DRONES, Wild Indian, and The Sweet Flypaper of Life
Featuring an interview with Xenia Rubinos
Welcome to the seventy-third installation of The Q : your one-stop weekly newsletter of culture recommendations.
Album
DRONES by Terrace Martin
Despite releasing countless projects such as the Sounds of Crenshaw series and creating multiple supergroups such as R+R = NOW and The Pollyseeds, DRONES is a thematic sequel to 2016s Velvet Portraits. DRONES blends the rich soul of the past while being carried by today’s rising poets and pipers, sonically culminating in something beautiful to be played tomorrow all while showcasing the soul of L.A.
Film
Wild Indian directed by Lyle Mitchell Corbine Jr.
In his intimate debut feature, The First Nations writer-director conducts a character study — placing two Ojibwe cousins at the heart of a childhood murder and exploring the way that a decades-old secret embeds itself in their lives and consciousness.
Book
The Sweet Flypaper of Life by Langston Hughes
The Sweet Flypaper of Life is a beautiful book filled with character portraits of an entire family and their life in Harlem. Written by Langston Hughes and illustrated with photographs by the legendary photographer Roy DeCarava, the book is a gentle trip through both the simplicities and complexities of life in Harlem in the early 50s. Originally published in 1955 in a relatively limited print, the book was reissued in 2018 opening up this incredible document to a wider audience. “The Sweet Flypaper of Life” makes the world feel just a little bit smaller and forces you to take a closer look at what matters in your own life.
Playlist
Sam’s “November” features Tirzah, Spelling, and Loraine James
Sam’s favorite track: “I! Gits! Weary!” by keiyaA
Description: “A mixed bag of R&B, hip-hop, and Adele”
Podcast
Episode #68: Caramel Apple Cider and an Interview with Xenia Rubinos
On this week's episode, Sam and Teresa interview Xenia Rubinos over a cup of caramel apple cider. Xenia is a Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter whose sound draws influences ranging from Caribbean rhythms to minimalism and indie rock. In 2016, she released her album Black Terry Cat to critical acclaim and was named the 11th best album of 2016 by NPR. On October 15, Xenia released her third project Una Rosa. Xenia talks to Teresa and Sam about listening to old music tapes, playing around with electronic sounds, as well as dressing up as grapes for Halloween.
