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KTSW 89.9 •

Lyrical Literature: A Soundtrack for On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

Michael Ybarra 
Music Journalist 
 
Ocean Vuong’s debut novel “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” is written as a three-part letter to the main character’s mother. A poet by trade, Vuong flexes his literary strength in captivating prose and experimental storytelling. His grasp of language, in my opinion, is unmatched and inspirational, so much so that I desperately sought out music which echoes the novel’s themes and exhibits exceptional lyricism. What follows is a soundtrack to my favorite book o...
KTSW 89.9 •

Concert Review: Becoming an Escaper with Sarah Kinsley

Michael Ybarra
Music Journalist
 
On the first cool night of fall, a line formed outside of Antone’s Nightclub, extending around the corner of the block. Young adults chit chatted with each other, but behind me, a couple in the winter of their lives spoke with a young woman.
“We’ve never heard her before. What kind of music does she make,” they asked.
They were in for a treat. I knew Sarah Kinsley, fresh off the heels of releasing her debut album, Escaper, would not disappoint them, and I envied...
KTSW 89.9 •

Album Review: Djesse Vol. 4 by Jacob Collier

By Michael Ybarra
Music Journalist
It is very common for artists to struggle with finishing a piece of work. The final brushstroke, the final vocal run, the final edit. There is always something more that can be added or taken away, making it difficult to let go. It is hard to end something well, but Jacob Collier has perfectly concluded his entry into the world of music with the final album in the Djesse series.
With Djesse Vol. 4, Collier has dealt all his cards. He has left nothing to the ima...
KTSW 89.9 •

Several songs of solidarity

By Michael Ybarra
Music Journalist
TW: Mentions of violence, sexual assault and death
Solidarity costs nothing. It is simply showing you see those going through tremendous inequality. Music has a huge part to play in shining a light on the injustice that lurks in the shadows. To me, these songs are more powerful than any deeply emotional heartbreak anthem. They are all around us. We only need to listen.
Of all the artists championing advocacy in the music industry, Hozier is unapologetically voc...
KTSW 89.9 •

Album Review: Unlimited Ammo by Namasenda

By Michael Ybarra


Music Journalist


Hyperpop is a genre of music dominated by the likes of PinkPantheress, Dorian Electra, Charli XCX and many others, all of whom create music with swift electronic beats fit for an exciting house party. However, Namasenda, a Swedish artist, has been slowly carving out space for herself among these giants.

She’s been in the game since 2016, but her debut album was released in 2022, introducing her audience to a truly exciting, digital world. On the surface...
KTSW 89.9 •

Dystopian melodies: Crafting a story of revolution

By Michael Ybarra
Music Journalist
No movie is complete without a soundtrack. Most directors work linearly: write the story and then add the music. To exercise my creative muscles, I wanted to work in reverse.
I listened to songs and crafted a dystopian narrative, which prepares us for the bleak outlook of tomorrow. However, this is not a tale of despair. This is a tale of revolution.
This story begins with an advertisement for an unnamed city, teeming with technological advancement and dreamy l...
KTSW 89.9 •

Album Review: the secret to life by FIZZ

Michael Ybarra
Music Journalist
The time has come for the waking world to acknowledge Fizzville, a whimsical dimension created by the European band FIZZ. After they pushed their debut release back a full six weeks, their album did not disappoint. The singles prior, including up-tempo tracks like “As Good As It Gets” and “High In Brighton”, perfectly encapsulates the overall message of the album. However, the full release gives listeners all the pieces and nuances to construct a full picture of F...
KTSW 89.9 •

Concert Review: Laufey in concert, a spectacle worthy of a grammy

By Michael Ybarra
Music Journalist
While cars honked and pedestrians chattered outside the Paramount Theatre in Austin, TX, a line had formed around the building and down the block before its glass double doors opened at 7 p.m. Upon entering, every ounce of noise, all chaos, disappeared. My balcony seat squished my legs slightly; the stage fell further back than I expected, but I knew, from the centerstage cloth-covered piano, that this night held spectacular things in store.
The concert began w...
KTSW 89.9 •

Ethel Cain’s knack for telling horror stories

Michael Ybarra
Music Journalist
TW: Mentions of cannibalism and murder
Trick or treat is perhaps one of the best phrases to be invented, for Halloween is filled with both. In fact, young adults’ obsession with horror melds trick and treat into one. Humanity has developed a taste for feeling scared, and it is impressive when creatives toe the line between terrible terror and artful expression.
Hayden Anhedonia is the perfect example of crafting a deliciously rich story with spooky undertones. Eth...
KTSW 89.9 •

No sabo selections: music as a bridge to culture

By Michael Ybarra
Music Journalist 
 
A “no sabo kid” is a person of Hispanic, specifically Latin, descent who cannot speak or understand Spanish. Without knowing the language of their family and fellow Hispanic friends, a certain disconnect occurs inside these individuals. In fact, a portion of the Hispanic community scolds these non-native speakers, and this leads to an exclusion from one’s own culture.
I am a “no sabo kid.” My parents never taught me or my siblings Spanish, but I refuse to re...
KTSW 89.9 •

Musically mapping the San Marcos Public Library

By Michael Ybarra
Music Journalist

Alkek Library, located in the center of the Texas State University campus, is not the only palace of literature in the city of San Marcos. Often overlooked by university students, the San Marcos Public Library, holds hidden gems, beautiful displays and plenty of novels to bloat even the most ravenous readers. The public library also houses DVDs, audiobooks, study rooms and so much more, with each sections exudes a unique energy.
I set out on a journey of music...
KTSW 89.9 •

A night at the Drag Show: How I became assistant DJ for the night

By Michael Ybarra
Music Journalist
 
There comes a time in someone’s life where they realize they have truly achieved greatness. Mine just came in a rather queer fashion. On the night of Sept. 8, 2023, I was recruited to help run the music for KTSW’s drag show to kick off San Marcos Pride.
Upon overcoming entry challenges, I arrived at The Porch, a KTSW staple for all Third Thursday events. A little irritated but mostly excited, and then the queens arrived.
Lacquered in exaggerated contour and e...
KTSW 89.9 •

Falling head over heels for FIZZ

By Michael Ybarra
Music Journalist
Emerging from the dense forest of European bands comes FIZZ, a group crafting their own fantastical wonderland. Consisting of best friends Dodie, Gretta Isaac, Orla Gartland and Martin Luke Brown, FIZZ is downright whimsical and committed to remaining unserious in everything they do before they release their debut album, The Secret to Life, on Oct. 27. Their album rollout has been quite interesting as well as they wield unconventional tactics to allow listeners...
KTSW 89.9 •

Succumbing To Tiny Habits

By Michael Ybarra
Music Journalist
It turns out there is such a thing as a “healthy habit.” In fact, the folk-pop band Tiny Habits is one such example. After opening for Gracie Abrams on her Good Riddance Tour, the group released their debut EP Tiny Things and began their first solo journey on their very own Tiny Tour. While success has followed them everywhere they have gone, Maya Rae, Cinya Khan and Judah Mayowa continue posting TikToks, showcasing their knack for revamping songs with dissonan...
KTSW 89.9 •

Album Review: To Learn by Leith Ross

Michael Ybarra
Music Journalist
TW: Discussions of sexual assault
In an overcrowded sea of albums, most of which seek to steal five minutes of virality, one can yearn for the truly transformative. Leith Ross’s debut album, To Learn, released on May 19, fulfills this quota perfectly, and if people are not careful, they just might miss its understated excellence.
Ross, like most other up-and-coming artists these days, first found fame on TikTok with their song “We’ll Never Have Sex,” but they dist...
KTSW 89.9 •

Album Review: Yebba’s Dawn

By Michael Ybarra 
Music Journalist 
 
Yebba, otherwise known as Abigail Smith, careened into her music career on a Sofar stage. It was a small performance, just her and her guitarist playing a steady riff, but the audience was starstruck. Yebba’s unique agility, breathy vocal quality and intensely vulnerable lyricism left the room hooting and hollering. Even after five minutes, Yebba had them in the palm of her hand. 
 

 
 
She does the same with her debut album Dawn. Dedicated to and named af...
KTSW 89.9 •

Samara Joy Says Jazz is Not Dead

By Michael Ybarra
Music Journalist
 
The recording academy made some interesting decisions on the biggest night for music, but they may have gotten something right which has bigger implications than anyone has realized. 64 years after the first black woman won Best Individual Jazz Performance and Best Female Vocal Performance at the first ever Grammy Awards, Samara Joy took home the title of Best New Artist. She shattered the glass box which characterized jazz as a pretentious genre, with snooty...
KTSW 89.9 •

Change for Better or Worse

By Michael Ybarra
Music Journalist
 
One of an artist’s only jobs, that the public knows about anyway, is to crank out fresh hits for their adoring fans. But the pressure to maintain familiarity while attempting to satisfy the urge to experiment with one’s sound has never been higher. Many artists have shown this battle between their past sound and their vision for the future of their music plays a significant role in the reception of this change, and whether they succeed or fail ultimately indi...