Much of what you need to know about musicians Catherine “Cat” Harris-White and Stasia “Stas” Irons of THEESatisfaction can be gleaned from the artwork on the front of their recently released album, EarthEE, drawn by Rajni Perera. They sit, tall and proud, upon a golden throne adrift in the cosmos, ritualistic adornment draped atop their naked bodies. It’s both a bold celebration of the female form and a testament to the intelligent, self-assured women sitting beside me.
“She said she wanted to make us look like bored queens sitting on a throne,” says Harris-White with a laugh, lounging in a back room of Los Angeles’ storied Hollywood Palladium, where they’re due to play later in the night. And while the pair makes light of other high compliments paid to them—They were palpable amongst the flat. Regal in a manner that is mostly forgotten, penned good friend and artist Maikoiyo Alley-Barnes in a poetic opener to EarthEE—the praise is anything but misguided.
The duo has been collaborating for the past seven years since first meeting in Seattle, weaving social, political, and cultural commentary into their self-proclaimed “funk-psychedelic feminist sci-fi epics.” Currently, they’re split on either side of the U.S.—Irons still in Seattle and Harris-White in Brooklyn—but they make THEESatisfaction work, even amongst their other solo musical and artistic endeavors. Now signed to indie label mainstay Sub Pop, EarthEE is their second child, following their well-received debut album, 2012’s awE naturalE. Irons’ slow-burn raps layered over Harris-White’s jazz-tinged, soulful vocals tip a hat to the musical greats from a host of genres—R&B, hip-hop, neo-soul—while still crafting THEESatisfaction’s own contemporary truth.
[youtube ratio="0.5625" position="standard" caption=""Recognition" off EarthEE"]
“Some of the shit that we go through—racism, sexism, being in a relationship, not being in a relationship—we just love to mix it all together and catch people’s ears, and make them dance too,” says Irons. “It’s just what we love to do.”
Part of their truth involves not shying away from their beliefs or identity, and EarthEE is no exception. They tackle cultural appropriation on the track “Blandland,” with Irons calmly rapping, “If it was in your heart you wouldn’t have to work hard” to those who have stolen jazz, soul, and hip-hop before Harris-White takes off scatting melodically. “Post Black Anyway” confronts realities of the black experience today. Irons wrote the lyrics around the time of Mike Brown’s death in Ferguson, Missouri, prompted by online debates over the notion of a “post-racial society” she was seeing. Perhaps all too fittingly, Irons chose one of Harris-White’s beats that had been created some time before, attempting to aurally capture “being soaked in the heavy downpour of feelings and emotions,” as she puts it. “But ‘post-racial society’ or ‘post-black society,’ that doesn’t exist, because we’re always going to be here,” Irons says matter-of-factly. “We can’t be post-black. We just can’t be.”
This unflinching candor certainly contributes to the refreshing vibe of THEESatisfaction. For Harris-White, her philosophy is simple: “You can generate darkness or you can generate light,” she says. “I’m about loving yourself, knowing yourself, appreciating yourself. And if you love yourself, it’s easier to love other people. And then you shine through that.”
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Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.