June 2018 | IC Distinct Magazine by IC Distinct Magazine

DISTINCT JUNE 2018

AARON RIZZO 1

DAY TO NIGHT

FASHION INFLUENCERS

SUMMER FESTIVALS

ANTI-AGING

CRUELTY-FREE MAKEUP

LONG-LASTING PRODUCTS

AARON RIZZO

SUCCULENTS

JUNE 2

SUMMER FRIENDSHIPS

REDUCE YOUR WASTE

DIGITAL DETOX

SOCIAL MEDIA THIS SUMMER

SNAP STREAKS

SUMMER FESTIVALS

2018 3

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sara Belcher

COPY EDITORS Aylie Rudge Nicole Brokaw Sydney Joyce Alexis Philabaum Alexandria Logedo

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Emma Noblesala FASHION EDITOR Tara Stacy

DESIGN Sara Belcher Brent Ferguson Eliza Lopes Carly Swanson

BEAUTY EDITOR Alexis Arter LIFESTYLE EDITOR Kelly Twardziak

FUNDRAISING COORDINATOR Anna D'Arcy

HEALTH & FITNESS EDITOR Alexandra Rose

SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTORS Raquel Borges Kiersten McAdoo

CULTURE EDITOR Elizabeth Gulino PHOTOGRAPHY EDITORS Alessia DiNunno Devin Kasparian

FACULTY ADVISOR Katie Marks

LOOKBOOK COORDINATOR Brent Ferguson

COVER PHOTO Devin Kasparian

LOOKBOOK FASHION DIRECTOR Sarah Carrillo HEAD OF COPY Danielle Gazda ART DIRECTOR Courtney Yule

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Reader, Distinct magazine was started in August 2016 by five people: myself, Emma Noblesala, Courtney Yule, Annika Kushner, and Stephanie Cordova Rodriguez. It was an idea I came up with in my West Tower dorm room my freshman year, and each issue I’m still surprised that I can physically hold it in my hands. While this issue’s theme is summer nights, this is also the thank you issue. Being that this is the last issue of the semester, we’re losing a lot of our staff to graduation and study abroad programs — meaning that I have a plethora of people to thank for making this year happen. My first thank you needs to go to our fashion editor Tara Stacy. Tara was at our first recruitment night fall 2016 and has also been our longest standing section editor. She’s been an amazing and reliable person to work with. Whether it was picking up last minute stories or organizing the small things for me, Tara was always ready to lend a hand. I also need to thank our lookbook coordinator Brent Ferguson. He’s the genius behind a lot of our redesigning and helped make this magazine look more modern and cohesive when we first went to print. He’s pulled through with many last-minute fixes and has even stayed up until three in the morning with me to ensure that the issues are as great as they possibly can be. A huge thank you also goes to Alessia Di Nunno, one of our photography editors. She’s also been here since the beginning, and has pulled through with some amazing and out-of-the-box photos for our issues. While we’re not losing her to graduation, we wish her the best of luck with her semester in Los Angeles. Thank you to Sarah Carrillo, who came on as our first ever fashion director. She knows how to lead a team and style any shoot. Her creative mind and eye for a good outfit has helped shaped many lookbooks this last year, and we wish her the best of luck as she takes on her last year in both Paris and New York City. Thank you to Kelly Twardziak, Elizabeth Gulino, and Alexis Arter — three amazing editors who only had the chance to work with us for a semester, but made an amazing impact just the same. To Lizzy and Kelly, best of luck post-grad, and to Lexy, good luck in Los Angeles. Thank you to Anna D’Arcy, our fundraising coordinator who helped make the print issues happen. You’re going to love London and Los Angeles. And last, but certainly not least, I need to thank Emma Noblesala and Courtney Yule, two of the founding members of Distinct. Both of these amazing women are graduating this May and going off into the real world — meaning they’ve both earned their degrees in just three short years. They were there when we first hit “publish” on our Issuu page our very first semester, and it’s such a bittersweet feeling to see them go. I, and the rest of the team, wish them more than the best of luck in their future endeavors. I have no doubt in my mind they’re both going to go on to do amazing things. These are just a small portion of the people who have come through to help with each and every issue we produce. They are all an integral part of the system we have and make the biggest impact. They’ve all believed in Distinct and are the reason it’s here today. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all. Sincerely,

Sara Belcher IC Distinct Magazine Editor in Chief

FASHION

TRANSITIONING SUMMER LOOKS FROM DAY TO NIGHT WRITTEN BY SARA BELCHER PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAMANTHA SCHMALZ

There’s nothing more frustrating than having to rush home in the middle of a busy day to get ready to go out. Fortunately, there are easy was to take your everyday outfit from casual to party-ready with just a couple of items that you can easily carry in your bag or throw in your car for an on-the-go outfit change. While all good day-to-night outfits start with some solid base pieces, here are a couple of ways to transform almost any look into one that’s ready to party.

FASHION

TIGHTS

Tights are probably one of the easiest ways to spice up your outfit, while also not spending a lot on extra accessories. Adding ripped, black tights under a pair of denim shorts takes a simple, day outfit up a notch. Alternatively, adding fishnets under a bright dress adds a daring element to the look. Both of these types are easy to purchase at a low cost, and can be kept in your purse or backpack for a quick bathroom change at the end of the day.

FASHION

JACKETS

FASHION

Denim and leather jackets are the easiest way to add dimension to any outfit. Usually, the darker the jacket, the better suited for going out. Try to pair a dark denim or black jacket with your day time look to spice it up. Jackets like this can easily be left in your car for a quick change on your commute, plus they can help keep you warm on chilly nights.

ACCESSORIES

Don’t be afraid to keep a couple of statement earrings or necklaces in your purse or backpack for last-minute plans. Switching from simple stud earrings to big hoops can do a lot for a look. Statement necklaces are also a convenient thing to have on hand, as they add more drama to an outfit that isn’t necessary during the day. If jewelery isn’t really your thing, consider at least bringing a fun scrunchie to keep on your wrist. Tying half your hair up into a fun ponytail can make you look more partyready than your everyday locks.

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INSTAGRAM INFLUENCER INSPIRATION WRITTEN BY CARLY WECKEL ILLUSTRATION BY COURTNEY YULE

We all have our favorite style gurus from Instagram. We can’t help ourselves from looking through their aesthetically pleasing pages. The one thing that stands out is their clothing! I mean, come on! All their outfits are well put together with the most up to date trends. Once you start scrolling you can’t stop. You probably wonder where they shop, how much they pay, and where to get clothing that is similar for less. Don’t worry, I did the digging for you.

Maddi Bragg @maddibragg She is a famous YouTuber, best known for her main channel that has over one million subscribers and her vlog channel, which is close to 300,000 subscribers. Her personal style falls into line with street style. She dresses chic with an edgy twist. She shops from various brands, such as BRANDS: Reformation, ASOS, Danielle Guizio, Unif SIMILAR: Urban Outfitters, Nasty Gal, Karmaloop, Golf Wang

Tammy Hemborw @tammyhemborw She’s primarily an Instagram fitness personality. She uses her platform to promote her business based around her self-made fitness routines, as well as her very own fitness clothing line called, Saski Collection. She has multiple styles, but I’m focusing on her unique and fun fitness wear. BRANDS: Saski Collection, Women’s Best, Lounge Apparel, GymShark SIMILAR: Zella Activewear, Lulu Lemon Athletics, Tone Fitness Apparel, Baleaf

FASHION Hilde Osland @hildeee Osland is an Instagram model known for her adorable clothing choices and aesthetically pleasing theme. She bases her style around bright colors, similar to a sunset. Her fashion sense centers around a bohemian style. BRANDS: Hello Molly, Oh Polly, Grace Bijoux, Stelly Clothing SIMILAR: Free People, Boohoo.com, Planet Blue, Spell & the Gypsy

Amy Valentine @amyvalentinex She’s a fashion blogger based in the UK. Her style falls on the lines of edgy and punk. She buys clothing from brands like BRANDS: Drop Dead, Dolls Kill, Missguided, Dr. Martens SIMILAR: Tunnel Vision, Trash and Vaudeville, Interpunk, Rouge + Wolf

Gabi DeMartino @gabi Another well-known YouTuber with over one million subscribers on her vlog channel (Fancy Vlogs By Gab). She also runs a shared YouTube channel with her twin sister Niki that has over six million subscribers. Gabi’s style is vintage glam with a hint of flirty, while being very girly. She puts a twist on her style by shopping at high-end stores. BRANDS: Tiffany & CO., Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci SIMILAR: Pixie Market, Kate Spade, Unique Vintage, ModCloth

Sofia Jamora @sofiajamora She’s a swimsuit model signed to Freedom Models and Next Models. By her Instagram you could tell this girls loves the beach. She finds her bikinis at BRANDS: Kulani Kinis, Frankies Bikinis, Boohoo.com, Lolli Swim SIMILAR: Liar the Label, Tobi, Seafolly, Triangl *The photos in the screenshots of the Instagram feeds are not the original content or property of IC Distinct Magazine. The photos featured are owned by the respective accounts.

FASHION

FESTIVAL SEASON PHOTOGRAPHY BRENT FERGUSON STYLING SARAH CARRILLO HAIR AND MAKEUP LAURA BERGEN, KASEY CHARRON MODELING JALEEL GREEN, LAURA BERGEN, EMMA WEISS, SARAH CARRILLO, SHAYNE REYNOLDS, LARA GRAULICH, JOE SMITH, JUSTIN BERTOLERO

FASHION

BEAUTY

A MYTH: THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH WRITTEN BY SARAH CARRILLO ILLUSTRATION BY AMY THOMAS

As college students, we’re just beginning our “adult lives”. Our heads are filled with things like taxes, bills, and insurance. But in the back of our mind, this sense of physically growing older is chilling. Yes, we can’t wait to enter the “real word” and get out there with our amazing adult jobs, but wrinkles and laugh lines? No, thank you. Or, at least that’s what marketers in the beauty industry want us to think. Why is the idea of getting older and adding another year of wisdom so terrifying? Publications like Refinery29 and Teen Vogue write articles with headlines like, “Here’s When You Should Really Start Using Anti-Agers.” Their answer? Start in your teens. When did this requirement to freeze our face in youth begin? Anti-aging products go back as far as 1889, with the creation of frownies. Margaret Kroesen created these adhesive patches to hold skin and smooth wrinkles after noticing them on her daughter. Over time numerous creams, and serums have been created and marketed as including Retinol. Which is held as the holy grail of anti-aging, but can cause symptoms like peeling, redness, and inflammation. But at least your wrinkles are gone! Though this all started even earlier. Cleopatra apparently bathed in donkey milk daily to maintain her eternal beauty. This bath of youth required 700 donkeys to accomplish. Now, thanks to advancing technologies you don’t need 700 donkeys to look young, just a few needles. In 2002, Botox was approved to treat wrinkles around the mouth, and has recently been approved to treat crow’s feet around the eyes. Celebrities flocked to the cosmetic injection swearing by it as the fountain of youth.

BEAUTY

Popularity for cosmetic surgeries has increased. Joshua Zeichner a plastic surgeon said, “I personally feel that Botox is not necessary until those lines start to show at rest. In some people, this may be in the mid-twenties, while in others after 30. It is rare for someone to come in asking for Botox under the age of 25. I’ve found that there has been a shift in the age of women asking for Botox now, compared to even five years ago. Now more than ever, I have patients coming in asking for Botox in preparation of their thirtieth birthday.” The pressure to begin anti-aging regimens has reached into the wallets of most impressionable: teenagers. Predicted sales for anti-aging products are around $11 billion. There are numerous side effects that can come with starting such a rigorous skin care routine so early. The younger the skin, the more sensitive it is. Which means products that are created for an older generation, but are now marketed to younger crowds, are actually corrupting the skin’s natural water-retaining protective function. The active ingredients in anti-aging products can cause more problems down the road, such as sensitivity to the sun. To become another year older typically means growing wiser and stronger, and becoming experienced. The conversation surrounding aging is full of double standards. Getting older is inevitable and instead of being feared - it should be celebrated! Marketers should take a positive approach instead of honing on the insecurities of men and women. Proactive approaches are being taken. For example, Michelle Lee, Editor in Chief of Allure Magazine announced the publication will stop using the term anti-aging, and would no longer feature celebrities discussing their opinions on aging and the pressures they feel to slow the aging process. Of course, there are some parts of aging that aren’t ideal, but that doesn’t mean an older person is not capable of doing what a 20-something year old can do. We should change the way we speak about age and getting older. There should be less demand for creating fear with targeted psychographics within the beauty marketing industry. After all, my grandparents are some of the most beautiful people I know. So let’s raise our glasses to getting older and wiser.

BEAUTY

OPINION: CRUELTY FREE MAKEUP IS EASIER THAN EVER WRITTEN BY CARLY WECKEL ILLUSTRATION BY COURTNEY YULE

BEAUTY

Attention makeup lovers! Just like you, I am completely obsessed with makeup. In fact, I wear a full face almost every day. I understand the rush of excitement that happens when a new pallet is released after waiting months for it. I understand the overwhelming amount of joy one feels when exiting Sephora or Ulta with a new bag of goodies. However, what I don’t understand is animal testing. Personally, I think animal testing is terrible and extremely unnecessary. Animals don’t have a voice to stand up for themselves. It’s up to us to end their ongoing torture. Using animal cruelty-free products is not only best for the innocent animals, but it’s also best for us humans. Vegan products use all natural ingredients, which is better for your skin overall. It’s important to remember that skin is our largest organ and it is irreplaceable. We have to do what we can to preserve the health of our skin. What’s better than helping out animals, while helping out our skin? It’s 2018, meaning technology has improved greatly over the years. Alternative ways to test makeup exist. Alan Faulkner-Jones is a bioengineering Ph.D. student who believes 3D printing can be used to replace animal testing. A team of Maryland scientists from Johns Hopkins University developed a strategic plan that uses adult stem cells that are able to grow into cells from any organ of the body. The scientists are confident that stem cells will eliminate animal testing. James Hickman is a professor at the University of Central Florida. He developed a new technology that mimics the average human muscular function. This

allows researchers to study the functions of muscles, and study it’s response to various treatments. The technology does this without the need for animal subjects. We can also take into consideration that animals and humans have terrible analogical relations to one another. For instance, people usually live longer than most animals. We also metabolize substances in a different way. Not to mention that we are exposed to many different and unique factors in the environment in the span of our lives. Because of this, diseases that can possibly develop in people are significantly different than artificially placed symptoms or even animals that have been genetically engineered. Research has even found multiple weak links that prove that testing on animals does not determine if the product is fully safe for humans to use. It’s important to realize that our biology is different from animals. Testing on animals is not only cruel, but also impractical. People decided to test products on animals simply because they knew animals could not say no. Most people would agree that being locked in a confined, uncomfortable cage against their will, for their life, while being tested on is one of their worst nightmares. So why would anyone allow that to happen to an innocent animal? We have the technology and research to develop actual alternatives to animal testing. The products are harmless to both animals and people and have been proved to yield better results. It is obvious that animal testing is inhumane, as well as illogical. Let’s give animals a voice and free them from their misery.

LONG LASTING MAKEUP BEAUTY

WRITTEN BY LEXI PHILABAUM ILLUTRATION BY COURTNEY YULE

BEAUTY

PRIMERS/SETTING SPRAY

FOUNDATION/ CONCEALER:

GLAMGLOW Glowstarter Mega Illuminating Moisturizer $49. This is a more expensive product but it’s worth the money. It lasts so long and gives your face the prettiest natural glow all while helping moisturize dry skin. Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer $32. According to Sephora, this product “visibly evens skin tone and texture and instantly absorbs shine” which makes it perfect for hot summer months. Coola Makeup Setting Spray $36. Setting spray is the best way to keep your makeup intact. Bonus, this one has SPF 30. NYX Professional Makeup Matte Finish Makeup Setting Spray-Matte $8. This product is designed for shine control and helping makeup to last all day.

BECCA Aqua Luminous Perfecting Foundation $44. This is the only face makeup I will use in the summer. It’s a waterbased, light foundation that leaves a glowy finish that’s perfect for summer. Maybelline FIT Me Matte + Poreless Foundation $5.99. A cheaper option with good coverage and SPF 18. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer $30. This concealer provides medium to full coverage that is buildable. Great to use if you don’t want a full face of foundation.Maybelline FIT Me Concealer- $5.94. This is hands down the best drugstore concealer out there and a cheap dupe for NARS concealer.

BRONZER/BLUSH:

EYES:

NARS Bronzing Powder Laguna $40. This is a great powder bronzer and according to Sephora it is ideal for all skin tones. It is expensive but it lasts a long time, surely worth the money. NARS Blush in Orgasm $30. The infamous shimmering powder blush that leaves a beautiful summery glow Rimmel London Natural Bronzer $4.28. A pretty glowy bronzer for a cheap price. Milani Baked Powder Blush $7.99 This is a super pretty blush that leaves a natural but glowy look. My favorite shade is “Luminoso” which is perfect for summer.

Morphe 350 Eyeshadow Palette $23. This is my favorite eyeshadow palette of all time. It has 35 colors ranging from orange shades to dark browns and everything in between. Perfect for creating summertime looks. Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette $19. Great for basic natural eye looks perfect for summer. Tarte Tarteist Clay Paint Liner $24. This is my favorite eyeliner. It’s perfect for tightlining and wings!! NYX Professional Makeup Matte Liquid Eyeliner $4.89. Definitely the best drugstore.

HIGHLIGHT:

LIPS:

Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops $42. Amazing product that lasts all day and creates an extremely natural glow with liquid drops so it feels super light on the face. Wet n Wild Mega Glo Highlighting Powder $4.99. This is a great highlighter for a low cost.

Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Lipstick $20 This liquid lipstick balances non-drying comfortability with staying power NYX Professional Makeup Butter Glosses $5.00. I love this product for summer. It comes in over 30 different shades, melts into your lips, and is super hydrating and long-lasting.

BEAUTY

AARON RIZZO BEAUTY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DEVIN KASPARIAN

Aaron Rizzo is a junior sound recording technology major at Ithaca College, and also a musician. His first album â&#x20AC;&#x153;Blck Tee Shrtâ&#x20AC;? was released on Jan. 15, 2017, and has since gained this singer-songwriter some national attention. Originally from Rochester, New York, Rizzo has found a home in Ithaca, where he spends all of his free time writing and recording music. Distinct editor Sara Belcher sat down to talk with him about his music and what he has in store.

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Sara Belcher: So let’s start at the beginning: Why Ithaca? Aaron Rizzo: I was touring all of these schools for the sound recording programs, and during my audition here I met the professors and one of my professors recorded one of my favorite guitar players Joe Bonamassa, he like recorded his first record, so I was like “Woah that’s crazy, I gotta try that.” And also the facilities here are like stupid good. I love the city. Even if I didn’t go to school here, I’d love living here. It’s such a good home base. It’s way more connected to the rest of the world than the rest of Upstate New York. I love Rochester, don’t get me wrong, but Ithaca is just primo city.

flavor in the end. SB: You produced your first album on your own— tell me about that? AR: It was horrible and great at the same time. Doing a record on your own is like climbing a mountain where the cliff is 90 degrees. It’s an insane process. It’s constantly like, do I have enough finish this? It was so true to who I was as a person because I did it and produced it myself. I don’t think I’d ever do it again. Everything else I’m doing with other people — other humans just make it better. You can sit alone in your room and loop all you want for twenty years and play the craziest sh*t, but playing with other people is where it’s good. It was definitely a big learning experience for me in terms of I didn’t know what I could do and what I couldn’t do. I didn’t know how to use a lot of the stuff in the studio! So for it to come out how it did with the little knowledge I had — it was kind of a miracle that it happened. It’s cool. Sometimes I think of it as my debut record and sometimes I’m just like it’s something I put out to get my feet wet. I feel like the best is definitely yet to come. I have a single that I’m releasing on May 11 that is so different and so much better than Blck Tee Shrt. I’m really excited for people to hear it.

SB: You’ve previously played in bands, why go solo? AR: I decided to do my own thing because I had ideas and a direction that I wanted to follow that wasn’t being met in bands. I’d always want to be doing more. And it’s weird, it’s so different from being in a band, like that dynamic. Because in a band, if you’re trying to advance or book shows or whatever, everyone’s on board with that. But solo, since your line up with your band isn’t always solid, you have to take that responsibility upon yourself. It’s a lot more pressure. Like if you backed out of a solo career versus backing out of a band, it’s a lot different because your band name is your name. I love it because im not stuck to anything. I feel like sometimes if you’re in a band, you have to be like this is what we do, this is the genre we play. Screw that, I don’t want to be pigeonholed. It’s a lot more freeing to be doing stuff on my own. I just love playing with different people. It’s just pushing the boundaries of what I thought was possible for myself as well as in collaboration with other people.

SB: What inspired the content of your first album? AR: It was just an amalgam of where I was at the time in my life. The whole getting my feet wet thing was a part of it. I didn’t choose a theme for the record, I was just like here is all of the best songs I have played and recorded to the fullest extent that I can push it. And I just felt like I had to do it — to record a record. There’s this Tony Joe White quote: “How dare you deprive the world of an art you have,” something like that. I meet people who are trying to record, and they’re like “Oh what do I do?” and I’m like you have to record it and put it out. You’re doing anyone an injustice by not doing that. I guess just the need and the want to break into the industry as a solo artist. It started with I have two songs, and then I had 10 and I said to the drummer I was playing with at the time — I was like why don’t we just do a record? Why not? During the recording, we went to Spruce Row Campground and I booked four days in the studio. We didn’t have anywhere to stay so we slept in this campground. We brought a tent but we forgot the air mattress so it was just like sleeping on the dirt — it was great. The middle of August,

SB: Do you do most of your recording yourself, or do you also collaborate with other people on your music? AR: It depends on the song. A couple songs off Blck Tee Shrt had a different drummer, and I played the drums on some of them. It’s all about whether or not the sound being recorded is as close to what’s in my head as possible. I don’t always have the chops to play some of the things that I think of. I’m not as good at drums as other people. But if it’s super simple I’ll just play it, I know exactly how I want it to be. It really all depends on the song. Different drummers and different musicians, all their hearts beat a little bit differently, so it’s an interesting concoction when you bring these different people together to do something. It’s all about the

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one hundred degrees, five million percent humidity — and something I’ll never forget. SB: As much as it was a love/hate relationship with producing the album, what was your favorite part of it? AR: Being able to sit back at the end and have a total WTF moment of just — what just happened and how did this come to be? It’s kind of the part where you realize you’re going insane and you start laughing — that kind of insane. But looking back that had to be my favorite part. Just watching these songs go from ideas to master tracks ready to be on a record. It was such a vertical moment in every aspect of my life. It was like okay, this is it. This is what it’s going to be. This is what I’m going to do. I want to be a recording artist. It’s just so vertical through everything. SB: What inspires your songs? AR: A lot of it stems from feelings that I don’t know how to put into words, but I feel like I can use words and melody to capture those feelings. A lot of times it’s very specific. In high school, I struggled with depression, like being diagnosed. A lot of my songs stem from that and being able to relate to people who also go through that kind of stuff has really helped me connect with people as an artist. Sometimes it’s as simple as you want to tell a story. It doesn’t even have to be something that actually happened, but you’re just like telling a little story. Sometimes I feel that when people write music, they focus too much on making it an event. It can just be this little Hors d’oeuvre that you just give to someone on a plate, like here’s a little song. I think of Piano Man by Billy Joel, in that aspect — it’s just a story. It’s so simple. It’s crazy how the worst times kind of mold the best art. You see in politics right now a lot of horrible things happening but incredibly good art is coming out of it. Politics plays a lot into it too, whether it’s directly or indirectly fed into the lyrics. Just the frame of mind that everyone’s in right now — it’s kind of like an unspoken, we’re all going crazy. Politics is big. Death is a big thing, too. Like death of a family member. It’s like a peaceful release of something through a song. Because I know I’m not special. I don’t feel things that other people don’t feel. I’m just trying to take something that everybody experiences and give them something. So when they hear it they’re like “Oh

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I feel that, I can relate to that, he’s talking to me.” Because all of my favorite music is heavy. It’s hard to passively listen to music for me. If there’s music on I’m going to pay attention to it. Growing up, music took my full attention effortlessly. I just wanted to captivate people. I wanted to rise above just another Spotify playlist. I don’t want to be a playlist song, like you gotta make music for human beings, not for a playlist. It’s tough, too, because a lot of pop music right now is quick. It’s short minded. If you think about it the attention span that listening to music now requires, it’s kind of sad. A lot of times they’re heartfelt, but you can someone else besides the artist wrote them. You can’t hide that. Your audience is a million times smarter than you a hundred percent of the time. If it’s not coming from a genuine place, I don’t think you can get away with that. So I want to bring that to pop music. I want to blend them.

show. I don’t even think it was the show itself that made it my favorite show, because we’ve had some amazing shows in New York. It was everything leading up to it — the rehearsals, the flight, the booking of the hotel. I was just like what is happening? This is crazy. I guess I just think it was just something that would never happen to me, at least not right now. It was so surreal. I’d never been to California before. It was just great, and it felt very at home. But it’s so hard to decide. We came back and then played a show at The Dock. The place was packed. There was a moment when we were playing some tunes, and there’s a break in the song where there’s just vocals. I broke and stepped away from the mic and the crowd sang it. You talk about that as a song writer — it’s your dream to see people do that. I couldn’t stop laughing and I couldn’t finish the song. I was like this is absurd, what is happening?

SB: When did you start playing guitar? AR: I mean, fourth grade I start playing trumpet, and I started playing guitar when I was nine. I was watching Back to the Future and the part where Marty McFly is at the school dance and he’s just shredding in front of everyone. It was mind blowing for me as a kid. I was this little kid watching this hero shred. My parents had just done some construction on the house, and there’s just all this garbage everywhere. They were like, “If you pick this up, we’ll buy you a guitar.” It was a $20 acoustic guitar from Target. It was a piece of garbage — but I wanted it so bad. So I went out and picked up all of the trash and they bought it for me. I started taking lessons, and it was when it was like a deja vu moment. When I was younger and I would listen to music and it made me feel a certain way — picking up the guitar and playing the music — that feeling, reoccurring, was a huge full-circle moment for me. It was another one of those vertical moments of like, this is what I want to do with my life. It’s strange that there’s never been any doubt about it. That was it. It’s easy to sound cocky like everyone has their moments, but it has stayed on an upward path enough to keep that mindset in my head. It was as simple as the way it made me feel. And I was like if I can feel this, other people can feel this. I just want to make people feel that way. And my parents being gracious enough to support it really allowed me to dive into it.

SB: You say that drummers inspire you most — why? AR: I think for me, rhythm has always been more of an aspect to the guitar than harmony — which is kind of counterintuitive if you think about it. Rhythm is just the core. It’s the foundation of everything. They always say the bass player and the drummer should be locked together, but what about the guitar player? I feel like everyone should be locked together. There’s something about drums that just gets me going. I don’t know what it is. Steve Jordan in particular is like my favorite drummer of all time. It’s not guitar players playing guitar that make me want to pick up the guitar, it’s a drummer playing a deep groove that makes me want to play on top of it. Because again, it comes back to the people thing. B.B. King and John Mayer are huge guitar inspirations for me, but I’ve never been into this really fast shredding thing. So for me, guitar playing has always been more of a collective thing — not like here’s the band, here’s the guitar player. In a lot of the inspiration I was pulling, I found that I was mimicking rhythms that I had learned on the drums. It was something that started as an unconscious thing and moved to being more conscious. Every guitar player is inspired by guitar players — you’re not doing anything different. So I try to pull influence from everything, not just drummers. But it mostly comes from drummers, just because rhythm is so integral when I play.

SB: What’s your favorite place you’ve performed? AR: I was selected to play at the 2018 Winter NAMM convention and we got to fly out to california to play that

SB: Favorite artist at the moment and why? AR: At the moment, probably B.B. King. Just because he has taught me how to simplify everything. Listening to his

COVER music, it shows that music doesn’t have to be crazy. It doesn’t have to be music for musicians, it can be music for people. So much of what I love — it all stems from him. A lot of the guitar players I love are inspired by this guy. Vibe wise, definitely B.B. King. Song wise: I’m on this John Mayer kick right now. The way he writes songs is just so different and it’s so straightforward but also like crazy metaphorical at the same time. He’s just such a good guitar player. He does a lot of what I want to do. I saw him a couple of times over the summer, and when he came out with his blues trio — it was crazy to see. Seeing someone who has been so pegged into a pop mold and play the blues like it’s nothing. That’s what I want to do.

have another one coming out. I can’t make any promises, but I’m hoping sometime early 2019 we’ll another record out. I’m doing an internship at Bunker Studios in Brooklyn over the summer, so I’m hoping to meet some really cool people and just go into networking mode for the summer. I’m excited for that single. It’s been over a year since I’ve released any new music, so I’m really excited for people to hear what we’ve got in store. You can stream Rizzo’s album Blck Tee Shrt on Spotify and Apple Music, or watch the music video for his song “Social Anxiety” on YouTube.

SB: You have a single coming out May 11, do you have anything else in store for the future? AR: We are going on tour this summer. We’re doing an Eastern United States tour, hitting most of the major cities on the East Coast. After we drop that single, we’ll hopefully

COVER

LIFESTYLE

GOOD GREENS!

WRITTEN BY MARA BATT PHOTOGRAPHY BY MELANIE SPIEL

WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE PLANTS Finally, the sun is shining and things are turning green. Looking back on the brutal winter, I am astonished that I even made it out alive. Personally, I attribute my survival to my plant collection. This sounds silly, I know. But a good way to fight off the winter blues is by bringing something green into your life. I went a little overboard this winter and practically turned my dorm room into a jungle. Once my roommate got over the initial annoyance of my plants creeping onto her dresser space, we were both able to enjoy the vibrant contrast to the icey outdoors. Even now that the weather is warmer, I can appreciate my plants for a spectrum of other reasons.

have to give them water baths about once every week or two.

DID YOU KNOW?

There is some scientific data that suggests plants boost happiness, concentration, and creativity! Studies show that we are less stressed in the presence of greenery. When plants are introduced into office setting, employees have been found to get more work done, take fewer sick days, and make fewer mistakes. There is also evidence that this applies to students in classroom settings as well. Plants also help improve the quality of air by increasing humidity and lowering carbon dioxide levels, along with other toxins such as benzene and nitrogen dioxide. They also reduce airborne dust, keep room temperatures down, and absorb excess noise.

DO PLANTS AND DORM ROOMS MIX?

Absolutely! There are plenty of plants that are suited to almost any living condition. The first thing you should do if you’re looking into buying a plant, is decide how much sunlight your room gets. For some stupid reason, a lot of on campus housing buildings were made with their windows facing north and south, as opposed to east and west, which is where all the sunlight comes from! If you are in a building that receives less sun, consider a plant that requires low to medium light. Snake plants, ivy, bamboo, and some breeds of succulent and cacti can survive in lower sun conditions. A good rule of thumb for succulents is, the brighter they are colored (pink, purple, orange…), the more light they require to maintain their pretty hues. Succulents and cacti are the ultimate plants for college students because they do not require much care. They typically do best when they are watered about once a week and otherwise, left alone. They also range on the smaller side so they will not take up much space. If you find yourself really pressed for space, consider a hanging planter. I have a medium sized ivy plant hanging from a command hook right over my window. For the most part, it stays out of the way. Air plants also make good hanging plants and there are a ton of online suggestions for DIY hangers. Just remember that air plants do not survive on air alone! You actually

There’s a quote by Audrey Hepburn that goes, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” Personally, I enjoy the stability that my plants bring to my routine. The act of caring for something can be rewarding. I love to discover that my plants are blooming or that one has sprouted a little baby. So if you’re looking for a little extra peace in your work space, cheerfulness in your room, or even just a low maintenance friend, consider buying a house plant!

LIFESTYLE

SUMMERTIME SADNESS WRITTEN BY ALEXIS PHILABAUM PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAM WEEKS

There’s nothing like going back home after a long year of being away at school, right? Finally getting to see your family, eating non-dining hall food, and being reunited with your high school friends for an entire four months! There’s nothing better than that, right?

Wrong.

Yes, going back home is great and all, but what if your friendships have changed? You saw each other over Thanksgiving, had a quick, whirlwind reunion where the simple excitement of seeing each other again granted you enough conversation to last a few days. Then came Christmas break. After Thanksgiving you were counting down the days until you all got to come home again, and when you finally did, it was great—for a few days that is!

LIFESTYLE Being home for an entire month is more than enough time to tell each other all those wild college stories you’ve been dying to share for the past semester—that one wild frat party on Halloween, your horrible professor who you swear hates you for no reason, the drama with your sorority sisters. But once those are all out of the way, what is there to talk about? You’re not in high school anymore. You’ve all gone your separate ways and have new groups of friends. Even the wildest story or most dramatic situation your friends have to tell doesn’t really mean too much to you because frankly, you don’t know the people involved. Once spring break rolled around, things had definitely started to change. Those nine, ten friends you saw over Thanksgiving quickly turned into one or two. So here we are, about to head home for an entire summer. It’s not strange to feel a little bit worried about going home. You’ve just spent an entire year making new friends, trying new things, and having new experiences. How are you supposed to jump back into the way life was nine months ago after so much has changed? It’s normal to feel a little down when heading home for the summer. You’re about to spend an entire four months apart from the people you’ve grown the closest to. Worst yet, you’re going back to potential awkwardness with your friends from home. But remember, your entire summer isn’t riding on them. Firstly, you get an entire summer of no schoolwork. No more all-nighters cramming for that exam or catching up on homework. Live it up while you can because it will go faster than you might think. As for friends, you will definitely be missing your college friends. To go from being together every minute of everyday to not seeing each other for months is a big adjustment. If you can, take the time to plan ahead and schedule a trip to see each other. It’ll make the four months apart go a lot faster when you have a mid-summer reunion to count down to. So, what about your high school friends? The number one thing to remember is that it’s okay that you’ve all moved on. You have no obligation to see every single person you were friendly with in high school. However, you’re not alone if you’re missing some of your old high school pals. And you never know, they might be missing you too. Just the other day I got a text from one of my old friends asking to see me and catch up when we got back home. It might be scary going out on a limb and sending that text to hang out, but it’s 100% worth it. Odds are they are feeling the same way, and it might make their day to get a text from you. Going home seems a little more inviting knowing that there are people anxiously waiting for you to come back. So whether it’s roadtripping to see your college friends, sending that invitation to hang out to your high school friends, or even spending your time hanging with your family and your dog, this is your summer. Do what makes you happy. 38

~ “It’s normal to feel a little down when heading home for the summer.” ~

HEALTH AND FITNESS

EASY WAYS TO REDUCE WASTE WRITTEN BY ALEXANDRRA ROSE PHOTOS BY MELANIE SPIEL

If you follow any sort of environmental news, then you have probably heard of the word zero waste. You are probably wondering, what is zero waste? According to the GrassRoots Recycling Network, zero waste, “maximizes recycling, minimizes waste, reduces consumption, and ensures that products are made to be reused, repaired, or recycled back into nature or the marketplace.” Essentially, this means that you try to make sure that as little goes into a landfill as possible. It is important more now than ever to be aware of how much we throw away, because the production, transportation, consumption, and disposal of our waste makes up 42% of U.S. greenhouse emissions. Additionally, by keeping waste out of the landfill, you are preventing methane emissions, which traps 84 time more heat in our atmosphere than carbon dioxide. College students might believe that going zero waste is something they can’t handle, especially when they see pictures of people on the internet with all their trash for the year compiled in a tiny jar. Fortunately though, you don’t have to go completely zero waste in order to make an impact. Here are some easy ways that you can reduce waste as a college student.

HEALTH AND FITNESS

TOTE BAGS

Instead of relying on plastic bags to pack up your groceries, use a reusable tote bag instead. Many grocery stores have reusable bags you can buy right at the register. It can be tricky to remember to bring them, but by putting them near your door or leaving them in your car, you are less likely forget. Also, each time you bring even one tote bag, you save a tree or contribute less to the plastic waste problem, as most plastic bags can’t be recycled. If you are concerned about maintaining freshness, then bring cold packs or buy an insulated reusable bag, many of which can also be bought directly at the store. It is important to reduce your consumption of plastic as much as possible, because plastic can take anywhere from 10 to 1,000 years to decompose. Also, toxic chemicals that come from plastics, kill about 1 million sea birds and 100,000 marine mammals per year. Therefore, every time you bring a reusable bag, you are helping to save marine life.

PURCHASE A REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE

Using a reusable water bottle, instead of a plastic one, is one of the easiest ways you can reduce waste. Not only are plastic water bottles expensive, but the majority of them don’t even get recycled. Even though it is initially more expensive, it will save you money to buy a reusable water bottle in the long run. You’ll also look a lot more chique with a SWELL water bottle with tree or ocean wave designs on them, than a boring and polluting plastic water bottle.

COMPOST

In the United States, we have a huge problem with food waste. A lot of people think that because food is biodegradable that it will break down in a landfill. Sadly, this isn’t the case. Landfills get very little light and food needs light in order to break down properly. We’re also having a soil crisis, where because of modern agricultural practices, the soil isn’t getting the nutrients it needs. Therefore, if you compost your food scraps, you’ll return these nutrients to the soil. If you don’t feel like composting yourself, check to see if your local city or town offers compost pick up services. The Eco-Reps on our camps, this past year, piloted a program at the Ithaca College Circle Apartments, where they pick up your food scraps that you place in a compost bin, and then do the composting for you.

CULTURE

MY EXPERIENCE TAKING A DIGITAL DETOX WRITTEN BY RHIANNON COLEMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAM WEEKS

HEALTH AND FITNESS

What?

posts or sent direct messages. It helped to keep my phone on “Do Not Disturb,” so that I wouldn’t get distracted by others. The thought of living without our phones seems far-fetched and quite honestly, almost impossible. But guess what? I went to work, an art exhibition at the Handwerker Gallery, an on-campus concert, and got along fine. Now, I’ll admit that I initially planned to continue the digital detox for an additional two days and caved in after the first, but not for the reasons you might think. I didn’t cave in because I had FOMO or am not an interesting person without social media. I decided that because it was so easy for me to stay away from social media that it wasn’t necessary for me to avoid it entirely. Although there are still some days that I check social media excessively, I’m able to pick up on my own behavior and take the necessary steps to change it. Therefore, continuing the digital detox for an additional two days, despite the fact that I am not negatively affected by social media, seemed pointless to me. I believe that taking a digital detox is helpful and necessary for some people. However, recent research has shown that young adults are not as hooked onto their phones as we might think. A study from the University of Chicago has shown that more than half of young adults have taken breaks from social media before and twenty percent say that they want to. We mostly hear that social media has a negative impact on our lives, and I’m not saying it can’t be for some people, however, I also think that there is a way to use social media regularly without letting it overwhelm you. I believe that if you overall have a positive view of yourself and your life, you don’t need to detox yourself from social media. If you are struggling with using social media too much, don’t believe that social media is the ultimate enemy of your happiness. Try monitoring your social media usage and make the changes that you think need to be made and if that happens to be in the form of a digital detox, then that’s totally fine. However, at the end of the day, a digital detox can only do so much. If you’re unhappy with or without your phone, then it’s time to look deeper than just your social media habits. But, even still, monitoring and balancing social media in your life is important. Ultimately, you get to decide how much social media runs your life, so you can either abuse its power or learn how to live with it in a healthy way.

A “digital detox” is defined as taking a break from technology and social media in order to feel more connected to the physical world around you. The idea of a digital detox has become more popular recently because of the common belief that one cannot experience a fulfilled life if they are also frequent users of social media and technology. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, teens and young adults have been shown to be particularly affected by the over-usage of technology and social media, “because of their limited capacity for self-regulation and susceptibility to peer pressure.”

Why?

Digital detoxes have become popular because of the belief that the digital age has only brought with it an endless source of distraction, escapism, and the infamous fear of missing out (FOMO). People, especially young adults, use social media and technology to procrastinate, avoid responsibilities, and keeping up to date with others’ lives, often just for the sake of keeping up. If you have a window into endless entertainment and a portion of people’s lives, why would you want to close it? On the other hand, there have been multiple credible arguments made against technology, especially social media. “Social-networking sites like Facebook promise to connect us to friends. But the portrait of iGen teens emerging from the data is one of a lonely, dislocated generation. [...] the effect of screen activities is unmistakable: The more time teens spend looking at screens, the more likely they are to report symptoms of depression,” says psychology Professor Jean M. Twenge. There have been an influx of arguments similar to Twenge’s in the social science world. As a result, the idea of taking a digital detox as a part of the larger topic of self-care is becoming increasingly popular.

My Experience

After perusing through research, I became curious as to whether social media was becoming a hindrance to my own happiness. To find out, I decided to take a digital detox from social media for an entire day. Even though this does not sound like much, I knew that I was guilty of checking Instagram multiple times an hour, so I thought that a digital detox would be challenging for me. However, I was surprised by the realizations that came with the experience. Taking a break from social media was not that difficult. Of course there were times when I did feel an urge to check, but it went just as quickly as it came, even when I was tagged in 42

CULTURE

LIMIT SOCIAL MEDIA USE THIS SUMMER WRITTEN BY CARLY SWANSON

Social media is an entertaining way to get news, follow your favorite celebrities and artists, and keep up with friends and family. However, it can easily become a time filling habit. This cycle can reach the point of selecting an app, scrolling through for a bit, closing, and then immediately subconsciously reopening, often without even processing what you’re looking at. As summer approaches, the anticipation of more free time does as well. Without homework and and as many pressing responsibilities, it can be tempting to spend the day spiraling down into Kardashian conspiracy theories or whatever headline the Daily Mail has posted on their Snapchat discover story. This cycle can be avoided if you’re conscious and proactive towards your amount of screentime. Start this process by doing a bit of spring cleaning. Evaluate the different apps you have and their purpose. For most users, Facebook is just a space to see what your distant relatives and people you don’t care about are up to. Yet somehow it holds a high level of intrigue. I may live in a dorm and never step foot in my disgusting communal kitchen, but yes, of course I’m going to watch that Tasty cooking video about cinnamon bun twists. Due to Facebook’s minimal benefits of using it, it can get taken off your app roster - you probably need more storage anyway. If you ever want to check in on your family or want to know what your third cousin wore to her eighth grade dance, you can check in on your mobile browser or on a computer. Figuring out what to do about Snapchat can be tricky, as it can sometimes function as a primal mode of communication. First, if you keep streaks like they are a game, stop. Sending pictures of your face back and forth to friends all day and worrying about the hourglass that pops up if you haven’t snapped in 24 hours clings you to your phone all day waiting for notifications. Look at the people who you actually using the app to talk to. Do they have your phone number? Easy, if they need to contact you they can. If they don’t have your phone number, give it to them. There’s a cute boy in your class that you have been “snapping” for a week? Give him your number. You don’t want to be too forward and give him your number? Sounds like it isn’t going to work out anyway if that is the case. There you go! Everyone you talk to over Snapchat has your number and can contact you. No need to keep the app. You will thank yourself for not tapping through mind numbing videos of that “super fun” frat party as you lay in bed for three hours on Saturday morning.

The dynamic duo of Twitter and Instagram are undoubtedly the biggest time consumers. For many, Twitter is used as a source to read news. As an alternative, delete twitter and download a news app. Get notifications from the app for important people, so you don’t have to spend time scrolling through tweets. For those of you who say you use Twitter for news but are really giggling at memes all day, parting with the app may be difficult. Start out by deleting the app from your phone. If you feel the need, check your feed once a day from your computer or mobile browser. As time goes on, limit the check ins to a few times a week and eventually to once a week. Take the same approach for a slow separation with Instagram. You’ll notice that there is not much you are missing and that you actually do not care about most of the people you are following. Also, with summer comes high expectations to have wild times with your friends constantly, when typically these “summer goals” do not play out. Skip the FOMO and solemnly glooming over your failed bucket list. Not only will deleting Instagram prevent you from wasting an excessive amount of time, it will help you enjoy your summer in the moment rather than trying to get the perfect picture on the beach. By deleting the app, you won’t see mysteriously rich twenty-somethings going on tropical vacations drinking Fit Tea. If you need extra help, there are apps that can limit social media use. Offtime blocks distracting apps and games to help users unplug. You can choose different modes like Work, Family, or Me Time to ensure that you have access to information you need, but will not be preoccupied with what you don’t. It also includes statistics about how much you actually use your smartphone, which can be an important wakeup call to restricting your obsession. For the most extreme circumstances, Moment exists. The app tracks your device and lets you set daily limits, notifying you if they are exceeded. You can even use a setting that “forces” you off your phone by flooding your screen with annoying alerts when you attempt to exceed your limits. While these apps can be helpful, the best way to limit social media use is by being aware of how you are spending your screen time. It is too easy to fall down the rabbit hole. You click on one Buzzfeed video and next thing you know you’ve watched seventy renditions of people eating foreign snacks. Take note of when this happens, and don’t waste your summer scrolling the day away. 43

CULTURE

“NEW STREAKS” WHY STREAKS?

WRITTEN BY AMBER RAIKEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAM RICKETT

As I opened my own Snapchat, I realized that I have nine different Snapchat streaks that range from 4 days to 411 days. I then also thought back on my streaks and realized that half of them started unintentionally and the other half started with one of us snapping “let’s start a streak.” It’s easy for streaks to die because sometimes you just forget to respond to someone, end up being too busy to respond to Snapchat, or you could have just gotten your phone stolen and then rely on your sister to use your Snapchat and “save your streaks.” So here’s the real question: Why do Snapchat streaks need saving? “We aren’t going to break our streak on Snap, right?” my friend Ally asked me as we were about to conclude our conversation. “I don’t think we should keep it. Aren’t we taking a break from talking right now?” I responded to her, quite confused by the question.

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean we can’t keep our streak.” Breaking a Snapchat streak seemed like such a big deal to her, even when we were at a time where we just couldn’t be close friends and couldn’t communicate with each other; a time where we had to take a break in order to save our friendship. So isn’t Snapchat a form of communication? Why is this need to keep the 25, 70, or even 200 days on a Snapchat streak matter so much? How did I offend her by saying, “Hey, let’s not send each other pictures of the wall or the ceiling for a little while.” It has been known that a lot of teenagers have balanced their popularity and social status based upon how many friends they have on social media, but now, Snapchat has gained more power than ever in showing how social people are with each other, especially teenagers. According to Psychology Today, often teenagers have multiple and numerous streaks going on a wait time, and teenagers continue to make sure 44

CULTURE that their streaks stay on track and are not at risk of ending, continue having the streak. So all in all, maybe the creators of which could take more time and effort than it would to Snapchat are to blame for this generation of streaks or even actually send one picture through Snapchat. our own generation for becoming so attached to the “streaks” Due to the fact that so many teenagers have become to when the days get so high. Oddly enough, it is clear that dedicated to Snapchat, when teenagers get their phone taken Snapchat is one of the main ways that friends be friends, and away, their streaks are at risk of being lost and all their hard it could be such an easy thing for people to do, which is why work is gone. Jullian Burger, a 20 year-old college sophomore, these streaks don’t seem to be going away anytime soon. stated “I definitely care about a streak that’s been going on for 400 days! The higher the number, the higher the value to me. It’s a little silly, haha I know.” This student was very straightforward about the fact that the numbers tend to matter a lot when it came to Snapchat because it shows that a lot of work and motivation has been put into keeping this streak. A different sophomore college student, 19 year-old Stephanie Siok, saw the meaning of keeping a Snapchat streak through a different light. Siok stated, “If you have a streak with someone, it’s so easy to keep it up, so there must be something going on with that person if they’re trying so hard to no snap you to keep it. So I do get a little pissed, but if breaks with someone by accident, then that doesn’t matter.” Going off of what Siok said, I can easily say that when someone I have a streak with purposely doesn’t respond to my Snapchats, I do find myself getting quite annoyed and wanting to know if there was something I had done wrong in our friendship. It seems as if these acts of refusing to respond to a Snapchat and breaking as streak is like the act of leaving someone’s text message on “read.” When my mom asked me why I had them, I wasn’t even sure how to answer. Maybe this had just become a part of my daily routine. Maybe since Snapchat seems just as important as texting nowadays, I feel a need to keep the streak going, just like all my friends do. In a study conducted by Vox, they explain that the chance of getting a “like” or “emoji” through certain social media apps is what keeps us so hooked to our devices. For example, since Snapchat keeps a tally of how many days you and your friend have messaged each other back and forth, we are are more encourage to keep the Snapchat streak going once we’ve seen this tally and 45

CULTURE

SUMMER FESTIVALS WRITTEN BY SYDNEY JOYCE & ELIZABETH GULINO PHOTOGRAPHY BY SYDNEY MATZKO

There are only a few guarantees that come with the summertime: tan lines, pool days, barbecues, and festivals. The latter being some of the biggest music gatherings that occur all year, and there are tons of them to choose from across the country. Whether you go for the music, the fashion, or to combat your FOMO, a festival is the staple to anyone’s summer vacation. Here are just a few of the most famous festivals in the U.S., boasting headliners like Beyonce and The Killers.

BURNING MAN

This festival, or more commonly known as a community, has been described as a place of art and self-expression and has an annual burning of a large wooden effigy. Burning Man is held 100 miles north of Reno, Nevada in Black Rock City, a temporary space created just for the festival. The theme for this year’s Burning Man is “I, Robot” and will be held from Aug. 26 through Sept. 3. Although they don’t have musical acts, their website states that Burning Man is an annual experiment in temporary community and radical self-expression.

LOLLAPALOOZA

Located in Chicago, “Lolla” is popular for well known names in music like Kanye West and Chance the Rapper, who both hail from the Windy City. Not only is Lollapalooza a music festival, it also features comedy and dance performances along with craft booths. This year acts include: Arctic Monkeys, Travis Scott, Khalid, Bruno Mars, The National, Post Malone, The Weekend, Vampire Weekend, and Jack White. Lollapalooza is running from Aug. 2 to Aug. 5 and has acts that differ from pop alternative rock to EDM.

PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL

Organized by the online magazine Pitchfork, this festival has a wide range of musical genres and is located in Chicago’s Union Park. This year Pitchfork Music Festival is July 20 to 22 and will include the acts Tame Impala, Courtney Barnett, Fleet Foxes, The War on Drugs, and Ms. Lauryn Hill. The acts range from alternative, to rap & hip-hop, to EDM and even hardcore punk. This music festival is made for anyone with an eclectic taste in music that can head bang to Skrillex but also enjoys chilling out to jazz.

CULTURE

GOVERNOR’S BALL MUSIC FESTIVAL

Held in Randall’s Island Park in New York City, this year’s Gov Ball headliners include Eminem, Jack White and Travis Scott. To get to this music festival, all goers must take a ferry to the island. This attraction may seem like a downer to some, but making the most of the aquatic trip will serve all festival goers well. Fashion is one of the main components of Gov Ball, so get your outfits ready! Governor’s Ball will be held from June 1 to 3.

ELECTRIC DAISY CARNIVAL

Commonly known as EDC, one of the largest electronic dance music festivals in the world, this festival also includes carnival rides and interactive art installations. EDC has numerous locations including Florida, Tokyo, and Mexico. It will be held on May 18 to 20 in Las Vegas. Headliners include Armin Van Buuren, Diplo, Kaskade, Marshmello, Martin Garrix, Tiësto, and Zedd.

ELECTRIC FOREST

This music festival focuses on the electric and jam band genres and transports you to a trippy forest with its decor. This year’s headliners include The String Cheese Incident, Bassnectar, Griz Live Band, RÜFÜS DU SOUL, and Zhu. Two weekends starting in June are set aside for this festival, from the 21 to the 24 and the 28 to July 1 in Rothbury, Michigan.

BONNAROO MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL

Held in Manchester, Tennessee this festival originally focused on folk and jam band music, but has since diversified to genres like classic rock, hip-hop, country, and reggae. Along with the music, Bonnaroo features artisans selling their homemade products, a comedy tent, silent disco, a Ferris Wheel and more. This year’s headliners include Muse, Eminem, and The Killers. The festival will be from June 7 to 10.

SASQUATCH! MUSIC FESTIVAL

Held in the famous Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington, this festival typically has a focus on indie rock bands. Sasquatch! was voted one of the ‘Top 10 Music Festivals in the US’ by ConcertBoom. It was founded in 2002 by concert promoter Adam Zacks, who said it was “an idea born on a hunch”. This year the festival will be May 25 to 27 and will feature Bon Iver, The National, and Modest Mouse.

VANS WARPED TOUR

This year will be the final full cross-country tour for Vans Warped Tour, the largest travelling musical festival in the US. Focused mainly on rock, alternative rock, and punk rock, this year’s tour will include All Time Low, Sum 41, Taking Back Sunday, Four Year Strong, Underoath, Bowling for Soup, Asking Alexandria, and Black Veil Brides. The tour will be in cities across cities the US and Canada from June 21 to Aug. 5.