LOUD & PROUD: What is Sonic Waves about?

I have always believed that the significance of music on a spiritual level is undeniable.

It is a language that carries emotions, values, and diverse stories. Every generation has its own unique voice. As a member of Gen Z and part of the LGBTQ+ community, I deeply feel the complexity of being in my twenties—a time marked by anxiety and uncertainty, a stage that demands independence, yet also a stage where we long for resonance and support.

There are moments when I put on my headphones, and as the lyrics and melodies that resonate with my soul begin to play, waves ripple through my heart, stirred by emotions we all share as human beings. Those moments leave an indelible mark. And so I often ask myself: What has music given us? What has it changed?

This is how Sonic Waves came. It focuses on contemporary pop music—especially the voices of Gen Z and LGBTQ+ creators. The music that not only about melody and lyrics, but also a way of storytelling, an act of defiance against norms, and a medium to amplify identity, demanding to be seen and heard. With Sonic Waves, I hope to create a space to trace these cultural ripples, to explore how music transcends entertainment, shaping pop culture while simultaneously being shaped by it.

Inside Sonic Waves…

Here, I’ll highlight Gen Z pop artists who are unapologetic, bold, and real. Think about musicians who turn their struggles into songs, transform dance floors into safe spaces, and use social media not just to perform, but to speak out.

For me, Billie Eilish has been that kind of voice since high school. As a fellow GenZ kid, I grew up alongside her music—each album seemed to land right when I was facing my own growing pains. Heartbreak, gender questions, mental health struggles, information overload online, the lack of female voices, identity anxiety, vulnerability… in those dark or anxious moments, some songs often felt like a release.

Gen Z and LGBTQ+ pop artists don’t just fill our playlists; they shape the way we talk about emotions, gender, sexuality, politics, and identity. Through Sonic Waves, I’ll dig into their songs and the culture around them, exploring different artists, styles, and themes. I’ll also connect to what’s happening now—like new album drops or trending conversations—to show how pop music carries bigger stories.

Join the Journey！

Music is a powerful medium. It encodes values, identities, and narratives, while at the same time being constantly decoded, reinterpreted, and circulated by its listeners. From a cultural studies perspective, pop music is both a reflection of social norms and a challenge to them. This means that the work of these artists is not only about entertainment, but also about social and cultural transformation.

I completed my undergraduate studies in Strategic Communication at the University of Minnesota, focusing on advertising and public relations. Now, as a graduate student at Columbia University, I continue to explore media, society, and culture. At this point, I want to step into the role of an amateur music critic—someone who brings together my academic background and my love for music to better understand the sounds I care about most.

More importantly, I hope Sonic Waves can become a space of resonance, where readers recognize their own emotions through the stories and reflections I share. Whether you’re a devoted fan of queer pop icons, a casual listener discovering new music, or simply someone curious about the intersections of music and identity, I want you to feel at home here. Let’s ride these sonic waves together—amplifying voices that matter, celebrating diversity, and witnessing how pop music continues to reshape our culture today.