Nashville band brings rock to Volapalooza 2015

April 29, 2015October 7, 2015 Taylor OwensLeave a comment

[Originally published on the Tennessee Journalist on Apr. 28, 2015]

Students came to celebrate the last day of classes on April 24 atVolapalooza 2015. They came to hear performances from Bad Suns, Cold War Kids and Lupe Fiasco, but they got a special treat when a relatively unknown Nashville band took the stage.

Zephyr Garden, formerly known as the Screens, is comprised of lead singer Arman Asadsangabi and producer and guitarist Benton Black. The two high school students won the opportunity to play at Volapalooza back in March when they won the Battle of the Bands competition.

Though they only had a week’s notice, the duo still managed to wow the judges and audience members alike.

“We just got invited to play, and it was actually through a family member,” Asadsangabi said. “We went ahead and came here, played and got the spot.”

The two met at a party towards the end of 2014 and have been making music together ever since. Though their musical journey as a band has been a recent one, both Asadsangabi and Black believe that music has been an influential part of their lives.

“I’ve been playing music my whole life,” Black said. “I’ve been playing guitar for over ten years now and making tracks and things like that, so music is pretty much my whole life.”

Describing their sound as “party rock,” Asadsangabi and Black cite indie rock artists such as Tame Impala, the Black Keys and Arctic Monkeys as some of their musical influences. They say that Nashville is a great place for musicians to live, regardless of genre.

“The funny thing about Nashville is that people associate it with country music, but anyone under the age of 30 doesn’t,” Black said. “I’d say it’s one of the biggest indie rock scenes ever.”

The young duo is not wasting any time when it comes to their music. They released an EP, “Plastic Dreams,” on Soundcloud earlier this year and recorded, mixed and produced the whole thing by themselves.

Asadsangabi and Black put in a lot of work to prepare for their Volapalooza performance as well. This included finding a way to make the digital sort of sound on their EP work in a live performance.

“That’s been a lot of hard work, figuring out how to make all of our songs play as close to the album as possible in a live setting and still have it sound really good,” Black said.

Overall, Asadsangabi and Black hope to deliver energetic performances that will please the crowds.

“I hope they [the crowd] just has a good time,” Asasangabi said.

“A lot of people who don’t know what to expect when they see us go on-stage, they really enjoy it,” added Black.

Zephyr Garden is just getting started. With a Volapalooza performance down, they will next be performing at Do Dah Day in Birmingham, Alabama on May 16.

They’re optimistic about what the future holds.

“Hopefully an album is next,” Asadsangabi said. “And a lot more music festivals this summer.”

You can find more information about Zephyr Garden on their official website.

Professors provide ‘Textual Healing’ at Sex Week panel

April 11, 2015October 7, 2015 Taylor OwensLeave a comment

[Originally published on the Tennessee Journalist on Apr. 8, 2015]

Sexuality and literature joined forces for Sex Week at the “Textual Healing” panel discussion on Tuesday evening. Associate Professors of English Lisi Schoenbach, Katy Chiles, Ben Lee and Urmila Seshagiri hosted the panel and brought with them the knowledge of their respective fields of study.

“We are so excited to have been invited to do this and be part of Sex Week,” Schoenbach said. “We are so proud of the work you guys are doing and happy to be associated with it.”

Each of the professors discussed pieces of literature and read literary works as they described sex and sexuality.

Schoenbach and Seshagiri both specialize in 20^th century literature, but discussed the differences in pieces from the time period.

Seshagiri read selections from “A Room of One’s Own” by Virginia Woolf and “The God of Small Things” by Arundhati Roy and noted the similarities in the themes although they were published 70 years apart.

“I taught both of these novels in the last week at the same time in my two different classes, and it struck me how much sex is itself a narrative concept,” Seshagiri said. “The sex act itself has a powerful narrative component.”

Lee teaches poetry and provided the audience with a handout of “Lana Turner has collapsed!” by Frank O’Hara, a gay male poet.

“It’s a more subtle, joyous representation of sexuality in poetry,” Lee said.

Chiles focused on African American literature and how black female sexuality written in the 1800s and more recently changes with the times. In particular, she talked about the first woman to publish a slave novel, Harriet Jacobs.

The panel discussion ended with questions from the audience. One member wanted to get a professor’s opinion on “Fifty Shades of Grey,” a modern novel about sexuality. None of the professors had read it, but they still had some wisdom to add.

“My guess is that there’s just something flat about the way it represents sex and sexuality,” said Lee. “And there’s something flat about its approach just to characters and narratives.”

Sex Week continues through Saturday. You can see a full schedule of events on their official website.

Opinion: Whole Foods is a magical place

April 1, 2015October 7, 2015 Taylor OwensLeave a comment

[Originally published on the Tennessee Journalist on Mar. 31, 2014]

Retail giant Whole Foods opened up its first Knoxville location on March 24. Though I’ve heard much about it, I’ve never set foot in the actual store before. Not until this past weekend, when I decided to brave the crowds and see what Whole Foods really has to offer.

First things first: it’s an incredibly busy place. It’s new and exciting, so you can expect large crowds for some time to come. Possibly forever. However, if you can power through and make it inside, you’ll be delighted by the shiny glory that is Whole Foods.

The store itself has an inviting atmosphere. It’s nice and bright with a sort of pleasant scent about it. Plus, the employees are very willing to help you locate something if you find yourself aimlessly strolling down the baked goods aisle.

I found myself the happiest among the beautifully decorated cakes and fresh breads.

Another big selling point for Whole Foods is that it also acts as a sort of restaurant. You can enjoy some fresh sushi, a sandwich or even a few slices of pizza. Overall, it’s relatively reasonably priced. Plus, there’s even a seating area called “The Rocky” where you can sit down and eat your food, and it’s a pretty happening place. Also, Whole Foods makes a big point of promoting local businesses and growers. I thought that was

very special, and also makes each store a little unique. Also a little bit more expensive, but if you’re willing to shell out a little more cash, it’s worth it to support your community.

I was convinced that everything was going to be overpriced at Whole Foods, and sure, some things were, but a lot of their prices were pretty comparable to Kroger or Publix. However, I couldn’t see myself doing all of my grocery shopping there. I think it’s best if you go in there for something specific or if you need something sort of unique.

Additionally, it’s good if you want a variety of something. For example, there were more types of olives to choose from at Whole Foods than I’ve ever seen in my life. Seriously, I didn’t even know that many kinds of olives existed.

Whole Foods is also a good place to go if you want food that caters to specific dietary needs. If you’re vegan or vegetarian, you can enjoy some tufu ice cream or a vegan cupcake. If you have a gluten allergy, you’re not left out either. The public might not understand what it means to be gluten free, but Whole Foods does. They understand, and they want to help you.

All in all, I was really impressed by Whole Foods. I thought it was an interesting place that clearly cares about where they get their food and the quality of their products. It’s unique, and exactly what Knoxville needs to get people excited about their food.

You can visit Whole Foods at 6730 Papermill Drive in Knoxville and learn more at their website.

TNJN Kitchen: End of Spring Break chocolate cake

March 22, 2015October 22, 2015 Taylor OwensLeave a comment

[Originally published on the Tennessee Journalist on Mar. 22, 2015] Spring break is sadly coming to an end. The good news is that you can now enjoy some tasty treats without worrying about keeping your Spring Break body. This chocolate cake is easy to make, and it’s the perfect indulgent treat to get you through the remainder of the school year.

Ingredients:

1 package of devil’s food cake mix
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12-ounce) jar caramel ice cream topping
8 ounces of whipped topping
1 package of Heath toffee bits

Directions:

First, mix the cake mix according to the directions on the package.
Pour the batter into a greased 13×9 pan and bake according to package directions.
As soon as the cake is out of the oven, poke holes with a fork or the back of a wooden spoon. Be careful not to poke all the way through the cake.
Pour the can of sweetened condensed milk all over the cake.
Microwave the caramel ice cream topping for around 30 seconds. Be sure the container is microwave safe. Pour the sauce over the cake.
Let the cake sit until cool. This usually takes about an hour.
Spread the whipped topping over the top of the cake and sprinkle a generous portion of Heath toffee bits over the top.
Cover the cake and refrigerate for at least an hour before consuming.

Serve and enjoy!

Local artists compete for set at Volapalooza 2015

March 9, 2015 Taylor OwensLeave a comment

[Originally published on the Tennessee Journalist on Mar. 5, 2015]

The Campus Entertainment Board hosted a battle of the bands in the University Center Auditorium on Thursday night. Four local artists competed in the competition in hopes of winning the grand prize: a set at this year’s Volapalooza on April 24 in World’s Fair Park.

The event had three judges, two dj’s from WUTK and David Brown, the director of Volapalooza. The audience also got to cast their vote by text after each act had performed. These votes counted for one fourth of the total, and the other three came from the judges.

Each act was given fifteen minutes to perform original music.

Maps Need Reading was the first band to perform. The group hails from Knoxville, and describes their style as a combination of indie rock and post-rock. Along with the guitar, drum and bass, the group featured a trombone and tenor saxophone.

Two attendees, Abbie Fields and Kathryn York, were excited to see the band perform because they knew some of the bandmates.

Sale$ was the next performer to compete. The University of Tennessee senior is also a rapper who currently has four mix tapes. He says he has been making music since he was in elementary school.

The rock band The Screens performed next. They are from Nashville, and brought a crowd of supporters with them for the competition.

Another Nashville band, Heathen Sons, closed the show with their blend of rock and alternative country.

After the votes were tallied, Heathen Sons was crowned the runner-up, and The Screens took home the top prize of the night.

The attendees liked having the opportunity to vote for their favorite act.

“I think it’s a good idea and it worked pretty good,” said Fields. “It was pretty straightforward.”

You can listen to music from all the performers online. Maps Need Reading has music available on theirBandcamp page, Sale$ has an official SoundCloud page, as do The Screens and Heathen Sons.

To see all the acts at Volapalooza, including The Cold War Kids and Lupe Fiasco make sure to buy your ticket from their official website. Tickets are free to students who opted in.

2015 Oscars recap and reactions

March 9, 2015 Taylor OwensLeave a comment

[Originally posted on the Tennessee Journalist on Feb. 23, 2015]

The 87th annual Academy Awards aired Sunday, Feb. 22 on ABC and brought out all of Hollywood’s A-list stars.

Host Neil Patrick Harris opened the show with a musical tribute to movies featuring guest performances byAnna Kendrick, Jack Black and some Stormtroopers from “Star Wars.”

Many students from the University of Tennessee expressed their thoughts and opinions through Twitter.

Last year’s Best Supporting Actress Lupita Nyong’o presented the first award of the night for Best Supporting Actor to J.K. Simmons for his performance in “Whiplash.” Simmons thanked his wife and children and reminded everyone about the importance of parents.

“If you’re lucky enough to have a parent on this earth, call them,” he said.

Patricia Arquette won Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Boyhood.” Her acceptance speech excited the internet (and Meryl Streep) with her mentions of the importance of equal pay for men and women.

The awards also featured performances from all of the nominees for Best Original Song. John Legend andCommon’s performance of “Glory” from the movie “Selma” proved to be an emotional one, producing tears and a standing ovation from audience members. The song went on to win the category and was presented by Idina Menzel and John Travolta.

Tegan and Sara and the Lonely Island’s performance of “Everything is Awesome” from “The Lego Movie”appeared to be a hit with viewers at home.

Best Actor went to first-time nominee Eddie Redmayne for his role as Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everthing.” His speech was a highlight of the night, filled with excitement and enthusiasm.

“I will be its custodian,” said Redmayne referring to his new Oscar statue.

Best Actress went to Julianne Moore for her role in “Still Alice.” Moore said she was glad to have “been able to shine a light on Alzheimer’s disease.” This was her fifth nomination and first win.

Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel” won awards in many categories including Best Original Score and Best Costume Design.

“Birdman” was the night’s big winner. The film took home awards for Best Cinematography, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director Alejandro Gonzàles Iñárritu and Best Picture.

To see a full list of winners, go to the official Oscars website.

Opinion: Taylor’s Oscar Predictions 2015

March 9, 2015 Taylor OwensLeave a comment

[Originally posted on the Tennessee Journalist on Feb. 17, 2015]

The most important awards show of the season, the Academy Awards, will air this Sunday at 8 p.m. on ABC. You’ve seen the movies, you’ve formed opinions and now it’s time to make some predictions.

Here are the winners based on my predictions for the five major categories:

Best Picture- “Birdman”

Nominees: “American Sniper,” “Birdman,” “Boyhood,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” “The Imitation Game,” “Selma,” “The Theory of Everything” and “Whiplash”

While there has been much buzz about a number of films this year, you can expect “Birdman” to come out on top. So far, it has won 138 awards, including the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay and the Screen Actors Guild award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. “Boyhood” was a favorite early on and “American Sniper” was a box-office hit, but the writing and talented cast of this dark and quirky film has that little something extra.

Best Actor- Michael Keaton

Nominees: Steve Carell (“Foxcatcher”), Bradley Cooper (“American Sniper”), Benedict Cumberbatch (“The Imitation Game”), Michael Keaton (“Birdman”) and Eddie Redmayne (“The Theory of Everything”)

This category is a tough one. Eddie Redmayne has received rave reviews (and a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award) for his role as Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everything,” and Bradley Cooper has been nominated for either Best Actor or Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars for the past three years. Either of these talented men could take home the prize, but it’s Michael Keaton who will have that honor. He was a clear frontrunner early on, and while this seems to have slipped a bit, he has still taken home numerous awards for his performance as Riggan. This category will be one to watch.

3. Best Actress- Julianne Moore

Nominees: Marion Cotillard (“Two Days, One Night”), Rosamund Pike (“Gone Girl”), Felicity Jones (“The Theory of Everything”), Reese Witherspoon (“Wild”) and Julianne Moore (“Still Alice”)

Julianne Moore has become a standout actress in recent years, appearing in both television and movies in comedic and dramatic roles. In “Still Alice,” Moore plays a 50-year-old women diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Her performance is riveting and raw. Moore has been the clear winner all awards season, and while the other actresses are talented, she is expected to be the clear winner.

4. Best Actor in a Supporting Role- J.K. Simmons

Nominees: Robert Duvall (“The Judge”), Ethan Hawke (“Boyhood”), Edward Norton (“Birdman”), Mark Ruffalo (“Foxcatcher”) and J.K. Simmons (“Whiplash”)

You may have recently seen J.K. Simmons from that Farmer’s Insurance commercial, but his performance as Terence Fletcher in “Whiplash” is receiving widespread critical acclaim. Simmons is another who has been having a successful awards season, and that should continue with an award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Academy Awards.

5. Best Actress in a Supporting Role- Patricia Arquette

Nominees: Patricia Arquette (“Boyhood”), Laura Dern (“Wild”), Kiera Knightly (“The Imitation Game”), Emma Stone (“Birdman”) and Meryl Streep (“Into the Woods”)

It’s hard not to pick Meryl Streep to win every award, but the fact is she hasn’t been the name on everyone’s lips with role as the Witch in “Into the Woods.” She’s always talented, that’s a given, but Patricia Arquette seems to be the favorite this year. The novelty of “Boyhood” hasn’t proven to be much of a success in awards season, but Arquette has been a standout, winning a Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe for her performance. It is likely to be a repeat this Sunday.

To see a list of all of the Academy Awards nominees, check out the official website. Don’t forget to tune in on Sunday night at 8 p.m. to see who leaves with an Oscar.

Open Chord Brewhouse and Stage hosts poetry slam

March 9, 2015March 9, 2015 Taylor OwensLeave a comment

[Originally posted on the Tennessee Journalist on Feb. 13, 2015]

The Open Chord Brewhouse and Stage hosted a poetry slam in association with Knoxville Poetry Slam on Tuesday night.

The group holds poetry slams and open mic events every month, but Jan. 14 was their first time at the Open Chord. Because of its success, the group decided to head back for another show.

MC’s and spoken word poets Lane Shuler and Courageous, also known as I.N.K., kicked off the event with a poem of their own.

“It all started with the I.N.K.,” said the duo before opening the floor to the public. The open mic was open to all attendees who signed up before the show began. In total, 20 participants came to read their original works about topics such as love, depression and social activism.

One poet, Saniyah X, was inspired to perform poetry after watching Russell Simmons’ show “Def Jam Poetry” and has been performing since 2007. She performed her slam poem based on her first love called “This Equation.” She also performed an unreleased song called “Our Apocalypse” for the crowd.

“No one outside of my small circle of friends had heard that song before so it was special sharing it with the crowd,” said Saniyah X.

After the open mic portion of the show, five contestants participated in a poetry slam, a contest judged by five audience members to choose the best poet of the night. Participant Black Atticus was crowned the champion.

Freshman Alana Cooper attended the event for her Introduction to Poetry class, and was impressed by the slam.

“I had to write a poem for the class I’m in right now and just trying to follow a form, if you choose to write something more structured, is a lot of work,” said Cooper. “These people just make it look so easy even though it really isn’t.”

This second event proved to be a hit with poets and audience members alike.

“There are a lot of talented poets here and it’s nice to see us all coming together,” said Saniyah X. “I think Courageous and Lane are doing a fantastic job at waking the sleeping giant that is the poetry scene in Knox.”

The next poetry slam will be held on March 10 at the Open Chord Brewhouse and Stage. More information is available on their Facebook page and official website.

International House hosts Indian cooking demonstration

March 2, 2015March 9, 2015 Taylor OwensLeave a comment

[Originally published on the Tennessee Journalist on Feb. 4, 2015]

The International House hosted an Indian cooking demonstration as part of its India World Showcase Tuesday night.

Members of Manthan, the Indian Student Association, taught participants how to make paneer tikka, a traditional Indian appetizer. The dish contains marinated paneer, a type of fresh cheese and vegetables marinated in spices. All of the ingredients are then placed on a kebab and baked in the oven.

After learning the recipe and more about the ingredients, students headed to the kitchen to make the dish themselves. Sophomore Sabrina Sutherland volunteered to help.

“I helped put the vegetables and paneer on the kebab,” she said. “It’s delicious!”

Senior Jenny Chan, who works at the International House, was also interested by the demonstration.

“My favorite part was learning the ingredients. I didn’t even know what paneer was before,” she said.

After assembling the kebab, students waited for the dish to bake in the oven.

“I really like this henna I got and I loved eating the food,” said Sutherland.

“It’s spicy, but good,” added Chan.

The International House will host two more World Showcases with cooking demonstrations this semester, one focusing on China later this month, and another focusing on Iran in April.

Chan says anyone interested in more events and activities at the International House should visit their Facebook page,UTK International.

Taylor Owens

Digital Content Creator

Category: Articles

Nashville band brings rock to Volapalooza 2015

Professors provide ‘Textual Healing’ at Sex Week panel

Opinion: Whole Foods is a magical place

TNJN Kitchen: End of Spring Break chocolate cake

Local artists compete for set at Volapalooza 2015

2015 Oscars recap and reactions

Opinion: Taylor’s Oscar Predictions 2015

Open Chord Brewhouse and Stage hosts poetry slam

International House hosts Indian cooking demonstration