Grace Riley

Writer / Music Journalism BA Graduate with First Class Hons from the University of East London

Elevate East •

Muse at the O2: A Dystopian Musical Odyssey

Being the first night in London at the O2, the arena filled up quickly, with fans racing towards the barriers when doors opened.
Kicking off the show, the band emerged from backstage donning black hoodies and silver geometric masks. ‘WOTP’ initials read the gigantic sign that burned above the band, representing their latest album Will of the People. Muse lead the revolution by chanting ‘will of the people’ whilst the catchy guitar riff blares through the venue. Deep hues of r...
My Dissertation •

The Rise of Mainstream Emo

I met with Bee, a 20-year-old online content creator. With 692K followers on TikTok, Bee has been part of the Emo community, both online and offline, for most of their teenage years. Travelling 80 miles to Brighton, I met them along the seafront for a street photoshoot. Donning the iconic knee-high black Converse and a chunky studded belt, Bee brought the maximalist aesthetic to life, along with their friend 18-year-old maths student Betty, who was up for stepping in front of the lens....
Tonic Main Site •

Gigging Hard and Dreaming Big: Meet Monumental

Monumental’s roots trace back to the seaside city of Southend, where Alfie (lead guitarist) and Nathan (bassist) met Finn (frontman and rhythm guitarist) busking in the bustling high street of Southend playing ‘It Must Be Love’ by Labi Siffre, unsure whether he was even going to busk that day. After their original drummer left the band, Peggy’s Music Bar was where current drummer and backing vocalist Denny had exclaimed, “I am gonna be in that band one day!” when watching the band perform with t...
Medium •

A Data-Driven Dive into the Evolution of IDKHow

Retro infomercials, faded VHS recordings and grainy clips of a forgotten talent show, IDKHow emerged from the shadows- an act from a bygone era. The band consisted of former pop-punk innovators Dallon Weekes and Ryan Seaman. During the duo’s first year, the band played to rooms full of strangers, free from mobile phones capturing every move they made, an experience starkly different to Weekes’s previous time in former band Panic! At The Disco. It is safe to say that IDKHow have built a name for...
Medium •

The Rise of Jellycats- How Plush Toys Became Global Trend

It started with a pumpkin. A friend gifted me something that seemed simple at first- a 9cm tall autumnal pumpkin plush with two round embroidered black eyes and a sweet smile. It was not a Halloween decoration- this Vivacious Vegetable Pumpkin by Jellycat had captivated me, along with many more plush collectors.Founded in 1999 by brothers Thomas and William Gatacre, the company’s name was suggested by Thomas’s seven year old son, who loved jelly and cats. Creating cuddly creatures such as the Sl...
Medium •

The 1975’s Eccentric ‘Still At Their Very Best’ Tour Comes To The O2

Being the second of four nights at the O2, the arena filled up quickly with fans donning a black suit and tie, a 1975 concert tradition. ‘The 1975 still at their very best’ read the screens, as the calligraphy shimmered, hinting at an iconic performance awaiting the audience. As each band member walked into the meticulously crafted house set up on stage, frenzied fans roared and filled every corner of the arena with anticipation.In true Matty Healy style, the singer appeared to be asleep on a co...
Medium •

Sirena Hart: “Drag is my playground to make gender a game that I’ve always wanted to play”

“It can be exhausting doing drag,” explains Essex-based drag queen Sirena Hart, “but when I dab those eyebrows down and put a wig on, I’m ready to be happy.”Last Friday night, in the heart of the historic city of Colchester, the vivacious Sirena Hart was found to be hosting a lively art class in full-drag dressed as Mrs Doubtfire, donning a granny-fied floral skirt and white silky blouse, wielding a paintbrush in one hand and a microphone in the other, creating a night full of paint brushes and...
Medium •

From Homelessness to Artistry, Wayne’s Life Through The Lens

“When I was introduced to Cafe Art, I said bollocks! I am not doing that!” exclaims photographer Wayne, shifting in his seat in front of me at Kahaila cafe, “I was quite happy doing ket and coke all day.”Last night, amidst the bustling streets of Brick Lane, I attended a photography exhibition, where tables were adorned with photographs, and the walls lined with framed prints.The charity Cafe Art curated an exhibition titled ‘MyLondon’, featuring photographs captured by individuals experiencing...
Medium •

A Data-Driven Odyssey into Muse’s Evolution

Photo credit: Nick FancherMoments before Muse’s iconic performance at Wembley stadium in 2007, anticipation hung in the air. Prokofiev’s Dance of the Knights echoed through the arena as the Teignmouth trio began to ascend onto stage. An eruption of confetti surged into the air, cascading like a waterfall onto the crowd below. The first notes of Knights of Cydonia boomed through the stadium, sending fans into a frenzy. In this moment, Muse solidified their place as one of the most influential ban...