Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
February 22, 2026 February 22, 2026 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

Arts & Entertainment

PETER O’CONNOR / CC BY-SA 2.0 Integrating elements from a plethora of eras and genres, country-inspired riffs, mellow piano interludes, angelic harp instrumentals and heavy thumping electronic beats, SAYA appears to be a mosaic of musical artistry. 

SAYA: Just comfortably experimental

By SPRUHA DEO | March 28, 2025

When it comes to albums, I unfortunately almost always judge them by their covers. And when it came to Japanese-Canadian star Saya Gray’s debut album SAYA, my judgment did not steer me away. I strongly believe a good album cover should reflect the nature of a record while being visually appealing, and SAYA checks both these boxes. 

COURTESY OF ARIANA MYGATT Strait reflects on Dream State, a novel by Hopkins Professor Eric Puchner. 

Dream State is a novel that leaves you with one question

By RILEY STRAIT | March 12, 2025

Across literary circles, Oprah Winfrey’s most recent book club selection Dream State by Hopkins Professor Eric Puchner is abducting fans from the real world, making them miss their subway stops. For me, returning to my dorm from Hodson Hall past midnight, I missed the man in a sandy suit with blonde hair and round glasses waving me down for a lighter. This was perhaps an odd occurrence for the backside of Gilman past midnight, but these things don’t matter when Dream State is on the mind.

ROGUE ARTISTS / CC BY 3.0 Lady Gaga’s new album Mayhem is emblematic of a growing resurgence of the Y2K aesthetic.

Addison Rae, Tate McRae and Lady Gaga: Y2K reloaded

By RUBEN DIAZ | March 12, 2025

The early 2000s — an era of low-rise jeans, chunky highlights and the unmistakable sounds of pop-punk anthems — are making a vibrant comeback in today's pop culture. From fashion runways to music charts, the Y2K aesthetic is experiencing a renaissance, captivating a new generation while evoking nostalgia for those who lived through it. This revival isn't just about recycled trends; it's a fusion of past and present, with artists like Addison Rae, Tate McRae, Olivia Rodrigo and even the iconic Lady Gaga leading the charge. 

HAROLD NEAL / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 The 2025 Academy Awards called for unity in a time when natural disasters have threatened Los Angeles, the home of Hollywood.

A recap of the 2025 Academy Awards

By TIMOTHY MCSHEA | March 10, 2025

It is tough to say how this year’s Academy Awards will be remembered. It may very well be seen as a return to prominence for Brody, who experienced a 22-year gap between his Best Actor Oscars. It may also be seen as a massive day for Baker, who has always gained critical acclaim but never won it at the Oscars.

COURTESY OF EMA IWASAKI Once inside An die Musik, staff writer Ema Iwasawki was met with the warm sunny ambience of the stage. The stage was perfectly lit by overhead spotlights cast over all of the instruments. 

Hittin' With The Youngins: A night of improvisational jazz

By EMA IWASAKI | March 10, 2025

An die Musik Live and the Peabody Institute Jazz Department partnered to present a series of “Hittin' With the Youngins” on Thursday, Feb. 27, at An die Musik in Mount Vernon. This series offers the chance for one Peabody student to present their compositions alongside other Peabody musicians and one Peabody Jazz faculty member. Senior Noah Ford — along with faculty member Charenée Wade — presented this night. 

JIYUN GUO / DESIGN & LAYOUT EDITOR This week’s media include 33 Place Brugmann by Alice Austin and the album I Die Where You Begin by Stela Cole! 

To watch and watch for: Week of March 10

By ARTS EDITORS | March 9, 2025

Welcome to another list of upcoming media recommendations! This week’s picks include a movie about a man who can’t feel pain, a historical fiction about an apartment building, a pop album by Stela Cole and a performance of Mozart at the Peabody Institute.

DAVID JONES / CC BY-NC 2.0 Animal Collective's Panda Bear released a new solo album this past week with contributions from all members of the band. 

Animal Collective’s Panda Bear releases Sinister Grift — the quiet reckoning of midlife

By EDWARD ZHU | March 7, 2025

If you are at all familiar with 2000s indie rock or early internet music culture, you’ve likely come across — or at least felt the influence of — Baltimore experimental pop band Animal Collective. Terms like “surreal,” “trippy” and “kaleidoscopic” now feel kind of overused and cliche when describing their music, but albums like Merriweather Post Pavilion or Strawberry Jam undeniably contain a delirious, effortless glee that make them an unmatched benchmark of the modern psychedelic genre.

JIYUN GUO / DESIGN & LAYOUT EDITOR The Arts & Entertainment section recommends Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall as a perfect addition to your To Be Read list.

To watch and watch for: Week of March 2

By ARTS EDITORS | March 2, 2025

If your midterms only let you loose for a limited amount of time, then where better to start than with these personal arts and entertainment recommendations, curated for Hopkins students like you?

NATHAN CONGLETON / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Blake Lively’s legal complaint against Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment during the filming of It Ends With Us, has catalyzed a large, industry-wide debate, in which both stars have been supported and criticized.

Lights, camera, controversy: The Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni scandal

By RUBEN DIAZ | March 1, 2025

Every so often, a story comes along reminding us that while Hollywood thrives on romance and fantasy, it’s also a deeply flawed industry filled with power struggles, questionable decisions and enough scandal to fuel the tabloids for years. Enter Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni and a film adaptation that was supposed to be about breaking cycles of abuse — but might have just exposed another one in the process.

KRITZOLINA / CC BY-SA 4.0 Through a series of open mics, Ashlee Haze has helped many communities find and share their voices.

Ashlee Haze: On open mics, space and poetry

By ISABELLA WANG | February 28, 2025

On February 7th, the second floor of the LaB was set up with rows of chairs, ready for students to take their seats in preparation for the Open Mic that was about to commence. The MC for the night? Kiera “Ashlee Haze” Nelson, a poet and spoken word artist from Atlanta by way of Chicago. 

JIYUN GUO / DESIGN & LAYOUT EDITOR This week, check out Hittin’ with the Youngins at An Die Musik Live to see young composers partner with pros in what is sure to be an incredible performance. 

To watch and watch for: Week of Feb. 23

By ARTS EDITORS | February 24, 2025

With the lion of March creeping around the corner, our hearts still beating from our Valentine fever, there is no time more in need of distraction. Spring will come, and our hearts will slow, but, right now, the wind is pouring through the tunnels and over the quads, romances and friendships are tested in the bitter cold and, most importantly, our free time is nearly nonexistent.

STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR Miss Prism (Liesel Arauz Vallecillo; left) reunites with Jack (Jackson Robien; center) as his friend Algernon (Ryan Garza; right) struggles with the ridiculous turn of events.

The Barnstormers perform The Importance of Being Earnest

By RILEY STRAIT | February 19, 2025

I have only seen one production from the Barnstormers, but I might be scared to see another. That is, because I worry it can’t possibly meet or exceed my experience witnessing their performance of The Importance of Being Earnest, an 1895 play by Oscar Wilde. 

JIYUN GUO / DESIGN & LAYOUT EDITOR Welcome to another list of upcoming media recommendations! This week’s picks include a show about a political conspiracy, a romance novel set in the American West, an indie album by musician Saya Gray and a performance of presidential love poems at Creative Alliance.

To watch and watch for: Week of Feb. 17

By ARTS EDITORS | February 17, 2025

Welcome to another list of upcoming media recommendations! This week’s picks include a show about a political conspiracy, a romance novel set in the American West, an indie album by musician Saya Gray and a performance of presidential love poems at Creative Alliance.

THE COME UP SHOW / CC BY-ND 2.0 Grand, cinematic and freshly futuristic, Eusexua is FKA twigs at her most experimental and intimate. It’s an album that refuses to be boxed in, challenging listeners to embrace both its intimacy and its unpredictability. 

Eusexua: Introspective contemplation at the club

By SPRUHA DEO | February 16, 2025

Grand, cinematic and freshly futuristic, Eusexua is FKA twigs at her most experimental and intimate. It’s an album that refuses to be boxed in, challenging listeners to embrace both its intimacy and its unpredictability. And whether every experiment lands or not, FKA twigs’s ability to push boundaries remains undeniable. 

NICOLAS VÖLCKER / CC BY-SA 4.0 To Guo, Mac Miller’s newest posthumous album, Balloonerism, has felt like welcoming back a close friend. Guo writes on how nature of the album has made him reflect on his own nature and the change he’s been through since the first time he listened to Miller’s music.

From high school to Balloonerism: Mac Miller is still in the background

By DANIEL GUO | February 12, 2025

When Miller’s newest posthumous album, Balloonerism, was released, it felt like welcoming back a close friend. Once again, Miller was whispering, talking and laughing along with all of us. But, beyond that, the nature of the album has made me reflect on my very own nature and the changes I’ve been through since the first time I listened to his music. 

Trending
Weekly Rundown
News-Letter Magazine