Hey friends. 👋

DoTell is officially turning ONE! 🎂 Which means I've now spent an entire year emailing thousands of strangers about music, wonderfully weird events, and occasionally my personal life. A year ago, I sent that very first email to a whole lot of people I'd never met, with absolutely no idea how much those people would end up meaning to me.

What started as a little seed of an idea from our CEO Kristin (shoutout to her!) has turned into something I never could've predicted. I still remember writing the first edition on a family trip, overthinking every sentence. A year later, I'm still overthinking sentences (some things never change), but this newsletter has become one of the most meaningful parts of my life.

Over the past year, I've gotten to share random but awesome events from around the world and from the DoStuff universe, music news, tour announcements, some pretty incredible DoStuff giveaways, and bits and pieces of my own life. But the best part, without question, has been getting to know you.

Through your replies, you've shared your wins, heartbreaks, struggles, dreams, and everything in between. I've laughed at some of your emails, cried reading others, and found myself telling friends stories about people I've never even met.

Somewhere along the way, writing this every week has made me a little more curious, a little more thoughtful, and a lot more aware of just how interesting people are when you take the time to listen. It's reminded me that we're all out here figuring things out and hopefully making this world a little kinder and more fun along the way.

So, this anniversary edition is dedicated to you. Whether you've been here since day one or just joined last week, thank you for reading, replying, and making this little corner of the internet feel like a community.

And as we head into year two, I want to turn the question over to you: What would you love to see more of in DoTell? 

Hit reply and tell me. After all, this newsletter is called DoTell for a reason. 💛

Kelly Clarkson is having a full-blown Pretty Woman moment over a $15,000 mechanical singing bird, and the internet is absolutely losing it. The singer called out a Brooklyn novelty shop after claiming an employee treated her like she couldn't afford the pricey bird, prompting the store to fire back that the bird wasn't actually for sale. Kelly wasn't having it, accusing the shop of lying and turning a five-minute shopping trip into one of the week's most unexpectedly entertaining celebrity feuds. Who knew a mechanical bird could cause this much drama?

Rosalía turned Saturday Night Live into an avant-garde spectacle, performing “Reliquia” while standing en pointe in a ballet tutu before delivering a rain-soaked rendition of “Magnolias.” As if that weren't enough, she also teamed up with Irish rockers Fontaines D.C. on their sweeping new collaboration, “Where Is Gone?” Ballet, dramatic rain, and indie rock? She's collecting genres like they're Pokémon.

The Veronicas found themselves in the middle of an internet controversy without actually being involved. A viral video showing two women apparently refusing a fan photo had viewers convinced it was the Australian pop duo, prompting the sisters to clarify that the women were actually two lookalike heiresses. The resemblance was so convincing that even The Veronicas initially wondered whether the footage was AI-generated. Getting canceled for someone else's behavior? That's a new one.

Doechii is officially back in her rap bag, reviving her beloved Swamp Sessions series with a fiery new track called “Bombs.” The rapper also shared a handwritten letter reflecting on her relationship with hip-hop and her mission to put Black womanhood at the center of both rap and pop. A new era of swamp supremacy appears to be brewing.

Tinashe has become the internet's latest collective responsibility thanks to the viral #UpliftTinashe movement, which jokingly challenges fans to do something every day to support the singer. And she's got plenty to celebrate: her album Popstar debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200, marking her first Top 10 album. From internet inside joke to actual chart success, never underestimate the power of extremely committed pop fans.

Charli XCX had a little surprise up her sleeve at Austin City Limits, bringing out Tinashe during her October 10 headlining set. Tinashe treated the crowd to the live debuts of “Nobody Wanna Dance Anymore” and “Melatonin,” turning an already major festival moment into a full-on pop-girl celebration. Consider this your reminder that surprise guests are practically a love language in pop music.

Grimes is returning to her futuristic pop universe with a newly announced album, Psyopera, and a dark, rave-ready single called “Accelerando.” The project will mark her first album since 2020's Miss Anthropocene, with artificial intelligence playing a central role in its themes. She also made it clear that the record won't include songs about Elon Musk, because apparently even the future needs boundaries.

Cardi B is taking her talents to the virtual streets with “Don't Chart,” a new song from the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 companion album. The ambitious 34-track soundtrack project also features contributions from artists including Travis Scott, Morgan Wallen, and Keith Richards. Apparently, even fictional crime sprees need an A-list playlist.

Phoebe Bridgers is giving Boygenius lovers something to celebrate, reuniting with Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus for an intimate filmed performance at New York's Cherry Lane Theatre. The acoustic session is part of A24's Sound Check series, directed by Lance Oppenheim, and includes performances of “Lost Boys,” “Haunted,” and “On Video.” Three indie icons, one cozy setting, and enough emotional damage to last the week.

Alanis Morissette is getting into the holiday spirit with Good Weather for Immaculate Conception, a Christmas album arriving November 6. The collection mixes seasonal classics, original songs, and collaborations with Brandi Carlile, Steve Martin, Martin Short, and more. Finally, a holiday soundtrack for anyone who likes their Christmas cheer with a little emotional complexity.

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