Fingertips skittering across a keyboard, the ruffling of candy wrappers and conversations more or less relevant to the news production process. These are the common sounds of the Lutrinae newsroom, but what do our staff members listen to off the clock? For this month’s edition of Staff Picks, here are some of the album’s the Lutrinae staff have on repeat.
Imaginal Disk by Magdalena Bay
Photos courtesy of Spotify
“I struggle sometimes with albums where most songs sound similar. This album is anything but that. It’s funky, experimental, ethereal and cosmic; listening to it feels like flying through space, each song landing on a completely new planet.”
Tom Nolan – Staff Writer
bones by Rainbow Kitten Surprise
“Rainbow Kitten Suprise (AKA RKS) put out an album at the end of 2025 and it’s been on repeat non-stop for me ever since. I have been listening to RKS since 2016, and in that decade seen them twice in person, once via livestream during covid when they had to cancel their tour and now I have tickets to see them in July! Trying to classify the genre of this band is a challenge, but I would say they are a blend of alternative indie rock and folk, with lyrics that feel more like poetry or straight-up diary entries set to instrumentals of the lead singer Ela. The personability bleeds through resonates with the fanbase and I think that’s what grown this band to such popularity through the years. My favorite song off this album would have to be a toss-up between “Murder” and “Dang.””
Hayley Matto – Staff Writer
Suplex by Grad Nite
“This album has been on repeat for me because I love the band, Grad Nite. Grad Nite is a group of a ragtag guys from Watsonville, making some of my favorite garage rock and emo music at the moment. I’ve seen them perform at local shows more times than I can count and they’re electric every time. This album makes me want to jump, cry, and head bang, whether I’m in my room, or at one of their shows that’s at a makeshift venue in somebody’s basement or backyard.”
Daisy Sanchez – Staff Writer
Deadbeat by Tame Impala
“I’ve always been a fan of his music, since this album came out in october its been heavy in my rotation. I really enjoy his psych pop/rock vibe gets me head bopping and dancing. My faves off of it are Piece of Heaven, Endless Summer, and Obsolete. Stilll mourning the fact i cant go to this tour.”
Jocelyn Corona – Staff Writer
Wasteland, Baby! By Hozier
“Hozier is and always will be one of my all time favorite artists. His voice, sound, and the depth of meaning in his lyrics have me coming back to listen time and time again. Wasteland, Baby! is one of my favorite albums of all time and currently is what I am always listening too. Its made me cry tears of joy and heartbreak at the same time and my favorite song on the album is “Would That I.””
Eli Heck – Assistant Editor