June 2025 Favorites
A content series by Dani Is Dizzy
HAPPY PRIDE, EVERYONE! One of the best months of the year showed up with a lot of new favorites. Heads up, this is a bit more extensive than usual because it’s been a hectic month with a lot of new experiences. Keep reading for NYC experiences, music recommendations, and my guilty pleasure from Five Below.
MUSIC:
Addison Rae - Addison
This is a stellar debut by former TikTok princess Addison Rae. It pays homage to her influences like Madonna and Britney, but manages to make it her own as well. I tried to get tickets for her NYC shows and failed (during pride month? a hate crime), but I’m so excited to see what she does next. She mentioned she plans on doing music videos for each song on the album. This record delivers powerful but simple lyrics, memorable melodies, and beautiful synths. Her performances have also been stellar, especially her live session at Spotify. This is a real yet positive album and I really, really recommend this one. Tracks I recommend:
“New York”
“Summer Forever”
“Headphones On”
“Fame Is A Gun”
“In The Rain”
“Fame Is A Gun”
SNOW WIFE - Bodyology
I was lucky enough to here this EP early and meet Snow Wife ahead of her GovBall performance at the start of this month. This is an EP for those who love 2010’s Kesha and Born This Way era Gaga. If you wanna dance in the shower or impress your friends with the aux, check this one out! Tracks I recommend:
“Freaky Like That”
“Sweat”
“Yoyo”
Karol G - Tropicoqueta
I am so pleased to see Karol step out of her comfort zone with this one. She honors her roots and achieves the Copacabana aesthetic perfectly. The reggaeton tracks were not my favorites, but when she dove into other genres like cumbia and reggae, it really worked for me. Her vocals are so pretty on this and I’m happy this came out right at the start of summer. Tracks I recommend:
“Tropicoqueta”
“Un Gatito Me Llamó”
“Ivonny Bonita”
“Ese Hombre Es Malo”
“No Puedo Vivir Sin Él”
MARINA - Princess of Power
She kept her defining song but does something different with it here. The lyricism is a standout aspect of this record and she looks like she’s having a ton of fun performing these new songs live. Tracks I recommend:
“I <3 YOU”
“FINAL BOSS”
“METALLIC STALLION”
“CUPID’S GIRL”
Turnstile - NEVER ENOUGH
I love to see a rock band put out a record with a developed sound in the year 2025. Tracks I’d recommend:
“SOLE”
“LIGHT DESIGN”
Judeline - “chica de cristal”
I also got to hear this one early because of work and it’s a nice chill track. If you’re into The Marías, you’ll love this one. Judeline shows a lot of promise and I’m excited to see her grow as an artist.
Eli - “Marianne”
I’ve been following Eli on TikTok for a few months and when this finally released, my day was made. This is such an easy listening song and the vocal flips are so precisely done- it’s really impressive. This a track is for enjoyers of Troye Sivan’s Something To Give Each Other.
Mark Ronson, RAYE - “Suzanne”
I’ve always said RAYE is the closest voice we have to Amy Winehouse and this collaboration with Mark Ronson cements that. It’s a huge deal to collaborate with someone so close to your inspiration; it’s also just a great song. I especially love the horn and percussion sections on this track.
SHOWS AND FILM:
Love Island USA - Peacock
The way this show has taken over each of my nights needs to be studied. Love Island is, on paper, a show I would not like. It’s manipulated content, unnecessarily extra with its challenges, and not a super likable cast of islanders. That said, I’m watching for Amaya, Cierra, and Olandria because I’m trying to emulate certain aspects of them. Amaya’s positivity, Cierra’s spirituality, and Olandria’s grace and classiness are all things I hope to develop as I grow as a woman. I’m tuning in every night in a gender studies/anthropology type of way. More than anything, I’ve been watching to practice gratitude and remind myself that men are awful and my boyfriend is the only good one.
How to Train Your Dragon - Dreamworks, 2025
I’m the first person to say that live action movies need to be set on fire- this sentiment excludes this movie. The characters were cast so perfectly and the CGI was convincing! More than anything, they expanded on themes of parental expectations and did an incredible job with Toothless’s look. Saw this at the Dolby Atmos theater in the Lincoln Square AMC (my second home).
EXPERIENCES:
Real Women Have Curves - On Broadway
This show closing at the end of this month is the worst thing to happen ever (kidding, obvi, but still stinks). I already loved the 2002 movie of the same name with America Ferrara so I was stoked to see this. My mom and I had great seats and it helped me appreciate all the details: Walter Mercado’s shrine at the clothing factory, the Café Bustelo coffee tin, among others. It made me emotional that a show with such a powerful message on immigration and first generation guilt is closing after a two month run.
Cabaret at the Kit Kat Klub - On Broadway
It is INSANE that this is on Broadway and has received the acclaim it has. This is an avant garde production of the 1972 Liza Minnelli classic that is also set to close later this year. This is another story that is beyond relevant; a story about Nazis rising to power, complacency, and the dangers of escapism. It was a no phone, cameras off experience since you walk in. As you enter the theater, you’re transported to a Berlin style club. When you go downstairs, a traditional Volkmusic band playing to the crowd. Everywhere you looked, there was something to see. My highlight was the understudy who played the Emcee! I still love the movie more because it’s one of my favorites, but I think this interpretation pays homage but also brings an entirely different lens to the story.
New York Philharmonic Orchestra with Gustavo Dudamel
Gustavo Dudamel is talented, expressive and happens to be latino! Seeing latine artists reach these levels of respect and acclaim will always make me happy. Went to their free show at Prospect Park and besides the long intermission, I think it was great! It was followed by a firework show which was a fun surprise as well.
New York Botanical Garden - Van Gogh’s Flowers Exhibit
This was my first time at this botanical garden. The Brooklyn one is special to me so I had high expectations. They offered a guided ride through the entire garden and they had an amazing gift store that supported local creators. We saw such beautiful flowers and pretty birds left and right. The Van Gogh exhibit was small but beautiful and was spaced out nicely.
Gaia Music Collective: One Day Chorus
It was a bitch to get to, but I got to sing ROSALÍA with strangers in an abandoned church so worth it. It was the first one day chorus Gaia hosted in Spanish and for four hours, we learned and sang an arrangement of “LLYLM”. I missed singing with people so this was a nice way to ease back into it as I begin my musical career. It brought me back to my younger self and I think I’d attend a session again.
Superfine: Tailoring Black Style - Metropolitan Museum of Art
Following the Met gala being good for the first time since Heavenly Bodies, (in my opinion) I’ve been excited to visit the new exhibit at the Met. It was just the right amount of items and information and the space transported you right away. My favorite thing to see was Prince’s blouse that he wore for the Purple Rain album cover.
OTHER:
Harvard Course - Omens, Oracles & Prophecies
“This certificate won’t help you in your career”. WHAT HAPPENED TO LEARNING AS A FORM OF ENJOYMENT? DAMN. In simple terms, this free course explores different methods of predicting the future such as tarot, Aztec practices, astrology, and more. I’m CEO of believing everything the tarot readers on TikTok tell me, unfortunately. I’m excited to dive back into my crystals and tarot cards with more expertise and educate myself on a concept that intrigues me. I will also have a Harvard certificate so that rocks. There are so many free courses you can take on the Harvard website- definitely check them out!
Addison Rae x Matchaful
I love Addison entire thing and her album consumed me on release week so I caved. I got the Matchaful collaboration drink “Summer Forever”: matcha cold foam, blue spirulina, coconut milk, Oishii strawberries, homemade almond cream, and mango purée.
Concha Bacon Egg and Cheese
It was as good as it sounds. It also wasn’t as heavy as I thought it would sit in my stomach. I got this at Mexican owned café xoco-latte in Bushwick. They were inviting and welcoming and also served me an horchata latte. I chose the vanilla concha and it was unbelievable. It’s a great time to support Latine business so consider this one!
SpongeBob SquarePants Food Figure Blind Bag
Five Below takes my money yet again. I’m a lifelong SpongeBob fan and saw these $5 blind boxes on TikTok. I’ve been wanting to add more to my desk at work and thought these figures would be a good pick. I have the SpongeBob Krabby Patty and Patrick in the mayo jar. I’m really trying for Gary with a donut shell and the Sandy milkshake. $5 joy is a lot better than $20 Sonny Angels and Labubus in my opinion.
It’s been a busy, busy month but there were lots of things to love! Follow Dani Is Dizzy for all things pop culture, music, and Nueva York living. As always, my socials are down below:
Instagram: danielastorres
TikTok: canyonmoonlvr
Pinterest: daniisdizzy
-Daniela Torres