Jeriann Tripodi, Staff

Header image: riffmagazine.com

St. Lucia is a worldwide famous electropop band that consists of Jean-Philip Grobler (lead vocals and guitar), his wife Patty Beranek (keyboard, backup vocals and percussion), Nick Paul (keyboard and synthesizers), Ross Clark (bass guitar) and Dustin Kaufman (drums). Founded by Grobler, St. Lucia originated in New York in 2013. Soon after, their debut studio album, “When the Night,” was released. Some fan-favorite songs off this album are “All Eyes on You,” “Elevate” and “September.” “When the Night” was a success on the Billboard charts and resulted in media praise from magazines such as Rolling Stone, PAPER and LADYGUNN. St. Lucia also made television appearances on the late shows “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and “Late Night with Seth Myers” where they performed as the musical guest.            

St. Lucia will kick off their US Utopia Tour one day (Oct. 6) before the release of their much-anticipated LP “Utopia,” which will be released on Oct. 7 via Nettwerk. St. Lucia took the time off from their busy schedule to answer a few questions. Let’s get to know their frontman a little better. I hope you enjoy our Q&A session.

Q (JERIANN): What should fans expect when they see you live?

A (ST. LUCIA): We go out of our way to make our show the best thing you’ll probably see in venues that are the size we’re playing. They’re fun, super high energy, pretty much all our music is danceable and so it’s like a free workout and you will see us sweat our asses off. We also don’t cut any corners when it comes to the quality of the experience, from using loads of analog synths, real guitar amps, live drums, etc. We could probably save a lot of money by not doing things the way we do it, but we believe that quality on all levels makes a big difference to the overall experience. Oh, and our stage and lighting production is cool.

Q (JERIANN): Do you have a personal favorite song that is on your “Utopia” album?

A (ST. LUCIA/JEAN-PHILIP): I keep flipping between them all. It’s like they’re all my prodigal children. I think my current fave is “Gimme The Night,” but tomorrow it’ll probably be “Another Lifetime” or “Separate World.” We’re having a real hard time picking our setlist for this tour because all the songs on “Utopia” feel so good to play live, we just wanna do the whole record every night. 

Q (JERIANN): Growing up, which artists did you listen to that inspired you musically? 

A (ST. LUCIA/JEAN-PHILIP): I’m a child of the 80’s, but then I was a teenager in the late 90’s, and so I was deeply influenced by both those decades which is sort of like using a combo shampoo and conditioner; they were such different decades. I love so much music from the 80’s, and I’m hugely inspired by the desire of many of those artists to connect with people on a very broad level but also to do something artistically satisfying. Artists like U2, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, Prince, and Michael Jackson did this amazingly well. I also have a soft spot for kind of novelty pop one-hit wonders that you really shouldn’t like but do. But then what’s funny is my musical personality is also juxtaposed with those artists from the 90’s, like Radiohead or Nirvana, who seemed to be doing everything in their power to get people to not like them and yet people kept coming back. So that’s kind of a crash course in my completely contradictory musical personality. 

Q (JERIANN): What advice would you give to aspiring young musicians?

A (ST. LUCIA/JEAN-PHILIP): If you really love music, and you really think this thing is for you, then really, really go for it. People are going to tell you all sorts of BS. They’re going to promise you if you go with them, you will get such and such thing and sometimes it will work out, but more likely than not, most of the time it won’t. But the trick is to just keep doing it, and to trust your gut. If you have really quick success, you might get convinced that it’s always going to be that way, but it won’t. At some point you’re not going to be that fresh face anymore and then you’re going to have to fight for your existence as an artist. There is no easy road in the long run, but if you truly love music and preserve your own enjoyment of the process and don’t let people get into your head with “this is the right way and this is the wrong way of doing things,” that will be your refuge in all the noise. So, I suppose my biggest advice would be to safeguard and cultivate your own way and your own inner voice, because that is what will keep you sane and will keep you loving music despite all the inevitable ups and downs. 

You can see St. Lucia live in concert in Philadelphia on Oct. 8 at Theatre of Living Arts (TLA). St. Lucia will also be appearing at other US venues up until Nov. 16.

Tour dates and other music information can be found on the St. Lucia official website.

Jeriann Tripodi, Staff

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Wild Rivers is an indie folk band that originated in Ontario, Canada. Its three members are Khalid Yassein (vocals, guitar, keys), Andrew Oliver (lead guitar, synths), and Devan Glover (vocals). In 2016, Wild Rivers self-released their self-titled debut album. Some fan-favorite tracks off this album are “Heart Attack,” “Wandering Child” and “Speak Too Soon.” In February 2022, Wild Rivers released their second studio album, “Sidelines,” under Nettwerk Records. This album debuted in the top ten on Spotify’s Debut Album Chart in the USA. These tracks, which incorporate sounds of folk, alternative, indie, rock and pop, focus on the relatable issues those in their early to mid-twenties face as they try to navigate adulthood and search for a sense of identity, all while reminiscing on younger days. A fan-favorite track off “Sidelines” is “Amsterdam.” Wild Rivers has recently finished their European leg of their “Sidelines” world tour, which was a success with sold-out shows. They are currently touring North America.

Wild Rivers took the time off from their busy tour schedule to answer a few questions. Let’s get to know the band a little better. I hope you enjoy our Q&A session.

Q (JERIANN): Which song off “Sidelines” holds the most personal meaning for each of you? 

A (ANDREW): Writing “More or Less” was a very special and memorable moment. We had rented a house in Echo Park together. It was late at night and we were hanging in the living room where we’d set up all our instruments. We had this simple vibey synth note looping, and Khal started playing some piano chords over it. It was an instantly moody and great vibe. We stayed up late into the night and figured out the rest. It felt very inspiring and was one of the more effortless moments in the creation of the album.

A (KHALID): “Bedrock” is a song about a period of time when I struggled with depression. It’s the first time I’ve spoken about it, and it was an important step for me to move forward and get some complicated feelings off of my chest. I think it’s an important conversation in general, as everyone has mental health. Musicians in general with a demanding lifestyle and unstable living situations are susceptible to mental health issues so I’m glad that this has been a bigger conversation over the last few years.

A (DEVAN): I specifically remember the process of making “More or Less.” We were all sitting in our living room in Echo Park, tired from a day of attempting to write a song but not really getting anywhere. Khal started playing these chords on a Wurlitzer and we just started talking about the existential crisis we were all having. We managed to turn that conversation into this song, and it really revealed a lot of the subconscious themes of the album. Writing this one felt very raw and real. 

Q (JERIANN): What can the audience expect when they come to see you live in concert? 

A (WILD RIVERS): A little bit of everything. We try to keep our show as light and fun as possible. Although our music can be a little sombre, we as people love to laugh and goof around so there’s a fair bit of silliness and dumb bits at our shows. We want people to laugh, dance, cry, meet new friends and hug their old ones. The vibe of the show this past tour has been really really awesome, and we’re feeling all of those emotions even more than before.

Q (JERIANN): Growing up, which artists did you listen to that inspired you musically? 

A (WILD RIVERS): We all converge on the classic songwriters. Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles and Elton John. Then today we have influences across the map, indie, hip hop, R&B, and pop. But even in those genres, most of those artists are referencing another era of music, which we think is really cool. We try to pull a bit from everything.

Q (JERIANN): What advice would you give to aspiring young musicians? 

A (WILD RIVERS): Make music that inspires you, more than anyone else. It’s the only compass you can follow. If you think something is cool, it is. Today’s industry is exhausting, where artists are vying for a few seconds of attention. While that can be tiresome, it also means that young artists have more reach than ever before. And at the end of the day, you have to love the music. It’s easy to forget why you do something but for your own happiness, it’s important to remind yourself of that. And a true fan will love a song you make way more than a TikTok.

You can see Wild Rivers live in concert in Philadelphia on Oct. 5 at Union Transfer. The band will also be appearing at other US venues up until Oct. 9. Below is the schedule of Wild Rivers tour dates:

Check out the official Wild Rivers website for updates and more music information.

Jeriann Tripod, Staff 

Will Joseph Cook is a famous singer-songwriter from Kent, England. Cook is known for his feel-good and catchy melodies which encompass a genre of alternative rock, pop and indie. Cook rose to fame in 2015 after publishing his first EP titled “You Jump, I Run” on the internet, which received over one million streams and resulted in the creation of a large fan base. He has since gone on to release several successful albums and one of his tracks, “Be Around Me,” has been featured in more than 1.2M Tik-Tok videos and over 400k Instagram Reels. This past May, Cook released his latest album “Every Single Thing” under his indie record label, Bad Hotel. Some of the fan-favorite tracks off this album include “Little Miss,” “Kisses,” “Gummy,” and “BOP.” 

Cook is currently on tour in the US. He is touring with American singer-songwriter Tessa Violet on her Rise of the Phoenix Tour. On Sept. 19, the tour will be making a stop in Philadelphia at The Foundry, where you can see Cook give a high-energy live performance. He will also be appearing at other US venues up until Oct. 3. Below is the schedule of Will Joseph Cook tour dates:

Will Joseph Cook took the time off from his busy tour schedule to answer a few questions. Let’s get to know him a little better. I hope you enjoy our Q&A session:

Q (JERIANN): Is this your first tour in America?

A (WILL JOSEPH COOK): It is! My first bus tour too, it’s been quite the experience. I’d spent a lot of time in LA recording but had barely seen the rest of the US before this tour. Our day off in Joshua Tree National Park is a personal highlight so far.

Q (JERIANN) What should fans expect when they see you live?

A (WILL JOSEPH COOK): Currently, I’m touring as a two piece with my good friend and collaborator Eric Radloff (Okudaxij). We both spread across a few different instruments throughout the set, with a drum machine backing us up. We bring a lot of energy when we play, it has been dope to see that mirrored in all of the crowds here!

Q (JERIANN): Do you have a personal favorite song that is on your “Every Single Thing” album? 

A (WILL JOSEPH COOK): It changes all the time, but I think at the moment it’s ‘BOP’ as it’s been popping so hard on this tour. It really comes to life in a live show, that was always what I had in my mind when writing it. 

Q (JERIANN): Growing up, which artists did you listen to that inspired you musically? 

A (WILL JOSEPH COOK): My first big influences were Vampire Weekend, Darwin Deez, Phoenix, Eels and Calvin Harris’s first LPs to name a few. 

Q (JERIANN): What advice would you give to aspiring artists?

A (WILL JOSEPH COOK): To not be afraid of sharing your music. I feel like a lot of aspiring artists put a lot of pressure on their first release, but most successful artists have had a long and colorful path to where they’re at now – you just have to start.

Check out the official Will Joseph Cook website for updates and more music information!

Jeriann Tripodi, Staff Writer

“Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness” is a worldwide famous singer-songwriter and pianist. McMahon has had success in the industry since the late nineties when he co-founded the pop-punk band “Something Corporate” with a high school friend. This band has released three studio albums. Their most successful song, “If You C Jordan,” was released off their first studio album. However, “Something Corporate” is also well-known for the songs “Space” and “Pop Punk Princess.”

After “Something Corporate” went on hiatus in the early 2000s, McMahon found success with the rock band “Jack’s Mannequin,” which he formed. “Jack’s Mannequin” released three studio albums, two of which entered the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. This rock band is best known for the hit songs “Dark Blue,” “The Mixed Tape” and “Swim.”

In 2014, McMahon found success as a solo artist under the moniker “Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness.” His self-titled debut album made it to the top 5 of the Billboard’s Alternative Albums chart. Its lead single, “Cecilia and the Satellite,” became a widely successful radio hit.

McMahon has since gone on tour with big names, such as “Weezer” and “Panic! At the Disco” as part of a 2016 summer tour. This past summer, McMahon has co-headlined a tour with rock band “Dashboard Confessional,” as well as opened for a few Billy Joel concerts.

McMahon has made numerous television appearances. He has performed on the late shows such as “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” “Last Call with Carson Daly” and “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.” His music videos were played on “VH1’s Top 20 Countdown,” with one of his videos, “The Mixed Tape,” coming in at the number one spot in 2006. Also, McMahon appeared in an episode of “One Tree Hill.” He has also been nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for the NBC musical drama “Smash.”

Adding to his many contributions, McMahon is also a published author. In 2021, McMahon released a memoir titled “Three Pianos: A Memoir,” which details the challenges and successes in his career and personal life.

McMahon has also been working on new music that he cannot wait to share with his fans. This past August, he premiered his new single “Stars” via Nettwerk. The meaningful lyrics reflect the beauty and pain that come with loving someone. 

I had the opportunity to ask Andrew McMahon several questions. I hope you enjoy our Q&A session:

Q (JERIANN): What can fans expect from your upcoming music?

A (ANDREW): We recorded all of these songs over three months and were able to spend so many hours living inside these arrangements. I think this is one of the most sonically exciting records I’ve made. Having so much time between this album and my last also made it possible to curate a batch of songs that I feel are very rich in subject matter. I haven’t been this excited to release music in a long time. 

Q (JERIANN): Growing up, which artists did you listen to that inspired you musically? 

A (ANDREW): I am the youngest of five kids in the 80’s and 90’s, so my older siblings’ music became my early inspiration. Artists like Tom Petty, R.E.M., U2, Neil Young, James Taylor, Madonna and Michael Jackson. As a piano player, I was all about Billy Joel and one of my earliest personal discoveries that steered a lot of my writing was Counting Crows.

Q (JERIANN): What advice would you give to aspiring young musicians? 

A (ANDREW): Make music because you love it, play and write constantly. Success can appear glamorous from the outside, but success in this business requires an insane amount of hard work and if you don’t love the work it’s a thankless road. 

Check out the official Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness website for updates and more music information!

Jeriann Tripodi, Editor

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Welcome to the wonderful world of entertainment. The following news includes highlights of celebrities, television, movies and music this week.

Kanye West is being sued by Texas pastor for sampling sermon

A Texas pastor, Bishop David Paul Moten, is suing rapper Kanye West for sampling his sermon without permission. In the lawsuit, the Texas pastor claims that “more than a minute” of his sermon can be heard on West’s track, “Come to Life,” which is off his recent Grammy-nominated “Donda” album. Moten is also suing the rapper’s record label. According to Moten’s attorneys, the sample is used as a loop in the pre-chorus and chorus. The attorneys also state that West has a pattern of sampling other people’s work without permission.

“Ozark” is top trending on Netflix

The Netflix series, “Ozark,” has become the top trending television show on the streaming platform after releasing the second part of its fourth and final season. Starring Jason Bateman, Laura Linney and Julia Garner, this hit crime drama series follows the obstacles faced by the Byrde family after they join forces with a drug cartel. When things seem as if they cannot get more complicated for this fractured family, season four part two demonstrates otherwise. According to social media users, the series finale has left fans divided and torn.

The first official trailer for “Hustle” is released

The first official trailer for the upcoming Netflix film, “Hustle,” starring Adam Sandler has recently been released by the streaming platform on YouTube. Taking place in Philadelphia, this drama and sports film follows Stanley Sugarman, a basketball scout for the 76ers who has been traveling the world searching for the right player. The weary scout is close to giving up before he comes across an extremely talented streetball player in Spain named Bo Cruz. Despite the obstacles both men face during the process, Sugarman won’t give up; he coaches Cruz tirelessly with the goal of proving that underdogs can be successful. Produced by Adam Sandler and NBA star LeBron James, “Hustle” is rated R and will be released worldwide on June 10. Key shots for “Hustle” were filmed on La Salle University’s campus, including basketball training scenes shot in Tom Gola Arena.

Number one on the Billboard charts: week of May 12, 2022

According to “The Hot 100” on the charts, the number one song in the U.S. is “WAIT FOR U” by Future featuring Drake and Tems. This is the first week the R&B and hip-hop song is on the charts. According to the “Billboard 200,” the number one album in the U.S. is “I Never Liked You” by Future. This is the first week the hip-hop and rap album is on the charts. 

Editor’s Note: I want to thank all of the readers who have been reading my “What’s Trending” articles each week. Several years ago, I started the “What’s Trending” column where, each week, I updated readers on the top circulating events in Hollywood. While reading my articles, I hope you have come across your favorite celebrities, musicians, shows and movies at least once. I am also the author of another original column, “A&E Trivia.” In this column, I would ask four trivia questions—one movie, television, music and celebrity-related. Sometimes, the questions either shared the same theme, other times they tested the reader’s knowledge on what was trending that week. As the school year comes to a close, I wanted to let everyone know that I have greatly enjoyed being an editor for the Arts and Entertainment section of the Collegian and hope to continue bringing you entertainment content in the future.

Thank you for reading this week’s “What’s Trending.” If you have enjoyed this article, be sure to watch La Salle TV’s “Backstage Pass” for more celebrity and entertainment news and content. Check out the student-produced show on its YouTube channel, LaSalleTV Philly. You can also watch “Backstage Pass” twice a day on Comcast channel 56. The times are as follows:

Jeriann Tripodi, Editor

Header Image: CBR

Welcome to the wonderful world of entertainment. The following news includes highlights of celebrities, television, movies and music this week.

“Fictosexual” man opens up about marriage to fictional character Hatsune Miku

A 38-year-old Japanese man, Akihiko Kondo, has been married to computer synthesized pop singer Hatsune Miku for four years, after dating her for a decade. In a recent interview with The New York Times, Kondo has opened up about his marriage to the Vocaloid. While claiming that Miku has advantages over a human partner because she will never betray him or pass away, Kondo has also admitted that communication is a large struggle. Kondo proposed to a hologram version of Miku and carries around a life-sized doll of her. Miku is a famous virtual singer who toured with Lady Gaga. She also starred in video games.

“American Idol” winner arrested for spying on ex-girlfriend

Country singer and “American Idol” winner Laine Hardy has been arrested for planting a listening device in his ex-girlfriend’s dorm room. According to Entertainment Tonight, the young woman found the voice-activated recorder under her futon and thought it was a phone charger. Hardy faces a felony charge of “interception and disclosure of wire, electronic or oral communication.” If found guilty, the 21-year-old could face up to 10 years in prison. In 2019, Hardy won season 17 of the ABC reality singing competition. He then went on to release his hit song “Memorize You.” 

James Corden will be leaving “The Late Late Show”

Comedian and late show host James Corden has announced that he will be leaving CBS’s “The Late Late Show” in 2023. Corden announced this news during his monologue. Before getting emotional, he explained that he is excited to see what else is in store for his future. Corden has hosted the talk show since 2015 after the departure of previous host Craig Ferguson. The 43-year-old British comedian is best-known for introducing the fan-favorite segment, “Carpool Karaoke,” where he would sing with celebrity guests while driving them around town. “The Late Late Show with James Corden” airs every Monday through Friday at 12:35 a.m. on CBS. 

Disney returns to 2D animation in new docuseries

“Sketchbook” is a new docuseries on Disney+ that focuses on the process of hand-drawn character animation in honor of The Walt Disney Company’s upcoming 100^th anniversary. This six-part documentary series features six different animators and their classic Disney characters. One of the featured animators is Philadelphia-area native Eric Goldberg. Goldberg served as the supervising animator of Genie for “Aladdin,” which was released in 1992. This series will not only display each artist’s unique style, but also showcases the importance of traditional hand-drawn animation despite the fact that CG films have become more popular.

Number one on the Billboard charts: week of May 7, 2022

According to “The Hot 100” on the charts, the number one song in the U.S. is “As It Was” by Harry Styles. Staying at the top spot, this is the fourth week the pop/R&B song is on the charts. According to the “Billboard 200,” the number one album in the U.S. is “It’s Almost Dry” by Pusha T. This is the first week the rap album is on the charts. 

Thank you for reading this week’s “What’s Trending.” If you have enjoyed this article, be sure to watch La Salle TV’s “Backstage Pass” for more celebrity and entertainment news and content. Check out the student-produced show on its YouTube channel, LaSalleTV Philly. You can also watch “Backstage Pass” twice a day on Comcast channel 56. The times are as follows:

Jeriann Tripodi, Editor

Welcome back to the fun segment “A&E Trivia.” This week, we have a special “names” edition. We will play a little quizzo with a total of four questions — one question from each category. You will be given three answer choices. The categories are movies, television, music and celebrities. Let’s go!

I hope you all enjoyed this week’s “A&E Trivia” and hopefully got a question or two right. Email tripodij2@lasalle.edu any questions you would like to see asked in the next edition. Be sure to watch La Salle TV’s “Backstage Pass,” where you can see these questions asked in a video format, in addition to celebrity and entertainment news. Check out the student-produced show on its YouTube channel, LaSalleTV Philly. You can also watch “Backstage Pass” twice a day on Comcast channel 56. The times are as follows: