The Abstraction of Einstein Translated to Reality

 In the early 20th century, Albert Einstein was a young patent clerk working in Switzerland. It was during this time that Einstein had much time to think deeply about the problems of physics of the day. Einstein was very different from his fellow peers. He never truly excelled in school, except for physics and mathematics. He was ridiculed and called "lazy" by his professors. He never saw the true value for it, but instead focused his time on learning more and more about physics. Eventually, in 1905, Einstein had his annus mirabilis, or his miracle year. It was during this time that he launched two new branches of physics: relativity and quantum mechanics. Relativity will be discussed here, and the latter will not. First, I will explain relativity, its differences from classical mechanics, and finally how only a creative genius could have seen relativity through the clouds of classical mechanics. 

To begin, we need some background onto the leadup of the creation of the theory of relativity. At the beginning of the twentieth century, physics was considered to be complete. There was classical mechanics, which was able to accurately predict the motions of planets and everyday object, and also electrodynamics, which was being used to its fullest ability in the creation of usable electricity such as alternating current. The incompatibility between classical mechanics and electrodynamics was in the Galilean theory of relativity. According to the theory of electrodynamics, the speed of light is a constant. By solving Maxwell's equations, the critical equations that explain all off electrodynamics, one can prove that the speed of light is a constant, traveling at 3,000,000 meters per second. In classical mechanics, the Galilean theory of relativity can be illustrated by this example. Suppose a car is traveling at 10 m/s, and a person throws a baseball at a speed of 5 meters per second out of the moving car in the same direction it moves. How fast does the ball move? It moves 10 m/s plus 5m/s, which equal 15m/s. That is Galilean relativity, when one object is moving relative to another, the velocities are simply added. But what about light? Suppose the car is moving straight at 10 m/s and then it turns its headlights on. Is the light traveling at 3,000,000 m/s+10 m/s according to Galilean relativity? Or is it still moving at a constant 3,000,000 m/s according to electrodynamics? The answer to this was very subtle and swept under the rug for many years by physicists, until Einstein solved it.

The answer is the light still moves at 3,000,000 m/s according to electrodynamics. Galilean relativity, and classical mechanics along with it, was wrong. The truth is Newton and Galileo, the founders of classical mechanics, did not have access to electrodynamics that Einstein did, and therefore produced incorrect theories. Their theories did work for macroscopic objects moving at slow speeds, but failed at velocities close to the speed of light. Through the use of Lorentz Transforms and the concept of spacetime, Einstein proved two implications of a universal light constant speed. First time dilation and length contraction, which can be summed up as faster object, when moving at a significant fraction of the speed of light, will experience time slower and will contract in length. The second implication was that he showed that the fastest speed any object can travel in the universe is the speed of light. By proving these two implications mathematically as well, Einstein provided the correction to classical mechanics and put it on equal footing with electrodynamics. 

The creativity of Einstein is seen in his gedanken experiments, or thought experiments. Here is one of his famous thought experiments that illustrates the relativity of time. The twin paradox: two identical twins, Alice and Bob, synchronize their clocks. Alice stays on Earth, while Bob travels away from Earth in a spaceship moving close to the speed of light. When Bob returns, they compare their clocks. According to special relativity, Bob—the traveling twin—will have aged less than Alice, who remained stationary. This seemingly paradoxical result arises because each twin sees the other's clock moving slower during the journey. However, the paradox resolves when we recognize that the traveling twin undergoes acceleration (turnaround), breaking the symmetry and leading to genuine differences in elapsed time. Ultimately, the paradox is resolved by understanding that accelerated frames of reference differ fundamentally from inertial frames, clarifying why one twin genuinely ages less than the other. It is in thought experiments like the twin paradox, and recognizing the fatal flaw in classical mechanics, that can be attributed to Einstein's creative genius. 

Shonda Rhimes

 Shonda Rhimes is well known for her television series' and movies — many of which span years of filming and include seasons upon seasons of content. She is the mastermind behind shows such as Greys Anatomy which is now on its 21st season and Bridgerton which is about to take on it’s fourth season. She continues to create new content for her viewers, and her view of the creative landscape is different from other creatives that she works alongside in many ways. 

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0722274/ 

Rhimes has found her success from telling stories that grip the viewer and leave them wanting more. In some cases, such as in Grey's Anatomy, the viewer finds the story believable and relevant, oftentimes finding ways to connect with absurd medical situations through underlying messages that they can relate to their own lives. In other cases, such as with Bridgerton, the viewer can imagine themselves in the world of Shonda Rhimes, which she has deemed “Shondaland,” also the name of her production company. 

Rhymes says the secret to her success is her ability to think outside of the box. She finds situations that could be considered ordinary or overtold, and then puts her own spin on them that creates a whole new world for the viewer to explore. However, when asked what her process is for taking creative risks in her work, Rhimes argues that what she does should not be considered taking a risk. She says that it shouldn’t be considered taking a risk just to tell the stories in your head the way that you think they should be told. She said she believes that if we debunked this idea, the world would become more creative overall. 

“It’s not risky to want to entertain yourself,” Rhimes said. “It’s not risky to tell the stories that matter to you. It’s risky, I think, to do what you think other people want… If you’re going to fail, fail spectacularly at being you.”

https://www.shondaland.com/shonda/office-hours-shonda-rhimes-on-taking-creative-risks-or-not

Rhimes said that as it stands, the landscape of creativity is drab because everybody gets too caught up in thinking about what other people will want them to create. She argues that in order to channel true creativity and share it with the rest of the world, we must stop caring with people think and begin creating things for ourselves, modeling intrinsic motivation, and hope that our own joy will be shared by others who view our finished product as well. All of this considered, she also still says that the ability to take constructive criticism and use it to improve your process is important and something she does often, although there must be a balance. 

https://barcomade.com/blogs/my-scrublife/23-surprising-facts-you-didn-t-know-about-grey-s-anatomy

One of the ways that Rhimes makes her characters more relatable is by basing some of them off of the people that she is surrounded by in real life. For example, she modeled the character Miranda Bailey in Grey's Anatomy off of her mother. She said that they share a realistic way of viewing the world and a similar passion for what they are doing as well as a willingness to help and watch others succeed.

In Creative Spark, Fuentes talks about the ways that humans build off of each other's stories and experiences. Rhimes does this by using the things that we love in life and building upon them to create another world that is comforting and relatable to the viewer while also giving them a sense of adventure away from their daily life. She encourages others to look at things in this same way and not take for granted the things they have in life that they find boring.

Jhonen Vasquez & Cynicism

    Chapter 7 of Agustin Fuentes' The Creative Spark discusses the early history of violence, archaeological evidence, and existential questions about whether or not violence and aggression are inborn human traits. While there may never be answers to whether or not humans are inherently violent, or why violence occurs, a creative whose work accepts the dark realities in the world comes to mind-- Jhonen Vasquez, cartoon artist and the creator of Invader Zim and Johnny The Homicidal Maniac. 

    The grim nature of reality is embraced in Vasquez's angular art style, with morbidly humorous plot lines following alien invasions and tulpa-like manifestations of mental illness. Vasquez has stated that a drive for him creatively is to create the "worst" thing he can, to create characters and storylines that are ugly, disturbing, and unconventional. I find this motivation of his to be a really unique and interesting pursuit in a world where art is often something people try their best to be good at, and to please others with. I loves Vasquez's creative pursuit to make art to fulfill his own desired niche, to create weird and disturbed cartoons living in dystopic and random worlds. 

 

    While Jhonen Vasquez might not be for everyone, I see a lot of beauty in his artwork and its sardonic acceptance of the world's flaws.

Finding Community in the Pain: The Chicago HC Scene

    When do you experience community in the city? Is it when you are at your place or work? Is it when you are in class? Is it when attending cultural and religious sites of congregation? Is it at the tiny parks littered around Chicago? Is it a the lake? 

Let me take a step back and instead ask--do you experience community in Chicago? There are 2.6 million people in Chicago as of 2025. One would think that being surrounded by this many people would make it so no one is ever lonely. After all, most people here cannot leave their house without seeing another person, and a large handful of them cannot be in their house without interacting with one in some way, shape, or form. In the city, we are never alone. Why, then, is it the we hear so many stories of people feeling as though they are alone here? I think it is so many things. I think it is the pain without togetherness, I think it is the movement, and I think it is the masks. So many of us here are hurting, stuck in a perpetual state of existential dread, clocking in, clocking out, going home, repeating. There is no time to connect to any of these people around us. There is no time or energy to even connect to ourselves. We are ushered along by this unseen sense of urgency. There is a facade that our life is our own, as if somehow it is our hands alone that have built and sustained it rather the many hands of those that live and have lived here. No one comes into this world alone. No one leaves it alone. The idea that we do is one of the most heart wrenching betrayals to oursleves and to our humanity that has arisen in the modern age. Community...when people don't feel it, they begin to die both physically and spiritually. 

This is why I go almost once a week to a dark, packed location to push, shove, and hurt with others. Chicagoland Hardcore is where I have found community. It gained traction in the late 80s and early 90s, but I am sure it was established well before it gained attention. It is so easy to move through this city utterly disconnected to one's humanity and the humanity of those around them. It is so easy to not feel. A punch to the face or kick in the gut shocks my system. It makes me feel. In a mosh pit, I am part of something. I am part of a collective energy where we are feeling together--hurting together. There are no systems or hierarchies, just movement. It is understanding without words. 

This community is a product of creative minds, feeling, and pouring all of this feeling and energy into something that speaks to them. It is raw and it is true. It doesn't matter how it manifests, from Payasa to Teeth Kids, from screamo, to punk, to traditional HC, it is about the willingness to feel and hope others are willing to feel with you. 

David Grohl: Renaissance Man of Rock 'n Roll

There are few individuals in the history of rock and roll that are as multitalented as David. Grohl. Starting as the drummer in Nirvana, and moving on to mastermind the Foo Fighters, Grohl has made an irreversible mark on the music industry. In addition to being a legendary rockstar, he’s directed documentaries, ghost-written for iconic artists, and authored books.

The Foo Fighters is arguably Grohl’s most impressive feat. After the tragic death of Nirvana front man, Kurt Cobain, Grohl was given the chance to step from behind the drum kit and go out on his own. He solo-created and produced the Foo Fighter’s entire debut album, playing each part himself and stitching them all together. From there, the rest is history. The band went on to expand past just David himself and produce ten studio albums, four of which have won Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album. Dave Grohl is still the founder, frontman, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and primary songwriter of the band since its founding in 1994. Video on the birth of the Foo Fighters: In addition to music, Grohl has also directed acclaimed documentaries on the history of music (Sound City and Sonic Highways), produced for artists such as Queens of the Stone Age and Tenacious D, and guest-starred in TV shows and movies. While Grohl has done his time as a trailblazing musical artist, he currently does his best to make sure that young musicians have as many opportunities as possible to get their big break. He will invite young artists on stage to jam or produce projects that highlight up and comers. I think this connects perfectly to one of the themes in Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being, and that is that creativity is an ever-evolving thing. Through his work with young artists, it is clear that Grohl is looking for the next evolution of creativity.

David Grohl’s one true passion is creation, and that is why after nearly three decades in the music industry, he remains one of the most beloved and highly regarded figures. He helps make sure rock music continues to evolve and connect with audiences of all generations. Here is a short interview with Grohl where he talks about his learning process.

David Bowie and Rick Rubin: Songwriting, Environment, and its Role in Creativity

     In the book "The Creative Act: A Way of Being," Rick Rubin, a Grammy-winning music produce describes creativity as not only an act but a way of life. He particular emphasizes the importance of one's nature and environment in inspiration, and the relation of creativity to discipline and freedom. 

    In an interview from 2014, Bowie emphasizes the importance of embracing the surrounding environment and nature when songwriting, saying that wherever he's "writing, that place tends to make itself very known, either in the atmosphere or sound. Using Heathen [2002] as an example, that was written up in the mountains of Woodstock. And you do have that sense of the magnificence of this really disquietingly tranquil place, but the sense of indifference about nature within it all"(DeMain). Rubin discusses the importance of environment when it comes to the creative process, stating that in order "to vary your inspiration, consider varying your inputs. Turn the sound off to watch a film, listen to the same song on repeat, read only the first word of each sentence in a short story, arrange stones by size and color, learn to lucid dream" (Rubin). In this instance, both Bowie and Rubin emphasize the importance of one's surroundings when it comes to creative inspiration, and Bowie himself emphasizes the importance of this source of inspiration when mentions how the peaceful environment of Woodstock served as inspiration for Heathen [2002]. 

    Bowie also mentions the importance of maintaining a beginner's mindset when it comes to his work. This might seem foolish at first, however, Bowie specifies that " it is terribly important for me to do that. It’s absolutely essential that I get surprised and excited by what I’m doing, even if it’s just for me. I think process is quite important. To allow the accidental to take place is often very good. So I trick myself into things like that. Maybe I’ll write out five or six chords, then discipline myself to write something only with those five or six chords involved" (DeMain) . Rubin also stresses this idea in his book, writing that "as artists, we seek to restore our childlike perception: a more innocent state of wonder and appreciation not tethered to utility or survival" (Rubin). This is also a perfect example of Rubin discussing creativity as situated in between discipline and freedom. Bowie himself also mentions that he sometimes strays from the specific rules he sets for himself, and mentions setting arbitrary rules as a means of overcoming writers block, then eventually breaking these rules once he overcomes writer's block (DeMain).     

    In conclusion, Bowie is a perfect example of an artist who actively embraces creativity as a way of life, specifically when it comes to embracing discipline and freedom as a means of spurring on the creation of art. He is also an example of how embracing one's environment is important for inspiration.

Works Cited:

Rubin, Rick. The Creative Act: A Way of Being. 2023.

DeMain, Bill. “David Bowie on Songwriting.” Louder, 28 May 2014, www.loudersound.com/features/david-bowie-on-songwriting.

Glass Animals: Dave Bayley and The Magical Process of Songwriting

 

 

Glass Animals is an English indie rock band that is known most by their hit single, “Heatwaves,” which was voted number one for Triple J Hottest 100 of 2020, had over 2 billion streams on Spotify in 2022, and reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Albums from the band include Zaba (my favorite :D), How to Be a Human Being, Dreamland, and the most recent one, I Love You So F***cking Much.

Though Glass Animals is made up of four creatives, I will be focusing on Dave Bayley’s songwriting in this post.

Dave Bayley describes his creative process as something that surprises him, and something he cannot control. The best songs come from when he writes the first line of a song, and he can see the end of the tunnel. He hears the sounds, the tempo, the chords–it all tells a story. Often, he has a little recorder next to his bed and when he wakes up, he will see things he recorded that he does not remember saying. In addition, he says the songwriting process is kind of magical. There are moments where something clicks or when a lightning bolt of inspiration comes.

 

In connection with Faith, Hope, and Carnage, Nick Cave describes how his album, Ghosteen was subconscious, vulnerable, and focused on interiority. The reason it had such an emotional pull was because it came from the subconscious and the hidden yearning of his heart. Dave Bayley had a similar experience where a lot of his song-writing process is emotional and comes from the subconscious, which would result in him finding a melody and lyric that is heart-wrenching.

 

Both these creatives show that the creative process can often be vulnerable, uncomfortable, and transcendent. 

 

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNEvi2417pQ

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_Animals#History

Faith, Hope, and Carnage

Wearing Your Heart on Your Sleeve: Conan Gray

 Conan Gray, born December 5th, 1998, is an up-and-coming pop indie artist who just released his third album this past year. Conan had his beginnings on YouTube when he created his channel back in 2013, where at the young age of 15 he created vlogs about his everyday life in small-town Texas. Wanting to explore his passion for creating, Conan self-released his debut single Idle Town in March 2017. The song would then go on to gain over 14 million streams on Spotify, as well as 12 million views on YouTube. The success of his debut led him to the creation of his first EP titled Sunset Season in 2018, and then his first official album Kid Krow was released in 2020. 

Coming from the success of the album and tour of Kid Krow, the indie pop star wanted to mark a new era with his sophomore album Superache. Conan uses his lyrics to discover different parts of himself and map out his search for genuine personal connections within his life. His songs tend to illustrate his journey of navigating the plight of youth as he succumbs himself into adulthood. In an interview with Nylon, Conan explains that “I wrote these songs for me”, with his main idea being that “I didn’t want to repeat myself and say the same things I said on Kid Krow and I think life has changed enough for me to have new things to say” (Maskell). Much like Nick Cave in his book Faith, Hope, and Carnage (alongside Sean O'Hagan), Conan’s music had been a lifeline during the global pandemic in 2020. In Cave’s music, topics such love, death, addiction, childhood, and religion were explored with passion and eloquence. Similar to Cave, Conan breaches topics of love and childhood trauma through music as a way of processing his own emotions, using his past experiences as inspiration for his works. Forging his second album from self-reflection in his quarantine, Conan’s songwriting is characterized by “playful jibes, angsty sarcasm and melodramatic sentiments” that are “articulated with unflinching authenticity” (Maskell). Conan shares his deepest thoughts through his music, even while wearing his heart on his sleeve. Declarations from his song Movies show his desire for human connection during a time as lonely as the Covid-19 pandemic. With the lyrics below, Conan starts this album with his pure, unadulterated thoughts as he sits on his bed contemplating his life and the desires he has for the future.

Movies, movies

I want a love like the movies

I look at you like you're perfect for me

If you are the diamond, then I am the ring

All of our friends think of us jealously

We're so sweet, so sweet

Built us a world and I gave you the key

Still can't believe that this isn't a dream

Falling in love with a damn fantasy

That's so me, so me

But I've been livin'

Life in fiction

https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/conan-gray-superache-interview

https://www.youtube.com/@ConanGray/videos

The Local Honeys: Keeping Traditional Kentucky Music Alive

 The Local Honeys: Keeping Traditional Kentucky Music Alive

The Local Honeys are a duo consisting of Linda Jean Stokley and Montana Hobbs who create music deriving from the Appalachian tradition in Kentucky. They have mastered the art of storytelling and specifically for the experiences of those in eastern Kentucky. Their music covers topics relevant to these communities like addiction and the state of post coal mining towns. What is really impressive about their creative process in music is that they are able to draw on tradition while bringing in their own original sound. 

Rick Rubin in his book “The Creative Act” discusses how an “artist’s job is never truly finished” meaning that they are constantly living in their work. Creativity is not something someone does, but rather the way someone is. This means as a creative you are always noticing the little things that could become a story. This aspect of creativity is found in the music of The Local Honeys because their music is so immersed in their life and culture. Many of the songs they sing are about everyday realities that other people may not even notice as something significant enough to be worthy of a song. This is what makes their music so impactful, they notice the little things and they sing songs for the average person. Additionally, both Stokley and Hobbs grew up around traditional old time Kentucky music. This is a kind of music that is a part of everyday life and is accessible to anyone.

https://youtu.be/C8vFsOq0LVM?si=Z-8ww7mpadYFxCgj

This is a link to a video sponsored by Patagonia of The Local Honeys talking about the coal industry in eastern Kentucky and the impact it has on the communities in the region along with some of the larger issues that people face as a result. This is a good example of how they use their role as creatives to tell a larger story and make an impact.

Dr. Kristin Neff: The Expert On Self-Compassion And What We Stand To Learn From Her

    In The Codebreaker, Jennifer Doudna often places a lot of pressure on herself to achieve her goals. At times, she gets frustrated and breaks down when she doesn’t accomplish what she wants. But while she often puts her work first (like when she recognized that her first husband wasn’t a good match because he wasn’t as dedicated to the field as she was), she knows when to care for herself. For example, when she tried to leave academia to work at Genentech, she realized it wasn’t best for her and returned to her lab at Berkeley. As much work as she pours into her research, Doudna knows it cannot be accomplished if she doesn’t first have compassion for herself. 

In the field of psychology, the expert on self compassion is Dr. Kristin Neff. She received her doctorate at the University of California Berkeley (where Doudna had her lab) in moral development. Currently a professor at the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Neff has traveled the world teaching her findings on the art of self compassion, a topic for which she is credited to have been the first to academically study. 

Dr. Neff created the self-compassion scale, which is free to do yourself on her website: 

(https://self-compassion.org/self-compassion-test/). It offers feedback and opportunities for reflection in an accessible and free manner. She has free guided practices on her website too. She clearly believes in sharing the fruits of her work and creativity with the public so they can reap the benefits of a more self-compassionate mindset. She describes three main components to self-compassion: mindfulness (vs. over-identification), a feeling of common humanity (vs. isolation), and self-kindness (vs. self-judgement). 

*a preview of her self-compassion scale

Her articles, books, practices, scales, and accessible resources have fostered more creativity and intention into the field of studying self-compassion. She is definitely someone you can learn a lot from. 

Kevin Parker: One Man Band

Kevin Parker is among the most creative of contemporary artists. He writes indie and alternative rock and synth music under the “band” name Tame Impala, performing, recording, and mixing each track all on his own. By now, it has become such a commonly repeated fact among his fans and followers that it’s become somewhat of a joke for people to point out that his songs are “made by just one guy.” Although it is a fun bit of trivia for people familiar with his popular songs, many are unaware of how influential this fact is to his creative process, and how it drives and shapes the music he creates. Combined with his talent and musical ability, he has established a sonic landscape of his own design that has become incredibly popular in the U.S. and abroad.

Restricting himself to just one member, while also achieving a full-band sound and a bright range of instruments and techniques, is a challenging process. He intentionally sets a limitation on himself, but in doing so it inspires a flavor of creativity that is entirely unique to his personality. In a very tangible way, he is his music. Avid listeners can start to learn his strengths and his weaknesses, both musical and otherwise, by listening to a range of his music, and hearing which instruments tend to shine through or get or emphasis. They can listen from album to album and hear his journey as a person and performer through a musical experience, which remains a remarkable feat of his creativity. This concept is highlighted in The Creative Spark by Agustín Fuentes. In his book, he discussed how in almost every scenario, limitation breeds creativity and ingenuity. Limitation is not always welcome or ideal, but it nonetheless requires someone to fundamentally restructure their approach to a problem or consider it in a new light. Such a process is at the core of what creativity means, applying your unique ideas to scenarios which require or request them. Tame Impala’s limitation in manpower is the source of their unique and enchanting sound.

This self-imposed limitation, along with his various creative influences from his personal life experiences, offer a subtle message along with his music that can inspire others to lean into their creativity through solo efforts. Although it is difficult, and may take more time than it would if you had help, one can take on a project and see it through according to their full vision. After overcoming the difficulties that inevitably present themselves, you are left with a finished product which encapsulates your personality and is a unique product of your own effort. Some people live their lives going from “instrument” to “instrument” with their personality of actions in the same way, trying to create one cohesive work and melody so that others can enjoy the “song” of who they are. It is challenging, but it is beautiful.

Parker also offers his audience a visual portrayal of his creative process and expression through music with his music video for the song Why Won’t They Talk To Me?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B41O9PO6Zw0

Sources:

The Creative Spark by Agustin Fuentes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B41O9PO6Zw0

https://www.synthhistory.com/post/interview-with-tame-impala

Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers

 Kendrick Lamar is an artist who has been famous for quite some time. His breakout album was released in 2012, "good kid, m.A.A.d city", and he has only made hits since then. His creative process includes a lot of meditation on his life experiences. Throughout all of his music he explores themes of oppression, specifically in the black community. He talks about growing up in Compton and explores how he has changed and the struggles he has been through. 

In his album Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers, he explores his own life journey. He talks about the poverty, judgment, and hatred that the black community continuously faces. He explores his own journey and how he is consistently unsure of what to do with all the fame and money he has acquired. In his song "Rich Spirit" featured on the album, he talks about how he is fighting to stay strong during some of his hardest time:

"Rich n****, broke phone (ah)

Tryna keep the balance, I'm stayin' strong (ooh)

Stop playin' with me 'fore I turn you to a song (yeah)

Stop playin' with me 'fore I turn you to a song (ooh)

Ayy, b****, I'm attractive (ah)

Can't f**** with you no more, I'm fastin', ugh (ooh)

B****, I'm attractive (ah, ah, ah, ah)

Can't f*** with you no more, I'm fastin', ugh"

He explains how he struggles to keep "the balance" but still approaches all his struggles in confidence. Additionally, the song "Rich Spirit", talks about the many material items that individuals strive for that don't make up their internal beauty. 

"Take off the Dolce

Take off the Birkin bag (take it off)

Take all that designer bullsh** off

And what do you have? (B****)

Huh, huh, uh, you ugly as f****"

Kendrick says that once all the material items are gone, there is no beauty at all. I remember hearing this song for the first time and thinking that it was truly just funny. However, the more thought I put into it I can see that this is a real target at the rich. He is saying that no amount of material items will ever really make you satisfied. He explains that you shouldn't try to hide the "ugly", the true beauty inside, with all of the fake materials. 

Listening to this album really made me connect with what I was reading in The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson. The book talks about the ethics of gene editing and designer babies with CRISPR. There's a whole chapter on who gets to decide to utilize this tool. Do we set a line that gene editing should only be a tool utilized for individuals with severe diseases? Does that line get foggy once we put a price tag on who can use this tool? There are so many questions the book poses and I feel l like Kendrick's music is a response to some of these questions. Mr. Morale, Kendrick Lamar, explores the morality of how to approach certain topics. Through his music, Kendrick questions how much further the racial and political divide will become when we put these "designer" tools out in the market. Kendrick urges his listeners to let go of the material and find ways to decrease the racial and political divide that is very present in our country. 

Delaney Bailey: Chicago Transplant

 Delaney Bailey was born in Indiana and spent her college years at Indiana University in Bloomington Indiana. It was on the second day of classes that inspiration hit her. Her boyfriend broke up with her. She didn't have therapy and so, like many other artists, she turned to song writing as an outlet. As a result, "Her first released single “Loving & Losing” garnered over 163,000 streams on Spotify and her following quickly grew to over 30,000 listeners on the music platform" (WBEZ). And just like that, Bailey's career started on a random day in 2020.

Bailey at Schuba's Tavern

I personally had heard of Bailey around this time, but did not start listening to her intensely until her EP, "what we leave behind," was released in 2023. While there was not necessarily a theme that Bailey had in mind for this album, all of the songs are stripped back to a little bit of instrumental work to focus primarily on Bailey's vocals. This album came out towards the end of her college career, just after she moved to Chicago. She spends much of the album reminiscing on what she left behind in Indiana. Speaking on the aspects of life that one gives up for their own betterment and doing so with little assistance from instrumentals is scary. Still, Bailey bravely sticks by her craft, goes forth, and doesn't hide, wearing her heart on her sleeve and allowing her lyrics to breathe using subdued instrumentals to accent but not overwhelm her storytelling.

Since "what we leave behind," Bailey has worked on honing in her craft of story telling on her most recent EP: "Chiaroscuro." Her sound has changed with the city air and as she has collaborated with other singers and songwriters for the first time. We have been talking about in class the way that collaboration can change the end product and I think Bailey's new album is a perfect demonstration of that.