#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”?

‘In New Zealand’ by Barbara Manning. She is a huge inspiration to me. When I listen to this album I am transported to the depths of the ocean and it feels like home. Favorite track; Lover’s Leap.

“If you’re looking for pearls/ Split my heart in half/ If you’re not pleased with color/ You can always throw it back”

#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)?

Forbidden Games (Jeux interdits). I want the soundtrack to this film to be the soundtrack to my life.

Follow two children as they try to make sense of the war happening around them. Get ready to cry.

#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)?

‘More of This World or Maybe Another’ by Barb Johnson.

This is one of my favorite collections of short stories. Barb Johnson published them after working as a carpenter in New Orleans for more than twenty years. She writes of queer love in such a refreshing way that makes me feel understood. When I was traveling in South America and very homesick, I read these stories over and over again.

#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?

101 Cookbooks. I get so many soup recipes from this website.

I made this one with my mom and sister last week…

… and it tasted like we had treated ourselves to an expensive meal. We were impressed with ourselves.

#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.

Talk to the cats on your walk home.

OK folks, there you have it. Things that Merce Lemon thinks you should consider incorporating into your day/life. Before you log off and go find some cats to talk to, make sure to follow Merce Lemon on the Facebook / Instagram and then also give ‘Spill It Out’ a listen below…

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