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Month: April 2021

Irish indie rockers Hawke the Band drop shimmering single ‘Molly’

Written by Sarah Taylor on . Posted in Music.

After supporting local heroes Aslan and recording in the prestigious Abbey Road and Metropolis Studios in London, Dublin duo Hawke the Band return with their triumphant single ‘Molly’. The group consists of friends Richie Power on vocals and keyboards, and Eoghan Mac Mahon on vocals and guitar. Hailed as “gorgeous indie-filled pop” by Talk About Pop Music and “immensely exciting” by Celebmix, Hawke the Band formed behind Dublin’s Guinness Brewery. Moving to London just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit made recording a little difficult…but the boys remain confident that 2021 will be a great year for Hawke the Band.

‘Molly’ is the third of 12 new singles from Hawke the Band, to be released on a monthly basis this year. The song was recorded remotely with the help of Manchester-based bassist Jamie McIntyre and renowned Abbey Road Studios producer Carlos Bricio. It is inspired by a girl Eoghan spent the night with after one of the band’s gigs, but never heard from again. It follows January’s ‘Gonna Be Alright’ and February’s ‘Pinch Me (Am I Dreaming?)’.

With influences including Coldplay, Oasis and Radiohead, Hawke the Band combine emotive lyrics with enchanting melodies, which gives their music a shimmering summer quality. Their unique brand of anthemic indie rock confirms them as future festival favourites. I caught up with Richie to discuss the duo’s writing and recording process, the importance of involving fans in their projects and their plans for the future.

Photo: Hawke The Band main colour portrait (c) Lauren Stewart 2020

On forming the band and writing together

“The music scene in Dublin is pretty small”, Richie explains. “Everyone knows each other.” He and Eoghan had worked on a few projects before forming the group. Richie grew up near the Guinness Factory in Dublin, and the pair initially recorded home demos there before sending tapes to several producers. He jokes that “The smell of Guinness brewing was always around.”

Both Richie and Eoghan sing and play keyboards and guitar respectively. I ask Richie how having two frontmen affects the group’s dynamic in terms of writing and recording. He says “We write a song and whoever it suits will take the lead. There’s no egos, and no John and Paul kind of arguments. We’re both different as vocalists. So we just let the songs decide.”

On what inspires their song writing

Hawke the Band’s songs are relatable to their audience, and normally inspired by “life in general, deep thoughtful moments, and moments of appreciation.” ‘Molly’ is a complete change from this style, Richie tells me. “We had a bit of fun with it. It was about a girl Eoghan met after a gig one night and they spent the night together but he never heard from her again. There was a feeling of frustration. Like ‘Was that it?!’ We couldn’t use her actual name but we’re hoping she will know it’s about her and maybe send Eoghan a message back.”

Hawke the Band’s ambitious plan to release a single for every month of 2021 is a response to the difficulties many up and coming bands have faced during the pandemic. “We started the band quite a while ago, maybe 9 months before Covid happened. We’d done some decent stuff in Ireland and did our first UK tour. We’d been to London and worked with some producers and moved over there. The first couple of months were going great. Then everything was put on hold.” Lockdowns have allowed the band to take stock and work on some new material. “We decided that 2021 was going to be unpredictable but we wanted to have one certainty: that we would release loads of music. No matter what condition the world is in.” They want to give their loyal fanbase “something to look forward to.”

On including their fans in projects

Getting fans to contribute to the band’s projects has been really important during the past year. In 2020, Hawke the Band released a collection of homemade demos entitled ‘The Covid Diary’. It serves as an audio diary for a “monumental” time when the boys couldn’t go to the studio to record and includes audio clips from fans expressing their support. “People were messaging us and commenting on our Instagram saying they couldn’t wait for our shows. When we released ‘Gonna Be Alright’, a third lockdown had been announced. We felt that everyone needed a pick me up.” Fans sent in photos wearing face masks and the resulting collage serves as the single cover for this track. Richie cannot wait to get back on the road. “We love meeting people through the band and seeing the effects that our music has on people.”

On supporting Aslan and recording at Abbey Road

In the short time the band have been together, Hawke the Band have already achieved a lot. They won a public competition to open for Dublin legends Aslan at the Iveagh Gardens. Richie explains that when he received the phone call, he “thought surely that’s a joke. Aslan were the first band I ever saw live and they’re very respected around Ireland. People we knew had tickets for the show before we were even announced.” It was an eye-opening experience for the duo, and they received lots of advice and support. “[Aslan] went to really great lengths to make sure we were getting recognition. They couldn’t have been more helpful.”

Hawke have also recorded at the prestigious Abbey Road and Metropolis studios. “I don’t think I got used to it even the 7th or 8th time”, Richie tells me. “Eoghan had gone to the toilet and then came back in looking like he’d seen a ghost because he’d just passed Nile Rodgers.” At Metropolis, their studio neighbours were Elton John and Sam Fender. “It was nuts!” exclaimed Richie.

On what the future holds

The group’s main plans for the future include the 12 monthly singles this year as well as a tour of the UK and Ireland in October. “We’re doing a couple of little festivals like the Indie All Dayer in Hull in September. We just want to get back into playing live. And hopefully end up taking over the world and playing stadiums!” Richie laughs.

Finally I asked Richie if he could sum up the band in three words, to which he replied “anthemic, sing-alongable, and moving.”

You can listen to Hawke the Band’s new single ‘Molly’ from 31st March on Spotify.

Photo: HAWKE THE BAND – ‘Molly’ single packshot 2021

Hawke The Band 2021 Tour Dates and Tickets

26 September – Hull O’Riley’s (18+)

15 October – Newcastle Surf Café (14+)

16 October – Manchester Tribeca (14+)

21 October – London Luna Lounge (18+)

A press shot of Pale Waves

Pale Waves interview with Tits for Tat

Written by Jess Walmsley on . Posted in Music.

As part of the Women in Media conference we sat down with Heather from Pale Waves to discuss her career, being a woman in music and being a part of the LGBTQ+ community for our Fuse FM show Tits for Tat.

So how did you get started with music and what’s been your favourite moment of your career so far?

I got started with music because my dad plays guitar. Growing up around the house he would always have his guitar out and that made me want to play guitar too. I was in various things when I was growing up – little bands that became nothing – and then I went to Manchester. That’s when I met Ciara and we started the band, then Charlie and Hugo eventually followed.

It’s so hard to define my favourite point in my career, honestly, because there’s too many moments within my career that really shocked me in the best possible way. If I had to just pick one, maybe playing Summer Sonic in Japan, just because it’s such an amazing place. To be able to go so far away from home and see that people have heard of you and like you music is amazing. 

So what would you say your inspirations are for your music, and in particular do you have any favourite female artists that you take inspiration from?

I feel like 80% of my listening is female artists, for some strange reason. Some of my favourites right now are Courtney Love, Shania Twain, The Dixie Chicks known as The Chicks now. I love Kacey Musgraves, a popular one right now – her latest album was amazing, it just basically soundtracked the start of the pandemic for me. High Horse is so good! 

“I play the guitar too! And I write the guitar parts, you should also respect me.”

On our show, we play solely female artists, and we haven’t actually played any men yet. But we always ask when we interview women in the music industry if you have experienced any forms of sexism or different treatment because they’re a woman. So have you ever been treated differently than your male band members because you’re a woman? 

Oh yeah, there’s been various occasions. It is exhausting but you just have to be very strong. I feel like I had to prove myself even more sometimes, more at the start of Pale Waves rather than recently because I feel like we’ve established ourselves more – so people have a respect for me. But at the start of Pale Waves, there were so many occasions. Me and Hugo both play guitar – I’m not just a singer, I write most of the guitar parts – so it’s really humorous for me when people try to always go to Hugo when it’s something to do with the guitar.

We’ll be setting up for a festival and people only come up to him if it’s something to do with the amp or the pedal board, even when it’s to do with my stuff! Or we would be in studios at the start of Pale Waves and the producer would be like “Oh hey Hugo, come and look at the guitar rig, come and look at all the guitars we have”. But I play the guitar too! And I write the guitar parts, you should also respect me.

I know that for your first album the main songwriters were you and Ciara, and the second was mostly you – has being a woman impacted your writing at all? What did impact your writing for this album?

I don’t necessarily think writing is to do with my gender, but being a woman impacts you every day. Obviously me and Ciara did write the first record together and the second record was dominated a lot by me. We artistically needed space because we were just going around circles and rewriting the first record, and I just didn’t want to do another 80s record again.

I wanted to write a nineties/ 2000s album – an album that I would love as a kid. The album was always in me, it was just when it was going to come out! There’s a song on there called ‘You Don’t Own Me’. It’s all about being a female and telling people that they can’t own us. You can’t put us into these boxes, they can’t tell us to smile and look pretty constantly. Because I’ve had that so many times, I’m sure you guys have too. “Smile love, you look prettier with a smile” and I just want to punch them in the face! 

“It’s strange being an artist. You never know how much to truly reveal and how much to keep for yourself.”

Another aspect we feel goes underrepresented in the music scene is talking about artists who identify with the LGBTQ+ community. How has this impacted your music?

Of course it does. Going back to the last question, this is just who I am, this is my identity, it’s just me, so of course it’s going to affect my music and it’s going to affect my art and what I want to say in the world. It’s only now on the second record that I’ve really felt comfortable being really open about it.

On the first record we were so new to the music industry and very naive. Yet I think that our naivety worked in our favour for the first record because it’s just fun. Whereas for our second record, I wanted more of my voice to be heard.  I had three years to grow up, travel the world and educate myself a lot more so I could figure out what I wanted to stand for. I was ready to come out into the world and reveal even more of me. It’s strange being an artist. You never know how much to truly reveal and how much to keep for yourself. 

A press shot of Pale Waves - Credite to Niall Lea.
Pale Waves – Credit to Niall Lea

“Sometimes I want to be a bit more punky, sometimes I want to be a bit more feminine.”

Moving away from just chatting about your music, you have a really cool style and we wondered where you get your fashion inspirations from?

I don’t really have a set icon like a lot of people do, I wake up in different moods! Sometimes I want to be a bit more punky, sometimes I want to be a bit more feminine. It just really varies. I love Courtney Love’s style. I think that she’s such an icon in so many ways because she’s such a powerful female voice. She’s so unapologetic and expresses this through her clothes too but there’s no one in particular [that I take inspiration from]. Normally it’s who I’ve been drawn to over the years. That’s created an outrageous fashion as people would put it!

We obviously need to talk about the new album coming out on the 12th February as a follow up to your debut album.  ‘My Mind Makes Noises’, which entered the UK album chart at #8. But what we wanted to ask is how it’s been releasing an album during a pandemic?

It’s not ideal, but it has already been two and a bit years since our last album release. We couldn’t really wait around until the pandemic had just disappeared. We needed to commit to releasing an album during a pandemic and it was just about adapting. I guess that’s what everyone just has to do right now. 

What’s your favourite song on the album? What would you want everyone to listen to first?

This is so difficult, it is like picking from 11 of my children! It changes so often but I think my favourite overall if I had to pick one off the album and listen to it for the rest of my life it would be ‘Wish You Were Here’. It’s not exactly the biggest song on there but there’s just something about that song that sounds really delicate and I think that’s what I like about it.  

Pale Waves have released another single, Easy, which is the third single to be released from their forthcoming second album Who Am I? It’s to be released by Dirty Hit on 12 February. 

Easy was premiered as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record in the World on BBC Radio One.

You can watch the video for Easy here:

Justice League

Zack Snyder’s Justice League – a dream come true

Written by The Mancunion on . Posted in Film.

Imagine, for one moment, that you are a child. A child walking along with your father after your first dental filling, life sucks. He brings you into a newsagent’s and offers you anything for being brave enough to conquer your fear of dentists. On the stands, featuring the many gaming and sport magazines, you see something that catches your eye. A red and blue image. This is Batman Legends Vol. 2 #10. You run to your father and beg him for this. Even though you don’t quite know why you want it, something has drawn your eye to the fantastically coloured cover and the stories inside. The anaesthetic is wearing off, but you don’t care. Batman and Superman have just revived the League in the Lazarus pit and nothing else in the world matters. 

Now flash forward a few years. You’ll never see your father again. But you can see the heroes he turned you towards. You stock up on all the coppers you can find until you have £3 so you can go down to the newsagent’s and buy any story that has a cape or a mask. You’re an addict but by god, is it worth it. Years later you see the Avengers brought to life, you have hope that the stories you hold closest, the stories of the Justice League, can finally be animated into something great. These myths were mine and my father’s, these characters are part of me now.

Now it is the 17th of November 2017, I have my ticket in my cold hands and it’s finally time to be amongst the first to see the Justice League finally brought to life. But this movie disappointed me. I read the story behind the production, how Joss Whedon took over from Snyder and cut out 2 hours’ worth of footage – it makes sense. The movie I saw in 2017 was missing most of its parts. Like a watch, the 2017 version was a Casio, the Snyder cut is a Rolex. The symbol of hope that got me through the darkest times now has a CGI face. All I wanted was to recapture that shimmering in my stomach, to have that sense of hope that my father gave me all those years ago, but what I got was a tampered vision.

This is the movie I was promised in 2017. The true culmination of Zack Snyder’s vision. Yeah, it’s 4 hours long. Regardless, I watched it twice in a row and I guarantee I am going to watch it many more times before I die. Everyone’s performance in this movie is so much better than when they were dragged back for reshoots. This movie drips with passion. It feels like everyone involved in the project believed in it. This movie did not leave me with a burning sense of disappointment; instead I cried with joy, each tear was filled with the hope my father gave me all those years ago. I’m so happy that Zack Snyder was able to finally finish the movie that he had to, tragically, step away from. His fans believed in his vision of these heroes, and because of those fans we were able to finally see it on our screens. 

Hope is not born out of a time of comfort; hope needs to be forged in the darkest place so that it can shine the brightest, it is the core component of a superhero. Being hopeful does not mean making bad jokes. Hope, at its core, equates to a resilience against something that seems insurmountable and I feel like this movie captures that perfectly. It is a 21st century instantiation of a myth that was born in June 1938. The way Joss Whedon approached the story in 2017 seemed to be an attempt to mimic the Marvel style without any of the passion that Marvel had for their characters. Whedon thought that a mould of iron would weather the same temperatures as a mould of steel, not realising that they are two different metals with different properties. Snyder treated his version of the Justice League in a way that their legacy deserved, in the same way that the Russo brothers honoured the legacy of Marvel. These heroes have begun to transcend generations, and now they span eras.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League isn’t perfect in all regards. But what do you expect, it was filmed 5 years ago now. The world has changed many times since then. This film reminded me, in the bleakness of the Covid era, that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, that someone or something was waiting there for me. It is just a genuine passion project by a man who seems to care about these superheroes as much as I do, and it could not have come at a better time. When everything seems to be at rock bottom, The Justice League is there for me once again, to tell me to shoot for the stars. 

These characters mean so much to their fans. They offer a way of inspiring those with nothing to aspire for. It does not matter what creates these heroes, they make their powers mean something. They all bring you out of that dark space, they grab your hand and tell you in a thousand voices that there will be light. You may think I’m a fanboy for loving this movie, but it doesn’t really matter. Ultimately, what matters is that kids like me, who had their whole world shattered, should have these ideals to aspire towards regardless of who published them. These kids should have faith in themselves. If they put their minds to it, they can accomplish wonders. 

“You’re asking a kid who just lost his father, to go up against the strongest machines in the universe. It’s not fair.” – Aquaman

9/10. – a truly epic depiction of truly epic heroes.

Words by Alex Harris.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League was released on Sky Cinema and Now TV on the 18th of March.

Altr London: mainstreaming men’s make-up

Written by Jay Darcy on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Altr London

Altr is a stylish men’s make-up brand that was founded by the incredible Alex Doyle in September 2017. Three and a half years later, the brand is thriving beyond expectations.

Doyle started his men’s make-up brand because he suffered from skincare problems, ranging from acne to eczema. He tried numerous pharmaceutical and medical solutions, but none of them worked.

A female friend recommended a concealer and non-irritable moisturiser. These products helped him overcome his confidence issues, but they were not quite right for his skin type. Moreover, they did not speak to him as a guy in his mid-20s.

Altr’s mission is to provide “a quick and easy solution to daily skin problems, to help you look and feel better in your day-to-day life.”

Indeed, all of their products are “designed with simplicity in mind, from purchase to application.”

Altr promises that you will get a natural, undetectable finish in minutes.

Altr’s products are designed to help your skin on the long-term. They use active ingredients that help remove excess oil, dirt, and grime from your skin, which are all primary causes of breakouts.

Even better, their skincare products are anti-pollutant, so they protect against environmental damage from living in the city. As Mancunians, we can all relate!

Now I know our readership, and we are not just bothered about our own health but about our environmental impact, too. You’ll therefore be glad to know that all of Altr’s products are environmentally friendly. All of their packaging is ethically sourced and recyclable after use, which helps keep their environmental footprint to a minimum.

Further, all of Altr’s products are UK-made and cruelty free, so there is absolutely no animal testing.

Men’s Make-up

The people behind Altr make it quite clear that they are committed to an inclusive, revolutionary attitude to cosmetics.

Of course, there is a debate about “men’s make-up”. Whilst it is admirable that it is helping normalise the radical notion that men can wear make-up (just like men have done for thousands of years), one could make the point that gendering (and indeed, masculinising) make-up gives credence to the gender binary.

But this is a complicated, nuanced issue that requires an article of its own!

I will say, though, that Doyle is a businessman, and he recognises that most men will not feel comfortable buying make-up products that are marketed towards women.

So, by marketing his products towards men, he is arguably beating fragile masculinity at its own game – and he is indisputably helping men feel more comfortable wearing make-up.

In fact, he is helping them with their confidence, period – make-up really is an armour! Why do you think they call it “war paint”?!

What I appreciate about Altr is that they are not trying too hard to be uber masculine.

Lots of men’s beauty brands tend only to use masculine men in their marketing, because it shows that even men who one would not expect to wear make-up can and do wear it.

I get this, I do, but one wonders if this is attempting to appeal to men’s (fragile) egos.

Altr, on the other hand, uses a wide array of different men in their marketing. There’s even a guy with bright blue hair!

I should also mention that Altr took part in London Queer Fashion Show. We all know how fragile and toxic some straight men can be, but Altr wants to be a brand for everybody.

So, their commitment to “an inclusive, revolutionary attitude to cosmetics” is not just talk. They really have followed through with it.

Review

Now, this is all sounds awesome, but what are Altr’s products like?

Altr were kind enough to send me a few products to try out. This set consists of a Face Fix, a Half & Half Face Fix, a Blemish Balm, a Beard & Brow Tame, and a blender.

This set is basically their “Blemish Combo”, with the addition of the Half & Half Face Fix.

Altr knows that a lot of men won’t know what a balm and a tame are, so the balm’s packaging tells you what the product does and the tame’s packaging tells you how to use it. For guys, like me, who do not wear make-up, this is very helpful!

There are further instructions for products online.

When the set arrived, I was excited. That was until I opened it, and I thought, “sh*t, I don’t even know how to apply make-up – what am I doing?!”

Thankfully, the products are super easy to use. You just apply it to the blender and then dab it on your face… and blend it…

Writing this, it sounds so obvious. Why was I so nervous?!

I think it is because complicated “female” make-up techniques leave men thinking that make-up is something really complex. Like, what on earth is a T-zone?!

But, as aforementioned, Altr is all about simplicity.

Another thing I was worried about was my skin. I have very sensitive skin and am prone to rashes and eczema, so lots of beauty products irritate it.

With Altr, though, my skin feels fine. The brand’s founder, himself, suffers from skin problems, so he unsurprisingly wanted to create a brand that will not irritate most people’s skin.

Like most guys, I want to go for the “no make-up” make-up look. I don’t want people to be able to tell that I’m wearing make-up. Altr’s products are not heavy; you can’t even tell that you’re wearing make-up – it neither looks nor feels like it.

At most, it looks like you’ve moisturised, but in my opinion, you should always look like you’ve moisturised, because you always should be moisturising!

I prefer the Face Fix to the Blemish Balm. It’s just a personal preference.

The Beard & Brow Tame is wonderful if, like me, you have a course and patchy beard.

The blender is fantastic – it’s even better than my mum’s blender! It is super soft and squishy – you could use it as a stress toy, though you probably shouldn’t – and it does a wonderful job of, well, blending!

My skin has not been so great lately, so it’s been brilliant to have some make-up to cover it up (and as I just said, it did not irritate it, so it was not a case of applying make-up to cover up bad skin but then make-up making my skin worse)!.

I recently took part in some filming for a run through for a new game show, so I made sure that I applied some Altr so that I would look good on camera!

I have also used it the last few times that I have interviewed people for my A Tough Act to Follow article series. I am very self-conscious about how I look on webcams, so it’s great to be able to make myself look a little better on them.

But let me tell you, in real life, these products are making me look fineee.

You can follow Altr on Instagram, TikTok and Twitter @altrlondon.

To browse their products, head to altrlondon.com.

Bookshelf pic for How to get over a reading slump article

How to get over a reading slump: 5 tips and 5 books

Written by Maisie Scott on . Posted in Books.

Books have the potential to be the perfect escapism from everyday life. However, reading can feel like a draining task. Everyone experiences a reading slump from time to time due to the demands of work, life, and the endless lockdowns.

The books section have collaborated to share our tips on how to get over a reading slump. We’ve also included the books that motivated us to get back into reading following our own hiatuses.

5 tips to get over a reading slump

  1. Listen to audio books or podcasts. Reading a physical copy of a book can be draining after a long day of work or study. I think that audio books can be the perfect solution for tired eyes. There are so many books now available on services such as YouTube and Audible. You can listen to books narrated by famous actors as well including Matthew McConaughey who narrates his novel Greenlights.
  2. Ask a mate or a family member for a recommendation, or borrow a book from them. I think this can be motivating for people who are trying to get over a reading slump. Following a recommendation makes reading a shared experience. Also, you can dissect your thoughts on the books together afterwards. I would also recommend borrowing a copy of a book because this helps to create more sustainable reading habits.
  3. Reread your favourite book. By picking up your favourite book again, you can remind yourself of how much you enjoy reading. The draining element of reading is quickly forgotten when you’re sitting down with your favourite page-turner. I also find that it helps me get back into the groove of reading.
  4. Three chapter rule. I often used to find myself trying to force a book to be good, and this was one of the biggest causes for my reading slumps. My solution to this was to employ a three chapter rule with all of the books that I pick up. If I am still not enjoying it three chapters in then I simply put the book down. Sometimes I will pick up the book again months after I first bought it. Mainly because my taste would have evolved or I am simply in the mood for that kind of book.
  5. Experiment and find your niche. Don’t be afraid to try unconventional or new books (while employing the three chapter rule). This method has worked really well for me. It has kept me excited about trying new genres and exploring the literary field in all areas. I found my niche around two years ago. This has helped, as whenever I find that I am in the middle of a slump, I resort back to what I know I will enjoy.

5 books to get over a reading slump

1. Maisie: The Vegetarian by Han Kang

The Vegetarian is a subversive story which navigates the deterioration of a marriage, vegetarianism and an eating disorder. To be honest, it’s important to flag up at the beginning of this review that the novel does require a CW because of the discussion of food and disordered eating.

Han Kang’s novel has achieved huge critical acclaim as it was awarded the 2016 Man Booker International Prize. I read the novel last summer after having a substantial reading slump. I sat in the sun reading the book and became so absorbed by it that I read it all in one go.

In the novel, Yeong-Hye is compelled to stop eating meat following a disturbing dream. Kan’s protagonist switches to vegetarianism and during this transition her marriage rapidly deteriorates. The breakdown of the relationship runs in parallel with the development of Yeong-Hye’s restrictive vegetarian diet.

Yeong-Hye’s new lifestyle creates severe family tensions. The novel represents the strained relationships and the intense pressures Yeong-Hye is subjected to by her family.

The novel centralises Yeong-Hye’s perspective without entering her narrative point-of-view. The Vegetarian is split into three separate sections of narrative, each of which includes the perspective of a different family member. To begin with, the story is narrated by Mr Cheong (Yeong-Hye’s husband). The second section is narrated by Yeong-Hye’s unnamed brother-in-law, and the final section is narrated by Yeong-Hye’s sister In-Hye.

Yeong-Hye’s perspective is omitted yet despite this she remains the focus of the story. The Vegetarian explores the abuse and misogyny that has been inflicted upon Yeong-Hye by men without ever sharing her thoughts. In fact, Yeong-Hye is seen through the gaze of two men in the narrative which potentially restricts her own agency once again.

The Vegetarian has a psychoanalytic dimension because of the significance of Yeong-Hye’s dreams, the haunting imagery and the development of her eating disorder. Kan’s novel is deeply disturbing on a psychological level and it stays with you long after you finish reading it.

2. Bana: Bluets by Maggie Nelson

Bluets is an unapologetic and lyrical meditation on the colour blue explored through depression, desire, the ecstasy of new love and the devastation of heartbreak. This is one of those books that is quite hard to pin down. It is not exactly clear whether it is a memoir, an essay, or an extended poem. Perhaps, it is all of those things. It is split up into 240 short prose-poems, making it a quick read. These prose-poems were written across three years documenting Nelson’s journey through grief and recovery as she cares for her quadriplegic friend while also grappling with heartbreak.

Nelson’s style is evocative. Despite the book’s short length, Nelson discusses so much through her musings of the colour blue. She explores the themes of love, loss, sensuality and sexuality in a very honest and realistic way. This makes her experiences, while unique, extremely human and thus, extremely relatable.

I found this book to be a quick, meditative read. It is always interesting to witness a reflection of life with candour, especially through a new, unusual lens: the colour blue.

3. Aileen: Circe by Madeline Miller

Sometimes reading books for university can create a bit of a ‘fun book’ reading slump for me. I get so caught up in reading to deadlines and not getting to choose what to read that when I do get some free time, I don’t always pick up a book straight away. Circe by Madeline Miller got me over one such slump.

It came highly recommended by a friend, and I thought I would give it a try, even though I really didn’t think it would be my thing. It was definitely something different for me.

Miller deftly weaves together myth, fantasy and fiction, by giving Circe, daughter of a naiad and Helios the sun god, her own narrative. Miller retells Circe’s story in a wonderfully feminist way, that gives Circe independence, power and emotional depth, all of which is missing when Odysseus briefly encounters her in Book 10 of The Odyssey.

It helped me to link Greek myths and Gods together, and place them in a more tangible context, through Circe’s own family tree. Circe is gripping and fast moving, and the island, Aiaia, to which Circe is banished, became vividly real to me.

The best thing was being able to chat with my friend about it during and afterwards, so Circe definitely brought a new lease of life to my reading.

4. Maisie: An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

During the first lockdown, I would go through waves of being hyper-interested in reading then losing all interest. I read An American Marriage by Tayari Jones at the same time as one of my close friends. I really enjoyed sharing my thoughts on Jones’ novel with my friend and chatting about it afterwards. Reading is a very individual activity, but making it a shared or social experience can be really rewarding.

An American Marriage is a romance and an anti-love story at the same time. Jones focuses on Celestial and Roy’s romance and later marriage. However, their relationship is put to the test when Roy is wrongly incarcerated for twelve years for a crime he didn’t commit.

The novel exposes how racial injustices in the US legal system exert pressure on individuals and relationships. Celestial remains supportive of Roy throughout the experience and Jones includes their letter correspondences to Roy’s prison address. Over time the unspoken tensions build up between the two and that is reflected in the letters Jones includes.

Roy and Celestial’s lives both get placed on hold due to his incarceration impacting both their qualities of life. Eventually cracks begin to show in the relationship which cannot be healed even after Roy is released from jail.

Throughout the novel Jones creates empathy for both Celestial and Roy. Both characters became victims of a deeply racist legal system. Jones maps how the couple fell in love, but also how they fell out of it which added a realism to their tragic romance. I would recommend checking out Bill Gates’ review on his blog for further insight into the novel.

5. Bana: Devotion by Patti Smith

This book is another one that is hard to pin down. I would argue that it is partially a fiction, a memoir, and perhaps also part travel writing. Implicitly, this is a book about Smith’s fascinations and how they fuel her creative process. It is a short book with three sections, “How the Mind Works”, “Devotion”, and “A Dream is not a Dream.”

In the first part, Smith documents her time in Paris meeting with her French publisher. She writes about her Parisian routine and the small nuances of a life there. On a train trip, she is suddenly inspired by her last few days in Paris. She immediately begins to write a short story.

This brings you to the second part: a short story of obsession. She writes of a young Estonian girl (whose description matches a young Patti Smith) who lives for her art: ice skating. In this part of the book, Smith explores an obsessive, beautiful, and dangerous account of devotion. She ties in several elements of this story to her last days in Paris. It becomes apparent how she incorporates details from casual daily encounters into a story, giving the reader an exclusive ‘in’ on her creative process.

The last part of the book details her visit to Albert Camus’ house. During her visit, she stays in Camus’ room and kind of experiences a ‘day in the life of Albert Camus’. She is privileged to look through his last manuscript, and this deepens her devotion to her craft, inspiring her to write more.

I think that it is very special and intriguing to be able to bear witness to an artist’s creative process. This short, atmospheric page-turner gave me this exact experience. I would also recommend reading Just Kids by Patti Smith. Smith’s writing is not worth missing out on.

We hope that our list motivates and inspires some new reading habits. Please get in contact via social media if you have any further tips on how to get over a reading slump.

Martina's bookstagram bookshelf pic with a shot of books balanced on her trainers

Never judge a bookstagram by its cover

Written by Maisie Scott on . Posted in Books.

Instagram is an aesthetics driven form of social media, and that also impacts bookstagram accounts. The algorithm privileges the images with the best editing and shots as well as interaction. To gain follower engagement you have to use arresting images which will stop Instagram users from just scrolling past.

Books also take an aesthetic or visual form. Although there is a lot more to books than what meets the eye, we are all guilty of judging a book by its cover. The sleeve jackets of books and the particular colour and cover design that are used now target millennial and Gen-Z consumer interests.

Instagram and books intersect in the form of bookstagrams. Alice Porter covered ‘How instagram made books cool again’ in a 2020 Mancunion article. Porter discusses how publishers are now catering to the demands of Instagram algorithms. Book publishers now opt for creating insta-friendly sleeve jackets which are ‘aesthetically pleasing’.

Over our series on UK bookstagrams we have spoken to several people about the importance of aesthetics and interaction. Last week we went ‘Behind the bookstagram’ and spoke to @i_likebigbooks. The final account in our series is @letmegiveyouabook which is run by Martina. The content Martina produces creatively makes use of Instagram posts, reels and stories.

Bookstagram spotlight: @letmegiveyouabook

What’s been your best lockdown read so far, and why?

My best read so far is The Secret History by Donna Tartt. It’s quite a long book, but so worth it! The novel has the perfect mix of everything: mystery, a bit of drama, crime investigation, and unforgettable characters. The book haunts you until you finish reading it. I wrote my first big review for Goodreads about The Secret History and you can find it here.

Tell us about the book that began your love for reading.

I’ve been reading ever since I was little! My sister would take me to the library and (back in the days when we didn’t even have phones) I had so much fun reading. I loved exploring colorful pages and creating my own plots and characters.

It wasn’t long after that I started writing my own short kids poems and short stories. But I guess that the book which was a milestone for me was Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann. The book left a great impact on me, and I completely fell in love with the idea that the written word is a glue that keeps us all together regardless of our life story, background, what we do, what we dream of or what we’re afraid of.

What motivates you to post on your books insta?

Engagement! Seeing that people can read the same book and experience it from so many different perspectives excites me so much. My flatmate and I have contrasting opinions on loads of books, so can you imagine just how many different thoughts we can hear from thousands of people over social media.

I love seeing all the bookish trends, and I’ve honestly made some great friendships with booksta gals from all over the world. Without my bookstagram I wouldn’t have had the chance to connect with them.

How important are aesthetics with book pictures on insta, and what’s your vibe?

My insta is all about the content! I don’t take photos of my books nor do I follow a certain vibe. My posts are digital creations that I create to fit with the book I’ve just read. Currently I’m working on an insta reel where I will try to convince people to read The Secret History by showing them what kind of aesthetic and vibe they can experience when reading this book. In this particular case the focus is dark academia which is currently very popular.

Martina’s post dedicated to The Secret History by Donna Tartt. Image credit: Martina Spolijaric.

Which of your posts has received the most engagement so far?

The most engagement I’ve received so far is from a reel that’s dedicated to letting my followers choose their dream library aesthetic! I was not surprised by the high engagement because people love to see content that is tailored for them. Posts like that are what motivated me to start in the first place. So, instead of making content about me I try to take an approach which makes it about my fellow book lovers.

‘Choose your dream library aesthetic’ Instagram post. Image credit: Martina Spolijaric.

So, in terms of content creation how do you edit your photos and how long does the process take?

I edit most of my photos using Canva, AirBrush and LightRoom. It takes at least one hour to prepare a good quality photo/carousel and 2-3 hours to prepare a relevant reel or TikTok. Often I repurpose my content for different channels, but from now on I am mainly focusing on TikTok.

Video is definitely the future of content marketing and with the TikTok algorithm (which in my opinion works undoubtedly better than IG), even bookstagrammers should embrace this change.

The trick with books related content within traditional media is to use as many words as possible e.g. long reviews, book descriptions etc. However, the average person’s attention span is 12 seconds and it is dropping lower by the day. Time to hop on the TikTok train!

How do you navigate your relationship with Instagram and your mental health whilst maintaining a bookstagram account?

This is such an important topic – it is proven that likes, comments, follows on social media produce dopamine in our brain; a chemical that’s associated with pleasure.

I’ll quote a New York University professor Adam Alter here: ‘When someone likes an Instagram post, or any content that you share, it’s a little bit like taking a drug. As far as your brain is concerned, it’s a very similar experience’. Very dangerous stuff, right?

Many years ago I decided to delete my personal Instagram account because it became too much for me. Even before Insta stories, reels or IGTV, I’d spend hours and hours scrolling around Instagram, and at one point I decided that it was enough.

But with a bookstagram account it’s very different. The book community that I’ve experienced so far is all about supporting diversity, embracing opinions, sharing and learning rather than displaying a faux picture of ‘a perfect life’.

What I absolutely love is that on booksta, mental health talk is present and you can talk about it openly. My very first post on Instagram was dedicated to recommending books that calm one’s anxiety. First instagram post. Many people DM’ed me after this post saying they haven’t even thought about using books as a supporting tool on their mental health journey.

Are there any habits you practice around reading? If so, please share them with us!

I take notes! It might sound funny, but I get so inspired when reading that I just have to jot down points. Afterwards I use my notes for reviews, insta posts, and insta stories. Also, after a good book I take a long walk (without headphones!) and simply enjoy the world I just came from after finishing a book!

Please give Martina a follow @letmegiveyouabook and support her creative insta posts and reels. You can also find Martina’s TikTok account by searching the same handle.