PAST PRESENT FUTURE 003

We’re back again with our first installment of PAST PRESENT FUTURE of Blog-mas 2025!

In this article, we asked members of the WVUM staff and some of our favorite college radio supporters about the tracks and albums that defined their fall season and semester. Enjoy a selection of some of our favorite songs, and our Director’s Cut commentary of why we love them. We hope that you love them too <3

BLESS THE TELEPHONE, LABI SIFFRE — SINGLE

“I got deeply obsessed with this song last fall after my grandmother passed. The gentle way Siffre enunciates the words is almost conversational, in such a way that it almost captures the sound of a conversation happening over the phone. I really enjoy how it almost reads as a poem; it's truly soul-touching. It does not feel like a sonically complicated song; his voice and guitar carry the poem on their backs. The basic chord progression perfectly embodies the feeling of a cloying nostalgia. The kind of longing that sticks to your heart and haunts you for the rest of the season. I won’t pretend to know the technicalities of song-making, but it feels like the soundtrack to the concept of nostalgia. And although we don’t experience seasons in Miami, I cannot help but picture the coziness of fall. It feels like a warm cup of milk in my hand. Bless the Telephone is wistful and soothing at its core, a love song for the slow moments of a relationship. But, as an immigrant, I cannot help but think of my family that’s scattered all over the world as well; my heart aches when I listen to it. Without a phone, I would have no contact with them at all, so truly, bless the telephone.”

I CAUGHT MYSELF, PARAMORE — SINGLE

“One of the best song intros I’ve heard in months. Reigning autumnal icons Paramore remain inextricably tied to the season with their moody pop-punk bangers and association to the Twilight film series for good reason. This track is beautiful, with weeping echoey guitars and Hayley Williams’ young, raw vocals. A perfect foil to her new song ‘Parachute,’ here acknowledging that at the end of the day you have to rely on yourself to keep moving.”

THE HAND, ANNABELLE DINDA — SINGLE

“This has been a recent discovery, full credit to my boyfriend for that, and I have not been able to stop listening to it. It is almost folky in the mystical flute sounds and almost yodel-esque vocalization. Like if you asked a modern alt folk singer to make a post-grunge style song. From a conversation with the aforementioned boyfriend, who does know about the technicalities of music, I’ve learned that it easily sells the rock part aspect with the percussion, but the instrumentation behind it has a lot more classical motifs, like the violins, piano, and flutes. The drum pattern is the kind of funky “shuffle” that gets interpolated into a lot of grunge (shoutout Dave Grohl).

“It is, in my eyes, a magical, post-grunge take on female rage. It very obviously reflects the way men will always depict themselves as something greater than they are, as if they are owners of the world, with an affirmation that they are indeed the sons of god as they receive the messages from god to write these songs. This notion that men inherit some sort of holiness, while Dinda (and all other women) struggles with having her voice heard, as an artist and as a person. It feels almost like an angry plea to God, as she ends the song asking that if she, too, receives these musical messages from God, does that make her His daughter?”

IMAGINAL DISK, MAGDALENA BAY – ALBUM

“This whole album, but definitely ‘Fear, Sex.’ This song has very ethereal, dream pop, instrumental vibes. Miami local duo represent. Gives you that magical Fall feel.”

AT THE END OF THE DAY… IT’S NIGHT, ABY COULIBALY — ALBUM

“This album came out nearly two years ago, and it’s a genuine crime that I’ve heard no one talking about it. Coulibaly crafted a debut album that is witty, fun, and free flowing. Her vocals are silky smooth, her songs are peppered with ad-libs and layered chorales, and her production compels fingers to tap and heads to nod before you can even catch yourself doing it. A beautiful complement to any playlist.”

DOG PERSON, KEAN KAVANAGH — ALBUM

“The first notes of any track on Dog Person immediately transport me back to last fall, watching twilight shimmer on the Hudson River on a golden October day. It’s a song of shifting leaves and wet pavement, the remnants of summer sunshine holding off winter’s chill. Dog Person pairs jazzy, snappy inspiration with smooth production and confident, rolling vocals. A vibey masterclass with lyrics that oscillate between ridiculous and tender, Kavanagh's first album captures a storyteller finding his voice.”

THE PORTLAOISE QUEEN, KEAN KAVANAGH — SINGLE

“This ode to Kavanagh’s hometown curls up on the opposite end of the autumnal spectrum. Originally penned by Christy Conroy, this version of ‘The Portlaoise Queen’ is a dreamy, stripped back interpretation of the traditional folk song. Kavanagh is soft spoken here, his layered harmonies a whimsical take on a rowdy pub chorus. If Dog Person is early fall, this track is firmly post-Daylight Savings. After all, when that inescapable night draws nearer, we fall back on tradition— bundling up inside, and listening to someone spin a tale you’ve heard before.” 

WAR, U2 — ALBUM

“There is no peaceful U2 listener. There is no apolitical Irishman. A mirrored reflection of a troubled world played with hard rock in ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ and in soft orchestra in ‘Drowning Man.’ The most important of albums to come from Irish history and the Troubles. Outside of cultural and political influences, the kit work from Larry Mullen Jr. along with Bono and The Edge’s vocals simply piece together one of the greatest albums of all time. Go listen to it. Then go look it up. Listen to it again.”

AM, ARCTIC MONKEYS — ALBUM

“Instant fall classic for me and every other person who abused Tumblr during their formative years. Every fall and winter, I have the Arctic Monkeys' entire discography bouncing between my brain and headphones like a tennis ball. AM is a fantastically solid album, absolutely no skips, its darker and groovier sound is perfect for the fall months. The second the sun is out of the sky by 5 pm, ‘Do I Wanna Know?’ starts blaring through my car speakers. Drawing inspiration from a wide range of genres, including psychedelic rock, blues rock, funk, and soul, this album has withstood the test of time since its 2013 debut. With hot girl summer nowhere on the horizon and ‘cuffing’ season quickly approaching for the holidays, it serves as a perfect setup for having this album on repeat. As each song takes you through the emotional rollercoaster of the dating scene, it is truly reflective of the current ‘situationships’ era. I don’t know what it is about the college campus social ecosystem, or maybe it's just being in our 20s, but nothing says fall months like consoling friends over struggling relationships with candles and some sort of hot, overpriced drink.”

WHEN FACING THE THINGS WE TURN AWAY FROM, LUKE HEMMINGS — ALBUM

“Luke Hemmings’ first solo project drops me to my knees every time. The crushing lyrics of ‘Diamonds’ deem it an instant standout, with the 5SOS lead vocalist saying it’s the most honest he’s ever been in a song. When Facing […] is the kind of resonant album you know will flay you open and drag you down, but you still can’t resist.”

IT WON’T ALWAYS BE LIKE THIS, INHALER — ALBUM

“As soon as the clock strikes December 1st, Inhaler reappears in my playlists with the seasonal timing of Mariah Carey. It’s damn near impossible to pick a favorite album from their catalogue, let alone a favorite track, but I have a fondness for both the song and album It Won’t Always Be Like This. They truly never miss with this album– ‘My Honest Face,’ ‘A Night On The Floor,’ and my all-time favorite ‘Who’s Your Money On? (Plastic House).’ Inhaler’s shimmering, melancholic bangers are an instant classic, and just what you need this season.”

Thank you for reading this edition of PAST PRESENT FUTURE and supporting college radio! Special thanks to Alexandra Carrillo, Felicja Luciani, and Tadhg O’Brien for their contributions, and to Ama Ortiz for the amazing graphic.

If you are interested in further broadening your indie and alternative horizons, tune in to my radio show STARBURST! on WVUM 90.5 FM. Any University of Miami students interested in getting involved with the blog (and maybe writing their own edition of PAST PRESENT FUTURE :P) or anyone passionate about up-and-coming artists to look out for can DM me on Instagram @starburst.905 or email us at blog@wvum.org.

Sending lots of love from me to you, keep it locked to the voice <3