90.TEEN is programmed by the participants in the KEXP Youth DJs program. The goal of this program is to teach young people confidence skills and develop career goals, positive thinking, practice, curation, technical and programmatic knowledge, and training through the art of broadcast journalism and DJing.
ALL PHOTOS BY CARLOS CRUZ
Calla HallmarkBio: Calla (like the flower) Hallmark (like the cards) has moved around Washington quite a bit, but one thing always stayed the same: KEXP playing in the background of her life. She has attended concerts and music festivals around the Seattle area since she was a little squirt- everything from indie, midwest emo, pop, hip-hop, electronic, and more. Suffice to say, Calla’s musical taste is eclectic; she prides herself on it and can’t wait for listeners to ride the genre roller coaster with her. Calla is currently a Junior at Gig Harbor High School, which is a big year with difficult but rewarding classes. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in Forensic Pathology and become a Medical Examiner. When she’s not studying, adding to her record collection, catching a concert in the city, or spending time with friends and family, Calla can usually be found in her favorite place- her bed- cuddled up with her cats, while watching a mystery and creating her playlists. Calla is thrilled to be a part of 90.teen this year and hopes her shows bring listeners as much comfort as they do her. |
DJ CrystalBio: DJ Crystal is a senior at Newport High School. She's an avid lover of live music and frequents shows in the Seattle music scene. Passionate about mental health advocacy, she also volunteers for Teen Link, a teen mental health hotline. In her free time, she enjoys thrifting, creating playlists, and exploring all the world has to offer. |
DJ DaryaBio: Darya Kreymer is a senior in high school from the small town of Duvall. She is an illustrator who has been drawing since she could hold a pencil, and she has always carried a deep passion for music alongside her art. Whether it’s blasting music while working on a drawing or doodling in the corner of a vinyl shop, the two have always been intertwined in her life. Her musical tastes are wide in range, spanning everything from classics like new wave, synth pop, and shoegaze to electronic pop, indie sleaze, heavy metal, and hard rock: essentially anything loud enough to rattle the ears and spark inspiration. She loves exploring how different moods, tones, and textures in music can fuel creativity in unexpected ways, and she often finds herself pulling from what she listens to when creating her art. Through 90.TEEN, Darya is excited to continue expanding her knowledge of music, discover new sounds she may not have encountered otherwise, and share her favorite finds with a wider community. |
DJ Max SavageBio: My life in Seattle has always revolved around music, thanks in part to my record-fanatic grandfather. Even as a child, I was singing and dancing, though I didn't truly appreciate his expansive collection until later. When my grandfather — a longtime KEXP volunteer — passed away in 2020, he left me his massive collection of 2,100 records and 800 CDs, along with his turntable setup. Initially, I was terrified; I didn't know anything about artists like Frank Zappa, The Melvins, or Fiona Apple. It wasn't until later in high school, struggling to "find myself," that I finally set up the turntable. With help from my Uncle Paul, I played the first record: a Frank Zappa cover of "Stairway To Heaven." Dropping that needle was a transformative moment. I soon dove headfirst into the collection, discovering the energy of punk and grunge bands like Butthole Surfers and Mudhoney. Through this music, I've learned so much about myself, my grandfather, and the art of sound. Thank you to my grandfather and KEXP for keeping music at the center of my life. |
DJ PhoenixBio: DJ Phoenix is a Tacoma based singer and songwriter, whose passion for music extends across vast genres and eras in music history. In 2025, she graduated with honors as a Running Start student, and received her high school diploma and Associates of Arts degree from Tacoma Community College. Music has always been at the center of her life, and she was dancing before she could walk and singing songs (with dramatic dance moves!) to anyone who would listen. Phoenix moved to Tacoma from Golden, Colorado in 2021. The music scene of the Seattle area played a significant role in her family's choice to move here. Phoenix believes that music is a powerful tool for connection amongst people from varied backgrounds, and curating playlists is one of Phoenix’s strongest love languages, which is why she is so excited to connect with others through music on 90.TEEN. |
DJ TBio: Dear strangers, I am a fifteen year old songwriter from the Ballard area teaming with a passion for music and an equal curiosity. I find myself learning how to play several instruments which include all forms of guitar, ukulele, piano, glockenspiel, and maybe drums in the near future. I moved to Seattle when I was three and was immediately introduced to the wide variety of artists across genres, even lucky enough to have a few as teachers. I have the likes of Fleet Foxes, Nirvana, Death Cab for Cutie (which isn’t really Seattle but I still count it), and Townsend’s Solitaire to thank for my immense love of music and curiosity of instruments. I also have hip-hop as a genre to thank with artists like Kendrick Lamar, A Tribe Called Quest, and Nujabes showing me the fun in songwriting and the pure joy that comes with it. A huge shout out to all the creators at KEXP who inspired me to give music a shot. It's an intimidating road but your inspiring words have made me brave enough to travel it. I’ll try my best to create a delicate atmosphere of music that just might slow down time. |
DJ ZOLABio: Zola is a high school student who loves spending time listening to, playing, and writing music. Starting at a young age, Zola has drawn so much inspiration from block parties and performances her parents took her to as a kid, as well as by listening to others talk about their personal connections to and inspiration from music. KEXP has always been an integral piece of her life, and she is so excited to be a part of it. As a choral soprano and violinist, as well as a sport fencer, rhythm is a key component in her life, which she loves to share on- air! |
