Let’s stop treating our favorite songs like dirty little secrets By Madelyn Kincel Graphic by Natalie Horvath Some time in between late November and early December, the year’s most anticipated musical release arrives: Spotify Wrapped. In the days following, listeners post their Top 5s across social media and brag about being in their favorite artist’s top 1% of listeners. But when you check your Wrapped, there always ends up being one statistic, one song, or one artist you do

This popstar is at the top of her game By Ava Wiseley Graphic by Arrow Kempthorne This summer, Olivia Rodrigo put on the inaugural Daisy Chain Fields Music Festival in Irvine, CA. The event—which she said she’d been dreaming up for years—was designed to empower women and girls through music and community. In addition to featuring an all-female lineup, with names ranging from punk feminist icons Bikini Kill to modern pop star Chappell Roan, the festival had female-owned small

Olivia Rodrigo’s first-time exploration of requited love by Kiana Golchin Olivia Rodrigo’s third studio album “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love,” is surprisingly uncontroversial for an artist who has been riddled with contention since her musical debut in 2021. That surprise quickly wears off after the first listen. In the three years since her last album, Rodrigo has successfully refuted critiques of lyrical immaturity, derivative sound, and repetitive subject matte

What’s in a score? By Sarah Delehanty Graphic by Allie Lin You don’t have to be a film fanatic to recognize the soundtracks that turn a movie into cinema. The song “Mia and Sebastian’s Theme” is recognizable from the first C sharp that Ryan Gosling plays. Whether or not you’re a Star Wars fan, you’ll know the movie from its triumphant fanfare or the daunting “Imperial March”. Of course, we cannot forget one of the most easily recognizable songs in film history: The Jaws theme

Is hearing Charli xcx in the club considered a recession indicator? By Olivia Prieto Photo by Gabby Wylie-Chaney It’s very common for pop culture to thrive in times of socioeconomic distress; recession pop brings about an escapist and dream-like coping mechanism for the world. Recession pop is categorized as upbeat, electronic dance-pop that had a large influence on American culture in the late 2000s and early 2010s following the Great Recession (2007-2009). Artists dominatin

Imagining the Met Gala through a Musical Lens By Kylie Grebinar Graphic by Zoe Lyko Each May, musicians and other stars walk the stairs of the Met Gala, each representing a designer and paying homage to their personal style. This year, the exhibition focuses on costume art, with an emphasis on the relationship between fashion and the human form. This concept highlights three main facets of this relationship: bodies omnipresent in art (nude form), overlooked bodies (pregnant o

Does Music Help or Hurt Our Heartbreak? By Gianna Ucci Every Saturday night, just before the city goes to sleep, I find myself walking home after a night with my friends—with the city in front of me and my headphones on. I see people leaving the library late, couples going home together, friends trying desperately to “call it a night,” yet despite the lives surrounding me, I find myself feeling more alone. “Superstar” by the Carpenters plays as I cross the street, and I beg

Music’s Human Quality is Why We Love It By Ava Wiseley Graphic by Sisi Chen Since its release in November 2022, ChatGPT and other forms of generative AI have taken the world by storm. AI has infiltrated nearly every industry, leaving almost no exception. In the music industry, AI is used for a multitude of tasks, including analyzing trend data, planning tours, and creating personalized playlists on streaming services. While those who are fully against AI might frown upon

DJing is on the rise among celebrities, students, and people in the electronic music scene alike. Is it just a trend, or is it paving the way for a new era of music production? By Olivia Prieto Photograph by Olivia Thornton It seems that in the past year or so, more and more people have garnered an interest in DJing. With social media influencers such as Tara Yummy and Vanillamace hosting their own DJ sets and tours , as well as a new found popularity of many techno artists

An Avid Concertgoer’s Top Concert Spots By Ava Wiseley Photograph by Julien Pedro Boston has a vibrant music scene with a multitude of venues that host everything from small local bands to national touring acts. As an indie music lover and avid concertgoer, I’ve been to many of these venues multiple times. Here are the five that stand out to me. House of Blues Located on Lansdowne Street next to Fenway Park, the House of Blues is one of the city’s most quintessential venues.