The Arts Desk’s weekly picks for television, movies, music and more
By IQRA AHMAD — [email protected]
Song: “Lady Love” by Thee Sacred Souls (2022)
This gorgeous song is a soulful melody that captures the deep longing and desire for a second chance at love. With a smooth, vintage-inspired sound, characteristic of Thee Sacred Souls’ style, it evokes a timeless feeling, resonating with the yearning to reunite with an irreplaceable love. The lyrics reflect the narrator’s profound remorse over losing his “one true love” through his own missteps, admitting he clumsily mishandled her heart and broke it. The music beautifully complements his regret and enduring devotion as he hopes, waits and prays for her return.
Book: The “Sands of Arawiya” Duology by Hafsah Faizal (2019)
One hides behind a mask to save her people; the other buries his heart to serve a tyrant. But destiny doesn’t care who they pretend to be. This fantasy duology lies in the magical lands of Arawiya, following Zafira, a girl disguised as a man to hunt in a cursed forest, and Nasir, the assassin prince known as the “Prince of Death.” Their paths intertwine as they both set on a quest to recover a lost artifact that could restore magic to their world, and possibly even save it. Through detailed storytelling, a slow-burn romance and characters learning about their identity and duty, this is a must-read for fans of epic fantasy with heart.
Album: “The Secret of Us” by Gracie Abrams (2024)
Gracie Abrams has always had a gift for illustrating the beauty of vulnerability, but “The Secret of Us” takes that emotional intimacy to a whole new level. This album feels like reading a diary you weren’t meant to find; it’s quietly confessional and bold. With aching lyrics, Abrams captures the confusion, ache and hope that come with navigating relationships in your 20s. Every track pulses with quiet urgency, but there’s growth here, too, a sense that she’s stepping into her voice more fully, even as she admits she’s still figuring things out. So, whether you’re nursing a heartbreak or just trying to understand yourself a little better, “The Secret of Us” is the kind of album that meets you where you are.
TV Show: “Wayne” (2019)
If you missed “Wayne” the first time around, now’s the perfect time to watch this gritty, surprisingly heartfelt gem. This series follows Wayne, a tough, quietly principled teenager from Brockton, Massachusetts who sets off on a cross-country road trip with his crush, Del, to retrieve his late father’s stolen car. What starts as a violent, fast-paced quest quickly reveals layers of vulnerability and emotion. What really sets “Wayne” apart is its balance of chaotic and tender, absurd and sincere. It delivers explosive action and biting one-liners, but never loses sight of its relatable characters. “Wayne” is the kind of show that punches you in the gut and makes you care deeply while doing it.
Written by: Iqra Ahmad — [email protected]
