The Last Mixed Tape

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.

Rosalía’s Lux tour is being described as something more than a concert.
In this episode, we explore why.

From her early work in flamenco to the global success of Motomami and now Lux, Rosalía has built a career on blending tradition with modern pop without ever losing the cultural identity at the centre of her music.

But with the Lux tour, that idea evolves further.

Structured more like a piece of performance art than a traditional live show, it moves between ballet, electronic music, religious symbolism, and club culture presenting multiple versions of Rosalía in real time.

So what does that say about pop music today?

This episode of The Last Mixed Tape looks at identity, culture, and what happens when local tradition meets global pop and refuses to disappear.