Music (2021) stars Kate Hudson, Leslie Odom JR, and Maddie Ziegler. Music, the debut film by Sia, a pop singer/songwriter/director, is a musical film about a young autistic girl, who is suddenly put into the care of her older sister who is struggling with sobriety. It comes out this Friday, February 12th, in theaters and on demand, and it's certainly not a film for actually autistic people, like myself. It's a musical, draped in big, powerful musical numbers, and brighter colors. It's loud and exciting, it's sensory overload. Music is the name of the young autistic girl in the film, played by Maddie Ziegler - a dancer who isn't autistic. Kate Hudson, an actress known for many pictures but most notably to me - Almost Famous (2000), which ironically enough is a film about music, plays the older sister. Music is autistic, which means she has autism, a "...developmental disorder characterized by difficulties with social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior." In simpler terms, it means she has sensory issues, for her it's largely in sound, and so she wears noise-cancelling headphones to drown out the noise from the world around her with music. I also do the same. She's also non-verbal, which I am not, but is possible on the autism spectrum. Maddie Ziegler isn't autistic and it is one of the biggest criticisms against the film, along with the fact that Sia originally had an autistic actress, but the work environment she was put under was too much for her, an autistic person, and so instead of maker a safer work environment for her, she was replaced with Maddie. It's not a film made by autistic people. Lastly, that for a film about an autistic young women, it's not a safe sensory experience, but Sia did announce that a warning label will appear at the start. The problem I have with Music - and many other films and tv shows just like it, is that it's not an autistic person telling a story of their own experiences. I am lucky to have created this spot, this outlet for myself, (and other people if they wish), to speak about my own experiences, thoughts, and feelings. It is one of many that now exist in this digital, super-connected age. In the past, I don't know if I would've been able to create this space and talk about being autistic, and as for film and TV making, that's a much harder industry for an autistic person to break into and tell their own experience in their own words, which makes this movie all the more problematic. For me, being on the autism spectrum is yes, having sensory issues such as problems with noise - which is comforted by music, but it's more than that. It's problems with food textures, the weight of dishware and clothes, fabric textures, loud sounds such as radio, TV, and crowds, forks & knives hitting against each other, bright, flashing lights, and more. Besides sensory issues, it's not understanding social cues naturally, it's having special interests (currently some of mine are rock music, sweaters, otters, beat poetry, and scooby doo), it's being too blunt, too honest, it's people-pleasing, it's meltdowns (sensory overload) sometimes as well, and many more things that have such a huge affect on my entire life. Being autistic is something that varies for every person on the autism spectrum, and what I've known by consuming media over the years with autistic characters such as Atypical (2017-), Please Stand By (2017), and The Good Doctor (2017), is that it never gets it right completely. Is it a fault of autism being a spectrum and therefore it is impossible to convey every experience into one form of media, or it is more of the fault of the non-autistic director & writers relying on stereotypes, and not the full reality, taking up space that could have been given to an autistic person? I don't know, I can't answer that, but what I do know, is that we simply need more stories about autistic people created by autistic people. Music might have had good intentions, but it missed the mark. It's another movie about autism, without actually autistic people on the screen.

FOR FANS OF: Muse, The Wombats, Royal Blood On February 3rd, 2021, Death From Above 1979, the Canadian alt-rock duo made up of Sebastien Grainger and Jesse F. Keeler, released their new single, "One + One." The track is their first release since 2017 with their record, Outrage! Is Now. "One + One" is a nostalgic-sounding, millennial dance-rock track, one that makes me long for summer; for warm sunshine and sweet, fruity drinks. "As the record was taking shape, every time I would come home from the studio the baby would start dancing in Eva’s belly. Even before I walked in the room the party would start. One plus one is three, that’s magic!" "'One + One' is a love song," says Sebastien Grainger. "It’s the karmic sequel to Romantic Rights. My wife, Eva (Michon) became pregnant not long after we started working on the song and after hearing an early version she said, "I wish this song was dancier." So I went back into the studio and re-worked the drums. As the record was taking shape, every time I would come home from the studio the baby would start dancing in Eva’s belly. Even before I walked in the room the party would start. One plus one is three, that’s magic!" The music video for "One + One" is a collage of different frames and moments inspired by the photography of artist David Hockney. It was shot in Marmora, Ontario and directed by Eva Michon, Grainger's wife. On the video, Grainger says "Since we started playing people would come up to the stage and after and say: 'I can't believe there’s just two of you. The video for ‘One + One’ is Eva’s way of showing that our band is greater than the sum of its parts. It’s Death From Above 1979 in multitudes." Along with "One + One" comes the announcement of their fourth LP, Is 4 Lovers, and is out March 26th, 2021. The new album, which Grainger and Keeler wrote, produced, mastered and recorded entirely by themselves, is said to "...capture the creation of a totally new sound and a reimagining of the format they created more than 20 years ago." "One + One" is a fantastic track, and makes me feel nostalgic for the rock of my childhood that I listened to and loved. I'm completely obsessed with it, and I'm sure it'll be all over the radio airwaves this summer. If the album is anything like this song, then I can't wait to hear it. Preorder the new LP here. | Is 4 Lovers tracklist: 1) Modern Guy 2) One + One 3) Free Animal 4) N.Y.C. Power Elite Part I 5) N.Y.C. Power Elite Part II 6) Totally Wiped Out 7) Glass Homes 8) Love Letter 9) Mean Streets 10) No War Stream "One + One" on Spotify here | Follow Death From Above 1979 on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

FOR FANS OF: Amy Winehouse, Halsey, K.Flay Donna Missal gave an emotional live performance of her track, "Let You Let Me Down" in her new music video which was released on February 1st, 2021. The track came early last year in May, ahead of her second studio album, Lighter, which was released in July. The video was directed by English filmmaker Rodrigo Inada. "Let You Let Me Down" is a vocally stunning, breathtaking track, and the live performance is shot in black & white, giving the video a very raw and genuine feel. "I wanted to do something live in the absence of touring, but with the intention of reinterpreting what it meant to perform live, in a time where we can only experience it through a screen." "I reached out to Rodrigo on Instagram DM over the summer while quarantined, and asked if he would want to make something together despite my being in L.A. and him being in London,” says Donna Missal about her idea on the video's aesthetic. "The relationship through our devices became the context of the things we made together. Rodrigo directed this video over Facetime, and screen sharing in real time, while my band and I performed the song. I wanted to do something live in the absence of touring, but with the intention of reinterpreting what it meant to perform live, in a time where we can only experience it through a screen. Rodrigo really understood that." She goes on to talk about writing "Let You Let Me Down," "I got to a point in writing the album that I had said everything I wanted to say about someone else fucking up. I wanted to talk about the role I played in letting something consume me and burn me down. In "Let You Let Me Down," I'm addressing that I need to change too, so I don't rebuild myself the same way but come back from it stronger and better." "Let You Let Me Down" is one of six songs she performed in her Capitol Cuts session; you can see the rest on YouTube and pre-order the session on vinyl here. Donna Missal will be back with new music this spring, and in the meantime, you can check out what she's been up to in a TikTok video here. Stream Lighter on Spotify here. | Follow Donna Missal on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

FOR FANS OF: Inhaler, Catfish and The Bottlemen, The Vaccines Midlands dream pop rock band Violet released single "Fade" today, a very melodic and moody grungey-indie track. "Fade" has pedal immersed guitars, combined with drums and powerful basslines to create a haunted yet beautiful sound. The track was produced by Catherine Marks at the famous Assault & Battery Studios. "Fade" is a song that Violet have been sitting on for a while, a live show fan favorite. About the track, the band says "...it touches on your teenage naivety and the transition into the "real" working world." It's a breathtaking song that sounds like it came off a coming-of-age film soundtrack, and I adore it so, so much. "It's earl grey tea in musical form, and I want to drink it over & over." "Fade" is the exact brand of indie rock I was obsessed with in high school. It sounds nostalgic, it sounds like the world is ending, it sounds like how it feels and smells just before it's about to rain. It's earl grey tea in musical form, and I want to drink it over & over. "Fade" is both beautiful and very cinematic, I'm very fond of it. It's a must-listen, a song to put on your coming-of-age playlists, a song to listen to while you question your existence and self. "Fade" is the first song I have ever heard by Violet, and I'm so glad I did. It's an instant favorite, and I'm extremely excited to dive into their past releases & await their future releases. Stream "Fade" here on Spotify | Follow Violet on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

FOR FANS OF: Nova Twins, Linkin Park, Grandson Alternative rock singer/rapper DE'WAYNE is back and letting the world know he has something to tell us with his latest track, "I Know Something." It was released on February 4th, 2021, and it's a brilliant mix of rock, industrial, and rap. "I Know Something" follows DE’WAYNE's single releases of last year - "National Anthem" and "Radio-Active," two tracks that I've been obsessed with. DE'WAYNE has an electrifying stage presence, on and off stage, which absolutely shines through in his energetic, powerful, genre-breaking songs. "I Know Something" is like nothing else out there right now, it's a must-listen, and a sure contenter to be on repeat all of the time. "Knowing something is coming or about to happen is very exciting especially when you're the first one that believes in it." About the track, DE'WAYNE says "The song is just a reflection of my nature. I find that most times before anything happens, like a big change, you personally have to embody that. Write it down or even say it out loud... and that's exactly what I'm doing on this record. Knowing something is coming or about to happen is very exciting especially when you're the first one that believes in it." "I Know Something" is a self-hype song. It's about that feeling of excitement you hold when you've been working very, very hard on something, like a musical or writing project, and at the moment, you're the only one who knows about it. You feel special, you feel important, you feel like a superhero, you almost feel like a child, which is where the mockful chorus comes to play - "I know something that you don't know / that you don't know / that you don't know," you're so happy and you just want someone to ask you what's happening. But you can't reveal your secrets, not just yet. On the comedy movie-esque music video, DE’WAYNE said "The video was about allowing myself to put my guard down and poke fun at the things going on around me. I didn't want to take it too seriously. I love the idea of impressing parents, cause it’s so damn weird to me but I truly think it’s something you have to do your whole life and I love challenges! For the video, the thought of pouring champagne and dancing on their table seemed way more fire than talking with them about a degree I don’t have." DE'WAYNE's music is something you absolutely don't want to miss; he's in a lane of his own, nothing can match his speed. "I Know Something" is the start of what I bet will be a fantastic year for him, and I cannot wait to hear more music from him. Stream "I Know Something" here on Spotify | Follow DE'WAYNE on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

FOR FANS OF: Andy Black, Pearl Jam, My Chemical Romance Hailing from household name My Chemical Romance, Frank Iero is no stranger to the rock scene. Heaven is a Place, This is a Place, released January 15, 2021, has been called the perfect addition to his previous album Barriers. Only four tracks span just shy of 20 minutes, and they take you everywhere from a journey back to ‘91 with a beautiful rendition of R.E.M.’s "Losing My Religion" to an almost blues-rock esque track like "Violence." Heaven is a Place, This is a Place, is a treat from front to back. "This is a place, the earthly realm, miraculous on so many levels but also just a place. The difference is you and your perception." On the origins of the EP, Iero said: "The title of the EP actually comes from the night before we started recording Barriers at Electrical Audio in Chicago. The band went out to eat and get drinks at a local Tiki bar called, Lost Lake. On the menu that night there was a drink called Heaven is a place/This is the place.”shares Iero on the meaning behind the EP title. “I love when the universe gives you gifts like that. You just have to be in tune to your surroundings. The name struck me as clever and I started to think about how changing one word in that title meant something way more profound to me. Heaven is a place, if you believe in that sort of thing…It is the reward at the end of a long hard journey of fighting the good fight and living your life to whatever standards you hold dear. But it’s just a place. And so is this…This is a place, the earthly realm, miraculous on so many levels but also just a place. The difference is you and your perception." The record opens with "Violence," which instantly sets a fast paced tone with a driving guitar punctuated perfectly with percussion. After the intro, the song slows down to a lethargic tempo through the first chorus where Iero croons lyrics like "You got so down / I couldn’t get high" before you’re introduced to some perfectly crafted harmonies, and then slammed back into the chorus. It’s a violent transition, and one that reflects the back and forth emotion behind the song. Being both bound to someone (or something) and also having it tarnish you in the same breath presents it’s own unique whirlwind of emotional turmoil. This song not only captures that whirlwind lyrically, but in the way it’s presented musically as well. “Sewerwolf” continues this punctuated motif of anger and frustration. The vocal range Iero presents in this relatively short EP is incredible. The first time I heard this song, I compared it to the feeling you get after you’ve had one extra shot and you’re suddenly brought face to face with memories you’d been able to dance around while sober. That spinny, quiet rage eventually explodes from Iero over the course of the first chorus and then throughout the back half of the song. His verbal prose is matched with this ebbing and flowing guitar that transforms from soft and somewhat gentle to a forceful power you can feel in your bones. I always get giddy when songs end on guitar feedback, so this was a welcome addition. "...I’ll forever be wanting this rendition to play through the speakers while I drive myself down the highway with the window down on a late summer evening." The rendition of “Losing My Religion” included on this album sounds like a clash between seeing the gates of heaven for the first time and something desperately trying its best to stay out of hell. The way Iero laces his rasping vocals with the delicate and angelic harmonies is a true work of art. This is a perfect example of the beauty laced through this collaboration, and truly brings out the best of everyone involved. While this song is a classic that I grew up singing in the back seat of an old, beat-down car while my father sat behind the wheel, I’ll forever be wanting this rendition to play through the speakers while I drive myself down the highway with the window down on a late summer evening. The EP finishes with "Record Ender," which is a perfectly named piece not only for its position on the track list but for it’s explosive exit, middle, and beginning. What starts off with a gentle bass line explodes into this cacophony of sound that’s always raging. It’s a beautiful piece of music and highlights the musicianship of this ensemble in every way. This song sounds like an ending to a beautiful story, one that’s composed of hurt and heartbreak, but also one that’s full of wonder and excitement. It left me wanting more, but at the same time feeling completely satisfied and content with the way this quartet of songs on this EP wrapped up. This musical masterpiece is an excellent display of Frank Iero’s complex and compelling range, both in terms of vocally as well as his and The Future Violents’ ability to fluidly dance through and around multiple genres. It’s a magnificent rendition of raw talent and reformed passion brandished into just four tracks and called an EP. Stream Heaven is a Place, This is a Place here on Spotify. | Follow Frank Iero on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter.

Their debut LP, What We Have In Common, drops this Friday Velvet Skyline, an alt-rock band from Texas, released "Circles" last month, which is a beautiful track that I wrote about last week, and this coming Friday they'll be releasing their debut album, What We Have In Common. Keep scrolling to read an interview I did with them, and get to know Velvet Skyline a bit better before their new record drops! 1) Who are the members of Velvet Skyline and how did you meet each other? Velvet Skyline is Taylor on vocals, Hunter on guitar, Nate on bass, and Chris on drums. Hunter, Nate, and Taylor met through mutual friends in our hometown of Victoria, Texas. When we moved to Denton is when we met Chris through a Facebook group. 2) Can you tell us about the meaning behind your latest track? "Circles" is about the ending of a cycle of abuse that I had let take over my life. It didn’t start out that way, but it just kind of evolved into a final good riddance song. 3) Who are your musical influences? Probably Foo Fighters, Wolf Alice, and The Pretty Reckless to name a few. 4) What have you been up to this past year? Recording the album, trying to stay safe, and trying to promote ourselves more, it’s been an interesting year. 5) Do you have any plans for the rest of this year? We plan to put out our LP in February and start working on new music right after, hopefully we can play some shows this year too, once it’s safe. 6) What's each of your favorite records from last year? Chris: I personally loved Memento Mori by Lamb of God Hunter: Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers, she’s my favorite lyricist Taylor: Fetch the Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple, what a woman. Nate: Lonely Diamond by Ocean Ally was my favorite. 7) Can you tell us a little about your upcoming LP? What We Have in Common is a coming of age album that was really cathartic to write. We really played up the emotional factor to shed light on mental health issues that we’ve all experienced. 8) What does your band name mean? It was inspired by how bands some of our favorite bands were named in the nineties. We wanted something that sounded different than we actually sounded. Something that gave us room to grow, and experiment. We thought Velvet Skyline embodied that. 9) How would you describe your sound? We feel like we could fall under a handful of different genres depending on what song you listen to, but if we had to put a label on it we’d probably say we’re indie alternative rock. 10) What do you love about music? We love that we can use music to mentally escape and work through our experiences. It’s a universal language that everyone can connect with in some way. Follow Velvet Skyline on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

FOR FANS OF: Matt & Kim, Arcade Fire, The Moldy Peaches Just in time for Valentine's Day, The Vaughns, have released their EP, rom-coms & takeout. It dropped on January 29th, 2021. The Vaughns are from New Jersey, and consist of members of Anna Lies and Ryan Kenter. The Vaughns have been touring the East Coast's DIY-scenes since they formed in 2014. The previous year brought them a record deal, a lineup change, and a global pandemic, all of which they've used to dive deeper than ever before into their songwriting. rom-coms & takeout is just 3 tracks that are about feelings that come with romantic love - infatuation, falling in love for real, and accepting the end of it. The Vaughns used quarantine to write rom-coms & takeout, while being inspired by a variety of genres, from folk to pop. To me, it's reminiscent of the indie music of the late 00's. It sounds like that unique, quirky sound you'd hear in a new hipster coffee shop, or in a indie movie starring Zooey Deschanel, but updated to 2021. It's certainly a sound that is fresh and authentic. "Bushwick" is the first song on the EP, and it's about reflecting on a relationship that's ended. It's not easy to get over a breakup, especially when the other half seems happier without you, but it'll be okay. Breakups happen, and like the song suggests, you'll find love once again. "All Weekend" is the second track, and it reminds me of the beginning of a feel-good movie. It makes me picture a young, early 20-something just-graduated-from-college couple who are running around their new apartment together in the city. They're in love, the kind of mushy, infatuated love where all you see is each other, ignoring the bad in the other person. It's just you, them, rom-coms, and take out. "Rania" is the last track and it's about feeling sentimental, it's about yearning for a real, serious relationship. It's about when you realize you're falling in love, real love, and you want to be with them all of the time. "Rania" is about the kind of romantic love that resides in a warm cup of tea, one that's being shared with the person you like the most in the world on a rainy, early morning. A quiet, all-encompassing love that you hope is not only requited, but lasts for a very long time. Overall, rom-coms & takeout is like a movie for your ears, made for you to picture personally. It's about romantic love and the journey it can often take. It's a set of songs that inspire novels and scripts to be written. It's beautifully written and recorded, and I can't wait to hear whatever The Vaughns release next. Stream rom-coms & takeout on Spotify here. | Follow The Vaughns on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Happy new year. And just like that, it's February. We've made it through the hardest month of the year. It's felt simultaneously like the longest and the shortest 4 weeks of my life. I'm exhausted. What's new? Well, we have a new president for starters, good for that. I read 54 books this past month. There's a new playlist on our Spotify account called New Music Friday, a list that includes some of the best tracks that's been released since the previous Friday. I've been writing a lot on here more than before. I've posted a guide for submissions to us on our Twitter and Instagram accounts, letting it be known that we want to cover more than just music releases, that we want to cover artists, and we want to hear from the people who make the music happen to the people who support it. I've been...working really hard on this little publication behind the scenes. Honesty, I only really had a vague idea of what I was actually doing when I launched this magazine, but I think now I've really got the hang of it, or at least, the beginning of something new, something more. As much as my Capricorn moon would like me to, I can't plan out every single thing that will happen this coming year, can't put it all down in a spreadsheet or on a list and be completely confident it will all happen. Especially with the pandemic, everything is uncertain and unclear, more than ever before, we're living in such unprecedented times, and whatever else they say on the news on a loop that makes me feel anxious...But what I do know for certain, is that I want to continue writing about rock music, and whoever wants to come along with me is much appreciated and encouraged (no, seriously, if you want to write about rock music for TCP or anything that's related to rock music that's on your mind, shoot me an email!). It's been such a relatively short time since I've had this publication up and running, but, I can genuinely tell you that I've learned so much. I've learned about the music industry, about writing about music, professional communication skills, and even about myself. I am definitely a different person from when I started this, and I wonder how much & in what ways I will continue to change because of this magazine in the future. I've always been obsessed with a band in almost every single phase of my life. Music journalism wasn't my aspiration until recent years, it became such that when I was 19 and had seen the film Almost Famous for the first time ever. That movie changed my life. Before that, it was from the ages of 15 to 18 that I wanted to work in radio. I still want that very very much, that want never faded away, but for now, this is sufficient. I believe I was meant to find my way here, to this magazine, and now the only question is, where will it lead me? I can't answer that. For right now, I want to continue writing about the music that sets my soul aflame. When it's safe enough for live music to come back, I want to be backstage. I want to be in some cramped, hot, tour van rolling down a long highway somewhere in the middle of America in July. I want to have a collection of grainy, warm-colored photos of the people who make the music alive, and a notebook full of quotes from them. I want to feel the floor vibrating under my feet because the music is just that loud. I want see cities I've never thought I'd ever be lucky or rich enough to visit, and I want to drink sweetened black coffee in their cafes & browse their used bookstores for written-in, well-loved poetry books. I want to continue to meet people who love music as intensely and deeply as I do. I want to continue to meet people who are kind, genuine, real good people who live for the music, just the music, like I do. I want all of this to happen so badly that it physically hurts at times, sometimes it feels like a rainstorm is pouring violently inside my chest. I want to live and breathe rock music in a tangible way, a way that's beyond words on a screen, beyond snail mail, beyond songs on a playlist. I want to live like Penny Lane and write like Will. I want to be the band-aid and the enemy. I want to just, to put it simply: be wherever the music is. February's packed with sooo much new music, my inbox is constantly overflowing with press releases, I can't wait to tell you about all of my favorites. But for now, here's my top ten favorite songs that were released in January: 1) Goth Girl - VENUS GRRRLS 2) Typhoons - Royal Blood 3) Circles - Velvet Skyline 4) Triggered Emotion - ZIG MENTALITY 5) Waiting On A War - Foo Fighters 6) Confession Box - The Pale White 7) Teen Rebel - The Haunted Youth 8) Action Replay - The Fratellis 9) Easy - Pale Waves 10) Losing My Religion - Frank Iero and The Future Violents That's all for now, see you in March, and remember to stay loud! with love, Cherri Cheetah.

FOR FANS OF: PVRIS, Babes In Toyland, Halsey VENUS GRRRLS released powerful alternative rock single, "Goth Girl," on January 22nd, 2021, a track which discusses the stereotypes associated with goth culture and witchcraft. VENUS GRRRLS are from Leeds, England and consist of all-women: Grace 'GK' Kelly (lead vocals), Jess Ayres (lead guitar), Hannah Barraclough (bass), Grace Stubbings (synth), and Gabby Cooke (drums). They're a rock band that I adore; from their killer tracks to their impeccable fashion sense. "Goth Girl" is a powerful track that captures frustration and yearning in a way that will leave you feeling both seen and haunted. "Goth Girl" sounds like a song that would've came out in the mid-00s, a song that younger me definitely needed to hear, but for current, 22 year old me, it's nostalgic and comforting. It's comforting to know that how I felt growing up wasn't feelings that only resided in me. "The idea of borrowing each other's shoes and listening to music together felt comforting, but I quickly began to think about the strange and unique stereotypes people associate with alt/goth people." Lead singer GK, says on the meaning behind the track: "Goth Girl is most definitely a story, there is a running order to it. It begins painting a picture of two friends hanging out, who eventually realize their struggles for their choice of clothes and makeup. It's no surprise to those that know us that it was Rebel Girl by Bikini Kill that glued all of VENUS GRRRLS together when we first met. My favorite thing about that song was the upmost appreciation it had for women, the idea of empowering each other and holding each other up high. I was thinking about this when writing the lyrics to Goth Girl, I wanted there to be this figure in it that I could bond with. The idea of borrowing each other's shoes and listening to music together felt comforting, but I quickly began to think about the strange and unique stereotypes people associate with alt/goth people." She follows up with acknowledging how even though there are struggles Goths and those who practice witchcraft face, times have changed for those who choose to dive into a counter-culture, "There are still struggles and strange interpretations of counter-culture, e.g. Witches/Goths 'hexing' people, but currently Goth has come more into fashion than it used to be, which is fine. Albeit, I imagine it to be difficult for those who were treated unfairly in the past to accept this, just because something was less socially acceptable at the time. The rest of the song went from there, considering all of these different ideas and feelings. It just got us thinking about how fickle society is, and how it's always ready to point the finger at something new. "Goth Girl" clings to all of these notions, and most definitely is an ode to our younger selves." I originally interpreted "Goth Girl" as a sapphic anthem. Growing up, emo, goth, and grunge fashions were what I admired, were what me and my friend group were drawn to, although not hitting the point more often than not. Any alternative version of fashion and music - most popularly, pop punk, was fascinating to me. There was the All Time Low, zebra print, side bangs, dressing-in-all-black, Monster energy drinks, heavy black eyeliner pop punk/emo of my childhood & preteen years. In high school, there was the defend-pop-punk, shirts of bands you didn't listen to, pizza, The Story So Far, plaid flannel shirts, and Warped Tour pop punk/emo, which quickly derived into 2014-Tumblr soft grunge, Halsey and Arctic Monkeys, tennis skirts, fishnet tights, poetry, and blue hair alternative culture. All of this was what I wanted to be during different times of my life, even now there's alternative musical aesthetics and scenes which I admire and feel inspired by. There's always a pretty alternative girl out there who is able to capture almost perfectly the aesthetic I want to be...and want to be with. "Make me look like you, so edgy and cool, I'm obsessed with your dress, tell me where you get it, can we be friends?...I wanna be a Goth Girl, 'cos I was never popular." I never fit in with all the popular kids all that well, I always was different in some way, always was a little weird; be it because I was missing social cues & lacking the right communication skills because I'm autistic, or because I was heavily into some kind of alternative music - from emo all the way to kpop. I luckily have always found friends in school & online who enjoyed the same music I did, found friends in people who were different like me, who liked alternative music, who were finding out where they fit in the LGBT acronym, who were disabled like I am in some way, or were another kind of person that resided in the outcast group. But regardless of our found family sheltering us from the rest of the world, there definitely was judgement that you faced; hate that got under your skin from people outside of our friend group. In my case, it was for liking alternative music, for not dressing on trend or being able to afford it, for being sapphic, for being autistic. "Ahhh, we had it so hard, the freaks from the dark." Like GK noted, times have changed. Alternative rock music is trendy. Kpop's trendy as well. People are much more accepting about & welcoming those who are apart of the LGBT community. Higher levels of accessibility and understanding of disabled people are on the rise. Goth and other alternative styles are trendy, as with the influences of social media platforms such as Tik Tok. Even witchcraft, a spiritual practice which has been found in many different cultures around the world for centuries, is more accepted and praised now. But that's not to say hate & judgement of those who are different doesn't exist anymore, it still unfortunately does. I don't know when things will be fully good for alternative people, there's still a lot of work to be done in the fight for equality and peace. "Goth Girl," is, to say this lightly - a sign of the times. It's a song that comes in a moment where we're moving away from a past of ignorance & hate into what I hope is a more accepting & respectful time, an easier one for those who are different in any way, such as their appearance, spiritually, sexuality, and more. Stream "Goth Girl" here on Spotify | Follow VENUS GRRRLS on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

FOR FANS OF: The Vaccines, Vampire Weekend, OneRepublic Charming Liars, an alternative rock trio from Los Angeles, CA, released their first single of the year - "Pieces," a touching track about the pain and division we're seeing on massive scale, a scale that's possibly the first for many young people. Charming Liars consist of Kiliyan Maguire (vocals), Karnig Manoukian (lead guitar), and Mike Kruger (bass). "..."Pieces" amplifies the pain of division and the feelings associated with our current shattered reality." About the meaning behind "Pieces," the band says: "In the year 2021 it’s hard not to see the division among us. It's everywhere you look. Our new song "Pieces" amplifies the pain of division and the feelings associated with our current shattered reality." There's no mistake that during last year, and this year so far as well, we have felt the effect of civil unrest and a global pandemic. Civil unrest due to outrage at racism & police brutality and a global pandemic aren't actually new, once-in-a-lifetime occurrences, unfortunately, they've happened in the past and will continue to happen unless we work at making changes. What's new, however, is being exposed to what's going on in the world constantly because of the newfound accessibility of world news now shared on social media. We can't live in ignorance now on any level, anymore. We cannot be silent when others are hurting, we must learn to practice empathy, to listen to others who are different than us, and help others who do not have all the privileges we do. "We're so stressed out, we can't sleep inside this violent dream." I don't know anyone who isn't tired, who isn't stressed, who's mental health is doing well right now. I don't know how to put across all the fear, anxiety, sadness, anger, and exhaustion I personally feel from it all in words that would be a good enough explanation. I feel as though I don't know anything at all anymore. I have so many questions and no answers; I try to fix things and it all falls apart even more. I'm in pieces, just like the track says. "Pieces" sounds so cinematic, it sounds like that specific indie rock sound of the early 2010's that inspired hope when everything felt lost and broken, and that's exactly what it does, it inspires hope. Stream "Pieces" here on Spotify | Follow Charming Liars on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

FOR FANS OF: Babes In Toyland, Sonic Youth, Pearl Jam Velvet Skyline - a female-fronted, alternative rock band from Denton, Texas released track "Circles" on January 22nd, 2021. It's the lead single of their upcoming debut album - What We Have In Common, which comes out next Friday on February 5th, 2021. "Circles" is a progressive and grunge influenced track, as the rest of the album is as well. Velvet Skyline consist of Taylor Seerden (vocals), Hunter Puentes (lead guitar), Nate Martinez (bass), and Chris Ortiz (drums). "Circles" is a song about wanting things to happen, about being done waiting endlessly - let it be in love or in life. It's about feeling frustrated and being sick of it all. It's a track that's intensely emotional and strong. I can hear Pearl Jam in it. I can hear Nirvana in it. That energy - the heaviness of life - is felt throughout the lyrics, in the guitar. It's so refreshing to hear this kind of music, even more so that it's from a female-fronted band. The second verse - "...hey you, while you're standing there, can you compliment my hair, or something?" hits me in a way that feels like I'm reading from my own journal. I know that feeling all too well. That feeling when you like somebody so much, and all you want from them is the bare minimum, like a goodnight text back, but you rarely ever receive that. You should move on because they clearly don't feel the same way. But you think about them over and over, wishing you're right in believing that they do like you back, you're so tired of yearning for them, but the truth is they don't and won't ever like you back. You're - like the track says - running in circles and done with waiting for them to be yours, it's not worth it. You deserve better. "Circles" is a track that I love so much. It feels like a song you'd find on a mixtape that was left in a pocket on a old jean jacket that hasn't been touched since the 90s, hanging back deep in the racks of a vintage thrift store. It feels familiar in a good way, in a way that feels like home. Songs like these - ones that you can relate just a bit too much, and can transport you to a different time entirely, are so rare to find and very special. "This is an album for anyone who may be lost now, but knows that sooner or later things are going to make sense, and everything will be okay." I'm very excited for their album next week, What We Have In Common. It's said to take listeners on an emotional journey, an edgy, coming-of-age-story, in a punk, grungy musical style. About the record, Velvet Skyline said "This album is all about growing into yourself. There are themes of falling in love, as well as falling out of love; themes of becoming an adult and realizing how tough it can be. This is an album for anyone who may be lost now, but knows that sooner or later things are going to make sense, and everything will be okay." Velvet Skyline use music like most of us do - as a form of escape and therapy. If this record is anything like this track, then I'm absolutely here for it. "Circles" is a vivid, strong track, one that has such an emotional pull on me, a pull that I truly can't get over. This song is amazing, this band is so promising. Next Friday can't come sooner. Listen to "Circles" here on Spotify, or on whichever streaming platform you prefer. Follow Velvet Skyline on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.