#dansden

[dansdenstuff]

SYML's You knew it was me

I've been returning to old memories, because I always find comfort in history. One of those is SYML's You knew it was me, which remains as beautiful as ever.

It’s been almost a year since this album was shared with the world, and I find myself immersing in it ever still. The issue with abstract art is that, unless the artist has left behind some guidance for interpretation, there is never just one perspective of viewing the work – the same goes for wordless music. As subjective as the colours on a canvas can be for the viewer, so too are the melodies…

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Overturning Roe v Wade

Without falling any further down the rabbit hole than this writer already has, the issue here is not about the morality of abortion; the issue is why it is happening in the first place

On Friday, June 24, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v Wade, a case which held that unduly restrictive state regulations of a woman’s reproductive health was unconstitutional. In 1973, the Court stated in a 7-2 ruling that Texas statutes, which criminalized abortions, infringed on a woman’s right to privacy, an implicit liberty that was protected in the Fourteenth Amendment…

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Review: Blue Hours

I miss banjos, man. I miss that folky, slap-ya-knee earthy grit that takes you to the heart of Godknowswhere; it’s the sound of my people gathered around a fire, reminiscing over ancient folklore. Much to my despair, it seems as though the once-were folk legends of our generation are pruning off their indie roots and moving to greener pastures. Mumford & Sons, The Tallest Man on Earth, Of…

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Depp v Heard and the future of the MeToo Movement

Has Amber Heard frustrated the social credibility of other women who come forward with sexual assault allegations? Possibly. Does that mean the work and progress of the MeToo movement should also be discredited? Absolutely not.

When allegations of sexual assault were released against Hollywood mogul, Harvey Weinstein in 2017, a floodgate was opened that spurred the trending of the MeToo movement. Although #metoo went viral in the same year, the organisation had already been around for more than a decade. This collection of advocates was established in 2006 by Tarana Burke who wanted to disrupt the systems that protect…

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The Tale of the Traveling Troubadour

In this tale of friendship, adventure and community, I speak with Paul Thompson about his musical journey and the unique ways in which he shares his music with the world.

Paul Thompson was at a roundabout in Aylsham 30 years ago, hitchhiking back to Sheringham when a car pulled over and offered him a ride. “I’m headed in that direction,” said Tim Jefferson, a stranger to Paul at the time. However, the drive back to their hometown made quick change of that. It just so happened that both Paul and Tim were musicians in their own right; Paul, a spritely 18-year-old…

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Silver Tinsel Nostalgia

Is it weird that my mind’s Christmas collection is not all naked memories? The one on repeat is actually in film. It’s a decade-old memory of me watching a video taken on a hot Christmas morning. I’m not even the one doing the recording, though I do feature. On a secluded farm somewhere along the Eastern Cape coast in Africa’s deep South, eight of us are huddled in a lounge draped in silver…

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Pavement Pianos: the aesthetics of wealth

Cape Town vs London: what is it about the aesthetics of these two trojan cities that invokes a desire to succeed? We break down the aesthetics of wealth the only way the Den knows how.

I recently asked a student of mine, an Israeli gentleman, what wealth in his city looked like to him. He responded with a question: ‘A wealthy man is a man with freedom… is a man really wealthy if he works too hard to spend his money?’ Point taken.

‘But,’ I replied, ‘I feel like that sort of freedom isn’t always a choice. Don’t other factors influence how we have to spend our money, and how we

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Out of the 52 weeks of the year, the first week of August is my favourite.

This piece is written in honour of the creatives of my world. May you always be brave to share who you are, and helplessly in love with what inspires you.

The first time I listened to Billie Eilish was at two a.m. on a Thursday morning in 2016. Month: unknown. Additional unknowns are the reasons I felt compelled to note that ‘at 2 a.m. Ocean Eyessounds like the fear of falling in love!’ ‘LOL…

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