Sonic range. Lyrical depth. Unapologetic energy. Among the list of artists that can truly do it all, it would be remiss to not include Tkay Maidza at the very top. Zimbabwe-born and Australia-based, Tkay impressively sits at the hard-earned intersection of rapper, singer, song-writer, and all-star performer. The world first met Tkay in 2013. Despite…
In Boyle Heights, I come face to face with my destination: a bland and unassuming warehouse. This building, however, houses MakeOutMusic, a champion of the L.A. DIY music scene. With a smaller capacity than most venues and an even smaller stage, MakeOut provides a space for artists to create an intimate connection with their audience.…
___ Ethan Smith In a recent exclusive interview with UCLA Radio, tennis prodigy Tian Fangran, a shining star on the UCLA Women’s Tennis team in both singles and doubles, opened up about her remarkable journey from the tennis courts of Beijing to the championship stage at the NCAA. Tian’s story begins at the age of…
__ Nora Onek Jaquez kicked off the interview by delving into her childhood and reflecting on her innate athletic prowess and early successes across various team sports. As high school approached, however, her focus crystallized on the sports she was most passionate about, softball and basketball. Like many California students, UCLA was Jaquez’s dream school…
Have you heard of trans slut rock? I didn’t know how to visualize it or even think of how it could sound until my friend and I walked down the flights of stairs into El Cid. We came there for the band, Um, Jennifer? We kept our hopes up that their iconic band member, Jennifer…
Meet ENNY, the distinctive voice from South East London, also known as Enitan Adepitan. Grounded in her hip-hop roots, ENNY seamlessly ties in self-identifying narratives into her music. Gaining nearly 2 million monthly Spotify listeners, ENNY dropped her EP “We Go Again” in April, followed by a remix of her hit track “Charge It” feat.…
Photos by Mary Tio Did you know that Flog Gnaw spelled backward is Golf Wang? Were you also aware that the brand Golf Wang originated from the iconic 2007 alternative hip-hop collective Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, commonly abbreviated as OFWGKTA? This realization certainly blew my mind, especially when you consider that some…
Photos by Estefania Keener & Mary Tio Fana Hues creates a magnetic experience that beckons listeners into a realm of ethereal tunes and eclectic lyrics. As I inch closer to her set, I’m immediately captivated by her natural presence on the Flog stage. Fana Hues is entirely in her element when performing in front of…
Cover photo taken by Joel Barney & Oscar Ferguson (@_bttr_half) As the music landscape continues to evolve faster than ever, tapping into the zeitgeist is a daunting task. Nevertheless, it’s something that British-Burmese artist Lucy Tun does with ease. Musically, lyrically, and aesthetically, Lucy gives the impression of someone who has an intuitive grasp of…
Photos by Ria Bose As a part of UCLA Radio’s Camp Flog Gnaw coverage, we have had the incredible opportunity to interview some of the hottest names in the world of alternative R&B. My press partner Mary and I had the pleasure of speaking to Jody Fontaine and Baby BoY of AG Club, a creative…
Photos by Mary Tio As a part of UCLA Radio’s Camp Flog Gnaw coverage, we have had the incredible opportunity to interview some of the hottest names in the world of alternative R&B. My partner in crime, Mary and I kicked off our second day at the festival with a giddy kick in our step…
Photos by Mary Tio It is the morning of Camp Flog Gnaw day one and I am more excited than a little kid going to Disneyland for the first time. My partner in crime, Ria, and I rallied early in the morning to arrive at the festival for the grand opening of Dodger Stadium’s gates.…
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity purposes I wake up disheveled from a night of habitual party-hopping in the simplicity of my college neighborhood, wracking my brain for details of the mischief I got into the night before. I check my phone frantically for the time and nervously anticipate the phone call…
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity purposes As I exit the bus around the corner from the iconic Village Studios, I worry I might seem out of place at an album release party. I enter the studio and await to be ushered into the party, and am greeted with warmth and kindness…
Cover photo taken by Thong Luc On a gloomy and rainy Saturday afternoon (the last Saturday of September 2023, actually) Chloe and I made our way to the Greek Theater. Sitting in typical LA traffic, I anxiously drummed my fingers against my steering wheel. Admittedly enough, I was quite nervous as a COVID-lockdown-era fan of…
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…
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 –…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
I’ll preface this interview by saying that Almost Famous is one of my favorite movies of all time. So when I saw the opportunity to interview John Martin, the CEO of CREEM rock ‘n roll magazine, I immediately jumped on it. In a digital age, CREEM has taken the road less traveled of producing primarily…