My Recent Work
Read the XCity 2026 print issue here
This year's issue of XCity by the MA Magazine Journalism students at City St George's University. Dolly Alderton is the cover star alongside interviews with Mark Chapman, Alison Hammond, and Lauren Laverne.
Recent Articles
Coachella organisers announce new electronic music festival, Head Trip
Coachella organisers Goldenvoice will return to California in October this year, this time with a one-off electronic music-focused festival, Head Trip.
The one-time-only event will take over the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, home of Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, spotlighting electronic dance music DJs and producers across the weekend.
Taking place over two days, 10th and 11th October, the festival’s organisers have already shared the line-up. The event will see Calvin Harris...
The one-time-only event will take over the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, home of Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, spotlighting electronic dance music DJs and producers across the weekend.
Taking place over two days, 10th and 11th October, the festival’s organisers have already shared the line-up. The event will see Calvin Harris...
Watch David Guetta bring out Jennifer Lopez during Coachella 2026 set
David Guetta invited Jennifer Lopez on stage during his Coachella set this past weekend.
The French DJ and producer, voted the world’s No.1 DJ in DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs poll last year, took over the Quasar stage on Saturday night, during which he was joined by J-Lo for a rendition of their recent collaborative single, ‘Save Me Tonight’.
The pop-leaning set also featured hits like LMFAO’s ‘Party Rock Anthem’, Lady Gaga’s ‘Just Dance’, and his own ‘Sexy Chick’ featuring Akon. He also paid tribute t...
The French DJ and producer, voted the world’s No.1 DJ in DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs poll last year, took over the Quasar stage on Saturday night, during which he was joined by J-Lo for a rendition of their recent collaborative single, ‘Save Me Tonight’.
The pop-leaning set also featured hits like LMFAO’s ‘Party Rock Anthem’, Lady Gaga’s ‘Just Dance’, and his own ‘Sexy Chick’ featuring Akon. He also paid tribute t...
Roger Sanchez announces first new album in 20 years, shares single: Listen
Roger Sanchez has announced his first album in 20 years, ‘SPECTRUM’. You can listen to the his new single, ‘Temptation’, below
Set for release on 5th June, the legendary US house DJ and producer’s latest project will be his first full-length release since 2006’s ‘Come With Me’.
Six years in the making, the record comes with a stacked list of guests, including features from Fedde Le Grand, Karen Harding, Donae-o, Kelli-Leigh, Melanie C and more.
Speaking about new single, ‘Temptation’, a collab...
Set for release on 5th June, the legendary US house DJ and producer’s latest project will be his first full-length release since 2006’s ‘Come With Me’.
Six years in the making, the record comes with a stacked list of guests, including features from Fedde Le Grand, Karen Harding, Donae-o, Kelli-Leigh, Melanie C and more.
Speaking about new single, ‘Temptation’, a collab...
Watch PinkPantheress play ‘Illegal’, ‘Stars’ and ‘Girl Like Me’ at Coachella 2026
Highlights from PinkPantheress’ set at Coachella this past weekend have been made available to watch online. Watch her play ‘Illegal’, ‘Girl Like Me’ and ‘Stars’ below.
The UK star took to the Mojave stage on Saturday evening, opening her 50-minute set with recent hit ‘Stateside’ before launching into tracks including ‘Romeo’, ‘Noises’ and ‘Nice To Know You’.
Elsewhere in the set, she gave her 2023 track ‘Turn Your Phone Off’ its live debut and performed her remix version of LE SSERAFIM’s ‘CRA...
The UK star took to the Mojave stage on Saturday evening, opening her 50-minute set with recent hit ‘Stateside’ before launching into tracks including ‘Romeo’, ‘Noises’ and ‘Nice To Know You’.
Elsewhere in the set, she gave her 2023 track ‘Turn Your Phone Off’ its live debut and performed her remix version of LE SSERAFIM’s ‘CRA...
Hagan shares new EP, ‘Hagan’s calling’: Listen
Hagan has shared a new EP, titled ‘Hagan’s Calling’. Check it out below.
Following the title track’s release in March, the South London producer and DJ’s latest project comes after taking the last year to focus on refining his sound and craft. It arrives via his newly launched imprint, Busy Creating.
Blending UK club music with elements of 3-step, highlife, gqom and Afro-house, the multi-genre EP focuses on percussion-led tracks and heavily layered production, with two vocal tracks and two inst...
Following the title track’s release in March, the South London producer and DJ’s latest project comes after taking the last year to focus on refining his sound and craft. It arrives via his newly launched imprint, Busy Creating.
Blending UK club music with elements of 3-step, highlife, gqom and Afro-house, the multi-genre EP focuses on percussion-led tracks and heavily layered production, with two vocal tracks and two inst...
ANTS launches competition to win a DJ set at Ushuaïa Ibiza this summer
ANTS has announced its ANTS: NEXT GEN 2026 artist program, a competition that includes the chance to perform as part of the brand’s Ushuaïa Ibiza residency. The set will take place on 19th September.
Returning for a fourth year, the winner of ANTS: NEXT GEN will also benefit from access to Ableton training and hardware, a masterclass and equipment from AlphaTheta, a one year SoundCloud Artist Pro membership, and a dedicated feature with DJ Mag.
ANTS requires entrants to submit a 45-60 minute mi...
Returning for a fourth year, the winner of ANTS: NEXT GEN will also benefit from access to Ableton training and hardware, a masterclass and equipment from AlphaTheta, a one year SoundCloud Artist Pro membership, and a dedicated feature with DJ Mag.
ANTS requires entrants to submit a 45-60 minute mi...
Carlita and Paige Cavell share new single, ‘Patchwork’: Listen
Carlita and Paige Cavell have teamed up for a new single, ‘Patchwork’. Check it out below.
Landing ahead of her set with Josh Baker at Coachella this weekend, where they can be found on the Yuma stage, the single marks the Turkish-Italian DJ and producer’s first single since 2025’s ‘Mind Off’ with WhoMadeWho and Orsa.
Josh Baker has also previously worked with Paige Cavell, with the vocalist featuring on his track with Silva Bumpa, ‘Feel This Way’.
The arrival of ‘Patchwork’ comes amidst a busy...
Landing ahead of her set with Josh Baker at Coachella this weekend, where they can be found on the Yuma stage, the single marks the Turkish-Italian DJ and producer’s first single since 2025’s ‘Mind Off’ with WhoMadeWho and Orsa.
Josh Baker has also previously worked with Paige Cavell, with the vocalist featuring on his track with Silva Bumpa, ‘Feel This Way’.
The arrival of ‘Patchwork’ comes amidst a busy...
Coachella 2026 set times and streaming schedule are here
Coachella has announced the full streaming schedule and set times for the first event of its double-weekend festival, which takes place from Friday 10th to Sunday 12th April. You can check out more details below.
The desert festival has also revealed that its 2026 livestream will feature all seven stages in 4K resolution, allowing for up to four performances to be streamed simultaneously.
Coachella weekend one opens on Friday (10th April) with The xx on the Coachella stage, as well as PAWSA, Ket...
The desert festival has also revealed that its 2026 livestream will feature all seven stages in 4K resolution, allowing for up to four performances to be streamed simultaneously.
Coachella weekend one opens on Friday (10th April) with The xx on the Coachella stage, as well as PAWSA, Ket...
Nine Inch Nails and Boys Noize announce collaborative album as Nine Inch Noize, ‘Halo 38’
Nine Inch Nails and Boys Noize will release a collaborative album this month under the name Nine Inch Noize. ‘Halo 38’ will be released on 17th April.
The confirmation of the release comes ahead of their collaborative Coachella set, where published set times confirm they will also play under the joint alias. Performing on Saturday 11th April, they are set to play the California festival’s Sahara stage.
Both Nine Inch Nails and Boys Noize announced the album in a joint post via Instagram. While...
The confirmation of the release comes ahead of their collaborative Coachella set, where published set times confirm they will also play under the joint alias. Performing on Saturday 11th April, they are set to play the California festival’s Sahara stage.
Both Nine Inch Nails and Boys Noize announced the album in a joint post via Instagram. While...
Club culture’s representations in film explored in new book, After Hours: Clubbing on Film
A new book delving into representations of club culture in cinema is on the way.
After Hours: Clubbing on Film has been edited by Ana David, Maria Ferreira, and Tabitha Thorlu-Bangura, and explores various representations of club spaces on screen. Published by Batalha Centro de Cinema, the book explores the ways in which filmmakers have portrayed these environments as sites for cultural development, social exchange and emotional release.
Expanding on a film series shown at Porto’s Batalha Cent...
After Hours: Clubbing on Film has been edited by Ana David, Maria Ferreira, and Tabitha Thorlu-Bangura, and explores various representations of club spaces on screen. Published by Batalha Centro de Cinema, the book explores the ways in which filmmakers have portrayed these environments as sites for cultural development, social exchange and emotional release.
Expanding on a film series shown at Porto’s Batalha Cent...
Kelela shares new single and video, ‘idea 1’: Watch
Kelela has returned with a new single and video, ‘idea 1’. Check it out below.
Marking her first new release since 2025’s ‘In The Blue Light’ live album, it signals the start of a new era for the US artist.
In a statement about her new single, Kelela said: "'idea 1' is about what it feels like to exist in this climate – the weight of being expected to witness, absorb, and speak truth at a time when the world feels like it's unraveling. That's a particular kind of burden Black women know intimat...
Marking her first new release since 2025’s ‘In The Blue Light’ live album, it signals the start of a new era for the US artist.
In a statement about her new single, Kelela said: "'idea 1' is about what it feels like to exist in this climate – the weight of being expected to witness, absorb, and speak truth at a time when the world feels like it's unraveling. That's a particular kind of burden Black women know intimat...
From Cape Town to London: Deo Kato’s mammoth run for justice
STEPS — Spanning 17 months, 21 countries and two continents, the Ugandan born athlete ran from Cape Town to London to raise awareness of racism and migration stories, while trying to find his own place in the world. A new film explores his obstacle-filled path and what he learned along the way.
For most people, a marathon is an endpoint. For Deo Kato, it became a unit of measurement. Over 17...
For most people, a marathon is an endpoint. For Deo Kato, it became a unit of measurement. Over 17...
The story of World Headquarters, the beating heart of Newcastle’s…
Refuge & ruckus — Sprouting from free party roots, the nightclub institution has been an inclusive pillar of the North East’s music scene since the early ’90s. Olivia Fee dives into its long history, evolution, and ongoing importance.
In an unassuming unit on the edge of Newcastle’s city centre lies one of the English North East’s most important dancefloors. There’s no signage outside, or adv...
In an unassuming unit on the edge of Newcastle’s city centre lies one of the English North East’s most important dancefloors. There’s no signage outside, or adv...
Björk calls for Greenland independence following fresh Trump…
Icelandic music legend Björk has taken to social media to stand in solidarity with Greenland, after Donald Trump repeated threats to take control from Denmark. After requests from Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, for Trump to end calls to annex this Danish territory, the US President told BBC reporters: “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security.”The Icelandic singer shared a post on Instagram, encouraging Greenlanders to call for independence from Denmark.She wrote...
Central Cee, SZA, Slawn and more take part in Sudan fundraiser
A new initiative, Freedom For Sudan, is set to hold an auction in partnership with global artists to raise money for Sudan’s severe humanitarian crisis. All donations will go towards Sudanese non-profit organisations, providing immediate aid, essential medical care and food assistance. Following Sudan’s 70th Independence Day, the auction will be held in partnership with artists, musicians and such as The Weeknd, SZA, PinkPantheress, 2hollis, Slawn and Central Cee, mobilising global creative comm...
Six of the best songs to soundtrack your spring clean
'Bang A Drum' by Selena GomezRecall Another Cinderella Story (2008). Play this song and suddenly you’re Selena Gomez, flirty dance-cleaning your flat. Wipe those tables to the beat and vacuum the floors like you’re strutting down stage. You may not have a crush to cheekily throw a rag at like in the movie, but if you have roommates then you guys can still dance around the kitchen and make these mundane chores a little more fun. This upbeat tune will get you on your feet and ready to take on what...
Six of the best songs for sunny days
'Think Too Much' by Hannah JadaguI know we’re all tempted to blast ‘Lush Life’ by Zara Larsson when it’s sunny out, but I have something better! What I love most about sunny days is the slight peaceful laziness they make you feel. My pick for the best song for a sunny day is ‘Think Too Much’ by Hannah Jadagu. The song makes you feel like you are languidly sunbathing on a beach or in the park for a picnic, just basking in the sun and enjoying the hint of summer peeking through the clouds. It’s go...
"There's more that can be done": local DJ Amelia Leigh on breaking gender norms
“I’ve been wanting to DJ since I was like 18, and it just never really happened for me”, Amelia recalls. Reflecting on her first experience at a DJ society social, she shares, “I walk in, and it’s a room full of lads and I was like oh my god… genuinely I was so scared”. Having started Newcastle University during the peak of COVID-19, DJSoc events were her only real avenue to get involved – a space that unfortunately was overwhelmingly male-dominated. Despite this, Amelia says that “it made [her]...
3 artists to look out for in 2025
Following the long-awaited announcement of her sophomore album, Perverts, coming out in January, fans of Ethel Cain are on their knees praying for her new release to come as quickly as possible. After the emotional rollercoaster and enigmatic storytelling of Preacher’s Daughter in 2022, listeners can be hopeful for more dark and twisted stories sang with deeply ethereal vocals on top of an expansive blend of unique sound. We know well enough to expect some form of sonic excellence from the cinem...
Fish56Octagon live at NX review: dapper beats and first-rate tunes
Fish56Octagon has become a music phenomenon in the dance music scene, despite starting out on TikTok with his car enthusiast videos. Now the esteemed DJ shows himself dressed in dapper dressing gowns while spinning some first-rate tunes on social media, whilst booking the biggest festivals in the UK.
In his first headline show in Newcastle, the ‘FishTales’ tour arrived at NX to put on a jam packed 2+ hour set of every genre under the sun. His club concept of ‘FishTales’ flaunts a multi-genre pa...
In his first headline show in Newcastle, the ‘FishTales’ tour arrived at NX to put on a jam packed 2+ hour set of every genre under the sun. His club concept of ‘FishTales’ flaunts a multi-genre pa...
Album Review: "Charm" by Clairo
Starting from the depths of her bedroom in high school, Clairo began her journey as an artist with her lo-fi pop melodies, uploading her music to the likes of SoundCloud and Bandcamp. Her debut album Immunity started as an extension from the bedroom pop she seemed to be well-versed in, showing more of a depth into the indie pop/rock side of the album. In 2021, Clairo presented the world with Sling, an album that strayed from the soft pop that her fans expected and instead embraced a new angle of...
Oasis: The Reunion
As a child of diehard Oasis fans, growing up in a Britpop-filled household meant that the Mancunian duo and their band were inescapable, and the track lists of every album were often inadvertently used as a classic lullaby as a youngster. From never hearing the end of stories from the iconic Knebworth show to seeing tickets framed along the walls of our home, my brother and I knew from a young age that Oasis were serious business.
After the dreaded Ticketmaster war on Saturday, there are only t...
After the dreaded Ticketmaster war on Saturday, there are only t...
What was this year's "Song of the Summer"?
There has been many coined "songs of the summer" this year. At the beginning of summer, we saw the overtake of the Brat Phenomenon from Charli XCX and then to complete it Sabrina Carpenter's eventual release of Short n Sweet. However, my parents have always brought me up on the same tracklist of music every summer. It is often filled with: The Prodigy, Gorillaz, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Supergrass. What has always been a staple of that list, and a staple of all of my summers is -- 'Steal My Su...
The vinyl resurgence: why are records making a comeback?
The idea that modernist culture in media is back-pedalling, and the “vintage aesthetic” is becoming much more prevalent in popular culture and is heavily aiding the vinyl revival. Aestheticism is one of the major components that influences current daily life, distinctly the way it is portrayed on social media, and so the vintage feel of vinyl and its raw, retro and real vibe gives younger generations a new way to present such an attractive lifestyle that aligns with this vintage style.
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