Sensi Magazine Michigan - March 2021

TUNES FOR THE TRIP

Curated playlists for psychedelics

Lighting the path

Cannabis delivery expands

FOR THE RECORD

Defense of vinyl in the 21st century

MICHIGAN MARCH 2021

MOTHER NATURE PROVIDES Hunt to Eat initiatives support Earth and equity

DISCOVER WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WEST MICHIGAN’S CANNABIS INDUSTRY

WANT TO LEARN MORE? CONTACT JESSICA LAIDLAW AT JLAIDLAW@GRMAG.COM OR 616.401.8703 GRMAG.COM

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MICHIGAN SENSI MAGAZINE MARCH 2021

sensimediagroup @sensimagazine @sensimag

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FEATURE

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Hunt to Eat

Why Mahting Putelis believes everyone should be supporting fair and just food systems—and how hunting can help grow diversity, equity, and inclusion.

DEPARTMENTS

13 EDITOR’S NOTE 24 THE LIFE Contributing to your health and happiness 14 THE BUZZ TRIP TUNES Music for News, tips, and tidbits to keep you in the loop JOSEPHINE & BILLIE’S A new cannabis brand puts women first.

A DRE THANG Check out Beats new headphones.

THC AI High-tech bud selection BUY ME Our favorite turntable LISTEN UP These speakers and headphones will blow your mind.

TRAIL MAGIC An outdoor brand hawks CBD.

your psychedelic journey.

VINYL APPEAL Dig in to the enduring charm of our record collections.

HOROSCOPE What the stars hold for you in March.

40 THE SCENE Hot happenings and hip

hangouts around town WAITING ON A FRIEND A local cannabis delivery service makes a big move.

SPRING FLINGS Don’t miss these live and online events across Michigan in March.

FRESH TUNES Our picks for 2021’s best music so far.

ON THE COVER

Mahting Putelis wants more people to hunt to eat.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MAHTING PUTELIS

50 THE END Support your local record shops.

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ADVISORY BOARD

EXECUTIVE

Aronoff Law (Craig Aronoff) Licensing Law Firm Cannabis Counsel Cannabis Law Firm Etz Chaim Attestations Great Lakes Natural Remedies Lakeshore: Provisioning Center Kush Design Studio Cannabis Facility Design & Build LC Solutions Michigan PLLC Accounting/CPA Services Michigan Creative Branding MRB Solutions Human Resources Northern Specialty Health Upper Peninsula: Provisioning Center Oh, Hello Branding Promotional Marketing Perry & Drummy Inc. Commercial Insurance Pure West Compassion Club Caregiver Connection & Network Rair Medical Flower Solutions by Dr. Dave West Michigan: Hemp CBD Helping Friendly Hemp Company Hemp Topicals

Ron Kolb Founder, CEO ron@sensimag.com

Stephanie Wilson Co-Founder, Editor in Chief stephanie@sensimag.com

Mike Mansbridge President

mike@sensimag.com Lou Ferris VP of Global Revenue lou@sensimag.com Chris Foltz Director of Global Reach chris@sensimag.com Richard Guerra Director of Global Reach richard.guerra@sensimag.com Amanda Patrizi Deputy Director of Global Reach amanda.patrizi@sensimag.com Jade Kolb Director of Project Management jade.kolb@sensimag.com Neil Willis Production Director neil.willis@sensimag.com EDITORIAL

Doug Schnitzspahn Executive Editor doug.schnitzspahn@sensimag.com Tracy Ross Managing Editor tracy.ross@sensimag.com Robyn Griggs Lawrence Editor at Large robyn.lawrence@sensimag.com Helen Olsson Copy Chief Stephanie Andelman, Amelia Arvesen, Jedd Ferris, Dawn Garcia, Mona Van Joseph Contributing Writers DESIGN

MEDIA PARTNERS

Marijuana Business Daily Minority Cannabis Business Association National Cannabis Industry Association Students for Sensible Drug Policy

Jamie Ezra Mark Creative Director jamie@emagency.com

Rheya Tanner Art Director Wendy Mak, Josh Clark Designers

PUBLISHING

Jamie Cooper Market Director jamie.cooper@sensimag.com Kyle Miller Media Sales Executive kyle.miller@sensimag.com Leah Stephens Media Sales Executive leah.stephens@sensimag.com Constance Taylor Media Sales Executive constance.taylor@sensimag.com

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H

EDITOR’S NOTE

Magazine published monthly

by Sensi Media Group LLC.

© 2021 Sensi Media Group. All rights reserved.

Hunting and its deep connection to who we are

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

FAC E B O O K Like Sensi Media Group to infuse your newsfeed with more of our great cannabis lifestyle content.

TWITTER Follow @sensimag for need-to-know news and views from Sensi headquarters.

is something with which Michiganders are well acquainted. A recent survey showed that in one year, tallying deer alone, we consumed between 26 and 33 million pounds of meat. It’s possible that wild meat even offers a few health advantages. Oncologists and other cancer specialists suggest we incorporate more wild meat into our diets to live longer, healthier lives. Wild game also strengthens our human bonds; it’s estimated that the average hunter shares her harvest with between four and six people.

And in my opinion—as a lifelong outdoor-sports junkie, a woman, and a mother of three—it provides one of the most powerful connections to wildlife we can have (as predators studying our prey). It takes us into the outdoors in a less impactful way, since hunters seek lands away from crowds and travel in a more dispersed manner.

And it gives us agency over what we choose to put into our bodies, offering us an alternative to the industrial meat machine, which serves up billions of pounds of bland, often hormone-saturated meat.

In this month’s issue, we interviewed Michigan native Mahting Putelis to learn about his passion: hunting and sharing his harvest with as many friends and family as he can. Putelis also runs a business called Hunt to Eat, which started as a T-shirt store (with cool shirts for every state), and has morphed into so much more. Putelis believes that the act of hunting provides us with one of the best ways to connect with our food, the land, and each other. Therefore, he recently started offering hunting camps in which mentors help guide the hunting curious through the beginning steps of becoming someone who can harvest their own food. This past January, I had the opportunity to go on my first hunt with him—on private land in Nebraska—and the entire experience, from start to finish, altered my life.

I’m not dissing burgers; I love a good one, especially when it’s free range and topped with cheese. But I’ll keep hunting because of the other great benefits. I brought my family’s protein to the table—not from the grocery store or McDonalds. I had a new experience (at the ripe old age of … middle age). And I have a whole new world to explore, one full of incredible stories. That, for a writer, is more valuable than anything.

Hunting provides one of the most powerful connections to wildlife we can have, takes us into the outdoors in a less impactful way, and gives us agency over what we choose to put into our bodies.

I N S TAG R A M Pretty things, pretty places, pretty awesome people: find it all on @sensimagazine.

Tracy Ross @writertracyross

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Demystifying the Bud How the founder of Josephine & Billie’s learned to cut through the jargon and build a communityfocused cannabis brand that puts women first.

In 2015, Detroit native Whitney Beatty was a senior vice president at Warner Brothers Telepictures in Los Angeles, developing reality TV shows for the Judge Mathis brand.

By then, she’d discovered “a real ability to seek out niche markets,” she says. “I know customer base. I know what people want. I know what stories they want to hear—and I know how to put that in the forefront.”

But the costs of her job were astronomical, if you value good mental health. In 2007, when Beatty was 29, she developed chest pains after weeks of 16-hour days and thought she was having a heart attack.

She drove herself to the emergency room, walked in and said, “I’m dying.” After a EKG they gave her a strange look and responded, “No you’re not. You’re having an anxiety attack.” Beatty saw a doctor who, after suggesting pharmaceuticals to address her condition, said offhandedly, “Have you ever tried cannabis,” says Beatty.

“She could have been saying, ‘Try some meth or here’s a crack rock,’” adds Beatty, but she decided to research cannabis.

She discovered that it’s very hard for the average person to sift through all of the various strains in the world and learn to 14

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CONTRIBUTORS

Amelia Arvesen, Dawn Garcia, Tracy Ross, Doug Schnitzspahn

BY THE NUMBERS

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOSEPHINE & BILLIE’S

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medicate themselves—make that doubly hard for women. So she decide to open a shop called Josephine & Billie’s that “cuts through jargon” and is “community forward,” a “best-in-class” retail store that caters specifically to women.

The difficulty? Enacting her dream, especially as a woman of color. For every $1 million a white man can secure, a black woman raises $30,000. But believing in her concept, she found a location for her store and started paying rent on it in 2019. She also got accepted for a retail and delivery marijuana license and is currently finishing license requirements. Recently, she got a financial, spiritual, and intellectual boost when she was selected for the Eaze Momentum Accelerator program, earning a $50,000 award and 10 weeks of intense programming and mentorship that streamlines a pathway to success for social equity participants.

Beatty believes the accelerator will help her address issues of social equity. “Cannabis was used as a weapon to criminalize black and brown communities,” she says, “and today, 73% of women in Los Angeles identify as women of color, yet none of the dispensaries offer a female-centric approach. The medical benefits of the plants are overlooked. Josephine & Billie’s will be a space that serves the needs of the community and provides jobs for the community for true inclusion.”

Number of people trying to make campground reservations at Michigan State parks on a Monday in February, with only 140 reservations made. See ways to work the system at mlive.com/ news/2021/02/ cant-reserve-yourfavorite-michiganstate-park-campsiteheres-why.html

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Members of Congress who asked President Biden to issue mass marijuana pardons ahead of federal legalization

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Number of wolves living in 143 packs that currently roam the state of Michigan.

Wolves came off the Endangered Species Act on January 4, 2021, a decision put under review

by President Joe Biden last month; environmental groups have already filed several lawsuits to challenge the delisting

SOUND AND STORIES

Noise canceling headphones

by Dr. Dre are a must for music aficionados.

Beats Solo3 Dre Headphones, part of the Beats by Dre product line, are the quintessential must-have for every lover of pure sound. These noise-cancelling headphones are the perfect tool to drown out the outside world, and the new line of pink, red, and black Beats Solo3 headphones appeal to the savvy and style-conscious consumer.

The sleek design that fits snug and comfortably on your skull and the sound capabilities outperform other brands we have tested when it comes to quality, design, and output. The headphones have the capacity to provide up to 40 hours of music on a single charge, foldable “ears” that make traveling with them space efficient in provided travel case, internal microphone so you can take calls including using voice activation, and a five-minute Fast Fuel battery charge giving you that final push of three more listening hours when the battery is low. Plus, the Beats by Dre website features unique stories that celebrate Black essence and the beauty of Black culture. beatsbydre.com / @beatsbydre

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Discover something out of this world.

NEW WANA TARTS

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THE BUZZ

VOX POPULI

Question: Is there enough being done to address social justice around cannabis in Michigan?

JOE SPAULDING

WILLIAM DAVID STOHLER KAREN KORN

Campaign Strategist On Michigan Proposal 2, Holland

Co-Founder, Nobo Michigan, Brenton Harbor

___________________

___________________

Absolutely not. When we designed the law that ended gerrymandering, public input was intentionally the cornerstone of the new process. When it comes to cannabis and social justice, it’s almost like the exact opposite has happened.

Social Justice is a main topic of discussion.

That is a start. In the industry, we need to make it part of standard operating procedures.

If you have an adult use license in Michigan you are required to have a social equity plan, so how can you implement positive policies?

CEO, Leaf Medic, Dayton, Ohio

___________________

I live in Ohio and Michigan is more aggressive in attempting to address inequities. Of course it can be improved. I think that [Andrew] Brisbo, [executive director of the Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency] genuinely wants to see the needle move on this subject.

SABRINA BREUKER

CONNIE MAXIM SPARROW

Reiki Practitioner and Homeshool Teacher, Holland

Owner of Sparrow Consulting Muskegon

___________________

A medical card can cost up to $200. A lot of people can’t afford that. There is no similar rule for alcohol. When you turn 21 you can buy whatever you want.

___________________

I am worried about millions of “social equity” funds buying cans of soup when they could be building communities. Everyone just trying to check a box defeats the purpose when the financial potential could literally change millions of lives.

Artificial Intelligence Aids Bud Selection

Picking the Best Bud for You

Sour Diesel). William Meneer, from Livonia, says, “I was Pretend you’re new to cannabis and you’ve heard that a bit overwhelmed with the large selection, so it was it can pretty much fix (or enhance) whatever ails you.

But you’re too chicken or live too far in the woods to go nice to have an easy experience tailored exactly to me.” to an actual weed shop. Cloud Cannabis, a dispensary working to destigmatize and demystify the cannabis shopping experience, has a solution. The online platform allows customers to receive virtual cannabis strain recommendations based on their preferred taste, effects, and potency. Just visit cloudcannabis. com and type in your wishes or needs. We did, and the answers were…enlightening. Select two “recreational effects” you’d like to feel (for instance energy, soothing, euphoria, giggliness, or calm); select up to two flavors (including berry, flowery, pineapple, and, oddly, cheese); and pick your desired strength of buzz (from very mild to very strong). Your “AI Budtender” will select three strains you’re most likely to enjoy based on your answers (we got Wonka Bars, Wifi OG, and West Coast M A R C H 2021

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THE BUZZ

BILITIES

BY STEPHANIE WILSON, EDITOR IN CHIEF

Below is the playlist I had on repeat while making Sensi’s first-ever music edition.

1 REBELS by Call Me Karizma 2 MOTOR MOUTH by Kai Straw 3 GRATEFUL by Spencer Sutherland 4 GUILLOTINE by Mansionair x NoMBe 5 MYSTERY LADY by Masego and Don Toliver 6 TOPDOWN by Channel Tres 7 PURPLE HAT by Sofi Tukker 8 PUMP THE BREAK by morgxn 9 ALL THAT by Emotional Oranges 10 BROKEN PEOPLE by almost monday 11 WHO’S GOT THE WEED by G. Love & Special Sauce 12 CAN’T BE HAPPIER by SJ & Sugar Jesus feat. Goldford

“They’ve learned their lesson. …

This gives them the chance to clean up their public record and move on.

How does the governor explain the veto for those people?”

—Representative Graham Filler, of DeWitt, after Governor Gretchen Whitmer vetoed a bill to let one-time drunken drivers ask a judge to set aside their conviction, on January 6, 2021

Play It Again, Sam

This record player will feed your need to restock your vinyl collection.

Back in the day, most every household had a turntable (a.k.a. record player) but when CDs rose to prominence in the late 1980s, many music fans abandoned those epic vinyl collections. Now we’re all chomping at the bit to get our favorite music in the form of vinyl records again, kicking ourselves for giving away that original Michael Jackson Thriller album. What were we thinking?!

Victrola to the rescue! Victrola is a name that has been synonymous with record players since 1906. Introduced to America

by The Victrola Talking Machine Company, it’s become the most successful (and largest) turntable manufacturer of its time, and like all good classics, it has withstood the test of time. Now, Victrola is introducing a line of wireless turntables, portable players, and Bluetooth speakers inspired by times past. When you’re ready to admit you were wrong for letting that vinyl go, buy yourself a Victrola and start building up your collection again. And this time, keep it!

EDITOR’S PICK: The Austin Turntable, $129 @victrolaplayers / victrola.com

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THE BUZZ

LISTEN UP

How much you enjoy your music depends on how you hear it. These are Sensi’s picks for the best speakers and headphones we’ve tested in 2021.

HEADPHONES

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 With so many options on the market, it’s tough to say that one single set of headphones rises above the rest—until you try these. Sleek and comfortable on your skull, they deliver sound that’s so full it’s almost tangible. Eleven settings (Nigel Tufnel be praised!) let you dial in the amount of noise canceling you want, from none at all (smart for when you’re walking on city streets) to full-on (perfect for tuning out all the drama of being stuck at home). $380 / bose.com IN-EAR HEADPHONES

NuraLoop These easy-to-wear in-ear headphones are truly in your head—they adapt to your hearing. Say what? That’s right. They actually send sound into your eardrum that then informs the system about the best way to play for your individual hearing. The result is bass that hits the back of your brain and sharp clarity on every note.

TURNTABLE

Crosley Switch II Entertainment System A throwback to the days when a record player was the center of the musical $199 / nuraphone.com experience, Crosley’s practical system oozes retro cool and still cranks out SPEAKER pleasant sound. A belt drive keeps those JBL Party Box 300 45s and LPs spinning, and this set will add This sturdy, portable Bluetooth speaker turns any space into a mini-rave thanks to a groovy feel to any room—even when it’s a light system that synchronizes colors to not playing. the beat—and three settings mean you can $170 / crosleyradio.com pick up or slow down the tempo. Beyond the optics, it pumps out clean sound and runs on a rechargeable battery that keeps the party going for up to 18 hours. $400 / jbl.com

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COMPUTER SPEAKERS

Logitech Z313 Speaker System with Subwoofer This compact speaker and subwoofer set delivers deep, crisp sound and hooks up to a wide range of devices—from your laptop to your smartphone to your TV—as long as they have a 3.5 mm headphone jack. It’s the ideal music system for a workstation if you want to share tunes with your office mates, or, as things go in the days of COVID-19, if you just want to have your own private dance party in between deadlines. $50 / logitech.com

THE BUZZ

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Trail Magic

PHOTOS (FROM TOP) COURTESY OF KELTY, DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

An outdoor brand goes all in with CBD products meant to soothe hikers’ aches and pains.

Outdoor activities cause sore muscles. CBD is said to relieve pain. Even though the outdoor industry has dabbled in the cannabidiol market for a few years, it wasn’t until this year that a dedicated outdoor brand contributed its own formulations to the billion-dollar category.

In January, Kelty launched a collection of pain-relief salves, after-sun lotions, and antibacterial and itch-relief sprays for outdoorists. The longtime Colorado-based maker of tents, sleeping bags, and other outdoor gear sees the new CBD offerings as a natural brand progression.

“At Kelty, we’re all about spontaneous adventures, getting outside, goofing around, and having fun. But playing outside often comes with its own set of

of regulation of cannabidiol, but a new bipartisan bill introduced in the House of Representatives in February would allow hempderived CBD to be marketed and sold as a dietary supplement. If passed, it could also lead the US Food and Drug Administration to establish a regulatory framework.

CBD made its debut on a large scale to the outdoor industry—a nearly $800 billion business— in 2018, when manufacturers exhibited at Outdoor Retailer, the industry’s largest trade show, and now numerous athletes, from ultrarunners to surfers, are sponsored by CBD brands.

Specialty outdoor retailers stock topicals and capsules. And Kelty has set a direct-to-consumer precedent. Which outdoor brands will enter the market next?

challenges in the form of aches and pains,” says Russell Rowell, Kelty senior vice president and general manager. “Thanks to our new CBD products, we now offer another tool to help you go farther, higher, and faster—and to bounce back more quickly when you do.”

To create research-based formulas, Kelty consulted Arizona-based pharmaceutical producer e2e Pharma to formulate the new line of THCfree products. The collection is available at kelty.com/CBD. Financially, it’s a strategic move.

The CBD market is currently valued at approximately $4 billion. Market researchers like Grandview Research and BDS Analytics predict it will surpass $20 billion by 2025. Skeptics have been troubled by the lack M A R C H 2021

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Be Your Own Personal DJ Only you know the best soundtrack for your psychedelic journey.

PHOTO CREDIT

TEXT ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE

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When you drink ayahuasca in the Peruvian Amazon, the shamans chant songs to orchestrate your experience, in every sense of the word. Known as icaros, the songs amplify your visions and drive the medicine deep into where you need it most.

Humans have known for centuries that music is the wind beneath the psychonaut’s wings, a tool that both fuels and helps to navigate sacred plant and fungi journeys. From the music that accompanied ancient Aztec mushroom and cacao ceremonies to Dead shows at the Fillmore, a great playlist is essential to a great trip.

Psychedelic therapists have been making playlists for therapy sessions since the earliest LSD experiments, and you can find a lot of them on Spotify and YouTube, along with current offerings from the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Conscious Research and many others (search “psychedelic therapy playlist,” “psilocybin playlist,” “LSD playlist,” or “MDMA playlist”). You can even find recordings of Maria Sabina, the first Mexican curandera to allow Westerners into psilocybin mushroom rituals in the 1950s. A little caution, however: Sabina was exploited by Americans and then persecuted

If you’re ready to take control of your own musical destiny in the cosmos, here are things to keep in mind as you make your playlist.

tions in depression. He found that the wrong music can be distracting and • Lean away from vocals and toward instrumake for a gobstopping mental music, chanting, or a collection of trip, amplifying feelings sounds. If you include songs with words, of resistance and negative look for lyrics in an unfamiliar language. emotions. His app, Wave• Stay away from jarring or discordant paths, allows therapists tunes or songs with unpredictable rhythm and patients to make their changes. own musical sequences, • Use calm music in the early stages to create leaving out anything that a sense of rest and safety. might bring up unwel• Alternate intense and calm tracks during come memories or resisthe peak stages. tance. Triggered by classi• Include emotionally evocative music only cal music? Brahms Sonata during peak stages. in B never has to be a part • Pay close attention to how songs transition of your journey. into each other.

Curating your own • Provide continuous music with minimal soundtrack for tripping is interruption. the best way. If you need • Emphasize variety. inspiration or guidance, • Use a high-quality source of music Helen L. Bonny and Walproduction. ter N. Pahnke, researchers at the Maryland Psychiscientist who calls music atric Center in Baltimore, by the people in her vilpublished a template for lage for her generosity, so “the hidden therapist.” selecting and structuring I’m not sure I would bring In an article about the that into my sacred space. playlist, Kaelen explains: psychedelic playlists in 1972 that therapists still “The idea here is to creThe Johns Hopkins follow today. Their seate a sense of ebb and Center’s playlist follows the formula established in flow that the participant quencing flows like this: the 1960s, heavy on West- can feel as a series of ten- • Pre-onset (0 to 1½ hours): quiet, neutral ern classical music. If that sion-and-release expe• Onset (1½ to 2 hours): riences. A playlist with just doesn’t do it for you, melodic, rhythmic the Multidisciplinary As- multiple peaks can also • Building toward peak help to titrate the expesociation for Psychedelic intensity (2 to 3½ rience and keep it from Studies (MAPS) offers hours): long, flowing getting too intense; peritwo playlists for MDphrases and dynamic MA-assisted psychother- ods of relief are built in.” crescendos In his own practice, apy featuring ethnic and • Peak intensity (3½ to Kaelen’s patients didn’t New Age music, and the 4 hours): powerful, Chacruna Institute’s psi- respond well to Western strongly structured locybin playlist on Spotify classical music. He plays • Re-entry (4 to 7 features indie, new wave, music that is personally hours): lighter, familiar meaningful to each perand rock. son, which results in more • Return to normal conThe Chacruna playsciousness (7 to 12 hours): list was developed by Dr. positive experiences and your favorite tunes.

Mendel Kaelen, a neuro- more significant reduc-

TUNING IN A recent study published in the Journal of Music Therapy found music integral for meaningful emotional and imagery experiences and self-exploration during psychedelic therapy.

“Music could convey love, carry listeners to other realms, be something to ‘hold,’ inspire, and elicit a deep sense of embodied transformation,” the authors wrote.

“Therapeutic influence was especially evident in music’s dichotomous elicitations: Music could simultaneously anchor and propel.”

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THE LIFE OLD SCHOOL

Vinyl Appeal A public and personal history of the rise, fall, and resurgence of records.

PHOTO BY KORIONOV, ADOBE STOCK

TEXT DAWN GARCIA

The Birth of Vinyl In 1877, Thomas Edison created what was known as the cylinder phonograph. While wonderful, there was no real way to mass produce it. But Emile Berliner created the mass-production flat phonograph record in the late 1880s. Berliner was able to tap methods used in a printing press to create audio recordings. As his access to enough funds presented a growth issue, he partnered with Eldridge Johnson, who would eventually take over, leaving Berliner on the outs. Johnson proved a

formidable partner who had strong relationships and access to capital. As a result, Johnson took over Berliner’s patents, pushing out any other competitors. He successfully launched the Consolidated Talking Machine Company, renamed in 1901 as Victor Talking Company, making his phonographs the most successful on the market.

Johnson grew the business through aggressive advertising. Inspired by British painter Francis Barraud, he adopted the recognizable iconic dog-and-phono-

graph logo, purchasing neath to store records the US usage rights to it. and accessories. By By the end of 1901, the 1906, he was marketing logo became synonythe new Victor-Victromous with innovative la to the wealthy at a listening devices. As the steep price tag of $200 industry became more (which in today’s market inundated with comis around $5,000). To petitors, Johnson (now his (and his employees’) referred to as Victor afsurprise, the Victroter his products) spent la was a hit and would too much time fighting be mass distributed by patent infringements by 1907. Having sold 15,000 competing businesses.

Victrolas at $200, the Those battles, however, company was primed for led him to further inno- growth and new models. vation when, in 1904, he Fast forward more began design on a new, than 100 years, and less massive turntable Victrola is still holding that was sleeker, had strong, adapting to the clearer sound, and inmodern market with cluded a cabinet underretro designs as a nod to M A R C H 2021

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THE LIFE OLD SCHOOL

its humble beginnings and implementing technology such as Bluetooth speakers.

How Vinyl Formed Our (Gen X) Childhood Those who remember the days when going to clubs meant the DJ was spinning records that weren’t plugged into their iPhones or laptops know that nothing quite compares to the feel and sound of a vinyl record. In spite of 2021 technology that blows our minds with kickass headphones, wireless sound systems, and the like, once upon a time in the 1980s, we misfit kids were stoked to get down with LPs and turntables.

Records were rad and we knew it—even if CD sales were starting to dominate.

We listened to our music on our parents’ old record players from the ’60s and ’70s. We were obsessed with John Hughes movies, The Breakfast Club, and bands like the Sex Pistols, Run DMC, and the

still dominating. In an article in Billboard magazine, an exec for United Record Pressing comments on the misconception of vinyl sales in the ’90s. “The seven-inch vinyl jukebox was [still] huge. And from my time working at labels at that point, I always duced me to Black SabBeastie Boys, and vinyl had stacks of 12-inch bath and Iron Butterfly. gave us an edge. We My mom introduced me singles behind my desk. were retro before we Most radio stations were to Carole King and The even knew it was cool.

Supremes. Music became using 12-inch singles, Turntables became our every birthday party DJ, the one thing I loved preferred mode of exevery roller rink, every pression and, thankfully, more than anything, particularly when played discotheque, and record our parents were onstores in general.” board (probably because on old-school turntaFast forward. Over they felt like their gener- bles. I’d head over to my the last few years, Gen ation was finally appreci- grandparents where my Z has taken a liking to grandma would introated and understood).

Crosley and Victrola Our record collections duce me to old Mexiportable turntables, and can love songs and my began growing, includgrandfather would teach young people own LPs. ing classics like Dylan, In fact the RIAA Music The Beatles, The Doors, me about the soul of Industry Revenue StaLatin beats. My othZeppelin, and a hearty tistics reported that, in er grandparents would dose of Barbra (hey, 2018, vinyl record sales Streisand still rules). But listen to the crooners— and I loved every part of were up 8 percent with bands such as Depeche $419 million in sales. No it. My sisters and I will Mode, The Smiths, Vione imagined that the never forget when we olent Femmes, and of pandemic would boost got Michael Jackson’s course the killer intro vinyl record sales, yet to Ice-T, NWA, Wu Tang Thriller album in 1982 last year, 27.5 million and turned our parents Klan, and The Fugees LPs sold in the United into fans. We played were infiltrating our States with a 46 perthat album so much, young minds with full cent increase over 2019. albums, rare singles, and we literally wore it out.

It seems vinyl records secret finds. Penny Lane When MTV played the have made a comeback, video, we’d hurry to the in Venice changed our turntable to keep up the and as a product of world; Tower Records the 1980s with teenage momentum, put on the lured us with crazy colchildren who asked for album, and perfect our lectibles; and Amoeba turntables and vinyls as Music ate up any money best zombie moves. gifts this year? I can say By the 1990s, record we were saving. that the vinyl record is sales were beginning to My parents gave in indeed hot. How gnarly show signs of waning, and let me borrow their is that? but vinyl singles were albums. My dad introM A R C H 2021

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THE LIFE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mona Van Joseph is a professionally licensed intuitive reader in Las Vegas since 2002.

Author, radio host, and columnist, she created the Dice Wisdom app and is available for phone and in-person sessions. mona.vegas

HOROSCOPE

MARCH HOROSCOPE What do the stars hold for you?

TEXT MONA VAN JOSEPH

friends, body, mind, and place JULY 23–AUG. 22 on your spiritual path. Be fas- LEO You’ve been dancing around cinated with all the events un- There will be a financial a relationship that you know folding for you. Your authentic shift that will get your atis not healthy or committed love is showing you your path. tention. It may be about reto you. This could be work or financing your home or getpersonal or both. It’s time for MAY 21–JUNE 20 ting your taxes done early. you to decide where you want GEMINI Something in that process to be as of July—because it You finally know that some- gets your attention. won’t be where you are now. thing connected with work is not working for you. It’s time AUG. 23-SEPT. 22 MAR. 21–APR. 19 to either let go of the job or VIRGO ARIES let go of the emotional bur- Recent events have given Your power is what you know. den that’s connected with you clear focus about your A project will present itself future. You are willing to do work. You are worth more. that you have earned the abilthe work to make that fiveity to engage and negotiate. JUNE 21–JULY 22 year plan a reality, even if It truly is your preparation that plan surprises the peoCANCER meeting a long-awaited opTell all the people who love ple around you. portunity. You’ve earned this. you that you will be off the SEPT. 23–OCT. 22 radar. This is the month to APR. 20–MAY 20 LIBRA dive totally into a project TAURUS The new beginning without distraction or perAll things are connected sonal critique. Finish the proj- you’ve been waiting for with love, so love your work, ect and refine it afterward. is presenting itself. It’s FEB. 19–MAR. 20

PISCES

PISCES, IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO DECIDE WHERE YOU WANT TO BE AS OF JULY— BECAUSE IT WON’T BE WHERE YOU ARE NOW.

time to place yourself in any area that allows you to employ your unique skills. Use the mantle of your new identity now.

for you to let go of a person who you can no longer help.

DEC. 22–JAN. 19

CAPRICORN

You came into this lifetime OCT. 23–NOV. 21 to live your truth. It’s seeSCORPIO ing past the immediate imThis month is the celebrapression and into the aution of meaningful partner- thentic level of things. ships, personally and profes- Your truth will be reflected sionally. Take a few minutes in many ways this month. this month and reach out to the people who have loved JAN. 20–FEB. 18 you and thank them.

AQUARIUS Success and karmic reNOV. 22–DEC. 21 wards are the vibration SAGITTARIUS this month. Doubts will There is no question that be washed away, so act as things have been challeng- though every phone call or ing for you. The good news meeting will result in an opis that things can only importunity. This is the time to prove from here. It’s time announce what you want.

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HUNT TO EAT

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Why Mahting Putelis believes everyone should be supporting fair and just food systems—and how hunting can help grow diversity, equity, and inclusion.

TEXT TRACY ROSS

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M

ichigan native Mahting Putelis wants to turn more outdoor enthusiasts into hunters because of the way hunting connects humans to land, food, and each other. The 39-year-old now lives in Colorado, but his mission, forged early, took root during his childhood in Kalamazoo. Putelis now runs an organization called Hunt to Eat, which started as a t-shirt company making prohunting apparel that doesn’t slam women, environmentalists, or the animals people hunt. New hunter and Sensi Michigan managing editor Tracy Ross chatted with Putelis after he mentored her on her first deer hunt. We spoke

to Putelis about his path to harvesting his own dinner, and why he believes more people should hunt.

HOW OLD ARE YOU, WHERE DID YOU GROW UP, AND WHAT WERE YOU INTERESTED IN AS A KID? I just turned 39 but everyone assumes I’m 18 thanks to me never growing any legitimate facial hair! I grew up in Kalamazoo. As a kid, I was always up for an adventure—usually on a BMX bike or rollerblades, cruising around.

Once I saw the mountains of Colorado for the first time around 7th grade, I didn’t think of much else. All I wanted to do after that was make it out west.

WHEN DID HUNTING SPARK YOUR INTEREST? Growing up in a hunting family I was always aware of it, even good at the basic concepts, thanks to my dad taking my brother and me out into the woods to build blinds and look for animal signs.

I carried those skills forward as a mountain guide. Once I finally settled down in Colorado at the age of 26, I felt that I would gain a greater sense of place if I started hunting elk. So I got after it.

HOW DID YOU LEARN TO HUNT? My brother was a big-game hunting guide who lived in Colorado when I started. He taught me everything.

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WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO KILL YOUR FIRST BIG GAME ANIMAL? My first elk, my first animal, was and still is the closest I have ever felt to the idea of God. I sat with the elk as it expelled its last breath into the ether and it was incredibly powerful. I wept.

SHOULD PEOPLE HUNT? WHY OR WHY NOT? For people to eat, animals and plants must die. Some of us take [our food] responsibility into our own hands and kill with bows and arrows and guns and bullets. Others hunt with dollar bills at the store. But one way or another we participate in food systems, and every food system is connected to wild places and animals. We can learn how to hunt, a very involved process, or we can pay someone else to manage it for us. But rest assured that even soybean farming involves hunting; often the farmers have to kill deer to prevent them from eating the plants.

Vegans are not exempt from the hunting world. We should all be working towards supporting food systems that are fair and just.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT HUNTING? THE WORST? The best part of hunting is the moments in between, when you stop and stare into the depths of the wild places you walk. Caught standing still, a bird swoops down and lands on a branch feet from your face, and you get an up-close look at wildness. It’s magical. The worst part is dealing with the uncertainty that wildness brings. You never know how much it will rain, how much the wind will blow, how far the elk have gone.

WHAT ARE SOME MISCONCEPTIONS PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT HUNTING? I think there are three main misconceptions. One, hunters can hunt anything they want, any time. (Truth: Hunting is full of rules and regulations.) Two, hunters hunt for trophies. (Truth: Hunters are mandated to take all of the animal from the wild.

Most hunters hunt for meat. A tiny percentage only want to kill.)

Three, hunting is bad for animals.

(Truth: Hunters are the reason why animals such as whitetail deer, turkeys, elk, ducks, have made amazing comebacks from near extinction in the 1930s.

Hunters care about animal populations and support scientists and wildlife managers to set the appropriate quotas for thriving wildlife populations.)

WHAT IS HUNT TO EAT? Hunt To Eat is a way of life. Seven years ago we wanted a cool T-shirt that represented that way of life. It didn’t exist, so we created a lifestyle apparel brand.

It is now a lifestyle brand that offers a slew of gear, media, and education. We focus on our three pillars: community, real food, and conservation. By community, we mean the folks who go outdoors, harvest wild meat, plants, or fungi, and take these things home to be cooked with care for themselves or their friends and family.

These folks see the importance of wildlife and nature. They take time out of their day to smell the flowers or admire a doe’s footsteps through a marsh, and to share these observations with others. The community is not defined by race, politics, education,

wealth, or gender; it’s simply a human community. Hunting, fishing, foraging, and existing in nature are things that human beings have done to survive since the dawn of our existence. Everyone who exists in nature is part of the Hunt to Eat community. And it can only grow from here.

As for real food, yes, we believe yes, all food is “real.” But our focus is on food people obtained themselves. Whether you shot a pronghorn with your bow in Wyoming, picked that morel you saw at the park, kept that rainbow trout to fry it in a pan, or remembered to plant your tomatoes on time, you’re enriching your life with real food. You know where it came from. You know how it died. You know how the meat was handled. No pesticides, growth hormones, or added preservatives.

Real food is food you feel proud to consume and share with your family and friends.

As for conservation, we mean conservation in North America, which, unfortunately, has an ugly history. Genocide, war, and the over-harvesting of wildlife and other natural resources are realities that must be acknowledged and discussed when talking about modern conservation. The public lands we love today were stolen from the Indigenous peoples that populated this continent prior to colonialism. Historically, conservation was weaponized to remove Indigenous peoples from their homes, lands, histories, and cultures. To say “conservation” and ignore the word’s negative connotations will hinder diversity and inclusion in the outdoors.

However, without conservation

WHY IS MICHIGAN GREAT FOR HUNTERS? There is a lot of public land that offers up a lot of opportunities for hunters.

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as we know it today, many of the wildlife species we love and admire would be extinct, their habitats developed for human use, fragmenting natural ecological processes or destroying them altogether.

While there is no good replacement word for “conservation,” we hope someday there will be.

Regardless of nomenclature, we will continue to do meaningful work towards increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the outdoors and supporting the ecological biodiversity and connectivity crucial to all the animals we eat. When you wear Hunt to Eat, you’re representing thoughtful, ethical, and kind hunters and anglers that put community, real food, and conservation first.

WHO IS HUNT TO EAT’S DEMOGRAPHIC? Generally anyone interested in where their food comes from.

ON HUNT TO EAT’S FACEBOOK PAGE, PEOPLE SHARE DISHES THEY MAKE WITH THEIR GAME. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE, AND DO YOU HAVE ANY THAT MIGHT WHY DO YOU WANT TO TEACH GO WELL WITH A CANNABIS PEOPLE TO HUNT? INFUSION? Understanding oneself as a preda- My favorite dish is Wild Turtor is a life-altering experience. It key Schnitzel. It makes the best grows you as an individual and as “chicken” sandwich you’ve ever a part of our humanity. The more had. I think it would be really people understand how they afcool to render down bear fat and fect the ecology of their environinfuse it with cannabis. Then I ment, the better our world will be. would make a pie crust with that infused bear fat. Then I would IS HUNTING DIVERSE ENOUGH, make an apple pie!

AND IF NOT, SHOULD IT BE MORE DIVERSE—WHY OR WHY NOT? ANYTHING HUNTERS AND It is not. It should be. Again, CANNABIS USERS HAVE IN when you have a more diverse COMMON? population you have a healthier We like to sit in the woods and be ecosystem. in awe of wild places.

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Waiting on a Friend If we’ve learned one thing over the past year, we can probably all agree, it’s the value of delivery. Stuck at home and hungry, we placed 500 percent more Instacart orders than we had before the plague, and we paid DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Postmates $5.5 billion in combined revenue to bring us doughnuts, dumplings, and other delights from April through September of last year. Let’s not even talk about the money we’ve given Amazon.

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We learned we could get just about anything we wanted, from lightning cords to liquor, left at our doorsteps by masked angels otherwise known as essential workers. All we had to do was hop online and order through one of the many handy apps available to us. We could even get weed. Oh, wait. We could get weed delivered, but only if we lived in a certain dozen of the 50 United States— namely Arizona, Alaska, California, Colorado,

Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont—and even then, maybe not.

Among the handful of states where cannabis delivery is allowed, regulation varies wildly, even from city to city and county to county. I spent half of last year in California, where all I had to do was hop on an app to get cannabis delivered, and the other half in Colorado, where delivery is legal but nonexistent—

and I felt the loss hard.

Once you’ve enjoyed the convenience of delivery, it sucks to be without it.

That’s another reason why cannabis delivery is the new industry darling, expected to provide the industry’s fastest-growing revenue stream by 2024, according to a report by ArcView Market Research and BDS Analytics.

It’s ridiculous and weird that Colorado, the pioneer in legal adult use, is so far behind in addressing delivery—

PHOTO BY EVGENIIAND, ADOBE STOCK

Lantern, a Boston-based delivery platform that connects cannabis users to licensed dispensaries, is moving into the virgin Colorado market. It’s about time. TEXT ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE

PHOTO BY KONSTANTIN YUGANOV, ADOBE STOCK

even after COVID-19 made cannabis use an increasingly crucial issue.

At this point, though, the problem isn’t really the state. Colorado lawmakers approved medical cannabis deliveries to begin in 2019 and recreational deliveries in 2021 but left it up to local governments whether to allow delivery or not. So far, only a small number of cities are saying yes. Medical deliveries are permitted in Boulder, Superior, and Longmont. Aurora (population 400,000) is the first Colorado city to allow recreational delivery.

Colorado might be late to the game, but it will always be a player.

Earlier this year, Aurora’s brand-new, wide-open delivery market caught the attention of Lantern, a Boston-based cannabis delivery platform that connects cannabis users to licensed dispensaries in Massachusetts and Michigan.

Lantern was developed and funded by Drizly, the largest online marketplace for alcohol in the United States, which saw online alcohol orders spike by 485 percent during the pandemic. Denver is Drizly’s third-largest market, and the data told them (though all they had to do was ask me) that Denver consumers want delivery.

“Residents of Aurora, whose city council

passed a vote in favor of recreational delivery in December 2020, will likely be the first in the state to access Lantern’s services once the city finalizes the permitting process,” says Meredith Mahoney, Lantern’s president. “Once Aurora’s local law goes into effect, customers over the age of 21 in Aurora will be able to conveniently place recreational cannabis orders online at lanternnow.com and have products delivered to their doorstep within an hour.”

Dispensaries pay Lantern a percentage of sales through the app, which offers users increasingly personalized product suggestions, whether they’re in the mood for gummies, vapes, or topicals. Users, who aren’t charged extra fees for using the app to streamline their searches, are directed to dispensaries that have what they need and trained dispensary personnel deliver their orders within an hour.

Business has been brisk, Mahoney says, as (in most states, anyway) the pandemic has accelerated the cannabis industry’s shift to e-commerce and delivery. “We believe that the demand for cannabis delivery will continue to grow and flourish post COVID-19, as an increasing number of customers integrate

“We believe that the demand for cannabis delivery will continue to grow and flourish post COVID-19, as an increasing number of customers integrate cannabis into their daily routines.”

—Meredith Mahoney, president of Lantern

cannabis into their daily routines.” In Michigan, where Lantern is available to customers in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, and Battle Creek, delivery orders increased 89 percent three days before Christmas, she adds.

In February, Uber announced its acquisition of Lantern’s sister company, Drizly, but Mahoney says that will not affect Lantern’s operations or mission. Lantern, which had been an independent subsidiary of the Drizly Group, will now operate as a fully autonomous private company.

“Lantern’s consumer-centric ethos was born out of Drizly’s founding vision to create a more streamlined e-commerce experience, and Lantern will continue to build its best-in-class logistics technology platform, which has already transformed the emerging cannabis retail industry,” Mahoney says. “The company was first-tomarket in Massachusetts and Michigan and is optimally positioned to continue expanding into new legal markets. The next few years will be consequential not only for the cannabis industry but also for the entire digital retail sector. Lantern is eager to set new standards for what is possible in both spaces.”

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THE SCENE CALENDAR

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE M.C. ESCHER COMPANY B.V.- BAARN – THE NETHERLANDS

TOP: M.C. ESCHER: JOURNEY TO INFINITY

Cultural Calendar

Look for a mix of live and virtual events across the state as we start to see the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel.

TEXT STEPHANIE ANDELMAN

A year into social distancing, we are starting to come together again. Whether you enjoy dinner and a show or bundle up for drinks in a heated tent, you are supporting venues that continue to pivot to survive. This month, log onto virtual events about the marijuana industry, art, and innovation. Keep your spirits up by listening to live music from your own seat or the theater’s. Frolick safely for St. Patrick’s Day. Get out and do good. Be all things local.

Day and Night, 1938 by M.C. Escher

M.C. Escher: Journey to Infinity Through March 4 DFT @ Home dia.org/events

The Detroit Film Theatre inside the Detroit Institute of Arts Museum asks you to support independent theaters and help them prepare for their theater’s anticipated re-opening later this year. By purchasing tickets online, you can watch the film for

five days on your laptop, phone, or SmartTV device.

This Escher film looks at his works, rediscovery, and legacy.

Skate The Rink Through March Campus Martius Park, Detroit detroit.santaticket.com

Reserve your tickets ahead of time online for a memorable experience at this family -friendly outdoor skating rink.

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THE SCENE CALENDAR

LEFT: OFFICIAL ST. PATRICK’S BAR CRAWL RIGHT: SPREAD GOODNESS DAY

Detroit Red is in its fourth year, Elephant Room, Wings vs. Tampa guided by the mis- and more.

Bay Lightning sion to do good. InMarch 9 dividuals, schools, Intro to Little Caesars Arena, Detroit and organizations Cannabis nhl.com/redwings

Cheer for our underdogs as they take on Central Division’s top-ranked team. Watch on Fox Sports Detroit.

Startup Detroit Open Pitch Night March 11 Zoom Presentation bamboodetroit.com/events

are encouraged to spread goodness with little acts that go a long way.

March 12 Tin Roof, Detroit tinroofdetroit.com

Entering Cannabis: Regional Hemp / CBD Developments & Opportunities

Official St. Patrick’s Bar Crawl

March 17 Virtual Summit by Davine enteringcannabis.com

Canaan Cox

March 13 Greektown, Detroit barcrawllive.com

Women’s History along Detroit’s Riverfront Join the Paddy March 11 A Virtual Tour detroitexperiencefactory.org/ public-tours

Spread Goodness Day Mar, 12 Throughout the state, country, globe spreadgoodnessday.com

Founded in Marquette, this event

March 13 Zoom Webinar terese.ca

Shenanigans in its seventh year. Registration comes with waived door cover charges, food and drink specials, a costume contest, and live entertainment.

At least five venues participate in the crawl, including The Greek, Level Two Bar & Rooftop, The

St. Patrick’s Day “One For The Road” March 17 Livestream gaelicstorm.com

hails from London and is ready to take you for a journey through their long and fast guitar solos, fantasythemed lyrics, and retro video gameinfluenced sound.

Michigan Medical and Adult Use Marijuana Dispensary Training

Jim Norton

Bourbon and Bowties

March 20 Royal Oak Music Theatre royaloakmusictheatre.com

American stand-up comedian, radio personality, bestselling author and actor, Jim Norton comes to Michigan to unapologetically amuse.

Oates Song Fest 7908 March 20 Virtual Streaming Broadcast nugs.tv

Cannabis and Chronic Pain March 23 Online Talk consumecannabis.com/ know-your-cannabis-classes

March 24 Live Webinar leafygreenagency.com

March 27 Detroit Historical Museum

detroithistorical.org/things-do/ special-events

Cannabis Dispensary: Get Marijuana Industry Jobs March 27 Education Webinar CannabisDispensaryEducation.com

All Things Detroit Day March 28 Eastern Market, Detroit iloveallthingsdetroit.com

The Art of Poetry March 29 A Virtual Open Mic Night Experience detroitwritingroom.com

Dragonforce with Special Guests Unleash The Archers March 19 Saint Andrews Hall, Detroit saintandrewsdetroit.com

British power metal band DragonForce M A R C H 2021

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THE SCENE

Julien Baker

Fresh Tunes

Check out the best new albums of 2021 so far.

TEXT JEDD FERRIS

Although brighter days are on the horizon, the timeline for when musicians can safely resume touring is still hazy.

The situation has forced many artists to stay productive by focusing

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on studio projects, with many being released in the early part of the year. From indie upstarts to established legends, here’s a look at 10 new albums coming by spring.

debuted Bonny Light Horseman, a new side project with fellow folk innovators Anaïs Mitchell and Josh Kaufman that earned two Grammy nominations. Not slowing his pace, JohnFruit Bats son is celebrating the The Pet Parade (Merge 20th anniversary of the Records) Fruit Bats by releasing Fruit Bats leader Eric D. the band’s eighth overall Johnson has been on a studio album, The Pet hot streak lately. In 2019, Parade, in March. Johnhe hit a creative peak son brought Kaufman with his main band’s onboard to produce the soulful album Gold Past album, and although it Life, and last year, he was made during quar-

antine with supporting players adding their parts remotely, it doesn’t sound like an isolated effort. Lead single “Holy Rose” is a powerful poprock song with orchestral sonic textures.

Same Spark: In February, Brooklyn upstart trio Wild Pink will release its anticipated next album, A Billion Little Lights. The effort blends earthy roots songcraft with indie inventiveness that will please fans of The War on Drugs.

The Hold Steady Open Door Policy (Positive Jams) The Hold Steady is back with more heavy riffs and vivid tales on its eighth studio al-

PHOTOS (FROM TOP) COURTESY OF SUBPOP; BY ANNIE BEEDY

RELEASES

THE SCENE

PHOTOS (FROM TOP) COURTESY OF WILLIE NELSON; BY RENATA RAKSHA

RELEASES

bum, Open Door Policy.

Frontman Craig Finn’s narrative lyrics still dig into the dark side of the party, but with keyboardist Franz Nicolay permanently back in the mix, the band’s tight rock arrangements provide anthemic swells of cathartic redemption.

“Open Door Policy was very much approached as an album vs. a collection of individual songs, and it feels like our most musically expansive record,” Finn says of the new album, which was released on February 19.

Same Spark: Another stalwart rock act with a loyal following, roots heroes Lucero made its new album When You Found Me at the famed Sam Phillips Recording studio in the band’s hometown of Memphis.

Willie Nelson That’s Life (Legacy Recordings) The great news first: Willie Nelson, 87, has been vaccinated. Now the good news: the country legend is releasing his 71st album this year. That’s Life is Nelson’s second collection of Frank Sinatra covers,

following 2018’s My Way. Nelson has said that Sinatra had a big influence on his singing style, and he made part of his latest tribute to the late crooner at Hollywood’s Capitol Studios, where Sinatra recorded many of his beloved standards.

The songs of Ol’ Blue Eyes sound relaxed and comforting through the mellow voice of the Red Headed Stranger, especially the well-known title track and the breezy “Cottage for Sale.” It’s a record perfect for chilling out during our remaining days of hunkering down at home.

Same Spark: Singersongwriter Pete Yorn also went the covers route on his new LP, Pete Yorn Sings the Classics, a Bandcamp exclusive release that features takes on the Pixies, Bob Dylan, and The Beach Boys.

Julien Baker Little Oblivions (Matador) Julien Baker is known for her confessional indie rock songs usually delivered with sparse guitar arrangements and disarming vocal crescendos. Following a long touring cycle supporting her acclaimed 2017 album Turn Out the Lights, she took a break from music to finish college and reassess her

priorities. When she returned to the studio to record Little Oblivions, Baker’s vision expanded, and new tracks like the standout “Hardline” feature crashing drums and emotive keyboard layers.

The full sound adds new depth to her unflinching lyrical revelations.

Same Spark: Danielle Durack offers similar intimately intense songcraft on her new album No Place.

Valerie June The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers (Fantasy) Valerie June’s breakout album, 2017’s The Order of Time, was a roots-driven project, with tracks featuring the singer-songwriter’s alluring voice placed among primitive banjo tunes and jangly blues cuts. The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers—the muchawaited follow-up made with producer Jack

Splash (Kendrick Lamar, Alicia Keys)—finds June honing her stylistic leanings into celestial R&B that fits the record’s searching themes. The album’s opening threesong sequence, “Stay” / “Meditation” / “You and I,” is a sublime astral-soul suite that contemplates relationship dynamics.

“With this record, it finally became clear why I have this dream of making music,” June said in a statement previewing the new album. “It’s not for earthly reasons of wanting to be awarded or to win anybody’s love— it’s because dreaming keeps me inquisitive and keeps me on that path of learning what I have to share with the world.”

Same Spark: Lake Street Dive went into the studio with Mike Elizondo (Dr. Dre, Fiona Apple), who helped shape the band’s next set of retro-minded soul-rock tunes. Obviously will be out March 12.

M A R C H 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

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P R O M OT I O N A L F E AT U R E PERRY AND DRUMMY

Insuring Cannabis Companies Make sure insurance fits your specialized needs.

O

ne of the most pressing issues any company faces on a daily basis is ensuring systems are in place to protect against any and all issues that can arise. For cannabis businesses, protection is even more critical. Due to the nature of the industry, cannabis businesses need to be even more vigilant when it comes to protections. You need the right insurance agency watching your back.

Since 1986, Perry & Drummy has been working with a broad range of commercial cannabis businesses to ensure that they have the correct

coverage and optimal protection.

By applying their expertise to the cannabis space, Perry & Drummy offers coverage in all segments of the cannabis industry: cultivators, manufacturing and extractors, testing labs, distribution (transport), security firms, retail, accounting, and law firms.

The cannabis industry is rapidly growing—and the costs associated with it will continue to grow, too. A recent survey showed that 93% of American voters believe that cannabis should be legalized in all states. Competition for coverage and pricing for insurance needs will keep expanding. Due to the

piecemeal nature of federal and state “The laws on cannabis and its derivatives, it legitimacy can be very challenging to ensure your business is fully covered. Most insurance of the providers are not qualified to navigate the cannabis space. Reach out to Perry & Drummy, not industry an agent you found in the Yellow Pages. has “The legitimacy of the cannabis brought industry has brought about a need to put in place normal business processes about a and protections,” says Dan Perry, presi- need to put dent of Perry & Drummy. “But standard in place insurance policies do not cover the risks normal associated with the cannabis industry.

Our markets can fill in gaps and supply business coverage for your specialized needs.” processes Perry & Drummy are professionals and that will treat your business—the one protections.” you pour your heart into—like their own, ensuring that it is safe and sound. —Dan Perry, president of Perry & Drummy

Perry & Drummy Commercial Insurance Agency Perryanddrummy.com M A R C H 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

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THE END

The Quest to Save Music Supporting local record stores is in our best interest.

“If I was a billionaire and had my time all over, I would invest all of my money in setting up a factory to produce vinyl records again.”

–Roger Daltrey Music can save a person from going into darkness or from going mad, especially when we’re still under orders to limit social gatherings.

That is why supporting local joints serving up old-school vinyl and new artists that recognize their appeal is paramount. In an effort to support 52

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local business and do our part to keep these rare and beautiful stores open, below is a look at where to buy when it’s safe. Some are open and some are selling online or through social media. No matter how you do it, support them.

Detroit: Third Man Records, 441 W. Canfield St.; Hello Records, 1459 Bagley St.; Underground Vinyl, 1254 Michigan Ave.; Ripe Records Detroit, Grosse Pointe Park; UHF Record, Royal Oak.

Grand Rapids: Vertigo Music, 129 Division Ave. S; Reverend Charles Dodds’ Record Shop, 808 Bridge St. NW; Corner Record Shop, Grandville.

Ann Arbor: Encore Records, 208 N 4th Ave.; Wazoo Records, 336 S State St.; Underground Sounds, 210 Main St.; Paragon Sight and Sound, 3780 Jackson Rd.; a2vintage, Ypsilanti.

Midland: Radio Wasteland Records, 716 George St.

PHOTO BY SAÚL GRANDA VIA TWENTY20

TEXT ELI DUPIN

TUNES FOR THE TRIP

Curated playlists for psychedelics

SPRING FLINGS

Fruity (or veggie) cocktails

LIGHTING THE PATH

Expanding cannabis delivery

TUNES FOR THE TRIP

Curated playlists for psychedelics

Lighting the path

Cannabis delivery expands

FOR THE RECORD

Defense of vinyl in the 21st century

TUNES FOR THE TRIP

Curated playlists for psychedelics

N E VA DA

MICHIGAN

NEW ENGLAND

MARCH 2021

MARCH 2021

MARCH 2021

LIGHTING THE PATH Cannabis delivery expands

WICKED IRISH

Where to celebrate St. Patty’s Day

TAKING ROOT

MOTHER NATURE PROVIDES

Cannapreneur April Arraste founds a new brand in Jamaica Plain

Hunt to Eat initiatives support Earth and equity

WINK WORLD The latest project from the founder of the Blue Man Group

TUNES FOR THE TRIP

Curated playlists for psychedelics

LIGHTING THE PATH Cannabis delivery expands

FOR THE RECORD

Defense of vinyl in the 21st century

TUNES FOR THE TRIP

Curated playlists for psychedelics

LIGHTING THE PATH Cannabis delivery expands

FOR THE RECORD

Defense of vinyl in the 21st century

TUNES FOR THE TRIP

Curated playlists for psychedelics

NORCAL

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

C O LO R A D O

MARCH 2021

MARCH 2021

MARCH 2021

LIGHTING THE PATH

Expanding cannabis delivery

FOR THE RECORD

A defense of vinyl in the 21st century

SPRING SPA-CATION Area resorts bring CBD to your self-care day

LKYM NO OTHER Yonatan Elkayam riffs on how COVID-19 has changed music

SEE ALL THE MARCH EDITIONS NOW AVAILABLE!