IN QUEUE MUSIC REVIEW
November 30, 2022
Pittsburgh’s adult alternative radio station, 91.3 WYEP, recently announced the hiring of local musician Clara Kent as an on-air host. Kent is a singer-songwriter hailing from Homewood. Drawing influences from 70s soul music as well as artists such as Nina Simone and Aaliyah, she’s an impressive artist both lyrically and vocally.
Clara Kent is an exceptional addition to the WYEP staff, as she’s a rising star herself. In Aug., she opened for two-time Grammy winner Thundercat at Stage AE, and more recently, she performed alongside other female R&B singers from Pittsburgh at Mr. Smalls Theatre. She was named Pittsburgh City Paper’s “Person of the Year: Music” in 2019.
Aside from her own musical endeavors, she also is an event planner and visual artist. She established Bounce House Studios & Productions LLC in 2017 that brings projects and events to the black creatives in Pittsburgh.
As a host for 91.3 WYEP, Kent hopes to create space for black musicians and artists who are not equally represented in Pittsburgh’s music scene. In an Instagram post announcing her new position, she wrote, “I am happy to represent my community of Homewood and many other neighborhoods like mine in a space many of us don’t get the opportunity to express our voices and share our stories.”
Kent’s devotion to the Pittsburgh community and young artists is evident, and her success as a radio host is certain.
To learn more about local music, check out the Listen Local playlist here.
