The Spinoff Weekend's summery special: L.A.B, jandals, beach nudity, otai and holiday poops
Here's every story we loved reading this week...
Kia ora and welcome back to The Spinoff Weekend, our weekly wrap of the best stories you may have missed over the past seven days. With the sun shining and temperatures high, we’re still in a bit of a holiday mood, so this newsletter is packed with summer vibes, from beach nudity to the death of jandals, and why, possibly, you can’t poop on holiday. We also have an interview with L.A.B, who may very well be soundtracking your summer right now thanks to their smash single ‘In the Air’. Take your time, enjoy, and don’t forget to brew yourself a fresh cup of Coffee Supreme, the perfect companion to this newsletter :)
-Chris Schulz, features editor
How L.A.B’s ‘In the Air’ changed everything
When the five members of reggae group L.A.B ventured into the studio in 2019, they had no idea they were about to write a career-changing hit. That’s what’s happened with ‘In the Air,’ the group’s chart-topping, radio-dominating, streaming-conquering single that’s still in high rotation to this day. The band say they still don’t know what happened. “It isn’t No. 1 material,” says guitarist and singer Joel Shadbolt. “That’s what’s so weird about it. It doesn’t have the right concoction. (There’s no) banging chorus.” I asked the group how they’re coping with all that attention: the awards, the acclaim and the tens of thousands of people attending their shows — including this weekend’s Hagley Park gig in Christchurch. You can find their response here.
Are jandals - gasp - dead?
Madeleine Chapman thinks the humble jandal, a staple fashion choice for a classic Aotearoa summer, might be on the way out. “I never thought I’d feel a pang of nostalgia at the sight of jandals,” she writes. “They were supposed to be part of Aotearoa’s summer scenery forever, like pōhutukawa and wraparounds – neither intrusive nor noteworthy. But this summer I have kept my eyes peeled for a flat piece of rubber out in the wild and come up disappointed time and time again. Where did jandals go?” Read and reminisce about your own favourite open-toed shoes here.
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Why you should try going naked this summer
What’s it like being a first-timer at a nudist beach? Guest writer Maisie Nhao decided to find out. “We picked a spot around the middle of the beach, and settled in with our books, tanning in our bikinis,” writes Nhao. “In five minutes, I was comfortable enough to go topless. My friend followed suit. Another glance confirmed no one cared, so I took a deep breath and committed. Full. Honky. As I took my bottoms off, a gentle breeze rippled through the trees, and I felt a deep sense of happiness and peace. For a moment nothing else mattered — it was just me, naked and unashamed.” If you’re feeling brave enough to try it yourself, prepare by reading her full piece here.
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Why can’t I poop on holiday?
Vacation constipation is real, it’s a thing, and you should probably read Naomii Seah’s interview with registered nutritionist Nikki Hart to find out why. “Maybe you’re off on a roadie, or overseas to an exciting new place,” Seah writes. “Either way, you’ve got a summer cocktail in hand, togs packed, and sunnies on your face. You get to your destination, fling your bags in your room, and pop to the bathroom. You sit there for three minutes … five minutes … 15 minutes … but your bowels remain firmly shut. Your travel companion knocks on the door and asks when you’ll be ready to leave. Ah crap, you think. Your fists and nose are scrunched, your knees are raised, and still your poopy pantomime is unsuccessful.” Read her tips for avoiding the holiday backlog here.
Everything else we loved this week:
Joanna Wane has a lovely profile on one of New Zealand’s finest actors, Joel Tobeck, in this weekend’s NZ Herald Canvas magazine, along with some incredible photos. You can read it (paywalled) online here.
Is your social media flooded with those damned coloured Wordle boxes? It turns out that’s all New Zealand’s fault. Stewart Sowman-Lund investigates.
Wondering what sex is like for your parents or grandparents? Apparently, it can be “the best of their lives”. That’s according to The New York Times, who interviewed more than 40 people for a really enjoyable (paywalled) deep dive into old age sex, titled, The joys (and challenges) of sex after 70.
There’s nothing better than a podcast binge about a super strange scam. Conning the Con is good, Snowball is great, but Queen of the Con: The Irish Heiress, hosted by a con victim, might be the best one yet.
If you’re wondering what’s going on with Kim & Kanye & Pete & Julia, this New Yorker (paywalled) piece will help clear up the confusing dating roulette that’s been happening between the world’s biggest celebs.
Did a highly advanced global empire arrive in New Zealand before Europeans to build the Dunedin railway station? Josie Adams reports on “the Qanon of architecture” conspiracy theory taking off across YouTube and Reddit.
What are clickbait ads? And why do news publications keep using them? Dylan Reeve investigates why headlines like “The cost of planning a funeral in 2022 may surprise you” remain irresistible to mainstream media sites.
If you’re struggling to keep up with Boris Johnson’s UK Christmas party scandal, Al Jazeera has put together a helpful timeline of events.
Finally, if you’re wondering what otai is, The Spinoff’s Sela Jane Hopgood explains that the traditional Polynesian drink is like “a Tank tropical smoothie crossed with bubble tea” and will go great with your summer break. Enjoy!
