Music of the Month: September | Zafira
Hi!
September lasted a total of 5 minutes and just like that, we’re 3 months away until the end of the year (thank god). It’s been quite the hectic month. I started uni again which has been a whole disaster in it’s own. In Manchester, it feels like it’s already winter. There is a very distinct chill in the air. The coats and boots are out, it’s all so exciting. I think this is my favourite time of year.
Anyway, here’s a bunch of my favourite songs and albums that I’ve been listening to this September:
nectar
-
joji
It’s crazy because this was only released a week ago and it’s become the most listened to album in my library this month.
I love anything Joji releases, but Nectar definitely feels a lot softer and love-ier than anything he’s done before. His songs have this upbeat-moodiness about them. Something that can’t really be put into words but when you listen to one of his songs you can hear it straight away. They’re almost in this monotone manner but still the most catchiest songs.
There’s so many amazing collaborations on this album too which caught my eye straight away. It features Diplo, Lil Yachty, Omar Apollo & Yves Tumor (i’m a massive fan of these two), BENEE and lastly, Rei Brown.
My favourites are Ew, Tick Tock and Pretty Boy (feat Lil Yachty). But I could easily sit and listen to the entire album on repeat for days on days.
borderline - blood orange remix
Blood Orange is someone who peacefully lives in my mind rent free. Dev Hynes ,in my opinion, is a musical genius. Every song he makes and album he releases is masterpiece. So when I saw he released this Borderline remix, I knew straight away that this would be love at first sight.
It vastly contrasts the original which I adore. Tame Impala is classed by some as a modern type of psychedelic rock and this version by Blood Orange has this psychedelic feel but in a completely different way. It’s dreamier and so much softer.
run away with me - sufjan stevens
On the topic of dreaminess, Sufjan Stevens’ song Run Away With Me from his latest album is now my favourite song to sit and daydream to.
I haven’t listened to the entire of the Ascension but after hearing this one song from it, I think I should probably get around to it.
It’s incredibly synth-y which has recently become something I quite like in songs these days and has some powerful lyrics.
It will make you fall in love instantly. In fact, if Sufjan Stevens ever sang this to me or just anyone I would 1000% run away with them without thinking twice about it.
chip chrome & the mono-tones - the neighbourhood
I don’t think I’ve been this fond of a Neighbourhood album since they released I Love You in 2013. I love all the aesthetics they’ve done for this album too with Jesse Rutherford completely painted silver from head to toe. I’m here for it, it’s all very Ziggy Stardust.
Although this album is a little all over the place, I like that the songs all have different vibes. Whether they’re more electronic pop to hip hop, they’re all so great.
Some of my favourites have to be Cherry Flavoured, Lost in Translation and Devil’s Advocate.
whole new mess - angel olsen
Angel Olsen is someone who I’ve very recently become incredibly infatuated with. I think I’ve seen every single live session she’s done because there’s something just so mesmerising about her voice and presence.
Her voice is very old school and retro and so full. I haven’t heard the entire album yet because I’ve been so stuck on Whole New Mess for days now.
You can really hear the tenderness and vulnerability in her voice in this song. It’s amazing.
feel away - slowthai (featuring james blake & mount kimbie)
I love this song.
The way these three artists combine their skills so perfectly in this song is so beautiful.
I haven’t listened to a lot of Slowthai’s songs but I think I might have to after this. This was a pretty personal song dedicated to the memory of Slowthai’s younger brother which is so touching and sweet. You can hear the sadness in his lyrics and the addition of James Blake really adds to the melancholic tone of the song.
call me (freestyle) - blood orange & park hye jin
Whoops is this another Blood Orange song?
Dev Hynes vocals in this are truly the most stunning thing ever and with the piano in the background, it’s almost like he’s trying to serenade us.
I’m not too sure who Park Hye Jin is but I thoroughly enjoyed her addition to this.
It’s just so great.
HIT DIFFERENT - SZA, TY DOLLA
$
IGN, THE NEPTUNES & PHARREL WILLIAMS
The return of SZA is something not only I needed this year, but the rest of the world needed it too.
I’ve really missed her voice and hearing it on this slow ballad R&B type song has made my dreams come true.
Here are a few other songs I’m also loving at the minute:
As always, you can check out my entire September playlist here.
Thanks for reading!
Music of the Month: August | Zafira
Hello!
I’m not even going to address my absence from here because it’s becoming a little bit of pattern recently but all you need to know is that I’m back with some cool blog post ideas that I hope you’ll enjoy reading as much as I’ll enjoy creating them.
But first I thought we should start with what seems to be everybody’s favourite post to read, an August edition of the much beloved Music of the Month.
It’s been a beautiful month in the music world, for me anyway. I feel like everything I have been listening to these past few months was very ‘listen a few times and then never again’ kind of music but this month, I’ve found a few songs and artists that I know will forever be in my head and my life.
As always, you can check out my entire August playlist here.
euphoria original score - labrinth
I feel like everyone who watched Euphoria is completely infatuated and entangled with the show. Whether that’s the with the oh so very cool editorial-esque makeup or the funky too hot for their own good outfits or in my case, this album.
I only got around to listening to the entire score this August, I had no idea it was even out and available on Spotify. I remember when the show first aired and the one thing (alongside the dreamy cinematography) that really stood out to me was the music and way it seamlessly blended into every scene of the show.
I have a lot of favourites but one I try to very badly sing or I guess hum since it doesn’t really have any proper words is Forever. It’s crazy how good Labrinth is on this album because the only memories I have of his music are from his Earthquake days and that is an entirely different world from this album. I adore We All Knew and WTF Are We Talking For too but this is one score worth listening to the entire way through.
Perdus -
AngÈle
Angèle’s voice is the dreamiest thing I think I’ve heard in a while. It’s so soft and gentle and comforting.
I think French pop music is so underrated in the world of mainly western pop because it’s so unique and not cheesy and every artist always has some sort of unique factor about them rather than all sounding exactly the same.
I guess you could say Angèle’s unique factor is not only the soft tones of her voice but the grace in the way she sings. She sounds so eloquent but still carries a certain coolness.
I heard Perdus on one of her COLORS sessions and I’m in love with it. Alongside her hauntingly beautiful voice, Perdus is still a very modern song with a catchy beat that makes this song so irresistible.
falling for you - jaden smith & justin bieber
Growing up I was never a Justin Bieber fan, I was more of a JLS gal, but there was one song by Justin Bieber that I loved and that was Never Say Never with Jaden Smith.
So you can only imagine how happy the resurface of this very cute duo in Jaden’s new album made me.
This song is the epitome of love, it’s cheesy, upbeat and so very sweet. I think this is probably the best song on CTV 3.
Listen here.
1999 - rich brian
I don’t know why but Rich Brian’s songs always remind of summer.
I’ll have to admit, I don’t think 1999 has anything on Amen and The Sailor but this in my eyes, is a pretty different album to them both.
1999 is what I’d consider more of a pop style album which isn’t what I’d expect from Rich Brian but I think it was interesting to listen to him play with a different genre of music and listen to something so personal.
Obviously Love in My Pocket is my absolute favourite. This song plays in my head 24/7. I love DOA and Sins too. It’s weirdly cool hearing him actually singing too, I don’t think he has the greatest vocals but I quite like his voice anyway.
dreamland -glass animals
I’ve loved Glass Animals since my early teens and I think they’ll forever be one of my all time favourite bands. They have this certain quirkiness about them that I just cannot get enough of.
Dreamland might just top How to Be a Human Being in my list of favourite Glass Animals albums. They took everything they did well in HTBAHB like the beats and the occasional rap verses and really threw it all into Dreamland, thus birthing probably one of my favourite albums to be released this year.
Also I’m the biggest fan of the whole Windows 98/glitch-y vibes on this album.
You have to listen to the album from start to finish to really enjoy it but a few of my favourites are of course Dreamland, Hot Sugar and Tangerine.
Burden - aminé
Other than REEL IT IN, I had never really listened to anything else by Aminé but listening to Limbo has me questioning why I took this long divulging into his music.
This is yet another album I can happily listen to all the way through but I of course have a few favourites that I have on repeat all the time.
Pressure in My Palms (featuring slowthai and Vince Staples), Easy (featuring Summer Walker) and Becky are my faves at the minute but the more I listen the more my favourites change.
Here’s a few other songs I’m also loving and that you should definitely check out:
If you ever want to send me some stuff you’re listening to at the minute then please go ahead, I love listening to new things.
Thanks for reading!
Music of the Month: June | Zafira
Hey!
I always start off these posts with how fast the months have flown by but I don’t think I’ve even had a chance to process June yet. It’s July, it’s well and truly summer, lock down is easing up which is a little bit daunting but we’re slowly getting back to somewhat of a normality.
I think music wise, it’s been a pretty slow month. I haven’t heard an awful lot of new music but there are few gems I couldn’t help but share with you.
You can check out my entire June playlist here.
andy - raleigh ritchie
I don’t think I’ll get over how Grey Worm from Game of Thrones, who says 5 words all 8 seasons, is this amazing alternative R&B artist in the real world.
Andy is like a glass of lemonade on a summer’s day during this weird period of time we’re all in. It feels refreshing and is a mix of what everyone’s feeling right now.
I love Time in Tree. This was actually released two years ago as a single but I think it fits in perfectly with the rest of the songs on this album. I like the retro vibes it carries through the song and how the overall melancholic tone of the song is a familiar factor in most of the songs in the album.
Party Fear is another favourite of mine. I think it represents social anxiety perfectly. It is the party anthem for all introverts out there.
tkn - rosalia (feat travis scott)
If I could switch bodies with any woman in this entire world one of them would be Rosalia. Imagine being beautiful and singing like an angel? That’s talent I can’t even begin to comprehend.
Have you ever wondered what Travis Scott would sound like if he spoke Spanish? Well TKN is exactly what you’re looking for.
But in all seriousness, TKN is a little different to Rosalia’s usual flamenco style songs. This has a really strong and captivating beat and I have to listen to it at least 5 times in a row anytime it comes up on my playlist.
uk2uk - babyfather
I don’t think I really listen to one set genre of music, it’s usually quite varied and mixed but this Babyfather’s album is definitely a lot more different than anything I’m used to listening to.
It’s hard to describe something that doesn’t really fit into one category or ‘style’ of music.
Some of my favourites from the album are Pagans (featuring Arca), Bright and Cookies. Arca has this almost eerieness to her music whereas Babyfathers are more urban and hip-hop esque so I was a little surprised to hear that Pagans featured Arca because I would never think the two go together but surprisingly, they’re a perfect match.
I think I loved Bright so much because I liked listening to the dialogue in the song and Cookies just has one of those beats that will forever stay in your head.
Scoo Scoo - Abo el anwar
I finally got around to watching the second season of Ramy earlier this June and was a massive fan of so many of the songs featured in the show.
I have no idea what this song is about but it has such a catchy beat and I listen to it on a repeat nearly everyday.
kick i - arca
Arca is weird. There’s no other way to put it but she’s that good weird, the weird that makes you want to listen to this album on repeat 24 hours a day.
KiCk i is technically a pop album but to me it’s so much more than that. The whole thing feels like a glitch, like one of those out of nowhere migraines almost.
The only song I had really heard by Arca before this was Piel which was what I can only describe as the creepiest yet most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard so my expectations for this album were really open.
The album features my personal favourite Rosalia but also Björk and Sophie which is such a strange yet very much iconic mix of people to have on an album.
I love KLK. It puts me in the most amazing of moods, it’s upbeat, it has Rosalia being Rosalia and Arca providing all the glitchiness I could ever want.
Calor is the love song I didn’t know I needed. It’s soft and gentle with a hint of that glitchiness portrayed throughout and most importantly, the lyrics translate into some of the most beautiful things I think I’ll ever hear.
I’m sorry this was shorter than usual I’m sure July will have a lot more to offer. I’ve also had a few people share their monthly playlist with me over on Instagram which has been very cute so please keep sharing them with me!
Thanks for reading,
Music of the Month: May | Zafira
Hi!
So I admit, it’s been a while. I took some time off to just get my university life in order and my general life too but I was also feeling a little lost on what to do on here. I’ve become feeling a little refreshed and have a few ideas under my belt that I’m beyond excited to start writing about and sharing on here!
And just like that, it’s June. My favourite month of the year. It’s summer, my birthday is this month and hopefully, we’ll be taking some slow steps into transitioning into some sort of normality. May was honestly a massive blur.
Due to popular demand (like 3 requests), I’ve decided to bring back Music of the Month and because it’s been a while since I last shared one of these, I have so much new music I’m excited to share with you.
You can listen to my entire May playlist here.
Here are a few of my favourite songs, artists and albums:
machinegum - conduit
Love is not a strong enough adjective to describe my affection for this entire album. It’s rare for me to be able to sit through an entire album without honestly getting a little bored but each song on Conduit feels like a hug or a slow dance in the rain and I’m completely smitten with the entire thing.
machinegum is actually formed by Fabrizio Moretti, drummer for the Strokes which I find a little surprising because this entire album is nothing like anything I’ve heard from the Strokes. It’s so calm.
One of my absolute favourites from the album is definitely Walking Habits. It’s so vibraphone-y. The entire album is but this one especially. I feel like I could listen to this every day at sunset. I love O Please too because it feels so retro and groovy and puts me in such a good mood but the one song that really stood out for me on Conduit was Sugar and Vice. Again it’s retro and groovy but at the same time, husky and accompanied by vocals you can barely make out.
I found the cutest music video some guys had made for Sugar and Vice and it feels like the epitome of summer. You can check it out here.
Gus Dapperton - First Aid
I just want to preface this by saying, in my personal opinion Gus Dapperton’s work is more than that popular song on Tik Tok that I kind of hate. His other songs are pretty and deserve attention too.
First Aid is quite the emotional song. It’s still pretty upbeat and definitely one of those songs you could sing a little too loudly in the shower but the overall tone is very melancholic. You can hear that this has a sense of loneliness. I read that this song was about his sister, Amadelle, who is also featured in the song and how much they’ve helped him and you can really hear how thankful he is in the lyrics.
I cannot wait to hear the rest of the stuff he’s been working on later this year.
Air - The Virgin Suicides Soundtrack
Every time the sun comes out one of the first films that come into mind is the Virgin Suicides. I think it’s because, throughout the entire film, you can almost feel the heat. It’s hard to describe if you’ve not seen the film but everything from the tones to the outfits to the green green grass and sprinklers spraying on the fake gardens of homes that aren’t really homes just scream summer to me.
I’ve always had a bit of fascination with the film but when I listened to Fashion Grunge’s podcast a few weeks ago I felt this urge to listen to the soundtrack properly and since then I just love having it on in the background when I’m going about my day. I also love listening to it whilst I’m reading the book because I think it fits in with the book version just as much as the film.
One of my all-time favourite songs from films, in general, has to be Playground Love. It’s used repeatedly throughout the entire film and is so perfect for it. The film is very much about youth and ideas of love but has this dark undertone to it since the film revolves a lot around death and this is exactly what this song is all about.
I also love The Word Hurricane, well more specifically the beginning of it. It starts off by putting you in an almost trance-like state and then you have a little dialogue period followed by absolute chaos. It’s amazing.
Parcels - Parcels
Parcels have recently come into my life and have transported me into a very late 70’s disco funk era and I’m not mad about it. This band is so chill and is exactly the sort of stuff I’ve been into at the moment.
A few of my favourite hits from the album are Lightenup, Exotica and Withorwithout. Lightenup is the first ever song I heard by Parcels. It’s very Bee Gee’s esque and I love love that. A lot like something they’d play in some sort of retro disco whereas Exotica and Withorwithout feel like falling in love on summer’s day.
In my opinion, this album is something I can see myself listening to for the rest of my life. It’s weird how they can sound so out of place within our current generation but somehow fit in a way that’s different and still appeals to so so so many people.
The Black Keys - Weight of Love
I don’t know whether it’s because I’ve been listening to a lot of Air but the beginning of this song starts off with extreme Air/Vibraphone-y/Soft Psychedelic vibes which I can’t seem to get enough of at the minute.
I’m a big big fan of this. I play it so many times a day and you should too. I will definitely have to listen to the entire of the Turn Blue album after hearing this gem. I also get extreme Pink Floyd vibes from this song which is magical.
Yung Lean - Starz
Yung Lean released a new album this May and it’s been exactly what I’ve needed this quarantine period.
I think ever since Stranger, Yung Lean has been one of favourite sad boy musicians. His music is so mellow and melancholic but is yet so modern and cool.
Starz carries on that sadness yet coolness but in such an experimental way. One of my favourite songs on the album is Starz which features another one of my favourite artists, Ariel Pink. I would never in think that they fit together as well as they do on this song.
I also love Yayo which is about his rise in the industry, Violence and Boylife in EU which he released as a single a few months back. It’s the ultimate “I’m feeling lonely and sad" song.
Duffy - Warwick Avenue
I wasn't going to include this because it’s the most random song I could possibly put in here but I cannot get enough of it recently.
I was 12 when this came out which makes me feel a tiny bit nauseous because that was almost an entire decade ago. I have the most vivid memories of watching the music video of this where Duffy is sat crying in the back of taxi on the music channels. 12 year old me was so moved by this and honestly so is current me.
She kind of disappeared after this and came back a few months ago. It’s heartbreaking to hear what happened to her but I’m glad she’s okay now.
Hare Squead - Minor Gangsters (gully)
Like a lot of what I listen to these days, I found this through COLORS which is a YouTube channel where a bunch of different artists perform against various coloured backgrounds. It’s amazing and visually the most aesthetic thing ever.
I’ve heard a few songs by Hare Squead, my favourite being Herside Story with Goldlink but Minor Gangsters is very different to that. What drew me to it mostly was how animated they were performing for COLORS. I loved watching them perform and loved how much they enjoyed it. What’s so great about COLORS is that they post all their studio versions on Spotify which makes my life that little bit more enjoyable and easier.
I personally prefer the COLORS Studio version over the original because it sounds a lot more raw and gritty which are two aspects I quite like in a song.
I could sit and watch COLORS Shows all day.
Here’s a few more songs I’ve been loving:
The Quarantine Film List: Week 2 | Zafira
Hey, I hope you’re all well!
So as promised, I’m back this week with another round of some amazing films to watch whilst in quarantine. I’ve tried to mix it up a bit more and put a wide range of films in here and I’ve quite badly attempted to illustrate my own version of the film posters so I hope you enjoy those (pls enjoy them i spent too long doing them).
1. American Beauty
I feel like a few people won’t be happy that I’ve put this here considering Kevin Spacey is quite the disgusting person however, his character meets a bit of an unfortunate but well deserved ending in this so in my eyes, I feel like it’s justified a little.
A timeless classic, that’s what American Beauty is. I know that one day I’ll be old and grey and still feel like watching this. It’s about Lester, a middle aged man who has a bit of mid life crisis. He hates his wife, has a daughter he barely knows and hates his job. He ends up becoming infatuated with his teenage daughter’s best friend which causes Lester to completely change his life.
I think you have to at least watch this film once in your life. It’s definitely an experience and will make you think plastic carrier bags are pretty.
2. the killing of a sacred deer
Starring the lovely Nicole Kidman and Collin Farrell, The Killing of Sacred Deer fits into that whole weird psychological horror/thriller genre like Midsommar and Hereditary. It’s one of those films that makes you feel not scared but incredibly uncomfortable afterwards.
Steven, a successful surgeon with a perfect life and family, takes a 16 year old boy named Martin under his wing after his father dies on his operating table. They form a bond and Martin is treated almost like Steven’s adopted son. However, as their bond grows, Martin’s malicious intent becomes clear as he seeks a very messed up sense of justice by punishing Steven and his family. He believes a ‘pure soul’ must be sacrificed in order to set some sort of balance.
Visually, this is stunning. Each frame feels so clean and well structured. It’s easy on the eyes.
3. penelope
I remember the first time I had watched this was during wet play in primary school and even then at like 8 years old, I knew this would be a film I’d think about for the rest of my life.
Christina Ricci stars as a aristocratic heiress named Penelope who was born affected by the Wilhern spell which was put on her family many years ago and gives her the misfortune of being born with the nose of a pig. The only way to break the spell is quite unique and unbelievable. It’s … true love.
Her family bring countless suitors to the house since she’s hidden away at her family’s estate at their attempt to try and break the spell. A tabloid reporter however is eager to get a photograph of the mysterious Penelope and enlists the help of Max (played by the dreamy James McAvoy) who poses as a prospective suitor and ends up slowly falling in love with her.
It’s a great early 00’s rom com. One of the best in my opinion.
4. Queen
After going to Asian wedding event to Asian wedding event, there’s one song that’s always playing at a Mehndi and that is London Thumakda. A few months ago, I saw that this was on Netflix so I ended up watching it and was quite thoroughly surprised at how much I liked it.
Rani, a girl from Dehli is about to marry who she thinks is the perfect man, Vijay. It’s beautiful watching the scenes leading up to her wedding day, seeing her family so happy, seeing all the traditional wedding stuff play out and it’s so colourful and pretty. This all changes when Vijay calls the wedding off the day before leaving her heart broken.
Rani decides to venture out and go on their honeymoon alone to Paris where she makes new friends, meets new people, tries out new experiences and most importantly, discovers herself.
This is so different than most Bollywood movies that I’ve seen, it’s really refreshing actually and I loved every moment of this film.
5. Perfect Blue
Now we’re all suffering from a bit of headache from being inside too long and Perfect Blue will extenuate that headache and leave you feeling quite confused. But in a good way of course. I don’t think even after watching this a handful of times, I’m still exactly sure what happened in this.
I haven’t ventured into the world of anime at all but from what I’ve heard, Satoshi Kon (director of Perfect Blue) is wonderful. So wonderful in fact that his films have inspired films such as Requiem for a Dream and Black Swan. These are both films that are so so so amazing.
Perfect Blue is about a retired pop singer who decides to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. Her sense of reality however becomes a little disturbing when a fan from her past begins stalking her and Mima finds it difficult to separate what is real and what isn’t.
This is animated beautifully, every little detail is done perfectly whether that’s little objects in Mima’s room or what she’s wearing.
6. Frank
I actually watched this a few days ago and shared this on my Instagram stories because I absolutely loved this.
Jon, a young man who is an aspiring musician with a bit of boring life, decides to take the plunge and join an eccentric pop band led by Frank. Frank is a very mysterious and strange man who always wears this freakish fake head that he never takes off (as illustrated above).
I think this film is a bit of everything. It explores mental illness but at the same time, it’s also a very bittersweet comedy about friendship and identity. It’s one of the most unpredictable films you could ever watch. Everything I anticipated didn’t happen, the film had a life of its own.
I also love all the songs they sing in this, as strange as they are, they’re pretty good.
7. the darjeeling limited
I had to try and restrain myself from filling these lists with Wes Anderson films because I adore them so much but the Darjeeling Limited is something I think everyone will truly like.
Three brothers come together after a year of not seeing or speaking to each other since their father’s funeral decide to set off on a train voyage across Indian to try and reconnect with each other.
All three of them of so different, one of them is obnoxiously wealthy, the other is heartbroken over a break up (watch Hotel Chevalier please this is who it’s about and most importantly Natalie Portman is in it!) and the last, who enjoys taking things from his family without asking and is about to become a father.
It’s a story about family and grief, it’s hilarious and obviously, aesthetically the most beautiful thing I’ll see. Even the train itself is set up in the most visually stunning way and hello? They’re in India. The most colourful and wonderful place you could possibly be.
8. i lost my body
This felt like what I can only describe as a fever dream. It was so weird and dark and just so incredibly sad but with hints of upliftingness?
The story focuses on the character Naoufel, or rather Naoufel’s hand who is roaming the streets of Paris trying to find the rest of it’s body and we through Naoufel’s memories slowly unravel how his hand became severed from it’s body. It’s about self exploration but it’s also about love and life and death. It’s a strange watch but a good watch.
I hope you enjoyed this second round of films! I’ll post my third series sometime next week so make sure you follow me on my socials to know when that’s up.
Thanks for reading,
The Quarantine Film List: Week 1 | Zafira
Hi,
So, a lot of things have changed since I last posted. It feels like the world has completely flipped and it’s been a roller coaster of a month trying to adjust to all these changes. I hope we’re all staying inside, keeping not only ourselves safe and healthy but others too.
On the brighter side, a lot of us have plenty of spare time on our hands now and I’ve spending mine finally getting through my big fat hefty film list. I thought what better way to stay occupied than with some great cinematic masterpieces so every week for the next month or so, I’ll be sharing a few of my personal fave films with you!
Her
I feel like I’ve already talked about this so much on here and you’re all probably bored of me talking about this but I literally could not care because this film is so embedded into my life, my DNA and a good 30% of my entire personality at this point.
This is the perfect film for this current state of everyone’s life because it screams loneliness. Like the entire 126 minutes will make you feel so alone but in the most aesthetically pleasing and well -written way.
Her focuses on the character of Theodore who’s in a not so distant weird future and as you can guess, is very lonely. He gets his hands on a new operating system that’s pretty similar to Siri but so much more lifelike and human and they fall in love. It’s very bittersweet and every frame in the film is done so beautifully.
Also Joaquin Phoenix is this is actually the prettiest human of all time.
2. A Death in the Gunj
I haven’t really ventured out in the South Asian world of films yet but I found this gem on Prime a few months back because my dad was actually watching it. He’ll watch anything on Prime but this is the first Indian movie I’ve watched that falls into the whole weird eerie indie thriller genre. It feels incredibly Western compared to a lot of Indian films that I’m used to.
A Death in the Gunj is about a young man called Shutu, a failing student who is on a family trip away. The entire film focuses mainly on him. He’s a really lonely and grief stricken character (i promise all the films in this list won’t make you feel like you’re going to die alone) and as the film progresses, Shutu learns what’s accepted in society, his family and questions his place in the world. I think it’s such a realistic and blunt take on the whole ‘coming of age’ genre of films.
I read in a review somewhere that this film echos “emotional violence” and the way “society inflicts it upon others and causes destruction” and the film illustrates this so well.
It’s set in 70s in a place called McCluskieganj, Bihar which is a small hilly town in India that was once known for it’s vast Anglo-Indian population. The scenery really brings out the overall theme of loneliness but it’s also just so incredibly stunning.
I also read this amazing review on IMDB that sounds like it’s excerpt of the greatest novel of all time that summarises this film the best way possible.
3. The Emperors New Groove
Amazing. Stunning. A classic piece of cinematic gloriousness honestly.
This is top tier Disney stuff. Like forget Frozen or Moana (ok this was actually pretty good), this is what we 90/00s kids thrived off back in the day and what essentially shaped us into the people that we are today.
If you haven’t already seen this then please get a move on and do so. The Emperors New Groove is about Kuzco, a self centred, bratty Emperor who is mean and cruel to everyone. His adviser Yzma, our long eye lashed evil wannabe queen, attempts to try and kill him off but in the process, her and her dummy but oh so hilarious side kick, Kronk, end up turning the Emperor into a llama.
I’m sorry but if that doesn’t immediately take you off my website and onto watching this then there’s something totally wrong with you.
This was easily one of the best things Disney has ever done.
4. Before Sunrise
When I think about love and what it is, I always think of this film.
Staring everyone’s heartthrob Ethan Hawke and Julie Deply, our 90s French crush, Before Sunrise is possibly the purest form of young love I think you’ll ever see. The shocking thing is that this is all set in the space of the day and accumulates more love than most of us will get in a lifetime.
Jesse, an American on his way to Vienna meets Celine who is a student returning to Paris. They end up talking and Jesse convinces Celine to get off the train in Vienna with him where they spend the rest of their day wandering the heavenly city of Vienna before Jesse has to fly back home to the US.
It’s probably one of the most romantic films you’ll ever watch. Everything from their subtle glances at each other to the way their conversations feel so effortless and authentic will make your heart skip a beat.
You’ll be very glad to know there’s trilogy of the whole ‘Before’ films. So when you’re done with this one you can watch Before Sunset and Before Midnight which should keep you occupied and all loved up for half a day.
5. The Silences of the Palace
I can’t exactly remember how I found this film but I do remember vividly seeing screen grabs somewhere of some scenes and was immediately sold.
Alia, a 25 year old singer, returns to her childhood home which is a palace where her mother Khedjia worked as not only a house servant but a mistress of Prince Sid’ Ali. Sid’ Ali’s death brings her back and as she goes to pay her respects, she roams through the palace remembering her childhood. Her childhood was riddled with sexism, exploitation and spent questioning her father’s identity as well as the French conquest of Tunisia going on in the background.
It’s definitely not an easy watch but it covers a lot of issues still relevant to this day.
6. The Lobster
This entire film was completely ???
This was so weird. Good weird. It’s set in the strangest dystopian future where by law, it’s compulsory to have a romantic partner. Singles are taken to this place literally called The Hotel where they have 45 days to either find themselves a partner or be turned into an animal and set off into the woods.
Despite making me feel a little uncomfortable, I loved every minute of this. It has Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz who surprisingly work together better than butter on toast.
It’s got a lot of dark humour which personally I love accompanied by so much awkward silence and just general awkwardness. It’s great.
7. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
I had no choice but to throw a cringey Bollywood hit in here. The best thing about this is not only was it made in the 90s but it features everyone’s favourite duo, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol.
Simran who by the way has a * chef’s kiss * sense of style all throughout this, persuades her father to let her go on a one month inter-rail holiday all over Europe where she ends up meeting the one and only Raj. Now Raj is a complete douche but as the days pass, their love blossoms and when Simran goes back to India for her arranged marriage, Raj decides to go after her and win her back.
It’s like your typical Bollywood film story line but it’s so good and is one of my all time favourites.
8. The Florida Project
I don’t think I’ll ever watch anything that will capture the true essence of being a carefree kid more than this film.
Set in a rundown garish pink motel filled with people who can’t afford proper homes, the Florida Project focuses on the life of a 6 year old called Moonee who is the most mischievous and wild kid you’ll ever see. The whole film is pretty much about her and her life with her mum Halley and her little group of friends who get up to no good in and around the motel.
It’s aesthetically one of the prettiest films I’ve watched. The entire thing was shot on 35mm film which as a fellow film lover, I obviously couldn’t help but adore.
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this first list! I’ll post another one around the same time next week so follow me on my socials to know when that’s up.
Music of the Month: February | Zafira
Hey!
I can’t believe it’s March already. I feel like I start all my MOTMs like this but it’s crazy how fast time passes as you get older.
Ah finally, it’s spring which means here in the UK we will get some slight sunshine, a few crazy storms, some snow and maybe if we’re lucky, it’ll be over 20°C one day and it will truly feel like we’re on the road to a beautiful summer.
Music wise, this entire February has been one of my favourite months in a while since I’ve discovered some gems and fallen in love with some new releases.
You can check out my entire playlist for the month here but here are a few songs and albums that have impacted my past month in the best way possible.
CHRISTINE & THE QUEENS -LA VITA NUOVA
Like most people, the only song I had heard by Christine and the Queens was Tilted so I decided to explore her music a bit more which ended up being a massive coincidence because it was around the same time she was about to release her new album.
The first song I’d heard from La Vita Nuova was People I’ve Been Sad and I don’t think I can go a day without listening to it anymore. I think it might be my favourite song of all time. I can’t ever imagine getting bored of this. There’s also a stunning version of this that Chris performed for Colors and I listen to it so much that whenever I type YouTube into my search bar, the first link is always to this.
La Vita Nuova has some other amazing songs too. A few of my faves at the minute are Mountains (we met) and Nada. I love how slow and calming this entire album is. The entire album is about vulnerability and I think those two factors really help bring that out.
2. TAME IMPALA - THE SLOW RUSH
Like every other indie kid, I’ve been in love with Tame Impala ever since my late high school/early college days and I love how unlike many other indie bands they’ve been consistently hmm, what’s the word? Not shit?
Indie bands that fit into the Tame Impala sort of genre have the tendency to make music that somehow ends up sounding exactly the same but Tame Impala has this really unique late 70’s/slow disco-y vibes (ugh I hate that word but it fits) that I really really adore.
The Slow Rush has many great songs but some of favourites that I’v enjoyed starting and ending my day with are obviously Breathe Deeper, Posthumous Forgiveness and Borderline which may or may not have become my ideal song to sing a little too loudly in the shower. I think this album feels a little like a non-contact hug which pretty perfect for this current corona virus state.
3. GRIMES - MISS ANTHROPOCENE
I loved how February had this large release of so many new albums and one of had to be Grimes’ new album Miss Anthropocene.
Before she had released the entire album and was releasing a few singles, one of the songs that I was so obsessed with was 4ÆM which I had just recently read that this song was actually based on Bajirao Mastani. If you haven’t seen Bajirao Mastani then you most definitely should. It’s a periodic Bollywood movie which has some of the most breathtaking settings and scenery and obviously, outfits. I’m not too into Bollywood movies but I’m big fan of the periodic/pre-historic ones because the outfits in them are so over the top.
One song that felt a little un-Grimes-y was Delete Forever. A lot of Grimes’ music always has some sort of upbeat techno beat in the background whereas Delete Forever is a lot more slower and quite emotional.
Some other songs I really liked are You’ll miss me when I’m not around and Violence but everything on Miss Anthropocene is just so so good.
4. TO BELIEVE - THE CINEMATIC ORCHESTRA & MOSES SUMNEY
If you read last months MOTM then you’d know I’ve been really into Moses Sumney this year so when I found out he had a song with the one and only Cinematic Orchestra I was over the moon.
It’s beautiful. It’s so sad but so relaxing at the same time. It’s difficult to really put into words but Moses Sumney and the Cinematic Orchestra are the most perfect and unexpected duo.
5. Gabriel Garzón- Montano - Someone/Agüita/Bloom (Medley)
I’m a huge COLORS Studio fan and they released this medley by Gabriel a few weeks ago and I’m a huuuuge fan.
So in this COLORS show, Gabriel is accompanied by not only 3 other musicians but the prettiest pink/mauve backdrop as well as the funkiest oversized white trench coat. Aesthetically, it’s so pleasing to look at.
The medley is made up of mixture of 3 very different songs and somehow they all flow so well after the other. If anything, this shows the range of talent Gabriel has and I’m excited to see what he releases next!
Also, the best thing about COLORS is that they put most of the studio sessions on Spotify. There’s nothing more annoying than finding a song you like and it not be on Spotify.
6. KING KRULE - OMEN 3
I haven’t listened to King Krule in such a long time but when he appeared on my release radar earlier this February I was more than excited to see what he had been up to.
He has since released his latest album Man Alive! which I am yet to fully listen to but one song I just can’t get enough of on there is Omen 3.
I’ve always loved how calm and almost monotone King Krule’s voice is, I find it quite soothing. In this song however, the entire track feels this way which if you can’t tell by most of what I listen to recently, is something I quite like. It kind of puts you in a trance in someways.
HERE’S A FEW MORE SONGS I’M LOVING
???? - EDEN
Thanks for reading!
Music of the Month: January | Zafira
Hi!
Oh January, you’ve lasted an entire decade and I am very much over you.
As we venture in February, the month of lurve (and hopefully more new music), I’d like to look back on this month and share some of my favourites in the dreary month of January.
As always, you can check out my entire playlist here.
EVERYTHING ELSE HAS GONE WRONG - BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB
I think it’s only right to begin with BBC because of their comeback after over 5 years off has been absolutely refreshing. I knew at age 14 that ”So Long, See You Tomorrow” would be one of those albums you’d listen to for a lifetime and 5 years on, I can definitely say that’s true.
It’s hard to describe what Bombay Bicycle Club’s music style is actually like because every album they have released has had a completely different vibe and sound. Everything Else Has Gone Wrong is somewhat similar to SLSYT and you hear that a lot in ‘Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You)’. When they released this as a single a few months ago it got me so excited about this album because it epitomises everything that BBC are about.
Some other of my favourites on the album are ‘Racing Stripes’ and ‘People People’. Although this album is most definitely not on the same level of SLSYT, I’ve been enjoying replaying this album throughout the month of January.
Black pumas
Like many of the other amazing artists I listen to, I found Black Pumas after seeing one of their Take Away Shows on La Blogotheque’s YouTube channel.
The amount of natural talent they have is jaw droppingly good. I’ve been madly in love with their Color’s show too where they perform of one of my favourite songs by them, ‘Oct 33’. I think they sound captivating in all their live performances. ‘Fire’, ‘Black Moon Rising’ and ‘Colors’ are a few of the lovely songs I’ve been obsessed with this month.
LOVE MY WAY - PSYCHEDELIC FURS
This song will not leave my head and I’m kinda okay with it staying there forever.
A lot of you will recognise this song from the iconic dance scene in Call Me By Your Name but it is also featured in the Souvenir (pls watch). It’s so incredibly 80’s. The beat, the rhythm just everything I love it.
LOVE MY WAY - PSYCHEDELIC FURS
ME IN 20 YEARS - MOSES SUMNEY
I think Moses Sumney is one of the most soothing singers I’ve ever heard. His voice is so soft and gentle and honestly feels like a hug.
‘Me in 20 Years’ is about the end of the relationship. It’s a pretty mellow song and very very nostalgic. ‘Polly’ has similar vibes, very reminiscent of someone and then you have the last song on the single, ‘Virile’ which is vastly different than them. A very strange mix of songs but so so so good.
BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY - FERGIE
I don’t think anyone talks about how life changing the Dutchess by Fergie was.
Fergie has and always be one of my favourite people of all time. She just has this certain je ne sais quoi about her you know? She was one of the people that made the early 2000s an iconic decade to grow up in.
I’d be lying if I said January wasn’t incredibly miserable but all it took was Big Girls Don’t Cry by Fergie to switch that Debby downer mood into something more hopeful and happy.
I actually have a massive Throwback playlist on Spotify that you can check out here.
C
IRCLES - MAC MILLER
I never really listened to Mac Miller when he was alive but one of his songs came up on my recommended song bit on Spotify and ever since then, I’ve been listening to Circles on repeat daily.
Circles is such a peaceful and calming album which is why I think I’ve been listening to it daily. I love starting my day with it when I’m getting ready and then ending my day when I’m getting ready to go to bed. I couldn’t imagine a better way to send Mac Miller off than a pretty album like this one.
Some of my absolute favourites are obviously ‘Circles’ itself, ‘Once a Day’ and ‘Complicated’.
Here’s a few more songs I’m loving…
Thanks for reading!
Music of the Month: November | Zafira
Hey!
How is there only a month left of this year? I can’t even remember feeling like it ever began.
So, it’s December. It’s freezing, it’s pitch black when I wake up at awful times to go to uni and it’s also…deadline season. I’ve been a little preoccupied with my assignments for the past month or so which explains the lack of content over on here which is incredibly unfortunate because I was feeling like I was on a roll with these posts a few months ago. Anyway, I have to prioritise what’s important to me right now and that is uni sadly. But I have a few weeks off for Christmas to rejuvenate and get my life into order so expect some very cute things next year.
For now, let’s roll on with my favourite songs this November!
In the midst of political nightmare, numerous breakdowns, a bad haircut (might as well call me Noel Fielding at this point) and nothing but stress pilling on top of me as the days pass, this month has definitely been a highlight in terms of music.
You can check out my entire playlist for November here.
FKA TWIGS
FKA Twigs’ new album was the most beautiful thing to have ever happen to me this entire year. I remember hearing Cellophane for the first time a few months ago and knowing that whatever she had prepared after that would be insane. And it was. Magdalene has been angelic. Like you know when you see those ads of like honey or golden syrup being drizzled in slow motion? That’s Magdalene felt like.
In NME I read that Mirrored Heart ”vibrates with Twin Peaks-style synths” and as a Twin Peaks fan from the age of 12, it resonated with me so much. I love Twin Peaks and FKA Twigs so this was the best of both worlds. Mirrored Heart sounds like a deeper version of Angelo Badalamenti’s Twin Peaks theme song it’s so weird. I love the lyrics in this too.
I love all the songs on this album equally but Thousand Eyes definitely stood out the most and has probably been my most listened to song in November. It’s so sad. I think it’s about Robert Pattinson which is strange considering nearly a decade ago this boy, sorry this man, was a nation’s heart throb for sparkling in the sunlight. It’s so haunting but I could totally sit staring into space and listen to this song for hours upon hours on repeat.
2. HELENA DELAND
If you’ve read some of my other Music of the Months, you’ll know I’m a huge fan of this music based YouTube channel called La Blogotheque. I watched the most stunning performance by Helena Deland and have now officially become her no.1 fan. You can watch her La Blogotheque performance here.
My favourite two songs by her are Two Queries and There Are a Thousand. They are the dreamiest songs ever. Even in her live perfomance, I had never felt so zen. I love listening to these at night or even if I’ve had a little bit of stressful day (everyday).
3. SLO BIRD WHISTLE - APHEX TWIN (PEEL SESSION)
This song emanates chaotic energy and I love it. I have nothing else to say about this other than it’s so so so great.
4. JOY CROOKES
I’m ashamed and embarrassed to even admit that it took me this long to find Joy Crookes.
I’ve struggled finding artists that I like that having a similar background or ethnicity to me so for me to find Joy (like literal joy), who’s Bengali (and half irish) and who sings like a literal angel was truly like hitting the jackpot. Her voice reminds me a lot of Amy Winehouse which I honestly never expected.
Since I Left You has been on my mind ever since I listened to it a few weeks ago. It feels so raw and melancholic and she sings it so effortlessly. The music video is filmed beautifully too. Early, which is another fave of mine, has a totally different vibe. It’s so upbeat and catchy and I love Jafaris in this. I’ve recently started following her on Instagram too and her outfits and makeup looks are so cool.
5. SO HEAVY I FELL THROUGH THE EARTH - GRIMES
As weird as Grimes is, I completely adore her music.
So Heavy I Fell Through the Earth feels and sounds very futuristic. There two different versions of this, so there’s the algorithm mix which is the version I personally have been listening to and there’s also the art mix. They’re both pretty similar and both amazing and I can’t wait for her to release her new album next year.
6. JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ
I’ve been listening to José González for years now but there’s just something about this time of year that makes me go back to listening to him on repeat for weeks on end.
Heartbeats is in my opinion, is the perfect song for a winter’s morning. I don’t know whether it’s because the guitar strums in the beginning sound like the soundtrack to a snowy day or because I found this song during the winter a few years ago. I also really love Crosses. I think these are both very love-y songs and I love love love them.
HERE’S A FEW MORE SONGS I’M LOVING…
Thanks for reading! I can’t believe this will be my last Music of the Month this year, it’s flown by so fast.
Lots of love,
Music of the Month: October
Hi!
I can’t believe how cold it is and I’m so confused to how it’s November already! I don’t really remember what I’ve done this month other than be as miserable as the weather and spend waaay too much time of buses (many thanks to my local roadworks). I’ve had a lot more time to listen to new things and I’m excited to share them with you.
As always, here’s a link to the full playlist for this month: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/55WAJhoACEPXLOEMFpcD6g?si=ZHzcO6GaQlOwkehm4yyA7g
HUBERT LENOIR
I’ve been madly in love with La Blogotheque recently. I’ve followed them for quite some time now but this past month, I’ve been watching their videos on repeat because they are easily the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. If you don’t know who they are, La Blogotheque are a music channel on YouTube who film and produce incredibly unique covers by a vast range of artists.
This is how I found Hubert Lenoir. I honestly can’t tell if it was him speaking French, him singing or the way the video was filmed that made me fall in love but he’s easily my favourite person this month. Watch him perform Sucre et Sel for La Blogotheque here.
My favourite songs by him are Momo, Wild and Free and Fille de personne II. These are 3 songs are so different from each other. Momo is super chill, something you’d listen to whilst reading or when it’s raining outside. It’s like a soft jazz pop instrumental. That was a lot of words wow. Wild and Free is similar in the sense that it’s another chill, soft jazz kinda song but this has a slight melancholic tone. Fille de personne II however, is the perfect happy song that makes me want to dance around my room anytime I listen to it.
2. RAMI KHALIFé
I also found Rami Khalifé on La Blogotheque and was left speechless by his performance. He just goes completely wild on the piano on a beach and I love it. You can see how passionate he is and it’s beautiful. The way the video is shot too is breathtaking. You can watch it here.
Along with Resist, some of my other favourite songs by him are The Dangling Rope and Spotlight which are similar to Resist in the sense that they start off a little sad but get even more wild as they go on. It’s great.
3. LIGHTS UP - HARRY STYLES
I’m waiting to face some sort of abuse from my family and friends for putting this in here but I really do love Harry’s solo work.
I’m not ashamed to say I know the lyrics to this song off by heart. It’s just so good I have nothing else to say.
4. EDEN
Words can’t express how happy 16 year old me is because Eden is back with new music!
My favourite from his latest singles is definitely untitled. It’s so melancholic and reminds me a lot of his songs from i think you think too much of me. It’s the perfect song for the end of summer . I also really love 909 and his latest single, projector. These are a little more upbeat. Eden is my favourite person to listen to at this time of year because his music reflects this season and how I feel during it so well.
5. KEATON HENSON
When Keaton Henson announced he was releasing a new album this month I think I cried a tiny bit. Keaton has a really soft place in my heart because his music either makes me feel like I’m madly in love or about to cry my eyes out.
This album is a little different since it is a classical album. I don’t really listen to a lot of classical stuff except from Classic FM at insane times during the night but this is so good. The album explores various themes such as trauma, mental illness, stress and anxiety and you can hear it in the music. My favourites are currently Breathing Out, The Falling and Initium but I could listen to the entire album for days on end.
6. DHL - FRANK OCEAN
Words cannot even express my excitement for the return of Frank Ocean. It’s exactly what I needed this month to lift my spirits. I have phases throughout the year where I’ll listen to Blond on repeat for weeks and I was in a Blond phase when DHL was released. It was so so so heartwarming. I don’t have a lot to say about this but I’m over the moon that Frank is back.
7. JELANI ARYEH
I mentioned Jelani Aryeh in last month’s MOTM but he released a new album this month and I’m incredibly smitten with it.
The album is a beauty, his voice, the lyrics, the themes he explores are all just *chef’s kiss*. I’ve been listening to the entire album literally everyday and everyday I fall in love with a new song on the album. Today I’m obsessed with Earl Grey and Gloss. I personally relate to Earl Grey quite a bit because it sounds like he’s going through a little bit of a personal crisis which I mean, same. Gloss however is about fame and worth and even though the lyrics are a little mellow, it’s a very pretty song.
8. GENGAHR
I don’t think I’ve listened to Gengahr since my college days and I was going through a little bit of an indie phase. I remember listening to She’s a Witch and Bathed in Light on repeat and I still love listening to them now here and there because they are great songs.
Over the past month or so, they’ve released some new singles called Everything & More and Atlas Please and they’re amazing. They’re still the indie band I used to listen to but they’ve become so much better. I’m so excited to hear their new album. Also they’re on tour with Bombay Bicycle Club at the minute and I could not think of a better duo.
HERE’S A FEW MORE SONGS I’M LOVING…
If you’ve enjoyed this, go check out my full playlist for this October here.
Thanks for reading!
Lots of love,
Music of the Month: September | Zafira
Here we are, 2 months away from the end of the year! I said I’d start doing these more frequently so here I am with another edition of Music of the Month.
September has been a little bit of a wild month, uni started and that completely flipped my usual timetable and of course, I’ve been insanely busy. But one thing I have made time for this month is music. I’ll usually sit and do nothing for an hour or two and listen to something, it’s really helped to handle my stress and wind down.
Here are a few of my favourite songs this month! You can listen to my full playlist this month here.
DOMINIC FIKE
I think the first thing I even heard by Dominic Fike was ‘King of Everything’ and that was enough to make me fall so so so in love with him. The instrumental bit right at the beginning of the song might just be the prettiest thing I’ve heard all year. He’s a great mix of either very chill and mellow stuff or upbeat stuff that makes you want to dance around your room.
Some other faves of mine are ‘3 Nights’ which immediately put a smile on my face. It’s one of those songs that make you so happy and put you in the greatest of moods. I’m also loving ‘Phone Numbers’ which features Kenny Beats and the two of them together are a match made in heaven. This is another upbeat song and I love nothing more than listening to this in morning to wake me up and get ready for the day.
2. The XX - Seasons Run
Other than being impeccably named for this transitional time of year, this song has been a favourite of mine ever since it came out. The XX have played such an integral part of my teenage years so starting off my second year of uni without them would feel very wrong.
p.s this entire album is amazing.
3. JELANI ARYEH
These past few months, there has been one man and one man only I’ve had a vast amount of love for and that’s Jelani Aryeh.
‘The Garden’ popped up onto one of playlists around August time and I had it on repeat for weeks. It’s such a pretty song. It’s very calm and chill which is Jelani’s whole thing. It makes me feel like I’m in love and makes my heart a little bit warm.
I’ve also been loving ‘Patagonia’ which I can imagine listening to when I’m driving off into the sunset. Like ‘The Garden’, it’s calm and chill but also has a hint of mellowness.
I can’t believe Jelani Aryeh is the same age as me and is creating prettier things than I ever will.
4. CELESTE - STRANGE
Since we’re on the topic of mellow songs, this is probably the saddest song on my playlist this month.
Celeste has the voice of what I imagine an angel to sound like. I think she sounds a little like Amy Winehouse in the sense that she has such a strong voice and I love that.
This song is all about disconnecting with people and how you can go from knowing someone really well to not knowing them all. It’s about people changing and how the entire process of that is strange. It fits in perfectly with this time of year because when I think of September, I think of change. Everything is always changing in September whether that’s education wise or even the seasons.
There’s also a version she did for COLORS and it’s beautiful. You can watch it here.
5. FRANK OCEAN - BLONDE
I can’t even begin to explain how Blonde has impacted my life and how many times a week I go back to it. This month however, I spent a few days listening to the entire album on repeat and it feels like 2016 all over again.
This month I’ve been really into ‘Nights’ which I like listening to at night lol and ‘Godspeed’ because I heard it in the Waves trailer which is one of those A24 movies which always the best. I’m so excited to see it when it comes out. I have a feeling it’s going to be a good movie.
I’ve also been really loving listening to ‘Facebook Story’. I like the instrumental music in the background and obviously, the really obnoxious French accent but there’s something about it that makes me want to listen to it over and over again.
6. matthew dear - modafinil blues
I listened to a podcast this month called The Clearing which was amazing. It’s about a woman named April who suspects her father is a serial killer, the podcast focuses on what happens after she makes a call to a detective that leads to her father’s arrest and unwinds the truth behind several murders and explores whether her father was guilty or not. It’s wild. It might actually be the craziest story I’ve ever heard. You can listen to it here.
At the end of the podcast, they play Modafinil Blues by Matthew Dear and the song fits the story perfectly. It’s also a pretty good song. Very catchy.
7. bombay bicycle club
When I first heard of Bombay Bicycle Club I was like “wow finally I’ve found a great brand for a brown girl who’s white on the inside like me”. But in all seriousness, they're one of my all time favourite bands.
At the end of August they released a new song after 5 very long years called ‘Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You)’ and it’s just as good as their old stuff. They’re still as wonderful as they were in 2014.
I’ve also been re-listening to the ‘So Long, See You Tomorrow’ album on repeat for weeks now because it’s one of my favourite albums ever. The first three songs on the album which are ‘Overdone’, ‘It’s Alright Now’ and ‘Carry Me’ are my most listened to songs this month. I think they’re quite happy toned songs and make me smile whenever I listen to them.
8. BROCKHAMPTON - ginger
Now, is it really a music of the month without mentioning Brockhampton? They recently released Ginger and it’s changed my life a little bit.
My favourite songs on the album are definitely ‘SUGAR’ and ‘NO HALO’. SUGAR is very lovey dovey which I quite like whereas NO HALO is more about the band’s struggles with a lot of different things. I love the chorus of NO HALO so much. It was so hard to pick only a few songs off this album because the entire thing is so so so great.
HERE’S A FEW MORE SONGS I’M LOVING…
If you’ve enjoyed this, go check out my full playlist for this September here.
Thanks for reading!
Lots of love,
Music of the Month : Summer Edition! | Zafira
Hi!
It’s been so so so so so so long since I’ve done a music of the month I miss doing them! But I’m back and they’ll definitely be a monthly thing from September onwards so keep an eye out for them. I’ve decided to change this one up a little bit where I talk about everything that’s getting me in the summer mood. Prepare yourself, this about to be a bit of a hefty post.
OMAR APOLLO - friends
Ever since I heard Amor Malo a few months ago I don’t think I’ve gone a single day without listening to Omar Apollo. His voice is exactly what you need after a long day. It feels like a nice, long , warm hug and I’m not even a hug type of person but I love him.
He recently released a new album earlier this summer called ‘Friends’ and it’s amazing. It’s a perfect balance between uplifting and sad love songs. My current faves on the album are ‘Hearing Your Voice’, ‘Friends’ and ‘Kickback’ but honestly, I love them all. I like that each song has a different vibe, this isn’t one of those albums where everything sounds the same. Each song has a different mood to it, they all make you feel a different way.
2. Mac demarco -here comes the cowboy
Along with 99% of the human population, I’ve started this weird fascination for all things cowboy. I don’t know whether it’s because of Old Town Road or what but cowboys are totally in for this summer.
If I’m completely honest with you, I can’t say this is my favourite Mac album, it’s nothing like 2 or Salad Days but there’s a few gems that I’ve had on repeat ever since it came out. ‘All of Yesterdays’ is probs one of all time faves. It’s very mellow and nostalgic. I think we all feel a little extra nostalgic during the summer so this is nice for when you’re having one of those days.
I’m also a big fan of ‘K’, ‘Nobody’ and obviously ‘Hey Cowgirl’ which is currently my favourite thing to sing very loudly in the shower.
3. STICKY FINGERS
I’ve been listening to Sticky Fingers for forever. I feel like they’re a band I’ll listen to when I’m 40 and married and have about 15 kids. They’re super chill and their music instantly puts a smile of my face. They’re just really warm and so good and I’d be more than happy to listen to them for many lifetimes.
There’s one song that screams summer to me which is ‘Liquorlip Loaded Gun’. I think it might be because the first time I listened to it a few years ago, I distinctly remember it being the middle of summer. It’s also because of the lyrics and pretty much everything about it. I remember listening to this on repeat for an entire month last year. I’m probably going to do the same this summer. It puts me in the greatest of moods.
ALSO, I adore the album cover it’s the best thing ever.
4. JADEN SMITH -ERYS
I haven’t really listened to Jaden ever since SYRE because a lot of his music sounds very very similar which gets a little boring and repetitive after a while. But, I gave ERYS a chance and I'm a big fan.
I like what he did with ‘P I N K’ where each letter of the word is a different song, it’s the same as what he did in SYRE with ‘B L U E’ and I loved it. Some other favourites of mine are ‘Fire Dept’, ‘Summertime in Paris’ with Willow which is the cutest and ‘Blackout’ which is the calmest song ever. Super super chill.
5. APHEX TWIN
Someone I’ve recently been listening to a lot is Aphex Twin. I remember when I first watched Marie Antoinette and they played what sounded like Runaway by Kanye West. Turns out Runaway used a sample of Avril 14th which I will love forever.
The two songs I’ve been loving for this summer by Aphex Twin however are ‘aisatsana [102]’ and ‘Aleberto Balsalm’ (which has the creepiest cover ever). ‘aisatsana [102]’ is the most perfect thing you could ever listen to on quiet summer’s day. This is my favourite ‘I’m wide awake at 5am’ song. It’s beautiful and always makes me feel at peace. ‘Alberto Balsalm’ is pretty different, it’s upbeat but still quite melancholic at the same time. It’s hard to explain without listening to it. Apparently Alberto Balsalm is a shampoo? I hope it’s as good as a shampoo as it is as a song.
6.CLAIRO
If you can’t already tell, I’m listening to a lot of ‘soft’ songs cos I’m feeling a bit sensitive this summer lol. I'm so in love Clairo. I think I tried listening to her a bit a few months ago when she released a song with Rejjie Snow called ‘Hello?’ but I just couldn’t get into her. But, I tried her again when her songs popped up on my Spotify Discover playlist and now I can’t get enough of her
I put ‘Bags’ and ‘Softly’ on my summer of smlove playlist because they’re amazing. So catchy and sweet. I love her voice a lot.
7. BEIRUT - ELEPHANT GUN
Every time there’s even a slither of the sunshine, the first band that comes to my head is Beirut. I don’t really know why but they are my band of the summer every year. The song that particularly comes into my head is ‘Elephant Gun’. It’s very nostalgic feeling, it reminds me of every great summer I’ve ever had. I love that. Whenever I listen to it I fall in love with it over and over again.
8. MARIBOU STATE
I have no idea how Maribou State ended up in my library but I’m so glad they did.
‘Kingdom’ and ‘Beginnner’s Luck’ are both such good songs. Whilst ‘Kingdom’ is a little more uplifting and makes you feel like dancing, 'Beginner’s Luck’ is a lot more relaxed. It’s more of a late night drive car song. Both very very very pretty songs.
Here’s a few more songs I’m loving…
There’s a lot of songs over on my playlist, this post has barely covered them all. There’s just too many to share but you can go check out my playlist here.
I’d love to see what you’re listening to this summer, you can leave a comment down below or share over on Instagram. Thanks for reading!
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The Best Accounts on Instagram This Week | #1 | Zafira
Hi!
I guess this is my first actual content worthy post on my new site which is so exciting (for me anyway). Today I thought I’d do something I used to do a lot over on my Instagram Stories a lot a few months ago which was a weekly round up of my favourite accounts on Instagram that week. I love doing it because I think it’s great sharing accounts with people that deserve their work to be shared and it’s nice to support your fellow artists out there.
If you want me to make this a weekly thing then let me know, I’d be more than happy to!
These are my favourite accounts on Instagram this week:
Mahoor Jamal (@mahoorjamal &@mahoor_jamal)
One thing I’ve being loving seeing recently on Instagram is the way that artists incorporate culture into their work and Mahoor Jamal captures this perfectly. Coming from a South Asian background, you can see so vividly how this plays a massive part in her work but also how modern culture and trends also play a part.
There’s something so dreamy about the tones she uses in her photographs. Especially her recent work for Generation PK, they look like the South Asian equivalent of a Renaissance painting. So beautiful.
She also has a graphics/illustration account which is equally as good as her photography one!
2. @305ibes
I can’t believe it took me so long to come across this account especially considering that they’re Manchester based (just like me!) 305ibes is a curation kinda account but completely different than any other curation style account I’ve seen on Instagram or anything before. They merge two of my favourite things in the world, music and film photography. They post little slideshow type of videos featuring work by film photographers with amazing music playing in the background.
It’s so mellow and relaxing to watch. They pick the best work from film photographers all around and play the best music too. This has easily become one of my favourite Instagram accounts of all time. It’s also ran by one of my favourite photographers Matthew Tou! I’ve followed him for forever and his work is amazing, you can check out his account here.
I’m super excited to see this account grow and find more talented photographers through it!
3. Nicolas “Yuthanan” Chalmeau (@yuthanan__)
It’s so hard to find unique OOTD style pictures on Instagram in this overfilled wannabe fashion blogger world but when I found Nicolas’ account, I fell in love with every aspect of his outfit pictures. The colours, the tones, the clothes itself and most importantly, the sense of coolness he released. He may just be the most coolest person I follow.
Not only is his feed filled with aesthetically pleasing outfit pictures, but aesthetic pictures of everything and anything. There’s some pretty street shots and some pictures of items from Sillage which is a men’s clothing brand where Nicolas is a designer and director.
If you’re all about the visuals, aesthetics & fashion then this account is made for you! I know I a d o r e it.
4. Marc Hibbert (@marc_hibbert)
A few weeks ago, one of my favourite people on Instagram (@znali) posted this picture on his account that was featured on Document Journal’s Instagram and I loved everything about it. It was taken by Marc Hibbert who did a entire series in India documenting people’s relationship with the Ganges. There’s more about it over on Document Journal if you’re interested, it’s a very good read.
I’ve always loved documentary style photography and this entire set is so beautiful than anything I’ve seen on Instagram recently. They’re captured so well and have the most stunning tones.
Marc also has some cool fashion/portrait shots as well some other interesting stuff on his feed, you should definitely go check him out.
If you have any accounts you wanna share or think I should feature in my next post like this then let me know!
Thanks for reading!
Lots of love,
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Underrated TV Shows #1 | Zafira
Hey!
I'm what you would probably call a 'binger' when it comes to TV shows. I'm crazy about them. I love nothing more than a TV show I can waste my time on.
Last month I did an 'Underrated Movies' post and a lot of you really liked it so I thought I'd do another one but dedicated to TV shows. I'm kind of a picky person when it comes to shows, I like something with a bit of grip to it. It ultimately depends on what mood I'm in. I can go from watching something as terrible as Riverdale (don't even lie to yourself that show is a mess) to something as complex as Westworld.
Here's 8 of what I think are probably the best underrated TV shows at the minute:
ORPHAN BLACK
Many, many years ago (like 5 but ok), BBC Three (yes this was when that still existed) showed what I thought was literally the best TV show I had watched at the time. To be completely fair, I was only like 13 years old and was watching Pretty Little Liars so pretty much anything could have been better than that but this was so different than any other concept a TV show has had before.
The show is all about a woman who witnesses the suicide of a woman who looks exactly like her. Long story short, turns out the woman was a clone and the company that created them are trying to kill her and the rest of her identicals off one by one. It's a strangely unique show. It's insanely good. You'd be amazed at how connected you become to all the characters and how different all the clones are. It feels like they're all being played by different actors it's crazy.
2. THE ROMANOFFS
I've recently become an Amazon Prime member (helloo 6-month free student trial) and I love it. I especially love all these Amazon Studio shows and movies. I read the reviews for this show and I honestly, wasn't expecting anything grand or life-changing. I've had a strange fascination with the actual Romanovs for a long time now. I guess it all began when I watched Anastasia as a child but it's just a part of history that's intrigued me because of how sad it all is.
It's one of those shows where each episode is a different storyline which you think would be a bit annoying but it's so so so good because there's so much detail and focus in each episode. They're also each over an hour long which makes it feel like you're watching a movie.
Anyway, the show is about 8 different people that think they're descendants of the actual Romanovs. And of course, they're obnoxious and just very entertaining to watch. Some way or the other, the different characters in each episode connect. Kind of like in Love Actually but they don't actually meet which is a bit disappointing but nonetheless, it's such a good watch. If you're someone that watched Mad Men then you would love this because a lot of the cast from Mad Men are in it. It's also made by the creator of Mad Men. I think it's had a lot of unnecessary hate, ignore the reviews and just watch it. (except my review of course)
3. Z: THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING
This is another Amazon Studios series and I adore this so much and I'm so annoyed it's been cancelled.
Scott Fitzgerald has had a warm place in my heart ever since I read the Great Gatsby. I read a few bits about his wife Zelda here and there online and everything I've concluded from that is that she was probably one of the greatest women to have ever lived. When this show was recommended to me on Amazon I didn't even have to think, I just watched it straight away.
It's roughly based on Zelda Fitzgerald's life, everything comes from her point of view which I love. It starts off with her life shortly before meeting Scott but massively focuses on her relationship with him which is super rocky and just a massive sh*t show. The show also made me hate Scott Fitzgerald quite a bit. He's such a ... man. You'd think such a profound writer would be different especially because he writes such beautiful things about love and Zelda. He treated her pretty poorly.
This show is so worth watching. Zelda is crazy and wild and so full of energy. Also, did I mention Christina Ricci plays her???
4. TWIN PEAKS
Writing a little segment about me and my relationship with Twin Peaks is not enough. One day I'll have to write an entire post about it but it truly did change my life. I was going through a strange period of life, kind of an eh one when I found it. I wasn't in the happiest of places and something about this show just flipped my life completely around. My entire life is incredibly influenced by this show.
This show is definitely not everyone's cup of tea. It's more for those of you who appreciate the weird stuff, the stuff that makes no sense but also so much sense. It's also kind of old but good old.
It's about the small town of Twin Peaks where the dead body of a girl has been found. An FBI agent comes to the town to investigate and figure out what happened. This is the show that started all the 'small town' mystery shows like Riverdale (which actually features some of the Twin Peaks cast).
If you're looking for something different then this is it. Watch it and come be my bff please because no one I know has ever seen it :(
5. THIS IS US
This is one of the more 'popular' shows on this list compared to the rest but still, no one seems to know that this gem is floating around.
I have this weird obsession with shows and movies where they use the multiple characters whose lives somehow intertwine storyline like Love Actually and Valentine's Day. I just think they're interesting to watch and I love seeing how everyone is connected.
This is Us has one of those storylines but is super unique. I've never seen anything like it and I don't think I ever will because this is done so so so well. It's about a set of triplets, not your average triplets though, some very individual and distinct set of triplets. The show is all about their lives as well as their parents. It's something you will cry, laugh and get angry at. The cast is also just spectacular.
It's a really good show to watch with your family or with friends. I definitely need to persuade some of mine to watch it.
7. THE COLLECTION
Another Amazon show, I promise I'm not being sponsored by them although I wouldn't mind it if they did (pls sponsor me).
The Collection is made for fashion lovers like myself. It's set just after the war in a fashion house and the house is tasked to restore Paris as the fashion capital. It has a very Peaky Blinders-esque tone to it which I love. There's lots of drama, whether that's family or business or even both.
I think it was shot so well and it's set in France what's not to love? I love the clothes, I love seeing the fashion industry trying to pull it's self back together after the war and I love the surprising amount of depth this show has to it. I hope there is a season 2 so badly because it deserves it.
8. BIG MOUTH
I was heavily debating whether to put this in or not but it's too good of a show to miss out from this list.
This show is certainly not for the light-hearted, sensitive 'snowflakes'. It's vulgar, rude, blunt and most importantly, absolutely hilarious. It's the funniest thing I've seen in the longest time. It's an animated series about teens starting and going through puberty. They have these things called hormone monsters which are literally the best imaginary things to have ever been created.
It's one of the best things to have ever graced Netflix and they also recently released a Valentine's day special which has become one of my favourite seasonal specials of anything ever.
Thanks for reading and if you're watching anything good at the minute please let me know!
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Music of the Month: January | Zafira
Hey!
January has been a pretty gloomy month but one thing that has really lifted my spirits is the amazing amount of good music that's been released throughout the month.
If you've followed me for a while, then you'd know my music taste makes 0 sense. It's all over the place but I think maybe I've finally found a type? My January playlist is probably the most normal one out of them all.
Here’s my full playlist!
One of the best things released this month was James Blake's album 'Assume Form'. I cannot put into words how much I love this. I truthfully haven't listened to him since his Retrograde days just because I never was really into his stuff but this, this is amazing. He's very similar to Bon Iver who may just be the love of my life and I just can't get enough.
Some of my favourites from this particular album are
but honestly, they're all pretty wonderful.
You know how I just said James Blake reminds me a lot of Bon Iver? This song is the most vivid and fluorescent example of that. This song reminds me so much of 33"GOD" which when I first listened to, I think I had some sort of spiritual awakening. Listening to this song was exactly the same. I shared it on my IG stories a few days ago and said that it felt like a really good headache. I can't explain it. You just need to take a moment and really listen to it.
I said I was over my indie phase a long time ago but apparently 2016 Alex Turner and Oasis loving me has resurrected from the dead. I think I have always secretly loved the Japanese House, they're super chill and relaxing. This song feels like summer and I miss the summer a lot.
I found Yung Lean a couple of years ago and he's so weird but I love love love him. He's very similar to like Earl Sweatshirt and $uicideBoy$. He's really great and I know this is a song I'll never get bored of.
Okay. I have a lot to say about this, a lot of deep stuff. It's a sad song but January is a sad month. January is like a Monday but it's 31 days long instead of just 24 hours. Anyway, the song is about heartbreak and mourning an ex-lover. The lyrics are so sadly beautiful and so well crafted. My personal fave lyrics in the song are :
“I don’t want to be small, small, sad, I want to be big, big, sad”
“I want to make a pageant of my grief”
“I’m annoyed with clothes today,
I’d rather swaddle myself in sorrow today”
I've been obsessed and infatuated with Twin Peaks ever since I impulsively watched it when I was 12. It's probably the best thing to have ever happened to me (if you've ever watched it come be my friend pls i just wanna talk about it forever). You can imagine how I was feeling when I was sat in my soft office (my bed), working and then my Spotify Discover Weekly playlist plays what faintly sounds like Angelo Badalamenti's Laura Palmer theme. I was so confused.
This song is so good. It's all about Twin Peaks because the artist that wrote it grew up near Twin Peaks which is the coolest thing ever.
where he talks a bit more about it if you're interested.
This also another pretty sad song. This was in the movie Requiem for a Dream (read more about it and some other good, underrated movies here) and the amount of impact this song has is 1. heartbreaking but also 2. breathtaking. The movie would not be a masterpiece without this song.
A lot of my friends listen to Blood Orange and they've told me to listen to him countless times but I always end up forgetting. This came up on one of my Spotify Frank Ocean song radios and it felt like sitting in a car at like 3am in the morning when you're sleepy but awake because of all the streetlights that keep catching your eyes. I don't know. It's a very calming song. It's definitely a good song for the car.
I don't even know how this ended up on my playlist but it did. I'm not mad about it. I'm not really an Ariana Grande stan, I think she's an amazing person but her music isn't really for me but I've been listening to this on repeat so maybe I am an Ariana Grande stan?
I used to love Don Broco when I was in year 11 but like many of us, I grew up and got over them. This came up on my Release Radar and I actually thought it was a new Death Grips song because of the intro but boy oh boy was I far off. This is pretty good. It's very angsty and shouty but I like it. It's making me miss the old indie rock/alternative rock days so much.
I've decided that Florence is one of my all time favourite people. I just really want to be her honestly. I don't know how someone releases an amazing album and then shortly follows with an amazing single. I love her. I also think that regulars on my bus think I'm a bit crazy when I'm aggressively lip syncing this at like 7am every morning.
If you liked the songs I've mentioned in this post, there's a lot more over on my playlist. It's embedded near the top of this post but I will also leave a link right at the bottom with links to all my other social medias.
Thank you for reading! If you like these sorts of posts let me know and I'll start doing them more regularly.
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