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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

A man in a red short sleeve shirt with a graphic of a car and silver basketball shorts stands next to a white creature with pink horns. To the left of the man a purple figure lays on the ground next to a gray chair in a dark navy and beige wood room.

Review: ‘Blanket’ is a lukewarm embrace of Kevin Abstract’s new style

The former Brockhampton rapper attempts to find his voice and reinvent himself in his first solo album after Brockhampton disbanded.
Alan Zhang, Contributing Writer November 15, 2023

After glimpses and teases during his live shows, Kevin Abstract released his first solo album since the disbanding of Brockhampton, an American hip hop boy band founded by...

A person sits on a rock above the water wearing a multicolored top and brown boots.

Review: Squirrel Flower returns with an unmissable rock record ‘Tomorrow’s Fire’

The Chicago-based singer-songwriter applies heavy, atmospheric indie rock to aching, vivid storytelling.
Ethan Beck, Staff Writer October 25, 2023

Ella Williams begins her third album as Squirrel Flower with the song “i don’t use a trash can,” a reverb-soaked, stark anecdote about being completely transfixed by someone....

Someone with brown hair and blue eyes is lying down on grass. She is wearing white pants and a black, harness-like crop top.

Q&A: MAY-A on queer artistry and current tour

Australian indie-rock sensation MAY-A has been rising in global popularity. She sat down with WSN to talk about the power of queer art, representation behind the scenes and her upcoming show at Baby’s All Right on Oct. 26.
Tess McLafferty, Contributing Writer October 20, 2023

22-year-old music sensation MAY-A is already flourishing as she challenges the status quo, and she’s only a few years into the game. One look at her work is enough to give you...

Singer-songwriter and N.Y.U. student Val Olson, or Deadbeat Girl, sings on a concert stage lit up in blue alongside a bass player. Under the stage, audience members record her performance on their phones.

Deadbeat Girl speaks on artistic collaboration and current tour

Singer-songwriter and NYU student Val Olson has turned their background in music production and passion for lyricism into a budding career.
Eleanor Jacobs, Contributing Writer September 27, 2023

Val Olson may be 20, but Deadbeat Girl has just celebrated their first birthday. In the whirlwind year since releasing their kickoff single, “Another Day,” the indie-rock artist...

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: Cola Morgan on the trials and tribulations of dating in the city

Listen to this week’s most notable singles from Zack Keim, Foo Fighters and more.

To close out the semester, this week’s edition of Listen To This features singles from veteran artists like Foo Fighters, to up-and-coming acts like Cola Morgan. Read on for...

Two performers play the bass on a stage with red lighting. They are standing back to back, and a drum set can be seen in the background

j solomon on ‘Sleeping in the Garden’ and the disorientation of growing up

“Sleeping in the Garden” candidly communicates j solomon’s disjointed experience growing up in his bucolic childhood home and later moving to an apartment in the city.
Katherine Manatos, Contributing Writer April 3, 2023

j solomon’s “Sleeping in the Garden” — a reflection on his rural childhood home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and his journey to adulthood in New York City — depicts...

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: beabadoobee’s ‘Glue Song’ is a sticky earworm

Read about this week’s most notable singles from Indigo de Souza, Feist and more.

For this week’s highlighted singles, the name of the game is “it’s complicated.” While beabadoobee delivers a delightfully sappy ode to love, others like Indigo De Souza,...

An illustration of the album cover of Yo La Tengo's "This Stupid World" and a light blue C.D. laid against a light brown background.

Review: Yo La Tengo takes matters into their own hands with ‘This Stupid World’

On their pandemic-era record, the band addresses the world’s lonely and confusing circumstances head-on.
Holden Lay, Staff Writer February 20, 2023

Few bands remain as description-defying as Yo La Tengo, the three members of which are now closing in on their 40th year together. They’re about as eclectic as they come. Their...

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: Sidney Gish ponders what could’ve been in ‘Filming School’

Read about this week’s most notable singles from Lovejoy, Lana Del Rey and more.
Sandy Battulga, Alex Tey and Lea Filidore February 16, 2023

This week we’re highlighting songs filled with pain. Singles from Sidney Gish, Lovejoy, Lana Del Rey and NYU’s own Kirsten Johanna examine emotions ranging from self-doubt...

An illustration of a phone displaying the text “Spotify 2.0.2.2. Wrapped” against a background with green and pink wave patterns. The phone stands against a solid purple background.

Spotify Wrapped: The limitations of listening 

Spotify’s recently released end-of-the-year recaps ask whether listeners can still have original taste in music.
Carina Christo, Contributing Writer December 9, 2022

I’ve taken the Amtrak to and from Massachusetts at least 18 times. Despite the practice I have with train procedures, spotty Wi-Fi leaves me with little to do for four hours,...

A faceless person with gray hair holds a microphone stand. The background is blue with white stripes expanding outward from the center.

LCD Soundsystem re-returns to Brooklyn Steel for month-long residency

The indie rock group that rose to prominence in New York in the early 2000s began its 20-show residency at Brooklyn Steel on Nov. 18.
Luke J. Curnin, Contributing Writer December 5, 2022

For the past 20 minutes, an hour and a half after my arrival, I was talking to a 6-foot-8-inch 30-something Brooklynite named Fred, who had a neck beard and sported a Karen O shirt....

Review: Drowse’s ‘Wane into It’ is a beautifully textured meditation on loss

Review: Drowse’s ‘Wane into It’ is a beautifully textured meditation on loss

The Portland artist and producer experiments with indie rock and ambient electronic on his excellent fourth album.
Jack Solomon, Contributing Writer November 22, 2022

Drowse’s fourth album, “Wane into It,” ends a decade before it starts. On the closing track “Ten Year Hangover / Deconstructed Mystery,” Kyle Bates describes himself...