I’m back with another round of audio picks and, personally, I think you’re in for a treat this month! I’m always intrigued to know if any of you lovely readers have found any new favourites from past posts, just like I’m always curious to know what’s in your personal rotations and what music, books or podcasts you all listen to! One day we’ll have to do a massive media share on our socials, but until that day, let’s get into March’s selections. But first, I thought I’d share my latest WIP update – all be it a small one!
This month’s been another slow one for me, stitching-wise. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had good intentions to do more, yet I’ve only managed to do a little bit. I think for many of us, February seems to fly by and it has for me, more than previous years.
On the right is a month’s comparison shot, with February above and the below showing where I’m at now.
Hopefully in the April update I’ll have a little more to share, yet I guess it’s a reminder for us all that progress is progress, big or small. However, I’m pleased that I can see a page finish on the horizon!
Fingers crossed that by finishing those little gaps and getting back onto that final page, it’ll give me a boost I need to finally complete the whole piece.
With that said, no matter what I’ve gotten up to this past month, the earphones have been in. Let’s get into what my top three picks are for March! As per, be sure to check your content warnings before diving into these listens as they may contain sensitive topics and/or language.
📖 Audiobook – Beyond The Story: 10-Year Record of BTS – Myeongseok Kang & BTS
IT’S COMEBACK MONTH! 🥳🍾💜 March 20th marks the return of BTS and I, for one, am pretty excited about it and then some. But before ARIRANG lands on my doormat and Spotify library, I thought early March would give you enough time to listen to this in-depth and insightful book about how one of the biggest boy bands of all time were formed.
Like I’d mentioned on a previous Vic’s Picks post, I’d been a Jung Kook fan for quite some time, but after watching BTS’ 2021 concert, Sowoozoo, at the cinema last year, I was blown away by their artistry as a septet. After that, I was more than happy to listen to their back catalogue and learn more about them both as a group, as well as their solo endeavors.
Although I’d arrived rather late to the party, Beyond The Story proved for an incredibly interesting listen, alongside a great ‘catch-up’ of what I didn’t know, or offering more context and background on what I did.
The book features dozens of interviews where they discuss the group’s formation, album production, gruelling tour schedules, their fanbase known as ARMY, and much, much more.
The guys have gone through a heck of a lot to get to this point, and their resilience, hard work, and dedication to their craft is further documented and well-celebrated here. Coming in at just over 11 hours, Beyond The Story is not only perfect for any existing BTS fan, it’s worth a listen if you’re a fan of music in general.
🎙️ Podcast – PlayStation Access – PlayStation UK
I’ve been a fan of PlayStation Access for almost a decade now, with their YouTube channel focusing on what’s new to the console, Rob Pearson’s weekly ‘7 things…’ features, along with other team members Dave Jackson and Nathan Ditum’s hilarious playthroughs of Metal Gear Solid, Until Dawn and Outlast.
From discussing their perfect meal deals and trophy hunting in episode one, to talking about some of the best sequels in gaming history in one of their latest, their podcast of the same name has always felt like the ultimate hang, much like their videos.
The Access team’s content is always a winner for me, yet it feels like the podcast allows them to explore some topics in a little more detail, giving them further room to dive into the details of what makes their favourite games oh-so-special to them. You’ll quickly learn just how much Rob loves Metal Gear Solid – I can almost hear the squeak of the boardmarker from Dave…if you know, you know!
Perfect for gaming fans, PlayStation Access is nothing short of a laugh, even if the episode you’re listening to isn’t covering one of your favourite games. With special guests and listener questions sent in, each episode feels purposeful where each topic will pique your interest, leaving you pondering on said questions, as well as laughing about what’s scaring Dave this week, or just how stunning the water graphics are in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. Yep, it’s a thing and I’m here for it!
💿 Album – Knock On The Orange Door – Amber Navran
One third of both Moonchild and Catpack, the incredible Amber Navran’s solo endeavours remind us of just how brilliant of an artist she truly is. I’ve enjoyed her previous independent outings such as Speak Up and Golden Light with Erin Bentlage, yet her 2023 release, Knock On The Orange Door, has to be my favourite project of hers.
I’m a huge fan of her discography and have been lucky to see her live with the rest of Moonchild, alongside their incredible touring drummer Efa Etoroma Jr., yet its projects like this where you’re left astounded at her artistry.
Her smooth and impressive vocals are on display here, alongside her writing chops and producing skills. She’s a master of her many crafts and this project in particular really shows this off. The album itself is quite short, with only a couple of songs ticking over the two minute mark, and a total run time of 27 minutes.
Personal favourites of mine include Small Hours, More, Night Drive, Away From the Noise, and Altamira.
Knock On The Orange Door is the perfect album to lose yourself in your craft to, especially for this time of year, as Amber’s silky vocals and harmonies easily whisk you away to another realm, getting lost in stunning arrangements. It feels like audio renewal; its instrumentation and production really feel in sync with the season and all of spring. With thoughtful lyricism, listening to this album feels like a real ‘find’ and, even if neo-soul’s not your typical genre, I think many of you will find this a pleasant surprise and one you’ll return to.
Thanks for joining me for this month’s Vic’s Picks; I hope you’ve been enjoying these selections for 2026 so far. Be sure to let us know over on our socials with both what you’ve been working on and what’s been keeping you entertained as you work your way through your WIPs! Catch you in April for some more audio delights 🎶