yk what, everything IS gnarly!!!
KATSEYE’s comeback, the Sylvanian Families movie and Timothée Chalamet making Frank cry :/
pov of the week
The switch up on KATSEYE’s latest release ‘Gnarly’ must be studied, because tell me why I was so convinced it was one of the most unserious songs this year and now I can’t go two minutes without singing na-na-na-na-na-gnarly.
‘Gnarly’ has managed to perfectly balance what I already love about K-Pop, and what I didn’t realise was missing. It’s a bit of fun, with vaguely nonsensical lyrics and inventive choreography, executed to perfection by all the talented girlies. But Daniela? She is something else. The ‘Gnarly’ era belongs to Dani, with her fancam going viral as everyone (including myself) is finally catching on to her phenomenal talent.
Since the group’s inception from the classic survival show The Debut: Dream Academy, there’s been an ongoing discussion on whether KATSEYE, a LA-based girl group created from a collaboration from South Korean entertainment company HYBE corporation (of BTS fame) and Geffen records, is in fact K-Pop. With group members from the Philippines, South Korea, Switzerland, and the US, they’re also known as a “global girl group”, which feels apt. Whether they’re also a K-Pop girl group? IMO, hell yeah.
Sure, it depends on what you define as K-Pop, but I’d argue the genre’s well on its way to transcending its Korean roots and becoming a particular, stylised category of pop. Especially when you consider the English-only tracks from groups like TWICE, BTS, and BLACKPINK that gain traction in Western music charts. Not that tit-for-tat is necessarily the most ethically nuanced way to evaluate this whole discussion, but it also feels about time we had a group like KATSEYE embody the K-Pop methodology and take it to the next level, like a perfectly executed UNO reverse.
‘Gnarly’ and the feeling of adoring literally everything about a K-Pop song, concept, and performance reminded me why I love this genre so much. Not only do you get a ridiculously catchy song, but fans are absolutely fed with all the music stages, relay dances, a Studio Choom performance, and the casually jaw-dropping promo pics of the new song. And don’t get me started on all the makeup and outfit inspo. ILY KATSEYE <3
– Lia
this week’s lesson: Cost of living crisis vs my homegrown spring onions!!
Hi, Frank here. Gotta be real, I’ve had enough of how fkn expensive everything is. It literally costs $15 to buy the ingredients for a cheese toastie. That’s two ingredients. Bread. Cheese. Butter if you’re rich.
Thanks to a frugal upbringing (genuinely, thank you) I’ve always been fairly resourceful, but the cost-of-living crisis has me stepping into my kitchen witch era. I’m baking bread, I’m growing vegetables, I’m scabbing everyone’s streaming login. All this newfound self-sufficiency is also great for the planet too.
your homework: $3.50 for spring onions that rot in the back of the fridge after using legit one stalk (why tf are the bunches so big??) is such a waste of money when it’s actually really easy to grow your own.
Cut the spring onion about an inch above their roots, stick ’em in water, wait like a few days? A week perhaps? It’s not an exact science. Seems like a small fish in a big pond in the grand scheme but who knows, maybe the revolution is gonna happen one homegrown crop at a time?
some things on my radar this week:
Doechii has clocked IN! She’s been booked and busy, popping up here and there, turning a look in every city — just yesterday she absolutely devoured at The Met Gala. ICYMI, Spilt Milk is bringing the diva of the swamp to our shores in December!!!! Coming to fkn Ballarat, Canberra and the Gold Coast along w so many other artists incl. Kendrick, Rebecca Black and friend of junkee, Esha Tewari :’)))
Gaga just performed to 2.5 million people in Rio. It was the highest-attended concert by a female artist in history (previous record was 1.6 million btw). Truly spectacular omg.
Uhhhh why did nobody tell me there was a sylvanian families movie??????? It came out in 2023 but seemingly debuts in australian theatres TOMORROW (very australian film release schedule core) this is my magnum opus and I need to see it immediately.
filmupdatesmain notice!!!!!! big fan of this acc for all things film… updates…
And lastly, for a niche group of people (I hope this finds u well) The Sims 4 has released three new kits!!!!!!!!!!!!! kitchen clutter, restoration workshop and golden years. Highlights include a non-fugly fridge w magnets and trinkets on it, a functional standing fan and a toupee (you’ll find it in the… hat section LOL)
aux
songs to add to your playlist rn:
29 - KYE
Braving the world with this ballad from Melbourne based pop girlie KYE. FFO second coming of age moments and Rachel Chinouriri (aux alumni btw!!)EGYPT (Remix) - Westside Gunn and Doechii
Westside Gunn is your favourite rapper’s favourite rapper. Ask Doechii. She was sampled in the original and now absolutely annihilates the remix, all in the same week of smoking a fat cigar on the Met Gala red carpet. See you at Spilt Milk swamp ruler!!
CHANEL - Teether, Kuya Neil and Alice Skye
Loving these eerie rap vibes from Alice Skye and Melbourne duo Teether and Kuya Neil on their third project YEARN IV. They’ve been on this alternative rock/rap vibe for a minute but the entrancing Alice Skye vocals take it to a whole ’nother level.
(save this playlist btw, updating every week!!)
Thunderbolts* (2025) | or……….. new avengers, I suppose?? lol??
TLDW: As good as Florence, Sebastian Stan and Lewis Pullman are in their respective roles, Thunderbolts still kinda felt like Marvel was ticking boxes… a ragtag ensemble of reluctant heroes, check. Tying up plot threads from a coupla Disney+ shows, check. Teasing the next 15 movies in an end-credit scene that’ll probably be retconned, check.
Despite all that, Thunderbolts does really nod to that old-school Marvel feeling for fans of the lore, and that in itself is its magic. And for those without that MCU knowledge, it’s kinda just a movie where hugs save the world and the power of friendship prevails <33
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) | a snow leopard of a movie
TLDW: If I could only pick one movie for the rest of my life, I’d comfortably pick The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. It’s an earnest depiction of both the mundanity and escapism we choose to accept in our lives. I watch this movie religiously as a lighthearted reminder to get out of my head every now and then. You get it.
After finishing season 2 of Severance, I needed to return to another Ben Stiller project about introspective ruminations and issues that start with us, but end up much bigger. Bonus points bc the soundtrack rocks too!!
Beautiful Boy (2018) | neverrrrrrrrrr skip a movie with steve carrell in a serious role
TLDW: I’ve had this on my watchlist for far too long bc I knew I would bawl my eyes out when I finally watched it. But after Timothée Chalamet’s declaration for greatness at the Oscars I had to see what the hype was about.
Update: Timothée is great, Steve is great and yep, I cried. One of the most harrowing and heartbreaking portrayals of addiction and family. Greatness doesn’t seem too far off, I guess :’)
(More faves on our letterboxd if you wanna follow us there xx)
