The Daily Princetonian
Thursday MAY 4, 2017
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SPRING LAWNPARTIES 2017
JEREMIH
quadrangle club COURTESY OF POPMATTERS.COM
The 16-year-old Jeremih Felton was not too different from an average Princeton student: having skipped senior year with overachieving academic performance, Jeremih entered college to pursue a career in engineering. He quickly realized his vocal abilities after performing at a school talent show and receiving unanimous positive feedback. Jeremih could not have known, though, that he would go on to become a 2015 iHeart Music Award winner, well-known for his hit single “Birthday Sex” and the more recent “Don’t Tell ’Em,” which was his third top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100. His success wasn’t completely unexpected; a self-taught multiinstrumentalist, Jeremih started playing drums at three years old before moving on to teach himself saxophone, piano, and bass guitar. “I wouldn’t say I was What is love? Is it giving up? ‘Cause that’s not how you raised me. Never Shout Never is an American rock band formed in 2007 in Joplin, Missouri. The music group is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Christofer Drew, bassist Taylor MacPhee, and drummer Hayden Kaiser. Drew started making solo music under the name NeverShoutNever! when he was just 16, eventually achieving online recognition on MySpace. Drew’s single “Bigcitydreams,”from his first EP “Yippee,”held the number one spot on Billboard’s Hot Singles Sales chart for four weeks without a record label. His first full album, “What is Love?,” debuted number 24 on Billboard’s albums chart under his own imprint, Loveway Records. He went on to sign with Warner Brothers Records and started collaborating with the touring band “The Shout,” eventually forming the full band and changing the name to its present stylized form: Never Shout Never.
Described as chirpy, emo love tunes, the songs go against mainstream conventions. The music group has released six
forced into music, but while other kids were getting video games and toys for Christmas, I was given musical instruments.”
Jeremih has been described as a “bookworm by day, beat-maker by night.” He’s a producer, recorder, rapper, and singer, and he knows his strengths: “I can make a great sex song anytime I want, without even saying a body part, without saying anything that could be omitted on the radio. Somehow I’ve just been given that ability,” he said in an interview. He isn’t wrong. When asked in another interview whether he sees him-
self as a perfectionist, Jeremih confessed, “To me, a lot of records are just icing on the cake… I wanted to put out something that I felt would last a lifetime, that wouldn’t get old.” It is inspirational to see that his success comes from not only talent, but also hard work and a persistent refusal to produce “anything half-assed.” He knows his calling, and he takes it seriously. That’s to be respected in a musician, regardless of the music itself. Jeremih cites Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and R. Kelly as his biggest influences. When his debut album was released, Andy Kellman of AllMusic described Jeremih’s voice as “charmingly sly” and “hard to not like.” If you come to the main act at Quad on this Sunday’s Lawnparties, you’ll be able to verify that for yourself.
Destin Route, commonly known in the rap community as J.I.D, is an American rapper from Atlanta, Georgia who will be opening for Jeremih this Sunday at Quad’s Lawnparties. Currently signed to J. Cole’s Dreamville Records, J.I.D has been producing albums since
Never Shout Never albums and nine EP’s. Their third album, “Time Travel,”was the first album recorded by the full band.
Drew describes his music as experimental and emphasizes expression. In an interview with
Lehigh Valley Music, Drew states that “there’s no reason to make
cookie-cutter music. I feel like that’s all that’s coming out these days, and I wish people could just wake up and see that music should be something that’s expression, that’s artistry, that’s not just a song somebody wrote for you.” His love for different sounds echoes across the band, with
most live shows being quite different from the label recordings.
One of their most famous songs, “What is Love?,” the title track of their first album, features steady, rustic rock sounds with a simplistic and innocent vibe. The music video is presented in a faded autumn setting,
2015. After starting his college career playing football, J.I.D quickly realized that his future was in the music industry, and dropped out to pursue his dreams. -JIANING ZHAO STREET EDITOR
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tower club
coupled with a creative and artsy approach to the imagery. Never Shout Never is looking forward to the release of “Emerald Sun,” their seventh album, in 2018.
-PATRICIA CHEN CONTRIBUTOR
The Daily Princetonian
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Sensemaya, terrace club Thumpasaurus, & Mornings If you’re looking for a way to spend a chill and groovy afternoon at Sunday’s Lawnparties, you should check out Terrace Club. Their program starts at 12:30 p.m. with Sensemaya Afrobeat All-Stars, founded by Princeton students in 2002. The group describes itself as “the funkiest, grooviest afrobeat collective this side of Washington Road” and is known for “its infectious
tunes and raucous live shows.” Sensemaya was inf luenced by Fela Kuti and his sons, as well as more contemporary Afrobeat acts such as Antibalas and Budos Band, but it continuously strives to create a new sound that it can call its own. In 2011, the band released its first live album, “Weapon of the Future,” followed by a short EP in January 2013. If you want “infectious horn
melodies, groovy basslines and ferocious percussion,” then look no further than Sensemaya. Come to Terrace, listen to great music, and enjoy the sunshine! As Sensamaya would say, “All students, all dank.” And if you can’t get enough groove in your life or simply have not made it out of bed yet, then check out Thumpasaurus for “groovy funk from
Thursday MAY 4, 2017
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outer space,” as social chair Robert Whitaker ’18 describes it, at 2 p.m. Its “analog, classic rhythm-section setup recalls ’70s funk acts, but the vibes [it] bring[s] are pure” 2017, according to Live for Live Music. Famous for its out-of-the-box creativity, the group from Los Angeles will surely turn the atmosphere in Terrace into something not quite from this earth. Just explore its website and you’ll understand: thumpasaurus.com Who wouldn’t feel great when hearing phrases like “You are so pretty / You are so wonderful / You are so special?” Thumpasaurus is a mood-lifter for everyone. If you have ever wondered what
it would sound like if Darth Vader revealed himself to Luke Skywalker in Japanese, you should really check out Thumpasaurus! To chill at the end of a groovy day, stay for Mornings, which will perform at 3:30 p.m., just before the main act. Listen to “electronic sounds to make you dance or cry, everything from jazz ballads to future bass,” Whitaker said. Since words cannot do justice to Mornings’ music, just get a feel of the music beforehand. Check out “Lovers” or “Tithe” on SoundCloud, and get pumped to see Mornings live at Terrace! - ANNA WOLCKE STAFF WRITER
Prinze George charter club
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“Now tell me would you really ride for me? Baby, tell me would you die for me? Would you spend your whole life with me? Would you be there to always hold me down? ” These are the lyrics that you probably associate with R. City (aka Rock City), a musical duo from Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. R. City was formed in 2003 by brothers Theron and Timothy Thomas, who go by the stage names A.I. and Uptown AP, respectively. These lyrics are from the duo’s most popular single, “Locked Away,” which features Adam Levine of Maroon 5. R. City is actually behind plenty of other well-known songs as well. Having written and produced numerous hits, including Sean Kingston’s “Take You There,” Miley Cyrus’ “We Can’t Stop,” Nicki Minaj’s “Only,” and Rihanna’s “Man Down,” R. City’s musical wheelhouse extends far beyond its most well-known single. The duo released their debut album, “What Dreams Are Made Of,” in 2015. In an interview conducted by Australia’s Spotlight Report, Theron Thomas spoke about the album, saying, “If you see our album cover, it’s a picture of me and
For this spring’s Lawnparties, Charter Club will bring the talented Maryland-based trio Prinze George. Consisting of members Kenny Grimm (production/instrumental), Naomi Almquist (vocals), and Isabelle De Leon (drums), Prinze George specializes in chill ’80s-inspired beats that can keep you moving all day. Prinze George’s breakout single, “Victor,” is a great mixture of up-tempo beats and down-tempo vocals that manages to pump people up while simultaneously creating a relaxing atmosphere. The first track of its debut album, “Upswing,” features even more feel-good beats and Almquist’s melancholic vocals. After listening to “Upswing,” I realized that it was perfect for spring Lawnparties. At this point in the year, it’s easy for students to feel overwhelmed with the laundry list of things we all have left to do. “Up-
swing,” though, reminds us that we are indeed on the upswing in this final stretch of the year before graduation or summer break and internships. I asked Charter Club’s social chair, Josh Freeman ’18, why he chose to book Prinze George for this year’s Lawnparties, and he responded, “Prinze George has a unique sound that stood out to me. I was captivated by the combination of their songs’ upbeat nature and lead singer Naomi Almquist’s stunning vocals. I found myself quickly dancing in my chair when I listened to their songs ‘Victor’ and ‘Upswing.’ The more I listened to their songs, the more I wanted them to come to Charter.” Prinze George will be delighting us with its uplifting music at Charter Club this Sunday starting at 1:30 p.m. - SANTIAGO AGUIRRE STAFF WRITER
colonial club
R. CITY
my brother as kids when we were at the ages of three and four years old, and that alone tells you that this is a dream we’ve been chasing since we were [little] .... We make music for the people. Even though it’s from a personal place and we’re talking about our lives, our stories, and our struggles, we still want to make sure we do it in a way that the people who listen to our music can relate to, where they can own it as their life, their struggle, and their experience.” The duo describes their music as “Caribbean meets hip-hop” with the intention of inspiring and uplifting its listeners. So whether you are a reggae lover, a hip-hop enthusiast, or simply a fan of music made with the intention of making people smile, come see the duo that is responsible for countless charttoppers perform at Colonial Club this Sunday at 1:30 p.m. - DANIELLE HOFFMAN STREET EDITOR
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The Daily Princetonian
Thursday MAY 4, 2017
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student headliner
DJ Relley Rozay
“I want to get the crowd unbelievably hype,” said DJ Relley Rozay, the student headliner for spring Lawnparties, when asked what he was most looking forward to about his performance on May 7. Also known by the name Durelle Napier ’17, the aspiring DJ hails from Long Island, N.Y., and has grown up with music all around him. Hip-hop runs in the family; Napier’s uncle, Parrish Smith, is a member of the hip-hop duo EPMD. “Before I was even born, my family was big into hip-hop,” Napier explained, “When I was growing up, I was always listening to my uncle and different hip-hop artists from back in the day. My mom would always quiz me while we were riding in the car, like, at home she would play some music and ask me: ‘Who is this?’” Napier credits these childhood moments as having helped shape him into who he is today. “I feel like when I was growing up, with them quizzing me — about not just hip-hop, but different music in general — my music knowledge
increased,” he added. Yet it was ultimately at a boarding school when Napier discovered his knack for DJing. “I was bored, so I figured I might as well get into music and start DJing, since I’ve always loved music and known music ... and then I just started getting better at it,” he said. His first time DJing at the University was an event in the Wilson Black Box Theater during the fall of his sophomore year.
“Ever since I DJed my first event here, I fell in love with it, and then took off from there,” Napier noted. Napier’s work with music serves as more than a hobby; it is also a way he brings attention to a less-discussed area of interest at the University. “Being at Princeton, where most students go into the ordinary fields of,
you know, marketing and law and medicine, or work on Wall Street, I feel like I wanted to do something totally different from anything else that’s been done here before,” he said. He added that “spreading music, educating people on the origin of hip-hop, and just having a conversation about music in general is something that I strive to do on this campus.” Outside of the University, Napier works at a record label called G.O.A.T. Life, which he started with friends in Long Island back in 2014. “What we have been trying to do is to pitch being greater. Our motto is ‘be greater’ . . . and for us, we do it through music,” said Napier. G.O.A.T. Life organized an event at the Carl A. Fields Center for Equality and Cultural Understanding on Friday, April 28, which featured performances from the label’s artists as well as work from visiting clothing brands. Napier described the night as an opportunity to “[give] everyone a different platform to showcase their art.” Music has intersected with several aspects of Napier’s life,
including his academics. As a sociology major, he recently completed his senior thesis on the similarities between hiphop in the United States and Brazil. As for his role as the student headliner for Lawnparties this year, he explained that it has “just always been a dream of mine since I was a freshman.” He recalled his first Lawnparties headliner, T-Pain. “That was my first Princeton concert, and just the atmosphere at Lawnparties was something that I feel like I’ve wanted to become a part of,” he explained. Napier has DJed at Cannon Dial Elm Club since his sophomore year, but this will be his
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first time to take the main stage. When discussing his goals for the performance, he described how he hopes that “everyone remembers Lawnparties spring of 2017, especially the Class of 2017, who are just going out with a bang.” Some of Napier’s favorite artists include J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and Joey Badass. He even revealed that he will be playing a track from Kendrick Lamar’s new album, DAMN., as part of his set, although the specific song to be played will remain a surprise until his performance. -EMILY SPALDING STAFF WRITER
Michael Carsley
cloister club Sit back, relax, and enjoy some tropical tunes by Steel Drums, Cloister Inn’s spring Law nparties act. Michael Carsley, the man behind Steel Drums, is a performer and artist based in Philadelphia, Pa., who performs ever y where from back yard parties to formal events. In addition to singing, Carsley specializes in play ing double second steel pans. According to Carsley Steel Entertainment, Carsley “creates an elegant mix of caly pso, reggae, pop, and jazz.” With a performance degree from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Carsley has a soothing voice that transports his audience into a
cozy, homelike atmosphere while simultaneously giving them a taste of something quite extraordinar y. Having received rave reviews from other events where he has performed, including weddings, private parties, and back yard gatherings, Carsley clearly charms his audience. Since his music is quite different from what many University students listen to on a day-to-day basis, expose yourself to a brand new experience this Sunday by stopping by Cloister to hear the sound of Steel Drums. - LYR IC PEROT STREET EDITOR COURTESY OF MICHAELCARSLEY.COM
gazzo ivy club Gazzo just released a new single last week called “Heart Won’t Beat” featuring Aja9, which has received a lot of positive reviews. Apart from producing his own music, Gazzo is also taking the time to develop other young artists. It’s clear that Gazzo truly enjoys his career as he believes that “success isn’t [about] making tons of money, but it’s playing in front of as many people as I can and knowing that for one moment in time, those people are free of their worries at home, their troubles in school, or anything that hinders them from being happy.”
“To have my music and perAre you excited to be done with classes and to welcome summer? Then head to Ivy Club on Sunday because its spring Lawnparties act, Gazzo, is bound to smooth away all your worries and stress with hypnotic tunes. You’ll probably find yourself subconsciously bopping to his music. But don’t worry, everyone else will be doing the same, so there will ab-
solutely be no need to feel self-conscious. Originally from Hoboken, N.J., but raised in Baltimore, Md., Gazzo is a producer and DJ extraordinaire known for his EDM tracks that incorporate multiple genres. If you have ever heard of Gazzo, you’ve most likely listened to his popular remix of the track, “Never Touch the Ground” by YLUV. This remix flooded
multiple satellite radio stations and music festivals in 2014. The man behind the music is an extremely talented musician who taught himself how to play the guitar, keyboard, drums, and bass. He has been involved in multiple bands since the age of 14 and started producing music when he was only 16. Even with over five years of experience (he offi-
cially started producing in 2011), Gazzo still manages to surprise his audiences with new bodies of work that continue to sound fresh. As he noted in an interview with GoodMusicAllDay, Gazzo admires crossover artists like David Guetta, Kaskade, Calvin Harris, and Tiësto, who is signed to the same record company as Gazzo — Republic/ Casablanca Records.
formances be an escape for
Perhaps this is why his music tends to incorpeople is my desire in life.” porate multiple genres and is, as he terms it, “indescribable.” After So be sure to check out Gazzo’s perreading about estab- formance this weekend and, at least molished producers like mentarily, throw all your worries away. Cash Cash, Tiësto, and Hardwell, who have -MOFOPE OLARINMOYE supported him, I quickSTAFFWRITER ly realized the extent of this artist’s talent.
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The Daily Princetonian
JOVAN JEREMIC
Thursday MAY 4, 2017
tiger inn Getti ng to see a r tists, whose mu sic you recogn ize from concer ts, rad io, and telev ision, per for m is def in itely par t of the f u n of Law npar ties. Howe ver, there is a lways someth ing specia l about getti ng to see a talented student musician per for m a mongst these wel l-k now n a r tists. Tiger In n’s Law nparties act th is Su nday w i l l feat u re Jovan Jerem ic ‘17, a sen ior member of the club in the Neu roscience depa r t ment who, in add ition to DJing on campus, is on the men’s water polo team and works for the Un iversit y yearbook. Je re m ic is or ig in a l ly f rom Serbia a nd g re w up i n Ca l i for n ia.
He “got into DJing in seventh grade after his older cousin introduced him to techno/house music, which back then was really not popular.”
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Je re m ic DJe d at v a r iou s ve nue s i n L os A nge le s t h ro u g h o ut h ig h s c h o ol, i n c lu d i n g s o m e of h i s school’s pe p r a l l ie s a nd a sse m bl ie s. He h a s cont i nu ed t h i s pa s s ion du r i n g h i s fo u r ye a rs at P r i ncet on, DJi ng at Cot t age a nd T I, o p e n i n g a nd c los i n g for Shw ay z e at a Su nd ay F u nd ay, a nd DJi n g T I Bi z a (a n Ibi z a i n s pi red e ve nt he ld bi-a n nu a l ly at T I) .
Spe a k i ng about h i s pa ssion for DJi ng, Jere m ic sa id, “I’ve a lw ays lo ved mu s ic. O ne of my favor ite t h i ngs a s a DJ i s h o w yo u h ave t he po we r t o u n i f y people a nd m a ke e ve r yone h ave a g re at t i me w it h mu s ic. Mu s ic i s t r u ly a phenome non whe n it come s t o ho w much i n f lue nce it ca n h ave on t he w ay it m a ke s people fee l.” He i s i n s pi red b y nu m e ro u s p e r fo r m-
e rs, i nc lud i ng EDM a r t i s t s s u c h a s Ol ive r He ld e n s, Fe d d e L e Gr a n d , Dav id Tor t, a nd Robbie R ive r a. Whe n a sked wh at he i s m os t lo ok i n g for w a rd t o about pe r for m i ng at L aw npa r t ie s, Je re m ic sa id, “ The e x c ite me nt, t he bu i ld-up of t he f i n a l week of c l a sse s, t he a nt ic ipat ion of Hou se Pa r t ie s, a nd t he oppor t un it y to pe r for m at a n a m a zi n g c lub for t he a m a z i n g
P r i nce t on com mu n it y. It i s a fa nt a s t ic e nd t o a n a m a zi ng se n ior ye a r.” So i f you w a nt to see t he mu sica l t a le nt of one of P r i nce t on’s o w n , m a ke s u re t o check o ut T I t h i s Su nd ay a nd e x pe r ie nce t he “p o we r of mu s ic” t h at Je re m ic c ite s a s h i s big ge s t i n f lu e nce. -DA N I ELLE HOF FM A N ST R EET EDI TOR
SEXPERT COLUMN Dear Sexpert, My boy fr iend and I have been have been having sex pretty regularly recently. He’s super great and car ing and usually I think we are being pretty safe. He’s pretty good at pulling out, but last time he f inished before he could! I’m kind of freaking out, how will I know if I’m pregnant? — Insemin-Afraid Dear Insemin-Afraid, I’m happy that you and your boyfriend have a caring relationship and are enjoying each other sexually. You say you are being “pretty safe,” but that caveat leaves room for a range of risks. Pregnancy is on ly one of the risks that come w ith having sex; there are also sexually transmitted infections. STIs are ty pes of bacteria, viruses, or parasites that are
transmitted during sex ual contact. They can be transmitted via bodily f luids or via skin-to-skin contact. The bodily f luids include not just semen, vaginal f luids and blood, but also saliva. While there is no such thing as 100 percent safe sex (except abstinence), there are safer practices that can reduce your risks, and some are more effective than others. When always done correctly, w ithdrawal or “pulling out” has a 96 percent success rate at protecting against pregnancy, but reduces to 78 percent when not always done correctly. Its success rate is lower than using an external condom (99 percent) or other birth control methods (e.g., pill, implant, IUD) and it does not protect you from STIs. However, to prevent pregnancy alone, you have a variety of options. These range from hormonal pills you can
take daily to a small plastic device (IUD) that is inserted into your vagina and can prevent pregnancy for up to 12 years! However, on ly external and internal condoms can protect you from both pregnancy and STIs. Because you are primarily concerned w ith pregnancy, let me say that the signs and likelihood of being pregnant can var y from person to person. For example, your chances of being pregnant are signif icantly higher if unprotected sex occurred while you were ov ulating, or midway through your menstrual cycle. Ever yone is different and the way your body responds could be different from other’s experiences. Ty pical ly, women don’t ex perience sy mptoms of being pregnant until the second or third week of pregnancy. A common misconception is that you w ill completely
miss a period. While you w ill not have a real menstrual cycle after becoming pregnant, some of the initial signs that many women experience are spotting and cramping when the egg attaches itself to the wall of the uterus. That being said, if you do miss a period, not al l missed or delayed periods are caused by pregnancy. It could be caused by stress, a thy roid condition, signif icant weight change, or medication, to name a few. By the fifth week, most people begin to experience some of the stereoty pical telltale signs of pregnancy such as fatigue, nausea or morning sick ness, aching breasts, and mood sw ings due to changes in your hormones. If you want to have answers sooner, consider talking a pregnancy test. The results are ty pical ly accurate and can detect pregnancy as ear-
ly as a week after unprotected sex. To explore your options or confirm pregnancy, make an appointment w ith Sexual Health and Wellness at University Health Ser v ices. The clinicians can prov ide you indiv idualized in formation and help you figure out the next steps. If this was a recent event, going soon is very important because it keeps your number of options high. Additionally, the clinicians can answer any further questions you may have about practicing safer sex for the future. Stay safe, The Sexpert Sources: cdc.gov; bedsider.org; health line.com
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