Ten minute tea with Afternoon Tea. Spend ten minutes with Afternoon Tea. In the time it takes to boil one kettle, and let one cup of tea steep, we will have your daily art + music fix covered. Take your afternoon tea break with our Afternoon Tea curators.
Today’s tea + soundtrack + visuals are curated by Alex Pulec. Alex Pulec (frontman of The Nursery and The Ruby Spirit) steps into his solo project, Alex Exists. His music is inspired by absurdism, hyper surrealism and optimistic nihilism with an acid tongue firmly planted in his cheek. He is fascinated by pop culture and ego. The signature of Alex‘s creative work is his unique sonic touches, drum heavy rhythms and classic “pop through a blender” melodies.
His mischievous song, “With A Bang,” sounds like a spaghetti western meets spy film theme song about two ex-lovers who are out for revenge – a neo-western, disco twang romp, if you will. It explores the feeling of short and cataclysmic quick burn relationships – those of which are doomed from the start, and celebrates them as spontaneous, messy, fun and chaotic.
It’s an irreverent dance song about celebrating the end of something in a flamboyant and over-the-top way. All throughout, the deep clear twang of a baritone guitar rings through.
One Piece of Music
“Experiment in Terror” by Henry Mancini
The song I chose to share is “Experiment in Terror” by Henry Mancini. It’s an instrumental piece that was composed for the 1962 suspense-thriller film of the same name. Personally love cinematic scoring a lot, it really inspires my musical style. This theme is known for its distinctive melody, which features a hauntingly beautiful yet ominous melody, accompanied by a driving rhythm section and jazzy brass arrangements. I love the elements of suspense and film noir that’s used to create a unique and evocative sound. One of the most striking aspects of “Experiment in Terror” for me is its use of dissonance and unconventional harmonies. The song features several unexpected chord changes and melodic twists, which contribute to its eerie and unsettling feel. This is particularly evident in the metallic sounding hammer dulcimer motif, which is initially played in a minor key, but then shifts to a major key in a way that is both unexpected and haunting.
One Visual
“Lost Highway” a film by David Lynch
The visual art piece we’re sharing is “Lost Highway” by David Lynch. I watched this as a teenanger and it’s etched an impression into my psyche forever. It inspired the “With A Bang” music video for the psychological kidnapping that occurs in the movie, as well as the ominous night driving scenes. The film though is a highly atmospheric and surreal neo-noir film that is unique in its use of unconventional storytelling techniques and its exploration of themes such as guilt, identity, and the unreliability of memory. Lurid erotisicm and dreamlike imagery that blurs the lines between reality and fantasy. It focuses on the exploration of Identity. Which is also a prominent theme in my music, along with the ego. The film’s themes of identity and the self are explored through the use of doppelgangers and doubling, with several characters appearing to have alternate versions of themselves. This adds to the film’s sense of unease and uncertainty about what is real and what is imagined. The film’s soundtrack, featuring music by David Bowie, Angelo Badalamenti, and others, is a key part of its atmosphere and mood, adding to the sense of unease and disorientation.
One Type of Tea
My choice of tea to pair with all this art is Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa korth). A tropical evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. The leaves of the kratom tree have been used for traditional medicine and recreational purposes in these regions for many years. Kratom contains alkaloids, such as mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, which are responsible for its psychoactive effects. Kratom is known for its stimulant and sedative properties, depending on the dose taken. It is often consumed as a tea or powder, and can also be found in capsules, tablets, and extracts. The use of kratom has become a controversial issue due to concerns about its potential risks and benefits, and there is ongoing debate about its legal status in various countries. However, I happen to believe, given all the modern science done, that it’s an amazing alternative to many pharmaceutical drugs that are legal and contribute to negative long term health effects and damage the liver. I find it highly suspicious that the health industry will not acknowledge its effectiveness, safety, history, accessibility, health benefits and low cost.
Tea + Me 