Review: ZABA – Glass Animals

charliemockJune 11, 2014June 11, 2014

Review: Thumpers – Galore

Introducing Thumpers and their debut album ‘Galore’. Released via their own label, the band have┬áshot themselves into the ether of hype surrounding the records release. With the title track and first single from the album gaining recognition from the likes of XFM, Radio 1 and Radio 6 Music, the duo certainly have a lot to live up to. The record starts with the welcoming tones … Continue reading Review: Thumpers – Galore

Sum Sze TamJune 10, 2014June 10, 2014

The Food & Drink Guide to Terrible Dates

Not sure where to take your miserable date? Food & Drink editor Emilia Ignaciuk gives some firsthand advice As far as dates are concerned, I might not know what to do, but I sure as hell know where to go. That knowledge came at a steep price: I didnÔÇÖt always have the discerning palate and enviable taste which come as perks of being Food & … Continue reading The Food & Drink Guide to Terrible Dates

Michael O'Connell DavidsonJune 8, 2014June 27, 2014615 Comments

Picking up the Pieces

Are Britain’s Universities providing enough mental health support to students?┬áAs Cardiff Uni signs the Time to Change pledge, Michael OÔÇÖConnell-Davidson investigates.┬áA separate version of this post with annotations from the author, can be found on the Quench Medium page. Of all the problems facing our society, mental illness is perhaps the least understood. It is an inherently human problem, but not one that should be … Continue reading Picking up the Pieces

charliemockMay 29, 2014July 29, 2014

Interview: CHVRCHES

Tucked into the UnionÔÇÖs cluttered backstage area with an unassuming air, you would never guess that the synthpop trio were in the middle of their international tour following seemingly instant success with 2013 debut album The Bones of What You Believe. Lead singer Lauren Mayberry is quick to defend the hard work itÔÇÖs taken to get this far: ÔÇÿFor us, it doesnÔÇÖt feel that instant … Continue reading Interview: CHVRCHES

Michael O'Connell DavidsonMay 15, 2014662 Comments

Quench at the Cardiff Student Media Awards 2014: The Results

The 17th annual Cardiff Student Media Awards kicked off last weekend, celebrating the contributions of Cardiff Students to gair rhydd, Quench, CUTV and Xpress Radio. CSM has a long and illustrious history, and has been the springboard for a myriad of successful careers in media, publishing, marketing and public relations. The standard of entries this year was one of the highest it’s ever been, and … Continue reading Quench at the Cardiff Student Media Awards 2014: The Results

Culture

Interview ÔÇô James Cuddy, You Are Cardiff

This year, a group of Cardiff students┬á set out to photograph hundreds of ordinary people in Cardiff to emphasize the importance of the locals in creating a city-wide identity. Quench Culture editor Amy Pay interviewed James Cuddy, one of the project’s members, to find out about whether they achieved their goal of creating art from everyday faces. James Cuddy, You Are Cardiff – – – … Continue reading Interview ÔÇô James Cuddy, You Are Cardiff

Amy PayMay 13, 2014Leave a comment

Hannah Embleton-SmithMay 6, 201444 Comments

Festival Preview: Pili Pala, Swansea

Now in its second year, Pili Pala festival is returning to SwanseaÔÇÖs Uplands from 16-17 May. The event will showcase the best of local music talent across four live venues. Regulars on the local circuits include Cardiff-based Houdini Dax with an onslaught of powerful, upbeat rock, while the alternative Tarsiers will be bringing psychedelic influences to the scene. Meanwhile, warm acoustic sets that falter in … Continue reading Festival Preview: Pili Pala, Swansea

Film & TV

Veronica Mars’ Journey To The Silver Screen

ThereÔÇÖs a school reunion going on and you just got invited. You might have not really liked her, but that was the a key foundation of the success of Veronica Mars ÔÇô the teenage detective that kept company to most people post the high school. We meet Veronica (Kristen Bell) during her first year in Neptune High California, popular and happy. She was also dating … Continue reading Veronica Mars’ Journey To The Silver Screen

CharlieMay 1, 20141 Comment

CharlieMay 1, 2014Leave a comment

The Unhealthy Ideal

With the pressure to physically conform now greater than ever, Andy Love takes a look at body image, marketing and our unhealthy obsession with health A quarter of adults in Britain are currently obese. The papers are still trying to find a culprit. Is it sugar? Is it fat? Is it an epidemic? Am I sick? Are you? Supermarkets have started filling their shelves with … Continue reading The Unhealthy Ideal

charliemockMay 1, 2014April 27, 20141 Comment

My Frozen Face

Amelia Jones┬árelives her frightening experience of facial┬áparalysis, and reminds us that a smile goes a long way in ‘My Frozen Face’ I welcomed in the New Year excited to graduate and enthusiastic to enter the real world, but I faced an overwhelming sense of anxiety as looming deadlines and the mammoth task of my third year dissertation weighed heavy on my mind. The events that … Continue reading My Frozen Face

charliemockApril 30, 2014April 27, 20141,658 Comments

Review: Hang Fire Smokehouse

ItÔÇÖs hard to express the delicious experience we had at CardiffÔÇÖs best pop-up restaurant, but smokinÔÇÖ is a word that springs to mind. Every Thursday and Friday between 5 and 9pm, the Lansdowne Pub is taken over by Samantha Evans and Shauna GuinnÔÇÖs Hang Fire Smokehouse, awakening the soul of southern- style BBQ through the ÔÇ£holy trinity of good timesÔÇØ: good food, good music and … Continue reading Review: Hang Fire Smokehouse

charliemockApril 29, 2014April 27, 2014Leave a comment

The North-South Divide

Gravy guzzling Northerner? Or stick-your-pinky-out Southerner?┬áAlex Chapman┬ádiscusses the ongoing feud┬ábetween students either side of Watford Gap in ‘The North-South Divide’ University life is never guaranteed to come without its fair amount of trials and tribulations, from the often crippling amount of coursework and revision to the realisation that, after living like kings for the best part of a fortnight after your loan going … Continue reading The North-South Divide

charliemockApril 28, 2014April 27, 2014Leave a comment

Review: Munchesters

Dylan Jenkins gets all wrapped up in Cardiff CentralÔÇÖs newest lunch offering, Munchesters ItÔÇÖs match day and iÔÇÖm sitting downstairs at the large window of munchesters, one of Cardiff city centreÔÇÖs newest ventures, wrap in one hand and a coke in the other, watching the streets overflow with Welsh and French supporters. This new lunch venue stands out on Trinity Street, its green banners boasting … Continue reading Review: Munchesters

charliemockApril 28, 2014April 27, 2014Leave a comment

Picture This!

Kieran Davey┬áinvestigates┬áthe popularity of the photo craze┬áthat is dominating social media in ‘Picture This!’ It was the photo that ÔÇÿbroke TwitterÔÇÖ. The Oscars, the most star-studded of events, had provided the most star-studded of photos which within minutes became a viral internet sensation. Inspired by show host Ellen DeGeneres, TwitterÔÇÖs most retweeted image- or ÔÇÿselfieÔÇÖ- was born as Hollywood greats such as Brad Pitt, … Continue reading Picture This!

charliemockApril 28, 2014April 27, 20141,943 Comments

Hashtag Foodporn

The ‘food’ hashtag on Instagram has over 90 million entries: thereÔÇÖs no doubt that documenting your meals is here to stay. However, is it a trend worth embracing, or should we shun those who dare whip out their phones at the dinner table? Emma Forbes and Britta Zeltmann investigate both sides of the issue. FOR┬áby Emma Forbes┬á LetÔÇÖs discuss the widespread phenomenon of instagramming food. … Continue reading Hashtag Foodporn

charliemockApril 27, 2014April 27, 2014777 Comments

Steaming and Starving

Go large or go home as self-proclaimed drunkfoodaholic Josie Copson brings you her favourite spots to stumble into after a night out in Cardiff in ‘Steaming and Starving’ There are three times in life when calories do not count. these are: number one, your birthday; number two, the entire Christmas season; and finally number three (the one that occurs the most regular for many of … Continue reading Steaming and Starving

charliemockApril 27, 2014113 Comments

Survival of the #Fittest

As fitness booms throughout social media, Emma Giles questions the development of a new competitive lifestyle, its benefits and possible repercussions in ‘Survival of the #Fittest’ The season of New YearÔÇÖs resolutions and the surge of self-motivational Facebook statuses has (thankfully) well and truly gone. Whilst this is a welcome change to those who realise that they have already broken their resolutions, one thing … Continue reading Survival of the #Fittest

Tom ConnickApril 25, 2014April 25, 2014Leave a comment

Album Review: Chet Faker – ‘Built On Glass’

Despite the relative rapidity of Chet FakerÔÇÖs growth in stature since dropping that ÔÇÿNo DiggityÔÇÖ cover back in 2011, the Melbournian has continued to develop on his own terms. Following recent collaborations with Flume, this debut is just the second release of FakerÔÇÖs solo career following 2012ÔÇÖs ÔÇÿThinking in TexturesÔÇÖ EP. FakerÔÇÖs love for jazz is clear from the offset, and the infectious bass line … Continue reading Album Review: Chet Faker – ‘Built On Glass’