Meet Our Writers
Talented, wonderful, WKCO kids
Liv Stripling is an avid music and quote collector who devours writing like it’s breakfast. She’s currently co-webmaster of this lovely blog, with plans to basically do this forever through some makeshift journalistic attempt at an English and Music double major. She’s also the Videographer for the Horn Gallery and writes poetry when compelled. Her favorite music minds are Hanif Abdurraqib, James Murphy, Lucy Dacus, Samia, and everyone in her band. She is indebted to those who come before her, those who come after, and to those who are here now.
Read Liv’s album reviews, playlists, analyses, and interviews.
Laurel Sanders ★
Laurel Sanders is a compulsive playlist creator who should be stopped. She’s currently a webmaster for the WKCO blog, helping other passionate students write, film, and express all their musical thoughts. Laurel’s an Anthropology major, English minor, and DJ at heart. She loves a wide variety of music genres but loves any song she would consider ‘a bop’. Favorite artists include Alice Phoebe Lou, Taylor Swift, Fleetwood Mac, and many more. If not listening to music, she’s listening to 19th-century novels on audiobook.
Read Laurel’s analyses, playlists, and interviews.
Em Townsend (they/she) is a writer, English major, and radio station nerd in the class of 2025-ish. They are one of the WKCO co-webmasters and love making playlists and hosting themed radio shows. When not listening to music, you can find Em watching ‘80s teen movies, reading poetry, and looking at trees. Their faves include Talking Heads, Belle & Sebastian, Blood Orange, Yo La Tengo, and anything jazz or bossa nova!
Read Em’s album reviews, playlists, and interviews.
Carol Newhart
Caroline Newhart is a relentless researcher of sound from Los Angeles, California. They hope to one day own their own record label, or talent scout in Artists & Repertoire. Some of Caroline's favorite musicians are Black Country, New Road, Bjork, Jpegmafia, Brian Eno, and St. Vincent. They plan on majoring in English, and are most proud of their Spotify account, with which they have systematically archived all of their beloved music since the year 2015.
Read Carol’s album reviews and interviews.
Lily Leone is an avid follower of the Billboard charts and a maker of very specific playlists from Sausalito, California. She’s kind of obsessed with Mitski, Florence + the Machine, and Fall Out Boy, but her heart belongs to Aretha Franklin. Lily loves all types of writing and plans to major in English with a concentration in creative writing. She wants to tell stories for a living and finds some of her greatest influences in music, whether it be playlists for characters or specific lines from songs she wants to pick apart. WKCO is one of her favorite places on campus. Look out for her radio show “That’s Just Who I Am This Week!”
Read Lily’s work here.
Evan Manley is a sucker for good pop hooks from Columbus, OH. Though his initials are EDM, Evan prefers his dance music in the Disco variety. He hopes to one day be a sports journalist/historian, but really enjoys writing about anything that catches his interest in the moment. Evan plans to be a History major, with Art History and Philosophy minors. His current favorite artists are Jessie Ware and Róisín Murphy, though his ultimate comfort band is Coldplay.
Read Evan’s work here.
Maya Silver is a music-lover in many ways - writing with WKCO lets her over-analyze lyrics and production to her heart's content. A Spanish and English interdisciplinary major born and raised in New York City, Maya has a particular love and affinity for all kinds of live music, especially the hidden gems found in the form of tiny intimate venues. Her favorite artists (although it is ever-changing) are Julia Jacklin, Big Thief, Daisy the Great, Neko Case, and Nick Drake, and her favorite thing to do is write songs with her talented friends.
Read Maya’s work here.
Emma Abate (’24) left her beloved New Hampshire for Kenyon College after writing her admissions essay about her undying love for Johnny Cash. While she spends most of her time listening to music within folk, blues, and country genres, she tries to switch it up every now and again. She is an avid supporter of earl grey tea and enjoys discussing Jason Isbell’s songwriting. She is currently pursuing an English major and history minor. She can often be found reading, writing novels, and driving around New England aimlessly.
Read Emma’s album reviews and playlists.