Photographs by Maija Fiedelholtz The Backseat Lovers and their album When We Were Friends (2019) is an album that has long frequented playlists, accompanied many road trips, late nights, and sweet moments in life. Sleepy Gonzalez and The Backseat Lovers’ names lighting up the Troubadour’s marquee; a surreal sight beckoning fans inside. Upon entering the Troubadour,…
Questions by: Charlotte Isidore, Mia Lin, and Jen Uskolovsky Within the first few minutes of meeting singer/songwriter DANIEL it’s clear that there is something unique and inviting about this artist. His bubbly persona and infectious energy made me feel like I was reconnecting with an old friend over a cup of coffee, rather than interviewing…
Call Me If You Get Lost is Tyler’s second consecutive album to debut at No.1 on the Billboard 200 chart. It also serves as an installment of DJ Drama’s expansive Gangsta Grillz mixtape series. While Tyler pays homage to the mixtape culture he grew up with, he revises several of its conventions, thus progressing hip-hop…
Conner Cherland is a singer-songwriter based out of Santa Barbara, known for his house shows and beautiful indie-folk sound. From intimate stories of falling in love to vulnerable explorations of the realities of maintaining a relationship, Conner Cherland shares his romantic experiences in new release Love Songs. His past releases include Wanting Man, Tall Tales…
I met Dechen when I was 13 years old. She’s one of my sister’s best friends, and I’ve always seen her as another older sister. Despite seeing her as family, I never knew where Dechen came from or about her childhood. It wasn’t until years later when Dechen told me she was Tibetan. I never…
There’s the hypersexual and cunning type who probably knows some form of martial arts – the “Dragon Lady” trope. Then, on the flip side, there is the submissive and innocent type, who needs a more powerful (often white) man to tell her what to do – the “Lotus Blossom” or “China Doll” trope.
Anyone miss their middle school yearbook? Me neither, but we decided to make one anyway. As the school year draws to a close, let’s remember our spring programming with a UCLA Radio DJ Yearbook! Listen as we speak with a handful of DJs to get a closer look at some of our favorite shows this…
Despite the few pickup rounds of HORSE I played with my brother circa 2008 and my limited knowledge of Devin Booker and Kendall Jenner’s five minute relationship, my grasp on the game of basketball is scant. I’ve always been attracted to the sport, but I could never put my finger on why it seemed so…
My mother never liked talking about her childhood. I grew up thinking she was from Los Reyes, Michoacan, Mexico; when I started writing this piece, I learned this was a lie. My mother is actually from Los Pallilos, Michoacan, in other words, el rancho. She describes this place as simple, a simple town with simple…
Rozzi treats listeners to her rich voice, relatable lyrics and striking music video in her new single “I Can’t Go to the Party”. San Francisco born and LA based, Rozzi brings a creative eye and personal twist to both soul and R&B. Her lyrical strength is reflective of her willingness to be vulnerable and open.…
Music and songwriting are crucial pieces of my identity, but as a woman I have begun to feel out of place in the music world. Music did not always feel so gendered. In elementary school, writing songs felt natural; a childish burst of creativity stemming from the same place as the urge to throw mud…
As we enter Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, it is imperative that we turn our eyes to Myanmar and what they have been facing for months now. As we take this month to celebrate and educate ourselves about the histories and narratives of AAPI communities, we must act in solidarity with Myanmar…
When I was ten years old, I started noticing the shoes boys wore in my class. They wore a mixture of Jordan 3s and 4s and I was envious. I rushed home to ask my dad to buy me a pair, but he refused, claiming they were a boy’s shoe and didn’t suit me. So…
My childhood dog’s name was Midnight. I adored her and would show her off to everyone in sight, but that soon changed when someone told me, “You should hide your dog from your dad, or he’ll eat it.” I did not understand what they meant by that until the comments continued. “Oh, you’re Filipino. You…
When Disney’s Aladdin premiered in 1992, its opening theme, “Arabian Nights”, sang softly of a “far away place” that is “barbaric – but hey it’s home.” In these lines, the American audience is removed from the comforts of their movie theaters or suburban homes and immersed into a foreign, rugged land characterized by savagery. For…
Roberto Burgos and Valerie Cooper make up Sweet Trip, the legendary underground IDM, shoegaze, and dream pop duo with Darla Records. Their album You Will Never Know Why is now reissued with bonus tracks, and the Walkers/Stab EP is now available and released. Their upcoming album A Tiny House, In Secret Speeches, Polar Equals is…
The year is 2008 and you’re in the computer room updating your Myspace Profile and AIM messaging your friends. Your computer dings, telling you that your crush is now online, and your heart skips a beat. On their latest album, “The Greatest Movie of All Time,” Connecticut-based band Litvar captures this feeling and so many…
Memories of my childhood feel sweet and hazy. I recall going to the beach for hours on end, collecting seashells and building flimsy sandcastles. I think of my neighborhood friends with whom I’d create elaborate fictional universes, all of us acting as characters in the quiet corners of our cul de sac. I remember the…
I love being Taiwanese. But I am exhausted by it. I want my existence to be known, not debated.
Rosie Tucker’s “Habanero” is an anthem of self-discovery, love, and what-ifs.
Brand new indie rock duo Bachelor have come together to deliver the perfect bitter-sweet summer anthem. “Sick of Spiraling” is a warm and nostalgic representation of new band Bachelor’s unique sound. Opening with twangy guitar sounds and a mellow drumline in the background, duo Melina Duarte and Melissa Kempner introduce the melancholy dreaminess of their…
Bachelor’s “Stay in The Car” music video takes us on a journey to nowhere. Indie singer Jay Som and Palehound’s Ellen Kempner have joined forces to collaborate on an alternative band called “Bachelor.” Their album Doomin’ Sun is set to release on May 28th. However, the band has already released two songs off their premier…