KTSW 89.9: Recent Episodes
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By Lou Wharton Blog Content Contributor If you walk into the third floor of Alkek on a Thursday around 6:30 p.m., you’ll find clusters of students gathered around tables with papers scattered before them and the sound of dice ringing through the air. This is the home of Texas State’s [...]
In this edition of Claws to the Wall, Justin Brown, Gian-Carlo Cacho, Audrey Pasillas, and Erinn Dow discuss TXST Football coming up short against the UTSA Roadrunners. Recapping Bobcats Volleyball taking on the Bobcat Classic tournament, Soccer achieves two big wins before heading into conference play. NFL week one has [...]
By Jewel Ogungbamigbe Music Journalist For this generation, social media plays an important role in our lives. Who we choose to interact and engage with on these platforms can influence aspects of our personality ranging from our sense of humor, style and even the friendships we make. Considering this, it’s [...]
By Ariana Mendoza Music Journalist The 1970’s stands as a golden era of innovation and experimental music. This period in musical history birthed iconic grooves, mesmerizing melodies and soulful harmonies that continue to resonate with listeners across generations. 70’s music continues to live on through modern music, shaping the sound [...]
In this Monday edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Tyson Taylor, Koby Jackson, Audrey Pasillas and Grace Reddic, discuss Bobcats Football tough loss to the UTSA Roadrunners, Recap Volleyball as they were taking on the Bobcat classic, Soccer on a 3 game winning streak, interview with TXST Soccer Head [...]
By Osmara Valles Sports Reporter SAN MARCOS, Texas— The San Marcos Rattlers hosted the Wagner Thunderbirds at the Toyota Rattler Stadium Friday evening. The Rattlers, with an 0-3 record in the 2023 season as of now, lose to the Thunderbirds with a final score of 62-17. With an outstanding amount [...]
By Omar Gonzalez News Reporter In a world increasingly concerned and conscious of environmental issues, Texas State’s Sustainability Squad attempts to stand out and be a beacon of hope for not just Texas State students but also San Martians. With their dedicated efforts to educate and inspire other students by [...]
By Nayeli Esquilin Music Journalist From its birth in late ’80s Panama, its total ban in Puerto Rico in the ’90s and its current world domination, the Reggaeton genre has seen many phases throughout its lifespan. Influenced by reggae, dancehall and rap, all sounds born from the Caribbean and coastal [...]
By Diego B. Gonzales Blog Content Contributor The premiere of a new monthly drag show, 4WAY, took place at The Porch on Sept. 8. The show was hosted by frequent KTSW collaborator and local Drag Queen, Cedrena Fierce, and had performances by Miz Zgi Zgi, Jupiter, Yvonna F.Mei and Shitonya [...]
By Yaa Antwi
News Reporter
SAN MARCOS — Stellar Coffee, a well-known coffee establishment, has officially closed after serving the San Marcos community.
On Sept. 9, Stellar Coffee hosted its last event, filled with bitter-sweet goodbyes, an open microphone, and a dance party to thank the San Marcos community for their support.
Despite the major role Stellar has played in bringing the San Marcos community together, the store is coming to a close. The owners will be focusing their energy on their family this upcoming season and turn their attention to family matters.
“I mean it’s unfortunate that it’s closing, but I totally understand with the times that we are in and people are having to make decisions for their best interest,” Ez Maldonado said. “In the end, the owner also has to think about their family.”
Stellar Coffee has had an overall impact in the San Marcos community, not just for their beverages, but for open microphone nights for people to explore their creative talents. The coffee spot has been home to many students, as it’s also been a space for students to unwind or study.
“I think it’s been a really sweet space for the community,” Manager Katy Slack said. “Really it’s been such a space for the younger community in recent years and as a whole, Stellar has been a San Marcos staple for 10 years and there are people who have been here since the beginning and those are the people, I feel like it’s impacted the most.”
The communal impact from Stellar has allowed for growth, not just for San Marcos residents, but for the employees as well. Employees of Stellar believed the coffee shop was akin to a home with a welcoming energy that allowed space for growth.
Cold Canadian from Stellar. | Provided by Stellar Coffee Co. Instagram“It’s been a place of a lot of growth and friendship foundations,” Manager Katy Slack said. “I’ve grown up coming to San Marcos but having a space that I could call my own and people know me and I know them is something special to me.”
As Stellar closes, the San Marcos community continues to expand and grow remembering what Stellar has provided to us. Stellar has allowed San Marcos the opportunity to be reminded of the importance of community and artistic talent.
“It’s unfortunate and really sad, but when one door closes, another door opens,” EZ Maldonado said. “Working with them and the team they had, and the overall camaraderie was a magical experience.”
By Blaire Bussey
Music Journalist
Concerts can be complicated nowadays. First, a person would need to follow all their favorite artists social media as to not miss out on show announcements. Secondly, if a person wants to go to a concert with friends, they will have to coordinate the planning of the group’s event. Thirdly, that person would then wait in the queue or pay high prices for resold tickets that might not be authentic. Finally, who would want to go through all that hassle only to be unable to find a parking spot come the day of the concert, causing the group to be late and miss part of the show?
Concerts are a lot of fun and can even open a person’s eyes to a lot of great music, but many do not attend because concerts are not as accessible to them as they could be. With these three apps, going to concerts has never been easier!
Songkick
Looking for new artists and shows? Try Songkick! Songkick is an app available for iOS and Android that allows users to sync their liked artists on either Apple Music or Spotify. Afterwards, the app will track the artists’ concert dates and notify the user when a show, tour or festival is first announced, so that users always stay up to date with even the most recent events. From there, users can add the event to a calendar or set reminders to make sure they never miss ticket sales or event dates. Users can even purchase tickets for shows through the app, further streamlining the concert planning process by having all the user’s information in one place. If that was not enough, the app also recommends similar artists to those users have already liked. With this app it has never been easier to stay connected with your favorite artists and find interesting new shows!
TimeTree
Looking to coordinate plans with friends? Try TimeTree! TimeTree is an app available for both Android and iOS that allows users to create shared calendars in order to simplify the process of coordinating group plans. The calendar is updated in real time across devices, and all the users involved can get notifications when updates occur if they choose. Shared calendars in TimeTree can hold up to 200 members and there are different sections to keep things like the time, date, and address of a show organized. Additionally, there are two other sections for other miscellaneous notes and making lists. These features come in handy when making checklists of items a concertgoer might need for the show as well as taking note of things such as the times the doors open, the openers or the time the show starts.
SpotHero
Looking for available parking? Try SpotHero! Finally, SpotHero is another app available for Android and iOS that is essential to for anyone going to live shows. After entering the enter and exit times as well as the address, a user can find all the available parking spots or lots nearby, as well as the parking rates for each. Parking can even be paid for in advance in some major cities, and parking passes can be saved in the app. There are even specific settings for event parking, so a user is never lost come the day of their show.
It’s safe to say that concert-planning has never been easier! These apps work together to keep users informed organize all the information about any musical event. Concerts do not have to be simple, but concert planning and coordinating should always be. Make having a good time easier by downloading these apps today!
By Kayla Jones
Promotions Team Member
Have you ever noticed students giving tours around campus or representing the school at events? You might know them as your friend or classmate, but to future students and their families, they are the 40 faces of Texas State. These individuals are part of the University Ambassadors, a volunteer-based student organization that takes on the key role of engaging and educating future/current students and alumni on what it means to be a Bobcat. Their efforts lay the foundation for what the university represents and help shape the experiences of countless future Bobcats.
The University Ambassadors. | Kayla JonesTheir roles are not just limited to giving campus tours. UA is also responsible for hosting Bobcat Day, where students can talk with advisors and financial aid, view housing, meet and talk to student organizations, and overall understand what the university has to offer. Besides being tour guides, ambassadors also work as workers for the ring ceremony, greeters for campus events and attendees at banquets. It is no small task, but their passion for the university shines through in everything they do for this campus.
With a diverse group of members that participate in other organizations and clubs, UA has something to offer everyone. Whether you are looking to socialize, gain leadership skills or show school pride, you will find plenty of opportunities here. They believe in celebrating and supporting one another, making the environment welcoming and positive. Attending their members’ theatre production or having a social event at the bowling alley are just some examples of how fun it is to be a part of the organization.
“UA has been one of the most fun and rewarding experiences,” Angel Gonzalez, director of new members, said. “I have met some of the greatest people who motivate me every day. I love that with UA I can showcase my love for this university by hosting Bobcat Days and doing campus tours.”
Being a new UA member myself, I have to say that my experience has been incredible so far. The advisors are supportive, and the officers are incredibly hard-working. Plus, the veteran members are all friendly and welcoming – it is hard not to love being a part of the University Ambassadors! If you are worried about learning tour facts or speaking in public, do not worry – they will teach you everything you need to know. They also have social events, so everyone can get to know each other. Overall, I am looking forward to the upcoming year with UA as new members join us this semester and become part of our growing family!
Recently joined member, Branson Williams expressed his love for UA. “Being a member of the Texas State University Ambassadors opened doors to incredible opportunities for personal growth and leadership.” Williams said. “Through this inspiring community, I was able to positively impact campus life while forging friendships that will continue to shape my post-university journey.”
If this sounds like something you would be interested in, then do not be afraid to reach out! UA is more than happy to answer any questions or concerns you might have. Be sure to keep an eye out for applications to open at the start of each semester! For more information on the University Ambassadors and applying, check out their social website.
Follow them on social media:
Instagram: @txstambassadors
By Oyinda Rickford
News Reporter
SAN MARCOS —The city is taking a stance against individuals with unpaid parking citations through the recent approval of a vehicle booting ordinance.
The ordinance states that if a driver accumulates three or more overdue or unpaid parking tickets, the city possesses the authority to immobilize the vehicle with a boot or even potentially impound it.
While the ordinance is not a completely new policy, some significant changes have occurred. The original ordinance sent notices by mail to persons with three or more overdue or unpaid tickets, stating the individual had ten days to remedy their situation. The new update to the ordinance allows the city to post the notice directly to the vehicle.
Signs and QR codes up around San Marcos with more information about the latest updates to the ordinance. That has not stopped the pushback from citizens, especially students, who feel this ordinance affects them disproportionately.
“There is already limited parking in the city, booting cars will just take up more spots for a longer time, making it harder for others to park lawfully,” said Yazmine Philips, a sophomore at Texas State University. “It is hard enough struggling to pay for tuition, housing and parking passes on campus, but adding tickets and impound fees on top will undoubtedly make life harder on students.”
On the other hand, city parking officials say the ordinance is not meant to make life harder for students or take up more parking space. The ordinance is intended to act as a deterrent and provides the possibility for appeal.
“We are aware the city is predominantly college-aged people, which is why the court offers payment plans and alternatives for those who qualify. We are hoping this acts as a deterrent. Encouraging those with tickets to take care of them, and utilizing boots as the last measure,” said Samantha Deyo, parking coordinator for San Marcos.
With any new change in policy, there is bound to be some resistance. The future is promising for both sides; the city is seeking a balance between deterrence and addressing the needs of students dealing with parking challenges.
“I think this is a good change in policy … I feel that if the ordinance works the way it is supposed to and gives students a fair amount of time to pay, it will ultimately benefit students and the city as a whole,” said Mckayla Rangel, resident and student.
When asked if the city anticipates any adverse effects of the ordinance: “With any changes, there will always be some challenges we have to work through, but for the most part we see this as a good change…Our goal is to keep pedestrians and other vehicles safe,” said Deyo.
You can learn more about this ordinance and any general San Marcos parking policy on the San Marcos government website.
By Grace Wartman
Local Music Journalist
In the summer of 2019, I was introduced to the beauty of surf rock while sitting in the passenger seat of my cousin’s Toyota Corolla. The song “The Trouble with Those Mothra Girls” by Daikaiju, a kaiju-themed instrumental surf rock band, came on and I walked out of that Toyota Corolla into the sauna that is a July evening in North Texas with a newfound love for the great subgenre of surf rock!
Queen Jane drummer setting up. | Grace WartmanFriday, Aug. 25, I got to see Daikaiju live with three other bands at the Coral Snake in Austin. Queen Jane, an Austin-based rock band, kicked off the night. They had a relatively short set but had amazing stage presence, tons of talent and a clear enjoyment for what they do. For a band that released their first single just last year, the group had an excellent overall sound. The band also had a girl drummer, which as a former girl drummer, brings back fond memories and is always very cool to see.
Ole Creepy performing their song “Don’t Change.” | Grace WartmanThe next band up was Ole Creepy, a rock band from Austin who certainly live up to their name. With hints of inspiration from Deftones and Sisters of Mercy in their sound, Ole Creepy started their set with some guitar and drum instrumentals that were so soothing that they were almost hypnotic despite the fact I was standing right next to both the drummer and the speaker. Then a guttural, raspy set of vocals added into the tune, causing the collective sense of ease and slow swaying amongst the crowd to come to a halt. But this turned the heads of everyone in the venue, which all great performance does, and juxtapositions amongst elements of a song are always interesting.
Crystal Shit during their set. | Grace WartmanCrystal S**t, a fellow instrumental surf rock group from Dallas, went on next and put on an incredible performance. After the show, I checked out their Instagram and saw that the band went as Daikaiju for Halloween a few years back. Opening for an idolized group must have been surreal, and I’m excited to see where these guys go in the future.
Daikaiju performing their song “Escape From Nebula M Spacehunter.” | Grace WartmanAfter much anticipation, befriending fellow concertgoers and getting my hands on some free nachos, Daikaiju began their set. The masked quartet is notorious for pulling some stunts in their performances that I haven’t seen anywhere else, such as having the crowd carry their drummer, instruments and all, as well as setting their tour van aflame while playing on top of it. While there weren’t any flashy stunts that evening, the band had two drummers playing so in sync that I didn’t even notice there were two until five minutes into their set, which is extremely impressive and difficult to execute so effortlessly. They engaged with the crowd so incredibly well and were more than willing to let crowd members play with them. Mastering live performance goes beyond just having a good sound – a big part of it is having the crowd and performers feel like one, and Daikaiju is the perfect example of that. They allow their audience to feel like part of the product and not just an observer of it.
This show was the perfect end to August with the sweetness of surf rock music and nostalgia of previous summers. I’m stoked to see what lies ahead for these four talented groups.
In this edition of Claws to the Wall, Koby Jackson, Thomas Terry, Paxton Graf, and Myles Vaughn discuss SMHS Rattlers taking on Wagner Thunderbirds, TXST Football taking on UTSA after stunning Baylor. Bobcats Volleyball sweeps Invitational Tournament, Soccer’s last two non conference games. Preview of our NFL Fantasy Matchups for [...]
By Rebecca Morrow Promotions Member As a freshman back in Fall of 2021, the best advice I was told was to join clubs and stay out of your dorm. At first, looking for organizations to join can be a little overwhelming, especially with the thousands of choices Texas State offers. [...]
By Danielle De Lucia
Chief Editor of News
After excelling in research, teaching, research and community service, 5 Texas State University representatives were honored in the 2023 TSUS Regents’ Awards in August.
The awards come from the Texas State University System Foundation Board of Directors. Those awarded Regents’ Professor are Arzu Ari and Cyrus Cassells. The recipients of the Regents’ Teacher Award are Charise Pimentel, Jon Zmikly and Catherine Cherrstrom. The five winners are creating a better future through the way they teach and connect with students through their own journeys.
Ari has a Ph.D. degree in higher education administration and teaches in respiratory care. Cassels is an English professor. Pimentel has a Ph. D. in social foundations of education and teaches curriculum/instruction education. Zmikly is a senior lecturer in journalism and mass communication. Cherrstrom has a Ph.D. in adult education and human resource development and is an associate professor in organization, workforce, and leadership studies.
I was able to contact Ari and Cassells via email while they were away overseas. As for Pimentel, Zmikly and Cherrstrom, I spoke with them over the phone for a short interview.
How did you feel about receiving the award?Ari: “I feel honored that the selection committee saw value in my research, teaching, and service to select me for the Regent’s Professor award this year. I am grateful for the nomination of President Damphousse and proud to represent Texas State University.”
Cassels: “It’s an incredible honor, especially given the fact that Dr. Azri and I (we were chosen as Texas State’s 2023 University Distinguished Professors in March) are the only professors chosen out of all the seven schools that comprise the Texas State University system.”
Zmikly: “I was very honored to know I was even up for the award… I was very proud to receive the award.”
Pimentel: “I was excited, honored and delighted that I had been recognized for such a prestigious award. The reality is that only a few people get this award across the state of Texas.”
Cherrstrom: “I was very excited to hear, and it really meant a lot to me that President Damphousse personally called to me that I won the award.”
What kind of research, publication and community service do you do?Ari: “When I received my degree in physical therapy from Hacettepe University in Turkey, I realized there are no respiratory therapists in my country, and I want to be a pioneer to make a difference in patient’s lives. For millions of people in the world, that next easy breath becomes a struggle due to their chronic pulmonary diseases. My mission as a scholar is to promote clinical practice in aerosol medicine through research, innovation, and training. The most rewarding part of my research is seeing healthcare providers change their clinical practice based on my research… Building relationships with healthcare foundations, corporations, and government, at all levels, create opportunities for students, careers for graduates, research collaborations for faculty, and crucial funding to my lab’s mission.”
Cassells: “I’m the author of nine books of poetry and two books of translations of Catalan poetry. As the 2021-2022 Poet Laureate of Texas, I sponsored a statewide Juneteenth poetry contest in 2023 for students in grade 8-12, funded by the Academy of American Poets and the Mellon Foundation. The award ceremony was held at the Neill-Cochran House Museum in Austin, which houses the only intact slave quarters in the city.”
Here are links to past contests by Cassells:
- CONTEST DETAILS – WHAT JUNETEENTH MEANS (TO ME)
- 2023 WINNERS – WHAT JUNETEENTH MEANS (TO ME)
- 2023 CEREMONY – WHAT JUNETEENTH MEANS (TO ME)
How do you use technology innovatively in the classroom?Zmikly: “I use technology in the classroom a lot. I use online resources and I make my own videos as well so students can follow…It means a lot to the students when they know you are the one doing the tutorial, in the way you teach…Last semester, I taught a class on interactive audio and automation…We build augmented reality in our classes… So, it was focused on smart speakers, like Alexia and Siri, and how to build virtual chat boxes. How to build a skill … or interactive experience like ordering a pizza…I teach a lot of coding as well… I’m also looking for ways to innovate within the classroom with new courses and curriculum. I’ve done little modules on 3D printing, scanning and motherboards… and even the droid presence. Whatever is cutting-edge and fun.”
Pimentel: “I really deliver a multimedia experience for my students…we look at films, plays, were listening to podcasts… also have audiobooks, short videos and music,” said Pimentel. “I try to offer a variety so it’s always changing and gaining the students interest, but also interactive too.” Pimentel is constantly updating the media and having deep analysis with students.
Cherrstrom: “I really work hard to bring stories, lessons and experiences from the real world to the classroom. What I’m teaching is very relevant. So, I try hard to not have an assignment that is just an assignment, but maybe is a task where they can connect to their work or can use in their job, or maybe share with their supervisor or future employer. What’s unique and different most of our students are non-traditional or adult, and most of my teaching is online. May be synchronous or asynchronous, … but that enables these busy adult students, if they are undergraduates help them complete their degrees… Also, use technology to give people access…I do try to use technology to reach students, to include, and up their technology skills to make them more employable in the workplace.”
Cherrstrom had over 25 years of experience leading teams and managing people in the financial industry, as a senior vice president and business banking executive.
Why did you decide to become a professor?Pimentel: “My goal is really to have a transformable experience in my class. To have students start to think differently and have new perspectives. I want it to be an eye-opening experience, focusing on critical thinking. I want students to look at what might be familiar to them but in unfamiliar ways.”
Zmikly: “It was in the Texas State grad program that I discovered my love for technology and how technology was changing from the traditional media. It was really a fun time for me to learn more about social media, digital media, web design, coding and all those new upcoming forms of communication.”
Cherrstrom: “We all learn from each other. I learn from students; students learn from students, and I learn from my colleagues. There is a lot of learning that goes on as we share our experiences, or even as we see other people learning. We will keep learning and we will have multiple jobs or careers and that is the new face of work. Keep learning.”
By Natalia Velazquez
Music Journalist
Peace, love, unity and respect. These are just a couple of words that sum up the passion behind raves and their attendees. Starting as secretive underground shows, rave music and its culture have become mainstream within American media, being depicted in TV shows and movies, but primarily its impact in generating a massive EDM following.
DJ at Kai Wachi rave. | Natalia VelazquezAlthough rave music has such a large following within the United States, the genre’s beginnings can be traced back to the 1980s in England. Some may attribute the early stages of rave music to the death of disco, leaving the lovers of discotheques to search for a new outlet to dance to loud music and dress in bright fashions. However, many who yearned for a more adventurous clubbing experience began to explore a new, secretive, acid house-inspired subgenre of EDM: rave music. These underground locations primarily consisted of abandoned warehouses, having only obtained the address by word of mouth or discreet flyers. Secret shows allowed for fewer restrictions, allowing attendees to partake in the flashing neon lights and blaring music to their fullest enjoyment. Here, is where it became common for rave-goers to intake certain substances to enhance their experience, commonly MDMA (ecstasy or molly).
In the 90s, the evolution of technology allowed for rave popularity to skyrocket. Europe soon became the focal point of rave culture, spreading outside of England and making marks in Germany and France. Raver attendees began to find a sense of community at these events, having created an outlet for uniting people based on a love for music. It is during this time that the act of “trading kandi” became very popular. “Kandi” is simply handmade beaded bracelets that you could trade by completing a handshake with whom you’d like to trade with. To do so, just mirror the hand signs associated with “peace, love, unity and respect”. It was also then, that we began to see mainstream rave artists such as The Chemical Brothers and Daft Punk.
Today, rave culture has evolved massively as a genre, creating several subgenres within itself. The subgenres include:
- Techno
- House
- Breakbeat
- Trance
- Jungle
Oftentimes, these genres crossover within themselves, allowing for a diverse set of sounds within EDM.
One major shift within modern rave culture is the raves themselves. Once hidden away, week-long music festivals are held in celebration of the music. Every year dozens of EDM festivals are held in the United States, one of the largest being Electronic Dance Carnival (EDC) held in Las Vegas. The largest international rave festival, Tomorrowland, is held in Belgium and had over 600,000 attendees in 2022.
As celebrated as raves can be, there are also negative associations with the events, as they have a history of promoting illegal drug use and have been known to get violent. Despite this, modern ravers are trying to change this narrative, stating that EDM enjoyers don’t need to take these drugs to enjoy their time, it is at their discretion.
For those interested in starting their journey into EDM, here are a couple great songs from popular artists in the genre!
- Marshmello – Take It Back
- Don Diablo – Sunglasses at Night
- Barely Alive – Wompum VIP
- Dizzee Rascal – Bonkers
- Steve Aoki – Neon Future III (intro)
- Banana Planet – Midnight Tyrannosaurus
Honorable mention:
- Riton, Kah-Lo, GEE LEE – Fake ID (Coke and Rum Remix)
The mark rave music has left on pop culture and its impact on other genres is indescribable. At its core, rave began as a genre to bring people together, creating a sense of community between strangers and spreading positive ideals.
By Ily Aguilar
Community Relations Assistant Director
Whether you’re a Nutrition major, Health Science major or just someone who enjoys a nutritious lifestyle, the Student Nutrition Organization or SNO is the group for you!
SNO provides opportunities for students to get involved, talk to practicing dietitians, earn volunteer hours, and learn the importance of nutrition for a busy college lifestyle. SNO highlights and signifies that balance is key, rather than dieting to obtain a certain goal. They focus on promoting healthy eating through balanced diets in order to increase body and brain function. Eating what makes you feel good, and what’s best for your health.
This organization runs on a point system based on volunteer hours and weekly meeting attendance. Members who earn up to 10 points can enter raffles throughout the semester which include SNO merch and prizes. The top three members with the most points get the opportunity to attend the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Conference and Exhibition held in Dallas, Texas. The TAND conference consists of dietitians, students, and people within the nutrition field who come together to learn about the latest scientific and evidence-based research, products and services. The TAND conference is a great way for students to make connections, talk with nutrition professionals, and expand their resume.
The SNO Mentorship program is another advantage to this organization. This program is dedicated to those who are interested in nutrition or are just starting out in the major. Mentees are freshman and sophomores looking for advice on the academic route to take, or don’t know much about nutrition at all. Mentors are juniors and seniors who help with any questions about what classes to take, or if mentees are having trouble with a class they’ve taken before. Mentors are available to help lead the way from their own experiences made as an underclassman.
Mentees and Mentors are paired together based on their own shared interests. Together they will have meetings where they will get to know each other and their career goals. This program helps to prepare students for graduate school, internships and their professional careers.
A major focus within this organization is placed on volunteering. A way for students to earn volunteer hours is through the SNO cart, located in the Family and Consumer Sciences building. Students volunteer their time to run the cart for anyone wanting to stop by for an effortless breakfast, lunch, or coffee. Items at the SNO cart include breakfast sandwiches, breakfast bars, grab and go fruit options, hummus dip, protein wraps, and so much more. Another volunteer opportunity is through Bobcat Bounty: the student run food pantry at Texas State University. Members of SNO work directly with this program to help combat food insecurity on campus.
Meetings for SNO are at 5pm on Tuesdays at the Family and Consumer Sciences building (FCS) in Room 188. Along with meetings, socials or “Snocials” are held biweekly and contain activities such as yoga, events at the rec center, Halloween parties and more. These “snocials” are an opportunity for students who have a shared love of nutrition to hang out and have fun. The first “Snocial” of the semester will take place Friday September 15th at 5pm in the FCS building Room 188.
Membership dues for SNO are $10 per semester OR if you register for the year membership will cost $15 and you will get $5 off any SNO merch.
The Student Nutrition Organization is a great way for students to get together and learn about the importance of nutrition and balanced meals. There are also many benefits such as forming connections, joining the mentorship program, and learning from industry professionals. Dani Bulman, SNO’s Social Officer, said, “I joined SNO to be a part of a community of people who are as passionate about nutrition as I am and network with nutrition professionals to guide me in my post graduate career.”
Follow SNO’s Instagram for updates and attend a meeting to join this organization!
Instagram: @txstsno
TikTok: @txstsno
By Michael Ybarra Music Journalist Emerging from the dense forest of European bands comes FIZZ, a group crafting their own fantastical wonderland. Consisting of best friends Dodie, Gretta Isaac, Orla Gartland and Martin Luke Brown, FIZZ is downright whimsical and committed to remaining unserious in everything they do before they [...]
In this Wednesday edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Taylor Cuen, Koby Jackson, Justin Brown and Tyson Taylor, discuss Bobcats Football big victory against Baylor, soccer bounce back win against HCU, volleyball dominating the TXST Invitational Tournament with a clean sweep with a significant win against #13 ranked Houston [...]
By Cayla Soriano
Assistant Copy Editor
Bold in style and sound, AnaBelle Elliott is full of musical harmony – and we’re ready to share it with you. Elliott’s love for old country music shapes and molds her music into what it has become today. Read on to get to know AnaBelle and her journey through life and music!
AnaBelle in her natural element | Image courtesy of AnaBelle ElliottCayla Soriano: Where did you grow up, and when did you realize your love for music?
AnaBelle Elliott: I was born in Weatherford, Texas, but I grew up in Spring which is around North Houston, and that is where I started learning about music and all of that as a little kid.
When I was about four years old, I wanted to start piano lessons, because my older brother was playing, and I wanted to play piano too. As I went through piano lessons, I asked my teacher to teach me how to play chords, because I wanted to make my own music. I gradually fell out of the structure of learning piano and gravitated toward creating my own songs.
Soriano: How did you get into making music?
Elliott: When I started writing music, it was at a very young age. I remember having a realization where I didn’t have to ask permission to write a song. I could write myself a song and sing it for my family and no one could really stop me, you know? That kind of carried on and collaborating with other musicians has been something that has been fairly new in the last couple of years. It was another realization of that agency and freedom that I have as a creator to write and produce songs.
Soriano: What are your preferred music genres?
Elliott: I am the pianist in the country band and country is what I’ve always grown up listening to. When I’m by myself and I want to listen to music, it is always old country music. With the country band, I am a vocalist, but I do have my own music that is a vintage pop feel, and I write and produce my own music and do those as solo projects. I have always loved country music, though.
AnaBelle E. on the cover of new single “Timeless” | Image Courtesy of AnaBelle ElliottSoriano: What is your creative process when writing songs?
Elliott: Ok, so I carry my poem notebook with me everywhere I go! I will be sitting at work, on the school shuttle, walking and I will have to stop and sit down. It will always start with the lyrics for me. What I do is I fill out the page with the idea for the song, and I’ll write out the notes to myself. Within that, I allow a lot of creative freedom for music and create a non-judgmental space. From there, I take it to the piano or even my mandolin sometimes and then I start to add music to it. My goal for my music is to evoke emotion from people that I felt as I was writing it, so it is kind of like this community type experience.
Soriano: Who are your musical influences?
Elliott: I love artists like Lionel Richie. I really love his style of music. Lyrics wise, I love John Denver. A lot of folk artists and the heart that is in their music, it all comes down to simple messages, and I’m inspired by that. Also, more modern-day music like the band HAIM. I’m really inspired by Prince and his process and the variety of his songs. Bruce Springsteen is a big one and just a lot of anthem style writers. I pull from different types of genres and try to make my own sound.
Soriano: When did you join your country band?
Elliott: Bobcat country is a country band out of Texas State, and it has a lot of different majors involved. There are music majors in it, but it is open to anyone. There is a professor named Jordan Stern, and he is the one who is in charge. We use a lot of his equipment, he helps us in practice, and books our gigs. When I joined, it was around last year during Christmas break. I contacted them and I joined and started on with playing piano. We play at different dance halls, and we will be playing on Sept. 15 at Zelicks. We really love when people get out there and two-step to our playing, it’s such a beautiful moment.
Bobcat country band performing live | Image courtesy of AnaBelle ElliottSoriano: What is your favorite thing about playing music live?
Elliott: The thing I like most about playing music live is looking out to the people listening and feeling that connection. There is this thing that happens at every gig I’ve ever played where I have certain lyrics in my head that really stick out to me where I mean them with my whole soul. As I sing them, when I look out into the audience, and I see someone that truly heard what I said and really connected to it, that is incredible. There is this powerful story that becomes separate from the music, and it becomes something we are all experiencing. That is my favorite part about playing music live.
Soriano: What is one word you would describe your music self?
Elliott: Storyteller.
In this Friday edition of Bobcat Radio the crew of David Castaneda, Joey Gonzalez, JP Flanagan and Tyson Taylor discuss Bobcats Football season opener against Baylor. Soccer takes on HCU after hard fought game against Oklahoma State, Volleyball prepares for Invitational Tournament in home opener, SMHS Football Matchup against Madison and little of NFL/CFB talk! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
By Tyson Taylor
Music Journalist
Over the past few years, the underground rap scene has seen numerous new faces come and go into the spotlight. If you have been following the underground scene for a while, you are most likely familiar with the rapper Autumn. On Aug. 22, Autumn released his fifth studio album Midnight Club. This is his second released album of the year, as he released Golden Child, Chapter 3 earlier this year in March.
Album cover of Autumn! Midnight ClubIn my opinion, the past several months within the underground rap scene have been a little dry and in need of something fresh and new. In all honesty, I believe Autumn has finally brought that breath of fresh air back into the underground scene along with a new sound.
The Lafayette native rapper and producer rose into the underground scene in 2019 with his debut album called 4. This was around the same time the subgenre of Pluggnb was starting to gain attention around the country. If you’re unfamiliar with Pluggnb, it’s a subgenre within underground rap that emphasizes loud bass, heavy-hitting drums and melodic synths. Most of the songs that are considered Pluggnb are just old R&B songs that were sampled into Hip-Hop beats. If you are familiar with the subgenre, then you know that Autumn is one of the founding fathers of Pluggnb, really putting the new wave on the map. In the year 2021, several artists by the name of Autumn, Summrs and KanKan, took the Pluggnb scene to a whole new level. It’s been a fun couple of years for fans of this subgenre, but it does seem as if the genre has been drying out a little bit due to a lot of artists copying the sounds and styles of others. However, this is where Autumn’s Midnight Club comes into the conversation.
Now let’s discuss the album. In my opinion, I would say that Autumn’s Midnight Club is quite different from his previously released projects. However, I do see influences from a couple of his previous projects such as his 2022 released album, Antagonist! The only resemblance I noticed between the two projects is the trap flow that Autumn uses on several tracks on both albums. However, Antagonist is more of a heavy-hitting and upbeat album, while Midnight Club is a much more chill and mellow album. I think the production in this project is very good as all of the beats sound very clean and well-mixed. Similar to other Autumn projects, Midnight Club has zero features. I also thought that 12 songs for an overall listening experience of 32 minutes are way more enjoyable and cohesive than the 25-track projects that are quite common nowadays. I noticed that several tracks have nice acoustics and live-sounding drums, which gave a whole new sound from Autumn than we’re used to. I very much enjoyed the overall sound of the project as I actually felt as if I was hanging out in a midnight club.
Alright, it’s time to dive into my favorite tracks off of the project and get them into your playlist. I want to say there weren’t any songs I particularly didn’t like off the album, however, I would say some tracks had a bigger effect on me than others. In most of the tracks on the album, Autumn discusses his relationship with women, living a lavish lifestyle, and working hard to get where he is today. There were a couple of songs on the project where I could tell that Autumn was experimenting with his sound and I was all for it. One of those songs was “SURVIVE THE FALL!” I love the acoustics in this track as well as the live drums I previously mentioned. This track is one of the slower and more emotional ones on the project, yet it still transitions into a fun and energy-filled song as you listen through the track.
Another track that I loved the production on was “FAITH!” I love the repeating acoustic melody that plays from the beginning of the track to the end as well as the underlying synths that come and go. While a majority of the songs are on a slower, midnight club type of pace, I like how Autumn still integrates fun and lively energy within the tracks.
My overall favorite song off of the album would have to be the intro song, “TWO CHROME NECKLACES!” This song is just an overall banger and a very fun listening experience. You are almost certain to hit at least a couple of head bops listening to this track. While I find the production and mixing to be very good on this track, Autumn’s flow brings a lot of energy and bounce to the song. Not to mention, I like the message at the end of the song as I feel it’s relevant in today’s society. Autumn discusses how a lot of people nowadays just do things for money, and not because they actually love doing it. I personally agree with Autumn, I feel like people would be a lot happier if they focused more on their passions rather than the quickest ways to get rich. Not just because of the message, but I feel like Autumn is expressing himself more on this project and you can really see his personality come out.
Overall, I think Midnight Club is a solid project and will age like fine wine within the underground rap community. I hope to see more music like this from Autumn, and hope he continues to test the boundaries of underground rap. The community and the subgenre needed new music and I find this project to be a step in the right direction. If you haven’t listened to any other of Autumn’s discography, be sure to check it out as he has a wide variety of music.
By Madelyn Weirich
News Reporter
SAN MARCOS — The City Council will discuss increasing water/wastewater and electricity rates by 5% each this Tuesday during a regularly scheduled meeting.
If passed, the new rates will be implemented starting Oct. 1. The meeting will include a public hearing, during which citizens may speak or have a written statement read out loud.
The proposed increases on the city level come at the same time that energy costs are skyrocketing for the Texas Grid as a whole. Two weeks ago, prices peaked at $4,750 a megawatt-hour, more than 60% greater than the previous day’s average of $75 a megawatt-hour.
Texas State Senior Christian Rodriguez is not looking forward to the additional increase the City Council is proposing.
“I’m sure they have their reasons, but it’s not something I’m super happy to hear,” Rodriguez said. “I think it’s just another way of passing on the problems of our state government onto the public, but on a local level.”
Rodrguez has already made budget cuts because of the heat wave this year and worries he may need to make more.
“These people are always telling me to stimulate the economy, but I can’t stimulate the economy if I’m paying for my energy bill.”
Council members aren’t excited about the proposed increase, but they view it as necessary. The change was recommended last July by the Citizen’s Utility Advisory Board in order to cover the increase in costs of providing utility services.
Jon Locke, finance director for the San Marcos City Council, explained during his presentation that without the proposed increase, the city’s utility provider would be unable to cover its annual expenses.
The new costs are made up partly by a rise in prices from river authorities San Marcos utilities have contracts with. Alliance Water Authority and Canyon Regional Water Authority are raising operating costs, and the Lower Colorado River Authority is raising the price of wholesale power.
Beyond the rise in prices nationwide, Locke added that San Marcos’ electric, water and wastewater departments need to replace equipment this year, which would total over $1.7 million. They also hope to raise pay for employees to even it out with inflation.
Locke also compared electric utility rates in San Marcos to those of neighboring cities like Austin and New Braunfels. He assured the council that the proposed increase is in line with what other cities charge.
“Even with the proposed five percent adjustment, the city would still have the lowest electric rate for all the residential users,” Locke said.
City Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of every month. Citizens who wish to provide public comment during the public hearing must sign up by emailing citizencoment@sanmarcostx.gov before 12 p.m. the day of the meeting.
By Daven Meredith
Sports Reporter
SAN MARCOS — Texas State Volleyball (4-1) wins the Texas State Invitational with wins against The University of North Texas Eagles (3-3) and an upset against the No.13 ranked University of Houston Cougars (4-1) in the Texas State invitational at Strahan Arena.
Bobcats celebrate after set win over North Texas Eagles. | Audrey PasillasGame one Outside hitters KJ Johnson and Samantha Wunsch combined for 30 kills propelling the Bobcats to a comeback win in their home opener Thursday against the North Texas Eagles at Strahan Arena. Coach Sean Huiet was happy to get the first official home win of the 2023 season.
“We like to win at home; we like to feel good at home,” Huiet said. “This group has grinded it out, and we are starting to see some of it come to fruition on the court. I am really proud of how they rebounded tonight.”
The Bobcats got off to a rough start, dropping the first two sets. The first on a nail-biter 25-27 just to get blown out in the second set by their worst deficit of the night, 25-16. Coach Sean Huiet credited the Bobcats’ initial struggle to the Eagles’ physicality.
“North Texas is a good team,” Huiet said. “They have some real physical athletes, and we were very frustrated with our block after the first two sets.”
The Bobcats would come out of intermission looking like a new team finishing the night with 14 blocks and winning three straight sets forcing the Eagles to five, taking the game three sets to two.
“I told them that we have to win three sets,” Huiet said. “It doesn’t matter what three. This group is so resilient and so tough. I thought we did a really good job rebounding after a rough start.”
Freshman Wunsch recorded 15 kills and credited her performance to setter Ryan Torres, who had 54 assists spreading the Bobcats’ attack, propelling them to the win.
“I think Ryan was doing an awesome job the whole night being able to spread the offense around when the block wasn’t there,” Wunsch said. “We all stepped up in those last three sets, being able to put a lot more balls down and get a lot more sets.”
Game TwoThe Bobcats would have a tall task in game two taking on the No. 13 ranked Houston Cougars. Coach Huiet credited the Cougars for being a well-coached team that attacks any sign of weaknesses.
“We’re gonna go after them,” Huiet said. “We’ve seen them on film, and they are very good. They are well-coached and will go at any weakness they find. Playing the number thirteen team in the nation at home will be a fun match.”
The Bobcats would do just that sweeping the No. 13 ranked Cougars in three sets. Coach Huiet spoke on how implementing a last-minute defense was a counter for the Cougars dominant offense.
“We knew they were going to tip and roll a lot,” Huiet said. “That takes our hitters out of it so we came in 30 minutes early and implemented a new defense and the team went with it and it was the difference.”
The Bobcats looked dominant throughout the first two sets out scoring the Cougars 50-40 but would see a swing of momentum that favored the Cougars. Coach Huiet called a timeout to make sure his team was locked in.
“Houston is a really good team, they didn’t get top thirteen for no reason,” Huiet said. “We wanted to make sure we were going point for point and stay locked in the whole set.”
Bobcats setter Tores recorded 90 assists in two games, 36 coming against the Cougars leading to her selection to the all-tournament team.
“We just followed that scouting report,” Tores said. “Being on the same page as everyone this morning there was great energy when I walked into the gym. We know we have that trust in each other.”
Outside hitter Wunsch followed up her 15-kill performance Thursday with an 11-kill game against Houston awarding her the Texas State Invitational MVP. Wunsch spoke on how everyone who showed up was confident for their matchup against No. 13.
“We kept a positive attitude, stayed composed and confident the whole time,” Wunsch said “I think that’s what gave us the edge over Houston being confident and playing Texas State Volleyball.
The Bobcats hope to use their upset against Houston as momentum heading into the following week as they open up the Bobcat Classic against South Eastern University at Strahan Arena Thursday, Sept. 7 at 6:00 p.m.
By Osmara Valles
Sports Reporter
SAN ANTONIO, Texas— The San Marcos Rattler Football Team traveled to San Antonio, Texas, Friday night to face off against the Madison Mavericks.
San Marcos HS Football Team stands together during the playing of the National Anthem. | Beau KellyThe Rattlers fell short against the Mavericks with a final score of 49-28. The Rattlers matched up against the Madison offense featuring Landon Gill as their starting quarterback, Ethan Morrison as their running back and Lavonta Henry as their wide receiver. Through the value of teamwork, the Mavericks were able to work their magic in the 2nd half of the game.
When these two teams matched up last season, the Rattlers defeated the Mavericks with a final score of 31-24 with the help of an extra overtime period. Unfortunately, the ending result for the game was not what the Rattlers hoped for. The starting quarterback for the Rattlers, senior Kutter Gage Webb, fought to put them in the lead throughout the first half of the game. Webb had 156 passing yards completing 37% of his passes (9/24), one passing touchdown, and one rushing touchdown. Senior running back Stefan Stenett had a total of 83 rushing yards.
Senior wide receiver Tony Diaz without a doubt made a spectacular appearance in the 1st half. After racking up 122 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown, and forcing an interception on the defensive side of the ball, the Rattlers went into halftime with a 28-14 lead.
As the 2nd half of the game rolled around, the Mavericks made an impressive comeback. Senior Landon Gill with a 67% completion rate (14/21), a total of 149 yards, 3 passing touchdowns and 2 rushing touchdowns, flipped a switch for the entirety of the game. Gill helped push the Mavericks over the top to score 35 unanswered points; the Mavericks ultimately won 49-28.
With a total of three running backs completing a spectacular amount of rushing yards, senior Ethan Morrison was no doubt the team’s head rusher. Along with a touchdown, Morrison had a total of 121 rushing yards. Right behind Morrison, senior Lavonta Henry was their leading wide receiver with 88 receiving yards along with 2 touchdowns contributing to the team.
Although the Rattlers ended the night with a second straight loss, there is always room for improvement since it is still the beginning of their season. The Rattlers will have home-field advantage in their next game against the Wagner Thunderbirds on Friday, Sept. 8. The Thunderbirds were defeated by the Dripping Springs Tigers last Friday night, but there is potential for either team to earn a win.
In this edition of Claws to the Wall, Koby Jackson, Justin Brown, Colton Gibson, and Myles Vaughn discuss SMHS Rattlers drops season opener against Hutto, TXST Football preview against Baylor. Bobcats Volleyball wins Tennessee Classic 2-1, Soccer taking on Oklahoma State after weekend struggles Preview of our NFL Fantasy teams, and college Football week one predictions! Be sure to catch Claws to the Wall every Thursday here at KTSW Sports.
In this Wednesday edition of Bobcat Radio the crew of Koby Jackson, Karys Lay, Preslie Davis and Taylor Cuen, discuss Bobcats Volleyball upcoming home opener against North Texas, Soccer prepares for big time match up against Oklahoma State, live interview with TXST Volleyball Head Coach Sean Huiet and little of [...]
By Ben Middleton Local Music Journalist Over the past couple of months, I have been trying to expand my music taste into more hardcore and metal genres. I’ve been making an effort to discover more bands as well to find out what I like and dislike in these genres. To [...]
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By Diego B. Gonzales Blog Content Contributor This past Sunday was National Cinema Day, a day where participating theatres lower movie ticket prices to as low as $4.00 to make the movie theatre experience incredibly accessible. A noticeable price point for sure, as the cost of going to the movies [...]
In this Monday edition of Bobcat Radio the crew of Thomas Terry, Justin Brown, and Grace Reddic discuss Bobcats Volleyball victory in Tennessee classic, Soccer loses a close one against the Roadrunners in I-35 showdown, SMHS Football Recap of the first loss against the Hutto Hippos and little of NFL/MLB [...]
Sydney Seidel Blog Content Contributor Ready. Set. Go. The new semester has officially begun! With it comes the opportunity to join over 300 registered student organizations, campus-wide events and leadership/development programs all brought to you by the TXST Student Involvement and Engagement team. Located on the fourth floor of the [...]
By Omar Gonzalez News Reporter August is Clear the Shelter Month here across the country, and the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter wants to make sure San Marcos knows. With Clear the Shelter Month set to end Aug. 31, now would be the time for San Martians to consider seeing [...]
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In this Friday edition of Bobcat Radio the crew of Thomas Terry, Beau Kelly, Richard Prasedyoko, and Taylor Cuen discuss Bobcats soccer first loss of the season against North Texas. Volleyball update in Tennessee classic. Previewing SMHS Football vs Hutto and little of NFL/MLB talk! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday, [...]
By Yaa Antwi News Reporter The Texas State Student Government has started off the semester with activities for more student involvement and programs for student safety. Student government plans to continue the Student Safety Escort program. The safety shuttle program encourages students to have alternative transportation on campus and on [...]
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By Reese McKee and Cole Ramirez KTSW Multimedia Photographers As a part of Bobcat Welcome Week, KTSW 89.9 hosted The Trips, Demure and GOOD for LBJ Takeover on August 17. The bands put on a show at the LBJ student center as the incoming freshmen settled into campus and watched [...]
In this Wednesday edition of Bobcat Radio the crew of Justin Brown, Karys Lay, Colton Gibson, and Koby Jackson discuss Bobcats next opponent in soccer. Volleyball’s upcoming tournament in Knoxville, TN. Previewing SMHS Football Season and James Harden’s comments on the 76ers! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, live [...]
In this Monday edition of Bobcat Radio the crew of Colton Gibson, Koby Jackson, Preslie Davis, and Grace Reddic discuss Bobcats 2-0 start in soccer. Volleyball comes back against the Roadrunners in their exhibition game. Interviews with PJ Hatter, Jake Simpson and a little of NFL/MLB talk! Catch BCR every [...]
By Theina Garcia Sports Reporter The Volleyball season has begun, and it begins with a rivalry. The Bobcat’s schedule has been revealed and the first game of the season is against the Roadrunners. Known as the I-35 rivalry, UTSA has a long history with Texas State. With twenty wins and [...]
By Michael Ybarra Music Journalist It turns out there is such a thing as a “healthy habit.” In fact, the folk-pop band Tiny Habits is one such example. After opening for Gracie Abrams on her Good Riddance Tour, the group released their debut EP Tiny Things and began their first [...]
By Richard Prasedyoko Sports Reporter In a riveting showdown between the Texas State Bobcats and the McNeese Cowgirls, the Bobcats emerged victorious on opening night to a season with a 3-1 win that showcased skill, determination and a series of dramatic moments. The visiting Cowgirls dominated possession during the opening [...]
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By Jewel Ogungbamigbe Local Music Journalist This list is subjective of course as there are a ton of indie films with amazing soundtracks, so it would be impossible and ridiculous to mention all of them in a silly list curated by moi. As I am a fan of both movies [...]
Join executive and local music directors Avery Viers and Lillian Jones as they speak with Window Shop, a San Marcos-based band made up of five Texas State University students, for KTSW FM 89.9’s annual Back To School Broadcast. Local Show is sure to entertain with discussion encompassing everything from student [...]
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By Lou Wharton Blog Content Contributor Let’s face it – finding fun classes to take can be overwhelming. Texas State University offers a vast multitude of unique courses, but how do you find one that fits you? This article is here to help. Below, you’ll find information on some [...]
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By Diego Gonzales Music Journalist The instrumental Hip-Hop scene in central Texas is filled with tons of experimentation and exciting sampling and mixing. The scene is constantly growing and thanks to online services such as Bandcamp, it has never been easier to find great local talent. Here are four great [...]
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By Kayla Jones Promotions Team Member Finding fun activities during the summer is easy but ensuring it will not break the bank can be challenging. With I-35 leading to San Antonio and Austin, it is tempting to splurge on the many activities these cities offer, but that can add up [...]
By Danielle De Lucia News Reporter The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) amplified the Texas State University Division of Marketing and Communications by awarding “Introducing TXST’s New University President” and “Wear NEXT Fashion Upcycling.” CASE is a nonprofit agency devoted to educational advancement in alumni relations, communication, [...]
By Jewel Ogungbamigbe Local Music Journalist The late 80s and 90s saw a rise in artists and bands defining the genre that we’ve known to come and love as “shoegaze.” The term shoegaze or shoegazing, as I’m sure you all know, comes from the musicians, specifically guitarists, looking down at [...]
By Natalia Velazquez Music Journalist Have you ever been listening to a song and recognized a certain beat, guitar riff, or even background vocals? If you said yes, you have most likely just listened to a song that was influenced by remix culture! Remix culture is heavily present within [...]
By Koby Jackson Sports Reporter A new season has arrived in the City of San Marcos as the Texas State football 2023 season is just around the corner, and there are some fresh faces around the program after a struggling four and eight record last season. In 2022, former Texas [...]
By Tyson Taylor Music Journalist 2023 has taken off strongly in terms of hip-hop. With 2022 being such a strong year, fans are still hungry for new music from their favorite artists. Despite all of the drama and conflicts within the hip-hop community, artists are still dropping quality projects [...]
By Kadence MaKenna Assistant Copy Editor Ok, I pulled up, hopped out at the after party… The Marc, a nightclub in San Marcos, hosted the official Don Toliver After Party on July 11. The event sold out almost instantly after tickets became available thanks to eager fans and San [...]
By Lou Wharton Blog Content Contributor On July 8, 2023, the city of San Marcos announced that they were in the process of getting the Dunbar Historic District and the Dunbar School Home Economics Building registered with the National Register of Historic Places. The National Register of Historic Places is [...]
By Danielle De Lucia News Reporter HAYS COUNTY — Hays County Commissioner Court reinstated a burn ban for at least 90 days to prevent and lessen the number of fires that can arise countywide last Tuesday. The decision means no more burning on residential/private property is permitted and a fine [...]
By Jade Jacobo Web Content Contributor Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded Texas State University’s new agriculture program, LEADING, a grant of $2.9 million. The program (Leading and Enhancing Agricultural Development in the Next Generation) is meant to support underrepresented Hispanic students that are interested in pursuing [...]
By Deacon Wolfe Music Journalist Are you a metalhead who has found that even the most brutal of death metal has lost its heaviness? Have you recently found yourself searching for something truly otherworldly and extreme? Then boy, do I have the genre for you! Avant-Garde metal has a [...]
By Blaire Bussey Music Journalist Have you recently had some communication issues with your loved ones, found that you have been unhealthily comparing yourself to others, or maybe you just hated that new tattoo you got? You are not alone, and there is a reason for this: Venus is currently [...]
By Danielle De Lucia News Reporter Three weeks ago, the Supreme Court voted to eliminate affirmative action from college applications. Board members of the political organizations at Texas State University commented on what they thought about the verdict, representing the ideologies of the two-party system in the US: Republican and [...]
By Diego Gonzales Music Journalist On July 8, I HATE WAR magazine, WORM Newz and Oblivion hosted a haircut and music event at The Electric Church in Austin, Texas. The Instagram post promoting this event noted that there would be two stages, one for DJs and one for the [...]
By Thomas Stevens Music Journalist San Francisco, California is home to one of the most prolific artists in the rap game in recent years, Larry June. June has been dropping albums back-to-back for over 5 years, and you can see the improvement within the timeframe. It seems that June has [...]
By Ariana Mendoza Music Journalist Doja Cat has just dropped her latest single and music video, “Attention”. This song shows us a new side of Doja and gives us something we’ve never seen in her usual music. Attention is more of a traditional 90’s rap and hip-hop record. The music [...]
In this edition of Claws to the Wall, Justin Brown, Koby Jackson, Colton Gibson, Thomas Terry and David Castaneda discuss Levi Wells being elected fourth overall by Orioles, New TXST Volleyball schedule preview, Predictions for Texas State Football, and NBA Summer league/debates. Be sure to catch Claws to the Wall [...]
By Adrianna Elias Music Journalist Dominic Fike’s highly anticipated sophomore album, “Sunburn,” delves into the depths of nostalgia, personal struggles, and growth. With a series of well-received singles, collaborations, and his rising fame, Fike prepared his listeners for a genre-defying piece of work to be a reminder of his matchless [...]
By Brendan Morrow Promotions Staff Member Among the various bars and restaurants in San Marcos, there is one that stands out from all therest. The Davenport, near downtown, is widely known for its unique architectural aesthetics and specialtydrinks. KTSW Loves is highlighting The Davenport, as it an LGBTQ and minority-owned [...]
By Preethi Mangadu News & Culture Director SAN MARCOS — Texas State University expanded its mental health services and resources by partnering with TimelyCare. TimelyCare is a 24/7 virtual care service for college students and the TXST community at no additional charge that works alongside current services at the [...]
By Colton Gibson Sports Reporter SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State University football program has caused a stir amongst Bobcat football fans. Following the selection of G.J. Kinne as the next head football coach, many changes have been made regarding the way this team looks and plays as they [...]
By David Castaneda Sports Reporter Texas State Sophomore pitcher Levi Wells becomes the highest-drafted Bobcat in over a decade after being selected on Sunday as the Orioles 4th round pick (118) of the 2023 MLB draft. Following a season with three shutout performances, 98 K’s and over 80 innings pitched, [...]
By Jewel Ogungbamigbe Local Music Journalist With summer’s highly-awaited arrival this leaves a lot of free time to do whatever you want and if you’re as much of a music lover as I am — which I’m sure you are — that means being on the lookout for any [...]
By Ezekiel Ramirez News Reporter SAN MARCOS — The U.S. Supreme Court denied President Joe Biden’s plan to relinquish student loan debt for millions of college students across America. Texas State students share personal reactions to the Supreme Court decision. “I personally, I think it’s kind of ridiculous. [...]
By Gian-Carlo Cacho Sports Reporter SAN MARCOS, Texas —The Texas State men’s basketball program is welcoming five new Bobcats to San Marcos for the 2023-2024 season. Earlier this summer head coach, Terrence Johnson announced the addition of five new players to the team. So, who are the newest Bobcats? Chris [...]
By Victoria Garcia Blog Content Contributor SAN MARCOS, Texas– When it’s time to deal with the summer heat, I always crave an iced sweet treat. That’s why when my roommate told me she knew about a Michoacana in San Marcos, I knew I had to go and get myself a [...]
By Diego Gonzalez Blog Content Contributor On Sunday, June 25, Lazy Daze cafe in San Marcos hosted its first-ever drag brunch. A drag brunch is a show where the audience can enjoy a typical brunch-style menu while also watching drag queens perform on stage. While the drag show was [...]
By Preethi Mangadu News & Culture Director SAN MARCOS—A former Texas State undergraduate student has been arrested as part of a years-long investigation into the cause of the 2018 Iconic Village Apartments fire that killed five people and severely injured others. Authorities announced Jacobe De Leon OShea Ferguson, 30, who [...]
By Roly Meza Music Journalist TW: Suicide, Death, Drug Abuse, Mental Disorders Some say Metallica is having a type of resurgence with the younger generation partly due to the iconic Eddie Munson scene in Netflix hit show Stranger Things. Now you can see young kids sporting a Master of Puppets [...]
By Ariana Mendoza Music Journalist Leland Tyler Wayne, popularly known as Metro Boomin, is nothing new to the music industry. He has created many hits since he first started his career in 2009 at age 16. Metro moved to Atlanta after his mixtapes received a lot of attention from big [...]
By Kadence MaKenna Assistant Copy Editor If you’re anything like me, summer is a perfect opportunity to start forming new habits and challenging yourself to try new things. Rather than scrolling on TikTok for the rest of the summer, I’ve prioritized finding new ways to enjoy spending time outside. [...]
By Diego Gonzales Music Journalist It is very hot in Texas right now. Temperatures are consistently reaching triple digits as a record-breaking heat wave is affecting multiple southern states. Given these circumstances, I thought it would help to make a playlist that one could listen to and pretend it’s the [...]
By Rebecca Morrow Promotions Team Member If I had to recommend one place to visit during your stay in San Marcos, it would be for sure The Meadows Center at Spring Lake on Aquarena Springs! The Meadows Center has been a huge part of Texas State University and the [...]
By Lou Wharton Blog Content Contributor As we approach the Fourth of July, San Martians may be wondering what they can do to celebrate the National Holiday. For anyone who loves watching fireworks race through the night sky, you’re in luck – San Marcos has a fireworks show coming [...]
By Thomas Stevens Rap/Hip-hop Journalist The Rap trio, Planet Giza, has once again crafted a mind-blowing experience that gives listeners a taste of multiple genres. Planet Giza consists of three members, Singer/Songwriter Tony Stone and producers DoomX and Rami B. The trio was formed back in 2012 coming out of [...]
By Tyson Taylor Music Journalist Throughout its history, Texas State University has produced elite talent in various fields, from 36th President Lydon B. Johnson to Olympic Gold Medalist Charles Austin. Texas State alumni are leaving the university ambitiously driven and aiming for the stars. However, one field that I feel [...]
By Michael Ybarra Music Journalist Laufey, pronounced Lay-vey, is an Icelandic-born artist who has brought jazz and bossa nova to Generation Z with an orchestral twist. She was inducted into the music industry via TikTok — a common gateway these days — and she has been stealing hearts ever since. [...]
By Danielle De Lucia News Reporter The San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District is implementing a school marshal program this upcoming school year. On April 17, board members voted six-one in favor of the program to have armed marshals at the district elementary schools. The schools included in this program [...]
By Adrianna Elias Music Journalist As a music journalist, I have the privilege of attending various concerts and capturing the essence of live performances. The first article I wrote for the station was about Q Marsden and how finding his music was something that held me together through the pandemic. [...]
By Preethi Mangadu News & Culture Director SAN MARCOS—The City of San Marcos is set to enter Stage 3 drought restrictions on Sunday at noon. San Marcos began drought restrictions on March 13, 2022. The city increased to Stage 2 restrictions on April 17, 2022. This is San Marcos’s [...]
By Blaire Bussey Music Journalist Up-and-coming musical artist Love Moor, known by some for her smooth vocals and by others for her soulful sound, has recently released her very own EP titled Love on March 15. The EP has a unique and energetic R&B sound, and even the more mellow [...]
By Jade Jacobo Web Content Contributor The Merfolk Moxie Reproductive Rights Festival took place at Private Park on June 24! There were live drag performances, a live musical performance, pop up stands selling all kinds of treats and goods and activists providing more information on why reproductive rights are so [...]
By Deacon Wolfe Music Journalist Kayo Dot is a strange band. Despite having a nearly twenty-year tenure, with a whopping ten albums under their belt, they have managed to stay in the underground for their entire career. It is this that I believe to be the biggest tragedy in all [...]
By Diego Gonzales Blog Content Contributor On June 14, Miriam McCoy passed away. McCoy’s name is undoubtedly familiar to anyone that has been to Texas State University. She is the co-namesake of both McCoy Hall and the McCoy College of Business. McCoy and her late husband, Emmett, are responsible for [...]
By Victoria Garcia Blog Content Contributor SAN MARCOS, Texas– June is pride month! There are multiple pride events happening all month long, but it doesn’t only exist in June. Pride should be celebrated all year long! That’s the goal of SMTX Pride. SMTX Pride started off with “Rainbow Nights” which [...]
By Ezekiel Ramirez News Reporter Heat has been severely affecting Hays County. Heat indices have unexpectedly been between 108-114, which can make day-to-day routines difficult to comprehend. During these dog days, it’s important to be cautious and take safety precautions to prevent a misadventure to occur. On June 20, ERCOT [...]
By Thomas Terry Sports Reporter SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State University football program is excited to announce the addition of several talented players to its roster for the upcoming season. These incoming transfers hail from top-notch football programs across the country and are expected to make an immediate [...]
Jewel Ogungbamigbe Local Music Journalist I was fortunate enough to see one of my favorite bands ever, Duster, perform this past Thursday through the Oblivion Access Festival which took place at several different venues across Austin, one of them being the Empire Control Room and Garage where said band performed. [...]
Michael Ybarra Music Journalist TW: Discussions of sexual assault In an overcrowded sea of albums, most of which seek to steal five minutes of virality, one can yearn for the truly transformative. Leith Ross’s debut album, To Learn, released on May 19, fulfills this quota perfectly, and if people are [...]
Lou Wharton Blog Content Contributor There’s a new shop on the block – Super Bloom Tattoo Studio, owned and run by tattoo artist Braeden Córdova. Located just down the road at 102 Whitetail Drive, Ste. 200, San Marcos, Córdova hopes to bring the joy of tattoos from Austin to San [...]
By Natalia Velazquez Music Journalist With Father’s Day coming up on June 18th, it’s important that we take some time to appreciate the odd-ballish men that helped shape some of us into who we are today. This playlist was made with every stereotype of a dad in mind, from those [...]
By Jade Jacobo Blog Content Contributor Earlier this year, one of the many respected clubs on The Square officially reopened after being closed for months due to construction delays. The Marc is back and better than ever! Multiple renovations were added to the venue, including a new backdrop screen and [...]
By Danielle De Lucia News Reporter The San Marcos River has been in drought for three years. The rainy season has passed in central Texas, and the river still has not made up for the water loss. Those caring for the river have not seen levels this low in about [...]
By Tyson Taylor Music Journalist It has been three long years since the fans of King Krule have received any new music. However, that long wait is over as King Krule released his fourth studio album, Space Heavy, on June 9. King Krule’s latter album, Man Alive!, was released in [...]
By Roly Meza Music Journalist It was a typical Austin Friday night walking through 6th Street into the iconic Stubbs venue. There was the begging broken homeless, the dressed-up bachelorettes celebrating their big night, and the music-hungry beats making their way to a show. I was part of the latter [...]
By Kadence MaKenna Assistant Copy Editor The drag community is joining in on the Pride Month celebrations in San Marcos, Texas. The month of June is filled with events to honor the LGBTQIA+ community and their ongoing achievements. People around the world join together to celebrate Pride Month [...]
By Ezekiel Ramirez News Reporter SAN MARCOS- On May 16, 2023, the San Marcos City Council approved a renegotiated Meet and Confer agreement between the San Marcos Police Department and the San Marcos Police Officers’ Association (SMPOA). The renegotiated agreement is currently in effect, producing multiple opinions from residents [...]
By Richard Prasedyoko Sports Reporter The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) has unveiled the 24 players selected to represent the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) in the upcoming 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals. Notably, the team is still without a permanent manager following the Berhalter-Reyna drama. In the interim, BJ [...]
By Diego Gonzales Blog Content Contributor oSTEM (out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is a national and non-profit association that has over 100 student chapters in universities all across the country. Since 2005, the organization has been committed to fostering a safe and supportive community for LGBTQIA+ students and [...]
By Victoria Garcia Blog Content Contributor SAN MARCOS, Texas– As a two-year resident of San Marcos I often forget how much of a hot spot San Marcos is, especially during the summer season. Not only is it a hot spot for students on vacation, but also migrating birds! Both people [...]
By Danielle De Lucia News Reporter On June 19th, 1865, General Gordon Granger of the U.S. Union Army came to the Aston Villa in Galveston, Texas. He came to announce the Emancipation Proclamation which signified the start of freedom in America for African Americans. On that day, slaves were freed [...]
By Savannah Lopez Blog Content Contributor The long-awaited end of the spring semester has passed, and I am excited for the summer ahead. There are lots of things you can do to make the most out of your summer, but in case you’re fresh out of ideas, here are six [...]
By Richard Prasedyoko
Sports Reporter
It has been four months since American soccer coach Jesse Marsch was fired by Leeds United, and weeks after three American players, Tyler Adams, Brenden Aaronson and Weston McKennie played their last match for the 2022/2023 English Premier League season.
At the start of Marsch’s appointment on February 28, 2022, as Leeds United manager was not openly welcomed by the West Yorkshire fans, as he succeeded club legend Marcelo Bielsa, who had reigned for five years and brought the Whites back to the first division in the English football league. However, during the remaining 12 matches after Marsch’s appointment, he managed to win four matches, draw three matches and lose five matches, accruing 15 points. This secured Leeds United’s position outside the relegation zone and kept them in the first division. He was then compared to the fictional character from the Apple TV show, Ted Lasso, as they are both American managers who have done well in managing a Premier League team.
In the next preseason the Wisconsin native took charge, the club backed him financially by bringing in two American midfielders, Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson. The club also signed a few promising young players, including Luis Sinisterra, Rasmus Kristensen, Marc Roca and Wilfried Gnonto. However, Adams and Aaronson had big shoes to fill as two of their star players, Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips, were bought by Barcelona and Manchester City, respectively.
As the season began, Marsch struggled to find the right balance between attacking and defending. In the first half of the season, the Princeton alumni only managed to win four out of 16 matches while in charge. As patience wore thin among fans and board members, the club brought in another American midfielder, Weston McKennie, from the Italian giant Juventus. McKennie’s box-to-box traits and high energy were crucial in helping Marsch retain his job. However, after a match against Nottingham Forest ended in a loss with no goals scored, despite three Americans on the team sheet, Leeds United decided to let Marsch go.
Marsch’s termination was controversial. Some fans were eager to see him go, while others, including pundits, were surprised by the news, blaming the players’ lack of intensity and dullness in front of goal for Marsch’s departure from Leeds United. With 12 matches remaining, Leeds changed managers three times to replace Marsch, but ultimately finished second to last, resulting in relegation to the second division for the 2023/2024 season.
As Marsch looks for employment elsewhere, the four American players are also keen to move after the relegation. McKennie’s loan spell ends, and he will return to Juventus. Adams has garnered significant interest from clubs in England, Germany, Italy and Spain, while Aaronson is likely to leave as he has a relegation release clause, allowing him to leave if the club drops down to the second division. Meanwhile, Marsch has been heavily linked to managing a French Ligue 1 club, AS Monaco, staying in England to manage the newly relegated Southampton, or filling the vacant managerial position in the US national team.
Featured Image by Steffen Prößdorf, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
By Daven Meredith
Sports Reporter
The University of Louisiana defeated Texas State 12-6 in an elimination game for the Sun Belt tournament title in Montgomery, Alabama, ending their 2023 season.
The Bobcats finished (36-23) overall and 17-13 in the conference play, placing them fifth behind the Ragin Cajuns in the Sun Belt.
The Bobcats are on the outside looking in on their second chance at a College World Series run. Though the season has ended, the Bobcats campaign saw a historical program and individual achievements throughout the season.
Coach Steven Trout became the fastest coach in program history to reach 100 wins midway through the season.
Several of Trout’s wins came against ranked opponents. The Bobcats took wins against several ranked teams, including Texas, TCU, UTSA and Southern Miss.
The offensive production paved the way for the Bobcat’s success. With the team recording the second-highest number of home runs in program history.
Bobcats Freshman Chase Mora led the Bobcats in home runs with 17, setting the record for the number of home runs recorded by a Freshman in Bobcat baseball history, surpassing the previous record set by Tyler Sibley in 2009.
“The crazy part is he is just now coming into his own from a hitters standpoint,” Trout said. “He hit with power early, but now he is just becoming an overall better hitter at the plate.”
Shortstop Davis Powell led the team in hits and batting average with 62 hits on the year and a 337 batting average to go with it.
Outfielder Jose Gonzalez led the team in RBI with 60 and showed off his speed leading the Bobcats with 11 stolen bases. Gonzalez also recorded the second most home runs on the team with 13 to end his senior season. Gonzalez told The University Star what they did this year was special.
“I think what we’ve done this season is special because we haven’t had our best every game,” Gonzalez said. “I mean, it just shows you how much talent, like raw talent is on this team.”
The Bobcats’ pitching didn’t go without notice this season. RHP Toni Robbie led the Bobcats with a 4.33 ERA, while RHP Levi Wells led the team with 98 strikeouts.
Wells was awarded to the second team all Sun Belt team and Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week on Apr. 17. RHP Triston Dixon led the team in saves and was honored for his performance in the Sun Belt tournament to the All-Tournament team.
The home runs, strikeouts, and success on the field brought the San Marcos and Texas State community to the stands at Bobcat BallPark this season, breaking the all-time single-season game attendance record against the Texas Longhorns on Apr. 10.
“It was an awesome atmosphere,” Trout said. “You wanna make fun and exciting couldn’t be more proud of the fans for showing up and getting after it; thanks for the fans coming out .”
The Bobcat’s success on the field also transitioned into the classroom. The Bobcats recorded the highest spring semester GPA in program history.
Concluding the season and semester means a handful of seniors will have played their last game in maroon and gold. RHP Zeke Wood, who spent the past three seasons with the Bobcats, spoke on the States Up Podcast on what it means to be a senior and his last moments on the mound at Bobcat BallPark.
“Once I got off the mound, it hit me,” Wells said. “Once I got the curtain call and started heading to the dugout. That was pretty awesome. That was it; it was a special moment I will never forget.
Notable Seniors:
- Center fielder Ben McClain
- Right fielder Jose Gonzalez
- RHP Zeke Wood
- RHP Trisotn Dixon
- RHP Nathan Medrano
- RHP Reece Gould
- RHP Cameron Bush
- Catcher Peyton Lewis
- LHP Autin Smith
With the 2023 season wrapped up. With program milestones in attendance, coaching, and player performance, the Bobcats look to regroup over the off-season and be well-prepared for the 2024 season.
Featured Image by Beau Kelly.**
By Lillian Jones
Local Music Director
On Sunday, May 21st, Bluekeys Magazine presented their “Fresh Meat” event at Mohawk in Austin, giving a platform to newly developed bands. The lineup was a whiplash of genres ranging from shoegaze to hardcore punk/screamo from young and passionate artists. Friends, family and Austin locals sold out the event to support the up-and-coming bands.
Dollhouse at the Fresh Meat event. | Caroline VirginiaDollhouse
Luckily for me, I was able to score a super exclusive interview with the members of Dollhouse to get all of the important information about the band as well as the unimportant information such as if each member had to eat a pound of bugs, what bug they would choose. Crickets was almost a unanimous answer with the exception of Brooke who said, “Ladybugs because they are like mini M&Ms”.
Dollhouse is a very recently formed Shoegaze/Dream-pop band that unfortunately plans to only last the summer. While the group will be short-lived due to Brooke going to NYU, Nathan going to Texas A&M, and Jack and Keaton staying in Austin, Jack informed me that they do plan to play more shows in the near future as well as releasing music on Spotify after a name change – possibly Frog Stew, but yet to be decided. If you’re a fan of Cocteau Twins, Black Country New Road, Mazzy Star and Slowdive, then seeing them perform should be added to your summer bucket list!
Killer Tits at the Fresh Meat event. | Asahel OrandayKiller Tits
Killer Tits includes four 15-year-old girls having fun and spreading the message of Riot Grrrl. The group went from playing shows in the Austin tunnels and backyards to being on stage at Mohawk where lead vocalist Reyn’s natural stage presence took the spotlight – literally. While the young girls have time to grow, they are already an impressive group that carries a raw, carefree energy. The set was mixed with covers of “Fell In Love With a Girl” by The White Stripes, “Black Sheep” by Metric and “Blah Blah Blah” by Girlpool as well as an abundance of originals.
Many of their songs include vulgar messages of feminism as the Riot Grrrl genre tends to do. “Smack Yr Mommy” was an original that stuck out to me as the song was about moms not teaching their sons how to treat women with respect. If you’re a fan of bands such as Mommy Long Legs, Bikini Kill, Bratmobile and Jack Off Jill, I highly suggest you check out Killer Tits!
Vice In The Doorway at the Fresh Meat event. | Asahel OrandayVice In The Doorway
Vice in the Doorway is a post-punk and jangle pop-inspired band that is sure to entertain. The set opened with a four-minute-long video compilation of black and white surreal gothic imagery with classic opera music in the background, ending with the band’s name presented on the screen. On stage, there was just as much dancing coming from frontman Christian as there was in the crowd. Beyond the theatrics, this was only the group’s second show despite it feeling like it was their hundredth. The bassist, Oscar, guitarist, Hayden and drummer, Rob are definitely not overshadowed as you catch glimpses of their individual talents throughout the set. Notably at the end of the set, they mixed an original song with “Barbarism Begins at Home” by the Smiths where Oscar performed the bassline famously performed by Andy Rourke while Christian pretended to be Morrissey. If you’re looking to be transported back in time to 1980s England, then these are the guys to see.
The Jeans at the Fresh Meat event. | Caroline VirginiaThe Jeans
The Jeans is a blues rock band that got to play their very first show on Sunday night. This show was a setlist full of covers, though they plan to expand into their own songs for further shows. All four guys shared the stage with an equal balance to show off their individual talents. A plethora of guitar, bass and drum solos kept the audience entertained throughout the thirty minutes. Notably, it was also bassist Nick’s birthday, so the audience made sure to show off their own musical talents by singing him Happy Birthday. I was thoroughly impressed by the end of their set and am excited to see how they progress as a band, especially when they begin including originals into the mix. If you’re a fan of classic rock and appreciate a bit of southern blues then I highly suggest seeing these cowboy hat-wearing rockers.
Lid at the Fresh Meat event. | Asahel OrandayLid
Unfortunately, as it grew closer to midnight, the crowd began to disperse and became noticeably sparse; this, however, did not stop the hardcore screamo band Lid from going all out. With a set lasting only ten minutes long, the band went through their songs back-to-back and with force. During the first song, vocalist Andrew stage-dived into the crowd to get a mosh pit started, getting all of the leftover energy out of the remaining crowd. Vocalist Andrew’s non-stop fry-screaming, Joey’s screeching bass and Seth’s pounding drums made sure that the crowd would be going home with ringing ears. Overall, they gave me a pretty good impression of what a hardcore show is like, and I now want to go to another one as soon as possible.
Bluekeys Magazine events are always a great time and are becoming a staple in connecting the Austin community. Giving a platform to small bands is important in the music community and I would love to see more events just like this one. Overall, the night was filled with a wide variety of music, dancing and supporting local bands!
To keep updated on any upcoming Bluekeys Magazine events follow their Instagram @bluekeysmag
Also, follow the bands!
Dollhouse – @dollhouseatx
Killer Tits – @killer.t1ts
Vice In The Doorway – @viceinthedoorway
The Jeans – @thejeansatx
Lid – @lidisgone
By Lillian JonesLocal Music DirectorAs you celebrate the end of the semester, with the temperature rising and the bugs becoming more apparent, there’s only one question to ask yourself – who just made the song of the summer? Luckily for you, you won’t have to tap through your old high school SoundCloud rapper’s Snapchat story to find the song of the summer because I have curated 10 songs by local artists that you should add to your summer playlist.
Imagine Hearts – Ringo Deathstarr
This one is for all my shoegaze-loving freaks out there! Ringo Deathstarr not only has an awesome band name, but they also make awesome music. The music group was originally formed by Elliott Frazier in Beaumont, Texas in 2005, but is now based in Austin. Don’t let the genre of shoegaze fool you, the song “Imagine Hearts” is still an upbeat and colorful experience perfect for the summer season. Mixtures of guitar, tambourine and fun lyricism creates sounds that are sure to boost your serotonin levels. If you like the song, I also highly suggest listening to the full Colour Trip album as it maintains that upbeat energy all throughout.
Moo Moo – Party Van
Although Party Van is a garage rock band from Austin that formed in 2015, the band officially released their debut album just this last year. The album Large Water is full of songs with just the right amount of angst, guitar, and soft and raw vocals to make you want to get outside and pretend your life is a coming-of-age movie (as one does). The band’s song “Moo Moo” is one of their most popular songs, rightfully so, and is the perfect tune to drive around town with the windows down, annoyingly making sure everyone around you knows you have great music taste.
Lie To Me – Die Spitz
Would this really be a KTSW local article if Die Spitz wasn’t mentioned once? As much as the band is talked about, a few of their songs have already gone overlooked! This summer we’re taking it back to their 2022 EP, The Revenge Of Evangeline, with the song, “Lie To Me”. This song has it all; from the catchy chorus to grunge instrumentals – it deserves more recognition. And of course, angst doesn’t go away with the cold weather, making this a perfect song for those angsty summer days.
Worms Against Humanity – Witches Exist
I’m going to be honest; I mostly put this song because the name makes me giggle – and because it’s a good song, I guess. Witches Exist is a self-proclaimed “cow-gaze” band from Austin that formed just last year in 2022. This track in particular has a slight cowboy feel to it while still being reminiscent of the shoegaze genre that I can’t help but appreciate. “Worms Against Humanity” is the perfect tune for a Texas summer sippin’ on ice tea on a wrap-around porch (but instead it is a twisted tea on the balcony of your overpriced apartment).
Cross-Eyed – Window Shop
The most local band out of the bands so far, Window Shop, is one of San Marcos’ many beloved bands. The indie rock band infuses elements of jazz to create a mellow energy building from Nora’s energetic keyboard and vocals. This song fits many summer scenarios; from relaxing by the river to walking downtown with your friends. If you’re in San Marcos this summer, I highly suggest you try to see them live!
Carpop – Daydream Twins
If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Daydream Twins just played at KTSW’s recent Third Thursday event on April 20th. Although I was unable to see their performance, they are definitely on my list of local bands to see live. I originally found Daydream Twins on TikTok – unfortunate, I know – and was super surprised to find out they were from Austin! The band started in August of 2020 and has since gained a generous amount of popularity. The song, “Carpop” is one of the slower songs on this list exhibiting a more relaxed summer, perfect for those sunny river days.
Greg Abbott’s Maxi Pad – Sludge
As of right now, this is the only song that Sludge has released. Sludge is an Austin band that I believe should be on everyone’s list of bands to see live. Their playful and chaotic energy not only is present in person, but also in their music. The song, “Greg Abbott’s Maxi Pad”, features a theme mocking the Texas governor’s decisions on reproductive rights that are blended well with silly lyrics and instrumentals reminiscent of surf-rock. They recently announced on Instagram that they will be releasing more music in the near future and I’m impatiently waiting for that day to come.
Red & White – Arbordae
Another San Marcos-based band, Arbordae, has been releasing music since 2020 and is a name I’ve seen quite frequently. The song “Red & White,” is more of a slower-paced one, ideal for those cooler summer nights. The song is especially appealing if you’re a fan of bands such as Duster or Car Seat Headrest as I found it had a similar sound and energy. The band’s EP Pine/Gnomon is overall a great collection of songs for those slower summer days.
Burglar For You – Gus Baldwin
Another fast-paced and angsty song from an Austin band, except Gus Baldwin is a one-man band! Sometimes more members are added on-stage to create Gus Balwin and The Sketch (The Sketch for short). While I have yet to see him live, he is high on my list of bands to see as Baldwin simultaneously plays the drums, guitar and vocals during his one-man performances. The song, “Burglar For You,” is fast-paced and great for a needed boost of energy during equally chaotic summer days.
Another Morning Stoner – Trail Of Dead
Last – but definitely not least – we have one of my favorite songs of all time. Having grown up on Trail Of Dead, I knew I had to include one of their songs. Trail Of Dead have been Austin locals since 1994 but sadly announced a hiatus just two months ago. A great introductory song to the band, “Another Morning Stoner,” turns twenty-one this year, following its 2002 release. The rock song begins with a build-up to Conrad Keely’s raw vocals and energetic instrumentals. So what makes it specifically good for the summer? I don’t know – just listen to it because I said so!
These songs are all ones that I enjoy made by bands I enjoy and hopefully you will too. Have an epic summer, stay hydrated and support local bands!
By Ashley Farnie
Assistant Music Director
Last year I spent my summer studying abroad in Cork, Ireland, as you know if you have kept up with my writing! Before embarking on the international journey, my professor recommended a post-punk show in Kinsale that I immediately requested coverage for. You can read about my first time seeing M(H)AOL perform here!
The band traveled to Austin this spring for South by Southwest and were lovely to allot for an interview after their performance at the festival’s Irish showcase. I have kept up with the band via email and social media since our meeting in July, but this was the first time I got to sit down with all 5 members and discuss the band and the music in-depth. M(H)AOL’s noisy, impassioned sound is powered by vocalist and songwriter Róisín Nic Ghearailt, drummer Constance (Connie) Keane, producer, guitarist, and keyboardist Jamie Hyland, bassist Zoë Greenway, and guitarist Sean Nolan.
M(H)AOL performs SXSW 2023. | Ashley FarnieConnie explained the significance of the band’s name which originates from “an Irish pirate queen, called Gráinne Mhaol; but in the Irish language when you put an “H” after an “M” it turns into a “W” sound, so that’s why the “H” is in brackets. When I was 21, I thought that was a very clever play on words.” M(H)AOL formed nearly 8 years ago with a brief intermission during their beginning stages. The band has established themselves as a progressive force within the Irish music scene and their travels to Austin for SXSW will surely introduce them to new audiences.
When I saw the band perform last summer I was awestruck by the unique elements throughout their performance. From Zoë’s use of a bow on her bass, to Sean’s backward-facing guitar playing, to Connie’s minimalistic drum set, I had so many questions saved up for my next personal encounter with M(H)AOL.
M(H)AOL performs SXSW 2023. | Ashley FarnieConnie: “In terms of the instrumentation of the record…I started playing the drums when I was 9, I had my first drum lesson on my 9th birthday, and then by the time I turned 26 I wanted to push myself to be more creative with it. Drummers that I love, it’s a less is more approach, so I got rid of half my drum kit to push myself to think about the instrument and how to create new sounds with it maybe in a way that wasn’t initially intended. My drumming is influenced by electronic music; it’s not really influenced by punk drumming. Jamie records, produces, mixes, and masters all of the music, so a lot of the sounds musically are coming from initial ideas that Jamie would’ve had.”
Jamie: “It’s less going from ideas and more responding to Roisin, because she’ll lyrically set the tone and ask for a particular mood. Then it’s just a case between the rest of us going like ‘what if I make this noise and you make that noise. Does that kind of match the mood you’re looking for?’ It seems to work, so…”
Zoë: “There’s a lot of natural expression in orchestrating the songs. I don’t know if you guys notice, but “Bisexual Anxiety,” I play that different every time going off how Róisín is speaking and intonating certain sentences and words. I find that avenue so much fun, going through an expressive way rather than following a formula or a genre. It’s just see[ing] what comes out of a natural, present moment.”
Róisín: “For the songwriting process, I write everything in my notes app. Actually, the entirety of Attachment Styles was written in my notes app, and, because I’m not a musician but I am a writer, I think a lot about syntax… I think it’s very important to give yourself space to percolate and to marinate on things, but I think it’s also easier for me because I’m not trying to say, ‘this is C Minor to D Major,’ or ‘this is how many beats.’ I have certain things I want to talk about, kind of my main agendas. I really believe in my core that we are not all liberated until we are all liberated. All the permutations of the world, they all are linked.”
M(H)AOL performs SXSW 2023. | Ashley FarnieWith a band name inspired by an Irish queen, a debut EP titled Gender Studies, and debut album exploring Attachment Styles, the presence of political advocacy and human rights is at the forefront of M(H)AOL’s musical philosophy; however, the limitations of the male-dominated music industry make this quite the feat.
As Jamie explains, “the fact that [M(H)AOL] is four women participating in a space that is heavily male dominated” should “act as a small little helve on the stone path on the way to equality. It’s hard to make yourself turn out to do it all the time because it’s hard to see the progress.”
Róisín expresses similar sentiments, agreeing that “a lot of our audience is men of a certain kind of genre… it doesn’t seem to have such a huge impact on them and even someone may come and see us, listen to what we’re saying, cheer when we say something political, but then they don’t make any concrete changes.”
M(H)AOL performs SXSW 2023. | Ashley FarnieAlthough the band confronts these issues in their lyrics, there seems to be a disconnect between their audience and their message. The band discussed the positive growth of the Irish music scene as of late and Connie explained, “when we started, there were hardly any women in the Irish music scene, it felt very DIY/local. We weren’t on lineups with many women, there wasn’t much thought being put into that; but when we came back at the end of 2019, it did feel like there had been a bit of progress in those few years where we have ended up on lineups with women and more gender minorities.”
M(H)AOL performs SXSW 2023. | Ashley FarnieDespite the progression within the scene of a diversely gendered population of creatives, the industry itself remains male-dominated and exclusive.
Róisín: “On this lineup, and lots of lineups we’ve been on, it seems like there’s lots of women on it, and you go and most of the instrumentations are men that can make money off of making music. Because it’s so difficult to make money as a band now, it is very sanitized, and it feels difficult.”
Zoë: “I find that even sometimes in the reception of the music videos…there’s been so much thought, and experimentation, and pushing towards something new, and progressive, and that is ignored; like “Period Sex” was shadow-banned when it came out…it’s picking and choosing what you’re supporting and what you’re talking about, not embracing the full thing.”
Connie: “I find that music has influenced my politics massively, so all I can do is hope that what we’re doing is doing that for other people. But I think with what we’re doing, you have to have an inherent level of optimism. You can’t guarantee that it’s going to influence anybody, but the fact that we’re doing it is enough of a sign of hope that maybe it will do something, but it doesn’t…the thing with art is that you don’t actually know what its’ going to do. All you can do as an artist is put something out into the world. How people receive that is their own business. We can’t really comment beyond us making the thing and putting it out.”
M(H)AOL performs SXSW 2023. | Ashley FarnieM(H)AOL’s continual progress over eight years demonstrates their passion for equality within the music industry and for all. I am so grateful to have been introduced to this band last year. Every conversation I have had with the members has been intentional, compassionate, and authentic. Their musical talents and stellar characters are sure to continue their rise to post-punk power across the world.
M(H)AOL performs SXSW 2023. | Ashley FarnieSupport M(H)AOL’s latest release and debut album, Attachment Styles, on streaming services and follow the band on socials to stay up to date!
Instagram: @mhaolmusic
By Daven Meredith
Sports Reporter
Bobcats left fielder Jose Gonzalez homers as the Bobcats defeat the Georgia State Panthers in game one of their three-game series 8-7 at Bobcat Ballpark.
Gonzalez hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to give the Bobcats their first lead of the game, and the eventual win. Improving their record to (31-16) on the season and (13-9) in Sun Belt play. The Panthers fall to (24-23) overall and (11-11) in the Sun Belt.
Gonzalez went 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run and 3 RBI. Gonzalez says trust in his teammates in the dugout is the key to the Bobcat’s success.
“It’s a lot of trust in ourselves, “Gonzalez said. “Chase Mora gets it done every time, same with Dylan Pena and Rashawn Gallaway. We have a young team, but we trust and have faith in each other.
Texas State coach Steven Trout said it took all phases of the game to get the win Friday.
“It’s May Baseball in the Sun Belt,” Trout said. “Not everything was perfect tonight, but we found ways. It took a little bit of everything: good pitching, good plays, and timely hitting.”
The Bobcats’ pitching got off to a rough start. Ace pitcher Levi Wells got the start on the mound, giving up three home runs in the first inning, but would keep the Bobcats alive until the top of the sixth, striking out five batters.
“Today was a tough day to pitch. They hit a lot of home runs,” Trout said. “Wells just kept pitching, and he got us into the sixth. He gave us a chance.”
In the bottom of the seventh, down by three, Gonzalez and Pene would hit back-to-back home runs to give the Bobcats the lead.
The Bobcats had three home runs Friday, with Mora hitting his team-leading 14th home run of the year in the bottom of the fourth. The total places him in a tie for 10th in team history for a season with David Wood (2007) and John Wuthrich (2022). Trout said that Mora is just coming into his own.
“Moras is having a great year,” Trout said. “The crazy part is he is just now coming into his own from a hitters standpoint. He hit with power early, but now he is just becoming an overall better hitter at the plate.”
Bobcat right-handed pitcher Triston Dixon was awarded the win, while lefty Jackson Stroud was given the save as the Bobcats held off a late Panther comeback taking game one 8-7.
Friday’s win marks the 11th time this season that the Bobcats have won by one run. Coach Trout attributes the fight to the team’s dedication and toughness.
“These guys work hard,” Trout said. “They put in a lot of time and effort; they’re never gonna lay down on Friday night, especially at our home field. They are competitive and tough guys. A really good baseball game, just glad we found a way to win it.”
The Bobcats look to continue their momentum in their next matchup in game two of their three-game series against the Panthers Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Bobcat BallPark.
Featured Image by Beau Kelly.
By Maddy Lehr
Music Journalist
When I heard the news that Wednesday was going on tour and making a stop in Austin, I knew at that moment that I had to be there. As one of my favorite bands ever, I was so honored to have seen them live. To make matters even better, they toured with Cryogeyser, another insanely amazing band.
Cryogeyser performs to a full crowd at Mohawk Austin. | Maddy LehrWhen I arrived, there was a line out the door just to get inside Mohawk, the venue for the night. Once I made it inside, I had to maneuver through a huge crowd of people to make it to the stage. I could feel everyone’s excitement as we patiently waited for the show to begin. At eight on the dot, Cryogeyser made their way on stage. Vocalist, Shawn Marom, wore a light bluish-purple sheer dress with a beautiful flower pattern. I absolutely loved that she was so joyous to be on stage performing. Marom’s voice was powerful yet calming, and the crowd loudly sang along with her.
As sad as I was to see them leave the stage once their set was over, my excitement for Wednesday quickly took over. As they made their way on stage, the crowd roared in anticipation. The band started off loud and strong with “Hot Rotten Grass Smell,” the first song on their latest album Rat Saw God.
Wednesday performs at Mohawk Austin. | Maddy LehrWednesday’s songs often start off soft, and slowly but surely pick up pace, bringing with it an abundance of noise. That is something I truly love about their music. I feel the contrast resembles female angst, especially with vocalist and guitarist, Karly Hartzman.
The crowd was so huge by the time Wednesday began playing that Hartzman mentioned it might be the biggest crowd they’ve seen yet, on tour that is. Everyone cheered in agreement. The shared love for their music was overpowering. Eventually, it was time to play some “country songs” as bandmate, Xandy, sat down at the pedal steel. Almost everyone in the audience sang along as they played “Chosen to Deserve” and “Bath County.”
Karly Hartzman of Wednesday. | Maddy LehrOne of my all-time favorite Wednesday songs is “November,” which is off of their first album titled I Was Trying to Describe You to Someone. In between songs, Hartzman mentioned their decision to add a song to the set that they hadn’t played live in a long time. I was in complete awe as they began playing. That song was none other than “November.” I can confidently say that I wasn’t expecting to hear this song, considering the release of their new album being so recent. The crowd listened in silence as if everyone was mesmerized by the music.
They ended the show with “Bull Believer,” an eight-minute song that ends with Hartzman screaming, hence playing it last. The raw emotion in her voice during this song is breathtaking. She did not disappoint as the end of the song rolled around. Waves of applause and cheering filled the venue. Simply put, with the talents of Cryogeyser and Wednesday, as well as the lovely energy from the crowd, this was the best show I have been to since the beginning of this year.
Featured Image by Maddy Lehr.
In this Monday edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Koby Jackson, Paxton Graf, Joey Gonzales and Beau Kelly discuss Bobcat Softball finishing the regular season with a series win against James Madison, Bobcat Baseball’s home series sweep Georgia State trying to get an NCAA tournament berth, Rattler Baseball advancing to the area round and the highlights from the second round of the NBA playoffs! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
By Maddy Lehr
Music Journalist
Austin Psych Fest debuted in 2008 before its name changed to “Levitation” in 2015. Since then, Levitation has taken over the psych rock scene in Austin. For the first time in eight years, Austin Psych Fest was resurrected this past April. The iconic festival did not disappoint, showcasing artists such as Melody’s Echo Chamber and Austin’s own, The Black Angels.
Los Bitchos performs at Austin Psych Fest | Image Credit: Maddy LehrI have curated a playlist consisting of some of my favorite artists featured in this year’s festival. I recommend listening and looking out for Levitation this fall, 2023!
Being Dead
Starting off with some local Austin bands, I added a few songs by Being Dead. As one of my favorite local bands, I bear to exclude them from this playlist. If ever given the chance to see them live, do it! They are extremely high-energy and make silly songs that never disappoint.
“Apostles’ Prom” – Being Dead
“Underworld” – Being Dead
“Hot Car” – Being Dead
Annabelle Chairlegs
Another local Austin band, Annabelle Chairlegs, is the epitome of Austin psych. Vocalist, Lindsey Mackin, has a strong, powerful voice that encapsulates listeners. They are often seen playing Levitation and for good reason. Listen to Annabelle Chairlegs if you like upbeat indie pop and psych rock!
“Candy Apple Red” – Annabelle Chairlegs
“Tolls (To See Me)” – Annabelle Chairlegs
“Pipeline” – Annabelle Chairlegs
Automatic
Automatic, an all-female rock band from Los Angeles, played Levitation 2022, as well as Austin Psych Fest 2023. If you’re looking for a good mixture of indie psych-rock, synth and post-punk, look no further; and support all-female bands!
“Electrocution” – Automatic
“Too Much Money” – Automatic
“NRG” – Automatic
Los Bitchos
I attended Austin Psych Fest on Sunday, which was the last day of the festival. I was by far most excited to see the lovely ladies of Los Bitchos. Just by listening to their music, I doubt anyone can tell that they are based out of London. Simply put, they make music to dance to, and that’s just what the psych fest crowd did.
“Las Panteras” – Los Bitchos
“Pista (Fresh Start)” – Los Bitchos
“Trapdoor” – Los Bitchos
I couldn’t possibly talk about each and every amazing artist that played Austin Psych Fest, so check out the playlist and bless your ears!
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4X7aUtt5mgqLV4zDuznQDH?si=71473d17090245d5
Featured Image from Maddy Lehr
By Michael Ybarra
Music Journalist
Yebba, otherwise known as Abigail Smith, careened into her music career on a Sofar stage. It was a small performance, just her and her guitarist playing a steady riff, but the audience was starstruck. Yebba’s unique agility, breathy vocal quality and intensely vulnerable lyricism left the room hooting and hollering. Even after five minutes, Yebba had them in the palm of her hand.
She does the same with her debut album Dawn. Dedicated to and named after her late mother, the album explores Yebba’s everyday trials and tribulations, much like any other Pop/R&B record, but grief, as it often does, looms in the shadows of Smith’s one-of-a-kind opus.
The album begins with “How Many Years,” a lament to her mother and grief itself. She wonders when she will finally lay her mother to rest in her mind, but this proves to be difficult, as the only moments she can once again experience her mother’s love is when she is wrapped in this blanket of grief. While it “comes and goes,” she confesses it is “always in control” of her, and before she performed the song for NPR’s Tiny Desk (Home) Concert she explains it took her and James Francies, her piano player, three whole years to write in order to fully encapsulate Yebba “holding onto [her] mom.”
Check out her Tiny Desk Concert here.
Throughout the album, Yebba wields and weaponizes this unique and universal vulnerability, and it sets her apart in an age where breakup and love songs, those with surface-level appeal anyway, seem to drown out genuinely transformational songwriting.
The second track “Stand,” showcases Yebba’s signature vocal agility. She riffs and runs anywhere and everywhere, but there is something deeper. What initially sounds like an address to a lover transforms into a question Smith is asking herself: Will she be able to withstand “the rain” of the emotions bombarding her from all sides. She admits navigating her grief will be no easy task, but it will make her stronger in the process.
Yebba’s ability to fully actualize such complex, already intangible emotions while showcasing incredible vocal techniques makes her an artist unlike any other.
Next, “Boomerang” resembles a tribal curse, fully achieved with conga tribal beats and a show-stopping, stratospheric falsetto motif. Smith had to flex her upper range just to assure the listener of how talented she is.
If “Boomerang”told of unchecked rage, “All I Ever Wanted” voices Yebba’s grievances on her come down. Lush strings and brushed snares give the listener an insight into the gravity of this lovers betrayal, or perhaps Smith’s lyrics are directed towards a much more omnipotent source. In her interview on NPR’s It’s Been A Minute podcast, she told host Sam Sanders the song chronicles her frustrations with “God allowing [her] mom” to be taken from her prematurely, adding an extra layer of nuance to her already impressive penmanship.
While symphonies of strings are impressive, monotony threatens even the most beautiful instrumentation, but Smith’s next track, “Far Away,” is percussive driven and features the renowned A$AP Rocky, a strategic, and successful, sonic switch up.
An orange dawn in San Marcos. | Michael YbarraCutting the album in half, Dawn is an instrumental with reverby wind chimes and a distant train horn which melts into October Sky. As nostalgia fuses with her grief, Yebba fully falls into remembrance of her mother shooting a rocket into the sky, an example of how such a small event can hold a strong place in the grief-stricken mind.
“Louie Bag,” featuring Smino, announces Yebba’s vow to authenticity over everything. She refuses to allow the “interviews and enterprise” to dilute her songwriting and personality for the sake of wealth and success. If she keeps creating singles and albums of Dawn’s quality, she has nothing to worry about in the success department.
Then, a nasally Yebba invites these unresolved emotions to “stay a while” in “One More Smile” before launching into “Love Came Down.” Yebba has a realization: Love is the only thing which will carry her through this period of grief. Whoever she holds onto, whether it be God, as she is a religious woman and the lyrics may suggest, or a new lover, she knows this time of uncertainty will pass.
Leaning into her typical sound yet again, “Distance” is an R&B track worthy of all the head bopping evoked from its syncopated trumpets and drumming. This is the love song of the album done in Yebba’s signature Jazz/R&B fusion with enough riffs and runs to impress even the shrewdest listener.
To tie a beautiful ribbon on the entire album’s theme of grief, Yebba ends with “Paranoia Purple.” Combining her beautiful tone and a hauntingly dissonant melody, Smith dons her mother’s persona seemingly before her death. Anxiety permeates every word sung as she asks if her love will find someone “like [her] Abigail” to comfort them after she is gone. From the bridge onward, Smith is back in her own body, and she releases every thought of confusion and grief left inside of her until a voicemail from her mother, stating how proud she is of her Yebba, a clever nickname bestowed as her daughter’s name backwards, brings the album to a heartbreakingly melancholic close.
Smith’s mother fell victim to suicide shortly after her Sofar stage debut, and this was her chance to lay all her emotions on the table, to tell listeners who might be dealing with grief they are not alone. This was her chance to advocate for mental health in a permanent body of work, and from its almost taboo subject matter to its instrumentation and strategically ordered track list this album is practically perfect. It successfully illustrates Smith’s journey as she swings back and forth from grief to hope.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, call the Crisis & Suicide hotline at 988.
By McKenzie McGuire
Assistant Music Director
Before this year I had never heard of Austin Psych Fest. After seeing the eye-catching lineup and watching The Black Angels play at SXSW, I knew I had to find a way to attend the festival. The Black Angels were on the ticket for Saturday of the festival so unfortunately I didn’t get to see them again, but I was still thrilled to get to experience a day of the festival and see some of the familiar artists playing on Sunday.
I wanted to take advantage of the day and soak in all the festival had to offer so I arrived shortly after the doors opened. There were lots of merchandise booths around the venue with vinyl, apparel, and posters so there was a lot of cool stuff to look at before the music started.
Posters at the merchandise booths. | Kenlie GolleherMy favorite part of the festival was honestly the setup at the Far Out Lounge. There were two stages, the Willie stage and the Janis stage, which I thought was a charming way of representing Texas music with artists from all over the world playing at the festival. Each set alternated between the stages immediately after the other, being a perfect distance away allowing you to hear every set throughout the venue for the entire day. There was also just the right amount of people in the venue so the crowds were never overwhelming leaving ample dancing space whenever you needed to express yourself. With all of these factors in mind everyone was just… happy is the best way to describe it. Everywhere you looked people were sharing, dancing, and laughing. I strongly believe that a good setup in a festival plays one of the biggest roles in allowing this harmony to happen.
Father holds daughter on his shoulders at Austin Psych Fest. | Kate VitaOn that note, the role that takes the cake at a festival is certainly the music, and the artists I heard did not disappoint. One of my favorite sets of the day was the first set, Little Mazran. I am a sucker for some clear twangy female vocals. Lindsey Verrill delivered this alluring voice that matched all of the instruments alongside her. Accompanying herself with a banjo along with a harmonium played by Jeff Johnston and a standing bass player, adding an ideal ambiance to start the day.
After Little Mazran, the energy picked up with vibrant acts that had the whole crowd moving. Some of the standouts were the Korean group ADG7, Malian musician Vieux Farka Touré, and fresh girl band, Los Bitchos.
Los Bitchos play on the Willie stage at Austin Psych Fest. | Grace WatermanThe week prior to the festival I wanted to familiarize myself a little more with some of the artists’ discographies. Melody’s Echo Chamber released two studio albums in 2022, Unfold and Emotional Eternal. Emotional Eternal is probably what got me most excited going into Sunday. Her records paint a picture that reminds me a lot of the late 60s scene that I adore. I always fantasize about the late 60s psychedelia and what it was like to experience the decade, so I love artists like this that can further and modernize that experience in a way. This energy translated sensationally in her set. Something about her French voice and her cool energy during golden hour was the perfect combination.
Melody’s Echo Chamber performing at Austin Psych Fest. | Grace WatermanWrapping up the weekend, the Mexican American sensation, Cuco took the Willie stage. Cuco and the band entered the stage wearing cowboy hats after a five-minute trippy sound and visual intro. I think this set did a really great job of capturing the essence of the festival and was a dazzling way to end the day.
Cuco wraps up the weekend at Austin Psych Fest. | Grace Waterman
By Hannah Walls
Culture Assistant
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) heritage month, and what better way to celebrate than by listening to some tunes from AANHPI artists? Here are five artists to check out this month to honor the incredible musical contributions and influence of the AANHPI community.
Araya
I found Araya last year as a music reviewer for KTSW, and I’ve been in love with his unique sound ever since. Araya is a Thai-Chilean artist who masterfully fuses a few different genres together– most notably R&B, pop, and electronica– to create infectious beats that are sure to get stuck in your head. As I learned more about this artist, I was really impressed by his range not just as a musician, but as an artist and visionary. Araya has a background in graphic design and fashion, and I love that his creativity extends to every reach of his production. Be sure to check him out on Spotify– my personal favorite track is “Doctor.”
Run River North
Run River North is a Korean American folk-rock band, and their easygoing tunes are consistent staples of my summer playlists. Run River North incorporates folksy guitar with pop elements, all underneath beautiful, layered vocals. I love how versatile this group is, and I truly think it takes a special degree of talent to mesh lighthearted melodies with hard-hitting lyrics, but Run River North is a group that is built on the foundation of being able to capture a full range of emotions within their music. You can find Run River North on Spotify, and check out my personal picks “Wake Up” and “Somewhere.”
Raveena
I got into Raveena recently off of a friend’s recommendation, and I’m officially hooked on her sultry melodies and ethereal voice. The Indian-American artist explores many themes in her music, including healing, self-confidence and self-realization, and these themes coupled with sensual, soulful vocals feels like a warm blanket on a cold day. Raveena is insanely talented overall, and it’s clear how much passion and thought goes into her lyrics and song composition. Check Raveena out on Spotify, and listen to “If Only.”
Raveena’s 2017 EP Shanti. | Image Credit: RaveenaMass of the Fermenting Dregs
This is yet another shameless promotion of some of my personal favorite artists, but Mass of the Fermenting Dregs is a great example of a “no-skips” band for me. The Japanese punk trio’s sound is unmistakably post-hardcore with some shoegaze elements, and they manage to strike the perfect balance of angsty guitar and floaty vocals for me. As someone who primarily listens to punk, their sound is definitely different from what I usually listen to, but they scratch a particular itch and complete my playlists in a way that other bands don’t. My favorite song by Mass of the Fermenting Dregs is “She is Inside, He is Outside.” You can find them on Spotify.
Kimié
Kimié is a Native Hawaiian artist that, like other artists on this list, consistently makes it to my summer playlists. In interviews, Kimié has mentioned how important maintaining Hawaiian musical elements, and tackling tough topics like environmentalism, while exploring new genres and styles is important to her, and I love the versatility of her music. She combines unique instrumentation with clear funk and R&B influences and heavily layered soulful vocals. Her most recent album was released over 10 years ago, but in my opinion, her timeless tunes have held up. My top pick from Kimié is “Shame on You,” off of her 2013 album, and you can find her on Spotify.
Featured Image from Nettwerk Music Group
By Alfredo Camacho
Music Journalist
The city of Austin hosts many creative artists, events and general outlets that many people of any background can genuinely enjoy. A big well-known popular event that the city hosts is referred to as South by Southwest which includes a large variety of music, film and interactive media which usually participates in March. This large attraction brings in a storm of people who come from all sorts of different backgrounds, young and old, local or foreign. I can rant about all the different artists and events that came to Austin, but I want to focus on the famous British rock band, The Zombies. I had the privilege to witness one of their many concerts here in the city of Austin which was an incredible experience. The venue and show were an immersive experience for new and old fans of the band. The Zombies had also been promoting a new album they released on March 31 this year.
Austin has been the place where creative freedom and self-expression could flourish, so the people you meet there are not all the same. You will run into people who are dedicated fans of the Zombies or new listeners of the band in this city. The band was brought by SXSW (South by Southwest) to perform in Butler Metro Park which was the ideal location for such a popular band. This venue was needed because the turnout for today was huge and the whole grassy terrain was littered with rock music enthusiasts. SXSW was able to display a large performance with a nice stage for the band to play while being visible to a huge crowd. The location had many convenient attributes that I appreciated. People with their dogs and kids were able to lay on the outskirts of the crowd and still be able to enjoy the performance. If you had a sort of disability the venue still made it possible with special seating for people with those needs. SXSW made it possible for anyone to join in the fun even if you can’t hear they had a designated sign translator for the whole show!
Zombies band member shredding his guitar. | Rease YoungThe Zombies have been in the music business for a long time, so you know their performances have been nailed down to provide their best display of their music. Like I’ve mentioned before the band has a new album that was released on March 31 named, “Different Game”. Please do yourself a favor and check out the album. The project was designed for our new century of music listeners and serves a perfect contribution to the British rock listening needs we all crave. The last time The Zombies had performed with SXSW was in 2013, so I’m happy SXSW had brought them out this year for all to hear. You don’t want to miss out on next year’s SXSW event in Austin because you’ll never know who you’ll run into. Hope to see you at SXSW next year on the front row of the show!
Featured Image by Rease Young.
By Julianna Hemenway
Music Journalist
It finally happened – I saw Cartier God live in Austin at Mohawk! The lineup for this show was full of familiar faces including Yung Mijita, Lil Yawh,, i9bonsai, Hi-C, Yawns, and Coldhart. Cartier God is a part of Reptilian Club Boyz and FuturisticIdeaz and has collaborated with artists like Bladee doing experimental cloud rap. I’ve been a huge fan of Cartier God for a few years now, so going to this concert was long overdue. Not to mention, all of us fans were weathering the concert through the rain, hail, and chilly weather that Austin had in store for us that night. Despite the delays due to the weather, everyone was hyped for the performances in store for us; everyone had a great attitude! The artists were still very punctual and made the rain enjoyable for the crowd, keeping the energy up and celebrating the night.
i9bonsai sang in the rain unfazed. | Julianna HemenwayYung Mijita opened the show, DJing and encouraging everyone to dance and sing along. She continued supporting all the artists on stage throughout the show. Next up was Lil Yawh and Hi-C. Lil Yawh performed some of their many hits including these rackz, these rackz (Sped Up). The crowd jumped up and down in unison as the lights strobed and illuminated the venue. Hi-C kept the energy up, performing hits like LSD on My Tongue and Molliwhopin Xd. i9bonsai gave a heartfelt performance, singing classics like mixd up and globabee,, glo glo. I’ve loved i9bonsai since their debut years ago, so seeing this performance with the rain scattered in the wind and light was cathartic and beautiful. Yawns had a set in the middle of the show where he played emo rap and pop punk classics for everyone to sing along and dance to.
Cartier God and Lil Yawh embrace. | Julianna HemenwayOnce Cartier God got on stage, the crowd went wild. He opened with his hits, including I Want It All and Let Me Go ft. Bladee. The crowd knew every word to these songs, swaying back and forth and videoing every moment of the track. Then he started playing some of his new releases off of No Voice II, #MoonDancing and #MoreGorgeous. Cartier God was super high energy, dancing with all the artists on stage and singing his heart out to the mic. He really seemed to be having a great time performing. He met up with a ton of fans, taking pictures with whoever asked. Cartier God seemed to be very down to earth and caring with his fans.
Coldhart interacted with the crowd. | Julianna HemenwayLast but not least was Coldhart, a veteran of GothBoiClique. Coldhart is known for his work with Lil Peep and is loved and revered as an emo rap and pop punk icon. As soon as Coldhart came out, he jumped in the crowd with everyone as Never started playing. The crowd jumped in unison to the beat, singing every word and embracing Coldhart as one of their own. There was so much love in the audience, as the crowd reflected on classics like Spyro and songs he made with Lil Peep. The comradery was undeniable, Coldhart was taking videos on fans’ phones and shaking hands.
Featured Image by Julianna Hemenway.
By: Savannah Lopez
Blog Content Contributor
With all the drama surrounding the app, TikTok, it has got me and a lot of my friends thinking about its actual purpose. I will spend hours scrolling TikTok or Instagram when I’m bored instead of doing something more meaningful in my spare time.
I feel like quick viewing social media like TikTok and Instagram have shortened my attention span. In fact, I think it has shortened a lot of people’s attention spans. My friends and I half-heartedly joke about deleting TikTok, but then we think about the fear of missing out when everybody else still has it. A goal of mine for the summer is legitimately going to be deleting TikTok and maybe even Instagram.
However, the more I really think about it, I’m not missing out on much. With the hours I spend on TikTok every week, I could try to learn something new, start a hobby, or finish a book I’ve been wanting to read instead of staring at my phone screen. Our minds have a need to be constantly busy now.
The other day, I caught myself with Netflix on my television while I was trying to do homework, but then took a break to watch TikTok on my phone. At that point, I realized that it was ridiculous. I set time limits on my apps, but everyone knows that when it goes off, you just press ignore. The best solution would be to delete the apps.
The number of streaming services people subscribe to nowadays is also becoming an issue. There seems to be a new service popping up every day, as we now have Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Paramount +, Peacock, Discovery +, Prime Video, Disney +, etc. Shows and movies are constantly switching between platforms, so you have to be subscribed to multiple if you want to watch what you want to watch, when you want to watch it.
My favorite show, New Girl, has been on Netflix for years, but just this past month, it was taken off and put on Hulu, making die-hard New Girl fans subscribe to Hulu. These streaming services make so much money that it is ridiculous. You don’t need to subscribe to thirty different services. I think everyone has realized that this is a problem, but it’s one we aren’t ready to fix yet.
Most people enjoy scrolling through TikTok and Instagram, and we like watching Netflix or HBO Max original shows, but all of these things aren’t the best in the long run. Social media is draining our minds, and streaming services are draining our bank accounts.
I will hold myself to deleting TikTok this summer though, well fingers crossed!
Featured Image from Savannah Lopez
By Harriet Bernard
Local Music Journalist
With Austin being one of the most recognizable music capitals of the world, many artists – both young and old – find their way into its lively music scene. While some artists are just getting started with their music careers, others have been in the game for years. Austin-based The Push and Shove is a five-piece band. Coming from differing musical backgrounds, each of the five band members creates their unique sound utilizing genres like country, rock, jazz, and Americana.
The 5 members of The Push and Shove.The Push and Shove consist of lead singer and songwriter Sean O’Connor, along with bassist and owner of iconic Austin bar Hole in the Wall Will Tanner, lead guitarist and my uncle Rob Bernard, drummer Bill Coresello, and keyboardist and my father Claude Bernard. The group is an example of various talents and creative visions who come together to make music for the community.
It’s easy to say that these guys want to make music for the fun of it and for their families, who are all grown up and have missed seeing their dads up onstage. Being in college, it’s sometimes hard to come down to Austin to see them perform; my family and I make an effort to attend shows and post on social media to support them when we can.
Watching my dad and his brother come from other beloved Austin bands like The Gourds and The Damnations, it’s great to see them come together with their friends to create music that roots in the nostalgia of old times. Growing up surrounded by musicians and going to shows have been some of the best memories I have, so it is important to me to see those same people still doing what they love after all these years. Even though the city is always moving on from what it used to be, the local people will always appreciate the hidden gems their music scene offers.
Their debut album The Rookie, released in 2022, contains ten tracks mixed by Chris Daddio at Donut Time Audio and mastered across the country by Tess Greenham at Clearlight Mastering in Los Angeles. The LP’s mastering was assisted by Greenham’s father, John Greenham, who has worked with notable artists such as Lady Gaga, Girl In Red, and Del Water Gap. Though The Rookie has yet to be released on streaming platforms, you can still check out the band’s debut single, “Endlessly,” on Spotify now!
The Push and Shove’s debut album, “The Rookie,” vinyl.Highlights from the album include tracks such as “Hell Of A Year” and “These Times” which celebrate how well the community has come together despite all that has happened over the past few years. With a horn trio, there is an uplifting vibe from all of the tracks that capture their audiences’ emotions when performing. One of my favorite songs is their first on the album “Play Me Something” because it’s upbeat and gives me a sense of nostalgia.
Because of the pandemic, The Push and Shove were unable to perform publicly but now perform local gigs regularly. Hole In The Wall has been their central stage since the beginning and brings in people from all over the city. The band first began playing a few gigs here and there in 2021 though their recent performance during SXSW certainly helped them gain traction. O’Connor often hosts rehearsals and makes dinner for the members and their families. The band makes it known that they wouldn’t be anywhere without their family and friends and with their support The Push and Shove are able to make music for Austinites and anyone who enjoys a little bit of everything.
In this Monday edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Koby Jackson and JP Flanagan discuss Bobcat Baseball’s extra inning series clincher, Bobcat Softball’s offensive win over Marshall , NFL Draft Recap and previews of Suns vs Nuggets and Heat vs Knicks series! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday and Friday! Live on KTSW 89.9!
In this Wednesday edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Koby Jackson, Taylor Cuen, Thomas Terry and Orlando Smart discuss Bobcat Baseball’s win over Prairie View A&M, Bobcat Softball’s series sweep over ULM Warhawks ahead of Baylor and NBA First round madness! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday and Friday! Live on KTSW 89.9!
By Kyle Owen
Sports Reporter
Junior shortstop Davis Powell (8) went four-for-five at the plate with three runs batted in, including a solo home run in the first inning as Texas State baseball (27-15) defeated the Prairie View A&M University Panthers (16-24), 7-2, Tuesday night at Bobcat Ballpark in San Marcos, Texas.
Powell, on the season, leads the Bobcats in hits (50), runs (37), and boasts nearly a .100 average higher than any other Bobcat at the plate (.388). Tonight, Powell exemplified why he’s the team leader in so many categories and has been for the majority of the season.
“He’s (just) been doing it all year, to be honest with you,” Head Coach Steven Trout (fourth season) said. “He’s just such a consistent player and hitter. He’s got a really good approach; he knows what he’s doing and when he gets a good pitch to hit; he (just) puts a good swing on it. And then, defensively, he works really hard … makes a lot of great plays … he works extremely hard and he’s a really good player.”
On the other side of the ball, redshirt-junior right-handed pitcher Peyton Zabel (24) threw six full innings of work without allowing a run on four hits while striking out three and allowing just a single walk in his 23 batters faced. Zabel has begun to prove himself as one of the top pitchers for the maroon and gold.
“He’s had good moments; he’s had okay moments,” Trout said. “That was another really good moment for him. I think we’re going to have to have that guy, especially when we get down the stretch. We still have some big midweek games left and then into the tournament.”
Also throwing two shutout innings in relief was redshirt-junior right-handed pitcher Cameron Bush (3) who allowed only two hits. Senior right-handed pitcher Nathan Medrano (13) allowed the only two runs in the game as he began the top of the ninth. Then senior right-handed closing pitcher Triston Dixon (2) finished the job against the Panthers with a complete inning in the ninth without a hit.
Sophomore first baseman Daylan Pena (7) was the only other Bobcat (Powell) with a long ball, a solo shot in the seventh for the Bobcat’s final run of the evening, while sophomore third baseman Ryan Leary (12) also batted in a runner, and freshman catcher Rashawn Galloway (35) had a three-hit game.
The Bobcats (10-8 Sun Belt Conference) will hit the road this weekend as they take the 1,500-mile-plus trip to Bud Metheny Baseball Facility in Norfolk Virginia to face off against the Monarchs of Old Dominion (27-13, 10-8 SBC) for the first time in program history in the Monarch’s first season as a Sun Belt Conference member.
All three games will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Featured Image by Kyle Owen.
By Lane Dent
Music Journalist
I have a unique addiction to rock movies – biopics, comedies, fictional dramas. There exists a combined love for these films, how they mesh together a rare collection of my favorite topics: heavy music and cinema. After about a year of religiously devouring every rock and metal movie I came across, I have found a stellar handful of origin-telling, guitar-shredding and chaos-creating rock movies.
Lords of Chaos (2018) A comedic retelling of staple black metal band Mayhem, this movie doesn’t take itself too seriously and highlights the trivial playfulness of a genre that sounds so… the opposite. Staying close to the main facts of Mayhem’s criminal story, the macabre humor makes this film stand out in a long list of biopictures. Church burnings, stalking and murder all entangle to show the wild, truthful reality of this truly deranged Norwegian black metal band.
Empire Records (1995)Taking place during the peak of 90s grunge, this film follows different employees of an independent record store. The gritty, fun feeling of the music tags along as they deal with their store selling out to a chain, a visit from an outdated 80s singer and their angsty teen relations with each other. Even though it may be somewhat cookie-cutter, with an impromptu band performance at the climax, this movie for sure captures a love of rock music.
Sid & Nancy (1986)The Criterion Channel-certified biopicture features accurate performances of Sid & Nancy, prominent figures in the British punk wave. With an aura of grime, destruction, drugs, complaining and instability, this film nails down the reality of the unhealthy couple and how punk interlaced between the threads of the Sex Pistols and themselves.
Metalhead (2013)An underground, poignant gem of a movie, the Icelandic Málmhaus, or Metalhead portrays a woman’s life story of how metal saved her from grief. After watching her brother get plowed over by a tractor, she finds solace in the genre that her brother loved. Songs from the soundtrack include various classic metal songs from Megadeth, Dio and Iron Maiden, despite being in 1990s Scandinavia (you’d think something heavier would emerge) but it was strong enough to deliver a heart-crushing drama of loss and how music can be a savior.
Almost Famous (2000)Questionably the most recognizable, I couldn’t not include the mainstream 2000s take on 1970s rock and roll culture. With a director’s cut of almost 3 hours, this movie immerses you into the all-fun-and-games stereotype of 1970s soft rock bands. Parties, drugs, youth, it was almost enough for me to feel famous too. Movies about rock journalists… something’s inspiring me about that one.
Heavy Trip (2018)Like one big comforting inside joke, the unique exclusivity of Hevi Reissu, or Heavy Trip, has me actually laughing out loud at every stupid thing that the band Impaled Rektum does. Playing with Finnish themes like Vikings, reindeer and death all wrap full circle in this movie to make fun of metal and honor metal and just do everything metal. If symphonic, post-apocalyptic, reindeer grinding, Christ abusing, extreme war pagan, Fennoscandic metal sounds interesting, this is the movie for you.
Singles (1992)Set during the birth of the grunge scene, in the city of Seattle, this movie perfectly encapsulates the time period’s music, style and attitude. What other movie has Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam casually playing live at a club?! Focusing a little more on the unromantic drama aspect of the film, it follows a middle-aged couple and a teenage pairing as they both realistically attempt to find love. The younger storyline includes a boy trying to become famous in his new grunge band but is upstaged by the film’s stellar soundtrack. The grunge lineup includes deep cuts from Soundgarden and Mudhoney, as well as essentials from Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam and Screaming Trees.
Metal Lords (2022)Endlessly foolish and lovable, Metal Lords is Netflix’s attempt at a high schooler’s elitist dream of dominating the cliched Battle of the Bands with metal. The aspect that really roped me into this movie was the female band member. Not only is there finally a woman who’s actually in a metal band, she plays the unconventional electric cello. I realized after a rewatch that I revere this too-supporting character.
Sound of Metal (2019)When a drummer ruptures his eardrums from lack of protection, he becomes permanently deaf, and can’t hear the heavy music he makes anymore. I’m going to be candid; this movie destroyed me. Watching someone’s music-centered life become uprooted hit too close to home. Growing up with a sister who is a self-taught drummer that often plays with little to no hearing protection amplifies the relatability – the anguish and helplessness.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)An essential film in the LGBTQ+ community, this musical about a German trans immigrant is one of identity pride, gender exploration, drag and glam rock. Easily becoming a cult classic, the music takes up around half of the story. With songs like “Wig in a Box” and “Origin of Love,” the soundtrack became important to the transgender community, as well as one of discussion, as it has its flaws. This film is cathartic, transformative and an exceptional rockin’ ride.
The Dirt (2019)Although it has its flaws, this is the only movie I’ve seen that felt impeccably glam metal to me. I’ve seen other Motley Crue media like Pam & Tommy, and have even read (half) of the book The Dirt itself, but I can’t help but come back to this biopic. It’s outrageous. It’s arrogant. It’s whiny and dramatic and disgusting. But that’s what makes it entertaining. Every five minutes some famous rockstar shocks you with something you didn’t think was allowed to be filmed in Hollywood. That hair alone is enough to keep your gaze on the screen for the entire duration.
Feeling an urge to form a band yet? From idiotic black metal comedies to late 20th century spoofs to touching looks at how music can heal, these movies hold a special weight in any rock lover’s heart.
Featured Image by Ridley Dent.
By Sam Burzinski
Blog Content Contributor
“Hey Fred, saw your fat *ss on the six o’ clock news last night.” -Jim Gaffigan
“Remember: if you’re not sure about eating something, rub it against a piece of paper. If the paper turns clear, it’s your window to weight gain!” -Dr. Nick Riviera
I make no avoidances when it comes to discussing the fact that I am a bigger guy than most. I can joke about it, say I’m rotund around the middle and I imitate the Poppin’ Fresh laugh whenever somebody bumps me in the midsection. I tend to be pretty jovial in conversation, holding the weight of the “jolly fat dude” trope like Atlas bearing the load of the world on his shoulders. I can recognize that, however depressing this truth is, it really was my fault.
I will not shy away from the plain and simple fact that I was rather lax and generally against the idea of exercise as a child–regardless of the amount of youth sports I engaged in–and eating was a very common practice to be doing casually around the house. It’s odd to see people my age talk about how much they’re eating while staying trim and, appearing at least visually, “normal.”
Even odder are those older than me who long for the halcyon days when they seemed to burn calories with the same rapidity with which I walk to a buffet, never getting enough to balloon to obesity. I almost exclusively drink water, walk everywhere whenever I can and get a somewhat reasonable amount of sleep every night. And yet, here I am, hovering around 255 pounds for the past few years. Where’s my perfect metabolism? Where’s my teenage leanness?
I have a word for myself that, while I would never use to describe another person, I throw around so casually about my own body that you’d think that my mouth was formed by the gods for that word alone. And it’s Fat. I’m a Fat dude, throwing my weight around regardless of the danger it holds. However, if somebody else were to use Fat to describe me, I’d be furious. It’s my word to use for myself exclusively, not yours to use to denigrate me further than I already have. I’m able to be disgusted by my side profile, but if somebody else came up to me and told me the same thing I already think about myself, I’d be incensed. Maybe that’s indicative of something deeper psychologically about myself, but for now I’ll give it a shrug and a passing glance.
Depictions in the media weren’t always ideal. It isn’t anywhere near what racial minorities and those in the LGBTQ+ community go through throughout their childhoods, but it’s something I feel is unique to me. Fat people are always shown in TV and movies as the dumb ones, the ones who provide the comic relief, the serial pratfallers. Your Homers, your Patrick Stars, your extended Klump families and your every-character-that-Kevin-James-has-ever-played. This depiction of Fat people in popular culture is undoubtedly one of the reasons I am who I am today. I’ve pursued being the “funny one” because that was the only real positive mold that I had seen around me.
Chris Farley, by all accounts an incredibly sweet and intelligent man, and one of the funniest fat guys in history to boot. Photo credit: Mike Steele from Flickr and licensed under Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)That’s not to say there aren’t legitimately funny comedians and actors who are on the larger side. Chris Farley and John Candy spring to mind as immediate examples of some big, funny guys. However, that box that many tend to be placed into when coming onto the scene as a Fat person is far-reaching and often far too impactful to shake off. Is it too much to ask for a little more positive exposure for Fat men in the media? At the very least, a more complex character than the typical archetypes of The Dope, The Creep, or The Jolly Mentor would be nice.
I’m afforded at least a single positive in my life as a Fat person, and that is the fact that I am a man. You never see figures like Chris Farley, John Candy, John Belushi, Kevin James, or Jack Black accused of “glorifying obesity” just by being who they are. It’s always Amy Schumer, Rebel Wilson, or Lizzo, women who are notable in popular culture who also just so happen to be of a larger size, who are put on trial by the internet and beyond. And for what? Not conforming to what many see as the only acceptable body type for women to have? What a load.
One could definitely say that Amy Schumer or Rebel Wilson aren’t exactly the funniest women around, or that the radios tended to play “Good as H*ll” a bit too much, but is weight really a factor in either of those? On top of all that, this harmful and downright vile double standard is often perpetuated by people I myself know, the ones who, at least to my face, make no such remarks about my BMI being in the upper ranges. The ones you’d think I could trust.
I won’t say there aren’t at least some benefits that stem from being Fat. I have momentum in whatever I do; I can push and pull with the strongest out there and my stamina isn’t that half bad either. Chairs don’t tend to hurt in the way they would if I didn’t have a built-in cushion, and my cold weather insulation is top notch. When my backpack used to weigh 75 pounds, the only harm is to the 45 year old me’s knees and back due to my body’s solidity. To top it all off, I’m an excellent hugger when I feel like it, exuding a warmth rivaling the ever-beckoning tendrils of an early-morning bed.
However, the downsides definitely far outweigh the aforementioned positives. I get tired walking up steps, my sausage fingers are pretty uncoordinated when I’m not typing or playing Guitar Hero. I’m clumsy, and not in a particularly endearing way. My clothes are all massive when compared to the “average” person my age and, honestly, my poor body image issues end up with me perpetually in clothes that drape me like I’m a window.
Plant by the window. Original public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.I would never, not in a kajillion years, say that being Fat is a good thing. I’m always on the brink of something awful, my health’s clock tick, tick, ticking away in the back of my mind no matter how much I try to drown it out. But this is the way that I am. I’m striving to change that with every meal I eat and with every bike ride I take. I just wish people recognized me more for the mental and emotional presence I possess rather than the physical.
I’ll leave you with one final thing, a movie scene that I still think about sometimes and gets me somewhere deep no matter what.
By JP Flanagan
Sports Reporter
The Texas State Bobcat football team showcased their new-look squad in their spring scrimmage on Saturday, April 22, at Bobcat Stadium under first-year head coach GJ Kinne.
Ben Bell was in the spotlight this weekend filling the stat sheet with 4.0 sacks, seven tackles and a quarterback hurry. Kinne also highlighted the play from his cornerbacks and praised their continuous effort and intensity throughout camp.
Coach Kinne gained his recognition as a head coach last year at Incarnate Word leading the Cardinals to an FCS semifinal while also leading the entire FCS in points per game with 51 ppg. Kinne’s style of offense is very energetic and fast and was on full display Saturday. Kinne stated that the pace has been where it’s been needed to be since the start of spring practice and the staff will continue to demand that going into fall.
The highly touted Arkansas transfer Malik Hornsby did not wait for his moment to shine as he opened the game with a 40-yard pass to FCS transfer all-American Kole Wilson who had an impressive showing of his own in his first playing time in the maroon and gold. Hornsby’s leadership on the field was contagious as he is always there to hype up his team even when he wasn’t behind center. He will have to fend off transfer quarterback Cj Rogers before being officially named the starter.
Kinne in his post-game presser was asked about how important it was to keep last year’s leading receiver, Ashtyn Hawkins, and stated that although his small frame, Hawkins has the best technique and hands he’s seen in the business at the collegiate level and is glad he opted to stay in San Marcos.
Overall, the spring scrimmage was a success for the Bobcats. Fans were treated to an exciting display of football, with the offense and defense both showcasing their talents. With Kinne at the helm, the Bobcats look poised to have a strong season in the fall.
Featured Image by Beau Kelly.
By Lane Dent
Music Journalist
Invent Animate: Heavener
Mysterious and magical, dark and daring, out of this same Texan soil came the band
Invent Animate who have released their fourth studio album: Heavener. On March 17, this
Earth, the one that Heavener seems to explore beyond, received a masterpiece of gritty
creativity and raw emotional expression. Four tracks stood out to me like support pillars, a
perfectly balanced square of skill and vulnerability. Invent Animate is poetic in its delivery of
truth, lyrical and instrumental; so here are my takes – in artistic, naked and rare form.
Heavener stayed true to its title; I felt as though I was ascending.
“Absence Persistent:” Ambient layers melding cohesively with rhythmically complicated
patterns. Voice with a power rich and robust enough to dominate a cathedral. To conjure an
inexperienced feeling of loss. With this intensity, the emotional intention is transported directly
into our own unconscious feelings. A rageful breakdown coming eagerly early, foaming at the
mouth, cathartic and frustrated.
“Shade Astray:” Not wasting a second with a glorious punch in the face, a strong
technical riff that is proud and serious in its purpose. And when the tantrum cools off-in
tsunami-level waves – and when they join hands with the chaos, the lyrics and musical color
yearn to be heard for their emotion, their sound, not just their noise. Cryptic metaphors of
monoliths, souls, dreams and earth contribute to the cult-like imagery and brand that Invent
Animate has curated.
“False Meridian:” An introduction to the madness with a teasing and bewitching tone,
stretched and bent as the volume dynamics gyrate around. Once the steadiness has been
secured, a solid tempo to headbang to, playful bends decorate the guitar work. A symmetrically
perfect breakdown like gears grinding in their stagnant positions, stuck wanting to move
forward, move on, as the lyrics suggest. The amber moon seems to crush, as does pain, weight,
torment, shadows, consciousness – everything seems to hurt. Grief is a consuming concept in
Invent Animate’s ethereal world.
“Void Surfacing:” Initial ambience pulsing and drawing like heavy breathing. A bold,
fearless beat fills the atmosphere, demanding attention, building and building. Permanent
images of skin, scars, brands and burns set themes of event, healing time and depth. Warm,
fulfilling chord progressions, complete with a resonant hum after every downstroke. Heavenly
wailings, muffled and muted, hide behind soft aspects of clean high notes from the instruments. The buzzing vibration after each palm muted on strings, on computer keyboards, in the air between. A story of regret, anguish and reliving.
With eleven tracks total, themes of death and grief litter the lyricism, but new ideas of
self-acceptance and processing pain appear for the first time in their discography. By including
touching personal stories, these songs pin down the unstable feeling that their musicality
mimics. Somber vocals that flip to powerful screams show the range of emotion that these
stories contain – as well as the range of the vocals. Heavener is Invent Animate’s most genuine
album yet.
By Preethi Mangadu
News & Culture Director
The local spring elections for Texas began early voting Monday. Hays County has multiple races on the ballot including several for San Marcos CISD.
Early voting started yesterday, April 24, and continues until May 2. Election day takes place on May 6.
Here is everything you need to know for Hays County voting:
What’s on the Ballot? Hays, San Marcos and Dripping Springs Consolidated Independent School Districts all have board and bond elections:
Hays CISDSchool board races:
- District 1: Bill Ward, Raul Vela Jr.
- District 2: Johnny Flores, Esmeralda Pérez-González
- Trustee at Large: Vanessa Petrea ran unopposed and was declared the elected candidate.
The Hays CISD bond of $368 million is on the ballot, and will be split into four propositions.
- Prop A: $208.8 million for expanding current schools, new school buses and building new school buildings.
- Prop B: $102.9 million for improving athletics, fine arts and career and technical education.
- Prop C: $4 million for technology upgrades.
- Prop D: $52.2 million for building new school buildings and creating outdoor multipurpose pavilions.
San Marcos CISDSchool board races:
- District 1: Philip Muzzy, Jessica Cain
- District 2: Margie T. Villalpando, Kevin Carswell
- District 3: Sandra Sepulveda Lopez ran unopposed and was declared the elected candidate.
The San Marcos CISD bond of almost $166 million is on the ballot, and will be split into four propositions, too.
- Prop A: This will decide if the school board can use local tax revenues to buy attendance credit from the state. If passed, the district will undergo the recapture process, which is sending money back to the state to be shared with low property-wealth districts.
- Prop B: $147.7 million for expanding current schools, new school buses and building new school buildings. It would improve safety infrastructure and technology.
- Prop C: $985,000 for renovating San Marcos High School’s Rattler Stadium and replacing field turf.
- Prop D: $17.5 million for constructing a natatorium at San Marcos High School.
Dripping Springs ISDFor the Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustees election, voters can choose up to two of the candidates: Rob McClelland, Ron Jones, Kim Cousins and Jeffrey Aylstock.
The Dripping Springs ISD bond of $223.7 million is one proposition. If passed, the bond will include building a new elementary school and a new special education facility, renovating and expanding an elementary school, one high school, two middle schools, buying new school buses, designing several schools and updating security and technology.
North Hays Emergency ServicesDistrict 1 voters are being asked by North Hays EMS to help fund emergency services through increased property tax rate maximum from 3 cents per $100 to 10 cents. If passed, the new tax rate would be decided in November. The funding would be for buying more ambulances and additional stations to provide better emergency coverage.
AustinHays County voters in Austin will be voting on Propositions A and B, which both deal with police oversight. Proposition A wants to give more power to the Office of Police Oversight and the citizen-led panel that review police misconduct, but Proposition B hopes to restrict the power of both.
To view the full sample ballot for Hays County for more details, go here.
RegistrationTo check if you are registered, you can go here. The deadline to register for this election has passed.
Where to VoteIn Hays County, you can vote at any of the available polling locations. For San Marcos, location include Broadway (Christus Trinity Clinic), Dunbar Center, Hays County Government Center, LBJ Student Center and San Marcos Housing Authority/C.M. Allen Homes. For a full list of locations and operation hours, go here.
What to Bring to the Polling SitesTo vote, you will need a valid ID. For those aged under 70, an acceptable ID can be up to four years expired. For voters aged 70 and over, the ID can be expired for any length of time.
Here is a list of acceptable IDs:
- Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
- Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
- Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS
- Texas Handgun License issued by DPS
- United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph
- United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph
- United States Passport (book or card)
If you don’t have an ID and cannot obtain one, you can bring one of these alternatives:
- Government document showing your name and an address, such as your voter registration certificate
- Current utility bill
- Bank statement
- Government check
- Paycheck
- Birth certificate
You will have to sign and execute a “Reasonable Impediment Declaration” if bringing an alternative.
Voting by MailAs a registered voter in Texas, you can vote by mail if you will be away from your county on election day and early voting, are sick or disabled, are 65 or older, are in jail, but eligible to vote or are expecting to give birth within three weeks before or after election day. The deadline for voting by mail is today, April 25.
By Maddy Lehr
Music Journalist
Recently, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with the lovely members of Alexalone during their third show of their April residency at Hotel Vegas. Alex Peterson, Sam Jordan and Andrew “Drewsky” Hulett played a captivating show that left me feeling utterly entranced. Before their set, we sat down to talk new music, old music and more.
Maddy: How has the residency been?
Sam: It’s been fun! It’s my first ever residency I’ve done. I did miss the last one, and from the videos it looked like y’all did a cool electronic set.
Drewsky: We’re so glad to have you back.
Sam: It’s been fun to host our friends and bands that we love and curate it. Yeah, it’s been cool.
Drewsky: Alex did a great job of each night having sort of a theme.
Alex: Yeah, I was going for theme nights.
Maddy: I love theme nights. That’s awesome!
Drewsky: So last week was the more electronic kind of vibe. Sam couldn’t be there so we did an improv electronic set. It was weird and fun. Tonight is kind of the heavier rock band, so we’re just playing like a normal set.
Maddy: So what are your inspirations? I know when I listen to you guys I hear Slint a lot. That’s something I definitely wanted to bring up.
Alex: Have you ever watched the Slint documentary? It’s on YouTube. It’s great, I mean, it’s like more than an hour and it’s just interviews with all of the people. It’s just so weird because you’re just like these people were literally children when they made this music. This is ridiculous. Yeah, Slint’s great.
Drewsky: I’m inspired by all of my friends and a few enemies.
Sam: I’m a big fan of Yo La Tengo. I think it has an influence on my drumming.
Alex: I really like Hum and Boris and bands like that.
Maddy: Does that kind of cross over into what you guys are listening to now?
Alex: Yeah, I mean I think we all listen to a bunch of different stuff which is nice.
Maddy: Follow up to that question, do you have any recommendations of what to listen to? Maybe local bands?
Alex: I’d just say all the bands that are in residency. That’s my easy answer.
Sam: Large Brush Collection. I’m really excited to see them next week. Also, tonight is going to be awesome with Never and New Strangers.
Drewsky: New Strangers is great. Not a local band, but I really like the band 22° Halo. They’re really good. They’re from Philly.
Maddy: This is usually a disliked question, but I always like to ask how you would describe your music. Usually there’s not a good answer.
Drewsky: I like it, I like the question. It’s a challenge.
Sam: Yeah, I would say the best way I could explain it is that there are points in which it’s heavy and there’s a lot of tones that are cool to hear. And then there are points in which it is very quiet and it’s also really pretty and it goes back and forth between those.
Maddy: That’s a good way to describe it though. I know what you mean.
Sam: It’s not all just heavy, it’s not all just pretty.
Drewsky: Dynamic.
Maddy: Do you guys have a favorite song to play live?
Sam: I like the song, it’s a new song, it’s called “Full Body Learning.” For me, it’s fun because it’s really technical, it’s long, it does a lot of different things and it’s really exhausting. But I like that it is all of those things.
Drewsky: You’re just running the whole time basically.
Sam: I’m actually just running the entire song. The drum part that happens, I have to keep the kick going on eighth notes. How long is that song?
Alex: It’s 12 minutes.
Sam: And the BPM is like 120 or 140. But I do get a break, like a measure long.
Alex: What about you Drewsky?
Drewsky: Maybe “All I Need” because on the record that is not announced there’s an organ on part of it, and I always think about the organ as I’m playing it.
Alex: I think I would say the song “Ruins” right now. Great song. It’s fun to play. I like that song.
Sam: It’s a good solo.
Maddy: My personal favorite off the latest album is “Black Rainbow,” so do you guys want to talk about that song a little bit?
Alex: That song started off as a Smith and Robot song, which is my old band. The song “Eavesdropper” is a cover of that band which is really silly. It kind of just didn’t really work out in that context. We tried it with Sam initially on drums and it was cool because it was able to work within this context. It’s pretty easy to play live because it’s a lot of strumming. You’re not playing a note or anything. It’s fun because everything gets to get a little goofy sometimes. Lyrically, it’s pretty much just about HRT and emotional aspects and dreams and stuff. It was originally more aggressive, but then it felt nice that it became more centered because there’s already a lot of distortion and feedback. Making it more personal felt better.
Maddy: It was on my On Repeat playlist on Spotify for a while. You guys kind of already answered this question, but I wanted to ask if there is anything new coming out.
Alex: Yeah, we don’t know when we’re going to announce this yet, but we have a record that’s going to come out in the second half of the year.
Drewsky: It’s going to sound really good. It’s got an organ on it. We’re going to play a bunch of it tonight. You get to see Sam running in “Full Body Learning.”
Sam: I’ll be exhausted.
Maddy: But it’ll be worth it!
Sam: Exactly.
Maddy: My last question is always something silly, so since it is Spring, what is everybody’s favorite flower?
Drewsky: Bluebonnet. If you go to Big Bend, like deep west Texas, they’re really hardy. They’re more purple.
Sam: Yeah, I also love the Bluebonnet. I wanted to think of a different one, and I was going to bring up the west Texas Bluebonnet because it’s longer.
Alex: If this was birds, I would’ve said mockingbird.
Sam: I like cardinals.
Drewsky: I saved a baby blue jay the other day. It fell from a tree and seemed to hit its head or something and got stuck in a yucca plant. I called the Animal Wildlife Center in Austin and they were like yeah if it was a fledgling it would be walking around but it was totally still. I brought it in, and they said it was going to be okay. They gave it some pain meds.
Maddy: Yay! We’ll give him some pain meds. He’ll be fine.
In this Monday edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Justin Brown, JP Flanagan and Koby Jackson discuss Bobcat Baseball’s five run comeback against Troy, Bobcat Softball’s series sweep over ULM Warhawks, TXST Football Spring Game Recap, Men’s Golf heads to SBC Championship and NBA First round madness! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday and Friday! Live on KTSW 89.9!
In this episode, Mando, Dez and Tori are joined by 3-time Tejano Music Award winner AJ Castillo. From growing up in Austin, TX, going to college at UTSA, to shining under the spotlight, AJ Castillo talks about his music journey and what it means to be a Tejano artist.
By Paxton Graf
Sports Director
SAN MARCOS—Women’s Texas State Basketball Head Coach Zenarae Antoine signed a contract extension through the 2025-2026 season that was announced Thursday morning.
Coach Antoine and the program are coming off their first Sun Belt Conference regular season championship where they finished with 23 total wins which ties the program’s Division I record. Also, this season Coach Antoine became the program’s all-time winningest coach when she won her 175th game on January 1st, 2023, against Georgia State, and was named the Sun Belt Coach of the Year.
Aside from the program’s exceptional overall season, they still lost the Sun Belt Conference tournament championship game to James Madison and took a first-round exit in the WNIT to Stephen F. Austin. Not to mention the program is also losing many of its core players including Sun Belt and Texas State career assists record holder Kennedy Taylor.
Other notable players not returning due to graduation are All-Sun Belt First Team player Da’Nasia Hood, starting guards Ja’Kayla Bowie, and Tianna Eaton. In total six players will not be returning and now Coach Antoine has the responsibility of sustaining last season’s success while having to building a new team.
Coach Antoine understands that responsibility as the program has recently signed three new players from the transfer portal. These include HBCU All-American Ja’Niah Henson from Morgan State University, and two players from Blinn College, NJACC First Team All-American forward Tiffany Tullis and guard Crystal Smith.
These additions now add to a total of five players to the 2023 signing class. The others include two freshmen, forward Julia Coleman, and guard Emi Steele. Coach Antoine is expected to sign additional players to this year’s signing class as her staff is still actively recruiting.
Bobcat nation will now have to wait and see if Coach Antoine can extend the success of this past year for the next three seasons with new players and a regular season championship to defend when her 13th official season starts this upcoming Fall.
By Grady Elbel
Sports Contributor
@grady_e33
SAN MARCOS — After a few successful years with Incarnate Word University’s football
program, coach G.J. Kinne is ready to take the reigns as head coach at Texas State University. He
and his staff look to make a quick turnaround for the Bobcats after a lackluster season last Fall
when the team finished with a 4-8 record.
Texas State recruited many new players in the offseason, a sizeable number coming from
Kinne’s former Incarnate Word program and local Texas high schools, along with a few other
transfers from Sun Belt Conference teams.
Some of the notable recruits include junior quarterback Malik Hornsby from Arkansas University, sophomore defensive back Joshua Eaton from Oklahoma University, and freshman offensive lineman Justin DeLeon.
Another addition is junior inside linebacker, Dan Foster Jr. from Marshall University, who was a
part of the squad that won the 2022 Myrtle Beach Bowl over the University of Connecticut.
“There ain’t no place like San Marcos,” said Foster Jr. “You know we got the river through
campus, we got the 40,000 students, we got the nice cities, nothing better, and wonderful new
coaches.”
Foster Jr. and the many new faces in the program are trying to make their marks, impressing
Kinne and his staff. But most of the players from last season are doing the same. Senior Ty Evans, who played as the second-string quarterback last season behind Layne
Hatcher, expressed he and the rest of his teammates are excited about the new
opportunities ahead.
“We have meetings, everyone’s paying attention, and everyone’s sitting up,” Evans explained.
“You know the coaches are coming in there with a lot of fire, and I think the guys recognize that,
and I think we respond really well to that.”
Someone who has seen the progression of the program unlike many others in the athletics
department is Texas State’s Video Production Coordinator and Television Announcer Brant
Freeman. The ESPN-Plus television announcer believes the new coaching staff will be heavily
focused on the vacant quarterback position.
“G.J. Kinne has a great track record with the quarterbacks he’s worked with,” said Freeman.
“So, you’re going to see, I would think, a really big impact from that position and it’s one that you
need to succeed at to contend in the Sun Belt.”
Under Kinne, Texas State’s football program will look to do two things they’ve never done in
their history: become Sun Belt champs and compete in a bowl game. One thing is for sure –
Bobcat fans have a lot to look forward to over the next couple of seasons.
In this Wednesday edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Thomas Terry, Koby Jackson, Taylor Cuen and JP Flanagan discuss Bobcat Baseball’s wild win over UTSA, Bobcat Softball’s matchup against A&M, Texas Rangers and NBA Playoffs Round one action! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
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By Amaya Lewis
Culture Assistant
Seeing as Earth Day is happening on April 22 this week, it feels like the perfect time to shed light on the importance of ensuring our beautiful planet stays protected for it to thrive long after us.
Pollution and deforestation have been among the leading causes of our planet experiencing long-term consequences, such as damaging effects on animals, crops, the ozone and the global climate.
As a result, in 1970, Earth Day was first celebrated after a Wisconsin senator’s effort to raise national awareness about environmental issues. Since 1990, it has now become celebrated “by more than 140 countries around the globe”, according to National Geographic Kids, focusing on honoring the achievements of the environmental movement while raising recognition of the need to protect Earth’s natural resources.
At Texas State University, many students have taken the initiative to use their knowledge and resources to create positive environmental change throughout the semester!
One such organization, Sustainability Squad, is an organization that “focuses on connecting students to sustainability through volunteer opportunities, social events and activities, educational workshops and community engagement,” Sustainability Squad president Kalin Adams said. “We work with the Office of Sustainability (OOS) and learn about how we can help heal our environment and make our campus sustainable.”
Sustainability Squad has been active for three semesters; during that time, they’ve done several events. “This year, we have had ‘Lights Out Bobcats’, which are campus building walls where we collect data on energy waste for the OOS and shut off lights, monitors and projectors left on.”
In addition, Sustainability Squad has also participated in a host of river cleanups, tree planting, trash collecting and recycling, along with supporting the OOS for Open Closet, the Sustainability Expo and the Earth Day festival. On Sept. 6, 2023, they will be having their first meeting with plans to continue campus cleanups, lights out bobcats, bobcat field days and more!
Check out their Instagram to keep up with the important work they’re doing and to get involved!
The Plant Biology Society, established in 2018, is another organization at Texas State that has remained committed to protecting the planet and taking care of the environment.
“We are a non-profit student organization at Texas State for students who are interested in botany, biology, houseplants and houseplant care,” Plant Biology Society president Molly Brannan said. “We have a greenhouse that we maintain on campus where we grow and probate houseplants to teach members about how to take care of plants.”
As activities, the Plant Biology Society participates in a number of events that focus on sustainability and conservation efforts at both Texas State and within the overall San Marcos community.
“We attend plant-themed volunteer events, such as the invasive plant species removal and river cleanups held around San Marcos,” Brannan said. “Over the next couple years, we will continue to educate Texas State students on caring for plants and, by extension, the planet.”
To learn more and keep up with what the Plant Biology Society is up to, take a look at their Instagram!
Both these organizations have done wonderful work at educating students and making a positive impact to aid the longevity of Earth, and if you want to get involved, consider looking into these organizations and learning ways that we can make sustainable efforts within our daily lives.
Episode 9 – The Ca$h Radio Impact
On today’s episode of CA$H Radio, David Withey, Eli Garcia, Nayeli Marte-Chavez and Masyn McCool describe the impact that the CA$H Radio project had on them this semester and what they learned from it. They touch on several topics from past interviews and expand on how those discussions benefitted them. The four co-hosts expressed their appreciation for the project and encourage future students to interview for this project.
By Lillian JonesLocal Music JournalistRecently, there has been a repeating trend of clothing brands popular to a niche side of TikTok collaborating with unexpecting artists. By “niche side of TikTok” I mean the side of the apps algorithm that mostly has to do with a specific style of trending fashion. Mostly these brands have a similar concept of graphic tees, pop culture references and being overpriced while targeting young consumers.
Heaven by Marc Jacobs X Deftones I began to take notice of these atypical partnerships when Heaven by Marc Jacobs released a line in collaboration with 90’s nu metal band, Deftones. While Deftones is in no way a small band, it was still quite a shock for fans to see them working with the popular fashion brand. Heaven is a collection from the fashion label Marc Jacobs that is aimed towards teens and young adults. The clothing line became increasingly popular through Tiktok as it fed into trends formulating on the app; similar to the launching of a line inspired by the film The Virgin Suicides in the midst of it’s increasing popularity in relation to the “coquette” style. Heaven by Marc Jacobs had no trouble getting content creators on TikTok to wear the clothing, further promoting the brand and feeding into trends. Now that we are familiar with the brand, let’s dissect the Deftones collaboration.
On February 28th, Heaven posted on their Instagram (@heavn), a photo of various celebrities and influencers including Chino Moreno, Lola Moreno (Chino’s daughter), Daniel Fang (drummer of Turnstile) and Jpegmafia wearing clothing that seemed to have references to Deftones and/or the bands lyrics. The comments on the post seemed to be either not too thrilled about the collaboration or confused as to why Daniel and Jpegmafia were there. A tactic Heaven often uses is picking random celebrities to model for them; such as Yung Lean, Pamela Anderson and Nicki Minaj.
Later, on March 3rd, the brand released the line which was expectedly disappointing and overpriced. The most notable item of the release was a jersey with the “Around The Fur” album cover plastered over it at the price of $150. While the item being jersey material is unique, you can find a t-shirt with the exact same image on etsy or amazon for a maximum of $25.
The line also included various silver plated accessories with the lyric “Shove it” from the song “My own summer (Shove it)” on it – cheapest being a $35 hair clip – as well as a $30 “Around The Fur” CD you could easily find at a record store for a maximum price of $15. Overall, fans were disappointed as prices were unreasonable, especially for pieces that mostly just appealed to what would trend on social media. The brand also threw a small Deftones concert in New York during the collection’s release as well as opened an exhibit of Deftones history in Los Angeles which, though I did appreciate, I obviously could not attend.
Praying X Death Grips On March 22nd, the brand, Praying, announced via Instagram (@praying), that they would be collaborating with the experimental, industrial rap group, Death Grips, shortly after the announcement of Heaven X Deftones collaboration earlier that month. When I saw this announcement, I genuinely stared at my phone in shock.
If you’re unfamiliar with the brand, they obtained most of their popularity when TikTok influencer Addison Rae wore their “the father, the son and the holy spirit” bikini and was “canceled”. Having embarrassingly been a fan of Death Grips for about 5 years now, I was extremely surprised that they were collaborating with a clothing brand known for having a simple style with sassy- phrased graphic tees.
I wasn’t the only person surprised as many fans speculated that it wasn’t an official collaboration until Death Grips themselves announced it. The timing of the collaboration makes sense due to the band going on tour later this year ,but also odd as they just released their own merch for very attainable prices–so why would fans have any desire for the Praying line? My guess is simply that it’s funny!
On March 31st, Praying released the clothing line that consisted of eight items – two t-shirts, two hoodies, a hat, a pair of shorts, an underwear set and a full body MC Ride sleeping bag. To say it was ridiculous would be an understatement. One of the t-shirts and both of the hoodies featured lyrics from the song “I’ve Seen Footage”, but had the Exmilitary album cover printed on it. The hat was a simple “DG” which could easily be confused for Drain Gang or something else that appeals to people who aren’t losers.
The underwear set was actually so horrid I thought about buying it as a joke ,but I decided $50 is too much for a silly laugh. I actually didn’t hate the shorts as they had the album cover from The Money Store and said “Give girls the money store” – a spin off of one of the brand’s staple phrases “Give girls money”–but the $60 price was unjustifiable as a broke college student. Finally, my personal favorite – a $180 sleeping bag with arms, legs and hood with the print of front-man MC Ride’s body on it–fully immerses you as you become one with the rapper.
Overall, this collaboration was one big expensive joke; one that I wish I had the ability to waste money on but, luckily, don’t. Most of the items can and most likely will be recreated on Redbubble or Etsy for a much cheaper price; except for the sleeping bag – that thing is insane.
Basically, TikTok has formulated a weird delusion that teenagers and young adults have the money to spend on overpriced items just because it’s their favorite band or is in trend at the moment. These collaborations seemed to have come out of nowhere, almost like these brands are drawing random band names from a hat. I can’t tell if I’m anticipating another bizarre collaboration to be announced out of excitement or spite. For now I will just accept that these items exist and wait with curiosity and fear for the next niche victim.
By Savannah Lopez
Blog Content Contributor
Taylor Swift has been a big name in the media for the last 18 or so years. Her newest album, Midnights, was released just before the announcement of the Eras tour. I was lucky enough to get to experience the Eras tour on night two in Arlington, Texas. I have been a swiftie since I was little, so to get to hear songs from her entire discography was surreal.
The Eras tour went through each of her albums, as a way to commemorate everything she has
done thus far. Her albums include Taylor Swift (Debut), Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989,
Reputation, Lover, Evermore, Folklore, and Midnights. With a discography list this massive,
Taylor is probably one of the few artists who could pull a tour like this off. She has so many
well-known hit songs, like “You Belong With Me,” “Love Story,” “Blank Space,” “Tim McGraw,” etc.
The set list for the Eras tour has 44 songs on it, and the concert itself, minus the openers, is a
little more than three hours long.
She has a variety of openers throughout her entire tour including Paramore, Girl in Red,
MUNA, GAYLE, Gracie Abrams, HAIM, Beabadoobee, Phoebe Bridgers and OWENN. For the
night of my tour, Gracie Abrams and Beabadoobee opened, and they both did an amazing job. I
can’t imagine being a relatively small artist and opening up for Taylor Swift on a stadium tour in
front of tens of thousands of people. They are both very talented artists, and I was already
familiar with their music, so I loved them.The screen on the Eras stage before the show started.
At around 7:45 p.m., the countdown timer with two minutes on it appeared on the screen in
front of us. As soon as that clock came on, the loudest screams you could imagine erupted from
the crowd. Her opening song was from Lover, and getting to hear everyone sing or scream along left tears of joy on my face. Bridges are very important among the fans of Taylor Swift; she writes the best bridges you will ever hear. Right before she sang the first bridge of the night from the song “Cruel Summer,” she announced it and that prompted the next blood curdling screams from the crowd.
A thing I kept forgetting throughout the concert was that half of the songs Taylor was
playing were songs she has not performed live before. The majority of the songs from Folklore,
Evermore, Lover and Midnights are being performed for the first time live on this tour, which is
what makes this tour so special.
Taylor is also performing an two surprise acoustic songs at each concert, one on guitar and one on piano. At my concert she performed “Clean” from the album 1989, and “Death by a Thousand Cuts” from Lover. She played the latter song’s bridge three times, which is something that probably won’t happen again, so Arlington night two got pretty lucky with that. Hearing her sing live for the first time was a cathartic experience. It is something that I will
never forget– a very enchanting night.
By Erin Patterson
Music Journalist
A new indie-rock artist has entered the game. Harrison Patrick Smith, who goes by the alias, The Dare, has already made waves with only two songs in his repertoire. Based in New York City, The Dare’s music can be compared to the gritty party scene that thrives in the city. Offspring to the house music from the indie sleaze era of the early aughts, The Dare captures the essence of artists like LCD Soundsystem, while making it his own.
His first single, “Girls,” was released in August of 2022. The song is simple, in that he is essentially speaking about how he loves all types of girls. However, the production has a certain quality to it that makes you want to keep listening to it on a loop. A track that’s easy to chant along to, while also making you want to jump around in a crowd of sweaty bodies under the strobe lights of a club. The single started to gain popularity on social media, specifically on TikTok. “Girls” has now accumulated more than two million listens on Spotify. After “Girls” was released, we were left to wonder, is The Dare a one hit wonder? Well, I can assure you that is not the case.
Cover of “Girls” by The Dare“Good Time,” the Dare’s second single, was released in March of this year. Another lyrically simple song, the title truly sums up what the song is about. Smith speak-sings about partying with a girl, but having no money in their bank accounts. Even though they’re broke, they will make the most out of the night. Again, the production on this track has absolutely rocked my world. When I listen to this song, I feel like the coolest person in the world. If “Girls” was meant to be played in the club, “Good Time” was meant for a Project X level house party. The Dare once again created a track that is hypnotic and catchy, leaving you no choice but to dance.
For only two songs under his belt, The Dare has already left his mark in the indie-rock scene. Currently, he is lined up to play the Primavera Sound music festival in Barcelona this summer. He also plays DJ sets frequently, mainly in Los Angeles and New York. While Smith has not specifically mentioned whether he is working on an album, I would say it is safe to assume that “Girls” and “Good Time” are part of a larger project that could be released soon. I truly believe that The Dare will become a very popular and successful artist. Based on his career trajectory with only two songs out in the world, I think if he were to release an album, his career would blast off more than it already has. I am very excited to see what The Dare has in store for new music, and if it is anything like “Girls” and “Good Time,” he will cement himself as one of my favorite indie rock/dance artists of all time.
In this Monday edition of Bobcat Radio the crew of Orlando Smart, Koby Jackson, and JP Flanagan discuss Bobcat Baseball’s sweep over Marshall Thundering Herd, Bobcat Softball tough weekend against Louisiana Ragin Cajuns and NBA Playoffs Round one action! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
For the first episode, Christina and Jared introduce their own taste by running down their top 10 favorite games ever made. In part 2, you finally get to hear their all-time favorites! Settle in, get cozy and enjoy the second episode of Two Player!
In this episode, Mando, Dez and Tori talk about their freshman experience in college, how they stay focused and what they would change, if they had the chance.
By Jordan Salas
KTSW News Contributor
San Marcos-Texas State University is set to launch a new program called Bobcat RISE, designed to provide an inclusive post-secondary education experience to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program will debut in the fall of 2023.
RISE stands for resilience, independence, self-determination, and empowerment, and embodies the values that are carried throughout the program’s design. The program’s director, Dr. Tamara Shetron says students will take 15 college courses with their peer group as a part of the program. The only difference is the Bobcat RISE students will be graded on a pass/fail basis.
“Additionally, every semester there will be a course that’s just for the Bobcat RISE students,” Shetron said. “These courses will focus on things like career skills, career exploration, social and sexual healthy relationships, how to be a college student, and financial literacy.”
Graduate speech pathology student Katie Hartwell stresses the importance of Bobcat RISE and inclusive education programs.
“As someone who’s pursuing a degree in speech pathology and working with individuals with disabilities, it is so important to be able to give that population resources to succeed and to be set up for success in their life,” Hartwell said.
Bobcat RISE also provides opportunities for its students to explore different careers in the San Marcos community. The program aims to equip them with the skills and knowledge to pursue employment following their eighth semester in an area of interest. Participants in Bobcat RISE earn a certificate in academic and community studies in their concentration of choice, rather than a degree.
The program will admit its first five students in the fall of 2023 and plans to expand cohort sizes as the program grows.
By Joseph Castro
KTSW News Contributor
San Marcos—The San Marcos Public Library (SMPL) recently won a 2022 Achievement of Library Excellence Award, marking the library as one of the best in Texas.
The award was given to 73 out of 542 libraries across the state and is allotted by Texas Municipal Library Directors Association, an affiliate of the Texas Municipal League.
The honor comes after San Marcos residents voted for a $14.5 million library expansion back in 2017. Diane Insley, the SMPL library director, said almost 80% of the community voted to raise their own taxes in order to provide an expanded library.
“Get 80% of the people to agree on anything seems really difficult, right?,” said Insley. “We had said this, ‘The library we’re building today will cost this much money and it will hold us to a population of about 70,000.’ And now we’re at 70,000. So, we spent that money well and the taxpayers trusted us to spend this new money well.”
To receive the award a library must be public and show that they “exhibit excellence” in a 10-service-areas list found on the TMLDA website. Some include services to underserved populations and cultural, topical and educational programming for adults and children.
Library director Diane Insley often works directly with patrons. This day she was working the front desk. | Joseph Castro“When you compare our library to other community libraries of our size or similar size, we’re number one as far as attendance, you know door count through the door,” said Insley. “We’re also number one for program attendance, so meaning we offer a lot of classes that we find interesting or educational and a lot of children’s programs that are attended by a wide variety of ages.”
Programs and events are free and open to the public. The library calendar shows a multitude nearly every day. All that you need to attend is a library card, according to Insley. Austin Allen, a graduate of Texas State University, has been coming to the library for over six years.
“I feel like it’s definitely deserved,” said Allen. “I have experienced different kinds of libraries throughout my life and this one really seems to have a great community, both in terms of the staff that really care about fostering a positive environment for the San Marcos community, but also as well as the people that show up every week to these different events.”
The San Marcos Public Library also benefits from Friends of the Library, a 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer organization, supports the library through fund-raising, volunteer work and advocacy. They raised $1 million to provide furniture in the library when it was newly built.
Featured Image by Joseph Castro.
In this Wednesday edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Kyle Owen, Justin Brown and JP Flanagan discuss Bobcat baseball’s split back-to-back against UT Longhorns, Bobcat softball’s win over Sam Houston ahead of UT tonight and NBA Play-In tournament west/east 7th-8th seed recap! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
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Episode 8 – The Reality of Ethics and Compliance
On today’s episode of CA$H Radio, Masyn McCool interviews the owner of an ethics and compliance consulting firm in Houston, Texas, Candace Jasso, about her industry and the details no one really talks about. Towards the end, she goes on to give advice and tips to college students about post-graduation.
David Withey, Nayeli Marte-Chavez, Eli Garcia and Masyn McCool go into detail about topics including the importance of ethics, whistleblowing, and how compliance with the law can lead to ethical dilemmas.
By Andrea Moor
Music Journalist
I was fortunate to have some spare time on Tuesday and catch up on work at my apartment, a place I haven’t been to much this year. After completing some tasks, I felt compelled to attend the Screaming Females concert at Paper Tiger, a venue I had yet to visit this year.
Heavy Comforter was the first act on the lineup, but their sound didn’t resonate with me. Interestingly, after seeing them perform live, I searched for their recorded tracks online and found that they sounded significantly better. It’s possible they were having an off night or that they’re simply not good at live shows. Nevertheless, the band can confidently claim that a decent crowd of dads enjoyed their performance.
Next up was Generación Suicida, a four-piece Spanish punk band that was more in line with my musical taste. They pride themselves on making “musica del barrio, para el barrio” and their performance was a closer match to the main act of the night, Screaming Females.
Hailing from New Jersey, this three-piece band was playing down south for the first time. They exuded a relaxed yet confident stage presence, with lead singer Marissa Paternoster’s exceptional guitar skills cutting through the noise and mesmerizing me with every move. Her vocals ranged from raw and gritty to hauntingly delicate, and her guitar solos were electrifying.
Close-up of Screaming Females Lead Vocalist Marissa Paternoster. | Andrea MoorThe band’s cohesion was equally impressive, with bassist King Mike providing a solid foundation and drummer Jarrett Dougherty keeping the beat driving and unpredictable. A gem in their craft, Dougherty slaughtered the crowd with their intensity. Together, they created a tight, explosive sound that was dynamic and exciting. They played a mix of singles from their various albums, including a few popular tracks such as “Ripe” from their 2015 album, Rose Mountain. They also included songs from their latest release, Desire Pathway, which came out earlier this year.
Close-up of Screaming Females Drummer & Bassist King Mike. | Andrea MoorMarissa Paternoster’s acoustic solos were top highlights of the concert, showcasing her versatility as a musician and performer, and allowing her lyrics to shine. They gave it their all, resulting in a visceral experience. In the end, I left the concert feeling both relaxed and inspired, with my interest in the band piqued even though I didn’t know much about them beforehand.
Featured Image by Andrea Moor.
By Harriet Bernard
Local Music Journalist
Releasing her new album Portals on March 31st, Melanie Martinez finally breaks out of the shadows in a way that’s left fans ecstatic. She began teasing her third studio album at the beginning of the month in ways that sparked much curiosity and confusion about what she had in mind in terms of her new creative vision. With themes of rebirth and a pink, alien-like character, fans wondered, “What happened to Crybaby?” Martinez’ iconic character – the focal point for all of her songs until this album – was announced dead in one of her teasers for Portals; showing a tombstone with “RIP Crybaby” across it. Being a long-time fan, I was shocked when I saw the infamous gravestone. Although, knowing that we would be getting some new sounds from her would ultimately let me be able to forgive her.
Portals Album CoverAnd she did not disappoint. The album quickly blew up on TikTok following its release after great efforts to promote the album only through means of showing her new character’s costume and full makeup. As unconventional as it was, it brought a lot of attention, and the majority of fans love all of what this album has given us, including me.
I will miss her Crybaby era just as much as the next person but, like most artists, they change and grow. That is what Portals is all about; growing and moving on which she expresses with her song, “Death.” Martinez explains that she is back from the dead in her new form and that she is no longer Crybaby.
Martinez released “Death” and “Void” as singles before releasing the full album, meaning they were the first tracks of the album to hit TikTok. While many fans on the app liked them and used them in their videos, some felt differently. When she released the full album, however, people who were skeptical at first heard the other songs and came around. Right now, my favorite tracks from the LP are “Battle of the Larynx” and “Evil” because of how relatable they are to me. “Battle of the Larynx” is about the use of language in arguing. Martinez sings about using her voice when she is tempted to. My favorite lyrics are “I’ll wreck you if you chase me, but I’ll be silent ‘til you cross the line”.
“Evil” is about being perceived as the bad guy for cutting someone off that is no longer serving you; something just about everyone has to do at some point in their lives. Martinez’s songs always have themes surrounding real-life obstacles that ordinary people run into, helping to connect her fans to her music. The feeling of being understood and also feeling like you ‘know’ the artist helps with engagement and a strong fan base.
I am very impressed with this new album and I know others are too. Martinez’ has shown immense growth and given us something special with Portals. I hope to see more from her and see how she will further promote the album. We have been blessed with many awesome new releases from our most loved artists in the year so far and it makes me excited for what else is to come onto the music scene.
By Aaliyah Hamilton
Music Journalist
First blessing my eardrums in 2019, Dijon was unlike any artist I’ve heard. He was so addicting by the first listen that I’m still just as hooked four years later. Staying clear of any trends in his way, Dijon creates a path for his own original take in the world of R&B, which is far better than any mustard.
Starting out within the duo Abhi//Dijon, Dijon began releasing music in 2015. Consisting of Abhi Raju and Dijon himself, the duo released an album in 2015 and an EP the following year. Their most popular single from the EP titled Montana is “Often,” with over 17 million streams on Spotify. It is a somber track lyrically that is about reflecting on a relationship that is no longer and coming to terms with the fact that it is now only a memory. Without listening to the lyrics directly, though, the track’s production and vocals are completely mellowed out, which is the sound Dijon remains true to in his solo music today.
The Los Angeles-based artist, who was originally from Maryland, went on to start releasing solo projects in 2017, with his first single being “Stranger,” which still upholds its sound value by sounding like it could’ve been a recent drop from him today. When looking at his discography, he maintains the consistent theme of the vulnerability of an old-school R&B artist with a production value that feels refreshing and spunky and easily sets itself apart from other artists of the same genre.
The track that had instantly put me on was his 2018 release, “Skin,” which just so happens to be his most popular track as well, with nearly 83 million streams. I might just be at least half of those millions of streams, as this is one of many of his tracks that provides the same sensation even after listening to it time after time. Fast-forwarding from his first timeless single, he released his first album, Absolutely, in 2021. Yet again, it still feels brand new, and I appreciate how evergreen he makes his music by simply staying true to himself and his vision.
After releasing said album, he went on to be the opening act for Bon Iver, which at first seemed odd to have an R&B artist open for an indie folk band, but after listening to Absolutely, it only makes so much sense for him to be that act. It carries the same raw vocal substance that Justin Vernon has as the frontman of Bon Iver, so it would be interesting to see a collaboration between the two.
In the past few months, my current obsessions from Absolutely have been the tracks “Talk Down” and “The Dress,” really because I’m a sucker for a unique vocal arrangement and nostalgic-sounding R&B. Neither track follows the typical R&B formula that many artists use today, and the same goes for the rest of the album. They don’t have a very ‘in your face’ production, but it’s just as attention-grabbing in its own right.
At the beginning of March, he finally released his first single since Absolutely, titled “coogie.” With nothing but his voice, a guitar beat, and some mild background vocals, he worked with fellow artist Mk.gee. The track progressively intensifies throughout the song, giving the listeners a tease of what’s to come on his second album.
By Beau Kelly
Sports Reporter
The Texas State Bobcats lost against No.19 in the nation University of Texas Longhorns in a 5-2 ball game Monday night at Bobcat Ballpark.
Longhorn freshman pitcher Kobe Minchey in his first season starts for the Longhorns with three scoreless innings and four strikeouts. Bobcats saw Peyton Zabel strike out three batters but surrendered 3 runs from the Longhorns.
Peyton Zabel On The Mound. | Beau KellyThis game also saw a record-breaking 3425 fans in attendance making history as the biggest fan turnout for Bobcat Ballpark.
When asked about the number of fans in attendance, Head Coach Steven Trout said, “Couldn’t be more proud of the fans for showing up and getting after it. I know that many will travel up the road for tomorrow’s game, and maybe we will get some déjà vu from last year and try to get the second one,” referring to how the Bobcats lost their first game against the Longhorns last year but won the second game at the University of Texas.
The Longhorns took an early lead in the top of the third inning after the Bobcats intentionally walked Porter Brown to load the bases. The Bobcats then walked Rylan Galvan to give the Longhorns one run. After pitcher Nathan Medrano took over for Peyton Zabel, Longhorn Jack O’Dowd singled out to left field bringing two Longhorns home to put them up by three.
In the top of the eighth inning, The Longhorns brought 2 more runners home to bring the score 5-0.
The Bobcats—still in it in the bottom of the eighth—saw Ryan Leary triple out to left field which brought home Davis Powell and Ben McClain cutting the deficit to three.
As Head Coach Trout said, “We got locked in later in the game.”
Unfortunately, the Bobcats couldn’t catch up to the early lead made by the Longhorns.
The Bobcats will be back in action Tuesday, April 11th at 6:30pm where they will face the Longhorns again at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. You can listen to the Bobcats live on KTSW 89.9 or watch them live on the Longhorn Network.
By Sam Burzinski
Blog Content Contributor
I have a few bones in my body. Roughly 206 of them, if we want to be precise. Unlike many of my past elementary school peers, never in my life have I broken a single one of them, a fact that I chalk up to my deep affinity for milk.
I drank milk day in and day out throughout my formative years with the vigor of a young calf suckling directly from the teat of the mother cow. Gallons weekly would be consumed by my family, with the main consumers being my father’s weekend bowls of cereal, my brother’s habitual late-night chugging and my enjoying a hearty glass of milk alongside every meal.
Pictured: The villain. Disgusting. | Image Credit: Posted to Flickr by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.As time went on, however, something seemed to shift inside of me, quite literally. I won’t get too graphic, but I realized that my gaseous emissions and frequent bowel movements were not exactly normal for somebody of my age and stature. I am lactose intolerant.
What cruel god would endow a person – a young and feeble child, no less – with a love for milk and other dairy-based products just to bring about deep suffering as a result? I was raised Catholic and attended Sunday School for nearly 13 years of my life, and nowhere was I taught that this would be a part of the package deal. God was a crooked cable salesman, and I was the pawn in his accursed game, gauchely dancing and soiling my chinos for his indecent enjoyment.
“Why not drink almond, soy, or oat milk?” I hear you shouting through this article. The answer, as it turns out, is that all of them taste akin to the slurry one would find under one’s mud flaps if an off-roading expedition were made through a dermatologist’s office on “Half-Priced Abscess Popping Day.” There is absolutely not a single shred of anything appealing about having to guzzle down a sickly sweet, pallid beverage in lieu of the heavenly lactose-filled nectar that is normal milk.
For some unexplained reason, all cheap imitations of milk are artificially sweetened in the post-production phase of the process, leading to a disgusting discrepancy between what I expect the liquid entering my esophagus to taste like. The only way for me to “enjoy” any form of imposter milk is to drink the lactose-and-fat-free store brand Lactaid from HEB.
I was never too big of a cheese guy. Ironic, considering my father’s Wisconsin heritage and my long-standing love for the Green Bay Packers, but cheese just never struck the right chord for me. It was always weirdly overwhelming in taste, coating the back of my throat in an odd texture not unlike what I would assume a sneaker sole to feel like when swallowed.
While not actual cheese, this block of Velveeta cheese is enough of a bait-and-switch that I am calling for it being wiped from existence. | Image Credit: Photographed by PeRshGo and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.However, since the realization of my state a few years back, I have had a fiercely big craving of cheese. I am the Dr. Jekyll of lactose, turning into a monster when in the proximity of the tantalizing promise of golden lusciousness. It is, however, never worth it. The proverbial fire and fury are not so proverbial once I consume a slice of Muenster, and my thirst for the yellow, hardened milk is quenched once again.
Never have I ever mourned the cruel injustice of this pain more than I have of my loss of lactose digestion. The anger I feel towards this cruel world is unmatched by any form of political pundit or social activist on the highest level. It is unfair, it is unjust and it is, quite frankly, absolutely disgusting in a manner not seen before or since.
Featured Image from PXFuel, image published into public domain
By Kenlie Golleher
Rap Music Director
Coming into SXSW, I knew I was going to be in for a treat as a hip-hop fan. Going to a few free showcases last year as someone without a badge, I already knew that having full music badge access to shows and being there for the whole week was going to be insane. With showcase announcements rolling out weeks prior and my schedule getting fuller and fuller by the day, my anticipation for the Spring Break SXSW week to arrive was through the roof. The week eventually came, and I certainly conquered it. While I was able to see so much during my time there, I mainly want to highlight some of the rap and hip-hop conferences and showcases I was lucky enough to attend. Without further ado, here is my little recap of hip-hop-related events I got to attend while attending this year’s SXSW festival.
ConferencesBeyond music and tech showcases, film premieres, product launches, etc., SXSW is also saturated with chances to catch various keynote speakers and feature sessions that cover a wide range of topics. Two of the conferences I was blessed to have been able to attend were those of hip-hop legends RZA and Killer Mike.
RZA during his keynote at the Austin Convention Center. | Kenlie GolleherThe de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan, RZA, was one of the highlight keynote speakers for me. During his interview, he spoke about his work within his latest film, “Problemista,” which also had its premiere at this year’s SXSW festival. Beyond that, he also touched on the upcoming and final season of his show “Wu-Tang: An American Saga,” in which he is a co-creator and music director.
Killer Mike (Michael Render) during his keynote at the Austin Convention Center. | Kenlie GolleherMichael Render, known professionally as Killer Mike, came to SXSW to discuss everything Michael—the man behind the music. Mike is one-half of the rap duo, Run the Jewels, in which he works with his longtime friend and producer, El-P. Mike touched on growing up under different circumstances than a lot of his peers, both inside and outside of the music realm, the power of participating in local politics, as well as how powerful he knows he is as an individual. I really enjoyed seeing the confidence and self-love exude from him while he was speaking. While he had so many takeaway sentences throughout his session, my personal favorite was “I know I’m dope. You just ain’t addicted yet.”
On the same day as the unfortunately cancelled Lil Yachty performance for the Billboard stage, J Dilla’s mother, Ma Dukes, spoke at a featured session where she told stories of his life and how his work influenced hip-hop. This was a featured session that tore me apart to miss.
ShowcasesThere were so many opportunities to catch rap and hip-hop showcases throughout the week. With there being numerous shows that had both newer, up-and-coming artists and veterans of the genre, there was always a place for hip-hop heads to go and enjoy great music and performances.
Swavay performing at the Def Jam showcase. | Kenlie GohellerI was able to catch rising star and TikTok phenomenon Armani White at several showcases throughout my week, all of which he killed. I was also able to catch Swavay again, whom I had seen open for J.I.D. and Smino on the Love is 4Ever tour earlier this year. I was even able to catch the end of the RapTV showcase at Stubb’s, where I got to see the always-wonderful and entertaining performances from JELEEL! and Mike Dimes. I have had the pleasure of seeing these guys live on different occasions, and I have yet to be disappointed. JELEEL! is for sure up there on my list of favorite live performing artists.
My friend and past KTSW rap music director, Darian Burns, even held his own showcase at Shangri-La for his Ausin-based music consulting firm, Burning Records Music Group. The line-up was stacked with great artists such as Ovrkast., Open Mike Eagle, and Homeboy Sandman, to name a few.
Ovrkast. performing at The Authentics showcase. | Kenlie GolleherOne thing about SXSW is that there are always so many different events taking place all around the city at the same time. Some more shows I would’ve loved to attend but sadly had to miss due to scheduling conflicts were J.I.D. and Saba at the Rolling Stones Future of Music showcase, Danny Brown and JPEGMafia at the Dr. Martens showcase, and Bun B.
My time at SXSW ended with such a high at the Beer n Tacos showcase that was held at Parish. I got to see so many great acts, such as Sir Will, Erica Banks, OK Surf, Velcroes and Kodie Shane. We wrapped up the night with the headlining act and infamous member of the Griselda collective, Conway the Machine. The energy at this showcase was unreal, thanks to the greatest MC ever, Fort Knox.
Conway the Machine performing at the Beer n Tacos showcase. | Kenlie GolleherAll of this is to say that SXSW is truly a place for anyone and everyone to enjoy. There are always so many crazy, fun and exciting events to attend that cater to the interests and hobbies of, honestly, anything you can think of. I can confidently say that SXSW week was genuinely one of the greatest weeks I’ve ever experienced after living 21 years on this planet. If you ever get the chance to attend this insane one- to two-week long festival, FREAKING GO! I can almost guarantee you’ll have an unforgettable time like my friends and I did.
Featured Image by Kenlie Golleher.
By Evelyn Lopez
Music Journalist
Since spring has started, I have actively been curating my rotation with exciting new releases and a few tracks from the past that I may have slept on. This eclectic mix pulls me out of my seasonal depression, headlining April showers and my days at Sewell. Here is a sneak peek of my soundtrack for Spring 23’.
“Ocho Rios” – Daniel Caesar“In the nick of time, that’s when you appeared,” an opening line that encapsulates my feeling towards this song and the rest of this project. I’m starting off with the first track of Daniel Caesar’s third album, NEVER ENOUGH, to pave the way for spring. This track was the first snippet we got of Daniel Caesar’s return. This time, we get to see more of Daniel in a producer role. With his angelic vocals over heavy strung guitars and BADBADNOTGOOD on the drums, what more can I romanticize life with? I really enjoyed the album overall, especially the more lovey songs. My other favorite tracks include “Valentina” and “Cool.”
“HEAVEN TO ME” – Tyler, the CreatorThe Estate Sale! This is probably one of my favorite songs from the estate sale deluxe releases for Tyler, the Creator’s 2021 album Call Me If You Get Lost. Before I heard it, I was told there was a song with Kanye on the production and writing credits. It was not hard to guess this was it after the first three seconds. Tyler brings in his own Sir Baudelaire flair to the sample “Heaven,” a Kanye West-produced track for John Legend. This estate sale rollout has brought back familiar good-feels from the spring of 21’. It reminds me of summer car rides with my brothers before I moved to San Marcos. This track brings synergy to the collective. Thank you, Tyler, the Creator, for yet another banger.
“Toes Down” – Louke ManLately, I have been diving into remixes and more electronic-constructed tracks. I first heard this song on the Spotify radio for Dean Blunt. Louke Man is still pretty low-key. With under six thousand followers on Instagram, and a few of them being some pretty cool artists such as Dijon, Mk.Gee, and Aminé, there is not much to digest from this artist. “Toes Down” is a remix of a Musical.ly classic, “All The Time” by Jeremiah. It seems familiarity is a common factor in this mix for me. This remix makes me feel like a fashion baddie while reminding me of my digital footprint from 2015. In fact, this track gets the most plays when I’m getting ready to go out with the girls. I was the pre-game DJ one night, and this track caught my friends attention. All I needed as confirmation for making the right song choice was, “Yo, this is a vibe,” followed by a slow and questionable hip roll.
“Breakadawn” – De La SoulIt has been a little over a month since the great return of De La Soul’s catalog to streaming. I hope you all have given yourself time to explore their discography since my last heads-up. Buhloone Mindstate is their third studio album and also one of my favorite De La Soul albums. The catchy repetition of the title, sick drum patterns, and array of samples in this track capture everything I love about this group. “Breakadawn” has been on repeat since the beginning of March, serving as a consistent energy boost and satisfying my everlasting 90s hip-hop kick. This song just makes me feel better!
“Pass Me By” – Sharon Jones & The Dap-KingsThis is where the soul of my rotation lives. I had not been introduced to Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings discography until this song came up in one of my soul mixes. I was convinced this was an oldie, dating somewhere around the 60s because of its timeless lead vocals from the late Sharon Jones carried on a blend of funky instrumentals. I always have to carry some soul in my rotation to remind me of the simple pleasures of life. Soul music feels like a really good bowl of soup and a hug from your lover. This song is from their 2017 album, Soul of a Woman. It’s nice to cycle through songs that are not always new, giving me the opportunity to give some love to some tracks I may have missed.
These tracks only show a glimpse of my current rotation. If you wish to follow along with whatever I’m going through, feel free to keep up with my playlist.
By Adrianna Elias
Music Journalist
Producer Kaytranada and rapper Aminé are teaming up as duo KaytrAminé to release a collaboration album this summer. While it’s exciting that we’re getting an official collaboration project from these two, this is not the pairing’s first time working together. The two artists have been connected since 2013, when Aminé remixed Kay’s single “At All” into the bootleg “Not at All.” This led to Kay producing three tracks on Aminé’s album, Calling Brio.
KaytrAminé announced this collab on their collective Instagrams on April 4 with an orange mixing board that played their names and then teased part of one of their songs. They started their single rollouts on April 7, 2023, with the funk-infused “4EVA” ft. Pharrell Williams, who also co-produced this track. The band is projected to release their self-titled LP in May.
Aminé’s most recent full-length album, TWOPOINTFIVE, was released in 2021. Kaytranada collaborated with Anderson. Paak last year on “Twin Flame” and collaborated with PinkPantheress for “Do you miss me?”
Kaytraminé single cover for 4EVALyric Breakdown[Verse 1: Aminé & Pharrell]“Yeah, walk up in this b*tch like sak pasé
She over here talkin’ ‘bout n’ap boule”
“Sak pasé and “n’ap boule” is slang in Haitian Creole for “What’s up?” and “we’re good.”
“I’m so west, it should be my last name”
Aminé is a Portland native, so growing up on the West Coast is a recurring theme in a lot of his discography. This could also be a nod to Kanye West, but that hasn’t been confirmed.
“I’m loyal to my n and I’m loyal to my fam (True)
Y’all switchin’ sides like Stacey Dash”
Stacey Dash is an American actress known for her role as Dionne Davenport in the 1995 comedy/coming-of-age film Clueless. Aminé is making the point about his loyalty in contrast to other people switching up, like Stacey Dash did in her transition from the Democratic to the Republican party in 2012. Aminé, never shying away from politics, made his TV debut after the 2016 election on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and performed an extended version of the hit single “Caroline” that included a new verse aimed at the soon-to-be elected 2016 candidate:
“You can never make America great again
All you ever did was make this country hate again.”
Lyric Breakdown cont.[Verse 1: Aminé & Pharrell]“Finna be there for my sons like my name Steven Nash
Or Booker, this a light cook up”
Stephen Nash and Devin Booker are two basketball players with the NBA team Phoenix Suns. Making a play on the words “son” and “suns”; he wants to support his son the way the player supports the Suns. In basketball, to “cook someone up” means to score on a defensive player with ease. He can take care of his family as easily as Nash and Booker score.
“Not a place or a face we done seen like Ciesay”
Imran Ciesay, also known as Ciesay, is the CEO of PLACES + FACES, a global lifestyle brand. Ciesay began as a photographic blog before transitioning to using PLACES + FACES as a platform to explore live shows and parties.
[Verse 2: Aminé]“That means forever” “Forever like André”
The title of the song “4EVA” taken from the use of “that means forever,” and “Forever like André,” a direct nod to OutKast’s 2000 hit, “Ms. Jackson,” in the second verse, André 3000 raps:
“On the oak tree, I hope we feel like this forever
Forever, forever, ever
Forever, ever?
Forever never seems that long until you’re grown”
Interpolating, “Ms. Jackson,” Aminé has spoken before in an Instagram post where he met André. If you know me, you know I’d never be here today if it wasn’t for this man and his art. Legend, monk, and teacher… thank you for being you –- sincerely, a young grasshopper.”
There is another unreleased track titled “Far Out” that was published to Genius along with “4EVA,” which claimed to be an unreleased track. With some digging, I was brought to a SoundCloud link that had the song titled, “Far Out Kaytrnada mix [Stella Artois’ Sessions @ Solstice].” In June of 2020, Kay performed a set at Stella Artois’ Sessions@Solstice in support of the NAACP, where he played a 50-minute set, including unreleased tracks. One being what people are calling “Far Out,” which features Aminé. This is speculated to be next on the singles rollout for the duo in the time before the full album release in May.
In this episode, Mando, Dez, and Tori are joined by Texas State Alum, Veronica Polanco, as they discuss knowing which college is best for you based on interests and goals.
In this Monday edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Koby Jackson, JP Flanagan, Joey Gonzales and Orlando Smart discuss Bobcat baseball’s upcoming games against UT Longhorns, Bobcat softball’s away sweep over Southern Miss and NBA Play-In tournament preview! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday and Friday! Live on KTSW 89.9!
By Jarris Jones
Music Journalist
If you are a fan or follower of the two-time Grammy winner, Tyler, the Creator, then you knew new music was on the horizon. Tyler has consecutively released an album every two years since his debut album Goblin back in 2011; Wolf in 2013, Cherry Bomb in 2015, Flower Boy in 2017, IGOR in 2019 and finally Call Me If You Get Lost in 2021.
With each new album, we get a new version of Tyler, a different side we’ve never seen before – a new world, a new era. Whether it’s a character with a wig and a suit for IGOR, a hopeless romantic surrounded by sunflowers in Flower Boy, or his luxurious persona, “Tyler Baudelaire,” for CMIYGL, Tyler has never disappointed with his work.
I had the year 2023 marked on my calendar and was excited to see the new world Tyler would bring me into. Not only has Tyler grown musically but mentally as well, with each new work of art displaying his new experiences in life and ability to make infectious music.
Artist Tyler, The Creator records over the years | Image Credit: Purplesneakers.comAlthough Tyler did not release a new full-length album, we were treated with a deluxe version of CMIYGL, alternatively titled Call Me If You Get Lost: The Estate Sale, released on March 31. The eight-song deluxe features collabs with Vince Staples, YG, A$AP Rocky, Kanye West and even includes a sample from John Legend with an unreleased deep cut from producer Madlib.
With every Tyler rollout, we are treated to very unique visuals. The song and visuals for “DOGTOOTH” were released on March 27 early in the morning, which sent fans and music goers into a frenzy.
Tyler has since released four visuals, but the most interesting and impactful visual from this rollout, in my opinion, comes from the song “SORRY NOT SORRY.”
“SORRY NOT SORRY” shows the viewer all of Tyler’s eras throughout the years, with the newest version of Tyler taking them out one by one. This new version of Tyler is shirtless and has no accessories or really anything special about him, almost to show his true self. This unidentified version of Tyler is believed to be the next era in his next album, whenever it is released.
Some of my favorite songs from the deluxe include “WHARF TALK,” ft. A$AP Rocky, “WHAT A DAY,” “DOGTOOTH” and “HEAVEN TO ME.”
Call Me If You Get Lost: The Estate Sale Album Cover | Image Credit: ComplexI highly doubt this will be the only music we get from the magnificent Tyler, the Creator, this year, and if his next set of releases are anything like the eight songs we received this past weekend, then we are due for another classic. Coming off winning two back-to-back Grammys, I can see Tyler is heating up for a third one.
When or whether we get more music this year is up to the Creator himself; maybe it’s another two years or maybe he breaks the routine and comes back out in 2024. No matter the time, no matter the moment and no matter the new era that is upon us, I am sure Tyler, the Creator, will continue to overachieve.
Tyler performing at the Fox Theatre | Image Credit: Wikimedia CommonsFeatured Image from Complex
By: Savannah Lopez
Blog Content Contributor
Texas State may have the label of “party school”, but let’s be honest, most college students like to go out and party. They enjoy going out to a nightclub, dance hall, or anywhere where the vibes are right. In San Marcos, two nightclubs on the square that I have heard about, Nephews and the Red Room Social Lounge, both have positive reviews for great vibes. There are a few more that I am not as familiar with, The Marc, The Vault, Veranda Rooftop Bar and Patio.
However, one club that became infamous within the community was Stonewall Warehouse.
Stonewall Warehouse was an LGBT bar/club, but it recently closed down in the beginning of January. Many people were saddened to see Stonewall close down, with several making Instagram posts honoring the memories made at the infamous nightclub and how they would miss its welcoming atmosphere. The owner was sad to sell it, but she is happy that the owners of Axis, a Premier Underground Bar in downtown San Marcos, bought it.
The Axis owners in San Marcos bought the building and are planning to open a new nightclub there called Wildfire, which should be open fairly soon in early April.
Supposedly, there might’ve been interested buyers from Austin, but the owners of Axis wanted to keep it local. That also means there won’t be any crazy high Austin level prices either.
I asked a few college students their thoughts on the new nightclub opening up, and here is what they had to say. “That is pretty cool! I’m excited and I like that there are going to be more options for us to go out and enjoy ourselves in San Marcos,” said Yaneli Aguilar, a geography major at Texas State University. “I think it’s great and I’m excited to go out there when it opens,” said Laci Stautzenberger, a biology major and fellow Texas State student.
While you wait for Wildfire to make its grand opening, visit Axis to show support to the new owners while enjoying a night out in the square!
For other recommendations, I would suggest Nephew’s or Red Room Social Lounge. Everyone I have talked to about going out in San Marcos love Nephew’s. They have cheap prices, nice bartenders, and a great atmosphere. Another popular pick is Red Room Social Lounge, which has a much more laidback vibe than Nephew’s. They have live music after two a.m. on weekends as a way to wind down, with a relaxing atmosphere to follow suit.
Nevertheless, I am excited for Wildfire to open, as well so many other students at Texas State and the San Marcos area!
Featured Image from Savannah Lopez
Episode 7 — The Evolution of Social Media in the Business Industry
On today’s episode of CA$H Radio, Nayeli Marte-Chavez interviews a social media management intern at NICO Studios, Citlalli Esquivel, about what responsibilities she holds as a social media manager. David Withey, Eli Garcia, Masyn McCool and Nayeli Marte-Chavez dive deep into the topic of the evolution of social media and the newfound importance of social media management. They discuss how social media managers can grow the recognition and reputation of a brand, and how they expect that to further adapt to changing industry conditions.
By: Kenlie Golleher
Rap Music Director
During SXSW, I got the wonderful opportunity to sit down with Chicago-based artist and rapper McKinley Dixon to discuss new music as well as his time at the festival.
I was first introduced to Dixon upon reading the lineup of the SPIN showcase that would be headlined by Killer Mike. I decided to do some research on the said lineup, and that’s when I stumbled upon the music video for “Tyler, Forever.” I was initially captivated visually by the video’s warm and gorgeous cinematography, but I soon found myself loving what I was hearing as well.
Beautifully orchestrated horns ring throughout the song, and Dixon’s flow and heartfelt lyricism pair effortlessly with the instrumentation to create a catchy track that leaves you wanting more. As someone who immensely appreciates the genre of jazz, I just love how much jazz is incorporated into his discography, especially in his full instrumental song “But, Still Tomorrow,” which is the last track off his 2018 album, The Importance of Self Belief. After watching that video and checking out the rest of his albums on Spotify, I knew I had struck gold.
Throughout the mass influx of emails I was getting from SXSW affiliates regarding opportunities at the festival, I stumbled upon one in particular regarding Dixon and his availability for an interview. I had never previously interviewed anyone before, let alone an artist of this caliber, so I will admit I was hesitant to reply at first, but I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity I couldn’t let get away from me.
McKinley Dixon at the SPIN showcase at SXSW 2023 | Image Credit: Kenlie GolleherWe met at the Native Bar & Cafe, a beautiful place that set the vibes high right off the bat. Upon our first meeting, we immediately hit it off and began chatting. We soon found ourselves discussing common interests, such as our shared love for emo bands. We geeked over My Chemical Romance and Pierce the Veil and shared a lot of laughs while reminiscing about growing up and being fans during the peak reign of these pop punk legends. Our conversion was so genuine, and it felt like I was just chatting with any other friend of mine, which I thought was lovely.
After watching him perform and sitting down to chat with him, I easily found myself feeling really grateful to have experienced his presence during my time at the festival. On stage, you can clearly see the display of sincerity that he has for his craft by the way he delivers his songs to the audience. Off stage, I was able to open up with the person behind the craft, and found myself resonating with the relatability between our interests and mindsets. Overall, I had a fantastic time, and hopefully I’ll get the chance to catch him another time.
His newest creation, Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?, is set to release on June 2 on all streaming platforms, so make sure to mark your calendar! Dixon’s talent and passion are heard throughout every song of his, and I’m very excited to see his growth from here. I really hope y’all decide to check him out if you’ve never heard from him before, you won’t be disappointed.
Check out my interview with him below!
Featured Image from Kenlie Golleher
In this Wednesday edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Orlando Smart, Thomas Terry, JP Flanagan and Justin Brown discuss Bobcat baseball’s loss against Texas A&M, Bobcat softball looking to face Southern Miss, an interview with Esports and NBA drama! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
By Erin Patterson
Music Journalist
She’s back! Last week, Lana Del Rey released her ninth studio album titled, Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd? Quite a mouthful, I know. Fans eagerly awaited the album release after “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd?,” “A&W,” and “The Grants” were released as singles, leaving thirteen new songs on the track list. Overall, I was nervous for the sound of this album. While I appreciate a slower and delicate sound, part of me notices the absence of the grungy guitar and percussion from her first two albums “Born to Die” and “Ultraviolence.” However, this album really surprised me and reminded me of the masterpiece that is Norman F* Rockwell.* I think this album is absolutely stunning, but one that I won’t be able to spin often as a whole, due to how somber it is. That is not to say that I dislike it, in fact, I think it is one of her best. Many songs jumped out to me, but if I were to talk about all of them, we would be here all day.
First on my favorite’s list is the title track, “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd?” The first single released from this album, this track set the stage for the mood and tone of the album. This song grabbed me by the ears, immersing me right back into her unique storytelling. A song about the fear of being forgotten and waiting for something special, this song really resonates with me. The orchestral swells and gentle vocal cadence on this song hooked me right in, I knew I would be a sucker for this album.
After hearing “Kintsugi,” I knew my life would never be the same. Dramatic, I know, but this song is so simple, yet carries so much depth. “Kintsugi” is a type of Japanese art that entails mending broken pottery with lacquer, dusted with gold. Instead of making the breaks invisible, they work with them to make them beautiful. An album about grief, one could say that this album is “Kintsugi.” Del Rey uses a beautiful artform to explain her journey with grief. Clever, elegant and melancholic, this track is perfect in my eyes.
“Paris, Texas” took my breath away. Thanks to Jack Antonoff, the production on this song is insanely pleasing to the ear. If you want to feel like you’re in a Tim Burton film, this is the tune for you. A song about intuition and knowing when to walk away from a person or a situation, this track is much lighter compared to the previous songs on the track list. The amount of times I have listened to “Paris, Texas” in the past week is ridiculous, but this track is an easy listen and a breath of fresh air.
When Father John Misty is featured on a Lana song or vice versa, you know it’s going to be good. “Let The Light In” is a perfect example of this. The way Father John Misty and Del Rey’s voices blend together on this track is just pure magic. In addition to the vocals, the production on this song can only be described as yearning. Yearning for someone that perhaps you shouldn’t. This song is about being in an on and off relationship with someone that is emotionally unavailable. She wants to be let in, but she knows that she will never be and she can’t help but accept it. While this song is less heavy sounding than previous tracks, the subject matter of the lyrics still brings forth a melancholic feeling, and I’m not complaining.
When I heard the “Venice B*” sample in “Taco Truck x VB,” my body was littered with goosebumps. The first half of this track is smooth and groovy, and then fades into a mumbled story, leaving you wondering where she’s taking us. We then fall into a trap sounding remix of the single “Venice B” from her album Norman F* Rockwell. This song is so interesting to me because it is so random. It makes me question why she chose to remix “Venice B**” and why she chose to put it as the final track on this particular album. A somber album about one’s journey with grief, “Taco Truck x VB” doesn’t seem to fit in with the mold this album has created. Again, I am not complaining, I love this track so much that I can overlook the harsh change in tone.
I am so pleased with the sound and songwriting on this album. Lana Del Rey’s voice and lyrics are experts at storytelling, I will happily listen to anything she gives us. Personally, I think this album will become one of her most critically acclaimed, if it hasn’t already. How blessed I am to be alive at the same time as an artist like Lana Del Rey.
By Sofia Gualy
Music Journalist
I truly never thought I could possibly become utterly obsessed with the genre of French funk. Their music seeps into your brain and infects you with the best nu-disco music you have ever heard. The French six-piece, established in 2012, releases a kind of music that truly never gets out of your head. To me, this is the kind of music that deserves the most amount of praise. L’imperatrice, which means “the empress” takes funk music and makes it their own.
L’imperatrice performing at Austin City Limits in October 2022. | Sofia GualyIn 2012, they came out with a self-titled EP, L’Imperatrice which consisted of 4 songs. In 2014, they came out with a breakthrough piece, Sonate Pacifique, a unique and groovy piece of art that caught the eyes of many. The song, ‘Sonate Pacifique” was one of the first songs that reached a wide audience. This song is in English and sings about someone’s infectious rhythm, much like the music they make, but personified.
Later in 2015, they began to gain traction. L’imperatrice released their single “Vanille fraise”, a purely instrumental song that showcases their funky talents. The song’s name translates to “strawberry vanilla”, which i personally think is the best name for the soundtrack to someone’s summer. The Odyssée EP was also released in 2015. This album is what put L’imperatrice’s name out there. Their song “Agitations tropicales” made huge waves in the indie scene and brought disco to where it was dead. This song is what made me obsessed with the French music scene and pushed me toward a genre that I never thought I would like.
Matahari was their first full-length album. Released in 2018, this album was quite different from their previous EPs. “Erreur 404” is their most popular song off of this album and is a reference to the computer error code. Lead singer, Flore Benguigui, softens the song with her angelic vocals. Matahari, the English version, was released in 2019 with new versions of the same songs. A little darker in theme and much more powerful instrumentally, Matahari is angsty and funky all in one. What more could you ask for?
L’imperatrice’s first full-length album, Matahari. | L’imperatriceIn 2020, L’imperatrice kicked off their Tako Tsubo era by releasing their first single from that album, “Anomalie bleue”. This is my favorite song of all by the French band. They use so many different instruments in this song and the tune is genuinely hypnotizing. Soon after, they released “Peur des filles” which directly translates to “scared of girls”. This song in particular was a huge hit and landed itself on many playlists on music platforms.
Tako Tsubo was released, after much anticipation, in March of 2021. The album consisted of 14 songs including the previously released singles. Tako Tsubo received raving reviews and more listens than they have ever received. The album is in both French and English, but in my opinion, their French songs are better. “Fou” and “Anomalie bleue” are two must-listen songs off this album and are the songs I would show first-time listeners.
L’imperatrice is a band that can make anyone appreciate the new wave of disco. If you are looking for something quite different from your usual genre, French Disco is for you.
By Lillian Jones
Local Music Journalist
On Friday, March 31st, up-and-coming local promoter Distortion Media presented their first-ever show at Lazy Daze coffee shop. After a tiring week, my friend and I decided to kick off the weekend by checking it out! Upon our arrival, the parking lot was quite full, foreshadowing an impressive turnout for the newly formed booking business. Making our way into the venue, we were greeted by the familiar faces behind Distortion Media – KTSW’s very own Avery Viers and Ashley Farnie! The red and green-haired duo have hosted shows in the past year at their D.I.Y. venue, Earle’s Basement, and have since decided to expand into managing and booking bands in San Marcos. I quickly paid my entry fee as Ashley gave me the green wristband for entry, allowing me to finally enter the space where the bands began to play.
In the backyard of the coffee shop was a small wooden stage in the corner of the fenced lot, accompanied by an array of picnic tables, rocking chairs and a nice big tree with lights hanging from the branches. Overall, the cutest venue I have been to in San Marcos so far. My friends and I found it to be nostalgic, bringing us back to the good ole’ backyard shows we visited over the summer. While I didn’t spend much time inside, the yellow walls, cozy decorations and CBD-infused coffee is definitely a reason to return!
Elegy
This being my third time seeing Elegy, it was the first time I could actually hear and fully experience their music due to the open-air venue. The noise band helped me regain some energy after a long day with their strong vocalist, pounding drums and occasional electronic “whoozing” noises. They have an impressive way of going from complete chaos, seemingly to make as much sound as possible with their instruments to eventually join back together, regaining a sense of rhythm and reason that I find refreshing and enjoyable to watch. Overall, Elegy is always a pleasure to see as they simply just like to have fun on stage, sending noise that flosses between your ears and leaves you wondering if you should start wearing earplugs more often.
Elegy at Lazy Daze coffee shop. | Ben MiddletonDemure
I had seen Demure once before at an Earle’s Basement show back in January where I listened from the garage due to a packed living room, so I hadn’t quite gotten the full experience yet. Demure gave a sweet transition from Elegy’s craziness as we sat and listened to their loopy, math rock rhythms. While the band doesn’t have any vocalists, it should not be a reason to keep you from seeing them. The San Marcos band kept me entertained with quick switch-ups of the time signatures and rhythm. I was genuinely left entranced and did some intense people-watching during their set as my mind was in loops.
Demure at Lazy Daze coffee shop. | Ben MiddletonCrash Test Girls
Crash Test Girls has quickly evolved into a staple of the San Marcos music scene. Having seen them two times previously at Earles Basement, KTSW’s Estrojam, and now for a third time at Lazy Daze, I never get tired of seeing them! Notably, Allie (lead vocals/bass) and Sammy (guitar/vocals) shared a little synchronized dance during one of the songs. The duo also rocked some noticeable accessories as Allie wore $5 knock-off Pit Vipers at 9pm and Sammy wore his staple cat beanie throughout the night. I highly suggest you see them especially if you enjoy bands such as Mannequin P*ssy with Allie’s mix of soft singing and loud screaming, as well as Title Fight and Cocteau Twins because of the band’s affinity to throw in their occasional covers from those bands. Overall, they ended off the night as a nice in-between of Elegy’s perfect chaos and Demure’s entrancing rhythms with a lovely mix of psychedelic rock and shoegaze.
Crash Test Girls at Lazy Daze coffee shop. | Salvador PatlanAt the end of the night, my friend and I were quite content with the show. It was definitely a nice way to start off the weekend as we mostly just sat in the rocking chairs like grandmas enjoying the music. Our evening together at Lazy Daze was a great way to celebrate the start of Avery and Ashley’s business and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Distortion Media!
To keep updated follow Distortion Media on Instagram @distortionmediatx, as well as the bands
@elegy.tx, @musicdemure, and @crashtestgirls.
Featured Image by Ashley Farnie.
By Daven Meredith
Sports Reporter
SAN MARCOS, Texas –Texas State Head Coach Steven Trout makes history as the fastest coach in program history to hit 100 wins for the Bobcats, defeating the Arkansas State Red Wolves 2-1 in their three-game series.
Texas State improves to (19-9) on the season and (5-4) in Sun Belt play. The Red Wolves fall to (9-16) overall and (1-6) in the Sun Belt.
The Bobcats opened up the three-game series to the Red Wolves Friday at Bobcat Ballpark, struggling on the mound. Starting pitcher Levi Wells gave up two home runs in the top of the first to give the Red Wolves a three-run lead.
In the bottom of the first, Bobcat left fielder Jose Gonzalez answered back with a three-run homer to right field. The Bobcats would follow up by taking advantage of a Red Wolve error scoring an extra run and taking a 4-3 lead.
The Red Wolves would answer with another two-run shot by First Basemen Brandon Hager in the top of the third.
Bobcats center fielder Ben McClain became a standout in game one as he scored the tying run in the bottom of the ninth, sliding into home off a wild pitch to send the game to extra innings.
“Coach Trout told me that if there was any pass ball, I need you to get in there,” McClain said. “As soon as I saw it tip off his glove, I was there.”
In extra innings, McClain hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th to win game one 8-7. McClain said that in the moment, “relaxing” was the key.
“It was a fastball right down the middle,” said McClain. “I just stayed relaxed and didn’t get too big.
McClain went 3-for-4 at the plate, with two RBI and two runs scored, to secure the Bobcat’s win and Coach Trout’s 100th with the program as he became the fastest in program history to reach triple-digit victories.
Saturday’s matchup saw a bounceback from the Red Wolves. Pitcher Kyler Carmack held the Bobcats scoreless until the bottom of the seventh, reducing the number of runs they gave up in game one by five.
The Bobcats clawed back, with Daylan Pena scoring off a sac fly by Kameorn Weil in the bottom of the seventh.
Bobcats third baseman Ryder Hernandez hit a three-run shot to bring the Bobcats within one, but the Red Wolves would hold off the Bobcats, giving them the 5-4 win and their first Sun Belt Conference win of the year.
The Bobcats bats only had four hits Saturday compared to their nine in game one. Coach Trout said that the team must make “adjustments” when hitting the ball consistently.
“Offensively, we just gotta get back to the top of the baseball,” said Trout. “A lot of flyouts. We gotta make adjustments with them.”
The Bobcats came into Sunday’s matchup with the series tied one apiece and the series on the line.
The Bobcat’s pitching staff came in handy, with Tony Robie getting the start on the mound striking out four batters on the day.
Bobcat pitcher Nathan Medrano said the pitching staff did their “job” this weekend on the mound.
“Robie did a great job starting it out. It was my first time bouncing back in two days,” said Medrano. “Rhett McCaffety did his job; we just got ahead and stayed ahead.”
The Bobcats did not trail once to the Red Wolves in game three, getting hits when it mattered. Designated hitter Cade Manning hit a three-run bomb in the bottom of the third to give the Bobcats the five-run lead.
“I felt good today at the plate,” said Manning. “Looking for a fastball inside, he gave it to me, and it worked well.
Bobcats Freshman Chase Mora hit a team-high 10th home run of the season for a late insurance run which matched the program record by a freshman set by Tyler Sibley in 2009.
“Moras’ a stud,” said Manning. “It’s incredibly tough to do, especially as a freshman. He deserves all the success that he is getting.”
The Bobcats would need that late run as Red Wolves first baseman Brandon Hager hit his second home run on the day in the top of the ninth, bringing the score within one.
The Bobcats were able to hold off the Red Wolves, giving them the win 7-6 and the series win 2-1.
“I’m excited we went 3-1 this week, and we didn’t play very well all week long,” said Trout. “Any time you can win three games and not be playing your best, it’s a sign of good things to come.”
The Bobcats hope to see good things as they hit the road for the next four games. Their first matchup is in College Station as they take on the Texas A&m Aggies Tuesday at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park at 6:00 p.m.
Featured Image from Beau Kelly
By Hannah Walls
News & Culture Assistant
When I was younger, reading was my favorite activity in the entire world. I would never be found without a book in hand, and even had a deal worked out with the librarian at my elementary school to let me check out more books than the usual limit.
I could easily breeze through a book in a day, give myself a few minutes to mourn and reminisce on my time in whatever world I was in for the past few hours, and then crack open a new one. Somewhere along the way, it feels like I lost that love, and reading actually became kind of difficult.
I blame this on a few factors.
I have many friends who share this same sentiment of being an avid reader until about middle school. As far as I can remember, this is about when mandatory readings became a regular thing in English classes.
I have nothing against books being assigned and required for certain classes at all, and in fact, I really enjoyed a good number of the books I was assigned to read in middle school, high school and college; “Lord of the Flies” and “Brave New World” actually ended up becoming some of my favorite books (however, I’m still overcome with unbridled rage when I think about “Great Expectations,” I hate it so much).
I do think required readings can make it overwhelming to enjoy any other book at the same time, and nothing is as fun when you literally have to do it without it being your choice. For people like me who were used to zooming through a book all in one night, it was also irritating to have to stop at specific chapters or put the book aside for a while.
As cheesy as it sounds, I also kind of attribute it to a developing digital world. It’s difficult to truly set aside distractions and focus on a book, and for me, most of my current hobbies as an adult are dependent upon technology, so choosing reading over those is rare.
I recently went camping, and I kind of think that completely changed my view of reading and re-ignited my love for it. I’m not saying you need to go off-the-grid for a weekend to rediscover how fun reading is, but it certainly made me realize a few things.
First, putting my phone on “do not disturb” is not enough sometimes. Once again, I know this might make me sound pretentious and cheesy, but a constant stream of notifications stresses me out a lot more than I thought. Being able to leave my phone in the tent all day and just sit in my hammock or lounge by the river with a book was the first time in a while I’ve felt genuinely relaxed. Even good notifications can be overwhelming or make you feel anxious, and coming to that realization was eye-opening for me.
Second, a big hurdle for me that now seems obvious: you do not have to read non-fiction! I went through a huge non-fiction book buying phase around my senior year of high school, which I just recently broke, because for some reason I was convinced I had grown out of fiction. I’m really not sure where this idea came from, all I know is that my bookshelf is now filled with memoirs, guides and psychology books that I’ve barely cracked open.
Once again, I love non-fiction books, and I love reading about topics I’m not familiar with and want to learn more about. But those books are not meant to be read all in one sitting, and are so much more enjoyable to read with the knowledge that I can read a little bit of that, then pick up a fiction book, or maybe even a fun graphic novel.
My current reads! I’ve found that keeping a non-fiction book, a fiction book and a manga or comic on deck to rotate through works best for me!Finally, the real kicker for me: you don’t have to finish a book all in one sitting! Surprise! I think part of what pushed me away from reading for so long was that I held myself to the standard of an 8-year-old me; if I could get through two books in a night then, why not now?
Well, probably because an 8-year-old doesn’t have to worry about juggling classes, an internship, extracurriculars and a social life. It’s not realistic to spend six hours a day reading every single day, and that’s okay! If you have even 30 minutes of free time to read, that’s enough.
Revisiting the books I loved when I was younger has been really fun for me, and I look forward to digging up my old “to read” list.
Featured Image from Hannah Walls
By Harriet Bernard
Local Music Journalist
On March 28th, the moon began its phase in Cancer and lasted for three days’ time. At the beginning of each month, Earth’s moon cycles through each of the twelve astrological signs before repeating once again. While most people are only familiar with their astrological sun sign, it is often heard that a person’s moon sign is one that might resonate with them more. Those who have a Cancer moon in their astrological birth chart may have experienced deeper feelings and intuition during this phase and may have had a release of pent-up feelings and emotions.
If you’re unfamiliar with astrology, it is important to note that each of the twelve zodiac signs is ruled by a planet or two, such as Leo being ruled by the sun or Pisces by Neptune and Jupiter. Similarly, Cancer is ruled by the moon because of the strength of the moon’s essence and Cancer being the more intuitive water sign. The cardinal sign of Cancer is strong that, even if it is not in your “big three,” reveals itself in any placement it finds itself in.
If you notice that your moon is in Cancer, take this as a great compliment. Cancer moon individuals frequently use their intellect to their advantage by feeling strong emotions, helping to guide their intuition. This specific moon phase could have had a significant effect on anyone with Cancer in their birth chart, but those with Cancer moons might have felt a slight change in motivation to face their inner feelings. Astrology, however, isn’t the only way we can try to process strong feelings and analyze our moods; music can do it too!
If you’ve ever felt like discovering more songs that perfectly represent who you are, what you like, and how you love, reviewing your birth chart can often be reflective of what type of music you enjoy and who your favorite artists are. Many popular artists – such as Drake, Taylor Swift, and Kurt Cobain – have their moons in Cancer. Cancer placements are creative and deep and, because of their emotional intuition, can connect with their audiences via hard-hitting lyrics.
Entirely accurate to his work, it was no surprise to find that famed Canadian rapper Drake also shares a Cancer moon. One of his more popular albums titled, Take Care, is his most “in his feels” album and represents how Cancer moons like to express their impassioned side of themselves. Cancer moon celebrities are often admired for their good spirits as well as how easily they can make relatable content. Beloved by many, the Texas-born country powerhouse Willie Nelson also has his moon in Cancer and has made various emotional connections with his fans.
Over the past few days, I thought about how the songs that I love represent what my personal experience of being a Cancer moon feels like. Here are some that lyrically and musically spoke to me:
- “Skin and Bones” by 070 Shake
This song is about reminiscing on a past relationship where it was a mutual understanding between two lovers. This specific set of lyrics stood out to me and what I could only describe as “the most Cancer vibes ever”; “The moon’s favorite daughter, light in the dark, and the waves in the water”. I see this as romantic and sensitive with mentions of both the moon and water.
- “Mariners Apartment Complex” by Lana Del Rey
This is one of my favorite Lana songs. This comes from her 2019 album, Normal Fing Rockwell!, which I believe to be one of her best; with themes of water, deep love, and moving on. The song is about supporting a loved one through tough times even if it means being unappreciated for every effort. My favorite lyric is, “‘Cause even in the dark, I feel your resistance, you can see my heart burning in the distance.*” Although Lana isn’t a Cancer moon, she has 3 placements of Cancer in her chart.
- “Blue Coupe” by Twin Peaks
This is one of my favorite songs in the past couple of years. I listen to it when I feel lost and sad because of its ability to somehow cheer me up in an instant. The melody is upbeat, and the lyrics have realistic messages about accepting what is true and putting a silver lining on the truth. The lyric, “Every time I take a look at the skyline it makes me feel better, ‘cause I just miss you down here where the other people try to move on,” displays feelings of hope and longing that come with accepting change, with singer Jack Dolan revealing that he dedicated the song to three friends he lost due to drugs when releasing the song in 2017.
Our astrological charts can influence how we listen to our favorite music and your favorite artists could share some of your signs in your chart. When we can relate to the music, listening to it becomes more enjoyable, making it more easy to find more of what we like. Throughout this specific lunar phase, my Cancer moon gave me a moment to pause to focus and process my feelings; using my music to guide me.
By Preethi Mangadu
News & Culture Director
Welcome to KTSW News’s weekly update! This week we are covering The Hector and Floria López Foundation giving Texas State University an almost $2 million grant, the approval of a new Pet Resource Center and Texas State’s Phi Kappa Phi chapter breaking a record.
Texas State receives $1.79 million grant for first-generation Latino studentsThe Hector and Floria López Foundation (HGLF) awarded a $1.79 million grant for full tuition coverage for 15 first-generation, Latino Bobcats last week.
The 15 incoming students that are selected for the López Scholar Program will receive many resources, including tutoring, housing, study abroad programs, paid internships, mentoring and more, on top of support for tuition and fees for the next five years, starting fall 2023.
Texas State and The Hector and Floria López Foundation announce new funding available for first-generation, Latino students. | Stephanie SchulzTo qualify for the grant, applicants must demonstrate a financial need, be an incoming, first-generation Hispanic student and have lived in or graduated from a high school in El Paso, Austin, San Antonio or communities in South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley. There is no minimum GPA or SAT/ACT score or application needed.
Texas State University (TXST) has been recognized for being a top school for Hispanic students and a Hispanic Serving Institution, as 40.5% of the student body identifies as Hispanic/Latino. The university has also been certified for showing how it is intentionally assisting and serving Latino students with the Seal of Excelencia in 2022.
“Texas State University has implemented strong, specific goals to support its first-generation students, including those who are Latino and have demonstrated financial need,” said Sergio Rodríguez, foundation CEO and nephew of Hector and Gloria López. “We selected this institution because of its outstanding achievements in uplifting students who face potential barriers to opportunity.”
TXST is the third university to receive funding from HGLF this year, with St. Edward’s University and the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) being the first two this year. UTSA and the University of Texas at El Paso received the first López Scholar Program grants last year.
“We are incredibly honored by this generous investment in our students by the Hector and Gloria López Foundation. Student success is at the heart of all we do at Texas State, and this grant reaffirms our commitment to supporting and serving our students as they achieve their academic and career goals,” said Texas State President Kelly Damphousse in an Inside TXST release. “As a first-generation college graduate myself, I am familiar with the struggles of navigating uncharted territory. It’s critical for students to feel guided and supported throughout their college experience and be prepared to successfully enter the workforce.”
HGLF has dedicated itself to “providing Latino students with financial and other support resources,” so “they will be successful in overcoming barriers, will achieve post-secondary success and will catalyze economic opportunities that will last a lifetime,” according to their website.
For more information on the grant and program, visit the Foundation’s website at https://www.hglopezfoundation.org/
Hays County Commissioners’ Court greenlights Pet Resource CenterA Professional Service Agreement for a new Pet Resource Center was approved last Tuesday by the Hays County Commissioners’ Court. Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) will be the project coordinator for the center.
Announcement of the new Pet Resource Center with Austin Pets Alive! | Hays CountyAPA! will focus on the creation, development, management and operation of the center, along with field services and a veterinary clinic.
Clara Callison, the Director of National Operations at APA!, said the center will include lost and found pet resources, vet care, pet support resources, a low-cost spay/neuter clinic, adoptions, a community cat program and more.
“It’s extremely important to have because of the fact that this is really groundbreaking,” said Callison. “The old shelter model is really antiquated and ineffective, and so the fact that this is a more modern, progressive version of animal support that is truly preserving the human-animal bond or the human and pet bond, prioritizing keeping pets together.”
In San Marcos, there has been overcrowding and overpopulation in the San Marcos Regional Shelter. Callison said that the center would help reconnect animals to their owners and provide resources to prevent surrendering pets.
“It’s really just a matter of resources put towards two things,” Callison said. “So lost pet reunifications–connecting people with lost pets–oftentimes, animals are sitting in the center, but because of a lack of technology and a lack of support services to connect them, they have just been sitting in the shelters and, sadly, are often euthanized for lack of resources. The other piece of that is a lot of people surrender their pets cause there’s no other services to help them keep their pet.”
Commissioners Debbie Ingalsbe, Precinct 1 and Lon Shell, Precinct 3, have worked together to get the county to address animal control and shelter overcrowding issues.
“It’s taken us a while to make this a reality but I believe it will elevate our ability to better serve county residents, help with our pet overpopulation issues and alleviate the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter’s chronic capacity problems,” Shell said, in a press release. “We are all pleased with Austin Pets Alive managing the project and helping us cross the finish line.”
For more information on the services that will be in the new Pet Resource center, view the Hays County Commissioners’ press release here.
Five doctoral students in TXST Phi Kappa Phi break record of competitive awards wonFive doctoral students in the Texas State Phi Kappa Phi chapter have broken a record in the Phi Kappa Phi’s Dissertation Fellowship program.
Four students won Phi Kappa Phi’s Dissertation Fellowship. One student received a Graduate Research Grant. Texas State’s winners were almost 30% of the 2023 candidates, breaking the record for number of fellowship recipients in a single year.
Every year Phi Kappa Phi awards 15 Dissertation Fellowships of $10,000 to active society doctoral candidates completing dissertations. They also provide 20 grants annually to members in graduate school.
“It is exciting to see so many of our Phi Kappa Phi students recognized for their significant research accomplishments,” said Kambra Bolch, president of the Texas State Phi Kappa Phi chapter, in a TXST release. “We are proud to have them represent our chapter and Texas State University so well at the national level.”
While the fellowship can go to all fields of study, the TXST fellows are in applied anthropology and geographic education. The research grant winner also comes from applied anthropology.
“These five Phi Kappa Phi awards provide external confirmation that Texas State cultivates and nurtures outstanding graduate students engaged in highly intellectual, significant and original research,” said Andrea Golato, dean of The Graduate College, in the same release. “We hope that more students from all fields of study will engage with our extensive external fellowship application support.”
To read more about the recipients’ projects, click here.
In this episode of State’s Up, Texas State University president Kelly Damphousse discusses how the university plans to expand parking and housing access on campus as a record number of students apply to Texas State, and Texas State’s Common Experience will come to an end after this semester. We’ll hear some of the financial reasons behind the decision. Plus, will faculty and staff get raises in the fall?
By Ashley Farnie
Assistant Music Director
When renforshort was announced as a SXSW official artist, I was transported back to her 2020 EP, teenage angst. The maximalist aesthetic of the album cover drew me into renforshort’s discography, giving me something to escape the four walls of my quarantine abode. Lauren Isenberg’s honest and nuanced depiction of female adolescence prompted a list of questions I had the opportunity to discuss with the artist herself at SXSW 2023.
renforshort at Augustine for SXSW 2023. | Ashley FarnieWe met following her performance at Inn Cahoots after I was able to catch her set the night before at Augustine, preceding her final show of the festival that took place at Stubb’s later that evening. Lauren was quick to express her frustration and confusion with the central Texas weather, yet the imminent postponement of her upcoming show was unbeknownst to the both of us.
renforshort at Augustine for SXSW 2023. | Ashley Farnierenforshort’s most streamed track “fuck, i luv my friends” was the first song I heard when the single was released in 2020. Emotions were heightened during the peak of the pandemic, and proximity of relationships became an idealization. I had not thought of the song much since its release year, but renforshort’s performance of the track at Augustine immediately made me nostalgic for my best friend, who was only a short car ride from Austin away at that point.
renforshort at Augustine for SXSW 2023. | Ashley FarnieI asked Lauren to tell me about her friends and her inspiration for the track:
“I have a couple best friends, and it was actually during the pandemic that I wrote that song because I was reminiscing on the times I would miss with them; like those fundamental years being a teenager, all the things that teenagers do…we didn’t get to do so I wanted to write a cinematic song about that.”
renforshort at Augustine for SXSW 2023. | Ashley Farnierenforshort’s debut album was released this past summer although she has been releasing music since 2019. With the gap between her initial works and her recent release, I asked Lauren how her songwriting process has developed:
“I think I follow a similar process, kinda play something, find a melody, and then write. I don’t think that’s really changed. It’s just about finding ways to say some things again in different ways, how to talk about anxiety without it being the same song as ‘i drive me mad’ is, and how to talk about friendship without it being the same as ‘fuck, i love my friends…’ a human only feels so many things and can write so many things, so it’s about really channeling those emotions a lot more.”
renforshort at Augustine for SXSW 2023. | Ashley Farnie“i drive me mad” is a powerful pop rock ballad that turns the struggles of anxiety into a release of emotion. Prior to performing the song onstage, Lauren encouraged the crowd to dance despite the lyrical element of the 2020 track. The next day during our discussion, I asked how songwriting helps Lauren turn a negative emotion into a positive expression:
“The positive experience for me is from writing the song and just getting everything out and having that release is happy, exciting. And I want people to feel that when they hear the song, and when it’s in a live setting…let everything go for a second.”
renforshort accomplishes the cataloguing of intense emotions through the cathartic release of songwriting and performance. The L.A.-based musician is not in writing mode, so stay tuned for new content from the rising pop sensation.
Featured Image by Ashley Farnie for KTSW 899.
In this Monday edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Preslie Davis, Joey Gonzales, and Orlando Smart discuss Bobcat baseball’s series win against Arkansas State, Bobcat softball’s away sweep over App State, KTSW Hoops Fest, NCAA Championship game preview and MLB opening week! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday and Friday! Live on KTSW 89.9!
ByKenlie Golleher
Rap Music Director
During SXSW, I got the wonderful opportunity to sit down with Chicago-based artist and rapper McKinley Dixon to discuss new music as well as his time at the festival.
I was first introduced to Dixon upon reading the lineup of the SPIN showcase that would be headlined by Killer Mike. I decided to do some research on said lineup, and that’s when I stumbled upon the music video for “Tyler, Forever.” I was initially captivated visually by the video’s warm and gorgeous cinematography, but I soon found myself loving what I was hearing as well. Beautifully orchestrated horns ring throughout the song, and Dixon’s flow and heartfelt lyricism pair effortlessly with the instrumentation to create a catchy track that leaves you wanting more. As someone who immensely appreciates the genre of jazz, I just love how much jazz is incorporated into his discography, especially in his full instrumental song “But, Still Tomorrow,” which is the last track off his 2018 album, The Importance of Self Belief. After watching that video and checking out the rest of his albums on Spotify, I knew I had struck gold.
Throughout the mass influx of emails I was getting from SXSW affiliates regarding opportunities at the festival, I stumbled upon one in particular regarding Dixon and his availability for an interview. I had never previously interviewed anyone before, let alone an artist of this caliber, so I will admit I was hesitant to reply at first, but I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity I couldn’t let get away from me.
McKinley Dixon at the SPIN showcase at SXSW 2023.We met at the Native Bar & Cafe, a beautiful place that set the vibes high right off the bat. Upon our first meeting, we immediately hit it off and began chatting. We soon found ourselves discussing common interests, such as our shared love for emo bands. We geeked over My Chemical Romance and Pierce the Veil and shared a lot of laughs while reminiscing about growing up and being fans during the peak reign of these pop punk legends. Our conversion was so genuine, and it felt like I was just chatting with any other friend of mine, which I thought was lovely.
After watching him perform and sitting down to chat with him, I easily found myself feeling really grateful to have experienced his presence during my time at the festival. On stage, you can clearly see the display of sincerity that he has for his craft by the way he delivers his songs to the audience. Off stage, I was able to open up with the person behind the craft, and found myself resonating with the relatability between our interests and mindsets. Overall, I had a fantastic time, and hopefully I’ll get the chance to catch him another time.
His newest creation, Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?, is set to release on June 2 on all streaming platforms, so make sure to mark your calendar! Dixon’s talent and passion are heard throughout every song of his, and I’m very excited to see his growth from here. I really hope y’all decide to check him out if you’ve never heard from him before, you won’t be disappointed.
Check out my interview with him below!
By Bryce LambethLocal Music JournalistOn any given weekend in San Marcos, there are a lot of choices when it comes to how one might decide to spend their time. You could float the river, mosey around the square for a drink, or enjoy some music at one of the many San Marcos bars and clubs. One lesser-known option might be the various poetry slams or performances that happen in the area; often intimate and radiating, an underground vibe you won’t need a password to get in, though some of these events are certainly off the beaten path.
The first time I witnessed slam poetry was at an event here in San Marcos. The event was a concert in support of Proposition A, which was a local ballot initiative that aimed to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of cannabis.
As a result, the poetry performed was powerful and cut RIGHT through to the heart of so many issues that local politicians seemed to just dance around; that was one of the first times I witnessed the power of spoken word. I had been a fan of hip-hop for years, and while I knew it to be a vehicle for protest dissent and counterculture, I had never seen it laid so bare before.
When I say these events are off the beaten path, the last thing I would want people to think is that they are somehow exclusive or unwelcoming. These groups of people and organizers have been such a joy to know and do such important work that I know would welcome any eventgoer with open arms.
Of course, one can hardly have a conversation about poetry without acknowledging the burgeoning hip-hop scene we have in the area as well. Multiple artists from many backgrounds, including some locals, have popped up in the area, showcasing talent ranging from talk styles reminiscent of Annette Peacock or Sun Ra, all the way to hard-core beats echoing suicideboyz’ style that’s taken off since the late twenty-teens.
This cornucopia of styles and influences has come to make the central Texas hip-hop scene something of an anomaly.
We’re lucky enough to have our own sources of prose close to San Macros! The Porter House is in Kyle and is a great location to catch speakers and authors. There are also several open mics in the area, such as Wake the Dead Coffee. In addition to these live options, we have the Porter House review, which is a publication of the MFA program here at Texas State that highlights prose and poetry.
I encourage you to check out these artists and one of these events for yourself. I personally took a long time to get into hip-hop concerts and poetry slams, but now that I have, I just can’t look back.
Poetry and rap changed my mind from being something untouchable and far away, to something homegrown and right in Infront of me center stage. If you find yourself a fan of prose or music in general the talent exhibited by San Marcos’ own poets.
Featured Image from Elizabeth, Production Director
In this episode, Mando, Dez and Tori are joined by emerging artist, Maddie Ware, as they talk about the expectations their parents had for them, and if their own expectations align with theirs.
By Evelyn Lopez
Music Journalist
The debut collaborative album from JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown, Scaring the Hoes, was released on March 24, 2023, after a year of anticipation. The last project released by JPEGMAFIA was LP! in 2021, and for Danny Brown, it was uknowhatimsayin¿ in 2019. Honestly, fans of both of these rappers may have anticipated this collaborative project before JPEG’s Twitter hints. Both artists like to experiment in their music with industrial, techno and outré beats, which makes this collaboration feel right.
When you think of experimental hip-hop in the last decade, both of these rappers come to mind with their unique and distinctive voices and production. It is pretty hard to describe the sound of the album, but this 14-track project says a lot just in the title. In a podcast episode from “The Danny Brown Show,” Brown shares how the title name came from their shared bond of being chronically online.
“Scaring the Hoes” is fully produced by JPEG. The lead single and first track of the album, “Lean Beef Patty,” starts off with a sped-up sample of “I Need a Girl pt.2” by P. Diddy. JPEG sets heavy synth bass and glitch-like sound bites that drown out the catchy sample and allow both rappers to interlock their bold and comical verses. Personally, this album allowed me to have zero thoughts in my brain. The abundance of sounds and hypnotic drum patterns were very relieving for my end-of-semester existential crisis.
This album hit all of the right spots for me. Let’s talk about “Fentanyl Tester,” which is track 5. One of my favorites, easily. Aside from the hype and contagious shoulder bumping, this song encapsulates everything I want in a JPEGMAFIA x Danny Brown song. This song is freshly added to my “Baddie Vibes Only” playlist. When I listen to it, I just feel so lively, energetic and ready to do donuts in a random parking lot, and I have quite literally never had that feeling before. Their fast-paced verses and out-of-pocket pop-cultural references kept me on my toes. This is a theme in the album that really highlights how online and silly they are.
We get lines from JPEG like “I wanna rock right now/ Hittin’ whippets and eating halal/ Get to clippin’ while whippin’ these sounds/ You get hit, you gon’ sing like Bilal, uh”, with Brown’s verse following with the lines, “Let me tell you what I’m gon’ do/ Tell no lies, just tell your truth/ I’m a big dog like Marmaduke.” The best part about this song is that it’s mixed with a sample that you won’t register until the outro. The hot girl classic track “Milkshake” by Kelis was reworked into what reminds me of a Jersey Club mix. A sassy, feel-good song that just works with their personalities.
Personally, I love the album and am a bit biased. The majority of the album has a lot of replay value for me. Without a familiar ear to experimental hip-hop and both artists’ discographies, it is understandable that this album can be hard to digest. There is just so much going on, and it is hard to unpack it all. If you have not given it a listen but it sounds like something that fits your groove, I highly recommend it. Lastly, if you do listen and you really like it, then be excited for the two other albums that JPEG says will be released this year as well, hinting at another volume of their collaboration and more solo work soon.
Featured Image from AWAL label
By Adrianna Elias
Rap/Hip-Hop Journalist
June 2, mark your calendar for an Avenger-level threat: Spider-Man and music fans are being fed! As one of the Spider-Man fans you should fear, I am excited to tell you that it is rumored that Metro Boomin is making music for the upcoming film “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” Considering this news, allow me to remind you of a harmonious relationship between rap/hip-hop and Marvel throughout time.
Take yourself back. It’s the beginning of 2018, and you’ve been anticipating “Black Panther” to hit theaters. You’ve just sat down in a crowded theater after a 30-minute wait in line. After watching “Black Panther,” you are taken aback. A movie this good cannot be that short. Like any good Marvel fan, you stay for the end credits scene, and as the credits roll, you hear it: Kendrick Lamar’s “All the Stars,” featuring SZA. Not only am I transported back to this exact moment when I listen to the song, but I’m also overcome by the emotions it brings with it.
“All the Stars” was the first single from the album Black Panther: The Album, released in January. A young Ryan Coogler approached Kendrick Lamar to collaborate on a theatrical album to accompany his film. After its approval by Disney, the music industry began buzzing and, upon seeing the movie, the album takes on a whole new meaning and goes on to win a Grammy. From that moment forward, I was listening to “King’s Dead” and “Paramedic!” on repeat.
Black Panther the Album by Kendrick Lamar | Image Credit: Album Cover by Nikolas A. Draper-IveyStay in 2018 with me; it’s early December, and you’ve been holding onto the little bit of Spider-Man you saw in 2017, anticipating “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” to be an extension of that. Throughout the movie, you are doing a little shoulder shimmy because every aspect of the film has a perfectly curated song to go along with it, yet another incredibly well-done album to accompany the world and characters of the Marvel universe.
I am almost 99% sure there isn’t a single person who doesn’t know the song “Sunflower,” which played in the iconic intro scene of the movie. There are big names like Nicki Minaj, Lil’ Wayne, Denzel Curry, Jaden Smith and Vince Staples credited on the accompanying Spider-Verse album, which introduced me to Duckwrth and sent me into a binge of his whole discography.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Album Cover Now, let’s go way back. Why do rappers often identify with superheroes and talk about them in their projects? Rap and hip-hop have long used the idea of “heroes” as a point of reference and have a framework that includes comics. For instance, the entire persona of MF DOOM is named after the Marvel villain Doctor Doom, also sporting a metal mask like the one worn by the antagonist in comic books. 90s group Wu-Tang Clan frequently makes references to heroes and uses comic book imagery for their album artwork.
Rappers’ understanding of superheroes and their larger-than-life personalities requires them to create their own secret identities to fully express their art. Just as comic books and superheroes are influences on culture, rappers have the power to help people build community and showcase how they’ve transformed tragedy into triumph.
There are plenty of East Coast rappers who live in the home of many superheroes’ fictional world, New York. In that case, the relationship between hip-hop and mainstream comics is based on closeness, as when they were young and poor, they both called New York home. Hip-hop and popular comic books have a geographical, as well as a spiritual connection, with one of the best examples being arguably the Wu-Tang Clan, a supergroup of rappers.
As mentioned before, the Wu-Tang Clan is one of the most influential hip-hop collectives of all time. They broke through the music scene when they curated the perfect multicultural influences, telling stories with the use of all things comic book, science fiction and kung-fu related. While a lot of the music themes in America dealt with American experiences and ideals, Wu-Tang went international, combining the gritty daily life of poverty in Staten Island with the fantastical elements of martial arts and superheroes.
The alternative sound of the 80s and 90s was disrupted by the “Wu-Tang style,” with the crew at its loudest and most aggressive, letting everyone know who they were: a force not to be reckoned with.
In the same way, rappers love superheroes for the way they can see themselves in them, and fans of rap can identify with different artists in the same way. Having a piece of media represent your everyday life, like growing up in poverty or simply being interested in the same nerdy themes underlining the music, actively builds a cult following and a collective to be a part of.
Featured Image from Bachalo and Haldi
By Aaliyah Hamilton
Music Journalist
With Timbaland and Darkchild ruling the 2000s R&B scene, they created a new wave of R&B that had never been seen or heard before. 20 years later, that same sound they created is returning. The following artists are full of melodic nostalgia while still having their own new-age spin on their tracks.
Joyce Wrice
Joyce Wrice describes her sound as being “feel-good R&B with some smooth, warm, sultry vocals on it,” and I felt that she described it accurately. She draws inspiration from the likes of The Neptunes, Beyoncé and Rihanna, and it’s clearly shown on her latest EP, Motive. On said EP, she collaborates with producer Kaytranada on “Iced Tea” to enhance that classic 2000s R&B sound. It was her second time working with Kaytranada, as she worked with him on her first album Overgrown, where she has other features such as Lucky Daye, Freddie Gibbs and Masego.
Avenoir
As Avenoir includes Brent Faiyaz-esque attributes, his music sounds like it could’ve come straight out of Timbaland’s discography. Back in 2022, he was considered one of Spotify’s “Fresh Finds,” where in an interview with them, he acknowledges that he wants to “bring back a sound that hasn’t been heard in a while and make it [his] own.” On his track “MORAL,” which he just released at the beginning of March, he takes a different approach on a traditional R&B love ballad by adding some alternative influence and singing about prioritizing himself rather than a lover.
FLO
Several prominent girl groups ruled the 2000s, but they are rare to see in today’s mainstream music industry. FLO is reminiscent of such an era by creating songs of empowerment similar to their Destiny’s Child predecessor. The group, which consists of members Jorja Douglas, Reńee Downer and Stella Quaresma, was formed in 2019 but didn’t debut their debut single until 2022. Their debut, “Cardboard Box,” has the same lyrical content that can easily be related to Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable,” but with a production by MNEK that was catered to a modern-day audience. On their most recent single, “Fly Girl,” not only do they interpolate the 2002 hit “Work It” by Missy Elliot, but they also include a feature from the rapper herself. When talking about the track, the group said, “‘Fly Girl’ is quite literally a perfect fusion of old school meets new school with a nod to and original fly girl Missy Elliot.”
Jay Safari
Jay Safari’s song “Dance” has been circulating around TikTok, as it was produced in The Neptunes member Pharrell’s familiar style that can be found on Usher’s 2001 hit “U Don’t Have to Call.” He promotes his music on TikTok, as that is how many new-age artists have gained popularity with the same strategy. In the latest video he posted to the app, he promotes a song where he states that it was about the last conversation between him and an ex. He sings about his heartbreak on a spunky house beat with a vocal delivery that, to me, can be compared to Don Toliver.
Featured Image from FLO
By Katie Krupisnki
Community Relations Executive Director
Founded in 1978, local non-profit organization Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center (HCWC) has
been providing support and services to victims of domestic and sexual violence in the Hays and
Caldwell counties of Texas for over 45 years. HCWC is one of the original six shelters in the
state and has been at the forefront of helping survivors heal and rebuild their lives.
HCWC operates a ten-family shelter and is currently in the process of adding four bedroom
suites in the finished attic space to accommodate more families. But they don’t just provide
shelter, they also offer comprehensive services to victims of domestic and sexual violence who
don’t need shelter, including counseling, legal advocacy, and assistance with crime victim’s
compensation forms.
For those in need of immediate support, HCWC operates a 24-hour HELPline (396-4357 or
1-800-700-4292) for the community. They also respond 24 hours a day to hospital emergency
rooms whenever there is a victim of sexual assault or family violence.
HCWC provides primary prevention programs for students in the schools in Hays and Caldwell
counties. Through these programs, they aim to educate students on healthy relationships and
provide them with the tools to recognize and prevent dating violence.
In addition to their other services, HCWC operates the children’s advocacy center, Roxanne’s
House, which provides comprehensive services to child victims of sexual abuse. Through
Roxanne’s House, children receive specialized care from trained professionals in a child-friendly
environment.
HCWC provides services for victims of dating violence, and not just for women and children, but
for men as well. They recognize that domestic and sexual violence affects individuals of all
genders and are committed to providing support to all survivors.
HCWC is a vital resource for the Hays and Caldwell communities. They provide a safe haven for
survivors and their families and offer a wide range of services to help them heal and rebuild their
lives. The organization’s commitment to providing comprehensive services to all survivors,
regardless of gender, is truly commendable.
If you or someone you know is in need of support, please contact HCWC’s HELPline at
396-4357 or 1-800-700-4292.
Episode 6 – Careers in Event Marketing and More!
On today’s episode of CA$H Radio, David Withey interviews fellow co-host Eli Garcia to expand on his extensive Event Marketing career and professional experience prior to attending Texas State University. Masyn McCool and Nayeli Marte-Chavez were unable to attend this week’s recording, so David and Eli did a one-on-one!Throughout the interview, they explore the importance of pre-event preparation, post-event follow up and the significance of quality sales lead generation.
By Erin Patterson
Music Journalist
This last month, Dublin-based alternative rock band, Inhaler, released their sophomore LP titled Cuts and Bruises. Their debut album, It Won’t Always Be Like This, allowed them to gain some traction in the industry. In addition to their own solo tour this past year, they also opened for the infamous Arctic Monkeys on the European leg of their world tour. If that couldn’t get any better, they will be opening for the Harry Styles show in Ireland at the iconic Slane Castle this June. In regards to my personal journey with Inhaler; after listening to Cuts and Bruises, I have now upgraded from ‘casual listener’ to ‘super fan.’
The opening track, “Just To Keep You Satisfied,” is a teaser for what you will be getting for the rest of the album. Not the strongest song lyrically on the album, but I believe its purpose is to ease you into the sound of the album, not necessarily the meaning. Containing a mix of crisp guitar and some funky synth and a simple melody, this song is an easy listen.
Shifting into the next song, “Love Will Get You There,” this is your classic pop-rock anthem. You have no choice but to tap your foot or break out into a full-on groove when this song is on. This is a showcase for every member of the band, specifically the lead singer, Elijah Hewson. His voice sits at such a nice place, blessed with a higher register. He also sings the lyrics with a somewhat whiny delivery, which helps relay the lyrics.
“So Far So Good,” why yes! This track is about a failed talking stage where the lead singer is battling himself, too afraid to commit. This song is repetitive lyrically, but Hewson’s vocal performance and the instrumentals make up for it. Not particularly a stand-out track, but still a good song to jam to.
Next, we have “These Are The Days.” If I had this song when I was a teenager, I would have been insufferable. A happy and nostalgic tune about going out and partying with friends and how it can distract you from your own mind. The melody and lyrics are very catchy and really make use of the bass and drums, which is different from what we’ve heard so far. This track has worked its way up to becoming one of my favorites from the album.
Now moving on to our heartbreak song. “If You’re Gonna Break My Heart,” is a simple yet strong track. I appreciate that they kept it upbeat as opposed to a heartbreak ballad. If you’re going to listen to a song about your heart getting smashed to pieces, at least you can dance the pain away. Again, the chorus of this song is extremely catchy and often gets stuck in my head, which I don’t really mind.
“Perfect Storm,” is the aftermath of “If You’re Gonna Break My Heart.” This song tricks you into believing it’s something that it is not. Starting off gentle and quiet, I first thought we would have our first slower song. Then the drums kicked in, allowing the song to crescendo into the classic Inhaler sound. The build of this song is really nice and upbeat, but still melancholic.
We have now made it to my favorite on the album, “Dublin In Ecstacy.” Something about listening to this song makes you feel like you’re the hottest person to walk the face of the earth. A sensual melody that transports you to the exact instance Hewson is singing about. The guitar on this song really shines, hitting you right in the chest. In my opinion, this is for sure the strongest song on the album.
“When I Have Her On My Mind,” is a track that I’m not sure how to feel about. I don’t think it’s a weak song, yet, it doesn’t really set itself apart from the pack. It’s a tough spot on the album, immediately following “Dublin In Ecstacy.” I will still groove along to this when it is on, but for me, it is a take-or-leave-it track.
We are now on an upward streak for the rest of the album. “Valentine,” offers something new to the album. The intro grabs your attention and makes you wonder where the song is going to go. Throughout the track, there are many times where you think we’re going to get this large climax musically, but we never do. Usually, this would upset me, but in this case, I think it really works.
“The Things I Do,” is a close second favorite to “Dublin In Ecstasy.” The keys and strings add so much without making them abandon their sound. There’s nothing about this song I don’t enjoy, the vocals and instrumentals blend so well together to the point it makes me feel like I’m about to start levitating into the clouds.
Onto our final track, “Now You Got Me.” Another one of my favorites, I think they made the right choice to close the album with this song. A bookend to “Just To Keep You Satisfied,” this song is a summary of everything we’ve heard so far. Lyrically, Hewson is surrendering to the person he has been singing about this entire time. This album was essentially him wrestling with his feelings about this subject, and now they have him right where they wanted him.
For only being active for two years and this being their second album, I think they are right on track to becoming a very successful band. This is just the beginning for them and after the release of Cuts and Bruises, the sky’s the limit.
Featured Image from Inhaler.
By Katie Krupinski
Community Outreach Executive Director
Supporting Women in Geography (SWIG) is an official Texas State student-led organization in
the Department of Geography. The Texas State SWIG chapter was founded in 1998 and
inspired by a group that is currently at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“SWIG acknowledges that women are a minority in the Geography and Environmental Studies
Department, and we believe it is important to bring that to light through our community events
and meetings. We serve as a place for Women to feel empowered and acknowledged for their
hard work and accomplishments” – Callie High, President of SWIG.
Their meetings and activities provide students, faculty, and staff opportunities to network and
develop in their academic, social, and intellectual skills. SWIG plans social events every month,
and their only requirement to join is to be a supporter of women in geography.
For the month of March, SWIG is celebrating International Women’s month by hosting a panel
discussion made up of all female speakers! The panelist will consist of professors from the
Geography and Environmental Studies Department.
Other exciting events to look forward to are a hike in April at the Canyon Lake Gorge and an
end of the year picnic at Sewell Park!
To stay updated on the dates of these events and for more information about Texas State
SWIG, check out their social media accounts below!
Social Media Accounts:
Instagram: @txstate.swig
Twitter: @TxStateSWIG
Website: https://swigtxstate.weebly.com/
By Daven Meredith
Sports Reporter
SAN MARCOS, Texas – South Alabama softball defeated Texas State in a three-game Sun Belt series this weekend (2-1) in San Marcos at the Bobcat Softball Stadium.
The series’ outcome brings the Bobcat’s overall record to (20-13-1) and (1-4) in Sun Belt Play. The Jaguars improve to (21-10) and (4-1) in conference play.
The Bobcats started their weekend series off Friday in a closely contested game. The Bobcats held a one-run lead through four innings thanks to an RBI single by shortstop Hannah Earls in the bottom of the second.
Bobcats pitcher Jessica Mullins threw her 10th complete game of the season, retiring the first 13 Jaguar batters she faced with four strikeouts and one walk.
Mullins held the Jaguars scoreless until the top of the seventh when Jaguars right fielder Victoria Ortiz connected on a two-run home run to give the Jaguars the lead and the win on the day.
The Bobcats could not produce a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, resulting in a 2-1 Jaguar victory and dropping Mullins’ record to (12-7) on the season. Bobcat coach Ricci Woodard said the Bobcats didn’t make the right “adjustments,” resulting in the loss.
“They made adjustments, and we didn’t,” said Woodard. “We can’t do the same thing three bats in a row. One pitch executing on the offensive side and one pitch on the defensive side is going to change a ball game.”
Saturday’s matchup saw a bounce back for the Bobcats’ offense, connecting on 11 hits for six runs.
Earls continued to light sparks this weekend, knocking in the first of the three runs scored in the top of the third. Woodard said “stringing hits together” is the key to winning ball games.
“When we start stringing hits together at the same part of the lineup, you’re probably going to win ball games,” said Woodard. “I’ve been talking about key hits and executing, and I feel like we did a better job with that today.”
Leading the way for the Bobcats’ defense Saturday were pitchers Tori McCann and Karsen Pierce, who allowed only two runs on the day. Resulting in a 6-2 Bobcat victory and the Bobcats’ first Sun Belt win of the year while tying the series one apiece heading into the series final.
In Sunday’s matchup, the Bobcats’ momentum was halted by Jaguars pitcher Olivia Lackie who held the Bobcats’ bats to only two hits and zero runs. Woodard said the Bobcats can’t get “beaten” in every part of the game if they want to win tough games.
“Games aren’t going to get any easier,” said Woodard. “We must do some things differently. We have to make some adjustments. We can’t come out and get beaten in every area of the game and think we’re going to win.”
The Bobcats had a combined six errors on Sunday and nine total in the series, compared to South Alabama’s lone error through all three games. Woodard said, “You can’t win ball games like that.”
“If you get two hits and make six errors,” said Woodard. “You probably aren’t going to win a ball game.”
In a last ditch effort in the bottom of the seventh with two outs, Bobcats catcher Karmyn Bass hit her first career triple, but JJ Smith would fly out at the next at bat resulting in the Jaguars victory and series win.
The Bobcats look to bounce back Wednesday as they take on the Baylor Bears at Bobcat Softball stadium at 6:00 p.m. where you tune in on KTSW 89.9!
Featured Image by Beau Kelly.
In this Wednesday edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Orlando Smart, JP Flanagan and Justin Brown discuss Bobcat baseball’s matchup against UTRGV, Bobcat softball’s face-off against nationally ranked Baylor in San Marcos, NCAA March Madness Final Four Predictions and NBA Season coming to a close! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
By Sam Burzinski
Blog Content Contributor
If you’ve ever been to a movie a little bit on the earlier side, you may have caught the last few minutes of whatever pre-show sequence the movie theater is contractually obligated to display before each picture. Usually it’s some assortment of trivia, pleas to join newsletters for things you don’t care about, or the same M&M’s commercial that’ll be there until the end of time; you know the one.
If you’re like me (neurotic, anxious, terrified of being late to anything ever) and you show up about 30 minutes before the showtime that’ll never change no matter how much you scramble to leave the house, then you often end up seeing this pre-show sequence every single time you sit down for a movie.
And none compare to the glorious majesty that is Noovie.
Now, I’ll cop to this right out of the gate: my love for Noovie began, as most things do for insincere teenage boys, out of the sheer irony of it. It’s lame, corny, you can find influencers begging you to go see “Shazam 2” on pretty much every digital street corner if you look hard enough and the thing I best know Maria Menounos from is Season 14 of “Dancing with the Stars” (in which she placed fourth behind Green Bay Packers legend Donald Driver.) However, there’s something about exposure therapy that draws you in.
As previously stated, I leave my apartment to go to the movie theater far, far earlier than I have any need to in order to make sure that I don’t miss a second of the film. As a result of this, my movie-going experience usually break down into something like this:
- Walk into theater
- Get Apple Wallet ticket scanned by front desk employee, who will inevitably give you a weird look for arriving to see “My Fair Lady” an hour ahead of the posted showtime
- Wait outside theater for previous film showing to end
- Wait inside empty theater, almost always alone
- Get jumpscared by a very loud Maria Menounos imploring you to stick around for games, trivia, and more
- Watch movie
- Leave theater
Now, why do I love such a vapid piece of corporate advertising and shilling to get you to be more “invested” in whatever franchise blockbuster is coming next down the pipeline?. Because it’s mine, and having something that feels like “yours” is one of the most important things to have in life, I think.
I’ve become something of an unintentional folk hero among my close peers due to my adoration of Noovie, as for the past 30 weeks–almost every Sunday since seeing three movies in one day for “National $5 Movie Day”–I’ve updated my loyal friends and family on the Noovie they’re showing in the local Springtown Center EVO Entertainment. The most variance these pictures get is some sort of pithy tagline I write, always containing the word “Noovie” in some esoteric sense. And now, for some inexplicable reason, I get tagged by my friends left and right when they see Noovie in the wild, and it makes me absolutely overjoyed to see everyone else join in on the Noovie mania.
Probably my most notable Noovie experience in recent memory.Like I said, the enjoyment of Noovie is something that felt like it was “mine,” in a sense. Transitioning into college out of high school was particularly tough. I had way, way more free time on my hands that I had any right to know what to do with. The most frequent suggestions from advice columns and helpful acquaintances was always “Just get a hobby!” For me, this was almost comically daunting. Hobby? Every day my routine is that I wake up, do some stuff and go to sleep–the thought of developing a hobby required distinct choice-making skills and a passion for anything in particular, both things I lacked in abundance.
Any sort of hobby that I would’ve liked to pick up either required a great deal of money or resulted in me feeling inauthentic; that whatever hobby I’d pick up would lead to a weird sort of impostor syndrome that I was a phony in that field. If it was something popular, my lack of experience made it feel like I stuck out like a sore thumb and that’s something I can’t mentally handle.
However, many theater chains participate in the “Flashback Cinema” program, in which older movies are scheduled to be shown for extraordinarily cheap. The average movie ticket price in 2022, according to the research firm EntTelligence, was $11.75. In comparison, every Flashback Cinema ticket is only $5, extraordinarily affordable on a summer camp employee and college student’s budget.
As time went on, and I steadily filled up my movie backlog from the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy to “Gone with the Wind,” the routine of Noovie was comfortable, somehow. It was a constant during a weird state of flux in my life, and by some odd turn of events, enjoying Noovie became a hobby for me in and of itself.
If you take one lesson and nothing else from this article, I want it to be that you should go out at your earliest convenience, see a movie at a theater that participates in Noovie, and enjoy yourself! Oh, and find something fulfilling in your life that you enjoy doing day after day and provides you and those who are close to you with joy. That too.
By Justin Brown
Sports Reporter
This previous weekend marked the start of spring practices for Texas State Football. G. J. Kinne, who was hired as the head coach earlier this year, had an opportunity to speak to the media following the first practice.
In his opening statement, Coach Kinne emphasized how there was great energy on day one. There were no pads or tackling in the opening practice; although, Kinne eluded that the team would be incorporating those respective prospects as spring moved forward.
After being asked what he saw from both the offense and defense on day one, Kinne cited the entire team looked like “bees in a hive”. Matching the original tone of great energy, it was also specified how despite it being early-the tempo was good.
There are four quarterbacks on the roster this year, and Kinne praised how well each of the quarterbacks protected the ball. Undoubtedly, there has been no indication yet on who will be the starter. Though, 4-star Arkansas transfer Malik Hornsby, and incumbent quarterback Ty Evans will highlight the competition.
When coach Kinne was asked about how his young age can contribute to the success of the program, he responded by expressing that he and the rest of the coaching staff can relate to the players. Kinne, 34, almost single handedly brings the median age of coaching in the NCAA down from the usual 50-60 years. Kinne also believes that being raised into the age of technology and social media gives him an edge on being able to connect with players through different platforms such as Instagram and Twitter.
Kinne was asked what he’d like to bring over from his time as head coach at University of the Incarnate Word, and he quickly replied “being able to do everything right”. Kinne declared that it starts in the classroom and community and translates to the football field.
One of the biggest talking points in all of college football is the landscape of the transfer portal. Kinne described that a huge challenge would be mixing transfers with original signees. However, Kinne took a leadership stance and explained that it would be up to him and the rest of the coaching staff to successfully integrate them and produce results.
There are exciting times ahead for Texas State football, and tides are hopeful to change sooner rather than later.
By Kylie Hogg
Local Music Journalist
Last week I attended South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas where I had the chance to see and photograph many live music showcases; some that I knew of previously and some I discovered while there. Most of the artists I saw were very entertaining, so I have compiled a ranking of the artists I saw at South by Southwest from my least to most favorite.
- Núriah Graham
I saw the Irish-Catullan singer at Audiofemme’s music showcase on Wednesday, March 15, where she played a 30-minute ambient set accompanied by nothing but a saxophone, a guitar, and an acoustic bass. Graham played a stripped-down set. She opened with a long piano ballad that transitioned into an acoustic set that hushed the crowd for the duration of her performance.
Núriah Graham playing the Audiofemme music showcase at SXSW 2023. | Kylie Hogg6. EKKSTACY
I saw EKKSTACY as a part of Flood Magazine’s Flood Fest. EKKSTACY is a post-punk band from Vancouver, Canada. The band played a heavy 30-minute set that did a great job of encapsulating their sound in the very limited time they had. If you enjoy bands like American Football or Pearly Dewdrops, you may enjoy EKKSTACY.
EKKSTACY singing at Floodfest at SXSW 2023. | Kylie Hogg5. Satya
I was not aware of Satya before I saw her, but she quickly became one of my favorite artists that I came across while at South by Southwest. Satya is a New Orleans-based artist characterized by the swanky jazz and blues-inspired melodies that flow throughout her catalog. She played a calm set during the Audiofemme music showcase.
Satya playing the Audiofemme music showcase at SXSW 2023. | Kylie Hogg4. Indigo de Souza
Also performing at the Audiofemme showcase was Indigo de Souza, an ambient artist who’s emphasis lies in her remarkable vocal abilities. The event was held in a Presbyterian church which was perfect for her. The stained glass illuminated her face. She was front and center of the chapel with the audience watching from the pews. It was like a religious experience Her vocals accompanied by the setting added to the performance. It was as if the setting was made for her.
Indigo de Souza playing the Audiofemme music showcase at SXSW 2023. | Kylie Hogg3. Genesis Owusu
I saw Genesis Owusu at the Bose x NME C23 event on Thursday, March 16. I had not heard of Genesis Owusu prior to this performance; however, I’ve had his music on repeat ever since. His performance was full of energy and personality from beginning to end. With a couple costume changes and backup dancers that each had their own distinct personalities, Owusu kept it fresh for his entire set.
Genesis Owusu is playing the Bose x NME C23 showcase at SXSW 2023. | Kylie Hogg2. Coco and Clair Clair
I saw Coco and Clair Clair last summer at Lollapalooza and instantly fell in love; so when I saw that they were doing a set at Empire Control Room I knew I had to be there. At its essence, Coco and Clair Clair are two best friends making music and performing together. Watching their dynamic play out on stage was so fulfilling. Both artists sported ironic tees and were not afraid of talking to the audience despite tight time constraints. You could really tell they were having the time of their life on stage.
Clair Clair singing at Empire Control Room during SXSW 2023. | Kylie HoggFeatured Image by Kylie Hogg.
By Ily Aguilar
Community Outreach Coordinator
Her Campus is a nationally run online magazine with over 700 chapters. Their mission is to “fill a
huge hole in the media market: an online magazine dedicated to, written by, and focused on
empowering, college women” (HerCampus).
Texas State University is lucky enough to have a chapter of its own led by President Leia
Mendoza. Leia was able to bring Her Campus to Texas State in November 2022 after a number
of interviews and tests through the company. She has since led her team to publish articles
covering topics such as self love, SXSW, and healthy eating.
The Texas State chapter is designed to help people who are interested in working in journalism,
public relations, event planning, and social media. With a wide variety of teams to join, Her
Campus enables students to learn and gain experience in an array of trades to prepare them for
their professional careers. While publications aren’t limited to only members of the writing team,
writers are able to cover topics such as fashion, style and beauty trends, entertainment, pop
culture, mental health, Texas State life, and events happening in San Marcos and Austin.
Writers also get the opportunity for their work to be exposed to a nationally published website:
Her Campus Magazine.
As of now, meetings are divided by teams over zoom. However, in person meetings will be
starting soon on Tuesdays at 6pm.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re not skilled in it but if you’re willing to learn event planning, social
media, writing, or even learning how to post then totally give it a chance because we’re just
figuring it out too. If it’s something you’re interested in then we’d love to have you on board!” –
Leia Mendoza, President of Her Campus.
Make sure to check out the Her Campus at TX State website and catch Her Campus on the
quad promoting their organization and passing out free samples!
For more information about joining Her Campus, follow their social media:
Instagram: @hctxstate
By Avery Viers
Local Music Director
MARCH 12, 2023 – I was unaware what I was in for as I walked up the steps of High Noon Bar the evening before the first official day of the South By Southwest music festival. I tagged along with a crew of coworkers planning to capture videography of local alternative psych-rock band, Slurp The World.
As band and crew began setting up in the quiet ambience of the east Austin lounge, I was briefly introduced to the person responsible for orchestrating our night. Floating around the dimensions of the small stage was Chandler Christopher, founder of independent Austin record label and art culture brand, Happen Twice. Both the show’s promoter and the band’s management, Christopher contacted Austin-based videographer Saint John Requejo to shoot footage of the group for their unofficial SXSW show.
Jackson Cox, lead singer of Slurp the World. Image Credit: Carolina GarzaJackson Cox, Conner Petru, Rylie Riddle, and Jackson Cox – yes, two separate members of Slurp The World are named Jackson Cox – readied themselves moments before a seemingly typical performance. The stark contrast in aesthetics amongst members onstage was apparent; bouncing from the bright, busy sparkle of vocalist Cox’s blouse to the muted, gothic attire of bassist Rylie Riddle. I became curious as to how the videographers could achieve visual cohesivity of the scene.
I sat back quietly observing as Christopher and Requejo directed the band’s positioning under ambient stage lights. The band – along with their instruments and sound gear – toted an oversized box of a colorful assortment of artwork by artist Bash Cano. Taking their positions in front of the array of blinking cameras, Christopher assisted the band with the final positioning of the eclectic canvases to showcase.
All four members of Austin-based band, Slurp the World. Image Credit: Carolina Garza.In addition to his role as KTSW’s Multimedia Director, Requejo is a multi-hyphenated media producer specializing in visual media within the music sector. In the early stages of developing his independent media production venture, The Music Made Me Do It, Requejo hopes to destigmatize genres that have been blamed for perpetuating violence, crime, and societal dysfunction.
“TMMMDI is the result of my desire to see the Austin music scene become more engaged in its community,” said Requejo, “and to work together to integrate its members rather than perpetuate the typical audience/performer dynamic. [TMMMDI] focuses on the individuals who make up the whole.”
Behind the scenes videography produced by Saint John Requejo of TMMMDI. Image Credit: Carolina GarzaI spoke with Requejo regarding his hopes for prospective projects to collaborate with creatives on. “Eventually,” he said, “I’d like to expand my coverage to all genres as well as start to organize events like live music sets, charity drives, and volunteer groups while also exploring food and film content. In the future, I’d love to work with local promoters like Cowgirl Events and Fade ‘em All, as well as artists such as Polyphia, Die Spitz, Deezie Brown, Sludge, and Bap. ”
Through his work in media production, Requejo hopes to highlight ways for individuals to find representation through each music scene and help define what morals and values drive us to participate and engage in our scenes of choice.
As our evening together came to an end, I couldn’t help but feel anxious anticipation for what the rest of our South By Southwest experience would have in store. Slurp The World is one of many local bands that had the opportunity to display their unique sound over our hectic week together in Austin; be sure to keep an eye on the blog as more reviews, recaps, and content from other KTSW Staff are posted throughout the next few weeks!
To learn more about the creatives curating content in our local community, follow Happen Twice on Instagram (@happentwice) and The Music Made Me Do It on Instagram (@tmmmdi), Tiktok (@tmmmdoit) and Twitter (@tmmmdoit).
Slurp The World Guitarist Jackson Cox performs on High Noon Bar Stage. Image Credit: Carolina Garza
By Ariana Mendoza
Community Outreach Coordinator
During the month of February, I got the chance to interview Daughter of the Wild (DOTW) for
KTSW Loves. DOTW is 10 years old this year and has already been nominated for three awards.
Nikkye Re’Anne, the owner, describes her business as, “A nexus of many of my interests ranging from plants, geology, jewelry making, vintage & antique + some.” She first started this business as a way to support herself through college. She learned most of her jewelry making skills when she worked at Paper Bear, a former San Marcos shop.
“I usually describe my creations as a co-creative endeavor, with Mother Nature doing the hard part. My main goal is to nurture people’s connection to nature,” Re’Anne said. “What you can find in my shop it’s 95% of things I either make myself or I find. If I don’t make it myself I am usually sourcing treasures from random places and keeping my methods as sustainable and ethical as possible.”
I’ve walked through the store myself before, and it is such a beautiful environment. There are
many different items to choose from like jewelry, clothes, and stickers! It is hard to walk out
empty handed. She even gives out complimentary bubbles.
As for future events, Re’Anne is seeking to offer monthly tarot readings with her friends but
everything is still being determined.
The three awards Daughter of the Wild has been nominated for are “Outstanding New Business” by
the San Marcos Downtown Association, “Best New Business” and “Best Gifts Shop” for Best of
Hays.
“It feels really good and deserved while at the same time, it’s weird because it’s hard for
my mind to wrap around all the work I’ve done to get to this point.” Re’Anne said.
The store hours are Wednesday-Sunday 11 to 6 at 218 N Guadalupe St. right off the square, if
you would like to support the business.
“Follow the bubbles & Stay Wild” – Nikkye Re’Anne
For more information, check out their platforms!
Instagram: @Daughterofthewildcreations
Website: https://www.daughterofthewild.com/
By Preethi Mangadu
News & Culture Director
Renegotiations begin for the San Marcos Police Meet and Confer ContractThe San Marcos Meet and Confer renegotiation meetings continued Thursday to discuss issues for the upcoming meetings. Before the meeting, Mano Amiga Safety and Caldwell/Hays Examiner spoke about one of the Hartman Reforms and more.
Issues were related to the wages, hours of employment and other terms and conditions of police officer employment in San Marcos. The public is allowed to attend these meetings, but participating in discussions and presentations is prohibited.
When speaking about the reforms, Mano Amiga Safety and Caldwell/Hays Examiner profiled three recent cases of police misconduct where the officer was issued suspension, but never took a disciplinary break by way of a contract loophole.
“You all know previously when we announced these reforms at the beginning of the Meet and Confer process, they used the excuse that we had missed a deadline in which they had locked in their issues,” said Mano Amiga Communication Director Sam Benevides. “Because we are forcing them to renegotiate, it is happening today, so we are pressuring them to implement these reforms.”
One of the cases was Sgt. Ryan Hartman, who the Hartman Reforms were named after he “forfeited a week of vacation in lieu of serving his suspension after premeditatedly shooting a compliant citizen, who had his hands in the air, with his dangerous taser stun gun in 2021,” according to a press release from Mano Amiga. The two other cases discussed were Corporal John Cope and Jordan Perkins.
In the same press release, Mano Amiga stated City officials were not transparent on the schedule of the Meet and Confer process according to Councilmember Alyssa Garza.
“The City Manager’s office told me and other Council members they would inform us when meetings with the police association would start – given the clear importance to our constituents, who ran a successful ballot initiative to urge adoption of a contract that is more inclusive of discipline and accountability concerns,” said Garza, in the press release. “It is both infuriating and annoying that, despite multiple requests for this transparency, the promise was not honored.”
Texas State announces BookSmart at TXST for fall 2023, reducing student material expenses BookSmart at TXST, in partnership with Follett ACCESS, will be coming to the Texas State campus in fall 2023.
The program provides undergraduate students with access to all their course materials when the semester starts.
Students can pay $249 each academic semester for required course materials, such as textbooks and access codes, in their tuition and fees. The program is expected to save Bobcats $12 million in its first year, when compared with purchasing printed materials.
According to the BookSmart at TXST website, the program’s benefits are saving “hundreds on course textbooks and materials, access to all required course materials on day one of each semester, easy access to digital course materials via Canvas and reduced stress during the purchasing process.”
“At Texas State we are constantly striving to improve affordability,” said Gene Bourgeois, provost and executive vice president of academic affairs, in a TXST release. “The BookSmart program gave us the opportunity to affect student savings in a big way by providing students with their course materials in a digital format at drastically reduced prices.”
If the materials that professors require are offered digitally, students will be provided with a digital copy. However, if a student wants a printed copy, they can get one at an additional cost by contacting The Bobcat Store in the LBJ Student Center. Non-digital materials must be picked up in The Bobcat Store.
Students will automatically be opted into the program, but they will also have the option to opt out if they choose.
Texas State University has announced BookSmart, an innovative new partnership with @FollettHigherEd ACCESS to reduce the cost of textbooks and course materials for undergraduate students beginning the fall 2023 semester. #TXST https://t.co/1FKutziHPF
— TXST News (@txst_news) March 22, 2023
For more information, visit https://www.auxiliaryservices.txst.edu/book-smart.
New “Gateway Mural” gets approval from San Marcos City CouncilThe San Marcos City Council approved a new “gateway mural” for San Marcos behind the former Hays County Justice Center Tuesday.
Currently, Industry, AquaBrew and more are located there. The Arts Commission Recommendation Resolution 2023-01RR is being called a “gateway mural” because it is a major entryway into downtown from I-35.
“This location is a major entryway to our downtown,” said the Creative and Marketing Manager for Destinations Services, Charlotte Wattigny. “A large mural will give a beautiful first impression of the vibrancy of our city.”
The mural would be approximately 200 by 25 feet, making it about 5,000 square feet, and cost $100,000, as approved by the Arts Commission. It will be designed to be enjoyed from far away due to it being next to the railroad.
“A mural of this size and magnitude is a first for San Marcos,” said Wattigny. “Not only will it visually energize the corridor into our downtown, it will add to our growing public art portfolio instilling both a sense of pride for the community and another reason for visitors to visit our destination.”
Once an artist is narrowed down and chosen, they will receive input from the San Martian community and translate the results into a design. The Arts Commission will then approve the design before the mural can be started.
“I think it’s a little expensive, but I drive by there a lot, and it is graffitied; it’s a gateway; it’s bland; it’s terrible so I’m glad to see something go on,” said councilmember Mark Gleason.
By Jarris Jones
Music Journalist
If I were to sum up Beware of the Monkey by 25-year-old rap artist MIKE, it would simply be “refreshing”. Released on December 21, 2022, at the end of last year, this album flew under my radar until I was recently shown a song from the album titled No Curse Lifted on TikTok, which, to my surprise, was music to my ears. From that moment on, I made it my mission to listen to his latest work and get familiar with his artistry. The 13-song album was a breath of fresh air and reminded me of similar artists such as Earl Sweatshirt and MAVI. Even with these comparisons, MIKE is still able to pave his own path and set himself apart from his peers.
Upon first listen, I was amazed by the soul sampling, background vocals, piano usage and the overall tone of MIKE’s voice and lyrics. The ability to chop up a sample is not a new thing in the rap industry and Beware of the Monkey definitely took advantage of this art form. The best example of this on the album is the song “nuthin i can do is wrng.” The song samples Forrest’s disco/soul record “I Just Want To Love You” from his 1983 album One Lover. The cool aspect of sampling older songs is that it has the ability to introduce a listener to another artist, and it can feel like a huge Eureka moment when you finally hear the specific part that was used to be sampled. Producers such as The Alchemist, 9th Wonder, Madlib and Knxwledge have made careers from this type of sample production, just to name a few.
Outside of production, MIKE’s voice is unique. The pockets MIKE chooses to flow into go hand-in-hand with the production. The reason MIKE received the Earl Sweatshirt comparison stems from his flow, lyrics and a similar feel when I tune into his music. I am reminded of early Earl records such as “Solace,” “Wind in my Sails,” “AM/Radio” and “Knight.” I would love to recommend the entire album from MIKE, but the standout songs for me are “nuthin i can do is wrng,” “Ipari Park,” “Swoosh 23,” “Tapestry” and “What Do I Do?”. If you are in search of a nice, calming, chill album or artist, then MIKE is what you have been looking for. I never would have thought I would have been put into an artist through TikTok, but MIKE is a special case.
Beware of the Monkey album cover. | SterogumMIKE will undoubtedly remain in my music rotation for the foreseeable future. With me being a new fan myself and being impressed with the work I’ve heard so far, I believe MIKE will gain many more fans, either from TikTok or just music listeners randomly finding him on Spotify or Apple Music. They say the best things in life find you, and I am glad I was stuck in the wormhole of TikTok videos just in time to find the unforgettable rap artist MIKE.
Here is a link to his album and the sampled song “I Just Want To Love You,” by recording artist Forrest.
By Andrea Moor
Music Journalist
This being my first legitimate attempt at experiencing SXSW, I got my fair share of parallels of navigating a beyond-full schedule. As obvious as some of these points may seem, I must emphasize what my firsthand experience was navigating the week of events.
First and foremost, time management is of the utmost importance. Not knowing what you’re going to be doing a good chunk of your time due to last-minute lineups, is something that can be easily avoided. Most big-name acts will have a date and time outlined for their acts. If these acts are of interest to you, you must ensure it works with your schedule. If it doesn’t, make time for it. This obviously applies to other acts you want to see, regardless of their audience size. You should clearly know what your day-to-day will likely look like during this week.
Secondly, there are dozens upon dozens of opportunities to partake in free events. While bigger-name acts often come at the expense of pricey badges, there are ways to indulge in the work of different creatives. To learn of these free events, I’d advise you to follow and stay updated with the social media pages of Austin venues you like, and that you can attend (on the account of not being 18+ or 21+). I’d also advise you to stay updated with artists that you know will be performing throughout the week since there are always acts that come together at the last minute. Such as myself, I was able to see artists and groups such as Coco & Clair Clair, They Are Gutting A Body Of Water and Dream, Ivory, completely for free (the only catch being the expense of getting there and having to pay for parking). A lot of events happen to be all ages and free of charge, so don’t feel that you have to be a certain age or spend hundreds on badges to partake in SXSW.
Dream, Ivory performing at the Whole Foods rooftop. | Andrea MoorRest and meals are something you should also keep in mind. With SXSW being in the heart of Austin, it’s safe to say that several joints will not supply meals that satisfy you or your budget. If you know what you want to attend ahead of time, I’d suggest looking into the area you’ll be at, on the off-chance that your venue doesn’t have something you’d like. This way you can be familiar with the location and have an idea as to how much to budget for. With this in mind, you should think of what you’ll need to get the most out of your days at SXSW. If you know you benefit from a power nap on eventful days, maybe take one in your car before an event you really care to see. There were instances during this week when I left earlier than I intended since I was tired and hungry; next time I will keep snacks handy in the car because it’s not easy finding parking.
Aside from the weird fluctuation of the weather, streets shutting down and the packed venues, I was super fortunate to experience SXSW and see some of my favorite creatives. Your best bet is to be prepared! I say this since I’ll also be referencing this when next year comes around. Witnessing art like this, motivates and instills fuel in how I perceive and curate art. I love being located in an area that harps on the promotion of art in different mediums. It makes me excited for what’s to come.
Featured Image by Andrea Moor.
In this Monday edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Orlando Smart, Koby Jackson and Joey Gonzales discuss Bobcat baseball’s series loss at Coastal Carolina, Bobcat softball’s tough loss against South Alabama, NCAA March Madness Sweet 16 & Elite 8 Recap and Lamar Jackson wants a trade! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday and Friday! Live on KTSW 89.9!
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The Prep Talk is a show that hopes to inspire, educate and entertain listeners into the job of their dreams. Our hosts Mando Rodriguez, Dez Sanchez and Tori Acosta speak with various guests, from students to alumni to experts, in different fields of work. Tune in to hear each guest share their fun and personal stories of how they got to where they are now, while also sharing tips and tricks on how to begin your journey!
In this episode, Mando, Dez and Tori introduce themselves for the first time to each other and their audience. From where they grew up to where they are now, these three break down where it all started and share their hopes and dreams after leaving college life!
Welcome to Two Player, the first KTSW podcast all about video games! Join hosts Christina Sims and Jared Dudley, KTSW’s resident video game connoisseurs, as they discuss news in the industry, the transformation of gaming culture and their perspective as people of color who love video games.
For the first episode, Christina and Jared introduce their own taste by running down their top 10 favorite games ever made. Since the conversation bore so much fruit, we broke this first episode into two parts, so you’ll have to stick around to hear their all-time favorites. Settle in, get cozy, and enjoy the first episode of Two Player!
In this Friday edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of David Castaneda, Orlando Smart, Koby Jackson and Joey Gonzales interview Texas State point guard Kennedy Taylor. They also discuss Bobcat baseball’s win against HCU, Bobcat softball’s huge win against I-35 rival UTSA, Panthers first-pick predictions and NFL Free Agency moves for the Cowboys and Jets! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
Local Show:
All the best music, all locally sourced. Join Avery Viers and Sammy Smith, hosts of Local Show, as they spend time with their favorite Texas-based musicians learning about their backgrounds, upcoming projects and everything in between. Local Show aims to introduce its audience to artists in their communities who are creating music that reflects the unique Texas cities we know and love. Local Show is made possible by the hard-working KTSW FM 89.9 staff on the Texas State University campus in San Marcos, Texas.
Local Show Episode 1: Die Spitz
Although you’d probably guess they’d been playing stages together since nursery school, Austin-based band Die Spitz exploded into the Central Texas music scene just over one year ago. While the band has only scratched the surface of what can be assumed to be extensive and vivacious careers for all four band members, the group is also one of many highly anticipated SXSW Official Artists for SXSW 2023. Join Avery and Sammy as they chat with the band before their set for Frothing Fest at the downtown Austin venue Mohawk on February 17th, 2023.
By Preethi Mangadu
News & Culture Director
A Boil Water Notice was issued for parts of the Texas State University San Marcos campus this morning in a precautionary fashion.
The buildings affected are the Nelson Wing of the Agriculture Building, Colorado, Music, Pecos, Pedernales, Sabinal and Trinity.
Individuals in these buildings must “boil their water prior to consumption” which includes washing hands and face, drinking and more. This is because of “reduced distribution system pressure” in the Texas State University Water Distribution System’s public water system.
The notice also said water should be brought to a “vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes” before use. The water should be boiled and cooled for drinking, cooking and ice-making to make sure harmful bacteria and other microbes are removed.
Bottled water and water from other appropriate sources may be used for any human consumption purposes.
The TXST water system will share a notice that rescinds the boil water notice once the issue is resolved.
For any questions about this, you can contact James Vollrath, the Utilities Operations Director, at (512) 245-2517 or jev73@txstate.edu.
By Amaya Lewis
Culture Assistant
As graduation nears and my journey at Texas State makes its way to an end, there has been a lot of reflection and preparation for life as a fully working adult.
Going from high school straight into college, you gain more freedom than you had previously while living under the watchful eyes of your family, though it somehow feels like a trial period before starting your life as a full-fledged adult. You had spent all your life as a student, so entering college only adds a little more independence to a life you already are familiar with.
However, unlike senior year of high school, and unless you plan to get a master’s degree next, there’s no additional trial period after you graduate college and begin making your way into the workforce; that can be a little intimidating.
Starting from the beginning of winter break, I began updating my LinkedIn, resume and embarking on the early stages of job hunting, feeling the pressure on whether the experiences I’ve gained at college have granted me the necessary skills to be successful at the job I intend to pursue.
Practicing proper interview skills and spending endless hours scrolling on LinkedIn and job posting boards to see what out there fits both my interests and skillset has become a part of my daily routine.
So, for those who may be currently experiencing this or soon to be entering their final year at Texas State, I’m hoping to share some insight on what I’ve learned so far, along with a realistic, personalized aspect from someone still struggling to figure this adult thing out.
Don’t delay your job search
College can be stressful in addition to maintaining work, extracurricular activities and a healthy social life. Because of that, it can feel nerve-racking to begin the job search and even easier to put it off. Though, if there’s anything I’ve learned from job hunting, start your search as early as possible! Whether you have tons of experience or none, landing a job isn’t always going to happen instantaneously and, unfortunately, it can take up to several months.
As such, even if you feel like your resume isn’t strong enough yet and you want to build more experiences first, you feel overwhelmed by job searching so you put it off, or you simply are procrastinating because you don’t know when you should start, go ahead and begin that job search! It will save you a lot of stress once your graduation nears.
Rejection happens
As with most things in life, goals, unfortunately, do not always go as planned, especially in the job market. While I don’t want to scare you or make you feel discouraged, the reality is that you will experience more rejection than not in the initial stages of your job search. I have been applying to jobs since December and have received mostly no responses and several rejections, which can lead to feeling sad and more worried each time.
However, something to remember is that everyone starts somewhere! Whether you have a stacked resume with an assortment of skills or not, lots of people are also applying for the same jobs as you, so be patient! Just as I am still very hopeful to receive news from a job in the future, it will happen for you, too, as there are still plenty of jobs out there that would be happy to have and work with you where you’re at experience-wise.
Don’t wait too long to design and update your resume or cover letter
There are tons of resume and cover letter templates out there, yet it can be hard to pick the right one both personally and for the type of jobs you are applying for. For instance, some jobs prefer colorful designs on their applicants’ resumes/cover letters, whereas others want black and white only. Some companies prefer a resume to be written in chronological order, while others favor functional or combination design.
Either way, don’t get so caught up deciding on the templates and figuring out how to make your resume or cover letter to the point that you avoid doing it in general. If you need help, there are plenty of websites online like Zety and Myperfectresume that help you find templates and fill in your information, so make sure you have several resumes ready to go that are crafted for the specific jobs you’re applying for to make applying go quicker.
Don’t set your expectations too high for your first job
When I first began my job search, I was applying for mid to senior-level positions with extensive benefits simply because I thought the description of the job fit within what I could do and what I was passionate about doing.
However, I failed to consider the fact that even if I want to do something and I feel I built up my skills in college for it, that doesn’t equate to me actually being ready for the job to where I’m able to fairly compete with the 200+ applicants that probably have extensive experience and skills in comparison.
Most of us don’t have enough experience beyond entry-level, so don’t let unrealistic expectations be the thing that keeps you from applying to jobs you’re more qualified for and likely to get. You gaining that entry-level experience can help you either progress higher within the company you’re working for or gain knowledge for the jobs that are currently out of reach.
Always keep trying to learn more skills even while applying for jobs
This one can be started early in your college career, but for those that spent the first few years of their undergraduate degree simply focused on having fun and/or just making sure they have good grades, use your junior and senior year to start building skills that you want for your career or can be transmissible.
Even in my final semester of college, I’m still looking into different writing techniques, communication strategies and anything I feel would help me in my specific career search. It’s never too late to learn something new even while, in your job search during that final semester, it can feel like that.
Keep a portfolio of your work
A lot of employers will ask to see your work to know what you can do. In my case, I just created a section on my resume to include a link to my notable projects, which I found is very helpful as opposed to having to attach your work piece by piece in separate attachment files.
If your work was published somewhere, include a link to that website. There’s also the option of creating a website purely dedicated to being a portfolio for your work. I would recommend Wix, SquareSpace, or WordPress as a few options.
Final Takeaways
To finish off, as stated earlier, be patient! Keep track of your applications, update your resume and cover letters specifically for the jobs you’re applying for, create a LinkedIn account and try to network and build connections there. Most importantly, remember you’re young. Things won’t always initially go as planned the first time; I have to remind my perfectionist self that every day. But it will work out!
Job searching in the last semester can be very intimidating, as is starting a life completely away from the comfort of school we’re familiar with. But good things are only yet to come and there’s so much to be hopeful for, so don’t get discouraged! From a fellow job searcher and graduating senior, we’re going to be okay.
By Myles Vaughn
Sports Reporter
The Texas State Baseball team ended their ten-game homestead with two wins against Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Houston Christian University Tuesday and Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the baseball team took on Texas A&M Corpus Christi and won by a narrow margin of two points with a score of 7-5. This game started off with Texas A&M Corpus Christi earning two runs in the first inning, gaining the lead, but that lead didn’t last long. The Bobcats had matched the Islanders’ two-run effort in the bottom of the first inning to tie the backup at two.
In the third inning, junior Davis Powell hit a two-run homer, followed by Jose Gonzales’s homer to far left field, giving the Bobcats a 5-2 lead.
Throughout the game, the Bobcats held the Islanders to no runs for six innings until they had given up three runs in the last two innings, but they managed to keep their lead and earned the win. “You have to show up to play every day, it’s just the way baseball is,” said Coach Trout.
The energy on the team started off slow and picked up towards the end to help secure the win. “Overall, emotionally it just wasn’t a good night for us, and it had showed throughout the game, so we will need to step it up tomorrow against Houston Christian,” said Trout.
Wednesday, the Bobcats took on the Huskies of Houston Christian. Throughout the first five innings, it was mostly a pitching fest; although, the score had showed otherwise, with it being 4-3 in favor of the Bobcats. “I think Peyton Zabel was really good tonight probably the best he’s thrown in a Bobcat uniform, we’re definitely going to need that pitching down the road,” said Trout.
Payton Zabel faced 13 batters and dealt with batters well with three strikeouts, only allowing two hits. “I like to step up in these times because this is what I’m here for,” said Zabel.
The Bobcats tried to squeeze every run they could get in the last three innings to secure a much-needed win on this last game, on a ten-game home stretch, before going out on the road. “We just kept grinding and finding a way to score much-needed runs,” said Trout.
In the seventh, the Bobcats turned on offensively as freshman Chase Mora and Cade Manning hit back-to-back home runs. In the eighth, Manning followed up with another home run.
The Bobcats have four road games coming up in a series against coastal Carolina and one against UTRGV. The Bobcats won’t be back until March 31st for a series against Arkansas St.
Tune in to KTSW 89.9 for sporting updates.
Featured Image by Beau Kelly.
In this Wednesday edition of Bobcat Radio the crew of Thomas Terry, JP Flanagan, Orlando Smart, and Justin Brown discuss Bobcat softball’s I35 matchup against UTSA, Bobcat baseball’s big win over the Islanders, Paul George’s Injury and Aaron Rogers to the Jets! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
By Savannah Lopez
Blog Content ContributorAhh, the Academy Awards, otherwise known as The Oscars, one of the most controversial yet
entertaining of the award shows from the award show season. The Oscars were held on March
12th and had Jimmy Kimmel as the host this year. Now nothing crazy happened this year like last
year. If you don’t remember what I’m talking about, last year was the year that Will Smith
famously slapped Chris Rock after he made a joke about Will’s wife. While nothing nearly that
entertaining happened this year, the Oscars were still worth watching.
“Everything Everywhere All at Once” was the big winner at this year’s Oscars and rightfully
so. I recently watched the movie, and it is definitely one of the best movies I have seen. The
storyline was amazing, the cinematography was beautiful, and the acting was incredible.
Obviously, everyone loved the acting since the cast won best actress, best supporting actress, and
best supporting actor.
Ke Huy Quan won best supporting actor for “Everything Everywhere All at Once”. He is
better known for his youth roles in “Indiana Jones” and “The Goonies”. When he accepted his
award from Harrison Ford aka Indiana Jones, it was a very touching moment to watch. He
deserved his award.
Jamie Lee Curtis won best supporting actress for “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
Jamie has won other awards and has been nominated for a lot of movies, but this is her first
academy award nomination and win. She is a very well-known actress with some of her more
famous roles being “Halloween” (the franchise), “Freaky Friday”, and “Knives Out.” Her
performances are always phenomenal so I’m not surprised she won.Michelle Yeoh won best actress for “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” She made historyas the first Asian actress to win this award. Her performance in the movie was one of the best
acting performances I’ve seen in a long time, but Michelle is well-known for her amazing acting
skills. Some of her other superb performances being “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Crazy
Rich Asians,” “Memoirs of a Geisha,” and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” I am
so happy that she is getting the recognition she deserves for this movie.
Now I was very hyped that the actors in “Everything Everywhere All at Once” did so well,
but I am beyond ecstatic that Brendan Fraser won best actor for “The Whale.” He has had a
rough go of it recently in case you were unaware. He was blacklisted for a while, because he said
that he was sexually assaulted by the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association
(HFPA). That incident along with a few other personal things in his life was not good for his
mental health. He seems to be making a comeback now, and he showed that by winning this
award. He is one of my favorite actors, if anyone deserves to win it’s him.
Watching all these amazing people win these awards made the Oscars worth viewing this
year. It was nice to have a break from the dramatics, like from previous years, and just watch
deserving people win the highest awards in acting.
By Aaliyah Hamilton
Music Journalist
Behind some of the biggest songs of recent years is the genius of a woman. Some women in particular have taken their talent from behind the scenes and established themselves as artists in the spotlight, so in honor of International Women’s Month, here is a list of women who deserve recognition for their artistry.
Victoria Monet
Starting this list off strong is Victoria Monet, who has produced and written songs for big names such as Ariana Grande, Fifth Harmony and Machine Gun Kelly. While she’s been helping other artists for over a decade, she didn’t release her first single and EP until 2014. Since then, she has released three studio albums, with her most recent being Jaguar, which was released in 2020. Jaguar is infused with funk and disco elements, with vocals that are similar to those of her frequent collaborator and friend, Ariana Grande. The track that seems to be the most uplifting would be “*ss Like That,” where she can be heard singing about how she is utterly confident about her figure.
Syd
While originally a member of the alternative hip-hop collective Odd Future, Syd is also a self-taught producer, engineer, and recording artist. After touring with the Odd Future collective as their DJ, she went on to help form the band The Internet, where she was the lead vocalist. While still working on projects with the band, she also releases solo music of her own. With her soft and silky voice, her album Broken Hearts Club is a full-on collection of mellow tracks for a total of 38 minutes and 55 seconds. A perfect staple of the album would be “Fast Car,” which feels like a modern-day Prince record.
Ravyn Lenae
In a genre that is no longer as prominent as it used to be, Ravyn Lenae creates neo-soul records for a modern audience. Her first full-length album, Hypnos, was released this past May and has received positive critical acclaim. Each track contains ethereal harmony after harmony that can be compared to the likes of Aaliyah. The best example where these harmonies can be heard is “Skin Tight,” which includes a feature from Steve Lacy.
Jenevieve
With Wonderland Magazine calling her the singer-songwriter “who could be the love child of Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson,” Jenevive is a newer artist on the scene, with her first song “Medallion” only dropping in 2020. A year later, she went on to release her debut album, Division, which has the perfect blend of old-school soul and new-wave R&B. While it’s hard to choose a favorite from the album, the track that stands out the most to me is “Crybaby,” with a production that was created so dreamily to really showcase her vocals.
By Preethi Mangadu
News & Culture Director
The City of San Marcos issued a Boil Water Notice on Facebook this morning for several areas in the city.
The streets included in the notice are Village West, Harmons Way, Hunter Ridge, Quail Run (North of Trails End), Lazy Lane, Oak, Maple, Mulberry, Mesquite, Hamilton Hollow, Knight and Day.
The notice was issued due to an electrical failure, causing loss of water pressure in the system Sunday. According to the comments left by the City of San Marcos-City Hall account on the same post, residents who were effected were delivered notices soon after the incident occurred.
“The electrical failure impacted the Programable Logic Controller which tells the valves to open and close, and caused the storage tank valve to close,” Madeline Baker, City of San Marcos Government’s communications specialist, said. “The tank was not able to supply the 20 PSI required by TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality), and once pressure drops below 20 PSI a Boil Water Notice is required. This incident had no impact on water resources.”
Currently, this has no affect on the city’s water resources, as the city is waiting for water test sample results.
“A Boil Water Notice does not mean the water is contaminated, it is simply a precautionary measure until we receive the water test sample result,” Baker said. “Those results should be in tomorrow afternoon.”
For more information, view the post below or though this link.
Featured Image from SMTX Utilities and the City of San Marcos Government.
By Kylie Hogg
Local Music Journalist
KTSW 89.9 got together with the rest of the San Marcos community last Thursday, adding a second day to this month’s International Women’s Day festivities. Each year, KTSW books bands with female-identifying members to play at local venues as a way to highlight some of the women in the Central Texas music scene. This year the spotlight was on Crash Test Girls and Elegy.
Crash Test GirlsCrash Test Girls is a shoegaze/psych-rock band that is very new to the San Marcos scene and has very close ties to KTSW. Composed of Allison (lead vocals/bass), Sammy (guitar), Cal (drums), and Ayden (guitar), the band was a crowd-pleaser and drew in quite a large crowd. The band filled the venue with some originals as well as an entrancing cover of Heaven or Las Vegas by Cocteau Twins and Head in the Ceiling Fan by Title Fight. While these covers are very popular, they did not overshadow the original songs of the band. Overall their set made a very good impression and created a great showcase to show the band to a larger audience.
Crash Test Girls playing at The Porch Thursday night for KTSW’s Estrojam. | Kylie HoggElegyThe second half of the night gave the floor to Elegy. The Austin psych-rock band took me by surprise when their set opened with a very punk rock sound. The energy in the air instantly shifted from the relaxing, droning noise of Crash Test Girls to the high energy noise rock of Elegy, the audience did not hesitate to open up the pit and get moving. The set was a continuous flow of music with little breaks from the band to address the crowd. With this, the band established that they are unapologetic with their art, and if you don’t like it, you can leave. With the group having multiple gigs lined up for Austin’s South by South Southwest festival, their performance gave San Marcos a sneak peek into what they were to expect if they were to go this week.
Lead singer of Elegy singing at The Porch Thursday night for KTSW’s Estrojam. | Kylie HoggOverall, I enjoyed both performances as well as the venue itself. My only issue lied in the fact that both bands only had one female-identifying member qualifying them for this event. That being said, this might be less of a reflection on the station’s booking system and more of a reflection of the lack of representation within the local scene. When I went to Estrojam last year, there were more women on the full lineup. This begs the question, where are the girls rockers in San Marcos?
Representation has been proven over and over again to be highly important. This, along with the fact that local independent artists are able to curate a closer relationship with their community, increases the importance of young girls who are interested in music being able to see versions of themselves on stage. If you’re a girl thinking about creating a band, I highly encourage you to do so! You never know who you could impress; plus, being a female rockstar is super cool.
Elegy playing at The Porch Thursday night for KTSW’s Estrojam. | Kylie HoggFeatured Image by Kylie Hogg.
In this Monday edition of Bobcat Radio the crew of Orlando Smart, Koby Jackson, Joey Gonzales and David Castaneda discuss Bobcat Baseball winning six of the last seven games propelled by Chase Mora, Bobcat Softball beats ranked Alabama and UT in the Bevo Classic and NBA/NFL Talk! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
https://soundcloud.com/ktsw89_9/spring-break-baseball-recap-dillon-brooks-versus-warriors?si=351a74b552244177baeef54141682ca8&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
By Evelyn Lopez
Rap/Hip-Hop Music Journalist
I first came across Sal Patlan at an open mic night at Stellar Coffee, where he was performing his poetry. I resonated with his art, and he had a sick flow to it too. Much later, I met him through mutual friends, and after experiencing his sense of humor, I knew I would become friends with him too.
Sal Patlan is a first-generation student at Texas State and contributes his creativity to the hip-hop scene here in San Marcos. You can see his versatility in the way he dresses and the way he can keep a bit going. He has been influenced by artists such as MF DOOM, JPEGMAFIA, Griselda, and Saba. And back when he was first rapping in high school, the song “GUMMO” by 6ix9ine was on repeat. He likes grimy sounds, melodic flows, and getting hype.
To better understand who he is, I interviewed Sal over some gyro wraps. I slightly copied his order to truly understand the person that he is. To keep the article focused on Sal and his music, I will be gatekeeping the order, but I can confirm he has great taste. I asked Sal about his recent projects, creative influences, and what inspires him.
Two songs by Tyshonisfire featuring Javier (one of Sal’s aliases) were released on Apple Music and Spotify on March 3rd. While the tracks have different tones to them, they’re both still amazing. “Must Have” uses the TikTok viral sample “Aces” by DKJ as a foundation for hype and witty verses. On the other hand, “Man of Your Dreams” is more melodic and groovy, something to bring up your mood. Sal tells me he first met Tyshon Joseph back in the dorms when he was an RA. They clicked and would hang out while making dorm beats and freestyling just for fun. Just a week ago, they performed the new tracks opening for Chase B at The Marc. After hearing these tracks myself, I knew I wanted to follow up with Sal and learn more about his musical journey.
Sal is not just a rapper. He is multi-faceted through his art; he is a performer. He has crafted a few aliases, and he shares them with us in his first single “SJM”, which was released on SoundCloud on February 20th under the name “Sal the Pal.” I asked him to describe the three personalities and concepts that he utilizes while performing. This is what he had to say:
“Sal the Pal has a red essence…The rapper…A critic and always wears a mask. Javier is blue-toned, more of the creative and always wears the glasses keeping it cool, …the ‘M’ represents myself, Sal, or ‘the ego.’”
At first, Sal admits having doubts about his first alias, “Sal the Pal,” a nickname his mom gave him. “I was not rocking with it… but these concepts are a part of my story, so I stuck with it.” Sal is still getting used to people referring to him as “Javier,” which is a nickname that was created from his finsta account back in high school. “I’m not sure how long I’m going to keep the concept, but for right now I like where it’s going,” he said.
Community is something that motivates Sal to put his art out there. He is vice president of Texas State’s Hip-Hop Congress (HHC), an organization focused on creating and having conversations in the hip-hop community. Through HHC, Sal has made connections with people who support and push him to create more.
“Not only do these people like the same things as me, but there are opportunities to create with them. It inspires me to create more, like.. oh you’re creating something? I should be too,” he said.
Sal is also a member and head of photography for LoGen– Lower Generation Living Out Greatness Embodied Now, a hip-hop collective focused on embracing the creative differences among its members. This fresh collective was started by Leroy Bradley, head of membership recruitment for HHC. They are still in the early stages of building their brand and putting themselves out there. Sal tells me they are releasing a cypher soon.
Showcase of all members in LoGen currently. | Sal PaltanMy interview with Sal confirmed that this is someone I want to keep up with. He is passionate about what he creates and has a solid gyro wrap order. If you like following artists that carry who they are in their art and own it, I highly suggest you listen to Sal’s music and follow him on social media @javiersfiles and @logenthecollective, as well @hiphopcongresstxst on Instagram.
Last thing, any words you want to leave for the people?
“If you have an idea, just stick with it. Make sure you know yourself well and stick with your gut when it comes to your art.”
Featured Image by Kelley Khyree.
By Lillian Jones
Music Journalist
Bluekeys Magazine is a teen led art magazine based in Austin, created by high school students Brooke Ellisor and Peyton Priest. The magazine encourages all things creative including music, cartoons, writing, films, sculptures, fashion, drawings and more. Last year, the publication had their first release party for the third issue where The Point, Sub-T and Favor played at Antones; since then they’ve had a few more events booking bands. On Friday, March 3rd, they threw an epic rager at the Electric Church in Austin for the release of their fourth issue “Quixotic”. Being the first to arrive at 7pm, I got a first look at what was about to go down. Outside there were vendor tables lined up with handmade shirts, stickers, prints and of course – zines, with DJ Oblivion setting up for their set. Inside is where Elegy, Party Van and Die Spitz would be playing as well as where you could find people getting flash tattoos and a singular, sketchy bathroom. Overall, there was a very indescribable vibe as people began piling into the venue in their maximalist attire ready to spend their money and mess up their shoes in the mosh pit.
DJ Oblivion at the Bluekeys Magazine issue 04 release party. Photo Cred: Jack (Scoob) IsingDJ Oblivion
Thanks to DJ Oblivion, ambient and electronic music was always in the background no matter where one stood around the venue. Throughout the night I would hear fun surprises of Daft Punk and various 2000s party songs. Joaquin, A.K.A. DJ Oblivion, stood outside on a makeshift stage for 5 hours to keep the ambiance going.
Elegy at the Bluekeys Magazine issue 04 release party. Photo Cred: Rian YamasakiElegy
At 8pm, people began crowding into the old building to see Elegy’s set. Soon the room would be flooded with the noise of raw vocals, harsh guitar and fast paced drums echoing off the walls and straight into our ears. A mosh pit formed during the first few minutes which I joined eagerly; that is until I was smacked directly in the cheekbone. After that quick blow to the face, I decided it was best to watch and listen from a distance. This noise band is sure to leave your ears ringing — somehow in a good way, but hopefully I can one day see them in a larger, less echoing venue so I can hear more of their actual music and less of my worrying thoughts of developing tinnitus.
Party Van
Due to the volume of people in attendance, my friends and I journeyed to find an alternative way to listen in on Party Van’s set. We decided to go outside the venue, sit on the curb and press our ears onto the wall connecting to where the band was performing on the other side. Honestly, our method worked well as I could clearly hear the lead vocalist repeatedly saying “sh*t doggy dog” – whether it was part of a song or just to be funny, I may never know. Eventually, we made our way back inside the venue to catch the last of their crazy set. By this time whoever was in control of music had turned down the sound so that it was actually bearable to be inside without wanting to rip my eardrums out. This being my first time seeing Party Van, I had zero expectations of what I was about to see; but I was pleasantly surprised. Some songs were more on the chill side — slightly reminiscent of Title Fight’s first album — and some more chaotic. The set ended with the band being drenched in sweat in front of their exhausted crowd.
Die Spitz at the Bluekeys Magazine issue 04 release party. Photo Cred: Jack (Scoob) IsingDie Spitz
Die Spitz ended the night by squeezing any adrenaline left out of the crowd after putting on yet another great performance. By this point, there was barely anyone outside the building as people were packed inside like sardines to see the Austin celebrities do their thing. The band mostly played songs from their latest album, Teeth, that was released in January of this year. Notably, the crowd went crazy towards the end of the song “Slater”, as the band added a breakdown not in the recorded song causing people to pull out their phones and record the intense mosh pit. Afterwards, I wrapped up the night by heading over to get some Die Spitz merch that they quickly set out at the vendor booths. Almost immediately, a line was formed for sweatshirts and underwear with the band’s name plastered in white, black, red and pink ink – created by @eliannasart on instagram.
Bluekeys Magazine members at the issue 04 release party. Photo Cred: Jack (Scoob) IsingOverall, Bluekeys Magazine knows how to throw a party. At the end of the night I was tired and my wallet was hurting. Having been following the team since the first issue in 2020, I am so excited to see their success grow. In just a year, the difference between the amount of people at the release parties had rocketed. If you don’t already, follow them @bluekeysmag on instagram to keep updated on upcoming events and buy issue 04!
By: Adrianna Elias
Rap/Hip-Hop Journalist
Glen Earl Boothe, known as Knxwledge in the hip-hop space, is a Los Angeles native and record producer/songwriter best known for his instrumentals. The warmth and sense of nostalgia in his sound make his music easily recognizable. A Knxwledge track is minimal to a point but abstract enough to make you wonder if you’ve heard it before, thanks to the curated choice of soul samples and R&B ballads from the 90s.
Since 2009, he has had over 100 releases via Bandcamp. In 2010, he released his debut album, Klouds, via All City. I’ve only recently found him after hearing the 1988 track “dont be afraid” on TikTok. No shame. Sometimes finding music through the internet isn’t as lame as people make it out to be. How you discover an artist usually comes with a greater story than when you discover them. I have made some of the greatest music mutuals through TikTok before having those friends in real life (thanks, Knxwledge!).
Knxwledge has quickly become a staple in my daily music rotation. One of my favorite aspects of artists that draws me in is their origin, especially when they are rooted in inspiration and support from their families. In an interview, he expressed gratitude to his parents for teaching him sampling techniques by recording radio stations playing in his family’s home and flipping through sermons and choir performances at his church.
Pulling inspiration from Madlib, J Dill and MF DOOM, signing with Stone Through Records was a no-brainer. This sign eventually led him to NxWorries, a collaboration group between him and Anderson. KNX has a history of using the internet to his advantage, whether it’s using YouTube freestyles from a young Meek Mill in his remix album, MEEK.VOL5_, or playing around making beats on Twitch, where he live-streams and makes silly YouTube videos.
1988 is Knxwledge’s second album. Although 1988 uses a similar method to the beat tapes and mixes he usually releases, its warm and inviting auras give it some originality. Named after the year he was born, the album is filled with pop culture material, including snippets from Cooley High and radio interviews celebrating his origins and fixations. His art has always had a strong sense of nostalgia, yet he has the ability of an agnostic to respect the past while adapting it to his needs.
1988 on vinyl! Fun fact: I got this during a first date. | Image Credit: Adrianna EliasThis was the mood throughout 1988. On opener “don’t be afraid,” he snips 90s R&B group Kut Klose’s track “Surrender” into a sensuous, yearning loop. “Don’t be afraid of the way you feel,” the group sings, while their voices are altered to waft over snappy percussion.
For “amansloveislife_keepon,” another Kut Klose flip, he rearranges the groove of “Keep On” around the instrumentation instead of the group’s harmonies. It’s a simple change but it unlocks the funk embedded in the song, which itself samples Patrice Rushen’s “Remind Me.” It feels less like a tweak than a correction. While he’s clearly a student of J Dilla and Madlib, Knxwledge distinguishes himself with his special attention to the contours of the human voice. The feathery keys and faint percussion on “watchwhoukallyourhomie,” a flip of an old Meek Mill freestyle, trace the edges of Meek’s buoyant yelps, matching his bobs and weaves.
Likewise, the soured horns of “solivelife” drift around a helium-laced Anderson. Paak vocally, freeing the crooner’s voice to drag and spill across measures. Knxwledge seems endlessly fascinated by the voice’s ability to spawn new rhythms or bind disparate ones together.
He now streams on Twitch, which is honestly funny to see him make goofy beats with his insane musical knowledge (no pun intended). If you haven’t already, I highly suggest you follow up and keep up with him. Don’t just know a track like “dont be afraid.” Also listen to some of his other creations, such as “learn,” “makeitliveforever,” and “amansloveislife_keepon”; these are my personal favorites.
Check out the playlist down below for some of my favorite tracks from Knxwledge and others of his friends that I enjoy!
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/430ugiMRLj2B0HFOpdwyS7?si=1513fae501da4083
Featured Image Screenshotted from Bandcamp
By: Andrea Moor
Music Journalist
29-year-old Laredoan Carlos Ramirez, otherwise known as Auragraph, is a creative that’s made wide strides in their respective fields. Initially playing guitar in most of the bands they worked with in their adolescence, their encounters with music would change drastically when they moved up north for their undergrad. Having studied at UT Austin for film, Ramirez had nothing but pleasantries to claim about their time living in the capital.
“I really liked my experience at UT. When I was there, there was a lot of collaboration. In my film courses, everyone was so creative and a lot of them are now out here in L.A., like me. I still see a lot of them from time to time. I’ve been able to apply what I learned during those years, to working in film on the music side. The projects I’m working on have really become the best of both worlds.”
Auragraph staring at the camera while sitting on the floor | Image Credit: Alex KachaIs Austin truly as great as it claims to be?
“I miss Austin a lot. It was mostly experimental, and I had to build myself from the ground up. Its changed a lot but every 10 years or so, I feel people say the whole, ‘Oh, you missed it in its prime’, to feel special. I remember there’d be $3 shows on Thursdays for students at Spiderhouse. Swan Dive also did things like that. Whenever that happens, it’s always cool. When there’s a stream of new stuff in the DIY space, there’s constant innovation. I was able to find my voice there.”
Still have the same number from the valley?
“I still have the same # from high school, which is both a good and bad thing. Everyone knows where to reach me, but the trade-off is that I’ll just get spam calls from a random 956 number on a Tuesday at 9 a.m.”
I argue that if it falls under the ‘956’ area code, it’s the valley. Do you consider Laredo the valley?
“People from Laredo don’t claim the valley. I guess since we’re so dispositioned from a place like McCallen, it doesn’t count. So, I’ll be taking a strong stance on the ‘no’. If I said it was, I’d get canceled. Someone from McCallen would just be like, ‘What the hell?!’”
Any spot from there that stands out?
“Last time I was in Laredo, I drove down for the holidays. For Mexicans, Toño’s is my parents’ spot. Every time I go down there, we’re at Toño’s. It’s a great, no-frills type of place.”
You’ve lived in Texas, you’re now in California. How would you describe the two?
“I associate Texas with a very experimental scene. It’s super big land-wise. You have deserts, mountains and fragments of the sea. California is like that also but condensed. I think since both states are so vast and occupied with such different people, it’s obvious what sounds are from where. I think geographically, certain places have certain sounds…If I had to showcase Texas to someone, I wouldn’t know where to bring them. Do I show them the nature, the arts, the culture?”
Auragraph looking down on a keyboard | Image Credit: Alex KachaYou’ve worked with different labels, how was each like?
“Finished my record for Auragraph with Hiraeth Records. Before this, it was ambiance. This was faster, denser bpm. I’ve worked with 猫 シ Corp (Japanese for Cat System Corp), and they were big on supporting even though they’re more of the Vaporwave sound. Did tapes with Midwest Collective, and now I’m with Dais Record after reconnecting.”
How has it been like working with George Clanton’s and Neggy Gemmy’s label, 100% Electronica?
“They’re an amazing label and collective. Especially during the lockdown, they were being prolific in their stuff at a time no one really was. We were doing 3D videos, live streams with tons of visuals and I released Metamerism with them. Their dog Jacob is cool, too.”
Is there a certain sound you strive for on Auragraph?
“I don’t like genres since it’s like a pigeonhole. A very broad sense of what I am is an experimental, electronic mask.”
How’s your process of curating Auragraph?
“I feel like I try to make every project different. I’ve done some with a more industrial, darker tint, and some with more of an acidhouse or dancier-type tint. Whenever I finish a record, it’s surreal because you’re nearly done. I don’t give in to doing all of the mini-changes. It’s sort of my philosophy. I love releasing, I love mixtapes. Once it’s out, I’ll sort of forget it, blackout and just move on. I pass through, and it’s like a love-hate relationship. It definitely winds me up to keep on making.”
Auragraph listening on headphones while tampering with equipment | Image Credit: Alex KachaBest way to listen to Auragraph?
“Getting into a sort of a meditative trance, it can be outside in nature, free of distractions and just allow the music to take you wherever. I know that I enjoy listening to records that take me beyond my initial state.”
You’ve worked on film projects such as Into the Ether, is it true that a bobcat was spotted during filming?
“That was my friend Marc’s project and I played a minor role behind the scenes taking photos, so I did not know that. Growing up, I was a part of the skate culture, so I’ve always been taking photos of my friends. Nowadays, I’m able to apply that and take headshots for Auragraph or take pics for shows. Still, I’ll need to text him to confirm that.”
Do you know that our school mascot’s the bobcat? I’m getting the inkling that everything’s connected.
“Sounds familiar. I do recall having this band with a guy who went to Texas State. We’d take turns commuting back and forth and staying at each other’s houses for rehearsals and shows. San Marcos is a cool spot.”
I know you’ve worked on different projects regarding screen and film, can you tell me about how you started it out?
“I started out with Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein back in 2018 or 2019 on Valley of the Boom. I’ve learned a lot from working for them. Working in picture and film, I want my work to be cinematic in a sense since there are no words. It’s crazy knowing that all this stuff has mingled into my day-to-day life.”
Auragraph facing away from the computer, looking towards a computer | Image Credit: Alex KachaWorking since season 3, you’re a score-mixing engineer for Stranger Things.
“Yes, it’s a big project. Typically, we work on it for nearly a year. Season 5’s on the way and it’s so busy, and we’re all working simultaneously to piece this project so there’s no time to really look back on it and have time to really think. The whole experience really is a gift.”
Any New Year Resolutions you’ve stuck to?
“My first resolution was no sugar, got into at least 20-25 days, think I broke it on a pastry. It goes back to wanting an overall healthier lifestyle that can help my mental health. This year, I’m really open to many experiences and opportunities. If a friend wants to approach me with a show opportunity, I want to say yes more and see where these types of experiences can take me.”
Auragraph standing and facing the camera, illuminated by orange lighting | Image Credit: Alex KachaWhen should we expect you to tour Texas?
“Maybe in the summer or, better yet, in September when everyone’s back for school. Perhaps I can set some dates aside to hit a couple of spots in California and come down to Texas, or even to San Marcos.”
Featured Image from Alex Kacha
By Harriet Bernard
Local Music Journalist
On March 3, 2023, R&B artist Kali Uchis released her third studio album titled Red Moon in Venus; an all-encapsulating album about love taking form. There are three features on Red Moon consisting of R&B artist Omar Apollo, as well as rappers Don Toliver and Summer Walker.
The album art is authentic to the sound of the entire album. Deep shades of red and orange represent passion and intimacy, with butterflies representing new eras and transformation. The red moon – or “blood” moon – in astrology means disruption and change; after listening to the album, these themes really come through. Uchis is known for her dreamy R&B and soul style, often making most of her tracks about romantic love and self-love.
The astrological theme for the title of the album does a lot for Uchis sound this time. Given that she is a cancer sun and scorpio moon, both her emotional and fierce sides dance around each other in between tracks, lyrically and musically.
The album consists of 15 songs and just under an hour of play time, with each track having its own message while simultaneously creating a harmonic message about love. The first track titled “In My Garden…” is a 25 second intro that leads into my personal favorite song on the album, “I Wish you Roses”. This song is about letting people go with a positive outlook to bring forth good karma, recognizing that a lot of people only receive flowers when they pass away. For Red Moon, Spotify has the Storyline feature for each song where Uchis writes a personal message and visual backstory for each track. This is an awesome way to learn more about the album right from where you listen to it.
Omar Apollo is featured on track three of the album titled, “Worth the Wait,” which is all about putting yourself first before letting just anyone into your life. Red Moon not only focuses on the motions of loving someone else but emphasizes that you need to be 100% with yourself before you put anyone into the equation. Don Toliver makes his appearance on track six, “Fantasy,” which is all about pushing for fantasy type of desire; despite being constantly told it’s unrealistic. Track thirteen titled, “Deserve Me,” features Summer Walker; “Deserve Me” is another self-love song focusing specifically on learning to accept that a relationship isn’t serving you anymore. Self-love is such an important message to young people, especially women, that are stuck in relationships that bring them down rather than lifting them up.
Uchis chose to use this album as a little message to her haters as well. Her interlude track, “Not Too Late,” is directed to those who speak badly on her name to tell them it’s not too late to start loving her instead. She makes it clear that she isn’t bothered by the haters and also recognizes that it’s all just “fan behavior” in the end.
Her last song “Happy Now” is the perfect way to end the album with the last lyrics “I’ve gotta free my mind, just wanna remember all the good things”. Uchis said in her Storyline for this track that she wanted to end the album by “washing it all away;” highlighting that happiness and peace of mind are all that matters truly and that having those things open us to greatness.
By Jared Dudley
Music Director
The South by Southwest film festival began this weekend, and while the spotlights are on high-profile releases with star-studded casts like Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and indie darlings which have generated a substantial amount of industry buzz like Emma Seligman’s Bottoms, SXSW is a festival that encompasses a wide range of films from around the world that vary drastically in genre and production budget. For attendees looking to see something more unsettling than the big crowd-pleasers, this year’s festival won’t disappoint. Here are some internationally-made horror films premiering later this week at SXSW.
Aberrance – Directed by Baatar Batsukh
This movie about a city-dwelling couple arriving at a cabin in the woods for a peaceful getaway seems to be setting up a classic horror tale. However, instead of the couple being terrorized by undead monsters or a crazed murderer wearing a hockey mask, the horror comes from within, bubbling to the surface as the film goes on. Aberrance marks the directorial debut for Mongolian filmmaker Baatar Batsukh, who has already made a name for himself thanks to his extensive cinematography work. The film released in Mongolian theatres last year to critical and commercial success. Its premiere at SXSW will be the film’s first showing outside of its country of origin.
Furies – Directed by Veronica Ngo
Furies is a bloody action thriller from Vietnam that follows Bi, a country girl who survives a brutal childhood and escapes to the city of Saigon, where she is recruited by a mysterious woman to take down a human trafficking crime lord. Filmmaker Veronica Ngo’s past works include directing, producing, and acting in American films such as Star Wars: The Last Jedi and The Old Guard. Furies serves as a prequel to one of Ngo’s previous films, Furie, which follows a similar plot. For those who enjoy action from Asian cinema, Furies is a must-see at the festival. For those looking for a home release, the wait will not be too long, as Furies premieres on Netflix on March 23rd.
Talk to Me – Directed by Danny and Michael Philippou
This horror flick from Australia follows a group of friends who discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand. The group is enticed by the new thrill until one of them goes too far and unleashes malevolent supernatural forces. Talk to Me seems to offer an interesting spin on the typical ghost movie, even beyond the highly interesting and creative prop of a supernatural embalmed hand in a jar. As opposed to Furies, this movie focuses on an eerie atmosphere and an overwhelming sense of dread, as opposed to consistent thrills. Fans of Hereditary should keep this one on their radar.
Late Night With the Devil – Directed by Cameron and Colin Cairnes
Late Night With the Devil takes place on Halloween night, 1977. The syndicated talk show ‘Night Owls’ airs a Halloween special like no other in a last-ditch effort to gain ratings, but no one expects that the airing will unleash evil into the homes of America. Writers/directors Cameron and Colin Cairnes hail from Australia and capture the hectic and fast-paced nature of live television with their film which is framed as archival footage of the late-night broadcast.
Featured Image from Jared Dudley.
By Jarris Jones
Music Journalist
If you are a hip-hop fan, then there are certain records that are universally known amongst your peers; records that stand out, stand the test of time and are used to inspire generations of musicians and music goers. When I think of an album that meets these criteria, I think of none other than MM..FOOD by the Madvillain himself, MF DOOM. DOOM wore a mask that became his trademark; the man behind the mask is Daniel Dumile, aka Metal Fingers, DOOM, or King Geedorah if you prefer to call him by his other alter egos.
Artist MF DOOM | Image Credit: WikiCommons, user PossonDumile would get his start in the rap game in the late 80s with a rap group named KMD. The group consisted of Zev Love X, which was DOOM’s original rap name at the time, his brother Dingilizwe “DJ Subroc” Dumile, and Jade 1. After the tragic death of his brother, Dumile disappeared from the rap game but resurfaced five years later; that is when the Villain emerged. Before he wore the mask we know and love today, he first experimented with bandanas and ski masks.
DOOM would go on record to say that he wore that mask because he wanted to be judged by his skills and not by his face. DOOM would even use sound bites from the Marvel Comics supervillain Doctor Doom, who wore a similar mask.
Marvel Comics Villain Doctor Doom | Image Credit: OpenVerse, user Gwendal UguenI wouldn’t be introduced to the genius of MF DOOM until I was a junior in high school in 2017. The first song I ever heard from DOOM was “Curls” from his record Madvillainy, which was released in March 2004. Later that same year, he released MM..FOOD on November 16, 2004; the 15-song record with a 49-minute playtime is one of the most celebrated records in the world of hip-hop.
Thanks to his witty rhymes and unique production, DOOM cemented his name in the rap game forever. Songs such as “One Beer,” “Deep Fried Frenz,” “Kon Queso,” and my personal favorite, “Rapp Snitch Knishes,” made DOOM standout from his peers and showed everyone what the rap game was missing.
The reason “Rapp Snitch Knishes” holds my number one spot is due to the famous lead guitar lick used throughout the song. The lead guitar would come from a sample of “Space Oddity,” covered by Dave Matthews. One of the things I love about the album is that almost every song has a song title named after food, and the cover art incorporates and uses food as well.
Cover art used for MF DOOM’s album MM..FOOD | Image Credit: Rhymesayers EntertainmentDOOM would go on to make and produce many other great albums under his different aliases. Leaving the world in the true fashion of a Villain, DOOM passed away on October 31, 2020, at the age of 49. Whenever I listen to MF DOOM, I always have a deep appreciation for the artwork and the time put behind the music he made, and I am forever grateful that he shared his art with the world. I know that no matter what era of my life I am in, DOOM’s music will always be a part of me. If he only had one fan in the world, it would be me.
Thank you, DOOM, for not only inspiring me but a whole generation of music listeners. And don’t forget to use all caps when you spell the man’s name. May you rest in peace, MF DOOM.
Mural for the late great MF DOOM | Image Credit: Jarris JonesFeatured Image from Rhymesayers Entertainment
By Avery Viers
Local Music Director
The last time I spoke with Lauren Burton of Austin-based band Lola Tried, I had freshly been appointed as KTSW 89.9’s Local Music Director only one month prior. Unsure of what to expect when meeting the band, I scavenged the internet to absorb all of the information I could in the midst of my nervous frenzy.
I was about five seconds into our introduction before my nerves were put at ease. Burton, along with her bandmate and longtime friend Ray Garza, exuded a genuine and enthusiastic energy throughout our discussion that could not be missed.
When I had the chance to catch up with Burton again recently, I couldn’t wait to hear what the band had been up to. I was anxious to discuss their recently released single, “Black & White,” and chat about the band’s invitation as an Official SXSW Artist for this year’s festival.
I called Burton the Monday evening following her birthday weekend. She shared that she had spent some time at her barn, where she enjoys riding her horse – which she fondly refers to as her “baby boy” – and that she saw PUP at Stubb’s Amphitheater.
“PUP is my favorite band in the whole world! My biggest influence ever,” said Burton. “I’ve seen them like four times; I have all of their records. They’re the reason Lola Tried exists.”
We chatted a bit more about PUP’s tour with Joyce Manor before jumping into the topic of this year’s SXSW music festival. I asked Burton whether the band was excited to perform, as well as whether it would be their first year as an Official Artist.
“It’s our third!” she said, “It’s funny. My SX experience started when I was sixteen; I had just moved to Austin and gotten my driver’s license. My mom was working for a nonprofit that helped find housing for the international musicians coming over. She would literally go, ‘you need to go pick up this band from England from the airport and just cart them around.’”
“My mom knew me,” Burton continued, “I was a good kid. I never drank. She literally had to be like, ‘Lauren, you don’t have a curfew. You can go out sometimes.’ So, these poor fckers had to sit in a car with me while I drove them around in downtown SXSW traffic. I also got the opportunity to develop these friendships and relationships that are beautiful. I still keep in touch with the folks I met [THROUGH SXSW] from fifteen years ago that changed my life. There were international bands from Spain, the U.K., and Germany. I got to see how real bands worked; bands that weren’t* massive.”
“I would go to local shows all the time,” she said, “but it’s cool to see middle level bands – like Joyce Manor – where they’re known, and they’re touring, and can make it their full-time job. Seeing these bands interact and how they handle business was really cool. I also learned how to sneak into every single venue that they played. I remember I couldn’t get in to see Waxahachie because I wasn’t twenty-one and they were playing at Cheer Up [CHARLIE]’s. I literally jumped into the brush of the scaffolding at Mohawk and climbed up that cliff and watched them play like a weird-*ss bat.”
“SX has always been really special because of the touring bands that come through and the friends that I get to see that I haven’t seen,” said Burton, “I love giving all of the bands recommendations and getting to tell everyone all of my favorite spots. You get to see people experience the city. Plus, being on bills with your buddies and getting to see them play amazing shows is great.”
After wrapping up our discussion on SXSW, I was eager to ask Burton what was new with Lola Tried since our last talk.
“We actually have two new band members and I’m really excited!” She said, “It’s been really fun. After our original lineup switching up, we decided to say, ‘Okay, let’s get two new members. It’s gonna be great.’ Since bringing them on, the exchange of ideas has been so fun. When I started with this band initially, I had never played a show or committed to rehearsals or been a part of a true unit. Joining a team was definitely a moment of extreme vulnerability for me.”
“Jeff and Gianni – our bass player and our drummer – are so open to any new idea,” she continued, “I absolutely adored our original lineup, but this new journey has been super fun. Writing has changed; I don’t come in with things prepared anymore. I think a part of it is the Imposter Syndrome of thinking, ‘I have to have a perfectly crafted song to present to you guys, like a powerpoint ,because if I don’t you guys are gonna see through me.’ Learning to drop my guard and riff in a jam session is special, especially since it wasn’t always a thing. The new stuff that we’re releasing we have fully written together. Gianni and Jeff come from completely different musical backgrounds, so having them play with us has brought a whole new element to the band.”
I was curious to ask Burton about the songwriting process of the band’s newest single, “Black & White,” given the song’s themes of grief and loss.
“‘Black & White’ is honestly a pretty vulnerable song for me for a couple of reasons,” said Burton, “The less impactful reason is that it’s a ballad. For me, I like instant gratification and don’t like patience or having to wait. When we started playing the song, Jeff and Gianni had to stop me to slow me down and told me that it could really be something. ‘Black & White’ taught me patience. Being vulnerable in that way musically was interesting because I’d never written a ballad before.”
“A lot of my songs come from anger,” she continued, “that’s just how I write. When I’m feeling an intense emotion like anger, I’ve always felt motivated in my songwriting because it feels like the only way that I could get out my thoughts. I always thought, ‘I can handle feeling depressed. I know how to cope with anxiety because I experience these emotions a lot.’ But I don’t get angry very often; songwriting has been the main way for me to verbalize my fury.”
“But this song wasn’t that,” Burton said, “I think that’s my second point of vulnerability; my partner’s best friend died in May of last year. He was just a dream. He would have this laugh that would echo for days. There were two hard parts in terms of writing [BLACK & WHITE]; when I was writing the song, I realized, ‘I’m gonna have to deal with some real feelings here… and they’re not anger. They’re grief.’ I talked with the band to tell them I wanted to release something about grief and how I handle it.
“Ultimately, the song is about watching my partner grieve and feeling like I can’t do anything about it. There has been quite a lot of grief in our household over the past year. Another aspect of the song, though, is about wondering when the right time to grieve actually is. It’s harder for me to be vulnerable through sadness than it is for me to be vulnerable through anger.”
Burton mentioned the band’s upcoming projects as well, joking about its stark contrast to the preceding single.
“I’m switching up the tone a little bit,” said Burton, “For me, it feels so much more dynamic and it’s really fast paced. The drum parts are killer! After playing it on stage, Jeff had to leave for a second to go throw up and got right back on to play the next song. The song is called, “Don’t Care At All,” and it’s about work burnout that has been so impactful to me, especially working in tech. The layoffs, friends losing jobs, and even just the crumbling economy as a whole really makes you realize that you’re seeing some fundamentally wrong things going on in your field. [DON’T CARE AT ALL] is about experiencing a burnout so devastating and getting to the point of realizing you couldn’t care less about any of it. I really hope that people like my friends that lost their jobs will listen to it and go, ‘Ah. Thank you.’
Lola Tried will be performing two sets as an Official SXSW Artist on March 12 and 13 at Hotel Vegas and one set at The Velveeta Room on March 18. Follow Lola Tried on Instagram to stay up to date on official set times, future shows, and newly released music here: @lolatried
by Ashley Farnie
Assistant Music Director
The best week of the year is upon us! If you are a fan of film and tech, your week is already in full swing, but I am preserving my energy for the music festival beginning Monday the 13th. This will be my third year covering South by Southwest and I am more excited than ever following the expectations set by last year. Once the initial round of artists is released in the fall, I make it my mission to listen to as many musicians as I can to ensure I am taking advantage of my press coverage privileges. This task is not the easiest feat as over 1,400 musicians perform throughout the week, each with multiple sets – but do not fret! I have taken it upon myself to sift through the best artists at SXSW ’23 whether you are in attendance of the Austin chaos, or if you are vicariously living through my experience – as is my roommate, Addi. Below are my personal recommendations, as well as a playlist I made for my roommate who has a bit of a different taste in music than me. Listen to my playlist as you read!
LOCAL
If you are traveling to Austin for the festival, the local music scene is not something to pass up. A few of my favorites are playing this week as well as a few acts I have yet to catch despite living near the city.
Being Dead
Being Dead’s Julie dressed as a mime for their Halloween performance at Levitation Festival.Being Dead has an incredibly diverse sound, with the closest classification I can land on being psychedelic rock. The band has quite the reputation in Austin with their consistent schedule of live shows and involvement in additional musical projects showcasing their musicianship. The band’s silly and lighthearted camaraderie entice the audience, sometimes inviting them onstage alongside the three-piece. Being Dead is playing 10 shows throughout the week, and their schedule can be found on the band’s Instagram account.
Cody of Being Dead invites audience onstage at Sagebrush performance.Die Spitz
Boogey of Die Spitz jumps from drum kit.Another favorite local act to catch, Die Spitz is taking over SXSW and the world. Recently back from tour with Amyl & the Sniffers, Die Spitz will be playing 5 shows throughout the week of SX, followed by touring with OFF! beginning in May. Local Music Director, Avery Viers, and I sat down with the band during Levitation Festival last year if you are interested in reading our profile of the punk band. The band’s schedule can be found on their Instagram.
Die Spitz at Frothingfest.Annabelle Chairlegs
I have yet to see either of these bands live, but have heard nothing but great reviews! These local rock bands are sure to gain attention following their stint at the festival. Annabelle Chairlegs is playing 7 shows throughout the week of SX and their schedule can be found here.
Lola Tried
Lola Tried stems from San Marcos, TX, the home of KTSW899. The four-piece blends the southern influences of central Texas with modern rock. Local MD Avery had a chat with frontwoman of Lola Tried, Lauren, this week prior to the onset of SXSW, so be sure to keep an eye on the blog! Lola Tried’s SX schedule can be found here.
INDIE, POST-PUNK, & WOMEN
I’m happy to see the rise of local artists attending a festival the size of SX, but I am also excited to catch the artists traveling to Austin for the week! SX is all about discovering something new, but the artists returning to the city have a special place in my heart.
Fuvk
Lo-fi bedroom pop artist fuvk has been a staple on my playlists since 2018. Their casual yet poignant lyricism pairs well with their self-produced sound. If you want to relax during the festival and revel in melancholia, you can check out fuvk’s SX sets here.
LÜCY
LÜCY similarly offers an indie bedroom sound with airy vocals floating atop synths. Traveling from Taiwan, LÜCY is not a set to be missed! The artist has yet to post their schedule for the week, but you can keep up with their Instagram here.
Sea Lemon
Sea Lemon’s sound is reminiscent of the dream pop that defines the 1980’s. If you are looking to enjoy company alongside the presence of music that makes you dance, you can check out Sea Lemon’s schedule here.
Why Bonnie
Formerly a local band, Why Bonnie has relocated to LA but will be gracing Austin with their presence once again this week! Their 2022 debut album, 90 in November, captures the romantic nostalgia experienced when reminiscing your home state. The band’s schedule can be found here.
It’s International Women’s Month this March and female artists are always at the top of my list. The following female-fronted bands are acts I am super stoked to have found through my research of showcasing artists.
Beverly Kills
Swedish post-punk band, Beverly Kills, released a new single last week, “Melatonin,” preceding their arrival in Austin. Their sound is one of my favorites to experience live and I am beyond excited to see the tracks I have had on repeat onstage. Keep up with Beverly Kills on Instagram to stay up-to-date on set times.
Blondshell
Blondshell opens for Suki Waterhouse. Image Credit: Carolina GarzaBlondshell is returning to Austin following their tour with Suki Waterhouse in February. Sabrina Teitelbaum will release her debut album in April, and my fingers are crossed that we will get to hear previews during SX! She will be touring her self-titled album beginning in July, bringing along Hello Mary. You can follow Blondshell’s Instagram to keep up with set times.
Blondshell opens for Suki Waterhouse. Image Credit: Carolina GarzaHello Mary
Indie punk girl band Hello Mary has played shows in support of Momma and will be taking on the chaos of SX. The NYC band has an artsy aesthetic that I am excited to see brought to life onstage! Hello Mary’s SX schedule can be found here.
Enola Gay
The Irish post-punk world strikes again, bringing Belfast-based Enola Gay to Austin for SXSW. The band’s first show this week will be only their eighth show ever. Check out the band’s SX schedule and catch them before they take off.
Knifeplay
Currently on tour with They Are Gutting A Body of Water, Knifeplay’s shoegaze will fare nicely in Austin, TX. The band consists of a solid six members who add depth and volume to Knifeplay’s sound. Their music is definitely something that needs to be experienced live, and I can’t wait to see them this week.
M(H)AOL
Bassist Zoe of M(h)aol at The Lord Kinsale. Image Credit: Cooper HaackI had the chance to see M(H)AOL in Kinsale, Ireland this summer and am delighted they are visiting Austin! The band intertwines poetry, gender studies, and noise punk with a unique array of instruments onstage making for an enticing performance. Read my concert review here and check out the band’s SX schedule here.
M(h)aol at The Lord KinsaleSorcha Richardson
Sorcha Richardson at All Together Now Fest.I had the chance to see the lovely Sorcha Richardson at All Together Now Festival in Waterford, Ireland this summer and am excited to see her perform following the release of her second album, Smiling Like An Idiot. Sorcha’s infectious indie pop was the soundtrack to my summer and the city of Austin will appreciate her queer sensibilities. Keep up with Sorcha’s week here.
Sorcha Richardson at All Together Now Fest.Tommy Lefroy
Tommy Lefroy at Scoot Inn.Two-piece Tommy Lefroy announced their attendance to SXSW very recently having played Scoot Inn last week on tour with Samia. The duo released their second EP, Rivals, on Friday the 10th, so although I saw them perform last week, I anticipate a setlist ripe with new tracks! Check out my interview with Wynter and Tess of Tommy Lefroy here. The band’s SX schedule can be found here.
Tommy Lefroy at Scoot Inn.Maybe you don’t like my music taste, that’s okay! I made a playlist for my best friend of the artists she would enjoy at SXSW ’23, so check out this playlist if you are a sucker for pop!
By Ashley Farnie
Assistant Music Director
This week I had the opportunity to talk with one of my biggest musical inspirations, Tommy Lefroy, before their Austin show on Samia’s Honey Tour. The two-piece band of best friends, Wynter Bethel and Tessa Mouzourakis, bonded over their love of literature and experience in songwriting. During the stillness ensued by the onset of the pandemic, the duo rekindled from a distance and began producing music under the name of Jane Austen’s ex-lover – a nod to their literary influence and a satire of men’s effect on artistic expression. I sat down with Wynter and Tessa at Scoot Inn to talk Rivals (2023), SXSW, and writing.
Wynter of Tommy Lefroy at Scoot Inn.Tessa: “…this is our first time playing in Austin, yeah”
Ashley: “I was so excited to see you announced your EP – was that yesterday?”
T: “Yeah, we released the track list yesterday”
A: “That was super exciting! Is there anything you can tell me about the upcoming EP?”
Wynter: “What do you wanna know?
Tessa of Tommy Lefroy at Scoot Inn.Q: What was the writing process of Rivals like in comparison to writing Flight Risk from a distance?
T: What was really special about Rivals was this was the first time we got to really start the songs and produce them together in the same room. We started a lot of it in LA, last year, and then continued working on the songs as we went back to London and were moving around, making them in different places.
W: Rivals felt like a snapshot of a very particular time in our lives because Flight Risk we wrote over the course of a few years and it was kinda our separate stories combined. We had never lived in the same place so were just pulling our own original stories together and then, Rivals, we had just spent like a year together in London mostly building the project and working really hard and we were kinda pulling from shared experiences for the first time. We wrote it in a more contained environment and period of time, so it feels like this snapshot of what was happening in 2021-2022, whereas Flight Risk was like everything up until then. I think it feels different in particular that way. I think the next thing will feel like something else, it’s just the season we were in.
A: Is this the way y’all approached writing your second EP? Rather than releasing an album or a larger collection of the sorts, you have these little snapshots and themes you associate with your life – is that kinda how your writing process works, in segments?
T: Right, it’s natural that our lives and our experiences bleed into the music and into the writing. Also, you know, what we’re reading at the time. We’re definitely just influenced by the world around us, and you can see that in Rivals, we were kind of in a transient period; we were living in London, we were moving around a lot kinda playing shows for the first time as Tommy. It was a very busy time and we were definitely trying to work through a lot of things as they came. It was a tough season. I think the EP is reflective of that as well.
W: I think the way we’ve related to writing has changed a lot because we both started as songwriters writing for other people’s records, which in a lot of ways requires a more methodical approach, whereas when you’re writing for your own artist project you have like all the time, not really, but especially with Flight Risk, there weren’t any deadlines. We were just making this project for ourselves at first. It’s hard to know when it’s done because we’re producing it as well, so it’s easy to feel like you’re never done with it. I think for us, it feels like an honest depiction of what we’re going through at the time. That’s when we’re like, “ok, we made something.”
Wynter and Tessa of Tommy Lefroy at Scoot Inn.Q: How does approaching your albums with a theme work when combining your personal experiences?
T: We became friends partly because we had a lot of shared interests. Yeah, that’s what friendship is, you sit down and you talk about things you’re passionate about. And it’s a similar process with our writing. We definitely both are writers, first and foremost, so we take a lot of time apart to write poems and journal entries and whatever, so when we come together and we have different ideas and pieces we want to work from, it’s usually like we will both kinda find shared themes or things that we wanna talk about, or things that we’re both passionate about. There are certain lines that may speak to Wynter’s experience more than my own, but I think we just want to serve the song and story, so it is shared but there’s definitely little moments of the song maybe resonating with someone else more.
W: and I think with themes too, there’s some things that one of us might want to talk about, but usually the other one is close enough to understand their experience and we wanna help tell the story too. And other times there are themes that are so pertinent, like when we started writing “Dog Eat Dog” it was kinda our first experience of being artists and working with a community of other artists and being compared to other artists, and often we find that if you’re a female artist, you’re often compared to female artists just for the sake of being female artists, and I think we were very much living in that space and it was really topical and relevant to our experience, so even though there’s a lot of other themes in there throughout, sometimes things just come and it’s like, “yeah ok this is what we’re gonna write about because it’s happening right now.”
Wynter of Tommy Lefroy at Scoot Inn.A: That’s very interesting to see your thought processes co-mingle! You said you write a lot of poetry and journal entries. How does your other writing influence your songwriting as a project together? What makes you know that you want to work together on it rather than keep it to yourself?
T: I think for me it’s like we talk a lot about themes and what Tommy represents to us as a duo, as a band, so I think I will definitely come across an idea or I’ll be writing out a poem that feels like, this is a story that I want to bring to Tommy and I want us to be able to tell. There are definitely certain things sometimes that feel like, I wanna keep close or I’m not ready to share, but I also think in a lot of ways for me Tommy has been a very empowering process and it’s really encouraged me to bring stories that are sensitive or that I’m working through to the project. And I think also having Wynter there as my friend and collaborator to lift it up is great too. I think it’s kind of an intuitive thing, we just kinda know when something is gonna work and when we wanna bring it to the other.
W: I think Tommy has a voice that is separate from either of our voices individually and I think that we talk a lot about themes we want to write. We talk to fans a lot. We meet a lot of people and talk about their experience and how they’re relating to the records and I think that also helps bring clarity to things. Tommy is a good platform to talk about certain subjects and then other things, yeah, maybe it’s too personal, or it doesn’t make sense, or it’s sonically different, because I think there’s kind of a distinctive thing were going for with Tommy that maybe our solo writings might be a departure from. It’s pretty instinctual but I feel like it’s pretty obvious what’s for Tommy and what’s for us.
Tessa of Tommy Lefroy at Scoot Inn.A: Do you ever start writing together or is it always kinda bringing other pieces to the puzzle?
T: “Dog Eat Dog” kinda started like that. Wynter started playing a riff and we were both just playing a round over it in the moment, in real time. That does happen, definitely, it just depends on the day, what we are doing, how pressed for time we are.
W: I think the biggest difference with our experience of writings Rivals was, with Flight Risk we had so much time and with Rivals there was pressure, and there was a limited window of time when we weren’t on tour last year – or on the road – we played a lot of festivals and kinda one-off shows, but we were really busy with the live show and getting that component off the ground. So, there was only a short window of time we had to work on the record which was really different than our experience with Flight Risk because we spent the whole year living in it, working it all the time, so I think for those sort of constraints we’re having, we almost always start from pulling from poems or something we’re reading by someone else.
Wynter and Tessa of Tommy Lefroy at Scoot Inn.A – Is it hard to write on tour?
T – It’s hard to write to completion. We write bits and bobs and we’re always taking notes and highlighting and things in our books, but to like sit down and write an entire song, we haven’t been able to do it yet.
W – I think we like to compartmentalize. We prefer to write in moments of stillness and so much of our year is moving and moments of chaos and going somewhere else, going to the next place, but I think we still like to protect our writing time and have it be a separate thing where we’re in one place and it’s designated, but sometimes it’ll just fall out, that happens, too.
T – That’s always really great, I wish it was always like that
Wynter of Tommy Lefroy at Scoot Inn.A – Are y’all excited for South by Southwest?
T – We’re really excited! We’ve never played before so were really looking forward to it!
W – We’re playing 5 different sets. We’ll post our schedule!
Wynter and Tessa will be spending time In Nashville with friends following the end of tour with Samia before heading back to Austin for SXSW! The band’s second EP, Rivals, is out now on streaming platforms! Stay tuned for coverage of Tommy Lefroy’s SXSW sets as I will definitely be in attendance.
In this episode of “State’s Up”, we head to the Meadow’s Center for Water and the Environment to talk about some of the nationally recognized research going on there and what else is in store for Texas State’s research capacity. Plus, with a string of gun violence occurring on college campuses in the country, what kind of safety protocols does Texas State have in place to keep its students and workers safe?
(Photo courtesy of Niles Davis/The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment)
In this edition of Claws to the Wall, Justin Brown, Paxton Graf, Koby Jackson and Orlando Smart discuss Bobcat Women’s Basketball season after losing against JMU in SBC Championship, Bobcat Men’s Basketball tough loss in the SBC Semifinals against Louisiana, Bobcat Softball finishing Owl Classis winning ten of last eleven games, Rattler boys basketball finish to a historical season, Bobcat Baseball suffers a blowout against UTSA and talk about NFL free agency and NBA drama! Be sure to catch Claws to the Wall every Thursday here at KTSW Sports.
By Bryce Lambeth
Music Journalist
It was the fall of 2021 when I began living around UT campus with some 5+ friends from high school. Some attending UT, some having graduated, and myself attending Texas state. As twenty somethings, we frequented the bars around the drag and within a few months I found myself almost exclusively going out to shows that my roommate and friends were performing in. They were ubiquitous. Every single weekend two, three, four shows Austin, San Marcos, San Antonio and more. I soon found myself unable to keep up.
I was impressed that even though I saw the same group of about five to twelve guys and girls at every show, they were consistently able to pack the place. Id soon find out that this core group I would see around are all musicians and are the basis of what makes this scene what it is. Sad cell, Dewey Ivy, Public Age, Shooks, Party Van, Witches Exist, Homemade Bangs, Telecom. Honestly too many too name. Roughly five to twelve people surmising six to ten bands are what create what I’ve heard referred to as the “Sad Cell Cinematic universe”. I’ve included a graphic above that illustrates the rough layout of the interconnected web of bands that I am referencing, but it’s not all encompassing; more projects are always bound to emerge.
Turns out, this crowd has been playing together for a while. Some members having previously established relationships, either familial or otherwise, to one another as well as others in the music industry. Most of the universe’s cast, at least individually, played music from a young age. Eventually, they would all mesh to form some of the bands we know today.
The thing that impressed me most about this crowd wasn’t the interconnectedness of it all (though I find that charming), it was the music. These people aren’t trying too hard nor are they overhyping anything. When you get down to it, all of this music is underlined by good writers, musicians, and performers.
Like good writers (At least my personal favorites) their music isn’t only technically proficient, it’s vulnerable and heartfelt at times while fun and amusing at others. From country sounding tunes about dancing and drinking to darker tracks dealing with death, heartbreak, or suicide, the “Sad Cell Cinematic Universe” really covers a wide gambit of genres and themes. That’s just the music; seeing these sets live is another story. In addition to the shear number of shows these people play, their performances are never dull and people seem to agree they tend to have something of a way with the crowd.
This cinematic scene is sprawling, and I encourage you to explore it for yourself. Look up any of the bands on Spotify, Watch the Sad Cell KTSW set here, and follow them on Instagram to stay up to date on upcoming shows. I’m proud of this group of people’s success so far and it doesn’t stop with them, there are connections of all kinds to bands all around the I-35 corridor. Get out there and tune in!
Featured Image by Jacob Silvia.
By Tara Davis
Music Journalist
San Marcos’ hottest new commodity on the square has been dominating every weekend since they opened. Hosting drag shows, music shows, thrift markets, and more every Thursday through Sunday, the venue has been a bit busy. The San Marcos Secret Room is located on the square behind the beloved Gil’s Broiler & Manske Roll Bakery. They are known for setting posters and artwork made by local artists. Expanding their variety, they have moved into starting a new thrift market every Sunday where they sell jewelry made by those in the community and more. They are open to throwing private events as a local venue space as well. The group is very active on Instagram, always posting new and repeating events.
I always see their posts and have been wanting to go to a show there for a while, but with having two jobs and a lot of extracurriculars, last Saturday was the first time I was actually able to go. Since it was a Saturday, parking on the square is limited so we parked at my friend’s apartment and walked to the show. There was a $10 cover fee regardless of age, but with the venue still being newer and trying to build their credibility, it makes sense. The show was supposed to start at 7:30, but didn’t start until around 8 so I’m wondering if just the doors opened at 7:30 and the show actually started at 8. I would recommend changing their advertising a little bit just to make sure they are accurate to the public.
The first band that performed was Hot Whips. I’d never heard of them before, but my first impressions were that they looked cool and looked like they were a rockish type vibe. The biggest thing about this band is that they had a female drummer, who absolutely killed the show. Their set was about an hour long and by the end of it, the lead singer looked over it. Rolling his hands, reading lyrics off his phone, it seemed like everyone else in the band was a lot more into being there and he just showed up because he had to. I’m not sure if this was his rockstar style of “idgaf”, but it was not the best look to me. At one point, he said that everyone should know this next song, played a popular Nirvana song, messed up the lyrics then started reading them off his phone… that’s just not it for me. The other members were energetic and, I believe, all of them had a moment to show off their skills in a solo during their set. Overall, the band was good, but I wished the lead singer would put a tad bit more effort into learning the songs they’re playing and watching his facial expressions when performing.
The second band, Soma Jerome, was the band we were there for. I’ve seen this band a handful of times before, including our own KTSW event at Third Thursday in January. I know this band kills it time and time again. They sang covers, but mostly originals and started the show off with a heavy rock intro that got the crowd moving and excited for what they were going to bring next. They were engaging the crowd by shouting back when someone would yell something out. I liked the fact that pretty much all of the band members took a chance to sing at least some part of a song. They even switched around and exchanged instruments at one point to show off they can do more than one skill. This band is going to go far in their career, they have the humble and grateful attitude so many of our local artists here have and it’s exciting to watch them get booked time and time again recently. They even got added to the new SXSW lineup happening March 17 and 18. (How exciting!)
Soma Jerome performing at the Secret Room. Taken by Tara Davis.Overall, the event was a lot of fun. If you are sensitive to loud noises, I would really consider maybe watching from outside the venue or bringing some earplugs since the space was small, I definitely felt my ears ringing for an hour or so after the show. Since the show started at 7:30 (really 8) p.m., and only had two bands performing, it ended relatively early, still leaving the opportunity to go out after on the square or back to a friends. I would recommend going to a show or stopping by the secret room at any time just to check out the trippy vibe. They are also always looking for new vendors, new bands, or help in other ways if you’re looking to get more involved. I would rate the show a solid 8.5/10, with the fact that the first band was eh.
Check out the Secret Room Here.
Check out Hot Whips Here.
Check out Soma Jerome Here.
By Sofia Gualy
Music Journalist
Eliza McLamb is an up-and-coming superstar with a passion for music that bleeds through all of her songs. She puts her heart and soul into every lyric and that is very clearly shown in her 2022 album, Salt Circle. Whether you have first heard of her through a random Spotify playlist or you are an avid Binchtopia podcast listener, Eliza McLamb speaks to the deepest parts of our brains that we thought no one could possibly understand. Salt Circle is a vulnerable indie folk experience that everyone should walk through.
This album delves into the hardships and strife that comes with growing up. Whether that is learning about yourself through heartbreak or loss, McLamb sings about all of the in-betweens of becoming an adult. This coming of age masterpiece analyzes the growth that one goes through during the most formative time of one’s life. These five songs truly spoke to my younger self when I thought that part of myself was long gone. Eliza McLamb helped me realize that my younger self is still very much a part of me that will always be along for the ride.
The album opens with “Doing Fine”, a term that many of us use when in reality, things are not as fine as they may seem. To me, this song seems to be her convincing herself that everything is okay because everything should be fine considering all the good that is around her, but when she really dives into how she is feeling she realizes that something is missing for her to be truly happy. I think that many of us can relate to this feeling and as the first track, it really sets the tone for the rest of the album. “Doing Fine” has a beautiful guitar instrumental that helps amplify the fragility of the theme of the song. McLamb’s gentle voice pairs perfectly with the instrumentals in this song and is the perfect opening for an incredible album.
“Pulp” explores the idea of something or someone slipping through your fingers. She sings about trying to hold on to that person or idea even though it was “never meant to last” and she knows that she knows she is “never gonna get it all back”. A truly brutal and hard thing to process in life, McLamb once again, sings a beautiful song about something that can be quite heartbreaking.
The third track on the album is called “Playhouse”. This song is my absolute favorite off the album simply based on her vocals on this track. There is something so addicting about her voice on this song that makes me want to keep it on replay as I walk around campus. “Playhouse” sings about wanting to make a picture perfect life with someone but knowing that is practically impossible for her and her partner. There is a jazzy element to this song that makes it quite different from the rest of the songs on the album.
“Salt Circle” sings about McLamb’s acceptance of the feelings that she is facing. In this song she is validating herself in the chorus saying she has spent enough time trying to ignore the emotions that she faces, but ultimately knows that she has to face these in order to step into a growth journey. McLamb absolutely crushed me with this song as it felt as if she was peering into my mind when writing the lyrics to this song. Her vocals are incredible throughout the song and the layering of her voice is my favorite part of the entire song.
The final song, “Older” feels like an acceptance song to me. It feels as if she is accepting the good and bad parts of her life and leading herself towards a comfort of knowing who she is and excitement for who she will become. This song is a lovely way to end a beautiful and sorrowful album.
Eliza McLamb’s Salt Circle is an exquisite piece of art full of raw moments that we face during our coming of age. Her stories truly speak to the listener and help them feel comforted, held, and seen in ways that we never thought we could feel again.
In this Wednesday edition of Bobcat Radio the crew of Orlando Smart, Koby Jackson and Taylor Cuen discuss Bobcat Women’s basketball loss against JMU in SBC Championship, Bobcat Baseball’s 11-2 loss against UTSA, Rattler Basketball postseason awards and NBA/NFL Talk! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
By Kenlie Golleher
Rap Music Director
Getting accepted to cover SXSW as a music journalist has been the highlight of my year so far. With numerous artists from all around the world coming from industries ranging from music, film, tech, and beyond, SXSW is the home base for creatives and professionals alike to showcase their talents. This will be my first time attending the annual SXSW festival, and I couldn’t be more excited to finally get the chance to experience it. Music will have my full attention, and with so many incredible artists coming to Austin for the festival, I’ve compiled a list of the top five artists who I’m most excited to see and/or cover while I’m here.
PinkPantheressThis woman right here has been my constant earworm ever since she first began sharing snippets of her tunes on the popular app TikTok back in 2020. She quickly garnered a lot of attention, with many of her songs going viral on the platform. Every song by her is cute, catchy, and addictive. With such short run times on her tracks, it makes listening on loop an easy feat. Sampling various genres of music from the early 2000s while simultaneously blending techniques of modern-day auditory elements along with lyricism that relates well to those who identify as Gen Z, PinkPantheress’ fresh yet nostalgic sound caters to almost all who tune in. Collaborations with artists such as Kaytranada, Ice Spice, Skrillex, Willow Smith, and Sam Gellaitry have given the bedroom popstar an ability to showcase her versatility as well as reach even wider audiences. With over 34 million monthly listeners on Spotify and numerous more on other platforms, and only a couple of years in the game, she has quickly proven herself to be the next rising star in music. She is going to be performing with the So Satisfying House, which will be at SXSW from March 13–15. The showcase, presented by IMGN and its parent company, Warner Music Group, will be held at Mala Vida. During the daytime, the house will feature multiple activations, including a sensory room, an ASMR spa, and an installation dubbed “Smell-O-Vision.” Musical performances will be held at the house once the sun sets.
Lil Yachty2023 has been a very exciting year for Lil Yachty, not only with the release of his psych-rock project “Let’s Start Here,” (check out my review of it here!) but also with what seems to be a new era for the artist as a whole. With his latest endeavors in the fashion world as an investor in Futuremood sunglasses, the artist also has his own collaboration with the brand. I’ve been really excited about the growth of Yachty over the past few years, and being able to see him at a peak time in his career is going to be something I’ll be able to cherish forever. Yachty will be the headliner for day 1 of Billboard presents the Stage at SXSW at the Moody Amphitheatre at Waterloo Park on March 16. Alongside Lil Yachty in the lineup of performers will also be Lola Brooke and Armani White, showcasing hip-hop as the highlighted genre of that day.
ChiiildChiiild is a Montréal-based experimental soul artist that draws influences that range from Marvin Gaye to Tame Impala. These influences provide Chiiild’s sound with a lot of sonic parallels that I find myself drawn to, leaving me impressed every time I listen. He refers to his sound as “synthetic soul,” which is also fittingly the title of his 2020 debut album. It’s rare that I find myself enjoying every single song from an artist, but with multiple singles and three full-length projects under his belt, I have been enamored by them all so far. His latest project, Better Luck in the Next Life, just came out on March 3. This record creates spacey dreamscapes while exploring introspective narratives. Chiiild himself considers this project to be an “autobiographical record.” With every release, he continuously proves to be a breath of fresh air in today’s music era. He will be performing at the RANGE Magazine showcase on March 17 at The Drafting Room alongside 80purppp, Sylo, Charmaine, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, and Lex Leosis; this lineup is comprised of six of today’s most notable hip-hop and R&B acts from Canada.
Killer MikeMichael Render, known professionally as Killer Mike, is at SXSW this year not only as a performer but also as a keynote speaker. With the formation of his own rap duo, Run the Jewels, and having worked alongside credited artists such as Outkast, Black Thought, and Jay-Z, just to name a few, Mike has seen huge success in the music industry. Mike has also seen success in various other avenues as an actor, host, advocate, and activist. Mike will be the headliner at this year’s annual SPIN showcase at Stubb’s Bar-B-Q on March 16, alongside other acts such as Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard’s new project Painted Shield, Sunny War, McKinley Dixon, and more. He will also be speaking at a featured session titled “Introducing Michael: The Man Known as Killer Mike” on March 15 at the Austin Convention Center in Ballroom D, where he will be delving into his history as the man behind the music.
Talib KweliHaving hosted numerous nights of “Last Tuesday with Talib Kweli & Friends” at Austin’s Native Hostel and Bar & Cafe, Brooklyn-based MC Talib Kweli is no stranger to Texas’ capital city. Proceeds from these events go towards Jonathan ‘Chaka’ Mahone’s Diversity and Wellness in Action Fund, which pledges to honor, celebrate, and empower the essential work of community frontliners and creatives of color through direct financial support and culturally relevant health-centered programming. I was introduced to Kweli through his joint collaboration, Black Star, with fellow artist Yasiin Bey, also known as Mos Def. Black Star’s 1998 record, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star,” tackles various African-American beauties and struggles. The lyricism and musicality within this record display a kind of artistry that deserves all the praise it can get. Kweli has grown so much more since the release of that record, cementing himself as one of the most lyrically gifted rappers in the game. His lyrics are thought-provoking, insightful, political, and creative, and I’m beyond excited to see the legend himself during my time at SXSW. He will be at The Belmont on March 14 for the Music Unites Us! showcase presented by Give A Note Foundation + Artist for Artist alongside Robby Krieger of the Doors, Tribe Friday, Bartees Strange and more.
Check out the Spotify playlist I made with some of my favorite tracks from these five talents. Also, don’t forget to stay tuned to the KTSW blog to follow my friends and my SXSW journey!
Featured Image by Kenlie Golleher.
By Ryder White
Music Journalist
Punk has been around for a while now. Depending on who you ask, you may hear that it has been around since the mid-1950s when suburban parents were afraid that their children would become devil worshippers when rock ‘n’ roll first started receiving radio air play. Some say it started in the late 1960s when the likes of the MC5 and Iggy and the Stooges start releasing gritty rock records with electrifying live shows. However, most agree that the genre really took shape during the middle of the 1970s when bands like the Ramones in New York City or Crime in San Francisco created a stripped-down sound to oppose the grandiose nature of popular rock music at the time that would be adopted by British bands like the Sex Pistols and would finally come to a head around 1977.
Punk rock quickly evolved into different offshoots. One offshoot that arose during the 1980s and that is still prevalent today is hardcore. When hardcore first appeared around the year 1980, it was faster, more athletic, and more aggressive than earlier punk rock. The sub-genre prided itself less on the artistic statement that was originally the focus, and more on being menacing. Since then, hardcore has become practically synonymous with the word “punk.” And it’s because of hardcore that the scene has been killing itself.
Firstly, it’s important to understand that the punk scene has always been a close-knit community. However, when it started, it was open to nearly anyone willing to associate with it. When hardcore became a fully realized genre, it started to close itself off. It made it an incredible hassle to join the scene if you differed even slightly on which bands you liked and how you dressed. Unfortunately, those ideals have carried over to modern times where it is all too common for the guy with the bright red, 7-inch mohawk and leather jacket to insult the teenager wearing a Green Day t-shirt. This is a major problem for bands in the scene, though, because it limits their reach and the amount of new, incoming fans. Why would the teenager want to support the people who just insulted them?
A similar problem has also been affecting bands. There are strict codes that they must follow or else they’ll lose their credibility. This makes it incredibly difficult for the bands as they navigate an already harsh music business world. They can’t even attempt to earn a livable wage for fear of being labeled a “sell-out.” Additionally, if the band favors a particular creative path that isn’t in line with the aggressive, rugged standard, they may be subject to ridicule which only hurts the diversity of the scene. This makes it hard to retain bands as they don’t want to be limited and fans as they don’t want to have to listen to a rehash of the same music that’s been played for just over 40 years.
Ultimately, the biggest problem that the scene is dying is that it is steeped in hypocrisy. Members of the community are supposed to support their bands, but not enough for them to be able to earn any real income. The scene is also supposed to stand for change of the system, but it doesn’t like change itself. Finally, the scene preaches about inclusion, but practices exclusion of outside ideas everyday. Maybe what’s killing the punk scene isn’t a barrel to the head, but a double-edged sword to the throat.
By Xavier Aldana
Music Journalist
Surely, I can’t be the only one who has spent the last few weeks waking up to social media posts announcing new tour dates for my favorite artists. In the past 2 months alone, I’ve counted at least 15 artists, ranging from thrash metal pioneers Kreator to new wave icons, Duran Duran, that I’ve decided I must see. To avoid breaking the bank, however, I’ve had to narrow down my choices, as I’m sure many other people have too. There is no doubt in my mind that there are many more tour announcements to come, but here are some of the concerts I’ll be attending in 2023.
Although it’s still a way to come, I’ll be kicking off the year with heavy metal behemoths Gojira and Mastodon on April 29th at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. The two bands announced on January 17th that they will be co-headlining the Mega-Monsters Tour, inviting special guest Lorna Shore. I’ve seen Gojira only once before in 2022, as they opened for Deftones on their majorly postponed summer tour that was scheduled to take place in 2020. When the show finally arrived, I was absolutely blown away by the sheer talent that is possessed by these four men from Ondres, France. The show was charged with sharp riffs, heavy and distorted guitar tones, breathtaking drum chops and absolutely crushing vocals by frontman Joe Duplantier. Needless to say, I’ll be looking forward to experiencing this again, but with a massive Mastodon set to support this time around.
Exactly one week later, I’ll be making the trip back up to Austin to party with hyperpop stars 100 Gecs for a night on their 10,000 Gecs tour. To new listeners, 100 Gecs’ music may come off as a bit jarring. A lot of their songs are heavily distorted with elements of hip-hop, dubstep, metal and punk mixed in. This will be my second time seeing 100 Gecs, as I was first introduced to them at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. Laura Les and Dylan Brady put on an amazing show riddled with intense flashing lights, crazy but stylish costumes and hilarious but suiting song visuals. The 10,000 Gecs tour is being supported by another electronic duo called Machine Girl. I haven’t listened to much of this project, but I’m interested!
The party won’t stop there, because just under a month later, I will be attending the Klash of the Titans North America tour at the Aztec theater in San Antonio, Texas. Similarly, this is also a co-headlined tour, this time involving two legendary heavy metal bands Sepultura and Kreator. Sepultura, which was founded in Brazil by brothers Max and Igor Cavalera, hit the ground running with their debut in 1985. They released three heavy-hitting albums in their first four years of being signed to a record label. Each of those albums, as well as all the ones after, are packed with thrashy riffs and gritty vocals. Their fifth album and my favorite from their discography, “Chaos A.D.”, is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavy metal albums of all time. I’ll be hoping to hear some of these tracks live, as well as some of Kreator’s devilish tunes.
Lastly, I’ll travel back up the I-35 to see new wave rock icon Duran Duran on their Future Past tour in Austin, Texas. Formed in Birmingham, England by Stephen Duffy, John Taylor and Nick Rhodes in 1978, Duran Duran uses elements of synth-pop and dance-rock to create energetic and catchy sounds, which you may know from some of their hits like “Hungry Like the Wolf”, “Notorious” and “Girls on Film”. The five-piece was constantly seen on MTV throughout the 80s and gathered a massive following. Princess Diana even declared Duran Duran her favorite band. I’ve never had the chance to see them before so this will be a first for me, but I won’t be alone. My mom, Duran Duran superfan, will be tagging along with me to see her all-time favorite band for the first time, and to sing along to all of their amazing songs.
Hopefully, my 2023 concert lineup won’t stop there. As the year goes on, my eyes will be peeled for more tours and shows as they’re announced. It’s no understatement to say that this year will be jam-packed with so many great artists releasing new music and hitting the road. All in all, I’m eager to start attending shows again and experiencing live music in the Live Music Capital of the world.
Featured Image from Xavier Aldana
By: Sam Burzinski
Blog Content Contributor
Well, here we are, folks. Yet another International Women’s Day, the day in which we celebrate roughly 50.5% of the world’s population, at least according to the US Census Bureau. Aren’t women cool? I say this without a single lick of irony in my tone here: women are cool, awesome and generally necessary to the functioning of modern society! Girlboss! I think if we accepted that as a general fact, plenty of the world’s problems would be no more.
Pictured: me, thinking about women | Photographed by Hussein Afzal and licensed under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain DedicationAs a man, I will admit that writing an article for International Women’s Day made me somewhat uncomfortable in the same way that writing a Black History Month article as a white person made me uncomfortable. What would I have to say about the current state of women in the world? Not much substance, that’s for sure. This, as many conundrums do, gave me an idea: what’s up with women?
I don’t mean that title as “something’s wrong with women and we need to get to the bottom of it!” No, I intend to give the rest of this article space to women I know in my personal life and ask them all, “Hey, what’s up with you? What have you been up to? Any nifty achievements or accolades? Eat anything good in the past week?” I figured anything that they end up saying would be more substantial to the overall celebration of women than I could ever end up putting to print.
Emily Burzinski, a senior at the University of Texas at Dallas, longtime sister of the author: “This Wednesday for International Women’s Day, I’ll be hosting Taly Goody, TikTok star and law firm owner, at an event for Women Pursuing Law on Campus. I’m also anxiously awaiting the final bits of information about law school so I can plan and begin the next new, exciting stage of my life. I’ve also been honing my solitaire skills, and I’d challenge anyone to have a higher ranking on Microsoft solitaire than me. Oh, and I just got new glasses because it probably wasn’t safe for me to drive at night anymore.”
Gabriella Taverna, a sophomore at Texas State University: “I’ve been progressing on research regarding training a machine learning model and have been waiting back to hear from various summer REU programs in the areas of engineering and machine learning. I have had lots of tests recently and am very excited about spring break. I wish I had more good news to share, but that’s what’s been going on with me.”
Ann Baumann, high school senior, summer camp coworker: “Yesterday, I got super hyper before sleeping and posted a bunch of stuff on my story, and then realized that I would be a lot happier if I was with other people. Oh! And I got offered a full tuition scholarship to my 2nd choice college, which is a pretty cool accolade.”
Emily Sobel, a freshman at the University of Washington: “Well, I was recently put in charge of an improv club on campus, and yesterday, I had a Caprese sandwich from the dining hall, which was delicious. I just finished doing tech for a cabaret-based concert-style show on campus based on the works of Dave Malloy, and it was pretty swell. Everyone was really fantastic and I had a ton of fun doing it…we had a ‘Great Comet’ (A/N: Dave Malloy was the composer for the Broadway musical “Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812”) section of the show, and everyone was so amazing in it; the audience cried every night at the end of it.”
Shelby Breda, a sophomore at Texas State University: “I’ve been good! Homework has been kicking my ass, especially because spring break is so soon and I don’t really want to do anything for school anymore, but the nice weather is making me very happy. I also performed in a ten-minute play festival for the theatre troupe I’m the Vice President of, which was super cool to put that together literally from the ground up; so, that’s a win for women I think.”
Phoebe Sheward, a senior at the University of North Texas: “[laughs] Yeah, you know me, I live a pretty calm and insular life, so not much goes on. Two days ago, I finished [the video game] ‘Shadows Over Loathing’, which was really fun. Going through the finale made me realize how much I had missed, so I’ll have to go back and replay to find that stuff. I ate pizza today, which was really good–I highly recommend trying creamy garlic parmesan instead of regular marinara; it’ll change your life. I also submitted my preliminary research questions for one of my two capstone projects next semester. Pretty exciting, but also terrifying! And I’m anxiously awaiting for the youth involved in the Outdoor Ethics awards [for BSA Venturing] to let me know their progress because that’s going to be so fun to work through with everyone.”
Trans pride sign at rally | Photographed by James Daniel of the ACLU and licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Faris Sanders, a senior at Texas State University: “I feel really lucky to be able to be involved with multiple groups – both on and off-campus; especially [the Texas State] Comedy Association. It’s meant a lot to me to be able to be the first Stand-Up comedy chair.”
Cindy Graham, a kindergarten teacher and aunt of the author: “Besides surviving teaching kindergarteners, I don’t have many cool accolades at the moment. I do stand by my quote to college students: ‘Don’t just stand there, bust a move!’ I really think that applies to so much. Enjoy college life. Accept responsibility and don’t blame others. Get a job so you can be financially responsible. Be the voice to support women’s rights. Be the voice to ban assault rifles so elementary school children are safe. And if all else doesn’t apply, turn on a song and DANCE! It will bring a smile to your face!” She then linked me to the 1989 hit “Bust a Move” by Young MC.
Shelby Porter, a veteran of the Disney College Program: “Well, I’m back to waitressing currently, and while the money is good, people can be quite awful sometimes. I’ve also leaned much more into my Barbie aesthetic, and it’s made me very happy recently.”
Morgan Hegemier, a high school junior, summer camp coworker: “I had this awesome birthday party yesterday and we hired these reptile people to come out, so I got to hold a bunch of snakes and reptiles. But the best part was this insane python – a Burmese, to be specific. This guy was at least eight feet long and is expected to get up to 20 feet in the future. I had a great time and cloaked myself in the snake-like Britney Spears and was also a woman while this was happening. Although [being a woman] didn’t affect the situation, I would like to say it made me feel powerful. 10/10 birthday and I encourage other women to hold large snakes if they are looking for an enjoyable time.”
Emily Hanna, a sophomore at Texas State University: “I’ve been really good lately! I just joined an acapella group and I’m about to join the Pre-Law club, so I’m a little nervy about that. I’ve also been following my New Year’s resolutions. I never make New Year’s resolutions, but its been a good step forward. It’s mostly been about being a better communicator while also respecting my own boundaries.”
Amy Burzinski, a special education elementary teacher and mother of the author: “I worry for the mental and physical health of women in the generations coming behind me. I hope they continue to use their voices and power of assembly to support each other, individual rights and choices. It saddens me when women allow men to make decisions about their health and bodies. That being said, I enjoyed watching “Gone with the Wind” yesterday, and I can’t wait to see “Cocaine Bear” on the big screen! It’s Girl Scout cookie season, and we should all be helping out young female entrepreneurs with building their communication skills and meeting their targets. It’s the least that we can do!”
Women Marching and Protesting | Photographed by Fred Murphy in 2018 and licensed under Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial 1.0 Generic (CC BY-ND-NC 1.0)And then, in sort of a non sequitur, my mother remarks: “A young female cross-country skier just made history by winning a world competition. First American in history to do so.”
Featured Image by Michele DuPont, KTSW Multimedia
By: Beau Kelly
Sports Reporter
The Bobcats lost against the UTSA Roadrunners with a score of 11-2 on Tuesday night.
Coming home from Phoenix Arizona where they lost against Grand Canyon University 11-0, the Bobcats took the field at the ballpark to face off against their I-35 rival.
After suffering a pitching injury, starter Peyton Zabel was taken out of the game to be replaced by Jack Stroud, who he pitched three scoreless innings and struck out two.
The Bobcats found themselves an early lead scoring one run in the second inning with Cade Manning reaching on a fielder’s choice and bringing home Daylan Pena. The Roadrunners followed up with runs in the fourth and fifth innings, then went on to score seven runs in the sixth.
Cade Manning Reaching on Fielders ChoiceThe Roadrunners hit a home run in the top of the fifth, and then scored seven runs off two more home runs in the sixth putting them up by eight runs. After two pitcher changes in the top of the sixth the Bobcats struggled to get back into this one.
When asked about the pitching changes, Head Coach Steven Trout had to say that they were, “Just trying to not give up seven runs, just trying to find someone to stop them.”
The Bobcats went on to continue to struggle in the bottom of the sixth inning when all three batters were struck out. This brought on two more innings where the Roadrunners went on to score a run in the seventh and eighth innings.
The Bobcats last stand was in the bottom of the ninth when an error allowed Rashawn Galloway to make it to second base, from there Galloway would move to third base after a first base groundout hit by Kyle Atkinson, it was when Damien Whitfield who hit the ball out to left center, and almost being caught by a diving outfielder, hit the ground and brought Rashawn Galloway Home. This loss is following the 11-0 loss against Grand Canyon University.
Coach Trout said that the Bobcats “have a lot of work to do, and that this is the second game in a row where it hasn’t been good for us.” When asked about how Coach Trout was going to use this loss to motivate his team for the games later in the week he said, “Very simple, come out and try to win a job.” Coach Trout continued to say that the Bobcats needed to work on all sides of the baseball and that “we’re going to come out tomorrow and get after it and do it the next day.”
This game was the first of the Bobcats ten game home-stand where they will face teams such as North Dakota State, TCU, Southern Miss and more.
The Next Game will be this Friday against the North Dakota State Bison and will be the start of a three-game series at Bobcat Ballpark against the Bison.
The game between the Bison and the Bobcats will be broadcast live on KTSW 89.9 with Kyle Owen on the call and Koby Jackson providing live updates and news throughout the game.
Featured Image from Beau Kelly
By Jacob Neeley
Web Development Director
This morning I had a conversation with Catching Valentinis-Dee, the former TXST student body president and founder of PARKTXST. PARKTXST is a TXST parking reform organization with TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter. Catching dives into the history of PARKTXST, details the organization’s 3-step plan, and shares his excitement for the PARKTXST rally this afternoon at 2:30 p.m., at the UAC Arch. PARKTXST has received press coverage from local news organizations and the University Star. As of today [03/08/2023], there are 4500 signed petitions waiting in Catching’s apartment, ready for this afternoon. With today’s rally, Catching aims to demonstrate to President Damphousse and the TXST Administration, that this is an issue that they cannot ignore. The petition demands a decrease in Parking ticket fees from 40 to 20 dollars, a small change that Valentinis-Dee hopes will get the ball rolling to make bigger changes, such as a parking counter (a solution that Catching explains in depth at timestamp 7:45) that will show the percentage of available parking by lot. This would offer a “medium-term solution” to the University at an affordable cost today versus building more garages tomorrow.
In addition to today’s rally, Catching shared his thoughts on Damphousse abandoning The University Master Plan[timestamp 10:00], University and City San Marcos Urban Planning [timestamp 16:30], and his experiences working with TXST Administration as the Student Body President [timestamp 21:54].
The context for the beginning of the interview: I asked Catching Valentinis-Dee how he was feeling about the rally today (March 3, 2023, at 2:30 p.m.).
After the interview, I reached out to University Officials to get a statement regarding plans to address parking, their response to the PARKTXST rally at the UAC, and The University 2017 – 2027 Master Plan . Here is what they had to say.
“While many of the more popular lots on central campus designated for faculty and staff, residence hall students or commuting students do fill during the day, there is parking availability in every zone. The most recent facility addition was the Lindsay St. parking lot, which was completed in 2020 and has daily availability for residential students, faculty and staff with the appropriate permit. Perimeter parking for students often has more than 1,200 available spaces throughout several lots on a daily basis.
While all of these lots are within walking distance of the San Marcos Campus, the Bobcat Shuttle provides service from perimeter lots to several hubs on central campus. The various routes that serve perimeter parking run with an approximate frequency of 10 minutes, and trips to campus take anywhere from 8 to 15 minutes. Parking Services actively monitors and manages parking availability and will continue to adapt to the changing campus needs as Texas State University grows.
Parking Services is a self-supported Auxiliary Service; it must generate its own revenue to support expenses. No student tuition, fees, or tax dollars are put towards the operation of Parking Services. There are three main sources of revenue for the parking system: permit fees, permit violation fees and pay-to-park fees. Revenues earned pay all the expenses of the parking operations, including operations, salaries, debt service payments for parking structures, maintenance of existing parking lots and garages, grounds and custodial maintenance, utilities and the construction of new parking lots and garages. A reserve is also maintained for unforeseen parking emergencies and to assist with initial payments for new construction.”
No direct comment was given in regards to my inquiries about the Master Plan.
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By: Savannah Lopez
Blog Content Contributor
International Women’s Day is March 8th, and the theme this year is embracing equity. The definition of equity is the quality of being fair and impartial, to be treated equally. For years, women have fought strongly to be treated equally to men in all fields of work. In STEM fields, women are still severely underrepresented and underpaid, but that’s not to say that progress hasn’t been made to try and make these fields more equal.
From 1960 to 2021, women in engineering fields increased by 13%, 20% in science fields, 10% in technology fields and 30% in math fields. While this is a fantastic improvement compared to the way women were looked down upon for wanting to join these fields in the 1960s, there still is not equal pay between men and women. Men were paid $266.66 more than women for each one-point increment in the h-index. The h-index is a metric for evaluating the cumulative impact of an author’s scholarly output and performance. Female researchers who have a high h-index still made around $6,000 less than male researchers with the same h-index. While this gap has gotten smaller and smaller, there is still a lot of work to do before women are paid equally in these fields.
Nonetheless, it is amazing how many women are joining these fields every year. Especially since in the 1900s, women were looked down upon for even trying to join these fields. Now, we have so many trailblazing women to look up to like Katherine Johnson (1st African American woman to work for NASA) and Jennifer Doudna (an American biochemist), who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for inventing CRISPR, which is a gene-editing tool that can cure genetic diseases. Reading about the things that these women have accomplished is inspirational.
I have asked a few female STEM students here at Texas State some questions about their research and how they feel about more and more young women joining STEM fields.
Sophia Kottke is an undergraduate student here at Texas State. Her majors are biology and anthropology. She has done quite a bit of research and is a lab instructor, the lead undergraduate in her lab and is listed as the first author of her poster presentations for her research. She has participated in various potentially groundbreaking research.
In Sophia’s words, “Under the guidance of Dr. Hon-Gu Kang, my research in Texas State’s biology department is concerned with small RNA (sRNA) sequences known as transfer RNA derived fragments (tRFs), which could potentially operate as mobile signaling molecules in a long-term plant defense response; this is coined as systematic acquired resistance (SAR). This research aims to identify tRF mobility in SAR, while also further characterizing a molecule known to play a role in trans-generational epigenetic inheritance. In the anthropology department at Texas State, I have had the privilege to learn and conduct research under Dr. Jill Pruetz. I have spent three weeks with her collecting behavioral data on the spider monkey community of Camaquiri Conservation Initiative in addition to data analysis of her chimpanzees in Fongoli, Senegal.”
Sophia going out and doing all this amazing research is inspirational, and she is a role model for other young women who want to be in a STEM field. Being a STEM major wasn’t her first choice, but she ultimately decided to pick a major she was more passionate about. When asked about how she feels about more young women becoming STEM majors, she said, “I’m thrilled to see so many women in STEM! I feel like women are pushing boundaries in all fields. It’s especially exciting to see so many women as my peers and role models facing a challenging discipline head-on.”
Courtney Dillard is a student here at Texas State, and she is in the second year of her Exercise and Sports Science Master’s program in the Health and Human Performance Department. She is the graduate research assistant for the Metabolic and Applied Physiology lab. She specifically focuses on “reducing psychological stressors and improving cognitive performance in tactical occupations such as law enforcement, firefighters, and military who are leading in cardiovascular diseases, depression, PTSD and attempts in suicide, therefore interventions are needed to aid in stress reduction with the end goal of reducing oxidative stress that leads to these diseases and disorders.”
She has also led a remarkable amount of research projects. In Courtney’s own words, “I have led a few projects including The Effects of Theanine, Tyrosine, and Caffeine Ingestion on Markers of Stress in Response to a Virtual-Reality Active Shooter Drill (VR-ASD). This study also includes a mental stress task, which is made up of the Stroop test, Mental Arithmetic and the VR-ASD. The aim of the study is to see if either Theanine, Tyrosine, or Caffeine are effective at enhancing cognitive performance and potentially reducing psychological stress in response to the mental stress task. This study is still ongoing currently! I have also led my thesis study, which is The Effect of Slow Breathing Interventions on Markers of Stress in Response to a Virtual-Reality Active Shooter Drill. The study utilized two slow breathing methods, one having a balanced inhale-to-exhale ratio (box method breathing) versus a longer inhale-to-shorter-exhale method of slow breathing, both aimed at reducing psychological stress markers. The results of this study were better than we hoped! I have also helped with the Impact of the Menstrual Cycle on Markers of Stress and Body Composition study, as well as the Physiological Stress Response to a Live-Fire Training Evolution in Career Firefighters. For each of these studies, we collected physiological biomarkers, including salivary stress markers α-amylase, secretory immunoglobin-A and cortisol, blood pressure, heart rate and subjective markers of psychological stress, such as state-trait anxiety inventory.”
The amount of research she has done for someone so young is outstanding. When asked about how she feels about other young women joining STEM fields, she said, “I am currently surrounded by a solid group of young female researchers who are just as enthusiastic about entering this line of research as I am. Our field, Exercise Science, is commonly male-dominated, so it gives me great pride to be a part of such a diverse group, especially being first generation and a Hispanic woman. I have never experienced any discrimination for being a woman in this field, and I do believe that has to do with the confidence I hold in myself. That is something I try to reflect and pass on to the young researchers who work with me. It is nothing short of a blessing to have all the opportunities I have been provided with, and I am beyond grateful that my mentor, Dr. Matt McAllister, has trusted me with these opportunities.” She is another great example of a role model for young women in STEM.
When I hear about all of the things these young women in STEM are doing, I am inspired. They are forces to be reckoned with, and they are going to do great things. With the way things are going, I have no doubt in my mind that one day, there will be no gap between women and men in any field, so let’s continue to embrace equity!
Featured Image by Michele DuPont, KTSW Multimedia
By Lane Dent
Music Journalist
The words heavy metal usually conjure up mental images of burly, violent men shouting into microphones with brute strength, releasing growls and screams that sound like a possessed wild animal. But what about the women?! The lack of female representation in the metal community is absurd, considering the number of women who are talented vocalists. To broaden the average metalhead’s playlist, the compilation below lists a few maidens of metal that know how to scream like no man can.
Vicky Psarakis of The Agonist. | Wojciech Pędzich, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0;, via Wikimedia CommonsVicky Psarakis of the Canadian melodic death metal band The Agonist replaced Alissa White-Gluz (mentioned later) in 2014. Psarakis can easily switch from angelic clean vocals to feral screams in a second, making her a double threat to other male-led metal bands. Psarakis learned how to scream by imitating other vocalists, her main inspiration being Phil Bozeman of Whitechapel. Her style focuses on enunciating every word, as she appreciates when listeners can understand the lyrics while still receiving the heaviness. “In Vertigo,” a song from the 2019 album Orphans, perfectly encapsulates her vocal versatility. The song starts with almost operatic singing and is quickly followed by strong growls, which are occasionally interjected with clean vocals that display her natural alto range.
Carla Harvey and Heidi Shepherd of Butcher Babies. | Sven Mandel / CC-BY-SA-4.0American groove metal band Butcher Babies contains two female vocalists: Carla Harvey and Heidi Shepherd. The band gained fame from their theatrical performances, self-written comic book, and online videos, but what makes them stand out is the frontwomen. Harvey and Shepherd take turns singing and screaming on “Lilith,” track two of the 2017 album by the same name. Both ladies explained that as children, they had to look up to men in the metal community because they didn’t know of any women who screamed. But over time, so many women have joined the scene that they now surround themselves with vocalists as revolutionary as themselves. The band has received a lot of hate from the metal community, usually centering on the sexualization and discrimination of women, but both Harvey and Shepherd have stood their ground and not let the sexist criticism affect their work or their attitudes.
Laura Guldemond of Burning Witches. | Stefan Bollmann, Attribution, via Wikimedia CommonsBurning Witches, a swiss power metal band, is a special case where all five members are women. In 2019, Laura Guldemond replaced Seraina Telli as the singer, leading the girls with a voice uncanny to Judas Priest’s Rob Halford. On “The Witch of the North,” the powerful intro picks up the tempo with a classic-metal-inspired belt from Guldemond, setting the standard for the band’s new witch. Guldemond doesn’t actually scream, yet she incorporates elements from heavier vocal styles to produce her throaty-growling falsetto. And to come full circle, Guldemond even offers Skype vocal coaching for all styles of singing and genres of music.
Tatiana Shmailyuk of Jinjer. | Stefan Bollmann, Attribution, via Wikimedia CommonsUkrainian Progressive metal band Jinjer hails Tatiana Shmailyuk as lead vocalist. Usually mistaken for a man’s gutturals, Shmailyuk’s voice is inhuman. She first heard screaming from nu-metal bands Otep and Mudvayne, both of which she tried to imitate by screaming out the car window or into her pillow in her parent’s house. She claims that she taught herself a special technique over years of practice, which she won’t share due to impatience and the belief that it only works for her. She even guessed that her habit of frequent smoking might contribute positively to her insane growls. She called the switch from clean singing to screaming the “technique of two throats,” which took her years to master. This is demonstrated in the songs “Words of Wisdom,” as well as “Sit Stay Roll Over.” The 2021 album Wallflowers continues to prove the perfected duality of Shmailyuk, her wild voice forever evolving.
Alissa White-Gluz of Arch Enemy | © Stphotography, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0;, via Wikimedia CommonsOne of the most famous female-led metal bands is Arch Enemy. Fronted by Alissa White-Gluz, she usually growls to melodic death metal, and recently power metal, but sometimes interjects with clean vocals. White-Gluz left The Agonist (mentioned earlier) when offered the role in the Swedish band Arch Enemy. She has explained her screaming technique as an amplified whisper, a method not commonly used, as it can be easy to damage your voice. On “The World Is Yours,” she masters bending the pitch of her screams to create harmony in the madness. Known for her striking blue hair and primitive vocals, White-Gluz has become a female icon in the metal community.
Thousands of other female metal vocalists are excelling and transcending the male-led metal stereotype. Bands like Lacuna Coil, New Years Day, Spiritbox, In This Moment, Halestorm, and even YouTubers like Lauren Babic and Ai Mori (RUS) are breaking the genre’s conventions. These vocalists and many more prove that women can scream as well as men – if not better.
By Lillian JonesLocal Music JournalistHaving recently moved from Austin to San Marcos, I was excited for a change in the music scene. Texas State University loves to rave about the diversity of both the school and town and – while I can say that’s definitely apparent throughout San Marcos and on campus –- it tends to lack when it comes to the bands. A majority of the San Marcos music scene includes passionate and talented performers ,but I can’t help but notice a lack of women present. Without this representation the music can sometimes become repetitive and a bit disappointing. That being said, there are a few bands that have broken this pattern and included girl members; San Marcos-based bands such as Crash Test Girls, Window Shop and Maddie and The Deadnames have all been active in doing their part to shake up our local scene.
Crash Test Girls
Crash Test Girls is a shoegaze/noise psych band including members Allison (lead vocals/bass), Cal (drums), Sammy (guitar) and Aidan (guitar). Crash Test Girls has recently joined the San Marcos scene with their first ever performance at Earle’s Basement on January 20th. The band did not disappoint as people piled into the living room to hear some rocking originals, a cover of “Heaven or Las Vegas” by Cocteau Twins sung by Allison and a cover of “Head In The Ceiling Fan” by Title Fight sung by Sammy – which I greatly appreciated as I love both of those bands. Since then they’ve been quite active; with a show at the Electric Church in Austin on February 23rd, Earle’s Basement on February 24th and another at the San Marcos Secret Room on March 4th . The lead singer Allison, has a heavenly voice that is sure to attract the attention of any crowd and the quartet has great energy throughout the length of their sets (especially for being so new to the game)! Catch Crash Test Girls at The Porch on March 9th as they perform for KTSW 89.9’s International Women’s Day celebration, “Estrojam!”
Window Shop
Window Shop is an eclectic, funk-rock band that includes members Leonora (lead vocals/keyboard), Aidan (guitarist), Dallas (guitarist), Stephen (bassist) and Kevin (drums). The name ‘Window Shop’ has become more familiar around San Marcos over the past year. My first time seeing them was at the LBJ Student Center on Texas State campus while in between my classes. As I sat on the notorious grass steps, I was blown away by this group’s contagious, upbeat energy. My friends and I loved their sound – specifically Lenora’s vocals – as she adds a jazzy feel to the instrumentals. I was pleased to be able to see the band again at The Porch during one of KTSW 89.9’s Third Thursday events and am anxiously anticipating my next encounter with them soon!
Maddie And The Deadnames
Maddie and The Deadnames are a San Marcos punk band who prioritize being pro-women and pro-LGBTQ+. The band has been around since 2021 and has played various local festivals, including a variety of punk shows and pride fests. Lead singer and guitarist, Maddie, was previously in a band called “Dead Traffic” and also performed solo shows before Maddie and The Deadnames came to be. While I have yet to see Maddie and The Deadnames perform, I am excited for when the opportunity comes. From what I’ve seen and heard, they rock!
All of this to say, there are very few bands that include women; and no all girl bands whatsoever. If you know of any women musicians that want to start a band or even a solo project, empower her to do so! As a community we need representation of all people including women. From Taylor Swift’s sad breakup songs to metal band Kittie’s rage, music is a way for us women to express ourselves and connect with one another. As Kathleen Hanna once said – “Girls to the front”!
On Thursday March 9th, KTSW 89.9 will be hosting two bands, Elegy and Crash Test Girls to perform at the International Women’s Day event, “Estrojam”. Come to The Porch from 10pm – 12:30am to hang out with your fellow ladies and celebrate being a woman!
Featured Image by Ben Middleton, Eric Wendt and Mayah Rastok.
By Hannah Walls
News & Culture Assistant
International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate the unified contributions of women to society and culture. International Women’s Day was first observed annually in 1910 as part of the women’s suffrage movement and attempts to highlight its history. In 1975, the United Nations began celebrating March 8 as International Women’s Day, and in 1977, a resolution proclaiming March 8 as International Women’s Day was officially adopted.
Since its conception, International Women’s Day has been celebrated through the lens of a variety of different themes. Last year, the campaign, #BreakTheBias, was centered around environmentalism, and the efforts of women around the world to create a more sustainable future. This year’s theme is #EmbraceEquity, and is described on the website as .
Part of the key messaging of this campaign focuses on the importance of discerning between equality and equity. Equality has been a longstanding term used in many social justice circles in the past few years, but as this year’s International Women’s Day theme intends to underscore: equality is no longer enough.
Equality refers to giving everyone the same exact opportunities, while the focus of equity is about meeting people where they are with the necessary resources and opportunities to uplift them. Every single person has their own story, situation and circumstances, and that’s what this year’s theme is centered around.
According to the official International Women’s Day website, providing equality may seem inclusive, but it can actually have the opposite effect as it does not account for the unique and diverse range of situations that different people have. Celebrating equity this International Women’s Day is intended to push us towards a future free from discrimination, stereotypes and bias.
While I absolutely loved last year’s theme of environmentalism, I think this year’s theme is an important reminder of the historic barriers to nearly all facets of society that marginalized groups have been facing for years. This year is about celebrating women and female-presenting individuals from all walks of life who continue to make history every single day. It’s also about breaking down traditionally male-dominated spaces to ensure a truly inclusive future for everyone.
Equity can be embraced by anyone, anywhere– at home, at work, on social media and in any sphere of influence that we may have– and I’m excited to see the outcome of this year’s theme. For more information on this year’s theme, and embracing equity in everyday life, visit the official campaign website here. Happy International Women’s Day today and everyday!
Featured Image by Michele DuPont, KTSW Multimedia
By Sydney Nguyen
Music Journalist
If you’ve scrolled through your TikTok “For You Page” at least once in the past week, then you’ve definitely been fortunate enough to hear the collaboration of the century; Ice Spice and PinkPantheress. In late November of 2022, music artist PinkPantheress released her single, “Boy’s a liar”, assembled with help from electronic producer Mura Masa. Nearly 3 months after the initial “Boy’s a liar” release, PinkPantheress dropped “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2”, which brought massive buzz on social media platforms like Twitter and TikTok. The original version hadn’t received this amount of attention from the masses, so what’s so different about part 2?
The difference is this version is joined by Ice Spice; New York’s rap princess and the internet’s latest obsession. If you’ve been partaking in a social media cleanse or been living under a rock, you’re on the right page. Continue reading to learn just who these two remarkable breakout artists are, and how they built their careers seemingly overnight.
In the new age of technology, one’s deepest desires and unseen paths are able to become their reality. Whether your interests fall into competitive eating or ASMR, social media is a direct component in the careers of many popular competitive eaters and ASMR channels. With the rise of media, anyone and everyone can become a viral internet sensation. A prime example of utilizing the media is Vicky Beverly Walker, better known as PinkPantheress.
As the world was gathering its balance after battling the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, universities began navigating online classes via zoom. As a result of school already being a snooze fest for the majority, it became a universal experience for students to hit the “join meeting” button and leave the room for the remaining duration of the class. Being a fellow college student, Walker did just that.
Walker would spend her lectures producing music from her own bedroom, which eventually lead to posting her creations online. Walker teased a snippet of her viral song “Pain” to TikTok and from there it was only up. After receiving immense recognition and support, Walker cleaned up and finished the final version of “Pain” in June 2021.
Born and raised in Bath, England, Walker was just a 20-year-old university student. Her uni days were numbered after “Pain”, as she found herself signed to Parlophone and Elektra Records shortly after its release. PinkPantheress became a household name within an instant, and from there she released her debut album “to hell with it”. While her studio is no longer located in her bedroom, PinkPantheress is still creating short and catchy electronic bangers today, and she’s choosing the perfect features for them, too.
Prior to this year, I had always worried that I used the word “like” in my sentences too many times, but thanks to the Ice Spice phenomenon, I can never rid “like” from my vocabulary (and I don’t want to). Why can’t I escape Ice Spice and who is she?
Before she was Ice Spice, she was Isis Gaston. Gaston was a 23-year-old college student, who was majoring in mass communication at SUNY Purchase located in Westchester, NY. Born and raised in New York’s Bronx, Gaston was musically influenced by her father, a rapper and local’s favorite in the underground rap scene.
In 2020, Gaston withdrew from her studies and began focusing on making a name for herself online. Gaston began releasing music such as “Bully Freestyle”, which was met with support, but it wasn’t until her records “Munch (Feeling u)’ and “Bikini Bottom” went viral that Ice Spice became the face of today’s rap scene. After gaining public recognition from Drake, Ice Spice became everyone’s favorite within the blink of an eye. TikTok can be credited for launching Ice Spice on the top charts as well, as users began popularizing snippets of her tracks “How can I lose if I’m already chose, like?” Imagine having the ability to capitalize off a word, like?
Featured Image from PinkPantheress & Ice Spice, Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2 Single Cover.
By Erin Patterson
Music Journalist
Spring Break is approaching fast! Whether you’re booking it to the beach with your closest friends or having a chill week in town, these five songs are essential to any Spring Break playlist.
First on the list, we have “Amber” by 311. This song is a classic early 2000s beach anthem. If you’re laying by the ocean, sipping on a piña colada or at least want to pretend you are, this is the song for you. A relaxing reggae-pop tune about the warm aura of the singer’s love interest, the melody feels like drinking sunshine from a straw. Sunny day at Sewell Park? Put this song in the queue to listen to it exactly as it was intended. Thank me later.
Next up is “Turn to Stone” by Electric Light Orchestra. Is it really a Spring Break playlist without a little 70s flair? Electric Light Orchestra is infamous for their positively infectious music. This song will make you smile so hard, your cheeks will start to hurt. Reminiscent of running through the sprinklers as a child, this track creates a cheerful and nostalgic phenomenon. Their sound is so addicting, after listening to this, you might want to add all of their songs to your Spring Break playlists.
After that, we move on to “Polish Girl” by Neon Indian. “Polish Girl” is a song your cooler older sibling would play while hanging out with a group of friends, before slamming their door in your face. A beautifully produced synth-pop tune by Denton, Texas, native, Alan Palomo. This is meant to be played driving in the car with the windows down at sunset, wondering what the night has in store. This song makes you feel present, creating an urge to truly live in the moment, which is what Spring Break is all about.
Next is “WINDY SUMMER” by Anri. Based on the title, this addition to your playlist may seem a bit premature, but this is a perfect song for when the weather is getting warmer. This 80s J-Pop tune is everything you need. A beautiful synth intro that gives you goosebumps, a groovy bass line, and lively saxophone solo, this song truly has it all. Doing some spring cleaning? With this song on, you will have no choice to stop for a dance break.
Last, but certainly not least is “Island In the Sun” by Weezer. When I listen to this song, I automatically think of Spring Break. This addition to the rotation is for the Aquamarine lovers and the ones that may still play mermaids in the pool. Similar to “Amber,” this is perfect for the beach, but let’s be honest, it’s perfect for any time and any place. If “Amber” is drinking sunshine from a straw, “Island In the Sun” is injecting sunshine directly into your veins. This is what elite Spring Break playlists are made of.
I truly hope you all will consider adding these to your Spring Break playlists, as they all provide unique sensations that will add some warmth to your rotation. Please have a happy and safe Spring Break, now go and have some fun!
Featured Image from Weezer.
By Lane Dent
Music Journalist
Taylor Momsen. You might recognize her as Cindy Lou Who from How the Grinch Stole Christmas or Jenny Humphrey from Gossip Girl, but at 15 years old, Momsen left Hollywood in an attempt to pursue her life’s dream – becoming a rock star.
In 2009, 16-year-old Momsen and producer Kato Khandwala formed the rock band now known as The Pretty Reckless. Since 2010, the band consists of Ben Phillips on lead, Jamie Perkins on drums, Mark Damon on bass and Momsen on rhythm and vocals. Instantly perfecting their instrumental chemistry, they were eager to play for the world. Using the fame from Momsen’s previous career as a teen film star, they soared to success early on, but the band was left wondering if the fans were there for Momsen or their music.
American Rock Metal Band The Pretty Reckless. | Samuel J. Rodrigues, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0;, via Wikimedia CommonsWith inspiration from classic rock, their sound was impeccably original, yet reminiscent of legends like Kurt Cobain, Chris Cornell and Joan Jett. 2010 debut album Light Me Up caught the attention of big bands like Evanescence and Guns & Roses, both of whom invited TPR to open for their world tours. The exposure helped immensely, but they were already thriving with the help of online platforms like MySpace. Light Me Up garnered so much popularity that two worldwide headlining tours came from it, creating a fanbase and revival that was foreign to most 21st-century female rock bands; Momsen was only 18 years old when she shocked the world with her talent.
Momsen quickly became associated with her edgy style. Whether it was during live events or on the streets of New York City, the gothic, rocker-chic look was easily hers. She described it herself as “extremist fashion,” featuring feminine pieces like pleaser heels and sheer, lacey corsets in combination with leather jackets and studded accessories. On magazine covers or paparazzi articles, it was hard to ignore her platinum blonde mane and panda smokey eyes.
Taylor Momsen Early Style. | Chicks With Guns Magazine, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0;, via Wikimedia CommonsIt became 2013, with only the EP Hit Me Like A Man to satiate hungry fans. As their fame started to level off, people wanted more. They released their second LP Going To Hell and it crushed expectations, with a heavier classic metal sound added to their post-grunge, hard-rock concepts. Their tone evolved with lower guitar tuning, faster tempos and a more mature voice from Momsen. The song “Sweet Things” deals with the traumatizing reality of being a child in the film industry, exposing more raw messages. Despite the heavy topics and even heavier sound, this album birthed their largest hit to this date: “Heaven Knows.” The classic rock elements are unquestionably present in the stomp-clap percussion, children’s choir and growling belts, yet the song has a fresh, modern feel. It’s almost impossible not to compare this to Jett’s “I Love Rock ‘N Roll;” it’s practically a homage to Momsen’s legendary role model.
As her rebellious rock and roll attitude grew, the controversy around Momsen followed. Her cockiness and wild child look got the attention of negative media outlets, pasting her name on tabloids next to captions that badmouthed her reputation and her band. Momsen has outright admitted that looking back, she was rude and antagonistic toward the press, but it came from a place of revenge. It was retribution for being controlled by the TV industry and judged for her questionable antics. The media attacked her for flashing audiences at concerts, dealing with Satanic imagery and lyrics and being an arrogant know-it-all when interviewed. They eventually rejected her wild self and featured her less and less.
But she was a free adult when 2016 rolled around, and her youthful rebellion was coming to a close. Fans were now supporting her for the music, not her previous film fame. TPR were finally starting to become a band about their music, and their third album proved just that. Who You Selling For changed the band’s direction, yet failed commercially. Deeply rooted in classic rock and blues, it’s surprising that it wasn’t picked up by another music community. “Wild City” feels like a groovy night in NYC and “Mad Love” is a lively, mature beat. Their third album was vital to the blues rock scene; it kept the classic rock foundation alive. But more importantly, it was a woman leading the movement.
Who You Selling For. | The Pretty RecklessWith her life starting so quickly and early, Momsen decided to slow things down for a little while, focusing on songwriting and spending time with the band. Her revered role model Cornell of Soundgarden died in 2017, and then close friend and producer, Khandwala, passed in a motorcycle crash the next year. With this loss, Momsen channeled her pain into art, releasing the fourth studio album Death By Rock and Roll in 2021. In the title track, you can hear the recorded footsteps of Khandwala walking, and “Rock and Roll Heaven” and “Harley Darling” are direct tributes to him. With features from Tom Morello and Matt Cameron, and with her newly empowered aura, this fourth and most recent album from TPR does neo-classic rock justice. “25” sounds like it was straight out of a James Bond movie, and “My Bones” uses stomp percussion once again, referential to her past and the genre’s past. DXRNR is a rebirth for Momsen and the band – a reminder of where they are now and who got them there.
TPR just finished their 2022 DXRNR tour, where I had the pleasure of seeing Momsen and the boys front and center in Houston at the House of Blues. The grueling nine-hour wait for the front row was completely worth it when Momsen pointed directly at me, locked eyes and sang the lyrics to “Make Me Wanna Die.” That evening, I left the barricade clutching their wrinkled setlist, ingrained with her platform boot-print.
Her style, voice and persona have now matured into a rockstar who has lived a life of wild partying and vital experience, yet the band (and fans) can say that they are ready to settle down and do what they enjoy the most – creating rock and roll.
Featured Image from Chicks With Guns Magazine, CC BY-SA 2.0
In this Monday edition of Bobcat Radio the crew of Orlando Smart, Joey Gonzales, and Koby Jackson discuss Bobcat Women’s basketball goes up against JMU in SBC Championship, Bobcat Men’s basketball lose against Louisiana Ragin Cajuns in SBC Semi Finals, Bobcat Baseball losses 2-1 against Grand Canyon University, Bobcat Softball finishes Owl Classic 4-1, Rattlers finish to a historical season, and NBA Talk! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
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By Thomas Terry
Sports Reporter
Over the weekend, the San Marcos Rattlers (37-3), entering play Friday March 3, 2022, participated in the fifth round of the Region IV tournament against the Warren Warriors (31-6). It was discussed on Bobcat Radio on Wednesday about how Warren was one of the toughest defensive teams in the state of Texas.
In the first half of gameplay, both teams displayed tremendous efforts on defense and crashing the offensive glass. It wasn’t until about the halfway point in the second quarter that both teams started to hit their stride on offense. It was a slow start for Warrior’s star forward Jaylon Crocker-Johnson; then he turned it around in the second half.
The game was tied going into the fourth quarter 39-39. Kaden Gumbs’ impressive display of leadership in the fourth quarter showed as he constantly disrupted the Warriors flow of offense and made transition baskets. Finally, after a shaky attempt at the free throw line by Gumbs, Warren was unable to get off a game-tying shot in the period and fell to the Rattlers 53-50.
Kaden Gumbs Going Through Traffic. | Beau KellyThe final nail in the coffin for the Warriors would have to have been the moment Crocker-Johnson picked up his fifth foul in the final quarter. Crocker-Johnson was the heart and soul of that Warriors squad.
Kaden Gumbs finished his night with 20 points on 8-15 shooting from the field. Gumbs also got his teammates involved as the leading assist-man in the state of Texas, dishing out seven assists. Senior Malik Presley was the Rattlers’ second leading scorer with 14 points.
After defeating the Warren Warriors 53-50 Friday night, the Rattlers would be slated to face the Brennan Bears (31-7) in the Region IV Championship game the following Saturday afternoon. Both teams played back-to-backs in the playoffs as Brennan also played the night before. Surprisingly both teams showed no signs of fatigue as they started the game.
The first quarter of the game was neck and neck as it was virtually a basket-trading session between the Bears and Rattlers. The Bears then went on a large scoring run in the second quarter led by sophomore guard Kingston Flemings. Flemings was a flame that could not be extinguished as he drained multiple pullup threes and jump shots in the period. The Bears outscored the Rattlers 24-8 in the second quarter giving Brennan a 43-25 advantage at halftime.
With the season on the line and a state tournament berth at stake, the Rattlers battled hard throughout the third quarter. Nevertheless, with every punch thrown by the Rattlers, the Bears had an answer. Kingston Flemings would go on to finish with a whopping 31 points on 10-15 shooting and lead the Bears to victory over Rattlers. Malik Presley led all Rattlers with 22 points. The storied season would come to an end with a 38-4 finish. There was much for the Rattlers to hang their hats on as they accomplished many things throughout the season just falling short in the Regional Championship game.
Rattlers Lose In Regional Final 82-54 against Brennan. | Beau KellyFeatured Image by Beau Kelly.
By Aaliyah Hamilton
Music Journalist
The first thing that comes to mind for most when BANKS is mentioned is usually the financial institution that holds their money. But for me, I think of the dark alternative R&B artist that I feel like everyone should know about.
Jillian Banks, or better known as BANKS, is an artist that I’ve been following since 2017, but she has been making music far before that. As a native Californian, she started songwriting at only 15 years old, when a friend gave her a keyboard to help distract her amid her parents’ divorce. Fast Forward 10 years later, as a fresh USC grad, BANKS began to post the songs she had in her writing vault onto Soundcloud. One of those songs just so happened to be “Before I Ever Met You,” which started gaining attention after Zane Lowe from BBC Radio 1 caught wind of it.
Since then, she has released four studio albums and even went on to open for The Weeknd on two of his tours, as she has a very similar sound to his, especially with his earlier albums. Her debut album, Goddess, was released in 2014, and her sound is consistent throughout the entirety of it. The intro track, “Alibi,” intrigues you with heavy synths, thanks to electronic artist SOHN’s infamous touch, and gives you a taste of what direction the album is heading. The synths and bassline alone were enough to captivate me, so much so that her sultry yet powerful vocals caught me off guard in the best way possible. After being left in a trance-like state following “Alibi,” the title track “Goddess” fills your eardrums immediately after. “Goddess” was the first song I heard that introduced me to BANKS’ creative mind. While the track is quite ominous, it is lyrically uplifting in a sense as she sings from a third-person perspective about someone who had taken their previous partner, who is deemed a goddess, for granted. According to BANKS, the goddess-like essence that the partner referenced in the song possesses is “somebody who is 100 percent and embraces every feeling they have, whether it’s dark or whether they feel fragile or strong. It’s someone who just thinks for herself,” which is such a moving message for women or anyone really. I could talk about this album and each track on it for eternity, as I can come back to it at any point in my life and it still resonates with me.
With a debut as dynamic as Goddess, it can be hard to follow up, but she managed to do so as a true artist would. She evolves gracefully through each album while still maintaining a sound that has become her signature. Her emotions are displayed in such a raw manner within her voice and songwriting abilities that I can nearly feel whatever emotion she is portraying to a T.
I had the privilege of seeing her live back in July for her Serpentina Tour, named after her most recently released album. In all honesty, it was the best concert I have been to so far, and it is going to be extremely hard to top. The best part was that I managed to get front-row seats to the show. All those synths that had once just played through my ears suddenly infiltrated my whole body, which was an experience like no other. Her stage presence captured the personality that she created through her music perfectly.
I think anyone who is a fan of experimental R&B or unique lyrical content would be extremely fond of BANKS. All it took for me was one listen to fall in love with her style, and I’m sure others would too.
In this Friday edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Thomas Terry, Justin Brown, David Castaneda and Orlando Smart discuss Bobcat Men’s Basketball advancing to the quarter finals after a big win against Old Dominion, Bobcat Women’s Basketball entering the tournament against App State, Rattlers facing up against Warren Warrior in the fourth round, Bobcat Softball heading to Boca Raton for the Owl Classic and Bobcat Baseball’s tough win over the Sam Houston Bearkats! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
By Kenlie Golleher
Rap Music Director
Saskatchewan-native singer-songwriter Andy Shauf has a true gift for storytelling through concept albums. His latest 2023 project, Norm, further proves that statement. It’s the crazy story of a guy named Norm, who essentially is a stalker. Elements of God and Christianity are intertwined throughout the narrative as well, with Shauf posing the record’s motivating question to be, “What if God didn’t understand what love was?” I felt that this other avenue of what “romance” could look like to be refreshing, as we don’t get to hear much music from a perspective such as this. It’s important to highlight that he enjoys writing lyrics as stories rather than personal narratives, especially in regards to an album like Norm.
I was first introduced to Shauf back in 2016, when I stumbled across the music video for his song “Quite Like You.” I was immediately captivated by this song, not only because of the wacky cartoon visuals and Shauf’s distinctively unique vocals, but mostly because of the story that was being portrayed through the lyrics of the song. This led me to check out his 2016 album, The Party, which tells different vignettes of these people at the same party throughout different tracks on the record. All of these connected humanist narratives come together to weave together a beautiful project that sells itself through its relatable storytelling and whimsical instrumentation, and if you haven’t listened to either of the records that I’ve previously described, I highly suggest you give them a listen.
Andy Shauf at the Historic Scoot Inn. | Kate VitaAll of this is to say that I’m a really big fan of Shauf and what he brings to the table. Getting the opportunity to cover his show at Scoot Inn was super exciting, as well as a new experience for me as a live show coverage journalist who has only written about my experience with rap artists.
This was my first time at the Historic Scoot Inn venue in Austin, and I really hope it wasn’t my last. I thought it was a wonderful venue that was big enough to hold a great crowd yet still small enough to feel intimate with the performer. I loved the rustic atmosphere; it paired really well with the crowd that drew in to see Shauf as well as with the music that was performed.
Andy Shauf at the Historic Scoot Inn. | Kate VitaThe show was opened by Texas-raised singer-songwriter Katy Kirby. She had an acoustic set with just herself and her electric guitar. She had one of the most beautiful voices I had ever heard live, and I thought she was the perfect person to warm up the night before Shauf’s set. Kirby and Shauf have a similar origin story, both coming from sheltered religious families and getting their first experience with music through the church. I recommend checking out her album, Cool Dry Place, if you haven’t heard from her before.
After Kirby closed out her last song and disappeared behind the wall with her guitar, the night was spent waiting for Shauf to arrive. Upon his arrival, claps and cheers filled the area in anticipation of what was to come. He opened his set with “Wasted on You,” the opening track to his latest album, Norm. He then proceeded to continue playing the album chronologically, but after the song “Norm,” he then threw it back to his 2020 and 2016 albums The Neon Skyline and The Party, where he played the projects’ biggest hits, which amounted to around six songs, and then continued to finish out the rest of the songs off Norm. I’ve always wanted to hear an album played out in its entirety at a concert, so I’m really happy that Shauf gave me that experience with this album tour.
Andy Shauf at the Historic Scoot Inn. | Kate VitaI really enjoyed the instrumentalists that performed alongside him. We got to hear a keyboard, flutes, clarinets, bass, guitar, and percussion— all of the sweet instruments that give Shauf that dreamy and sentimental nature to his songs. The stage lighting was supplementary as well, creating the perfect ambience for certain songs and moods. He even had a shadow lamp that cast leaves on him the entire night, which made me feel as if he was timid and trying to use the shadows as something to hide behind. Regardless, I loved what that lighting effect did for the stage visuals, and I found it to be very in-character for Shauf.
The night wrapped up with an encore performance of “The Magician,” one of my favorite songs by him. I decided to leave the bar area where I had been sitting all night to join the crowd down below by the stage. Overall, Kirby and Shauf brought a mellowness that left me very pleased with the night. It was definitely a concert experience I had never had before, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I really got to just chill out and enjoy some great music. If you’re a fan of live music and chill vibes, make sure not to let the next time you see Shauf performing near you pass you by.
Andy Shauf at the Historic Scoot Inn. | Kate VitaFeatured Image by Kate Vita.
By Kyle Owen
Sports Reporter
Texas State baseball won both of its games played this week, 12-8, on Tuesday against the University of the Incarnate Word and, 6-2, on Wednesday against Sam Houston State.
Tuesday, the Bobcats hit the road for the first time in their 2023 campaign – traveling only (miles) down I-35 to San Antonio. After a rough series against Oral Roberts, only compiling 11 hits over three games, the ‘Cats matched their hit numbers against the Cardinals, putting up 12 runs on 11 hits in the win.
Head Coach Steven Trout and his bobcats not only had their first business trip of the season, but they also played their first-midweek game as well – games where most teams are trying out new things. This is especially true early in the season. So, for Trout, getting his first win at the Incarnate Word was a major positive.
“First Tuesday game,” Coach Trout said. “Anytime you get a win in a midweek game – they’re never easy. Teams are going deep in their staff and you’re trying to find ways to keep scoring … I’m proud of the guys … just kept scrapping away.”
After getting the first-midweek game of the season out of the way, the next day, the Bobcats were right back in action against the Sam Houston State Bearkats in San Marcos. Coach Trout knew his team needed to take the momentum from the big road win to keep up the energy – especially with only one day of rest over five games in six days for the Bobcats, and fortunately, they weren’t the only ones.
“It’s momentum, right,” Coach Trout said. “For one, you’ve got to get your energy back tomorrow – that’s always the first scare. Luckily, they’re playing tonight too. And you’ve got to get back in your home ballpark and get your energy going, get your effort going again, and pick up right where you left off. But hopefully, our momentum caries a little bit from what we did offensively tonight and take it over into tomorrow and have another big day.”
Bobcats huddle after win at UIW | Image Credit: Kyle OwenAnd that they did, the Bobcats, Wednesday took down the Bearkats 6-2 in dominate fashion – the bullpen allowing no hits after junior starting pitcher Payton Zabel was sat down after two innings on the mound, giving up two runs on three hits while striking out three batters.
Sophomore left-handed pitcher Carson Keithley would be credited with the win on two innings of work, allowing only a walk and striking out two Bearkats. And the rest of the bullpen, Reece Gould, Rhett McCaffety, Tony Robie, and Triston Dixon, would follow behind throwing the final five innings of the game without allowing a hit and striking out seven more Bearkats.
Also, for the first time in 2023, the Bobcats found a way to win without the use of a home run – the ‘Cats had homered in every contest at least once up until Wednesday night. Senior left fielder Jose Gonzalez led the way in hits with three on the night while sophomore first baseman Daylan Pena knocked in two runs along with senior catcher Peyton Lewis, grabbing his first two RBIs in the young season for the Bobcats.
Featured Image from Kyle Owen
By Kylie Hogg
Local Music Journalist
Last Saturday, I got the chance to attend Texas State Film Club’s first look at their short film, “Near Miss”. The film is written and directed by Andrew Hodge and follows two strangers, Frank and Marie, as they meet and form an unlikely friendship on their last night on earth when they believe a giant meteor is set to hit earth and end humanity.
The film was filled with homages to San Marcos. Shots of iconic landmarks such as Sewell Park, Boyhood Alley, and the San Marcos River do well to capture not only the scenery of San Marcos but Hodge’s experience at Texas State. “Near Miss” also highlights musicians from San Marcos. Window Shop, Sammy Wells, and Flight by Nothing are put center stage to create the musical tone throughout this short film.
The film features two montages of notable places around San Marcos sound tracked by Flight by Nothing. The first being their song, “Una Tormenta en la Distancia”. It takes place after Frank and Marie have established that the meteor is set to hit earth that night. This song immediately sets a melancholy tone to the film and reinforces Hodge’s goal to establish a sense of hopelessness. It is a short acoustic track set in a minor key so when paired with the first montage it does well to establish the mood of the film.
The second song used by Hodge was Sammy Wells “Grave”. The song begins as the asteroid approaches Earth and we see Frank and Marie staring at a bright, white light. The song is backed by various strings, percussions, and pianos which make it very strong. However, since it is also set in a minor chord it also has a sense of dread. Hodge ensures to use parts of the song that feature lyrics such as “brace for impact” remaining on brand for what is happening in the film at the time.
There is a final montage of San Marcos towards the end of the film that uses another Flight by Nothing song. Their song, “Burn”, is much faster and upbeat, much like the mood of the end of the film. (Major spoiler alert ahead!) The meteor misses Earth and multiple clips are shown of San Marcos coming back to life as if nothing happened. The acoustic tone of the song keeps true to the overall sound of the film while allowing the audience a deep breath and changing the mood to something more upbeat after a highly tense moment.
Finally, the credits are backed by “Fixin’ to Die” by Window Shop. This song is a complete dismissal from the overall sound we heard throughout the film. It is a highly nostalgic tune that is almost silly compared to how serious the film was. It allows the audience relief. Closing with this song is almost tongue-in-cheek because of how silly it is, as well as the title being a direct contradiction to what happens in the film. Overall, it is a great way to close out a fantastic student film.
By Michael Ybarra
Music Journalist
The recording academy made some interesting decisions on the biggest night for music, but they may have gotten something right which has bigger implications than anyone has realized. 64 years after the first black woman won Best Individual Jazz Performance and Best Female Vocal Performance at the first ever Grammy Awards, Samara Joy took home the title of Best New Artist. She shattered the glass box which characterized jazz as a pretentious genre, with snooty listeners who have gatekept this artform to leave it untarnished from larger society.
They were not wrong to hold their cards close to their chest either. Black people have been stolen from since the founding of the United States. First, their freedom for nearly 250 years. Then, their civil rights, and even now people continue to mooch off their fashion and music styles without proper homage to where the ideas came from in the first place.
However, jazz was different. Created in a tiny room in New Orleans, the artform soon matured into a platform for experimentation and expansion on traditional music theory. Audiences, no matter what demographic, young, old, white, black, loved it. Black people created a sense of community and carved out a space to cement themselves as innovators in the world of music.
Ella Fitzgerald, with her incredible diction and scat abilities, left audiences speechless. Sarah Vaughan, with her hypnotizing tone much like siren song, tantalized onlookers. Louis Armstrong, with his gravelly voice and incredible trumpet skills, captivated the whole of America. Jazz made a doorway to showcase Black talent at its finest.
Joy, proven by her Grammy and various award recognitions, is next in line to join this long legacy. Her velvety tone combines the timbres of Vaughan and Fitzgerald, and she knows how to pay tribute to her predecessors properly.
Samara Joy by Samara Joy. | Shervin LainezOn her latest album Linger Awhile, Joy covers “Misty,” a beautiful love ballad which Fitzgerald was praised for, and “Can’t Get Out Of This Mood,” a playful movie track Vaughan covered on her second album Sarah Vaughan In Hi-Fi. She effortlessly mimics each vocalist with a unique twist.
Listen to her sing “Can’t Get Out Of This Mood” at the 65th Grammy Awards.
While any listener could hear the influences of Fitzgerald and Vaughn in Joy’s voice, she sings with a huskiness which each of the jazz legends did not bring to the table. While Vaughan and Fitzgerald had thinner, heady low vocals, Joy anchors her voice in just the right way to deliver powerful blows every time she suddenly glides from the middle of her range to the bottom.
Chromaticism also plays a large role in the improvisations she employs on the fly. She brings a strong dissonance to the ensemble she is accompanied by. Just when the listener feels as though the melody has been lost, she somehow resolves the nail-biting tension, and the listener is given a relief only jazz could bring them.
Through her vocal ability and her passion for recognizing those who came before her, it is no surprise the recording academy chose her for Best New Artist among her tough competition. Omar Apollo, Latto and even Wet Leg were just a few of the more mainstream, more popular nominated artists.
Honestly, her winning the award came as a surprise to most, but it indicates that she has been chosen as the torch bearer for jazz, bringing its brassy trumpets, swift piano and gorgeous vocals with her into the 21st century.
Joy’s music is the perfect steppingstone into the expansive world of jazz, and she should be kept on everyone’s radar.
Featured Image by Michael Ybarra.
By Julianna Hemenway
Music Journalist
All my hardcore fans unite, Fromjoy is a force to be reckoned with! In 2022, I had the pleasure of seeing Fromjoy for the first time at No Sleep Fest in Houston alongside other amazing bands including Kaonashi, Hazing Over, and Mexican Coke. Fromjoy are considered Houston legends in my mind after witnessing their entrancing performance. They have a few works available on Spotify, it lingers and away, alongside singles, “only here” and “docility”. I want to take you all on a deep dive of my impressions of their album, it lingers.
Fromjoy’s first album, it lingers.Fromjoy’s discography has a variety of sounds, including fast breakbeats and synthesizers besides their metalcore instrumentals and vocals. As a fan of metalcore and the fast tempo of drum and bass, Fromjoy has become one of my new favorite bands. Personally, these elements paired together gives you the best of both electronic music and metal. it lingers is heavy on the metal side with accent breakbeats and synths occurring in “So Young, Too Old”, while “away” is more influenced by drum and bass. Fromjoy knows how to get a crowd moving and invested in the show, as their music encourages movement.
it lingers explores topics of guilt, shame, and trust. Fromjoy sets the tone of the album with an “GhostTape10”, an eerie intro that got anticipated the breakdown of the next song, “Phantom Bullet”. “Phantom Bullet” is a hard-hitting song which speaks of a person who witnesses their father’s suicide, opening with the line “Am I a step in God’s plan or a pawn in the devil’s game?” It toys with the idea that one’s destiny is predetermined by the sins and faults of their own bloodline. Fromjoy accurately depicts the dichotomy that exists in the mind of being torn about your actions and things outside of your control that led you to the present.
“So Young, Too Old” caught my ear in this album. The first half begins with heavy hitting lyrics and instrumentals, contemplating “the line between power and lust.” Halfway through, the music stops and in a few seconds of silence, you are transported to a whole new world of soft synths and breakbeats introspecting on the “golden [hand] that pulled [them] to shore” after being anchored underwater with burden. Fromjoy has a unique perspective, telling stories through a roller coaster of emotions that is so typical of the human mind.
“No Light” has a similar effect to “So Young, Too Old”, only that it uses clear vocals at the beginning paired with a guttural voice that infects you with a melancholic longingness. “No Light” is a gentler song, juxtaposing “No Mouth”, which is the complete opposite. “No Mouth” shakes you awake with a release of high energy vocals spewing intrusive thoughts. This duo of voices makes you think of the dichotomy of trust and betrayal.
it lingers’ one last song, “The Gift of my Hate..it lingers..” closes out the album in a perfect way. This song takes you for a ride with explosive drops, oscillating guitars, and declarations of malfeasance. It ends with a melancholic guitar lick, mimicking the comedown from an explosion of emotion and contemplation.
Fromjoy has a clear perspective with their common theme of exploring all facets of life. They are known for their :): symbol depicting both a smiley face and a sad face which likely symbolizes their relationship between the two emotions. If you ever manage to catch a Fromjoy show and resonate with their message, you will not regret putting their next show on your calendar! Support your local hardcore scene and mosh to some of the greatest bands you’ll get the pleasure of seeing live before it’s too late. The least you can do is stream Fromjoy on Spotify and follow them on social media to keep updated on their next show, @fromjoy_.
By Adrianna Elias
Rap/Hip-Hop Journalist
Sampling in the world of hip-hop is common practice. Artists and producers will reference, interpolate and incorporate their influences within their own music to make it their own. Artists and producers often draw inspiration from oldies, other rappers and even their peers.
As I’ve dove deep into music, I have discovered the world of music production and the technique of sampling, as well as how often hip-hop artists sample indie music. Largely, artists are pulling from some of the pioneers of indie music, such as Beach House, Cocteau Twins and Tame Impala.
With the rise of internet producers over the past ten years, there are untraceable reasons for the explosion of a certain sound. There’s credit to be given to producers and artists in the mainstream who do something of their own. Their music reflects their references, resulting in a completely new sound.
As culture shifts, so does the sound of modern music. One of my first interactions with sampling and the world behind it was hearing “Daydreaming” by Lupe Fiasco featuring Jill Scott. In 2016, season 2 of Mr. Robot came out. I heard the beginning of “Daydreaming” playing, but it was not Fiasco’s version; instead, it was I Monsters’ “Daydreaming in Blue.” That’s when I realized Fiasco had sampled the track in his song.
The song used in Mr. Robot is perfect because the song itself takes place through the eyes of a robot, the same metaphor as in the show.
Beach House is known for their psychedelic pop and indie sound, often sampled in hip-hop tracks. Current sampling in the hip-hop world reflects the genre-less nature of music right now. Artists don’t care to align with the historical image of what hip-hop “should be,” but rather with what they like.
Hip-hop has evolved into a weirder, more alternative sound, resembling alt/indie music. Sonically, Beach House stands on its own, but there is room to build off the sound, making it great to sample.
Beach House is famously sampled on Kendrick Lamar’s “Money Trees.” Some of the best elements of this track are its wistful melodies and expressive slide guitar blended with a steady beat and Lamar’s catchy hook, “ya bish!” Producer DJ Dahi sampled Beach House’s “Silver Soul” in Lamar’s track, making it an instant classic.
Another avid Beach House sampler is The Weeknd. He sampled “Gila” in his 2012 Trilogy album on the song “Loft Music.” Taking from the duo once more on the project, the hook of his track “The Party & The After Party” samples “Master of None” from Beach House’s 2006 self-titled album. The Weeknd’s sound is that of old R&B reincarnated into something of modern times.
On the same album, The Weeknd samples Cocteau Twins on his track “The Knowing,” using their song “Cherry-coloured Funk,” creating a more alternative R&B that pairs well with the melodic sounds of Lana Del Rey and Ariana Grande alike.
As listeners become more aware of how sampling and recording work, artists can push the limits and make it an Easter egg hunt for those who are really paying attention. Hip-hop is moving towards a more alternative dream-like sound. The world of sampling indie and dream pop influences turned into using producers of those genres to create a new sound.
The most recent interpretation of this is Lil Yachty. On his latest album, “Let’s Start Here,” Yachty does not necessarily sample an artist but had iconic indie producers and artists help him curate the sound of the album to be the great psych-rock album that it is.
If you want to check out more examples of hip-hop artists using indie songs in their music, give this playlist a listen!
Featured Image are Album Covers from the Cocteau Twins, The Weeknd and Beach House
Episode 3 – The Tech Industry & how it has affected businesses, the interview process, and networking
On today’s episode of CA$H Radio, Nayeli Marte-Chavez interviews Oracle Account Executive, Kirsys Marte-Chavez and expands on the tech industry and how it’s continuously evolving. David Withey, Eli Garcia, Masyn McCool and Nayeli Marte-Chavez dive deep into the topics of networking online pre and post-interview, bringing diverse backgrounds and perspectives into the workplace and how technology has impacted all aspects of a business.
By Jordan Salas
Sports Reporter
The San Marcos Rattlers (37-3 overall, 9-1 district 27-6A) took down the San Antonio Reagan Rattlers (31-6 overall, 16-0 district 28-6A) by a score of 62-46 to win the UIL regional quarter-final.
San Marcos brought the energy to begin the game, with a fast-paced tempo that worked in their favor. San Marcos Junior guard Zyair Jolivette led his team to an early 8-1 lead by knocking down two three-pointers. Reagan found a way to answer by hitting two threes of their own, propelling them back into the game. At the end of one, the game was tied at 14.
In the second quarter, San Marcos continued to benefit from the three-point line, with Jolivette and Isaih Deleon hitting shots from beyond the arc. Led by junior guard Aidan Richard, Reagan stayed in the game and would go into the break with a manageable deficit, down 27-23.
San Marcos senior forward Malik Presley spoke on the ability of bench players to fill roles when they are needed. He gave credit to Deleon for stepping in the game when Presley took a seat due to foul trouble.
“That just shows you how deep our team is. A lot of guys on our bench can start at other programs” Presley said. “I know Isaih [Deleon] has my back. I’m going to support him just like he supports me.”
San Marcos guard Jayven Cofer began the second half with a bang when he sank a shot from downtown, giving his team early momentum. Similar to the first quarter, San Marcos started the second half on an 8-2 run. With about three minutes left in the third, senior Kaden Gumbs tossed up a beautiful lob and Presley finished the alley-oop with the hammer.
rattlers with the winDespite San Marcos’ big plays, Reagan fought hard and kept the lead narrow. San Marcos would lead heading into the fourth quarter, 40-35
Reagan senior guard Luke Price scored seven points in the final period of play and went 5-5 from the free-throw line. Price and Richard were the only players to score in the fourth for Reagan as other players could not get shots to fall. On the other hand, San Marcos shared the ball well, having five players score in the fourth and seven in the game. Overall, it was an intense team effort that got San Marcos the 62-46 win over a talented Reagan team.
San Marcos head coach Dan Miller talked about what his team needed to do and what they did to get the win.
“Reagan is really good offensively and we had to do our best defensively,” Miller said. “I thought our guys guarded all night long. Our guys were locked in on defense and that’s what we had to do tonight. I’m really proud of them.”
San Marcos hit a total of seven three-pointers made by five different rattlers in their win. Four San Marcos players scored in double figures. Presley led with 16 points, Gumbs with 13, Cofer with 12 and Jolivette had 11. With the win, San Marcos moves on to the fourth round of playoffs and will play the Warren Warriors from San Antonio.
You can catch San Marcos face off against Warren in the regional semifinals at the Northside Sports Gym on Friday, March 3 at 5:30 p.m. Follow KTSW Sports for updates on the upcoming Rattler basketball game, as well as other San Marcos sports news.
By Jarris Jones
Rap/Hip-Hop Journalist
The 29-year-old Chicago artist “Chance the Rapper” arrived in the rap game back in 2012 with the release of his mixtape 10 Day. The record follows a young high school Chance, who has been suspended from school for two weeks. During these two weeks, he goes on to assemble a mixtape, which in the school days is equivalent to ten days, hence the title, “10 Day.” The record was released in 2012, and I would stumble upon the record in 2013 while scrolling through SoundCloud on my iPod. A young 11-year-old Jarris was blown away by the uniqueness of his voice and the ad-libs that followed, which would have me going around the house randomly saying “AH.” Songs such as “Brain Cells,” “22 Offs” and “Hey Ma” solidified me as a Chance the Rapper fan and had me looking forward to his next project.
Artist Chance the Rapper poses for mixtape cover. | WikipediaThe wait for that next project wouldn’t take long; with the arrival of his second album, Acid Rap, released on April 30, 2013, Chance the Rapper had struck gold again. The name for the mixtape stems from the use of the drug to make 40% of the mixtape. The 14-song record made me a super fan; with classics such as “Cocoa Butter Kisses,” “Juice,” “Favorite Song” and “Everything’s Good,” this record opened many ears and helped him gain a bigger fan base.
I have good memories stemming from this record. My brother Joseph and I used to trade music on car rides when I was in middle school. I played him “Juice” for the first time, and he looked at me, calmly took my iPod, and laughed at me. He said, “Bro, this is trash; turn this off.” I tried to push my Chance the Rapper agenda and was shut down by my mentor, my big brother. I would continue this challenge of making my older brother like Chance by playing his music around the house anytime he was home. I feel as if it grew on him over time, and I counted my conversion a success.
Artist Chance the Rapper poses for mixtape cover. | WikipediaThe album that pushed Chance the Rapper into stardom would become available on streaming services on May 13, 2016. This gift to the world would be titled Coloring Book. I loved everything about this mixtape. The rollout was amazing, including the trademark Chance “3” hat that went along with the cover. This record made my time in high school enjoyable; I even dressed up as him for Halloween that year, and my oldest brother, Joseph, who called his song “Juice” trash in 2013, even got me tickets to his concert!
15-year-old Jarris dressed as Chance the Rapper in 2016 for Halloween. | Teacher Ms. PrestonColoring Book would go on to win three Grammy Awards in 2017 thanks to songs such as “No Problem,” “Juke Jam” and “Blessings.” This record means so much to me. From my toughest times to my happiest days, this record has been with me through thick and thin, and that’s all thanks to Chance the Rapper for sharing his art with the world. Chance was able to release three classic mixtapes, with each one getting better than the last, which is a tough thing to do for a young artist. Blessings kept falling in his lap, and he shared them with the world. Thank you, Chance the Rapper, for not only sharing your art but also giving me music I can listen to forever.
Artist Chance the Rapper poses for mixtape cover. | Wikipedia
By Andrea Moor
Music Journalist
T-Pain and Kanye West come to mind when it comes to recognizing the giants and pioneers in Auto-Tune. This software that corrects pitch and timing errors, and manipulates a vocal recording until it is in tune, regardless of whether or not the initial recording was in tune.
Not to be confused with the first pitch-altering vocal effect, the talkbox-Autotune was oddly born out of the oil industry, thanks to Dr. Andy Hildebrand, an electrical engineer who studied at the University of Illinois. To locate oil deposits below the surface, Hildebrand produced complex algorithms for Exxon.
With his technical expertise and passion for music, Hildebrand founded Antares Audio Technologies in 1989. Hildebrand realized his geological system could be applied to pitch correction after a colleague jokingly asked for an instrument to help her sing in tune; he developed auto-tune as a result.
Cher’s notorious 1998 hit “Believe” is typically recognized as the first commercial track with Auto-Tune. The sonically deviated attributes from the single have since been dubbed, “the Cher effect”. Producer Mark Taylor initially resisted admitting the use of the software, arguing that it was the byproduct of a Digitech Talker vocoder pedal. Cher herself later told the New York Times she adamantly refused her label’s requests to remove the effects.
By the time 2009 rolled around, there was a mass appraisal and disapproval of Auto-Tune, especially in the specter of hip-hop. With prominent influences from the release of Jay-Z’s track against Auto-Tune, “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune), the opinions of the software were all but singular.
Even today, many people still argue that Auto-Tune is derivative of generally-agreed subpar talent and lackluster skills. When prompted, plenty of individuals told me that their frustration comes from the sense of ‘cheating’ or fueling underproduced work.
For those who feel this way, I pity you. To argue that art is not worth its value or influence on the premise of modification is to say that something is worth less than a rendition. You cannot magically bestow genuine craft into work by simply adding Auto-Tune. It is a tool, a tool in the same sense that other fields of art or general practice also use.
Thanks to the invention of this software, it’s given life to complex deviations of what may have been previously thought of for music. It’s birthed new subgenres and aided artists in achieving what we all tend to expect from them- damn near perfection.
Featured Image by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images.
A Sam Burzinski Joint
Blog Content Contributor
“Motherfk a window. Radio Raheem is dead.”
I think people tend to overlook just how much of a wild landscape New York was for a great deal of America’s history. It wasn’t until Rudy Giuliani (ew.) came into mayorhood in the ‘90s that Times Square went from a porn-theater-crime-ridden place to avoid in the city to the modern city center that it’s become in recent years, mostly through the eradication of lower-income people from the area.
Spike Lee’s 1985 film “Do the Right Thing” is, to me at least, a perfect film from frame one to the end of the closing credits, as well as one of my favorite movies ever made. You could chalk this up to any number of things, and I could talk about this movie all day, but the best thing I could say is to go out and watch it right now. If you’re unconvinced by such a high recommendation right off the bat, I guess I could get into it.
My personal copy of “Do the Right Thing.” I sleep with it like a stuffed teddy bear every single night.To start, I should say that you should steer clear of “Do the Right Thing” if you’re made uncomfortable by depictions of racism and police brutality. The movie was made to make people uncomfortable, but not exactly in that way. I will also mention that I am history’s whitest human being, and as with everybody else, I am far from perfect in addressing the themes of this film, but I’ll do the best I can given how much I love it.
“Do the Right Thing” follows a Brooklyn neighborhood over the span of 24 hours on a sweltering summer day and the cavalcade ensemble of racially diverse residents, from Black to Italian to Korean to Latino, as their relations hit a fever pitch resulting in a small riot. No one single figure can be seen as the protagonist due to the vignette-y nature of the whole affair, but the film mainly follows Mookie (played by Spike Lee), a pizza delivery boy for the local Sal’s Pizzeria.
Such aforementioned vignettes include local drunk Da’ Mayor saving a boy from getting hit by a truck, a gentleman by the name of Buggin’ Out (Giancarlo Esposito, more on him later) getting his Jordans scuffed by a white guy riding his bike, Mookie’s girlfriend Tina (Rosie Perez in her debut film) and their son, radio station DJ Señor Love Daddy (Samuel L. Jackson) presiding over it all as both a narrator and a constant voice in the background.
“Do the Right Thing”’s opening credits are some of the best ever put to film. Rosie Perez dances over the credits to Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power,” a common leitmotif throughout the movie, in front of a projection of Brooklyn streets. The sequence is striking in how outstandingly colorful it is right off the bat for a movie, especially one at the tail-end of a decade that was relatively stagnant in terms of bold up-and-coming directorial voices such as Lee’s. It sets the tone immediately, one that doesn’t let up for one second.
The most salient sequence of the film is the minute and a half stretch in which every manner of racial slur and hate speech is launched both from and against every race present in the film. I don’t have a lot to give in terms of meaningful commentary, but the biggest recommendation I can give is to watch the scene in context.
Sal, of the eponymous pizzeria, runs the local establishment with his two sons, Pino and Vito, and comes into direct opposition with Black residents of neighborhood, particularly Radio Raheem–Bill Nunn’s imposing figure carrying a large boombox blasting “Fight the Power” and who delivers the film’s best monologue–and Buggin’ Out, resulting in tensions boiling over into an altercation that begins with Mookie throwing a garbage can through the window of Sal’s, and ends with the police brutality death of Radio Raheem. The following day is much cooler in temperature, but the burns on the neighborhood obviously remain.
I absolutely love Buggin’ Out. People tend to give Giancarlo Esposito (much deserved) praise for his villainous work on TV in “Breaking Bad,” “Better Call Saul” and “The Mandalorian,” but Buggin’ Out is a cut above. A family favorite, Mr. Out is big from the moment he comes on screen. He’s loud, he’s outspoken, the outfit is absolutely incredible and Esposito never lets up on being near-cartoonish in every gesture and look and line reading. He deserved the Oscar that year! (As did everything about this movie! It was only nominated for Adapted Screenplay and Supporting Actor–for Aiello! The white guy!)
Adorning the top of my laptop is this sticker of Buggin’ Out, given to me as part of a “Do the Right Thing” themed set by my father for Christmas.Deserving of mention, however, is “Do the Right Thing”’s relationship to women. Beyond Joie Lee, sister to the director both on- and offscreen, and Ruby Dee as the older Mother Sister, the only other prominent woman in the film is Perez as Tina, whose mistreatment during the film’s most intimate scenes have been expounded on by her in the years since the release of the film. Sure, one could say (incorrectly) that the film is about racism and gender isn’t necessarily a factor, but the imbalance is noticeable nonetheless.
I rewatched the film for this article with the 1995 Criterion commentary from Lee, cinematographer Ernest Dickerson, production designer Wynn Thomas and Joie Lee on, and some key things stuck out to me. Much of the commentary is focused on the technical aspects of the film, incredible in their own right, but much of what may be really challenging to most viewers is found as the racial tensions erupt.
The quote that began this article comes from the final scene between Mookie and Sal after the latter bemoans the loss of his restaurant. Lee mentions in the commentary that the only audience members who have asked if Mookie “did the right thing” are white. To Black audience members, this isn’t even a question. Joie Lee goes on to say “People go ‘Aw this is so tragic; the pizzeria is gone.’ Yeah, because Radio Raheem’s life isn’t respected.”
Spike Lee, the director of this film, givin’ a cheeky lil’ smirk in 2009. Photographed by David Shankbone and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.The movie challenges, in one part of countless, the lengths to which audiences will rationalize defending replaceable buildings in the face of the irredeemable death of a community member. It’s a challenging movie that encourages the viewer to make their own conclusions, a point Lee himself makes in the commentary.
For me to say “Oh wow, ‘Do the Right Thing’ is oddly prescient today!” as a white commentator is absurd and irresponsible to the history of non-white people in the United States. It was the reality then, the reality for centuries before the movie came out, and it’s the reality now.
By Evelyn Lopez
Rap/Hip-hop Journalist
As February comes to an end, it is important to recognize that this month holds a special place for James Dewitt Yancey, a.k.a. “Jay Dee” or “J Dilla.” Ranking highly in my list of favorite Aquarians of all time, Dilla was born on Feb. 7, 1974, and died on Feb. 10, 2006.
God sent, Dilla was a product of talented musicians. His mother was an opera singer and his father was a jazz bassist. His childhood revolved around the world of music. He was a multi-instrumentalist at a young age and played keyboards, violin and flourished on the drums. When Dilla turned three, his parents gifted him his first record of Michael Jackson’s The Wiz. They would take him along on their record shopping trips, which is where he would find a medium through crate digging. Dilla would sample and pull from soul, rap singles, funk and really anything that he liked.
Dilla’s work shaped the 90s hip-hop sound. He holds a throne for his melodic beats and unique drum programming style. He is also credited as a founding father of instrumental hip-hop. Aside from his solo work, Dilla was also involved in multiple group projects. He was a member of Slum Village, half of Jaylib with fellow producer Madlib, and a member of The Ummah, which also included Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad from A Tribe Called Quest. Dilla worked with artists in the Soulquarians, a collective composed of The Roots, Erykah Badu, Common, De La Soul, D’Angelo and many more. The list of artists that Dilla has remixed as well as written and produced for is crazy. From Janet Jackson to MF DOOM, Dilla’s thumbprint is everywhere.
J Dilla is notably known for his second breakthrough album, Donuts (2006). It is composed of around 100 samples and has been critically acclaimed by many as one of the most influential albums of all time. It was released on his 32nd birthday and three days before he died from a combination of health issues related to a rare blood disorder called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and lupus. Over 93% of the tracks on the album were made with a 45-rpm record player and a digital sampler while he was in the hospital. This album feels like an extension of Dilla’s life through his work—a final goodbye and a great way to remember him.
He was loved by many. His fans and the people he made music with speak highly of him. Questlove, the drummer of The Roots, often shares stories of having Dilla sit in on studio sessions with him during the recording of D’Angelo’s album, Voodoo, or going record shopping together. He says Dilla was “the world’s greatest drummer” and that he “invented the sound we call neo-soul.”
In order to “protect his legacy” from leaks and bootleg compilations, his mother and executor of estate had a say in his posthumous studio releases such as The Shining (2006), Jay Love Japan (2007), Jay Stay Paid (2009) and The Diary (2016). She wanted to make sure his legacy was used for a good cause. In an interview with LA Weekly, she stated that Dilla wanted her to “use it to help others, people with illness, kids who were musically gifted but had little hope due to poverty.”
Dilla’s work is an influence for many. He is credited as an inspiration for artists such as Kanye, Brockhampton and even experimental musicians like Arca. His work is timeless, and it is important to recognize that many of your favorite hip-hop artists would not have a sound without him. If you aren’t familiar with his work and want to have a deeper connection to the music you listen to now, dive into J Dilla.
To help jumpstart your deep dive or if you just want to listen to some of his work, I have made a playlist of some of my favorite tracks from Jay Dee’s catalog, and some tracks you may not have known he produced!
“Aside from his solo work, Dilla was also involved in multiple group projects. He was a member of Slum Village, half of Jaylib with fellow producer Madlib, and a member of The Ummah, which also included A Tribe Called Quest members Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad.”
Featured Image by Jeff Jank.
By Myles Vaughn
Sports Reporter
Over the course of four days, the Texas State Softball team played various games in the ‘TXST Classic in San Marcos, Texas. This softball tournament consisted of various teams such as UTSA, UT Arlington, Kansas, and Colorado State taking place at Bobcat Softball Stadium.
The Bobcats had gone undefeated in the tournament Thursday and Friday where they faced their two rivals, UTSA and UT Arlington, two very tough teams in Texas.
On Saturday, the Bobcats took on the UTA Mavericks. It was a no run game until the end of the fourth inning where they had brought in two runs to get the lead. The Bobcats kept ahold of their lead until the Mavericks brought in a run to tie the game in the seventh inning. The game had gone into extra innings until JJ Smith hit a single to bring in an RBI single to win the game in the eighth inning to stay undefeated.
“The girls played awesome tonight, they never put their head down, and kept pushing as time went on”, said Coach Ricci Woodard.
On the next day, Sunday, the Bobcats took on the Rams of Colorado State. The game started with Pitcher, Tori McCann on the mound. The Rams had started out hot by getting two hits in the first inning and bringing in two runs in the second inning of the game.
Pitcher Tori McCann struggled to pitch in this game. Needing a change in momentum, coach Ricci Woodward brought in Pitcher Jessica Mullins, where she pitched incredibly well this tournament. After the pitching change in the second inning, Jessica Mullins had only let up one run, which had helped her teammates win this game.
The Bobcats had scored five points in the fifth inning to gain the lead in the game. After the great offensive playout by the Bobcats, Pitcher, Jessica Mullins shutout the Rams to win the game.
“I don’t think I brought them back, I more of like changed the momentum of the game to help my team win this game”, said Jessica Mullins
The Bobcats travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana this weekend to play in the Owl Classic. The Bobcats next home game won’t be until March 14th to play two games against the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Featured Image by Kyle Owen.
By Preethi Mangadu
News & Culture Director
This week on KTSW News’ weekly update, we are covering the Texas State University student government elections, the new San Marcos City Manager and a proposed bill to ban polling places at schools.
Texas State Student Government Election Results Are InTexas State University’s student government voting results for the Spring 2023 election were announced this past week.
Kiersten Florence and Jaynes Shaelyn were voted in as Student Body President-Elect and Vice President-Elect, respectively.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Unified for Bobcats (@kierstenandshaelyn2023)
Florence and Shaelyn were running to serve and represent the student body to better the Texas State campus life and college experience.
“What I want the student body to know about me and Student Government is that I care, and we care and that we are here to serve students, our university and our alumni,” Florence said. “We are all part of a large team, which is this great university, and we believe that all people associated with our university would like to see the university thrive and continue to grow.”
Two of their main campaign initiatives are promoting school spirit and increasing campus safety for Bobcats.
“Texas State is one of the largest schools in Texas. Not many people know about us because of our lack of school spirit,” Shaelyn said. “I want to implement more school spirit and connect with our alumnae. Safety is one of our top priorities. Kiersten just started a student-led safety program that I hope we can broaden from only a couple days to 24/7. Hopefully, this can prevent drunk driving and help students get home safe.”
The election was held on Feb. 20 and closed at 5:00 p.m. on Feb 23. The open seats were Student Body President, Vice President and At Large Senators.
The student body government’s main goal is to voice the opinions and concerns of the student body to the administration, and to help the administration make informed decisions. They also manage events, policies, activities and more that they believe will benefit students.
“I want students to know that student government has more power than they might think,” Shaelyn said. “Our name was changed from Southwest Texas to Texas State because of student government-based legislation. Student feedback is crucial to make a difference.”
For more information about student government and the election results, visit: https://studentgovernment.dos.txst.edu/branches/judiciary/electionboard/election.html.
Next San Marcos City Manager AppointedStephanie Reyes was voted as the next San Marcos City Manager last Tuesday.
Reyes has been working for the city for the past 22 years. She has been the Assistant City Manager, Assistant Director of Human Resources, Chief of Staff and Assistant to the City Manager. For the past year, Reyes has been working as the Interim City Manager after former City Manager Bert Lumbrerras retired.
San Marcos City Manager Stephanie Reyes | City of San Marcos“Stephanie’s work as Interim City Manager over the last year has shown the value she offers to the City of San Marcos and has proven her continued dedication to this community,” said San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson in a press release. “I am confident she is the right person to oversee the City of San Marcos organization, and that her leadership will continue to have a positive impact on our community for years to come.”
Officially, Reyes’s new role began Wednesday morning. She said she is honored that the City Council has chosen her to lead and hopes to continue the city’s progress in communication and collaboration with the San Marcos community.
“I am honored that the City Council has asked me to lead this incredible organization,” said San Marcos City Manager Stephanie Reyes in the release. “I appreciate everyone’s patience as I contemplated taking on this new role. San Marcos is my home. I am deeply invested in being a part of our bright future working alongside the City Council, talented City team and our beloved community. We are at a critical juncture to shape our City for future generations to come.”
Reyes also has taken part in community involvement with local organizations. Her 20 years of service have been recognized by the International City/County Management Association and the Texas City Management Association.
During the meeting, several council members expressed enthusiasm and eagerness for Reyes to take on the role. The vote was unanimous, besides Councilmember Saul Gonzales, who was absent during Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
“I’m super excited; I think we all are,” said City Council Member Mark Gleason in Tuesday’s meeting to Reyes. “Thank you for stepping up to take this. You are going to do a fantastic job, and I know the community is super excited about it. Thank you very much.”
The City of San Marcos will be holding her swearing in ceremony on Feb. 28, 2023. For more information, visit: https://www.sanmarcostx.gov/801/City-Manager.
Texas Lawmaker Files Bill to Ban Polling Places at SchoolsTexas State Representative Carrie Isaac introduced a bill to prohibit polling locations at “institutions of higher education”.
The bill, House Bill 2390, also said, “The commissioners court of a county may not designate as a polling place a location on the campus of an institution of higher education located within the county.”
The proposed 124-word bill was filed this past week and would go into effect Sept. 1, if passed.
“We must do everything we can to make our school campuses as safe as possible,” Isaac said in a statement. “I have experienced firsthand the heightened emotions that often occur at polling locations, and I will not wait for more violence to act.”
Isaac represents District 73, which includes parts of Hays and Comal Counties.
Democrats have proposed bills like SB 118 that would mandate polling places in certain institutions of higher education. There has already been pushback to the bill from individuals and organizations. MOVE Texas released a statement condemning the filing of the bill on Friday.
“Policymakers should be remedying this problem by guaranteeing an adequate number of polling locations on college campuses every year,” MOVE Texas said. “Instead, HB 2390 does the opposite. It disenfranchises young Texans not just from voting but from carrying out civic responsibilities in a bold-faced and targeted manner.”
STATEMENT: MOVE Texas condemns the filing of HB 2390 by Representative Carrie Isaac of Texas House District 73, one of the most insidious attempts to silence young voters in Texas. pic.twitter.com/r5zhVI5qsM
— MOVE Texas (@MOVE_texas) February 16, 2023
For more information, visit: https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/pdf/HB02390I.pdf#navpanes=0.
By Kyle OwenSports ReporterSAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State Baseball lost its first regular-season weekend series since April 9, 2022, against Georgia Southern, losing the last two games of the weekend to the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles after taking game one from ORU, 3-2, Friday night.
Friday, the Bobcats were outplayed in all aspects of the game besides runs. Head Coach Steven Trout told me, honestly, the Golden Eagles should have won. The Bobcats only compiled three hits against the Golden Eagles’ nine, but the Bobcats managed to pull out a win.
“As I told the guys,” Coach Trout said. “They deserved to win the game. They out-hit us, made [fewer] errors, and they only had one free-90 on the whole night – that’s just how baseball goes (sometimes).”
The rest of the weekend, the hitting and defensive struggles continued for the Bobcats. Saturday, the Bobcats started off hot with a home run from senior left-fielder Jose Gonzalez to begin the game. But then committed four errors and only one more hit, a two-RBI home run from freshman second baseman Ryder Hernandez, in the evening that ultimately led to their first loss of the season.
The Sunday matchup, the series finale, saw the Bobcats take an early 1-0 lead – just like Saturday afternoon. But the Golden Eagles had a response and dropped three runs within the second and third innings.
The Bobcats would recover a run in the fourth. But the Bobcat run would deem obsolete as the wheels fell off in the top of the seventh with Oral Roberts putting up a five-spot, ultimately solidifying the series win on the road in San Marcos.
Coach Trout didn’t see the series loss as anything out of the ordinary, seeing Oral Roberts as a quality opponent and just another brick in the path to an NCAA Regional goal. He wants to challenge his team early before going through the gauntlet that the Sun Belt Conference is for baseball.
“I thought it was a very competitive weekend,” Coach Trout said. “Obviously that’s a really good bunch over there (Oral Roberts), that’s a regional team. You want to get tested early, you want to see where your program is, and where your team is.”
Ultimately, the reality is that the record-breaking team from last year isn’t the team the Bobcats have on the field this season – but that doesn’t mean there’s no potential for them to get to that point.
“It’s a new team for us,” Coach Trout said. “New personnel, new roles. There are a lot of things, coaching-wise, that we need to figure out: when to put guys in, when to take guys out, when to play guys, and when to pinch-hit guys. There’s a lot that goes into it. It’s game six, we’re still 4-2, we’re completely fine – we’ve just got to continue to learn (about our squad) and get better.”
Although some Bobcats fans may see this series loss as the end of the season, Coach Trout and his squad know that’s not the case – it’s a long season and you can’t win them all.
“There’s nothing wrong with our effort,” Coach Trout said. “We’ve got to get back to playing better baseball. It’s week two. And everybody feels like it’s week 14 and the season’s over and it’s like, ‘c’mon guys, we got a lot of games to play.’ We’re going to get better, we’re going to get right … you’re going to deal with adversity and so, just to keep getting better every week is our goal.”
The Bobcats have five games coming up within the week, starting with the Cardinals of the University of the Incarnate Word, Tuesday, in San Antonio before coming back home to face Sam Houston, Wednesday, and then hitting the road to Phoenix to play Grand Canyon in a three-game series over the weekend.
“It’s a good week,” Coach Trout said. “It’s five games against quality opponents. I’ve never won at Incarnate Word, so we’ll start there Tuesday. And then a great Sam (Houston) team … they’re hot right now, and then head to a really good Grand Canyon team. So, I’m excited because if we want to be a regional-type team we’ve got to beat some of the teams this week.”
The first road game of the season for the Bobcats is slated for 6:30 p.m. in San Antonio, against the University of the Incarnate Word.
The game between the Cardinals and the Bobcats will be broadcast live on KTSW 89.9 and reporter Kyle Owen will be there as well to provide live updates and news throughout the game.
Be sure to follow @KTSWSports on Twitter and Instagram for all things Texas State and San Marcos Athletics.
Featured Image by Kyle Owen.
By Harriet Bernard
Local Music Journalist
Earle’s Basement hosted a spectacular show on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023. Music started at 7:00 p.m. with Our Last Daze as the opener. The night had a slow start but by 7:30 PM a decent crowd had formed and was hyped. Earle’s Basement is a D.I.Y. venue co-founded by Ashley Farnie and Avery Viers that has had a great run so far, especially for it being one of the few D.I.Y. venues San Marcos has to offer. Earle’s Basement is special because its purpose is truly to open a comfortable space for bands and listeners to congregate.
The openers, Our Last Daze, kicked it off with a great backyard set. The pop punk band from San Marcos – who first started making music in 2012 – amped up the crowd with spunk and enthusiasm that made everyone want to engage with their performance. Lead singer Mitchell Meitler knew how to direct the audience and set up the band for a successful production. With their latest album, Sink or Swim, we got to hear some jumping tracks like “Sincerely Yours Pt. 2” and “Better Than Nothing”.
Band Our Last Days performing at Earle’s Basement. | Carolina GarzaMy personal favorite was the track titled “Community Lettuce” because of its awesome guitar riffs, thanks to guitarists Robert Lee and Jon Arredondo. Just about then the entire function was head banging to the beats, which is why I think everyone felt comfortable joining in on the fun Before Our Last Daze had a chance to finish, there were noise complaints. Fortunately, the band was able to finish their set before the rest of the event was moved inside. You can find Our Last Daze on Instagram, Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud and more.
The next band, Crash Test Girls, had to move their set into the Earle’s Basement living room. The living room is a perfect environment for shows, with posters and records all over the walls and colorful lighting that set the night’s ardent tone.
Crash Test Girls is a new local band from San Marcos who just had their first show at Earle’s Basement in January. I was honored to see them front row on Friday while they absolutely rocked the event. The living room was packed with people who gave all their support and undivided attention to welcome the band. This being only the third performance in the band’s journey was most impressive. Their performance included a full set of originals and a couple covers with each one being endured by the audience. Members Allison, Sammy, Ayden and Cal switched between instruments and vocals, making their physical performance especially unique and personal.
Crash Test Girls perform in the living room at Earle’s Basement. | Carolina GarzaNothing could have prepared my friends and I for the excitement we felt when they started playing “Heaven or Las Vegas” by the Cocteau Twins. It was one of the best covers I have heard in a long time, and, even though they gave it justice as is, I could still feel the band’s personal style through the song. Find them on Instagram, @crashtestgirls.
Last but not least, local band Window Shop from San Marcos ended the event on a high note. Window Shop is a rock and electric style band made up of five friends Nora, Stephen, Dallas, Aiden, and Kevin. Started in 2020 with four singles out, they have been performing at many events in the area.
Window Shop does a really great job at using American style rock and adding eccentric funk to it. Lead singer Nora Tomlinson added a synth and electric feel to the band’s tracks that was very refreshing. They did an awesome job at transitioning from the first two performances to the end of the night, leaving everyone satisfied. You can find Window Shop on Instagram and Spotify.
Window Shop performing in the living room at Earle’s Basement. | Carolina GarzaThis was my first time attending an Earle’s event and I couldn’t be more eager to go to the next one. I had the opportunity to meet so many people and artists whether it was those performing or taking pictures. Everyone’s spirits were high and cheerful, and I am grateful to those who opened their homes to host these events. Check out Earle’s Basement on Instagram (@earlesbasement) for upcoming events.
Featured Image by Harriet Bernard.
In this Monday edition of Bobcat Radio the crew of Joey Gonzales, Orlando Smart, Koby Jackson and JP Flanagan discuss Bobcat women’s basketball finish as conference champions, Bobcat Men’s basketball finish of the season with two losses, Rattlers beat Westlake to advance to next round, Bobcat Softball goes 6-0 in TXST Classic and Bobcat Baseballs tough series against Oral Roberts! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
By Daven Meredith
Sports Reporter
The San Marcos Rattlers defeated The Austin Westlake Chaparrals 54-48 in the area round of the UIL Basketball Tournament to a sold out crowd at Bowie High School.
Rattlers forward Malik Pressley scored a game-high 18 points, nine of which came from the 3-point line. Rattler’s guards Jayven Cofer, and Kaden Gumbs tacked on a combined 28 points for the Rattler’s offense.
The win improves the Rattler’s record to (35-3 overall, 9-1 district 27-6A) and advances the Rattlers to the Regional Quarter Final. The loss drops the Chaparral’s record to (31-5 overall and 14 -2 in district 26-6A) and eliminates the Chaps from the UIL 6A tournament.
Coach Dan Miller said The Rattlers started off “slow” against the Chaparrals falling behind by 10 early in the first quarter. Cofer’s three 3-pointers brought the Rattlers within four of the Chap’s 19-23 lead by the end of the first.
“Westlake came out and played fabulous to start,” Miller said. “A lot of credit to Cofer for getting it going in the first quarter and hitting those big threes, after that I think we settled in and became that great defensive team.”
The Rattlers held the Chaps to 25 total points through the next three quarters. Miller said the Rattlers did things well offensively, but dedicated the team’s win to “defense.”
“At the end of the day, that’s where we hang our hat is our defense,” Miller said. “You win with rebounding and defense.”
Gumbs had two of the Rattler’s four steals. Gumbs said there are still things that the Rattler’s defense needs to clean up and that the team takes it “one day at a time.”
“One day at a time, we keep going,” Gumbs said. “Coach always preaches that if we would have lost this game, no practice tomorrow, no game next week, we got the win, and we gotta keep going, gotta keep grinding.”
Miller said The Rattlers took a “small ball” approach against the Chaps. Inserting Guard Cash Good, who came off the bench adding eight points for the Rattlers.
“Every game is different,” Miller said. “Once seeing the film, we thought we could spread them out a little bit in our smaller lineups, and our guys made plays out of that lineup.”
The Rattlers move on in their playoff run. Gumbs accredits the fans for “believing” in the Rattlers all season long as they continue their historic season and run.
“This season means everything,” Gumbs said. “We do this for the city of San Marcos. They got our backs. As long as our fans believe in us, we gotta believe in ourselves and get it done.”
The San Marcos Rattlers Regional Quarter Final matchup will be against The Reagan Rattlers at Canyon High School Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. Follow KTSW Sports for updates on the upcoming Rattler basketball game and other San Marcos sports news.
By: Katie Krupinski
Community Relations Director
Black Student-Athlete Alliance (BSAA) is an organization with a mission to unite black student
athletes at Texas State and offer an environment to network and connect with one another. The
organization was recently founded at the start of the 2023 school year.
BSAA hosts monthly meetings consisting of learning from members’ experiences and providing
a space for members to feel included and accepted. Additionally, they will have professionals
come in to offer their perspective on how to navigate life as a future black professional.
Organization Founder Lauryn Thompson saw a need to create a comforting space for black
student athletes at Texas State, and she organized BSAA to amplify athletes’ voices, bridge the
gaps between teams, as well as allow the change for student athletes to connect with one
another.
“BSAA is an organization welcome for all types of people. If you ever felt/feel like an outsider or
‘you don’t fit,’ BSAA is the space you should be in. As the group is focused on black student
athletes, we are here to promote the need of allies as a black community, so if you are
comfortable in spaces like such, we would love for you to be a part of BSAA!” –Lauryn
Thompson, Founder of Black Student-Athlete Alliance.
To learn more about Black Student-Athlete Alliance, check out their Instagram page: @txstbsaa.
Featured Image from Lauryn Thompson
By: Ily Aguilar
Community Outreach Coordinator
Bobcat Belles is a student-led organization that was established by a group of women who
shared one common interest: their love for Bobcat Football.
The Bobcat Belles’ mission is to support the Texas State Football Program by promoting school
spirit and growth. Since the creation of this women’s organization in 2011, the Belles have built
lifelong friendships, everlasting memories, and experienced opportunities for success.
The Bobcat Belles work hand in hand with the football program assisting on game days, working
in the coaching office and reviewing potential recruits. A typical game day for a Belle starts with
a game day job, which consists of anything from checking in recruits, working in the Pavilion, to
even babysitting. This is followed by sitting in their designated section to cheer on the Texas
State Bobcats. On a weekly basis, there are required meetings as well as office hours at Bobcat
Stadium.
Although this organization is built upon the foundation of football, there is so much more to the
Bobcat Belles. In addition to the parents weekend tailgate and homecoming events, they also
host date parties, big/little reveals, community service projects, holiday parties and a spring
banquet. In order to enhance inclusivity throughout the organization, the Belles also have
socials such as volleyball and trivia nights.
A significant aspect of Belles is their philanthropy NO MORE. NO MORE is an organization that
“is dedicated to ending domestic violence and sexual assault by increasing awareness, inspiring
action, and fueling cultural change.” With the launch in 2013, NO MORE has worked to promote
their message and amplify their voice and is now the most extensive domestic violence and
sexual assault awareness initiative. They now host “NO MORE Week” which unifies allies
across America in a 5k race and webinar series. From March 5th- March 12th, they will be
uniting the nation and highlighting the urgent need for “More NO MORE”.
In contribution to No More week, Bobcat Belles is hosting a profit share at Torchy’s Tacos in San
Marcos on March 1st from 4-8pm. All proceeds will be donated to No More in solidarity of their
purpose. Bobcat Belles stands with NO MORE and hopes to motivate others to do the same.
In addition, Bobcat Belles recruits at the beginning of every Fall Semester and urges you to go
through recruitment!
“Bobcat Belles is an incredible community of diverse women working hard to promote spirit and
growth for Texas State Football! Joining Belles one was one of the best decisions I made and I
would encourage everyone to go for it and be themselves!” – Fallon Goldsmith, President of
Bobcat Belles.
For more information about joining Texas State Bobcat Belles, follow their social media:
Instagram: @txstbobcatbelles
TikTok: @bobcatbelles2011
Twitter: @bobcatbelles
Facebook: @bobcatbelles
Featured Image from Ily Aguilar
By Daven Meredith
Sports Reporter
SAN MARCOS, Texas – On Thursday, Texas State Softball opened the Texas State Classic with their doubleheader against The University of Texas San Antonio and The University of Texas Arlington at the Bobcat Softball Stadium.
Bobcats pitcher Tori McCann completed a full game recording seven K’s and holding the Roadrunners scoreless through all seven innings of play as the Bobcats kept UTSA off the scoreboard 1-0. Left fielder Ciara Trahan hit a walk-off RBI single in a comeback victory over the UTA Mavericks in extra innings for the second win of the day.
The wins improve the Bobcat’s overall record to 8-4 and 2-0 in The Texas State Classic. Texas State Coach Ricci Woodard said the team’s success for the day came from “competing.”
“The thing that I like is that we competed for every pitch for 14 innings,” said Woodard. “That has been the big thing we’ve talked about, there are some things we could have done better, but we competed.”
The Bobcats’ one run the entire game against UTSA came in the bottom of the first inning. Woodard said the team felt “comfortable” with their lead throughout all seven innings.
“I feel like we kept the moment of that game the entire time,” said Woodard. “It never felt like one run wasn’t gonna be enough, and that’s how you know your pitcher is dealing.”
Pitcher Jessica Mullins said, “We still got it,” explaining that the success the pitching staff feels isn’t built up from the past few days but from this season and the previous season.
“We’re just stronger than ever,” said Mullins. “This is the strongest pitching staff I’ve ever been a part of.”
The Bobcats used their momentum going into their second matchup of the day as they notch their first win coming from behind this season against conference rival UTA. Woodard told her team, “It’s one pitch at a time.”
“We haven’t come from behind and won any games this year,” said Woodard. “You play seven innings for a reason that’s been the whole approach this week. So, let’s play seven innings, pitch one pitch at a time and see what happens.”
Bobcats left fielder Trahan knocked in an RBI single in extra innings to secure the Bobcat win against the Mavericks. Trahan said the wins are “big” for the Bobcats and will provide the spark the team has wanted.
“To come out here and get two wins against two good teams,” said Trahan. “It’s really big for us.”
The pair of wins bring the Bobcat’s winning streak to two. The Bobcats look to use the momentum in their next game in the Texas State Classic Friday at 4 p.m. against Kansas University at The Bobcat Softball Stadium, where you can listen on KTSW 89.9!
Featured Image from Daven Meredith
By Jaysen Collins
Sports Reporter
The Texas State men’s basketball team were defeated by the South Alabama Jaguars by a final score of 81-73 on Thursday night at Strahan Arena.
The Bobcats were coming off a tough-road win against Coastal Carolina by a final score of 78-75. but they just can’t seem to put it together once they get back to San Marcos. Coach Johnson has also taken note of that.
“This is some of the issues that we’ve had all season when coming home and keeping our focus and keeping our hunger,” Johnson said. “We played against a team tonight that knew what was at stake, and they came in here and took care of business.”
The first half of the game was tight from start to finish. Both teams were finding solid looks, but neither team could pull away and get any type of momentum.
Towards the last eight minutes of the game, the Bobcats were able to score consistently. But on the other end, they were allowing the Jaguars to get whatever they wanted. This has been a problem all season, and Coach Johnson knows it.
“Just lack of focus, lack of toughness and lack of commitment to guarding the ball in space and taking care of your responsibilities,” Johnson said.
Nighael Ceaser facing up against South Alabama defender. | Jaysen CollinsBrandon Love finished the game with 18 points to go along with three steals and three blocks while shooting 7-8 from the field. Mason Harrell finished with 11 points, and Drue Drinnon finished with 10 points.
Love was one of the lone bright spots in this matchup. His intensity and ability to score the ball helped the Bobcats tremendously. Coach Johnson thinks the game could have went an entirely different direction if Love didn’t perform the way he did.
“It could have got embarrassing had he not had the kind of game he had. You guys can clearly see the kid’s talented,” Johnson said. “Those are just one of the things we would like to see every single day because the things he did today, he is very much so capable of doing that moving forward.”
The Bobcats shot 4-10 from the three-point line while the Jaguars shot 10-18. The Jaguars took advantage of most of their opportunities and made the Bobcats pay when they had open three-pointers.
Coach Johnson knows his team can compete at a high level. But when asked about the growth of his team, he says it’s hard to gauge it.
“I’ve seen flashes of brilliance, flashes of toughness, flashes of bringing culture to the floor, but I am one of those people that believes in consistency,” Johnson said. “I’m not by any means downplaying growth, what I’m telling you is that we are a team that lacks consistency. And for that, it’s hard to measure growth.
The Bobcats are currently ranked 11th in the Sun Belt division after the loss to South Alabama. They will go on to play Southern Miss Friday Feb 24th in Strahan Arena for their last home game of the season at 7pm.
Featured Image by Jaysen Collins.
By Michael Ybarra
Music Journalist
One of an artist’s only jobs, that the public knows about anyway, is to crank out fresh hits for their adoring fans. But the pressure to maintain familiarity while attempting to satisfy the urge to experiment with one’s sound has never been higher. Many artists have shown this battle between their past sound and their vision for the future of their music plays a significant role in the reception of this change, and whether they succeed or fail ultimately indicates the attitudes society holds for artists as mindless machines rather than ever-evolving, fully fledged humans with emotions.
LordeNo stranger to betraying convention, Lorde proved experimentation to be a great method for garnering massive support from dedicated fans. However, the release of her third studio album Solar Power seemed to be too much of a departure from the hard-hitting, club kid anthems her fanbase had come to know and love. Astounded by the no-miss, sophomore album Melodrama, her fans, and critics alike, felt conflicted about the new record.
While Melodrama felt like a life-changing winter defined by heartbreak and growing pains, fans were led to relish in the warmth of Solar Power’s cicada-backed tracks which coax a long- awaited nostalgic summer to the forefront of the listener’s mind. and this did not bode well for the then 25-year-old artist. As a reward for her unconventional creation, she earned her lowest Pitchfork score to date.
Critics can be brushed off artists’ shoulders, but the fans are their lifeblood. Used to yearning for relationships which could never sustain themselves and reminiscing on the pain of their childhood, the shift to self-discovery and healing brought forth in Solar Power was a total fake out for Lorde’s loyal fanbase. It had finally happened. Lorde had “flopped.”
It seems, in the year of 2021, a year oozing with acceptance of change, artists were still denied the privilege of having their innovative creations accepted by the people who claimed to love them the most.
However, a much more seasoned artist, accustomed to changing their sound much later in their career, set the precedent for a member of Pop royalty not receiving the recognition they had previously enjoyed just four years earlier.
Taylor SwiftTaylor Swift’s transition from country to pop was greeted with open arms. 1989, Swift’s fifth studio album, deviated from the path which she had carved for herself in the country sphere, but, unlike Lorde’s followers, “Swifties” loved it. The album cemented Swift as a Pop icon.
Gaining critical and commercial success, Swift enjoyed her recognition, at least until she released her next album in 2017.
Reputation, an album resembling a love letter at its core, scared fans with faux rap lyric delivery and a less bubbly sound. With topics such as spite and potential affairs, Swift revealed herself as a not-so-innocent protagonist in the story which she had laid out over the course of her career.
Critics tore this album to shreds. The sudden shift to an EDM influenced, hard hitting production style served to exclude Reputation from Grammy consideration all together.
“Swifties” experienced similar conflict to future Lorde fans. While some loved Swift leaning into her devious side, others missed the Swift who had created “1989” and could not recognize the Pop star they saw before them.
Yet again, fans could not handle an artist shape shifting into a new era if it did not align with their tastes.
Even after Lorde and Swift, another, more niche artist saw the same pushback after changing their sound.
Taylor Swift’s sixth studio album, Reputation. | Mert AlasMitski Four years of relative silence from the Japanese American artist Mitski ended when she released her sixth album Laurel Hell in 2022. Exploring topics such as creative exhaustion, loneliness and love, angsty subject matter had long been cemented into Mitski’s unique sound, but the manner in which these ideas were conveyed are what threw fans for a loop.
Mitski delivers gut wrenching performances over 1980s electronic bass, slow, wave-like synthesizers, and even ABBA-esque piano and xylophone. Lyrically, this record held onto the Mitski who established herself as an Indie star in Be the Cowboy, but sonically fans could not help wondering where the old Mitski had gone.
Had Mitski finally sold out by conforming to a more pop sound?
The answer is not a simple yes or no, and it leads to many more questions. Should artists stay in the boxes their fans categorize them in? At what point are artists allowed to take the reigns of their creative freedom? Or, to put it frankly: When are artists allowed to change?
Mitski’s sixth studio album cover, Laurel Hell. | Ebru YildizChangeReluctance to accepting an artist’s new sound is nothing new, but this voiced trepidation may have deeper roots than simply “not liking” the direction an artist has chosen to take.
On the heels of immense societal upheaval, resistance to change is understandable. In fact, a global pandemic shook the entire world in 2020. Having the rug ripped up from under one’s feet can be disorienting and can lead to speechlessness. Time and time again, people have turned to music in order to identify and process their emotions when they cannot find the right words to express themselves.
In short, fans likely view music as a sense of stability, one of their last lines of defense against the fluidity of the world around them. When the one thing they cling to for assurance and clarity slips from their grasp, it is no surprise that they retaliate and voice concerns.
However, there is one key sentiment which is often overlooked: artists’ humanity. They experience the same global tragedies. They are constantly evolving in every sense of the word. Denying them the freedom to reinvent and express themselves in unfamiliar ways becomes a double standard.
Artists are humans. Whether they reveal their devious side in the case of “Reputation,” suddenly find healing and happiness in the case of “Solar Power” or simply express they are becoming exhausted in the case of “Laurel Hell,” fans are forced to confront how they themselves handle change without even realizing it. They either accept or cut ties.
Those who accept the winds of change witness the blossoming of an artist’s character and can grow with them. Those who do not miss out on the opportunity to measure their bandwidth for change which they can carry into their real life, not just their listening habits.
Either way, Swift still broke the record for highest grossing tour ever with Reputation, Lorde still brought New Zealand summer everywhere she went on her Solar Power World Tour and Mitski’s fans realized their odds of winning a fight over whether she should go back to her old style were close to none at her Toronto show.
Either way, open-minded fans continue to show up for the artists they know and love.
Featured Image by Mert Alas.
By Amaya Lewis
News and Culture Assistant
Throughout the past several years, K-pop has grown exponentially into a massive global phenomenon. Fans around the world have rallied to support their favorite artists in a genre known to produce catchy melodies, intricate choreography and showcase stunningly attractive musicians that spend many years learning how to sing and dance to perfection.
Additionally, K-pop’s visible success is incredibly powerful in terms of increasing the popularity of Korea while providing the previously lacking Asian artist representation in the global music industry, with many praising its ability to blend several creative aspects, from fashion to singing, together.
For many fans, K-pop has become something that has brought them comfort in dark times or even helped them find a community of friends due to shared interest in the genre.
Nevertheless, while there are many things to love about K-pop and its positive impact, for Black History Month, acknowledgment should also be given to those who established the groundwork: black creatives.
In our society, we see the creations of black individuals and the influence of black culture throughout various fields, with one of the biggest areas being the music industry. Jazz, blues, gospel, hip-hop, R&B, rock ‘n roll, reggae – the list continues, with all of the said genres created by black musicians being used and adapted within other cultures as inspiration for their artistry.
“When K-pop first began, groups drew on hip-hop and R&B artists of the 1990s, and that trend has continued through today,” Crystal Anderson said in an article from wbur.
Along with that, Black style has also become massively used, often seen in K-pop through the wearing of dreadlocks, cornrows, box braids, durags and streetwear.
Within the Black community, this has generated mixed thoughts, as some find it to be cultural appreciation while others think of it as appropriation, showing love to black lyricism and style being demonstrated through non-black musicians as opposed to coming from black artists themselves.
For instance, the song “Limitless” by NCT 127 was stated to have taken major influence from Black culture and made waves within the Black community.
“Their music video ‘Limitless’ was seen as revolutionary or a cultural reset by fans. However, it’s not as exceptionally fresh as they think. The hairstyles (dreads, braids, etc.), chains and clothing (streetwear, durags, etc.) worn in the video were created and donned by Black men way before NCT 127 was formed,” Daphne Bryant said in her article.
Many felt hurt that the styles worn by NCT 127 were seen as “cool” and “edgy”, while black individuals often get negative reactions.
Some have chalked it up to idols simply not understanding due to not having proper exposure or education on the matter while others believe that to be an excuse, thus, showcasing some believe the line between appreciation and appropriation has been significantly blurred.
On the other hand, however, for the past several years, K-pop artists have begun acknowledging black influence in K-pop, giving artists who either inspired or aided in the creation of their fashion, music or dancing some recognition.
One such artist was 2NE1’s CL who, in an Instagram post on June 4, 2020, discussed how several black musicians, including Destiny’s Child, TLC and Whitney Houston, influenced her.
“Beyonce’s ‘Dangerously in Love’ was the first CD I bought for myself. Janet Jackson taught me the power of movement of dance and expression. Missy Elliot is why I am so obsessed with my video visuals,” she said.
Near the end of her post, she continued by declaring, “Artists, directors, writers, dancers, designers, producers, stylists in the K-POP industry are all inspired by black culture whether they acknowledge it or not,” she wrote. “I would like to encourage all the K-Pop fans to give back and show their love and support for all that we have received from black artists.”
At a 2017 press conference, Bang Shi Hyuk, CEO and founder of Big Hit Entertainment, even stated that “black music is the base. Like when doing many genres like house, urban and PBR&B there’s no change to the fact that it is black music.”
K-pop artists also often work with black artists and producers while creating new music, choreography, or video concepts, showcasing a pivotal part in why black culture is often laced within the various aspects of K-pop.
To name a few known for creating songs from some of your favorite artists, we have Dem Jointz, whose credits include popular groups like EXO, SHINee and NCT, R&B duo “The Underdogs”, who has produced and aided in songs for groups under SM Entertainment like EXO and Girls’ Generation, along with Thaddeus Dixon, an L.A.-based producer and songwriter.
Among these, several had even stated the good aspects they had felt while working overseas, with Dixon having stated in an article, “In this industry, in this business, it’s cutthroat,” Dixon says. “You can be up one day and you produce this, and then the next day, you’re going to feel like nothing. So, to be appreciated by people who don’t know you, don’t share the same experiences as you, it’s rewarding in a real like, heartfelt way.”
That is not to say there haven’t been valid complaints and examples of racism or cultural appropriation happening in K-pop, but that, in recent years especially, some idols and companies have begun making strides to give proper recognition to those often overlooked while educating themselves on the matter.
As a final note, while K-pop has certainly generated many fans through years of dedicated hard work, myself included, black artists have also worked hard and, this month, let’s give a little acknowledgment for their work, too.
In this edition of Claws to the Wall, Justin Brown, Thomas Terry, Kyle Owen and Orlando Smart discuss the close win over the Chanticleers from the Bobcat Men’s Basketball team, Bobcat Women’s Basketball’s 20-point win over South Alabama, Bobcat Softball I-35 tourney recap, Rattler boys’ basketball first-round playoff win against Clark and NBA All-Star weekend thoughts with Russ Westbrook trade drama! Be sure to catch Claws to the Wall every Thursday here at KTSW Sports!
In this Wednesday edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Colton Gibson, Orlando Smart, David Castaneda and Autumn Darder discuss Bobcat Women’s Basketball win over South Alabama ahead of their last two games, Bobcat Men’s Basketball wins while away at Coastal Carolina to aid postseason possibilities, Rattlers’ close 50-48 win over Clark, Bobcat Softball wins three out of five games in I-35 Tourney and Bobcat baseballs historic series sweep over Northwestern! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
By Julianna Hemenway
Music Journalist
Do you ever grow tired of listening to the same genres of music? As school and work progress, it’s commonplace to become bored with everyday tasks. One thing that remedies this feeling is music that tickles your senses. This experimental music mix lets the mind roam with minimal to no lyrics, from digitally mastered drum patterns to simple melodic tunes. If you’re up late getting homework done or up early to get ready for work, adding these songs to your playlist might just be the way to create new meaning in your life.
Alura Album Cover | Sweet TripSweet Trip – Palomar, Your Shadow Is the Yellow Sun This track, along with the other tracks on the album, Alura, utilizes time in a unique way. This song spans for about 6 minutes, taking you along a journey through a well-thought-out world. The atmospheric melodic tunes in the background support the freestyles of the other instruments as if they are communicating. This song is as if your brain’s wavelengths were turned into a sonic medium. At the end, you are met with a refreshing transition into an airy outro. If you’re studying or stuck in traffic, this is the perfect song to lower your blood pressure and dissociate to a better place.
Sitting at the End of the World Album Cover | JOHNNASCUS JOHNNASCUS – Hypnagogia Hypnagogia resides in JOHNNASCUS’ most recent experimental album titled “Sitting at the End of the World.” This track lacks a drumline, instead carrying you through the song with a hopeful, introspective lead and a consistent, supportive background. This song is reminiscent of the Zelda soundtrack due to the melody of the harmonious flute. It’s easy to picture yourself literally sitting at the end of the world, thinking about what was and what will be. It’s a story of resilience, being the last one who survived after it all. This song would be perfect to listen to after a long day, as it nestles you back into yourself.
Downhill2k01 – Megablast If you like drum-and-bass, you’ll like this song. The drums stop and start time, spitting and sputtering in varied ways. The variation in drumlines draws out the melody, which is reminiscent of Sweet Trip, as it responds to the drumline by harmonizing and changing the mood of the song. It’s a relaxed song void of lyrics, inducing constant and focused thought.
Full Body 2 – dancer’s theme This track is upbeat and ear-catching. Airy vocals guide the song, allowing freestyle melodies and a drum-and-bass style of beat. There is a gentle beginning and end of this song, accented with soft synths and bubbly sound effects. This song incites a steady, exciting energy that tricks your brain into daydreaming.
Drum & Bliss by Various Artists | Darla RecordsTechnicolor – Paper or Plastic?This song resides in the 1998 EP called Drum & Bliss among other artists. At 5 minutes and 32 seconds long, this song closes the EP with a relaxed tune and light synths in the background. Amphibious sound effects decorate the song, insinuating a very simple dialogue between instruments. This song is good for studying, as it does not interfere with your train of thought.
By Jordan Salas
Sports Reporter
The San Marcos Rattlers (35-3 overall, 9-1 district 27-6A) defeated the San Antonio Clark Cougars (14-18 overall, 10-6 district 28-6A) by a score of 50-48 in a nail-biter to secure the bi-district championship.
The Cougars began the game strong, particularly on defense, as they held the normally high-scoring Rattler offense to only seven points in the first quarter. On offense, the Cougars shared the ball and had four players score, ending the quarter with a two-point lead.
In the second quarter, the Rattlers found themselves good opportunities down low, but they were plagued by missed layups and turnovers. On the other end, the Cougars turned to their big man, 6-foot 9-inch senior Ethan Croley, who showed that he is not only a problem for defenses in the paint but also from beyond the arc. Croley splashed two well-contested three-pointers in the second quarter and led his team into halftime with 12 points and a 20-16 Cougar lead.
After the game, San Marcos head coach Dan Miller talked about his team’s struggles early on.
“They [Clark] played a 2-3 zone. They packed it in and forced us into some turnovers,” Miller said. “We didn’t do a good job taking care of the ball.”
The Rattlers started the second half with quick offensive plays, attempting to score fast and cut the Cougar lead. San Marcos got more of their players involved in the third quarter as well. Senior guard Jayven Cofer made a memorable play when he scored a tough left-handed layup over Clark’s big man, Croley. Senior guard for the Rattlers, Kaden Gumbs, came alive in the third, orchestrating his team and racking up nine third-quarter points which included two three-pointers.
Although the Rattlers were finding more offensive success, their defense needed to make a stand. Ending the third quarter, Clark junior guard Aiden Bolden hit a three-point dagger at the buzzer, giving his team a 38-30 lead and all the momentum heading into the final period. Up to this point, the Cougars had outscored the Rattlers in all three quarters, with Croley leading the way with 21 points.
The final period of play began, and it was an electric one. Both teams were battling strong, and the Rattlers were closing in on the Cougar lead. San Marcos intensely clamped down defensively on Clark, with the help of their thunderous fans in the stands.
Miller spoke about the support the Rattlers received from their fans and the spirit that brought the team to life.
“I just want to start by thanking the San Marcos community,” said Miller. “I thought the energy in the gym was electric from the San Marcos fans. They helped us in the second half.”
The Rattlers found themselves down by three points with about a minute and a half left in the contest when Cofer sunk a shot from downtown which tied the game.
Responding to the momentum, the Cougars got off a quick shot, but it was swatted away by the Rattlers.
With San Marcos now on offense and a tied game, senior forward Mateus Perkins was found open under the basket where he threw down a dunk to put his team up by two points.
Malik Presley All Smiles with WinMiller discussed his players’ abilities to make big plays in clutch situations, specifically the game-defining shot made by Cofer.
“Our guys found a way,” said Miller. “When the game is on the line, he’s [Cofer] not afraid to take the big shots, and tonight he took that big shot and made it.”
The Cougars still had an opportunity to get back in the game, but a defensive stop by the Rattlers and two clutch free throws by Perkins sealed the win for San Marcos.
The Ratters struggled most of the game but fought until the very end. When it mattered, they made shots, got defensive stops and ended the night with their 35th win of the season and a well-deserved bi-district championship.
You can catch round two of playoffs when the San Marcos Rattlers face the Westlake Chaparrals on Friday, February 24 at 7:00 p.m. Follow KTSW Sports for updates on the upcoming Rattler basketball game, as well as other San Marcos sports news.
Featured Image from Beau Kelly
By Erin Patterson
Music Journalist
Indie Sleaze is back! If you’re not familiar, “Indie Sleaze” was coined as a term for the grunge hipster aesthetic that started around 2006 and fizzled out in the early 2010s. The era consisted of party photography, smudged eyeliner, ripped tights and messy yet chic outfits. Though many remember the Indie Sleaze era through its fashion, the aesthetic actually stemmed from the indie music genre. Artists like LCD Soundsystem, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The White Stripes ruled the party scenes, providing a certain free-spirited yet grimy feeling that differs from the dance and house music we have today. If you look back and wish that you could have lived in that era, you’re just in luck. It appears that the Indie Sleaze aesthetic is making a return, along with all of the artists that were pivotal in making Indie Sleaze what it was.
Due to social media, users have unearthed this aesthetic and music catalog, which has been spreading like wildfire across several platforms. It seems that the industry higher ups have taken notice of the uptick in streams from artists of the genre. In January, Just Like Heaven, a music festival in Pasadena, California, released its 2023 lineup. A smorgasbord for Indie Sleaze lovers, the festival’s lineup features artists like Yeah Yeah Yeahs, MGMT, Empire of the Sun, Future Islands, M83, and more. In addition to the lineup, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Future Islands, and M83 have all just announced US tours. Just like that, we’ve stepped right back into 2011.
Sky Ferreira, a musical artist that was one of the faces of the era, released music this past year for the first time since 2013. Her 2012 EP Ghost was a quintessential piece to the Indie Sleaze catalog, consisting of the hits “Everything Is Embarrassing” and “Lost in My Bedroom.” In May 2022, Fererrira released her single “Don’t Forget” from her upcoming album Masochism, which is potentially being released this year. The single is a mix of the grunge indie music she was privy to in the early 2010s, but with a twist of 80s synth-pop. The release of this single has Indie Sleazers wanting their next fix of the addicting Sky Ferreira sound.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the band who gave us many iconic hits, such as, Heads Will Roll and Maps, also made their comeback this past year. For the first time since 2013, the indie-rock band released their new album, Cool It Down. This album is a more refined, yet reminiscent version of the music they put out a decade ago. Featuring fan favorites like Spitting Off the Edge of the World (featuring Perfume Genius) and Burning, Yeah Yeah Yeahs are locked and loaded with new material to perform at their upcoming shows.
Based on the trajectory of the music being released, live shows being announced, and in combination with social media, the Indie Sleaze aesthetic has the potential to become larger than it was in its heyday. While many have been prophesying that Indie Sleaze would make a return for years, it appears that 2023 might be the year that it comes true.
Featured Image from The Cobrasnake: Y2Ks Archives.
Episode 2 – Music Industry & Importance of Networking
On today’s episode of CA$H Radio, David Withey interviews Avery and Ashley, the cofounders of Earle’s Basement, which is a local music venue run from these two college students’ backyard. Nayeli Marte-Chavez, Masyn McCool, Eli Garcia and David Withey expand on the business side of the music industry and the importance of using your available opportunities, resources and connections to their greatest potential to aid your growth and success.
By Sofia Gualy
Music Journalist
The 65th Annual Grammy Awards nominated some of the most influential artists of the year. Some of the biggest artists came home with awards and so did smaller artists that are just getting their foot in the door. Records were broken that night including Beyonce who has earned the most Grammy Awards ever with a total of 32 awards, as well as the most nominations one, has ever received. These nominations were given to just a fraction of the momentous artists that exist in 2023 and even the underdogs seemed to win awards at the awards ceremony.
Starting off with Record of the Year which was taken home by Lizzo and her record, About Damn Time. Lizzo was up against folk superstar, Brandi Carlile and her record “You And Me On The Rock”. Carlile’s song is amazing both lyrically and instrumentally and if you’re searching for the perfect feel-good folk song, this one’s for you. Carlile won her 9th Grammy Award with previous awards including “Best Americana Album” and “Best Rock Song”. Carlile blends the line between folk and rock and creates a beautiful medley of music that is enjoyable for all. Her latest album In The Canyon Haze is out on all platforms and should definitely be a part of your playlist.
Best Dance/Electronic Music Album nominated a ton of great artists that released amazing music in the past year. The award was given to RENAISSANCE by Beyonce, but there were plenty of amazing electronic music artists that were up against this album. ODESZA released their album, The Last Goodbye, in July of 2022 which included songs such as “Light of Day (feat. Olafur Arnalds) and “The Last Goodbye (feat. Bettye LaVette). ODESZA has been a staple for all of my more upbeat playlists and this album is no different. Their newest album is available everywhere now and is perfect for a spring break playlist,
Spoon’s tenth studio album, Lucifer On The Soda | SpoonAlthough Ozzy Osbourne took home the award for Best Rock Album, Spoon’s Lucifer on the Sofa, was for sure a close second. Austin natives were nominated for their most recent album, which came out in November 2022. The album included popular songs such as “Wild” and “The Hardest Cut”, some of my favorite songs that came out last year. Although the band has been around since 1993, this was Spoon’s first Grammy Nomination. Spoon has a ton of amazing songs and should be a part of your daily rotation.
Best Alternative Music Album was awarded to a personal favorite of mine, Wet Leg by Wet Leg. The British band stole my heart and made its way to the top of nearly all of my playlists when this album was released in April of 2022. Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers took the world by storm when they came out with “Chaise Longue” in June of 2021 and have been riding the wave ever since. Wet Leg is truly incredible and every one of their songs on the album deserved the hype. Wet Leg’s awards of Best Alternative Music Album and Best Alternative Music Performance were extremely well deserved and I can only hope they gained a bigger fan base with these winnings. Wet Leg should be at the top of your playlists this year and at the top of everyone’s minds as they are about to take over the whole world.
I truly hope these artists, both old and new, have caught your eye as they are the future of music. The new age of music is bound for greatness with all of these amazing musical artists that we have at our fingertips.
Featured Image by Brandi Carlile.
By Jarris Jones
Music Journalist
2022 was an amazing year for music, especially rap music. With the many releases that were enjoyed during that year, there is bound to be an album that goes under the radar, and NO THANK YOU by Little Simz fits into this category. Simbiatu Abisola Abiola Ajikawo, better known as Little Simz, is more than just a female rapper. With over ten years in the rap game and awards such as the Brit Award for best new artist and the Mercury Prize for her fourth studio album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, which was released in 2021, she is a true artist in every sense of the word. The Mercury Prize is an award given to the best album released in the United Kingdom.
Little Simz wins Mercury Award for her album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert. | JMENINTERNATIONAL GETTY IMAGESI was first introduced to Little Simz through her cover of Gorillaz’s “Feel Good Inc.” in 2019. Since then, her music has echoed through my headphones. Upon first listen, Little Simz reminded me of artists such as Noname, Rapsody and Tierra Whack, who, in a rap game dominated by male artists, have been able to leave their own marks. NO THANK YOU by Little Simz was released on December 22, 2022, and quickly rose to the ranks of one of my top albums from that year. If you are looking for a new artist to add to your rotation of music, then Little Simz is the artist you have been searching for, with a mesmerizing voice, amazing world play and incredible production. NO THANK YOU, in my opinion, is Little Simz best record to date, tackling subjects such as mental health in the black community and self-empowerment.
With 10 songs that make up the album in just under an hour of playtime, Little Simz was able to not only provide good music but also leave a lasting impression. Songs such as “Angel,” “Broken,” “Who Even Cares” and “Control” gave me a breath of fresh air and closed out my 2022 on a high note. The standout song from the album for me is “Angel.” This song brings back fond memories of my grandfather and me. Part of the hook goes, “I woke up and I prayed for a sign. I know good things take time. God sent me you as an angel.” I often have dreams of my grandfather and I sitting on a bench and talking, catching up and smiling. I like to believe that he is my angel watching over me, and I would wake up happy knowing I have him in my life still, even if the only chance we have to see each other now is in my dreams. Little Simz has given me a song to hold onto and use in order to remember a great man. To be able to produce such a high-quality project with just a year removed from her previous record is nothing short of amazing. Thank you, Little Simz, for sharing your art. Hopefully, you will check out her music and experience her work for yourself.
Leroy poses for photo while holding Jarris as a toddler. | Grandmother Naomi Evans (2001)Featured Image by LABEL: Forever Living Originals/AWAL.
By Tara Davis
Music Journalist
Have you ever found yourself sitting around with friends wanting to do something but asking each other what is there to do? That’s the good thing about living in San Marcos: an event is constantly going on within a ten-minute drive. Whether it’s a Tuesday or Saturday night, there is bound to be an event that will get you out of the house and on to the town. If you’re living on campus or wanting to stay close, the student organization, SACA, is always throwing events like trivia night or grocery bingo in Georges, at the bottom of LBJ. They consistently post their events on their Instagram page.
If off-campus is more your vibe, as I’m sure it is for the majority of people, there is a myriad of events happening around the town throughout the entire week.
I’m not sure if it’s because it’s the beginning of the week and nobody can promise a weekly event, but I could not find anything that occurs every single Monday night in San Marcos. However, Tuesdays start out strong.
- Enjoy a movie for only $5 every Tuesday at Evo Entertainment on Springtown Way. This is the perfect weekly date night activity for very little and a good way to catch up on the latest cinema without breaking the bank.
- After your movie, head to Wake the Dead on Ranch Road for a free comedy night from 7-10 pm. Can’t make it on Tuesday, don’t worry there are plenty more opportunities for your giggles later in the week.
- If comedy isn’t your thing, head to a song swap & watch two artists play each other’s sounds, at Sean Patrick’s Irish Pub. Located right on the square, it is the perfect distance from anyone living on campus or those in the surrounding buildings.
- If you’re looking for something new, somebody you’ve never heard of, or something you’ve never seen, check out the talent show at Studio San Martian, also located on Ranch Road. This event starts at 8 pm and is only $5 for an audience member. If that’s still too much, sign up for a spot and get in for free!
Hump day is honestly one of my favorite days of the week. It is the greatest pick-me-up when you realize you are already halfway through the week. I don’t have class on Fridays, so hump day for me really means one more day and then my three-day weekend.
- If you play any instrument and are looking for like-minded individuals to play with, check out the free open blues jam at Jack’s Roadhouse. This dive bar is known for its live music shows and old-timey vibe. The bar is open every single day until 2 am so if you are going through it any time of the week, this bar will be there to pick you up, and you might even discover your next favorite musician.
- If you’re more the class clown rather than the next rockstar, check out the comedy open mic night at Lady Daze 7-9 pm. This small coffee shop is located near the highway on East Hopkins. They host events routinely including yoga workshops, special deals on products, and more.
Thursdays! The start of my weekend! Also known as thirsty Thursdays, but if you aren’t the club type girly, don’t worry, I got you covered!
- Sellar Coffee is the cutest little café on the square, it hosts open mic night at 7 pm every Thursday. Feel free to bring your own instruments and get comfortable in the quaint atmosphere. The event is free to show up to and perform at.
- If you need something a little more upbeat, a few shops down, Craft house will be hosting karaoke from 8:30 pm all the way to midnight. This is one I frequent a lot because it is so much fun. It gets pretty busy, and they do require you to buy something, a drink or food, you want to stay for karaoke. It’s always funny to see the frat guys sing their silly rap songs. Plus, the man who hosts will sometimes sing too.
- Depending on the time of the month, KTSW presents a show at the Porch on the square every third Thursday. The event is free for 21+ and only $5 for 18+. I look forward to these shows every month, especially now that it is 18+, I bring all my friends and we play pool, listen to the bands, and take advantage of the photo booth in the corner.
I could not find an event that happens every Friday, because there is always something new happening. Whether it’s a show at the Marc or a pop-up show in the San Marcos Secret Room, there is still plenty to do on a Friday night. The square is lively and walking around will get you to stumble across something happening.
Regardless of what night it is, make sure to be safe in your surroundings wherever you are, and always have a designated driver no matter where you’re going! I hope this guide provides a little help on those nights when you feel the energy but you’re just not sure where to go.
Featured Image by Tara Davis.
By Savannah Lopez
Blog Content Contributor
Since it is Black History Month, it is definitely time to recognize some of the most talented, up and coming African American actors of our generation. They are criminally underrated and long overdue for some recognition.
Caleb McLaughlin, who most people will know from his role as Lucas in the television show “Stranger Things.” He has starred in “Stranger Things” since 2016, but he has been acting since 2012. His first role was on Broadway as a young Simba in “The Lion King.” Being on “Stranger Things” has helped his career flourish, and recently he has been cast in three new movies. I am excited to watch his performance in them.
Letitia Wright portrays Shuri in the “Black Panther” movies. She has been acting since 2011, but her breakout role was “Black Panther” in 2018. She has won a NAACP Image Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and Teen Choice Awards for the movie. Rightfully so, her performances in the Marvel franchise thus far have been phenomenal. I can’t imagine the number of awards she will win throughout her life.
Daniel Kaluuya is a lot more well-known than the other actors on this list, but he has been acting the longest. His most notable works have been the movies he has done with African American director Jordan Peele including, “Get Out” and “Nope.” “Get Out” is what some people consider Daniel’s breakout role, even though he’s been acting since 2006, and that movie came out in 2017. I would say it is one of his best acting performances, but he has so many other well-known roles that people don’t appreciate. He has recently booked another Marvel role (he had a supporting role in “Black Panther”) as Spider-Punk in “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” He has won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, two BAFTAS, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. I would expect nothing less as he is one of the greatest actors of this generation.
Storm Reid made her acting debut in a supporting role in “12 Years a Slave”. Her most notable work to date is Gia, Rue’s younger sister, in the television show “Euphoria.” She is a very young actress, but she gives very raw performances. Other works of hers include, “A Wrinkle in Time”, “The Suicide Squad” and “The Invisible Man.” These directors and producers clearly recognize her superb acting abilities. Most recently she is the star in a movie called “Missing,” which is on my watchlist!
Justice Smith has been in a lot of big-name movies, but he is severely overlooked, probably due to the fact that the movies he stars in are usually with other big name actors. Nonetheless, he is personally one of my favorite actors, my favorite movie of his being “All the Bright Places,” where he gave such a real and gut-wrenching performance. Other works of his include, “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” and “The Get Down”. He is also going to star in the new Dungeon and Dragons movie, which I cannot wait to watch.
Taylor Russell is another actress who has a lot of well-known works so far, but you can tell she is just getting started. Her most notable works are “Escape Room,” “Lost in Space” and “Words on Bathroom Walls.” She can give very good dramatic performances. In her most recent movie, “Bones and All,” she gave one of the best performances I have seen her give. I am excited to watch all her future projects.
This is just to name a few. There are so many African American actors that don’t get nearly as much recognition as they deserve. I hope the trend of African American actors getting nominated and winning more and more awards progresses even further in the future.
By SK Guillory
Music Journalist
Troy Sivan’s and Jónsi’s song “Revelation” was written for the biographical drama film “Boy Erased.” Gerard Conoley’s memoir turned movie chronicles his experience of being a pastor’s son, coming out as gay and having to endure the atrocities of conversion therapy.
If you’ve ever visited a church worship service, you have felt the intense emotional pull that worship music creates. This is done on purpose to make the listener feel closer to God. Through music, Sivan and Jónsi created the same feel but with a different intent.
Sivan’s lyrics allow a feeling of liberation from the toxic ideals Christians hold over the LGBTQ+. He sings, “It’s a revelation/ There’s no hell in what I’ve found/ And no kingdom shout/ How the tides are changing/As you liberate me now/And the walls come down.” God won’t smite you for your queerness.
As a queer person and ex-Christian myself, there’s a certain kind of despair and fear one feels when the realization that you are gay kicks in. Are you going to be excommunicated from the church? Will your friends think differently of you? Will your parents accept you? Will you stop being loved? And the list goes on.
“Revelation” validates that feeling for acceptance from the church that the queer community never received. As a transgender individual, I feel this song uplifts the part of me that was put down and stomped on for so long. Being held to a certain standard all your life would make anyone go stir crazy and want to break from limiting expectations.
The lyrics “Won’t you liberate me now?/From a holy bound,” speak to being delivered from harmful anti-gay rhetoric and embraced into free will. Imagine having a sock shoved down your throat your entire life; you can’t speak your truth, and you can only listen to what you are being told. That is what being queer in a homophobic, Christian environment feels like.
Along with the lyrics, the orchestration of the music is reminiscent of what you would hear in a church. It starts with a simple piano melody and slowly builds up with synth sound and a steady 4/4 beat on the ride cymbal. The irony in the song itself adds to the powerful meaning behind it.
In an interview with Billboard, Sivan said, “The idea of that person being a revelation in your life, where you can kind of do something that feels so natural and so right and be fine on the other side, that was a really potent thing in my head.” You hold fear in one hand and trust in the other in your first queer relationship. Fear that God will strike you down with his mighty hand and trust that nothing bad comes from loving to your truest form.
Listen to the song, absorb its message, absorb what it means to you, and share it with your other religiously traumatized friends. Watch “Boy Erased” while you’re at it, “Revelation” appears in pieces all throughout the movie, by the end you will be crying but it will be worth it.
In this Monday edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Preslie Davis, Koby Jackson, Gian Carlo Cacho and Joey Gonzales discuss Bobcat women’s basketball win over South Alabama ahead of their last two games, Bobcat Men’s basketball wins away at Coastal Carolina to aid post season possibilities, Rattlers first round game against Clark, Bobcat Softball wins 3 out of 5 games in I-35 Tourney and Bobcat baseballs historic series sweep over Northwestern! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
By Kylie Hogg
Local Music Journalist
Austin-based five-piece band Bleach Burn has been making music for the past two years. Silver Linings, the band’s debut album published in December 2022, takes a slow and sludgy introspective dive into heartbreaking subjects including drug usage and traumatic relationships. With fuzzy guitars and intense synthesizers, this album is sure to be a favorite for fans of shoegaze.
The group began in 2021 when producer Miguel Cuevas and vocalist Elise Cook met at school and released their first EP, Life Alone in the City. Following the release of the EP, Cuevas and Cook both devoted their focus into releasing a full length album. Around the same time, the two recruited the rest of their band: Haley Peck on bass, Lucas Almendra on drums, and Miranda Lewis on synthesizer. They have released multiple singles up to this point but have been focusing on creating a seamless debut LP.
Silver Linings is a forty-minute conversational piece that pays homage to its shoegaze roots from the 1990s. If you are a fan of bands such as My Bloody Valentine, Lush or The Jesus and Mary Chain, you are sure to enjoy this album. The best way I can describe the atmosphere that this album gives off would be that it reminiscent of a late night talk with your best friend about something that has been bothering you. The LP’s dreamy vocals and long, curious beats gave me goosebumps on my first listen and are always sure to calm my nerves.
While Cook emphasizes the deep emotional source that inspired them throughout most of the album, they said, “I like to write in a way that can be interpreted by whoever is listening.” This remains true throughout the entirety of Silver Linings. Using grungy monotone vocals, Bleach Burn puts a spotlight on the ambient nature of the melody as well as creates an overall mood within each song.
I got the chance to talk Cuevas and Cook for a bit recently and asked them if they enjoyed producing or performing more due to the intense emotional nature of their music. They said that, while they are grateful for their opportunity to be able to perform live, they love the outlet that songwriting and producing gives them. It’s no doubt that Bleach Burn is very eager to get back into another project soon. I am hoping they will ride the wave of excitement following their first album release and continue perfecting their production quality. The way they focus on conversationality over vocal melody is interesting, and I am intrigued to see how they will expand further. Without a doubt, Bleach Burn has a bright future ahead.
Featured Image from Bleach Burn.
By Kenlie Golleher
Rap Music Director
2022 saw a lot of hot releases from the rap community, two in particular from artists that I love immensely and bump often, which would be Atlanta’s very own JID and Smino.
The Forever Story by JID and Luv 4 Rent by Smino were some of my favorite albums that dropped last year, so when announcements for the duo’s co-headlining tour, the Luv Is 4Ever Tour, dropped in the later half of last year, I knew it would be a concert I couldn’t miss. There were four Texas dates on this tour: Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Houston. I had the opportunity to get tickets to the Feb. 15 show at the Aztec Theatre in San Antonio, my favorite venue in Alamo City.
Every time I step foot into the Aztec Theatre, I get overwhelmed with amazement at the sight of all the intricate Aztec details within the venue. This is a big reason why I love this venue so much. The seats I got were in the mezzanine section, which I had never been in before. When I was directed to my seat and sat down, I was over the moon at how great my view of the stage was. I was close enough to see the performers at a decent distance, had a seat to sit in if I chose to, and had enough room to dance around wildly without being crowded. It was perfect.
The show opened up with a set by fellow A-Town artist SwaVay. He came out super energetic and was extremely interactive with the crowd, which was a pleasure to watch from above. I was introduced to him and his music on this tour, and I felt like I had really been missing out after he finished because he was such a great performer. I loved the energy he brought as well as the music I was hearing from him, so I will definitely be keeping tabs on him in the future. After his set, he came up to the mezzanine section for a few minutes to take pictures with people, so it was cool to see him up close.
Soon after, JID came out and gave us a show to remember forever. If you’re a fan or familiar with him, you know just how fast this man spits bars. It was unreal to watch him perform with such high energy without missing a beat for a set that lasted longer than an hour. My personal favorites that he performed were “151 Rum,” “Off Deez,” “Sistanem” and “Stick.”
JID hyping up the crowd during his performance of “Stick.”He expressed a lot of appreciation to the audience and those who have supported his latest album. You could tell that he was very emotional when speaking and performing because this was a project that meant a lot to him. This is a big reason why I love going to concerts so much. Artists get to create personal projects that tell a piece of their life story, and once they’re released, they’re able to resonate with so many people around the world and be interpreted differently depending on people’s life circumstances. Isn’t that amazing? The Forever Story and his previous two bodies of work are a piece of JID’s soul transformed into words and sounds, and it was an honor to have been able to share a small moment in time with him while he displayed it to us on stage.
After JID was Smino, who had a much more sensual energy to him than his predecessors of the night. Smino displayed a lot more singing skills during his set than I expected, which was a pleasant surprise. I guess I had previously overlooked his vocal skills, because it wasn’t until I saw him perform live and got to witness him emphasizing certain runs that I got a newfound appreciation for his vocal range and abilities. My favorite song performances of the night from him were “Curtains,” “Louphoria,” “Z4L,” and “Matinee.” The whole time I had been praying he’d perform my all-time favorite song of his, “PIZANO,” off his 2018 NOIR album, but sadly that didn’t get to happen that night. But that’s fine; what I was given was more than enough
Smino singing into the microphone during his performance of “Louphoria”I’m so glad I was able to experience this tour because I didn’t think I’d be able to get tickets for a long time, especially with so many show dates selling out so quickly. Seeing that purchase confirmation made me the happiest girl on Earth, even though it made my wallet very sad.
Seeing two of the greatest rap artists of their caliber perform on the same night was a fun and surreal experience. Although I didn’t get to see them together at any point nor experience a “Baguetti” encore performance, it was still an amazing concert overall. Both of their energies, as well as their sets, were filled with love and passion for what they were doing, and it resonated with the audience. They would often ask the crowd to hold their hands up to form a heart shape throughout their sets, and I loved this gesture so much. I really felt the love in the room during those moments.
Luv Is 4Ever was definitely a very fitting name for this tour, as love is what permeated the entire theater from the beginning to the end. I loved hearing the crowds sing and rap along loudly, because it relayed to me just how much these fans love what these guys do. I hope everyone who appreciates these artists for who they are and what they do gets to experience a live performance of theirs one day; it’ll be worth every penny, I promise.
By Kyle Owen
Sports Reporter
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State Baseball (3-0) proved why its home is called “Slam Marcos” by blasting 13 home runs in route to sweeping a power-five squad and Big 10 Conference foe, Northwestern (0-3), by a combined score of 56-18 during opening weekend at Bobcat Ballpark.
The 56 runs scored in the weekend by the maroon and gold was record-breaking; no other Bobcat Baseball team has ever scored that many runs in a weekend series. On Sunday, the Bobcats broke not only the run record but also the home run record in a single game as they blasted eight of them beyond the fences in Bobcat Ballpark against the Wildcats of Northwestern – the previous record was set in 2021, against Houston, with seven homers in a game.
The tying and record-breaking home runs were both achieved by freshman-newcomer, Chase Mora, who in his first and only three at-bats in the weekend were blasted out of Bobcat Ballpark. Mora completed the nearly impossible feat with a grand slam for the eighth and final home run of the game on Sunday.
“It’s awesome,” Mora said. “It’s an unbelievable moment. I knew going into [the at-bat], they were talking about it in the dugout, … when I connected and saw it went out, I was like, ‘I did it,’ it’ll be a moment I’ll never forget.”
Chase Mora smiling after sweeping Northwestern. | Kyle OwenHead Coach Steven Trout, surprisingly enough, wasn’t shocked when Mora did what he did. Trout knew that the player he recruited was going to come out and get the job done when he gave his name a call.
“We’ve always known he’s a stud,” Trout said. “He’s just a gamer, he’s just a really really good player. He seems to always have been the MVP of every tournament he plays. And so far, with three at-bats and three homers; that’s pretty good percentages. I think he wants to hit some more for us. That was just really awesome. I’ve seen it in the first at-bat, but not all three.”
It’s hard to put into words how dominant his team was over the weekend, but Coach Trout knew that it wasn’t easy for his squad to perform the way they did, for all three games, putting up record-breaking numbers.
“A lot of runs, a lot of good things happened,” Trout said. “That’s hard to do three days in a row … they came in and had great approaches from the very start through the very end … [I’m] really proud how they came out this weekend.”
The Bobcat offense, scoring 56 runs, is nothing to scoff about, but Coach Trout knows it’s a long season and, well, complacency kills.
“If we continue this, we’ll be the best hitting team in the entire country [ever],” Trout said. “We know it’s not going to go like this forever, so I just told the team ‘you’ve got to take the momentum, but it’s a work week’ … obviously what we’ve been doing has been working but, as soon as you get complacent in this game it’ll humble you. So, you’ve got to go back to work and make sure you’re ready to go for the next weekend.”
At the end of the day, even with records broken, the Bobcats got the sweep and it’s not easy to do, regardless of the opponent, especially when it’s a power-five school.
“Winning’s hard,” Trout said. “Winnings hard no matter who you play, it seems to be bigger when you beat the power-five. But, anytime you sweep somebody, that’s really hard to do – I’m really proud of how our guys just showed up each and every day with their energy, effort, and (obviously) their execution of the gameplan.”
After their record-breaking weekend against the Wildcats, the Bobcat Baseball team will be back in action next weekend against Oral Roberts (4-0), off to its first 4-0 start since 2009, in a three-game series beginning Friday, February 24, at 6:30 p.m. at Bobcat Ballpark.
Be sure to follow @KTSWSports on Twitter and Instagram for all things Texas State and San Marcos athletics.
- play_arrowMora, Bobcats Sweep Wildcats During Record-Setting Opening WeekendPreethi Mangadu “Mora’s Debut Homerun,” Radio Call by Bill Schoening and Kyle Owen (2/18/23)
By Preethi Mangadu
News & Culture Director
This week on KTSW News’ weekly update, we are covering the Community Academic Tutoring Program, the “State of the People: The Texas We Deserve” event and Gov. Abbott’s State of the State address, a timely warning issued by UPD and a reported mountain lion sighting.
Texas State Students tutor K-12 students with expanded programThe Community Academic Tutoring Program at Texas State University has expanded to include tutoring at kindergarten to high school levels.
The cohort-based program is run by the College of Education with San Marcos CISD to support English and literacy learning.
“While literacy tutors has been a work-study position for several years, this is the first year that we are doing the CATS cohort model,” Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Educator Preparation Dr. Maneka Brooks said. “The idea of a cohort model is to create community and expand the impact. It is using existing funds in a unique way to provide support for the surrounding community. In the future, I hope that we will be able to secure funds to increase the size of the cohort and the students to whom they have access.”
This program has grown four times larger than its start. It now places tutors in Mendez Elementary School, Crockett Elementary School, Goodnight Middle School, and San Marcos High School.
Community Academic Tutoring Program | Texas State UniversityAccording to Brooks, the program gives extra support to teachers, provides a university mentor for students and develops students’ interests in education. Texas State student and CATS tutor Nicholas Franks shared that he understands his students because of his personal experiences.
“I know the struggles a lot of the students are going through firsthand, I myself struggled in elementary school being a diagnosed Dyslexic,” Franks said. “I had a High School mentor who would come down a few days out of the week and just make me and my education feel special and unique. A lot of kids go under the radar and deserve better.”
The role is different than other roles on campus because it is a community work-study position, meaning students can work off-campus in a community service role. Brooks hopes that they can expand the job to other surrounding districts to support Spanish-English bilingual students and students with additional learning needs. She also believes the program can help with the current teacher shortage.
“I believe that getting college students who may not think of education as a career working with young people could spark interest in pursuing teaching as a profession,” Brooks said. “Even if they do not become teachers, it is an important experience of giving back to that it is also an important way to sustain interest in community work across various professions.”
For more information, visit https://news.txst.edu/student-experience/2023/college-of-education-cats-tutoring-program.html.
Mano Amiga holds event in response to Gov. Abbott’s State of the State addressMano Amiga and a group of social justice organizations hosted “State of the People: The Texas We Deserve,” in direct response to Gov. Greg Abbott giving his State of the State address in San Marcos, Texas.
Roberto Lopez from the Texas Civil Rights Project speaking at the “State of the People: The Texas We Deserve” event. | Jacob NeeleyThe event was a press conference and community potluck to provide a space for community members to share their vision for the future of Texas and what they want from Texas policymakers on Thursday evening at Eddie Durham Park.
“We are here because we want to make it exceptionally clear that we will not be ignored,” Ella Butler from Deeds Not Words said. “We want our lawmakers, Greg Abbott included, that we are watching them and we are holding them accountable. We want them to know that when they implement policies that threaten our livelihoods, our schools, our safety and above all else, our ability to exist freely as it is guaranteed to us in our country’s most sacred founding documents, we will be there to fight them every single step of the way.”
Speakers came from many organizations including Immigrant Legal Resource Center, San Marcos Abortion Activists, LatinoJustice Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Deeds Not Words, Hays County Jail Advocates and Texas Civil Rights Project. They all spoke about issues and needs that they believe Abbott and Texas politicians have not discussed or supported.
“What we are doing here is building the Texas that we deserve, and building the Texas that Greg Abbott refuses to give us.” Co-Founder of Mano Amiga Karen Muñoz said.
The speakers covered topics such as immigration, Operation Lone Star, abortion access, education, environment, healthcare, infrastructure, institutionalized racism, incarceration and more. They also discussed how they believe Abbott and politicians at the capital do not fully represent Texan communities.
“What Greg Abbott is sharing is not reflective of what Texans actually need. Texans are in dire need of an upgraded grid system, affordable housing, increase access to Narcan and decriminalizing substance use, and lastly, we do need to increase our access to medical care here in the state of Texas,” Priscilla Lugo of LatinoJustice PRLDEF said. “Instead, Governor Abbott has spent $4.4 billion on Operation Lonestar in the past two years, and the legislation here is set to spend about $4.6 (billion) in the next two years, making it the most expensive immigration program in the country.”
After the press conference, they focused on building the San Marcos community with a potluck, tabling from Deeds Not Words and San Marcos Abortion Activists, letter writing for individuals who are incarcerated in the Hays County Jail, children’s activities and more.
Fortunately, Texans are forming communities to fight against Abbott’s policies
Catch yesterdays State of the People community potluck + address spearheaded by @ManoAmigaSM + other partner orgs. The fight for the Texas you deserve is still on https://t.co/K9Gv1jFawj
— ILRC (@the_ILRC) February 17, 2023
The event ended just before Abbott gave the State of the State address. Abbott held his speech at Noveon Magnetics Corp. with lawmakers. This is his second legislative session of breaking the tradition and holding his address off-site and away from a joint Legislative session.
Some of Abbott’s emergency items for this legislative session are cutting property taxes, ending COVID restrictions, providing parents with school choice through state-funded Education Savings Accounts, increasing school safety, strengthening border security efforts, addressing the fentanyl crisis and ending “revolving door bail”.
The Governor also spoke about building more corporation innovation and economic development, rewarding community colleges, strengthening the power grid, reforming curriculum and more.
“Texas is the home of justice, where dangerous criminals will stay locked behind bars, and law-abiding Texans will have their liberty protected,” Abbott said. “This session, we will ensure Texas remains the leader of this nation, an unflinching force in this world. Together, we will build a Texas for the next generation—the Texas of tomorrow.”
Texas State UPD warns of aggravated assaultThe Texas State University Police Department issued a timely warning alert on Friday afternoon due to an aggravated assault.
Two university contract employees reported the crime happened when they were driving a gold cart on Woods Street on the San Marcos Campus.
“A driver in a truck pulled up beside the golf cart and exchanged words, upset the golf cart was moving too slow in front of the truck,” UPD said. “Two passengers in the truck displayed guns, then the truck took off and left campus driving south on Comanche Street.”
The alert stated there were three individuals in the truck. The driver was reported as a heavy-set white female with brown shoulder-length hair and light-colored clothes. The front passenger was described as a Black male in black clothing. The third passenger was unknown.
The truck was reported to be gray with four doors. The model and make is unknown.
If anyone has information related to this incident, contact UPD at (512) 245-2805.
Mountain Lion reportedly spotted at Purgatory Creek San Marcos police and fire departments received a call of a potential mountain lion sighting at Upper Purgatory Creek Natural Area on Feb. 12.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife game warden helped local officials search the area for the animal. However, the mountain lion was not located after looking and speaking with parkgoers.
If a mountain lion were to be found, it would be the first to be confirmed in Hays County.
This was not the first time there have been reports of mountain lions in the area. In 2021 and 2018, potential mountain lion sightings were reported, but TPWD has not confirmed any sightings in San Marcos.
TPWD reports that mountain lion sightings have been prominent throughout the Trans-Pecos area, the brushlands of South Texas and parts of the Hill Country.
San Marcos Parks and Recreation officials reminded people to be cautious in San Marcos’ parks, and provided tips for individuals who might see a mountain lion in a Facebook post.
“In addition to hiking with another person, keeping your children close, and being cautious and aware of your surroundings, it is also important to stay on marked trails and leave the park before sunset, as several forms of wildlife are most active during this time,” San Marcos Parks and Recreation officials said.
Some other tips included not approaching the mountain lion, not running, not crouching or leaning down, appearing taller, fighting back if needed and securing your pets.
On today’s episode of CA$H Radio, Eli Garcia interviews Dianna Garcia about the multi-faceted healthcare industry, details about her role and what she looks for in candidates during interviews. David Withey, Masyn McCool, Nayeli Marte-Chavez and Eli Garcia dive deeper into the conversation and talk about the do’s, don’ts and musts of the interview process.
In this Friday edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Taylor Cuen, Gian Carlo Cacho, Thomas Terry and Orlando Smart discuss Texas State Men’s Basketball final road trip that began with a loss to App State, Bobcat Women’s Basketball’s fall short against JMU, Bobcat Softballs I-35 Tourney and NBA All-Star Weekend Games! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
By Daven Meredith
Sports Reporter
Texas State Forward Da’Nasia Hood scored a team-high, 18 points, despite the team’s 54-58 loss to James Maddison during a Sun Belt Conference Women’s Basketball game at the University Event Center.
Hood connected on 6 out of 19 shots from the field, while also shooting 4 out of 6 from the free throw line. Ja’Kayla Bowie shot 5 out of 11 for 13 points from the field, while tacking four defensive rebounds for the night.
The loss drops Texas State’s record to 18-8 overall and 10-5 in Sun Belt play. The win improves James Maddison to 21-6 overall and 11-4 in conference play.
Texas State coach Zenarae Antoine said the team “had plenty of opportunities,” but the low shooting percentage in the last two quarters cost them the game.
“When you shoot under 30 percent in the third and fourth quarter, you are putting yourself in a tough situation,” said Antoine. “As far as us being able to knock those shots down, that’s what we needed to do in those two quarters in the second half, and we struggled to do so.”
Texas State connected on 19-of-64 shots attempted at the field (29.7 percent), with seven of the shots made coming in the first quarter.
“There are a few times I thought we took some quick shots,” said Antoine. “I like some of the shots we got. We just got to knock them down.”
When shots aren’t falling in, Antoine stated, “You have to keep the player’s confidence up.” Especially when they take the right shots.
“Some of the shots were rushed, but keep shooting,” said Antoine. “You want to keep their confidence high. You only say to move the ball to a better shot.”
The Bobcats were tied 50 a piece midway through the fourth quarter, only to have Dukes pull away late in the fourth. Texas State went 10-of-15 overall (66.7) from the free-throw line. Antoine said the team left points at the line that they could have used down the stretch.
“Finish at the free throw line,” said Antoine. “We left five free throws out there. I think that makes a difference.”
The loss breaks Texas State’s three-game winning streak. The Bobcats look to bounce back at their last home game of the regular season this Saturday against South Alabama at 2 p.m., where you can listen on KTSW 89.9!
Featured Image from Daven Meredith
In this edition of Claws to the Wall, Justin Brown, Paxton Graf, and Thomas Terry discuss Bobcat men’s basketball struggle to maintain consistency after the buzzer-beating loss against Old Dominion, Bobcat women’s basketballs battle for second place against JMU, Bobcat Softball I-35 tourney, Rattler boys basketball wins district, NBA All-Star weekend predictions! Be sure to catch Claws to the Wall every Thursday here at KTSW Sports.
https://soundcloud.com/ktsw89_9/bobcats-battle-for-second-place-nba-all-star-weekend?si=a5f1e65a02394a5c9de8b380d47aab05&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharingLinks to an external site.
By Maxwell Zaborowski
News Reporter
Texas State held two events commemorating Black History Month on Feb. 9 and 10. The first event was Texas State Men’s Basketball Equality and Inclusion Awareness and Racism game for Black History Month. The other event was the Black History Month Kick Back held on the San Marcos campus.
Also known as African American History Month, Black History Month is a month-long observance that celebrates the contributions of African Americans to American history, culture, and society. February is meant to encapsulate a rich and complex history, reflecting both the long struggle for racial justice in the United States and the ongoing effort to recognize the many achievements of African Americans throughout history.
The men’s basketball Equality and Inclusion Awareness and Racism game, a blackout game where students came dressed in black Texas State gear, and some students received a free, black Texas State shirt for attending. When the players arrived, they wore practice shirts over their jerseys with Black History Month in red, yellow, and green across the front.
During half-time, a video commemorating Martin Luther King Jr and Rosa Parks played on the video board. After this, the Delta Sigma Theta sorority performed a dance that is known as stepping and they performed to the song “Pull over” by Trina.
The Black History Month Kick Back was held in the Unity Lounge in the LBJ Student Center and put on by Jesse Silva, the director of Inclusive Excellence-Student Connections and Belonging, and sponsored by the Division of Inclusive Excellence.
“These sort of events help me feel included at Texas State,” Texas State student Jared Dudley said. “Everyone there was so happy and having a good time, there was a real sense of community.”
People sitting and talking at the Black History Month Kick Back. By Sam NievesSilva and the Division of Inclusive Excellence provided free shirts, food and refreshments. They also had coloring pages out, a DJ playing and a BHM Kahoot to participate in, along with other activities.
“There’s a lot of connection and bonding here. I really like it,” Texas State student Sam Nieves said. “Great food and really good music. I think it’s important to have events like this because everyone is able to be themselves and be comfortable and bond over our race.”
Black History Month is a time to reflect on the struggles and achievements of African Americans throughout American history. By taking the time to learn about the many contributions of African Americans to society, everyone can work to create a more just and equitable future.
Texas State University will host a series of events to commemorate Black History Month, which are listed on their website at https://inclusion.txst.edu/students/programs/cultural-celebrations/black-history-month/upcoming-events.html
Featured image by Maxwell Zaborowski.
In this Wednesday edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Joey Gonzales, Koby Jackson and Orlando Smart discuss Texas State Men’s Basketball struggling to find consistency against App State, Bobcat Women’s Basketball’s battle for first against JMU Thursday and Bobcat Baseball preview against Northwestern! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
By Preethi Mangadu
News & Culture Director
Texas State University’s Meadows Center for Water and the Environment was awarded almost $2.5 million in federal appropriations to support the Climate Change Impact on Water Initiative.
The initiative works to study climate change’s impact on all Texas water resources and to create an informative public tool to showcase how to preserve and protect water in the state.
“The Climate Change initiative is focused on providing information and options to the people and planners of Texas to, one, understand climate change might affect their water resources and, two, offer up some potential ways to build climate change in other planning as well as respond to climate change impacts on water resources,” said, executive director and chief water policy officer of the Meadows Center, Robert Mace.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett announced the new funding last week, after securing funding for the initiative in June 2022.
“Climate change is already messing with Texas water. New federal funds I secured are advancing the next phase of developing actionable projections for how climate change is impacting our water, breaking ground on new scientific research to develop a response,” said Doggett, in a press release. “Providing scientific results—accessible to all—Dr. Mace and his team will equip local leaders to build climate change into water resource planning and determine the most effective ways to protect our water. Our Highland Lakes are one of the first places on which they are focusing.”
The funding will be used to evaluate how higher temperatures and climate change will affect Texas’s natural water resources, plan how Texas policymakers can consider climate change in water planning and provide research on what cities can do in response to a potential decrease in established water supplies.
“This is important to the Texas community because climate change is going to threaten everything we love about Texas and Texas water,” Mace said. “The initial studies in different parts of the state suggest major impacts to our rivers, our reservoirs and several of our aquifers, including the Edwards Aquifer that feeds San Marcos Springs here on Texas State University.”
In Texas, climate change will create several challenges against the state, especially with supplies to cities, food supplies from agriculture, industry and the environment, according to Mace. San Martians can try to use as little water as possible and support water utilities to individually help protect and preserve water resources.
“Given the growth that is occurring in the San Marcos area and the I-35 growth corridor, it is pretty remarkable, and I think we are going to run out of our local resources, and we’re going to have to be pulling in water from larger distances,” Mace said. “But for an individual, think about your relationship with water; think about how you use water; think about how you can use it more efficiently.”
For more information, visit https://www.meadowscenter.txst.edu/ClimateChange/ClimateDashboard.html.
By Thomas Graham
Sports Reporter
Texas State men’s basketball (12-15 overall, 5-9 in conference) suffered a tough loss to Old Dominion (16-10 overall, 8-6 Sun Belt Conference) Saturday afternoon at Strahan Arena in San Marcos, Texas.
Texas State was handed its ninth loss in conference play to Old Dominion by a score of 70-68. The Bobcats started off great in the opening five minutes of the game tying the game to 8-8.
But then the ‘Cats slowly started to progress, scoring 30-32 toward the end of the half. Within two minutes left of the first half Texas State was struggling to keep up with Old Dominion making the score 32-35, with Freshman Guard Jordan Mason scoring a layup to make the bobcats only down by three.
On the next Lion possession Old Dominion, Guard Chaunce Jenkins knocks down two free throws to end the half with a score of 37-32, with Texas State down by 5 in the first half.
In the middle of the second half, the Bobcats take over the lead by six points changing the score to 41-47, with junior forward Nate Martin knocking down a jumper and Senior forward Nigheal Ceaser making a layup.
Toward the end of the game Texas State was trailing 60-68 until junior forward, Nate Martin knocks down a pair of free throws, with freshman Jordan Mason hitting a three and Senior Guard Mason Harrell making a layup making them change the lead to only one point.
Texas State was holding its own for the last minute of the game when freshman Jordan Mason gets fouled making one out of the two free throws, having Texas state tied until with four seconds left on the clock Old Dominion sophomore Guard Imo Essien drives down the court scoring a layup to win the game by two.
In another loss freshman guard Jordan Mason filled up the stat sheet with 11 points and four rebounds. While Mason Harrell finished with 17 points and five rebounds.
Texas State will play its next game against Appalachian state on February 16 at 5:30 p.m. where you can listen live on KTSW 89.9!
Featured Image by Beau Kelly.
By Lillian Jones
Music Journalist
In anticipation for this month’s Third Thursday, I set up an online interview with the Austin based band, Flight By Nothing. The five members of the band, Conner (lead vocals/guitar), Sam (drums), Pacco (guitar), Porfii (bass) and Huey (keyboard) set up our zoom call in their recording studio as we talked about experiences and passions when it comes to their music. This being my first interview with KTSW, I was quite nervous; luckily, the guys were open to share their stories and answer my questions.
I started off the interview by getting some basic background information on the band. I quickly learned that Conner, Sam, Porfii and Huey have all been good friends since elementary school. Shortly after, Porfii met Pacco by playing in a church band together. All five members were hanging out at Sam’s house on Dec. 8, 2016, when they got the idea to start a band, so they did exactly that. Two weeks later Flight By Nothing had written five songs and had their first performance.
Lillian: Wow that is really fast! So, you said there’s five members, I feel like these days there’s only two-four members in a band. Having that many people, how does that affect the dynamic of the band?
Sam: I actually think it helps ,because all five of us have a role that we play. When it comes to the music, it’s important for all of us to be creatively involved. I feel like it works out to have five of us ‘cause it makes the music better; it makes our work flow and songs and practicing a lot better.
Lillian: That makes sense, just having a whole bunch of ideas to work with.
Sam: Yeah ‘cause when we were a four piece, it didn’t feel as full. Before Pacco joined, I personally feel like we weren’t as good. Pacco joining changed the whole dynamic, it made us feel like we needed to play better and write better music.
Listening to their music, I couldn’t find a way to describe their unique sound. I asked the band to give me some buzzwords they felt fit their music the best – energetic, eclectic, rockin’, funky and cool. They spoke on some of their eclectic inspirations including the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, ‘80s guitar players such as Zakk Wylde from Pantera and Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Frank Sinatra and early 2000s pop-punk rock.
Lillian: It’s funny ,because I listened to some of your music and I can definitely hear all of those influences! So you guys moved to San Marcos ,but you also play in Austin a lot –
Sam: Yeah, we’re trying to get into the Austin scene a lot more than San Marcos ,but we still play a lot of good shows in San Marcos when we do. We throw house parties and some that we’ve thrown have had some of the most people.
Lillian: Do you have any fun stories from your house shows?
Conner: Too many to tell!
Sam: Somebody parked on the street coming up to our house and the cops came-
Conner: The sheriff came! I talked to him when I was really drunk.
Lillian: Ooh that’s not good!
Sam: Yeah people just get really wild and rowdy and we love it.
Pacco: A girl jumped off our roof.
Lillian: What??
Conner: She actually threw herself off backwards and a bunch of people caught her.
Lillian: Oh wow, speaking of you living in San Marcos, between Austin and San Marcos, which cities music scene do you feel more connected to?
Huey: Austin in a way; I feel like the San Marcos scene is constantly changing. It’s always new people every six months. I feel like when we’re in Austin we’re more ourselves. There’s also not a lot of venues in San Marcos.
Lillian: Yeah I definitely agree. Being from Austin and very recently moving to San Marcos, that was like the first thing I noticed. There’s not a lot of venues, which is really annoying.
Huey: Yeah I’d say Austin ,but still San Marcos is definitely a tight-knit community which is really cool. We’re playing shows with our friends every time we play there which I love.
Lillian: Branching out from San Marcos and Austin, you guys went on tour in 2022, how was the overall experience?
Conner: It was so much fun, it was the adventure of a lifetime. It was like all the classic first tour tropes. My car broke down, but we still made it to the gig. Sam and Huey pulled out some GTA moves on the highway, it was crazy! We slept in terrible hotel rooms, we partied and made new fans in every city we went to. It was great, it was an awesome experience.
Sam: Yeah it was like so much fun. I miss it everyday! I always wanted to go on tour.
Lillian: What was your favorite show on tour?
Conner: For me personally it was probably Athens [GA], it was a lot of fun; besides our Austin show obviously! But Athens was a lot of fun, it was probably the most people we’ve ever played in front of.
Pacco: Yeah, we stayed there a few days so we had enough time to go out, talk to people and invite them to the show. By the time it was time for the show, we got a good turn out there. They really liked us so I hope we get to go back and play there!
Sam: Mine was probably Austin ‘cause it felt good to be back home. We played a venue that I always wanted to play-
Lillian: What venue was that?
Sam: It’s at the Parish, that’s actually where we’re at now. Our studio is right behind the Parish.
Lillian: You said you made a lot of fans – do you have a craziest fan story?
Conner: Okay bet!
Sam: The one in Nashville, both of them in Nashville.
Huey: Oh yeah that was pretty crazy. We were out in Nashville and it was kind of an off night, we played on a Tuesday and we were standing out in front of the venue a couple hours before the show. A guy walked by and was like ‘Oh my god, are you guys Flight By Nothing?’ He’d known us for a while. We had a couple of those [INTERACTIONS] that night. It was a surprise anytime we saw somebody that was really there for us on tour ,because we’re an independent band just kinda going at it in all of these cities. It was really cool.
Sam: Also that same night when we were playing, we noticed this family walked in. After we played I walked up to them and was like ‘Hey thanks for coming out, how did you hear about us?’ They ended up being from New Jersey – not from Nashville – and their son had been following us when he saw that we were playing in Nashville. They wanted to come out and support. That’s so crazy. We had that guy on the street recognize Conner and then had some fans from out of state that came to our show in Nashville. It was so random ,but also one of the coolest fan moments we’ve ever had.
Conner: One more! We’re playing the show [IN ATHENS] and I looked out in the crowd and this dude’s singing the words to all of our songs. I thought he was mouthing the words…but no! He was really singing the words. I talked to him and he was like ‘Dude I’ve been a fan for like a year’ or something. It was crazy. He just happened to be in Athens, he was from Dallas.
Lillian: That’s so awesome! I can’t even imagine how it would feel to have random people just know you like that. In 2022, you also played at Hangout Fest in California; how was that experience and how was it different from shows in Austin/San Marcos?
Huey: Well we got to live the Rockstar lifestyle for a weekend, open bar, hanging out in the artist lounge and artist passes. A lot of our favorite artists were in the same room as us, so that was pretty validating for sure.
Sam: We got free food, that was dope.
Huey: Me, Conner and Sam, have been a few times as fans [THE FESTIVAL] ,so going and actually playing, it was pretty insane.
Conner: I met Patrick Stump, like the lead singer of Fall Out Boy–
Lillian: Yeah I know who Patrick Stump is, that’s crazy!
Conner: Yeah, me and Huey talked to Patrick Stump and that was insane to me. I have idolized this guy since I was a child and now I’m talking to him. He’s shorter than I am! That was pretty surreal.
Sam: Another thing is that we met Fall Out Boy like twenty minutes before they played one of the best sets I’ve ever seen. We were just backstage talking to them and then like 10 minutes later, we’re front row watching them kill it on stage. That was one of the best moments of my life, playing that festival.
Pacco: I got to play with Oliver Tree! Apparently his band couldn’t be there because they were having issues getting back into the country so it was only him that could make it. He had to call up a guy that was just a drummer in the area he knew, then he called up the artist that we were playing with, saying that he needed a keyboard or guitar player. At first it was gonna be Huey so he got a nice golf cart ride to the stage. Then when plans changed, I had to basically speed walk to the stage to get there. I didn’t get a car ride ,but it’s cool. The experience was awesome. I got to be in front of thousands of people, a sight that I’ve always wanted to see. I wish I could do that again with my band, playing our own music. Hopefully that’s a goal we can accomplish this year.
Lillian: What are your goals for the next few years?
Huey: Blow up and act like I don’t know nobody!
Conner: Yeah, blow up and act like we don’t know nobody! You ever see that? That Riff Raff vine?
Lillian: Oh my god yes! With the weird sharp grill?
Pacco: You forgot to do the laugh!
Conner: I forgot how he does it ,but yeah, we want to release these projects; we’re about to drop a couple EPs and then hopefully get on the radar a bit more and go on tour again, play bigger stages and make more music we love.
Sam: Also it would be really cool to be the biggest indie band in San Marcos.
Lillian: I’m pretty knew to the San Marcos scene ,so I can’t really tell who the biggest bands are ,but I’d say you guys are doing pretty good. You said you’re releasing an EP soon?
Sam: It’s coming!
Lillian: Can’t give me too many details just yet?
Sam: It’s just that we’re recording.
Conner: That’s where we are right now. We’re in the studio. This is our studio! That’s what we’ll be doing after this.
Sam: Yeah, it’ll be just a lot of new music and I think we’re just really excited to release it.
Lillian: Okay cool! I noticed you guys started releasing music every year since 2018 and there was a gap during 2020. I’m assuming you took a break during the pandemic; did COVID have any effect on the band?
Conner: Yeah for sure, big time. We went a big chunk of time without really seeing each other.
Huey: Yeah when it started we didn’t see each other. I honestly think that was a blessing for us at the same time. We loved playing shows so much that, when it was taken away from us, it made performing a lot more precious. It also gave us a lot of time to write. We started this [FLIGHT BY NOTHING] right out of high school, so we were going non-stop for a couple of years. It forced us to sit and think for a second. I think it really helped the music we’re making right now.
Sam: Yeah, it was definitely like a reset. When our studio opened back, a lot of us had gotten new gear and – at least for me – having new gear made me want to get better at my instrument. I think musically, it was a good reset for us to write better songs and prepare for whenever bars/venues were opening up again. I think there was also a shift in creativeness too; and it’s been better since. The Pandemic affected the band, but not necessarily in a negative way.
Lillian: Okay, yeah I totally get that! Two more questions! This one’s a little silly. In 2021 you posted a video on Instagram of a house show where you played “Mr.Brightside” by The Killers, do you do covers often, or should listeners expect to mostly hear originals?
Conner: We’ll throw a cover in there if we have a long set ,but mostly, we like to play our own stuff. But you never know!
Sam: Sometimes we’ll feel a song and we’re like, ‘we need to cover this.’ In our set right now, there’s actually little tidbits of other songs, like a medley of “Careless Whisper” that we integrated into one of our own songs and also Redbone by Childish Gambino. So we do covers ,but not the full song.
Lillian: Like Easter eggs! That’s cool, I really like that. Okay, last question. How did you come up with your name?
Sam: Well, we weren’t really digging our last name which was The Silver Streams. I was listening to music and found this song by Rush called “Flight By Night”. I changed some words and I texted everyone, “Flight By Nothing” and they all responded with just a thumbs up. So, that was it. And we just kinda stuck with it. People ask what it means and I just say it sounds cool.
Lillian: Yeah it sounded like it was something from a book or movie so I was trying to find what it was from!
You can listen to Flight By Nothing on all streaming services and come see them live at The Porch this Thursday, February 16th!
Follow them on Instagram to stay updated @flightbynothing.
Featured Image by Lauren Jamieson.
By Sam Burzinski
Web Content Contributor
I’m a normal guy; I’m just like you! I pay my taxes, put my pants on one leg at a time and I had a massive crush on the girl who played Iago in my sophomore year English class reading of “Othello!” Shakespeare is probably England’s best export, barring those Heinz beans, and the people love the Bard like nobody’s business.
In particular, everybody knows about Juliet and her Romeo, practically since birth. Star-crossed lovers, yadda yadda yadda, fair Verona, yadda yadda yadda, wherefore art thou. I’m sure that you know every note, every line, every iamb by heart at this point in your learned life.
I’m most fascinated by, however, how Hollywood captures the play in the form of movies: the highs, the lows, the Apothecaries – all of it. So, for this year’s Valentine’s Day, I’d like to take you through nine whole cinematic depictions of “Romeo and Juliet,” hand selected by yours truly.
But first, some ground rules. I split the ten into two categories: straightforward adaptations (the biggest criteria was whether or not the two are actually named “Romeo” and “Juliet”), and those that are a bit looser with the plotlines (For the most part, this just meant two warring factions and love between them).
I’m also judging on the loosest criteria one could set for a movie: how well does it fit the source material? Is it having fun with the words of ol’ Willy S.? Is it a tragedy? (This last one was a particularly striking point for me. The story is a tragedy! It’s not a lovely teenage romance! They die! Alas, Hollywood loves a good happy ending, so look forward to this one being broken quite a bit. In any case, I digress.)
Here’s the list in no particular order:
My own personal 4K copy of “West Side Story.” I cherish it like a child.WEST SIDE STORY (2021)
I’ll cop to this right out of the gate: this is one of my favorite movies ever made. Biased? Uh, yeah absolutely. I saw this particular film on opening day in an empty theater and I’ve never had more fun. I’m a musical guy, so it’s certainly not for everyone, but it’s just so great!
It’s a remake of a musical adaptation of a play, so there’s a bit of confusion as to the true source material, but Tony and Maria, Jets and Sharks? That’s pure Shakespeare right there, baby. From frame one, Steven Spielberg opens up on a 1950s New York unlike any other movie before or since. The world is harsh, but there’s a warmness in the camaraderie, as criminal as it is. The songs? Don’t even get me started. Every single frame that Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez and nearly every single other cast member inhabit are full of joy and sweeping musicality that you just can’t get anywhere else.
Major props, not to the movie in all honesty, but to Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Arthur Laurents and Jerome Robbins for crafting such a perfect adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet” that lay at the heart of this movie. The transposal onto what was then-modern New York City lays a stellar groundwork for Shakespeare, and there’s an edge to the music that you just wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else at the time of the musical’s original staging.
Plus, it’s a tragedy! Sure, Maria doesn’t die at the end, but Tony sure does, and in this partial-credit world in which we live, that’s more than good enough for me. The movie ends on a downer note, but so does “Romeo and Juliet!” The joy that the movie instills in the viewer up to that point more than makes up for it.
PIZZA MY HEART (2005)
Mamma mia, this movie was rough.
“Pizza My Heart” is a 2005 ABC Family original “cinematic” “masterwork,” transposing the events that transpired in Verona, Italy, to now taking place in Verona, New Jersey. The Montebello and Prestolani families have a longstanding pizza-based blood feud back to the old country and take it out on each other by having rivaling pizza joints in the present day.
Joe Montebello is a regular Romeo Montague, and Gina Prestolani seems like she could have just walked out of a production of Shakespeare in the Park (I am lying to you). I can’t hate on things too hard; it is, after all, an ABC Family original TV movie. Shiri Appleby and Eyal Podell do their jobs exactly how you’d want them to for this sort of thing, though they sure aren’t winning any Critics Choice Awards any time soon.
The movie was a cool 85 minutes, but it felt like I was sitting here all day waiting for it to end. I wanted to get something out of “Pizza My Heart” so badly, I did. I wanted it to be bizarre, to laugh at a wooden delivery of Jersey dialect, but the only thing I got was watching actors Dan Hedaya and Michael Badalucco plug in some microwaves and pray frantically that the other would drop dead.
Rough stuff, but surely it can only go up from here?
I did not happen to see this film in 3D, but imagine the possibilities!GNOMEO & JULIET (2011)
Everybody has a movie that they would have to watch in elementary school over and over on a Field Day, or when there was a party, or when the teacher was a little too hungover to get a real lesson going and didn’t feel like educating you. For me, that movie was 2011’s animated gem “Gnomeo & Juliet”, with “Rio” and “Hoodwinked Too” coming in just behind (2011 was a big year for this genre, apparently).
“Gnomeo & Juliet” is a rendition of “Romeo and Juliet”, but with a cavalcade of lawn ornaments taking the stage. The film has an oddly all-star cast of well-respected British actors lined up for the various gnomes, frogs and plastic flamingos that litter the screen at any given moment.
“Gnomeo & Juliet” was a passion project for Sir Elton John and it shows. One of the biggest highlights of the movie is the inclusion of his music, so at least it has something good going for it.
Character-wise, the Redbrick and Bluebury clans live in the backyard of Mr. Capulet and Ms. Montague, two elderly folks with a feud of their own. Benny, Gnomeo’s main man, is a combination of Mercutio, and Benvolio and is a goofy lil’ fella. Beyond that, it’s pretty much the same as the original, except for a talking bust of Shakespeare that Gnomeo meets in a park, who comments on this movie’s similarity to his work. I’m not entirely sure what that accomplishes beyond making me wish I was watching a better movie!
Anyway, I can’t rag on it too hard. Given that this is the only entry that’s really “for kids”, “Gnomeo & Juliet” is a perfectly fine film, and it provided us, as a culture, with the funniest sequel of all time: “Sherlock Gnomes.”
‘Romeo and Juliet’ by Baz Luhrmann; starring Claire Danes, Leonardo Di Caprio.WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S ROMEO + JULIET (1996)
I went into this movie thinking “Yeah, I can probably handle how absolutely stunningly beautiful Claire Danes is in this movie.” And then I couldn’t. I. Just. Couldn’t.
Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 adaptation starring the aforementioned Danes and a young Leonardo DiCaprio at the height of their teenage charms is absolutely incredible. The film updates the 16th century to late ‘90s Verona Beach, where the two families are now rival mafia gangs, swords are now guns cleverly named after types of weapons the original characters would use and everything is slick, frenetic and in-your-face. The kicker? All of the original dialogue remains.
Despite the open Hawaiian shirts, ecstasy trips and drag lip-syncing, the characters still speak in the dialect that would have been heard on the Globe in 1598. This may be a barrier to some at first, but the performances tell you everything you need to know about how the dialogue should feel.
That’s what great Shakespearean acting is all about: the words and lines may be dense and complicated to a modern ear, but the performances of the actors convey such a distinct tone and idea that still connects everything. John Leguizamo as Tybalt, Paul Sorvino as Fulgencio Capulet and a young-but-still-somehow-completely-recognizable Paul Rudd as Dave Paris are highlights of this.
This is one of those movies I think every teenager should try and watch. If there’s one way to digest the tale of “Romeo and Juliet” in as pure a form as possible while keeping a modern edge to it, it’s this film. Loud, energetic, yet still completely moving and indicative of Shakespeare’s work, “Romeo + Juliet” has it all.
TROMEO AND JULIET (1997)
If you’re not yet familiar with the works of Troma Entertainment, here’s your chance. The brainchild of producer and director Lloyd Kaufman, the movies of Troma are known for being wildly transgressive, disgusting, perverse, and, above all else, entertaining. The 1997 cult hit “Tromeo and Juliet” is absolutely no exception to this rule.
This movie was the first writing credit for “Guardians of the Galaxy” director and current DCU mastermind, James Gunn, and it shows. Gunn was brought up in the Troma sphere, and his style is clear in “Tromeo.”
The movie is wildly irreverent, from what can feasibly be shown on a movie screen, but there is an odd sense of heart at its core. Tromeo and Juliet as characters truly do love each other (despite being, spoiler alert, siblings), and the source material at its core is respected on a screenwriting level. It’s just that there are a lot more bodily fluids than Shakespeare may have put into his work.
If you’re a fan of body horror, mutilation, the punk culture of late 1990s New Jersey, brief intellectual debates on PBS children’s broadcasting and you’re not particularly squeamish, “Tromeo and Juliet” has it all covered for you.
My one hope with this piece of the article, in particular, is that one reader has now found their new favorite movie studio, and the other 99% of readers have now found their new least favorite movie studio.
ROMEO AND JULIET IN YIDDISH (2012)
I have always been oddly fascinated by the Jewish religion. Having been raised Catholic in western Maryland, Judaism was always something relegated to token cartoon characters. “Romeo and Juliet in Yiddish” inundated me with more information about Judaism, particularly the ultra-Orthodox sect of the religion, than I ever could have asked for.
Clearly the passion project of direct-screenwriter-producer-actress Eve Annenberg, the movie follows two distinct plotlines. The first revolves around a nurse and part-time playwright, played by Annenberg, being forced by her graduate program to adapt “Romeo and Juliet” into the Yiddish language.
To accomplish this, she hires a few Orthodox apostates who are slumming it through the streets of Williamsburg, and they all learn a little something along the way. The other plotline shown to us is the actual adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet” that they are working on, updated to be between families of Chabad and Satmar Jews in 2012 Brooklyn.
Beyond the movie itself, I could find exceedingly little information about this movie online. Wikipedia only mentions it very briefly on the page for Yiddish Cinema as “an independent production which employed formerly ultra-Orthodox nonprofessional actors,” and boy does it show. “Romeo and Juliet in Yiddish” were produced on a shoestring budget, but I can’t fault it for that in the least. There was clearly a strong degree of effort to it, and the actors are certainly trying, but boy was I confused.
Helpful captions pop up from time to time to shed a little light on Orthodox Judaism for those who may not be as informed, but it does nothing to help with the twisting plotlines. Given that all the actors from the “real-world” plotline double as their “Romeo and Juliet” counterparts, things get muddled as to which is which very quickly. Oftentimes, I only knew which one was which if someone addressed another by name.
On top of this was one character by the name of Zalman, cared for by Annenberg’s “real-world” nurse character, Ava, whom, early on, claims to be “leaking the magic of Kabbalah” and sparkles emanate from his fingertips. I have no clue as to what that Kabbalah magic accomplished for the plot and what his deal was beyond that.
Once again, I don’t think this movie was made for me. I could go on and on about how weird and confusing and messy and oddly engrossing this movie became for me, but life is far too short to devote any more time than is absolutely necessary to “Romeo and Juliet in Yiddish”
Promotional subway poster for “Warm Bodies.” Fun fact: the scene depicted in this poster appears in the book on which the movie was based, but not the movie itself. Neat!WARM BODIES (2013)
Released at the height of the late-2000s and early-2010s boom in zombie-related media, “Warm Bodies” is a perfectly adequate take on “Romeo and Juliet” that revolves around the male half of the star-crossed duo (R, played by Nicholas Hoult) being, well, a zombie. Teresa Palmer is Julie, an apocalypse survivor saved by R from being devoured by his kinsmen, and hijinks ensue as R realizes what love feels like.
If I was, like, 15 in 2013 and going on a date, there would be far worse options for me to be seeing. “Warm Bodies” is founded on the somewhat troubling trope of “kidnapper as lover interest”, but Hoult’s voiceover as R’s thoughts and his minimal verbal grunting are just charming enough to keep it out of your mind for the whole movie. Things are fairly goofy but, beyond those minor grievances, things go swimmingly for the movie. There’s even a balcony scene! I have to give one of these movies props for a nifty little twist on what has gradually become a somewhat bland setup.
Would it be fair to say that Academy Award-nominated actor, John Malkovich, is “slumming it” as Julie’s father and dictatorial leader of the surviving humans? Maybe? But anything the man touches is golden. His performance is the most surprising, even when doling out a great deal of exposition for the audience’s sake.
I honestly don’t have a ton to say about “Warm Bodies” one way or the other. It’s a perfectly serviceable piece of cinema, it has a zombie makeover montage set to m83’s “Midnight City” and Nicholas Hoult has, and always will be, at his best playing weird little creeps, of which R is one of his most pleasant. Far worse ways to spend an afternoon!
ROMEO MUST DIE (2000)
So, if you’ve seen “Romeo Must Die”, a 2000 kung-fu action/gang warfare Jet Li vehicle, you’ll know what I’m going to say. And no, this isn’t really a takeoff on “Romeo and Juliet”. Beyond the name and some vague semblances of a romance between Li and Aaliyah as key family members of warring gangs, this is just a bland action movie; but a cool bland action movie, I will say. It’s also Valentine’s Day, and any movie with “Romeo” in the name is going to be at least a little bit fitting.
Jet Li is this movie’s greatest strength. Every second he’s on screen, your first thought is, “Man, I hope this guy does something cool next,” and the man delivers. He beats up some Chinese prison guards, smokes Anthony Anderson in three different situations and kicks a man on the top of the head so hard his whole spine shatters all the way down in a phenomenal x-ray shot of the “Mortal Kombat” style kill.
This being Aaliyah’s feature debut and the only one released in her lifetime makes you wonder what could have been. She does exactly what the movie requires of her as the female lead of an action film in 2000, but there’s something that tells you she could’ve been a phenomenal leading lady in the years following.
The plot? Oh, right. Bad. Something about a contrived gang war between Black and Chinese mob factions and a land deal to build a stadium for an expansion team in Oakland, a team that, in 2000, still had the Raiders. Some twists and x-ray kung fu hits later, and the leading pair walk away together over the credits.
When “Romeo Must Die” was rough, it was capital-R Rough. But when it was good? I was hootin’ and hollerin’ and losin’ my mind. Just don’t go in expecting to have a nice romantic movie night with a loved one.
I have something to own up to before I close this article. At the start, I said there were nine movies on this list. If you’ve been keeping track, there are only eight movies on this list. That, dearest mathematically inclined reader, is because I could not find a copy of the film “R#J” if my life depended on it. All I know about the movie is that it’s a modern take on “Romeo and Juliet” told almost entirely through social media interactions and videos captured on phones, starring a cast of exclusively actors of color. Sounds really cool? Well, it was only shown to the public twice: Sundance Film Festival and SXSW, both in 2021. Not a single copy of “R#J” exists anywhere online, at least not to my knowledge. If you can find it someday, I highly encourage you to watch it and call 555-555-5SAM to tell me what you think.
So, what have we learned? Most movie adaptations of “Romeo and Juliet” aren’t exactly cinematic masterpieces, for one. Both versions of “West Side Story” still reign supreme as the high-water mark, with Baz Luhrman crafting a movie that ignites every sense at once. Everything beyond those that are covered in this article is hit-and-miss and it’s tough to nail down a good recommendation. If it’s of any use to you in this ranking-obsessed world in which we live, you can find my personal ranking list here.
“Romeo and Juliet” is a literary work of subtlety, tragedy and dense metaphor after metaphor to describe teenage feelings of love. It stood the test of time for over 400 years to be seen today as a masterwork and one of the best-known works by William Shakespeare, a man I’m confident in saying is the most well-known playwright in history. Most of these movies, however, have not.
Watch these movies with a loved one and have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
Featured Image from Magdalena Szymaniec and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
In this episode of “State’s Up,” KTSW 89.9’s monthly one-on-one with Texas State University President Kelly Damphousse, we talk with the president about what he calls his Hopes and Aspirations High for Texas State. This includes the progress Texas State is making to become a top tier research university. We also discuss efforts to increase enrollment at the university… and the growing pains that have come along with more students on campus. Plus, will Texas State get a funding boost as the Texas legislature announces a significant budget surplus?
Stream State’s Up Episode 3 – Hopes and Aspirations High by KTSW 89.9 | Listen online for free on SoundCloud
By Harriet Bernard
Punk Heaven: The Pinky Rings Tape Release
Feels So Good Records hosted a tape release for local girl punk band, The Pinky Rings, on Friday, February 10th, 2023. Opening bands Bodyplan and Transy Warhol started the night out with a bang and got the crowd geared up for the main event. The record shop, located in south Austin, is a large warehouse that has a variety of records, tapes, vintage apparel and knick-knacks as well as a bar and stage for hosted shows. It’s the perfect space for music lovers to get together and get a taste of Austin’s infamous musical talent.
Bodyplan is a local noise punk band that carried the first third of the night. Performing some of the songs from their first official self-titled album, Bodyplan gave their audience a high energy show. Each song of their set bled into the next, creating a smooth and ecstatic flow of music, allowing those who had just arrived to grab a drink and find a spot in the crowd. The track titled Fold was a good display of the band’s overall sound with a mix of their experimental noise style. You can find them on Instagram: @b0dypl4n.
Bodyplan performing at FSG Records. Photo by Harriet BernardThe second band on the night’s bill, Transy Warhol, gave a sassy performance that rocked the crowd. Lead singer Ruby del Mar threw in some comedic interaction with the audience between tracks before effortlessly annihilating the stage. The track Boy Toy was a rapturous trans-masc adoration piece and had the company dancing. While the band currently has only two tracks on Spotify, they treated us with an adequate set that left me feeling elated. Transy Warhol’s performance offered a great transition to the night’s final act. Find them on Instagram @transywarhol.
Transy Warhol performing at FSG Records. Photo by Harriet BernardThe Pinky Rings emulated girl power and feminine rage from their performance of their debut album, The Pinky Rings. After a lengthy intermission, you could almost feel everyone’s excitement carrying over from the last performance. It wasn’t long before the band’s lead singer motioned their crowd closer to the stage for their first song (which we did with due diligence).
Shortly after their second track, Potential Spam, there was a large push from the back of the crowd and – before I knew it – a mosh pit had formed. Looking around the enthusiastic crowd, it was hard to spot the dozen or so attendees that were smashing into each other to the beat of the music. The red lighting expressed the rage and intensity of the scene, bringing a unique and exciting vibe to the event.
The Pinky Rings performing at FSG Records. Photo by Harriet BernardOur headliners ended the night with their track, Girl Creep, and had the crowd chanting. Discovering current girl punk bands is inspiring to me because of groups like The Runaways and Bikini Kill that gave us unadulterated punk and edge from a feminine standpoint – making monumental strides in history.
Going out and supporting bands will grow your community and expose you to new talent. To know what events are coming up go to http://www.fsgprints.com and check out The Pinky Rings on instagram @whoarethepinkyrings.
By McKenzie McGuire
Assistant Music Director
The English singer, model and actress lit up the stage this past Tuesday at Emo’s in Austin. Her set felt like a cinematic experience of feminine power. I was very excited to see Suki Waterhouse because, although I’m not super familiar with her music, I’ve been following her career for the past year. From what I have seen, 2022 was a very successful year for her, from touring with Father John Misty, to releasing her Milk Teeth EP, to filming for an upcoming prime show, “Daisy Jones and the Six”, which I can’t wait to see. In case any of you were wondering, no, pictures do not do her justice. I would have enjoyed just staring at her in awe for an hour, but watching her perform was even more empowering.
Opening the show was an artist I had never heard of before, Blondeshell. They were arguably the best openers I’ve heard in a long time. They came out with an energetic, Indie rock sound and every song kept getting better and better. The lead singer was unforgettable. Walking out in a T-shirt, jeans, a low bun, and little to no makeup. She just looked so comfortable on stage, which made the set feel welcoming and intimate. She also had this dry sense of humor in her lyrics and one liners in between tracks. Her incredible tone was the cherry on top.
Lead Singer of Blondeshell opening the show. By Carolina GarzaI immediately added a few of their tracks to my library after the show, including “Olympus” and “Sepsis”. The band played many unreleased songs, as they are coming out with their first record in April, which I will definitely be looking out for.
Blondeshell starts off the night at Emo’s. By Carolina GarzaGoing into the show I wasn’t super familiar with Waterhouse’s discography, and I’m not gonna lie, I wasn’t sure if I was a huge fan of her music. But it all made sense once I saw her up there with the band. She truly made a specific experience with the sound, and I loved every minute. It’s almost as if she plays a character when she is performing. Not only is she in character with her vocals, but also how she carries herself on stage. Pulling heavy inspiration from breathy female artists like Lana Del Rey, where she sticks to a certain aesthetic that makes you feel like a character yourself.
Waterhouse striking a pose on stage. By Carolina GarzaMiss Waterhouse wasn’t the only star on stage. Joined by three other talented, beautiful musicians. The guitarist, who was also on keys and backup vocals, was the stand out of the group in my opinion. He had an array of synth pedals that added many different ambient sounds within a song. The stunning lady drummer had a live drum kit, as well as a drum pad that offered a warmer attack to match the sultry of the set.
Suki Waterhouse and her band playing at Emo’s, Austin. By Carolina GarzaOverall, Waterhouse held the audience’s attention in the palm of her hand for the whole set ending it with the track, “Melrose Meltdown”, where it felt like glitter should’ve been pouring over the venue. Following that with an encore of, you guessed it, the viral track, “Good looking”. This was the perfect way, and the only way, to close the show with everyone screaming the popular lyrics at the top of their lungs.
Suki Waterhouse during her final encore. By Carolina GarzaFeatured Image by Carolina Garza.
By Harriet Bernard
Local Music Journalist
Feels So Good Records hosted a tape release for local girl punk band, The Pinky Rings, on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. Opening bands Bodyplan and Transy Warhol started the night out with a bang and got the crowd geared up for the main event. The record shop, located in south Austin, is a large warehouse that has a variety of records, tapes, vintage apparel and knick-knacks as well as a bar and stage for hosted shows. It’s the perfect space for music lovers to get together and get a taste of Austin’s infamous musical talent.
Bodyplan is a local noise punk band that carried the first third of the night. Performing some of the songs from their first official self-titled album, Bodyplan gave their audience a high energy show. Each song of their set bled into the next, creating a smooth and ecstatic flow of music, allowing those who had just arrived to grab a drink and find a spot in the crowd. The track titled Fold was a good display of the band’s overall sound with a mix of their experimental noise style. You can find them on Instagram: @b0dypl4n.
Bodyplan performing at FSG Records. Photo by Harriet Bernard.The second band on the night’s bill, Transy Warhol, gave a sassy performance that rocked the crowd. Lead singer Ruby del Mar threw in some comedic interaction with the audience between tracks before effortlessly annihilating the stage. The track Boy Toy was a rapturous trans-masc adoration piece and had the company dancing. While the band currently has only two tracks on Spotify, they treated us with an adequate set that left me feeling elated. Transy Warhol’s performance offered a great transition to the night’s final act. Find them on Instagram @transywarhol.
Transy Warhol performing at FSG Records. Photo by Harriet Bernard.The Pinky Rings emulated girl power and feminine rage from their performance of their debut album, The Pinky Rings. After a lengthy intermission, you could almost feel everyone’s excitement carrying over from the last performance. It wasn’t long before the band’s lead singer motioned their crowd closer to the stage for their first song (which we did with due diligence).
Shortly after their second track, “Potential Spam,” there was a large push from the back of the crowd and – before I knew it – a mosh pit had formed. Looking around the enthusiastic crowd, it was hard to spot the dozen or so attendees that were smashing into each other to the beat of the music. The red lighting expressed the rage and intensity of the scene, bringing a unique and exciting vibe to the event.
The Pinky Rings performing at FSG Records. Photo by Harriet Bernard.Our headliners ended the night with their track, “Girl Creep,” and had the crowd chanting. Discovering current girl punk bands is inspiring to me because of groups like The Runaways and Bikini Kill that gave us unadulterated punk and edge from a feminine standpoint – making monumental strides in history.
Going out and supporting bands will grow your community and expose you to new talent. To know what events are coming up go to www.fsgprints.com and check out The Pinky Rings on instagram @whoarethepinkyrings.
By Andrea Moor
Music Journalist
Navigating the dozens of buildings intermixed with the thousands of students routinely on campus since the semester has started, I’ve been left wondering, “Just what exactly does the staff that makes up this vast and beautiful institute listen to?”
For this, I went around campus, ready to inquire more beyond the standard casual greetings.
Working at the LBJ Student Center, I caught up with Trinity, a grad student graduating in May with an MBA. Bubbly and giggling, they gave me the intel on their music picks.
“I listen to a lot of alternative and hip hop and whatever is in between that. I find myself listening to a lot of that.”
Favorite Musicians: “Mac Miller, Pawpaw Rod, & Terry Presume. They’re good, and easy to listen to, and it’s just fun…My best friend lives in Seattle, so she sends me a lot of music from up there. It makes me feel like I’m part of the scene up there.”
Trinity smiling inside of the LBJ Student CenterStrolling by the ROTC building, I met one of the attentive administrative assistants, Victoria. Having worked for over 36 years at Texas State University, they have had their over-abundant share of different departments.
“I’ve worked for 2 deans, the Health Professions, Liberal Arts, and under former Texas State President Supple. I’ve worked for the Academic Skills Programs for 17 years, and I’m currently at 13 years with this department. I really love it, this is a great place to work for…When it comes to music, I actually like rock, more so pop rock. Some western country and I guess, also classical.”
Favorite Musicians: “I’m kind of old school, I listen to The Eagles. I like Paul McCartney, and I like Tejano, such as Garry Hobbs. Before I was married, I used to dance leisurely on weekends and see people like Mafia and the Mexican Revolution. Some of the bands we used to go see aren’t popular or even together anymore…All in all, I just like upbeat music, so I do like Katy Perry. And thanks to my 26-year-old granddaughter, I love Britney Spears.”
Victoria, the Administrative Assistant of the ROTC building, seated outside on a benchChecking out the offered events for the upcoming weeks at the Rec, I met Miriam. Tending to the climbing center, the junior’s studying exercise and sports science with a minor in English.
“I feel like I listen to a wide variety of different stuff. There’s no set genre I could pick since it ranges from country to children’s music to folk to angry music to musicals and so on.”
Favorite Musicians: “I’d have to pick Pleaser, Beach Bunny, and All Time Low. I listened to Beach Bunny religiously in my freshman year of college when I was going through a lot. It was just an artist constantly on loop. For Pleaser, they’re just a band that’s a really good pick me up, that you know you can jam with. And All Time Low is just what I grew up with on MTV, so it’s associated with a lot of good memories and it’s honestly really good.”
Miriam with their back towards the climbing center at the RecAt the Computer Information Systems Lab, grad student Mahesh informed me that they’re in the second semester of studying Data Analytics.
“For music, I tend to go with jazz since coming out here. Being from India, I would usually listen to traditional Indian music, now, it’s not as much.”
Favorite Musicians: “I really enjoy Pete Yorn, Astrid S, and Pritam Chakraborty. I mostly like the composition, it’s really smooth to listen to. It’s more realistic and not artificial. Often, they’ll use one specific instrument to make the song much better, and that’s not as common with other musicians. Pritam’s work usually will make my mood physically change, making me calm down. I love how they pair the use of drums with piano.”
Mahesh, a grad student working at the Computer Information Systems Lab, located in the McCoy College of BusinessNext, I spoke with the student health center’s marketing coordinator, Luci, who was hired last April.
“I’m from Austin but I’ve been living in the nearby area for 3 years. I graduated from Texas State in Communication Design, so it’s cool applying what I learned as a student to my job…For music, I mostly enjoy alt-rock, and I guess everything that’s included in that for the most part.”
Favorite Musicians: “My top contenders would be Fallout Boy, The Killers, and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. My fascination with King Gizzard is more recent, but I love them. King Gizzard’s also cool in the sense that they let people be their own and let them make bootlegs of their stuff. They have a lot of songs about concerns about the environment, so I like their environmental spin on the stuff that they create…The first two picks, I think, just came to me at the right time. When they were getting big, I had just finished high school. They hit me at a point when they actually meant something, so when it hit, it just stuck for its time. I also got to see The Killers last year, which was great.”
Luci, the Marketing Coordinator of the Student Health Center, immersed in some treesSpending so much of my time at the gallery located on the 7th floor of the Alkek Library, the Wittliff Collections, I got the opportunity to speak with the Music Curator, Hector. Having worked there since October 2017, the creative has his fair share of crafting the right sort of ambiance.
“I primarily listen to Americana, Rock & Roll, and I guess, country. That’s the bulk of it.”
Favorite musicians: “For folk, I like Bob Dylan. For Tejano, I’d say Lydia Mendoza. And Tom Verlaine for punk rock. They were all pioneers and pushed the boundaries in their respective sounds. For that, they’re my favorites.”
Hector, the Music Curator of the Wittliff Collections, smilingAs I’m typing this up, I’m still left wondering past the individuals I spoke with. While it’s evident that there’ll never be a clear consensus, I’m glad that I received even a sliver of what music tastes make up this school.
Sometimes we forget the dimension of others, even if we claim otherwise; it’s crucial to recognize that and implement it in our engagements.
Featured Image from Andrea Moor
By Preethi Mangadu and Jordan Young
News & Culture Director and Chief Editor of News
Welcome to KTSW News’s first weekly update! This week we are covering Texas State honoring 60 years of desegregation and Black History Month, the San Marcos City Council renegotiating the current Meet and Confer agreement, the state of the union address and Governor Greg Abbott releasing a plan to ban TikTok.
Texas State celebrates 60 years of desegregation, Black History MonthBy Preethi Mangadu
News & Culture Director
Texas State University is hosting several events to celebrate 60 years of desegregation and Black History Month.
On February 4, 1963, five African American women registered for classes after Dana Jean Smith won a lawsuit that ended segregation at SWT.
This month the Texas State community will be able to hear their stories at “Living Legends: Where are they now?” through both in-person and virtual appearances on Feb. 22. The Coalition of Black Faculty and Staff is hosting this and “Celebrating 60 Years of An African American Presence” to celebrate desegregation at Texas State and Black History Month.
“I cannot express the amount of excitement that I and others have that we as a campus & community get to celebrate, remember and commemorate the 60th anniversary of desegregation Texas State University,” Tabitha Walker, the president of the Coalition of Black Faculty and Staff, said. “This is HUGE!! These events will allow education, reflection, and aspirations to happen. Those who attend will be educated on the history of many African American trailblazers, reflect on their challenges and how they persevered, and create our own aspirations to leave their PAWPRINT and continue in the legacy started by 5 women 60yrs ago!”
Texas State University is holding other events and lectures, too. Some of the featured events are “Systems Thinking: Black Male Success,” “Black History Kickoff” and “Naturally You: Be your Authentic Self.”
Black History Month was originally a week set by Carter G. Woodson, but President Gerald Ford designated it as a month in 1976. The vice president of BSA Elijah Freeman said he believes the importance of celebrating Black History Month can never be overstated.
First black students at Texas State University Dana Jean Smith, Helen Jackson Franks, Georgia Hoodye Cheatham, Gloria Odoms Powell, and Mabeleen Washington | Texas State University“It is essential that we recognize the achievements and contributions that Black students have showcased at TXST,” Freeman said. “Ever since the first 5 Black women enrolled in Texas State many years ago, Black history was forever intertwined with that of the university’s history. Since then Black Students have continued to thrive and become leaders within the community, which is proof enough of the necessity of honoring this historic month.”
The academic year also has many other Black history milestones at Texas State. The Black Student Alliance is celebrating its 20th anniversary Sunday.
“Being a part of the 20th-anniversary celebration since the founding of BSA in 2002/2003 is truly a blessing,” Freeman said. “Although this might sound a bit strange, as someone who was born in 2003 and is about to turn 20 years old, it’s very bittersweet to look back and see from a personal standpoint how meaningful celebrating the continuation of something. I am truly proud of everything and everyone in BSA who work together to ensure this beautiful organization stays around for the long run.”
Greek life has several milestones within it. The university’s Xi Delta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the first Black Greek organization charter on campus, celebrated its 50th anniversary in September. The lota Omega chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority is also celebrating its 50th anniversary in April. Sigma Gamma Rho sorority celebrated its 100th national anniversary in November.
To view the events and programs this month, visit https://inclusion.txst.edu/students/programs/cultural-celebrations/black-history-month/upcoming-events.html .
San Marcos City council repeals contract with police unionBy Preethi Mangadu
News & Culture Director
In a 4-3 vote, San Marcos City Council repealed an agreement with the San Marcos Police Association on Tuesday night.
The agreement was the Meet and Confer contract approved in September. According to city documentation, “Meet and Confer is a process designed to allow police and fire associations and management an opportunity to understand each other’s interests and reach agreement on important employment issues. The enabling statute outlines specific areas of discussion for this process which include wages, rates of pay, hours of work and working conditions.”
The dissenting votes were Mayor Jane Hughson and council members Matthew Mendoza and Mark Gleason; the supporting votes were council members Shane Scott, Jude Prather, Alyssa Garza and Saul Gonzalez.
“On Tuesday, our majority Republican city council voted to repeal the San Marcos Police Officers Association’s Meet and Confer agreement, and we were honestly incredibly shocked,” Communications Director of Mano Amiga Sam Benavides said. “Obviously, that’s what we’re calling for because we don’t believe there should be a 3-month delay to this decision. We think that renegotiations need to happen immediately, and so we’re really shocked, but I just think it speaks to how reasonable the reforms we are calling for are.”
Activist outside San Marcos City Hall | Mano AmigaMano Amiga Safety backed the November petition to repeal the current Meet and Confer agreement and include the Hartman Reforms in the pending contract. This was prompted by the death of Jennifer Miller, who died when former San Marcos Police Sgt. Ryan Hartman ran a stoplight and hit the car Miller and her partner, Pam Watts, were in.
“On that day, June 10th, which was the 2-year anniversary of Jennifer’s death, we made a promise to the city,” Benavidas said. “We promised if they did not implement the five Hartman Reforms, we would launch a ballot initiative to repeal the contract.”
This agreement was the fifth contract since 2009. Due to the vote, it will now expire on June 7, 2023, if not renegotiated. Originally, it would have expired on Sept. 30, 2025.
“We’re going to continue mobilizing our community members to show up to these meetings and observe,” Benavidas said. “We’re hoping, for one, obviously, that they implement each of the five Hartman Reforms that Pam Watts is demanding, but we’re also hoping that they give Pam a seat at the table.”
The San Marcos Government did not comment on the decision due to the pending renegotiation.
President Biden gives State of the Union Address Jordan Young
Chief Editor of News
This week President Joe Biden fulfilled his constitutional obligation by giving the State of The Union address Tuesday night.
President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on February 7, 2023. | White House TwitterBiden’s speech informed congress on the legislation and success of his administration this past year.
“Two years ago, our economy was reeling,” Biden said. “As I stand here tonight, we have created a record 12 million new jobs, more jobs created in two years than any president has ever created in four years.”
Biden also delivered one of the few lines that got both Democrats and Republicans to applaud.
“Two years ago, COVID had shut down our businesses, closed our schools, and robbed us of so much,” said Biden. “Today, COVID no longer controls our lives.”
The speech overall was heavily focused on economics. The president threw his behind legislation to end so-called junk fees that corporations are allowed to charge. He highlighted the need to bring back manufacturing jobs to the United States. Biden also keyed in on key progressive policies such as enforcing antitrust laws, and the Junk Fee Prevention Act, which would restrict travel and event companies from imposing excessive fees on customers. The Protecting the Right to Organize Act which would strengthen federal laws protecting workers’ right to organize and bargain for better working conditions and more pay.
Biden also asked congress once again to pass his most ambitious goal: a billionaire tax.
“The tax system is not fair; it’s not fair, the idea that in 2020, 55 of the largest corporations in America, of Fortune 500, made $40 billion in profits and paid $0 in federal taxes? $0? Folks, it’s simply not fair,” said Biden.
Biden also spoke on education highlighting the student debt relief program, which millions of Americans eagerly applied for; however, the funds have been held up due to continued legal challenges.
The president continued to hammer on education by delivering a famous line from first lady Dr. Jill Biden who has a doctorate in education, “Any nation that out-educates us will out-compete us.” He finished education by calling on congress to pass legislation to provide access to preschool for 3 and 4-year-olds.
Lastly, Biden spoke about the need for police reform in front of the parents of Tyre Nichols, receiving a standing ovation from the chamber. The President spoke about the fact that he has “never had to have the talk with my children – Beau, Hunter, and Ashley – that so many Black and Brown families have had with their children.” The president called on them to, “come together and finish the job on police reform.”
Biden became the oldest president to ever give a state of the union address and has yet to officially announce if he will be running again in 2024, so far only former President Donald Trump has announced their candidacy for president.
Governor Greg Abbott officially bans TikTokBy Preethi Mangadu
News & Culture Director
Gov. Greg Abbott released a statewide security plan to ban TikTok on state-issued security devices and address vulnerabilities on personal devices Monday. This applies to institutions of higher education as well.
Today, I’m announcing a plan to ban TikTok in Texas.
It’s critical that state agencies are protected from the Chinese Communist Party as they work on behalf of Texans.
Learn more about my plan to keep Texas secure: https://t.co/mJrtyuuMdA pic.twitter.com/cN3A0dhbXv
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) February 6, 2023
The model was developed by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Department of Information Resources to guide state agencies on using TikTok and other prohibited technologies for business. Agencies will have until February 15 to implement their own policies based on the plan.
This plan was made after Gov. Abbott directed state agencies to ban TikTok use and downloads on state-issued devices in December 2022.
“Owned by a Chinese company that employs Chinese Communist Party members, TikTok harvests significant amounts of data from a user’s device, including details about a user’s internet activity,” Gov. Abbott said, in a press release. “Other prohibited technologies listed in the statewide model plan also produce a similar threat to the security of Texans. It is critical that state agencies and employees are protected from the vulnerabilities presented by the use of this app and other prohibited technologies as they work on behalf of their fellow Texans.”
Objectives of the plan are to prevent the use of TikTok on any state-issued device, limit employees from doing state business on prohibited technology-enabled personal devices, ban prohibited technology-enabled personal devices from vulnerable places in businesses, use network-based restrictions to ban prohibited technology and continuously update a list of prohibited technologies.
For more information visit, https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-announces-statewide-plan-banning-use-of-tiktok
By Myles Vaughn
Sports Reporter
The Texas State Men’s Basketball team beat the Arkansas State Red Wolves on Thursday night by a score of 66-62.
The four double digit leading scorers for the Bobcats included Tyrel Morgan with 12 points, followed by the 10 points by Mason Harrell, and 11 points by Nighael Caesar.
“I’m proud of them defensively,” said head coach Terrance Johnson. Defensively, the Bobcats had eight total blocks, five of which came from senior forward Nighael Caesar himself. The Bobcats also had 26 defensive rebounds, out rebounding the Red Wolves.
The Bobcats shot 20-for-25 from the free throw line, at an 80% clip.
“We practice our free throws in honor of Ahmaud Arbery by practicing for 2:23, which signifies when he had died,” Johnson said.
The largest lead of the first half was only five points for the Redwolves. The lead changed a total of 14 times throughout which revealed how close this game was for these two teams.
Davion Coleman Scored 10 points in Second HalfThe Bobcats came out into the game with a decent lead, but that didn’t mean that they had let off the game anytime soon.
The Bobcats had a pretty big crowd for this game, as it was the blackout game for the Bobcats. Everyone could tell that the guys were feeding off the crowd’s energy.
“The Crowd had helped us a lot tonight. It feels good to get a bucket and hear the crowd cheer for you,” said Tyrel Morgan
This win broke the bobcats three game losing streak and brings them to (12-14 overall) and (5-8 Sun Belt). They look to improve their record at home this Saturday against Old Dominion at 4 p.m. where you can listen live on KTSW 89.9!
Featured Image from Beau Kelly
By Tara Davis
Music Journalist
Music has a way of transporting us to certain times in our lives. Think about last summer and ponder the question of what songs define that era of your life? When you hear a song months later that, at one point, held significant meaning in your life, it brings you back to that exact moment. For this reason, at the beginning of every semester, a new playlist with fresh songs ends up on my Spotify page. Here’s what I’ve been listening to the most since the semester started!
“Flowers” – Miley Cyrus
Of course, we have to start with a classic. Miley is one of those artists I will never get tired of. Since this song came out, I have been heavily deep diving into all her discography, from Hannah Montana age to her latest album, Plastic Hearts. We grew up together and I relate to almost every lyric she publishes. I can guarantee that when her new album drops in March, it will end up on my Spotify Wrapped. A new semester is all about new beginnings, which I think Miley really emanates in this new self-empowering single.
“Bill Murray” – GOOD.
I recently saw the band “Good.” live for the first time at a single-release show for Soho Holiday. I always try to listen to artists that I don’t know if I’m seeing them live and this song, “Bill Murray”, caught my attention with its opening lyric while I was listening to their published work. Hearing, “I’m just another self-important piece of s***” is a pretty good attention grabber at the beginning of the song. The song is a bit longer, but there is nothing I would change about it. I’m usually not one for slow songs, but the instruments in this one were like a soft bed of flowers to my ears. It speeds up towards the end, too. It’s just too good.
“Liar” – Daisy the Great
I actually found this song while listening to our radio on my way home from campus before school even started. The artist’s voice scratches an itch in my brain that I don’t get from a lot of other songs. It kind of reminds me of a Paramore song, but not as hard punk rock. It has a beachy vibe along with an indie sound. It’s another one that slows down at points, then speeds back up to a dancy tempo.
“Purple Hat” – Sofi Tukker
This song is just an all-out vibe. I feel like a baddie walking through campus when this song comes through my Air Pods. It is a perfect going out song, the tempo is upbeat, the lyrics are catchy and the vibe is just too good. I imagine this song playing over a “getting ready to go out” montage in any indie upcoming movie. It’s a pretty short song, but I think that just adds to how fast it goes by. One of those songs you just want on repeat when the moment is right.
“America’s Sweetheart” – Elle King
I found this song while watching Netflix’s “Ginny and Georgia”. Elle King is not an artist I frequent, but this song grabbed my attention, leading me to immediately use the Shazam on Snapchat to discover and immediately add the song to my playlist. This is another upbeat, female empowering song. It’s all about giving up on expectations, just being your authentic self and finding the right people that will stay for who you are, which is 100% the vibe for this semester.
There are a ton more songs, but for the sake of not making this article an entire book, I’ll leave you with those five. I’m always on the lookout for new songs, so let us know what y’all are listening to for this upcoming semester. Happy listening and happy new year!
Featured Image from the band Good.
By Lane Dent
Music Journalist
Metal has been declining in popularity since the mid-2000s, but nu-metal has recently seen a spike in interest due to TikTok’s peak during the COVID pandemic. Seeing the fame that some ancient nu-metal acts have garnered, modern metal bands are starting to incorporate mainstream aspects from pop, rap and EDM genres, hoping it brings them the same success, and their fame has already started to show…
The last booming wave of metal occurred in the 2000s metalcore era. Bands like Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying, August Burns Red and Trivium led the movement with their Drop C tuning, dissonance, chugs and scream/clean vocal combination. This was the last time metal had true popularity. Electronic, alternative indie and pop music swept it under the rug for around a decade before the glimpses of a renaissance in 2020.
Through TikTok and other social media, metal emerged once again, but only a certain subgenre. Nu metal bands like Slipknot, Deftones and Korn somehow showed a sporadic growth in popularity, with very few songs going viral in short periods of time. With the resurgence in blunt, distorted guitar riffs and false chord screams, modern acts started to wonder if they could gain the same status.
Modern metal bands who are chasing this contemporary internet-fueled fame, are hoping that their similarities to the societally-beloved top 40 charts will put them on the map. These bands show an homage to the building blocks of metalcore: Extremely low tuning, harmonies, chugs and guitars of seven or eight strings, but they are gaining mainstream attention because of their rap/pop-influenced use of 808 trap bass drums, bright pop-synth progressions and clean vocals (added to the mix of fry screaming). Vocal pitch has risen, as well, to overpower the reputation of low guttural screams that causes amateur listeners to shy away from the metal genre as a whole.
Canadian Heavy Metal Band Spiritbox. By Andreas Lawen Foto: Andreas Lawen, Fotandi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSpiritbox, the female-led modern metal band, released an EP that features soft-to-brutal vocals, catchy choruses, and ballad-like singing. Singer Courtney LaPlante’s muffled vocal effects on “Sew Me Up” and the atmospheric production on “Hysteria” bring these new songs into the rocktronic category, but these songs still stay true to metalcore with djent breakdowns, pick scrapes and drop F tuning.
Australian Metal Band Thornhill. By Sina Sabet
SinaSabet28, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsThornhill, a progressive metal quartet, are utilizing high-pitched belts, hazy ambient breaks, and synthesizer backup instrumentals to pander toward the mainstream, but in combination with pinch harmonics, speedy double kick drums, and layered heavy guitar riffs, they hold onto metalcore’s roots. The song “Views From The Sun” has technical off-beat rhythmic guitar combined with a hypnotic, reverberated backing track.
French Progressive Metal Band LANDMVRKS. By Stefan Bollmann, Attribution, via Wikimedia CommonsLANDMVRKS, a French group crushing the genre-blending, incorporates hardcore elements with nasty breakdowns and feedback noise. On “Scars,” vocalist Florent Salfati’s strident screams are so fast; the rap influence is undoubtedly present. The song’s playful guitar lick is upbeat and energetic, adding pop to the ten genres that can be heard in this song. “Death” uses trap beats and rap-style vocals that heavily resemble nu-metal as well.
These bands are breaking the boundaries of what metal can be, a vital feat that could save metal from becoming irrelevant in the near future.
No matter what type of modern metal is being listened to, or if it’s just bands who have retired from this ever-changing whiplash of metal popularity, there is a subgenre of metal for everyone.
Featured Image by Andreas Lawen Foto: Andreas Lawen, Fotandi CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In this Wednesday edition of Bobcat Radio the crew of Thomas Terry, Gian Carlo Cacho, David Castaneda, and Joey Gonzales discuss Rattlers Boys Basketball massive 100 point game versus Judson, Texas State Men’s Basketball first time facing Old Dominion, Bobcat Women’s Basketball battle once again with Southern Miss, and LeBron James historical night ! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
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By Hannah Walls
Culture Assistant
The gaming industry has exploded in the past few years and has become one of the largest and most profitable industries. Like any industry, this means the demand for game developers is extremely high at the moment. However, a 2021 summary report from the International Game Developer’s Association found that only 4% of game developers who responded to their survey identified as Black.
Despite the incredible accomplishments of Black creators and gamers that have shaped the platforms and games we know and love today, such as the work of Gerald “Jerry” Larson, the gaming industry still has immense barriers for people of color and issues with representation and discrimination.
It seems like every year, gaming companies and partners rush to show their support for the Black community during Black History Month before fading back into the woodwork for another year with no tangible effort or push to diversify. Video games should be an escape for anyone and everyone, and exploring games from a variety of developers, artists, creators and communities is essential.
So, here are three indie games from Black developers to check out in celebration of Black History Month:
Chrono Ghost
Chrono Ghost is a platformer that was developed by NITETIME Studios. The premise of the game depends on the manipulation of time to navigate each course. You are able to speed up, slow down and entirely stop time based on the color of the objects you are faced with. This concept may seem simple enough, but Chrono Ghost presents a challenging experience that will humble even the most seasoned gamers. (Don’t worry, the game also keeps track of how many times you die!) Chrono Ghost also has an absolutely gorgeous and unique art style accompanied by a killer soundtrack. I can’t recommend this game enough as a casual play that may or may not result in a rage-fueled keyboard smash.
Tiny Bird Garden
For all of my fellow cozy gamers out there, I present to you Tiny Bird Garden, which was developed by Super Retro Duck, a husband and wife dev team. The entire point of the game is basically to collect tiny colorful birds, raise baby birds and decorate your garden…what’s not to love? Tiny Bird Garden also has adorable characters and fun minigames, as if having over a hundred different little winged friends to collect wasn’t exciting enough. This game is basically just adorable in every single way, and I’m a big fan of any game where you just get to look at cute animated animals.
Combat Core
Combat Core is an arena brawler developed by MABManZ. I was immediately drawn to Combat Core because of its futuristic, cyberpunk aesthetic and bright colors. This game has a really neat art style for character designs and arena designs, and it’s definitely a fun and casual play that is guaranteed to be different from your average fighting game. You can also build your own fighter and choose your abilities. There aren’t too many customization options, to my dismay, but I think it’s a fun option regardless that I haven’t really seen before! You can play Combat Core with up to four friends, or fight against computer- controlled opponents.
Featured Image from NITETIME Studios
By Myles Vaughn
Sports Reporter
Leading scorers Malik Presley, Kaden Gumbs and Jayven Cofer bring the San Marcos Rattlers Boys Basketball team a 100-62 win over Judson. This big win moved the Rattlers to 8-0 on district and 33-2 on the season.
With this win, The Rattlers continue their winning streak and extend it to 27 wins. This season was a historical season for the Rattlers, since they broke the regular season win record of 33 wins. “Enjoy the moment, when you’re in the moment,” said Head Coach Dan Miller.
The game started off quickly with the Rattlers coming out to a 15-point lead on the Rockets, and never looked back. The lead grew to 38-points and led the Rattlers to win this game.
The defense had played a huge part in helping the Rattlers score points by scoring points in transition off of Judson turnovers.
“We play very fast and play with a lot of space,” said Coach Miller. “This is something we practice every day and we got athletes, so it makes it easier for all of us and fun,” said Malik Presley.
Coming into the second quarter, the Rattlers had already scored 60-points with a 32-point margin, and it kept getting bigger as the game went on.
“Last time, they started pretty hard on us by hitting a lot of threes, so we planned on taking out the threes and getting the ball out of Donovan’s hands,” said Presley. “It was just clicking tonight, and the way our defense was playing, it definitely helped us out,” said Coach Miller.
Second half was just the same as the first quarter, with the same amount of threes, and points in transition. “The combination of hard defense and hard offense got to them throughout the game especially in the first half,” noted Coach Miller.
With this large win against a good Judson team, the Rattler solidified their first-place spot in district and a spot in the playoffs.
The Rattlers advanced to 8-0 in district play and 33-2 on the season. Their next game is in New Braunfels on Feb. 10th at 7:00p.m and will be broadcasted live on KTSW 89.9.
Featured Image from Beau Kelly
Katie Krupinski
Community Relations Director
If you haven’t heard about Healthy Cats yet, you are missing out! Healthy Cats is a peer education health and wellness group on Texas State’s campus that focuses their energy on topics such as physical, mental, and sexual health, nutrition and stress management, and anything else falling in the realm of health and wellness. They educate and spread awareness to students through meetings, tabling on the quad, and presentations.
Speaking of meetings, Healthy Cats meets every Tuesday at 5pm in the student health center. They are open to any major and are a safe and open space (plus it’s free to join)! Their meeting topics consist of educational lessons following a hands-on activity for members to engage and get involved.
If you are interested to learn more about what Healthy Cats does, make sure to stop by the quad on February 13th from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. as they will be hosting a self love tabling event!
“Joining healthy cats has allowed me to meet people I normally would not have. I have grown so much as a person from being a part of it, and it is such a safe, welcoming, and supporting community to be involved in” – Lucinda Sherwood, Vice President of Healthy Cats.
For more information about Healthy Cats and how to join, check out their social media platforms below:
Website:
Healthy Cats
Instagram: @HealthyCatsTXST
Twitter: @HealthyCatsTXST
By Sofia Gualy
Music Journalist
Indie folk superstar, Phoebe Bridgers has been featured in a plethora of songs ranging from pop to R&B and everything in between. She is one of the most heavily sought after artists of our generation and has collaborated with artists such as Taylor Swift and Bright Eyes. Bridgers has worked with seemingly everyone in the music industry and I am sure we can expect much more in the near future. Features, collaborations and covers by Bridgers with other talented musical artists are everywhere. Whether it is a full verse or simply a harmony, Bridgers places her own twist on every song she is featured in.
Her first features with another artist was with Zander Hawley in his songs “Daylight” in 2015 and again with “Until We Both Get Bored” in 2017. These songs feature her soft and easily distinguishable singing voice in the chorus, perfectly harmonizing with Hawley in this folk tune. You can easily hear her older, more folk focused musicality in both of these songs. Furthermore in her folk era, she collaborated with Lord Huron for a version of “The Night We Met” that was featured in the hit television show, “Thirteen Reasons Why”.
Diving into a more rock influenced number of features, Bridgers collaborated and was featured on a track for The Killers 2021 album, Pressure Machine. The song, “Runaway Horses” perfectly showcases Bridgers’ iconic soft tone and her ability to harmonize with nearly everyone. Bridgers and front man of The Killers, Brandon Flowers meld their voices so well.
The Killers seventh studio album, Pressure Machine featuring “Runaway Horses” (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)Bridgers was also featured in a number of pop songs that ended up charting in the United States. Although pop is not Bridgers’ typical genre of music, she winds up fitting into these songs quite perfectly in my opinion. One of her first pop singles that was released was “Silk Chiffon” by MUNA, who is part of Phoebe Bridgers’ record label, Saddest Factory Records. In this song, Bridgers has her own verse and joins in during the chorus as well. Because MUNA and Bridgers work so well together, they often perform this song live together at many different festivals and shows.
Recently, Bridgers was a part of SZA’s brand new album, SOS. In this album, she is featured on the song “Ghost in the Machine”, a song about the difficulty and cut throat environment of the music industry, something both artists understand and have their own critiques about. An R&B song is not something I thought Bridgers could be featured on, but she once again proves herself and her talent time and time again. She and SZA also became friends while creating this track, so hopefully we see another collaboration in the future.
My personal favorite feature Bridgers has ever done was “Nothing New” by Taylor Swift. Both Swift and Bridgers paint the scene of aging out of the young and hip music industry and being replaced by a younger and newer version of their old selves. Although this song is about the music industry, it relates back to what a lot of young adults are feeling after leaving their adolescence and starting something new. The lyrics speak to a wide range of people and tell the story of what many are going through. Bridgers and Swift created a masterpiece that we now have to soundtrack our lives.
As one of the most talented singer songwriters of our generation, Phoebe Bridgers is validly one of the most sought after artists in the industry right now. The list just keeps getting bigger of features, collaborations, and covers that Bridgers has gotten her hands on. The future is bright and full of new music from Phoebe Bridgers.
By SK Guillory
Music Journalist
Austin’s electronic pop artist, Hardly Quinn, is releasing her newest song “What I want is What I Need” on February 10.
“This song is about me understanding that the things I want are the things that I need,” Quinn said. “It’s okay to want what I want.”
23-year-old Quinn’s upcoming song will be available on all streaming platforms. This single came from her realization that she is autistic, which is a realization that, among many others, caused her to reflect on the kind of support she needs from those around her.
“The premise of coming up with that song title and those lyrics was realizing that I’m autistic and I need a lot of support,” Quinn said. “And I need to accept and embrace my differences.”
Over the past six months, Quinn has started her music career and made a name for herself in the DJ community. San Marcos resident Tais Gomez is a friend and fan of Hardly Quinn, and they’ll often drive to Austin for her shows.
“Quinn’s music makes me feel alive and it makes me feel free,” Gomez said. “There’s no other sense of liberation and euphoria other than by dancing.”
Trauma exists in the body, and music and dance are ways to exit that trauma out of the body. Quinn said that as an artist, it is rewarding to watch someone feel her music through their body and release it through dance.
“If I see someone really enjoying what I’m playing, it touches my heart because I know when I’m alone and listening to music and releasing that energy, it’s a profound moment for me,” Quinn said. “It allows me to move and grow and let go of what doesn’t serve me, so just seeing someone do that, but I’m the one who is able to foster that sort of connection to me is my goal.”
Quinn said her music is heavily influenced by her closeness to herself. She has found that the closer she gets to herself, the closer she feels to her music. Often people see pop music as meaningless, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth for Hardly Quinn.
“The sounds I make are electronic and pop but the ideas behind the songs are very folk, alternative based,” Quinn said. “I think of actual stories to tell in a very poetic way rather than just slapping words onto a page.”
Growing up in San Antonio, Quinn said she felt misunderstood and unheard. This ultimately led to her entrance into music, allowing her to be heard and to give her inner child a voice they never had. She said her parents didn’t tend to her emotional needs, but this experience allowed her to be there for herself.
“That foundation to creativity and being an artist is your inner child,” Quinn said. “It’s that spark inside you that really wants to experience life and live it like your inner child should.”
As a transgender artist, Quinn creates music for her community that speaks to her life experiences. Representation is important in music. People want to see themselves in the artists they admire, and a big portion of Hardly Quinn supporters are in the queer community.
“I’m creating the stir that I want to create. I want people to be inspired by me, I want someone to embrace a new community because of me and I want someone to embrace themselves because of me.”
In 2022 alone, around 150 anti-trans bills were introduced in the U.S. As a transgender artist in Texas, Hardly Quinn is breaking barriers for people in the queer community and for herself.
“The biggest thing that is an inspiration for me is myself,” Quinn said. “Being the person that inspires you the most creates such a personal experience for other people, and I think we all really want to experience someone else and see them for who they are.”
To keep up with what she’s doing, Hardly Quinn’s music is on SoundCloud! You can also follow her Instagram, @hardly_quinn_music, to get updates on her upcoming album. This first release is one of many as she hopes to gain traction with each single release for her upcoming album.
Featured Image from SK Guillory
Sydney Nguyen
Music Journalist
As one of folk rock’s greatest artists, often compared with Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen had not always been very successful with his branding. Leonard Cohen opted out of his respected literary profession in his hometown of Westmount, Canada, and headed for New York City with hopes of establishing himself in the music industry. Cohen decided to seek shelter in the city’s infamous Chelsea Hotel as he focused on his folk-singer career.
Alongside Cohen, numerous talented artists and poets sought solace inside the Chelsea Hotel, including Mark Twain and Arthur Miller. The tragedies of famous musicians and literary genius’ can be credited to the lore of the Chelsea Hotel; writer Dylan Thomas passed from pneumonia inside room 205 and Sex Pistol’s Sid Vicious’ girlfriend was discovered stabbed to her death.
The Chelsea Hotel is beloved in the eyes of many praised artists, as it was a universal place of congregation for these singers at the time. Many of them even have songs including “Chelsea” in their title, such as Joni Mitchell’s song, “Chelsea Morning”.
Despite not being physically alone in his craft at the Chelsea, Leonard Cohen was said to have fallen into a state of despair as his music struggled to take flight. That is, until one elevator interaction fulfilled his loneliness, but only until the day broke. One of the most well-known and respected rock stars at the time had just stepped foot into the Chelsea Hotel, and into the elevator entered Janis Joplin.
After taking a late-night stroll to ease his ailing, Cohen had just returned back to their now mutual residence after failing to revive his mental state. Cohen was joined by a young woman during the elevator ride, who left him immediately smitten as he put his anguish aside and mustered up the courage to acknowledge her.
Cohen proceeded to ask Joplin if she were searching for someone here, to which she replied “Kris Kristofferson”. Teasingly, Cohen told her that he was indeed Kristofferson, and Joplin decided that his charms were enough for her. It was apparent to Joplin that Cohen was nowhere near the physical attributes of the actual Kris Kristofferson, who was a singer and songwriter who had business plans with Joplin, but that did not deter her.
By the time the pair exited the elevator, it was unspoken that the two were to spend the night together. The encounter was brief, yet for Cohen, their night together was a memory that held weight. Sometime after Joplin’s overdose, Cohen would draft the lyrics to “Chelsea Hotel #2” onto a bar napkin. During the very first performance of “Chelsea Hotel #2”, Cohen revealed to the audience that this song was about a now passed American artist, but nothing more.
Eventually, Cohen would publicly tie Janis Joplin to the song. Cohen’s lyricism can leave listeners to infer that one night with Joplin had him only wanting more, as the song suggests that he may reminisce on the memory often, casually ending the song with “that’s all, I don’t even think of you that often”. This line suggests that Cohen is convincing listeners and possibly himself that she was nothing more than a one-night stand, despite creating a piece of poetic art in her memory.
By Savannah Lopez
Web Content Contributor
For years now, Hollywood has been running out of new ideas for movies and TV shows while, instead, choosing to make a lot of remakes, spin-offs and sequels. In January 2022, “How I Met Your Father” was released on Hulu, “House of the Dragon” (“Game of Thrones” spin-off) came out in August of 2022 and this past January, “That 90’s Show” premiered for the first time. A lot of people, myself included, aren’t the biggest fans of these unoriginal ideas and find them to be a bit tiresome; however, there are a few gems that have been released and live up to their predecessors.
“Better Call Saul”
“Better Call Saul” is a spin-off of the show “Breaking Bad” about Saul Goodman (aka Jimmy McGill) and his life before he was a lawyer for Walter White. With a show as successful as “Breaking Bad”, it’s not common for spin-offs to meet the expectations of its dedicated fans, such as, for example, when they tried to make the show “Joey” as a spin-off of “Friends”. However, “Better Call Saul” doesn’t feel like a continuation of “Breaking Bad”, but rather acts almost like a standalone show, which is why I think it did so well. If they were to make that show before they made Breaking Bad, I believe that it would have done just as good.
“The Office”
For some, this may come as a surprise, but the beloved show, “The Office” is a remake of the UK version, which aired in 2001 and finished in 2003. While some people do like the UK version, it is incomparable to the amount of people who love the US version. “The Office” is about the daily lives of several office workers at a paper supply company and the dynamic between the workers. Because you’re watching these realistic portrayals of people who are likable, this show has become very well-known and loved within many households. While some characters might feel unlikeable for in the US version, for many, they still remain overall more favorable compared to the characters in the UK version, which is another reason the US version did so much better.
“Degrassi: The Next Generation”
Based off its predecessors “Degrassi Junior High” and “Degrassi High”, “Degrassi: The Next Generation” is the continuation/spin-off of the long-running franchise, becoming arguably the best version of “Degrassi” that the creators of that show have ever made and popular amongst Millennials and Generation Z. The show is about a group of teenagers and the mostly realistic struggles they go through as they grow up. In “Degrassi: The Next Generation”, the characters have more personality than they did in the other versions, so you can relate to the characters better. Netflix did come out with another “Degrassi” called “Degrassi: Next Class”, which didn’t even light a candle to the 2001 version.
“Frasier”
“Frasier” is a spin-off of the show “Cheers”. An odd and much older pick than all of the other shows I’ve listed, but still an amazing spin-off that, much like “Better Call Saul”, feels like it could be its own standalone show. The story follows the life of Dr. Frasier Crane, his brother and his dad. The show’s wittiness and sense of humor is what initially drew me into it, and it’s also just an overall easy watch for those looking to relax and enjoy something lighthearted. As like many shows nowadays, this spin-off is also getting a reboot on Paramount Plus, so we’ll see how that goes.
“Fuller House”
“Fuller House” isn’t technically a spin-off or remake, but rather more of a continuation of its beloved and well-known predecessor, “Full House”. Nonetheless, as mentioned earlier regarding reboots of successful shows or franchises, these comebacks tend to fail amongst old and sometimes new fan; but “Fuller House” managed to work. “Fuller House” focuses more on the children of “Full House” all grown up rather than the adults. There are many fans who grew up on “Full House” that have sent praises regarding the continuation of storylines from our favorite characters, excited to see that they are all grown up. It both connected to the emotional nostalgia of fans, while also providing entertainment that they were able to put on after a long day of work.
Honorable Mentions
I do have a few honorable mentions, which include “Cobra Kai” and “Shameless” (US version). “Cobra Kai” is a continuation of the movies, but now Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence are much older. They kept in the karate elements that everyone loved from the movies, and they made the show funny. Technically the US version of “Shameless” is an adaptation of the UK version, so the reason for this show being so good are the same reasons why the US version of “The Office” is good.
Not all remakes and spin-offs are complete busts, but I wouldn’t mind an original idea for a show occasionally. The jury is still out on “How I Met Your Father” and “That 90’s Show”, but I’ll do my best to be optimistic if I watch them.
Featured Image by Laci Stautzenberger
Erin Patterson
Music Journalist
On June 11, 2021, London-based band Wolf Alice, released their junior LP, Blue Weekend. Four years after the release of their album Visions of a Life, fans were over the moon to listen to the 11 track album, with a music video accompanying each song. Blue Weekend takes the listener on a roller coaster ride, from head-banging to tracks like “Smile” and “Play The Greatest Hits,” to staring at the ceiling and contemplating life to “The Last Man On Earth” and “No Hard Feelings.” This album somehow takes every emotion, strings them together, and wraps them in a nice little bow.
“The Beach” eases us into the world of Blue Weekend, the gentle vocal cadence of lead singer Ellie Rowsell referencing Shakespeare’s Macbeth in the first verse. The chorus crescendos, tricking the ear into thinking the production will reach a climax. When the song does reach its peak, it’s like a punch in the gut. The layered vocals feel like a large wave crashing on the shore of a beach, which align with the meaning of the lyrics of the artist wanting to be taken into the abyss.
Moving onto a more optimistic track, “Delicious Things” takes us through Ellie’s experience in Los Angeles, California. She questions whether she belongs there, but takes the city and all it has to offer in stride nonetheless. This song feels like driving on Sunset Boulevard, not quite sure how you got there, but happy that you are. The production is easy on the ears, a pleasant yet impactful track.
The ending of “Delicious Things” fades into “Lipstick on the Glass,” one of my favorites on the album. Rowsell’s vocals steal the show, sucking you into the recollection of taking back her cheating lover. While the lyrics are melancholic, the instrumentals provide a hedonistic listening experience.
“Smile” is unlike anything from what we have heard previously. This song is harsh, angry, and chaotic, the lyrics adopting an “if you don’t like me, get over it” attitude. Drummer Joel Amey carries this track, making me want to mosh and break things. Released as one of the singles from the album, it definitely grabbed people’s attention.
After the high intensity of “Smile,” the track, “Safe from Heartbreak (if you never fall in love)” is a cool drink of water. As the title says, this song is about a relationship gone sour. Rowsell, clearly in love with someone who does not reciprocate the same feelings and was only there for the benefits. A cautionary tale, she vows to not be in that position again.
“How Can I Make It OK?” was my favorite track on first listen and has remained at the top of my list. This techno-rock anthem gives me goosebumps every time, showing off Rowsell’s vocal range. The production swells make me feel like I’m about to start levitating. In the lyrics, Rowsell begs this person to come out of their shell. She tries to show them how beautiful the world can be if they just give it a chance.
The next track is quite a jump scare, “Play The Greatest Hits” is forceful from start to finish. Similar to “Smile,” this song carries the same chaotic tone, and I love every second of it. Although it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, it is another perfect song to mosh to. Rowsell shouts out lyrics about moving a boring party back to her place, and going crazy in the kitchen to good music. While the lyrics seem self-explanatory, there appears to be a deeper meaning to them.
“Feeling Myself” is exactly what the title says, a song about sensuality and feeling good about yourself. This is Rowsell’s siren song, hypnotizing the listener and the person she is singing to. With clever word play and a beautiful vocal performance, she puts the listener under her spell.
We break out of one headspace and enter another with the raw instrumentals of “The Last Man On Earth.” A beautiful piano ballad that brings something new to the album, this track could be considered their magnum opus. “The Last Man On Earth” is about a self-absorbed person who talks at people instead of with them. I’m sure we have all met someone like this, which adds a relatability factor to this song and helps pack the punch.
Continuing the melancholic tone with “No Hard Feelings,” this is a song about accepting that a relationship is over. Rowsell talks about her healing experience and how you can’t, and won’t, be sad forever. A short and sweet tune about how ending on good terms can hurt just as much as ending on bad terms.
The emotional roller coaster slows to a stop as we reach the final track of the album. “The Beach II” serves as a bookend to its counterpart, “The Beach.” This track is bittersweet, riding the line between happy and sad. A song about the healing power of friendships and how everything will be okay, no matter how it looks at the moment. While the lyrics provide an uplifting quality to the song, the production pulls on your heart strings, providing an indescribable feeling.
Blue Weekend by Wolf Alice is truly a no-skip album in my eyes, each song adding something new and different to the story it tells. This album might just be their best so far and I cannot wait to see what they do next.
Karys Kay
Music Journalist
I am sure everyone has seen the recent Coachella line up and recognizes the name Bad Bunny as a headliner. A popular artist that is from Puerto Rico who has grown fond to the public quickly. With that said, he has infiltrated the American music industry as a Spanish artist. I personally did not know who Bad Bunny was until I came to college and met my roommate. I ended up listening to him little by little because of her. The more I listened the more I liked him. There was one weekend I went back home and was scanning the radio stations for music, that is when I stumbled on a Spanish station. I would have never thought twice before going past that station, but I stayed on the channel enjoying every bit of music playing.
After listening to Bad Bunny, I developed an appreciation for Spanish music. I feel as though with this generation we are more open to new cultures and ideas. Bad Bunny is not only the most streamed Spotify artist but is now the first Spanish artist headlining at Coachella. Which is a huge step for the American music industry. It is something new that many are excited to see and talk about. Also, people get to embrace something they never heard before, and that is something to look forward to.
Bad Bunny’s new album Un Verano Sin Ti was released in May 2022 with 23 songs, and people loved it. It became an instant sensation around the world. So much so that you can walk into stores or restaurants and hear his music. Even on social media of course you will see him everywhere. Selling out Yankee Stadium was something any artist would dream of. After he went on his “World’s Hottest Tour” around North America Bad Bunny can say that he has crossed it off his bucket list. 2022 was his year to come out on top of the music charts. He has collab with many different artists like Drake, The Marias, Daddy Yankee and PARTYNEXTDOOR. Which really opened doors for him to reach people who listen to different genres of music. People with different music tastes had a common theme and that was Bad Bunny. Slowly making his way through music genres to make a name for himself while still staying true to his own creations.
While making a name for himself in music he has also dipped his toes in acting. He appeared in Bullet Train and will be one of the next Marvel characters. With all his successes he has made a mark in the music industry. He had an opportunity and took it! And where he is right now, we should expect to see him more. I am excited to see what music he comes out with and the movies he is in. I have grown to like Bad Bunny and the fan base he has. He has inspired artists to get out there and make a name for themselves just as he did.
Xavier Aldana
Music Journalist
It had been four years since we’ve last heard from Canadian indie rock icon Mac Demarco. He is mostly known for producing hit albums such as, “2”, “Salad Days,” and “This Old Dog”. His most recent album, “Here Comes The Cowboy” debuted at number 10 on the US Billboard 200. It received mixed reviews due to its mellow sound and lack of focus. For a while, it was unclear what Demarco’s next move was going to be, but on January 20th, we were blessed with a fresh new album for everyone to soak up and enjoy. However, if you were looking forward to hearing the warm and comforting vocals that come with every Mac Demarco record, I’m sorry to say that his fifth studio album is entirely instrumental. This was a bittersweet record for me to listen to, as the show I was eagerly anticipating was unfortunately cancelled for Demarco to put all of his focus on completing his new music.
The album was recorded during a road trip across the Pacific Northwest, into Canada, back into the United States and ending in Rockaway, New York. Each track on the album is named after the towns that Demarco visited and recorded in. The music itself is solemn and relaxing, nothing too energetic like his past tracks such as “Freaking Out the Neighborhood” or “The Stars Keep On Calling My Name”. Demarco takes a different direction with this album, but it works very well. Almost all the tracks are comprised of short, simple riffs and groovy bass lines that repeat throughout the duration of the song without much progression. Additionally, something Demarco has done here for the first time is create sequels to his songs. Five of the fourteen songs have one to two sequels that are each an altered version of the previous. For example, the song “Vancouver 2” contains a soothing guitar riff at medium speed. The next track, “Vancouver 3”, contains a riff that uses the same notes but in a different arrangement and at a faster tempo.
I really enjoyed listening to this album. I woke up the morning of January 20th and invested myself in the music on my way home from San Marcos to San Antonio. A gloomy morning and what would have otherwise been a boring drive was turned into an alleviating half hour of good vibes and cozy-sounding music. Despite being recorded and mixed on the road, the sound quality sounds amazing. For the entire duration of the album, I was able to focus on every instrument and follow its path through the song. Because of its minimalist composition, each instrument has its own job, and nothing gets overshadowed or drowned out by anything else.
Overall, this was one of my favorite albums to listen to front to back. Although there were no clever metaphors or catchy choruses, I feel like the music itself is its own voice that speaks to the listener and reminds them that sometimes less is more. The album never tries to be anything than what it is at face value. I’m very excited to see what direction Mac Demarco will take with his next record. Whether it’s a catchy, fast-paced, electric guitar solo-filled collection of tracks, or a compilation of mellow licks, it seems everything Demarco touches turns to gold.
In this Monday edition of Bobcat Radio the crew of Justin Brown, Koby Jackson, and Orlando Smart, discuss Bobcat Men’s basketball three game losing streak after losing to Troy , Bobcat Women’s Basketballs blowout win over ULM Warhawks, SMHS Boys Basketball extends their win streak to 26 games, Bobcat Track’s Daniel Harrold sets another school record , Kyrie Irving’s big move to Texas, and LeBron’s scoring title 36 points away ! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
Myles Vaughn
Sports Reporter
The Texas State Women’s basketball team (16-7 overall, 8-4 Sun Belt) defeated the ULM Warhawks on Saturday afternoon by a score of 74-56.
Guard Taelour Pruitt shoots a wide open three.This was a bounce back win for the Bobcats after a tough comeback loss against Troy. ‘We took that L and used that focus and intensity, for the next game and executed,” forward Da’Nasia Hood said.
Hood was the team’s leading scorer with 18 points followed by Kennedy Taylor’s (15) and Ja’Kayla Bowie’s (10). Hood also led the team in rebounds with 10 giving her back to back double-double’s in the last two games.
The game had started off slowly, with the bobcats only having a four point lead throughout the first quarter. Most of these points were converted off either threes or turnovers.
The end of the second quarter was when the bobcats had turned the notch by gaining a 10-point lead and not looking back. This gave the bobcats a 10-0 run and a score of 37-27 at the half.
“The emphasis is primarily on defense, to be honest, I’ve spent very little time on offense” head Coach Zenarae Antoine said. This focus on defense played a large role in this one with the bobcats only allowing 10 points in the fourth quarter.
Coming back from halftime, the Bobcats seemed to not let off the gas, giving them the largest lead of the night 20 points.
The Bobcats shot 9-13 in the third quarter in contrast to the Warhawks who struggled against bobcat defense shooting 8-18 in the third quarter.
The Bobcats matching their offense with their defense forced 24 Warhawk turnovers scoring 33 points off of them.
The Bobcats shot 5-13 from three point range while the Warhawks only made one off of seven total attempts.
“They got to a good place to get some other players opportunity, which is really exciting for them”, Coach Antione said.
The Bobcats built a big lead and played stifling defense to extend their win streak against ULM to nine games and four straight at home.
With this win the bobcats advance to 16-7 overall, and 8-4 in Sun Belt Conference play. Their next game will be away versus Southern Miss Thursday Feb.9th at 5:00 p.m on ESPN+.
By Cal Hushka
Music Journalist
Anyone have that on their 2023 bingo card? After two years of silence from the Chicago band, Fall Out Boy released a cryptic claymation video on December 25th, 2022 (Merry Christmas?). The near end of this teaser video features an instrumental of what would be the first single of their new album, So Much (For) Stardust. “Love From The Other Side” was the first single released January 18th, 2023 along with a music video, and an album announcement. The music video features the band using instruments as weapons to defeat evil red eyed wolves. Bassist Pete Wentz comments how guitarist Joe Trohman was turned into a giant raccoon, possibly to explain his absence from the video. Prior, Trohman made a statement that he would be stepping back from the band to recover and prioritize his mental health.
“Love From The Other Side” includes lyrical references to previous songs like in the bridge, the line:
“Inscribed like stone and faded by the rain: ‘Give up what you love/ Give up what you love before it does you in…”’
Compared to the bridge from their 2007 song, “Bang The Doldrums”
“The tombstones were waiting/ They were half engraved/ They knew it was over/ Just didn’t know the date”
The second single, “Heartbreak Feels So Good” was released January 25th, also along with a music video. The music video features a cameo from Rivers Cuomo, frontman of Weezer, as the band, including singer Patrick Stump, bassist Pete Wentz, and drummer Andy Hurley, fail to kidnap him. In the dialogue before the song begins, the band takes a nod at guitarist Joe Trohman’s absence as a soft synth intro fades in. The video continues with go-pro footage of fight scenes, a robbery, chase scenes and even an interrupted cult meeting, and ends with a facetime call appearance of guitarist Joe Trohman. This second single also includes clear lyrical references to previous works, for example in the verse, Stump sings:
“It was an uphill battle/ But they didn’t know/ but they didn’t know/ We were gonna use the roads as a ramp to take off”
This line parallels to their song “Alone Together”, off their fifth studio album Save Rock and Roll:
“This is the road to ruin, and we’re starting at the end”
This much anticipated album is the first fans have heard from the band since a short hiatus during COVID-19, as the band had remained relatively inactive until the announcement of “Love From The Otherside.” However, Fall Out Boy fans are far too familiar with the band’s tendency to go on hiatus. There was a previous stint in 2010-2012 between albums, Folie à Deux, and the comeback, Save Rock and Roll. The previous release of their seventh studio album MANIA, the band received mixed reviews, mostly by being by far the most experimental album in sound and style. Though, with the two singles released so far from So Much (For) Stardust, the band’s future direction seems much more nostalgic for their older sound. The singles are more guitar driven with a distinct rock instrumental at which I am honestly excited for.
So Much (For) Stardust is set to release March 24, 2023.
By Kyle OwenSports ReporterSAN MARCOS, Texas – Head Coach Ricci Woodard and the Texas State Softball team are
gearing up for another season as the 2023 campaign is prowling around the corner and is set to
begin, Friday, February 10, at the Bobcat Softball Stadium.
The Bobcats will play five games in their opening weekend as they host Wichita State, Kent
State, and Villanova in the Texas State Tournament.
Last season, the Bobcats finished with an overall record of 38-19 and a 19-8 record in the Sun
Belt Conference. The ‘Cats finished third in the regular season Sun Belt standings and were able
to fight their way to the Sun Belt Tournament championship game against the Louisiana Ragin’
Cajuns, falling 1-7, and ultimately putting the season to an end without an NCAA Regional berth.
The Maroon and Gold have no plans but to make their way back into the Conference
Championship Game and make an NCAA Regional, but it’s going to take every amount of
blood, sweat, and dirt to get there.
Coach Woodard knows that in order to achieve their goals, her squad must focus on the game(s)
that is right in front of them, nothing else matters. Starting strong as well as finishing strong
will be the key.
“That’s what kept us out of a Regional tournament last year,” Coach Woodard said. “Some
crucial losses early in the season that we take care of business in, we put ourselves in a spot
where we don’t have to win a Sun Belt Tournament [championship].”
Over the last season, the Bobcats and Coach Woodard noticed that leadership within the program
wasn’t where it should be and they spent the offseason trying to fix that.
“I’ve had to go back and revamp and re-look at the things that … caused some of our lack of
leadership,” Coach Woodard said. “I think they’ve done a much better job of buying in and
trying to all find their niche and who’s going to lead what situations.”
Some of the leaders in the program that Coach Woodard mentioned have really stepped up
include senior infielder Sara Vanderford, junior pitcher Jessica Mullins, and sophomore
outfielder Ciara Trahan, but also the team’s depth in leadership across the diamond.
“You see a lot of different people who can stand out at different times,” Coach Woodard said.
“It’s been fun to watch with this group.”
Mullins is set for a big year in her third season as the Bobcat’s day-to-day pitcher. She’s been
named for many different pre-season awards and accolades, such as being the only Sun Belt
player to be included in the 2023 Collegiate Player of the Year Award Watch list as well as the
Sun Belt Conference’s Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
Mullins recognizes the achievement of her success and what it means for her team, but she also
sees it as a wake-up call for herself to prove that she is who everyone says she is, or better.
“It’s more of like,” Mullins said. “Okay, now I have to start working. It’s the beginning of, okay,
I need to work harder. I think that my drive is proving people wrong and that just helps me be
more driven.”KTSW Sports will broadcast at least 15 home games this season for the Bobcats, including all
five opening weekend games from February 10 to 12, three games of the I-35 Tourney on Feb 17
& 19, and the first two games of the TXST Classic on February 23.
Be sure to follow along on Twitter and Instagram by following @KTSWSports to get the latest from all things Texas State and San Marcos sports.
By Myles Vaughn
Sports Reporter
The Texas State women’s basketball team (16-7 overall, 8-4 Sun Belt) defeated the ULM Warhawks on Saturday afternoon by a score of 74-56.
This was a bounce back win for the Bobcats after a tough comeback loss against Troy. “We took that L and used that focus and intensity, for the next game and executed,” forward Da’Nasia Hood said.
Hood was the team’s leading scorer with 18 points, followed by Kennedy Taylor (15) and Ja’Kayla Bowie (10). Hood also led the team in rebounds with 10, giving her back-to-back double-double’s in the last two games.
Kennedy Taylor moves ball down court. Taken by Kyle Owen.The game had started off slowly, with the Bobcats only having a four point lead throughout the first quarter. Most of these points were converted off either threes or turnovers.
The end of the second quarter was when the bobcats had turned the notch by gaining a 10-point lead and not looking back. This gave the Bobcats a 10-0 run and a score of 37-27 at the half.
“The emphasis is primarily on defense, to be honest, I’ve spent very little time on offense,” head Coach Zenarae Antoine said. This focus on defense played a large role in this one with the Bobcats only allowing 10 points in the fourth quarter.
Coming back from halftime, the Bobcats seemed to not let off the gas, giving them the largest lead of the night 20 points.
The Bobcats shot 9-13 in the third quarter in contrast to the Warhawks who struggled against bobcat defense shooting 8-18 in the third quarter.
The Bobcats matching their offense with their defense forced 24 Warhawk turnovers scoring 33 points off of them.
The Bobcats shot 5-13 from three point range while the Warhawks only made one off of seven total attempts.
“They got to a good place to get some other players opportunity, which is really exciting for them,” Coach Antione said.
The Bobcats built a big lead and played stifling defense to extend their win streak against ULM to nine games and four straight at home.
With this win, the Bobcats advance to 16-7 overall, and 8-4 in Sun Belt Conference play. Their next game will be away versus Southern Miss Feb. 9th at 5:00 p.m on ESPN+.
In this Freezing Friday edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Paxton Graf, Orlando Smart, Gian Carlo Cacho and Thomas Terry discuss Bobcat Men’s Basketball’s away game loss versus 2nd ranked in SBC, Louisiana, along with the Bobcat Women’s Basketball home loss against against SBC first seed, Troy. Rattler boys basketball dominance continues, and NBA all star reserve thoughts! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
By Kenlie Golleher
Rap Music Director
This year has already started off strong for music fans, with Lil Yachty releasing one of the most adventurous and creative projects I have seen come out in a very long time.
Lil Yachty, who is often referred to by his alter ego alias, Lil Boat, first started making waves in the hip-hop community back in 2015 after releasing songs such as “One Night” and “Minnesota” on the music streaming service, SoundCloud. The popularity of these singles garnered a lot of attention, unlocking the doors to a whole new subgenre of trap music that is fittingly named “bubblegum trap” after its playful melodies and classic trap elements, such as snare kicks and heavy bass drums, as well as the usage of R-rated lyrics to top it all off.
Another big break for Yachty early on in his career was his inclusion in the XXL 2016 Freshman Class, along with a superstar lineup consisting of Kodak Black, Lil Uzi Vert, 21 Savage, Denzel Curry, Lil Dicky, Anderson .Paak, Desiigner, G Herbo and Dave East.
Yachty’s discography before 2021 had stuck close to his trap roots, hardly straying away towards different sounds. He was categorized as a “mumble rapper” early on and honestly didn’t do much to break out of that box for the longest time. While I still enjoyed what he had to bring to the table, I often found him to be repetitive and predictable.
It wasn’t until his collaboration with Tame Impala on the track “Breathe Deeper — Lil Yachty Remix” in October 2021 that we finally got to see him experiment with a new sound that we had yet to hear from him before.
I will admit that when this remix first dropped, I wasn’t the biggest fan of it. “Breathe Deeper” is one of my favorite tracks from Tame Impala, so hearing Yachty’s signature auto-tuned flow over a song that I already loved so much was just something that took time for my ears and mind to get acclimated to. While I admit I wasn’t necessarily a fan at first, I was still very excited to see him collaborate with an artist like Kevin Parker, and it got me really intrigued as to which direction Yachty would begin to steer his sound.
Lil Yachty’s Let’s Start Here AI-generated album cover. Rights belong to Quality Control, Capital and Motown records.Prior to the release of Let’s Start Here, I hadn’t really been keeping tabs on the actual rollout or release date of the project. It wasn’t until the day of its drop that I noticed a lot of people on Twitter talking about it, which immediately got me to strap on my headphones and hop over to Spotify to press play.
Now, while I knew Yachty was dabbling in psychedelic rock, nothing could’ve prepared me for what was about to go through my ears. Literally one second into the intro track, “the BLACK seminole”, I was already entranced by the Pink Floyd-esque synth sounds running back and forth through my headphones. Once the 26-second mark hit, that’s when I really started paying full attention. The entire duration of my listening experience, from start to finish, was spent in awe of what I was listening to. While I do think his voice can be a bit of a hit-or-miss sometimes, I didn’t find myself bothered by it on this record, as I was so encapsulated by the instrumentals and soundscapes being created to even put a lot of my attention towards his vocals.
Additionally, despite it not being the most impressive cut on the album, my own personal life experiences led to an emotional first reaction to the track “sHouLd i B?”, which made me love this project even more. Relatability is a big thing for me when I listen to music, so when I’m able to emotionally bind to an album, I’m really stuck with it for life.
Overall, despite this being a non-rap, alternative, psych-rock album, I still feel like my two worlds collided. Rap and psychedelic rock are my favorite genres, but finding crossovers between the two is rare; having a conventional rap artist create a psychedelic rock album as incredible as this one really made my heart full. This album was truly the crème de la crème for me, especially with Tame Impala and Pink Floyd being my favorite bands and what I felt had the most influence and sonic parallels on the record.
It’s obvious through the writing and production credits we see on this album that Yachty is well-versed in the genres that inspired this new direction, and it’s his collaboration with these veterans and pioneers of the psychedelic realm that allowed this project to reach heights it might not have seen without them. I could tell a lot of patience, dedication, trial-and-error and love went into the creation of this project, so it makes me so happy to see all the positive reactions it’s been receiving from the music community as a whole; not just from rap fans.
Even legendary Roots drummer, Questlove, has come out showing his love for the project, saying it has made him “hyped about music’s future.” A project like this from an artist like Lil Yachty was 1000% unexpected, which is why I think Let’s Start Here is such a huge project that I’m glad is receiving its praise and flowers. I can’t imagine the nerves he was feeling after finally releasing this to the public.
This just goes to show that despite the boxes people might place you in, there is always a way for you to grow and break through people’s perceptions of what you can and can’t be or achieve. Yachty made a really bold move with Let’s Start Here, and boy did it pay off.
Featured Image from Twitter
By Evelyn Lopez
Rap Journalist
Notorious hip-hop legends, De La Soul, have announced the date for their long-awaited comeback to streaming services. After almost 20 years, the group’s full catalog, including the albums 3 Feet High and Rising, De La Soul is Dead, Stakes are High and more, will be reissued and released on vinyl on March 3rd, 2023.
The group kicked off their return by putting “The Magic Number” on streaming services on Jan. 13, 2023. The single is track two on their critically acclaimed debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising. After being in the ending credit scene for “Spider-Man: No Way Home”, the track gained recent popularity, and now new fans and long-time De La Soul listeners can finally blend it into their music rotations on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
If you are somehow new to one of the most influential hip-hop groups of the 90s, I suggest you check them out before March. To both impress your friends and listen to some feel good music, catch up on their discography and get a head start before they come to streaming.
De La Soul has been credited for being one of the founders of “Jazz-Rap” and other alternative hip-hop subgenres. They stand out from other hip-hop groups of the 90s with their eclectic sampling, quirky style and progressive lyricism. The group has been compared to and stands alongside A Tribe Called Quest and Jungle Brothers, as they are all members of the hip-hop collective, Native Tongues Posse. They have also worked with some of my favorite artists, such as Mos Def and J-Dilla while, as of recently, they have also collaborated with Gorillaz on the track “Momentz” off of Humanz (2017).
It has been over four years since De La Soul and Tommy Boy Records initially stated that their music was coming to streaming, but due to legal disputes and issues regarding exploitation, the group decided to postpone. Originally, the group was going to release their digital albums through Tommy Boy, but they were not satisfied with the contract proposal. The group was told they would only get 10% of their earnings from streaming, while the label kept the remaining 90%.
“We are not happy about releasing our catalog under such unbalanced, unfair terms. #RespectTheArtist.”- @wearedelasoul Instagram post back in February of 2019.
While pressing Tommy Boy Records to negotiate a better deal, the group decided to reach out to the public and their fans as a way of bringing awareness to the issue. Their protest was supported by the likes of Jay-Z and Cartoon Network with their feature episode on “Teen Titans Go!” The episode had De La Soul members Posnudous, Trugoy and Maseo alongside the Teen Titans fighting a monster that was stealing and eating their music.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by De La Soul (@wearedelasoul)
As discussed by Variety, it was not until August 2021 that the group was finally able to gain ownership of their music when Reservoir Records acquired Tommy Boy Records for $100 million. De La Soul now has ownership of their masters and full direction over their image. So, mark your calendars, because De La Soul is back!
Featured Image from Toby Mott and Paul Spencer, Grey Organisation.
Maxwell Zaborowski
News Reporter
The 2023 Texas Winter Storm caused catastrophic consequences for the state and its residents. From January 31 to February 1, Texas State and the city of San Marcos shut down their facilities due to extreme cold temperatures and icy conditions.
The winter storm was caused by a unique combination of extremely low temperatures and a destabilized power grid, resulting in widespread electricity and blackouts. The state’s energy system was not equipped to handle such frigid conditions, causing widespread concern and difficulty for residents who were left without power or heat during the winter. Additionally, the storm resulted in a scarcity of water as many water processing facilities were unable to function, adding to the challenges faced by the community.
The storm has prompted widespread criticism of the state’s preparedness and response, and investigations are ongoing into the causes and extent of the damage. It is clear that the state was not adequately prepared for such a catastrophic event, and that much more needs to be done to ensure that residents are protected in the future.
The full extent of the damage and impact is still being determined, but it is expected to be significant, both in terms of the financial cost and the human toll.
As of Thursday, over 305,000 residents were still without power, with Austin Energy, the city-owned utility company, not knowing when it would be able to restore power to around 150,000 households and businesses.
The state has been heavily criticized for its lack of warnings and clarity over the situation, with residents also frustrated with the slow progress of restoration efforts. The causes of the electricity outages are mostly due to local issues, such as downed power lines, rather than problems with the power grid. (Mendez et al., 2023)
Despite not being as severe, widespread, or prolonged as the winter storm of 2021, this year’s storm serves as a reminder of the need for emergency officials to prioritize winter weather preparations in the state.
The lack of communication from government and utility officials, as well as the slow progress of restoration efforts, has resulted in criticism. The outages have impacted daily life, with schools and colleges closing, flights being cancelled, and the Legislature being put on pause. The recent storm has highlighted the need for residents to prepare for extreme weather conditions.
Be more prepared for the next winter storm by visiting the city of San Marcos Safety and Preparedness Tips page.
By GianCarlo Cacho
Sports Reporter
SAN MARCOS—The Bobcat football program is rebranding with a new head coach, coaching staff, and new players. All in an effort to “Take back Texas”.
Since Coach GJ Kinne was announced as the new head coach for Texas State football, he and his team started immediately recruiting for the 2023 season. The goal is that this team is going to “Take back Texas”. Since the previous coaching staff prioritized transfer players, this new staff is relying on homegrown talent from Texas high schools, Texas transfers, and players from the south.
Since the fan base has not seen any action yet, they can only go off what coach Kinne has to say, and the Texas State fan base is already familiar with the talk and hype that the previous head coach promised. That talk never translated to the win column, and now, the fans will have to wait to see what coach Kinne has built.
“We are excited to put a brand a football that the students and the fan base can be proud of,” said head coach Kinne. “We just need you to show up, be proud, get the tailgate going, get loud when you get in the stadium, and expect to see a lot of points on that scoreboard.”
One thing that was touched on during the national signing day press conference was the character of the players coming into and staying in the program. In his time at the University of the Incarnate Word, coach Kinne started programs for his players to be community leaders and volunteers. This proves Kinne cares not only for his players’ athleticism but also their work ethic, academics, and community relations.
“You never know till you get them here,” said head coach Kinne. “You got to lean on the high school coaches, the coaches they are transferring from… you’ll never be 100% but we are confident in what we did in that area.”
Since most of the team has been constructed for the upcoming season, fans are now just waiting through spring ball and then fall ball for the new season to begin. Coach Kinne spoke on the goal for this program this season and the next couple in the future, especially when it comes to the eluded bowl game Texas State fans have been waiting for.
“I believe with this roster we can, I got to see them in practice and work with them, but our plan this year is to go to a bowl game,” said head coach Kinne. “We are working every day and we want to build a champion, that’s Sun Belt Conference champions, bowl champions, champions on and off the field. We feel that we can deliver that you this year.”
Now, all the fanbase can do is wait and see how the 2023 football season will play out, especially since all the pressure falls on the head coach and not the signees particularly. These signees are promising; many are linemen for the offense and defensive backs that will be primarily playing four-down defenses for coach Kinne. The defense has been great in recent years for Texas State football, but offense is where they fall flat. Coach Kinne loves to play an exciting tempo offense, has the pieces to make this offense successful and will have options in quarterbacks Malik Hornsby, PJ Hatter, Derek Mata, and CJ Rogers.
Texas State will now wait and see if they can “Take back Texas.”
By Aaliyah Hamilton
Music Journalist
Whether you’ve heard of her music or seen her signature curly orange locks on social media, Ice Spice has probably been on your radar in the past year.
Jokingly deemed the “Princess Diana of this generation,” Ice Spice has been making waves in the rap industry with the release of her debut EP, Like..?. In August of 2022, Ice Spice dropped “Munch (Feelin’ U),” which, like most popular songs nowadays, gained its prominence from Tik Tok.
The EP follows in “Munch’s” footsteps, with catchy drill-inspired beats produced by RIOTUSA, almost hilariously used phrases that turn into Gen Z slang and the rhythmic flow that comes so naturally to her. The opening track, “In Ma Hood,” sets the tone for an album that exudes self-confidence for a total of 13 minutes and 8 seconds, where she raps lyrics such as, “Said I’d be lit by the end of the summer/ And I’m proud that I’m still getting bigger.”
Playing into the running joke of her comparison to Princess Diana, the second track is named after the late princess. Rapping the lyrics, “In the hood like I’m Princess Diana,” she uses the Princess’ relatability and willingness to help others to parallel with her own character in a true Ice Spice-fashioned way.
Although most tracks only contain Ice Spice’s vocals, the track “Gangsta Boo” features fellow rapper Lil Tjay. With the reinvited P. Diddy sample, Ice Spice goes on to talk about how she wants none other than someone with a “gangsta vibe,” with Lil Tjay being the “gangsta boo” in question. When Tjay comes on in the second verse, he practically warns her about getting involved with his gangster lifestyle, but he also rebuttals with “Together we somethin’ like brish, and they can’t do it like you and they wish”.
My favorite track, and what I would say is the most underrated, is “Actin’ A Smoochie.” A “smoochie,” according to Urban Dictionary, is a person who is basically a flirt, and Ice Spice labels herself as one over a more predominately house music-influenced beat compared to her other tracks. She goes on about how she doesn’t need a relationship and how she “Don’t want the feelings, I just want the dome.”
“Bikini Bottom,” which is titled perfectly over a SpongeBob soundtrack-inspired beat, followed the success of “Munch” with its most notorious lyric, “How can I lose if I’m already chose?” It’s filled with the flaunting of her newfound wealth and fame (“Stackin’ money where the ceilin’ be/ Twenty to stand on a couch”). She even finds a way to give a shoutout to Mariah Carey in the midst of exhibiting her prosperity (“Throw on Balenci’ to flex/Like MiMi, I got ‘em obsessed”).
Overall, Ice Spice left me wanting more in terms of depth and just a longer album run time. Although her sense of knowing her worth is quite infectious, I would like to see her tackle other subject matter and have a more storytelling approach in her future songs to come.
Featured Image from Ice Spice.
Jarris Jones
Music Journalist
We are shaped and become who we are by the company we keep and the lessons we are shown by others. Being raised in a household with three older brothers allowed me to learn many lessons and spend quality time with my loved ones. My oldest brother Joe is the biggest role model in my life, and the greatest thing he passed down to me is his undying love for music. This past weekend, on Jan. 22, 2023, I had the opportunity to pick his brain about his all-time favorite artist list, examples of perfect albums, and the beauty behind the artistry.
Grandmother of Jarris JonesMany car rides with Joe have served as my introduction to a wide range of albums and artists. When asked about his favorite albums and artists, Joe had this to say: “My favorite album changes constantly. Life is always in a state of ebb and flow, highs and lows. However, my environment at that time usually dictates what I am listening to. Wherever my mental state is at that time dictates it as well. Now, if you were to ask me who my favorite artists are of all time, that would be simple. That list has rarely changed. That list would go Marvin Gaye, Pimp C, 2Pac, Kanye, Donny Hathaway, Prince, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, P-Funk, Nick Hakim, Stevie Wonder, Jay- Z and pre-2011 Lil Wayne.” Many notable names echo throughoutthis list, but the most notable to me is Stevie Wonder. With the recent passing of the 50th anniversary of his 15th studio album, Talking Book, Stevie Wonder is viewed as an all-time great, and his work is still sampled by many artists today.
A “perfect” album is given this title based on the individual’staste and personal preference, which is something both Joe and I understand. “There is no such thing as a perfect album, but there are always two albums that I can return to when it comes to my go-tos. No skips at all. Those albums would be My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and To Pimp a Butterfly. Being an extension of TPAB, Untitled Unmastered is in there as well. Bothare works of art. More art than music. Music was just the medium the picture was painted by. Poetry in motion. Life on wax. Luxury and self-devastation. Self-reflection and self-deprivation. Those three albums have almost everything when it comes to music. Sonically different than most things we had ever heard in hip-hop. Kanye had a legendary rollout with MBDTF on GOOD Fridays. Kendrick was spiritually in another realm when creating TPAB/UU. Both are literary works of art. For that reason, even when life is changing and altered, these two albums will be my favorite albums of all time.”
As the interview came to a close, I was able to truly see how music had shaped Joseph and my world. Despite our agedifference and life experiences, the one thing we can always have in common and connect with is music, which shows just how music can be used as a tool to bring people together and create beautiful moments. Not only being my big brother but also a great friend, a simple “thank you” is simply not enough to express my gratitude to Joe for introducing me to the world of music.
By Bryce Lambeth
Music Journalist
When walking down Guadalupe towards the square you’re likely to take note of the KZSM studio along the way. It’s a very eye-catching block. It might be the loudspeakers overhead streaming live local radio out into the streets, the bubble machine parked on the sidewalk next door, or the cast of inanimate characters that have lived behind the large glass windows over the years. Something about KZSM is bound to pique your interest. You will be able to tell that it appears to be something more than a “run of the mill” radio studio pumping out top 40 tracks and commercial advertisements. Stopping by to take a listen and a peek inside (which I encourage you to do sometime) makes its uniqueness clearer than ever. If you dive deeper, you discover a rich local history, a community driven mission, and an indisputably deep passion.
Rob Roark showcasing KZSM’s in studio vinyl collection / Avery Viers KTSWUpon going inside the over 100-year-old building in which KZSM resides charming wood floors creek with every step. As I examined the old but beautifully maintained music equipment alongside walls stacked high with vinyl records it would be easy to assume KZSM had a history just as extensive as the floor underfoot. I certainly assumed that there had been a strong radio presence in San Marcos for a long time, and – I was right in a way -, but in the grand scheme of local radio KZSM is a more recent development.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Rob “The Wiz” Roark, one of the volunteers at KZSM and host of the show “Vinyl Confessions” amongst others. Within a few minutes of talking to The Wiz you will pick up on his encyclopaedic and passionate knowledge he has for the community here in San Marcos and its likely to rub off on you as well. Rob detailed the history and mission of KZSM for me and clued me into the storied past of local radio in San Marcos.
Rob Roark Beside KZSM In-Studio Graphic Poster / Avery Viers KTSWOne of San Marcos earliest radio presences came in the form of a pirate radio station in the late 90s known as “Kind Radio”. Allegedly, someone obtained a “backpack” (about the size of a small refrigerator) sized transformer from Berkley California and hauled it back to San Marcos. The bootleg transformer was hooked up in a garage on the east side of I-35 and before it began cranking out community driven content. Kind Radio was similar to KZSM in the sense that it allowed anyone from the community to have a show. It was also integral in connecting the community in times of emergency, specifically during the flooding in San Marcos in 1998. Kind radio would book shows and advertise the schedule at local businesses where it could be picked up for free. Unfortunately, the San Marcos pirate radio station was shut down by the FCC in the early 2000s under threat of fines and penalties.
In the mid twenty teens one of the original affiliates of Kind radio began getting some San Martians together for another community project. At the time the old mercantile was being used by TX State students to test video streaming software that was developed at the university. After selling the software to sports broadcasters the refurbished space was used for a short-lived community tv station project. Eventually, the broadcasting station slowly evolved into KZSM as we know it today. Today KZSM uses the space not only as a base of operation but as an example to the community on what can be accomplished when volunteers who care about their community seek to catalogue, connect, and express it.
Adrianna Elias
Music Journalist
I love Q. This is me begging you to listen to Q more often and tune into his new album.
Q Marsden, a South Florida artist, creates music that sounds wise beyond his years. His music, being reminiscent of that of 80s R&B and soul, creates a new, forward-thinking, dreamy, and alternative R&B for the next generation of listeners. Raised by Jamaican immigrant parents, Q was brought up in the world of music.
Steven “Lenky” Marsden, his father, is a well-known figure in the dancehall and reggae scenes, having created the legendary “Diwali Riddim,” sampled by Rihanna (“Pon De Replay”) and Sean Paul (“Get Busy”) for numerous Billboard hits. It’s fitting that his father has a writing credit on “Take Me Where Your Heart Is,” the lead single from his major label debut, The Shave Experiment EP. Music has always been a part of his daily life, and by his adolescence, he was programming beats on his mother’s Triton keyboard.
Q’s single “Today” as seen on my iPhoneThe debut of his EP, The Shave Experiment, is when I caught wind of him. I heard “It Won’t Get Ya” whenk I was letting music shuffle on YouTube during the pandemic. I was on a huge Childish Gambino kick coming off the high of what I thought was going to be Gambino’s last album. “It Won’t Get Ya” sounds like something that could come straight fromGambino’s Awaken, My Love. So, what becomes a rabbit hole of shuffling through songs that turns into “Oh my god, is this an alias for Gambino?” “Who is Q?” I continued to dabble in the world of Q, throwing his songs on playlists, but I lost sight of him until early November last year, after the release of his song “Today.” The song takes on the long 80s intro of cold electronic keyboard and falsetto vocals and talks about his struggle with anxiety and self-hatred, taking on a more hopeful tone towards the end. A very vulnerable and intimate performance of the song at the Soul Train Awards had viewers searching for all things Q. Everyone in the official music video for the song says he sounds like a cross between Maxwell and Lenny Kravitz, which I completely agree with. The live version of the song—dare I say—adds a missing piece to the song. Seeing Q get into the song and exercise his vocal powerhouse was transcendent and necessary for diving into his discography and the sound of his latest album, which has yet to be officially named.
I, as well as many others, are anticipating a tour to go along with the rollout of his third studio album. He’s already dropped three singles for the album at this point: “TODAY,” “STEREO DRIVER” and “LUV (I KNOW I WANT THIS FOR REAL).” Friday morning, Q went live on Instagram to promote “LUV (I KNOW I WANT THIS FOR REAL)” and was asked about the tour and the release date of the album. He said he would go on tour soon and that the album cover was a placeholder until the release of the full album. There is no confirmed date for the album’s release other than “soon.” With an unforgettable sound, Q makes music for the kids who grew up on their parents’ late 80s and early 90s R&B and crave that same sound in a modern context.
By Sam Burzinski
Blog Content Contributor
What kind of attachment do I have to Shrek?
Sure, it seems every kid born from 1995 through 2013 knows Shrek like a close friend, and he was unanimous Meme MVP of 2017, but me? I didn’t see the first one until I was 13, “Shrek 2” is a film I enjoy well enough and I saw the final two sequels when they came out (and then never again). Beyond that, my family still owns the “Shrek the Third” McDonalds cups with pride, and my sister gifted me a Shrek plaque that still adorns my wall to this day.
So is that why I feel almost complete apathy towards “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”?
The movie was born out of a recent revolution in CG animated films, with the inception point of these ideas coming from 2018’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse.” Flashy, kinetic 3D animation is layered under a sheen of painterly 2D animation. The result is a stunning display of super-feline feats of heroism, action and artistic technique to undeniable success.
“Puss in Boots 2,” which is how I’ll refer to it from here on out to avoid confusion with the 2011 prequel, follows the titular hero, who is on his last of nine lives, alongside his old romantic flame Kitty Softpaws and a stray puppy by the name of Perrito as they try to find the so-called “Last Wish” in competition with the Three Bears gang and a maniacal Little Jack Horner.
Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek turn in undeniably compelling vocal performances as Puss and Softpaws, and there is a veritable murderer’s row of talent making up the supporting cast; including, but not limited to, John Mulaney, Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone and Wagner Moura in particular as the physical personification of Death, stalking Puss all the way throughout the journey.
Banderas and Hayek at the 2011 Australian “Puss in Boots” premiere. Photographed by Eva Rinaldi.The movie, as crazy it may seem (read: not at all), has been absolutely sweeping the internet over the past few months, and a recent nomination for the Academy Award for Best Animation Feature has only intensified this. For a generation practically born out of the internet, a product that’s so artistically driven is something that’s undeniably exciting to see, but at the heart of it, it’s still exactly that: a product.
As pessimistic as it sounds to say, “Puss in Boots 2” is still a part of one of the biggest animated franchises in the world, with each “Shrek” or “Shrek”-adjacent film grossing, in total, over $3 billion worldwide. The only difference, it seems, between the most recent entry and a movie that in 2004 had a medieval-style “Cops” joke, is a fresh coat of animated paint. Beyond a quick few callouts, the mainline “Shrek” characters are never in the film, but the humor is nonetheless nearly identical to if the movie had been made in 2009.
I saw “Puss in Boots 2” in the theater for the birthday of a friend, who, upon walking out, proclaimed it one of the best movies he had seen in recent years. I would honestly, on the best of days, give it a solid 7/10, and he would probably have me executed for saying that if he heard me.
As for the people of the world, and though it may seem to be confirmation bias in action, who are so eager about “Puss in Boots 2” being not just one of the best animated movies of the past year, but one of The Great Movies? I just don’t get it. It didn’t click with me, but it was one of the best “didn’t click with me”s in recent memory.
None of this is to say that the movie is bad. Quite the opposite, in fact. The animation is absolutely lovely. The quick, motion-blurred action makes it quite clear that the team behind this movie grew up on Toonami-era anime and Newgrounds flash animations, and we as a culture are all the better for it. Every character, background and impact frame has visible brushstrokes that harken to how the movie would actually look as a fairy tale in a leather-bound storybook.
The character of Death has been cited in recent months as one of the best villains in animation, but I just can’t abide by that statement. Death’s role in the movie is an antagonist, for sure, but we have to be aware of the difference between “opposing the protagonist” and “being a villainous character.” Death opposes Puss in Boots, sure, but the real villain is a favorite of mine: “Little” Jack Horner.
Horner, voiced by the incomparable John Mulaney, is just plain evil. His backstory is almost useless to try and sum up beyond “he’s big and angry and a mean person.” Mulaney voices him as a petulant child who has a bag of magic items just read to be misused. On top of this is Horner’s foil: the “Ethical Bug,” a clear analogue to the Talking Cricket of “Pinocchio” fame. Mr. Bug speaks, almost inexplicably, in a Jimmy Stewart impression while fruitlessly trying to convince Horner to listen to what little conscience he has left. This is to little avail, Horner is evil to the very end and I absolutely love it.
I would never say that “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” is an outright bad, or even okay movie. It’s good! I get why people love the dynamic between Goldilocks and her found family of bears, or the very human fears of Mr. Boots having but one last life to live, or the movie’s portrayal of what having a panic attack feels like! (The last one maybe less so, but I digress.) It just wasn’t for me and that’s perfectly fine. All too often in recent years, internet-poisoned brains endlessly argue about something being “the best” when art is, by undeniable definition, always going to be subjective.
At the end of the day, it’s a movie about a cat with snazzy footwear doing cool things. The world would be a lot nicer if we could all come together, live in peace as one and say “You know what? That sounds pretty cool.”
In this Monday edition of Bobcat Radio the crew of Justin Brown, Koby Jackson, Orlando Smart, and JP Flanagan discuss Bobcat women’s basketball overtime victory against Southern Miss, Bobcat Men’s Basketballs tough road loss against against SBC First seed; Southern Miss, SMHS Boys Basketball extends their win streak to 24 games, TXST track four top five finishes at Houston Invitational, and NFL Conference championship game reactions with Super Bowl winner predictions! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
https://soundcloud.com/ktsw89_9/bobcats-overtime-battle-against-southern-miss-mahomes-heads-to-the-super-bowl-to-face-jalen-hurts?si=aabbf39ddf354f8192157ac57e449595&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
By Jaysen Collins
Sports Reporter
The Texas State Women’s basketball team defeated the Southern Miss Golden Eagles by a final score of 62-52 on Saturday evening in Strahan Arena.
The Bobcats came into this game in fifth place in the Sun Belt Conference and are now tied for second in the conference with the win today.
Da’Nasia Hood was the game’s leading scorer with 17 points and four rebounds. Ja’Kayla Bowie and Kennedy Taylor each chipped in 12 points. Lauryn Thompson was the Bobcat’s leading rebounder with nine.
Texas State women’s basketball warming up before game against Southern Miss.
Photo taken by Jaysen Collins.The Bobcats started the game on fire. They went on a 12-2 run to start the first quarter. Southern Miss was forced into three turnovers in the first quarter and the Bobcats made sure to convert.
The second quarter was a battle throughout. Both teams were trading shots until Southern Miss went on a 13-3 run to trim the lead to three going into halftime.
The Bobcats forced 28 turnovers in this game. Coach Antoine understands turnovers play a big part, but that wasn’t the main focus when it came to the defensive side of the ball.
“A big focus for our game wasn’t necessarily turning them over, a big focus was us amping up and exerting who is the best defense within the Sun Belt Conference,” Antoine said. “Offense will matter, but really just doing a great job defensively and challenging ourselves and our team took it to another level.”
The game slowed down in the third quarter. Neither team could find a rhythm as the Bobcats had four turnovers and Southern Miss shot 27.1 percent from the field with 7 turnovers. Entering the fourth quarter the Bobcats led 38-34.
Neither team was pulling away in this one. For every bucket the Bobcats scored, Southern Miss had an answer. With 30 seconds left in the game, a few costly mistakes put the Bobcats in a tough position.
Southern Miss made a three-pointer to make it a one point game, followed by a turnover with 23.2 seconds left in regulation. Southern Miss was able to get to the free-throw line and convert one out of two and force overtime.
The Bobcats had the advantage up until that point, but coach Antoine knows adversity is apart of this game.
“I felt a sense of calm and focus from the team. There was definitely a quietness and there was definitely a tone in understanding that they had the momentum,” Antoine said. “But they are mature enough to handle that information and process it. They played with a sense of calm and resolve after that and were able to push ahead.”
Texas State women’s basketball takes a picture after win against Southern Miss. Photo taken by Jaysen Collins.The game was close the first four quarters, but overtime was all Bobcats. They outscored Southern Miss 14-4 in the extra period and pulled out a tough win.
The Bobcats are now 7-3 in Sun Belt Conference play. Their next game will be back in Strahan Arena on Thursday Feb 2 against Troy University in a battle of top-ranked teams in the Sun Belt.
By Kyle Owen
Sports Reporter
The San Marcos Lady Rattlers basketball team fell to the San Antonio East Central Hornets, 49-34, Friday at the Snake Pit in San Marcos, Texas.
Multiple turnovers in the first half and costly fouls late in the fourth quarter deemed to be the difference in the matchup between the Rattlers and the Hornets as San Marcos fell to 1-6 in District 27-6A play and 13-17 on the season.
Freshman guard Azariah “Azzy” Fennell accounted for over a third of the Rattlers’ points as she put up 12 against the Hornets. Behind Fennell, the next leading scorer for the Rattlers was senior forward, Amiya Moore, with seven in the game.
Rounding out the scoring for the Rattlers were sophomore guard Alyeceia Pierson, freshmen forward Melayna Perkins with six apiece and senior forward Saylor Upshaw with four.
East Central’s senior forward, Asia Prudhomme, accounted for nearly half of the Hornets points with 22 on the night, helping to improve her team’s record to 4-3 in District 27-6A play and 23-10 on the season.
The San Marcos Lady Rattlers basketball team will be back in action on Tuesday, January 31, to take on the Clemens Buffaloes in the Snake Pit. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on KTSW 89.9.
Featured Image by Kyle Owen
By Harriet Bernard
Local Music Journalist
Finding a space where you feel included and motivated to explore an unfamiliar place is important for college students. Whether you moved from 1,000 miles or just 10 minutes away to your school, everyone deserves to find their community. After coming to Texas State and living in San Marcos, I found that local music has given me some of the most exciting opportunities to take on as a music journalist for KTSW. Therefore, I think the local music scene in San Marcos is a hidden gem that many more students should explore further.
Local central Texas bands like Window Shop, Soma Jerome, Crash Test Girls, and Being Dead will often play at the same handful of small venues that San Mo has to offer, such as The Porch and Earle’s Basement. At these events, such as KTSW’s monthly Third Thursday, you can find San Marcos residents and students gathering to enjoy good music and conversation for a few hours. New connections can be made and bring more than just supporting local artists. The larger this community of musicians and listeners gets, the stronger the push for more venues to come about in San Marcos becomes. Texas State’s local music scene amplifies the student experience and benefits its community to a greater extent while also giving back to the small city that some of us call home.
It’s good to point out the obvious: that going to local shows helps support artists who are “on the come up” or just there to share talent. However, when attending a show, you are doing more than just supporting; you are finding a potential community for you and those around you, as well as finding new musical genres you may not have known about. I encourage those interested in going to these local events to bring your friends; spread the word to students who might be afraid to venture out and experience local music.
By joining together in support of artists in our community, we can do our part in helping the bands and organizations around us visualize the future of local art and music. I have been attending local shows my whole life. Growing up in Austin where music is the main attraction, I can say there is no other feeling than hearing original music performed live by people you grow up with; and what better way to get involved then right through our school?
If you love music but are more interested in the behind-the-scenes of it all, going to local shows can also easily open doors for you. Coming early to a show, or even staying after, is where you can see a band set up and prepare for a performance and get a chance to talk to KTSW students, interview an artist, and get to know the ‘ins and outs’ of local music.
Joining KTSW 89.9 is the perfect gateway for students who feel music is an important aspect of their lives to get involved in San Marcos. Students are encouraged to come out to our hosted events around town to see how hard we work to help keep the local music alive; giving students an opportunity to dress up and go out together to hear inspiring, raw, and original music. Through KTSW socials, @ktsw899 on Instagram and Twitter, you can stay up-to-date on the latest events, pop-ups, and music news. All in all, local music is an amazing outlet for finding a welcoming community and new interests. Regardless of where you’re from or how you express yourself, there is a spot for you in San Marcos’ local music scene.
By Preethi Mangadu
News & Culture Director
Texas State senior Jenna Ramon and alum Erica Fierro have been titled as two of the Most Promising Multicultural Students for 2023 by the American Advertising Federation.
The American Advertising Federation is a nation-wide organization for individuals in the advertising industry. Its Most Promising program has been working to promote equity, inclusion, and diversity in the advertising field for 26 years. The program is supported by many advertising agencies and companies such as BBDO, Meta, Omnicom Group, The Trade Desk, and more.
“AAF stands for American Advertising Federation, and it is an inclusive organization for all individuals in the advertising industry,” Fierro said. “This wonderful organization includes 150+ local clubs all over the U.S. and numerous college chapters like AAF TXST.”
To be named, students of color and a AAF college chapter apply to the program every year and our judged by leading industry professionals. This semester the panel had individuals from Ally Financial, Nissan Motor Corporation, Captura Group, Cummings Creative Group, Hearts & Science, Lake-Sumter State College, Promedica, Publicis Health, RPA, and The Trade Desk.
“For me, the process started with being an active student in the classroom. Throughout the semester, I formed a lot of connections with my professors. My professor, Clay Craig, reached out to me directly and informed me about this wonderful opportunity, which was MPMS!” Ramon said. “I filled out an in-depth application that included a letter of recommendation, resume, and answered a series questions. Next thing I knew it, I received an acceptance email to be a part of MPMS Class of 2023.”
Ramon and Fierro, along with the other honorees, will be a part of a four-day industry immersion program in New York. The program will involve industry professionals, workshops, recruiters, and more.
“After reading the email about being chosen, I automatically felt thankful and proud to represent both my Mexican-American culture and Texas State,” Fierro said. “Since the trip is approaching, I am nervous yet excited to meet some of the most involved and enthusiastic professionals and students in the advertising industry!”
Ramon is an advertising major on her way to graduation, and Fierro graduated last semester with a bachelor’s degree in advertising with a concentration in media planning and a minor in marketing. Both are excited for the opportunity as they picture themselves in advertising in their future.
“Once I took an introduction into advertising class, I knew it was the degree for me. I have always had a passion for being creative, but never knew it was an option for a career,” Ramon said. “My professor, Clay Craig, was so passionate about advertising and it was so contagious! From day one, I absolutely fell in love with Advertising!”
Fierro said that advertising will allow her to be connected with people and the world in many different ways.
“Diversity is also another important reason why I want to be a part of the advertising community. By bringing my Mexican culture into my profession, I can help minority communities feel included,” Fierro said. “Lastly, I have always been intrigued and motivated to stay updated in the most technological trends since our world is expanding into a more modern world in every aspect of life.”
The AAF’s Most Promising program provides a gateway to the advertising industry. For more information, visit aaf.org.
In this edition of Claws to the Wall, Koby Jackson, David Castaneda, Myles Vaughn and Thomas Terry discuss Bobcat men’s basketball struggle to maintain consistency ahead of Georgia Southern, Bobcat women’s basketballs matchup against Old Dominion, Rattler boys basketball dominant 23-game win streak and AFC/NFC Championship predictions! Be sure to catch Claws to the Wall every Thursday here at KTSW Sports.
In this new year edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew, Taylor Cuen, Paxton Graf and Myles Vaughn, discuss Bobcat men’s basketball breaking their three game skid, Bobcat women’s basketball with a 12-point come back win versus Old Dominion, SMHS basketball and NBA All Star Starter reactions! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
By Kylie Hogg
Local Music Journalist
Indie-rock supergroup, boygenius, made their much-anticipated return to the music scene last week with the release of three songs and a feature Rolling Stone cover. The group was formed when Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus were set to tour with each other in 2018. To promote the tour, the trio released an EP titled boygenius. After the EP, however, the three focused on their solo careers; that is, until this year.
Cover art from boygenius’s debut EP.On January 19, 2023, Rolling Stone released their January issue, featuring boygenius imitating the magazine’s 1994 Nirvana cover. This is not the first time the band has replicated a famous classic rock photo as, for the cover of their first EP, the three mimicked the image from a male folk-rock group’s 1969 debut album in symbolic reference towards the perception differences between male and female musicians. While the trio is unapologetic about their love for classic rock, they continue to remind people that many of the male dominated classic rock bands are treated with much more respect than female musicians of the same talent.
Even their name is a reference to this phenomenon, with “boygenius” signifying the common trope of overconfident male rock stars who are praised for everything they do or say.
The group has proven that they’re not one to be messed with. Their lyrics are filled with bold messages and strong vocals that establish the group’s raw talent and chemistry. One could argue that they are a Riot Grrrl for the modern age with the way they will not merely ask for respect, but rather demand it. This is because, much like the Riot Grrrl bands of the 1990s, boygenius is not afraid to express how they feel or confronting issues head on.
For instance, though many women in music have been criticized for using expletive language – both in their music and in interviews – it seems that boygenius ushers in a refreshingly unapologetic new era. They’re not afraid to throw around f-bombs, with their expletives having the power to pack that much more of a punch while discussing sensitive topics, such as self-harm, alcoholism, and deadbeat dads.
Both artists of the Riot Grrrl era and boygenius do not hold back in their songwriting; they sing exactly what they feel, without fluff or censorship.
With that being said, I am very excited to see what this new era of boygenius has in store. With all three artists being far more experienced than they were at the time of their first EP in 2018, as well as having far much more time to market and promote their new album, we are bound to see more of what boygenius has to say. Make sure to keep an eye out for their debut album, the record, set to release on March 31, 2023.
Featured Image by boygenius
By Jaysen Collins
Sports Reporter
The Texas State men’s basketball team defeated the Georgia Southern Eagles by a final score of 70-67 on Thursday night at Strahan Arena.
The Bobcats were on a three-game losing streak overall, and a four game losing streak in Strahan Arena before tonight.
Nighael Ceaser led all scorers with 23 points to go, along with four rebounds. Davion Coleman finished with a career high as a Bobcat with 16 points and five rebounds. Both players came off the bench.
Coach Johnson has faith in all of his players. Ceaser and Coleman having the game they had didn’t catch Johnson off guard, and practice was a big part of that.
“Those guys had a good week of practice. So, I felt like going to those guys early and getting them a little bit of time to play through their mistakes would be key for us down the stretch,” Johnson said. “I’m not surprised by either one of them and their ability to contribute to this win tonight.”
The Eagles got off to a fast start as they opened the game on a 10-0 run, but the Bobcats were able to bounce back and go on their own 16-4 run to put them up 16-14, with only 11:24 to play in the first half.
Going into halftime, Georgia Southern led 36-31 and it was off the back of Andre Savrasov. He finished the first half shooting 7-8 from the field with 17 points, while the Bobcats had no answer at all.
Savrasov ended the game with 17 points. When asked about what adjustments were made that caused Savrasov to be scoreless for the entire second half, Johnson put Tyrel Morgan to the test.
“I had a little spirited conversation with Tyrel Morgan at halftime,” Johnson said. “So, he stepped up to the challenge and I’m glad that he did.”
Throughout the entirety of the game, neither team could seem to gain traction. Once either team made a run, the other came back with a blow of it’s own. That was until the 5:29 mark in the second half.
Nighael Ceaser took over the game at that point and scored six straight points to put the Bobcats up by five. Ceaser usually does his damage in the paint but tonight the jump-shot was on full display.
From that point forward, it was all Bobcats. They went up by as much as seven with 1:21 remaining in the game. Georgia Southern fought to the very end to make it a one possession game with 10 seconds left but the Bobcats sealed the game with a stop.
The Bobcats move to 4-5 in Sun Belt play and will go on to play Southern Mississippi on Saturday, Jan 28 in Southern Miss at 2 pm. Johnson knows it’s a quick turnaround, but he knows his squad is battle tested and ready.
“Our non-conference schedule has helped us when it comes down to travel,” Johnson said. “So, for us, it’s just about getting proper rest, nutrition, hydration and getting our minds right.”
Featured Image by Beau Kelly
By Jordan Salas
Sports Reporter
Malik Presley unstoppable dunk at the rimThe San Marcos Rattlers (28-2 overall, 3-0 district 27-6A) faced off against the New Braunfels
Unicorns (23-3 overall, 3-0 district 27-6A) in a showdown between the top two teams in the
district. The Rattlers showed their dominance in front of a packed crowd at the Snake Pit by
getting the win over the Unicorns, 66-54.
The Rattlers started hot, energizing their passionate crowd by building an early 17-4 lead
halfway through the first quarter. The last five minutes of the first quarter showed a slight
slowdown for the Rattlers as both teams added four points to end the quarter. After one, the
Rattlers led comfortably by a score of 21-8.
The second quarter looked slower for the Rattlers, however, halfway through they still outscored
the Unicorns 7-4, expanding their lead to 28-12. In the final five minutes of the first half the
Unicorns showed that they could compete with the Rattlers by going on a 20-4 scoring run. The
lead the Rattlers worked to build throughout most of the first half was quickly diminished by the
Unicorns. At halftime, San Marcos led New Braunfels 32-26. Senior Rattler guard, Jayven Cofer
led all scorers at the half with 10 points.
“In the second quarter they [New Braunfels] went into zone,” Miller said. “We have to make
shots. When we’re missing shots, we have to find other ways to score and get the ball in the
middle a little bit more. I think we [San Marcos] got a little stagnant in the second quarter.”
Early in the third quarter the Unicorns got within four points with the score being 34-30, Rattler
advantage. San Marcos was able to slowly build a lead after a sluggish previous quarter by
getting New Braunfels in foul trouble and making free throws. At the end of the third, the
Rattlers led the Unicorns 43-34.
“We wanted to attack. We know they bump a lot of cutters and they’re physical, but our guys are
tough and physical too,” said Miller. “We wanted to take the ball at them. I thought we drew a
lot of fouls and took advantage of that style of play.”
In the fourth quarter the Rattlers grew and maintained their lead by continuing to take advantage
of the free throw line. One of the biggest plays of the game came when Jayven Cofer got the ball on a fast break and got fouled on an aggressive dunk attempt. Cofer made both free throws and put his team up 53-41 with three minutes left in the game. Other Rattlers, like sophomore guard Cash Good and senior guard Kaden Gumbs, made free throws late in the game to help seal the win.The win puts San Marcos on a 23-game win streak. Coach Miller says his team knows the importance of taking it one game at a time.
“We never talk about it [win streak] and we stay in the moment. I think it’s what makes this team
so special,” said Miller. “We never look past our schedule, now we’ll get ready for our next
opponent, East Central.”
You can catch the next Rattler home basketball game on Tuesday, February 7 at 7:00 p.m. at the Snake Pit where they will face Judson. Coverage of the game and future rattler basketball games will be on KTSW 89.9.
In this Wednesday edition of Bobcat Radio the crew of Preslie David , Joey Gonzales, and Koby Jackson discuss Bobcat Women’s Basketball next away matchup against Old Dominion , Bobcat Men’s Basketball two game slump ahead of Georgia Southern Eagles ,Rattlers Boys Basketball extend win streak to 23 games after a big win over the New Braunfels Unicorns, and AFC/NFC Championship round predictions! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
By Chris Johnson
Sports Reporter
The San Marcos Rattlers (0-4) square off against The Judson Rockets (4-0) in a district affair, where the Rattlers came out faced with a tough defense, while a Rocket offense was hitting on all cylinders falling short in this one 54-22.
The Rattlers came into this one facing injuries with Senior center Amiya Moore in dress clothes for the game. This was a big hit for the Rattlers not having the Senior leadership on the floor for San Marcos
The Rockets began the game with a tough press defense that caused many problems for the Rattlers. While the Rattlers struggled to move the ball up court, the Rockets were able to force multiple turnovers and prevent them from putting any points on the board. After the slow start, the Rattlers were down 20-5 at the end of the first.
“I thought we were really patient, in getting the ball across court, getting the ball into the middle and attacking the backside,” San Marcos head coach Jermaine Ervin said. “I really feel like the game could’ve went differently if 3 or 4 of those layups would’ve went in for us.”
Rattlers struggle to shoot over Judson rockets’ size. Photo by Beau KellyThe Rattlers’ struggles continued as they moved into the second quarter having trouble stopping the powerful offense of the Rockets. Judson was able to extend their lead 28-13 going into halftime. Freshmen guard Azariah Fennell was the leading scorer helping the Rattler in the first half with 5 points.
As the second half began, the Rattlers came out in full court, looking to slow down the Judson offense. Unfortunately, the Rockets were able to jump on top of the Rattlers by pulling multiple offensive rebounds and forcing a young rattler squad into many turnovers throughout the evening.
While battling key injuries to senior paint leader Amiya Moore, the Rattlers were unable to stop the powerful offense of Judson falling short in this one 54-22.
“We got New Braunfels coming next, then we have three straight home games,” Ervin said. “We’re starting the second half of district so it’s 0-0. Were 0-5 but let’s win the back half.”
The Rattlers (0-5) take on the New Braunfels Unicorns (1-4) Tuesday, Jan. 24 where San Marcos looks to get their first win in district play. Coverage of that game and future rattler basketball games will be on KTSW 89.9.
Featured Image by Beau Kelly.
In this Monday edition of Bobcat Radio the crew of Justin Brown, Joey Gonzales, JP Flanagan, and Koby Jackson discuss Bobcat Women’s Basketball tough two point loss against South Alabama , Bobcat Men’s Basketball electric battle versus Louisiana Ragin Cajuns ,Rattlers Boys Basketball extend win streak to 22 games after a close win against Judson, and AFC/NFC divisional round outcome reactions! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
By Oli De Los Santos
News Reporter
Friends, family and community gathered on the steps of the Hays County Public Safety Building on Sunday to remember the life of Joshua Leon Wright.
Wright, 36, is remembered for co-founding the Facebook group “Take a Picture to End Racism Now” or TAPTERN, which garnered over 10,000 followers, and when a 7-year-old girl in his neighborhood was abducted and sexually assaulted, he started a neighborhood watch to help protect the children in his community.
While the community came together to honor Wright, they also gathered in protest, demanding justice for his death.
On Dec. 12, 2022, Hays County corrections officer Isaiah Garcia fatally shot Wright in the back six times inside Ascension Seton Hays Hospital in Kyle, Texas. Authorities alleged Wright attempted to escape custody and assaulted the corrections officer. Texas Rangers are investigating the shooting but have remained quiet regarding details of the events leading up to Garcia’s use of lethal force against Wright.
Social justice organizations Mano Amiga and Fierce Madres helped organize and host the event. According to Mano Amiga co-founder Karen Muñoz, Sunday’s event focused on three demands.
“The first is that they release the body cam footage.” said Muñoz, “The second is that Isaiah Garcia, the jailer, be fired. He shouldn’t be working at the jail.”
In a statement from Hays County, the Texas Rangers declined to release the footage and other details about the shooting until the investigation is complete. Garcia was initially placed on administrative leave but is back to working at the jail, contrary to a previous statement from Hays County that he would not return to work while the investigation was ongoing.
Muñoz said the third demand, “Is that Sheriff Cutler step down because all of this happened under his watch. It’s clear that he is not fit to be in charge of a jail if he’s allowing this to happen.”
Angela Villescaz, the founder of Fierce Madres, is a friend of Wright’s mother, Beverly Wright, and helped organize the Jan. 3 rally outside of the Hays County Historical Courthouse. She expressed frustration with Sheriff Cutler and recently elected Hays County District Attorney Kelly Higgins regarding the unreleased body camera footage.
“I understand he’s new,” Villescaz said, “but it’s always the right time to do what is right.”
The Texas Rangers said that releasing the footage too soon could impede the investigation. However, calls from the community to release the body camera footage have only grown in the past month.
“This is wrong, he killed my dad, shot him six times,” Wright’s daughter, Xyrrena Wright, 13, said to the crowd, speaking out against Garcia’s reinstatement. “He was a good person, he was a good dad.”
Featured Image by Oli De Los Santos.
By Sam Burzinski
Blog Content Contributor
A short drum intro, and then:
“Blank Check with Griffin and David. Blank Check with Griffin and David. Don’t know what to say or to expect, all you need to know is that the name of the show is Blank Check!”
Thus, is the intro song for the podcast “Blank Check with Griffin and David.” The hosts of nearly every single episode are actor Griffin Newman, best known for his work on Amazon Prime’s “Tick” or Disney’s “Disenchanted,” along with Atlantic staff writer and critic, David Sims.
For nearly eight years as of 2023, Newman and Sims, their producer Ben Hosley and a bevy of notable guest stars and friends of the pod, have been breaking down filmographies; more specifically, directors who have massive success early on in their careers and are given a series of so-called “blank checks” from Hollywood to make whatever crazy passion projects they want. As is the case with any creative, some of these checks clear (make a great deal of money, critical success, lasting legacy, etc.), and some of them bounce (See, Tim Burton’s “Planet of the Apes” remake following over a decade of financial successes).
I was first introduced to “Blank Check” by my older brother through repeated casual namedrops in conversation. During the 2021 leg of the COVID-19 pandemic, the podcast was a
lifesaver to a budding young movie lover going through a junior year beset on all sides by isolation. I’ll be honest with you, there’s pretty much nothing I love more than movies, and the unexplainable joy they fill me with is channeled so well throughout every episode of “Blank Check.”
The show began its life in early 2015 as “Griffin and David Present: The Phantom Podcast,” in which the Two Friends, the name by which they often refer to themselves as, posit a question: what, if anything, is “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace about?” The query is based around the idea that no other “Star Wars” movie or property has existed before or since 1999, and that “The Phantom Menace” is a standalone project. The duo and their wild card of a producer spend 11 episodes in total on the movie, before analyzing the next two films in the “Star Wars” prequel trilogy for ten episodes each.
An exhaustive analysis? Surely. An exhausting analysis? Even moreso. An entirely entertaining experience with no dearth of laughter and nearly incisive takes on 20-plus year-old films? 100%. Out of this experience, “Blank Check” as we know it now was born, beginning with the works of M. Night Shyamalan (“The Sixth Sense,” “The Happening”), all the way to the present where, as of the writing of the article, the duo are covering Henry Selick (“The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Coraline”).
I could certainly rhapsodize about the complex lore of the podcast and their inside jokes, but I would be remiss to not make note of many of the more underrated aspects of such a robust podcast. For one, it is impossible to avoid the presence of advertisements in any good program offered for free, and “Blank Check” is no exception. What Newman, Sims and Hosley do offer, however, are ad reads with casts of characters, impromptu admissions of confusion as to what’s happening in the studio and committed recommendations for products on display.
It cannot be overstated the importance of holding audience attention during such segments, and “Blank Check” usually has me by the collar.
Additionally, during the COVID pandemic, pretty much every podcast out there had to transition to the bane of classrooms, Zoom recording. This often resulted in notable drops in audio fidelity, joke reaction times and host commitment to the format; “Blank Check” has had nearly none of those.
The shift to remote recording for the show in all three departments was nearly unnoticeable, something that can be attributed to podcast producing veteran, Ben Hosley. This just goes to show the deeper level of care, dedication and work ethic that the “Blank Check” crew continually have for the high-quality product and its fans that they’ve devoted so many years to.
To scroll through the social media accounts of “Blank Check” is to see content that feels so personal to the atmosphere of the show and the culture that the co-hosts create. It’s all too common to see a podcast with a Twitter page full of promotions for upcoming episodes and little else, but the “Blank Check” social medias are top-notch. All too goofy behind-the-scenes escapades, off-mic Slack banter and pictures documenting movie theater trips give newer listeners a strong sense of who the hosts are right off the bat and grant more dedicated fans a peek behind the curtain into the production of the show.
Controversial topics are often remarked on either barely in passing, avoided entirely to avoid contextless clips to run rampant, or tackled in-depth with guests who are knowledgeable and have personal histories with the films. They even employ a PhD researcher, Dr. JJ Bersch, to ensure that not a single stone is left unturned.
However, the biggest draw for me and the Blankies (“Blank Check” fans, as coined by highly prolific guest, Emily Yoshida) of the world to return to “Blank Check” week after week, is the pure lack of pretension when approaching the content. With movies becoming more and more divided in recent years between populism and artistic intent, it can feel cold to see “cinephiles” discussing, say, the complete works of Stanley Kubrick; this is simply not the case with Newman and Sims.
The hosts met doing movie trivia in bars in New York, and you can feel that the energy has remained throughout the years. They care about each other throughout ribbing and slogs of truly terrible pieces of cinematic history. There is warmth in hearing Newman list the nicknames of Hosley that pile up miniseries after miniseries, or Sims groan when a bit has run its course far too long, or a guest that might feel a little too famous for the show (Lin-Manuel Miranda on the “All That Jazz” episode, anybody?) comes and you can hear the boys try to be their most restrained and then relax when a regular friend of the show returns.
I enjoy “Blank Check” with every ounce of my heart. It’s the only podcast I pay money to get more, as the $5/month Patreon offers trimonthly bonus episodes based on the current miniseries and commentaries for franchise films. It’s also pretty much the only podcast I listen to, at least with enough frequency to drown out every other podcast I listened to over 2022 on my Spotify Wrapped.
While writing this, I’m listening to the trio watch 2007 Nicolas Cage classic “National Treasure: Book of Secrets” and having just as grand of a time as I did riding my bike two years ago and listening to a needlessly in-depth “Phantom Menace” analysis.
For curious movie lovers, “Blank Check” can be found on Twitter and Instagram and the official website.
Featured Image by Joe Bowen
In this edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Justin Brown, Joey Gonzales, JP Flanagan and Myles Vaughn discuss Bobcat Men’s Basketball white out battle against Marshall, Bobcat Women’s Basketball 10 point halftime rally win against ULM, Rattlers Boys Basketball district matchup versus Judson, Rattler Girls Basketball struggle to turn around district play and AFC/NFC divisional round predictions! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday and Friday live on KTSW 89.9!
https://soundcloud.com/ktsw89_9/marshal-herd-hampers-bobcats-white-out-game-nfcafc-divisional-round-talk?si=5321cf9ff5e7466ab5e8cae98f7b8501&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
By Jaysen Collins
Sports Reporter
The Texas State men’s basketball team (10-10 overall, 3-4 Sun Belt) was defeated by the Marshall Thundering Herd ( 16-4 overall, 5-2 Sun Belt) by a final score of 81-73 Thursday night in Strahan Arena.
This was the first matchup ever between these two teams. Marshall coming from the C-USA Conference are currently in their first season with the Sun Belt.
Drue Drinnon finished with 17 points and shot 3-5 from the three-point line. Nate Martin finished with 16 points and seven rebounds.
The Thundering Herd came out on fire as they went on a 12-0 run after being down by four early in the first half. KamdynCurfman of Marshall was the leading cause of the run as he scored nine straight points all from three-point range.
Although Marshall shot well from the three-point line, Texas State picked up the defense in the second half. This became apparent after Marshall hit eight three-pointers in the first half and only three in the second half. Head Coach Terrance Johnson thought that adjustment would have worked, but things didn’t work in their favor.
“Early on, I felt like if we could guard the three-point line better in the second half, we had a good chance to win. I didn’t think they could make enough two’s to beat us and obviously I was wrong,” Johnson said. “They had six points in the paint in the first half and finished with a whopping 34.”
After adjusting early on, the Bobcats were able to slowly get back into the game. This began by forcing turnovers and getting into their spots on the other end to convert. All momentum had swung the Bobcats way as they finished the half strong and went into the break tied with Marshall 33-33.
Mason Harrell went out early as he did not play at all in the second half. This forced the Bobcats to adjust and play at a faster pace. Faster pace helped in some aspects of the game but that really isn’t the Bobcats game and Johnson knows that.
“I thought the tempo helped out a little bit with those guys being able to play in open space a little bit, being aggressive. They (Marshall) did an exceptional job of speeding us up,” Johnson said. “That’s really not the pace and tempo we want to play at but without Mason, we’re going to have to play out of opportunity just a tad bit more. It’s like a gift and a curse.”
Ultimately the Bobcats would go on to lose this matchup as they couldn’t string enough stops together to close it out.
“We have to flush this. It’ll sting,” Johnson said. “But at the same time, it can’t prohibit us from being one day better and being locked in and focused on the goal at hand on Saturday.
The Bobcats play again Saturday Jan 19th against the University of Louisiana- Lafayette in Strahan Arena at 4 p.m. You can listen live on KTSW FM 89.9 San Marcos, and it will also be streamed on ESPN+.
In this edition of Claws to the Wall, Koby Jackson, Colton Gibson , and Chris Johnson discuss Bobcat men’s basketball struggle to maintain consistency ahead of the Marshall Herd, Bobcat women’s basketball massive 34-point win against Arkansas State, Rattler boys basketball dominant 21-game win streak, and NFL Wild card weekend recap with Divisonal Round Predictions! Be sure to catch Claws to the Wall every Thursday here at KTSW Sports.
In this new year edition of Bobcat Radio the crew of Koby Jackson, Colton Gibson , Preslie Davis, and Gian-Carlo Cacho discuss Bobcat men’s basketball struggle to maintain consistency ahead of the Marshall Herd, Bobcat women’s basketball massive 34-point win against Arkansas State, Rattler boys basketball dominant 21-game win streak plus a buzzer beater win, and NFL Wild card weekend recap with Divisional Round Predictions! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
By Lillian Jones
Music Journalist
The self-proclaimed “boy band with titz” has done it again! The rapidly growing fanbase of Die Spitz was pleasantly surprised this Thursday night, January 12, 2023, with a new album release titled, “Teeth”. Austin locals Boogey, Ava, Chloe and Kate released their debut EP “The Revenge of Evangeline” only six months ago on July 29, 2022, and have since then teased new songs at recent shows revealing their new project. Overall, the album—featuring a perfect concoction of angst and raw lyrics—is seemingly inspired by a past relationship gone poorly. The best way I could describe the album is that it is perfect for people who have gone through heartbreak, but instead of crying they just want to break stuff and scream at the top of their lungs. If you enjoy Hole’s “Live Through This” or Pretty Sick’s “Come Down”, then I suggest you give “Teeth” a listen.
“Grip” and “Hair of Dog” were the first two songs to be released two weeks ahead of the album on New Year’s Eve. I found “Grip” to set the tone for the album’s angst, easing the listener into the more fast-paced songs later on. It seemed a bit tamer than Die Spitz’s usual songs, which is saying a lot since it features Boogey screaming in the chorus. On the other hand, “Hair of Dog” was much more fast-paced and catchy, making the listener want to dance around and yell “ruff” non-stop thanks to Ava’s fun vocals.
The overall consistent theme with canines and teeth throughout the album continues with the next song titled “Groping Dogs Gushing Blood”. Sung by main drummer Chloe, the song is my personal favorite off the album as the lyrics embody the angry side of womanhood that I find to be very relatable, especially for teen girls such as myself. The track also felt reminiscent of the soundtrack from the anime “Nana,” also adding to why I enjoy it so much.
Next up we have “Chug”, which plays into the heartbreak theme through lyrics such as “Kiss me where you know it hurts,” and “Keep me in your arms to keep, Love me till I’m too weak”. Die Spitz does an exceptional job of mixing these sappy lyrics with other more playful lyrics such as “Dirt and worms and silly words,” as well as using strong instrumentals to keep the energy fun and the listeners pumped.
I found “Marrowbone” to be more about anger towards yourself with lyrics such as “I’m putrid feeling, I chew my own,” and “I’m ugly I’m mean, I kill myself now I’m clean”. In this song, Boogey’s vocals are extremely raw and powerful, especially during the chorus. Her vocals are almost reminiscent of Courtney Love’s in the song “Pretty on the Inside”, one of my favorite Hole songs which also has a similar theme with using third person to refer to oneself in a hateful manner.
“Slater” sticks out from the rest of the songs with funky and scratchy instrumentals in the beginning, reminding me of something you would hear in more of a nu-metal song. Unique from most of Die Spitz’s discography so far, “Slater” has also become one of my favorites off this track.
Lastly, we stray away from the dog theme and move onto monkeys with “Monkey Song”. I found the lyrics of this song to be a play on the phrase “monkey see, monkey do” and a metaphor for blind trust when it comes to politics and religion. I won’t get into that, but you can listen to the song to see what Die Spitz has to say!
If you haven’t already, make the drive to Austin to see a Die Spitz show before they get famous. Seriously, these girls rock and it’s been exciting to watch them as well as their audience grows. Now go stream “Teeth”!
Featured Image Photographed and Designed by Brooke Ellisor, assisted by Eisley Hull.
By Jordan Young
Chief Editor of News
The United States House of Representatives began a process on Monday unseen in over 100 years. For the first time since 1923, a Speaker of the House failed to be elected on the first ballot, meaning Congressman-elect Greg Casar (D-TX35) cannot be sworn in yet.
The last time a party’s nominee failed to be elected, Warner Bros. film studio did not exist. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy of California now joins fellow Republican Frederick H. Gillett of Massachusetts in failing to get their conferences to vote for them.
At the beginning of each new term of Congress, both Democrats and Republicans nominate a candidate for speaker. The tradition in Washington D.C. has been for every member to vote for their party’s nominee. A candidate for speaker must get a majority of House members, 218, to be elected.
The Republicans won a slim house majority in the November midterm elections, winning 222 seats to democrats 213. Without support from across the aisle, McCarthy can only afford to lose four Republican votes. As of Thursday evening 20, House Republicans have voted against McCarthy’s speakership bid eight straight times.
Representative Chip Roy (R-TX21) is among the group of hard conservatives who don’t support McCarthy. Roy’s lack of support for McCarthy stems from wanting changes to the House rules to create more debate on the House floor for legislation. The Texas Republican says bills are decided behind closed doors. “We’ve got an institutional kind of corruption in this town where the powers that be decide bills behind closed doors. They jam it through like they just did the $1.7 trillion omnibus bill.”
Roy and the other 19 republicans opposed to McCarthy are causing the 118th congressional freshman class to not be sworn in. One of the freshman members affected is Congressman-elect Greg Casar(D-TX35) whose district includes Texas State University and San Marcos, Texas. In a statement to the press, Casar said, “The Republican dysfunction and extremism speaks for itself, I am focused, instead, on serving our constituents and supporting working Texan.”
According to the constitution, the U.S. House of Representatives cannot be sworn in, receive intelligence briefings or introduce legislation until a speaker is elected.
In 1865 it took 133 rounds of voting over two months to elect a speaker. So far in the 2023 speakership election, there have been 11 rounds of voting over four days; the House will reconvene Friday at noon to continue the speakership election.
By Hannah Walls
News & Culture Assistant
It is once again the time of year when the promises of a clean slate inspire us to make changes in our daily lives. The start of a new year symbolizes the idea of self-improvement, a new routine and increased productivity for many. It is also the time of year when New Year’s resolutions flood social media and many conversations as people fling themselves into their new goals head-first. In reality, these shiny new resolutions are usually abandoned by February, if not sooner.
While writing my resolutions this year, I pored over last year’s list of failed resolutions trying to get a sense of where I went wrong. My list was somewhere along the lines of “exercise more, study more, and write more.” Was it a lack of self-discipline and time management skills? Did I just jinx myself by speaking these results into existence?
The simple answer is, like many common resolutions, my goals were simply too vague. While setting resolutions doesn’t have to be anything more than a fun tradition, if you do set resolutions with the intention of seeing results, it doesn’t have to be as impossible as it seems.
Goals should be measurable
One of the first steps to setting goals that can actually be achieved is to skip the vague wording and set a specific number or end result to strive for. My resolution last year to write more has become, “write for 20 minutes three times a week,” which gives me a set number to work off of and plan my weekly schedule around. As someone who also loves a good checklist, it also creates a task in my head that needs to be completed and marked off.
Goals should be flexible
As students, our schedules are often very inconsistent, and it can be difficult to establish a set routine. Pursuing goals depends on habit-forming behavior, and it is not always easy to form a habit without already having an established routine or a crazy amount of free time. Adjusting goals to fit your current routine at any given moment is a great idea to ensure you are not overwhelmed by the big promises you made during a less hectic time. You have a busy 365 days ahead, and it’s okay if the goals you’re working towards aren’t realistic for every single one of those days.
Goals should meet you where you are
Being mindful of your current abilities and the tools or opportunities available to you in this current moment can be another helpful step as you set out to form these new habits. If you want to run a 5K by the end of the year, but have not already integrated running of any kind into your routine, this goal can seem completely impossible. I personally like to split my year into quarters, with a different small goal for each quarter that will put me closer to my big end goal.
Another practice I’ve adopted when thinking about my goals for a fresh year is setting a theme for the year ahead. Think easy, one-word themes: exploration, openness, health. I love the idea of using a vague descriptor as a guide for making decisions or setting goals in the new year.
One of my goals for 2022 was to spend 30 minutes a day on a new hobby. Photo by: Hannah WallsTo build on one of the previous examples, exploration could mean many different things. It could literally mean making an effort to travel more in the new year by saving up money or planning trips. It could mean trying out new hobbies and learning more about unfamiliar subjects, putting effort into new relationships or getting more comfortable with examining yourself and trying to build confidence. All of these could be loosely related to the main theme of your year, and it’s up to you to decide what your theme means to you and how you want to apply it.
New Year’s resolutions are such a fun way to start thinking about what you want your year to look like, and these are just a few ways those resolutions can become real and tangible goals to work towards. While this path looks different for everyone, making “new year, new me,” a reality doesn’t have to be an insurmountable challenge.
Featured Image by Hannah Walls.
By Baylee Green
News Reporter
The San Marcos population has grown rapidly over the past 10 years and is predicted to see numbers rise at a high rate for the foreseeable future.
San Marcos is bound to see a growth in population as a result of the increased admission rates at Texas State University, the addition of major businesses to the surrounding areas and many other factors. Space in San Marcos will run out if the city does not plan and adapt to successfully sustain the expansion.
“Previous growth trends showed San Marcos population increased by 55% from 2010 to 2019,” said San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson.
One of the main struggles San Marcos is facing due to the increase in population is problems with the roads. The San Marcos roads are struggling to support the number of cars and traffic flow through town. Hughson expresses that our growing population is evident in traffic, the long lines at traffic lights and the amount of time it takes to get through town.
“We are growing, and developers have to build the roads for their developments, but when they all come into town, those streets aren’t wider,” said Hughson.
Hughson feels that Texas State University and our San Marcos River attract visitors and are a major reason people decide to visit or move here. She said, “We are a great place to be!”
Mayor Hughson recognizes that to accommodate the growth in population new houses and apartment complexes will need to be built.
“We expect we will need between 42,000 and 54,000 ADDITIONAL housing units by the year 2050,” said Hughson. “That’s with an average of 2.26 people per household.”
Hughson says her plans to manage this growth are to simply see what experts recommend and what the San Marcos community wants and follow the San Marcos Comprehensive Plan that is to come within the early new year.
According to the San Marcos Government website, a comprehensive plan is put together to create goals and visions for the future of San Marcos. The comprehensive plan will layout out maps and guidelines that will be used to build more space for new members of the growing community. It is developed by a committee of local residents, business owners, property owners and many others.
The website says, “The comprehensive plan rewrite will create a visionary policy document that guides long-term decision-making for key components in San Marcos such as housing, the environment, economic development, transportation, and land use.”
The comprehensive plan steering committee has been working hard to create scenarios, weigh all their options, and take feedback to properly and successfully take on the major growth in San Marcos. The purpose of the plan is to fix problems that may arise with our growing population and to satisfy the needs of the community.
The city of San Marcos recognizes the need for new space and is working hard to implement it effectively.
To learn more about the growing population and the San Marcos comprehensive plan visit the San Marcos Government website.
By Sofia Psolka
Web Content Contributor
Reaching the end of the semester is always difficult for me. Three months of hard work, strict hours, even down to the routine shuttle schedules—I’ve got each second of every day to the “T”! But now it’s lost. School is over and I’m thrown into this liminal space of not really knowing what to do with myself, until spring throws me back in front of the bull again.
I could consume my time with all those TV shows and movies I need to watch (I’m looking at you, “Breaking Bad”) or return to the video games I failed to finish (thanks to the completionism mindset Amaya refers to in her blog) or finish those scholarship essays I’ve been dreading.
The urge to turn off my brain for a month is strong, but the anxiety of not having something to do consumes me. How am I to combat this conundrum?
Ruminating around my apartment flopping in and out of bed, opening and closing books, thinking about making food or bugging my coworkers while I’m off-duty all seem like fantastic time-killers, but a total waste of time.
So, instead of bumming around, I set out to make plans– an introvert’s worst nightmare.
How do I go about making plans with friends?
Just reach out. Plain and simple. It’s corny, and overstated in self-help Tik Toks, but reaching out to that person you can’t stop thinking about is the first step. If you want to get a group together, make a group chat! Super easy. Everyone knows what’s happening in real time.
Even though I was sweating through my shirt, I compiled a chat with some friends and proposed a Christmas get together. We had all talked about how badly we wanted to celebrate with each other before we left for the holidays.
Wouldn’t you know it—as soon as I made the chat, everyone hopped on the idea! We made charcuterie and butter boards, cookies, dinner and charged up our Switches.
When the day of the get together came, my anxiety creeped back in, the need for structure closed around me, but as soon as my first friend arrived my mind was put at ease. From then on, it was smooth sailing.
We all had an amazing time, even if we couldn’t figure out how to play Hello Kitty Monopoly, and it was a good way to say goodbye.
Charcuterie Christmas and Smash.Don’t forget yourself!
Another overused mantra, but it’s true. This is something I struggle with so if you’re beating yourself up, don’t worry, you’re not alone.
Something I’ve been doing, when plans fall through, is return to comfort hobbies. Playing piano, taking a walk or biking, listening to new music are my current social salves.
Hanging out with people is fun; it’s another thing to have fun with yourself.
Hopefully this winter will give us the rest and relaxation we desperately need.
A fleeting face of the Other Side.Signing off
Now for the goodbyes: this is my final blog post at KTSW. There were ups and downs, battles for motivation and creativity, but I’m grateful for the experience I gained.
I am a better writer, thinker and reader thanks to The Other Side of Radio.
Happy holidays, happy New Year and good luck!
On this week’s newscast host Preethi Mangadu brings news about Texas States Head Football coach firing, Board of Regents awards and the Georgia Runoff. You can listen live to the news department’s weekly news updates Thursday at 5 pm on 89.9. We are the other side of news.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5tjeW1yCmFVlokhUXYK8AX?si=igGRU0KvQtCDGi2aiM0_Sg
Joel Milton
Music Journalist
Many of us had an angst-filled favorite band or two to get us through the trials and tribulations of the high school drivel that seemed like the most important, life-altering matter at the time; for me, this band was Prince Daddy & the Hyena.
The band’s quirky name with an untraceable origin and their coarse, ruggedly angry guitar-driven sound drew me in during the fall of 2018, just months before the release of their sophomore album, Cosmic Thrill Seekers.
Cosmic Thrill Seekers is a concept album inspired by frontman Kory Gregory’s anxious mental state induced by The Wizard of Oz and a calamitous experience using LSD, which Gregory set out to recover from. The record takes the audience through this journey in three “acts,” each representing a character from the classic film The Wizard of Oz and a part of himself that he found instrumental in the recovery process.
Act 1, The Heart / Passenger, is softly launched by the first track on the record, “I Lost My Life,” which begins with a gentle acoustic chord progression accompanied by a peaceful yet clunky piano melody that gives Act 1 a theme to carry: wistful, though manic. “Lauren (Track 2)” gives the rest of this act context with dark lyricism about feeling abandoned, which is disguised by Gregory’s shrill screams, heavy distortion, and a drum track that could cut through the roar of a jet engine.
“F*ckin’ A” and “Dialogue” speak on the self-destructive war being waged in Kory’s head by reflecting on his past and how he ended up rotting alone on his couch with only the company of his anxieties; this is exemplified in “Dialogue” with the nostalgic sound of a bell kit that aligns with Kory’s enchanting vocal melody before the song rips into action and a wall of sharp guitar riffs and harmonies hit you in the face like a kickball in an elementary schoolyard. The lines, “You know you’re not stuck for good, right?/Even if that what it feels like,/I learned that one in a past life,” that Kory sharply screams enhance the feeling of that proverbial kickball striking you in the face. Act 1 closes with an emotional rollercoaster, “Cosmic Thrill Seeking Forever,” which is the most transparent representation of what Kory means by “the heart” and his inner conflict between his thoughts and feelings. The trade between soft, arpeggiated orchestral-like instrumentation coupled with delicate vocals and the polarizing yells from a combatant soul is a powerful display of the crossroads between Kory’s destructive manic state and his drive to improve himself.
Tracks 6-9 make up Act 2: The Brain / Driver. “Slip” sums up the limitations of isolation and how futile the attempt to hold out for better days can be. Act 2 is the ultimate depiction of the instability and anxiety that, counterintuitively, comes with the search for stability. “The Prototype of the Ultimate Lifeform” delivers that same feeling of being gutted by insecurity and introversion with Kory’s self-callout that leads the song into the chorus: “You’re so pathetic!”
“Breather” and “Ursula Merger” are the last two parts of the act and continue the storyline begun by “Slip” and “The Prototype of the Ultimate Lifeform” but in a more poppy manner. The bright tone set by the last two tracks, completing Act 2, juxtaposes the looming feeling of aloneness that radiates from the dreary words cried out by Gregory.
Prince Daddy & the Hyena playing live in Dallas, Texas / Joel MiltonAct 3: The Roar / Random Passerby symbolizes the freedom from the shackles of darkness and anxiety that Kory subsequently reaches; it is effectively the most tenebrous yet poetic and complete act of the three. “Dream Nails” feels like reaching rock bottom: you’re encompassed by defeat and will look to anything to try and claw your way out of whatever black hole you’ve stumbled into. The serenity and stillness of the track are unique to the record and offer a humble beginning to Act 3. “C’mon & Smoke Me Up” would comparably be the first step in finding your way out of the aforementioned black hole. The energized track is not only a reflection of Kory’s begrudging experiences that launched him into this grim psyche, but a call to action; “C’mon & Smoke Me Up” is Kory realizing that it isn’t his reliance on other people that will save him, but his reliance on himself and holding himself accountable.
The following tracks, “Trying Times” and “Klonopin,” tell their own story in Kory’s quest for peace of mind. “Trying Times” is a grouchy cerebration of all that is in the way of Kory’s goal, and “Klonopin” is how he’s dealing with it, whether through healthy means of coping or not.
Lastly, “Wacky Misadventures of the Passenger” is the sparklepunk ballad of the decade that closes out the record. The song is the final feat of our hero and songwriter, Kory Gregory, and concludes his journey of self-betterment. Each verse almost sounds like it could be its own track, but its melodic and lyrical cohesion brings it together in a focused attempt to express how the helplessness of any plight can be overcome. Enterprising and dynamic, “Wacky Misadventures of the Passenger” is a collective of every emotion and concept explored by this record, using fast-paced rhythmic devices and blaring riffs to carry Kory’s tune of triumph over his own mind into the cosmos. The song ends with the opening melody from the first track, “I Lost My Life,” leaving the audience to listen to the album on an endless loop as it feeds back into itself, closely mirroring the cyclical struggle with mental health and how it isn’t something that dissipates for good.
Cosmic Thrill Seekers is a record that has stuck with me all these years and has seen every side of my changing self as I’ve grown and gone through my own excursion of self-improvement, even though it didn’t take a bad acid trip to induce. Cosmic Thrill Seekers presents a raw depiction of what reinvention of the self looks like and how it feels like it takes a trip to the moon and back to reach.
Metadata
Header
Photo#: Cosmic Thrill Seekers Print
Title: Cosmic Thrill Seekers Print
Caption: A collage of content curated by Prince Daddy & the Hyena for the release of Cosmic Thrill Seekers
Alt-Text: Images and drawings depicting themes related to Prince Daddy & the Hyena’s 2018 album, Cosmic Thrill Seekers are curated into a collage to promote the album’s release.
Description: Cosmic Thrill Seekers Print
Image Credit: Prince Daddy & the Hyena
Photo 1
Photo#: Cosmic Thrill Seekers
Title: Cosmic Thrill Seekers album cover
Caption: Cosmic Thrill Seekers album cover
Alt-Text: The words “Cosmic Thrill Seekers” are written across the center of the cover in front of a background filled with stars, resembling Outerspace.
Description: Cosmic Thrill Seekers album cover
Image Credit: Prince Daddy & the Hyena
Photo 2
Photo#: Prince Daddy & the Hyena live
Title: Prince Daddy & the Hyena live
Caption: Prince Daddy & the Hyena playing live in Dallas, Texas.
Alt-Text: Band members Kory Gregory, Adam Dasilva, and Cameron Hanford are pictured live in Dallas on November 29th, 2021, playing their song “Really?”
Description: Prince Daddy & the Hyena live
Image Credit: Joel Milton
Katie Krupinski, Community Relations Director
The organization I chose to promote this month is Women in Business (WIB). This organization was created over a year ago and originates from Spring of 2021.
The mission of WIB is to create a space of sharing knowledge and ideas as well as forming a conversation around the realities a woman faces within the workforce today.
WIB discusses topics that are curated for their members and formulate presentations with guest speakers to present those topics. Upcoming presentations the organization will present this fall will be Working in an Intercultural Environment by Monique Chambers (Siemens Energy), Effective Business Communication by Professor Christina Moore (McCoy College of Business), Professional Development by Ava Farrar (Total Quality Logistics), and Coffee Chats with Dr. Stephanie Solansky (McCoy College of Business). Moreover, the overall goal of these topics is to create a conversation, gaining perspective, and grasping a deeper understanding of the information presented.
Bi-weekly meetings are held on Mondays at 6:00p.m. in McCoy. These gatherings will be a space to grow in professional skills, typically ones not taught in class, as a team together.
Additionally, WIB hosts social events to offer a space for their members to build a community. Examples of social events they will orchestrate are: holiday themed socials, game nights, study parties, and an end-of-semester celebration.
“Women in Business has created a wonderful space for expanding networks, building business acumen, and developing future leaders. This organization has accomplished so much by continuing to develop the best programs for our members. We can’t wait to see where it goes in the future! ”
– Ashley Szabo, Vice President of Women in Business.
For more information on how to join, check out their social media platforms!
Instagram: @txstwib
Website: https://txstwib.com/
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By McKenna Wells Local Music Director I could not tell you how stoked I was to see Paramore on the list of headliners for Austin City Limits Festival in 2022. Despite being a dedicated fan of the band, I had never seen them live but ACL gave me the opportunity [...]
Sophia Gualy Music Journalist Up and coming British indie band, Wet Leg leaves their listeners eager for more with their 2022 self-titled album. The band, consisting of members Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, is your ultimate indie girl group that you have been searching for. Their self-titled album is angsty [...]
Joel Milton Music Journalist As the days keep passing us by, the fall is quickly creeping up. Shorter, crisper days with leaves turning from a healthy, hearty green to a crumbly, lifeless brown call for some appropriately somber albums to listen to as the days get darker and the skies [...]
In this edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Colton Gibson , Justin Brown , and Ryan Liguez discuss Bobcat Women’s Basketball exhibition game against Howard Payne, Bobcat Volleyball senior series win, Bobcat Football’s disappointing loss versus ULM , and Astros winning the world series in six games ! Catch [...]
On this week’s newscast host Preethi Mangadu brings news about the 2022 midterm elections. You can listen live to the news department’s weekly news updates Thursday at 5 pm on 89.9. We are the other side of the news.
On this week’s newscast host Jordan Young brings news about County Judge Ruben Becerra’s reelection efforts, the U.S. Supreme Court weighing ending affirmative action in higher education and Hays County’s program to control the feral hog population. You can listen live to the news department’s weekly news updates Thursday at [...]
By Karys Lay Music Reviewer Everyone has heard of the song Evergreen by the artist Omar Apollo by now. It’s a song that is trending all over social media. This song comes from Omar Apollo’s most recent album, “Ivory,” consisting of 14 songs. One of his songs features R&B artist [...]
By Emma Jones News Reporter The November 2022 General Election took place yesterday. The Hays County voter turnout was 52.53%. Out of 170,350 registered voters, 89,493 showed up to the polls to cast their votes. Below are the statewide election results for the 2022 Texas General Election. [...]
By Celeste Parler Web Content Contributor To me, the phrase “college experience” has always been a loaded one. It means so much and yet no one can clearly define everything that entails. The best way to describe the college experience would be to consider what movies and TV shows make [...]
By Stephanie Soto Sports Reporter The Texas State Volleyball team concludes this weekend by winning back-to-back games against the identical conference record team the Troy Trojans. The Friday game ended 3-1 (25-19, 21-25, 25-19), and the Saturday game 3-1 as well (19-25, 25-19, 25-16). The Bobcats and Trojans’ prior conference [...]
Avery Viers Local Music Director Live From The Living Room: D.I.Y. Venue Makes Triumphant Return to San Marcos Music Scene On November 4, 2022, Earle’s Basement, the latest D.I.Y. venue to join San Marcos’ vibrant music scene, presented its sophomore production featuring local musicians The Trips, Arbordae, and Say So. [...]
Chris Johnson Sports Reporter The San Marcos Rattlers (1-3 in district) took on the East Central Hornets (1-3 in district) at Hornet Stadium looking to get the 4th place spot in the District 27-6A playoffs. The Rattlers’offense struggled early, and the defense held their own; but both sides came up [...]
Christina Sims Music Journalist Now that we’re finally seeing the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting upon how much our world has changed since then is possible; the very way we interact with the world has changed, an example being an ever-growing need for immediate accessibility, causing services [...]
Eduardo Gonzalez Music Journalist For years now, I’ve been following the artistic trajectory of rapper and DJ Blane Muise, who goes by the stage name Shygirl. I first heard of her through her 2019 singles “Uckers” and “BB”, the former of which really took off on TikTok. In 2020, she [...]
In this Halloween edition of Bobcat Radio, Colton Gibson , Justin Brown, and Ryan Liguez, discuss Bobcat Volleyball’s successful weekend against the Red Wolves, Rattlers tough 38-10 loss against the New Braunfels Unicorns, Bobcat Football’s matchup against ULM, MLB World Series game three predictions, and the crew’s Halloween costume/candy choice! [...]
By Avery Viers Local Music Director Since his amateur debut in 2010, Philadelphia-based musician Alex Giannascoli – known professionally as Alex G – has produced nine studio albums. Included in his repertoire of experience is his haunting composition for the highly anticipated indie horror film, “We’re All Going To The [...]
By Sofia Psolka Web Content Contributor Sewell Park opened its stage to local bands on Oct. 23 to close out the sixth annual SM Fest. I pulled up just in time to catch two local favorites: Summer Rental and Blevins. People were sitting along the riverbank, enjoying the warm air, [...]
Emma Jones News Reporter The 2022 election is only a week away, on Nov. 8th Texans all over will be hitting the polls. Voting can be overwhelming, so this is a guide for Texas State students who will be voting in Hays County. First, you want to check your voter [...]
Cittlaly Escatel Community Outreach Coordinator Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is the organization I choose to promote this month. PRSSA is the foremost organization for students interested in public relations and communications. PRSSA is a national chapter that gives PR students an outlet to develop their profession beyond [...]
Jordan Young News & Culture Director San Marcos native, small business owner and current Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra hopes Hays County residents give him another four years in office. He was first elected in 2018, defeating former republican Hays County commissioner Will Conley by 2,640 votes. Becerra’s win [...]
Hosts: Tiara Allen, Cameron Sullivan, Alex Duarte, Leah Batts In this week’s episode, Leah speaks with Antone Batts about his work as an operation manager for Tacos for Life and his experience in investing. The Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) cohosts also discuss management styles in relation to employee age and risk [...]
By Ashley Farnie Assistant Music Director It has been a busy month of shows and festivals, but I will not let that curb my excitement for Levitation this weekend! With a lineup more focused on rock and punk, Levitation offers a varied range of international artists. Set up similar to [...]
Morgan Hirosky Assistant Director Oliver Tree is modernly known for being a spoof – a caricature of a character – garnering attention for gnarly haircuts, giant scooters, ridiculous outfits and music promotion so shamelessly absurd that it almost distorts his talent. However, cyber-evidence reveals that the real Oliver Tree [...]
Avery Viers Local Music Director While waiting patiently for Austin-based musician Daniel Bryson – better known on the local stage as A.L. West – to join our Zoom call last Wednesday, I was eager to discover the artistic background of the Bedroom Pop soloist. One of three artists featured at [...]
On this week’s newscast host Preethi Mangadu brings news about the San Marcos High School football teams playoff ban, early voting in Hays County, and updates on Mark Jones campaign efforts for County Judge. You can listen live to the news department’s weekly news update every Thursday at 5 pm [...]
In this edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew Preslie Davis and Joey Gonzales reflect on Bobcat Soccer’s incredible season, TXST Volleyball finishing strong, fantasy football, and what’s to come from the upcoming World Series. Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
Ashley Farnie Assistant Music Director Since I moved to San Marcos in 2017 I have explored many local bands. The first show I remember was a house show for Christian Sparks & The Beatnik Bandits. (My friend interviewed the band here, check it out! https://ktswblog.net/2022/04/14/san-marcos-sounds-the-beatnik-bandits/). The Beatnik Bandits kickstarted [...]
By Hannah Walls Web Content Assistant Overwatch 2 was originally announced in 2019, and after several pushbacks (and, of course, scandals) it finally released on Oct. 4th. Amidst Blizzard’s long list of issues with game development and management, I took a pretty long hiatus from the first game and was [...]
by Ashley Farnie Assistant Music Director I recently attended weekend two of Austin City Limits Music Festival alongside KTSW music staff and experienced some great live music! If you were unable to attend this year, or only caught the artists from weekend one, I will fill you in on what [...]
Chris Swann & Jordan Young Texas State lost to the University of Southern Mississippi on homecoming Saturday 20-14. Bringing an end to their undefeated record at home. The defense played a spectacular game giving the Bobcat offense many chances to score but Spavital offense never capitalized on the opportunities. The [...]
In this edition of Bobcat Radio, Colton Gibson , Justin Brown, Ryan Liguez, and Bandera Barter discuss Bobcat soccer’s two game losing streak, Volleyball’s split weekend against South Alabama, Rattlers tough loss to Judson, and NBA early season predictions! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9! [...]
Maddy Lehr Music Journalist After being given the opportunity to apply for credentials for Austin City Limits 2022, I excitedly prepared for the weekend to come. In high school, I would save every last penny, just to be able to buy a 3-day pass. Understandably, this was like a dream [...]
By Preethi Mangadu Chief Editor of News Texas State University received the Seal of Excelencia in 2022 from Excelencia in Education last Friday. The seal is granted based on the data, practices and leadership that serve and support Latino students. The Seal of Excelencia framework is based on over [...]
My First Experience with Colorism It was July of 2019 – the summer before I would leave for college. The little girl I befriended down the street had knocked on my door, asking if I could come out and meet her cousins. Outside waiting were six little boys between the [...]
Andrea Moor Music Journalist In an attempt to showcase lesser-known artists, I curated a playlist of work released earlier this month by artists who currently have fewer than 50,000 monthly Spotify listeners. This playlist is roughly 2.5 hours long and features over 20 artists with 50 songs. There’s no set [...]
In this edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Ryan Liguez , Justin Brown , and Jacob Aromy discuss Bobcat Soccer’s 1-0 win versus Southern Miss, Volleyball & Football’s battle against JMU, and NFL Week 4 contenders/pretenders ! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9! https://m.soundcloud.com/ktsw89_9/bobcats-battle-against-jmu-nfl-contenderspretenders?si=128f6902ec7c4303841652773fbb0dd0&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
By:Jared Dudley If you’ve browsed Netflix in search of something to watch in the past two weeks, you’ve probably scrolled past the streaming service’s latest high profile animated video game adaptation Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. The show landed on September 13th on a platform familiar with the mass appeal of an anime [...]
During TribFest KTSW news’s Jordan Young, Emma Jones, and Max Zaborowski interviewed Democratic candidate for Texas district 35 Greg Casar. We spoke about student loan debt, local Hays county fentanyl deaths, and more.
By Morgan Hirosky Assistant Music Director Spiraling down a ‘90s, alternative, post-rock rabbit-hole has led me directly into the den of the trailblazers: Fugazi, Built to Spill, Heatmiser, Duster, Beulah, Starflyer 59, Quasi, and Sparklehorse. The result is an unavoidable obsession with the subtleties this age of music embodies. [...]
Jaysen CollinsSports Reporter The Texas State volleyball team lost their home Sun Belt Conference opener (26-24, 19-25, 25-21, 22-25, 15-11) against the James Madison Dukes Friday evening at Strahan Arena. The Bobcats fall to 10-5 (2-1) while the Dukes improve to 9-3 (3-0). The Bobcats got down early in the [...]
McKenzie McGuire Music Journalist A night of alluring sounds from Khruangbin was a healing experience. The three members Laura Lee, Mark Speer, and Donald Johnson from Houston, put on a set that allowed people to express themselves, unlike any live show I’ve experienced. With their sound being primarily acoustic, not [...]
By Kylie Hogg Local Music Journalist On Tuesday, September 26th, 2022, I had the honor of spending the night at Harry’s House. For those of you who may be unaware, Harry Styles has been going on a residency tour for the past month and a half or so. He has [...]
Eduardo Gonzalez Music Journalist As you may know, unless you’ve been living under a rock, it was announced on Sunday by the NFL, Apple Music, Roc Nation, and Rihanna that the “Umbrella” singer will be the Halftime Show headliner for the upcoming Super Bowl, scheduled to take place on Sunday, [...]
In this edition of Claws to the Wall, Justin Brown, Paxton Graf, Colton Gibson, and JP Flanagan recap the successful weekend for Texas State Volleyball, Bobcat Soccer, and Texas State Football, San Marcos Football, and the Dallas Cowboy’s backup quarterback who is making a name for himself. Be sure to [...]
Bobcat Radio Crew: Kyle Owen, Joey Gonzales, Preslie Davis, and Colton Gibson In this edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew discuss the red hot Texas State Soccer and Volleyball team, Bobcat Football’s dominant win over HCU and take a look at how the Bobcats will look as they take on [...]
By Ashley Farnie Assistant Music Director College radio holds a special place in my heart after being involved with KTSW for three years. Upon travelling to Ireland to study for the summer I wanted to ensure I had some dose of music to balance my studies of Irish Literature and [...]
By Camryn Cole Web Content Contributor As a 20-year-old college student, I often forget about the objects I was passionate about when I was a child. Nowadays, my life consists of work, school, TikTok and spending time with friends. Although some of these components were around when I was younger, [...]
Emma Jones News Reporter Last weekend, the KTSW News Team visited Austin, Texas for the Texas Tribune Festival, an annual event held by the Texas Tribune designed to bring Texans closer to politics. The festival took place in Downtown Austin. This was the first year since the COVID-19 [...]
By Colton Gibson, Justin Brown and Ryan Liguez In this edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Colton Gibson, Justin Brown and Ryan Liguez discuss Bobcats’ Soccer and Volleyball wins versus ULM, a 34 point blowout win for Bobcat Football over HCU, and NFL weekend madness recap ! Catch BCR [...]
By McKenzie McGuire Music Journalist “We did things this year that we’ve dreamt about the last couple years” -Pacco Salinas (Lead Guitar) Bringing a contagious sound and eccentric energy to their shows, Flight by Nothing is definitely a group to keep an eye on. I got the opportunity to sit [...]
By Gilian Prado Music Journalist The year was 2008. Musically we are in the center of the post-punk revival, with the likes of The Strokes, Vampire Weekend, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, LCD Soundsystem, Franz Ferdinand and The White Stripes. Indie rock is in its golden age, and the soundtrack of a [...]
By Hannah Walls Web Content Assistant Although Texas weather clearly hasn’t gotten the memo yet, Sept. 22 officially marked the first day of fall. I’m choosing to ignore the clear skies and scalding heat outside my window and instead release the fluffy cardigans, pumpkin vanilla scented candles and homemade tomato [...]
Jordan Salas Sports Reporter The afternoon heat did not stop Texas State soccer from putting on a show at home and adding to their impressive record (8-1-2, 2-0-1 Sun Belt) with a win against the talented ULM Warhawks (9-2-1, 1-2-0 Sun Belt) on Sunday afternoon. Texas State Head Coach Steve [...]
By Celeste Parler Web Content Contributor September 24 marks the sixth annual Mermaid Capital of Texas Fest organized by the Mermaid Society of Texas. The festival consists of the Downtown Mermaid Promenade starting at 10 a.m. and the Downtown Street Faire starting at noon. The Mermaid Society is a nonprofit [...]
by Ashley Farnie Assistant Music Director If you read my latest concert review, you know that I spent my summer studying in Ireland. I took a bus ride from Cork to Waterford to camp at the Curraghmore Estate for the All Together Now festival. I picked up a pop-up [...]
By Hannah Walls Web Content Assistant With everyone on social media still obsessing over Eddie Munson, the Hellfire Club’s eccentric dungeon master from Stranger Things season four, I’ve seen a lot of talk about fans interested in learning how to play Dungeons and Dragons. The start of a new semester [...]
Bobcat Radio Crew: Joey Gonzales , Paxton Graf and Jacob Aromy In this edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew interview Nevada sports writer Chris Murray ahead of TXST Football’s first game. They discuss TXST Volleyball’s performance against Hawaii, Soccer’s historic start of the season, and SMHS Football! Catch BCR every [...]
By Preethi Mangadu Chief Editor of News Under the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), ten commercial projects have been filed in cities in central Texas. Out of the 10, four are located in San Marcos. The projects are either new construction, renovations, or alterations that will progress [...]
By Justin Brown, Koby Jackson and Paxton Graf In This edition of Claws to the Wall, Justin Brown, Koby Jackson, and Paxton Graf recap TXST Volleyball’s win in the Cardinal Classic. They also dive into Rattler Football’s home loss, and Fantasy Football squads! Be sure to catch Claws to the [...]
By Preslie Davis, Colton Gibson and Justin Brown In this edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Preslie Davis, Colton Gibson and Justin Brown discuss TXST Volleyball Tournament in Hawaii, expectations for Layne Hatcher, and breaking news in the world of Tennis! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, [...]
By: Emma Jones News Reporter Last week, the demolition of the former Presidents house began. Texas State plans to build new pedestrian roadways and use the space for new academic or research facilities. New Texas State President, Dr. Kelly Damphousse took office on July 1, 2022. When former President [...]
By Celeste Parler Web Content Contributor Stranger Things season 4 volume 1 was released May 27, 2022, and has since made a significant cultural impact. I associate the initial debut of the series with the revival of Winona Ryder’s acting career and the emergence of a new science fiction saga. [...]
Jordan Young News Director Last week the Biden administration announced its long-awaited plan on a pillar campaign promise of student loan forgiveness. The announcement came after months of inner administration talks on how to fulfill President Biden’s promise. Upwards of 43 million Americans can expect some sort of relief. The plan will [...]
Bobcat Radio Crew: Ryan Liguez, Koby Jackson, Kyle owen In this edition of Bobcat Radio the crew discuss TXST Soccer and Volleyball’s hot starts and reflect on the Rattler’s loss to the Hutto Hippos! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9! https://soundcloud.com/ktsw89_9/txst-soccers-hot-start-rattlers-season-opener-recap?si=fd2dc08684e243c2a2260dcec6d6aedf&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing Image credit: KTSW Multimedia
Bobcat Radio Crew: Joey Gonzales, Justin Brown and Preslie Davis In this hour-long special of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Joey Gonzales, Justin Brown and Preslie Davis preview the Rattler’s season opener and reflect on Coach Spavital’s recent press-conference! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9! [...]
Jordan Salas Sports Reporter Texas State Soccer continued to show that they are a force to be reckoned with by adding another win to the books to start the season 2-1 against Houston Baptist University. This was the eighth match ever between the two schools, The Bobcats are now 6-2 [...]
Camryn Cole Web Content Contributor Everyone has a fear of some kind. Many can have a big impact on day-to-day activities and are hard to overcome in general. Whether it be snakes, airplanes, or failure, all fears are valid! Personally, I’ve found it easy to surpass most of the things [...]
Dean Trevino News Reporter AUSTIN— The state of Texas has seen some high-profile figures move to the state recently, and Elon Musk is one. The billionaire’s presence has already been felt in the state with the Tesla Giga Factory set to start production on the Cybertruck in 2023. However, the founder of [...]
By Jacob Aromy, Justin Brown and Kyle Owen Sports Reporters In this hour-long special of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Jacob Aromy, Justin Brown and Kyle Owen discuss the effects of Kevin Durant staying in Brooklyn and talk to Coach Huiet of Texas State volleyball about their season-opening tournament! Catch [...]
Preethi Mangadu Chief Editor of News Recently, the National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded Texas State University to research, record, and share data on migrant mortality under the project Migrant Mortality Mapping Portal Project (M3P2). While many government agencies and NGOs report migrant deaths, there is no centralized database for documenting [...]
Preethi Mangadu Chief Editor of News On August 25, 2022, Texas’s trigger law, the Human Life Protection Act of 2021, went into place, making performing an abortion from the moment of fertilization a felony. Anyone who performs an abortion can face up to life in prison and a civic penalty [...]
In this edition of Claws to the Wall, Justin Brown, Koby Jackson, and Paxton Graf talk Texas State Soccer’s hot start. They also dive into the quarterback decision for the Bobcats and give some predictions for the upcoming NFL season. Be sure to catch Claws to the Wall every Thursday [...]
The BCR Crew: Jacob Aromy, Ryan Liguez, and Kyle Owen In this hour long special of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Jacob Aromy, Ryan Liguez and Kyle Owen discuss the best players to pickup in your fantasy football league and talk to Coach Holeman of Texas State soccer about their fiery [...]
Preethi Mangadu Chief Editor of News Texas State University (Texas State) set a new preliminary record for freshmen enrollment with more than 7,590 incoming students for the fall 2022 semester. Furthermore, President Kelly Damphousse announced that the university’s retention rate increased to 81% at the 2022 Convocation Address to Faculty [...]
By Jacob Aromy, Joey Gonzales, Jordan Young and Kyle Owen In this hour long special of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Jacob Aromy, Joey Gonzales, Jordan Young and Kyle Owen discuss the NFL teams who made the best moves over the off-season and talk to Coach Nash of San Marcos [...]
Sofia Gualy Music Journalist Maggie Rogers has done it again, and this time in a way that can be described as freeing and enchanting. Rogers expresses her experiences and emotions in a manner that not many modern artists do. She sings of angst and wanting to break free, emotions that [...]
Jordan Young News Director SAN MARCOS- Monday brought heavy thunderstorms to San Marcos. Texas State students and San Marcos residents should expect to see showers and thunderstorms navigate through the Hill Country area until at least Wednesday. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch yesterday to the following counties, [...]
Tabby Keep Sports Reporter Texas State soccer put on an exciting show in their first home game and win of the season against the St. Mary’s Rattlers. The stands were packed on Thursday for the showcase of the women’s soccer team under the new direction of head coach Steve Holeman, [...]
Ashley Farnie Assistant Music Director If you frequent Austin, TX near Red River, you may be familiar with the iridescent sticker pasted throughout the streets reading “GHOST A POST-PUNK BOY TODAY.” I became familiar with this motto – and began practicing it myself – when I realized the connection [...]
Lexi Delarosa Music Journalist Kicking off with the steady and speedy guitar followed by slow and soft vocals, The Anapests begin their 2021 album “Totally Stressed” with the song “On Plunging a Toilet.” The Anapest will be performing at the monthly KTSW Third Thursday event at The Porch starting at [...]
Clara Blankenship Music Journalist As summer winds down and busy schedules begin, I am left with mixed feelings. There is a beauty in a season ending, how the Earth shapeshifts in a stunning yet melancholy way. Florist’s self-titled album release gorgeously captures this natural dissonance. Florist, a project consisting [...]
By Avery Viers Local Music Director In preparation for KTSW’s upcoming Third Thursday event on Aug. 18th, I was anxious to meet up with San Marcos based-band, Arbordae, to learn more about the three Texas State University creatives expected to take the stage this month at The Porch. Curtis Rowe, [...]
Chizobam Okeke Music Journalist It has been a long five-year wait for the kid from Flatbush to release another album, but it is finally here! On July 22, 2022, Joey Bada$$ dropped his third studio album, 2000. I’m sure that all over the world, hip-hop fans were curious about what the [...]
Jordan Young News Director Description: Dr. Emilio Carranco is the assistant vice president and director of the Student Health Center. KTSW News Director Jordan Young spoke with Dr. Carranco about Monkeypox and what TXST students should know about the disease before coming back to campus. “The other Side of [...]
Ashley Farnie Assistant Music Director I think I’ve been procrastinating putting my thoughts into words regarding this album because of the self-reflection it forces me into. Its eerie proximity to the life of 20-something-year-olds in whatever era of the world we want to categorize this as exhibits Charlie’s intentional and [...]
Sheridan Kruitz Music Journalists Beyonce has always majorly advocated self-expression through dance and music. This newly released album is an atmosphere-at-the-night-club-type beat. “RENAISSANCE” reflects strength in fully embracing yourself and more importantly, embracing and accepting others for who they are. The album sounds like a celebration of life for the [...]
Gilian Prado Music Journalists Haat De Stank This is a strong opener to the album, although created in 2015 this track and album feel like a continuation of the post-punk revival style of the 2000s with its garage rock guitar and occasional well-placed screaming. Although the term Haat De Stank [...]
Sofia Gualy Music Journalist Like most people, watching Stranger Things has taken over my life. The science fiction show has taken the world by storm with its nostalgic nature and lovable characters. Over the past four seasons of the show, the soundtracks have been incredible with songs such as “Should [...]
Paxton Graf Sports Reporter NEW ORLEANS – On Wednesday the Sun Belt Conference Media Days highlighted the West Division and its newly added teams. Coordinator of Football Officials, John McDaid began the day by giving a statistical recap of the 2021 season. Followed by him presenting the new rules [...]
Morgan Hirosky MusicJournalists Weezer’s newest seven-song release appropriately encapsulates the heated angst exuded by summertime. At first, listen, I questioned if the band willingly sacrificed doses of their artistic integrity in order to make palatable radio hits. It wouldn’t be the first time an early 2000s band abandoned sincerity for [...]
Lexi Delarosa Music Journalist With the news that spill tab will be coming to Austin on October 7th, 2022 for this year’s Austin City Limits, I wanted to do an artist review with her latest singles “Splinter” and “Sunburn”. Spill tab is a French Korean American singer/songwriter named Claire Chicha who [...]
Joey Gonzales Sports Reporter Last fall the Bobcats completed their 23rd season under the direction of head coach Kat Connor. Texas State finished the season with a 7-8-2 overall record and 4-5-1 performance in the Sun Belt Conference. In November, Connor announced she would leave the program a week after [...]
Nolan Phillips Sports Reporter Down in the Sheraton New Orleans, the 2022 Sun Belt Media Day kicked off with Conference Commissioner Keith Gill welcoming all teams to the most anticipated season ever for the Sun Belt Conference. The introduction of four new teams and the newly expanded agreement with ESPN, [...]
By McKenzie McGuire Music Journalist Do you ever feel like your playlist is like a worn-out pair of shoes? You need something new, durable, and classic. Over the past year, my ear has begun to crave this certain fresh sound that I first heard with the group, Khruangbin. This three-person [...]
By Preethi Mangadu Chief Editor of News Many cities in Central Texas have announced new water restrictions due to the Texas drought. Though San Marcos has water restrictions, issued April 04, 2022, there is a chance of restrictions increasing. Austin, Round Rock, Hutto, Buda, Kyle, and Georgetown all [...]
By Preethi Mangadu Chief Editor of News SAN MARCOS—Texas State University (TXST) has been awarded $3.6 million by the U.S. Department of Education through two federal Upward Bound grants. These grants are to support students, many being low-income and first-generation students. Upward Bound is a federal TRIO program [...]
Jordan Young News Director Tomorrow the San Marcos City Council will vote on ballot access for the decriminalization of marijuana initiative. The San Marcos City Clerk Elizabeth Trevino certified the petition signatures last Friday. Local grassroots organizations Mano Amiga and Ground Game Texas spearheaded the movement for decriminalization. According to Mano Amigas communications director Sam Benavides, “Council cannot [...]
By Chizobam Okeke Music Journalists What’s going on, everyone? Or better yet, wagwan? I think that the latter is more fitting for the subject at hand. I don’t know about everyone else, but my desire to find new music is always smoldering. As a result, I have been drawn to [...]
Gilian Prado Music Journalist In honor of Franz Ferdinand releasing their new album entitled “Hits To The Head”;, it features some of the band’s most beloved tracks. I decided that we should also acknowledge some of their deep cuts. I’ve been a fan since I was 14 years old and [...]
Clara Blankenship Music Journalist When I first heard Ethel Cain’s album Preacher’s Daughter, I was underwhelmed. Do not get me wrong, I recognized how gorgeous it was, but I felt I was missing the point of connection. I found a Fader podcast interview with her on Spotify a few weeks ago [...]
By Sofia Gualy Music Journalist After months of teasing new music, Hazel English dropped the EP Summer Nights, five nostalgic and dreamy songs that are sure to soundtrack this summer. Summer Nights is a dream pop paradise that fully encapsulates the harmonious ambiance of a hot summer night. This EP explores the rocky yet [...]
By Kenlie Golleher Rap Music Director Earlier this year, L.A. rapper Kendrick Lamar made a huge comeback by releasing his highly anticipated and long-awaited fifth studio album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. This album comes almost five years after the release of his critically acclaimed and Pulitzer Prize-winning fourth studio album, DAMN., [...]
By Camryn Cole Web Content Contributor Books have been around forever. We use them for everything: learning, creating, and bettering ourselves. Novels are versatile, written by authors as different as Jane Austen and Stephen King. Books are classics, but they are also ever-changing. However, if books are so timeless, why [...]
By Sheridan Kruitz Music Journalist Valice is an Alternative Indie Rock band consisting of four members: Ricci Valice on guitar and vocals, George Feledichuk on the bass, Alex Young on guitar and James Leblanc on the drums. They have 3 singles out currently, and in 2020, they released their album [...]
By Avery Viers Local Music Director On Wednesday, July 13th, 2022, I had the pleasure of chatting with Lauren Wicker and Ray Garza of the Austin-based band, Lola Tried. Throughout the length of our thirty-five-minute discussion, I spoke with Wicker and Garza about the history of the band, their [...]
Lexi Delarosa Music Journalist Local San Marcos band, Attic Ted will be performing from 9 PM to 10 PM this Thursday, July 21st, 2022 at The Porch for KTSW’s monthly Third Thursday event. Prior to their performance, I sat with the creator of the band, Grady Roper, to get more [...]
By Bandera Barter In the midst of one of the most significant conference realignments in recent years, Texas State’s very own Sun Belt Conference is about to look very different. Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill made it official on July 1st that the conference would be expanding to 14 [...]
By Sofia Psolka Web Content Contributor Ever since receiving international praise for her first novel “Eileen” in 2015, Ottessa Moshfegh has raced her way to becoming a great literary writer of our generation. In fact, “Eileen” was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2016 and is currently being adapted into [...]
By McKenzie McGuire Music Journalist I am a firm believer in the idea that certain records find you at the perfect time, take you by the hand, and walk you through a period of life. I first heard Maple Glider’s record, To Enjoy is the Only Thing, a couple of months [...]
By Haley Velasco Web Content Contributor In a world of shakes, fries, burgers, chicken nuggets and angry customers, fast-food has been America’s hot spot for decades. Although grabbing a quick bite is a common occurrence, not everyone sees the perspective from the other side of the counter. Employees are [...]
By C.J. Okeke Music Journalist Hello everyone, Captain Obvious here, letting you know that summer 2022 is in full effect! And with that comes all the things that make summer great, whether that event happens to be a cookout, a vacation, or a party at the pool, we all know [...]
By Amaya Lewis Web Content Contributor Major Spoilers Ahead!!! On May 27th and July 1st, 2022, after having been delayed for nearly three years due to COVID-19, Stranger Things season 4 dropped, eliciting an explosion of excitement from worldwide viewers – myself included. Brimming with wonderful sci-fi twists, new characters, [...]
Clara Blankenship Music Journalist The term avant-garde gets thrown around easily in today’s artistic sphere, as technological advancements and genre fluidity open the door for sonic innovation at more rapid paces. I am a sucker for listening experiences that challenge my ears’ desire for predictability and push me out of [...]
Gilian Prado Music Journalist Artist: Black Midi Album: Schlagenheim Release Date: June 19, 2019 Record Label: Rough Trade Records Black Midi popped up on the scene in 2019 and introduced a new generation to noise rock, including myself. Black Midi, if they must be categorized, would fall under the [...]
By Celeste Parler Web Content Contributor Have you ever heard the phrase “comparison is the thief of joy”? Because I have heard this several times throughout my life, and I haven’t learned my lesson yet. I don’t tend to compare every quality in everyone I know, but in areas I [...]
By: Sofia Gualy Music Journalist The summer of 2022 has proven to be an incredible period of time for new great music. Many artists are preparing to release summer albums and have released singles that simply can not be missed. Artists such as Dayglow and The Front Bottoms are going [...]
By Gilian Prado Music Journalist Artist: Mitski Album: Lush Release Date: January 31, 2012 Lush is undeniably an album filled with feminine rage. In an interview with The New Yorker, Mitski said, “I spent all my teenage years being obsessed with beauty, and I’m very resentful about it and I’m [...]
By C.J. Okeke Music Journalist To the inquisitive mind currently reading this article, how did your love of hip-hop start? Did you start with old-school rap, like the eighties and nineties era? Maybe it started in the early 2000s era, or in the latter half? However, and whenever it started, [...]
By Kenlie Golleher Rap Music Director Earlier this year, Florida rapper Denzel Curry released his highly anticipated fifth studio album Melt My Eyez See Your Future, an introspective record that Curry himself described as “the end of an era”. Curry finds himself moving past his previous alter egos and bodies [...]
http://https://soundcloud.com/ktswnews/interview-with-councilman-baker By Jordan Young Web Content Director In the inaugural episode of the KTSW’s news department interview podcast; Web Content Director Jordan Young spoke with San Marcos city council member for place 1, Maxfield Baker. We discussed the #Protecttheriver movement, the backstory on the newly approved film studio, and more. Featured [...]
Sofia Gualy Music Journalist Earlier this month, my friends threw me a 2014 Tumblr-themed birthday party. Throat full of chokers, American Apparel clothing, and band tees, this party was a dream for people like me who were extremely invested in this aesthetic. The playlist we created ended up being over [...]
By Amaya Lewis Web Content Contributor In society, when people first look at or meet one another, most people form a conclusive judgment within the first few seconds of interaction. For me, I know that feeling well. As a biracial American mixed with black and white, my darker complexion makes [...]
By Preethi Mangadu & Jordan Young Chief Editor of News & Web Content Manager Updated: 7:54 pm On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to overturn Roe v. Wade, meaning that there is no longer constitutional protection for abortions. In 1973, Roe v. Wade ruled a set of Texas statutes [...]
By Justin Brown Sports Reporter The Texas State Softball team played the final game of their season on May 14th, 2022; they suffered a 1-7 loss against the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns. The Bobcats finished the season 38-19 overall and 19-8 in the Sunbelt. To truly understand in better detail how [...]
By Celeste Parler Web Content Contributor If you aren’t working a summer job in San Marcos or taking in-person summer classes, then chances are that you are reading this from your hometown. It’s something students don’t typically anticipate with excitement. And I can’t blame anyone for not liking moving back [...]
Mckenna Wells Assistant Music Director As someone who frequents the events put on by Emo Nite, I was stoked to hear that they reached out to KTSW about their party at Empire Garage in Austin. Emo Nite started in 2014 when Morgan Freed and T.J. Petracca threw their first party [...]
By Clara Blankenship Music Journalist Concert audiences usually come to see their favorite band perform, unaware of the members’ personalities or external lives. However, for Greer, their fame extends beyond music. Greer is a band consisting of lead singer Josiah, guitarist Corbin Jacques, bassist Seth Thomson, and drummer Lucas Ovalle. [...]
By Camryn Cole Web Content Contributor It’s the adjective we all have heard at some point in our lives, usually as an insult. I was first described as “basic” by one of my peers when I was 11 years old. I simply loved cartoons, the music from Disney Channel stars, [...]
By Kenlie Golleher Rap Music Director EarthGang, a magical rap duo hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, is currently on their Biodeghettable US Tour preceding their 2022 fourth studio album release GHETTO GODS. EarthGang consists of Johnny Venus and WowGr8, who have been rapping together under the group name EarthGang since 2008. [...]
By Lexi Delarosa Music Journalist The Margaritaville multimillionaire himself, Jimmy Buffett, turned the southeast corner of the UT campus into a luau party as he graced the stage at 8 p.m. on June 11, 2022, at the Moody Center. His Life on the Flip Side Redux Tour was the fourteenth [...]
By Haley VelascoWeb Content Contributor Summer is here and its finally time to relax and let the adventures begin, and what better way is there to spend this time than with your furry friend? Although there are many activities that you and your dogs can do, it’s important to be [...]
By Preethi Mangadu Chief Editor of News AUSTIN—Texas State University’s Gabriel Webb was appointed as The Texas State University System (TSUS) student regent for the 2022-23 term by Governor Greg Abbott on June 8, 2022. Webb is one of eight student regents in Texas that were nominated and selected to serve on [...]
Jordan Young Web Content Manager HAYS COUNTY – There’s nothing like a Texas summer, especially ones spent in our home nestled in the hill country, Hays County. Across the county this week, many events are taking place to keep you busy this Juneteenth and Father’s Day weekend. So, let’s take [...]
By Sofia Psolka KTSW Contributor Spoiler Warning Earlier this year, I went to go see A24’s dadaist, multi-verse movie “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” I had seen a few nondescript trailers alluding to a story centering on a Chinese-American family capable of inter-dimensional travel. (A trope that is [...]
Ashley Farnie Music Director The topic of artists shifting genres throughout their musical careers is a polarizing argument. The artist is accused of “abandoning their roots” or becoming molded by the mass media, without their personal autonomy considered. Regardless of the verdict, this recurrent issue questions the validity of our [...]
Avery-Viers Local Music Director Releasing their first new single following a three-year hiatus, it’s no secret that the local San Marcos band Ask for Elizabeth is back and better than ever. Released on May 20, 2022, the band’s newest single, “Nightmare,” encapsulates all of the annoyance and irritation that [...]
By Preethi Mangadu Chief Editor of News JASPER, Texas—On June 1, 2022, Jasper officials lost their appeal for their denied motion of summary judgment in Sims v. Griffin, an inmate death case, meaning the case will proceed to trial. Steven Mitchell Qualls, 28, was arrested by the Jasper Police [...]
by Ashley Farnie Music Director Since Punisher’s release in 2020, Phoebe Bridgers stans, myself included, have been awaiting the album’s tour. Punisher’s emotional transparency soundtracked many of our quarantine beginnings, breeding a generation of depressed adolescents. Opening with a cinematic overture and closing with an orchestrated ballad that builds [...]
Clara Blankenship Music Journalist The enthralling, avant-garde, spontaneous sounds of Son Lux up-close in an incredibly small venue? Say less. Son Lux is an eclectic band that pushes musical boundaries while remaining grounded in jazz and rock essentials. Their music is difficult to describe, as it is a genre-melting pot, [...]
Jordan Young Web Content Manager From Kyle Police – In the wake of yesterday’s tragic events at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, the Kyle Police Department has directed patrol staff as well as officers from other assignments and divisions to make every effort to increase their presence at all of [...]
Ashley Farnie Music Director San Marcos locals and Texas State Alumni are familiar with KTSW’s sound and slogan, “The Other Side of Radio.” KTSW spins tracks you would not hear on a commercial radio station: undiscovered artists, local musicians, and unconventional tunes make for the perfect unpredictable programming – a [...]
Jordan Young Web Content Manager Texas election law states that candidates must earn more than 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff election. Today Texas voters will once again head to their local voting center in this year’s Texas primary runoff election. Here is some information you need to know [...]
Mikayla Anding Web Content Contributor Summertime for college students looks like many different things. It could look like going on trips with friends and family, working a job to save up for next year’s school expenses, or, of course, having an internship hopefully pertaining to your major. With the competitive [...]
By Allison Schroeder Web Content Assistant Manager This little farewell has been sitting on my brain lately. One minute wanting to write it, the next not even thinking I should. This is because a part of me knows that writing this equals my last article ever for KTSW, and it [...]
By Celeste Parler Web Content Contributor Unless you have been living under a rock, haven’t been on social media in the last week or don’t follow the latest celebrity news, then you have heard what everyone has had to say about the Met Gala. The Met Gala takes place every [...]
By Hannah Brown Web Content Contributor Nothing beats curling up with a bowl of popcorn and romanticizing life with a sappy rom-com or two. Okay, maybe four. I mean, who wouldn’t want to succumb to the dramatization of love and get sucked into a world of charm and too good [...]
By Avery Viers Local Music Journalist With the arrival of finals signaling the end of yet another spring semester, Texas State students are beginning to find themselves with a suspicious amount of free time on their hands. While frequenting the San Marcos River and roaming The Square may offer themselves [...]
By Jordan Salas, Justin Brown and Gian-Carlo Cacho Sports Reporters On this edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Jordan Salas, Justin Brown and Gian Carlo Cacho discuss Baseball’s midweek win over Incarnate Word and dive into the snake pit as they go over their NBA Finals Predictions! Catch BCR [...]
By Allison Schroeder Web Content Assistant Manager In the world of business, social media, influencers, and more, there is one thing I have learned this past semester, is to take the time to create a brand. Establish what your brand is and what you want it to be. Digital marketing [...]
By Preethi Mangadu Web Content Contributor On April 29, 2022, President Joe Biden proclaimed that May 2022 is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, And Pacific Islander Heritage Month to “recognizes the innumerable contributions, vibrant cultures, and rich heritage of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AA and NHPIs)” in America. The first [...]
By Jemia Spence Web Content Contributor Earlier this semester my professor asked the question, are press releases dead? This topic sparked an interest because of my major and I wanted to know, digitally, how society has changed. So, I researched the discussion and personally think that press releases are not [...]
By Justin Brown Sports Reporter The Texas State Softball Team (16-8 Sun Belt) played their final home series last weekend against the Troy Trojans (13-11 Sun Belt). This series saw clutch hitting and pitching for the Bobcats resulting in a series sweep and their 12th win in a row. The [...]
By Lea Mercado Web Content Assistant Manager Have you ever felt like you were put on this earth to do something big? No one told you to or provided instruction, but the feeling persisted until reality stepped in the way or self-doubt crept in. I know that feeling, and while [...]
By Hannah Walls Web Content Contributor One thing to know about me is that I cannot go anywhere without a beverage in hand, especially during those super important “errands” I always have to run during the summer, e.g. hitting the Target clearance section, seeing if 5 Below has restocked Squishmallows [...]
By Hannah Walls Music Journalist I attended Bands and Booths for Trans Youth this past weekend, hosted by Ava Productions and Studio San Martian. I had previously attended Vaginafest, which also featured a variety of local artists and vendors, so I was super excited to see what was in store [...]
By Justin Brown, Koby Jackson, and Gage Sutton Sports Reporters In this edition of Claws to the Wall, Justin Brown, Koby Jackson, and Gage Sutton talk the Bobcats weekend wins. They also dive into the NFL Draft and look forward to the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Be sure [...]
By Preslie Davis, Koby Jackson, and Jordan Young Sports Reporters and Sports Director On this Edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Preslie Davis, Koby Jackson and Jordan Young discuss Baseball and Softball Series Win’s and Interview Coach Trout. They also go over the second round of the NBA Playoffs. [...]
By Mikayla Anding Web Content Contributor “If you cannot be in a silent room for an hour by yourself, there’s a problem.” Tough words. I’ve heard this phrase a few times when talking with my friends about giving ourselves time to rest and a break from the busyness we have [...]
By Clara Blankenship Music Journalist I am constantly on the hunt for new artists and albums to fit my current situations and emotions. As finals are approaching, a sense of being overwhelmed has dominated my days. To my dismay, I was having trouble finding music that matched my stress. I [...]
By Justin Brown, Koby Jackson, and Kayla Guillory Sports Reporters On this edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Kayla Guillory, Justin Brown and Koby Jackson discuss Baseball’s fall at UTSA and talk about the Suns and Pelicans playoff series! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9! Featured Image [...]
By Bandera Barter Music Journalist Sony and Cher, Willy and Waylon, Bert and Ernie — all iconic duos, but now it’s time for a new team to carry the torch. This would be no other than Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile, solidified by their joint album Lotta Sea Lice. The [...]
By Justin Brown, Koby Jackson, and Kayla Guillory Sports Reporters In this edition of Claws to the Wall, Justin Brown, Koby Jackson, and Kayla Guillory talk the Bobcats weekend sweeps. They also dive into the terrific first round matchups of the NBA Playoffs. Be sure to catch Claws to the [...]
By Avery Viers
Music Journalist
To preface, this article’s purpose is not to criticize my father or any Generation X fathers that raised their children on their music taste (for your service, we salute you). The true purpose of this article, however, is to bring to light the unfortunate phenomenon that seems to plague all of my closest friends- as well as anyone else who may resonate with our struggles.
Firstly, allow me to define the issue at hand: when I use the term “Male Manipulator,” I am unaffectionately referring to the stereotypical depiction of men in their twenties that always seem to be the reason for at least one person’s spontaneous bangs and box dye attempt. These men, despite their subpar guitar skills and indifferent attitudes, have somehow managed to attract attention from every individual with a humanities degree for the last decade.
Yet the question remains: Why am I always attracted to the same kind of guys? What’s the appeal? While these kinds of questions have haunted my dearest friends and I for some time now, it wasn’t until recently that I reached my own conclusion— one that regrettably affirms particular Freudian theories I’ve grown to hate. After much deliberation and horrific realization, I have reached the conclusion. That, at the core of all of these men consistency can be found: our father’s taste in music.
As with every theory, there are always exceptions; not all people end up with partners with interests and preferences similar to their parents. With that being said, if you find yourself included in the demographic who’s dating life can be described by the title of this article, here are some explanations as to how this could have happened.
As I entered my early teen years, I found myself attempting to navigate a number of new aspects of my life: interests, hobbies, dating, new friends, family, etc. It was also during this time, I’ve come to realize, that being taken to school every morning by my Dad would begin to shape the early stages of my taste in music.
Although I didn’t know it then, the grunge sound of Lithium Radio on Sirius XM would be the beginning of what would become shared interest with my father— making it the first meaningful interest I shared with someone who wasn’t a 13-year-old girl or my mother. Now, almost 10 years later, the unusual heartfelt feelings I have towards Beck’s Mellow Gold and Temple Of The Dog’s Hunger Strike seem to draw me in with the promise of mutual connection— though the demographic of men that also enjoy them may not.
While I do look back on that time fondly, it does prove itself as the crux of my dilemma. As long as I can remember, it has been through music that I build relationships with men. Unfortunately for me, that means dating men that pride themselves on listening to bands like Weezer, The Smiths, Smashing Pumpkins, and any other band that would offer itself as an indication that you are in the presence of a man with good hair and a victim complex.
Following my initial epiphany, I began to inquire in my group of friends to see if anyone may have had a similar experience. Despite coming together due to what seems to be a mild form of group trauma, hearing variations of the same story unexpectedly brought comfort and validation to what seems to be a common theme in the hectic, modern dating world. Although acknowledging the root of our troubles may not stop us from dating men who may or may not own a bed frame in the future, it’s clear that the influence of music yet again can be found in aspects of our lives we may not initially expect.
For those of us who still owe the foundation of our music taste to our fathers and parental figures, thank you. Even though we may find ourselves at odds with the intricacies of the beginning of our adulthood, it seems music always allows us to connect back to you.
Interested in some extra nostalgia? Check out my Dad Rock playlist on Spotify down below!
By Bandera Barter
Music Journalist
Going to SXSW for the first time I really had no idea what to expect. I’ve heard about the crazy day parties and I’ve seen the video of Lady Gaga being voluntarily vomited on in the name of art, but this was all through a screen. This would be the first time I would experience SXSW for myself.
I scoured the schedule planning on and hoping to go to just about every event that I saw, specifically Dolly Parton and the Season three screening of “Atlanta.” However, a slight wrench would be thrown in my plans upon realizing these shows would be restricted to platinum badge holders only.
At first, I was slightly discouraged by this and was unsure of what my SXSW plans would be, if any. However, thanks to resources such as Do512 and Eventbrite I was able to find more free events than even possible to attend. Just use Do512 to find the show you want to go to and use Eventbrite to RSVP, a very important step and a lesson I would learn along the way.
Upon entering my first SXSW show at Mohawk, I did notice a pretty clear distinction in myself from platinum badge holders. Namely their ginormous passes with their face on it and then my yellow wristband with the label of “Unimportant” written in bold black lettering. A label I would not have chosen for myself but one that I took in stride and with style.
This event, Soundcloud Next Wav, would feature female rappers Kelow LaTesha, Flores, riela, and Monaleo. Monaleo, the 20-year-old rapper from Houston, would be headlining the event, and within seconds of her coming out on stage, I could see why. During the intermission, it seemed like the crowd was there for networking more than music, but as soon as Monaleo hit the stage all eyes were on her. She rapped her ass off, talked to the crowd as if she knew us, and pulled people up on stage to rap her songs with her bar for bar. Never in my life have I seen someone this young so talented and destined for stardom.
Within walking distance from Mohawk, on 6th street, is another free venue The Blind Pig Pub. Here we saw some of the best live music I’ve ever seen, including Nikk Parr and the Selfless Lovers and Mike and the Moonpies.
As we enter and walk up the stairs the first thing I hear is some of the smoothest a funkiest bass riffs I have ever heard in a country bar, played by Evan Durr. Then you hear the distinct sound of some of the grooviest piano and saxophone you’ve ever heard, both being played at the same time by lead singer Nick Parr. The 26-year-old Parr puts his entire soul on display in such a charismatic and unique way that makes me want to see them perform again and again ASAP.
As for Mike and the Moonpies, I was instantly entranced by the sounds of the pedal steel guitar played by Zachary Moulton. Within seconds I felt like I was back in my childhood listening to the country music my parents would have playing in the car. At times he adds just what is necessary to set the tone and create the ambiance that is Mike and the Moonpies. At other points, he undeniably leads the group, reminiscent of steel guitar legends like Pete Drake, or Don Helms on a Hank Williams track. Mike and the Moonpies are definitely bringing back, keeping alive, or recreating Texas country music, depending on how you look at it.
Lastly, one of the more legendary SXSW free events, Lucy’s 10th Annual South by South Austin Fried Chicken Revival. Now I know this sounds more like a cook-off than a concert, but even if it was the food that made me come it was the music that made me stay.
Upon arrival, it was almost too crowded to hear, let alone see, any of the performers. So, I would eat a delicious meal of loaded tots and chicken and waffles while listening to The John Doe Folk Trio and SUSTO from afar. Thankfully right before the last set, a small hole would open up and I would make my way to the front to see The Dream Syndicate. As soon as the music started I realized why there was an opening, as I was inches from the gigantic deafening speaker, but it was well worth it to hear the psychedelic shredding. Frontman and guitarist Stevie Wynn kept his shades on the entire time and sang and played with the attitude of a living legend. Lead guitarist Jason Victor did things I have never seen in person on the guitar and don’t know if I ever will again. There would be moments of shredding that I couldn’t tell you if they lasted 10 seconds or 10 minutes. Even if I can still barely hear out of my left ear it was worth it to see rockstars like The Dream Syndicate.
The Dream Syndicate at Lucy’s 10th Annual South by South Austin Fried Chicken Revival Although I did not see Dolly Parton or Donald Glover like I initially hoped, I had an even better experience than I expected at South by Southwest. I did not let my label as “Unimportant” define me or my SXSW journey and went everywhere and did everything I could, often in the same spaces of platinum badge holders. At first, I was intimidated by the scale of SXSW and how much I thought I would have to pay to see good shows, but I now feel like a SXSW veteran ready to go and experience even more next year.
Featured Image by Bandera Barter
By Tabitha Keep
Sports Reporter
The Bobcats fought hard but could not pull off a win against the #12 Longhorns in the Wednesday evening game, with the final score of 2-4.
Texas State had an electric start getting three outs within the first four batters. At the bottom of the first, the Bobcats scored two runs after Sara Vanderford, the Sunbelt preseason player of the year, homered to left field, driving Hannah Earls home. This gave Vanderford her fifth home run in the season.
Texas climbed back during the third inning, starting with Janae Jefferson’s double hit to right-center. Mia Scott followed up with another double, sending Jefferson home. Scott made her way home after McKenzie Parker grounded out to second base. Jefferson and Scott both lead Texas in hits in the season with 40 and 34, respectively.
At the bottom of the third, Texas switched out their left-hand pitcher Estelle Czech for right-hand pitcher Hailey Dolcini. Dolcini leads Texas in wins with a 9-3 record, followed by Czech with an 8-1 record. Czech ended her run in the game with one strikeout, and Dolcini ended the game with nine. Texas State relied on sophomore pitcher Jessica Mullins who has a 2.36 ERA for the season and a record of 9-9. Mullins accumulated six strikeouts by the end of the game.
The game slowed down between the fourth and sixth innings, with neither team making any runs. The Longhorns were able to get three hits during the stretch but left three runners on base and made no errors. The Bobcats got one hit and left two on base with no errors between the fourth and sixth innings.
The game gained momentum again at the top of the seventh with the Longhorns up the bat. After the Bobcats secured two outs, Scott got a walk. This set up Texas for two runs when Parker hit a home run towards center field. The Longhorns catcher Mary Lakopo followed up with a single and was sent to second after Camille Corona sent a single to shortstop. The inning ended quickly after when Alyssa Popelka was struck out, leaving Lakopo and Corona on base.
Going into the bottom of the seventh, Rogers started the inning and struck out swinging. Cat Crenek pinch hit for Kylie George but subsequently struck out looking. The inning ended with a ground out toward second hit by Dani Elder, who was pinch-hitting for Earls.
The Longhorns continued their winning streak, currently adding up to seven. Overall, Texas now has a 23-9-1 record and will move into conference play this weekend at Kansas. Texas State left the game with a 14-13 record overall and a 2- 4 conference record. The Bobcats will also continue in conference play in Conway, South Carolina, against Coastal Carolina.
Head coach of the Bobcats Ricci Woodard said the game is about pinch-hitting, and Texas State just couldn’t come up with the key hit that Texas was able to get.
“I thought it was a well-played game,” said Woodard. “[A] well-pitched game by both people.”
Featured Image by Tabitha Keep
By Jared Dudley
Music Journalist
On May 4th, 2021, the Los Angeles Public Library hosted and live-streamed a mini-concert performance by The Linda Lindas. The punk rock band, an all-girl group with band members ranging from 11 to 17 years old, played high-energy tunes about their pet cat, being stuck at home and a character from The Babysitters Club book series.
The Linda Linda’s sound and look are immediately recognizable to anyone familiar with riot grrl, a feminist punk movement originating in the early 1990s. Their music channels the catchy beats of a Le Tigre song while 14-year-old Eloise Wong’s vocals have a snarling bite to them which would feel right at home in a playlist comprised of Bikini Kill and Sleater-Kinney tracks.
Near the end of their show, drummer Mila de la Garza, who was just ten years old at the time of the performance, introduced the last originally written song: “A little while before went into lockdown, a boy in my class came up to me and said that his dad told him to stay away from Chinese people… Eloise and I wrote this song based on that experience.”
What follows is “Racist, Sexist Boy,” a heavy, slow-moving track that is blunt and unapologetic in its anger. Like the feminist punk bands of old, The Linda Lindas make it clear they are not afraid to write songs about the marginalization they experience in their day-to-day lives.
While many songs from the riot grrl renaissance are highly explicit and purposefully try to elicit discomfort in the listener, “Racist, Sexist Boy” remains fun and positive despite the subject matter. Even after many listens, it remains hard not to laugh and nod my head to the beat when insults like “blockhead”, “poser” and “jerkface” are yelled into the microphone.
Despite being torn down by a classmate’s learned bigotry, The Linda Lindas promise to “rebuild what [he] destroys.” The performance of the song went viral on the library’s YouTube page, and the massive influx of attention had The Linda Lindas going from playing intimate punk venues to late night television shows.
Nearly a year later, The Linda Lindas are preparing to release their debut album Growing Up, coming out on April 8th. Guitarist, and Mila’s older sister, Lucia de la Garza says the goal with the album is to “make sure our music has a positive influence, and that we keep bringing attention to what is happening in the world.”
Since their performance of “Racist, Sexist Boy,” the band has moved to the forefront of the modern feminist rock movement. The combination of their youth and heritage has made them a symbol for not just school-age musicians, but established artists as well.
“They’re incredibly talented and adorable and have wonderful things to say,” said Bethany Cosentino of rock duo Best Coast. “They make me feel hopeful. They have an energy that maybe the world will be a better place.”
Featured Image by The Linda Lindas.
By Sofia Gualy
Music Journalist
Concerts are finally back after a long and exhausting hiatus. It is now the time to make up for lost time and support your favorite artists as they go on tour safely. Tickets are going fast, so here are the top artists you should spend your concert ticket money on!
Penny and Sparrow
This magical duo is finally back performing live. I had the opportunity of seeing them before the pandemic at an airport hangar and it was truly a magnificent experience. Their harmonies give everyone in the room chills, and their songs are beautifully written. Their newest album Olly Olly is every indie-folk lover’s dream. Songs such as “Need You” and “Adeline” would be truly incredible to see live. This band is easily at the top of my list for best concert, so you don’t want to miss this tour.
Bright Eyes
The influential indie rock band recently announced a cross country tour with singer, Alex G. Bright Eyes is heading back on tour with his band to promote their newer songs and album Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was. They’re sure to play a myriad of both old and new songs, so this concert is not one to miss. They will be performing in three major cities in Texas. Seeing Bright Eyes is definitely on my bucket list, and it should be on yours too!
STRFKR
The ultimate indie dance-pop band is back on the road. STRFKR has released new dates for their upcoming tour after postponing it earlier this year. This is a band I have been begging to see for a long period of time, and I am so excited for this tour. They have shows in San Antonio, Houston and Dallas, so there is no way you want to miss seeing them. This concert is sure to make you feel like it’s 2013 again.
Sharon Van Etten
Sharon Van Etten is headed on tour with Julien Baker and Angel Olson, a truly remarkable trio. All three artists have released pandemic projects and are promoting them on their large tour. They are being supported by bedroom pop artist Spencer throughout most of the tour. All four artists have an incredible stage presence that would be terrible to miss.
Slaughter Beach, Dog
After two years of not headlining, Slaughter Beach, Dog is setting off and touring across the United States. This Midwest emo band is touring with Trace Mountains and Anika Pyle for over a month, with stops in Austin, Houston and Ft Worth. You can’t miss them! They are definitely a band to get tickets for. Their emotionally-charged acoustic music is a show I would not want to miss this year.
Concerts are back! Don’t miss out on some amazing shows!
Featured Image by Penny and Sparrow.
By Sofia Gualy
Music Journalist
Spring is my favorite season of them all. It is always a breath of fresh air every year when the first day of spring comes around. Spring also brings a plethora of new fun music from musical artists. These recent albums embody the feeling of a spring day.
Big Thief’s Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You
Adrienne Lenker and her band never fail to produce such perfect folk albums. I personally love to listen to folk music in the spring because it reminds me of doing “granola” activities like hiking and swimming in rivers. This new album has some beautiful harmonies and makes me feel so nostalgic, much like their previous album. This new album has a very hopeful sound throughout the songs and is perfect for listening while you relax by the river.
Wallows’ Tell Me That It’s Over
I have been waiting for a new Wallows album for three years and it finally arrived! Each song is really unique but still has an overarching 80s sounding influence to them. Songs like “I Don’t Want to Talk” and “Missing Out” are so fun if you are looking for music that will make you feel like it is almost summer.
Goth Babe’s Santa Catalina
This EP is my favorite from the entire list. I think each song perfectly embodies the feeling of coming out of winter to a warm sunny day and wanting to spend the entire day outside. “Driving South” sounds so much like a summer’s day, which I think is what we are all trying to emulate at this part of the semester. Goth Babe did such a stand-up job with this EP and I truly cannot wait for more music to come.
Aubrey Huntsman’s Kid Mercury
If you are craving a dreamy vibe this spring, Kid Mercury is for you. Aubrey Huntsman has such a fun sound to all of her music and this album does not disappoint. “Lavender and Licorice” is my favorite on the album. The song is so catchy and has really fun elements throughout. Huntsman masters the dream-pop genre that is so perfect for spring.
Benee’s Lychee
I found Benee through the song “Supalonely” featuring Gus Dapperton, which was popular on Tik Tok during the quarantine period. When I saw that this new album came out, I immediately had to listen. Benee captures the feeling of springtime so perfectly with songs such as “Beach Boy” and “Hurt You, Gus”. Her voice is so ethereal and her music is upbeat which I think is the ideal equation for a pretty spring day.
The arrival of spring is hopeful and these albums reflect the promise of springtime. Each of these records would fit perfectly into your new spring playlist.
By Avery Viers
Local Music Journalist
This one’s for the niche group of Lizzy McAlpine enthusiasts as I write my second article (back to back, no less) that she’s made an appearance in; you are seen, you are not alone. With that being said, I had the awesome opportunity to cover Dodie’s Build A Problem Tour on March 10th, and it’s probably all I will be talking about for the next month. I obnoxiously bought tickets the day they dropped last May, so I guess you could say I had been looking forward to this show for a minute or two- and I was not disappointed.
As my group of friends and I arrived at Emo’s Austin about twenty minutes before the doors opened at 7:00pm, we were met with an unbelievably extensive line that trailed around the block. Despite a lone queue normally being a disheartening way to start a show, I was feeling optimistic for what it meant for the energy of the crowd. As I expected, the line began to move along quickly thanks to the hardworking efficient staff that makes shows like this possible.
Once inside, there were only a few minutes left before Lizzy McAlpine’s opening set began. I split off from my group as I prepared to snap some photos at the start of her set that began with “Doomsday”, a fan favorite from her new album, Five Seconds Flat, which is set to be released at the beginning of next month.
McAlpine’s solo stage presence was certainly an extension of the intimacy of her songwriting; she continued further into her set with an unreleased track “Ceilings”, a title that also will find itself on the anticipated album.
Following her new music, McAlpine’s acoustic version of “Teenage Dirtbag” engaged the audience in an emotional singalong I had not previously thought possible for a Wheatus cover. She finished her set with a track titled “Pancakes for Dinner” from her first album, Give Me A Minute, that was met with an audience accompaniment that filled the entirety of the venue itself.
Lizzy McAlpine on stage at Emo’s Austin while on tour with dodie for her debut album, Build A Problem. As the opening set ended, emotional tensions were high. While my group of friends debriefed before Dodie’s set began, I took inventory of groups around us— each cluster had a different story than the one adjacent, yet all had been brought together to enjoy what would soon be a collectively cathartic group cry.
The beginning of the instrumental version of Dodie’s “Air So Sweet” snapped me back to reality, and soon the anxious audience would begin to chant “Dodie” until the drop of the curtain revealed what we had all been waiting for.
Seemingly out of thin air, the UK-born singer and their band appeared on stage as they ignited the audience with the beginning of “Cool Girl”. Throughout the entirety of their set, stage presence and overall energy were high, despite most of their set consisting of highly emotional songs.
About halfway through her set, funnily enough, she announced she would be doing what she referred to as a “sad song mashup” they had put together. Soon after, upon seeing a birthday sign in the audience making a song request, she promptly made an apology to their team as she prepared to “go rogue.” After finding the right key, the first chords of “Intertwined” danced upon the heads of the crowd in a nostalgic throwback to the 2016 EP.
The latter half of the set didn’t hesitate to keep the energy of its predecessor as they continued on with “Rainbow”, whose chorus was ushered in with a backdrop that matched the track’s title. As the set came to a close, the band finished out by playing “Monster”,“In The Middle” and ” Hate Myself”. The transition between the final two songs gave way to a quick outfit change for the show’s headliner.
Returning to the stage in a navy and gold uniform, they finished the set while marching to the beat of the chorus of “Hate Myself” in front of the roaring audience. Dodie thanked their adoring audience one final time before exiting the stage, but not before the band could launch paper airplanes made of their setlist over the heads of the crowd.
The room that had once been filled with bursts of glitter and colored lights became fully lit once again, but the dreamy trance of the show would still linger in my mind days later. I am so grateful that I not only was able to experience Dodie’s debut album live but that I was able to view it in the complete vibrancy it was meant to be experienced with.
Listen to Dodie on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/21TinSsF5ytwsfdyz5VSVS.
Support Lizzy McAlpine on Bandcamp: https://lizzymcalpine.bandcamp.com/.
Featured Image by Avery Viers.
By Avery Viers
Local Music Journalist
Now three weeks into accompanying Dodie on their Build A Problem Tour, it’s no secret that Lizzy McAlpine’s youthful sea of fans is only the beginning of what’s to come amid the early stages of the Philadelphia-born singer-songwriter’s career. First releasing music during the infancy of her career in 2018, McAlpine was finally able to take to the road earlier this year in preparation for her upcoming album, Five Seconds Flat. I was so grateful for the opportunity to speak with Lizzy back on February 28th of this year to discuss tour life, her creative process and even joke around about her outspoken love for the hit Fox sitcom, New Girl.
McAlpine’s first album, Give Me A Minute, was released just over a year and a half ago in August of 2020. Prior to the album’s release, McAlpine gained quite a following on TikTok; as her fan base grew, as did the anticipation for the debut album. As someone who happened to be an early onlooker during that stage of her career, I’m not ashamed to admit I was a bit star-struck when I heard the chime that accompanied her entrance into our scheduled Zoom Interview.
I tried my best to remain cool as I nervously withheld the urge to immediately fangirl about how excited I was to see her live in Austin on March 10th. Instead, I began our brief interview by asking about what the tour had been like so far, as well as how she felt about only having a band on stage with her for select shows.
“Um, Yeah! I mean it’s interesting because- so we only have the band for six shows.” she said, “So I started, like, the first week and a half by myself and then we did a couple of band shows and now I’m solo again until the last three dates of tour. It’s interesting.” she continued, “Like, performance-wise, I prefer being by myself because I can just, like, do whatever I want and it’s more freeing.”
While she had her answer close at her side, it was quickly followed by her praises of Ryan and Will, her accompanying drummer and bassist. “It’s way more fun to be traveling with a band because you can, like, hang out with people, you know?” she laughed.
Conveniently released the Friday before our meeting, McAlpine’s newest single “Reckless Driving” was only the latest addition to three other tracks preceding the upcoming release of her second album, Five Seconds Flat on April 8th, 2022.
Lizzy McAlpine’s latest single “Reckless Driving”. Image by Lizzy McAlpine Though the precision and skill of McAlpine’s songwriting was nothing new to her loyal following, what did spark my interest was the development of each song’s complimentary music video. I was eager to not only hear about her creative process, but to learn about what went into a day of filming. She spoke very highly of Gus Black, who was responsible for directing and shooting the videos according to her vision.
“Honestly, like, I saw [Gus Black] on Instagram because he had worked with my friend a lot,” she said, “I literally had this idea for the short film and I just DMed him and messaged him like ‘Hey, wanna work on this with me?’ and he was so amazing.” She then went on to say, “I came up with this concept and I wrote the whole script. I made Pinterest Boards… Google Slides. It was really in-depth, and I had the whole concept planned out before.” she continued, “He was very… game to, like, do all of it. It was really fun!”
Though she spoke very highly of her experience so far opening for Dodie on Build A Problem, she seemed even more thrilled about what’s to come. With their shared tour coming to a close at the end of March ushering in the release of Five Seconds Flat at the beginning of April, it feels only natural that her first headlining tour would be next.
In terms of future collaborations, McAlpine hopes for the chance to work with the queen of indie rock herself, “but as far as collaborations- I mean, like, Phoebe [Bridgers] is up there, of course!” She later went on to mention how “Sara Bareilles has been a huge inspiration; it would be amazing to work with her in any capacity whatsoever.”
And I know no one asked (well I mean, except me), but I just had to conclude our interview on a note that rocked bangs and dressed in Twee. “I guess I did have [one last] silly little question,” I said, “I know you like New Girl-“ McAlpine quickly shifted in her chair to lean towards the Zoom camera with an interested “I Do!”
I laughed nervously as I queued up what seemed to be the most important question of the evening, “Who is your favorite boyfriend of Jess, besides Nick?” I asked. McAlpine proceeded to slouch down a bit, taking an invested, thoughtful stance. After a beat, she laughs and says, “That’s a good question!”
After some further banter, I can confidently report that Lizzy McAlpine is quite the Genzlinger Gal, making her answer the perfect lighthearted way to end our time together.
Support Lizzy McAlpine on Bandcamp: https://lizzymcalpine.bandcamp.com/.
Featured Image by Lizzy McAlpine.
C.J. Okeke
Music Journalist
For my first outing at SXSW, I decided to start with an event that featured a local rap group called Blackillac. The live performance was hosted by the Black Fret and GSD&M at their outdoor day party in downtown Austin. Black Fret is a nonprofit organization that promotes popular music and believes it to be an art that should be supported.
They were the second act to come up on stage, and as the stagehands were getting ready for them to perform, I could see the crowd starting to grow more and more. Finally, there was a significant crowd around the front stage and got into the concert as they started with great sound and energy.
With all the crowd involvement, I figured that Blackillac must have been known around Austin; however, they were still unknown to me. So, I decided to look further into the rap duo and see what makes them…them.
Coming out of South Austin, Blackillac is a local rap duo that consists of two members, Zeale and Phranchyze. The group started in late 2018, and in 2019, the group decided to showcase their talents by embarking on their first North American tour.
Blackillac played at festivals around the country like the ACL Music Festival, Summerfest, and Fortress. Since then, the city of Austin has voted them the best local Hip-Hop/Rap group of 2020.
In the short time that Blackillac has been creating and performing music, they have gained the attention of Grammy award winner Gary Clark Jr.
The duo has since been on three tours with him and has opened for him numerous times. Traveling and touring with an act as big as Gary Clark Jr., I think has allowed for them to become more comfortable on stage because Blackillac’s presence shined as they seemed relaxed, energetic, and took control of the stage.
Blackillac’s sound can be described as fun, energetic, party-style rap with an edginess to it. Their performance was great! It lasted about 45 mins to an hour. Blackillac performed a handful of songs, and halfway through their set, the crowd was given a great off-the-top freestyle from both members.
If I had to describe the feeling of the songs that they performed, I would say that they were the type that could be played at a summer outing with your friends, just hanging out and having fun.
The feeling of their music played well with the setup at Black Fret. The food and beverages provided at the venue were great, and I could see people enjoying the music. So far, the group has released a group of singles and an EP entitled “The Green Room” in 2021 since they first began.
Early this year, however, they released a brand-new full-length album called “Blue Indigo,” and it is streaming on Spotify and Apple Music. As spring and summer approach us, if you are seeking great music for get-togethers with friends, cookouts, and days on the water, I recommend checking them out.
Featured Image by C.J. Okeke.
By Kayla Guillory
Sports Reporter
Texas State Baseball (18-4 overall, 3-0 Sun Belt) will be back in action against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (12-7-1 overall, 1-1-1 Sun Belt) for a three-game series starting Friday, March 25th at Bobcat Ballpark in San Marcos at 6 p.m.
The baseball team is currently ranked 20th in the nation after getting off to a historic start, which included wins against Arizona and, at the time, the number one team in the nation, Texas. However, The Bobcats are coming off a 2-4 loss to Incarnate Word, ending their eight-game winning streak. Putting that loss behind them, the Bobcats are looking ahead and getting prepared for their next conference game.
This will be the 12 match-ups between the two teams since Coastal Carolina joined the Sun Belt in 2016. The series is currently 8-4 in favor of the Chanticleers, but the Bobcats are hoping to get a win to help build their confidence as they advance.
Bobcat Dalton Shuffield, the senior infielder, leads the team in batting average with .397 and 22 RBIs. He also leads the team in five home runs alongside outfielder senior John Wuthrich, aiding the team total of 22. Freshman infielder, Daylan Pena, is trailing second with 18 RBIs.
Now looking at the Chanticleers, Matt McDermott, the super senior infielder, leads the team with a .333 batting average, with the Sun Belt preseason player of the year, junior infielder Eric Brown, close behind with a .328 average. The team has 22 home runs for the season, and junior infielder Dale Thomas has six of his own.
The Chanticleers are coming off an impressive 16-7 win against the No. 22 Clemson Tigers. Senior outfielder Tyler Johnson recorded a career-high of five RBIs.
With both teams coming together for their fourth conference game, it should be a fun one. The Bobcats have had an impressive month of March. Just a couple of weeks ago, they split a two-game series with the Texas Longhorns.
The Bobcats have been making their presence known during the early stages of the season and hopefully are able to continue that success for the rest of the season.
Sunday, the final game of the series, is kid’s day at Bobcat Ballpark. Kids at the game will be able to stand with the players during the national anthem, meet the players, and more after the game. Also, Jake Spavital, head football coach, will throw the first pitch.
The Bobcats will be on the road for their next game, non-conference, against Sam Houston (12-9) on March 29th at Don Sanders Stadium in Huntsville, Texas, at 6:30 p.m.
Their next conference game will be a three-game series against Appalachian State on April 3rd at Smith Stadium in Boone, N.C. at 2 p.m.
You can watch all three games on ESPN+ or listen live on KTSW 89.9. You can also follow KTSW on Twitter to stay updated with live stats and updates of the game
Featured Image by Jordan Young
By Hannah Walls
Music Journalist
In 2018, indie rock group Mt. Joy played a SXSW show at Stubb’s Bar-B-Q with only three songs on their setlist. I had the opportunity to hear this little anecdote this past Saturday while anxiously awaiting their 2022 performance on the Outdoor Stage at Lady Bird Lake, the largest SXSW stage.
As I stood in the crowd of what had to be hundreds of people there for the show, I was amazed to hear that the group had started out with humble beginnings at the very same festival years before.
After performances from Austin’s own Emily Wolfe and Susannah Joffe, and indie folk rock trio Houndmouth, who also gained traction from their SXSW performances in prior years, Mt. Joy took the stage.
Mt. Joy’s Jackie Miclau playing keyboard. Image by Hannah Walls. Despite the chill, unmistakably Americana road-trip vibes I was feeling from the beginning of the group’s performance, the crowd was insanely energized. Fans were especially engaged, swaying and singing at the top of their lungs, when the group performed “Astrovan,” their first ever single.
Following a few songs from previous albums, Mt. Joy went on to give the audience a taste of some new tunes coming soon, including one titled “Phenomenon.” This song took me a little by surprise, as I was able to hear the iconic sound and influences that are so characteristic of Mt. Joy, but also heard a lot of new elements.
“Phenomenon,” combined the folksy blues-tinged rock that Mt. Joy gained popularity off of with funky psychedelic interludes that gave a completely new dimension to the group’s dynamic and usual sound. It sounded totally different from the previous songs, but to me, made complete sense and almost gave the group the illusion of heightened confidence in their performance.
My favorite part of the performance had to be the group’s cover of the Grateful Dead’s, “Fire on the Mountain.”
I’m usually not super favorable to covers that aren’t wildly different or genre-flipped from the original, but Mt. Joy’s cover was truly electrifying and really gave me insight on direct parallels between the group and their influences. The cover was actually so similar to the original I felt transported back to 1978, and the crowd seemed to feel the same.
The group also performed their new single, “Lemon Tree,” which featured shimmery guitar riffs, dream-like floaty vocals from frontman Matt Quinn, and an acid-drenched interlude that felt like another perfect homage to the 1970s and 1980s.
This performance completely surpassed my expectations, and it was amazing to experience a taste of what’s next to come from the group. I am really looking forward to seeing their growth as they dip their toes into many genres and influences!
Until then, stream Mt. Joy’s new single, “Lemon Tree,” as well as their two albums, Rearrange Us and their self-titled first album.
Featured Image by Hannah Walls
By Jordan Young, Nolan Philips and Koby Jackson
Co-Sports Director and Sports Reporters
On this edition of Bobcat Radio, the crew of Jordan Young, Nolan Phillips and Koby Jackson talk about TXST Baseball, TXST Softball, March Madness and NFL moves! Catch BCR every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, live on KTSW 89.9!
Featured Image by KTSW Multimedia
By Tiera Allen
DJ
On Wednesday, March 16, I had the pleasure of attending my first South by Southwest event at South by San Jose. South by San Jose (or SXSJ) is an annual all-ages event hosted in the parking lot between Hotel San Jose and Jo’s Coffee on South Congress Avenue. 2022 marks its 21st year, and it prides itself on being “always and forever free.”
Doors opened at noon, and I arrived at around 3:00 p.m., just in time to catch a performance from Hannah Jadagu. Jadagu is a Texas native that relocated to New York City to pursue a degree in music business at NYU. Like me, this was her first SXSW, and she did not disappoint. Jadagu, accompanied by Garrett on bass and Jacob on the drums, performed a series of chill bedroom pop songs, including a new song entitled “Say It Now.” Hannah Jadagu would be perfect for fans of Clairo and Girl in Red.
After a short break, Joseph began their performance at 4:00 p.m. to an enthusiastic crowd. Joseph is a folk band from Portland, Oregon, and is composed of sisters Natalie Closner Schepman, Alison Closner, and Meegan Closner. (Alison and Meegan are twins.) I have had the pleasure of seeing them live pre-pandemic, and this performance was equally as scintillating. One of their strongest traits as artists is their blood harmony, but their songwriting, which covers a wide range of topics, from anxiety to Love Island, is a close second. I would recommend their music to anyone who is a fan of Haim.
Geese is a five-piece rock band based in Brooklyn, New York. They began their set with an explosive first song and kept the energy high throughout the remainder of their set. Their debut album, Projector, debuted in the final quarter of 2021 to high praise, and as they performed, I can definitely understand the praise. I particularly enjoyed the lead singer’s wide vocal range, which added different flavors to the songs he performed. If you are interested in checking out modern rock and roll bands, I would recommend that you check out Geese!
Sunflower Bean is a rock band from Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York, composed of three musicians. They are releasing a new album, Headful of Sugar, on May 6 and they played a few songs from their upcoming release, such as “Who Put You Up to This?”, their first single from the project. They also performed “Roll the Dice,” which was released last week. All three performers are electric on stage and have put a fresh spin on rock and roll. We had to leave after Sunflower Bean, and felt that they were a very strong performance to end the night for us.
Featured Image by Tiara Allen
By Hannah Walls
Web Content Contributor
If you’re anything like me, the recent daylight saving “spring forward” was much needed and really lifted me out of my winter funk. When I heard about the Sunshine Protection Act that was passed by the Senate recently, I was pretty happy about the concept of permanent daylight saving time, and, of course, a little curious. What exactly would the passage of this bill mean, and why do we have daylight saving time in the first place?
The history of daylight saving time actually surprised me. I figured it had to do mostly with farming as I had always heard, and that it was a worldwide thing.
It turns out the first official idea for modern daylight saving time came from an entomologist in New Zealand, who suggested a two-hour time shift so that he would have more time to go hunting for bugs in the summer.
In 1918, the United States adopted daylight saving time in the hopes that an extra hour of sunlight in the evening would encourage people to use less energy. However, after World War I, observing daylight saving time was left up to state governments. This is why Hawaii and Arizona currently do not practice daylight saving time.
I definitely see some benefits to the Sunshine Protection Act’s intention to set permanent daylight saving time. Leaving work or class in the evening and already being faced with complete darkness was certainly a hit to my morale during the winter, and it has even been suggested by medical professionals that “falling back” worsens symptoms of seasonal depression for some.
In general, the process of moving between standard time and daylight saving time twice a year has the potential to mess with our natural circadian rhythms and lead to mental and physical health issues.
If we look at the issue from an economic standpoint, I feel like people, including myself, are much more inclined to go out to restaurants, stores, or other activities in the evenings when it is still light out, as it still feels like I have some of my day left to burn.
On the other side of this debate, extra sunlight in the evenings means morning commutes to school and work would remain in darkness. Some have expressed concern for this reason, like parents that don’t want their children waiting for the bus in the dark year-round.
In addition, it’s been pointed out that when the United States attempted permanent daylight saving time in the 1970s, it was incredibly unpopular and only lasted two years.
Social media users have also criticized the bill for even being considered at this time, as there are many other issues right now that would probably be a better use of time and resources. I like soaking up the sun just as much as the next person, but I think I like the idea of potentially making a living wage a little bit more.
The Sunshine Protection Act would make daylight saving time the norm starting in November 2023, so the four months of setting clocks back to standard time that is usually observed from November to March would be eliminated.
But for now, the bill has unanimously passed through the Senate, and will now have to make its way through the House of Representatives and be signed off on by President Biden for it to be enacted.
Featured Image by Hannah Walls
By Preethi Mangadu
Web Content Contributor
Over twenty reports of tornadoes were received from Central Texas after a severe weather outbreak emerged on Monday, March 21, 2022. Many counties and cities were affected, including Austin, Round Rock, and College Station areas.
On Tuesday, March 22, 2022, Gov. Greg Abbott declared a severe weather disaster declaration for 16 counties across Texas.
In a press conference, Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said two tornados were suspected to have touched down near Round Rock and Jarell. The tornado in Round Rock was said to have come down at the intersection of Interstate 35 and State Highway 45 and traveled for 24 miles.
According to Round Rock Police Chief Allen Banks, there was “severe structural damage” due to the suspected tornado but no known deaths or serious injuries in Round Rock.
One death was confirmed in Grayson County on Tuesday morning. The victim was Viranda Rodgers, a 73-year-old woman whose home on Sherwood Shores was destroyed.
Many businesses and homes were hit and damaged because of the suspected tornados. In Williamson County alone, at least 1,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.
Around 50,000 customers in Texas were also left without power on Monday according to PowerOutage.us.
Many counties in Texas were under a tornado watch including Gillespie County, Hays County, Bastrop County, Caldwell County, Lee County, Blanco County, Travis County, Llano County, Burnet County, Williamson County, and more.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has sent out teams to four areas in Texas to survey the damage. According to preliminary data, the suspected tornado’s damage in Round Rock indicates the strength of an EF 2. Nonetheless, the majority of damage supports the strength of an EF 1.
During a news conference on Monday, Gov. Abbott said that the damage was “devastating” and that the state of Texas will stand “shoulder to shoulder” with those who have been affected.
The severe weather outbreak has passed in Texas, but in now throughout the Deep South. A tornado touched down in New Orleans on Tuesday night and heavily damaged homes, killed at least one person, prompted search and rescues for those trapped in homes, and caused power outages.
The parent storm is said to moved to the southeast on Wednesday with thunderstorms and a slight risk for severe weather. For more information, visit the NWS website.
Featured Image by Preethi Mangadu
By McKenna Wells
Local Music Director
Thursday and Friday at Precision Camera & Film was full of music as they put on the Take a Shot showcase. Canon was lending out cameras so people could come and practice their concert photography skills. Not only was I able to go support local artists but I was able to capture them much better than my iPhone eight could even dream possible.
I was only able to attend this showcase for the second day, and I am so happy I didn’t miss it. The first artist up today was Austin local, Tombus. It was just him and his synthesizer, but he made up for it with his stage presence. Despite there being only a few of us in the room at the beginning of his set, he sang and danced as if it were his headlining tour. He played us some music he has out on streaming services as well as some new songs that are not out like “Near You,” that he wrote about being apart from his girlfriend.
With the ’80s commercial compilation projected behind him, Tombus put on a great show that left us all wanting to dance. He finished his set by telling us he is having a music release show at Swan Dive in Austin, April 30th. If ’80s synth-pop is your thing, Tombus is your guy.
The next artist to play was the only one who wasn’t local to the area. Grunge band, Ciudadanos, from Chile were next to the stage. The four-piece was in Austin for their first year at SXSW as official artists. They began their set with some upbeat rock music that I really took a liking to. They sang in Spanish so I didn’t know what they were saying but I danced along anyway.
The third artist was the reason I knew about this showcase in the first place and her name is Grace Womack. Womack put out her first EP, Yellow Cowboy Hat, last August and let me tell you, it is phenomenal. With the way that she performed today, you would never be able to tell that her first live show ever was only a week ago. She played us some new, unreleased songs like the Fleetwood Mac inspired “When You Come Around,” as well as a cover of Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets.”
Grace Womack at Precision Camera & Video To end her set, she put on her yellow cowboy hat to play the party song with the same name. With her soulful voice and beautiful songwriting, Womack makes music that anyone would love. Catch her next show March 29th at the Ballroom, you will not want to miss it.
Finally, The Tiarras took to the stage. The Tiarras are an Austin-based, all-female, Latina sibling band. The trio played powerful rock music that made everyone excited. They had plenty of loved ones in the audience as well as quite a few photographers grooving along to their music. These girls played with so much passion and you can really see how much they love doing what they do. Despite coming from a week of SXSW shows, they gave us all they had and I had such a fun time listening.
Little shows like this make me feel so lucky to be able to be a part of these local artist’s audiences. This week of shows and today at the Take a Shot showcase has shown me just how much talent comes from our area and how important it is to tune in.
Featured Image by McKenna Wells
By McKenna Wells
Local Music Director
The showcase that Texas Emo Club put on at the Ballroom at Spider House was hands down the event I was most looking forward to covering for SXSW 2022 and let me say, I was not wrong to do so. As a self-proclaimed emo kid myself, I put on my fishnets and worn-out doc martens and headed to Austin Wednesday morning.
The first band I saw upon arrival was The 27s from Los Angeles. They almost immediately covered Good Charloette’s “The Anthem” and I knew it was going to be a great day. Throughout the day, there were a variety of alternative artists of different sounds coming from the inside stage as well as the outside stage. There were some with a more rock-rap sound like The 27s, a bit of post-hardcore from Minnesota band, Niiice, as well as some more indie sounding from bands like Mini Trees or Frailstate. No matter the sound, I was impressed with all the artists that played in this showcase.
What I was most excited about were the local artists playing in these shows. Two of my favorite performers of the day were Austin-based artists. First being Chancla Fight Club. Frontwoman Ashley Dawson gave the most exciting performance I had seen in a long time. She was full of energy, hopped off the stage multiple times to interact with the audience and let me sing a bit of Paramore’s “Ignorance” with her. Near the end of the band’s set, Dawson pulled out a flute and played an epic solo along with working a synthesizer throughout their show. Once they finished their set, a member of Chancla Fight Club’s team coached us in the audience to sing Happy Birthday to Dawson as they packed up.
Another one of my favorites was the last act of the night, Demi the Daredevil. There was a lot of love coming from fans as well as from the band. Demi the Daredevil A.K.A. Jeff Azar had a lot of loved ones in attendance, which included one little boy who couldn’t have been older than ten who moshed for the whole set. Azar jumped off the stage multiple times to hand his fans the mic to sing with him. The fun pop-punk sound and immaculate vibes from everyone around made dancing along easy. Demi the Daredevil have definitely earned themselves a fan in me.
Once all 16 bands played their sets, it was time for the emo silent disco. I had never experienced anything like it. Once we were all gathered in front of the main stage, headphones were given out that would switch colors depending on the channel you were plugged into. I was able to switch between three different DJs all playing legendary emo jams. There is something so funny about the sound of dozens of people partying in silence once you take the headphones off. We all listened on our own until The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” came on and the whole venue erupted into song. It was the most bizarre experience but let me tell you, I had so much fun. My neck still hurts from the dancing almost 24 hours later.
Headphones used for
the silent disco on Thursday, March 17th.
Overall, spending my day with Texas Emo Club was one of the most entertaining live shows I have ever attended. Here is a playlist with all the sick bands who played for anyone who would like to channel their inner emo with me! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6IhnNWdHgQEDlzpIboeMoL?si=dd89ddaefaec40bc
Featured Image by McKenna Wells
By McKenna Wells
Local Music Director
Country music isn’t what most would associate with SXSW music festival but, Monday night at the Blind Pig Pub would have changed your mind. I was fortunate enough to able to see Austin band, Mike and the Moonpies headline for KOKE FM’s rooftop showcase.
Mike and the Moonpies frontman, Mike Harmeier started the band in 2007 and they have since released eight albums including Cheap Silver and Solid Country Gold, which was recorded at Abbey Road Studio with the London Symphony Orchestra as well as the most recent One to Grow On, which Rolling Stone magazine labeled one of the best country albums of 2021. This was my third time seeing the Moonpies within the last few months and it was their best show yet.
The band took to the stage around 11 p.m. after a long day of acoustic sets at the Blind Pig Pub, closely following Cody Hibbard and Triston Marez and were quick to raise the energy in the room. Opening the show with upbeat, Johnny Paycheck inspired, “Paycheck to Paycheck,” fans and loved ones packed around the rooftop stage. The room was soon filled with cowboy hats and boots wearing country music fans. The next hour and a half consisted of good music, two-stepping, and lots of love from the band and fans alike.
As the night progressed, Mike and the Moonpies played a delightful mix of new and old songs, alike. Early in the set, the band played the title track to their 2018 album, “Steak Night at the Prairie Rose,” which was written about Harmeier’s father getting him his first gig at age 14. The song has since become much more of an emotional part of the Moonpie’s set since the loss of Harmeier’s father in late 2021. “Smoke ‘Em If You Got ‘Em” and “Road Crew” proved to be crowd favorites as both songs had the whole venue yelling along with the band by the end of them. Even those in attendance who had never heard of Mike and the Moonpies were able to sing along to their cover of Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson’s beloved “Pancho and Lefty.”
While performing, the Moonpies don’t say much in between songs but their stage presence tells you everything you need to know. Bassist Omar Oyoque really knows how to get the crowd just as excited about the music as he is. With the intimacy of the venue and the energy of the band, those of us watching were still wide awake when the show ended at almost 1 a.m.
Harmeier ended the show thanking the audience for making it “the best night on 6th street that [he] can remember.” Mike and the Moonpies were due leave for their High Five, five-show tour in Colorado the next day. It is safe to say that they stole the hearts of some new fans as well as playing another unforgettable show for the rest of us.
If you are a country music fan or have a soft spot for good steel guitar like me, I cannot recommend Mike and the Moonpies enough. Listen to Mike and the Moonpies on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0t1sRNhzk7wIfWSvjD87vi
Featured Image by McKenna Wells
By Rasika Gasti
News Reporter
Sitting erect in a quiet place and feeling a grounding presence has become a part of a routine for many college students, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Some Texas State students have tried it and experienced the benefits of yoga and meditation in all aspects of their life.
In the U.S., yoga and meditation has become the most common mind and body practice over the past decade. According to CDC, people practicing yoga have increased from 9.5% in 2012 to 14.3% in 2017, while the number of people using meditation has increased from 4.1% in 2012 to 14.2% in 2017. College students, along with other U.S. adults aged 18-44, are especially more interested in practicing yoga and meditation as it has proven to ensure general wellness as well as aid in memory and focus.
Charles Williams, a social work junior at Texas State University, started practicing meditation in 2015 to deal with his anger problem. However, eventually, he experienced benefits in academics and his day-to-day life.
Texas State social work junior Charles Williams practices mediation on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, on Texas State campus. “It definitely helped me become more alert. I’m always aware of my surroundings,” Williams said. “If I have an exam with multiple-choice, it helps me to take away the two wrong answers. That way, I know that the last two standing is one of the right answers. So, it definitely helps a lot.”
Such benefits come as a result of managing various stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, that are responsible for making us inefficient in our tasks. Which is why, Victoria “Sunshine” Torres, a public health education and promotion first year grad student at Texas State, believes that the practice of mediation helped her to manage all the stresses as an undergraduate student.
“We might want to quit certain clubs, or we might feel overwhelmed with our classes. Oh, should I drop this class?” Torres said. “But during my undergraduate, I had stress, but I was able to manage it to a point where it wasn’t over-consuming my life to where I wanted to quit things. So, it really gave me that resilience and it helped me stay nourished throughout my undergraduate.”
In addition to academics, students are also able to perform better in their major-related activities. As a musical theatre sophomore at Texas State, Ana Paula Monterrubio has experienced that with regular practice of yoga and meditation, she is able to ignore the internal noise in her mind and focus on her performance instead.
A woman practices yoga while sitting on a floor and bending forward to touch her toes. “It’s musical theater. It’s a lot of performance-based, and you are put there in the middle of a room and you have to sing, and you have to dance,” Monterrubio said. “And so often being surrounded by people that are so much talented, you get so invested in your head and it’s this negative self-talk of like, oh my gosh, I’m horrible, I’m not talented. So, meditation is really allowed me to take a step back and be like, this is not you who is thinking these things, and this doesn’t need to affect you.”
Victoria Torres is also a former yoga teacher at the Texas State Recreation Center. She looks forward to following her passion “to help other people relax” and support college students who are usually stressed because of school or work.
“And I want to return back to it and increase resources for students with yoga and meditation,” Torres said. “Whether that’s implementing yoga in schools for K through 12 or implementing more yoga programs in universities, because our adolescents and our college students, those are both too high need populations, especially after this pandemic.”
Students like Charles, Ana and Victoria have benefited so much from the practice of yoga and meditation that they want to keep up with their practice and grow further. This practice is what brings them peace and comfort in the midst of all the chaos around them.
“Meditation is my peace of mind. It helps me get rid of yesterday and get ready for the next day,” Williams said.
“With the craziness that was happening in the world, it was very comforting to know that I could come back to meditation and, that would always be there for me because I will always be here for me,” Monterrubio said.
Featured Image by Rasika Gasti
By Jordan Young
Rap R&B Director
SXSW has become an event for affluent millennials and older to party under the guise of networking. As I walked the streets of downtown Austin, the sight of middle-aged white men and women in business attire became a common theme. I would be lying if I told you I didn’t anticipate that SXSW would lack diversity, However, the lack of college-age kids in a city that houses Texas’s flagship institution I didn’t expect.
As I waited In line for an event hosted by SoundCloud (the Next Wav) to promote up-and-coming artists, answers to my many concerns revealed themselves through the actions of one lady. She first asked if the line was for “standard People,” after no replies due to the bougie-ness in her voice, she proceeded to cut in line because SHE had a premium pass.
Now, In her defense, if I paid over 2000 dollars for a pass, I might have the same attitude. However, the piece of plastic around that woman’s neck is the reason for the lack of diversity and youth at SXSW. Minorities and young people have been priced out of SXSW, fitting for an event in Austin. The festival holds panels such as “the growth of the cannabis industry” without any mention of the irony surrounding a room full of rich people discussing ways to profit off an industry that still places African American males in prison at a higher rate than others.
Nevertheless, once inside, I took full advantage of the free drinks from the bar as I watched a performance from Monaleo. The event did not allow many people in forcing an intimate setting, a challenge for a newer artist who didn’t have many fans in the room. However, Monaleo showed me and the audience why she deserved to headline the next wave event. The 20-year-old rapper from Houston brought energy and swag to the stage from the moment she stepped on it; she turned a crowd of industry people into fans.
Monaleo at ‘SoundCloud Next Wav’ on March 14th, 2022 at SXSW. People who had never met before were dancing together, creating a welcoming atmosphere. My favorite moment of the day came when she played her hit single “Beating Down Yo Block” two girls jumped on stage and left no crumbs. They didn’t just rap the lyrics; they came to perform and shut the stage down. Needless to say, Monaleo isn’t going away anytime soon, and the next time I see her, it won’t be for a next wave event; she will be the wave.
The next event had live blues music which brings memories of my childhood of road trips with my grandparents to mind. We made our way through the streets of Austin and the endless incline that starts after 7th street. With tired calves and a forehead dripping with sweat, we arrived in a neighborhood with facades covered by beautiful black faces. As we continued further, the smell of BBQ wafted through the air.
Home of the Black Artist Matter mural, on 11th street, the crowd got darker and the music became louder. I now inhabited an area that differed from downtown, full of dress pants and button-downs. Unfortunately, in true Jordan fashion, I forgot to RSVP, so we didn’t get to partake in the beautiful display of black art taking place inside. However, the sore calves were worth seeing the fleeting culture by black Austinites, which is unfortunate because Austin is home to the only HBCU (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) in hill country (Huston-Tillotson University).
For generations, the city has been a safe haven for a black artist to be free; Hopefully, the community can find ways to grow and thrive under immense financial pressure due to the influx of tech companies driving up the price of real estate.
Following the blanket of culture that consumed me in East Austin, we headed back downtown on scooters to end the night in true Texas fashion. Our next stop might have you questioning my concerns about diversity in the beginning. Regardless, my ears couldn’t ignore the sound of country music echoing through sixth street. After showing our IDs, Bandera Barter and I walked the numerous stairs up to the roof. Once we entered the room, I didn’t anticipate seeing some of my KTSW colleagues, since country music isn’t really our beat, However, seeing them continued the elevation of the night, which hit its peak after an amazing performance from Mike and the Moonpies. It featured some of the best slide guitar play I’ve ever seen.
Mike and the Moonpies on March 14th, 2022 at SXSW. Much like Monaleos performance, many in the crowd didn’t know their music, but the energy and musicianship displayed in front of us made me and others fans after watching. That’s the beauty of SXSW and Austin in general. You can go from an event showcasing new rappers with Mike and Holly from HR to being overcome by the breathtaking black art in East Austin to partying to country music at Blind Pigs Pub.
In each space, I never had to dim my light. I could be the gay black man with painted nails in each setting, and that is what SXSW & Austin as a community represents the freedom to be yourself no matter where you are.
Featured Image by Jordan Young
By Celeste Parler
Web Content Contributor
Scrolling through Tiktok for the last couple of months has highlighted a striking trend to me. It seems like I cannot go five minutes on social media without being updated on the latest news about the latest trending celebrity couple. The constant supply of ongoing celebrity couple drama has the general population polarized. Some young people dedicate entire social media accounts to celebrity couples they will never meet while the more cynical associate celebrity gossip with a lack of intelligence.
Whether you like it or not, we are in a new golden age of celebrity relationships. Think about all of the couples that are currently in the public eye. Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly, Rihanna and ASAP Rocky and Zendaya and Tom Holland are just a few. The craze of celebrity couples is nothing new to popular culture. 15 to 25 years ago, the media closely followed couples like Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake or Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt. With a resurgence in Y2K trends in the last couple of years, it’s possible to theorize the resurgence of celebrity couples is due to the cyclical nature of these pop culture trends.
Celebrities have been central to our pop culture for decades, but in the late 20th century a new type of “celebrity culture” arose. Celebrity culture refers to the new close proximity of the lives of celebrities to ours. The emergence of celebrity culture was due to an increasing amount of outlets of mass media including television and the Internet. Celebrities are no longer commodified solely for their work. All personal matters become publicized and branded for a larger audience, including romantic relationships. Celebrity couples are not just relationships, they are items.
Not to mention the modern age of influencers and social media stars redefines who is considered a celebrity. Average people can become celebrities virtually overnight and have their lives promoted to the entire world. Moreover, the revealing nature of social media exposes the public to even more personal information about the celebrities we follow (some would argue too much information). The pandemic had an enormous impact on redefining celebrity culture by exposing the out-of-touch nature of the privileged and famous. When the pandemic had us all assessing what was important to us, we were forced to re-evaluate the role of celebrities in our daily lives.
The discussion of the roles of celebrities brought rise to the dialogue of parasocial relationships. According to Dictonary.com, parasocial relationships are one-sided relationships where one person imagines having a bond with another person whom they do not actually know. Despite knowing the personal details of celebrities and their romantic relationships, they have no idea who we are. In these parasocial relationships, people idealize and wholeheartedly support celebrities because they feel like these people are a genuine part of their life.
The objective of the discussion around parasocial relationships was to answer if growing these attachments to celebrities was damaging to mental health. When parasocial relationships become obsessive and compulsive, manic fans can do more harm than good to their favorite celebrities. So when does following a celebrity and their love life cross the line? Does loving celebrity drama reflect our character and our internal struggles?
In most cases, we don’t obsess over celebrity couples for the wrong reasons. There is a healthy moderation between our real lives and following the celebrities we place on pedestals. Our need for connection is fulfilled by the people around us instead of people that are well outside our social circle. Also, parasocial relationships are not inherently a sign of loneliness or being mentally unwell. Sometimes they can act to broaden and strengthen our real-life relationships.
Nevertheless, we love celebrity couples because they provide an escape from our normal environments. Let’s be honest, the drama we see unfold on social media and in magazines is far outside the norms for our usual relationships. The action and suspense of these larger-than-life situations draw us in and make us feel connected to the people around us for the fact we have experienced this together.
The media embraces celebrity couples for the conversation they stir up. Any time a couple comments to the press, a journalist whips up a story in minutes and that has us all talking. Celebrity couples can also be the source of deeper social commentary. For example, when celebrities are exposed for cheating on their significant other, people tend to look for answers or viable explanations. Except, we will never know the full story.
It is in our human nature to follow people our society considers leaders or authority figures in popular culture. In some ways, celebrity couples can subconsciously influence the way we perceive romantic relationships should function. We hear the latest news about Tom Holland and Zendaya and daydream about the way they interact with each other, wishing that could be us. Celebrities are all about fantasy, and their relationships embody fantasy.
As previously mentioned, modern celebrity culture has transformed celebrity relationships into items for the public to consume and criticize. Regardless of the morality of how accessible celebrities and their private matters are to the public, the fact is that this golden age of celebrity couples is here to stay.
Featured Image by Celeste Parler.
By Mikayla Anding
Web Content Contributor
The Texas State University Strutters visited Florida to perform at Disney World for its 50th anniversary and the Sunbelt Conference Championships to support our bobcats the week of Feb. 27.
The Strutters have been known to travel the world for performances. Just two years ago, the Strutters opened the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. Last year, the team was unable to travel due to COVID-19, but this 100-women team was back on an airplane this year to perform in two different events in Florida.
The Strutters arrived in Orlando on Feb. 27 to perform in Disney World the next day. The stage they performed on was set in Disney Springs. The team performed a half-hour show that consisted of many different routines and a variety of dance genres. They obtained a large crowd of Disney World guests and families.
Strutters Head Chaplain Nevada Torres said she enjoyed the opportunity to perform during the 50th anniversary of Disney World with the team.
“I loved being able to represent Texas State well and proudly, even though we were so far away from the university,” Torres said. “Mostly, I just loved being around the team and sharing such special and sacred memories with everyone.”
While the Strutters were there primarily to perform, they were also able to spend time in the Disney parks for the three days they were in Orlando.
“My favorite part was sharing my excitement about Disney movies with my best friends,” said third year Strutter and Assistant Pom Leader Ashley Mann. “Performing there was a good and fun experience.”
Ashley Mann with three of her friends in Animal Kingdom of Disney World, in front of the land inspired by Avatar, Pandora. The next stop of the Strutters’ trip was Pensacola, which they traveled to by bus on March 1st. There, the Strutters performed their team routine on March 2nd at one of the women’s basketball games in the Sunbelt Conference Championship. The Strutters had the chance to cheer on the Bobcats away from home and perform at halftime, in front of basketball fans from around the nation including Texas State President Denise Trauth and Athletics Director Don Corryel.
A few members of the Strutters Pom Squad also had the opportunity to cheer for the Bobcats from the sidelines throughout the Sunbelt Conference Championships. Strutter Lieutenant Sarah Smith was one of the six Pom Squad members chosen to dance on the sidelines and during timeouts for the championship games.
“Being able to cheer with Pom in Pensacola was an amazing experience I will never forget,” Smith said. “I love being able to cheer on the Bobcats everywhere I go!”
At Pensacola, the Strutters had some free time together after their performance until they left the morning of March 5th. There, Strutters spent time on the beach, went to local restaurants, and had opportunities to bond with their teammates.
“My favorite part about Pensacola was getting to hang out on the beach with all of my friends,” said Strutter Head Captain Abby Cartwright. “We got to relax and have a good time as teammates which doesn’t happen very often!”
Strutters Head Captain Abby Cartwright (middle) with her fellow captains on the beach in Pensacola. The Strutters had a successful trip and two very successful performances, then came back to San Marcos on March 5th to go right into another performance at Texas State on March 6th. Their next performance is their annual Spring Spectacular. To buy tickets, visit here. To learn more about the Strutters and see more of their trip experiences, follow their Instagram @txststrutters.
Featured Image by Mikayla Anding
By Hannah Brown
Web Content Contributor
Among the bold colors and big hair, the 1980s are synonymous with retro gaming, questionable fashion and “The Empire Strikes Back.”
Often referred to as the decade of greed, it began with the election of Ronald Reagan and the highly anticipated royal wedding of Lady Diana and Prince Charles. In 1983, the first mobile phones were introduced to the United States and Microsoft released their word processing program, “Word.” And in 1986, the U.S. got front row seats to witness the Challenger disaster and the Chernobyl disaster in the USSR.
What happened in the 1980s? Check out this in-depth view from The People History of all things big and small that happened during the decade.
Dubbed for its pop culture and consumerism – this decade’s top-notch nostalgia continues to pop up over thirty years later.
Gaming
In the early ’80s, Pac-Man, Frogger, Joust and Donkey Kong were a few of the most recognizable arcade-style video games introduced at the time. The dark-lit arcades with fluorescent carpet home to kids with pockets full of quarters were considered primetime entertainment.
What started as a multi-billion-dollar industry in the first few years of the 80s and was known as the golden era of arcade games, the arcade peak diminished with the surplus of home gaming consoles like the NES, Sega Master and Atari 7800.
The video game crash of 1983, which was caused by the market saturation of poor-quality console games, significantly affected Atari, who succumbed to their own downfall of mediocre games. Nintendo would end up dominating the market later in 1988.
While classic arcades may be hard to stumble across today, their rooms full of retro machines surrounded by movie posters and options for free play let you leave the quarters at home for a modern experience while still feeling like you’re a kid in the ’80s.
Movies
This golden decade of film arguably gave us more classics than any other. Its attempt to supersede the blockbuster hits of the 70s with “The Godfather” and “Jaws,” directors like Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese continued to search for success with their intricate scripts and characters, relying less on special effects.
We got to see the blossoming romance in “When Harry Met Sally,” the haunting slow build to insanity from “The Shining” and the comedic ghost hunting ensemble found in “Ghostbusters.” And no homage to the 80s would be complete without mentioning John Hughes and his archetypal teen films like “Sixteen Candles” or “Pretty in Pink.”
Check out this recent article from Rolling Stone of The 100 Greatest Movies of the 1980s.
Teen magazines like Teen Beat and SuperTeen highlighted the heartthrobs of the decade. Celebrities like Michael J. Fox sported the cover wearing acid wash jeans, a white tee and fanny pack around the release of “Back to the Future.” Teen idols Rob Lowe (The Outsiders), Tom Cruise (Top Gun), John Stamos (Full House) and Ralph Macchio (The Karate Kid) were no strangers to the neon printed covers.
Fashion
Spandex, shoulder pads and statement accessories paired with blue eyeshadow, teased hair and Aqua Net hairspray made for a decade full of unforgettable fashion trends.
Taking from the ’70s fitness-wear, Jane Fonda corrupted the world with her jazzercise videos wearing neon leotards, leg warmers and sweatbands. Opposite of what we tend to associate with the bright and bold of the ’80s, the term “power dressing” was also attached to the decade for working women wearing tailored suits with shoulder pads.
Other fashion staples such as jelly shoes and fingerless gloves were far off from the inspiration, we saw from fashion icons like Princess Diana who rocked athleisure or Molly Ringwald whose high-waisted denim and oversized florals inspired teens throughout the decade.
This Fashion History Timeline can give you a good visual of all the top trends and icons.
Get an in-depth look at The 1980s: American Pop Culture History from Retrowaste, with can also give you an insight into the sports, music, toys and cars that made the decade.
Featured Image by Hannah Brown.
By Preethi Mangadu
Web Content Contributor
“Texas State: Big Ideas”, a media campaign sponsored by Texas Monthly, has won gold at the inaugural Anthem Awards, The Webby’s latest endeavor.
This campaign is a collaboration between Texas State University and Texas Monthly that features groundbreaking research initiatives done by Texas State professors and students. The research highlighted extends through various fields such as data science, computational medicine, forensic anthropology, STEM education, public health, biomedicine, and more.
The objective of “Texas State: Big Ideas” was to raise awareness of the research that is done by professors and students and has worldwide impacts. The campaign also featured the 42% of first-generation students who were involved in the spotlighted research.
Because of native articles posted on TexasMonthly.com and the printed version of the campaign, “Texas State: Big Ideas” has garnered over sixty thousand engagements and two million impressions.
This collaboration won gold in the Partnership or Collaboration Awareness (For Profit) sub-category under the Education, Art, & Culture category. According to anthemawards.com, the category is for “a partnership or collaboration between or two or more organizations, individuals or entities to raise awareness for an Education, Art, & Culture cause. Programs could include; events, products, performances, film or video series, or a fundraising campaign.”
The Anthem Awards, as a whole, is to emphasize physical and digital social work by awarding organizations, brands, and individuals who are currently creating meaningful impacts worldwide.
The categories that they have are Education, Art, & Culture; Health; Responsible Technology; Human & Civil Rights; Humanitarian Action & Services; Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion; and Sustainability, Environment, & Climate.
Because of the pandemic, the first Anthem Awards Ceremony was virtual and hosted by Jay Ellis of HBO’s “Insecure”, “Top Gun: Maverick”, and “The Untold Story: Policing podcast.” The ceremony also launched a new tradition called the Call To Action speech, where winners will present their call to action speeches.
For more information about the award, visit the Anthem Awards website.
Featured Image by Preethi Mangadu from anthemawards.com
By Jared Dudley
Music Journalist
On Wednesday, March 2nd, video game and music fans alike joined together in a collective double-take at the news of video game behemoth Epic Games’ purchase of indie music storefront, Bandcamp. Bandcamp, beloved for its equitable share of profits given to music artists and labels, prided itself on being a small, independent storefront for small, independent musicians. Since its founding in 2008, this image of acting as an alternate, more ethical method of buying music has been the nucleus of Bandcamp’s branding.
Without a doubt, the service has lived up to this lofty goal. The money artists receive from music and merchandise sales on Bandcamp are significantly higher than the revenue they receive from any competing streaming service. While Epic Games’ acquisition of Bandcamp will certainly not bring an end to the company’s trademark revenue share, at least not any time soon, it does signal the progression of a troubling trend across all forms of digital media.
For years, fans of video games have been no stranger to corporate consolidation. Media industries have always been run predominantly by a small handful of corporations, but the practice of game development studios and publishers being purchased by a larger entity has recently made headlines that have caught the attention of people with only a tangential interest in the current business trends of video games. With Bandcamp, the consolidation streak has now crossed media boundaries.
The purchase of Bandcamp is also significant because the company was acquired by Epic Games which, despite the name, has an executive board with stated intentions to become an all-encompassing media enterprise.
In 2017, Epic became known by most as “The Fortnite Company” after the game’s battle royale mode was released and the game quickly rose to an unprecedented level of popularity. Since then, the company has pivoted to turning Fortnite into an evolving online platform instead of just a game where 100 players shoot each other on an island. They began hosting special in-game events based off real-life experiences, most notably concert performances by popular artists like Travis Scott and Ariana Grande.
With the success of these events, Epic has had an increased interest in branching out into hosting content through another form of media. The purchase of Bandcamp looks to be their first major step.
While Bandcamp CEO, Ethan Diamond, announced the deal on social media with unbridled optimism, stating he was happy to be joining a company that he saw as “champions for a fair and open internet,” the statement was not received well by the broad fanbase of independent music. Many saw it as a betrayal to the values the company was founded on and has upheld despite the music industry’s trend towards paying for music via a monthly subscription.
One user on Twitter even pointed out the irony of a quote Bandcamp displays on their website praising the company for not selling out to a media conglomerate.
I keep waiting for Bandcamp to implode due to some greedy exec’s mishandling or sell out to some media conglomerate and completely change like every other seemingly progressive business venue I’ve ever liked on the internet and instead they keep being awesome.
A large part of the appeal of Bandcamp was the store being privately owned, meaning it was not on the stock market nor beholden to the whims of executives whose only interest was to keep majority shareholders happy. The focus has always been on creating a fair marketplace for musicians and listeners. Epic now has the power to make the service more profitable, in turn leaving less money for the artists.
This worry is not unfounded either, due to Epic previously stirring up controversy with their own online marketplace, the Epic Games Store. In 2019, Epic was accused of leveraging the popularity of Fortnite, and the incredible fortune the company amassed, to secure deals to release computer versions of highly anticipated video games exclusively on their store. These moves were criticized for being an anti-consumer choice and garnered widespread backlash.
Bandcamp has always hosted exclusive music, but this has been at the discretion of the artist. Independent musicians flocked to the digital store because it was equitable, not because they signed an exclusivity agreement to the tune of millions of dollars. Deals like this would not be inherently bad, the artists would get paid and have their music exclusive to a great platform, but it would mean Epic having a greater influence on how the store is run.
Another concern pertains to the possibility of Bandcamp endeavoring in the NFT space. Epic has expressed interest in hosting blockchain games on their storefront, and if they decide to go all-in, Bandcamp may be forced to sell album NFTs.
Non-Fungible Tokens have been widely criticized for their part in a financial system that is a main contributor to climate change. In addition, online artists have had their works stolen, turned into NFTs, and sold on blockchain websites without their permission. Incorporating the blockchain onto Bandcamp would be seen as dubious to say the least, but the decision is now Epic’s to make.
Altogether, the acquisition gives reason for scrutiny, but it is far from a death knell for Bandcamp. Because company mergers of this size usually take over a year to finalize, we will not see the effects of new ownership for quite some time.
For now, Bandcamp remains the best place to buy and listen to music digitally. Hopefully, it stays that way.
Featured Image by Jared Dudley
By Ashley Farnie and Christian Villarreal
Music Director and Assistant Music Director
Welcome to another episode of San Marcos Sounds. In this episode Christian, Ashley, and Kyle talk about the SXSW festival. They will talk about events they plan on covering their plans for the festival.
Featured Image by KTSW Multimedia
By Hannah Brown
Web Content Contributor
*This article contains spoilers for both seasons of “Euphoria” *
The television discourse has been fully occupied with all things “Euphoria” since the launch of its second season earlier this year. With an endless number of references littered throughout my social media feeds, and the season two finale already out on HBO, I decided to binge both seasons.
Coming from someone who didn’t tune in for Euphoria Sunday, my knowledge of the teen drama was underlined with misguided glorifications and twisted depictions using underage characters. And of course, Zendaya and Jacob Elordi.
After watching the show, I understand how its efforts were in the best interest of being able to really get to know the characters. The incredible lighting, colors and overall cinematography partnered with the actors and themes to create its own unique “aesthetic” and tone added to the overall experience of the show, which in my opinion is to understand its characters.
A Rundown on Enneagrams:
An Enneagram is a system of personality typing of the psyche, with a model showing us the connection of nine personality types: Reformer, Mentor, Achiever, Designer, Investigator, Troubleshooter, Enthusiast, Challenger and Peacemaker.
The Enneagram System This visual helps us identify our archetype and get a better understanding in relating our behavior with modern psychology. Having both self-awareness (what we think and feel) and self-knowledge (understanding why) is beneficial for anyone seeking personal growth.
Our type is made up of our inner core and our primal motivations which is why our Enneagram does not change. Throughout our life, our surroundings and experiences can have their own influences on our personalities. We are all made up of every single type. We have our type that we will always resonate with, and throughout our life our connections and closeness with the other eight can vary.
Especially during its earlier episodes, it was easy to get into the mind of the character. Below is my take on matching five prominent characters to their type and why:
Rue Bennett: Type Four – The Individualist
I believe that Rue is a type four often mistaken as a type nine. Her battles with mental illness mixed with her self-isolation, sarcasm and moody behavior lead me to think that she doesn’t see the world through rose-colored glasses.
Her relationships with her family, Jules and Fezco show her caring and protective side. And what makes her a type four is that she isn’t detached from her feelings. She’s aware of the way she feels in any situation. Rue’s continual challenge is her quest to find meaning in her life and fix her underlying issues from her past so that she can stop self-medicating and finally stay sober.
Fezco: Type Nine – The Peacemaker
While Fez was first introduced selling drugs to Rue, he became a favorite when he showed his support for her journey to sobriety. We see his brotherly affection to steer her on the right path several times during the first two seasons, whether by refusing to sell to her, convincing her to quit or rejecting her business offer in season two. Type nines want to support others and create peace and stability.
Fez is a complex and multi-dimensional character. He could easily be described as the moral compass of the show for his heart and loyalty to those he surrounds himself with. This along with his fears and desires suggest he is undeniably a type nine.
Maddy Perez: Type Three – The Achiever
Maddy’s parental upbringing foreshadowed her strained back and forth relationship with Nate confirming her desire to feel valued and loved. As a type three, she has a tumultuous personality and is motivated by her image and how others view her and will do anything to get what she wants
Hopefully, with her character’s shift in season two, she can continue to distance herself from all of the lying and emotional immaturity she showed back in the first season.
Cassie Howard: Type One – The Reformer
Cassie’s relationship difficulty and fear of being alone are haunted by her parents’ separation, spreading rumors and teen pregnancy. Her sensitivity and people-pleasing tendencies cause her to fall for anyone – good or bad. Even if that someone is Nate, her best friend’s ex-boyfriend.
As a type one, Cassie instinctually strives for perfection and searches to create a balance within herself in order to fill the void her father left.
Nate Jacobs: Type Eight – The Challenger
Nate masquerades his true identity and dispositions, parading around as the popular jock with a wealthy family. It doesn’t take long for us to realize his physical assertiveness, violent temper and awry view of sex.
Being a type eight, he is motivated to assert his dominance and take control over everything in his life. His actions no doubt result from his father, Cal, whose explicit tapes had a defining number of effects on Nate growing up. The end of season two left us with a tainted appreciation of Nate for finally giving his father the ending he deserves.
Featured Image by Hannah Brown
By Koby Jackson
Sports Reporter
The Texas State Bobcats (7-1) are off to a fantastic start and their early season. It’s the baseball team’s best start since 1991. They looked to continue their dominance as they played the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros (5-2).
Starting pitcher for the game was Travis Sundgren; Sundgren started the game off strong as he recorded a ground out and two line outs and left a man on base at the beginning of the game. Then, in the bottom of the first, Gonzalez singled to right field to advance the runner to bring Wuthrich home off a Fielding error by the Vaqueros catcher.
The story of this game could be found in the Bobcats Bullpen as Sundgren gave up two runs on three hits early in the game. He was relieved in three and two-thirds Innings as Tristan Dixon stepped on the mound for the Bobcats. It was a scoreless inning for the Bobcats in the bottom of the fourth as they were still up by two runs.
In the top of the fifth inning, Vaquero’s right fielder Freddy Rojas Jr got on base by fielder’s choice as a run scored off an error made it a one-run game. Heading into the bottom of the fifth, the Bobcats’ bats got cold as they went through two innings without a run until the seventh inning.
Heading into the bottom of the sixth, the Bobcats were looking to get some runs. Instead, it was ground out for both Daylan Pena and Cameron Gibbons and a line out for Ben McClain to end the inning.
Heading into the top of the seventh inning, a new pitcher for the Bobcats, Carson Keathley, steps on the mound for the first time this season. After he walked one batter in the end, he recorded two flyouts and a ground out in a quick inning to head in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Bobcats kicked off the bottom of the seventh with a base hit single by John Wuthrich. Alongside Dalton Sheffield two-run home run to left field to put the Bobcats up by three.
The Bobcats were not done there yet; however, their bats started to heat up as Wesley Faison hit a single down the third-base line. Then, with one man on, pinch-hitter Peyton Lewis hits a sacrifice fly ball to bring home Faison from third base to make this a four-run ballgame.
Looking for the shutout, the pitching staff placed Matthew Nicholas onto the mound to try to hold them scoreless. Nicholas struck out two batters and recorded a flyout with one man left on base to end the inning.
Going into the ninth inning, the Bobcats were looking to extend the winning streak to six games. Travis Stivers finished the job in the ninth inning as the Bobcats won with a final score of 7-3.
I asked coach trout what his thoughts were coming into the next game against the Arizona Wildcats in a three-game series. He said, “We need to get better, we need to clean up the errors and can’t wait till Friday night.”
The Bobcats play in a Pac 12 showdown series against the Arizona Wildcats as they look to continue their tremendous start to the season. You can catch broadcasts of Texas State Baseball on KTSW 89.9.
Featured Image by Kirby Crumpler
By Hannah Walls
Web Content Contributor
Supporting local businesses is always a wonderful way to connect with your community, and it is especially important to support the individual owners behind these businesses.
According to the National Association of Women Business Owners, there were over 13 million women-owned businesses in the United States as of 2021. Here are some great women-owned businesses in San Marcos to visit and support this International Women’s Day:
Herbs and Oddities
I first stumbled upon Herbs and Oddities while trying to find a local source to buy rose petals for baking, but fell in love with the environment and the wide range of metaphysical products at this shop. It is a smaller store but is completely packed with different herbs that can be bought in bulk, crystals, incense, and so much more. When I went, the person behind the counter was so passionate about their products and more than happy to explain things to me, so I highly recommend paying Herbs and Oddities a visit!
Flowerland
Flowerland Flowers & Gifts As someone obsessed with turning my apartment into a little jungle, I love stopping by Flowerland to check out their selection of plants. Aside from their collection of little green friends to adopt, Flowerland has really cute planters and other plant accessories. Their floral arrangements, which are the real stars here, are gorgeous as well, so picking up a bouquet for a woman in your life this International Women’s Day is a great idea.
Phire Girl Hair and Beauty
Phire Girl Hair and Beauty is a black-owned and woman-owned business that recently opened up in the outlets, and I’ve heard great things about it so far. Phire Girl has a variety of different hair products, hair care services and nail services. The store has made it their priority to not only sell quality products and provide quality services for clients but also help clients learn how to best take care of their hair and nails. I love when businesses truly care about the connections they form with customers, and Phire Girl has definitely mentioned that this is a huge priority for them.
Jo’s Cafe
Jo’s is probably my favorite coffee shop in San Marcos. The food and coffee are amazing and it is such a perfect study spot that is cozy on the inside and has a wonderful outdoor seating area as well. Jo’s also holds quite a few special events, pop-up shops, and other community events that really make me feel right at home. I highly recommend picking up a Caprese panini and iced shyster at Jo’s for your next study session!
Taiwan Bowl
Anyone who has been to Taiwan Bowl will probably tell you how sweet and outgoing the owner is, and it has become one of my favorite local restaurants for this reason. The portions at Taiwan Bowl are huge, everything is so tasty, and getting to chat while waiting for my food always makes my day. An insane amount of love and care goes into every meal here, so if you’re looking for a dinner destination to celebrate this International Women’s Day, look no further.
There are so many other wonderful woman-owned businesses in San Marcos and neighboring areas, but these are just a few that I have heard wonderful things about from friends or personally love myself. Be sure to check out the spots above, and don’t forget to support and honor the women in your life this International Women’s Day!
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By Autumn McGowan
Web Content Assistant Manager
International Women’s Day is a global holiday celebrated on March 8th every year. It’s a day to celebrate female-identifying people across the world and reflect on the achievements and accomplishments of the women before us.
When reflecting on the roles that women have played in history, it’s extremely important to highlight queer women. Although they may or may not have been recognized as queer role models during their time, we can remember them not only for the advances they made in history, film, performance and activism, but for the roles they play as LGBTQI+ icons to this day.
Read below to learn about just some of the amazing queer women from history!
Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) was a British nurse who is often called the founder of modern nursing. She served during The Crimean War in Constantinople where she was so disgusted by the conditions that the patients were forced to exist in, that she took it upon herself to vastly improve the sanitation at all of her stations. She was deemed “The Angel of Crimea” by those she looked after and “reduced the hospital’s death rate by two-thirds”, according to History.com.
But her work didn’t stop there. She also established laundry services for her patients as well as a kitchen and a classroom to stimulate the minds of those under her care.
She changed the way that nurses were viewed during her lifetime and reformed the healthcare system in ways that are still extremely impactful to this day.
Marsha P. Johnson
Marsha P. Johnson (1945-1992) was an American Black trans activist and a powerful voice for the under-represented during her lifetime.
The “P” in her name stood for “Pay it no mind”, which was a motto she adopted in her life to combat the abusive stance against homosexuals and homosexual acts that she faced from society.
Johnson was a key figure in the Stonewall Riots of 1969, protesting police for shutting down known gay bars and deeming gatherings of homosexuals “disorderly”. She participated in sit-ins, rallies and marches and championed equality and LGBTQ+ rights.
Johnson founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries in 1973 with Sylvia Rivera to spotlight issues faced by trans people in prison, homeless youths and other marginalized people who weren’t being adequately represented by other LGBT organizations during the time period.
Ruth Gates
Ruth Gates (1962-2018) was a British marine biologist who dedicated her life to the conservation of coral reefs.
Gates did cutting-edge research during her lifetime, including work on breeding a “super coral” that had the ability to withstand the alarming temperature increases of the Earth’s oceans due to global warming.
At the time of her death, she was the director of The Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology in Manoa, Hawaii and the first woman to be appointed as President of The International Society for Reef Studies.
Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker (1906-1975) was an American-born French performer and a symbol of Black American culture in Paris in the 1920’s.
She got her start with a road company performing the musical Shuffle Along, before moving to New York City where she performed on Broadway in The Chocolate Dandies.
She later moved to France where she introduced her famous danse sauvage and became known for performing in a skirt made of bananas.
When Germany occupied France in 1940, Baker joined the Free French forces, performing for troops in Africa and The Middle East.
Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie
Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie (1954- present) is a Seminole-Muscogee-Navajo and a professor of Native American studies at UC Davis, a photographer, museum director, curator and visionary.
She got her Masters of Fine Arts in Studio Arts in 2002 from the University of California, Irvine, and has spent her career thus far using photography as a means to reclaim what it means to be Native American.
Tsinhnahjinnie creates original works but also often pulls historical photographs of Native Americans taken by white photographers throughout history and reworks them to tackle archival stereotypes.
She has organized several gatherings of Native American and global Indigenous photographers during her career. One of these was “Visual Sovereignty” in 2009 at the C.N Gorman Museum where she is the director.
She also works in film and video.
Charlotte Cushman
Charlotte Cushman (1816-1876) was an American born stage performer who was known for taking on both male and female parts in the shows she took part in.
In fact, she “played more than 30 masculine roles in her lifetime”, according to Brittanica.
She was considered by many to be one of the great American actresses of her era.
In 1842, she became one of the only women stage managers at the time at The Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia.
Along with her stage fame, was known for being “scandalous”, setting up a household full of “emancipated women” and promoting a lifestyle of romantic female friendships.
She used her money and her acclaim to promote the artistic works of her female friends, who she traveled with often.
I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about these pioneers! Queer women have and continue to mold history in immeasurable ways. These are just some of the few, and the list could go on for days. It’s as important as ever for us to remember these role models and keep them in our hearts as we move forward to shape a more progressive and inclusive world.
Happy Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day!
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By Ashley Farnie and Christian Villarreal
Music Director and Assistant Music Director
In this episode Christian, Jared, Max, and Ashley talk about Women in the Music Industry. We go over different obstacles unique to women in the industry and the state of music today. I hope you enjoy this International Women’s Day special.
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By Allison Schroeder
Web Content Assistant Manager
Women, including those who identify as women, around the world are notoriously known to be on the receiving end of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. But it doesn’t just stem from men, it also stems from other women.
When it finally feels like a battle is over, it almost feels although women are also pitted against each other into a whole other level of the battle. Almost like playing Kingdom Hearts, where Sora defeats opponents along the way to his final boss battle. The battles only get tougher.
Women have been driven by so many expectations to rise above biases, stereotypes and discrimination that we push ourselves to become what other women couldn’t become. But at times, it pushes some women into a pit of jealousy and sometimes frustration towards other women.
Sometimes these strong expectations cause some of us to develop deep feelings of anxiety, depression for feeling as if you haven’t achieved what you wanted and at other times it could make some go against other women.
We don’t do it out of hate, we do it out of envy of their position, the power they hold, and how easy it seemed to get to their position while we are struggling to move forward on our own journey.
According to Psychology Today, the phrase “She’s just jealous,” is “stated far more frequently to young girls than young boys.” It is supposed to be a compliment, but ultimately we as women don’t take compliments very well (they actually cause greater discomfort to ourselves).
Psychology Today took the phrase to a deeper meaning by discussing how the phrase takes the approach of when you are admired, you will have those who will treat you badly, and that just means they’re jealous.
It causes women to continue pushing themselves into envious or resentful relationships with one another and disrupts the growth towards stopping gender inequity by harvesting it.
In some cases, jealousy can even just occur from a young adult or child watching other similar-aged individuals become successful in a relatively short period of time. I know growing up I felt a tinge of jealousy when I watched shows and realized that I was in the same age group as them, and with all due respect to Olivia Rodrigo, she definitely had me feeling a little jealous until I recognized I shouldn’t be jealous. I should just be proud of another woman getting to do what she loves.
Although women have our individual battles we face with men due to our differences, the bias put on us, stereotypes and discrimination, we also should really consider how much really comes from our internal group of women. We compete against one another so often, it honestly gets tiring.
Personally, I recognize and admit when I get competitive. Oftentimes, I mostly compete against myself because an inner voice may tell me that I can’t do something, but I prove that voice wrong. When it comes to jealousy and pitting against other women, we must recognize and admit it is occurring in order to try and make a change for the better for our community of women.
So, this International Women’s Day, let’s come together and fight against the bias. Let’s stand together and find peace in ourselves to let go of our frustrations and jealousy against one another. We each have a place in the world, and for some, it takes time to find it, and for others, it is quick. But in the end, it works out just the way it is supposed to.
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By Hannah Brown
Web Content Contributor
When digging through 47 seasons’ worth of archives since 1975, it’s obvious that women-dominated sketches became more apparent in the mid-2000s. For many of these female comedians, their reign on the stage has already come to an end, and International Women’s Day is a perfect time to commemorate their performances and contributions to the late-night comedy showcase.
Saturday Night Live is known for having an ever-changing cast dynamic, churning out more recognizable names in the industry than any other medium. What was once just a dream of joining the SNL family, these women used their time in the spotlight to elevate their impressions and comedic skills before continuing on to other projects.
Known for her “Weekend Updates” and reoccurring impression of deemed lookalike Sarah Palin, Tina Fey’s nine-year duration with SNL cemented her as one of the top female cast members of all time.
She also became the first female lead writer on the show from 1999 until 2006. Shortly before her departure, she wrote Mean Girls in 2004. This came full circle in 2018 when she starred in a Mean Girl’s sketch on SNL, where her desire to star as a teenager in her own Broadway musical becomes overshadowed by Lin-Manuel Miranda adding her to the infamous Burn Book.
The Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe winner is also known for creating “30 Rock,” a sitcom loosely based on her SNL days. Since 2006, she has made several appearances on the show, most recently in February of this year.
On the other end of SNL’s well-loved duo, Amy Poehler became the only female to be promoted from a featured player to a full cast member during her first year on the show in 2001. For their 30th season in 2004, she was a part of the first all-female beginning team when she became a co-anchor for SNL’s “Weekend Update” sketch with Tina Fey.
And while many cast members look uncanny to who they’re impersonating, Amy’s looks always seemed to comically miss the mark, especially when acting as Hillary Clinton. After seven years, she would go on to play Leslie Knope in “Parks and Recreation” for seven seasons and act in several movies including “Baby Mama” alongside Tina Fey.
A current player this season, Kate McKinnon has gifted audiences with spot-on impressions and hilarious performances. Whether for her natural ability at making others laugh or her incredible talent in portraying real-life figures, she always manages to make her performances comedy-gold.
This makes it all the less surprising that she has been nominated close to ten times for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series during her time on SNL, winning the category in 2016 and 2017. Her frequent political portrayals of Hillary Clinton along with big names like Jane Lynch and Justin Bieber have led her to be involved in over 800 sketches so far, giving her the honorary title of being the queen of SNL.
Some of her sketches I would recommend are “Close Encounter” and “Another Close Encounter.”
Along with Kate, other female cast members in the show’s 47th season include Aidy Bryant with funny sketches like “Mattress Store” and Chloe Fineman, a recent regular addition.
Other alums include Rachel Dratch known for her fictional character Debbie Downer, Maya Rudolph for her Beyonce impressions and Kristen Wiig with her eclectic character impressions.
And while spaces in front of and behind the camera are male-dominated and widely responsible for the 926 episodes to date, there are continual shifts in cast members and writers, which give women a fair chance in the typically male-dominated industry.
Some women who have contributed from the writers’ room include Paula Pell who has written over three hundred episodes and Emily Spivey who has written close to two hundred sketches over twenty years. With its substantial number of episodes and sketches, of course SNL will constantly rotate through a number of different writers.
Tune in this Saturday, March 12th to see this week’s host, Zoe Kravitz. You can find Saturday Night Live on NBC at 10:30 CT or through streaming services like Peacock and Hulu +.
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By Preethi Mangadu
Web Content Contributor
For many women, it is more difficult to climb up the career ladder than it is for men. This is due to the metaphorical barrier that higher-ups create which prevents women from being promoted and being compensated at an equal level, otherwise known as the “glass ceiling.”
The “glass ceiling” theory was coined by Marilyn Loden, a managing consultant, in 1978 during a panel on women’s aspirations. In this panel, many of the panelists argued that it was the personal efforts of women that were keeping them back, but Loden argued that the major problem was a cultural barrier, hence the glass ceiling.
As a nation, the United States has become more progressive in the 21st century than it was in 1978. However, the problem is still prevalent. According to the Center for American Progress, “despite making up a majority of the U.S. population, women lag substantially behind men when it comes to their representation in leadership positions.”
A bar graph showcasing the percentage of women in leadership in the corporate and political spheres. Counterarguments claim that women are to blame for their inability to rise based on a culture of domesticity, the ideology that women are meant to be the emotionally available homemaker rather than the breadwinner.
Today, many women do work, but the ideas of women being submissive, weak, too emotional, etc. are rooted in domesticity and contribute to the “glass ceiling.”
While women are given more obstacles to gain power and be given equal pay, the “glass ceiling” can also affect their mental health. According to a 2019 study done by AbdulSattar Abulbaqi Al-Azzawi, Makarand Upadhyay, and Nishi Tyagi for the International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering, the “glass ceiling” has negative effects on the stress levels, well-being, self-esteem, job satisfaction of women.
There is no one strategy for women as individuals to combat the “glass ceiling.” Women may have to work twice as hard as their male counterparts to get ahead.
Taking on higher-profile assignments, networking with higher-ups, speaking up more at meetings, etc. could all potentially help an individual break through the “glass ceiling,” but everyone’s journey will be unique.
Shattering the “glass ceiling” can only be done by corporate leaders in society. Employers can be proactive in their companies by making sure women are represented and treated fairly, having policies that foster gender equality, making sure to recruit all genders equally, etc.
Employers are the leading charge, but their employees must also focus and foster an equal work environment. Marilyn Loden noted that employers must tell their employees, “You have a part to play in creating a culture of respect for everyone. You can’t be a bystander in this effort. Instead, you have to take action.”
Society as a whole has the power to shatter the “glass ceiling” as well. Being involved in activist organizations that promote gender equality and bring awareness to the issues can bring about real societal and political change. Communities can also help by supporting women-owned and women-run businesses which provide a workplace away from the “glass ceiling.”
Nonetheless, the “glass ceiling” is prevalent, and it may take years before employment reaches gender equality, but as a society, we can all try to have a hand in making the change.
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By Lea Mercado
Web Content Assistant Manager
International Women’s Day is a day dedicated to showing appreciation to the women who work hard to positively impact our lives. Those who choose to celebrate may adorn the women in their lives with flowers, gifts or maybe take over some of their responsibilities as a display of appreciation. But the focus of this year’s celebration requires far more than pleasantries. It requires action – now.
This year’s theme is “Gender Equality Today for a More Sustainable Tomorrow.”
You may be wondering, “what does gender equality have to do with sustainability?” If climate change impacts the earth, it would be safe to assume that sustainability is a topic of concern for everyone, right? While that assumption is correct, climate change proposes a unique and urgent set of challenges for women in particular.
As global leaders struggle to address the present and ever-growing climate crisis, researchers are working to find how the crisis will affect the population. As a result, findings have concluded that marginalized groups, such as women, will experience the greatest impact.
Across the world, women still face disparities that western countries have assumed are of the past. For instance, women are predominately responsible for the world’s food production, yet less than 15% of all landholders are women.
But the issue far surpasses agricultural concerns. Women are also vulnerable to climate change due to gendered responsibilities and roles.
In developing countries that are most susceptible to climate-related disasters, women struggle to cope in addition to their lack of influence in political and environmental matters. When disaster strikes, parenthood and lack of resources often restrict women from migrating or seeking refuge elsewhere presenting an added burden in highly stressful situations. Relating to this matter, the UN estimates that women make up 80% of those displaced from climate change.
However, in light of these restrictions, women are rising up for the cause through activism and a demand for climate justice, which is what this year’s celebration is dedicated to. While gender inequality has traditionally inhibited women from becoming actors of climate change, unprecedented environmental emergencies have no place for tradition.
As a matter of fact, women have taken the lead in the fight against climate change, especially young women whose lives hinge on the action being taken right now. To achieve progress in the charge towards climate justice, activists like Greta Thunberg have staged displays of disruption to make their voices heard such as school walkouts and hunger strikes, and even established movements like Fridays for Future.
Of course, with issues that affect our home planet, sporadic demonstrations simply aren’t enough and demand a charge for action on an institutional level. This need has been met by numerous women.
Catherine Coleman Flowers is the founder of the Alabama Center for Rural Enterprise (ACRE), where she works to “promote sustainable initiatives to strengthen the infrastructure of families in rural and impoverished communities.” When she is not serving as the executive director, she is also a frequent climate change leader and speaker as well as working to influence Alabama climate-related legislation.
On a larger scale, New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, has taken it upon herself to set an example on the global stage as to how a country should address the climate crisis. She has committed to achieving a carbon-neutral government by 2025 and often delivers powerful speeches to incite political and social action to work towards a more sustainable future.
While the examples listed only touch the surface of the woman-led movement against climate change, for women to have a say, it is the people’s job to ensure that women actively have a voice and represent their communities and interests. The willingness to work is there. All that is needed now is support and resources.
So, for this International Women’s Day, perhaps skip the flowers and pleasantries. Instead, utilize your right to vote to ensure all individuals are accurately represented in your federal, state, and local government and consider donating or getting involved in a women-led climate organization.
This crisis is not entirely above us yet, but that is contingent on the action that you are willing to take now.
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By Isayah Garner, Justin Brown, Koby Jackson, and Gian Carlo Cacho
Sports Reporters
On this edition of the podcast, the crew discuss both TXST and SMHS baseball and softball teams. They also discuss the Lakers struggles as a whole, and ask if the Grizzlies are legit the favorites to win the NBA title.
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By Sofia Gualy
Music Journalist
The month of February was packed with wonderful singles by a myriad of talented artists. As more albums prepare to be released in the following months, songs are being dropped to display artists upcoming work. Songs by Laura Elliott, Maude Latour and COIN make the list and portray the exciting and diverse nature of future 2022 releases.
Better Off Alone by Laura Elliott
If you enjoy dark and eclectic acoustic songs, Laura Elliott is for you. She has an ethereal voice that makes her lyrics sound straight out of a rainy day. Her instrumentals are reminiscent of Jose Gonzales, and her voice is extremely talented and unique. “Better Off Alone” is driving around in the dark music, with her words asking a lover or partner if they are “better off alone.” Although the release of her album is unknown, Elliott is one to keep an eye out for.
Headphones by Maude Latour
I was introduced to Maude Latour through a Tik Tok during the early months of 2020. Since then, I have been listening to each single she has released and fallen in love with her music. Her indie-pop songs are the ultimate coming-of-age songs to add to your playlists. Her lyrics are fun and relatable and “Headphones” does not disappoint.
I Think I Met You In A Dream by COIN
COIN’s groovy new single is not one to overlook. I have followed their music for a long time and somehow they have never released a song I haven’t liked. They know their audience really well and make unique albums without sacrificing their original sound. “I Think I Met You In A Dream” has some ‘70s influence with a modern twist which is new for them, but they did it extremely well. COIN will be releasing their album, Uncanny Valley, on March 25.
Kissing Lessons by Lucy Dacus
Lucy is one of my all-time favorite artists. Her songs are addictive and her past album, Home Video, holds an extremely special place in my heart. Dacus is known for her storytelling and “Kissing Lessons” tells the story of her receiving kissing lessons from her friend. It was the perfect Valentine’s season release and is my personal favorite February release.
Now I Know by Dafna
Dafna is a Boulder, Colorado native and one of my favorite small artists currently. Her unique voice sounds like it belongs in a speakeasy and complements her songs very well. She self produces all of her songs in her bedroom and has been frequently releasing new music this year. “Now I Know” is part of her new album, but unfortunately that release date has yet to be revealed.
All of these songs and more can be found on my February 2022 releases playlist. Happy listening and stay tuned for new music from these artists!
By Clara Blankenship
Music Journalist
Who doesn’t love the ‘80s? The fashion, style, and music from this decade have a sustained reputation and impact on our cultural landscape.
As ‘80s aesthetics resurface in current trends, new music releases from Soft Cell, Johnny Marr of the Smiths, and Tears for Fears arrive at the perfect time. Whether you’re wanting to emulate the feel of the ‘80s or are just looking for fresh music, these albums deliver a wonderful listening experience.
Searching for that classic ‘80s sound? Soft Cell’s single release Happiness Not Included is a great place to start. The instrumentation feels like a blast from the past, combining strong synths, heavy rhythms, and upbeat chords that make any listener want to dance. Don’t let these dreamy ‘80s styles lead expectations astray, though.
Soft Cell spends this single sharing their opinion on current politics, news, and social media. They contrast their positive, groovy sounds with bleak, melancholy lyrics. So ‘80s, right? My favorite from this three-track release is “Bruises On All My Illusions.” This heavy-hitting song cuts deep with lyrics about the disillusionment life can bring. Although the subject matter is gloomy, there are bits of hope thrown in the track, highlighted by driving synths and grand vocal layering.
Another new release, Johnny Marr’s Fever Dreams Pts 1-4, is a strong album that evokes ‘80s nostalgia while also featuring more rock-centered songs. Tracks “Spirit Power” and “Ariel” are two of my favorites off the project and are extremely synth-driven, holding true to the traditional ‘80s sound.
Marr, a previous member of the extremely popular band The Smiths, maintains his roots while also exploring a bold, rock sound. “Receiver” and “Night And Day” both have a contemporary feel and are easy, enjoyable listens. He pushes into punk rock even further with the track “Hideaway Girl,” featuring grudge guitar tones and rhythmic drums.
This album was extremely impressive and a strong addition to Marr’s solo career. While reproducing his ‘80s music, he also creates a new defining sound, further solidifying his well-earned place in music history.
Perhaps the further deviation from their usual sound is the Tears for Fears album, The Tipping Point. Everyone is familiar with their popular songs. “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” and “Shout” are still staple tracks in many people’s playlists and current media although they were released almost 40 years ago. Their new album released this year, while different, is a pleasant creative shift.
The tracks “My Demons” and “End of the Night” are the closest to their authentic sound, with pulsing synths, a driving bass, and distorted vocals. They are extremely catchy and groovy but with a dark tone. As soon as I heard them, I knew I had to add them to my walking on campus playlist.
However, the rest of the album is a complete contrast. It has a melancholy tone, with most of the tracks having a slow, soft rock feel. “No Small Things” and “Rivers of Mercy” stood out to me, providing heartfelt lyrics and moving melodies. My favorite track, “Please Be Happy,” almost brought me to tears. It is a beautiful ballad with smooth horns that begin halfway through, gorgeously dominating this incredibly moving song.
I love seeing these well-established bands continue to refine their craft and pursue innovation. While their sounds have evolved, the nostalgia and experience associated with these artists still perpetuate their new releases.
If embracing ‘80s culture while living in the modern age is appealing, these projects are an ideal backdrop. In their own way, each of them delivers a unique combination of the ‘80s new wave sound and current, hard-hitting indie rock.
Next time you’re out taking a walk or a drive, I highly recommend putting on these albums and living out your ‘80s fantasy.
Featured Image by Clara Blankenship
By Bandera Barter
Music Journalist
The American Dream, or rather the pursuit of the American dream, is a consistent theme in art and our lives since the creation of this country. Artist such as Jimi Hendrix have represented this in their work and embodied it in ways that have inspired millions over decades.
Some strive for the traditional white picket fence, others opt for the Hendrix route, and a growing number of people see it as a tool used by the United States Government for propaganda.
I believe Jimi Hendrix to be the embodiment of the American Dream, and his performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” to be the perfect depiction of the philosophy. Particularly his performance of the national anthem at the Woodstock Music and Art Festival Monday morning, Aug. 18th, 1969.
Hendrix would be sent to the 101st Airborne of the United States Army in 1961 at 19 years old as a punishment for a not guilty verdict on the charge of riding in a stolen car. Despite American involvement in the Vietnam war picking up around this time, Hendrix would never see action in the military. He was repeatedly reprimanded for sleeping during the day and playing guitar all hours of the night into the morning, before eventually being kicked out in 1962 because of a broken ankle, claims of homosexuality, and masturbating while on duty.
Jimi Hendrix Military Discharge Recommendation Some of these offenses credited to his rebelliousness towards authority, others a deliberate attempt to be discharged from service and blaze his own path. His superiors knew Hendrix had other ambitions, often crediting his guitar for his underperformance in the military.
“This is one of his faults, because his mind apparently cannot function while performing duties and thinking about his guitar,” said one commanding officer about Hendrix.
This may be seen as a fault of Hendrix’s but was actually the American Dream in motion.
Hendrix would use his guitar to tell not only his truth but the truth of a generation and of a nation, and Woodstock would be the perfect venue for this. Most in the audience knew someone in Vietnam, if they had not been there themselves.
400,000 or more attended what would be the largest music festival in history. However, due to days of rain and scheduling issues, only 40,000 remained for Hendrix’s 9 a.m. Monday morning show. A number far fewer than the 58,220 Americans who would die in Vietnam.
Hendrix had played for around an hour, performing hits like “Foxey Lady” and “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” captivating the audience before morphing into “Stepping Stone,” which would quickly become “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The performance started with easily recognizable notes of the national anthem raining through Hendrix’s distorted white Stratocaster guitar, but quickly devolved into chaos. Bombs, air raid and ambulance sirens, machine gun fire, and screams of terror can all be heard escaping Hendrix’s Mashal amplifier!
Hendrix made sounds never before created on the guitar, sounds that have not been recreated the same since. The crowd stands stunned in amazement, horror, and intoxication by the beauty of the poetry they are hearing through a brand new song they have heard their entire lives.
The rendition goes in and out of the chaos of war and the familiar anthem before inserting “Taps,” the bugle call played at the funeral of a fallen US soldier. An ode to those who were not lucky enough to make it out of the United States Military Industrial Complex during the Vietnam war.
He returns to the more traditional version for the final notes of the song, letting them wail from the guitar, sending shivers through anyone listening. Then onto another anthem, maybe not as nationally recognized but still an anthem nonetheless, ”Purple Haze.”
The Best of Jimi Hendrix Album Cover This was not just a performance, but a statement. A statement that would resonate with a generation and transcend the decades in which they came from.
Hendrix responded to controversies surrounding his performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” on The Dick Cavett Show by humbly stating “All I did was play it. I’m American so I played it,” downplaying arguably the greatest piece of American art ever created.
Cavett would go on to call Hendrix one of the best guitar players in the world, to which his humility showed through once again by shrugging it off amongst a roar of applause and retorting back, “How about one of the best sitting in this chair.”
Hendrix never played or performed to prove himself to anybody but himself. He strived to be the absolute best version of himself and inspire others to do the same, which is what I believe the American Dream to be.
By Hannah Brown
Web Content Contributor
Dating back to the inspirational influences and contributions from Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas alike, February has cemented itself as the month of celebrating and recognizing the triumphs of African Americans throughout history.
Audience members have been able to enjoy moving pictures since 1895. In 1903, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” was the first film to feature a Black actor. Sidney Poitier, born in 1927, served as a transitional figurehead during his time in Hollywood. He became the first African American to win the Best Actor Oscar in 1964, which would not happen again until 2002 when Denzel Washington won the Academy Award.
Early portrayals of Black Americans were reserved to housekeepers, farmers, butlers and slaves. On various levels, cinema has forever been intertwined with racism. This is shown even today, with Hollywood continuously revisiting harsh stereotypes and dated portrayals of importance with little to no advancement to the plot. Examples of this are tropes with Black characters being shown as criminals, being aggressive by nature, having less education or being used as the best friend who’s only purpose is to support the main character and provide comedic relief.
The 21st century continues to bring much promise and has given many leading roles to African Americans. Countless people have paved the way for this success and become household names, role models and representatives for their culture.
Whether your goal is to watch a film that depicts real-life events or to educate yourself on Black History through a fictional lens, many of these influential people have worked together to create timeless pictures and have shaped the entertainment industry in innovative ways.
The early 2000s is home to classic staples with messages of determination like “The Pursuit of Happyness” or action-packed flicks like the sequel to “Bad Boys.” Eddie Murphy, Ice Cube, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are a few actors whose entertaining performances gave us many memorable movies.
One way we celebrate triumphs and educate ourselves about the past is through real-life adaptations. For instance, 2013 was a year of honoring and remembrance shown through “42”, starring Chadwick Boseman, about Jackie Robinson who was the first African American to play in Major League Baseball. “12 Years a Slave,” where a free man from New York was taken and sold into slavery, also came out the same year.
Other biopics include chronicles from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s march for voting rights called “Selma” and “Hidden Figures,” the story of three African American women who played vital roles in the early years of NASA.
More recent biopics include a story of a civil rights defense attorney, played by Michael B. Jordan, freeing a wrongfully convicted man called “Just Mercy” and “King Richard,” about the upbringing of Venus and Serena Williams.
The importance of this genre allows viewers to become more knowledgeable about someone’s story that we may or may not have already been familiar with, and to preserve these stories for future generations.
Actor, writer and producer Jordan Peele has created remarkable fiction works in recent years, playing with genre and revitalizing how stories are told. Most notably, his works “Get Out” and “Us” feature Black leads and have received numerous awards.
Arguably the best blockbuster hit for representation within the Black community has been “Black Panther” starring Chadwick Boseman, who became a role model along with the other men and women of Wakanda, with a diverse crew and predominantly Black cast.
Angela Bassett is known for playing powerful women like Coretta Scott King and Rosa Parks. She also starred in “Malcolm X” with Denzel Washington. Other actors who have changed the way that women of color are looked at in the industry include Octavia Spencer and Taraji P. Henson who were featured in “Hidden Figures”. Oprah Winfrey was in Lee Daniels’ “The Butler” and produced “Selma” and Viola Davis won an Academy Award for her role as a loving mother in “Fences” also opposite Denzel Washington.
Unfortunately, there is an abundant disproportion of recognition for women of color in Hollywood. When thinking about these men and women, there is a good chance that your mind goes to well-known actors like Morgan Freeman or Idris Elba among the many previously mentioned. It is important to put the spotlight on more women who have played just as many influential roles yet may not come to mind as often.
Another thing to celebrate is the influx of movies targeted towards a younger demographic that depict a main character of color as the hero, allowing more kids the opportunity to watch a movie and see someone who looks like them.
Miles Morales from “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” provides more representation for kids of color to see themselves as not only Spider-Man with the mask, but the superhero behind the mask as well. The creation of Tiana in “The Princess and the Frog,” Disney’s first Black princess and animated protagonist, shifted the idea of what a princess should look like.
While accomplished movies on their own, and a step up from side characters like Frozone from “The Incredibles,” these animated films still present their own identifiable issues like limited screen time and having the characters transform into something other than themselves. The character Tiana was only on screen for 40 minutes of the 1 hour and 37 minute run time, 17 minutes of which she was a human and 23 minutes she spent as a frog.
Avoiding past mistakes in animation while also avoiding making a character of color “just because” was important to Kemp Powers, who co-directed Pixar‘s “Soul,” however his vision was not accurately portrayed. Opening with a whimsical off-key take on “When You Wish Upon a Star,” Joe Gardner, a middle school band teacher voiced by Jamie Foxx aspires to become a jazz musician.
Unfortunately, when his goal is finally within reach, he dies. Being the first Black-led animated film created by Pixar, this film had the opportunity to focus on his life and his journey of chasing his dreams. Instead, it centered on his encounters with people of non-color where he ultimately sacrificed his second chance at his dream for his snarky sidekick. Unbeknownst to him at the time, he would still be given another chance at life, where he then decided he would live his life to the fullest.
There have also been live-action family movies like “Akeelah and the Bee” starring Keke Palmer and Laurence Fishburne, that do a wonderful job displaying the problems that Black communities and public-school systems face. “Joyful Noise” starring Palmer and Queen Latifah along with Disney’s “Let It Shine” are other positive movies celebrating music from hip hop to gospel.
In an interview with Variety, Anthony Mackie (who you may know as Falcon from the Marvel Cinematic Universe), voiced his disappointment at Marvel for their lack of a diverse crew. In the seven movies he has been a part of, there was a huge lack of diversity. Only for “Black Panther” was there anyone of color behind the scenes.
These films and actors have created significant contributions for the 21st century, carrying messages of importance in their work on screen and off. While the representation of people of color has drastically improved in the past several decades, there is still much room for improvement which we will hopefully see sooner than later.
Featured Image By Hannah Brown
By Steven Phipps
Podcast Producer
Oh man, it’s good to be back for the third episode of The Artist Insider. In this episode, we feature a splendid creator who goes by Stevi Stevenson. First off, her name sounds like it is straight out of a comic book, so you know this episode will be super. We start by listening to Stevi’s array of stories that led to her getting into music which feature appearances from Jon Bellion, Ringo Starr and a few other big names.
Fast Forward and we conversate on her once-secret life, future plans, entering the flow state and much more. Last but most certainly not least Stevi sings part of her song “To Be Happy” and I promise that you don’t want to miss these soul-shattering vocals in action. So, without further ado go ahead and tune in!
Follow Stevi Steven on all social platforms @stevi.steves
Follow The Artist Insider on Instagram @TheArtistInsider
Featured Image by KTSW Multimedia
By Hannah Walls
Web Content Contributor
Every relationship looks different, and keeping open communication or tackling any conflict that may arise is not always easy or intuitive. This can be especially true in long-distance relationships, whether it’s a different city, state, or even country, as these types of relationships come with their own unique set of issues.
Especially as students, sometimes we fall for someone who has chosen to pursue their education at a different university, or accepted a job offer in another state. Missing out on the little moments together or feeling jealous of couples who get to see each other more often can be tough, but the distance doesn’t have to be a death sentence for your relationship or your goals.
Some days will be harder than others, and there’s no end-all-be-all advice to make sure long distance is painless and easy. However, here are a few tips from my experience that can make you feel more connected to your person, even from many miles away.
Remember your situation is temporary.
Although it feels never-ending at the moment, sometimes it helps me to remember that there will be a time when being away from each other is a thing of the past. I like to imagine the future I will have with my partner, which involves both of us being successful in the careers we are currently working on building, even though we’re apart while doing so.
It can be easy to dwell on this, and it’s totally okay and healthy to let yourself be sad about this situation sometimes! It is tough to be away from someone you really care about and requires hard work to navigate how to be supportive and show affection in new ways.
Let it simmer on the back burner.
This is actually a tip my mom gave me when long-distance was very new to me and I was having a lot of trouble adjusting. Your relationship does not always need to be your number one priority, and the space in-between visits and chatting is actually a great time to focus on yourself.
Feeling secure and comfortable in your relationship allows you to figuratively put it on the back burner and let yourself enjoy being alone. The time I spend with my partner is so incredibly valuable to me, but knowing I am loved and that they are still present in my life every day without us physically being together makes me value time with myself now too.
This is really just code for being able to order whatever greasy mess of food I want without having to discuss other options and watching terrible reality TV shows for hours on end. Nevertheless, learning to actually look forward to my time alone more and let myself recharge is one of the best silver linings I’ve found in this situation.
Explore new ways to connect.
Every couple has mutual activities they enjoy doing together, and this time together might look slightly different because of distance but doesn’t have to be sacrificed. Adapting the things you and your partner love doing together can definitely make your connection even stronger.
My partner and I are both very into gaming, so hopping on Discord and finding new co-op games we can play together is one of my favorite ways we’ve found to spend time together. If we both have limited time, this is one of the ways we can combine a hobby we share while also talking about our days or discussing more details that aren’t easy to communicate over text.
With the help of technology, long-distance date night has certainly gotten a bit easier as well. For example, I recommend Kast or Teleparty for couples who enjoy watching movies or videos together.
Whatever you and your partner enjoy bonding over, communicate and explore ways to make it long-distance friendly! This process alone of brainstorming is a great way to bring you closer together. I also really recommend Tuned as a way to stay updated with your partner throughout the day since it allows you to update your mood, answer prompts, and send little love notes.
Although long-distance can be difficult, these are just a few tips to keep in mind to adjust a bit easier in-between visits. Although it can be easy to dwell on, finally being able to see your partner makes it all worth it. No matter your situation, I hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
Featured Image by Hannah Walls
By Jared Dudley
Music Journalist
On Monday, Jan. 24th, world-famous musician and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Neil Young posted a now-deleted open letter on his website presenting Spotify, the largest music streaming platform in the world, with an ultimatum: crackdown on COVID misinformation prevalent on the platform or lose the Neil Young discography. By Wednesday night, the deal was made with Young’s record label and his music was scrubbed clean from the streaming service.
Spotify’s quick decision-making is far from surprising, given Young’s concern about COVID-19 misinformation, along with over 260 medical professionals, stems from “The Joe Rogan Experience.” The monumentally popular podcast, which pulls in an estimated 11 million listeners per episode, was acquired by Spotify in 2020 through an agreement valuing over $100 million. This deal came after Spotify’s announcement to shareholders that the company would dedicate $500 million in “strategic acquisitions to accelerate growth in podcasting,” over the course of 2019.
In short, this business with Neil Young is only the latest move made by Spotify to prioritize expanding its podcast empire.
The events of the past week have once again sparked up online discourse surrounding the topics of misinformation, the real-life harm disseminating it can bring, and a platform’s obligation to mitigate the spread of dangerous inaccuracies. However, the situation also brings attention to Spotify’s treatment of musicians on the platform.
It is no secret the music industry’s pivot to streaming has had a detrimental effect on musicians, and Spotify in particular has been routinely scrutinized for exploiting independent artists and household names alike. As reported by Digital Media News, most artists receive between $0.003 and $0.005 (one-third to one-half of a penny) per stream on the service.
With this recent attention on the platform, many music lovers have found themselves seeking more ethical alternatives. The hashtag “#CancelSpotify” was trending Thursday evening as millions of users voiced their anger at the company. In Neil Young’s own words “If you support Spotify, you are destroying an art form.”
Unfortunately, migrating to another music platform can be quite an undertaking. It is common for longtime Spotify users to have years worth of playlists tied to their account. Say, for instance, you have a nearly 100-hour long indie playlist that you have been curating since 2017 and regularly use as your personal radio. It might be a bit difficult moving that one over to another platform.
And while Young has championed other streaming services like Apple and Amazon Music for their superior audio quality, the fact of the matter is that it has never been ethical or sustainable to have unlimited access to nearly all recorded music ever made for a monthly subscription. Regardless of which mega-corporation you give your ten dollars a month to, or six with a student discount, you are still going to be contributing to the mistreatment of musical artists.
Canceling your Spotify subscription is not going to save the music industry or stop a corporation from exploiting the people, making it billions of dollars in revenue. At most, it will force the company to take a centimeter-sized step in the right direction.
So, what is a music lover to do? Physical media in the form of vinyl records have seen a massive resurgence in popularity over the past few years due to their trendy, vintage aesthetic and superior sound quality. While most listeners will only listen to a new album on their streaming service of choice, artists still rely on vinyl sales and use it to indicate the strength of their fanbase.
Of course, this comes at a substantial price to the listener. Vinyl records of new and popular albums usually cost at least $30. This would have to be spent on every new album added to one’s collection after the initial entry fee required to buy a proper turntable and sound system. Alas, the dream of a sprawling vinyl collection remains out of reach for many a broke college student.
Another problem is accessibility. No matter how extensive a vinyl collection may be, it can never replace the convenience of streaming music on any electronic device. Because of this, many small artists advocate for the use of Bandcamp.
Bandcamp has steadily built a reputation among music circles as being the anti-Spotify streaming service. Instead of a monthly subscription, digital albums can be purchased by users to add to their collection. A cut of every album purchase goes to the artist, resulting in a far more equitable share of profits when compared to other services. Bandcamp also makes it easy for an artist to display physical merchandise on their profile, resulting in higher sales. Since March 2020, the service has even hosted “Bandcamp Fridays” in which it yields their cut of revenue for every purchase, leaving more money for the artist.
Unfortunately, even with the usability of Bandcamp, it is not easy to quit a subscription-based music service. For many younger listeners, the dirt-cheap price combined with unlimited streaming has been the expected norm for a significant portion of their lives. Even though most music listeners stick to the same few dozen albums, deviating from the illusion of unlimited choice offered by services like Spotify and Apple Music would be a radical change.
The bottom line is that while music lovers cannot just “vote with their wallet” and fix the industry overnight, or even in our lifetime, they can strive to support their favorite artists when they have the financial means to do so. Buying digital albums on Bandcamp is a fantastic way to start.
And who knows, maybe one day, when you lose the student discount and admit the 100 hour-long playlist has gotten too unwieldy, you will cancel your Spotify account and live off your ever-growing Bandcamp collection. While still listening to your favorite radio station, of course.
Featured Image by Jared Dudley
By Clara Blankenship
Music Journalist
I am always torn on what to listen to on a long drive. A playlist, maybe? An album? On a recent drive home, I decided to shuffle the New Releases playlist on Spotify, hoping to find some fresh music. A new Beach House album began playing, and I was immediately taken on a wonderful musical journey that, thankfully, livened up the usually dull drive on I-35.
I have always been a fan of Beach House. Their sound is unique in that it is layered and full but manages to remain delicate and lyrical. This EP, Once Twice Melody, is no exception.
Band members Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally released their long-awaited EP on Jan. 19, 2022. A cacophony of sounds, this record combines the euphoria, dream pop style of their staple albums Depression Cherry and Bloom with the shoegaze, percussion driven rhythm of their most recent release, 7.
From beginning to end of my first listen, I was completely engulfed by the waves of sounds. Beach House produces music with a trance-like feel that sweeps the listener into a journey of layered instrumentals and stunning vocals. I found my mind drifting as I listened, not out of boredom, but deep contemplation.
This EP has an extremely meditative sound. Melodic repetition and arpeggiating synths flood each track. While quite repetitive, songs like “Over and Over” and “Only You Know” manage to deepen as they progress, with each new layer demanding attention.
Like the intuitive melodic style of most Beach House projects, Once Twice Melody is extremely catchy. I found myself in the days after discovering the album humming the melody of “Through Me.” I just know it will be playing in my head for a good month.
Scally’s vocals are well known for their airy, dreamy quality as they hover over light percussion and ephemeral synths. Once Twice Melody, in contrast to past albums, features the lower registers of her voice. This pairs quite well with the more grounded instrumentals of the EP, specifically on track “Superstar.” Her vocal tone beautifully meshes with the lush, intricate layers of drums, guitars, synths, and strings.
Beach House leans into a more staccato, percussive sound in this EP, especially on tracks “Runaway” and “Masquerade.” I am a sucker for the aimless, floating quality of their previous music, but this EP was a pleasant diversion. It is nearly impossible for me not to bop my head to the 80s grooves of these tracks.
In contrast to sharp, driving songs on the EP, the standout track, “Sunset” abruptly halts the wall of sounds, stripping down to acoustic guitar, vocals, and strings. It is a stark mood shift and is a completely unique sound for this usually complex band.
I was not surprised that I enjoyed this EP, given Beach House’s reputation for producing consistently high-quality projects. It will take many more listens to fully grasp the layers of sound presented in each track, but the standouts for me are “New Romances” and “Masquerade.”
The dichotomy of Beach House’s music is captivating, successfully blending peaceful vocals with overwhelming instrumentation. Once Twice Melody deserves to be played at maximum volume while watching a striking sunset.
By Sofia Gualy Music Journalist
The twee aesthetic is predominantly identified by peter pan collars, colored tights and of course Wes Anderson movies. Twee is also found through the indie pop and indie folk music of the early 2000s and 2010s. This era of music largely inspired the trends that are now making a comeback in 2022. Twee culture played a huge part in the Tumblr renaissance that likely inspired many college students’ music tastes. As a lover of all things twee and indie pop, I have compiled a list of artists that will immerse you in the revival of the year.
These artists are essential for one’s introduction into a twee lifestyle.
Two Door Cinema Club
This Irish band was sure to make the top of this list. Gaining popularity in the early 2010s, Two Door Cinema Club quickly became a Tumblr favorite with hits such as “What You Know” and “Something Good Can Work.” They are experts at creating intricate electro-pop beats that make you want to dance. Their first album, Tourist History, was the soundtrack to the twee teens’ nightlife thus making them a great artist to commence the twee revival.
Recommended Songs: “This Is the Life” and “Eat That Up, It’s Good for You”
Bright Eyes
Conor Oberst and his band Bright Eyes were pioneers during the indie-folk buzz of the 2000s. Oberst is often credited as one of the best lyricists of the genre by artists such as Phoebe Bridgers. The melancholic acoustic tunes are very reminiscent of the twee aesthetic and must be included in my recommendations. Their song, “First Day of My Life” is often played in indie-style films and is a cult favorite.
Recommended Songs: “Lua” and “Road to Joy”
She & Him
This list would not be complete without twee icon Zooey Deschanel’s band with M. Ward. Their song “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here” is gaining massive amounts of popularity on TikTok alongside videos that are contributing to the twee revival. Deschanel’s unique voice and charming lyrics allure people of all ages to listen to her and Ward’s timeless music.
Recommended Songs: “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here” and “I Could’ve Been Your Girl”
Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie has been an extremely significant indie band from Washington for over 20 years. Lead singer Ben Gibbard was even married to Zooey Deschanel for a period of time. Their eclectic music and incredible lyrics are timeless which is why I believe they belong on this list. Many of their listeners have lived through both prominent twee eras and their music provides the perfect amount of nostalgia.
Recommended Songs: “We Looked Like Giants” and “What Sarah Said”
All of these artists plus more are found in my playlist below!
Featured Image By Sofia Gualy
By Lea Mercado Web Content Assistant Manager
As we enter February of 2022, Black History Month helps us kick off the new year again. Each year, a theme is selected to guide the public’s awareness of issues disproportionately affecting Black individuals.
Past themes have ranged from “Afro-American Scholars: Leaders, Activists and Writers,” in 1993 to “The Crisis in Black Education” in 2012. Each theme provides a snapshot of history, just as Carter G. Woodson, the scholar whose contributions led the establishment of Black History Month, intended. You can view a complete list of past themes here.
The theme of 2022 is “Black Health and Wellness,” which is highly relevant as the third year of the ongoing pandemic looms. But this year’s theme doesn’t only apply to the COVID-19 pandemic; it goes far beyond that.
While Black caregivers have been heavily relied on throughout the pandemic and should especially be acknowledged and celebrated during Black History Month, Black Health and Wellness has had a tumultuous past in American history beyond the scope of the pandemic.
For instance, in 2005, the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) published a study conducted to examine the quality of health care provided to racial minorities. The study found that “racial and ethnic minorities receive lower-quality health care than white people—even when insurance status, income, age, and severity of conditions are comparable.”
Not to mention, Black women have had to become their own health advocates as many care providers seldom believe Black women – or women in general, leading to the creation of organizations such as the Black Women’s Health Imperative. And that is the absolute tip of the historical iceberg when it comes to how Black people have been treated medically in America.
While progress is indeed being made, America still has a long way to go. But what better time to create change than when the issue is at the forefront of everyone’s minds?
That is exactly what organizations are attempting to do through initiatives such as the “Greater than Covid” organization which provides vaccine locations and accessible educational resources for the public. Or “The Black Coalition Against Covid,” which is the result of a partnership between two initiatives dedicated to providing education and resources regarding COVID to minority communities across the country.
As February comes and goes, it is crucial to understand that educating ourselves on these issues is the absolute bare minimum. There is always more to be done, such as getting involved, donating to organizations, and making sure that our diversity in politics accurately represents the diversity of the people.
To amplify other voices instead of my own, below is a list of local and national organizations that are doing incredible work in the community and can always be a resource or something to support.
Local
- Austin Black Physicians Associations
- Community Advocacy and Healing Project
- Black Owned Health and Wellness Business in Austin
National
- African American Wellness Project
- Black Health Matters
- Health Justice
Featured Image By Lea Mercado
By Jaysen Collins
Sports Reporter
The Texas State Women’s Basketball team (11-11 overall, 6-4 Sun Belt) defeated the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (12-7 overall, 2-6 Sun Belt) in a 64-59 win to continue their 3-game win streak in Sun Belt play.
Coastal Carolina was within reach for the entirety of this game. But it seems as if for every bit of momentum Coastal Carolina got, they were met with a gut-wrenching three-pointer by the Bobcats. More specifically, Jo’Nah Johnson and Kennedy Taylor.
The Bobcat’s shot 8-19 from the three-point line this game, and Jo’Nah Johnson and Kennedy Taylor were responsible for all eight as they combined to shoot 8-14 from the three-point line. Taylor points to the pair’s success to working on their craft and making sure they are sharp.
“My thing is always staying in the gym, like Coach Z said. Jo’Nah and I are always in the gym,” Taylor said. “So, I think just by just building on that confidence our teammates give us, it really helps us fill it up.” Johnson finished the game with 15 points and two assists, and Taylor finished with 12 points and seven assists.
After trading blows throughout the beginning of the first quarter, the Bobcats went on an 11-5 run to give themselves a 19-14 lead going into the second quarter. Neither team shot great from the field this game, as both teams shot under 40%.
The defense was the key factor in the win Saturday afternoon as they forced 20 turnovers, and Sierra Dickson was a big part of that. She didn’t shoot the ball well, but she played great on-ball defense and was very aggressive. She finished the game with four steals. When asked about her improvements on that side of the ball, Coach Antoine thinks Dickson has just gotten more consistent.
“I think the way I’ve seen her develop is just going from last year to this year, playing with a much more consistent motor, this kid can really go,” she said. “I think she does a do a really good job of processing and wanting to give a better output, so she had to find other ways to help this team out. So, she has grown defensively for us whether it be man or zone and she’s still growing in that area.”
Texas State’s largest lead came in the third quarter when they were up by 10 points with 6:13 remaining. Coastal would bring the lead to as low as three but stifling defense and timely buckets would derail Coastal Carolina’s comeback efforts as Texas State won the game by a final score of 64-59.
Texas State Women’s basketball will be back in Strahan to face off against LA-Lafayette at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 10th. You can listen live on KTSW FM 89.9 San Marcos.
By Gian-Carlo C.
Sports Reporter
Texas State Men’s Basketball (15-6 overall, 6-3 Sun Belt) continues their winning streak against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (11-10 overall, 4-6 Sun Belt) at home Saturday night. The Bobcats’ start to the game was deflating, going down 0-10 in the first five minutes of the first half. Coach Terrence Johnson commented on the slow start saying, “they were punching, we were sparring,” during the postgame press conference.
After the game’s first media timeout, the Bobcats went on an 11-0 run, finally showing some fight and getting the crowd involved. As the game continued during the first half, both teams had answers for each other on both sides of the ball; Forcing turnovers, getting good shots, excellent ball movement, and most importantly, playing physical basketball, leading to a score of 29-29 to end the half.
The story of the second half was starting senior guard Shelby Adams, who scored seven straight points to start the half. He gave the Bobcats a spark on the floor and the bench. Adams spoke to me about his energy in our postgame interview.
“One thing I try to bring into every game is being a great leader… on and off the floor especially on the road. I try to bring high-level energy and leadership.” He’s definitely a leader for these Bobcats, finishing the game with 13 points, four assists, seven rebounds, l steal, and shot an efficient 50% from the field.
The last 10 minutes of the game belonged to Isiah Small. He attacked the rim, drew foul calls, and impacted the defensive end with two blocks. Then in the last 40 seconds, Small sealed the game with a three-pointer giving the Bobcats a 67-61 lead. Small finished the game with 15 points, two assists, nine rebounds, two steals, and two blocked shots.
In the postgame press conference, Small said, “I feed off the energy of the crowd so when they quiet, I’m quiet.” Small gave Strahan Arena an electric performance, and Coach Johnson wants to see more out of him as a player. “He is a mismatch every night,” Coach Johnson said postgame. In a final score of 64-69, the Bobcats plucked the Chanticleers to bring Texas States home record to 10 and 1.
Texas State will hope to continue this winning streak on Thursday, February 10th, 2022, against the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (10-11 overall, 5-6 Sun Belt) at the Cajundome. Catch the game on KTSW FM 89.9 San Marcos or watch/stream on ESPN Plus.
Featured Image by Joey Gonzales.
By Franchesca Jennings
Sports Reporter
Texas State Men’s Basketball (14-6 overall, 5-3 Sun Belt) takes the win over the number one ranked Appalachian Mountaineers (14-10 overall, 8-3 Sun Belt) at Strahan Arena Friday night. The Bobcats win over App State is a direct result of “sticking to the game plan,” said Head Coach Johnson during the post-game interview. Appalachian had a six-game winning streak until they played Texas State. It’s no secret that the Mountaineers are one of the best teams in the conference. The consistent preparation before tip-off delivered the Bobcats the win.
The game’s intensity picked up fast in the first half as the Bobcats started in an aggressive man-to-man defense against the Mountaineers. There was amazing energy in the stands as well as on the court. Within minutes of the game, junior guard Caleb Asberry shoots back-to-back threes that initially put the Bobcats in the lead and fans on their feet. Junior forward Nighael Ceaser with the phenomenal defense, effectively contesting three missed shots. Ceaser finished the game with eight points.
The unpleasant winter weather did not stop Bobcat fans from coming out and cheering on the men’s basketball game. Having the home-court advantage is all about a great fan base in the crowd. The noise, the buzz, and communal emotions kept the bobcat’s momentum going. The Bobcats harnessed the energy and delivered the lead going into halftime.
In the second half of Friday’s game, momentum slowed down a bit as the opponents went into a zone defense. However, junior guard Drue Drinnon came into the game with an explosive performance on both ends of the floor, which led to a couple of buckets.
Caleb Asberry scored a team-high 16 points, adding some warmth to a chilly night. Fellow Bobcat Shelby Adams finished with 11 points, on 3-4 for shooting and 2-of-6 on free throws.
The Mountaineers tied the game in the last few minutes, 60-60 at the 5:39 mark; it was a nail-biting moment. Senior guard Shelby Adams attacked the rim and drew a foul to put points on the board, calming the arena. The final score was 68-66, with Texas State winning over Appalachian State 68-66. The Bobcats now have a two-game winning streak.
Texas State will continue as they take the match up against Coastal Carolina on Feb. 5th at 5:00 p.m. (CST). Can’t make the game? You can listen live on KTSW FM 89.9 San Marcos or watch the stream on ESPN plus.
Featured Image by Joseph Gonzales.
By Mikayla Anding
Web Content Contributor
A new film called “Redeeming Love” was released to theaters on January 21 this year. An adaptation of the novel by Francine Rivers, this film was nothing short of wonderful, in my opinion. It was amazing to see it on the big screen after reading the book just last year.
The novel and film can be categorized as romance, historical fiction, and biblical fiction. It tells the story of a young woman initially named Sarah and later named Angel, who was sold into prostitution at a young age and remained a prostitute up until her young adult years. The film’s beginning goes back and forth from her past to the present time of the film, which is her at 18 years old.
The present time in the film takes place in the 1800s in a California town called Pair-a-Dice. Angel lives in a brothel and is under the control of a woman called Duchess. Duchess makes most of the profit off of Angel’s time with the many men visiting the small town. This took place during the time of the California Gold Rush, so many men were coming into town after trying to find gold and would visit the brothel.
Angel was the most known and desired prostitute of the brothel, so Duchess created a raffle of sorts to get a night with Angel. Angel’s character at this point can be described as empty, hopeless, and careless. Even though she was miserable in this life, she felt like she had no way out and spent her days and nights in the brothel, doing what she always did. The only other thing she did was take a walk around the town a couple of days a week.
On one of her walks, a man named Michael Hosea saw her and instantly knew he wanted to meet her. In a previous short scene displaying a bit of his life, Michael prayed for a wife, as he was a single man living on his farm about 30 miles from Pair-a-Dice. On his next visit to the town, he spotted Angel and knew she was going to be his wife. It was love at first sight, but not as cheesy as in Hallmark movies. This scene shows that Angel was Michael’s answered prayer, even though he hadn’t even met her yet.
Michael won the raffle a few times simply to meet Angel. All they did was talk during his time with her, and not what she normally did with the town’s men. He was respectful. He wanted to get to know her. Angel was reluctant to spend time with him, as Michael proposed to her and promised to give her a better life, but Angel didn’t believe him. Michael said he would leave her alone since she did not want him back (or so she said).
However, just before Michael was leaving Pair-a-Dice, he felt like he needed to try one more time. Angel had been attacked the night before he came back. He saw her beaten and bruised and asked her again to marry him so he could take her away. After her response, “sure,” he took her home to his farm with him and took care of her until she healed.
After this scene has been set, here’s the sum up without the ending: Angel left Michael not once, not twice, but three times! He took care of her, was patient with her, and treated her with the utmost respect.
Because of her past experiences and hurts, she thought of marriage as a trap. Michael, however, let her leave when she wanted to as to not control her.
As someone who read the book before watching the movie, I thought Redeeming Love was a wonderful film adaptation! There were a few parts from the book that were not shown in the movie, as that normally happens in film adaptations, but it didn’t seem to affect the flow of the story, and the most important parts were kept in the film.
The casting and sets for this movie were amazing! Almost all the characters were exactly as I had pictured them while reading the book, and the sets were just I had imagined.
“The Vampire Diaries” star Nina Dobrev was in this film playing Angel’s mother. Many of the other actors are ones I hadn’t been familiarized with until this movie, and they were all very talented and natural in their work. The woman who played Angel did an amazing job of showing all the brokenness, hurt, and heartbreak her character faced. Even in her subtle facial expressions and body language, she told the story of Angel so well, especially with the limitations of a film as opposed to a novel.
Fun fact, I bawled my eyes out at the ending. Yes, I knew what was going to happen, and I cried like a baby anyway! The relationship between Michael and Angel was so moving, and seeing it on the big screen was surreal after waiting for this movie since I finished the book last year.
There were so many messages in this film that my friends and I discussed the entire time in the car after leaving the theater. This film shed light on sex trafficking and broken relationships and displayed the healing love of a healthy and self-sacrificial relationship. This was shown in the way Michael treated Angel despite her rebellion against their marriage.
I could go on and on about this film, but you all truly need to see it for yourselves. It’s such a beautiful love story (that’s coming from someone who is picky about romance films), and it’s such a neat look into the 1800s. The only warning I have for any viewer is that this film does cover some heartbreaking topics that are still, unfortunately, a reality today.
Branching off the film is a nonprofit organization committed to aiding the “preventing sex trafficking and abuse by funding survivor support services, education, and recovery programs in the United States and abroad.”
Featured Image By Mikayla Anding
By Jemia Spence
Web Content Contributor
Who doesn’t want to travel and see new things in the world? Travelling doesn’t have to break the bank. You can travel on a budget while still enjoying the finer things in life without having to dig deep in your wallet.
Traveling can get quite expensive; however, it doesn’t have to be if you know how to plan and budget accordingly. After traveling to Atlanta this past month, I found out that by planning and budgeting before your trip, you can save lots of money as I did. Hopefully, these budget and travel tips will help you start planning your next trip and make travel a large part of your life.
Travel during low seasons
This is key when you want to travel on a budget. Typically, the high seasons to avoid are summer and winter. However, this can vary from case to case, so it’s best to do prior research.
Avoid Tourist Traps
Tourist hotspots and big cities are more expensive most of the time. Try to choose less well-known destinations if you can. Everyone wants to go to Bora Bora or Tahiti, but places like Thailand or the Bahamas are just as beautiful and often cheaper.
Get Free Flights
By signing up for a travel credit card, you can start earning points that can pay for your flight. For example, with Southwest, you can earn 40,000 points just by signing up for their credit card, and those points will allow you to buy flight tickets locally and internationally.
Travel with a Friend
It can be fantastic to travel alone, but if you really want to save, it’s best to find a friend or group of friends who will go with you and split the cost 50:50. Honestly, it is a win-win situation for the both of you!
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page,” said Saint Augustine.
This is one of my favorite quotes for traveling and discovering the world. You never know what’s beyond you if you don’t explore. Take the time while you can because there is so much to learn. There are plenty of other travel tips and hacks out there on how to travel on a budget.
Traveling is a beautiful opportunity, but traveling on a budget makes it more accessible to people, especially college students. There are cheap places to travel all over the world.
Featured Image by Jemia Spence
By Justin Brown
Sports Reporter
The San Marcos High School Boys basketball team (24-8 overall, 7-3 26-6A) fell just short Tuesday night against the visiting Del Valle Cardinals (16-6 overall, 4-5 26-6A) in an overtime thriller 68-66.
This game was important to both ball clubs regarding the playoffs. Del Valle coming off a three-game losing streak put the Cardinals in a must-win situation to stay in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the San Marcos Rattlers pursued a win to show they are a team to be reckoned with after coming off two back-to-back blowout wins.
Energy running high in the Snake Pit before tip-off carried onto the court as both teams went back and forth early on. Junior Malik Presley set the tone after the tip with an aggressive drive to the rim resulting in free throws.
This fast-paced aggression from the Rattlers wasn’t only on offense with, two minutes into the game Junior Kaden Gumbs already had two fouls putting him on the bench early.
With the offensive talent of Kaden Gumbs on the bench, Malik Presley delivered with a massive put-back dunk followed by a fadeaway sideline jumper to tie the game with two minutes left in the first quarter.
Presley, unsatisfied with being down two, gets the ball with seconds left to hit a baseline jumper beating the buzzer to end the first quarter.
Riding off the energy of the first quarter, Kaden Gumbs checks back in to join Malik Presley in combining for seven points to give the Rattlers a ten-point lead and fans some relief going into halftime 36-26. This lead and relief would end shortly in the third quarter as the Cardinals played stifling defense to force turnovers while getting threes to fall in the corner.
Del Valle guard Demareon Williams put the cherry on top for the Cardinal’s third-quarter performance with a buzzer-beating three-pointer to tie the game going into the fourth.
The fourth quarter started with both teams playing their best basketball but not without the addition of fouls. This fourth quarter saw both teams at the free-throw line multiple times especially after Kaden Gumbs the crucial Rattler Guard fouled out, giving the Cardinals a chance to tie the game and go to overtime which is exactly what happened.
Overtime in the Snake Pit saw fans in purple and red on their feet, but those in purple would be the first to take a seat. Crucial Rattler free throws were missed and a tough jumper for the Cardinals with four seconds left sealed this Rattler loss final score 68-66.
When asking Head Coach Dan Miller about his thoughts on the loss he said, “We have to learn from this because that was a playoff atmosphere, and we have to make those plays down the stretch.”
The next game for the Rattlers will be at home against Bowie High School on Feb. 4th at 8:00 p.m. Make sure to tune in on KTSW FM 89.9 San Marcos for live coverage in the Snake Pit.
Featured Image by Justin Brown
By Celeste Parler
Web Content Contributor
Classes have started up again and for some of us, they are kicking our behinds. Most of us know what it’s like to miss a due date because we have trouble remembering all of our assigned work. Surely something is bound to slip through the cracks. Perhaps you have experienced so much stress to keep track of deadlines that you end up compromising your sleep schedule or your mental health.
As a fellow college student who has taken several virtual and/or asynchronous classes, I have been there. Since I was 17, I have been using several tools to organize my life from class to extracurriculars and more. Now that I have more responsibilities than ever, I’m glad that my organization and planning skills have paid off.
So I’d like to share a few ways I am able to keep track of class assignments. This is by no means an exhaustive list. And if these techniques don’t work for you, then I encourage you to discover more organizational devices, websites and apps to fit your needs.
How I used my planner in November 2021. 1. Old-Fashioned Planner
Chances are that if you are not already using a planner, someone in your life has recommended that you start. That’s because planners do more than just helping out college students. Today, planners are designed for people of all interests and professions, including students. That’s why I use an academic planner that starts in August and ends in July of the following year. You will find that several academic planners also include educational resources and pages to write out your class schedule.
My current planner from Bloom Daily Planners features a vertical layout that allows you to organize daily tasks by class. Unlike other planning tools, I prefer to write out responsibilities in my planner one week at a time. I do this to not be caught up with deadlines that could be changed at the last minute. Planners might be the best option for those that prefer a pen and paper to screens and keyboards.
My class assignment spreadsheet from Spring 2021 created in Google Sheets. 2. Assignment Spreadsheet
In the last year and even the last few weeks, there have been several viral TikToks of students creating beautiful spreadsheets to organize their classwork. And these TikToks were the inspiration for me to make my own. I use Google Sheets so that I can access my spreadsheet from a browser and the Sheets app from my phone. With a few clicks, you can customize your spreadsheet and have all of your assignments and deadlines organized in chronological order.
I get to work on my assignment spreadsheet at the beginning of the semester after I received all of my class syllabi. I not only include graded assignments, but also deadlines like readings and presentation days. As you can see from the image above, I organize by the course number, assignment type and due date. I also create a key and include smiley face emojis to indicate if I have completed an assignment on time or not. The work may seem tedious, but I promise it will be worth not forgetting a major assignment.
- Canvas Calendar
Every Texas State student is familiar with Canvas, but not everyone is aware of its special features. I’d like to highlight the Calendar feature found below the Groups page on Desktop or to the right of the dashboard on the mobile app. You’ll see that Canvas has already done the hard work of inputting data on a calendar color-coded by course. Also, on the Canvas site assignments will have a strike-through when once you have completed them.
The calendar can also be modified to include personal to-do items and events in a course group with the plus button in the upper right-hand corner. Yet what makes the Canvas calendar a must-use planning tool is its ability to have your information be exported to your other personal calendars. Canvas makes it easy to merge your deadlines and events with the Calendar Feed feature.
Featured Image by Celeste Parler
By Hannah Brown
Web Content Contributor
With the new year and spring semester underway, our minds are filled with everything from getting ahead on our New Year’s resolutions, to finding a date by Valentine’s Day, to “When is the course drop deadline again?”
The last things we want to think about are impending exams and due dates. Didn’t they say college was supposed to be fun? Take a look at these six apps that can increase your productivity, mood and energy this semester.
Flora
Do you find yourself easily distracted by your phone when you should be studying? Flora is a free productivity app focused on habit tracking and task completion through positive reinforcement. Flora lets you plant seeds and grow trees by staying off your device. Use the built-in focus sessions and break times to build your garden starting today.
Reviewers reported increased motivation, a decrease in habitual procrastination and additional flexibility when compared to similar apps. Users can also compete with their friends and even opt-in to plant actual trees in Africa and East Asia at an additional cost.
Word Hippo
Word Hippo is a valuable tool that is a great addition to anyone’s library, whether you need to write an essay for class or a discussion post. Think of this app as a dictionary, thesaurus and search engine all in one. Whether you are recycling other students’ responses or are just trying to sound smarter using a bigger word – we’ve all been there.
I find this app to be extensively thorough and user-friendly with many options to find that perfect word or phrase all in one place.
Daylio Journal
For some, bullet journaling has become an everyday ritual. For the past few years, moleskins, midliner highlighters, washi tape and calligraphy traveled the internet and created an addictive way for a new generation to track and boost their productivity. Unfortunately, not all of us can be that creative, which is where Daylio Journal comes in.
This fully customizable self-care bullet journal keeps track of your mood and activities. Was one of your resolutions to be more active? Eat more balanced foods? Get more sleep? You can keep track of all of that here. Use it consistently and see your month or year in review.
Daylio mood tracker for the month of January Day One Journal: Private Diary
Do you want the benefits of a journal without the stress of adding to it every day? Day One is a free journal created with this in mind. Whether you choose to write every day using their daily writing prompts or just record your important life events, Day One has the ability to appeal to everyone.
What sets this app apart from others is the ability to upload photos and videos along with text entries as well as see your year highlights. Pair this privacy-protected journal to all of your devices to have memories that will last you a lifetime.
MinimaList – To-Do List & Widget
If you are like me, you have come to appreciate the aesthetic that is minimalism. With its neutral palette and simple design, MinimaList is designed for keeping all your to-do lists, reminders and checklists in one place. Pair it to all your devices and create wallpapers and home screen widgets so that you will never forget anything again.
Alarmy
As most college students can attest, there is nothing tougher than waking up for an early class, or any class for that matter. And while it seems to have little consequence in the moment, skipping class can take a toll on grades. Because let’s be honest, who has the discipline to just skip one class? Waking up and staying up is the hard part, so make sure you have coffee on hand and download Alarmy.
Alarmy is a definite way to ensure that you won’t ever wake up late again. This free alarm clock app wakes your brain and body up by ringing until you complete your set challenges. Everything from solving math problems and memory games to missions that force you to get out of bed. I tried this app out for a few days and can promise that although effective, it is as annoying as it sounds.
Make your college experience better by downloading any of these apps to jumpstart your journey to productivity, organization and self-care.
Featured Image by Hannah Brown
By Bandera Barter
Music Journalist
Parquet Courts, whose name is an obscure basketball reference to the type of flooring used in NBA arenas, is an American punk band now hailing from Brooklyn. Their conception began not too far from us here at Texas State in San Marcos. The band was formed in 2009 when lead vocalist Andrew Savage met guitarist Austin Brown while attending The University of North Texas in Denton.
The duo began to make experimental garage rock inspired by other Denton rock bands, like Wax Museums and Marked Men, before going on to inspire the next generation of rock artists with their hypnotizing rhythms, singing guitars, and punk attitude, no matter the style of song.
After college, the band included Max Savage, drummer and younger brother of Andrew, and Sean Yeaton, the bass player in a screamo band before joining Parquet Courts. There is also a lesser-known member of the band, Ricky the Red Ghost, a creation of Andrew Savage’s artistic imagination who appears on the cover of Tally All The Things That You Broke, featuring the alternate spelling of the band Parkay Quarts.
Parquet Courts is a punk band; this does not mean they only make punk rock songs. Even though they have composed what I believe to be some of the best punk songs made in the last 40 years, such as “Donuts Only” off their second studio album Light up Gold, they actually have one of the most diverse, inspired and original discographies I have ever heard, especially from a modern rock band.
Many of my favorite songs are slow and haunting in rhythm, such as “Instant Disassembly”from their album Sunbathing Animal, or even straight-up funk like the song “Zoom Out”from their newest album Sympathy for Life. However, what these lack in pace is made up for in the manner they are presented and performed.
Light up Gold Album Cover “Calling yourself a punk band doesn’t mean having to adhere to any sort of rigid and stylistic molds,” said Savage in their Parquet Courts HBO rocks special. “Punk has always been, for me and I think in its inception, an attitude that you take towards your art and that you take in life.”
The band’s attitude, not only towards the music they make but to life itself, is what sets Parquet Courts apart. They have said on many occasions it is not the fame, money, or critical acclaim which drives them but rather the satisfaction of making great music and having it loved by your peers and respected by those you respect.
This is reminiscent of the early days of The Velvet Underground, another great American punk band, not particularly by style but by attitude.
Lou Reed and John Cale bear a striking resemblance to Andrew Savage and Austin Brown in their style of play and creative process. Savage and Reed both possess the heart of a poet in the body of a rockstar who always seems to be bursting at the seams with creative passion and flair that is demanding to be heard.
Cale, the violinist, and composer who was able to understand Reed’s ideas and turn them into experimental and beautiful art, reminds me of Brown and his ability to create some of the most innovative, rhythmic, and stylized guitar riffs that match the vision of Savage and the attitude of his voice.
It is even more fitting that Parquet Courts is now taking control of the New York rock scene The Velvet Underground used to dominate.
Parquet Courts also feature one of the most consistently kick-ass rhythm sections in music over the past decade.
Max Savage on the drums is able to draw inspiration from punk, jazz, and 80’s dance music and create a steady and catchy rhythm leading songs in a way not many other drummers have mastered the same way.
As for Yeaton, his basslines astound and impress me every time they release a new album or track. His basslines range from loud, fast rockets propelling the song forward keeping it from ever stopping, like on “Stoned and Starving”and “Homo Sapien,” to slow, airy and imaginative rhythms that make you feel like you’re floating along with the lyrics, such as in “Pulcinella.”
No matter the track, these two do a wonderful job of creating and maintaining the Parquet Courts atmosphere.
Sympathy for Life Album Cover Their newest album, Sympathy for Life is accompanied by a visualization of the album, which is just as psychedelic inspired as the album. It is also narrated by NBA legend Bill Walton, yet another basketball reference, who takes you on a spirit quest through the themes of the album.
The film features a variety of styles and mediums, including avant-garde claymation, a talented puppet, and a very sad clown, all of which stylistically fit perfectly in with the song they are paired with. The group continues to evolve and experiment with their sound, creating some of their funkiest and most experimental music to date while relaying the message of psychedelic acceptance through punk inspired by electronic dance music from the 80s.
Parquet Courts music feels like being so in the moment that you forget you are drunk, but you are definitely drunk. It completely captivates you. It’s fast, loud, sometimes distorted, never caring how it is perceived. The band does not let the category of punk music keep them in a box or chained to a style. Rather it eliminates the chains and allows for true artistic freedom, which is what I believe punk music to be.
Be sure to check out Parquet Courts and their new song “Watching Strangers Smile”on KTSW 89.9!
Featured Image by Pooneh Ghana.
By Justin Brown
Sports Reporter
Texas State Men’s Basketball (13-6 overall, 4-3 Sun Belt) split the Back-to-Back against University of Texas at Arlington Mavericks (9-12 overall, 5-5 Sun Belt) after winning 58-53 Saturday evening at home.
This game wasn’t like any regular home game for the Bobcats as it was Blackout night in Strahan Arena. A season-high 3,587 fans dressed in black electrified and cheered on the Bobcats resulting in the victory over UTA.
The first half began with a 6-0 run by the Mavericks, which senior guard Shelby Adams stopped after scoring a contested two under the rim. Combine Adams’ contested two with senior guard Caleb Asberry’s consecutive three-pointers, and the Bobcats offense was truly rolling against the Mavericks.
Despite the Bobcats scoring a scorching hot six three-pointers in the first half, the game remained close with four lead changes and the Bobcats down three 26-29 at the break.
The second half began with many fans worried as the Mavericks strolled to their biggest lead of the game, nine points with 16:18 remaining. But the fans were quickly back on their feet as senior forward Nighael Ceaser gave the Bobcats their first points of the half with a shot clock beating floater.
Asberry, feeding off the fan’s energy, gave everyone in Strahan Arena a show by splashing a three-pointer from the corner, a defensive rebound on the other end, and a Fastbreak three to top it off.
Though the Bobcat offense built a nine-point lead with 7:54 remaining, the credit for this victory must be given to the defense. The Bobcats could not score a single basket in the last seven minutes but held the Mavericks with their defense to seal the win.
Senior Shelby Adams made Bobcat history Saturday evening with the most career games all-time, with 134 games played. When Head Coach Terrence Johnson was asked to share about Adams as a player, he said, “He is everything that you want in a player and if you had the opportunity to start a program, that’s who you’d want to start it with.”
“One thing that cannot go without being said is that the energy the fans and the community put into this place is unmatched,” Johnson said. “To be completely honest it’s not even close and this is what carried our guys to a victory.”
Texas State will continue their three-game homestand on Feb. 3rd at 7:00 p.m. against Appalachian State. You can listen live on KTSW FM 89.9 San Marcos, and it will also be streamed on ESPN+.
Featured Image by Joseph Gonzales
By Jaysen Collins
Sports Reporter
The San Marcos High School boys’ basketball team (24-7 overall, 7-2 26-6A) won in convincing fashion Friday night against Austin High School (7-22 overall, 1-8 26-6A) by a final score of 76-37.
The Rattlers came out with energy from the opening tip as they went on a 6-0 run. It was smooth sailing from there, led by Kaden Gumbs hot hand, scoring San Marcos’s first two baskets. The Rattlers kept applying pressure coming out of the timeout, and they pushed the score to 19-0 at the 3:51 mark in the first quarter.
Pressure and easy baskets were the recipes for success in the game. The 19-point lead San Marcos had would be as close as Austin High would get to competing in this game. Junior guard Kaden Gumbs finished with 18 points and some excellent passes, putting his teammates in the right position, including an alley-oop to Junior forward Malik Pressley, who also finished the game with 18 points.
Key contributions from Junior forward Mateus Perkins, who had 12 points. Freshman guard Cash chipped in 8 points of his own. In this matchup everyone got to shine on the San Marcos bench, nine out of ten players scored in the games.
San Marcos played a good game from the opening tip-off to the last second of the game. There was nothing Austin High School could do.
When asked about what went into their preparation for the game, Kaden Gumbs said, “There wasn’t much preparation for this game,” he said with a smile. “We know what we have to do against teams of less caliber and we executed.”
I asked Gumbs if it was important for San Marcos to get into a rhythm heading into the playoffs as district play is coming to a close. The junior guard told me that it is essential.
“It’s very important; we have those powerhouses in Lake Travis and Westlake,” he said. “We have those tough challenges, so we have to be on our A-game, and I think we will be prepared.
San Marcos’s next game will be at home against Del Valle High school on Tuesday, February 1, in the Snake Pit. You can listen live on KTSW FM 89.9 San Marcos.
Featured Image by Jaysen Collins
By Cassidy Segovia
Music Journalist
After postponing their Kiss My Super Bowl Ring tour twice since 2020, The Garden is back and performing on tour once again!
The Garden is an experimental rock band from Orange County, CA consisting of twin brothers Wyatt and Fletcher Shears. They have released six full-length albums since 2012, and have even published their own record labeled, Vada Vada, based on their self-created musical genre.
Tickets to their Paper Tiger set in San Antonio sold out a few months ago, so I knew that this show was going to be packed. I was in a long line of people outside of the venue for an hour and a half before being let inside. The workers and security got everyone in quickly, making sure to scan IDs and vaccination cards before letting fans in. I noticed that my friend and I were older than most people there, by looking at all of the black Xs on the backs of everyone’s hands. The Garden’s fan base is mostly teenagers, as seen from their social media platform statistics.
I tried getting as close to the barricade as I could and we waited an hour before The Runts opened the show. As soon as they came out, pushing, moshing and head-banging started to begin. I did not expect less, knowing that The Runts is a hardcore punk band but I could see the expressions of younger girls around me start to drop. Nevertheless, I have never heard of this band, but their set was a great introduction and set the overall energy for the show.
The Runts opening up for The Garden at Paper Tiger by Cassidy Segovia. After The Runts ended, I talked to the girls around me and also told my friend that they could lean on me if needed throughout the show. I have been to rock and punk concerts before, so I know how to live through a crowd when it gets too rowdy — I was not too sure about the people around me though.
The Garden quickly came out to perform around 10 minutes after The Runts left the stage. They opened up with “Clay,” their 2017 hit that made the crowd go wild. I paid close attention to Fletcher on the drums was absolutely amazing and provided so much energy even behind a drum set. Wyatt made sure to use every inch of the stage, even with his mic attached to a stand. I would think that both of their voices would be out due to screaming and singing almost every night, but Wyatt and Fletcher still had liveliness in their vocals. Between songs, Wyatt would play mini-bass solos (which excited me, since I have seen Wyatt’s solo skills on his TikTok) that everyone seemed to enjoy as well.
The Garden performing on stage at the Paper Tiger by Cassidy Segovia. The songs that everyone pushed, screamed and jumped for was “Please, F**k Off,” “Sneaky Devil” and “:.” At this point, I was not at the barricade anymore and I unwillingly moved to the corner right side of the stage. The concert etiquette that the crowd possessed was nothing I have ever experienced before. The people behind me were hesitant to let others out and used the opportunity to push and crowd the fans in the front to get closer to the stage. While moshing was going on, strangers were grabbing onto the back of my pants, my belt and even pinching hard onto my arm. The new wave of concert-goers who mosh and push people who
are notably uncomfortable make concerts go from fun experiences to potentially dangerous situations.
The entire experience for me was mixed with both positive and negative parts. The performances that The Runts and The Garden put on were phenomenal, and I would love to hear them live again. The only downside was the lack of compassion from the crowd, it caught my friend and I off-guard and made parts of the experience very unbearable. If I do get a chance to see The Garden again, I will definitely take it (I’ll just be off to the side though!)
Listen to The Garden on Spotify!
Listen to The Runts on Spotify!
Featured Image by Cassidy Segovia
By Jordan Young
Sports Director
Sports Information Director Rick Poulter is no longer working for Texas State Athletics. According to a source, Poulter’s last day was January 3, 2022.
Poulter was the sports information director at Texas State from February 2008 to January 2022. Prior to working at Texas State, Poulter was the assistant sports information director at the University of Houston for 21 years. The search for a Poulter’s replacement is ongoing.
Mr. Poulter and Texas State Athletics did not respond to a request for comment.
Correction: In a story published on January 13, Mr. Poulters position was incorrectly identified as Assistant Athletic Director. The story also incorrectly stated that Mr. Poulter was involved with on-field decisions and the hiring and firing of coaches.
Featured Image by Texas State Athletics