I Can't Believe This Album Exists?!?! (ZAN! #17)
plus, the book that is *actually* blowing my mind, two oscar-nominated short films, and more!!!
Lovely readers!!! I’m back from a refreshing vacation sans-WiFi (see below) and am more excited than ever to gush about this week’s incredible recommendations.
One of these recommendations in particular — the first one on the list — impressed me so much that I ranted to my husband about how upset I was that I didn’t find out about it sooner (…probably because I don’t subscribe to any newsletters like ZAN!, which is why I created ZAN! in the first place ❤️).
Let’s get into it! And make sure you scroll until the end — you will not want to miss any of these.
🎵 1999 WRITE THE FUTURE
Quite possibly my best and most astounding musical find thus far hails from the mysterious new collective, 1999 WRITE THE FUTURE.
The collective is composed of artists from two labels: the Asian-led media group 88Rising, and RCA Records.
The album, officially stylized as “hella (˃̣̣̥╭╮˂̣̣̥) ✧ ♡ ‧º·˚,” is, as I messaged to a friend, “kind of astounding, honestly.”
Pinning down the genre of this album is impossible because its range is incredible — hip hop, R&B, jazz piano, indie rock, and more — all within the framework of a laid-back California radio station in the 90s.
The more I listen, the more amazed I am by this project. The production is fantastic. The features are mind-boggling (“How am I seeing Busta Rhymes, Phum Viphurit, and Indonesian jazz piano prodigy Joey Alexander on the same album?! ).
Don’t miss this gem of an album, and listen to it in order — it’s a LOT of fun.
💥 ZAN! Double Feature: Oscar-Nominated Short Films!!!
🎥 Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó
This awards season reveals that we were truly blessed this year with incredible Asian-led creativity — and the nominees for best documentary short film are a perfect example!
First up in this ZAN! double feature is Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó (I really like how it’s stylized with the tone markings, by the way), a short film about filmmaker Sean Wang’s two grandmothers who have formed a special bond in their old age.
It’s a special glimpse into the lives of the two women and their relationship with their grandson behind the camera, and is imbued with humor and joy. You can stream the film on Disney+.
(Keep an eye out for Wang’s feature film Dìdi, to be released later this year.)
🎥 Island In Between
Island In Between is a film that explores Taiwanese history and identity through the lens of Kinmen, a Taiwanese-claimed island that sits just along the coast of Mainland China.
Despite being quite familiar with Taiwanese history, I was struck by the filmmaker’s beautiful details and careful perspective. I had no idea, for example, that Teresa Teng music was once broadcasted over to Xiamen via massive speaker systems.
The film invites you to consider the complex relationship between Taiwan and China through the lens of Kinmen and its residents, who are often literally caught between two worlds. You can watch the full film above.
📺 Shōgun
The FX miniseries Shōgun premiered with its first two episodes on streaming just a few days ago — and it already looks incredible!!
The show is based on the wildly popular historical fiction novel of the same name by James Clavell. (The novel was previously adapted into a TV miniseries in 1980.) Situated in the time of the samurai, the show captures the feudal era of Japan and the power struggles that came to define hundreds of years of its history.
(Also, since when has a show provided us with a historical background video prior to its release?! This former history major and present-day nerd appreciates it. You can check it out here.)
Take a look at the trailer below, and join me on the Shōgun journey!
📚Cixin Liu - The Three Body Problem
I am halfway through this legendary work of Chinese science fiction, and am already wholeheartedly recommending it to others!!! This book is blowing my mind, and I feel like I’m constantly bouncing between “omg what happens next I need to know” and “omg I need to take a break because my brain is going crazy right now.”
I was determined to read at least the first book in the trilogy before Netflix’s long-awaited adaptation (and I want to watch the Chinese adaptation first — I’m so behind omg). I don’t even want to link the trailer because I feel like it gives too much away for people who want to experience the series first.
So here’s my recommendation: Just read it!! Quick!! Like me!! 🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️
A Request: How Are We Feeling About The New Avatar?!
You guys. I know it’s here, the long-awaited live-action remake of The Last Airbender. I was nervous to watch it because I had heard mixed reviews, but finally decided to do it.
Surprisingly, my husband and I found ourselves powering through a few episodes in one evening. I think our view is generally positive but we also have some mixed feelings. (The writing falls short at times, and my husband can’t get over the bad beards.)
Some characters are captured pretty flawlessly — Sokka is probably the best example of this — while some other characters fall flat. We’ll keep watching until the end, though, so it’s worth checking out if you’re an Avatar fan.
Readers, it’s your time to shine!! Has anyone seen this yet? What are your thoughts?!
🙇🏻♀️ Now, it’s your turn!
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Until next time,
Rebecca
I need to remember to add the English version of Three Body Problem to my tbr! I love the Chinese drama and I think it's partly why it's taking me so long to finish it. I don't want it to end haha.
Three Body Problem mentioned!!!! Leggoooo! Also, time to add another musical to my repertoire haha