Blogs
Groupies 101
Groupies - brave women of the 20th century that inspired many rock songs, were key in the 70s feminist movement and in my opinion, were the backbone of the rock industry. Let’s be honest here, groupies had a huge impact on pop culture, other than being inspiration...
A Night With Zolita: Interview and Concert Review
Years after a friend in high school introduced me to Zolita through her culty music video for the eerie gay love song “Holy,” I get the chance to talk with the lesbian alt-pop star on a Thursday afternoon. I’m in my college apartment in Washington, DC, and she’s in...
Are You Bored Yet? Dylan Minnette sure isn’t.
Nepo Baby? Nope. Citing Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes, Arcade Fire, and The Smiths as influences for their sound, Wallows have yet to disappoint with their continuous creations of unique instrumentals, distinctive vocals, and overall fun songs. With over 7,000,000...
Soundtracking
Have y’all ever seen those “Breaking Bad: The Sitcom” videos around the internet? If not, you’re missing out, but essentially, they take scenes from Breaking Bad, and change up the vibe of the show to make it a corny 90s sitcom rather than the normal crime thriller...
Fela Kuti: Activism as Art
Back in October 2021, when I was beginning to adjust to the college experience, I gave myself a goal. You might be thinking this goal was something like turn in all my assignments on time, or average a 4.0 GPA for the semester. But unfortunately, my compulsive...
A Love Letter to Adrianne Lenker – From the Junk Drawer
She is not just another weird looking white woman with a guitar. She is a part of me. Okay, maybe I am being dramatic. I have only really been listening to her work for the past four or so months, but it has already permanently altered my thinking. Although I would...
On the DL: Vol. 1
Hi guys! Welcome to On the DL Vol 1, I’m super excited to share some songs and artists that I personally believe should see the same amount of daylight as charting singles and mainstream artists do. As someone that’s a major SZA fan I was begging for her to drop an...
Valentine’s Day Around the World
Chocolate-covered strawberries, romantic dinners, and roses reach their peak season every year on February 14. The “Day of Love” is the perfect time to show loved ones how much they are appreciated, and what better way to do so than to travel the globe searching for...
Up Close and Personal: Maggie Rogers’ and the Feral Joy Tour
Hello, and welcome to the very first issue of my column– The 411. I’m very happy to have you! My name is Miranda, and I’m a sophomore in the Business & Entertainment program here at American. It just so happens that I also love to write. For this column I’ll be...
Fredo Disco and the Perils of Growing Up
The first time I heard fredo disco, I felt seen as an insufferable teenager. His music was the perfect blend of pop punk, midwest emo, and the weird (yet slightly funny) guy from your calculus class who makes sarcastic comments. This is to say: he was a relatable,...
“What Is That Melody?”
Throughout the endless search to discover new music, a common Google search of mine has often begun with these words: "Music that sounds like ___.” Typically, inserting the name of an artist that I’ve been most recently obsessed with easily yields a plethora of...
Now Playing: The Divine Feminine
The late, great Mac Miller had the right idea in his fourth studio album The Divine Feminine. To be honest, I had never heard of the term before its release in 2016, and I had no idea what it meant. It’s a quite beautiful sentiment: the existence of the divine...
Reggaeton, Acid, Log Drums, and Cultural Memory: An Unrelated Analysis
Now more than ever, the expanse of musical possibilities feels infinite. With so many sounds and arrangements possible thanks to modern production technologies, it seems like the only limit music can have is the human imagination. Why is it, then, that some sounds are...
The Halftime Show
Whether you are tuning in for one of the biggest sporting events of the year, to watch the extravagant ads, or to see the iconic halftime show, the Super Bowl has something for everyone to enjoy. If you’re anything like me, the most exciting part of the Super Bowl is...
Shakur and Kendrick: Bad News for Fox News
Tupac Shakur released his debut studio album in 1991, 2pacalypse Now, setting the tone for one of the most genre defining, conscious hip hop artist careers ever. In the album, Shakur targets police and the US government for worsening conditions in Black communities,...
An Ode To Alternative Dad Rock
Alternative dad rock. What is this genre you ask? It’s not modern. It’s also not classic. It’s the kind of music that your parents have playing on the radio in the car when you’re a kid on your way to the grocery store. It’s sung by a middle aged man alongside some...
A Depressing Playlist (to help you get better)
As someone who has struggled with depression and is obsessed with music - listening to sad songs has probably done more harm than good. But the feeling of listening to raw vocals singing heart-wrenching lyrics is a feeling that almost brings comfort to the sadness....
Concert Preview: Bush at The Anthem
Any fan of anything grunge was surely thrilled when Bush announced their 2023 North American tour. Forming in 1992 in London, England, the band has been a force to be reckoned with. Some may recognize the name for their brief set at the infamous Woodstock ‘99 or just...
pov: u walk into the studio with ur iPod touch from 2009
Color Theory: Orange
Hello everybody! Welcome back to another Color Theory article! Quite frankly, it has been a bit gloomy out. I’m counting down the days till finals are over, it gets dark before my 4:05 class is let out, and everyone seems to be lacking in motivation. Thus, as I...
The Art of Playlist Making
“Create Playlist.” The button is tempting, sitting at the top of my already packed Spotify library including over 50 public playlists, but, yet again, I decide to click on it. As I get started compiling songs together in order to emulate the emotion I’m experiencing...
Men I Trust: Concert Preview
Men I Trust is a French-Canadian indie band hailing from Montreal. Composed of guitarist and bassist Jessy Caron and Dragos Chiriac on keyboards, the pair of high school friends came together in 2014, before later joining lead singer Emmanuelle Proulx. Now, they’re...
Puddle Music: Songs for the Transition from Fall to Winter
December is a weird month. It doesn’t quite feel like winter, but the leaves have fallen off the trees and there is a definitive chill in the air. Putting together a playlist dedicated specifically to winter seems wrong in December because the season lasts until...
Interview: Catherine Brennan
Get to know Catherine Brennan, a talented AU Freshman breaking into the music industry with the help of Second District Records. Aidan Jacketta: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your music? Catherine Brennan: So I have always been in music. My dad does...
A Playlist for Going Home
Hi everyone! Welcome back to Notes with Nicole. The semester is coming to an end, which means we will be returning home. For some that’s great, for others not so much. Here is a playlist that catches both sides. The bittersweet feelings of returning home from college:...
Concert Preview: Surf Curse
Surf Curse is a surf rock band from Reno, Nevada. Founding members Nick Rattigan and Jacob Rubeck joined forces with new members Henry Dillon and Noah Kholl to create their latest album, Magic Hour. Freshly signed to Atlantic Records, Surf Curse combines elements of...
I Love Indigo de Souza (And My Mom)
I was a casual fan of Indigo de Souza when I saw her perform this past April, but by the end of the night I was obsessed. She was one of those artists that is somehow even better live, delivering an indie rock performance full of emotion, passion, and heartfelt...
Extremely Specific Horror Movie
I think one of my favorite things about this column is that I can write about quite literally anything I want, so long as it pertains to music in some sort of way. Which is why I can go onto a tangent or two that should just stay in my head, because they really don’t...
Rina Sawayama at Fillmore Silver Spring
Rina Sawayama performed her Hold The Girl Tour at the Fillmore Silver Spring on November 29th. Blessing the DMV with a concert that incorporated several genres, a high-energy performance, and a show to remember. Rina started the concert off by sharing her confusion...
Fred Again.. With a Bike Ride Around London
Before his official album release of Actual Life 3, Fred Again.., a London-based electronic, pop, house DJ and producer, decided to go on a releasing spree in any way he could. On social media, Fred Again.. began to reach out to many different avenues for streaming...




























