Photos by Isabella Appell Hundreds of thousands of multi-generational fans traveled back in time to Club Kokomo from May 2-4 for a weekend of (somewhat) sunny skies, live music, and sunset views. With legends like The Beach Boys, Lenny Kravitz, and Sublime taking the stage, SoCal’s ultimate coastal festival offered a little something for everyone. …
Photo courtesy of Drew Wojtas (IG: @drawntothesound) @drawntothesound, a music page operated by Midwestern college student Drew Wojtas, has been a fixture of hip-hop Instagram since its inception. Its memes about various rappers took users’ feeds by storm over the pandemic. Formerly known as @yandhi_memes, the username was changed to @drawntothesound in 2024 to escape…
UCLA Radio sat down with Dr. Terence Keel, Founding Director of the UCLA Lab for BioCritical Studies, to discuss how LA County jail conditions and governance cause premature death and frequent misclassification in death investigator’s reports.
Photos by Kayalani DeGrave Black Country, New Road has charged full steam ahead in a new direction. The post-rock band, comprised of six virtuoso multi-instrumentalists, was formed back in 2018 in Cambridge, England. Since the departure of their former lead singer, Isaac Wood, in 2022, the band has pivoted from Wood’s ghostly, melodramatic, ‘speak-singing’ to…
Photos by Caroline Sanchez “Is there just one Phoneboy?” my roommate asks. “Three,” I answer, “And one Phonegirl.” The four-person alternative/indie rock band from New Jersey is made up of Wyn Barnum and Ricky Dana (guitarists/vocalists), James Fusco (bassist), and Jordan Torres (keyboardist/vocalist). Phoneboy’s first and self-titled debut came out in 2021; I found them…
Photos by Julia Steinhouse We found ourselves at yet another concert where we were the youngest ones there by a mile. It’s not surprising that the crowd was composed of largely older Yo La Tengo fans this night at the Novo, given that YLT formed over 40 years ago in 1984. The group first came…
The college experience is a choose your own adventure situation; you can go down well-worn roads, or you can take initiative and create your own path. I’ve made it my mission to find and celebrate those who chose authenticity and passion over the roads well traveled in my series Superlatives. I had the opportunity to…
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!
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
“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…
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.
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…
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…
Photos by Dylan Simmons While on tour opening for beabadoobee, alt rock band Pretty Sick took a detour to play three solo shows in California while their headliner was off performing at Coachella. Pretty Sick was founded over a decade ago by frontwoman Sabrina Fuentes (vocals, bass) alongside her friends Eva Kaufman (drums) and Benjamin…
Workers represented by American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3299 and University Professional and Technical Employees, CWA 9119 (UPTE) are going on strike today (May 1) over the UC’s hiring freeze and denial of benefits to employees at recently acquired hospitals. The unions allege that the UC did not provide them…
Photos by Dylan Simmons While touring as an opener for beabadoobee this spring, NYC-based rock band Pretty Sick made a pit stop in California for three headlining shows. Pretty Sick was formed around 2014 by singer-songwriter/bassist/fashion designer/model Sabrina Fuentes — a prolific multihyphenate at just 25. The project was co-founded by her best friend (and…
ECHO 006, the latest in the UCLA music club’s experimental performance series, is not an attempt to create a diluted simulacrum of a warehouse, nor a junior rave for students who hesitate to journey downtown. Instead, the club is working within the school’s official spaces to create atmospheres where expression and experimentation can thrive.
Oh, Earth…our home and place of inescapable wonder. In celebration of Earth Day, we wanted to share some of our favorite memories in nature and the songs we associate with them. Here at UCLA Radio, we believe the Earth deserves appreciation and protection. We aim to keep our oceans clean, our grass green, and our air pristine. So settle onto a soft patch of grass and stay awhile as we transport you to our favorite state parks, canyons, creeks, and countrysides. Happy Earth Day ⛰︎