FW Me February

Do you fw me?

Giliann Karon
March 01, 2025

Despite my sprawling online presence, I only have very minimal experience with blogging, unless you count my Tumblr days. Even then, I stuck to Vampire Weekend fan edits instead of personal musings. But I guess it’s never too late and since I got laid off, I have all the time in the world.

Each month, you’ll receive a playlist of what I’ve been listening to, articles I’ve written, and a calendar of shows coming to NYC. Instead of creating a million made-up rules and kicking myself when I break them, I’m just gonna allow the format to meander. We’ll see where it winds up. Thanks for coming. xx

New Music February:

Standouts include “Weight of Desire” by Tennis, a new EP from Mamalarky (who recently signed to Epitaph — Mannequin Pussy, Joyce Manor, NOFX), and a dazzling seventh album from Canadian songwriter Basia Bulat.

New Model/Actriz single, “Cinderella,” is just as campy and depraved as I anticipated. I wonder if that’s one of the new songs they teased at their TV Eye show in December. I love when artists don’t just sing, but perform. Vocalist Cole Haden glides through the crowd on pleasers in a triumphant exhibition of hedonism and theatrics. It sounds a little similar to their killer 2023 debut, Dogsbody, but their catalog is so solid that I really don’t mind.

Momma released their third single, “Bottle Blonde,” off their upcoming album, Welcome to My Blue Sky. I fell in love with their music when I saw them open for Snail Mail (along with Hotline TNT) back in September 2021. I saw them again on their 2022 headline tour. This new track leans into mellow radio-friendly pop. Neither Etta Friedman nor Allegra Weingarten are blonde anymore, but both bleached their hair during separate yet intertwined periods of distress. In a letter to their past selves, the stream-of-consciousness cadence promises it’s gonna work out.

February Playlist:

Fuck you if you use Apple Music

Ever since I saw Lip Critic at TV Eye earlier this month, I’ve listened to them nearly every day. Their ravenous amalgamation of electroclash and punk sits comfortably in the uncanny valley. Percussion becomes more aggressive while frontman Bret Kaser’s vocals tighten. Two drum sets slam with balls-to-the-wall tenacity.

Their debut LP, Hex Dealer, is a scattered and frenzied concept album. The depraved characters battle temptation and vapid overconsumption. Blown-out vocals made the floor rumble, akin to the shakes when my Adderall (prescribed) kicks in. There was no time for me to scroll.

I’m so glad the phrase “hoe-scaring music” left our lexicons, usually because I’m the one making everyone else uncomfortable. Hex Dealer premiered last year on Partisan Records (Skinty Fia by Fontaines D.C., Heavy Metal by Cameron Winter)

What I’ve Written:

Starting this newsletter is the kick in the butt I need to actually transcribe some interviews that I’ve been sitting on for [redacted] weeks.

Heartworms – ‘Glutton for Punishment’

Basia Bulat - ‘Basia’s Palace’

Bnny - ‘Love Trap’

Big Girl - ‘DIY GOD’

Upcoming Shows:

Spirit of the Beehive/Kassie Krut: Warsaw, March 6

Friko/Peel Dream Magazine: Music Hall of Williamsburg, March 7

M(h)aol: TV Eye, March 9

Hovvdy: Music Hall of Williamsburg, March 11

glixen: Baby’s All Right, March 15