Rawr | 3.27.2015

rawr ‘Dances with angels’

page Cake batter creations 5

Dancing with chaos Music philosophy Amelia C. Warden | Rawr

page 6 page 9

3.27.24 Vol. 5 No. 24

horoscopes The Argonaut

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Your work in

Rawr illustration photography mixed media

Aries 3/21-4/19

3.27.15

Are you a good cook? A bad cook? Use this week to learn a new dish, even if it’s just scrambled eggs. It saves a lot of money on take-out.

paintings sculptures short fiction poetry non-fiction Rawr is an alternative weekly publication covering art, culture, campus life and entertainment.

We are accepting all forms of art and creativity to be featured inside the publication or on the cover.

Email: arg-arts@uidaho.edu

Taurus 4/20-5/20 How well are you doing with your classes this semester? It’s never too late to get help. Some last minute tutoring and hard work may bump a “D” to a “C.”

Gemini 5/21-6/21 Laughter makes the world go round and it can also help de-stress. Time spent watching funny YouTube videos is time well spent.

Cancer 6/22-7/22

When was the last time you gave back?

An act of charity — even if it is giving a donation — can go a long way.

Leo 7/23-8/22 Spring break is over and it’s roughly

two months before finals. Spend time with your friends now, because you won’t have the time to do so soon.

Sagittarius 11/22-12/21

Virgo 8/23-9/22

Capricorn 12/22-1/19

Do you have a roommate? Treat each other to a night out. Just because you live together doesn’t mean you have to live in separate worlds.

Libra 9/23-10/22

Aly Soto | Rawr

Everything is moving fast these days.

Slow down and pay attention.

Just because spring break is over doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Find something new to do over the weekend.

Aquarius 1/20-2/18

Today people are more connected to each other than ever through social media, TV and the Internet. Take some time this week to unplug.

Did you make a New Year’s resolution to get healthy? Still not too late to get started on it.

Scorpio 10/23-11/21

Plug in to your favorite music and just dance. It helps with whatever you’re trying to deal with that’s giving you a headache.

Don’t despair just because you didn’t get the part, project, grade, etc. you wanted. It will all work out in the end.

Pisces 2/19-3/20

Energizing indie for spring “Greek Tragedy” by The Wombats This British trio brings to the table two traits currently popular in the indie scene, accents and strong bass. In the band’s first single off their upcoming album, Glitterbug, a strong backbeat compliments intricate electro-pop sounds for a bring-on-the-sunshine vibe.

is quickly popping up on cheerful indie playlists across all music-sharing mediums. In this song, Portland duo Priory brings an addicting chorus, which could easily become a summer anthem.

“Hero” by Wildcat! Wildcat!

There cannot be enough praise for the first full-length Lyndsie album by Wildcat! Wildcat! The Kiebert album, No Moon At All, creRawr ates the perfect soundtrack for leaving winter behind. “Hero” has many “Soft layers, and is sure to become a fast favorite in the indie scene. ing)”

“Weekend” by Priory Undeniably catchy and upbeat enough to make you dance, “Weekend”

every once in a while and just enjoy the ride. The song’s aura is easy-going, just like you should be now that the sun is out.

“What Kind Of Man” by Florence + The Machine

“Goshen ‘97” by Strand of Oaks

In typical F+TM fashion, “What Kind Of Man” is soulful and altogether addictive. It will have you singing with conviction and pressing replay. The band’s highly anticipated new album, How Big How Blue How Beautiful, is due in June.

“Goshen ‘97” is a raw indie rock song obviously made for the Moscow-Pullman highway on a spring day and should be played with the windows down. The tenacious guitar gives off a feeling of recklessness — the perfect jam for a mini-road trip.

Offering (For the Oft Sufferby Hey Rosetta!

It’s easy to get overwhelmed as the semester’s finish line comes into view.

“Soft Offering” is a reminder to let go

“From Nowhere” by Dan Croll A go-to song for walking to class or maybe packing for a spontaneous weekend camping trip, this song will surprise you with its well-executed percussion and feel-good jive. Not too rowdy, but not exactly casual, Dan Croll puts spring-

time spontaneity in music form.

“Sing My Way” by Ash Gale This song comes out of the gates swinging, and it won’t be long before the melody is stuck in your head.

“Sing My Way” has an almost ambient feel, and it’s perfect for when you’re looking forward to the sweet freedoms of summer.

Lyndsie Kiebert can be reached at arg-arts@uidaho.edu

Rawr

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Rawr Reviews

‘The Zodiac Legacy: Convergence’ Superhero legend returns true to form

Claire Whitley | Crumbs

A Crumbs recipe Chicken bacon mac n’ cheese Ingredients

Directions

n 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts n 6 strips of bacon — cooked and crumbled n 2 cans of cream of chicken soup n 2 cups shredded Monterrey Jack cheese n 1 box (16 ounces) dried macaroni n 1 tablespoon garlic powder n Salt and pepper to taste

1. Cook and crumble bacon 2. While bacon is cooking, cut chicken into bite-sized chunks 3. Set cooked bacon aside for later use 4. In the same pan, cook chicken in bacon drippings 5. Add garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste 6. While chicken is cooking, prepare pasta according to directions 7. Spray a 9 x 13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray 8. Drain pasta, return to pot 9. Add chicken, both cans of cream of chicken soup and 1 cup of Monterrey Jack cheese — stir to mix well 10. Pour into prepared baking dish 11. Top with crumbled bacon 12. Top with remaining cup of Monterrey Jack cheese 13. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes, until cheese is melted and beginning to brown on top

from page one, but Lee wisely grounds If you don’t know who Stan Lee is, this world before showing us the fantasy. you’re clearly not a nerd.

Readers are educated on ancient He was lead editor of Marvel Chinese history and the book earns Comics when he was just 18 years old. He created Spiderpoints for doing its homework and Man, X-Men, the Fantastic Four, brining a foreign culture into conthe Avengers and countless temporary context. others. He’s appeared in virtuEvery chapter comes with at ally every movie based on those least one gorgeous illustration highworks. In short, this man is God lighting the events of said chapter, to millions of comic book fans.

Bradley Burgess but even if you strip this away, the Rawr So when he puts out a new book is incredibly visual. Lee comes illustrated novel for Disney, we from a world where artists create all should pay attention. half the world, but reading this book, you “The Zodiac Legacy: Convergence” would never guess that. He describes everyis a refreshingly old school superhero thing so well, so readers get a clear mental franchise starter Lee himself wrote, with picture with every word. It makes the audiediting from Stuart Moore and artwork ence yearn for a film adaptation, although from Andie Tong. Undoubtedly, Lee’s it’s not required to enjoy the story. legions of followers will read it based on The characters showcase Lee’s tradepedigree alone, but even for those not in mark memorability. Steven makes for a retune with the genre, it’s a great read. latable lead, and his reluctance to become The story is about Chinese-American a hero is handled wisely. Jasmine sparkles teenager Steven Lee, who is on a class off the page and her dialogue is fun to trip to a Hong Kong museum. He unread. There’s a bunch of other characters, intentionally stumbles into an ancient including super powered teenagers and ritual conducted by the mysterious ruthless villains.

Maxwell, who is trying to harness the On top of all this, the book is just plain powers of the Zodiac animals. After refun. The 463 pages can fly by in a few days ceiving the powers of the Zodiac Tiger, due to the gripping narrative that throws Steven teams up with Jasmine, a Zodiac in a few exciting twists and creative use of Dragon and Maxwell’s primary opposithe reality-based powers. tion, on a global chase to recruit other “The Zodiac Legacy: Convergence” is a people who have received Zodiac powball to read. The breakneck pace, memoers before Maxwell’s Vanguard agents rable characters and energetic story meld get to them first. together wonderfully. Readers will be The book feels fresh and nostalgic clamoring for the inevitable sequel and at the same time. Yes, it’s technically a will be talking about the story long after superhero origin story, but Lee’s writthey’ve finished it. Pick it up, give it a read ing doesn’t point a finger at which and get ready for a wild ride. genre it’s in. Most superhero stories are Bradley Burgess can be reached at already heightened and extraordinary arg-arts@uidaho.edu

The Argonaut

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3.27.15

Still time for stouts Silas Whitley Crumbs

Beer Comparison This week I investigated two imperial stouts found at the Moscow Co-op. Those who enjoy stouts know what to expect when drinking one, but if not, stouts are distinguished by a noticeable roasted or almost burnt flavor. This is because recipes generally include a relatively high percent of dark roasted grain compared to other dark beers like porters.

Stouts vary widely in alcohol content, from 4 percent alcohol by volume to above 9 percent.

The two stouts were No-Li Imperial Stout out of Spokane, Washington, and Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout, from North Coast Brewing Company in Fort Bragg, California. These two beers were the same price ($2.39), which isn’t cheap by any means, but it’s okay to indulge sometimes. The ABV was nearly the same, with the No Li at 9.5 percent alcohol by volume and Old Rasputin at 9 percent.

Each beer had the classic roasted stout flavor, but different balances of other flavors.

The No-Li stout had a noticeable alcohol taste and feel, but was still smooth. The taste was somewhat tangy or sour, and was described on the bottle as “fruity.” There was very little head on the beer as well.

The Old Rasputin stout was more subtle in its flavors at first, but opened up to have more depth than the No Li. This stout seemed to have a higher carbonation, so it was less smooth. The beer also had

HOP VINE

significantly more head than the No-Li. Overall, I enjoyed the Old Rasputin more than the NoLi. It was more well-rounded and has less of the acridity associated with stouts.

As always, here is a table to help decide future purchases.

Works in progress This is a new section where I list what I have been brewing and will hopefully inspire some others to try homebrewing.

On tap: Gingerbeer, Red Ale Bottles: Red Ale, Pecan Red Ale Primary fermentation: Stout Secondary fermentation: Nothing Queue-to-brew: Strawberry Blonde Ale

Homebrewing tips When mashing during an all grain recipe, the desired range of mash thickness is anywhere from one to two quarts per pound of grain used.

The standard I use is 1.33 quarts per pound, unless I’m making a darker beer. When making a darker beer, feel free to use 1.5 to 1.75 quarts per pound of malt. Darker grains make the mash more acidic, so the mash can afford to be thinner.

Mash temperatures for most homebrewers will be between 140 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

Across this range of temperatures, different enzymes will work to extract fermentable

Silas Whitley | Crumbs

Two excellent choices for the still cold Moscow weather, No-Li and Old Rasputin stouts. products. Lower temperatures yield more fermentable sugars than higher temperatures in the range. So lighter and dryer beers should be mashed at the lower range between 140 and 149 degrees Fahrenheit. Mash medium bodied beers between 150 and 155 degrees Fahrenheit and thicker beers between 155 and 160 degrees.

For light or dry beers, go no lower than 145 degrees Fahrenheit as mash tuns tend to cool down a little below that. Do not exceed 160 degrees Fahrenheit, as this will end some enzymatic activity and extract tannins, which are bitter like over-steeped tea.

Mash — not mash water —

X means more

= means equal

Beer Smoothness Taste ABV Cost should be around 5.0 or 5.5 pH. Remember that malted grain will decrease the pH of the mash. The acidity of mash can be altered with the use of varying water salts likely found at a homebrew supply shop. Generally, unless a water profile is available or known, not much

— means less

No-Li

Old Rasputin

X — X =

— X — =

should be done to tweak mash pH and water salts, because a lot can go wrong. Don’t sweat it. Plain old Moscow water has worked for me in all kinds of beer styles.

Silas Whitley can be reached at crumbs@uidaho.edu

Rawr

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Cake batter mania Six delicious desserts made with cake batter Emily Vaartstra rawr

There is something about cake batter that makes every dessert taste like a little piece of heaven, and cake mixes get half the work done toward creating a delicious cake flavored masterpiece. Here are six great dessert recipes using cake mixes that are perfect for spring get-togethers, movie nights or graduation parties.

Cake batter fudge Ingredients: • 2 cups white or yellow cake mix • 2 cups powdered sugar • 1/2 cup butter, cut into four pieces • 1/4 cup milk • 1/2 cup white chocolate chips • 1/4-1/2 cup sprinkles Directions: 1. In a microwavable bowl, stir to blend the package of cake mix and powdered sugar 2. Add in butter and milk (no stirring necessary) 3. Microwave on high for two minutes 4. Immediately remove from microwave and stir to combine.

Then add white chocolate chips and stir again 5. Fold in about half of the sprinkles 6. Spread the fudge mix into an 8 x 8 greased pan and add the rest of the sprinkles to top (gently press down to secure sprinkles) 7. Refrigerate until chilled, then cut into squares

Cake batter gooey bars Ingredients: 1. 1 box yellow cake mix 2. 1/2 cup butter, softened 3. 1 egg 4. 2/3 cup sprinkles, divided into two 1/3 cups 5. 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk 6. 1 cup white chocolate chips Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line an 8 x 8 baking pan with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray 2. With an electric mixer, beat cake mix, butter and egg together on medium speed in a large bowl

until a thick dough forms Add in 1/3 cup of the sprinkles and mix until just incorporated 4. Press 2/3 of the dough into the bottom of the pan and sprinkle white chocolate chips and remaining sprinkles on top 5. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top.

6. Separate remaining dough into small balls and evenly space over the top 7. Bake for 30 minutes, or until they begin to brown and allow them to cool before slicing 3.

Cake batter pull bread Ingredients: • 1 round (unsliced) loaf of sour dough bread • 1/2 cup brown sugar • 1/2 cup yellow cake mix • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon • 1/4 cup sprinkles • Cream cheese glaze: • 1 cup powdered sugar • 2 ounces cream cheese, softened • 1 teaspoon vanilla • 2-3 tablespoons milk Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit 2. Slice bread to make 1/2-1 inch sections, slicing almost all the way to the bottom of the loaf. Do not cut too far or cut through to the bottom 3. Place the loaf on a cookie sheet 4. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, yellow cake mix and cinnamon, stirring until completely mixed together.

Set aside 5. Evenly pour melted butter between each of the sections 6. Evenly sprinkle sugar and cake mix mixture between each of the sections. Rub in to cover them if necessary 7. Bake for 25 minutes 8. For the glaze, combine all the glaze ingredients in a medium bowl and beat until smooth Drizzle the glaze over the warm bread and add sprinkles if desired. Best eaten while still warm

Cake batter pancakes

Genie Tran | Rawr

Ingredients: • 1 1/3 cup flour • 2 teaspoons baking powder • 2 tablespoons sugar • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1 box yellow, white or funfetti cake mix • 1/3 cup canola oil • 3 eggs • 2 1/3 cups milk • 1/3 cup sprinkles • Frosting: • 1 cup powdered sugar • 2 tablespoons butter, softened • 2 tablespoons half and half cream • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla Directions: 1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and cake mix. Set aside 2. In a small bowl, mix oil, eggs and milk 3. Add wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix just until combine.

4. Fold in sprinkles 5. Heat a flat pan or griddle on the stove and spray it with cooking spray 6. Pour portions of the pancake batter onto the hot pan and cook the pancakes for about two minutes on each side 7. In a small bowl, stir together

powdered sugar, softened butter, cream and vanilla to make the frosting 8. For a thinner consistency to drizzle, microwave the mixture before spreading over the pancakes

Cake batter dip Ingredients: • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened • 1/2 a box of funfetti cake mix (about 1 and 1/2 cups) • 6 tablespoons milk • 3/4 cup powdered sugar • 1/3 cup sprinkles Directions: 1. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat cream cheese on medium speed until smooth 2. On low speed, slowly add half of the funfetti mix, then add half of the milk and mix until combined 3. Add remaining funfetti mix and milk and increase to medium speed to blend 4. Add powdered sugar and blend until fully combined 5. Stir in sprinkles 6. Serve with pretzels, graham crackers, fruit or desired treat 7. Store dip in a refrigerator Emily Vaartstra can be reached at crumbs@uidaho.edu

It's 'Calculated Chaos'

Rawr

March

27

pg 6-7

A group of dance theatre and percussion students practice Wednesday night for their performance in the Dancers Drummers Dreamers "Calculated Chaos!" event taking place this weekend in the Hartung Theatre. The production started Thursday evening and will be performed Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m.

Dancers Drummers Dreamers takes the stage Katelyn Hilsenbeck rawr

For the performers, choreographers and composers of Dancers Drummers Dreamers (DDD) “Calculated Chaos,” putting the entire show together comes down to the last moment.

“Working with a composer, I think either takes a lot of planning or a strong willingness to work with the unknown,” said Charena Branscum, University of Idaho senior and four-time participant and two-time choreographer.

DDD is, for the most part, a student choreographed and composed collaboration. Although the music and dance creators communicate along the way, Branscum said there are some hurdles.

She said students in both departments come with their own ideas of what they want to create and pair up where their visions align. Branscum said it’s not uncommon to receive the final music from the composer until the dance is half choreographed.

“You might not know if the music is going to work or not,” she said. “There

have been times we’ve gotten to rehearsal and realized dance was too long.”

Although the collaboration takes some work between the two departments, Branscum said there are perks to working with musicians.

“There’s so much more energy behind it being live music,” she said. “You almost get to play off each other.”

For Eric Parchen, a music major and DDD musician, DDD is a change of pace from class-related performances with the opportunity to play on unusual instruments, such as buckets and bins.

“It’s kind of refreshing to play stuff that’s more face-value entertainment,” Parchen said.

Whether a dancer or a musician, you

have to be aware of everyone on stage.

“It’s really keeping your energy up and being inside of what’s going on,” Branscum said.

Parchen said knowing where the dancers are in the piece is key to pulling off the performance. However, more important than the music is putting on a show for the audience, he said.

“It’s an amount of focus and intensity that I don’t always get other places,” he said.

Another similarity between the two departments is the act of collaboration.

For both Branscum and Parchen, some of their favorite memories came from when the musicians and dancers united.

“Once we get into the tech week,

they do physical dance warm-ups with us and we do vocal warm-ups with them,” Branscum said.

Dance students have requirements for a number of performances and pieces choreographed, Branscum said, but they can decide which shows to be a part of.

For Branscum, the decision was simple — she’s always been drawn to the entertainment factor of DDD. After first watching a video of the show when she was in high school and then live during Vandal Friday, Branscum said she knew it was a show she wanted to be a part of.

“It’s a very unique show, because it just keeps going — there are really no stops or pauses,” she said. “It’s very high

energy and a fun show to work in.”

When creating both of her pieces in this year’s show, Branscum said she keeps the same entertainment factor that drew her to the show in her mind.

“You are keeping in mind your audience,” Branscum said. “They’re expecting a very high energy style show … It’s not a show where you’re going to be some of the deep artistic life changing shows.”

Although musicians play throughout the whole show, Parchen said their goal is to balance, taking a backseat to the dancing while still entertaining the audience.

“That’s way harder than playing,” he said.

Parchen said there’s more to making the show a success than what the

audience sees.

“What makes it a well oiled machine is what happens in between (the pieces),” he said.

Making sure his instruments are in the right place and that he is in the right spot and ready to play are additional things Parchen said he has to think about.

Parchen said it’s not uncommon for him to go running off stage to grab something once the lights go out, only to return and begin playing 30 seconds later.

“I think there’s this overall expectation that this is a real overall professional show more than a student-work type of thing,” Branscum said.

Branscum described her choreographer’s role as “freedom with guidance.”

Amelia C. Warden | Rawr

She said faculty see the pieces as several review sessions and are available to provide feedback at rehearsals, it’s up to the choreographer to apply or reject their recommendations.

“We pretty much have free reign,” she said. “I would say the biggest struggle is getting the pieces to the point where you want them to be.”

Dancers Drummers Dreamers can be seen Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Hartung Theatre.

Tickets are $12 general public, seniors and children $10 and students $9. Tickets can be purchased online through the UI Box Office.

Katelyn Hilsenbeck can be reached at arg-arts@uidaho.edu

The Argonaut

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3.27.15

Kicking the coffee habit Healthier ways to wake up lemongrass. It is also possible It isn’t college without to buy loose leaf tea and comcoffee, or at least this is the common ideology. Caffeine gets bine any kind of tea imaginable to suit personal tastes. college students through their For those iced coffee day better than their diploma lovers, it is super simple to or job waiting for them at the make any kind of tea end of the tunnel. iced tea. All you have With Starbucks to do is brew the tea next to the Vandaland let it refrigerate Store and Einstein’s in for a few hours before the Idaho Commons, adding ice. It may not it can be hard to stick be as immediate or to non-coffee resosatisfying as buying a lutions. Sure, those Claire $5 frappe from McDonplaces offer other Whitley ald’s, but it will save options like teas and bs Crum money and is healthier smoothies, but they in the long term. are famous for their cofSimilar tea that may be fee, and who doesn’t want a more tasteful to people is Cookie Crumble Frappuccino? white tea. It is similar in cafThe problem is, while feine content to black tea, black coffee has recently except it has more antioxibeen shown to be moderdants. One combination with ately healthy, the mochas, white tea is dried orange, rose cappuccinos and other fluffy hip and cranberry. It makes for coffee drinks are not. Howa delicious fruit tea that wakes ever, there are some coffee up the senses. alternatives that can be made For anyone interested in at home, in a dorm room or a breaking into the tea world, Greek house microwave. it would be beneficial to Tea invest in either a teapot with All it takes is water and a strainer in it or a metal tea heat, plus a few minutes of infuser. It acts like a teabag, waiting for the tea to steep. but is reusable and specificalHowever, as a recovering ly meant for loose leaf teas. coffee-holic, it can be hard to Healthy energy avoid using the coffeepot for its intended purpose. A quick Red Bull seems to be the solution to this is buying an favorite for college students’ electric kettle or a stove-top energy after the suitable kettle, or just throwing out time for coffee drinking all the coffee in the cuphas passed, if there is such boards and be cursed at by a thing. However, like it or your roommates. not, energy drinks are rarely Of all the teas in the healthy for the consumer. known world, the kind most A few substitutions for a akin to coffee as far as caffeine Red Bull can be found in just content is green tea. Thankabout any convenience store fully, there are combinations in Moscow. Starbucks refreshof green tea for people who ers are one energy drink that don’t like green tea flavor. is actually okay for the body. It An extra potent combinais made from green coffee extion would be ginseng green tract, which is much healthier tea since ginseng is known to than black coffee. There are be a stimulant like caffeine. a lot of sugars and things in Other more tasty combinathese refreshers, but compared tions include chai, ginger and to their alternatives, they are

much healthier. Another simple energy drink is V8-VFusion Energy. Those actually use green tea as the energizer.

A quick walk through the Moscow Co-op will also throw out several healthier alternatives. There are several drinks with chia seeds in them which are like little bursts of energy

and nutrients and there is a whole cooler full of iced teas which cost about half of a coffee at Starbucks.

It is also possible, and very simple, to make homemade energy drinks. Green tea, cranberry juice, lime and ginseng extract can easily be combined to make energy drinks for the go.

For recovering coffee-holics, finding the right source of energy to finish the rest of the semester is hard, but easy substitutions are not hard to find. It just takes a little effort and a lot of self control.

Claire Whitley can be reached at crumbs@uidaho.edu

Rawr

Making records Claire Whitley rawr

Music is everywhere. It circulates through cars, it blares in eardrums and it even pesters customers at restaurants. Music arrives through a complicated process of creativity, writing and recording.

For Alex Black, recording equipment is the most important part. Money can only buy so much, Black said, but it can buy quality.

With the proper monitors or speakers, the right computer, a musical instrument digital interface (MIDI), a digital audio workstation (DAW) and an audio interface, a rough song track can be laid down right in a mere living room — which is exactly where Black makes his music.

Black is a singer, songwriter and guitarist for the Lewiston rock-and-roll band Homewreckr.

The band is producing its first extended play, or EP, which explains why Black works from his living room. The computer and speakers take up half a wall, with black boxes and flashing lights on a shelf. A wooden rack holds four guitars and three more stand up around the desk chair. Cords create a maze to walk through to approach an empty chair.

“This is the shit that makes this run,” Black said staring at his screen.

The most important piece of equipment amateur recorders need is a computer. Black said certain specifications required for a computer capable of recording cannot be found on most home computers. A powerful graphics card is unnecessary, but the amount of disposable RAM is important. Black continued with several specs just for the computer needed to record at home.

He mentioned the sizable speakers, which faced either side of his head. He called them studio monitors and said it was important these monitors didn’t act like headphones or regular speakers. Those clean up the sound, but studio monitors play the raw sound, emphasizing every flaw, Black said.

Black said these tracks are not for direct consumption by consumers, but for preproduction purposes. These tracks will go to an audio engineer who can adjust channels and volumes in a full recording studio. It will help the audio engineer familiarize the tracks, so the band can come in and play without having to spend half an hour trying to do sound checks.

Black lays down the bass line on his computer first to give him something to work from. The first and second guitar parts layer with the bass line. He then plays drums on little touch pads inlaid

into the MIDI keyboard. He plugs a purple electric guitar into his audio interface and begins working on a guitar solo in the middle of his song.

Different methods work for different people. Local celebrity Simba Tirima of Simba and the Exceptional Africans has a more tricked out way to record music than Black’s small desk in a living room. He remodeled his basement to make a full recording studio.

There are two vocal booths, a cubicle for the drums, a place for guitars and other instruments and a full, separate recording workstation. Tirima said he could record up to 16 channels on his workstation, but since drums take up half at any one time, this leaves little space for other instruments.

Tirima, unlike Black, has a specific philosophy when it comes to recording.

“There are three things you need in the middle,” Tirima said. “The kick drum, the snare and the lead vocals. Everything else you can spread right or left along (a) spectrum.”

Tirima said he spent much of his time reading about how humans perceive sound to understand what kinds of effects he could play with. If he wants a choir effect, he’ll add vocals all the way around or if he wants to make a drum sound further back in the room, he’ll create reverberations. With his DAW program ProTools, he can change the beat so everything hits exactly in time. He can move a snare hit that is nanoseconds off so it matches hit for hit with the kick drum.

When Tirima was attending the University of Idaho, he worked as a DJ at KUOI. Someone overheard him mixing his own beats, and Tirima started recording tracks with students and visiting musicians.

“I would always ask people why they want to record,” Tirima said. “And if they said they wanted to be famous, I’d send them elsewhere.”

He would only record for those people who want to share their music —, their emotions — with the world.

Tirima has since left recording behind him. He said he found himself fixing human flaws and inconsistencies so much, he felt like he was growing cynical of music.

Instead, he plays live at several local venues and tours around the Pacific Northwest area.

Meanwhile, Black has just begun his recording career. He hopes Homewreckr, with the help of his preproduction recording, can produce their first EP June 27 and break into the rock-and-roll scene.

Claire Whitley can be reached at arg-arts@uidaho.edu

9

Recording music is a philosophy

Amelia C. Warden | Rawr

Alexander Black demonstrates how he mixes music for his band Homewreckr Feb. 22. Alexander has a music recording setup at his home in Moscow.

The Argonaut

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3.27.15

Friday Fiction

The elf from Elswhyre Claire Whitley rawr

If you’re looking to visit the sky elves, you have to go to Avryware. Good luck finding a way up to those floating islands. What?

You’re here to visit us? Oh, I see.

Welcome to the Province of Elswhyre, home to the wood elves. Though, of all the places you could go in Elswhyre, why you chose to visit this tiny village of Aden is beyond me. If you were to just take a ride on horseback 50 miles in either direction you would see the capital cities of both Elswhyre and Gerere, land of the dwarves, the stingy little twerps.

And no, we don’t sing our trees into those houses and shops. We use axes and saws just like every other sentient being on the continent.

I suppose I should introduce myself. I am Oskar Rey Ceallach, like Sea-Latch, grandson of the great hero Trystram, and son to the yeoman Cahir. However, everyone I know just calls me Rey. It means red, see, and it draws attention to the fact that I’m different from all the other graceful elves.

Most of my kind have long flowing brown hair that shimmers in the sun. Yeah, mine isn’t brown.

It’s red. And I don’t mean dull red or natural, pretty red. I mean brilliant, obnoxious red that glows in the dark. To make matters worse, my eyes, instead of being a caring, deep brown color, are instead bright green. You could call it lime green, if you wanted. Anyway, I digress, you can just call me Rey. Over there is a pretentious know-it-all, goody-two-shoes. He’s Kamron the baker. Don’t ever ask him for the crusts or ends of bread free of charge. He will flip his top. I personally think this is stingy and ungrateful, especially to me since I saved his life once. A sky elf vigilante confused him for a dragon thief a few years back. I still have the scars from a run in with his mount.

But let’s talk about you. You’re here about the rumor, aren’t you?

Please don’t play dumb with me.

You know what rumor I’m talking about. The one about the Draygone Prophecy. It claims two “brothers” are going to battle to rule the continent. One seeks to claim it and the skies for his own and the other just wants to protect the land.

Well, I’ll tell you right now, I’m not the rory in the prophecy.

What does rory mean? Red King. Which is not me, so don’t look at me like that.

There is, however, a sky elf who might be the one trying to take over the world. I can’t recall his name … Ryder? No, not anything cool like that, though I hear his dragon, a little black Silver Tail, is named Ryder. Pretty puntastic, if you ask me.

Doug! That’s the elf’s name! Doug.

I’d watch out for him, he sounds dark and serious … Doug the Dark Lord.

It sounds ridiculous. I hope he decides to change it before taking over the continent. I certainly wouldn’t take him seriously with a name like Doug. I mean, imagine being on the battlefield waiting for the first arrow to sail through the air only to find out the commanding general of the opposing army is named Doug. I would double over laughing right there.

Oh, is that the time? Already?

Look, I have to run. My father needs me to deliver an important package to Reme Balde in Gerere, and I still have to saddle up my horse, get my bow and quiver ready, as well as find the other half of my twin swords.

If you want, I could find someone to take you around.

No? Alright. Keep your nose clean!

Oh, and if you see an irritated dwarf meandering through the streets looking for me, tell him I’m gone for the week. He has a ruddy face and clean shaved, like most dwarves, with long blond hair.

See you.

Danlin Li | Rawr

Rawr

y a d Fri ids acto

F

The Beatles have sold more records than Bob Marley, Tupac Shakur, Nirvana, the Beach Boys and Kanye West combined by over 30 million units.

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A zoo in Japan has tiny holes in the otter enclosure, allowing people who visit the zoo to shake hands with the otters.

Gibber

The first animal to ask an existential question was a parrot named Alex. He asked what color he was and learned he was gray.

1. To speak inarticulately or meaninglessly

A single bottle of Billionaire vodka costs $3.75 million. It is filtered through sand made from crushed diamonds and gems.

Example: The student gibbered through his entire presentation.

A group of pandas is called an embarrassment.

D R WO K

When female servers draw a happy face on the bill, their tips increase by 20 percent.

The probability of you being born was about one in 400 trillion.

From wtffacts.com

E E W

The Colossally Amazing Adventures of Norbert (and Friends) by Samantha Brownell Ugh...

Wait, does that mean it’s that season again?

Hang in there, Sammy. We’re 3/4 the way through the school year.

Yeeessss..................

GIRL SCOUT COOKIE SEASON!!!!!!

Rawr

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3.27.15

Welcome to the University of Idaho future Vandals!

Check out the Idaho Commons & Bruce Pitman Center during your stay.

Idaho Commons: 885 . 2667 info@uidaho.edu

Bruce Pitman Center: 885 . 4636 www.sub.uidaho.edu