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Beyoncé needs no introduction. Her very name inspires sheer inspiration amongst everyone. And just when we needed her the most, she returned and shook the whole world to its core. Act One of Renaissance certainly sets the tone for the album – a revival and rebirth of ballroom music of the 70s and 80s combined […]

Former Disney star Sabrina Carpenter dropped her highly-anticipated fifth studio album, emails i can’t send, earlier this month –  and it’s arguably her best (and most personal) work yet. Carpenter began her career as a child star, with her breakthrough role on Girl Meets World catapulting her into the limelight. The pop princess is no stranger to […]

Harry Styles is back and better than ever with his third solo studio album, Harry’s House. The album, named after Japanese pop icon Haruomi Hosono’s 1973 album Hosono House, oozes charisma and offers us some of the former One Direction star’s greatest work yet. The album manages to feel both generic and unique, impersonal yet […]

It is very rare that a celebrity has as much success with their first name as they do their surname when riding solo with each. But for the Bajan born songstress and now beauty mogul, Rhianna Fenty,  both names carry as much weight individually as they do combined. Hear her voice Her first name is […]

Prince’s debut album, For You, gets overlooked as it doesn’t have the progressive rock and synth-pop fusion his later works have, like Purple Rain, or 1999. However, at 19, Prince engineered this entire album on his own and demonstrated his immense musical talents from the start. The titular song on the album, For You, kicks […]

With the release of her latest album Laurel Hell, Mitski has solidified herself as one of the best singer-songwriters of the past decade. From her gorgeously grating 2012 debut Lush, to her critically acclaimed latest work, including the smash hit Puberty 2 and personal favourite Be The Cowboy, the Japanese-American star has paved the way […]

The Killers’ latest album Pressure Machine was released August 2021, so soon after their 2020 release Imploding the Mirage. A concept album and ode to frontman Brandon Flowers’ hometown of Nephi, Utah— the ‘Mormon capital’ of the USA— the track serves stories of different people from the town in flash recordings at the beginning and […]

Mitski is finally back, releasing her sixth studio album Laurel Hell on 4 February. After four years away from the spotlight, her latest release embraces uncertainty and explores typical themes heard in Mitski’s previous work, such as unrequited love and emotional turmoil, but with a greater sense of urgency. The album opens strongly, with the […]

Tonight will see the 2022 Brit Awards ceremony taking place at the O2 Arena, in London. Playing host this year is none other than Mo Gilligan and the event will be televised live on ITV for those wanting to watch a who’s who in popular music battle for a coveted award. With performances from the […]

Amy Winehouse needs no introduction. As the most recent addition to the 27 Club, the songstress established herself with her debut album Frank and went on to seal her musical significance with her second album, Back to Black. While the media honed in on her off-stage antics during her short-lived career, there was no denying […]

2021 has been a non-stop year for the music industry, with artists having nothing but time to spend writing new material. This year has been defined by soul-bearing albums and iconic re-records by Taylor Swift – and here is my top ten ranking. 10. Kacey Musgraves – star-crossed With a slight shift into the pop […]

From pop, to rap, to rock, there’s been some great musical releases this year. With albums from iconic artists such as Doja Cat, Lil Nas X, Taylor Swift, and Billie Eilish, it’s been difficult to narrow down the top ten songs of the year – but here are the tracks that made a lasting impact. […]

It is a discussion which almost always ends in an argument. The biggest difficulty in ranking Radiohead’s best albums is how varied their offerings are. With major stylistic changes always appearing between albums, Radiohead rarely fails to surprise listeners. With the anniversary of Kid A and Amnesiac, This listing will explore Radiohead’s decade-spanning career and […]

Dolly Parton is an iconic figure in American music, best known for being the first person to seamlessly blend pop and country music together, and leaving a tremendous legacy in pop culture. Parton was born on 19 January 1946 in Locust Ridge, Tennessee. She is the fourth of 12 children born into an extremely poor […]

Following many cancelled projects and considerable delays, Kanye West’s latest record Donda finally released in August. With a deluxe edition of the album just out, does Donda match up to the previous highs of Kanye West’s discography? Named in memory of Kanye West’s mother Dr Donda West, Donda as an album explores many different aspects of Kanye’s personal […]

Adele, the queen of heartbreak, has left us taken aback with her first album since 2015. And I think this one is a little bit different to the rest.  Her previous work has always given us a heartfelt anthem known up and down the nation, but 30 gave us something unexpected. It tells the story […]

Phoebe Bridgers’ eerie indie rock music has exploded in popularity over the past year, and for good reason. From her hauntingly beautiful 2017 debut Stranger in the Alps to her 2020 smash hit Punisher, Bridgers has managed to take a well-loved genre and make it her own. Her distinctive, velvety vocals, combined with her paradisiacal […]

Whenever Sam Fender is about to step on stage at a hometown show, the chants of “Toon, Toon, Black and White Army” get progressively louder. It’s almost enough to drown out the soft beginning of Mark Knopfler’s Local Hero – the Geordie anthem played before every Newcastle match at St. James’ Park. But the chants never […]

Taylor Swift has done it again. Her first, critically-acclaimed re-recording, Fearless (Taylor’s Version), seemed impossible to top, but with her latest release Red, Swift has once again achieved absolute pop perfection. A mosaic of heartbreak, Red (Taylor’s Version) manages to effortlessly combine themes of betrayal, womanhood, and loss, to create a glorious, unapologetic celebration of […]

Adele has gone from strength to strength over the past decade, with her popularity only increasing with each new release. From her 2008 debut 19 to her critically acclaimed 2015 hit 25, Adele has continued to craft a gorgeous narrative on each record, with themes of love and heartbreak resonating with a wide audience. Her […]

This weekend, devastating news broke from Houston that numerous festival attendees had been killed as a result of an overpacked crowd at Travis Scott’s Astroworld concert. The tragedy unfolded on Friday evening where fans found themselves buried in the crowds at the sold-out Travis Scott concert of 50,000 people. Distressing videos have been shared all […]

Lana Del Rey, despite proclaiming this release to be her most personal yet, manages to remain as elusive as ever on her eighth studio album, Blue Banisters. Touching on themes of betrayal, love, and current events such as the pandemic, the 36-year-old New York native proves her talent with this piece of work. With this […]

Few singers have achieved the kind of legendary status Bruce Springsteen has. Known as ‘The Boss’, this humble, energetic, and deeply thoughtful musician has produced a life-spanning catalogue keeping generations entertained. And here we take a look at his best five songs. 5. 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) Sandy has become synonymous with Bruce […]

Part of the famous grunge rock explosion, Alice In Chains was arguably one of the biggest groups in the scene. Alongside bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains had a major involvement in the creation of the grunge sub-genre in the ’90s. With a musical career that has spanned over 30 years across two stints, Alice […]

Finally, gigs and live music are back. After eighteen months of closures and concerts delayed, rescheduled or cancelled altogether, the excitement to be in a sweaty room filled with people shoving and mosh-pitting was real. And Orla Gartland at Riverside Newcastle did not disappoint. Recommended Reading: Will theatre survive the pandemic? Touring her first album […]

Sam Fender’s second album Seventeen Going Under has a lot to live up to. From the soaring heights of the debut’s title track Hypersonic Missiles to the real groove of The Borders, the album was virtually perfect. So, how does Fender’s new record compare? With this one, we’ve had time to warm up. The lead single, where Seventeen Going […]

Lil Nas X burst onto the scene with the smash-hit Old Town Road and since then has carefully crafted himself into the ultimate Gen Z superstar. A child of the internet, Lil Nas X has managed to maintain his level of stardom through his incredibly impressive marketing campaigns and his frequent use of memes. The […]

Though their discography only spans three albums, Nirvana is without question one of the most influential alternative rock groups of all time. This list will chart five of their best songs across their albums. 5. All Apologies Coming in at number five on this list is All Apologies. Released on In Utero, All Apologies closes out […]

I’ve been on record stating the ambitious declaration that Ariana Grande is the most accomplished female vocalist since Mariah Carey. It’s an opinion I stand by. Grande has earned more than 85 million certified units in the US and, with 90 billion consumed streams so far, she is the most streamed female artist of all […]

It took four years for Lorde to release a new album and Solar Power, her third, did not disappoint. Anticipation for record rose with the release of singles Solar Power, Stoned at the Nail Salon and Mood Ring, the latter released just the night before the album’s release. A celebration of nature, life and new […]

Taylor Swift has become a household name in pop culture. Her music covers many different genres including country and pop, earning her the title of Artist of the Decade at the 2019 American Music Awards. Throughout her career she has faced hardships, the most recent one being that she is not the owner of her […]

When Nirvana released Nevermind in 1991, the group ascended to mainstream stardom overnight becoming one of the biggest sensations in alternative rock history. The group perhaps did not expect to be sued for the cover artwork of the album some 30 years later. The album artwork for Nevermind is arguably one of the most recognisable and iconic […]

Conan Gray first rose to fame as a YouTuber, creating content on his channel from the age of nine. With the release of his debut EP Sunset Season in 2018, Gray gained critical acclaim and has since gone on to chart globally. The 22-year-old found viral success on the popular social media platform TikTok, with his […]

After years of battles over Britney Spears’ conservatorship, the star’s father, Jamie Spears, has agreed to step down from his position as her conservator. Britney Spears has been under the conservatorship since 2008, when she suffered from various mental health problems under intense media scrutiny. In July, Ms. Spears declared that, as long as her […]

When it comes to compiling a top five list of Kanye West’s discography, the task is difficult. It would almost be possible to compile a top five list using five songs from any one of his individual albums. Across his decade-spanning career, Kanye has put out numerous songs which have gone on to become classics. […]

From his early days in Washington to his meteoric rise into the mainstream of music, Kurt Cobain is renowned as one of the greatest artists of his time. Here, we will explore Cobain’s life from the early days to his tragic death. Born in Aberdeen, Washington, on the 20th of February 1967, Kurt Cobain had […]

Lil Nas X and his unapologetic commitment to who he is has been so important to the music industry.  Nas has challenged the framing of the hip-hop genre and the music business itself, performing proudly as a gay male in the industry. And he has not shied away from stirring up controversy and a legendary […]

Taylor Swift is a versatile artist with a stellar back catalogue ranging in many genres. Her country music beginnings broke records (her original Fearless is the most awarded country album of all time), her pop career elevated her to icon standing, and recent foray into indie and alternative music has proved her legend status. Recommended […]

From his famed music career to his extensive fashion empire, Kanye West is arguably one of the largest figures in the music industry. Despite his current fame, Kanye West came from humble beginnings. Raised in Chicago, West lived with his mother following the split between his parents. From a young age, Kanye was interested in […]

Billie Eilish is not a normal 19-year-old. Her smash-hit debut album When we all fall asleep where do we go? catapulted the teenager to stardom almost overnight, receiving critical acclaim and a handful of Grammys. What started as homemade bedroom pop cooked up with her older brother FINNEAS became the face of modern music. Nevertheless, […]

A recent inquiry commissioned by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee has found that the current music streaming services model is in need of a “complete reset”. Currently, both established and up-and-coming artists have found themselves facing little to no return on the work they put out, with some artists receiving as little […]

Many North East legends have travelled far and wide to make an impact. Many of them leave and do great things. But the one who stayed and has done the greatest is, of course, Sam Fender, who returned this evening with a new single Seventeen Going Under. This is the lead, eponymous new track from […]

Marina’s recently released fifth studio album continues to carefully craft her unique aesthetic and explores her growth not only as an artist, but as a woman. With a more mature take on her traditional eclectic electro-pop, Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land is an intoxicating mix of emotionally charged bops and ballads. The titular track […]

Comprised of four members Wilbur Soot, Joe Goldsmith, Ash Kabosu, and Mark Boardman, Lovejoy is a brand new British indie band that debuted earlier this month. So far, they have released a four-track EP called Are you Alright?, though the band have stated that they are working to release a full album this summer, which […]

Olivia Rodrigo, star of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series started 2021 with her debut single Driver’s License topping the UK charts for nine weeks, now currently the best-selling single of 2021 so far. On Friday 21st May she released her highly anticipated album SOUR. A collection of frenzy, raw, teenage heartbreak songs- its […]

Irish singer-songwriter Hozier rose to fame in 2013 after a smash-hit debut EP (named below). Since then, his career has gone from strength to strength: his debut album has been certified platinum six times in his home country, multi-platinum around the world; and have been nominated for a Grammy. So we’ve whittled down the top […]

After almost two decades at Radio One, acclaimed DJ and music extraordinaire Annie Mac announced her departure this week. The Northern Irish Mac took over the infamous evening drive-time spot from Zane Lowe six years ago. She has throughout her career launched the presence of some of today’s top stars. With an illustrious deejaying career […]

Taylor Swift’s second album, Fearless, released in 2008, received critical acclaim and established Swift as one to watch. Now, almost 13 years later, Swift has become one of the most successful artists of the 21st century, and her re-recordings have stood the test of time – Fearless (Taylor’s Version) showcases Swift at her best, with […]