C Magazine Vol. 8 Edition 6 by C Magazine

C MAGAZINE

June 2020 • Volume 8, Edition 6 Dear readers, We are so excited to present the sixth and final issue of the school year! We want to thank the outgoing seniors for all the hard work they have put into the magazine over this past year and wish them the best of luck in their post-high school adventures, whatever they may be. We understand that this pandemic has brought a lot of uncertainty and stress for many people during this time, so we here at C Magazine wanted to use this issue as an outlet for both our staff and our readers. We hope this issue brings you a sliver of normalcy amidst all the craziness and sparks some joy during these difficult times. As the brand new leadership team, some of our goals for the coming year include expanding the Paly community’s access to our magazine as well as incorporating more new and exciting visual spreads that feature the artistic talents of Paly students. Art and music have long been used to bring people together and as a form of self-expression, and that is no different in the context of social and political movements. In our cover story, “Louder Than Words,” writers Eunice Cho, Faith Chow, Dunya Mostaghimi and Sukhman Sahota examine the intersection between the arts and activism. They examine relevant applications prompted by the pandemic, an artist’s journey to finding core inspirations, what it is like making socially-charged pieces in the public eye and the origins of protest music. This cover story, while mostly written prior to the most recent Black Lives Matter protests, feels even more relevant and important to us than it did when we started discussing the idea six weeks ago. We came up against a print deadline in terms of trying to include as much as we could with regard to ongoing protests and marches. But, we did not want readers to think that we stopped there. That’s why we invite you to explore more of our current coverage on the C Magazine website and social media. We know the story will continue to evolve. We also made the conscious decision to capitalize Black when in reference to race. This is both out of respect for the interviewees and their capitalization of the word as well as an editorial decision to recognize the discrepancy in The Associated Press Style, which dictates that proper names of “nationalities, peoples, races, tribes” should be capitalized but Black should not. The cover itself, designed by our very own Creative Director Sam Mutz, is an artistic rendition of a protester in action, with bolts of lightning to represent the power that comes from the freedom of speech. Our Featured Artist this issue is Paly junior Edward Zhang, a talented artist and entrepreneur. In the article written by staff writers Karina Kadakia and Hazel Shah, Zhang discusses his sources of inspiration and walks us through the creative process behind his breathtaking paintings and original clothing designs, which he uses to bring awareness and relief to those who have been deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue also has a special emphasis on our departing seniors, both because of the pandemic’s effect on their final semester and as a way to uphold yearly traditions. In “The End of the Road,” staff writers Sophie Jacob and Isabella Moussavi detail their experiences during the shelter-in-place mandate, from both an academic and social perspective. They discuss the new Required Online Learning Experiences and the struggles they impose on students already suffering from senioritis. But living in a technical age allows seniors to find refuge with their peers and stay connected with friends even when physically apart. We end on a lighthearted note with our annual “Senior Soundtrack,” where staff writers Chloe Laursen and Natalie Schilling surveyed our outgoing seniors for two songs that they feel represent their high school careers and one song that best encompasses their experience in quarantine. This playlist allows for a time of reflection and pride as it has become a senior rite of passage on staff. We wish more than anything we could give our seniors a proper C Magazine send-off, but this will have to do until we meet again. We hope this magazine finds you and your family in good health and that it provides some fun stories and groovy designs to entertain yourselves as the days seem to get longer and longer. Happy reading! Alexa Gwyn, Kimi Lillios, Atticus Scherer and Emma Stefanutti Editors-in-Chief

thanks to our

sponsors

staff

Alexandra & Jonas Olsen Anne & Billy Spier Annie Funkhouser Anoosh & Maryam Mostaghimi Barbara Cottrell Bridget Cottrell Brin Jisra Charlotte Amsbaugh Chris Lillios & Jinny Rhee Clara Fox Craig Dumas & Ranne Rhee David Scherer Dan Zigmond Danielle Laursen David & Shantel Ferdman Debbie Wolter Deni-Kay Freier Emil Stefanutti Faith Chow Gadi & Henriette Ponte Gigi Tierney Grace Rowell Holly Lim Illuminate Plastic Surgery Inder Sodhi Jack Callaghan Jack Stefanski Jaime Furlong Jan & Monte Klein Jasleen Sahota Jennifer Mutz Jenny Robinson Jody Domingos Jonas & Alexandra Olsen Karen Gould Kathy Mach Katina Lillios Leela Vakil Lisa Borland Liz & Don Darby Liza Baskind Lois & Dave Darby Maria Aboytes Maria Afzal Mary Lynn Fitton Mea Rhee Michael Romano Michelle Vonderhaar Mike & Juliet Helft Mimi Veyna Moon & Hwa Rhee Palo Alto Libraries Phyllis Mutz Pietro Stefanutti Rita Baginskis Robert Wilson Rochelle & Stan Ferdman Rosa Schaefer Bastian Ryan & Andrea Helft Ryan Gwyn Stanley Chow Stella Laursen Sue Kim & Won Rhee Susan & Warren Gelman Sylvia Chavez Teresa Chen Terri Brown Theresa McCann Tony Lillios Trudi & Jeff Zelikson Victor & Teresa Chung Virginia Fitton Wendy & Gary Hromada Xavier Shah

Editors-in-Chief

Managing Editors

Alexa Gwyn, Kimi Lillios, Atticus Scherer, Emma Stefanutti

Leslie Aboytes, Faith Chow, Ellie Rowell, Libby Spier

Creative Director

Creative Adviser

Sam Mutz

Sukhman Sahota

Online Editor-in-Chief

Graphics Editor

Dunya Mostaghimi

Samantha Feldmeier

Social Media Managers

Business Managers

Eunice Cho, Sophia Baginskis

Bridget Packer, Rachael Vonderhaar

Staff Writers Katherine Buecheler, Ellen Chung, Kailee Correll, Zander Darby, Ellie Fitton, Ashley Guo, Sophie Jacob, Karina Kadakia, Chloe Laursen, Theo L.J., Claire Li, Lindsey McCormick, Isabella Moussavi, Callum Olsen, Tamar Ponte, Natalie Schilling, Hazel Shah, Raj Sodhi, Mahati Subramaniam, Fiza Usman, Tyler Varner Illustrators Megan Andrews, Ellen Chung, Kimi Lillios, Sam Mutz, Tamar Ponte, Frida Rivera, Sukhman Sahota, Kellyn Scheel, Tyler Varner, Faustine Wang

Cover Sam Mutz, Sukhman Sahota Table of Contents Art courtesy of Leila Chabane Adviser Brian Wilson

Publication Policy C Magazine, an arts and culture magazine published by the students in Palo Alto High School’s Magazine Journalism class, is a designated open forum for student expression and discussion of issues of concern to its readership. C Magazine is distributed to its readers and the student body at no cost.

Printing & Distribution C Magazine is printed 6 times a year in October, November, December, February, April and May by aPrintis in Pleasanton, CA. C Magazine is distributed on campus and mailed to sponsors by Palo Alto High School. For this sixth issue of volume eight, C Magazine is printed by Folger Graphics in Hayward, CA and mailed to every student’s home by the Paly Parent Teacher Student Association. All C Magazine stories are available on cmagazine.org.

Advertising The staff publishes advertisements with signed contracts, providing they are not deemed by the staff inappropriate for the magazine’s audience. For more information about advertising with C Magazine, please contact business managers Bridget Packer and Rachael Vonderhaar at businesscmagazine@ gmail.com.

Letters to the Editors The C Magazine staff welcomes letters to the editors but reserve the right to edit all submissions for length, grammar, potential libel, invasion of privacy and obscenity. Send all letters to eicscmagazine@ gmail.com or to 50 Embarcadero Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94301.

contents

Louder than Words pg. 20

arts 10

Forgery

Featured Artist: Edward Zhang

Live to Eat

Louder Than Words

culture 27

Unbounded Love

End of the Road

Beating Boredom

Pages of Isolation

music 37

Hip Hopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Newest Wave

Band Mania

All to Myself

Senior Soundtrack

Passing

Text and design by TYLER VARNER

The

time during this time of uncertainty, people across the globe are finding comfort in activities such as exploring the outdoors. many have discovered new places and activities they normally wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have noticed before the shelter-in-place. These are a few photos taken by students of things they have been doing to make the most out of the situation and pass the time.

“there’s something about being outside that reminds me we’re all connected in some way” -sarah o’riordan

Photos by LEILA KHAN and BRy Sid

photos by Tyler varner, grace thayer, and leila khan

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild airâ&#x20AC;? -ralph waldo emerson

photos by Tessa ehrlich and Alexa gwyn

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In all artistic mediums, there is a fine line between creative inspiration and intentional plagiarism for profit. Where that line is drawn and what effect it has is up for interpretation.

in Fashion

he practice of taking a piece of names began in high school, when he look identical to the original, yet at a art, fashion, or music and pro- realized their value and chance for po- fraction of the price. Of course, they are ducing it as your own, is con- tential profit. not up to the standards of the original sidered forgery and is classified as a “I am very conscious of current in quality, and little flaws in the product white-collar crime. In an attempt to trends and by doing that I can stay on are obvious giveaways to the purchase avoid these criminal charges, designers top of what items will make me money of a fake. Despite their lack of quality, and artists have found ways to slightly if I can get them right when they come counterfeits are a $450 billion industry. modify the original, usually lowering out,” Ryan said. It has been shown that While some purchase knock-offs the price and the quality process. These the popularity of a product and demand unintentionally and are left disappointlook-alikes, known as knock-offs, are for it dramatically increases by when ed, many people intentionally shop for commonly bought by mistake, leaving the brand is well known. counterfeits. This poses a danger to the buyer disappointed and unsatlarge designer brands since cus"I'm really not a fan of [knock-offs], tomers are now able to get essenisfied. But what makes the original so tially the same product elsewhere it's like cheating yourself much better than what they refor a cheaper price. However, ceived? There is no art without the even with many taking advantage jimmy ryan artist, meaning no matter how simof this money-saving strategy, a ilar the copy looks, the originality large number of people still prefer from the artist or flash from the designWhile a simple logo may seem trivial investing in the original. In fact, Ryan er brand is still missing. to the value, many claim it is the qual- disapproves of the ‘fakes’. “Knock-offs Jimmy Ryan, a college student from ity of material and manufacturing pro- I’m really not a fan of, it’s like cheating Lake Oswego, Ore., is an experienced cess that makes brand names so prized. yourself,” Ryan said. So while counterreseller who is familiar with popular Others simply like the flash of the brand feits and knock-offs should not be overbrands. His profit comes from buying and the style of the item. The popularity looked, designer brands are still profithot fashion items the second they come of certain designs and styles lead to the ing off of those with enough attention out, and reselling them for a greater production of counterfeits and knock- to detail, and when it comes down to it, price. His fascination with big brand offs being made. These are designed to money.

in Art

n the world of visual art, forgery often faces controversy and scrutiny because it raises questions about the essence of art. Paintings and sculptures are the hallmarks of museums, yet among monumental work there are still undetected fakes. While there is seemingly no difference to the untrained eye, many argue that the creativity, ingenuity and originality needed to compose such an original piece is the essence of art. According to Bertil Chappuis, senior at Sacred Heart School, the difference between a painting and a replica also includes its impacts on viewers. Chappuis is fascinated by a range of artwork: from Picasso’s bold and abstract style to Morandi’s delicate and dreamlike still lifes. Many of these paintings are so unique that even the slightest difference in texture, scale or color would change it’s intended tone.“These things might seem like subtle or even trivial differences but they completely change how a painting

affects the viewer,” Chappuis said. For prove his tehcnique. this reason, he finds that replicas often According to Chappuis, replicated lack the original feel of the piece. artwork cannot be seen as a masterpiece, Looking to many painters for inspi- but it does carry benefits for consumration allowed Chappuis to reshape his ers. Replicating art has become its own approach towards industry, allowing art from one that to collect "The most effective way for buyers avoids reality to n e a r- i m it at i on s one that tackles it me to teach myself about of masterpieces at head-on through a fraction of the composition, color and portraits. He also price. Copying is improved techni- brushwork is to spend as also an art form in cal skills simply itself, usually in the much time as possible just through observaforms of etchings tion. “I find that observing art that appeals and block printthe most effecings. “There are to me." tive way for me some art mediums bertil chappuis that are meant to to teach myself about composibe mass produced, tion, color and brushwork is to spend as and if an artist wants to reach a larger aumuch time as possible just observing art dience they should use those,” Chappuis that appeals to me,” Chappuis said. By said. Although replicas have benefits for studying other pieces of art, Chappuis consumers, the originality of artwork is has managed to find inspiration and im- near-impossible to capture.

lmost everyone has heard two tween covers and imitation is the cover’s songs that seem remarkably ability to alter the song’s tempo, pitch or similar. Sampling, or incorpo- chords to fit the artist’s own style. While rating parts of other music, has become covers are a way for artists to showcase popular with modern artists across all their skills, imitation provides the first genres, and is often accepted as a meth- step towards developing their own style. od of reinventing old They often use hits. However, samthe original as "I make covers all the time pling and cover-maka base from ing have also raised and noticing the styles of which to test questions about the mix difmusic that my voice blends and differences between ferent sounds borrowing, influenc- together with best has really that fit their ing and stealing music. own style. “I helped develop my own According to Elizmake covers abeth Wang, a Paly sound." all the time sophomore who reelizabeth wang and noticcords her own music, ing the styles covers of popular music are often easy and of music that my voice blends together valuable ways for new artists to launch with best has really helped develop my themselves into the industry. “Covers own sound,” Wang said. are a great way to reflect and showcase Wang has always been drawn to the your voice and singing style while orig- creativity and vulnerability of music, inals mainly portray your songwriting,” and sampling simply adds to the range Wang said. The distinguishing factor be- of creative expression allowed. As Wang

in Music

drew influences from different artists, her music has evolved from slower and softer sounds to upbeat and electropop. However, there is still a difference between inspiration and plagiarism. “I wouldn’t really consider it ‘art’ if it’s just a straight up copy, but if you are painting a copy of an art piece and making some slight changes and incorporating your own style into it, it’s definitely art,” Wang said. In music, sampling is often a way to add to the originality and experimentation of music, allowing music to evolve as artists from different eras build off other’s work to produce an entirely new song. With each sample, cover, or borrowing of music, there is a transformation in the original nature of the song with the potential to move music forward into new tastes. Sampling has indeed embedded itself in the music industry, and despite its close boundary with plagiarism, it carries countless benefits.

Featured Artist

Edward Zhang With a vision in mind, canvas and colors at hand, Paly’s very own Edward Zhang pushes the boundaries of art, advocating for more than meets the eye.

Text and design by KARINA KADAKIA and HAZEL SHAH • Artwork courtesy of EDWARD ZHANG

eeling back the plastic wrapping from a new four-by-three foot canvas, Edward Zhang visualizes the final look of his painting. He glances at a note sheet filled with complex and creative ideas for his piece. After an initial sketch, Zhang begins to paint. Thick and thin brush strokes, texture varying from rough to smooth and adding lights and shadows, Zhang creates a symphony of tones that symbolize a bigger meaning meant to make the viewer think beyond just the piece itself. Edward Zhang, a junior at Paly, started painting in elementary school, but not because he wanted to. “I started painting around 4th grade and at first it was because my parents were forcing me to and they took me to art classes,” Zhang said. It wasn’t until middle school that his own curiosity for art started to emerge. Starting simple, Zhang created art with

colors he felt comfortable with. “Back pressed in America. “A big crisis around then, I used to use more plain neutral col- the world, coronavirus, has inspired a lot ors to help it look more real like brown of my pieces as well,” Zhang said. and white,” Zhang said. “I think now I’ve Zhang begins his creative process by gotten more used using imto experiment- “I wanted to create really ages online ing with brighter to establish tones and more simple, modern and really a theme or pastel colors.” bizarre designs that nobody tone for his Zhang’s field piece and of inspiration has would think of, so it is more then selects expanded over unique to our brand.” colors that the years to the reflect the point where his art is influenced by ev- mood he desires. “For more depressing eryday conversations with his friends and subjects, I’d probably use a darker, more family. “Sometimes our friends are gos- cold blue, green type of color. For more siping or some conversation will result in creative pieces, I use a lot more colors, a random idea and I pretty much paint with a mixture of warm colors,” Zhang it,” Zhang said. He also takes inspiration said. This attention to detail and routine from events occurring around the world, is a key part of Zhang’s artistic individuadvocating mostly for social issues sur- ality, setting him apart from other artists. rounding Asian Americans and those opNot only does Zhang’s artwork speak

to his friends and family, but to the community as well. A few create really simple, modern and really bizarre designs that days before the school’s closure as a result of COVID-19, nobody would think of, so it is more unique to our brand.” Zhang was eating lunch with his friends on campus, oblivZhang’s clothing brand has since then taken off, with iously enjoying one of their last lunches of junior year. “I many Paly students purchasing his products and modeling told them I wanted to start a clothing business,” Zhang said. them on the brand’s Instagram account. With Zhang’s un“At that point, it wasn’t for charity. It was like me wanting to deniable talent and entrepreneurial skills, he has managed design clothes and sell them.” to use his passion for art to better the community around Zhang had long been holding onto this idea, and it came him. into full effect when he realized Zhang has a familial connection he had the opportunity to make a “As a high schooler, there’s to his passion and his role as an artbigger impact. “I’m a member of very little fun we can have ist. “My whole family has done art, Youth Community Service-Interact and my grandpa is an established because we have so much and someone told me that there was traditional artist and a lot of that is work to do. Just sitting a charity in East Palo Alto that was his influence,” Zhang said. He redown and having fun closing because not enough people called memories of his grandfather were donating due to the fear of while painting, it’s the best sitting for hours, casually painting COVID-19,” Zhang said. Taking and finding relaxation in it. option.” his two passions of creating art and For Zhang and many other teenhelping out the community, Zhang created CX Apparel. agers, high school brings stress and pressure. A creative outWith the help of a few of his friends, Zhang was able let, such as art, is a way to focus on something that is enjoyto create a modern and abstract clothing brand, entirely able and calming. Unlike many hobbies, Edward Zhang has designed by him. “[YCS-I] expressed a need for monetary used his art as a way to help more people than just himself. donations, so I thought, ‘let’s gear our mission for CX Ap- “As a high schooler, there’s very little fun we can have beparel towards donating and raising money for this charity,’” cause we have so much work to do,” Zhang said. “Just sitting Zhang said. “As for the designs of the clothing, I wanted to down and having fun while painting, it’s the best option.”

live to

Curly tomato pasta Photo courtesy of NOA LEHRER

EAT

To some, food is simply sustenance, but to others, it's a way to connect with people. Text by KAILEE CORRELL, ZANDER DARBY & ASHLEY GUO • DESIGN BY ASHLEY GUO

hat makes a dish special? Is it the ingredients? The aesthetic? With more time on their hands, people are beginning to find joy in home cooking. But many have been showing off their dishes and cooking skills since before the COVID-19 shelter-in-place regulations. Whether they cook to eat, to perfect an art or to simply enjoy a fun hobby, Paly students and talented chefs show that cooking is for everyone. To senior Jackson Druker, cooking was a way for him to learn a new skill while he was recovering from an injury. In 2015, Druker broke the growth plate in his femur; unable to do any athletic activities, he turned to cooking in order to stay healthy. Through learning and improving his cooking, Druker not only has produced delicious food, but he also learned some valuable new skills. “Cooking has helped me learn a lot about how to be patient and be careful not to overwhelm any one flavor because it can ruin a dish,” Druker said. He also finds that

he saves on a lot of costs by making his own meals. “Considering my intake, it’s usually less expensive to cook for myself than to eat out.” Rather than being carefully planned or calculated, cooking is a very spontaneous activity for Druker. While others get lost in the measurements or obscure ingredients, Druker shows how true cooking is about working with what you have. “I usually don’t have a plan; with the years of experience, I think of a specific meat or vegetable and build a meal around it,” Druker said. “If we have a lot of something at home, it’s usually going to end up being the central part of the meal.” To Druker, cooking does not have to be a solo activity. Druker loves cooking with friends and family. After all, the more the merrier. “I like to cook and integrate my friends into the process to show them how fun cooking can be,” Druker said. “My favorite things to cook with friends are cookies and burgers, and they always come out great!”

"I usually don't have a plan; with the years of experience, I think of a specific meat or vegetable and build a meal around it." Giant BLT sandwich with homemade bread • Photo courtesy of JACKSON DRUKER

With his passion for food and years of experience under his belt, Druker has established himself as a prominent chef in the family. He is usually expected to bring food to family gatherings and events, sometimes even granting requests to bring specific dishes. While Druker seemed to have picked up cooking all on his own, it is evident that a love for food and cooking runs in his family. “On my dad’s side of the family, they have a tradition of making a family cookbook every ten years,” Druker said. “My grandma has seven siblings and grew up on a farm, so she and her family are all good cooks. Since there are so many of them, every decade one of them is in charge of the cookbook.” This year, Druker joined that tradition. “My grandma was in charge of our family’s one-per-decade cookbook this year, and she immediately came to me and asked for me to cook for her and give her the recipe for what I cooked.” Druker is a prime example of how anyone can get into cooking and refine their skills with practice. Whether he is working

"I like cooking because to me it is fun and methodical, but mostly because of the end product, especially when you can share something tasty that you made with other people."

David Tomz 16

the grill or baking cookies with friends, Druker is sure to imbue those around him with his love and spirit for cooking. Unlike Druker’s free-form style of cooking, others enjoy the complicated and detail-oriented craft of baking. It was a package of brownie box mix that introduced incoming freshman David Tomz to the world of baking. Over the past few years, he has expanded his culinary skills past cakes and box mix desserts, perfecting recipes that require more than just adding an egg and some oil to a premade mixture. Instead of focusing on whole dishes that could be served for dinner, Tomz enjoys concentrating his attention toward specific foods that are notorious for being complicated. One of his proudest accomplishments is mastering croissants, famous for a two-day process of repeatedly chilling, rolling and folding the dough. “I think making complicated foods like croissants are the most fun because usually the end result is really tasty and like nothing you could really make in a few hours,” Tomz said. Despite the extensive amount

Homemade pasta

Jackson Druker of time put into the croissants, the reward of a flakey, layered pastry is worth the effort, patience and time. Tomz’s baking skills usually reside within the realm of cakes and pastries. For the past few months, however, he has turned his focus to baking sourdough bread. Similar to croissants, sourdough requires a long proofing process, beginning with making a starter that helps the bread rise and develop its flavor. “[The starter] is just a combination of flour and water that is fermented to grow a culture of yeast,” Tomz said. After the starter is made, it needs to be maintained for several days and fed with specific amounts of flour and water which will determine the rise and taste. “The first sourdough loaf I made was pretty awful,” Tomz said. “It was dense, and tasted bad.” However, this first attempt didn’t stop Tomz from trying again. “Now, a few loaves later, I feel pretty good about my sourdough making skills.” Cooking and baking has given Tomz the freedom in the kitchen to try out a new recipe, or remake an old one. “UsuSourdough loaf • Photos courtesy of David Tomz

Noa lehrer ally when I cook or bake, it’s not really on a regular basis, it’s whenever I feel like it and we have the ingredients at home.” While he doesn’t have a regimented routine, Tomz will occasionally contribute to making his family’s dinner. Homemade pasta is one of his favorites to prepare. “It’s super easy to make and tastes really good,” Tomz said. “We got this pasta roller that makes making pasta much easier than having to roll out sheets with a rolling pin.” Now with the shelter in place, Tomz has found himself cooking more often to pass the time, with an added bonus of a tasty treat he can share with others. Like other cooks, he has spent countless hours practicing and developing his culinary skills to achieve a delicious end result. “I like cooking because to me it is fun and methodical, but mostly because of the end product,” Tomz said. “Especially when you can share something tasty that you made with other people.” As social media skyrockets into popularity, chefs can share their food with an even wider audience, creating communities of chefs and food connoisseurs on social media. A step up from basic influencers’ morning coffee posts, food accounts feature marvelous dishes that showcase the visual artistry and complexity of cooking. On the Instagram account @ lehrer.eats, senior Noa Lehrer posts pictures of her family’s meals. The star chef of @lehrer.eats is her dad, Josh Lehrer, who cooks dinner for the family almost every night. However, it does feature various guest appearances from other family members and friends. In December of 2017, Lehrer created the account to feature her dad’s

cooking and keep an archive of the meals the family has shared together. “My dad cooks beautiful dinners that are yummy, and I wanted to share that with friends and family,” Lehrer said. To Lehrer, her dad’s food is not only high quality, but made with an abundance of love and joy. Through Instagram, she can share his beautiful creations to give his cooking the recognition it deserves. “I love the food that my dad makes,” Lehrer said. “We like to joke around sometimes and say that what we are having for dinner is better than any restaurant in Palo Alto, and cheaper too.” In the Lehrer household, food evidently allows the family to bond and is a fun activity for everyone to enjoy. This spirit illustrates how food is not just a means to live, but it is also an essential part of community. “Other than home-cooked meals tasting good, I like that it brings people together,” Lehrer said. “Sometimes we all pitch in as sous-chefs for my dad or do dishes.” Additionally, Lehrer loves the good vibes that come with dinnertime. “The atmosphere of cooking dinner is usually a lot of fun—we play music and dance around while we’re cooking.” Home-cooking not only brings joy to the chefs themselves, but it also more importantly brings people together. It is clear that cooking is not just about the end-product nor is food just about consumption. It is the little victories in conquering a complicated recipe. It is the fun shared with friends and family while cooking and enjoying a meal together. And most of all, food is a delicious amalgamation of artistry and culture for everyone to enjoy.

Photos courtesy of NOA LEHRER

"The atmosphere of cooking dinner is usually a lot of fun— we play music and dance around while we're cooking."

Corn with paprika and lime

Japanese sweet potatoes with miso, fried halloumi, fattoush salad and lentil fritter Thai coconut lentil soup with red chili oil

Three artists were prompted with the same word:

UNCERTAINTY

“

Uncertainty is like traveling through stormy seas on a sailboat, not knowing when or if you will reach your intended destination. As a student, many things such as exams, school assignments, college applications and future prospects give me uncertainty, yet, perhaps like someone lost at sea, one can only rely on one’s own best efforts to gain certainty within the uncertain.”

Design by ALEXA GWYN, KIMI LILLIOS, ATTICUS SCHERER and EMMA STEFANUTTI Art by FRIDA RIVERA, KELLYN SCHEEL and FAUSTINE WANG

Art by Faustine Wang

and this is what they came up with.

Art by Frida Rivera

Art by Kellyn Scheel

“

Uncertainty can be interpreted in this piece through the decision that is being made by the man. He appears to be in a world filled with brown and orange tones. he can either chase the butterfly, a thing that holds beauty in the world that he is in, or continue to live without it and follow the hand that is pulling him out of the painting.”

“

For me, the feeling of uncertainty is best reflected through the question of what I will wear each day. I rarely plan my outfits out in advance, but I find that my love for fashion is fueled by the excitement and rush of throwing pieces together in the morning.”

LOUDER THAN WORDS

Leila Chabane’s art Instagram: @18603art Paul Richmond’s art Instagram: @paulyworld

music and art are powerful forms of protest for marginalized groups and draw attention to social issues otherwise difficult to confront. Text by EUNICE CHO, FAITH CHOW, KIMI LILLIOS, DUNYA MOSTAGHIMI and SUKHMAN SAHOTA • Design by KIMI LILLIOS and SUKHMAN SAHOTA and • Illustrations by SUKHMAN SAHOTA • Artwork courtesty of LEILA CHABANE and PAUL RICHMOND

EDITORS’ NOTE: We want to recognize that this story was written prior to the recent Black Lives Matter protests. While we did our best to incorporate certain aspects of the movement, we came up against a print deadline and were not able to include as much as we wanted with regard to ongoing protests and marches. But, we did not want readers to think that we stopped there. That is why we invite you to explore more of our current coverage on the C Magazine website and social media. We know the story will continue to evolve.

he repeating silhouette of a female face spread across the page is boxed in geometric shapes. Repeating text reads ‘Which side of history do you want to be on?’ and ‘The only virus present is your racism,’ both demanding the attention of the viewer. The use of vibrant colors: orange, blue and aquamarine bring energy and movement to the art. Amidst this pandemic, injustices that plagued our society beforehand continue to prevail. Since the out-

“Which side of history do you want to be on?” break of COVID-19, there has been a surge in reported xenophobic and racist incidents in the United States. These stories of harassment and abuse are more than a mere statistic

but can also act as a catalyst for the creation of artistically based protest which bring greater awareness to these social issues. Leila Chabane is a Paly alum who uses her art to promote social change. While her traditional focuses generally include mental health, intersectional feminism, eco-feminism and queer rights, the current dynamics of the country motivated her to speak out about recent racial injustices. Although she has not experienced these attacks herself, Chabane still wants to bring light to the situation through her art. “After hearing personal stories from friends and seeing Chella Man, an LGBTQ activist and social media influencer, speak about being treated as lesser than because of their race, I felt motivated to want to speak about this topic as an ally,” Chabane said. “Rather than recreating a story, I really wanted to share

and bring attention to Chella Man’s story.” However, Chabane also recognizes that racial inequality is not the only problem that has surged as a result of quarantine. “In addition to exploring

“The only virus present is your racism.” the way that coronavirus perpetuates racism, I also intend on creating an art piece about the idea of ‘safety’ because it’s incredibly close-minded to assume that everyone can remain safe while at home,” Chabane said. “In fact, since the lockdown, domestic abuse calls have gone up by 25%.” The immediate relevance of a social issue is a common source of inspiration for protest artists. However, the core passions of the artist are more often developed over many years.

“Whenever I feel helpless or unsure about my life path, an experience, statistic or story will always remind me of why I believe in the power of artistic activism.” LEILA CHABANE

Finding inspiration Chabane did not set out for her art career to be centered around protest, but instead naturally incorporated her opinions into her artwork, as her focus and style changed over the years. Throughout middle school, whether it was in an art class or just small doodles in the corner of her notebooks, Chabane was always involved with art. But, it was not until the summer before her junior year of high school when she began her path to finding her true inspiration. “Early on, I started creating art because it was a fun thing to do when I was bored during class,” Chabane said. “That being said, I began creating art to speak about gender justice once I found how often gender would negatively impact my daily experience.” She took inspiration from the experiences she had with sexualization. “At the time, I had been followed home, catcalled, sexualized, and devalued for my gender,” Chabane said. “Rather than continuing to internalize these issues, I developed a platform that allowed me to express my authentic self.” In order to hone her artistic skills and better establish a platform to speak about social issues, Chabane attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). In her first year of college, Chabane had an experience that would

expand her focus beyond advocacy. “After attending SAIC for a couple of weeks, I had been sexually assaulted and was told to stay silent. When attempting to cope, I found it incredibly challenging,” Chabane said. “Suddenly, I began using art as a form of therapy, something I never realized I could do.” As her perspective changed, so did her art. Chabane found motivation in the people looking to her art for comfort as it related to their own experiences. “I strive to paint and design to create safe spaces where individuals can think about and discuss taboo topics ranging from sexual assault to homophobia to loneliness to depression,” Chabane said. “Above all, I create art to spark hope, regardless of how hopeful I’m actually feeling.” Chabane found her true voice and inspiration through several events that have occurred in her life. She was able to find the influence that art has on the world and on oneself. “To me, artistic activism is the perfect way of addressing intersectional feminism since it allows us to communicate social justice issues, while at the same time, nurturing our mental health through using art therapy,” Chabane said. Leila has had a long journey to find her true passions in protest art and even though she creates her art on a relatively small scale, she is still able to connect with others in ways like never before.

“Above all, I create art to spark hope, regardless of how hopeful I’m actually feeling.” LEILA CHABANE 22

“I love sharing [my artwork] with people and connecting with everyone, but I keep those two worlds separate so that I can stay true to my own vision without being influenced by what I think other people’s expectations of me are.” Paul Richmond

In the spotlight Being exposed to the concept of protest art at a young age allowed visual artist Paul Richmond to find his artistic voice early on. This jump-started Richmond’s career and landed him a household name in the genre of protest art. “[In art class] I first learned that art can be more than just a pretty picture on a wall,” Richmond said. “It can actually be a way of communicating.” Art was first a source of expression where he could exhibit his feelings about the bullying he suffered growing up. As the bullying ended, Richmond started using the power of his art to help others. “When someone close to our family was sick or going through a difficult time, my parents would often suggest that I make art for them,” Richmond said. “It helped me realize that I could create something with my imagination that might help make others feel better.” Once he saw the power in art, he expanded the topics of his protest art to LGBTQ+ rights, animal abuse, mistreatment of immigrants, and other politically charged topics. As Richmond continued to expand his views, he started to attract an audience. Richmond was put in blogs and invited to have his art displayed in different galleries. One show that he was invited to focused on animal abuse in circuses. “Each artist made a painting… and they

were all linked together in the gallery to look like a circus train,” Richmond said. “My painting showed an elephant on a tiny pedestal with an ominous ringmaster in the background wielding a large whip.” Richmond was creating these socially charged art pieces in a time where the topics were often taboo to the average person. Thus, as his popularity grew, so did the criticism. “[People] said I was a terrible painter, I didn’t have any technical skills, my anatomy was wrong, they hated my use of color, etc,” Richmond said. “It broke my heart because I was insecure and wanted everyone to like everything I did.” Being in the spotlight, at first, was challenging for Richmond. But he continued on his path, passionate about the art he created, and learned to see the positive impact his art could have. “One of the biggest accomplishments of my life is hearing from so many young queer artists who tell me that my work was some of the first artwork they saw that they could connect with and that it inspired them to want to be artists too,” Richmond said. Richmond has learned a lot from being in the spotlight. He has implemented different methods and worked to create unique pieces under his name, while never conforming to the style of his critics or losing his passion for art.

Stick and stones Artists around the world are constantly channeling their opinions through their art, just like Chabane and Richmond. But utilizing artistic expression to incite social change is not a recent development and can be seen dating as far back as the Antebellum years. From the time of their enslavement, African Americans have been using music as a cathartic release of pain from the injustices they have endured throughout history. William Anderson, a contributor to Pitchfork, an online music magazine, explains how protest music in the African American population originated from the times of slavery. “Someone could argue that singing field songs during slavery was a form of protest because it was one way that Black people maintained [their culture] despite deplorable, unfathomable conditions,” Anderson said. Paly alum Ellis Obrien, who studied African American Studies at Bates College, considers slave hymns to be one of the original forms of protest music. “Slave hymns were a way of building unity within a community or congregation, but the hymns also were a way of testifying before God and witnessing to others the atrocities most enslaved people experienced,” Obrien said. Following hymns, the development of country, blues, jazz, soul and rock genres all incorporated the critique

of systematic injustices in the world, through the lyrics and tone of the music. Since then, African Americans’ protest music has grown into a tool that not only highlights social ills but demands social and political reform. One modern civil rights movement that has prompted musical artists to call for social change is the Black Lives Matter movement. In 2013, the Black Lives Matter project was created as an immediate response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman, who fatally shot the unarmed African American teenager, Trayvon Martin. The movement has since expanded their efforts to combat a wider range of anti-Black issues. In conjunction with the movement, Black musicians have created albums about Black empowerment and self-love during a time when systemic racism is prominent in society. “Kendrick Lamar’s ‘To Pimp a Butterfly,’ D’Angelo’s

Looking more closely at the song “Alright” from Kendrick Lamar’s album “To Pimp a Butterfly,” publicly acclaimed as the modern Black national anthem after its release in 2015, arose during a time where police brutality against Black people in the United States was at the forefront of the country’s focus. The lyrics of the song incorporate religious imagery and historical allusions which is why it is hailed as such an influential artistic piece. “The song embodies the pain, struggle and injustice African Americans face while simultaneously being an upbeat and hopeful track that casts a positive light on the future for Black Americans,” Obrien said. Another song centered around protest is Childish Gambino’s “This is America,” which has an accompanying gruesome music video that targets white supremacy. Through the use of symbolism, viewers are directed towards, “the pattern in America of people caring for their guns more than those who are innocently killed at the hands of gun violence and racism,” Obrien said. The graphic shock factor of the video reminds Americans that their culture has not yet fundamentally changed to combat racism in an effective manner, which songs and music videos can bring awareness to.

“The very fact that Black people made [any] music in the midst of anti-Black state violence is truly a protest itself.”

William Anderson ‘Black Messiah’ and Janelle Monáe’s ‘Hell You Talmbout’ are some musical examples of a rejuvenated Black movement in music,” Andersen said. “[Music calling for social change] happens across the board. It’s not one genre or group or artist. It’s everywhere.”

While embedded frustration can often erupt in violent matters, music can be a powerful tool to fight injustices through capturing attention, changing perspectives and inciting action. For centuries, Black people in America simply used music as a refuge from the inner turmoil of their frustrations with society. Or, if they were verbalizing their pains with the status quo, artists had no intention of sparking a revolution. Regardless of whether the music was created to address the struggles in the Black community, Anderson says that all African American-produced music is protest music. “The very fact that Black people made [any] music in the midst of anti-Black state violence is truly a protest itself,” Anderson said. Sadly, it appears as if full social equality is a far-off ideal, with unbashful hate groups still actively fighting against the inauguration of Black people fully into American culture. But what establishes itself as an insurmountable obstacle to most Americans, Black people see as a chance to utilize songs to shake a public of listeners to fight for equality. Furthermore, Anderson doesn’t believe that rallying cries of protest music will fade in influence or go away any time soon. “Black people have used our culture to overcome white supremacy for a very long time,” Anderson said. “We have used every piece and every cultural resource we have at our disposal to be effective in our resistance.” Music has become a combative tool to highlight the oppressive nature of American society against nonwhite

groups. “Music and art were especially important for Black Americans since many of their other avenues for protest were violently suppressed,” Obrien said. From the banning of large gatherings to other preventative measures, art created in the spirit of protest has become a necessary outlet for the Af-

to be holding onto the last straw of emotional tolerance is, “Art touches the human heart and opens minds— music, perhaps, more than any other form of expression. Combining music with powerful, poetic lyrics creates community and solidarity, and the hope and inspiration for the future that deep bonds of community and solidar-

“This music has also been a call to action to fight the unjust power structures that persist in America to this day.” Ellis obrien rican American community and has been used across different genres and historical eras. “The journey for Black Americans has had a potent musical score: from the African beats enslaved peoples carried with them from their homelands in the hulls of slave ships to … the rap and hip hop that speaks to their agency and their fight for freedom from brutality and injustice,” Obrien said. Whether we admit it or not, the current racially divided climate exists and won’t be going away while Americans remain indifferent and apathetic to the scarily normalized atrocities committed against African Americans. What should not remain forgotten in a time where entire cultures appear

ity bring,” Obrien said. Let the battle for equality continue, but let’s not fight with sticks and stones, but instead with songs. With these tools, people are able to advocate for their rights and speak to those who cannot relate to their words. Members of different movements have struggled to find their voice, but with art and music, they can build their unique path of campaigning. Art and music give people the chance to be completely transparent with their feelings, beliefs and understanding of any types of movements. In recent years, artistic expression has been at the forefront in advocating for any type of movement because art and music have the ability to put words in places where actual words are not found.

Text and design by TAMAR PONTE and MAHATI SUBRAMANIAM â&#x20AC;¢ Art by TAMAR PONTE and FRIDA RIVERA

unbounded love

Amidst these times of uncertainty and isolation, it is more important than ever that we maintain our emotional connections with those around us.

love you.” “I love this.” “I love that.” Love is a crucial part of the human experience, a vital component for both a healthy mind and body. While it is universally important, love does not have one singular definition. Love can be expressed and felt in a variety of ways within our day to day lives—always multifaceted and unique in every form.

he romantic love between individuals is often idealized to fit perfect fairytale storylines when in reality it is much more complex. Paly senior, Sophie Stier, has been in a long term relationship for a year and a half and has since learned the nuances about love. “Relationships are more than just love,” Stier said. “Just because you love someone doesn’t mean your entire life revolves around them.” Coming into her first relationship, Stier has learned the truths about love that society does not always present. “[Love is] beautiful and wonderful, but it shows that being in love and having someone love you doesn’t solve all your problems in life,” Stier said. “I feel like people are desperate to be in a relationship, thinking that their life is going to be immensely better, but that’s not how it works.” While a romantic relationship can be beneficial, Stier emphasizes the importance of remaining grounded and not losing sight of one’s goals. “I want people going into a relationship to remember to put themselves first and not make huge sacrifices that won’t benefit them,” she said. “If your partner truly loves you, they will want the best for you and wouldn’t encourage you to sacrifice something important to you for them.”

Affection is a key part of romantic relationships and there are numerous ways to express gratitude for one another apart from physical attraction. Both partners should feel heard, accepted and affirmed of their feelings. Simple acts, like being kind to their family members or listening to their day, can make all the difference. “The person you’re in love with is also your best friend, someone who makes you laugh and enjoy your time with them,” Stier said. But relationships can also yield potentially hazardous situations, and teenagers are among the most vulnerable. Senior Isabel Armstrong is Co-President of Paly’s One Love Club, a group of students dedicated to educating people about healthy and unhealthy relationships. “A healthy relationship is one where there is trust, respect and open communication,” senior Armstrong said. “You feel comfortable sharing how you feel and you do so often, and both parties are equally in control of the pace and direction of the relationship.” But despite the risks, Armstrong encourages people to open up to love.” You should never let the fear stop you from being vulnerable,” she said. “If you’re always closed off you will never get to experience love in the first place.”

“We were never taught how to love ourselves.” Sabrina Chan

hile the loving connections we build with others are essential, learning to love oneself is equally important. People often forget to show compassion to themselves, resulting in

“A pet is a friend no matter what you are going through in your life.” Rachel Nehemiah

spending less time caring for their own mind and body. There is a misconception that self-love and self-care entail unnecessary, luxurious treatment, when in reality it is much simpler than that. “Self-love is accepting your flaws, and looking out for your wellbeing both on a physical scale to taking care of yourself emotionally,” Armstrong said. Paly junior and Social Wellness Commissioner Sabrina Chan works to promote a healthy social and emotional balance for students both on and off campus. “Self-love is the idea of being in tune with your body and your needs,” Chan said.

“It’s the ability to read into yourself and understand what you’re feeling.” Self-love, while seemingly straightforward, can be difficult to implement because it is not emphasized from a young age. “When I was in elementary school during Valentine’s Day, I remember teachers explaining different ways people show their love to another such as writing cards or gifting chocolates,” Chan said. “However, we were never taught how to love ourselves.” Showing vulnerability, especially to yourself, can often be uncomfortable and frightening. But, the benefits of expressing self-love and accepting yourself is crucial for a balanced lifestyle. “Through self-love, you are able to understand yourself better and you might find a new interest or hobby,” Chan said. “Doing something that brings you joy is important in one’s life because we all need an outlet from the stressor of daily life.” Mastering self-love helps strengthen our connections with others and the relationship we have with ourselves. “I truly believe in the concept that you cannot love another if you don’t love yourself,” Chan said. “How are you supposed to open yourself up to someone else if you are unable to open up to yourself ?”

type of love often overlooked is the love shared between friends and family. The people that are always there to support you are among the most important. “Love among friends and family is all about really caring for someone, being able to have fun with them and wanting to protect them and make them happy,” Paly senior Kate Milne said. Platonic love is centered around the fundamental connections people make with each other through communication and simple acts of kindness. Unlike romantic love, platonic love is void of lust and instead focuses mostly on being a supportive figure in some-

one’s life. To Milne, it’s important to show and express appreciation to others. “I express my love for my friends by giving them little gifts, remembering details about things they’ve told me and telling them how much they mean to me regularly,” she said. Having a support system is crucial for everyone. It’s especially important to be surrounded by people that are reliable, trustworthy and accepting. The mutual love shared between these individuals is what allows people to be themselves. “They [friends and family] feel like home. You would do almost anything to make them happy or keep them safe,” Milne said.

ut, love is not exclusive to humans and many individuals seek love in non-human forms. This connection is most often experienced through animals who only reciprocate human kindness with love. Rachel Nehemiah, volunteer coordinator of Pets In Need Palo Alto, has had a multitude of experiences seeing the impact that animals have. “Pets bring a lot of love and happiness to people’s lives,” Nehemiah said. “A pet is a friend no matter what you’re going through in your life.” At the Pets In Need animal shelter, Nehemiah gains an understanding of the love that a pet brings every day. “It brings me a lot of happiness seeing an animal going from a bad situation to a great one and knowing I helped make it happen,” she said. “Months and even years, later I think back on an animal from my shelter, and it still brings a smile to my face.” Having a furry companion can teach people the strength of communicating in any sort

of relationship. “Because our pets can’t speak to us, the love we receive from them is somewhat different,” Nehemiah said. “We have to learn to be better listeners and pay attention to how they feel about our actions.” Although animals cannot express their love in obvious ways, we notice how they communicate their affections through actions. “My dog comes into my room just to sleep on the ground next to my desk where I’m working and my heart grows three sizes,” Paly senior Lori Pradhan said. Another unique aspect to the bond we share with animals is their complete honesty and lack of judgement. “One of the best things pets give us is the chance to be ourselves,” Nehemiah said. “We sometimes get hung up on how we appear to others or what others think of us, but we don’t have to worry about that with our pets. We can be as silly and open as we want with them.”

ut no matter where people find love—with others, themselves or even animals—it is abundantly clear that our connections we make have long lasting effects on us.

End of the Road B

efore I was even able to properly say goodbye to my friends and teachers, March 13th became the last odd block of my life, the last day of the normal school year and the last day seniors would step on campus as Paly students. Even months later, I’m still not able to grasp the entirety of this crazy situation. Because of the shelter-in-place mandate, the class of 2020 is unable to spend their last days of high school together, reliving memories and making new ones. It’s emotionally taxing to accept that our senior year is over before it even seemed to have started. Amidst our sadness, however, summer has not started and school must go on. For seniors, second semester is notorious for slacking off. After three and a half years of hard work, seniors want to enjoy their last months of high school playing on the quad during class, not completing homework assignments on time and studying just enough to pass. When work was optional, we were able to slack off without any consequences. After spring break, however, the implementation of Required Online Learning Experiences, or ROLEs, has reminded everyone that school is still in session. With required assignments and credit or no credit grades, all students, especially seniors,

have to find the motivation to work hard for the rest of the school year. This shift from optional to mandatory reminded me that while it is still technically second semester senior year, I can’t let senioritis hit too hard and risk being rescinded from college. Working through the assigned work each week, I’ve started to forget what it was like to be in a structured learning environment. Odd and even days have begun to blur together, and my room is now an inclusive classroom featuring one desk for all subjects. Other students have been replaced by my dog, and distractions pop up left and right, lessening my productivity by the minute. Despite my lack of motivation and my inability to part with my bed before noon, I’m still able to complete my ROLE assignments by the due date. Even in these unusual circumstances, I push myself to keep learning, so that I’m academically prepared to attend college next year. Staying focused and motivated is a struggle from time to time, but I stay motivated with the hopes of attending college on an actual campus in the fall. As the virus persists and the memory of senior life at Paly fades, we count down the days to what would’ve been our graduation. With online resources, we continue to work hard but there is no opportunity to play hard in sight. We always knew that the year 2020 would be one to remember, but this is far from what we had in mind.

The impacts of COVID-19 have taken away the last months of high school for the class of 2020. Despite what has been lost, seniors attempt to move forward and make the most of an unfortunate situation.

or eight hours a day, five days a week and a large chunk of the year, we drag ourselves from our homes to the cold comfort of a blue plastic chair in spacious classrooms. We sit at our desks, diligently take notes on presentations and chat with friends during fleeting breaks throughout the day. While complaints about attending classes are rampant among exhausted students, the comfort of being around our friends makes the learning experience more bearable. After all, many of the friendships we’ve created have grown from the school grounds. Now with the shelter-in-place order enacted, unable to see my friends face to face, I’ve found it has become more difficult to maintain the relationships I’ve cultivated for years. Stuck at home with no concrete schedule, surrounded by the same four walls of my bedroom day in and day out, I never expected that the inability to see my friends in person would affect my motivation to reach out to them, but much to my dismay, it has. However, in the age of technology, there’s no way to truly be disconnected. Even if we’re unable to see our peers in person, a message is sent with a quick swipe and we continue our interactions. With digital services like Photo Roulette, Zoom, Netflix Party and Rabbit taking off amidst the chaos of the pandemic, there’s a

plethora of outlets that we can use to stay connected. They help us to avoid any further isolation or loneliness that may follow suit from the lack of face-to-face interactions. One benefit that has emerged from my interactions being forced to remain in the digital world is that the thought of messaging and reaching out to acquaintances is not as daunting as before. Maybe it’s because I no longer have to spontaneously strike up conversation or meet the recipient’s gaze, but this quarantine has unexpectedly made reaching out to others an easier quest than before. While the effects of quarantine and social distancing are undoubtedly taking a toll on everyone, it’s safe to say that the senior class is feeling robbed of an experience we’ve been dreaming of for years. Each spirit week, we got closer to the day we’d don camo and chant from the top of our lungs full of excitement for the new year, for senior ditch day, for no pants day and for graduation. But it seems that much of our year has been ripped from our grasp. As my senior year comes to a close in the most unconventional way, I hope that our senior class will be able to enjoy this year in our own special way, making the best out of a year full of surprises we never dreamed of.

Text and design by SOPHIE JACOB and ISABELLA MOUSSAVI Art by MEGAN ANDREWS • Photos by KIMI LILLIOS

Photo by Lucy Nemerov

“It is really healthy to save time for hobbies that bring you joy and bring passion into your life.” Riley Herron, Paly sophomore

Photo by Natalie Schilling

With a surplus of time on their hands, Paly students have the opportunity to rekindle old passions and discover new ones.

Gearing up for a victory ride, sophomore Riley Herron mounts her black BMC road bike. She readies her foot on the pedal and turns to her best friends before starting. They take off on their biking journey towards Alpine, the wind blasting their faces and rushing through their hair. Herron and her friend bike all the way to Arastradero and Los Altos Hills where they conclude their celebratory bike ride after racking up 100 miles in one week. Sheltering-in-place has made Herron, and many others, find ways to spend their days at home. Although Herron has never been a serious biker, the lockdown has given her an opportunity to pursue a new hobby. “My friend Brooke and I started doing this as a way to get outside and exercise during quarantine and we grew to really enjoy it,” Herron said. “Now it’s something we look forward to everyday.” Having this fun activity to look forward to helps Herron cope with the craziness of the pandemic.

Finding a new hobby does not have to be a serious commitment and can start out small, or even unexpectedly. “My friends, brother and dad are really into biking and we went for a small ride to Atherton and realized we liked it more than driving,” Herron said. Herron now enjoys her daily bike rides because they give her a chance to take her mind off everything except biking. “After riding uphill for almost an hour, the first time you get to go downhill and release all the effort you had just used is so satisfying,” Herron said. Hobbies are a great way to change up daily routines, especially when our prior commitments have been canceled. It is important to have a fun outlet to look forward to. “It is really healthy to save time for hobbies that bring you joy and bring passion into your life,” Herron said. “It is a great way to break away from stressful mandatory tasks.” Like Herron, many students are looking for ways to stay active. Paly

Text by SOPHIA BAGINSKIS, KATHERINE BUECHELER and FIZA USMAN Design by KATHERINE BUECHELER, KIMI LILLIOS and FIZA USMAN

senior Grace Thayer has taken up running with the intention of staying in shape for next year’s college volleyball season. Since she is unable to perform her preseason volleyball lift workouts for the University of Miami, Thayer has been forced to find a new way to work out. “I have started running a lot to stay in shape so when gyms open, I at least still have my endurance,” Thayer said. While running has never been a part of her typical lifting workout routine, the shelter-in-place mandate has definitely pushed her to see the benefits of this type of exercise. “I found a different appreciation for running,” she said. “It gives me peace of mind and allows me to take a break from worrying about the corona[virus] and just to focus on myself.” Some hobbies will even be incorporated in routines after the shelter-inplace order is lifted. “I will definitely continue [running] in the preseason with my new teammates at the U, and hopefully on my own during the off-season or our occasional breaks when I get the chance.” There are also many ways to stay entertained from the comfort of home. With just a needle and a thread, Maddie Yen—a 2019 Paly alum and current freshman at Tulane University—has found a unique new hobby: embroidery. “I have been having fun stitching different things onto denim, old t-shirts, and a lot of other things,” Yen said. Along with being a great creative outlet, Yen’s new hobby has taught her a lot about the beauty of patience and slowing down. “It has really just taught me to just sit down and slow my day a bit,” she said. “I’m so used to being

so fast-paced and doing something like this really makes me put the brakes on and take some time to just chill out.” Some have used the lockdown and their hobby as an opportunity to form deeper connections with their families, such as sophomore Ella Jauregui who has started knitting. “I like knitting because you improve super fast and it’s satisfying to see the final product made completely by yourself,” Jauregui said. Jauregui typically makes quilts and sweaters although sometimes experiments with unique pieces, such as a cape for a cat. Jauregui was inspired by her mom to pick up knitting. “The reason my mom started knitting in college was that there was a trend of having these really expensive knit sweaters, so instead of buying them, she knit them for her and her friends,” Jauregui said. Now, her mom supports her from the sidelines. “She helps me and gives advice on new stitches I should learn,” Jauregui said. While Jauregui mostly knits alone, the activity connects Jauregui to her mother. “Traditions make you feel more connected to people or the activity than you would otherwise,” Jauregui said. It’s easy to focus on the many things that the coronavirus has taken away from us, but it is clear that there are many ways to make light of this unfortunate situation. Whether it’s running, baking or simply starting a new show, people all around our communities are using this extra time to indulge themselves into new passions. While there’s no clear timeline of how long this will go on for, don’t be afraid to start something new—you never know what it’ll bring.

Photo by Lucy Nemerov

“I’m so used to being so fast-paced and doing something like [embroidery] really makes me put the brakes on and take some time to just chill out.” Maddie Yen, Paly alum

Photo by Sophia Baginskis

PAGES OF

isolation

Old journals have told the stories of our past and have now returned as a cathartic release during times of uncertainty.

mages of what it means to write in a diary or keeping a journal can vary. Some may think of a young child writing their daily thoughts, feelings and impressions of the day and interactions with friends and family starting each entry with “Dear Diary.” Others may think of historical accounts that have given us perspectives or views of a particular era through the eyes of the writer. In March of 1944, the Dutch Minister of Education spoke over the radio from London. “Preserve your diaries and letters,” he said—a young girl named Anne Frank listened from her attic, where she hid for two years writing what it was like to hide in a home in Amsterdam during the Holocaust. “The most valuable [historical] diaries are the ones where they wrote down their own feelings, or

conversations they had on the street or with family, or how they felt about the persecution of the Jews,” Rene Kok, a researcher at the Dutch Archive, said. According to Chris Farina, an AP Psychology teacher at Paly, journals found from their past have been a good way to better understand what a person during that time was going through. Their words are filled with uncertainty, concern and pain that gives us a perspective of a much deeper story that we would have never been able to understand without their preserved experiences. For those that have kept diaries, reflecting on one’s own writings can be a powerful force in remembering specific or significant events in our own lives. A diary can help organize thoughts and unload frustrations, anger or disappointments. Does it ever feel

good just to get things out on paper? Did you ever wonder why that might be the case? Well, as it turns out, journaling has many ancillary health benefits, particularly with regard to your mood and mindset. “When [people journal] they are letting their guard down; they are speaking authentically, they are not trying to say something for a specific public audience … so they are not selfcentering in any way,” Farina said. Withholding your thoughts and emotions can impact your mental health, so taking the time to write what you are feeling is a great way to understand and reflect on them. Farina states how important it is to notice what has been affecting you by creating a routine like expressive writing, which can be beneficial to help clear your mind from recent experiences. According to Positive Psychology, letting your

Text by CALLUM OLSEN, RAJ SODHI and RACHAEL VONDERHAAR • Art and design by KIMI LILLIOS

thoughts out on paper can help change been associated with a decrease in her head through bullet journaling. a negative mindset to a more positive long-term health problems. “School can be stressful… [emotions] one, and may even change the way we Journaling also strengthens your can make you feel like you’re stuck feel about ourselves. emotional functions by developing a in a tight box and you can’t move, so Stress can damage both your habit of routine writing. Journaling bullet journaling helps you get out of physical and mental health. According assists the brain to improve emotional that box,” Hu said. Bullet journaling to Healthline, control while is simply making bullet points that negative effects “Expressing your thoughts also helping you help get out the thought of stressful such as headaches, to understand emotions and help clear your mind. depression, high on paper evokes happiness, your own sense According to Hu, there’s so much blood pressure, and helps you develop of identity and more to journaling than just writing a a weakened a clear mindset about boosting your full story of your day. It can also be told immune system c o n f i d e n c e . through mediums like drawings and uncertain situations.” and insomnia It creates calligraphy. “If I am feeling creative, I Chris Farina, AP Psychology teacher mindfulness and will just put my pen to the paper and can all be caused by stress. Many helps writers stay let myself draw something … it really students experience heavy amounts focused and more in tune with the helps clear my mind,” Hu said. For Hu, of stress every day trying to balance health needs of their body. Research journaling has helped her look back on extracurricular activities, work and also shows that keeping a journal old memories—whether it’s something school. improves your right-brain function— as unexpected as an old receipt to a Because of COVID-19, our “new which controls your creative and artistic name tag from camp, her journal has normal” of schooling from home, abilities—and in general sets a writer been able to tell her story. being unable to see friends or extended up for progression. “Expressing your Journals contain so many memories family in person and being restricted thoughts on paper evokes happiness, from a person’s life. So, when you need as to where we can go outside of our and helps you develop a clear mindset to unload the events of the day, if you homes are factors that can increase about uncertain situations,” Farina are feeling stressed, frustrated or if you stress. Taking the time to unwind after said. “[Journaling] helps make your want to get clarity on a matter you are your day and reflect is a good tool to thoughts really struggling with, clear your mind. In fact, according concrete.” it down! “School can be stressful and write to Intermountain Healthcare, taking Paly freshman As Brand 15 to 20 minutes a day a couple of Kylie Hu takes a [emotions] can make you feel Blanshard states times during a four-month time span journaling class like you’re stuck in a tight box in the Stoic to journal, is enough to improve liver outside of school and you can’t move so bullet P h i l o s o p h y functionality and lower your blood that allows her to journal, “What pressure. explore different journaling helps you get out the centuries While this may sound surprising, techniques of of that box.” have clung to Kylie Hu, Paly freshman is a notebook expressive writing can also improve journaling. Hu your immune system. According to has thought more of thoughts James Pennebaker, a researcher at the fully about the health benefits she has by a man whose real life was largely University of Texas at Austin, taking experienced through journaling and unknown who put down in the the time to journal regularly can has identified a litany of direct benefits midnight dimness, not the events of improve and strengthen certain white as a result. Hu journals through doodles, the day, or the plans of tomorrow, but blood cells, called T-lymphocytes. taping souvenirs such as movie tickets something of far more permanent Expressive writing, even about into her notebook and writing daily interest, the ideals and aspirations that traumatic or stressful times in life, has checklists. Hu found an outlet to clear a rare spirit lived by.”

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Meet 88rising—a mass media company for the digital age that is bridging the gap between the eastern and western hip-hop scenes. Text by ELLEN CHUNG and ELLIE FITTON • Design by ELLEN CHUNG, ELLIE FITTON and KIMI LILLIOS • Art by ELLEN CHUNG

of an y

“Asian representati

n ki

m si i d

nt.” a t r po

ive years ago, Asian hip-hop was almost nonexistent in the US. That all changed with the creation of 88rising—the music label that is finally putting Asian artists on the map and taking the American music industry by storm. Founded in 2015 by San Jose native Sean Miyashiro, 88rising has become a trailblazer in the movement to provide Asian artists with a larger platform in the mainstream music industry and media. The American mass media company proclaims itself to be a “hybrid management, record label, video production, and marketing company” and now represents 16 different artists. This collection of Asian singers and rappers have gained global recognition through the company and have even been co-signed with popular American rappers such as Migos and Lil Yachty. The company is centered around the celebration of Asian talent, stories and culture and was created based on Miyashiro’s frustration with the lack of Asian representation in the American media. “I started manifesting it when I saw more Asian people creating damn good [stuff],” Miyashiro said in an interview with i-D Magazine in 2018. “It dawned on me that we needed a home, somewhere that would celebrate what we do. I realized that nobody was going to do it for us, so I said, [screw it], why not me? Why not now?’” Seeing someone a successful figure who resembles you in the music industry creates a positive shift in self-confidence and 88rising offers just that. Many fans rarely see their favorite Asian artists giv-

en enough opportunities to reach stardom in the mainstream media. The creation of 88rising allowed many of these fans to change their perception of who can reach fame in the American music industry. “If [Asian fans] see someone that looks like them do it, then it changes the whole perception, just like Obama did for African Americans,” Miyashiro said in an interview with The New Yorker in 2018. “Now you can really be [literally] anything.” Niki Zefanya, an 88rising R&B artist better known by her stage name NIKI, has joined the movement in promoting Asian-American representation in the music scene. As an Indonesian American, Zefanya

is proud of her identity and recognizes the increase in Asian representation and her role in it. At 88rising’s Head in the Clouds Festival, Zefanya said, “I just want to say, as an Asian female, I do not take this day and this stage for granted. My hope is that above everything else today, that you feel heard, you feel understood, but most of all that you feel represented.” Her impactful words and captivating music moves the audience to empathize with her love of her Indonesian culture and sharing her art in the Western music scene. With 88rising, Zefanya continues to move towards more media representation that embraces Asian culture. “Now that 88rising is a thing, now that the Asian character in ‘Riverdale’ is a jock and K-Pop groups are selling out the Staples Center, it’s only going to get better from here,” Zefanya said.

in his music. I think that’s really cool that he carefully crafts each of his lyrics.” Brian has also been vocal about the importance of Asian representation in the mainstream western media and how this can inspire Asian fans to pursue similar goals. In a 2018 interview with i-D Magazine, he recalls when he found out that an Indonesian actor had achieved Hollywood stardom. “Seeing an Indonesian guy doing that when I was 13, it really motivated me,” Brian said. “And now people come up to me and tell me I motivate them—kids that look like me. I think it’s the greatest thing ever.” Staying true to their own individual voice within their music is what makes 88rising’s artists connect with their fans in a way that is unique from most other record labels. Paly junior Justin Laxamana, who is of Filipino descent, is a longtime fan of 88rising. He appreciates the message of originality and diversity the label promotes. “I definitely think Asian representation of any sort is important,” Laxamana said. “I definitely appreciate [when artists] say, ‘I’m very proud of my heritage and I really wanna show people that this is important to me.’ He doesn’t forget that. He’s not trying to be, like, an American rapper. He’s trying to be himself and, to me, that’s really empowering.”

al en t

, st orie

s and culture.”

Zefanya isn’t the only artist who has reached international acclaim after signing with 88rising. Brian Imanuel Soewarno, who professionally goes by Rich Brian, is a 20-year-old Indonesian rapper who was discovered by Miyashiro in 2016 after his song “Dat $tick” went viral on YouTube. In 2018, he released his first studio album, “Amen,” which reached number one on the iTunes Hip-Hop charts, making him the first Asian rapper to do so in history. Debuting at No. 62 on the Billboard 200 albums in 2019, his second studio album, “The Sailor,” includes tracks with lyrics that reflect Brian’s personal journey with his Asian identity. Paly junior Jace Purcell, a fan of Brian since 2016, believes that this album exemplified Brian becoming more experimental with his music. “Before that, it was just the Amen album which was pretty [much] your cookie-cutter rap album,” Purcell said. “And now he’s releasing a song like [“Yellow”] where he’s talking about how people shouldn’t judge him because of [his Asian background].” Paly junior Kris Risano, another longtime fan of Brian, also found tracks featured on “The Sailor” notable. “I think Rich Brian does put a lot of effort into his lyrics,” Risano said. “I think everything has kind of a deeper meaning and some bars

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Music is constantly evolving, yet some songs are able to transcend generations. What makes them so special?

Text by LINDSEY MCCORMICK, ELLIE ROWELL and LIBBY SPIER Design by KIMI LILLIOS and LIBBY SPIER â&#x20AC;¢ Art by KIMI LILLIOS

usic is our world’s universal language. Like everything else with time, music evolves. But sometimes, perhaps even decades after their debut, we find ourselves still rocking out to the same bands and songs. When given the chance, some people even push away the new modernized forms of music produced today. There is an unspoken feeling that comes across when listening to timeless classics and it is something so pure that no amount of time could ever diminish. Some say that these bands and melodies stay with us because of their flare and impact that creates an unmatched uniqueness. While many modern artists attempt to recreate these songs through covers or remixes, many agree nothing beats the original. Some music holds deeper meaning compared to any ordinary song, relating to a specific time that strongly resonates with individuals. Songs like ‘Imagine’, created by John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, in March of 1971, amidst the Vietnam War, represent an everlasting anthem of peace and symbol of hope that many still listen to in times of need. Artists of the past live on through

their music. Their songs were never that stays with each person throughjust songs but a story of their hard- out their life. ships, battles, victories and hope for Almog Zinman, a high school juthe future. They served as a reflection nior in Los Angeles with a love and exof their lifestyle and journey, granting pertise for all things music, is passionthe artist eternal life. ate about the timelessness of music Mark Melbye, who grew up in the and believes it is more than just sound. eighties, is a frequent concertgoer and “Part of what makes a song timeless is is a music fanatic with an interest in the lyrics,” Zinman said. “Back then how artists tell their stories says, “In a music was more like poetry; explicitworld of discipline and order, [artists] ness was at a minimum so artists could seem to live in an alternate universe. only allude to the explicit topics. The This, along with the lyrics and melo- lyrics were the true art.” dies, makes for a Zinman begreat escape.” lieves that because Music has a artists did not powerful ability to have such a wide transport people range of freedom back in time. Noswith their music talgia creates an and lyrics, many everlasting tie to songs have hideach generation, den meanings which causes peoincorporated that Almog Zinman created a depth to ple to hold specific eras of music them that is seen close to their hearts, even as they get less often today. older. The nostalgia that resonates Melbye identifies another differwith certain songs allows emotions ence between old and modern music. and feelings that a person experienced For many older musicians, the instrudecades ago to come rushing back. ment is almost more significant than Music generates a sense of famil- the lyrics. Performing is about exemiarity and comfort from a simpler time plifying your craft and being in touch

“Back then music was more like poetry; explicitness was at a minimum so artists could only allude to the explicit topics. ”

with the rhythm of the song. “Today’s and influencing the messages in the bands are completely different,” Mel- songs. bye said. Playing an instrument seems Melbye believes that the power of to be less important which is what music can come from the attention was so inspiring the fans give to the when watching artists. “[I wish for] a real musician the kind of music working his skill. that is both timeIt was mesmerless and worthy,” izing.” Melbye said. “[I Listening to wish that] instead these bands live of buying songs versus through from rappers who a phone generaMark Melbye describe their girltions after it was friends as “b*tchfirst released facilitates differences in es,” [people] began to embrace those interpretation. There is a generational awe-inspiring life-changing songs from gap that cannot be altered and gives a few decades ago.” way for these contrasting views. As technology advances, music Zinman describes music today to has to adapt and move with the evbe centered around rap, and each de- er-changing times. Beck Anderson, a cade favors a new genre of music, cre- junior at Sacred Heart Preparatory ating what Zinman described as “an high school, expands on this idea. “I age barrier.” don’t know if music today will ever be These generational waves of mu- as ‘timeless’ as it was in older times,” sic each have features that make them Anderson said. “Because the way we unique and revolutionary. Melbye consume music now is so different, describes that although each genre with streaming platforms, the purpose brings a new perspective to the table, of the industry is individual hits, not oftentimes, the lyrics are less mean- albums.” ingful. But this also has to do with the Millions of artists from all over the consumers who are buying the music world have access to numerous unique

“Playing an instrument seems to be less important which is what was so inspiring when watching a real musician working his skill.”

streaming outlets with algorithms that provide them with easier methods of being discovered. Similar to Anderson, Zinman said, “Nowadays, it’s so easy to be able to make your own music and then post it on Spotify or SoundCloud.” Before the 2000s, there was a lack of streaming platforms, so not every music style and artist made it in the cutthroat music industry or even got the chance. With a multitude of streaming platforms, we can see a shift in the way an artist expresses their music because the competitive nature of the industry has lessened due to these rising opportunities. This paves a way for a different type of expression that reflects a meaning that no longer resonates with the concepts of ‘timelessness’ expressed by Zinman and Melbye. We will never fully understand what makes these bands timeless. And although people’s opinions when reminiscing about the importance of these bands may vary, there is something truly astonishing about how the meaning behind their work can shift when evaluated by different generations. Their impact not only lives on through their music but also through the lives of people today.

How gatekeeping, the sense of entitlement to underground artists, is patronizing the music industry and its listeners.

t is widely believed that music directly impacts chemicals in our brains, which is why it often connects and brings people closer together. From sharing playlists with your loved ones to creating lifelong friendships with fellow fans, many people use music as a way to create social bonds with others. While this is the way that the majority of people choose to experience music, others become upset when their favorite underground artists gain mainstream traction and look condescendingly at

those who they consider “fake fans.” When someone discovers a new With this behavior, known as “gate- artist that has a smaller fan base or keeping,” becoming more prevalent is lesser-known, many enjoy having in underground music circuits and them as their little secret and begin to online music communities, many feel a sense of protection over them. have different There comes a perspectives on point where the “I hate the idea of why people gateexclusivity is no keep, and if it people being mass longer what it should be okay attacked because once was, which to do so. can sometimes Luke Rains- people deem be upsetting for ford, an emo someone ‘uncool’ the fans. “People acoustic artist like to feel special from Leeds, based on their taste.” and important,” Luke Rainsford, acoustic artist Rainsford said. England, has a unique take on “I get it.” gatekeeping because of his outlook Rainsford has noticed an increase as an artist, as opposed to solely in gatekeeping on social media platbeing a listener. Music has been an forms, seeing people spread hate outlet for Rainsford to share his ex- to new fans of once smaller artists. perience with grief, mental health “People like to laugh and be mean to and relationships. “To me, music is people they deem ‘uncool’,” Rainsan escape,” Rainsford said. “It is ford said. “I hate the idea of people the place I can truly be myself.” being mass-attacked because people

deem someone ‘uncool’ based on fandoms. Many fans feel overly who have just discovered the artist their taste or appearance.” protective of smaller artists once because they are being treated as Paly senior Ellie Walsh is an avid they begin to gain traction in ‘newbies’ or lesser than fans that music listener, dabbling in singing mainstream music. have supported them for longer.” and guitar playing herself. Walsh “There have been times that I Not only are some fans unwelhighlighted the have discov- coming to new listeners, but many harmful effects “Warding off others ered a song are also not fond of people weargatekeeping has from a less- ing merchandise of a band’s logo on people who from discovering er-known artist or name if they are not too famildiscover an art- music to keep it in or band as it iar with them. ist after others. gained pop“There is definitely a culture “It can be dis- its state of obscurity ularity and I where people feel that they can couraging to a is absurd.” have heard only wear band tees or listen to lot of people c o m m e n t s their music if they are a ‘real fan’ Ellie Walsh, Paly senior who could pomade by some of the band or artist,” Mickelsen tentially love a particular artist but of their fans suggesting that new said. “The problem is that these are blocked out because they didn’t listeners are ‘late to the party’ or people only deem you to be a ‘real discover them early enough,” she that they wished the artist was still fan’ if you know every little detail said. their little secret,” Mickelsen said. about the artists, which is really There is also a competitive asMickelsen agrees that people unfair.” pect that comes with listening to should have pride in who they lisAlthough it can be bittersweet obscure artists. “There is an aura ten to, but she also believes that to see a small artist become popuof superiority in people who gate- many let their lar, many forget keep music and pride themselves emotions from the true values “Some fans on listening to super niche or ob- the newfound of music. scure music,” Walsh said. “Ward- popularity of [suggest] that new “People who ing off others from discovering their favorite listeners are ‘late to gatekeep need music to keep it in its state of ob- bands be negato realize that scurity is absurd.” tive instead of the party’ or that music is for evFor Anna Mickelsen, a Paly ju- supporting the they wished the eryone to enjoy nior, music has always played a big artist’s success. and should not role in her life. Whether it’s play“A lot of the artist was still their be treated as ing the piano or creating the per- time, people little secret.” a hierarchy,” fect playlist, Mickelsen finds ways that are bigger Mickelsen said. Anna Mickelsen, Paly junior to incorporate music into her life fans of a music “For many, muone way or another. Investing time group or have supported them for sic is an outlet to express themin these activities has allowed her a longer period think that they are selves, so it is best to allow everyto notice the problems that exist in more of a fan than others, which one to support who they want to the music community. creates issues,” Mickelsen said. “It support and leave any negativMickelsen has noticed the ex- causes tension within music listen- ity out.” clusivity that is present in certain ers and can turn away new people

Text by LESLIE ABOYTES and THEO L.J. • Design by LESLIE ABOYTES and KIMI LILLIOS • Art by SAM MUTZ

Text and design by CHLOE LAURSEN and NATALIE SCHILLING

HAZEL SHAH Life Is Good (feat. Drake) — Future The Show Goes On — Lupe Fiasco Stole The Show — Kygo

NATALIE SCHILLING

CLAIRE LI Breakneck Speed — Tokyo Police Club Life Is Good (feat. Drake) — Future Sleepyhead — Passion Pit

Our Time Now — Plain White T’s This Is the Life — Two Door Cinema I Will Survive — Gloria Gaynor

SENIOR Soundtrack

TYLER VARNER Genius of Love — Tom Tom Club Fell In Luv — Playboi Carti (feat. Bryson Tiller) Hi, I’m Dave (From “DAVE”) — “DAVE”

As our time at Paly comes to an end—way too quickly, if you ask us—we are left with only memories and stories to tell from four years we can never forget. But every story needs a soundtrack, so our C Mag seniors are sharing with you the songs that encompass their time at Paly, along with one song that sums up their quarantine experience. Some songs may be explicit.

CHLOE LAURSEN

FIZA USMAN

KATHERINE BUECHELER Candy Wrappers — Summer Salt Redbone — Childish Gambino Hard Times — Paramore

Record Year — Eric Churchill Fast — Luke Bryan Bad Luck — Khalid

Ric Flair Drip — Offset Livin’ La Vida Loca — Ricky Martin Rise Up — Andra Day

MAHATI SUBRAMANIAM

KAILEE CORRELL ISABELLA MOUSAVVI

Dig Your Roots — Florida Georgia Line Tidal Waves — All Time Low Hallelujah — Panic! At The Disco

Beautiful Soul — Jesse McCartney While We’re Young — Jhené Aiko Stay Safe — Tiny Meat Gang

GREENGREENGREEN — Chase Atlantic Locket — Lila Drew I Can’t Sleep — POORSTACY, iann dior

KARINA KADAKIA

ELLIE FITTON

Make It Better — Anderson .Paak Backin It Up (feat. Cardi B) — Pardison Fontaine Scar Tissue — Red Hot Chili Peppers

Work Out — J. Cole

You Shook Me All Night Long — AC/DC Tired Of Being Alone — Al Green

ASHLEY GUO

SOPHIE JACOB

Figured Out — Ashe Kingdom Come — Jon Bellion Bye-bye Darling — BØRNS

THEO LJ

TAMAR PONTE

Personal — HRVY Don’t Matter — Lauv Graduation — benny blanco & Juice WRLD

Pluto Projector — Rex Orange County Arguments (With Your Lover) — Mustard Service Broke Bitch — Tiny Meat Gang

ELLEN CHUNG

RAJ SODHI

Love My Way — The Psychedelic Furs Neverland — The Knife Country Girl — Boy Harsher

Jigsaw Falling Into Place — Radiohead Maria I’m Drunk — Travis Scott In My Room — Frank Ocean

Orbit of yours — dosii La La Lost You — 88rising Still Sane — Lorde

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C Magazine Vol. 8 Edition 6

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Hip Hop’s Newest Wave