KCSU Music

Fools Fest is KCSU's annual punk festival, always set to happen around April Fools Day! Every year, KCSU gathers local punk and punk-adjacent bands to play on Colorado State University's campus, creating a unique and exciting event for all to enjoy. KCSU's music directors, Mia Templien and Ria Janapati, had the opportunity to sit down with a few of the bands performing for some in-depth interviews.

The amalgamation of kids wanting to play in a band but not finding the right people is what created Snow Day. Consisting of Grace Murch, Jack DeStefano, Kenny Barnes, and Bradley Brungardt, Snow Day is a hodgepodge of alternative rock, punk, noise rock, and much more. Murch had never played bass before, DeStefano snagged Barned from Denver, and Brungardt got a call from Snow Day's old drummer, asking him to fill in. They find inspiration in bands like Sonic Youth, Nettspend, and Xaviersobased, and are ready to rock CSU's socks off!

Fools Fest is KCSU's annual punk festival, always set to happen around April Fools Day! Every year, KCSU gathers local punk and punk-adjacent bands to play on Colorado State University's campus, creating a unique and exciting event for all to enjoy. KCSU's music directors, Mia Templien and Ria Janapati, had the opportunity to sit down with a few of the bands performing for some in-depth interviews.

Getting their name from their the anarchist Noam Chomsky, Choam Nomsky consists of Joe Wing, Jaden Auer, and Hank Hatten. Since middle school, Wing and Auer have dreamed of being in a band, and when they found Hatten, also the bassist for local band Major Flavor, their dreams started to become reality. Getting inspiration from the hair metal genre and Bon Jovi, Choam Nomsky's post-punk/hardcore sound is set to debut five to seven new songs at Fools Fest.  

Fools Fest is KCSU's annual punk festival, always set to happen around April Fools Day! Every year, KCSU gathers local punk and punk-adjacent bands to play on Colorado State University's campus, creating a unique and exciting event for all to enjoy. KCSU's music directors, Mia Templien and Ria Janapati, had the opportunity to sit down with a few of the bands performing for some in-depth interviews.

Plastic Forearm started in the middle of a record store in Orlando, Florida; Boone "Mud" Gonzales found R Cooper Long through the odd method of asking everyone in the store if they play music. Not long after, the pair opened Casey Taylor Brock's old band, and they all decided to stick together. Moving to Colorado on terms of fate, Plastic Forearm is a high-energy dynamic trio, or "a country band plumb gone wrong". They find inspiration in noise rock and free jazz, but also finds their variety from artists like Frankie Cosmos and The Dead Milkmen. Their debut album "Plastic Forearm Loves The Earth" is set to drop on April 25th, 2025, with their album release show on April 26th at the Swing Station in Laporte.

Happy Valentine's Day from the KCSU Music Directors! Mia and Ria break down their recent favorites in music, including trip hop bands like Massive, Portishead, and Wagon Christ, other artists like Blondie, FKA twigs, Leonard Cohen, and, of course, Talking Heads. The two then move on to the results of the 67th Grammy Awards, sharing their excitement and disappointment for who won. They celebrate Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us", Beyonce's first win in Album of the Year, Chappell Roan winning Best New Artist, and Doechii getting Best Rap Album. Ria shares some hot takes about Best Remixed Recording and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, and Mia independently cheers for The Beatles' win for Best Rock Performance.

Happy November from KCSU's Music Directors! For this podcast, Mia and Ria reflect about DJ-Athon, KCSU's biannual fundraiser, and which songs DJs were playing the most; some artists include Charli xcx, Magdalena Bay, Chappell Roan, Billy Joel, and A Tribe Called Quest. The two flex their music knowledge regarding the connection between Blondie and Fab 5 Freddy, and Talking Heads records. Then they look over the 67th Grammy Awards and made predictions for multiple categories, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, and much more. 

Euan Peart, KCSU's Station Manager, got the opportunity to chat with R&B pop artist Frayne Vibez before his show at Washington's on Friday, October 18th as one of Lupe Fiasco's opening acts on his Samurai tour. In an interview focused on Vibez' career and experience as an young artist, the two talk about Frayne's musical inspirations, including Joji and Don Toliver, his favorite parts of the tour, and Spider-Man. 

Find Frayne Vibez new single 'Take it Easy' on all streaming platforms and find him on socials @fraynevibez.

Listen to more KCSU podcasts and interviews on kcsufm.com, our Spotify at KCSUFM, and anywhere else you find podcasts.

KCSU’s Music Directors Mia Templien and Ritika/Ria Janapati know good music. Whether it be 70s folk rock or experimental pop, Mia and Ria are in the crowd dancing along. Their podcast navigates their wide variety of taste and how music from decades past is still relevant today. Join them during their journey in the music department here at KCSU. 
Happy October, and happy almost Halloween! The KCSU Music Directors are ecstatic to be beginning their podcast for the 2024-25 school year, and they decided with autumn sneaking in, it's time for some spooky music recommendations. Mia and Ria breakdown some of their favorite Halloween/eerie music and soundtracks they've loved over the years, including Chyna Anne McClain, Oingo Boingo, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Silence of the Lambs. 

Currently on tour with Sublime and Rome, Sitting On Stacy hopped into KCSU's studio for an on-air interview with local music director Riley Hilbert.

On September 7th, music directors Mia Templien and Ritika Janapati interviewed itinerant artist Eli Waltz before his show at The Roxy on Broadway in Denver. Waltz discusses his life on the road as a solo artist and his inspirations for his music.