Renowned Irish singer-songwriter Declan O’Rourke has once again expanded the boundaries of his artistic oeuvre with the release of his eighth studio album, Oceanic. Out via Maiesta Music, the record represents a profound synthesis of the disparate musical languages O’Rourke has navigated over a career spanning more than two decades. Recorded in Sydney, Australia, in … Read more
Twelve years after the release of his self-titled debut, William Dorey—better known by his musical moniker Skinshape—remains an archetype of modern, independent auteurship. Operating out of his North London base, The Library Studios in Harringay, Dorey has maintained an astonishingly prolific output, releasing a full-length record almost every year since 2014, including two pandemic-era albums … Read more
Swiss saxophonist and composer Jochen Baldes has carved out a distinct and uncompromising path across European jazz. Born in Zurich in 1964, Baldes initially pursued a career as a freelance painter and sculptor before discovering his passion for the horn in his early twenties. This late-blooming transition into music—commencing formal studies in 1986 under the … Read more
In the vibrant and often unpredictable landscape of London’s West End and Off-West End theatre, few productions capture the zeitgeist quite like Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody. Currently playing a strictly limited engagement at the intimate Underbelly Boulevard in Soho through November 1, 2026, this 75-minute theatrical romp has quickly become the talk of … Read more
In an era defined by hyper-curated digital personas and the unrelenting glare of public scrutiny, pop culture icon Selena Gomez has continually distinguished herself through a radical, often disarming commitment to authenticity. On Sunday, October 18, the 34-year-old multi-hyphenate artist took to her Instagram Story to pull back the curtain on a deeply personal health … Read more
As part of its ambitious autumn touring itinerary, the English Touring Opera (ETO) has brought a compelling, conceptually unified double bill to the iconic stage of the Hackney Empire. Reviewed on October 17, 2026, the programme pairs Elena Langer’s contemporary 2002 mono-drama Ariadne with Henry Purcell’s Baroque masterpiece Dido & Aeneas. Under the overarching vision … Read more
In the sprawling, interconnected landscape of contemporary global groove, few artists operate with the historical depth, technical mastery, and transnational vision of Senegalese bassist, composer, and bandleader Alune Wade. With the release of his seventh solo album, Family Affair, Wade delivers a masterclass in musical genealogy, drawing a direct, resonant line from the brass bands … Read more
In its ambitious autumn touring season, the English Touring Opera (ETO) has firmly cemented its reputation for breathing vibrant, contemporary life into early masterworks. Following its striking modern staging of Gluck’s Orpheus & Eurydice, the company presented a compelling, emotionally charged double bill at the Hackney Empire on 17 October 2026. Pairing Elena Langer’s contemporary … Read more
In the fast-moving landscape of contemporary pop music, listener engagement metrics often serve as an immediate barometer of cultural resonance. Following a fiercely competitive weekly music poll published by Billboard on Friday, October 16, Canadian pop powerhouse Tate McRae has definitively captured the public’s attention. Her newly minted single, "Housewife," dominated the digital ballot, pulling … Read more
As part of its ambitious autumn tour, the English Touring Opera (ETO) has delivered a triumph of conceptual staging and musical cohesion with a striking operatic double bill. Performed at the historic Hackney Empire, the programme pairs Elena Langer’s 2002 contemporary monodrama Ariadne with Henry Purcell’s baroque masterpiece Dido & Aeneas. This thoughtful pairing explores … Read more
