The end of the year is nigh, and our DJ's have been reflecting upon 2015's best releases. As the year comes to a close, we have called on DJ's to break down why 'their' albums and playlists are the greatest of the year. Keep checking back for more of 2015's best beats. KWVA DJ & Show Title: DJ Fringe of The Darkest Side of the Moon, Saturdays 8-10 pm Playlist Description: In 2015 Drum and Bass got a taste of mainstream success with Rudimental's We The Generation album, topping the UK charts the week it was released. While seeing steady growth in Europe, DnB has yet to catch on in the US. I compiled some of my favorite releases from the year, in no particular order, to remember the year by. Click here to listen to DJ Fringe's Playlist! Sample Tracks from Fringe's Playlist:… Read More

KWVA DJ's always have their ears open, no matter where they go. This winter break, DJ's will be contributing to KWVA On-Tour - a curated collection of playlists from across the globe. Take a look and a listen! KWVA DJ & Show Title: Captain Smirk of The Morning Dew Musical Mystery Tour Location: Road trip from Eugene, OR to San Diego, CA Playlist Title: With a Little Help from My Friends About the playlist: My playlist comes at the strange intersection of dropping out of grad school, stepping into uncertainty, and being fueled to carry on by so many wonderful relationships in my life. It's about not knowing the answers, trusting myself, and receiving the love others want to give and gaining strength through those connections. The playlist started during an incredible weekend in Eugene, gained steam on a 1000 mile road trip down to San Diego, and finishes… Read More

Whatchu know about DJ Flamps?! Not enough, that's for sure. Check out this sweet spotlight on the provider of Tuesday Lovin', DJ Flamps. DJ Name & Show Title: DJ Flamps of Tuesday Lovin' Hometown: Dallas, Texas Show time and day: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm, Tuesdays, Winter 2016 Show genres: Pop, rock, funk, alternative, dance Artists commonly played on show: Neil Young, Toro y Moi, Portugal. The Man, Third Eye Blind, Sylvan Esso, Beach Boys How long have you been a DJ? Since May 2015 Top 5 albums of 2015: Currents – Tame Impala Coming Home – Leon Bridges I Love You, Honeybear - Father John Misty Ratchet – Shamir Sound and Color – Alabama Shakes… Read More

KWVA DJ's always have their ears open, no matter where they go. Starting this winter break, DJ's will be contributing to KWVA On-Tour - a curated collection of playlists from across the globe. Take a look and a listen! KWVA DJ: DJ Rude Girl of Frequent Explorer Location: Las Vegas, NV About the playlist: You know, when you have a brother named Drake, sometimes you just end up in Vegas. Last minute trips always need last minute playlists. Las Vegas does a great job of speaking for itself and doing so loudly. But for this playlsit we put in music that would showcase exactly how loud that city can get and would coincidentally be the perfect soundtrack for rap squating. That could only mean one thing - "Hotline Bling" 24/7. Click here to listen… Read More

The end of the year is nigh, and our DJ's have been reflecting upon 2015's best album releases. As the year comes to a close, we have called on DJ's to break down why 'their' album is the album of the year. Keep checking back for more of 2015's best beats.

2015 Album of the Year Nomination: Fetty Wap - Fetty Wap Label: RGF Productions/300 Entertainment

Review by Daniel Bromfield DJ Daniel of Queer Breakfast Fetty Wap’s self-titled debut focuses almost exclusively on hanging out or selling drugs with three other people in the mid-sized New Jersey city of Paterson. It’s a tiny, insular world even by the standards of the most fiercely regional rap, and there’s even less sonic variation to go with it; most of these songs are variations on the same formula, and the only guests are the two… Read More

KWVA DJ's always have their ears open, no matter where they go. Starting this winter break, DJ's will be contributing to KWVA On-Tour - a curated collection of playlists from across the globe. Take a look and a listen!   KWVA DJ: DJ Elle of Let's Do Coffee Location: Peru About the playlist: I'm lucky to be staying with one of my best friends, Maria Paula, in Lima, Peru over winter break. With some help from Maria Paula and her Peruvian friends, I've crafted a playlist of some of Peru's best. Enjoy! Click here to listen to DJ Elle's Playlist! … Read More

The end of the year is nigh, and our DJ's have been reflecting upon 2015's best album releases. As the year comes to a close, we have called on DJ's to break down why 'their' album is the album of the year. Keep checking back for more of 2015's best beats.

2015 Album of the Year Nomination: Fat Freddy's Drop - Bays Label: The Drop

Review by Bobby Schenk (DJ Reggae Rob of Rhythms of the Island, Sundays 4-6 am Fall 2015) Reggae has been revolutionized with the evolution of this seven-piece band. They merge soul, reggae and jazz into a fluid and soul-wrenchingly beautiful idea. This is their fourth official album, off of Artists Owned and Operated, a self-release label based in New Zealand. The band further differentiates itself by being mixed electronically, manipulating the recorded instruments into a new beat, which compliments the front-man Joe Dukie's vocals interestingly and… Read More

On a stormy Portland morning a few Saturdays ago, KWVA made history: we attended College Music Journal’s first College Day On Tour. The day was a hyper-condensed version of the NYC CMJ Music Marathon (which Music Director Taylor Jones wrote about here). The venue, Holocene, was packed full of industry types, musicians, and college radio students from all over the NW and Canada, eager to share and meet like-minded individuals. Below, we present what we learned about the collective college radio world and our thoughts on what’s to come.  

Taylor Jones KWVA Music Director; DJ Tesla Radio is not dead. KWVA would not broadcast… Read More