In the mosaic of qualities that give a piece of music meaning the last thing which often figures is what an artist calls their work. This seems appropriate: if something sounds abysmal it doesn’t […]
50 Years of Summer: the 50th Anniversary of the Summer of Love
In San Francisco, 1967, a cultural revolution was taking place. Teenagers were questioning and challenging the values of the previous generation; conservatism, monogamy and tradition were rejected in favour of vibrant music, sexual liberation and […]
“Mental illness is not confined within a sound or by genre, it is everywhere”: Enter Shikari’s ‘Live Outside’
Time and time again, rock finds itself in the same old position: a band, beloved for their heavy roots, venture into calmer waters and are subsequently scorned for it. Enter Shikari’s latest single, ‘Live Outside’, […]
7 Years of One Direction: More than Music
The 23rd of July 2010 was a momentous occasion in history. Seven years on, we commemorate it. Yes, I’m talking about the formation of the biggest and best pop act of the 21st century. I’m […]
For Emma, Forever Ago – A Retrospective
Ten years and ten days ago, the enchanting For Emma, Forever Ago was self-released by a then unknown Justin Vernon, under the guise of Bon Iver. Re-released a year later by Jagjaguwar, the album marked […]
The Death of the Punk in a Digitalised Age
The iconography of the ‘Punk’ has been both popularised and reproduced at a staggering rate since its heyday in the late ‘70s. Beginning as a set of shared ideological values and musical taste, the infamous […]
Grime4Corbyn: A Brief History of Grime and Politics
Following the rise of the Grime4Corbyn movement, journalists and political commentators have sought to understand why prominent figures of the scene would emphatically support the Labour leader, delivering a multitude of varying, and mostly incorrect […]
When Musicians Get Board (And Also Need The Money From Royalties)
Board games are the backbone of civilization, testing the strength of human relationships year after year by making families and friends bitterly fight over fake money, inhabitable plastic houses, and the ultimate question of who […]
Dear UK: you can win Eurovision (next year)
Dear UK, We need to have a talk. It’s about Eurovision. I’ve heard your entries. What do you think you’re playing at? Don’t you know there are people who care about your reputation? Keep up […]
Safer Spaces at Festivals
If you’re on a festival website on Monday 8th May and are simply shown a blank screen with the hashtag, ‘#saferspacesatfestivals’, then do not be alarmed. This is not a technical issue, but the latest campaign […]
An Ode to Favourite Worst Nightmare
Favourite Worst Nightmare, Arctic Monkeys’ sophomore album, is celebrating its tenth birthday this month. A decade on from its release, which promptly followed the band’s record-breaking debut, it remains as thrilling a listen as ever. […]
We need to talk about Harry Styles
When One Direction were just taking off, and the sugary staccato intro to ‘What Makes You Beautiful’ was absolutely inescapable, I, like many other people who wanted to be considered distanced from the growing hysteria […]