The Beat: Field Guide (March 2022)

Take a breath!

Smell that car exhaust infused air that makes Comm Ave so special.

Look up! You might catch a glimpse of a family of fat little house sparrows, or a swarm of european starlings. Every now and then, you might spot a red-tailed hawk, who will act like you do not exist. We hope you enjoy rifling through the pages of our very own Field Guide; perhaps enjoy it on a walk down the esplanade, or on a sunny day lounging at the BU beach.

This month, you could also take a gander at one of Massachusetts’ many scenic areas. There are a few which are easily accessible via the T, like Rockport, Nantasket Beach, and even parts of Cape Cod. Plum Island in the northshore is a particular favorite of mine - you can spend the day on the beach, or birdwatching and sightseeing inland.

If you’re feeling particularly eco-friendly, you could also check out our digital publication at issuu.com/thebeatofboston or on the wtbu website (sites.bu.edu/wtbu).

Wishing you a wonderful March,

The Flower Called Nowhere - Stereolab bouquet - Ichiko Aoba Palm - Margeaux The Bug Collector - Haley Heynderickx Honeybee - The Head and the Heart Moonsea - Frankie Cosmos Heading for the Door - Duster Need 2 - Pinegrove Be Your Own Muse - Haley Blais Fruitflies - Gabriel Garzon-Montano Look at the Sky - Porter Robinson Cool an’ Green an’ Shady - John Denver Our Day Will Come - Mort Garson What Am I To You - Norah Jones There is a Mountain - Donovan Clay Pigeons - Michael Cera Preserven El Parque Elysian - Pete Seeger Cattails - Big Thief 1904 - The Tallest Man on Earth Time Flies - Raveena Come Along - Cosmo Sheldrake Don’t You Worry - Oh Wonder Bemyself - Parcels Family and Genus - Shakey Graves Soldier, Poet, King - The Oh Hellos

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

8 -knuckle puck/ hot mulligan @ big night live 7PM

2 -aoife o’donovan @ the sinclair 8PM 9 -dino gala/ten pound snail @ o’brien’s 9PM *

15 -house plants/ reggie pearl @ the rockwell 7PM

16 -fallfiftyfeet/ zombieshark! @ the rockwell 7PM

1 -mustard service @ the middle east 9PM 6 -hippo campus @ house of blues 7PM 13 -well wisher @ o’brien’s 9PM *

7 -pet fox/ string machine/old soul @ o’brien’s 9PM *

14 -badbadnotgood @ royale boston 8PM

20 21 22 -gollylag- -mitski @ -relient k/ ging/the roadrunner 8PM semler @ parafairview @ dise rock club o’brien’s 6PM 9PM * 27 -bubblegum octopus @ pelvic floor **

28 -joan/the wldlfe @ brighton music hall 7PM

29 -escape from the zoo @ crystal ballroom 8PM

23 -strange ranger/bedbug @ o’brien’s 9PM *

30 -marquis lavoie @ the rockwell 7PM

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

4 -moral crema @ pelvic floor

5 -the roots project @ pelvic floor 5 PM **

10 n -half alive @ royale boston 7PM

11 -vim/slimeater/ ice cream orphan @ pelvic floor **

12 -inhaler/junior mesa @ royale boston 6:30PM

17 / -conan gray @ @ orpheum theatre 8PM

18 -girl in red @ paradise rock club 7PM

19 -trash rabbit/ski club (spoons!)/tiberius @ o’brien’s 9PM *

25 -theworst/a deer a horse/luxury deathtrap @ o’brien’s 9PM *

26 -bleachers @ roadrunner 7:30PM -car seat headrest @ house of blues 6:30

3 -razor braids/ black beach @ brinstar **

24 -naked giants/ sorry mom @ brighton music hall 7PM

31 -twam @ hard rock cafe 8PM

* = 21+ ** = dm artist for address

As you flip through the pages of your WTBU “field guide,” you may feel inspired to go exploring in the open country. Before you embark on your no doubt wellplanned scenic drive with a playlist of songs you already enjoy, I’d love to point you in the direction of William Tyler.

If you’re looking to get into William Tyler, I would suggest starting with his 2016 album “Modern Country” (again, not the country music you are picturing), and then moving to his latest record with Marisa Anderson, “Lost Futures.” The two artists combine sounds on this album to form a Very few musicians working today record that is a little darkcapture the spirit of road trip er and heavier in tone. Lastly, Americana in the way William Ty- check out “Goes West,” a strikler does. His soft percussion ingly bright album that is sure wrapped in blissful guitar mel- to lift your spirits withb its odies evokes the feeling of sun- opening track sets and pale mountains in the “Alpine Star.” distance.

With past experiences composI don’t like describing too many ing for movies, William Tyler’s musicians as “country”— not be- multi-instrumental soundscapes cause of genre inaccuracy, but are perfect for generating a because the word unfortunately few cinematic experiences of carries a lot of negative conno- your own. As the world warms up tations for the average college again, we at The Beat wish you student. William Tyler could be happy travels out on the open considered a country instrumen- road. talist, but I want you to forget any images of stadium-strutting millionaires singing about beer for a second.

Coming out of the Nashville music scene, his measured guitar riffs are similar to the softrock backings of a Grateful Dead song, but perhaps with a more modern edge. If you’ve enjoyed any work by his more-famous contemporary Kruangbin, you would likely find Tyler to be a fitting comparison— a less funky, but equally psychedelic listening experience.

<3 maxwell pociask

“Warm earth music for plants and the people who love them,” is the tagline for Mort Garson’s 1976 instrumental synth record.

Mother Earth’s Plantasia was produced for the enjoyment of growing plants, but can easily find a home in your music library. Drawing from Garson’s previous work in classical and jazz arrangement, Plantasia is a wonderfully soothing addition to the college student’s ever-expanding repertoire of study music.

A pioneer of electronic music, Garson opted to compose the album entirely on Moog synthesizers, giving the record sound similar to an old video game soundtrack. You might expect only using one instrument would make all the tracks sound exactly the same, but Garson gets surprisingly creative with his synth programming. Concerto for Philodendron & Pothos, for example, ends with a beautiful, almost bubbling sound of rising harmonies.

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The album’s self-titled opening track is by far its most energetic, while the following compositions fall into a swing of much more delicate melodies. Each tune is named after commonly cared for house plants, with my personal favorites being Swingin’ Spathiphyllums and Ode to an African Violet. The latter of the two is probably the darkest sounding song on the record– Garson employs a low drum pattern which drives the tender bassline at the crux of the song.

My only regret with Plantasia is its unfortunately weak ending. I was expecting a more grand, orchestral finale, but the last song seems to run out of breath, leaving on a somewhat unsatisfying note.

At only 31 minutes, Mother Earth’s Plantasia is an adorably compact collection of synth music. Whether you are looking for music to improve your study habits or the mood of your little green roommates, you’ll find something pleasantly useful.

<3 maxwell pociask

The Main Era is a band comprised of two BU Engineering students, Garrett Greaves and Willie Swift.

Keep your eyes peeled for their new single, “Not That Nice” which will be dropping on March 15!

VB: How long have you guys been playing together? What are some of your musical influences?

WS: We have pretty strangely parallel musical backgrounds, where we both kind of were introduced to playing music through like classical instruments at an early age. I think both of us just always really loved music. I think my earliest like, influences are probably like, more like, The Beatles and Aerosmith and KISS and like a lot of hard rock, and Nirvana and grunge. And then one day, I met Garrett, and Garrett was at that time working on his first single, and it was a more serious song that like, actually had some meaning behind it. And I was very, very inspired by that... I think both of us were kind of in a place right now at the moment where we had stuff to say. And then eventually, I think it was inevitable that we would start writing stuff together.

GG: We started just making music as a joke, but it actually turned out to be really fun. We just had a good time doing it. So then we were like, ‘Okay, let’s maybe try something for real.’ And then one of the first few original sessions that we did turned out to be Concrete Walls, which is pretty cool.

Follow ur boys @themainera on instagram

VB: So, let’s talk about Concrete Walls. It’s the title track of your album, and it’s really good in my opinion. How long did you guys work on that song?

WS: That song was like a couple months right?

GG: Yeah, it was a difficult one to arrange.

WS: We have some songs that we write in a day or two and then that’s pretty much it, and then we have other stuff like Concrete Walls which was something that we just could never figure out how to fully piece together.

GG: Yeah, totally, but I was really happy with how that one turned out.

VB: Talk to me about your songwriting process. How do you come up with the stuff you write?

GG: What will usually happen is someone will come up with one verse or a hook or something. And it’ll have some sort of lyrical inclination, and they’ll be like, “Okay, so what’s this about?” and the other person will try to match that vibe. And sometimes it’s a complete mishmash. Usually, big romantic garbage, stuff in that area. But then the other person will kind of be like, “okay, cool. I can add to that.”

VB: What are some of the challenges you guys have faced trying to write music while keeping up with everything you do as students?

WS: We’re both we’re both engineers, and we’re also both RAS as well. So we just have a lot of other stuff that’s going on at the same time. It’s kind of just like trying to find trying to find these moments in the week where we can sit down and work on a song or usually we rehearse on Thursdays. Or whenever we can, especially for some of the live stuff that we’re working on. It’s just like these little moments throughout the day.

<3 vanessa bartlett

Daffodils: hailed as the adorable heralds of the coming springtime, these flowers are one of the first to bloom in the early spring for the Boston area. Daffodils usually line the course for the Boston Marathon, which normally takes place on the third Monday in April. These flowers come in yellow and white petaled varieties.

Columbine: The red version of this flower, Aquilegia canadensis, is native to the Massachusetts area. Their common name comes from the Latin word for “dove,” which may seem random until you look at how the flowers look flocked together (like little doves, beak to beak!).

Crocuses: This flower is a member of the iris family, and has been cherished by many cultures for being the source of saffron. Their stems grow underground, which allows for the beautiful purple flowers to be extra showy.

Cherry Blossoms: Lest we forget, trees start getting pretty in the spring time too! For beautiful springtime walks, The Charles River Esplanade is the way to go.

<3 Nairi Kalpakian

Facilities hates women: a haiku Leak in our bathroom Ceiling. Facilities says It’s shower steam. Lies.

Facilities hates women: a limerick (you have to read the haiku for context) they’d fix the leak if we were men Not just say “keep the window open” But oh our ceiling continues peeling Until we call them again I got an answer wrong in discussion and I cried.

Participation Points are important But what about pride?

The true meaning of hockey I didn’t go to BeanPot but I hope both teams Had fun with the beans.

Boston University’s College of Arts and Sciences I’m a sociolOgy major which is to Say society* *alternative endings: - Intersection - Duality - Institutions - Hegemony <3 michaela patriacca

Steep and rocky trails Lead us to the mountaintop Let us find our way Mt. Washington winds Threaten to blow me away I welcome them still Cattails standing tall Cold river overflowing Grass tickles my soles The tree canopy Keeps me cool while I lie here Counting strange insects

<3 natalia vega

From Brookline, MA, 20 year old Nectarine Girl describes herself as an emotional person. Their new album “Is This the Light” is a personal and all encompassing ode to their emotions, the good, the bad, and the weird.

RN: What influences your music?

NG: I’m a very emotional person. My emotions are kind of like the compass of my life so everything I do is based on how I’m feeling because usually what I’m feeling is pretty intense. It’s not always super constructive and productive and functional to have such extreme emotions all the time so music has helped me process the things I was feeling and so instead of just feeling it I can create something from that.I have always kind of needed it.

RN: How do you feel about your latest album and what you are currently working on?

NG: I feel really good about it. I feel really happy that I have a body of work out, finally, and I have something to point to like, ‘hey this is something I created, these are my songs, this is who I am as an artist.’ It’s very fulfilling. I am currently planning my next EP, I’m in the middle of working on that. I have one foot in the past and one foot in the future.

RN: What’s your favorite thing about being a musician?

NG: My favorite part about being a musician would probably be making the music.

Hearing one chord that I like and being like ‘oh man I can see this going somewhere.’ Writing something and being completely unconscious while I’m writing it and going back and editing and producing it and being able to make a song about a feeling come to life. Making this thing immersive and saturated and sonically engaging as possible. Trying to paint a picture with a song and with sound is definitely one of the best parts of being a musician.

It’s so much fun.

RN: What do you want people to take away from your music?

NG: What I want people to get from my music, I guess would be that it’s okay to be a little weird and that it’s okay to be yourself. I think a lot of my songs I speak completely and honestly and everything that I say in my songs is real and it has happened to me. Not everything is super gorgeous or super sad or poetic everything is complicated and multifaceted there’s a lot of emotion going into one thing and not everything has to be cookie cutter perfect. follow @nectarine. girl on instagram & check her out on spotify !! <3 rachel nguyen

Tom Waits And Phoebe: Adopt Me? There is a lot left unsaid. The silence that hangs in the midst of an awkward conversation.

Talking to someone but not really talking to them (not the way you thought you would, at least).

Something that wasn’t supposed to pass through lips and was meant to be unsaid, but instead had been choked up in a moment of hurt. Wanting to say more but not wanting to sound utterly insane.

What are we supposed to do with the words we mean to say, but instead put away for safekeeping? As someone who is very familiar with this feeling and ponders this question more than I do the readings assigned to me by my public policy professor, I am not sure I have an exact answer, but I do have some theories.

In many points throughout my own life, I have found myself in moments of wanting to say more but leaving the air dry instead. During instances like this, I have turned towards my go-to comfort outlet: music. When I was younger it was Hannah Montana and Demi Lovato. Today I find myself alone in a room with my unsaid words, Phoebe Bridgers, and Tom Waits. To say that I depend on their music for a part of my well-being would be an understatement. As musical artists, they have shared a part of themselves in their music and provided many people, like myself, with a certain level of comfort that has been seemingly unattainable in other aspects of life.

When talking about the complexities of certain feelings with close friends, a common factor consistently comes into play: music as a means of comfort. Music is known to boost moods and in many ways, provide feelings of contentment. Certain neuropathways in our brains associate music with both positive and negative moments in our lives. Recent studies also show the positive impact music has on mental health. This must mean that music holds some importance in people’s lives in some way or another. Whether it is to socialize with friends or to confront intricate feelings alone with a heavy heart, music may play its part.

There are many ways in which music can implement itself into daily routines, but I believe music remains to be a bridge for solace and understanding of one’s feelings. Music is a beautiful way to create a space for comfort and connection. And if so many people are listening to and creating music, who’s to say that it is not as a means of comfort?

Ultimately, I am certainly not a statistician being that I am a sociology major, but I am fairly confident when I say that music can be a means of comfort and understanding of one’s feelings. When all of the world feels stripped bare and feelings are too big and too raw for our liking, there is always someone like Phoebe or Tom who will provide the space to feel such things in a relatively safe way (compared to alternative outlets). <3 marisol barcelata

Ingredients: 1 package (¼) active dry yeast 3-1/2 cups warm water (110° to 115°), divided 7 to 8 cups bread flour, divided 1/4 cup nonfat dry milk powder 2 tablespoons butter, melted 2 tablespoons sugar 2 teaspoons salt Cornmeal Directions: 1. In a 4-qt. bowl, dissolve yeast in 2 cups warm water; let stand 5 minutes. Stir in 2 cups flour until smooth. Cover loosely with a towel.

Let stand in a warm place (80°to 90°) to ferment for 48 hours; do not stir. (The mixture will become bubbly and rise, have a “yeasty” sour aroma and change color from transparent yellow to gray over after 48 hours).

2. Stir in milk powder, butter, sugar, salt, remaining water and enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. (Do not knead.) Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/2 hours.

3. Heavily grease baking sheets and sprinkle with cornmeal. Gently punch dough down. Turn onto a well-floured surface; divide in half.

4. With floured hands, gently move the dough in a circular motion. Use friction from the counter to stretch the surface and create a smooth top and round loaf. Quickly and gently transfer to prepared pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375°.

5. With a sharp knife, make three diagonal slashes across tops of loaves. Immediately bake 10 minutes. Gently brush or spray loaves with cold water; bake 25-35 minutes longer or until golden brown. <3 nicole levitsky

made from more time Boys

This freezing winter in Boston has only me realize how much I miss the warmth back home in Florida, and nothing hurts than realizing winter is not ending anysoon. However, when you put The Polar on, you get a kiss of summer in your ears with those soft, cloudy melodies mixed with some indie rock blues with a touch of airy vocals. Their music makes you feel like you can escape in a coming of age movie. It feels like you are cruising down the beach in the 1960s with music blasting and no thoughts but to dance.

Clearly inspired by bands like the Beatles and Bee Gees, with a strong hip-hop and jazz influence, this Miami based band has been making amazing tunes since 2017 on Soundcloud, and has recently moved onto streaming platforms. They have a consistent, beachy, chill, and groovy sound that evolves every year. It is clear with songs like “Black

Dog” and “Food for my Thoughts” their deeper, bassy soundscape can make you groove and sway whereas their addicting lyrics can make you cry and yearn for a partner you have never had. Comparatively, songs like “Kendall Drive” and “After Breakfast” are just about having fun, dressed in smiles, getting off your feet with upbeat, jittery guitar riffs, and doo-wop feeling vocals. Let’s just say that the Polar Boys know the definition of range.

Although they really have that 60s rock feel, they have their modern touch of Gen Z. They have an active Youtube Channel where they vlog and are very interactive with their fan base. Seeing them live myself, these boys clearly know what stage presence is. They are so confident(borderline chaotic when performing), that it sometimes doesn’t even match their soft sounds, but they know how to get a crowd moving with their charm, amazing live vocals, and cool visuals. Their colorful vibe and sounds match their colorful hometown, and they will definitely warm up your ears this month.

<3 jasmine allen

Ladybug: • Astrology girly • Humanities major by day, pink whitney shooter by night • Flowy skirt collection to end all flowy skirt collections

Butterfly: • People pleaser • Has been keeping up with the latest TikTok trends to be relevant • Wants someone to take them on a date for once Dragonfly: • Probably a scorpio • Tall energy but definitely 5’6” tops • 2014 tumblr middle schooler turned cool kid

Inchworm: • Always just a little bit sticky • Just took up crocheting • Actually very good at staying hydrated

Roly-Poly: • Has been playing minecraft since they were 8 • Shy, but friendly • Listens to Phoebe Bridger’s Scott Street on repeat

Caterpillar: • Constantly rebranding, refuses to peak • publicly hufflepuff • Needs new socks

Luna moth: • Conan Gray’s heather in bug-form • Has a skincare routine even on the weekends • Great on paper but it’s all a front. They will never let you in. Inchworm may be sticky but at least they’re genuine

Honeybee: • Low-key a capitalist • Uses buzzwords to justify their toxic traits • Is the angry-butwill-bring-you-food friend when you get dumped <3 mari and michaela

As Spring Break comes and goes, we’re all used to hearing stories of our peers traveling to the usual suspects: Florida, the Dominican Republic, California, maybe even across the pond to Italy or Spain, if they’re lucky. But what if someone told you they were taking a trip to Pitcairn Island? What about Svalbard? Would you understand if they said they were taking a week off in Howland Island? Odds are you’ve never heard of these places, and as you’ve probably assumed, they’re incredibly difficult to get to. So, if you need to get away from blustery Comm Ave, the podcast Extremities by Wendover Productions is for you. Featuring three six-episode seasons and one special episode, the series takes listeners to the, well, extremities of the world, interviewing the locals, and providing an audio-only tour of these serene, desolate, and often somewhat whimsical communities. These towns, populated by anywhere from a few dozen to just over two thousand residents, feature pizzerias in residential kitchens, road signs warning not to leave town without a shotgun (should you run into a wandering polar bear), and international airports with just four flights a week. Providing both the nitty-gritty details and broad overarching histories of these easy-to-forget settlements, Extremities is a virtual vacation in the truest sense. Some visits truly seem like trips to any old town, such as in Longyearbyen, where you’d easily be able to find a shopping mall, university, and hospital in its modern downtown. That is until you realize you’re in the Arctic Ocean on a desolate island, with snowmobiles as the primary mode of transport and a law preventing you from dying there (no, I’m not joking, listen to the podcast). <3 toby pannone

<3 jasmine allen & nicole levitsky ARIES: You are Bank on the Funeral by Matt Maeson. This month is all about spending more quality time with your friends and loved ones. It might be time to explore new places outside of your comfort zone for fun and inspiration. You need a new space to explore yourself and your creativity because we all know how easily bored you get.

Try and take a mini adventure (like a road trip) this month and get away from your responsibilities! Be your spontaneous self!

GEMINI: You are Friends that Break Your Heart by James Blake. this month some random opportunities will come your way that may be enticing at first but don’t be so quick to jump the gun this month. Be more thoughtful in your actions instead of acting with your impulsivity, but don’t overthink!

You may need to help out a friend this month financially or emotionally, but be more cautious of being emotionally invested and so giving.

TAURUS: You are Fly or Die

By N.E.R.D. Your focus is to be more grounded and organized with your academics so you don’t feel so behind and feel more secure with your grades.

You might have some changes in your career and income that might make you feel weird but try to be more accepting of changes coming your way, especially changes with friends and loved ones. Stop being so headstrong, for once!

CANCER: You are The Story of Hugo by Jawny. this month may bring anxiety and challenges. You may face difficult people in your circle or work, and you will have some disagreement with a friend or loved one which may change your life drastically. All these changes happen because they are meant to.

Learn to be more confident in your words and embrace your empathy this month!

LEO: You are Dirty Computer

by Janelle Monae. This month you’re going to have too much stuff on your mind with responsibilities and relationships.

We get it you love being a social butterfly, but you can’t neglect your responsibilities!

You need to have balance with all that passion you share.

Learn to balance your social and school/work life! Remember to take some alone time here and there and don’t overstimulate yourself.

VIRGO: You are Now, Not Yet by half • alive. This month you’re going to need to let go of that routine. We get it you love consistency, but it might be worth your while to switch it up sometimes. And also it’s time for you to branch out of your comfort zone and circle.

Eat somewhere new. Join a new club. Make a new friend. It’s just time to try something new, who knows if you’re not too judgemental you may even like it.

LIBRA: You are Valentine by Snail Mail. It’s time for you to finally ask out that certain someone you have had your eyes on. I know you can be indecisive, but this decision is definitely something you won’t regret.

Go out and have fun!

SCORPIO: You are Home for Now by Babeheaven.

This month you are encouraged to stay in and spend some time alone. You may have been going out quite a bit and that may have caused you to lose track of your goals. Stay in and enjoy your own company this month!

SAGITTARIUS: You are Honey Bones by DOPE LEMON. Have you been overwhelmed with a bunch of work lately? This month you are encouraged to fix your schedule and find some time to relax. Drink some tea, journal your thoughts away, and clear your mind this month.

CAPRICORN: You are Singles by Future Islands.

Have you wanted to check out that local concert recently but have no one to go with? Well, this month Capricorn, you are encouraged to embrace being alone and do more things by yourself. Put yourself first and don’t wait for anyone this month!

AQUARIUS: You are Rather Ripped by Sonic Youth.

Have you been distancing yourself from most people lately? Maybe it’s something in the air, or maybe it’s just your love for independence, but it’s time to get some socializing in! Reach out to your friends and plan something fun this month, Aquarius.

PISCES: You are Caprisongs

by FKA Twigs. This month is about owning all things Pisces about you. Let that imagination flow and creativity rise. Own your sexuality and fashion. Be unapologetic in your words and expressions. However, focus on finding that balance between reality and the world in your head. I know you feel safe in your own little world, but try to find that safe and comfort in the real world.

CONTENT GENIUSES Annika Morris Jasmine Allen Nairi Kalpakian Maxwell Posciask Maddie Hain Mari Barcelata Michaela Patriacca Nat Vega-Munguia Nicole Levitsky Toby Pannone Vanessa Bartlett GRAPHICS GURUS Anna Le Isa Soto James Buckser Sophia Gaunt Michaela Patriacca Mari Barcelata Nicole Levitsky Nat Vega-Munguia Nat Williams Vanessa Bartlett LAYOUT LEGENDS Jasmine Allen Madeline Hain Mari Barcelata Maxwell Posciask Michaela Patriacca Nicole Levitsky Vanessa Bartlett

EDITOR SQUAD Editor in chief: Vanessa Bartlett Managing editor: Nicole Levitsky Content editor: Mari Barcelata Graphics Editor: Nat Vega-Munguia Social Media Coordinator: Michaela Patriacca COVER CREATOR Sophia Hebert FULL PAGE DESIGN Anna Le Get in touch with us at thebeat.wtbu@gmail.com or insta @thebeatwtbu

<3 the beat