Ezra Collective's No One's Watching Me with Olivia Dean has really grabbed my attention, even though it was released a year ago. I've been playing it at least twice a day for a straight week. Maybe it's the tune, the rhythm, or the words—I just know it's a total earworm. This song is a rare blend of mellow and energetic. The secret is that killer horn opening, which immediately establishes a contagious, upbeat vibe that carries through the entire track. Olivia's smoky, soulful vocals then glide over the music, adding a touch of pure sultry goodness. The track is held together by a fantastic, steady backbeat that never lets up, even during the impressive trumpet solo. The London quintet's Afrobeat-infused style really shines here, propelled by a funky bassline and gentle synth keys. The interplay between the intermittent horn flourishes and Dean's voice is absolutely perfect. It's a truly masterful and vibrant arrangement.
If you follow contemporary art, you know the name Simon Berger . This distinctive artist should have been on my blog sooner—my apologies for the oversight, but I’m fixing that right now. Simon literally draws with a hammer. He uses concentrated, surgical blows to create stunning portraits in safety glass, where the resulting cracks become the lines and shadows. It’s the ultimate high-wire act: he's one wrong tap away from turning a masterpiece into expensive debris. The Swiss genius might have started his career with wood, but you know artists get restless. Now, his process is pretty neat: He begins with a simple model photo, transfers the outlines onto a large glass panel, and meticulously marks the areas he’ll refine. Then comes the tricky part: he uses his hammer to carefully crack the surface, meticulously transforming the sheet of glass into an incredible portrait. WATCH: Scroll down to see more of Simon's fascinating glass art, and follow him on Facebook to keep up with ...