SLUG Contributor Limelight
July 30, 2020
Contributor Limelight: Mekenna Malan
Since January of 2020, Contributing Writer Mekenna Malan has made her mark through a hefty, consistent output of music coverage. Whether its through reviews of artists such as U.S. Girls and NIIKA or via interview features with the likes of Born Ruffians, self-described “indie-music junkie” and life-long SLUG reader Malan’s excitement for music and her empathy for her subjects’ craft and lived experiences shines. This month, find Malan’s vignettes on two Craft Lake City Virtual DIY Festival performers, Sonali Loomba and Milk Money, and head to SLUGMag.com to read her recent online-exclusive interview feature with Adam Klopp of Choir Boy. With her vibrant, personable prose and her clear passion for a breadth of musical styles and approaches, Malan is vital to SLUG’s music discourse. We’re continually delighted to see what she writes next!
Articles by contributor
Local Music Singles Roundup: July 2024
Hot local (music) singles are in your area! You’re sure to find your (musical) match for a seasonal fling here in this roundup of our favorite new tracks by Utah artists. … read more
Local Music Singles Roundup: March 2024
The weather is upside down and it’s not letting up anytime soon, but SLUG is here to supply dreamy alt-rock and pure raging punk. … read more
Local Music Singles Roundup: February 2024
Ah, February. Spring is nowhere in sight, and there’s even an extra day this year to drag it on that much longer. Luckily, SLUG’s Local Music Singles Roundup is here to keep you warm. … read more
Slamdance Celebrates “30 Years of Anarchy” with its Most Diverse...
Now celebrating its 30th year and featuring a program curated from over 9,000 film submissions, Festival Director Taylor Miller notes that the 2024 Slamdance Film Festival will feature its most diverse lineup yet. … read more
Local Review: Herring – Who Affects the Sun
If you crave post-punk-adjacent instrumentals in the fall, consider adding Who Affects The Sun into your leaf-crunching, moon-gazing, hot, black coffee-drinking music rotation. … read more
Fruita Triple Sec: The Latest Milestone of Waterpocket Distillery’s Sensory...
Waterpocket’s Fruita Triple Sec is crafted with only the finest aromatics including mace, orange petals, sweet orange and lemon pieces, cloves and dried peels of Haitian bitter oranges. … read more
Courtney Marie Andrews: DIY Festival Headliner
On her latest album, Loose Future, Andrews collaborated with modern folk favorites to create a warm, rambling portrait of easygoing Americana. … read more
Cabernet and Camaraderie: Women’s Wine Hiking Society
Utah’s Women’s Wine Hiking Society is empowering women to experience the outdoors one happy hour at a time. … read more
Indigo De Souza Loves You No Matter What You’re Wearing
What would you like to do before you die? It’s an intimidating question, but Indigo De Souza is no stranger to creative contemplations on mortality. … read more
Local Review: future.exboyfriend – FXB
future.exboyfriend = Tame Impala x Still Woozy ^ MGMT … read more
Solstice Malt is Keeping Old-World Malting Techniques Alive
“Historically, every town had its own brewery, but every town also had its own malt house,” says James Weed, the owner and sole full-time employee of Solstice Malt. “That’s where you get Vienna malt or Pilsner malt or Munich malt.” These malts, and the beer that resulted from them, became so popular that they are still recreated around the world today. … read more
Local Music Singles Roundup: April 2023
Our April Local Music Singles Roundup is here! From SLC punk to subtle pop to R&B and more, there’s something for every listener here. … read more
The Noori Screendance Festival: A Love Letter to Intentional Movement
The Noori Screendance Festival is a celebration of film and dance and the way the two disciplines combine, a partnership that lends to surprise and play. … read more
Review: Black Belt Eagle Scout – The Land, The Water,...
Black Belt Eagle Scout = Sleater-Kinney + Japanese Breakfast … read more
Local Review: Nicole Canaan – My Own Two Hands
Nicole Canaan = Phoebe Bridgers ^ Weyes Blood … read more
Paint & Puppies: Happypaws Pet Portraits
To commemorate a furry family member, Happypaws pet portraits keep the image of our irreplaceable friends alive forever through custom watercolor portraits. … read more
Local Music Singles Roundup: January 2023
3… 2… 1… Happy New Year! Along with 2023, SLUG’s January Local Music Singles Roundup has arrived! … read more
Localized: Fonteyn
Suzanne May has created sunshine-drenched, ’70s pop reminiscent of the music she grew up with, playing with her bandmates under the stage name Fonteyn. … read more
Localized: Lane And The Chain
Although discovering their signature sound has been an ever-evolving process, Lane And The Chain are solidifying their place in the local music scene. … read more
Afton Klein Group: Design Without Limits
Afton Klein Group is known to be where the action is, creating engaging and successful work for clients while staying true to its creative vision and brand. … read more
Return to the Earth at The Kinlands
The Kinlands infuses intention into every stalk of corn, bed linen, animal encounter and workshop, cultivating a thoughtful relationship with the earth. … read more
Local Music Singles Roundup: August 2022
As the sweltering season sinks into its final sunsets, the SLUG team has cherry-picked a basket of tunes to accompany you into the autumnal cooldown. … read more
Review: Panda Riot – Extra Cosmic
Panda Riot = Beach House x My Bloody Valentine + Pinkshinyultrablast … read more
Review: P.H.F. – PUREST HELL
P.H.F. = 100 gecs^Slayer … read more
Review: Vundabar – Devil for the Fire
Vundabar = Surf Curse x The Cure … read more
Localized: The Zissous
The Zissous consist of four Wes Anderson and ’70s-era punk lovers who are poised and ready to make a name for themselves in the local music scene. … read more
Localized: MSKING
SLC’s grunge-inspired trio MSKING is inspired by a multitude of different artists and genres, making their music layered and meticulous. … read more
Review: Methyl Ethel – Are You Haunted?
Methyl Ethel = Perfume Genius x Cub Sport … read more
Local Music Singles Roundup: February 2022
In February’s Local Singles Music Roundup, you can find a sample of SLC’s eclectic music style, from mellow-pop beats to an anarchist rager. … read more
Boyfriend Sushi Town’s New—and Only—Album is Destined for Cult Status
Days after the release of their debut, Rufus, Boyfriend Sushi Town disbanded, a story which gives this album the potential for cult status. … read more
Marissa’s Books: A Treasure Trove for Bookworms of All Ages
A Millcreek gem with nearly 8,000 square feet, Marissa’s Books is the kind of place that any bibliophile could spend a whole day wandering. … read more
Top Five Powerhouse Femme Indie-Alt Albums of 2021: Indigo De...
Indigo de Souza = Lala Lala + girl in red x WILLOW … read more
Review: Hana Vu – Public Storage
Hana Vu = Mitski x MUNYA + Hand Habits … read more
The Second Annual Kilby Block Party Is a “Return to...
Kilby Court—Salt Lake City’s longest-running all-ages music venue—remains with its doors open to music artists and music lovers alike. … read more
Review: Abby Huston – AH HA
Abby Huston = Clairo x Arlo Parks + Glass Animals … read more
Local Review: Ben Brinton – Pocket Octavez
Ben Brinton = The Avett Brothers + Counting Crows x Flight of the Conchords … read more
Review: Faye Webster – I Know I’m Funny haha
Faye Webster = Natalie Prass x Andy Shauf + Adrianne Lenker … read more
Local Review: Fur Foxen – Fur Foxen
Fur Foxen = Mutual Benefit x The Head and the Heart … read more
Review: Nick Hakim + Roy Nathanson – Small Things
Small Things is the first album to be released on Onyx Collective’s new record label NYXO, and promisingly so. … read more
Project Success Coalition Keeps Hope Alive Through Education, Advocacy and...
Project Success Coalition is committed to promoting culture and improving education and health among the local Black and Brown community. … read more
Finding Light In Dark Places: the Film Photography of Yexenia...
Yexenia Young approaches her photography with a bold creativity and the desire to further each frame into another dimension. … read more
Review: Katy Kirby – Cool Dry Place
Through indie-rock and folk-informed songwriting, Katy Kirby offers up the heart on her sleeve and one hell of a debut. … read more
Review: Goat Girl – On All Fours
Goat Girl = Crumb x Hinds + Tame Impala … read more
Local Music Singles Roundup: February 2021
This February, turn toward your ever-reliable music community to help cure the winter blues with tracks from Rainy Dawn, KAL MARA and more. … read more
Review: Buck Meek – Two Saviors
Buck Meek = Kurt Vile + Hank Williams x Big Thief … read more
Local Review: Katie Van Sleen – I Need the Money
Katie Van Sleen = Florist x Kacey Musgraves … read more
Top 5 Indie Rock Albums for Locking Yourself In Your...
Young Jesus = Pile + Horse Jumper of Love + Radiohead’s OK Computer … read more
Design Brain: Plastic Attack and Yeehaw Studio
During work or play, on and off the clock, Erik DeWaal (of Plastic Attack) and McKenzie Wallace (of Yeehaw Studio) have design on the brain. … read more
Review: Yellow Days – A Day in a Yellow Beat
Yellow Days = HOMESHAKE x Curtis Mayfield + King Krule … read more
Review: Spartan Jet-Plex – Live
Spartan Jet-Plex = Julie Byrne + early Angel Olsen x CocoRosie … read more
Review: Nyssa – Girls Like Me
Nyssa = Florence and the Machine + Annie Lennox + U.S. Girls … read more
Milk Money: Craft Lake City Performer
Milk Money put a fresh face on the alt-rock genre through vulnerable lyrics and emotional tones while still staying true to post-hardcore’s roots. … read more
Sonali Loomba: Craft Lake City Performer
To watch Sonali Loomba perform is an invitation to explore her vibrant culture, to remember our own roots and to be inspired. … read more
Choir Boy: Adam Klopp on the Vanity of Art and...
Adam Klopp, the frontman of local band Choir Boy, discusses the vanity and narcissism of music while delving into the group’s latest album, Gathering Swans. … read more
NIIKA – Close But Not Too Close
NIIKA = Nai Palm + Bent Knee + Hiatus Kaiyote … read more
Review: Green and Glass – Green and Glass
Green and Glass = Björk + Beach House … read more
Review: U.S. Girls – Heavy Light
Heavy Light’s off-the-cuff style calls for a more deliberate listening experience: It’s thoughtful, provocative and politically apropos. … read more
Review: Monophonics – It’s Only Us
Every expertly delivered layer of Monophonic’s It’s Only Us feels like a revelation in contrast to today’s hyper-automated world. … read more
Review: The Districts – You Know I’m Not Going Anywhere
The Districts = Vundabar + Slaughter Beach, Dog + Twin Peaks … read more
Review: TOPS – I Feel Alive
TOPS = Tennis + Melody’s Echo Chamber … read more
Review: Born Ruffians – JUICE
Born Ruffians = Dr. Dog + The Strokes + The Lemon Twigs … read more
Review: Car Seat Headrest – Making A Door Less Open
Car Seat Headrest = The Strokes + (Sandy) Alex G + Com Truise … read more
Born Ruffians’ Luke Lalonde Talks Quarantine, Infomercials and JUICE
Born Ruffians’ frontman Luke Lalonde sits down with SLUG to talk about the release of the band’s new album, JUICE, and his favorite infomericals. … read more
Book Review: Acid Test: LSD vs. LDS
Bigelow’s thematic storytelling and prose allows Acid Test to transcend the simplicity of being just another coming-of-age tale about counterculture. … read more