We Are Fans

Last Saturday, we watched a bit of Coachella live on YouTube, which turned out to be a genuinely enjoyable experience. You can switch between several channels that show the performances live on their various stages. We didn’t know about this, though, and will plan better next year to catch more shows.

First, we saw two songs of the Beth Gibbons set, including the Portishead evergreen “Glory Box,” which Beth recreated with a big band of serious-looking musicians on mostly acoustic instruments.

After that, we switched to the Main Stage, where Charli xcx had just taken the stage. We are not particularly fans, even though it was nearly impossible to escape her album “Brat” last year. But on Saturday, she impressed with a Coachella performance that was nothing short of breathtaking.

She went through her set completely alone, wearing something like a black sports bikini that made her look less sexy than vulnerable. Seeing Charli xcx alone on that enormous empty stage in front of a sea of people that seemed to stretch to the horizon was utterly impressive. Of course, that meant that she had to move around a lot. Still, she kept it a music performance with a wireless mic instead of a dance show with a headset.

However, for most people, the experience was similar to ours, minus the comfortable sofa, as they probably could see Charli only on the big screens mounted on the stage wings. Is that enough to justify the time, effort, and money to attend such a festival?

I’m also unsure what to think about having no musicians on stage. On the one hand, Charli’s songs were 100% synthetic electronic pop, so what is the point of a bunch of dudes on stage who pretend to play the music on guitars and keyboards? On the other hand, singing to music that might have come from an iPhone plugged into the soundboard feels a bit underwhelming for an event of that scale.

In any case, we are much more Charli xcx fans now than prior to this experience.

In local news: Last Sunday, we attended the 20th anniversary event of the NYC music magazine The Deli. The monthly circular used to be available in print in bars and music venues, but now it exists in an online format only.

Interestingly, the other invited publications were all issuing high-quality paper magazines. “We want to bring print back,” said Tatiana Tenreyro of Antics when we asked about the story behind the magazine.

It is indeed time for that. The relentless scrolling and swiping cannot do full justice to the depth of music culture. Of course, for Elke and me, there is much nostalgic joy in opening a print magazine and finding something about an artist we love, because this was the only way to get some background information in the 80s and much of the 90s. But today, a magazine with a curated choice of topics is a fantastic way to break out of the algorithmic bubble that seems to be ever more restrictive. Check out Antics, The Concert Chronicles, Cynosure, Breach , and Nourish.

glamglare favorites

Listen to glamglare favorites on Spotify, Apple Music, or below on YouTube.

The five new songs this week could have easily been a Song Pick of the Day, but there can be only one every day. So enjoy our catch-up with music from Nell Smith, Déyyess, Clara La Bouar, fknsyd, and Nyah Grace.

Song Pick of the Day

Listen to/watch all seven songs on YouTube. Follow our daily updated playlists on YouTube, Apple Music, or Spotify for the 50 latest Song Pick of the Day features, or subscribe here to receive them in your mailbox in real-time. Thank you for following us and sharing the excitement.

The new song “Mr. Slipstream” by Jordan Power “explores the tension between love and ambition and how societal expectations can become a barrier to connection.” That explains the melancholic undertone in this gorgeous pop song. "Chronic Broken Heart" is about the fear that your insecurities might get in the way of something beautiful. The Berlin/LA artist PHEA produced this glittering synth-pop song with melbeatz. LA singer/songwriter Windser sings about being in a terrible place in ”These Days." But this song alone should improve his mood and maybe yours, too. The Canadian artist Frankie Flowers released a hard-hitting dark wave track, “HEX,” about "limerence." Always good to hear new music from her! Minnesota indie rock band Night Moves put out "Hold On To Tonight,” the first single off the upcoming fourth album Double Life, about “moving through, not moving on.” The new, beautifully cinematic record Heartbeat by London composer duo AVAWAVES includes only one song with lyrics, “Sleep Tight.” So, it is our Song Pick of the Day. "U", a song representing "self-reflection and bravery," took Nashville pop musician RUDEY almost a year to finish. It is not a duet – both voices are his.

New Albums Out This Week

This week, we are excited about two concept albums. We Do Not Fear Ruins by Mobley is a sci-fi story about a man waking up 300 years in the future. Hannah Rose Platt releases “an offering and a tribute to female pioneers in medicine” with her second album Fragile Creatures.

The title of Laura Reznek’s new album, The Sewing Room, refers to a special place in her grandmother’s home – something that may tickle nostalgic memories.

Nine Photos from Lisbon and its Pavements

No photo project stood out last week, so there were no brand-new photos this time. However, Lisbon is still on my mind, and more photos remain to share. Wherever you are in Lisbon, you’re probably walking on some sort of fascinating mosaic, which looks at its most brilliant at night after a little rain shower. But also during the day, I could not get enough of these patterns. Find here a few examples!

(1-5) Around Rossio Square with the Moorish castle (3) in the distance.

(6) Carmo Rooftop with the Elevador de Santa Justa to the right.

(7) Praça Louís de Camões.

(8 & 9) In Belem, the famous neighborhood in the far East of Lisbon, where the famous Pasteis de Nata, custard tarts, originated. In the background, the Jerónimos Monastery.