Shifter Selects: There's a Wild Side to Everything

Graphic by Spencer Hall. Photos from left to right: The Man With The Answers/Peccadillo Pictures, Normani/Epic Records, Paraiso Swim Week/Maaji.

Welcome to Shifter Selects, an addition to our digital component where we’ll highlight the latest trends in music, film/TV and fashion. Here’s how it’ll go down: on Monday of every week, we’ll be on the lookout for trending topics and give our hot takes on the matter. Sound like something you’d be interested in? Look no further than our Shifter Selects for the week of July 19 – 23.

We finally get a taste of Normani's new music (featuring none other than Cardi B), "The Man With The Answers" makes its way to the silver screen and we dive into the hottest trends from Paraiso Swim Week.

Music

Normani and Cardi B show off their "Wild Side"

by Ysatis Rios-Sabat

Where to listen: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, etc.

She’s back and better than ever! It’s been three years since Normani released her last single “Motivation” in 2019. Now, the icon is back with a little help from Cardi B in her new single, “Wild Side.”

The single and music video, released on Friday, July 16, features some ~amazing~ choreography, lyrics, and outfit changes. The cinematic video opens up with Normani wearing an intricate black body suit and posing against a deep red background before cutting to her dancing. The singer, partly known for her spectacular dance moves, joins Cardi B midway through the video as the rapper performs her verse.

Contrary to her previous single, “Wild Side” takes a more sensual approach to its sound. Normani’s vocals are calm and collected as she sings about her lover. The more traditional RnB song was written with Tyler Rohn, Taylor Ross, Jonah Christian, Dave Cappa, June Nawakii, Pardison Fontaine, Keynon Moore and Starrah.

Normani took to her Instagram to showcase some behind the scene stills, saying, “AND yes I was actually sliding on my kneeeeeees.”

We could never.

Film/TV

Learn to Love with “The Man with the Answers”

by Emma Lingo

Where to watch: Amazon Prime

Peccadillo Pictures’ “The Man with the Answers” follows ex-championship diver Vicktoras across Europe. Along the way, he meets a carefree hitchhiker, Mathias. The unlikely pair hit it off and a beautiful, whirlwind romance blooms.

This “Call Me By Your Name”-esque film directed and written by Stelios Kammitsis offers a raw look at queer love and familial tensions. Vasilis Magouliotis, who plays Vicktoras, takes the audience on a journey where he comes to terms with himself. Meanwhile, Mathias (Anton Weil) holds Vicktoras’ hand and tempts him to explore his repressed desires.

“The Man with the Answers” shows the intricacies of loyalty, family and queerness. The open-ended third act allows viewers to go home with their own interpretation of how the story of Vicktoras and Mathias went. Although the subjective love story is not for everyone, “The Man with the Answers” pays homage to travel with beautiful shots of the European countryside and has twists and turns to keep anyone on the edge of their seat.

Fashion

A Dive into Miami Swim Week 2021

by Brianna Fairman

Where to follow: Boohoo, Honey Birdette, BFYNE, Follow Miami Swim Week on Instagram

Miami Swim Week 2021 has officially concluded, so the Shifter Fam is taking a moment to celebrate some of our favorite shows.

Retail brand Boohoo made a major splash this year with stunning men’s and women’s swimwear collections, repped by models of all shapes and sizes. Boohoo presented a star-studded show with a performance by Ty Dolla Sign and walks by TikTok influencers/models Olivia Panton, Tessa Brooks, Sam Paige, and more.

Models for Honey Birdette, a luxury lingerie brand, graced the catwalks of Miami Swim Week with a show that was one-part lingerie and one-part swimwear. Aquaria, the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 10, walked during the show, modeling swimsuits and a lilac lingerie set.

Clothing brand BFYNE and non-profit Models of Color Matter teamed up to bring an all-black lineup to Miami Swim Week 2021. In an Instagram caption, Models of Color Matter wrote, “Black models at fashion weeks are often treated like an after thought or token. We wanted to create a safe space for these beautiful black women to show up and be catered to and heard.” Most notable of the bunch was Jasmine Blandford, TikTok star and model, who even gave her followers a behind-the-scenes look.

Want to keep up with the latest trends?

Tune in on Monday for our next installment of Shifter Selects!