Hozier EP:

On Mar. 17, Irish singer-songwriter Andrew John Hozier-Bryne, better known as Hozier, dropped a new EP entitled Eat Your Young. The EP contains three songs: All Things End, Through Me (The Flood), and the titular Eat Your Young, which he teased excerpts from on social media in the weeks leading up to release. This EP precedes Unreal Unearth, the full-length album he revealed to be in the works last September on social media. This full-length album will come out sometime in 2023, and fans speculate that its songs will draw inspiration from Inferno, a poem written by Italian writer Dante Alighieri, which comes as no surprise since Hozier’s ingenious lyricism often evokes religious imagery or draws from religious symbols. As eloquently expressed in lyrics from Eat Your Young, “I’m starvin’, darlin’” for more content from this music legend. 

(Sources: NDSM Observer, Twitter)

— Jordan Chan, Editor-in-Chief

Soul Patch Kombucha:

Kombucha can help boost metabolism, reduce inflammation, and strengthen the immune system. What could be better? Soul Patch Kombucha sells kombucha on tap at local farmers markets, with unique and exotic flavors such as Groovy Guava, Mango Sunset, and Cherry Bomb. Founded by two Bay Area educators, the kombucha comes in either a plastic cup or a nifty reusable jar that can be refilled at a discounted price. New flavors come out weekly, with the company announcing its menu on its Instagram, @soulpatchkombucha. Visit the Los Gatos Farmers Market from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM every Sunday to support a local business and enjoy some refreshing kombucha!

— Nadia Liu, Public Relations Manager

HBO Max:

Recently a blessing fell straight into my lap — or more specifically into my laptop. After mentioning to a friend how I had not seen the show Friends, I gratefully accepted their offer of using their login to HBO Max. Skeptical at first of this newly acclaimed streaming service, my life quickly changed for the better. So, if you’re tired of Netflix removing your favorite films every other day, it’s time to move on to the superior streaming service: HBO Max. HBO features Primetime Emmy award-winning shows such as White Lotus, Succession, and Euphoria. Not a fan of these new shows? Not to worry, the streaming service also features classics including the Big Bang Theory, One Tree Hill, and Game of Thrones. This isn’t even the beginning, as the rom-coms featured on this service are sublime, and it also features all eight Harry Potter movies as well. With a myriad of options to explore, it makes sense that HBO Max has assumed America’s top spot, claiming the hearts of watchers and critics alike.

— Saya Alvares, Sports Editor

Pokémon Day:

On Feb. 27, The Pokémon Company celebrated Pokémon Day 2023 to honor the 27th anniversary of the franchise which began with Pokémon Red and Blue versions. They revealed Pokémon World Championships for games Scarlet, Violet, and Unite from Aug. 11 to 13, as well as a trailer for Pokémon Sleep, a sleep-tracking mobile game first publicized in 2019. Netflix and The Pokémon Company also announced their new stop-motion series Pokémon Concierge, following a hotel’s concierge and various Pokémon guests. It is scheduled to release some time in 2023.

— Angela Sheu, News Editor

New York Magazine Approval Matrix:

Recently, I discovered the New York Magazine’s Approval Matrix in the back of one of their latest editions. I was astounded by what I saw and enjoyed the magazine’s categorization. The New York Magazine’s Approval Matrix puts pop culture events, recent news, and world matters onto a coordinate plane with the categories high brow at the top, brilliant on the right, lowbrow on the bottom, and despicable on the left side, then assigns a silly label to each. Seeing where the New York Magazine places items, such as La La Land turning into a Broadway musical, is fascinating and always brings a smile to my face. It is 100 percent worth checking out.

— Emily Duvall, Opinion Editor

Creatures of the Deep:

Do you ever have the overwhelming urge to go fishing, but you don’t want to leave the comfort of your own home? Now, with Creatures of the Deep, you can fish to your heart’s content whenever, and wherever you’d like! Released on Nov. 1, 2022, the multiplayer fishing game is free to download and play on the App Store for iPhones and iPads. With beautiful graphics and over 100 different species, Creatures of the Deep has it all. You can explore locations, catch fish or other creatures, and even hunt sea monsters. However, if you are seeking an action-packed adventure, this is not the game for you. The gameplay is relaxing and calm, mimicking the meditative nature of fishing in real life. Coming from someone who has never gone fishing, I am one level away from driving to Bass Pro and buying a boat.

— Brynn Gibson, Editor-in-Chief

Dairy Queen’s Over The Rainbow Shake:

Last year, I professed my love for McDonald’s Shamrock Shake and declared it to be the best St. Patrick’s Day food. I was wrong. Earlier this year, Dairy Queen launched its Over the Rainbow shake to celebrate the Irish holiday, and it’s one of the best shakes I’ve ever tried. The strawberry-flavored soft serve with rainbow sprinkles perfectly embodies the leprechauns, gold, and rainbows St. Patrick’s Day commemorates. It tastes like the sun coming out after a storm, finding gold at the end of the rainbow, and fresh strawberries. My only critique is the lack of green, but I’d gladly get pinched for the Over the Rainbow shake. 

— Esha Bagora, Public Relations Manager

Love Sick:

R&B artist, trap singer, and rapper Don Toliver released his third album, Love Sick, on Feb. 24, with Cactus Jack Records and Atlantic Records. The LP consists of sixteen songs, alongside four additional songs as part of the deluxe version that dropped four days later. 

Overall, Love Sick presents a relatively similar concept to Toliver’s existing music works, while simultaneously shifting production towards the “futuristic R&B and soul” style that Toliver hopes to create. The album cover’s neon lighting and nighttime scenery encapsulate the synthetic production and trap drum beats underlying many of the tracks. However, Toliver successfully diversifies the production: while Embarrassed (ft. Travis Scott) features warm guitar and Scott’s low melodic singing, Let Her Be (ft. James Blake) is heavy on the trap bass and features Toliver’s high falsetto and smooth rapping.

(Sources: Genius, Rolling Stones, UpRoxx)

— Linda Wang, Humor Editor

Freeridge:

Netflix’s newest original series Freeridge, a spin-off of the 2018 series On My Block, is a must watch. Prior to the Feb. 2 release, Netflix showcased the new generation of Freeridge students on the show’s official Instagram account (@freeridge): Gloria, played by Keyla Monterroso Mejia as “the big sister who always leads the pack;” Ines, played by Bryana Salaz as “the youngest of the crew who tells it like it is;” Demi played by Ciara Riley Wilson as “the free spirit who knows your natal chart better than anyone;” and Cam, played by Tenzing Norgay Trainor as “the anxious but sweet type who’ll always be there to lend a hand.” Despite having big shoes to fill by following On My Block, Freeridge undoubtedly debuted successfully, captivating viewers with its compelling storyline and lovable characters. Fans of the original series will not be disappointed with the modern and unique perspective that Freeridge brings to the table.

— Maya Gomez, Editor-in-Chief