meet the editors!
Zachary Bolash
Digital Editor-in-Chief Zachary Bolash is a fourth-year student majoring in government and rhetoric & writing. He is a longtime Austinite and inheritor of his Dad’s weird music taste. In middle school, Zachary described himself as a gold star pop aficionado before turning to a dark corner of rock and punk during quarantine. His music taste has continued to expand to even weirder territories since then! Outside of music, Zach enjoys modernist literature, doomscrolling Wikipedia, and the concept of writing for his Substack.
Antonio Arizmendi
Print Editor-in-Chief Antonio Arizmendi is a fourth-year art history major minoring in cultural anthropology and Core Texts and Ideas through the Jefferson Scholar program. Raised in Corpus Christi, Texas, he has a soft spot for all things Selena and reggaeton, but also enjoys mashing together genres like shoegaze, midwestern emo, brasileira, and classical in his many Spotify playlists. His first concert was a 100 Gecs show (yes, it was amazing), and his favorite artist has been, and will always be, Björk. He adores teaching at the Blanton Museum of Art and discovering new artists, but in his free time, you’ll probably find him rewatching a Gregg Araki film or perusing Austin for the best curries around.
Valeria Mota
Digital Editor-in-Chief Valeria Mota is a fourth-year marketing student with a minor in journalism and media. Born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, she grew up listening to anything her parents played on the radio until she fell in love with Hip-Hop after listening to Chance the Rapper's Coloring Book in 2016. Today, Vale genuinely listens to everything, with currently over 100 albums on her "To Be Listened" list. Her favorite artists include Kendrick Lamar, Fiona Apple, Phoebe Bridgers, and Tyler, the Creator, and she still holds the somewhat childish belief that Frank Ocean will release music soon. Besides writing for Afterglow, Vale enjoys reading classic novels, watching award-winning movies and shows, and constantly badgering her friends with album rants and movie recommendations.
Caroline Mcconnico
Caroline McConnico is a fourth-year journalism student from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her love of music stems from an early Beatles obsession and Rolling Stone lullabies, molding her into a lifelong concert connoisseur. Caroline is a lover of all things artistic, from film to fashion, but her first love will always be music. When she’s not writing or reading, you can find her cozied up on the couch with her roommates, trying new restaurants and seeing live music.
Rachel Yost
Digital Managing Editor Rachel Yost is a third year English major pursuing a certificate in Creative Writing. Her upbringing in Austin combined with her parent’s enthusiasm for live concerts fostered Rachel’s love for all things music. Folk is one of her all time favorite genres, which is probably due to her dad’s habit of playing the guitar around the campfire during her many childhood camping trips. She also is a huge fan of pop, Lady Gaga specifically, and will not stop dancing if anyone dares to put on her favorite Gaga album: The Fame. When she’s not jamming out, you can find Rachel writing poetry, watching Desperate Housewives, or pretending to study (but actually just chatting with friends)!
Sofia Lee
Event Coordinator Sofia Lee is a third-year Plan II Honors student from Long Island, New York. Her love for music began with her very first concert, Spice Girls, and she’s been eager to experience live music ever since. Some of her current favorite artists include Role Model, Hozier, and Audrey Hobert. When she’s not at a concert, you can find Sofia playing ice hockey, traveling to new places, or reading a rom-com novel.
Makenna MORGAN
Photo Editor Makenna Morgan is a third-year marketing student with a minor in media and entertainment industries. As a lifelong Texan, she loves everything about Austin’s music scene and, at any given night, you can probably find her in a photo pit around the city. Makenna loves music of all kinds, with her favorite genres including alternative, pop, folk, and rap. Her current favorite artists are Noah Kahan, Gigi Perez, Phoebe Bridgers, Emma Andersen, Searows, and Raye, among many more. Besides photographing for Afterglow, Makenna enjoys going out to the movie theater, exploring nature, obsessing over her latest celebrity fixation, and attending concerts for fun.
Angel conde
Videography editor Angelina Conde is a third year Radio-Television-Film major and journalism minor from Eagle Pass, Texas. Coming from a small town, she fell in love with Austin’s music scene and may be seen at DIY house shows and artist showcases. When she’s not listening to live music, you might find her listening to Strawberry Switchblade, Unwound, Blonde Redhead, and Katie Jane Garside (all 6 of her different bands/artist names)! Angie also loves polka dots, jewelry making, offbeat comedies, zines, and Fran Bow!
Ana salgado soberanes
Print Design Editor Ana Salgado is a third-year journalism major with a digital arts & media certificate. Live music is her favorite thing in the world and she has yet to attend a phenomenal concert that does not make her cry. Some of her current favorite artists are Noah Kahan, The Favors, and Olivia Dean, but she often listens to eclectic collections of songs rather than specific artists or albums. Outside of music, Ana loves art, photography, soccer, Italian Duolingo, and watching New Girl.
Declan Garvey
Content editor Declan Garvey is a second year student majoring in Public Affairs and History from San Antonio, Texas. His first memories of music were his dad playing Pearl Jam and Nirvana in the car and his mom taking him to the symphony. Declan is an alt-rock aficionado, who also enjoys listening to desert blues, folk and whatever else is playing. Outside of going to concerts, you can find Declan hiking, playing an instrument or reading a book.
Noah Keany
Content Editor Noah Keany is a third-year student majoring in rhetoric & writing and government. Much like his military kid history, his music taste is all over the place with a deep appreciation to folk and blues to a love for Hip-Hop, hyperpop, and noise rock. He found his love of music in middle school when incorporating artists of early 2000’s Hip-Hop and punk that his parents love amongst rising artists like Quadeca and Samia. Whether it be while working as a Research Intern or a Writing Fellow, his music is always playing way too loud for his own good (that Apple noise notification pops up far too often). Besides writing and music, Noah loves to swim, think way too much about comic books, or try new restaurants in his free time!
Sabrina Bhattarai
Sabrina Bhattarai is currently a junior studying Government. She works for the social media department as Editor in Afterglow and loves it! Her current favorites in my playlist are Olivia Rodrigo, Tame Impala, and Charli XCX!
Giselle Barrera
Digital Design Editor Giselle Barrera is a second year Design and Advertising major with a minor in Arts Management and Administration from Eagle Pass, Texas. Thanks to her mom’s broad music taste, she grew up listening to all kinds of genres and fell in love with live music at her first concert: One Direction. With Austin being the “Live Music Capital of the World”, she takes any chance she gets to see her favorite artists (or any artist) live. She loves all things indie with her favorites being Royel Otis, Dogpark, Balu Brigada, The Backseat Lovers, and Rec Hall. When she is not listening to music, she can usually be found hanging out with her friends, crafting, or playing the guitar.
Mairany Serrano
Event Coordinator Mairany Serrano is a senior Marketing major with a minor in Media and Entertainment Industries. Born and raised in Austin, Texas, her love for music began in elementary school choir, where she was introduced to bands like The Beach Boys and The Monkees. Today, some of her favorite music genres include alternative rock, pop, and post-punk. When she’s not at a concert or festival, Mairany loves spending time at Zilker Park and Barton Springs, catching a movie at the theater with a cherry ICEE in hand, and playing Bananagrams.