The Niche Science Behind the Monthly Playlist By Gianna Ucci Graphic by Yeyoung Jang What started the trend of trying to make music predict our futures?Since January 1, 2023, I have found myself dedicating the first day of every month to sitting at my desk, my bed, or anywhere with internet access, opening my laptop to Spotify, and creating a playlist titled “Current Month, Current Year.” A friend of mine once told me she liked making monthly playlists, not only to provide a

By Olivia Prieto Graphic by Katie-Ann Small The Super Bowl halftime show is one of, if not the most classic American sporting events there are. Millions of people worldwide tune in every February for the game. It's a great opportunity to host parties, gather with friends, and bond over an all-American gathering. I just had one concern this year: I really wish the players didn’t interrupt Bad Bunny’s concert to play more football. I wholeheartedly believe that the entire reas

… and the metaphorical cocaine it takes to succeed as a pop star today By Kylie Grebinar Graphic by Arrow Kempthorne In today’s world, getting onto the main stage takes more than just releasing a song or album. Musicians have begun to shift from strictly music records and concerts to creating other types of projects, such as Kendrick Lamar’s live-rapping front row at Louis Vuitton’s SS 2023 show, or The Weeknd’s role in The Idol. These ventures reflect a growing expectation t

Becoming a Band By Sarah Delehanty Graphic by Katie King It all started with an Instagram casting call and the vision of Jonas Pate, creator of the hit television series Outer Banks . Pate wanted to create a new series about musicians, but instead of hiring acting talent and then focusing on their musical abilities, Pate decided to take a different approach. He set out on a journey to find musicians from all over the world, and only once he knew they had the musical talent di

No violence is good violence By Sarah Delehanty Graphic by Catarina Koehler Now more than ever, we want artists to make a statement. Some artists have caught on to this desire and have taken up a cause or two, such as fighting gun violence or raising awareness about climate change. Jesse Welles , a TikTok creator and music artist, has taken on just about every challenge we face as Americans and as human beings. Songs written by Welles like “War Isn’t Murder,” “Cancer” and “T

For when lo-fi study beats aren’t cutting it By Kylie Grebinar Graphic by Katie King The benefits of listening to music while working on school assignments have been studied for years, and results have shown that putting a playlist on can help reduce stress, encourage better flow of thinking and improve concentration . Researchers believe that the genre of music that is beneficial varies from student to student. For example, Phyllis Medina, PhD, program director of psycholo

How it takes 10 years to become an “overnight success” By Gianna Ucci Photograph by Diya Kapoor Sabrina Carpenter, “that girl from Disney Channel,” just earned six Grammy nominations . Songs heard briefly on the radio in 2014 are now being played in Tate McRae’s Opening Act. Hollywood’s “newest” it-girl and the Recording Academy’s latest “Best New Artist” nominee has actually been making music for a decade. In an era where TikTok rewards 15-second attention spans, long-term

They can have their baggy jeans, tote bags and matcha, but they can’t touch my Clairo. By Olivia Prieto Graphic by Catarina Koehler To be performative, by definition, is to do something inauthentically, usually with the intention of impressing others. So when combining “performative” with “male,” what does that give us? The Performative Male, of course. Being a performative male in 2025 can be distilled down to having stereotypically feminine hobbies or interests: drinking m

A Cultural Phenomenon in the Making By: Nazalia Justiniano Photo by Isaiah Pate The Runarounds , an electric indie rock band, have taken their “Minivan Tour” on the road, and their recently sold-out stop in Somerville, Mass. at Warehouse XI showed just how quickly the band has grown into a cultural phenomenon. More than just musicians, The Runarounds now exist at the intersection of reality and fiction, doubling as the stars of Amazon Prime Video’s new series The Runarounds

Where to spend your Saturday night as a music lover By Kylie Grebinar Photograph by Tsega Seleshi Despite being notoriously known for its lack of music and club scenes, Boston has a few hidden gems for the music lover in search of a spot with tasteful sounds. There may not be a Club Space or Brooklyn Storehouse, but music enthusiasts can escape to dark interiors, impressive music and intimate energy within these five Boston bars. Desnuda Cocina : Located in the South End,