meet the editors!
Kaileen Rooks
Digital Editor-in-Chief Kaileen Rooks is a fourth-year rhetoric and sociology double major with a minor in classical studies. She hails from a nondescript suburb outside of Dallas and attributes most of her love of music to her totally awesome parents. Her favorite genres range from rap, to long-form improvisational jazz, punk rock, and anything and everything psychedelic. But she often says there’s very little music she doesn’t enjoy (and yes, that includes country). She can often be found crying to Ethel Cain in her car or furiously air-guitaring to Big Mama Thornton. When she’s not glued to her headphones, Kai spends her time reading gothic novels, researching music history, or rewatching yet another Robert Eggers film.
Antonio Arizmendi
Print Editor-in-Chief Antonio Arizmendi is a third-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 third-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.
Zachary Bolash
Digital Managing Editor Zachary Bolash is a third-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.
Claire Hookstra
Digital Managing Editor Claire Hookstra is a senior corporate communications major minoring in media and entertainment industries and business. She absolutely loves the Austin music scene and going to as many concerts as she can! Some of her favorite artists right now are the Japanese House, Role Model, and Mt. Joy! Outside of music, she loves being outside and exploring the city.
Sofia Lee
Event Coordinator Sofia Lee is a second-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.
Angelina conde
Videography editor Angelina Conde is a second 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!
Joseph Gonzalez
Print Managing Editor Joseph Gonzalez is a fourth-year journalism major with a minor in philosophy. As a kid, he fell in love with the hair metal bands playing on XM channel 39, but he eventually moved on to more spiritually fulfilling music after discovering the Grateful Dead in high school. He has gone to eight Dead and Company shows, travelling to places like Boulder, Las Vegas, and San Francisco. In music, he looks for raw originality and poetic vulnerability, gravitating to artists like Bob Dylan and John Prine. When not listening to music, he loves to burn incense, watch arthouse horror movies, and think about ways of translating internal experience into art.
Grace Xu
Digital Design Editor Grace Xu is a senior studying Advertising. She loves creating and consuming stories, so in her free time, she is usually immersed in a comic book or scribbling on her tablet. Her music taste consistently features j-pop music, ranging from artists like Kikuo to takayan. Occasionally, she’s in the mood to listen to some boy pablo and PinkPantheress, but she usually just plays her 17 hour vocaloid playlist to avoid choice overload.
Caroline Mcconnico
Content Editor Caroline McConnico is a third-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
Content Editor Rachel Yost is a second 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)!
Ana SALGADO soBERANES
Print Design Editor Ana Salgado is a second-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.