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My Work for The Point

Staff Writer and Arts & Entertainment Editor

Aug. 2022 - May 2025

The Point •

Turnpike Troubadours’ stellar album prepares fans for upcoming tour

Fans of the honky-tonk country group Turnpike Troubadours likely would have laughed at you if, back in 2019, you had told them the bluegrass band would be touring with a new album in 2025. It appeared that just a year earlier in 2018, Turnpike Troubadours’ lead singer Evan Felker’s insobriety was going to be the nail in the band’s coffin. Their 2018 tour was cut 12 shows short, and their Instagram and website were wiped clean after Felker’s off-stage antics dragged the band down.


So to say th...
The Point •

West 22nd’s debut album, ‘Nowhere To Be,’ has instant classic potential

It was just around a year ago when I featured the indie-rock band, West 22nd, for my “Hidden Gems” column. In March 2024, they were averaging just over 60,000 monthly Spotify listeners and had a plethora of fun singles and a head-bopping EP in their back pocket. While the quality of their music was worthy of turning heads, they weren’t garnering a ton of attention outside of their college town in Austin, TX.


The student band, made up of five buddies from the University of Texas, has gradually...
The Point •

‘Ain’t Too Proud’ brings The Temptations’ legacy to life on West Coast

The Broadway musical, “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations,” made its way to the West Coast for performances spanning from Friday, March 28 to Sunday, March 30. The two-hour show tells the story of the ‘60s and ‘70s soul and blues group, The Temptations. 


The five-man crew from Detroit, MI, formed a group in their late teens and lasted into their 30s before untimely deaths, drama and other health issues split them apart.


The group’s founder, Otis Williams, was once a tro...
The Point •

Chicago’s Saba and No ID combine for a raw and unfiltered collab

The Chicago-born rapper, Saba, was once a block of marble, an untouched canvas, a clean slate. The now 30-year-old artist has spent over a decade being chiseled, refined and crafted into one of the most complete artists out of the Windy City.


Influenced by Chicago rap’s founding fathers, Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco and No ID, Saba is climbing the respective ranks and flirting with veteran status. A handful of mixtapes and albums have all been leading up to his 2025 project, “From The Private Coll...
The Point •

Hidden Gems: Hans Williams

Vermont born and raised, but New Orleans inspired, Hans Williams is the newest member of the indie-soul genre and he’s climbing the ranks fast. Williams — who averages just over a million monthly listeners on Spotify — is the most recent addition to my list of “Hidden Gems” and I have a good feeling those into the likes of Noah Kahan and John Vincent III will really enjoy Williams’ music.

His rasp and style reminds me a lot of Noah Kahan, but the edginess of his guitar and occasional raise in...
The Point •

I’m one foot in, one foot out on Kendrick Lamar’s controversial halftime show performance

When it was announced in the fall of 2024 that Kendrick Lamar would headline the Super Bowl 59’s halftime show, most people had to expect there would be some discord surrounding the performance come February considering the person headlining it was last year’s king of controversy.


Lamar’s very public feud with fellow rapper Drake took not only the hip-hop community, but essentially the entire world, by storm. From diss tracks to Grammy’s to lawsuits against said diss tracks, it was evident we...
The Point •

Ty Myers flashes signs of stardom on ‘The Select’

It’s one thing to have a musical gift so special that it sets you apart from other artists, but it’s an entirely different thing to do that at age 17. Austin, Texas native and teenage sensation, Ty Myers, is quickly becoming a household name in the country music community and his 2025 album “The Select” is only helping his cause.


The 16-song, hour-long project rifles through honky-tonk jams, bluesy tunes and dive bar hits. His Texas grit shines throughout the album, and it doesn’t take long t...
The Point •

Mac Miller’s “Balloonerism” is a haunting, heartfelt return to music

There is something incredibly eerie and unsettling about listening to the music of someone who is no longer with us. The late Mac Miller’s “Balloonerism” is one of 2025’s first major projects, and is a 14-song collection created by Miller nearly 10 years ago. 


Thanks to Miller’s estate, Miller fans and hip hop lovers alike were graced with his second posthumous album since his tragic death in 2018. This hour-long project is composed of songs that once lived as snippets and archived tracks, bu...
The Point •

Top 10 albums of 2024

It feels like every year music connaisseurs and critics alike look back on the last 12 months in awe. Artists are evolving in front of our eyes at a rapid rate, to the point that right when we think we’ve seen it all, someone pulls out another trick from the industry’s bag. We saw Beyonce waltz her way through country music, Charli xcx turn us all into a brat and Kendrick Lamar revive his career that wasn’t even close to dead (how else do you describe the otherworldly run that he is on?) Choosin...
The Point •

The 2025 Grammys is must miss TV this winter

Earlier this month, the 2025 Grammys Awards nominations were announced, and as the Arts & Entertainment editor, I thought it was only right if I gave my two cents on the list of nominees. Now, keep in mind that the Grammys has 94 categories so I won’t be able to cover every nominee, but let’s discuss the major stuff.


To get right to the point, Beyonce’s name comes up way too much. I can’t seem to escape the Instagram Reels and TikToks conspiring that Beyonce is some evil person that everyone...
The Point •

Unpacking Tyler, The Creator’s “CHROMAKOPIA” as a first time listener

“That version of T that you knew was a memory,” Tyler, The Creator raps midway through his eighth studio album, “CHROMAKOPIA.” He follows that verse up with, “Tell that new version of me that I’m comin’, yeah,” on the same song, “Tomorrow.”


As a music critic, anytime an artist delves into the many versions of themselves or their past personas, you stand at attention. This scenario was tricky though… I know next to nothing about Tyler, The Creator and the multitude of versions of him that span...
The Point •

GloRilla and Maverick City Make a Fool Out of Themselves in a Gospel Music Mistake

GloRilla, the Memphis rapper known for songs such as “F*** N**** Free (Let’s Go),” “Nut Quick” and “Opp S***,” just made a song with worship group Maverick City Music. That definitely wasn’t on my bingo card for 2024.


“GLORIOUS” is GloRilla’s 15-song album that dropped Oct. 11, and includes her new “gospel” song with Maverick City. “RAIN DOWN ON ME” sits smack-dab in the middle of this album that conveniently features artists Sexyy Red, Latto and Megan Thee Stallion. 

The album’s 42-minute...
The Point •

Music of Election Season: A Playlist to Keep You Calm This Election

It’s no secret that tensions are high in our country with the election just weeks away. Music is healing, and it might be the only thing that can put people at ease during a chaotic time of year. Lucky for you, I have just the thing to remain calm during this election season: a playlist full of all the songs I think can bring anyone peace.


1. “Redemption Song” – Leon Bridges


We’ll start off with a reliable classic from Leon Bridges. “Redemption Song” is originally the work of reggae legend...
Lomabeat.com •

Leon Bridges’ Fall Album, “Leon,” Brings a Light and Fun Vibe That We Needed This Summer

If there’s one thing about Leon Bridges that has remained constant, it’s that his album covers tell us a lot about what his music is going to sound like. His debut album “Coming Home” saw Bridges standing in a James Brown-like pose in slacks and a coat. The ultra-popular album ended up being a hit, compiled of 1950-60s soul tracks. 


His preceding albums, “Good Thing” and “Gold-Diggers Sound,” portrayed Bridges under dark light with a more modern vibe. And to no one’s surprise, the albums cons...
Lomabeat.com •

Hidden Gems: Josiah Queen

There has been a new wave of Christian music that has poured over the music industry since the beginning of the 2020s, and religious or not, this shift in worship music has been noticeable.


Today’s gospel music has drifted away from the simple sounds of Sunday school and morphed into the contemporary melodies of indie and rap genres. Worship music has always been a trickier space to step into, considering the messages are always far more powerful than secular music, but the lyrics and sounds...
Lomabeat.com •

All the Controversy and Chaos Behind The Super Bowl 59 Halftime Show

“Big as the what? Big as the Super Bowl!” rapped Drake and J Cole back when they sneak dissed Kendrick Lamar on their song “First Person Shooter.” 


That song was the gas that turned a small flame into a raging fire that is still very much burning in late September — nearly a year since the release of Drake’s song that took some subtle jabs at Lamar.


Drake may have proclaimed himself as being “bigger than the Super Bowl,” but as of Sept. 8 there is only one rapper that will be gracing the s...
Lomabeat.com •

Personal Perspective: Reflecting on The Life and Legacy of PLNU Athletic Director

Certain people carry themselves with a kindness, humility and positivity that can be hard to come by. Ethan Hamilton was one of those people. Hamilton, a devoted husband, brother, son, father of two and Point Loma Nazarene University’s Athletic Director for the past 15 years, died in early July after a battle with leukemia.


Hamilton’s memorial service and celebration of life came just over three weeks after his tragic passing, and I had the opportunity to attend the service at Horizon Church...
Lomabeat.com •

Summer 2024 Music Round Up

Around a year ago today I was writing my “Summer 2023 Music Round Up” for The Point. I had to narrow my list of music down just to fit the word count last year, but after this summer, I’ve hardly managed to scrape together four albums I think are worth your listen if you haven’t already.


Now this is a piece meant to highlight the best music from this summer, or else I’d go into detail about what music you shouldn’t waste your time on. However, I’ll rift off a few projects I either forgot abou...
Lomabeat.com •

ERNEST Begins His Sophomore Campaign With Second Album “NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE”

From a critically acclaimed debut album, “FLOWER SHOPS,” to writing songs for some of country music’s biggest stars like Morgan Wallen and Thomas Rhett, Nashville-native ERNEST has already formed a solid resume leading up to the release of his sophomore album, “NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.”

The 26-song album has a run time of just under an hour and a half, and includes an interlude of the artist’s young son singing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” at a concert and a country cover of John Mayer’s “Slow
Lomabeat.com •

Hip Hop’s Best Remain at Odds as J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar’s Beef Continues

It all started in October of last year. The beef that is. The beef that is potentially going to prevent the rap community from ever getting more songs like “Poetic Justice” and “Forbidden Fruit” from hip hop’s big three.

J. Cole and Drake released one of the best rap songs of the year on Drake’s “For All The Dogs,” but nestled in the lyrics of “First Person Shooter” was a subtle diss.

“Is it K-Dot? Is it Aubrey? Or me? We the big three like we started a league, but right now, I feel like Muham
Lomabeat.com •

Hidden Gems: West 22nd

There’s a distinct sound and style when it comes to surf rock. Now I’m a self-proclaimed R&B, rap and soul guru, but I feel confident enough to say I’ve identified what it takes to be a successful surf rock band even if I’ve only been listening to the genre for a short period.

You need to sound grungy enough that people will think you record out of your garage, but smooth enough that it still sounds professionally done. The lyrics need to be about getting into trouble, exchanging smiles with pr
Lomabeat.com •

Rapper and Now a Comedian? Vince Staples Tests His Luck in TV With New Show

Donald Glover’s “Atlanta,” which aired in 2016, has set the tone for new-age comedy shows. It’s an impressive series not only for the unique style of humor it introduced to TV, but because it’s directed and written mainly by Glover, who is better known for being a rapper by the name of Childish Gambino.

Besides entertainers like Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube, Glover is the first rapper to step out of the studio and into Hollywood. And since the release of his sitcom, “Atlanta” has earned the title of
Lomabeat.com •

Winners, Losers, MVP Favorites and Everything In Between: All Things NBA

The NBA All-Star Break was held from Feb. 16-18 with the All-Star Game, Dunk Contest, 3-Point Shooting Challenge and other festivities taking place. The break extends past the weekend, and games won’t start back up until Feb. 22 as teams across the league take a much-needed breather.

In honor of the All-Star Break Weekend, it’s the perfect time to do a quick recap of what’s gone on in the NBA so far.

Let’s jump in with our winners and losers in the team category. Starting in the East Conferenc
Lomabeat.com •

Can’t Win ‘Em All: Kanye Strikes Out on “VULTURES 1”

On Oct. 23, 2002, Kanye West was in a brutal car crash that left him with a broken jaw. The injuries above his neck left him looking like a dog that ate a bee. His face puffed up like a balloon, and West was forced to have his jaw wired shut for an extended period.

Now nearly 22 years after the accident, I’m wondering if the brain damage that could have resulted from such a violent crash is finally getting to West after listening to his album “VULTURES 1.”

It’s not like West has a clean track
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