#made this while listening to abracadabra by lady gaga!!

[kolyasz]

[startheautisticdragon]

Doodle page of crack ship and silliness galore! Featuring D16 x TFA Optimus which I posted previously (this one ^^) and uh w o w you all ate that up <3 so thank you so for giving me motivation. The motivation that went into even more cute doodles and silliness.

I also posted screenshot of this few days ago but It still my favorite doodle ever. Like you got optimus vibing while sentinel is straight up dead (I drew him while listening to Lady Gaga's Abracadabra on repeat that was fun lol)

OCS LETS GO!!! The stars of famous upper left corner of the doodle page are the lovely ocs made by my bestie @mrmeeperpeeper ! The green on is Glerpy (They such a mood), Pink is Octavia (She's an Icon and a Queen) and the robot that is living rent free in my head Robotonic. The human is mine and his name is William (He has a s m a l l crush on Robotonic)

And ofc we got Rodney and Megmind hearing out Optimus of how hot D-16 is (Megamind is s t r u g g l i n g to not fanboy)

Speaking of which here they are being cute and d-16... planning to murder more sentinels (except g1 he's chill guy and honestly I lowkey hc to be a sweetheart unlike his other counterparts)

Anyways thats all folks till next time ~⋆｡°✩✨

[kumikokane]

Happy birthday, Isosceles!

Dear Isocoles:

I heard from somewhere that today is your birthday! I hope it's a good one :) I wanted to get you something, but I didn't really have any ideas... I mean, what do you get an omnipotent demigod?? You can already get anything you want, right?

... So, I settled for something that you couldn't buy! I hope you like sweets, cause your gift is some homemade cake! And if you don't, then uh... Well, we can talk about that later! You could technically get yourself a cake whenever you want, but this cake is special because I made it myself and didn't buy it from anywhere. I remember seeing a trend a while back, where people used black frosting to outline the edges of their cakes to make them look like real life cartoon cakes. I've been wanting to try it, and I thought this was a great opportunity to try it out! I hope you like the cake.

I also added a little traffic cone hat to the pile. I don't know why, I saw it and just thought it'd be funny. I put little tassels on it too, so maybe you could wear it as a party hat. I hope you like the cake, and maybe got a laugh out of the hat.

Happy birthday!

-☆

Happy birthday, Iso! This is my first time drawing him, so I wasn't confident he would look amazing. But I think it turned out pretty well! I never noticed until now, but I really like his eyes. Very pointy

I was religiously listening to Lady gaga while listening to this. At first it was just Abracadabra but then it turned into basically any song she made. With her power I locked in and actually finished this in a timely manner instead of waiting until last minute to make something :)

I dont really know where the whole traffic cone thing came from. I think it's because of the hazard sign emoji in his tag? Maybe I was just feeling really construction core while making this. Whatever the reason, he's been bestowed a traffic cone instead of a birthday hat and a magic hazard sign he can use for various nefarious deeds. I actually kinda like writing little letters to characters for their birthdays, I'm probably gonna keep doing it

Here's a reference for the cake + no glitch filter art

I dont really know what I was doing with the background. All I know is triangle 🔺️

Iso belongs to @theolivetree123 !

[attacksustaindecay]

MAYHEM

Mar. 8, 2025

MAYHEM by Lady Gaga

Rating: 6/10

Best Track: Abracadabra

Worst Track: How Bad Do U Want Me + Blade of Grass (I couldn’t decide between them…)

First and foremost, I just want to emphasize that I love Lady Gaga. I think she’s a really interesting artist. She has arguably made the biggest impact on pop music in the last two decades, and is a through and through star who works incredibly hard and is extremely talented. She quite literally is the perfect celebrity – if anyone was built for fame, its her. I also find her albums often very hit and miss. However, I had high hopes here. The album title, lead singles, and accompanying visuals all led me to believe we were getting a dark, edgy, and boundary pushing album that would take influence from rock and the underground electronic scene. This is not that kind of album.

Gaga would have been better served to swap the titles of her albums “MAYHEM” and “Born This Way”. “Born This Way” was controversial. It was raw. It was chaotic. “MAYHEM” is not. “MAYHEM” is a generic, albeit extremely well written and well-produced, pop album. Gaga fell victim to the cardinal sin of art for me… she released an album that’s boring.

The album starts off with its two very best songs – Disease and Abracadabra. These songs showcase Gaga at her very best. Forward thinking, conceptual, and infectious (no pun intended). Garden of Eden’s chorus makes the song worth it, but the verses are kinda cheesy and annoying. Otherwise, Vanish Into You, Shadow of a Man, and Die With a Smile stand out as the other album highlights. I especially love Vanish Into You – it expertly takes influence from 80’s new wave and really feels like a natural progression of the sound of the lead singles. Unfortunately the other tracks feel fairly forgettable. It feels like Gaga really wanted to write a pop album for her fans, and doesn’t really trust her own instincts or dig deep with her lyrics here.

While I may not enjoy the project as a whole, it really is well done from a technical standpoint. Music is subjective – I do feel that most fans will disagree with my takes here and that’s okay! Take my opinion with a grain of salt and have a listen for yourself to decide.

[dopepoisonivyoncrack]

Get to know mutuals! tagged by @my-my-my (Thank you for the tag! 💚)

I’m keeping it behind the read more as it’s a long post.

I'm not tagging but if we're mutuals or just want to do this, please feel welcome! I'd love to get to know better any of my mutuals and followers! It's like we're classmates and pass the Friend Journal between each other.

What’s the origin of your username? I relate a lot to DC Poison Ivy, we share a lot in common. This exact form came up during DMs with a (ex) best friend, as we were having fun. The “on crack” part is a reference to the original Ytube series Stick Figure on Crack, absurd and internet humor. Screenshots of our conversations were the origin of this blog - like the funny ones often reposted and circulating on Facebook at the time, so it made sense to use this username.  

OTP(s) + shipname: Xellos/Filia Xelfi (Slayers) - my first OTP, Kurosaki Ichigo/Ishida Uryuu Ichiishi, Bazz-B/Jugram Juazz (Bleach). I loved a lot Belphegor/Fran (Katekyo Hitman Reborn), Hiei/Kurama (Yu Yu Hakusho), and currently very fond of Poison Ivy/Harley Quinn. I enjoy many other pairs but these are the ones I feel/felt more strongly. 

Favourite colour: Turquoise/teal. The spectrum range between Green and Blue has always been my favorite. I had established the favorite wavelength interval for this very question but I always forget it (510 nm +/- 10 or 20?).

Song stuck in my head: None atm. However, I did listen to Lady Gaga Abracadabra and Bad Romance several times lately.

Weirdest habit/trait: If I'm at a restaurant, I fold my used napkins neatly to be disposed of. (Is this weird? because I do it too, I just find it polite. And I am not aware of any particularly weird habits).

Hobbies:

Drawing/painting. I prefer colored pencils, watercolors, inks and mixed media. I used to try more techniques including: linocut, wood and glass painting, oil on canvas etc.

Cooking. Mainly savory dishes and rarely deserts. 

Reading (although I rarely get to read stuff that is not related to work anymore).

Calligraphy (used to love this and would gladly get back into it).

Used to play violin but don’t get to do that anymore either.

If you could have any job you wish, what would you have? I quite like to be a scientist and working in the lab, so when I get to actually do what I chose for myself, I can say I already have the job I want. My other choices were to be an artist as I love drawing and handcrafts, and professional art critic (I used to be pretty good at Art History in High School).

Something you’re good at: I’ve been told I’m pretty good at microscopy, and my scientific/academic work. Also at drawing…and listening to people. 

Something you hate: People hurting nature and animals, usually out of stupidity and ignorance and/or ill intentions (forever upset in my area by people topping trees, cutting, destroying every patch of green just because they can’t stand it, being mean to violent to birds, stray animals, pets and wild animals - idk if anyone can understand this without everyday examples from where I live but it’s terrible, depressing and dropping the quality of living for all, actually); people leaving their car motor on for minutes and hrs in front of my building while they scroll their phone or leave nearby. I hate rude and very inconsiderate people, bullies, stupidity, petty cruelty, fascism and extremists of any kind really, more often than not these go all together.

Something you forget: Aside from my favorite wavelengths on the color spectrum, I can’t retain people’s birthdays. Nor car plates, which my mother is very good at.

Your love language: Gift giving, cooking. I try to remember little details about my friends and find something along the lines of that as well, what they like. If I see/remember something they’d like, I bring it like trinkets - be it an actual item, make a drawing/handcraft, share a post, etc. 

Favourite movies/shows:  For animanga: Bleach, Slayers (TRY, Next, and 1st season), Shaman King, Full Metal Panic! (particularly Fumoffu) . For movies: The Mask (1994), The Addams Family (and Values one), Home Alone. Shows: Lucifer, The Big Bang Theory, Gossip Girl, Hana Kimi. I love a lot more but these I can play any number of times and be fine with it. 

Favourite food: I love too many dishes to have a favorite. I like curry with cauliflower and other veggie combo, stir-fry with veggie and noodles, gnocchi, caesar salad … Soup, baked, fried, with lots of savory sauce, any goes but it must have veggie and or cheese, also pasta, potatoes, rice, garlic, onion and tomatoes are my best friends.

Favourite animal: Cats and felines of any size. Also like pomeranian dogs, chow-chow and other fluffy dogs, rabbits, owls, crows, ravens, pitohui, minks, hedgehogs. Ok, I’ll stop now.

What were you like as a child? I was more confident and free for sure. Curious and passionate. I did spend a lot of time alone then too (I was either alone or surrounded by adults most of my life) - drawing, reading, dancing - especially to jazz and swing, singing in the bathtub or playing the violin, role playing/larp-ing (sometimes with dolls and stuffed animals), doing puzzles, watching cartoons, daydreaming. I had a vivid imagination. I loved spies and detectives and my plays often involved “training” for becoming one, or pretending to be one. I never liked too much noise and chaotic atmospheres from children's spaces but was more outgoing and funny and engaging. I had an interest in science and loved nature then too, did my own experiments (like testing if the period pads really turn liquids into gel - ad busted! they did not, writing essays on the life and importance of trees, drawing posters against deforestation).

Favourite subject in school: Language and literature, History, Chemistry, Geography, some Biology and Math - but my attraction wavered with different teachers. I suspect I would have loved more Physics, Math, Psychology and Logic too if I had different teachers. Then Art History and Graphics art in High School. In university apart from Cytology, Histology, Plant Morpho-anatomy and physiology, I also liked Genetics, Cell and Molecular Biology, Chemistry (including organic, yeah, but my teacher was a problem again), and Ecology.

Least favourite subject: All animal systematics, anatomy, and physiology are at the top of my head. 

What’s your best character trait: I give attention to details and try my best to do things right. It's my default with everything. Working clean and organized, following a logic, aiming for efficiency and optimum use of resources.

What’s your worst character trait? Take the previous and it can easily turn into a bad trait real quick if taken too far, both if it's in regards to myself (perfectionists are doomed to misery, exhaustion and frustrations in the pursuit of their expectations), and in regards to others (although I try to retain myself from having high expectations or being demanding of others, usually I can’t understand why if you’re gonna do something anyway to do it badly and be wasteful). 

If you could change any detail of your life right now, what would it be? A life where I had finally finished my Ph.D, I can reduce my workload and recover my life, my health, my passions.

If you could travel in time, who would you like to meet? Likely a scientist, preferably a woman. If failing any of those, I could settle for Charles Darwin.

[kugutao]

oh! i just listened to miss lady gaga's new song abracadabra and wondered what does alejandro think of the song, since he(?) likes lady gaga from what i recall :3

HIIII YES I DO MY MOTHER . tldr is i cant believe i live in an era where mother goes back to her old testament era in 2025 in what world am i . if we had the financial means to do that right now you just KNOW i'd be forcing chiichii to get his money and pay for a bus to rio de janeiro so we could attend the free gaga show in may now that i know her new era is extremely reminiscent of her darkpop era and sounds a lot like an artpop + the fame fusion because one of my dreams since before i formed or anythin' was to attend a live the fame or born this way era show and this would be my chance but alas (plus i dont wanna risk gettin our shit stolen considering how the free madonna show last year went sooo)

longer version is that its genuinely such a nice recall to her old testament, yeah, while very much incorporating more of the new gaga vibes with making it sound more melodical in a way that almost sounds haunting with the echoed vocals. i aint the fashion freak in this system so i cant say as much about that as the demon freak or chiichii could but i think the fits are goorgeous and, again, something recallin the old era of gaga with the extravagant feeling while bringing a new form of fancy and classiness to it. i personally am obsessed with the big red spiky hat it looks sooo stupid i love it sm. i know the others in the system have been more obsessed with the big feathery tail fit which i get but i just think mother looks so stunning in red and it fits her pale skin so much (probs why i also looove the other red fit where she holds the cane). musically i aint really a prodigy and none of us are really but as i said it sounds like an artpop the fame fusion and its sooo good fuckkkkkk. the choreography for it is so good and i really hope mama will drop a choreo video at some point so i can practice it myself for the full thing, the stomach stabbing move made chii giggle and kick her legs when we first saw it. also i hope ya can imagine the absolute jumpscare it was to be waiting for mother to appear in the grammys an hour before it and suddenly 20 mins before that she just randomly decides to drop a wholeass new BANGER thats inspired by her older stuff. i feel the part in the clip where it cuts to the dancers and collaborators shouting the lyrics around her as she screams before going back to the song was so chilling and im soooooo excited for this new era of her. i love you mama

[newmusickarl]

5-9’s Album of the Month Podcast – new episode out now!

With a sadly absent Mama Mañana Records’ founder Kiley Larsen, myself and 5-9 Editor Andrew Belt review five high profile album releases from the past month in music, ultimately naming one as our Album of the Month at the end of the discussion. It’s another eclectic selection of albums, as we cover some of the biggest and best releases from February.

For our January episode, it was global superstar The Weeknd who shockingly emerged victorious in a tightly contested month, earning our first award for 2025 with his epic final album, Hurry Up Tomorrow. Now in our second episode of the year, the albums vying for the February 2025 Album of the Month title are:

Erotica Veronica by Miya Folick

Sinister Grift by Panda Bear

End of the Middle by Richard Dawson

People Watching by Sam Fender

Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory by Sharon Van Etten (Poll winner, thanks for voting!)

Just like January, it’s another tight vote with divided opinions, so hit the links below or click play above to see which album emerged victorious!

A reminder also that if you want to listen to any previous episodes, simply follow the links below and be sure to follow 5-9 Blog on Instagram and YouTube for more news and polls relating to the podcast.

Listen on Spotify here

Watch, like and subscribe to our YouTube channel here

Vote for the fifth album to join our April line-up here

Album & EP Recommendations

MAYHEM by Lady Gaga

Back in 2009, I was lucky enough to see pop icon Lady Gaga perform at Glastonbury. I didn’t realise it at the time, but I was witnessing (excuse the deliberate pun) a star being born. You see hers is an influence that can still be felt on the mainstream pop acts of today, be it the dance-pop of Charli XCX or the theatrical flair of Chappell Roan. Now with her career having detoured everywhere, from more Rock and Country-inspired records to even a shift into TV and Hollywood, Lady Gaga is back – and she’s returning to (excuse another deliberate pun) the sound that brought her to the dance – pop.

MAYHEM is very much the return of vintage Gaga, from the artistic music videos all the way through to the club-inspired, earworm anthems. You’ll likely already have consumed singles ‘Disease’, ‘Die With A Smile’ and ‘Abracadabra’ either consciously or subconsciously into your psyche by now, but it is some of the deep cuts that end up having the biggest replay value here. ‘Perfect Celebrity’ is the kind of addictive powerhouse track that would’ve slotted in perfectly on Gaga’s debut The Fame Monster, while ‘Zombieboy’ is the kind of Gwen Stefani and Nile Rodgers crossover that only Gaga could cook up. ‘Don’t Call Tonight’ then brings some 80s shimmer with shades of both Kavinsky and Daft Punk, before ‘Blade of Glass’ serves up a soaring Bonnie Tyler-style power ballad.

A wild rollercoaster ride through various shades of pop music, MAYHEM is an album that certainly lives up to its name. Never a dull experience and bringing her career full circle, it proves Lady Gaga can still do it better than anyone.

Listen here

Night Life by The Horrors

Also making a welcome return after some time away, albeit at the other end of the spectrum to Gaga, are industrial goth rockers The Horrors. With their last full-length project ending with ‘Something To Remember Me By’ and longtime keyboardist Tom Furse leaving the band, I had pretty much made peace with the fact that The Horrors may have ceased to exist. Thankfully, the band have finally returned with new music and they are sounding as great as ever on moody sixth album, Night Life.

I’ll admit the pre-release singles didn’t do much for me in isolation, which left me going into this one with fairly mild expectations. However, I needn’t have doubted them as Faris Badawan & co. have forged a dark and atmospheric audio experience that ranks alongside their best work. The shimmering synths of recent single ‘Ariel’ are an immediate highlight, while other singles like ‘The Silence That Remains’, ‘Trial By Fire’ and ‘Lotus Eater’ have more impact within the context of the whole. However it is the final stretch where this album really comes alive, with the synth-driven rock of ‘More Than Life’ recalling their Primary Colours prime before triumphant closing anthem, ‘LA Runaway’.

Mixing electronica, shoegaze and industrial as well as they have ever done, this is a mighty return from the Southend goth rockers that already feels like one of my favourites of the year so far.

Listen here

Microtonic by bdrmm

Then if you’re looking for something in a similar vein to The Horrors, I’m also loving Microtonic, the evolutionary third album from Kingston shoegazers bdrmm.

With their last release I Don’t Know seeing them add more electronic elements to their traditional shoegaze sound, Microtonic feels more like a full transition into crafters of lush, synth-driven soundscapes. Opening on a snappy collaboration with Working Men’s Club, the album doesn’t let up from there, navigating majestically through blissful highlights like ‘John On The Ceiling’, ‘Snares’ and ‘Clarkycat’, before eventually drifting into the ambient haze of ‘The Noose’.

While the greater shift away from shoegaze will put off some longtime fans, for me personally this is my favourite bdrmm project yet. An almost full of auditory delights, made for strapping on a pair of headphones and allowing yourself to get fully immersed in the wonderful vibrations.

Listen here

Service Station At The End Of The Universe by Antony Szmierek

Poetic and powerful, Mancunian spoken-word raver Antony Szmierek finally released his much-anticipated debut album back at the end of February and it’s a life-affirming record that only gets better with each new spin.

The magic of Antony’s music is not just in the euphoric beats or his clever turn of phrase, it’s in the way he’s able to find the beauty in the everyday. Whether that’s a piece of confetti falling from a club ceiling (‘Rafters’), a commercial office building turned Indian restaurant (‘The Great Pyramid of Stockport’), a Yoga Class (‘Yoga Teacher’) or even motorway graffiti (‘Angie’s Wedding’). The stories told across the record are full of joy and optimism, with Antony’s observational prose transforming the mundane into the magical. Add-in a backdrop of inspired synth-driven grooves that will make you want to dance and it’s a combination that will make you want to return to Antony’s perspective of the world again and again.

As far as debut albums go, this one is right up there with the year’s best so far. One for fans of The Streets, if you want uplifting stories you can move to then look no further.

Listen here

The Machine Starts To Sing EP by Porridge Radio

From a debut to a final outing now, as the Brighton rockers led by Dana Margolin sadly announced that this new EP will unfortunately be their last.

As a final shortplayer offering for fans, it delivers everything that has been great about Porridge Radio over their outstanding last three records. From ominous opener ‘Machine Starts To Sing’ to the shuffling acoustics of ‘OK’, to Dana’s signature anguished vocals on ‘Don’t Want To Dance’ and the defiant, lo-fi resignation of ‘I’ve Got A Feeling (Stay Lucky)’, it’s a bittersweet triumph.

Listen here

KOKO by The Lottery Winners

“Influenced by charismatic frontman Thom Rylance receiving an ADHD diagnosis during the early stages of the album creation process, ‘KOKO’ finds the quartet lyrically reflective and seeking to provide some reassurance to all those in need of a little pick-me-up. With the band set to support Robbie Williams on his stadium tour this summer too, the record feels built for the masses, with each track brimming with assured confidence and earworm melodies.”

Listen to the album here

Read my full review for CLASH magazine here

Watch the 5-9 interview with Thom Rylance on the making of KOKO here

Nothing Compares To Nineteen EP by Fiona-Lee

“However, ‘Mother’ isn’t the only frank, emotionally charged moment on ‘Nothing Compares To Nineteen’. Across six soaring tracks, Fiona is refreshingly open about her battles with anxiety, depression, grief and self-confidence, all feelings we each can experience but often don’t know how to put into words. While her musical inspiration and eloquent lyricism often comes from painful memories and experiences, it is at the same time a rewarding process.”

Listen to the EP here

Read my full Next Wave interview with Fiona-Lee for CLASH magazine here

Also well worth checking out:

Lust For Life by Courting

The Sky, The Earth & All Between by Architects

Tell Dem It’s Sunny by Greentea Peng

Out Of A Dream by The Slow Readers Club

Constellations For The Lonely by Doves

Blindness by The Murder Capital

Atmospherics by Hands Like Houses

Festival Season by Saint Jhn

Blood On The Silver Screen by SASAMI

Tsunami Sea by Spiritbox

Song Recommendations

Relationships by HAIM

The sisters are back!

While the title and release date for their new album has yet to be revealed, the HAIM sisters have returned with an excellent new single, with many suspecting it to be the first taste of the much-anticipated follow-up to 2020’s Women In Music Pt. III. Instantly catchy with an infectious R&B-style groove, the track offers an apathetic look at romantic entanglements and arrives complete with a cinematic video directed by Camille Summers Valli.

Watch the video here

Running/Planning by CMAT

One of the biggest breakout stars of the last few years, Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson’s first two albums already feel like instant classics. Now her third album EURO-COUNTRY is due to drop in August and that’s not just the name of the record but also an insight into what to expect from the album’s contents too. Lead single ‘Running/Planning’ is CMAT unveiling her new brand of country music, a heartfelt and string-laden epic that culminates in some hair-raisingly passionate vocals from CMAT herself. Sensational!

Watch the video here

Flood by Little Simz featuring Obongjayar & Moonchild Sanelly

Rapper Little Simz has also been on an incredible album run in recent times, also delivering three certified classics in Grey Area, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert and NO THANK YOU on her last three outings. However, we’ll soon find out if she can make it four-in-a-row with new album Lotus due to drop in early May. The tribal rhythms and seismic bass of ‘Flood’ is the first taste of the forthcoming project, a collaboration with Nigerian singer Obongjayar and South African musician Moonchild Sanelly that suggests Simz’s visionary artistry isn’t slowing down any time soon.

Watch the video here

Emergence by Sleep Token

Anonymous metal outfit Sleep Token have had a meteoric rise over the last couple of years, with 2023 album Take Me Back To Eden catapulting them to the top of festival bills and enabling them to sell out arenas nationwide. ‘Emergence’ feels a fitting first single then for their upcoming project Even In Arcadia, due for release in early May, just one month before their heavily debated headline booking at Download Festival. If this awesome new single is anything to go by though, it should be a suitably epic and genre-defying live experience.

Listen here

Statue In The Square by Kae Tempest

Their first new music in two years, immensely talented spoken word rapper, poet, novelist and playwright Kae Tempest returned this month with dazzling new single ‘Statue In The Square’. Brilliantly bold, it’s a song about courage and community that sees Kae weave intricately woven bars, spinning them from their lips at rapid, jaw-dropping speed. As mind-blowing as ever from one of the country’s most original creatives.

Watch the video here

The Test by Billy Nomates

Punk singer-songwriter Tor Maries has already dropped a new project in 2025, with her OST for Mary & The Hyenas boasting more than a couple of highlights. However, ‘The Test’ is the first track to be taken from upcoming third studio album Metalhorse, the follow-up to 2023’s brilliant CACTI. The first song written for the project, it’s a typically strong start to the new era from Maries, a determined anthem about persevering in the face of adversity.

Listen here

Bonnet of Pins by Matt Berninger

After releasing two albums in 2023 with his bandmates in The National after a supposed spout of writer’s block, it seems Matt Berninger has got his creative groove back. Now his second solo album Get Sunk is due out at the end of May and first single ‘Bonnet of Pins’ is a belter. While it doesn’t stray too far from The National’s formula, it’s an anthem that more than matches the exceptionally high standard of his day job, thanks to some scintillating guitars, triumphant horns, gorgeous vocal harmonies and Matt’s signature tongue-in-cheek lyricism.

Listen here

Letter From An Unknown Girlfriend by The Waterboys featuring Fiona Apple

Shaping up to be one of the most ambitious projects of the year, legendary Gaelic rockers The Waterboys are set to release their new 25-track odyssey in April - Life, Death and Dennis Hopper. As the title suggests, it’s an album that will examine the last 75 years of human existence and pop culture through the lens of actor Dennis Hopper’s life. With a few superstar collaborations lined up too, ‘Letter From An Unknown Girlfriend’ is one of the first to be revealed, a beautifully tender song written by Mike Scott but performed by American singer-songwriter, Fiona Apple.

Watch the lyric video here

spit it out / follow your direction by Low Island

Add this to the longlist of exciting releases dropping in May, DIY Oxford outfit Low Island are set to return with their first new album in three years, titled bird. Working with one of their musical heroes in Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear on the project, the band have released two quite contrasting teaser singles so far. Lead single ‘spit it out’ is a rage-fuelled, Radiohead-inspired rock track built on thunderous guitars, while ‘follow your direction’ is a heartfelt, minimalist electro-ballad that sees Carlos Posada’s vocals beautifully shimmer through the distortion. With both singles showcasing the band’s ever-present versatility and eclectism, I personally can’t wait for this one.

Listen to spit it out here

Listen to follow your direction here

East Alameda St. by Free Range Buddhas

You guessed it – another album also dropping in May! This time it’s Hatched, the sophomore effort from Santa Fe outfit Free Range Buddhas. Released on the always consistent Mama Mañana Records, this final single before the album release might just be the best cut off the project yet, bringing together a beautiful love letter to their New Mexico hometown that sees frontwoman Francesca Jozette’s vocals soar over some warm bluesy guitars.

Listen here

Double Blind by Tinvis

What’s that, you want another sonic gem from Mama Mañana Records?! Well you’re in luck, as Californian musician Joel Daniel - AKA Tinvís – just released his fantastic debut single, ‘Double Blind’. One for fans of The War of Drugs, it sees Daniel working with accomplished session players Max Hart (Tegan & Sara, We Are Scientists) and Eric Gardner (Dot Hacker, Melissa Etheridge, Tom Morello) to deliver a stirring heartland rock ballad, brimming with subtle strings, emotive piano chords and Daniel’s own passionate vocals. With album Texnia expected this summer, I personally can’t wait to hear more!

Who Wants To Live Forever by Mickey Callisto

Ending as I always do on a cover, this month’s choice comes from Sunderland-born, superstar-in-the-making, Mickey Callisto. Discovering him through Dot To Dot festival a couple of years back, Mickey’s incredible talent for performing is as raw and obvious as it gets. Beginning his musical life performing in Queen tribute acts, he channels the showmanship and voice of Freddie Mercury into his own original music – with his brilliant debut EP Homospace named one of my top shortplayers for 2023. While it may have taken a few years, I’m pleased to say Mickey is finally getting noticed thanks to a sublime, goosebump-inducing performance on this year’s season of Britain’s Got Talent. Covering Queen’s iconic single ‘Who Wants To Live Forever’ and knocking it out of the park in the process, it is simply a star-making moment that demands to be seen.

Watch Mickey’s performance on Britain’s Got Talent here

And if you want a bonus cover for this month – check out Fontaines D.C. mashing up Bring Me The Horizon’s Can You Feel My Heart with Nirvana’s Heart-Shaped Box for Triple J’s Like A Version here.

Also well worth checking out:

The Giver by Chappell Roan

Lucy by ABSOLUTE & Joe Goddard featuring Lucy Fizz

I HEART YOU by Confidence Man & Eliza Rose

Confession by Girl In Red

Skin by Marika Hackman featuring Laura Marling

The Queen of Mercy by Soda Blonde

Heathen by Deafheaven

Time Will Tell (Maybe) by Share

Jungle Child by ROB.GREEN

The Cross by Dusty 4 Track

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[lennakasra]

Tag Game: Get to Know Your Mutuals <3

Thank you @mapofyourstars for tagging me in this!! I enjoyed doing this!! Everything is under the read more because it's really long.

What's the origin of your blog title?

Both parts of the name have a story. The name is Lenna Kasra. The first part was made while i was searching for names for an oc I was making and I loved It, because my real name also starts with an L and I have a weaknes to names that start with L. The second one was made while I was playing Knights of the Old Republic ( it's a star wars videogame kinda old, just random info for the moots that don't what I'm saying to not get lost 💕) It has a randomizer on the part while making your name and that was the surname it appeared, Iit kinda fit so I liked It and that's the story ☺️.

OTP(s) + Shipname:

Charles + Erik (Cherik) Padme Amidala + Anakin Skywalker (Anidala) Obi-wan + Satine (Obitine) Remus Lupin + Sirius Black (Wolfstar) I'm sure I have some more but those are the ones that I remember making an actual brainrot in me

Favourite colour:

Oh there are so many... Mainly Pink both pastel and kinda Fucsia, Green has been my favorite forever and Blue

Favourite game:

I really don't know, I'm going to list some of my favorite games and sagas: - All of the Kingdom Hearts saga, I love them all, though I do have a favorite of the saga. Birth by sleep, my favorite one of all the saga. - Knights of the Old Republic, I'm going to mention only the first one because I still haven't played the second one. - Hollow Knight. If you like metroidvania platformers with beautiful artwork and music I really recommend this one. I took me a long time to beat It, because I'm awful at many of the bosses of the game. - Stardew Valley, sometimes I just wanna chill and live in my badly automated farm. I really like It. - The Sims 4, I'm going to be sincere. I just love it because I'm allowed to be dellusional. Right now I have a x-men playthrough and no one dies, It so beautiful

Song stuck in your head:

Abracadabra by Lady Gaga

Weirdest habit/trait?

I usually need really specific stuff. Like to be able to sleep correctly I need to listen to music and disasociate. If I don't do it in many days I start to become really mean and start to jump at really stupid stuff, it calms me. Also I tend to forget everything, which is really annoying because I can remember at what day specifically and the time of day something happened but if you ask me what is something you told me 5 minutes ago is completly erased from my mind. It really anoys people.

Hobbies:

I love to crochet, embroider, draw and play videogames

If you work, what's your profession?

Right now I work at coloring characters in an animated film and I do part time at theatres selling tickets for the shows and stuff.

If you could have any job you wish, what would it be? Realistically?

I wish I could live of crochet and I'd love to try streaming games, chating and crochet. But I really don't know if I would be good at it. But I'd like to give it a shot. I used to want to work in the videogames and animation industry but I got really burnt out during my studies and my passion for it hasn't returned.

Something you're good at:

I'm good at anything art related, I like doing stuff and creating it. it calms me down a lot. I also started doing Ludosport, for the majority of you I think it doesn't ring a bell, It's basically lightsaber combats. You learn many ways of fighting with a lightsaber and you compete with other people. I really enjoy it and the community is really nice.

Something you're bad at:

Cooking, I literally burnt a pizza once. Not a bit burnt, it was completly black, so yeah, don't leave me alone in a kitchen.

Something you love:

Simply put art, books and technology

Something you could talk about for hours off the cuff:

X-men, Zelda, Star Wars, different dragon types from How to train your dragon

Something you hate:

Definitly cooking and sometimes my own mind

Something you collect:

Right now I'm collecting all Zelda amiibos and every character figure of Disney Infinity. My marvelous partner did gift me all seasons of X-files and I love it so much.

Something you forget:

Simply said, everything. But with more details, I forget meetings, birthdays, where I put my keys... You know everything that makes your day a bit harder if you forget stuff. Last week I had an hour scheduled to go to work to and my boss called me to ask me if I could go to the office before entering the theatre. And mentally I was like "What do you mean I'm scheduled today". I WAS SCHEDULED, I just didn't remember that conversation ever happening. Before anyone gets worried, I had agreed 2 days prior that I was free, it was written down on my phone. It just scared me a lot, because one thing is forgetting your keys and another is forgetting you have to go to work.

What's your love language?

Definetly gifting things, I'm not a very touchy person (I actually prefer little touches, not a PDA person) But I enjoy gifting stuff to my loved ones, and when I can't buy them stuff they like I draw or crochet it.

Favourite movie/show:

I'd say the X-men movies and the Star Wars movies. Funny enough the first film I ever watched of any of the two sagas was with my father, so my obsessions with this stuff is his fault. I remember watching DOFP in cinema with him because he wanted to see it and I knew nothing. Afer that we watched both Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix in cinemas too. So that's cool. I don't think I have a prefered one, I like the sagas. But I suppose if I had to choose I'd choose the first ones I saw with my dad: X-men DOFP and Star Wars episode 1 (I also love episode 2 and 3 a lot) Shows is a bit harder to choose but I love the X-files and the animation series Clone Wars.

Favourite food:

Chocolate I suppose? My partner is always suprised that I don't have a limit to how much chocolate I want. Like if I have a chocolate cake, it has everything made out of chocolate.

Favourite animal:

Definetly cats. But I also adore dogs. I had a dog as a child and he was the best, my father and I still have his toys to remember him by.

What were you like as a child?

I was a very shy and silent girl. The type that no one remembered that was there, the one that tachers loved for being silent and also hated for being too silent. My parents adored how I would always manage to sit still and not bother them and that I was able to handle adult conversations.

Favourite subject at school?

Definetly art and maths. I enjoyed the logic behing math, once understood it was easy. I enjoyed calculating stuff, I remember I used to do the extra math work because I managed to understand the logic behind it and it was so rewarding when I was right. And I loved every teacher I had in arts, they were amazing and I wish them the best, they made me love to draw and encouraged me to always try a new medium to express myself.

Least favourite subject:

Sports, I'm asthmatic so you can imagine how fun it was but nowadays I do enjoy doing some moderete sports. I just don't run much but I have seen that working ot my muscles does help me to not lose my breath as much.

What's your best character trait?

I'd say that being able to listen to people. I like helping people around me and many friends have told me that I am a good listener, though I do talk a lot but like that I care when I'm listening to them.

What's your worst character trait?

My shyness for sure, I am overcoming it slowly and I've started to not care that much of strangers opinions but I do get really shy on family gatherings or important stuff.

If you could change any detail of your life right now, what would it be?

I'd love to know what I want to do with my life, I find no interest on what I'm working right now and I just don't know what to do. I'd love to do something that fuels me as a job.

If you could travel in time, who would you like to meet?

Vincent Van Gogh, he seems like a very interesting character to me. I've redrawn some of his artworks during art classes back at school and I really loved studying about him.

Again thank you so much for tagging me to do this @mapofyourstars I really enjoyed doing this, I've never felt the need to participate with my moots in a fandom so much as this one, so thank you all for being so welcoming!!

I'm gonna tag here people that I don't think have done it but I'm really not sure, don't feel pressured to do it ❤️

@fullcatkryptonite @eriksdefender @poormeowmeowcollector