This Strange Spring #4
29 May 2020
“It's hard not to feel pessimistic and fatalistic in our current situation, but I think it's crucial to remain hopeful. Without the hope of a better world to hold onto, our current situation would be pretty bleak.”
This Strange Spring: It's hard to think of you without thinking of Jellyfish, which makes this whole stupid covid-19 garbage even harder to talk about. So instead of focusing on the stupidity and horror that is our present, what's your dream for the first Jellyfish once we vaccinate this jerk virus into oblivion and can congregate on a dancefloor like never before?
Stephanie Tsong: Oh gosh, what a loaded question! At this point, even the image of a packed dancefloor seems completely pornographic — and i'll take just that. I don't need anything fancy, I just need beautiful music, beautiful people, and beautiful vibes.
What albums and musicians have been keeping you positive during these decidedly negative times?
The new Fiona Apple, Nicolas Jaar, Knxwledge, and Four Tet albums have all been helping me get my mind off of the present state of things. Honestly, as you probably already know, Bandcamp's been having "Bandcamp Days" once a month where they waive all of their portion of proceeds and 100% of the money spent on that day goes directly to the artists. I've been keeping an eye on those days and have been able to support friends/musicians I love this way. I've also made it a point to keep checking up on record stores that I frequent via Instagram and Facebook.
You have such a lovely eye for art and photography. I am pretty sure I am following like a dozen artists I discovered from your Instagram stories. Which artists and photographers have made these days stuck at home a little more bearable?
Evan Cohen (@evanmcohen)
Eriko Hattori (@erikohattori)
Cameron Brown (@bamcrown)
Jacques Beas (@90percent.silk)
Atiya Jones (@_twelvetwenty)
Female Alchemy (@female.alchemy)
Fikri Abubakar (@fishide_)
Ann Escamilla (@annafooda)
How have you been keeping up with your people these days? Have you been able to find a way to approximate the contact we took for granted just a few months ago?
As a child raised by Sailor Moon chatrooms in the early 2000's, I spent a lot of my high school and college years primarily socializing through digital mediums. While FaceTiming, Zoom parties, and House Party can never replicate the subtle nuances experienced with in-person interactions, they've certainly proved to be helpful during this time.
I'm also grateful for the wave of new Animal Crossing players that have been born in the last two months. The newest release, New Horizons (which sounds like a rehab facility, tbh), just dropped on March 20th. It's a video game designed to simulate friendship, and what more poignant and meaningful a time is there to sink hundreds of hours into a digital paradise that you can invite your friends to? Honestly, its timing couldn't be better.
Obviously it's not ideal, but one of the few pleasures I've found during this scary moment has been walks around Seattle with a camera. These anxiety walks have kept my shit together, and also helped me fall in love all over again with Seattle. Have you found a similar bittersweet way of finding happiness in these unnerving days?
I've always been fairly good at keeping myself entertained and I feel grateful to have moved to a city that I find beautiful. I live across from a huge cemetery and there're several good parks and wooded areas nearby that are fun to explore, especially if you're in a more psychedelic state of mind. It's been lovely seeing and smelling new blooms and the chartreuse of springtime and early summer. While I wish I could still be tearing up the cluuurb with friends, I recognize how much privilege I have in the current climate and know that things are far worse for many many others. I'm definitely grateful to get a little bit of a break, since I tend to be a bit of a workaholic. ☺
Do you think we exit this pandemic into a kinder, gentler world?
On my good days, I find myself hoping for, and possibly believing, that there will be positive changes and more compassion in all of us after this. It's hard not to feel pessimistic and fatalistic in our current situation, but I think it's crucial to remain hopeful. Without the hope of a better world to hold onto, our current situation would be pretty bleak.
What's a question you wish someone would ask you during this strange moment in time? And if I'd been smart enough to ask it, how would you have answered?
"What's the best meal you've had this quarantine?"
I'd have to say, without a doubt, a meal I had assembled out of various parts lovingly given to me by friends. In it, there was a delectable homemade English muffin from one friend, a springtime lavender goat cheese called "purple haze" from another, fresh herbs from my own garden, and surplus greens from yet another. I can taste the care, time, and sheer fucking boredom of my friends in every bite and it fills my heart with love.
Also, major shout-out to the good folks running mutual aids everywhere - our local gig-worker meal mutual aid has been keeping me fat and happy throughout quarantine.
In light of recent events…
My thoughts have been with George Floyd’s family and every African-American in this country of racist and unmitigated police brutality. In light of the recent events happening in Minnesota, please consider donating to:
Minnesota Freedom Fund (@mnfreedomfund)
National Bailout Fund - #FreeBlackMamas
Photo by Jan-Tosh Gerling
Photo by Jan-Tosh Gerling