A Hot Night in Bushwick

Last Thursday, we ventured out to a show at Elsewhere in Bushwick. For a long time, this neighborhood has been known as the cool part of New York City where things are happening. There are (legal) graffiti everywhere, quirky shops, and trendy restaurants and bars. Even Hana, the grocery store, has a unique, aloof vibe (despite the Top 40 radio playing from the PA).

When we lived nearby, the Jefferson Street area of Bushwick was one of our favorite places to walk during the pandemic. Of course, life has slowed down here, like everywhere else. But it has definitely bounced back. On Thursday, there was a nightlife buzz in the streets that I hadn’t seen in a while in the city: one club played loud music from its open, unmarked doors, and at another, a long line was waiting to get in.

But we headed straight to Elsewhere to see Ela Minus.

I have a special appreciation for electronic solo shows. They are not easy to pull off: a musician standing at a desk with gear can simply be DJing or karaoke. But Ela makes it a true live experience: she turned her rig around so the audience could see what she’s doing, while a camera projected her face onto a big screen behind her. Wearing a flamenco-inspired outfit, she danced over the stage, contrasting her hard-hitting music with elegance and grace.

Opening was Danz CM, who runs the Synth History magazine that interviewed Ela a few weeks ago. During the show, we realized that we had already seen Danz CM live at Mercury Lounge a few years back, when she still performed as Computer Magic (hence the ‘CM’ in her new artist name).

We still love albums

Ariel Hyatt of CyberPR discussed the decline of album reviews. Bottom line: since you no longer need to purchase an album, reviews are no longer necessary to prevent wasting money.

But albums are still an art form and deserve attention. We used to include a section in the newsletter where we announced upcoming Friday album releases. We want to revive this with more purpose. That means, we will only cover records we’ve actually listened to, which might already be out by the time the newsletter is published. Also, at times, we only discover an album a few weeks after its release, but when we like it, we still want to recommend it. If you’re interested in recommendations for a new album listening party, you can visit our new album page here.

Five Songs: Catch up

Listen to glamglare five songs on Spotify, Apple Music, or below on YouTube.

Fall is a busy season for new releases, making it harder to pick just one song per day. With today‘s five songs, we‘re catching up with music that belongs on glamglare. – We just could not find a place for it so far.

• At first glance, it might sound like a love song, but it’s truly about letting someone go with love and ultimately finding strength within yourself,” Jaixia says, which explains the bittersweet feeling of this beautiful song.
• The Italian-American artist Niia is a classically trained jazz singer. From her new album V, the song “Throw My Head out of the Window” stuck with us.
• Miki Berenyi is the singer of shoegaze pioneers Lush. The slow-burning song is “about the spaces between places where interesting things can happen.”
• Pool Girl is continuing with “Something to Say” on the topic, musically and lyrically. The song is chill like a poolside afternoon.
• Amazonica is a popular DJ in Hollywood. “New Start” from her new album Victory might not be what she spins at a movie industry party, even though it has dark cinematic vibes.

Song Pick of the Day

Listen to/watch all seven songs on YouTube. Follow our daily updated playlists on YouTube, Apple Music, or Spotify for the 50 latest Song Pick of the Day features, or subscribe here to receive them in your mailbox in real-time. Thank you for following us and sharing the excitement.

• Swiss indie-pop artist Saint Stacy turns heartbreak into light on “Better Place,” a standout from her debut Beginner Again.
• In “going nowhere,” Mel Denisse lets shoegaze glow with quiet intensity and emotional gravity.
• With “Priorities,” Montreal’s Renon turns the end of a party phase into a sleek pop confessional with an unexpected, dramatic twist.
• “Pale Visage” shimmers with restrained power as Dual Analog weave emotion into motion. Driven by Chip Roberts’ commanding vocals and a show-stopping guitar solo, it’s the kind of track that lures you in, one heartbeat at a time.
• Miss Grit returns with “Tourist Mind,” a cinematic, beat-driven reflection on losing yourself in other people’s thoughts.
• Grief meets grandeur on The Twilight Sad’s “Waiting For The Phone Call,” where Robert Smith’s unmistakable guitar wraps around James Graham’s haunting voice.
• In “What If I Cry About It,” London pop artist Moniah captures the push and pull of love with an upbeat yet vulnerable pop sound.

Three Albums you should listen to

Sometimes an artist sneaks into your week and stays. I first heard Ea Othilde on the Spotify Discover Weekly playlist, and her new album, I Will Not Be Like That, made me stop what I was doing. The Oslo singer-songwriter blends the raw pulse of indie rock with the delicate touch of acoustic strings and quiet reflection. It’s an album full of contrasts — direct yet dreamy, open but self-contained — and one that feels like a confident next step for a young artist finding her own space.

Welsh-Indonesian artist Hilang Child has been on our radar for years, and his new album Gratitude Journal feels like a well-earned moment of light. The record radiates upbeat elegance — smooth, melodic, and lush enough to brush against yacht rock at times — yet it never loses the emotional depth that defines Ed Riman’s songwriting. It’s an album about joy, reflection, and the gratitude that comes from finally feeling at ease with yourself.

Eliza McLamb’s new album Good Story turns self-reflection into something bright and bold. Following her infectious single “Like The Boys,” the record unfolds with a fresh indie-rock energy and sharp, candid lyrics about identity and the stories we tell ourselves. It’s confident, curious, and full of hooks that linger long after the first listen.

A New York October in nine frames — glowing, beating, alive

October in New York glows in every way — from pulsing club lights and shimmering beats to stoops decked out in pumpkin charm.

Behind Ela Minus, a digital ticker counted down from 59 minutes — and when it hit 0:00, she just kept going. Some in the crowd wished for more, but to me, it felt just right, especially after Danz CM’s luminous opening set. What a night!

Ela Minus in photos 4, 5 & 6. Danz CM in 2 & 7.

And those Halloween decorations? Spotted on 78th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam — one of the city’s most charming fall blocks.

As October fades, the city’s glow lingers — in lights, in sound, and in every little burst of magic along the way.