Sirens Directed by Rita Baghdadi Opens September 30, 2022 "I wanna see your fuckin' heads banging!" Sirens begins with the sound of an electric guitar guiding us into the world of the Slave of Sirens. Slowly the electric guitar gets accompanied by a voice, drums, and playful laughter until the music takes over entirely as we witness the all-female band go on stage. The Sundance-selected documentary Sirens, is directed by Rita Baghdadi and executive-produced by Natasha Lyonne and Maya Rudolph, is in theaters beginning… Read more

Lizzo performed in Washington, D.C. on September 27th with a peculiar instrument: a crystal flute that was originally owned by President James Madison. Presented to her by the Library of Congress, Lizzo can be seen here playing and twerking on beat with the heirloom. The image of Lizzo twerking with such a relic provokes laughter, but the weight of the gesture coupled with her nonchalant manner, i.e. the twerking, holds more importance than just a talented flautist playing a few notes. Lizzo is also the first person to… Read more

Sinéad O'Connor in 1988 Nothing Compares Directed by Kathryn Ferguson Available on Showtime on October 2, 2022 Kathryn Ferguson's documentary Nothing Compares shows how everything conspired to keep singer/songwriter Sinéad O'Connor quiet; yet when she was given a guitar and a microphone, her voice became a thunderous force of nature that still resonates in these insidiously theocratic times. Nothing Compares is as powerful as its subject. Belfast-based filmmaker Ferguson uses a blend of dreamlike footage shot in… Read more

YEAH YEAH YEAHS Cool It Down (Secretly Canadian) Nearly a decade-long hiatus didn’t stop the Yeah Yeah Yeahs from bringing their all to Cool It Down. The project brings us everything we’ve come to know and love about the group, with some obvious evolution.The first single, “Spitting Off the Edge of the World,” reintroduces the beautifully haunting vocals of Karen O, mixed with the coos of Perfume Genius. Other standouts, like “Love Bomb,” are breathy and erotic, while “Wolf” delivers bouncy synths for what is destined… Read more

For most people, autumn is representative of change, whether that be with moving into a new place, transferring schools, or starting a new job. These changes, while positive, can be difficult sometimes. To make your transition into the new season (literally and figuratively) as comfortable as possible, we’ve compiled a list of cozy 90s TV episodes to give you that dose of nostalgic charm. 1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer S1 E7 “Angel" If you’re looking for a binge-able show to get you in a spooky mood, Buffy is a perfect… Read more

VESPER Directed by Kristina Buozyte and Bruno Samper Out September 30 Vesper takes well-worn dystopian young-adult tropes and makes them new again—or at least more compelling than they seem on paper—through its sheer plausibility, an immersive atmosphere, and strong performances. Vesper (Raffiella Chapman) is a 13-year-old girl scrounging to survive in a post-apocalyptic landscape. The most pressing enemy is food insecurity, brought on by earlier events but maintained by men like Vesper’s neighbor Jonas (Eddie Marsan),… Read more

My introduction to books about grief happened a few weeks after my mother died. It was 1996, the weekly support group I’d been attending had just ended, and the counselor invited me back to his office to give me a book that I “had to read.” It was new, he cheered, so very confident in his recommendation. The book was Hope Edelman’s Motherless Daughters, and as the counselor predicted, it changed the trajectory of my post-loss life. In its 283 pages, I learned how other women, including Edelman, had successfully… Read more

Q: I've been having trouble connecting to myself sexually because of past sexual trauma. Porn, in particular, is a trigger for me. I have a therapist but don’t want to talk about it. Do I have to? A: You don’t have to talk about it, no. But if your full question is more like, “Will working with a therapist help me get over the effects of sexual trauma if I don’t address it in therapy?” your reticence around opening up is not a plus. It’s not even neutral. If you are seeing a professional without a background in sexual… Read more

Crocheting and knitting have been popular among younger generations since at least the early 2000s. But lately, thanks to social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, the trend has been spreading like wildfire. Crocheting clothing yourself has become particularly huge: hashtags like #crochetersofinstagram and #crochetaddict have over 16 million posts in total, while popular crochet-TikTokers such as @emmamastone and @leniscrochet have over 100.000 followers combined. Crochet’s rising popularity as a hobby among… Read more

BACK WHEN EVERYONE kept talking about the “Coastal Grandma” aesthetic, I instantly thought of something more whimsical, something more me. It was “Coastal Weird Aunt,” inspired by the eccentric and absolutely fashionable witch aunties in the 1998 cinematic masterpiece Practical Magic. Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian (Nicole Kidman) definitely have some cute ’90s garb, but we mustn’t sleep on Aunt Jet (Dianne Wiest) and Aunt Frances (Stockard Channing)! Whether it’s casting spells or tending to the garden, these… Read more

The new horror comedy, Bodies, Bodies, Bodies, was written and produced by Sara DeLappe, directed by Dutch filmmaker, Halina Reijn. and stars the ubiquitous Pete Davidson, Amanda Stenberg, and Maria Bakalova (from Borat: Subsequent Movie Film). The film follows a young couple visiting their group of friends, with whom they drink excessively, eat cake laced with weed, and play a game called “Bodies, Bodies, Bodies.” The aim of the game is to turn off all the lights and “tag you’re it” each other to signify that a person… Read more

Notoriously shy artist Courtney Barnett lays herself bare in Anonymous Club, a documentary following her personal and professional evolution. Serving as a meditation on loneliness, expectations, and the existential dread brought about by the climate crisis—specifically the Australian bush fires of 2019 and 2020—this film resonates beyond music preferences. In both her songs and her conversations, Barnett echoes the fear, ennui, and unmooring of many around the world. Filmmaker Danny Cohen first tasked Barnett with… Read more

For the first time since the 1979 Iranian Revolution and birth of the Islamic Republic, Persian women and men have taken to the streets to fight for justice for women. Combatting police brutality, an unjust government, and decades of systemic oppression, the Iranian people have come together by the thousands to fight for women’s rights and claim the freedom that has been cruelly seized from them. A recent tragedy has lit a fire in the belly of a nation, sparking cries for liberation that are being heard around the… Read more

It seems weird to say manifestation is having a moment, but with more than 17 billion hashtags on TikTok, it kind of is. The concept of materializing the things you want, based on the power and will of your thoughts, however, is nothing new. A Hindu scripture, originating circa the 8th century B.C.E., notes that people’s will gives them the power to create the lives that they want. Even the incantation abracadabra, a Hebrew word coined in the 2nd century A.D., means “I create as I speak.” (Speak can mean think, too.)… Read more

Mark your calendars! Persisticon, a feminist organization that works to help raise money to support progressive women in politics, is hosting a new event: PERSISTICON V: IN US WE TRUST, this October in Brooklyn. After being postponed by Covid-19, Persisticon is back with their fifth event since 2018— a night of comedy, cocktails, and baked goods to raise money for Emily’s List and the NY Abortion Access Fund. Emily’s List’s mission is to elect Democratic women who are pro-choice to office. The NYAAF helps anyone who is… Read more

The Fortunes of a Jaded Woman By Carolyn Huynh (Simon and Schuster) At its heart, Carolyn Huynh’s debut novel is a love story—because love is the reason the entire Duong family is cursed. Long ago, their ancestor Oanh left her marriage for true love, a brave and unconventional decision that her mother-in-law wasn’t going to let her get away with. And so she sought the aid of a fearsome witch to ensure that Oanh suffered for her shameful choice. The curse? That no Duong ever experience true love or happiness, and that… Read more

Since SCOTUS’ decision to overturn Roe v. Wade a few months ago, it seems like every woman wished there was a number you could call to find access to safe abortions? Kind of like Ghostbusters, but for women’s reproductive rights? Well, it turns out that women in Chicago in the late 1960s and early 70's faced the same dilemma, and they created a person (or rather, group) that you could call- the Jane Collective. The HBO documentary The Janes tells the story of the Jane Collective, a group of women who aided pregnant… Read more

As people live increasingly on their phones, making friends in the real world can be challenging. People, especially young people, are finding it more difficult to form meaningful relationships, resulting in the number of lonely people growing, especially between the ages of 18-29. Even though mental health awareness is no longer stigmatized and people (especially celebrities) share their experiences with loneliness and mental health, it is still a vulnerable subject for many people. But how do you meet new people in… Read more

Illustration by Nina Bunjevac AT THE END of June, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, ending the constitutional right to legal abortion in America. Writing for the court majority, Justice Samuel Alito cited decisions by 17th-century English judge Sir Matthew Hale multiple times as legal precedent for his opinion. "The great common-law authorities - Bracton, Coke, Hale, and Blackstone - all wrote that a post-quickening abortion was a crime," Alito notes in his final judgment on Dobbs v Jackson. "Hale wrote… Read more

Big Joanie Back Home “In My Arms” showcases the London-based trio’s seamless harmonies and tight musicianship with an infectious groove reminiscent of the best indie rock of the post-punk era. Replete with synths and swooning vocals, the storytelling on songs like “Insecure” and “Today” conjure the emotional introspection of the new romantics; the driving beat on “Sainted” evokes the fast cars and refracted lights of London on a rainy night. Emo for grownups, Big Joanie summons diverse eras and sounds with a unique… Read more

Demi Lovato has made her most loyal fans extremely happy. For those who loved her albums Don’t Forget, and Here We Go Again, which were released in the mid-2000s and written during her years on the Disney channel, prepare to rejoice. Rock and roll Demi is back. HOLY FVCK is an absolute banger and a stark departure from her previously pop-dominated albums. This album delves into Demi’s most vulnerable moments without a filter and explores a new gritty rock sound with poetic lyrics that expose her truth about addiction,… Read more

Mercury retrograde occurs four times in 2032. During this time, we experience an illusionary slowdown in our lives, as Earth moves faster than the communication planet Mercury. From September 9 to October 2, Mercury will be moonwalking for the third time this year in the signs of Libra and Virgo. We get three passes to revise the story and path we are walking down—and uncovering truths along the way. This Mercury retrograde brings extra trouble this season, as the trickster planet is moving backwards from harmonious… Read more

Our columnist, Sarah Potter, provides this season's tarot readings for the signs. Virgo: Ace of Pentacles (AUG. 23 TO SEPT. 22) Level up, Virgo! A professional opportunity is being presented to you, but will you jump in and take it? Consider the possibilities before fully committing, because this endeavor is going to take a lot of your time and energy. We know success is not guaranteed, nor will it happen overnight, but if there is anyone who isn’t afraid of a little hard work, it’s you! This could be the start of… Read more

The fact that Diana Ross’ R&B pop hit “I’m Coming Out” was released in 1980 and is still popular to this day is a testament to the idea that there is no expiration date for choosing to embrace your true self. Although we live in a very open, and mostly accepting society nowadays, for people in the LGBTQIA+ community, that wasn’t always the case. Same-sex marriage was only legalized in the United States in 2015, and as a result, many people waited to not only get married, but come out of the closet. In that vein, here’s… Read more

Women in Politics’ Little Lawmakers: How to Turn a Bill Into Law teaches kids that no matter how young you are or where you come from, if you believe in yourself (and maybe the power of a crustacean pin), you can use your voice to advocate for your beliefs. Filled with fascinating historical facts and comprehensible concepts, Little Lawmakers is a funny and compelling children’s book for kids of all ages. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Women In Politics (@womeninpolitics_) The children’s book follows best… Read more

Abortion is Healthcare, Neon, tapestry, and cast resin Abortion Pills, 2022 Swedish-American conceptual artist Michele Pred is taking the movement for women’s rights to a whole new, brighter level (literally). Beginning September 8 and running through November 5, 2022, Pred’s latest exhibition entitled Equality of Rights will be on display at the Nancy Hoffman Gallery in New York. There will be an Equal Pay performance at 7pm on September 15 and a reception open to the public held that same evening from 6-8pm. View… Read more

SantigoldSpirituals(Little Jerk) Santigold is back. Spirituals marks the singer/songwriter's first release since I Don't Want: The Gold Fire Sessions 2018 mixtape, and her first full-length since 2016's 99¢. The mom of three took advantage of 2020's lockdown to reconnect with her artistry, enlisting a prodigious set of producers and collaborators. As the title reveals, she tapped into the sustenance of Black spirituals for inspiration to get over a famine of creativity. "[The title] touched on the idea of Negro… Read more

Beth Ditto is a bit nervous. This might sound unusual for a woman known for fronting one of the world’s preeminent indie-rock bands—and who has also posed nude for multiple magazine covers—but in her defense, she’s a little out of practice when it comes to speaking to the press. By the time we set a date to discuss her role in the upcoming FOX drama Monarch, the show’s premiere has been delayed for nearly a full year because of the COVID pandemic, and live music has only recently become a possibility again. “I was… Read more

Gina Prince-Bythewood was planning to take a break after her action-fantasy blockbuster, The Old Guard, premiered on Netflix in July 2020. But then she read the script for The Woman King and knew she had to make it her next project. Viola Davis was already attached to star as General Nanisca, the leader of an all-female army known as the Agojie, whose members dedicated their lives to protecting the kingdom of Dahomey in West Africa, now Benin. If this sounds familiar, it’s because the Agojie have been rising into pop… Read more

“Stripper strike!” Those words are painted across the signs being held by the dancers working at Star Garden in LA. The dancers have petitioned for unionizing with the Actors’ Equity Association, making them the first strippers to join a union. The Actors’ Equity Association is a union that predominantly represents actors and performers. And now maybe strippers. The view of stripping as a profession has changed drastically within the last few years. The acceptance of women owning their sexuality has developed… Read more

"I could've easily set myself on fire,” “Weird Al” Yankovic tells me, dressed in one of his trademark Hawaiian shirts. Long gone are his iconic mustache and eyeglasses, revealing an earnest face that appears at least a decade younger than his 62 years. The pop-culture parody artist is referring to the time he paid homage to Jimi Hendrix by playing the accordion with his teeth, then dousing it in lighter fluid and setting it on fire in his 1985 film The Compleat Al. “I guess I have no fear,” he says. His willingness to… Read more

1. Don’t Worry Darling This psychological thriller directed by and featuring Olivia Wilde and starring Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Nick Kroll, and Chris Pine, revolves around a 1950s housewife living in a utopian experimental community whose life begins to unravel when she starts to suspect her husband may be hiding some dark secrets. Coming to theaters Sept. 23. 2. The Red Skein by SWOON Prolific street artist Caledonia Curry, aka SWOON, digs deep into her body of work in this book covering her street art, studio… Read more

Barbie Ferreira has announced via Instagram that she will not be returning for season three of Euphoria, and as the queen Maddy Perez once said, “bitch, you better be joking.” The high-stakes drama series on HBO created and written by Sam Levinson aired its second season this past January, and ever since fans have been hungry for more. Although the show mainly follows Rue, a teenage girl struggling with a drug addiction, the character Katherine "Kat" Hernandez (played by Ferreira), has always been a fan favorite.… Read more

GIVENCHY SHIRT; LIYA EARRINGS These days, every cafe seems to be playing a ’90s soul playlist and Forever 21 offers a variety of Aaliyah T-shirts. But when recording artist Kehlani emerged almost a decade ago, music rooted in traditional R&B wasn’t exactly in vogue, and it certainly wasn’t the go-to sound for young pop stars. Yet, when Kehlani released their first mixtape, Cloud 19, in 2014, their revealing lyrics, earnest vocals, and exploration of love and sex reflected the influence of artists like Brandy (their… Read more

BUST is looking for fresh "One-Handed Reads." We publish erotica and erotic-romance that appeals to our audience. This includes contemporary, BDSM, queer stories, sci-fi, and fantasy. Right now we're especially interested in BIPOC and queer pieces. Rate: $50 for 900 words. Send submissions to submissions@bust.com Read more

IBEYI SPELL 31 (XL Recordings) As an incantation against the weary and apathetic state of the world, Ibeyi bewitches with their third studio album, Spell 31. Afro-Cuban-French twins Lisa-Kaindé and Naomi Díaz channel the power of their family legacy by fusing Yoruban rhythms with soul, synth, jazz, and hip-hop.“Sister 2 Sister” offers a warm familiarity by sampling their 2015 single “River.” Upbeat without being overwhelming, lyrics like “Singing along with Shakira/Washing our souls in the river” are charmingly… Read more

Since the 1973 ruling Roe v. Wade was overturned on June 24, access to abortion grows more limited with each day that passes by. On Thursday, Tennessee, Idaho, and Texas, have banned abortion, thus affecting the lives of millions of women. Due to trigger laws, which according to Merriam-Webster are laws that “are unenforceable but upon the occurrence of an event (such as a court decision) become enforceable,” these three states have been able to successfully ban abortions, and unfortunately, only more will follow suit.… Read more

The iconic collaboration we never knew we wanted but absolutely need has finally happened. Grab your heels and get ready to run (not walk) to the club tonight because, Elton John and Britney Spears just dropped a remix of John’s 1971 hit “Tiny Dancer” called “Hold Me Closer”, and it’s time to dance the night away. Check out the video below and get ready to blast off. This electronic disco remix of John’s classic “Tiny Dancer” marks Spears’ return to music following the end of her 13-year conservatorship that was… Read more

Watching Sleater-Kinney, Courtney Barnett, and Fred Armisen cover Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical” on Saturday night in Oregon was a delightful surprise to conclude a show packed with knockout performances. Curated by Barnett herself, the touring Here & There Festival brought in a wide variety of artists, differing based on the venue location across the country, for an end-of-summer musical extravaganza. For the closing act, Sleater-Kinney called the other musicians on to the stage for “Physical.” In addition to… Read more

Musician, feminist, and activist, Margo Price, has been multitasking, to say the least. First off there’s her new song, Been to The Mountain, and an accompanying video which is, uh, rather trippy. The song, according to Margo, “is part one of an introspective trip into our subconscious. It is the perfect continuation of my search for freedom in my art and freedom in the modern age.” Ms. Price’s latest musical gem combines fuzzy guitars, garage rock Hammond organ, and harpsichord which all work together perfectly… Read more

Rooted in the intention of pleasing only oneself, masturbation is the ultimate self-care, and for many of us, watching porn and masturbating go, well, hand in hand. But despite the fact that according to a 2018 study by TENGA, a sexual health and wellness company, 76 percent of American women masturbate regularly, many women and nonbinary individuals lament the lack of pornography that appeals directly to them. Traditional visual porn all too often centers the male perspective, and a concerning lack of accountability… Read more

Compiled and edited by musician Kim Gordon and writer Sinéad Gleeson, This Woman’s Work comprises 16 essays on and by an assortment of talented creators including Rachel Kushner, Maggie Nelson, Margo Jefferson, and more. The unifying theme encompasses a broad range of the female experience of music, including Jenn Pelly on Lucinda Williams (“The Highway”), Anne Enright on Laurie Anderson (“Fan Girl”), Fatima Bhutto on dictatorships and the power of music (“Songs of Exile”), and Ottessa Moshfegh on transformative piano… Read more

Writer and director Lena Dunham’s latest project, Sharp Stick, is a reflection on sexuality and the desire to feel seen. The film follows Sarah Jo (Kristine Froseth), a 26-year-old caregiver for children with special needs who lives with her mother Madelyn (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and adopted sister, Treina (Taylour Paige), in a Los Angeles apartment. Sharp Stick quickly spirals from a view inside the life of the naive and childlike Sarah Jo into a sexual exploration as Sarah Jo begins a whirlwind affair with Josh (Jon… Read more

Sitting across from actor Sam Richardson is undeniably delightful. We’re in a crowded diner tucked between storybook homes and raspberry-colored bougainvilleas in the Hollywood Hills and we immediately bond over our mutual love of the ’80s cartoon Jem and break into its theme song. “To deny your inner nerd is to deny happiness,” he says. Richardson is warm, and he smiles like he means it. He can also do unspeakable things with his body. “I have hypermobility. I did martial arts as a kid so I can still do a jumping… Read more

In an age where women’s rights are being negotiated, threatened, and in some cases revoked entirely, Jodie Comer’s astonishing performance in the recording of the play Prima Facie is incredibly relevant and timely. Named after the legal term “prima facie” which means that there is enough evidence to establish something as fact until proven otherwise, this play explores how sexual assault cases are handled by the justice system. In the wake of the SCOTUS’ overruling of Roe v. Wade, the discussion that this play promotes… Read more

Did you think the scandal surrounding the Depp v. Heard trial this Spring was a thing of the past? Think again: on Twitter, the results of the trial have just unfurled into a full-fledged debate about feminism. It began with this tweet from @womensmarch, setting off a landslide of angry opposition. Sexism & misogyny are the reasons so much of the internet believes Johnny Depp—not his victim, Amber Heard—despite ALL the evidence of his abuse. — Women's March (@womensmarch) August 16, 2022 The response was cacophonous,… Read more

Badass human rights activist and singer-songwriter MILCK has written a pro-choice anthem for the movement to fight for bodily autonomy in the wake of SCOTUS’ recent decision to overrule Roe v. Wade. The pop singer burst onto the scene in 2017 when a video of her singing her original song “Quiet” at the first annual Women’s March in Washington D.C went viral. She wrote the lyrics, “I can’t keep quiet, no I won’t keep quiet” in 2015 with songwriter Adrianne Gonzalez as a way to heal from the sexual assault, domestic… Read more

If you’ve opened your phone or laptop to any news site in the past few days, you’ve probably seen mention of “the climate bill”—but in reality, this is a bit of a misnomer. Following months of negotiations, the bill finally passed the Senate 51-50 on August 7th. It's true that this legislation—officially called the Inflation Reduction Act— makes significant strides in climate-related issues, but it encompasses much more than that. The measures contained within it are dramatic and likely to make paramount changes in… Read more

Shitty Happens I’ve watched comedian Sam Reece turn plastic cutlery into a crown, wear a bedazzled Tums bottle as a bag, and add tiny disco ball tiles to a tissue box (“I just made sobbing a lot more fun”)—her “low-stakes, high-impact” DIY antics (@shittycraftclub on TikTok and IG) are hilarious and heartwarming. Plus, New Yorkers can attend her IRL Shitty Crafting events! –Lisa Butterworth @shittycraftclub A love letter to @ROMMYDEBOMMY 😂 #shittycrafts #crafttok #craftersoftiktok #diybag #diydesigner ♬ original sound… Read more

Seattle’s alternative “grunge” rock was a punk/metal hybrid sound made famous by bands like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Soundgarden that seized pop culture in the early ’90s. Among the musicians who came to define the scene, white men dominated, and women were few. And Black women? If the most common version of history is to be believed, there were none. But that version is wrong. Bam Bam, formed in 1983 by husband-and-wife duo Tommy Martin and Tina Bell, has largely been erased from the annals of the genre. But they were,… Read more