Farewell, Jackie Shane

Jackie Shane, an influential figure in soul music and the LGBTQ+ community, has passed away at 78 years old. Even though she helped define the R&B sound of the ’60s and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Historical Album this year, her work transcends music. Shane identified as a woman from the age of 13, before the term “transgender” was used.  More than an entertainer, she …

Wet: Old Bone (Jim-E Stack Remix)

NYC-based band Wet’s single “Old Bone” was a string-plucked tune with an emphasis on lead singer Kelly Zutrau’s vocals. But the remixed version, by Jim-E Stack, leans into the track’s core rhythm. With an upbeat drum and looming synths, the guitar is replaced by darker, distant strumming. Zutrau’s vocals are buried under a bit of distortion, but still bear the same raw emotion. Catch Wet on …

A Visual History of Public Libraries

In a scrolling, hand-drawn and collaged article by CityLab’s Ariel Aberg-Riger, America’s beloved public library system is indexed from its origin as a “social” amenity for the wealthy and white to now. Currently, public libraries are battling a major federal funding cut under the administration. The public library system is designed to service all and it needs the support of local funding to do so. Because …