Hot Takes: Charli XCX, NZIFF and more

Charli XCX's Boys is the perfect summer banger. Photo / YouTube

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Living at the bottom of the world with inverted seasons from the UK and US often means thrashing summer bangers in the middle of winter; a current prime example being Charli XCX's Boys. The music video features basically every pop-culture boy crush you could ever have (Hi there, Kaytranada), and it finally felt like a proper middle finger to the complete embarrassments that existed earlier in this decade (I'm looking at you, Blurred Lines).

I've also been thrashing new Empress Of song Go to Hell - her 2015 album Me is one of my favourites of all time, and I'm thrilled she's back. Winter is here, but the summer tunes can keep on coming.

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The New Zealand International Film Festival has, once again, thrown me into an emotional tumble dryer and spat me out again - and it's not even over yet. The saddest part of it coming to an end is the knowledge that it may be a long time before you can rewatch some of the films you loved - but as streaming platforms grow and adapt their programming, more festival flicks are able to find new homes.

Virunga, which screened during the New Zealand International Film Festival in 2014, is available to stream on Netflix. Photo / supplied

Some NZIFF films I've loved that can be found on streaming platforms include the harrowing environmental documentary Virunga (NZIFF 2014) and the tense one-shot thriller Victoria (NZIFF 2015), which are both on Netflix. Last year's Ira Sachs drama Little Men is currently on Neon, as well as the acclaimed horror-drama The Witch. The festival may be an annual event, but great films are always at your fingertips.

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The Beths know how to throw a party. I was lucky enough to catch them at Wellington's Meow a couple of weeks ago during a fleeting visit to the capital, and it was excellent. This weekend they're back in Auckland to showcase some new songs at Whammy Bar on Friday, and their energetic brand of surf-rock promises another burst of summer in the middle of this Game of Thrones-dominated winter. The next night, Tiny Ruins brings some folky hypnosis to the The Kings Arms as they finish their nationwide tour. They'll also be showcasing a range of new tunes from a third album that's just around the corner - and I can't wait.

Tiny Ruins plays The Kings Arms in Auckland on Saturday August 5. Photo / supplied

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I literally used to flat above a Satya restaurant, so it's kind of a given that I love the Indian chain. When I heard that the family business had opened two chai lounges, where they served a mixture of Indian street food and craft beer, it naturally became my new favourite thing. With two low-key, almost-secret spots in Sandringham and on K Rd, the Satya Chai Lounge is the perfect place to grab a drink and some incredible Indian food ahead of something like a film or a gig. I won't tell you exactly where they are; part of the fun is finding the elusive spots yourself.

Sammy Akuthota, manager of the Satya Chai Lounge in Sandringham village. Photo / nzherald