When I created this newsletter I anticipated holding myself to some kind of standard of regular publication, but life will often throw other plans at you. Without getting into the weeds too much, I wanted to provide the update that I am now renting my own apartment and heavily focused on reintegrating socially with people who meet me where I’m at. This has involved rekindling old friendships, and allowing a level of openness required to create and nurture new ones. It has involved regular arcade visits and development of new hobbies. It has all been quite refreshing and needed, and I expect that I will look back on 2023 as a year where I established a new "normal” for my own life. With all of that being said, I’ve been depriving myself of an outlet where I can go long on any topics of my choosing, and I decided that writing here again would be what’s best for me.
This winter, expect a few different posts from me. I have committed to the creation of a year-end list and accompanying DJ mix, even with how much I dislike ranking things or making definitive statements about what’s “better” or “best” when it comes to music. I recognize that there are ways I can share my opinions without it feeling like rote list writing and ranking, so it’s something I’ve opened myself up to doing again.
Furthermore, I want to write about my experience with Grand Theft Auto Online, a game that acted as a very important framework for interacting with music for me for several years, now back in the spotlight with the announcement of GTA 6’s eventual release (and accompanying bombastic trailer).
I want to continue exploring what m-flo brings to the table, as I have already started. I want to talk about situations like Namie Amuro’s music being removed from streaming and online stores, something that has created serious shockwaves in the parts of the internet I hang out in.
Finally, continuing where I left off with my wrestling coverage for FanFyte prior to its disgusting gutting and erasure by new owners TenCent, I want to highlight the unparalleled joys - and balms for sorrows - that DDT and TJPW have brought to myself and the people I keep company with.
In all likelihood, the best-of-2023 coverage is the first article on the agenda. I think it’s good to give yourself a challenge once in a while, and for me that challenge will be getting people to care about and feel affected by the songs that affected me most this year. There’s an element of “can people stand another person talking about NewJeans in glowing terms” at play, but I will power through it. I’m not bothered by sharing the ball with others, because my identity is not based solely around liking the right things.
Anyway, this has been a bit rambly, but consider this something of a formal announcement that Grease on Glitter is not dead. I’ve had one song on my mind all day, so I’ll link it here as a preview of what’s to come in the following weeks. In the mean time, see you soon.