now here comes the leos acting like they never had a birthday before

I’m 34 today 🎈Thank god Charli xcx just released an emergency song for turning 34 just in time for my birthday.

This year has been a true rollercoaster, but I’m so grateful for where I’m at today. I’m particularly thankful for all the friends, peers and longtime readers who have been such a huge support this year as I embarked on this new phase of my career/life. I feel very lucky!! Still I rise1!

This birthday season is off to a huge start. I went to Connecticut with some friends for some much-needed lazy pool days. I celebrated my friend Anna’s 40th last night with all our friends, and I get to see them all again tonight for mine. I woke up this morning and watched bits of both Lorde and Charli’s Lolla sets this weekend. And Olivia Rodrigo gave me, personally, the gift of singing “Thirty-Three” with the Smashing Pumpkins on the last night of my 33rd year. Thanks, diva! As I write this, my block is having its annual party so my day has been perfectly soundtracked by the music outside my window. The DJ went from “Blow the Whistle” to “Sweet Home Alabama” in less than 10 minutes. Bliss!

This coming week, two cover stories I wrote will drop. I filed the first draft of another this week. I’m eternally grateful for the career I’ve built and the work I get to continue doing. It’s been one of the busiest years of my life in a way I didn’t even know was possible last December. I hope I continue to do that for a long time (though maybe a little less overlapping in the future…that’s on me lol).

In between the story drops, I’ll be a part of two AMAZING events this week! If you’re in NYC, I hope I can see your faces there. The first is on Wednesday. I’ll be part of an A-list group of Substack writers and creators for shit you should care about’s live quiz show The Shit Show at Joe’s Pub! You can RSVP for the event here.

Then on Saturday, I’ll be hosting BRIC Celebrates Aaliyah: One in a Million! It’s from 3-8pm at the Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park from 3-8pm. Some artists will cover her songs and DJs will be spinning in between some special testimonials from people who knew and worked with her. And it’s completely free! You can RSVP for the event here.

And ICYMI, I had the privilege of collaborating with Love Buzz’s Esra Padgett on a special LOVE POP blog, where we gave romance advice to a couple pop girlies based on their recent songs.

In celebration of this big week, I’m going to run a special! A little Leo Szn birthday discount available until Friday!! I appreciate you all for being here and can’t wait to do even more with BRIT POP <3

xx, b