EVERYONE DESERVES CLEAN WATER

We’re incredibly proud to have recently teamed up with charity: water to help score its latest campaign for The Spring.

785 million people currently live without clean water, that’s nearly 1 in 10 people worldwide. The majority live in isolated rural areas and spend hours every day walking to collect water for their family. When a community gets access to clean water, it can change just about everything. It can improve health, increase access to food, grow local economies, and help kids spend more time in school.

Since Scott Harrison launched charity: water in 2006 the non-profit has worked tirelessly to bring safe drinking water and improved sanitation to a staggering 12.7 million people in developing countries that are most in need. One of the many ways it has helped so many is by sending 100% of public donations straight to the people that need it most.

We couldn’t be more grateful that the Grammy winning composer Lorne Balfe instantly agreed to score the campaign.

As the charity says, 'If you want to change everything, start with one thing.’

ASKA MATSUMIYA SCORES FOR AWE WITH INDYA MOORE - WHAT MAKES A GODDESS

Aska Matsumiya scores a brilliant new campaign fronted by actor and activist Indya Moore for jewellery brand Awe Inspired.

The campaign celebrates Marsha P. Johnson, the trailblazing queer icon who played a pivotal role in the 1969 Stonewall uprising and benefits the Marsha P. Institute in its fight to defend black trans lives. 

Talk about inspiring goddesses!

Read Aska’s full bio HERE.

DIRTY MONDAY FT... STELLA MOZGAWA

Today’s Arthur Russell-themed Dirty Monday Playlist comes courtesy of Stella Mozgawa.

In between laying down the musical law with her band Warpaint, Stella also lends her incredible talents to artists such Kurt Vile, Adam Green, Cate Le Bon, The XX, Kim Gordon and Regina Spektor.

Stella says - Arthur Russell is a wonderful example of an artist who slid between and scaled over the idea of genre. I've been reading his biography Hold On To Your Dreams and it's massively inspiring - he was truly ahead of his time. I hope you enjoy this fun dive into his rich body of work.

Check out the full playlist below.

BETTY SEASON 2 SOUNDTRACK BY COMPOSER ASKA MATSUMIYA IS OUT NOW

Betty Season 2 soundtrack by genius composer Aska Matsumiya is out soon!

‘Writing the music for this show allowed me to get in touch with my raw and spontaneous side,’ Aska told Milan Records.

Directed by Crystal Moselle and streaming on HBO from June 11th - make sure you tune in and listen to Aska’s incredible work.

KTL’S NEUROTRANSMITTER PLAYLIST. SEROTONIN

Dirty Soup’s creative neuroscientist Katherine Templar Lewis looks at the four brain chemicals affecting happiness and recommends music to help ease us back into the real world.

Today’s neurotransmitter of choice is Serotonin - the happy hormone.

Listen to the full playlist and find out more below.

KTL:  From Nina Simone’s incredible version of Here Comes The Sun to Good As Hell by Lizzo, today’s playlist is likely to put a smile on your face. It’s all about music that elicits serotonin, the happy hormone.  

Studies suggest it’s triggered by music with positive lyrics and medium-tempo melodies in major chords. Serotonin boosts our immune system and stabilises our mood, feelings of well-being and happiness. 

A dose of serotonin-raising music is a great stress buster. Serotonin has a positive impact on our whole body, not just on our outlook or how we feel. It supports a healthy nervous system and the body in general whereas stress disrupts this by reducing our serotonin level. 

When it comes to major feeling states, studies also show that lyrics appear to have greater power to direct mood change than music alone.  That’s why ‘listening with intent’ helps trigger these happy vibes. 

Here’s the good bit: the power of listening to uplifting music with positive lyrics can last up to 48 hours.