Shot of the month

Richard Dawson @ Saint Luke’s, Glasgow, 26 Apr by Hope Holmes

Across

1. Pop group – held tiny discs (anag) (8,5)

8. Annual leave (3,3)

9. Names (8)

10. Samuel L. Jackson's eyepatch-sporting character in the Marvel movies (4,4)

11. (Limbs) apart (6)

12. ___ Hill (b.1975), frontperson of The Fugees (6)

13. Not (yet?) with a record label (8)

15. Announce (8)

18. Popular verse metre (often pentameter?) (6)

21. Donna ___ (d.2012), the 'Disco Queen' (6)

23. ___ Smith (b.1964), voice of Lisa Simpson (8)

24. Pattern or system – drama pig (anag) (8)

25. "Can you hear me, Major Tom? Here I am, floating in my ___ ___" (3,3)

26. Pop singer – Sprite's nearby (anag) (7,6)

Down

1. Pop singer – a dial-up (anag) (3,4)

2. Balls on a table (7)

3. Bug (9)

4. 1968 hit by Ohio Express, in which they declare they've got love in their tummy (5,5,5)

5. Free online graphic design tool (5)

6. Suspicion (7)

7. Hard-wearing (7)

14. They turned it up to 11 (6,3)

16. Tangy pink vegetable (7)

17. Italian liqueur (7)

19. The 'Queen of Pop' (b.1958) (7)

20. Ace pics (anag) (3,4)

22. Sovereignty (5)

Turn to page 7 for the solutions

Words: Tallah Brash

At the start of February, the news that global superstar Beyoncé would be bringing her Renaissance World Tour to Edinburgh in May heavily disrupted our March Editorial planning meeting. We were in equal states of shock and excitement that Queen Bey would choose to come here, and off the back of our 2022 Album of the Year, the dancefloorready Renaissance, no less. The following week a wider planning meeting asked the question, what should our theme be for the May issue? And so, in honour of Beyoncé (and Harry Styles who plays Edinburgh a week later, but mostly Beyoncé) The Skinny Goes Pop was born and the phrase “kind of like Smash Hits” has featured in almost every planning meeting since.

In the issue, we speak to the Popgirlz Scotland collective who are working tirelessly towards a more balanced and inclusive music industry; and just like all those free CD giveaways from magazines of the 90s, they’ve curated a very special Popgirlz playlist for us too. Cheri Amour digs into pop’s political underbelly, from showstopping Super Bowl performances to the always political Eurovision via pop stars speaking out about social issues on social media, and Skye Butchard speaks to DJs Miss Cabbage and ObviouslyDan about the changing relationship between pop and electronic music.

As BC Camplight gears up for the bi est release of his career, the alt-pop artist tells us about the impact a breakup has had on his new record, and, embracing more hip-hop and pop influences on their latest record, Glasgow sibling duo Comfort talk identity, self-acceptance and impeccable timing ahead of releasing What’s Bad Enough? Film digs into 20 artful blockbusters from the early 21st century that delivered thoughtprovoking ideas alongside their popcorn thrills, and in true Smash Hits vibes, we’re delighted to welcome the very first iteration of Anahit Behrooz’s advice column: Ask Anahit. Finally, at the very back of the mag, ahead of her forthcoming appearance on our stage at Kelburn Garden Party this summer, pop and R’n’B singer, songwriter and producer AMUNDA takes on our monthly Q&A.