Welcome back to Staying In, your dynamic, magnetic assembly of notably engaging content from the week that’s just been.

It’s been a puzzling week. The sun is coming out more but then John Lydon was weird on ITV and Piers Morgan was all laughing like a weird clay egg man and it felt like the sun went. It didn’t though, we stayed upbeat and got blessed with Vitamin D. Enjoy this content we have selected. Learn about the word “Hey”, learn about learning about words, learn about weird Lydon, listen to Mama Snake loud. Stay optimistic, stay bright, stay in.

A Journey Into the Merriam-Webster Word Factory

The New York Times

Nerdy satisfaction for those whose most Googled word is “define”. New York Times ideas reporter Jennifer Schuessler steps inside the New England headquarters of Merriam-Webster, the dictionary publishers who have found a new relevancy in the digital age. It’s a fascinating look at the evolutionary nature of language and a baffling portrait of traditional, hard archiving. Read it here.

Podcast 052: Mama Snake

Culture Box

Serpentine heat direct from Copenhagen – Apeiron Crew’s Mama Snake delivers two hours of techno for the excellent Culture Box podcast series. Get got.

These C*cksucking Tears

Dan Taberski

This short film by Dan Taberski won the jury prize at SXSW in March, it’s recently premiered online via Vimeo. The mini-doc is a portrait of Patrick Haggerty, the man behind Lavender Country – the first country album centred around homosexuality, which came out 40 years ago. Watch the touching film in the player above and find out more about the project here.

The Tedious Contradictions of John Lydon

Crack Magazine

What the fuck is going on with John Lydon?

31. Say Hey

Switched On Pop

Meticulously dissecting the granular details which make up the fabric of popular music, Switched On Pop is a must-listen podcast series for anyone overanalysing the songs that they can’t shift from their head. This week they look at the word “Hey”. James Brown, Kanye, Grimes and Katy Perry are just some of the artists who the hosts touch on. Listen here.

Asquith - Live @ Move Mózg 19

Lobster Theremin

Lobster Theremin label owner and proud proprietor of Lobster Records, [Jimmy] Asquith has a record collection and a musical palette that deserves celebrating. He’s also a brilliant DJ. This recording is taken from a DJ set at the Move Mózg event in Warsaw. Hypnotising, weightless breaks and murky acid cuts all sequenced expertly.

We Need to Stop Treating Mental Health Like a Selling Point

Emma Garland, Noisey UK

The increasing awareness around matters of mental health and personal wellbeing within the music world is a brilliant thing. More people are talking about their personal experiences which undoubtedly helps to create a climate of openness and security. The only potential dangers arise when the issue is co-opted for commercial reasons. Here, Emma Garland skilfully outlines the hazards of diluting an incredibly complex conversation. Read it here. See also, this Guardian piece on activism being the new sex for advertisers.

Selections: Car Seat Headrest

Crack Magazine

Selections is a new feature we are running every Monday where we invite artists we love to curate Spotify playlists for us. Reliable Monday listening from those in the know. This week we were lucky enough to get a handful of tracks picked out by Car Seat Headrest. 19 tracks spanning Tom Waits, Nirvana, Pixies, Leonard Cohen and Guided By Voices. Perfect for mornings after and teenage tantrums.

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