Morning Brew - ☕ The Wellerman

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Nathan Evans, a Scottish postman, struck social media gold by singing ancient sea shanties (a type of work song) on TikTok, most notably the hit “The Wellerman.” Already, 2021 has been declared the year of the sea shanty; even Elon is on board. Could a cappella shanty covers be next? While we wait, it’s my responsibility as your internet sidekick to answer the most pressing questions about the sea shanty world: 

• When were sea shanties invented, and why are they everywhere right now?
• What is the history of the song “The Wellerman”? 
• Who is the cute Scotsman behind the trend? 
• Where can I listen to more chanteys? 
• What comes after sea shanties? Peep: Sea vanty. 

Read: 

• 43 books by women writers of color to kickstart your 2021 reading list. 
• In case you haven’t unplugged this long weekend, here's how endless screen time and other quarantine habits are messing with your body. 
• A Mad Lib for Sally Rooney’s new novel, coming this fall. Maybe we’ll get another Hulu limited series? 
• Ashwagandha, lemon balm, L-theanine—inside the flurry of relaxation drinks. (And why some think a lot of it is BS.) 

Listen: 

• To new artists via ColorsxStudios, this week’s WFH soundtrack. Check out their premade playlists, or start with my faves—Mahalia and Jorja Smith. 
• How to declutter your space, if you’re eager to get ahead on spring cleaning. 

Watch: 

• The first trailer for The United States vs. Billie Holiday. Counting down the days till we get to see the costumes, music, and storyline come to life.
• The first live-action Marvel series on Disney+: WandaVision.
• Would you sleep in a giant potato? Asking for a friend… 

The key to sleeping soundly?

Sound itself.

The Bose Sleepbuds™ II send sounds of relaxation into your ears and lull you into a slumber so deep you’ll send the Sandman into early retirement.

They work with the Bose Sleep app, playing specially curated soothing sounds all night long on a single charge.

And like a teddy bear wrapped in your embrace, the Sleepbuds snuggle the contours of your ear to form a gentle seal that blocks passive noise from disrupting your snooze.

Sleep better with Bose Sleepbuds™ II tonight.

Try it: 

• Celebrate: A Sidekick reader asked me to share my favorite birthday cake recipes, and lucky for all of you, here are four famous ones. Bonus: The Kitchn tested each and dubbed one the winner.
• Plant: For those of you who sprouted a green thumb at some point during quarantine, now is the best time to start seed-shopping.
• Bargain: If you have commitment issues, check out Unloved, a marketplace for pre-owned, discounted tech subscriptions. 

Buy it: 

• Saucy: Taste your way around the world with Haven’s Kitchen’s bold sauces. Try drizzling the Golden Turmeric Tahini over baked tofu—you’ll thank me. 
• Cheesy: This rec comes from home chef and Brew writer Alex Hickey. “If you hear Mary Berry from The Great British Baking Show complaining about soggy bottoms when you pull a homemade pizza from the oven...it’s time to get a pizza stone. Ceramic, steel, or stone platters mimic the surface of a pro pizza oven to achieve that   crispy bottom.” 

Michael Sidofsky's Instagram

This photograph of Mont Saint-Michel looks a little bit like the intro credits to every Disney movie.