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(03/12/18 7:42pm)
A Place for Film is comin' back atcha with another fun-filled episode. This time hear David and Elizabeth's most looked forward to films of the year, as well as a profile of the funk musician Bootsy Collins as he is set to visit the IU Cinema!
Listen to and subscribe to the podcast here: https://wiux.org/feed/podcast/aplaceforfilm
(03/05/18 7:22pm)
Elizabeth and David have special guest Vincent Price visiting them from beyond the grave to discuss the upcoming "Vincent Price: Master of Menace, Lover of Life" film series at the IU Cinema!
(03/03/18 2:46pm)
I've been fortunate enough to sit down with IU Senior Mica Caine to explore her IU experience for this edition of WIUX's Profiles of Excellence. Here's a little insight into what Mica does, who she is, and the challenges she faces:
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Matt Hamilton: First and foremost, who are you and what is it that you do here at Indiana University?
Mica Caine: My name is Mica Caine and I'm a Senior studying Information Systems and French. My most recent involvements are being on the Board of Aeons as Vice President, and I've been on the board for two years. I'm also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in the Gamma Nu Chapter. I serve as the Chair of Arts and Letters, the historian, sergeant in arms; just doing a lot! I've served as the past President of the Undergraduate Business Diversity Council, so that's really what took up most of my involvement my first three years.
MH: You seem to have quite a few diverse interests both in terms of what you're studying but also just where your values lie and what you're generally interested in. That being said, what were your goals when you initially came here – did you know you wanted to do all of these things?
MC: So I'm in Kelley, and I say that because a lot of people think Information Systems in the School of Informatics. I initially came in as an Accounting major but realized quickly I wanted to do Information Systems after taking K204, the Honors Computing in Business class. So I was super interested in that, but my goals initially were to recruit and retain other undergraduate minorities in Kelley. Because of my involvement in the Undergraduate Business Diversity Council, I saw a need to create that community because I loved living in the Kelley Living Learning Center my freshman year, but I feel that black students through various encounters and experiences that we share are ostracized a bit. It [Kelley] wasn't a community I really felt like I could be myself in, but my goals have changed, too. Now my sister and I have found MC Tech Twins which is a platform to support, encourage, and engage underrepresented minority women, specifically black women, in technology. After two internships with GE Aviation in data engineering and IT compliance roles, I found my passion for tech. I think the overwhelming majority of black women on campus study community health. And it's not that that is a bad thing, but I think there's a lot of opportunities for us to study in fields where we can earn more, something we deserve. That's where my involvement's going, but I'm also at this point where I'm trying to help enact better, more equitable policies here in terms of our Student Code of Conduct and other various other policies here on campus we can't rest on. All of this is really the legacy that I want to leave. I want to frame my student involvement and hope that it pays off!
MH: It seems as though you've really taken the breadth of opportunities that IU has to offer by storm. That being said, as a woman of color, what are some individual challenges that you face daily at Indiana University in the various roles you're in? Something that someone like me may not understand or have much insight into.
MC: The first encounter I've had with the Kelley School was Direct Admit Day before I actually started at IU. So a lot of the prospective students came and it's tough to get in. My sister and I walked up to the entrance of the event and this woman said that the event is for direct admits only, with my sister and I as the only two black students there among a thousand students. So that was the first time I really felt " so the expectation is for me not to be here," or that it's so bizarre that I'm here that people don't expect that I'm supposed to be here. Kelley has offered so many amazing opportunities, but navigating these perspectives, there are so many students that haven't been around black people before. I've experienced this on my floor, students in class groups, and a consistent story when I'm working on projects the others expect that I wouldn't contribute, be a team leader, or even have strong opinions about the things we're doing. On the micro level, it's those types of things – me being expected to be an underperformer. Aside from that, there were a couple experiences of blatant racism, like an experience I had in the Kelley LLC that was very formative. I feel like a lot of times the microaggressions aren't blatant but subtleties. Sometimes I'll be talking to a group of my peers like a group of white men or a group meeting and people zone out or I'm interrupted in ways my other male counterparts aren't. Always having to be on a pedestal to advocate – I feel like when you're the only black woman in a certain space you feel like you always have to be that black voice. It's not that it's something I'm uncomfortable with, but it can be uncomfortable when people look at you asking "well what do you think, Mica?" It's a lot of pressure, and for me, there are a lot of black students that I wouldn't even want to have spoken on behalf of black students. It's this pressure then of not having a lot of students at Kelley who look like you.
MH: It's clear from this that you have a lot of strength maneuvering through such a landscape. Speaking again on challenges, this time tied to the merits and leadership positions you hold, what have been the most difficult positions you've been in but also some accomplishments you're most proud of maybe coming out of the challenges?
MC: I'm a William Fry Scholar which is awarded to a select few underrepresented minorities entering the Kelley School of Business, and there has definitely been this stigma around the Fry Scholarship related to people thinking I only got it because I'm a black woman. There's been this constant battle proving you have the merit and deserve to be in this space. Honestly, the biggest draw that I had to Information Systems was the fact that it doesn't have a lot of women that looked like me, so I was like "Okay, challenge accepted!" I wanted to prove that I could be successful in this major. It's like a double-edged sword. I feel like I've put myself in a position where I was constantly trying to prove myself, which is not the healthiest approach. I wish I could say that as much I love technology that I'm not the most passionate about my specific major because the passion is derived from the outcomes I'd produce in a real-world setting. How do I be an engaged student and perform, proving that I have the right to be here, while also being true to myself and what I'm interested in beyond that? I think from those experiences that I've been able to be an advocate for people who may not have a voice otherwise or the initiative to mobilize.
In terms of women in technology, my sister and I have competed in two national case competitions and we were on the first-place teams, so that was amazing. But honestly, the biggest benefit of being in this position is being able to mentor younger black women. I try to make myself available and be that resource. As an example, a younger woman in my sorority just got an internship with Facebook and I was able to help her with her interview for it, and it's those types of things that make what I do so worthwhile. I know there may have been an expectation for me to talk about Aeons and other activities, but it's really my mentorship and giving back that have made my time here so special!
MH: That all being said, where do you see yourself in ten years? It's a very open-ended question, but what are your thoughts on that?
MC: I imagine myself being fresh out my MBA – maybe not fresh – but have already gotten my MBA. There are a couple programs I'm looking at that I'm super excited about applying to them in the future. I plan on consulting a bit longer than what other people expect to, but I'd like to move on to private equity firms that try to improve themselves while also selling the company for profit. During this, there are operational consultants who would be like the short-term CIO to improve the business. This work is really attractive to me because my goal is to be an entrepreneur. I don't know what my winning idea is yet, but I know that I want to get that experience to go ahead and do so, but who knows really?
MH: Are there any other comments you’d like to add for those reading this interview?
MC: I can only offer some advice to students who feel like their voice isn't heard on campus or they feel ostracized or marginalized in any way. Just keep on striving for excellence in whatever you're studying. Never look at any barrier presented by the university as an obstacle, just find ways around that. And never stop advocating for the communities to which you belong, because that's what is going to make the student come after you not have to experience what you experience. Being an excellent student needs to be your first priority. Sometimes we get caught up in activism efforts, but still, never lose your broader purpose on campus. I wish that I had conversations with people that made me think about my legacy a little bit earlier in my [school] career because I feel like I could have had more impact than I have.
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Mica's Favorite music:
"I am the biggest Amy Winehouse fan in the universe. But my favorite artists are Amy, Lauryn Hill, Sarah Vaughan, Frank Ocean Kendrick Lamar, Alabama Shakes, and Miguel."
All-Time favorite songs:
Like Smoke - Amy Winehouse & Nas
Love is a Losing Game - Amy Winehouse
Mr. Magic (cover) - Amy Winehouse
What It is (Demo) - Amy Winehouse
Favorite Books:
Americanah- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
L'Enfant de Sable-Tahar Ben Jelloun
Favorite Movies:
No Country for Old Men
Mona Lisa Smile
Good Burger
(02/26/18 7:21pm)
Join David, Elizabeth, and Jesse Pasternack as they provide a rundown of who they think are going to win some of this year's Academy Awards. There are hot takes galore here, so sit back, eat some popcorn, and enjoy the podcast!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/a-place-for-film/id1342014173?mt=2
(02/15/18 8:38pm)
Calvin Sanders is a Senior in the Kelley School of Business who dedicates a great deal of his time to serving the community and promoting and bettering the experiences of students of color. Such a short description does not serve him justice, however. Here are some highlights from my interview with Calvin Sanders:
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MH: What are the roles you hold here at Indiana University?
C: Currently I serve as the President of the Gamma Eta chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, a historically black fraternity. I also serve as the advisor to the Vice President of Congress for the Indiana University Student Association [IUSA]. I am also parliamentarian in the National Pan Hellenic Council. That's the association of historically black fraternities and sororities
MH: During your time at IU, what would you like to accomplish?
C: There are the obvious accomplishments people want in the academic sphere – graduating, learning something tangible to apply to the "real world" afterward. I think in my extracurricular life you can see in the arc of my involvement that I've really wanted to use the skills and maybe the luck and blessings I've had as an individual to do a number of things. Whether it's helping sustain the student government, supporting the fraternity that I'm in and its values of community service and academic success, or really just working with other leaders of colors to make sure in spaces where you're a minority, and I'd argue in Bloomington a hyper minority, that there's that internal support, whether academically or extracurricularly that someone can know Calvin Sanders is a resource and someone who can help out. I've been blessed to have these roles and to be able to be at these integral junctures where interests meet. I want people to see the goals that I've worked on are not just for me to work on, but that the torch can be passed on.
MH: That said, during the 2017-2018 school year what are some of the challenges that have been presented to you as well as what do you think you have accomplished?
C: The beginning of the year was the beginning of my tenure as being President of my fraternity. A deep investment in community and focus on community service is key in this position. As I started in this role, I was essentially the CEO of a small nonprofit. We only have seven brothers, so we had a lot on our plate, so we set goals for ourselves, increasing leadership within and without the fraternity – we all have to step up being only seven. We have two brothers involved in the Black Student Union, another brother deeply involved in IMPACT, a Bible study focusing on the minority community at IU. So, we've made it to where, yes you may be in our organization, but you need to be dedicated to community service. We had a lofty year goal for over 300 community service hours, and we're currently at about 220. On the IUSA side, I've primarily been working in the legislative branch. As of right now, our most pressing concern is the revision of our constitution. We're trying to hit two major goals – making sure people care about IUSA who are not already involved, and that IUSA works better to help all those stakeholders, every student that's here, and working with having a cohesive relationship with administrators so we may best capture student voices and translate them into policies.
MH: Being involved in several very interactive groups, what importance does collaboration play in the various domains you operate in?
C: When people think of IUSA and all of these storied institutions at IU that play such a big role, it's kind of easy to close the frame and hyperfocus, but when you get down to the facts, as a student government and Greek-letter organizations, we're a small town. There are so many problems that we're trying to fix, and when you're coming at an issue, the best thing to do is collaborate. We may have our opinions and ways of doing things, but it's important to look at how others may execute differently. Being in this hybrid position of being in a more institutional role [IUSA] and then an entrepreneurial role [Gamma Eta], it makes it so there are common things we want to effect, and I'm in that middle place and get to see how both of them work and try to create that synergy.
MH: As a black male, how do you operate in a domain such as Bloomington that, for all its progressiveness, is still in Indiana?
C: So first I wouldn't just want to focus on my experiences as a black man but as a person of color. Many of the concerns I have are shared by women of color, for example. Personally, there's that buildup of microaggressions that you have going here. I grew up in a middle-class family surrounded by a community that was more economically depressed. It made it to where from elementary to middle school, I attended educational institutions that were made up of predominantly people of color. I was always sort of that weird kid, speaking "proper English." I had double consciousness as a person with middle-class status but also being black. There was that question of "Calvin are you really black?" That came to hyper-focus in my high school. I attended Munster High School in Munster, Indiana. I was only one of a dozen black men in high school and the only one in my honors and AP courses, so it made it that my experiences were unique compared to many other students of color in that I already had that culture shock of going from a classroom with students like me to one where there are wholly different perspectives. I think that's something a lot of students of color contest with here, wherever you come from, you come from a place of shared culture to a place like Bloomington, where, although there is shared culture, it's different. When people look at you differently, they may treat you differently. For myself, the fear of aggressive actions toward myself dictates what I do, where I go, and how I go about doing things. For example, I enjoy running, but I have to be conscious of what I wear when I run. Like a lot of people, looking to what Dr. King said, I just want to be seen by the content of my character.
MH: How do you feel like the administration of Indiana University addresses the needs and concerns of people of color within the ranks of it as an academic institution?
C: I'd argue that Indiana University recognizes that diversity is important, however, the definitions of diversity are very different. Depending on that perspective, you could have a conversation using the same words but getting at a completely different meeting. You could argue that we're diverse, but by what metrics? If you have a system that, by default, unfortunately, does not include people of color and therefore their interests, although it might not be conscious, it has unintended effects by not including people of color. We have to critically look at if we are for all. And I know that people of color are not highly represented in Indiana, but there's a disturbing disparity between the percentage of people of color attending this University and the percentage that actually live in Indiana.
MH: What's a word that you keep in mind moving forward throughout either your time here at IU or even in preparation for your future career?
C: Transcendence. When I was in high school I ran track and hurdles. There were literal physical obstacles that you could feel approaching, and my thing is that understanding that my identity as a black male makes it to where there are hurdles and expectations of me. Therefore, transcending those expectations. Understanding that, whatever I do, if someone sees me in a negative light, they will not be getting the pleasure of looking at me and having those thoughts confirmed. That's what transcendence would be for me moving forward.
MH: For you, you appear to have a strong sense of style. At once you're able to express yourself as an individual yet still get down to work. Again, looking to the future how is this vital for you?
C: I sort of look at my wardrobe as my armor considering the fact that people will look at me very differently if I go out and dress a certain way. If I can somehow subconsciously control people so that I can enhance my humanity but also build connections with something that I'm going to do, then great. Honestly some days it's just easier, too, and having a family that's involved in the church, you always wear your church clothes on Sunday. Additionally, I'm blessed that I have a cousin who's a seamstress, so it just so happened that I was in this nexus of having all these clothes that fit me and happened to look nice, so (laughs) I could go to a higher level and say that I want to humanize myself with the clothes that I wear, but honestly it's just easier sometimes!
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Media and Art important to Calvin in his own words:
"Ta-Nehisi Coates is not here to comfort you." The Ezra Klein Show Vox.vom: This interview focuses on the writer's perspectives on race and critiques of general assessments of progress.
"Nikole Hannah-Jones" The Atlantic Interview The Atlantic: As a Macarthur genius grant recipient, Ms. Jones discusses how education and race create many distortions we experience in the educational field.
"In the Woods" Lore Podcast: The podcast focuses on historical folklore based on reality with stories detailing mysterious events. This episode, in particular, discusses human's interactions with the woods and the creatures that may lurk behind the foliage.
NoSleep Podcast: Just pick anyone, you'll be sure to leave with an eerie, chilling feeling.
The Daily, The New York Times: Listening to this podcast is an integral part of my daily ritual. Updated every weekday, each episode selects a single news story to deeply analyze and present in a both entertaining and informed format.
(02/14/18 11:00pm)
Matt Hamilton: On this campus of 50,000+, it's entirely unsurprising that there are so many well-dressed people. Fashion in terms of one's expression and growth is explored emphatically during college, and for some is a key part of their individuality. That said, WIUX News Director D'Angelo King and I put together these interviews accompanied by several photos we took of two IU students with strong personal senses of style.
D'Angelo King: Each week we're looking to profile two of the flyest students on campus. If you or someone you know has the drip, get in contact with us. On Fridays we will drop a playlist inspired by the two students style, the playlist will be available on both Spotify and Apple Music.
Contact Info:
MH: Email: mhamilton@wiux.org Instagram: @cptmeathamilfun Spotify: Matt Hamilton
DK: Email: dking@wiux.org Instagram: @kingdlo Apple Music @kingdlo
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Toni Pringley - Media School, 2019
Instagram: @tonipringley
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MH: When did you first start getting into fashion and dressing yourself?
T: So I got into fashion a lot in middle school, around seventh grade. It was around the time I switched middle schools and I wanted to find who I was through my clothes. I did that through thrift shopping and getting into secondhand clothes, and it's something I loved ever since.
MH: Was your interest in fashion self-initiated or inspired by the people around you?
T: I did pageants in high school so you kind of have to have a fashion sense when you're showing outfits on stage and doing interviews, so it's very much encouraged to have a better sense of style when you're in pageants.
MH: What do you think fashion is to you beyond just wearing clothes every day? Does it give you any sort of social capital?
T: Usually when I put a nice outfit together I feel better during the day or pay more attention in class. How you dress then anticipates for me how my day is going to go and can provide me with a better boost of confidence.
MH: How would you describe personal style two or three words?
T: Laid back chic
MH: Biggest fashion pet peeves?
T: Following trends that don't go with someone's aesthetic or own sense of style. Just because something is trending doesn't mean you have to follow it. You should dress based on what you feel your aesthetic, style, and body type is I think.
MH: Do you have any fashion icons?
T: Celebrity wise – Bella Hadid, really relaxed but cute at the same time. I like Zoe Kravitz, too, From more of a professional standpoint, Meagan Markle has a really good chic, put-together, look.
MH: What's your favorite season based on the outfits you can wear?
T: Spring or summer, but probably summer because I like wearing swimsuits a lot
MH: How do you think people perceive you based on how you dress – and do you think it's accurate for what you're going for?
T: Well I like to think of myself as a very bubbly, outgoing person. I think my style reflects that, it's kind of girly but still relaxed and I feel like that's sort of who I am.
MH: How do you think college students can explore fashion more in the context of their future careers considering the emphasis on students looking professional for their future careers?
T: I feel like now through social media fashion blogging is such a big thing. You can start your own Instagram aesthetic blog thing, start your own YouTube channel. Just so many avenues where you can make fashion not really a second job, but an additional hobby. For example, you can do a couple YouTube videos about what you found at the thrift store, put on your Instagram your outfits of the day. I feel like it's simple these days to find inspiration.
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Chase McLay - School of Public Health, 2019
Instagram: @chase__ton
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MH: How would you describe your personal style in one or two words?
C: "Clean" is what I’d go for. Good color coordination, no loud pieces together, nice and simple.
MH: Who are your biggest fashion influences? Do you have any fashion icons?
C: My two biggest fashion icons would be Robert Geller or Raf Simons. Robert Geller captures the dressy, casual look I'm going for. Raf's Raf and that's basically all I have to say about that.
MH: How do you think college students can explore fashion in the context of their future profession? And how might students express themselves during this?
C: No matter what field you're going into, having well-fitting clothing that suits the environment you're in is important. I still think you can be expressive through use of patterns or materials or certain shoes in a business casual environment. You can express yourself beyond wearing a graphic tee that says, "here's my favorite hobby."
MH: One pair of shoes for the rest of your life - what are they?
C: Common Projects Achilles Low. The build quality is insane. If you invest in some used ones from $200-$250 and they will last you for years to come.
MH: Favorite season to dress?
C: Late fall to early winter because you can start layering and wearing hats and scarves, so many components to it. Layering is key.
MH: How do you think people perceive you based on how you dress?
C: I don't think the average person notices or cares. How I dress may have different effects on how people see me, but people may not always consciously think about it..? Unless they're into fashion, then that's a whole different thing. I ultimately wear something because I like it. It brings me my own confidence.
MH: Is there an end goal of fashion for you?
C: Nah. You go through so many changes over time and constantly update your style. It’s an annoying hobby in that you don’t just buy a few things then you're done.
(02/12/18 12:45pm)
David and Elizabeth talk about director Alex Ross Perry, who will be at the IU Cinema this week for audience discussions after his films. He has made acclaimed movies such as last year's Golden Exits, Listen up Philip, Queen of Earth, and The Color Wheel.
(02/05/18 2:33pm)
In this episode of A Place for Film, Elizabeth and David talk their favorite films of 2017! Turns out there are quite a few.
(01/30/18 1:33am)
WIUX and IU Cinema have teamed up to create a podcast to inform you about all that is going on around and about the IU Cinema. Whether it's a special film series, guest speakers, or movie reviews, tune in to this podcast biweekly on Mondays to get your IU Cinema fix.
(10/15/17 9:21pm)
WIUX Pure Student Radio 99.1 FM has once again created merchandise that students can purchase! Just follow the link and place an order by following the directions listed:
https://docs.google.com/forms/u/2/d/e/1FAIpQLSfts7O2FHi5le3b65DM2mDIbD2udzbLQ_39zin0PbBwyQmOmQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
(09/29/17 5:33pm)
WIUX's fundraising "Pledge Drive" week is almost upon us! Join us from October 9th through October 13th for a myriad of fun events detailed in the poster below. You can also help WIUX by donating on this site's homepage via the "Give Now" button!
(09/13/17 4:46pm)
Hey, you there.
Yes, you! Do you like concerts? Yeah - the things with music and dancing and all that fun stuff. Well if you're an IU student, we have a pretty wild offer for ya.
WIUX is once again teaming up with Spirit of '68 Promotions to provide IU students with discounted tickets to a gnarly lineup of 18+ shows at the Bishop Bar. All you have to do to get your discounted tickets is go to the WIUX Station in Franklin Hall 235. If you're planning on stopping by, it may be best to let us know on one of our social media sites (ya know, Facebook, Twitter, Insta), so a WIUX Director can meet you there. The discounted shows are as listed below. We hope you take advantage of this crazy opportunity and can see you at the shows!
(09/07/17 5:59pm)
The War on Drugs – A Deeper Understanding
Atlantic Records
6/7
When The War on Drugs signed a two-album deal with Atlantic Records in 2015, there was a lot of hype. They just came off a breakout record, Lost in the Dream, an album produced during a time of intense isolation and depression for front man Adam Granduciel. Lost in the Dream was a critically-acclaimed, haunting trip descending into the psyche of its lead singer and guitarist, deeply searching for something, and perhaps even finding it.
The band’s new album, aptly titled A Deeper Understanding, explores further Granduciel’s consciousness, but this time from higher ground. Granduciel indulges in triumphant guitar solos on this album, backed by the band’s urgent and undulating drums. His voice mimics Bruce Springsteen’s earnestness, but with more abstraction in his lyricism. All of this ultimately leads to a very 80’s guitar-rock inspired sound. Make no mistake, though, because The War on Drugs’ sound is 100% themselves and by no means contrived.
This album is very much one that demands to be felt, nearly as much as it needs to be listened to. I would argue that such was the same for the band’s previous album, too. The main difference I’d contend between this album and their prior release in this context, however, is the consistent energy provided in it. It’s basically a bullet train with few stops.
Through their signing with Atlantic, the band is also able to produce a much more polished sound. This works incredibly well for the sheer epicness that they went for. It’s an accessible album for all. With the majority of songs being over 6 minutes, there are slower points, but they just help capitalize the forceful moments so much more. For all intents and purposes, this album sonically gives you a much deeper understanding of the concentrated, intense state of mind Adam Granduciel has acquired over the years.
(08/21/17 4:00pm)
WIUX news directors host student media conference
Event signals station’s first major event in the Media School
Bloomington, Ind – WIUX news directors D’Angelo King and Justice Eiden are leading the “Voices of IU: Student Media Conference” at the IU Media School in Franklin Hall on Thursday, August 24th from 4:30 until 9 PM. The event was conceived by King and Eiden as a way for the Media School to profile the various student media organizations that the School has to offer.
The conference will include faculty-moderated panels, student-run workshops, live musical performances as a part of WIUX’s “Live in the Living Room” sessions, refreshments, as well as tables where approximately a dozen student media organizations will provide info on their groups. Topics of the panels include “Fake News,” “Women in Media,” “Sports Media,” and more. Each panel will be moderated by an IU professor, with students as panelists.
The event will utilize the WIUX, Indiana Daily Student, and IUSTV’s workspaces, in addition to the Media School’s commons and classrooms.
For more information on the conference, contact D’Angelo King, Justice Eiden, or myself at dking@wiux.org, jeiden@wiux.org, and mhamilton@wiux.org, respectively.
(11/17/16 5:22am)
Sentimental Sevens is a series in which we retroactively give important/personally meaningful albums our highest rating of 7/7.
"When I look at the world
It fills me with sorrow
Little children today
Are really going to suffer tomorrow
What a shame
Such a bad way to live
Oh, who is to blame?
We can't stop living
Live
Live for life" - "Save the Children" by Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye’s album What’s Going On is one of the most critically acclaimed works of music to date. Jam-packed into the 35 minute LP are songs that chronicle hatred, struggling to survive in America, race conflict, and even climate change. What’s discussed in this album feels as relevant today as it surely was when it was released. But despite the presence of lyrics and songs depicting struggle, the overall message of peace and speaking to one another to figure out the roots of our prejudices is central. Gaye understood the harsh reality that existed then as it does today, and perhaps through his explicit sonic depiction of urban ghettos and conflicts, he was trying to start a dialogue about these issues that have continuously been present in our lives.
Important too is the fact that this album is heavily conceptual. Songs flow into each other seamlessly as Gaye takes on the persona of a Vietnam War veteran who just returned from the conflict to a battered America. At points, it’s as if Gaye lets emotions in their raw form take hold of the music he makes–it’s soul music inside and out.
There’s a heightened sense of awareness necessary to produce an album like this. Luckily for us, Marvin Gaye had that. The music he made on this album made it clear that we have some problems we must deal with, but similarly, it makes it clear that the trials we face are not everlasting. We don’t have to fully conform or accept the society we live in because we can change it through recognition of differences and communication with one another. Even through hardships, we must continue to live life. Oversimplified, yes, especially in the societal configuration we function in, but perhaps it’s a message we need in unsure times like now.
Or perhaps it’s just another person’s flawed take on the situation. Listen and decide for yourself.
(10/25/16 2:54am)
So you’ve found yourself donating blood plasma. Chances are that you need some quick cash and this is the best way to do it. Maybe you even have a coupon to make a few extra bucks too. Either way, you’ve found yourself farming your plasma for cold hard CASH, so may as well listen to some jammin’ tunes while you’re at it. Here are 5 songs that you should listen to in order to soundtrack your blood plasma donation:
1.) Bon Iver – Blood Bank
This song works on a few levels. Besides the obvious song title, the pureness of Justin Vernon’s voice puts you in a melancholy state that maybe reflects how you’re feeling having to go into the blood bank to make some money.
2.) The White Stripes – Sugar Never Tasted so Good
Suddenly you realize that you’re sitting in the relaxing donation chair with a giant needle shoved in your arm. Your mouth starts to tingle and taste funny, but don’t fret, that’s just the saline solution being put into your body. You soon realize via the sweet sounds of early White Stripes that this saline really just means you’ll be a few bucks richer in the near future. The taste is much sweeter with such knowledge.
3.) The Jackson 5 – I’ll be There
As you sit there reading through the informational packet the lovely people of the donation center give you, there’s a realization that you’re not just helping yourself, but others as well. Yes, through blood plasma donation you are potentially providing life-saving blood and source plasma to those who need it. By you continuously coming back to donate, you’re potentially being there for those who seriously need it. Bless your soul.
4.) Lil Yachty – Minnesota
Let’s be honest - no matter what altruistic purposes the donation of your plasma has, the sharp chill of the saline solution will eventually make it feel like you have literal ice in your veins. This Lil Yachty tune keeps you scarily self-aware of your current state.
5) CeCe Peniston – Finally
Congratulations, you’ve finally finished your trip to the blood plasma donation center! Hundreds of milliliters of your plasma have left your body, and it happened right in front of your face. “Finally” by CeCe Peniston should definitely put a pep in your step as you walk out of the center knowing you’ve just made bank AND helped others!
(10/02/16 2:35am)
WIUX caught up with Kaitlyn Cole to discuss this year's homecoming events. The week of October 10 will be chock full of festivities to get you in that Hoosier spirit--all culminating to Friday's traditional homecoming parade. Listen below for more information and check out the full list of events here! Happy Homecoming!
[embed]https://soundcloud.com/user-153797804/wiux-talks-to-kaitlyn-cole-about-homecoming-2016[/embed]
(09/26/16 3:14am)
Released 9/23
Rating: 3/7
“Drink more water… Or you might die.”
It’s only been two years since Chicago-based rapper Mick Jenkins dropped his aquatic-themed mixtape, aptly titled The Water[s], but a lot has changed in hip-hop. Rappers like Lil Yachty have taken the country by storm, Kendrick Lamar dropped TWO new albums, and Gucci Mane is out of jail. Wowza. But by the tone of his new album, I sense that Mick Jenkins doesn’t care about any of that. Perhaps, though, I would contend that Mick Jenkins never really cared about any of those things. It would be hypercritical to say there was something wrong with such a philosophy, but the rhymes in Jenkins’ new album make him seem more aloof and self-serving than anything else.
Love as the healer of all is the simple thesis present in The Healing Component (THC ;-p), and with such a message comes heavy implications. While Jenkins says in the title track that he “wants to start a conversation," I couldn’t help but think he was telling the listener what to think. Spread water to the thirsty is what he says, but 'thirsty' is just a euphemism for ignorant. In Jenkins’ mind people are ignorant to a very narrow lifestyle or mindset that he wants them to see; it’s a very ego-centric way of seeing things.
https://youtu.be/PsIiwHHiT3o
Accessibility didn’t just disintegrate in terms of what Jenkins wants the listener to understand. It also disintegrated in terms of what he actually showed the listener. In the song “Daniel’s Bloom," he starts off by spitting about his old neighborhood, but his rhymes feel tedious and overwrought until he ends up transitioning into more message-spewing. Such a pattern repeats throughout the whole album with the exception of a few songs, the most notable being "Drowning."
If I’m going to take anything from this album, it would have to be the mixing and production. The album transitions smoothly from one song to the next, filled with short conversations that thematically encapsulate the previous or upcoming songs. And while I may be turned off by the details presented in the words said, I respect the artistry displayed in the album’s construction. The sounds are slick and booming all at once, and I’m excited to hear more of what Jenkins’ albums will have to offer production-wise in the future.
Mick Jenkins once said, "You were never ready for the flow," and in this case, I can easily say that I was not.
(03/09/16 6:00pm)
Spissy is what you might call an "indie" band from Bloomington, Indiana, consisting of Aaron Denton and Ben Lumsdaine. The duo will be releasing their debut, self-titled LP on March 18th. Additionally, Spissy will be performing at this year's Culture Shock, located in Dunn Meadow on April 9th. Here's what the guys had to say to some questions I asked them:
Her Heart by Spissy
M: So for starters, being located in the Bloomington/southern Indiana area, did the so-called “local music scene” influence you at all down the line?
A: Yeah. Bloomington has so many good bands, and always has. It keeps me on my toes.
B: I grew up in Bloomington pretty much, and I spent a lot of time going to shows. Probably all of the most important musical moments in my life happened here.
M: And for your music, is there more of an influence from contemporary artists or artists from year’s past? Or is there really an equal distribution? And do other sorts of media and whatnot give you inspiration as well?
A: Yeah, it’s a lot of both. I’d say I listen to a pretty equal distribution of contemporary and older music. As far as inspiration for Spissy, I probably take the most cues from bands that were active in the mid-80s/early 90s. Stuff like Felt, The Clean, Orange Juice, The Smiths, Talk Talk, The Go-Betweens.
B: When I’m writing parts I usually end up directly ripping off whatever I was listening to most that week. Lately it’s been Ultimate Painting, Broadcast, and Roger Miller.
M: And sorry, but I had to ask: where did the group’s name come from?
A: It’s hard to say…I think Ben came up with it. I remember thinking it sounded unique and, perhaps more importantly, wasn’t already a band. It was around the same time I had watched the David Lynch movie, The Straight Story, starring Sissy Spacek and I thought it sounded like a combination of her name. Band names are so arbitrary, I figured if we could find a word with a blank slate we could co-opt to represent our music.
M: Also wanted to point out that, Aaron, there’s a guy here at WIUX who wanted me to tell you that you look like Dale Cooper from the 90’s television show Twin Peaks; have you ever watched it?
A: Of course! I love Twin Peaks. I’ve never gotten Agent Cooper. I get Toby McGuire sometimes, and someone said I look like Townes Van Zandt’s son, John Van Zandt.
M: So you guys have your debut album being released this month, if I’m not mistaken on March 18th. A cliché question, but can you detail the experience recording the album?
A: We recorded the record in two chunks over the fall of 2014 and the spring of 2015. We tracked 19 songs, and then chose the best 10 for the record. Going in, I had about 3 years worth of song writing to record, so it was super exciting to see these sketches come to life after being in hibernation all that time. It felt a little different in that I had never recorded anything in a proper studio. We tracked at Russian Recording here in town with Kyle Houpt, and working with him we were able to move quick and get good sounds fast. He knew what we were going for and had the skill to hone that in. With Kyle, I could focus on the songs as opposed to wrestling with some kind of broken recording equipment, which I had been doing up to that point. I found the experience of being in a studio refreshing and inspiring, but I still love recording on my shitty gear.
B: Kyle also had a lot of input and good advice when it came to arrangement and production stuff. I feel like he was a really important addition to the record.
M: You guys have a music video for your song “Her Heart”; in it, a woman appears to be signing the lyrics of the song, not singing. And it also has a lot of double exposures and soft fade ins. Where did the concept of this video stem from?
A: It’s a song about translation. A friend of mine was having some relationship problems that I felt weren’t being helped by his insistent effort to make things work. My attitude was: you can’t change the way someone feels about you, so why try? It’s a dead end. But, in the end, the song became about my own emotional deafness to what it was this person actually needed from me; namely a witness: someone to express something to. I made the video with my partner, Anna Teeter, and when we were thinking of ideas my mind naturally went to having the song signed. I quickly discovered I couldn’t learn how to do it myself, but as luck would have it a friend of mine’s fiancée is an ASL interpreter. The song had a dream-like vibe to it, so we thought the double exposures were a good match. I’ve also been deep into a Stanley Kubrick phase for a while now, and I love the super long fade-ins that permeate his films, so I wanted to do something like that in the video.
M: When I search Spissy on YouTube, the first video that pops up is a music video by a rapper named KZA Spizzy. In the video that’s markedly lo-fi he stands in front of a McDonald’s parking lot, rapping about watching anime among other things. Have you ever listened to KZA Spizzy?
A: Nope! Never heard KZA Spizzy.
M: General question, but do you believe it’s a necessity to prescribe labels to music in the form of genre-tags; for example “Dream Pop” or “Nu-metal”.
A: No. I don’t think it’s necessary to label music at all. It is probably helpful though, since there’s so much of it. I’ve found that in the past decade labels have become a real signifier for bands, which is a shame. I wonder if it’s always been the case, but it seems recently that bands have to have that little tagged description to get traction anywhere. When was the last time you took a chance on some music before knowing sort what it was going to sound like?
M: Good point, and with a lot of 2016 still ahead, what is Spissy looking to do as the year progresses post-album drop?
A: We’ll be touring this spring and summer. Then we’re going to focus on recording a new record come fall. About half of it is written right now.
(02/22/16 4:32pm)
Released 2/19 for Duophonic
4/7 stars
Admittedly, I’ve often found myself judging artists prematurely based off the name they bill themselves under. So when I saw that Tim Gane of Stereolab (a name and band I just so happen to love) was releasing an album with a new group called “Cavern of Anti-Matter”, I thought to myself, “This is going to be gnarly.” However, gnarly has dual meaning. Based on their name I anticipated a cacophonous, far-reaching, soul-enveloping sound. Names, as I should very well know by now, are misleading.
The first track on Void Beats / Invocation Trex is titled “tardis cymbals”, and it pretty much plays like an extended krautrock-buildup that never reaches its peak (IT’S 13 MINUTES). Tim Gane isn’t a stranger to long songs either, and seems to treat himself by including three nine-minute songs on this record. WELP.
Almost halfway in, something occurs to me: the krautrock influence is so strong I can’t help but harken back to the first time listening to bands like Neu! and Kraftwerk. The progressive, plucky guitars; the constant, undulating “motorik” used to describe the songs of the genre’s pioneers. What might be pastiche now is music that was once considered avant-garde. The sonic explorations conducted by Cavern of Anti-Matter may not be “brave” now, but they are still just as entertaining and stimulating, and I’d contend that this album offers a nice gateway into the Krautrock genre that you won’t get from groups like LCD Soundsystem *all praise be to the great one, James Murphy*, who include a more nuanced influence of that particular style of music.
By the time I get to “liquid gate”, the song featuring vocals from Bradford Cox of Deerhunter fame, there actually had not been any vocals. The track lands right in the midst of Gane’s epic soundscapes, and honestly kind of feels a little off. Don’t get me wrong, the song is rad on its own, but it doesn’t fit within the context of this ebbing and flowing album. It’s a more contemporary sounding, alternative-jig. But perhaps I wouldn’t have found out about this album if not for the Bradford Cox song, and perhaps a number of other individuals would not have either, so thank you, Mr. Cox.
So maybe this album is a wee bit artificial and contrived, but it’s good music nonetheless. One might say that it could also use additional vocals sprinkled onto the one hour, twelve minute album, but it’s the variety of synths, guitars, and keyboards that grab you and suck you in, and by those means, one might say that this band throws the listener into a sort of cavern of anti-matter ;-)