The small living room had been sloppily transformed into a techno-club. Sweaty bodies rubbed up against each other as shadows swept over facial features under the waxing and waning red, green and blue stage lighting set up in the corner. Upon involuntary observation of the uncomfortably thick, musty heat and a disturbingly large Guy Fieri portrait that hung on the dingy kitchen wall, I danced my way to the front of the ‘women’s showcase,’ where exclusively women artists dominated the performing lineup of a college house party. That’s when I noticed the DJ. Decked out in dark denim button-up, j ..read more

With the summer festival season underway, it’s easy to reflect on major music moments like Woodstock, Burning Man, Glastonbury and more. While many of these names have become household ones in the world of music, not many would know the name of Woodstock’s forgotten co-competitor and San Franciscan-born imaginary. Here’s a brief history of the Wild West Festival, and the whisperings of its quiet unraveling. During the late 1960’s, San Francisco was at the forefront of an impending societal change. With the ideas coming out of the city being centered more around creating a communal lifestyle, a ..read more

Last week, I sat down with local artist and producer, Declan Thomas. Thomas, who recently graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst has been developing his music career since his time in college. With the latest release of his newest album “Acid Phase,” Thomas has come a long way from his early days as a musician. The seven-track “Acid Phase,” released Feb. 24, traverses a large range of different styles and genres, displaying a showcase of various sonic qualities. This unconventional, genre-bending album mixes multiple musical mediums together for a unique listening experience. T ..read more

In an interview with the New York Times in 2018, Greta Kline, known by her stage name Frankie Cosmos, said, “There’s something about music you listen to in high school. When you hear it, it takes you right back.” That sentiment stuck with me as I prepared my own questions for Kline, as her music had been such a huge part of my own high school soundtrack. I remember sitting on the bus in the ninth grade, staring out the window and hearing Kline sing, “Can you feel me in the air?” At that time, all I felt in the air was a sense of boredom that I couldn’t find the words for at the time. Kline’s m ..read more

Anyone who walked down Commonwealth Avenue last Sunday would have seen a large sign outside the Mullins Center, warning students entering the arena that sheet cakes would be thrown into the crowd. Those unfamiliar with the event taking place that night might have been confused, yet hundreds of students had been anticipating this very moment for weeks with hopes of getting nailed in the face by a cake. The end of the school year at the University of Massachusetts comes with a celebration attended by thousands of students: UPC’s Spring Concert. Every year the student-run organization invites som ..read more

On Tuesday, April 30, I sat down with Wheatus front man Brendan B. Brown to discuss the legacy of Wheatus, how social media has impacted their success, the meaningful connections with their fans and life on the road during their U.S. acoustic tour. Rock band Wheatus was formed in 1995 by New York native Brown (guitar and vocals), with members consisting of Matthew Milligan (bass), Brandon Ticer (keyboard), Joey Slater and Gabrielle Sterbenz (backing vocals). The band is known for their hit 2000 song, “Teenage Dirtbag,” which gained massive success across the world and has been in resurgence on ..read more

“All’s fair in love and poetry,” reads the tagline for Taylor Swift’s latest album “The Tortured Poets Department,” released on Friday, April 19. Penned over the last two years, the record is an introspective look into the pop superstar’s private life amidst a series of highly publicized breakups and romances. While not Swift’s first album to chronicle a rocky period in her romantic endeavors, it’s the first to be labeled as a collection of diary-like poems. With 31 songs and a runtime of over two hours, the expanded “double album” version of “The Tortured Poets Department” called “The Antholo ..read more

Swedish rapper Bladee released the 30-track LP, “Cold Visions,” on April 23 under the label Trash Island. F1LTHY produced most of the 64-minute album. “Cold Visions” also features collaborations with Yung Sherman, Yung Lean, Thaiboy Digital, Sickboyrari, Whitearmor and Skrillex. Bladee, a member of the collective Drain Gang, has established himself as a pioneer in hyper pop and experimental rap through his expansive catalog, catchy auto-tune melodies, distinct aesthetic and unmatched flow. His unique presence extends beyond his music through his passionate online fan base and influence on tren ..read more

On Thursday, April 11, just hours before her third studio album “Don’t Forget Me” released, Maggie Rogers announced that she would be embarking on her first arena tour this October. Alongside the announcement came with the news that her in-person ticket-selling practice, implemented during her “Surrender” tour to ensure her fans could get tickets without bots, fees and other obstacles in today’s nightmare ticket purchasing climate, would return for this tour. From April 13 to April 20 in what she dubbed as “Box Office Week,” each arena on the “Don’t Forget Me Tour Part Two” would sell tickets ..read more

If you’re interested in modern pop culture, you definitely know of Billie Eilish. Her unique music style and influential persona have made her one of the leading voices in contemporary pop music. Her breakthrough 2015 single “Ocean Eyes” catapulted her to international recognition as a teenager. Since then, her career has skyrocketed. If you have been paying attention to recent award shows, you would know Eilish has been taking home countless shiny awards, owning multiple titles in the music industry. Her music has been streamed over 76.7 billion times worldwide. Fan or not, it is a fact that ..read more