Courtney King

Medieval inspired worlds are everywhere in the media, especially in video games, as this era is easy to fantasise and romanticise.  The fantasy genre is often described as medievalist. Game devs take inspiration from medieval settings, using many elements such as geographics, history and culture as a guideline for their fictional worlds. Many of the conceptual elements of fantasy are taken from medieval fairytales, beastiries, feudal Europe, and neo-medievalism. The music within medieval-inspired games definitely reflects these things, for the most part.  Medieval is a very broad term, so for the sake of this article we are going to focus…

Nearly half of all small businesses fail within the first two years of enterprise. One reason being under-capitalization, and the main reason being inadequate planning. So, before you sell off your livelihood, or go into financial debt for your business, you need to know if your business is going to not just survive, but be good enough to thrive! There are three things that businesses should consider to be successful. Businesses that have been open for five years or longer tend to be the ones that have taken these into consideration. 1. The Idea Every business start-up should always begin…

Music from India isn’t all just Bollywood and mantras. Due to the vastness and diversity of India, its music encompasses numerous genres including folk, Bollywood, classical, rock and pop.  The musical history of India spans across several millennia with its rich and unique sounds spreading to every corner of this sub-continent, forming an essential part of India’s history, culture, and spirituality. The History and Origins of Indian Music Music in India has always been an integral part of life, literally. It is believed the sound of music can be traced back to the beginning of the universe itself. In Hindu…

We are living during a time where pretty much anybody can release their own music online. You don’t need to obtain a record deal anymore to become a successful artist, due to platforms like YouTube and social media.  What you will need however, is a decent home recording studio, and that doesn’t necessarily mean splashing all your cash on the best equipment on the market. Computer and DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) Naturally, you’ll need to start with a dependable computer as without one, the rest of your equipment is pretty much useless. Whether you choose a laptop or PC is…

The original animated series of Cowboy Bebop released in 1998, directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, is one of my favourite Japanese animations of all time. The art style, fluid animation, western and neo-noir scenes elevated by the seamless use of science fiction (and let’s not forget the lively jazz and blues music composed by Yoko Kanno!) make it something you just have to watch. I felt extremely nostalgic when I heard Netflix had made a live-action remake of the series and just had to watch it. Although, we all know live actions have high expectations from the audience. After a delay in the…

If you’ve ever been to a burlesque show, you’ll know it’s not about the sex appeal but the art form itself. Burlesque is described as dramatic or musical theatre, and now is loved and practised within Europe and America.  You’ll be bewitched by the bountiful feathers, sparkly corsets, and tassels in places you’d never believe. But this was not always the case, for its origins was to make a mockery of people and to create laughter.  The Origins of Burlesque Burlesque shows have been around since the late 17th century, during the Victorian era. It became popular in London theatres…

Music is a powerful creation, unique to humans (and birds!) from the wealthiest and most technologically advanced civilizations to the most primitive tribes. Humans have always found a way to spark joy through art.  Music is certainly celebrated globally, and we have found a way to apply its rhythmic patterns for pragmatic purposes.   This is definitely true of West Africa. Their music benefits many functions in society and has always been a crucial part of life. It communicates values, ideas, and emotions. For example, their music is played at weddings, funerals, during battle, and even played during ceremonies honouring…

West Africa is full of the most musically enchanting instruments and practices in the world. You can’t help but dance to it, and you definitely should. As in West Africa, some musical traditions demand dancing to be an integral part of a musical performance. But what we know to be West African music (Upbeat, polyrhythmic patterns, tuned percussion and so on) was not always the case. Traditional West African music diversifies due to its regional separations however, can be identified into two distinct categories: indigenous secular music and Islamic music. West African Islamic Music History tells us that Islam has…

It’s that time of year again, romance is in the air as valentine’s day is just round the corner. There is no better way to celebrate the season than talking about the era of romance itself.  The late 18th to 19th century, in Western civilization, was considered the Romantic era. What makes this time more alluring is the fact it followed the Classic era, which had completely opposite ideals in comparison. Through the events of enlightenment and rationalism, this time in history birthed cultures, art, music etc. that highlighted every part of life; individuality, subjective thoughts, imagination, irrationalism, being spontaneous,…

Mushrooms are weird. They are not plants but fungi, and genetically they are closer to us humans than anything else. Strictly speaking, the DNA in fungi intimately resembles the DNA of those in the animal kingdom. Because of this, only a few little changes set us apart, allowing us to vary in our skin colour, eyes, and hair. Just like everything in the world, the skin of humans and mushrooms have electrical properties which allow us to create amazing things. You are left in a state of admiration as your mind wanders, making intriguing connections, spreading just like mycelium. This…