The April issue of the Mustang Post for the 2025-2026 is out now! You can read the current issue here!

By: Allison Ambuehl

The Neighbourhood is an incredibly popular band with over 40 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and their most streamed song ‘Sweater Weather’ has a little over 2.1 billion streams! To put these numbers into perspective, Mozart, the child prodigy who revolutionized western music in the 1700s, only has 7.6 million monthly streams on Spotify.
Part of the reason The Neighbourhood is so popular is due to their eccentric combination of hip-hop beats with indie rock guitars to create pop music with a unique “dark” twist to their music. They are especially beloved by the younger generation, and although their fanbase is a diverse group, they are predominantly females ages ranging between 13–25.

Behind their success in the music industry is the individual band members who made it happen. First, we have their vocalist Jesse Rutherford, then the guitarists Zachery Abels and Jeremiah Freedman, the bassist Micheal Margott, and finally we have the original drummer Bryan Sammis, who Brandon Fried later replaced.
All the members considered themselves to be co-founders of the band, as most of them met through the local music scene in Newbury Park, California and bonded because of it. Eventually, the group decided to merge their talents to create the iconic sound we recognize them by today.

They started out recording in Bryan Samis’s parents’ garage and then released their first singles such as Sweater Weather and Female Robbery in 2012. Then, in 2013 they started recording through Columbia records and released their first album titled I Love You in April. The album was almost an immediate success, and peaked at #14 on the billboard 100 chart, while also including two double platinum hit singles.
Although it was a commercial success, some critics claimed it was ‘too dreary’ and the album had a mixed response from the public. Despite the mixed critical reception of their early work, The Neighbourhood proved that audience connection can outweigh initial skepticism.

Their ability to blend genres and create a distinct emotional atmosphere has allowed them to remain relevant in an ever-changing music industry. Songs like Sweater Weather continue to resonate with listeners years after their release, solidifying their place in modern pop culture.
They have released more albums and singles since then, while still following their unique style of music, and are currently on a completely sold-out world tour. Ultimately, their success highlights how authenticity and innovation can capture a generation’s attention, showing that even unconventional sounds can leave a lasting and powerful impact.

Photo credits: Merchbar

Digital Illustration

Cristina Rana is a sophomore at Sheyenne High School and is currently in her second year of art classes.

She enjoys experimenting with both traditional sketches and digital pieces and develop her personal style.

Her art style is inspired by an anime-influenced look, with soft coloring and stylized character features that help give her drawings a warm and lively feeling.

Genshin Impact has a fun adventure-like gameplay. When you first begin, you learn the basic controls such as how to walk, sprint, dash, climb, and fight. After you learn the basic controls, you learn how to resonate with an element, and then you progress in the game via story mode.

As you progress in the story mode, you gain XP, known as experience. This XP helps you level up your adventure rank and claim rewards.
As you level up your adventure rank, you unlock more things in the game, such as co-op, commissions, and wishing.

When you unlock wishing, that is how you can get other characters such as five-star characters and four-star characters, and weapons. you can also get specific four-star characters from certain events that miHoyo releases into Genshin.

You unlock co-op at adventure rank 16, this is where you can go into other people’s world. but, their world level, which the difficulty of monster level in a world, has to be either lower than yours, or the same. So, if your world level is 5, and your friends is 7, you are unable to join their world because their monsters would kill you instantly, but since your world level is lower than theirs, they can enter your world.
In co-op your friend can help you defeat bosses and steal your materials if you let them.

When you defeat a boss, you claim rewards with resin. Resin is a way to claim rewards from bosses, domains, and something in Genshin called the ley lines.

Another thing you can get from completing quests is character level up materials. They come in the form of books, or paper. You use them to level up your characters as you progress.

After you level up your character to level 20, you have to ascend them so they can level up to level 40. You have to ascend your character at level 20, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 so they can get to level 90.

Leveling up characters makes them able to do more damage and have more health. When characters with different elements use their elemental abilities together, it can cause an elemental reaction.

These reactions are known as the following freeze, overload, swirl, melt, burn, vaporize, and crystallize. Depending on the characters on your team, the reactions can buff certain characters damage.

Most characters are made to do certain things such as be a healer, sub-dps, main-dps, or supports. Adding one of each of those characters to a team with elements that give good elemental reaction can give your damage a huge buff.

Genshin impacts gameplay is very interesting and fun, it has alot of exploring, interacting with other npcs or characters, playing story quests, and fighting bosses.

It is free-to-play friendly and has consistent updates that add in more fun puzzles and quests. Genshin also has a ton of diverse characters with fun mechanics and different types of weapons.

The visuals in the game are stunning, there are mountains, rivers, oceans, cliffs, and many more beautiful sites to see. Players enjoy climbing, gliding, and sprinting across the diverse regions.

You can play across many platforms such as PC, PlayStation 4 & 5, Android, and iOS. The quality remains amazing on whatever you decide to play on.

Overall Genshin impact is a fun, free-to-play, exploration game with amazing quality and fun challenging puzzles.

By: Savannah Swanson

King of Envy is the fifth book in the King of Sin series where the main character Vuk Markovic is consumed by jealousy and longing for supermodel Ayana Kidane.

Vuk Markovic is a powerful, ambitious, and isolated billionaire. Who loves control and hates vulnerability. He is consumed by his jealousy and longing for the women he has been watching for years Ayana Kidane.

 Ayana Kiane is intelligent, composed, and independent. As a supermodel and a social media content creator she tries to keep calm and collected composure. But as she is going to get married to Vuk’s best friend Jordan Ford, a deal her and Jordan made to get his heritance money from his grandmother the tensions rise between her and Vuk.

As continued force proximity is forced because Vuk is best man for Jordans wedding, Vuk’s jealousy and possessiveness only becomes worse. Their chemistry grows when Jordan leaves for a business trip and leaves Vuk in charge for making sure Ayana’s safe.

When their relationship turns physical and passionate, he continues to struggle with jealousy and possessiveness over Ayana whenever she is around others. Ayana demands respect and refuses to lose herself in the relationship.

When Ayana finds out about Vuk’s stalkerish past with her, it drives them apart, Ayana’s chooses self-respect instead of staying in the toxic fling. Vuk’s pride and envy nearly destroys everything.

Several weeks apart and Vuk nearly lost his job, went to jail, and spent a fortune on things trying to distract himself with. Ayana, also trying process things, tries to consult in Sloane and her sister Liya. Ayana keeping away from Vuk as he can’t be trusted in her eyes.

After Vuk finally breaks he finds Ayana and demands he listens to her and begs for another chance and claims he will give her space but give him time to show her that he truly cares. As Ayana grudgingly agrees she still sets boundaries that he can’t cross and they both come to an agreement.

As weeks pass Vuk gives up his violent past, starts to soften up, and open up to Ayana about his vulnerabilities about his rough childhood. Ayana takes the opening up and slowly starts to trust him again.

Vuk continues to try and control his possessiveness and lets Ayana reclaim her career and decision to go freelance modeling rather than keeping her controlled. When Vuk paid off Jordan and Ayana’s debt, Ayana finally starts to full trust Vuk which leads to a new start in there relationship.

If you want to read more about Vuk and Ayana’s future check out the book in local bookstores and grocery stores.

Terraria has always been a game about creativity, exploration, and endless possibility, but the introduction of modding—especially through tModLoader (often called “TMod”)—has taken that experience to an entirely new level. Mods transform Terraria from an already expansive sandbox into something that feels almost limitless, adding new content, mechanics, and ways to play that go far beyond the base game. For many players, modded Terraria isn’t just an extension of the original—it becomes a completely different adventure.

At its core, tModLoader is a framework that allows players to easily install and manage mods without needing to alter the game manually. This accessibility is one of the biggest reasons modding has become so popular. With just a few clicks, players can load dozens of mods at once, each contributing something unique. Some mods are small quality-of-life improvements, while others are massive expansions that rival or even surpass the base game in scale.

One of the most exciting aspects of Terraria mods is the addition of entirely new worlds and biomes. While the original game already includes a variety of environments, mods introduce areas like crystal caverns, abyssal depths, or even alien landscapes. These new biomes often come with their own enemies, music, and resources, making exploration feel fresh again even for experienced players. Instead of knowing what lies beneath every layer of the world, players are once again faced with mystery and danger.

Another major feature of many mods is the addition of new bosses. Terraria is well known for its challenging boss fights, and mods expand this aspect dramatically. Some mods introduce dozens of new bosses, each with unique attack patterns, designs, and strategies. These encounters often require new gear, better preparation, and quick reflexes, pushing players to improve their skills. In many cases, modded bosses are more complex than those in the base game, featuring multiple phases and visually impressive attacks that fill the screen.

Weapons and items are also heavily expanded in modded Terraria. Mods add hundreds—sometimes thousands—of new tools, armor sets, accessories, and crafting materials. This greatly increases the number of possible playstyles. Players can specialize in new classes or hybrid builds, combining different abilities to create something unique. Some mods even introduce entirely new combat systems or mechanics, such as energy-based weapons, advanced magic systems, or summoning styles that go far beyond the original game’s design.

Quality-of-life improvements are another important part of the modding scene. While large content mods often get the most attention, smaller mods can make a huge difference in how the game feels to play. These additions might include better inventory management, faster crafting systems, improved map features, or helpful UI changes. While they may not be as flashy as new bosses or weapons, they make the overall experience smoother and more enjoyable, especially during long playthroughs.

Multiplayer is also enhanced through modding. Playing with friends becomes even more dynamic when everyone has access to new abilities, challenges, and content. Teams can coordinate strategies for difficult bosses, divide roles based on new classes, and explore expanded worlds together. The unpredictability of modded content often leads to memorable moments, whether it’s barely surviving a chaotic boss fight or discovering a hidden area no one expected.

One of the most well-known aspects of tModLoader is how it allows different mods to work together. Players can mix and match mods to create a customized experience tailored to their preferences. For example, someone might combine a large content mod with several quality-of-life mods and a few cosmetic changes. This flexibility means no two modded playthroughs are exactly the same, giving the game incredible replay value.

However, modding also introduces new challenges. Balancing multiple mods can be tricky, as some additions may conflict with others or make the game too easy or too difficult. Performance can also be affected if too many large mods are installed at once. Despite these issues, the community surrounding Terraria mods is very active, often providing updates, fixes, and support to keep everything running smoothly.

In the end, tModLoader and Terraria mods represent the creativity of both the developers and the player community. They show how a game can continue to grow and evolve long after its original release. Whether someone is looking for a small improvement or a completely new experience, modded Terraria offers something for everyone, turning an already beloved game into a constantly changing world of endless possibilities.

Terraria is a colorful and creative 2D sandbox game developed by Re-Logic that has captured the attention of players around the world since its release in 2011. At its core, the game is about exploration, creativity, and adventure, all wrapped together in a vibrant pixel-art style. While it may look simple at first glance, Terraria offers a deep and rewarding experience that continues to grow as players spend more time in its world. From the moment a new world is generated, players are placed into a lively environment full of possibilities, where every tree, cave, and mountain can be explored and transformed.

The world of Terraria is filled with a wide range of colorful biomes, each with its own unique look and challenges. Players might begin in a peaceful forest with bright green trees and open skies, but as they travel farther, they can discover glowing underground caves filled with sparkling crystals, deserts with shifting sands, or even dangerous corrupted lands with dark purple tones and eerie enemies. These environments are not only visually interesting but also important for gameplay, as each biome contains different materials and resources. Exploring these areas encourages curiosity and rewards players with new crafting opportunities, making every journey feel exciting and worthwhile.

Building and crafting are some of the most important parts of the game, allowing players to shape the world around them. Using materials gathered from the environment, such as wood, stone, and ores, players can create tools, weapons, and structures. Some may choose to build small, cozy houses, while others might design large castles or detailed underground bases. The game also includes non-playable characters, known as NPCs, who can move into player-built homes and offer helpful items or services. This adds another layer of creativity and purpose to building, as players are encouraged to design functional and attractive spaces for their growing community.

In addition to its creative elements, Terraria is also known for its action and combat. As players progress, they encounter a variety of enemies that become more challenging over time. The game features many powerful bosses, each with unique attack patterns and abilities that require careful planning and strategy to defeat. These battles are often intense and rewarding, as defeating a boss unlocks new items, abilities, and areas to explore. This balance between creativity and challenge keeps the gameplay engaging and ensures that there is always something new to work toward.

Another reason Terraria remains popular is its ability to appeal to different types of players. Beginners can enjoy simple exploration and building at their own pace, while more experienced players can focus on mastering combat, collecting rare items, or completing difficult challenges. The game also supports multiplayer, allowing friends to work together, build shared worlds, and take on tough enemies as a team. Over the years, updates from Re-Logic have added even more content, expanding the game and keeping it fresh for both new and returning players.

Overall, Terraria stands out as a game that combines creativity, exploration, and action into one colorful and exciting experience. Its detailed world, filled with different environments and endless possibilities, allows players to express themselves while also challenging their skills. Whether someone is building their dream home, exploring deep underground caves, or battling powerful bosses, the game offers a sense of adventure that is both fun and memorable. This combination of features has helped Terraria remain a beloved title in the gaming world, proving that even a simple-looking game can provide a rich and lasting experience.

In part one, I looked over Crossfades’ first two albums, and how the second strayed somewhat heavily away from what made me fall in love with the band. It would seem that I wasn’t the only one disillusioned with the band’s second album, Falling Away.

After the bombshell success of the first, platinuming with over a million records sold; the disappointing sales figures of the second, only selling about 200,000 copies, caused Columbia Records to drop Crossfade.

Lead singer Ed Sloan said he found himself in a depression, a darker place that seems to have helped his artistic intent. He felt abandoned in a way, after being on top of the world with their first album.

“Coming off the success of the first record and our way after the second album hit me hard [. . .] music had always been my escape, but then music became my enemy. I shut down as a songwriter and, actually, pretty much as a human being,” Isthmus reported.

They released We All Bleed independently, which meant no message to push or deadlines to rush for, and you can feel it right away in the composition of the first track. Each song is more willing to let the listener create an interpretation and spiral into themselves thinking about what was just sung. The bigger spaces between the singing parts also adds to this small but present feeling of superiority, it takes you back to the first album’s strives’ for more. It also makes the band feel more comfortable with their instruments, they don’t need to sing all the time for it to sound good, and that’s great. But this time around the conflict isn’t always as easy to nail down. It’s still a man struggling to find or become something he may not fully understand, but now with an air of wisdom, the burns of old failures are very palpable in some of the songs.

We All Bleed moves on from the girl of the second album and roughs the finely cut edges of the first to create something that is still trucking along even after all the self-medicating and personal pity parties. In less metaphorical terms, there aren’t any tracks I’d skip on repeat listenings. There’s stuff more articulate, angrier, and energizing than the first, while still letting you think like the second allowed, without the relatively boring and same-y pitfalls the second fell into. The sound mixing of Les Hall is unbelievably good at times, I recommend listening to this album with a proper sound system if you can. And Ed definitely upped his shredding game, it makes you feel heavenly sometimes, like in Suffocate.

Like others have said, it wasn’t going to be the album to change the face of music, but it was more than worth what it was trying to be.

By: Adrianna Raile

The Basement Yard is a comedy podcast created by Joe Santagato in 2015. Over the years, he had many of his friends talking with him about random ideas, finding comedy in events in the world, and their lives. The first episode was published on YouTube February 12^th, 2018, “Joe Santagato & Frank on Logan Paul’s Return”, running for only 4:38.

As the years went by, his brother-in-law Danny was a regular guest as well. Around 2021, the 253^rd episode became the turning point for Joe where he decided the only regular guest he will have would be his best friend, Frank Alvarez.

Now, in 2026, their latest episodes consist of Joe, Frank, and Antonio Prisco who is their videographer and a very close friend to the boys. The newest episode was named, “Protect Punch The Monkey At All Costs | The Basement Yard #546”. In this episode, they talk about mildly inappropriate topics until getting to the big idea being the need to protect Punch the Monkey, known for being a heavily bullied monkey with a stuffed monkey he carries around for support.

Aside from their episodes on YouTube, they have exclusive episodes on Patreon that come out a week prior, as well as episodes that don’t air on YouTube. The boys also go on tour around the world, meet fans, and describe their adventures when they get back!

If you are into best friends turning their lives into comedy, the Basement Yard is the podcast for you.