Features & Essays

October 8, 2021

Art, Design & Architecture Museum Reopens Its Doors

By Marisol Cruz

After more than a year of being shuttered, UC Santa Barbara’s Art, Design & Architecture Museum reopened on Sept. 25 to showcase three new in-person exhibitions.

September 1, 2021

Local Arts Scene Cautiously Reopens After Months in the Dark

By Sunidhi Sridhar

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. 

July 25, 2021

Announcement of “Deltopia” Film Is Met With Community Backlash

By Marisol Cruz

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

May 23, 2021

A Conversation with Santa Barbara Musician Conner Cherland

By Shereen Mohammadzadeh

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.

March 21, 2021

On This Day: The Weeknd’s Drearily Hedonistic Debut Project, “House of Balloons”

By Jadon Bienz, Evan Gonzalez

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.

February 27, 2021

“Waiting on Host”: UCSB Filmmakers on Shooting During the Pandemic

By Sunidhi Sridhar

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.

February 23, 2021

Record Recap: In Memoriam of Chick Corea, Trailblazer of Jazz Fusion

By Jadon Bienz, Evan Gonzalez

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.

February 18, 2021

Record Recap: In Memoriam of SOPHIE, Pop Pioneer and Barrier Breaker

By Ryan Miller

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.

February 10, 2021

On This Day: Celebrating 50 Years of Carole King’s “Tapestry”

By Katie Caracciolo

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.

February 7, 2021

On This Day: “Donuts,” J Dilla’s Parting Gift

By Jadon Bienz

James Dewitt Yancey, better known as J Dilla, released his album “Donuts” just three days before his passing on Feb. 10, 2006.

February 3, 2021

Santa Barbara Band Trout Club on Making Music in the Pandemic

By Marisol Cruz

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. 

January 27, 2021

On This Day: The Best And The Worst Of The National Anthem

By Jadon Bienz, Evan Gonzalez

The national anthem has had its share of musical and sociopolitical controversies throughout the years.

January 25, 2021

Record Recap: How Good Of A Guitarist Was Kurt Cobain?

By Hayson Tasher

Cobain’s unique sound was at times met with criticism, especially given his slurred, non-virtuosic style.    

November 16, 2020

Music for the End of the World: The Rise of Hyperpop

By Maryo Jajo-Azabo

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. 

November 12, 2020

“Six Cents” Podcast: Three UCSB Students Give Their Two Cents on Politics, Sports, Music and the World Around Them

By Sunidhi Sridhar

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.” 

September 23, 2020

Highlighting Nature’s Beauty, UCSB Student Alex Funk Shares His Art To Raise Money for Charity

By Sunidhi Sridhar

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.