Monthly Muses: De-ageing Drugs, Donnie Darko, and Creative Zen
Some of my favourite creative works of September, 2024
I want to begin by saying a big THANK YOU! My audience grew by 65% overnight after sharing My Memento Mori Manifesto on Monday. My views have doubled and five amazing people have pledged to support my work when I eventually activate paid subscriptions. This means so much and I’m very grateful for your time and encouragement!
If I reached out and invited you to follow The Drip Tray then you’re probably new to Substack. I don’t blame you if you find it a little overwhelming, what with all the recommendations and tiers of subscription. My previous post will hopefully help to explain the logistics of the platform if you would prefer to use the app rather than just receive newsletters in your email, which you’ll need if you want to engage with the chat.
Today, I want to introduce a new segment called Monthly Muses! In the first week of every month, I’ll share a compilation of my favourite creative works from the previous month for you to check out for yourself. This will cover music, film, literature, and even other Substacks that I think are worth your time. So, without further ado, these are my favourite September releases of 2024.
Album of the Month
Bad Neighbour – Millions
The Brisbane garage emo quartet have been one of my favourite local acts since I saw them open for Tiny Moving Parts early last year. Their debut album, Millions, consists of upbeat singalongs and brooding slow jams, with evocative lyrics exploring themes of love, loss, depression and growth. I particularly love the line ‘Keeping up means someone gets left behind’ that opens catchy single “20,000 Knife Fights”. Please give the whole record a spin!
Song of the Month
Halsey – “Lonely is the Muse”
As you probably know by now, I absolutely adore this woman. I loved her in MaXXXine (read my review here) and I’m stoked that she’s dropping an album later this year. I’ve played this track on repeat so many times since its release, usually when I’m writing, and it seems to be a reflection of her material success. Her visual poetry comes through lines like ‘I was built from special pieces that I learned how to unscrew/ So I can always reassemble to fit perfectly for you.’ That slow picked guitar and driving drumbeat just hits different and crescendos into chaos by the end.
Movie of the Month
The Substance (2024)
You thought I was going to say Alien: Romulus, didn’t you? Nope! Coralie Fargeat’s satirical sci-fi body horror starring Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid intrigued me from the first time I saw the teaser. Then I watched an advanced screening and it went in a completely different direction to what I expected, which is exactly what it (and I) needed. It’s equal parts dystopian fantasy and social commentary, with just enough grit to separate it from the other genre films that have come out this year.
Podcast of the Month
WHAT WENT WRONG: Below the Line – Steadicam Operator (Donnie Darko)
Even though this episode came out in March, I only heard it for the first time last month. WHAT WENT WRONG, a podcast by Sad Boom Media where Chris Winterbauer and Lizzie Bassett discuss the arduous process of producing some of cinema’s best and worst movies, has quickly become one of my favourites. In this episode, they interview Steadicam operator Dave Chameides, who did camerawork for From Dusk till Dawn (1996) and Donnie Darko (2001), about the craft and his extensive resume. It’s truly fascinating and offers an insight into what happens on a film set.
Follow WHAT WENT WRONG on your preferred platform here.
Book of the Month
Rick Rubin – The Creative Act: A Way of Being
Published in 2023, The Creative Act is a philosophical guide to producing your best work as an artist by the legendary record producer. Honestly, this guy has worked with everybody, from Metallica and Slipknot to Run-DMC and Eminem. I mentioned this in a recent post and it was one of the catalysts in my decision to pursue a career as a writer. It’s short yet deep, succinct yet expansive, and I love the little Instagrammable proverbs that he peppers between sections (I may have shared a couple myself). Strongly recommend to any fellow creatives!
Get your copy here.
Substack of the Month
Ted Gioia (The Honest Broker) – My Secret Life as a Social Media Coach
There’s a reason that Ted, an accomplished jazz musician, author and lecturer, is one of the most followed writers on Substack. His profound wisdom and criticism with hints of humour offer valuable insights into societal trends and creative media. In this post, he explains how he built a community of thinking followers and the effects of karma online. Somewhat of a culture commentator, The Honest Broker is the first Substack I began a paid subscription to – and so should you!
