Celebrating Our Favorite AAPI Media
From the whimsical landscapes of Studio Ghibli to the psychedelic sounds of Toro y Moi, our Digital Press writers are here to share their favorite media for AAPI Heritage Month 2025!
Momma @ The Fonda Theatre [5/9/25]
Photos by Dylan Simmons From LA to New York, Allegra Weingarten and Etta Friedman’s friendship has provided the foundation for their indie rock project, Momma. After founding the band in 2015, the two singer-songwriters/guitarists were joined by bassist and producer Aron Kobayashi Ritch and drummer Preston Fulks. The group’s latest LP, Welcome to My Blue…
Live Updates (5/15/25): Palestine Solidarity Demonstrations
Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at UCLA is rallying today (5/15/25) for Nakba Day, marking 77 years since Palestinians were displaced from their historical land in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The group called on students “to remember 77+ years of displacement since the 1948 Nakba or ‘catastrophe’ where zionists violently exiled 750,000 Palestinians from…
Going Home Again: An Interview with acloudyskye
acloudyskye specializes in the larger-than-life. The independent singer-songwriter and producer, real name Skye Kothari, has become one of the most exciting artists in the wider online music community with his colossal fusions of EDM and post-rock. Kothari’s self-made artwork and extensive lore with characters Enth, Ila, and Izi turn his albums into immersive multimedia experiences,…
Riovaz @ The Echoplex [5/3/25]
Photo by Krystal Vasquez (@krystalcaptures) You know that Jack Black quote, “As a child, I yearned for the mines?” Yeah well, as a child, I yearned for the club — or at minimum, live music. I would turn the lights off, let the LEDs flash, and bounce around to the blasting speakers at the tender…
Ichiko Aoba @ The Wiltern [4/27/25]
Words by Ethan Kung / Photos by Leila Farhi There was a humor in walking up to the entrance of the Wiltern and the hecticness surrounding it, knowing that such a bustling place was housing Ichiko Aoba. The Japanese folk singer-songwriter’s music is famously naturalistic and fantastical, evoking mental images that completely oppose Koreatown’s bustling…
SPELLLING @ Teragram Ballroom [4/24/2025]
“What I want is a fire that never goes out / I’ve got all this desire / In a world of doubt“ SPELLLING – “Revolution” Words by Ethan Kung / Photos by Ella Gibson and Ethan Kung Magic was certainly in the air the night of SPELLLING’s headlining show at the Teragram Ballroom. A fading…
Velvettica @ The Viper Room [4/25/2025]
Inside Sunset Boulevard’s iconic Viper Room, Velvettica delivered an authentic, sonically unique performance to the Los Angeles music scene last Friday night. Emily Krueger, the creator and singer behind Velvettica, contributed to The Viper Room’s iconic history of hosting rising stars in the rock and alternative music space. Krueger’s smooth vocals and raw lyrics balanced the venue’s edgier nature, resulting in an empowering yet vulnerable performance.
An Interview with Riovaz @ The Echo
Photo from @riovaz by Kayla Menze Five years after TikTok hit “Prom Night” launched Riovaz into stardom, the 21-year-old stands in constant innovation — each release a bold reinvention of his distinct sound. Impossible to tie down, Riovaz melds house, Jersey-club, dance tracks, and even alt-rock influences, creating his own space in the music scene…
Rising Artist Spotlight: An Interview with Her New Knife
UCLA Radio’s Rising Artist Spotlight aims to highlight upcoming artists who have demonstrated unique creativity and talent through their music. Through interviews and features, we delve into their journey, influences, and aspirations, giving listeners a glimpse into the future of music. Photos Courtesy of Her New Knife Formed in Tallahassee and based in Philadelphia, Her…