Who. What. Where? No. 139

It’s the first WWW of the year, and we’re back with a bang(er). Belgian artist Youniss is dropping a new album, Good Effort!, all about what it takes to be a young creative growing up on the outskirts of Antwerp: perseverance, an ever-changing cultural landscape, you get the drill. Sound-wise, it’s a fusion of jazz, post-punk and hip-hop, bringing the same feel as the city itself. The only bad news is Good Effort! isn’t out until 18 March. The good news, however, is that Youniss has treated us to two singles ahead of the release: ‘Gits Worse’ featuring South African singer Petite Noir, and ‘Open To Interpretation’, a collaboration with American rapper Quelle Chris and fellow Belgian artist Porcelain Id. But there’s another layer to the project, too. Since it’s all about life in the city and the different people it brings together, Youniss has been working on a mini-series under the same name as the album. In it, he plays the role of a taxi driver and confidant to the city’s travellers. You can check out Episode 1 here, and if you like what you see, you can pre-save the album here.

From Belgium straight back to our home turf of Camden. HUNGER’s favourite local jazz hotspot, The Jazz Cafe, is hosting a January-Blues-beating event in collaboration with The London Ambient Orchestra this Blue Monday (19 January). They know this time of year is notoriously the toughest, and that’s why they’ll be reworking ambient pieces by artists such as Alice Coltrane and Aphex Twin with a full orchestra. It promises to have a dreamy, meditative atmosphere — a bit of a safe space for some New Year introspection. So, if you fancy starting your week off with good vibrations, snag a ticket here.

From music to fashion: Yves Saint Laurent has an exciting new release coming in early February and it’s, excitingly, a graphic novel. The fashion house has collaborated with Thames & Hudson to release The Yves Saint Laurent Revolution: The Story of ‘Le Smoking’, a super chic illustrated run-down of the genesis of the brand’s iconic women’s tuxedo. It follows Saint Laurent and his muse Betty Catroux as they’re denied a table at every restaurant in 1960’s New York on account of a lady wearing trousers. The horror! It’s both a digestible and beautifully ornamental run-down of the brand’s most iconic piece and its place in the discourse of second-wave feminism. Brains and beauty — and the perfect accessory to the other, uber-cultivated coffee table books you’ve been curating to match your sophisticated New Year’s persona. Except you’ll actually want to read this one. Keep your eyes peeled in bookstores from 5 February, or pre-order here.

Lastly, one for the Northerners. If you’re in Manchester on 21 January, we know just the thing to help brighten up the darker days. M4 Unplugged at Jimmy’s is set to be a super laidback evening, spotlighting burgeoning local artists. It sort of has to be laidback, because the venue’s home of Ancoats actually bans amplified music in the neighbourhood. The evening will be headlined by Chloe Elms, who’s upcoming EP, Days Go By, is dropping later this year. And she’ll be supported by six other artists and DJs playing exclusive stripped-back versions of their discography highlights. The best part is, though, the tickets are only a fiver. If you’re as chuffed with that as we are, grab a ticket to see Chloe and the gang next Wednesday here.