Greetings and Happy Friday! April came and went, and now May is here. For me, April was about taking action and risks and advocating for what I want. Sometimes things didn’t turn out as I had hoped or envisioned, but I was grateful to have at least tried and to trust that more will be revealed in time. Closed mouths don’t get fed, right?
Sung Neung-kyung, Apple, 1976. Hammer Museum’s Only the Young: Experimental art of Korea in 1960s-70s
Experimental Korean art exhibit featured at Hammer Museum
Hammer Museum’s Only the Young: Experimental art of Korea in 1960s-70s exhibit wraps up next weekend, May 12. The exhibit features artists of the generation who challenged status quo and boundaries while also moving through the intense transitions, cultural changes and oppression following the Korean War (1950-1953). I particularly enjoyed learning about artist Park Hyun-ki, a pioneer of video art who incorporated natural and artificial stones throughout his sculptural installations as an approach to spirituality and ancestry.
Park Hyun-ki, Video Inclining Water, 1979
Park Hyun-ki, Untitled (TV Stone Tower), 1982
I decided to approach “our” perspectives by broadly categorizing them first as visible, and second as spiritual. And the stone tombs, menhirs, temples, mortuaries, danggol (shamans), uncanny experiences, and many historical ruins and villages that I organically experienced as a child, the spiritual consciousness of the village elders who once lived in them, the thoughts that our forbearers had, and especially their aesthetic consciousness: it was, above all, enjoyable to find the spirit that I had previously failed to acknowledge and its visible manifestations.”- Park Hyun-ki
New matcha ritual
Perfecting my matcha lattes. Apologies in advance for those with trypophobia.
I found out yesterday (May 2) was National Matcha Day which is exciting as I’ve now become a daily matcha drinker since I am pausing my consumption of coffee while I have braces to avoid further staining my teeth. I am currently trying out different kinds of matcha, and every morning, I look forward to making it as part of my morning ritual. It’s a relaxing and peaceful process. My lovely friend Chrystal recommended and sent me Ippodo Tea’s Ikuyo recently which is a medium-bodied matcha that strikes a bright balance between bitter and sweet. I’m also excited to try Marukyu Koyamaen’s matcha as I came across it online as one of the most popular matcha brands in Japan. Are you also a matcha lover and have any other ones you’d recommend?
April Gems in rotation
Here’s my short stack of April gems that have been on rotation for me. Listen to the playlist here.
Tommy Richman - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Hailing from Woodbridge, VA, Tommy Richman has been making and sharing music since 2016. He is the first artist on Brent Faiyaz’s label ISO Supremacy. “MILLION DOLLAR BABY” is quite simply a hella catchy hit song that I’ve been listening to on repeat and is making its way to debuting in the Top 10 of Billboard Hot 100 next week. This song just puts me in a good mood, and it makes driving extra fun.
Concrete Boys ft. Lil Yachty, Karrahbooo - NOT DA 2
Fronted by Lil Yachty, Concrete Boys is a collective consisting of rappers Camo!, Draft Day, Karrahbooo, and Dc2trill. “NOT DA 2” is from Concrete Boys’s It’s Us Vol. 1 album, a song I dig largely because of Karrahbooo’s nonchalant, laid-back rap style and cunning punchlines. In this Essence feature, she says “I like when I sound like I’m really unbothered and just talking my sh*t.” Hell yeah! I first came across Karrahbooo on her song with Anycia (another favorite) called “Splash Brothers.” I dig her overall tomboy style and am excited to hear more from her this year.
Damar Davis - Bend
Damar Davis is a LA-based house music producer and DJ who also runs Salon Recordings, a label he started in 2019 which he says is “where dance holds the utmost importance. There is no need for words, just move.” I proudly rep his great merch as well. I first learned of Damar through my great friend Natalie. I love the thoughtfulness around Damar’s selection of samples and beats and his compositions across all of his projects. “Bend” from his self-titled EP is no exception. The beautifully composed jazz chords and groovy synths get me excited for the weather to get warmer and summer to begin. “There is no need for words, just move” indeed.
Nation of Language - September Again
Formed in Brooklyn in 2016, Nation of Language’s music transports one to ‘80s new wave. My dear friend Anahid recommended me their music as I hadn’t heard of them before. I dove further into their catalog and have to say, “September Again” is a song I’ve repeatedly listened to this past month even thought it released in 2020 from their album Introduction, Presence. I’m excited to catch them live with one of my favorite bands Blonde Redhead in October.
Eyedress ft. Rico Nasty - It’s All in Your Head
This collaboration between Eyedress and Rico Nasty makes me happy, and it’s cool to hear Rico sing in this fun, alternative style I hadn’t heard from her before. “It’s All In Your Head” is from Eyedress’s latest mixtape Vampire in Beverly Hills and just as the title suggests, the two serve up some important reminders to knock down self-doubt with lyrics like “You’re not as weak as you think / Just keep moving along / Don’t get stuck on the pain / They won’t pity for long / They don’t know how you feel / Don’t worry what they want.”
Baby Rose and BADBADNOTGOOD ft. Mereba - Caroline
Baby Rose and BADBADNOTGOOD have come together to release their joint EP Slow Burn. Baby Rose’s soulful voice and BADBADNOTGOOD’s excellent production make this a comforting, lush EP to carry you through. “Caroline” is a favorite from it, especially with the feature from the ever talented Mereba. Fun fact: I helped book Baby Rose and Mereba along with Baby Tate for a special women in music camp in Atlanta in 2019 where they got to spend a week recording and collaborating together. You can also watch our panel conversation I hosted here. Baby Rose was also a guest on my podcast Progression which you can revisit here.