Music
The hell bangers of Botswana's underground metal scene
Far beyond driven — Botswana’s heavy metal culture gets hyped for all the wrong reasons: namely the desert-defying style of its leather-clad crews. But beneath the surface is a DIY subculture uncorrupted by the outside world.
Written by: Bongani Madondo
ANOHNI launches free feminist festival in Denmark
The future is female — ‘Future Feminism’ – a series of performances, talks, workshops and events – is coming to Aarhus this month.
Written by: Dominique Sisley
This Syrian rapper risked everything for freedom. Now he wants the world to listen
From activist to outcast — In his homeland of Syria, Mohammad Abu Hajar is considered a fugitive – a political musician who wore out his welcome. But in Berlin, where he lives in exile, the right to exist poses a new set of challenges.
Written by: Lara Atallah
Amsterdam's Milkshake festival is a queer dance party paradise
No shits given — Queer nightlife is a vital part of the LGBT community, a chance to escape and find freedom in the night. But at Milkshake festival in Amsterdam it ascends from darkness, taking centre stage in all its glistening glory.
Written by: Michael Segalov
Shaun Ryder: The hilarious life lessons of a cultural hero
Pills, thrills and bellyaches — As the face of ‘Madchester’, Shaun Ryder had it all, lost it all, then repeated the cycle just for fun. But after getting clean and mending some wounds, he’s ready to take another crack at cementing his legacy.
Written by: Cian Traynor
Esther Joy on singing out the darkness within
Confronting Samgel — In her upcoming LP, Pyschic Tears, London-based electronic musician Esther Joy uses sounds to come face to face with the darkness that accompanied her for so many years.
Written by: Biju Belinky
Faith No More's Roddy Bottum on learning to love Bigfoot
A monster of motivation — The first openly gay man in hard rock has set himself a new challenge: turning some giant life lessons into Sasquatch: The Opera!
Written by: Cian Traynor
What does it mean to be an Afropunk today?
‘It's not about colour’ — As it returns to the UK for the second year, photographer Theo McInnes captures the crowds at Afropunk – Brooklyn’s iconic black arts festival.
Written by: Dominique Sisley
The photographer who helped define music's greatest icons
Shooting stardust — From Bowie to Gaga, Daft Punk to Snoop, Mick Rock has shot them all and lived to tell the tale – just about. Now that a film has been made about his life, he talks life after death, Phil Lynott's murder brag and Lou Reed's love of cats.
Written by: Cian Traynor
How to stay sane while making your own music
Tips from Hiatus — Electronic musician Cyrus Shahrad sees electronic music as an emotional outlet. Releasing his songs tracks the moniker Hiatus since 2010, he knows very well how draining the process of making something good can be – but now he wants to share his own tips on how to carry on moving forward, even when all seems lost.
Written by: Cyrus Shahrad (Introduction by Biju Belinky)