#new bloom

Song Review: James Casey - “New Bloom”

James Casey’s omnivorous musical tendencies are all over “New Bloom.”

The sax man, who plays with the Trey Anastasio Band and Phil Lesh & Friends, melds smooth jazz and trip-hop with ocean sounds and disco strings on this mostly instrumental track. And just as the groove starts to dig a deep trench, it gives way to a symphonic interlude and Casey speak-singing:

No matter what problems come your way/you’ve got today/and no matter what happens today/you’ll be OK - poignant words inspired by Casey’s battle with colon cancer.

The track previews his full-length debut, the Kaua’i Project, an eight-track album based around “beats recorded on a 15-month stay in Hawaii, and the personal journey that followed,” per a statement. The Project serves as the followup to Casey’s 2022 holiday EP A Little Something for Everyone.

There’s no release date for the LP.

Grade card: James Casey - “New Bloom” - C

Read on Ao3

Virgil shrugged, “I said yes.”

“Have you talked to Scott about that?”

“Scott already knows.” Their older brother announced himself in the hallway. 

With a groan Virgil let his head fall back against the back of the sofa, covering his face with his hands, not ready for the onslaught of questions likely to revolve around lawyers and custody and have you even thought about this?

“Don’t start on him,” John warned quietly, and Virgil hoped Scott would take the warning. John’s quiet voice was perhaps his most dangerous. 

He winced at Scott’s scoff, “You really think I was going to? Grandma rang to say she’s spoken to Brains, the last thing i’m going to do is start nagging.”

Well, after much not-so-constructive criticism, i’ve given New Bloom a new design, to show no traces of her old tru-scum attitude from her teenage years. (And no longer resembles her source)

She has truly bloomed into her new self, and she looks much prettier now, too

Things that have been changed:

Her fur was changed to white, to match more with the trans flag

She was changed to an alicorn (she becomes one as an adult)

The red, white, and black were removed from her mane and tail

A yellow heart was added to her cutie mark

Her mane got longer, and a bit more wavy, as apposed to completely curly

She might be just a trans mare now, as opposed to being a demigirl (demimare?) (She’s transfeminine regardless)

She now looks nothing like Medi, which is a very good thing

Original

Spring’s Frost

A set I made with @wudgiefudgie for this years New Bloom event

Span of the August Rooster is now on the workshop!

Finished a set for Beast Master in preparation for the New Bloom event.

Click here to take a closer look at the set, and be sure to give it a vote if you can! Thank you!

Models & Masks by Zipfinator

Jen frowned as they reached the drive of the house, reaching out to stop Lucy from rushing forward to let herself in. 

“What?” Penny asked her as she pushed the pram onto the path to the door, looking up to the upper level of the house, “Did you leave the window open?”

“No,” She took a breath, “Did you?”

“No.” Penny was already reaching for her comm, “Eos--”

“It is Kayo that has let herself into the house and is currently working in the office, you needn’t worry of any other intruders.” The AI informed them, “You also may like to know that the rest of the family are on their way to the Island for the night.”

The thoughts plagued him all the way back to the hospital, milling over and over in his head whilst he processed his Aunt’s point… what will be will be.

Once he reached Brad’s room, he pushed the thoughts to one side, wanting all his focus to be on the little boy’s recovery. Smiling he knocked on the door, glad that the boy’s face lit up through the window. As he stepped in, Brad picked up the sheet of paper he had been hunched over, waving it at him, “Look Virgi’wl, I did a drawing!”

“Let’s have a see,” Virgil smiled, leaning over the bed to look.

Brad pointed at each of the figures on the page as he spoke, “It’s you, n’d Amy, n’d me ‘round the campfire in the forw’est.”

“That’s great, you’re a real artist kiddo.” Virgil chuckled, “Have you seen your sister today?”

Brad shook his head, “No, gotta do my exercises first Jack said.”

Jack was the social worker that had been placed in charge of looking after the pair of children, acting as a guardian until something more permanent came along for them. He had encouraged Virgil to keep visiting, saying how it would be a reassurance to Brad that people wouldn’t simply keep vanishing off on him.

“Well,” Virgil offered, “Why don’t I got and ask Doctor Kinman if we can do your exercises and then if you want we can go to the play room with Amy?”

Brad shook his head as he folded his arms, “I don’t wanna.”