Elise Ryan, Author at The Rapid City Post

FILE - Grammy Awards are displayed at the Grammy Museum Experience at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on Oct. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

A new Grammy category honors album covers, and the artists that make them

January 5, 2026

Five albums are nominated for best album cover at the 68th Grammy Awards. Previously included in the best album package category, it’s the first time covers have their own category in over 50 years. The nominees are Bad Bunny’s “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” Tyler, the Creator’s “Chromakopia,” Djo’s “The Crux,” Perfume Genius’s “Glory” and Wet Leg’s “Moisturizer.” The new category was designed to recognize the impact of covers in the digital age, when listeners more often encounter the images and not the physical packaging. Artists say that the award brings visibility to the work that goes into artists’ visual worlds.

FILE - Miles Mitchell, left and Zander Dueve, center, shake hands at the Timothee Chalamet lookalike contest in New York on Oct. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah, File)

The long and unexpected afterlife of the Timothée Chalamet look-alike contest

October 31, 2025

In the year since the viral Timothée Chalamet look-alike contest, a group of contestants have found opportunity and community. Winner Miles Mitchell attended the Golden Globes and appeared on “The Drew Barrymore Show.” Mitchell and Zander Dueve have modeled for a hair care company. A photo book, “Call Me Timothée,” features polaroids of the lookalikes from the Washington Square Park contest. Dubbed the “Brothers Chalamet,” the group has become a sort of support network as members pursue comedy and acting. Their shared experiences have turned a park gathering into friendships and unexpected career boosts.

Music Review: Ed Sheeran returns to his roots on ‘Play,’ a cross-cultural playground

September 12, 2025

Ed Sheeran has long sought to bring people together with his music, whether it be his emotionally resonant acoustic ballads or unproblematic, danceable pop hits. His eight studio album, “Play,” stays in that familiar lane, writes The Associated Press’ Elise Ryan. Recorded throughout his “Mathematics World Tour,” the project feels split. Sheeran the hitmaker returns on parts of the project, including the addictive “Sapphire,” featuring Indian singer Arijit Singh. Other songs fall more in line with Sheeran’s past projects, deviating little from the narrative songwriting toolkit that raised him.

Music Review: Conan Gray’s ‘Wishbone’ further confirms his place as a tastemaker of Gen Z pop

August 15, 2025

Conan Gray’s wistful fourth album, “Wishbone,” arrives Friday. It is a return to form for Gray, writes The Associated Press’ Elise Ryan in her review. She says that the album’s 12 diaristic tracks oscillate between bold heartbreak anthems and moments of tender reflection. Rejection serves as inspiration for angst and contemplation. On “Wishbone,” Gray once again collaborates with producer Dan Nigro, known for his work with Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan. Their reunion finds Gray comfortable but candid. Recurring characters, settings and symbols help him recount relationships atop a sonic landscape informed by his past releases.

On ‘Bite Me,’ Reneé Rapp punches back

July 30, 2025

Reneé Rapp’s second album, “Bite Me,” gave the 25-year-old multi-hyphenate an outlet to work through the whirlwind that has been her career so far. She toured her first album, “Snow Angel,” left HBO’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls” and played Regina in the 2024 musical remake of “Mean Girls.” Rapp told The Associated Press that she approached the project with intention. She said that process was grueling, but also fun. She hopes the result empowers fans, too. The album is out Friday. She’ll launch a tour in September.

Broadway has found its Gen Z audience — by telling Gen Z stories

June 4, 2025

“John Proctor is the Villain” is about high schoolers studying “The Crucible” as the #MeToo movement arrives in their Georgia town. It earned seven Tony nominations, the most of any this season. It’s among a group of Broadway shows that have centered the stories of young people and attracted audiences to match. Producers reported that Sam Gold’s take on “Romeo + Juliet,” nominated for best revival of a play, drew the youngest ticket-buying audiences recorded on Broadway. The shows share some DNA: pop music, Hollywood stars with established fanbases and stories that reflect the complexity of young adulthood.