Riley Nixon , Author at The Argosy

Bigger and brattier

Riley Nixon — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 13:41:50 +0000

Brat summer has finished, just for brat autumn to begin with the release of Charli xcx’s remix album Brat and it’s completely different but it’s still brat. The expanded project, released on October 11, features completely different versions of all the original Brat tracks that the world has grown to know and love.

When the project was announced, it seemed as though all of the songs would be similar to their original counterparts just with additional features. This could not be further from the truth: the new tracks feature the same names as their originals and similar lyrical content, but with completely new production styles and ideas behind them. This is basically an entirely new album from Charli.

Kaya Panthier – Argosy Illustration Editor

When all of the features for this album got announced, I was ecstatic to see some of my favourite artists included on this project, such as Caroline Polachek and The Japanese House. Even with high expectations they did not disappoint in bringing unique vocal stylings to the remixes of the already very well known tracks, “Everything is Romantic” and “Apple.” There were even some featured artists I had never listened to before but their performances on this album have made me want to check out their own releases. Bon Iver is a good example of this, delivering a beautiful performance on the “I Think About it All the Time” remix.

Just when we thought the season of Brat was finished, Charli xcx proved us wrong and brought us a new masterpiece. While it felt like we were living in the season of Brat, we will someday look back and realize it was actually the year of Brat.

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My Atlantic International Film Festival experience

Riley Nixon — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 14:04:53 +0000

This Fall, I had the privilege of having my first Atlantic International Film Festival (AIFF) experience. During the four days, I was able to catch a total of seven screenings. I quite enjoyed all seven films but there were two clear standouts from the bunch.

Kaya Panthier – Argosy Illustration Editor

Late on the night of Saturday September 14, I was a little on edge about catching a movie that has been described by film critics and directors as one of the goriest movies ever released. Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance is as unsettling and disgusting as they say. The uneasiness I felt was all worth it because of the added commentary on body dysmorphia and the treatment of women in the entertainment industry. For anybody who does not get squeamish about body horror, this film is out now in theaters everywhere.

The closing night gala feature was my most anticipated film of the festival. I had driven four total hours in one evening just to catch this screening. Director Sean Baker has made many beloved films but Anora might just be his magnum opus. Mikey Madison gives a breakout performance as Anora, a sex worker that spontaneously marries the rich son of a Russian oligarch. Baker is a master of entrancing audiences with scripts that blend devastation and hilarity along with beautiful cinematography. Catch Anora in Canadian theaters on October 25.

I was pleasantly surprised with the strength of the schedule at AIFF this year. All seven movies I saw were quite enjoyable, but Anora and The Substance shared my personal top prize for the festival.

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The best album releases of summer 2024

Riley Nixon — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 22:16:50 +0000

This summer, the world was taken by storm with the release of Charli XCX’s electro pop masterpiece, Brat. While I agree with the public that this is a nearly perfect album, there are three lesser known projects that I have had on repeat, and I believe have a bit more to offer than the internet sensation.

Kaya Panthier – Argosy Illustration Editor

The beginning of May saw brothers known as The Lemon Twigs drop their new 60s inspired classic rock project, A Dream is All We Know. Their album released the year prior, Everything Harmony, got me hooked on their Beach Boys-like sound and beautiful harmonies. This new LP continues with that style and even improves upon it further.

Experimental hip-hop powerhouse JPEGMAFIA released his first solo project in three years, I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU, on the midnight transition from July to August. This album begins with his signature chaotic style and leads into some more introspective, chill cuts on the back half. As always with Peggy, it is such a treat to deep dive into his absurdly selected samples and see how he flips them into ear-pleasing beats and instrumentals.

Lush pop duo Magdalena Bay released their sophomore project, Imaginal Disk, at the tail end of the summer. Matt Lewin and Mica Tenanbaum combine to create dreamy and distorted production with beautiful vocals to boot. While this album is still only about a month old, I can already tell that it will be in my rotation for many years to come.

Although this summer was jam-packed with music, I believe that The Lemon Twigs, JPEGMAFIA and Magdalena Bay came out on top as some of the best projects released.

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