Despite February being a particularly jam-packed month for the RUSSH Editors – from Laneway coverage to our digital cover with Benee and Pandora – we've still found ample time to keep our cultural capital topped up across the month. From Gothic film adaptations to New York rock bands to hyped-up debut novelists, this is what we've been watching, reading and listening in February.
Jaime Carmody
Digital Marketing Specialist
Watch … I know I’m late to the party, but I finally watched Bugonia and low-key loved the strange, off-kilter energy of it. It leans fully into the absurd, surreal, and slightly dystopian. Beneath the weirdness, though, it feels like a commentary on power, paranoia and the fragility of human connection. It’s uncomfortable in parts, but intentionally so. I also watched A Mother's Instinct starring Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain: five stars, no notes. It’s a slow-burning psychological thriller set in the 1960s that explores maternal guilt, suspicion and the quiet unraveling of suburban perfection. Beautifully shot and deeply unsettling.
Listen … I’ve been listening to a lot of San Cisco lately. They’ve quietly become the backbone of my summer playlists. Under the Light has been on constant rotation as has their cover of Not Strong Enough by Boy Genius.
Read … I’ve been loving Evenings and Weekends by Oisin McKenna. I’m close to finishing and already mourning it. The novel moves through the lives of young Londoners over a sweltering weekend, capturing that delicate balance between ambition, intimacy, financial anxiety, friendship, and desire. It feels ‘very now’, in the best way.
Samantha Corry
Social Media Coordinator & Assistant to Editor In Chief
Watch … Wuthering Heights was a big one this month. And in the words of Harry Styles "My favourite thing about the movie is, like, it feels like a movie." I love the book and I love the film, that’s all I say. I also watched Send Help with Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, which was actually really funny. And Bridgerton, of course. I also binged A Knight of Seven Kingdoms and it was great. I love how wholesome it is. Also Hijacked on AppleTV+ and Pluribus. Oh my god, Pluribus is so good!
Listen … Geese, Geese, Geese! I can’t believe I saw them live. Such an incredible band, I don't want to hear any slander please. But also Charli XCX and Tame Impala are on loop. Also The Dare – I was just enamoured by his set at Laneway, he was great.
Read … I read Wuthering Heights but with so many classic novels being turned into adaptations I think Sense and Sensibility is on my list next to read. Same as Madeline Cash’s Lost Lambs.
Cassandra Dimitroff
Features and Production Editor
Watch … I was lucky enough to attend the Sydney premiere of Wuthering Heights (after devouring the novel last month). It was such a treat to see the film in that setting; such an aesthetic delight. I loved the hands on the fireplace, and the skin-printed walls.
Listen … Lots of Geese (post-Laneway), revisiting some favourites from BADBADNOTGOOD, and of course Charli’s Wuthering Heights album soundtrack.
Read … I’m on to the second book in Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan Quartet: The Story of a New Name. It's gossipy and detailed and sucks you in like nothing else. I’m loving it equally as much as the first.
Sophia Serafin
Implementation Manager
Watch … I haven’t stopped thinking about Love Story: John F Kennedy Jr & Carolyn Bessette – the show exploring one of the most scrutinised and obsessed over modern relationships. I’m on the edge of my seat for new episodes. When I’m after something lighter, I’ve been catching up on Hacks. This month I’ve also watched a few films on MUBI: Basic Instinct, The Dreamers and Shiva Baby were standouts.
Listen … I came across 2charm on TikTok and was instantly obsessed with their vibe (even more so when I realised they are Cub Sport alums). I’ve also been listening to lots of Faye Webster, alongside the Wuthering Heights soundtrack… duh.
Read … I recently finished Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth, and am halfway through Chosen Family by Madeline Grey – an intimate queer novel about friendship and the people we choose to call home.
Alys Hale
Music Editor and Creative Producer
Watch … I’m ashamed to admit it but I have watched the America’s Next Top Model documentary, and whilst I never watched the show, I was modelling in the industry around that time so curiosity killed the cat. The exploitation of young women is sad to watch, because it was all so very true, and no surprises that Tyra Banks shirks responsibility, repeatedly.
Listen … Obviously, all of the tracks in my monthly music wrap have been on rotation, as well as some Smerz, Grace Jones and Pulp ahead of their upcoming shows. I’ve been listening to The Bugel podcast too for a satirical take of the world on fire.
Read … Now I’m over my Franzen bender, I’m finally getting into Intermezzo, yes, I know I’m late to the party here. My partner recently bought a copy of Songs for Other People’s Weddings by David Levithan and Jens Lekman too. It’s a very cool concept and has songs embedded within the novel.
Stacey Gaskin
Consumer Revenue Manager
Watch … I’m rewatching Suits and really enjoying it. I also have plans to see Wuthering Heights at my local cinema and am very excited. I’m also very excited to watch Part 2 of Bridgerton season 4.
Listen … Lips Of An Angel by Hinder, Here Without You by 3 Doors Down and Chocolate by The 1975.
Read … House sale contracts… But my TBR list is growing, as always. Top of the list is Theo of Golden by Allen Levi, Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash and upon its April release – Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris.
Koby Dulac-Daley
Fashion Assistant
Watch ... I saw an earlier showing earlier this month of Wurthering Heights with our executive Fashion Director, Hannah. We tuned into the 2026 Grammys in the office, to see some recording breaking wins for Bad Bunny, Olivia Dean getting her flowers winning best new artist and some amazing performances. As Moira Rose once said, her favourite season is "Awards" – and I would have to agree (apart from couture, obviously!). As a fellow half-Canadian, I was devastated by the loss of Catherine O’Hara who is iconic for so many roles. Her portrayal of Rose on Schitt’s Creek is one of my favourite things to have happened in television. In honour of her, I also revisited the slice of paradise that is Schitt's Creek.
Listen ... It feels like the season of the witch is truly upon us as gothic pop took over my likes songs in February. Kate Bush made her return to my ears, first with her adaptation of Wuthering Heights and I soon went down a wormhole where she overtook my Spotify. Another Wuthering Heights-centric song was Dying for You by Charli XCX for the new film – which has quickly become my most listened-to song of the month. In the everlasting slow burn and name changing that is the realise of Lana Del Rey’s upcoming album, we finally got a taste. In the typical long-titled Lana way, we got White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter the witchy track supposedly to be part of Stove (and which has me very excited for the rest of the album).
Read ... I definitely partook in a lot of reading this month – although that happened to be my emails and press releases while I was listening to Kate Bush and Charli XCX. I was also deep in Letterboxd, reading the polarising reviews for Wuthering Heights – including Charli’s own.
Mia Steiber
Digital Strategy Director & Associate Publisher
Watch … I finally watched Frankenstein. I’d been putting it off because – while I deeply appreciate the stylistic aesthetic of Guillermo Del Toro, it’s not really my thing. But I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. I also saw The Housemaid and Hamnet. I really liked both for different reasons. And yes, I have already binged all the way through Bridgerton season four. I loved Yerin Ha in this season so much.
Listen … Some are calling it a fanbase cleanse, I’m calling it high art. Lana Del Rey’s White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter has been in my headphones non-stop. I also have had Charli XCX’s Wuthering Heights album on replay. And since I went to see Lorde in concert – she was so amazing – I’ve been listening to her catalogue too. Hearing Team live in concert was a spiritual moment.
Read … I am officially onto book four in the Throne of Glass series (if you count Assassin’s Blade as book three) and I feel like the series is just starting to heat up. It took a while to get going for me. I’m also re-reading Wuthering Heights. I read it in high school and to be honest I didn’t read it properly. I’m about 20 per cent of the way through, it’s short but it’s very dense!
