Author: Chris Singh

Although the talk of music festivals dropping like flies is ongoing, December’s Spilt Milk has managed to pull in a zeitgeisty lineup that almost guarantees a swift sell-out. US rappers Doechii and Kendrick Lamar lead an unseasonably large and of-the-moment stack of artists penciled in for the travelling festival, which makes stops in Ballarat, Perth,…

“Lisa, I don’t think you’ve ever sung this as beautiful as just now. It’s like you need to be here. You are a miracle and I love you with all my heart,” says Hans Zimmer as he looks up to Lisa Gerrard, the Australian singer who famously vocalised his score for Ridley Scott’s 2000 classic,…

I’m running around the large room yelling “fish, fish, fish” as the clock is ticking. There’s a dog collar hugging my neck, connected to a small box that, when triggered, threatens to prod me with an electric shock. No, I haven’t been cast in the next Saw movie. This is Immersive Fort, a new Tokyo…

I’ve traced O’ahu to the island’s bucolic north-east and find myself in the heart of a 4,000-acre private nature reserve. Kualoa Ranch has been a filming location for more than 250 movies and TV shows, so even those who’ve never been before have some level of familiarity with the blockbuster landscape. Jurassic Park, LOST, Hawaii…

Each year, James Beard hands me some fresh FOMO on a silver platter. The USA’s most prestigious culinary institution works similar to Michelin but is generally broader in criteria. In the past, I’ve been much more satisfied with something that’s been James Beard-approved rather than just Michelin-approved. Now, that’s not to say Michelin isn’t reliable,…

Johnny Rotten described Sex Pistols with Frank Carter as “karaoke” in a fiery pushback against the revival earlier this year. That’s not a good look for the reformed band, with original members Steve Jones, Glen Matlock and Paul Cook now playing alongside the legend-in-his-own-right as Carter sinks into the skin that once fit Rotten like…

We all put more weight on vastly different things when it comes to a laptop that’s geared primarily towards productivity. An ergonomic and responsive keyboard is a must (and it’s not as common as we’d like to think). A superior graphics card is front-and-centre for modern content creators and traditional designers. Long battery life is…

If Mother Nature had a favourite child, her name would be Alice. Like two outstretched arms giving the dusty red town a warm (sometimes too warm) hug, the East and West MacDonnell Ranges wrap around Alice Springs/Mparntwe in a way that places the Red Centre amongst the world’s most impressive geographical wonders. The local Arrernte…

In November 2024, Delta Air Lines announced that it will start serving Shake Shack’s burgers in an industry-first, sky-high collaboration that has completely shaken* the idea of airline food. From December 1st, America’s leading airline gave First Class passengers (on routes over 900 miles) the option to pre-select a Shake Shack cheeseburger as their meal…

Ready to bathe in the Waters of Nazareth (Erol Alkan remix, of course)? Legendary French duo Justice are heading on back down under after a very long absence from our shores, bringing with them their epic new live show and a big-bass blend of all their hits, including – we hope – “Stress”, “D.A.N.C.E” and…

The beauty of pop music is that it is (or at least should be) lawless, ungoverned by any stringent definition aside from the need to have mass appeal to a wide variety of demographics. It’s not niche. But it rarely sets trends. By definition, it follows them. It’s a viral TikTok dance, a phrasal template,…

Where’s the best place to stay in Los Angeles? In a city so annoyingly spread out, being strategic about where to stay in L.A. is important. The city’s famously horrendous traffic isn’t something you’d want to contend with, and it can take over an hour to get from somewhere like Downtown L.A. to Venice. Getting…

Nelly’s legacy is an interesting one when we’re discussing hip hop’s most successful ambassadors. When the born-and-bred St Louis representer came out with his debut single, “Country Grammar,” in June 2020, the charts responded immediately. This was at a time when Ja Rule figured out trying to sing with that unmistakably croaky voice could earn…

America’s southwest has long beckoned travelers with its harsh, blood orange landscapes and dramatic mountain vistas. Now, a significant expansion of one of the region’s most historic rail journeys promises to unveil even more of this spectacular terrain with unmatched comfort. The luxury train service currently operating as Rocky Mountaineer will rebrand as Canyon Spirit…

Getting to your final destination without any breaks is always going to have more appeal for the modern traveller. Yet I feel like the art of a well-chosen layover isn’t talked about enough as it should be. To me, it all comes down to your buffer. When you’ve worked in a layover on your way…

There aren’t many culture writers in Australia who are discovering the Adelaide Fringe for the first time. So with 17 years of career under my belt, I’m windswept with a bit of self-shaming as I stroll down Rundle Street. I haven’t seen streets this alive since I was walking around Lower Manhattan last summer. The…

JIMMY has always been my favourite rooftop bar in Manhattan. Despite its location on the west side of Soho, it remains an unpretentious, benevolent beacon for both the self-fashioned influencer types and art nerds that parade regularly parade around Lower Manhattan’s eternally hip and trendy villages. It’s but one of several spaces that makes ModernHaus…

The marginal comforts of Economy are clearly no longer enough for the modern traveller. And those who can’t afford the substantial jump in price required for the pointy end are increasingly seeing the value in Premium Economy. Yet it seems like Premium Economy seats are getting even more expensive, a natural knock-on effect from increased…

It was only a few months ago that the great Antonio Sánchez sat at a complex drum kit set up in one corner of the stage at City Recital Hall.  Alejandro González Iñárritu’s masterful 2014 hit, Birdman, screened to a sold-out crowd while Sánchez brought new meaning to the film with a live rendition of his…

In travel writing, the word “hack” is thrown around so often that it’s become a meaningless nonsense phrase, like “literally,” “narcissist,” and “we should totally start a podcast.” Shortcuts made to improve certain bugbears of the travel experience are well-documented, and just about every self-fashioned influencer and their TikTok account claim to hold the key…

PJ Harvey knows exactly how much each of her songs weigh. The soft, flittering folky genius of numbers like “Lwonesome Tonight” and “Autumn Term” paint a wistful walk in Dorset’s woodlands with Harvey’s newfound penchant for world-building so achingly tender and lightweight. 2023’s I Inside the Old Year Dying cracked open the spectral ballads that…

With very few exceptions (Max Richter being one of them), Hans Zimmer is history’s best example of how music can build blockbusters in the minds of listeners. His potent, cinematic way of composing has been harnessed by the world’s greatest directors, gluing Zimmer’s work to unforgettable scenes, palpable emotions, and staggering visuals. And so it’s…

As someone who has written about hotels for more than a decade now, I stumble when asked what my favourites are. Forestis in The Dolomites is a singular experience and easily one of the most unforgettable stays in the world. The Baccarat New York is pure indulgence, and its bar has some of the finest…

Well, this is pleasantly familiar. Anyone who has seen Nils Frahm live before would be used to witnessing complete and utter ambient perfection. If you want to know if I enjoyed his latest sojourn down to Sydney Opera House, that’s the only sentence you need. Because it’s mighty difficult to describe just how staggering Frahm’s…

Travelling is an experience. Travelling well is an art. The popularity and time-honoured importance of “travel hacks” are well-documented in the age of social media. Just about everyone is scrambling for ways to make their holiday feel more like a holiday and less like a task. Just open TikTok or Instagram and you’ll meet a…

A History of Hip Hop lesson that gives more weight to Arrested Development than Big Daddy Kane (possibly the most seminal rapper of all time), Geto Boys (the first to really rap about mental illness and trauma with mainstream impact), or the likes of Queen Latifah, MC Lyte and Mobb Deep. That doesn’t sound very…

Max Richter is less interested in your Pre-Frontal Cortex as he is in your limbic system, hippocampus and amygdala. The postminimalist piano man is as much a neuroscientist as a musician, taking a scatter shot for the subconscious with dreamy, evocative classical music designed to destroy and rebuild. Max Richter is my most trusted travel…

Visiting New York City is expensive, and it doesn’t look like prices will be dropping anytime soon. Food? Sure. You can eat well in New York City on a budget. If you’re staying in Manhattan, walk over to Adele’s Famous Halal Truck on the Avenue of the Americas for one of the best value meals…

While there’s now much less of a gap in value between Android and iPhone, one area that I feel Apple is still almost unimpeachable in is the smart watch for everything. And by everything, I don’t just mean tracking steps, closing circles and being mindful of my heart rate zones. Yes, it can do all…

I always love visiting Seattle. Between the endless culinary delights of Pike Place Market, the stacked cellar doors in Woodinville and the restorative Pacific Northwest climate, few places in the USA can charm with such gentleness and generosity of spirit. It’s not America’s most frenetic city, but it’s easily one of the most livable with…