Press "Enter" to skip to content

Posts published in “Music”

Joy and Collaboration: Indie Band Moxie’s WOZQ Homecoming

It’s November of 2019 and indie pop artist Samia headlines WOZQ’s annual fall concert, with indie rock band Moxie opening. I am a first year with choppy bangs just getting involved with the radio station, excited to go to my first WOZQ concert. The indie rock band Moxie goes on at 8:00 p.m., to an energetic Davis Ballroom full of Smithies. Rei Kimura, on vocals and guitar, guides the crowd through their 30-minute jam-packed set, making sure to get everyone involved with Daniel Snyder’s rhythmic drumming by giving a clapping beat to follow. Leander Holzapfel’s riffs and Inky Cohen’s smooth bass capture the crowd, especially on ‘Blue Skies,’ their 2018 hit about naivety, which many Smithies sing along to, word for word. I walk away from this performance exhilarated, not only by how much this band rocks but especially by finding out that they are about my age. 

The Anatomy of a House Show: Bringing a College Music Scene to Smith

In a dimly lit basement, a stranger’s sweat seeps into my skin. My ears are beating from the indistinguishable rhythms of oppressively loud drum kits. Mosh pits merge and scatter around me as students headbang uncontrollably. This is the House Show, an essential component of the college music scene. 

Dear Diary: Alex Sloane On Her Debut EP and Life Online

In the TikTok era of music, artists have less than 15 seconds to hook an audience with a catchy enough song to keep them interested. Independent artist and producer from Los Angeles, Alex Sloane, is one of the artists utilizing the platform to reach an audience. Her recently released EP, “Dear Diary,” features self-produced songs that combine dreamy pop vocals with 8-bit-inspired beats. Sloane’s TikTok and Instagram feeds showcase clips of her writing in her diary, lounging in her heart-shaped bed, or going on earmuffed hot girl walks while her most popular hits play. Sloane is currently featured on two Spotify-curated playlists, “Fresh Finds Pop” and “Dope AF” (featuring TikTok star Bella Poarch on its cover). 

Beyond the Canon: Smith Alumna Returns in “Songs from Women of Pan America”

Mezzo-Soprano Dr. Rachel Day Velarde ‘94 returned to Smith on Feb. 19 to perform “Songs from Women of Pan America,” a recital featuring women composers from across North and South America, accompanied by Dr. Luis Rodriguez, a pianist and music educator at Grand Canyon University.