WLOY Loyola Radio

From WLOY to Good Morning America: An interview with WLOY Alum Stefan Joyce

Sophia Thornberg — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 16:00:58 +0000

Last week, I sat down for an interview with WLOY alum Stefan Joyce ’20, who works as a segment producer for Good Morning America and other shows across the ABC News network. This past August, he won an Emmy Award for his work as a booking producer on ABC World News Tonight with David Muir !

In this interview, Stefan talks about his work as a segment producer, shares memories from his time at Loyola and WLOY, reveals how the skills he learned at WLOY have helped him in his career, and offers some advice for aspiring producers.

Click below to listen to the full interview!

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AOTW: “Leap!” by Emerson 111226

Allison Shulman — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 15:54:01 +0000

AOTW: “Leap!” by Emerson

Reviewed by: Marley Lehmann

Release Date: August 28, 2026

Rating: 8/10

RIYL: Florence Road, Lorde, Claire Rosinkranz, Lyn Lapid

Review:

Emerson is an incredible 19-year-old artist from New Zealand. She started writing songs at the age of 14 and even won the Smokefree Rockquest Solo-Duo Award back in 2024. Emerson’s music often revolves around the “pop” genre, however, her newly released album, “Leap!” has a mixture of indie-rock guitars, alternative pop beats, and even slow, almost ballad-like songs. The title for the album came from the fact that she started this project during a leap year and took a “leap of faith”. She hopes this album pushes listeners to do the same.

The lyrics throughout this album follow topics of reassurance, rejection, yearning, and vulnerability. Emerson writes beautifully about jumping headfirst into a new direction, longing for something more, dealing with the obstacles and finding peace and composure in it all. As a college student, I believe that these are feelings we have all felt before in one way or another. “Save Me”, the fifth track on this album, is one of my favorites. Emerson depicts the raw emotions that are exposed when reaching out for help and support while feeling overwhelmed. Despite such a deep and vulnerable meaning, the song itself has an upbeat and indie-pop and slight alternative vibe to it. To me, it is the perfect song for a walk/drive home from class. It serves as a reminder that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed while still moving forward and energy and vulnerability can coexist.

Emerson’s new album “Leap!” has so much to offer as far as genres, instruments, lyrical meanings, and overall vibes. I would recommend this album to everyone, especially students who may struggle with overwhelming feelings. If you like artists like Lorde, Claire Rosinkranz, Florence Road, or Lyn Lapid, you should listen to this album.

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Throwback Thursday: November 12th

Sophia Thornberg — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 14:30:27 +0000

Time for another Throwback Thursday! Let’s take a look at what happened on this day in music history…

November 12, 1931- Jean Sibelius and Fredrick Aston’s ballet Lady of Shalott premiered in London. Based on the poem written by Lord Alfred Tennyson, the ballet follows Lady of Shalott who is trapped in a tower and can only experience the real world through glimpses of her mirror.

November 12, 1973- Dimitri Shostakovich’s 14th String Quartet premiered in Leningrad. It was the last of his “Quartet of Quartets,” which were quartets dedicated to each original member of the Beethoven String Quartet.

November 12, 2011- The opera Silent Night by Kevin Puts opened at the Ordway Theater in St. Paul. This opera was inspired by the true events of the 1914 Christmas Truce and was the winner of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Music.

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SOTW: “hey boyyy” by Slayyyter 111026

Allison Shulman — Tue, 10 Nov 2026 17:31:21 +0000

SOTW: “hey boyyy” by Slayyyter

Reviewed by: Sylvia J. Gredsinski ‘27

Release Date: November 6, 2026

Rating: 8/10

RIYL: Ayesha Erotica, Charli XCX, Kim Petras

Review:

Slayyyters “hey boyyy” dropped on November 6, and is part of the artists upcoming album titled wor$t man in america which is set to release December 4th of this year. This release was paired with a self-directed music video, depicting the artist going on romantic dates with a golden skeleton. The song describes the feeling of having a huge crush on someone, where the attraction becomes difficult to hide. Relatable to those overthinking the short interaction they had with someone they like. Slayyyter, born Catherine Grace Garner is an American singer and songwriter. She is known for her experimental pop sound, blending pieces of hyperpop, electronic music, and Y2K inspired pop.

In “hey boyyy”, she combines energetic production, catchy hooks, and playful lyrics to capture the excitement and nervousness of a new crush. The song starts with a bubbly pop sound before building into a much more intense, high energy outro. As the song progresses, the production becomes increasingly distorted and chaotic, almost reflecting the feeling of getting carried away by your own emotions. Her vocals also become more aggressive toward the end, contrasting with the sweeter sound of the beginning. The whole song feels like it’s meant for jumping up and down at a club with your friends.

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Upcoming: Vinyl Painting Open Mic

Allison Shulman — Tue, 10 Nov 2026 16:21:46 +0000

WLOY is bringing back Vinyl Painting Open Mic by popular demand! Join us this Thursday, November 12 from 7-9 at the Starbucks Seating Area for a night of creativity, music and fun.

Come paint your own vinyl, perform a song, share poetry or comedy, or just hangout with friends. Last time, we saw so many creative vinyl designs and heard some amazing performances, and we can’t wait to see what everyone brings this time around. So grab your friends and head to Starbucks this Thursday!

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Throwback Thursday: November 5th

Sophia Thornberg — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 15:00:58 +0000

Time for another Throwback Thursday! Let’s see what happened on November 5th in music history…

November 5th, 1955- The rebuilt Vienna State Opera reopened after being destroyed in World War II with a performance of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Fidelio. The restoration was seen as a major symbol of post-war cultural rebirth in Austria.

November 5th, 1956- The Nat King Cole Show debuted on NBC as the first variety program to be hosted by an African-American. The show ran for 64 episodes and included guests such as Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson, Mel Torme, Pearl Bailey, Peggy Lee and Tony Bennett.

November 5th, 1987- Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s musical Into the Woods opened at the Martin Beck Theater in NYC. It ran for 764 performances and won 3 Tony Awards (Best Original Score, Best Book of a Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical) and 5 Drama Desk Awards (Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Lyrics, Outstanding Feature Actor in a Musical, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, Outstanding Book of a Musical).

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SOTW: “Flower In A Hurricane” by Justice, Tame Impala, SZA, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard 110226

Allison Shulman — Tue, 03 Nov 2026 05:44:24 +0000

SOTW: “Flower In A Hurricane” by Justice, Tame Impala, SZA, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

Reviewed by: Sylvia J. Gredsinski ‘27

Release Date: October 15, 2026

Rating: 8.5/10

RIYL: Kavinsky, SebastiAn, Boys Noize

Review:

“Flower in a Hurricane” is the official theme song for the video game Grand Theft Auto VI. It was written specifically for the game and was introduced in the game’s launch trailer. French duo Justice, is in charge of creating the official score for the video game, with this song being one of 20 officially confirmed songs prior to the November 19th launch of the game. Rockstar Games trusted Justice – Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay, to compose the soundtrack believing their cinematic electronic style fit in with the game’s ambitious and adventurous theme. The duo primarily incorporates rock and disco influences in their music, and have worked with artists like Tame Impala and The Weeknd on some of their biggest hits.
The song’s imagery of a flower surviving a hurricane, resembles the story of the games main protagonists and partners in crime, Jason and Lucia, who amid chaos, depend on trust in each other and resilience to navigate their risky situations. The sound of the song is an adventurous one. It has an upbeat, futuristic tone, with heavy synth influence. Not even knowing the origin of the track, I thought it felt like it belonged in either the entrance scene or end of an action/crime/crime movie. Very similar vibes to Fast & Furious, and I was spot on. Justice did a great job capturing what the GTA franchise is about

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Radio show “Dead Air” airing new Halloween episode!

Sophia Thornberg — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 16:31:23 +0000

WLOY radio show Dead Air will be airing a brand-new Halloween episode on Halloween night from 8 pm to 10 pm!

Show creator Terence Hannum has said that the first half of the episode will be filled with some recent horror soundtracks, starting with Ken Parsons and Edo von Breemen’s score for the movie Backrooms. There will also be music by contemporary composers like Alex G, known for his own indie music but recently scored Teenage Sex and Death a Camp Miasma. Terence will also focus on scores made by Jed Kurzel (Leviticus, The Babadook) and Hildur Gudnadottir (The Bone Temple, Bride).

The second half of the episode will focus more on older films scores by Goblin and their work with visionary director Dario Argento in chronological order, as well as some of Terence’s favorites like Fabio Frizzi and John Carpenter.

If you are going to be out trick-or-treating, hosting a Halloween party, or just relaxing at home make sure to tune in to this special Halloween episode of Dead Air here on WLOY!

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AOTW: “Angel” by Lizzy McAlpine 102926

Allison Shulman — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 14:49:05 +0000

AOTW: “Angel” by Lizzy McAlpine

Reviewed by: Mia Ciccarelle ’29

Release Date: September 18, 2026

Rating: 8/10

RIYL: Phoebe Bridgers, Lana Del Rey, Gracie Abrams

Review:

Lizzy McAlpine, a Philadelphia-born singer-songwriter, is a staple of the modern indie-pop and folk scene. Born in 1999, McAlpine began making music in high school, and posting her work to social media platforms for music like Youtube and Soundcloud. After getting found by listeners through this media, McAlpine released her first album, “Give Me A Minute” in 2020. Later, in 2022, she released “Five Seconds Flat”. The album solidified her growing place in the music industry, as it was met with virality on Tiktok, with songs like “Ceilings”. In 2025, McAlpine made her broadway debut in Floyd Collins. Currently, she sits at 15 million monthly listeners, only growing after the release of her latest album, “Angel”.

McAlpine’s music is categorized by its melodic flow and heartwrenching lyrics.

The specificity of the situations described create vivid mental images for the listeners through her songs. “Angel” does a beautiful job continuing this, and fits in well with her discography. The album explores McAlpine’s tension between loss and finding healing within herself. Her poetic lyricism sets the album apart from others of its genre, with songs like “Anybody’s Fool”, bravely expressing her inner conflicts. Additionally, Mcalpine continues her tradition of dedicating her 13th song on her albums to her late father, with “The crowd”. The song is a heartbreaking ballad about her healing journey. McAlpine’s use of instrumentals throughout the album creates a chilling feeling. While sad, the album is a phenomenal work of art, as well as her discography as a whole

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Throwback Thursday: October 29th

Sophia Thornberg — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 13:15:58 +0000

Time for another Throwback Thursday! Let’s see what happened on this day in music history…

October 29, 1787- The opera “Don Giovanni“, which has music composed by Mozart, premiered at the Estates Theatre in Prague. The opera is based on the legend of Don Juan and is a cautionary tale about the consequences of moral decay, crime, and an unchecked ego.

October 29, 1956- Greek-American soprano Maria Callas made her Metropolitan Opera debut in the title role of Belllini’s “Norma.” She would go onto become one of the most renowned and influential opera singers of the 20th century.

October 29, 1982- Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson released the song “The Girl is Mine.” It peaked in the charts at #2 in the US and #9 in the UK.

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WLOY’s trip to CBI NSMC in Philadelphia!

Sophia Thornberg — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 14:05:15 +0000

Last week, seven of our staff members took a trip to the city of brotherly love (a.k.a Philadephia) for CBI’s National Student Media Convention. This convention brought together over 500 students and advisors from around the country who work in college media.

Over the course of four days students attended sessions that covered a variety of topics such as leadership, content creation and management, public relations and brand imaging, how to get new students involved, and how to make sure your station stays relevant. There were also several professional development sessions that focused on learning about various on and off air jobs, how to land a job in journalism, and how to build a resume reel.

In addition to attending sessions we also got to explore Philadelphia! Sophia and Max went on a group tour organized by CBI of the CBS 3 Philadelphia studio. We also did some exploring together as a station- visiting places such as Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Reading Terminal Market, Boathouse Row, and of course the famous Rocky steps outside the Philadelphia Museum of art (Click here to watch our version of the iconic Rocky scene!)

At the end of the conference there was the National Student Media Production Awards Ceremony, where WLOY took home two awards! We won third place for Best Social Media Presence and Max (a.k.a DJ Bravo) won second place for Best DJ!

We had a great time at the convention and hope to attend to next year’s convention in Ohio!

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Throwback Thursday: October 22nd

Sophia Thornberg — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 13:00:03 +0000

Time for another Throwback Thursday! Let’s see what happened on this day in music history…..

October 22, 1881- The Boston Symphony Orchestra had its first concert at the Old Boston Music Hall, conducted by Georg Henschel.

October 22, 1883- The original New York Metropolitan Opera house opened with a performance of Charles Gounod’s Faust. It was located on 39th and Broadway in Manhattan. The opera moved to its current home in Lincoln Center in September 1966.

October 22, 1987- The 1987 Broadway revival of the musical Cabaret opened at the Imperial Theater and ran for 262 performances. This revival saw Joel Grey return to his role as Emcee and the replacement of the song “Sitting Pretty” with the “Money, Money” song that was originally written for the 1972 film adaptation.

The post Throwback Thursday: October 22nd first appeared on WLOY Loyola Radio.

CBI NSMC Overcoming the Rocky Steps

Allison Shulman — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 16:09:13 +0000

They said it couldn’t be done. They said the steps were too steep, the journey too long, the hoodie too heavy. But WLOY persevered. After an unforgettable weekend at the CBI (College Broadcaster, Inc) National Student Media Convention, we returned to training. Through countless hours of training, dedication and questionable decision-making, we made it to the top. While some may see a staircase, we see a symbol of everything college radio stands for: passion, perseverance and a mildly concerning commitment to the bit. We will see you next year at CBI NSMC in Ohio, back and better than ever.

https://wloy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Untitled-October-18-2026-at-22.17.51-1-3-1.mp4

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Throwback Thursday: October 15th

Sophia Thornberg — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:00:44 +0000

Time for another Throwback Thursday! Let’s see what happened on this day in music history…

October 15, 1955- The country music show Grand Ole Opry had its first TV broadcast in an hour-long live show by NBC.

October 15, 1973- Country singer-songwriter Dolly Parton released her single “Jolene.” It topped the country charts in both the US and Canada.

October 15, 1977- The band Earth, Wind & Fire released their single “Serpentine Fire” which became the Billboard Song of the Year in 1978.

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Throwback Thursday: October 8

Sophia Thornberg — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 13:10:34 +0000

It’s Thursday, which means it’s time for another Throwback Thursday! Let’s take a look and see what happened on October 8th in music history….

October 8, 1948- Songwriter and guitarist Johnny Ramone was born on Long Island, New York. He was a founding member of the band the Ramones, which helped pioneer the punk movement and is considered to be one of the first punk rock bands.

October 8, 1985- The English-language production of the musical Les Misérables premiered in London at the Barbican Center. The show has been running for over 40 years in London and is the longest-running musical in West End history.

October 8, 1988- American jazz guitarist Oscar Moore died at age 64 of a heart attack. He was best known for his work as a member of the Nat King Cole Trio.

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AOTW: “Prima” by ADELA 100126

Allison Shulman — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 22:37:31 +0000

AOTW: “Prima” by ADELA

Reviewed by: Mia Ciccarelle ’29

Release Date: September 4, 2026

Rating: 7/10

RIYL: Charli xcx

Review:

ADELA (Adéla Jergová), is a Slovakia born singer and hyperpop artist. She began her journey with performing arts in 2006, when she began studying ballet. Years later, she began doing voice lessons, and worked on developing her singing abilities in 2020 during the pandemic. Following that, in 2021 she was featured on Netflix’s Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE, where she competed to become a member of the K-Pop group KATSEYE. After her appearance on the show, she released three singles independently, before signing with Capitol Records in 2025. In July of this year, ADELA released her brand new single, “Ain’t In LA”, which rose to virality across Tiktok and other platforms. Following the single, ADELA rolled out her full album “Prima” at the beginning of September.

ADELA is an extremely stylistic artist, which helps brand her to listeners. She has bright pink hair, and an early 2000s vibe that can be shown not only in her music, but through her music videos as well. With nostalgic lyric videos that have grainy filters on top of them, ADELA gets not only listeners of her music, but people who engage with the style of her content. Songs like “Fantasize” and “Red Bottoms” have nostalgic tones and lyrics that really capture the older gen z audience as well. ADELA’s hyperpop flare makes her music stand out from others, as it transports the listener into her art. Additionally, I love how she combines her experience with ballet into her music, and her music videos. Her music is great to listen to with the windows down as you drive, or for walking with confidence to class.

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Throwback Thursday: October 1

Sophia Thornberg — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 13:00:15 +0000

Time for another Throwback Thursday!

Let’s look and see what happened on October 1 in music history….

October 1, 1941- The musical Best Foot Forward premiers at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York City. It had choreography by Gene Kelly and ran for 326 performances.

October 1, 1962- Singer Barbra Streisand signs her first recording contract.

October 1, 1967- English psychedelic rock band Pink Floyd arrives in New York ahead of their first US tour. The tour had to be canceled midway through due to co-founder Syd Barrett’s increasingly bizarre behavior.

The post Throwback Thursday: October 1 first appeared on WLOY Loyola Radio.

SOTW: “Should’ve Known Better” by The Beaches

Allison Shulman — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 16:23:46 +0000

SOTW: “Should’ve Known Better” by The Beaches

Reviewed by: Marley Lehmann ‘28

Release Date: May 1, 2026

Rating: 8.5/10

RIYL: MUNA, Paramore, Chappell Roan

Review:

The Beaches are a Canadian band that formed in 2009. Their indie rock single, “Should’ve Known Better” is energetic and intense and perfectly matches the band’s signature rock vibe.

This song uses guitars to support the lead singer, Jordan Miller, and her incredible vocals. The lyrics capture the frustration and need for self-awareness that come along with heartbreak and losing someone close to you. Rather than reflecting the melancholic side of losing a relationship, the song is honest and reflects empowerment. “Should’ve Known Better” is masterpiece that is somehow emotional and fun.

If you like music from artists such as MUNA, Paramore, Chappell Roan, or even Olivia Rodrigo, I would highly recommend this song and others by The Beaches.

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AOTW: “Pylon” by beabadoobee 092426

Allison Shulman — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 15:51:46 +0000

AOTW: “Pylon” by beabadoobee

Reviewed by: Fiona Galang ‘27

Release Date: September 18, 2026

Rating: 7.5/10

RIYL: Paramore, Wolf Alice, Pinegrove

Review:

Beabadoobee is a Filipino and British singer and songwriter. She is mostly known for her indie rock, bedroom/alternative rock style. She has released five EPs: Lice, Patched Up, Loveworm, Space Cadet, and Our Extended Play and three albums: Fake It Flowers, Beatopia, and my personal favorite, This Is How Tomorrow Moves. She has been the supporting act for huge artists like Clairo, Taylor Swift, and Olivia Rodrigo. Beabadoobee is currently on tour and I will be seeing her in person to witness her new album in all it’s glory, Pylon.

Even before this album was officially out, there was a lot of controversy surrounding it– people wondering if it was going to be too different from her old music. This Is How Tomorrow Moves was a softer, more personal and “polished” album while Pylon is leaning back into her alternative-rock side, embracing grunge and punk vibes. There’s a lot of distorted guitars, fuzz, heavier drums, feedback, and more of an almost aggressive (?) tone. “In Motion” and “Sun Has Set” are definitely heavier rock, very different to her previous songs. A lot of the album contains references to loneliness, uncertainty, growing up, and relationships which go along with the chaoticness. “Memories” and “Write Me A Letter” remind me more of her last album, a bit softer in tone and more indie pop. Some of my favorites are, “Pylon”, “It’s Alright,” and “Spark”. This album is definitely different from the last, but I still like it! I might be biased to This Is How Tomorrow Moves, but Pylon is still a 7.5/10. Listen to this album when you’re contemplating your life choices (in a good way hopefully) and/or it’s raining outside.

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Throwback Thursday: September 24th

Sophia Thornberg — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:00:27 +0000

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.

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