Vince Staples, Feeling Through, and Salt Houses
Featuring an interview with George Riley.
Welcome to the fifty-seventh installation of The Q : your one-stop weekly newsletter of culture recommendations.
Album
Vince Staples by Vince Staples
Often, media criticism conditions us to expect artists to perform their sadness. Incredible rappers like Kendrick Lamar and Tyler, the Creator have made careers out of being able to perform their trauma to the extent that they force listeners to walk in their shoes. Vince Staples completely subverts this expectation, and as a result, delivers a project that excels in ways that performance cannot. This project makes you ask questions about why we expect artists to act out their trauma rather than address it.
Film
Feeling Through directed by Doug Roland
Humanity can be found in any story, and in Doug Roland’s film Feeling Through, all it takes is 20 minutes. The Oscar-nominated short, which made history by being the first film to cast a DeafBlind actor in a lead role, tells the story of a late-night encounter between a homeless teen named Tereek (Steven Prescod) and a DeafBlind man named Artie (Robert Tarang). What begins as a chance encounter ends up deeply impacting Tereek’s perspective on his life and the needs of others.
Book
Salt Houses by Hala Alyan
The Yacoubs’ story begins in 1963 before the Six Day War, though context about their displacement is key to understanding the emotional weight of the novel. I provide this context regarding the conflict between Palestine and Israel in further paragraphs. The book begins with the perspective of Salma, mother of soon-to-be-married Alia. Over the course of the novel, the reader is taken on an intricate journey through the lives of Alia, her children, and great-grandchildren, in addition to characters such as her husband and brother. The reader follows the characters through Nablus, Kuwait City, Beirut, Paris, Boston, and more. While the story follows four generations of complex characters, Alyan’s writing allows one to forget that they are fictional.
Playlist
Teresa’s “July ‘21” features Zelooperz, Paris Texas, and Doja Cat
Teresa’s favorite track: “stay sane” by Pink Siifu
Description: “It has been HOT in Brooklyn this month. These songs help me bop through the heat and give me the energy to combat the sun’s sleepy rays.”
Podcast
Episode #52: Earl Grey Tea and an Interview with George Riley
On this week's episode, Sam and Teresa interview George Riley over a cup of earl grey tea. George Riley is a 22-year-old West London-based singer and producer who blends soul, jazz, and electronic sounds. On June 24, Riley released her debut album interest rates, a tape. Riley talks to Teresa and Sam about deciding on an album name, the intersection between visuals and her music, as well as layering her vocals.
