Category: Music

Ariana Grande Sweetener Tour
Live Reviews, Music

Live Review: Ariana Grande Sweetener Tour, O2 Arena, 15/10/19

2018 was an explosive year in terms of career for Ariana Grande. Not only did she prove herself as an amazing vocalist multiple times, she also created iconic songs, clips and aesthetics and became a source of memes more times than one can count. It only seemed natural, then, that 2019 would follow the same tone with the Sweetener Tour. When I saw she was … Continue reading Live Review: Ariana Grande Sweetener Tour, O2 Arena, 15/10/19

Laura Dazon
Interview, Music

“It sends you mental. It sends you mad” – Talking touring and survival with Fat White Family

By James McClements South London degenerates champions Fat White Family are an oh-so-overlooked, and so dismissed collection of misfits and underground artistes. Famous for their beef with artists like Sleaford Mods and Mac Demarco, their surreal and more often than not offensive behaviour is not the sole driver for their clout. Having released 3 strong studio albums to surprisingly-positive receptions, surviving the regular loss of … Continue reading “It sends you mental. It sends you mad” – Talking touring and survival with Fat White Family

James McClements
Album Reviews, Music

‘Beneath The Eyrie’, Pixies album review

By Craig Strachan Craig’s rating: 4/5 Pixies tune back into the weirder side of their minds with twelve tracks that favourably embrace the dark and the creepy in their first album since 2016.  Beneath the Eyrie is the bandÔÇÖs seventh studio album and first with bassist Paz Lenchantin as a fully bonified member after Kim DealÔÇÖs exit from the group in 2013. The album details … Continue reading ‘Beneath The Eyrie’, Pixies album review

Kate Waldock
Music

Drug Use – How to Stay Safe at Festivals

By Ella Clucas Drugs. We all know what they are and how to take them. Whether theyÔÇÖre your thing or you prefer to steer clear, itÔÇÖs time to answer the question on everyoneÔÇÖs mind; how do we approach them as safely as possible? As the festival season continues, drug consumption at events such as Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds remains inevitable and almost impossible to … Continue reading Drug Use – How to Stay Safe at Festivals

Josh Ong
Live Reviews, Music

Aitch pays tribute to Keeley Bunker, finishes the AitcH20 Tour at Tramshed

By Kate Waldock   Hoards of screaming girls filled the stage as soon as the clock hit 7:30. Aitch had come to Cardiff, and these fans were going to make the most of it. The moment anyone walked through the side doors, phone lights switched on and the crowd pushed toward the corner to get a glimpse. In the space of a year Aitch has … Continue reading Aitch pays tribute to Keeley Bunker, finishes the AitcH20 Tour at Tramshed

Kate WaldockLeave a comment
Live Reviews, Music

The beginning of the end: Mallory Knox’s last tour review

By Josie Howie   Four-piece alt-rock ensemble Mallory Knox have just embarked on their farewell tour after 10 years together. Hailing from Cambridge, the band was formed in 2009, with their debut album, Signals, being released in 2013. The tour accompanies their fourth and final album which is self-titled. The band have recently announced their separation, just a few weeks before kicking off this headline … Continue reading The beginning of the end: Mallory Knox’s last tour review

Kate Waldock
Music

Mini Series: The Evolution of Tyler the Creator

by Hazel Thayre Having followed Tyler, the Creator since my very early teens, I have closely watched how his image has completely transformed over the years. Nowadays, it is difficult to remember the way that Tyler used to be, for his character has undergone such a dramatic change in both an aesthetic and literal sense. Nearly every element of TylerÔÇÖs persona, from his sound to his … Continue reading Mini Series: The Evolution of Tyler the Creator

Jasmine Snow
Live Reviews, Music

The Full S┼Án Festival Line-Up Is Out! (Plus More Exciting S┼Án details)

S┼Án festival is coming back to Cardiff for another year, and the line-up is full of some of the best bands in indie right now.┬áS┼Án has announced its final wave of acts for the three day festival. Below you will find information on tickets, the line-up, the venues, and┬áS┼Án’s warm up party at┬áClub Ifor Bach!   Today, S┼Án announced the final wave of acts to … Continue reading The Full S┼Án Festival Line-Up Is Out! (Plus More Exciting S┼Án details)

Kate Waldock
Music

Lana Del Rey – Norman F****** Rockwell Review

By Emily Ricalton In January 2012, itÔÇÖs fair to say that my life within music was about to make a dramatic, yet extremely dedicated change ÔÇômy not yet musically inclined 11-year-old self was about to discover an artist that would impact the majority of my younger years.  Lana Del Rey, also formally known as Elizabeth Grant, released her first album ÔÇÿBorn to DieÔÇÖ during this … Continue reading Lana Del Rey – Norman F****** Rockwell Review

Contributing Writer
Music

Manchester and Music – What Makes Its Music So Great?

Manchester has arguably produced some of the U.KÔÇÖs, if not the WorldÔÇÖs best bands. Sometimes itÔÇÖs still a little difficult to comprehend how such a multitude of incredible, yet diverse, music came about from this humble northern city. Anybody from Manchester will always be quick to tell you about how itÔÇÖs the best place on Earth; if youÔÇÖre judging it from a musical perspective, their … Continue reading Manchester and Music – What Makes Its Music So Great?

Josh Ong
Live Reviews, Music

We’ve Got You Covered: The Gig Calendar (First Semester)

  The 2019/2020 academic year is about to begin. With that comes streams of artists and bands into Cardiff, and the announcements are all over the place. This gig list will help every fresher and returning student figure out which gigs they want to go too. Who knows, maybe you’ll even see a band you fancy checking out. There are some absolutely wicked artists visiting … Continue reading We’ve Got You Covered: The Gig Calendar (First Semester)

Kate Waldock
Music

Mini Series: The Evolution of LCD Soundsystem

By Mike O’Brien The music industryÔÇÖs indelible legends often share a clear journey. In youth, they are rambunctious, colourful, yearning for rebellion, demanding of change. Then age has a habit of mellowing spirit. ItÔÇÖs the difference between BowieÔÇÖs explosive 1971 classic Hunky Dory, whose premiere track Changes is an indictment of authoritarian adulthood, and 2016ÔÇÖs Blackstar, a sombre collection of deathbed reflections. But LCD Soundsystem … Continue reading Mini Series: The Evolution of LCD Soundsystem

Jasmine Snow
Live Reviews, Music

8 Things We Learned From Victorious 2019

By Max Modell   Lewis Capaldi is as likeable as everyone says he is At 19:00 it appeared the whole festival headed to the Castle Stage to watch Lewis Capaldi in complete chaos. This wasnÔÇÖt exactly unexpected, since being booked for the festival Capaldi has blown up, becoming one of the biggest musicians in the world. Renowned for his dry Scottish sense of humor, he … Continue reading 8 Things We Learned From Victorious 2019

Kate Waldock
Music

Is streaming ruining the music industry? Our writers on the good, the bad, and the ugly of music streaming

  We live in a world now that places streaming at the centre of music consumption. We look on as passive consumers as the digital and analogue giants that used to be at the centre of the music industry crumble into pop-culture relics and myths. CDs have all but died now. And while things like vinyl are making a ÔÇÿretroÔÇÖ comeback, tape machines are confined … Continue reading Is streaming ruining the music industry? Our writers on the good, the bad, and the ugly of music streaming

Kate Waldock
Live Reviews, Music

Quench Covers Victorious Festival

Merry summer to all you culture vultures! I hope you are filling your days with art, music and theatre (as well as sun, sand and sea) and I greet you with great tidings! This weekend, Quench will be covering Victorious Festival in Portsmouth! The Festival has an outstanding line up full of all your indie favourites, from The Zutons to The Vaccines and we cannot … Continue reading Quench Covers Victorious Festival

Kate Waldock
Music

Taylor Swift – Lover Review – A True Songwriting Triumph

Josh Ong – Music Editor music@quenchmag.co.uk Swift has returned with her most pop-centric, yet mature album to date. ThereÔÇÖs nothing more mainstream than Taylor Swift. From music through to style, and now politics, SwiftÔÇÖs antics seems to be the topic of popular conversation no matter the magnitude. Alongside this fame comes a level of scrutiny that the majority of people cannot relate to; thereÔÇÖs little … Continue reading Taylor Swift – Lover Review – A True Songwriting Triumph

Josh Ong
Music

Interesting Sub-Cultures From Different Countries

There’s no doubt that media coverage of all musical related music is particularly eurocentric. In terms of what makes in into mainstream culture, the outer limits are very much limited to events happening on the other side of the English Channel, or the Atlantic. This article will seek to explore two of the more interesting cultures around music that have escaped the Western gaze. The … Continue reading Interesting Sub-Cultures From Different Countries

Josh Ong
Live Reviews, Music

Live Review: Royal Blood at Newport Centre, 10/8/19

By Emily Ricalton After breaking into the music scene in 2014 with their highly nominated album, ÔÇÿRoyal BloodÔÇÖ, which was released just a year after the duo had formed, Royal Blood have absolutely dominated the rock genre, showing original bands how simple, yet complex heavy music can be. They definitely proved this right when I was fortunate enough to see them live on August 10th … Continue reading Live Review: Royal Blood at Newport Centre, 10/8/19

Josh Ong
Album Reviews, Music

Album Review: ‘Television’, by City Calm Down

By Kate Waldock   The Australian music scene strikes again. City Calm Down are about to release their newest album, ÔÇÿTelevisionÔÇÖ, on the 23rd August. The band is composed of vocalist Jack Bourke, Sam Mullaly on the keyboard, Jeremy Sonnenberg on bass, and Lee Armstrong on the drums. They have already released the singles, ÔÇÿFlightÔÇÖ, ÔÇÿStuck (on the eastern)ÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿTelevisionÔÇÖ from their album to … Continue reading Album Review: ‘Television’, by City Calm Down

Kate Waldock
Music

Boomtown 2019 – why it’s not all about Glastonbury this year

This summer, there’s a not so new kid in town threatening the old dogs of music festivals like Glasto and Reading. But what is new to Boomtown Fair this summer is a whole new approach to your typical English fest. Promising ‘Radical’ change to the norm in regards to the Environmental standards of music festivals, Boomtown intends to be a sustainable city, reduce single-use plastics … Continue reading Boomtown 2019 – why it’s not all about Glastonbury this year

James McClements