Blogs
Zine: The Stream Volume Three
Check out this semester's beautiful zine, headed by art director Luke Palermo with the support of a very dedicated zine staff at WVAU. While you're at it, take a look at last semester's zine right here. Enjoy!
Ruen Brothers, "Point Dume" (Republic)
Promising debut EP from sibling rock duoWhile they may be known as the Ruen Brothers, these two brothers are actually named Henry and Rupert Stansall. Their debut EP, Point Dume, is produced by none other than the legendary Rick Rubin (Run-DMC, Slayer, Johnny Cash,...
Porque no los Dos: Surprise! Elvis Crespo at Coachella and "Suavemente"
While racing to meet a deadline for a class, I received a video via iMessage from my cousin who was at Coachella. I thought it was just a clip of Kaytranada or Jamie XX's set, but nothing could've prepared me for what I saw on the screen. It was none other than...
Zen Palette: Misogi
Courtesy of Misogi's Facebook. Recently turned 16-years-old, Dubai's Misogi has been one of my favorite Soundcloud producers since he was only 15. This teenager's talent was at first extremely underrated by a lot of the Soundcloud community. Not to say that his...
The Current: 2016 Prez Hopefuls and Their Ideal Running Mates
Hillary Clinton & MadonnaCampaign Slogan: Vogueing All the Way to the Oval Office These two blonde biddies will have killer dancing campaign parties. They'll bond over strained marriages and only go by their first names. Both ladies have a fondness for...
Capitol Punishment Preview: Introducing The Antlers
Courtesy of True Endeavors. In case you missed it, the Antlers will be performing at American University as part of WVAU's semesterly Capitol Punishment series. The Antlers were last in D.C. during 2014, playing at the 9:30 Club, and they will be back...
Keep Ya Head Up: Chance the Rapper Socially Experiments
Courtesy of Consequence of Sound.Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment released the video for their song “Sunday Candy" this past Sunday, appropriately. The single is the first off the group's much anticipated album Surf, set to be released...
Live in the Hive: Craft Spells
Craft Spells stopped by our studio recently and turned the lights down nice and low for their mellow sound. We recommend you do the same, so dim those lights, sit back, and listen to the five-piece perform tracks off of their latest release, Nausea....
Feedback: Are Music Reviews Meaningless?
Courtesy of p4k.In the middle of March Modest Mouse released their newest album, Strangers To Ourselves, after a long break. The hype mounted up something immense and the album quickly became beyond anticipated. When it broke so did some expectations. Pitchfork...
WVAU Spring Prom
On April 24, we're excited to present WVAU PROM, a night of student DJ sets and a celebration of our community. If you missed out on Founder's Day, have no fear: WVAU Prom is here. Want to dance? Want to take fun photos with your friends Want to start those...
Zen Palette: An Exclusive Interview with Moving Castle
You'll always be able to find the squad lingering in the WVAU studio now with a can of QT. If you listen to my Sunday radio show Smoove Grooves, you might find that at least one song I play is usually from an artist that's part of the Internet-based,...
Live in the Hive: Quarterbacks
A few months back, Dean Engle of QUARTERBACKS dropped by the WVAU studio for a private session before the release of the band's debut self-titled album. In-between an intimate acoustic performance, Engle sat down with us and talked in detail about piecing the...
Joel Michael Howard, "Love as First Response" (Ernest Jenning)
A Journey from upbeat love to depressing heartbreak The organ, the quick strums of the guitar, and the keys. The instrumentation of Love as First Response sounds more like a 70s funk band than any indie band or artist that Joel Michael Howard has been opening for....
Weed, "Running Back" (Lefse)
“Dream-grungeÛTerrorbird Radio described Weed's sound as “dream-grunge,Ûand I think that's very accurate. There's a lot in their music that speaks to the dark, cold climate of the Pacific Northwest (I think, although I've never lived there) while drawing...
Nadine Shah, "Fast Food" (R&S/Apollo)
Can't fit this girl in a box!Fast Food opens with a very western, sort of galloping sound that makes a listener believe that we're about to go on a tour of the wild, wild west. But fear not (or lament depending on what you like, idk)! Shah, instead, paints a very...
American Wrestlers, "American Wrestlers" (Fat Possum)
Lo-fi, high quality indie guitar ballads First song in, and American Wrestlers has already got me feeling some type of way, as the kids say. But if its guitar grooves and moody DIY tunes don't have everyone feeling some type of way then I don't know what could. All...
Alison Wonderland, "Run" (Astralwerks)
Sassy electro-dubstep-dream-pop fusion that gets curiouser and curiouserMultitalented Producer/DJ/Singer Alison Wonderland lures you deep into the rabbit hole with glamorous, shimmery beats and smooth, electronic anthems that will have you listening to this album on...
The Very Best, "Makes A King" (Moshi Moshi)
Feels like you're by a Washington state waterfall The Very Best creates unusual beats from unusual sounds, but somehow it all comes together. One moment their music could be mistaken for reggae on an island (track 3) and the next song could sound like a rainy day in...
Toro Y Moi, "What For?" (Carpark)
Roadtrippin' in a Hotboxed CarIt makes sense the record opens with the scream of an F1 speeding around a racetrack. Something about this album makes it feel like it was meant for the road. Maybe it's the driving-but-laidback attitude exuding from the foggy guitars,...
Matt And Kim, "New Glow" (Harvest Records)
Head-pounding Indie-pop with strange integration of hip hop influenceMost would agree that Matt and Kim have one of the most unique sounds in Indie Pop- that's what's made them so successful. They have this way of combining sounds that most think wouldn't work...
Waxahatchee, "Ivy Tripp" (Merge Records)
Twangy punkish diary entries of a 20somethingKatie Crutchfield has spent a good portion of her adult life transcribing the honest experience of living into carefully spun songs with a hint of Alabama twang and a lot of influence from the Philly scene. Waxahatchee's...
Another Kind of Currency: The Jam, “The Eton RiflesÛ
Courtesy of The Guardian. The Jam was a band that I'd always meant to get into throughout high school. Digging through their extensive back catalog always seemed daunting to me, but then senior year of high school happened and senioritis struck. I had...
Feedback: Are Musical Genres Meaningless?
Courtesy of Click on English. These days no one's a philistine. You love a little bit of art some way or another unless you have literally lodged yourself under a rock. Even then I am sure some far-flung poem or portrait captures that subterranean...
The Tough Crowd: In the Bin at Joint Custody
I learned the hard way that Easter Sunday isn't exactly the best time to go record shopping. Luckily, punk rock never takes a break and Joint Custody was open till 8pm. This stroke of fate was good for this article but bad for my wallet. Now,...
Sufjan Stevens, "Carrie & Lowell" (Asthmatic Kitty)
The bohemian-folk golden boy goes back to his acoustic rootsSufjan Stevens' musical journey has left few territories uncharted - over the course of his career, the Detroit native has explored acoustic folk, ambient rock, orchestral ballads, electronic, and everything...
The One2s, "EP 2" (self-released)
Fuzzy pop-punk youthEP 2 offers a quick 5 track glimpse into the lo-fi, melodic pop-punk world full of potential for the One2s. “Cryer” is skuzzy, anthemic guitar track that is very angsty and shouty, whereas the drowsy, dreamy closer “Blank Stare” builds up into...
The Staves, "If I Was" (Atlantic)
Epic folk revival, the second comingThis trio of sisters produces sweet melodies that are deeply poignant. They harmonize over arrangements that always feel as if they are about to blow up into a a powerful climax of a chorus, taunting you until they raise their...
Boxed In, "Boxed In" (Nettwerk)
Relaxing-Yet-Upbeat Indie SuperalbumThis masterpiece of an album has something for everyone—though not mainstream, it's catchy and simple melodies market it easily to the masses; despite its upbeat tempo, the music has a calming and reassuring effect; thus are...
Tica Douglas, "Joey" (Swell)
Going on my “Girls Who Sing Softly” playlistPlease bear through this review with me, as I continuously pause to wipe away tears of a mixture of sorrow, beauty, regret, happiness, melancholy. I'm lying on a hammock, fulfilling that nostalgic polaroid photo that we...
Happyness, "Weird Little Birthday" (Rough Trade)
Delicately Refined AngstTo be quite honest, when I first downloaded Weird Little Birthday, the cover art immediately reminded me of Mac Demarco. But this is one of the instances when the banal platitude, “don't judge a book by its cover,” is exceptionally relevant....