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’ve entered September with college life in full swing. But as the -ber months begin and the everyday hustle takes off, Vantage presents new finds to keep things breezy. Here’s a special mix of upcoming releases and our personal favorites to mark your September calendar:
Start with Why (2009) by Simon Sinek
You may have watched this 18-minute TED Talk before, but if you’re into self-help books as much as I am, then Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action is a must-read. Although its summary leads with corporate scenarios that may be daunting at first, Simon Sinek later explains how centering on your why is an effective method for becoming better leaders and, in effect, better versions of ourselves. He explores leadership frameworks through the stories of individuals with inspirational reasons for action. Although I’m only halfway through this book, I look forward to seeing how these takeaways hold true! - Bea
Euphoria (2019)
Amid the wave of dark, edgy teen dramas, HBO’s Euphoria steals the spotlight. From praiseworthy casting to glimmery makeup looks, it’s easy to tell why this show is so eye-catching. But beyond aesthetic, it stars characters and plotlines that rarely appear on television, such as Rue (Zendaya), a 17-year-old drug addict who struggles with her mental health, and her best friend Jules (Hunter Schafer), a transgender girl who wants to move past her trauma. The series covers topics such as addiction, sexuality, and body image in a layered and multifaceted manner. While other teen shows feel detached, Euphoria fully captures anxieties that teenagers face–with a dash of glitter to make up for the scenes that are harder to stomach. - Nat
It Chapter 2
Release: September 6
As someone who scares easily, there’s an irony to my excitement for It Chapter Two. Maybe it’s my personal attachment to the preceding film or curiosity over how the new cast will play out. Either way, I can’t help but anticipate this continuation. Set 27 years after their encounter with Pennywise the Clown, the seven members of The Losers Club find themselves back in the town of Derry, just as history repeats itself and children begin to disappear again. Although it may seem like a simple plot, I’m on the edge of my seat for this film since it delves deeper into the characters, their traumas, and how they deal with each other now that they have to reunite. All the members must face their fears to defeat Pennywise for good, and based on the trailers, it won’t be a simple feat. - Nat
Close It Quietly by Frankie Cosmos
Release: September 6
While the songs are by no means groundbreaking in their simplicity, the music of Greta Kline (who releases music under the moniker, Frankie Cosmos) will always hold a special place in my personal music catalog. There’s this seizingly nostalgic quality to her music, where you can’t help but feel drawn towards your own past as you listen to any of her tracks—and I mean any. This consistency is exactly why I’m so stoked for Close It Quietly, Frankie Cosmos’s second album under Sub Pop Records. Both her previous records, Next Thing (2016) and Vessel (2018), are favorites of mine, and the singles prior to Close It Quietly suggest that Greta’s hot streak isn’t ending anytime soon. For all you pop-rock fans out there, Close It Quietly is definitely one to look out for. - Arnald
Charli by Charli XCX
Release: September 13
Recent singles like “Cross You Out” (ft. Sky Ferreira) (2019) and “Gone” (with Christine and the Queens) (2019) indicate that Charli XCX’s upcoming album Charli may be her most ambitious yet. “Gone” in particular has been in my regular circulation of tracks—the pumping, metallic bassline of the song has been stuck in my head for days. Though longtime collaborator SOPHIE won’t be featured in Charli, the singles indicate that Charli XCX is sticking to her unique brand of pop inspired by the hyper-maximalist production of PC Music, and in particular, SOPHIE. This reverence towards underground internet music has always given Charli XCX an edge—with Pitchfork even hailing her as the “Pop Star of the Future.” Rest assured, the 13th of September promises to be a significant date for music lovers, with Charli as a potential candidate for record of the year. - Arnald
Ad Astra
Release: September 20
From his iconic role as a traveler who fights gruesome zombies, Brad Pitt now plays an astronaut in search of his father Clifford (Tommy Lee Jones) who is presumed to be lost in space. In the upcoming movie Ad Astra, Pitt is Roy McBride, the man sent to locate Clifford, who may still be alive—and dangerous. As the film’s writer-director, James Gray, puts it: [Clifford] is a “Buzz Aldrin-type figure—if he’d gone mad in deep space.” Because this movie delicately balances between the drama of a father-son dynamic with the fantasy of space travel, I’m excited to see how the cast and crew merge these two genres. - Bea
Graphic by Denev Ng