Hello everybody!
I am so excited to share my first single with you all!
I wrote this song in the beginning of last school year and developed it with amazing musicians who are now some of my best friends. 
I am so so so proud of us and I cannot wait for you to hear this and the rest of the album, which will be out on Friday, January 4th!

Click the link below to pre-save this song to your Spotify!

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/carolinemeade/fT4A

2019 is about to be very exciting yall :)

Thank you for all of your support always,
I will talk to you soon,

- Caroline Meade <3


Credits:
Vocals - Caroline Meade
Acoustic Guitar  & Bass - Lucas Kando
Drums - Danny Eberle
Electric Guitar - Joe Ippolito
Recorded By - Rain Johannes
Mixed By - Ilan Natter
Mastered By - Austin Zaff

      There is a distinct smell that's typically the same for all graffiti filled bathrooms, typically located by the bar or next to sound board. The smell is not totally disgusting, and it is not totally lovely to say the least, but it is a bit comforting. (Who am I kidding, that shits nasty).
       Since sophomore year, I periodically go to shows at these smelly venues all around Brooklyn, going with friends to see our friend's bands and all that jazz, and even though I've seen a lot of bands that were really different, they all have that "I don't care what you think because my friends and I are having fun" teenage vibe.  I call this umbrella genre, smelly Brooklyn music (I'll find a catchier name).
      The vibe is the same and so are the audience members.  Thrifted levi's, the dirtiest sneakers you've seen, and absolutely no form of a bag on them. (I am baffled by this. 'Where do they put their keys? Their wallets? Their phones? Their back up chargers?  Their books for reading on the train?  Their water bottles?' I think, but then I remember, perhaps some of them live just around the corner.  Lucky bastards).
     Though this may not be the best music, but it never fails to cheer me up. I listen and I can imagine kids recording an album in someones garage or basement. It shows the fun grittiness of making music with you friends is not completely gone from the industry yet. I feel like more teenagers who are making music are doing it all alone, which is also great and admirable. However there is something so fulfilling and joyous in collaborating with other musicians and being able to tell the difference between tracks that have just been dubbed over and people actually playing at the same time.
     Anyway, I notice this music popping up a lot more on Spotify and Apple music (some are on those 'Bedroom Pop' Playlist's which is :/).  I made a playlist of my favorite SBM music that I typically listen to walking to the train or between classes. Some of the bands on it are actually ones from my school (This band scene has faded year by year at LaGuardia due to the administration, but I'm tryna to revive it and pass down this wee torch).
Talk to you soon xxxx

Link below:
https://open.spotify.com/user/carolinemeade8080/playlist/2UfqbMmnnC1fRTXGEsvd6S?si=Lh7QX6TXQr-EIDLqmtyqsw

      

​Enjoy!

     Typically, we don't think twice before picking up a plastic water bottle.  We do not think of the consequences for the environment and our own health.  We grow up thinking bottled water is the safest way of drinking water and that there is no harm done to our environment if we recycle.  Recycling is good, but whether we recycle or not, the roots of our global plastic problem stay: Extraction, production, consumption, and yes, disposal.  Most things are not so black and white, and neither is the global use of plastic water bottles.  I only drink from a plastic water bottle if it is an emergency because I've been educated on the impact it makes.  However from talking to friends about this subject I realized that most people aren't educated about the issue. SO...here is a basic rundown:

Extraction:
     Before taking a look at the consequences of the disposal of plastic water bottles, we must understand how they are created.  The key ingredients in a plastic water bottle are PET, oil and water.  One of the most environmentally problematic ingredients is oil.  Just to put in perspective how much oil is extracted to produce these plastic bottles, it requires more than 17 million barrels of oil, not including the energy for transportation.  ( pacinist.org ).  The extraction of all of this oil is destructive to vegetation, animal migration routes, niches and even tourism.  With the building of oil drilling sites comes seperation of animals and man made blockades within an ecosystem.  This can alter predator and prey dynamics and increase animals getting hit by cars.  Man made fencing and infrastructure not only disrupt an animals migration habits, but also threaten their survival.  ( wilderness.org ).  Finally, like most things, the extraction of oil contributes to climate change due to the fact that it releases methane.  ( ghgonline.org ).   

Production:
     According to banthebottle.net , Americans use around 50 billion plastic water bottles a year which is approximately equivalent to over 100 billion liters (based upon the average measurement of a water bottle, which contains 16.9 fluid ounces).  Yearly, we use 17 million barrels of oil, excluding the transportation to produce single-serve water bottles.  Reflecting on the last paragraph about the damage caused by oil drilling, this is disasterous to our society and is a sustainable practice.  According to BP’s annual report in 2014,  oil reserves will only last us the next 53.3 years.  This means, in theory, that currently we only have 50 years left of it.  My generation, my childrens generation and even possibly my mothers generation will live to see the day where America has no more oil.  The use of plastic water bottles shortens the time it takes for this country to get to that point.  On average, it takes 3 liters of water to produce 1 liter of bottled water. (Pacinist.org).  Not only does this production cost us water, but “every ton of PET produces around 3 tons of carbon dioxide” and “bottling water thus created more than 2.5 million tons of CO2 in 2006” according to pacinst.org.  This shows that the extraction as well as production of bottled water leads to climate change with the emissions of greenhouse gases.

Consumption:
     “A million plastic bottles are bought around the world every minute and the number will jump another 20% by 2021”. ( thegaurdian.com ).  This number is astounding at first, but it makes sense when you really think about it.  People visiting other countries don’t trust the water sometimes, so they buy bottled water.  When you’re at a sports event or concert, you buy bottled water.  When the water in your state or country is not safe to drink, you buy bottled water.  In New York, considering we have some of the best water in the world, there is no excuse to buy water, however it is slightly more understandable in other places.  People see plastic water bottles as the face of safe and clean, but how do we know that for a fact?  BPA, a weak synthetic estrogen, is found in not only some water bottles, but also many other rigid plastics.  These BPA’s can leach into your water as well as other harmful chemicals, especially if they are in a warm environment or directly heated up.  (webmd.com).  The effects if this BPA’s leaching into your water could be the disruption of hormone levels, cancer, and heart and behavioral problems.  ( webmd.com ).  BPA’s are a highly discussed concern within cancer research.  According to breastcancer.org , because BPA acts as a hormone disruptor, they “effect how estrogen and other hormones act in the body, by  blocking them or mimicking them, which throws off the body's hormonal balance”. This estrogen makes it easier for breast cancer to develop and grow.  You would think that the FDA would immediately ban BPA’s after 2008, when their dangerous effects became more widely known, but unfortunately that did not happen. According to content.time.com , in 2012, “On March 30, the FDA announced that it was rejecting a petition from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to ban BPA from food packaging”.  Critiques speculate that more action will be taken to ban BPA’s once more research and education occurs. 
     On a positive note, more people are buying reusable water bottles instead of single use ones.  This may be because people are more environmentally aware or that reusable water bottles are becoming in style.  TheGaurdian.com wrote an article about this phenomenon, saying “Think of it as the new tote bag: an instant way to signpost that you’re environmentally conscious, while also adding a Insta-friendly fashion statement to your everyday look” and “The trend is partly down to brands realising the power of the green pound”.  BPA free reusable bottles are affordable as well, ranging from less than $4 to $50 (depending on how fashionable you would like your water bottle).  Hopefully, this trend continues because this deceivingly small effort contributes to a better future for our earth.

Disposal:
     People typically feel less guilty or not guilty at all for using plastic water bottles, because they plan to recycle them.  However, this should not lift a weight off of ones shoulders because only one in five plastic bottles is actually recycled. ( globalcitizen.org ).  The rest of these bottles are end up in landfills, where it takes 500 years to decompose and leak pollutants into soil and water.  According to news.nationalgeographic.com ,  “8 million metric tons of plastic ends up in the oceans every year”  and “The prediction that by mid-century, the oceans will contain more plastic waste than fish, ton for ton, has become one of the most-quoted statistics and a rallying cry to do something about it”.  Though you should care about the endangerment of ocean animals and the pollution in our ocean, the will directly effect seafood eating humans as well.  People assume that if there is no plastic in the fish that they are eating, it is safe to eat but that is not always the case.  These chemicals ocean animals are digesting from contaminated water or plastic, whether it be oil, mercury, lead, pesticides or other toxins, are biomagnified down the food change and we end up eating contaminated seafood without even knowing.  ( planetaid.org ).  This all stems from not recycling plastic water bottles as well as other plastics.  However, it is clear that even if you do recycle, there is a good chance your waste will end up in a landfill and later into our oceans.

     There are many reasons to use plastic water bottles but the reasons against using them are so much greater.  You can chose not to use them because it is more cost effective.  You can choose not to use them to keep our oceans clean.  You can choose not to use them because you care about climate change.  You can choose not to use them because you prefer to be stylish.  You can choose not to use them for the sake of your health.  You can choose not to use them because you care about the future of this planet.  Or you can choose to use them because it is more convenient.  It is up to you to decide whether your convenience is worth it.  I know mine isn’t.
 
 
 

When I was in third grade, I thought my sisters Tumblr was the coolest thing ever.
Even today, I still kinda think my sisters Tumblr is the coolest thing ever.
   People make fun of Tumblr, as if it’s a place only for either the type to slit their wrist and listen to MCR or the picture perfect Urban Outfitters aesthetic.  But its really not just that. I personally go on Tumblr when I need a good laugh or if I’m in need of inspiration.  Generally, I’ve always really loved it and I believe it’s a whole lot less toxic and unhealthy than a lot of other social media.
But the shit I’m about to tell you about right now…it’s a little wack.
I got an email from Tumblr a few days ago with the subject:
"Update Russian-linked activity on Tumblr"
Update? Um… I had no knowledge of this in the first place. This is an alert!
The email goes on:

"As part of our commitment to transparency, we want you to know that we uncovered and terminated 84 accounts linked to Internet Research Agency or IRA (a group closely tied to the the Russian government) posing as members of the Tumblr community.
The IRA engages in electronic disinformation and propaganda campaigns around the world using phony social media accounts. When we uncovered these accounts, we notified law enforcement, terminated the accounts, and deleted their original posts.
While investigating their activity on Tumblr, we discovered that you either followed one of these accounts linked to the IRA, or liked or reblogged one of their posts:"

Electronic propaganda? AM I A GATEWAY TO HACKING OUR GOVERNMENT.  Did that 5SOS meme I reblogged unlock some secrets?  I am contributing to…to…TERRORISM??????????
After they sent this paragraph they included names of some of the accounts and let me tell you that they are funny as hell.  I’m not going to write them though because honestly, I’m terrified.
The nice people at Tumblr reassured me that I didn’t accidentally contribute to any federal crimes and stated,
"You aren’t in trouble, and don’t need to take any action if you don’t want to. We deleted the accounts but decided to leave up any reblog chains so that you can curate your own Tumblr to reflect your own personal views and perspectives.
Democracy requires transparency and an informed electorate and we take our disclosure responsibility very seriously. We’ll be aggressively watching for disinformation campaigns in the future, take the appropriate action, and make sure you know about it."

What I love about Tumblr is that I don’t go on it for social purposes and it’s not about who I follow…its purely about their content. These spies however, (or whatever you want to call them) are taking advantage of that. They take advantage that no one’s really looking at who they are in the first place, and in all seriousness, that makes me sad.
 

   The last time I was excited to watch the news was 4 years ago, when I was in the 7th grade.  Almost everyday that October, a new Banksy mural or public art piece was found.  Each piece had New Yorkers flooding in excitement just to get a glance.  I have been infatuated with him ever since.
If you don’t know who Banksy is, you’re not alone.  The political street artist has managed to keep his identity a secret from the public and even the police.  All we really know is that he is around 44, from England and is extremely charitable.
We can also infer that he has a lot of money.  It takes money to ensure people stay quiet, and there is no way he could accomplish anything in secret alone.  He also has had people openly working with him, like at his 2015 temporary art installation (featuring work from other artists as well): a “bemusemnt” park called Dismaland in England.  It was filled with unhappy and monotone employees and pieces that represented a gruesome and sinister twist on Disney stories or characters. (I highly suggest looking up pictures. Fun Fact: My grandfather went and sent me Dismaland shirts in which I am keeping in pristine condition). But I am not here to educate you on the history of Banksy, I’m here to talk about how he is back in New York.
   On Thursday, March 16th, Banksy painted a mural of Turkish artist Zehra Dogan.  Zehra has been in prison for one of her watercolor paintings that depicts the destruction being done to a Kurdish town in Turkey. Three days ago on Instagram , Banksy posted her picture and captioned “One year ago Zehra Dogan was jailed for painting this watercolor of a photograph she saw in the newspaper. Protest against this injustice by regramming her painting and tagging Turkey’s President Erdogan @rterdogan #FREEzehradogan”.
The mural is a collection of slash marks, representing the days Zehra has spent in prison so far, as well as appearing as jail bars. In one set of 5, we see a portrait of Zehra looking out from behind them. If you look closely, the bar she is holding is actually a pencil.
The mural, which is a collaboration between Banksy and NYC street artist Borf, is brilliant to say the least.
Zehra apparently has no knowledge of the mural, but it’s a wonderful thing that everyone else does

You can find this mural (hopefully) still on Houston & Bowery.
Take a photo, share it.
Find a photo, share it.
Everyone should know of this injustice.

“This is a movie about a family, compassion, transmission of knowledge, of being better people because someone’s otherness changes you”.
    This is a quote from brilliant director Luca Guadagnino, in which sums up Call Me By Your Name in the best way possible.  And in terms of the 90th academy awards, this is my pick for best movie.
     Everything about this film completely inspired me.  Between the magnificent cinematography, the indolent yet eternally nostalgic atmosphere created, the perfectly captured giddiness and intensity of a first love, the fluidity between all of the characters and the honest performances of the actors...it is entirely brilliant.
My favorite characteristic however, had to be the empathy the movie yields out of the audience.
     The film takes place in 1983 “Somewhere in Northern Italy”, (filmed actually in Cremona, Italy) at a boy, Elio, and his family’s paradise-like villa.  We are immediately introduced to the American graduate student, Oliver, coming to study under Elio’s father, an archeologist.  As the story goes on, we see Elio and Oliver’s relationship go from one of butting heads and mutual intimidation to one of love, passion and risk.
     Timothee Chalamet (a graduate from my high school actually!), as Elio, is spot on.  He is perfectly naïve and confused, yet the whole time you somehow believe he is sure of what he wants.  Chalamet was a teenager when he filmed this, and I genuinely wish to see more of that in the movie industry.  There is nothing that compares to a teenager portraying a teenager onscreen.  In an interview with Newsweek.com, Chalamet explains “within the context of the story this character plays all his cards and reveals his hand to the person of interest” and later adds, “There’s nothing wrong with opening up and playing your cards.  In fact, sometimes it can be an attractive and beautiful thing”.
     Armie Hammer, who plays Oliver, is the perfect distinctive mix of charming, enticing and even sometimes bumptious man, that is described in the 2007 novel. (Which I am currently reading). 
     However the brightest star of this movie is the father, actor Michael Stuhlbarg.  He is probably one of the best actors I’ve seen in which I actually had to look up their name.  I can’t say much without spoiling anything, but his evolution in character is remarkable and one to covet.
One important thing about this movie is that it is the first movie  I’ve seen that displays a homosexual relationship but that is not about the struggles of homosexuality in society.  Of course it hints on it, between the let going of hands in public and the…well I’m not going to say it (spoiler).  However, you don’t think in terms of gender when you watch this, you feel like you are just watching an extrodinary love story (as it should be).  In an interview with Armie Hammer for MTV News, he explained
“I think there’s a great element to this movie, where no one pays for being gay. There’s no punishment. Nobody gets sick, nobody has a wife they have to tell, there’s no family drama. It’s nothing like that, it’s just two people who expose themselves and make themselves vulnerable to someone else and that person receives and does the same…and it’s just a beautiful thing to watch happen”.

Please watch this movie if you haven’t, and let me know what you think.
Fingers crossed for tonight.

Always, 
Caroline Meade
 

 
 
 SOURCES:
Newsweek.com
Imdb.com
YouTube.com
Scroll.in
Thegaurdian.com
 

With the patriots in the super bowl, there has been a lot of talk about the teams MVP, Tom Brady…and his strict diet.  Brady and his family eat vegan the majority of the time and also follow the alkaline diet, which limits acidic foods.  Though it is remarkable that Brady is still an all star in the game at the age of 40, how heavy of a role does his diet actually play into it?  Brady claims that it’s huge, but does science agree?
    According to StyleCaster.com “80% percent of what they eat is vegetables”, “The other 20% is lean meats: grass-fed organic steak, duck every now and then, and chicken. As for fish, I mostly cook wild salmon”.  The list of things the family doesn’t eat is also long; “No white sugar. No white flour. No MSG”,  “No coffee. No caffeine. No fungus. No dairy. No gluten”.  Even their vegetable intake is strict.  Their nutritionist says that they do not eat “tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, or eggplants”.  Other football players have also followed this health trend, except many of them are going full vegan.  According to CNBC.com, known players like Derrick Morgan, Jurrell Casey, DaQuan Jones and most famously, David Carter have followed the health trend.  Nicknamed “The 300-pound Vegan", who claims the lifestyle “completely changed” how he thought about eating and that being vegan is “Just a lot easier for you to function during work because your body is functioning better”, and he could very well be right.   Researchers found that "Plant-based foods naturally lower inflammation in the body because they are naturally low in fat and high in antioxidants.  High vegetable intake increases the amount of B vitamins in the diet, which have been found to affect mood."
    However, as researcher and kinesiology professor Stuart Phillips says, “There’s lots of example where people who are successful athletes have attributed their success to one practice or another.  But the main point is: If you pull it back and start to look at the science that underpins what people are saying, there is none there”.  Brady prides him self on the claim that his diet lowers the body’s pH, but that is scientifically impossible.  Experiments conducted have proven that you can’t alter blood pH in a significant way with diet, according to businessinsider.com .

Essentially, health doesn’t have to be this complicated and expensive. There is no science that says it does and you can’t argue with science.

But damn, that man really is in great shape.