sep '21
Writing music takes a lot. It takes an ear to know what sounds good, a heart to write with passion and soul, and talent to make it all come together. Once you combine the lyrics, production and structure perfectly… you get magic. Ofcourse there’s no one way to achieve said magic - some folks make 4 mumble rap albums in a year and others go on transcendental journeys just to find inspiration for an album. (I’m looking at you Bon Iver.) One person, however, stands out to me. And really it’s one lyric that does it for me. In 2010, American singer-songwriter Katy Perry, released U.S. number one single “Firework”. It was released in October, as the third single from her third studio album “Teenage Dream”. The album was praised by critics as a sugary pop juggernaut and the anthem for an endless teenage summer. “Firework” takes a stab at personal liberation and gives you a chance to belt the best notes at karaoke. She opens the song with this introspective, rhetorical line:
“Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?”
Yes, Katy Perry, (born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson on October 25, 1984) I do feel like a plastic bag drifting through the wind. As we enter this October, 11 years after “Firework” was released, I’d like to embrace this feeling and keep drifting along just like Katy Perry’s aforementioned plastic bag.
(Do I sound like a drunk writer at Pitchfork?)
i’m feeling lucky
This month’s collection of music does much better than last month’s, in my opinion. The “vibes” were very much inspired by transition and introspection, alternating between cold and warm sounds. I hope you enjoy, and let me know which tunes stand out to you!
(All previous songs can be found in the [archive playlist] in my Spotify bio)
time : taste : cost
Food is a necessity, duh. It’s so important to our health and well-being. But food doesn’t necessarily come easy, especially as a self-sustaining adult. You either make yourself food, or you go out and get some. Either ways, it costs you money and there’s some sort of effort required. Most would argue that cooking your own food is cost effective but highly intensive. I would say that cooking your own food can be cost effective but doesn’t have to be intensive. But that depends on your own motivation to cook and whether you build that time into your schedule. Some people love to cook so it feels good to spend that time and effort, while also saving a little money. (It’s can definitely be healthier too) However, for those that don’t love cooking and maybe don’t have the time, eating out is the other option. This is the routine that I’ve adopted in New York and in my defense, it’s so easy to eat out here. There are eateries literally everywhere and my kitchen doesn’t have the same comfort and convenience as it did in Austin. Therefore, I eat out very often.
Over the last couple months, I’ve had folks visit me and naturally we all become tourists in the city - trying new places, going out every evening and what not. But I noticed a very interesting conundrum when it came to picking a place to eat. Put simply, I noticed a ratio between the time it takes to decide where to get food, how good the food actually ends up being, and also how much the food costs. A three-term ratio. This ratio ultimately defines how satisfied we are after our meal, and it’s really tough to get this perfect. Because it’s a three-term ratio with (almost) binary options, there are eight possible outcomes and I’ll break them down below. But first, let’s establish some binaries for each part of the ratio.
[A] Time it takes to decide where to get food: Long time or Short time - This becomes especially difficult when you add more people to the equation and there’s too many differing opinions. It goes from a simple decision to a yelp-based research study that will literally never end. Sometimes you’re hungry and impulsive and you pick the deli across the street and other times it turns into a 4-star hunt that takes 3 hours.
[B] How good the meal was: Good or Bad (simplified for the sake of the ratio) - The meal is completely dependent on the restaurant ofcourse, but for that reason, it’s almost an independent variable that we can’t control. (It’s not a constant, you science nerds.) But this part of the ratio has high effect on the overall outcome and at times, can make or break your entire evening.
[C] How much the meal cost: costly or affordable (again, simplified) - This one can make or break your eating experience but probably - hopefully - not your entire evening. Usually the yelp reviews and dollar signs give you a guide but sometimes, you end up spending more than you wanted to. It happens to the best of us.
So now that we’ve established the variables, it’s time to look at the eight possible outcomes. Like I said earlier, this ratio defines how satisfied we are after our meal and it’s very difficult to get perfect. But when you do, it’s damn good. (Results are listed from worst to best, and in ratio of A:B:C
Result 1: Long time, Bad meal, Costly
Result 2: Long time, Bad meal, Affordable
Result 3: Short time, Bad meal, Costly
Result 4: Long time, Good meal, Costly
Result 5: Short time, Bad meal, Affordable
Result 6: Long time, Bad meal, Affordable
Result 7: Short time, Good meal, Costly
Result 8: Short time, Good meal, Affordable
So Result 8 is clearly the best possible outcome and Result 1 is absolute crap. Oh and you know result 1 happens more than you want it to; it’s not that rare. You take forever to find a place, the food ends up sucking, and you paid wayyy more than the “$$” it showed online. Result 1 can easily ruin your evening. Result 8 on the other hand; you quickly pick a place, the food is suprisingly amazing, and you don’t feel like you’re broke post-meal. Maybe you even go get drinks after that… I would celebrate that win.
I won’t dig into each scenario because that would be pure overkill. But, does this make sense? Is this moderately comprehensive? Would you order the results differently? I think this study could definitely use a graph or two to clarify the idea. Let me know what you think and how you have handled these outcomes in real life and how you might navigate around the dreaded Result 1.
Mukhtar Ali Hussein Al-Ugabi
I moved to New York nearly 3 months ago, and I’m still adjusting to the hustle and bustle of the city. I don’t have the comfortability that was there in Austin, and I’ve barely made any friends. My day is spent at work in the Lower East Side, and my evenings are spent wandering elsewhere with my camera in-hand. Each day at work, I find myself exploring LES trying to find something new to eat or something that can turn into regular meal - something tasty, cheap and healthy. I thought I found one bodega with good mexican food but they were always so busy and never wore masks so I was hesitant. I then found a place that made nice and large sandwiches for $8, which was great… but they went out of business a month ago.
A few weeks ago, a new bodega opened up right around the corner from my office building. It looked clean and fresh with an extensive menu, snacks and drinks that I’ve never even seen before. I figured I’ll give it a try. I got a quesadilla, made some chit chat with the guy behind the counter and went about my day. While I was thrilled that a nice, new, convenient place had opened, I didn’t get my hopes up of it being a potential regular. The next day, I went back and got a sandwich for lunch. This time I spoke a little more to the guy behind the counter. His name is Moka. He told me he’s from Yemen, but lived in Singapore for the last 8 years and just moved to NYC. The chef then gave me my sandwich and told Moka it’ll be $10. I said, no it should be $8, as listed on the menu. Moka was quick to act and said, “Ok, $8. Customer first.” I smiled and nodded, got my receipt and walked back to work. The next day it rained and I didn’t want to walk far so I went back to the bodega. This time Moka sort of recognized me. His eyes smiled as I walked in, and in his Yemeni accent he asked “How are you today brother?” I told him I was tired and complained how New York was so expensive. He reassured me that Singapore was twice as expensive. I ordered my food and continued my conversation with Moka, getting into where he lives in Brooklyn and how long it takes him to get to work. I told him why I was there and where I’m from. It was nice to have someone to chat with in the middle of my day.
I found myself going back to Moka’s bodega day-after-day. The food was decently tasty, the place was clean and close, and I wasn’t spending a whole lot. But most importantly, I got to see and talk to Moka everyday. He would tell me about his wife and his 7-year-old son who just started 3rd grade, and I’d encourage him to get the monthly subway pass to save money. As time went on we grew closer and shared more of each others lives. He would complain to me about his 12-hour shifts and how they forced him to dream of a better job - something where he could earn more, and spend more time with his family. He just needed to set up his bank account, apply for a work permit, and then he can find something. I assured him it’ll work out soon. He showed me pictures of his son and I showed him pictures I took of New York. He liked one of them so much that he made me send it via Whatsapp and he made it his profile picture. Our conversations got deeper and longer, discussing homelessness in city, racial divides between countries and even keys to a good relationship. At times he felt like another father figure, advising me on how to succeed, and other times I felt like a big brother, making sure he finds his way in the city. But really, we were friends. I had finally made a friend in New York.
Just a couple days ago, I was busy at work finishing drawings before a client meeting when I got a text from Moka on Whatsapp. I’ve never gotten a text from Moka. The message read “Good bro, in the office? I need a favor pls if you don’t mind?” At first, I jumped to the conclusion of some crazy scenarios and thought ‘maybe I got too close to this guy’. Maybe I need to find a new place for lunch… you know, classic overthinking. Then came his next message: “Can you pls print my rent agreement ? Am only stuck at store can’t go and print before going home. If possible if not it’s ok.” Pfft, that’s it? That’s easy, I’d be glad to do that for him. He sent me the document, and I quickly printed the two pages before I headed out. As I walked towards the bodega, I scanned the rent agreement because you know, why not. I learned more about where he lives, how much rent he pays and who he leased from. I learned a lot from this little document, but most importantly, I found out who Moka really is - Mukhtar Ali Hussein Al-Ugabi.
I turned the corner and Mukhtar Ali Hussein Al-Ugabi, my only real friend in New York smiled behind his mask, and said “Ah! How are you habibi? Thank you for printing my rent agreement. It’s a slow day.. I’m happy to see you.”
Stories of Moka to be continued…
thank you!
I’m sure many of you have noticed how my instagram has shifted completely from cutesy blog-type photos to a photographer-wannabe type account. I essentially want to turn my account into my photography portfolio where I grow an audience and build an aesthetic/brand over time. I debated using one of my other accounts to start this but I chose @rishvee. Most importantly, however, so many of you have welcomed this switch with open arms and embraced it. I’m so thankful for those of you who are reposting, sharing and promoting my content, and also those of you who are silently cheering me on. As a creative, it’s hard not to shy away from social media and popular trends because that’s what gets you somewhere in today’s day and age. As much as I hate being a fiend for instagram algorithms and falling into the trap of making reels, I have found that I must do it if I want to make it as a creative. I still try to define my own styles and post unique content because at the end of the day, it’s about the art for me. But a great idol of mine said that it’s foolish not to monetize your passions and I think it’s time I try to do so. So thank you for supporting me with my photography and please continue to share and repost my content if you feel so inclined. It goes a long way and it means so much more than you know.
link dump
art that leaves me speechless
have you heard of soft work?
the building that eats CO2 - [alternate link]
amazing music and amazing videography? say less
this beautiful rug melted…
read this if you can’t sleep at night
October is one of my favorite months, and I’m so excited to see what it has in store for us this year. I felt giddy the other day when I woke up to 59 degree weather in the middle of September… it took me back to my Michigan childhood. I hope you all enjoy the cooler weather as much as I do. As always, send me your thoughts and opinions from this month’s newsletter.
This was nice to read.