Jenessa Williams
Jenessa is a freelance music journalist, fandom academic and the writer of Subtweets, our weekly column that dissects the trending topics setting Music Twitter alight. She likes millennial hip-hop, noughties emo and advocating for a new era of diversity and representation in both.
aespa – ‘Armaggedon’ review: long-awaited debut from K-Pop Titans
When aespa burst onto the scene with ‘Next Level’ way back in 2021, it was clear that K-Pop had just met its future leaders....
The Great Escape boycott: why bands are pulling out of the Brighton new music...
For nearly two decades, The Great Escape Festival has been a beacon of the British music industry, the event that signals that festival season...
‘The Idea Of You’ celebrates the escapism of fangirl fantasy
As long as pop fandom has been around, there have been crushes. Whether you’re hot for Harry, randy about Robbie or amenable to the...
Drake and Kendrick’s ‘beef’ isn’t just misogynistic, it’s telling of a full-blown masculinity crisis
Whether you’re a hip-hop head or not, it has been difficult to avoid the news dominating the genre of late. Tapping into our cultural...
45s of the week: 5 new songs to play now from Gracie Abrams, Pip...
Gracie Abrams – 'Risk'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiMuT2BhwO0
Ever gotten carried away with a crush? On ‘Risk’, Gracie Abrams is in restless mode, ready to chance it all and...
With her album anti-rollout, Billie Eilish wants us to respect albums – and Mother...
When the industry zigs, Billie Eilish likes to zag. Whether it’s refusing to conform to perceptions of what a female-identifying popstar ‘should’ be wearing...
Queerchella: Why fans are calling this year’s festival a ‘sapphic dream’
Amidst all the usual internet grumbling about dull crowds, pricey food and stifling heat, there was one big rainbow-coded talking point at this year's...
English Teacher – ‘This Could Be Texas’ review: a subtly brilliant debut from the...
If you haven’t heard of English Teacher yet, there might be a universe in which you could be forgiven. Rather than TikTok virality, beef-seeking...
Is there any room for fantasy in pop music these days?
You’ve got to feel a tiny bit sorry for that old Jolene. More than 50 years after Dolly Parton first begged her not to...
45s of the week – Chappell Roan, Hope Tala, London Grammar and more!
Chappel Roan - 'Good Luck, Babe'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ-oGLluGAc
Going from strength to strength on both the Olivia Rodrigo tour and an appearance on TinyDesk, Chappel Roan is...