Author: Caitlin

Howdy, I'm Caitlin and I'm a senior in Communication Media. My favorite genres of music are pop and indie-rock, though I dabble in most genres. Hope you enjoy my content!

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Life as a Music TikToker with Carly Bogie (@hahakcoolgtgbye)

Graphic with white text and an orange and green background that says "Interview with Carly Bogie @hahakcoolgtgbye"

Carly Bogie is a TikToker, Spotify playlist curator, and music lover. I first stumbled across Carly on TikTok (@hahakcoolgtgbye), where she was showing her audience a playlist she had made. I’ve been following her for months as her following has increased and so has her quality of content. Carly has amassed over 66 thousand followers on TikTok, and her Spotify closely follows that number, clocking in at over 65 thousand followers. With over 200 public playlists, some with thousands of followers, encapsulating themes from Harry Potter houses, colors and enneagram placements, Carly has perfected the art of making playlists.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Carly and talking about all things music.

What inspired you to start making music TikToks? And what came first: your TikTok or your music Instagram?

I’ve always been someone who really loves music and I love talking about music and finding new artists… and sharing new music with my friends. And it kind of got to the point where I was like, I’m talking to my friends so much about music, like, they’re probably getting so annoyed, it’d be fun to have an outlet where I can… do that. And me and one of my friends were kind of joking around and being like, oh, like, let’s see, like, who can get famous on TikTok first, but then I started posting stuff about music and a few of them… kind of took off a little bit. And I was like, oh, there’s a place for this… I can start doing this more and people are… interested in what I have to say… So that was really cool. It kind of just came out of nowhere, like I wasn’t really expecting anything to come out of it. But it’s been…a super cool experience. […] And then yeah, my music Instagram kind of came… a few months into it. I think I just wanted… a place where I could talk more about it. And I think it was around the time where like, people were like, “Oh is TikTok going to be like taking down?…” And so I.. decided that like, the next step could be a music Instagram. And that’s been super nice. Because, like, I don’t know, I’d also been getting a lot of DMs from artists or people like you, who wanted to talk about music and stuff. So it’s nice to have a place on Instagram to do that.

I follow another music TikToker who has a Patreon, where you can pay to have her make a playlist for you. Would that be something you ever are interested in doing? Or has there been any other opportunities that have come from this that you haven’t expected? Or are you mainly just doing it for fun?

I guess the things that I’ve done that are more like, people ask me to do stuff… is more like promoting people’s music or… adding it to my playlist or talking about it on TikTok or Instagram or stuff like that. So yeah, that’s all been stuff I never expected… to come into. I’ve been approached by some record labels… who have asked to work with me. Like, that’s all been stuff I never expected. I never expected to be a part of the music industry in that way. It’s been a super cool experience.

So you go to college right, and what’s your major, is it related to the stuff you’re doing with music and TikTok?

I’m actually a chemical engineering major. So like, my major is completely outside of what I do with music and stuff. I guess music and making playlists, especially at first, was just kind of … a creative outlet. In high school, I did a lot more art along with the science and stuff. But in college, I hadn’t been able to do that as much. Making playlists is a way to like, have that creative outlet that I could do while still focusing on school and stuff. So it’s, yeah, it’s very much a separate part of what I’m studying. But now that I’ve gotten more into it, I have started to consider, like, career wise, this is something I could do. I have some opportunities within the music industry. Yeah, we’ll see. 

Your Tik Tok blew up before your Spotify. Did you gain a lot of Spotify followers from this?

Yeah, I guess they kind of blew up around the same time. Like, from my TikTok people went straight to my Spotify because like that’s what it was all about.

Which of your own playlists do you like to listen to the most? I feel like a lot of what you do is you’re making things for like other people but what’s the one that you personally gravitate to more?

It really depends. I go through phases of liking different things. I have the main emoji ones (see below) which are ones I’ll normally turn on if I just, like, want something easy to listen to in the car or whatever. My playlist “song of the day” that’s not as much a curated playlist it’s more just the songs I really like at the moment. […] I really like to have ones that are for the specific moods I’m feeling.

Carly’s “emoji” playlists

Do you have any music like guilty pleasures?

I am a huge One Direction fan. Like, probably way too much. And it always makes me laugh because like, I … have like thousands of followers on Spotify who can see what I’m listening to… and I’m supposed to be like this cool indie music person. But I feel like half of the time I just shuffle One Direction.

How much time do you spend making TikToks and Spotify playlists?

It really depends. So normally, I just listen to music throughout the day. So, I’m constantly updating playlists, and listening to new stuff. So that’s the kind of stuff I do like, while I’m working at school or studying. And then I try to do TikTok stuff or Instagram stuff for about an hour. …Yeah, it really depends. On weekends I have more time to do stuff like that. 

Your favorite band is Hippo Campus, what is your favorite song by them? I know there’s so many to choose from but are there any that stick out to you?

Yeah, the one I normally say is “Bambi.” I love that song a lot. The lyrics are just so good. And I have a lot of good memories associated with it. That’s probably my favorite. But I also like “Baseball” and “Golden” on occasion. Like sometimes I’ll say those but like, I feel like “Bambi” is the one that sticks with me the most.

You can find Carly on TikTok, Instagram and Spotify.

Categories
New Album Review

Lorde is Back and Happier Than Ever

The day that Lorde fans have been waiting for has finally arrived: new Lorde music. After nearly four years without any new music, and with her general absence from the internet, Lorde fans have been aching for any hint of a return. There was even a ruckus when she rebooted her onion rings review Instagram account.

There have been stirrings on the internet for a while that she might come back this summer, and the other day when the album cover was posted by Jack Antonoff (her producer and long-time collaborator) on Instagram, fans knew her return was imminent. With the title “Solar Power,” and Lorde’s connection to nature (see: her trip to Antarctica), there was an assumption that the song would come out on June 21st, the day of the summer solstice.

On Thursday, June 11th there began to be rumors that the song was coming out that day at 6pm EST. This caused a panic, and there were even a few short minutes where the song was available to stream on Amazon Music, Tidal and Apple Music multiple hours before the supposed release. The song was quickly removed, but leaks spread like wildfire because of this error.

With backing vocals from Claire Cottrill (better known as Clairo) and Phoebe Bridgers, Lorde has branched out in a lot of ways. The track is mellow and happy, distinguishing itself from her past work, which is often introspective and moody.

The music video feels a lot like Mamma Mia: full of feminine energy, carefree happiness and a general aura of light and love. I know I’ve said the pressure of having a “song of the summer” can be an overwhelming premise, but this genuinely feels like the pop song of the summer.

In an email to her mailing list, she told fans that “Solar Power” was also the name of the album. She described the upcoming album as a “celebration of the natural world.” She also said that fans should “look to the natural calendar for clues” about when she might drop her album. Immediately, fans began looking up when the next solar and lunar events were, scrambling to figure out when it may come.

If we know one thing, it’s that this Lorde era is going to be unlike anything she’s ever done before. 

Categories
DJ Highlights Miscellaneous

How I Came Up With My DJ Name

So, this past spring semester I applied to be a DJ at WKNC. After writing blogs for them for a few months, I wanted to become more involved, and that seemed like the next logical step in my journey. They thankfully accepted me into their DJ course, and next thing you know, I’m a DJ for WKNC.

An important part of becoming a DJ is choosing the right DJ name. As DJ Psyched details in their post “My Time at WKNC,” coming up with a DJ name is hard. I struggled a lot, kept notes in my phone of potential DJ names (some of which included DJ Castaway and Julius), and continually asked the people around me what I should do.

Eventually, a few people suggested CC, which was my nickname for a bit in middle school. At first I laughed it off and continued brainstorming, but I kept returning to CC. Eventually I got to thinking about what CC stands for in different contexts; my first thought was how CC stands for “carbon copy” in emails. I repeated “carbon copy” over and over to myself, and it just felt right. I decided to omit the “DJ” title because I thought “carbon copy” on its own sounded cooler, and the rest is history.

Then it came time for me to create a show name, which I struggled with for a bit as well. I stared at the Google Form that I was filling out for a long time, thinking what fit in with my show’s premise that could uphold the email theme that I had set for myself. Seemingly out of nowhere it hit me, “The Indie Inbox.” Without a second thought I submitted the Google Form, thus solidifying myself as carbon copy, host of the Indie Inbox.

If you want to hear an eclectic mix of the best of indie pop, indie rock, math rock and more, you can tune into The Indie Inbox every Wednesday this summer at 1:00pm.

Until next time,

Caitlin

Categories
Miscellaneous

Dream Festival Lineup

WKNC 88.1 blog

I love music (obviously), and I love live music, but the premise of a music festival has always sounded like a lot to me. I’m fairly introverted, so three straight days of dawn to dusk music in a desert with no phone service doesn’t quite pique my interest. However, after being deprived of live music for quite some time, festival lineups are coming out again, and I’ve been contemplating what the lineup would have to be for me to cave and buy tickets for a music festival.

Inspired by DJ Butter’s post about this a few weeks ago, I decided to come up with my very own dream festival line up.

After much deliberation, time, and stalking of my last.fm and Spotify, I came up with a list of artists that I would love to see all at one music festival. As I was compiling the list I realized how eclectic my music taste is, and how far fetched it is that all of these people would ever be in the same place. Nevertheless, it was fun to pretend.

With that being said, here is my (tentative) dream festival lineup.

Poster made on https://festivalpostergenerator.com/

HEADLINERS AND MY DREAM SETLISTS

Doja Cat

Seeing Doja Cat live would be so much fun, she really knows how to put on a show and all of her songs are bangers. If she were to headline, this would be my dream setlist for her to perform.

  1. “Rules”
  2. “MOOO!”
  3. “Best Friend”
  4. “Boss B-tch”
  5. “Tia Tamera”
  6. “Streets”
  7. “Like That”
  8. “Kiss Me More”
  9. “Candy”
  10. “Juicy”
  11. “Say So”

Lorde

I’ve been a fan of Lorde for years and would absolutely love to finally see her live. If she were to headline, this would be my dream setlist for her to perform.

  1. “Homemade Dynamite”
  2. “The Louvre:
  3. “Sober”
  4. “Royals”
  5. “Ribs”
  6. “Liability”
  7. “Hard Feelings/Loveless”
  8. “400 Lux”
  9. “A World Alone”
  10. “Perfect Places”
  11. “Supercut”
  12. “Liability (Reprise)”
  13. “Green Light”

Frank Ocean

The elusive Frank Ocean was actually supposed to headline Coachella in 2020, but unfortunately, Coachella did not happen last year. If he were to headline at my festival, this would be my dream setlist for him to perform.

  1. “Thinkin Bout You”
  2. “In My Room”
  3. “White Ferrari”
  4. “Self Control”
  5. “Super Rich Kids”
  6. “Chanel”
  7. “Bad Religion”
  8. “Forrest Gump”
  9. “Sweet Life”
  10. “DHL”
  11. “Solo”
  12. “Pyramids”
  13. “Skyline To”
  14. “Nights”
  15. “Biking”
  16. “Ivy”
  17. “Slide”

This was a lot of fun to think and theorize about, so if you’re ever looking for something to do, try planning a fake music festival.

Until next time,

Caitlin

Categories
Classic Album Review

“Let Yourself Go” by Haley Blais Review

"Let Yourself Go" EP Cover by Haley Blais
EP Cover: "Let Yourself Go" - Haley Blais

ALBUM: “Let Yourself Go” (EP) by Haley Blais

RELEASE YEAR: 2018

LABEL: No label / Independent

RATING: 9.5/10

BEST TRACKS: “Seventeen” and “Small Foreign Faction”

FCC: Explicit

Haley Blais is a force to be reckoned with in the indie music world, and  her 2018 release “Let Yourself Go” is definitive proof of that. This timeless five-song EP encapsulates young adulthood, with songs about growing out of adolescence and growing into yourself. 

Blais, a Canadian YouTuber with over 170,000 subscribers, certainly knows how to relate to an audience. And while her lyrics and songs are relatable, they aren’t cheap. This EP walks the line of good lyricism and relatability while still managing to be authentic, a merit that many fail to achieve. Tracks “Seventeen” and “Remove Tag” are the only ones based on her real life experiences, which she stated in the description of the “Remove Tag” music video. The music video along with the lyrics tell a tale of her a friend tagging her in a really unflattering picture of herself on Instagram. “Seventeen,” my personal favorite on the EP, has lyrics about growing into adulthood when you feel like your teen years were somewhat unfulfilling.

Blais’ voice floats easily from track to track, making the EP a cohesive sounding unit, while the instrumentals make each song unique. The heavy use of ukulele makes the songs feel springy and bright, perfect for summer listening. Although it is somewhat a “feel good” EP, it still has substance and doesn’t feel kitschy or lacking at any point.

Blais released this EP and her previous work without the help of a label, but has since been signed to Tiny Kingdom Music Inc.

Categories
Miscellaneous

“The Anthropocene Reviewed,” Reviewed.

The Anthropocene Reviewed
Photo credit https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_Green_2020_(C6txQ5yn5S8).jpg. Adapted with permission under the creative commons license, original image derived from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6txQ5yn5S8&t=3m58s.

“The Anthropocene Reviewed” is a series of essays written by John Green, reviewing “different facets of the human-centered planet on a five star scale.” What originally started as a podcast produced by Complexly and WNYC studios in January of 2018, eventually became John Green’s first non-fiction book in May of 2021. It debuted as the number one New York Times bestseller.

Anthropocene is a word that describes the modern era, or the current geological age, where humans are affecting everything on the planet. Green credits his brother, Hank Green, in the introduction of the book with saying, “As a person… your biggest problem is other people. You are vulnerable to people, and reliant upon them. But imagine instead you are a twenty-first-century river, or desert or polar bear. Your biggest problem is still people. You are still vulnerable to them, and reliant upon them.” I quite like that definition of anthropocene.

“As a person… your biggest problem is other people. You are vulnerable to people, and reliant upon them. But imagine instead you are a twenty-first-century river, or desert or polar bear. Your biggest problem is still people. You are still vulnerable to them, and reliant upon them.”

— John Green quoting his brother Hank Green in “The Anthropocene Reviewed”

This accessible series of essays includes various excerpts, often-times vulnerable, from Green’s life up to this point. Several of the essays include mentions of his struggles with faith, OCD and depression. I think it’s best to go into the book somewhat blind, but also to be on the lookout for hidden reviews throughout. 

Despite having listened to the podcast regularly before reading the book, it still felt fresh and honest, not recycled or contrived. The book excludes some previous podcast episode topics, and includes brand new essays. My favorite essays? “Harvey,” “Super Mario Kart” and “The World’s Largest Ball of Paint.”

Summed up in three words/phrases, “The Anthropocene Reviewed” is honest, charming, and thought-provoking.

Green ends each essay with a rating of the topic on a five-star scale, so I’ll do the same for this review. I give “The Anthropocene Reviewed” five stars. 

Until next time,

Caitlin

Categories
Playlists

Songs of the Summer

summer tunes

Every year, a bunch of artists come out of the woodwork claiming they have “the song of the summer.” This is an overwhelming premise to me, as I just love so much music, so here are my songs (plural) of the summer. Many of these are not current, but it’s never too late to fall in love with a song, no matter how old it is. Without further ado, here are some summer tunes for you.

“Folding Chair” – Regina Spektor

A feel-good song about self-love, and the beach. With Spektor’s melodic and soft voice singing these sincere lyrics, you can’t help but smile.

Favorite Lyric: “I’ve got a perfect body, though sometimes I forget / I’ve got a perfect body ’cause my eyelashes catch my sweat”

“Stop Making This Hurt” – Bleachers

An almost overly-grandiose Bleachers song with melancholic lyrics released right as summers starting? Sign me up.

Favorite Lyric: “But if we take the sadness out of Saturday night / I wonder what we’ll be left with, anything worth the fight?”

“You Don’t Do Laundry” – Dev Lemons and Stevie Powers

A song with lyrics detailing complaints of someone unaware of their own wealth and privilege, it’s also just insanely catchy.

Favorite Lyric: “Just so you know, no matter how rich I get (How rich I get) / I’d never talk to a dog the way you talk to your private chef”

“Goodbye Earl” – The Chicks

A country classic that I believe is the older sister to newer vengeful country songs like “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood and “no body, no crime” by Taylor Swift.

Favorite Lyric: “Well the weeks went by and / Spring turned to summer / And summer faded into fall”

“So Alright, Cool, Whatever” – The Happy Fits

An unapologetic love song (only bashful in the title), this is a track you can’t help but sing along to.

Favorite Lyric: “I wanna be dancing, dreaming, bawling and weeping / Over you all of my life”

“I Am Sunshine” – The Magic Gang

A somewhat kitschy but inevitably happy listening experience, The Magic Gang delivers a bright and happy track that made its way directly onto my summer playlist.

Favorite Lyric: “I am sunshine / In the August / Looking forward to the future”

As always, I’ve compiled these tunes into a playlist just for you. I’ll also give you my more extensive summer playlist, which I’ll be updating through August.

Until next time,

Caitlin

Categories
Playlists

Sad Songs for Being Sad

WKNC 88.1 blog

Some days, especially during summer, can be isolating and strange. I find it’s best to just let myself sit in it for a while, and to ride the wave. Here are some songs that let me wallow in that feeling for a bit.

“Demi Moore” – Phoebe Bridgers

There are many melancholic Phoebe Bridgers songs, it’s her niche and she does it well. “Demi Moore,” ends on an optimistic note, with the lyrics “I’ve got a good feeling / It doesn’t happen very often,” but the rest of the song is a yearning plea for love and comfort.

Saddest Lyric: “I’ve got a good feeling / It doesn’t happen very often”

“this is me trying” – Taylor Swift

With the pleading hook of “I just wanted you to know that this is me trying,” Swift does an excellent job of encapsulating the feeling of not knowing if your best is good enough for someone else.

Saddest Lyric: “They told me all of my cages were mental / So I got wasted like all my potential”

“Mind” – Declan McKenna

The semi-ambiguous lyrics and almost-whiny vocals combine for a uniquely sad ballad.

Saddest Lyric: “Why’d you keep changing your mind?”

“Static / Habit” – ADDIE

Another song about feeling like you’re too much for everyone around you, ADDIE sums up the feeling of being isolated from someone you love.

Saddest Lyric: “Am I a bad daughter and a bad friend? / I know that I’m easily replaced”

“Sullen Girl” – Fiona Apple

One of Apple’s more straightforward ballads, she uses the sea as an extended metaphor for a returning and chronic sadness.

Saddest Lyric: “And he took my pearl / And left an empty shell of me”

“Thinning” – Snail Mail

Snail Mail combines optimism and pessimism into one beautiful package in “Thinning,” a song about something just feeling off.

Saddest Lyric: “I don’t think there’s anything wrong / I don’t think there’s anything wrong”

I made a playlist of these songs especially for you, enjoy.

Until next time,

Caitlin

Categories
Miscellaneous

Tote Bag Essentials

Tote Bag Essentials

I used to not like carrying bags, it didn’t feel very authentic to me. That was until I discovered the beauty of tote bags. Here’s everything I carry in my bag on a day out.

Hand Sanitizer: I need clean hands, especially if I’m getting food. My hand sanitizer collection has doubled during the pandemic, so I have one in every bag, every room, and in a million other places.

Lanyard with keys: Well, of course, I have places to be, people to see, and I need to be able to get back into my apartment. My poor lanyard is hanging on by a thread because I’ve been using it every day for nearly two years now; needless to say, it’s well loved.

Wallet: Of course, an essential to take anywhere, unless I’m just going on a walk or something. It’s useful to have in case I spontaneously decide I need fast food while I’m out.

A snack: I pack these so I won’t be tempted to get fast food while I’m out (I love fast food, but my aforementioned wallet does not). Whether it be a granola bar, fruit snacks, beef jerky, chips, I always need a snack because I unfortunately get irritable when I’m hungry.

Chapstick: Much like my hand sanitizer collection, there’s a chapstick in every bag, every room, and every pocket. Although I often forget to apply it because I’m wearing a mask all the time, it’s always important to keep your lips hydrated and healthy.

Water: Speaking of hydrated and healthy, I need water with me everywhere. I’m always thirsty and I love my water bottle and all of it’s stickers (yes, there’s a WKNC sticker on there, of course). 

Mask: These are always good to have around nowadays, however, unlike my chapstick and hand sanitizer collection, there are only a select few that fit my face right, so I switch out the same few depending on whichever matches my vibe that day.

Scrunchie: Having my hair in my face drives me up the wall, so I always have one or two hair-ties (preferably a scrunchie that matches my outfit) on me.

Laptop: It’s where I write these very blogs, take all my notes, do homework, watch television, and more.

Everyone needs different items whilst they’re out, even my needs vary from day to day so here are some honorable mentions: chargers, headphones, a book, extra clothes, a blanket, and an extra hoodie.

But a tote is just a tote, and unlike Mary Poppins’ bag, cannot carry everything at once.

Until next time,

Caitlin

Categories
Miscellaneous

The Podcast Recommendation Spectacular

Watercolor background with text that reads "need a new podcast? look no further."

JOURNALISM

“You’re Wrong About” – Sarah Marshall and Michael Hobbes – ★★★★★

Three Word Summary: Relevant, eye-opening, bold

“You’re Wrong About” centers on things that have been misrepresented, misremembered, or misunderstood within American society. With topics ranging from the OJ Simpson trial to Anna Nicole Smith, they touch on people and events that they feel were failed by the media and/or general public. With a perfect mixture of pop culture, investigative journalism and social commentary, Michael Hobbes and Sarah Marshall pull back the curtain on who, what, when, where, why and how of societal misconceptions.

“Maintenance Phase” – Aubrey Gordon and Michael Hobbes – ★★★★★

Three Word Summary: Eye-opening, engrossing, education

“Maintenance Phase” is a podcast about debunking weight-loss myths, deconstructing anti-fat bias,and decentralizing thin people from the conversation about weight. With topics ranging from Dr. Oz to snake oil, they’re covering the ground to uncover the mythos behind “wellness” among other things.

“Mystery Show” – Starlee Kine – ★★★★☆

Three Word Summary: Human-interest, mystery, warm

Starlee Kine investigates small mysteries within her friends’ lives, refusing to give up until the mystery is solved. With cameos from Jake Gyllenhaal and Britney Spears, this unfortunately short-lived series is touching, warm and has a killer theme song (courtesy of Sparks).

COMEDY

“Wonderful!” – Rachel McElroy and Griffin McElroy – ★★★★★

Three Word Summary: Wholesome, hilarious, fun

What could possibly be better than a married couple doing mini deep-dives into things they love? That’s right, nothing. This former Bachelor(ette) fancast turned a wholesome hour of adoration and laughter, is amazing for every reason under the sun. (P.S. I use old episodes of this to fall asleep every night, and have for the last year, works like a charm). (P.P.S. Don’t use it just to fall asleep, definitely listen to the episodes).

“Dear Hank and John” – Hank Green and John Green – ★★★★☆

Three Word Summary: Dubious, tender, advice

An advice show with the brothers who taught me history and science on CrashCourse? Sign me up. Full disclosure, I am a huge fan of John and Hank Green and love just about everything they do. What this show lacks in useful advice, it makes up for in dubious tangents, dad jokes and news about Mars and AFC Wimbledon.

“My Brother, My Brother and Me” – Justin McElroy, Griffin McElroy, and Travis McElroy – ★★★★☆

Three Word Summary: Goofy, advice, Yahoo!

Another hilarious advice show by brothers, but this one launched all the way back in 2010. With hilarious bits, absurd questions (and answers), and sometimes the occasional guest. My favorite bit? Munch Squad, a look into the ridiculous press releases put out by fast food chains.

MISC.

“Duet” – Matthew Boll – ★★★★☆

Three Word Summary: Music, togetherness, celebrities

Each episode, two celebrity guests receive a prompt and then share songs that fit that prompt. It is simultaneously a talk show and a music show, so the audience gets to listen to the songs that the guests recommend. A notable concept with superb execution.

“Why Are Dads?” – Sarah Marshall and Alex Steed – ★★★★☆

Three Word Summary: Movies, fatherhood, tender

A bold, quippy podcast that looks at what it means to be an adult child of a dad, what fatherhood means and how masculinity plays into fatherhood, through the lens of movies. With analysis of movies ranging from “The Shining” (1980)  to “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014), Sarah Marshall and Alex Steed do an excellent job of examining core tenets of fatherhood and how they work their way into pop culture.