Tag: handmade

LISTEN: Mark Erelli, “Handmade” (Feat. Maya de Vitry)

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Mark Erelli
Hometown: Melrose, Massachusetts
Song: “Handmade” (featuring Maya de Vitry)
Album: Jackpot EP
Release Date: February 12, 2021
Label: Soundly Music

In Their Words: “Sometimes I’ll write a song that just truly comes alive when turned into a duet. I didn’t write ‘Handmade’ for two people to sing, but it didn’t take much to retrofit it to include another voice. The question of who that voice should be was a harder decision, made difficult by the shear number of amazing singers in Nashville where we recorded the song. I was a big fan of The Stray Birds, and when Maya de Vitry went out on her own for her 2019 solo album Adaptations, I was truly blown away. I love listening to all types of voices, but I really love singing with someone who can dig in and match my dynamics, which inspires me to dig deeper. Singing with Maya, I didn’t have to hold anything back, and I think the strength our vocals project reinforces the song’s message that sometimes you have to dig in, roll up your sleeves, and really work to make love happen.” — Mark Erelli

“It was an absolute joy to sing ‘Handmade’ with Mark. As a guest in Mark’s recording process, I was stepping into whatever culture and atmosphere that they (Mark, his band, producer Zack, engineer Dan) already had going in the studio — and I remember stepping into that room and finding a place of pure warmth and enthusiasm. Harmony singing is one of my favorite things in the world — I get to feel the emotional intensity and energy and character of a song, and then actually climb into it and do my best to help convey the story. I think Mark’s lyrics here are especially resonant in this moment, because a lot of us are taking a more ‘handmade’ approach to everything these days. And that line ‘I can’t wait to see what we’re gonna make’ really hits me now too — in dreaming about our future beyond the pandemic, and how we won’t just be returning to something in the past… we all have an opportunity to make something new.” — Maya de Vitry

Photo of Mark Erelli: Joe Navas; Photo of Maya de Vitry: Kaitlyn Raitz

The Wild Standard: Flags for Every Freak to Fly

Posted on by Editor

For loft-dwellers, the struggle to find art pieces that can cover a large blank wall without breaking the bank is real. Enter the Wild Standard, a flag-making company that makes exactly those kinds of pieces (and, for the record, they look great on small walls, too). With flags ranging from hometown pride (We see you, Nashville!) to all things entomological, there's a little something for everyone. 

"The Wild Standard started as a favor for a friend," co-owner Linsey Metcalf says. "Our friend Phil, from Foster in Atlanta, asked if I would design and produce a flag for his co-working space. I agreed to help and went to work on design and fabrics. Once we landed on the final direction, I pulled in my friend Tara to help with prototypes and stitching up the final flags. Tara and I balanced each other well and had a great time working with our hands in this way, so we thought we would give it a shot. That was a little over 16 months ago. The Wild Standard is still just Tara and me, but when we started,we both had full-time jobs and were making flags at nights and on the weekends. Now, Tara is able to run production full-time for us, and I fill in where I can at nights and on weekends."

The flags Metcalf and her partner make have a specific aesthetic — one that should appeal to minimalists and lovers of all things rustic alike. "We pull from a bit of history and traditional flagmaking, as well as a little minimalism," she explains.

Metcalf and her partner have plans for expansion, too: " As far as growth in new offerings, we have expanded to offer custom flags, as well as a smaller flag option to our large standard." 

"For the future, we would like to try our hand at different styles and aesthetics," she adds. "We are currently dabbling in nautically influenced flags with a minimal aesthetic, as well as flags with a heavier patchwork influence."

Check out some of our favorite Wild Standard flags, and get your own right here.

A Nashville flag out in the wild

Some creative inspiration

Droppin' wisdom

Don't mess with Texas

Everyone's favorite crooked state

Lede photo courtesy of Instagram, by Kate Edwards