reviews
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In conversation with Halogens: looking back on 15 years
Fifteen years is a long time to dedicate to anything—but for Asbury Park-based rock band Halogens, the journey has been, in the words of their appropriately titled 2023 EP, Time Well Spent. For lead vocalist and guitarist Zach Henry, his relationship with music felt serious “pretty much right from the beginning.” “I started playing guitar,…
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In conversation with Sydney Schirripa: from myth to music
Rising high school senior and New Jersey native Sydney Schirripa is putting her passion to paper. Exploring many aspects of the arts from a very young age, it didn’t take Schirripa long to realize her unique call to music and love of songwriting. “When I was younger, thankfully my parents allowed me to experiment with…
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In conversation with Natasha Kalila: turning intentional energy into art
Film sun, music moon, and fashion rising. That’s how Natasha Kalila best described the persona of her passions. The Maryland native moved to New York City 11 years ago and has since woven a myriad of mediums into an impressive career. Natasha’s most recent venture has been in the world of music. She released her…
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In conversation with Colin Hankenson: if you film it, they will watch
From a young age, director and screenwriter Colin Hankenson knew he had a story to tell. “My family would love to attest to this. I’ve always loved hamming it up, performing, and doing all that other stuff. Just presenting fun stories and ideas,” says Hankenson. Starting with childhood performances in his grandmother’s house to making…
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REVIEW — ‘Lake Effect’ by Hillary Behrman
“All the enchantments of the place were gone.” Hillary Behrman scours the human condition with no time to slip on rose-colored glasses in Lake Effect. This debut short story collection received the 2024 Mary McCarthy Prize for Short Fiction, a distinguished award firmly rooted in the indie literary world. Its recipient is chosen by a…
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REVIEW — BACKHOUSE’s debut album ‘Songs in the Key of Orange’
A debut album has one job: convince listeners that a band is worth paying attention to. Great ones become more than just introductions, instead establishing themselves as almost mythological benchmarks that every future release is measured against (such as Arctic Monkeys’ Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not or even The Killers’ Hot…
