SOTW:

Reviewed by: Marley Lehmann ‘28

Release Date: May 1, 2026

Rating: 8.5/10

RIYL: MUNA, Paramore, Chappell Roan

Review:

The post SOTW: “Should’ve Known Better” by The Beaches first appeared on WLOY Loyola Radio.

AOTW:

Reviewed by: Fiona Galang ‘27

Release Date: September 18, 2026

Rating: 7.5/10

RIYL: Paramore, Wolf Alice, Pinegrove

Review: 

The post AOTW: “Pylon” by beabadoobee 092426 first appeared on WLOY Loyola Radio.

Time for another Throwback Thursday!

Let’s travel back in music history and see what happened on September 24th….

September 24, 1957- “Elvis Presley released his single “Jailhouse Rock.” This song by the “King of Rock and Roll” would become the Billboard Song of the Year for 1957.

September 24, 1984- Paul McCartney released his single “No More Lonely Nights.”

September  24, 1991- Nirvana released their second studio album Nevermind. The album would reach the number one spot of US Billboard 200 in January 1992 and the lead single “Smells Like Teen Spirit” went on to be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

The post Throwback Thursday: September 24th first appeared on WLOY Loyola Radio.

SOTW: “Romance is a Desert” by Nieve Ella

 Reviewed by: Sylvia J. Gredzinski ‘27

 Release Date: August 28, 2026

Rating: 7.5/10

RIYL: Lizzie McAlpine, Devon Gabriella, Lola Young

Review:

Nieve Ella is a 23 year old artist from England. She began making music when she found her late fathers guitar and learned to play by studying tabs online.

Her music is described as indie-pop, taking inspiration from artists like Billie Eilish and Sam Fender. She is part of the
group Loud LDN, a collective of women and gender-expansive artists based in London.

She has released many songs over the years like “Bite Back” and “Standing On A Pane Of Glass.”Her newest album How Long Will It Take? is being released on October 16, 2026.

Funnily enough I found this song scrolling Instagram reels and it immediately caught my attention. With its upbeat tune, and catchy lyrics, I clicked on the “add to playlist” button quite fast. According to Nieve Ella the song “Romance Is A Desert” was designed to be a song people could “dance and feel good to”. It did what it was intended to do. To me this song feels like driving down the highway with the windows down. It explores the feeling of being so in love that
everything else doesn’t matter, being so carefree and not worried about the consequences.

The sound is loose and liberating, meant to help you forget about everything but the present. This is a song you could play around others, and everyone would enjoy it. It’s a simple song but one that works, it’s not meant to be serious, just meant for people to listen and vibe to. Definitely worth the listen.

The post SOTW: “Romace is a Desert” by Nieve Ella first appeared on WLOY Loyola Radio.

We are bringing back our Throwback Thursday posts this year! Each Thursday we will take a look back in time to see what important events in music history happened on that day.

To start us off, let’s look and see what happened on September 17th in music history…

September 17, 1934- RCA Victor (now RCA Records) releases the first 33 1/3 rpm recording.  It was of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra under conductor Leopold Stokowski.

September 17, 1982- “Bad to the Bone” by George Thorogood and The Destroyers is released. This song would go on to become their signature song as they performed it at every concert.

September 17, 2012- Adele’s single “Someone Like You”  goes #1 in the US. It also topped charts in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Finland, France, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and the UK.

The post Throwback Thursday: September 17th first appeared on WLOY Loyola Radio.

It’s that time of year again!  Nic brings you 4 hours of celebration and fireworks for the Moldie Oldies 4th of July Special.  Celebrate 250 years of oldies (no, it really just seems like it) with Nic as he throws his annual bash on Saturday night!  Fire up the barbecue and crank up WLOY.  From 7-11pm on Saturday night Nic will provide the soundtrack to your local fireworks show and party. 

Watch those temperatures if you’re on the East Coast!  Hydrate, have fun and celebrate with WLOY and the Moldie Oldies Show! 

Happy Birthday America!

The post 4th of July with Moldie Oldies first appeared on WLOY Loyola Radio.

Throughout the year, WLOY hosted and participated in a variety of events including Open Mic Nights, Gong Karaoke, Vinylthon, and College Radio Day tabling. WLOY also brought live music to campus through performances from student artists and bands at Songwriter Skirmish and The Last Arrival concert leading up to Loyolapalooza. Beyond campus, the station participated in community events such as the Mayor’s Christmas Parade and Healthcare for the Homeless, connecting with the broader Baltimore community.

On the air, WLOY produced a wide range of student programming throughout the year, including The Mid-Morning Morning Show and After the Whistle, along with announcements from the Student Health Advisory Committee and Skyhounds. Various DJ shows aired throughout the year, highlighting student voices, music, and interests.

Across social media, WLOY shared content through series like Sound of the Hounds, Song and Album of the Week, Staff and DJ Spotlights, and Explore Baltimore. From campus interviews to music reviews and local features, WLOY continued connecting students with music across the Loyola community.

Thank you to everyone who listened, participated, and supported WLOY throughout the 25–26 academic year. To watch the full recap video, check out our Instagram.

The post WLOY 25-26 Year Recap first appeared on WLOY Loyola Radio.

Crown Me King blends covers and original work, performing songs like “Kilby Girl” by the Backseat Lovers and their own music, including “Girl I Don’t Know.”

The band features Ben Ostrowski (guitar), Chris Martin (keys, vocals), Ed McGillicuddy (bass), Jacob White (drums), Kevin Lankford (guitar) and Zach Russell (lead vocals). Ostrowski is also a WLOY alum who served as Production Manager and hosted The Power Hour during his time at the station.

We’re always excited to highlight our amazing WLOY alumni! Be sure to check Crown Me King this Saturday and support local music.

The post Crown Me King Live at Zen West first appeared on WLOY Loyola Radio.

SOTW: 

Reviewed by: Ciara McKeon ‘28

Release date: May 1st, 2026

Rating: 7/10

RIYL: Olivia Dean, Ravyn Lenae, RAYE

Review:

The post SOTW: “Material Lover” by Sienna Spiro 050626 first appeared on WLOY Loyola Radio.

  AOTW:

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. Her career and its virality, have at times overshadowed people’s seriousness towards her. In 2021, she independently released her debut album “Life Support”, followed by “Silence Between Songs” in 2023. Now, after a few years of quiet, she has released “Locket”, an album of moody pop music.

Locket is an album of emotional confessions and storytelling. It tackles stories of both heartbreak and personal growth. The production is very dramatic and intentional, with beautiful harmonies and vocal layering. The album begins with “locket theme”, an introductory instrumental song that sets the reflective tone of the rest of the songs. The lyrics of songs like “you’re still everything”, are very vulnerable and honest. This album is overall a great listen, especially for studying and rainy days.

The post AOTW: “Locket” by Madison Beer 043026 first appeared on WLOY Loyola Radio.

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. 

The moment that really got to me, though, was when she started talking about “One Wish.” I’ve always loved that song but hearing her explain the meaning behind it in person about her on-and-off relationship with her dad and how it felt when he missed her 10th birthday made it hit so much harder. You could see the raw emotion on her face, and listening to it live made me so emotional. It felt like she was sharing a real piece of her soul with us. 

She also kept us on our toes by mentioning her new track “Reputation” with Dominic Fike, which I’m already obsessed with. But the real treat was when she performed a completely unreleased song. The beat, the lyrics, the tone; everything about it was perfect. My friends and I were on our feet the entire time, just swaying and soaking it all in. 

Ravyn is such an amazing artist. Her setlist captured everyone’s attention and brought a vibe to the campus that I’ll never forget. If you weren’t there, you truly missed out on something special. 

The post Loyolapalooza Headliner: Ravyn Lenae first appeared on WLOY Loyola Radio.

SOTW: 

Reviewed by:  Marley Lehmann ‘28

Release date: February 20th, 2026

Rating: 8/10

RIYL:  The Japanese House, Clairo, Faye Webster, Gracie Abrams

Review:

The post SOTW: “Nowhere Alone” by Lia Juno 042926 first appeared on WLOY Loyola Radio.

This week, we visited HeARTwares, a Hampden storefront created by Art with a Heart, a nonprofit that has been serving Baltimore for over 25 years through visual art. The shop has been open in Hampden for two years and offers a space where the art of students and community members can be showcased and sold. 

Art with a Heart’s mission is to “enhance the lives of people in need through visual art.” The organization works with children, youth and adults across Baltimore, offering classes and creative programming in schools, hospitals, nursing homes and other community spaces. Each year, they provide 16,000 art classes, install around 40 public art pieces and engage more than 3,000 volunteers. 

HeARTwares extends that mission into a retail space, giving young artists a platform to share and sell their work while connecting with the Baltimore community. Featured in the shop are crochet pieces, ceramics, postcards, painting and more, each reflecting the uniqueness and creativity of the maker. The space also helps ensure proceeds go back to the artists themselves. 

We spoke with Anna Gallahan, Director of Partnerships, who shared how meaningful it is to work in Hampden. She highlighted the neighborhood’s diversity and the opportunity it provides to meet and connect with new people every day. 

Art with a Heart is always looking for volunteers and also offers internship opportunities for high school and college student interested in getting involved. Learn more at https://www.artwithaheart.net/getinvolved/volunteer/. 

The post Explore Baltimore: HeARTwares by Art with a Heart first appeared on WLOY Loyola Radio.

Empathy Project Provides Free Goods & Services to Neighbors in Need!

Date:  Saturday, May 2, 2025

Time:  1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Location:  29th Street Community Center, 300 E 29th Street, Baltimore, MD 21218

Cost:  Free and open to the public!

Tables of giveaway items, including food, clothing, toiletries, housewares, etc.  DJ Ryan the lion from Magic 95.9. Information, skill share, and resource tables.

The Baltimore Ethical Society (BES) will sponsor a “Mutual Aid Fair” to provide free essential goods and services to community members on May 2nd. The event, enabled by a grant from the American Humanist Association’s Empathy Project, will be from 1:00 to 4:00. at the 29th Street Community Center (300 East 29th St.). The event promotes the idea that “Mutual aid is an act of love”.

BES is joining humanists nationwide responding to “a crisis of cruelty plaguing the country. ” The project is a response to the current administration’s actions that threaten our neighbors’ safety and diminish our collective humanity.  The goal is to demonstrate the power of embracing empathy (the ability to understand and share the feelings of others) to aid us in combatting hardships where the system has failed.

At the fair attendees will have access to free food, housewares, toiletries, clothing and community resources.  Popular DJ, Ryan da Lion will be providing music to liven up the day. Many local organizations are participating in the fair, including, 29th Street Community Center, Baltimore Abolition Movement, Baltimore Furniture Bank, LetsBMore, Housing Our Neighbors, PSL (Party for Socialism and Liberation), Joy Baltimore, Cooperative Community Development Inc, We Stand for All, So What Else, Samaritan Kitchen,  Standing Strong Mentoring Program, Acupuncture Detox Specialist Collective Baltimore, the Ujiama People’s Progress Party, ICE Watch and Baltimore DSA.

This Empathy Project is hosted by the Baltimore Ethical Society. (BES). Our main hostess, Raven Lane is our public relations chair. Raven has over ten years experience of organizing giveaways. BES is a humanist congregation that believes in the worth and dignity of each individual and is committed to working together to create a more just, humane, and peaceful world. It’s tenet that we bring out the best in ourselves by bringing out the best in others expresses the power of empathy.  The Society holds regular Sunday morning meetings which feature a variety of speakers and engages in numerous “ethical action” projects in the community. Anyone interested in learning more about BES can visit us at bmorethical.org.

Contact Information:

Raven Lane: Phone Number – (443-297-2676), Email- publicrelations@bmorethical.org

The post Baltimore Mutual Aid Fair – Saturday, May 2nd first appeared on WLOY Loyola Radio.

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

Hauntingclaire is a songwriter and producer based in the United States. Their music falls somewhere between the emo/hyperpop and dark wave genres. Hauntingclaire started making music at a very early age on GarageBand, taking inspiration from artists like Teen Suicide, Lil Peep, and osquinn. They started taking their music more seriously after discovering the hyperpop genre which later progressed into releasing a multitude of songs under the names, yoxxie, w6lker, and now hauntingclaire. They have also collaborated with artists like 6arelyhuman and syris. This artist has mentioned that their songs “destroy me”, “inhuman” and “hollow” are a perfect representation of the sound they are wanting to create; which are also great listens if you enjoy this kind of genre of music. Hauntingclaire has been one of my top artists for a few years now, and I am really excited to be able to highlight their music in this week’s SOTW. I highly recommend checking out more of their music. 

The post SOTW: “All Rabbits Die Alone” by hauntingclaire 042126 first appeared on WLOY Loyola Radio.

The Last Arrival consists of members: Chris, Sam, Patrick, Michael and Edward. With Chris on guitar and backup vocals, Sam on drums, Patrick on guitar and vocals, Michael on piano and Edward on bass.

We are excited to announce The Last Arrival will open for Ravyn Lenae at Loyolapalooza on Sunday, April 26, 2026!

The post The Last Arrival Performance 041826 first appeared on WLOY Loyola Radio.

We started off with The Mid-Morning Morning Show at Maryland Circle, with hosts Daniel Carter ’26 and Thomas Gatto ’26 spinning live vinyl and hosting giveaways with our prize wheel. We had tons of winners throughout the morning, thank you to everyone who stopped by and joined the fun!

Friday morning, we hosted a staff show from 10-11 a.m. featuring Yukesh Aryal ’28, Daniel Carter ’26 and Sylvia Gredzinski ’27. The celebration continued with tabling outside the station and some amazing giveaways, including merch and vinyl from Celebrated Summer Records in Hampden. Shoutout to our winners Jorge Sacasa, Conner Sciullo and Maddox Jones!

Throughout both days we were especially excited to welcome back several WLOY alumni to the studio. On Friday, Mike Vuoto ’11 returned with his Frampton-friendly 2 hour live show, while Eddie Fine ’24 (M.A.) ran his Retro Rocking Road Show all vinyl for 2 hours as well. Saturday saw Ray Infuzzi ’88 and the former hosts of Dayao Bros Knows, Phil ’14 and Michael Dayao ’16, returned to record and reconnect, making this year’s Vinylthon even more special. Also thanks to DJ Craven at Stardust Records on Light Street for creating a banging 1 hour special for Record Store Day.

The post Vinylthon 2026 Recap first appeared on WLOY Loyola Radio.

The post Vinylthon Day 2 Schedule first appeared on WLOY Loyola Radio.

Owner Tony previously worked at Reptilian Records, and when it closed, he was inspired to open his own shop and continue to share his love of music. The store is named after the song Celebrated Summer, reflecting that same personal connection to music’s influence. Celebrated Summer Records is meant to be a no-judgement space where customers can explore music freely without feeling pressured or intimidated. The shop has something for everyone, with jazz, indie, local artists and much more.

In recent years, Tony has also noticed a shift in the shop’s customer base, with more younger listeners becoming interested in vinyl. This reflects the broader resurgence of records and the way new generations continue to engage with physical music media.

Beyond its record selection, the shop features walls filled with band posters, a variety of merchandise including a cassette vending machine, and a listening booth where visitors can play records before purchasing. All of this builds the distinct personality and welcoming atmosphere of the shop.

Celebrated Summer Records will also be participating in Record Store Day on April 18, featuring a special collaboration with Snail Mail, who will appear as a guest employee during the day. At 11 a.m., the limited-edition Snail Mail x Celebrated Summer Records vinyl will be available in store!

The post Explore Baltimore: Celebrated Summer Records first appeared on WLOY Loyola Radio.

From 10am – 1pm, Mid-Morning Morning Show will be live at Maryland Hall Circle with prizes and plenty of vinyl spinning!

The post Vinylthon Day 1 Schedule first appeared on WLOY Loyola Radio.