Who cares about green beer? Last month, I was blissed to find soy milk and almond milk in every coffee shop in Dublin. Every eatery had a vegan option or could craft one without fuss and didnt look at me like I was crazy. I even talked aquafaba meringues with a waiterbig news in a country where dairy and meat have traditionally been a big part of the plate and a big part of the Gross National Product.

I presented at Happy Food Cafe, Dublins first and only all-vegan cafe, where the beetburger- chowing crowd hungered not just for vegan eats but to create vegan consciousness and vegan community. Passionate about animal welfare, they seemed slightly embarrassed all of Ireland hasnt embraced it, too.

Maybe its not happening as fast as Dublins vegan crowd would like honey, Im familiar with the feeling but the move to vegan has been happening in big ways and small. Dublin had its first-ever vegfest in November and Dublin VegFest 2017 is in the works now, spearheaded by the mighty Pears Hussey and a small dedicated group of people passionate about vegan living. Thats all it takes to bring about change.

In 1898, a dedicated and passionate Irishman, playwright (and vegetarian) George Bernard Shaw wrote, Why should you call me to account for eating decently? If I battened on the scorched corpses of animals, you might well ask me why I did that. About 90 years later, Morrissey, Smiths frontman, Irish vegan and PETA activist extraordinaire came out with Meat is Murder.

Pioneering Blazing Salads, Dublins family-owned whole food vegetarian restaurant opened 30 years before Happy Food Cafe. Its morphed from its earnest 80s beginnings to do a mean, modern and largely plant-based takeaway business.

Beetburgers, plant-based milks and chickpea blondies may be all but mainstream, but they werent always. For many years, Irelands mainstay crop and the mainstay meal was potatoes. And then, when the crop failed, it wasnt. During the Great Famine, 1.5 million Irish died of starvation. You tend not to forget a thing like that, no matter how long ago it happened.

Food is precious, valued in Ireland in a way that it isnt in America. I learned about farm to table in Ireland years before it was big here. I learned about it at the farm. At the table. Its so intrinsic to how theyve lived, they didnt even have a term for it. Coming from America and our monster centralized food system, I couldnt believe a simple roasted newly-dug potato could taste so minerally and rich and fall apart in my mouth like a puff of cloud. I could feel the potassium shoot through my veins like a junkie getting a hit.

Forget corned beef and cabbage (not vegan, not Irish) Celebrate St. Patricks Day with a potato. Planting potatoes on St. Patricks Day is an Irish life-affirming tradition. Potatoes also star in my vegan version of that age-old Irish comfort food, bubble and squeak. A simple hash of cabbage, kale or other seasonal vegetables held together by potatoes, its not only greater than the sum of its parts, its sustainable and farm-to-table as it gets. Nice with a pint of vegan Guinness.

St. Patricks Day, raise your glass to Happy Foods Cafe, to Dublin VegFest and Irelands small but dedicated, passionate and growing vegan-conscious community. Slinte.

This encore post originally ran on March 14, 2016.

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Meatless Monday: St. Patrick's Day Dublin-Style Dedicated, Passionate Vegan Community: 1, Corned Beef and ... - Huffington Post

Horror film The Devils Candy(out March 17) has generated terrific buzz since it premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2015. But one person who hasnt seen it yet is cast member Shiri Appleby. Ive been on the move so much, I just havent had an opportunity, says the UnREAL actress. I dont want to see it without an audience, because I know its the kind of movie that really deserves that. Also? Imscared to see it! she admits.

In this film from Tasmanian director Sean Byrne (The Loved Ones), Appleby and Ethan Embry play a couple who, together with their daughter (Kiara Glasco), move into a remote house with a dark past and find themselves targeted by Pruitt Taylor Vinces unhinged local. Ive never worked with somebody who had such a clear vision, says Appleby of Byrne. He knew completely the story he wanted to be telling. I felt like he was really driven. Hes a real artist.

RELATED: 20 Celebs Who Starred in Horror Movies Before They Made it Big

In the film, Embrys character is a metalhead, and Appleby says the actor encouraged her to check out the genre. I hadnt listened to that much heavy metal before the movie, she explains. Ethan really got into it, and it felt like it really became part of the experience of making the movie.So, is Appleby now cranking up the Metallica on the drive to work? No! she says. Im shooting UnREAL. The world of UnREAL is crazy enough. I get in the car and try to listen to some nice peaceful, relaxing music to counterpoint the dark world I have to get involved in as soon as I hit set.

The Devils Candy isnt Applebys first foray into horror. Back in the late 80s, the then-preteenappeared in a film called Curse II: The Bite. What was that about? I feel like it was about a snake that came out of somebodys arm that was biting people, she replies, uncertainly. There were a lot of special effects and smoke. You know we are one 100 percent going to track the film down, right? Okay, she laughs. Youll have to let me know how it was!

Watch the trailer for The Devils Candy below and an exclusive clip from the film above.

The Devils Candy will be available in select theaters, on VOD, and via digital platforms on March 17from IFC Midnight.

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The Devil's Candy: See an exclusive clip - EW.com (blog)

Patch.com

Snow Day Movies: 13 Patch Picks Patch.com The cameos by stars such as Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin as everyday people make this a classic anytime. Every scene is pure Chicago and it never gets old. Good soothing, relaxing music is perfect to have on in the background on a snow day." Tim ...

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Snow Day Movies: 13 Patch Picks - Patch.com

Jazz vocalist Stacey Kent and her husband, tenor saxophonist Jim Tomlinson, return to Salt Lake City on Monday, March 20, at the Capitol Theatre for a concert featuring music from the "Great American Songbook."

We havent toured as much (this year)," Kent said in an interview. "Every year has a different rhythm and this year weve been smarter about our touring. Even though were relaxing, Jim and I are working on a big project. Its an orchestral composition with a 53-piece orchestra, and Jim has written some beautiful new songs.

Along with her husband and their children, she said they are relaxing, skiing and composing in Colorado.

Gordon Hanks, founder of the Jazz SLC concert series, considers Kent and Tomlinson part of his extended family.

"They are an amazing husband-and-wife team and a crowd favorite, Hanks said.

Though the idea of working day in and day out with a spouse could seem daunting to some, Kent said she relishes the experience.

Besides being husband and wife we are best friends," she said. "It sounds corny, but when we were lined up on a blind date by some friends of friends, we hit it off immediately. It was love at first sight. We liked the same music, laughed at the same things and had complete respect for each other, plus the push-pull tension we have between each other keeps things interesting. The formulas work for us.

Interestingly enough, music was not in Kents plans when she was in college, she said. She sang and enjoyed music but everything changed when she studied abroad in London, enrolled in a graduate program in music and drama, and met Tomlinson.

Had we not met, I probably would have remained in the academic world, but it all changed with that encounter," she said. "My life would have been so completely different, but when you are young, like we were, everything can change at the drop of a hat.

Kent is fluent in Portuguese, French, German and Italian and adds that to her vocalist repertoire.

Ive always been interested in language and there is something very intimate and personal if you can sing to people in their own language," she said. "My grandfather was such a pivotal mentor in my life. When I was growing up, we used to listen to all types of music together. He looked at life with such tenderness that it affected me deeply in the way I listen to music. Brazilian music resonates with us because of that intimate connection.

Rest assured, that whatever language Stacey chooses to sing, it will be heartfelt and emotional, Hanks said. She never disappoints.

If you go

What: Stacey Kent and Jim Tomlinson

When: Monday, March 20, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South

How much: $29.50 for general, $10 for students with ID

Web: artsaltlake.org

Phone: 801-355-2787

Jeff Metcalf is a professor of English at the University of Utah and an avid jazz fan.

Originally posted here:

Stacey Kent's at home with Jazz SLC concert series - Deseret News

More Meditation Classes Offered

Cant make it to Susi Walters meditation classes in Clinton Township? Similar sessions are set for 7 p.m. May 5, 10 and 17 at LAnse Creuse Middle School North. Call 586-783-6330 to register.

You also can meditate with Walter Saturday mornings at the Shelby Township Senior Center from 9 to 10 a.m. March 11, 18, and 25. She will offer a special workshop on forgiveness April 22 and 29 and May 6 and 13. Call 586-731-0300 to register.

Have you ever tried to meditate? Its no surprise meditation is good for you, and undoubtedly most people have tried to quiet their minds at least once. But to most untrained meditators, thinking about nothing usually leads to thoughts about everything: Am I doing this right? Is this a waste of time? What else could I be doing?

You can learn how to silent those pesky thoughts and how to properly meditate by attending Susi Walters Tuesday evening meditation sessions at the Clinton Township Senior Center. The classes are set from 7 to 8 p.m., with sessions taking place in March, April, May and June. They are open to the public, and all ages are welcome. The cost is $40 per session.

Anyone might consider attending who is interested in learning how to meditate, improving quality of life, and holding peace within, Walter said. Meditation may help in every aspect of life. It is possible to heal the body, mind and spirit through consistent practice.

Walter, who is certified in mindful meditation through the University of Holistic Theory, begins class by discussing meditation techniques. Shell play relaxing music in the background, and the lights are slightly dimmed. She guides the class by reading meditation scripts. She also explains some fundamentals, like chakras (an energy center in the body), and auras (an electromagnetic field that extends about four or five feet around the body).

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Typically, classes focus on relaxing the body, clearing the mind, releasing physical and emotional pain, and seeing and feeling auric energy. However, Walter does offer specialty sessions emphasizing forgiveness, releasing stress and anxiety, living with illness, grief, goal setting, breaking habits, sparking creativity and more. Shes open to suggestions from participants, she said.

Students have the option to sit or rest lying down on the floor with mats and pillows. Its important to be comfortable while meditating, so participants are welcome to sit in a cushioned chair if theyre uneasy about getting down on the floor.

Meditation is now being used in clinical interventions to help improve health and well-being. Higher levels of mindfulness is related to decreased stress, which leads to better health, and evidence suggests meditation can even improve cognitive abilities such as sustained attention and working memory.

I am thrilled that many scientific and modern medicinal groups have begun to validate meditation as a true healing modality. I have had people come to my classes as a last resort for help, said Walter, who has been teaching meditation for 10 years. It has aided so many of them who were in desperate need of healing. Many hospitals are implementing integrative medicine departments and prescribing holistic remedies, such as meditation and energy healing in order to complement contemporary medicine.

The Clinton Township Senior Center is located at 40730 Romeo Plank Road. To register for the meditation class, call 586-286-9333.

See the article here:

Learn how to calm the mind, heal the body through meditation - The Daily Tribune

Photo Credit: Christiaan Colen / Flickr

Since 2009, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents have been allowed to search electronic devices carried by citizens or noncitizens as they cross the border into the United States from other countries. More recently, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly suggested this digital vetting should also include harvesting social media passwords. Kellys proposal prompted legal and technology experts to respond with an open letter expressing deep concern about any policy that demands that individuals violate the first rule of online security: Do not share your passwords.

Travelers themselves responded, too, looking for ways to avoid surrendering their device passwords to federal agents. One approach what we might call the Nothing To See Here method tries to make a device unsearchable by erasing the hard drive before travel, uninstalling social media apps, letting the devices battery charge run out or even wiping the device if an emergency or duress password was entered.

The Id Love To Comply, But I Cant approach involves exotic solutions like installing two-factor authentication on the device or social media account, and then making the second factor (such as a passcode or digital key) available only in a remote location. Retrieving the second factor would require a warrant and travel outside the border crossing.

These methods are dangerous because they put an already stressed traveler in the position of defying law enforcement at the border, a legal environment that is designed to support the government and not the traveler. Following this advice properly also requires careful execution of technical skills that most travelers dont have. And the degree of advance planning and preparation required might itself be considered a sign of suspicious activity requiring deeper scrutiny by border officials.

But its tempting to wonder: Could computer scientists and software designers like me create a better password system? Can we make Id Love To Comply, But I Cant the only possible answer for every traveler? In short, can we create passwords even their owners dont know?

The search for the unknowable password

Developing unknowable passwords is an active area of security research. In 2012, a team from Stanford University, Northwestern University and the SRI research center developed a scheme for using a computer game similar to Guitar Hero to train the subconscious brain to learn a series of keystrokes. When a musician memorizes how to play a piece of music, she doesnt need to think about each note or sequence. It becomes an ingrained, trained reaction usable as a password but nearly impossible even for the musician to spell out note by note, or for the user to disclose letter by letter.

In addition, the system is designed so that even if the password is discovered, the attacker is unable to enter the keystrokes with the same fluidity as the trained user. The combination of keystrokes and ease of performance uniquely ties the password to the user, while freeing the user from having to remember anything consciously.

Unfortunately, in our border travel scenario, the agent could demand that the traveler unlock the device or application using the subconscious password.

A team at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, proposed a different solution in 2016. Their solution, called Chill-Pass, measures an individuals unique brain chemistry response while listening to her choice of relaxing music. This biometric reaction becomes part of the users log-in process. If a user is under duress, she will be unable to relax enough to match her previously measured chill state, and the log-in will fail.

It is unclear whether CBP agents would be able to defeat a system like Chill-Pass by providing travelers with, say, massage chairs and spa treatments. Even so, the stresses of daily life would make it impractical to use this kind of password regularly. A relaxation-based system would be most useful for people undertaking high-stakes missions where they fear coercion.

And just like with other plans to make CBP scrutiny impossible, this might end up attracting more attention to a traveler, rather than encouraging officers to give up and move on to the next person.

Can you score security?

In 2015, Google announced Project Abacus, another solution to the Id Love To Comply, But I Cant problem. It replaces the traditional password with a Trust Score, a proprietary cocktail of characteristics that Google has determined can identify you. The score includes biometric factors like your typing patterns, walking speed, voice patterns and facial expressions. And it can include your location and other unspecified elements.

The Trust Score calculator constantly runs in the background of a smartphone or other device, updating itself with new information and recalculating the score throughout the day. If the Trust Score falls below a certain threshold, say by observing a strange typing pattern or an unfamiliar location, the system will require the user to enter additional authentication credentials.

Its unclear how a Trust Score authentication might affect a border search. A CBP agent could still demand that a traveler unlock the device and its apps. But if the agency couldnt disable the Trust Score system, the phones owner would have to be allowed to hold the device and use it throughout the agents inspection. If someone else tried to use it, the constantly recalculated Trust Score could fall, locking out an investigator.

That process would at least ensure a phones owner knew what information federal agents were collecting from the phone. That hasnt been possible for some arriving travelers, including U.S. citizens and even government employees.

But the Trust Score system puts a lot of control in the hands of Google, a for-profit corporation that could decide or could be compelled to provide government with a way around it.

So now what?

None of these technological solutions to the password problem is perfect, and none of them is commercially available today. Until research, industry and innovation come up with better ones, whats a digital age traveler to do?

First, do not lie to a federal agent. Thats a felony and will definitely attract more unwanted attention from investigators.

Next, determine how much inconvenience you are willing to tolerate in order to remain silent or to refuse to comply. Noncompliance will have a cost: Your devices could be seized and your travel could be seriously disrupted.

Either way, if and when you are asked for your social media handles or passwords, or to unlock your devices, pay attention and remember as many details as you can. Then, if you wish, alert a digital civil liberties group that this happened. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has a web page with instructions for how to report a device search at the border.

If you think that sensitive materials might have been compromised in the search, notify family, friends and colleagues who might be affected. And until we figure out a better way change your passwords.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Megan Squireis aProfessor of Computing Sciences at Elon University.

Visit link:

Why We Should Not Know Our Own Passwords | Alternet - AlterNet

By Louis Gore-LangtonLouis Gore-Langton , 13-Mar-20172017-03-13T00:00:00Z Last updated on 13-Mar-2017 at 14:51 GMT2017-03-13T14:51:30Z

Organic may be less sustainable and less beneficial to consumer health than previously thought, according to new research.

Organic has been a growing trend throughout Europe, making a continued expansion since the 2008 recession in which sales dropped dramatically.

But is organic really the panacea for the food systems environmental and health related problems?

A review of scientific literature analysing organic farming with seventeen different criteria found that a number of factors, including crop yield and consumer health, do not show such glowing results.

The study shows that the costs and benefits of organic farms have often been analysed in comparison to conventional farms with the same land area which does not take into account crop yield.

When the efficiency of farms is measured by yield, organic methods have been shown in numerous studies to underperform by around 19 25%. For some crops this figure can rise to as high as 30 or 40%.

Although the need for increased food supply is still debated because of the inefficiencies and inequities in the current system, yields do matter not only for farmers whose incomes critically depend on the yield but also for many environmental outcomes. Even if food production does not need to increase, higher yields could still be environmentally beneficial because we could take land out of production and restore natural ecosystemsthe study notes.

This is not only a problem for increasing output and satisfying the worlds shortage of food, but also for environmental degradation.

Land conversion for agriculture is the worlds leading cause of habitat loss and climate change. The world wildlife fund (WWF) state that 38% of the worlds habitable land is currently used for agriculture and that a further 120 million hectares will need to be converted to intensive monoculture farms by 2050 to continue feeding the worlds population.

Despite organic farms requiring more land for production, biodiversity within that land usually increases greatly under organic methods.

Health concerns are the number one factor motivating consumers to opt for organic products.

However, the study shows that the potential harm caused by pesticides in food is highly context dependent and that consumers in economically developed countries would be far more at risk than those in developing countries:

The only entirely unequivocal benefit of organic foods is reduced contamination from pesticide residues although this might not matter for consumers in high-income countries, where pesticide contamination on conventionally grown food is far below acceptable daily intake thresholds it could provide an important health benefit for consumers elsewhere.

Hans Muillmen of the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) however, told FoodNavigator that this does not cover the whole picture.

Food from industrial agriculture contains numerous pesticide residues. Consumers eat dozens of pesticides on a daily basis and the combined effects of these pesticides are not accounted for in the regulations. Industrial food is not safe. Organic doesn't contain synthetic pesticide residues at all and is safe.

A recentPAN release reported on the cumulative effects of different types of pesticides, saying that whilst individual residues are minor, western consumers still take on dozens of different types per day, which can be toxic.

The researchers said the literature review showed ultimately that whilst organic has huge benefits and requires larger amounts of research and funding,organic agriculture cannot be the Holy Grail for our sustainable food security challenges.

Instead, more emphasis should be placed on finding and utilising the areas where organic works best, and this requires trade-offs for separate problems like output and biodiversity.

Source: ScienceAdvances

Published 2017; DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1602638

"Many shades of grayThe context-dependent performance of organic agriculture"

Authors:Verena Seufertl,Navin Ramankutty

View original post here:

Organic is a single part of a sustainable food system, and only works in certain contexts: study - FoodNavigator.com

Sorry green-market-loving hipsters, but it turns out eating organic isnt always that great for the planet, and may only have a marginal effect on your health.

A new study published in the journal Science Advances reports that even though organic farms have the ecofriendly benefit of using fewer pesticides, they also use more land, which is harmful to the planet.

Researchers at the University of British Columbia analyzed organic crop farming across 17 criteria such as yield, impact on climate change, farmer livelihood and consumer health by looking at the existing scientific literature on its results. For one, they found the environmental benefits of organic farming can be offset by the lower yields of such crops (typically 19 to 25 percent lower than conventional farming).

While an organic farm may be better for things like biodiversity, farmers will need more land to grow the same amount of food, wrote Verena Seufert, the studys co-author. And land conversion for agriculture is the leading contributor to habitat loss and climate change.

The study also pointed out that reviews disagree on whether organic food offers a significant difference in nutrient content compared to conventional crops. While one benefit was found to be unequivocal reduced contamination from pesticides the authors point out that this might not matter for consumers in high-income countries, where pesticide contamination on conventionally grown food is far below acceptable daily intake thresholds.

For consumers in less-developed countries, however, the health benefit is greater.

Read the original post:

Organic food isn't all it's cracked up to be | New York Post - New York Post

This story was originally published by Fusionand is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.

Its easy to think that buying organic food helps to support local communities and protect the environment from the heavy hand of big agriculture. But the reality is not so clear cut. A detailed new analysis finds that organic farming is not always more upstanding than its conventional counterpart.

One of trickiest challenges facing society is how to produce enough food for growing populations without wrecking the environment and local communities. A study published on March 10 in the journal Science Advances finds that organic agriculture is not the holy grail of sustainable agriculture that its image suggests.

Its not enough just to do organic, said Verena Seufert, a researcher at the University of British Columbia, Canada, and a lead author of the study.

There is not a single answer to whether organic performs better or worse than conventional agriculture, she added.

The study finds that organic farming is better than conventional agriculture in some important ways.

The clearest benefit of organic agriculture is that farm workers are exposed to fewer potentially toxic pesticides, said Seufert.

Also, lower levels of pesticide residues are found on organic produce. This is of most benefit for people living in low-income countries, which tend to have weak controls on pesticide use. But it will make little difference to the health of consumers in the U.S. or Europe, for example, where pesticide residues on conventionally grown food are very low, the study says.

It also confirms previous findings that organic food is more nutritious, but the slightly higher levels of vitamins and other wholesome compounds are unlikely large enough to boost consumers health, said Seufert.

Organic agriculture is also a boon for financially fraught farmers. Farmers often struggle to make ends meet and must supplement their income through other activities, said Seufert.

Organic produce commands a higher price, making it more profitable, the study finds. However, organic farmers do not seem to provide better working conditions or wages to laborers, according to the limited available evidence, said Seufert.

While organic farms are friendlier to wildlife, such as bees, they are not always kinder to the environment overall, the study says. This is because organic farms produce less food on the same area of land compared to conventional farms. Lower organic yields mean that more land is put to work. And for the same amount of food produced, organic farms also tend to release more nitrogen pollution than conventional farms.

The new analysis is one of the most comprehensive to date comparing large-scale organic and conventional farming. It clarifies previous mixed conclusions on organic farmings green credentials. Other research has shown that smaller community gardens are important sources of organic produce, and have a plethora of socioeconomic and environmental benefits, such as saving on shipping costs and packaging and providing green spaces for people to enjoy.

This does not imply that organic agriculture is bad or should not be part of the solution. It just means we need to improve organic agriculture and make it better, said Seufert.

Amending organic regulations to better promote environmentally friendly farming practices, such as rotating crops, could help make organic farming more sustainable, said Seufert. Currently, organic regulations mainly focus on restricting chemical inputs such as pesticides and fertilizers.

If you want to make organic sustainable, you must include environmental best practices in regulations, she said.

In addition, researchers need to develop new crop varieties that are bred to perform well in organic systems, such as crops that can grow well with less fertilizer. Today, most of the crops grown on organic farms were bred for conventional agriculture where nutrient-rich chemical fertilizer is liberally applied.

John Reganold, an agroecologist at Washington State University, said that the new study agrees with much of his own findings on organic farming including that it better supports ecosystem services such as bio-pest control and healthier soils. But he said the future of farming will likely sit in the middle ground between organic and conventional agriculture, where farmers will use green farming methods alongside chemicals inputs. Such hybrid farming will be more sustainable by better balancing profit and productivity with social and environmental concerns, he said.

Organic farming is helping to drive a move towards sustainable agriculture by encouraging conventional farmers to adopt environmentally friendly practices, said Reganold.

Organic farming is pulling conventional farmers towards the middle ground. This will have a tremendous impact, he said.

And although organic produce is grown on only 1 percent of global farmland, it can have a strong influence on agricultural markets. It is the fastest growing food sector in North America and Europe. Consumers recognize and demand the organic food label, said Seufert.

Therefore, at the moment, organic is the most important way that consumers can influence how their food is produced, she said.

More:

Is organic always better? It's not as clear-cut as you might think. - Grist

Goldlink's new single is out now. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Goldlink's new single is out now.

In the book Go-Go Live: The Musical Life And Death Of A Chocolate City, writer Natalie Hopkinson uses Washington D.C.'s half-century-old sonic identity as a lens to magnify the historic intersections of race, class and causality in America's stratified capital. It's all intimate terrain for 23-year-old DMV (shorthand for D.C., Maryland, Virginia) native GoldLink, and the latest single from the rapper's forthcoming debut full-length provides a perfect "Meditation" on the theme.

Over Montreal producer Kaytranada's electro-bounce track, featuring Jazmine Sullivan on the hook, GoldLink channels a late-night party vibe that reverberates with nostalgia for his musical roots. The new album, still publicly untitled, marks a first for GoldLink, who debuted to critical acclaim with his 2014 mixtape The God Complex, as he attempts to pay homage to go-go. But it's the essence of the culture, rather than the sound palette, that he's most interested in distilling. "I want people to understand the culture of where the music came from and, to do that, I try and explain the feats and perils and the everyday experience of people from here who know that era," he tells NPR via email.

Instead of mimicking the rhythm of conga drums and cowbells intrinsic to go-go, GoldLink sets out to convey the feeling embodied by a late-night go-go on "Meditation." In double-time, he spits a stream-of-conscious flow to the object of his desire. It's an explicit romp that combines visceral reality with the romantic fantasies of an uncertain future in the country's former murder capital. The climax comes when the music fades, interrupted by a melee inside the club punctuated by random gunshots.

"I've been in so many situations like that off of the strength of growing up in Maryland and D.C," GoldLink explains. "Because the hoods were so close and the parties were so scarce, [seeing] so many people from different neighborhoods created tension. Then one thing leads to another." The music often underscored competing passions the romantic and the real which is part of the paradox that makes "Meditation" captivating. "It was easy for me to channel that reality and fantasy factor for that song because it really happened to me growing up," he says, recalling how it felt to spot a girl from a distance while mustering up the confidence to approach her. "You make up this weird scenario of you floating across the room and saying the best panty-dropping one liner of all f****** time ... Yet in reality, I'm with my homies and I got to make sure that everybody leaves in one piece."

The yearning he expresses for his love interest throughout the song also personifies the protective nature of D.C.'s relationship with go-go. "Go-go never really broke outside of D.C. because we, as the people, didn't allow it to," he says. "She was our girlfriend and we didn't want anybody else to f*** her. All that means to me is that, as D.C. folk, we take pride in preservation."

Unlike DMV rapper Wale, who's notably incorporated elements of go-go into his music, GoldLink's taking a less literal approach. The song's release is accompanied by what the artist refers to as an "animation audio visual" of complementary artwork by Darius X. Moreno, a DMV native who used rotoscope animation to bring his gritty painted interpretations of GoldLink's evocative sound to life.

Goldlink, Meditation Courtesy of the artist hide caption

"I was looking for an artist who could translate black culture well in today's time, nostalgically, and he nailed it," GoldLink, who's been working behind-the-scenes with Moreno to visualize the next phase of his career, says. "What draws me to his style is the way that it properly displays black realism, modern art and the sound of D.C. in the most accurate and honest way. He's from here and understands our culture."

The album also features production from other notable producers, including Matt Martians and Steve Lacy (The Internet), Louie Lastic (Soulection) and Sevn Thomas (Rihanna, Drake, PARTYNEXTDOOR). Lyrically, GoldLink promises to explore everything from survivor's guilt to spiritual affluence. But the album will serve primarily as a paean to a culture increasingly displaced and dispossessed in its own hometown.

"Go-go needs to be appreciated and the culture needs to be understood in order for people to enjoy the music," he says. "I want to reference [it], I want to educate, I want to shine a light."

"Meditation" is out now on Squaaash Club/RCA Records.

More:

GoldLink's 'Meditation' On Go-Go Links Desire And A Dark Reality ... - NPR