I don’t think it’s an accident that pop punk is having its moment in the height of a pandemic where we seem to be pushing against the weight of the world on a near-daily basis. Yes, the upbeat rhythms are an instant mood-booster, but most bands in the emo/pop punk scene focus lyrically on mental health and finding strength in community. Gone are the days where pop punkers croon about their bitch-of-an-ex or pine over unrequited love (though there are still some great songs about relationships being released). Instead, they directly address themes like confidence (or lack thereof), feeling overwhelmed, going to therapy, depression and grief; things many of us are feeling right now. It’s a cathartic medium in a time where we’re trying to make sense of a world that needs to change but the traditions feel firmly wedged in place.
Into the Woods: Exploring Our Relationship with Nature Through Ecohorror
Book Nook: The Books That Got Me Through the Pandemic
Little Wins
We’ve become so used to seeing people’s success stories on social media that we often forget the hard work, effort and failure that accompanies great things, even if it’s just changing out of our pyjamas for the day ahead. We’ve become accustomed to rolling our eyes at the age-old saying it’s the taking part that counts in our never-ending pursuit to be The Best. We often skip the most important part of every day: celebrating the little wins.