Emily Writes: The Diana Death Ride and other terrifying things in the news

Emily Writes bravely ventures into the treacherous cavities of online news so you don’t have to. It’s been a week in Princess Diana news despite the fact that she died in 1997. Kevin Costner has said Lady Di once considered starring in a sequel to The Bodyguard. Unsurprisingly, that shit-stirrer Fergie was behind it. If … Read more

‘That’s my baby!’: A superfan goes to Harry Styles

Globe-trotting superfan Sacha Judd reviews her third Harry Styles show in less than three months. And she might already have tickets to two more. A friend texts me: “Wait. This is your third Harry Styles concert?” I try to explain that, actually, I had only ever intended to see him in Auckland. And then New … Read more

Treating people with kindness: Harry Styles shares the love in Auckland

Preeminent One Direction scholar Millie Lovelock reviews the Harry Styles concert at Spark Arena. I’ll start at the beginning because concerts like this don’t just start when the band take the stage. For at least a thousand Harry Styles fans, the show started long before I was even conscious on Saturday morning. Fans were camping overnight, … Read more

Pod on the Couch: Pop music catch-up time!

The Spinoff and Spark proudly present Pod On The Couch, a weekly podcast exploring music and the people that make it. This episode: Henry Oliver talks to Kate Robertson and Calum Henderson about some recent pop music highlights. Spinoff Music editor Henry Oliver talks to contributor Kate Robertson and staff writer Calum Henderson about Lorde’s Melodrama, Selena’s ‘Bad Liar’, … Read more

The Album Cycle: The best pop-rock front person of the 2000s is back!

The Spinoff Music team review new albums from Paramore, Harry Styles and Low Cut Connie, and a not-new album from The Beatles. Paramore – After Laughter The best pop-rock front person of the 2000s is back! I’ve been a casual fan of Paramore for a decade now (gosh, that caught up with me quickly!), spanning as … Read more

Best Songs Ever: Steve Braunias reviews the Harry Styles single – and more!

Our regular round-up of new songs and singles, this week featuring Chelsea Jade, Harry Styles, Kamasi Washington, and Mermaidens. SONG OF THE WEEK Chelsea Jade – ‘Life of the Party’ New Zealand’s pop minimalist isn’t better, she’s best In 2015’s ‘Low Brow’, Chelsea Jade was anchorless and anxious, appealing for a lover to deliver the impossible: … Read more