Keeping you in-formed

May 2, 2018

Listen: BIPP by SOPHIE

It’s time we talked about SOPHIE, because everyone who knows is doing it already. SOPHIE has been around for a minute, making ‘hyperkinetic’ synth pop, which will make all kinds of descriptive sense when you listen. BIPP is from 2015 but it’s one of the tracks that established her name, so it’s a solid place to start. You can also find SOPHIE producing for Charli XCX, Liz, Vince Staples & Kendrick, and other gay/trans artists Le1f (hi Le1f!) and Quay Dash. Long-time Lorem bae Kev reports that her work with Madonna was ‘the first decent madonna song in ages.’ All of which is to say, pay attention.

Let’s all go to the Form festival

So, festivals kind of suck, right? They’re big, unfocused, and full of assholes who came here to see Fall Out Boy while you’re here for SZA. That’s why more and more big-name artists are curating their own festivals, imbuing their personalities into a more targeted lineup and experience. Next week in Arcosanti, Arizona is the Form festival, which is run by the members of Hundred Waters (you know them their Chance/Skrillex collab) and is, by all accounts, incredibly special. First, its location: Arcosanti, a carless eco-city, was named for the principal of Arcology, the combination of architecture and ecology; the whole town is a ‘nonprofit experiential learning center and walkthrough demonstration of…lean alternatives to urban sprawl.’ The space was chosen specifically to house the festival, which they also call a creative retreat: an annual exploration of experiential art, new technologies, social responsibility, and the outdoors. This year there will be talks with organizations from the Phoenix Art Museum to the ACLU, plus a 🔥 lineup of musical acts including Lorem faves Chance The Rapper, Mount Kimbie, Sudan Archives, and, yep, new fave SOPHIE. Word on the street is that these festivals don’t make a ton of $ponsorship money– the organizers truly do this for the art and for the purity of the experience. All the more reason to partake.

Netflix also about that festival life

So much so that they’re considering buying movie theaters. Here’s the deal: Cannes blocked them from competing this year on the technicality that ‘they didn’t have theater distribution in France’, which seems like code for ‘Hey– hey Netflix! Fuck you.’ And exclusion from prizes pretty much keeps Netflix out of the official film game. So the idea is, buy theater–>win awards, but it seems like the path to an Oscar is more in film quality than distribution venue. So maybe… focus on making really good movies instead? 😬

Also don’t forget Mother’s Day $

Whether or not you’re at Form Festival next weekend, Mother’s Day is happening. Don’t forget to do something nice! If you need a card, Lovepop is pretty above and beyond with cool laser-cut pop up designs that can stick around as art… you know, in case you’re no longer into the finger painting thing. Check them out here.

Reminder: take up finger painting.
Margot

$ = sponsored