Farewell Studio Ghibli Co-Founder, Isao Takahata

Co-founder of the influential Studio Ghibli, Isao Takahata has passed away at 82 years old. Takahata (who started the studio with Hayao Miyazaki) wrote and directed some of the most magical and poignant animated films of the past 50+ years—including the heart-wrenching “Grave of the Fireflies,” an anti-war film based on a short story by Akiyuki Nosaka. Heavily inspired by French literature and film, he …

SOPHIE: Faceshopping

Glasgow-born, LA-based SOPHIE (multi-talented producer, singer, songwriter and DJ) has been releasing a slew of diverse new tracks over the past few months—from the sweet “It’s Okay to Cry” to the manic, sexy “Ponyboy.” Today the glitchy, gloriously abrasive banger “Faceshopping” gets its own distorted video. The red-headed artist’s face morphs in all kinds of ways in the clip, alongside not-so-subliminal messages pertaining to the …

Melody’s Echo Chamber: Breathe In, Breathe Out

French musician Melody Prochet (aka Melody’s Echo Chamber) will release her second album—her first new music in six years—this summer, and “Breathe In, Breathe Out” is the third track she’s shared from it. Prochet’s pretty vocals trace over the scuzzy guitar-laden psych rock. The tune ebbs and flows, but without being jarring—rather it maneuvers in odd ways that seem entirely effortless. Bon Voyage is due …