WKNC 88.1 FM - North Carolina State University Student RadioOak City Move 28: Saving Space Showcase
Sara and Jenaye speak to Saving Space Showcase, a music initiative that highlights minority artists and benefits charities. This episode also features an interview with NC State Student Body President Jackie Gonzalez and Vice President Mia Connell.
Oak City Move 27: Muslim Women For
Sara and Jenaye speak to Muslim Women For, a local advocacy group.
If I was allowed only one music source for the rest of my life, it would be Soundcloud. There are super small artists as well as the ones we all know and love, and everything in between. It’s a place for experiments with sound, music projects, podcasts and a platform for anyone to grow and be supported by other artists and fans.
The Soundcloud discovery I am most proud of is a low-fi/electronic artist by the name of pools. I’ve shown this account to a number of my friends, and no one has ever disliked it. I believe his sounds are innovative, relaxing and give me a new perspective on the world. For example, I usually hate mornings, but the first time I decided to play one of pools’ songs while I was walking to my 8:30 class, I actually felt uplifted and had a positive outlook on the rest of the day. It’s songs like these (the ones that motivate, help you recognize the good things in life, ask you to reflect) that are perfect examples of songs I love to discover and really show how good it can get on Soundcloud.
So, I encourage you to take a look at pools’ account! My favorite tracks are traffic lights and blue.
It’s been about a year since the account has been updated with new music, which is kind of disappointing. But who knows? Maybe we’ll be pleasantly surprised sometime soon!
Here’s the link to pools: Enjoy!
This was my first metalcore show of 2018, and it didn’t disappoint me at all! The last time I saw August Burns Red was at the Carolina Rebellion two years ago! When I saw that they were coming back to North Carolina, I didn’t hesitate to get my ticket! This tour supported the release of their new record, Phantom Anthem, that came out in October of 2017.
I got to Arizona Pete’s around 4 o’clock for the meet and greet that occurred around 5. The meet and greet and VIP experience with August Burns Red (ABR) was pretty cool. This was my sixth time getting VIP tickets. Individually, we got to meet the band and they all signed a poster for each of us. I small talked with the band during this time and I told them that I saw them at the Carolina Rebellion and that I am a metal college radio DJ for NC State’s radio station WKNC (if you aren’t listening to The Saw’s Butcher Shop on Friday nights from 10pm-midnight… you’re missing out). Every band that I have told that I am a DJ gets really excited and ABR was no different. They were really grateful and humbled that I play them on the radio and their singer said, “that’s so awesome, you’re literally the only person that will play us on the radio.” After the signing session, I got back in line and then we got a picture with the band (see pic above). When I showed up they all said, “look, it’s our favorite DJ!”
After the VIP experience, we were free to look at band merch and hang out before the show (you get to go in 30 minutes before doors open). I decided to stand right in front of the stage and wait for the bands to come on. My friend Savannah met up with me there and we jammed out in the front during the bands.
The first band to come on was Ocean Grove from Australia. Of course, when they said they were from Australia, we started a “USA” chant. Personally, I wanted to know if they knew the bands Parkway Drive, In Hearts Wake, and Thy Art is Murder (they too, are from Australia). The crowd didn’t really get into this band. The majority of the people just stood there. Savannah and I were dancing and moving to the beat every once in a while. They played Beers, Intimate Alien, and Thunderdome. They also got one of their friends to dress up like a Hooters girl and prance around on stage… that is an image I will never forget. He had the outfit, fake boobs, and a wig.
The second band was Erra. The crowd got into them a little bit more, but nothing major. There were some mosh pits here and there and of course, I was in the front jamming out, like always. They played some of their hits such as Drift, Seven, and Skyline.
Up next were my boys in Born of Osiris (BOO). I have seen them a handful of times and they never disappoint me. When they came out, the entire venue exploded! There were multiple mosh pits, tons of crowd surfers and stage divers, and everyone was yelling the lyrics back to the band. BOO is very interactive with the crowd when they perform. The singer is always in your face and literally a part of the crowd. He was grabbing people’s hands (aka mine), letting people yell into the mic, and getting the crowd as involved as he can. The guitarists and bass were very interactive too. They were always in the front and putting on a good stage show. Their keyboardist was running around, yelling into the mic, singing, and in the crowd’s face the entire time. They are really entertaining to watch and they put on an incredible show. I met the singer (again), the guitarist, and the drummer after the show. They are all really nice guys and they all thanked me for playing their songs on the radio. Ronnie (the singer) remembered me from the Charlotte date that they played and it was good to catch up. They played some of their bangers such as Bow Down (MY FAVORITE SONG), Empires Erased, and Machine.
And now it was time for the headlining band, August Burns Red. Right when they came on stage the entire crowd went rowdy. I was all up against the stage, getting elbowed in the back, my hair was pulled, and I have bruises everywhere (it’s not a good show if you don’t come back with bruises). Everyone was singing along and the entire band was interactive. They were always coming up to the edge of the stage and smiling at people and acknowledging everyone singing and jamming out with them. There was a huge pit and wall of death during the set. The guitarist smiled and waved at me on stage and mouthed the words, “my favorite DJ” to me. The singer was always in front of me jamming out and a lot of his sweat landed on me (this is what happens when you’re in the front). He would grab my hand and sing and just have a good time on stage! I was headbanging the entire time even though it was kinda difficult with everyone around me; and I hit my head against the stage, but it’s fine. I’m fine. Before their last song the singer said that he wanted to see more crowd surfers and stage divers. But he told them to watch out and not hit the “pretty girl up in the front.” I looked around and all I saw were guys around me… so I’m assuming he was talking about me. Everyone was getting on stage and they were careful, no one hit me. Then during the breakdown the singer puts down the mic, looks at me, opens his arms and says, “get on stage.” I was SHOOK, and he literally pulled me up on stage. He handed me their setlist and said something to me but I didn’t hear what he said because I was too busy looking at all the people at the show (it was PACKED) and I was thinking about if anyone was gonna catch me when I have to jump off the stage. Welp, I jumped off the stage and I was carried all around the crowd and was put down safely by the mosh pit. Anyway, ABR played some of their most well-known songs such as King of Sorrow, Hero of the Half Truth, and White Washed.
This was an amazing show, and a great way to kick off 2018!
THE SAW
Lo-Fi is getting increasingly popular right now, but I’ve noticed that there seems to be just as many people who don’t know what this genre is as those who do. As a fan myself, I’d like to introduce you! I strongly believe that this type of music has proved itself necessary to our lives, especially as college students.
Lo-Fi is best accompanied with pretty much all of the things that are vital to us in college, but are usually not completed adequately – sleep, studying and relaxation. Due to the softness and repetitiveness of these songs, they are great for canceling out noise and enhancing focus on studying, although I would personally recommend the Lo-Fi songs that do not include vocals for academic related activities. However, the entirety of this genre allows for an extremely relaxing experience. You can think of it like a bunch of lullabies, except you won’t get relentlessly made fun of for listening to them. Sleep always comes quicker for me when listening to Lo-fi, and I’m able to get into a calmer state of mind before taking a big test or after getting off of work.
Typically, these songs contain a soothing, repetitive melody accompanied with a soft, slow-paced beat. They can include spoken word, non-verbal or verbal vocals, either by themselves or all together. Some have no vocals at all. Sound effects (like rain, crashing waves, footsteps etc.) can be used in the background and create a themed experience. The tracks are primarily on the shorter side, about one to three minutes in length. They are unique and diverse, and in my opinion, add a greater aesthetic and introspective experience to anything you’re doing.
I’m sure you’re tired of reading this and just want to get to the music, so I’ve linked a Lo-Fi playlist that I listen to on Spotify frequently. A few of my favorites are:
Playlist – Low-Fi, Fly High
Enjoy!
Written by Angela Fluett
The Local Beat: Morning Bells
Raleigh pop band Morning Bells joined DJ Sparrovv and DJ Whatsherface for an interview and in-studio performance before their show Feb. 8 at Neptune’s.
Of Mice & Men formed in 2009 in Orange County, California. Originally, the band was a five-piece band; with Austin Carlile (vocalist), Aaron Pauley (bass/clean vocalist), Valentino Arteaga (drums), Phil Manansala (guitarist) and Alan Ashby (guitarist). Unfortunately, Carlile left the band in late 2016. He has been struggling with a long-term battle with Marfan Syndrome which is an inherited disorder that affects connective tissues. Instead of getting a new lead singer, bass player, Aaron Pauley, decided to take on the roll. Now, he is the bass player, and sole lead vocalist doing both growls and clean vocals.
Defy is Of Mice & Men’s fifth album and it is one helluva record. I wasn’t too crazy about their 2016 release of Cold War, so I was really looking forward to this record dropping. I was interested to see how the band would sound since they are now a four-piece, and I was curious to see what Pauley would sound like. I saw Of Mice & Men last year at the Carolina Rebellion (without Carlile), and I was impressed with their sound and stage presence.
Let’s get on to the music, shall we? I will be talking about some of the songs on this record that I find pretty cool. The album opens up with the title track, Defy. This song is an absolute banger. It really sets the tone for the entire album and is a great opener. There are catchy riffs, and a chorus that will get you shouting. Up next is Instincts that has a lot of melodies in it along with sing-alongs. This song is very groovy and it is accompanied by a killer guitar solo. This is one of my favorite songs off of this record. Back To Me is next and this song has a positive message to it. The song is talking about how we all lose ourselves but we will find ourselves at the end. They also covered Pink Floyd’s Money on this record, and let me tell you, they did a phenomenal job (will this cover make The Saw’s Metal Covers segment?). These are only some of the songs on Of Mice & Men’s new record. But almost every song has catchy riffs, sick anthems, and head banging potential.
I am really impressed with this record and it has been one of my go to albums of 2018. OM&M are on tour right now playing songs off this record! For more information click here! I am excited to see where this band goes from here. I have the upmost respect for them because, out of all the challenges that this band has had, they faced them all head-on and pushed through. Rock on, Of Mice & Men, The Saw approves.
Favorite song(s): Instincts and Back To Me
Rating: 9/10
THE SAW
Sara Darwish
A WKNC program that aim to highlight the work and voices of those enacting postivie change, Oak City Move was founded in early February of 2017 by myself and Phian Tran, a recent NC State graduate and WKNC alumna. I had never stepped foot into a radio station, let alone hosted my own show, so I was initially hesitant about working for WKNC. However, I have had a fantastic year with WKNC and our show, so here are five things I’ve learned during Oak City Move’s first year:
They won’t always be respectful of the space or your opinions, and will even call you out on your “normie” music. There will always be those that criticize your words and execution on air, and refuse to empathize with the sentiments you share.
The amount of support I’ve received in the past year has been astounding. From strangers to friends and family to WKNC as a whole, there have always been people that have reached out to continue the dialogue we have on air and pushing us forward with our work through their encouragement. WKNC in particular has been supportive of OCM’s message and actions from day one, which I am very grateful for.
Prior to working on OCM, I was aware of some organizations and individuals that were doing good for their community, but WOW are there a lot! The mediums in which people are doing positive work is super broad, so be sure to check out every avenue you can think of (and then some). My personal favorites of the non-traditional mediums include visual art, agriculture, and music!
Before coming to WKNC, whenever I heard the term “DJ”, I envisioned a guy scratching records on a turntable (spoiler alert: that doesn’t happen all that often in the studio). For OCM, we have to brainstorm ideas, reach out to interviewees, plan questions, promote on social media, do the actual show, edit the recording, and put it out to you all! There is also a multitude of other people and responsibilities that go into the success of WKNC.
I think it’s safe to say that on a campus as big as NC State’s, it can be easy to feel small and voiceless. Oak City Move helped me find my voice and my purpose at this school, and I have been exposed to more opportunities and remarkable people in the past year than I have in my previous 17 years of life. I obtained a leadership position within WKNC, became Facebook friends with a member of the North Carolina Senate, and met so many cool people.
You can reach Oak City Move at oakcitymove@gmail.com and listen to past episodes here.
The song repetition on some Classic Rock stations may lead you to believe that there were only a handful of songs ever produced in the sixties and seventies. But just like modern music, for every top hit song that becomes subject to radio overplay, there are hundreds of undiscovered songs that are arguably just as good in quality. Today, we’ll be looking at one of the more obscure albums of the sixties: Spooky Two by the band Spooky Tooth.
Released in 1969, almost fifty years ago, the second album by the British band Spooky Tooth probably seems like a dinosaur of the past in comparison to contemporary music when judged by age alone. When judged by the listening experience, perhaps the hums of now-vintage keyboards in the background of several of the songs and British blues-rock feel characteristic of the sixties can admittedly make it feel dated on a surface-level. However, “dated” is by no means bad, as this album still provides a unique take on the sounds of the late-sixties.
Tracks:
Waitin’ for the Wind – The drum build-up is an interesting choice for the first song, though the organ-like keyboard soon takes the center stage with a droning riff to back up the vocals. Though not one of the more explicitly dark songs on the album, the opening does an excellent job at setting the darker mood for the rest of the album.
Feelin’ Bad – The first song where the guitar gets a chance to shine as both a solo instrument (though not for long stretches of time) and a backup to the vocal harmonies.
I’ve Got Enough Heartaches – The Soul-esque opening of this track is certainly a surprise compared to the first two tracks. It primarily features piano and vocal harmony, which provides a nice musical contrast to the darker mood of several of the other tracks. Although, the lyrics are not exactly “light”.
Evil Woman – A huge jump back into the darker atmosphere into the album. One of the more popular tracks, it spans an impressive nine minutes. A good portion of the song is based on a standard guitar riff, though being a nine-minute song, it features a two-minute long guitar solo in the middle that does not disappoint.
Lost in My Dream – A quiet beginning with a gradual build-up. The vocals shine here and do a fantastic job of conveying the desperation of the song’s narrator, and the instruments accompany the lyrical chorus using an effective gradual buildup. Perhaps the addition of an actual chorus could be seen as a tad overdramatic to some, but even that does its job at accentuating the bleaker mood of the track.
The Was Only Yesterday – A quintessential blues-rock track.
Better By You, Better Than Me – Possibly their most accessible track and one that’s known for its cover by Judas Priest. It begins with a catchy yet simple solo guitar riff that gradually builds up to the dramatic level of some of their other tracks. The lyrics are certainly grim, though the discreteness of the lyrics and the catchiness of the tune don’t make the lyrical content as obvious on the first listen. Though, this song works extremely well as a whole.
Hangman Hang My Shell on a Tree – Another song where the grim lyrics aren’t obvious from the tone of the song. The vocal style is similar to “I’ve Got Enough Heartaches”, and it could be somewhat easy to forget about the subject matter if not for the dark title.
Overall, despite the age of the album, it still offers a fresh experience with innovative lyrics and song structures. Some of the songs need a couple of listens to truly grow on the listener, but it leaves a satisfaction at the end.
Rating: 7/10
(Double Ten-Thousand)
My ears are still ringing. The waitress from Waffle House just asked me if I was ready to order and the two guys behind the counter are dancing to Daft Punk. After I order my patty melt, I look at my two best friends as they are still buzzing with energy and bright with smiles. We just spent the last hour and forty-five minutes screaming, jumping, and singing to the sounds of Brockhampton.
I’ve been to a lot of concerts in my short lifetime and only 4 of those were rap concerts. I’ve seen Logic (twice), Chance the Rapper, and Drake & Future, all of whom I have been very big fans of for a while now and have passed the “fanboy” phase for those artists. Brockhampton, however, is a different story. I started listening to BH in August and have since then consumed all three of there Saturation albums multiple times. I know all 14 members, the words to most of their songs, and a lot of facts and trivia only a music nerd like me would know. It’s safe to say I am a BH fanboy (BH fans are usually dubbed “dumbasses”) and my fanboy-dom only increased my hype for this concert. Needless to say I was not disappointed at all.
The energy was already in the building as soon as I walked in. Standing in the crowd for an hour waiting for the show to start, I overheard so many conversations about how excited people were. Everywhere I looked, people were smiling and laughing with their friends, just like I was. One of my friends, Henry, went to go buy me and my other friend, Amanda, some merch while we held his spot in the crowd (Nick Holiday was running the merch line which was pretty cool). As more people packed in, Amanda and I became more aware that Henry might not get his spot back. People around us were frantically checking their phones every 2 minutes waiting for 9pm to hit. They actually started around 9:15, which definitely created a lot of suspense. But we were ready. As soon as the lights went down, the crowd went nuts. I can’t even tell you what happened between the lights going down and the beginning of “BOOGIE” (mostly because I rushed out of the crowd for fear of being swallowed and never to be seen again). The next thing I knew, I was jumping up and down, singing the words to “BOOGIE” asking “what were the rules for breakfast today?” I was already running out of breath from jumping and it felt like a sauna inside the Ritz, but it didn’t stop me from belting out every word of every song.
And the energy just kept on going.
This held true even as I continued to rap every single word to Dom McLennon’s verse on “STAR”. Even when I thought I was out of breath, I would look over to other BH fans who were also rapping the verses, and their energy alone helped me continue on. I looked up to see that the Ritz had the ceiling fans on full blast, but the venue staff was still running around trying to get free water to all of the concert goers. Brockhampton was just delivering too much heat (pun intended).
The concert took you just about everywhere. One minute they’re performing “GUMMY” and “SWEET” and it feels like a rap concert. The next, their playing “BUMP” and “QUEER” and it feels like a head banging rock concert. When they played “SISTER” it felt like a heavy-EDM rave party. And when Bearface came out to perform his solo songs “SUMMER” and “EVANIE”, it felt like I was at Coachella with a flower crown on my head. Brockhampton was able to do all of this in under 2 hours and it felt like an exhilarating roller coaster ride that you wanna ride over and over again
I never knew what it meant to burn the house down until I went to this concert. It felt like a raging fire was all around me the entire night. Watching people put their hands to their knees to catch their breath for 2 seconds and continue jumping and down proved that nothing could stop the energy that Brockhampton brought to the crowd. Not even Kevin Abstract’s cold could stop him from performing. And that’s the highlight of the whole concert: the energy. As mentioned before, I’ve listened to all three SATURATION albums more than enough times, but watching the songs I loved performed live brought a whole new energy to them. Much against my personal judgements of living in the moment, I took a few videos while BH performed in hopes that I could capture that energy and save it for later. But it was impossible. I’ve even tried closing my eyes while listening to their songs again to bring myself back to the night of January 29th, 2018, but it still wasn’t good enough. What Brockhampton did in Raleigh, and probably all of their other shows on the Love Your Parents Tour, was incredibly energetic and an experience I have never felt before in my life. And just as the tour name states, I realized how much I love my parents for bringing me into this world so I could witness this amazing event. And just like the members of Brockhampton, experiencing the concert with my two best friends made it so much better.
¡Me llamo Carlitos y Brockhampton es la mejor banda de chicos en el mundo!