Author: Contributing Writer

Album Reviews, Music

Album Review: ‘Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez’ by Gorillaz

Words by Molly AllenImage courtesy of Nasty Little Man PR Gorillaz have had a busy few years, from their comeback album Humanz in 2017 after a five year hiatus, to their 2018 album The Now Now. Both of those albums were hugely anticipated, and neither of them disappointed. As a huge fan, I was ecstatic when they released ÔÇÿMomentary BlissÔÇÖ, their first single for Song … Continue reading Album Review: ‘Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez’ by Gorillaz

Contributing Writer
Features

Essential Oils: History is Making a Comeback

Words and Illustration by Shubhangi Dua As a curious consumer, I have always wondered the roots of beauty and skin regimen products. What attracts me towards the luxury of skin care? Is it the packaging, the scent, marketing or simply a friendÔÇÖs experience influencing me to exhaust my finances by trying new products? The skin care and beauty industry has transformed and been capitalised.  For … Continue reading Essential Oils: History is Making a Comeback

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Travel

The Weird and the Wonderful: Travel Stories

Image by Ian Schneider Foreword by Kat Mallett Visiting new countries and exploring faraway lands is quite simply unbeatable. However, like everything, there can be some challenging, difficult or simply embarrassing times along the way, that subsequently become burnt in your memory forever. Here are just some of those stories that are too great not to be shared… Words by Evie Rowlands When you think … Continue reading The Weird and the Wonderful: Travel Stories

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Love

My Life in Chronic Pain: Endometriosis

By Hope Docherty Endometriosis, for me, is forever striving to live like an able-bodied person due to the invisibility of the illness. It has taken me years to forgive myself for not always being able to ignore the chronic pain and simply rest when my body tells me I must.┬á┬á In medical terms: Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue┬ásimilar to┬áthe lining of the womb … Continue reading My Life in Chronic Pain: Endometriosis

Contributing Writer
Download, Video Games

Download’s Most Haunted

By Lewis Empson and Marcus Yeatman-Crouch The generation of the PS4 and Xbox One has yielded some great horror games that use the groundbreaking technology to enhance the graphics, atmospheres, and scares that players experience. There have been new IPs, continuations to beloved franchises, and blockbuster movie tie-ins that have ensured this generation will live long in the memory of horror gaming fans. WeÔÇÖve selected … Continue reading Download’s Most Haunted

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Film & TV

Nurse Ratched Will See You Now

By Chloe Chapman Welcome to Lucia State Hospital, whatÔÇÖs your poison? Amphetamines? Lobotomies? Adultery? Lesbianism? Well, whatever your vice is, Nurse Ratched will know. And she will use it for what she wants.┬áNetflixÔÇÖs latest thriller has taken audiences by storm, with 48 million unique accounts streaming the series in the first 28 days ÔÇô making it NetflixÔÇÖs most successful original series in 2020. Based on … Continue reading Nurse Ratched Will See You Now

Contributing Writer
Film & TV

It’s A Spooky Time At The Movies

The Shining (1980) By Leona Franke When it comes to ÔÇÿreal-life horrorÔÇÖ, many would regard being stuck with your family in your own home for months on end as a tortuous ordeal. 2020 has been the year for us all to experience it. The Shining is a horror film I always watch around Halloween. However, this year it is even more frightening, it brings up … Continue reading It’s A Spooky Time At The Movies

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Fashion

Gender Neutral Fashion

by Joshua Allen The past few years have seen a dramatic rise in the mainstream coverage and interest in gender-neutral fashion, especially within 2020, from challenging the stigma surrounding men wearing certain clothing items, such as skirts, to numerous celebrities being seen in more gender neutral outfits for high profile events like award ceremonies. Gender neutral fashion is becoming more and more popular as the … Continue reading Gender Neutral Fashion

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Features

Stop the Spread but Stay in Touch

By Abi Edwards It is hardly surprising that the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown measures have had a negative impact on mental health, particularly for young people. With restrictions on socializing, seeing family, friends and partners, and making new friends at university, the impact of lockdown has caused many feelings of isolation, particularly for students.┬á According to a survey by the charity┬áMind, over half of adults … Continue reading Stop the Spread but Stay in Touch

Contributing Writer
Film & TV

Review: Over The Moon (Netflix)

by Soyal Khedkar ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà + half  Over the Moon is a musical adventure film filled with fuzzy family moments and positive spirit. Based on the legend of Chang’e- the Chinese goddess of the Moon- a little girl named Fei Fei (Cathy Ang) puts all her love and passion into building a rocket ship to meet Chang’e (Phillipa Soo).  The story starts out with a rather … Continue reading Review: Over The Moon (Netflix)

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Travel

The Hazy Future of Travel

Words by Caitlin Parr I cannot begin to imagine how many people around the world have had major travel plans (holidays, study abroad programmes, business trips, research projects) abroad cancelled due to the Coronavirus; let alone how many short, local, travel journeys have been interfered with due to travel restrictions. With the struggling music, theatre and hospitality industries all receiving ample media coverage (and rightfully … Continue reading The Hazy Future of Travel

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Features, Invisible Illnesses

Invisible Illnesses IV: Coming to Terms with My Complex PTSD and What Comes with It

Words by Molly Govus / Interview by Rebecca Astill Illustration by Amelia Field Can you tell me the story about how you came to realise your diagnosis? Due to having an estranged and problematic past with my biological Dad, I have been in and out of counselling sessions for as long as I can remember. I remember being so young that counselling was just drawing … Continue reading Invisible Illnesses IV: Coming to Terms with My Complex PTSD and What Comes with It

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Album Reviews, Music

Album Review: ‘Rough and Rowdy Ways’ by Bob Dylan

Words by Sophie Revell Image courtesy of Columbia Records Bob DylanÔÇÖs Rough and Rowdy Ways feels like a portal back to traditional song-writing. Released on Columbia Records this summer, this is his 39th studio album and has been met with critical acclaim. Carl Wilson called it DylanÔÇÖs best release in ÔÇ£many years, maybe decadesÔÇØ for Slate, and I have to say that this review will … Continue reading Album Review: ‘Rough and Rowdy Ways’ by Bob Dylan

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Fashion

TikTok Fashion Aesthetic’s

Words by Maja Metera TikTok had bad reputation before COVID-19 happened seen as another silly thing that Gen-Z came up with. Well, at this point it became a blend between Instagram and YouTube as it combines aesthetic requirements and editing skills of both platforms. People started using it not only for comedy but also to show off their creativity. This way fashion left shopping hauls … Continue reading TikTok Fashion Aesthetic’s

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Creative Writing, Literature

Short Story – Kingfisher

by Katherine Wheeler Jean lifted the cup to her lips and took a sip, clinking her teeth against the bone china edges. The tea was cold, a little stale from some time on the mantelpiece. SheÔÇÖd picked the leaves herself, when sheÔÇÖd still believed in health kicks and quick fixes, an age ago. Beside her an armchair rocked a whispered beat into the ground, pushing dimples … Continue reading Short Story – Kingfisher

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Literature

Shirley Jackson’s Scariest

Following the recent success of NetflixÔÇÖs, The Haunting of Hill House, this spooky season is the perfect time to discover some of Shirley JacksonÔÇÖs scariest works: Rhian Lock on The Lottery (1948) First published in The New Yorker in 1948, The Lottery received more backlash than any piece ever published by the magazine, with many cancelling subscriptions and boycotting Jackson. I first read JacksonÔÇÖs short story in my first year as an English … Continue reading Shirley Jackson’s Scariest

Contributing Writer
Features

Offended by Diversity’s Black Lives Matter dance? Your privilege is showing.

By Laila Hodd White privilege has been at the forefront of conversations about race since the killing of George Floyd in May. While many members of the white community have awoken to the realities of the privileges granted to them by the colour of their skin, there remains a frighteningly large amount of people who either refuse to accept or continue to deny the existence … Continue reading Offended by Diversity’s Black Lives Matter dance? Your privilege is showing.

Contributing Writer
Travel

The Places We Wish We Could Be This Winter

Artwork by Ellie Hutchings Iceland – Words by Kat Mallett Winter is now officially in full swing, with infinite grey skies and chilly mornings. Although holidaying is less common during these colder months, it is as good a time as any to visit a new place. A winter vacation offers a totally different experience, with new and exciting opportunities, such as skiing and Christmas markets. … Continue reading The Places We Wish We Could Be This Winter

Contributing Writer