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Chicago DJ and all-around music man Jesse De La Peña hosts Vocalo’s 5 O’Clock Mix and Friday Night DJ Series, and plays a key part in shaping the station’s sound. Growing up all around Chicago, Jesse started out as a DJ in his early teens — inspired by his mother’s disco records, Chicago’s hip-hop scene and the diverse music broadcasting on local radio stations. He joined Team Vocalo in 2011 as a music curator, going on to establish the Vocalo DJ collective and shape the station’s sound into what you hear today. This is what his Chicago sounds like.
As Vocalo’s terrestrial signal shuts down at the end of May, Vocalo audio and community storytelling producer Ari Mejia highlights members of the Vocalo Team for the last several segments of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like.” Jesse’s shows, the 5 O’Clock Mix and Friday Night DJ Series, are scheduled to end on May 28.
This segment of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like” was edited and produced by Ari Mejia. Follow Jesse on Instagram @jdlp and Twitter @jessedelapena.

Reggie “The Reel Critic” shares his thoughts on ‘Back to Black,’ Sam Taylor-Johnson’s new biopic on the life, legacy and untimely death of renowned singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. From rising star to five-time Grammy winner, ‘Back to Black’ documents Winehouse’s journey and humanizes her struggle with substance abuse. The film fills in the gaps in Winehouse’s life, untold by the media. ‘Back to Black’ hit theaters May 17.
"The Reel Critic" is hosted and produced by Reggie Ponder. Follow Reggie on Twitter and Instagram @TheReelCritic, and on Facebook @ReggieTheReelCritic.

Since April 30, DePaul University students and pro-Palestinian protesters have been camped on the school’s Lincoln Park campus, joining hundreds of students internationally in solidarity with Gaza. Vocalo audio and community storytelling producer Ari Mejia spoke with participants about their goals, their thoughts on the importance of solidarity with Gaza and what the encampment means to them.
This segment was edited and produced by Ari Mejia.

Danny Ruiz is a candle maker whose artistry transcends wax and wick. As the founder of RUIZ Atelier, he creates memory-driven candle scents steeped in the essence of his grandmother’s Mexico home. For Ruiz, crafting candles is more than just a business and each candle in his collection serves as a vessel for memory.
This segment was produced by contributor Edgar Lopez, a past participant of Vocalo’s storytelling workshop and a high school friend of Ruiz. It was edited by Vocalo audio and community storytelling producer, and storytelling workshop facilitator, Ari Mejia. Learn more about RUIZ Atelier by following them on Instagram @ruizatelier.

‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ continues the franchise's thought-provoking commentary on humanity — and Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder shares his thoughts on the new film. Directed by Wes Ball, the film opens to a newly-emerged power dynamic with the apes, once subjugated, reigning supreme over the humans. It follows the struggle for power and freedom as Proximus Caesar asserts dominance, and humanity grapples with its new reality. The film offers a captivating exploration of societal dynamics and the human condition, and Ponder says it's a worthy addition to the franchise.
The film hit theaters on May 8. Find showtimes at 20thcenturystudios.com. “The Reel Critic" is hosted and produced by Reggie Ponder. Follow Reggie on Twitter and Instagram @TheReelCritic, and on Facebook @ReggieTheReelCritic.

Bekoe has been Vocalo’s morning host for the last four and a half years. From his teenage years of making beats for aspiring high school rappers to his commitment to local music discovery at iLLANOiZE and Vocalo, Bekoe’s passions have always centered on uplifting Chicago’s music scene. Through highlighting Chicago talent, Bekoe hopes to create a platform for the local artists of today and tomorrow. This is what his Chicago sounds like.
As Vocalo’s terrestrial signal shuts down at the end of May, Vocalo audio and community storytelling producer Ari Mejia highlights members of the Vocalo Team for the last several segments of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like.” Bekoe’s shows, The Windy City Hour and Mornings With Bekoe, are scheduled to end on May 28.
This segment of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like” was edited and produced by Ari Mejia. Follow Bekoe on Instagram and Twitter @officialbekoe.