Rules:
Banks is one of my all-time favorite artists, and at the end of February, she returned with her latest album: Off With Her Head. This is one of Banks’s best (as well as cohesive) albums to-date, which leaned into this pop and alternative style of sound. Does it experiement as much as Serpentina? Well, no, but Off With Her Head still gets creative with what it does. At the end of the day, it was a VERY "Banks" kind of album, and that’s exactly what I was looking for.
Desires by Giift was an EP which popped up under my Spotify recommendations, and I’m so glad I gave it a chance, because it was fantastic. And, by the end, I was left wanting more. Desires had a particular vibe to it, which I enjoyed. It lands firmly in the R&B space, but it got creative with the sound, particularly on the closing song, All I Need (one of the best tracks).
Nao is another one of my favorite artists, and she was also back with new music. Jupiter was an R&B and Soul album done Nao’s way, and it was incredibly fun to listen to. Tonally, it was almost a sequel to her sophomore release, Saturn, back in October of 2018 (which remains one of my all-time favorite albums). And Jupiter lands pretty high on the list, when it comes to my the stuff I’ve listened to so far in 2025, and I appreciated it for its lighter tone and blend of genres.
Next, I checked out Antidote by SYNGA. This one was also a recommendation, and I was looking for something that had a similar vibe to Banks’s music, to tide me over during the seven days left before Off With Her Head was released. Antidote was moody pop music, so it checked all of those boxes and then some.
Michi is another new-to-me artist (found through a recommendation on Spotify), thanks to her new album, Dirty Talk. This was a solid funk and disco album with lyrics that often delved into the nuances of relationships, which offered a chill/smooth listening experience. If you listen to it, though, it’ll feel a little familiar around the edges, especially if you’ve listened to those genres before in any capacity, but it still feels lively and fresh—basically an updated and unique take while still paying homage to its inspiration.
And, of course, last but certainly not least was one of my most anticipated March releases: Lady Gaga’s Mayham. It was a callback to her other albums, but rather than remaining grounded in a vintage era, it was an upcycled affair doing what Lady Gaga does best with a blend of genres including rock, pop, and funk among others. The singles, Disease and Abracadabra, did have a bit of a different tone and substance than the later end of the album, but it was still a great album and a lot of fun to listen to. And it also reminded me of what makes Lady Gaga a great artist.
Some singles that have made it onto my playlist: Reprogram by Kilo Kish, Cut Up by SAILORR, Butterfly by Marina, Falling In Love by R.A.E., and Anxiety by Doechii.
Rules:
The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. **Note: Freda @ Freda's Voice is taking a break from The Friday 56; Anne @Head is Full of Books is hosting for now.**
Do you feel addicted to your phone? Do you frequently pick it up “just to check,” only to look up forty-five minutes later wondering where the time has gone? Does social media make you anxious? Have you tried to spend less time mindlessly scrolling—and failed? If so, this book is your solution.
Award-winning health and science journalist and TED speaker Catherine Price presents a practical, evidence-based 30-day digital detox plan that will help you break up—and then make up—with your phone. The goal: better mental health, improved screen-life balance, and a long-term relationship with technology that feels good. This engaging, user-friendly guide explains how our smartphones and apps are designed to be addictive and how the time we spend on them is increasing our anxiety and damaging our abilities to focus, think deeply, form new memories, generate ideas, and be present in our most important relationships. Next, it walks you through an effective and easy-to-follow 30-day plan that has already helped thousands of people worldwide break their phone addictions and feel more fully alive. Whether you need help for yourself or for your family, friends, students, colleagues, clients, or community, How to Break Up with Your Phone is the ultimate guide to digital detoxing. It’s guaranteed to help you put down your phone—and come back to life.
