Just a quick update from me...

Hello again!

Kia ora! I know, it’s been a while. How are you? What’s been happening? Have you seen that insane new Die! Die! Die! music video? Grotesque! How about Kristen Stewart in Spencer? Outstanding! Give her all the Oscars! Did you finish Station Eleven? Brilliant! How about Vigil, the submarine drama? Scary! Have you listened to the podcast Chameleon: Wild Boys? So weird! What about Queen of the Con: the Irish Heiress? Terrifying!

Aww, miss you guys.

Anyway, sorry, I got sidetracked reminiscing about the good times we had. The reason I’m here is to say, once again, thanks for spending all that time with me in the Boiler Room. It’s still getting crazy numbers of readers, even though I haven’t written a newsletter here since last August. (Remember? I got a job lol.) For some reason, it keeps on trucking: several of you have remained paid subscribers (you’re too kind, but it’s okay, you can stop now) and I keep getting new comments on posts I haven’t thought about in ages.

It means a lot that this random collection of newsletters I made because of lockdown boredom and freelance fatigue still connects to readers, still creates discussions, still makes an impact, even though I have no idea how anyone’s finding them these days. Google? Facebook? TikTok? What are the kids up to now anyways?

Anyway, what I did just want to pop up in your inbox to say is that I’m writing another newsletter. If you like the style and tone of Boiler Room, you may also appreciate my new one. It’s called The Spinoff Weekend and it’s a collection of all of my favourite journalism from New Zealand and abroad. It’s full of big reads and deep dives, plus a catch up on the week’s news, and it arrives in your inbox every Saturday morning, just in time for coffee and brunch.

If you’re into this, you can sign up for it here (it’s completely and utterly free).

If you’re missing my stories, I’m still writing heaps of cool stuff over at The Spinoff. I’ve had a blast lately. I’ve visited Holiday Records, New Zealand’s only vinyl pressing plant. I’ve investigated In the Air, the No. 1 single that really shouldn’t be a No. 1 single. I asked the old boss of the Big Day Out if the festival could ever make a comeback (and it wasn’t a ‘no’.) I’ve been looking at Skyworld, everyone’s favourite weird building, again. And, my personal fave, is this yarn with a newbie actor who arrived on set thinking he was just an extra, only to find out he was the lead.

Also, as a little bonus for those who’ve made it this far, I’ve unlocked my subscriber-only posts, so if you want to go read, Inside Viagogo: How scalpers make money from fake Lorde tickets, and, iMax: ‘It’s become a mish-mash of crap,’ you totally can go do that now.

So, anyway, whatever you’re up to, enjoy your Tuesday, stay safe out there, mask up, get your booster shots, take some time out for yourself, keep hydrated, stay away from Liz Gunn, and don’t forget to watch this bloody disgusting Die! Die! Die! video.

It’s so much fun…

-Chris

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