KCSU Music

KCSU music director Ria sat down with Jared Swilley of Black Lips ahead of their Dever show at the Mission Ballroom on October 28th, 2025. On this tour the band is supporting Viagra Boys whilst performing songs from their latest album “Season of the Peach”. The two discuss the excitement of touring, the juxtaposition of telling intense stories with a lighthearted sound, and how aliens might react to bird sounds.Ria JanapatiWe are here at the Mission Ballroom, October 2[7]th, [2025]. You are Jared of the Black Lips-Jared SwilleyJared, and you are?Ria  I am Ria, Music Director of KCSU; I've got some questions. Jared  Cool. Ria  First one being: You've been doing this music thing for a hot minute now, are there things about being on the road specifically that change for you excitement level wise? Jared  Oh sure, yeah. There's a different, like, excitement level. I've been touring since I was 16. We drove- the first like US tour we ever did was pretty miserable, but it was still the funnest thing; like, by my standards today, it would be pretty miserable, but I remember  seeing the desert for the first time, and that's like, that excitement- I can remember the excitement I felt, like, the first time I saw a cactus. But like, now, you know, I slept on a pretty drive today because I've seen a lot of that stuff. So that changes. I still love being on stage and stuff. But yeah, I mean, just like, anything you do forever, things get boring. Ria  Are there any cities that you visited a first time and you, like, couldn't wait to go back? Or maybe the opposite, you were really excited, but it wasn't your fav. Jared  Oh, I won't mention any cities I didn't like, because I figure it's best not to say negative things about people or places. But there's... like, yeah, a lot of cities. I mean, talk about [the] excitement of being someplace. I remember the feeling of the first time we went to Europe to play; I couldn't believe it, like, because it was, it felt really cool. And I wanted to go back to all those cities, and I have been back to pretty much all of them. Or, like, you know, like Tokyo, like going there, I was like, "I have to come back here. It's awesome." So most, most places I would like, I, you know, there's, there's very few places I'd be like, “I never want to go there again.” So, yeah, I like most places.Ria  I've seen that you guys have come to be known for pulling some antics during live shows, especially more in the DIY spaces. Has there been anything you've really wanted to do during a live show that would just be like a fun little act that no one saw coming? Jared  There is one that we've been talking about doing... because we've done, like, all sorts of crazy stuff, and we're, like, older now, so I'm not trying to, like, make anyone upset anymore, like, do anything crazy. But like, have you ever seen the Wizard of Oz? Ria  Absolutely. Jared  So you know, like, when the Munchkins, like those guys come out as, like, the lollipop... the old guys? We want to- I guess I'm spilling the beans here, but it'll surprise people when we do it. But like, we kind of, like… We have this song that's about eating candy on our new record, and we want to just like, stop in the middle, hopefully, at a really huge show, like something like this [Mission Ballroom], or at a big festival, and, like, drop our instruments and go into the lollipop guild dance and then just start playing again. That's kind of like what we want to do.Ria  Nice. A little surprise, a little dance break. Jared  YeahRia  Yeah, awesome. You just have to get the choreography down. Jared  Yeah.Ria  And then your newest album, Season of the Peach, I noticed it takes on a lot of different genre influences. There's some rockabilly sound, there's some 60s stuff, some folk stuff going on, just all over the place. So when you're taking inspiration to create something new like that, where do you find yourself looking?Jared  I'm always looking in the past, and that's just for me. Fortunately, in this band, like all five members [contribute equally], right? So that's why it can kind of seem like it's all over the place, like musically. But, I mean, I only listen to, like, very old music, so that's kind of really what I'm pulling from; I listen to, like, old country and doo-wop and rockabilly and blues and stuff like that, so that's usually... I'm just trying to recreate stuff in a kind of, like, not as good way as the stuff I really like.Ria  Back on your 2020 album, there's a song called "Angola Rodeo", and that song really interested me in the storytelling of it. It seemed like a bit of a silly take on, like, real life events. So-Jared  YeahRia  When you're going about doing that. Where do you draw the line between like, not taking yourself too seriously?Jared  Well, you want to like, not like... or at least with me, I want to be like, if I'm talking about something very serious, and that's a very serious thing... Do you know the story of, like, the Angola rodeo? Ria  Yeah, it's a prison rodeo.Jared  Yeah, prison rodeo, and we actually went to it. I'd always wanted to go, and we went, and it's like, you know, it's pretty controversial. I happen to be in favor of it, just because it's like, if you're doing life in prison, or if you're on death row, like, it's the best day of your life when you get to do... They actually do it for like, a few months of the year. But you know, you don't want to be too preachy or too sappy, so you got to have your tongue firmly in cheek. My theory has always been, if you have, like, a really sad subject matter, make it a very poppy sounding song. And if you have really happy sounding stuff, it should be like, darker. That's kind of like how I like to do things. Ria  Yeah, just flip them on their head. Jared  And it's still, like... The lyrics are still like, kind of serious; but it's like a fun kind of sounding song. But you know, the Angola Prison is, like, one of the darkest places in the United States. It's pretty rough there.Ria  I just thought that was really interesting, because on a first listen, if you're not really paying attention, it'll just be like, "Oh, this is a fun little tune-Jared  There is, like, a big, like, stark contrast when you go to that rodeo, because you are in this just incredibly dark place. You drive in and you see death row, and you see the fields they're all working in, but then you go in there, and it's like, a really happy environment; like the prisoners... It's like, all guys on best behavior, but they've been working; like, they sell their arts and crafts that day. Their families are allowed to come in. They can actually have like, conjugal visits with their family in there. So it's like, it's super dark, ...

KCSU Music Directors Ria Janapati and Mia Templien return to the station for their first podcast of the 2025-2026 school year! Although our music team was on break over the summer, their love of music never took a vacation; Listen as Ria and Mia break down their favorite songs, albums, and artists of the summer. With picks including but not limited to new releases like Clipse's Let God Sort Em' Out and Joey Valence & Brae's Hyperyouth as well as pre-1996 gems like 10cc's Bloody Tourists and (The London) Suede's Coming Up.

Hailing from Austin, Texas, Grocery Bag is a ragtag group consisting of Bella Martinez, Jimmy Mercado, Dillon Aitala, and Logan Kerman. Each member had a unique upbringing with music: Martinez played in bands or various genres, including a church band; Aitala picked up guitar in high school and kept at it after COVID-19 hit; Mercado's dad played drums while he was growing up, so he picked up a pair of drumsticks; and Kerman's mother threw a guitar into his lap when he was just 2 years old, sparking a new passion. Mercado and Aitala went to high school together, Mercado being a part of multiple bands at the same time while Aitala admired from the sidelines, wanting to join in. The two met Martinez and Kerman through some of Mercado's projects; Martinez booked a show and didn't have a band, so she asked the other three to hop in. Martinez's father has a bunch of vintage signs in his garage, and when the band played a house show at his house, Martinez looked up at a sign that said "Grocery Bag", and the rest is history. Grocery Bag have been best friends forever, hanging out every day when Aitala and Mercado were still in high school, driving around to malls and guitar stores. They pen nonsense lyrics and emphasize on the guitar riff as their basis for songs. They opened for Psychedelic Porn Crumpets April 28th at The Aggie Theatre, and their next show is at Third Man Records Cass Corridor on May 18th. 

"Hot Boyz" is a duo hip hop/rap group consisting of DvNeHppy and JG. DvNeHppy hails from southern Louisiana and JG from Denver, the two meeting when they "opened" for rapper Twista in 2022; Twista was a no show, so the two performed anyway and were dazzled by each other's sets. The two began collaborating not long after, even starting their own respective production companies all the while: W.O.A.H Network by DvNe, and Prolific Posse by JG. Hot Boyz is always trying new things and making their money's worth as independent artists. They want to make music that they want to listen to, and if they gain an audience through that, it's just a bonus. Hot Boyz works hard at the events they play at, saying they're like art curations, providing people with experience they won't forget. They find inspiration from artists like Childish Gambino, KAYTRANADA, Potatohead People, Kendrick Lamar, and many more artists. Opening for their first sold-out show with Soulja Boy on April 17th, DvNeHppy and JG are prepared to show you what they can do. Hot Boyz will also play at FoCoMX at Wolverine Farm at 11pm on April 18th, and are playing The Black Buzzard in Denver on May 23rd.

https://kcsufm.com/2025/04/franz-ferdinand-and-telescreens-rock-boulder-theatre-to-its-core-on-april-fools-day/

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.Slag got their name from an unhoused man repeating the word "slag" as he walked by Clay Childress at The Atrium; after having a conversation with him, Childress decided it was fate. This spacey/shoe gaze/noise rock/indie band consists of twins Clay and Coleman. Childress, Caleb Shaver, and Andrew Jussila. Much of their inspiration comes from the DIY scene, with bands like Duster, Fugazi, and Built To Spill being some of their favorites. Slag's next show will be at the FoCoMX music festival at the Art Lab at 8pm on 4/19. 

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.Dry Ice is a project that started when Pierre Booth and Ethan Rovno were in high school; Booth watched "School Of Rock" and was hooked instantly. Mazzy Madeira and Catherine joined a few years ago, making the band what it is today. Dry Ice is described with a wide variety of genres, but the ones that stick out are riot grrrl, punk, and "Limp Biskit Nickelback-Core". Many of their inspirations include bands in metal and punk bands like Hole and Destiny Bond, a local band from Denver. Dry Ice is going on an East Coast tour starting in May, and has new music coming out soon!

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. 

Happy end of the school year! Jalen and Paris wrap up their time here at KCSU with an April recap.

KCSU's Music Directors Jalen Thompson and Paris Huckaby are the destination for eccentric and eclectic music tastes within the CSU community. Their podcast maneuvers the world of music through their eyes including new releases, pop culture, interviewing other music connoisseurs, and the links that bring the two together

Colorado State University President Amy Parsons is no stranger to music on campus, but going live on-air on CSU's student-run radio station, 90.5 KCSU, is a first for the presidential bucket list. On Wednesday, March 6th, Parsons sat down with KCSU DJs Erin Fuller and Riley Hilbert to talk about her mission to bring live music back to CSU and take a nostalgia trip into her favorite campus classics.

The Grammys have come and gone, but the music directors aren't convinced that they covered everything. Join Jalen and Paris as they recap the 2023 year in music and give their "Goblies" to artists and bands they appreciated.

The music directors wish you a happy new year! Catch up with the music released in January with Jalen and Paris, and stick around towards the end for a sneak peek of what they'll be doing in February. 

Some unique music dropped in November, and the music directors are in the know! Join Jalen Thompson and Paris Huckaby as they recount the month in music and close out the fall semester.

KCSU's Music Directors Jalen Thompson and Paris Huckaby are the destination for eccentric and eclectic music taste within the CSU community. Their podcast maneuvers the world of music through their eyes including new releases, pop culture, interviewing other music connoisseurs, and the links that bring the two together

KCSU's Music Directors Jalen Thompson and Paris Huckaby are the destination for eccentric and eclectic music taste within the CSU community. Their podcast maneuvers the world of music through their eyes including new releases, pop culture, interviewing other music connoisseurs, and the links that bring the two together

KCSU's programming director Laura Andrews sits down with members of the improvisational indie-groove band Goose ahead of their upcoming concert at Colorado State University on October 7th, 2023. The band talks about their hidden Fort Collins upbringings, their two sold-out Red Rocks Ampitheater shows on October 5th and 6th, their musical influences and evolution, and plays some nature trivia while they're at it.The upcoming Goose CSU concert, presented by CSUMarcom, AEG presents, the Music Business Collective, and KCSU is free to all CSU students. Additional general admission and VIP tickets are available for purchase through the band's website. For more information about the show, visit CSU Source. https://source.colostate.edu/csu-hosting-goose-concert-on-campus-oct-7-free-tickets-available-to-students/

KCSU's Battle of the Bands is our annual local music festival that's hosted at CSU. Four bands face off and the audience gets to vote for who they liked best! The winners get a cash prize and a slot playing at CSU's Ramskellar. In this episode, Basement Baby tells a cryptic story about their name and how they want to spread their good vibes from the stage.

KCSU's Battle of the Bands is our annual local music festival that's hosted at CSU. Four bands face off and the audience gets to vote for who they liked best! The winners get a cash prize and a slot playing at CSU's Ramskellar. In this episode, Clementine talks how they came from the roof of the snack shack at Holiday Twin Drive-In to playing big gigs around Colorado.

KCSU's Battle of the Bands is our annual local music festival that's hosted at CSU. Four bands face off and the audience gets to vote for who they liked best! The winners get a cash prize and a slot playing at CSU's Ramskellar. In this episode, Bridge Renaissance chats about their jazz/indie/funk fusion sound and their constant evolution as a band.

KCSU's Battle of the Bands is our annual local music festival that's hosted at CSU. Four bands face off and the audience gets to vote for who they liked best! The winners get a cash prize and a slot playing at CSU's Ramskellar. In this episode, Stil Runnin tells us about their journey from California to Colorado and their mixed up story (or stories?) of how they got their name.

KCSU's Music Directors Jalen Thompson and Paris Huckaby are the destination for eccentric and eclectic music taste within the CSU community. Their podcast maneuvers the world of music through their eyes, including new releases, pop culture, interviewing other music connoisseurs, and the link that brings the two together

Music Directors Bridhid and Bailey recap music events, talking about their favorite albums, singles, and pop culture moments for the month of March.

Ben Mozar discusses the local film scene and how his support of local artists led to his creation of The Lyric, an independent movie theater in north Fort Collins. Interview by Sulaiman Akbar.

Brighid and Bailey recap music moments in the month of February-chatting about their top artists, albums, songs and their thoughts on the Grammys.

In this episode of the KCSU Music Podcast Bailey Liverman sits down with Utah based band Pixie and the Partygrass Boys to talk about their appearance in Steamboats Bluegrass festival WinterWonderGrass and more!

Follow KCSU's music team through an interview with The Wreck's lead singer and guitarist Nick Anderson.

KCSU's Bailey Liverman sits down with musical artists Odie Leigh to talk about everything from her recent tour to her musical beginnings. 

"KCSU's Weekly Gems Countdown” is hosted by the KCSU Music Directors and describes the top artists that your local 90.5 FM DJs are playing this week! This article is posted weekly on Sundays and discussed on their show “KCSU Weekly Gem Countdown” which airs every Monday from 12-1. During the show, you can learn more about each musician or band before tuning in to the top 10 countdowns on Monday from 12-1, in which the music directors present to you the latest songs topping the charts and breaking down each song's sound and feel. Follow along with our article on KCSUFM.com as well!

KCSU's Assistant Music Director Bailey Liverman sits down with jazz musician David Lawrence to talk shop about influences, new music, and more!

"KCSU's Weekly Gems Countdown” is hosted by the KCSU Music Directors and describes the top artists that your local 90.5 FM DJs are playing this week! This article is posted weekly on Sundays and discussed on their show “KCSU Weekly Gem Countdown” which airs every Monday from 12-1. During the show, you can learn more about each musician or band before tuning in to the top 10 countdowns on Monday from 12-1, in which the music directors present to you the latest songs topping the charts and breaking down each song's sound and feel. Follow along with our article on KCSUFM.com as well!