Reviews
SOTW: “Material Lover” by Sienna Spiro 050626
Wednesday, May 6th, 2026 by Allison Shulman
SOTW: “Material Lover” by Sienna Spiro
Reviewed by: Ciara McKeon ‘28
Release date: May 1st, 2026
Rating: 7/10
RIYL: Olivia Dean, Ravyn Lenae, RAYE
Review:
“Material Lover” by Sienna Spiro is one of those songs that doesn’t try too hard but still ends up hitting. It’s super simple, but in a way that actually makes it feel more real.
The first thing I noticed was her voice. It’s really smooth but still has a little bit of edge to it, which makes the whole song feel more emotional without being dramatic. The song explores themes of desire, identity, and the tension between genuine connection and superficial attraction. She says what she’s thinking instead of over-performing it, which I really like.
The production is pretty minimal, but that honestly works so well for the vibe. Nothing feels overdone, and it just lets the song sit in this kind of soft, slightly emotional space the whole time. It doesn’t have a huge buildup or anything, but it doesn’t need one.
Overall, “Material Lover” one of those songs that’s really easy to throw on. It’s lowkey, but it sticks, and it definitely made me want to keep listening to her music.
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AOTW: “Locket” by Madison Beer 043026
Friday, May 1st, 2026 by Allison Shulman
AOTW: “Locket” by Madison Beer
Reviewed by: Mia Ciccarelle ‘29
Release Date: January 16, 2026
Rating: 7/10
RIYL: Tate McRae, Billie Eilish
Review:
Madison Beer, is a young American singer-songwriter who has been making music since the age of 13. She was first discovered on Youtube by Justin Bieber, and his recognition led to a large amount of public attention to Madison’s music, and also earned her a contract with Island Records. Madison has had the struggle of having to prove herself in the music industry to be more than just an internet personality. (more…)
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Loyolapalooza Headliner: Ravyn Lenae
Thursday, April 30th, 2026 by Allison Shulman
Review by: Yukesh Aryal (’28)
Loyolapalooza 2026 ended with a total banger this year, and it was all thanks to Ravyn Lenae. She gave her absolute all on that stage, bringing her signature “celestial” presence to our university. As a fan since 2018, this was a peak experience for me, and I honestly don’t think any other concert will ever match.
The vibe was high from the start. She opened the set with “Sticky,” which was the perfect choice to get everyone’s energy up. From there, she took us on a journey through her whole career, playing everything from her number one hit, “Love Me Not,” all the way back to her 2015 roots with tracks from “Moon Shoes EP.” Seeing the crowd lose it to “Skin Tight” was also a highlight; the atmosphere was so unexpected, and everyone was just vibing and dancing. (more…)
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SOTW: “Nowhere Alone” by Lia Juno 042926
Wednesday, April 29th, 2026 by Allison Shulman
SOTW: “Nowhere Alone” by Lia Juno
Reviewed by: Marley Lehmann ‘28
Release date: February 20th, 2026
Rating: 8/10
RIYL: The Japanese House, Clairo, Faye Webster, Gracie Abrams
Review:
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SOTW: “All Rabbits Die Alone” by hauntingclaire 042126
Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 by Allison Shulman
SOTW: “All Rabbits Die Alone” by hauntingclaire
Reviewed by: Sylvia J. Gredzinski ‘27
Release date: February 27th, 2026
Rating: 8/10
RIYL: KidSnorlax, Whatsaheart, 6arelyhuman
Review:
“All Rabbits Die Alone” by hauntingclaire is a track that conveys intimate feelings of self-discovery. Do not let the title throw you off, the song is not as intense or gruesome as the title presents. Instead of leaning into anything overwhelming or harsh, the artist presents a song that is deeply reflective of their trouble in finding purpose in life. Hauntingclaire sings about a constant loop of being stuck in the same routine. The song uses symbolism to depict themes of helplessness and the search for meaning in life. Using the “rabbit” as a metaphor for one’s self, and telling the listener it is laying “flat on its back” to describe the inevitable ending of life. Later singing the line “enjoy all of this while you can, it won’t stay for long” the artist represents a sense of urgency in achieving something. The song describes a self-destructive fate even while hoping for an opposite outcome. The sound of the song is a constant build of electronic components until it reaches the chorus of the song which is pretty upbeat in comparison to what the lyrics suggest. These electronic components are one of my favorite things about hauntingclaire’s music (more…)
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AOTW: “campthehills” by campthehills 041626
Thursday, April 16th, 2026 by Ellie Walsh
AOTW: “campthehills” by campthehills
Reviewed by: Ciara McKeon ’28
Release Date: February 27, 2026
Rating: 10/10
RIYL: The Hellp, BETWEEN FRIENDS, Bassvictim
Review:
This self-titled, 8-track album by campthehills is honestly such an incredible release. The artist has only really surfaced within the past year and has already been putting out so much great music. A lot of newer artists take time to find their sound, but campthehills already feels like they’ve built a real identity and style for themselves. (more…)
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SOTW: “Broken Record” by Alemeda 041426
Tuesday, April 14th, 2026 by Allison Shulman
SOTW: “Broken Record” by Alemeda
Reviewed by: Mia Ciccarelle ‘29
Release date: February 20th, 2026
Rating: 7/10
Review:
Rahema Shifa Alameda is an emerging alternative rock artist, born 1999 in Ethiopia. She was raised in Phoenix, Arizona, to strict parents who were very stern about the music she listened to. (more…)
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AOTW: “Oblivion” by Alice Phoebe Lou 040926
Thursday, April 9th, 2026 by Ellie Walsh
AOTW: “Oblivion” by Alice Phoebe Lou
Reviewed by: Marley Lehmann ’28
Release Date: October 2025
Rating: 9/10
RIYL: Clairo, Phoebe Bridgers, Laufey, Faye Webster
Review:
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SOTW: “Please Follow” by Del Water Gap 040726
Tuesday, April 7th, 2026 by Allison Shulman
SOTW: “Please Follow” by Del Water Gap
Reviewed by: Sylvia J. Gredzinski ‘27
Release date: November 7th, 2025
Rating: 9/10
RIYL: Mt. Joy, Hippo Campus, Adam Melchor
Review:
Del Water Gap is the solo music project of artist Samuel Holden Jaffe, who falls in the indie pop genre and is known for his emotional and introspective sound. Jaffe was born in 1993, growing up in rural Connecticut, then moving to New York City to study music production at NYU. This was where he started Del Water Gap, which initially began as a group band, but later evolved into a solo act with Jaffe in the center of it all. His music focuses on themes like love, relationships, and personal growth, saying his music is inspired by “romantic encounters and dimly lit rooms”. Del Water Gap gained attention back in 2020 with his song “Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat” and has released multiple albums since like Del Water Gap (2021) and I Miss You Already + I Haven’t Left Yet (2023). (more…)
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Concert Review: Brook and the Bluff 032326
Saturday, April 4th, 2026 by Ellie Walsh
Review by: Marley Lehmann (’28)
The Brook and The Bluff is an indie-rock band that was originally based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are currently touring around the country for their newest album, Werewolf. Thankfully, they stopped close by at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. The venue itself can hold around 1,200 people, and when we entered, it was packed. The show sold out!
We arrived at the venue around 7 pm, and crowds were already forming at the barricades. Everyone was very excited for the concert to begin. The setting was perfect; there was dark lighting with LED’s highlighting the stage, interesting decorations, and posters of bands that have visited or are coming soon. One thing we immediately noticed was a table in the back corner where we were offered a chance to win a vinyl if we could prove that we were registered to vote. This was a very new and intriguing way to combine one’s love for music and position as a member of society. (more…)
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