Newsletter: Mixtape II: Existential Crisis

by riley Uncategorized

FLYING
EARRINGS

EAaaaRRINGS

“Sounds like progressive rock made by theatre kids.”
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Hello, and welcome to a somewhat belated edition of this newsletter / journal entry / group therapy session.

This month’s theme:

So You’re Having An Existential Crisis…

The first Earrings newsletter was all about introducing us as a band, down to our musical influences. And then things changed…as they always do.

Writing is hard. Writing about change is even harder because THINGS KEEP CHANGING.

And the minute you record something, be it a thought or a song, it becomes fixed in time…and honestly, that’s terrifying.

So, here’s to just saying the thing:

Thank you Elfyn!

Because writing “Elfyn is so awesome and is so in demand that choices needed to be made” makes it real… even though it already happened.

Elfyn has been there with me since well before I started this journey. She started as my singing coach (when I embarked upon lessons as essentially a form of voice transition).

That led to, under her expert tutelage, writing my first attempts at songs, adding instruments, and finally tackling music theory.

She started as a teacher and mentor, then as a collaborator and friend. And the future will be something different…but not worse.

And Elfyn will remain a beloved member of the Earrings Cinematic Universe.

She will be on stage for what isn’t meant to be a farewell performance at Queerpride Dresden (see below).

She will keep bringing her skills and ears to our music, as producer for the upcoming album.

But deciding how to go forward without Elfyn as a core band member meant… actively deciding how to go forward.

Not just playing gigs and recording, but an existential reckoning.

WHAT EVEN ARE THE FLYING EARRINGS?????!!!!

The Flying Earrings started out as the latest (and arguably most) crazy thing I’ve ever set out to do, picked up steam, picked up members…

So what happens now? We keep making it up as we go along.

Two things I have realized since starting the Earrings: I NEED to create like I need oxygen… and community is everything.

There are new characters popping up in the ECU (Earrings Cinematic Universe). You may have seen one or three on our Insta.

There’s also room for more. I (and we!) will continue to seek out like-minded people to create and explore and grow with.

Yes, a level of music skills is great, but the main point is the desire to grow, to become, to find oneself, to see how far this rabbit hole goes.

And that leads to the next existential question: Can a band be polyamorous?

Let’s find out!

So, if YOU want to be an Earring, drop me a line!

Upcoming Shows

Queer Pride Dresden Aftershow
June 20th, 2026
Objekt Klein A, Meschwitzstrasse 9
Dresden

We teased this one in the last newsletter:

THE FLYING EARRINGS WILL BE PLAYING THE AFTERSHOW OF QUEER PRIDE DRESDEN!

We don’t have the running order yet, but we will be sharing the stage with such illustrious figures as Die Band Schmutz and Die Igitten!

We’re delighted to once more have Elfyn on keys for this one. As for the rest of the lineup, stay tuned!

Fête de la musique Dresden
June 21st, 2026
19:30
KuRSiF (Kultur-Raum Strehlen im Frauenbildungshaus)
Oskarstraße
Dresden-Strehlen

Life… Is wonderful, not gonna lie. We’ve been planning for Queerpide since February… And then Fête de la musique Dresden booked us for the very next day!

So, here’s to our very first double header!

We’ll be playing outdoors at KuRSiF (Kultur-Raum Strehlen im Frauenbildungshaus) on June 21st.

This is the lineup:

This is a no cover event. Please donate for the musicians.

Did I mention we’re stoked?

In Other News

So, we were nominated for attended our first awards show!

On March 27th, Büro für Popkultur und Musik Sachsen held its third Wettbewerb Popmusik.

The Flying Earrings tossed their hat into the ring for “best newcomer” knowing full well that we were far too “new” to warrant an award…

Which – rightfully – went to five amazing acts, namely:

This evening came with two powerful revelations:

First, it feels damn good to introduce myself as a musician/filmmaker.

Second, I can actually network. Like, talk to people. Like, make (eye)contact. Twenty years of failing at film shmooze events and… All it took, apparently was transitioning and becoming a musician?

Mixtape 2

So… What do you listen to, when you’re having an existential crisis?

Our FOA (Facilitator Of Awesome aka band manager) had some thoughts on that and… I agree!

  1. ★Your Ex Lover is Dead – Stars
    ★Wildewoman – Lucius
    ★Float On – Modest Mouse
    ★Seasons (Waiting on You) – Future Islands
    ★I Can Change – LCD Soundsystem
    ★Let It Happen – Tame Impala
    ★New Ways – Daughter
    ★Fear The Future – St. Vincent
    ★Warpaint – Flying Earrings
    ★What’s Up – Four Non Blondes

Listen to “Soundtrack for an Existential Crisis

Bonus Drink Recipe:
The Cosmopolitov

…for when you want to burn it all down.

  • ★2oz vodka
    ★1oz cointreau
    ★1oz cranberry juice
    ★1 oz fresh lime juice
    ★¼ oz overproof rum (or other flammable drinking alcohol)
    ★Ice
    ★One orange (to use the peel for garnish)
    ★One dried pineapple leaf
    ★One half lime hull (squeezed)
    ★One tsp raw sugar
    ★Chilled coupe or martini glass
    ★A source of open flame.

Place the vodka, cointreau, cranberry juice, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake until well chilled. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of orange peel.

Use toothpicks to float the juiced lime husk atop the cocktail. Add sugar and overproof rum to the empty lime husk. Light pineapple leaf on fire and place it in the lime.

Watch your eyebrows.

Serve with a side of revolution.
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