With his third album, Just Like You Wanted It, released on February 14, 2025, Casey Smith Project is hitting his stride. The album results from more than a year’s worth of demos, jam sessions, and meticulous attention to the track masters (for a lengthy sit-down with Casey Smith about the album and his tour in Iceland last year, read my two-part interview).

TikTok isn’t the real world. Social media isn’t real. If you find yourself scrolling and thinking everyone else has it together, remember most of what you see is staged. Perfectly edited photos. Fake trips. "Curated" lifestyles.

We all know the classic tale of Oz - Dorothy, the Wizard, and the Wicked Witch. But in Wicked, the familiar story is seen through a different lens, delving deeper into the characters' lives we thought we knew.

I had the opportunity to attend a performance of FLOT’s unique adaptation of The Pirates of Penzance. This fun spin on a classic operetta was directed by Tekla Butcher-Monson, with musical direction by Phil Heilbron. The show ran two weekends at the UAF Salisbury Theatre from October 4th to October 13th, 2024.

Daft Punk stopped making music in February of 2021, approximately twenty-eight years after their landmark debut album, Homework (1997). However, their sophomore effort, Discovery (2001), sent them straight into the stratosphere. Appropriately so for a now iconic release, the visual album of Discovery titled Interstella5555: The 5story of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem (2003) was released in a select number of theaters nationwide for one night only.

Casey Smith Project sits down with the editor-in-chief of The Sun Star to discuss the new album and playing at the Iceland Airwaves festival overseas—Part 2 of a two-part interview.

Casey Smith Project sits down with the editor-in-chief of The Sun Star to discuss the new album and playing at the Iceland Airwaves festival overseas—Part 1 of a two-part interview.

Have you considered studying abroad? The thought may have crossed your mind, but the task seems impossible or too big to accomplish. The UAF Study Away Office is the perfect place to get your foot in the door with any questions you may have. As I tell you about my experiences abroad, don’t be afraid to explore your options and reach out to the UAF Office Study Away with any questions you may have.

In late February, the university walked away from the table and canceled several days of bargaining after UAF students went to Juneau to gain funding for the university’s pursuit of R1 status. Achieving R1 status benefits the university because it attracts more funding. To achieve R1 status, the university must graduate a certain number of PhD students each year. The university is not meeting that number because it struggles to recruit, retain, and support students.

Before they are set to open for DJ Dancing FaraZ at SpringFest, I sat down with the Brothers Ramirez to ask a few questions about their music, their origins, and their hopes for the future as DJs.

Saturday night at The Pub tends to always err on the side of fun or stellar. Still, this past Saturday’s double-header concert with Casey Smith Project and The Jephries, who finally made their debut at UAF’s long-loved establishment and one of the venues for music in all of Fairbanks, was undoubtedly one of the most high-octane performances all year. The Jephries also returned to Fairbanks this weekend for the first time since pre-Covid!

Before his March 29th show at The Pub, I sat down with Casey Smith of The Casey Smith Project to ask a few questions about his music, his origins, and his hopes for the future as an artist and musician.

It’s been a minute since The Pub has had rap on its stage. Texas-based J. Saenz (pronounced “signs”) changed all that Saturday, March 9, thanks to Casey Scroggins.

Before their February 24th show at The Pub, I sat down with Carnelian Woman to ask a few questions about their music, their origins, and their hopes for the future as musical collaborators.

Carnelian Woman returns to The Pub for another gorgeous and understated live show.

Many critics claimed cinema was dead. Between the pandemic and the rise of streaming platforms, movie theaters have had several rough years. According to CNN, in 2022, thirty percent fewer people went to the movies than in 2019. Several movie theater companies, including AMC, flirted with bankruptcy. Yet in 2023, the movies came roaring back.

I wasn’t going to watch the new Mean Girls movie at first. I knew it was a remake of the recent Broadway musical, which wasn’t entirely engrossing. I’d heard about Angourie Rice’s flat singing and awkward camera angles. Honestly, I just don’t watch a lot of movies in theaters in general. But then I saw this TikTok by Glenn DeVar and knew I had to check it out myself.

Are we separate from nature? Is it possible to cleanly define an “us” versus a “not-us”? Is it even productive to think of ourselves as somehow separate from (or even above) our environment?

As an instructor in the Hub, I, along with my fellow instructors, seek to create an atmosphere where all students are comfortable. One instructor reiterated this message in Discord following the insensitive comments made by several students.

The ability to learn virtually is proving to be the future of education. UAF’s eCampus provides an excellent platform and selection of online learning for students across the board, ensuring we stay on top of the growing need for virtual learning opportunities.