Boundary-pushing Venezuelan producer Arca is gearing up to release her record Kick I next week, which boasts unexpected features from artists like Björk and Rosalía. So far, Arca has shared the singles “Nonbinary” and “Time” from the album. Now, the producer offers another glimpse of her experimental sound with “Mequetrefe.”

“Mequetrefe” is a slang word that Arca would hear growing up in Venezuela. The word was commonly used in a derogatory way towards men, but here, Arca reclaims the phrase, flipping the script on its colloquial use to instead portray a new archetype of masculinity. In a statement, Arca shares that she wants the word to bring forth tender imagery: “The song ‘Mequetrefe’ invokes the tenderness behind expressing who you are without shame, and the confidence and bravery it requires, because expression of gender-nonconforming self-states in a public space can often result in static within your environment.”

Along with gearing up for her album’s release, Arca is finding unique ways to stay engaged with fans. The producer recently unveiled a giveaway contest through her social media. Fans who pre-save her album on streaming services can enter to win the black, glittery heels she wore in her 2017 video accompanying the track “Anoche.”

Listen to “Mequetrefe” above.

Kick I is out 6/26 via XL. Pre-order it here.

J. Cole has received a lot of feedback since releasing “Snow On Tha Bluff” last night, and a lot of it has been non-positive. Cole’s latest musical peer to weigh in is Chance The Rapper, who is on Noname’s side in this situation.

In a tweet that seemed to address the song, on which Cole offers criticisms of Noname, Chance (who has collaborated with Noname before) wrote, “Yet another L for men masking patriarchy and gaslighting as contructive criticism.” He followed that up with, “They both my peoples but only one of them put out a whole song talking about how the other needs to reconsider their tone and attitude in order to save the world. It’s not constructive and undermines all the work Noname has done. It’s not [Black women’s] job to spoon feed us. We grown.”

One of Chance’s followers noted, “All I’m saying is, please don’t put your fans in this bind of choosing between two GOATS. Go talk to your brother and delete the tweets. We don’t want to see black women tore down but we don’t want to create a division between two excellent black men either.” Chance responded, “We can have different points of views on things. I’m not tearing anyone down, I just think it was wrong to make a song about her. I can’t feel any other way about it.”

Chance continued, “Everybody’s argument on either side is, we can’t personally attack each other if we really want to see a revolution. I can agree with that and can apply it in my own life. I wish we could learn that w/o two artists I admire having a public dispute.”

One user wondered why Chance was discussing this in a public setting, writing, “But couldn’t you talk to Cole like a man? like not on this platform smh.” Chance responded, “U mean like how he privately addressed Noname?”

Find Chance’s tweets below.

Nervously, I reached into my purse and pulled out my ID, flashing it to the bouncer. It was 6 p.m. and I’d just come from work. My roommates were supposed to meet me, but they were always late, and tonight was no exception. So, it was with a pounding heart that I faced the crowd alone, trying to find the least threatening person to approach.

It was my first Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) meeting, specifically for those in the LGBT community, and I thought I’d found my people. Queer and political, sign me up. But as I took a closer look at those milling around, I realized that the space didn’t look that different from what I was used to. I was still in the minority, because of both my race and gender. I was still being talked at by men who thought they knew more than me. I was still around people who seemed to assume that everyone wanted sex.

One of the only other women in the group came up to me and said “It’s good to see another one of us here.” “Another what?” I asked, a bit confused. “Another lesbian,” she replied easily, as if it were obvious.

But that was not true. I’m not a lesbian. I’m asexual. And I had thought that coming to a group geared toward LGBT individuals—the full acronym being LGBTQIA+, where the A stands for asexual (also known as “ace”)—would have allowed me the opportunity to meet others who identified similarly.

After figuring out that I was asexual, I thought finding community would be easier

I’d done all the hard work of figuring out that I was ace—I thought that finding a community would be easier. After years of internalizing heteronormativity, of consuming various movies and books where sex and relationships were presented as the ultimate goals, it was no wonder that it took me such a long time to realize that I didn’t want that. And even longer still to accept and embrace that part of my identity, to realize that there were others who felt the same way. There was a whole community out there if I could just find them.

With the DSA LGBT event, I finally thought that I had. It turned out that it wouldn’t be that simple. I kept attending events with queer and LGBT+ labels attached to them, hoping that I’d find someone who would understand. But I was realizing that just because we shared the queer label did not mean that we shared experiences. Many understood being different, sure, but not the difference that I felt. They still experienced sexual attraction, just not of the heteronormative variety. Sometimes, these spaces were even more sexualized as people felt comfortable expressing themselves in ways they couldn’t in everyday life.

To find other ace people, I had to look elsewhere

When I was unable to find the community I was searching for by going to in-person events, I turned to the internet. Once I knew the terminology, I was able to search on various social media sites. I started following a blog on Tumblr that posted about ace topics. I began to see others post about experiences that mirrored my own.

It was on Instagram that I found a community of ace individuals in New York, where I live. They posted various resources for asexuals and even hosted monthly events. What I’d so desperately wanted earlier, an in-person community, was suddenly within my grasp. The page posted about a new support group for asexuals, and I decided to go.

What struck me first was that the room was diverse—there were a lot of non-cis men and a lot of POC folks. The organizers were women of color. As people began to share their stories, I felt a sense of calm envelop my body—I had found people who understood me. They had been uncomfortable in high school because they didn’t understand everyone’s desire to have sex. They had faced challenges navigating dating when sexual intimacy was something that may not even be on the table. They were older and wiser and made me feel like it was all going to be alright.

I may not feel like I belong in all queer spaces, but I’ve found a queer space that fits me. This space, and the people in it, provide me with the confidence to live my life authentically, to embrace the ace part of my identity. And when I inevitably encounter those who don’t understand me, I know I’ve got a place to go for support.

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Moisturizers, toners, and serums galore.

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Any Stephen King fan should take this quiz.

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Your taste in countertops reveals more than you know!

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Hannah Georgas was busy for most of March, releasing a single early in the month before the scale of the pandemic became clear, and another at the height of quarantine lockdown. The pair of tracks were the first tastes of All That Emotion, a forthcoming collaborative project with The National’s Aaron Dessner. It’s an album about resilience and finding hope on the other side of tough situations, with ethereal vocals that float atop pulsing indie-pop instrumentation.

To celebrate the new project, Georgas sat down to talk Alanis Morissette, the word “uncouth,” and The Cranberries in the latest Indie Mixtape 20 Q&A.

What are four words you would use to describe your music?

Personal, emotive, indie, pop.

It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?

I’d like for people to feel that my music felt genuine and authentic to them. I would hope that it made them think of a time in their lives where my music helped them out in some way.

What’s your favorite city in the world to perform?

I really enjoy performing in Stuttgart because the crowds are really nice. I enjoy playing in Sweden because the venues are pretty. I really enjoy playing in Vancouver because I have a lot of close friends there and it’s my second home.

Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?

I think it’s more than one person. The people that are around me in my everyday life inspire me a lot.

Where did you eat the best meal of your life?

That’s so tough… I love eating and I always feel like I’m saying mmm that was the best meal I’ve ever had. There’s an Italian place in Toronto I love called Teronni.

What album do you know every word to?

Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette.

What was the best concert you’ve ever attended?

The Cranberries at Massey Hall, Toronto in 1999.

What is the best outfit for performing and why?

High waisted pants, comfortable flats, a loose fitted top with a blazer. Comfort is really important for me on stage. I will be so in my head if I’m not comfortable in the clothes I’m wearing on stage.

Who’s your favorite person to follow on Twitter and/or Instagram?

I think Matt Berninger @greengloves777 of The National and Jack Black @jackblack are pretty funny. I also really love Peaches @peachesnisker.

What’s your most frequently played song in the van on tour?

A song called “Enemies.”

What’s the last thing you Googled?

The word uncouth. haha

What album makes for the perfect gift?

Shriek by Wye Oak. I got that album on vinyl as a gift and it has become one of my favourite albums to listen to.

Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever crashed while on tour?

A long time ago, I was opening for a band and we were all traveling in the same van and crashing at the same places. I remember one place in particular that we stayed at after a show. It was someone’s house and I just wanted to go to sleep. The people that were hosting were partying all night long. I woke up to go to the washroom in the middle of the night and I just remember seeing some nasty things in there that I won’t mention…. It was gross.

What’s the story behind your first or favorite tattoo?

I got my first tattoo in Vancouver, BC and I booked the appointment a year in advance. I thought really hard about what I wanted and was happy with how it turned out. It’s the sheet music and chorus of “All You Need Is Love” by The Beatles.

What artists keep you from flipping the channel on the radio?

Robyn, Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino.

What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?

Whenever I’m walking on the street with my partner they make me walk on the sidewalk furthest away from the road to protect me from the cars haha. I think that’s really nice and thoughtful.

What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?

You’re gonna be okay. Keep believing in yourself and trust your gut.

What’s the last show you went to?

I’m having trouble remembering but I’m going to say Louise Burns at The Baby G in Toronto.

What movie can you not resist watching when it’s on TV?

Sleepless In Seattle.

What would you cook if Kanye were coming to your house for dinner?

I would order sushi from a place called Kibo because I would have no idea what to make… or I would ask in advance if there was something he likes to drink and maybe just stick with that.

All That Emotion is out September 4 via Arts & Crafts/Brassland. Pre-order it here.

The English Premier League resumed on Wednesday afternoon with a tilt between lowly Aston Villa and seventh-place Sheffield United. Due to COVID-19, there was a really weird vibe to the game, which was played without fans and did not always provide the most aesthetically pleasing football. But during the first half if play, we got a reminder of something familiar to those who love watching the Prem: the officiating in the league is sometimes absolutely catastrophic.

During the 41st minute of action, Sheffield’s Oliver Norwood whipped a free kick into the opposing box. He hit it well, but Villa keeper Ørjan Nyland was able to corral the ball at the far post. The issue for Nyland was that one of his teammates, Keinan Davis, pushed him into the goal. The ball went completely over the line, and Sheffield should have gone ahead, 1-0.

But for reasons that defy comprehension, the goal line technology that the Premier League possesses didn’t confirm what our eyes saw, and the Video Assistant Referee didn’t take a look. As such, no goal was given.

The Sheffield United Twitter account was, unsurprisingly, not stoked with how this played out.

You, being a person capable of common sense, are probably wondering why this happened. The answer is unclear, but Sky Sports speculated that the technology used to examine this stuff was not working.

The Premier League adopted VAR this season, and while it has helped from time to time, you’d be hard-pressed to find too many football fans who have been happy with how it has been implemented. When viewed through that lens, it probably isn’t all that surprising that its first test during the restarted season went poorly. As for the match, it ended with a 0-0 draw.

At long last, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players’ Association appear to be actively negotiating a deal for the 2020 season that will reportedly include prorated pay for the athletes and an expanded playoff format that will include more teams.

Reporting from Jon Heyman of MLB Network indicated that commissioner Rob Manfred flew directly to Arizona, where union chief Tony Clark lives, to meet face-to-face with Clark this week. That meeting seemingly allowed each side to get closer to this deal, with the players seemingly nagging two big concessions from the league in prorated pay and the expanded playoffs.

The precise number of games remains to be seen, but outspoken Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer put out a lengthy Twitter thread this week indicating the league could fit more than 70 games in if things moved quickly. On the other hand, MLB has repeatedly put forth offers in the neighborhood of a 50-game season. How an agreement on full prorated pay, which the league had been hesitant to include, changes this math remains to be seen, but it seems the union’s major concession was to waive any grievance against the league.

Expanded playoffs had garnered a general consensus during these negotiations as a way of earning back revenue by putting more high-stakes games on TV. Especially with a shorter season, it’s also a way to ensure high-profile, talented teams don’t miss the playoffs by way of a cold spell at the wrong time.

Despite these concessions, there was quickly pushback on Heyman’s reporting that the deal was close, with indications that it’s more that these are the first serious negotiations, not just posturing, that the two sides have done.

As has been the case for weeks, it seems the talks remain fluid, but there is at least some optimism now that the two sides are negotiating in person.