Kelly Darroch

English major and Journalism minor at UC Santa Barbara

Music, Culture & Arts, and Politics Journalist

Consequence •

Lip Critic at the Zebulon Review: Two Samplers, Two Drum Kits, Zero Chill

Puzzles and hijinks hide in New York electro punk band Lip Critic‘s latest album, Theft World. Sparked by an absurdly real case of identity theft that frontman Bret Kaser experienced at the hands of a devoted young fan, the album unravels like an epic. It’s a nod to theft in the broad and modern sense — shoplifting, consumerism, gambling, grifting, divorce, economic survival. At the Zebulon in Los Angeles on June 13th, they did not disappoint.
After the cyber grind duo Bejalvin cranked the energ...
Consequence •

Staff Picks: Best Songs of the Week May 23rd - May 29th

Every week, Consequence staffers spotlight their favorite new songs for our Songs of the Week column. This week, we’re excited about new tunes from Bossman Dlow and Megan Thee Stallion, Gilla Band, Madeon, reggie, and more. 

BossMan Dlow is the definition of a cocky rapper, and his latest single, “Motion Party,” sees the MC pursuing an equal partner for his escapades. Enter: Megan Thee Stallion. While she may not be his romantic counterpart, Megan matches BossMan Dlow’s energy on the remix, whi...
Gut Instinct Media •

Bria Salmena Talks Vulnerability and Self-Criticism With 'Big Dog' — Gut Instinct Media

Between being the vocalist for Canadian post-punk band FRIGS, her vocal and guitar contributions to Orville Peck’s projects and tours, and her two brazen but beautiful Cuntry Covers EPs, her debut solo record, Big Dog, has been a long time coming. The Sub Pop artist tows us through the album’s raw, volatile maze of the four years she spent stringing it together, accompanied by an unparalleled, intimate, and primal vocal performance. One year after the album’s release in March 2025, Salmena refle...
Consequence •

Widowspeak Break Down New Album Roses Track by Track: Exclusive

Track by Track is our recurring column that sees artists take readers through each song on their newest release. In this edition, Widowspeak explore their new album, Roses.
The dynamic between Molly Hamilton and Robert Earl Thomas produces a pure magneticism in their songwriting. Between Hamilton’s hazy, effortless vocals and Thomas’ mesmerizing guitar playing, Widowspeak capture a warm familiarity in their sound, which they’ve spent 16 years perfecting.
This warmth is channeled in its truest fo...