The Wake - Issue 11 - Spring 2022

fortnightly student magazine

She is Me

p. 9

volume 21 — issue 11

Digital meets Ink

p. 16

An Ode to Acadia

p. 10

Missing My Backbone

p. 19

MSA x The Wake

p. 13

Honeybutter Q&A

p. 22

ART

Art by Natalie Williams

©2022 The Wake Student Magazine. All

Disclaimer: The purpose of The Wake is to provide a forum in

Rights Reserved.

which students can voice their opinions. Opinions expressed in the magazine are not representative of the publication or university as a whole. To join the conversation email eic@

Fortnightly Student Magazine

Established in 2002, The Wake is a

Volume 21 Issue 11

Editorial Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Cities Editor Voices Editor Online Editor Copy Editors Music Reviews Editor Multimedia Producer Multimedia Editors

registered student organization produced

The Wake Student Magazine

by and for students at the University of

126 Coffman Memorial Union

Minnesota. The Wake was founded by

300 Washington Avenue SE

Chrin Ruen and James DeLong.

Minneapolis, MN 55455

This Issue

Production Marley Richmond Jemma Keleher Ian Knoll Mitchell Levesque Erica Bouska Autumn Sanders Peter Nomeland Tosin Faseemo Noah Berghammer Natalie Aue Cecilia Harold

wakemag.org.

fortnightly independent magazine and

Executive Director Creative Director Finance Manager PR/Ad Manager Social Media Manager Art Director Web Manager Distribution Manager Designers

Shannon Brault Laura Kuchar Erin Krotz Hannah Lundquist Renée Mottet Megan Bormann Sahra Hussein Kami Kendall Gavin Schuster Makenna Larson Zoë Foster

Writers Marie Ronnander, Chandra Baviera, Quinn McClurg, Matthew Zeichert, Thea Rowe, Olivia Hines, Lydia Tallarini, Vishalli Alagappan, Srihita Raju, Stella Mehloff, Shannon Brault, Griffin Jacobs, Avery Wageman, Sanjali Roy, Nikhil Kumaran, Gracie Kibort Creative Submissions Natalie Williams, Yliah Cefre, Quinn McClurg Art

Cities Interns: Vishalli Alagappan, Marie Ronnander

PR/Ad Interns: Pat Gagnon, Gracie Kibort

Voices Interns: Srihita Raju, Carter Starkey

Social Media Intern: Natalie DeBaker

Features Interns: Nina Afremov, Sophia Goetz

Art Interns: Sarah Jiang, Madison Kuehn,

Online Interns: Zoe Hoornbeek

Natalie Williams

Copy Interns: Veronica Nowakowski, Anika Wilsnack Music Reviews Interns: Avery Wageman, Griffin Jacobs

1 Megan Bormann, 2 Sarah Jiang, 3 Madison Kuehn Cover and Feature Art: Natalie Williams Feature Spread Design: Makenna Larson Holly Humberstone Concert Review image taken by Shannon Brault Non-Perishable, Windfall, Rocket Man’s Last Tour, Are You Happy Now? and As It Was images from original sources.

THE WAKE

wink! one page magazine

Express your Inner Child with The Wake!

When was the last time you played tic-tac-toe? Do you ever crave a coloring page? Look no further than The Wake Issue 11! Sit back, relax, and get in touch with your inner child.

DORMITORY HOLLY PODCAST HONEYBUTTER ACADIA REPRESENTATION PAPERLESS SELLOUT

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BACKBONE OSCARS ROCKETMAN MASKLESS WINDFALL WAKE HARRY

APRIL 18 – MAY 2

INSIDE 8

9 10

The Executive Ranking of the University of Minnesota Dorms She is Me An Ode to Acadia Three Podcasts for Company

11

13 16

We Might Be Seeing Each Other’s Mouths Again on Campus.

We Already are Everywhere Else.

MSA x The Wake on Sexual Assault Digital meets Ink The Oscars

17

Selling Out

18

Brown Representation in Wester Media

19

Missing My Backbone

20

Six Reviews

22

Honeybutter Q&A

UPCOMING EVENTS 4/22 @ 7-11PM My Brother, My Brother, And Me

Curious about how to eat hot fruits?

Wanna know why the Ghostbusters keep Slimer around? Or maybe you need to figure out how to eat raw Ravioli at work? They’ve answered them all, now see them answer your questions live!

Also visit the Orpheum on 4/23 for The Adventure Zone, the McElroy Family’s gut-busting (and at times tear-jerking) tabletop roleplay podcast!

4/30 @ 12AM Spring Jam While we can’t confirm the lineup at the time of writing, what we can confirm is that University of Minnesota’s annual Spring Jam is sure to be a hit, featuring live music, food and beer vendors, and new to this year, performances and exhibits provided by University student groups.

Mariucci 1901 4th St SE

910 Hennepin Ave

5/3 - 5/11

4/23 @ 10AM - 3PM

U of M Graphic Design Senior Thesis Exhibition

Houseplant Popup & Swap The Minneapolis Craft Market and Wagners Garden Center team up to offer a series of plant cutting swaps, workshops, and demos, alongside an assortment of garden decor and plant themed crafts (and, of course, plants).

6022 Penn Ave S

Join University of Minnesota’s Graphic Design Seniors for an interactive display of their thesis projects, as well as learning more about the work behind them with an in person artist talk at the closing reception on 5/10.

89 Church St SE

5/6 - 5/31 Ella Judt Solo Exhibition

4/23 @ 7:30PM Hippo Campus at the Armory Minneapolis’s own Hippo Campus stops by the Armory in support of their latest album, LP3, a tender look at where the band has been as individuals and friends, and where they’re going next.

Also featuring Ginger Root, a bedroom pop group First Ave describes as “Aggressive Elevator Soul” (which I’m going to go ahead and assume is the best genre imaginable).

A recent graduate of the PIM Arts High School, Ella Judt presents a series of “gestural” and “abstract” reflections on the self and our connection to nature with her first ever public exhibit. If you’d like to learn a little more about the artist behind the works, the opening exhibition is 5/6, 6-8PM. 943 W 7th St

500 South 6th Street

THE WAKE

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Letter from the Managing Editor Dearest readers, Thank you for opening up our last regular issue of this semester. After 3 years of being obsessed with this magazine, it’s finally my turn to write a love letter to The Wake; buckle in for some sappiness.

The first time I heard of The Wake, I was a bright-eyed freshman who was itching to find a place where I felt at home. I attended an activities fair with my friends, signing up left and right for club newsletters that now go directly into my spam folder. I remember thinking that the girl running The Wake’s table was really pretty, and in an effort to woo her, I gladly wrote my email down to be contacted.

Despite the welcoming environment, I still managed to almost pass out from nervousness at the first pitch meeting I attended. When the time came to pick up stories, I raised my trembling hand and used my shaky little 18-year-old voice to choose a story from the Voices section.

That article still hangs on my wall as a reminder of how proud I was the first time I got an article published.

Later that year, I quit the on-campus job that I hated to accept an unpaid internship at The Wake, gaining the shiny title of “Features Intern.” I wrote one feature by myself that semester before COVID hit: a deep-dive into the world of online sex work and OnlyFans. The night before my draft was due, I sat in Hard Times Cafe for six hours (writing the entire thing in one sitting, of course) and made my roommate endlessly reassure me that I wasn’t a terrible writer. When the feature came out, my mom and I celebrated in quarantine and split a two gallon bottle of wine to commemorate my hard work and tears.

Two years, countless features, and some much appreciated paychecks later, The Wake is still as near and dear to my heart as it was when I started going to pitch meetings. It’s a reminder that you can do things that aren’t in line with your career and that you can do things simply because they make you happy. It’s been a constant in my time at the U when not much else was, and I’m endlessly grateful to have been part of such a wonderful organization.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for bearing with my sentimentality. Happy reading, and I hope that afterwards, you are as obsessed with The Wake as I am.

Much love, Jemma Keleher Managing Editor

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APRIL 18 – MAY 2

CREATIVE WRITING

My Beautiful Boy

BY YLIAH CEFRE my beautiful boy whose soft, delicate fur tickles my nose and waters my eyes— my beautiful boy gets confused every time i leave, not coming back for what seems like centuries to him as to make sure he hasn’t lost you yet, he wouldn’t risk a second away from you, and everytime you have to gently nudge his little loaf of a body to the side, he purrs softly and i will sit on my couch, not needing a blanket as my beautiful boy already claims his spot. he nudges my hand, wanting to be held and loved i give my beautiful boy one last pet before I leave the front door wide open and awaiting my exit my beautiful boy doesn’t know where i go neither does he know when i’ll come back for now, my beautiful boy sleeps on warm clothing, which he believes to be mine, and my beautiful boy waits

THE WAKE

CITIES

The Executive Ranking of the University of Minnesota Dorms All placements are final 1

BY MARIE RONNANDER Like many incoming freshmen, I had no clue what dorm to choose when I filled out my housing questionnaire. I relied solely on the suggestions of other websites and listed my preferences in the order they provided. However, after a year of living in the Cities, I decided to make a new-andimproved ranking going from worst to best.

6. Frontier I’ll be honest, Territorial and Frontier are the exact same building in my brain. I just like the idea of a dorm being a frontier a little more. I think of Ice Age any time I hear about it and cannot help picturing Sid the sloth sleeping in a dorm room with the possum twins. I don’t know where this association came from, but it’s there and it fits.

9. Middlebrook I’m so sorry Middlebrookians, but you know as well as I do that this was a long time coming. Not only is this place inconvenient to get to, but it’s also the building equivalent of watching paint dry. I will say the people make it livable, so do not fret if you’ve been placed in this Azkaban of the University of Minnesota (at least everyone there is a Ravenclaw!!).

5. Centennial This place is straight out of The Shining and I absolutely love it. It’s 100% haunted and every time I’m in there I end up getting a little lost in the terrifyingly endless hallways. Something is also to be said about the painted white furniture, it’s very dainty. Always feels like I’m attending a ghostly tea party over on the East Bank.

8. Comstock I will take the time to commend the amazing dining at Comstock, but it’s not enough to make up for the look. The tiny staircases give me nauseating flashbacks to high school that I just don’t need. It also smells like old crayons, but hey maybe they’re really into arts and crafts. I can never hate coloring.

7. Territorial Hall I don’t know, the whole “territory” aspect is a little too dog-and-fire-hydrant to me (pardon the image this creates). I do like the cute little nickname T-hall, and the rooms have actual thermostats which, as a Bailey resident, seems very technologically advanced. Personally, we have water boilers that have caused flooding and a very large electrical bill dedicated to spaceheaters. But Bailey still is fourth because it’s so much prettier. Also, I need a win.

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4. Bailey I do, in fact, live at Bailey so this is potentially, maybe, slightly biased. We’ve all trauma-bonded from being isolated from everyone else. Truly a community like no other. Anyways, I genuinely love the quiet of Bailey Hall and the neighborhood surrounding it. There’s access to one of the best restaurants in the Cities (I’ll never stop shouting out to Mim’s) and we have Taco Tuesdays. The only downfall is the 20-minute bus rides that may or may not get you to class on time, but that’s the fun of adventure.

3. 17th Out of the complete bitterness I have towards the people lucky enough to live in 17th, I was planning to put it in 8th place. However, I am a reasonable person. It looks like Disney’s million-dollar idea of what a college dorm looks like in the next hit show they’re shooting. Except the building was definitely more than one million dollars. It’s annoying. They should be forced to pay more. But they have yummy salads I guess.

2. Pioneer Honestly imagine being able to say you lived in Pioneer Hall. You’d sound like some modern-day pirate just swashbuckling through college. Is this adventurous, rugged name my main reason for loving Pioneer? Yes. Is the fact that they’re literally connected to a giant food hub that has late-night meals another? Yes. 1. Sanford Hall The immediate backlash I will no doubt receive for this placement is Sanford’s lack of air conditioning.

However, being a person who grew up without said appliance (my dad said it built character) I personally have no qualms with this. The building has a spunky 70s vibe with every room being shaped just a little out of the ordinary. And, even though the building is right next to Dinkytown, it still has its own adorable mini-mart in it. Like, come on. True love.

APRIL 18 – MAY 2

CITIES

She is Me

Why people of color should connect digitally 2

BY CHANDRA BAVIERA During exam day, two hours to look forward to getting over with, a high school girl checks a box on her standardized exam, labeling herself as a minority. Minorities seem to have little voice even in a community as small as their education system.

So one day this girl who checked herself off as a person of color will look in the mirror after seeing a crowd of those who don’t identify with her national background. In the mirror, she’s asking, “Is there someone in the world who is like me?”

It’s incredible how we no longer need to feel like the isolated minority. Connecting through social media has greatly enriched the BIPOC community.

Back in the day, there were magazines reaching out to international pen-pals, foreign language classes taught on the chalkboard, and elementary school presentations focused on culture. When I was in grade school I was the girl in geography class who felt like more than just the one doing the project; in fact, I was the project. To be able to understand and interpret both worlds which divided my identities: American by birth and Asian by blood, looking foreign but really the same as the classmates, peers, and colleagues around me.

THE WAKE

Identifying those who feel like the “only ones” is more important than one might suspect. By offering positive reinforcement, spreading the appreciation for cultures on social media is one step toward spreading the idea that the BIPOC community is more than a new generation, it’s our generation of beautiful, talented, well-versed people! Moving forward into the results of efficient technology, gadgets, and media, communication has become as simple as the click of a button, and a voice can be heard through posts on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. But it’s not just any voice that can create change. In a space where there seems to be only one of you, and everyone else is the same, your voice can be the empowering change of a minority.

Seeing positive influencers of color who exercise, dance, cook, and sing on the internet, and minorities getting real jobs done, is absolutely inspiring. Connecting further to social media, the work of diverse groups of ethnic backgrounds matters for future generations to follow the good example they can see. One of my favorite inspirational YouTubers, Casey, creates videos on

fitness. Not only does she inspire body positivity, but she spreads the idea that it’s YOU regardless of your color, religion, creed, or any association who has the power to get up and MOVE! Focusing on more creative content, Kryst creates videos on food, along with the essentials of living a healthy lifestyle. Her videos teach others the reason why we have to maintain our one and only body. There are many challenges in our lives, but we can start to overcome them by starting with our food choices.

About the girl written earlier who has to choose a nationality on her standardized exam: She can teach children the value of identity. Her ideas can be read in books intended to show the value of diversity. Her courage and confidence are not missing, just unseen. She shouldn’t be ashamed of who she is on the outside. The beauty of her is what makes her unique. She is Asian and American. She is me.

You can take a stand for the BIPOC community on social media. Like, follow, and share the beauty of diversity. No matter who you are, your identity matters, and appreciate your differences because they are what makes you unique.

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CITIES

An Ode to Acadia Lament of a Hungry Student

BY QUINN MCCLURG Dearest Acadia, you went by many names: the place of plenty, the idyllic place, the paradise. Interesting how none of these come close to the truth.

They once did, Acadia. You used to be a late-night haven, a karaoke hotspot, a place that always had a table with a loving patron’s name on it But you are these things no longer.

No. A bus reached out with a steadfast hand and took this all from you, wrenching with steely fingers painted with the reds and golds of the University. You tried to fight, but there wasn’t much you could do; you could never bring yourself to hurt anything but my wallet. Instead, you collapsed, leaving the bus’ metal fingers silver and gray, gifting from destructive nature and self-sacrifice a new color, a new reflectivity, a new birth: a masterpiece of naked steel, broken brick, splintered wood, and motor oil was all that was left to speak of your sacrifice.

I am lucky if I can stand before you today and find more than rubble.

Students reacted accordingly, missing the friends and fries, lattes, and live music.

They have banded together to raise money for what insurance could not afford.

A sweet and generous gesture, But a gesture that doesn’t change the fact that now It is 11 pm, I am hungry, And you Are still in ruin; No other restaurant is able to sate my late night hunger And I dare not partake in DP Dough.

Your late-night-welcoming past is long behind you.

So Acadia, dearest Acadia: With hollow heart and empty stomach, I will wait for you.

I promise.

Three Podcasts for Company

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Although NY & LA are “podcentral,” the Twin Cities has a unique podcasting hustle & bustle

BY MATTHEW ZEICHERT With finals week fast approaching, I for one will be listening to podcast after podcast while sporadically taking notes for those big finals. Fortunately, there are plenty of local podcasts to go around. Below are three of my favorite local podcasts: For True Crime Lovers - Minnesota’s Most Notorious: Where Blood Runs Cold If Serial is your go-to podcast, then “Minnesota’s Most Notorious: Where Blood Runs Cold” is the podcast for you.

Each episode explores a fascinating crime of Minnesotan origin. Topics of the podcast include the 1948 murder of Geraldine Mingo (Ep. #34), the 1972 Virginia Piper Kidnapping (Ep. #29), and even a 1978 art heist of Norman Rockwell paintings in St. Louis Park (Ep. #10). Hosted by proud Minnesotan Erik Rivenes, the podcast’s ability to make familiar locales straight-up spooky is unparalleled.

For Minnesota Sports Fans - SB Nation’s The Daily Gopher If Radio K’s Sports Hour doesn’t provide you with enough University of Minnesota sports info, consider listening to SB Nation’s The Daily Gopher podcast. Hosts GoAUpher, gopherguy05, and Ustreet entertain listeners with U of M-focused sports banter. Although they are not traditional sports journalists, the men of The Daily Gopher’s expert analysis rivals that of those employed by both the Star Tribune and the Pioneer Press. The way in which the podcast hosts include statistics to back up their arguments all while making inside jokes that only Gopher fans would understand makes for a quick 20+ minutes.

For Multiple Minnesota Minutes - Star Tribune’s Curious Minnesota

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Unlike the other podcasts mentioned in this article, the Star Tribune’s Curious Minnesota features listener questions about Minnesota’s past and present. Each selected question is then dissected by guests of the show with impeccable north star state expertise who provide in-depth answers. The episodes are around ten minutes long and answer questions like, “Why is our state the gopher state?” (Ep. #11) and even, “Why did Minneapolis’ flour boom go bust?” (Ep. #39) With so much information in each episode, listeners can end each podcast knowing they have a few fun facts about Minnesota in store for their next cocktail (or mocktail) party.

APRIL 18 – MAY 2

We Might Be Seeing Each Other’s Mouths Again on Campus. We Already are Everywhere Else.

CITIES

1

After two years of lifestyle changes, it’s hard to know what that shift will feel like. Here’s a prediction.

BY THEA ROWE I am hoping we’re all in agreement that masks have been extremely necessary over the past couple of years. Further, they have been no huge burden. I’m coming from the stance that the act of wearing a mask was in no way one of forfeiting one’s freedom. I wanted this article to be a little quilt of interviews. I wanted some controversy, a little debate, a little conversation. However, when I asked the question, all I was met with were various iterations of “I don’t really care.” None of the friends I approached really had any feelings at all about it. To be fair, my sample size was rather small relative to the 50,000 students who attend our University.

What was always more of a discussion was the issue of navigating the moments in which one is not sure whether they should be wearing a mask or not. In the instances when it’s ambiguous, one of my friends wears a mask if the employees are as well. When I haven’t put one on by force of reflex, I constantly find myself scanning a store to see whether or not the other patrons are wearing them, but I like my friend’s standard better. It seems we’ve all made up little rules for ourselves. Ultimately, we’ve all come to the conclusion that at this point, in the city outside of the campus limits, wearing a mask is as much about fitting in with the crowd in the pasta aisle as it is about covid precaution.

THE WAKE

Not too long ago, one of my closest friends and I had both gotten exposed to covid, so we made the trek to the free testing center in St Paul. The one in the basement of what feels like an empty mall: it’s incredibly liminal. On the off chance that one of us had it and the other didn’t, we kept our masks on in their car. Towards the end of the little trip, we both had to acknowledge that it felt unexpectedly strange to be spending time together with masks on. We only spoke when absolutely necessary and kept the music loud. In short, the whole thing was just a little bit awkward. The situation was funny, once we recognized it. More than that, I was baffled by how much of an impediment to conversation our masks were, even with someone I know so well and love so much. Someone I could and would tell about anything I think, any mistake I’ve made no matter how egregious. I expect, though masks are so normal at this point that I can’t be sure, that this same sense of a barrier has impacted most of my social interactions in public over the past couple of years.

In a similar vein, I’ve found myself looking at faces less and avoiding eye contact more when everyone around me is masked. There’s less to see in a face. One of my favorite things about living in a city is the momentary and inconsequential interactions with strangers. The old guys who

strike up a conversation at the bus stop, or the mom behind me in line at the grocery store who just has to tell me she loves my coat. Expectedly, I haven’t talked to many strangers since covid began. If there’s anything I’m looking forward to in post-mask Minneapolis, it’s the serendipitous joy of marveling over the thunderstorm last night with a stranger on an MTA bus.

Personally, I think the loss of masks on campus is going to be jarring for a moment. It’ll come in a weekend email from Joan Gable and we’ll all bring our masks to class in our pockets the next day anyway. Professors will demonstrate that it is in fact over, for now, merely by being barefaced themselves. The masks will never come out of the pockets. Students will start chewing on the ends of their pencils again, they’ll start scratching their noses, and they’ll start whispering again. We’ll all start recognizing each other from class in the grocery store again, and maybe we’ll acknowledge each other at the checkout. After a week, I don’t think it’ll feel any different than it ever did.

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CREATIVE WRITING

Untitled (Driving)

BY QUINN MCCLURG We sleep in shifts on the long drive home And for once, for the whole trip, my hands are steady on the wheel.

They move through that sleepy silence, over one another, under, and back And their circular dance is interrupted by a pull down, a flip of the wipers.

Even though it is still too early in the spring for rain, we move through early fog it leaves behind It kisses our windshield, leaving thousands of perfect droplets in its wake.

I tuck the dew’s forget-me-nots into the corners with my wipers but only when they become too plentiful to see through.

Maybe it will rain, but I’m not sure.

But I do know that you are blind to all of this Not blind, but asleep, sprawled out in the passenger seat.

You sleep through the gray miles of road and their quiet windings Your sleeping ears meet with the pepperings of water droplets, the low drone of highways, and the periodic squeak of wipers.

You said I could wake you anytime to help drive but I am ok for now Besides, while you sleep you are distant from the quiet tides of heartbreak Deaf to their distant calling.

I can’t tell if I’d rather be sleeping, ignorant, or unaware myself I wish they were luxuries I could afford.

But I am awake And I am driving So I let you sleep a little longer: One more mile One more minute One more turn.

It’s the least that I can do.

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APRIL 18 – MAY 2

MSA x The Wake on Sexual Assault

FEATURE

This feature is a collaboration with the Minnesota Student Association’s Sexual Assault Task Force.

Content Warning

The following two pages discuss matters of sexual violence and sexual assault.

No graphic content is included.

THE WAKE

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FEATURE

Resource Guide Reporting Process If you choose to report an instance of sexual misconduct, there are resources that can help.

•

•

Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Office (eoaa.umn.edu) • This office at the University provides brochures including information on how to report sexual misconduct to the University. The office addresses reports through investigation, informal problem-solving, and consultation.

• Find an anonymous or named report form at eoaa.umn.edu/report-misconduct.

Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault (mncasa.org) • This coalition provides information on many matters regarding reporting, including the following: • Harassment restraining orders and orders for protection • Civil damages • Getting a copy of a police report

Testing For testing resources after a sexual assault, see below.

•

•

The Aurora Center (aurora.umn.edu) • Sexual Assault Forensic Exams are free of charge, as are all of the resources offered by the Aurora Center. This test must be conducted within 7 days of the incident.

Call 612-626-2929.

• The Aurora Center also provides holistic care post-assault. Email aurora@umn.edu, text 612-615-8911, or call the 24-hour helpline at 612-626-9111.

Boynton Health (boynton.umn.edu) • Boynton will provide STI and pregnancy testing. This can be done through drop-in hours or by making an appointment. Call 612-625-3222.

Mental Health Services •

•

•

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Boynton Health (boynton.umn.edu) • Boynton provides mental health care. Call the Mental Health Clinic at 612-625-8475 or email bh-quest@umn.edu. They also offer a 24-hour nurse helpline that can be accessed at 612-625-7900.

Family Tree Clinic (familytreeclinic.org) • Provides free therapy options, although donations are greatly appreciated. They specialize in cases of stress, anxiety, depression, and people who have been physically or sexually assaulted.

Reclaim (reclaim.care) • Mental health support for queer and transgender youth ages 13 – 25 who are marginalized because of their gender identity, gender expression and/or sexual orientation. Some members on staff have training and experience in sexual violence and post-trauma therapy. physically or sexually assaulted.

APRIL 18 – MAY 2

FEATURE

What has/is helping you heal? Are there any resources specifically that you found or find helpful?

“Time has helped me heal. It’s something I look back on every so often and remember, but I definitely don’t think about it everyday.”

“In all honesty, I kind of just had to sit on it for a while. Right after it happened, I tried to write about it and make art out of it, but it was often too much for me and became very triggering. Even rehashing my experience to my therapist was difficult. Healing takes time. It’s been three years, and though I’ve made a lot of progress, there are still triggering moments in my life that remind me I still have healing to do.”

“Support from my friends and family. Patience and love from my partner. I am slowly finding ways to regain my power in my sex life and in my daily life.”

Is there anything you wish people understood, or things people could have done differently to support you?

“When I would open up, I wish people took me more seriously. I had a friend I trusted tell everyone about it, and it was really hard to go to school for a while. Just be there and listen—you don’t always need to take action. Just be a shoulder.”

“I wish consent was taught thoroughly in sexual education courses. It is so much more than ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ I did not know I was a victim until it started to affect me in negative ways, and even then it felt like my fault.”

“I wish people would have a better understanding of how traumatizing it can be to report your case. When someone reports their assault, it means they’re basically going to have to relive and retell what happened to them.

Not only that, but it usually means they are going to have to face their perpetrator again, which can be unbelievably traumatizing. All in all, I wish I and others would’ve known that choosing not to report your case is okay, and people that don’t know your experience cannot tell you otherwise.”

Is there anything you would like to say to other victim-survivors? Is there anything you wish someone told you?

“A few things: 1.

Healing is not linear. Some days you’re going to feel like you’re taking a step backwards, and that is okay.

2.

More people have experienced this than you think (sadly). Reach out to friends. Find a support group. Community is healing.

3.

It’s okay to report your assault, but it’s also okay to not report it.

4. Tell your friends and family what is triggering for you—those boundaries will be a lifesaver.

5. It was not your fault. I know you’ll convince yourself otherwise, but it was not your fault.”

“It is not your fault and you are not alone. And even more crucial, there is so much painless, joyful, easy love for you out in the world. Heal and take your time. Real love and real trust are out there for you when you’re ready.”

“You will get through it. Your trauma is not smaller just because your situation wasn’t ‘as bad’ as someone’s else’s. You are allowed to feel whatever you do about this situation. I wish someone had told me that it’s okay to be mad and it’s okay to be confused about how to heal.”

What do you wish people knew about you instead of/in addition to being a victimsurvivor?

“I am an artist. I am gentle. I am beautiful. I am strong. I am queer. I am non-binary. I am a pet parent. I am a partner. I am so much more than that one moment.”

“I am a strong woman. I am going to feel my feelings as big as I want to.”

“I am a survivor and I am strong. I am a survivor and I am healing.”

* If you wish to read more about the stories of victimsurvivors who submitted to this feature, scan the QR code to visit our website.

The stories may include graphic content that could be triggering to some readers; proceed at your own discretion.

THE WAKE

15

VOICES

Digital meets Ink Why both paper and paperless classes are good for your education

BY CHANDRA BAVIERA Coming from a background where I learned how to write letters on paper, and then how to make slideshows on Google Slides, I certainly came to appreciate technology from a young age. In either format—paper or digital—adapting to new techniques has led to some of today’s most successful careers. A published work starts with only an idea.

In today’s schools, students either succeed easily or get distracted. Indeed, screens promote efficiency. Technology has led to easier collaboration between students by way of academic resources and social media. Demands made by educators in institutions are delivered at rapid speeds thanks to high-speed WiFi. Applications and homework create a wellrounded learning environment. Teachers can reach students through video calls or recordings, where the most important points of the lesson can be replayed. To be sure, the ability to engage students with technology is compelling due to its instant results.

Paper was invented by the Chinese Han dynasty, and the material has made official documents such as the Declaration of Independence possible. Paper provides a standard form in writing.

Focusing on the different learning styles, classes should be paperless if there are hands-on learning experiences that can be integrated with technology. For example, if science labs were online, there would be more opportunities for scientists to work more imaginatively. Mathematics and material sciences would work best on tech because of the continued need to adjust calculations and formulas. Highly developed apps can have the option of going “off the page” with the extended space a typical piece of paper wouldn’t have. However, classes with more reading and writing, such as English and history, should have notes and homework on paper for a more detailed understanding of dates and events. All in all, whether you are an analogue or a digital note taker, you can succeed in your educational journey either way.

The Oscars

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The good, the bad, and the ugly

BY OLIVIA HINES The 94th Academy Awards left many viewers delighted, speechless, or confused. Here’s a recap of the Oscars’ best and worst moments.

To start on a positive note, the award show featured immense visibility for minorities. Troy Kotsur became the second deaf person to win an Oscar after winning Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Frank Rossi in the 2021 Best Picture film “CODA” (Child of Deaf Adults).

The ceremony provided welcome, and overdue, representation for Latinos. Ariana Debose won Best Supporting Actress for her rendition of Anita in Steven Speilberg’s “West Side Story.”

She became the first openly queer woman of color to win an Academy Award, providing a powerful moment of visibility.

Unfortunately, several inappropriate moments also occurred.

Most notable was Regina Hall’s elaborate COVID joke. Hall asked several actors to come backstage for emergency COVID testing, making lewd, sexual comments. She finished her skit by groping presenters Jason Mamoa and Josh Brolin for “protocol.”

Some found the exchange hilarious, while others found the double standard disgusting.

The ceremony’s ugliest moment was “The Slap.” Chris Rock was slapped by Will Smith after a G.I. Jane bald joke about Jada Pinkett Smith. For context, Pinkett Smith openly struggles with alopecia areata, a hair loss condition. Afterward, Smith won Best Actor for his role as Richard Williams in “King Richard” and apologized for his behavior. Rock did not press charges. The Academy condemned Smith’s actions and has launched a formal review.

The Oscars was a mess exacerbated by “The Slap.” Viewers and attendees became divided over support for Rock and Smith.

Comedians were infuriated by how the Academy handled the situation. A slew of theories and rumors have arisen from social media. Everyone’s asking: Why did it happen? And what happens next?

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APRIL 18 – MAY 2

VOICES

Selling Out What does it really mean to sell out?

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BY LYDIA TALLARINI “Selling out” is a phrase I’ve often seen thrown around when people talk about careers—if someone says they want to work on Wall Street or for a big tech company, it’s not necessarily seen in a very positive light. Some of that comes from anti-corporate, knee-jerk reactions, but I think it’s hard to distinguish what constitutes “selling out” for each individual. Personally, I define the term as compromising your integrity in exchange for personal gain, but there’s a lot of nuance.

Being a sellout is different from being materialistic or hypocritical in some ways but similar in others.

Take Michael Jordan, for instance: in 2011, when the team he owned was negotiating contracts, he refused to give players even half of the team’s profits—which is notable because only a decade earlier, he’d been on the players’ side of the fence.

He told the owner of the Washington Wizards, “If you can’t make it work economically, you should sell the team.” In my opinion, you can see this in one of two ways. Either MJ is betraying his ideals, or he’s being a bit of a hypocrite and doing what’s best for him in that moment. Either way, not a very cool move.

As shallow as some people seem to be, there are others who manage to stand up for what they believe in. Keanu Reeves, for example, recently had most of his movies taken off of Chinese streaming services because he attended and performed at a concert hosted by Tibet House.

The organization is closely affiliated with the Dalai Lama, who lives in exile and advocates for Tibetan autonomy—a touchy subject for China, which does not like being reminded of the problems within its borders. Many other celebrities have

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been censored by the Chinese government before Reeves (such as Brad Pitt, Selena Gomez, and Lady Gaga), so it’s reasonable to assume that he knew what the consequences would be but chose to stand by his morals.

The two examples above may not seem very relatable to most of us. But the same principles could be applied to risking your professional reputation by being vocal about social issues or working for a company with questionable corporate morals. That standard varies from person to person, though—for some, working for Google, a health insurance company, or big tobacco would be equivalent to selling their soul, but for others it could just be an intellectually stimulating job. Although I personally question the morals of the employees of some companies, there are justifications for almost anything, and what could be convincing to me might not be as convincing to someone else.

In this imperfect world, not everyone’s passions will lead them to financial success—but I think most can find a happy middle ground between selling out and enduring financial hardship. People who major in the arts and humanities, for instance, are often jokingly told that they have poverty in their near future because they’re expected to go into academia, teaching, or the nonprofit sector.

But that doesn’t have to be the case: marketing, administration, law, and many other fields are potentially lucrative career options. Does it count as “selling out” to use your English degree in a marketing department? In my opinion, not really. A strong love of the written word can be put to use almost anywhere that people communicate, even

if it’s not as romantically sacrificial or virtuous as being a starving artist.

Ultimately, everyone needs to survive somehow.

If you’re living on your own without spousal or parental support or trying to support a family yourself, no one should blame you for making money a reasonable priority. Louisa May Alcott, the author of “Little Women,” understood this well.

Raised by a father who prioritized his religion and ideals over survival, Alcott wrote both for money and passion. Her publisher suggested writing a book for girls, and so she wrote one, recording it in her diary: “So I plod away, though I don’t enjoy this sort of thing.” To her surprise, it turned out to be incredibly successful and made her financially secure. Perhaps she was a sellout, but Alcott’s books brought joy to many and she was justly compensated for it.

Ultimately, it comes down to personal circumstances and values. I don’t think anyone should be shamed for working towards a high-paying job, just like how no one should be shamed for being poor or holding their values in spite of opposition. Almost everyone has the tendency to judge others, but if you can have enough empathy to understand someone’s thought process, you probably have too much empathy to judge them.

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VOICES

Brown Representation in Western Media Two writers’ opinions on how brown representation has changed from our childhoods to now, and where it should go from here

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BY VISHALLI ALAGAPPAN & SRIHITA RAJU Vishalli: I never really felt a connection to my assigned Disney princess. Although Jasmine was brown, she didn’t really seem “brown” to my fiveyear-old self. To my 19-year-old self, she doesn’t seem like a person at all. Jasmine is supposed to be an Arab princess, but she has an Arabadjacent name, is dressed like a belly dancer, and is a two-dimensional object of desire, catering to distorted white perception of the orient. She is also the sole woman character with substantial lines in the movie. Watching “Aladdin” as a kid simply affirmed that I did not have a voice in the American narrative.

In search of this voice, I sought out media with brown representation, which I must say has been steadily increasing. In this crazed search, I have realized that brown representation in media is akin to having naturally curly hair. When the water pressure, curly hair products, humidity, and the angle of the sun are all perfect, we get the representation like Priya from Turning Red. The desi diaspora imparts great importance on physicality since that is the main source of our identity, so Priya’s deep complexion, curly hair, and nose ring made me feel seen. Priya’s depth of character is natural and intrinsic from her sick dance moves to her to her affection for her friends and to being told by her parents that she can go to a concert when she’s 30. Priya is the representation that I craved as a child.

Brown representation in media can vary from your mom brushing out your curly hair to make it “straighter,” like Disney writers haphazardly piecing together what little they know about Middle Eastern and desi culture to create Jasmine, to stunning wash day hair, like the mindful and artful character development of Priya. The steady increase of brown characters in visual media

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has been a joy to witness and beautifully real depictions of South Asians like Priya promises me hope for the younger generations.

Srihita: For me, as someone who has grown up being a big reader, it was always glaringly obvious to me that the publishing industry tends to neglect brown voices. Thumbing through picture books in the elementary school library to walking through the Young Adult section of Barnes & Noble with my friends in high school, I never saw covers with faces like mine or author names that felt familiar to me. But lately these past few years, I’ve seen so much more brown representation than I ever imagined I would. Walking into a bookstore now, the YA section is filled with fantasy stories of Indian-mythology storylines, and the romance section has books starring brown couples. Does this mean that the U.S. publishing scene has completely applied itself to fixing the grievances of brown voices? No. Because even with brown stories being published, there are still brown authors who are getting paid far less than their white counterparts.

While it is important for little boys and girls to see themselves being represented, it is equally important to pay brown adults a proper amount for their hard work. Like Vishalli mentioned earlier, proper representation comes from multiple things being done right, and as happy as I am to see brown characters in books and movies, I don’t think it is time to settle. The choice to not include brown bodies and voices in media acts as a reminder that, to some, being American means being white. Diverse media is inclusive media, and anything less is damaging and inaccurate.

APRIL 18 – MAY 2

VOICES

Missing My Backbone

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On losing friends and maybe myself a little too

BY STELLA MEHLHOFF Friends are the backbones of our lives. They dictate how we spend our free time and how we feel when we’re falling asleep. They stand with us or scold us when we make mistakes. They guide the places we live, the jokes we find funny, the ambitions we savor, the narratives we imagine for ourselves, and even what we think we can accomplish. They recommend our favorite books, movies, and music, dissect our fears, and give witness to our victories. They are our physical contacts and our emotional attendants, reminding us to fasten our seatbelts before a night out or picking up the pieces when we don’t listen. They form our routines: we change our daily rhythms just to have lunch with them or walk them to class.

We are obsessed with our friends, because we belong to them, and because they help us hold onto life’s currents. Or at least they do all those things for me.

So when we sit by the fountain at the mall, sipping our quintessential Orange Juliuses, it’s alarming that we don’t have anything to say to each other.

We used to spend countless afternoons this way, jammed into dressing rooms and trying on clothes we couldn’t afford, using shopping as an excuse to prolong being in each other’s presence.

I’d collapse into my bed at the end of the day, exhausted, cheeks flushed from the excitement of our mutual enjoyment. Now it feels like an exercise in accepting the end of an era, a familiar groove we are running once more in our minds for old time’s sake. Of course, I’ve always known friends “grow apart,” or whichever nice term we want to use, but I didn’t really think that’d happen to us.

And it hurts, really hurts, to go home and blink at the ceiling, knowing our bond is a memory.

The hardest part about friendship breakups, though, isn’t losing a person in your life—it’s the ambiguous, lonely convention we have for the

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process. With a romantic relationship, there’s a formula. It isn’t easy, but you usually know when it’s over. Someone calls it off, you grieve, and you move on. We know what that’s supposed to feel like because we’ve seen and heard it. It’s the central theme of hundreds of movies and the emotional heft of just as many albums. It’s something we can use as an excuse for a bad day: “Sorry, just going through a bad breakup.” But friendships are rarely ended as cleanly or taken as seriously.

It’s like what happened with us. It wasn’t a sudden blowup of long-collected resentment. It was that we started waiting for the other person to text first and got sick of the roles we were playing in each other’s lives. I didn’t want to be the archetype you expected of me anymore. And I think I got what I wanted. I dare to hope that the people I’m friends with now don’t want an unchanging, uncomplicated version of me. But while these new relationships have allowed me to expand my identity, by losing you, I’ve lost good parts of myself too. I will never again be the girl who knew how to talk you out of an anxiety attack or who choreographed elaborate interpretive dances in your living room. I won’t be sixteen and free with you, laying on each other in the grass—and as frivolous as that may sound, this grief is just as poignant as if you’d been my lover.

For anyone else who is letting go of a major friendship, I hope you give yourself permission to acknowledge the pivotal nature of the loss you are experiencing. If you’re like me and treating it a little like the end of a romantic relationship helps, I recommend “I Lost a Friend” by FINNEAS and maybe a pint of Ben & Jerry’s. It sucks, but we might have to chart our own roadmaps for overcoming this universal experience.

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SIX REVIEWS

Non-Perishable tobi lou

Holly Humberstone Concert Review

BY SHANNON BRAULT Holly Humberstone is a wholesome, lovely soul that blessed First Ave’s main room on Monday, March 28, opening for girl in red. If you weren’t there, here’s why you should have been.

Holly played about a half-hour set filled with interaction, raw energy, and a vulnerability that was unmatched by most shows I have been to lately. People in the crowd were so welcoming and cheering for her at all times. Several people called out to say that she was cute and adorable, which I don’t think anyone could disagree with.

She interacted with the crowd during the entirety of her set, which is one of the hallmarks of a good show and good performers. She asked how everyone was doing, told stories, and said thank you after she was done with a song. At one point, she was introducing a song that she wrote for her sister and called herself awkward at storytelling, but I don’t think anyone else in that room thought she was at all awkward. She shared so much with the crowd and interacted with all of us head-bopping, swaying girls and gays there looking for the community and love she gave us.

BY GRIFFIN JACOBS Chicago rapper tobi lou’s “Non-Perishable” is caricatural of him to an absurd degree. His spacey production choices, cheesy but endearing bars, vocal distortions, and open insecurity are taken to the nth degree on this record. In that way, I could easily see this album becoming a cult classic in that it’s very lovable while also having clear issues which hold it back.

“Non-Perishable” is maximalist, often to a fault. It clearly has a lot of ideas, and many of them work really well, but at only 32 minutes, they feel cluttered, like they are fighting each other for space.

The prime example of this is “Jelly,” which, despite sounding great, doesn’t take a single second to breathe or slow down over its 1:50 runtime. The song is a barrage of vocals, ad-libs, drums, and bass, which feels overwhelming. Similarly, “Busy” ends with a guitar solo, which sounds incredible but is completely superfluous. It’s emblematic of the album’s tendency to use every idea it has without making cuts.

On the positive side, tobi lou has always been a personality-driven artist and plays to his advantage here. He has this infectious happiness that’s conveyed even through short clips of his 2021 Lollapalooza set (which also serve as perfect segues between songs). That focus makes his emotional vulnerabilities on songs like “2+hrs” and “The Last Dance” hit hard even when his lyricism is incredibly kitschy.

Windfall

A robbery, three characters, one house

BY AVERY WAGEMAN “Windfall,” Netflix’s newest thriller, follows Nobody, played by Jason Segel, who breaks into the remote vacation home of a Jeff Bezos-type and his wife (simply named Husband and Wife), holding them hostage as they wait for the ransom cash to be delivered.

The small cast and single-location setting of “Windfall” creates a very intimate look at the dynamics between the three main characters, exploring intersections of class and gender roles through their dialogue.

Despite Nobody’s vague characterization as a desperate working-class man looking for some quick cash, I almost empathize with him considering Husband’s ability to easily access half a million dollars, enough money to change any regular person’s life. It’s hard to empathize with a billionaire that gives a Kim Kardashian-esque “It seems like nobody wants to work these days” rant.

Along with the movie’s over-arching class critique, the crooning jazz soundtrack and gradual pacing of “Windfall” make it feel like an old drama thriller reminiscent of “And Then There Were None.” The 92-minute film moves at a sluggish pace for much of its duration but concludes with a literally jaw-dropping ending.

Though “Windfall” is nothing special, it’s a carefully crafted film with small details that may require a second viewing. I would totally recommend this film to anyone looking for a thriller that doesn’t cause you heart palpitations but rather inspires a hunger to eat the rich.

If I haven’t convinced you to be in love with her yet, she’s British, and her top song on Spotify is called “London is Lonely,” and it is an absolute sucker punch to the gut in the best way possible.

So Holly, if you’re reading this, thank you for bringing your music to Minneapolis. xxx

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APRIL 18 – MAY 2

SIX REVIEWS

Rocket Man’s Last Tour The knighted legend, Elton John, Dazzles the Twin Cities

BY SANJALI ROY A man with sparkly pink glasses and black jacket climbed onto stage. The crowd screamed their welcome at Sir Elton John as he began playing the uplifting, staccato tune of “Benny and the Jets.” It quickly became apparent that his voice and piano skills have only grown stronger with age. Although the show was glamorous, the main focus always remained on the wonderful music.

His guitarist, Davey Johnstone, deserves a shoutout for shredding his guitar during “Have Mercy on the Criminal.” Elton captivated with his piano runs during the famous “Rocket Man,” which made many wave their flashlights amidst the soft, blue lighting. His piano moved slowly across the stage for “Candle in the Wind,” a song about fame and how it alienates those it affects. The crowd provided the chorus by yelling “yeah, yeah, yeah” during “I’m Still Standing,” which can be interpreted as a testament of Elton’s perseverance in the face of whatever comes his way. He commanded us to dance to “Saturday Night’s Alright For the Fighting”, and just about everyone in the crowd busted out their best moves (me included).

Finally, there was “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”

Although it was written in 1973, it’s poetically coming true now, as he is truly saying goodbye to his life of fame, wealth, and success. An absolute rollercoaster of a show that displays the true talent and prowess of Elton and his band, the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour is a fantastic final gift from Elton to the world.

Are You Happy Now? Jensen McRae

BY NIKHIL KUMARAN Ficit omnis ipidus, sapis pore dit autet Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Jensen McRae delivers us her alternative/indie-folk debut album “Are you Happy Now?” The album is sweet and intimate. Structurally, McRae’s songs aren’t complicated, which juxtaposes beautifully with her deep, meaningful, and specifically personal lyrics.

Her vocal prowess is definitely a focus in her music. She flows seamlessly from her airy falsetto back into her rich alto voice where she belts with such power and compassion.

Songs like “Good Legs” and “My Ego Dies At The End” hit the listener with a calming lull of nostalgia. You can hear strong inspiration from Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers in the way she sings. This album is perfect for a drive home on a rainy day.

Though most songs are more easy-going and relaxed, “With The Lights On” turns up the energy a little bit with a bouncing bassline accompanied by tasteful bongos and other percussion instruments.

“White Boy” is a great example of how deep McRae can get with her music. She sings about the disappointment of being ignored romantically as a woman of color and the microaggressions that follow.

In this album, it’s as if every song is a story that you can relate to, at least just a little bit. The instrumentation is simple but doesn’t lack quality anywhere. She has such a way with metaphors within her lyrics that leave the listener thinking about her songs well after they were listened to. Here, less is more and McRae really shows it through the music.

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As It Was Harry Styles

BY GRACIE KIBORT As a decade-long-Styles-lover, I feel the utmost qualification to review his latest work, “As It Was.” Disclaimer: I hesitate to criticize him in any form— bias warning. Hitting the ground running into his newest era, Harry Styles has dropped his first single leading up to his tertiary album “Harry’s House.” HH is eagerly anticipated by international, self-proclaimed “Harries” everywhere and is being released on May 20th.

Opening with an 80s rhythm reminiscent of Aha’s “Take on Me,” the featured synth on the record is unmissable and immediately nuzzles in as an earworm. Styles is known to be daring as a musician, the vulnerability in his lyrics meeting intricate instrumentals or a dizzying tune, in addition to notable imagery of fruit. Though known to toy with vulnerability, this song takes on a new level of exposure in an irresistibly catchy way. He has cultivated an absolute bop with raw emotion, yet more incongruously than anything else he’s produced. In fact, I am already certain this song will be reaching the peaks of my Spotify Wrapped come December; check back with me.

We don’t need to unpack the laundry list of inspiration from which the song originates, whether it’s about Styles’ childhood or his notorious relationship with Olivia Wilde, TikTok is already on the case theorizing.

“As It Was” has the duality of scream-sobbing lyrics against the sound barrier of your car contrasted with curling-hair pre-pregame potential.

If this song is any indication of what’s to come, I am eagerly waiting.

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Q&A

Honeybutter

BY AVERY WAGEMAN Honeybutter is a Minneapolis-based band that blends jazz, funk, and folk.

The band is composed of Andreas Fenner on vocals and keys, Zak Khan on production and guitar, and Clara Wicklund on vocals and bass. Keep reading to learn what inspires their writing, who their dream collaboration would be with, and more. Also, look out for the upcoming release of their EP.

: Once you guys decided to form a band, how did you decide on the sound you wanted to go for?

ZK: I think our music is a good manifestation of the energy that we have in hanging out.

Whatever we’re working on, it’s always like a really nice light tone to everything. We’re not really too serious and it involves me hacking away at the computer and Wicklund dancing around in the background and then jumping in and putting stuff together, bringing in some ideas that they’ve already premeditated on and then session on them together. But I think our music is very fun. It’s very smooth and kind of for all ages.

CW: Going off of that, togetherness is a big part of our music and just as people, too, we’re, you know, we value our friends and family so much and so making music that’s inviting and accessible.

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: Are you guys currently working on any projects?

CW: A long time coming. But yeah, we have an EP in the works. I think it’s six songs.

AF: Yeah, this is our summer to hunker down.

Create.

: What do you draw inspiration from in your songwriting and that process?

ZK: Is it birds, food, and grandparents?

CW: For me, a joy that I got out of songwriting is putting, I don’t know, universal, big feelings that we all feel, and complicated feelings, and making it super simple. We’re handling that through a songbird, you know. Behind the scenes is all this other complicated stuff going on, and I think musically to songwrite, and instrumentally for me, what’s so much fun is simplifying things.

APRIL 18 – MAY 2

Q&A

The way we’ve done it is like Andreas and I have done more of the vocal writing and Zak has done work on the instrumental side of things. But that’s always changing too. And like now we’ve worked together more where that form is different.

AF: Yeah, the first four songs are all kind of uniquely made. They all had kind of different paths.

But this EP, this project we’re coming out with, has definitely been more of the three of us hanging out, jamming, and then we’re all kind of together from start to finish more so than our past releases.

: How would you describe your creative process kind of taking it from an initial idea and then finishing the song?

ZK: One thing when it comes to how we write songs, I think there’s the common denominator between all those is “Oh, I just like this little bit of magic” that starts an idea or starts a train of thought. And I think all three of us are pretty good at following each other’s little sparks and helping each other kind of take those somewhere, whether that’s a little voice memo that Clara will bring to the session that has her playing ukulele and singing, and that’s the core of the song. We’ll take that and maybe if we’re

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excited about it, arrange it until it’s a full-fledged production. Or it’s you know, me and Andreas dinking around on the keys at the same time until something sticks out like oh, that’s super cool.

CW: I feel like we’re all very patient people, maybe not in general, but when it comes to hearing ideas or musically working through something, hearing what the other person has to put forward is something that we all really value, and sometimes it takes a long time to get to that little magic moment. But yeah, so worth it.

: What would be your dream collaboration?

CW: Well, I think we would do a fire song with Little Dragon.

AF: There’s so many though. Unknown Mortal Orchestra, their name always pops up.

ZK: It could be interesting to pick someone that we think we wouldn’t gel with and see what we could come up with. It would be a challenge. Like a TV show where they ask you “Okay, who are your most hated artists?”

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