Student Showcase: Justin Vega
Justin Vega is a third-year at Northeastern and Music Director of The Downbeats, an all-gender a cappella group on campus. He is the group's primary arranger, and is responsible for shaping the group's musicality and artistic expression. Justin and a few members spearhead every step of the process: from learning music virtually to the final mix. When he's not directing The Downbeats, he works on his productions as a singer-songwriter, crafting his lyrics and arrangements with a sense of sincerity and intention.
Student Showcase: Calvary Dominique
Calvary Dominique is a third-year media and screen studies and communication studies combined major and an aspiring music artist, writer, and filmmaker. Serving as both the Social Media Manager for the Songwriters Club and an EP for NUTV, he is always looking for ways to combine his creative passions. Over quarantine, he released an EP titled, “Dance, the World is Ending!” and his latest single (as of writing this) is, My Skeletons Are Tipsy! He loves finding clever humor in subtle places, exploring old bookstores, nerding out over cool cinema and underrated music, and the power of a well-crafted meme.
Student Showcase: Mona Sahney
Mona Sahney is a first-year student at Northeastern. Although she is majoring in business with a concentration in marketing, she has had an intense passion for painting since she was little. After picking up painting as a serious hobby in 2017, Mona decided to expand her definition of art to those in need by raising money for charity with her work. She loves using acrylic paints on unconventional canvases such as CDs and clothing to create scenic, elegant works of art.
Hidden in Plain Sight: Boston Street Art
Amidst the recent coronavirus pandemic, there has been a decline surrounding the arts with museums, various exhibitions, and showbox theatres closing down or placing restrictions in response to social-distancing rules. Although this poses limitations to places one can visit to experience art, it sheds light to alternate possibilities that are COVID-friendly. One of these alternatives can be found outside and accessible to be seen by anyone: street art.
Shipwreck: The Connection Between Theatre and Politics
Theatre and politics seem to become more intertwined as every year passes. With so much going on in the news cycle, especially the past four years, artists have a wealth of material to work with when writing plays. The question is, however, how much power does theatre really have?
Remote EP Review
In the wake of the release of their new EP, Wallows hosted a listening party on Zoom with 1000 lucky fans. While explaining the making of the album, drummer Cole Preston said, “We didn’t see each other once during the creation of this thing. This is how we made it. This Zoom call is a representation of how we made Remote.”
Lovecraft Country
Black horror is having quite a moment right now. The genre was virtually non-existent (save for an occasional Candyman), until 2017 rolled around and Jordan Peele gave us the game-changing Get Out. Since the smash hit, studios have been investing more into horror stories that parallel the horror of racism in America. One such endeavor is HBO’s Lovecraft Country. But is this a genre that retraumatizes Black audiences rather than giving them solace?
Supporting Boston's Independent Movie Theaters
I miss going to the movies. I miss ordering a huge, shareable soda and turning off my phone. I miss the previews, the anticipation, the art! I miss the reemergence into the shocking daylight, or the chilly winter night air, and running to the car to discuss. The movies are a place where we can come together and focus on just the story unfolding before us— moments that are harder to find lately
Streaming Stage Productions
The release of Hamilton on Disney+ has revolutionized the way we view theatre. Instead of fighting for tickets to see this smash hit, we can access it with the simple click of a button. We can watch it whenever and wherever we want. This seems to contradict the very essence of theatre, which is typically meant to be experienced as a fleeting, impermanent moment. However, if a global pandemic has taught us anything, it is that we must learn to adapt.
Spooky Songs Chosen by the E-Board
Some terrifying tunes we can’t stop listening to...
Spooky Scary Skeletons — Andrew Gold
The Monster Mash — Bobby Pickett
Marvins Room — Drake
Spooky Scary Skeletons — Andrew Gold
The Monster Mash — Bobby Pickett
Marvins Room — Drake
Broadway's Finest Villains on this Hallow's Eve
Looking for some new music to listen to this spooky season? Broadway’s finest villains have something to offer. Here are 12 of our best picks!
1. “Killer Instinct” - Bring it On: The Musical
Eva plots to take over fellow cheerleader Campbell’s life. She will stop at nothing, including stealing her boyfriend and her cheer captain title. A great alternative for Mean Girls lovers who are looking to switch up their playlist, this song will be stuck in your head for days.
1. “Killer Instinct” - Bring it On: The Musical
Eva plots to take over fellow cheerleader Campbell’s life. She will stop at nothing, including stealing her boyfriend and her cheer captain title. A great alternative for Mean Girls lovers who are looking to switch up their playlist, this song will be stuck in your head for days.
7 Frightful Films to Stream This Halloween
1. Hush (2016)
Hush is a slasher film that had its world premiere at South by Southwest and was distributed by Netflix. Maddie Young (Kate Siegel) is a deaf woman who lost the ability to hear after an infection coupled with a botched surgery. Living isolated alone in the woods with nothing but her cat and a distant neighbor to keep her company, a masked killer sets his eyes on her after realizing she is deaf. Take it from horror master Stephen King, who tweeted that Hush is one of the best horror movies of our time up there with Halloween.
Hush is available to stream on Netflix.
Hush is a slasher film that had its world premiere at South by Southwest and was distributed by Netflix. Maddie Young (Kate Siegel) is a deaf woman who lost the ability to hear after an infection coupled with a botched surgery. Living isolated alone in the woods with nothing but her cat and a distant neighbor to keep her company, a masked killer sets his eyes on her after realizing she is deaf. Take it from horror master Stephen King, who tweeted that Hush is one of the best horror movies of our time up there with Halloween.
Hush is available to stream on Netflix.
Sibyl Movie Review
Sibyl, the latest from French director Justine Triet, won Best Film at the Seville European Film Festival and was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. The film explores the struggle between reality and fiction as a psychotherapist oversteps her boundaries for personal gain.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things Review
Charlie Kaufman’s new film I’m Thinking of Ending Things might aim to be a sophisticated brain twister that leaves its audience flabbergasted for days. However, it proves itself to be an overly complicated and aggravating watch with a narrative that hasn’t much to say.
folklore Album Review
It is safe to say that most of us fell into some kind of slump during the past couple of months in quarantine. So when Taylor Swift announced her new album only 12 hours before it was released in July, fans everywhere went into a frenzy. Despite the low-energy caused by staying at home and isolating — or perhaps as a result of it — many people found themselves falling in love with the heart-wrenching stories told in folklore. Though it was a drastic change from her last pop album, Lover, this album wasn’t necessarily a return to her country roots, but rather a dip into something new.
Lovelytheband Album Review
About three years after their breakthrough hit Broken, lovelytheband, an indie-pop group consisting of Mitch Collins, Jordan Greenwald, and Sam Price, aim for the charts again with the release of their sophomore album, conversations with myself about you. Hailing from West Hollywood, the three took it upon themselves to go into isolation with nothing but each other and their ideas, and they vowed not to come out until they had a finished product for their fans.
Microphones in 2020 Album Review
In the 17 years that he has donned the Mount Eerie name, lo-fi indie legend Phil Elverum has encountered just about every existential struggle there is. His discography over the past two decades explores such challenges, existing less as music and more like a sonic diary outlining Elverum’s turbulent life and evolving philosophies. Chapters of this diary like 2012’s Clear Moon instill hopelessness by juxtaposing man against the vastness of nature, while the infamous A Crow Looked at Me — an album following the untimely death of Elverum’s wife, Geneviève Castrée — is a harrowing look at grieving and the art that can come out of it.
'Monuments to Us' at the MFA
In a diverse collection of artwork, the Museum of Fine Arts presents a new gallery, “Monuments to Us,” featuring work from multiple artists from various backgrounds. Although a small exhibit, every piece recognizes and celebrates communities which have been consistently marginalized throughout history. Members of the LGBTQA+, African American, Latino and disabled communities are all represented in this exhibit.
Steve Lacy Takes Fans on a Dreamy “Ryd” at House of Blues
Alternative R&B artist Steve Lacy mesmerized fans at House of Blues on Oct. 3, with groovy basslines and dreamy, harmonized chords. The young creator, who is a member of the Grammy-nominated band The Internet, and who has produced alongside Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, and Vampire Weekend, among others, is currently on tour for his debut solo album Apollo XXI. The album is a mix of R&B, hip-hop, and low-fi pop, showcasing Lacy’s laid back voice, which blends in perfectly with the record’s rhythmic basslines and mellow synth sounds.
Crowd is Infatuated by H.E.R. in "Every Kind of Way" at House of Blues
The heavy rain and the undeniably biting, cold wind didn’t stop eager concertgoers from waiting in what seemed like a never-ending line outside House of Blues on Nov. 26. Their excitement was for R&B sensation Gabriella Wilson, better known by her stage name, H.E.R., who would be performing that night as part of the “I Used To Know Her” tour. The 21-year-old singer’s identity was only recently revealed to the public, as she undoubtedly believes that the music she creates should be what her fans are focusing on, rather than her physical appearance.
MFA Movies at Night: Moonlight
On Friday, February 10, the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) collaborated with the Roxbury International Film Festival and Wicked Queer: The Boston LGBT Film Festival to present a screening of “Moonlight,” directed by Barry Jenkins. The film garnered significant attention after winning the award for Best Motion Picture—Drama at the 2017 Golden Globes. It was nominated for several Academy Awards, and won Best Picture.
Nina Chanel Abney Installation at The Institute of Contemporary Art
African-American contemporary artist and painter Nina Chanel Abney addresses pop culture and racial conflicts in her vibrant mural at The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA).
All of Abney’s artwork draws from modern content, such as celebrity news and social media, to spark both curiosity and conversation from the public, and the ICA mural is no exception.
While her art can be considered pop surrealism, Abney’s work certainly communicates a story and overarching message that is entirely authentic and unique.
All of Abney’s artwork draws from modern content, such as celebrity news and social media, to spark both curiosity and conversation from the public, and the ICA mural is no exception.
While her art can be considered pop surrealism, Abney’s work certainly communicates a story and overarching message that is entirely authentic and unique.
Kamasi Washington at Big Night Live
Jazz is for everyone, and never has that been more clear than on Feb. 24 when Kamasi Washington played to a packed audience at Big Night Live. A diverse mix of musicians led a chorus of instruments through a musical journey of epic proportions. There was an unmistakable human element to the night, with Washington connecting to the audience through anecdotes, wisdom, and, of course, jazz. Solos, symphonies, and soft vocals flowed through the diverse crowd, whose members couldn’t help but tap their feets and sway to the beat of the music all night long.
'Black Panther' Review
The explosive response that Marvel’s “Black Panther” has received in just a few weeks made it difficult to go into the film’s screening without heightened expectations. The film has been lauded for being both an exemplary superhero story and one of the most empowering African-American films in recent memory. Having experienced it on the big screen, I can say that you don’t need to worry — “Black Panther” lives up to the hype.
Personal to Political
There is no one correct way to address the conversation about African American history and how it continues to shape modern society. The “Personal to Political” exhibit currently on display at Northeastern’s Gallery 360 proves this fact through the variety of stories and styles presented by the artwork . The exhibit displays the personal and political battles that African Americans have been fighting for decades, each piece contributing to the collective history in its own unique way. The work displayed is from 14 African American artists who completed a residency at Paulson Fontaine Press in California with a master printmaker. For many of the artists, it was their first time working with printmaking.
The Black Clown World Premiere at A.R.T
“You laugh / Because I’m poor and black and funny…” speaks a lone man into a standing microphone, lit by a single spotlight, center stage. “The Black Clown.” He begins again, singing the lines of Langston Hughes’ poem of the same name. And thus, a truly unique and emotional theatrical experience begins. “The Black Clown” never feels like a traditional musical. It’s an artistic retelling of a collective narrative set to music.
Vince Staples is "War Ready" at House of Blues
Vince Staples—a name synonymous with aggressive lyrical mastery and the Los Angeles-based city of “Norfside,” Long Beach—graced the stage at the House of Blues on Feb. 25. His tour, “Smile, You’re on Camera,” showcased songs from widely-proclaimed studio albums, “Big Fish Theory” and “FM!,” as well as his debut double album, “Summertime ‘06.”
'Queen and Slim' Review
Queen and Slim is not just another Bonnie and Clyde movie. The screenwriting debut of Lena Waithe tells the tale of a Tinder date gone wrong, where a black couple tries to escape their inevitable criminalization after defending themselves against a police officer. Directed by Melina Matsoukas, the film uses the theme of vulnerability and immortality to portray the story of two young adults and an unlikely relationship.
Teens Take the Floor in 'Black Histories, Black Futures'
Cities are often thought about in terms that not only represent their present state, but their past influences and future directions as well. At the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), local teens, in partnership with various local youth organizations, told a story of black history through art, with a special focus on Boston. Spanning the center of the MFA, the exhibit features 20th-century art pieces curated by Jadon Smith, Destiny Santiago-Mitchell, Jennifer Rosa, Alejandro Flores, Armani Rivas, and Jingsi Li, four of which curated their own part of the overall exhibit.
Thundercat’s 'It Is What It Is' Meditates on Love, Loss, and Acceptance
Thundercat, born Stephen Bruner, constantly defies the mainstream with his versatile sound and unique blend of genres. He is easily distinguished by his virtuoso bass playing and sweet, falsetto voice. The 35-year-old American musician, singer, songwriter, and music producer has collaborated with a variety of critically acclaimed artists, including Snoop Dogg, Flying Lotus, and Kendrick Lamar. In 2015, he won a Grammy for his performance on Lamar’s These Walls, a nod to his extensive work on the album To Pimp a Butterfly. Thundercat himself has released four albums: The Golden Age of Apocalypse (2011), Apocalypse (2013), Drunk (2017) and his latest album, It Is What It Is, released on Apr. 3.
It's Not You, It's 'Us'
If you know you’re about to watch a movie directed by Jordan Peele, Academy Award Winner and director of “Get Out”, you know that it is going to be anything but what you are expecting. “Us,” starring Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke, is a horror/thriller film about a family of four who encounters their creepy doppelgängers while on vacation, and nothing is what it seems. Throughout the film, Peele manages to cleverly weave in the past with the present, allowing the audience to witness the chips slowly falling where they may within his narrative.
Melanin Pride Festival 2019
Over the weekend of October 11, the Lesbians of Color Symposium (LOCS) Collective hosted the second annual Melanin Pride Festival, which included art exhibits and film screenings across various locations in Boston. An event at the Roxbury Innovation Center featured an art exhibition along with the screening of three short films that showcased the work of LGBTQ+ artists of color who are exploring the ins and outs of identity.
'Birds of Prey' Is More Than a Feminist Film
Most superhero movies fall into one of two camps: the fun, lighthearted romps that Marvel is famous for or the darker, grittier tone DC has favored since Christopher Nolan’s 'Dark Knight' trilogy. Granted, there have been a few exceptions along the way, but few movies have been able to balance the two well. 'Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)' successfully walks this fine line of being fun while taking itself just seriously enough to deliver a cohesive — and even heartfelt — storyline with captivating characters.
'Women Take the Floor' at the MFA
On the top floor of the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in the Art of the Americas section, is an exhibit called 'Women Take the Floor.' The color theme is simple yet striking and highlights the work of the artists with mostly white walls and red detailing. The moment you enter the exhibit, you are faced with a wall covered in powerful quotes by women, reading things like, “I create against orders” (Sheila Hicks), “The struggle against the patriarchy and racism must be substantively robust and inextricably intertwined” (Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw), and “I mean I’m here to eat up all the ocean you thought was yours” (Eve Ewing).
Thundercat's 'It Is What It Is' Album Review
Thundercat, born Stephen Bruner, constantly defies the mainstream with his versatile sound and unique blend of genres. He is easily distinguished by his virtuoso bass playing and sweet, falsetto voice. The 35-year-old American musician, singer, songwriter, and music producer has collaborated with a variety of critically acclaimed artists, including Snoop Dogg, Flying Lotus, and Kendrick Lamar. In 2015, he won a Grammy for his performance on Lamar’s These Walls, a nod to his extensive work on the album To Pimp a Butterfly. Thundercat himself has released four albums: The Golden Age of Apocalypse (2011), Apocalypse (2013), Drunk (2017) and his latest album, It Is What It Is, released on Apr. 3.
'Carmen' at the Citizens Bank Opera House
Boston Ballet’s 2019-2020 season continues with 'Carmen,' a showcase of works by Jorma Elo, George Balanchine, and Helen Pickett that explore the many facets of femininity. Jorma Elo’s 'Carmen' updates the fiery Spanish antiheroine of stage and screen for the 21st century and navigates the timeless dynamics of passion, jealousy, and betrayal.
'Hail the Dark Lioness' at the Hutchins Center
In more than 80 self-portraits, celebrated visual activist Zanele Muholi (South African, b. 1972), uses their body as a canvas to confront the deeply personal politics of race and representation in the visual archive. In Somnyama Ngonyama, which translates from isiZulu to ‘Hail The Dark Lioness’, Muholi playfully employs the conventions of classical painting, fashion photography, and the familiar tropes of ethnographic imagery to rearticulate contemporary identity politics. Each black and white self-portrait asks critical questions about social (in)justice, human rights, and contested representations of the Black body.
'The Times of Bill Cunningham' Review
'The Times of Bill Cunningham,' directed by Mark Bozek, is a documentary that is both marvelous and eye-opening. The film highlights the life of a remarkable man who is unknown to many outside of the fashion world. Cunningham, with his camera and keen eye, was fashion’s great documenter for over 50 years, until his death in 2016.
Kamasi Washington at Big Night Live
Jazz is for everyone, and never has that been more clear than on Feb. 24 when Kamasi Washington played to a packed audience at Big Night Live. A diverse mix of musicians led a chorus of instruments through a musical journey of epic proportions. There was an unmistakable human element to the night, with Washington connecting to the audience through anecdotes, wisdom, and, of course, jazz. Solos, symphonies, and soft vocals flowed through the diverse crowd, whose members couldn’t help but tap their feets and sway to the beat of the music all night long.
Student Showcase: Vidisha Agarwalla
Vidisha Agarwalla is a second-year communication studies and media and screen studies combined major with a minor in law and argumentation. She is the co-president and producer of New Renaissance Theatre Company, a theatre company for people of color and minorities. She produced What Rough Beast, the play New Renaissance put on last year, and also worked toward their production of Stop Kiss. Vidisha is also a passionate dancer and a member of Rangila, a competitive Indian Fusion Dance Team at Northeastern. She recently participated in competitions in Baltimore and New Jersey.
Student Showcase: Eva Ullmann
Eva Ullmann is a first-year student at Northeastern and an aspiring singer-songwriter and performer. Music grabbed hold of Eva at an early age, and she’s been singing, writing songs, and playing guitar for almost 8 years and hopes to pursue it for the rest of her life! Eva has an EP titled Youth available on all streaming sites and is currently working on her next project, a full album titled Woman, set to be released by the end of 2020. In addition, Eva is also breaking into the Boston music scene through performances at Northeastern and around the city.
Student Showcase: Brigitte Gong
Brigitte Gong is a fifth-year sociology student and the president of NUTV. She is a double Taurus, and a big believer in the Oxford comma. She is currently trying to watch 52 films directed by women this year and has seen The Farewell seven times. She loves breakfast food, a good Spotify playlist, and her trusty 35mm camera, Steve.
Student Showcase: James Doyle
James Doyle is a fifth-year student at NU. Though he studies computer engineering, he also is absolutely enamored with art. Minoring in art history and having worked at both the MFA and ICA, James has spent quite a bit of time formally working within the art world. In his free time, James also frequently draws. He has a love for buildings, textures, and black-and-white works.
'Mary Stuart' Review
On Feb. 19, the Studio Theater was transported back in time to 16th-century England as Northeastern students performed Friedrich Schiller’s 'Mary Stuart,' directed by Professor Antonio Ocampo-Guzman. The story dramatizes the tale of Mary, Queen of Scots, in the final days of her life.
'Emma' Review
'Emma' is the newest reimagining of Jane Austen’s classic novel about young, upper class Emma Woodhouse who, until recently, had faced few hardships in her own life. Not seeking a match for herself, she tries her best to set up her new friend Harriet with men in town, leading to many mishaps and miscommunications. It’s a beautifully retold story that is hilarious, heartfelt, and a genius satire of 19th-century society that succeeds in staying relatable to modern life.
Electric Guest at the Sinclair
Los Angeles-based indie pop duo Electric Guest brought high energy and impressive showmanship to their sold-out performance at the Sinclair on Feb. 10. The group, which consists of lead vocalist Asa Taccone and multi-instrumentalist Matthew Campton, released their most recent album, Kin, in October 2019 and began touring shortly afterward. While touring, musicians Luke Top and Reese Richardson join the group, adding a fresh element to their established dynamic.
'Game Changers' at the MAAM
'Game Changers,' on view at the MassArt Art Museum, features a collection that spreads across many mediums with one central theme at its heart: video games. The exhibition synthesizes the works of contemporary artists from all walks of life, each one utilizing mediums from VR and gaming platforms to acrylic paints and ironed Perler beads. The exhibition provides a myriad of approaches to using games and gaming culture as a means for delivering pointed messages. A common thread of social justice pervades throughout many of the pieces, while others explore more niche topics about human nature and our environment.
'Wendy' Soars as a Modern Retelling
“All children, except one, grow up,” is how J.M. Barrie famously introduces his novel 'Peter Pan.' With these six simple words, Peter Pan’s mythology was forever enshrined in our culture, becoming a symbol of the optimism of childhood and the refusal to sacrifice joy, adventure, and passion. The story of “The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up” has stood the test of time through its many, many adaptations precisely because its themes are universal and, well, timeless.
'Black Histories, Black Futures' at the MFA
Cities are often thought about in terms that not only represent their present state, but their past influences and future directions as well. At the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), local teens, in partnership with various local youth organizations, told a story of black history through art, with a special focus on Boston. Spanning the center of the MFA, the exhibit features 20th-century art pieces curated by Jadon Smith, Destiny Santiago-Mitchell, Jennifer Rosa, Alejandro Flores, Armani Rivas, and Jingsi Li, four of which curated their own part of the overall exhibit.
'The Righteous Gemstones' Review
Danny McBride hits the mark again with his third and newest HBO series 'The Righteous Gemstones', a twisted family sitcom set in the flamboyant world of Southern televangelism. The Gemstone family defines the role of religion in American capitalism and asks the question, “What would capitalist Jesus do?” The wealth, fame, and power that hails from their growing franchise of megachurches is (poorly) hidden underneath the mission to spread God’s message.