What is First State Studios?

First State Studios was created in order to celebrate the artistic talent of those around us!
While many would consider California, or more specifically, Los Angeles, as America’s densest population for creatives, we couldn’t help but notice all the visionary work happening in our own state and surrounding cities. “FSS” is a platform for collaboration among innovators of any creative medium. Our goal is to generate organic exposure by linking together musicians, freelance models, tattoo artists, clothing lines, photographers and anything in between. First State Studios wants to glorify our community and their abilities through podcasting, blogs, and also bio pages unique to each individual talent. 

 This summer we have been given the honor to partner with the Firefly Music Festival. Since 2012, Firefly has become a can’t miss event in the Delaware music scene. It has also become one of the biggest music festivals across the nation and has featured headliners such as: Paul McCartney, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, and Eminem. First State Studios promises to provide festival coverage unlike anything you’ve seen before! That will include artist bios, interviews, in depth looks at food vendors and nonprofits for the festival, and also plenty of on-site coverage. This has all been accomplished within First State Studio’s first year of being active. We appreciate all the support so far and can’t wait to show you what we can do next!

Meet Our University of Delaware Interns

Rayven Hoffman

Rayven is finishing up her bachelor’s degree in Animal Science at the University of Delaware. While she’s not the quintessential radio station intern, the diversity in her experiences makes her valuable in unexpected ways. She’s worked at a beef and sheep farm for several years, a government research lab studying stinkbugs, and even in construction. In our past projects together, she hosted a dating show and is now organizing influencers for Firefly. She hopes to one day be a zoo veterinarian, and in the meantime, runs her own ‘scandalously informative’ Instagram, “Info_Hoe_00” to teach others about health and research using aesthetic appeal. 
​
She enjoys traveling out of the country, exploring unique local nightlife, and working out. Catch her on Instagram at @rayven.luxe for cute farm animals and travel photos!

Tye Richmond

Tye’s passions are music, sports and video games especially his Philadelphia Eagles “FlyEaglesFly”. Tye listens to a variety of music but the majority of the time he listens to Hip Hop and R&B. Tye’s favorite artist is Snoh Aalegra who is absolutely fire. Her song “I Want You Around” is a must listen. Video Games is another passion of mine. Anybody can get the smoke if you have NBA 2k20 and a PS4 add Tye at TyeCurlyTopFade. Also on Instagram and Twitter too @TyeCurlyTopFade

Eventually I would love to have a career in sports either being a reporter or broadcaster. As well as a career in radio doing something on the broadcast spectrum. 

What Are You Most Excited  for at Firefly 2020?

I can't wait to see at FireFly is Don Toliver because out of the non headliners I believe he has the most potential to blow up. I’ve been hearing all this hype and buzz about Toliver in the past year or so. He has a major Hip Hop record label Cactus Jack Records behind him. It was founded by Travis Scott who is one of the biggest hip hop artists in the world and Headlined FireFly last year. Toliver already has 2 songs in the Billboard Top 100 and he has been in the music industry for about 2 years. So I want to see in person is the hype real about him being “next up”. 

Cassidy Haniffee

Cassidy Hanifee's goal in life is to work in a career field that allows me to express my ideas in writing, and to create new media content. Hanifee specializes in writing for all types of genre, and I am proficient in many Adobe programs, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and AfterEffects. She has a background working with creating podcasts and working with different audio and music as well. Cassidy is currently interning for First State Studios for her last semester at the University of Delaware.

What Are You Most Excited for at Firefly 2020?

Getting to see Cash Cash perform! I have been a fan of theirs since 2016, and after seeing Flume in 2017, I am super excited to finally get to see them perform. I hope that they at least perform their songs “Matches” and “Millionaire.”  Also I can't wait to purchase new band merch at the festival! I never got the chance in 2017 to buy any merch, but I am hoping to look into getting some new sweatshirts this year. 

Sarra Sundstrom

Sarra Sundstrom is a soon-to-be graduate from the University of Delaware. Pursuing a career in communications, she is interested in working with music and art and finding ways to combine that with a passion for the environment. When she gets some time away from her laptop, she’s probably spending time getting lost in the woods somewhere at a festival or on a nature trail.

When it comes to music, she listens to just about anything but finds herself coming back to old school hip-hop, reggae, and techno. She’s always down for a live show and is a great plus one.

What Are You Most Excited for at Firefly 2020?

• With music festivals bringing in more and more vegetarian and vegan food options, I am excited to see what kind of creations end up at Firefly this year. The first thing  I’m always craving in the midst of my festival haze is something deep fried. I’m definitely hoping for mozzarella sticks to make a comeback, but I’m also excited for some exotically topped pizza, tacos, and whatever kind of instagram worthy bowl inevitably makes an appearance.
• I first discovered Dogfish Head when I came back to University of Delaware after a study abroad in Europe with a new appreciation for a good beer. A local Delaware brewer that has become one of my favorites IPAs, I’m excited to be able to grab it on tap and buy local at the festival. I’ll definitely be looking forward to a nice SeaQuench sour during the sweltering afternoon.
• Camping at Firefly is truly what you make it. For those who are new to pitching a tent, “carefree” and glamping packages offer accommodation that feels like pulling up to a hotel. For the rest of us who blow most of our budget on the tickets themselves and festival necessities, a 10x30 square foot plot of dirt is what we will call home for the week. However, I wouldn’t wish for anything more. It is desperation that breeds ingenuity. When I camp at firefly, my crew and I are sure to pack enough camp furniture, fairy lights, and good vibes to transform our glorified parking space into a home away from home. Unencumbered by the responsibilities demanded by ordinary society like showering or consuming sustenance other than hot dogs and beer, camping at firefly is a visceral experience. Time loses all meaning. 10 A.M. seems as good as a time for a drink as any. 
• Each year, Firefly brings in an interesting mix of music artists onto their lineup, and 2020 is no exception. With every genre attracting their own respective fans groups to the multi-day festival, the crowds at Firefly are sure to offer some prime people watching. I’m looking forward to seeing the crazy festival outfits that people pull together. Festival fashion is its own creature, with capes, fanny packs, crop tops, and chunky accessories becoming wardrobe staples. Planning and pulling together outfits for the multi day festival dominates the Instafeed weeks leading up to the event itself. I’m always impressed by the number of on point outfits that people put together. 
• In addition to the music, festivals have become a great space for large scale art installations. Big, outdoor, interactive designs are such a great way to augment the festival experience in between performances. In addition to that, vendors usually bring their own little interactive stations that are a lot of fun to mess around with friends.

Tara Smyth

​My name is Tara Smyth, and I’m a senior marketing major and journalism minor at the University of Delaware. I grew up in a small town in New York called Pearl River, but I spend every Summer at my lake house in northern New Jersey. Some things that I love to do in my freetime include snowboarding, sketching, going out to eat with my friends and messing around on a Saturday in Newark Delaware. My favorite movies are Gladiator, Star Wars Episode IV and Iron Man, and some of my favorite TV shows are It’s Always Sunny, HIMYM, New Girl, The League and Game Of Thrones (with the exception of season 8, we don’t talk about that). A few fun facts about me are that I once tore my meniscus hitting the whip, I grew up playing an Irish sport called Gaelic Football and I can do a perfect imitation of Perry the Platypus from Phineas and Ferb.