The Retrospective

Lady singers: I can’t get enough of them.

I will allege left and right that I listen to dude crooners, too; that I’m totally not sexist, biased, or in any way disposed more kindly toward the fairer sex when it comes to pleasing tuneage. But at the end of the day, who is it that has the honey drizzle for my ragged heart? Who’s got what it takes to soothe the inner beast? Who’s going to rev me up for a punishing spin session and a lift, then see me through the next achy, bleary morning? Pfft. Whatever you thought the answer was, here’s the truth: it’s the lady singers. every, damn. time. Lucky for both of us, this playlist is replete with dulcet-toned dames, plus contributions from a few XY’s for good measure. So, whatever ails you, pop in your headphones, settle on down, and prepare to be equal parts psyched and soothed.

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What’s the soundtrack to a hazy, humid afternoon in Berlin? Listen to Caitlin’s playlist to find out, and be sure to “Like” it if you, er, like…it…?

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Tags: Music · Technology · The Retrospective2 Comments

Not a blip on the radar or a shimmer on the grid. For nearly two years we’ve been quiet.

But here’s the thing—we’ve been planning.

All of us at The Retrospective work and play in industries that we can’t help but get excited about. We come from ad, tech, music, and fashion backgrounds, which means we see things every day that make us go “whoa.” Sometimes we get to share those things, but sometimes, and more often than we’d like, we don’t. One thing’s for sure—we can no longer sit down to grind all day and later lack an outlet to talk about what we’ve found.

So we’re done with the quiet, starting now.

Whether you’re already our partners in the industry or you’re sitting in rural Kansas, looking to know what’s next, we want to share with you. We’ll do the scouring, the tracking, the grilling, and the curation. And you? Come ready to take it in, think it through, and join the conversation.

Our notebooks are full of glittery anecdotes and tales of future legends that we’ll be set to share soon. Stay tuned to learn about the art, technology, culture, and trends that are shaping your life.

The Retrospective: we tell 21st century stories.

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Though Yeasayer was far from their native Brooklyn last Wednesday night, the packed crowd at Madrid’s Sala Caracol was clearly happy to see them. With the turnout and spirits both running high, the energetic crowd began dancing well before the band stepped on stage. The evening’s concertgoers were distressingly good-looking, all oozing their own breed of cool; the women sported stylish little belts and wild, wavy hair while the pierced and thickly bespectacled gentlemen chose buttondowns whose shirtsleeves afforded glimpses of artsy tattoos. While the audience was made up of mostly American and UK transplants, there were enough Spaniards present to convince me that Yeasayer’s unique cocktail of spaceships, synths and African drums has taken root with an Iberian audience.

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Photo Credit Caitlin Schiller

Some artists rest and regroup before shows, but Los Angeles quintet Local Natives took straight to the stage of Madrid’s packed-to-the-gills Moby Dick after a 2,000 km drive from Rome. Van time and a dizzying array of European cities aside, Local Natives really ought to’ve been too wiped to muster much above a subdued eight song set, yet what ensued was sustained sonic magic that belied sleeplessness and grueling drives.

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Photo Courtesy of Les Queue de Sardines

Fetishists, consider yourselves officially on watch: hosiery just got even hotter (and a little quirkier, too).

Les Queues de Sardines, a registered trademark of French clothier, m + o studio, adds panache to your closet with a line of punchy, unconventional stockings. Equal parts elegant and amusing, these tights are screen-printed by hand in limited quantities, transforming obligatory childhood dress-up apparel into personalized luxury.

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