KTRM

In 2014, I was diagnosed with anorexia. I was sixteen and weighed 132 pounds. My nails were blue – my lips purple. My resting heart rate was 34 bpm, and my index finger and thumb created a shackle around my bicep. At night I held my hip bones: I loved them.

At that time, Florence and the Machine (stylized as Florence + The Machine) had only released Lungs (2009) and Ceremonials (2011). I listened to their music religiously. It reminded me of great women who passed from suicide, namely: Sylvia Plath and Virginia Woolf. The drowning metaphors, the spiritual motifs, the haunting voice, the crystalized sounds – all of it transformed me into a pretentious adolescent. […]

Mom Jeans and Just Friends have quickly leapt to legendary status in the emo scene this year with their canon-worthy albums, titled Puppy Love and Nothing But Love, respectively. The titles of these albums really capture the overall philosophy of these bands — in a time of extremity and polarization, they seek to spread love, build positive connections, and support and uplift their fellow musicians, especially those whose music and contributions are more likely to be drowned out by the voices of a sea of angsty straight white dudes. […]

The Mountain Goats are, arguably, one of the most prolific bands working in music today. Since their formation in 1991, the indie folk group- consisting of anywhere from one to four members at any given time- has released sixteen studio albums, twenty-four EPs and singles, and dozens of other cassettes, splits, collaborations, and digital releases. […]

Picture it. You’re in the pit, rocking out to your favorite metal band, (Is it Metalica? It’s probably Metallica.) Suddenly, in the midst of the searing guitars and double-bass, a reedy, high pitched squeal breaks through the din. It’s a saxophone, and it’s the best, freshest metal you’ve ever heard. The saxophone usually conjures up ideas of marching bands, of swing music or that one instrument your parents made you play in middle school. […]

KTRM will be covering the fifth annual Audiotree Music Festival in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The festival, held by Chicago-based record label Audiotree, is scheduled for September 22nd & 23rd at Arcadia Creek Festival Place. […]