The Last Mixed Tape

Is the Eurovision Song Contest really apolitical or has it always been shaped by politics?
With over 1,000 artists calling for a boycott of Eurovision 2026 and multiple countries withdrawing from the contest, this year’s competition has become one of the most controversial in its history. With the question of Isreal’s participation at its core.
Drawing on past moments from Bosnia’s wartime entry in 1993 to political controversies involving Armenia and Ukrainethis episode examines how Eurovision has always reflected the tensions of the world around it.
Because the real question isn’t whether Eurovision is political.

At Coachella 2026, two performances sparked completely different reactions.
Justin Bieber took to the stage with a laptop, revisiting old performances and creating a stripped-back, introspective set that divided opinion. Some called it lazy. Others called it art.
Meanwhile, Sabrina Carpenter delivered a full-scale headline performance choreography, costume changes, live band and was praised for doing exactly what was expected.
So why are these performances judged so differently?
This video explores the double standard in pop music, and why female artists are still expected to do more to prove themselves, while male artists are often given the space to do less and have it framed as artistic.

From performance, to perception, to the language we use to describe both, this is about more than just Coachella. It’s about who gets to define what “good” looks like.

In this episode of The Last Mixed Tape, Stephen White explores the meaning of Ali Ghamsari’s recent performance a US targeted Power Plant in Iran, placing it within a wider history of artists who have faced real consequences for their work from Sarajevo to the North of Ireland to Tehran.

In this episode of The Last Mixed Tape, I explore Kanye West’s latest album Bully and the uncomfortable questions it raises about how we engage with art in 2026.

This is a deeper look at the relationship between artist and audience, and whether it’s still possible to separate the art from the artist in an era where context is impossible to ignore.

Drawing on the reaction to Bully, Kanye’s recent controversies, and his return to major stages like Wireless festival, this episode asks: Are we witnessing the “Death of the Author”… or the beginning of a Rebirth?

In this episode of The Last Mixed Tape, we explore the reaction to Kneecap’s recent trip to Cuba and what that reaction reveals about the relationship between music, politics, and public discourse.

As Cuba faces ongoing blackouts, shortages, and economic strain shaped in part by the long-standing United States embargo against Cuba Kneecap’s decision to speak out has drawn both support and criticism.

But why are artists so often held to a higher standard than the governments shaping these conditions?

This episode looks beyond the headlines to examine cultural double standards, the role of political expression in music, and why the loudest conversations don’t always focus on the most important issues.