Talk Tik Tok to me

[READER]( I've resisted the call of Tik Tok, but not without reservations. Part of me knows I'm cutting myself off from entire creative worlds, and possibly exciting new local voices who practice a variety of different mediums. But I've also developed some pretty bad habits as a user of other social media platforms. I understand how addicting Tik Tok can be, and I don't need to spend even more time glued to my phone because I found a funny video an hour ago and need to find more. I do have the Tik Tok app on my phone, largely for work purposes; I finally caved a couple months ago to do a little research for [my February story on Hospital Bracelet]( since the platform came up a few times in my interviews. Tik Tok isn't exactly unfamiliar to me from my remove. I can't log on to Twitter or Instagram without catching a Tik Tok video imported into my feed. It isn't hard for me to find viral clips, or even videos by and for people in music subscenes I follow online that would never come close to piercing mainstream culture. I'm thinking about this now because over the weekend my Twitter timeline filled up with reactions to a Tik Tok video calling the Walgreens in the old Noel State Bank building at the mouth of Wicker Park's six corners a ["hidden gem."]( I tweeted a [bewildered r]( but days later I still remain perplexed. I simply can't get it out of my head. More than anything, I've longed for a culture journalist with a deep knowledge of Tik Tok and Chicago to write about it. There's a lot about subcultures that have emerged on this platform that is elusive to me, and I'd love to learn more about that from the people who are most knowledgeable. As much as I've avoided using Tik Tok myself, I've read some great journalism about its influence on a variety of subcultures. (Once again I find myself referencing Cat Zhang's deeply researched Pitchfork piece on [Molchat Doma]( And I'd love to read more of it that's focused on Chicago. I say all this partly because Reader culture editor Brianna Wellen put out [a call for arts and culture pitches yesterday](. So if you've got a great local Tik Tok story you want to pitch, or have an idea about anything related to arts and culture, [e-mail Brianna]( And if you're curious about what we're looking for in a pitch, our handy [freelance guide]( should answer all your questions. And if you just want to explain Tik Tok to me, I am all ears. Sincerely, ["Damon Locks and the Black Monument Ensemble's Spiritual, Funky Escape,"]( by Marcus J. Moore (New York Times) ["Cult of Personality: It's time to leave Substack,"]( by Ernest Wilkins (Office Hours) ["Live audiences are (hopefully) coming back. Where does that leave streaming concerts?,"]( by Hannah Edgar (Chicago Tribune) Brin, Dntel, More Eaze, [Futurangelics]( Beth McDonald, [densing]( Spread Joy, [Spread Joy]( AYOCHILLMANNN and Valee, [The TrAppiEst Elevator Music Ever!]( [Philadelphia duo Writhing Squares achieve maximum aggravation on their third album]( By [Bill Meyer]( [Buenört Collective spread their hot revolution across the Atlantic]( The Chicago-based party incubator and microlabel releases the new album by Spanish band El Sombrero del Abuelo. By [Sandra Treviño]( [@sandratrevino]( [GOSSIP WOLF: Tonic Room transforms itself into Golden Dagger]( Plus: Eleventh Dream Day release the surprise double album Since Grazed. By [J.R. Nelson]( [@JR1Nelson]( and [Leor Galil]( [@imLeor]( [Mythic Sunship’s new Wildfire feels as untamed and alive as spring]( The jazzy Copenhagen psychedelic group rewrite their instrumental language once again. By [Jamie Ludwig]( [@unlistenmusic]( [Rika Lin's 'ingenuity of necessity' bridges centuries of tradition]( Influences from kabuki and karate inform her boundary-crossing body of dance work. By [Irene Hsiao]( [@IreneCHsiao]( [The candy-coated morality tales of Wong Ping]( The artist, animator, and self-proclaimed comedian touches on the personal and political with his “Digital Fables.” By [Kathleen Sachs]( [What are human rights to the incarcerated?]( Two books explore the creativity of people in prison while highlighting their lack of access to basic necessities. By [Kerry Cardoza]( [@booksnotboys]( [Issue of April 1 - 14, 2021 Vol. 50, No. 14]( [Download Issue]( (PDF) 1971 Chicagoans have relied on the Reader for trusted alternative coverage of our city. The Chicago Reader is now a 501c3 nonprofit organization which means our survival is in your hands. In order to continue to be your trusted alternative voice of Chicago, we need your help. 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