ON REPEAT PLAYLIST: Fall 2025
There are not many out there who would contest the fact that Rock 101 is full of goodness, musical and otherwise. The instructors keep us inspired, the admin team keeps it running smoothly, and the community keeps us coming back for more. Despite all of the roles that exist in the Rock 101 world, I often tell people that I have the best job available. Case in point: I just interviewed two up-and-coming students of the month. Is there actually anything better than getting to chit-chat with students who are immersed in their own adventures?
A recent interview with a 5th grader completely inspired me. He was telling me why music is so important to him. This 10-year-old reflected on his life and shared the observation that he has moved through lots of different phases. Hobbies and interests…they come and go. But music, he said, has always remained constant.
What a heartfelt statement! Even within music, we may move through genres, favorite artists, and even a love for different instruments. The existence of music in our lives, however, tends to hold firm. With that in mind, here is a snapshot of the music that is inspiring our instructors and staff in this Fall 2025 season. Enjoy!
ON REPEAT
•
ON REPEAT •
Adam
Song: Jungle Justice by Jesse Royal and Kabaka Pyramid
Why: The first is a super catchy modern reggae/hip hop song about NOT calling the police.
Alex
Song: Initiation II - Wonder Why by Sophye Soliveau
Why: Sophye is an amazing singer and harpist. She blends a lot of genres together in a really unique way. Not a lot of people know about her, and I think that is pretty criminal. There's not a lot like it out there!
Allison
Song: Undun by The Guess Who
Why: I went my whole life without hearing this song. My mom played it for me the other day, and it felt like such a gift to have a new song to over play.
Athena
Song: Cupid de Locke by The Smashing Pumpkins
Why: It has very unique instrumental sections, which are incredibly calming.
Brandon
Song: There's a Tear in My Beer by Hank Williams
Why: I love the soft guitar melodies mixed with the outlaw country lyrics!
Bridgette
Song: Dreams by Fleetwood Mac
Why: Makes me think of fall and warms my soul.
Brittney
Song: Twenty4seven by Clarq
Why: I recently went to a Macy Grey concert and her opening act was a local talent I hadn't heard of, Clarq. Since then her song twenty4seven has been a frequent play. I love her voice and the music production around her voice.
Danielle
Song: Happiness Does Not Wait by Olafur Arnalds
Why: I can feel this song deep in my bones. It fills me up to know this type of beauty exists in the world. Also, there is a twist at the end, and I have always been curious about what his original purpose or story was in writing the song this way.
Denilson
Song: Somethin' Stupid by Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra
Why: I am currently watching Better Call Saul and this song was in one of the episodes so it’s been on my mind!
Dustin
Song: Cool Cat by Queen
Why: This has been on repeat in the house for awhile now. It's yacht rock but Queen, who knew? Great groove and a catchy chorus!
Emma
Song: Hallucination by Sissal
Why: I’m genuinely still stuck at how robbed she was in Eurovision. (Also it gives early 2000’s roller rink vibes and I YEARN for the days where I had no worries and could just skate haha)
Ezra Herbert
Song: Sweetie by Kokoroko
Why: It's a great song!
Issac
Song: Purple Rain cover by Spin Doctors
Why: It hits different.
Jabez
Song: Summer with You by Couch
Why: Such a fun vibe and just great pocketed bass playing all throughout. I’m also listening to the arrangement as it contains a number of syncopated hits. It’s the kind of music I want to write for my band.
Jameson
Song: The Sidekicks by DMT
Why: It sounds like summertime and makes me wanna dance! One of the most underrated bands EVER!
Jay
Song: Sweet Dreams by Roy Buchanan
Why: My favorite guitar instrumental by The Master of the Telecaster. Love the volume swells in the intro and the main melody is super catchy. The chord change is really interesting as well.
Julee
Song: Hi-De-Ho by White Stripes (feat. Q-Tip)
Why: It's an ode to Cab Calloway, who is so iconic. It's a unique song, with a great vibe!
Kat
Song: Underground by Cody Fry
Why: It's just such a masterpiece of mixing a symphony into a song while also having the sound of a train in the background! I feel like there's so many different layers to the song, and it's so beautiful.
Kayla
Song: Summer Sweat by Hannah Cohen
Why: Just happened upon this one! It grabbed my attention right away with a loud and groovy sound.
Ken B.
Song: Disco Snails by Vulfmon
Why: It is groovy!
Ken E.
Song: There Stands the Glass by Robert Gordon with Danny Gatton
Kendall
Song: Silly, Wasn't I? by Sharon Forrester
Why: I love it for lots of reasons - The name is cool, the tape saturation on the vocals, the drums have the phattest bounce ever. Everytime I listen I find something new to love.
Kevin
Song: Tough Season by Bendigo Fletcher
Why: From the first notes, this tune hooks you. The band has a way of sounding raw and intimate while still being incredibly polished. The vocals cut through with so much character, and that chorus is gold.
Kristen
Song: Darkness Always Wins by Halestorm
Why: I haven’t focused too much on the instrumentation but it’s the lyrics that get me. The intro is mellow with verses sounding so beautiful. The lyrics feel very much like the journey of cancer.
Lucy
Song: Redwood Hill by Gordon Lightfoot
Why: This is originally by Gordon Lightfoot but is played a lot in a bluegrass style. It's a beautiful, simple tune and Gordon's poetic lyrics stand out. It's about a conversation with a grieving Mother Nature.
Shane
Song: New Attitude by Patti Labelle
Sharon
Song: My Old School by Steely Dan
Why: Easy groove and tempo so it would be a good tune to teach a student. Also has a Cowbell section!
Wren
Song: Be Brave by Owl City
Why: I struggle to find something I don't love about this song-- how the piano that starts off the song gives way to lush orchestral instrumentation and then to a rocking peak, the way it plays around with the beat in lots of interesting and unexpected ways, the vocal melody, THE LYRICS (this song hooked me from the first two lines with its imagery), how it tells its story and thesis so fluidly, how it just keeps building. I find it hard to fault the song on anything, except that it's a tad long, but if you're willing to sit through it, it's one heck of a ballad.
