Who is your favorite artist and why?

Halima (host): Oberlin College is known by many as a conservatory first. With that in mind, we set out to find students' favorite artists. We asked them, “who is your favorite artist and why”; leaving the question open for interpretation. The results were diverse, reflecting the many views, opinions and feelings held by Oberlin Students.

Maja (interviewer): Hello, thank you for agreeing to be interviewed. Can you tell me your name?

James: My name is James Chikwe. Can you tell me who's your favorite artist and why? My favorite artist, music wise, 21 Savage.

(“Rockstar” by Post Malone ft. 21 Savage plays in the background)

Because my cousin, you know, he passed away. So he just listened to a bunch of rap and I just like to listen to it. Cause I listen with him too, you know.

Micah (host): 21 Savage is a 30 year old grammy-nominated rapper from Atlanta, famously known for his feature in Rockstar with Post Malone. Similarly, another person mentioned J Cole, also a rapper. However, her reason for choosing him was a bit different.

Maddy (interviewer): What's your name?

Andrea: Andrea.

Maddy (interviewer) Who is your favorite artist and why?

Andrea: My favorite artist right now is J Cole.

(“No Role Modelz” by J Cole plays in the background)

Micah: J Cole is a 38 year old rapper from North Carolina, famously known for No Role Models, which has gone platinum 6 times.

Andrea: I love him because he talks about a lot of like black struggles and the community and loving yourself, loving people around you and what you have. I love that always reminds me of that whenever I listen to him.

(“Love Yourz” by J Cole plays in the background)

Maddy (interviewer): Awesome. Thank you.

Micah (interviewer): Real quick, is your favorite song Love Yourz?

Andrea: Yes.

Micah (host): The next two responses went in a different direction, talking about artists that represent the human experience relating to them.

Micah (interviewer) Who is your favorite artist and why?

Interviewee: Right now I would say Ethel Caine just because her music really scratches my brain in such a particular way.

(“American Teenager” by Ethel Cain plays in the background)

I just really like how it sounds in my ears. And her lyrics are so weird. I like music that's not just regular pop singing about the most basic things. She sings about messed up stuff and I think it's so interesting how she captures that kind of facet of the human experience, I guess. I don't know.

(“Crush” by Ethel Cain plays in the background)

Micah (host): Ethel Cain is a 25 year old American-Songwriter whose music caters towards the queer community.

Maddy (interviewer): Who is your favorite artist and why?

Ren: My name's Ren, and my favorite artist is a musical performer called The Narcissist Cookbook. And I really enjoy his work because he has a great ability to put very complex societal ideas into very concise lines that really pack a punch.

Micah (host): The Narcissist Cookbook is a stage name for indie musician Matt Johnston, most known for his 2018 album, Eden Disorder.

Halima (interviewer): Can I have your name?

Oscar: Oscar Fabricant.

Halima (interviewer): And who is your favorite artist?

Oscar: Hayao Mayazaki.

(“One Summer’s Day” by Joe Hisaishi starts to play in the background)

Micah (host): As we said earlier, the term 'artist' was left open for interpretation. Hayao Mayazaki is a 82 year old Japanese animator/filmmaker, and director of Studio **GHIBLI.

**Editor’s note: He meant gib-lee

Oscar: I just love the way he tells stories. I'm a writer and the tone and the themes really resonate with me in all of his movies, and I just want to be able to tell stories like that. Thank you.

Micah (host): Our last response took us back to the music genre.

Maddy (interviewer): What's your name?

Cammie: Cammie.

Maddy (interviewer) who is your favorite artist and why?

Cammie: My favorite artist is Childish Gambino because I think his rhyming schemes are super clever. And he just always has a good production track. Awesome. Thank you.

(“RedBone” by Childish Gambino plays in the background)

Micah (host): Childish Gambino is a 39 year old actor, filmmaker, and R&B artist, known for his role in the TV series Atlanta and his 2013 album Because the Internet.

Halima (host): The variety of responses shows just how powerful art can be. Whether it brings people closer to family members, makes them feel seen, relates to their struggles, inspires them to pursue their passions or lastly, brings people joy.