This is Vantage POINT: A monthly moodboard for things that have been on our minds as of late, topics both fresh and familiar. We point you towards what to watch out for and what we think you should be enjoying right now. And if whatever we love becomes whatever you love (at least a little bit), then we’ve done our jobs.
We are existing in a period of constant and drastic change worldwide. Many aspects of living have moved online–from academics to our social lives—and it's almost too easy to feel lost in the dark. While the internet helps in staying updated on the pandemic and seeking resources that aid frontliners, it can also be a great means of keeping yourself grounded. While you stay at home, let Vantage help navigate through some exciting albums, movies, and online projects you can tune into.
I discovered Conan Gray’s Youtube channel three years ago and instantly adored his personal vlogs. Once his following base brew, he began uploading original music that shared his life through song. His songs consisted of slow, simple indie pop with lyrics centered around quiet neighborhoods begging to be filled with laughter and cries from time spent with friends. Gray then released his 2018 EP Sunset Season after gaining traction as a musician rather than a Youtuber. Now with his debut album Kid Krow, he demonstrates growth lyrically and sonically with a balance of his old sound alongside a new, faster pace. The viewpoint has shifted from a lonely teen waiting for something more to a young adult trying to navigate a chaotic world. Managing to demonstrate the isolating yet thrilling experience of getting older, Gray wraps all these emotions into a pop album that makes me realize we need to appreciate the people we love now, in the moment, more than ever. - Nat
With time being spent at home, many of us (including myself) miss the mundanity of attending school. I decided to watch Bar Boys (2017) since I had seen it before and knew it portrayed experiences in school. Director Kip Oebanda uploaded the movie on Youtube on March 16, 2020 for viewers to freely enjoy. The film follows four friends who try to get through law school together. Their journeys are a mix of obstacles—some beyond their control, and others the results of their own life choices. Each protagonist’s triumphs and struggles and the barkada’s humor serve as an ode to the in-between of adolescence and adulthood. Upon finishing the film, I was reminded that what matters is what we make of situations we aren’t prepared for, and the people we choose to keep in our lives while everything unfolds. Bar Boys is one of many local films that have been made available for everyone when so much feels inaccessible. Many others by TBA Studios and Cinema One have also been uploaded to Youtube for people to watch and appreciate Philippine cinema. - Nat
Release: April 23, 2020
UK musicians Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes are set to release their collaborative album, What Kinda Music, this month. This endeavor is highly ambitious since the two performers have very distinct artistic voices. Genre-defying Misch created his unique sound by melding elements of hip-hop, R&B, pop, and jazz. Meanwhile, Dayes established himself with his experimental jazz percussion. Judging from the album’s initially released tracks What Kinda Music, Kyiv, and Lift Off, they surprise by uniting their styles masterfully through jazz as their common ground. Dayes’ percussion beats seamlessly blend with Misch's guitar and voice. Each track’s vibe is different, changing from gritty to groovy, but the essence of each artist always remains. I’m personally very excited to hear how they work through the full album and would recommend this to alternative and jazz music enthusiasts! - Dani
Looking for some artistic inspiration? Art for LIFE is an Instagram liveshow by contemporary artist Daniel Arsham. Showtimes are random, but each episode is announced 24 hours ahead on Arsham's page. He started the show while in self-quarantine to highlight the connection between art and life by inviting musicians, comedians, designers, architects, and lawyers to talk about anything under the sun like their professions, friendships, and quarantine experiences. So far, sneaker designer and collector Sean Wotherspoon and editor and photographer Ted Gushue have been featured. In a post, Arsham reveals that among the show’s future guests are comedian Seth Rogan and Rimowa Chief Executive Officer Alexandre Arnault. With such a diverse set of artists, the show is perfect for anyone interested in art and the people behind it. - Dani
Canadian electronic pop duo Megan James and Corin Roddick return in 2020 with Purity Ring’s third studio album, WOMB. Purity Ring’s newest offering still inhabits that atmospheric electronica that defined their sound in 2012. WOMB strikes a balance between melancholic and hopeful; a little bit haunting and a lot dreamlike, hints of discord that push WOMB’s familiar sound in an interesting direction. Purity Ring’s lyrics hold an undercurrent of hopeful sadness, made unsettling when sung in James’ sweet trance-like voice and backed by bursts and lulls of discordant electronica. This is a theme held constant whether the lyrics call to the twisted intimacy and physicality of rubyinsides and sinew or the floaty daydreams of stardew. WOMB doesn’t necessarily break out of Purity Ring’s comfort zone, but it heads in an interesting direction. I’d happily recommend giving it a listen. - Nigel
The Retreating Horizon of Time in Quarantine - The New Yorker
An article for The New Yorker written by Dan Chiasson talks about the use of time when it becomes abundant and space constricts. With this time, we could, say, write novels or create artistic masterpieces or whatever else that feels like making progress, that wasted time is not wasted time. Or we could watch something on Netflix, spend time with our families, forget about thesis and dodge unemployment. There’s no need to beat yourself up over not writing King Lear or discovering the next mathematical breakthrough during quarantine: You’re doing fine. The New Yorker has no shortage of great articles and essays to keep yourself busy with, and I recommend this one in particular if you’re looking for small comforts in unsure times. - Nigel
Cover graphic by Romeo A. Descalso III