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Contents 6
N ew
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Begi n n i n gs
PLAYLIST
coping over coffee by christina casillo
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two of a kind by adam ward
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An interview with gold connections
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diy winter air freshener
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"2:00 Am" an album review
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A collection of articles
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Visual Media Picks for 2016
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Artwork by lauren goldstein
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tame impala's currents travel piece: WIlliamsburg , VA
Pop to It
MEET THE STAFF
EDITOR IN CHIEF
artist
ASHLEY HOFFMAN is an Atlanta peach in Boston. She is currently studying journalism and public relations at Emerson College. You can most likely find Ashley with her French bulldog, Petunia, browsing record shops and sipping on overpriced lattes.
PORTIA MELITA is a public relations major and art minor. In her free time she likes to wrtie music, sing, draw and interact with bees in any way she can.
itor-in-Cheif Twitter: @ahoffz social media Instagram: @ahoffz
CHRISTINA CASILLO is a senior communication design major at Elon University who loves social justice and Harry Styles.
contributor Instagram: @chrisrosecas
Aaliyah Weathers is a journalism and motion pictures major at the University of Miami who is passionate about good art and bad puns. Twitter: @
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lillyduranphoto Instagram: @spookylilly
Resident Artist Instagram: @ portiaapple
photographer
ADAM WARD is a fashion photographer and marketing student attending Emerson College in Boston, MA. He is also the photo director of em Magazine, Emerson’s longest running fashion and culture magazine. When he’s not shooting you can find him in his bedroom making mixed media while listening to Grimes.
layout director
NIC ZUHSE is a double major in studio art and art history and a minor in digital media at Elon University. You can usually find her covered in paint in the design studio or spending way too much money on jeans at goodwill. She also really loves dogs.
contributor
ERIN CHRISTIE is an aspiring journalist from Connecticut who has a deep passion for music, social justice and film. Twitter: @eerinchristine
Instagram: @eerinchriscontributor tine
Lauren goldstein is originally from Central Oregon. Mainly, she focuses on photography, but has recently been experimenting with digital drawing and painting. She collects postcards and thinks about color in her free time. Instagram: @rebeccaa17
contributor
contributor
contributor
megan stitt is a fashion marketing major at NCSU. She enjoys analyzing and studying social media almost as much as she enjoys posting on it. In her free time you will find her photographing her favorite desserts (all of them).
KATE KLASSA is an International Studies major at NCSU who is obessed with cats and compulsivly buys more than she can ever hope to read.Twitter: @n_zuhse Instagram: @nicthepainter
MADISON SHARP is an Atlanta native with a passion for music and film. If she isn’t taking pictures of a show she’s probably watching Bob’s Burgers.se Instagram: @nicthepainter
contributor
find all of our staff on social media
Natalie Harper is a nonbinary literature student in Boston, Massachusetts. Although they want to pursue a career similar to Raymond Carver, they would settle for being a cult leader. Their interest of nostalgic memories is the main inspiration for the voice in their prose.
Ashley Hoffman Twitter: @ahoffz Instagram: @ahoffz
nic zuhse Twitter: @n_zuhse Instagram: @nicthepainter
Christina Casillo Twitter: @chrisrosecas Instagram: @chrisrosescas
Erin Christine Twitter: @eerinchristine Instagram: @eerinchristine
Lilly Duran Twitter: @lillyduranphoto Instagram: @spookylilly
Jane Seidel Twitter: @jane_seidel Instagram: @jane_seidel
portia melita Instagram: @portiaapple
Rebecca Gibbons Instagram: @rebeccaa17
Adam ward Instagram: @adamwxrd
Kate Klassa Instagram: @bluejacketgirl
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new beginnings by amy hanna hello today - black honey brooklyn - fickle friends clean - the japanese house it's alright to cry - francis and the lights surfin' - kid cudi and pharell giving up the ghost - Alex Vargas 24k magic - bruno mars slip slide - donnie trumpet & the social experiment Diddy Bop - NoName Kick Jump Twist - Sylvan Esso Avalance - HANA Penthouse Floor - John legend Be Alright - Kehlani Wake Up - AWOLNATION A world ALone - Lorde Suprise Yourself - Jack Garratt Telomere - mYstery Jets Bird set Free - SIa My Body's Made of crushed Stars - miitski
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Coping Over Coffee
Photographed and written by Christina Casillo
2016, as we all know, was dubbed the year of realizing. As the new year starts, what can we coin 2017 as? C: I feel like 2017 is the year of planning. I’ve realized that I can’t just do shit and expect it to work it. I’m using all I’ve realized to plan ahead. K: For me, it’s the year of staying positive. Last year was so bleak and I was looking at all these nihilist memes. I mean, I still am, but I’d like to think they don’t apply as much. I want to keep it happy. I feel like people on the internet too are trying to start the year on a positive note. The Jersey Shore memes, the Hollyweed sign. 2017 off to a great start. After such a shitty year… C: The rise of wholesome memes. K: What I think about a lot is that our times now reflect the late 60s and early 70s social climate. It’s almost like history repeating itself. C: Oh of course, it always does. K: We have to look back and understand what happened… C: 2017: The year of reflection. K: Exactly! Reflected what others have realized before you. It sounds so mature. What are some things you realized that you can now reflect on then? C: Frankly, I’ve realized everyone is fake. You don’t have to make your emotions all pretty and pretend you’re having a great time. You can’t feel guilty that others are affected by your emotions K: You just have to live in the moment and be as you are. It’s important to feel out your emotions and not bottle them up. C: It’s going to come out in such a negative way that you never expect K: And a more drastic way for sure. Everything gets blown out of proportion when it’s just you thinking about it as well. C: I’ve realized I have to stop assuming everyone is hanging out without me and that sometimes I have to be the one to make moves. K: Something I want to reflect on is that I’m not very good at first impressions. I don’t...some people get the wrong idea of me or misconstrue what I’m about. I’d like to be better about first impressions and greet people as if they’re a possible new friend instead of, “Who is this person? Why are they talking to me?” I tend to get defensive. I want to be more open to new people. My goal this year is make new friends. God, isn’t that sad? Like a child in the fifth grade. Just expand my circle. C: So this is what we’ve realized K: And we’re not going back.
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kyle dobbs
coreena boothroyd
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two of a kind Shot by Adam Ward Styling by Christian Lopez Makeup by Morgan Scott Models Teagan Wentz and Tripp Elliot
AN INTERVIEW WITH
GOLD CONNECTIONS BY ASHLEY HOFFMAN
Gold Connections, a recent signee of Fat Possum records, is preparing to release their self titled debut EP. With only one song currently out, Gold Connections is already making waves. As heard on Sirus XMU’s “The Download 15,” their single “New Religion,” is seamless and satisfyingly climatic. Pop To It had the chance to talk with frontman Will Marsh about the phenomenons he experienced pursuing higher education and Gold Connection’s radar for the future. Pop To It: As a current college student, I think it's cool that this EP came from the age of your college career. Were there any particular college experiences that inspired you as a songwriter? Will Marsh: I lived a very emotional lifestyle at school. Something about Williamsburg fostered an intimacy with others and myself that seems rare now, and bred a kind of wild sadness. I wrote songs in that conflictive space. My exposure to different music through radio friends was equally crucial. For example, Stephen Axeman, who plays bass on the EP, turned me onto Spacemen 3 and Suicide. Those two bands opened pop music up to me in a new way. The first Gold Connections rehearsal was just the two of us playing “Heroin” by Velvet Underground for about thirty minutes. It was kind of revelation to channel that unique melancholy through a newfound musical style. P2I: During college, did you ever imagine that you would sign to a record label? WM: I certainly imagined it. I imagined all sorts of things, which is not to say I expected them to happen. Studying philosophy and literature, my whole business was getting caught up in powerful realities that seem like hallucinations to most people. On a more practical level, the habits I developed in college continue to help with music. The experience of writing a senior thesis was especially important. I found that I take pleasure in long-term projects. I discovered a daily rhythm, which the creative path requires in a real material way. P2I: When you talked about how you met Will Toledo, you mentioned the lack of other rock bands on campus. Did you love or hate this?
WM: I was sometimes frustrated by the lack musicians who’d collaborate with me, but I was ambivalent about the lack of other rock bands. William and Mary has a fairly conservative atmosphere. Most of the transgressive stuff going on is Harry Potter-related. But it’s hard to say that I would have enjoyed an art school or something where there were a ton of bands. Probably not: the English department at W&M is excellent and that’s why I was there. I can say that the “alternative” faction felt special. We had a lot of fun getting into trouble and making noise in the basement. P2I: You originally recorded these songs in 2014. Why did you wait till now to release them? WM: I couldn’t maintain a live band at the time, and I was still finishing school. It just didn’t feel like the right moment. I’m glad I waited. P2I: You recorded these songs 3 years ago, do you still feel a connection with them? WM: For sure. On one side, these are stories I’ve written about my life. So they have a lasting significance in terms of retrospection. At the same time, this EP is about recurring experiences and emotions. The structure of an event doesn’t disappear but stays with us in new forms––not just in memory. These songs will always be relevant in some way. And when all that intellectual stuff stops meaning much, which happens, I can still get down and enjoy the music. P2I: What was the deciding factor in signing with Fat Possum? What appealed to you? WM: Fat Possum has got to be the coolest label in America. Obviously that sounds self-serving at this point…but scrub off Gold Connections from the list (incredibly easy to do)…and you’ll see a list of wild and innovative artists. Recording on the same roster as Junior Kimbrough, T. Rex, and Al Green, to name only a few, is a surreal privilege. I like the way they do business. P2I: Is touring on Gold Connections’ agenda? WM: Yes. We’ve toured a good amount in the past month months––as far north as NYC and as far south as Oxford, Mississippi. We plan to expand that route and do some festivals as well this spring. P2I: Where did the name come from? WM: That’s a secret. You can listen to Gold Connection’s single “New Religion” on Spotify and Soundcloud. Their self titled debut EP will be available March 1st via Fat Possum Records.
TWITTER: @GoldConnectionz
DIY Winter Air Freshener By Portia Melita
The holidays are over and the baking has stopped. That doesn’t mean your house has to lose its delicious smell! This is the easiest and best smelling air freshener ever: What you need: -An orange peel -A cinnamon stick -1 tablespoon of cloves -A pot -Water Fill a pot with 2-3 inches of water Peel the orange! Eat the orange! Do whatever you want with the orange as long as you keep the peel. Throw all of the ingredients (orange peel, cinnamon stick, and cloves) into the pot with water. Make sure the orange peel isn’t touching the bottom of the pot. If it is, put more water in. Bring it to a boil and as soon as it boils, turn the burner down as low as you can and let it simmer. The mix will smell as long as it is warm. You can leave this on for around 3 or 4 hours as long as you keep adding water to make sure the orange peel isn’t burning. You can use it for one hour one day and another hour the next, but make a new batch when the orange peel looks white and soggy. Enjoy!
m A 0 s 0 ' : n 2 e e gr e b o e h p um b l a debut eview R m u b Al ie in C by er
hrist
Phoebe Green, a current rising star, and overall wonderful human is a force to be reckoned with. Her debut album, 02:00 AM, has gathered major attention and boundless praise from worlds away. Within weeks of dropping her 10- song compilation, Green’s place among the stars and within the hearts and minds of countless admirers and devoted listeners having been secured for no doubt years to come. 02:00 AM has come to fruition over the past year or so as the product of countless nights of insomnia, songwriting, and composing. In combining haunting vocals with bittersweet riffs, Green manages to play her audience’s collective heartstrings like a fiddle. Her honest lyrics, such as those of the ethereal “Nosebleed,” effortlessly detail the ups and downs of heartache and pure teenage angst, creating an album that one can not only relate to, but also come to know as an old friend. Her voice is soft and sweet throughout. “Pure Blue” flows through the listener’s earbuds like honey as she cradles her audience in a tight embrace in time to the sway of her melodies. 02:00 AM is reminiscent of a journal. A journal where Green spills her heart, tears, and sweat onto the pages. A journal that feels far too intimate it seems as if we are intruding. The imagery that she manages to evoke— scenes of glittering streetlights, lovers holding hands and running in the street, fast cars speeding down the highway, and fluorescent lights at the disco—draw emotions unprecedented, which allows the listeners to become enveloped into her world.
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Cotton Candy By Natalie Harper
I am watching her swallow cotton candy and I doubt she knows I am fixed on her. She doesn’t know who I am, she probably hasn’t noticed me. My existence means nothing to her. The space I occupy does not affect her and I would be ridiculous to think it does. Her eyes are fixed on her book, her smile is closed, but I picture words falling out of them, there to remind me that I do not matter. She is a person, against all odds. She is made of cartilage and teeth. She was conceived by other people I do not know, other people who will not come to my graduation and tell me this accomplishment means nothing and never will. It means so little, in fact, that I’ll spend my whole life not being able to breathe any relief from graduating high school. Her parents probably support her and remind her of her opportunities, but have also probably screamed at her to the point that she wants to move out or reply to the want ad for personal escorts. She is made of a different mans sperm and I want to tell her that I no longer know my father and he only knows a projection of me that has been warped by too many plays in the VCR. She doesn’t need to know how the cancer ate him, how he couldn’t get to a toilet by himself, she just needs to look down into her lap for a second and squeeze my hand and tell me nothing can ever be so bad ever again. The bombs and the wars and the nightsticks will never compare to the mutation. Nothing can ever be as bad as the pain I want to feel. I am watching the sugar dissolve on her tongue. She’ll swallow it, and it won’t fill her. I want to be honest with her, but I know I’ll never be able to do that. I want to tell her I am terrified of the silences that expand space when I’m talking to the people who said they would die for me. I want to tell her I am a balloon without the air in it and no one ever bothered to blow me up. I want to tell her I’m a cliché, that nothing of me is original and that I can’t stand that. I want to tell her I am critical and that’s why people hate me. I would tell her this because she won’t exist in memory and in my mind I can break her nose because bone is fragile. She can bleed too because the blood won’t be real tomorrow. It will not stain my hands and it will just look like the syrup of fiction, nothing factual. I will never feel her pain, therefore it does not exist. I want to tell her I’m so selfish that I could hurt her, but she probably wouldn’t believe me that wouldn’t even matter.
New Year, New Style by megan stitt
I once read several articles about revamping your closet: what to purchase, how to make the decision, what to think about when you pick out an outfit, which way to organize your clothes, etc. I study fashion--I want to go into the industry--and I was positively convinced that my wardrobe was not “fashion” enough. Clothes can often be the first thing anyone notices about a person, so it’s essential to get it right. I have condensed the best of these tips for you, except… fuck that. The only thing you need to concern yourself with when purchasing a new piece for your closet is this: does it make you happy? And of course, happy is a relative term. To some people, the most comfortable clothes make them happy, no matter the style. For others, the highest and brightest stilettos plaster a smile across their face. For me, it’s a bit in between-a few of the comfiest sweaters to curl up in on bad days and statement pieces for throwing caution into the wind if I’m feeling confident. But obviously, there are several hundred shades of happy fashion on the spectrum. Not everyone will agree on style, that’s why it’s personal. If the newest trends of 2017 don’t suit or satisfy you-- don’t wear them. Fashion is as simple as wearing what makes you happy.
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Visual Media picks of 2016 By Aaliyah Weathers
In 2016, the nation’s facade of a being progressive or “post-racial” society was quickly torn away. The only real silver lining in the mess of a year has been the brilliance of the entertainment industry. 2016 gave us some of the most forward-thinking, inspiring, and culturally impactful television and film that I have seen in my lifetime.
Atlanta Donald Glover proves once again that his photo should appear next to the definition of a renaissance man in every dictionary. Telling the story of a man trying to bring himself out of poverty on the coattails of his cousin’s rap career, Atlanta is arguably one of the most interesting shows on television. It is minimalistic and complex at the same time and seamlessly tackles social issues without suffocating viewers.
13th This documentary directed by the genius that is Ava DuVernay takes on one of the nation’s most looked over issue: the prison systems. With viewpoints from journalists, activists, politicians and more, I was brought to tears by the information presented in this documentary. It highlights the way prisons operate under wording in the 13th amendment which makes it legal to treat criminals as slaves.
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Insecure It should not be groundbreaking to tell a story of an awkward 30-something black woman simply trying to navigate her career and relationships, but in this HBO comedy; creator, writer, and lead actress Issa Rae gives a perspective that has been neglected by mainstream media. Insecure succeeds not only in being hilarious and current but providing relatable portrayals of complex people of color we have been missing.
Hidden Figures While upsetting, it is not surprising that the stories of the black women who were able to desegregate NASA and played pivotal roles in sending the first men into space are widely unknown. This film features captivating performances by it’s starring actresses and tells a story of the women that paved the way for women of color in STEM.
The Get Down This Netflix original series captures the essence of the disco era and the dawn of hip-hop music through the lives of a group of kids with nothing to lose and everything to gain. The immersive 1970’s period piece addresses issues of race, socio-economic divide, sexuality, violence, and more perfectly, it allows viewers to get lost in a world that in many ways mirror the present.
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artwork by lauren goldstien
Tame Impala’s Currents The Importance of Voice MADISON SHARP
by Janadhi Seneviratne
When faced with the question what Currents means to me, I was flooded with emotions. Each song on this album makes me feel a variety of feelings; ranging from ecstasy to sadness. In particular, the song, “New Person, Same Old Mistakes” holds an inspirational meaning. This song makes me feel like no matter what my brain may think, I am a new creation. I am not limited to the negative thoughts that b o u n c e
that relationship from drowning, sometimes ignorance is bliss. Or in Tame Impala’s case, The Less I Know the Better. This album really did change my life (or at least my perspective). This album is all about being a human being, good or bad. These songs have carried me through situations where I feel like I am slipping back into my old ways. When I start to feel those familiar emotions of mediocrity I put on, “Yes I’m Changing.” This always reminds me that I may not be able to shake the old identity. Instead, I embrace her and she is a part of me. I can change and morph into a new person each day if I please but, you can’t forget where you’ve been.. That’s the beauty of change. Currents is not only one of the most visually pleasing albums, but the songs make the visuals liquefy. With each psychedelic beat I fall deeper in love. Not only is this an album full of melodic beats, but the lyrics hit just as hard as the bass. Currents taught me to embrace change, embrace the past, and eventually you’ll discover a new person.
around my head. I find this album to be a contradiction of past mistakes weaved within a mixture of present victories. You can still be ever-changing but it’s human nature to slip up. - Planned Parenthood - Center of Reproductive Rights You know how someone can ruin a song or - NRDC album for you? Maybe that person did you - International Refugee wrong and you’ll never be able to listen to - Assistance Project Matt & Kim the same. For me, it’s quite the- PAIR opposite. The person who introduced me- LDF to Currents is no longer in my life but- Trevor will Project forever hold a special place in my heart. When - Mexican American Legal Defense I hear song like, “The Less I Know the and Better” I Educational Fund automatically think of that person. Lines like, “Come on superman, say your stupid line.” No matter how badly you want to rescue
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VISIT: Williamsburg, VA by kate klassa
Williamsburg, Virginia , one of the three cities making up the Historic Triangle , is known for its well-preserved role in the beginnings of the United States and the Revolutionary War. However, Williamsburg is more than just a city for history buffs; it is also a college town and features one of the East Coast’s most popular theme parks.
See Colonial Williamsburg - The old city is set up like it looked in colonial days, and many of the stores and restaurants feature goods that are authentic to the time period. College of William & Mary - This is the second oldest university established in the US and it has several of the original buildings still standing. Jamestown and Yorktown - The other two cities that make up the Historic Triangle each feature their own distinct history, such as the original Jamestown settlement and a replica Native American village.
Do Busch Gardens - Visit this theme park based on Europe, featuring 8 rollercoasters and other classic amusement park rides. Yorktown Trolley - You can ride a trolley that takes visitors on a 4 mile loop around the historic Yorktown settlement. Greensprings Greenway Interpretive Trail - Walk along a 3 mile nature trail retracing the steps of some of the nation’s earliest settlers. Virginia Capital Trail - This trail stretches over 50 miles and is paved, making it perfect for long excursions by bikers and runners.
EAT The Cheese Shop - Eat at a popular stop for W&M students known for their house dressing, sandwiches, and of course, cheese. Pierce’s Pitt BBQ - Visit this popular local haunt that’s been serving Tennessee-style BBQ for 56 years. Aromas World Coffees & Bakery - Try a good, cheap cafe that serves coffee and three full meals a day.