Photo by Stephen Yang Greg Mendez is a singer-songwriter from Philadelphia, who has been making music for over 20 years. In 2023, he signed with indie label Dead Oceans to release his debut self-titled EP, garnering him widespread attention. Just this past May, he released his album Beauty Land, an incredibly well-written 14-track project, and…
Photos by Dylan Simmons of Chapterhouse at Slide Away Los Angeles (5/29/26). Chapterhouse is Stephen Patman (vocals, guitar), Andrew (“Andy”) Sherriff (vocals, guitar), and Ashley Bates (drums). The English band formed in 1987, and their debut album, Whirlpool (1991), fundamentally shaped the origins of the shoegaze subgenre. Despite the group disbanding in 1994, their discography…
Photos by Dylan Simmons of Brennan Wedl at the Walt Disney Concert Hall (5/6/26). 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 Richie Valdez Seattle-born Johnny Whitney is widely known as a lead vocalist of The Blood Brothers. Before their initial disbandment in 2007, the band left a remarkable footprint on the post-hardcore scene of the late ‘90s and 2000s as a result of their eclectic instrumentation and Whitney’s distinct vocal style. That same…
Photos courtesy of Rob Blackman While growing up just outside of London, Jasmine Rodgers fell in love with creating music. As the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band bôa, also composed of Lee Sullivan and Alex Caird, Rodgers has performed across the world, connecting global audiences with heartfelt lyrics and a hypnotic sound. On…
Ariella Granados, known by the pseudonym Sparklmami, is a Mexican multidisciplinary artist and musician born and raised in Texas and based in Chicago. Sparklmami’s artistic endeavors and life adventures harmoniously come together in their debut album, in this body, coming out June 5th. This project is an intimate look at Sparklmami’s self-understanding, relationships, and internal…
Photos courtesy of Sonderview Fans deep in the world of pop music tend to get a few years of claiming an artist as their little secret before the rest of the world catches on. Discovering the magic of pop singer-songwriter Avery Cochrane has felt like catching the last train before she inevitably soars to stardom.…
Photos provided by Isha Mogul Isha Mogul is the founder and creative director of ISHUE (@ishueofficial on Instagram), a womenswear brand she considers an ode to femininity in its purest form. ISHUE is a timeless series of editorial issues where each collection has a story of its own. It is a brand made in India…
Photos courtesy of Laurie Kilmartin Laurie Kilmartin is a comedian and writer whose stand-up finds light in dark topics and always makes a crowd burst into laughter. She was a monologue writer for CONAN on TBS for its entire on-air run and is currently in the writer’s room at Jimmy Kimmel Live! If you have…
photos by Dylan Simmons & intro by Sofie Foster 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. Some things are worth driving…
Niia is an artist you need both on sunny Sunday mornings and in the depths of the night when your thoughts make you restless. She is an artist who combines a classical, polished touch with contemporary sounds. Born in Boston, Niia has been surrounded by music and jazz her whole life, from her mother’s piano…
Photos provided by Clara Franz and cover photo by Mary-Alex 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. Clara Franz (@clarafrnz on…
Cover photo provided by Emma Rayder Emma Rayder (@ejrayder on Instagram) is a vintage fashion enthusiast and writer who has written for the likes of All Things Fashion Tech, Fashionista, Vogue Business, Teen Vogue, and more. She is interested in a plethora of topical fashion subjects, including AI, circular fashion, fashion tech, and resale. I…
Photo courtesy of Baileyrp 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. Baileyrp is a singer-songwriter whose music embraces glitch pop and…
J. Edward Keyes is the Editorial Director at Bandcamp, an online record store and music community dedicated to the autonomy, fair compensation, and discovery of artists. Through Bandcamp’s blog, Bandcamp Daily, Keyes spotlights diverse artists and music scenes around the globe to directly support musicians and help fellow music lovers find their next favorite sound.…
I met Mark William Lewis at Zebulon’s back patio on a chilly November evening. The ambiance outside, like Lewis’ music, had an air of familiarity, like a warm memory that’s fuzzy around the edges. A few couples were scattered around metal tables, sharing beers and cigarettes. We all listened to the hum of cars passing…
Cover photo by Eden Eden is a vintage clothing curator and reseller who started on Depop and has since grown her business, Hold Dear, into a studio in New York City. I recently interviewed Eden on my radio show, Pita Chip Chat, which aired every Wednesday at 11 a.m. of Fall Quarter 2025 on uclaradio.com.…
After a lively set opening for Sir Chloe at the Fonda Theatre, we had the opportunity to converse with four musicians still basking in their post-performance glory. The alternative rock band Telescreens is made up of Jackson Hamm on vocals and guitar, Josiah Valerius on keys, Austin Brenner on bass, and Oliver Graf hitting the…
Cover photo by Alyssa Wagner Alyssa Wagner is a fashion industry professional who founded Fashion Theory Magazine. I recently interviewed her on my radio show, Pita Chip Chat, which airs every Wednesday of Fall Quarter 2025 at 11 a.m. on uclaradio.com. To listen to the interview in full, check out @andmore.archive on Instagram, where all…
This fall, I met virtually with the mononymous Jordana to chat about her new EP, Jordanaland, out November 7. What ensued was a giggle-filled conversation on therapy, sobriety, shitty dads, and her artistic process. From making lo-fi bedroom pop in her teens, to co-authoring fan favorite TV Girl record Summer’s Over at 21, to releasing…
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. Folk Bitch Trio is a name that stops you as you hear it on…
Cover photo courtesy of joan & their team The combination of 200 million global streams and more than one million monthly listeners across platforms appears humble once you get into the music of the Arkansas duo joan. They have steadily become a compelling name in modern pop for their own music as well as the…