Artsweek

August 1, 2025

Summer reads for various summer scenarios

By Anusha Singh

Straight from the bookshelf of Daily Nexus Editor in Chief Anusha Singh.

July 27, 2025

Let’s hear it for the album of the year: Lorde makes momentous return with ‘Virgin’

By Lauren Chiou

The New Zealand singer-songwriter released her fourth album on June 27, an explosion of nostalgia, sensuality and vulnerability.

July 11, 2025

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

By Kenneth Heung

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

July 11, 2025

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

By Kenneth Heung

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

July 3, 2025

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

By Sandra Vovk

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.

June 26, 2025

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

By Kyra Schimpf

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

June 26, 2025

Sean Baker champions independent cinema at Campbell Hall

By Jake Turner

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 May 27.

June 26, 2025

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

By Lance Sanchez

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 as a launchpad for ...

June 18, 2025

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

By Jake Turner

“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.

June 18, 2025

‘Andor’ Season 2 charts the cost of rebellion

By Kaavya Saini

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

May 23, 2025

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

By Lauren Chiou

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.

May 22, 2025

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

By Lauren Chiou, Kendra Martinez

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.

May 17, 2025

Shabang 2025: two UCSB student bands featured on festival lineup

By Lauren Chiou, Kendra Martinez

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.

May 16, 2025

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

By Arin Lau

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

May 15, 2025

Long live the mountain show

By Stella Mullin

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

May 14, 2025

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

By Kyra Schimpf

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 lineup reveal shared vi...