Song for Volume IV - Issue III: Beyonce - II HANDS II HEAVEN
👋🏽 Hello There
It’s been awhile. I’ve been out & about going to places I go to normally go to while at the same time being an introvert so haven’t had much to share so far this year. Plus I haven’t been to LAX in six months, shocking I know!
I’m starting defrost, granted winter barely showed up in LA. It’s a high of 87F/~28C (as I write this newsletter) which I’m thankful yet annoyed by this because I wanted to wear my sweaters and cardigans. Guess I’ll have to wait until December.
I have to admit, I’ve been recently annoyed/complaning a lot or not a lot depending on the week I’ve had. At the same time, I’ll never forget where I came from and how my life right now is something I prayed for. I had a vision of where I’d like to be and for the most part I’m in what I saw as my dream life. Now I have more goals that reflect on how I’m capable of so much more than I imagined.
With that said this month brings the start of spring which can also bring the start of the new year if you feel like Jan 1st or the Chinese New Year was too soon and you weren’t just yet ready.
Here’s what I’ve discovered over the past month and wanted to share up here as they don’t fit in the categories below:
Home goods that also function as art - https://emiliyaart.com/
Haven Watch - Supporting people after ICE detention with immediate resources, legal guidance, and community care
Jumie Ceramics
These jackets for next winter or if you are headed somewhere cooler
See you in two weeks!
Articles
Citrini Research (Substack Newsletter) - The 2028 Global Intelligence Crisis
The Washington Post - How much did AI boost the economy? Maybe zilch, some economists say.
BBC Sky at Night Magazine - Earth could be sitting in the centre of a giant cosmic void, according to astronomers
The Economist - Geopolitics is warping multinationals’ commercial decisions
The Atlantic - The Great Resegregation
FYI in case you didn’t know use archive.org if you need help reading
Handrolls from INE
Los Angeles, CA
Andante
INE
Thank You Coffee
Recommendations I’ll Share
ASIA
Shanghai, CN - Nan Xing Yuan
USA
New York, NY - BŌM
I honestly haven’t been listening to songs individually at the same level as I have with albums. Two of these albums below plus Beyonce (no surprise on this!), Rosalia and Tame Impala have been on continuous repeat. Also, I did discover Elevatormusic.live which is pretty cool too.
Albums
Icon (Director’s Cut) by Brent Faiyaz (R&B/Soul) - This album is 40 minutes and I did enjoy it. In comparison to Jill and Willow’s album it didn’t leave the same impact on me. Let me clarify, it’s not a bad album. If you are a fan of his music, it’s worth checking out or even if it’s your first time listening to his music.
To Whom This May Concern by Jill Scott (R&B/Soul) - Jill brings the sensuality to Neo-soul like no other. My parents played her music all the time when I was growing up so now to be an adult listening to Jilly from Philly has been quite a lovely time. I felt that I should be at home, lights down low with candles or incenses lit to really set the vibe during my first listen instead of listening to this album during my rainy commute. I found myself singing along during my first listen even though I didn’t know the words lol. Two songs are an ode to nearby neighbors borrowing the sound of GoGo music in DC (Liftin’ Me Up) and Baltimore Club Music (Right Here Right Now).
petal rock black by Willow (Jazz) - To me this is a hybrid jazz/rock album. As Willow matures in age and with her sound I become a fan even more than I was previously. Willow may be a nepo baby but she has talent that she has been able to hone in on and develop her own sound that is authentic to her. Within two songs of this album I was locked in and ready to listen to more. Really enjoyed this album. The song ‘ear to the cocoon’ makes me think of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ for the chorus section
View from Tuna Canyon Trail
Going Out
Malibu, CA - Tuna Canyon Trail
New York City, NY - Maison Welles
Help Me (In Theaters) - We all have been in a situation like Linda from strategy and planning. Having an executive you think is useless etc. Now what happens when you get stuck on an island with that executive? That’s the premise of the movie which gave me everything I expected. I mean it in a good way. Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien did a good job with the characters and not sure if it would have worked as well with other actors but who knows. I do think cutting ~15 mins from it would of been lovely. Overall, I liked the movie and no major complaints.
Staying In
TV
His & Hers (Netflix) - His&Hers — I love Tessa Thompson, Jon Bernthal, and Pablo Schreiber as actors although they weren’t the reason why I started the show. Someone I know IRL is in the show which is always great to see people you know working in big shows. Overall, I enjoyed this limited series albiet parts of episode 4 and 5 did drag a teeny bit IMO.
Variety Arts Theater - Julia Stoshek Foundation presents What a Wonderful World. An audiovisual poem.
Variety Arts Theater (Los Angeles, CA) - Julia Stoshek Foundation presents What a Wonderful World. An audiovisual poem. This is a perfectly curated exhibition and I wish it was permanent. Every floor is set up in a way that makes sense for the space while not overpowering and working within it’s environment. This is definitely going to be in contention for one of my favorite viewing this year.
(on view until March 20, 2026)
Getty Museum (Los Angeles, CA) - During Frieze Los Angeles, I was a plus one to attend an evening event at the Getty. I hope they do more events at night, the space looks lovely then.
It’s interesting how we’ve come so far yet not far at all within the US. The featured exhibition of Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955 - 1985 is reflective of that (on view until June 14, 2026). I felt like I was taking a step back into time with materials that could be reflective of the world we live in today. I also was able to check out Beginnings: The Story of Creation in the Middle Ages (on view until April 19, 2026). I’m a big fan of Harmonia Rosales and hope to own an original of hers to then donate to a museum (iykyk). Also, seeing Bibles from the past in the exhibition was a lovely touch. It shows how uniquely and beautiful designed they were.
Artwork by Harmonia Rosales
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