Gabriel Aikins is a freelance music journalist based in Michigan. He previously served as Digital Content Editor for Cleveland-based Substream Magazine and his work has appeared in i-D. He is a lover of all flavors of pop music, and takes great joy from his conversations with musicians. When not writing, he can be found working at his local bookstore or reading through his frankly enormous backlog of books.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on June 26, 2023, and was updated on March 31, 2025 to include information about eternal sunshine and its deluxe edition as well as Wicked. Before Ariana Grande became a chart-topping pop singer, she played an aspiring artist on Nickelodeon's "Victorious." Amid her character's sitcom antics, Grande's musical talent was strikingly apparent (as…
When it comes to exploring Lana Del Rey's discography, it can be hard to know where to start. The pop songstress has a sprawling catalog, consisting of nine albums, four EPs, and a handful of other standalone singles. You could begin with Born To Die, her highly influential major label debut, or its moody follow-up, Ultraviolence, her first to top…
When Usher first introduced the world to a young Canadian teen named Justin Bieber in 2009, no one knew the gravity of the moment. With a catchy debut single, the young Bieber clearly had talent, but it was hard to predict just how big he would become. In the nearly 15 years since the release of that first hit, "One…
Divorce can be complicated, messy, and heartbreaking. But those feelings are prime fodder for songwriting — and it's something that artists of all genres have harnessed for decades. Writing through the pain can serve many benefits for an artist. Marvin Gaye used Here, My Dear as a way to find closure in the aftermath of his divorce. Adele told Vogue…
When thinking of defining artists of the 21st century, it doesn't take long for Adele to come to mind. Since her rise in the late 2000s, the London-born singer has captured the hearts of millions with her disarming wit and a powerful voice that is practically unmatched. In the 15 years since her debut album, 19, introduced her to the…
From her very first moments of fame, Kelly Clarkson has had great expectations placed upon her shoulders. As the very first winner of 'American Idol' back in 2002, the world longed for the Texas native to be a star — and she has delivered on that hope time and time again. Clarkson's powerhouse voice immediately makes her talent apparent, but…
Watching 16 year-old Harry Styles walk onto the stage for his "The X Factor" audition in 2010, it's remarkable how little some things have changed in the following 13 years. Though his rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely" was rather unpolished — even receiving a "no" from judge Louis Walsh — his magnetic charisma and natural talent were more…
As rumors about "Stranger Things" season 5 already begin to fly, fans of the show fortunately don't have to wait long to hear from some of the cast. Joe Keery — who has been making music for years under the moniker of Djo (pronounced "Joe") — is set to release his new album DECIDE on Sept. 16. Just one week…
Hailee Steinfeld has given fans plenty of opportunities to appreciate her acting in the last couple of years, from playing iconic poet Emily Dickinson in Apple TV's "Dickinson" to stepping into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the lead in Disney+ miniseries "Hawkeye." At the same time, fans of Steinfeld as a singer/songwriter have been left eagerly anticipating new music —…
As 2017 began, one pop star's name served as a mainstay on lists of the year's most-anticipated albums: Lorde. The New Zealand singer/songwriter first made a name for herself at just 16 with her GRAMMY-nominated debut album, 2013's Pure Heroine. Aside from the 2013-2014 Pure Heroine Tour, Lorde spent much of the intervening four years living a mostly secluded life…
When Lana Del Rey released her sixth album Norman Fucking Rockwell! in 2019, it felt like a coronation. Beyond the immediate critical approval, the album was nominated for a number of GRAMMYS, including Album of the Year, and appeared on major publications’ “Best of the Decade” list. It was a fitting reward for a pop mainstay, but it didn’t happen…
As dawn was still rising on the New Year in 2011, the music industry was already humming with anticipation. A fast-emerging English songstress named Adele was about to release her sophomore album, 21, and there were signs it could be big. Three years earlier, in 2008, she released her debut album, 19, which earned praise and awards and also gave…
In December 2010, The Walt Disney Company took a chance—the kind only a business can take when they're the most powerful entertainment conglomerate in the world. They took Tron—a 1982 film about the world and programs living inside computers that enjoyed a dedicated, if small, cult following—and gave it a sequel. Tron: Legacy brought back original star Jeff Bridges, alongside…
Autumn is almost here, and even in this pandemic-altered year it symbolizes a transformative mindset and mood. As the blossoms of spring give way to the sunshine of summer and finally to the brisk breeze of fall, it gives people a chance to reflect on where they’ve been and where they’d like to go. It’s a calmer, more introspective time. That…
Listening to music is a deeply personal experience. Even if a song is explicitly about a certain event or feeling, each listener will bring different views or memories to the track that can change their perception. This is an inevitable part of making any art, so songwriter Kate Bollinger went and made her music this way intentionally. Whether listening to…
A debut album is a big deal for an artist. Even in the era of streaming singles and EPs, a full-length debut can serve as an artistic introduction to a bigger audience than they’ve previously had. For Woodson Black, his debut carries even more personal significance. Violence In a Quiet Mind (out July 17), Black’s first record under his performance…
