Our editor, Odwa Zamane, ushers the new year in with some enticing FRM recs including Narowbi NYE 2023 (JHB), Green Day's American Idiot (2004) album, Brotherkupa music, Happy99, and more!
Before we kick-off the year in typical FRM fashion, I just want to take the opportunity to welcome back everyone who has been supporting The FRM Newsletter. And for those of you who are new–welcome :)
We’ve got another year of insanely curated FRM content (and more 👀) in the works for you, but for now, without further ado–here’s a snapshot of what’s been occupying my brain and piquing my interest over the past few weeks whilst welcoming 2024!
A friend recently asked me which albums I personally consider as perfect 10s (No skips basically) and Green Day’s American Idiot was certainly one of them. This cemented Billy Joe Armstrong as a cult icon of the time; from the Green Day frontman’s charismatic energy on stage, educated stance on politics and unique fashion style! (Messy black hair, smokey eyeshadow & thin red tie)
Went to this NYE event with my little brother and it was the best possible way to welcome 2024.
✍🍺 ‘Oscar Wilde’s Wit & Wisdom’ (1959)
I kinda started getting into Oscar Wilde because Morrissey (and therefore The Smiths) were absolutely obsessed with him. The emanating “Twee” movements driven by The Smiths music at the time consistently centered Oscar Wilde at their nucleus; it’s fair to say when Morrissey obsesses, he really obsesses. This book serves as a collection of the most poignant and satirical quotes from the great Oscar Wilde; a leading figure of the “art-for-art’s-sake” movement in the late nineteenth-century England. Wilde’s works are certainly among the most quoted writers in English, perhaps only second only to Shakespeare. I love the charm, wit & candor of his words; some quotes including:
“The secret of life is never to have an emotion that is unbecoming.”
“Good taste is the excuse I’ve always given for leading such a bad life.”
“A woman will flirt with anybody in the world as long as other people are looking on.”
Lil Yachty tweeted that this is his favourite animated series so I guess good taste simply resonates. By the same creators of Adventure Time, Midnight Gospel follows a space caster, Clancy, who traverses trippy worlds inside his universe simulator, exploring existential questions about life, death and everything in between.
One of my favourite fashion brands at the moment, based in quintessential downtown New York and largely inspired by facets of digitalism & anime culture. Some of my favourite current items include the aforementioned earmuffs, the H99 Knit Visor, Monogram beanie & Angelic Happy Baby Raglan Tee (for obvious reasons lol).
Whatever Shayne Oliver is working on, I’m almost guaranteed to be a massive fan. With archive Hood By Air, his prior stint at Helmut Lang, now Anonymous Club under the Shayne Oliver Group–Shayne is one of the most uniquely talented & culturally relevant designers in my opinion. The Anonymous Club dunce caps have also been recently seen on the likes of Playboi Carti and Ecco2k.
Rated this one 3.5/5 stars on Letterboxd. I’ve recently been trying to expose myself to more French New Wave-esque cinema and I found this film pretty enjoyable throughout; the ending was slightly disappointing though.
One of my favourite artists in the country right now. You really just have to tap in and listen to understand what I'm talking about. Cannot even be likened to anyone else because the sound he’s cultivating sounds so unique and interesting; 2024 Music if you ask me. Rand Lord Records–if you know you know.
I was pleasantly surprised by this show! Very cultured and intimate; I love the interchanging focus between food and people’s lives and how the two can connect in order to create identity.
“Midnight Diner (深夜食堂, Shinya shokudō) is a Japanese TV anthology series based on the manga, ‘Shin'ya Shokudō’. It focuses on a late night 12-seat diner in Shinjuku, Tokyo, open from midnight to 7 am owned by its mysterious chef known only as "Master", and the lives of his customers. While he has a very limited menu (consisting only of tonjiru, sake, beer and shōchū)–he always offers to produce any dish that a customer may want, as long as he has the ingredients on hand.”
📸⁉ Juergen Teller’s recent W Magazine covers
Decades in and still one of my favourite luxury fashion photographers, and this W Magazine shoot reminded me exactly why. And as esteemed fashion journalist, Rian Phin, recently tweeted: “not preaching Juergen Teller-ology this year.“
🔫🌎 Rick & Morty season 7
Best Rick & Morty season thus far! Favourite episode? Definitely the finale (episode 10), ‘Fear No Mort’.
🎧🎸 Music I’m currently listening to!
The overarching music mood for 2024 has been angsty, nostalgic and coming-of-age. Three albums which have been on constant rotation for me this year are: Joyce Manor – Never Hungover Again (2014), Dean Blunt – BLACK METAL 2 (2021), Oasis – What’s the Story Morning Glory (1995).
