Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Homestead High School's student newspaper

The Epitaph
Homestead High School's student newspaper

The Epitaph
Homestead High School's student newspaper

The Epitaph
“Hurry Up Tomorrow” is a climactic finish to one of the greatest careers in music history. (Photo from Spotify)

‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ is everything pop music should be

By Sachin Chandran • March 21, 2025

Every story must have a conclusion, and The Weeknd has concluded his musical story in a nearly perfect way. The Weeknd’s sixth and final studio album, “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” serves as the end to the...

Gilberto’s lyrics can be playful, poking fun at everyday things. (Photo Illustration by Maya Dutt)

Bebel Gilberto blesses Brazilian bossa nova with stunning vocals

By Maya Dutt • March 9, 2025

The guitar and drums with brushes are reverent, setting a delicate atmosphere. Shakers hiss in and out. Then, a slightly husky but clear voice breaks through the backtrack, singing about joy in Portuguese....

Mac Miller’s posthumous album contains unique songs but questionable musicality. (Photo from Spotify)

“Balloonerism” no longer floats in the dark

By Isabela Guilardi • February 12, 2025

Legendary artist Mac Miller’s latest posthumous album “Balloonerism” was released on Jan. 17 after its songs showed up in Miller’s collection of “lost albums,” albums that were not released...

SZA captivates listeners with her ability to tie her vocals to song melodies. (Photo from Spotify)

‘SOS Deluxe: Lana’ is SZA’s heartbreak SOS

By Elena Shim • February 10, 2025

There is beauty in regaining one’s true self after the pain of heartbreak after a breakup. It lets the heart heal, and the seemingly impossible prospect of closure becomes easier. SZA reflects...

The newest saga of "EPIC: The Musical” brings excitement through the new story of “The Vengeance Saga.” (Photo from Spotify)

‘EPIC: The Musical’ is truly epic

By Catherine Yang • December 19, 2024

"EPIC: The Musical,” a collection of music based on Homer's “Odyssey,” is a dynamic take on the ancient tale, blending powerful storytelling with an exhilarating modern score. The latest saga, “EPIC:...

Jovi Greene’s sheer talent and unique style makes me come back for more.

Jovi Greene is not your average influencer, he is taking country music by storm

By Maya Dutt • December 8, 2024

I hate country music. The twang of the country guitar combined with harmonica usually makes me want to puke. I thought this dislike would be permanent, but influencer-turned-musician Jovi Greene changed...

The groovy beat and witty lines in “Iced Coffee” strongly contrast JoJo Siwa’s previous works.

JoJo Siwa serves up a drink with ‘Iced Coffee’

By Veronica Zhao • November 24, 2024

For the past two months, JoJo Siwa has been off the radar. After dropping her hit EP “Guilty Pleasure” and disappearing off the internet, I was left questioning: where has this girly-turned-edgy singer...

The “Finally: A Theater Tour.” transcends music and incites moments of personal reflection.

Rex Orange County takes us to ‘Therapy’

By Amanda Boles and Adam Orrin • November 23, 2024

The spotlight flickers on to reveal a lonely hospital cot, revealing Alex O’Connor, better known as Rex Orange County, sitting beside a doctor. As he sits on the bed, he sings his song “Alexander,”...

Omar Apollo’s “God Said No World Tour” was heaven sent

Omar Apollo’s “God Said No World Tour” was heaven sent

By Olivia Levesque Ouellette • October 8, 2024

As the lights dim and the crowd roars, the white curtain is absorbed by the blue spotlight. The curtain rises and the spotlight is centered on singer, songwriter Omar Apollo. Dressed in white from head...

Although the electronic band aiwake has a short discography, each song is a gem that you do not want to miss.

Underrated Artists: aiwake produces imaginative, downtempo beats

By Saira Ahmed • September 11, 2023

Driving at blue hour after sunset and a long road awaits: a feeling of calmness and contentment can only be paired with the best music. The indie electronic band aiwake’s discography perfectly fits this...

FEATURES EXECUTED POORLY: Many of Spotify’s updates in the past couple of years have fallen flat.

A never-ending loop of songs

By Saira Ahmed • April 24, 2022

Finding new music is something I look forward to every day. I love discovering new songs and artists I have never heard before and seeing what they have to offer. Before Spotify, YouTube’s personalized...

The red light shines as the word “incomplete” appears on the screen. The three leaders of each unit in Seventeen, Vocal, Hip-Hop and Performance, appear as the song “Intro. New World” starts. A K-Pop boy group, Seventeen held an online concert, “Incomplete,” on Jan. 23, which premiered in 122 different countries. The concert started with a short compilation of small unit stages, which are a small group within Seventeen with two to seven members, featuring songs such as, “BRING IT,” “MY I” and “Flower,” then transitioned into their popular releases, “Fear,” “Fearless,” “Fallin’ Flower,” “THANKS,” “Lie Again” and “Kidult.” These stages had beautiful matching outfits as well as aesthetically pleasing stage sets. One thing that stood out was the transitions between each stage and the remixes of each song. Seventeen is a group who always tries to showcase something different for their fans every performance, and looking at their newly reformed stages left me in a state of awe. Afterward, they moved on to playing their position unit stages (Vocal, Hip-Hop and Performance), “Back it up,” “Habit” and “MOONWALKER,” as well as their age unit stages, “AH! LOVE,” “Light a Flame,” “HEY BUDDY” and “Do Re Mi.” This showcased new remixes of their older songs as well as stages they showed to the public for the first time. During these stages, the members were able to showcase their talents to the audience. I enjoyed this because earlier in the show there was not much time for individual members to shine, due to the large size of the group with 13 members. After the unit stages, Seventeen performed more of their group music and remixes and then moved on to the encore stages, an extended stage after their planned performances. Usually during an encore stage in K-Pop concerts, the artists wear comfortable clothing while singing and interacting with the fans rather than performing a stage with choreography. During the encore, Seventeen was presented with a recording of their fans, Carats, singing their song, “Us, Again.” I started to tear up when I was watching the members tear up while listening to us singing. After the song, the members went around giving speeches about how they were able to grow up through their experiences with the pandemic and promised to present the fans with improved stages in 2021. The concert ended with Seventeen singing “All My Love,” “My My,” “Campfire” and “Healing,” which helped me relax and forget about all the worries I had with my schoolwork. Through the concert, Seventeen once again proved to the public that they are a group with strong vocals and performances. Although they were not able to perform their use of encore stages such as “Very Nice” due to curfew, the concert gave me happiness for three hours, allowing me to recharge and motivate me to work harder after the concert. There are pros and cons to hosting a virtual concert like Seventeen. Having an online concert allows the fans to watch their favorite artists perform even under the circumstances we are in. This also allows fans from all over the world to watch the concert live. Hosting an online concert also allows fans to buy one ticket and share it with their friends and families, spreading the music to others. It also allows fans to comfortably sit in their homes with a couple of snacks, use the restroom, and go on calls if necessary. Finally, online concerts allow groups to use it as an opportunity to present unique stages. For example, Seventeen performed their unit stages with sets such as houses, playgrounds and a jazz bar, which would be hard to move on and off if it was an in-person performance. However, there are some disadvantages, the biggest of those being that fans and artists cannot meet face-to-face. Going to a concert in person is more entertaining for both fans and the artists, especially since artists get the energy to perform from their fans cheering them on. Although the online concert allows more people to watch the concert in their comfort zone, it takes out the whole beauty of cheering on the artists I like with other fans and getting to see the artists live. And artists are not complete without their fans because they give them the energy to perform at a concert and bring them happiness. But under the condition we are under, knowing that their fans will be cheering them on at their homes, they are able to pull through the concert and present spectacular stages to the fans. As Seventeen said, “Incomplete, but we are IN COMPLETE.”

“Incomplete but we are IN COMPLETE”

By Seoyoung Hwang • February 28, 2021

The red light shines as the word “incomplete” appears on the screen. The three leaders of each unit in Seventeen, Vocal, Hip-Hop and Performance, appear as the song “Intro. New World” starts. A...

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