Stop scrolling: Kelela’s smooth vocals, a colourful labyrinth and women’s art history
Woo's cultural tonic for the endless cycle of doomscrolling
Woo's cultural tonic for the endless cycle of doomscrolling
Doomscrolling can take you into a grim place, being linked to both physical and mental health - a recent study said that of those with “severely problematic” news consumption, 74% reported experiencing mental health problems and 61% reported physical problems.
Our antidote for this sorrow, the endless blast of short-form nonversation and headlines about the end of the world, is to help you escape the news cycle and embrace what the great big world has to offer you. We know you're busy and there’s a lot to digest, so each week we’ll bring you a roundup of carefully curated reads, exhibitions, big-screen events and album drops to check out.
GO TO A COLOURFUL EXHIBITION
Catch the last days of Colourscape this weekend on Clapham Common – the amazing colourful festival that has been running for yonks. Get lost in a sprawling inflatable labyrinth filled with musicians, and of course, a whole lot of colour. On Saturday the themes are wood, water, air and fire, and you can expect to see everything from branches of trees played with violin bows to Tibetan Singing Bowls. On Sunday, the last day of the festival, the theme of Harmony is explored – you’ll see the planets represented by various instruments, paired with the contrasting sounds of drones and bells.
See Colourscape at Clapham Common, Windmill Drive, SW4 9DE
BLESS YOUR EARS WITH NEW KELELA
Kelela has officially shared a new track, “Washed Away”, marking the singer’s first release since her 2017 debut album Take Me Apart (aside from a remixed version in 2018). This song makes you feel as if you’re drifting off in a floatation tank – her smooth angelic vocals cocoon you.
In a press release, Kelela said, “I love a banger, but for the first point of contact out of my hiatus, it felt more honest to lead with an ambient heart-check”. Alongside this gorgeous new song is a music video directed by Yasser Abubeker that features Kelela in Ethiopia’s Afar region. “I specifically want to speak to marginalised Black folk and highlight the work we do to find renewal in a world that’s built to make us feel inadequate. This song is the soundtrack to the relief we find after going inward,” she added.
TAKE A TRIP TO THE MOVIES TO WATCH THE NEW BOWIE DOC
Moonage Daydream is a collage of concert footage, clips from interviews, music videos and psychedelic visual effects, all combining to create a rich documentary far superior to anything previously made about Bowie. Written, directed, edited and produced by Brett Morgen. Known for his poignant documentaries such as Montage of Heck about Kurt Cobain and The Kids Stays in the Picture looking at the life of film producer Robert Evans, this might just be his best creation yet. With permission from the Bowie estate, Morgen was given access to five million pieces of archived material. The result is a tender portrayal of the legend that has us mourning the loss of the rock star all over again.
Moonage Daydream in IMAX from September 16, and in UK cinemas from September 23
READ THE BOOK ABOUT WOMEN’S ART HISTORY
Katy Hessel, also known on Instagram as @womensarthistory amassing over 250,000 followers, has published a phenomenal book The Story of Art Without Men, which does exactly what it says on the tin. This positive force of a book takes readers on a journey of women’s art of the years, introducing us to incredible artists along the way, and the socio-political context that birthed them.
The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel is published by Hutchinson Heinemann (£30)
ADD A CRUELTY FREE BRAND TO YOUR CART
Skin Proud is a brand that leads by example. Vegan, cruelty free, high quality products with an affordable price tag and super cute packaging – need we say more? Our new fave is their frozen over gel-to-ice hydrator, which can be used at room temperature for a quick dewy glow or applied straight from the freezer for icy hydration to put life back into puffy skin. Chilly!
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