Category Archives: Why Music Matters

Vivi Perez was bored. She got good grades in high school, but she just didn’t care. Then one day, all that changed. She graduated high school thanks to the motivation she gained at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center and youth-run record label, Youngstown Records.

Cher Veng is a Hmong woman from Laos. She grew up without ever knowing her parents, who were both killed during the Vietnam War and the C.I.A.’s Secret War. Today, living in Washington State, she’s isolated from her family, who have been scattered all over the world. But there’s a way she finds comfort. SheRead more...

In Iran, you can’t drink alcohol, play Western music, or party with the opposite gender. One day when Aria was a teenager, he almost got caught by the Revolutionary Guards for all three. Here’s how he escaped.

Seattle resident, Nathan Hotchkiss grew up in a tough situation. His parents forbid him from listening to anything but Christian music or Classical because of their religion. And on top of that, in his early teens he realized he is gay, even though his parent’s church called homosexuality an “abomination.” Nathan shares the story ofRead more...

Did you know that the music industry in King County is as big as the maritime industry? In this exclusive feature, KEXP examines the power of music in our local economy, speaking with hip-hop entrepreneurs, real estate agents and the Seattle Office of Film and Music. Listen to the story:[Audio clip: view full post toRead more...

If you’re an athlete, there’s nothing like music to pump you up before a competition. And if your sport is sledding down ice on your back at 90 mph, it’s even more important. American Luge Team member Christian Niccum explains how just the right music helped him break the record on one of the world’sRead more...

Let’s say you’ve got a problem. You might talk to your shrink, your mom, your rabbi. Or, you might go to an Ifa priest or priestess, like Dr. Kola Abimbola, to perform a divination. That’s the way to communicate with the gods in the Yoruba religions of Africa, the Americas and the Caribbean.   The priestRead more...

Amy O’Neal is a modern dancer, choreographer and co-founder of performance group, “locust“, with composer and musician, Zeke Keeble. Based in Seattle, the group has performed all over the United States. Music and video play a big role in their shows, but Amy shares a story about a time when she had to perform withoutRead more...