Hello and welcome to the first annual yasi-core holiday gift guide. People often ask me the same questions: What are the best music books? What health and wellness supplements do you take? How do I live the bonj lifestyle? Why are you like this? And so on. So I figured why not answer some of these questions in this newsletter that I send out thrice yearly despite repeated broken promises to do so more frequently. (I’ll send a whole separate one about health/wellness/supplements/skincare if anyone actually wants that).
fyi some of these are affiliate links! *see hoobastank meme* she has a shopping problem okay…
READING MATERIAL
60 Songs That Explain The 90s by Rob Harvilla
My father wrote a book and much like himself, it is exquisite, brilliant, hilarious, aw shucks, and genuine, all at once. I laughed so hard while reading it in bed I woke up my cat more than once. I also get a gorgeous shout out in the thank you section (not to make this about me).
The first issue of DIRT MAGAZINE the boy counterpart to Sassy with Crispin Glover on the cover
Route 666: On The Road to Nirvana by Gina Arnold
You already know the fucking vibes here. The book that changed young Yasi’s life and set her on the trajectory that would take her from music-obsessed, frizz-ball-haired, acne-ridden, le-miz pre-teen to clear-skinned, well-dressed, preternaturally-charming podcaster (with a few, let’s say, detours, along the way). This book is the story of the music that led to Nirvana as told through the story of Gina Arnold herself. She’s the one who taught me how to do that, showed me that you could talk about music through a personal lens without ever truly understanding what a “chord progression” is (I am sure Gina knows what a chord progression is as she is a professor at Stanford and NOT a dumb bitch music podcaster). Anyway this book is out of print (criminal) but there are used copies around for sure.
Geoff Rickly’s debut novel is so fucking good
This out of print Yohji book that is on eBay for a mere $700
Creation Stories by Alan McGee
Creation Records was home to some of the most iconic bands of the UK persuasion, including The Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream, Ride, My Bloody Valentine, and of course, anyway here’s Wonderwall themselves, Oasis. The founder and insane person responsible for it all was Alan McGee, and he also happens to be one of the funniest fucking people of all time. The part where he talks about the Mary Chain and calls them miserable c*nts and says something like “if they won the lottery they’d probably be pissed” made me laugh for like four days. I wish there was an audio book of him reading it even though I wouldn’t be able to understand a fucking word. It would make for nice ASMR.
This lot of 40 SPIN magazines from 1986-1991
OTHER BELOVED MUSIC BOOKS
(I’m working on a massive google doc that lists every book I have used for every episode but it’s not done yet sorry)
-Under the Big Black Sun A Personal History of LA Punk by John Doe
-Endless Endless: A Lo-Fi History of the Elephant 6 Mystery by Adam Clair
-Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys. by Viv Albertine
-Typical Girls?: The Story of the Slits by Zoë Howe
-Hit So Hard: A Memoir by Patty Schemel
-A Riot of Our Own: Night and Day with the Clash by Johnny Green
-Whores: An Oral Biography of Perry Farrell and Jane's Addiction by Brendan Mullen
-Everything Is Combustible: Television, CBGB's and Five Decades of Rock and Roll: The Memoirs of an Alchemical Guitarist by Richard Lloyd
BONJ LIFESTYLE
A Missoni Bath Robe
You can find deals on these if you’re good at Google. There’s a great one on The Real Real right now, and I got mine on Gilt because I like the stripe better than the zig-zag, but they’re all joyfully luxurious and that’s the perfect combo for a gift in my humble estimation.
An astrology reading from a trusted professional like my astrologer Betty (who has been doing it for like 35 years and is incredible) is such a good gift. Tell her Yasi (Taurus sun Taurus rising Aries moon for a little mento illness luv) sent you!!!
Seda France Japanese Quince Candle
This is probably my favorite candle in the world. It smells tart and fresh and unique (she’s just like me fr) and it costs less than half of like a Diptyque (severely overrated imo).
The Flordemusgo candle from the Mexico City based perfumer Xinu which smells like fucking heaven and comes in the coolest little vessel that you can repurpose as a planter or a beautiful pencil holder or whatever be creative babe the world is your oyster.
Marissa Zappas Smoked Jasmine Black Tea Perfume
I switch between like 4-5 perfumes depending on the season and my mood but I have two current favorites and this is one of them.
from her website: This fragrance harkens back to Emily Dickinson, her dried flowers, and her poetry –– a fresh cup of black tea has spilled over the curling pages of an old book, giving rise to the world of this bottle. It’s a blend that’s quietly smoky and pervasively jasmine, supported by undertones of indole.
Descriptors: wet, like old books, jasmine, quietly smoky
Stora Skuggan Moonmilk Perfume
This is also a black tea based scent but it’s more a bit more masculine and intense than the Marissa Zappas one. This one is described as “a sunny scent with a nighttime shadow. Unexpected, heady, and deeply intriguing.” (She’s…just like me fr).
This online course about how to ferment your own vegetables. Cooking is creative and generative and it is also bonj.
Cedar Chicken Coop & Run with Planter from Williams Sonoma. I want chickens sooo bad but also obviously they must have a gorgeous and elegant home!!!
A Juicy Couture astrology velour lounge suit. I don’t even need to explain this one.
This Blumarine faux-fur bag is on sale at SSENSE (sorry) for $234 it’s just extremely bonj what can I say. Goes well with the zodiac track suit.
KOZE Sleep Bulb - Amber Blue Light Blocking Sleep Light Bulb
So besides the fact that these lightbulbs are crucial for controlling your evening light so that you’re not stuffing your retina with blue light that makes your body think it’s noon (I have them in my bedroom and also my living room) they also cast this beautiful, warm amber light that is so vibey and nice and less like Guantanamo than your current overhead light situation. AKA bonj. But yeah if you use these at least 30 min to an hour before bed AND you stop taking your fucking phone in bed and doom scrolling til you pass out, you will start sleeping like a small unbothered child.
This gorgeous little NOAH Clothing x The Cure sleep mask will help also.
For when your dog is punk AND a princess (she’s just…like me…f…r…). I actually really do want this want this for my new dog which indicates how insufferable I’m about to be as a dog parent. LFG!!!
Speaking of parenthood, literally anything from the new children’s brand Mugwort Mugwort is perfect for the child in your life. They refuse to make these clothes in my size even though I have asked repeatedly.
EPHEMERA
I’m really into buying old promo photos on eBay and then framing them. I have a really great Eve Babitz one up in my office so that her spirit can watch over me while I podcast. This PJ Harvey one is sick as hell too.
This 1983 Talking Heads promo poster that features what was meant to be the album art as designed by Tina and Jerry.
This “Morri-Zine” Smiths and Morrissey fan-zine from 1993
This 1997 Rollins Band press kit for $10
Little 3-pack of The Cure promo buttons from 2004
T-Shirts
The shirt I wore when I was the coolest 10 year old on earth is $130 on eBay rn
This incredible Pump Up The Volume tee from my friend Scott’s new company am-fm equipment
This rare Eugenius (Eugene Kelly from The Vaselines’ excellent other band) shirt on Etsy
This Is This Desire era PJ shirt would be a good gift…for me…
Night Gallery Sonic Death Long Sleeve
*whispers* It’s possible I like this shirt better than I like the band.
Yasi x Hollywood Gifts Cringe Tee
Actually everything in my store is 25% off through Christmas with the code BONJTHEHALLS
:)
Anyway hope you enjoyed this and if you are feeling parasocially called to send me a holiday gift who am I to stand in your way? (As always, don’t be weird!!!!). I also really like Christmas cards.
Send to:
461 W Woodbury Road
Unit #599
Altadena, CA 91001
xoxoxoxoxo
yasi