Categories
Band/Artist Profile

Slept On: Mario Judah

21 year-old artist Mario Judah exists in the musical Twilight Zone: a place where Breaking Benjamin meets A Boogie, Pantera meets Playboi Carti, and Ozzy Osbourne meets Offset. While this may seem like an odd juxtaposition at first, the fusion of rap and rock is nothing new – just look at artists like Three 6 Mafia, Limp Bizkit, and Cypress Hill. However, Mario Judah has breathed new life into the tradition with his unique delivery and trap instrumentation.

Music video for “Die Very Rough” by Mario Judah

Judah saw success in September of this year with the single “Die Very Rough”, which combines melody and melodrama through a vocal delivery that has been compared to that of a Disney villain. With the addition of a horror film themed music video, the song was slated to become a meme – which is exactly what happened when it exploded on TikTok. Despite the novelty of “Die Very Rough”, Judah has undeniable singing chops and has been producing beats since his teenage years. Released in June, “Crush” forecasted the success of “Die Very Rough” and proved his sound is more than a gimmick – it’s his brand.

Music video for “Crush” by Mario Judah

In the age of viral fame, getting our attention is easy – the hard part is maintaining it. Will Mario Judah enter the hallowed halls of horrorcore as an artist that blurs the line between rap and rock? Or will he fade into meme rap obscurity and join the ranks of 6ix9ine and Ugly God? Now that he has the spotlight, only time will tell what he does with it.

– DJ Mango

Categories
Weekly Charts

Daytime Charts 10/27

ArtistRecordLabel
1SLOW PULPMoveysWinspear
2MAMALARKYMamalarky [Advance Tracks]Fire Talk
3KISSISSIPPI“Around Your Room” [Single]Triple Crown
4BUMPERPop Songs 2020 [EP]Self-Released
5OBSCURA HAILSirenDot Dash
6TUNE-YARDS“nowhere, man.” [Single]4AD/Beggars Group
7IDLESUltra MonoPartisan
8SUPERCRUSHSODO PopDon Giovanni
9YVES JARVISSundry Rock Song StockAnti-
10TAPEWORMSFuntastic [Advance Tracks]Howlin’ Banana
11PAPI SHIITAKEQuarantine Dream [EP]Trash Casual
12MILDLIFEAutomaticHeavenly/PIAS
13TOMBERLIN“Wasted” [Single]Saddle Creek
14SHY BOYSTalk LoudPolyvinyl
15BLACK SOPRANO FAMILYBlack Soprano FamilyeOne
16COOKIEE KAWAIIClub Soda, Vol. 2The Cookiee Jar/EMPIRE
17YAEJIWhat We DrewXL/Beggars Group
18BBYMUTHAMuthalandSelf-Released
19KASH DOLLStackedRepublic 
20CLIPPINGVisions Of Bodies Being BurnedSub Pop
21OSEESProtean ThreatCastle Face
22MINT FIELDSentimiento MundialFelte
23TOBI LOULive On IceEmpire
24SIR CHLOEParty Favors [EP]Terrible
25DIVINE INTERFACESeeking Arrangements2MR
26HOOK“Street People” [Single]GC
27KENNEDY ONE“Gravity” (Phaeleh Remix) [Single]Self-Released
28LIV.ECouldn’t Wait To Tell You…In Real Life
29YOUNG FLETCHER“Energy” [Single]Stack Dollars Empire
30EARTHGANG“Powered Up” [Single]Dreamville/Interscope



TOP ADDS

ArtistRecordLabel
1JULIEN BAKER“Faith Healer” [Single]Matador/Beggars Group
2SOFT BLUE SHIMMER“Cherry-Cola Abyss” [Single]Disposable America
3MISE EN SCENEWinnipeg, CaliforniaLight Organ
4ARLO PARKSCollapsed In Sunbeams [Advance Tracks]Transgressive
5CLOUD NOTHINGS“Am I Something” [Single]Carpark
6GREGOR“Love Echoes Loud” [Single]Chapter
7OHMME“Mine” b/w “Miasma” [Single]Sub Pop
8NUDE PARTY, THEMidnight ManorNew West
9STEVIE DINNERTrue StorySelf-Released
10KEEGAN POWELL“Rock N Roll Kind of Night” [Single]real rumpus
Categories
Weekly Charts

Chainsaw Charts 10/27

ArtistRecordLabel
1CRANIAL CONTAMINATION“Hive Mind” [Single]RealityFade 
2JUSTICE FOR THE DAMNEDPain Is PowerSelf-Released
3AC/DC“Shot In The Dark” [Single]Columbia
4CARCASS “The Long and Winding Bier Road” [Single]Nuclear Blast 
5KATAKLYSMUnconqueredNuclear Blast
6FIT FOR A KING The Path Solid State 
7MAKE THEM SUFFER How To Survive A FuneralRise
8SIX FEET UNDER Nightmares Of The DecomposedMetal Blade
9INGESTEDWhere Only Gods May TreadUnique Leader
10ALPHA WOLFA Quiet Place To DieSharp Tone
Categories
Weekly Charts

Underground Charts 10/27

ArtistRecordLabel
1SONNY MILESGamma [EP]Stay Sonny
2LIV.EHoopdreams [EP]Dolfin
3GABRIEL GARZON MONTANOAguitaJagjaguwar
4NESS HEADS“Pull Me Up” [Single]Ness Heads
5LEIKELI47“Zoom” [Single]Hardcover
6CITY GIRLSCity On LockQuality Control
7BLOOD ORANGENegro Swan (ft. Diddy & Tei Shi)Domino
8KNXWLEDGE1988 (Ninety Eighty Eight)Stones Throw
9Y CHIBI“Two Face” [Single]Perpetual Influx
10ETHEREAL“Yeh!” [Single]Easy
Categories
Weekly Charts

Afterhours Charts 10/27

ArtistRecordLabel
1JACQUES GREENEDawn ChorusLucky Me
2YAEJIWhat We DrewXL/Beggars Group
3KENNEDY ONEMetropolis [EP]Self-Released
4ARCAKiCk iXL/Beggars Group
5BORN AT MIDNITEBorn At MidniteArbutus 
6SG LEWIS“Impact” feat. Robyn & Channel Tres [Single]PMR/EMI/Jasmine
7CHARLOTTE DOS SANTOSHarvest Time [EP]Because
8HIMERAMore Than Friends [EP]unseelie
9SYSTEM OLYMPIADelta of VenusHuntleys+Palmers
10FLOATING POINTSCrushNinja Tune
Categories
New Album Review

Album of the Week: Justice For The Damned – Pain Is Power (2020)

I have never heard of Justice For The Damned until I heard this album. It showed up on my feed from Spotify as a recommendation for me to listen to and I am so glad it did. This album has easily become one of my favorites! The riffs are nasty, blast beats are immaculate, and the vocals… iconic. 

This band has a good mix between metalcore/deathcore and hardcore: the vocals are very deathcore with his deep growls and screams, paired with blast beats makes a perfect combo for metalcore/deathcore fans. The band also incorporates some two step riffs and beats in there in order to give their music a bouncy sound, which will please the hardcore kids. 

Pain Is Power is Justice For The Damned’s second album and the title says it all: pain is in fact, power. The record sounds violent and angry (which I LOVE) but that’s not the only thing this album has to offer. The theme behind this album is to take something that is painful, traumatic, or negative, and turn it into something positive; something powerful. This album is filled with personal, political, and philosophical material. I love this album solely because I find a new theme each time. The record has a little bit of everything and it is sure to have your heads banging. 

To me, this album is inspirational because it is telling a story of suffering, but not having that suffering drown you. It’s about fighting back and turning that suffering into something that cannot destroy you. This record is filled with emotions and y’all know I love it when you can feel the emotions that the artists have put into their work. It also has some features from Matt Honeycutt (Kublai Khan) on the song Guidance From The Pain, and Joe Badolato (Fit For An Autopsy) on the song Final Cataclysm. 

This album is the heaviest and well-produced album the Justice For The Damned has to date. I believe that it will help launch their career, not only in the Australian metal scene, but worldwide. 

Favorite Songs: 

Sinking Into The Floor, Machine of War, No Peace At The Feet Of Your Master, and Final Cataclysm. 

Rating: 8.5/10!! 

What are some of your favorite songs off of Pain Is Power? 

Stay Metal, 

THE SAW 

Categories
DJ Highlights

New Kids on the Block

What a happy day here at WKNC!! We just got a whole new batch of DJ’s that cannot wait to spin some of your next favorite songs! Here is a brief introduction to the new kids on the block! Tune into their shifts on WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2 either on our website, wknc.org, or through the Radio FX App! Search for WKNC and both our HD-1 and HD-2 stations will appear! Happy listening! 

MUSEUM MADDIE:

How you came up with your DJ name: I LOVE museums!! My nickname is Maddie and I thought combining them would be a fun DJ name. 

Format you will be DJ-ing on (chainsaw rock, daytime, underground, or afterhours) (HD-1 or HD-2): Daytime! I am currently on HD-2.

When your shift is (day & time): Wednesdays at 6pm

Your all-time favorite album and why: Mamma Mia! The Movie Soundtrack. Perfect for any occasion. Or Phoebe Bridgers Stranger in the Alps.

Your top 5 favorite artists/bands: Harry Styles, Hippo Campus, Phoebe Bridgers, Caamp, One Direction <333

3 BEARS IN A COAT:

How you came up with your DJ name: Taking the idea of two kids in a trench coat to its logical extreme, plus “I’m 3 Bears in a Coat” is a great line.

Format you will be DJ-ing on (chainsaw rock, daytime, underground, or afterhours) (HD-1 or HD-2): Nighttime (daytime rock) on HD-2

When your shift is (day & time): Tuesdays at 8 pm

Your all-time favorite album and why: One Big Beautiful Sound by Johnny Manchild and the Poor Bastards is probably my all-time favorite album. Every song is a certified bop, and the title track is one of the most fun, chaotic pieces of music I’ve ever heard.

Your top 5 favorite artists/bands: Ace of Hearts, Johnny Manchild and the Poor Bastards, Ryan Caraveo, The Midnight Club, and WATERS.

DJ SUMATRA:

How you came up with your DJ name: There’s really not much of a story behind the inspiration. I went to a coffee shop that sold Sumatran coffee before one of my in-studio training sessions, and I just put two and two together because I thought it would sound cool.

Format you will be DJ-ing on (chainsaw rock, daytime, underground, or afterhours) (HD-1 or HD-2): Right now, I co-host a nighttime rock (daytime rock) show called The Cool and Chill Houron HD2.

When your shift is (day & time): Thursday at 7 PM.

Your all-time favorite album and why: My favorite album is probably London Calling by The Clash. I don’t think there’s any bad songs on that album, and all of them are ahead of their time and eclectic in their own unique ways.

Your top 5 favorite artists/bands: The Clash, Elvis Costello, Mac Miller, MGMT, and Oasis.

DJ HRLN:

How you came up with your DJ name: My DJ name is a twist on the classic trend of having your DJ name just be your first and last name, like Carl Cox or Richie Hawtin. I like the appeal of having a clean name like DJ Harlan, but at the same time I felt that it was a little boring. So, I decided to remove the a’s, making it DJ HRLN while still being pronounced like Harlan.

Format you will be DJ-ing on (chainsaw rock, daytime, underground, or afterhours) (HD-1 or HD-2): Afterhours on HD-2 with my show “The Clubs Closed”

When your shift is (day & time):  5:00 to 6:00pm EST on Fridays. I do bi-weekly live mixes with my DJ deck playing everything from Techno and Trance to Eurodance. Between each live mix, I play sets from my favorite DJ’s around the world and across various genres of electronic music.

Your all-time favorite album and why: My all-time favorite album has to be Innerspeaker by Tame Impala. I have a soft-spot for Australian psychedelic/indie rock and this album has a perfect mix of trippy guitar riffs and drum rhythms that you can air jam to and sick vocals. I will never get tired of listening to this album front to back, and I highly recommend a listen if you haven’t heard of it before!

Your top 5 favorite artists/bands: In no particular order, my top 5 artists right now are Ecco2k, FJAAK, Tame Impala, 100 gecs, and Partiboi69.

DJ SLIME: 

How you came up with your DJ name: The name is inspiration by the Goosebumps logo. I wanted something spooky and green is my favorite color. I think it would be nice to live a life of green slime oozing out from behind different children’s horror books.

Format you will be DJ-ing on (chainsaw rock, daytime, underground, or afterhours) (HD-1 or HD-2): Nighttime rock on HD-2. 

When your shift is (day & time): Thursdays at 9pm

Your all-time favorite album and why: My favorite album of all time is Burn Pygmalion: A Better Guide to Romance by The Scary Jokes. This is because they got me through the beginnings of quarantine back in March.

Your top 5 favorite artists/bands: My top 5 artists and bands are Joji, The Scary Jokes, Rex Orange County, Sure Sure, and The Shins.

MONAVEE:

How you came up with your DJ name: My title is a nickname derived from my middle name, Simone. My mom always comes up with random nicknames, and Mona V was one of them. She has become my designated alter ego; whose name varies in spelling depending on the occasion.

Format you will be DJ-ing on (chainsaw rock, daytime, underground, or afterhours) (HD-1 or HD-2): Afterhours on HD-2

When your shift is (day & time): I actually haven’t signed up for my first shift yet so we’ll see. I’ll definitely be on in the late hours, though.

Your all-time favorite album and why: It’s really hard to narrow one down but for now, I’ll say that my all-time favorite is Breath From Another by Esthero. It was a childhood favorite that used to play while I slept and it continues to age well. The fusions of trip hop and R&B, along with the lamenting tone throughout, have always connected with me. It’s a lovely project.

Your top 5 favorite artists/bands: Pharrell, Hiatus Kaiyote, Jon Bap, A Tribe Called Quest, and Little Dragon.

T-TIME: 

How you came up with your DJ name or what inspired it: There was a guy in high school who would call me that. I never knew if he was saying “T-Time” or “T-Tom.” I assumed the first because he played a lot of golf. Then I start the DJ training class and Laura calls me T-Time a couple of times (I think it’s hilarious, given that they had no idea). 

Format you will be DJ-ing on (chainsaw rock, daytime, underground, or afterhours) (HD-1 or HD-2): Daytime on HD-2.

When your shift is (day & time): Mondays at 9pm-10pm.

Your all-time favorite album and why: Brother, Sister by mewithoutYou is my favorite album. It’s the group’s third studio album and was created during a time during the band’s transition from a hardcore/emo sound to a more acoustic/folk sound. mwY’s combination of two very dissimilar genres works so well, taking lyrical themes from Jewish, Islamic, and Bhuddist philosophy and poems. The vocals are by far my favorite part of the album (and the band in general), it’s not really “singing” but more like reciting deeply personal poetry. There’s passion on every track and generally, a must-listen for anyone! This album is so diverse, I think anyone can find at least one song they like off Brother, Sister.

Your top 5 favorite artists/bands: Jack White, mewithoutYou, Smashing Pumpkins, David Bowie, Cap’n Jazz.

Categories
Classic Album Review

Album Review: What The Heck Is This And Why Did I Download It Edition

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vZGeHBfxU0

If you are anything like me, the organization process on your music streaming app is a little chaotic. My YouTube music library is split into more tabs and sections than I know what to do with, and it’s not uncommon for me to completely forget what an album or video was supposed to be before I even listen to it. I always cherish these little mix-ups because they give me the opportunity to click play on something without the faintest preconception of what’s on the other side. Usually, I remember where I encountered an album after the first couple of songs, but this time… I’ve got to admit I’m stuck. This album has been on my phone for the better part of 8 months, and out of some masochistic exercise in music writing, I’ve decided to forgo any investigation as to what is or where it came from before writing this article.

So, what is “Suzanne Ciani – Buchla concerts 1975 (full album)?” Well, I’m not quite sure, but I know I like it.  The album is entirely electronic, and as such I assume it must have been at the very forefront of synthesizer technology, considering the sheer range of sound presented on it. It’s also clear that Ciani has a great deal of musical talent, in addition to her technological knowledge, because despite being almost entirely atonal, the songs have a clear progression and resonance that is rare even among the best avant-garde musicians. The songs have structure, they have an emotional impact, and judging by the recording, they were consistent and planned enough to be reproducible in concert. They aren’t mere technical demonstrations or conceptual pieces, they were crafted. This puts Ciani a flying leap ahead of her contemporaries, obvious comparison points like Steve Reich and Wendy Carlos were yet to really make the leap into fully electronically compositions. Reich was, at that time, just layering electronic sounds in procedural ways, while Carlos was playing Bach pieces on a synthesizer and calling it a day.

It would appear that Ciani was also had a great deal of influence on the course of electronic music. The more aggressive moments in this are reminiscent of the noise and power electronic bands that were to come. Had she come onto the scene a few years later, Ciani could have been a musical match for Merzbow or Prurient. She also has a great deal of classical appeal, which judging by the short audience interludes on this album, was her target demographic then. If you have any interest in these genres, or just want to take a blind leap into something altogether strange and exciting, I highly recommend this album. And if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to google this women’s name so I can find out the many dumb mistakes and obvious oversights I made in writing this article.

-Aidan Farmer

Categories
New Album Review

Album Review: Party Favors

You may or may not be aware by now, but possibly one of the best things to come out of this god-awful year is about to drop down to us from the heavens. With a beautiful mix of eccentric guitar riffs and resonating lyrics, “Party Favors” by Sir Chloe has quickly made its spot at the top of my list of albums this year. But who is Sir Chloe, and how have they made such quick success before dropping even a single album? 

Sir Chloe is far from a one man show, but it owes its fame to the vocalist and lead guitarist, Dana Foote, who formed the band with her brother and two friends as her senior year thesis at Bennington College. They released their debut single, Animal, in February of 2019. Since then they have been working meticulously on a debut album, periodically releasing a few singles here and there.

We had the pleasure of getting the album a few days early, and after a thorough listen I can wholeheartedly say that this is my new favorite album of 2020. The list starts off with Squaring Up, a song that emulates the feeling of trying not to fall for someone who you know is bad for you. Another favorite of mine is Untie You, which comes fourth on the album. However, my favorite song by far is Sedona. The song is placed perfectly on the album and is an incredible mix of a light indie background instrumental with heavier rock lyrics.

“Party Favors” is a project that has been in the works for a long time now, but the time and effort have produced something that sounds complete, and hopefully it will get the recognition it deserves. 

Hope you guys enjoy the music, 
-DJ Chippypants 

Categories
Miscellaneous

Tips for Learning a New Language

Written By Miranda Owen

I am a Senior in Political Science at NC State, but to fulfill my major’s requirements I decided to take on a difficult challenge: spending two years studying Japanese language. I took beginner lessons in Spanish during high school, but going in-depth to learn a language and taking college courses is a lot more difficult (but rewarding too). Improving my foreign language skills has been a long journey but I have acquired many different tips for learning a new language. 

Listen to Music

Something that’s really helped me expand my vocabulary and practice pronunciation is listening to and learning songs in my target language. Listening to foreign music can expose you to different cultural elements and help you practice your skills anywhere, at anytime. 

Try Quizlet 

I have loved Quizlet to help out with all of my classes but especially Japanese. I can review everything I’ve learned so far quickly, and it’s just like using flashcards but with less paper waste and no chance of losing your work. 

Start a Journal 

It really helps to write as much as possible in your target language, especially if you’re learning a language that has a unique alphabet and characters such as Japanese or Arabic. I use a bullet journal to help me track my progress learning the language and write a few lines about how my week is going. Writing your own thoughts in your target language can help you practice grammar, writing, and vocabulary. 

Reading Books or Comics 

Likewise, it’s helpful to read books or, if you’re also studying Japanese, manga. I’ve found that books targeted toward a younger audience – like teen novels are easier to read but still entertaining. 

Games and TV 

Taking in any type of media that’s spoken in your target language can help you take in new vocabulary and get exposed to more casual, modern speaking styles. For this purpose I absolutely love learning Japanese by watching Japanese reality TV like Terrace House. I love it because I can learn how people my age talk to each other  (this is really important if there are different dialects or honorifics you need to learn). 

Join Practice Groups 

Whether you’re studying with a class or learning solo, it really helps to talk to people on your skill level and practice together. The students in my class have a Discord to discuss in, and I am also a part of some Facebook groups for practicing the language. It’s great to socialize while practicing your skills and getting some new ones as well.