Music

XXL Magazine’s 2020 Freshman List: Who Are This Year’s Hottest Rappers?

Words by Alex PayneArt by Travis Shinn and Rich Tu For hip-hop aficionados, thereÔÇÖs one announcement that’s always hotly anticipated; XXL magazineÔÇÖs Freshman list. Essentially a showcase of the hottest acts in the genre, the list highlights ten rising rappers that show promise, with previous years having featured the likes of J. Cole, Kid Cudi, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Uzi Vert and DaBaby – all of … Continue reading XXL Magazine’s 2020 Freshman List: Who Are This Year’s Hottest Rappers?

Alex Payne
Fashion

The Problems with Fast Fashion

by Maggie Gannon Fast fashion is a term which many of us are now familiar with and tend to associate with cheaper, ÔÇÿeasierÔÇÖ options of online shopping, with brands such as Boohoo, PrettyLittleThing and Missguided at the forefront of our choices. However, the true meaning of what fast fashion entails is rarely focused upon, with its unsustainable nature hidden from the perceived benefits which cover … Continue reading The Problems with Fast Fashion

Contributing Writer
Literature

Review: Beloved by Toni Morrison

By Sahina Sherchan. ÔÇ£Freeing yourself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another.ÔÇØ This is not an easy read. Toni MorrisonÔÇÖs Beloved is about remembrance, a visit from the past disrupting the easy ignorance. We can no longer brush off conversations about slavery and the inequality that still persists in our society. This is a book in dedication to the ÔÇ£sixty million … Continue reading Review: Beloved by Toni Morrison

Contributing Writer
LGBT+ LGBTQ+ lockdown
LGBT+, Love

“I am essentially trapped” – How LGBT+ Students Are Holding on During Lockdown

Words by Kate WaldockArtwork by Kate Waldock Away from family and without the worry of parents and siblings prejudice, University is for many LGBT+ students a haven of peace to be comfortable with themselves. Lockdown presents a new challenge and many have had to stumble back into the proverbial closet at home, hiding their identities for a long period of time. Being pushed back into … Continue reading “I am essentially trapped” – How LGBT+ Students Are Holding on During Lockdown

Kate Waldock
Features

Kanye for President?

Trigger Warning: This article contains reference to Bipolar Disorder. If you or someone you know is affected by the mental health issues or content discussed here, please call the Samaritan’s 24 hour hotline on 116 123. By Rhianna Hurren-Myers ÔÇ£We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United … Continue reading Kanye for President?

Rhianna Hurren-Myers
Download, Video Games

Thoughts On: Ubisoft Forward

By Marcus Yeatman-Crouch and Lewis Empson With the inability for massive conventions like E3, Gamescom or PAX to take place due to the coronavirus pandemic, many large publishers have taken to hosting their own online conferences, giving fans a host of trailers and talks about the games we can expect this year as we transition to next-gen consoles. Ubisoft recently hosted their own, dubbed Ubisoft … Continue reading Thoughts On: Ubisoft Forward

Contributing Writer
Travel

Sun, Sea and Sustainability

Words by Katherine Mallett Artwork by Amelia Field As borders continue to re-open and people are eager to satiate their so-called ÔÇÿtravel bugÔÇÖ, it has never been more important to educate ourselves about the detrimental, and often irreversible impacts that travelling can have on the environment. It is our responsibility to look after our planet and ensure we are doing everything we can to reduce … Continue reading Sun, Sea and Sustainability

Kat Mallett
Download, Video Games

Review: Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout

By Josh Ong |ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà | Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout appeared from relative obscurity. Just a few days ago, I had no idea about the title. Having spotted the game appearing on multiple Steam friendsÔÇÖ profiles over the last few days, I was very intrigued, mostly due to my lack of knowledge surrounding it. However, after one particularly low day, two of my friends bought it for … Continue reading Review: Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout

Josh Ong
Culture

Current Affairs or Current Artfairs?

Words by Tom BennyIllustration by Sahina Sherchan COVID-19 has undoubtedly wrenched us all into a period of global uncertainty. Businesses have been shutting down left right and centre, political leaders have proven to make the situation more complex and convoluted than necessary, and hospitals have been pushed to breaking point, despite valiant efforts. In light of this seemingly ceaseless catastrophe, artists across the world have … Continue reading Current Affairs or Current Artfairs?

Contributing Writer
Clebar

YdyÔÇÖr cysylltiad rhwng Cymru a Phatagonia yn un y dylid ei ddathlu?

Os rhaid ystyried y gwir am ein perthynas efo Patagonia? Mae hanes Cymru a Phatagonia yn un sydd yn ymestyn dros nifer o flynyddoedd a milltiroedd, yn dechrau yn 1865 pan hwyliodd llong (y Mimosa) o Gymru i Batagonia, dros 8,000 milltir i ffwrdd. Er bod nifer eang o Gymry yn falch i ddweud bod yna wlad ar ochr arall y byd sydd yn medruÔÇÖr … Continue reading YdyÔÇÖr cysylltiad rhwng Cymru a Phatagonia yn un y dylid ei ddathlu?

Dafydd Orritt
Fashion

Clean Beauty Makeup Essentials

A beautiful finish and natural ingredients seem like a clear win when choosing makeup products, allowing clean beauty to have taken the beauty industry by storm.┬á┬áWhether it is big name beauty brands realigning to an ethically focused ÔÇ£cleanÔÇØ message or one of the many emerging brands, these are becoming highly popular. Jessica AlbaÔÇÖs Honest Beauty whose original message is grounded in natural clean products is … Continue reading Clean Beauty Makeup Essentials

Rachel Citron
Literature

Self-Publishing 101: Why Is It So Popular and Is It Really a Bad Thing?

Words by Sofia Brizio Self-publishing is the publication of a book by its author without the involvement of a traditional, established publisher. It is a phenomenon that has become increasingly popular in recent years, but why is it so? Where does it come from? What makes self-publishing an often more viable option than traditional publishing and what does it mean for the future of traditional … Continue reading Self-Publishing 101: Why Is It So Popular and Is It Really a Bad Thing?

Contributing Writer
thepaperphantasm sex relationships university
Love

Let’s Write About Sex and Relationships

Words by Laura Dazon & Art by @thepaperphantasm on Instagram Welcome to Spotlight: Sex and Relationships! With this post, we celebrate the start of a new project. This year, Quench finally has a space dedicated to sex and relationships! Up until now, the Cardiff student media has lacked a reliable safe space to talk about one of the most important parts of student life. Spotlight … Continue reading Let’s Write About Sex and Relationships

Laura Dazon
Features, Invisible Illnesses

Invisible Illnesses II: Living with an Unseen Disability

Words by Rhianna Hurren-Myers Illustration by Amelia Field / @amelialfield The Story It was around 1am on the busiest night IÔÇÖd ever seen at CardiffÔÇÖs StudentÔÇÖs Union. Somewhere between the bar and the main stage, I had failed to notice that I had lost the friends I had come out with. Instead, I was preoccupied clumsily tugging on the door of a disabled toilet.  ÔÇ£YouÔÇÖre … Continue reading Invisible Illnesses II: Living with an Unseen Disability

Rhianna Hurren-Myers
Album Reviews, Music

EP Review: ‘Mirror Image’ by KNALLERS

Words by Alex PayneArt by Finn Cleverly Last Friday, the Met Office announced that it was the third hottest day on record, confirming the suspicions of anyone who dared brave the blistering heat for more than a moment. Weather that good is rarely more than fleeting in the UK, so when it is, itÔÇÖs worth celebrating with a classic combination of beach, BBQ and booze. … Continue reading EP Review: ‘Mirror Image’ by KNALLERS

Alex Payne
Download, Video Games

Next Gen Revealed

By Lewis Empson and Marcus Yeatman-Crouch After 7 fine years of service, the Playstation 4 and Xbox One alongside their various Pro, S and X iterations are soon to be put out to pasture; passing on the baton to their more powerful, faster and sleeker successors. The Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X and their upcoming games have all been unveiled in live-streamed presentations spilling … Continue reading Next Gen Revealed

Contributing Writer
Film & TV

Behind The Lens: HORROR

By Phoebe Bowers Categorised often to be corny, clich├®d or formulaic, the horror genre has been overlooked in terms of its sustainability and versatility. Horror over the years has spawned itself into several sub-genres from gothic, to silent, to slasher, to supernatural, to ÔÇÿfound-footage.ÔÇÖ It has birthed some of the most iconic film scenes to-date. We┬á donÔÇÖt even need to name the film where the … Continue reading Behind The Lens: HORROR

Contributing Writer