Artsweek

Tracks of 2025: Tate McRae’s ‘So Close to What’ brings her so close to main pop girl status

The Canadian singers third studio album is an ode to 2000s dance pop production, with an added modern flair.
read more

Tracks of 2025: FKA Twigs explores music, euphoria and sex with ‘EUSEXA’

Released back in January, FKA Twigs' third album pushes the boundaries of experimental pop.
read more

To the nines: 34th annual Reel Loud festival highlights student film

A look back at UCSB's Delta Kappa Alpha's Reel Loud Film & Arts Festival, which celebrated nine student-made silent short films from the 2024-25 school year.
read more

James Taylor journeys through a lifetime of music at the Santa Barbara Bowl

Singer-songwriter and musical icon James Taylor performed at the Santa Barbara Bowl with a soundtrack centering travel, family and pure musical connection.
read more

Sean Baker champions independent cinema at Campbell Hall

Following the screening of Sean Baker’s acclaimed 2017 film “The Florida Project,” the four-time Academy Award winning writer-director himself came out on Campbell Hall’s stage for a Q&A on Ma...
read more

Tracking the sound of Isla Vista: Examining I.V. band audiences and follower bases through Spotify metrics

To gauge how popular or recognizable a certain artist is, Spotify calculates a popularity score from 1-100 based on the general popularity of the artist’s discography. The music scene in I.V. serves...
read more

‘Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning’ is a mixed bag of a franchise finale

“Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning” proves once again that Tom Cruise is to be trusted with action films, even if the franchise's finale was underwhelming.
read more

‘Andor’ Season 2 charts the cost of rebellion

The second and final season of "Andor" offers political commentary on fascism and resistance through detailed production and airtight performances.
read more

Setting the stage: past 25 years of Extravaganza lineups lack gender diversity and mark genre shift

The Daily Nexus looked at all Extravaganza lineups from 2000-2025, finding a prominent lack of female performers and a shift in genre presence from rock to electronic dance music.
read more

Extravaganza 2025: Chris Lake brings the heat, Aminé saves the day

Amidst sunny weather and a last-minute lineup change, students arrived in droves to watch headliner Chris Lake and performers Aminé, Ravyn Lenae and Zacari on the Harder Stadium stage.
read more

Shabang 2025: two UCSB student bands featured on festival lineup

Isla Vista bands Big Hungry and Cordoba performed at the two-day music festival, bringing a taste of the I.V. music scene to San Luis Obispo.
read more

‘The Last Dance’ nabs a share at the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards

The film tied for the most nominations ever at the Hong Kong Film Awards, earning 18 total and winning five.
read more

Long live the mountain show

“Those are my favorite memories of going to UCSB, the mountain shows. They’re so special,” Isla Vista musician Jack Corliss said.
read more

Lineup for 45th Extravaganza revealed: students react, AS Program Board responds

UC Santa Barbara’s Associated Students Program Board revealed the partial lineup for the 45th annual Extravaganza music festival on May 8 to mixed reception, which was swiftly followed by a full lin...
read more

Separación: El dilema de existir solo para trabajar

¿Alguna vez has escuchado la frase “encontrar un balance entre el trabajo y la vida personal”? ¿Qué tal si existiera un procedimiento quirúrgico que te permitiera ir al trabajo y al terminar t...
read more