Matisyahu draws from the Jewish philosophical ideas found in the Torah and Kabbalah for inspiration when shaping his music. When performing the music, the Grammy-nominated reggae artist said he tries to create an environment in which his audience can connect with their own psyche, emotions and intellect. Read more...

Photo: Reggae artist Matisyahu and special guest Nadim Azzam are performing at college campuses, including UCLA, to encourage conversation between Muslim and Jewish students. (Courtesy of Chris Townsend)

Nine-year-old A.J. Racy would often make small flutes out of the reeds growing a short distance away from his family’s home. He would cut suitable reeds from the garden and dry them, turning them from green to a light brown. Read more...

Photo: Ethnomusicology professor A.J. Racy plays and studies the nay, a reed flute popular in Arab music. To Racy, the nay’s popularity in Arab music stems from its ability to transport the listener to a state called tarab, which means musical ecstasy. Racy was exposed to music as he grew up in a small, rural village in southern Lebanon. (Anthony Tran/Daily Bruin)

When Zayn Malik announced his departure from One Direction last year, he said it was to pursue a quiet life as a normal 22-year-old. Since then, though, he has fought with collaborator Naughty Boy, engaged in his fair share of Twitter feuds with former bandmates and appeared on multiple magazine covers. Read more...

Photo: (RCA Records)