Film Review: Origin; Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor proves divine in Ava DuVernay’s impactful, important drama

Released only months after the George Floyd protests that swept the United States in 2020, and garnering further attention throughout that year’s Election, Isabel Wilkerson‘s “Caste: The Origins of Out Discontents” was an impactful success that spent over a year on The New York Times’ nonfiction best seller list. Successful as the book was, its…

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total tommy

New Music Discoveries 5th April: total tommy, Little Quirks, IDA KUDO and more

This week we have ten new tracks to our Discovery Playlist on Spotify and Apple Music. This week’s Track of the Week is “Losing Out”, the new single from rising Eora/Sydney-based artist, singer and songwriter total tommy. total tommy dropped her debut single, “microdose” earlier in the year, and has followed it up with a…

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The Withings ScanWatch 2 is the best health tracker I’ve tested to date

Smartwatches still have a long way to go as a category and taking a more hybrid approach is the right way forward when it comes to mass adoption. As such, Withings is leading the charge when it comes to a device untethered to any one ecosystem (like Apple and Samsung). This puts the ScanWatch 2…

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Leo bares all with their unflinching debut EP Please Leave Quietly

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by all of the incredibly talented artists who have saturated the independent music market lately, each offering a piece of themselves that is (sadly) oftentimes lost in the echo chamber. But every now and then, you stumble upon a song that just hits differently and stays with you long after…

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Album Review: ERRA – CURE (2024 LP)

Alabamian progressive metalcore maestros ERRA have unveiled their highly anticipated sixth studio album, CURE, today. Showcasing their hallmark fusion of captivating melodic vocals and screams across a spectrum of tracks, the album features guitarist/vocalist Jesse Cash, vocalist J.T. Cavey, drummer Alex Ballew, bassist Conor Hesse, and the new addition, guitarist Clint Tustin. With CURE, ERRA…

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Impressed Recordings unveil Sydney store in time for Record Store Day

You’ve probably heard of Impressed Recordings as a boutique online record label. In recent news, they’ve announced they will have a physical presence in Sydney in Woolloomooloo. The creative hub will focus on the resurgence of vinyl records.  Just in time for Record Store Day on April 20th, they will have a number of exclusive…

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Rocky Horror Show

Rocky Horror Show returns for another kinky run of the 50th anniversary production

With a little over a year since the first Sydney run of the 50th Anniversary Production, Rocky Horror Show is back at the Theatre Royal in Sydney. Featuring mostly the same cast and staging (check out last year’s recap here), this production has kept the momentum going after five decades of this outrageously naughty sci-fi…

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Vampire Weekend

Album Review: Vampire Weekend reach fond heights in Only God Was Above Us (2024 LP)

A lot has happened in the world since Vampire Weekend last released an album (2019’s Father of the Bride). A lot has happened since frontman Ezra Koenig wrote the vast majority of lyrics to this new album (2019-2020). One thing that hasn’t changed is Vampire Weekend’s ability to create lyrics and music so uniquely obtuse…

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Win a double in-season pass to the Oscar nominated animation Robot Dreams

From Spanish director Pablo Berger, the Academy Award nominated film Robot Dreams releases in Australian cinemas on April 11, and to celebrate, thanks to Madman Films, we have 5 double in-season (Admit 2) passes to giveaway. Dog lives in Manhattan and he’s tired of being alone. One day he decides to build himself a robot, a…

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Interview: Jordon Prince-Wright on his Australian WWI drama Before Dawn; “I knew I needed to tell this story.”

Based on real life war diaries, Before Dawn is an epic retelling of one of Australia’s biggest victories during WWI. Jim Collins, a young man from the outback, leaves his family-run sheep station to join the ANZAC and fight on the western front with hopes of making a difference. Soon, the realities of the muddy, ruthless,…

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This Swann AllSecure650 2K Wireless Security Kit is a one-stop-shop of home protection

Having to recharge a battery on a security camera is a pain. It’s always a pain. I’ve tested so many of these products over the years and will always prefer a wired connection simply because having wireless is just not worth the extra effort. I’m a forgetful person. Most people are forgetful people. It’s not…

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Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a solid sequel, even if it’s not redefining the genre

I have vague memories of playing the first Dragon’s Dogma, mainly the enhanced Dark Arisen version, but I’ll be the first to admit that nothing stuck. I don’t remember hating it, but hadn’t really held enough love in my heart to make a return. Dragon’s Dogma 2 felt like the fresh start I needed, that…

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Exclusive EP Premiere: Elestial – Delphinium (2024 EP)

Newcastle’s Elestial formed in 2020 and has quickly established itself as one of the must-see live acts in town. They’ve released a handful of singles so far and are on the cusp of releasing their debut EP, Delphinium. We’re thrilled today to have the first spin of the EP ahead of its release on Friday….

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Hydra Fashion Week

Guest Playlist: Hydra Fashion Week’s favourite up and coming queer and non-binary artists

We’ve been vibing on Hydra Fashion Week since we premiered the video for their jangly post-punk single ‘Don’t Stop!” last year. They’ve also released singles “Delete”, SICK (day #132)” and “First Person Shooter”, and most recently, the playful “Total Freefall”.  Finally, today, they have released their debut album,  Serpent Season One, and to celebrate the release,…

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Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 Review: The new gold-standard

When it comes to the hyper-competitive market for truly wireless earbuds, there are three brands I think do it better than anyone else in the game. Sony, Jabra, and Sennheiser. All have their strengths (and weaknesses). Sony is the best when it comes to processing and noise cancelling, Jabra own it when it comes to…

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How to get an In-N-Out Burger while at San Francisco International Airport

If you’re travelling through San Francisco Airport in California anytime soon and have at least a few hours in a stopover, chances are you’ll have enough time to head to the nearby In-N-Out Burger. Which, in my humble opinion, remains the best burger under $5 in the world. So how can you fit it in?…

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Fontainebleau Las Vegas Review: Our first look inside The Strip’s long-awaited luxury resort

Back in mid-December, the newest luxury hotel to hit the Las Vegas Strip finally enjoyed its grand opening – Fontainebleau Las Vegas. I had a chance to stay at the resort at the start of February, and got a taste of the hotel, rooms and the food and drink that’s on offer. So with 18…

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Interview: Dev Patel on his directorial debut Monkey Man; “It was kind of a by-any-means-necessary approach to filmmaking.”

Inspired by the legend of Hanuman, an icon embodying strength and courage, Monkey Man stars Dev Patel as Kid, an anonymous young man who ekes out a meagre living in an underground fight club where, night after night, wearing a gorilla mask, he is beaten bloody by more popular fighters for cash.  After years of…

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Exclusive Single Premiere: Andrea & Mud “Institutionalized” (2024)

Atlanta’s cinematic psych-country duo Andrea & Mud have a knack for creating a song which will have you doing a wee shuffle and leave you with a big smile even if the lyrics addresses challenging times. A superb example is the title-track from their soon-to-be-release LP, Institutionalized. We’re thrilled to have the premiere of the track today…

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Princess Peach: Showtime! brings the beloved character to the main stage

It’s been a long time coming for Princess Peach to take the main stage in her own game. In a world where characters like Captain Toad and Luigi have their unique spin-off titles, the hype after the Super Mario Bros. Movie has certainly helped build hype for a title that fans of the Mushroom Kingdom…

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Film Review: Monkey Man announces Dev Patel’s filmmaking prowess with a tender ferocity

For the majority of his career, Dev Patel has played – for lack of a better word – the “nice guy”.  Or at least a variation of that archetype. In Monkey Man, the actor is gleefully – and, occasionally, gorily – taking no prisoners and reclaiming his image as an all-rounded creative, announcing himself as…

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Meet the five lands of Universal Studio’s new Orlando theme park Epic Universe [Updated!]

April 2024 Update: Epic Universe have unveiled a deep dive look into How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk. Read on! The most anticipated new Theme Park in the US is without question Universal Studio’s upcoming third gate in Orlando*, Epic Universe. While plenty of rumours have been floating around since the park was…

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The Snuts

Five international shows not to miss this April and May

We have been shell-shocked with the news that Splendour and Groovin the Moo have been cancelled, but it’s still possible to see some outstanding international acts in Australia this April and May. We’ve picked 5 highlights for you, from legends such as Incubus and +Live+ to Scottish rockers The Snuts. Taylor Swift and Fred Again… grabbed…

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The Asus ROG Phone 8 is a revolution for gaming on the go

With a new year comes a new batch of phones clamouring for your attention. Gamers will know the Asus ROG branding, with their previous phones and hardware centred around predominantly gaming. I mean, ROG stands for Republic Of Gaming after all. This time around, Asus has shifted that view to make it more accessible for…

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AU Favourites: 7 things worth checking out in April 2024

Welcome to AU Favourites, a new monthly column where our writers highlight several things they’ve been loving lately. Whether it’s a good read, new tech product, or even a piece of furniture. We’re lucky enough to go hands on with a lot of things across the many areas that we cover on this website. We…

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Interview: DEM MOB chat about their track “DIP” addressing racism and cultural identity

DEM MOB discuss the importance of taking control of one’s life and making choices that align with one’s goals and aspirations. Their advice to young musicians, emphasizes the importance of perseverance and not giving up on one’s dreams. They’ve recently released a single, “DIP” that exposes some of the injustices and difficulties that Indigenous people…

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ALTERJOY talks influences, talented friends and living in the moment

Adelaide-made and Gold Coast-based artist ALTERJOY (aka Ben Heidrich) has returned with his fresh new single and video “Better Make a Move”. Known as the drummer of Adelaide metalcore act The Daily Chase, Ben launched his solo project last year with his debut single “This is Real” and exuberant No Doubt cover “Hella Good”. The…

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Five of the finest things I’ve eaten in the USA: From New York to San Antonio

Each year, James Beard hands me some fresh FOMO on a silver platter. The USA’s most prestigious culinary institution works similar to Michelin but is generally broader in criteria. In the past, I’ve been much more satisfied with something that’s been James Beard-approved rather than just Michelin-approved. Now, that’s not to say Michelin isn’t reliable,…

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New Music Discoveries 29th March: Fat White Family, The Buoys, St Vincent and more

We’re celebrating the long weekend by adding eleven new tracks (an Easter bonus) to our Discovery Playlist on Spotify and Apple Music. This week’s Track of the Week is “What’s That You Say” the new single from English rock band Fat White Family. “What’s That You Say”, which dropped on Monday, is the latest single…

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Gold Coast Film Festival launches its exciting full program

Celebrating its 22nd year, Queensland’s most exciting celebration of cinema is back, from April 17th to 28th 2024, with the Gold Coast Film Festival (GCFF) at its Gold Coast home, HOTA (Home of the Arts). As guests prepare to immerse themselves in the glamour and discover the new stories the festival has to offer, the…

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