Shubham Kaushik, Author at DU Beat - Delhi University's Independent Student Newspaper

10 Contemporary LGBTQ+ Musicians

By Shubham Kaushik June 22, 2015

With Ireland saying yes to same-sex marriage through popular vote and June being celebrated as Pride month at some places, we bring you a list of the ten most visible contemporary LGBTQ+ musicians:

1. Sam Smith

Image source: headlineplanet.com

The 22 year old young and polished British singer/songwriter, who burst onto the music scene with collaborations with artists like Naughty Boy (on “La La La”), is comfortable talking about his sexuality (gay) publicly and makes no nuances of the fact that his debut album, the wildly acclaimed “In The Lonely Hour” has songs based on his experiences of unrequited love with a man.

2014 was undoubtedly Sam Smith’s year as his debut album topped charts globally and earned him six Grammy nominations out of which he won four in February 2015.

2. Sia

Image source: unrealitytv.co.uk

Notoriously shy and startlingly eccentric, Sia has been around the music scene for a long time as a singer and a songwriter but started getting recognition in the past few years with her collaborations with David Guetta on ‘Titanium’ and other musicians. Surprisingly, Sia wasn’t pleased with the success of ‘Titanium’ because she’d taken the decision to retire as a singer and work just as a songwriter. David Guetta had released the song with her demo vocals on it.

Sia claims to have always been open about having dated both boys and girls and puts the recent talk about her sexuality down to the fact that she only became popular recently. She married documentary filmmaker Erik Anders Lang in 2014.

3. Billie Joe Armstrong

Image source: blog.sgate.com

Fronting Green Day, which is probably one of the most important punk rock band in the history of music, Billie Joe Armstrong is a very influential figure in the industry. Green Day’s songs have always been known for their punk-revivalist tunes and often outspoken, politically charged lyrics (Remember American Idiot?). Other than Green Day and music, Billie Joe is also known as an actor and a songwriter. He identifies as a bisexual. He said in a 1995 interview, “I think I’ve always been bisexual. I mean, it’s something that I’ve always been interested in. I think people are born bisexual, and it’s just that our parents and society kind of veer us off into this feeling of ‘Oh, I can’t.’ They say it’s taboo. It’s ingrained in our heads that it’s bad, when it’s not bad at all. It’s a very beautiful thing.”

He, along with the rest of Green Day were inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year. Billie Joe has been married to Adrienne Nesser since 1994 after he met her at one of the band’s early performances.

4. Lady Gaga

Image source: fanpop.com

It’s difficult to judge what Lady Gaga is known more for: her pop-with-a-twist music or her outlandishly creative ensembles. Whichever of the two it might be, it’s safe to say that she has been one of the most visible names in pop music in recent years. Lady Gaga identifies as a bisexual and has widely talked about being attracted to both men and women. Brought up in a suppressive catholic environment, she has mentioned going on an experimenting spree with everything about her personality as soon as she felt she was free enough. Interestingly, her popular song ‘Poker Face’ is about her bisexual identity.

5. Frank Ocean

Image source: indiecurrent.com

Frank started his career as a ghost-songwriter for other industry bigwigs like John Legend and Justin Bieber. His own singing career took off with a debut mixtape which was received with critical acclaim. His sexuality became a topic of discussion with the release of his debut album “Channel Orange”. Several people noted that a few songs seemed to be inspired by experiences of being in love with the same sex. He answered the growing rumours by coming out publicly through an emotional post on his Tumblr account. He talked about falling in love with a male friend at the age of 19 and the experience being as jarring as it was revelationary. His debut album channelled his emotions as he tried to come to terms with this new found realisation.

Frank Ocean was one of the first major African-American musicians to publicly talk about his sexuality. His new album is due for release later this year.

6. Halsey

Image credits: flickr.com

Never one to keep her opinions guarded, Halsey is a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, known by her stage name Halsey (which is, interestingly enough, an anagram of her first name) is a biracial and bisexual American musician. The blue-haired songstress is known for her hitting lyrics, soulful music and outspoken views about gender, sexuality and body positivity. Riding high on the success of her EP “Room 93”, Halsey is set to release her much awaited debut album “Ghostlands” in August this year. She recently released a video of a remastered version of her popular song ‘Ghost’, which features her in an intimate relationship with another woman.

Halsey is currently dating Norwegian hip-hop artist Lido.

7. Mika

Image source: christerscorner.wordpress.com

Mika’s brand of heady pop hit the music scene in 2007. The Lebanese-British singer’s debut album “Life in Cartoon Motion” won him a Brit, a Grammy and several admirers. His sexuality has always been shrouded in mystery and rumours, with the singer often refusing to label himself. Known for his flamboyant style of clothes and music, Mika said in an interview in 2009, “Call me whatever you want. Call me bisexual, if you need a term for me.” He came out as gay publicly in 2012 during the run-up to his third studio album. According to him, his music helped him find the strength to come to terms with his sexuality beyond the scope of his lyrics. Interestingly, the lyrics on his 2012 record ‘The Origins of Love’ are based on his trysts with men.

Mika’s fourth album, titled “No Placed in Heaven”, released on June 15.

8. Lynn Gunn

Image source: infinitexplorers.com

Leading one of the most promising alternative rock bands of recent years, Lynn Gunnulfsen (shortened to Lynn Gunn) is gaining momentum with excellent reviews on PVRIS’s debut album “White Noise” and her soulful, edgy vocals. Lynn came to terms with her sexuality and was inspired to pursue music when she attended a Paramore concert, led by the effervescent Hayley Williams, in grade 7.

Lynn is currently dating Alexa San Roman of the band “Love, Robot”.

9. Ricky Martin

Image source: huffingtonpost.com

Ricky Martin is often credited for the Latin pop explosion of 1990s with his wildly popular song “Livin’ La Vida Loca”. He’s been in the music scene since the early 90s but became popular after performing the “Cup of Life” at the 41st Grammy Awards show. His sexuality was always a topic of discussion due to his large gay following. Ricky came out out publicly through a post on his official website, stating, “I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am.”

According to him, it was the birth of his twin sons in 2008 (born by a surrogate mother) that prompted him to acknowledge his sexuality.

10. Tyler Glenn

Image source: usamagazine.com

Frontman of the pop-band Neon Trees, Tyler Glynn knew he was gay since he was about six years old but came out publicly only very recently. Being brought up in the conservative town of Utah and raised in a Mormon household, the flamboyant singer kept his sexuality under the covers till it threatened to choke his spirit. Building the new-wave band up from scratch while struggling with keeping his sexuality closeted took it’s toll on Tyler, who took his experiences and penned songs for the band.

He came out publicly in an interview with ‘Rolling Stone’, narrating his experiences as a young Mormon homosexual who was teased for his now-famous outfits and tried relationships with women while pining after a male friend.

Shubham Kaushik

[email protected]

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5 Under the Radar artists to check out for new Summer music

By Shubham Kaushik June 19, 2015

If you’re anything like a lot of people I know, you probably need music in your life like a good movie needs a soundtrack. Whether it’s to cut out the crowd around you in the Metro, or to give you company during work-outs or even just to sit and think, music makes for excellent company. The hunt for good new music is often overshadowed by the same Top 40 hits splashed everywhere, with only a few popular artists getting any attention.

The upcoming summer is the perfect opportunity to sift through some of the lesser known artists which will make you wonder why they aren’t more popular and why you didn’t tune in earlier. Here are our top 5 picks:

1. twenty øne piløts

twenty øne piløts for their new album 'Blurryface' Image Credits: warnermusic.de — twenty øne piløts for their new album ‘Blurryface’
Image Credits: warnermusic.de

This duo based in Ohio have got a cult following of sorts, with their fans called ‘The Skeleton Clique’, but are yet to be noticed by the mainstream media. Formed in 2009, the band consists of Tyler Joseph, who is the lyricist, lead singer and also plays the piano and ukulele, and Josh Dun, who takes the role of the drummer/percussionist. Their music is hard to define, going everywhere from hip-hop to raggae to alternative rock and Tyler Joseph switching between singing soulfully to rapping in a style that’s comparable to Eminem, only with no swear words and the lyrics a lot more poignant.

Their first album post their major-label signing, called ‘Vessel’, was an indie hit and has the most interesting bunch of songs that I’ve had the chance to hear in a while. With lyrics sure to get you thinking and Dun’s excellent drumming keeping time, twenty øne piløts are probably one of the most intriguing musical acts out there right now and their new album, ‘Blurryface’, released early last week, is out earning plaudits.

Start with: ‘Ode To Sleep’ (Vessel), ‘Stressed Out’ (Blurryface)

2. Halsey

Ashley 'Halsey' Frangipane Image Credits: billboard.tumblr.com — Ashley ‘Halsey’ Frangipane
Image Credits: billboard.tumblr.com

Ashley Frangipane, known by her stage name which is an anagram of her first name, is one of the most promising female voices to have hit the music scene in recent times. Halsey is known for being an excellent live performer and her Lana Del Ray-esque vibe. Her EP ‘Room 93’ has four songs which feature her hauntingly beautiful vocals and strong,empowering lyrics. She also has a very strong following on social media, owing to her strong views for feminism and body-positivity.

Her first full length album, called ‘Badlands’ will be out in August 2015 and has been described by her as an ‘angry feminist record’ which will feature songs that she has been performing live on tours and festivals. Give her a listen if you’re a little tired of sugary-sweet pop voices singing about the same old issues and are willing to try something that will challenge your musical pallete.

Start with: ‘Hurricane’, ‘Ghost’ (Room 93)

3. PVRIS

PVRIS Image Credits: stheart.com — PVRIS
Image Credits: stheart.com

Pronounced ‘Paris’, the alternative rock trio has just recently started making waves for their commendable music and for being one of the top female-fronted bands. Signed to Rise Records, their debut album ‘White Noise’ was released late last year and garnered positive responses and also comparisons with ‘Paramore’- a female led trio in the rock scene with similar sounds. Buzzfeed called them Paramore’s “cool indie sister”. In fact, for a better understanding of their music, think a mixture of Paramore and Evanescence.

PVRIS’s music ranges from electro to alternative rock; Lynn Gunn’s voice has been described by The Huffington Post as “..a force that cannot be denied, redolently poignant in both her most excitable and serene vocalizations.”

Start with: ‘St. Patrick’, ‘Smoke’ (White Noise)

4. The 1975

The 1975 Image Credits: pixshark.com — The 1975
Image Credits: pixshark.com

Known for their indie-pop, ear-pleasing synthy sounds, the 1975’s music would make for the perfect setting for a summer that is equal parts laid-back and full of adventures. Their debut album, released in the later half of 2013 was heralded as the best indie record of the year and is a mix of sixteen songs which boast of influences from the 80s to glitchy pop and RnB Soul.

Matt Healy’s voice, heavy with the northern English accent, gives the songs a heady, intoxicating feel which makes the album a surpringly soothing listen. Given the length of the album, one would expect listeners to run out of patience and switch tracks but their music manages to hold listeners’ attention, which speaks a lot about their music.

Start with: ‘The City’, ‘She Way Out’ (The 1975)

5. As It Is

As It Is Image Credits: fearlessrecords.com — As It Is
Image Credits: fearlessrecords.com

Widely being touted as the breakout band of 2015, the British pop-punk band is starting to go to places. The band-members’ ages, all just out of their teens, reflects in the music they create with prevalent themes of dealing with critics, growing up and a dreamers-against-the-big-bad-world vibe. Their music is the perfect soundtrack for a summer post gruelling exams where all you want to do is raise your middle finger to the rest of the world. They streamed their first album ‘Never Happy Ever After’ to a mostly positive response earlier this year, with some even calling it “everything a pop-punk record should be today”.

For a sense of their musical sensibilities, think ‘All Time Low’ mixed with early ‘Fall Out Boy’.

Start with: ‘Cheap Shots and Setbacks’, ‘Speak Soft’ (Never Happy Ever After)

Feature Image Credits: lhsepic.com

Shubham Kaushik

[email protected]

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Admissions 2015

Cluster Innovation Centre Admission Guidelines 2015

By Shubham Kaushik June 11, 2015

The Cluster Innovation Centre (CIC), founded in 2011, is an initiative by the University of Delhi towards an innovation-oriented centre of learning that offers dynamic programmes with an entrepreneurial dimension. Read more about CIC here. It was launched with the aim of enhancing creative potential of students through an innovative curriculum. Of the many impressive objectives it has set out for itself, the most important is that of connecting application-based research to solve real world problems. It is also known for its numerous alliances and a vibrant and diverse academic culture which has also led to various collaborations with industry and research institutions across the country, including the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT).

CIC has also pioneered the concept of a Meta College and a Meta University at the Masters level which is based on the premise of drawing upon the resources of already established institutions.

Currently, the CIC offers two undergraduate programmes, namely, B.Tech (Information Technology and Mathematical Innovations) and B. A Honours (Humanities and Social Sciences).

Through the B.Tech. course, CIC aims to build strong analytical skills through Mathematics and application skills through Information Technology so as to produce graduates who are able to provide innovative solutions to the industry and the society.

The B.A Honours course has various streams available which include Journalism, Art & Design, Historical Tourism and Counselling.

Eligibility:

The student must be a regular undergraduate student of University of Delhi. This means that you must first take admission in any other course at DU before getting an admit to CIC.

For B.A. Honours Programme, Students of School of Open Learning (SOL) are also eligible.

For B.Tech, the student must have had Mathematics as a subject till class 12.

Admission Procedure:

Application forms will be available online and physically where they are located, at the G.C Narang Marg, North Campus from Monday, 29th June 2015 at 10:00 AM

The last date for submission of forms is 28th July 2015 at 5.00 p.m.

Students will be required to sit for a written examination on Sunday, 2nd August 2015.

The written entrance examination will test Mathematics (Class 11-12), English and Reasoning.

The results of the exam will be declared on Thursday, 6th August 2015 and the candidates who clear the test will also have to appear for an interview within a week from the entrance test.

For more details and updates on the admission procedure, visit CIC’s website.

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Top Picks

5 easy DIY projects to do this summer

By Shubham Kaushik June 10, 2015

Everyone gets tired of lazing around for weeks after exams end or going through the same old routine of binge-watching TV shows and movies. Even internships often leave you with too much time on your hands.
Summer is the best time to break out those supplies and get your hands a little dirty by trying out a few DIY projects. We bring you a few ideas collected from the interweb to get you started:

1. Fandom Shirts (.. or any t-shirts really)

Fandom shirts Image Credits: pinterest.com — Fandom shirts
Image Credits: pinterest.com

All of us have those few fandoms we associate ourselves with (more like cry and rant about, amirite?) and love to flaunt. Well, being a broke college student often gets in the way of buying good quality fandom merchandise, let alone buy original merchandise. If you’re also unfortunate enough to love a band that is not very popular, you’re doomed to drooling over merchandise and grumble about shipping fees.. Right? Well, not anymore! Use all this free time to make yourself some fandom merchandise to flaunt in college during the next semester.

What you need: cardboard/plastic sheets (to cut out stencils), cutter, bleach/acrylic paint, spray bottle
This is pretty much the easiest thing to do since you just need to print out a picture or letters (if you’re going to write a quote/word) and paste them on the cardboard to cut out stencils. It is recommended to use easily distinguishable symbols which can be cut as stencils easily and recognised through their outlines, like the TARDIS for Doctor Who fans or the mockingjay pin for Hunger Games fans. Use a bleach (discolours the cloth) or acrylic paint in a spray bottle to spray in or around the stencil. Let it dry off and voila! You have yourself handmade fandom shirts!

2. Cords Roll

Cords Roll Image Credits: pinterest.com — Cords Roll
Image Credits: pinterest.com

If you’re anything like a lot of college students I know, your charger, earphones, USB cords are probably lying all tangled up either at the bottom of your bag or somewhere in a distant drawer. This is an easy and simple project to make yourself a cool place to store all your cords which, even if you throw at the bottom of your bag, will make them easier to find. Moreover, you won’t have to spend 10 minutes detangling them before use.
What you need: A patch of real/fake leather or any hard fabric, knife/cutter, snap buttons
Get all the cords you want to place in this roll and put them side-by-side to measure how long it needs to be. Cut out the fabric accordingly and make sure to leave one end cut out in a pointed triangular shape so that you can use this to close the roll (as shown in the picture). Make small cuts at regular interval to place your cords between them. In the end, stitch/glue the snap buttons and you have your portable cord roll!

3. Fabric covered hardcover books/journals

Fabric covered harcover books Image Credits: twotwentyone.com — Fabric covered hardcover books
Image Credits: twotwentyone.com

If you like hoarding hardcover books or have some at hand and want to give them a snazzy, personalised look, this project is for you. This also makes for an excellent present for your friends who are bibliophiles.
What you need: Colourful fabric lying around your home, hardcover books, scissors, fabric glue
The procedure is pretty much the same as that for covering books and notebooks for school using brown paper. Start by ironing the fabric to remove any creases. Cut out an appropriate piece, such that the book will be covered easily and it neatly reaches the insides too. Use a glue gun or fabric glue to put on the fabric. Keep in mind to cut out slits while covering the spine of the book so that you can slide the fabric inside from the top and bottom to give it a snug look.

4. Journal

Journal pages Image Credits: johwey.com — Journal pages
Image Credits: johwey.com

Before you scroll down, no, I don’t mean the journal where you record your entries daily about your day or start off endearing confessions with “Dear Diary..”. If you want to do that, of course, you’re welcome to but the new age journal keeping is a lot more diverse and allows for a lot of creativity. Allow me to explain.
What you need: A journal/notebook, that is it because the rest is upto you
This is fun and easy because your only aim is to fill the pages according to what you want. Do you like quotes or lyrics? Get a few nice pens and scribble them out. Try a few fonts, even experiment with different mediums like watercolour. Did you see a pretty pattern in a magazine you think is cool? Cut it out and paste it. Did you go sightseeing to monuments or to watch a movie? Keep the ticket stubs and put it in the journal. The main aim of journal-keeping is to record things you find interesting and would like to look back on. It’s completely upto you to keep it as plain, colourful, glittery or pictorial as you want.

5. Cool hairpins

Hairpins Image Credits: themerrythought.com — Hairpins
Image Credits: themerrythought.com

If you like to adorn your tresses with cool accessories, this is a really appropriate project. Give up the (frankly) tacky designs in stores and make your own minimalistic style statement!
What you need: hair pins, plywood/plastic sheet, Feviquick/super-glue, cutter/knife
This project works excellently with bits and pieces of plywood lying around if you’ve recently had some carpentering done at your place. Cut up small shapes (triangles are the easiest to cut out, just FYI) and paint them with nailpaint to give them a glossy finish and glue it onto the heads of the hair pins. If you have glitter on you, feel free to use it to add more embellishments.

These are only a few of the many, many things you can try out this summer. Have fun and get crackin’!

Feature Image Credits: jimkw.com

Shubham Kaushik
[email protected]

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Campus Central

Life at Delhi University: Economics Honours

By Shubham Kaushik June 5, 2015

1. Everyone thinks you’re really smart and are going to get a job right out of college ( …while in reality, neither of the two might be true) Sure, Economics does enjoy a best-of-both worlds status with its combination of Humanities and technical subjects like Mathematics and Statistics, but the kind of things people from other courses believe about the subject would put your own misconceptions about it to shame. I have lost count of the number of times I have been told “Oh man, you Eco people are so smart.” Try getting into a discussion about the difficulty of finding jobs or internships and you usually get a vague “But Economics has a lot of scope for jobs.” It doesn’t matter if you’re barely scraping by in your classes or don’t even want to pursue a career in Economics (or a branch of Economics considered ’employable’), being an economics student will doom you to silent participation in discussions related to jobs and relative smartness with students from other courses, no matter how irrational their beliefs about the course may be.

2. Coming to terms with the not-always-so-great scores

Having scored ridiculously well in class 12 and the consequent adulation on having done that and getting into Economics at DU can condition anyone into believing that they belong to the smarter lot on this planet (not to say that they actually don’t because how do you define smartness anyway?) It can be pretty hard to come to terms with the fact that you will not always score as well as what you were used to. This can, of course, be due to a number of factors which include developing more interests and hobbies and having more of a life in college than you did in class 12. Just as you start telling yourself the whole “Oh, but no one scores that well in college,” some of your classmates might start popping up scores over 95%, which will leave you feeling a little anxious and listless. The thing that no one tells you is that it’s okay. It’s okay to have your scores drop a little (or more). The kind of teaching and evaluation you were used to in school is different from that of a university and it affects not only the way your papers are marked but also your motivation to study (remember when not studying had consequences in terms of your favourite teacher giving you concerned looks and maybe even a lecture-cum-pep talk?) College is about finding time for things other than academics as well. If you develop a passion for photography or debating or social issues like feminism and dedicate time to them, you’re really not worse off for it, no matter what your scores or elders may tell you.

3 Dealing with a tougher and more technical subject:

Economics includes subjects with just theory and others which are purely technical. Unlike other subjects, just a general idea of a concept or derivations to get a formula aren’t enough. For a level of understanding adequate enough to be able to score really well and to build future concepts on requires quite a bit of effort and the ability to go through the same concept with little tweaks (case in point, who can forget the the effects of various policy measure in the IS-LM which affected the money and goods market equilibria?) This makes Economics an even tougher subject to study after missing classes due to a festival or other society obligations.There have been cases of students who were forced to drop out of their chosen societies and clubs because they were unable to cope academically. However, there have also been people who have done well both academically and for their societies. It’s a matter of finding a routine which may not be perfect but works for you. Communicating with teachers about some extra help during tutorials or free periods works well. Having friends who are more regular and also free with sharing notes and knowledge never hurts either.

4. Attending Seminars and Career Counselling Sessions urging you towards MBA

You look forward to seminars and career counselling cessions as a way of broadening your horizons about the available options after graduation. Some of these are excellent and do achieve what they were meant to do, but others come across as having a (not so) hidden agenda to herd as many students as possible to business schools. Hearing about the many merits of MBA over other non-specified options gets tiresome after a point of time and you start to wonder why you even bother to attend any sessions at all. The one-sided view of doing MBA also leaves you with a lack of knowledge about other things you can pursue. Forget about inter-disciplinary courses or things like Journalism, after a point you’d probably be refreshed to hear about pursuing Masters and getting into academia.

5. Testing your love for Economics

Let’s be honest, not everyone took up economics because they were genuinely interested in the subject. Being able to clear the cut-off for the course and it being one of the most prestigious ones available were probably reasons enough for many to opt for it. If you were one of those who took it up based on interest, you’ll probably find your love for it being tested from time to time. The reason could be anything from not enough time dedicated to understanding concepts or inadequate teaching or the rigorous but at-times boring textbooks which also leave you with little time to explore other interesting sources to study from. If you took up Economics for the heck of it, there might be moments of you cursing yourself for not opting for an easier subject. The only way out is to keep going and give the subject, and yourself, a chance every time you feel like it’s gone over your head. At the end of three years, a lot of people who came with a torch for Economics might end up leaving with other passions they’ll want to pursue and people who didn’t care very much about the subject might end up developing a strong taste for it. The subject will test you in ways examinations won’t- it’s always easier to score than it is to get a crystal-clear understanding of concepts- but your new-found understanding of the functioning of this world will be worth it. Shubham Kaushik [email protected]]]>

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Summer Symphony: Three 2015 albums you must listen to

By Shubham Kaushik May 27, 2015

Each year comes and brings along with excellent music to listen to and associate it with. 2015 has been an especially great year for music, with major artists releasing music in the first half of the year and yet many more announcing the announcement of theirs. Two months shy of the halfway mark of 2015 and with a lot of options to choose from, here are our top three picks of the albums you should listen and celebrate your summer to:

American Beauty/American Psycho- Fall Out Boy

If you love the sound of anthem songs that have choruses worth shouting and stomping your feet to, look no further than Fall Out Boy’s sixth studio album. The album was released fresh into the New Year on January 20, 2015.

After pulling off a reincarnation of sorts with 2013’s “Save Rock and Roll”, the Chicago-based rock-stars continue to step on, and even try and erase the line between what’s considered pop and rock music. While traditionally known for their “emo” music, with lyricist Pete Wentz’s introspective lyrics and Patrick Stump’s soaring musical arrangements and vocals, the band took a noticeable turn towards pop music in their latest albums. American Beauty/American Psycho (stylised AB/AP), is a pop record, too, but it is also much more than that.

The album is 11 songs long, starting off with blaring horns with the album opener – “Irresistible”, a song about falling in love with people you know will hurt you. The song is a perfect way to start off a record, drawing attention to Stump’s soaring vocals. The first half of the album is full of catchy choruses and psychedelic song you can dance to, including the multi-platinum hit- “Centuries”. It then hits a slight slump in the middle but picks right up, with “Immortals”, which was featured on Disney’s Academy Award Winning film “Big Hero 6”. The album ends with the track named “Twin Skeletons”, which is almost like a cliffhanger in terms of the music you’d expect the band to release next.

The variety of music on AB/AP is commendable, from the melancholic and soulful “Jet Pack Blues” to head-bang worthy anthems like the title track. Despite the variety, it still sounds cohesive as an album and not just a collection of singles, which is more than what can be said for a lot of records being released today.

Must Listens: Uma Thurman, Jet Pack Blues, Fourth of July

Kintsugi- Death Cab for Cutie

Death Cab for Cutie has been a critically acclaimed band for as long as some of us have been alive. No, I’m not exaggerating. They’ve been around since 1997 and have found appreciation that started in the independent music industry and then led them to multiple Grammy nominations.

Kintsugi, the eighth studio album by the band, follows on the heels of the departure of Chris Walla, who was one of the band’s founding members, and the lead vocalist Ben Gibbard’s divorce with actress Zoey. Naturally, the main themes of the album revolve around love, heartbreak and melancholy.

The name of the album is from a Japanese art form involving the piecing together of broken pottery. The breaking and recreation of the ceramics are meant to become a part of the object’s story rather than simply a means of repair. The album is the band’s attempt at observing this philosophy musically and trying to incorporate it after painful losses.

The most striking feature of the album is that it can be listened to as passively or as actively as you want. If you’re focusing on reading and want something in the background or even if you want to wholeheartedly dissect the sound of the album, it is perfect for both. While generally labeled as an indie-pop record, which is what is DCFC’s main genre; it’s too homogenised to capture the sound of this record. The records range from the introspective, but upbeat “No Room in Frame”, to the slow ballad of “Hold No Guns”, and then to the more guitar-based sound of “Good Help (Is So Hard To Find)”.

This is the perfect album for an introspective, laid-back summer. I found it to be particularly amazing to write or read to.

Must Listens: No Room In Frame, Good Help (Is So Hard To Find), Binary Sea

Future Hearts- All Time Low

All Time Low have understood and employed the formula for a pop-punk record time and again. Future Hearts is an extension, although a brilliant one, of the same process. It’s definitely the same band who busted out tunes like “Dear Maria, Count Me In” but the lyrics have matured and the albums are peppered with slower songs, as well.

What Future Hearts lacks in cohesiveness as an album. Though, it definitely makes up in terms of how catchy the majority of the songs are. You might not want to list to the entire album in a go, but you’ll definitely find yourself humming the hooks under your breath after listening to some of the songs. The album follows no one theme but has the general “this- town-is-so-small-let’s-get-away-we’ll-make-it” vibe of any quintessential pop-punk record. Alex Gaskarth’s voice is framed perfectly in the melodic arrangements which some may criticise as overproduced. The album also boasts of some fantastic guest appearances- Mark Hoppus from Blink-182 (Tidal Waves) and Joel Madden from Good Charlotte. The strongest tracks of the album are the starting few as it loses momentum, giving way to the generic and forgettable in the middle.

Listen to this album for the variety of moods it can support- scared about the vast possibilities of the future; protesting against something unfair; or feeling like nothing will be worth it again. This album has it all.

Must Listens: Something’s Gotta Give, Satellite, Cinderblock Garden

Feature image credits: tntmagazine.com

Shubham Kaushik

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Celebrating Femininity (Terms and Conditions Applied)

By Shubham Kaushik April 9, 2015

There is a hypocrisy attached to the way society deals with women and their decisions about their own bodies. The recent incident of Instagram removing a picture showing a fully clothed woman with a small period leak is just one such occurrence in what is the general attitude towards women’s bodies. Although Instagram reinstated the picture (after removing it twice) following a furore on social media platforms, it is appalling to note the general idea perpetuating in society about controlling a woman’s narrative about her own body and it’s – to no one’s surprise – laced with double standards.

It is evident in the way the women’s breasts are objectified but the moment a young woman’s bra (everyday clothing for women all over the world) is visible, it becomes something worth debating and calling “over the top”. For instance, when the media thought it was a big deal for Taylor Swift to step out with her bra visible under a top. It is how women’s roles as life-givers are heralded but menstruation, a natural process influential to their ability to reproduce, is seen as something to be discussed in hushed whispers behind bathroom stalls. It is also about how society celebrates motherhood with pictures of new mothers serenely looking at their babies but banishes the very same mothers to breastfeed in bathroom stalls, which was talked about when a campaign “When Nurture Calls“ was launched in Texas, USA to support a woman’s right to nurse in public without being bothered or disturbed. It is worrying to see how people jump on the bandwagon of Meghan Trainor’s problematic “All About That Bass“, supposedly talking about body positivity, but are unwilling to look at a woman over size 10 in a crop top with anything other than disgust and mockery. The message is loud and clear: Love your body and celebrate womanhood as long as it is aligned with our shiny perceptions of what women should look like and do.

The realities of femininity do not fit into the neat little moulds that they are thought to be restricted to. There are period leaks and unkept body hair and rolls and bends and imperfections. It is time to stop preaching body positivity with statements like “real men love curves” because that defeats the very purpose of loving your body for what it is and not because it might seem more attractive to others in a certain way. It is time for women to take back control of the narrative of their own bodies. To truly celebrate femininity, we have to celebrate all aspects of it- the beauty and the struggle, the perfection and the flaws. We cannot pick and choose things to be proud of and things to quash based on skewed perceptions because there is nothing to be ashamed of about normal bodily functions and nothing ugly about our bodies.

Shubham Kaushik

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‘What the F’: Reclaiming Feminism

By Shubham Kaushik March 8, 2015

Never venture into the comments section of articles on Feminism unless you have a high tolerance for ignorance, blatant disregard for history and just plain old-fashioned stupidity. From calling Feminism a ‘lesbian propaganda movement’ to dismissing it as a farce, the comments induce a lot more exasperation than anything else. They also, however, reveal serious misconceptions that people attach with Feminism.

As a self-proclaimed learning feminist, it hurts when young women don’t want to associate themselves with this movement. What hurts even more are their reasons for not doing so. From wading through blogs like ‘Women Against Feminism’ and the murky depths of poisonous comments sections of various popular articles, two things are clear about women (or anyone) not wanting feminism- They either see Feminism in purely personal terms and not as a global movement not limited to the fortunately privileged few like themselves or they don’t understand it at all. Because “It is the 21st Century in America and being a female is the best *insert sketched heart*” or “I can own up to the mistakes I’ve made in my life and don’t have to blame them on the completely fictional Patriarchy.” or even “I love men complimenting me” are not valid enough reasons to dismiss a movement which has historical roots and finds relevance today too.

The movement, which is aimed at achieving equal rights and opportunities for women, started out focusing on legal issues, primarily on gaining women’s suffrage. The second wave of feminism broadened the movement to issues of sexuality, reproductive rights and violence against women. Modern Feminism, also recognised as third wave feminism, is tackling issues which are less specific in nature yet no less important. Third wave feminism is more inclusive than the first two because it recognises that women are of many colours, ethnicities, nationalities, religions and cultural backgrounds while the first two waves were criticised for being limited to just the issues of middle-class white women It also focuses on portrayal of women in popular culture and rights of the LGBT community. The third wave ideology recognises the fluid notion of gender identities and allows women to define feminism on their own terms.

Most of the criticism attached with Modern Feminism comes because of the so called ‘radical’ feminists who have strong opinions and often stretch the definition of gender equality to unfair levels. Unfortunately, this is the kind of feminist ideology that is most visible due to the sensationalism-hungry means of expression and this skewed ideology is what drives the majority opinion about (and against) Feminism. In reality, most Feminists are not men-hating or victim-playing people who are out burning bras and organising pity-parties. They are people who recognise the importance of equality and have either been wronged by skewed traditional gender-roles themselves or realise that there are others in the world who are being wronged by them and want this to end. We are all, as rational and well-meaning human beings, Feminists in our own way because Feminism, by its very definition, is about equality. It’s about recognising and fighting the stereotypical and confining gender roles the society is conditioned to, which harm not just women but men as well.

That’s the point of it- it can be great for you to be a female in the 21^st century America, but the world’s not limited to America and one does not just have first world problems. You can own up to the mistakes you’ve made in your life but Patriarchy is definitely not fictional and you are either unaware of what it is or privileged enough to not have gone through it. You can love men complimenting you but those compliments should be on your terms and shouldn’t make you feel breached. Feminism doesn’t shun traditional gender roles. It doesn’t want women to not be home-makers or have families. Women should make decisions about being in those positions themselves and not under duress of a patriarchal society that demands it.

That is what it boils down to- achieving equal power to do things and not have them done to us.

Shubham Kaushik

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Rest In Power: The Leelah Alcorn Story

By Shubham Kaushik March 2, 2015

For a society conventionally embroiled in gender-binarism (existence of gender as just two disconnected forms of masculinity and femininity), the last few years have proven to be revolutionary: there has been increased awareness and acceptance of gender identities which don’t lie in these extremely polar categories.

A major incident that brought the attention of the global community to the vulnerability of the transgender people, especially trans kids, was the suicide of Leelah Alcorn, a 17 year old from Ohio, during the last days of 2014. Leelah, born Joshua Alcorn to conservative Christian parents, was a transgender girl who was driven to suicide due to non-acceptance of her gender identity and the isolation and rebukes she was subjected to.

Leelah timed her suicide note to appear hours after her death on her Tumblr blog, in which she described the oppressive atmosphere at her home and her parents’ disapproval of her identity under the pretence of ‘religious beliefs’. She ended her note with a plea, saying: “My death needs to mean something. My death needs to be counted in the number of transgender people who commit suicide this year. I want someone to look at that number and say “that’s f**ked up” and fix it. Fix society. Please.”

Leelah’s wish didn’t go unfulfilled. As her suicide note went viral, it sparked debate on the rights and recognition of transgender people and the vulnerability of transgender kids who are struggling with their gender identities in a society that sees them as an abominable anomaly. Leelah’s parents further caused a furore by refusing to accept Leelah’s identity even after her death, continuing to misgender her and referring to her as ‘Joshua’.

This was met with passionate protests on social media with hashtags like #RestInPower and #HerNameWasLeelah trending worldwide. It also resulted in a petition to ban conversion therapy (measures to convert people to conventionally accepted gender/sexual identities) which was called ‘Leelah’s Law’ and garnered a lot of support.

This struggle for recognition didn’t start with Leelah and the after effects weren’t limited to just her either. Social media became a platform for movements to protect transgender kids and to reveal details and spread awareness about the horrifying violence against the transgender community, including transgender people of colour, who are doubly oppressed.

Despite the grim statistics and saddening accounts of oppression, there have been notable changes in society’s attitude towards the transgender community. Barack Obama recently talked about protection for the LGBT community, making it the first time the community was directly acknowledged in an official State Of The Union address. Laverne Cox- a transgender actress as well as a LGBT rights activist- best recognised for her role in the popular TV series ‘Orange Is The New Black’ recently became the first transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy award and was also featured in TIME Magazine. Here, she spoke about her trials growing up as a transgender woman and addressed several misconceptions about the community.

Though the situation is far from positive, especially in India, occurrences like these add power to the movement for transgender rights and lead us towards being a more inclusive and accepting society.

Shubham Kaushik
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