ground zero | issue 1

AND AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITHTHE PRODIGAL SONS OF ALTERNATIVO,

Raul y MexiaRaul y Mexia

REVIEWING:

SCHOOLBOY QNEUTRAL MILK HOTELBLOOD ORANGELYKKE LI, AND MORE

PLUS,

ASK A DISC JOCKEYLOCAL VENUES

JU LY 2 014 | I S S U E 4

ABOUT KSJS:

90.5 KSJS Ground Zero Radio is a non-commercial radio station licensed for 1500 watts, channel 213 and class A.

KSJS’s transmitter is on Coyote Peak and our signal is received worldwide at www.ksjs.org.

KSJS broadcasts from San Jose State University’s Hugh Gillis Hall, Room 130.

REACH US AT:

[email protected]/KSJSfmtwitter.com/KSJSfm, #KSJSKSJS.org

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Christopher Smith

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Kathy Tran

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Ashley J. Song

WRITERS

Ruben CasasShane CarrollJoy EdquilangAngel Martin

Franco MirandaVictor Nguyen

Joseph I. OrdunaKelly Quach

Celina RamosBrittany Romby

Alysa TrinidadAng Woon

ARTISTS

Chloé Pérez

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Andrew DupasChristopher Smith

Jessica PerezCelina Ramos

Joseph Ian Orduna

STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS

REVIEWS 27

12

15

16

24

I Never Learn, by Lykke Li / Joy Edquilang

Atlas, by Real Estate / Franco Miranda

Oxymoron, by Schoolboy Q / Ang Woon

Battle Mountain, by Ben Flocks / Angel Martin

“You’re Not Good Enough,” by Blood Orange / Kelly Quach

Here and Nowhere Else, by Cloud Nothings / Franco Miranda

My Friends Never Die, by ODESZA / Victor Nguyen

Blame Confusion, by SOLIDS / Shane Carroll

We Are Roosevelt / Joseph Ian Orduna

Gondwana in concert / Celina Ramos

Venue spotlight: Caffe Frascati / Ashley J. Song

Neutral Milk Hotel in concert / Kathy Tran

INTERVIEWS6

18

38

Staffer of the month: Meet ALANFREAKINBEATS / Alysa Trinidad

Ask a Disc Jockey: DJ Salinger / Kathy Tran

Featured artists, Raul Y Mexia / Brittany Romby and Ruben Casas

REGULAR FEATURES4

36

46

Letter from the Program Director

Top 10 Subversive Rock rotation

On-Air Schedule

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

KSJS 90.5 FM

School of Humanities & the Arts

San Jose State University

Hugh Gillis Hall, Room 126

San Jose, CA 95192

4 ksjs.org

GROUND ZERO - JULY 2014GROUND ZERO - JULY 2014

4 ksjs.org

5

LETTER FROM THE PROGRAM DIRECTORWe have had a great 2014 Spring semester, with many new faces joining the team. Many changes are coming to KSJS and hopefully the momentum continues. For example, we have digitized many CD’s and will keep that going until KSJS eventually changes to an all-digital format.

Our departments have also changed this semester, with many DJs joining the management team: Mujah become electronic music director this semester, Trey became our production manager, Alex took over as sports director, and Zoey has taken the wheel at sub-rock. I hope many of the new KSJS DJs see their efforts and are inspired to gain a management position in the future.

This is my last full semester as KSJS program director. It has been a great experience for me. Learning how to manage such a diverse group of individuals has been a great opportunity, and I am very proud of all the friends I have made here. I look forward to all your success, just as I look forward to the success of anyone in my family.

I thank all of you for hustling and getting it done for our team in my two years as PD. I will forever be indebted to the DJs that always stepped to cover those last minute fill-ins. To my managers who always brought a spirited debate to our meetings, you helped improve my management skills and, hopefully, I became someone you wanted to work for. Finally, to ALL of the on-air DJs that have crossed my path, I am inspired by your dedication to providing great content to our listeners.

You are the reason for KSJS’s success. Gracias.

Vicente (Che) HerediaKSJS Program Director

6 ksjs.org

GROUND ZERO - JULY 2014

MEET ALANFREAKINBEATS

7

MEET ALANFREAKINBEATS

How has the transition of handling Urban Promotions been for you?

I’ve gain probably like 40 emails in my contacts in the last week. I have to check my emails every morning when I wake up, I have to now. I love it. It’s cool being in charge of something in KSJS. At first [I wasn’t sure because] I work a lot, I don’t have a lot of time to go to shows.

What drew you to joining the station?

I did it because I needed units, honestly. At first I didn’t really have any aspirations. It wasn’t until I left KSJS and started the DJ class three years later that I got into it. I was trained by Curly Wurly [on his Electronic show] and even though I wasn’t an electronic fan, I loved being behind the mic.

I want to know your favorite artists. Can you name your top three?

Kanye is my favorite rapper, probably since he came out. I liked his confidence. Absoul, Black

IMAGES BYChristopher Smith

WORDS BYAlysa TrinidadAshley J. Song

From managing Urban Promotions to his show, The Vibe Session, this self-proclaimed “White Hip Hop Head” is our Staffer of the Month for good reason.

He made time for us and this sit-down conversation on streetwear, KSJS, Yeezy’s contested godhood,

and what it is to be an LA rap kinda DJ.

STAFFER OF THE MONTH

8 ksjs.org


“ I’m from SouthernCalifornia, I’m from Palmadale. [...] I knowI’m a San Jose HipHop DJ, but I’m an LArap kinda DJ. ”

Hippie, Schoolboy Q...and Pack Div. Pac Div is my favorite. They actually went to my high school down in Palmdale, CA. I actually got a chance to interview Mibs from Pack Div last week. So that was, like, amazing. It made my week, my month.

Was there anything you learned from Mibs that surprised you?

He worked with Pharrell on four songs that didn’t get released because they felt that they were too commercial and he didn’t want to go down that road. They are really about what they want. That’s how music should be. They shouldn’t cater to money.

Any favorite memories at KSJS?

Just last night when we went to Absoul and Joey Bada$$ for the Smokers Club. We vibed out. That was cool. I’ve gained a lot of friendships in the Urban Department. Arman, Ari, Champagne. That, I am very thankful for. Ari and I talked about how

9

“ I’m from SouthernCalifornia, I’m from Palmadale. [...] I knowI’m a San Jose HipHop DJ, but I’m an LArap kinda DJ. ”

we saw each other on campus. We talk about how we are both White Hip Hop Heads. Like DJ Dre del and I have seen each other all the time and we relate because we are both

“White Hiphop Heads”

Can you define what that is, a White Hiphop Head?

It’s like, an urban t-shirt, like some Jordans on, 5 kettle hats, I mean that’s kinda what we are. We’ve talked about how sometimes our opinions get overlooked because we are White Hiphop Heads. [laughs]

I see from your HUF hat that you’re really into street wear.

I love street wear. I’ve been into it since 7th grade. I’m from Southern California, I’m from Palmdale. But I spent all my time in Hollywood. I used to hangout in Fairfax where they had a lot of clothing stores. So that’s what I’m into. Street wear, Jordans, Nikes.

So besides working hard at the urban department and keeping up with your show The Vibe Session, what do you like to do in your spare time?

I love playing basketball. I played varsity in high school.

Warrior or Lakers fan?

I am definitely a Lakers fan. Die hard Lakers fan. I bleed purple and gold. Big Kobe fan. Lakers, Dodgers and Raiders are my teams. I’ve dealt with a lot of punishments being a Dodger fan in San Jose.

Who or what inspires you?

Kanye West is a huge inspiration to me. I know a lot of people hate on him and hate what he thinks, but I feel like there aren’t enough people in society who really speak what is on their


10 ksjs.org


Definitely. Your hard work has been recognized.

At first, I’m not a loud person. I don’t really talk that much. I think a lot, it’s cool to get a reward like this, it shows the hard work I put in, even though people may not know me. I’m more about let’s get this done. It’s a lot.

Do you like any other genres besides hip-hop?

I used to be into electronic. I used to go to raves. I like Afrojack. I’m an electronic fan, but the reason i’m out of it is because people are more into the rave scene over the actual music. I don’t love it but I don’t mind it. I also like some alternative. I used to listen to Good Charloette and Sum 41 when I was younger. I am a big Sublime fan, my dad got me into it. Most of the music on my iPod is Hip -Hop, Sublime and some R&B...I got my stuff I don’t let the homies listen to. [laughs]

Any last thoughts?

Take any opportunity thrown at you. You never know where a small thing can take you to. I took one opportunity to work with KSJS and now I’m Promotions Manager for Urban which I am very humble to be.

--------------------AlanFreakinBeats’ urban show, “The Vibe Session,” aired during the 2014 spring semester, Mondays from 10 AM to 2 PM on 90.5 KSJS.

mind and have as much ridiculous creativity as he does.

Do you believe he’s Yeezus?

Yeah he’s a rap god, he’s not god, people need to understand that. Nas also called himself God’s son, I don’t really understand what the difference is.

What do you think of the current 408 hip-hop scene?

It’s improving. I came to the Bay Area not knowing really anything about Bay Area Hip Hop. In 2009 it was more about the beat and the hook. Now we got rappers like City Shawn, who had a song in our rotation called Bakery, there’s Yates from Westacy and Opski Chan. I know I’m a San Jose Hip Hop DJ, but I’m an LA rap kinda DJ. I play like, Pac Div and Kendrick Lamar.

What are your future goals?

I’m going to graduate next semester. It’s gonna happen. I’ve been through a lot in San Jose, but I plan to move back to LA. I’m more interested in the film industry. I’ve been a Production Assistant for Paranormal Activity 3 & 4, so I’ve built some connections. I want to get into the Director’s Guild eventually, but I’m going to have to spend 600 hours on set. I’ve written two features that I just have on my iPad. I’m definitely trying to take it as it comes. I could go this path, and work in radio, I have it on my resume, I’m taking whatever I can get. Being in the entertainment industry you got to take what you can get and build as many connections as you can.

“ Take any opportunity thrown at you. You

never know where a small thing can take

you to. ”

11

Definitely. Your hard work has been recognized.

At first, I’m not a loud person. I don’t really talk that much. I think a lot, it’s cool to get a reward like this, it shows the hard work I put in, even though people may not know me. I’m more about let’s get this done. It’s a lot.

Do you like any other genres besides hip-hop?

I used to be into electronic. I used to go to raves. I like Afrojack. I’m an electronic fan, but the reason i’m out of it is because people are more into the rave scene over the actual music. I don’t love it but I don’t mind it. I also like some alternative. I used to listen to Good Charloette and Sum 41 when I was younger. I am a big Sublime fan, my dad got me into it. Most of the music on my iPod is Hip -Hop, Sublime and some R&B...I got my stuff I don’t let the homies listen to. [laughs]

Any last thoughts?

Take any opportunity thrown at you. You never know where a small thing can take you to. I took one opportunity to work with KSJS and now I’m Promotions Manager for Urban which I am very humble to be.

--------------------AlanFreakinBeats’ urban show, “The Vibe Session,” aired during the 2014 spring semester, Mondays from 10 AM to 2 PM on 90.5 KSJS.

“ Take any opportunity thrown at you. You

never know where a small thing can take

you to. ”


12 ksjs.org


On April 18th, the Roosevelt Community Center hosted We Are Roosevelt: A Night of Expression, an event that launched an on-going local project that aims toward youth empowerment. The event was free to all ages and consisted of various forms of entertainment, such as open-mic performances, dance arts, photography exhibitions, spoken word sessions, rap freestyles, and acoustic jams. Although the event took place in San Jose, various residents from all over the Bay Area were in attendance to enjoy a night of free entertainment. To engage the large crowd, an emcee and the San Jose Gigantes, a local DJ group, were on-hand to hype the crowd as well as offer prizes and t-shirt giveaways to the audience. The actual

WORDS, IMAGES BYJoseph Ian Orduna

13

event started, however, with open-mic performances. This gave anyone the opportunity to take the stage and voice their opinion. During the open-mic portion of the night, spoken-word pieces were performed, freestyle rap occurred, and even acoustic acts were offered. Overall, the open-mic allowed the audience to view young aspiring local talent.

In addition to the open-mic, there were also performers scheduled to put on a show. One highlight of the event was Kwesi Young’s explosive rap performance. He had an amazing stage presence. He used catchy RNB hooks, rhymed to Bay Area inspired trap beats, and executed flawless dance breaks. My personal favorite act was from spoken word poet and hip hop artist, Society. He started out strong with “Today’s That Day” from his solo project P.A.S.T.D.U.E. and recited poetry mid-song. All attention was on him as he performed his hit song “Gold Out West”, which talks about wealth inequality in the Silicon Valley. Another highlight included Tim Atlas, a singer-songwriter from San Jose. He did an incredible job as usual. He was one of the only acoustic performances during the main lineup, and did not disappoint. Watching him perform live is always uplifting and moving.

I also admired Amplified Soul Expressed’s performance. He demonstrated his versatile rap abilities and went from an acapella song to a fast freestyle. His rap style was aggressive, logical, and analytical. To the spectators’ surprise, he simultaneously beat boxed, played the harmonica, and free styled. Imani, also known as Azteca Negro, shortly followed up with an insightful spoken word piece. Azteca Negro later performed the song “Fuerte”, an upbeat Spanish Reggaeton track. The audience was raising their fists in the air and shouting in unison.

To end the night, Digital Arts Troupe Academy, a talented youth group from San

LIVE EVENTS

14 ksjs.org


Jose, expressed themselves through poetry, hip hop, dance, and acting. Just when the show was about to end, KSJS regulars Ocalaholics Krew unexpectedly entered the stage and performed an amazing set. Their energy was unmatched and left the crowd heading back to the center stage. The group was giving away Fluid Flow’s “Born Again” Solo EP, which is definitely worth listening to.

All in all, attending this event was a satisfying and humbling experience. This event taught me to take pride in where I come from. At the same time, it reaches out to the youth and fosters a sense of community. There are a countless number of talented individuals in the San Jose area, and I am looking forward to attending more events like this in the near future.

Special thanks to IM ELVTD Media, D.A.T.A., the City of San Jose Parks, Recreation, & Services, and all the artists and performers who contributed to and made this event possible. For updates on more upcoming local events, be sure to follow @ELVTDsociety on Instagram.

15

From La Pincoya, in the Chilean city of Santiago, musical giants Gondwana made their way to a very special Santa Cruz, CA venue named Moe’s Alley.

Moe’s Alley is a space which allows spectacular artists to perform and bring their fans up close and personal, for an intimate experience most people are never able to have with their favorite artists.

On April 26, 2014, Moe’s Alley cleared the stage for Gondwana, which happens to be one of the first reggae bands founded in Chile. In the year 1982, Gondwana revolutionized the

WORDS, IMAGES BYCelina Ramos

LIVE EVENTS

music of reggae all throughout Central America. This movement created the platform needed for them to expand their music beyond Chile and to continue their passion throughout the world.

The performance Gondwana had in this venue was beyond exceptional. The passion they have in their music was made evident with their very close and personal performance. In general, their music brought many people from diverse backgrounds together, which contributed to an overall great turn out. The best way to describe their musical sound is an embracement and a deep understatement of the reggae movement: upbeat and intriguing—vibrant and alive. It makes you want to embrace your inner soul and look deeper into yourself.

Gondwana is an established group that has been playing for 25 years, but has managed to maintain a strong passion for their music. Given their spectacular live performance I would definitely love to see them again.

16 ksjs.org


A poet wearing a beanie and week-old stubble stands in an undistinguished corner of Caffe Frascati’s first floor, projecting his voice over an audience sitting just feet away from him.

“Where do all the freethinkers go?” he asks.

The answer, some say, is this very venue. Frascati is an exemplar of a new breed of coffeehouses, intimate and well designed, purveying everything from paninis, craft beer, and third-wave coffee to shirts branded with its logo. One characteristic which distinguishes it from competitors, however, is its commitment to fostering a community within its already loyal customer base.

Above posters promoting Spartan football games, which Frascati caters with the same espresso drinks and brewed coffee to be found in its brick-and-mortar location, is a bulletin board labelled “MUSICA” dedicated to information on its upcoming events. The one recurring fixture, among a variety of performances as eclectic as opera and tango, is a weekly open mic every Tuesday night from 8 PM to closing. Here, a returning cast of regulars, as well as a healthy dose of first-timers, gathers to share a mix of music, poetry, and stand-up comedy.

And for an open mic with no curating or vetting process, the quality of these performers is impressive. Singer-songwriters debut original material here, occasionally coaxing silence from the loud,

VENUE SPOTLIGHT:

CAFFE FRASCATI

WORDS BYGround Zero staff


17

intermingling crowd with soulful vocals backed simply by a guitar or the upright piano whose permanent home is the corner where the performances take place.

It doesn’t hurt that the physical space itself is ideal for this kind of event. As the stage (if it can be called that) is just a corner of the room, performers are at eye-level with patrons, which some use to their advantage. “I need drums,” says one musician, and the entire first floor begins clapping or stomping to the beat of his guitar.

Joe, the current emcee and organizer of Frascati’s open mic, counts this among the many reasons he was first drawn to the community here. “It’s great acoustics, it’s intimate, and it’s loose and sort of wild,” he says. “[This event is] really a unique experience around here.” Beanie-sporting poet Zun Zoo agrees, adding that Frascati’s intimacy is what sets its open mic apart from others, even those as far as San Francisco. “The size here allows them to give artists enough time to really present their work, at least 8 minutes, which is rare. Other open mics can be cut-throat and new artists might get lost.”

Ultimately, that’s what can be assumed to be Caffe Frascati’s goal in hosting these small events: to nurture a community centered around art where performers and creators can grow and move onto greater things—but always be able to return for a top-notch Americano and a waiting slot at the Tuesday night open mic.

caffefrascati.com(408) 287-0400

315 South First Street San Jose, CA

VENUE SPOTLIGHT

18 ksjs.org


ASK A DISC JOCKEY, SPECIALTY SHOW EDITION

DJ SALINGERWhat is the story behind DJ Salinger? Tell us about your DJ name.

It’s a play on JD Salinger, the author of Catcher in the Rye, and not too much else.

So, why Purple Music for Purple People (PMPP)?

The title is kinda reference to an ASAP Rocky song, where he references people who are on lean, and he kinda just has very electronic influenced beats. He was kinda an inspiration for the show, actually. Well, I was listening to this

music before I ever heard of him, but still, he was like one of the first urban guys to

really embrace electronic. I think electronic guys have been embracing hip-hop for a little while, so it’s kind of a reference to him. And it’s also just purple, being a mixture of, you know, red and blue.

We have some specialty shows like Celluloid Dreams and Sports Weekly, but what really gave you the idea to do a mixture of

electronic and hip-hop? Honestly, this is just the music that really

WORDS BYKathy Tran


19

appeals to me. I think it’s really fun. And when I was doing my electronic show, I really don’t care for a lot of electronic, and I would try to do this, basically.

If you had to choose between electronic or hip-hop, which one would you pick, and why?

That’s a difficult question. I think, in my heart, I would say electronic. And even when I’m listening to hip-hop, I mainly am listening for the production and the hooks, more so than any lyrical skills. And that goes for rock, too.

I’m mainly listening to the melodies and the instruments, and not too much concern with the actual lyrical content. So I would probably say electronic.

How did you find this music anyway? Electronic urban?

Yea, that’s a good question. I got into like 90’s indie—Pavement, Slint, like, just weird stuff on Matador records, and then later Elephant 6 records. And from there, I got

into other stuff from the 90’s, the major genre of the time being trip hop. So I really fell in love with Portis Head and Massive Attack. And it just really appealed to me. To have those, like, those hip hop, kinda laid back rhythms, but with, like, electronic production.

You focused a lot on production work and stuff. Do you do any work of your own?

I made some tracks—some Goa trance.

And what is that? (chuckling)

O, Goa trance? It’s like trance. You know, so it’s like the thumping like (makes thumping noises) un un un. (chuckling) But Goa trance is like this weird, like, hippie version. It’s called Goa trance because it comes from Goa, India, which is like this hippie paradise. So all these white people went there in the 90s, and had just like ridiculous LSD raves on the beaches. And they listened to this super—it’s basically side trance before there was side trance, so like Infected Mushroom and that kinda stuff. It’s kinda related to Goa trance.

“ Even when I’m listening to hip-hop, I mainly am

listening for the production and the hooks, more so than

any lyrical skills. And that goes for rock, too. ”

ASK A DJ

20 ksjs.org


“ I mean, obviously, if you’re going for a specialty show, it’s something you enjoy.

Take the time to do it right. ”

21

Is that like your hobby? Looking stuff up on about music?

Oh, it definitely is. I’ve really...I’ve really taken a scientific method. You know, exploring record labels. Exploring whole years. You know, you just look at a whole year in music. My favorite years would be 1996. 1998. The 2000s where pretty consistently good. 75’ and 77’ and 79’ were all really good. 76’ was like terrible, I don’t know why. It’s like the worst year. There’s like nothing good in 76’. Like the best album of 1976 was Stevie Wonder’s Songs and the Key of Life. (shrugging and shaking head)

How does your process work? Like, how do you pick out your songs? Do you have a theme?

I actually do try and put together a theme for each show. So last week I did witch house, and I just went through all my favorite witch house tracks. I usually try and go on the internet and search for some new ones so I can work those in.

What would be your favorite artist for the show? You know, for this genre specifically?

Oh, wow…

Drop some names, I guess.

Yea, I mean, I was going to say Clams Casino, is a pretty huge—Clams Casino? No, I don’t know Clams Casino, actually.

Ok. (nods) He’s pretty amazing. He’s...he’s kinda the flagship. I think of him as one of the big names from this genre. He made a lot of beats for ASAP Rocky. And, he has a pretty interesting process. So his music is really fuzzy. It’s like lo-fi electronic. Lo-fi electronic hip-hop beats...and it’s the best way I can describe it. It’s really atmospheric.

And the way he gets them, is (chuckles), he like goes—he’ll like go on Limewire and just search like blues. He intentionally finds low bit-rate, really sketchy, source material to sample. Then he just combines them. His production, from like a classical standpoint? It’s terrible. He just lets it clip. It’s just super distorted. And, like, nasty. But he uses it as an effect to his advantage. So it’s this weird, nostalgic, fuzzy sound.

Do you have any advice for any future KSJS DJs or trainees who want their own specialty show? Shed us some words of wisdom, DJ Salinger.

I would say… Do something you really enjoy, basically. And I mean, obviously, if you’re going for a specialty show, it’s something you enjoy. Take the time to do it right.

--------------------You can catch DJ Salinger on his new summer semester urban show, “Carnage Asada,” Thursdays from 6 to 10 AM As always, on 90.5 KSJS, or on ksjs.org/listen.

ASK A DJ

CALLING ALL: PHOTOGRAPHERS

WRITERS ARTISTS

DESIGNERS MUSIC LOVERS

CRITICS CONCERT-GOERS

COPY EDITORS ILLUSTRATORS

JOURNALISTS TALENTED FOLK


WRITERS ARTISTS






WRITERS ARTISTS





GROUND ZERO IS THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF 90.5 KSJS, AND WE NEED TALENT. IN OTHER WORDS,

WE NEED YOU!HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO GET INVOLVED IN SOMETHING BOLD, EXCITING, AND RELEVANT—FROM THE GROUND LEVEL.

INTERESTED? SAY HI ATGROUND ZERO [email protected]

GROUND ZERO IS THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF 90.5 KSJS, AND WE NEED TALENT. IN OTHER WORDS,

WE NEED YOU!HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO GET INVOLVED IN SOMETHING BOLD, EXCITING, AND RELEVANT—FROM THE GROUND LEVEL.

INTERESTED? SAY HI ATGROUND ZERO [email protected]

24 ksjs.org


THE SECOND COMING OF MANGUM:

NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL IN CONCERT

WORDS BYKathy Tran

IMAGES BYChloé Pérez

25

LIVE EVENTS

What occurred on this special Wednesday night was a subtle greatness, the kind that seeps in your bones and when you reflect back on the memory, you think, “Well, damn! If that wasn’t one of the better days in my life, then I’m wrong. I’m wrong about everything and my life is just wrong.” For those in the dark that missed out on this Wednesday’s special occasion, Neutral Milk Hotel graced the stage for the first time since their indefinite hiatus in 1998 and their performance made for a night that I’ll never forget.

Neutral Milk Hotel formed in the late 1980s, the brainchild of singer, songwriter, and guitarist, Jeff Mangum. They were signed to Elephant Six Recording Company, a label that was known for their lo-fo, psychedelic sound, unusual usage of musical instruments, and home to musical artists such as, Olivia Tremor Control, Of Montreal, Elf Power, and Apples in Stereo. Even though they were around for years, the indie-rock band flew under the radar until the release of their second album, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. Their second album contained strange lyrics, unique algorithms, and displayed the band’s diverse range of musical instruments. Thus,

the band garnered significant success in the 1990s with their second album. Despite their success, however, the band chose to go on an indefinite hiatus in 1998. Although the band has not created music for decades, they have maintained and continue to gain a steady following.

Since the band has not played for years, their announcement for a new show riled up excitement for fans. In fact, there were two back-to-back shows announced and they both sold out. Luckily, I managed to grab a ticket along with a couple of friends. Even though we were fashionably late for the show, we eagerly anticipated Neutral Milk Hotel’s return to the stage. My friends and I debated which songs the band would grace our ears with, while opener Elf Power warmed up the stage.

Our guesses were dissipated and our wait rewarded as soon as Jeff Mangum came on stage all by his lonesome self. He played a long guitar solo before the rest of Neutral Milk Hotel joined in, and they went straight into “Two-Headed Boy”. The consistent, bare acoustic strumming with Mangum’s voice rising at certain points to tell a story was amazing. I found it perfect, a Cinderella-esque moment where magic comes alive. A five out of five stars opening. The

WORDS BYKathy Tran

IMAGES BYChloé Pérez

On April 9, 2014, something happened on anaverage Wednesday night, something great—notthe flashy sort of great, but the kind of great whereyou bask in the glory of saving the world kind of thing.

26 ksjs.org


next song “The Fool”, an instrumental number, came on. It contrasted greatly with the opener track as “Two Headed Boy” was more instrumentally naked in comparison to the low notes of notes that the medley of saxophones, trumpets, accordions, and other brass instruments brought in the Fox Theatre. “Holland 1945” came on next, following the tracklist of the album In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, and the faster, energetic number of the album did not disappoint as the explosion of marching band instruments played. I screamed a high pitched shriek as I clutched onto Vince’s and Kelly’s hands, jumping up and down because as Jeff Mangum sang “It feels so good to feel alive,” I could not agree more. My feelings conjoined with the elation of the song. The jumble of songs that the band played next were

unrecognizable to me; I was caught up in the moment and in a world of my own. The instruments soared and quelled in a symphony of a musical tycoon, with Mangum fueling this monstrous momentum the performance created as his voice emotionally sung obscure lyrics. I was enthralled by the fascinating way they played their troop of many instruments, one of which being a musical saw. The saw was played like a violin, with the handle placed between the legs, and the musician elicited different notes from it by bending it while drawing a bow across its serrated teeth. Another interesting instrument played that night was the accordion, adding another layer to their paradoxical put-together signature sound made up with seemingly

“ As Jeff Mangum sang, ‘It feels so good to be alive,’ I could not

agree more. ”

chaotic arrangements of multiple instruments.

Mangum and Neutral Milk Hotel eventually played “King of Carrot Flowers Pt. 1”, “King of Carrot Flowers Pts 2 & 3”, and then “In the Aeroplane Under the Sea”, because while the amiable crowd had swung back and forth in content, orgasmic bliss before, during these songs, they grew alive, singing in unison from the top of their lungs.

Neutral Milk Hotel does not seem like a band that would have encores, but after ending their set early, they came back onstage, welcomed with applause, and played tracks until they finally ended the night with “Two-Headed Boy Pt 2”. Everyone was spellbound, and the concert was so fulfilling, especially with the cyclic move of starting with “Two-Headed Boy” and ending with “Two-Headed Boy Pt. 2”. The Fox Theatre transformed by this magnificent band into an otherworldly realm in this short performance as the audience basked in the presence of these musical sounds intertwining in unique patterns. If anyone that stepped foot in the theatre a casual fan, they definitely emerged at the end of the performance transfixed in a stupefied happiness, a little more in love with Neutral Milk Hotel than before.

27

KSJS RECOMMENDS:Our take on the most relevant in new (and

new-ish) music

5

1

6

3

2

28 ksjs.org


Lykke Li / I Never Learn

Lykke Li is a Swedish indie-pop songstress who burst onto the music scene with infectious dance-pop melodies. She was only 19 when she wrote her first album, Youth Novels, which featured a collection of fun and catchy tracks that represented youthful optimism. Her third and latest record, however, is a beautiful departure from the lightheartedness of her first two albums.

Although I Never Learn lacks Lykke Li’s signature dance-able uptempo tracks, it is a record that deserves a close listen. The result of a painful heartbreak, it ditches the pop melodies in favor of dark ballads. In fact, during a recent performance in New York, she revealed to the crowd, “This album is about the shame and the guilt and the sadness and the regret you can experience after leaving someone.”

Indeed, Lykke Li’s latest is a manifesto of the pains of heartbreak, love won then lost. Ultimately, she was able to channel her experience and create a beautiful album that displays her growth and maturity as an artist. - Joy Edquilang

29

Real Estate / Atlas

Hailing from Ridgewood, New Jersey, Real Estate is a band which performs indie rock music with a blend of jangle pop, surf rock, and neo-psychedelia. Atlas is their third studio album, a highly anticipated follow up to the band’s critically acclaimed sophomore album, Days. I found Atlas to be an enjoyable and consistent effort from this fantastic band. This is easily one of my favorite albums of the year, and if you love dreamy, atmospheric music, it may become one of yours, too. - Franco Miranda

REVIEWS

30 ksjs.org


Schoolboy Q / Oxymoron

Schoolboy Q’s Oxymoron, released late February 2014, packs in various levels of sexual innuendos, ranging from spicy and implicative to downright lewd. The medium-weight beats jangle and bounce with finesse and dynamism, backed by a respectable, sometimes-brooding bass that adds a little more pressure to the pounds-per-inch on the listener’s musical palate. Interesting, loopy violin manipulations are to be found in the intro of “Hell of a Night”. Even more respectable is the quality of the lyrics’ content; an ironically-kicked line in “Hoover Street” harks back to the “this little piggy went to market” nursery rhyme. Oxymoron’s themes vary considerably, with allusions to financial instability, law enforcement, and perseverance.

Although fairly raunchy at times, Schoolboy Q comes up with an enjoyably bouncy sound and hits the mark with a fair amount of resonant lyrics that stay with the listener long after the tracks end.

- Ang Woon

Ben Flocks / Battle Mountain

Ben Flocks is an artist who originates from a place that harbors hippies, shelters surfers, and has a reputation for killer Mexican food—yes, I’m talking about you, De La Hacienda Taqueria. Flocks’ hometown is none other than the chillest oasis by the Pacific Ocean, Santa Cruz. Battle Mountain, Ben Flocks’ debut, is an eclectic mix of genres ranging from traditional Jazz to Latin infused Jazz. His saxophone playing is the standout of this album, and rightfully so. His ability to control the tempo and mood of each song with grace and creativity is what defines Battle Mountain.

The epitome of the album is “Tennessee Waltz”. With a balanced blend of sultry saxophone playing and slow, melodic drums atop a wispy piano bed, “Tennessee Waltz” does for jazz what the wheel does for cars; it keeps it moving. Overall, Battle Mountain is a well-crafted album that only gets better as it progresses to its final note. As a genre, Jazz is lucky to have an artist like Ben Flocks; his continual progression is sure to last for decades to come. - Angel Martin

31

Ben Flocks / Battle Mountain

Ben Flocks is an artist who originates from a place that harbors hippies, shelters surfers, and has a reputation for killer Mexican food—yes, I’m talking about you, De La Hacienda Taqueria. Flocks’ hometown is none other than the chillest oasis by the Pacific Ocean, Santa Cruz. Battle Mountain, Ben Flocks’ debut, is an eclectic mix of genres ranging from traditional Jazz to Latin infused Jazz. His saxophone playing is the standout of this album, and rightfully so. His ability to control the tempo and mood of each song with grace and creativity is what defines Battle Mountain.

The epitome of the album is “Tennessee Waltz”. With a balanced blend of sultry saxophone playing and slow, melodic drums atop a wispy piano bed, “Tennessee Waltz” does for jazz what the wheel does for cars; it keeps it moving. Overall, Battle Mountain is a well-crafted album that only gets better as it progresses to its final note. As a genre, Jazz is lucky to have an artist like Ben Flocks; his continual progression is sure to last for decades to come. - Angel Martin

REVIEWS

32 ksjs.org


Blood Orange / “You’re Not Good Enough”

Blood Orange, a.k.a Devonté (Dev) Hynes, is an artist from New York who combines indie, funk, and soul. A brilliant producer, he has also worked with top artists, including Florence and the Machine, Sky Ferreira, and Solange Knowles. And aside from being a top producer and songwriter, he’s also a multi-instrumentalist with a few classical performances already under his belt. In short, Blood Orange is an amazing, multi-talented dude.

I received his latest album, You’re Not Good Enough, a few weeks ago. I was already familiar with him, thanks to his collaboration with Sky Ferreira on “Everything is Embarrassing,” so I was excited to pick out and review the album. And I’m glad I did, because out of everything I’ve reviewed this semester, this was by far my favorite.

Although the cover art is minimalistic—mostly black, with Blood Orange’s name on the top and the song title on the bottom—I was not disappointed with the content. When I started listening to the titular song “You’re Not Good Enough,” I could immediately tell it was Blood Orange because he has such a distinct style. The rhythm of the percussion is what really drives it forward, closely followed by the repeating bass melody. Hynes’ vocals aren’t the most amazing thing out there, but he writes addicting harmonies that make up for it.

Based on the lyrics, it sounds like the speaker is leading someone on. In the chorus, he sings, “I was never in love / You know that you were never good enough”. In a later verse, he sings, “You keep on coming back / I keep on letting you in.” How rude! I hope these lyrics aren’t based on real-life events. Although the song gets repetitive, it ends before it becomes a problem. I don’t know about you, but I have a bad habit of skipping songs when I’m too lazy to wait for them to finish. I didn’t do that when listening to “You’re Not Good Enough”, though, which says a lot.

Anyway, this single and this artist in general are both great listens! 5/5. Go listen to Blood Orange. -Kelly Quach

33

REVIEWS

34 ksjs.org


Cloud Nothings / Here and Nowhere Else

This is the fourth studio album by indie rock outfit Cloud Nothings. Frontman Dylan Baldi’s vocals are pained and tortured throughout, the guitars have a nasty sound to them, and the drums hit hard. The music becomes claustrophobic when it needs to invoke anxiety or tension, and the album’s experimentation and dynamics are subtle, giving the listener a shock value. Overall, Here and Nowhere Else is great from beginning to end. It has a unique sound unmatched by other indie rock albums and is sure to gain acclaim and repeated listen across the board. - Franco Miranda

ODESZA / My Friends Never Die

ODESZA is an appealing mix of BeachesBeaches & Catacombkid. In their latest record, My Friends Never Die, they sample from Gotye and Santigold in some of their songs, which have dense heavy synth sounds and banging kicks. The titular song, “My Friends Never Die” is chill, but energized. “Without You,” which samples from Gotye, has bassy kicks and warm- sounding synths. “Keep Her Close” has a nice, head-bob-inducing groove to it. While a good album, but there was nothing mind blowing or cutting edge to My Friends Never Die. I’d give it a play if I wanted to turn down or vibe out. 3.5/5 stars.

- Victor Nguyen

35

ODESZA / My Friends Never Die

ODESZA is an appealing mix of BeachesBeaches & Catacombkid. In their latest record, My Friends Never Die, they sample from Gotye and Santigold in some of their songs, which have dense heavy synth sounds and banging kicks. The titular song, “My Friends Never Die” is chill, but energized. “Without You,” which samples from Gotye, has bassy kicks and warm- sounding synths. “Keep Her Close” has a nice, head-bob-inducing groove to it. While a good album, but there was nothing mind blowing or cutting edge to My Friends Never Die. I’d give it a play if I wanted to turn down or vibe out. 3.5/5 stars.

- Victor Nguyen

Solids / Blame Confusion

Fast drumming, seriously warm and fuzzy guitars, distorted sing- shout vocals blurred in the mix—I am absolutely enamoured with Solids’ sound. They sound kind of like Post-Nothing Japandroids, but faster and even more fuzzy. Over the course of the whole album it starts to sound a little samey, since the formula doesn’t change much, but damn does it feel good anyway. An exemplar of fuzz/bliss. - Shane Carroll

REVIEWS

36 ksjs.org


TOP TEN

37

TOP TEN

10.9.8.7.6.5.4.3.2.1.

Gamma Ray / Empire of the UndeadBanner Pilot / SouvenirSabaton / HeroesMakthaverskan / IISleeperagent / About Last NightThee Oh Sees / DROPThe Ghost of a Sabertooth Tiger / Midnight SunThe Menzingers / Rented WorldWiredogs / Resistance EPMegafauna / Maximalist

38 ksjs.org


INTERVIEWINGINTERVIEWING

Raul Y MexiaRaul Y MexiaRaul Y Mexia

39

Raul Y MexiaRaul Y MexiaRaul Y Mexia

WORDS BYBrittany RombyRuben Casas

IMAGES BYJessica Perez

THE PRODIGAL SONS RETURN:Over the past decades, the Bay Area has contributed its fair share to the music scene, giving rise to artists like Santana, Journey, Mac Dre to name a few. The newest act to rise from the Bay Area is none other than a brother duo from San Jose known as Raul y Mexia. They are the sons of Hernan Hernandez, a vocalist/bassist of the multi-Grammy winner, regional Mexican group Los Tigres del Norte. But don’t let that mislead you, because Raul y Mexia are here to make a name for themselves and they are not letting their parent’s fame overshadow their career. I had the opportunity to catch up with these guys during their busy tour schedule and we sat down for what became a deep conversation about their artistry and the trajectory of their music careers.

40 ksjs.org


Why don’t you guys introduce yourselves and tell us what you’re all about?

R: My name is Raul. I am lead vocals, and I play the güiro [and] the guitar- bajo sexto to be exact.

M: I am Mexia. I am the rapper, MC of the group. Also singer, I sing second and sometimes [I’ll] sing lead. I also play the accordion, make beats, [and] produce. So we both help out on the production side.

I’m going to take it back to the beginning. A few years ago, you guys wrote a song against the Arizona anti-immigration law SB1070. Could you explain what the song was about and how that lead to where you are now?

M: We started off with “Todos Somos Arizona,” I wrote the song and then invited my brother later on to help me write it [and] put it together. We did that in about in 2009, when we actually wrote down the song. We felt frustrated on what was going on [while] watching TV, listening to the news, hearing everything that was going on, and seeing the people struggle. We are very connected with our family members too, not only in Mexico but here as well. They would always give us these little anecdotes about the things that would happen to them. So we kind of felt a responsibility being that we are the sons of Hernan Hernandez from

Los Tigres del Norte and their whole message and their whole moment was always about the people, especially on immigration reform and really [being] there for the people. At the end of the day, I was really mad and I wanted to express myself. The best way I know how to do that is through music. After that, Jorge Ramos took interest in it. Jorge Ramos is from Univision who has his program “Al Punto” and [I] guess some people contacted us from his program. They [had] seen us on Youtube and said ‘hey, we want to get the whole youth’s aspect- the whole youth’s perspective- on it’ and they didn’t know who we were related to- they didn’t know that we were the sons of Hernan Hernandez. Once we got there we told them, they were like: ‘oh we love the whole different generations perspective from on it; so, we want to bring you guys in and interview you. Would that be okay?’ From there we started getting a lot of feedback. People [were like], ‘Ay why don’t you guys do something together. We want to hear more music from you guys.’ And we were like, ‘Ok, well let’s try this.’ Respectively, we were doing our solo projects before,so it was kind of inevitable- it felt right to bring it together.

R: Thats pretty much how we got started. I think for us it was kind of like Los Tigres del Norte are a band of brothers and a cousin, so it was only natural for us to get together and form a group. More than anything, working with my brother, the process has been easy. We had worked on songs before, but there was something about that song that just led and it made a snowball effect where everything happened so fast. We are getting a lot of love, not only locally [but] outside of San Jose too. It’s never easy to go

“ It’s never easyto go outside your

home and try tomake a name for

yourself. ”

41

“ It’s never easyto go outside your

home and try tomake a name for

yourself. ”

outside your home and try to make a name for yourself. That’s the cool thing now, people now are respecting us more from our music rather than [for] being the sons of somebody famous. For us to finally knock on doors and finally get that attention. “Todos Somos Arizona” led to something that we believed in, something that we cared about, led to this group.

On the music side of things, you guys released your debut album Arriba y Lejos in February. Would you say your music reflects your cultural identity?

M: I definitely think so. We definitely are appreciative and proud of where we come from- from [Mexico] where our parents are. But we are also very proud of where we are now. The generation that we represent- the generation now- it’s cross over, so meshed, it’s

just a big fusion, a mixture of things now. If you look into any latino kids iPod it [has] all sorts of different music on there, not just one genre. It’s like my brother said, it was kind of inevitable. A lot of people don’t know my brother did pop music. He is really into romantic style, ballads and then my little brother Gio, who is the drummer, is a total rocker, really into heavy straight metal. I am more the urban, hip hop guy. Now we mesh that all together and thats the sound we come up with. Culture has a lot to do with it, but also the fact that we are musicians at the end of the day. We love music, first and for

FEATURED ARTIST

42 ksjs.org


recorded this album we recorded 22 songs. Different genre, different thing. When we went in to work

with these different producers, it was like ‘we want a sound but we don’t really know.’ Then when we picked these 10 songs, it was a fusion of things that we felt. So every beat was kinda of like, ‘You know I can relate to that because it has the accordion and we love the accordion, even bajo sexto.’ A lot of the times when we go in we were like, ‘Ay Yayo! Can you add a bajo sexto over here? Can you add an accordion?’ [Yayo would respond] ‘Yea yea. Sure!’ Because the whole point of this album was to get back to our Mexican roots [and] to show that we didn’t lose

most. Our dad taught us how to play at a very young age and we are very appreciative of instruments like the bajo sexto [and] the accordion, which are definitely traditional instruments. But I am also into DJing, I love to scratch records, I love to listen to hip hop. My brother [Raul] loves to play not just the bajo sexto, [but] guitar, piano. My brother [Gio] likes to scream; he likes to play the double pedal. There are all types of different aspects that we implement into the music, which makes it very interesting. At the end of the day when people would ask us ‘What do you categorize [the album] as?’ I know it’s Latin pop or whatever they want to categorize it, but [the album’s] a fusion, a mixture of our gustos- of what we like and what we grew up listening to.

Being Latino Americano, we have a lot of rhythms to choose from; from the Latino side there’s cumbia, bachata, regional, tribal; on the American side you have trap, dubstep, folk, country. How did the beats from Arriba y Lejos happen?

R: I think for us it was more of the feeling that we got from every beat that was sent to us. Working with Babo Gomez, Yayo, and LuIgi Hidalgo that was more of like a feeling where we went in and we made the music.

M: It has a Miami sound to it.

R: It kind of has that Cumbia feel. A lot of people don’t know when we

43

touch. I think our first solo projects we really tried to go more American pop- more mainstream pop. It was cool, but at the same time it wasn’t us. We wanted something that represents the Mexican American of today. You hear it in the album, songs like“Ella Tiene Pegue” which has the clarinet, the accordion, but at the same time it sounds very urban. It’s kind of like those mixes, the music that Mexia likes [and] the music that I like. Being Latin American, more than anything, we are unique. Our story has never really been told. I always think of the Selena movie where they are on the border said ‘ Tenemos que

ir a Mexico. We got to be more Mexican than the Mexicans, more American than the Americans.’ And it’s true! Even with this album, we were so scared to even speak spanglish or sing in spanglish. It wasn’t until we got to Monterey [Mexico], when we got with Toy Selectah and he said, ‘You know what?’

M: ‘F**k it!’

R: ‘Do your guys’ thing, You guys do it. This is your guy’s album and this is the way it’s going to be.’ That’s when it was like, ‘Alright.’ If we have somebody who’s been in the industry for so long and had such a great

“ The whole point of this album wasto get back to our Mexican roots [and]to show that we didn’t lose touch. Ithink our first solo projects, we really tried to go more American pop- more mainstream pop. It was cool, but at the same time, it wasn’t us. ”

influence on everybody, on that type of music, was for him to give us the okay to follow what we feel. Because, like I said, the Latino American story has never been told. That’s why Toy [Selectah] has been a really big part in our careers, because he has seen something; [we] have a story that hasn’t really been told.

Because the music you guys make is so diverse, you’ve performed

alongside many artists from different genres, like Julieta Venegas, Ozomatli, Lupillo Rivera. Which audience has given you the biggest applause?

R: Honestly to tell you the truth, all of them. It’s really surprising. The first regional performance was at the Cino de Mayo festival at the Fairgrounds. I remember being so

nervous. We weren’t sure how we were going to fit in. We know we are cumbia, but at the same time how are people going to react when they see us rapping or when they see us doing our thing. Honestly, to tell you the truth, we got more claps there. In Fresno, that show with Lupillo Rivera and Intocable, we had people like, ‘Otra! Otra! Otra! (One more! One more! One More!)’’ It was like, ‘WOAH.’ We didn’t expect that either, especially going into those [regional]

FEATURED ARTIST

44 ksjs.org


We definitely love to push that boundary, that new sound. Sonido clash is something that represents who we are, it’s an extension of who we are.

Focusing on the beats and the culture aspect, what new elements might be in an upcoming album?

R: What people can identify with most is what they already know. For us we love cumbia. It just naturally came out. We didn’t know that we were going to do cumbia music. We go out there and people love cumbia, people love to dance. We added “la yaquesita” to our set, an old song that people can identify and they start screaming. It’s crazy, but those are the types of sound that we are

going for. Pretty much that whole urban cumbia sound, but just a little more to our style because I think that a lot of cumbia are the same. We can sing and we can rap. We can do pretty much what ever we want, which kind of differentiates us too. For us, this new album, we are going to start listening to new music- new beats. Definitely, one thing for us [is] implement the whole regional side.

M: This last one [Arriba y Lejos] was way more experimental. It was definitely like a mass confusion of what we we really trying to do. But we were definitely successful because that’s how we felt at the time. On this one we want to go a little bit more traditional cumbia. Not necessarily like Columbian style nor Mexico City style cumbia. We want something that feels comfortable for us. I think that the Bay Area cumbia scene, we got bands like Candelaria, Cumbia Tokeson, Los Leons. Bands like that, that came up in the Bay Area with a distinct sound. Its definitely going to have that West Coast, Cali boy sound that we are really trying to put out there but still be traditional in a sense, not experimental, not all over the place. We definitely want to stick to one sound,

markets. The most comfortable we felt [was] going with Ozomatli, Julieta [Venegas] because it is just more our style. People are more open to it because the regional markets are more different than the alternative. It’s

more like this is how they need to be like: they need to have the sombrero, they need to have las botas. And that wasn’t the case there. They accepted us for who we were. That’s the cool thing, the fact that we can be with Noel Torres, Lupillo Rivera, Julieta, [or] Ozomatli. We even got offered to do a show with Mark Anthony and how do we fit in there? So that is still in the talk.

I heard, in addition to your music, you two also host an event called Sonido Clash which brings in artists who experiment with traditional and modern Latin sounds.

M: We do that every first Friday of the month. The next one coming up is this friday [Nov 1]. It’s actually the last one for this year so I’m kind of bummed out about that. I think we are going to start up again next year.

We definitely love to pushthat boundary, that newsound. Sonido clash is anextension of who we are.

45

one style, one feeling for the whole project. Like the saying goes, ‘Born in the USA but with Mexican parts’.

Any last words for your audience and fans out there?

M: If you want to find any more information visit us at raulymexia.com. From there you can find out all our social media sites: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud. Everything is on raulymexia.com!

R: Thank you guys for listening! A todos los seguidores de Raul y Mexia y a todos los seguidores de Los Tigres del Norte. I know a lot of the followers from Los Tigres del Norte follow us too, and they would do anything for Los Tigres. Even with our music they send us tweets, they send us everything. Fans that we didn’t even know we had send us tweets, send us gifts. A big ‘Thank you!’ to you too! And to the people that are doing music, don’t give up on your dreams. There were times where we felt this is it, we are giving up, but if you keep on moving forward in the right direction, things will look bright.

“ People identify most with what they

already know. For us, we love cumbia. It just

naturally came out. ”

SOCIAL MEDIAfacebook.com/raulymexiatwitter.com/raulymexiayoutube.com/raulymexia

Raul y Mexia’s debut album, Arriba y Lejos

FEATURED ARTIST

SPECIALTY

2 AM - 6 AM

6 AM -10 AM

10 AM - 2 PM

2 PM - 5 PM

6 PM - 10 PM

10 PM - 2 AM

5 PM - 6 PM

SUNDAY TUESDAYMONDAY

JOHNNY STRESSSpeaker of the

House

ZCRPositive Protest

DJ SOLSTICEThe Midnight

Sun

JAZZY JAYTHE DJ

Morning Mocha

CAPTAIN PATSYVessel to Nowhere

Lo$Urban Lecture

TBA

JAYPuro Party

TRICKY TRIGTotally Tricky

Theatre

DREIDELIgnorant Fre$h

SHANE C.Metronome

Arthritis

TREY &GOOD DOGThe Alloy

T LOThe D-Low w/

T Lo

KEVIN FOLEYUnconscious

Desires

STRONG ARMFresh to Death

DJ DEEPTHOUGHTZ

The Offseason Outtro

DJ SARAHNADEThe Electric Lab

KATThe Transient

Trip

ALTERNATIVO JAZZELECTRONIC

RADIO ETHIOPIA CELLULOID DREAMS

SPECIALTY

SATURDAYFRIDAYTHURSDAYWEDNESDAY

JAY MIDNIGHTThe Jay Theories

ZAKUWIFWNBW

DENNIS TERRYFriday

Flashbacks

JONNY BGood Times

SUNNY SMILESGood Time Noon

Tunes

DJ BROWNBEARDThe Domestic Disturbance

DJ DARK CHAOBrave New World

DJ SALINGERCarnage Asada

GOLIATH6 String Overload

MR. MUJAHInsomniac

Nation

DJ GO GET AHGettin Life

DJ NICKIEDisco Katz Show

MISS MUNDAYMission to Mars

THE BARHEMIANStop, Drop &

Roll Show

CHEF RAMONThe Blues Cafe

DJAY BREEZYThe Frat House

DIGI99 Volts

SHIVA DIVAThe Take Over

PATRICK & KAKIKitty Glitter

DJ B-RYANSo Fresh, So

Clean

DJ ZORDONThe Power Chamber

BERLYNThe 5th Element

MR.GHOSTBrass from the

Past

KYDD SASQUATCHPico de Gallo

URBANSUBVERSIVE ROCKSPECIALTY

SPORTS WEEKLY

At 90.5 KSJS, we aim to perfect thebalance of hard work and free play.

This fall, we’re looking for the next generation of driven KSJS members looking to gain real-world experience under the university setting.

If you’re a registered San Jose State University student interested in working in the sports, entertainment, audio, or creative industries, consider joining our team. We’re comprised of all types of majors, from engineering to political science to, of course, RTVF. Here, we have the ability to use our unique skills in a variety of opportunities, which include DJing, audio engineering, and creating publications like this one. And while we represent a diversity of SJSU students, at the end of the day, we all joined KSJS for the same reason: our love of music.

To learn more about KSJS, check us out at ksjs.org.

JOIN OUR TEAM!

ground zero | issue 1

Documents

ksjs ground

ksjs broadcasts

ksjs program director

new ksjs djs

spring semester

management team

program directortop

program directorwe