In its earliest stages, and developed by graduate students from Keio University in Tokyo, the “biological microgrid” Raiki will aim to harvest electricity from trees by drawing from the “triboelectric” effect in foliage. This is a phenomenon of movement, much like static electricity, generated when positively charged leaves come into contact with negatively charged materials (like a tree trunk). Industrial designer Catalina Lotero explained this …
Written by music critic Will Hermes, Love Goes to Buildings on Fire: Five Years in New York That Changed Music Forever explores the years in the mid-1970s when NYC was failing as a city, but punk, hip-hop, disco, salsa and jazz were thriving from block to block, borough to borough. Beginning with New Year’s Day in 1973 and ending with New Year’s Eve in 1977, …
From filmmaker Daniel Askill (best known for groundbreaking music videos for Sia and Lady Gaga), the short film Electric Wave depicts futuristic surfing scenes in richly stylized, and sometimes allegorical, moments. Seven-time World Surf League Champion, Steph Gilmore, as well as legendary free surfer, Leah Dawson and emerging talent Coco Ho star in the exquisite cinematic experience, which was shot overnight at Kelly Slater’s Surf …
On the western bank of the Nile, 15 feet below ground, an archeological dig (led by Patrizia Piacentini from the University of Milan) has unearthed a stunning 2,000-year-old sarcophagus lid adorned with a colored painting of a leopard’s face. “Her name is Mafdet (meaning ‘she who runs’) and she was the first of the Egyptian cat goddesses, long before the more modish Bastet and Sekhmet,” …
A red, metal-clad building—the Bunhill 2 Energy Centre—in London’s Islington marks the center of Europe’s newest type of energy network. The building itself (by Cullinan Studio) acts as the central provider for heat and hot water for hundreds of homes and public offices within its proximity. A fan situated below ground, but above the Underground redirects heat from the Northern Line tunnel (which would otherwise …
Digital images today are captured with an EXIF meta data layer that stores pertinent facts about the shot so that photographers can study, report and refine their technique. Analog photography (somewhat by definition) remains largely under-serviced by this kind of high-tech service. Luce, an upstart iOS app—from developers Don Chia and his partner, Diego—offers a centralized space for analog photographers to log image data while …
Crafted from 100% cotton, but washed for softness, Japanese outdoor brand Goldwin’s regular chino pants combine a classic silhouette with contemporary and utilitarian touches. Back pockets curve with the wearer’s hips, a gusseted crotch increases mobility and hidden zippered pockets keep your things separated. Despite the name, they’re more functional than traditional chinos. Available in olive green, navy or beige; from size small to XL.
Released after Leonard Cohen’s death, the nine-song album Thanks for the Dance finds the artist’s son Adam fleshing out some of his father’s incomplete sonic sketches with the help of several extraordinary collaborators—Bryce Dessner of The National, Damien Rice, Javier Mas, Patrick Watson and Beck included. A startlingly beautiful addition to Cohen’s lengthy portfolio and a labor of love, the album offers finality. This 180g …
by Humankind’s all-natural mouthwash tablets (made from baking soda, tartaric acid, sodium benzoate, menthol, and thymol) now come in a travel-size iteration with a reusable container made for use while on the go. The durable glass cup makes standardized dilution simple, while the silicone tablet holder sits snugly on top. Removing single-use plastic from the ritual, by Humankind also ships tablet refills in 100% compostable …
With more than 50 recipes from menus past and present at Dimes—the beloved all-day restaurant in Manhattan’s Chinatown—Dimes Times: Emotional Eating lets regulars (and everyone else) bring home some of their healthy, delectable dishes and signature sauces. Founded by Sabrina De Sousa and Alissa Wagner, Dimes (and later, its companion, the nearby Dimes Deli and Market, founded with Sophie Helsby) changed the culinary landscape of …
Shura (aka Alexandra Lilah Denton) has teamed up with Ivy Sole for “Elevator Girl,” a breezy tune based on a date Denton once went on. It’s “about the elation of a first date—the fact that it can make you feel kind of high without drugs,” she says. Through breathy vocals, a groovy bass line and Ivy Sole’s effortless verse, the song is dappled with ’90s …
“Out Of It,” from Boston-based indie band Vundabar’s newest album, Either Light, feels like a daydream. It begins slowly, but the song progressively transforms into a danceable tune highlighted by its joyous outro. The Holler Film music video suits the band’s altogether quirky tone, with frontman Brandon Hagen and drummer Drew McDonald appearing in odd locales—performing the tune on a boat, out of a car’s …
Many are likely to recall an experience of trudging through the bowels of a hotel for a conference as jet lag begins to take its toll on reality, reaction time and judgment. The Conference, explained by its maker—acclaimed artist and game designer Carl Burton—as “a performance in a hotel at night,” dips deeper into this experience. Burton’s free, text-based game (which can be played in …
Omnipollo, one of Sweden’s most influential and widely acclaimed craft brewers, has gone from strong release to strong release since its inception almost a decade ago. We first met co-founder Henok Fentie back in 2012 and, despite growing in size, the label continues to release some of the most creative beers and ales on the market. Today, the company uses eight different breweries—Omnipollo was among …
Pretty and powerful, “I Believe In You” from Kacy Hill’s forthcoming album, Is It Selfish If We Talk About Me Again, grapples with doubt and the repetition of everyday life. Ultimately, however, the song offers thoughtful affirmation. Halfway through, the break’s distorted vocals contrast Hill’s otherwise airy crooning. The silken tune’s hopeful subject matter reflects a real-life “coming to” moment for Hill, as she explains in a …
Singapore-born, Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Slodown verbalizes exactly what countless people are feeling in his new song “CRAZY OUTSIDE.” The downtempo tune may sound a little melancholy or forlorn at first, but the lyrics soon prove to be positive and include messages of gratitude and encouragement. The languid, piano-led song incorporates crackles reminiscent of old vinyl or staticky radio, which adds to its nostalgic tinge.
Stockholm-based design brand Hem has steadily set the standard for direct-to-consumer, design-forward furniture and decor items since launching in 2015, accruing a long list of collaborators and loyal buyers (the brand surpassed the $15 million profit mark in 2019) along the way. And while Stockholm remains their design and administrative hub, openings in Los Angeles and now New York serve as real-life extensions of their …
Filmed on the streets of Paris, the Beatrice Pegard-directed video for M. Ward’s latest track, “Unreal City,” brings the spirit of New Wave filmmaking into the present day. Clémence Poésy stars as the adventuring, everyday heroine and her movements bring the beautiful of the song to life. “Unreal City” appears in advance of M. Ward’s forthcoming album, Migration Stories, recorded within Arcade Fire’s Montreal studios.
To access, understand or simply cope with the influence of anxiety on one’s mind, DOV (aka Dov Eagle) found that various substances lead to a quieting of the noise that makes it all so oppressive. This may be the surface subject matter of the queer pop artist and producer’s latest track, “Mind High,” premiering here. But his first release of 2020 carries so much more—antagonized …
Using the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia as a backdrop, director Axinya Gog made a one-take film lasting five hours, 19 minutes and 28 seconds using an Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max. Masterpieces hang still, dancers use dramatic choreography to provide a sense of direction and orchestral performances arranged by Russian neoclassical composer Kirill Richter unfold in real-time throughout the museum’s 45 halls. …
