and awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. He wasn’t sure how much was safe to say. He knew how confusing it would be if he threw too much information at you all at once and he had a feeling that confusion would do more harm than good. His friends had taken things slowly with him, so he figured he should do the same with you. Besides, it had only taken him about half a day for his memories to come back; so all he had to do was wait a bit for the same to happen with you. Right?

“Is it the same here?” You suddenly asked him.

“Is… Is what the same?”

“Do I take care of you here too?” You asked, causing a rush of heat to run up Eren’s spine.

“Y-Yeah… sort of…” He stuttered before he could think of anything else to say.

To be fair, it wasn’t a complete lie. You were his girlfriend so you did take care of him sometimes. You made dinner when he worked late. Cleaned the apartment on your days off. Got on his ass about not matching his socks on laundry day. 

But he took care of you too. He mopped after you swept. Made sure the dishwasher ran when it was full. Watered the (overpriced and half-dead) plants you kept insisting on buying from the supermarket anytime you got groceries.

It was a partnership. And it had been for the last six years.

“Hm…” You hummed softly in reply as you continued to smile with that same glimmer of something- something familiar- flickering in your eyes. “It feels the same.” You told him.

Eren wasn’t sure what you meant by that, but he was too intimidated to ask.

Especially when your eyes flicked left, then right, then left again as you looked between his own. You were smiling, still smiling so widely as the expression on your face became so familiar but still so new.

He’d seen the look before.

Not here, but before.

In another time. In another life. Under different circumstances that made being close to you in any way impossible. 

“It’s probably time for bed, isn’t it?” You asked him as you pulled away. “Do you need me to help you change?”

Eren’s heart leapt into his throat again. “N-No!” His cheeks flushed crimson. “I can um- I can do that myself.”

You laughed and it made his heart flutter.

Just like it always did and just like it always had- even in that brightly lit hospital room in Liberio.

A Cozy Bedroom

There was a weight against your chest when you woke up the next morning.

A solid weight.

It was warm. Soft. And it lifted, just slightly, before something tickled your nose.

“Mrr…”

Your eyes fluttered open and met two wide yellow eyes with pupils in straight slits staring back at you.

The cat, with striped brown fur and a single canine sticking out from between its lips, immediately nuzzled its face against your cheek.

When you didn’t react it pulled back, yawned, stretched, and then crawled off your chest before hobbling on three legs to the end of the bed. It sat down, looked back at you, and then jumped to the floor with another “mrr” as if to say: “It’s time to get up.”

You blinked once. Twice. Three times. And then fully sat up to glance around the room. 

When you’d fallen asleep last night the room had been unfamiliar; and now, as you were waking up, it was the exact same. 

It was unfamiliar. 

But there were photographs of you and Mr. Kruger on the walls. A shelf full of books that look very well-read. A pile of laundry and a warmth that surrounded you, immediately making you feel calm.

This place was home.

Even if Mr. Kruger hadn’t told you that last night, you felt like you’d still know without needing to be told. Something in you would just know.

A small home. No war, pain, or death. A warm bed. A cat and the smell of good food wafting from down the hall.

You knew it wouldn't last long- this beautiful dream, because the beautiful dreams never lasted long. So you made up your mind that you were going to cherish it. Cherish every moment of this wonderful dream.

The cat stuck its head back into the room:

“Meeeooowwwwwwww…”

You smiled.

“You're right, it’s time to get up.” You told the cat.

This dream was too nice to let it go to waste.

A Warm Living Room

As you left the bedroom you immediately took in your surroundings. You'd been in here the night before, but this looked different during the day.

The same itchy couch sat in the middle of the living room. There was a pillow on it and a blanket messily thrown over the back. A coffee table with scattered pieces of paper and a chipped tea cup. One side of the wall had a large window and a balcony, which was the source of most of the light.

From another room, just across from the living room, you could hear shuffling.

Sizzling. 

Feet against tile and music playing. 

There was a voice, just barely audible as he hummed along to the melody on the radio.

(at least you assumed it was a radio)

You couldn’t help slowly creeping towards the kitchen to seek out the sound.

That's how you found Mr. Kruger, standing in front of the stove and holding a spatula in one hand with a small black cat in the other. He flipped a pancake, bouncing to the beat of the music as he rocked the cat back and forth in his arms.

A smile spread across your face as he started to mumble the words to the unfamiliar song:

I know I have good judgment, I know I have good taste. It's funny and it's ironic that only I feel that way, I promise 'em that you're different and everyone makes mistakes But just don't-

The kitten reached up to swat Mr. Kruger’s nose, which made Mr. Kruger look down at it.

I heard that you're an actor, so act like a stand-up guy Whatever devil's inside you, don't let him out tonight I tell them it's just your culture and everyone rolls their eyes Yeah, I know All I'm asking, baby~

Suddenly, he held the spatula like a microphone:

Please Please Please

Don't prove I'm right!

You noticed the cat he was holding had a missing eye.

And please, please, please Don't bring me to tears when I just did my makeup so nice!

He kissed the kitten’s forehead.

Heartbreak is one thing, my ego's another. I beg you, don't embarrass me, motherfucker oh~

Mr. Kruger placed the cat on the counter and tapped its nose along to the beat:

Please Please Please!

On the counter next to the kitten was a big fat orange and white cat. It easily tripled the kitten in size. Mr. Kruger scratched it under its chin before he continued to sing, this time slightly louder and with more confidence, completely oblivious to the fact that he was being watched.

And we could live so happily if no one knows that you're with me I'm just kidding, but really, really, really-

The spatula became his microphone again.

Please, Please, Please Don't prove I'm right~

The brown cat that had woken you up stumbled into the kitchen and rubbed against Mr. Kruger’s leg.

And please, Please, Please, Don't bring me to tears when I just did my makeup so nice!

He crouched down to pet its head. 

Heartbreak is one thing, my ego's another, I beg you, don't embarrass me motherfucker, oh~

The cat let out a happy ‘mrr’ as Mr. Kruger scooped it up into his arms and dramatically held it up in the air. Its three limbs dangling uselessly at its side.

If you wanna go and be stupid don't do it in front of me~

He lowered the cat to cuddle it to his chest.

If you don't wanna cry to my music don't make me hate you prolifically~

“Mrr.” The cat said again before it looked across the kitchen at you. 

Please, please, please,

Mr. Kruger sang.

Please, please, please,

He curiously tilted his head to the side.

Please,

He followed the cat’s line of sight

Please,

He saw you.

please, pl-

“AH!” 

Mr. Kruger jumped, dropping his spatula to the floor as his face burned bright red. The cat leapt from his arms (stumbling to land on account of its missing back leg). It wobbled as it ran past you out of the kitchen while the last few notes of the song rang out. 

Mr. Kruger was left completely frozen.

You pressed your hand to your mouth and held back a laugh.

That’s when the fire alarm went off and the kitchen filled with smoke.

A Warm Living Room

“So it’s… a radio then?” You asked as you flipped the strange device around in your hand. It was the thing that Mr. Kruger had been using to play music earlier but you weren’t sure how that was possible given the smooth texture that felt like glass. He had called it a ‘phone’ but you thought that was an odd thing to call it, considering it looked nothing like a phone.

“That’s one thing you can use it for, yeah.” Mr. Kruger explained as he held out his hand and you gave it back to him. “It’s also a camera.” He explained as he clicked one of the buttons on the side and suddenly you were looking right through the device to the floor.

“Woah!” You exclaimed, excitedly grabbing it back from him as you flipped it around in your hands again. 

You were about to comment on how strange this place was. How strange and wonderful, but you worried that mentioning it might put an end to the fantasy. As if acknowledging that this wasn’t real, it would make it all be over.

You quickly shoved all thoughts of what was a fantasy and what was reality into the back of your mind as you handed Mr. Kruger the device back, sure that he would have even more fascinating things to show you as the day went on. 

On the coffee table in front of you were two empty plates from the breakfast he had made. It was delicious, sweet pancakes with more syrup than you’d ever been allowed. You’d gotten so used to bland rations with no flavour whatsoever. Even your tea always had to be taken black because anything else would be a waste of the limited resources you had. 

Sitting on the couch next to you was the brown cat that woke you up. He was purring loudly with his three legs tucked under him. He occasionally nuzzled against your thigh to beg for attention so you patted his head and gave it to him. The black kitten was completely asleep on Mr. Kruger’s lap as her tail twitched occasionally despite it. Between the two of you was the big fat orange and white cat. He was grooming himself after spending your whole meal begging for food (which Mr. Kruger said you weren’t allowed to give him because he was on a strict diet). 

You’d met a few cats before, street cats that is. Cats that were much too wary of humans and wouldn’t let you near them without darting off. Those cats were the exact opposite of these ones. You couldn’t help but feel a twinge of affection as you watched Mr. Kruger idly scratch the kitten behind the ear as he tapped away at the glass phone in his hands.

“There are some people coming over later.” Mr. Kruger told you as he put the phone down on the table.

“Some people?” You asked.

“Yeah. Our friends, they um- they wanna talk to you.”

“Which friends?”

Mr. Kruger sounded hesitant to answer. “You probably don’t remember them.”

You curiously tilted your head to the side. “Why not?”

“I uh- it’s- they’ll explain it.”

“Why can’t you explain it?”

“I don’t wanna confuse you.”

“Why would you confuse me?”

“Just-” Suddenly he seemed irritated and more reminiscent of the Mr. Kruger that you knew. Of the real Mr. Kruger. The one that exists outside of this place. “I’m sorry.” He said with a sigh as his shoulders relaxed and the tension washed out of his body. It wasn’t something the real Mr. Kruger often said. “I don’t want to make this harder for you.”

You studied his face.

His beautiful face.

You studied the way his eyebrows tensed and scrunched together before they flattened again and he looked over at you with so much care in his eyes that it made your heart feel like it might beat right out of your chest.

“Mr. Kruger?” You asked, just above a whisper.

“Yeah?” He answered, just as softly.

But you didn’t have anything to ask him. Not really. You had things you wanted to ask him, of course. You wanted to ask him where exactly you were, but you couldn’t risk that. 

Because if you asked him then-... then it might all be over.

His hand moved to the couch between you and you felt his fingers gently brush against it. It sent an electric rush of heat up your arm that radiated through your entire body.

If this was real life he wouldn’t have touched you.

Couldn't have touched you, because it wasn't allowed.

So you were glad this wasn't real life.

You were glad this wasn't real life, because it meant you could curl your fingers around his and hold his hand.

It was warm.

“It’ll make more sense eventually.” Mr. Kruger told you.

“...okay.” You replied.

But you didn’t want it to make sense.

It was so much more wonderful when it didn’t.

TAG LIST: (like this post to be added or unlike it to be removed)

@xngelsau @f4irygard3n @vlsquuu @fvckingeetar @shmaptainbonky @maluvilela @gojojang @merrygo14 @ebubeu @dumdxm @janneeeexdxc @huni7857 @misshale21 @dracucil @venus1224idkpleaze @decadentprunepersonadragon @magictrump @kooromin @ilovemollyweasley @azulaenthusiast @dattebakay @suagxsugax @sky-full-of-magic @longestline @skoll1897 @hayleighloatx @datshittuebrat @br0ken-g1rl @tbzzluvr @mxnst3rz @ratkidcalledallie @sieihebendh @lcve1yk3nz1e @marklover142717 @areenaa

[mysticstarlightduck]

Unusual Associations Tag!

Let's go with Tristan Mallory from Crash Stardom! and Dylan Millihan from What Lurks In The Hollow.

Rules: pick an OC and describe what you associate with them in each category

Tristan Mallory

Seasoning - Vanilla

Weather - A crisp night in spring

Color - Neon purple, pastel pink and gold

Sky - A starry midnight sky

Magical power - He doesn't have magic, but I think that if he did he would have some song or sound based powers, due to the fact that he is a popstar singer.

Plant - Purple Hyacinth (this flower means sorrow and suffering, while also symbolizing a wish for forgiveess, and occasionally playful joy)

Weapon - Pepper Spray & Taser

Social media - Any social media. He's a celebrity, so he has every kind of social media there even is lol

Makeup - Gliterry eyeshadow, lipgloss, eyeliner

Candy - Salted caramel chocolate bars

Fear - Being hated by the people he loves or ending up alone

Method of long distance travel - Car, occasionally a jet or tour bus.

Art style - Singing, songwriting, playing guitar, playing piano

Mythological creature - Scylla and unicorns.

Stationary - A DIY sketchbook and glitter pens.

Celestial object - Hypernova

Dylan Millihan

Seasoning - Black coffee, cinammon and occasionally honey

Weather - A windy and dry summer late afternoon/dusk where he can just drive around aimlessly in his Chevy

Color - Denim blue, charcoal black and autumn orange

Sky - Sunset sky where the deep oranges and pinks mix with white while the dark of the night seeps in.

Magical power - He doesn't have any magic but I think that if he did, it would be either enhanced strenght/endurance or shield generation powers, if not both.

Plant - A sturdy oak tree (oak trees are usually associated with protection and strenght, being symbols of perseverance and resilience in the face of hardship, which really he fits his tough 'I can take on anything' persona)

Weapon - Brass Knuckles

Social media - Maybe YouTube Music or Spotify. He doesn't usually care about social media at all, but he likes music so I could see him as only using those two apps.

Makeup - Aftershave only. Maybe some small, black hoop earrings if he really is attending something fancy.

Candy - Toffee

Fear - Being weak or being otherwise a failure. Being unable to protect Amy (his little sister) or unable to provide for her. Being seen as vulnerable.

Method of long distance travel - His Chevy

Art style - None. Maybe doodling on a stray piece of paper when he gets really bored but he's openly terrible at art.

Mythological creature - Cerberus

Stationary - Also none but he has a notepad he occasionally scribbles stuff in with a black pen or marker. Usually just 'to-do lists'

Celestial body: Comet

My Taglist (-/+): @ray-writes-n-shit, @sarandipitywrites, @lassiesandiego, @smol-feralgremlin, @kaylinalexanderbooks,

@diabolical-blue @oh-no-another-idea

@cakeinthevoid, @clairelsonao3,

@thepeculiarbird

@the-golden-comet, @urnumber1star, @ominous-feychild, @anyablackwood, @amaiguri,

@lyutenw @finickyfelix

@thecomfywriter, @the-letterbox-archives, @differentnighttale @wyked-ao3

@thelovelymachinery @an-indecisive-nerd

@zinabug-writes @fifis-corner

Let me know if you'd like to be added!

[electrosquash]

Totally objective Tumblr audio post ranking

mp3 upload <3: The one and only. Humble, inobtrusive, doesn't depend on third party web services being reachable, fun to collect, works with mobile, can post multiple in one post, and without taking up the entire dash, proves your're a true musichead, with a collection to match, doesn't take you away to another site, works in reblogs, clear rules on what can be uploaded (files smaller than 10mb - i'm using this to downsize to exactly 9mb), can use the remainder of the space for posting album art (a dying art!)

bandcamp embeds: still quite humble, direct link to support the artists, bugs out quite often

soundcloud embeds: i don't understand how people get mp3s to not get taken down there or even how to find them but it works i guess and the posts are aesthetically pleasing. negative points for forcing you to login at some point

mp4 upload: i mean, i guess it counts. better than youtube links at least.

youtube embeds: ugly, bulky, subject to the whims of youtube (who will keep compressing media more and more as time goes on), doesn't force you to login though. as of yet. and did i mention they're ugly. like i don't get what makes them so different from mp4 posts but youtube embeds on tumblr are so aesthetically unpleasing i don't want them on my blog.

lyric posts. and pretend you're bopping your head. do do, pi do, do do, pi do. no audio is still better than ...

sp*tify embeds: UGLYYYYYYYYY, needlessly big, thinks it's the center of the world, will only hand you a snippet, singlehandedly responsible for the decline of music culture, like really so many people don't even know how to get mp3s anymore, and give up when facing a song that can't be found there - can you imagine just not hunting down a song you heard once and is now forever stuck in your head, forces you to login exclusing half the userbase, tries pushing you towards spotify premium, keeps demonitizing songs so you might pirate them as well anyway or better yet go to bandcamp, GEOBLOCKS, presents a force to stay in its ecosystem - like try getting off that shit when you've abandoned your local media library - though it's doable. let the purple bird take you up into the music sky, 404s all the time, won't exist forever and then all the links are broken, which is an actual danger since so much of music sharing on the internet relies on spotify now that content ID discovery systems are ubiquitous - think of all the dead links in ten years, like jesus christ STOP USING SPOTIFY cool tumblr users have the spotify tag that it automatically adds blocked.

[ivyial]

RIGHT SO

after my previous reblog, i feel compelled to write a "short" post (love letter) about (to) this game

so for those of you who haven't played it, or never even heard of it, professor layton vs phoenix wright: ace attorney is a crossover game between the two franchises (you'll have guessed it from the title) and it is PAINFULLY underrated :,) (i also hear that it is now hard to get physical copies of this game at a decent price so i'm glad i kept mine)

essentially used to be my favourite game of all time before it got dethroned by the resident evil 4 remake (but i will forever remember it fondly). i remember my parents gifted it to me for easter back in 2014 (so i was around 12 back then) and i don't think they realised how much this would change me. like this is one of the reasons why i started thinking about studying law later LMAOO.

essentially layton and phoenix both end up helping this young girl, espella (i played it in french back then and her name is aria so their english names are a struggle for me) who is being hunted by witches and then put on trial in london for the assault of a ship's crew member. then the wildest thing happens and they get sucked into a book and are sent back to medieval times. yes it sounds insane. but in this small town called labyrinthia, witches are real, and so are witch trials (DOESN'T IT SOUND COOL AS FUCK??).

they've all forgotten who they are, though. phoenix doesn't remember being an attorney and layton doesn't remember anything either. they find espella again, and she's put on trial AGAIN, for witchcraft this time. the game alternates between the usual layton riddles and ace attorney's investigation/trial phases. the odds are high this time around, because those found guilty of witchcraft are shoved into a metal cage and plunged into a pit of fire. they're not messing around.

of course, it wouldn't be layton or ace attorney without a massive plot twist at the end. i'd argue this one is probably the most insane out of all layton games (it's even a bit far fetched tbh, but just saying, you do not see it coming) (okay it's even full of plot holes and i haven't revisited the ending in years but if i did, i think it would be detrimental to my mental health).

the art style is amazing - i'm in love with the later ace attorney art styles, starting from dual destinies and this game, and particularly the latest great ace attorney chronicles. here are a few of my favourite character designs from the game:

but overall, one of the best things about the game has to be the soundtrack. it is the perfect mix of both franchises' music and it is a CRIME that neither level 5 nor capcom have released this on spotify (capcom i know you have all other AA soundtracks on this app. add this one. i am begging you). if you've never played an ace attorney game before, then you do not know the sheer adrenaline of phoenix shouting OBJECTION and the music speeding up. here's one of my favourite tracks:

tell me this doesn't make you immediately want to confess to 47 crimes you haven't committed.

it's kind of the perfect crossover game if you're into the genre, it's perfectly balanced between riddles and trials. the stakes are also a lot higher and there's actual executions. maybe i shouldn't have played this at the age of 12 actually - at some point (spoilers ahead), maya is wrongly executed and the scene will forever haunt me for some reason:

(go to 18:06 if the youtube timestamp doesn't work) i chose the french version of the cutscene because it's the one i played back then and i find that the french dub is a lot more compelling than the english one (somehow? the french haven't produced a good dub in decades so). also maya's screams are downright heartbreaking and the scene was traumatising asf when i was a kid

ANYWAY. please play this game, it's so much fun. for the AA enthusiasts, there's an edgeworth cameo at the very end. i very much fear that this game will be forgotten eventually, but it warms my heart to see that there are still people talking about it on the internet.

[cg-saturn]

as someone with a hard time voluntarily regressing, do you have advice?

the last time i tried it took me three hours and five coloring pages and a whole season of bluey </3

all the websites i looked at were like "get your paci" a=but i don't have any gear to make me feel small

Hey kiddo!

I know it can be hard to regress sometimes for whatever reason- maybe you've been too stressed, too busy, or just having a little block the same way artists or writers sometimes have. But I promise, you are still a valid little even if you struggle with regression at times.

Regression can come in so many different ways for people that it can be hard to give a definitive answer of how to make regression easier for you specifically, but I do know for some people who don't have the ability to own gear for any reason (living or financial situations) it can be even harder. So Star and I decided to come up with a little list of activities that can help with both! If anyone has any ideas or questions, please reblog and we'll add/answer what we can!

For kiddos who don't have gear because of living situations-

Legos- these are a great toys that can be bought in "adult" type sets, and many people don't question having Legos as a hobby no matter what age you are! Make yourself a little castle, or your own creations!

Magnets- I've always loved playing with magnets! You can get packs of bead magnets for fidgits and sounds, or even just play with the invisible force between two refrigerator magnets!

Playdough/slime - you can buy it or look up some easy at home recipes! Make it your favorite color, and add some glitter or beads to it for a textured play!

Tangles/figdgit toys- I've always loved fidgit toys, but some of them can secretly act as chewies/pacis too depending on textures!

Childhood movies- now that streaming is more avalible, it's pretty easy to access some movies from our childhoods! Personally I love the old animation of Disney movies, but there's also Scooby-Doo and all sorts of other cartoon network shows on hbo and Netflix!

Stuffie party- gather all of your pals and make a big circle on your bed or the floor, and enjoy their company! Ask them about their days, what did they get up to while you were out?

Kids apps- im planning to make a larger post about these in the future, but there are tons of apps that can help the regression process, and it's easier to hide if you're scared of people finding out.

Agere blogs- this one is kind of silly, but I think sometimes it can help a lot to scroll through some blogs that post outfit boards and soft little things! It can help to know you're not alone in your regression too, and maybe you can meet some friends who will help you in the future!

For kiddos who don't have gear because of financials-

Baby Einstein YouTube- if you don't remember Baby Einstein, it used to be a DVD series on learning for kids! They've moved to YouTube, and you can listen to various songs and watch different shapes and colors, it's very relaxing! You can do the same with clips from shows like sesame street.

Tell a story / madlibs- making things up and being creative is a great way to open your little mind. Telling a story about the unicorn who lives in the woods, or making up a silly madlib about the purple horse who jumped the tree. Make up the silliest story you can, don't worry about it making any sense, that's the whole fun of it!

Kids music- you can find playlists on YouTube and spotify for kids music! You can go from instrumental to learning songs like "wheels on the bus"!

Play with textures- at work we have sensory buckets for the kids. Put sand or rice or glitter in a bowl, mix in some beads, bells, cotton balls, or whatever other fun textured things you have around. Just put your hands in it and explore! Take time to touch every texture, try to focus on objects like it was your very first time seeing it!

Blanket fort- take the pillows off the couch, move your kitchen chairs around, take off your sheet if you need to! Make yourself a little oasis, snuggle up, and enjoy the small feelings!

I spy / where's Waldo games- you can play with books, apps, or even just with a friend in real life! I love to play with Star, it puts them in little space almost immediately as they frantically search for "something orange"!

Wear mismatched clothes- I've always believed that matching socks are bad luck in general, but I also think there's something about not having high fashion can help regression tons! Don't worry about the stereotypes of pigtails and overalls, wear those silly leggings and the oversized t-shirt with holes in it! Wear a sock up to your knee and one down to your ankle if that's what feels right! Clothes deserve to be a comfortable reflection of how you feel!

Remember, Littlespace is just like any other mindset. It doesn't matter what you do or don't have, as long as you're enjoying some childlike wonder again. You're just a lil kiddo! That's all it comes down to. Remind yourself that you're valid for healing your inner child and letting yourself enjoy things, you deserve to be a little angel again. Do things just because you want to, just because you're curious, just because it looks good, soft, whatever. Being a kid is learning everything for what feels like the first time no matter how many times you've learned it before. You deserve to experience things for the first time again, to relax, and to heal.

Sending love and always wishing you the best!

Pippi Saturn 💕

[saintescuderia]

excerpt from my notes app #053

spotify comment word limit exceeded

hello. 

so i've actually drafted something that i will record you before i send the link to your mixtape. i'm actually reading off of it right now. it’s a bit long and sappy so just bear with me. 

i guess it was just because i was thinking about how i always loved the good old days when we used to record mixtapes. and i mean literally record mixtapes. people would record themselves speaking between each song with a ‘this is how you make me feel’ or a ‘this song reminds me of this night’ or whatever it is. i've always loved that we used to do that. and i miss that sense of permanence, the tangible object of a thing, whether a CD or a cassette, that contains songs carefully selected that someone compilated just for you. your very own tracklist. just between you and that person. and, of course, the voice recordings to go along with them. 

because even though we still have these little voice recordings in our texts… well, when you get a new phone and everything is gone. then again, we can make a whole case about how this is life! and everything changes! and nothing is permanent! i mean, what do people still do with those mixtapes we made back in the day? do they still have them? do they still use them? 

i have made many a playlist for many a people. i have also made mixtapes. i downloaded songs from youtube with good old clip converter and then transferred them onto a blank CD disc. a legitimate mixtape. and it’s funny because every single person i made a mixtape for… well, they’re gone from my life.

but, who knows? maybe the songs i gave them stayed with them? maybe. just maybe. who knows. can’t regret these things. though, i must say, i came into a point in my life where i was sick and tired of making mixtapes for people. 

no, not even mixtapes. but playlists. 

why should i give my songs to people, why should i share these pieces of my soul to people who will inevitably leave? i mean i saw no point.

it was just a interesting time and, i mean, we both said each other that we both ended up in each other's lives in a time when we kinda needed the other. because you came and we connected and, honestly, you remind me what warmth and hope feels like. 

i know you're going through a tough time a lot has happened and you burnt out and it may feel like you can barely keep it together… but let this music soothe your soul. i choose a bit of a mellow start for that reason. then we move into some funky tunes and then it mellows out, but to some bedroom tunes. then, of course, it finishes with SWEET. because me drunkenly screaming out the lyrics to that brockhampton song was what started this.

however, if only one of these songs sticks with you… then that's all that matters. of course you may hate all of them. just tell me and i'll be your personal algorithm and give you more of what you like and what didn’t. i won't be offended. i’ve learned to stop taking these playlists too seriously. 

because, in the end, people may come and go but music always remains. it’s the same those three or four minutes. those seconds don’t change. we do. 

and if i get the chance to share some with you then that's the most important thing. 

even if just for now.

[sizzlingpatrolfox]

I don't think Layover did great tbh. Terrible on YouTube (including all his MVs, Tiny Desk, and music show performances), underperformed in the biggest music markets, did poorly on k-charts (that debut was abysmal compared to the other members), predicted for less first week albums in the US than D-Day despite an extra version (but waiting on chart). Here’s a chart I’ve seen floating around Twitter that gives a good idea. Probably need to verify some of it, but I think it’s mostly accurate...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F6LDbz4bYAADB7M?format=jpg&name=medium

His fanbases started working really hard on his first week Spotify streams when they realized he wasn’t doing great anywhere else, so he ended up with higher first week streams than FACE and LC, but barely, and most of his streams came from SEA (which isn’t a big deal or anything, but a lot of it was definitely from mass streaming farms). He also had a massive day 8 drop and allegedly way lower than day 8 for FACE. And let’s note that Layover has one extra song instead of an interlude too. He’s also higher on some official album charts, but that’s only because FACE wasn’t eligible because it’s an EP. He had much bigger overall album sales, but we were expecting that with vbar. I think they bought like 840k? So over 1/3 of his sales.

Unless I’m missing some achievements or got something wrong (I haven’t kept up with everything), I think it was a pretty meh debut considering all the promo he did and the fact that he’s “the most popular member”. They only have those first week streams, pretty sure. LMA has had good longevity though, so I guess we'll see. And BTW, they’re saying his hot100 performance was hurt because of DC2 sales being gone, which, sure, but he had 50k Slow Dancing CDs to compensate, way more than LC, and they couldn't even completely sell them out. I think his stans were using VPN to buy on iTunes in the US too because a few days in he went from 1 to 44 on iTunes chart with no explanation and never recovered. Curious what his final sales end up being. I'm not saying he did bad, but I don't think it's really anything to brag about either... I haven't seen a ton of objective people talking about it though so idk for sure.

The spreadsheet is killing me hahahs #dedication. I would like to know the missing numbers and positions, tho! Still, thank you.

I knew about kcharts, youtube, albums, and first week on spotify for the album. I saw some number that I assume included his prereleases, and it really is nothing major considering the first tracks released, and the fact that it had one more song than face. Just five minutes ago I saw that on their 8th day, like crazy (combined) had the same number of streams as Taehyung's entire album??

Sidenote: if there's one thing I was forced to learn this year, is how much difference combined versions of a song can make.

I don't think he had that much of international promo, or at least I didn't see it. I know he's been to A LOTTT of korean shows, and also his promo for pre-releases was already longer than Jimin's, but I think he just comes across as a really uninteresting person so I don't know if people would actually tune in to his music, no matter how many times they see him on TV. He definitely got more than Jimin, that's 1000% for sure, even if we consider the MVs alone; he got the same thing Jimin was denied.

I knew he'd get more albums sales, because past experience. And I knew they'd try hard to stream to break some "records", even if it won't hold up for too long. I also knew he doesn't really have many fans in the US, (I still think Jimin's the most popular member there). I've also been saying since the day I opened this blog that his "popularity" is overrated and he's never really been in the same league as Jimin when it comes to music. I blew off so many people here who would come up to me and try to convince me he was competition to Jimin or better than him in some way.

I guess the only thing I'm surprised with is youtube. I got his tiny desk video on my homepage today (saved it to watch later) and it has less than 300k views.......... It's kinda crazy. I wonder if part of the reason he got his visual album was because his youtube numbers were usually better than everyone else's combined and they believed he'd do good.

Oh, and the songs credits. It's unbelievable to me that he did NOTHING on it. People who work on songs get credits even for writing two words, so I just can't wrap my mind around the fact that he didn't do anything at all.

I'm also curious if they would've restocked the digital CD had it been sold out, but my gut tells me they wouldn't have, or it would've been just one more, and a smaller batch.

[gureshinlover]

Hello I tried to translate the prologue voice drama tracks of JAMROCK (Music Project) and I’ll share them one by one. The wiki fandom page for it is on the way so I hope JAMROCK will reach more fans ✨✨

Here are the links to the drama track on youtube and spotify. The prologue tracks’ video on youtube is really fun so I’d reccommend watching it

Translation of [Prologue: TRACK01] on below:

[Prologue: TRACK01]

 One: Ah, ah~, …. AHEM!! Yo people~! Are you REGGAEing alright?

Yknow today… After eating chicken in morning, somehow, I got a stomachache…

Aah, right, and also, as Oneness organizing, it looks like we’ll be making a country-wide Reggae audition. YA~Y! HAHAHAHA!

If you like Reggae, anyone is welcomed~ If you win the audition, we’ll give you money and the right to make your CD debut.

I'll listen to whatever you say. Hehe.

Listen to the detailed rules by Oneness’ members. I also dunno much anyway.

GYAHAHA!

Well, lately skillful newcomers are being noisy so, I thought I might discover some youngsters~ Somethin like that?

Aah but,  FREEDOM ・LOVE ・ PEACE are Oneness’ motto so, get along and have fun ok?

And lastly, this tournament’s name is Ragga Clash! Sounds fun right?

So! ♪ I’m waiting for everyone’s submissions, ok~ Peace out~

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sai: Aah, One Paisen… You really did it~

Lyrii: It’s not like stuff like this started just now y’know.

Sai: That’s right but I think this one was a large-scale one.

Queen: Hey, One! What was that broadcast just now!?

Sai: Hi~ Queen ♡ I knew you’d come

Queen: Ah, Sai, Lyrii… It’s just you two? What about One?

Lyrii: Who knows

Queen: Don’t say ‘who knows’, wasn’t the broadcast just now from this room….

Ah—, recording huh

Sai: Exactly like that

Queen: Haa… Really, always getting swayed around by that guy.

Sai: I love that guy though, so I’ll forgive him whatever he does ♡

Queen: You’re the same as usual. You’re forgiving him everytime.

That broadcast reached all the people in nation y’know! We can’t withdrawn from it.

…Gosh, and he did it without consulting us, Oneness, too...

Lyrii: I think it’s a good thing. Might see some fun stuff.

Sai: Oh, unlike Queen, Lyrii-chan is interested?

Lyrii: I’ve been bored lately you see

Queen: Lyrii~, because you support him like this, One gets hyped up.

Lyrii: It’s not like I supported it. I’m only sticking around ‘cuz it looks fun. Don’t you always get hyped up in the end too

Queen: Hu~h?

Sai: Now, now. As One Paisen, I’m sure he’s thinking about a lot of stuff too.

About Babylon-Nova too, he also—

Queen: Hey, didn’t we say we wouldn’t talk about him!

Sai: Pardon me then. …*sigh* A lot changed since that time huh.

Queen: …And? Where’s One who said all that stuff and left?

Sai: He can’t be found in his official residence, is he playing hide and seek like usual?

Queen, Lyrii, let’s go find hi—

Queen: I won’t go.

Lyrii: I pass.

Sai: You two are so boring…

Lyrii: Anyway, even if we don’t go out to search him, can’t you look at that thing like always?

Sai: Ah, GPS? Of course I checked it but you see… Here, this.

He left his phone and left~ Even if I put on a GPS, I can’t do anything if the he leaves the object in question, right.

I had added it on his accessories too but he took them all off.

Queen: … I was overlooking the phone, but you did something like that even to his accessories?

Sai:  Something like this, isn’t it the basis of stalking?

Queen: *sigh*… Lyrii, gimme one too

Lyrii: Here

Queen: Thanks

Queen: *sigh*

Sai: Hey, you guys. I’ll say it once but, this is a smoking prohibited area, ok?

Lyrii & Queen: Don’t care.

Sai: Eh~, I’m not saying anything wrong, right?

Aah someone please! Can’t anyone give me some love!?

Queen: Why don’t you find an apprentice or something from the audition?

Sai: Aah, Nice Idea! It’d be good if I found a good kid.

…Anyway. Well, there’s nothing we can do if we can’t find One Paisen. Since it started, we have to do it.

We can’t be careless, shall we start the preparations?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hideri: Visitors… aren’t coming……

GAHHHH!! WHYYYY!!

Even though I polish here to be sparkling-clean everyday, and rise the water temperature to highest!!

Regular Customer Old Man: What izzit? You’re not satisfied with only me!?

Hideri: It’s not like that! You’re coming here everyday gramps, and I’m super grateful! But….

Regular Customer Old Man: Well, those regular customers from the past all got their legs and foots weakened now, so they became unable to come even if they want to.

I’m the only one left.

Hideri: Gramps…

Regular Customer Old Man: *sigh* Tora Hot Spring in the days when you were little is really nostalgic

In those days, your grandpa was doing well, and there were many customers so it was lively here…

You used to sing a lot in the bath together with your friend…

Hideri: Aah… Stuff like that happened right?

Regular Customer Old Man: Yeah… Is your friend doing well?

Hideri: Hm? Ah—… I haven’t met up with him for a while, so I dunno.

Regular Customer Old Man: Is that so…

Hideri: Is he doing well I wonder, that Tama…

Regular Customer Old Man: *sobs*

Hideri: Huh? Wait, gramps are you cryin’!?

Regular Customer Old Man: *sob* I recalled a lot…

Hideri: Ehh…. Ah, should I wash your back?

Regular Customer Old Man: Hm… Please….

[One: Ah, ah~, …. AHEM!! Yo people!~ Are you REGGAEing alright?]

Hideri: Ah, what?

[One: Yknow today… After eating chicken in the morning, somehow, i got a stomachache…]

Hideri: So it’s the ruler’s management broadcast huh… Whatever

Regular Customer Old Man: Woah…! It’s One Paisen!? Th-Th-Th- That means I gotta go!!

Hideri: Eh….Wait a sec gramps! What about your back!?

Regular Customer Old Man: I’ll come back later~! Uii~~ I’m fired up~~!!

Hideri: Ha!? Where did your tears from just now go to! Before that, get on your clothes! Clothes I said! CLOTHES~~!

*One talking in background*

Hideri: *huff huff* Eh? Gramps already disappeared… Isn’t he too fast…

Anyway, the people of this country really love Oneness huh…

Is Reggae somethin’ that good? I don’t know that much…

[One: And lastly, this tournament’s name is Ragga Clash! Sounds fun right? So! I’m waiting for everyone’s submissions ok~ Peace out~ ]

*cheering sounds*

Hideri: E-Everyone is super fired up….A tournament will be done huh? Well, I don’t have any experience with Reggae so it doesn’t have anything to do with me.

More than Reggae, I think the bath-house is much better though….

It can make your fatigue disappear if you’re tired, can heal you, can warm up your body and heart…

Isn’t it the best?

I want to show a lot more people how good it is. I want to get back the cool old Tora Hot Spring like gramps said…

*sigh* Aah, can’t I make a use of this uprush since it’s a big chance… Making a bathing fee during the event for example…

For now, I gotta just check it out first

 Hideri: Heh, info is already out as expected. It’s on top news?

I want Tora Hot Spring to liven up the world like this too— Wait, the one who wins until the end gets 10 Million donza as prize!?

Oi oi, if I got that much money in my hands, reconstruction Tora Hot Spring, no, rebuilding it wouldn’t be a dream!

I can’t be saying I’m inexperienced for this! I have to go!!

WOOOO, I’M ALL FIRED UPPPP!

WAIT AND SEE, 10 MILLION DONZA WILL BE WON BY ME, SENTORA HIDERI HERE--!!!!

[bandedbulbussnarfblat]

We're playing a tag game today y'all. Put the "on repeat" playlist on spotify on shuffle and listin the first ten songs that come up. i was tagged by @keepoffthetardis (thanks😊) and I'm tagging @uozlulu @allegras-sunflower and @birdisland

These songs should be fun bc I never use spotify anymore (I use youtube music) so these songs are gonna be old.

1. When You Were Young by The Killers. I love this song. I love the early stuff the Killers did, but this is also probably one of my favorite songs of theirs. It's so damn catchy. And I don't know, I just vibe with it.

2. Hey There Delilah by Plain White Tees. I have no excuses. This song is objectively horrible. But I did once read a tumblr post about how it works as a parent to a kid, like a parent that for whatever reason can't be with their daughter and misses her and I like that interpretation a lot.

3. The Hand That Feeds by Nine Inch Nails. Ok, this is giving me Armand/Daniel vibes. Honestly, a few Nine Inch Nails songs work for them. Also, I think Anne Rice, like knew them.

4. Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jet. Remember Jet y'all? They had a few really fun songs then disappeared.

5. Show Me How To Live by Audioslave. This song fucks when you are high. I feel like a teenager jamming out in my room, finally free from being around people and so finally at peace.

6. Supermassive Black Hole by Muse. Muse is also a great band to listen to high. Also, hole, heh.

7. Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand. Y'all I don't even like this song. It low key irritates me. Why did I like it? Oh, I bet for when I listened to it with my friends. One of them loved that stupid song.

8. Somebody Told Me by The Killers. Awesome song for dancing around your room in your pajamas. Very good for jumping to. Anyone else adhd just have to fucking bounce or jump sometimes? (I was undiagnosed/unmedicated till I was 30. I was living life on hard mode.)

9. Come With Me Now by Kongos. I think I did like this song at one point. And I don't dislike it now, but it's kinda meh.

10. Fade Into You by Mazzy Star. I fucking love this song. It has that dreamy, floaty feel. And I love her voice. This song can work for literally any otp, I swear, y'all

[freetrialshop]

Music Distribution: TuneCore Review – The Honest Truth

What TuneCore Does

Although we’ve already covered a bit about what TuneCore has to offer, I want to take a step back and begin with the basics of what TuneCore actually does. 

Perhaps you’ve heard of digital distribution but weren’t sure what exactly that means. 

In short, they serve as the middlemen between you as the independent artist and music platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and more. Essentially, they help make your music available to the public for consumption. 

Platforms like TunCore also have to evolve with technology and changes within the music industry. The way music is consumed continues to change and as an artist, you want to maximize your potential to be heard as much as possible.

This leads us to our next point on where TuneCore can distribute your music.

Outlets & Release Options

TuneCore allows you to distribute your releases to over 150 digital stores and streaming services across 100+ countries worldwide. Beyond that, you get to pick and choose which stores you want your music distributed to.

What this means is that you don’t have to take the time to fill out paperwork, submit files, deal with approval processes, wade through guidelines, or deal with all of the other hassles that often come with digital distribution.

Not only does TuneCore handle this for you, but the company knows this side of the industry inside and out. This knowledge and experience, combined with close relationships with streaming platforms and digital storefronts, ensure that everything is handled efficiently and professionally.

While TuneCore works with major storefronts and streaming services like iTunes and Spotify, it also provides inroads to get your music listed on lesser-known, but still popular, sites and services.

Distribution To Social Platforms

Beyond distribution to streaming services and storefronts, you can also have TuneCore handle distribution to social platforms for additional exposure, sharing, and earning potential.

Even if social media platforms aren’t going to be your primary focus for marketing your music, you can’t deny social media’s influence on viral sharing.

From YouTube Shorts to TikToks to Instagram Stories, there’s no shortage of ways to leverage social media sharing to spread the word and get your music in front of huge numbers of potential fans quickly and without a lot of investment.

TuneCore is ahead of the curve on this in my opinion as the company offers a number of affordable ways to market music using social media.

Currently, there are no upfront costs to opt for releases with YouTube Content ID or other social options.

Although this differs slightly from other TuneCore services in that you do split revenue, there are no annual subscription costs to utilize these services.

I like to think of social through TuneCore as an added bonus that generates passive income, despite the split.

More importantly, I see these options as marketing tools. I use social media to gain added exposure and new fans instead of using it to make sales directly.

I want potential fans to see the name of the artists I’m producing, share posts and tracks with friends, and then funnel these shares into sales in the future.

Something else to consider in all of this is that social sharing encourages fan feedback, and in many cases, this is going to be as objective as it can get.

Because your music has the chance to reach new audiences who are engaging organically, you have the ability to hear straight from the horse’s mouth about what people like and don’t like about a particular aspect of a track, album, or musical concept.

Release Dates & Pre-Orders

Scheduling and promoting release dates are crucial for building hype around an album or song release.

This has become even more important in the digital age where social media hype can go viral around the world in a matter of hours.

With the help of TuneCore, you’re able to select a release date that aligns with your marketing plans.

You can also incorporate a pre-release campaign into your marketing strategy while using TuneCore.

The company allows you to make your album or single available for sale on iTunes before your official release date. This not only helps to build anticipation, but it can also give you an idea of your expected sales before release.

Unfortunately, TuneCore only allows you to do this with iTunes and no other store at the moment.

The company suggests that you provide between three and four weeks of planning to execute this properly. Although pre-release services are only available for iTunes at the moment, most artists utilize iTunes as a mainstay for releases anyway, so it shouldn’t be a deterrent.

[digital-chance]

hi 👋👋 here to annoy you with questions, sorry pal

📚 A song or album you could write a term paper on

📅 A song that calls up a very specific time and place for you

🩹 A song you want to hear when you're feeling low

🏠 A song you could live inside

🔎 A song you can't stop analysing

👶 The first song you remember enjoying

hello!! thank you for the questions, they weren't annoying!

--

📚 A song or album you could write a term paper on

The SHINee World by SHINee [2009 album] | spotify / youtube

i actually have written an essay about this very album for a school project. it wasn't analyzing it in a musical sense but rather how it affected music (in korea) at the time and what historical affects it has on k-pop right now. it was very fun and was during my k-pop/shinee hyperfixation.

📅 A song that calls up a very specific time and place for you

film out by bts | spotify / youtube

i remember seeing this release and streaming the hell out of it. and also analyzing the music video and going through it scene by scene (down to the very second even). it was fun! i was (supposed to be) doing work in my history class, it was a cloudy but nice day, and it was towards the end of the school year. fun times.

🩹 A song you want to hear when you're feeling low

iris by the goo goo dolls | spotify / youtube

i've always listened to this song when i was sad while growign up, so at this point i'm used to it? i've got it all memorized, beat for beat, but i love it nearly every time i listen to it. both is comforting and nostalgic for me, along with being enjoyable to listen to.

🏠 A song you could live inside

somebody else by the 1975 | spotify / youtube

i know it's a song about a toxic relationship, its just satisfying to listen to. i've streamed it so much lmao. it's the genre or same style of music that I've been listening to lately and i can't get enough of this song. it's my brainrot atm so i guess you could say I'm living inside of it

🔎 A song you can't stop analysing

honest by the neighbourhood | spotify / youtube

i can't help but musically analyze this song while listening to it. i haven't produced much music (nothing worth posting about) but I like analyzing this song's production. objectively I can see how it wouldn't be appealing to other people, due to the very same production style and choices. idk I just think it's really cool.

👶 The first song you remember enjoying

i'm like a bird by nelly furtado | spotify / youtube

i remember getting this random pink cd at a store as a kid (i was probably 6yo or something) and this was one of the songs that i listened to all the time. i figured out how to download it onto my iPod nano and how to make it play on repeat, and I listened to it for hours. if it was modern times and on spotify, it would be my most streamed songs, followed by iris and this song.

[enneamage]

do you think wilbr is going to be the reason the band breaks? i don’t really mean disbanding necessarily but just like not working out lmao

i also kinda wanna know ur thought in lovejoy in general, their dynamic (as little or much we have seen), how they approach their projects and their music in general. bc i used to be a big big fan of wlbrs and everything he did was awesome for me, but as time passed and he started streaming less and stuff i kinda just saw as “meh” and now i listen to lovejoy and it’s like 🧐 “hmm, it’s not as good as i thought”

he mentions a lot of alex turner and julian casablancas as inspirations but idk, in their debut albums they were so good and well thought and idk i’m rambling i’m sorry

Wilbur is the dude I know the most about, and also the one that I relate to the most as the major potential liability, but that also comes from a place of not knowing the others very well. I'm naturally most concerned with him because his flaws come to mind easily but that's just from availability of information. An anon once made a point that he does better under situations where he’s being held to a structure so his flake tendencies might get curbed by circumstance, so it’s in the air.

Ash has done a very good job at making himself known as loveable mime. He’s an interesting one, he seems very creative. He helped dream up Tommy’s faux life bits, which makes more sense in retrospect since Ash’s whole public persona is a bit about him never speaking. Ash might not be the face of lovejoy but when I think about what is exclusive to Lovejoy I think of him, while Wilbur has been all over the place. He's what has me kind of rooting for Lovejoy in spite of my caution around them.  

Mark and joe are total wildcards for me. Squarely out of my depth with them and don't have much info to go off, so they could turn out to be anything. I’m not actively following any of them so if info washes up somewhere I can find it I can take a look, but for now they’re thing one and thing two in my brain.

The genre that Lovejoy plays in isn’t my usual go-to so I can’t be as 'objective' as I would want to be assessing their sound. I know I'm in an echo chamber when it comes to criticism, but just about everyone in this conversation is in at least some form of one (the natural mcyt fandom marbling based on who watches who) so it comes with the territory.

When I talk about them with people irl I have found an unexpected consensus: for a band that took off in the context of minecraft youtube they bang, but if you stand them shoulder to shoulder with their genre peers it doesn't come out as well right now. It's almost not fair to compare them, but you have to if you want to switch from one pool to the other. Already liking the people involved seems to help a lot with how much you like their music, as you've experienced, but taste is always subjective.

Overall they're being flung at the wall at high speeds under the right conditions, a lot of attention and a lot of streams from a lot of people, so it's likely that they're going to stick at least somewhat. The grand decontextualizing machine, Spotify, is sneaking them into other peoples orbits every day. How much is enough will depend on what the intended outcome is.

Is it possible to be too big to fail? Because they're already in the public consciousness there's enough of them to drift around, but predictions in 2023 in general are the thing everyone wants and nobody knows enough to be able to make. Divination is going to skyrocket, mark my words.

Nothing is guaranteed and I think that's the cazy-making thing of watching someone with issues wander off into the sunset, not knowing if or when things will explode and wipe out the happy ever after. It may wind up being adaptive for Wilbur to lean more into the music scene because he wouldn't be the first questionable character that thrived there by a long shot. Ultimately it's out of my depth and I can't tell, because there's something to doubt about both the happy ever after rockstar narrative of main and the straight-up-flop counter-narrative too. I think it makes most sense to aim for the middle and brace for the unexpected, because that seems to be the formula for handling any of these people whose careers were supercharged on the back of something that could never have been predicted to begin with.  

[songvalle]

From Vision to Victory: Crafting a Winning Music Album Promotion Plan

Music album promotion is more than just releasing tracks—it's about building a connection between your music and your audience. Without a well-crafted plan, even the most talented artists can struggle to reach their listeners. Whether you're an independent artist or backed by a label, a strategic music album promotion plan is essential for success. This article explores how to design an effective strategy, from setting clear goals to leveraging the right tools, ensuring your music resonates far and wide.

Step 1: Setting Goals for Your Music Album Promotion

Every successful music album promotion campaign starts with a clear goal. Ask yourself: What do I want to achieve? For some, it might be gaining new fans; for others, it's climbing the charts or increasing streams on platforms like Spotify. Having specific, measurable objectives will help you focus your efforts and track progress.

For example, if your goal is to achieve 50,000 streams in the first month, your promotion plan should outline actionable steps like pitching to playlists, collaborating with influencers, or running ad campaigns. These objectives provide direction, ensuring every promotional activity aligns with your vision.

Step 2: Identifying Your Target Audience

Knowing your audience is at the heart of any music album promotion plan. Without understanding who your listeners are, even the most well-crafted campaign can miss the mark. Define your audience based on demographics, interests, and listening habits. Platforms like Spotify for Artists and YouTube Analytics offer insights into your current listeners, helping you tailor your promotion strategies.

For instance, if your primary audience is teenagers who enjoy pop music, focus on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where this demographic is most active. By aligning your promotion efforts with audience preferences, you'll create a stronger impact.

Step 3: Crafting a Pre-Release Buzz

One of the most critical stages of music album promotion is the pre-release phase. Building anticipation before your album drops ensures you capture your audience's attention. Teasers, countdowns, and behind-the-scenes content are powerful tools to generate excitement.

Social media campaigns play a vital role here. Announce your album with a captivating hashtag, share snippets of unreleased tracks, or host live Q&A sessions where fans can learn more about your creative process. The goal is to create a buzz that amplifies your reach and leaves fans eagerly waiting for your release.

Step 4: Budgeting for Your Promotion Plan

Budgeting is a fundamental aspect of music album promotion. Whether you're an indie artist with limited resources or have a sizable promotional budget, allocating funds wisely ensures maximum returns. Your budget should cover essential areas like social media ads, video production, and PR outreach.

If your funds are tight, focus on cost-effective tactics such as collaborating with micro-influencers, leveraging user-generated content, and networking with local radio stations. On the other hand, larger budgets allow for professional-grade video shoots, advanced advertising campaigns, and partnerships with established brands. Regardless of your financial situation, a well-planned budget ensures you stay on track.

Step 5: Leveraging Digital Platforms for Maximum Reach

Digital platforms are the backbone of modern music album promotion. From Spotify and Apple Music to YouTube and Instagram, these tools enable artists to connect with audiences worldwide. Optimizing your presence on these platforms can significantly enhance your visibility.

Ensure your music is available on all major streaming services, complete with accurate metadata and eye-catching cover art. Use platforms like Spotify for Artists to pitch your tracks for playlist consideration. Meanwhile, YouTube can serve as a hub for music videos, lyric videos, and behind-the-scenes footage. The right digital strategy amplifies your music's reach, making it accessible to fans everywhere.

Step 6: Collaborating for Greater Impact

Collaboration is a powerful element of any music album promotion plan. Partnering with other artists, influencers, or brands can help you tap into new audiences. Whether it's a feature on a fellow artist's track or a shoutout from a popular influencer, collaborations expand your reach and lend credibility to your work.

For example, a joint social media campaign with an influencer who aligns with your music genre can introduce your album to their followers. Similarly, working with a visual artist for album artwork or a choreographer for dance challenges on TikTok can create engaging, shareable content that promotes your music organically.

Step 7: Engaging Directly with Fans

Engagement is a cornerstone of effective music album promotion. The more connected fans feel to you as an artist, the more likely they are to support your music. Hosting live streams, replying to comments, and sharing user-generated content are excellent ways to foster a sense of community.

Consider creating exclusive experiences for your fans, such as private listening parties or signed merchandise giveaways. These personalized touches not only promote your album but also strengthen your relationship with listeners, turning casual fans into loyal supporters.

Step 8: Monitoring and Adapting Your Strategy

A successful music album promotion plan is not static—it evolves based on results. Use analytics tools to monitor your campaign's performance and identify what works best. Platforms like Facebook Ads Manager, Google Analytics, and Spotify for Artists provide insights into your audience's behavior and preferences.

For instance, if you notice that Instagram posts receive higher engagement than Twitter updates, adjust your strategy to focus more on Instagram. Continuous monitoring and adaptability are crucial to maximizing the impact of your promotion efforts.

Conclusion

Crafting a music album promotion plan takes time, effort, and creativity, but the rewards are worth it. By setting clear goals, understanding your audience, and leveraging digital platforms, you can ensure your music reaches the right ears. Collaborations, budgeting, and engagement further amplify your efforts, creating a holistic approach that sets you up for success.

Remember, a well-thought-out music album promotion plan is not just about launching an album—it's about building a lasting connection with your audience. Start crafting your plan today and take your music career from vision to victory.

[allthemusic]

Week ending: 8th January

And with the start of January proper, we see the resurgence of a genre I really did think we'd put to bed. It's almost like I'm being haunted by the ghost of Winifred Atwell - except somebody's tuned her piano, this time!

More Party Pops - Russ Conway (peaked at Number 10)

It's even titled like a Winifred Atwell number. Which I guess is the point, so that people looking for this sort of popular piano medley would know what to look for, when browsing down at the record store. Still, as titles go, "More Party Pops" feels clumsy. Just like a lot of this medley does - there's at least one point where rather than transitioning smoothly between songs, we literally stop and start up again at a completely different speed.

Aside from that, it's channelling the exact same vibe as Winifred's "Let's Have A _______" series, with a whole bunch of presumably popular songs, played in a slightly slipshod ragtime style, along with a bit of drumming in the background. The piano is in better tune, as I mentioned in the intro, but apart from that, it's nigh-on identical in its execution to literally any of Winifred's stuff, down to the inclusion of "Music! Music! Music!", the only one of the tunes that I did actually recognise, and one that I also remember being on one of the "Let's Have a _______" tracks.

Aside from that, we've got familiar bangers such as "If You Were the Only Girl in the World", "I'm Nobody's Sweetheart Now", "Yes, Sir, That's My Baby" (spiritual predecessor to Baccara's "Yes, Sir, I Can Boogie"?), "Some of These Days", "The Honeysuckle and the Bee", "Hello! Hello! Who's Your Lady Friend?" (to which the correct answer is always "None of your business, and please leave us alone") and "In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town". I'm familiar with precisely none of these, and listening to the track on repeat hasn't helped me, much. It's all just a kind of jolly blur, I'm afraid. There was a sequel song, too, "More Party Pops Part 2", and I only recognise one song from there, either, which is "Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home". And I only know that song beacuse the comedian Bill Bailey does a version of it, I don't know it beyond that context.

Russ Conway, at least, seems quite an interesting character. He was self-taught, and learnt the play the piano - though not to read music - while in borstal for stealing from his employers, after leaving school aged only 14. Despite this rougher start, he then did very well for himself during World War II and got a Distinguished Service Medal for heroics in the Aegean after being conscripted into the navy. He ended up in the merchant navy after the war, but left because of ill health, and somehow ended up playing piano on the club circuit, at this point, still unable to read music - which is where he was picked up as a recording artist. Talk about an interesting background!

I don't object to this song, but I find I have very little positive to say about it. Instrumentals can be like that, especially this sort of "put it on at a party" medley record. I just have no context for how you would play one, or why - was it background, like a Spotify playlist, or a novelty, like a YouTube mashup, or some secret third thing? Would people have gathered round and spotted the different references? Or was it just something pleasant to avoid awkward silences? Was it fun for all the family, or did a certain demographic mostly spring for these? Clearly the title tells us that these were intended for parties, but what kind of parties? Were they ever played in other contexts? I simply have no idea, and I don't even know what I'd look for to find out. If you are somehow reading this and know, genuinely, please get in touch.

Favourite song of the can't-believe-it's-not-Winifred bunch: More Party Pops

[dejaruhe]

No one gets me saying amen like Linkin Park. Been listening to the one that's not Meteora... Minutes to Midnight, which I have the CD for. Lost my Meteora :( MtM is not as good overall but is still beautiful and sincere and 'Hands Held High' is just. I love them so much. I will learn most of the rest of the album while I'm fixated on "hands held high into a sky so blue and the ocean opens up to swallow you" for the next bit of time, except for 'Valentine's Day' which is the only one that grates on me and 'Leave Out All the Rest', which breaks my heart.

I'm listening to this music on a CD that coincided with a Twilight movie release, pre-Obama, so a couple presidents ago (and I promise to rock it til it's threadbare, bet on it), driving around in my 2001 Toyota momvan, in which I can play CDs and cassettes and based on how many ashtrays there are I should be smoking more cigarettes — the point, which I am always losing, is that listening to CDs and cassettes is such a different way of experiencing music. I can't easily hook my phone up to the speakers, which aren't amazing anyway, so I am not Shuffling Playlists and looking at my phone sucks, especially when driving. So I choose a tape or CD and stick to it for a while. Study it. Very different from shuffles.

The charm of shuffling playlists is the charm and romance of the gambit, which has incredible charisma stats. +20 to persuasion. Nothing better than an archetype with sketchy edges and cards or dice. What will I get next! The algorithm decides. The algorithm is rigged dice, because it responds to data with different implications than like. Microfractures. One of its strengths, however, is that it has more data than I do and is connected to other people and allows new artists to reach me, and they are all performing themselves for me in my inbox now because I want CDs and so I end up on their listservs, and that's both very cool and very weird. Bard services. I love it truly but it's also so much?

I think the repetition and focus of physical media is probably my general preference in a lot of ways. In some ways, the *cloud* feels like a secure repository of my playlists, but even if I transcribed old mix CD playlists to somewhere on the internet, I would still be devastated to lose those lovingly written CDs. I have had Spotify and Pandora and I suppose now Google is the source of all my music, but I do wish they'd do a better job of separating the music app from the video app. YouTube is its own thing in a way that shouldn't be subsumed by... You know, as I start this rant I know I'm losing the point again and also, anyway, one of the benefits of that lack of separation is getting the music stuff that was only uploaded to YouTube in any playlist I want.

The point was about focus, which I lack, and now that I think about it, the deliberation of physical media has profound implications. I tend to be suspicious of things that feel like spiritual epiphanies, but if the alternative is being miserable all the time anyway then why not just treat these objects as the arcane and sacred things they will be, if so treated? The velveteen rabbit becomes real with love... I spotted a slightly rough-hewn wooden box in my uncle's garage that looked designed for cassettes, which was empty, he has switched entirely to smart home Spotify Amazon Google everything, and I asked if the box was designed for cassettes and he confirmed that yes, it was, he made it himself and if I wanted that instead of the cardboad Amazon box I am currently using to contain my cassettes in the van then I should take it, but also I should sand and stain it, and his garage has all the supplies with which to do that so I left it there so I can go back and do it. Take the time and take it seriously and mean it. And I will listen to all of these tapes and CDs (except the ones that make me cry while I drive) and I will PONDER them. How did they come to me? Do I want them? Do they work well enough to keep playing or should I turn them into art? Can I figure out a way to create an homage to the trash room at Meow Wolf Santa Fe that won't make me feel derivative? Why does derivation have such negative connotations? Why can't we all just hang out and make stuff and sing songs and not fight? It's because the world is devoid of justice and the exhaustion of being one drop in the ocean is overwhelming. Shane Koyczan's 'Shoulders' addresses this feeling with more poetry and hope than I can muster. I have to put a period at the end of this essay and stop writing now.