Press Play

Songwriters Spotlight

The Stony Brook Press — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 23:09:12 -0400

Hosts Rafael Cruvinel and Lauren Canavan are joined by Associate Editor Sammie Aguirre to talk about the songwriters behind some of your favorite hits.

A Conversation with a Music Therapist

The Stony Brook Press — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 08:00:00 -0500

Hosts Rafael Cruvinel and Lauren Canavan talk to Alexandra Bie, a board-certified music therapist at Stony Brook Hospital. They talk about her daily pursuit to bring music to those of all backgrounds and health conditions, and the role that music therapy plays in society.

Artists Who Died Too Soon

The Stony Brook Press — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 20:09:19 -0400

Hosts Rafael Cruvinel and Lauren Canavan are joined by Jane Montalto and Dmitry Khrabrov to talk about artists who died too soon and the impact that their careers and deaths had on the music industry. This warning: this episode mentions suicide, drug and alcohol abuse and death.

Our Favorite Study Music

The Stony Brook Press — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 13:26:37 -0400

Hosts Rafael Cruvinel and Lauren Canavan join editors Sammie Aguirre, Josh Joseph, Dylan Gallo and Jane Montalto to discuss our study listening habits — lo-fi compilations, Nintendo soundtracks, film scores and more!

Our Best of 2021

The Stony Brook Press — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 11:52:12 -0500

Listen along with us as Press and WUSB staff share some of their favorite releases from last year, hosted by music editors Rafael Cruvinel and Lauren Canavan. Guests include Ben Zimmer, Nick Lyons, Ashton Arbus, Matt Hono, Antonio Mochmann, Dylan Gallo and Jayden Feisthamel.

Promo Copy: Joey Skidmore, Liquid Lobster, et al.

The Stony Brook Press — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 13:00:36 -0500

On this special edition of Press Play, hosts Josh Joseph and Keating Zelenke explore the CDs in our archive, playing songs from Joey Skidmore, Liquid Lobster, The Locust, Moth Music and more.

Concert Memories and Moral Panics!

The Stony Brook Press — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 15:25:06 -0400

We're still alive! Editors Sarah Beckford, Josh Joseph, Emily Scott and Julio Taku sit down over Zoom to chat about pre-pandemic concert memories, virtual events, secret conservatives, and more. Enjoy and stay safe!

Talking Euphoria and More with Jen Malone

The Stony Brook Press — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 16:02:02 -0500

Press Play is back! A couple months ago, executive editor Deanna Albohn and music editor Sarah Beckford sat down (virtually) with Jen Malone, the music supervisor for shows like Euphoria, Atlanta and Umbrella Academy. She talks about her job as a music supervisor, the decisions behind Euphoria's soundtrack, and how she discovers new songs for shows.

Episode 25 - The best of Pop Punk, the worst of Pop Punk

The Stony Brook Press — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 12:00:00 -0400

In this episode, the ladies of Press Play got together (socially distanced, of course) to talk about the golden era of pop punk.

Press Play - Quarantining with Jes Skolnik

The Stony Brook Press — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 21:45:00 -0400

Did you wash your hands enough today? No? That's what we thought. First, wash them. Second, listen to us speak with activist and senior editor at Bandcamp Jes Skolnik about how the music industry is doing during the coronavirus pandemic, what Bandcamp and other services are doing to help and the content that's getting us through this rough patch.

Press Play - Social Distancing with Josh Feola

The Stony Brook Press — Sun, 22 Mar 2020 06:00:00 -0400

Sorry for the break. We've been busy washing our hands and crying. In this episode, we speak with Josh Feola (RADII, Dazed, Bandcamp Daily, VICE) on the online raves and concerts popping up in China during the coronavirus pandemic, his work covering Shanghai's underground scene and being quarantined for weeks on end. Donate to WHO's COVID-19 response fund: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/donate Check out Josh's playlist series: https://a.currents.fm/current/4kKdDTNnAY4ThI0Snpwe

Press Play - Best Albums of the Decade (2010s) Pt. 2

The Stony Brook Press — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 05:30:00 -0500

We finish up the second half of our 40 best albums of the decade with this episode. Listen to part 1: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5rjSkjZvNv92N9omYB4UQZ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/press-play-best-albums-of-the-decade-2010s-pt-1/id1480048115?i=1000458208962 Our Best of the Decade Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6DFXFb3RQvrI07EiRTekJb

Press Play - Best Albums of the Decade (2010s) Pt. 1

The Stony Brook Press — Thu, 28 Nov 2019 17:25:00 -0500

In a little over a month, the 2010s will be officially over. We decided to choose what we think are the best albums that came out during this very long decade. Here's part 1 going over the first 20. Our Best of the Decade Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6DFXFb3RQvrI07EiRTekJb

Press Play - Making Moves with Michelle Kim

The Stony Brook Press — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 20:10:00 -0400

Michelle Kim (Them., FADER, Pitchfork and others) joins us over the phone to talk about her experience at Frank Ocean's PreP Queer Club night, LGBTQ artists balancing their identities and the need for alternative voices in media. Donate to Planned Parenthood: https://www.weareplannedparenthood.org/onlineactions/2U7UN1iNhESWUfDs4gDPNg2 Songs featured (in order): Frank Ocean - DHL King Princess - Cheap Queen

Press Play - Throwbacks with Beverly Bryan

The Stony Brook Press — Mon, 07 Oct 2019 17:00:00 -0400

We talked with Beverly Bryan, a former Stony Brook Press alumni, and Stony Brook '03 graduate who spent a decade as a music journalist writing for places like Vice, Village Voice, Remezcla, Rolling Stone and more. We take a look back at her college years and Press memories while also going over the ins and outs of "the industry." Donate to RAICES: https://www.raicestexas.org/donate/ Catch us at the RAICES Dance Party in BK on the 26th: https://www.facebook.com/events/722431314887965/ Songs featured(in order): Emicida - Pantera Negra Vivian Girls - Memory

Episode 18 - Snitching, Scamming and Skin Care

The Stony Brook Press — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 00:00:00 -0400

We discuss the hurricane that is the Tekashi69 trial, the rise of scam rap and give valuable advice on personal hygiene. Songs featured (in order): JPEGMAFIA - Beta Male Strategies Lucky Daye - Roll Some Mo

Episode 17 - Songs of the Summer 2019

The Stony Brook Press — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 15:00:00 -0400

And we are back. New semester, new sound and some new voices. The new and improved Press play crew give us the songs that defined their summer and their takes on the latest releases from Post Malone and company. Songs featured (in order): George Benson - Give Me the Night joji - Sanctuary Clairo - Bags

Episode 16 - Rap Beefs and Award Shows

The Stony Brook Press — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 12:00:00 -0500

This week's episode was a bit of a mixed bag. We talked about the wave of new music that came out last weekend including Earl Sweatshirt, Meek Mill. We also touched on the relevance of music awards and how our year-end favorites are stacking up.

Press Play - A Conversation With Andrew Nosnitsky

The Stony Brook Press — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 12:10:00 -0500

Andrew Nosnitsky (known online as Noz) is one of the pioneers of DIY rap journalism on the internet. His blog, Cocaine Blunts and Hip-hop Tapes, was a go-to source for news on the underground and rising hip-hop artists. We hit him up to discuss Gucci Mane, Sicko Mode, blogging, Park Boulevard Records — his Oakland-based record store specializing in underground and popular hip-hop albums.

Episode 14 - The Tekashi69 Variety Hour

The Stony Brook Press — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 12:00:00 -0500

In this special (totally serious) episode, we go over the recent arrest and indictment of Tekashi69 on numerous federal charges. We call in a highly regarded legal specialist to examine the case. Songs featured(in order): Will Smith - Just the Two of Us Ariana Grande - Thank u, Next Empress Of - I Don't Even Smoke Weed

Episode 13 - Post Malone and Expectation vs. Reality

The Stony Brook Press — Sat, 10 Nov 2018 12:00:00 -0500

This week on the show we talk about that brutal takedown of Post Malone in the Washington Post and whether it was warranted or not. We also speak on whether or not we should expect more from artists or take them for face value.

Episode 12 - Back to the Brook and artist longevity

The Stony Brook Press — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 12:00:00 -0400

This week the crew talks about what went wrong with the cancelled Ashanti appearance at this year's Back to the Brook. We also dive into what helps some artists stick around longer than others. Songs featured (in order): Altin Gün - Goca Dunya Samm Henshaw - Broke

Episode 11 - What Makes a Good Debut Album?

The Stony Brook Press — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 12:00:00 -0400

This week we added a new member to the Press Play crew, Javier, and our music editor Sarah called in from Chicago. We talk about Sheck Wes' debut "Mudboy," what makes a good debut album and whether there's too much nostalgia in the current music space. Songs featured(in order): Prefuse 73 - Black List ft. MF DOOM & Aesop Rock Playboi Carti - R.I.P.

Episode 10 - Brockhampton and the Best Song Covers

The Stony Brook Press — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 12:10:00 -0400

In a surprise second episode of the day, the crew is back in the station talking about Brockhampton's newest release "Iridescence," our go-to soundtracks for the fall and some of our favorite song covers. Songs featured (in order): Yaeji - One More Brockhampton - San Marcos The Strokes - Reptilia (Punch Brothers cover)

Press Play - The One with Ezra Marcus

The Stony Brook Press — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 12:00:00 -0400

The Press Play crew headed out to Brooklyn to meet with writer Ezra Marcus (Vice, Interview Magazine, FADER, and others) to talk about the current state of music journalism, discovery in the age of Spotify and pros and cons of being always online.

Episode 8 - Looking Back on the Summer

The Stony Brook Press — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 12:00:00 -0400

New semester, new Press Play episode. A couple old voices and a couple new voices hop on to talk about some of our favorite music we listened to over the summer, concerts and more.

Episode 7 - "This is America"

The Stony Brook Press — Tue, 08 May 2018 12:00:00 -0400

For the last podcast of the semester, a few of us got on air to talk about Gambino's music video for "This is America," the new song by Ye, Travis Scott and Uzi and what music we're looking forward to this summer. Songs featured (in order): Childish Gambino - This is America Watch - Travis Scott ft. Kanye West & Lil Uzi Vert Janelle Monae - Pynk ft. Grimes Crumb - Locket

Episode 6 - "KOD" and Kanye West

The Stony Brook Press — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 12:00:00 -0400

This time around the Press play team are out of the station and in the office talking about J. Cole's "KOD," Kanye West's upcoming projects and New York's standing in the rap game.

Episode 5 - The State of Music Journalism

The Stony Brook Press — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 12:00:00 -0400

The Press Play crew are back this week talking about Cardi B's debut "Invasion of Privacy", Brookfest 2018 and our thoughts on the current state of music journalism. Songs featured (in order): LCD Soundsystem - Big Ideas Cardi B - I Like It Voidz - We're Where We Were

Episode 4 - Music Discovery

The Stony Brook Press — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 12:00:00 -0400

Members of the Press staff are back in the studio discussing XXXTentacion's sophomore album "?", the allegations surrounding No Jumper podcast host Adam22 and how we find new music Opening track: Cornelius - Mic Check Songs featured (in order): MF DOOM - Doomsday Gus Dapperton - I'm Just Snacking

Press Play - Best of 2017

The Stony Brook Press — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 12:00:00 -0500

As the year comes to a close, members of the Stony Brook Press discuss some of the best music to be released in 2017.

Episode 2: The State Of Hip-Hop

The Stony Brook Press — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 12:00:00 -0400

The Stony Brook Press talks about XXXtentacion, SoundCloud rap, Smooky Margiela, New York's underground and Post Malone coming to Stony Brook.

Episode 1: Fetty Wap's Back to the Brook

The Stony Brook Press — Sat, 03 Sep 2016 12:00:00 -0400

Who is Fetty Wap? Why did his eye leave him? And how drunk will you need to be for Back to the Brook? Listen to our first Press Play of the semester to find out.