As we transition into the cooler and shorter days of autumn, the RUSSH team is diving deeper into their book piles, Spotify playlists and Letterboxd watch lists, opting for some old classics as well as a few new releases. Zendaya's filmography is featuring highly across the team, with many sitting down to watch the Dune films and Luca Guadagnino's Challengers. We're also sinking our teeth into plenty of podcasts – from Louis Theroux's Grounded series, to Brett Goldstein's Films to Be Buried With.
But when we're not getting intellectual – we're still busying ourselves in plenty of lighthearted media. Whether showering to old-school Shania Twain tracks like Stacey or heading to sold-out Fred again.. gigs in Sydney like Samantha and Cassandra for some good old fashioned dance-floor action.
Check out our March recommendations below...
Charlotte Agnew
Fashion Director
Watch … The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (first time watching it and it’s still sitting with me). Rooney Mara <3
Listen … Louis Theroux's podcast Grounded with Louis Theroux – particularly the FKA Twigs episode from 2021.
Read … (Trying to) French.
Stacey Gaskin
Consumer Revenue Manager
Watch … My TV has been in hibernation as of late. As I write this, I’m realising my overall screen time has taken an unplanned hiatus, with house and yard renovations taking up all after hours energy now that the summer heat has faded. My Easter long weekend was spent outdoors too. I do have plans to visit the big screen though, after hearing wonderful things from the RUSSH team, I’m excited to see Challengers later this month.
Listen … I don’t know why, but one evening I decided to take my UE speaker into the bathroom before hopping in the shower. Now it seems I am unable to return to life as it once was before the acoustic ambiance of my small 80s ensuite changed it all. A mix of nostalgic artists have been on my playlist – Dire Straits, Pink Floyd and old Shania Twain tracks. Definitely recommend for your "everything" shower or for that three-minute dance break while you’re waiting for your hair mask to do its thang.
Read … The Absco 3x3 Garden Shed assembly manual… It’s harder than you’d think. And I’m a seasoned DIYer with many years of experience in the flat-pack area. When those pre-drilled holes don’t line up, it’s a real eye-twitcher.
Alys Hale
Music Editor
Watch … I finally took the time to watch Cronenberg’s take on J.G. Ballard’s novel, Crash, which is ridiculous for a) my age and b) how many little parodies I’ve seen of it in pop culture over the years. I think I’m still processing all the sex and violence (which does border into absurdist hilarity), but I will say it was worth it for the last shot.
Listen … Given my un-defeatable insomnia, I am constantly listening to podcasts and audiobooks to put myself to sleep, I’ve been enjoying Films to Be Buried With with and a very endearing history podcast from the BBC You’re Dead to Me, now, this is no In Our Time but not everything has to be so serious. The new Jesus and Mary Chain record, Glasgow eyes has been getting some air time too.
Read … Non-Essential Work by Omar Sakr, a gift from Aesop’s Queer library that has been sitting on my bedside table to dip in and out of.
Cassandra Dimitroff
Production Editor
Watch … It’s rare to get me to go to the cinema, rarer still that I’ll pay to go see the same film TWICE. However, this month I felt obliged to re-see Dune: Part Two on the big screen, an experience I can liken to a religious one. I love a classic sci-fi novel (highly recommend reading the original Dune book by Frank Herbert), and have been hotly anticipating this film for the last two years. Without a doubt, it blew my expectations out of the water. The costuming! The foley! The Hans Zimmer soundtrack!
Listen … I’ve been flirting with a couple of new releases this month, but a stand-out has to be Mount Kimbie’s new release Empty and Silent, which features the inimitably cool guest vocals of King Krule. It’s a most perfect pairing between two musical entities I’ve loved for many years now. Dreamy, swelling and contemplative, it captures so much emotion in just a trio of tunes.
I was also lucky enough to head to a couple of Fred again.. gigs over the last few weeks, both of which buzzed with excitement and emotion. (And I have to give a mention to one of my favourite Meanjin DJs, Dameeeela, who killed it at Sydney’s Domain gig too.)
Read … I’m still powering through the remainder of The Fran Leibowitz Reader, but aside from that, I’ve been mostly reading some of RUSSH’s own epic interview of late – like our music editor Alys Hale’s conversation with Phoebe Go, content director Elyssa Kostopoulos’s interview with Valentino L’Ecole performance choreographer Chloe Leong, or contributing features editor Kitty Callaghan who flew to Byron Bay to speak with musician Kita Alexander at her album launch.
Talisa Sutton
Brand Art Director
Watch … Challengers. Zendaya as a tennis player turned coach, costumes by Jonathan Anderson and a love triangle. This film is definitely worth heading to the cinema for.
Listen … Dan Levy on How to Fail With Elizabeth Day. This episode was released late January, but after watching Good Grief and seeing Dan Levy’s fun little videos with LOEWE, I moved it straight to the top of my must-listens. I’ve long been a fan of Day’s podcast, and this is a heart-warming episode on overcoming rejection and harnessing grief to create his first Netflix feature.
Read … I just finished Glossy by Marissa Meltzer, a very well researched and executed book on founder Emily Weiss and the phenomenon that is Glossier.
Samantha Corry
Assistant to Editor-In-Chief
Watch … Last week Elyssa and I went to the premiere of Challengers, Luca Guadagnino’s most recent films with Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor. I won’t say much, but if there is one movie to watch this year it is this one!! And after all this royal news in the media and seeing the incredible Josh O’Connor in person and on screen I was drawn to watch The Crown. Incredible acting in that series.
Listen … Fred again.. Simple as that.
Read … I read To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf, a classic and really beautifully written. And after that I re-picked up A Little Life – no I have not finished it yet. For some reason I just keep picking it up and putting it down. It’s my 2024 resolution to finish that book.
Mia Steiber
Digital Strategy Director & Associate Publisher
Watch … It’s been a busy month, so I haven’t had too much time to sit down and devour any new shows. I have however, been turning to comfort films. Things that are perfect to have on in the background while I’m meal prepping. My choice for an Easter comfort watch was Sense & Sensibility and if you haven’t seen it in a while, I highly recommend a rewatch.
Listen … I’ve been listening to more Australian music in the last month – especially in light of the cancellation of Splendour in the Grass. Aussie artists could really use our support right now. One of my favourite bands, The Butterfly Effect has been celebrating the 20th anniversary of their hit album Begins Here. So, I have shamelessly had it on repeat for over a week.
Read … April is Earth Month so I’ve spent the last few weeks investing time in some sustainability texts. Author and rocket scientist, Anita Vandyke kindly sent me a copy of her book A Zero Waste Life in Thirty Days which has been an incredibly rewarding and also practical read. I would recommend it to everyone who wants to be more conscious of their impact.
Emily Algar
Beauty Editor
Watch … I just watched the first Dune over the long weekend (I know, I know). But now I'm dying to watch the second instalment. Equally obsessed with Zendaya and sand worms.
Listen … Firstly, Beyonce. Secondly, Coldplay. I just bought tickets to the November show and am revisiting all the classics.
Read … My favourite thing to read right now — maybe consume is a better word, but I digress — is Substacks. Blogger Christie Tyler recently penned a piece on divorce that I found really emotive. It served as a welcome reminder that online personas barely scrape the surface of what’s actually going on in someone’s life, too. Alison Roman also shared her Paris recommendations and I hadn’t been to — or heard of —most of the restaurants she listed. Rare?! I’ve pinned them all for my next trip. Also adore her for not gatekeeping.
Olivia Repaci
Creative Studio and Campaigns Manager
Watch … I had the pleasure of sitting on a long haul flight this month, and so the movie consumption rate was high!!! I watched Oppenheimer for the first time on said flight, and was honestly gobsmacked that it kept my attention for the whole three-hour duration. My teensy attention span really pulled through! I was pleasantly surprised by that film, and if you, like me, have been living under a rock and have not seen it yet, I recommend. I tried to watch A Rainy Day in New York on said flight. Save yourself, and don’t even try, I actually felt physically ill at how bad it was. To make myself feel better, I re-watched Derry Girls immediately after so I could remind myself what good writing is like.
Listen … Not really but maybe subliminally inspired by Beyonce, I’ve had a couple of country tunes rattling around my brain this month. Notable mention to Big Iron by Marty Robbins, Little Bitty by Alan Jackson, and I Remember Everything by Zach Bryan.
Read … Letterboxd reviews are all that have piqued my interest this month. Thank you all for your service, especially those who reviewed A Rainy Day In New York.
