#mirage / discography

[mirageofficial]

▸▸ ♡ |  PUBLISHED ON MAY 24TH, 2024 @ 7PM EST, VERIFIED BY KQ ENT.

WHEN THE GROUP ANNOUNCED A 2024 HIATUS BACK ON THE 30TH OF MAY LAST YEAR, FANS OF MIRAGE DID NOT ANTICIPATE SEEING THEIR FAVORITE ARTIST RETURN AT LEAST UNTIL SUMMER’S END.

lucky for miracles, the hiatus only lasted for four months. at 6pm kst today, KQ entertainment dropped a special announcement on all socials: mirage’s fourth full album, RETURN OF THE SPARK, will release on june 24th, 2024, marking the end of their hiatus and a new beginning as four members. KQ entertainment still refuses to confirm the reason for former member ARIN's contract termination from the company in january. though, based on the official documents released to the public, netizens speculate the youngest had created discomfort amongst the members due to her behavior and poor management of her mental health. enough to be removed completely from the industry entirely.

the reason for hiatus was the pace in which KQ entertainment had been scheduling the members, netizens were concerned about the group's health. though they promised solo projects amongst the members, only XEPHER and EUNAE worked on small mixtapes, and it seems as though the members took their time with the process of RETURN OF THE SPARK's production process functioned at a slow pace compared to past releases.

mirage instantly jumped to their individual and group socials to express excitement of their comeback, eager to bring a fresh image to kpop this summer. stay tuned for more updates!

TAGLIST | @alixnsuperstxr @ying-yang-qiao @kadieswrld @ino3zi @skzfairies

JOIN THE TAGLIST HERE

[rustedskyprisms]

Was looking at my top last fm artists as of late and it’s, not in order: OPN, Tim Hecker, James Ferraro, and Emeralds. Yes, the holy auditory equivalents of pretending everything is fine when it’s not….Really, I’ve known since I was very young that music has essentially kept me alive. I’m only staying above ground right now because I have this to look forward to each night. I wish I didn’t have to quit other poor habits that enhance all of it so well but I’m falling apart, really.

[lipsyncforyourlife]

[goldennika]

if they really do perform Ito, i might just eat glass

[portlandwithyou]

Releases of the Year- 2024

Every year, I share a few of my favorite albums and EPs from the year. Below are my thoughts a handful of my favorites. There are some very, very good releases that don't make the cut, but I always choose my sentimentality over all else.

Find the collection plus honorable mentions that didn't quite make the cut on Spotify.

BRAT- Charli xcx

Brat was everywhere this year; you could hardly miss it. Some of us knew it was coming, but I know many were taken by surprise. Charli xcx is a powerhouse and has been for years. I still remember the first time I heard her 2019 semi-self-titled album Charli, and in 2022 I even named CRASH one of my favorites of the year.

I'm using this entry to highlight all three releases-- BRAT, Brat and it's the same but there's three more songs so it's not, and Brat and it's completely different but also still brat. Although each has its own highlights, they are so intertwined with one another I don't believe you can fully separate the subsequent releases from the mother.

Charli is my top artist of the year on Spotify, and my top ten spots are essentially the album in order. The album, club music featuring confessional lyrics, simply captivated me more than any other this year. Hell, I even learned the Apple dance. It has been such a delight to see one of my favorites be acknowledged as the innovator she is.

Try: Talk talk

Challengers [MIXED] by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross/ Boys Noize

How thrilling is it that a score is recognized ahead of time for its brilliance and given a special mixed release?

It's no secret that I liked the film Challengers-- I saw it six times in theaters-- but I had the pleasure of hearing this album first, which immediately set the mood for the movie. Unlike some remixes, which can bury an original song so deeply it's inscrutable, this "mixed" version of the songs allows the songs to stand on their own two legs apart from the film.

I recommend listening to the straightforward score, too, but this album was in my ears quite a bit in the late spring/early summer.

Try: Challengers

Flight b741- King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard

On January 11th, while home alone on a quiet night with nothing to do, I decided on a whim to check out a band I'd been hearing about for the last 10 years- King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. In the months since then, I've heard every album, watched the documentary, seen them live, done the couch tour thanks to the band generously streaming each show, made multiple spreadsheet to try and get my hands around their vast discography, made a smattering of gifs, and fallen truly head over heels in love with them.

It's a special thing, the first time a band you've fallen in love with puts out an album while you're a fan. Flight b741 is no different. Leaning into a sort of southern rock-esque sound the album is another in a long line of "genre" albums by the band.

The first single, Le Risque, hit me hard and fast, although I'll admit it took the rest of the album a minute to grow on me. I believe, like much of Gizz's oeuvre, it is best heard live. Don't let this stop you from listening to this well-produced album. In fact, Le Risque, Mirage City, and Daily Blues are all stellar tracks that benefit from the kinds of sound you can only produce in a studio.

Try: Hog Calling Contest

LEAVING- Kerosene Heights

Kerosene Heights is a force to be reckoned with. Their sound is developing at the speed of light. In 2023 I named their album Southest of Somewhere one of my favorites and this year I'm delighted to tell you they're only getting better.

LEAVING is so impressively made I struggle to believe they're not the biggest band in the world right now. They know how to write a hook, they know how to captivate you, they know how to deliver. In my heart, they are rockstars.

Special mention on the this release goes to the lyrics. If I catalogued every single one I loved, I'd just be writing out the lyrics to the the whole EP, but trust me between the pleading "I can't take this anymore" in Such Great and "There's a highway right outside of my house" in Dennis #3, you will have this EP stuck in your head.

Try: Such Great

Our Bodies Pain Traffic Lights- fanclubwallet

One of Canada's finest and another returnee from the 2022 list is fanclubwallet. Although in a strong evolutionary moment, fanclubwallet is now a fully fleshed-out band.

Released in March, I fear this EP may not get the love it deserves, as it has been such a packed year. But I cannot stress enough how the sound has changed as a full band, with a new depth added that accentuates the writing and lends a layer of complexity.

Despite the new additions, this five-song EP does not abandon the sound you've already come to know and love, with the trademark vocals lending an intimate sound throughout. I'm thoroughly looking forward to seeing how fanclubwallet grows thanks to its new additions.

Try: Pictures of Her

Palette- Quarter Conscious

I don't think in the couple of years I've been doing this that I've ever highlighted a local band, but that is a wrong I am rectifying. Quarter Conscious has a near-mythic status in the local scene. They're an insanely talented self-described "two-piece cathartic math punk" band. I genuinely believe they're on the cusp of blowing up in the mathy/emo world.

Their first full-length release does not disappoint, although I can't say they've quite captured the immense power they have live. Although they have room to grow, I still reach for the album.

In the next year, I anticipate they'll continue to solidify their space in not just our local scene, but also at the national level.

Try: Daisy Chain

Romance- Fontaines D.C.

I'll admit, when I saw Fontaines D.C. open for Arctic Monkey in September 2023, I had no idea that a year later, they'd be releasing an album that would burn itself into my brain.

Fontaines D.C. have been at least some measure of good since their start, but their latest album, Romance, is a giant leap forward. Strangely, I want to highlight something that always gets me when I'm listening to the album: the use of breathing throughout the album. You hear this most with the "huffing" on Here's the Thing and the exaggerated breathing on Starburster. Something about this technique breathes life into the songs.

This album came out at a particularly dark time for me this year, but it proved itself to be a bright spot without challenge.

Try: Bug

Sisters, Not Twins- Swiss Army Wife, Kerosene Heights

If I was forced to pick a split of the year, it would be this by a mile. Kerosene Heights have already made an appearance on this list, and Swiss Army Wife will make another, but together they are something even more special.

In March, I had the pleasure of seeing Swiss Army Wife, wherein they teased this release. I cannot express the torture of waiting months and months knowing something so special is coming out.

The music on this split is raw, but some of the best either band has ever produced. Both bands are clearly comfortable with their sound, and neither overpowers the other on the split, a rare feat in my book.

At a scant eleven minutes, I implore everyone to take a moment and listen.

Try: Idaho

The Ultimate Emo Album- Swiss Army Wife, Avec Plaisir, Celebration Guns

To kick off the new year, three of the best emo bands around right now teamed up for a banger release. Each brings something special to the table-- Swiss Army Wife with their relentless energy, Avec Plaisir has their insane technical work, and Celebration Guns with their anthemic sound.

Really Rad Records is a label you sound be watching if you're into the emo scene even tangentially. In the future, people will be stunned three powerful bands go together to do an EP.

Try: Trying is Hard

[omegaremix]

Darkness finds; 2022-2024.

OOPS. Looks like we jumped the gun. Earlier this month, we shared the original shorter list of @postpunkindustrial’s finds from our previous music roll (Ω+) and already it’s gotten some fever. We didn’t realize we set the trigger a few days earlier than intended, just as more of these titles were being released for all of us to have.

Good news: We upped the finds five-fold since then. We found a lot of curious stuff worth hearing and an era to appreciate, so here’s the list we intended on posting. Industrial, breakcore, new wave, goth rock, no-wave, hip-hop, noise, and experimental sounds are all on the table - and then some.

In a never-ending race for us to catch up on everything we haven’t listened to yet, we’ll still take more. It’s possible that we’ll use them for future purposes (posting, airplay, etc.) and for you to get some ideas, because that’s what we do here. But, don't thank us, thank him for sharing the wealth. It’s the right thing to do.

Siglo XX: self-titled

Clock DVA: Advantage

* various artists: New York Noise Vol. 1-3.

Gridlock: Further

Rubberoom: Architechnology

Din-S.T.: 93 In The Mornin’

Parasite vs. Electromeca: C'mon PunXXX!!! Counterattack!!!

Gravediggaz: 6 Feet Deep

God: The Anatomy Of Addiction

Diseno Corbusier: El Alma De La Estrella

Thunderinas, The: Blower

Ślepcy: Absent Opera

Mark Stewart & The Maffia: Learning To Cope With Cowardice

Somatic Responses: Uncivilized World

Xanopticon: Même Mage

* various artists: The Last Supper

Muslimgauze: Lo-Fi India Abuse

Tools You Can Trust: Working And Shopping

Dead Voices On Air: Hafted Maul

Ice: Bad Blood

Annie Anxiety: “Barbed Wire Halo” 7″

Crash Worship: A.D.R.V.

Portion Control: Shot In The Belly

Het Zweet: self-titled

Pan Sonic: A

Bourbonese Qualk: The Spike

Keith LeBlanc: Major Malfunction

Ed Flis / Seppuku Fashion: The End split

Michael Siegel: The Sounds Of The Junk Yard

* various artists: Collision Course

Corrosion of Conformity: “Vote With a Bullet” (Consolidated RMX)

Winterkälte: Drum ‘N’ Noise

SPK: “No More”

Sleep Chamber: Flesh On Flesh

Keiji Haino: Execration That Accept To Acknowledge

* various artists: Payrere 2nd edition

Hanayo & *various artists: Gift

Diseno Corbusier: Perfido Encanto

Mighty Upsetter: Kung Fu Meets The Dragon

Tangerine Dream: Thief original motion picture soundtrack

Test Dept.: Beating The Retreat

* various artists: Dry Lungs

Edgar Froese: Kamikaze

Full Watts label discography

* various artists: New York Noise Volumes 1-3

Somatic Responses: Engaging The Enemy

King Tubby: King At The Control

CPUWar & Pisstank: split LP

Organum: In Extremis

Zipper Spy: Extortionist

Dev/Null: Laser Thrash

Proyecto Mirage: self-titled

* various artists: Pathological Compilation

Revolutionaries, The: Earthquake Dub (Evolution Of Dub Vol. 5)

Optic: Raver Chix Dig Noize!

DJ Scud & Christoph Fringelli: Bodysnatcher

Einsturzende Neubauten: Stahlmusik

Tape Beatles, The: A Subtle Buoyancy Of Pulse

Din-S.T.: Ladycracker e.p.

Jackel & Hyde: Escape From South London

Fanny: Fear And Loathing For Dummies

2nd Gen.: Irony Is

DJ Scud (is Rudeboy): Jackboots And Birds

Tackhead: Tape Time

Gary Cross: Salaried Man Club

Maria Zerfall: Tote-Zone.

Throbbing Gristle & Albrecht/d.: Music From The Death Factory

Coil: “Is Suicide A Solution?” 7”

* various artists: Sexorama 1: Compilation Of Industrial Culture Mail Music

William S. Burroughs: Dead City Radio

FM Einheit: Stein

Photek: UFO

* various artists: Dirty Debutantes Vol. 1

V-Vm: The Christmas Cracker

Babyland: You Suck Crap

(Updated.)

[tomorrowxtogether]

Growing up with TOMORROW X TOGETHER: navigating the world and your youth with the rising K-pop group

Growing up is never as easy as it’s made out to seem. It’s confusing and draining and conjures up emotions you didn’t even know existed, let alone know how to deal with. It’s tough but hey, everyone goes through it, just ask TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT).

Since their debut in 2019, the K-pop boy group have been piecing together a fantastical coming-of-age story rooted in reality, sharing all the chaos, triumphs, revelations, frustrations, and angst of growing up in the 21st century.

From trying to find your place in the world and dealing with imposter syndrome to the bliss of falling in love and the pitfalls of heartbreak, Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Hueningkai have been navigating through the intricacies of love, life, and loss of your 20s with their music—and in a way, with us.

“We talk about growing up in our music, and I think we feel so proud whenever our fans say that they relate to our music and feel comforted. We want to continue to share our stories through our music and grow alongside our fans,” said Soobin, in an interview with Bandwagon. 

Their discography, in which each member lyrically and musically contributes to, tracks the ups and downs of growing up, each “chapter” unravelling a new set of hurdles and challenges against the backdrop of graceful yet powerful choreography.

“We try to tell our story and the story of our generation as we see it, so it’s natural for us to participate in the making of the album,” said Yeonjun. “Over the years as our contribution grew, we were able to really hone and refine our distinctive sound, which is something that we’re so proud of.”

“During the past four years, we’ve continued to challenge ourselves with new sound and style, and I think that allowed our musical scope to expand. The members’ participation in the making of the album grew over the years, and all of us became better artists and creators that constantly inspire each other,” added Hueningkai.

Unsurprisingly, their stories and music found a home in thousands of people across the world, Most particularly during the height of the pandemic, TXT gave fans, who they lovingly call Moments Of Alwaysness or MOA, a sense of hope and comfort that maybe growing up is not so scary after all.

Centered around their authentic journeys of growth and catchy hits, TXT are one of the most exciting groups to come out of the K-pop scene today. Carving out a path of their own, the ‘Sugar Rush Ride’ act has risen in global popularity over the years—even recently booking a headlining performance at this year’s Lollapalooza.

The forthcoming performance comes on the heels of their music festival debut (also at Lollapalooza) and first world tour, ACT: LOVE SICK last year, all of which TXT are immensely grateful for.

“It hasn’t been too long since we’ve got to meet our fans face-to-face, so it took us a bit of getting used to. As we toured around the world and performed at Lollapalooza, we were able to enjoy ourselves a lot more, and it was just amazing to see our fans in front of us again and feel their love and energy vividly,” shared Soobin.

Most recently, TXT kicked off their second world tour, ACT: SWEET MIRAGE. The tour opened with a two-day concert in Seoul before heading back to Southeast Asia, starting with Singapore last weekend.

“It’s our very first show in Singapore so we’re very excited! It was such a pleasure to tour Southeast Asia for our ACT: LOVE SICK world tour last year. The fans’ energy was incredible, and we want to return that same energy this time around,” said Taehyun ahead of their Singapore concert on 1 April. 

Much like their music, the tour sees personal touches from the members, with each of them contributing ideas to the setlist and stage production.

From the very beginning of their rehearsals to the moments before heading out on stage—where Hueningkai shared they stretch, do vocal warm-ups, and take a minute to calm down, every concert comes as a product of hard work, dedication, and love from the group.

“We’ll perform the new tracks from our latest album, so our fans will be able to watch a lot of never-been-seen performances. We also put in a lot of ourideas into the setlist and the overall flow of the concert, so I think that will just make itmuch more special,” said Beomgyu.

Like a lot of us, TXT began 2023 by opening a new chapter (The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION) of their lives. What the rest of this new chapter holds for all of us is uncertain but there's no doubt that Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Hueningkai will be right there walking with us through its ups and downs.

TXT will continue their ACT: SWEET MIRAGE this April in Taipei and several cities in Japan before heading out to North America. 

[absurdly-overpowered-astronaut]

top five non english songs go

Ughuhu just five? So hard :< To narrow it down/make it easier on myself I’m excluding milgram and limiting myself to one harumakigohan song because otherwise those would just be the whole list

5 - Nobody Makes Sense / ぼくらはみんな意味不明

This is a rather recent favourite but I absolutely adore it because I think it does just such a great job at conveying its message? It spends the majority of the time talking about how the world is arbitrary and hence pointless. Why try in a world where nothing matters because everything is arbitrary. “a cats name is tama, but I couldn’t tell you why” but then at the end it contradicts and answers that argument things aren’t arbitrary and even if they humans find meaning in them they do things that seem silly and meaningless like folding cranes or skipping parts of zebra crossings but they bring joy even if they seem meaningless. I love how the song words its message and loops it back round at the end but the message also means alot to me. Its a message thats resonates with me alot and which I often find myself forgetting so I come back to this song alot to remind myself and to just listen it in general because it sounds so good! The art for the album of zero-go and of the pv is also just incredible.

4 - os-alien / Os-宇宙人

I absolutely adore the lyrics for this song! Like I love all the lyrics of all these songs but like this one especially is just very relatable to me. I also really like how the instrumental compliments the vocal style and tone of the song but unfortunately it’s the op for an incest anime that is really bad but my brain had already lacked on it and it was too late! I just pretend the songs about autism <3

3 - additional memory

Ayano is one of my favourite characters of all time so this song is one of my favourites of all time. The imagery and symbolism especially the mentions of the final call/end credits and how the song is tuned and the little instrumental bit where everything just intensifies I love it all so much ごめんね、大好きだよ -> さよなら、大好きだよ :’) AND WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT AYANO AS A CHARACTER AND HOW IT MAKES ME WANT TO BALL MY EYES OUT EVERY TIME I HEAR IT! Love! love! love so much

2 - I’m like myself/As myself/自分らしく

Gender is weird and this song resonates with my experience with it in a way that nothing else really has. I also just really like how shinsei kamattechan does their vocals especially the songs around the middle of their discography. I really like the tone of the song “people’s harsh looks are a bit painful” / “people say you should live as a man or a woman but I can’t do this” / “I want to be like him but also her like a human even though hated” Its kinda simple but in a good way

1 - 3rd heart

Contrary to what my blog might lead you to believe mirage isn’t my whole personality the 3rd heart is my whole personality and reason for being. IT IS MY FAVOURITE SONG EVER EVER OF ALL TIME! Especially harumakigohan’s self cover of it but also the vocaloid cover is just incredible I love how harumakigohan tunes and how he writes his instrumentals and music and draws his mv’s. THE MV FOR 3RD HEART MAKES ME WANT TO EXPLODE. I know I keep talking about the lyrics being parts I love but the lyrics of 3rd heart and perfect and beautiful and I love themmmmm so much ahghggh. To get personal I relate to this song and mikage alot and this song is very special to me because of that.

.the song is about autism to me

I want to frame every single shot and put it on my wall! I want to eat the instrumental!I want to give mikage a hug! I want to one day to be able to create art/stories and string together words as beautiful as this

AFGHFHGGHJBJHJHJHJHJHHIIHHI

Thank you for the asks and for reading my unhinged ramblings ^^;

[thelensofyashunews]

YEAT SHARES FIFTH LP LYFESTYLE  

Yeat has kicked off a new era with the release of latest highly anticipated album LYFESTYLE—out now via Lyfestyle Corporation / Field Trip / Capitol Records. Earlier this year, Yeat catapulted the world into the future with the release of blockbuster project 2093. Now, he travels back to present day to deliver LYFESTYLE, a thrilling rap album highlighting the dynamic and experimental style that’s become synonymous of Yeat’s growing discography while also paying homage to the young artist’s early career. Today’s release of LYFESTYLE cements Yeat as one of hip hop’s most established and respected new artists, being embraced by peers with superstar collaborations across the album including Don Toliver, Lil Durk, and Kodak Black. The new album also arrives alongside new merch in collaboration with designer Heron Person and Cactus Plant Flea Market. The 21-track project showcases Yeat continuing his fruitful creative relationships with some of his original collaborators including Summrs and producer Synthetic. LYFESTYLE masterfully weaves these traces of nostalgia with newer elements of Yeat’s experimental side – seen in songs like "Gone 4 a min" and "Forever again".

LYFESTYLE arrives on the heels of a massive year for Yeat, following February’s release of album 2093, his fourth entry in the Top 10 in only 2 years: Lyfë (No. 10 in 2022), 2 Alivë (No. 6 in 2022), AftërLyfe (No. 4 in 2023) and 2093 (No. 2 in 2024). Teasing for LYFESTYLE kicked off this summer when Yeat hinted at new music during his highly curated special three-show tour run across New York, Los Angeles and Portland, selling out legendary venues including Brooklyn Mirage, The Shrine, and Portland’s Theater of the Clouds. The first official announce of the upcoming album arrived in September when Yeat’s Lyfestyle Corporation confirmed the name LYFESTYLE through a video graffitiing the word across a Lamborghini. This reveal was followed closely by another video taking over New York’s Times Square billboards to announce LYFESTYLE’S October release, and the official album trailer which can be viewed here. Most recently, Yeat embarked on an international tour across the EU & UK—an explosive run through 9 cities which included his first ever headlining show in London, which The Guardian noted as a “ribcage-reverberating success”—before the final album easter egg earlier this week when Lyfestyle Corporation unveiled an eerie video of massive flame letters spelling out the album name in a deserted field. Now, LYFESTYLE has finally arrived, see full track-listing below.

[goldstrvck]

showmance (zhongluc)

The taste lingers, even as they finish filming. It follows him like a love-starved stray; on the drive back to their apartments, to his bed. He thinks of sweating glass on a sweltering beach and that goddamned tang at the back of his throat.

This, Diluc thinks, is going to be a problem.

Or: Diluc lives out his bubblegum pop dream, set in a DCKZ au.

— inspired by bini's discography; credits to veechu for the au!

— you can read this on ao3 here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/56389171

i. pantropiko

With how high the sun currently is, Diluc wonders why management hasn’t called them back in the shade, or at the very least, given them refreshments. It’s hot enough that he can almost hallucinate the gorgeous coastline stretching on either side of them like some kind of dream, endless and hazy, seeming as if it had been enclosed on the other side of some Coke bottle bottom. Instead, management asks them where Zhongli is.

Rudely, too. But there’s no room for complaints in an industry so brutal and ruthless, being a rookie group from some unknown talent agency preparing for their debut. He hadn’t complained about the tireless nights they spent learning the choreography and the vocal track, hadn’t complained over the strict rules of training and eating and interacting, and hadn’t complained over the hideous floral print shirt they gave him for filming this music video; he wasn’t going to start now.

Diluc bites his tongue and swivels around for a head count.

Behind him. Kaeya raises an eyebrow at him. Though he’s holding on to a blank expression, all bland, generic charm on the camera, there’s this imperceptible line of irritation to his brow as he maintains his position. Still, he’s faring much better as Childe finally topples over, flails his arms like a particularly difficult starfish, and collides against Kaeya.

White boys, Kaeya mouths at him as he hauls a complaining Childe to his feet, as if Diluc hadn’t spent his childhood on the same estate, under the same fair summers and gentle spring rains. Natlan’s climate is far more harsh. It doesn’t help that no amount of sunscreen will prevent Diluc’s skin from turning as red as a tomato. Diluc rolls his eyes at him hard enough to hallucinate the mirage of a fair angel appearing beside him.

Diluc automatically accepts the flute pressed into his palm, an instinct borne from a hundred etiquette classes taken within the airy, picturesque memory of the old Ragnvindr Estate.

He raises it to his lips; sips. It’s slightly sweet. Most of all, it’s cold and refreshing, almost like a balm to his parched throat.

Diluc raises an eyebrow at Zhongli, who patiently waits at his side. “It’s nice,” he says, before eyeing his glass with more interest. It’s freshly made. The glass sweats, condensation gathering at his fingers. “Where were you?”

Zhongli slightly lifts a tray — one, two, three of them balanced on it — with one hand, the other folded precisely behind his back. It’s unfair how a man who wore suits like it would never go out of style manages to look comfortable in a boring white linen button down and black shorts, Diluc absently thinks. “I ordered drinks for us.”

Childe perks up at the sight of Zhongli, and ambles over. Not to be left behind, Kaeya follows soon. Zhongli distributes their designated drinks as Diluc stubbornly herds them under the shade of a thatched beach umbrella made from nipa.

It’s nice. Diluc can almost close his eyes, ignore the sunburn slowly spreading across the back of his shoulders and imagine he’s just on the coast of Stormbearer Point.

Except someone snatches his glass from him. The clunky grey vest screams production team grunt. “On whose authority?”

Kaeya stills, glass halfway to his mouth. Childe simply carries on as he tilts his head and clears his glass in one gulp, seemingly without a care in the world except for the tension at his shoulders. The cold balm of the sweating glass against his skin is fleeting; almost nonexistent as blood rushes through his ears.

Diluc doesn’t blink, fingers itching. It’s a very tempting thought — is punching some guy in the face worth his fledgling career?

Zhongli must’ve seen, because he slightly tilts his head five degrees to the right and not more, not less, at the offending production team grunt. There’s this slight uptick to the right corner of his lips, right where his beauty mark rests. “On mine,” he mildly says.

For a tense moment, the grunt looks like they’re about to snap back, and then Diluc’s fist would really have to go for their jaw, except Zhongli raises one imperial eyebrow. Suddenly, he looks less like a man having a drink, and more like a statue carved of some indomitable god, with gilded eyes as hard as stone. “Is there anything you have to say?”

Zhongli is Celestia Ent.’s darling, quickly achieving domestic fame as the first-place winner of survival show Archons. Diluc knows it – at the rate he keeps browsing through it, he might be half of Zhongli’s Wikipedia article views; with the section on his accomplishments within the industry going on for miles. DCKZ is his first group gig in years. Diluc wonders what he thinks of being grouped with a bunch of rookies only a couple of years younger than him.

“With whose money?” Childe demands behind him, breaking the mounting tension. The grunt gives up, and marches back to the designated production team nipa hut with the unfortunate casualty of Diluc’s drink. “Zhongli. Whose card did you use?”

“Aha,” Zhongli unenthusiastically says. Despite his many accomplishments, he can’t maintain a poker face to save his life. “I shall… pay you back?”

Diluc can’t help the huff that escapes his lips as Kaeya finishes his drink and immediately talks shit about their shitty handler and the shitty production team attached to them. He leans against the stalk of the nipa umbrella, and closes his eyes, letting the chatter wash over him. It’s a brief respite: sooner or later, they’ll have to go back out in the heat again.

Something cold nudges against his knuckles. Against his shoulder, something warm and solid brushes, featherlight, before it presses against his side. It’s nice. Almost comforting, despite the humid, hot air suffocating him.

He cracks one eye open. Beside him. Zhongli offers him his drink, the same shade of his eyes. It smells earthy and strong, but not unpleasant. It’s definitely expensive.

“Why?”

“Why not?” When it’s clear Diluc’s unimpressed with his line of reasoning, he carries on through his next sentence without shame. “I suppose it was my fault we got into trouble.”

“The only ones at fault are the staff for not providing us with something as basic as water, and Childe for letting you bully him into taking his credit card.”

Zhongli laughs, full-bodied and rich, much to Childe’s indignation. The sound of it sinks straight into Diluc’s gut, making him feel something warm and fuzzy. “I already said I would be paying him back.” He extends the glass towards Diluc. “What’s stopping you from taking a sip? It's not poisoned.”

“Hmm.” Diluc eyes it. “No alcohol?”

Zhongli shakes his head. “No alcohol,” he promises.

Before Diluc can second-guess himself, he leans in to take a sip. The flavor hits his mouth first, something strong and intense soothed over by a brief mellowness. It clings to his mouth, lingering on his tongue and sticking like honey to the back of his throat.

Zhongli hasn’t stopped watching him. He tilts his head, not as precise or as angular as before. “Well?”

“Why are you asking me?” It’s somehow both soothing and stifling at the same time, but not overwhelming enough. Diluc can't tell whether he likes it or not. “You ordered this.”

“I believe you are the heir to a wine dynasty here.”

"And what does that entail, wine connoisseur?”

Zhongli meets his eyes, solid and unwavering but still so genuine, with that softer, kinder edge to his gilded eyes. “That I value your insight.”

(Kaeya has to whack him on the back to get him to respond, but by then, Zhongli has already finished his drink and set off for the set, with Childe close on his heels.

The taste lingers, even as they finish filming. It follows him like a love-starved stray; on the drive back to their apartments, to his bed. He thinks of sweating glass on a sweltering beach and that goddamned tang at the back of his throat.

This, Diluc thinks, is going to be a problem.)

[mulderscully]

okay, i did not listen to the christmas album because it is march nor the live album because those are not my thing. but my thoughts on the Killers discography:

Hot Fuss remains a brilliant album of endless bangers. what a joy to revisit

Sam’s Town and Day & Age have some hits! D&A had less hits for me, but Human is so personal to me so it is Good

Battle Born!!!! I love this one!!!! and Wonderful Wonderful is in fact wonderful!!!! really really love these albums. considering making them my personality, tbd

I liked Imploding the Mirage, I less-liked Pressure Machine. i think after BB and WW they both just did not meet my new standards of Killers Excellence. but that’s fine. i’ll relisten and probably find gems that i love

would love to know your rankings if you care to share

i don't really rank tk albums tbh. i genuinely love them all pretty equally. they're all different sounds, different universes and i love that brandon has that range. i think pressure machine is probably objectively the strongest album they've had since ww since i don't love imploding the mirage as much tbh so we feel opposite on that, but i think a lot of my love for pm comes from what i know and love about brandon as a person.

if i had to rank

1. battle born

2. sam's town

3. pressure machine

4. hot fuss

(i see hot fuss and pressure machine as two sides of the same coin, but hf gets knocked down because it gets enough love from the general public)

5. sawdust

6. wonderful wonderful

7. day & age

8. imploding the mirage

also i think the desired effect (brandon's second solo album, is better than a lot of the bands albums lol)

glad you enjoyed some more of their music! ✨💖

[mirageofficial]

﹒﹒𖥻、 E by JEON TARYN ゛is the first single album from the debuting solo member, EUNAE, who is best known for being the MAIN VOCALIST, VISUAL, & LEAD DANCER of the fictional girl group, MIRAGE. the second oldest member opted to debut under her birth/english name, JEON TARYN, rather than her stage name because her music is catered to her own stories—not the group in which she resides in. instead, TARYN used the first letter of her stage name, E, as the title of her project and says it’s an ode to how she became EUNAE, her photoshoot aesthetic is shown above.

TARYN chose MASQUERADE as her promotional song, leaving THE ROAD and WHEN THE RAIN STOPS as her b-sides—so fans can enjoy the more emotional songs without them becoming a social media trend & further losing their special, comforting meanings. TARYN also made the risky decision to promote her debut overseas during the ENTER THE UPSIDE world tour, only promoting in seoul for the two opening nights as her d-day on april 1st.

TAGLIST / @neocityocs @alixnsuperstxr @darkestlovers @kadieswrld

JOIN THE TAGLIST HERE

[the1975attheirverybest]

I'm in love with you is the most IN YOUR FACE love song, but could it be argued that this could simply be a case of lovebombing in some scenarios? (I'M NOT SAYING MATTY IS A LOVE-BOMBER! I mean purely from a lyrical perspective 🤗) i think personally that more subtle songs in their discography like All I need to hear (more subtle in the way that they're not repeatedly saying "hey but guess what? I love you. Did I tell you that I love you yet? Hey-" etc haha) or Fallingforyou or even Heart out could be considered more romantic? And then obviously you have the addiction-esque songs like It's not living or...medicine (I'm praying I'm correct haha) where they *can* be applied to relationships BUT what does that say foelr the relationship itself? Is the relationship healthy, or is it an illusion, toxic, where the people involved are only viewing the positive sides of the relationship and pretending the bad sides don't exist, therefore creating an addictive habitat for this toxic mirage of love to like...fester and slowly get worse and worse and more addictive? Anyway I'm rambling sorry I'll shut up I've thought about this a lot in the past and I'm also like slightly tipsy i think so this might not even make sense 😅

No I think you’re absolutely right. I mean there is a reason that matty returns to this metaphor of love as addiction/ addiction as love. And it’s an interesting trope in romantic writing in general but the way that the 1975 almost turn it into a pop song clearly works right. To the point where nobody even notices it’s not a love song hahaha.

I think maybe About You is their most romantic? I have a soft spot for WWAT. Sure it’s clever and ironic at the end with the whole “gaslighting” thing but that almost makes it better cuz it’s more realistic. Cuz relationships in real life are kinda petty and argumentative. And I imagine if you date matty you gotta get used to the whole getting canceled thing hahahha. But as many of my mutuals have argued, and as matty tends to say onstage, that song may be applies more to his friendships. So maybe my final choice would be About You? Weird.

[sooniebby]

Random question Sony, but what’s your favorite music or kind of it? I will make a 12 hours plane travel in a month or so, and I need a playlist that has said size. Any songs recommendation?

Stray kids. I love them <3 Enhypen is good too. I recommend all of their songs.

Specific songs are hard cuz I’m all over the place. But songs that I like right now, I’ll give you five.

Fly—Cravity

Summer Poem — ONF

Go Sign — Billy Laurent

Show me how — Men I trust

Mirage — OnlyOneOf

I’d also recommend OnlyOneOfs entire discography as well. These are mainly songs not in English tho, hope that’s fine!

[saltqueer]

Papyrus for the ask game! :)

papyrus ⇢ if you put your ‘on repeat’ playlist on shuffle, what’s the first song that comes up? what do you like about it / associate it with?

ok this is a bit silly bc i just have mp3s and basically listen to one (1) persons music bc its the only stuff i have with metadata on it and everything else is in an unsorted mega-album that i dare not enter. so! i picked their stuff that i think i listen to most frequently and got On The Approach by Jack de Quidt on PALISADE: Friends At The Table Soundtrack, Season Eight. Its a song from the first episode of the season that Friends at the Table is putting out rn, and im really adoring all their music for it. It has this incredible vibey electric guitar and synth that switches pretty seamlessly in and out of more crunchy rhythmic parts, sometimes i listen to it with my eyes closed and it makes me feel like im floating and then quickly brings me back to earth, which is very fun.

in the show it backs the introduction of a new kind of magic for this season, a sort of horrible depiction of how the big evil empire uses magic. the GM lists a lot of different ways the empires magic feels and the music responds to them, which is very cool.

I know I've just talked a lot about how this music ties in to the show, because of course, but even if you don't know the show i suggest checking them out here! that's their whole bandcamp page, the link higher up is to the song itself. there's only two songs across their whole discography that have lyrics in them, so no spoilers or needing of context. and they cover a lot of different musical styles, so even if you try the palisade soundtrack out and it doesn't click with you, their other stuff is different enough that it could! Sangfielle has this sort of fucked up violin, clarinet, and ooOOooo vocals sound, PARTIZAN is a lot of screaming synths and sirens, live at the table has a bunch of different stuff, Something & Nothing, Inside & Outside, and Autumn in Hieron are all sort of soft piano fantasy, with a goal of minimalism that doesn't always quite happen. Twilight Mirage is dance pop, Bluff City is jazzy, Marielda is clarinets (is that a genre? it is now), and The Long Way Around is minimalist scifi piano.

I know this isn't really the question, but on Inside & Outside there's a track called Hadrian & His Son where you can hear the piano pedals being pressed and for whatever reason that really gets to me every time

[evilthotiana]

listened to new tim hecker album.. probably like top 5 in his discography. same tier in my mind as mirages/an imaginary country/virgins