“A Girl Called Samson” is a historical fiction novel released on April 1, 2023, based on the life story of Deborah Sampson, one of the first women soldiers in America. She put on a disguise and enlisted in the Revolutionary War as a man. Her story is not discussed much, but some records of her exist. Amy Harmon, an author and former history teacher, discovered Sampson’s story and was inspired. Although parts of Sampson’s history are missing and cannot be recovered, Harmon researched and compiled the facts, filled in some blanks and created a fictional retelling to bring Sampson back to life. 

It is worth noting that “A Girl Called Samson” is not a nonfiction story. It is based on facts and rewritten history. In the story, Sampson is portrayed as “Samsom”, an alternate spelling of her name.The reason for this spelling being used in the novel has not been discussed but I think it symbolizes a rebirth of Deborah. It helps to differentiate the fictional story from the real one allowing the author to reimagine her story. Some people may not be fans of the changes made to Sampson’s story. The romance is my favorite part of the novel, but none of it actually happened. For instance, in the novel she marries a different man than she did in her real life. The romance is a very slow burn but is incredibly worth it, and I think it adds a lot to the novel without taking away from Samson’s character. Harmon paints Samson as incredibly intelligent, blunt, unique and courageous. She does not let the romance take over the power Samson has. Her story truly shines through but the added romance is definitely welcome. 

Harmon chose to have Samson long for more. She wanted to be a woman, but she felt restrained by the restrictions of her time. One of my favorite parts is that although Samson is portraying a man to fight in the war, she does not lose touch with her womanhood, in fact, she embraces it. 

She speaks of wanting to be a woman but feeling constricted by society: “I do not hate being a woman. I simply hate that a woman can’t go to Yale or be a statesman or help draft a constitution. I hate that I can’t travel to Paris without a husband or even walk down the street alone. I hate the limitations that nature has placed on me, the limitations that life has placed on me. But I do not hate being a woman, and I would not hate being your woman.”

Although some parts of the novel are not factual, its basis is, and it is obvious thorough research went into it. I do not know much about the Revolutionary War but I felt like I was learning a lot about it—the names and order of the battles, and where and when events took place. I was getting to know about (and falling in love with) real people. Samson describes where she is and what is going on along the way and it feels like a story rather than factual historical context. The information just stuck and was delivered in an easily consumable way. 

There is an author’s note at the end of the novel that describes which parts of the story were based solely on fact and which were not. I was pleased that most of it was true to the actual Deborah Sampson with really the only completely fictional parts being the romance. Part of the strong character and reader connection is probably due to the letters and journal entries that Sampson writes often in the novel. The generals, doctors, friends and family were all real people. This made me feel so much more connected to them. I was so sad to be finished with this book as I felt like I was really there with Samson along her journey. 

I enjoyed this novel even more than I thought I would. I would even recommend this book to non-history fans. I think the romance and gorgeous writing is enough to keep readers engaged. I also got a feeling of empowerment reading about such a strong, courageous and powerful woman. The way Samson says things and Harmon’s whole writing style are so gorgeous. I found myself highlighting wonderfully structured and deeply thoughtful sentences every few pages. For instance, there were amazingly crafted lines such as “Great miracles were wrought on their journey, but miracles do not make life easy. Most often, miracles just make the next step possible,” or “It is not for the man who has everything and wants more that we fight, but for the man who has nothing.” These are just a few examples of quotes that will stick with me for a long time. I see myself thinking about the real and fictional Deborah Sam(p)son over and over again and I am so happy I picked up this novel.

I had the opportunity to see the new movie “AIR” on Monday, April 3 at the PFS East Theatre in Old City. This movie was directed by Ben Affleck, written by Alex Convery, produced by Artists Equity and Mandalay Pictures, and distributed by Amazon Studios and Skydance Sports. 

As someone who has covered music and only music for The Triangle so far, I took this opportunity to cover this movie mostly based on my interests in sneakers and basketball. If you are looking for a highly technical review of this movie and the actors in it, I do not have the expertise needed to give you that. However, if you are an everyday person who takes interest in this movie’s subject matter and you want to know if “AIR” is worth a theater visit or stream, then continue reading!

This movie is focused on the Nike Basketball department, mainly recruiter Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), and his quest to sign the third pick in the 1984 NBA draft, Michael Jordan. In case you are not familiar with basketball, Michael Jordan went on to be by far the most famous player in NBA history, and debatably the greatest player of all time. 

The movie took place mostly in the Nike offices located near Beaverton, OR, which is where the brand began and is still headquartered today. The brand was founded by Phil Knight (Ben Affleck) and Bill Bowerman, Knight’s former track coach from the University of Oregon. By 1984, Knight was the CEO of the brand. 

At the beginning of the movie, it was apparent that Nike’s basketball sector was looking rough, as they were mainly known for their running shoes at the time. The brands Converse (now owned by Nike) and adidas were far ahead in market share of basketball shoes, and also had the biggest names in basketball at the time, such as Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and fellow rookie Hakeem Olajuwon under their contracts. Nike Basketball needed to make a move. 

The character of Vacarro was competitive, knowledgeable, convincing and a bit of a gambler. The majority of the drama and narrative was centered around his talks with other members of the Nike Basketball team and their time in the offices having meetings and business talks. These were portrayed in a compelling way, however at times the dialogue felt exaggerated and quippy. Passionate business talks are not dry conversations in real life, and obviously things will be played up for the sake of entertainment. However, the characters came off a bit too sharp with their witty remarks at times when I just wanted the story to be told realistically. 

The setting of the U.S.A. in 1984 was convincingly depicted, although I am not familiar with the details of this time period nor was I around to witness it myself. While I had heard the names of characters like Vacarro, Knight and the Jordans, it was slightly difficult to remember each character’s role at Nike throughout the movie. However, most of the time their specific titles didn’t matter too much as their parts in the story played out. 

One specifically memorable chunk of the story took place early in the second half of the film, when Vacarro, Knight, Nike Basketball’s director of marketing Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman) and Nike Field Representative Howard White (Chris Tucker) worked for several days straight in the offices to create a pitch for Jordan’s meeting with Nike. This included meeting with Nike shoe designer Peter Moore (Matthew Maher) in the eerie, glowing design lab and collectively brainstorming the first model and name of the Air Jordan shoe. The multiple “aha” moments in this scene were very entertaining and well-paced, and seeing a classic shoe such as the Air Jordan 1 sketched out was exciting knowing the impact that shoe would have on sneaker culture forever. 

An interesting choice that was made during this movie was to never directly show the face of Michael Jordan (Damien Delano Young), and only feature clips of Jordan’s face in real life through highlights. It made sense to avoid casting an actor in place of Jordan since he is such a recognizable person in comparison to the Nike team members, however this could also be interpreted as a representation of how little the story was actually focused on Jordan himself. 

The movie was heavily focused on Nike and its dependency on Jordan to represent their brand. If you are going into this movie looking to see a story centered around the game of basketball being played, you will be disappointed. The main characters of “AIR” are the Nike Basketball business team, and the conflict of the story is their pursuit of the Jordan family’s agreement.

Also, it is odd to go into a movie knowing the outcome of the main story. It is hard to actually spoil “AIR” even to people who do not know much about Jordan or Nike, considering how well-known the Jordan Brand is. Since the movie is on a niche subject, it is assumed that the viewer already knows that Jordan signed with Nike and not adidas if they choose to see this movie.

“AIR” is a compelling and entertaining watch for anyone like me who likes the sport and cares at all about sneakers and clothing brands. If you know nothing about these topics, it is more likely that you may find this movie to be uninteresting. However, if you are open to learning a lot and following a low-action story, you are in for a thrilling watch that could leave you with a new and expensive hobby if you dive into the Air Jordan rabbit hole afterward. 

The Clay Studio’s upcoming exhibition “Gone & For Ever” opens on April 29 and will showcase nine two-foot-tall ceramic funerary urns created by artist Alex Stadler. Here is what you should know about the incredible story behind this must-see exhibition. 

While the urns are impressive works of ceramic art on their own, together they tell the story of a broader act of remembrance accomplished through performance art and archival work. The ceremonial performance “Gone and For Ever” was the culmination of a massive multi-disciplinary project undertaken by Alex Stadler in conjunction with the William Way LGBTQ Community Center in Philadelphia. The project itself, entitled “Remembrance,” began as an archival effort to document the history, legacy and stories of Philadelphians during the time of the HIV/AIDS crisis. In the process of conducting recorded interviews with those who lived and fought through the crisis, one story, in particular, struck the archival team at William Way and Alex Stadler inspiring the archival project’s expansion. An interviewee, one of the few funeral directors during the crisis who was willing to tend to the bodies of AIDS victims, shared that his funeral parlor still housed many cremated remains that had been unclaimed by the victim’s family members or loved ones. The William Way archival team, and Stadler, knew they had to do something to memorialize these forgotten victims.

In an interview discussing the performance, Alex Stadler spoke to The Clay Studio’s curator, Jennifer Zwilling, saying, “I thought, well we can solve the problem of these unclaimed people and we can [also] solve the problem of these unclaimed memories because that’s unfinished business. Really, societally we still have not dealt with the way that we turned our back on these people and showed a profound absence of compassion.” And so, the initial archival undertaking became a much broader artistic project with the goal of remembering those lost to the AIDS crisis, many of whom were never properly memorialized. 

After receiving grant funding from The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, “Remembrance” was presented to the public in May and June of 2022 at the William Way Center. The series included exhibitions of archival and interview materials, a theatrical production, listening sessions and the ceremonial procession. The series concluded with Stadler’s performance “Gone & For Ever” which began outside the William Way LGBTQ Community Center. The ceremony consisted of music, performances and readings of poetry written by authors who died during the AIDS crisis. The urns — containing symbolic ashes of burnt paper with the names of the unclaimed deceased, as well as names of other passed loved ones collected by Stadler via online submissions — were then carried in procession from the William Way Center to The Church of Saint Luke and the Epiphany where the urns were blessed by multi-denominational faith leaders. The procession also included; Handmade ceremonial shrouds by textile artist and sculptor Liz Collins, a musical piece composed by Kinan Abou-afach and original costuming by Claire Fleury and The Henry. 

The urns — which will be the centerpiece of The Clay Studio’s exhibition — are a reflection of Stadler’s graphic style seen in his other ceramic and illustrative works. Inspired by the work of Matisse and Betty Woodman, Stader wanted to play with the three-dimensionality of two-dimensional shapes. In his interview, he describes that the goal for the urns was to create, “an almost brutalist or Mayan-level of visual and physical gravity, and at the same time a winged quality that presented the idea of something open to the sky.” 

The nine ceramic urns will be exhibited at The Clay Studio alongside a documentary film of the project. “Gone & For Ever” will open at The Clay Studio on April 29 in their Jill Bonovitz Gallery accompanied by the exhibition “Pride Pots: Community Conversations.” The exhibition promises to re-cap the “Remembrance” project and the “Gone & Forgotten” performance to further memorialize victims of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, their families and the artists who dedicated their talents to the cause. 

To learn more about the exhibition at The Clay Studio, visit:

https://www.theclaystudio.org/exhibitions

Or visit the William Way LGBTQ Community Center’s web page detailing the project

https://www.waygay.org/remembrance

To begin the spring term, The Triangle would like to highlight some albums that will be releasing today, throughout the next few months, and a few rumored albums that do not have proper release dates yet. Along with these announcements, we will also share their supporting tours that come through Philadelphia. 

TODAY’S RELEASES (4/7/23)

Blondshell – Self-titled

Sabrina Teitelbaum is Blondshell, an alt-pop newcomer who has caught the attention of the industry with her 2022 singles “Olympus” and “Kiss City.” Her 2023 single “Joiner” is a standout jam this year, capturing the energy of a movie scene in its sound and vocal performance. The album is a stark nine tracks, and her headlining tour will stop by PhilaMOCA on July 21.

Daniel Caesar – “NEVER ENOUGH”

The long-awaited follow up to 2019’s “CASE STUDY 01” is finally here. Caesar’s elusivity online has eased since late December 2022 when he first teased a rebranding of image. “NEVER ENOUGH” has fifteen tracks with no listed features. As of now, Caesar will only be coming to three North American cities (none being Philadelphia) and three European cities as part of his “Almost Enough: The Intimate Sessions” tour.

Rae Sremmurd – “Sremm 4 Life”

The iconic duo of Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi are back with the fourth installment of their “Sremmlife” album series. While their last project “SR3MM” from 2018 was a bloated triple-album experience, “Sremm 4 Life” is a compact fourteen tracks featuring fellow 2010s hip-hop veterans Young Thug and Future. They have not yet announced a U.S. tour for this album. 

Wednesday – “Rat Saw God”

Indie rock band Wednesday is releasing “Rat Saw God,” their fourth album in the past four years, and returning to the label Dead Oceans. The band’s sound ranges from soft, plucky folk-pop to murky, guitar-stained noise-rock, all of which is featured on their eight and a half minute single “Bull Believer” from 2022. Wednesday will be at Union Transfer on June 17 with support from All Dogs and Tenci. 

UPCOMING ALBUMS

Indigo De Souza  – “All of This Will End”

North Carolina-based artist Indigo De Souza’s third album will be released April 28, and consists of eleven tracks, most under three minutes in length. All of De Souza’s albums feature beautiful artwork created by her mother Kimberly Oberhammer, creating an intriguing theme. Her 2023 single “Smog” is a self-critique over a danceable beat, and it can be experienced live at Union Transfer along with the rest of her new album on May 23.

Ryan Beatty – “Calico” 

The boy in jeans has returned with new solo music this year, dropping the subdued single “Ribbons” on March 17. The nine track album titled “Calico” is slated for an April 28 release and has no listed features, identical to his other two albums. The new single features production from Ethan Gruska and instrumental work from Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, along with many others.

The National – “First Two Pages of Frankenstein” 

Seasoned alt-rock band The National will be releasing an eleven-track project titled “First Two Pages of Frankenstein” on April 28 equipped with three guests; Sufjan Stevens, Phoebe Bridgers and recent collaborator Taylor Swift. Band member Aaron Dessner has worked extensively with Swift in recent years, as well as Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon on side-project Big Red Machine. Their show at The Met on Aug. 1 with The Beths is unfortunately sold out.

Ed Sheeran – “–”

The name explains how much I expect from this album. However, it is finally the conclusion of Sheeran’s math symbols series, a group of four albums that launched a monumental career back in 2011 with “+.” Releasing May 5, the deluxe version is eighteen tracks with no listed features. Sheeran’s stadium tour will hit Lincoln Financial Field on June 3. 

Q – “Soul,PRESENT” 

Alternative RnB artist Q has been releasing music since 2018, but his biggest break came when “The Shave Experiment” EP was released in 2020, which featured a minor hit with the song “Take Me Where Your Heart Is.” Introduced by four singles of retro drum and synth production, Q’s new ten-track album “Soul,PRESENT” will drop on May 5 with no tour announced yet. 

Arlo Parks – “My Soft Machine”

Following the incredibly solid debut album “Collapsed in Sunbeams,” Arlo Parks will return with “My Soft Machine” on May 26. The singles “Impurities” and “Weightless” have touches of dance music in the drums, bass and synths, while holding onto the soft, nostalgic qualities of acts like Everything But The Girl and Dido. The only known feature on this album is Phoebe Bridgers, who appears on the seventh track titled “Pegasus.”

feeble little horse – “Girl With Fish” 

feeble little horse is a four-piece female fronted band who were part of the flourishing Philadelphia music scene over the past few years, although they were founded in Pittsburgh. Their sophomore album “Girl With Fish” will be released on June 9 through the label Saddle Creek, and on June 27 they will headline Johnny Brenda’s with support from Philly group, A Country Western. 

Christine and the Queens – “PARANOïA, ANGLES, TRUE LOVE” 

Electronic-pop act Christine and the Queens is slated to drop an ambitious triple-album project on June 9, presumably broken into the three sections implied by the title. Redcar, the individual behind the name, has collaborated with Charli XCX and Mura Masa despite writing many solo songs in French. The triple album contains several features from Madonna and 070 Shake, as well as a single MIKE DEAN appearance. 

RUMORED / UNCONFIRMED ALBUMS

KAYTRAMINÉ – “KAYTRAMINÉ” (Kaytranada + Aminé)

This collaboration was confirmed through Instagram on Tuesday, April 4 by a simple video that gives the name of the project along with a short snippet of new music. The only public work both artists had shared was a 2014 remix titled “Not At All,” however the duo’s first single “4EVA” was released today and features Pharrell Williams.

PRETTYMUCH

Following a tumultuous five years on Simon Cowell’s now defunct Syco record label, this boyband is now independent. In 2022 they mutually parted ways with founding member Nick Mara, and in 2023 they have stated through an Instagram post that they will finally be dropping their debut album. 

Dreamers Do

This dream-rock band based in West Philadelphia has been playing basement shows throughout the beginning of 2023, and has released the two singles “Rest Assured” and “when the dog bites” in the past year. Fronted by Drexel student June Hart, the singer has expressed goals of finishing and releasing their album soon despite no confirmed details surrounding the project.

Khalid

Khalid Robinson has transformed into an industry standard artist in pop music since his SoundCloud breakthrough back in 2016 with “Location.” This new project seems to have very little hype around it as well as very little rush since this new palate of singles dates back to “Skyline,” released in April of last year. 

Icona Pop

This dance-pop duo is still most known for their smash hit “I Love It” with Charli XCX from 2012. Since then they have only dropped two albums (one only consisting of seven songs), and a smattering of singles, collaborations and a few EPs. However, on March 31 they released a song titled “Faster,” their third single in the past year. It is a grasp, but there is always hope for an Icona Pop return. 

Men I Trust

Following their fantastic “Untourable Album” from August 2021, this band has released four new singles in the past year. The group is also embarking on an expansive world tour this year through Asia, Australia and Europe. No U.S. dates have been announced yet, but these along with an album could possibly be on the horizon. 

Rihanna

In May 2021, I wrote a similar article that ended with speculation on a Rihanna album. In an interview with British Vogue from Feb. 2023, Rihanna is quoted saying “honestly, it’d be ridiculous if it’s not this year” when asked about her plans for her next album. The ice was broken last year by her single “Lift Me Up” from the “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” album, so will 2023 be the year?

For fashionistas, February is all about New York Fashion Week. For models, this make-it or break-it season means hitching up in the city, waiting for callbacks, and networking from sunrise to sunset.

During the day, Sharon Shi is a student at Drexel University studying Finance, Accounting and Business Analytics, but her off-days consist of modeling for Strut Model NYC.

Shi’s modeling career began upon graduating high school after submitting photos online to her mother-agent, a local agent who prepares and places aspiring models into other agencies.

Last summer, Shi attended a convention in New York where she met her current agent, Strut, after being recognized. Smaller agencies send many people to the same photographer, presenting their specific style. Since Shi was featured on the photographer’s social media, they knew her before she arrived. The next week, Strut Model NYC requested seeing her in their office. Hours after getting her measurements and photos taken, Strut wanted to sign her.

“I waited a while before I signed the contract. My situation was somewhat more complicated because I came to this big convention,” she said.

Shi received various callbacks and wanted to keep her options open for agencies like Wilmina, Ford, Next and Elite, but eventually decided to sign with Strut. 

For newcomers, it is beneficial to develop within a boutique agency rather than getting lost in larger agencies. Previously a mother-agent, Strut embraced its industry growth through signing talented models and hiring qualified bookers.

Sharon recently shared her experience as a modeling insider with The Triangle to help clear up some common misconceptions about the industry.

Misconception #1: The unique catwalk

Bookings mainly depend on the model’s look and walk but this is not set in stone. People popularize professional models on social media for their unique walk but this is not their choice. Castings require the industry standard walk and designers decide if models use their personal walks. “Most of the time when you see those instagram reels, that wasn’t a different walk. They might use a personal ‘oomph’ but the designer wanted that as well,” Shi mentioned.

Misconception #2: The unglamorous living conditions

Influencers may be seen in a mansion but they actually live with 50 roommates. If a campaign requires travel, reimbursement is often provided. But for castings, models find housing on their own. For housing and travel to be included, the agency must communicate before booking the model. Some high-profile agencies have model apartments filled with bunk beds. Since Shi works for a boutique agency, she stayed in an Airbnb with other models.

Daily activities vary; some days consist of casting and shooting while other days are empty. Bookings aren’t automatically confirmed, therefore attending multiple castings is crucial. This can be tiring after traveling around the city for a week straight and booking only a few shows. Also, castings are spontaneous. “You can wake up the day-of and get a phone call from your agent saying ‘you have a cast in two hours. Can you make it?’”

Each agency has show packages where they send models to different casting directors. Request castings occur when the director requests to see the model in person after examining their portfolio. Cattle castings are open to anyone. The line can be hours long for limited walking opportunities. These are competitive and recognition is determinant. 

Casting attire typically consists of all black, such as black skinny jeans, a black tank top and 4-inch black heels.

Misconception #3: Stipend per show

Even high-end models may only earn a few hundred dollars per day. The key to making thousands is through modeling for corporations and e-commerce ad campaigns.

Oftentimes, models are compensated in gifts. Through casting for designer Richie Rich, who featured Paris Hilton, Naomi Campbell and Kim Kardashian, Shi’s compensation was Sketchers sneakers. Rich provided the outfit while Shi chose which shoes to walk in.

Moreover, Shi received $200 from modeling for two of Global Fashion Collective’s shows. Although pleased the brand was featured on the prestigious NYFW calendar, Shi was disappointed by the pay. 

Prominent figures create a unique atmosphere when attending shows. “As soon as important people walk in, the designer approaches them and attempts to sell them their pieces.”

Shi has walked for A. Potts alongside Miss USA, while celebrities such as “Euphoria’s” Jacob Elordi, “The Summer I Turned Pretty’s” Christopher Briney and musician Machine Gun Kelly have been seen wearing the brand.

Misconception #4: Models pay for their portfolio’s photoshoots and photo strips

These are professional photos typically by well-known photographers. They are used for marketing purposes, such as having a composite card for castings. Shi reiterated “every single model has definitely paid for their own photos, even Gigi Hadid.”

“The fashion industry is a lot smaller than people think. A lot of people use the same photographers,” Shi mentioned.

Misconception #5: Top agencies construct their models

International modeling agency IMG Models consists of extensive analysis. “From the moment you walk in their door, they know which brands you’re specialized in.” Models are categorized by their looks for specific brands. For example, if Gucci requests a specific model, IMG can refuse because they are only exclusive to Chanel.

Misconception #6: Models can be dropped or signed at any given time. 

The brand can drop models as soon as they don’t earn money for the brand. Industry standard contracts are typically three years, but agencies can break them. Contrarily, agencies can sue a contributing model for breaking the contract. Mutual agreements only form if the model is not profiting the brand.

Shi was published in Vogue for A. Potts due to the PR team’s significant coverage. Every year, the designer, Aaron Potts, and his lookbook models are featured in Vogue.

Shi connected with Potts last year and they kept in touch. He wanted to shoot with her so he made it happen. “I’d say Aaron is one of the nicest designers I’ve ever met in my entire life and one of the humblest people ever. If I could take you to meet a single designer, it’d be Aaron.”

From record-breaking Grammy wins to outstanding performances, the 65th Annual Grammy Awards was an unforgettable night in music. With 10 nominees to choose from, the Best New Artist category was full of some of the most diverse and unique talent to date. Here is a breakdown of a few of the nominees and what earned them their nominations.

Samara Joy

Thanks to her rich, intoxicating vocals, Bronx native and jazz vocalist Samara Joy not only took home the Grammy for Best New Artist, but for Best Jazz Vocal Album. While her first album titled “Samara Joy” was released in 2021, it wasn’t until her sophomore album “Linger Awhile” came out in 2022 that she quickly grew in popularity. With popular songs like “Can’t Get Out Of This Mood” and “Sweet Pumpkin,” the 23-year-old singer pulls inspiration from artists like Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald. If you’re looking for an old jazz feel in the modern age, Joy’s recent work is the perfect place to start. 

Omar Apollo

Despite his recognition as a new artist, Omar Apollo’s work in the music industry dates back to 2017. After releasing his first song “ugotme,” an indie bedroom pop song with dreamy vocals and smooth guitar, Apollo began featuring on projects like Billy Lemos’ “12:34 AM,” Still Woozy’s “Lately EP” and Joji’s “Nectar.” Even with this success, it wasn’t until the release of his debut album “Ivory” in April of 2022 that his streams skyrocketed. With singles like “Evergreen,” “Tamagotchi” and “Invincible,” “Ivory” quickly solidified Apollo’s presence in the alternative R&B scene.

DOMi & JD BECK

With just one album under their belt, keyboardist DOMi, 22, and drummer JD BECK,19,  have already captured the attention of big names in the music industry. The jazz instrumentalist duo was the first group to sign to Anderson .Paak’s label APESHIT. With features like Thundercat, Herbie Hancock and Mac DeMarco, it’s no surprise their debut album “NOT TiGHT” earned them a Grammy nomination. Even with such a small discography, DOMi & JD BECK’s talent speaks for itself. The group co-wrote Silk Sonic’s “Skate,” collaborated on a remix of Thundercat’s “Them Changes” and worked with Eric Andre, thereby proving how diverse their musical abilities really are.

Muni Long

Similar to other artists nominated, Muni Long’s fame didn’t happen overnight. Long has been releasing music since her first album “Jukebox” in 2009 (released under her real name Priscilla Renea). While her first project was received well, most of the R&B singer’s popularity came with the release of her 2022 album “Public Displays of Affection: The Album.” From her smooth vocals and honest lyrics, Long became an instant sensation shortly after dropping “Hrs & Hrs,” a song off of her newest release. Long’s newfound fame has allowed her to work with artists like John Legend, Eric Bellinger and Babyface. After years of releasing music and co-writing behind the scenes, Long’s recent work shows there’s no sign of her slowing down.

Wet Leg

While Wet Leg’s self-titled debut album earned them a total of three Grammy nominations, the indie rock band has been gaining traction since their first single “Chaise Lounge.” The single, along with others like “Wet Dream” and “Too Late Now” only increased anticipation for their album until its 2022 release. While the group didn’t win Best New Artist, the band won both Best Alternative Music Album and Best Alternative Music Performance. If you’re looking for something new to listen to, Wet Leg describes themselves as “Sad music for party people, and party music for sad people.” 

With such a wide variety of talented artists, it’s almost impossible to choose who deserves the award. Be sure to check out each respective artist (along with the other nominees) on all streaming platforms.

I had the opportunity to interview spouses and co-workers, Dave Franco (director) and Alison Brie (co-writer and actor) about their latest film, “Somebody I Used to Know.” This unconventional love story shows three people unexpectedly helping each other re-discover themselves, where they came from and where they are going.

Some films Franco has starred in are “Now You See Me,” “21 Jump Street,” “Nerve,” “The Lego NINJAGO Movie” and “Easy A.”

Brie has starred in “Community,” “Bojack Horseman,” “Mad Men,” “Glow” and “The Lego Movie”.

Brie stars as Ally, a TV host facing a major career setback who returns to her childhood hometown. Upon bumping into her first love Sean (Jay Ellis), she questions their lost love and who she has become. Complexities arise when she meets Sean’s fiancé, Cassidy (Keirsey Clemons), who seems to embody Ally’s past self.

On Feb. 9, I attended the Ritz Carlton theater’s film screening with Franco and Brie introducing their film.

Ally’s character’s passion for streaking was based on Brie. “I went to art school where the policy was that clothing was optional anywhere but the cafeteria. So, it wasn’t uncommon to see people doing an art installation where they were painting their naked bodies.”

Upon casting his wife with heartthrob, Jay Ellis, Franco realized the similarity between directing his horror film and rom-com is through pairing his “wife romantically with handsome, charismatic men.”

On Feb. 10, the film was publicly released and I interviewed Brie and Franco. As the first interviewer, my burning Jewish question for the Jewish stars prevailed.

How has growing up Jewish impacted your filmmaking?

Brie explained the mother characters are based on their own mothers. “Jay Ellis’s mom’s name is JoJo, after my mom, JoJo, my Jewish mom, Joanne.”

Franco noted that “Julie Hagerty embodies a lot of qualities that my mom has minus her sexual appetite.” 

“As far as we know,” commented Brie. 

“You know what? I hope she’s doing her thing,” replied Franco, describing his mother as “very sweet, a little quirky and kind of unintentionally very funny and endearing”

Brie’s mother is “a classic Jewish mom. She’s loud. She laughs a lot. She likes getting front and center. It’s the best.” Brie thinks “the cultural side of Judaism is very prevalent in our lives and my mom is always calling out the ‘Jewish connection’ and ‘The tribe.’”

Brie reflected that the film’s culture comes through in the familial closeness of the characters, such as JoJo’s immediate acceptance of Cassidy, noting that she has had similar experiences with her friends and family.

What steered Franco toward directing after his successful acting career?

“I’ve wanted to take the leap to directing a feature for a long time, but candidly, I was scared.” Franco was worried about commentators thinking “oh, this guy thinks he can do this other thing now too.” He eventually stopped caring what others think. “I knew I had this urge inside of me that I needed to get out.” Franco has enjoyed directing on set the most.

Why is it important to challenge rom-com tropes?

Brie and Franco strived for originality without reinventing the wheel. When viewers think, “‘I know where this is going’, we try to pull the rug out from underneath them every step of the way,” said Franco .

Brie explains “You got to know the rules to break the rules.” They describe their film as breaking the rom-com formula: “an ode to the genre and an anti-rom-com at the same time.”

Modern movie characters watch rom-coms and therefore resonate with the genre. “We name-check a lot of rom-coms in this movie because that’s part of our vocabulary. There’s an organic nature to following the characters to their natural conclusions.”

What’s the film’s overall theme?

The original pitch was an adult coming-of-age, “Trojan-horsing this female empowerment, self-transformation story.”

The central theme focuses on what brings someone joy because “it’s never too late to reflect, re-evaluate and return to a passion-driven path.” This is explored through returning home, revisiting the past and self-reflection. The use of the-one-that-got-away trope examines inevitably doomed relationships and learning when to let go. “I don’t think this movie takes a pro- or anti-relationship stance. It’s about being true to oneself,” said Brie.

“We’re at an age now where we’re not looking ahead to what our life is going to be. You can’t help but to reflect on your journey…It’s not too late to pivot if you’re not content with where you’re at,” said Franco, remembering his father, who studied painting in college but stopped for forty years. He returned to painting in his final years and Franco’s “never seen him happier. The lesson is if you have these urges, listen to them.”

What inspired the soundtrack?

Franco discovered their “teenage adolescence,” Third Eye Blind’s lead singer Steven Jenkins, grew up in his hometown, Palo Alto. Franco personally asked to use his song, “Semi-Charmed Life,” Jenkins was ecstatic.

 Brie and Franco’s relationship also inspired their selection, especially with Alabama Shakes’ “I Found You”.

The timeless soundtrack features old hits, teen-year throwbacks and new music. Brie and Franco searched for music that “people know and a hook that you’re so familiar with that even if we change all the lyrics, you still kind of know what song we’re singing” said Brie.

What advice do you have for college students?

“Everyone has a camera on their phone now. There’s no excuse not to start practicing and doing it yourself to get experience, hone your skills and take risks” Franco’s early, offbeat content on FunnyorDie.com showed “there was nothing to lose… worst case scenario, no one sees it.”

Franco and Brie started young and took risks for the love of the game. “When you get a little bit of success, a little bit of fear creeps in. To avoid making a wrong move, you hang onto it too tightly,” notes Brie. The entertainment industry is unpredictable but “you can’t go wrong when you’re staying true to yourself.”

Concluding the interview, Brie said our questions were the best they had received on tour. “It’s very refreshing doing these college roundtables. It makes me hopeful for the future. Go birds baby!”

While posing for our photo, Franco noticed my DragonCard in my phone case. He pulled out his phone, telling me he has the same. His phone case had a photo strip of him and Brie. Adorable!

It is that time of year again where love is in the air. Or maybe for you it is not. But it could be, after you and your crush cozy up listening to these love songs from recent years. 

“uuu” – Field Medic

Field Medic delivers a classic, folksy straight-forward love song here with soft sincerity and cooing melodies. It is an easy formula, but so difficult to execute this well.

“Happening Again” – Katherine Li

The pure lyrics of this song are reminiscent of having a high school crush. It gives you a feeling of nostalgia, reminding you of those panicked teenage emotions. 

“Can’t Get Over You” – Godford

This song is for your chill, two-person dance party across your bedroom carpet at 1 a.m., and it nearly contains a Joji vocal sample? If you’re not too tired, throw on the rest of this album after.

“Didn’t Care” – Sylvan Esso

With a fairly intricate story to follow, this track is for someone who is willing to listen closely until the conclusion of the song. Sometimes those are the most fun relationships, though: when you can retell your story back to one another.

“I Want To Be With You” – Chloe Moriondo

Known from the iconic “Heartstopper” soundtrack, this song may finally make the person you have been pining after get the hint. 

“Taurus” – River Tiber

This song is so beautiful and sensitive that it feels sad. Tiber is so attached to his love that he could cry about it.

“Valentine” – Laufey 

This soft, yet jazzy piano ballad lives up to its name — it is perfect for celebrating Valentine’s Day with someone new. 

 “Lucky Strike” – Troye Sivan

Along with a music video of fantasies, this is for the boy you need to know everything about. It is hard to mistake your message when it’s over an instrumental this hot.  

“j’s lullaby (darlin’ i’d wait for you)” – Delaney Bailey 

This ballad describes a gentle kind of love. It is meant to be dedicated to a person who you love so irrevocably that you want to protect them from the world, but give them the universe. 

“Pink Slips” – Jenna Doe 

Not only does this song have a catchy beat, it also forces you to acknowledge the person you truly want to be with, not the person you think you should be with. 

“Clementine” – Wet

An excessively cute song from the bubbly instrumental to the “I need you” chorus, this song will bring a smile to your long-time partner’s face as they sing along — “Through all, I still think you’re the best.”

“Lovers Rock” – TV Girl 

This groovy track sets a fun atmosphere for a budding romance. It has a relaxed vibe that makes it the perfect song to get that kiss you have been waiting for. 

“Cannonball” – Dijon

Dijon’s emotions gain control of his mind, voice and guitar as he shouts the bridge of this song. He seems to have found the perfect match; maybe you can relate?

“Pancakes for Dinner” – Lizzy McAlpine

This sweet song highlights the all-too-real phenomenon of being scared to admit your feelings to someone. In typical McAlpine fashion, it beautifully depicts different scenarios you would want with this person.

“Apple Cider” – Beabadoobee

This upbeat track details what it feels like when you are friends with someone, but in reality you both know you are more than that. 

“Summer Nights” – Hazel English

In the last months of winter, we can all dream of nights like this coming soon. A 50-degree sunset will have to do for now, but this can still be your soundtrack. 

If you listen to music on Spotify, here is a link to all of our picks in a playlist! You can also see who picked each song, did you guess correctly?

The world was recently introduced to Kavi Sharma, American Girl doll’s 2023 Girl of the Year! Sharma made history as the first South Asian, specifically, Indian, Girl of the Year. The doll is a limited-edition, annually-released doll which focuses on cultural diversity and representation. 

In the years since the line launched in 2001, Marisol Luna, Jess McConnell, Sonali Matthews, Kanani Akina, Gabriela McBride, Luciana Vega, Corinne Tan and Kavi Sharma have all been of color, representing Latin, African-American and Asian cultures. Though the news of Kavi is groundbreaking for little Indian girls and their families, the media has had a lot to say about Sharma’s representation. 

Sharma has fair olive skin, dark brown eyes and long, straight dark brown hair. For many, her appearance has raised the question — does Sharma look “Indian” enough? Is Sharma whitewashed?

For marketing purposes, it is possible that American Girl thought parents and grandparents were more likely to buy a lighter-skinned doll as a gift, as colorism unfortunately is very real and tends to be prevalent among older generations. Under the tight control of British rule years ago, India’s beauty industry was corrupted into believing that light skin is more favorable and darker skin should be made lighter by any means necessary — resulting in India’s skin whitening industry being worth around $4 billion today. Sharma’s complexion, or lack thereof, can be seen as ignorant to the toxicity of colorism within the region.

Another idea is that American Girl believed a white customer with a tanned skin tone and darker hair may even identify with Sharma, too, and so chose a relatively light skin tone in order to expand their target market. If true, these speculations are quite cringe-worthy, as we are living in the start of 2023, where we expect ignorance and naïveté  to no longer cloud cultural diversity.

It is even a possibility that Sharma may be biracial or mixed, though she would likely be advertised as such. American Girl uses the same mold for each of their dolls, creating carbon copies of each face with only different hair and eye colors. From a branding perspective, this does make sense, as American Girl Dolls are easily identifiable with the company. 

What is interesting, though, is that the “Girl of the Year” dolls are only around for one year at a time, meaning Sharma will not be available for purchase come 2024. This short-term diversity conveys that having a different background is not the norm, but the exception, which could not be further from the truth. Perhaps these dolls should always be available for purchase once they are rolled out as the new Girl of the Year, really driving home the idea that diversity in America is here to stay, and will always be embraced.

In the last few years, dolls have definitely come a long way in terms of diversity and inclusion, and it is wonderful to see little children play with the types of dolls I could only dream of owning. As I, an Indian girl, sit back and recall feeling completely detached when playing  exclusively with blonde-haired blue-eyed dolls, I am relieved that this does not have to be the reality for today’s youth.

Alternative pop-rock icon Mac DeMarco has kicked off 2023 with his new album  “Five Easy Hot Dogs,” which was published on all platforms on Jan. 20. This release marks his first full-length album since 2019’s “Here Comes The Cowboy,” ending the longest hiatus of his career. 

The album was announced on Jan. 4 via blog post to DeMarco’s website along with details of the album’s creation and concept and a photo of DeMarco sporting a Mac’s Record Label hat. The post reveals that this album was written and recorded during a 2022 road trip DeMarco embarked on to try out a more free-flowing album process and leave the planned studio sessions behind. Along with being more casually produced than his past projects, the album is completely instrumental. 

“All of the songs on ‘Five Easy Hot Dogs’ were recorded and mixed in the corresponding city from each song title, and the tracklisting reflects the chronological order in which the songs were produced,” DeMarco’s website mentions.

In an iTunes Review writeup DeMarco gives a more in-depth explanation of “Hot Dogs,” stating that the “only rule” of the trip was that he “wouldn’t come home to Los Angeles until he’d finished” recording the album. The trip began on Jan. 15, 2022 in California after a show, then proceeded north through western Canada, southeast to Chicago and on to New York, where the album ends. 

The first two tracks establish the tone of the album with minimal instrumentation; drum machine percussion, acoustic guitar, synthesized keys and electric bass. “Gualala 2” is a high point of the album, offering beautiful and memorable low synth melodies over darker guitar chords and soft hand drumming. It is a somber start to the trip that captures a gut feeling of worry and wonder for what is to come. DeMarco described this section of the trip as a “very beautiful chunk of earth” as well as “rainy.”

By Crescent City and Portland, DeMarco’s writing reflects a bit more comfort in his trip. The track “Portland” sounds the most vocal-ready with a steady drum groove, a catchy bass line and soft padding synth chords. Between the acoustic guitar picking, synth wind instruments and subtle bell chimes, “Portland 2” is the most rhythmically detailed track on the album. These qualities give it an adventurous tone as the journey continues out of the U.S.A. 

“Victoria” stumbles hard as the first Canadian song on the album, and results in a muddy mess of keys, guitar and bass. The drawn-out synth chords become sour as they waver within the mix. On iTunes, DeMarco describes his time in Victoria as frustrated and lonely since his old friends there happened to be out of town during his visit. These feelings do translate through the music — albeit very unpleasantly to the ear. 

The Vancouver segment begins with a sunny, uplifting track that is reminiscent of earlier guitar work from songs like “I’ve Been Waiting for Her” and “Pepperoni Playboy,” minus the dreamy effects. It is an emotional pivot from the first half of the album, but “Vancouver 2” diverges again musically. The 6/8 counting and darker chord changes feel like calm nighttime in contrast to “Vancouver”’s bright cruising. “Vancouver 3” caps the sessions off with a slower and repetitive progression that does not offer anything new stylistically, which reflects the feeling of needing to leave the city. DeMarco states in his iTunes Review that he lived in Vancouver for two years after he turned 18, giving context to the similar sounds accomplished there.

“Edmonton” features one of the most catchy “choruses” on the album and has standalone value, something that many of the songs of this project struggle with. In his journey from Vancouver to Edmonton, Demarco traversed the top of the Rocky Mountain range. He recalls recording those two tracks in his “bedroom from high school,” and that he does not visit Edmonton very often. The complex thoughts that come with returning home can be felt in “Edmonton 2” along with the stress of the long journey ahead. 

DeMarco unlocked some of his old twang on guitar for “Chicago,” which was apparently a fantastic time with friends. This song will excite the old fans who have received less and less of this style since his “This Old Dog” album. The melancholy, jazzy tones of “Chicago 2” feel more appropriate to close the album than “Rockaway,” and staying true to the chronological tracklist leaves a bit of an anticlimax at the end. It is a strong track with a notable synth melody, but it feels odd to end on.  

This album undoubtedly stands better as a complete product than on shuffle or as stand alone tracks. While not a new concept for a musical project, the context of the road trip makes up for the lack of lyrical storytelling since the emotions are still available through the tones of each track. 

Sonically “Hot Dogs” is very one-note, but with context it is obvious why. If this bothers you as a listener, you would have given up on DeMarco back when “Salad Days” released in 2014; it is a common attribute of his projects. This project will please fans of 2019’s “Here Comes the Cowboy,” especially its two demo tapes from 2020. 

With the hiatus of DeMarco’s output it is easy to be disappointed by a minimal, instrumental work like this, but it is clear that “Hot Dogs” is not a typical album. Even without knowledge of the album’s theme, many of the compositions here are beautiful and have DeMarco’s fingerprints all over them. He offered us his audio diary full of experiences, and it feels personal. It would not be surprising if a studio album was given to us as well in the near future.