Hello, friends! Welcome to the first in a semi-regular series of musical-themed fSobriety episodes in which Craig and James ponder the existential question, “Which contemporary musical artists are the most culturally vital to this chaotic and complex era?” and proceed to each present the case for an artist of their choice.

Brace yourselves for industrial volumes of shameless fangirling as Craig dives deep into the music, background and aesthetics of Colombian-Canadian singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez – a journey that encompasses the rich and multifarious cultural landscape of Latin America; the true nature of DIY art versus some of the misconceptions around it; the importance of representation; the geopolitics of US-Latin American relations; magical realism; Surrealism; the poetry that exists in the juxtaposition of the sacred with the profane; and the reasons why RnB, even at its most mainstream, is often more audacious than most self-proclaimed “transgressive” music. 
 
 Then James takes the wheel for a detour into an alternate Ontario awash with neon and icy cool electro rhythms as he rallies for soulful techno-pop artist Jessy Lanza. In his quest to convert the uninitiated, he invites us to join Jessy in the psychogeography of a midnight bike ride, consider the artifice of morning talk shows, face the numerological challenge posed by cryptic phone numbers, and witness the crumbling resolve of Scotland’s two best drummers in the shadow of Lanza’s glory, ultimately driving us towards the celebration of this singular artist as the reclusive sexual pop queen that the age of Covid lockdown demands.

As ever, the drinks flow freely and there’s time to catch up on recent cultural developments, including the release of the WandaVision trailer and our hosts’ reactions to episodes 5 and 6 of HBO’s Lovecraft Country.
 
 Presented with apologies in advance to fans of Nick Cave, and also to the citizens of Brighton and Hamilton (not the one in Ontario, nor the HamilTron, but the other one).
 
 #2ManyJessies #GetThemJessiesRoonYe #GoodCanadians #FuckTic


Jessie Reyez on Twitter: @Jessiereyez

Jessy Lanza on Twitter: @jessy_lanza

Jessie Reyez - Far Away
https://youtu.be/JF0bPET0XNY

Jessie Reyez - Crazy
https://youtu.be/MCkmq93g0MA

Jessie Reyez - Intruders
https://youtu.be/vVhqNnFh25E

Jessie Reyez - Great One
https://youtu.be/uweEDKsAhxg

Jessy Lanza - Oh No
https://youtu.be/kaNZbUENKjk

Jessy Lanza - Lick in Heaven
https://youtu.be/V3D7EEpdlY4

For all the music we mention in each episode, please check out the fSobriety Jukebox playlist on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1jAIayDqTBbdWEl339DEST?si=2TfQrUaERYGXQIQbfWg59Q 

 Woodsy’s reading list:

•  Open Veins of Latin America by Eduardo Galeano
  
  
•  Latin America: From Colonization to Globalization by Noam Chomsky
  
  
•  Building the Commune by George Ciccariello-Maher
  
  
• Beneath the United Statesby Lars Schoultz
  
  
• Solidarity: Latin America and the US Left in the Era of Human Rights by Steve Striffler
  
  
•  A History of Violence Living and Dying in Central America by Daniela Maria Ugaz and John Washington
  
  
•  Nixon, Kissinger, and Allende: U.S. Involvement in the 1973 Coup in Chile by Lubna Qureshi
  
  
• A History of Coups: The US Doesn't Want Socialism to Succeed by Reina Sultan
  https://wearyourvoicemag.com/us-backed-coups-socialism-socialist-bolivia/