BYLINES
Published Writing
Summer 2020 brought a whirlwind of uncertainty amid the coronavirus pandemic. My quarantine served as an opportunity to experiment in a facet of communications I have pre-existing love for: writing. I revisited my journalistic roots and joined The GENEWS, an independent digital news source written by students for students, as a contributing writer for the Film/Media Section. Not only did I find an escape in pop culture, but I also strengthened my writing skills and found new routes to explore within the media industry.
Browse through some of my favorite stories that fostered so much joy in my darkest days.
Michelle Obama Brings Her New Podcast to Spotify
Former First Lady, Michelle Obama, kicked off the start of her new podcast with its first official episode. It is available for streaming on Spotify as of Wednesday, July 29th. She teamed up with the Obamas’ own entertainment production company, Higher Ground Productions, and Spotify for the launch and development of the podcast.
HBO donates $1 million to Howard University Film Program
In honor of HBO’s new feature film “Between The World and Me” produced by Howard University graduates Ta-Nehisi Coates and Kamilah Forbes, HBO donated one million dollars to students pursuing careers in film and media. The donation will help create a fellowship for more opportunities in industry-booming cities with high costs of living.
Direction for “Grease” Prequel Film Moves Forward
An addition to Paramount’s Grease films is underway, and it is to be directed and produced by Temple Hill and Picturestart, following the original Grease and Grease 2. Titled Summer Lovin’, the new film is inspired by the famous tune from the original Grease soundtrack.
MUSIC COLUMN
Weekly New Releases and Must-Listens
JLo and Maluma Post a Sneak Peek of New Music to Instagram
Jennifer Lopez and Colombian singer Maluma posted to Instagram over the weekend teasing new music lyrics written together in the studio. The two artists are working on an album in preparation for becoming co-stars in their upcoming film Marry Me.
Pop
F2020 by Avenue Beat, a trio of Illinois natives now based out of Nashville, TN, is a generational hit. Released July 10 after sharing a tease on TikTok, the group convinced their manager to allow them to release the full song by raking in millions of views. The song serves as a mantra for today, uniting the many who have been wallowing in the mental, emotional, and financial pain of 2020.
BIPOC Artists
The newly released single Sunrise by the NYC collective MICHELLE fosters a summery feeling with its lighthearted, care-free, sway-along-to sound and relaxed beat. The pop track with breaths of indie sound and was the first written since the artists’ album “Heatwave” back in 2018. MICHELLE honors POC and the LGBTQ+ communities not only with the group’s own diverse members but with its musical influences as well, ranging from SZA to Orion Sun.
LGBTQIA+ Artists
If you haven’t spent your quarantine jamming out to CHIKA’s 2020 album, “Industry Games,” it’s not too late. Her track CROWN puts a smooth and soulful spin on rap, a bit reminiscent of some of my Chance the Rapper favorites. CHIKA’s influence extends beyond her rhythm; her approach to expressing gender identity and sexuality redefines “what it means to be a woman—or a man—there are infinite things we can change with how we look at gender,” she tells Vogue.
R&B
DadBod by Logic on his new album “No Pressure” lays down a lo-fi-style track behind some soft rap. The track is reflective of Logic’s evolved style from his mixtape beginnings with more hardcore hardship-inspired lyrics to a relaxed rhythm about his fairly ‘average’ lifestyle, hence embracing the ‘dadbod.’
Young Artists
Billie Eilish’s newest single my future perfectly blends her gently hypnotic voice with a poppy beat that picks up halfway through the track. The melodic song is a reflection of Billie’s personal growth as expressed by her music journey from sob songs to happy tunes. The 18-year-old illustrates the person she now sees in the mirror with such optimism for her future.