Despite fall’s recognizable chilly breeze coming back — strongly might I add — a couple of our writers still have words to say on music that stuck with them this past summer. Let’s reflect one final time before everyone gets their scarves and gloves out. The Stony Brook Press presents part two of 2026’s Songs of the Summer.
Whether our writers were dancing under clear skies, sipping refreshing drinks or crying tears of joy or sadness, all types of music stuck with us. We’ve picked the best of the bunch.
LUCA learned five days before showtime that he’d be performing at one of New York City’s most famous jazz venues. Five days was all he needed.
Generational artists like Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande became known for their pop hits from the 2010s and beyond. But where did they get their pop sounds from? Look no further than the emo scene.
Despite Flo Rida being the headliner for SBU’s Brookfest, most people were seemingly more excited to see melodic rapper Fetty Wap — making it one of his first performances in years.
Matt Maltese has been a staple in the music scene for years, known for his emotional releases long before his song, “As the World Caves In,” rose in popularity. Maltese performed at The Warsaw with Cornelia Murr as the opener on September 29th.
Saint Levant, a stage name coined by Marwan Abdelhamid, is not quiet about how the struggle of Palestinians shapes his work.
LP1 does it all right. It’s the shoulder you cry on, but the one that hits your back a little too hard when you’re having a coughing fit. To truly understand what makes LP1 stand out, though, you have to understand emo music.