Blogs

As I have been ever so trudging through midterm season, the only thing that has been keeping me grounded, focused, and calm is music. When I was on the verge of absolutely losing my mind, the second I put on any of the following songs, my worries faded away, and my...

There are many reasons why I jump at the chance to see my favorite artists everytime they are performing near me. In some instances, their writing processes might take a while and it could be years before I have another opportunity to see them live. It’s also not...

Let's talk country for a minute, shall we? My midwestern roots need to be expressed because wow! First some background info, Alana Springsteen recently opened for The Mighty Pines at the Pearl Street Warehouse on October 19th. She is an up and coming artist originally...

Who is Gabriela Wilson? Wilson’s most recent, 2019 compilation album: I Used to Know Her grapples with exactly that question. Wilson, known professionally as H.E.R (Having Everything Revealed), is a Grammy-winning singer and songwriter who made a name for herself...

“You want love/This is as close as you’re gonna get.” It’s hard to imagine a lyric full of such ancient-sounding sorrow coming from someone as young as 24 years old. But singer-songwriter Julien Baker has always had a way of rooting her own pain into some universal...

JPEGMAFIA- All My Heroes Are Cornballs (EQT Recordings) From the very first seconds on track one of JPEGMAFIA’s third full-length album, you know you’re in for an experience that’s out of the ordinary. Glitchy, distorted, crowd noise is the very first thing you hear...

This column is supposed to be about pointing a spotlight at small punk/hardcore bands that don’t get the recognition they deserve. IDLES has over half a million listeners on Spotify, so they’re not strictly in my wheelhouse. But I went to see them play live at the...

Birth of Violence is the perfect addition to any Halloween playlist. Its songs creep along at a slow rate but will leave you hooked and wanting more, anxious for the release of the measured build. The subtle buzzing and humming that accompanies the songs adds a layer...

I believe art in all forms deserves various forms of consideration in order to gain as much as one can. Each type of consideration can be seen as looking at art through a different lens, a different perspective. One kind of consideration is analysis. This is combing...

Judah and the Lion’s new album “Pep Talks” perfectly encapsulates what a well-balanced album looks like. It is reminiscent of the Bleacher’s “Gone Now” in which all of the songs follow a theme and parallel each other. Although many of the songs in “Pep Talks” are...

Jamila Woods’ voice is unlike any other I have heard before. Her sultry voice makes you crave to hear it more and understand the story she tells in her new album LEGACY! LEGACY! With lyrics such as “my weaponry is my energy” from the album’s second song "ZORA," Woods’...

Formed in Baltimore, Maryland in 2010, The Competition is Lower Den’s fourth album. Beautifully crafted, written, and executed. A band that thrives on tackling the socio-political realm of songwriting, and not being afraid to express raw emotion. While the band’s...

This is one of the most wholesome memes I have ever laid my eyes on, in that it depicts an act of kindness to someone in need of a pick-me-up. It reads, “Your sadness” and “Me, trying to take away your sadness,” where a cat tugs at a blanket. I thought I would lighten...

My knowledge of punk, beyond the standard pop punk, comes exclusively from the tastes of my ex-boyfriend. As far as punk went, his favorite band was Minor Threat. I gotta be honest, they’re the only true punk band I’ve really listened to, but I adored their sound....

Brace yourselves, it’s almost Scorpio Season. October 23rd to November 21st means deep emotions and causes one to search for deeper meaning in almost everything. Scorpio is one of the most emotional and intense zodiac signs to exist, so a playlist of soothing songs to...

Born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, BENEE, AKA Stella Bennett, is ready for your ranting hours as well as your comfort hours no matter what the time zone is with her kaleidoscope of breezy and sun-soaked groove to the emotionally wrought and nostalgic sounds....

1965: Fifty-four years ago, the sound of music changed forever. Not just because the film Sound of Music was released that year, but because Rubber Soul, the Beatles’ sixth studio album, came into existence. Allow me to so bold as to make my intentions clear: my one...

On October 18th get ready to be lost in a world wind of whirling synths, punchy kick drums, and everyone’s favorite: slappy bass. Dominic Sen’s debut album, Visitors, is an utter masterpiece. The album is primarily an indie pop/rock record but it’s taken to another...

Despite only having only four tracks in total, Town Centre is a truly dynamic and compelling musical experience rivaling that of any full-length album. This debut EP by Squid perfectly exhibits the full extent of their musical creativity and versatility, both...

I first listened to Bon Iver back in 2008 as a child. I was eleven, and in some way, I knew he would be great. The first time I saw him live was right after my first breakup. It is the band that has been with me through my teenage years all the way to my early...

It’s week and a half after my first column, where I saw Halpine and Poppies, and I’ve found myself back at Songbyrd. This time, it’s to see Rosie Tucker and Taft. It’s starting to get colder outside, which is great for so many reasons, one of which is because of how...

If you listen to rock music then you are probably thinking “this is kind of an obvious comparison” but hear me out; it’s worth it. The guitar, vocals, lyrics, and aesthetic of both bands are so similar, yet Greta Van Fleet is anything but a Led Zeppelin cover band....

Home Made Satan is the second album from Chastity, an alternative/indie rock band. The album takes an excellent transition from their first album Death Lust which had an edgier punk style to a more alternative rock sound that has melodies that seem trance-like at...

Do you really like that crazy guitar sample that was used in that insane new rap song? Do you want to know if any bands sound similar to that brand-spanking new band you discovered last month? This column will connect new bands and songs with their older counterparts...

Look at the Billboard Hot 100, and there seems to be a rising trend: unapologetic feminism. Women empowering women, unafraid to call out the men in their lives for the issues that always seem to follow them. Lizzo asks why men are great until they "gotta be great,"...

Since Fall 2018, I've been pushing for a more introspective, multi-series set of articles, ones that articulate on both my history with music and how that intermingles with my non-binary gender identity, my family, among other things. I think I still want to do the...

My column will be exploring up and coming as well as more established women in the R&B industry, focusing in on specific albums and songs, as well as giving background on the singer herself. My hope is to explain the impact of each artist on the genre within the...

The name of my column is Girls to the Front after Kathleen Hanna’s mantra during the riot grrrl era. I want to focus on women artists because I think that women have some of the most unique and important perspectives in music right now. Across all genres, women have...

Interviews with up-and-coming DMV artists.

This column will consist of a 5-7 song playlist every other week talking about songs to listen to when you are stressed or you just want to relax for a bit. There will of course be special editions for new releases, album reviews, and concerts.