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 break with our Afternoon Tea curators. Need an extra lump of sugar? One more sip? If you have five minutes more (or ten), we have one more hit.
Today’s tea + soundtrack + visuals curated by Raphaela.
Lebanese-Canadian artist Raphaela unveils a new side of herself with “Muse,” a light, romantic indie-pop single that captures the giddy glow of a love so deep, it becomes your inspiration. It’s a sonic exhale – warm, cinematic, and effervescent – marking a bright step forward from the moody introspection of her earlier work. This is a song about ease after ache, about finally finding the kind of love that doesn’t ask you to shrink, change, or chase.
Written on a sunny summer afternoon, “Muse” is all soft light and open-hearted ease. It’s a celebration of the kind of love that feels natural and grounded – the kind that makes you feel seen, steady, and full of joy. Produced with a new pop-forward polish, “Muse” balances Raphaela‘s signature emotional honesty with a more playful tone: sunlight on your shoulders, dancing in the kitchen, a song you want to get lost in.
Stream + share “Muse” now:
“Muse” is a celebration of simplicity after struggle – the kind of love that makes you realize you never had to fight so hard in the first place. – Raphaela
“Muse” follows the emotional complexity of Raphaela‘s past singles – including “Leave Him First,” “Fifth Street,” and “South of France” – and offers a joyful preview of her debut EP, due later this year. The Muse EP promises a full spectrum of love and longing: from heartbreak to healing, and the quiet magic of falling in love again.
Tea: Rose & Lavender white tea
Tune: Simply the best – Billianne
I’ve always loved the original, but there’s something truly special about this cover. Billianne brings a soft, romantic vulnerability to the song that gives the lyrics a whole new glow. While the original is iconic for its power and passion, this version leans into tenderness — letting each word breathe, and making the emotion feel more intimate and personal. It’s a beautiful reminder that sometimes, stripping a song down reveals just how timeless and heartfelt it really is.
Visual: The Lovers” by René Magritte.
I love how this painting depicts intimacy in the most subtle, haunting way. To me, The Lovers seem deeply in love — you can feel their connection, the longing, the way they truly see each other, even though something still stands in the way. The veils become more than just fabric — they’re a metaphor for the quiet, invisible barriers that can exist between even the closest of souls. It’s tender and tragic all at once, like loving someone completely but not being able to fully reach them.
Tea + Me 