Artist of the Month: Ashe

 If you are looking for a new artist over the holidays, why not give December’s Artist of the Month, Ashe, a try! Ashe is a singer songwriter from California, known for her song, “Moral of the Story,” released on Valentine’s Day in 2019, and featured in the Netflix movie To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You. Even though many people might know of Ashe because of this song, she has gone on to create a successful music career, with two albums under her belt. Ashe started her ‘Fun While It Lasted’ world tour in November of 2022, and will finish out the tour in March of 2023.  

Artist of the Month: Special Interest

Special Interest is a sonic sucker punch to the stomach. Quickly barreling out of the New Orleans DIY music scene is knockout vocalist Alli Logout, guitarist Maria Elena, bassist Nathan Cassiani, and sonic soundmaker Ruth Mascelli. Together, the group deftly crafts an explosion of dance grooves and post-hardcore noise into complementary waves of glitzy sound. These artists are hot off the release of their 2022 album Endure which cemented their influence as revolutionists of a new sound and social consciousness.  

History of: The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

 “Let’s have a parade!” are the iconic words spoken as the ribbon is cut, indicating the beginning of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Big helium balloons, floats, celebrity performances, Broadway stars, clowns, and the New York Rockettes. The parade is a New York tradition not only for the city but for family and friends all across America.   

10 Thanksgiving TV episodes to stuff you full of Thanksgiving spirit

Nothing says Thanksgiving like family, friends, and good food to fill the soul. What better way to enjoy this time of year, than with some classic and new Thanksgiving television specials? Here are 10 Thanksgiving-themed episodes that will get you and your family in the holiday spirit. 

Artist of the Month: Enhypen

With October well on its way, the change of seasons can trigger the infamous phrase—out with the old, in with the new. While we don’t need to get rid of anything old, there is always room for the new, especially in discovering new music and sounds. As their world tour Manifesto is in full swing, there is no doubt that Enhypen brings a fresh new sound to those not entirely familiar with the genre of K-pop, which has been taking the world by storm in recent years. So, who are they? 

10 Halloween movies to get you into spooky season

Spooky season has officially commenced. It’s time to bust out the comfy sweaters, and a warm pair of boots. Perhaps your stomachs are full of fall treats like hot apple cider and pumpkin spice lattes. But the most important part of the season is Halloween.  Halloween is a holiday of excitement, dressing up, and consuming loads of candy. Regardless of age, Halloween can make anyone feel like a kid. One easy way to tap into the nostalgia and spooky spirit of the season are to gather a group of friends for a terrifyingly delightful Halloween movie marathon. This list is a compilation of all the best Halloween movies. Whether you’re looking for something scary, romantic, or comedic, these movies have something for everyone.  

The 'Monster High' movie is a movie, and it does exist

Monster High is certainly a film. Acting as the second reboot to the popular doll line, the film does very little for its source material. With poorly developed characters, a half forgotten plot, and abandoned themes, Monster High: The Movie falls short of its popular legacy.

'Hocus Pocus 2' is just another modernized classic

Grin and bear the horror that follows ‘Smile’

Smile, written and directed by Patrick Finn, is a horror film hiding overused horror tropes and poor character development behind a toothy smile. Despite inspired cinematography, Smile is nothing short of an empty grin.

‘Do Revenge’ is a double-edged sword

'Do Revenge' is a double edged sword. Despite quality acting, 'Do Revenge' is dragged down by mediocre plot execution and bewildering tone shifts.

Artist of the Month: Imani

Calling all music lovers! If you are looking for an eccentric sound among the wave of alternative pop and R&B in the Muncie area, look no further than April’s Artist of the Month: Imani. 

‘Kirby and The Forgotten Land’ is a mouthful of fun

This is a fantastic game, full stop. It might not be doing anything groundbreaking or revolutionary, but it’s still crafted with a level of polish I don’t often see in games. 

'The Legend of Vox Machina' Season 1, Episode 12: "The Darkness Within" puts the 'fight' into fighting your demons

Episode 12 presents a masterclass in what a finale should be. With action and character, Vox Machina hits every box worth checking. 

'The Legend of Vox Machina' Season 1, Episode 11: "Whispers at the Ziggurat" pulls its big bad evil guys into the daylight

Episode 11 features the climactic battle between Vox Machina and the evil, yet hot, Briarwoods. The party has to come together and help Percival De Rolo defeat his childhood demons.

A Deep Dive into Rey Skywalker's Character Arc

The Star Wars sequel trilogy is a major point of contention for many people myself included. I can go on and on about the many problems littered throughout: abysmal world building, clumsy storylines, the imaginary tug-of-war between J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson, etc. Thankfully, this article will not dwell on those things. Instead I am going to center my attention on the focal point of this trilogy—Rey Skywalker. While I have great issues with how Rey’s family was handled, I find her overall arc to be fascinating, especially when I consider the elements of it that actually work.

'The Legend of Vox Machina' Season 1, Episode 10: "Depths of Deceit" succeeds despite the failed insight check

From the acting to the animation, Vox Machina builds into a nerve wracking climactic finish.

Q&A with Namby Pamby

The Namby Pamby is an alternative band composed of three female artists: McKenna Parks on guitar, Emily Parks on bass, and Payton Knerr on drums. The group was established at the end of 2021 and has been performing since the beginning of 2022. The band agreed to be interviewed over Zoom to talk about themselves and their future plans. 

Q&A with Raven Milligan of Peacehead

  Peacehead is a rock band composed of two band members, Raven Milligan and Aden Johnson. The band started in early 2019, releasing their first album, Escargot, in October 2019. The multi-instrumental duo originally came from Kokomo, Indiana, and are currently playing in the Indianapolis and Muncie areas. Band member, Raven Milligan, agreed to be interviewed about the band and its future.

Playing Through the Pandemic

Wizards of the Coast cited 2020 as the best year for Dungeons & Dragons after seeing an increase of sales during the pandemic. This has been attributed to an influx of online players, but even local game stores have been seeing changes.