McGill dramatists are, by necessity and by definition, a passionate group. Unpaid as student artists, unrecognized in a frequently desolate and fine arts-free environment, passion is often all they have. Despite these conditions, they have thrived. Productions that fly under the radar still sell out. Shows rivaling those on professional[Read More…]
Author: Admin
Interview with Armin van Buuren
What’s it like to be the world’s number one DJ? One could look for the answer in Dutch trance producer Armin van Buuren’s latest single “This Is What It Feels Like,” which was released on his fifth studio album, Intense, on Apr. 3. The song features Vancouver singer Trevor Guthrie[Read More…]
Banging one’s head against the wall: a documentary
While Bill Stone’s directorial debut Triumph of the Wall is a testament to the hard work and passion of its subjects, the documentary ultimately does not translate into a cohesive and thought-provoking film. Stone’s first foray into the world of documentary filmmaking is more of a scatterbrained connection of poetic[Read More…]
Wavves: Afraid of Heights
From their name, to their aesthetic, to their music and lyrics, San Diego-based Wavves exemplifies surf rock. But where can one go, after naming their third album King of the Beach (2010)? Their fourth release Afraid of Heights answers that question with a series of tracks that infuse their typical[Read More…]
Akron/Family: Sub Verses
Ranging from creepy, melancholic songs, to energizing anthems and droning ballads, the experimental rock band Akron/Family’s seventh album Sub Verses intrigues the listener with layers of repetitive sound, rewarding them with each additional listen. The album starts off alarmingly loud and captivating, surrounding the listener with many sounds that together,[Read More…]
All McGill’s a stage for Players’
The onset of April is a time where many McGill students find themselves buckling down and pushing through final assignments and exam prep. Those involved with the McGill Drama Festival (MDF), however, are a rare exception—their fun is just getting started. Organized by the Players’ Theatre, the MDF is a[Read More…]
McGill engineers compete to design lunabot
Busy beneath the McConnell cafeteria is McGill’s LunarEx robotics team’s lab, where the team has been working hard for the past year to construct a robot to compete in an international competition sponsored by NASA. Through this ‘lunabotics’ (moon-related robots) mining competition, NASA aims to increase interest in robotics and[Read More…]
No longer a poster child for climate change
The majestic great white bear of the north is threatened by its inability to adequately acquire food resources, as a result of melting sea ice caused by climate change. Or is it? Many now believe that the polar bear, poster child for climate change, is not actually facing the declining[Read More…]
Sci-Tech Summer Reads
As the summer months draw near, visions of sandy beaches and cool breezes take over our minds, filling us with warmth—and promises of lots of free time. Whether looking out at the sea or the back of the seat in front of you on a flight, nothing can transport you[Read More…]
The health benefits of “taking five”
Three weeks ago when I volunteered to play music for patients at the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH), I was given a special request to play in the psychiatric care centre. The managers who made this request noted that researchers recently released evidence that music can counter the ‘sundowning effect,’[Read More…]