#1 - WHAT IS THE ONE ALBUM (OR EP OR SONG) THAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE THE VERY NEXT MUSICAL THING THAT EVERYONE PRESSES PLAY ON THE NEXT TIME THEY FIND THEMSELVES THINKING “WHAT SHOULD I LISTEN TO NOW”?

My friend and collaborator Charlie Rauh released a stunning collection of songs called “The Bluebell”. It’s a song cycle of solo guitar lullabies inspired by the poems of Anne and Emily Brontë and is available on Destiny Records:

Charlie is also featured playing on the track “September’ in my upcoming album Mirror Touch.

#2 - WHAT IS THE ONE MOVIE OR TV SHOW THAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE NEXT IN EVERYBODY’S NETFLIX QUEUE (OK, DOESN’T HAVE TO BE NETFLIX, WE’RE ALL INTERNET ADULTS HERE AND KNOW HOW TO FIND ANYTHING ONLINE, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER)?

“And When I Die I Won’t Stay Dead” directed by Billy Woodberry.

Amazing documentary about the beat poet Robert Kaufman and his role in the 1960’s San Francisco poetry scene. It’s currently streaming on Criterion.

#3. I (AND BY “I” I MEAN “THE PERSON THAT IS READING THIS”) AM GOING TO THE LOCAL BOOK STORE (OK, MAYBE THE LOCAL LIBRARY FIRST) TO FIND THE VERY NEXT BOOK THAT I WILL BE PUTTING SOME EXTREMELY VALUABLE ‘ME-TIME' ASIDE FOR. WHICH BOOK WOULD YOU GET, IF YOU WERE ME (AND, I SUPPOSE, YOU HADN’T ALREADY READ WHAT YOU’RE ABOUT TO SUGGEST)?

Some friends of mine run a permaculture farm in Tupelo, MS called Samsara Gardens turned me on to “Braiding Sweetgrass”. It’s a book written by ecologist Robin Wall Kimmerer.

She talks about how indigenous people cultivated North America for generations. Interesting to read it alongside the Native Lands App, which shows you what native tribes occupied various regions of the United States and links to historic land treaties.

#4 - WHAT IS THE ONE WEBSITE (OR JUST ANY OLD INTERNET THING: APP, GIF, SERVICE, WHATEVER) THAT YOU WOULD GET REALLY DOWN IN THE DUMPS ABOUT IF IT WERE TO SUDDENLY GO AWAY?

Caitlin Doughty’s “Ask a Mortician”, delightfully morbid and informative. Sure to satisfy the anyone's inner goth.

#5 - AND FINALLY… PLEASE GIVE ONE COMPLETELY UNAIDED RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU THINK EVERYONE SHOULD START DOING / USING / WATCHING / EATING / THINKING / QUITTING / ETC-ING TO MAKE THEIR LIVES A LITTLE BIT MORE BETTER AND/OR BEARABLE.

Get a plant pet! I live in NYC and I’ve started a small garden on my rooftop since being stuck at home. Just some small pots of herbs and veggies and some very happy house plants.

OK folks, there you have it. Things that Concetta Abbate thinks you should consider incorporating into your day/life. Before you log off and go get yourself a plant pet, make sure to follow Concetta on the Facebook / Instagram and then also give ‘Creatures’ a listen below…

…and if you like what you’re hearing, go do some further concetta-abbate-flavoured audio exploring over on the Bandcamp / Spotify.