Bruno Major at The Wiltern [9/14/23]
Embarking on world tours serves as a monumental milestone for musicians everywhere. When Bruno Major announced his Tour of Planet Earth that began this August, he hadn’t played a live show in over three years. Despite this potential obstacle, he didn’t struggle to sell out every stop on the initial leg of the tour in…
An Interview with Kid Bloom: Constructing Authenticity & Connection
It’s a warm Friday afternoon in Los Angeles, the kind of afternoon that lends itself to lounging outside and casual conversation. Although we are not able to be together in person, we almost recreate this as we chat with Kid Bloom over Zoom while he sits under a tree to hear more about his newly…
An Interview with The Brook & The Bluff: A Tapestry of Time
The Brook & the Bluff, a five-man band hailing from the depths of Alabama, has been on the radar of many since they’ve exploded on Spotify with hits like “Everything Is Just a Mess” and “Masks.” Their music is the type you’d expect to hear in a coffee shop or at a backyard party –…
Outside Lands 2023: Ultimate Deep-Dive into a Memorable, Musical Melting Pot
As Outside Lands ushers in its 15th year anniversary, this year’s three-day experience is joined by an ever-evolving diaspora of over 250,000 eager festival goers. Located within fog-blanketed meadows and towering cypress trees, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park offers the perfect backdrop for this year’s distinct melting pot of music, culture, and art. It’s a…
Interview with Disco Lines: Outside Lands 2023 Exclusive
House music has long been a staple sound of any festival worth their salt. Outside Lands certainly backs this statement up, as headliners like ODESZA and FISHER electrify the main stages of Golden Gate Park this year. The festival even features the beloved SOMA Tent, a stage fully dedicated to house and other electronic dance…
Interview with Poolside: Outside Lands 2023 Exclusive
As August is slipping away, the summer sun is gradually being replaced by the cool autumn breeze of September. And while the shift into fall may bear exciting promises of sweater weather and changing leaves, that is not to say that beach trips and rooftop raves won’t be missed. But… who said the sunny vibes…
Dayna Madison @ The Presidential Suite LA
Photos by Bankhead of Str8out the Trunk Radio Los Angeles-based dance and R&B artist, Dayna Madison, hasn’t had your traditional journey into the music industry. Madison is a former member of the Memphis Grizzlies’ dance squad, having been trained in dance for the past two decades. However, finding a love for the stage and music,…
concatenation: july 23
It’s been a month since I’ve been here. On my first night, I wrapped myself in soft white cloth and remembered something I had never experienced. Embraced in the second-hand smoke of the people who came before me, I became alert to the fact that I was somewhere I deeply didn’t understand. Who still smokes…
Musical Map of Los Angeles
~~~~~ Top of the World — Pacific Palisades ~~~~~ Neel: Top of the World is a fitting name for a place like this, especially on the night we went. The blanket of fog with peaks sticking out from underneath made it look like there were little rifts among a sea of clouds. Above all the…
concatenation: june 2023
I’ve always felt very ready for whatever is about to happen in my life. Even if I can’t control the snowball of time, I’m fine just rolling with it. But something is different now. This school year went by so fast. I am daunted by the fact it could be gone so quickly, because I…
Interview with Curtis Waters: Conversations on Culture and Defying Confines of Category
Making music is one thing, wholly impressive in and of itself. However, it is entirely another to make art, transforming the beauty of sound into a universe of stories. Curtis Waters is undoubtedly accomplishing the latter — completely redefining what it means to be an artist in today’s complex world. And seamlessly succeeding at that.…
JazzReggae Fest 2023 – Art Crossing Borders
The beams of sunlight shining through the patchwork of clouds over UCLA’s Sunset Recreation Center set the stage for this year’s annual JazzReggae Festival (JRF), a celebration of jazz and reggae culture stretching from Jamaica to Los Angeles. From 11 am to 7 pm, there were hours of live art, performances from both students and…
MEUTE @ the Wiltern [05/25/23]
The techno-house music that lit up the Wiltern last Thursday night featured no synths, mixing boards, electronic keyboards nor headphones; instead, a marching band supplied the sound. The Hamburg-based music group, Meute, uses trumpet, marching percussion, saxophone, and other brass instruments to compose an incredible sonic experience for listeners that mimics electronic music with spectacular…
May Gray: Concatenation Pt. 5
Where I grew up, we always talked about “June Gloom.” It’s when the heat on land sucks in the fog from far out on the water, friends dissipate as obligations become null, and my general apathy about summer is at its strongest. But May? Never. My mom would always quip around this time of year…
Pretty Sick @ The Teragram Ballroom [5/25/23]
Ripped fishnet tights, barely-there mini skirts, distressed t-shirts, the lowest of low-rise pants hanging loose from exposed hip bones. Grunge didn’t die in the ‘90s; it’s alive in “Pretty Sick” and I’ve never felt so simultaneously out of place yet at home. It was 7:45pm; Thursday evening; and a line was already extending down Hartford…
Interview with The Ryze
Jefferson Alade, also known as the creative mastermind behind Ryze Productions, is a soon-to-be alumnus at UCLA, earning a B.A. in Communications with a minor in Music Industry. I sat down with him to discuss his holistic experience as an emerging musician and how his time in Los Angeles has contributed to his evolution as…
Magdalena Bay @ The Roxy [5/21/23]
It’s still light outside as I am heading into the venue, so the red light of the “Roxy” sign hasn’t yet started to drip onto the sidewalk. I appreciate the lengthening of the days lately, and this is my first Sunday of the year where the night hints of summer. I grab my press pass…
Celebrating AAPI Month
From hyper-pop queen Rina Sawayama to the legend about the town of Ponnur, we asked our Digital Press writers to reflect on what AAPI Month — and their AAPI identity — means to them. Click on their respective articles below to read more! Neel Bonthala – “Mother I Bow To Thee” Emily Chang – “In…
100 gecs @ The Hollywood Palladium [5/19/23]
Written by Candace Fernandez Photos by Chloe Gonzalez The first time I heard about 100 gecs was on a first date. Newly out of high school and still drowning in the melancholia of my adolescence, the music I frequented at the time began and ended at the subdued melodies of Cate le Bon, Billie Marten…
Lizzy McAlpine @ The Wiltern [5/11/2023]
As I make my way in line, I am met with smiles and the familiar greeting of a lady that roams from venue to venue, selling bracelets for charity. This is my fourth time meeting her, so she asks me how I am doing, and we exchange pleasantries. She invites me to a yoga group…
Moments Caught from Desert Hearts 2023
Gene Farris closes out his set. DJ Mele faces the crowd and focuses on spinning the decks in front of him. The main stage: at night, all anyone can focus on is the beautiful stage design. DJ Seinfeld takes over for the sunset. House music all damm day is the energy after visiting this festival.…
The Un/Ending Potential of UCLA Dance
Since the beginning of winter quarter, twelve graduating dance majors have been choreographing original pieces for UCLA’s Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance showcase. Titled “un/ending,” these performances represent not only the culmination of the class of 2023’s undergraduate education but also a celebration of their immense talent and individuality.