580 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(02/25/19 8:40pm)
Rap has been around for nearly 50 years, and the genre has gone through many different changes and sub-genres throughout this time. It has become increasingly mainstream in the past 20 or so years, and while some of the more popular songs can seem repetitive, there are luckily a few artists that constantly redefine what it can be applied to and sound like. Originally, the genre was a way for African-Americans to reach mainstream audiences and discuss many of the obstacles the community faced. Since then, it has become about more than simply going to the club with heavy bass and repetitive instrumentals. Today, artists like jpegmafia, Death Grips, Danny Brown and clipping. are pushing the definition of the genre to its absolute limits, and no other album stands out among these as true art like clipping.’s Splendor & Misery.
(02/18/19 5:19pm)
James Boyt
(02/14/19 5:23pm)
Will Stallings
(02/10/19 7:56pm)
Jordan Smith
(02/07/19 1:38am)
WUSC's Most Anticipated Releases of 2019
Carly Mihovich
I have never been one to make new year’s resolutions. They’re never something I can see myself actually sticking with - not to mention, time is fake and the “beginning” of a new year is completely arbitrary. That being said, I decided to change things up for 2019. What could very well be my first new year’s resolution is fitting for a member of WUSC: discover more music. Luckily, this won’t be hard considering all the great releases that are expected to drop this year.
We’ve already been blessed with the album, Heard It In a Past Life, from Maggie Rogers, along with Weezer’s debut as a cover band in The Teal Album (their rendition of a-ha’s “Take on Me” is my personal favorite). But what more does 2019 have to offer? Follow along as WUSC reveals some of our most anticipated releases of the upcoming year.
thank u, next — Ariana Grande (February 8)
No one had a better and worse 2018 than Ariana Grande. From losing Mac Miller and ending a whirlwind engagement, to breaking records with bops like “No Tears Left to Cry,” “God is a Woman,” and “thank u, next,” Ariana dominated the news and the charts. But while some artists play the long con and wait years to release new music, Ari is the gift that keeps on giving. With the tracklist of thank u, next featuring songs like “break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored,” Ariana is sure to have another iconic year (but in a good way with no more hurting xoxo).
Wasteland, Baby! — Hozier (March 1)
It seems like it was just last year when Hozier released his EP Nina Cried Power, an ode to civil rights activists and musicians like Nina Simone and Mavis Staples. Oh wait, it was. Now Hozier is back with his second album titled Wasteland, Baby! due out this March. One of Hozier’s talents has been his ability to play around with different genres like blues or jazz in order to shape his music into something that is entirely his own. I suspect Wasteland, Baby! will be no different, with the artist once again showing us exactly who he is without letting himself be conformed into a neat box.
Norman Fucking Rockwell — Lana Del Rey (March 29)
Is any artist in the business today more hypnotic than Lana Del Rey? Her melodies and lyrical ability are breathtaking, with both being spotlighted on the recent single “hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have — but I have it.” Norman Fucking Rockwell promises to be the stripped-down, intimate version of Lana we all know and love as she shares her poetry with us one more time.
Father of the Bride — Vampire Weekend (Spring)
Speaking of artists that make us wait years for new music, hey, Vampire Weekend is back! After a nearly six year wait, Ezra Koenig and the gang return with FOTB, an eighteen track album that includes the recently released “2021” and “Harmony Hall.” These songs are different, and different is good! They’re fun and sort of synthy and melodic, and the official audio on Youtube features footage of bees and frogs! What more could you want!
TBA — Rihanna (TBA)
Oh, Rihanna, how you tease us so. Her newest reggae-inspired album was expected to drop at some point in 2018, but with the success of Fenty Beauty and being the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Barbados and all, we can see how she got a little sidetracked. Oh well - we are holding out hope that this will be the year that RiRi returns to our charts! But if you’re reading this on December 31st, 2019 and she still hasn’t dropped that album, you might want to check up on our DJs to see how well they’re taking it.
TBA — Solange (TBA)
Solange is another artist we’re holding out for this year. Her newest album is likely finished and is reported to have jazz influences, along with hip-hop and electronic music in the mix - sign us up! Back in the fall, the New York Times reported that the follow up to A Seat at the Table would be released before the end of the year, yet here we are, Solange album-less. Nevertheless, we will persevere through 2019 until the album’s imminent release! It’s what Beyonce would want.
(01/30/19 5:22pm)
Toro Y Moi - Outer Peace (Carpark Records)
Luis Rodriguez
WUSC’s most notable alum, Toro y Moi, a.k.a. Chaz Bear, is back at it again with his newest project, Outer Peace. I have spent the entirety of the past week listening to this album on repeat (this is not an exaggeration I promise), and if you take away only one thing from reading this article, know that this shit rips. Outer Peace is a shift away from his last project, Boo Boo. With increased tempo across (mostly) the entire board, you won’t have any problem jamming along to this funkadelic neo-R&B/pop masterpiece. I can not tell you how elated this made me, for while I can appreciate a slower ballad here and there, I definitely prefer songs that are guaranteed to get me up and moving. This isn’t just your ole’ run of the mill dance album though. Oh no. Outer Peace is much more than that. Bear in this album touches on many real life problems and experiences that most young adults are facing. Speaking as a fellow young adult, I can tell you that he really didn’t have to come for me that hard. I may or not feel personally attacked here but hey, it’s good music so I’ll let it slide.
His intro, Fading, he describes how he feels as though his sphere of knowledge is disintegrating, leaving him in this uncomfortable state of unknowing and doubt, with only the faith that things will just work out/he will figure things out. You also delve into a troubled love life in one of the lead singles, Ordinary Pleasure, with flame after flame fizzling out, with nothing in sight that seems lasting, and feelings of uncertainty in one’s own self in Who I Am. Struggling with all of these tumultuous thoughts can drive anyone insane, however Bear doesn’t let that get him down, explaining in Laws of the Universe that he is confident in his own abilities and that this confidence can outweigh his doubts. Not only that but in the other lead single, Freelance, he takes pride in his ability to overcome problems and further find himself in the process, being “down for whatever, [he] think[s] [he] let go”, and in Monte Carlo, he discusses being frustrated with others inability to get him where he needs to go, taking it upon himself to get to his destination.
I think the middle three songs of Miss Me, New House, and Baby Drive It Down are my favorite on the album. First off, dear god ABRA’s vocals are absolutely phenomenal I mean, her vocals alone probably make this my favorite track on the album despite being one of the slowest songs on the album. Anyway, these three songs all seem to paint a larger scene when looked at as a whole. In Miss Me, you have ABRA singing (seemingly) to a lost lover wanting them back, and the entire track is sung by her. This is followed up by Bear, in New House, coming off of his flight being bombarded by a flurry of messages on his phone that cause him to become anxious and confused, leaving him wanting nothing more than somewhere to call home and take a long shower. To me it seems like the lover in Miss Me that was lost was Bear, and his ex was trying to contact him during his flight. And in Baby Drive It Down, Bear is contacting what seems to be the same lover, not wanting to talking to her about what has happened but just wanting her to come and see him. I could be completely off the mark and these songs have nothing to do with each other, but the closeness of the subject matter and the placement of the songs seems to coincidental, at least to me.
To summarize, Outer Peace is about traversing through the miasma of uncertainty/doubt to find one’s self in an ever-changing world, described in a funky pop dreamscape that is a hell of a lot more fun to listen to than actually experience.
https://toroymoi.bandcamp.com/album/outer-peace
(01/30/19 2:59pm)
Students, faculty, staff, and alumni looking to join the station will finish studying the aspects of the training process, and all trainees will take the written exam. *ALL THREE TRAINING SESSIONS ARE REQUIRED TO BECOME A DJ*
(01/30/19 2:57pm)
Students, faculty, staff, and alumni looking to join the station will be given instruction on the training process, and everyone will spend time working through WUSC's training manual. *ALL THREE TRAINING SESSIONS ARE REQUIRED TO BECOME A DJ*
(01/30/19 2:53pm)
Students, faculty, staff, and alumni looking to join the station will be given instruction on the training process, and everyone will spend time working through WUSC's training manual. *ALL THREE TRAINING SESSIONS ARE REQUIRED TO BECOME A DJ*
(01/25/19 8:11pm)
Hijinx Music Festival 2018
Nick Gerace
HiJinx Music Festival not only had one of the most impressive debut festival lineups, but also sold out its first year taking place in 2018. North-Eastern electronic music fans came together on Friday December 28th and Saturday the 29th, to see some of the biggest names perform at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. The 1-million-square-foot building was outfitted with trippy art installations, specialized merch and a designated lounge area, all surrounding the massive stage and floorspace. Headlining the festival was Bassnectar and Odesza, two extremely unique acts that have been recruited by some of the most renowned festivals in the world. Each day was stacked with talent coming from every end of the electronic genre spectrum, featuring Big Gigantic, RL Grime, Ganja White Night, Illenium and many more. All of the artist over the two days put on stellar performances, but here are three that stood out to me:
Rap music at exclusively electronic music festivals has been a growing trend recently, making these events more diverse and changing up the tempo of the festival from time to time. HiJinx was no exception, bringing out Denzel Curry on Friday. Curry had a big year in 2018 with the release of his three-act album, “TA13OO” (TABOO), which he performed at HiJinx. He began with the title track of the album accompanied by colorful visuals and lights that immediately changed the vibe following Whipped Cream’s set. His consistent flow and varying styles kept the crowd on their toes the entire time, perfectly feeding into Ganja White Night’s set after him. Recently, rappers have made a habit of depending too much on their audiences reciting their own songs back to them and being too out of breath from moving around the stage too much to actually perform their music. Curry shattered expectations by not only being able to rap every one of his songs verbatim, but also by dancing more than anyone else in the entire building. Denzel Curry has recently been added to The Governors Ball’s lineup for June 1st in New York, so he will be visiting the North-East again if you didn’t catch him in Philly.
The next performance that stood out was Kaivon’s set, which kicked off day two of the festival. Kaivon has been on a lot of SoundCloud users’ radars for a while, closely resembling artists like Illenium (who performed later that day) and Trivecta that produce melody-oriented bass music. With a single featured on Dim Mak Records and a remix on Alison Wonderland’s new “Awake” remix EP, the LA-based producer has been receiving a lot of attention lately. All of his drops were explosive, driving a lot of emotion through hard hitting drums and deep basslines. You could tell that even the audience members who had not known of him before were also enjoying the set as well, giving into the intoxicating
atmosphere and getting ready for what day two had in store. Kaivon finished his set and floored the still arriving crowd with his previously unreleased remix of Lana Del Rey’s “Dark Paradise”, which he released about a week later. Kaivon will be performing at Crush Arizona Music Festival’s 10th anniversary alongside artists like Seven Lions, JOYRYDE, and 3LAU. Keep on the lookout for his coming releases, Kaivon is not an artist to sleep on in 2019.
Electronic music, for many people, is an acquired taste. For many people just getting into it, synergistic artists are the gateway into the genre. GRiZ is one such artist, mending his electro-funk and live saxophone to create a very unique style that appeals to different audiences. After putting out a two track EP in November with hip-hop artist DRAM as a feature on “It Gets Better”, people have been dying for even more new GRiZ. With his cryptic activity on social media, speculation is that something big is coming soon. At HiJinx, he combined his unique style with cleverly placed dubstep drops, engaging rap tracks, and a crazy laser light show. His mix of classic and new tracks from all different genres on top of everything had everyone anxious to hear song after song. This added to his wonky visuals and his overall contagious personality made for the best set of the weekend.
Overall, HiJinx was an amazing experience across the board, and everyone involved should be happy to have been a part of its first year. There has been no indication of whether or not it will be returning in 2019, but it would be huge for Philadelphia and fans (such as myself) if it does. You can check out the official after movie here:
https://youtu.be/YiDV9YIy0Eo
(01/24/19 10:39pm)
Come support our radio station and get a cheap, sweet treat!
(01/24/19 10:37pm)
Are you interested in becoming a DJ at WUSC? Come out to Russell House Room 303 to hear more about what it takes to join the station, and the amazing opportunities given to all WUSC DJs! All current students, faculty, staff, and alumni are welcome to join.
(01/24/19 10:32pm)
Are you interested in becoming an on-air news reporter or behind-the-scenes producer? Come find out what it takes! All current students, faculty, staff, and alumni are welcome.
(01/24/19 9:59pm)
Are you interested in becoming a DJ at WUSC? Come out to Russell House Room 304 to hear more about what it takes to join the station, and the amazing opportunities given to all WUSC DJs! All current students, faculty, staff, and alumni are welcome to join.
(01/24/19 9:58pm)
Are you interested in becoming a DJ at WUSC? Come out to Russell House Room 304 to hear more about what it takes to join the station, and the amazing opportunities given to all WUSC DJs! All current students, faculty, staff, and alumni are welcome to join.
(01/23/19 4:23pm)
Are you interested in becoming a DJ at WUSC? Come out to Russell House Room 304 to hear more about what it takes to join the station, and the amazing opportunities given to all WUSC DJs! All current students, faculty, staff, and alumni are welcome to join.
(11/20/18 6:00am)
WUSC Gives Thanks
by Carly Mihovich
This Thanksgiving, WUSC has a lot to be thankful for. This includes our dedicated DJs, our hard-working staff, and, as always, our amazing listeners who tune into every show and turn up to every event. Of course, we can’t leave out the driving force behind everything we do: the music. We asked a couple of our DJs - new and old - what song, artist, or album they are especially thankful for this year. So, before you say “thank u, next” to the turkey and mashed potatoes this Thursday, check out the tunes WUSC is giving thanks to below.
“If you don’t know Rostam by his name, you probably know him by one of his band’s names: Vampire Weekend. But that’s not the band I want to talk about! Rostam, full name Rostam Batmanglij, is now working on his solo career and has released an album and EP in the last year and a half. His songs reveal a more introspective, thoughtful sense of world wonder accompanied by mellow yet beautiful instrumentals (nothing you shouldn’t expect from a Grammy-winning producer tab!). So stop reading me trying to describe his perfection and just go listen!!”
DJ Rae
“Break up songs, something that I think we can all be grateful for, but who really writes the best breakup songs? I will confess “Shout Out To My Ex” by Little Mix really gets me in my feels, BUT have you ever listened to Banks? Banks, my friends, is a badass bitch. She is a goddess of dark R&B. Jillian Banks makes you pissed and angry, and ladies, she will make you love your bad self. “Fuck With Myself” has got to be one of the best self-love songs out there. How can you not be thankful for that? I saw Banks live close to three years ago for “The Altar” tour. Her stage presence is menacing and mesmerising. This was definitely one of the best shows I’ve ever been to. Not to mention how strikingly intimate her lyrics are. Her writing is so raw and honest, I don’t know what more people could ask for from her. She offers no filter and some of her songs honestly make me want to cry. Her songs are powerful and emotional. They are haunting and painful. Her sound is different and experimental, sound that’s never been done before. She’s searching for a new direction with her music. I fell in love with Banks’ music since her “Goddess” album. Jillian Banks is a strong woman, who makes listeners fall in love with her flaws and pains. I’m so thankful for Banks, and the whole music industry should be thankful for her too. No matter your gender, Banks can relate to you on so many levels.”
Jane on Air
“One song that I am thankful for is the Nils Bech rendition of “O Helga Natt”, a Swedish-language version of “O Holy Night”. I first heard the song while watching Skam, a Norwegian television show I first watched in the summer of 2017. The song occurs at a very pivotal and emotional moment in the series, when two characters reunite and confess their love to each other. The song helps to tie together the action and beauty of the scene, which brings me to tears even when I watch it now. The instrumental elements of the song on their own are powerful, but Bech’s voice complements them in a way that still shakes me each time I hear it. Whenever I am stressed or unsure of what to do, I listen to O Helga Natt and am filled with a sense of peace that does not come from a place of religion, but from a place of recognition for the beauty the song possesses. There has rarely been any other song that has continuously impacted me as much as this one has.”
DJ Blue
“I, DJ Short Skirt Long Jacket am thankful for my favorite noisy, angsty band, AJJ. When I first started listening at age 15, AJJ’s blend of folk and punk music was the strangest thing I’d ever heard. Now, I am so grateful that their music broke me out of my small bubble of jangly indie music, and helped me see beauty in less conventional works of art. I am also grateful for Sean Bonnette’s lyrical genius. AJJ’s discography is full of wicked humor and brutal honesty. It’s a close friend that’s always been there for me, making me laugh, cry, and never feel alone.”
DJ Short Skirt Long Jacket
“Call me basic, but this year I’m especially thankful for David Bowie. I’ve had a lot of Bowie experiences this year, first by touring Hansa Studios and being able to stand where he did when he recorded Heroes, and then the chance to see the “David Bowie Is” exhibit this summer. After all of this my love for him was totally reinvigorated. Morphing from character to character with each album release, he is almost solely responsible for the marriage of sound and vision in pop music. A poster child for pop extravagance, his influence on music, fashion and visual art is unparalleled - as Maura Johnston wrote, “Talking about how Bowie influenced pop music is like talking about how oxygen affects the breathing process.” Nearly every conceptual artist I enjoy today has taken major cues from Bowie, and often times I take his work for granted. His epochal championing of complete personal freedom will continue to dictate our culture long after all of us are gone. I’m sure I’m not saying anything that literally everyone doesn’t already know, but sometimes it’s nice to get a reminder - this weekend kick back with your favorite Bowie album (Low) and try to name all of the artists that wouldn’t exist without it. It’ll take a while.”
Paprika
"This year, I am thankful for Janelle Monáe's Dirty Computer. All the songs on this album carry a unique retro-futuristic pop sound that is perfect to dance to, and when listening to her lyrics throughout the album, themes of racial politics (for example, "Django Jane") and sexual freedom ("Make Me Feel") are brought up and portrayed beautifully. This album also blesses us with another incredible collab between Monáe and Grimes, with their entrancing tune "Pynk," which celebrates female self-love and sex positivity. A fifty minute Emotion Picture video is posted on Monáe's YouTube channel and ties together the songs to form a futuristic sci-fi story that only enhances the Dirty Computer experience. This is definitely my go-to & favorite album of the year, and I'd recommend it for everyone!!"
Goggles
Want to show your appreciation for WUSC this holiday season? Consider contributing to our Fall Fundraiser to keep the music going! Head on over to the ‘Donate’ tab to learn more about our fundraiser and donate!
(11/15/18 2:55pm)
(11/15/18 2:54pm)
Support WUSC for our second fundraiser show at Hunter-Gatherer Brewery & Alehouse!!! Acts include Ishani Joshi, Bull Moose Party, and After Midnight
Music: 10 pm
Tickets: $7
(11/13/18 11:10pm)
It has returned to us. For the first time since 2012, Free Times Music Crawl has graced Columbia once more (and hopefully for many more times to come). For those who are unaware, Free Times Music Crawl is a collection of shows held at multiple venues all at the same time around the city of Columbia. Only one ticket is necessary for entry, so purchasing a $15 ticket (or $12 ticket if purchased early) grants you access into all four shows. With 21 artists lined up to play, you’re paying less than $1 per artist, which ends up being a steal. The venues this year were Art Bar, The Aristocrat, Hunter-Gatherer, and Trustus Theatre. I really appreciated not only the fact that Free Times provided a map of all of venues as well as walking directions to each venue, but that they worked with the City of Columbia to have the Soda City Cap Connector stay open late to transport people between the venues.
One thing that I personally found disheartening about Music Crawl logistically was that I was not able to attend the events at The Aristocrat nor Art Bar, as both are 21+ venues. There were many acts at both venues that I was thrilled to go see (acts such as Katera, Niecy Blues, The Lovely Few, Blocker, Fat Rat da Czar, and more), and it was disappointing to not be able to see any of them. I know that this is not a problem for everyone and that it’s ultimately up to the venue, however I feel that with Music Crawl’s goal of showcasing and celebrating local music, it limits how far the event can reach as people of all ages were not able to experience all that Music Crawl and Columbia have to offer.
Despite this, I still had a fantastic time. The shows I were able to attend at Hunter-Gatherer and Trustus Theatre were absolutely incredible, and I assume that the shows at The Aristocrat and Art Bar were on the same level as the others. I had my doubts for Trustus Theatre as a music venue, but it fit the lineup perfectly. You could just sit down and relax in the seats of the theatre while vibing to the sounds of Cayla Fralick, George Fetner and the Strays, NUMBTONGUE, The Restoration, and Dear Blanca. My personal favorite that I was able to catch was NUMBTONGUE. I loved their fusing of elements from R&B, psychrock, and 90’s alternative to create a wonderfully blissful sonic experience.
In contrast to the gentle jamming at Trustus Theatre, Hunter-Gatherer was a chaotic romp all night. With hard rock and metal acts all not long, the only time the atmosphere wasn’t cranked to 11 was when bands were changing. I spent the majority of my time at Hunter-Gatherer because I loved the high-energy and open space of it. The raw emotion and criticism from Nepotism an the harsh vocals and high energy from Soul Press hands down made the Hunter-Gatherer my personal favorite of the night. Sadly I wasn’t able to see Death Becomes Even the Maiden as I wanted to go back to Trustus during that time, however I heard that they kept the same amazing energy and performance as everyone else.
Overall I had an absolute blast at Music Crawl. I was able to experience new music, new venues, and Columbia in general walking between all the venues. It was a night of exploration for me and you could tell just how much hard work and love went into setting everything up. Shout out to the Free Times for bringing a pillar of the Columbia music scene back, and I can’t wait to see what they do next year.
Luis Rodriguez