CTRL + Found: This Year’s Picks

Over the past year, our radio show, CTRL + F, has grown into more than just a way to share music and has turned into a space where our tastes blend and continue to evolve. We're Nati, Emily, and Dallace, and the idea behind our program is simple: each of us has a unique taste in music, yet each week we explore a new theme and play songs that showcase our various tastes. From picking tracks that match our favorite cartoon characters to diving into specific genres or standout years in music, we’ve shown each other so many different artists and songs that we never would have discovered on our own.

Our tastes in music have grown a lot this year as we've become more comfortable on our show talking about our opinions. We wanted to celebrate some of the artists that, in addition to our own favorites, we came to know through each other and felt had the most influence on us as we reflect back on the past year.

Emily

Radiohead: Radiohead wasn’t exactly on my radar before this year. My usual playlist consists of experimental rap and R&B, and alternative rock wasn’t something I naturally gravitated toward. But through Nati’s persistent love for them, they slowly grew on me. I’m someone who immerses myself in all the songs I listened to and each song she played by them was like a mellow daydream, with Thom Yorke’s haunting vocals making me feel like I was the main character in a movie—a vibe I’m always looking for when I’m listening to new music. Their melancholic sound is very much up my alley and I’m really happy to have them in my rotation.

Jhené Aiko: I’ve always been a fan of Jhené Aiko’s music, but Dallace’s enthusiasm for her made me fall even deeper in love with her sound. Dallace kept playing her on the show, and now we bond over her music all the time. There’s something about Jhené’s vibe that’s ethereal yet super grounded which makes her the perfect artist for a chill night of either hanging out or reflecting (which I do a lot). It’s been great connecting over her music, and now it feels like Jhené is part of the soundtrack to our friendship!

Dallace

Air: I had heard of Air and a couple of their more popular tracks before, but I didn’t really dive deep into their music until Nati started playing them on the show. Air’s dreamy sound was a perfect fit for some of the more introspective themes we explored, and it didn’t take long before I was super hooked. They were played a few different times in our recent shows, and now I’ve been listening to them on my own. Discovering them through the show also led me to watch The Virgin Suicides which they scored, and even got me into artists like Portishead, who has a similar moody vibe. I can definitely say Air has impacted my taste in music.

Kali Uchis: I knew about Kali Uchis before Emily started playing her, but as she continues to play her for our different themes I’ve grown to appreciate her even more. Her sound has such a girly, laid-back vibe that’s both fun and relaxing which matches perfectly with what I look for in music. Whether I’m just listening to her in my headphones or setting the vibe for a hangout, her music fits right in, and now she’s one of my go-to artists.

Nati

Cults: I’ve always liked a couple of songs by Cults, but when Dallace started playing more of their music, I dove deeper into their album Static and really got into it. The more we talked about them on the show, the more I found myself loving their blend of dreamy indie pop and eerie undertones. It didn’t stop at the show, though—we even ended up getting tickets to their Lollapalooza aftershow, which probably wouldn’t have happened if Dallace hadn’t gotten me so hooked!

The Alchemist: I’ve always had a soft spot for experimental rap, but Emily reignited that love by introducing me to more of The Alchemist’s work. He’s featured on so many of the songs Emily plays, and it’s insane how I used to overlook his influence. Now, when I see his name on a track, I know it’s going to hit. His production style is so distinct, with this super gritty, yet almost ethereal feel that just draws you in. Thanks to Emily, The Alchemist is now one of my favorite producers, and it’s been awesome rediscovering my love for that genre through her picks.

Looking back at our top picks, we’ve realized that our show is about more than just playing music—but also about how sharing pieces of ourselves with one another and our listeners has made us more well-rounded. Our tastes have grown and we’ve learned so much from each other’s music. As we head into the rest of the school year, we’re excited to keep evolving, discovering new stuff, and keeping our show fun and full of surprises. Tune in on Mondays from 8-10 PM!