
The Indiependent
The Indiependent publishes music, books, film, tv, gaming, theatre, opinion and lifestyle content by early career stage journalists.
Featured Writers

Jack Oxford
Freelance music journalist with words in Clash, The Indiependent, Concrete UEA and more. Deputy music editor at The Indiependent. UEA English graduate.
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Zahra Hanif
Freelance culture journalist, featured in The Indiependent, Music Is To Blame, and Polyester Zine. Former sub-editor (with design responsibilities) and writer for The Courier, Newcastle University's award-winning student newspaper. Former …
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George Campkin
I am an enthusiastic young journalist, currently Deputy Editor-in-Chief at the University of Warwick's student paper, The Boar.
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Khushboo Malhotra
Freelance journalist ✍️ Writer for Metro UK, Digital Spy, Refinery29, Stylist, Time Out London, and more. Sub-editor for magazines, advertorials, and newspapers. Love movies, living life, and your coffee gal.
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Latest Articles

Once again, Sadie Frost steps back into the stylish heart of the 60s, shaping up her ongoing exploration of Swinging London’s most enduring fashion icons. With Quant (2021), she captured the visionary behind the revolutionary mini skirt and mod culture designs and now, Frost moves from designer to muse in …

‘One of Them Days’ Review: Sisterhood Anchors The Absurdity
Lawrence Lamont’s feature debut One of Them Days may be the latest entry into the buddy comedy genre, yet it exudes a classic ‘they don’t make ‘em like this anymore’ feel that’s drawn resemblances to the 1995 cult-comedy classic Friday since its conception. And it’s not exactly an off-base comparison, …

Album Review: People Watching // Sam Fender : The Indiependent
Sam Fender’s People Watching is a blockbuster. The North Shields-born singer-songwriter announced his third studio album last November, igniting excitement among his ever-growing, devoted fanbase. There’s no denying Fender’s meteoric rise since the release of his last album, Seventeen Going Under. Now armed with an upcoming sold-out stadium tour and …

Album Review: Balloonerism // Mac Miller : The Indiependent
Last Friday marked the release of Mac Miller’s second posthumous album, Balloonerism. After years of unofficial versions circulating online, his estate announced back in November that they felt it was time for an official release of the late rapper’s work. The album is poignant, haunting, and woefully existential. Balloonerism begins …

Album Review: Perverts // Ethel Cain : The Indiependent
The album is the complete antithesis of its predecessor, relying heavily on instrumentals, occasionally accompanied by sparse, faint vocals. Perverts is composed of nine tracks,...

Seven of Literature’s Greatest First Lines : The Indiependent
Sometimes the most difficult thing about writing is getting started. A writer may have an idea about how they want their story to end but they may not know where, or even how to begin. There is no exact formula to make the perfect opening but it is certainly easy …

Carry-On Review: An Airport Action That Struggles to Take Off : The Indiependent
TSA agent Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton) finds himself finally progressing in his career when he is offered the responsibility of supervising hand luggage checks. With a pregnant girlfriend Nora (Sofia Carson), this promotion is a step towards the job security he needs. Unfortunately, on Ethan’s first day on the X-ray …

Album Review: GNX // Kendrick Lamar : The Indiependent
On Friday, Kendrick Lamar delighted fans with the surprise release of his new album, GNX. The release caps off a legendary year for the Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper, who not only emerged victorious in a high-profile feud with Drake after delivering a string of chart-topping singles, but was also confirmed in …

TV Diaries: Everything I watched in October and what I’m excited about : The Indiependent
While I’m still relishing the cosy autumn evenings, I’m not as happy about the cold, dark mornings kicking in. “Go on, just one more episode” feels like such a great idea at the time, but it does make waking up on a gloomy Monday morning that little bit harder. Now, …

Fortnite's Original Map Set To Return And Is 'Here To Stay' : The Indiependent
Epic Games, the developers of Fortnite, has announced that the original season one map is set to return in a special in-game event, and it is “here to stay”.

Books to Read if You Liked Normal People : The Indiependent
Three books to fill the Normal People shaped hole in your heart.

Track Review: Your House // Inhaler : The Indiependent
Irish rock band Inhaler release addictive new single, ‘Your House’.

Team Fortress 2 receives update fixing 17-year-old bug : The Indiependent
Valve, the developers of Team Fortress 2, have recently announced an update to the 17-year-old game that has irritated players since day one.

New Football Manager Game Delayed Again Until March 2025 : The Indiependent
Sports Interactive, the developer of the popular sports simulator series Football Manager, has announced that the highly anticipated Football Manager 25 has been delayed again.

Wuthering Heights Casting Controversy: Glamour Over Grit
The recent casting of Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi in Emerald Fennell’s upcoming Wuthering Heights adaptation highlights issues of whitewashing and Hollywood’s historical casting issues.

Album Review: SOPHIE // SOPHIE : The Indiependent
The record is composed of 16 tracks and stacked with featured artists who serve as the vocals atop of SOPHIE’s distinctive sound – a unique blend of bright, bubbly pop and chaotic, mechanical distortion. The self-titled album is a hauntingly beautiful parting gift from the icon credited with pioneering the …

Things to See in The Louvre (That Are Not The Mona Lisa)
I’ve seen the Mona Lisa many times: in movies, in TV shows, on mugs and T-shirts. However, I’d always dreamed of seeing the real thing and making eye contact with the eyes that follow you around the room. So when I went on an impulsive trip to Paris, I booked …

September TV column: What to watch this month
Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for season three of Emily In Paris and The Jetty.I’m ready for Autumn. There, I said it. Not everyone will be on my wavelength, but there’s just something about those early Autumn evenings: settling in with a new drama and a cuppa, feeling cosy …

Overtourism In The Age Of Social Media: How Instagram Is Shaping Travel Trends : The Indiependent
As a child, I would spend hours engrossed in Lonely Planet books, dreaming of exploration, and sharing these experiences through carefully crafting guidebooks. Yet, in today’s digital age, Instagram and TikTok dictate travel trends; the path to a successful career in travel writing has shifted dramatically. Travel influencers now lead …

Album Review: Cacophony // Paris Paloma : The Indiependent
Paris Paloma’s Cacophony is a treasure chest of contradiction. The 23-year-old artist’s generally delicate song-writing, mismatched music and lyrics, and contrasting imagery flawlessly translate the intensity of emotional turmoil into music. Though only a debut, she cements her maturity as a singer-songwriter and emerges from this album as the hero …

The Future of 3D Cinema: Revival or Obscurity?
Recently, a remastered 3D version of Coraline hit cinemas for its 15th anniversary, and unsurprisingly, the seats were filled mostly with adults rather than the film’s intended audience of children. This can be attributed to the strong sense of nostalgia that Coraline holds for those who were once, and perhaps …

Movie Monday: 'Set It Up' : The Indiependent
Set It Up (2018), however, is an exception. This film is focused on two overworked assistants, Harper (Zoey Deutch) and Charlie (Glen Powell), who, driven by a selfish intent to make their own lives easier, team up to try and matchmake their nightmare bosses Kirsten (Lucy Liu) and Rick (Taye …

Suns Out, Guns Out: How To Stay Fit Even In Summer : The Indiependent
Despite what this year’s weather has given us in the UK, summer is meant to be a time of blaring heat and wine in the sun.

How 'Love, Simon' Redefined LGBTQ+ Representation In Cinema
As Pride Month’s celebrations come to a close, it’s important to recognise films that celebrate the LGBTQ+ community all year round. One standout example is the 2018 box-office hit Love, Simon, notable for being the first major studio coming-of-age film with a gay male lead character. This groundbreaking film not …

TV Diaries: Everything I’ve seen this month and what I’m excited about
In the latest instalment of her TV Diaries column, Hannah Bradfield recounts her month in TV and what she’s excited to watch next. Spoiler alert: This feature contains spoilers for season two of The Outlaws. May was a stressful one. Full of exams and farewells, I didn’t have much time …

Football Manager announces partnership with The Premier League : The Indiependent
Sports Interactive, the developer of the popular sports simulator series Football Manager, has recently announced a partnership with The Premier League.

A Guide to Buying Books on a Budget : The Indiependent
Picture this: you’re ambling around a bookshop. Judging multiple books by their covers, you’ve decided that several are must-reads. Your arms grow heavy as you juggle all these books between your hands. You head closer to the till and just hope that you’ve done the maths right. Any book-lover knows …

IKEA Set To Launch Virtual Store In Roblox : The Indiependent
IKEA—the Swedish home furnishing giant, has recently announced the launch of “The Co-Worker Game”. The game will be hosted as a virtual universe inside of Roblox.

Netflix To Release Animated Series Based On ‘Minecraft' : The Indiependent
Netflix has recently announced that Minecraft will be turned into an animated series. As the best-selling video game of all time with over 300 million copies sold worldwide, there is already a fanbase ready for the upcoming series.

How ‘The Great Mouse Detective’ Saved Disney Animation
In the latest instalment of our ‘Changed Film Forever’ series, Libby Jennings tells the story of Disney’s lesser-known mouse: Basil of Baker Street. The Great Mouse Detective (1986) is an often-overlooked Disney classic, but behind the scenes, it is recognised as the film that saved Disney. Disney had struggled with …