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Ayana Contreras on Muck Rack

Ayana Contreras

Chicago, Denver
As seen in: DOWN BEAT, KUVO-FM (Denver, CO), NPR, Medium, The New York Times, Bandcamp Daily, Chicago Sun-Times, Flipboard, The Boston Globe, WBUR-FM (Boston, MA), Literary Hub, Chicago Reader, LAist and
vinyl record/fashion archaeologist. VP of radio @RMPBS, frmr @vocalo/@wbez. writer @DownBeatMag. occasional podcaster @nprmusic. author Energy Never Dies.

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Ayana Contreras’s Journalist Portfolio

A Chicago Showcase Glows at NYC's Winter Jazz Fest

A Chicago Showcase Glows at NYC's Winter Jazz Fest

In the mid 1970s, Keith Barrow, like so many Chicago artists of his era (from Chaka Khan to Earth Wind & Fire…

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Boogie, Skating & Benson

Boogie, Skating & Benson

Mark Anthony Lee is a former Stax Records session player who trekked from Memphis to Venice Beach and back (a…

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Nothing but Sweet Potato Pie

Nothing but Sweet Potato Pie

Ayana Contreras's riff on the representation of the sweet potato in pop culture.

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Articles

Review: 5 Albums to Vibe to

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By Ayana Contreras
| DOWN BEAT Verified
Review, From the Magazine, Hendrik Meurkens, Simon Moullier, Vance Thompson, Singülar, Carolyn Trowbridge By Ayana Contreras   I  Jul. 14, 2026 Simon Moullier’s new album, Ceiba, features a cosmopolitan kaleidoscope of sonic influences.
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Review: 5 Albums Lovin’ the Vibes

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By Ayana Contreras
| DOWN BEAT Verified
Review, From the Magazine, Hendrik Meurkens, Simon Moullier, Vance Thompson, Singülar, Carolyn Trowbridge By Ayana Contreras   I  Jul. 14, 2026 Simon Moullier’s new album, Ceiba, features a cosmopolitan kaleidoscope of sonic influences.
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New Music Friday: The best albums out June 26

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By Stephen Thompson Verified, Ayana Contreras
| WFPK-FM (Louisville, KY) Verified
Welcome to New Music Friday, NPR Music's podcast dedicated to sharing the best albums out each week. We listen to dozens of new releases in advance, identify the ones we think you need to hear, and highlight our favorite five in a brisk mix of clips, context and commentary. The podcast is hosted by NPR Music's Stephen Thompson, and each episode features a member of the NPR Music Network of public radio stations.
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