Mikayla's Media Corner #2

Hello, and welcome to the second installment of the FAC Presents Mikayla’s Media Corner! From memoirs to movies we’ve got your weekend media needs covered. Also, if you have any recs we would love to hear.

• This week Bruno Mars and Anderson.Paak released the single Leave the Door Open under the name Silk Sonic and it is only a taste of what is to come. Silk Sonic’s first album is completed and will be titled An Evening with Silk Sonic. I can’t believe I am only hearing this news now, but am excited for the full release. The duo was named by Bootsy Collins and together the trio have curated a 70’s R&B setlist called Silk Sonic Radio in anticipation of their album. In addition to their single, they released Silk Sonic Intro which features Bootsy Collins. Be sure to stream their single! (Link to image)

• The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper is my favorite piece of nonfiction writing. I sometimes struggle with reading memoirs and biographies, but Cooper’s writing is so well done. The memoir details her childhood as an upper-class Liberian right before the First Liberian Civil War began, her immigration to America and adjusting to her new social standing, and how it felt to return to Liberia as an adult 20 years later. Her story is very moving and definitely worth a read. (Link to image)

• Thank You by Diana Gordon is actually my vibe 100% of the time. Gordon’s vocals are so good, they feel grounded and raspy one moment and then flip to being clear and light at the end. Gordon nestles the message of ‘thanks for making me stronger, but I am good’ in a song that is darker and grittier than expected. I love the production elements, the beat, and the echo/whispy sound that comes in and out at different points in the song. The song is so good and I am so bad at describing it, but go check it out! (Link to image)

• I love Train to Busan. It has zombies and trains. What more could you possibly want in a movie? The 2016 horror-thriller film follows a father and daughter pair caught on a train to Busan during a zombie outbreak. The action scenes and the way they portray the infected people is so well done. I loved the father’s story and promise this is not your stereotypical zombie movie. When I heard about a remake happening, I realized I hadn’t hyped this movie in a while so here I am telling you to watch the original. *Bonus* If you have seen the original and want more check out the animated prequel Seoul Station. (Link to image)

• Lupin is a French Netflix series that retells the story of Arsène Lupin through Assane Diop. Assane is a master thief who learned the craft by reading Lupin stories. As an adult, he passes these stories on to his son. The show follows Assane as he tries to get justice for his father. The show is very smooth and each of Assane’s tricks are clever with just the right amount of theatrics and finesse. (Link to image)