It’s difficult to walk through the Santa Clara University campus without hearing music. Whether attending a campus event, taking a stroll through a packed Mission Gardens or listening through headphones on the way to class, music is everywhere.
But for some students and community members, the music isn’t only enjoyed—it’s curated. Tucked in the basement of Benson Memorial Center lies KSCU 103.3 FM, a student-run radio station, where those wanting to choose that campus soundtrack find a home.
“We’re the underground sound,” said general manager Cuitlahuac Ramirez Borrego ’27.
KSCU’s student DJs and staff members bring different musical interests and backgrounds to the station. Together, they produce radio shows featuring a range of genres and recommendations for the community.
“I think that is what makes us who we are and gives us the flexibility to be spontaneously creative,” said Ramirez Borrego.
For students interested in classic rock, Ramirez Borrego’s station features music from the 1960s and 1970s. His playlists include folk, indie and classic rock, with selections such as Emmett Rhodes’s “Promises I’ve Made,” George Harrison’s “Devil’s Radio” and Paul McCartney’s “Venus and Mars” album.
Ramirez Borrego plays his shows from his personal record collection, which consists primarily of 12-inch LPs. His collection includes the complete Beatles discography, along with solo projects from the band’s members.
“You have to know your songs well because when it’s ending, and you have the next one on the turntable ready and then switch between them and feed them out,” said Ramirez Borrego. “So that whole process, I was enthralled with it.”
After a year of hosting his show, Ramirez Borrego applied for a senior director position at 11:58 p.m. on the night of the deadline. He now serves as KSCU’s general manager, overseeing staff, broadcasting, on-air productions and event planning while coordinating with other campus members. He also continues to host his own radio show.
One of Ramirez Borrego’s collaborators is coordinating director Natasha Garcia ’28, who oversees communication with students and event planners. Garcia also focuses on rock, but her show—hosted as DJ Miss Monkey—draws from music across different eras, particularly the early 2000s.
Garcia’s fall playlist includes local indie bands and female indie folk artists such as Jessica Pratt. Pratt’s “Back Baby” has been one of Garcia’s favorite songs for several years.
“She has such a beautiful voice,” said Garcia, “Very, very beautiful, and it just reminds me of walking to class. The leaves are changing colors and it’s a little bit chilly, maybe a little bit windy. You can tell that the times are changing.”
Garcia also incorporates music outside of rock into her show. She discovered “Umoja,” composed by Valerie Coleman, in her western classical music class and was drawn to the piece’s combination of softness and intensity.
“When I listened to that one, it’s just so powerful,” said Garcia. “It’s like it’s very dainty, but it’s very powerful at the same time, and it gradually gets louder and louder.”
Garcia became a staff member before she took on her own radio hour, spending her first year building the confidence to go on air.
For listeners interested in pop music, production director Karla Martinez ’27 hosts her show, “Cherry Picked,” featuring music from 2010s EDM to shoegaze pop punk.
Martinez’s fall playlist includes songs such as “Reckless” by Madison Beer, “Season of the Witch” by Lana Del Rey, “Flaming Hot Cheetos” by Clairo, “Scott Street” by Phoebe Bridgers, “Sea of Love” by Cat Power and Suki Waterhouse’s newest album Loveland, especially the closing track “Weirdo.”
“I feel like there is an underlying stereotype of ‘oh, you listen to pop, that’s very basic,’” said Martinez, “And I guess it’s just what you make out of it, to be honest.”
In addition to hosting a radio show, Martinez serves as KSCU’s production director, where she works with equipment for live shows and helps mix programming.
KSCU is also expanding its programming beyond its regular music shows. The station plans to incorporate more academic programs and campus events, including broadcasts of music department student recitals and jazz shows
The student staff brings different musical interests and experiences to the station while working to connect the radio station with the broader University community. Through music, events and new programming, the station is continuing to define and expand the soundtrack to life at Santa Clara University.