Hi friends,

I kept forgetting that it was newsletter weekend. I only opened my laptop just now so that I could put something on in the background while I fold laundry. Upon opening my laptop, I was sucked into listening to the current draft of this month's song. I'm working on the beat right now. Should I have the snare start here? Or there? I've been trying both ways (and a lot of other things too). It's deeply satisfying to work on, like scratching an internal itch deep in my sternum.

I started a new job last Monday, and was forcibly reminded that learning new things in a concentrated amount of time is exhausting and exhilarating in equal measure. Learning is work!

It's hard work, and you have to cut yourself some real slack when you are doing it. That's the extremely short version of the talk that I give to friends who are starting new jobs. Hit me up if you ever need it. I'll type out the long version in September, maybe, after another month of new information stretching my brain like taffy.

My roommate and I watched Coyote Ugly last night, and it was terrible. Read the original essay by Elizabeth Gilbert instead, it's much better written, and it's not about an incredibly precious songwriter. Can't fight the moonlight, my ass. I'll fight God herself if it means that I never have to watch another movie written by cishet men about a beautiful, naive, blonde, young singer making her way downtown in the Big City.

For the last word on girl singers, listen to this.

I've been mainlining the new Billie Eilish, and it's good. A few of the songs are misses for me, but I'll be damned if I haven't gotten them stuck in my head regardless. New summer anthems, right here and here. This song is still my favorite, though.

What else? I highly recommend going to a matinee-empty-theater-screening of The Green Knight, a movie that is exactly as horny for Dev Patel as it should be. Yowza! His face! TGK is also one of the rare movies that has a score that goes heavy on the choral music. Close harmonies, straight tone. Delicious. Don't expect traditional narrative choices, answers to your questions, or for it to "make sense." Do expect dream logic, magic, and to be enthralled by a visual spectacle. Just let it wash over you.

I'm going to send this email out without proofing it. Life on the edge, babyyyyyyyyy.

See you in two weeks with a new song ;)
xoxoxoxo, Lauren