Music

Taylor Swift and our obsession with celebrity feminism

We have let celebrity feminism —  the public, branded feminist advocacy by famous figures — encompass the entire feminist movement.

| Contributing Writer

Pastime turned performance: Three WashU musicians taking things seriously

Committing to music can mean performing at bars; it can also mean releasing music on online platforms. What is certain about committing to music is that it transforms a personal pastime into a public performance — an audience of one becomes an audience of many, turning private musings into popular media.

| Contributing Writer

Samia concert review: Good vibes for a short time

The grainy sounds of radio static played on the speakers as the band walked onto the dimly lit stage set up like a makeshift campground, introducing the concert sonically in the same way as the album about to be performed. In the small but mighty Delmar Hall, situated nearby on the Delmar Loop, indie pop artist Samia Finnerty — known merely as Samia — graced St. Louis with a performance of her “Bloodless” tour on Tuesday, Sept. 30.

| Staff Writer

Fresh faces, full swing: WashU Jazz takes the stage

The WashU Jazz Band is starting this year with a whole lot of new energy — and not just because of the music.

| Contributing Writer

Today’s musical artists prioritize fame over true artistry

Now, the focus of making music is on picking out a certain color palette or figuring out what pose looks best for a poster. These used to be afterthoughts, a menial task to complete after the album is made, but now it’s the main event. Music has become another way for celebrities to mobilize fame. The goal is to appease the fangirl: to create a cult following that obsesses over you and the persona you provide, not the music itself. We talk more about what outfit our favorite artist wore at their concert, or what their album cover looks like, and less about the music itself.

| Contributing Writer

What Are Students Listening to on Campus?

In this edition of Headphones On, Student Life’s multimedia team, Sanchali Pothuru, Molly Fletcher, and Alan Knight, hit campus to find out what’s playing in students’ ears. Hear as students’ playlists cross paths, creating a special mix set! Produced and Edited by Sanchali Pothuru. Filmed by Sanchali Pothuru, Molly Fletcher, and Alan Knight.

, and | Managing Multimedia Editor, Multimedia Editor, and Multimedia Producer

Dirtbag Democracy: Wheatus lets the crowd call the shots

Well, what if that band played the gig without a setlist, only to build it by taking audience requests? That’s exactly how Wheatus, the band most known for their song “Teenage Dirtbag,” approaches every show. That’s also how the band will play their sold-out show next Tuesday, April 15, at Blueberry Hill’s Duck Room.

| Junior Scene Editor

‘Brighter days ahead’: Ariana Grande’s deluxe album brings rich production and vulnerable lyrics

In her latest release, “eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead,” Ariana Grande reaffirms her place as one of pop music’s defining voices. This deluxe edition of Grande’s album “eternal sunshine,” which was released in March 2024, feels not only like the culmination of her previous albums, but also like a love letter to each era of her artistic and personal evolution.

| Contributing Writer

A recap of LNYF 2025 in photos

The annual Lunar New Year Festival (LNYF) show took place this past weekend from Friday, Jan. 31 to Sunday, Feb. 1. Students celebrated East Asian and Southeast Asian cultures in a show which consisted of 15 acts, ranging from dance to percussion. This year’s theme was “Interwoven,” a tribute to the Year of the Snake.

| Senior Scene Editor

FKA Twigs turns us eusexual

In the last few seconds of the music video for “Perfect Stranger,” released last October by FKA twigs, three sentences flash on the screen. They read: “Eusexua is a practice. […]

| Contributing Writer

Sign up for the email edition

Stay up to date with everything happening at Washington University and beyond.

Subscribe