Features & Essays

Local Arts Scene Cautiously Reopens After Months in the Dark

September 1, 2021 by

As vaccination efforts continue to forge ahead in Santa Barbara County, the local arts and music scene is gearing up to welcome back members of the community. 
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Announcement of “Deltopia” Film Is Met With Community Backlash

July 25, 2021 by

The opinions of actual UC Santa Barbara students and I.V. community members have undermined the directors’ “as honest as possible” approach.
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A Conversation with Santa Barbara Musician Conner Cherland

May 23, 2021 by

With his new LP, “Love Songs by Conner Cherland,” set to release in June, Cherland shared some backstory about the project and about his career as a singer-songwriter.
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On This Day: The Weeknd’s Drearily Hedonistic Debut Project, “House of Balloons”

March 21, 2021 by and

The project has become a landmark in 2010s R&B — a dynamic showcase of The Weeknd’s insecurities about love and coping dive into the maximums of hedonism.
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“Waiting on Host”: UCSB Filmmakers on Shooting During the Pandemic

February 27, 2021 by

The film is about Jennifer, a professional dancer who lands an audition for a coveted role only to find out that her grandmother has tested positive for COVID-19.
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Record Recap: In Memoriam of Chick Corea, Trailblazer of Jazz Fusion

February 23, 2021 by and

Corea was a highly lauded pioneer of jazz fusion — a genre that reinterprets jazz music by using alternative inspirations like rock, metal or Latin music.
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Record Recap: In Memoriam of SOPHIE, Pop Pioneer and Barrier Breaker

February 18, 2021 by

While the loss of such an icon is insurmountably hard to grasp, SOPHIE’s lasting impact on the industry will be felt for years to come.
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On This Day: Celebrating 50 Years of Carole King’s “Tapestry”

February 10, 2021 by

No. 25 on Rolling Stone’s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time,” “Tapestry” has long since taken its rightful place at the heart of the American soft-rock canon.
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On This Day: “Donuts,” J Dilla’s Parting Gift

February 7, 2021 by

James Dewitt Yancey, better known as J Dilla, released his album “Donuts” just three days before his passing on Feb. 10, 2006.
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Santa Barbara Band Trout Club on Making Music in the Pandemic

February 3, 2021 by

With a recently released music video and a new album in the works, not even the defining health crisis of our time has stopped these artists from dedicating themselves to their music. 
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On This Day: The Best And The Worst Of The National Anthem

January 27, 2021 by and

The national anthem has had its share of musical and sociopolitical controversies throughout the years.
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Record Recap: How Good Of A Guitarist Was Kurt Cobain?

January 25, 2021 by

Cobain’s unique sound was at times met with criticism, especially given his slurred, non-virtuosic style.    
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Music for the End of the World: The Rise of Hyperpop

November 16, 2020 by

As the dystopian society mankind has feared for decades becomes more of a reality, pop music shape-shifts once again to assume the form of hyperpop. 
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“Six Cents” Podcast: Three UCSB Students Give Their Two Cents on Politics, Sports, Music and the World Around Them

November 12, 2020 by

For those of you who are looking to add a new podcast to your rotation, allow me to introduce you to UC Santa Barbara’s very own “Six Cents.” 
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Highlighting Nature’s Beauty, UCSB Student Alex Funk Shares His Art To Raise Money for Charity

September 23, 2020 by

Inspired by the natural beauty of Santa Barbara and saddened by the onslaught of tragedies in recent months, Funk wants to help his community through his art. 
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