today’s thoughts… on big brat energy™, holiday guide vol. 1 and desert island discs
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full disclosure: writing this newsletter was a struggle. the last time I had this much difficulty completing a task was when I had to help my mom set up a new iPhone because she couldn’t remember a single password. I think I’ve just been feeling a little uninspired, a little… je ne sais quoi. but as the age old saying goes… “the most successful approach to circumvent a creative roadblock is to go on a holiday and listen to charlie xcx’s critically acclaimed new album, brat, on repeat.”
jodie turner wears schiaperelli for her the cut cover story - “one thing about me, if I want something, I’m going to get it.” yes ma’am.
bonjour! welcome to today’s thoughts - my phone notes (& Other Thoughts) deconstructed for your pleasurable consumption delivered weekly* to your inbox 💌
*or when I am inspired to do so! X
big brat energy™
there are so many reasons for brat’s unmitigated success. its the perfect blend of hyperpop and warped club beats, it’s kind of experimental and it feels like an antithesis to other pop on the billboard circuit rn - revenge pop if you will? it’s a bit grungier, feels vulnerable and it’s certainly captured the cultural zeitgeist in every way imaginable (her marketing team really put the lime in sublime campaign rollout.) and it’s inspired in me big brat energy™ - an energy we can all afford to adopt into our lives more often.
big brat energy™ is existing to have fun, feeling absolutely everything, being honest, going through all the motions, doing everything and also doing nothing because it’s doing whatever you want whenever you want, it’s having a cigarette and a wine on the balcony with your friends, being so authentic to yourself, dancing to your favourite music for hours and hours until you run out of sweat to sweat, being around people you love, taking risks and feeling good about it, seeing the world through different perspectives, falling in love with people, falling in love with yourself.
“brat is a bit trashy, like a pack of cigs and a bic lighter with a strappy white top and no bra.” charlie xcx via bbc sounds
while we’re on the topic, pop music is so good right now and so is sabrina’s career trajectory.
a quick guide to a gorgeous holiday // vol. one: canggu
have several massages a day and overindulge in self care, cc: spring spa
drink bintangs at sunset on canggu beach
go to a beach club. being day drunk is one of life’s greatest (and least utilised) luxuries, so order something with mint in it, read your book, get a tan, people watch like your life depends on it and then dance all night cc: la brisa, the lawn, sandbar, luigi’s pizza (monday night place to go)
sorry la brisa needs it’s own line item - it’s as if the swiss family robinson built a beach club in bali and if I could move in there I probably would:
do not use the public toilets near sandbar
do play monopoly deal everywhere
be mistaken for being nordic by a german backpacker, be extremely flattered, respond that you’re not and then pretend not to be offended when he proceeds to ask “why are you so pale then?”
eat delicious food, cc: mason, yuki, skool, lacalita, santorini greek, kynd, seabird, shelter, deli (best sandwiches & fresh juice)
*do not* risk your life by getting on a gojek at 3am
take it for what it is, it’s a bit of a paradoxical environment but if you want to escape reality for 5 days it’s close to perfect
desert island discs
while we’re on the topic of escapism, I thought I’d recommend my favourite podcast. bbc radio 4’s most iconic segment of all time, desert island discs, has been on air since 1942. that’s over 80 years of guests being invited to select eight tracks, one luxury item and one book they would take with them if they were to be cast away to a desert island in a soundtrack to my life style interview.
a lot of the episodes are incredibly moving - it’s remarkable to hear about the influence, nostalgia and emotion wrapped up in music. tom hanks put it best:
part of it is the unspoken before and after emotional connection you have to each piece of music… you remember where you were and you can see the people that you loved and the people that’ve gone away, as well as what you learned about yourself and your place in life when you hear these songs again.
art really does leave an everlasting impression on us. these are some great eps to get started on: emily eavis, tom hanks, yoko ono, stanley tucci, louis theroux
4 books that have big brat energy™ & serve as essential holiday reading material. a friendly reminder to only pack one, you will literally never touch the second one but good on you for being so well intentioned!
leaving you with this stunning visual of paul mescal at the gucci men’s show… he knew what he was doing. that is all.
it’s been real! thank you for reading, thinking of you until next time… x