Bianca Licata

METALLIC THUD: Bianca Licata’s summer of metal hasn’t turned out the way she planned. Licata, an intern who’s been helping write and edit news this summer at The Independent, has made repeated efforts to enjoy her summer break attending metal shows but has encountered nothing but crossed wires, cancelled rides, and Black Label Society guitarist Zakk Wylde getting a blood clot. However, she’s still willing to talk up the metal genre. “It’s exciting, it’s deep, it makes you feel alive,” she said. “You can speak poetically but also wake up the audience and make them experience your message.” Follow Licata’s work at independent.com/bianca.