College Guide - The sounds of college

A breakdown of some of the best local artists, festivals, and radio

At college, you can get involved in student-run radio stations, work with your favorite venues in promotion, or just find some new bands you enjoy. Just please don’t be the guy who plays his acoustic guitar in the crowded areas of campus.

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Here’s an intro of sorts to the Atlanta music scene to jump-start your new musical discoveries, including some up-and-comers, radio stations, and a few of the many festivals to attend.

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Artists



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Two-9
?Everyone knows Atlanta is a breeding ground for the next big thing in hip-hop. If you’re new to the city, you may be thrown by the variety of original styles the city’s acts have to offer. Two-9 can serve as a guide to those styles. With Curtis Williams, Retro Su$h!, and FatKidsBrotha all a part of the collective, you can get a little taste of everything Atlanta has to offer. Oh yeah, and they’re pretty damn good, too.
?Recommended listening: B4FRVR

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Hello Ocho
?Hello Ocho is an interesting blend of experimental indie within the Atlanta music scene. A band as adept at creating airy soundscapes that fit the model of crowd-pleasing indie rock as they are at creating what could easily be a soundtrack to a strange performance art exhibit. As of right now the band has only released one LP, 2013’s Hello Ocho, but it recently dropped a teaser track, “In Portuguese,” for its forthcoming album of the same name.
?Recommended listening: Hello Ocho

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HAUNTED
?After spending some time releasing music with Dog Bite and touring with fellow Georgia native Washed Out, ATL producer Phil Jones is now making music as HAUNTED. The ATL producer released the So Heat EP this summer and got some noteworthy coverage from FADER and Vice’s resident electronic music channel, Thump. So Heat is a chill, electro-ambient effort from Jones, and is sure to mellow you out after a long day of exams and coursework.
?Recommended listening: So Heat EP

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Festivals



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Afropunk Festival
?The New York-based festival put out the lineup for its first Atlanta edition, and it may just be the can’t-miss gathering of the year. The sheer volume of relevant and influential artists from across multiple genres is impressive, featuring the likes of Danny Brown, Tyler, the Creator, Kaytranada, Santigold, Thundercat, and Death Grips. But more importantly than the acts it brings, Afropunk is a celebration of black DIY culture that brings like-minded youth together for an experience like no other, and the festival hopes to garner that same energy in Atlanta. $79-$289. Oct.3-4. www.afropunkfest.com.

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A3C Music Festival and Conference
?It’s safe to say that over the past 10 years A3C (All Three Coasts) has become the premier festival for hip-hop in the United States. Now in its 11th year, A3C already has a lineup of heavy hitters on deck. Cam’ron, Rakim, Curren$y, and De La Soul are all set to grace the stage with many more to be announced, and that’s not even mentioning the panels, art exhibits, and workshops that A3C offers as well. If you are a fan of hip-hop, this is something you have no reason to miss. $99-$174. Oct. 7-11. www.a3cfestival.com.

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Music Midtown
?Think of Music Midtown as a place to see a lot of your favorite mainstream artists in one place. At this year’s festival, radio heavyweights Drake and Sam Smith will perform on the same stage as legends such as Elton John, Van Halen, and Lenny Kravitz. And just to throw a little curveball into the lineup, Run the Jewels will also perform. Though the dynamic of the no-holds-barred rap duo could be strange when paired with a radio-heavy lineup, it will certainly make for an interesting Music Midtown. $125-$600. Sept. 18-19. www.musicmidtown.com.

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College Radio



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Georgia Tech — WREK (91.1-FM)
?WREK (91.1-FM) is Georgia Tech’s entirely student-operated radio station. 91.1 offers an easy-to-access online listening option, and playlists from the shows so it is easy to figure out what song you were listening to (Shazam be damned!). Expect to hear anything from punk to the sounds of various countries around the world on WREK.

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Georgia State — WRAS (88.5-FM)
?WRAS is operated a bit differently from other college radio stations, as it shares the airwaves from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. with Georgia Public Broadcasting. It’s worth noting that this takeover was not a unanimous favorite among GSU mainstays. In fact, the two-year deal raised many concerns in the eyes of student DJs about what the future held for the station. Nevertheless you can still listen during the day to the student-run option online, and worry not football fans, Panther games take priority over GPB programming, so you will never miss a home game.

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Emory University — WMRE
?WMRE, Emory University’s student-run radio station, offers more than just that. As well as the music, the station organizes Localsfest, a show that has featured the likes of Killer Mike, and also the station’s music and culture zine, “Frequency.” You can listen to WMRE by going to its website, or by tuning in to channel 26 on Emory cable. Indie, hip-hop, and world music, along with pretty much everything in between are played by Emory’s student DJs.