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New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

Music

Instrumentalist Martin Rev stands onstage with his left hand playing piano and his right hand raised. Behind him is a blue and neon-pink backdrop.

Review: ‘Surrender’ is Suicide at their best

“Surrender,” Suicide’s first compilation album, is a celebration of the anarchic synth-punk of a New York staple.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor April 14, 2022
“Surrender,” Suicide’s first compilation album, is a celebration of the anarchic synth-punk of a New York staple.
An illustration of Yung Lean and FKA Twigs under teal fluorescent light.

Review: ‘Stardust’ sees Yung Lean strip rap back to its most guttural

The Swedish rapper’s latest mixtape packs a star-studded slew of features who take turns stabbing away at the triteness of rap’s current formulaity.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor April 13, 2022

Yung Lean’s newest mixtape, “Stardust,” revives cloud rap by embracing its haziest features: its mumbled murkiness, vaporwave production and shape-shifting sonic grammar....

A person sits in a field of yellow wheat. Behind the person is a blue sky with the sun brightly beaming, creating flares that are cast down and blur the person’s face.

Q&A: kiyu offers listeners introspection and catharsis through his music

The NYU junior talked with WSN about his inspirations, developing his musical identity and his long-term goals.
Stephanie Wong, Staff Writer April 11, 2022

Indie musician and NYU junior Jackie Chak Kiu Chan, originally from Hong Kong, is voicing your deepest anxieties and worries through subdued indie pop as kiyu. In his semi-autobiographical...

An illustration of a Black woman in a green shirt and a white woman in a yellow shirt listening to music through wired headphones. The cord of the headphones spells out “Listen to This.”

Listen to This: Harry Styles announces a new album with single ‘As It Was’

Read about this week’s most notable singles by Alexander 23, Father John Misty and more.

Harry Styles is back — and the world is ready for it, with “As It Was” hinting at what fans can expect on the new album. This week, we also review songs from pop giants Alexander...

An illustration of three Grammy awards against a purple background. One is placed in the center and the other two are behind it. The Grammy Award is a gold record player with a black base underneath.

Jon Batiste and Olivia Rodrigo shine at the 64th Grammy Awards

NYU alums, former students and faculty also took home Grammys on April 3.
Yas Akdag, Music Editor April 4, 2022

Casinos. Fountain shows. A replica of the Eiffel Tower. That’s right — this year, Las Vegas hosted the Grammy Awards for the first time ever. The show, originally planned for...

A portrait of Jim Anderson in front of a soundboard in a recording studio. He is wearing a black long-sleeve shirt.

With 28 Grammy nominations, Tisch prof. Jim Anderson can’t be stopped

The recording engineer and producer maintains a busy professional life while working as a professor at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music.
Yas Akdag and Lillian Jones April 1, 2022

As a college student, it’s pretty rare that you can say that your professor has been nominated for a Grammy. Now try 28. That’s how many nominations Jim Anderson has under...

An illustration of a Black woman in a green shirt and a white woman in a yellow shirt listening to music through wired headphones. The cord of the headphones spells out “Listen to This.”

Listen to This: Soccer Mommy’s latest release ‘Shotgun’ pushes her further into dream-pop

Read about this week’s most notable singles by Midwife, beabadoobee and more.
Yas Akdag, Holden Lay, Jack Solomon and Annie Williams March 31, 2022

Welcome back to Listen to This! We were going to say that all of this week’s songs had a shoegaze-rock feel to them, but we just couldn’t stay away from FINNEAS’ latest single,...

An illustration of a woman hunched over on a motorbike. She is wearing an all red outfit and a black helmet. Behind her, on either side of the bike, stand four other female figures.

Review: Rosalía’s ‘MOTOMAMI’ is a feminist manifesto

The Spanish artist’s highly anticipated third album came out on March 18.
Sara Vargas, Contributing Writer March 30, 2022

Rosalía has introduced the world to a new philosophy in which domineering motorcycles stand for liberty, vibrant red graffiti for power, hypnotic butterflies for transformation...

A focused headshot of Sam Webber in front of a pink background with a blurred ring circling around his head and brighter lighting focused on the left side of his face.

Sam Weber’s intimate Sultan Room set showcases the unifying power of live music

Sam Weber played a lively, invigorating show at The Sultan Room promoting his new album “Get Free.” The bands Dirty Bird and The Ladles, who gave equally stellar performances, opened for him.
Lorena Campes, Staff Writer March 29, 2022

The Sultan Room is a self-described “sanctuary” for revelers and artists alike. Promoting his new album “Get Free,” 28-year-old singer-songwriter Sam Weber offered a sincere...

A portrait of Claud against a black background. They are wearing khaki pants with a matching button-up shirt. Layered beneath is a neon yellow top. They have split-dyed green and blue hair and are wearing round glasses.

Q&A: Claud takes bedroom pop out of the bedroom and on a national tour

Calling in from the road, the artist spoke about getting signed, their debut album “Super Monster” and their favorite deli order.
Yas Akdag, Music Editor March 28, 2022

If you were around for the bedroom pop wave circa 2018, then chances are you know who Claud is. Since dropping out of Syracuse University, the formerly half-green-half-blue-haired...

An illustration of musician Charlie XCX wearing a black string bikini. She is falling out of the door of a crashed white car, with her legs still in the passenger seat and the rest of her body hanging out onto the road below.

Review: On “CRASH,” Charli XCX hits cruise control

Though not as ambitious as her previous entries, hyperpop maverick Charli XCX offers a catalog of clean, formulaic fun on her fifth full-length LP.
Isabella Armus, Deputy Arts Editor March 28, 2022

Despite spending the last decade on her own artistic victory lap, Charli XCX is still just a stan. The singer has fortified her reputation by pioneering the experimental hyperpop...

The three members of the Korean indie band SE SO NEON. The picture is taken from the hip up; two of them are laughing and the other one is holding the neck of an electric guitar.

Meet SE SO NEON: A band remaking the K-indie image

You might be wondering who SE SO NEON is. They don’t know yet either — but they’re coming to New York City on March 31 to figure it out.
Alex Tran, Culture Editor March 24, 2022

I found SE SO NEON the way anyone would find an indie band — through YouTube recommendations. On one of many sad and lonely days during the pandemic, “NAN CHUN” popped up...