My favorite part about writing is that first spark of an idea. It can happen at any time, for any reason. The idea for the Opalite music video crash landed into my imagination when I was doing promo for The Life of a Showgirl. I was a guest on one of my favorite shows, @TheGNShow. For those of you who aren’t familiar, it’s a UK late night show where Graham Norton (the insanely charismatic and lovable host) invites a random group of actors, entertainers, musicians, etc to be on his show and we all sit there and chat like it’s a dinner party. They even serve wine. Anyway. I remember thinking I got ridiculously lucky with the group I was paired with. Cillian Murphy, Domhnall Gleeson, Greta Lee, Jodie Turner-Smith, and @LewisCapaldi. All people whose work I’ve admired from afar. When we were all talking during the broadcast, Domhnall made a light hearted joke about wanting to be in one of my music videos. He’s Irish! He was joking! Except that in that moment during the interview, I was instantly struck with an *idea*. And so a week later he received an email script I’d written for the Opalite video, where he was playing the starring role. I had this thought that it would be wild if all of our fellow guests on the Graham Norton show that night, including Graham himself, could be a part of it too. Like a school group project but for adults and it isn’t mandatory. To my delight, everyone from the show made the effort to time travel back to the 90’s with us and help with this video. You might even recognize some friendly faces from The Eras Tour. I got to work with one of my favorite people in the world, Rodrigo Prieto, again! I had more fun than I ever imagined - Made new friends, metaphors, and fashion choices. It was an absolute thrill to create this story and these characters. Shot on film. The Opalite video is out now on Spotify & Apple Music.
https://t.co/ZOi4zNuyTD
Tonight all these lives converge here
The mosaics of laughter and cocktails of tears
Where fraternal souls sing identical things
And it’s beautiful
It’s rapturous.
It is frightening.
———
I can’t tell you how proud I am to share this with you, an album that just feels so right. A forever thank you goes out to my mentors and friends Max and Shellback for helping me paint this self portrait.
If you thought the big show was wild, perhaps you should come and take a look behind the curtain...
The Life of a Showgirl is out now.
https://t.co/VetltwlcoJ
Album Producers: Max Martin, Shellback and Taylor Swift
📸: Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
And, baby, that’s show business for you. New album The Life of a Showgirl. Out October 3 ❤️🔥
https://t.co/rIaG2Ezo7Z
Album Producers: Max Martin, Shellback and Taylor Swift
📸: Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
And, baby, that’s show business for you. New album The Life of a Showgirl. Out October 3 ❤️🔥
https://t.co/rIaG2Ezo7Z
Album Producers: Max Martin, Shellback and Taylor Swift
📸: Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Kyryll Chudomirovich Flins: Shadowy Lights, Stranger Wights
Ratnik of Nod-Krai
#GenshinImpact#Flins
During harvest season, no visitor would be considered too strange a guest at the festivities. As the setting sun cast its light over the marketplace, such a scene soon unfolded: A certain gentleman arrived as well, and curious locals soon drew him into their lively conversations.
The gentleman introduced himself: Flins, a warrior of the Lightkeepers. He had been awarded a civilian commendation medal in recognition of his squad's efforts in repelling Abyssal creatures. The incident happened a long time ago. Though no one had stepped forward to organize it, the people wordlessly agreed to express their gratitude this way. The medal had been heavy, delivered to him in a timeworn box.
Considering how many casualties the operation had racked up, Flins did not think even ten medals could do justice to the losses. There used to be more of them — seven or eight in his squad — but now, only Flins remained, guarding the cemetery near the lighthouse.
For a moment, the crowd fell silent. The story brought to mind many things: The Wild Hunt, the monsters... as well as other memories that weighed heavily on the heart. Sorrow rendered them speechless. Some others had questions, and so they asked them, but Flins did not answer. He kept his head down, seemingly reminiscing.
Compared to other Lightkeepers, Flins spoke with an air of elegance. He did not deign to answer questions about his origins or whether he had any siblings. Instead, he was more inclined to talk about distant, unrelated matters. He had a way of recounting events with perfect measuredness, just as in conversation, never excessive. The past, through his words, made listeners think to themselves: "What an unforgettable tale!"
Considering the vast majority of his audience lacked much life experience, many who listened to Flins did so out of curiosity. And it just so happened that his actions fit precisely this need. He invariably selected tales perfectly tailored for public retelling.
Lauma: Evermoon's Sacrament Song
Maiden of the Grove
#GenshinImpact#Lauma
Though they are the indigenous residents of the land, the Frostmoon Scions do not seem to fit in with the Nod-Krai of today.
They are too ancient, too stuck in their ways, too rooted in worship of a god that they have never seen.
They believe that the wintry woods are their shield and sanctuary, and that the light of the full moon can dispel all that ails.
They pray to the moon, on their lips an eternal refrain: Oh, Goddess of the Frost Moon, when will you answer our wishes?
And when they receive only silence, they turn and ask again: Oh, Lady Moonchanter, when will the Goddess of the Frost Moon answer our wishes?
Thus did Lauma step out from beneath the shade of the trees, into the light of the moon.
Thus did the congregation bow before her radiant antler-crown and silver-blooded totem. Thus was she anointed the agent for an absent god.
Happy Birthday, Shikanoin Heizou!
#GenshinImpact#ShikanoinHeizou
Strange, all footprints stop abruptly here. Unless the suspect turned into a gust of wind and got away, otherwise... Who's there!?
*phew* Just the bake-danuki. What is it? Is there something I can help you with?
Wait, I recognize this bag you've brought. Did the suspect drop it?
You've done me a huge service. As soon as the case is solved, I'll make sure to thank you in person with loads of fruit!
Want to see more videos and GIFs of Shikanoin Heizou? Hurry over to Genshin Impact's TikTok account to watch them together!
https://t.co/seVwVZSgOK