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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

(Courtesy of Warner Records)

Review: ‘I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2)’ falls saccharine and stale

Instead of trying therapy next, Teddy Swims should try unique production and lyric variation.
Rory Lustberg, Staff Writer February 5, 2025

Songs about love are not hard to find — they’re taking over every radio station, open mic night and streaming platform. In the tumultuous sea of music covering the pitfalls,...

(Courtesy of 88rising)

​​Review: Knock2’s ‘nolimit’ is a bright and boisterous collection of bangers

This debut solo album is a bombastic victory lap for one of dance music’s newest rising stars.
Kaleo Zhu, Contributing Writer February 3, 2025

It’s easy to think of electronic music as an insular scene confined to eye-straining light shows and hole-in-the-wall raves, occasionally breaking out into the mainstream consciousness...

(Courtesy of Atlantic Records)

Review: ‘EUSEXUA’ is ingenious, experimental club-pop brilliance

FKA twigs’ third full-length project expresses ecstasy and freedom through unrestricted lenses of intimacy, art and the supernatural.
Ian Sleat, Contributing Writer February 3, 2025

“EUSEXUA” is a state of being. Harnessing the vitality of skimpy leather, cosmic stilettos and boiler rooms heated by hundreds of sweaty bodies, FKA twigs is not letting anything...

(Anna Baird-Hassell for WSN)

The case against ‘The Tortured Poets Department’

Taylor Swift's newest Grammy-nominated album promised an emotional journey, but fails to reach any particular destination.
Oshmi Ghosh, Contributing Writer January 31, 2025

From facing misogynistic cruelty to winning the hearts of young Americans, Taylor Swift’s ubiquity at award shows has been an uphill battle. Despite being a genuine long-time...

(Kiara Mujica for WSN)

The Grammys need to rethink their best new artist category

Confusion over the qualifications for the Grammys’ best new artist category is both unnecessary and fixable.
Kaleo Zhu, Contributing Writer January 31, 2025

It’s no secret that there’s an air of wariness surrounding the Grammy Awards’ best new artist award. The list of nominees for the 67th ceremony’s best new artist initially...

(Alisia Houghtaling for WSN)

WSN predicts the Grammys

Who our newsroom thinks should win the biggest awards in music.
WSN Staff January 31, 2025

With the 67th annual Grammy Awards ceremony coming up this Sunday, WSN’s Arts Desk took a poll of the newsroom in anticipation of music’s biggest night. Whether you had a “brat...

(Courtesy of Apple Music)

Review: Ethel Cain is back, and you should be afraid

“Perverts” is intrepid and unapologetic, defying those who believe that track length and sonic consistency are one-size-fits-all.
Ian Sleat, Contributing Writer January 23, 2025

Hayden Anhedönia, professionally known as Ethel Cain, is tired of being famous. She took to Tumblr with a scathing critique, sharing how glib comment sections and the increasingly...

An illustration of four colorful Christmas stockings hanging above a fireplace. From left to right are purple, turquoise, green and red stockings that contain vinyl albums.

8 pop Christmas albums to broaden your holiday horizons

A collection of pop music’s best holiday albums based on nostalgia, sentiment and spirit.
Bella Simonte, Contributing Writer December 12, 2024

Every winter, pop stars, actors and even comedians take on the same monumental task: creating a bestselling Christmas album. Some recreate the melodies of classic Christmas tunes,...

A group of four people smiling at a camera in a red room.

The Radio Relics on indie rock, Clive Davis and pissing off the neighbors

This band of NYU students is a decade in the making.
Caia Cupolo, Contributing Writer December 12, 2024

As The Radio Relics greet each other outside of Astor Place Hairstylists ahead of headlining a charity show, high-fiving and lugging guitars and gear into the venue, it’s easy...

A woman standing in a long, white dress in front of a building with a carousel behind her.

Q&A: Rising artist Zoe Tan on new single and her time at NYU

Ahead of the Dec. 13 release of her newest single “Distance,” singer-songwriter Zoe Tan spoke with WSN about storytelling and her musical goals.
Eva Mundo, Contributing Writer December 11, 2024

From the beginning of her songwriting journey during her childhood years in Malaysia, Zoe Tan has aspired to connect with listeners through intimate storytelling. Now a junior...

An album cover with various polaroids of a man, overlaid to make a whole body.

Review: On ‘Puss & Poems,’ no one complains like Jake Shane

TikTok superstar Jake Shane wears denim on denim, threatens to make meth and gets his Postmates stolen on his debut comedy album “Puss & Poems.”
Ellie Miller, Contributing Writer December 5, 2024

TikTok sensation Jake Shane has dreamed of becoming a pop star his whole life. After releasing his debut comedy album “Puss & Poems” with the help of producer Alexander...

(Courtesy of Universal Pictures)

Review: ‘Wicked: The Soundtrack’ ends on a high note — literally

The highly anticipated movie soundtrack is intensely “thrillifying” and lives up to the 21-year old Broadway bible.
Amelia Knust, Staff Writer November 26, 2024

It should come as no surprise that “Wicked: The Soundtrack” works as well as it does. After all, that's what you get when you combine an Emmy, Grammy and Tony-winning actress...