As February comes to an end, the RUSSH editors have been deep in the worlds of film, books, and sound. From the surreal horror of House to the tunes and unexpected devastation of Better Man, we've been delving into all the latest.
Music-wise, Laneway Festival set the tone – Djo, Clairo, and Remi Wolf filling playlists long after the stages emptied. Meanwhile, the pages turned on everything from The Argonauts to Sense & Sensibility – perhaps leaning into that Valentine's Day sentiment a little too much? Whatever the prerogative, here’s what we’ve been watching, reading, and listening to this month.
Cassandra Dimitroff
Features and Production Editor
Watch … I bawled my eyes out over a CGI baby monkey in Robbie Williams’ biopic Better Man, and have been making my way through the last seasons of BoJack Horseman (my latest comfort/depression watch). Of course, Severance S2 episodes are still my weekly non-negotiable. I waited three long years for this and I will not be missing an ep.
Listen … I was lucky enough to head along to the Sydney leg of Laneway Festival at the beginning of this month, which meant listening to (and chatting with) some of my playlist faves IRL – Clairo, DJO, Remi Wolf, Charli. And I also caught Barry Can’t Swim for round two at Liberty Hall a few days later.
Read … I’ve been meandering through Maggie Nelson’s The Argonauts this month, a powerful and incredibly written novel but one that requires a bit more brain power than I’ve had to spare while on deadline these last few weeks. But it’s not hard to see why it was listed in the NYT 100 Best Books of the 21st Century. I also just picked up a copy of Eve's Hollywood from the library I'm excited to dive into.
Stacey Gaskin
Consumer Revenue Manager
Watch … The Gorge on AppleTV. Highly recommend. Miles Teller always delivers and I loved the chemistry between Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy.
Listen … Selena Gomez snippets on TikTok and YouTube of her upcoming album with Benny Blanco – I Said I Love You First. Funnily enough, I’ve also been listening to a lot of Gracie Abrams and will know her songs backwards by the time her May concert comes around.
Read … After finishing Quicksilver by Callie Hart, I’ve been on a book hangover and haven’t been able to make space in my mind for anything new. Next up on the list is Zodiac Academy: The Awakening by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti and I got it in the mail not long ago so here’s me reminding myself to get on with it. Stepping away from romantasy and into something with suspense, I want to read We Solve Murders by Richard Osman and it’s sitting in my amazon cart as I type this.
Mia Steiber
Digital Strategy Director & Associate Publisher
Watch … I finally saw Moana 2 this month. Not as good as the first but I still loved it, I’m a big sucker for Pixar films. I also saw Babygirl which I thought was a bit overrated but still good. As for TV, I obviously have started the White Lotus and am already obsessed. I’m also thrilled that John Oliver is back on TV.
Listen … There was lots of Laneway listening in preparation for the big day. I only knew about four or five artists on the lineup so I had some catching up to do. Remi Wolf, Beabadoobee and Clairo were on repeat in the car for weeks.
Read … As much as I really, really wanted to get to Onyx Storm this month… alas. I didn’t. I tend to get overwhelmingly obsessed when I re-enter fantasy universes and unfortunately I didn’t have the time or space this month to let myself fall into a fantasy hole. Instead, I reread my favourite bits of Sense & Sensibility. I was sick for a couple of weeks and it’s one of my go-to comfort reads.
Charlotte Agnew
Fashion Director
Watch … Severance ( season 1)...for the first time. Ghost, Now and Then, and Indecent Proposal, really reminiscing Demi Moore <3
Listen … Oklou’s new album choke enough. I love her.
Read … Online recipes. I don’t cook at all but it’s comforting to read them.
Samantha Corry
Assistant to Editor In Chief
Watch … Severance! And of course White Lotus. I haven't actually been to the cinemas much recently. But there are plenty of movies I am itching to watch. I think I'm going to watch The Last of Us season 1 again ahead of the 2nd season coming out. Because I also love Pedro Pascal. And also the SAG awards, and a few others, there are so many at the moment can’t keep up.
Listen … Since Laneway I have been listening to quite a bit of Djo actually. Also Issy Truman and Grace O’Neils podcast After Work Drinks.
Read … Paris and Milan Fashion Week schedules.
Alys Hale
Music Editor and Creative Producer
Watch … I’ve been trying to steer clear of series and watch films on the projector so there have been a few lately. 1968’s The Swimmer starring Burt Lancaster was definitely a film of note, I don’t want to ruin it for you but I will warn you that Lancasters attitude towards women, particularly towards his former babysitter and former mistress are, shall we say, of the era? There are beautiful scenes of him frolicing in a paddock and not once does he don a shirt. I also recently watched the 1977 Japanese horror movie, House. Famously I cannot deal with horror, however, this is so absurd with dated in camera effects that I adored it (floating heads, eyeballs in mouths, death by mattresses…). There were really beautiful shots where women discussed the nature of love with purple light and wind machines set against shots where men were turned into bunches of bananas. Need I say more? Incredible.
Listen … Ahead of her Opera House show I’ve been listening to Hania Rani and drifting into a dream world (the same goes for PJ Harvey and Fontaines D.C. who will also be at the Opera House imminently.) I was also introduced to the Robin Gibb record, How Old Are You? Which, once you get passed some of the more intense falsetto, has some great songs on it. I’ve also been really enjoying Scribble again, particularly their cover of Mother of Pearl.
Read … Having finished Sexing The Cherry by Jeanette Winterson I have stolen the Barry Hannah short stories, Airships, I gifted to my partner for Christmas as I love collections of short stories when I’m busy. I re-read Actual Air to help me want to write poetry again. It always works.
