Ahead of the release of their second studio album Faux Animoux, I caught up with Sarah and Sam Gotley of alternative, electronic rock duo Blue Violet to talk inspiration, the human race, and their upcoming UK tour. Let’s start with the new album’s writing process. Was it always such a conceptual piece of work, or something more pieced together? We really like to write a collection of … Continue reading In Conversation with Blue Violet
The lights dim and the familiar opening twangs of ‘Love Story’ echo out across Cardiff’s Temple ofPeace. It is through this unexpected fusion of the Swiftian and Shakespearean that Act One DramaSociety’s production of Twelfth Night transports us into the mystical realm of Illyria. Directed byAmelia Quarm and produced by Luke Knights, the production premiered in February for a three dayrun; starring students across years, … Continue reading Act One’s Twelfth Night: An Elaborately Tangled Web of Displaced Desire
Distinguished magician and producer, Oliver Tabor is celebrated for his captivating performances and innovative contributions to the world of magic. His flagship production, West End Magic, is London’s longest-running magic show. This theatrical spectacle combines mesmerising illusions, comedy and a diverse lineup of talented performers. From being president of the IBM British Ring or FISM Champion, in this interview, he shares insights into his journey … Continue reading Behind the magic: an Interview with Oliver Tabor
The doorstep toast While searching for a Cardiff cafe, I was stopped by the phrase “doorstep toast” and knew I needed to visit whatever establishment served this. So off I headed to The Bike Lock, with its miss matched tables and chairs and mellow lighting. All which emulate cosy, Gilmore girl vibes, and the pleasantness of everyone makes it one of the friendliest cafes around. With a system for storing bikes … Continue reading Cardiff’s Bike Lock: a review
The 2023 ‘clean girl’ has been pierced. Make-up influencers are putting down their sad beige palettes, and painting themselves in layers of colour and gel face masks. From aloe-vera, honey, vaseline, to even egg-whites, make-up lovers have been experimenting in an attempt to achieve Pat McGrath’s iconic shiny finish. This collection marks a dramatic semantic shift for what we once thought of as ‘glass skin’, … Continue reading Galliano and McGrath: Weird Girl Couture
Ahead of the release of their fourth studio album Smitten, I had the opportunity to speak to Pale Waves guitarist Hugo Silvani. We spoke about the inspirations of the new album, the writing process, and discussed Silvani’s passion for the sonic side of the musical world. We then delved into details of the upcoming 2024 Smitten tour. Talk me through your writing process as a … Continue reading Pale Waves: In Conversation with Hugo Silvani
The holiday season is soon upon us, and with that comes the plethora of events; from Christmas dinners to course balls, there are so many outfits to plan. Any excuse to dress up immediately gets me going through Pinterest for an endless scroll of outfit inspiration. When it comes to holiday parties, there are some classic trends like velvet, emerald green or burgundy, knit dresses … Continue reading Festive Fashion: What To Wear This Holiday Season
Tucked away at the back of Cathays is Bl┼Ám; an independent coffee shop that was first introduced to me ago by my third-year housemates. I remember my first visit vividly; I was battling the hangover from hell, and only an iced oat latte would revive me, and revive me it did. Since then, it has become a firm favourite of mine, with their oat dirty … Continue reading Cardiff Cafe Crawl
Eradication Festival is a 3-day extreme metal event which takes place in Cardiff every year. This year I was lucky enough to attend SaturdayÔÇÖs show to celebrate its 10-year anniversary, and I have to say; it must have been one of the best shows IÔÇÖve ever been to. IÔÇÖve been into the extreme subgenres of metal since my early teenage years but never attended many … Continue reading Eradication Festival ’23 @ Fuel
On Wednesday 8th November, Vogue revealed the upcoming theme for their annual fashion showcase and exhibition; Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion. The Meta Gala, held on the first Monday in May at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, raises funds for the Costume Institute. The prestigious event is attended by the biggest names in fashion, as well as a plethora of famous faces: the … Continue reading Met Gala 2024 Theme Explained: Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion
On both occasions where I have been lucky enough to attend their shows, I have left in complete and utter awe of the raw, unrefined talent displayed by Fall Out Boy, regardless of it being some 20 years since they started out. The band honoured their pop-rock roots upon the release of their eighth, and most recent, studio album in March of this year ÔÇô … Continue reading Fall Out Boy @ Utilita Arena
Watching Art School Girlfriend was multisensory experience. The Wrexham-born Polly Mackey delighted the mostly dungaree-clad, girlfriend-accessorised audience. Her set had a soft and gentle sort of melodic feel, vocally, which was flanked by a strong bass line and synth undertones, giving it the atmosphere of a DnB rave; this unlikely combination provided something truly unique and fresh. In fact, it felt like there were influences … Continue reading Art School Girlfriend @ Clwb Ifor Bach
After a band or artist takes time off, it can be difficult for them to maintain loyal and passionate fans. However, that was not the case for JLS. On the 30th of October, JLS made their anticipated return to Wales, with their first night of two in the Utilita Arena Cardiff. After the phenomenal success of their comeback tour in 2021, I had very high … Continue reading JLS @ Utilita Arena
As a well-publicised feature of this yearÔÇÖs Llais festival, an evening ÔÇ£celebrating Joni MitchellÔÇØ was in high attendance at Wales Millennium Centre. The evening boasted the first complete performance of 2001 album Both Sides Now in this country. It was undertaken by the talents of The BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, plus singers Charlotte Church, Laura Mvula, ESKA, Georgia Ruth and Olivia Chaney. With new … Continue reading Both Sides Now: Celebrating Joni Mitchell @ Llais Festival
Punk Rock Factory started their ÔÇÿItÔÇÖs just a stage weÔÇÖre going throughÔÇÖ EU & UK tour with a bang last night in Bristol. Combining nostalgic throwbacks and childrenÔÇÖs music with a contemporary pop-punk sound, their innovative twist has opened new possibilities for alternative music. Whilst fairly new to the scene after gaining popularity through TikTok, IÔÇÖd argue their stage presence was nothing short of energetic, engaging, and … Continue reading Punk Rock Factory @ SWX Bristol
Ahead of her performance at this year’s S┼Án Festival, I had the opportunity to sit down with Welsh electronic musician Ani Glass, and chat all things South Wales, creative processes, and the genius of the late, great Martin Rushent. You released your debut solo album, Mirores, in 2020, but you were in a lot of bands before that; whatÔÇÖs your musical journey been like, and how has … Continue reading S┼Án Festival 2023: In Conversation with Ani Glass
Quench were lucky enough to be invited along to Girls Pushing Buttons, a celebration of South Wales-based electronic pop artists – Honey B McKenna, Millie Blooms and Femmebug. As well as a night of fantastic music, we also got the chance to sit down and chat with Honey and Millie about community, their musical journeys, and what they liked about South Wales’ rich and diverse … Continue reading Girls Pushing Buttons: A Celebration of Music, Community and Womanhood
┬áI didnÔÇÖt actually know very much about God Is In The TV until they sent Quench a message inviting us along to the 20th Anniversary celebration. In hindsight this seems like a bit of a misstep, because God Is In The TV is like a showcase of everything I love about the South Wales music scene, and represents everything I think the music industry should: … Continue reading God Is In The TV: 20th Anniversary Celebration
Eclectic, effervescent and ethereal are just three of the words that I would use to describe The Last Dinner Party. Having first met whilst at university, the quintetÔÇÖs exuberant styles and extraordinary performances have catapulted the band from LondonÔÇÖs live music scene to the likes of Glastonbury and the international stage. With such great success before the release of their debut album, itÔÇÖs not hard for me to say that they are indieÔÇÖs next big thing. Ahead of their performance at S┼Án Festival on the 21st of October, I was fortunate to have the chance to speak with the bandÔÇÖs bassist Georgia Davies. Continue reading The Last Dinner Party: In Conversation with Georgia Davies
Maisie Peters is a name we should all be familiar with. She is taking the world by storm, with half a billion streams worldwide, a sold out UK tour and earning the approval of big names such as Phoebe Bridgers, Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith – and sheÔÇÖs only twenty two! Her tour, the final chapter of touring You Signed Up for This … Continue reading Maisie Peters @ Tramshed 23/04/2023
