Browsing "Columns"

PORTALS columnist Jasmine Zhu reflects on the role songs play in our emotional lives and the weight of the associations they carry. Here are some palatable phrases—love of beauty, resentment...

Jeanette Wall compares some of her favorite covers to their original songs, and considers what each recording represents. My old roommate Sam Sodomsky, also known as The Bird Calls, was...

Poppy Red‘s Molly Long reminisces the ‘repeaters’ of her life—albums that gradually defined her identity through repeated listens. Here’s an exercise. Make a list of every album you’ve ever listened...

Jeanette Wall describes her experiences with a few of the highly anticipated releases of this year’s Record Store Day. Record Store Day is my favorite holiday. My blood boils for...

Jeanette Wall recounts her experiences in Austin at South By Southwest 2013 and compiles a list of songs that marked the most poignant moments of the week. Carly Rae Jepsen...

Nina Mashurova goes to SXSW and reflects on DIT bands and labels gaining ground downtown. Every year at SXSW, it seems like there’s a new crop of “indie” bands who...

Jeanette Wall reflects on the film soundtracks that taught her about music, for better or worse. When I was growing up, Friday night was Movie Night. My parents were loyal...

Our new columnist Jasmine Zhu discusses her love-hate relationship with being a quote-unquote poser. I’ve always envied people who manage to look effortlessly cool no matter where they are or...

Jasmine Zhu explores the intersection of herself and a male-dominant music culture. Why do people develop an interest in music? I’m not too ashamed to admit that my budding affections...

A slightly discombobulated personal essay and open letter to Techno music, written by East to West. Hurtling down the road at 3am, snuggled in the front seat of the car,...

In this column, “Lest Sincerity Eat Itself”, Cecil Frena of the prolific Born Gold tells us his take on irony, and how it affects his relationship with music. After reading through,...

Below, Cameron Rath, co-founder of FMLY, tells us about his experience with dumpster diving, and the advantages of living off of waste that may surprise you. To preface: In 2009...

As previously noted, Not To Scale is a new monthly feature from Oakland music blog, Mapzzz, wherein founder Glenn Jackson discusses any number of music related topics. With that said,...

A lasting impression on earlier hip hop moments while trying to keep up with its current culture. [Original Photo] It used to be every once in a while I’d become...