While obtaining my Master’s degree in Journalism, I was an Executive Producer and Music Reporter for Neon Tommy, the voice of Annenberg Digital News at USC, the most-read college news site in the nation at the time. My work included everything from concert and album reviews to developing TV Music recaps for popular television series like HBO’s GIRLs and Gossip Girl known for their equally eclectic and iconic soundtracks.

Wayfarer’s ‘The Albatross We Keep’ Is
A Raw, Brooding Alt-Folk Emotional Roller Coaster

The realm of alt-Folk artists has gotten pretty crowded in the last few years, with your Mumford & Sons, Lumineers, and Iron & Wines holding down the fort while assorted Sufjan Stevens, Kings of Leons and Coldplays rock the boats with tunes that often aren’t very alternative or folky, but still have a particular Springstein-esque riffs in their vocals and an emotionally explicit Difrano-y theme in their lyrics.

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Erland: An Exclusive Behind The Scenes

Meet ERLAND—featuring Erland Wanberg, Nate Keezer, Michael Moon and Mark Srdanov—a folk-rock band from Santa Barbara. Their debut album "On Our Side" (2013) started as an EP for the singer-songwriter Erland, but after linking up with his current bandmates, he knew instantly that there was no more continuing as a solo act.

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Falu At The Hotel Cafe: Review

If you’re a musician, music connoisseur, or simply a listener who likes to get down, The Hotel Cafe is the place to be in Los Angeles, any night of the week. The quaint live music venue tucked away off an alley on the Cahuenga Boulevard strip has housed some of today’s most favored singer-songwriters.

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Obama's Shutdown Playlist

Eight days into the Government Shutdown and after President Obama's phone call with House Speak John Boehner today, it doesn't seem like an end is near. Boehner wants to negotiate and Obama refuses to.

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10 Music Videos That Will Make You
Hate Every Happy Couple

Yesterday, Grammy Award winner John Legend released a painfully beautiful music video for "All Of Me," the first single off his latest album "Love In The Future" (2013). The ballad was written for his wife, Chrissy Teigen, and the video ends with brief footage from their very recent wedding in Lake Como, Italy.

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Sara Bareilles Puts On A Brave Face At The El Rey

Tuesday night, at the El Rey, Bareilles, the 3-time Grammy nominee who gained recognition with "Love Song" in 2007, explained the reason behind the name of the tour. "This is literally the scariest thing I could think of to do," she said.

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Bernhoft Raises The Bar With
The Loop At The Hotel Cafe

Today, in the era of auto-tune and over production, it’s difficult to believe that genuine talent and good music still exists. And if it does exist, that music is difficult to find as it's not receiving the adequate attention while the artists who are producing it aren’t receiving the credit they deserve.

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Beyoncé Is Commanding Everyone
To Bow Down... To Her

Yesterday, Beyoncé Knowles aka Queen B aka Mrs. Carter released a new single, which might have fans and foes raising their eyebrows and well, exiting out of their listening mediums.

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Justin Timberlake's New Album Proves
That Hindsight Isn’t Always 20/20

Justin Timberlake is ready. Or so he said in a promotion of his new album “The 20/20 Experience,” which comes out on the 19th.

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Lucy Rose Gives All She's Got At The Hotel Cafe

You’ve heard of Adele, Jessie J, Mumford & Sons, Florence & The Machine and most recently Ed Sheeran, Ellie Goulding, Emeli Sande and One Direction—although you may not admit to rocking out to the last one’s “What Makes You Beautiful” while stuck on the 405.

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An Evening With Margie Balter,
The Piano Teacher To The Stars

When musicians hear Gibson, they think guitars and when they hear Baldwin, they think pianos. And that is what Margie Balter’s audience heard and saw last night in the Gibson Baldwin Showroom, but they weren't listening to just any pianos.

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Emily King Earns Her Spotlight
At The Hotel Cafe

They say music connoisseurs can identify talent within 30 seconds to one minute. Emily King had me hooked 15 seconds into my first listen of “Down,” the first track off of her most recent EP, “Seven” (2011), so much so that I immediately felt inclined to purchase a ticket to her show at The Hotel Café on February 8th.

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A New Year Brings New Music To The Small Screen

The new year has arrived, and with it the return of some of our favorite television series after their holiday hiatus. Viewers have spent the break with many unanswered questions.

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Sufjan Stevens Brings Singing And Sleigh Bells To The Fonda Theatre

Sufjan Stevens is an endless entertainer, a jack-of-all-trades, a musical unicorn. And the crowd at the Fonda Theatre Tuesday night dressed in ugly Christmas sweaters, Santa hats and good ‘ol red and green swooned throughout classic carols and Sufjan favorites.

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Alex Clare Blends Beard And Bass At The Fonda Theatre

"I love your beard," they yelled. On Thursday night, yarmulkes, bowlers and beanies (per usual) filled The Fonda as they awaited the raw and raspy runs that might make you mistake the venue for a church.

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Who’s Next?: Singer/Songwriters On The Up

Adele. Frank Ocean. Lana Del Rey. Bon Iver. Kimbra. Gotye. Foster The People. Azealia Banks. The Lumineers. Ed Sheeran. Alex Clare. Mumford & Sons.

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Joss Stone Ends Her Tour At The Wiltern

Nearly 10 years since her first album “Soul Sessions” (2003) was released and Joss Stone fans couldn’t be more thrilled with the release of her fourth and full-circle album.

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Shiny Toy Guns Reunite And Rage At The Echoplex

Shiny Toy Guns – the Los Angeles based alternative/electronic band – had fans feeling like they were “riding racecars and dancing on fire” at the Echoplex last night.

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Kimbra Loops And Fans Leap At The Fonda Theatre

When "Sex and the City" the movie was released in 2008, fans of the vibrant foursome put on their pink tutus, "Carrie" necklaces, their finest six inch heels, and stopped for a couple cosmopolitans before heading to the theater.

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Ryan Bingham Breaks And "Begs For Broken Legs" At The Fonda Theatre

When it comes to country music, we listen for heart-wrenching lyrics – emotionally explicit – and often sung by a raw and raspy voice. Life’s trials and tribulations are placed over steadily syncopated rhythms and precise finger picking or soulful strumming – along with stories of love found and love lost – the latter seemingly more relatable.

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'Girls' Music Recap: Shoshanna, The Cruel Drunk Lets Loose Among Great Tunes In The Faux Hamptons

Marnie. Ruins. Everything.  No but really, am I the only person that can see how much Marnie has and continues to screw everything up? 

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'Girls' Music Recap: One Song For The Only Child

It's felt like a long time coming, but I think it's safe to say that "Girls" is back. And by back I mean the groundbreaking series filled with (a little too) real life situations, endless sarcasm, nudity and plain old weirdness has returned to our screens.

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'Girls' Music Recap: Death, NBD

I hate Hannah. She’s actually the worst. OK, maybe not…hate is kind of a strong word. But right now, I’m really mad at her…like pissed. If you watched Sunday’s episode, and have somewhat of a heart, you probably are too.

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'Girls' Music Recap: Crammed And Covered Up

In Sunday night's episode of "Girls," "She Said OK," Hannah seemed to be quite alright with...well everything that took place that night. I'm guessing because the music great and kept on coming.

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'Girls' Music Recap: Jenny Lewis Satisfies...For Now

After the first two seasons of "Girls," two things were clear: normal doesn't exist and good music is a game changer. And after the season 3 premiere, those are still the facts.

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The Real 'Scandal' - That Isn't Discussed

When it comes to Olivia Pope there is no time for games. Expect honesty – brutal at best, expect haste, precision and discretion. Do not ask who, what, where, when or why. Keep all opinions to yourself because against her you will lose all arguments, you will forfeit all battles.

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'Girls' Music Recap: 'Together' As Clichéd As 'High School Musical'?

Season two of Girls ended yesterday in a cliché-fueled finale. In the tenth episode, “Together,” we begin with Hannah, still mentally unstable, googling her health fears. At least she’s not tweeting them.

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'Girls' Music Recap: On All Fours And Up In Arms

“Girls” ninth episode, “On all Fours,” had viewers' complete attention this week. And this viewer in particular up in arms. The good, no the great - this episode’s music was awesome and consistent. The not so good - well, everyone’s going crazy.

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'Girls' Music Recap: Revealing The Root of Jessa's Problems

In the last two “Girls” episodes we’ve gotten to see new sides of Hannah, Ray and now Jessa. In “Video Games,” episode 7 of the second season, Hannah and a recently “divorced” and therefore depressed Jessa venture upstate to visit Jessa’s father.

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'Girls' Music Recap: The Boys Are Back In Town, And Having Mini Breakdowns

For those of you frightened or annoyed by last week's abnormal "Girls" episode - fear not, things seem to be back on track. Well, the boys are back at least, and appear to bonding all while having mini breakdowns.

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'Girls' Music Recap: Soul Bearing Silence

All the single ladies, all the single ladies…beware. No seriously. If you have yet to watch this weekend’s episode of “Girls” because you were busy freaking out about JT’s comeback at the Grammy’s, beware.

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Girls' Music Recap: Things Change But Oasis Remains The Same

Now I understand why HBO leaked the fourth episode "It's A Shame About Ray" one week early...so we, well at least I, would have time to recover from all of the drama that occurs. Over very little music that is.

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"Girls" Music Reap: "Shorteralls" And A Single

The Girls: Hannah has marched to the beat of her own drummer since she cut her camp shirt into a halter top. She is also better at rocking "shorterals" and quoting Missy Elliot in heated arguments than dating a Republican.

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Music Recap: "GIRLS" Is Back With
Some Hot New Tracks

Hannah, Marnie, Jessa, Shoshanna and their relatable drama are back. “Girls” is back. And this girl couldn’t be more excited.

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"Gossip Girl" Music Recap: One More Episode And One Memorable Tune

Greetings Upper East Siders, Please excuse the brevity of this recap as your writer is currently suffering from PDBBDD (Post Dramatic Bart Bass Death Disorder). Yes that is self-prognosis, but seriously, Bart Bass is officially dead.

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"Gossip Girl" Music Recap: The Night The Music Went Missing

Some watch, for the fashion, and the occasional dramatic outbursts. Some listen, for classic, trendy and fitting tunes, as well as the occasional witty one-liners.  

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"Gossip Girl" Music Recap: Songs Will Play And Players Will Be Played

Greetings Upper East Side Lovers, I don’t know about you but this week’s episode, "Save The Last Chance", seriously cut into my Thanksgiving break relaxation mode, putting my stress levels at an all time high. 

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Music Recap: "Gossip Girl" Is Back To Refreshing Tunes And Normal Nonsense

Greetings Upper East Side Lovers, after an episode of too few songs and another of what some may consider to be too many (by one artist), it’s safe to say we’ve arrived at an episode that is musically just right.

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Scandal. Scheming. Songs? "Gossip Girl" Music Recap 11/5

Greetings Upper East Side lovers, only three episodes into the final season following “Manhattan’s Elite” – yes I know, I can’t believe it either – and there’s more to cover than Columbia’s Jessica and Constance’s Penelope, even with the former help of Kati, Iz and little J could ever handle.

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