Marybeth Stanziola

Grand Valley Lanthorn — From a shy, 20-year-old singer-songwriter to new parent and Grammy winner, Ed Sheeran's journey - both personal and professional - has always been authentically documented through his music. The England native released the fourth entry into his ongoing string of mathematic-titled albums, "=", in 2021, ten years after his 2011 debut, "+".

Grand Valley Lanthorn — "Time won't fly, it's like I'm paralyzed by it" resonates with me as a 22-year old less than a month away from graduation more than it did as a new teenager in 2012. It feels like just yesterday I was dancing to "22" in my room, an age that felt lightyears away - now I'm...

Grand Valley Lanthorn — As I set foot into Forever 21 last week, I was hit with a wave of nostalgia as the mannequins were dressed straight out of a grainy Polaroid from 2014: tennis skirts, meticulously distressed band tees, knock-off Dr. Martens and all. The racks were lined with red and black flannels layered over cropped, bleached tank...

Sometimes, it feels as though the childlike whimsy of creating banjos out of Kleenex boxes, melting crayons onto cardboard paper with a blow dryer, and constructing macaroni art only existed lightyears in the past. With age, "art" often strays from innocent creativity and resourcefulness; instead being framed around expensive materials, the prestige of who created...

Veteran rock groups are typically left off the list of things that get better with age. Whether they're too resistant to change or refrain from releasing new material at all, bands start to lose steam after creating a sizable discography or spending many years working together. While Massachusetts indie rock trio Dinosaur Jr.

"Take what you please, don't give a damn / Ask for forgiveness, never permission." Six years after making their pastel-coated debut on Badlands, Halsey's back with a newfound depth and maturity on their fourth studio album If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power. After a year of personal growth at the hands of gender...

A Broadway musical, two films, and a greatest hits compilation that has sold 30 million copies have kept Swedish pop-rock legends ABBA in the spotlight since their 1982 breakup. Thanks to their timeless hits and feel-good foundation, ABBA's ubiquitous influence has reached those who were born far after the days of disco and go-go boots....

Grand Valley Lanthorn — Circle Theatre in Grand Rapids reopened for the first time since March 2020 earlier this May. They're back with a production of the musical "Always... Patsy Cline." Performances took place in an outdoor and socially-distanced setting from June 3-20. "Always... Patsy Cline" reflects on the real-life friendship between country music legend Patsy Cline and long-time fan,...

Grand Valley Lanthorn — Achieving on TikTok feels far more reachable than it does on other platforms. The unpredictable algorithm coupled with the notable success of other creators - many of whom relate to GVSU Lakers in age and college environment - make content creation seem fun and promising. For some, like Addison Rae, the luck of the draw...

"The following are known victims of Ted Bundy" - the screen fades to black tracked by melancholic music as 26 names are plastered in two columns. The compact list lasts for 15 seconds before being replaced with archival footage of serial killer Ted Bundy maintaining his innocence next to the title card for Extremely Wicked,...

Grand Valley Lanthorn — Are themes related to coming of age really timeless? Or has modern day alternative rock created an unattainable, oversaturated narrative of growing up? The latter half of the 2010s (and 2020s) have seemingly found themselves drenched in indie, bedroom, and dream pop albums reflecting these ideals.