Music Reviews, Opinion, Raffles Reviews

Exploring Indie: The Niché Side of Music
Reading Time: 9 minutes

By Nicole Lee (26S05A)

There’s a sad truth for all indie listeners – there’s only a small, if not, near non-existent fandom for the music we listen to.

You’ve probably already heard of the term ‘indie’, but let’s revisit it:

Fig 1. Definition of ‘indie’ according to the Oxford Dictionary. 

Indie artists are predominantly independent labels; they’re groups of talented people trying to get their music out into the world, hoping that it reaches the ears of listeners across the globe. Although, the outreach is often limited, with the indie genre eventually being coined as ‘niche’. 

Beneath all the music lies layers and layers of edited orchestra or soundtracks, coupled with heavily revised lyrics; indie artists probably work just as hard as the global favourites, yet their efforts are often met with little returns. 

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Commentary, Op-Eds, Opinion, Student Issues

Lessons from a L****
Reading Time: 11 minutes

By Cherie Khoo (26S03B)

Foreword

This is meant for anyone who has ever lost something, or lost at something, before. 

That is to say, it is for everyone. 

But most especially for teachers, the best of whom have never given up on their students. To any who may be reading this, I hope it gives both you and your students greater conviction in possessing the ability to succeed (in any form).

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Commentary, Compilations, Features, Go Where?, Special Editions

Inspiring an Ocean of Change: A Glance into the Singapore Oceanarium
Reading Time: 4 minutes

By Gladys Koh (26A01B) and Irene Eva Thomas (26A01B)

Standing below the ribbed arches of the newly opened Singapore Oceanarium, we, the members of Raffles Press, were met with an unexpected sight: a kindergarten school excursion. Children milling around, bright-eyed and full of wonder, eagerly pointing to projections of sea creatures above. Truthfully, they were not much different from us—a group of bushy-tailed Rafflesians keenly jotting down the sights and senses around us.

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Commentary, Op-Eds, Opinion

Shame Must Change Sides
Reading Time: 4 minutes

By Gladys Koh Wei Le (26A01B)

Each era has found a novel way to humiliate women while insisting it is merely following the rules of its time. Such violence does not always announce itself. More often, it cloaks itself under procedure, in laughter — plausibly deniable systems. Today, it arrives, wearing the face of technology. The tools evolve, but the underlying logic remains brutally consistent: that women are rendered available for judgement and dehumanisation.

Recently, the comment sections of women and minors on X have been awash with requests such as “@Grok, undress this woman” and “@Grok, put her in a bikini”. In scenes that have since drawn international outrage, the AI heeded those requests. Within seconds, it fabricated sexualised images, posted publicly on X for the world to see. 

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Commentary, Movie Reviews, Opinion, Raffles Reviews

Diamonds, Drama, and Disappearing Acts
Reading Time: 5 minutes

A short (spoiler-free) review of Now You See Me, Now You Don’t

By Cherie Khoo (26S03B)

Now You See Me, Now You Don’t opens very much like its predecessors, to the Four Horsemen’s magic show. We come to understand that a decade has passed since the Horsemen last performed together, yet the details are fuzzy at best with no proper recount. First-time moviegoers will have a hard time understanding the plot. Directed by Jon M. Chu (of Crazy Rich Asians and Wicked fame), the film, 13 years after the second installation, is a far cry from the cinematic brilliance he previously orchestrated.

Through the lens of a film critic, this film is at best a snazzy, low-stakes rendition of a classic storyline. It is packaged in shiny fresh shrink-wrap like those on a deck of playing cards, not only flimsy but also a hassle to unwrap and a greater irritation to dispose of. But for the moviegoer, it’s exactly what is promised; a fun, magic-filled experience that only falls slightly shorter than expected. 

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