Amaya McDonald, Author at The Statesman

Off the Record: Spotify versus Apple Music, and Hollywood Remakes

Amaya McDonald & Melanie NavarroArts Movies Multimedia Music PodcastsJuly 1, 2022June 29, 2022

In Episode 2, hosts Amaya and Melanie discuss the timeless battle over Spotify and Apple Music. The hosts also get into a heated discussion over the Hollywood remake He’s all That and Hollywood’s infamous reputation of ruining classics.

Off the Record: The Best No Skip Albums

Amaya McDonald & Melanie NavarroArts Multimedia Music PodcastsJune 29, 2022

Join Arts & Culture editors Amaya McDonald and Melanie Navarro for the new Statesman podcast, “Off The Record.” From The “King of Pop” Michael Jackson to Lady Gaga, they dig into the artistry that creates a cohesive no-skip album.

How the price of fashion may cost us our planet

Amaya McDonaldArts Earth Day 2022 FashionApril 24, 2022April 24, 2022

Refraining from shopping or buying one top from a fast fashion company will not necessarily make or break our climate crisis, but the more we work together to adjust our practices, the more businesses will take note.

It’s getting harder to ‘be like Mike’: The gentrification of sneaker culture

Amaya McDonaldArts CultureApril 17, 2022April 18, 2022

Air Jordans, along with other popular sneaker collections, have become a staple in hip-hop culture. Like most assets of Black culture that have been appropriated and labeled as trends in American pop culture, sneakers have become “gentrified.”

Gunna confirmed as headliner for Brookfest 2022

Amaya McDonald & Katherine ProcacciArts Breaking MusicApril 9, 2022April 12, 2022

After two years of virtual events and performances, USG announced the lineup at this year’s in-person Brookfest concert during the USG Block Party. Gunna will be the headliner for the spring 2022 Brookfest concert held on April 21.

Black students struggle to find community at universities

Amaya McDonaldCultureFebruary 27, 2022February 27, 2022

In the United States, universities and colleges are major hubs for cultural assimilation, as Black students have an experience that is unique to that of their white counterparts.

SBU’s African Student Union’s fashion show set to return

Amaya McDonaldArts Culture FashionJanuary 29, 2022

The ASU Fashion Show has been a tradition on the SBU campus for years, but since the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to large in-person events on campus, students have not been able to walk the runway.

The Weeknd’s “Dawn FM” is the perfect purgatory playlist

Amaya McDonaldArts MusicJanuary 9, 2022

The release of “Dawn FM” indicates a promising year for music in 2022 and reminds us all that even while we may be stuck in limbo, dawn is coming, and it is vital that we stay hopeful.

BalletX makes ballet fun for all at the Staller Center

Amaya McDonaldArts DanceNovember 22, 2021November 22, 2021

Philadelphia’s BalletX contemporary ballet took to the Staller Center stage on Nov. 20 and showed the audience that ballet does not have to be boring.

Celebrating Hip-Hop History Month

Amaya McDonaldArts MusicNovember 7, 2021November 7, 2021

Celebrate and recognize hip-hop’s impact on groups both in and outside the Black community with the observation of Hip-Hop History Month. Here are some of the songs that define the culture.