On November 10th, MUSIC Matters, Michigan Songwriters Collective, and Empty Mug Records collaborated to host Harvestfest, an open mic event at Misfit Society Coffee Club. Ten local artists had the opportunity to perform: Daniel Radner, Aykom, The North Ingalls Band, Fiona, Loose Pages, Taylor Bullitt, Jaden Levinson, Stairwell Trio, Brooke Arnold, and Kingsley Music Group. Harvestfest, complete with coffee, raffles, and live music, provided a warm and comfortable environment that contrasted with the chilling Michigan weather. The casual atmosphere allowed both attendants and performers to bond ..read more

MUSIC Matters is excited to announce our CoMMunity Partners for the 2022-2023 school year: Seven Mile and Empty Mug Records! The CoMMunity Partnership program is one of MUSIC Matters’ most impactful Social Ventures each year. There is a competitive application process, including an in-person presentation, during which two student organizations are ultimately chosen by MUSIC Matters members to receive a $2,500 grant and partner with MUSIC Matters. We’re excited to work with these two organizations this year and our collaboration will support our community and beyond! Seven Mile Seven Mile is a ..read more

On August 3rd, 2022, MUSIC Matters lost a radiant light in this world. Jilly Wiener was a rising senior at the University of Michigan from Potomac, Maryland. She was soulful, spunky, and loved adventure. Jilly was a yoga instructor, hockey player, and aspiring environmentalist. She had just come home from a semester in Turks and Caicos studying ocean conservation and environmental policy. At 21, it’s rare to come across people as self-assured and determined to make an impact on the world as Jilly was. Her commitment to serving the environment was fierce and authentic. Jilly was a live music fa ..read more

MUSIC Matters is excited to announce its 2021-2022 CoMMunity Partners: Do Random Acts of Kindness (DoRAK) and Students for Clean Energy. The CoMMunity Partnership is one of MUSIC Matters’ flagship Social Ventures. Every year, MUSIC Matters establishes a competitive application process to select two student organizations to partner with and provide a $2,500 grant. MUSIC Matters hopes to make a positive community impact by partnering with and funding these organizations. DoRAK DoRAK is a student-led organization which works to promote genuine acts of kindness. Their goal is to create a ripple ..read more

Fall has arrived with cooler weather and changing leaves as we all begin to tailgate, go apple picking, and eat cider donuts. And every new season needs a good playlist. Some of our members have compiled a list of the best songs and albums to listen to while drinking Pumpkin Spice Lattes to get you in the fall mood, and you can find MUSIC Matters full fall playlist at the bottom of this post. Ella Liu suggests: Hozier by Hozier Hozier is the epitome of fall. Despite being released 7 years ago, the songs of this album have a peculiarly tight hold on any and all fall playlists I make. “Cherry W ..read more

Ines Izquierdo Take a moment, think of your favorite song. Or if you’re like me and can’t choose one, think of one of your favorites. There’s something about it that’s different from other songs, right? Maybe it’s the lyric that put your emotions into words or a particular melody that moved you. For whatever reason, that song stands out to you. Its uniqueness is what makes it meaningful.  A few years back, I began feeling like uniqueness was getting harder to find; new songs seemed like slight variations on a stale sonic blueprint. I was worried. Could it be that as I got older music coul ..read more

At MUSIC Matters, we miss going to see live music and organizing our own concerts. We put together this list of virtual events in the month of March—hopefully some of them can fulfill your live music craving! Starting off on March 3rd is MUSIC Matters’ very own Michigan’s Got Talent: A Talent Show Celebrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Arts. We hope this list helps you find livestreams from your favorite artists. If not, we hope it helps you find a new favorite artist! Michigan’s Got Talent March 3rd - 8pm EST Free MUSIC Matters presents Michigan’s Got Talent: A Talent Show Celeb ..read more

Photo by Ryan Little, Print Photo Editor of SHEI SHEI Magazine is  a student-run fashion, arts, and culture publication at the University of Michigan. Their magazine offers audiences visually compelling artwork along with thoughtful commentary in each of their projects. With a business team and an editorial team, SHEI has over 150 members that contribute to their monthly digital issues and semesterly print issues.  MUSIC Matters had the opportunity to chat with Editor in Chief, Natalie Guisinger, and Digital Features Editor, Melina Schaefer, about their personal experiences in the or ..read more

Sydney Braun Photos by Rita Vega If you’ve spent time in Ann Arbor, chances are you’re familiar with the one and only Violin Monster. Whether at the Farmer’s Market on a Saturday morning or outside of Joe’s Pizza at 2 AM, it is impossible to miss the violin-playing werewolf that never ceases to entertain the streets of our city. MUSIC Matters was lucky enough to have the opportunity to interview the infamous musician, and after video chatting with Violin Monster, we have a deeper insight into both their music taste and their motivations behind what they do. It is no surprise that Violin Monst ..read more

Claudia Stoops, Head of Local Talent Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, Duckwrth has been reimagining the world of alternative R&B and hip-hop since 2015 with his projects Nowhere (2015), I’M UUGLY (2016), an XTRA UUGLY Mixtape (2017), THE FALLING MAN (2019), and finally, his most recent album, SuperGood (2020). His progressive sound, highlighted on this latest album, incorporates a strong 70s influence with elements of funk, R&B, hip-hop, and even gospel.  On September 21, 2020, I attended a Zoom press conference hosted by the internal creative agency at Universal Musi ..read more