United States
Recent graduate of Monmouth University with a BA in English & creative writing with minors in professional writing and screen studies. Current Editor-in-Chief and founder of The Underground Edit, and staff writer and interviewer for The Pop Break.
Attached are my writing highlights through my career thus far.
Interviews
In a world increasingly shaped by AI, Dutch singer-songwriter PJM Bond has made it his mission to reject it and embrace life's imperfections - especially in his music. "What's the point of listening to immaculately perfect pop songs?" he questioned. "By allowing mistakes to happen and by not focusing on perfection, I wanted my album...
British soul singer MT Jones performs at 118 North in PA and Baby's Alright in Brooklyn as a part of his US Tour promoting his new album JOY.
Before becoming a father, Sam Slick had already built a family of his own through music. Over the years, the folk-rock musician surrounded himself with a close-knit band whose chemistry and collaboration helped shape the sound of his newest album, After the Dream, Before the Memories, turning years of songwriting into his most fully realized...
It all started with a gifted cake-and a misspelling. A small yet thoughtful gesture from family after Yawn Mower released their album To Each Their Own Coat. But instead of "congrats," the icing read "congarts." It was the kind of mistake most people would get mad over and soon try to forget, but Mike Chick...
Ten years in, Yawn Mower hasn't drifted far from where it began. Rooted in New Jersey, the band has grown in size and sound, yet its foundation is still tied to the place that shaped it. "I personally would only want to be celebrating a ten-year anniversary with New Jersey," explained frontman Mike Chick.
For many musicians, the guitar is just one piece of a larger band. For Johnny Kasun, it is the entire show. Through his use of fingerstyle guitar, Kasun creates the sound of multiple musicians at once, weaving melody, rhythm, and basslines together on a single instrument.
When Ren Genevieve was working on her debut single for her upcoming EP, Everything I Never Said, one motto kept repeating in her head: "If you think this song is about you, it probably is." That sentiment became the backbone of the project's lead single and namesake, "Everything I Never Said," released on January 16....
Kelsey Blackstone's relationship with music has spanned her entire life. From early piano lessons and cello rehearsals to a cross-country move from Boston, Massachusetts, to Nashville, Tennessee, music has remained both her anchor and her ambition. "I started classical piano when I was 5 years old," she says.
Before movies ever felt like a career path, they felt like a kind of magic for Chris Messineo. Growing up, Messineo believed the people who made films lived somewhere far away on the West Coast, in a world that felt unreachable. It wasn't until his twenties, as independent film began flourishing outside of Hollywood, that...
Ron Gallo never set out to be a musician. In fact, picking up a guitar came without much intention at all. "I can't say there really was much of a passion to play guitar," he admits. "I kind of jus...
Like many musicians of his generation, Ricky Byrd's relationship with music shifted the moment he watched The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show. "There was a lot of music in my house," Byrd recalled. "My parents were divorced at that point, so we were living with my grandparents, and there was always music playing-but...
An interview with Spyne! who headline Spynemas! at The Crossroads in Garwood, NJ during Christmas weekend.
The What a Wonderful Year Interview series profiles Izzy Miz.
Social media can either make or break a person. In today's music industry, it's become one of the most powerful tools for rising artists trying to stand out in an increasingly crowded landscape. For Nicholas Eagan, better known as No Good (stylized as no good), social media has become both a spotlight and a battlefield....
Zoe Bockhorst, or better known as Winefred RT, traces her musical beginnings back to her bedroom. "When people ask me this question," she began, "I think about being in high school, lying on my bed and listening to The Mountain Goats' The Sunset Tree. I don't remember specific moments, just being overtaken by the emotion."...
An interview with Remi Goode who turned a Kickstarter campaign into an intimate new album titled Things I've Said Before.
There's something unmistakably John Denver about Peter Sun. Between his sound, look, and even his natural facial features, Sun's artistry is deeply inspired by Denver's music and his love for the countryside. "I always appreciated how he had a unique sound to his voice," Sun said.
Matisyahu discusses his new album Ancient Child, rekindling his faith, working with his sons and rediscovering his fire.
"Surfing for Daisy, local heroes!" Danny Clinch, the festivals founder, shouted to the eager morning crowd. Kicking off Sunday's Sea.Hear.Now Festival in Asbury Park, the band Surfing for Daisy delivered a warm dose of folk-rock to a lineup otherwise dominated by heavier sounds. During their performance, the Asbury Park band proved that the coveted opening...
One of the first acts of the 2025 Sea.Hear.Now music festival featured NOT YER BABY: an Asbury Park-based punk band that set the tone of the weekend from their first song. Playing with a line-up of similar musical acts such as Hot Mulligan and Blink-182, NOT YER BABY proved that Asbury Park is and forever...
"If I never had to do it, I probably wouldn't," explains Taylor Wafford. As the face of the folky art rock project Blood Root, Wafford doesn't find the typical joy in performing live as other musicians at her level. "The joy for me is in the writing and spending time crafting the song in the...
When a scream is heard in public, or even in your own home, it usually sparks alarm. But on select small stages in São Paulo, Brazil, when a scream is heard, it turns audiences' heads and commands them to move their bodies. But whose scream in particular? Starly Kind's.
In 2022, you couldn't escape the song "Leah" by Seeing Double on your TikTok For You Page. With its dreamy harmonies and catchy surf-rock guitar, the track felt like it was pulled straight from an unreleased '60s demo. Seeing Double was a hit. Now, three years later, the band's lead singer, Allie Sandt, is setting...
An interview with Julia Rusyniak of Six Foot Blonde about siblings in bands, new music, Asbury Park and more.
The typical routine of a college student consists of many late-night study sessions, part-time jobs, and the occasional existential crisis. Jake Thistle's life consists of all of that, plus a successful music career on the side. A journalism and communication double major at Rutgers University, Thistle grew up in Bergen County, New Jersey, but his...
Before John Vurro ever published a novel, he was stocking shelves and rewinding VHS tapes at his father's video store in Manhattan. "We would just watch so many movies, and you just start to understand how movies kind of work after a while," Vurro explained. "I think watching so many movies helped me understand scene...
On June 22, around 100 people packed into The Basement in Nashville, Tennessee, to celebrate the release of Annelise Gonzalez's debut EP, Enough for Me, Anyway. It was a full-circle moment for Gonzalez, who was no longer the opener but the headlining act. "It was insane to pack a room.
When asked to describe his band, guitarist Liam Muhler put it simply: "I gotta say, this is probably one of the luckiest bands where I've ever seen where stuff just kind of falls together last minute and it's great." From the band's split-second meetings, successful two days in the studio, and natural musical abilities, Spyne!...
The Jersey Shore is no stranger to rising musical talents. From the plethora of music venues and the origin of some popular names in music, including Bruce Springsteen himself, the shore is much more than a weekend getaway. Sunshine Spazz is a garage/psychedelic rock band formed along the New Jersey coast in Toms River.
Album Reviews
A review of the new breakup album from Olivia Rodrigo, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl so in Love.
Fans of the Asbury Park music scene are no strangers to Yawn Mower. Their lo-fi indie sounds have performed all over Asbury and gained a growing fan base. Now, Mike Chick is preparing to release his newest LP, Congarts, on April 17. On March 20, Chick released "Atom Bomb," the second single from the album.
Geese is comfortable with chaos, but on Getting Killed, they learn to embrace it to the max. The Brooklyn band's fourth studio album stands out among their previous releases, catapulting the group into mainstream spotlight. Geese may be rising to fame, but their lyrics and musical instincts remain rooted in that same gritty unpredictability that...
A review of the new Sabrina Carpenter album 'Man's Best Friend' which does not break any new ground for the artist.
A review of the new album from sombr, 'I Barely Know Her.'
While listening to my Discover Weekly on Spotify, I was caught off guard when "Need You Again" by Neal Francis came on. It wasn't the quality of the song that surprised me-it was a flawless 70s-style funk track-but the fact that I had never heard it, or the artist, before.
The all-female indie supergroup boygenius is back with the release of their new flawless album the record. Its incredible honesty leaves fans feeling closer than ever to the band. Debuting at #1 on the UK album charts, the record is receiving substantial traction from acclaimed sources like NME and Rolling Stone.
Adrianne Lenker walks down the path of some of the greatest folk artists of all time, and her new album "Bright Future" solidified her steps in the genre. The lead singer of the band Big Thief released her fifth solo studio album on Mar. 22, 2024, and it demonstrates some of Lenker's best lyricism.
The 25-year-old Willard, Missouri, native Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, better known as Chappell Roan, has taken over the pop genre following the release of her debut album, "The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess." Released on Sep. 22, 2023, under Amusement Records, Roan has since been everyone's recent obsession.
The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We is the title of Mitski's latest album, released on Sept. 15, 2023. Mitski demonstrates loneliness in oneself, this feeling that we can't live within ourselves, and the urge to long for something different. This weighty imagery isn't anything new for Mitski; the alternative/indie icon is known for [...]
Live Event Coverage
A review in words and photos of the Sweet Relief Benefit at Asbury Lanes with Rachel Ana Dobken, Danny Clinch, Neal Francis & More.
On November 12, 2025, the New Jersey-based nonprofit RiverJAM Music will host The Listening Room: Songs & Stories, a special evening that will feature New Jersey artists Jake Thistle, Erik Mason, and Johnny Kasun. With doors opening at 6 pm, attendees have the chance to talk with the performers and grab a quick bite before...
The 2025 lineup for Asbury Park's Sea.Hear.Now music festival consisted of many nostalgic acts such as Sublime, Lenny Kravitz, and ZZ Top. But nostalgia wasn't just in the performer this year, with Neal Francis performing on the festival's Surf Stage on the second day. With his shaggy haircut and 70s shades, Francis transported the audience...
The Stone Pony is hosting an Ozzy Osbourne tribute show led by Fairies Wear Boots on Friday, Sept. 19. The event will feature the tribute band along with three local supporting acts: Spyne!, Kobi Reese, and Last Legs. "Me and Steve had an idea to do a Black Sabbath tribute night after one of our...
It was early the morning of Sunday, Sept. 15, when my roommate dropped me off at the gates of Sea Hear Now. Not to my surprise, the streets were flooded with die-hard music fans, but mostly, certain fans of one musician, the boss of Asbury Park himself, Bruce Springsteen.
Monmouth University's Pollak Theatre hosted an advanced screening of Miranda's Victim on the night of Saturday, Sept. 30, followed by a panel discussion with the movie's cast and crew. People arriving at the event were welcomed by vintage cars that were used in a movie, showing guests a peek into life in the 1960s as [...]
Willie Nile and his band took the stage at Monmouth University's Pollak Theatre on Saturday, Sept. 23. Willie Nile is a New York-born performing artist who has been rocking out for over 40 years. He has been praised by artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, and Lou Reed.
Film Reviews
Scott Cooper humanizes The Boss in Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere an honest yet uneven look at the creation of Nebraska.
Written by Taylor Memoli In the rising popularity of sex-work-centered cinema-marked most recently by the success of Sean Baker's 2024 Oscar-winning film, Anora - Esteban Arango's Ponyboi boldly enters the conversation with an honest, dreamlike portrait of survival, identity and self-discovery. The 2024 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize nominee has since made its way [...]
The film industry is no stranger to Bob Dylan-centered entertainment. From documentaries to dramas, Dylan is a face that can be recognized throughout various mediums. In December 2024, the industry welcomed its newest member, James Mangold's "A Complete Unknown," to its collection. A Dylan bio-doc hit the screens on Christmas Day; the film follows Dylan [...]
This Oscars season is showing to be a tight race. Between Sean Baker's sex-worker-centered comedy "Anora," Brady Corbet's three-hour epic "The Brutalist," Coralie Fargeat's body-horror "The Substance," and seven others, 2025 has seen some fantastic projects in the film industry. Despite the tight race and my love and admiration for all of these movies, no [...]
"I love him, and I hate him, and I want to be him." Jesse Eisenberg's 2024 film, "A Real Pain" follows cousins Benji and David, portrayed by Kernan Culkin and Eisenberg, as they travel to Poland following the loss of their grandmother to be able to learn more about her and her history.
If you had the chance to travel back in time and share a message with your 18-year-old self, what would you say? Megan Park's newest film, "My Old Ass" explores this very topic. On the night of Elliott's (Maisy Stella) 18th birthday, a mushroom trip connects her with her 39-year-old self, or her "old ass" [...]
"Art is about a measure of sacrifice and tears," a quote that hits home for many dreamers in different stages of their creative journeys. Jason Reitman's "Saturday Night" is a prime example of this. A film that follows the opening night of the well-known "Saturday Night Live" explores much more than the antics that went [...]
"Ever since I was a child, people said my family was cursed." These lines defined the new A24 film, "The Iron Claw," a film I assumed to be about the Von Erich brothers and their wrestling legacy as overlooked by their father. When Kevin Von Erich said these words the first time at the beginning [...]
Tár was one of the most talked about movies this year. With Todd Field's incredible directing and a memorable performance by Cate Blanchett, Tár leaves its viewers thinking about this movie long after it's over. Rather than telling a new story, Tár's narrative is one we've heard in one shape or another; its premise takes [...]
It's that time of the year when film lovers everywhere come together to see whether their newest favorite movie was selected for "Best Picture" at the Oscars. The 2023 Oscars lineup is pretty intense, the top contenders consisting of Martin Scorsese's semi-autobiographical film The Fabelmans, one of Cate Blanchet's best performances in Tar, and the [...]
TV Reviews
The Bear dropped a surprise, emotional episode "Gary" written by Ebon Moss Bachrach and Jon Bernthal.
The Bear Season 4 returns to the recipe that made the show such a success -- focusing on the characters.
Food, friends, family, and fighting. Four f-words that are more prominent than the first to come to mind in FX's hit series, "The Bear." The first two seasons of Christopher Storer's masterpiece consisted of a topic not many were knowledgeable about, the restaurant industry. The ideas for this show were so singular that it made [...]
The Bear is back and open for business as every second counts this season. FX's original series The Bear released Season 2 over the summer and it's back and better than ever. The new season follows the reopening of The Bear, previously known as The Beef, as it is now a new and improved establishment.
The Bear was one of the most talked about shows in 2022, and rightfully so. Audiences were exposed to the reality of owning a restaurant, coupled with the stress of working alongside one's family. At the beginning of this year, it was announced that the hit TV show was up for a second season renewal; [...]
News Articles
Dr. Mihaela Moscaliuc, Ph.D, Professor for the Department of English and English Graduate Program Director, has been selected as a member of The Guggenheim Foundation's 100th Class of Fellows.The honor of a Guggenheim Fellow includes a grant that is awarded by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation that allows recipients to "pursue independent work at [...]
In recent years, MU has made a significant investment in athletics, particularly after the institution became a member of the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) and transitioned to a Division I university. Students are taking notice. This academic year, "The Outlook" received many inquiries from students who overwhelmingly, although not exclusively, expressed their concerns about these [...]
Once a year, WMCX hosts their Live Music Fest, an event where local musicians get to showcase their talent on Monmouth's own student-run radio station. This year, the event ran for 15 hours and included acts such as Beach Daze, Tash Even & Kyle, calyx!, and many more.
Members of Monmouth's Student Government Association (SGA)-as well as an estimated 200 students, faculty, and administrators-stood on the front steps of the Great Hall on Apr. 2 in support of SGA and their new resolution (SGA.RES.S25-01) during their "Rally for Students' Rights." The new resolution, passed on Feb.
In an email to faculty on March 12, President Patrick Leahy announced that the Monmouth University Polling Institute would be closing its doors this year on July 1. The Institute was founded in 2005 by current Director Patrick Murray and employs three people. Its stated mission, according to the website, is to "Foster greater public [...]
The Student Government Association (SGA) passed a resolution (SGA.RES.S25-01) regarding the faculty use of eCampus on Feb. 5. The resolution was sent out via email to the students as well as posted to SGA's Instagram page and website, shortly after it was passed. The resolution was authored by Monmouth University student Michael Makfinsky ('25, SGA [...]
THE BACKGROUND ***This story was produced in collaboration with "The Signal" at The College of New Jersey Last November, Members of the Monmouth University College Republicans participated in the The College of New Jersey's (TCNJ) College Republicans GroupMe chat where many hateful and bigoted opinions were expressed targeting members of the Jewish, Palestinian, and LGBTQIA+ [...]
The celebration of Valentine's Day is as best a time as ever to discuss the importance of sexual wellness. Whether you spend it with a significant other, a situationship, or a total stranger, the potential for STIs and unplanned pregnancies still remains. Monmouth University's Health Center provides resources and learning tools to educate students on [...]
The Associated Press (AP) announced that Donald J. Trump had been selected as the 47th President of the United States, leading him into his second Republican non-consecutive term on Nov. 6, 2024. This call was made after Trump's victory in Wisconsin, pushing him over the 270 electoral votes in contrast to his Democratic appointment, Vice [...]
On Sept. 30, students, faculty, and parents were notified by the Monmouth University Emergency Notification System of a shelter in place order for the dorm building Elmwood Hall due to a possible emergency situation in the building. The alert was proved to be a result of a false threat.This email and call alert was sent [...]
The Fall semester began with many departments and other university units having to rebalance and re-prioritize their spending. Departments and organizations were notified of the budget cuts that were rolled out during the summer. "During the early portion of the summer we were told that our [Writing Service's] budget was essentially going to be cut [...]
On Sep. 1, Linda Deutsch passed away in her Los Angeles home at the age of 80. Deutsch was a powerhouse in the journalism industry and a positive figure for female journalists everywhere. She worked as a reporter for The Associated Press (A.P.) and covered many high-profile court cases, including the trials of O.J.
"The Outlook" has recently received various concerns regarding the garbage and recycling processes on campus. Students had questions about the potential lack of separation of garbage and recycling on campus and wanted to find some answers. On the Monmouth University website under "Waste and Management," the school only details its recycling process, mentioning that they [...]
Film News
Jason Reitman has been creating a buzz in the media regarding his Columbia Pictures project Untitled SNL 1975. It was recently announced that the film will be titled Saturday Night, and the star-studded cast is finally confirmed.
Kevin Smith; known for his films Clerks, Tusk, and Mallrats; is back with an all-new trailer for his upcoming coming-of-age film, The 4:30 Movie.
In 2004, Edgar Wright's horry-comedy film Shaun of the Dead was released in theatres and instantly became a cult classic of the genre. Now, 20 years later, the film will return to the big screen in a project with Focus Features to show the beloved film in Dolby Cinema at AMC theaters.
Disney and Searchlight released the first teaser trailer for the upcoming Bob Dylan biopic titled A Complete Unknown. The trailer features Timothée Chalamet as Dylan himself, portraying the folk icon walking through the streets of New York, passing by his well-associated Chelsea Hotel, and performing his song A Hard
While Glen Powell and co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones were recently on the Happy Sad Confused podcast promoting their new movie Twisters, the actors were asked which project fans would see a first: A season two of Edgar's Normal People or a third installment of Glenn's Top Gun movie franchise.
In April of this year, it was announced that 20th Century Studios would finance and release a Bruce Springsteen narrative film titled Deliver Me From Nowhere. Scott Cooper wrote the script and is set to direct this project with the man playing the boss himself, Jeremy Allen White.
The film Midas Man was sold to Briarcliff Entertainment From Studio POW and American Entertainment Investors today. The film follows the story of Brian Epstein, the Beatles manager who transformed the band from four boys from Liverpool into the iconic and timeless group fans know and love today.
On May 25, Sean Baker's Anora won the Palme d'Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. The award was given out by the competition jury, led by director Greta Gerwig. The Palme d'Or award honors the best film screened at the festival.
The 28th annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will occur June 12-16 in Miami Beach, Florida. An online segment will follow on ABFF PLAY streaming from June 17-24.
Hollywood's biggest night was celebrated on Mar. 10, 2024. The 96th annual Oscars award ceremony was held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The show was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, making this ceremony his fourth time being host. The show premiered live on ABC during its new time of 7:00 pm EST.
On Feb. 20, Sony Pictures announced their collaboration with Sam Mendes and Neal Street Productions in a new project, creating four new movies based on The Beatles with one film for each member, all coming out in 2027. Business Insider reports that all four movies "will intersect to tell the astonishing story of the greatest [...]
In 1896, Alice Guy-Blaché became the first female director with her film, "La Fée aux Choux" in France. In 1912, Lois Weber became the first female director in Hollywood with her film, "The Merchant of Venice." Since these two pioneers, women have been making a name for themselves behind the camera in the film industry.
Features Articles
The Renfrew Center is an eating disorder treatment facility located in North Jersey whose goal is to help educate college students on the concern of body image issues. Renfrew hosted a full day of webinars on Oct. 10 of this year, the date of World Mental Health Day, that covered topics such as "Silencing Shame [...]
It's that time during every senior college student's journey when they are confronted with the unavoidable question: "So what are you going to do after graduation?" Well, that is the golden question. Our lives are just starting, yet the uncertainty surrounding it can be overwhelming.
"Bruce Songs: The Music of Bruce Springsteen, Album-by-Album, Song-by-Song" by Kenneth L. Campbell and Kenneth Womack Monmouth University is no stranger to Bruce Springsteen. With our Bruce Springsteen Archives and their current expansion underway, Monmouth is the proud location for various aspects of Springsteen's history. On Sep.
From Sep. 5 through Dec. 8, the DiMattio and Ice House Galleries will be hosting the exhibit "PAT CRESSON Taking a Leap -The Power of the Natural World 45 Years of Creative Work." This exhibit contains 21 different categories of Patricia Cresson's, Professor of Art and Design, work spanning over 47 years of making art.