Thanks to DJ Alright for submitting this week's blog post, an interview with PNW band Drowse, and Japan-based group, Kelp! Listen to the interview above.

DJ Alright is a fan of any and all experimental music. The content of their KWVA show "Museum" (showtime at Wednesday 12-1 PM) ranges from black metal, to early electronic music, to ambient.

Drowse is the project of Kyle Bates along with a few collaborators, notably Floating Room's Maya Stoner on the upcoming album "Light Mirror." Drowse is a product of the Pacific Northwest -- the guitar swells, tape distortion, and echoing, soft vocals call to mind endless rain and clouds (they have even been self-described as "gray pop"), and would appeal to fans of Grouper and Mount Eerie. Make no mistake, though -- Drowse's output stands in a class on its own. The detailed metaphors and concepts lyrically woven throughout the track "Cold Air," (Drowse's second-most-recent release) and "…

Thanks to Bobby Schenk, AKA Reggae Rob, for submitting this week's blog post--a review of the Max Romeo concert last month at WOW Hall!

When Max Romeo took the stage at WOW Hall this past month on April 4th, I had three things running through my head:

One: I am in the presence of a reggae legend.

Max Romeo is not just any reggae artist; he is a part of the cadre of musicians that helped innovate and found the roots-reggae genre in Jamaica in the 1960s and 1970s. His music, with songs like “Wet Dream” and “Let The Power Fall”, is famous in its own right, as well as in other records that sample Romeo's work. The song “I Chase The Devil,” off of his seminal album War Ina Babylon (released in 1976) has been sampled in more than 30 songs according to whosampled.com, with rappers such as Jay-Z and The Prodigy building off of Max Romeo's talent.

Now, combine this legendary status with his physical presence: Romeo is around five…

Lilyana Rain Molyneaux is a junior at University of Oregon studying journalism and multimedia. She is the host of Queens Radio, which plays strictly female hip-hop and rap music. Queens Radio also features interviews and discussions about female empowerment, hip-hop music & culture, and ALL news related to female hip hop artists! Catch her show on Sunday mornings, 2am-4am on KWVA.

Lilyana recently had the opportunity to interview one of her favorite hip-hop artists, Yung Baby Tate, which she aired on her show. Here's the transcript!

Want to gain some fantastic leadership experience, boost your resume, and get paid for doing what you love? You've come to the right place! KWVA has a few student job openings for positions that start next fall. Check out the descriptions below! Applications are due by noon on May 22nd.

Position # Position Title (On Handshake)
2717702 KWVA Music Director
2717716 KWVA Music Blog Director

KWVA Music Director: $475 per term

Purpose: To establish and maintain relationships with national music promoters and record labels; To chart the KWVA top music played list weekly, provide to DJs and submit to NACC; To maintain and develop the KWVA music library.

Principle Functions/Requirements:

I.    Administrative Duties:

• Recruit, train and coordinate staff of…

For this week’s DJ Spotlight, get to know Luigi Ghersi, host of “Shocker In Gloomtown,” every Friday from 11 am-noon on KWVA. His show features mostly '80s, '90s, and contemporary indie/alternative rock. Luigi moved to Eugene during the Summer of 2017 and is currently working towards a masters degree in architecture at the UO. He was born in Lima, Peru, but lived most of his life in Salt Lake City, Utah before coming to Eugene.

KWVA: How did you choose your show name, “Shocker In Gloomtown”?

L: "Shocker In Gloomtown" is the name of a track by one of my favorite bands, Guided By Voices. Oregon weather can be pretty gloomy, and since I usually play pretty energetic, loud music, I thought it would be fitting to the context of the show.

KWVA: When did you get involved in KWVA and why?

Luigi: I figured it…

Thanks to Jack Cochran (DJ Spooky), for submitting these new music reviews to the blog. Get to know a few awesome artists that sent their tunes to KWVA!

The Slaps - A EP

The Slaps, a beach-blues band based in Chicago, have just released A, their latest EP. A follows a singles EP released in 2018 and The Slaps’ debut album, Susan’s Room, released in 2017. A is five tracks of lo-fi, bedroom pop at its most upbeat and carefree. The EP’s opener, “Cheers”, feels like the kind of daydream one would have the day before school gets out for summer break, yet its vocals are tinged with the melancholy of knowing summer never lasts. “Where Were You Where They Were Also” is a driving, bright song with guitars reminiscent of waves on a beach, constantly pushing forwards and then pulling back, only to go further with the next chord. The Slaps have…

Looking for a fun, weekend (or weekday) getaway that involves MUSIC? The Suttle Lodge, located in Deschutes National Forest (about 2 hours from Eugene) is an unexpected concert venue that’s perfect for college students looking for a little adventure. When you book a cabin at the lodge, you automatically get FREE access to the music events on site! This homey, unique venue has put on some insanely cool shows, including a summer music festival lead by Chris Funk of The Decemberists during the 2017 solar eclipse. This summer, Jacob Miller, Alela Diane, The Blank Tapes, and Bear Clouds will be stopping by the lodge for performances.

The lodge’s rustic or lakeside cabins are great for friend groups traveling to the forest for a late night show, as they fit up to six people. This is the perfect opportunity to gather your best friends for an intimate show with some of your favorite artists, grab a few drinks and dinner at the lodge bar, and…

DJ spotlights are a great way for you to meet the awesome students and community members behind the voices you hear on KWVA each day. Stay tuned for a DJ Spotlight every few weeks, and if you’re a DJ who’d like to be featured, email Sophie. :)

This week, we're getting to know Jack Cochran, also known by his on-air alias, DJ Spooky! Jack is from Dana Point, California and is a sophomore majoring in Media Studies. He was recently hired as the new training coordinator for KWVA, and he's stoked about being more involved with the station. Jack spends his free time listening to music, reading, playing guitar and camping. His show, "The Twilight Zones," airs on KWVA on Monday afternoons, from 1-2 pm.

KWVA: Why did you get involved in KWVA/when?

Jack: I got involved with KWVA fall term during my freshman year. My…

"The Graduating Class sound like what would happen if Childish Gambino and Daryl Hall went on a three week bender that ended in Quincy Jones' studio. The indie R&B group formed in June of 2018, initially as the duo of multi-instrumentalist John Queant and drummer Nate Hansen. The band quickly grew into a five piece: the lineup currently consists of Natty Burmeister on vocals and keys, Keenan Dorn on guitar, and August King, also on keys.

Stylistically, the Graduating Class is rooted in the blend of digital and analog instruments. Their songwriting process begins with just a keyboard and drum machine, but a finished song typically boasts layers of guitar, percussion and vocals. The band's tracks show off a
variety of influences, ranging from Latin-inspired R&B to gospel-tinged indie pop.Following a summer and fall of shows, the Graduating Class holed up in a Portland studio to begin work on their debut record.

'That's What Tonight's For' is the band's…

I asked our DJs what songs come to mind when they think of spring/spring break. Here are the tunes they chose! Listen to the full Spotify playlist below, & feel free to add to the collaborative playlist with your own faves.

-Sophie