Author Archives: Kevin Loo

F*ck It Mask On // A Visual History of the Face Mask

In today’s apocalyptic climate, one piece of fashion/protective equipment has shot to the forefront of public consciousness – the humble face mask. As a way of concealing identity or for personal protection, the face mask is an obvious solution. As a part of streetwear fashion however, there is a story to tell. From its originsContinue reading “F*ck It Mask On // A Visual History of the Face Mask”

4ESydney Festival: The Home of HipHop

Here at deadset, our mission is to dig deeper into the issues and ideas that underly seemingly disposable pop culture. Right now, rap/hip-hop is having a moment globally and locally and 4ESydney is a movement out of Western Sydney that embraces all these aspects. The festival focuses on multi-art disciplines, music and local culture throughContinue reading “4ESydney Festival: The Home of HipHop”

Hayley Williams VS The World

Former pop punk princess turned Debbie Harry for millennials Hayley Williams is in the process of a solo reinvention. After years of fronting Paramore through ups and downs, her own music was released mid-February as her Petals for Armor project. It is Part 1 of a full album to be released later in 2020, andContinue reading “Hayley Williams VS The World”

Balming Tiger: Making Kpop Weird

Balming Tiger are a South Korean arts and music collective with a penchant for the eclectic. Their sound is diverse, and hits like the Ritalin-deprived lovechild of Odd Future and meme-era Awkwafina. Their latest single “KOLO KOLO” released a few weeks ago is a zany, jungle-soul track that flips between English, and nonsensical gibberish lyrics.Continue reading “Balming Tiger: Making Kpop Weird”

Onefour: An Australian Hip-Hop Story

On the outskirts of Australian well-to-do society, Western Sydney is commonly stereotyped as a crime-ridden backwater. However, for a group of young rap enthusiasts, Mt Druitt is a home they are proud of. Onefour is a collective of a young men using music as a gateway to a better life. Their hard-hitting style of rapContinue reading “Onefour: An Australian Hip-Hop Story”

Don’t Give Me a Xanny, Now or Never

As Billie Eilish sings about never wanting to try xannies, pop music and hip-hop culture all around her is saying differently. Here are some of the top artists referencing xanax abuse in their lyrics.

Stupid Boy Think That I Need Him // Pop Music & Fourth Wave Feminism

It’s been a wild few years to be a woman in the entertainment industry. The open secret of sexual exploitation and misogynistic power-plays has been blown wide open to a scrutinising public eye. The music industry is no exception, with many artists taking a stand for gender equality creatively and financially. This contemporary wave ofContinue reading “Stupid Boy Think That I Need Him // Pop Music & Fourth Wave Feminism”