Earlier this year, fans of the hit HBO show “Euphoria” were tuning in every Sunday to watch new episodes of the captivating drama. 

After mass hype from season one, many viewers were looking forward to the new season, especially after almost over two years of waiting for it.

The Emmy winning show gained its popularity and fanbase for its captivating storylines, cast and its fashion and makeup that created an entire aesthetic. “Euphoria” is a show that was meant to be talked about. 

With that being said, the attitude towards the newest season and the culture built around the show is very different compared to the first season. Chloe Morris, second-year LMC, would consider herself more of a casual fan of the show and got into the series much later. 

Morris became interested in the show during quarantine and at first enjoyed the plot and appreciated the aesthetic of the show, but her reasoning behind watching the second season changed. 

“I was watching more for the plot back then,” Morris said. “Now, especially as the season went on, I was watching it because I wanted to be able to critique the characters with friends or talk about it and be able to relate to things that were said on social media.”

Social media played a major part into the widespread discussion of the show, and it was especially present with season two. Memes and theories circulated throughout Twitter and TikTok, creating a sense of community between fans. 

Many fans are within the teen to young adult demographic, and this also plays into the popularity of the show. 

“I think especially since the characters are close in age to us, watching the show is almost like you have a friend telling you a crazy story,” Morris said. 

Like many others, Morris would often discuss the events of the show with friends and classmates the day after. 

Another factor that added onto the show’s appeal would have to be its release schedule. 

Episodes were released weekly, allowing for theories to grow throughout the week. This created a routine for many fans to watch with their friends. 

“I have not seen or felt a connection amongst a large group of people in a while about a TV show,” Morris said. 

“I feel like there hasn’t really been any other recent show like that with the rise of streaming and how they will release a whole season at once.” 

The plotline of season two sparked a lot of debate amongst fans with some feeling as though they were watching a completely different show compared to the first season. 

The focus of the show is on the main character Rue, played by Zendaya, as she struggles with addiction and finding herself, and as a high-school drama, the anxieties and struggles that the young people face are also very present. 

Relationships, substance use, self-discovery, trauma, friendship and betrayal are all covered in the show, but the shift in season two included more soap-opera style subplotines, unanswered plot holes and some characters having less screen time. 

Sive Lowell, second-year CS major, used to consider themself a fan of the show but towards the end of the season, their attitude changed. 

“I thought season one was very impressive TV, and it was really artfully done,” Lowell said. “I cared about all the characters, and it felt comprehensive as a show, but then in season two, it just felt very disjointed.” 

Lowell noted that they appreciated that the characters were flawed, but at a certain point they stopped caring about any of them and found themselves disliking the show more and more as it went on. 

As a fan of the high school drama genre, Lowell thought that “Euphoria” fit into that concept but took it up to the max. They felt that the different stylistic elements that they had, like cutscenes or fourth wall breaks, were really artfully done. 

“It was also really nice to see a very queer relationship on such a wide scale and that it was just queer without a second thought,” Lowell said. 

“Euphoria” has been renewed for a third season, and currently, Lowell is unsure if they will be tuning in as the elements of the show they enjoyed were no longer present in the most recent episodes. 

The season finale ended with a massive cliffhanger with the wellbeing of some beloved characters still in question, which left many fans emotional and questioning the show’s writing. 

Fans anxiously waiting for the third season will hopefully have their questions answered and see their favorite characters return with more concise storylines. 

Fan or not, “Euphoria” has a massive influence on pop culture and the show has created a sense of camaraderie that extends beyond the screen.

On March 5, Conan Gray took on the Coca-Cola Roxy stage with a performance filled with fun, emotion and even rage. Since his last tour in 2019, Gray has shifted from his YouTuber identity and bedroom-pop aesthetic to take on a more mature look and sound, but his bubbly internet persona and humor still shine through. 

Before the concert even began, the crowd of fans dressed to impress with many donning pink cowboy hats, a representation of Gray’s home state of Texas and an homage to how he would wear the hat when performing his song “Idle Town” during his first tour. 

Some fans had been waiting since 5 a.m. hoping to get a coveted barrier spot and for good reason, as at one point, Gray hopped off the stage to interact with fans closest to him. 

Gray’s relationship with his fans is extremely refreshing to see in a time where social media and “clout” can make artists and celebrities seem so far from reality. 

As a singer-songwriter, Gray has always made relatable music, especially to his predominately Gen Z audience. Gray’s music explores love, loss, heartbreak and self-discovery, which is why many fans would call his music “sad anthems.” 

His current tour, titled “Conan Gray World Tour 2022” is promoting his debut  indie-pop album called “Kid Krow.” It features nostalgic and sentimental tracks like “Comfort Crowd” and the catchy and angry “Checkmate.” 

Overall, the album is very reminiscent of classic John Hughes movies in aesthetic and sound. 

Before fans even passed the luminescent lights of the Coca-Cola Roxy’s marquee sign to watch the show, Gray himself came out to where the fans were waiting in line outside and handed out roses to a lucky few. 

Once the audience filed into the venue, they were met with the opener for the North American leg of the tour, bülow. 

Megan Bülow, also known as “bülow,” is a German-Canadian pop singer who excited the crowd with songs from her upcoming album and ended her set with the hit “You & Jennifer.” 

For those who have not listened to “bülow” and her band before, it was an amazing experience to discover an artist in real-time and be able to see them perform live. 

After “bülow’s” performance, the venue darkened before a projection of a crow in a birdcage lit up a large box with a screen on the stage. It went back to black and the crowd was antsy with anticipation. After a few moments, Gray appeared high above the stage at the top of the box with spotlights making him the sole focus. 

Gray began his performance with one of his latest 1980s inspired dance-pop singles called “Telepath.” He bounced around the space above the stage with snippets of choreography like pointing to his temple when mentioning the title of the song. He eventually made his way down to the stage to continue his performance. 

Throughout the night, the stage changed various times including different visual and light projections that followed the themes of the different songs. At one point, the “box” opened up to reveal Gray’s “bedroom” which included a set with a bed, posters on the walls and books. Grays tells the audience that he wrote many of his songs in his bedroom and wanted to bring his room to his fans. 

Gray’s energy was boundless and it was a joy to watch an artist genuinely love being on stage. His attitude would shift from friendly and hopeful when offering words of encouragement to fans, to rage when singing his latest single “Jigsaw.” The song talks about how someone in Gray’s life would constantly criticize him, which caused Gray to lose himself and try to change for that person. 

He eventually stopped listening to that person and relearned how to love himself as he is, and Gray told the crowd that they too should never try to change to be someone’s ideal. That message seemed to resonate with the audience as they were especially on fire for that song as they loudly sang along. 

The show came to a close with Gray changing from his sparkling Victorian-esque top and black pants into a skirt and sweater vest. For his encore, he sang and played along with his guitar to one of his top hits “Heather.” 

After the show ended, Gray took the time to meet with fans who had gathered near his tour bus hoping to see him before he left. 

He accepted gifts from fans and even hugged a few, but even if he didn’t have a chance to personally talk to everyone, Gray made sure to look everyone in the eye and acknowledge them. 

Conan Gray is a fun artist to watch, and he is both a talented songwriter and performer. He did a great job of taking the audience through the emotional highs and lows of his album and while also maintaining an incredible amount of energy throughout the night. 

Gray has set a high bar for future concerts to come. 

The State Farm Arena lit up in a dazzling display of pinks, greens and orange as fans wielded their lightsticks to support the K-pop group, TWICE. The sold-out show on Feb. 24 was the girl group’s first-ever performance in Atlanta, and they made an amazing city debut with a three-hour-long performance filled with their greatest hits, powerful choreography and love for their fans. 

Atlanta has seen a rise in K-pop concerts and events and has slowly become included among other major touring cities like Los Angeles and New York City. With this rise in interest and support for the music in the city, it makes sense that one of the most famous K-pop groups was able to completely sell out a 21,000 capacity arena. 

TWICE is made up of nine members — Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung and Tzuyu. They debuted in 2016 and since then have gained global recognition for their music and have gone on multiple tours. 

Their latest world tour, “III” is named after the relationship between the group’s members and their fans known collectively as ONCE. Jihyo, the leader of TWICE, explained during the concert that “ONCE plus TWICE equals three.” 

This tour is especially significant given that they are performing live in front of ONCEs for the first time since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The members repeatedly expressed their love and appreciation for their fans through their speeches during speaking sections, fan interactions and “heart missions,” where they flashed hearts to the crowd as they performed. 

The environment of K-pop concerts and other pop concerts, especially Western ones, is very different. It is completely normal to see fans waving lightsticks like TWICE’s Candybong, participating in random dance plays — where attendees gather and dance the choruses of popular K-pop songs — and exchanging handmade gifts called freebies.

K-pop has a way of bringing people from all walks of life together and the relationship between fans and the groups they support is a key characteristic of what makes the music genre so unique. 

Rachel Noh, fourth-year ID, is a longtime fan of the K-pop genre and has been listening to it for most of her life. She has been a fan of TWICE since their debut and enjoys their catchy music and dances.

“It always makes me feel happy,” Noh said. “I don’t ever feel sad or down when I listen to them.”

As a fan and someone who has attended multiple K-pop concerts, Noh says that there’s something unique about being a part of a K-pop fandom.

“It seems a lot more united in a way, and I don’t have an issue with approaching others or even starting a conversation with others,” she said. “I feel like at Western concerts, I wouldn’t really do that. Mainly because the fan culture is just a lot different.”

Noh is a member of GTSeoulstice, a K-pop dance group at Tech and the group showed their love for the group by performing a medley of their greatest hits before the show. Being able to see the original performers of the dances that GTSeoulstice learned was a surreal experience for Noh. 

“It was kinda crazy, because TWICE dances are super iconic, and regardless if you learn it, on a dance team or by yourself, it’s just fun to do,” Noh said. “And then when you see TWICE doing it you’re like, ‘oh my gosh, the actual people are doing in front of me.’” 

There are many stereotypes surrounding what K-pop fans act and look like, and oftentimes fans are generalized as only being young girls. However, after attending a K-pop concert, it is very evident that this is not the case. 

People of all ages, races and genders were present at the concert and it was truly a welcoming environment. 

There were typical jocks wearing shirts with slogans like “No Sana, No Life,” adults by themselves or with children, young adults dressed similarly to their favorite TWICE comeback era and plenty of other unique fans.

For anyone interested in getting into the world of K-pop but are hesitant, attending a K-pop concert just might be the push you need to fully dive in and perhaps you can see TWICE when they return. After a lengthy wait, TWICE’s Atlanta debut performance brought the energy and charisma that simply could not be kept behind a screen. 

Art has the unique ability to inspire, educate and stimulate change. 

During this Black History Month, Georgia Tech’s African American Student Union (AASU) in collaboration with the Georgia Tech Black Alumni Organization and the Impact Living Learning Community will be presenting “Black Georgia Tech Renaissance: A Celebration of Art and Culture.” 

According to the AASU’s website, “this will be a showcase of not only Black history and culture but also talents and abilities of students and alumni.”

This event, which takes place from Feb. 25 through the 26th, kicks off with an exhibit and showcase on Friday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Ferst Center for the Arts. It will be held in person while following CDC COVID-19 guidelines. 

On Saturday afternoon, there will be screening along with a panel discussion and a meet and greet. More information on both events and a QR code to register can be found on the Tech AASU’s website or Instagram. A renaissance refers to a revival of or renewed interest in something and the Black Georgia Tech Renaissance, and the AASU “aim to embrace, highlight and celebrate 60 years of Black students at Georgia Tech.” 

Lauren Hester, a second-year PSYC major, is the Black History Month co-chair for the AASU. 

“The AASU’s goals are to provide a safe space for students of color, not only to socialize but also be exposed to professional opportunities and a chance to just interact with other students that look like them,” she said.

The Black Georgia Tech Renaissance is a continuation of an event that Hester started last year. 

While she is currently AASU’s Black History Month co-chair, Hester was also a member of the Impact Living Learning Community and this is where the idea for the festival formed.

Hester, who has a passion for performing arts, thought that there should be an opportunity for Black students to present their talents during Black History Month. She wanted this to be an annual event and got her to start with creating the Impact Showcase. 

This year, the partnership with AASU, Georgia Tech Black Alumni Organization and the Impact Living-Learning Community formed to present the event which includes not only students but also alumni participants. 

While Tech is a STEM focused institution, Hester wants to highlight the talents that students and alumni have outside of academics. 

That is why she believes events like the Black Georgia Tech Renaissance are necessary on campus.

“We’re more than just engineers, we’re more than just scientists. We also have talents,” Hester said. “I just felt like there needed to be a place for us to express that as well, because there are many student artists and performers, and people that have other passions.”

As for what to expect at the event, Hester did not want to give too much away but she mentioned that attendees can look forward to seeing various aspects of Black and African American culture, expressed in different ways.  From rapping and singing, spoken word and even a florist art presentation, the Black Georgia Tech Renaissance is sure to be an exciting weekend event filled with talent and creativity. 

Valentine’s Day can be a dividing holiday for many. For some, it is an opportunity to appreciate and spend time with romantic partners while others may see the holiday as an overly commercialized and materialistic celebration.

But regardless of where one stands, Valentine’s Day can be a great time to celebrate and share love, and that love doesn’t necessarily have to be between partners.

If you are not in a romantic relationship, you could treat it as a regular day but it could be a chance to practice self-love or spend time with friends or family. If you’re not sure what to do and you don’t want to miss out on the fun, here are a few ideas that don’t require a significant other. 

Staying in and practicing self-care is probably the most accessible and simplest activity that anyone can do. Whether it is binge-watching your favorite TV show, having a spa day, crushing a satisfying workout or cooking yourself a meal, there are plenty of ways to take care of your body and mind.

If you do not have a date for Valentine’s Day, you can always take yourself out on a date. Going to the movies, taking yourself out to your favorite restaurant or enjoying a nice walk at Piedmont Park are all lovely dates you can take yourself on. 

It may be slightly uncomfortable to spend time by yourself, but realizing that you are deserving of doing nice things alone and spending quality time with yourself is a great way to practice self-love.

Here are a few examples of self-date or friend date ideas in the Atlanta area.

The Georgia Aquarium is an iconic staple of Atlanta, and the Student Center Programs Council (SCPC) with support from the Student Government Association (SGA) is presenting GT Night at the Aquarium: Neon Night. 

On Feb. 18th from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Georgia Tech students and guests are invited to go to the second-largest aquarium in the world at a discounted price. 

More information on tickets, parking and transportation can be found on Campus tickets. 

For art lovers, an artist collective, The Bakery Atlanta, is promoting an event on Feb. 12 and 13. “Oh Baby,” is a vintage Valentine’s Day art show and market that will be located at 92 Peachtree St. SW with tickets on sale for $5. 

It is described as a Valentines-themed art show with a vintage vibe where guests can appreciate love-themed art pieces as well as purchase unique items. There is limited capacity, but tickets and more information can be found on The Bakery’s Instagram, @thebakeryatlanta. 

Art lovers can also head down to the High Museum of Art and take advantage of the Second Sunday discount on Feb. 13. According to the High’s website, on the second Sunday of each month, the museum offers free admission for all visitors from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

This month the High is presenting multiple exhibitions, including KAWS PRINTS, the Obama Portraits Tour and Disrupting Design: Modern Posters, 1900-1940.

If you want to go out on the town, one event where you can get your groove on is at “Bless Yr Heart! A Queer Dance Party” on Feb. 11th at 10:00 p.m. This event is presented by Southern Fried Queer Pride and is located at Eyedrum (515 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30312). This 18+ event is calling for anyone who wants to dance and have a good time. 

Go by yourself or with some friends spend the night dancing away to DJ sets by Chel Xi & Malcriada and performances by Miss He, Clyf Hanger and Jacque Strapp.

According to Southern Fried Queer Pride’s website, the door cover is $7–$20 on a sliding scale. Cash, card, CashApp and Venmo are accepted, and no one is turned away at the door for lack of funds.

Valentine’s Day is not only about couples. It’s a day to celebrate love and for those who are single it can be tough, but using the holiday as an opportunity to treat yourself and practice self-care is a great way to change the attitudes around the celebration. 

Use Valentine’s Day to show yourself, family or friends, some love and enjoy the day. 

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto” is a new musical and fantasy film set in the mountains of Colombia. 

The story focuses on the Madrigals, a family who live together in a magical house. The house, also known as an “Encanto,” blesses and protects this family with magic. At a certain age, all the children in the Madrigal family are blessed with mystical gifts that provide them with unique powers that they use to help the neighboring town. 

One of the members of the family, Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz, “Brooklyn 99”), received no powers, and that makes her feel like an outcast, even though she is kind-hearted, diligent and loyal to her loved ones. Through a series of events, Mirabel finds out that her family magic might be in danger, and that sets up the rest of the plot.

“Encanto” is filled with the whimsy and the fantastical elements that Disney is known for, and it delivers in terms of storytelling, visuals, great voice work and music. The cast for this movie is well picked, and their voices match the diverse personalities of their characters.

Since music is a major feature of the film, it’s not surprising that the song sequences are enjoyable, and all of the songs feature great visuals. Lin Manuel Miranda, creator of the historical musical “Hamilton,” also created the soundtrack for “Encanto.” The standout song was definitely “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” which has amassed 93 million views on Disney’s music YouTube channel.

While the plot may not be as grand as the other epic storylines of past Disney films, given that the entire setting takes place in essentially a relatively small mountain valley, it still has a way of engulfing viewers in the magical realism that Colombia scenic beauty is known for. There is no traditional Disney “villain” or conflict, which could lead to a lack of emotional payoff.

The film’s conflict also resolves itself in the end and the danger never truly feels looming. On the other hand, it was refreshing to see a film that focuses on an internal conflict rather than an outside force.

Familial relationships are a major feature of the film which is captured beautifully in the relationship between Maribel and her Abuela (María Cecilia Botero, “La Bruja”) and the sibling angst between her older sister Isabella (Diane Guerrero, “Orange is the New Black”).

The concept of large families living together can be relatable to many audiences, especially in many Latin/Hispanic households. The Madrigals are a very large family, and the viewer learns just how large they are in “The Family Madrigal” song, but despite that, every character gets a chance to shine.

Other family members who may not get as much screen time are not forgotten, which is something that happens often in movies and television shows. The characters in “Encanto,” are given memorable lines and action sequences that play to the plot’s importance at different times throughout the film.

Overall, it’s pleasant to see Disney make a film about a diverse Colombian family featuring a young woman as a protagonist. “Encanto” is a film with various messages from learning to love oneself to valuing and reconnecting with family. It’s a film that brings heart, magic and great emotions to audiences. For the 60th animated motion picture from Walt Disney, this work of art shows just what the studio is capable of in the future.

Our Take: 3/5 Stars

With the holiday season well underway, Hernán Jiménez’s Netflix film “Love Hard,” attempts to win over romantic comedy fans with a modern love story filled with Christmas spirit.

The film follows Natalie (Nina Dobrev, “The Vampire Diaries”), a journalist in Los Angeles who has made a career out of writing about her terrible dating life. After many failed relationships, Natalie’s friend suggests expanding her scope and widening a dating app’s search radius to include the whole country. She then matches with a very charming man named Josh who lives in New York. Many long-distance conversations and phone calls later, Natalie considers Josh somewhat of a digital boyfriend and feels ready to leave behind her disastrous dating and settle down, especially after Josh playfully suggests that she come over for Christmas.

Natalie has never seen Josh outside of pictures but at her friend’s encouragement, and her boss’s belief that this relationship will make a great addition to the failed dating column, she decides to surprise visit the man of her dreams for the holidays. Things quickly go south when she arrives at Josh’s home, Natalie discovers that her perfect man is actually a catfish. The real Josh (Jimmy O. Yang, “Fantasy Island”) used his former friend Tag’s (Darren Barnet, “Never Have I Ever”) pictures to talk to women on dating sites since he’s never been successful being himself.

Duped and upset, Natalie is across the country with the “wrong” Josh. She decides to stay and pretend to be Josh’s girlfriend to impress his family and in return, he helps Natalie win over Tag, the real man whose photos she fell for.

The movie is a treat for fans of romantic comedy with its humor and endearing moments but like most films within that genre, it is predictable. Another downside is actually the title itself. “Love Hard” doesn’t give much information about the film nor does it catch the viewer’s attention. It should have been titled “Love Alert” after the fictional dating app in the movie or something similar to the famous rom-com “Love Actually” which is referenced throughout. There was also an unexpected musical element in the film, which was unnecessary and affected the plot’s believability.

“Love Hard” succeeds in unpacking some of the shallow aspects of online dating since attractiveness and aesthetics play a vital role in making connections via the internet. There is also the issue of authenticity and honesty with modern dating since so much information can be exaggerated or even faked as seen, with Josh’s catfishing.

The lesson to be learned is to be yourself and to not be someone you aren’t. It also highlights that to love is to love someone for who they are, for all their qualities both good and bad.

As for the cast, Dobrev and Yang have great chemistry and bring a realistic feel to their characters with their laid-back and comedic rapport. This is especially present during Josh and Natalie’s sweet moments, where the relationship slowly grows between the two characters.

While its plot is simple, “Love Hard” differs from other rom-coms by having a diverse cast and staying away from some of the genre’s cliches, like love at first sight or mad dashes to the airport to confess one’s love.

It does not attempt to revolutionize the rom-com genre, but it is an entertaining addition that is an easy watch.

Our Take: 4/5 Stars

Edgar Wright, a director known for works like “Shaun of the Dead” and “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” tells a dark and dazzling tale with “Last Night in Soho,” starring Anya Taylor-Joy (“The Queen’s Gambit”) and Thomasin Mckenzie (“Leave No Trace”).

“Last Night in Soho” closely resembles a modern day Alfred Hitchcock thriller. Just as Hitchcock’s signature was to build up suspense, “Last Night in Soho” is a slow burning but exhilarating watch. As the narrative progresses, it transitions from a coming of age film and descends into a tale of mind games and paranoia that keeps the audience at the edge of their seats.

“Last Night in Soho” is about a young fashion student named Eloise who leaves her rural home in Cornwall and moves to London for school. Both her life and fashion are heavily influenced by the 1960s, which is evident visually throughout the film. It is at fashion school where Eloise discovers the nightlife in Soho and the story takes the viewer into a world of both dreams and nightmares.

The 1960s are heavily referenced throughout the film as Eloise, who was already inspired by the time period, becomes even more infatuated when her dreams focus on a wannabe singer named Sandie (Taylor Joy) and talent manager Jack (Matt Smith, “The Crown’’). It is then that Sandie’s past starts to affect Eloise’s present life.

The ‘60s even inspired the name of the film itself, as the title originates from a 1968 single by the English pop band Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich. It was also inspired by a conversation Wright had with filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, who was told by director Allison Anders that “Last Night in Soho’’ was the “best title music for a film that’s never been made.” The soundtrack continues with the 60s theme both in the present day, as Eloise is a fan of older music, and in the past, as Sandie is an aspiring singer from that time period.

The true gems of “Last Night in Soho” are the camera work and costumes. The visual effects and editing help blur the line between the past and present in an energetic way. The camera works to make the setting feel both based in reality and other worldly depending on the mood of the protagonist. It is also a point to mention that there are various dance scenes in the movie that were all filmed in one take. This is especially impressive with the complex choreography and the switching between dance partners that were seamlessly captured on camera.

As for the costuming, the ‘60s were full of bright colors, mini dresses, dapper suits and sleek hairdos, and these aesthetics are all reflected in “Last Night In Soho.” As the film goes on, Eloise’s fashion evolves from a conservative and floral-heavy style into full-blown ‘60s meets modern Londoner as she incorporates more bold elements into her fashion. However, Taylor-Joy’s Sandie is the true star when it comes to costume design, as she represents the various ‘60s fashion trends with her iconic blonde beehive hairdo and peach chiffon dress.

The film’s costume designer ​​Odile Dicks-Mireaux said she studied dozens of films from the 60s to understand the vibe and was also influenced by the styles of Brigitte Bardot, Julie Christine and Cilla Black. She also looked at photos of historic Soho in order to learn about people dressed for the nightlife.

Anya Taylor-Joy was a perfect choice for Sandie and she was mesmerizing to watch as she seamlessly switched from free spirited and spunky to something much darker as the plot progressed.

Thomasin McKenzie did a great job of showing a huge range of emotions from naivety to paranoia; and Matt Smith was suave and charming.

Overall the cast worked well together and it felt very fresh and natural to see these characters on screen together.

Edward Wright is known for his fast paced and witty dialogue but at times it moves too quickly, which can be difficult for some viewers, especially given the different accents of the cast. Another potential downside is the film’s pacing. Most of the film’s action takes place towards the final 40 minutes, but the wait helps to build up suspense.

Overall, while the film is a little slow-paced, the ride is very much worth it in the end, especially with all the twists and turns. “Last Night in Soho” is an interesting and unique take on the psychological thriller genre.

Artist, composer and guitarist Kaki King returned to her hometown of Atlanta, and to Tech, on Saturday night to showcase “Data Not Found,” a mesmerizing performance on love, loss and hope.

The multimedia show is also multi-dimensional, incorporating physical elements — like instruments and a large white tent — with digital projections to tell a story; but it does not stray too far from King’s passion for guitar.

“I’m grounding my body in the instrument itself, and then I start layering on top of that,” King said. “I’m trying to see how far we can push the media before it’s irrelevant and useless, but I still think that grounding it in the music, and in the playing, is what helped hold it together.”

King uses her musical prowess to incorporate different instruments from drums to guitars, accompanied by a steady monologue to tell various stories, all personal to King but told in a way that resonates with the audience.

The performance is nature-inspired, projections reference waves on the sand washing away both the material items and memories that slowly disappear with the loss of a person. The images of flowers in bloom and decay also appear in perfect rhythm with King’s instrumentals.

“Data Not Found” was last performed in 2019; the coronavirus pandemic changed the way that King views the show and her art. During the performance, King enters a large white tent and plays while sitting in a pile of sand. This point in the show, she says, is when she would usually tell a sad story, but she decided to switch it up because, with the pandemic, “there have been too many sad stories.”

She instead tells the audience about her process of dealing with the pandemic and the possibility of never being able to perform live in front of an audience again.

“I had this incredible amount of gratitude for what I did have; it was so unlikely for me to ever have a career in this weird guitar thing that I do,” King said. “And then I thought, okay, I should do all the things I ever wanted to do.”

King also talked about how she used this break to fulfill her other passions, like getting a degree in horticulture, joining the PTA, getting tattoos and becoming a “character in the neighborhood.” As live performances started up again, King says that she accepted her new state but was ultimately happy to return to the stage.

“There’s no way I’m going to be as good with what I do in a virtual format. I have to have people to push me like the audience has to be there,” she said.

“My focus is there and it’s for them and it’s a shared experience. And that’s really what coming back into performance has taught me.”

King does not think that it is possible to ignore what has happened these past couple of years or even look at anything from the same lens as before.

“When I talk about loss, or when I talk about someone who has died, I’m thinking of people who died in COVID-19,” she said. “I think the world is just a vastly different place, and it has to be acknowledged, at the very least addressed.”

“Data Not Found” deals with loss through music, monologues and projections, but it also helps the audience to reflect on the patterns that they themselves leave behind.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time for celebration and reflection, as it highlights the culture, history and fight for equity among Hispanic and Latin Americans.

From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 there are events and opportunities across the country to learn about and showcase different aspects of Latin American culture. Tech has its own community working to do the same.

The Latin American Student Organization (LASO) was founded at the beginning of the pandemic with a lot of hope that the organization would grow and serve as a way to connect Latinx students on campus.

Sarah Rincon, fourth-year EE, Camila Rubiano, fourth-year BA, and Kimberly Molina, fourth-year HTS, serve as founders of LASO. Rincon is of Mexican-American descent and the current president. Rubiano is of Colombian descent and is the public relations officer of the organization.

With about a 6% Hispanic and Latinx population at Tech, it can be difficult for students of this background to find a community and relate to others culturally, which is why a cultural organization like LASO was needed.

“I think the experience that I’ve heard from a lot of students and my own experience is that you get to campus, and it can be an isolating experience,” Rincon said. “You think you’re the only Hispanic person at the school.”

Now, two years since its establishment, LASO has over 150 members and has transitioned from virtual to in-person events as students have returned to campus.

For Hispanic Heritage Month, the organization is hosting a variety of events like volunteering for voter registration and introducing a ​​Hispanic Heritage Month Ball, with music and live performances.

The purpose of LASO is to unite the Hispanic and Latinx community on campus and help share the cultures with other people outside of the community. This mission also coincides perfectly with what Hispanic Heritage Month is meant to accomplish, except LASO continues this work beyond the month.

Rincon says that she tries to embrace her heritage daily on campus, and she has been able to do this by being a part of LASO.

“I have been able to find people that I can surround myself with that relate to my culture and my heritage,” Rubino said. “I think I’ve been able to embrace it as part of my daily life.”

Some of the events that LASO is having for the month include a voter registration event with the organization Galileo, as advocacy and activism is an important aspect of Hispanic Heritage Month. The organization is also going off-campus to the Atlanta United game that is celebrating Hispanic Heritage night.

As for upcoming events, on Oct. 4 LASO will be collaborating with Pride Alliance for a trivia night themed around queer Latinx history.

The closing and major event will be the first Hispanic Heritage Month Ball on Oct. 15.

The night will include a DJ, games, food, dancing and performances from Tech’s very own Salsa Club and Aatma Dance Studio.

These events foster awareness that there is a community and that it is open and welcoming of whomever, for people of all backgrounds.

LASO is a place for anyone, including students who are Latinx and want to find a place with people with similar backgrounds and to learn more about other cultures.

LASO is also open for anyone who is not Latinx or Hispanic and just wants to learn more about the culture, practice Spanish, meet new people and so on.

“As long as you are open to us, we are open to you,” Rincon said. “We like to have a good time, we like to have fun events and hang out, play soccer together, have picnics. And I think if that’s what you’re looking for, that’s what you’re missing in your life, then that’s what we’re here for.”

A very important aspect of Hispanic and Latin American culture is music and dance.

Nicole Diaz, third-year BME, and Dilauri Hernandez, third-year BA, are on the executive board of the GT Salsa Club.

Salsa and bachata are dances rooted in Latin and Hispanic culture, and Tech Salsa has built a community for students of all backgrounds to learn and develop their skills while having fun and making friends in the process.

The Salsa club was founded in 2006 and has been going strong ever since. Diaz, who is of Colombian-Venezuelan descent, currently serves as president. She says that the club has become a big outlet for her.

“I hadn’t tapped into that side of my culture as much as I had wanted to, and I had always grown up dancing with family members,” Diaz said.

“Stepping into the social dancing scene was a completely different aspect because then you had different people of different backgrounds dancing.”

Hernandez, who is of Dominican descent, serves as the club’s logistics chair. She says that Tech Salsa has been a way for her to share her culture and experience it with others.

The classes themselves are beginner-friendly, currently focusing on Bachata I and II and Salsa I.

Once a member pays their dues, which is $60 a semester, they have access to all the classes and socials.

“The price of membership is great, “ Hernandez said. “$60 will probably get you barely a month at a regular dance studio, versus we give you a whole semester of classes along with the sides we offer.”

Diaz emphasized the classes are open to all skill levels.

“We are really accommodating to all different levels, like if you haven’t danced at all, haven’t even tried, or you’ve been kind of dancing here and there, or you just want something different or you want to … level up your skills,” Diaz said.

The classes are taught by instructors or very experienced dancers, who teach students starting from the basics and gradually moving into more advanced partner work.

Tech Salsa Club also does socials, which are both on and off-campus.

The socials generally start with a short class and then transition into a more club-like atmosphere with a DJ, lights and dancing.

The music includes both classics in the salsa and bachata scene but also remixes with popular artists like Billie Eilish.

For Hispanic Heritage Month, Tech Salsa Club will be performing at Birney Elementary School as a part of their celebration for the month. They will also be performing at the Hispanic Heritage Ball, hosted by LASO.

Anyone can join Tech Salsa Club and be a part of a welcoming community that is a part of an even larger Latin dance scene in Atlanta.

To learn more about LASO and Tech Salsa, follow @gt_laso and @gatechsalsa on Instagram.