Welcome to the August 2026 edition of Music of the Month.

There’s no zine for this month, since I’ve gotten very busy and haven’t had time to make one. So I’ve put the songs together in a list instead. I hope you like it!

Songs of the Month

Wallflower - Dominic Fike

Dominic Fike recently announced his third studio album, titled How To Quit Smoking, adding that the album is “written, performed, & produced in real time on the road”. An official release date has yet to be announced.

In the lead single, Wallflower, Fike sings: “Wallflower, lily liver, chicken-heart, miss me when we drift apart”. The lyrics remind me of Sandman—a song on his previous project, Rocket—where he sings “Come be my drifter / My lonely listener / Make it come true / My only wish, to be on your list / Please make it come true”.

This new album era continues as Fike introduces live versions of the tracks on different nights of his Comedy Tragedy Parody tour.

7563 - Florence Road

This song is the latest release from Irish band Florence Road, who have confirmed it will have a place on their debut album. 7563 explores feelings of anxiety and uncertainty, with beautiful imagery: “Dive slow and I'm falling for hours / And a seahorse is pulling me downwards / And I'm tangled in the fright”.

The band have described the song as being for “anyone with the strange feeling of becoming a stranger to yourself”. The search for identity during adulthood is a common theme in their music, with their previous EPs, Fall Back (2025) and Spring Forward (2026) being about “falling back into adulthood” and “putting your shoes on and being like, ‘OK, let’s keep going’”, respectively.

Babygirl - Ravyn Lenae feat. Doechii

The ninth track on Ravyn Lenae’s latest album is about optimism, going your own way in life, and having faith in the process. Lenae sings, “Breakin' them walls / Baby girl, why go through the window?”, with Doechii adding “Walk up in the church and I get everythin' I'm prayin' for / I make assumptions that I'm everythin' I'm aimin' for”, echoing the age-old lesson that you already had what you thought you needed all along. The soft blues, greens, and greys of the album’s visual aesthetic back up the lyrical messages of calmness and strength throughout hardship.

Upcoming Releases: What’s Next?

• Album: PRIMA - ADÉLA (4 September 2026)

• Album: Age of the Exhibitionist - Rebecca Black (4 September 2026)

• Album: The Fatal Flaw - Paris Paloma (4 September 2026)

• Album: Angel - Lizzy McAlpine (18 September 2026)

• Album: Pylon - beabadoobee (18 September 2026)

• Album: She’s the Best - Troye Sivan (9 October 2026)

• Album: I think I spoke too soon - Rachel Chinouriri (16 October 2026)

Covers and Life Performances

Slayyyter’s cover of Hole’s ‘Violet’

American singer-songwriter Slayyyter covered Hole’s song Violet for Triple J Like A Version this month. In the behind-the-scenes video, Slayyyter emphasised her love of Hole’s 1994 album Live Through This, mentioning its “raw and emotional feeling” and discussing Hole’s influence on her music today.

Thanks for reading Music of the Month! I hope you enjoyed this month’s edition. I would love to hear what music you’ve been listening to recently!

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Welcome to the June 2026 edition of Music of the Month. I hope you enjoy it!

While compiling this edition, I realised that the three songs I had chosen all coincidentally have lyrics about the heart. “I’m putting my heart on speakerphone”, “The heart takes what it wants”, and “My heart stays wanting” is a really interesting accidental collection of lyrics. Anyway, that’s just something to think about.

Upcoming Releases: What’s Next?

• Album: Oh yeah? - Steve Lacy (releases on 17 July 2026)

• Album: Daughter from Hell - Gracie Abrams (releases on 17 July 2026)

• Album: Music, Fashion, Film - Charli xcx (releases on 24 July 2026)

• Album: petal - Ariana Grande (releases on 31 July 2026)

• Album: Lost Weekend - Phoebe Bridgers (releases on 14 August 2026)

Covers and Life Performances

Gracie Abrams’ cover of Ariana Grande’s ‘We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)’

Olivia Rodrigo and Robert Smith performing ‘what’s wrong with me’ at Primavera Sound

Thanks for reading Music of the Month! This edition feels a little empty for some reason, but I’m letting myself be okay with that. I would love to hear your favourite new releases from the last month!

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All Our Shimmering Skies - Trent Dalton

In Darwin, Australia, young Molly Hook embarks on a journey to find Longcoat Bob, who she believes has put a curse on her family. She is joined by two unlikely companions: Greta, a local actress; and Yukio, a Japanese fighter pilot. Set during WWII, this novel explores the experiences that make us who we are, and breaks down our assumptions and expectations about people who are different to us.

I love Trent Dalton’s novels for so many reasons. Something about his writing makes a story feel so painfully real; they explore foundational human experiences of family, youth, grief, and love. He also covers important social and political issues such as the impact of war, homelessness, and the drug industry. I would really recommend his other novels too, especially Boy Swallows Universe and Lola in the Mirror.

After Story - Larissa Behrendt

After Story is a beautiful reflection on culture, tradition, family, and the past. The novel follows the story of Indigenous Australian lawyer Jasmine and her mother, Della, as they embark on a literary tour in England. As the story unravels, the characters rediscover secrets about their past that they thought had been buried. Larissa Behrendt seamlessly blends the two worlds of England and Australia, revealing their strengths as well as their hidden secrets.

I love this book because despite their differences, Jasmine and Della come to an understanding that they don’t need to blame each other or hold a grudge. Neither one is entirely at fault; they each have their own strengths, weaknesses, and unique perspectives. Overall, After Story is a powerful story about the relationship between our history and our future, and how language and storytelling can bridge the gap between them.

Run Rabbit Run (2023)

Run Rabbit Run is about secrets, fears, and ghosts from the past. Usually I am hesitant to watch horror films about mother-daughter relationships, but this one was particularly interesting. The rabbit symbolism and creepy atmosphere were very intriguing and immersive, and I was on the edge of my seat hoping Sarah Snook would make it out alive. The performances were amazing and the landscapes were absolutely beautiful. I’d recommend this if you’re into Australian psychological horror!

Goolagong (2026)

Goolagong is a three-episode miniseries exploring the life of Evonne Goolagong Cawley, a former professional tennis player who, in 1971, became the first Indigenous Australian to win a Grand Slam singles title. The series goes beyond her legacy to explore her early life, her rise to fame, her motivations, and the relationships—both good and bad—she had with those around her.

While I am not particularly a fan of tennis, and I didn’t know much about Evonne’s life before watching, this show was a really great watch. I think it succeeds in showing a behind-the-scenes look at her life, focusing on the people who mattered to her, and exploring themes of resilience, discrimination, and exploitation. Overall I’d really recommend it!1

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this post. I don’t know how many of you are Australian, but regardless, I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading or watching lately.

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Welcome to the May 2026 edition of Music of the Month. This month I have combined the digital zine format with some other aspects from the first edition: upcoming releases, covers and/or live performances, and a music throwback. I hope you enjoy!

Upcoming Releases: What’s Next?

• Album: Do That Again - Malcolm Todd (releases on 5 June 2026)

• Album: you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love - Olivia Rodrigo (releases on 12 June 2026)

• Album: Daughter from Hell - Gracie Abrams (releases on 17 July 2026)

• Album: petal - Ariana Grande (releases on 31 July 2026)

Covers and Life Performances

Earlier in May, Malcolm Todd covered Audrey Hobert’s Phoebe for triple j Like A Version. So of course, Audrey had to return the favour and cover Malcolm’s song Earrings. Iconic sibling behaviour if you ask me.

Music Throwback

This month’s music throwback is the ongoing collaboration relationship between Isaiah Rashad and SZA. Their most recent collaboration was BOY IN RED, a song on Rashad’s latest album IT’S BEEN AWFUL. However, they have worked together numerous times before this, perhaps most notably on Pretty Little Birds, a track on SZA’s album Ctrl.

Here is the full list of their collaborations:

• Warm Winds, on SZA’s EP Z (2014)

• Ronnie Drake, on Isaiah Rashad’s album Cilvia Demo (2014)

• West Savannah, on Isaiah Rashad’s album Cilvia Demo (2014)

• Stuck in the Mud, on Isaiah Rashad’s album The Sun’s Tirade (2016)

• Happy Birthday, on Childish Major’s album WOO$AH (2017)

• Pretty Little Birds, on SZA’s album Ctrl (2017)

• Score, on Isaiah Rashad’s album The House is Burning (2021)

• BOY IN RED, on Isaiah Rashad’s album IT’S BEEN AWFUL (2026)

Thanks for reading Music of the Month! I would love to hear your favourite new releases from the last month.

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Born This Way

“It doesn’t matter if you love him / Or capital “H-I-M””

The album’s title track, Born This Way, has long been known as an anthem of queer pride. In the song, Gaga repeatedly asserts that God will love you regardless of your sexuality, and that being ‘different’ is not a sin. This idea pushes back against the homophobia often associated with conservative Christianity. Overall, this song exemplifies Gaga’s exploration of religious themes while also showing that she is unafraid to subvert social expectations and just be herself.

Judas

“I wanna love you / But something’s pulling me away from you / Jesus is my virtue / And Judas is the demon I cling to”

In Judas, Gaga details a story of betrayal and longing. She tells of a bad relationship that she keeps returning to, despite her desire to stay true to her virtues. In 2011, she said of the song: “It’s essentially about me going back to an ex-boyfriend and still being in love with someone that betrayed me, someone that was bad for me.”1 In this way, Gaga takes a biblical story and places it in a modern context, making it relatable to her audience. She takes the figures of Jesus and Judas and turns them into pop culture mythos.

Bloody Mary

“I won’t cry for you / I won’t crucify the things you do / I won’t cry for you, see / When you’re gone, I’ll still be Bloody Mary”

On this track, Gaga takes on the perspective of Mary Magdalene mourning Jesus’ death after his crucifixion. She celebrates his love and forgives him of his actions, rather than accepting others’ cruel words about him. The chorus best shows this idea that she must continue on with her life despite her grief, but her devotion will always remain a part of her identity.

Black Jesus + Amen Fashion

“Dancing in my revelation / Underground pop civilization / Concrete poetry to feed my mind / Old symbolism was left behind”

“Put it on, amen, fashion / Celebrate, ooh-ooh, a new compassion / Put it on, amen, fashion / Celebrate, ooh-ooh, style your passion”

In this song, Gaga places a biblical figure on the runway of the New York City fashion and music scene. The lyrics suggest that leaving behind your old life and adopting a new perspective is as easy as changing your clothes. In this way, Gaga argues that the passion of religious devotion can also be seen in a person’s love of fashion, personal style, and self-expression. These themes are present throughout much of her discography.

Electric Chapel

“If you want me, meet me at Electric Chapel”

Gaga invites her lover to Electric Chapel, a place that joins two aspects of her identity: pop music and faith. She says, “Follow me, don’t be such a holy fool”, echoing the “I’m just a holy fool” line from Judas. These lyrics demonstrate the duality of Gaga’s relationship with religion: she asks her partner for devotion and love, while also acknowledging that she herself makes mistakes and isn’t perfect. The Electric Chapel also represents her tours and concerts being a safe place for her fans. In a 2011 interview with the Guardian, she called her tour “a religious experience”, a “pop cultural church” where people can gather for a collective experience of love and celebration.

In conclusion, Gaga’s music seamlessly blends the two worlds of fashion and faith, or pop culture and devotion. While her use of religious imagery often garners criticism, Gaga has remained strong in her views on acceptance, respect, and freedom of expression. This article definitely isn’t an exhaustive list, as Gaga consistently explores biblical and religious themes throughout her music. Fashion of His Love and Garden of Eden, for example, as well as several songs from her album Joanne. But that’s for another post.

Thank you for reading!

Sources

Beliefnet. (n.d.). What religion is Lady Gaga? https://www.beliefnet.com/celebrity-faith-database/l/lady-gaga.aspx

Fresh, M. (2011, May 10). Lady Gaga Explains Her Inspiration Behind ‘Judas’; Drops New Single ‘The Edge Of Glory’. Vibe. https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/lady-gaga-explains-her-inspiration-behind-judas-drops-new-single-edge-glory-63827/

Genius. (n.d.). Lady Gaga - Born This Way (Special Edition) Lyrics and Tracklist. https://genius.com/albums/Lady-gaga/Born-this-way-special-edition

Martin M. (2011, May 13). Lady Gaga: ‘My tour is a religious experience’. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/may/13/lady-gaga-exclusive-guardian-interview

Serpe, G. (2011, May 8). Lady Gaga Uncut: “I’m really delusional about my success”. E! News. https://www.eonline.com/news/240613/lady_gaga_uncut_im_really_delusional

Further reading

Roberts, S. (2025, September 4). The gospel according to Lady Gaga: why pop’s Mother Monster is also a theologian. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/the-gospel-according-to-lady-gaga-why-pops-mother-monster-is-also-a-theologian-264151

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I was inspired to make this post because of all the people I see online using AI-generated images or random pictures that they credit as being “from Pinterest” in their posts. This is a big concern for me, especially on Substack, since I believe that if you want your work to be respected, you should respect others’ work as well. And what’s more disrespectful than using a photo or image that someone worked hard to create, without giving them any credit or consideration? Or using an AI-generated image instead of taking advantage of the infinite collections of copyright-free and public-domain content available online?

In this guide, I’ll show you three ways you can find free, high-quality, interesting images and illustrations for your posts, collages, blogs, or whatever else you need them for!

Please note: this post is not sponsored in any way, these are just my recommendations!

google search

You might be thinking: “What?? Google? No way, I prefer Pinterest!” But hear me out. Sure, Pinterest is great, but it can be very difficult to find the original source of an image that has been posted a million times on social media, even if you do a reverse image search. And Pinterest is full of people posting images that they didn’t create, don’t own, and don’t credit anyone for.

So here’s what you’re gonna do instead:

1. Search for anything on Google images.

2. Go to Tools > Usage rights > ‘Creative Commons licenses’ or ‘Commercial & other licenses’.

3. Scroll through the results and find one you like!

This is a great method because it collects all the relevant images that are free to use, either personally or commercially. Some images will have specific licenses, so make sure to double-check if you’re going to use it for a commercial purpose.

Google image search is a free resource. If we’re going to use technology made and maintained by billionaires, let’s at least use it properly.

stock images

There are so many existing websites dedicated to hosting collections of stock images that are 100% free to use. Thousands of photographers, illustrators and designers upload their images to sites like Unsplash, Pexels, Pixabay, and more. Seriously, why would you ever need to generate an AI image when all of this exists??

A personal favourite of mine is Unsplash, which hosts “over 6 million free high-resolution photos and illustrations”.1 But there are so many other options too!

Some other options include:

• Pexels - free stock photos and videos

• Pixabay - free stock photos, videos, graphics, illustrations, music, and more

• Adobe Stock Free Collection - free stock photos, vector graphics, and videos

cosmos.so and public.work

cosmos.so: a website for artists and designers to find inspiration.

Cosmos is a great site for finding visual inspiration. It clearly draws on the tried-and-true layout of Pinterest, providing a clean and easy way to save images you like into themed moodboards - or, if you prefer, you can just save everything into your ‘Unsorted Elements’ collection.

On Cosmos, individual posts are called ‘elements’, and collections of elements are called ‘clusters’. You can create your own clusters, and view ones created by others. The ‘Explore’ page features a curated selection of different clusters made by users.

I do want to mention: I’m not 100% sure whether everything uploaded on Cosmos is copyright-free, since I have seen some people uploading images and posters that I’ve seen several times before on other apps like Pinterest. So I’d recommend you check first before using something, especially if it’s for a commercial purpose! (I have found that some users will provide a link to the original photo/image in their post, which is very helpful).

public.work: a search engine for public domain content.

Public.work is an absolute hidden gem. It’s a sub-site on Cosmos, specifically created to host public domain content. There are images, illustrations, photographs, diagrams, portraits, technical drawings, botanical drawings, and so many more… and they’re all free to use.

One of the things I love about public.work is that it doesn’t have a vertical scrolling format. Instead of scrolling up or down, you scroll AROUND. Genius. And it’s so fun too.

You can search for anything using the public.work search engine, or you can just scroll around and see what it serves up for you. Once you click on an image, the page refreshes and gives you a bunch of images similar to the one you selected.

That’s all for this post! I hope you enjoyed reading it, and maybe you even learned something along the way. These blog-type posts are really fun to make, I have many more ideas for them in the future. Thanks for reading <3

further reading

Sharing Openly, Sharing Globally - Creative Commons https://creativecommons.org/cc-licenses/

This site gives an overview of the different types of CC licenses if you’re looking for more information on that!

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Welcome to the April edition of music of the month!! I was hoping this would be a monthly series, but I posted the first one in January and then completely lost motivation for the next few months. So to make it easier to manage, I’ve decided to turn it into a digital zine format. It’s much simpler than the last edition, and has less information, but I hope you like it anyway! <3

You can also view the zine as a flipbook here!

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Welcome to a new series, music of the month!! I will be posting one of these every month (hopefully), updating you on new releases, covers, live performances, and anything else I’ve been enjoying in music that month. So read on, and I hope you enjoy!

New Releases

Album: Locket - Madison Beer

singles: make you mine, yes baby, bittersweet

my favourites: angel wings, bad enough, make you mine

Madison Beer’s third studio album, locket, explores the feelings of love we hold close to our heart, like a memory of a loved one stored in a necklace. Each song chronicles a different story of love: an obsessive crush, a lament over a tragic loss, an embarrassing boyfriend who’s not quite bad enough to let go of. The visuals for this album are full of baby blue, delicate lace, and feathered angel wings. From quiet and melancholy to upbeat and catchy, Madison Beer’s third album spans a wide range of emotions and experiences. While it’s not my personal favourite from her discography, I think Madison again succeeds in showing what her voice can do.

single: where’s my phone? - mitski

Mitski has, unsurprisingly, done it again. Her new single, Where’s My Phone?, explores the connection between technology and modern identity. She draws a link between misplacing your phone and losing your sense of self; “Where did it go? / Where’s my phone?” becomes “Where did I leave? / Where’d I go?”, suggesting that a hyper-dependence on our phones causes us to lose sight of our true selves, and eventually delve into madness. The accompanying music video explores the relationship between daughter, mother and grandmother in a chaotic, confusing and brutal world. This message aligns with current frustrations surrounding technology and social media. While we see influencers quitting their iphones and searching for flip-phone replacements, Mitski’s Where’s My Phone? is undoubtedly a relevant commentary on the disorder of our supposedly advanced world.

single: dance the pain away - haute & freddy

With a recession pop beat and the spirit of a Chappell Roan anthem, Haute & Freddy’s new single is boisterous and fun. With lyrics like “Has it been a while / Since you really let go?” and “For once in your life, don't run away / Why don't we dance the pain, dance the pain away?”, the song echoes common frustrations about the struggles of modern life, encouraging the listener to let go of their inhibitions and dance the pain away. This song returns to the sounds and ideas of the recession pop genre, which dominated the music charts during the late 2000s and early 2010s. This return isn’t surprising at all, considering the recent trend of 2010s nostalgia. As this trend continues, I hope more people will turn to Haute & Freddy, who combine historical imagery with modern pop music and offer optimistic wishes and soundscapes for the future. Their upcoming debut album, Big Disgrace, is set to release on the 13th of March.

single: aperture - harry styles

Harry Styles’ new single, Aperture, is a fresh and euphoric track about letting more light and love into our lives. As usual, the verses are packed with little details and the chorus wraps all of it up into a message of clarity and comfort: “We belong together / It finally appears, it’s only love”. The bridge of the song reinforces this idea of finally finding comfort and consistency in a stable relationship; “I won’t stray from it” and “I wanna know what safe is”. The upcoming 12-track album, Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally, will release on the 6th of March. I, for one, am very excited to see what this album brings.

Covers, Tours and Live Performances

cover: addison rae’s fame is a gun, covered by rebecca black

If you know me, you know I love Fame is a Gun… And I also LOVE this cover. Rebecca brings such a interesting angle to the song, and her use of vocal layering is absolutely divine.

cover: arctic monkeys’ do i wanna know?, covered by dove cameron

Dove Cameron has covered Arctic Monkeys’ Do I Wanna Know? for the upcoming thriller series 56 Days, which Dove will star in. With this cover, she brings crisp vocals and a suspenseful pop beat to promote the show.

What I’ve Been Listening To

In this section, I’ll list one album, one EP, and one song that I’ve been enjoying during the month. Aside from the new releases I’ve talked about, I have also been listening to:

• Album: Desire, I Want To Turn Into You - Caroline Polachek

• EP: After EP 2 - After

• Song: Rodrick Rules - Malcolm Todd

Upcoming Releases: What’s Next?

2026 is already shaping up to be an incredible year for music. Here are just some of the upcoming albums set to release over the next few months:

• Album: the apple tree under the sea - hemlocke springs (releases on 13 February 2026)

• Album: Nothing’s About to Happen to Me - Mitski (releases on 27 February 2026)

• Album: Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally - Harry Styles (releases on 6 March 2026)

• Album: HELP(2) - War Child Records (releases on 6 March 2026). The charity album will feature songs by Arctic Monkeys, Big Thief, Olivia Rodrigo, beabadoobee, Damon Albarn, and more. All proceeds made from the album will be donated to War Child.

• Album: Big Disgrace - Haute & Freddy (releases on 13 March 2026)

• Album: THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE - RAYE (releases on 27 March 2026)

Music Throwback

cover: Björk’s Venus As A Boy, covered by Kali Uchis (2019)

Thank you for reading the first instalment of music of the month!! When mind’s eye was still cindy’s thought diary, I used to do a similar monthly post with all the media I’d been consuming that month (books, movies, music, substack articles, etc etc). I found that a bit overwhelming and I often left the task of actually writing the posts to the last minute, which frequently resulted in me not posting them at all. I hope that can change with this new series, since I am simplifying it to just music, which is something I love and am passionate about. So anyway, thank you so much for reading, and I hope you enjoy the series!! Make sure to subscribe to mind’s eye to receive these posts every month in your inbox :)

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hello and welcome to something new. recently i haven’t been posting much here on substack, and i realised that this is partly because of my publication’s title: cindy’s thought diary. it just isn’t clicking with me anymore. so i spent quite some time thinking about what i wanted to rebrand my publication into, and i finally settled on this: mind’s eye.

definitions of the term ‘mind’s eye’ range from “one’s visual memory or imagination” to “the mental faculty of conceiving imaginary or recollected scenes, with or without visual imagery”. i chose this for the name of my newsletter because i love to look at the deeper meaning behind things, whether that’s a post on social media or a book i read. i believe that imagination and empathy can help us so much with visual literacy and media literacy, and we can further apply this to solving important problems and issues. also! as a child i was told i had an overactive or vivid imagination. maybe that has something to do with it.

to me, using my mind’s eye is about seeing and feeling, rather than just thinking. hence, this publication will be centred on using empathy to examine cultural, social and political issues.

with this newsletter, i plan to write about mostly the same things as i had in mind for cindy’s thought diary: film & literature, cultural commentary and criticism, society, fashion, music, art, and anything else that comes to mind. but one of the key differences will be that i am moving my poems from cindy’s thought diary to a new publication, called poetry corner. if you would still like to read my poems and any other creative writing i share, that’s where you should look :)

i think that’s all for now! i hope you enjoy what’s to come.

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I love the idea of collecting physical media. I have a small CD collection which I hope to grow in the future, and I've been collecting books for years. I have also thought about starting a DVD collection, but ultimately I think I’d only watch a DVD once and then it would just sit on a shelf collecting dust. So naturally I've been thinking a lot about the pros and cons of collecting physical media, and the social and environmental factors that come with it. This post lists the pros and cons of having a physical media collection, and some ways to reduce the cons at the end.

Pros:

• You spend less time staring at screens.

• Having a tangible physical collection encourages you to appreciate the media more, and approach media consumption mindfully.

• You have a physical copy of the media and you own it forever, rather than it being stored digitally.

• You can customise and transfer the media. E.g. transferring CD albums to an mp3 player, or annotating books.

• You can thrift and buy second-hand media to lower the overall cost and environmental impact.

• You could hand down the collection to your family members or children, once you get older or if there are things in the collection that you don’t need anymore.

Cons:

• Consumerism… I think this one is self-explanatory.

• The cost can be pretty significant, e.g. buying DVDs regularly (if brand new) might cost the same or more than having a subscription to a streaming service.

• You will likely need a lot of storage space for the collection, which isn’t possible for everyone.

• It really isn’t necessary to keep buying new physical products (especially plastic ones), considering the amount of waste already on the planet.

  • In terms of music, vinyl records and CDs require energy-intensive production processes, and are difficult to recycle.

  • And although digital streaming might seem like a more environmentally-friendly option, this isn’t necessarily the case. Streaming services are run by data centres, which use vast amounts of energy, produce high carbon emissions, and require extensive land clearing. These factors really complicate the process of deciding whether to rely on streaming or switch to physical media.

• There are a lot of digital alternatives to physical media, which might be more affordable and convenient. For example, having a CD collection sounds nice and is a very tempting idea but I do have Spotify, which is free.

• I have seen a lot of people arguing that physical media is better than digital media because you “own” it. But really, you can “own” digital media too. For example, many artists sell digital downloads of their albums for a much lower price than the CD or vinyl versions. From there, you can play that album on literally any device, and even burn it onto a CD if you wish. (An even cheaper option is converting YouTube links to mp3 files and downloading those to listen to).

• Some people might argue that posting about physical media online is performative and contradictory. For example, we could assume that many people who collect CDs or vinyl records also have a Spotify account, to listen on-the-go or make aesthetically-pleasing playlists. The same could be true for films; someone might have a large DVD collection, but also have subscriptions to streaming services so they can stay up-to-date with new releases.

So now that we have a list of cons, here are some ways to reduce them and ensure that your experience of collecting physical media is as positive as possible.

• Consider whether the cost is justifiable and affordable for you. Don't base this off of people online, instead consider your personal preferences and which physical media would be feasible for you to collect (considering cost, efficiency and environmental impact).

• Where possible, try thrifting items instead of buying them first-hand at retail stores. For me this is especially true for books, as I always make sure to check the book section in thrift stores and am often pleasantly surprised when I find one that has been on my to-be-read list for ages.

• Before you buy something like a CD or DVD, consider how much use you're going to get out of it. If you're not sure, maybe rent the item or borrow it from a library, or see if you can borrow it from someone you know.

That's all for this post!! I hope you enjoyed it. Let me know what you think about collecting physical media, and whether you like this format/type of post. I do love writing lists and I have many more ideas for posts like these. Thanks for reading!

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