Ellen Johnson

1 month ago | pastemagazine.com | Ellen Johnson

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. There is a specific kind of comfort in music made by folks who come from home. While it has its share of ugly qualities (like most places), Alabama’s way of life is precious. Even after seven years in a big city in a neighboring state, I regularly feel my roots tugging me back toward my beautiful, sometimes brutish, frequently misunderstood home state.

1 month ago | pastemagazine.com | Ellen Johnson

Deep Sea Diver are no strangers to the long game. The Seattle band, helmed by singer, songwriter and guitarist Jessica Dobson, released their first album in 2012. They were something of a regional act before 2020, when Impossible Weight helped them reach new audiences, which included a stellar single of the same name featuring indie heavyweight Sharon Van Etten.

2 months ago | pastemagazine.com | Ellen Johnson

Rage is powerful, but it can be easily misdirected. When we see a hateful take on social media, our heart rates climb and our heads go haywire as we try to contemplate how a fellow human could really believe something so stupid and cruel. We start writing replies in our heads, or maybe we actually type one out and hit send. We’re mad. One song on Sharon Van Etten’s new album with her band, the Attachment Theory, places us right inside that heated moment.

Nov 1, 2024 | pastemagazine.com | Ellen Johnson

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. We can avoid a lot of unpleasantness by looking down at our devices. We can swerve frightening feelings, eliminate boredom or temporarily drop out of a constant loop of self-doubt with a cheery podcast, a never-ending for-you-page or a meditation app.

Sep 12, 2024 | pastemagazine.com | Ellen Johnson

No city is perfect, but Decatur comes pretty close. Located inside the perimeter of Atlanta but operating as its own city, Decatur is a hyper-progressive yet family-focused historic town where residents sling the catchphrase “Decatur, where it’s greater.” Another local mantra is “Keep it in-Decatur” (pronounced like indie-catur). The twon prides itself on being different, but better.