Author: Chris Singh

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…

It was my first bison and bacon burger, eaten outdoors in the gentle Pacific Northwest breeze, when I realised that Vancouver’s food scene was different.  There’s great pride of provenance in British Columbia. The city’s chefs have the good sense to play to the region’s natural strengths. And from the land to the sea, this…

The Prodigy is its own genre. And there aren’t many bands in history that can claim such a one-of-one reputation. Metal festivals? Yeah, they’ll dominate. EDM festivals? Best believe they are closing the main stage. The unimpeachable band, now officially the duo of Liam Howlett and Maxim, could even slot seamlessly into a hip hop…

Going the classic route for Valentine’s Day doesn’t just mean a nice dinner out anymore. You’re going to have to get that special someone (assuming that’s how you’re spending the day) a gift for tradition’s sake, and you’re going to be flooded with ideas left, right and centre in the lead-up to one of the…

Was Google’s decision to offer two Pro models in 2024 excessive or a sign of confidence? I’m going with the latter. As a smartphone manufacturer, Google has historically been running in third place. Samsung has been quicker and slicker with the Galaxy models for years, and Apple still offers the most seamless OS experience. Then…

Few (big) cities worldwide are as lovingly cradled by nature as Vancouver. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the snowy peaks of the Coast Mountains, the biggest and most diverse city in British Columbia perfectly fits the bill for both outdoor adventure and urban excitement.  There’s world-class art (one of my favourite museums in the…

Around 800 cherry blossom trees wither over the water in the hip, canal-centric neighbourhood of Nakameguro in Tokyo; their spines ain’t what they used to be.  From mid-to-late March, the canal is dressed as its festive best, the cherry blossom trees shedding over the narrow 3.8-km stretch, floating in the water to create a memorable…

While I was in the USA last year I had a few changes to my itinerary. It was ambitious, I was darting from coast to coast to Canada and back again, but not everything was locked in. I spent most of the time in New York City and planned to gradually make my way over…

What happens to things that don’t bend? After years of watching foldable phones struggle to justify their existence, Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold finally answers the question: “Why would I want a phone that bends?”. Samsung has been trying to answer that question for years now, and Apple is only starting to ask it. Google’s…

Counting just how many hotels there are scattered across New York City would be an impressive undertaking. New properties are popping up from some of the world’s best hotel companies almost every month. I spent a decent amount of time travelling around New York City in mid-2024 so I could bring AU Review’s readers a…

Luxury with such heart, cinematic appeal and playfulness is rare. Amid all the showiness and exclusivity of a snooty five-star in Manhattan, there can be a real sense of disconnection as the soullessness of it all starts to take hold and that all-important sense of place drops off. That’s why feeling a deep sense of…

Concrete Jungle where dreams are made of? The now immortal phrase refers to New York City’s most distinctive visuals, where bright, vivid colours of nature snake through the urban sprawl like a dystopian fever dream. Few places in the world are as symbolic of biophilic design, which is why it works having two properties from…

There are hotels, and then there are institutions—places that have woven themselves into the fabric of a city’s history, where the past is packed into every ornate detail, nook and cranny. Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel in Chicago is one such place. A transportive capsule of elegance since the 19th century, this landmark property is…

Hobart is a city of stories, so it makes sense that you’ll find different storytelling techniques in the Tassie capital. I realised that at Dark Mofo one year, running around the epic Winter Feast and asking a tonne of questions to all the local artisans. Everyone here has a fascinating history and knows exactly how…

I’ve become increasingly impressed by how tight and efficient Apple’s ecosystem has been over the past few years. Accusations about a lack of innovation ring true, but the pressure to provide something new every time isn’t always the right path in the tech world. I’ve come to understand that true progress is all about refinement;…

The Prodigy are touring Australia. I honestly never thought I’d be writing that sentence again. The iconic, genre-less group last toured Australia just weeks before Keith Flint passed away in March 2019. With only Maxim, Liam and their keyboardist Leeroy left, it didn’t seem likely to see The Prodigy hit the stage again. And yet…

Located in the charismatic James Hotel, Scarpetta holds court as one of Manhattan’s most reliable Italian restaurants, shouldering plenty of acclaim despite consistent competition from the likes of Torissi and the great Emilio’s Ballato. The restaurant opened in 2008 in the Meatpacking District to instant acclaim, glowing from a three-star review in The New York…

One in Sydney. One in Melbourne. L.A legend Ice Cube is no stranger to performing in Australia. He was just here two years ago with Cypress Hill, although he hadn’t been touring much before that. Anyone who saw Cube at those concerts would be surprised to hear he’s coming back so soon, and with a…

It’s no secret that Canberra punches above its modest weight. The food (and wine) is some of the best in the country, spoiled by the finest of both Victoria and New South Wales produce. Then you have the relaxed pace, barely-there traffic, world-class art and bucolic lifestyle.  That’s one of the few things Melbourne and…

When you live in Australia, summer means long, hot days, backyard BBQs, and—if you’re lucky—a dip in the pool to escape the heat. But if you’ve got a pool, you also know the struggle: leaves, bugs, and who-knows-what floating on the surface. That pool net is a daily demand, and it takes up a lot…

Pizza ovens have been a leading category for a few years now. Just look on Google and you’ll find that plenty of brands have entered the market to meet demand. But Gozney started the whole hype with the excellent (and remarkably portable) Roccbox. Expanding the range has been a regular thing since then, with some…

While the tech world obsesses over Apple Intelligence and machine learning algorithms, the iPhone 16 Pro didn’t exactly need to be an impressive piece of tech. In fact, Apple kind of messed up when they put out the iPhone 16 series with little to no AI features, even though Apple Intelligence was a big drawcard…