Converge Newsletter
Browse all 200 links from 22 issues.
Non-fiction
I read this Grayson Perry book a few years ago, but was recently reminded of it and am going in for a second turn.
Homeware
Absolutely love these ‘art houseplants’ by Irish designer Caroline Byrne. Perfect if you’re someone like me who inadvertently seems to end up killing many of your plants through overwatering or neglect.
Exploratory prototype
What if we chatted about carbon emissions like we chat about the weather?
Game
This magic 2009 game from Patrick Smith / Vectorpark is now available on Nintendo Switch.
Natural soundscapes
A free repository of immersive natural soundscapes. Listen to the sounds of calming seas, birdsong and more from all over the world in your browser and get in tune with nature wherever you are.
🔗 earth.fm
Creative animation tools
Every now and again, something comes along that you can feel is going to be a big deal for digital makers. For me, Rive is one of those moments.
🔗 rive.app
Audio hardware
I’ve been impressed with every product teenage engineering have put out, and their latest, Choir is no exception.
Decentralised social network
Mastodon is a bit odd. And kind of clumsy to get started with. There are also not that many folks using it. But in all those regards, it really reminds me of the early days of Twitter and I’ve found I kinda like it and I think I can see it sticking for me.
Interactive guide
Colour & Contrast is a comprehensive guide for exploring and learning about the theory, science, and perception of colour and contrast.
TV Series
I’m only a couple of episodes into The Peripheral and I’m already hooked. Based on William Gibson’s book of the same name (which for transparency I’ve not yet read so can’t draw comparisons to), it’s fun, fast-paced sci-fi looking at a future in which reality and virtual reality blend and are essentially one and the same.
Album
I’ve had this on a loop since its release. It’s the fifth album from Los Angeles producer Jason W. Chung and definitely feels the warmest. Some amazing collaborations on here too, including Panda Bear and Toro y Moi.
Album
I haven’t listened to Phoenix for quite a long while. Then out of nowhere Apple recommended me Alpha Zulu, the French band’s seventh album. It was apparently recorded in the Louvre which is about as Phoenix as it gets. And I’m into it. As everything seems to fall apart around us, it’s great to have music as pure escape and for me that’s what this is.
Podcast
NY-based host, Charles Steinberg sits down with TV and movie score composers to chat about their work and process. I listened to the Nathan Micay episode this morning and it’s great. There’s lots of chat about Micay’s amazing Industry soundtrack, his influences like Vangelis and Pink Floyd, as well as his background playing viola. Who knew?
Non-fiction
This is a great, thought-provoking read from Stanford neuroscientist, David Eagleman about the malleability and elasticity of the brain.
iOS music creation app
I love Ableton’s products and have been a longstanding Live user for a good while. Note is up to the usual high standard and is a fantastic iOS app for sketching musical ideas. Play beats, melodies and even create recorded samples. Lots of fun.
Game
For transparency, I’ve not played this new game from Etienne Trudeau yet, but I intend to very soon. It looks like a really cute, whimsical adventure. The fact it’s described as “a short contemplative game about catching frogs and restoring stars in the sky” says it all.
Presentation software
iA Presenter is all about simplifying the process of putting together and giving a presentation. It does this by getting you focused on the content and the story you’re telling, rather than you getting bogged down with the design and layout, which it kind of automates away. It has all the hallmarks of iA Writer which is a wonderful writing app, so if you’re someone who gives a lot of presentations, I reckon it’s worth a look.
🔗 ia.net
Reader and bookmarking app
I’ve been using Matter for a little while now to gather together different articles and stuff to read later. While the ‘read later’ concept’s not new, what I love about Matter is that you can have any saved article read to you and it has a really nice highlighting/noting feature to save salient points for later. Useful.
Writing platform
As all the big social media companies continue their slow demise, I’m keeping my eye out for new and upcoming small platforms. Nicheless is just that — a micro-blogging platform for raw, unfiltered thoughts. I like that it’s described as being “like long form Twitter, minus the status games.”
TV Series
Industry is a bit like Succession in that it’s full of loathsome self-serving characters you kind of love to hate. Based on the trading floor of fictitious financial firm, Pierpoint, it’s all about the cut-throat (horrendous) world of trading. What carries it and drives me to want to watch more is the standard of the writing, which is excellent — as is the fantastic cast.
TV Series
‘The tight-knit Garvey sisters have always looked out for each other. When their brother-in-law winds up dead, his life insurers launch an investigation to prove malicious intent—and set their sights on the sisters, all of whom had ample reason to kill him.’
Spotify playlist
Jazz is not usually my genre, but I love stepping outside of my go-to and mixing things up a bit. This playlist by Sasha Frere-Jones (which I think I originally discovered through Russell’s lovely newsletter, Afternoon Slow) is a magic compilation of the genre and there’s enough great music to while away a good few hours.
Single
Can’t get enough of the very mellow, contemplative track Samba on Sama by Junior Boys. Taken from the Ontario duo’s new LP, Waiting Game.
Non-fiction
This book is a bit off my usual path, but it was recommended by a friend and is absolutely fantastic.
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