Skip to Main Content
Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Photo by Nick Peace

Experimental hip-hop

By Rumsha Siddiqui, Content Managing Editor / December 3, 2024

Experimental hip-hop is ever-evolving. For many, this is known fondly as “scaring the hoes” music—a term coined by JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown, who...

Conan Gray. (Creative Commons)

Found Heaven: Toxic love against a neon background

By Hannah Hughes, Beacon Correspondent / December 3, 2024

Conan Gray’s most recent album, “Found Heaven,” pays homage to the bright, chunky sound of the ‘80s with its bold instrumentation, electronic...

Illustration by Kellyn Taylor

Not your friend: the dangers of parasocial relationships

By Josefina Arteaga, Beacon Contributor / October 16, 2024
“She is so important to me and I don’t know what I would do without her.” 
Illustration by Molly Boyke.

“Babe wake up, a new Beatles song just dropped”: The power of AI in the music industry.

By Maggie Kaprielian, Beacon Correspondent / December 6, 2023

It’s 2023; and the Beatles, a beloved English rock band that broke up in 1970, just released a new song.  Who cares if half the band members have...

Illustration by Hailey Akau.

Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana—Bad Bunny’s journey through evolving trap

By Shannon Garrido, Editor In-Chief / November 8, 2023

Opinions expressed in Beacon Op-Eds are not necessarily shared by the entire staff. It is the responsibility of Opinion editors to elevate each individual’s...

Illustration by Rachel Choi

Mitski’s “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We” is not sad

By Sydney Thomas-Arnold, Beacon Correspondent / October 11, 2023

Multi-faceted Japanese-American singer-songwriter Mitski recently released her 7th studio album, “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We.” The record...

Illustration by Rachel Choi.

Before the Eras Tour, there was the Fame Monster Ball

By Meg Richards, Opinon Editor / October 4, 2023

I have vivid memories of my nine-year-old self sneaking downstairs every Saturday morning, before anyone else was awake, to watch my VCR taped performance...

The haunting of Gracie Abrams’ melancholic melodies

The haunting of Gracie Abrams’ melancholic melodies

By Clara Faulkner, Assistant Living Arts Editor / March 29, 2023

If there’s a discography to make you feel like you live in the movie series “Twilight,” it is Gracie Abrams’ debut album “Good Riddance.” The...

Nessa Barrett rocks Roadrunner

Nessa Barrett rocks Roadrunner

By Clara Faulkner / March 9, 2023

A sea of young adults wearing bedazzled pink cowboy hats and black lace outfits braved the cold outside Boston’s Roadrunner on March 6, eagerly awaiting...

The Rise of Reneé Rapp

The Rise of Reneé Rapp

By Rachel Hackam, Correspondent / March 1, 2023

On Feb. 24, 2022, Reneé Rapp released the deluxe version of her EP “Everything to Everyone,” consisting of the long-awaited song “Bruises” and...

Mass.-born artist Rosie Darling returns to Boston for sold-out show Feb. 6

Mass.-born artist Rosie Darling returns to Boston for sold-out show Feb. 6

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer / February 14, 2023

Originally from Canton, Massachusetts, Rosie Darling grew up singing, messing around on the piano and guitar, and obsessing over Taylor Swift.  There’s...

Inside the 65th Grammys glitz and glamor

Inside the 65th Grammys glitz and glamor

By Clara Faulkner, Staff Writer / February 9, 2023

Each year, hundreds of musicians are invited to a night to be honored for their talent, and every year, the night is filled with celebrity friendships,...

“Her Loss” didn’t live up to its potential

“Her Loss” didn’t live up to its potential

By Vivi Smilgius, Editor-in-Chief / November 9, 2022

On Friday, Nov. 4, rappers Drake and 21 Savage dropped the 16-track project “Her Loss,” produced under Drake’s record label, OVO Sound. The two...

Illustration of guitar player and music sheets

Student musicians make Emerson’s lack of music education work for them

By Dionna Santucci / November 2, 2022

Within the first few months of her freshman year at Emerson, Taj Dharmadji released two singles, one of which dropped the first day of orientation week....

Photos: Sabrina Carpenter: ‘emails I cant send tour’ hits Boston

Photos: Sabrina Carpenter: ‘emails I cant send tour’ hits Boston

By Campbell Parish / October 12, 2022

Sabrina Carpenter performed at Big Night Live on October 3rd with her "Emails I can't Send Tour." Carpenter's performance was incredible, including some...

Bad Bunny ‘Baby’: The Rise to Stardom

Bad Bunny ‘Baby’: The Rise to Stardom

By Melodie Vaval, Correspondent / October 12, 2022

Puerto Rican musician Bad Bunny prompted confusion and pride alike as his unexpected rise to stardom quickly made him the face of reggaeton. Topping his...

Photo of Hayley Williams

Paramore is for the Blacks. Argue with the wall

By Hadera McKay, Opinion Editor / September 28, 2022

On Sept. 28, punk rock band Paramore released its new single “This is Why,” after a five-year hiatus, ultimately signaling its reigning return with...

Photo: Karissa Schaefer

‘You’ve Got To Let Go If You Want To Be Free,’ and boy did I let go

By Karissa Schaefer, Living Arts Editor / May 19, 2022

After consistently having Disclosure as a top artist since middle school, I can finally say the dream of seeing the DJ duo in concert has been disclosed...

"Sittin in 317" EP cover. Courtesy of Vritika Thadhani.

First-year releases EP ‘Sittin in 317’

By Abigail Lee, Assistant Enterprise News Editor / April 20, 2022

Halfway through the semester, first-year marketing communications major Vritika Thadhani and her friends set goals for themselves to accomplish before...

Sidney Gish at the Paramount Theater April 6. Photo by Grace Yewon Lee.

Sidney Gish performs at Emerson’s WECB show, with openers JOBIE and Jo & The Average

By Payton Cavanaugh / April 13, 2022

An enthusiastic crowd of Emerson students gathered at The Paramount Theater this past Wednesday to enjoy a free concert put on by WECB. Emerson musicians...