music

February 14, 2025

For your listening pleasure: A guide to the best and safest headphones

Types of headphones differ on the basis of connectivity (wired or wireless); fit (over-ear, on-ear, open-ear, earbuds, in-ear); design (closed-back, open-back, headset); and whether or not they are noise-cancelling. All of these elements come together to decide how enjoyable – and healthy – your listening habits are

15-year-old Anastasia Kulikova explores the dos and don’ts of headphone and earphone use

January 31, 2025

Taylor Swift deserved the top spot at Billboard. Period

In early December, Billboard released its editorial ranking of the greatest pop stars of the 21st century, crowning Beyoncé at number one, followed by Taylor Swift. While the list celebrates two extraordinary women, it upset many fans, including myself

16-year-old Lola Kadas argues that Taylor Swift’s cultural influence makes her the top pop star

January 10, 2025

Five overlooked female composers from the 11th century to now

‘Where words fail, music speaks’ – a tribute to the power of music, from the famous Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. Yet, as is the case for many professions, music has been historically dominated by males, with female composers’ incredible contributions often overlooked and forgotten

18-year-old Ananya Prasanna shares the stories of five female musicians who deserve to be famous

January 03, 2025

‘Sing with me, sing for the year, sing for the laughter, sing for the tear’

Singing isn’t just a way to enjoy music—it’s a powerful tool for mental and emotional well-being. Scientific studies and personal experiences suggest that singing can bring numerous benefits, from reducing stress to boosting self-confidence

17-year-old Mady Cheng explains the benefits of singing and music on mental and physical health

December 12, 2024

Best of 2024: Five must-read articles from the Culture section

Every article published in the Culture section this year has had its own spark, but a few stand out for their exceptional writing, unorthodox subject, worldwide relevance – or all three. As editor of the section, I’ve compiled a list of five articles that I think everyone should read, presented in chronological order

17-year-old Justin Sau shines a spotlight on his favourite Culture articles from the past year

October 31, 2024

Beyoncé and Taylor Swift have endorsed Kamala Harris. So who’s backing Trump?

You may have noticed that the 2024 US presidential campaigns have embraced various modern trends to connect to young voters. From playful TikTok edits to sharp Twitter roasts, both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have leveraged distinct strategies to align with pop culture. Yet, one classic strategy that both parties continue to rely on is endorsements and collaborations with public figures

17 year-old Emily Dorman explains the impact of celebrity endorsements on the US election

September 05, 2024

These Kamala Harris memes are so confusing, girl

By now, there are two types of people in the world: those who embrace the rise of Kamala Harris memes, and those who struggle to understand the online flurry of coconut tree emojis and pop remixes using clips of Harris’s philosophical thoughts on life. This article is for people in either group

14 year-old Helena Bruździak explains the Gen Z memes about US presidential candidate Kamala Harris

August 01, 2024

Revisiting Amy Winehouse: Unpacking the biopic Back to Black

Back to Black’s vivid portrayal of Amy Winehouse has reignited the debate over the ethics of biographical filmmaking, while challenging audiences to confront the complexities of fame, addiction, and artistic brilliance. In death as in life, Amy defies easy categorization, leaving an untouchable mark on music and memory alike

15 year-old Sofia Vorobei asks if the recent movie does justice to the iconic singer Amy Winehouse

May 30, 2024

Why everyone waited for Taylor Swift’s new album – including me

On the day that Taylor Swift released her new album, The Tortured Poets Department, the first thing I did upon waking up was to open my Apple Music app and listen to the first song on the album

15 year-old Klara Hammudeh gives her verdict on the American superstar’s latest release

May 02, 2024

Hollywood, please stop making movie musicals!

While stage-to-screen adaptations attempt to capture the essence of the original stories, there is a lingering sense that something is lost in translation – the raw and real energy of live theatre. Hollywood’s attempt to please everyone continually leaves no one satisfied

17 year-old Abigail Gonzalez Zavala bemoans the adaptations of stage musicals to film

February 16, 2024

Lights out: Broadway shows close prematurely

Since its post-pandemic return, Broadway has struggled to reach its previous levels of success. Closely tied to tourism numbers, theatres are still unable to fill seats and shows are suffering from early closures

17 year-old Alia Saphier reports on the decline of new acclaimed theatre

February 02, 2024

What’s the whole buzz about? The Grammy Awards explained

As we approach the 66th edition of the Grammy Awards, held annually by the Recording Academy, here are the things you need to know to fully appreciate the upcoming ceremony

15 year-old Klara Hammudeh looks under the red carpet of Recording Academy awards

January 26, 2024

Let’s take music seriously. It’s not a soundtrack for picking vegetables at a supermarket

Have we lost the ability to appreciate music? The greatest talent which humanity ever had to offer is now persistently used to assist everyday activities

15 year-old Klara Hammudeh shares ways to better immerse yourself in music

January 19, 2024

Doja Cat’s ‘devilish’ controversy. A marketing move or reason for concern?

Doja Cat finds herself amidst whispers of a supposed ‘deal with the devil’. Should her actions be perceived as a deliberate marketing strategy to keep the spotlight burning or as signs of troubling mental health concerns?

14 year-old Sofia Vorobei explores the corrupt nature of fame

December 22, 2023

Why is Spotify Wrapped such a buzz?

Generation Z has a strong affinity for Spotify Wrapped – a tailored compilation of user statistics for the year, including top artists and total listening minutes – as it reflects their “musical journey” throughout the year

16 year-old Maria Mitko interviews young people about the viral marketing campaign

December 15, 2023

Rap music on trial. Debate resurfaces over evidence ruling in Young Thug case

The issue of using rap lyrics as evidence in court has recently been reignited by such a high-profile case. Young Thug and his legal team assert that the use of lyrics in court is prejudicial and could affect his right to freedom of speech

17 year-old Cressida Anness Lorenz reports on using art as confession

November 03, 2023

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour breaks all records. The phenomenon of the star explained

In the ever-changing landscape of the music industry, where stars are rising and falling in the blink of an eye, one name has consistently defied the odds: Taylor Swift. What is the secret behind a country girl who not only stays afloat but continues to be on top of one of the most competitive industries in the world?

14 year-old Sofia Vorobei on the origins of America’s superstar

July 14, 2023

Lewis Capaldi talks mental health after Glastonbury stage Tourette’s

The Someone You Loved artist faced a moment of crisis when performing at Glastonbury Festival in the United Kingdom

14 year-old Sofia Vorobei on the lesson learnt at Glastonbury

June 30, 2023

Auto-tune overload. Aren’t we sacrificing musicality for so-called perfection?

Excessive use of auto-tune technology, especially when employed to distort the voice during a live performance, sparks debates about authenticity and emotional connection with the audience

14 year-old Sofia Vorobei takes the side of human imperfection

May 19, 2023

‘Quantity of good Ukrainian music has risen on an aspirational scale’

“We need to win the war and start rebuilding. Not only buildings and infrastructure but also our culture. Because there will come a moment of exhaustion after such a long fight, but we still need not forget that there is a future”

16 year-old Sofiya Tkachenko interviews 19-year-old musician and producer Bogdan “SadSvit” Rozvadovskyi

April 14, 2023

Ukrainian music is much more than ‘sharovarshcyna’. Meet four ‘hidden gems’ bands and artists

The world is now starting to realise how unique and vast the Ukrainian culture is. With music being a major part of it, we, the Ukrainians hope that soon we will no longer be prisoners of the ‘traditional folk’ paradigm - that Ukrainian music ceases to be.

16 year-old Sofiya Tkachenko shares four up-and-coming Ukrainian artists

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