Who We Are Sonder
9 15 21
Feel together Heal together
29
43
Sadder
Summer Rental
33 37
The Secret Room King La Jolla
Days
What is Luminescent? This a question that we receive pretty often as the basis for this new magazine. What does luminescent do, who are they involved with, and what makes us different than others?
Luminescent is a fashion magazine with an emphasis on San Marcos/ Austin lifestyle & culture. Luminescent, literally is defined as “emitting light not caused by heat”, and I like to think that this definition can be applied to the luminescent team and the goals that we try to make. Putting art and creativity out into the world and not being funded by a bigger overarching company. Entirely independent, and emitting the light of our work without being prompted.
After asking our team the question of what Luminescent means to them, we received a multitude of answers and heartfelt responses as to what this magazine meant to them. Asking why we stand out from others, the general consensus was community and Independence. No level of hierarchy, no favoritism, and everyone is on the same level. Mostly everybody on the team for this issue was introduced by friends and mutuals, and those who felt that they knew somebody who could express themselves in the way that they like within this magazine.
Our biggest values for this magazine are Diversity, inclusion, open ideas, transparency, and open communication for everyone's ideas. Having this large of a group can yield a lot of differing opinions, but the common ground for everybody in the magazine is that they want to have fun with this magazine, and enjoy what it feels like to have a space to display art and fashion, without a sense of skepticism or being disheartened when new ideas are brought to the table.
The personal effect of being a part of the Luminescent team was beaming and apparent in the way we felt a part of something - an ability to latch onto a group that communicates how much they are valued and cared for, an uncommon trait in many creative groups. Making connections, meeting people, being able to be yourself, and inclusion were the themes of each meeting and shoot, helping make a network of Luminescent has a very literal meaning, but the context of its definition applies to every aspect of Luminescent Magazine. Emitting and highlighting fashion, art, and
I was walking to my favorite coffee shop in downtown San Marcos last week, got my coffee, and decided to take a walk around town to occupy my thoughts after a job interview. Sitting down on a bench on the square near the courthouse, I put my phone down and just sat, watching all of the people around me live their lives. Each person had an entire day planned, each family had years of residency in this town, and each car passing by me was filled with people - all of these people just going about their day as I was going about mine. This moment of serenity and awareness for the world that surrounded me was such a concept that could be applied to almost every aspect of my life.
Sonder, defined, is the realization that outside of the life you live, the complexities of every person’s life that somehow intersects yours are more apparent than we’ll ever know. A whole world of people with feelings, aspirations, desires, and goals.
This first issue of Luminescent had a goal to highlight those differences and to put an emphasis on how each person that makes up the team, all have their own lives that I feel privileged to be included in. Each person with an idea, a vision for where they want to take their career or artistry.
We wanted to make sure to be able to include these ideas; ideas that usually aren't picked up on by bigger outlets, or those who we thought deserved the ability to express themselves. Artists, musicians, visual designers, and fashion designers, those who produced the art that we have the privilege to share with each other was the real drive for this article's substance
So much of this issue's planning was dedicated to finding local artists to include, and a lot of it was community outreach. Trying to reach out to as many bands/artists as possible, and trying to make connections with people who we just thought were cool, and wanted to put them on a pedestal. And it's one of the most enlightening things to see my friends or people whom I just look up to, succeed and get the attention they deserve.
And so much of this idea of Sonder, and understanding the complexities of the world that surrounds us, hinges on the community I've been a part of just by working within Luminescent. And I think that keeping the attitude going forward creates the best type of creative environment for people to understand, collaborate, and create amazing art.
I have struggled with anxiety, depression, and dissociative identity disorder for years. Coming into college it was hard for me to find a place I felt I belonged. When I came up with the idea of founding Luminescent magazine the only thing I hoped for was to create a safe space where members could find a place they were heard and truly cared for. It has been 3 months since Luminescent began and I can confidently say, this magazine has become a family. I finally feel as if I belong somewhere. I love all the members of this magazine and I am so proud of everyone’s compassion and kindness. This article is special to me because the phrase “Feel together Heal together” rings so true to Luminescent. We are a team and a family, there’s no problem we can’t face together. The rest of this article is personal statements from members of Luminescent and their journey, enjoy!
- Mya Leffler
Early on in the semester, the Luminescent Instagram page sent me a DM with zero followers. This message arrived at the right time for me. As a current freshman at Texas State, it took me a good minute to find my place, and joining Luminescent helped me tremendously. I have never had a creative outlet like this before. I immediately felt at home with Luminescent. I gained coworkers but I also gained friends. I met people who would listen to every random idea and vision and not laugh in my face. I found a place where I could exist as the fullest version of myself. With every shoot, I become more confident, more comfortable, and surer of myself. We've grown so much since the first shoot at Mya’s apartment, and I couldn't be prouder. With this first issue, I hope that you don't just see pretty faces or cool editing. I hope that you see friendships and humans with ambition. People who came together to not only work but to build a family. I hope that you see the love that was put into every single page and every photo. This issue has a piece of everyone in it and I hope you all can see that. Here we go!
With Love, - Brian Christopher Willery II
I started Luminescent when I was going through some serious depression, my long-term boyfriend and I had broken up and I was dealing with severe anxiety. Mya had reached out to work with my company as well as invited me to take part in the magazine and I immediately fell in love with the idea. When I started, I was unsure of where my place in the world was as I felt lost in myself. That quickly changed as the months passed and as I got to develop a community within Luminescent.
Luminescent changed my life; I found some of the most stable friends I have ever had in my life, I found my mental health elevating in such a beautiful way and I finally felt at peace with myself for the first time in my life. Being in a community where support and tolerance are the number one requirement made me feel like I had a place in this world and I find myself unable to find words to thank Mya and Ivan for the opportunities they have given me with Luminescent.. And to everyone at Luminescent. Thank you. You have truly changed my life and I will forever be grateful. - Averyann Guggenheim
Becoming apart of the Luminescent team has been the highlight of my year in a multitude of ways. I’ve met incredible and beautiful people through this project, and so many amazing friendships have bloomed thanks to the opportunity to work on this magazine. I’ve watched everyone’s confidence grow and personality shine from the time we met for our first meeting, up until this preparation for our first launch. I’ve never seen myself as someone who would be approached to model, as I’ve struggled with body dysmorphia and low selfesteem for the majority of my life. I was so nervous walking into our first shoot because I had these internal truths I’d been conditioned to believe, but I was instantly greeted with so much love and encouragement. The entire shoot I was being cheered on and from then on I’ve been so comfortable in my own skin thanks to the support this team has provided. Since joining, I’ve seen so much growth in my creativity and confidenceluminescent has been an incredible opportunity for growth and community♡
-McKayla Klein
Gil’s broiler is the oldest restaurant in San Marcos. When entered, you are met with bright colors, a multitude of posters, and unique art pieces. But who started the Secret Room, and what is the Secret Room all about?
Cole Watson founded The Secret Room in August of 2022 after feeling lost in his schooling and wanting to do more with his life than the traditional route. He had a passion for business; was inspired by his entrepreneurial father, and wanted to open his own personal store. Cole had often stated his future plans to start a business, he read many entrepreneurial books and spent a long time developing himself physically and mentally for what was to come. At the beginning of summer 2022, he had started with a vision to create a place where people could not only buy artwork, but they could also spend time, enjoy themselves and build a community.
Cole Watson is the embodiment of a young mind; attempting to push boundaries and build the life he always envisioned for himself. Paired with a carefree and easy-going nature, Cole found quick success with many college students attaching themselves to Coles’ likable nature and vision. Cole has found a community in itself by starting the business, with many people continuing to attend the secret room on a daily basis, eventually starting a friend group through the process.
Coles products include unique and colorful posters, as well as local San Marcos art and canvas prints. All local artists take a 65% cut from their sales made in The Secret Room, which gives local artists a chance to pursue their dreams and be able to gain funding through it. Cole has opened many opportunities for the “starving artist” which has given him credit for being “the artist's person.”
Cole recently has built a team of over 30 people all based in different categories such as modeling, interior design, marketing, social media, etc. Cole decided to expand his team as he felt his job could not be a one-person job and felt that The Secret Room would be stronger with a team to help inspire and bounce off of Coles’ brilliant ideas. He has started to manage the team with a headstrong and precise attitude.
The Secret Room has also expanded into being a venue; often hosting concerts, magazine events and pop-up shops. Each event attracts hundreds of individuals; ranging from college students to the older crowd who wants to experience San Marcos for what it is. The Secret Room is open to hosting any event and continues to “wow” the San Marcos community every single day.
If you want the perfect mixture of authenticity, spunk, and twang, then King La Jolla is the perfect musician to look for. The Musician’s real name is Conner Ek, and he has become quite the phenomenon in the San Marcos music scene. King La Jolla primarily performs a style by the name of “Alt-folk rock with country influences” (coined by the musician himself). But the question remains: how did King La Jolla enter the world of southern music?
Well, Ek started his musical upbringing in California, surrounded by an unconventional surf-rock scene. Come 2016, Ek moved halfway across the country and ㅡ you’ll be shocked to know ㅡ that he initially found himself displaced in the south. Ek found himself closed off to southern music culture, so much so, Connor Ek took about a year-and-a-half break from music altogether. However, over time, Ek found himself surrounded by southern hippie culture and influences of Texas Twang. He began opening himself up and sought influence from Texas songwriters, Such as Townes Van Zandt and Willie Nelson. From then on, he started spending more time outdoors, as well as visiting Honky-Tonks, bars, rodeos, and country shows. In turn, King La Jolla’s style is a balanced mix between his own personal style of songwriting, and that good ol’ Texas Twang.
Now, with southern influence comes southern culture, and King La Jolla is a master at integrating his own personal styles into his performances. Some western shirts, cowboy boots, and bell bottoms are his signature articles. He even integrates southern factors into his playing style!
“I use the same guitar-playing style as many folk singers do. I use fingerpicking as a way to make the guitar sound less one-dimensional, and to build a sense of rhythm for the crowd. I take that stage presence influence from good, one-man-band gigs like Shakey Graves or Field Medic.” – Connor Ek
King La Jolla takes pride in being genuine. His influences come mainly from one-man-band type artists, as they parallel Ek in nature. Moreover, apart from being a skilled musician and songwriter, Connor Ek is highly dedicated to conquering his dreams and passion for creating relatable, authentic, and engaging music for his fans.
Emerging out from a small town in Houston, Texas, is Sadder Days band. Based in Austin, Texas, they create the sound of the future... but let's get to know the creators behind it.
Cameron Wesley is the guitarist, producer, songwriter, and graphic designer of Sadder Days. He is the primary outlet of Sadder Days, and to him, the band means everything. He sees Sadder Days as a testament to his passion to create and give to others. When it comes to impacting others, he states, "I want to let others know how you can be yourself."
ThedrummerofSadderDaysis GrantCelestine.Thoughhehasbeen aclosefriendofCameronforyears, heneverpicked uptheskillof playingmusic...untilrecently.Grant sayshewasalwaysinterestedin playingthedrumsbuthesitated.At thetime,hehadothercurriculars thathededicatedhimselfto,suchas highschooltrack.Thenoneday, Cameroninvitedhimtothelocal GuitarCentertojam out,andGrantsaysthat assoonashebeganto play,herealizedthat drumswereadreamhe wantedtopursue.Aside fromthedrums,heisin chargeofbeatsand organizingevents.To him,SadderDaysisa directoutletfor embracinghisinner child,andrevisitinghis youngerselfallowshim tobefulloflifeand expresshimselfinany waypossible.
Sadder Days combines RB, House, Jazz, and Classical influences with dance rhythms, catchy melodies, lush, ambient textures, and heavy tones to create Atmospheric Metal. The band's goal is to inspire everyone, including black youth. Furthermore, they want their audience to know that you don't have to fit into one style or genre and that living freely is to utilize and express music in different ways. Recently, their latest song Omelas has received lots of recognition on the platform TikTok, one of the band's primary outlets for audience building. This method includes reaching out to other small creators and creating a network of artists supporting other artists. Aside from TikTok, Instagram has opened up many opportunities. As Sadder Days claims, they are not trying to gatekeep for the people and are willing to reach out to anyone, regardless of whether they are collaborators or fans.
Though working towards the same goals, the band's work carries personal meaning to both members. To Cam, songs are very intimate that he writes, and the chord production deeply ties into how he wants to convey deep emotions. Overall, he sees his work as an infinite canvas, with the means to create paintings of sound that go beyond limits. On the contrary, Grant tells us when he finishes a song and listens to it, he sees it as an extension of understanding himself even more. From his perspective, the melodies take a look into his mannerisms, personality, and how he goes about life. Looking back at these songs, it almost feels like a journal he says; Each song is an entry, and the final copy is what he wanted to learn about himself.
In plans for the future, Sadder Days is confident in its success. In five years they have planned to already have a singer as well as an album released. Though one of their biggest dreams is to sell out arenas worldwide, they strive to support their families and thrive in a life of their own.
San Marcos has been home to a welcoming and close-knit music scene for the past decade, with talented individuals and bands coming out of the woodwork every year with consistent talent and new ideas. Since 2019, Summer Rental, a band selfidentified as “River Rock” has been an active group of musicians playing in San Marcos and Austin. Described as friends who simply came together to play the music that they as a group enjoys, the band has released 2 albums, 1 EP, and a multitude of singles since 2019.
I had the privilege to sit down with members Garrett Douglas, Sean Ryan, Ben Steen, and ask for their input on how the band operates, their influences, what experiences stood out to them over the past 4 years, and more.
Connor: What is y’all’s favorite song at the moment, and then your favorite song you’ve done under the Summer Rental name?
Sean Ryan: I guess for me right now, looking at my Spotify wrapped, this wasn't my favorite song but it was by my favorite artist of the year, a band called Penny & Sparrow. I just recently saw them and so I became obsessed and they have this one song called Need You. And like, essentially the lead singer has this dream that they're like going to see an A24 film. And so it's like referencing, just being in a movie theater watching an A24 movie and it's just like the vehicle of that song is so great. And I'm going to do a deep cut. One of my favorite songs that I wish we released is Cold Feet. No one's ever heard of that song.
Garrett: It was a demo that we had when we made our second album. And so we ended up cutting a couple that was one that we cut, and then we actually ended up taking a section of it and putting it in a different song. So we will probably never release it because we already stole from it. A song that I've listened to the most this year is I Didn't Mean to Turn You On by Robert Palmer. The drums and the bass and that song are just so dirty and so tight. Yeah, I've been listening to a lot of him this year. I'm going to say my favorite Summer Rental song is Indie Waitress off our first album. I love the production of that song. I think the mix came out so well, all of our tones I think fit really well together. I just love everything about it.
Ben: I would say my favorite song right now is Exotica by Parcels. Exotica kind of just has like all that I'm really into right now, and has great harmonies. That's an awesome bassline. It's grooving but my favorite Summer Rental song is Ball and Chain. And that was our very first single off our first album.
Connor: Great great. So then what's like the “favorite” show you've played in San Marcos. Like place, venue, organization, like wherever you guys just happen to be in the same place playing music?
Sean Ryan: I think the one that made me cry was The Coffee Bar. The last coffee bar show we played, it was right after we released our second or self titled album. And I think there was like a month in between that release like it gave enough people enough time to really learn the lyrics.
Ben: Mine would definitely be the Halloween show at that church recording studio, FetSounds. So that show at least was so iconic for me because that's the first time we pulled out a group outfit and it just slapped. Everybody was vibing with it. We just played some covers. We had a good time. And the place was so packed. Everybody was loving what we were doing. Definitely my favorite. I have a painting from a picture from that show.
Garrett: Yeah. I totally agree with Ben. That FetSounds show was amazing. Even on top of that, another reason that that show was so perfect, is I think there were four bands on the bill and we were in the third slot. So by the time we were going to play, it was crazy. People were dancing, and our buddy Garrett Moore, who helped put the show together, as we were playing our song Someday. And when we really get going at the end of that song, I look out and I see him crowd surfing. And we finished our set and like within 10 minutes the cops showed up and shut the whole thing down. So the last band didn't even get to play, and we were the perfect slot and got the whole crowd. Everybody was going crazy. And then the second we were done, show's over.
Connor: Man. That's crazy! You seriously got the sweet spot in the lineup damn. So then these are the questions that are a little more opinionated I’d say. Fender or Gibson?
Garrett: Fender no question. I’ve always been a fender guy.
Sean Ryan: I have also been a Fender man most of my life, that was my first guitar, a Fender Strat.
Ben: Definitely Fender for me as well, James Jamerson, my favorite, the great pioneer, used a Fender P-bass so I have like two of them at my house right now.
Connor: Car-mel or Car-a-mel?
Sean Ryan: Al-u-mini-um. I always switch between, I say Car-mel by default.
Garrett: Ok, so I've been told that I make a weird combination of them. I say Care-a-mul.
Connor: Word. The Beatles or Rolling Stones?
Sean Ryan: I've always been a Beatles guy. Beatles. Beatles.
Garrett: Not even close. Not even kind of. But that's not because I don't like The Rolling Stones. It's because the Beatles are in the stratosphere.
Ben: Beatles, Paul McCartney is definitely, definitely something else.
Connor: Oh, yeah. 100% you cannot put Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney in the same room and expect the same result. Yeah.
Sean Ryan: It's the Beatles because they literally changed the history of music. Like how it's performed live and how it's recorded like they just without them the industry wouldn't be what it is.
Connor: Agreed. What's y’alls favorite San Marcos band?
Ben: Well I have to say Windowshop. All of them are amazing. And then me being the big bass head I am, Steven, their bassist, is a god.
Garrett: I mean, I would say probably a tie for me between Kenny Normal and Blevins. Because like, when I see Kenny Normal play, especially like recently when we played at the Halloween Rock Block show with them, I mean, there's so on but they're so versatile and they're so fun.
Connor: And so then with this next album or release, is it just gonna be kind of a culmination of everything you’ve done, or something new?
Sean Ryan: We\re making progress. Yeah. Not to give too much away, but I think that's the direction we like. And I feel like that more of the songs we are writing now are more geared towards what we like, what we enjoy to play.
Garrett: I think we all have sort of different paths in mind sometimes that we want to go down, for example me lately I was thinking about, and I bring this up with the guys a lot how like, when we first like the first two years as a band, we put out two albums and then the past two years we've put out like an EP and a single. And so it's like we don't always have to be putting out a ton of content but you know, sometimes we get offered so many shows and some of them are really great and it can be really hard to say no. And so sometimes I think we can overbook ourselves a little bit and not have as much time to write and get in the studio. Yeah. So I'm of the mindset that, as long as no phenomenal amazing gigs that we absolutely can't say no to appear, I would love for us to take a little time off because I always try to write I love when we get in the studio.
Connor: I mean, you've been writing that like two album wave and then now you know what you want to do. You've reserved yourself and now you know that you can play these shows, so you can enjoy it and have fun. It's more of how do you just refine that and take time for yourselves to where you don't get burned out but still like doing what you do.
Garrett: And I think we all come with like certain ideas and then try to put them together. Or like one person will come up with a demo and then the other person will you know, go into their instrument and completely make it their own. And so I think that's kind of where I think that's why it's so hard to put us in a box or a genre is because it's really just four dudes getting their ideas to mesh together. In a way that sounds good to all of us. And that we enjoy, you know, entirely.
You can check out Summer Rental on all streaming platforms, along with frequent updates on shows and releases on all of their social media.
COVER MODELS: Eros Lopez, Mason Jordan
PHOTOGRAPHER: Mya Leffler
THE
BEAUTY OF NOT KNOWING
MODELS: Mckayla Klein, Ava Betersworth, Ethan Carlino, Eros Lopez, Diego Mickelson, Kat Lemmon, Brian Willery II, Zen Romero
PHOTOGRAPHER: Mya Leffler
MAKEUP: Molly Cooper, Eros Lopez, Averyann Guggenheim STYLING: Brian Willery II
WHO WE ARE
MODELS: Diego Mickelson, Mckayla Klein, Pauline Osorio, Zain Romero, Averyann Guggenheim, Erin Meritt, Mason Jordan, Eros Lopez, Phia Gonzalez, Alaina Grover, Ava Bettersworth, Jesus Guevara, Brian Willery II, Theron Garcia, Eric Ulmer, Connor Ek, Zain Romero, PHOTOGRAPHER: Mya Leffler WRITER: Connor Ek SONDER MODELS: Zain Romero, Ava Bettersworth, Rachel, Mckayla Klein, Eros Lopez, Erin Meritt, Brian Willery II, Jesus Guevara, Hayden Campbell, Diego Mickelson, Ethan Carlino, Kat Lemmon
PHOTOGRAPHER: Mya Leffler
MAKEUP: Molly Cooper, Eros Lopez, Averyann Guggenheim STYLING: Brian Willery II WRITER: Connor Ek
FEEL TOGETHER HEAL TOGETHER
MODELS: Ava Bettersworth, Zain Romero, Eros Lopez, Mason Jordan PHOTOGRAPHER: Mya Leffler WRITERS: Mya Leffler
THE SECRET ROOM: MODELS: Brian Willery II, Ava Bettersworth, Hayden Campbell, Mckayla Klein, Averyann Guggenheim, Zen Fernandez, Eros Lopez, Zain Fernandez, Connor Ek, Grant Celestine, Kat Lemmon, Ava Astin PHOTOGRAPHER: Mya Leffler MAKEUP: Eros Lopez, Molly Cooper, Averyann Guggenheim STYLIST: Brian Willery II, Mya Leffler WRITER: Averyann Guggenheim KING LA JOLLA: MODELS: Connor Ek PHOTOGRAPHER: Mya Leffler WRITER: Talya Hammerman SADDER DAYS: MODELS: Grant Celestine, Cameron Wesley PHOTOGRAPHER: Mya Leffler WRITER: Molly Cooper SUMMER RENTAL MODELS: Ben Steen, Sean Ryan, Garrett Douglas, Sean McDermott PHOTOGRAPHER: Connor Ek WRITER: Connor Ek
Mya Leffler Editor in Chief, Founder, Photographer
Ivan Morales Editor in Chief, Founder Alaina G Model, Makeup artist, Head of makeup and hair
Alyssa Rodriguez Photographer Ava Astin Model
Ava Bettersworth Model Cameron Wesley Model Charlie Speck Videographer
Connor Ek Model, Writer Diego Mickelson Model Eric Ulmer Model, Social Media Manager
Eros Lopez Model, Makeup artist, Model Manager Ethan Carlino Model Hayden Campbell Model, Business Director Isabella Hero Social Media Manager, Web editor, Creative Director
Jesus Guevera Model Mason Jordan Model Kat Lemmon Model Makayla Lambert Model, Editor Mckayla Klein Model Molly Cooper Makeup Artist, Writer Omari Crocker Model
Pauline Osorio Model
Phia Gonzalez Model Rachel Wise Model
Savannah Torres Model
Sophie Brown Model Talya Hammerman Model, Writer Theron Garcia Model, Social Media Manager
Zain Fernandez Model
Averyann Guggenheim Model, Treasurer, Event coordinator, Creative Director Erin Merritt Model Giselle Suarez Social Media Manager
Grant Celestine Model, Business Director Kate Vita Photographer Mai Tan Photographer, Editor
Zen Fernandez Model Brian Willery II Model, Vice president
