Blog No. 268: Mon Rovia Music, Takashi Yasui Photographer, New York's Cutest

The underlined words and many of the images in the newsletter are linked to more in depth information so don’t hesitate to click…

Mon Rovia Music

Bloodline, Mon Rovia’s new album just released in January 2026

Quite a while ago I came across the sweet voice of a singer named Mon Rovia on Instagram and his music blew me away. Where had he come from? How was it that I hadn't heard of him before? I wondered whether others felt the same way. It turns out, many people did, including the personal growth expert Mel Robbins, who like me, was really taken by this guy and did an extensive interview with him--so worth a listen.

Named for his city of origin in Liberia, Mon Rovia was born in the midst of civil war when young boys were being kidnapped and trained as child soldiers. At the age of 7, his grandmother brought him to the home of American missionaries and literally asked them if they would take him in, in hopes of giving him a better life. Thus began his life in the United States…He loved his new family but left behind a brother and sister and in an attempt to cope with life in America and to process grief, trauma and a whole lot of survivor guilt, Mon Rovia turned to music. To say his music is deep, sincere and heartfelt is an understatement.

Thanks to social media, his music, described as “Afro Appalachian” has spread and he now has over 17 million likes on TikTok. He is currently on tour in Europe and has just released his first full album. His most famous and timely song and everyone's favorite is called Heavy Foot but the entire album Bloodlines is great.

Takashi Yasui Photography

I love Substack for the fact that it has the ability of leveling the playing field and democratizing creativity. Anyone can be found and appreciated through their writings, thoughts, and images without having to be “famous."

I came across an amazing photographer recently whose work just spoke to me in such a deep way. His work is all about light. Takashi Yasui's photography epitomizes a word that was very important to my mid-century modern furniture designer dad, Mel Smilow. The word is SHIBUI—there is not really a good translation in English but it is something in-between beauty, elegance and simplicity as I understand it. I share with you some photos that spoke to this concept as well as an essay about how Takashi Yasui became a photographer that he published on his substack.

New York's Cutest

Click image above to see Mamdani’s Press Conference on Universal Childcare

A different kind of politic is happening in New York City these days and I personally am finding it incredibly refreshing. This instagram clip above of a recent Mamdani press conference on universal childcare just might put a big smile on your face and take your mind off of other things for a few minutes…

Painting of the Week

Pam Smilow. mixed media on canvas 62” x 52”. approx. I came back from California a few months ago with a lot of commissions. This is my second to last one—going to a home in Palo Alto…

Charity of the Week:
ACLU

Book of the Week

---

About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.