I currently take on the roles of photographer and writer for The Berkeley Beacon, Milk Crate WECB and Five Cent Sound, which are all Emerson College-based music publications.

Please note that all images and publish dates are linked to the original articles. Click on each image or date to access their respective article.

CELESTIAL DISCOURSE: MOONDOG’S TRIALOGUES

“Seba Molnar and Julius Rodriguez at the Jazz Square Festival in Boston, MA on September 27th, 2024. Photos by Ari Mei-Dan”

27th September 2024 — Five Cent Sound.

ALBUM REVIEW: “FOR CRYIN’ OUT LOUD”

“Primarily known as Billie Eilish’s brother and producer, Finneas Baird O’Connell – or mononymously known as FINNEAS – released his sophomore album For Cryin’ Out Loud on October 4th. He finds himself on this album comfortable in a spotlight of his own. 

FINNEAS mastered the art of sad love songs from the very start of his solo career. Beginning with electronic-indie pop songs like “Partners in Crime” from his debut EP Blood Harmony (2019), FINNEAS has now found his footing as a rock-pop musician with an alluring emphasis on guitar melodies and driving beats in the low end. For Cryin’ Out Loud begins with a ballad titled “Starfucker” which mourns the loss of a former lover who was only in it for the fame and the clout, and questioning how to go forward.”

11th October, 2024 — Milk Crate WECB.

BEST BANDS OF BURLINGTON (PT. 1)

“Taking influence from the jam band world but intersecting jazz and reggae, Lazy Bird is definitely special. Guided by the tireless vocals of Grace Palmer, the unforgettable guitar of Jackson Bower, the thumping bass of Tom Gladstone, the catchy piano of Matt Weinstein, the melodious saxophone of Matt Cincotta, and the extraordinary drumming of Cal McCandless, the band takes on every single show with the aim to have fun and be good at having fun. Lazy Bird is your ultimate feel-good, fun-dancing, hip-swaying band. They are the fun plans on your Friday night. What I find particularly astonishing about Lazy Bird is their ability to not only make music accessible for everyone, but also make it funky. Songs like Valerie (Amy Winehouse) and Stayin’ Alive (The Bee Gees) and Landslide (Fleetwood Mac) are jazz-ified in a way that is not too pretentious for the average listener.”

30th September, 2024 — Milk Crate WECB.

BEST BANDS OF BURLINGTON (PT. 2)

“Armanodillo is a hard band to describe because there is simply no other band like them in Burlington. Quite frankly, I wouldn’t even know which other musicians to compare them to – period. They are one of a kind.

The band consists of Charlie Uffelman (guitar, bass, and vocals), Erik Lyngstad-Hughes (guitar, bass, and vocals), Logan Pickrell (guitar, mandolin, and vocals), and Gabe Bango (drums and vocals). Together since early 2022, Armanodillo takes indie-folk-rock to maximal levels. 

Their music is nothing short of beautiful: it is simple but emotional, personal but grand, charming and spirited. They have two singles under their belt and opened for Snail Mail and Peach Pit at UVM’s 2024 SpringFest. The band comes equipped to make you feel every emotion on the spectrum, and I do believe that you come out of their music feeling absolutely everything.”

8th October, 2024 — Milk Crate WECB.