Welcome to the forty-ninth installation of The Q : your one-stop weekly newsletter of culture recommendations.
Album
Wink by CHAI
If you don’t like CHAI, you might just not like having fun. The Japanese indie-pop band’s newest project, WINK, is a burst of joy and energy that overpowers anything in its presence. It feels bigger than life and takes over your emotions for a full 35 minutes. WINK is a welcoming and warm listen that envelops you in CHAI’s unique blend of pop, rock, and R&B.
Film
Test Pattern directed by Shatara Michelle Ford
TW: sexual assault
In Test Pattern, Ford complicates a fairly simple plot with a racially-driven premise — bringing a magnifying glass to way our system fails to protect sexual assault victims, and the painful reality that follows — where the strings of trauma are often loose and untied, only left to be hung and dried.
Book
The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang
The greater takeaway is the way in which war, imperialism, and colonization perpetuate systems of violence and oppression, not who is “right” and “wrong.” No one is, and the truest “villains” of the story are societal forces more than anything else. This is partially what separates The Poppy War from other fantasy novels: the “big bad evil guy” isn’t a person at all.
Playlist
Teresa’s “May ‘21” features Linden Jay, lavender, and Caleb Giles
Teresa’s favorite track: LA CANCÍON by J. Balvin and Bad Bunny
Description: “Perfect for that limbo period between the end of school and beginning of summer!!”
Podcast
Episode #48: Thai Iced Tea and an Interview with Black Rave Culture
On this week's episode, Sam and Teresa interview Black Rave Culture, a D.C-based group composed of Amal, James Bangura, & DJ Nativesun. Black Rave Culture recently released their new album, Black Rave Culture on May 12th under the label HAUS of ALTR. Black Rave Culture talk to Teresa and Sam about spreading the message of Black Rave, collaborating across different beats and sounds, as well as the power of educating others on Black history through creating and passing down music.