Category Archives: promotional

Parsons Playlists: Warm Evenings

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Mia (class of 2026) and celebrates the impending warmer months.

Warm Evenings

Colorful picnic evening gathering

The theme of this playlist is inspired by the warmer months to come where the grass has grown back, and it is over 60° every day. I hope to play this during a barbeque surrounded by all my friends and family.

Steve Miller Band – “The Joker”

Steely Dan – “Dirty Work”

Grand Funk Railroad – “Some Kind of Wonderful”

Dire Straits – “Sultans of Swing”

The Police – “Canary in a Coalmine”

Talking Heads – “Pulled Up”

Steve Miller Band – “Rock’n Me”

Pete Townshend – “Let My Love Open the Door”

Creedence Clearwater Revival – “Up Around the Bend”

Fleetwood Mac – “Don’t Stop”

Eric Clapton – “Lay Down Sally”

The Doobie Brothers – “Listen to the Music”

The Marshall Tucker Band – “Can’t You See”

The Eagles – “Take It Easy”

Fleetwood Mac – “Gypsy”

The Rolling Stones – “Beast of Burden”

Stealers Wheel – “Stuck in the Middle”

Talking Heads – “This Must Be the Place”

Led Zeppelin – “Ramble On”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube:

WDCE Charts 3-4-26

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WDCE 90.1 Logo

WDCE 90.1: UR Radio is the voice of independent radio in Richmond, VA and has been student-run and operated since 1960.
Students have used it as a launching pad for careers in radio or other mass communications, and also as an engaging extra-curricular activity. Community members and UR alumni also continue to play an important role in the station.

We’re sharing chart information from WDCE as reported to the North American College and Community (NACC) Radio Chart.

Here’s the WDCE Top 30 from 4 March 2026 (click the image to see a larger version):

WDCE chart 3-4-26

For comparison, here is this week’s national NACC chart (click the image to see a larger version):

NACC chart 3-4-26

You can stream WDCE live here: https://live365.com/station/WDCE-90-1-FM-a39711

WDCE Collage 3-4-26

The top four albums played on WDCE this week were:
* Mitski – Nothing’s About to Happen to Me
* Ratboys – Singin’ to an Empty Chair
* Remember Sports – The Refrigerator
* Last Dinosaurs – Wellness

Arachnophonia: “The Musical Temperament” by Anthony E. Kemp

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Eliana (class of 2026) and features a book about music psychology as it relates to musicians. Thanks, Eliana!

The Musical Temperament: Psychology and Personality of Musicians by Anthony E. Kemp

The Musical Temperament: Psychology and Personality of Musicians by Anthony E. Kemp

If you are interested in psychology and music, I recommend reading Anthony E. Kemp’s The Musical Temperament: Psychology and Personality of Musicians if you need some help understanding how research concerning the personalities of musicians has progressed over the years. Though it is heavy in research jargon, this book alerts the reader that this is a growing field that gives insight into how the different paths that musicians choose to take can influence their personality traits.

Published in 1996, The Musical Temperament: Psychology and Personality of Musicians is the first book to address connections of personality traits and psychological states with various types of musicians, including composers, teachers, and many more. The author introduces personality theories that have emerged over the decades and addresses the traits of anxiety, independence, sensitivity, introversion, and gender issues through the lenses of research and scholarly articles. Kemp also considers different forms of musicianship, such as singers or conductors, to demonstrate the impact that different skill sets have on personality and the predisposed path a musician may take in relation to these skills.

Arachnophonia: “K-Pop Demon Hunters” soundtrack

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Sophia (class of 2028) and features the soundtrack to K-Pop Demon Hunters on vinyl. Thanks, Sophia!

K-Pop Demon Hunters

Listening to the K-Pop Demon Hunters vinyl, the songs seemed much more calming compared to the ones I usually listen to on Spotify. For example, when you listen to “Takedown” (Jeongyeon, Jihyo, Chaeyoung) by TWICE on Spotify, it sounds very loud. “Golden” by Huntr/x also sounded softer on the vinyl than it does on Spotify, which I enjoyed. “What it Sounds Like” by Huntr/x felt very emotional because the vocals sounded soft and gentle, like they had so much to express but couldn’t. After this song. “Love, Maybe” by MeloMance played, and it sounded sweet. I especially like the flute part. There was a big contrast between these songs. I went from being very emotional to being filled with a sweet, loving atmosphere.

My favorite songs from the list were “Golden” by Huntr/x, “What it Sounds Like” by Huntr/x, and “Love, Maybe” by MeloMance. I could sit in the library all day, just listening to these songs while doing my homework. I definitely recommend this vinyl to any K-Pop Demon Hunters fans or anyone trying to find calm, soft music.

Parsons Playlists: Winter Pop

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Joyce (class of 2027) and features some wintry pop songs.

Winter Pop Playlist

This winter pop playlist is expressive and gives energy to listeners in the winter months. It captures the ambiance of winter: light, airy, cold, but cheerful. This playlist contains upbeat and shimmery tones that resemble the winter landscape: snow and warm lighting.

Ariana Grande – “Twilight Zone”

Ariana Grande – “December”

Madison Beer – “Bittersweet”

The Marias – “Run Your Mouth”

Olivia Dean – “A Couple Minutes”

Victoria Monet – “We Might Even Be Falling in Love”

Kaye-Marie – “Lives in You”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube:

Arachnophonia: “Love & Theft: Blackface Minstrelsy and the American Working Class” by Eric Lott

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student assistant Madelyn (class of 2028) and features a book about the racism and cultural appropriation inherent in blackface performance. Thanks, Madelyn!

Love & Theft: Blackface Minstrelsy and the American Working Class by Eric Lott

Love and Theft by Eric Lott

During the 19th century, minstrel shows were key sources of entertainment, featuring songs, dances and comedic routines based on stereotyped depictions of Black individuals, by white actors with blackened faces. Using these real-life events as a foundation for the book, Love & Theft, Eric Lott delves deeper into the minstrelsy musical to portray and extract the hidden fascination and fear of Black culture and its ties with the complicated cultural performance. The title, Love & Theft reflects a deeper juxtaposition on Lott’s view on how although the American working class were fascinated by the African American language and music, they however stole and distorted these significant cultural forms and transformed them into models for their very own entertainment.

Actor Thomas Rice Playing “Jim Crow” in Blackface, New York City, 1833.

This book by Eric Lott explores the path within which minstrelsy was introduced during a period of social change, especially among the urban white working class. Lott provides a very thorough and fascinating explanation on how numerous working-class white men felt politically and economically powerless and as a result of this, the hope of Blackface performances became a medium through which they could express their frustrations, rebel against upper-class norms and forge a new shared identity. Nonetheless, in doing so, this new identity relied heavily on degrading stereotypes of Black people, through which Lott reveals how these performances influenced enduring racial stereotypes and its impact on American culture. I felt very inspired by this book as it revealed such a deep and complicated contradiction of white American’s admiration for Black culture whilst also reinforcing white supremacy in the same vein. Including how American culture has been molded by complex and unequal racial interactions. I believe Love & Theft will deeply push readers to comprehend how racism can especially coexist with cultural fascination and the certain influence of entertainment on social attitudes. I highly recommend checking out this book at the music library.

Arachnophonia: Samara Joy “Portrait”

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Laeticia (class of 2026) and features Samara Joy’s 2024 album Portrait. Thanks, Laeticia!

Samara Joy

Portrait

Samara Joy - Portrait (album cover)

Samara Joy’s Voice Is the Jazz Revival We Needed

I have always loved jazz. The problem is, I only ever reached for the classics: John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, etc. My relationship with the genre lived comfortably in the past, and I had convinced myself that is just where great jazz existed. Then I put on Samara Joy’s Portrait vinyl, and suddenly the future of jazz felt exciting.

Samara Joy is a 25-year-old vocalist from the Bronx who has been sweeping award shows and proving that jazz is not a museum piece, but is still evolving. Coming from a gospel background, she channels the spirit of the legends I grew up listening to, but she does not imitate them. She is carrying the tradition forward in her own voice, and that distinction matters.

Listening to tracks like “A Fool in Love (Is Called A Clown)” and “You Stepped Out Of A Dream” on the Portrait vinyl reminded me why I fell in love with jazz in the first place. That warmth, that intimacy, the way a vocalist can make you feel like they are singing directly to you. It is all there. But what really struck me was realizing I had been missing out on this entire generation of artists because I had stopped looking forward. Samara Joy reignited something I did not realize had dimmed within me. I was reminded of how one’s soul comes alive through soul full music.

Samara-Joy-Portrait1

The vinyl experience made it even more powerful. This was not just background music. It captured my attention and encouraged me to be intentional with how I consume jazz music. Hearing the depth of her voice, the live-room feel of the recording, the deliberate space in the arrangements, it all reminded me that jazz sounds best when you are fully present for it. No shuffling playlists, just sitting with the music the way it deserves.

What gives me hope is that artists like Samara Joy are introducing jazz to younger audiences while respecting what made the genre great. She’s proof that jazz is not stuck in the past. It is just waiting for the right voices to carry it into the future. If you, like me, have been living in the archives, Portrait by Samara Joy is your invitation to care about contemporary jazz again.

Parsons Playlists: Charlie Brown Season – A Peanuts Playlist

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Sophia (class of 2028) and features an assortment of “Peanuts” themed music.

Charlie Brown Season – A Peanuts Playlist

It’s officially CARLIE BROWN SEASON (at least for me). Pour a warm drink, get comfy, and let this playlist wrap you in soft jazz and cozy nostalgia.

Jayd Deroché, Hattie Kragten, and cast – “Best Time Ever” (from Snoopy Presents: A Summmer Musical)

Jayd Deroché and cast – “Leave It Better” (from Snoopy Presents: A Summmer Musical)

Hattie Kragten – “A Place Like This” (from Snoopy Presents: A Summmer Musical)

Jayd Deroché, Hattie Kragten, and cast – “When We Were Light” (from Snoopy Presents: A Summmer Musical)

Jayd Deroché – “Look Up, Charlie Brown” (from Snoopy Presents: A Summmer Musical)

Hattie Kragten – “It’s The Small Things, Charlie Brown” (from It’s The Small Things, Charlie Brown)

Megan Trainor – “Better When I’m Dancin'” (from The Peanuts Movie)

Megan Trainor – “Good To Be Alive” (from The Peanuts Movie)

Christophe Beck – “Fifi’s Theme” (from The Peanuts Movie)

Christophe Beck – “Snow Day” (from The Peanuts Movie)

Christophe Beck – “Christmastime Is Here / Christmas Is Coming” (from The Peanuts Movie)

Ensemble – “Opening – You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” (from You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown)

Ilana Levine – “Schroeder” (from You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown)

Roger Bart, Kristin Chenowith, and Ilana Levine – “Snoopy” (from You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown)

B.D. Wong – “My Blanket And Me” (from You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown)

Anthony Rapp – “The Kite” (from You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown)

Illana Levine and Anthony Rapp – “The Doctor Is In” (from You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown)

Stanley Wayne Mathis – “Beethoven Day” (from You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown)

Ensemble – “The Book Report” (from You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown)

Kristin Chenowith – “My New Philosophy” (from You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown)

Anthony Rapp and cast – “T.E.A.M. / The Baseball Game” (from You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown)

Ensemble – “Glee Club Rehearsal” (from You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown)

Ilana Levine – “Little Known Facts” (from You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown)

Roger Bart – “Suppertime” (from You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown)

Ensemble – “Happiness” (from You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown)

Ensemble – “Bows” (from You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown)

Vince Guaraldi Trio – “Pebble Beach”

Vince Guaraldi Trio – “Blue Charlie Brown”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube:

And here it is on Spotify:

WDCE Charts 2-18-26

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WDCE 90.1 Logo

WDCE 90.1: UR Radio is the voice of independent radio in Richmond, VA and has been student-run and operated since 1960.
Students have used it as a launching pad for careers in radio or other mass communications, and also as an engaging extra-curricular activity. Community members and UR alumni also continue to play an important role in the station.

We’re sharing chart information from WDCE as reported to the North American College and Community (NACC) Radio Chart.

Here’s the WDCE Top 30 from 18 February 2026 (click the image to see a larger version):

WDCE chart 2-18-26

For comparison, here is this week’s national NACC chart (click the image to see a larger version):

NACC chart 2-18-26

You can stream WDCE live here: https://live365.com/station/WDCE-90-1-FM-a39711

The top four albums played on WDCE this week were:
* Ratboys – Singin’ To An Empty Chair
* Mon Rovia – Bloodline
* Fuzz – Fuzz’s Fourth Dream
* Lande Hekt – Lucky Now

Arachnophonia: “Sinners” soundtrack

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Julie (class of 2028) and features the soundtrack to the 2025 film Sinners on vinyl. Thanks, Julie!

Sinners

Sinners soundtrack album

The soundtrack of the 2025 vampire horror film Sinners features powerful renditions of known songs from the 1930s and early 1940s that bridge the gap between tradition and modernity. Guided by intentionality, historical accuracy, and his own experience with American blues music, producer Ludwig Göransson drew from various genres, including blues, Irish folk, gospel, jazz, and soul. Through its attention to technical detail and inventive blend of styles, the soundtrack alone is enough to make the movie worth watching.

One of my two favorite tracks on the album, “Rocky Road to Dublin,” starts off more slowly and quickly evolves into a lively mixed-meter jig with strong vocals and even stronger energy. In contrast, the other, “Will Ye Go, Lassie Go?” is captivating with its simple melody and rich harmonies that manage to sound like home, even while being sung by a band of mildly-threatening vampires.

In vastly different ways, these two songs (along with all the others on the soundtrack) capture the heart and soul that was put into the film, as well as the hearts of listeners and viewers alike. The masterful musicians of Sinners have truly earned their place in Parsons Music Library.