Album Review: ‘Utopia’

Björk is back and weirder than ever with her latest release, “Utopia.” The Icelandic singer-songwriter’s first major release of new music since 2015’s “Vulnicura” combines a rustic aesthetic with a more modern, electronic element to create a complex yet overall harmonious album. “Utopia” expands upon Björk’s infamous avant-garde sound, ultimately creating a rich and charming […]

Review: Holiday light show transforms Descanso Gardens this season

The mystical garden exhibits and entrancing laser shows of “Enchanted: Forest of Light” carve out a new holiday-experience niche for itself. Without relying on kitschy plastic Santas or red-and-green lights, the event transforms a humble botanical garden into a spectacular holiday-oriented light show experience, open from Nov. 19 to Jan. 7 at Descanso Gardens. The […]

Movie review: ‘Coco’

  Death comes to life and life comes to death in Pixar’s latest animated film “Coco.” After a subpar “Cars 3” release, Pixar returned to its former glory with “Coco,” a film featuring exceptional animation, complex characters and hard-hitting themes about love, loss and legacy. “Coco” follows the story of Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez), a 12-year-old […]

Q&A: Alumnus describes working on “Coco,” seeing self represented on film

Jesus Martinez knew instantly that he wanted to work on “Coco” – it was one of the first times he saw a character on the big screen who looked like him when he was a kid. The UCLA alumnus had just finished working on “The Good Dinosaur” as a lighting manager when Pixar began putting […]

Alumna’s music video addresses codependency through self-expression

The music video for Veronica Bianqui’s garage-pop single “Victim” takes place entirely in an apartment living room. The video features Bianqui and her band in front of several different-colored sets built specifically for the video inside of the directors’ apartment. They are designed to mimic the personal journey that inspired the message of the song. […]

Students and professors hike up connections, bond at new heights

Peaks and Professors takes office hours outside of the office. Nine students and UCLA Department of Mathematics lecturer William Conley navigated a trail to Eagle Rock in Topanga State Park during Peaks and Professors’ first outdoors trip Saturday. The program pairs students and professors who have an interest in the outdoors, and coordinates hiking trips […]

Dance Break: Hui O ‘Imiloa educates and empowers students through hula dancing

Daily Bruin columnist Christi Carras’ limited dance background consists of bingeing episodes of “So You Think You Can Dance,” grapevining her way through high school show choir and stumbling through rehearsals at a daycare-like dance studio until the age of 8. As a personal experiment, she attended workshops and lessons for 10 campus dance groups […]