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Cherry Pop Newsletter, Vol. 1January 20, 2025 | Isabella Appell
About Cherry Pop
Cherry Pop Records is UCLA’s independent and first student-run record label for passionate UCLA students to gain hands-on experience in the music industry. In just two years, Cherry Pop has worked with eight artists to release ten recording projects, hosted ten shows around Westwood and at reputable West LA venues, and signed a three-year distribution deal with Alternative Distribution Alliance. Through our label, artists obtain support from our Marketing, A&R, Business Affairs, Production, Visual Media, Radio, Press, and Events Departments. Working to strengthen connections between UCLA and the local Los Angeles music scene, Cherry Pop Records aims to create a community where students can gain valuable, hands-on music industry experience working directly with artists to create, distribute, and promote records.

Current Roster
Photo by Johanna Brooke
Hasitha Guhan

As the daughter of a Carnatic singer, Hasitha's journey into the world of music began early. Initially drawn to musical theater, she found her groove in productions like Tarzan and Mary Poppins, igniting a desire to create her own discography.

Guhan's style is a blend of pop with influences ranging from Ariana Grande to Timbaland, exemplifies an expressive and deeply personal approach. She explores various pop sub-genres, favoring the upbeat sounds of the early 2000s and 2010s to counterbalance the prevailing themes of rage and sadness in contemporary music. Despite being in the early stages of her career, Guhan's enthusiasm and creative processes – including multiple methods of songwriting – showcase a seasoned artist.

Guhan embraces the unpredictability of the industry, aiming to break the mainstream South Asian representation gap in pop music. Relocating from Northern Virginia to Los Angeles has opened new doors for her, culminating in her signing with Cherry Pop Records. Excited about the support they offer, she looks forward to releasing a body of work and refining her aesthetic. With her infectious energy and dedication, Guhan embodies a vibrant and hardworking personality that will surely captivate listeners.

Photo by Tara Radmard
Lady VengeanceWhat started as casual jam sessions among friends has evolved into Cherry Pop Records' newest signee, Lady Vengeance. Named after the 2006 Korean thriller Lady Vengeance, this alternative punk band is made up of five UCLA students: Colette Basset as lead singer, Kate Ahn on lead guitar, Christian Savage on rhythm guitar, Ollie Mangulabnan on drums, and Cas Knight on bass.

Lady Vengeance draws inspiration from early 2000s punk and alternative rock bands, such as Nine Inch Nails and Queens of the Stone Age. Their gritty, alternative sound has made them a staple at Westwood house shows, with their theatrical performances captivating audiences. As they continue to play live shows, Lady Vengeance is also in the process of recording their debut EP, set for release in Summer 2025.

The band is thrilled to work with Cherry Pop Records to bring their music to new audiences and reach new heights.

Photo by Noa Sunshine
Jordan Cierra
Growing up surrounded by music in her household and in Los Angeles, Jordan has always been a lover and maker of music. Starting to take music seriously during the pandemic, Jordan has been able to play around with sounds that feel authentic to her and her reflective nature. 

Through influences that feel nostalgic to her childhood to current favorite artists from Beyoncé to Lizzy McAlpine, Jordan has found comfort in gut-wrenching music. White her debut single Odyssey reflects her personal blanket, she is always working to experiment with edgier music such as music in Olivia Redrigo’s Guts. With so many external pressures to take her music a certain way, Jordan is making strides of staying true to herself and having the freedom to develop and experiment with her sound on her own terms.

Signing with Cherry Pop has alleviated the pressure of working on her music career on her own while being a student. Working with a driven and motivated team, Jordan has been able to focus on expanding her music in the LA music scene and play around with live band elements in the studio with her. Excited for her upcoming releases, Jordan’s music shares her authenticity and themes of nostalgia that listeners are sure to be immersed in. 


Cherry Pop is Fundraising! Cherry Pop is Fundraising! Cherry Pop is Fundraising! Join Cherry Pop in our continued efforts to uplift artists and provide students interested in the music industry with educational opportunities and career development advice. As our organization grows, our budget to operate, market, and promote our artists’ music, aid in covering production and recording costs, and copyright their works grows as well.

Show your support on our GoFundMe Page!

The Latest From Our Artists
Cherry Pop Across CampusScary Pop II
Photo by Tara Radmard
Photo by Christian Lee
Photo by Ashlyn Ablao
Photo by Ashlyn Ablao
Our infamous Halloween house show returned November 2nd for a scary good time. With performances from Stoned Ape Theory, Lady Vengeance, Acolyte, and Velvet Starlings, Scary Pop II was sure to knock your costumes off.

Music Industry PanelInterested in a career in the music industry and want to work at a record label? Cherry Pop Records hosted a panel about how to navigate launching a career in the music industry. Guest Speakers Will Hurtado (Marketing Label Relations Manager at Universal Music Group), Amber Kroner (Product Manager and Marketing Coordinator at Hopeless Records), and Kaylee Reyes (Creative Marketing Assistant at Warner Music Group (Global Catalog)) discussed their experiences at their respective companies and answered audience questions.

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Los Angeles, California.