Gossip Girl TW – Mentions of eating disorders There is a common misconception about Gossip Girl. For a show with such a title, the honest-held belief of many fans is that Serena and Blair are the pinnacle of female friendship in TV. I’m not sure if many people base their opinions on Tumblr, or only half-watched the show, but as iconic as the Upper East … Continue reading Female Friendships Representation in Film and TV
An ode to pancakes. Crepe pancakes. The simple French tradition that harps back to infant days and begins our journey. The thin runny batter that ultimately scrambles the first time because of childhood impatience, but is soon guided by a mother’s skilful hand, to create piles of soft cakes, whose edges were slightly crispy. Swiftly adorned with spoonfuls of sugar, lashing of lemon juice and handfuls … Continue reading Pancakes Please!
CLWB IFOR BACH. January 25th 2025. I stood in a dimly lit room, surrounded by the community of Cardiff’s underground music scene. The crowd, large and diverse for the setting, included not just alternative students and young adults, but also parents, loved ones and friends of the performers. All eyes focused on the band performing on stage, who were illuminated by a neon glow of … Continue reading The Cheeky Habibis: Tuning into Cardiff’s Music Scene
Love is universal. Whether it’s your family and your friends; your partner or a pet, it exists in all our lives. Love is holding someone very close to your heart, but that does not always mean they are close to us physically. Learning to adapt to our environment is hard enough as a human being in this massive world, and then you add someone else … Continue reading Long Distance Love
Are there any heroes left in the modern age of dating? In this modern age of dating, something very interesting can be observed: the simultaneous celebration of both intentional abstinence and sexual exploration. This duality represents not a contradiction in how we are approaching our love lives, but instead an evolution in how individuals claim agency over their sex lives, making narratives that transcend traditional, … Continue reading Holding out For a Hero
The Wombats have carved out their place in indie music history, building a reputation for infectious energy and introspective lyricism. Now, as they gear up for the release of their sixth studio album, Oh! The Ocean, Quench’s Jenny Algieri sits down with drummer Dan Haggis to talk about music, nostalgia and the ever-evolving nature of their craft. Oh! The Ocean is an album of reinvention, … Continue reading The Wombats: Two Decades of Indie, Tour Life and Sonic Photographs
‘Why don’t you just wash your face?’. As someone who has personally struggled with acne, this has to be the worst of a bad bunch of comments you might throw at somewhere who has tried every product, antibiotic, and pimple patch under the sun. Some seem to be uneducated about the harmful opinions regarding skin and appearance. However, there is also an influx of understanding … Continue reading Patches in Public
Right now, we are witnessing a new way of perceiving art, one of scepticism and constant critique. Our eyes are drawn to subtle discrepancies and potential mistakes to prove that the art was not made with human hands but rather generated by artificial intelligence. The negative term “AI Art” can be applied to many fields, the most common types we associate it with are pictures … Continue reading Canvas to Code: Are We Experiencing a New Era of Art?
Red and Green Flags on a Dinner Date The first date with anyone is full of make-or-break moments which are crucial to the progression into a second night. I’m sure we’ve all had both good and bad experiences on a dinner date, especially on a blind date. But I have categorically defined my no-goes from my green flags to save myself from the tragic, unwanted, … Continue reading Date night Red Flags
As someone who has been lucky enough to do a fair amount of travelling in the twenty-three years I have been on this planet, I am pleased to recount that the experience has been delightful. A fan of slow travel, I have been used to the odd missed connection here or delayed train there. I usually find it within myself to let it all wash … Continue reading A Troublesome Trip
Hailing from the Valleys, five-man rock band Turning Montana are injecting a fresh, youthful edge to Welsh sound in 2025. Quench talks to frontman Sam Jones about Nirvana, Cardiff’s music scene, and their new single ‘Names in the Night’. The interview transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity. Julia: Congratulations! You’ve just released a new single ‘Names In The Night’. Could you tell us … Continue reading Interview with Turning Montana Band
I hate olives. I pick them off of my pizza. I don’t order dishes with olives in them. If I ordered a martini I would order it with a twist. The other day I had a pasta dish with olives on it, and it was nice. Will they find their way into my Sainsbury’s shopping? No. I maintain my benign dislike of them. To oversimplify, … Continue reading I’m In Love, But I Still Hate Men
My first solo trip by plane fell short of the travel ads. I blame the false sense of security that my airport experience fabricated. I had no issues with trains (for once!), crossed the security border without being drug-tested and arrived at my seat with maximum time to spare and scheduled departure on time. So, I relaxed and allowed my thoughts to finally drift to … Continue reading Travel Trips & Troubles
Cliché Cuteness? Cute sounding and in a cute spot in the Morgan Arcade. The Maple and Bean is a neat little cafe that’s tucked away in the tunnels of Cardiff. But cute might just be about all I can say about the place. Don’t get me wrong the place was absolutely lovely. There’s a definite aesthetics and two stories of little tables that allow you … Continue reading The Maple and Bean, a Cardiff Cafe Review
Journey from Uni to Present Career What initially inspired you to pursue a journalism career and were there any prominent figures that influenced your decision to want to go into media? I’ve always enjoyed being a part of the media in some way. When I was a kid, I appeared on S4C, the Welsh-language TV channel, quite a lot, and it excited me so much. … Continue reading Mared Parry – Interview with Quench Beyond
From joint ‘rope’ socials with the Cave Society to navigating online trolls, Aber KinkSoc President Alex talks to Quench Deputy Julia Bottoms about Aberystwyth’s very own kink society. Ah, University – that cherished baptism into adulthood, an epoch of self-discovery and exploration, and perhaps regrettably for many, the most sexual freedom you will ever have. But in the charming seafront university town of Aberystwyth, students … Continue reading Bonding in all its forms
In Conversation with Delphi Campbell. As International Women’s Day approaches, we reflect on the voices and stories that shape the discourse on gender, health and identity. One such powerful voice is Delphi Campbell, the artist behind Unwanted Flesh, a deeply personal body of work that explores chronic illness, medical misogyny and the lived experience of a female body in pain. Through an intimate conversation, we … Continue reading Unwanted Flesh: Art, Illness, and the Female Body
As the jeep drove off and Junha Park’s The Town started playing, I knew I’d never look at snow the same way again. Mr. Plankton is the third K-Drama I’ve watched this year, and it had me bawling from start to finish. Without spoiling anything, it encapsulates a messier side of love while still embracing familiar tropes—the slow-burn romance, the infamous love triangle, and the … Continue reading Love Is Just A Word
The media we consume massively influences the kind of love we view as acceptable or desirable. Whether it’s the latest couples trend on TikTok, a Shakespeare play or a Picasso painting, we are guaranteed to internalise these depictions of love, and begin to form preferences for the love we wish to receive – be that romantic, familial or platonic. Of course, we can also develop … Continue reading Love Is Just A Word
Speaking as the girl who’s worn both hats, the singleton and the practically married-ton; Valentine’s Day for me is a day where every relationship is worth celebrating, romantic or platonic. Whether it’s buying your housemates a funny card, having a cocktail night with your girls or sharing a romantic meal for two; Cupid’s holiday should never be exclusive to couples. Continue reading Gal or Val?
