Tag: time

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Facing Forward, Looking Back

If you’re anything like me, you hear the name of Miley Cyrus and cringe a little bit. When her name is invoked in public, there are often looks of scorn and flashbacks to a Spandex-clad, hammer-licking past that none of us wish to relive (including, it seems, Miley herself). So I’m sure you can imagine my surprise when I got a notification from Spotify telling me that Miley had a new album out. I was apprehensive. Still, as a college student who is always looking for ways to procrastinate, I clicked the play button. Wow, am I glad I did.

If I could describe her new album “Younger Now” in one word, it would be “mature.” It’s miles and miles ahead of Miley’s older songs, all dripping with pop star dreams and the monster that fame makes of us all. In her new album, Miley revisits her roots in the Memphis country music scene, borrowing from influences like Elvis, Dolly Parton (who makes an appearance in the track “Rainbowland”), and her father, Billy Ray Cyrus. The album has the reflectiveness that is often evident in these kinds of songs.

It’s not hard to see why, either. This album is a statement from Miley herself that she isn’t the same person she was. The album’s title track, “Younger Now,” is a ballad to both the past and the future. She explains that, while she is a completely different person now, she doesn’t necessarily regret where she’s been. As a junior in college, it is easy to relate to her sentiment: I’m both the same person and a completely different person than I was two years ago.

Other tracks on the album deal with topics in a similarly mature way. “Malibu,” which has risen to the top as one of the most popular tracks on the album, has a soft guitar riff that lulls the listener to consider their significant other under the lens of the California sky. “Rainbowland,” in which Dolly Parton makes a guest appearance, sings about unity and harmony in the homey, grassroots style that Parton herself is known so well for. “Week Without You” borrows its style from Elvis, with its opening electric guitar rhythm that is meant to get our hips swinging and our thoughts rolling.

Then there are other songs where Miley’s individual voice comes out, which further proves how mature she has become. “Bad Mood” is a rock and roll ballad that anyone who has ever “woken up in a bad mood” can relate to. “Inspired,” the final track on the album, describes her songwriting process, and where she draws her inspiration from.

Just in time for fall, with everything around us starting to change, Miley’s newest album rings true to the adult in us all. Just like this is a season for reflection on where we’ve been, and looking forward to where we’re going, Younger Now is an anthem for those who are in a different place than they were before. As college students, we look at our middle and high school photos and feel the things she’s feeling. Even those of us who are juniors and seniors can look back to our freshman selves and realize just how far we’ve come. After listening, I am reflective and optimistic, looking forward to what else Miley has in store for us.

 

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News

Houghton Pops Cancels Activities for Semester

www.houghton.edu

Two weeks ago Houghton Pops Orchestra (HPO) director Nathaniel Efthimiou (class of ’14) informed the members of the Houghton Pops orchestra that he and the board had decided to cancel the concert scheduled for the 22nd of this week. The performance planned for next semester is still planned for; however, there will be no performances by HPO this semester. “We simply didn’t have the resources or personnel this semester,” said Efthimiou concerning the decision.

HPO has faced a number of challenges this semester which, in the end, proved to be too much for the orchestra to overcome. One reason given by Efthimiou for the cancellation this semester was the music the group was forced to choose. “Our budget this semester was zero dollars,” said HPO president Ian Love, senior. “We had to use scores borrowed from the Philharmonia library,” said senior clarinettist Toni Bliemeister. “With the size of our group we just couldn’t pull some of them off.  And most of it just isn’t us.  It’s not music HPO should be playing.” As a club, HPO is still in the “provisional” stage, making SGA funding requests somewhat unclear. Next semester, however, they are scheduled to be approved as an official club. Orchestra members are hopeful this will allow the club to put on a more cohesive and accessible concert.

Another issue causing the concert cancellation is the extremely small size of the orchestra this semester.  “We have more cellos than violins this year,” reported one member. Other commitments and schedule conflicts have made it difficult or impossible for past members to participate.  Some former members are student teaching or studying abroad while others simply do not have time.  “With the musical this semester and everything else I just didn’t have time,” said cellist Chad Sell, sophomore, who starred in the HMTP production of The Drowsy Chaperone earlier this semester.  Efthimiou also had other commitments which took away from HPO, including conducting the pit orchestra for a musical as well as conducting pieces for composition students’ recitals.  Many other members of the group were also involved in these productions, leaving little to no time for them left for HPO.

Members are hopeful about next semester, however. “Canceling this semester was sad, but the right choice. Next semester will be better, though, with new music and without Christmas Prism to take so much time at the end of the year,” said Bleimeister. When asked to comment on plans for next semester, Efthimiou replied that, “The HPO board and I are taking time to explore new ways by which the success of the orchestra can be ensured so that future productions by our members are of the highest possible level. There is no reason to worry about the health of the Houghton Pops.”

 

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Stories In Focus

Jillian Sokso Attains Competitive Artist Residency

Professor Jillian Sokso, Associate Professor of Art, has recently returned from a two week residency at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA). With the help of the faculty development committee Sokso was able to achieve the great honor of attending the VCCA.

For over forty years, the VCCA has supported the work of about 350 artists, painters, sculptors, photographers, filmmakers; composers and writers. Typically there are 23 fellows in residency at one time. This includes anyone from a renowned artist to an eager young artist at the beginning of their professional career. Sokso, ever so humbly, said “I am still baffled I was able to get in, it was gratifying being among that caliber of people” as she reminisced about her time at VCCA.

SoksoThe VCCA provides artists with their own bedroom, three meals a day, and a private studio allowing for the artists to work for hours, days, or weeks completely uninterrupted. “My studio was 700 square feet, had large windows and a skylight,” said Sokso. The VCCA is also surrounded by 400 acres of rolling Blue Ridge farmland, a view Sokso was able to enjoy from her studio.

Artist who have done a residency at VCCA say they were able to accomplish more work there in a matter of weeks than they would have in a year at home. “Time. Time was the most precious commodity and richest blessing,” said Sokso. The VCCA provides a quiet and creative environment for the artists, allowing them to get away from everything as well as giving them the opportunity to be surrounded by more than 20 other highly talented artists which allows for in-depth discussions and new ideas for artists to ponder. “Writers would host readings in their studios and visual artists would invite the fellows to their studio for art critiques,” said Sokso. Along with completing sculptures, an artist book, and a series of 24 drawings, Sokso was also able to trade prints with a printmaker from Virginia.

Past fellows of VCCA include recipients of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the American Academy in Rome, the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, as well as winners of National Book Awards, Pulitzer Prizes, and MacArthur genius awards. Due to the great accomplishments of past fellows, VCCA has become a highly desired residency, making admissions extremely competitive. According to one of their fellows, the VCAA is “one of the most important sources of art in the world.”

Despite her talent and amazing accomplishment of being accepted into the VCCA, Sokso was nothing but humble throughout the interview. She continually expressed her gratitude to the faculty development committee who made it financially possible for her to attend, as well as the Dean’s office that helped provide a stand-in instructor for her students.

Sokso has now set her sights on VCCA’s satellite program in France which requires fellows to have first been to VCCA. “I would like to apply to the program in France, it’s more of a narrow pool and would be a challenge to get in.”