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zaebucca · 5 months

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About scale, process, palette and canvas: a few considerations on pixel art as a medium

User moredogproblems answered an interesting and legitimate question by another, DiscountEarly125, regarding my work and canvas size. He also perfectly isolated two central concepts of pixel art, which are scale and process. Canvas size, which was the theme of DiscountEarly125's specific request, is more of a dependent variable to those two aforementioned concepts, rather than a starting point. I hope the following considerations I shared may help or prompt some other ideas, but this is what I could come up with 15-ish years of experience with pixel art (and a few more years of art and media studies). I was quite in the mood of writing down these few thoughts that have been floating for a while. I apologize as this may also result in a confusing wall of text, but it is all part of a my work and research, and I would love to polish all the material, hopefully with some thoughts, insights from other colleagues, as well as pictures and materials!

A. Scale and canvas size It is true that the bigger the canvas, the more distance one may visually create from pixel art, but I personally think this is to be possibly considered a matter of perceiving pixels, rather than a fundative problem of the medium. In fact I concur with the idea of "process makes the medium" rather than identifying pixel art as how (evidently) pixeled the result feels. The general picture, or the sum of pixels, though, is a really important matter to the medium nonetheless! Pixels themselves work in relation one with another, so it's their overall result that gives context and makes the subject recognizable. This relationship between pixels links back to all the art fundamentals that each artist is taught, from color theory to shape and composition - and so on. So, the canvas size debate usually boils down to a matter of scale or necessity of your subjects. As long as the dimension (canvas) of your subject (as in: a drawing of an apple, a character sprite, a mockup environment) allows you to operate, control and keep an eye on the quantity (number/area of pixels together) and quality (color, shaping of multiple pixels, texturing obtained through color and shapes) of isolated single pixels or pixeled areas, you're in the pixel art universe. The other way around to define the matter of scaling: in order to be operating pixel art fundamentals and techniques, your subject has to be on a scale that allows you to apply principles of pixel art within the space of your canvas and your personal style. These very same principles, or basics, can be applied with different results and extent to bigger and smaller canvases alike, each with their own specific difficulties and variables. It is important to adapt your scale when learning, and trying classic canvases per subject like "16x16px" (standard tile or character sprite unit, tied to older consoles and screen ratios, it's a bit complicated there) is always a nice idea - they also tend to be industry benchmarks and necessities so in case you'd like to consider a professional output, that's very useful.

Scale also applies to the array of colors, and there lies the concept of palette: a number of single hexadecimal hues we are using for each single pixel. Any single pixel can have one hexadecimal color only.

Consequentially it is absolutely true that either a huge canvas or a palette too broad may prevent a viewer from perceiving immediately the "nature" of your medium, namely seeing square pixels, recognizing a certain amount of color - or more thoroughly recognizing that you made some choices for each subject on a pixel level. What could possibly happen on a huge canvas (without zooming in) is that you can't really grasp the pixels, but just the "overall picture" - and that may not differ too much from digital, raster art, which is of course also based on pixels. Therein appearently lies a sort of threshold that is really hard to pin down for us pixel artists, as it depends on screen size, visualization methods, distance, filters and lots of other inherently subjective parts.

This kinda is my case sometimes: I make big environments (possibly too big, and too detailed in each part I tell myself) that are a sum of many lesser parts: both tilesets and sprites that relate (but not strictly adhere) to a basic space unit that is 16x16pixels. You can indeed consider scale in a broader sense as a subdivision or magnification issue, much alike squinting your eyes to focus on a picture's overall contrast or, conversely, analyzing its fundamental parts with a magnifying glass, and then a microscope - an analogy as follows:

a. the picture as a whole is like a colorful rock that you can analyze by magnifying its grain. b. the characters, geographical elements and textures, works like the different substances that compose the rock and give its visible characteristics grain and complexity, c. single pixels constitute the very atoms of those previously recognized substances.

I mean "atom" in the traditional, classical meaning of indivisible, fundative object. That's a "quantized" part of information, which for pixel art is ultimately color (or a binary value, like yes/no black/white). If you were, for example, to crop some parts of my work - let's say 160x144 pixels (a gameboy screen resolution in pixels) you would see the substances that are characters and elements of nature, and when you zoom in again, every atom becomes visible as a single entity of color. There are 29 different type of "atoms" in Ruin Valley as in different, singularly hexadecimal colors that work together in different combinations and shapes to create different substances and characters. 18 of them are used for the different qualities of the environment, and 11 more for extra hues for characters and other elements to pop out a bit.

It's really interesting to see how many pixel artists push this "threshold" of pixel art canvases to the extremely small or the extremely big, whereas, notably, palettes are less open to growth: it is indeed my opinion that pixel art tends to quantize color (quality) over than dimension (quantity). Palettes, notably, do not grow exponentially, but tend to a lower, fixed, controlled amount of individual values instead. This usually gives the artist the true possibility and toolkit through which is possible to think about/with pixels. In other words: color (or its absence) is the founding unit and identity of pixel art as a digital medium.

B. Pixels as process or pixels as objective? Pixels themselves (as strange as that may sound!) are not to be considered an objective of pixel art, I think, but the founding matter of its research as a medium instead. I think that making pixel art is not just devoting oneself to show those jagged, squarey areas or blunt edges that we all know and love: this is just one of the possible aesthetics that pixel art conveys or adopts - especially on small canvases. Pixel art is not about denouncing itself as pixels, but, rather, embracing the square, atomic unit to build an ensemble that conveys a content or a style. That's the important part of the discourse that emancipated pixel art into being a medium, and not just an aesthetic choice or style of representation. Again: process makes this medium. Speaking of that, I consider pixel art as part of a broader family of "quantized art", namely media that operate on/with "indivisible, founding bricks and unities" that can assume a certain quality (color, mainly) within a certain quantity (palette, canvas size) and in relation to its surroundings to describe something. This puts pixel art, with its specifics and with a certain degree of semplification, among other mediums such as cross-stitch, bead art, construction sets, textile art (on a warp and weft basis), (micro-)mosaics and others.

A classic threshold example of process vs objective: oekaki art. Oekaki art - which I love and also happen to make from time to time - doesn't really work or "think" specifically on a pixel base: it doesn't place pixels per se, but uses pixel-based areas and textures on bigger canvases with a certain degree of freedom, like one would normally do with brushes on raster digital art programs (adobe ps, gimp, clip studio and so on) in order to convey an aesthetic with fewer colors and a certain line style and texturing. That way, oekaki uses and knows pixels in a deep way, but doesn't see them primarily in a quantized way. As a result the "overall picture" shows pixels to a certain extent, and it's possible to recognize distinct pixels for each part, but the objective is not an analysis and use of pixel and quantized information, but the use of an aesthetic based upon accessibility of resources, their control and a certain rendering style.

A huge part of pixel art is its absolute accessibility: everyone with a fairly outdated computer or screen and a basic drawing program can study the medium. To be fair, it's indeed considering accessiblity that I highly support an inclusive approach to the term "pixel art" and I think traditional oekaki is a close, beautiful relative that builds upon the rules and techniques of pixel art and pixel rendering, yet keeping its identity as its very own medium - somehow like a dress may be built around/upon textile design. Anyway, boundaries are meant to be crossed and I think there definitely are lots of oekaki and pixel-based art that meet traditional pixel art mid-way - or further. I also think the "is it pixel art?" discourse possibly ensuing - and generally speaking any media belonging purist ontology - is a treacherous, slippery terrain leading to excesses, and this is not my focus today, neither am I able to tackle that subject extensively at the moment.

C. Conclusions and a few good exercises Everything above may be farfetched or too complicated as a starting point. I tried to write all down as orderly as possible. The point of this (possibly discouraging) analysis and the reasoning between scale and process is that (pixel) art is about trying different canvases, and reasoning on one's subject and objective, rather than limiting oneself to presets sizes or styles. It's important to choose something that resonates with us and, in doing so, thinking about other, more interesting limitations: that's the discourse about quantity of space and quality in color. Limiting is the best possible exercise and one I wholeheartedly encourage: by doing so we are progressively delving deeper on the basics, as we learn the fundamental relationships between shapes and colors that we can achieve through pixels. A few good exercises that I too implemented in my own workflow come to mind: 1. Trying different canvases (or sizes) for the same subject (sprite, character art, illustration or so on). This helps a lot finding a comfortable size to apply pixel techniques, as well as getting a hold over fundamentals such as aliasing, linework, conventional representation and so on. 2. Trying different palettes for the same subject, both by varying colors themselves (therefore learning about values and contrast and readability, as well as atmosphere and mood!) or singular hues and their components, in order to discover possible relationship between them. Have fun! 3. Reducing the width of the palette progressively for the same subject: reducing the number of singular colors forces a reasoning on shapes, rapresentation. You may go from 1-bit art (just black/white) to 3 colors, 4, 8 and so on. We'll not talk about transparency as a singular color there, but if you happen to be interested in retro art, transparency counts to the palette size. This exercise is very useful in rendering, and possibly tricky. And definitely fun. :') 4. Choosing an objective and usage of our work: for example trying to learn about old pixel art limitations for games, in order to reason within specifics. Get inspired by traditional games (spriters-resource is your best friend here, in case you have a specific retrogame you're thinking of)! I will probably talk about limitations and style on another post. 5. Four eyes (and other multiples) are better than two: try to talk with people and friends and other artists you trust and feel comfortable with to get their point of view. This can be scary, I know, especially at the beginning. You're not forced to, of course, but if you do (in a safespace) there's lots you can learn about concepts such as readability, subject recognition, rendering and composition. Our eyes and brains get accustomed to something, and pixel art being a rather analytic medium made of synergies, subtle changes, limitations and conventions is especially tricky on the artist's eyes on the long term. Either way, the important thing about pixel art is understanding that this medium is about recognizing and enjoying the process rather than the eventual aesthetic and in order to do so the best choice is to start simple, small, with few colors and techniques at a time! Have fun and hit me up with your progress and considerations. :')

#pixelart #art resource #pixelartist #how to #reference #art tips #learning #insights #pixel illustration

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blakeswritingimagines · 2 months

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Kink List With Jack Hughes

A = Aftercare (What they’re like after sex)

He's very gentle and considerate. He makes sure you are comfortable and satisfied before, during, and after. He's also open and communicative, so if there are any issues or things either of you would like to change, you can discuss them openly without judgement.

B = Body part (Their favourite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

His favorite body part of his is his legs. They're long and strong, and He always gets compliments on them. When it comes to you, he really enjoys a sexy and curvy figure, he likes how it fills out clothing in an attractive way. He appreciates the softness of your curves and the shape provided. He also likes how curves create a sense of sensuality that can be very enticing.

C = Cum (Anything to do with cum basically… I’m a disgusting person)

On your breasts - particularly there's something so satisfying to him about cumming on your boobs. He loves how they squish and jiggle as his load lands on them.

D = Dirty Secret (Pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

He would find it extremely sexy seeing you wearing his jersey would make him feel like you’re his in a very intimate way. It’s like saying, “I’m yours, and you’re mine.” It’s a visual representation of your connection and would be a huge turn-on for him.

E = Experience (How experienced are they? Do they know what they’re doing?)

I would say he's fairly experienced. He's had a few relationships over the years and has experimented with different things over time. He knows that he's not an expert, but I think he knows enough to be confident in his abilities.

F = Favourite Position (This goes without saying. Will probably include a visual)

Doggy style - There's something incredibly hot about having complete access to your body while being able to watch you squirm with pleasure.

G = Goofy (Are they more serious in the moment, or are they humorous, etc)

I'd say he swings both ways. When things are serious and intense with you, he can be very earnest and passionate. But he also likes to lighten the mood by making jokes or teasing you in a playful way. He's definitely more relaxed when things are lighthearted, but can switch into a more serious mode quickly.

H = Hair (How well groomed are they, does the carpet match the drapes, etc.)

He's definitely well-groomed, but whether the carpet matches the drapes is up to interpretation. Some people might say yes, and some might say no. I'll leave it up to your imagination.

I = Intimacy (How are they during the moment, romantic aspect…)

When it comes to the romantic aspect of sex, he's definitely a bit of a hopeless romantic. He likes to be passionate and sensual, treating every moment together with you as something special. He enjoys the intimacy of looking into each other's eyes, stroking your hair, and kissing your lips. It's all about expressing his feelings and creating a connection with my partner that goes beyond physical gratification.

J = Jack Off (Masturbation headcanon)

Depends on how long he has to spare. If he's got a bit of free time during the day, he might masturbate twice or even three times. And if he's really feeling really horny or stressed out, he might even do it four or five times in a single session. But on average, I'd say he cums around two to three times a day.

K = Kink (One or more of their kinks)

For starters, he is into rough play – bondage, spankings, and all sorts of kinky stuff. He loves it when someone is helpless under his control.

L = Location (Favourite places to do the do)

He's partial to the bedroom, but there’s something about being out in the wild that’s really exciting. It’s a thrill to know that you might be caught at any moment, and have to be quick and discreet. He also loves hotels or vacation rentals with a nice view of the city. It’s really luxurious and adds an element of luxury to the experience especially up against a window.

M = Motivation (What turns them on, gets them going)

There are many things that turn him on, but physical touch is one of his weaknesses. He loves it when you run your hands along his skin or lightly caress his neck. There's also something really erotic about watching you slowly undress before him. The anticipation and the thought of what might come next sets his body on fire.

N = NO (Something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

He wouldn't do anything that made you uncomfortable or felt pressured into doing. He also wouldn't do anything that he wasn't comfortable with himself.

O = Oral (Preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc)

He usually prefers to give rather than receive, but he also likes to switch it up and receive occasionally. He thinks there's something incredibly pleasing about pleasing his partner. But there's also a lot of joy that comes from being pampered and treated to something special.

P = Pace (Are they fast and rough? Slow and sensual? etc.)

It depends on the situation and your desires at the moment. He can be fast and rough if the moment calls for it, but he's also skilled at taking things slow and making sure both of you are thoroughly satisfied. He can be very sensual and passionate when the time is right, too. He likes to switch up his style to keep things exciting and give both of you what you need in that moment.

Q = Quickie (Their opinions on quickies rather than proper sex, how often, etc.)

Let's just say that when the mood strikes him, he doesn't hesitate to take advantage of it. Maybe two or three times a week, if everything lines up perfectly for you both.

R = Risk (Are they game to experiment, do they take risks, etc.)

He loves trying new things in the bedroom (or wherever it ends up getting down) and pushing limits. He's always up for experimenting with different positions, toys, kinks, and fetishes. He can even be talked into some risky behavior from time to time, just for the thrill of it.

S = Stamina (How many rounds can they go for, how long do they last…)

He can definitely hold his own when it comes to endurance during sex. He's been known to go for multiple rounds without breaking a sweat. In fact, sometimes he'll intentionally push himself to the limit just to see how long he can last. It usually takes him a few minutes to recover before he's ready for another round. So yeah, I'd say he's pretty damn good at going the distance. But honestly, it's not about how many times he can cum or how long he can last – it's about giving you an unforgettable experience that leaves you completely satisfied (and maybe even a little bit exhausted).

T = Toy (Do they own toys? Do they use them? On a partner or themselves?)

Yes, he does own toys. He has a few vibrators and a couple of other things. He uses them on himself when away from you and on you when he's in the mood, he doesn't want to get too reliant on them. He would rather connect with you with just your bodies.

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

He loves teasing. It's fun to play the game, to build up the tension, and then to pay off the tension with an amazing release. He especially likes to tease you and to watch you go crazy with anticipation.

V = Volume (How loud they are, what sounds they make)

He can be quite loud, but he's not obnoxiously loud. He prefers loud, heavy breathing, passionate kissing, soft moans, dirty talking, and grunts.

W = Wild Card (Get a random headcanon for the character of your choice)

He doesn't mind taking charge or being dominated either. In fact, he kind of loves it when someone can keep up with him and makes him lose control. And if you have any kinky fantasies you wanted to try out, he's more than happy to oblige. So go ahead, tell him your dirtiest, most depraved desires.

X = X-Ray (Let’s see what’s going on in those pants, picture or words)

Quite large, standing at about 8 inches long when fully erect. The shaft is muscular and veiny, with defined bulges along its length that hint at my intense stamina.

Y = Yearning (How high is their sex drive?)

I'd say he has a pretty high sex drive - He's pretty much always up for some fun and can get pretty enthusiastic and passionate when the moment arises. Sometimes he might need a bit of a warm-up, but once he's in the mood, he's ready to go.

Z = ZZZ (… how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

He can fall asleep quite quickly after intimacy, usually within a few minutes. However, if you tend to stay awake for a little longer. You'll cuddle and enjoy the warmth of your bodies until you fall asleep too.

#jack hughes #jack hughes x reader #jack hughes x y/n #jack hughes x you #new jersey devils #nhl smut #nhl fic #nhl x reader #nhl #kink list

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nuzzle · 6 months

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Hi~

I saw your post about how lolita fashion (and ads for it) have changed in the last few years, especially for Angelic Pretty, and I agree completely!

I think the lack of creative ads these days might be b/c Gothic & Lolita Bible isn't around anymore? (cries) and Kera went purely digital ages ago, I don't know if it's even still around (I should have kept my old Kera magazines). But I remember how I always used to look forward to seeing the clothes and layouts that were featured in the new issues of each magazine.

My favorite when I first got into lolita was from the Wedding issue of the English edition of GLB; a model for Baby was wearing a lovely, tulip print skirt (or was it the jsk?) in blue, holding a parasol and sitting at a cafe table. Something about her looked so sweet and simple; I wanted to be a lolita just like that!

The models in the magazines always looked like they were happy or having fun, which I think is part of what made me want certain dresses or blouses. In AP's current ads, the model just looks... kinda sad and pouty and bored. I've noticed that for a lot of their dresses, they've been skimping on the lace, frills, and ribbons, and there's no more cute hair styles either! Meanwhile, wasn't it AP that brought lolita from old school to New School / OTT sweet when they had models wearing pastel pink / blue wigs for their Mermaid Symphony (iirc) photoshoot back in 2007?

On a different, but kinda related note, I've noticed that in the past 5 years or so AP has been making a lot of dresses with ridiculously high waists.... also so many sack dresses (I know they started doing this back in like 2012 or so with that polka-dot M&M print dress)

Sorry for the long rant, I just really miss the old days of lolita fashion

hello there!

i'm always glad to have some feedback when i post rambles and thoughts on things. i never expect it, so thank you for your input! it's also comforting to know others feel the same way.

i agree that without as many publications in general (especially physical) there's less of a reason to put as much effort into details, like the magazine spreads that were commonly done for example. most people get information on releases online these days, making physical catalogs a bit obsolete.. aside from collectors. i greatly miss all of the graphics and how inspirational everything felt back then, especially the little PNG pictures of items in catalogs.

you're completely right about pictures from GLB's and other magazines looking generally "happier" and more like daily life sort of pictures, like the one in the cafe you mention. that aspect of it appealed greatly to lifestyle lolitas! seeing a dress pictured in a "real life" situation rather than just a plain white background photoshoot picture makes a huge difference. it brings it to life, and makes it a lot easier to see yourself wearing it.

i think a big change in marketing is that AP doesn't cater as much to lifestylers.. and lolitas who are very much interested in the fashion beyond a surface level and see them as more than just clothes. all of the photos now actually feel like advertisements, when they used to also be appealing from a photography perspective. like they're only trying to sell you a product and not an experience, even if only visual. for me, that takes away from it a lot.. it almost feels as though that sense of community, and the acknowledgement that lolita is a subculture, is dwindling.

plus, it's definitely more than just presentation that's changed as you said. i feel as though the designs AP offers have been super uninspired compared to old releases. not as many details, not as much custom lace, and the general silhouettes becoming a bit lazy.. tons more, but i could go on for days. even the revamp and progression of the lyrical bunny mascot has felt a bit soulless. very sad to see, because i do agree that they were the brand to introduce OTT sweet in a revolutionary way.

as much as i gripe about old vs new AP changes, the positive side is that we can still look back fondly on the old era!

and no problem at all! it was nice to hear another perspective on this. ^^

#asks

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annwhiskers · 3 days

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Art school Portfolio project 1

Please, Go Home

Art school didn't end up happening for me (I'm going to do something completely different and more secure, and keep art and writing for myself for fun), so I thought I’d share my portfolio projects here.

Buckle up, this'll be long as fuck.

This is a story I’d been working on for years, since 2018. I’d rewritten it several times, until in 2023, I got the chance to come up with my own project at design school. Immediately, I knew this was what I wanted. I wanted to make this story into a real book. And I wanted to make it all by hand, cause bookbinding seemed cool to try.

I had to come up with 2 ideas to do.

Translation:

Subject 1

Book. Specifically a novel (written by me). I want to make illustrations of the characters, design the inside (text and design thingies and everything), design the cover. Print and bind it myself. Illustrations of the characters are in it, I’ll try to finish as many as possible, but I probably won’t be able to finish all of them. Then I’ll leave blank pages in and stick the remaining illustration in later. (I did finish them all, so I didn’t need to do this.)

Why? I love books. I read them a lot and I’ve been writing for years. Now I want to make a professional looking book myself. And of course I love to draw, I want to incorporate that too. I’d like to have completely handmade versions of the books I’ve written. I’d like to learn bookbinding.

Subject 2

Graphic novel. I want to learn to tell a story visually. And I want to experiment with color more.

Why? I like to read graphic novels. I want to tell and draw stories, and get better with color.

A mood board of what I wanted, I chose the book.

Translation:

Inside book

Physical book

Character illustrations

Little drawings

Dust jacket

Translation:

Little drawings

Inspiration

Finished product

Why? The main character writes and doodles in a journal. When he’s anxious or his head is full, he doodles a certain type of pattern to calm down. More of the design of the book is based on this. He also sometimes draws little things that he likes.

Translation:

Inside

Fonts

Novels always have a serif font as the standard. Standard book font: Adobe Garamond Pro.

Other than that, I want to use quite a lot of different fonts that resemble handwriting for the chapter titles. The titles are quotes from a character in the chapter, each has their own font as their voice or handwriting. Sometimes, the characters write too, that’s also in their own font.

[A list of fonts.]

Preparations

I made parent-pages for each type of spread that I needed. One with only text, one with an illustration and the start of a chapter, and 2 with only the start of a chapter on either side of the spread. And I made a bunch of paragraph-styles for all the types of text that I needed. I have 2 sections, 1 for the front matter, 1 for the rest.

Translation:

Final product

Here are a few spreads, I won’t show all of them, because that’s 308 of them.

Here I have a spread with an illustration, a basic page with a little drawing in it, and a regular chapter opening where I use one of the other fonts for the title. The titles are quotes, and the font shows who said it.

Translation:

Cover

Research

Adult Fantasy Romance. What’s already out there? (Put a bunch of YA there, but whatever)

I want illustrated, probably with characters. Detailed or silhouette.

Sketches

Colour

Translation:

Final product

Color choice. In the end, this is the illustration I went for. I showed the two bigger color choices from the last page to a friend, she said with the purple one, that the characters nicely sprung out of the image because of the orange. But the green one was more relaxed. I thought the green one fit better with the vibes of the book, but I really like the purple one too. I ended up switching the colours of the text and the characters, so the characters sprung out like the purple one.

Subject. The twigs are around it, because one of the main characters (the right one) often draws them in his journal. They’re also there in the rest of the book, in his journal entries. He’s writing in it on the cover. Left, he’s reading a book, because he does that often, and others in his family do so too. The two shadows are their grandfathers, who also knew each other, which the main two don’t know. Those two have quite a bit of history.

Title. The story is about them meeting each other, and they’ve both been away from home for various reasons. They push each other to go back to their families, that’s why it’s called ‘Please, go home’.

Font. It’s one of the characters fonts, orange left. I wanted to use one of the main characters’ fonts, and I liked this one better.

Translation:

Dust jacket

I put a description on the back, quotes on the front flap, and normally there’s an ‘about the author’ on the back flap, but I didn’t feel like doing that, so I put a short text there to give more context to the book itself.

Sorry about the shitty quality of the next few.

Translation:

Character illustrations

Inspiration

Sketches

I sketched some poses I could use. Other than that, I’m not planning to sketch a lot, I’ve drawn all these characters before and I already have a good idea of what I want them to look like.

Style experiment

I tried something painty first, didn’t like it. After that, I experimented with the background. I didn’t want the colour to go all the way to the edge, because I didn’t want to have to deal with bleed and trimming. In the end, I didn’t give the background any colour, except black and white lines, as you can see in the final result. I liked the effect of only the character having colour.

Translation:

Rune

Earlier drawings

Sketches

Final product

In the book, it’ll be greyscale.

(All the next few have the same text except the characters names, so I won’t translate again. Except if I did add some text somewhere.)

Translation:

And with this, all the illustrations are done. I'm not super happy with all of them, but I did my best to make them all unique and recognizable. And within 4 weeks. I'm happy with it.

Translation:

Physical book

Research

Binding. At first, I thought about doing a standard case-binding, a standard hardcover book. But after watching some tutorials, I realised that's quite complicated and requires supplies that I couldn't easily get. I continued searching and found crisscross-binding or secret Belgian binding. It resembles a standard hardcover book, but you barely have to glue, you need less supplies, and it's easier for beginners. It looks cool, it's sturdy, but also flexible.

Paper and size. A5 size, then I don't have to trim and printing is easy. A4 folded. A4 cream novel paper, I want it to look as professional as I can. It's not the best paper for illustrations, but it does work, I've seen it in other books.

Material. I bought everything I need at an art store in the city, except the paper. I ordered that online.

Practice. As a try-out, I made a small book of printer paper and used watercolour paper. It went well, except that i didn't sew the pages to the spine properly.

Translation:

Final product

Printing

I put my printer at home in my room. First, I tried on standard printer paper if the printer did what I wanted it to do. Which it didn't. It couldn't print double-sided. But with Acrobat, I printed booklets. First only the front, then the back. So I managed to do it.

After successfully printing one booklet on the standard paper(left), I started printing the whole book on the cream paper. Within 1,5 hours, I printed the whole book, 19 booklets. Together with the testing, it took me about 2 hours.

I pressed the pages underneath my cutting mat with two bricks. I left it there for about a day.

Translation:

Cover

I cut the front and back cover out of cardboard, then covered it with linen paper. I drew a twig on it with ink and a brush. Then I poked holes in it for the sewing.

Here, I made the spine 2cm wide, which I thought would be enough. It was not. I'll get back to that. I covered the spine in linen paper, too.

I sewed the cover together, I followed a tutorial on YouTube. Then i glued the end papers on.

Translation:

Binding & Dust jacket

I poked holes (in the booklets) for the sewing, then I started sewing the paper to the cover.

When I'd sewn 6 out of the 19 booklets onto the cover, I was already halfway along the spine and I realised this wasn't going to fit. I undid all the sewing and remade the spine. This time 3cm.

The new spine was still a bit too small, even though I thought I'd exaggerated it a bit. The book doesn't close properly. But I refused to redo everything again, so I just accepted it. It was better after pressing it for a day. I didn't trim the edges, that was very difficult with the pages already bound into the book. I quite like the untrimmed edges.

I folded the dust jacket around it and pressed it, so it'd keep it's shape. And now the book is done. The paper of it smudges very easily. A little bit of dust on it and it won't come off. That's a bit disappointing. (Now a year later, it also isn't lightfast whatsoever. It stood in a dark corner of my bookshelf nowhere near the sun and the spine turned yellow. I guess I now know why covers have protective coatings on them. Which I didn't have the option for.)

Translation:

FINAL final product

Reflection

This project was the most fun thing I did at this school. I've always wanted to do this and it's awesome I can now hold my own book in my hands. The binding was fun to learn, but also a challenge. Not everything went perfectly, like i said earlier. But now I've can learn from those mistakes. I'm quite impressed with myself that I managed to do this in this time. I wasn't sure I could do it. But i did dedicate every moment of free time I had to this.

(I did all of this in 5 weeks. All the teachers doubted me, that it was too much work, and just told me good luck. And I said "Watch me." Autistic hyperfocus activated.)

(The second paragraph isn't important, just a short description of the last discussion I'd had with my teacher about this.)

Awful picture, sorry.

This is the final presentation I had at school for this, and this is where it stops for the school projects side of this. But it continues.

After this, I didn't touch it for a few months. Then I let a friend read it (digitally) and processed her feedback into the book afterwards. Then I published it on Amazon.

This won't be the last time I do this. The whole process is really fun and fulfilling. And owning a real, published book that I wrote, illustrated and designed is awesome.

In case you're interested, click here to buy it.

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tomorrowxtogether · 28 days

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Tomorrow X Together are rebels with a cause in first-look photos for Minisode 3: Tomorrow

From rebellious rockers to fairytale princes, there’s no concept that Tomorrow X Together can’t pull off.

The K-Pop group (pronounced ‘Tomorrow By Together,’ or TXT for short) is officially back with its sixth mini-album Minisode 3: Tomorrow, and to celebrate, Entertainment Weekly is exclusively revealing five never-before-seen concept photos that highlight Soobin, Huening Kai, Taehyun, Beomgyu, and Yeonjun’s versatile style.

The snapshots are part of the group’s "Ethereal" and "Romantic" photo concepts for the album, each of which, Taehyun tells EW, “distinctly encompasses a unique story and emotion that we wanted to deliver visually through Minisode 3: Tomorrow.”

They’re also completely different from one another aesthetically. The "Romantic" photoshoot draws upon Snow White-inspired imagery with the quintet's dreamy outfits, while their "Ethereal" snapshots turn TXT into modern-day rock stars — complete with their own winged guitars, amps, and big rig. Minisode 3: Tomorrow's final two concepts — "Light" and "Promise" — further expand upon the group's artistry as they're seen outfitted in ballet slippers, angel wings, and crowns.

“We wanted to [experiment] with a diverse range of fashion styles,” Yeonjun says. “I think, at this point in time, one of our greatest strengths as a band is our versatility, not only in music and performances but also in aesthetics, which we always aim to absorb and make our own.”

And yes, in case you were wondering, those winged guitars were seriously hefty. “During the 'Ethereal' version concept shoot, I was surprised by the weight of the guitar!” Beomgyu recalls. “It was quite cold on set, and I thought it was so cute how we would huddle around the heater during breaks, which added a heartwarming touch to the experience.”

TXT fans, called MOA (short for 'moments of alwaysness'), will also spot that the concepts directly relate to the group's past albums. “The props like the truck and guitars are reminiscent of our previous releases ‘0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You)’ and ‘LO$ER=LO♡ER,’” Taehyun says. “I hope MOA enjoy the throwback!”

That connection can also be heard on Minisode 3: Tomorrow. Leader Soobin says the group is “connecting the dots from our previous releases" with the record, especially on their title track, “Deja Vu.” He adds, "Including lyrics such as ‘I ran away countless times,’ and ‘be my eternity,’ from ‘Run Away’ [from their 2019 album The Dream Chapter: Magic] added a nostalgic touch that I think our fans will enjoy rediscovering."

While TXT is honoring its past, the album still has its own story to tell. One of EW’s concept photos (below) features the group sitting on a truck that reads, “We made a promise when we were young. That’s the reason I have to live for tomorrow.”

“The phrase hints at the underlying story of Minisode 3: Tomorrow,” Soobin explains. “It means that we will remember our past promises and embark on a journey to find 'you' to charge forward and face a hopeful 'tomorrow' together.”

Beomgyu describes the seven-track album as a “treasure trove of diverse sounds” that “represent the stories of today's generation.” Throughout their careers, TXT has never been afraid of openly and honestly discussing the physical and mental hardships that come with adolescence and, now, young adulthood — the 23-year-old’s favorite track on the album, “Quarter Life,” is actually about navigating a quarter-life crisis.

“Taehyun, Huening Kai, and I participated in the lyric writing to express the inner thoughts that we have at this point in our lives,” Beomgyu says about the song. “I love the track's mood and melody, too!”

In fact, four of Minisode 3: Tomorrow's tracks were penned in part by the members of TXT. Yeonjun — who co-wrote “I’ll See You There Tomorrow,” “The Killa (I Belong To You),” and “Miracle” — says that the album’s lyrics “have greater depth and uniqueness” this time around because they’re framed through the members' worldview.

“We have collectively been improving in our lyric writing, and I think it shines through in this album,” he says. “As we aim to give voice to the common experiences of our generation, we tried to focus on applying our own stories in the lyrics.”

And, just like in their "Ethereal" concept photos, TXT will soon find themselves hopping aboard a tour bus and hitting the road when their upcoming Act: Promise tour kicks off stateside next month. The 11-date concert series will see the members perform across the country, including two nights at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

“We are visiting even more cities across the U.S. this time around, so I'm thrilled to meet and interact with more MOA!” Huening Kai says. “Our fans will be able to see some brand new performances of tracks from our new album, so I hope they can look forward to it. Just like our album's opener, ‘I'll See You There.’”

Minisode 3: Tomorrow is available now.

#txt #tomorrow x together #240402 #article #ew #soobin #yeonjun #beomgyu #taehyun #hueningkai #minisode 3 tomorrow #minisode 3

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bladenotblaze · 4 months

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Long day -Danny Wagner

A/n: FIRST FIC?!?! FIRST FIC. Please I hope you enjoy it there are probably a lot of grammar mistakes so sorry.

Genre: fluff

Pairing: Danny X reader

Warning: caring Danny, talk of being stressed, loving Danny, crying. I think that’s it ✨✨✨

Coming home from a long day was something you weren’t a stranger too, you often worked 10-18 hour days. School for 5 hours, tutoring some kids a few days a week for about 2 hours, then going to help out at your school theater department.

It was the end of November and The Madrigals, had decided (very last minute) that they needed a crew, specifically, a stage manager and about 5 or 6 people to open and close doors for entrance and exits. Today that had decided to promote you from lead student sound and visual to stage manager, and head reset.

“Can I get a crew check please” you said into the headset, you have never been this stressed out in your life. You were never a stage manager that’s always Maddies job but she couldn’t work the show and since you had years of experience you were next in line.

“Door 3 lily is ready”

“Door 2 Lexi is good”

“Light has the green light”

“This is crews places call. Places Crew.”

Until that point you were angry. Audrey who was on lights and Alex who was SUPPOSED to be at door 3 with Lilly, had been together all day. Doing a simple 1 person task that should take 5 minutes, into a 2 person task that takes them 15 minutes. 10 extra minutes that can’t be spared when we start the show in 20 minutes. They both liked eachother and while you supported them, you didn’t support the idea that they should be together 24/7 ignoring their responsibilities to talk. You had Alex to go to door 3 because the show was going to start.

“Alex I’m not asking I’m telling you to get out and get to you place. Like I told everyone else 5 minutes ago.” You said directly into the headset mic, staring daggers into Alex from across the room. Alex quickly got out and didn’t come back up till the end of the show.

But that was only todays problem, yesterdays problem consisted of you kicking someone out.

“You don’t know what your doing he-“

“Sage let Lexi do it she was here for rehearsal.”

Sage had decided to do crew, you had no fucking idea who they were. But they decided to NOT come to rehearsal, and only show up to the first real show.

“Lexi is to slow.” Sage had crossed the line, Lexi had been slow because they had limited body movement, that didn’t stop her from working hard and often didn’t need for their cues to be called but because they had them memorized.

“Sage get out, you don’t get to talk about my crew like that.” Sage looked shocked that you had said that and left.

You had finally made it home, unlocking the door, then walking in, before you could shut the door behind you, Danny had come up and engulfed you into a bear hug.

“I missed you, y/n so much.” He sat you down on the little bench that you guys had put there when you first moved in. Danny had taken off your shoes and taken your coat putting them away.

“Thank you” your voice came out broken, you hadn’t realized how physical exhausted you were from this week.

“Honey what’s wrong?” Danny had crouched in between your legs putting his hands on each side of your hip. The look he gave you was one full of concern and love. You had broken down a lot in the 2 years you were together but this one seemed different to Danny.

“I don’t wanna do this Danny.” It all came out of you, the tears streaming down your face. Danny quickly embraced you in a tight hug rubbing your back and shushing you. You’ve had trouble with expressing your emotions a lot, often times just not speaking and just wanting to be held and cuddled.

Danny had picked you up bridal style, carrying you to the bedroom. He got on the bed resting his back against the headboard and you on his lap with your head nuzzled in his neck.

“It’s okay love I’m here, ‘m not leaving” Danny hadn’t realized how tightly your hand was on his shirt until he looked down to see your knuckles had turned white. He gently lifted your chin up to see your bloodshot eyes and tear stained face. He light kissed your forehead, melting into his touch

“You don’t have to tell me what’s wrong, but if you want and when or if you’re ready I will listen.” You let out another sob, Danny had always been the nicest human being ever, going out of his way to make others feel better. Much like when he remembered that you get overwhelmed in really loud and crowded areas, and when you had told him that you wanted to see him perform he made sure that you had headphones to reduce the sound, a private area in front of barricade, or on the side of the stage, had told Richard that if you wanted to leave that he would take you to his dressing room, where there was food and drinks. Danny was whole heartedly the person that you pictured yourself with till the day you die. Sometimes you cry just thinking about how beautiful, perfect, and talented he is, and that you get to call him you Boyfriend.

You had stopped crying and rested your head on Danny’s chest, still having a death grip on his shirt.

“I love you Danny.”

“I love you Y/n.”

Danny had put on a movie, neither one paying much attention. Falling asleep after only a few minutes.

Nothing will ever beat the feeling of falling asleep in Danny’s arms. Nothing.

#danny wagner #danny gvf #Danny Wagner fluff #greta van fleet #gvf #greta van fic #jake kiszka #sam kiszka #josh kiszka #danny x reader #starcatcher

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bienvs3000w24 · 3 months

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Roles of a Nature Interpreter

This week's blog prompt got me thinking, specifically about my interests and how I can incorporate this into communicating information regarding the natural environment to the public. I touched upon it briefly in my last blog post, however, I have always really enjoyed photography, and in recent years nature photography has become a hobby of mine.

Some photos I took the other day while on a walk :)

In terms of my ideal role as an environmental interpreter, I envision a position in which I can combine my love for the environment and capture it through a lens. I also love to find new trails and hikes in which I can explore nature, so it would also be nice to incorporate this into my role. Therefore, I envision myself working as some type of park guide in which I can share all my knowledge with others and demonstrate the beauty and importance of nature through real-world experiences as well as photographs. I would love to focus on birds, their importance, and their impact on our environment. I have always had an interest in birds and believe that they are beautiful animals! One specific location that I've always been interested in is Banff National Park. Banff is home to over 311 species of birds with the Grey Jay or Canada Jay being one of the most popular, which is one of my favourite birds. I have previously done projects on these birds so it would be cool to explore even more in-depth about them and hopefully teach other people everything I love about them as well! In this role, my responsibilities would include giving guided tours outlining the importance of different plant and animal species, with a focus on birds, and creating a fun environment in which children and adults of all ages want to learn. I believe it would be fun to focus more on the visual aspect of nature interpretation, teaching people how to identify differences between certain plant species and so on. This would help to tie in my love for photography! I would also love to include as many hands-on activities and experiences for them as I believe this helps to immerse people in their environmental surroundings. I am a more hands-on learner however, as a nature interpreter, I must recognize the various learning styles and cater my teaching to address everyone's needs.

Another way in which I could envision myself taking on the nature interpreter role would be through an online blog or website which would act as a virtual gateway into the natural world. I would love to showcase my photographs alongside insights and personal stories to help educate and enlighten individuals about the amazing world around us! Each post will address various ecosystems, the intricacies of wildlife, and how/why environmental conservation is extremely important in today's day and age. No matter what roles I would take on as an environmental interpreter, I just want to make a difference and show people that caring about nature is super important, just as people have taught me!

#blog #nature #banff national park #birds

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clueless-fan-critic · 10 months

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Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse: The Edge of the Sony’s Spider-Verse.

Alright. Let’s get to the meat of the business sandwich.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is the sequel to 2018 smash hit film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse that honestly broke all of my expectations about the film being a two-parter with too much info. I honestly loved the movie just as much as the first with its iconic animation style, charming characters, and impactful story. Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson, it felt like the film was greatly cohesive without any confusion to the plot. It feels as if the film was not just a mandatory assignment but also a passion project made in the years before it was production. While I’m a fan of Marvel and the MCU (to some degree), I’ve definitely became a Spider-Verse fan.

Let us get into this Spider-Man classic once again.

The Animation

Alright. Let’s get this out of the way.

The animation was incredible and awe-inspiring much like the first film, but pushed into overdrive. Each animated world has its own style that reflects a different version of Spider-Man. From Hobie Brown’s collage-like style to Pavitr Prabhakar’s bollywood inspired environment. Gwen’s dimension is especially colorful with the watercolor style reflecting her comic book covers. Almost every character has a distinct style to their animation from 1960s campy to 90s angst. While the movie visually stunning and dynamic, let’s get into what’s going on story wise.

The Characters

The main characters of the movie are definitely Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy. They both are different sides of the story that reflect the theme of who someone is as Spider-Man and what kind of story they have or what they want out of life. In a way, it continues the ideas and themes about expectations with choosing their own path in spite of others’ opinions and expectations.

Afro-Latino protagonist Miles is someone who’s dealing with the crossroads of who he wants be while grappling with the expectations from his family. He’s also struggling with balancing his two lives as a teen and a superhero with his responsibilities to his family. When face-to-face with Miguel O’Hara, the Spider-Man of 2099, and the fact about canon events, Miles chooses to go against it believing he can save people without risking the Spider-Verse. The phrase “I can do both” is what caught my attention because it is possible for some people, but not a choice for Spider-People in that they must experience canon events for the sake of the Spider-Verse.

Gwen is faced with the rigid expectations of what it means to be Spider-Man and how she faces the choices she makes. Gwen makes the decision to go against Miguel and the Spider-Society to save Miles on the wrong Earth, deciding to become her own hero that she wants to believe in.

The Spot, Johnathan Ohnn, is the main villain of the movie with his power to make dimensional portals after the collider exploded in the previous film. They at first portray him more of a joke character, but then slowly build him into a terrifying threat with colossal amounts of power at his hands. This is shocking because I always thought of him as a lackluster villain despite having a cool power. They actually made what could of been a joke into someone more terrifying in concept alone.

The numerous cameos from the Spider-Society range from interesting to hilarious. One of them is an obscure spider-person in a wheelchair and with crutches named Charlotte Webber or Sun-Spider of Earth-20023. Others include a cowboy, cat, t-rex, and even dune buggy. They all could just be glorified cameos with no substance, but they actually bring out the abstract craziness of the Spider-Verse and what it means for future of the franchise as a whole.

The Story

The whole story centers around Miles Morales and his journey into becoming Spider-Man, but also Gwen’s journey and how the Spider-Verse is being threatened by the Spot.

The villain is definitely the Spot and his crusade to destroy Miles, but the antagonist is Miguel O’Hara’s ideology about the Spider-Verse. Miguel’s insistence of maintaining the order of the Spider-Verse goes directly against Miles’ idea of what it means to be Spider-Man. Miles wants to save his father from a fated death as a police captain, but Miguel wants to let it play out so that the universe isn’t destroyed because of canon events.

The idea of canon events creates the division among the Spider-People where they choose to let people die to preserve the universe or risk its destruction. This idea is pretty similar to what Doctor Strange presented in No Way Home with letting the villains die than risk the universe. I think because Miles doesn’t follow the canon, he can break the cycle that all the Spider-People endure and have them even question the very system they follow.

I liked how the story left us on a cliffhanger that made us crave more of the movies and possible spinoffs. Leaving us wondering what will happen to Miles on Earth 42 with his evil doppelgänger or what Gwen’s plan is now that she’s leading a splinter team against Miguel and the Spider-Society.

Afterword

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a miracle in the landscape of sequels and two-parters. It has pushed itself to a whole new level of animation with unique colors and styles. The story and characters are pushed to their limits with dilemmas of preservation and duty along with freedom of choice and finding one’s way. It reminds us that no matter who you are, you can still be unsure of what you want and still be okay with questioning things.

Now I can’t wait for Beyond the Spider-Verse next year.

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black-arcana · 7 months

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Maria Brink and Chris Howorth of In This Moment

by Greg Prato

On their 2023 album, GODMODE, their epic music videos, and their most misunderstood song.

Since 2005, singer Maria Brink and guitarist Chris Howorth have been the leaders of In This Moment, a band that is hard to pin down to a single style (a most welcomed attribute in an era when seemingly most successful rock acts are one-dimensional). Are they industrial metal? Goth metal? Alternative metal? Maybe a little bit of all three – which is on display throughout their eighth studio offering, GODMODE.

And while they have certainly obtained an impressive amount of success and career highlights (a Grammy nomination, billed on some of the world's biggest festivals, a Gold-certified record...), there was a point in their career when, for a brief period, the band was over. Luckily, Brink "kicked the door in" and the band found a path forward with a new visual presentation in their concerts and videos.

Both bandmates spoke to Songfacts shortly before the October 27, 2023 release of GODMODE to discuss the album's mysterious title, the stories behind several of their best-known tunes, and how they conceive their videos.Greg Prato (Songfacts): How has the band's songwriting changed over the years?

Maria Brink: It definitely has. We've been together now 18 years. When we started off, we didn't know what we were doing. We were just trying to figure it out. We used to butt heads a lot and have a lot of confrontation. Now, it feels like we flow like a river together. I think we're just more mature and we've grown with each other, and we've really learned what each other likes and how we work. It's definitely become a lot smoother.

We approach songwriting on all different levels, whether or not Chris writes a song and sends it to me, or I write something on piano. Sometimes I'll even mimic a song on a voice message, with instruments and everything, and Chris will bring it to life for us. So, we really don't have a one-way approach, but we've gotten better at it, that's for sure.

Chris Howorth: In the beginning, it was like we just had a bunch of songs written, and I had a bunch of stuff. I was kind of forcing it on Maria at the very beginning. And then we started trying to figure out what we would do together, and it was a battle. Every album was its own challenge – up until this one, which feels like one of the smoothest experiences we've had together. I guess all that time, we learned how to do it.

I don't like to be told what to do or how to sing something.Songfacts: What is the meaning behind the album title GODMODE?

Brink: The album itself felt fierce. It felt really powerful. And we're always about empowering people and wanting people to listen to the music and feel empowered with themselves. Our last album [Mother, 2020] was a bit more on the somber side because we were really depressed when we went into that album. But on this album, we felt fire and we felt really all the things. I'm always speaking about certain spiritual aspects and tend to sway into that.

But this name, GODMODE, is powerful, epic, limitless. And then Chris when I told him, he's a huge gamer, and he was like, "Actually, in the gaming world, god mode is something you can turn on that your character can't die and all these cool things." So he loved the name right off the bat. It was a no-brainer for Chris and me. We loved the name. Once we both said we should name it this, we were like, "Let's do it." It fit the album as well. Right Chris?

Howorth: Yes, it did. It felt right. And it was like what we were saying about the songwriting: Everything flowed into place on this one. And that too happened during the making of the album. We didn't have a name, and that just popped in. Like, "Oh wow. That's cool."

Songfacts: What was the lyrical inspiration behind the song "The Purge"?

There was this magical moment that happened that felt pretty liberating to Chris and me with writing. He actually wrote most of the musical-type stuff with this song – the verse and the chorus – and sent it to me randomly, and I loved it. I was like, "What is this that you just sent?" The music was so strong to me, and it gave me a really cool feeling. It made me laugh in a way - when I hear something that I love so much, it kind of makes me laugh. It's like this funny, "I can't believe how good this is feeling." So I just loved it.

The lyrics came from all the tension and all the build-up that happened. Why we had to be home and stuck in our houses. Every time I'd turn on the television or go on a social network, that's like what the lyrics are, how it all feels to me. I tried to bring it all into that song.

Songfacts: What are some memories of filming the song's video?

Howorth: The video was totally weird for us. The last few years, all of our videos have mainly been helmed by Maria and this guy named Robert Kley. That collaboration started when we did the "Blood" video, and it's been great. But this time, Maria had her eye on this guy Jensen [Noen], who had done some videos with Motionless In White and Falling In Reverse that were so amazing. You see those videos and you're like, "Oh my God. That is so good." And she was like, "I think we should get this guy for this song."

A lot of technical issues had to happen. She was on the East Coast, I'm on the West Coast. The band is all split up, so she recorded a bunch of her scenes on the East Coast in the church and all this crazy, cool stuff. And then the band got together here on the West Coast at Jensen's studio and did a bunch of stuff on green screen, and he seamlessly put it all together. It was one of our favorite videos. We're totally blown away by how good it came out.

Brink: And like you said, I've been doing the videos for almost 10 years now and it was a little scary to relinquish that power, but everything he was doing was just amazing. He was fine with letting us have our own artistic direction, and we wrote the storyboard and he worked with us on it back and forth. He is just amazing. I would definitely want to do our next video with him. He's badass.

And it was really cool with all of us filming in the church. We went for two days straight and it was pretty crazy. All of it felt pretty epic and awesome. The only thing that was strange was not being with the boys when they were filming. But I actually sat with them the entire time on FaceTime and FaceTimed with them while they were doing their little parts. I FaceTimed with them trying to encourage them while they were doing their make-up and stuff, too.

Songfacts: Are there are any other interesting lyrical inspirations behind certain tracks on the new album?

Brink: Everything we write comes from our soul and my heart. I have to always be honest whenever I do any music. But it's definitely a visceral album. This album is the heaviest album we've had in a long time, and it has a lot of frustrations that built up in me over the last few years with society and things around me, and dealing with my own mental health. So there's definitely a whole journey of emotions in there.

Howorth: I think Maria said it best. The time we had off, it created this angst and this appreciation for what we do. Also, this kind of, "I want to unleash everything." This album was just a natural reaction for those feelings.

Songfacts: Going back a ways, what was the lyrical inspiration behind the track "Blood"?

Brink: "Blood" was a pretty significant moment for us in our careers. Our band had just quit on us, our manager dropped us. Our famous story is, we broke up for half an hour, and then I came back in, kicked the door in, and told Chris, "We're not done! We're not even close to done!"

We did feel like people didn't believe in us and maybe we shouldn't believe in ourselves. We really got down on ourselves for a little bit.

Then there was some sort of surge of energy that happened within us, with all these people not believing in us, that made us want to fight harder than we've ever fought in our whole lives. And [producer] Kevin Churko, who had been working with us, he still believed in us, and so did Century Media. They both wanted to still be on board. So we went and did some songs with Kevin Churko, and "Blood" was one of the songs.

Nobody was showing us any love, and everybody was treating us like the red-headed stepchild. Then we sent that demo out to everybody – just the song – and we were getting all these amazing reactions. We had people lining up to talk to us, and our whole career changed.

You can hear the struggle in that song. It's kind of self-doubt and self-love, and that kind of back-and-forth that we were feeling at that time. Kind of these voices that I think we hear in our own heads, the devil and the angel on your shoulder.

Howorth: That was a whole natural thing that came together. Like this album, it felt like we just followed the path and let all those emotions dictate what was happening.

Songfacts: And what about "Black Wedding," which features Rob Halford?

And Rob Halford is a good friend of the band. He just popped into our lives asking to come see us. He's such a great guy – he and Maria became friends – and we thought, "Let's hit him up and see if he's interested," because she was doing this "mother priest" thing lyrically.

He instantaneously said yes. He jumped on board completely energized and ready to do whatever we wanted to do. He was down for the video and everything. He's one of the coolest people we ever worked with.

Brink: We love him. It was a huge honor to work with him. He's such an amazing guy. It was always emotional and weird for me to work with writers, because like Chris said, we didn't do it quite often. We did it on our new album with Tyler Bates, but we wanted to do that. We chose that. So, when other people are trying to have us work with writers, to me, it's an uncomfortable feeling. I don't like to be told what to do or how to sing something.

But then one day I thought, You know what? I didn't write "Hurt" by Trent Reznor. And if I could meet with Trent Reznor and he could help me write a song like that, dear God, maybe I should be open a little bit to this. So, I am grateful that we did wind up doing that and writing that song because that is one of my favorites. And honestly, out of everyone we worked with, Rob is really one of our special favorites.

Songfacts: Which of your earlier songs seems most relevant today?

Brink: "The Gun Show." Because [the Sirius station] Octane plays "The Gun Show" and people love "The Gun Show."

Howorth: And I would say "Beautiful Tragedy."

Songfacts: What's an In This Moment song that doesn't get a lot of attention but means a lot to you?

Brink: "Legacy."

Howorth: Yeah, I'll back her up on that one. She had lost her grandpa, my dad had passed away, and our other guitarist Randy [Weitzel]'s father had passed away all within a few months of each other. We all came into the whole album bummed and depressed, just feeling that loss. That song literally was just born of thinking about our passed relatives.

Brink: It was in honor of them. My grandfather was my father, so it was a really emotional album for us in general. But that song was special. Chris does a solo for his dad, Randy does one for his, and the lyrics are for my grandpa. The whole thing was really emotional to us. We'll probably do that live again someday because it's special.

Songfacts: What's the most misunderstood song in the In This Moment catalog?

Brink: Definitely "Whore." When I met my partner's mother for the first time, she asked me, "What's your song 'Whore' about?" [Laughs]

It definitely can be perceived as something more on a sleazy side, or a more not-understanding-where-we're-coming-from side, but it's actually this super-empowering, sarcastic nature. It's all about women and empowerment. It's about taking something dirty and degrading and twisting it into something that empowers yourself.

Songfacts: Lastly, how did the idea come up to cover the Björk song "Army Of Me"?

Brink: I love Björk. I'm a huge Björk person. I grew up in the '90s just loving her, and I was always so inspired by her. We wanted to do a cover, and I always get tracks - they call it my "art tracks" - where I can just do this and that. And this was one of those songs that I picked where I wanted to do a cover and showed Chris three different Björk songs. This was the one that he loved the most. He liked it right off the bat.

Howorth: The main riff, when I was listening to that I was like, "That's really cool." And then once we put heavy guitar on it, it was like, "That is outside of metal, rock, techno, whatever her music is called. That is just a cool riff not matter how you slice it – on keyboard, acoustic-whatever, saxophone... it would just be a cool riff."

Brink: She's a brave icon. I love Björk. She follows no rules.

October 10, 2023

#maria brink #chris howorth #in this moment #interview

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tbfamily-if · 1 month

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Portrait: Charlie Andrew

Childhood:

Charlie Andrew's childhood was a tumultuous time marked by struggles with identity and acceptance. Growing up in a conservative household, they grappled with feelings of confusion and alienation as they came to terms with their non-binary identity.

Despite the challenges they faced at home, Charlie found solace and refuge in their love for literature and art. Books became their sanctuary, offering a world of escapism and imagination where they could explore new ideas and perspectives.

As they navigated the complexities of their identity, Charlie sought solace in nature, finding peace and tranquility amidst the serene landscapes of their upbringing. Hiking became a form of therapy, allowing them to disconnect from the chaos of everyday life and reconnect with their inner self.

Hobbies:

Reading is a lifelong passion for Charlie, who devours books voraciously, spanning a wide range of genres and topics. They find solace and inspiration in the written word, turning to literature as a source of comfort and enlightenment.

Hiking serves as both a physical and spiritual pursuit for Charlie, who relishes the opportunity to explore the great outdoors and commune with nature. The rhythmic cadence of their footsteps and the gentle rustle of leaves bring them a sense of peace and serenity.

Drawing is another outlet for Charlie's creativity, allowing them to express themselves visually and experiment with different artistic styles. They find joy in the process of creation, losing themselves in the flow of lines and colors as they bring their imagination to life on the page.

Despite the estrangement from their family, Charlie remains resilient and determined to live authentically as their true self. They draw strength from their hobbies and passions, forging their own path forward with courage and conviction.

Sex/Love Life:

Charlie Andrews' romantic journey has been characterized by a series of flings and short-lived relationships. They have always been open to exploring connections with others but have struggled to find lasting love.

In their early twenties, Charlie entered into a marriage that lasted for three years, from the ages of 21 to 24. While the relationship provided companionship and stability for a time, it ultimately ended due to a lack of compatibility and shared vision for the future.

Since then, Charlie has embraced their single status and focused on personal growth and self-discovery. They are content with their independence and enjoy the freedom to explore their own interests and passions without the constraints of a committed relationship.

Job as a Teacher:

Charlie Andrews is a dedicated and passionate educator, committed to nurturing the minds and hearts of their students. As a teacher at the school attended by Alisha and Asim, they play a pivotal role in shaping the young minds entrusted to their care.

In the classroom, Charlie fosters a supportive and inclusive environment where students feel valued and respected. They believe in the power of education to empower and uplift, inspiring their students to reach for their dreams and pursue knowledge with curiosity and enthusiasm.

Despite the challenges of teaching, Charlie finds fulfillment in witnessing the growth and development of their students. They are invested in the success and well-being of each individual under their guidance, providing mentorship and support both inside and outside the classroom.

As Alisha and Asim's teacher, Charlie takes pride in helping them navigate the complexities of adolescence and discover their unique talents and strengths. They strive to be a positive influence in their students' lives, imparting valuable lessons and fostering a love for learning that will last a lifetime.

Green Flag: Compassionate and Supportive

Red Flag: Difficulty Establishing Boundaries

#tbfamily #wip #character portrait #Charlie Andrew

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gamerdog1 · 4 days

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Devil May Cry Review

Last year, I adopted my little PS2 from a Value Village. I lovingly took it home, gave it a gentle bath, and spent at least a dozen hours carefully swabbing it's insides of dust. All this, so I can get the experience of playing popular and longstanding game franchises, like God of War, and Metal Gear Solid, where they began. The things we do for love, I guess.

Since then, I've been on a bit of a side-quest in life, sort of. A quest to discover why popular pieces of media got so popular, by experiencing them first-hand. I have this drive to learn about what is beloved, to join in the fun of fandom with others, and so when I saw a lot of fanart of white haired brothers with magic swords, I got curious. One thing led to another, and after many, many hours, I have some thoughts.

Devil May Cry, for the PS2, is a very interesting case. For one, its the accidental sister to Resident Evil, as it was originally intended to be the third installment in that franchise during development. Yet the two could not be more different, in terms of gameplay style, visuals, and execution as a whole.

Where Resident Evil is all about forcing the player into difficult situations , Devil May Cry feels a little more lax. Resident Evil makes the player slowly take in the atmosphere, learn about the lore, and use their knowledge of the map to their advantage, while Devil May Cry prioritizes snappy combat over exploration and puzzle-solving.

The focus on combat is what everything in DMC revolves around, for better or for worse. There's a variety of visually interesting moves you can pull off, and more to unlock by trading in currency gotten by killing enemy monsters. More upgrades means more cool moves, means more interesting combat, and more ways to tackle bosses.

At times, though, the complexity of the combat system left me feeling overwhelmed. This is one of the few games where I had to read the manual in order to play, as there isn't any tutorial, and combat can be punishing in early stages if you aren't fully familiar with Dante's moves.

Even after learning the ins and outs of the controls and combat, I still got my ass handed to me by the first boss, and every one after that. Each one felt like a massive hurdle, and forced me to really learn how they worked in order to even stand a chance. In the moment, I was frustrated, but looking back now, I haven't had to work this hard with a boss in years. Spending hours sitting on my couch, going over the attack patterns, it was almost meditative (if not for the occasional shouts of expletives here and there on my part).

Devil May Cry, as a whole, isn't incredibly difficult, as long as you know what you're doing. The game is about figuring out your enemies' weaknesses and the best ways to exploit them, not just rushing in and hoping you'll live. Figuring this out is the first challenge, the second is the underwater controls.

Apart from gameplay itself, DMC is pretty interesting. The gothic architecture is a bit of a far cry from Resident Evil, but carries over it's grim tone and atmosphere. Colors are muted, music is oppressive and heavy, and everything lends to this feeling of grandness and fantasy. It really makes the player character stand out, which is great when you're getting ambushed by ice lizards, or something equally monstrous, in one of the many grand halls.

This review also wouldn't be complete without talking about the main character, who is a delight to be around. Honestly, Dante is the reason I picked up this game, and the reason I kept coming back to it, even after countless GAME OVER's. His snarky attitude, stylish coat, and cockiness make him a fun character to see interact with others and his surroundings, and really help him stand out from the holier-than-thou demons he faces. He's always got something to say, isn't afraid to speak his mind, and just wants to have fun, and really, who can blame him?

The story of the game, though, left a bit to be desired. Yes, its epic, and gets better in the second half of the game, but for a while, the game felt aimless. Why do I need to get these magic items, to unlock these doors, to do these tasks the game sets as mission objectives? In most games, they usually directly tie into what the player character is doing, and help facilitate a progression of story. For example, when Jill finds Richard in RE1, and has to get him an antidote before he dies, its not just a fetch quest; it teases the snake boss, establishes Richard as a character in the game's world, and depending on whether or not you save him, it affects future gameplay.

In DMC, though, each mission feels like homework, an assignment to do before a deadline or else. Sure, its a good way to show players the next objective, and as a neurodivergent person I love having clear and concise instructions, but it kills the mood. I never felt like I was exploring the castle, discovering new things and furthering the plot. It felt like I had a to-do list from the game devs, full of tasks that rarely were related to the plot, and usually just meant 'go here, get the thing, bring it somewhere else'. It would've been nice if the quests explicitly furthered the plot, but at least they told me where to go.

Don't get me wrong: I don't hate this game. I actually liked it, but there were lots of issues I had with it that soured my experience. Unforgiving bosses, overly complicated controls, and a lack of story immersion made me feel like this game was an experiment with this style of gameplay on Capcom's part. If this had a bit more polish, or maybe a tutorial, I might try playing on a higher difficulty. For now, though, I'm excited to see what's new in the sequel. I've heard its... rather infamous. Exciting.

#film critic #review #game review #video game review #retro gaming #retro games #playstation #ps2 nostalgia #devil may cry #dmc1

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whimsicalpoet44 · 1 year

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My fourth house profection year is already fourth house profectioning. (is that even a word?)

Cycle breaker probs, am I right?

Anyways...since I'm feeling unhinged and chaotic from an unwarranted interaction with my mother tonight, here's a new post 😂

Placements in my mother's birth chart that explain why I'm traumatized 😂 and how it affected my birth chart (An actual visualization of generational trauma in a birth chart + how our placements interacted)

I know some people don't like to share their personal placements for various valid reasons. But I've always been an open book and like to use myself as an example to help make things make sense, since I can explain how it's applicable really easily. It's the teacher Sag traits. And I don't mind it.

I'll give a trigger warning, since I'm talking about generational trauma. But I don't go into heavy detail about it (besides ineffective communication styles). Just casual mention of the area of life it's related to.

**Note: If you have these placements, know that having these absolutely do not mean you're a bad person or are bound to traumatize someone. I'm simply showing how a parent/child birth chart can correlate. It also can show how unhealed placements can react. Not everyone with these same placements acts this way. This is just how it reacts with my mom's personality and experiences. This is simply for fun and synastry. + to give a literal visualization of generational trauma in the birth chart **

I also hope this doesn't come off as insensitive. But if I don't laugh, I'll cry. I tried to keep it humorous, while offering a subjective and objective take simultaneously. And I like to see different ways placements can play out. Because they can play out completely differently per person. So I figured I would share it for anyone whose fascinated by this stuff like I am.

💥Aries Sun (mom) vs. Sagittarius Sun (me). These placements are usually seen as a great pair...however in a parent-child relationship, it was a nightmare (for my circumstances. Obviously this could be great for someone else). A lot of expectations were placed on me, and if I didn't answer her or react to her in a timely manner, it was catastrophic. Of course, I had a ton of leadership qualities and this angered her. She wanted to control me. I valued my freedom. I needed freedom. She could NOT handle the idea that I was my own person with my own identity and tried to live out her ego through me.

💥Aries Moon (mom) vs. Pisces Moon (me). I soaked up EVERYTHING. I could feel subliminal shifts in the air, and I was constantly accommodating her emotions. She would rage based on her mood and then would quickly forget she ever did it. She would treat me as if nothing had ever happened. As a Pisces Moon, this was so confusing for me. I was super sensitive and feared rejection. I was also really passive, which allowed her to dominant my emotions. She trauma dumped on me constantly. And I allowed her to because I was really compassionate and craved approval. The positives of Aries Moon would shine through every once in while, but it rarely benefitted me. (Cause I was the scapegoat). In fact, I would use the manipulative side of Pisces to shift her emotions to try to keep myself safe. It took years to unlearn this.

💥Aries Mercury (mom) vs. Sagittarius Mercury (me). We both did well thinking on our feet. We were both able to sustain the stamina needed to engage each other in arguments. I had a DEEP innate sense of justice (hello neurodivergency and Sag), while she had a narrow way of thinking. The goal was never to expand her mind, it was to win the battle of wits. Which she rarely did. I paid deeply for that 😂 but it was worth the satisfaction. Had she healed and worked on her self-growth, she could've been a fierce advocate for herself, me, and others. Instead, she cared solely about being right. I love Aries Mercury individuals, because they have so many strengths. But when someone only cares to control others, the negative traits are fiercely obvious. She also took my need to question the world as questioning her authority, so that was fun. It took a while to undo the habit of playing mind games for me, too (which Sag mercury is great at lol).

💥Pisces Mars (mom) vs. Sagittarius Mars (me). She'd make threats and fail to follow through on them. This placement might've been good for her if her Chiron wasn't also in Pisces...in the 5th house. *blinks aggressively* One of Pisces Mars' strengths is to express anger and emotion through a creative outlet. With a wound in her house of creativity and the sign of imagination....well, yeah. With Mars in Sag in the 12th, I was great at following through on my words and I definitely had a creative outlet for all of the pent up aggression. I think she got jealous of this at times.

💥Scorpio Rising (mom) vs. Capricorn Rising (me). Ahahahahah I'm just going to sit here and laugh at this one. No wonder it was always volatile. She was constantly transforming and I was constantly seeking structure. I was also big on accountability. She was ruled by the planet of death, destruction, and transformation. I was ruled by the planet of authority, accountability, and boundaries.

To make it clear, most of my friends are Scorpio risings and we work excellent together. We provide insight and have really similar life experiences in very different ways. In a healthy parent-child relationship, this is probably a great pairing. But a toxic one?? AHAHAH. Especially if the parent is constantly changing and the child is seeking structure (in an unhealthy environment). I imagine in a healthy dynamic, Scorpio Rising parents can provide their children with valuable life skills by teaching them resilience and adaptability.

💥Saturn in the 4th House (mom) vs. Saturn in the 3rd House (me). The 4th house is the house of family, home, and the mother. When I say my grandma was awful? oof. My mom definitely had mommy issues (but alas, so do I). She literally had blockages and hardships in the family & home. I was the family and home 😂 She also dealt with an incredible amount of trauma as a child. I really do feel for her. I can even excuse some of what she did if she just tried to be better now. She has the resources available to her to grow and heal, and she knows they're there and actively chooses not to use them. THAT is what I have a hard time with.

With my Saturn in the 3rd, I find it hard to connect with others. I have issues feeling like my voice holds power. A lot of the wounding with Saturn in the 3rd comes in childhood. It can also indicate issues with siblings. My brother and I had different childhood experiences because of our age gap. We had totally different parents even though we were raised by the same people. Part of that is because my Dad died when I was so young (LOL @ my Sun in the 12th).

Connecting Generational Trauma

Now here is where I can start drawing really cool parallels. Try to stay with me. I'll explain it the best I can.

My IC 4th House is in Aries, which is my mom's sun sign. IC In Aries indicates a volatile relationship in the home and family, often having an aggressive parental figure. Which it was.

Now, my Lilith is in Cancer. Cancer rules the 4th House. Cancer Lilith's are largely known for working through ancestral trauma on the maternal side. My mom's Saturn is also in the 4th house, indicating ancestral trauma from the maternal side.

My Chiron is in Libra. My North Node is in Libra. And my Lilith is in the 7th House. Libra and the 7th house are the house/sign of relationships. Usually affiliated with romantic relationships, but it can highlight other relationships as well. This is significant because my Lilith in Cancer in the 7th House is indicating a wounded relationship with the mother (among other things, but I'm focusing on this part).

However, my mom has had a long and toxic history regarding her romantic partners. Her Venus is in the 7th House. Which is an interesting observation to note as well.

Overall, this is LITERALLY a visual example of generational trauma being passed down in a birth chart. I think it's kinda neat.

ANOTHER observation is that her Venus is in Taurus in the 7th House. My Saturn in my placidus chart is in the 2nd house...which is the house of Taurus. My mom's side has a long history of toxic marriages. Something, I'm currently working through. Where my Lilith also is. WILD.

Additionally, my brother's Lilith is in Aries (my mom's sun sign) in the 7th House (same house as mine). TELL ME THAT'S NOT WILD. My brother's Saturn placement is also in the 2nd in his Placidus, like mine.

It gets even more bizzare. My brother's daughter has her Chiron in Pisces in the 5th. Literally handing that down to her from my mom.

This is why I love astrology. Back to observations.

💥We both have Neptune in the 1st. Neptune in the 1st is prone to being projected on. We projected our insecurities on one another, often making rash assumptions.

💥Her Chiron is in Pisces in the 5th. Her Jupiter is in Pisces in the 5th. This indicates that her luck and abundance is directly tied to her Chiron wound. And if she avoids working on it....well...yeah. And she had really terrible luck, ngl.

💥Her IC 4th House (the house of home | family | mother) is in Aquarius. My brother is an Aquarius Sun and stellium. I'm flabbergasted. My niece's IC is also in Aquarius.

Conclusion

There's a lot more, but that's just a few examples. I think it's neat.

This wasn't meant to be a trauma dump. Rather, a generational examination of birth charts. It helped me process some stuff too. And I figured others might find it helpful.

I joke a lot about my placements being awful and terrible, but I really do like them. I think it's just because I'm processing. And I like to joke.

I don't know who I'd be without my 12th house | Neptune in the 1st | Cap Rising placements. They make me who I am. And I like the strengths that come with them, even if it's isolating at times.

Some people find superiority in having extremely hard placements, by using them to discount others experiences. I will never do that and if I do, please call me on it.

But it's important to note that in astrology, there just are really difficult placements. It's bound to happen. And we each get some.

Every single birth chart will have challenging placements. Every single one.

it's just that some people end up with a little (or a lot) more than others. And sometimes, I believe, that it might be attributed to generational trauma.

So there you have it. An analysis of generational trauma across 3 generations in astrology. I wish I had my grandma's birth time just to see. But if you have your parents charts, I HIGHLY recommend looking at them. It can help you understand some of your placements a little more.

Also, if anyone disagreed with this analysis, I'd love to hear why. I love learning how others interpret.

#natal chart #astrology observations #generational trauma

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absentcaryatid · 2 years

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ATEEZ as Happily Partnered Teachers

A fanfic by AbsentCaryatid

All eight members in love and a little about their work at school based on this post by @twancingyunhao setting up their roles. Thank you my friend for generously giving permission to write about your characters.

2.3K words, Content note: gender neutral reader, food

It had been an exhausting two days. While your regular classes had some time off, you had been meeting the next semester's incoming kindergarten students along with their parents. Now you were tasked with coming up with two balanced class lists. Placing your head down on crossed arms, you felt like you could nap at the table and you had not even been as active as Wooyoung. Mr. Jung, your colleague on the kindergarten team at your elementary school, had been amazing at chatting with the mothers and fathers. While you focused on getting to know the future students a little he had been able to put families' fears to rest about the transition many saw as their child's first 'real school' experience.

That distinction was always a strange one since your time in both preschool and daycare during teacher training showed you those jobs were every bit as serious about educating at far less pay for the teachers and for more difficult and less respected work. It was at one of those placements where you had first met Wooyoung while he had been earning his teaching degree from another college. Despite the vast differences in your personalities and teaching styles, you found yourselves very compatible in the workplace and with a lot to learn from each other.

It helped matters when you told Wooyoung early on you were comfortable if he needed to get up and move around in meetings. Leaning on chairs, dancing about, and even laying on the table freed his mind to think better when he did not have to focus on keeping his body still. It gave you great sympathy for your students with similar antsy tendencies. His classroom was visually jumbled with too much on the walls for your taste while yours was quieter and calming but both of you were adored by your students. It had been quite a blessing to discover your friend had been hired at the same school as yourself and the year had been a good one so far.

Wooyoung was waiting for a first or second grade position to become available somewhere in the school system but until then he had been happy to take the second kindergarten classroom when the position opened up. Due to just hitting over the student enrollment maximum and having to split the load, it gave you each a very manageable amount of students and a new favorite coworker. You liked knowing the man in the classroom beside yours was always up for whatever you threw his way. Wooyoung had liked the school so much, particularly his fellow instructors, that he was no longer looking for a grade change for the next year if it meant leaving this location that had become his home.

He patted your arm before you could fall asleep in the comfortable position and promised to take you out to dinner if you two got the class lists for the future students knocked out within the hour. Approving of the idea, you asked, “Should we see if San wants to join us? I can yawn my head off halfway through and bow out leaving the two of you to the meal together.”

“The offer of help is appreciated but there is no need. You know I can't keep it in when I like somebody.” Wooyoung admitted proudly, “We already went out on our first date last week.”

You gasped in happiness for your friends and could forgive Wooyoung for not keeping you fully up to date on his love life. Mr. Choi was the physical education teacher and was new this year himself. Since enrollment was small his job was cobbled together over several locations but the day and a half spent at this school was his favorite by far.

You had seen the effect he and Wooyoung had on each other and it pleased you immensely that they had acted on their feelings. Wooyoung's leverage over San's tender heart had benefited you too as San agreed to double book your consecutive PE classes once a month to give you more joint planning time while he skillfully wrangled the large group. It was good to know San was finally getting something in return.

After your work on the incoming students was complete you decided to head over to San's cubby of an office to invite him in person. You wanted to get to know him better and Wooyoung had been reassuring that that your presence would not be intruding on their time together at the restaurant. Considering Wooyoung had asked you to dinner first without San, being the third wheel due to your own encouragement would have been extra awkward. As luck would have it, you needn't have worried because it ended up a double date. Unexpectedly seated with San was your own boyfriend Yeosang who taught at the high school across the street and you greeted him warmly with a kiss to the cheek.

Like San, his time was split over several schools in his work as a weight room teacher. At your suggestion, Yeosang was trying to bring the currently high school only program to the upper grades of your mixed elementary and middle school. If the plan came to fruition, Yeosang would not have to travel in so many different directions and the perk of lunchtime with you daily was an extra incentive.

It turned out the athletic teachers had already agreed to meet some of the other staff at Treasure, a restaurant nearby so you texted Wooyoung to join you there and San headed to the kindergarten wing to walk over with him. On your own arm in arm arrival Yeosang spotted some of his high school colleagues already at a large table and he introduced you to them. Hongjoong was a standout in his bright red hair and you shook hands with the affable musical theory teacher. His coworker Jongho at his side was far more subtle but still recognizable from his job as choral instructor. One of the first dates Yeosang had taken you on was an evening performance by the bands and chorus from your senior school and what Jongho had accomplished with the students in his own first year teaching left you impressed.

Also present was Yunho who you already knew because he taught drama from kindergarten through high school. You made sure to sit in on his visits whenever he came by because he was so good with the younger students. Although originally just a middle and high school class, in a pilot program of his own devising Yunho had convinced the school system to give him one day a month in your elementary school letting the younger children benefit from the movement and emotional exploration of acting. He had wowed you coming into your room in a shared activity with Wooyoung's class already familiar with some of the kindergarten curriculum goals to integrate into his workshops.

The kids loosened up pretending to be balloons taking in more and more air as they stretched their standing bodies out until Mr. Jeong warned them one more breath would be too much. Dramatically taking in a final large breath the kids yelled “Pop!” then deflated back into flat positions on the floor. They talked about feelings and acted out faces and gestures for each then ended with a fairy tale they could participate in with sound effects and more emotions. You were so enamored with his respect for young children that you told Yeosang he would have had competition for your heart if not for being aware of Yunho's obvious crush on Mr. Song, the upper grade math teacher in your building.

There seemed to be quite a few of these budding relationships if Hongjoong's beaming reaction to the arrival of Seonghwa who took at seat at his side was any indication. Mr. Park was technically only a middle school home economics teacher but sometimes he would take his break period in the elementary school wing of the shared building giving a cooking demonstration. His doughnut hack to fry canned biscuits in your room after your students punched a hole in them with a thimble then shook in a bag of sugar once cooked was quite a hit. The scent of canola oil had lingered for a week and the memory of his good looks lasted even longer. At no level of your own schooling experience could you recall so many attractive young men among the staff.

Pulled back to attention in the present, Seonghwa smiled at you and asked if you would permit him to make stone soup with your students from a variety of root vegetables they could learn about. You were in awe. Just as with Yunho, he too had been eyeing the kindergarten curriculum and was familiar with some of the books and goals. Plenty of teachers went above and beyond but these guys you knew were something else altogether. You noted Hongjoong seemed to be a little jealous of the attention from Seonghwa so you openly held Yeosang's hand on the table while asking if the upper grades teamed up as often as at your level.

At that cue Seonghwa asked Jongho about selling baked goods at choral events as a student led fundraiser. Jongho suggested Hongjoong would make a better point man for that collaboration and the two began planning immediately, quickly picking a weekend day to coordinate further at Hongjoong's place. Yeosang looked over and saw your smile then whispered with a nudge, “You would see every one of us set up with another teacher, wouldn't you?”

You suppressed a laugh and agreed, “It makes for a very convenient partnership when we have almost the same hours and days off. It has worked well in our case and I want that same happiness for everyone we know who wants to be partnered.”

Yeosang hummed in agreement then welcomed the latest arrivals, Wooyoung and San who had discovered Mingi in the hallway and enticed him along. Yunho stood and graciously offered his seat to Mingi to make sure he was in included in the center of conversation then sat alongside with a fond look plastered on his face. Again Yeosang teased you, daring you to come up with a way the drama teacher could integrate himself into Mingi's math lessons. Stumped, you admitted, “I don't think that will be necessary. They seem to be figuring things out well enough on their own.” Mingi's wide smile and laughter at something Yunho just said confirmed your assessment.

Wanting to include Jongho in the conversation, you thoughtlessly asked if he had a special someone. It was fortunate that your potential minefield of a question landed well. He lit up and gushed, “I do, a spouse in fact. Been with them since my own high school years.”

Guessing he had a husband you offered supportively, “You are out of the classroom and don't have to be cagey about their gender.”

“Actually, 'spouse' and 'them' is being precise. They are non-binary.” The loving set of his face told of a very happy relationship.

“Of course, forgive me.” With a contemplative look you added, “You know, I do believe I have met them. We were seated in the front row of your winter concert and got to talking beforehand. Purple hair and amazing dress sense? I believe their overcoat had all the colors of the rainbow in such an interesting pattern.”

Jongho beamed. “Yes, memorable, aren't they? As you can see,” he gestured to his presentable suit in subdued tones, “between us, they are the flashy one. It is fitting my partner teaches art at the community college, even gotten some of my former students,” he announced with pride.

Conversation paused as the waitress took orders for the latest arrivals. Once chatty again, Yeosang returned to an earlier topic with a sigh. “I just wish there was a way for me to drop in professionally on your class like Seonghwa and Yunho get to. They don't know how lucky they are.” He seemed a little wistful and you felt sorry for him.

Hugging his arm you reassured, “Our friends here tonight might visit in the classroom but you get to see me at home which is even better. Besides, the kids already know you from all the things I share. Just this week you were in a writing example I sounded out, 'Mr. Kang and I visited the zoo. We saw bears, elephants, and a seal.' They liked the picture I drew to go with it of us looking at the animals and they told me to make us holding hands.” You grinned. “High school gets out an hour before us so you are always welcome to come by before the kindergarten day ends. Come as yourself and read a story someday. They do want to meet you and ask about you all the time.”

Before your boyfriend could answer, a shocked wail erupted from Wooyoung as an icy soda drenched his slacks. San was apologizing profusely for the accident that had occurred when his reach across the table toppled the drink toward Wooyoung. San announced his apartment was nearby and he was talking Wooyoung home to change. Once gone, there were some smirks around the table as the remaining men took odds on the pair returning or having an evening to themselves once at San's place.

Mingi announced he too lived close by as well in case anybody else had a problem like that. “Good thing my pants would be big enough to fit you Yunho,” he said guilelessly with a meaningful look while poking his drink with a straw as the tumbler was held at a dangerous angle ready to spill. Even though some things went over Yeosang's head, it was clear to even him that Mingi and Yunho were another couple among your friends figuring things out without any help needed.

Masterlist

#ATEEZ #ATEEZ Fluff #Kpop Fanfic #Kpop Fluff #gender neutral reader #Yeosang x You #Yeosang x Reader #Mingi x Yunho #San x Wooyoung #Seonghwa x Hongjoong #Jongho x OC #cross posted on ao3 #It was a rare day off #diverseinsertknet

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a-silent-symphony · 2 years

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NIGHTWISH Announces 'Human. :II: Nature. (Tour Edition)'

NIGHTWISH will release "Human. :II: Nature. (Tour Edition)" on November 18 via Nuclear Blast. It will be made available as a luxurious 2CD plus Blu-ray digipak and include the band's latest album alongside NIGHTWISH's two interactive experiences in May 2021 when the group performed in a tavern called "The Islanders Arms" built in a virtual world. On both nights, the fans experienced a one-and-a-half-hour performance, hearing songs live off "Human. :II: Nature." for the first time ever. Each of the two nights had its own slightly different setlist. Originally available just as a DVD release and on Blu-ray in Japan, this new edition is the ultimate version to re-experience this unique and magical show NIGHTWISH created after their world tour had to be canceled.

Half a year in preparation and premiered on May 28 and May 29, 2021, "An Evening With Nighwish In A Virtual World" was not just a regular streaming show. It was an exceptionally ambitious production, allowing fans to follow the band playing live in an astonishing 3D world, designed according to the band's vision, while interacting with each other.

NIGHTWISH's two interactive experiences drew 150,000 viewers, setting the record for the largest paid virtual concert in Finland's history. Most of the viewers came from Europe and North America, but the performance was a truly global event, with fans in 108 countries purchasing tickets to the show and the box office gross exceeding one million euro.

"This is definitely one of the coolest things NIGHTWISH has ever done," the band comments. "Entwining visual elements, technology and music in such an extraordinary way offers a unique experience to us all."

About 30 people from seven different countries, many of them longtime fans, put everything they had into the game to craft a high-quality virtual concert featuring a NIGHTWISH-themed tavern, elaborate animations and 3D models that provided an atmospheric and inimitable stage for the group's 100-minute-long, stellar career-spanning set brilliantly mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox.

Celebrating the announcement, NIGHTWISH has released a video for "Noise", taken from "An Evening With Nightwish In A Virtual World".

"Human. :II: Nature. (Tour Edition)" track listing:

CD 1: Human. :II: Nature.

01. Music 02. Noise 03. Shoemaker 04. Harvest 05. Pan 06. How's The Heart? 07. Procession 08. Tribal 09. Endlessness

CD 2: All the Works of Nature Which Adorn the World

01. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Vista 02. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - The Blue 03. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - The Green 04. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Moors 05. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Aurorae 06. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Quiet As The Snow 07. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Anthropocene (incl. "Hurrian Hymn To Nikkal") 08. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Ad Astra

Blu-ray: Virtual Live Show From The Islanders Arms 2021

01. Intro 02. Noise 03. Planet Hell 04. Alpenglow 05. Élan 06. Storytime 07. How's The Heart? 08. Harvest 09. Dark Chest Of Wonders 10. I Want My Tears Back 11. Ever Dream 12. Nemo 13. Sleeping Sun 14. Pan 15. Last Ride Of The Day 16. Ghost Love Score 17. The Greatest Show On Earth 18. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World: VIII. Ad Astra

NIGHTWISH keyboardist and main songwriter Tuomas Holopainen recently spoke to Rauta about what fans can expect from the band's upcoming follow-up to "Human. :II: Nature.". He said: "I feel it's gonna be the third part of a trilogy started by 'Endless Forms Most Beautiful' [2015] followed by 'Human. :II: Nature.' and then finished by this upcoming album."

According to Tuomas, NIGHTWISH's next LP will cover previously uncharted ground while continuing in the more cinematic style that has characterized some of the band's recent efforts.

"There's always something new," he explained. "It's important for my own mental health, when it comes to writing music, that you need to search for some new territories and try not to repeat yourself. And that can be heard on the upcoming album, for sure, already on the demo that we've done."

Asked if NIGHTWISH's upcoming LP will once again be an exploration of evolutionary science, as was the case with the previous two releases, Tuomas said: "Yes and no. It sails on the same waters, but there's some new surprises there as well."

Holopainen went on to say that NIGHTWISH fans will have to wait a while before hearing new music from the band. "We'll enter the studio next year and the album is gonna come out maybe early 2024," he said.

In August, Holopainen told Knotfest that he and his bandmates had spent "the past few weeks" listening to a demo of the next NIGHTWISH album. "Because of COVID, lots of free time, I decided to use that well, so I wrote all the songs for the next album, demoed it, wrote the lyrics, and now we have been brainstorming over it with these guys," he said, referring to drummer Kai Hahto and the rest of NIGHTWISH.

Added Kai: "Yeah, it's been great. The six of us, in the same room, listening to fresh demos for the upcoming album, checking the lyrics and the vocal parts and stuff like that. So it's been wonderful. This man [Tuomas] has been really productive."

Earlier in the month, Tuomas told Rock Sverige that he spent "about a year" working on the music and lyrics for the next NIGHTWISH album, "and then we finished the demos about two months ago. We're hitting the studio next summer, so in about a year from now," he revealed. "Like I said, might as well use the time for something."

Asked if he got any kind of inspiration from the pandemic, Tuomas said: "Yeah, lyrically there's a couple of things that reflects the pandemic, but not in the way you would expect."

"Human. :II: Nature." was released in April 2020. The follow-up to 2015's "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" was a double album containing nine tracks on the main CD and one long track, divided into eight chapters, on CD 2.

In August, NIGHTWISH announced the addition of bassist Jukka Koskinen (WINTERSUN) as an official member of the band. Koskinen, who made his live debut with NIGHTWISH at the band's two interactive experiences, had spent the last year touring with NIGHTWISH as a session musician.

#Nightwish #Human. :II: Nature. (Tour Edition)#2022 news

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choi-hae · 1 year

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Kenny’s Top Music of 2022

Hi hello, it’s that time of year again. This year was full of an insane amount of great music. As always, I try to listen to as much as possible to get the fullest experience in my music journey. I know I can’t possible listen to everything, but I always do my best.

This year’s music review is pretty crazy. These lists are much more extensive and specific as opposed to last year’s. More categories, more artists, more to consider in terms of what my most favourites of the year truly are. I had to be more detailed on my list categories so that I could include as much as possible. It wasn’t easy to make, that’s for sure. I also included short reasons to why each decision was made (some serious, some unserious).

I have a couple rules I put onto myself in terms of my choices. Please take note of those before reading further. Thank you in advance for reading my lists!

RULES:

1. If an album was chosen for top album (group or solo), I tried to choose a different title from a different album OR a completely different artist all together for top title track (group or solo) to showcase as much variety as possible (and to challenge myself). If an album was chosen, it can be assumed I love all, if not most, of the songs on that album anyway. 2. Top b sides are okay to chosen from top albums, as it only makes sense, and there can be multiple from a single artist but only ONE SONG per album. 3. None of these lists are in any particular order. It’s hard enough to choose top of anything, let alone put them into a numbered order.

And with that, here are my top music of 2022!

Top 6 group albums of the year:

The World EP.1: Movement - ATEEZ

This album is cinematic. When music makes me visualize so clearly, it’s a winner. I knew it was album of the year from the moment the last song ended.

Maxident - Stray Kids

Overall a cohesive album. Lots of vibes that I personally enjoy a lot and possibly the best unit tracks these boys have released (fight me on it, I dare you).

Harmony: Set In - P1Harmony

They put out three albums this year and each one was an A+. I chose this one for the list because it might be my favourite title and assortment of b sides from them so far.

Shape of Love - Monsta X

Their only album this year but every song is laced with drugs, as many of their songs are. I believe they always manage to produce the most quality tracks.

Reborn - PIXY

This album was a hit. The title is so groovy and replayable, the b sides are incredible. It’s a different vibe for them but suits them so well.

RE: - KARD

This is mostly here because I was looking forward to this comeback more than anything. J.Seph’s return came at the perfect time and they dropped a great summer album.

Top 6 solo albums of the year:

WHEE - Wheein

One of my favourite vocalists. Everything about her music is incredible to me. It’s the perfect calming vibe for relaxing and it makes me happy.

The Story - Kang Daniel

The title track is definitely a favourite from him, but also the b sides are phenomenal. Not to mention the amount of fantastic collabs. Great album all around.

28 Reasons - Seulgi

Another favourite vocalist. The fact that the entire album is so perfectly her while being something very different and new. Every song is a hit.

IM NAYEON - Nayeon

Another album that is so perfect for the artist. I expected nothing less and I still got more, with the fun title, great b sides, and perfect collab songs.

Bare&Rare, Pt.1 - Chungha

I really do love every song on this album. She’s got this incredible ability to embody so many different styles of music and make it her own. I can’t wait for Pt. 2.

Colorful Trauma - Woodz

I love that punk rock/pop punk is finding its place in Kpop. He did such a great job at creating songs that are easy to listen to with this particular sound.

Top 6 hip-hop/R&B albums of the year:

Moodswings In To Order - DPR IAN

Another album that feels cinematic, but in certain places. He makes you see and feel what he wants you to. An incredible storyteller throughout the entire project.

Lowlife Princess: Noir - BIBI

Talk about an album that makes me feel like a bad bitch with every single track. This is the energy I needed. Every song is its own story and each one is just as compelling.

Blanc - Junny

I’m really happy he released a mini after so long. The entire vibe of the album is perfect. His vocals are beautiful as always, not to mention the A+ collab songs.

One Bad Night - Jamie

Another album I was very happy to see come out. She’s worked so hard and it’s clearly paid off. She did great for her first mini; every song is a banger. I feel proud.

Love or Loved, Pt.1 - B.I

Immaculate vibes. I don’t need to say much more. The whole album is my style to a T.

Nangman - Big Naughty

In my opinion, the king of K-R&B/K-Hip Hop. Every song on the album is a hit in its own way. The man just knows how to make good music.

Top 6 girl group title tracks:

Shut Down - Blackpink

As someone who loves rap heavy songs and the incorporation of classical music elements in interesting ways, this track was made for me. The MV is one of my favourites too.

Birthday - Red Velvet

Once again, an incorporation of classical sounding elements but with a more bubbly and fun feel to it, plus their impeccable vocals. It’s a hit.

Talk That Talk - Twice

I don’t know what it is about this song, but it hits. It’s upbeat with a retro feel that suits them perfectly. I really fell for this song over time.

Antifragile - LE SSERAFIM

I didn’t think I would like this song at first but it’s just hella catchy. It solidified these girls as a favourite rookie group. The choreography is an A+ as well.

Nxde - (G)I-DLE

Some slight classical elements here but in more of the burlesque style (which I adore). The messaging behind the song is also fantastic.

Cheshire - ITZY

This one snuck up on me. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I do. I’m in love with the playful nature of the track and it’s just incredibly catchy.

Top 6 boy group title tracks:

Maniac - Stray Kids

Something so different but so them. The MV is also one of my favourites between the camera work and the editing. They did great with this one.

Do It Like This - P1Harmony

This song started off the year with a bang, and I could never forget it. It set them off for an incredible year.

NANANA - GOT7

One of my happy songs for the year. When the chorus comes up, it’s hard to not feel light and uplifted. It’s nice to see them together again.

#MOOD - MCND

The MV really elevated this one for me. These guys always have the most fun comebacks and it was hard to forget this one when it came out.

Same Scent - ONEUS

The dancehall sound is so my style that it was hard for me to ignore this one. It’s a pretty different sound for them but they pulled it off well.

But You - IKON

The retro vibes are immaculate. It suits them as a group so well. It was also nice to see them release as a group again after quite some time.

Top 6 solo title tracks:

Youth - Kihyun

The top anthem for anyone in their 20’s. The happy nature of the track but bittersweet feel of the lyrics really hit hard for me. I feel this one on an emotional level.

Back In Vogue - Alexa

I love this concept for her. I think this was a great comeback for her after such a great year of achievements.

Honey - Solar

This was an incredible solo for her. A step above from her previous one because I felt it really showed so many different sides of her. Plus it’s insanely catchy.

Zoom - Jessi

A fun song that deserved to go viral (and it did), plus the MV was really great. What a queen.

No Thanks - Hyolyn

Another queen, another banger. Unbelievable catchy and makes me feel like a bad bitch. I don’t need much more than that tbh.

Boom - Lee Minhyuk (Huta)

Probably one of the most powerful songs of the year. There’s not much more to say. He’s amazing.

Top 6 band comebacks of the year:

Haircut - Xdinary Heroes

This song is so unique and I think it does a great job of setting these guys apart from not just other bands, but Kpop music in general. Some don’t like the anti drop. I dig it.

NAZABABARA - Rolling Quartz

Just a happy and uplifting track with the vocals but also the way the guitar is used throughout. It feels very different and I like it.

Childhood - The Rose

I cried. Similar to Kihyun’s Youth, it makes me emotional but in a more melancholic way (which is not a bad thing). It’s just beautiful.

Still Here - ONEWE

Another emotional one. Mostly because they’ll be gone for a while and it’s very sad, but also because it’s a beautiful song as a whole.

I Like You - N.Flying

Another happy song. The upbeat bubbliness just makes me happy. That’s all.

Play - LUCY

Another emotional one but much similar feeling to Kihyun’s Youth. The MV is also very touching and beautiful.

Top 6 boy group b sides:

Chill - Stray Kids

The sound of this song is very my style so I fell for it pretty immediately, but after reading the lyrics as well, I really connected with the sentiment and it’s become a favourite.

Ghost - Xdinary Heroes

I’m really in love with the creepy vibe and their vocals are very perfect on this track. It’s a very well rounded song.

Venom - Stray Kids

When I first heard the preview for this song, I knew that it was going to be special. Everything is perfect to me: from the sounds, to the melodies, to the rap. Everything.

사랑한다 - Monsta X

Definitely a happy song. It’s literally a serotonin shot through my veins. It’s a breathe of fresh air. It’s beautiful.

WDIG - ATEEZ

Of all the songs on the album, this one hits different. Something about the way the chorus drops makes my brain happy.

One And Only - P1Harmony

A recent fav but still a good one. It’s bouncing but melodic. It hits a lot of happy parts of my brain. I can’t not put in on the list.

Top 6(+1) girl group b sides:

On A Ride - Red Velvet

Something about this song reminds me of the past and I like it. Plus when that chorus drops, how can you not go wild?

Tally - Blackpink

I like how stripped back it is, and the message is fun. Serious “fuck it” energy.

Basics - Twice

“Slow it down and speed it up like you a spaceship.” Need I say more?

Can’t stop dreamin’ - Purple Kiss

A very dreamy song with a hint of light EDM. I swear the vocals are perfect on this one.

Breath - PIXY

Another dreamy b side but in a more haunting way. PIXY and Purple Kiss b sides from both their recent albums sit at the same table and I’d like to sit with them please.

In My Dreams - Red Velvet

Would you look at that! Another dreamy b side, but with the Red Velvet flare. The harmonies are what really sell this one for me.

COOL (Your rainbow) - NMIXX

Some classical elements with a calming beat behind it; the most relaxing vibe for me. Also, A+ vocals all around. These girls are talented.

Top 6 male solo/hip-hop/R&B b sides:

Mood - DPR IAN

When I first heard this song, I knew it’d be my favourite on the album. It’s playful but haunting. The way he uses effects and sounds throughout. It’s also just a bop.

Tangerine - B.I

For me, this song sits at a similar table to Sunshine by Stray Kids, and if you know me, you know that means something. I feel safe and comforted by this song.

Dopamine - Jackson Wang

I really love the lyrics in this one. It paints a scene for me that is so self indulgent but beautiful at the same time. Also, Jackson vocals = *chef’s kiss*

Zombies - pH-1

It makes me happy. The vibe of the track is so fun and bouncing. What more can I say?

Freak - ZICO

This song is simply crazy good. It’s fun, it’s loud, and the dance challenge was really fun to watch (the choreography was pretty fire).

How We Live - Kang Daniel feat. sokodomo

Another happy song. It makes me smile. The piano is fun, sokodomo’s feature is great, and Daniel is a king.

Top 6 female solo/hip-hop/R&B b sides:

Anywhere but Home - Seulgi

It’s a perfect driving song; I can easily visualize driving down a highway at night, the street lamps passing by. She got the vibe perfect.

Blade - BIBI

It was hard choosing a favourite from her album, but I think it’s this one. Something about the sound hits just right for me.

Love Countdown - Nayeon feat. Wonstein

This was on repeat for a while there. It’s fun, it’s cute, it’s bouncy, and Wonstein’s feature is perfect. I never expected to love this song as much as I do.

XXX - Chungha

I love a song that makes me feel like a bad bitch, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. This is that song. It’s powerful and it’s got those deep 808s that I love as well.

Pastel - Wheein

Another fun, cute song that I fell for quickly. It’s also very stripped back and lets her vocals really float.

In My Bag - Jamie

Another bad bitch song. She is queen bad bitch so it makes sense. More deep 808s and her flow is too clean.

Top 6 collabs:

Somebody! - Hwasa & Loco

This track is simply perfect for their voices, and their voices are perfect together. It creates the calming but uplifting atmosphere I crave.

Better - Solar/Moonbyul & Big Naughty

A very unexpected collab but an incredible one. Similar to the one above, it’s just the perfect vibe for me and the vocals are fantastic.

Nirvana Girl - Sorn & Yeeun

It’s amazing seeing them on a track together again. The song itself is incredibly uplifting and inspiring.

Juliette! - pH-1 & UMI

I love the stripped back nature of the track, allowing the rap and vocals to flow so nicely. Another one that is just the perfect vibe.

Side Effects - Woosung & Satica

A definite favourite from his album. Their voices match so well, even if her part is short.

BTBT - B.I & DeVita

Another unexpected collab but their voices are incredible together. They match the track so well (the version with Soulja Boy doesn’t exist in my mind).

Top 6 rookies:

IVE

They’ve only released bangers and bops since they debuted. Since Eleven, they’ve been a top rookie for me.

LE SSERAFIM

A new rookie favourite for me. Antifragile really shot them into my vision, and their performance skills are incredible.

PIXY

They’ve been on my radar since debut but their comeback this year really elevated them for me. Villain was a great title and all the b sides are phenomenal.

NewJeans

Despite controversy regarding their company, the girls themselves are hella talented at their young ages. The vibe of their music is so easily digestible, it’s hard to ignore.

Although not technically a Kpop group, I’ve been in love with them since pre-debut and I feel the need to mention them. They’re going to go far with their talents.

TNX

Their debut blew me away. So incredibly powerful, the performance skills are insane. They’re on my radar and I can’t wait for more.

Top 6 groups/artists I look forward to/will be keeping an eye out for in 2023:

P1Harmony

As I stated above, these guys released three albums this year and everything was a hit. I believe they’ll go far in this next year and do even more amazing things.

Xdinary Heroes

They’ve really cultivated their own sound, especially with this recent comeback (the album was fantastic). I really can’t wait to see what else they’re capable of and where they go.

Jamie

I’ve been so excited for her over the past couple of years and I think she’s capable of incredible things. Hopefully with a mini out, she’ll do more great things in the next year.

Alexa

After this incredible year, I can only see her going up and up. Plus with her MV universe/storyline, I’m always looking forward to what cool things will come next.

NMIXX

A very divisive group among listeners, but I believe these girls are capable of amazing things. They’re so incredibly talented. I can’t wait for more from them.

The Rose

Simply because they’re back. I found them doing the hiatus so I’m happy to see them all happy, thriving, and making great music again.

If you’ve read this far, thank you for your time! I’d love to hear what your favourites of the year were. Do we have similar lists, or completely different? Did I miss a song that you absolutely loved? Feel free to let me know! I’m always open to new music.

And with that, 2022 is over. What a phenomenal year for music. There’s lots of songs I couldn’t include because there was just so much. I feel incredibly lucky to live in a time where I can listen to all this incredible music. I can’t wait for what 2023 will bring! 💕

#this list is very specifically kpop and korean music #since this blog is my kpop blog #but that's mostly what i listen to anyway so #it was difficult to make but fun #women definitely won this year btw #top music 2022 #2022 music #top list #music #text #💕

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