He said she said

The latest from CHVRCHES, plus spring menswear and spirits

Hey, look at that: It’s CHVRCHES, a bombastic and energetic band to welcome a new week and to kick off today’s music-menswear-spirits newsletter dispatch. If you’re new or joining us from the ranks of CHVRCHES fandom, thanks for stopping by — here’s what we’re all about. Now, to business.

Today’s title track, the powerful and surging “He Said She Said” by the aforementioned Scottish synth pop stars CHVRCHES, is quite the rolling, fist-pumping anthem to wake you from a winter slumber and spur you on towards a rejuvenated spring. It’s also got a powerful message targeting sexism, something against which lead singer Lauren Mayberry has continually taken a stand. We’ll dive into it more below, but if it’s a sign of things to come for the next CHVRCHES album, we’re all certainly in luck. It also sounds like the band is making more of a pivot, potentially back towards the band’s self-produced roots (read this feature for more), but again, we’ll get to all of that in a second.

For now, it’s time to fully embrace a new month, a bit of a festive mid-week holiday (hello, Cinco de Mayo!) and a few flourishes for the season from some of your favorite brands. Keep scrolling to get caught up, and be sure to check out my regular style blog for daily musings. Oh, and as always: Tell all your friends and share this newsletter far and wide! Alright, enough of that. Let’s start listening and shopping, shall we?

What To Listen To This Week: “He Said She Said” by CHVRCHES

Here it is, last month’s soul-stirring new single from everyone’s favorite Scottish synth pop band. It’s hard to talk about CHVRCHES without talking about the strong presence of lead singer Lauren Mayberry, a strong advocate for women in music and really, women everywhere. Lauren doesn’t suffer fools lightly, and has been the unfair target of plenty of online harassment, so when she steps up to the mic and delivers a scathing indictment, an anti-sexist synth pop anthem, it’s worth listening again and again. It’s certainly one of the coolest and most powerful songs I’ve heard all year, the kind that will sound epic and huge during an (eventual) live show, perhaps in Brooklyn at Elsewhere — where I saw the band in an intimate setting back in 2018 — or perhaps at a larger venue (the iconic CHVRCHES concert at Radio City Music Hall in 2016 comes to mind). No matter where it’s played, this song is going to fill up a room and blow you away, but like so many CHVRCHES songs, it also leaves the listener with some new perspective and a great deal to think about. How’s that for a perfect song to start the week, ehh?

What To Shop This Week: Levi’s Made & Crafted 502 Black Water Jeans

The music of CHVRCHES is so often moody and atmospheric that it only feels right to go in that direction with today’s featured shopping pick from UNCRATE. And yet, in the sense that CHVRCHES sometimes makes “sad” dance music, these slim black jeans are in fact an ideal pair of denim for summer. Yes, that’s right: Maybe it’s just me, but I think you certainly can (and should!) take the right pair of jeans for a spin this summer. Perhaps it starts out with my tendency to wear chukka boots — you can’t exactly wear those with shorts, people — but a pair of classic black denim like this one from UNCRATE seems as solid as you can get for casual, cool, CHVRCHES-esque style. Of course, I’m suggesting you leave your leather jacket at home and instead pair ‘em with high-top sneakers and a slub T-shirt. Cool down with a cold beer and the soaring synth pop of CHVRCHES, and you’ve got your bases covered.

What To Sip This Week: Hornitos Reposado Tequila

Let’s step away from all this talk of black jeans and dark synth pop towards something a little more topical and a lot more fun. Tomorrow, of course, is Cinco de Mayo. If you happen to be toasting the occasion at home, I’ve got just the pick to add to your bar cart quickly and easily. Add some class and some zest to your happy hour and your evening by using alcohol delivery service Drizly to get Hornitos Reposado. This tequila is made from blue agave and aged in bourbon barrels, among other steps involved in crafting one of the best tequilas out there.

That process gives this delicious reposado tequila plenty of excellent flavor, and it’s more than worthy of your Cinco de Mayo celebration. Oh, and when the time does come to head to an outdoor music festival (with a performance by, yes, CHVRCHES), go right ahead and keep your eyes peeled for a refreshing margarita made with Hornitos. I know that’s what I’ll be doing.

The Final Pick: Far Afield Whale Print Shirt via UNCRATE

Here’s one final Tuesday essential to tie it all together. This short-sleeve shirt is light and breezy (perfect for a bit of Cinco de Mayo inspiration and perfect for the rest of summer). In fact, this stylish short-sleeve shirt looks great with — well, you guessed it — some classic black denim or chino shorts. And of course, you can wear it to grill out, you can wear it to grab a patio margarita and assuredly, as I would do, you can wear this Far Afield printed shirt to your first major outdoor concert this summer. It’s a bit fun, it’s a bit zany, it’s a built-in way for your friends to keep track of you at a festival …it’s got to go in your shopping cart now, does it not? Shop accordingly, my friends.

I’d say we covered a fair bit of ground in today’s newsletter, a little bit of everything for the well-read and well-dressed folks on my subscribers list. Thanks for reading! I’m personally digging the fun and fresh Far Afield printed shirt shown above, a perfect pairing alongside, say, a cocktail made with reposado tequila for tomorrow’s holiday (or any summer happy hour at all). It’s all amplified by an ideal pair of denim for summer. And of course, you’ve figured out your soundtrack for Tuesday and beyond: “He Said She Said” by CHVRCHES ought to give your week a shot in the arm. Let me know in the comments if any of these top your list this week. If not, well, there’s always my Saturday newsletter. Cheers, my friends!