Nate Sloan talks pop evolution with The Wall Street Journal
Musicology faculty member Nate Sloan and podcast co-host Charlie Harding recently sat down with The Wall Street Journal to talk about the pop history and analysis they cover in both their popular podcast, Switched on Pop, and now their book of the same name which released on Dec. 13. Sloan, who studies the history and… Continue reading Nate Sloan talks pop evolution with The Wall Street Journal
King Princess performs for Cindi Lauper’s annual benefit show for LGBTQ homeless youth
Mikaela Straus, a non-degreed Popular Music alum who performs under the name King Princess, recently performed for Cindi Lauper’s annual benefit concert, Home for the Holidays, which supports LGBTQ homeless youth. Straus sang her hit single “Hit the Back” off of her debut album “Cheap Queen,” before joining a duet of Lauper’s “Time After Time”… Continue reading King Princess performs for Cindi Lauper’s annual benefit show for LGBTQ homeless youth
Austin Wintory interviews Bear McCreary about composing for video games
As a guest host of The Game Maker’s Notebook podcast from the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, Composition alum Austin Wintory (BM ’07) recently interviewed fellow Trojan and video game composer, Screen Scoring alum Bear McCreary (BM ’02). Both composers are widely known for their award-winning video game scores, and even worked together on… Continue reading Austin Wintory interviews Bear McCreary about composing for video games
Angela Little wins AGSC Screen Music Award for Best Music for a Short Film
Screen Scoring alum Angela Little (MM ’19) won an AGSC Screen Music Award in the category of Best Music for a Short Film for her score of the short film “For the Girl in the Coffee Shop.” Little worked collaboratively with director Rebekah Jackson to create a score that expresses the nuances of the film’s… Continue reading Angela Little wins AGSC Screen Music Award for Best Music for a Short Film
Armen Movsesyan announced as semi-finalist in International Guitar Competition
Studio Guitar alum Armen Movsesyan (BM ’15) has been announced as a semi-finalist in the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Guitar Competition. Movsesyan and 11 other guitarists will compete in the semifinals on Dec. 2 at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. Three finalists will be selected to compete at the Kennedy… Continue reading Armen Movsesyan announced as semi-finalist in International Guitar Competition
John Storie performs on new album by Jeff Goldblum and Mildred Snitzer Orchestra
Studio Guitar alum John Storie (BM ‘06) performed and arranged music for the recently released album by Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra titled “I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This.” The album features guest artists Miley Cyrus, Fiona Apple, Inara George, Anna Calvi, Gina Saputo, Sharon Van Etten and Gregory Porter. The album is… Continue reading John Storie performs on new album by Jeff Goldblum and Mildred Snitzer Orchestra
King Princess to make SNL debut and open for Harry Styles on tour
Mikaela Straus, who performs under the name King Princess, will make her Saturday Night Live debut on Nov. 23 with host Will Ferrell. Straus is a non-degreed alum of the USC Thornton Popular Music program, and has become an emerging alt-pop sensation. Her band includes Popular Music alum Melody Ector (BM ’19) on keyboard. The… Continue reading King Princess to make SNL debut and open for Harry Styles on tour
Sturdivant Adams nominated for 2019 Hollywood Music in Media Award
Screen Scoring alum Sturdivant Adams (MM ’19) was nominated for a 2019 Hollywood Music in Media Award for his original score for “Between the Shadows,” an animated short he scored during his time at USC Thornton. “Between the Shadows” was directed and created by USC School of Dramatic Arts animation student Chun Chun Chang. Adams… Continue reading Sturdivant Adams nominated for 2019 Hollywood Music in Media Award
Amir Kelly and Ayoni Thompson named among Best Young Music Artists of 2019
Two USC Thornton Popular Music students, Amir Kelly and Ayoni Thompson, were recently named to PopSugar Magazine’s list of Best Young Music Artists 2019. The list highlights talented up-and-coming artists who are soon to make waves in pop music. Senior Amir Kelly creates music he describes as “Blindian Pop,” a nod to his Black and… Continue reading Amir Kelly and Ayoni Thompson named among Best Young Music Artists of 2019
Andrew Prahlow earns two award nominations for “Outer Wilds” soundtrack
Screen Scoring alum Andrew Prahlow (GCRT ‘11) was nominated for two awards for his soundtrack for the “Outer Wilds” video game, a “backpacking adventure in space” that tasks players with solving the mystery of a recent disaster before the galaxy is wiped out by a supernova. The score was nominated for a Jerry Goldsmith Award… Continue reading Andrew Prahlow earns two award nominations for “Outer Wilds” soundtrack