[Fall '22] The Basement - Issue #3

Titan Radio The Basement

Staff Zine Team Coordinator Jack Pruitt

David Olivares Writers

Andrew Torres Brandon Walkley David Olivares Jack Pruitt Megan Teeling Mayra Martinez Artists Bashar Talib Jasmeen Holder Erykah (Ten) Edora Lauren Sharp Megan Teeling Sirena Salas Guest Designer Nireeksha Gandhi

Alena Newland Ariana Nava Bashar Talib Emily Frank Joshua Castelo Natalie Brunjes Sydney Ynzuzna

I joined Titan Radio for various reasons. I wanted to make up for lost time being stuck at home during the pandemic semesters when all in-person happenings were pretty much non-existent. I wanted to showcase my turntable skills I’ve been building up on some sort of platform. I wanted a place where I can find personal growth, and maybe get out of my comfort zone. I wanted a place to stay on campus, a hangout spot to go to no matter what happens. I wanted to finally live my college life. I wanted a community. When I found out about the station around Fall ‘21, I knew I wanted to be involved with this place as much as possible. I wished to be a part of the station so badly, and I got what I wanted. Was it worth it? Absolutely.

This zine is a team effort of longstanding TR members alongside new blood, each of us pooling in our collective energy into this wonderful piece of work. Being in charge of designing this zine was quite a daunting challenge, but also one where I let my creativity run wild. When I took the reins with this project, I was surprised how far I went.

This past year, I’ve felt very, very lucky and blessed to have been at the station. This semester, it felt like I pulled all the aces getting to where I am right now. Through numerous coincidences and circumstances, I’m hard-pressed to not believe that destiny maaaaybe might be at play. Maybe.

There’s been moments of being genuinely challenged and pushed to my limits, but the bumps on the road don’t mean much when you have people you can trust along the ride. Sh*t’s been tough this semester for everybody, but we’re still rolling on and rolling strong. That being said, I completed pretty much the entirety of this zine at the station, on the right-most Mac that has a broken up arrow on the keyboard and half-functioning scroll wheel. I worked my ass off on this zine. Honestly, this was my real final, haha.

Thanks to all our amazing staff and our awesome DJs this semester for making TR a truly special place and for trusting me with this project. A special thanks to the past staff of Titan Radio, who started this zine series back in Spring 2021. And most importantly, thanks to you, the reader, for dealing with my sentimental spiel this early in the zine.

Now, let’s begin.

Life, letters, love forever, David Olivares

Pictures by Jack and Dave. Art by Dave and Bashar. + Erykah’s self-portrait

What's a must-have item in your wardrobe, and why?

Emily

My lanyard! It holds my keys and makes me look flashy!

David

my orange beanie. I don't have a head for many accessories except beanies, and it's kinda a statement piece. People tend to talk about it when I wear it!

scorpion necklace, because I'm a Scorpio

Andrew

My Seiko 5 Automatic wristwatch been with me almost everywhere since 2018, including all concerts I’ve been to.

Meg

My jewelry - They add character to even the most boring outfits!

my doc martens, because they have character and they're versatile for any outfit.

Ari and they make me look gay.

Mayra

SUNGLASSES! That’s my staple, not only will you be protecting your eyes from harsh UV rays, you’ll be protecting your eyes from having to hold a conversation with someone as you're walking from one place to another. Bold black sunglasses are so hot and intimidating and can make your outfit look so cool.

Josh

. You slip

Hella lit basic black boots. Theyre cool. It makes me stand like a person who knows what they’re doing.

Nikscrunchie: a good scrunchie ties together any outfit, it’s functional and fashionable and comes in a variety of colors and textures. There’s a scrunchie for every occasion!

. It's a must have because its warm and cozy and gives off the Scottish grandpa vibes

! i really didn't need for them to be platform, but i was gifted them for christmas after wanting a pair since i was in high school. i wear them maybe 3 or 4 times a week and i'll literally change my outfit if it gives me an excuse to wear them. i like how formal they look but how they can be worn in an everyday fashion.

Justin BieberFeb 18, 2022 @ Pechanga Arena

The first show back from Covid sure wasn’t one to disappoint. Justin Bieber was performing his very first show of the Justice World Tour in sunny San Diego at the Pechanga Arena. Eddie Benjamin and ¿Téo? were also openers for Bieber who brought Latin RnB vibes. Jaden Smith was such a crowd-pleasing opener that had a ton of pyrotechnics and lights to keep the crowd engaged. Smith performed his popular song “Icon” last to leave the crowd wanting more. Bieber started the show by landing on the stage in an inflated airplane that suspended him in the air during the duration of the opening song “Somebody.” Bieber played a mix of old goodies and new songs from his current album Justice. Between the fireworks and the light production, Bieber put on a show that started my 2022 o the right way. Rate: 9/10

Bad Bunny - February 23, 2022 @ Pechanga Arena

Billie Eilish - Apr 8, 2022 @ Kia Forum

In early April I had the pleasure of seeing Billie Eilish perform for her Happier Than Ever: World Tour. This tour was highly anticipated since it was previously postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions. I was able to see her on night 2 and I did anything I had to do in order to be front row for the show. I camped out for a day and a half in the streets of Inglewood since this was going to be my first time ever seeing Eilish perform live. I’ve been a huge fan of Eilish since her first EP but never really had the opportunity or money to see her live previously. Eilish brought an immense amount of energy to the stage and kept the audience engaged with short talking segments. She performed some of her classic songs like “Ocean Eyes” and “Bellyache” from her earlier releases. Her encore being one of the most popular songs in her entire discography, “Happier Than Ever” was the best showstopper I have seen in a while. An electrifying pyrotechnic show was displayed as confe i fell from the ceiling. I have never cried at a show but watching someone as lively on stage as she was a DREAM. Rate 11/10

Beabadoobee - Apr 25, 2022 @ Glasshouse

Pomona

Li le did I know that this artist was soon going to be one of my favorite artists of this year. Beabadoobee put on such a killer show with her live band. I feel like I should mention that before I went to this show I really only knew a couple of her songs but when I le the show I fell in love with her sound. I ended up meeting some of my friends there who introduced me to her and I really was able to experience the show from a new perspective. The Glasshouse Pomona has also become one of my favorite venues in the area because of how intimate the show feels. I had barricade for this show and the only thing I would complain about is the lighting would sometimes get in the way of Bea’s performance. Overall, I really enjoyed this show and the setlist is what overall drew me to become a fan. Rate 8.5/10

My second show of the year was Bad Bunny’s Ultimo Tour del Mundo at the Pechanga Arena 5 days later than the Justin show. I had lower bowl seats for this show which meant I could actually sit back and relax before the show started. Bad Bunny had no opener for this show which was kinda upse ing, but I’m afraid no one was prepared for the show he was about to put on. The show starts with him riding on top of a semi-truck that was somehow wheeled into the arena. Bad Bunny was greeted by screaming fans who sang along to the best hits from his last album. The dancers really added a fire element to the show and did a good job of interacting with fans. Benito’s pyrotechnics and light production, similar to Justin, was phenomenal. Would definitely go to another show of his due to his on-stage energy ALONE. Rate 10/10

were

Olivia Rodrigo - May 18, 2022 @ Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

As much as I loved this performance everything leading up to it was a complete mess. Everyone including me was excited about Rodrigo’s performance because she was this upcoming artist who wrote these great break-up songs, so when I heard people were camping outside the venue the night before the show I wasn't surprised. What did surprise me though was how unorganized the sta was when it came to organizing the line. I wasn't gonna camp for the show even though I had a GA ticket because I drove down late the night before and was exhausted. When I arrived around 12 pm for the show I was greeted by the most unpleasant and unorganized line I have ever seen in my life. No barricades were put up, there was no way to find where the end is without asking a bunch of fans because the security at the venue was no help. Closer to when the line was supposed to be let in, the whole line merged so people ended up cu ing and I almost felt bad for the people who camped out. Rodrigo did perform a great performance on top of having an excellent opening performance from Holly Humberstone. One memorable moment I had was meeting up with several of my closest friends inside the venue and being able to scream the words from “Favorite Crime” with them. Rate 7.5/10

Lauren Sanderson - May 25, 2022 @ El Rey Theatre

This was my 21st birthday show, and it was one I won’t ever forget. I don’t know if it was the fact that I met Tyler Posey from one of my favorite TV shows, or the fact that Sanderson sang happy birthday to me and gave me the honorary setlist for the show. Sanderson always puts on a lively show and her band really accompanies her in such a beautiful way. I wish more people almost knew more about her, because she deserves more recognition in LA 100%. She played some of my favorite songs and even did an unreleased acoustic rendition of a song she was going to release soon. I’m hoping to see her again in December when she will be playing at the Troubadour.

Rate 9/10

Andrea Russe - August 5, 2022 @ Brooklyn Bowl

This show was very special for me because I flew all the way to Nashville to see one of my closest friends perform for a huge crowd. I remember telling all my friends who also knew her, and it was going to be the biggest surprise for Andrea because she had no idea. A fun fact about this show in Nashville was that the venue is also a bowling alley. I found this to be a li le peculiar, but later found out it’s quite common in Nashville. When I finally found Andrea, her eyes lit up on stage. I remember her posting on Twi er how nervous she was to perform for the first time, and when we locked eyes, all those nerves seemed to vanish. Her set was sorta short since she was an opener, but the moment she covered “I Kissed A Girl”, the crowd went crazy. A er her set, me and my friends decided to get drinks from the bar and just walk around the venue until the main act, Jacob Whitesides went on. It was such a fun night that I won't forget and would do it all over again if I could.

Rate 9/10

Sabrina Carpenter - Oct 13, 2022 @ The Observatory North Park

“It’s times like these wish I had a time machine, so I could see what you did October 13th.” Well, I know where I was…and let me tell you, this was such a fun show to a end! I don’t know if it was the crowd or Sabrina’s stage presence, but I would go back if I could. The set on stage was the pre iest light-up heart that surrounded the center of the stage and flashed di erent colors for each song. My favorite part of the show was a segment Sabrina does specifically for each touring location during her song “Nonsense.” During this segment, she does a di erent song intro dedicated to each city. The fun part of this is that one of the lines she tries to rhyme with is a li le bit raunchy. I haven’t been a HUGE fan of pop music recently, but there is something about her sound that reminds me of Ariana Grande. Rate 9.5/10

Omar Apollo - Oct 19, 2022 @ House of Blues Anaheim

Only having six days to recover from Sabrina’s show was not enough - first o , for my voice and second, for my sanity. I was super lucky to get these tickets from my close friend Cameron Macedonio who is the General Manager of Titan Radio and a HUGEEEE Omar fan like me. This show really brought me closer to him and some other sta members who work at the station. I’ve been to the House of Blues venue before, so I knew what to expect when it came to the layout of the stage, which was a plus when finding a spot for this show. It was insanely packed and slightly overwhelming because the A/C system at that venue is really bad, but Omar put on a show that was truly worth it. I have been following Omar for a while now, and he always puts on a great show. This time around, he had two vertical screens that displayed di erent backgrounds on stage which I thought was a fun element for this tour. I always enjoy watching him perform because he always has a segment where he sings his Spanish songs and the vibe is always so raw and fun. Even if you aren’t a huge fan of Omar, I feel like he truly captivates the audience's a ention and his band plays well behind him. Rate 9/10

Harry Styles - October 28-29, 2022 @ Kia Forum

Words cannot describe my experience during my stay at Harry’s House! I had the absolute pleasure of having pit tickets for these two shows, and I will never fully recover from these nights. This was my third and fourth time seeing Harry and I swear every show I see him gets consistently be er. Now I may be biased, but Harry somehow brings a di erent key element and vibe to each show, which I believe is why people try and watch him perform so frequently, even though the setlist doesn’t change. The crazy thing about the show on the 28th was that I didn’t even have tickets for that show, but I was already camping for the show on the 29th. I thought it was a good idea to go to the box o ice 30 mins before his opener Ben Harper went on stage to see if there was a possibility of ge ing last-minute pit tickets. I ended up ge ing the last pit ticket for that show. Between my impulsive decision-making skills and my admiration for this “fruit man”, I dropped $204 on a ticket like it was nothing. The ou its he was in for both nights were stunning, and the fact that I had barricade in the “Li le Freak” corner made camping in the cold weather worth it. When I look back at my camera roll, I am amazed at one: how close I was, and two: the fact that we made eye contact. I was lucky enough to also get his drummer’s drumstick at the end of the show along with a setlist from one of the other shows. Experiences like this show are forever memorable, and the friends I make at these shows make the entire experience worth it. Between Harry’s vocals and chemistry with his band, a residency at Harry’s House is one I will never forget. Rate 12/10

Get to the center of the maze!

Find the hidden words.

puzzles by Meg Teeling.

actually feeling like I was a part of something. I wanted to join clubs and make new friends, but once the first in-person semester started, I realized it wasn’t going to be that easy.

Clubs were limited due to Covid, and being a commuter on this already commuter campus, it was easy to get lost in the day to day routine. I found myself feeling like a ghost haunting this campus, speaking to no one, drifting from one class to the other. I barely felt qualified to even call myself a college student. But at CSUF where most students are commuters, I feel like this is a common theme among many students - when you don’t live on campus it’s hard to find a sense of belonging. I also struggled for my first three semesters to find a community of people where I fit in, but ever since I started with Titan Radio, I feel like I’ve truly found my niche. So, if you are reading this and also feel like a ghost, just know that you aren’t alone. My best advice is to try out a bunch of random things

until one sticks - chances are one will. In these photos, I wanted to portray that feeling of loneliness and sense of strangeness on campus; the feeling that you are just another faceless person in a crowd, repeating the same monotonous routine everyday. Some small details that I wanted to point out is that the outfit I am wearing in all the photos was a very common appearance my sophomore year. The tote bag I am carrying is the same one I’ve carried every semester. Although these articles of clothes and accessories have stayed with me and I still walk the same paths and go to classes in the same buildings, my college experience has definitely changed for the better. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Photography by Colin Irey

Intersectional Identities

As individuals, we all embody a plethora of identities. Our gender, race, ability, sexuality, and our class are just a few of the facets that color who we are as people. All of these various identities shape how we view and take part in our world. The way someone chooses to embody their unique identities also influences their presence in society. While I truly believe everyone deserves to be themselves completely and authentically express themselves freely, our world, specifically this country often does not allow this. As America is built upon the European colonization of new lands, there has developed a notion of identity hierarchies. White, male, heterosexual individuals are often the ones in power and go on to dominate other groups to maintain and grow their power. This legacy has perpetuated the idea that straight white men are superior to all other people and are more fit to be in positions of power and control than others. Think of the American presidents, with the exception of Obama, all are white heterosexual males. Why is this? America has had countless influential non-white men and women who have held considerable amounts of power to instigate social and political change. Yet these people are not as blindly and widely worshiped as white men have been historically.

As school children, in our history textbooks, we learn that America is a young nation born out of revolution and crafted into a melting pot where all are welcomed and promised the ideals of the American Dream. But when you get older and start to look through the sugar-coated, watered-down, history of this country, you learn just how oversimplified that version of America is. That the image of this country that our grade school books and teachers painted for our juvenile minds is lacking a lot of nuanced perspective. When you really truly start to examine the origin of this nation and look to the silenced voices of the past, you’ll discover a much darker, more complex, and less glamorous legacy of the US.

America is not the land of the free that we’ve been set up to believe it is. This country was built upon the toxic tradition of overtaking other’s lands, displacing those people, and then using and abusing them to cultivate the land for ourselves. Christopher Columbus who is often regarded as the one who discovered America, was not the first human to find this land and actually was incredibly ruthless to the native peoples already living here. Early conquerors like Columbus committed genocide against the indigenous people, destroying their populations and overrunning their territories. These colonists set the tone in America for how dominant powers can use their might to overrun those who they see as

by Natalie Brunjes

different. The foundations of America are built upon this stealing and reclaiming of land, the erasure of other cultural identities, and the suppression and destruction of anything that falls outside the dominant group. For all of us living in America today, we must recognize that the space we live in is stolen land. We live on ancestral grounds that were home to thousands of indigenous tribes before the European colonizers came and took it for themselves.

Moreover, it wasn’t just the early colonial settlers that destroyed these native lands. Early American citizens following the prospects of manifest destiny who headed out west to expand their livelihoods often did so at the expense of others. Much of the south-western United States used to be a part of Mexico. But during the Mexican-American war that changes when America essentially pointed a bunch of guns at Mexico and made them give over a good portion of their land simply because the US wanted it. The American government then made false promises of land grants to former Mexican citizens now living in the US, telling them that they could keep their homes and property, undisturbed. Then years later, as the industrial revolution revved up society and capitalism became the primary focus, agreements of the past were overlooked in the name of monetary expansion. The land Dodger Stadium now sits on was once a lower-income commu -

nity of Mexican-American families, who had lived there peacefully for generations before the Dodgers needed a new playing field in Los Angeles. These people were forcibly removed from their homes so that the entire community could be destroyed and replaced with a money-making baseball stadium.

Many people living today don’t realize just how much oppression has impacted the present world we live in, and how it continues to affect our lives in a multitude of ways. It’s not only that America has a legacy of stealing and appropriating important aspects of other cultures; America continues to oppress and discriminate against anyone who does not fit neatly into the imagined “norm”. This constructed norm is built from the perspective of the oppressors, often taking the form of white, heterosexual, wealthy, able-bodied men.

But this “norm” is not realistic and is highly damaging to those who fall outside of it. While this country may seem set up for white people to succeed, the reality is that this country was built upon the blood, sweat, and tears of non-white folks, often costing them their lives. Without all the people forced into slavery, labor, and removed from their cultural lands, the America of today wouldn’t exist. People are often quick to recognize the founding fathers for their efforts in gaining independence from Britain yet overlook how they deprived full

liberty and freedom from the slaves they owned. Unfortunately, in America, you cannot look to ideas of liberty, equality, and manifest destiny without seeing the heavy toll these things cost, and recognizing that only certain individuals actually had access to these things.

You must acknowledge your various identities and look at how they affect your life. Understanding the privileges you may have in one aspect of your identity and recognizing how those privileges differentiate your life experience from another’s is crucial to becoming a more empathetic human being. Despite all our differences, we are all just perfectly imperfect humans looking for connection, expression, and a peaceful presence in this world. Everyone deserves to be seen for who they are. Everyone deserves to live a life full of happiness and equal opportunity. It is up to us at an individual level to not only be our best selves, but help others be their best selves by allowing them the space to express their true identities. We must use our privileges to lift up those who are disadvantaged. The societal playing field will never be leveled if we continue to disregard the reality of intersectionality. We all inhabit many identities, and

it’s not these identities that divide us. In fact, I believe that it is these various identifications that can become the source of our greatest strengths. If we were all exactly the same, life would be very mundane. We need diversity to bring more excitement and vibrancy to life. Embrace our differences and look to them as a way to learn more about yourself, others, and to develop more empathy. What we need most desperately now is to open our minds, to become more aware of our past so we can see how it shapes our future and collaborate with others differences to elevate our world.

Our history should inform and empower us to change. Learning and growing from our mistakes of the past will help cultivate a wider, more accepting, world for all. Looking at our individual and societal intersectionality as a blessing is a way for us to become a more inclusive and supportive world for everyone. We all should have the right to live fully as ourselves, no matter what we identify as, we have the right to live peacefully and happily. I dream of a day when we as a country celebrate our differences, teach our children about the truth of our origin, and use it as a way to help all achieve personal liberation.

photos by David Olivares

by Andrew Torres “foreword” by David Olivares

art by Lauren Sharp.

A conversation with Matt, founder of Local Deadbeat Agency (@ localdeadbeat)

by Megan Teeling

Megan: Introduce yourself! Who are you, what do you do, what would you want people to know about you?

Matt: I’m Matt and I run Local Deadbeat Agency out of Garden Grove, CA. First and foremost, I’m 6’3” and am tall enough to change a lightbulb without a ladder. What I lack in personality I make up for in height. Local Deadbeat Agency is a company that sells apparel and supports the local music scene.

Megan: When did you start Local Deadbeat Agency? What was the inspiration? Is there a story behind the name?

Matt: I started Local Deadbeat Agency officially September 25th 2016, with the idea that I would be a clothing brand that worked with local musicians in some way. It started as just a cassette comp of 10 or 12 bands local to southern California that I loved a lot. I’d attend shows all the time, but couldn’t ever buy music from the bands in a physical sense. I love holding music and media. When I was in high school you’d go to Chain Reaction on a Wednesday night and watch some shit ska band play to like 15 people, and they’d always have burnt cds from their moms computer. I still have all those cds in a book. The name came from a moment of absolute chance and luck, or bad luck depending on perspective. I went

to school for business, and was always doing business plans for projects. I always had the idea of a Hot Topic style clothing brand but could never come up with a name for it. In college, I did odd jobs for a friend’s mom who’d hire me out to her friends to do shit. Trash removal, yard work, etc and this one time I was cleaning a garage out for this mega dickhead (you can change that to be nicer if you want) and I was like man I gotta start passing out business cards for all this deadbeat work. I was like yeah I’ll call it the Local Deadbeat so I don’t have to drive far (my truck was an absolute piece of shit) and then it just clicked. That was the last job I did for his mom and her friends and I went home and started planning.

Megan: When did you start putting on events in local spots with local bands?

Matt: Our first event was 6 months into Deadbeat, March of 2017 and was a planned parenthood benefit show. It was the first show I was ever a part of booking and I was so nervous. We raised $300 for the organization and I think shows then were like 5-10 dollars or something, so it was a packed house.

Photo credit: Blake Littell

Megan: Was the intention when starting out to become a brand that puts on these events? Or did it just kind of happen?

Matt: Honestly at the start shows weren’t ever a huge priority for me. I really enjoyed going to them, and being a part of a scene that seemed to be supportive of each other’s creative outlets. I think our 2nd year we maybe had 6 or 7 shows.. As time went on it got to be a lot, and precovid we were doing 4-6 per month. It really felt like a lot of growth for us, but I was working full time, in school full time, and running deadbeat. It definitely took a toll on my mental health after a while. The “break” of covid really gave me time to reevaluate how I wanted to manage my time with Deadbeat, while refocusing on the clothing end of things. This year we’ve been doing 2-3 shows a month, and it feels really balanced.

Megan: How did you reach out to these places and bands? Are you still in contact with any of the band members from earlier events?

Matt: You know it’s funny, because I was always going to shows at Programme in Fullerton for shows anyways. Same with Beatnik Bandito in Santa Ana. The shop owner Chris usually had on a cubs hat or a bears hat and we’d talk sports in between sets. Once I started Deadbeat I asked if I could sell the clothes in the shop which he was super supportive of. So within the first month we were already in brick and mortar. A lot of bands from the early Deadbeat days are either broken up or aren’t on our radar. As with all things people grow and people grow apart. I can’t say that most of them are good, and that there’s definitely some bad blood out there, but I think that’s life. Poor Timing is the only “old” band that we still work with 6+ years later. They were on that first Planned Parenthood show and continue to be on our bills and comp tapes. Natalie, the vocalist, is one of our oldest friends in DIY. She has been supportive of Deadbeat long before it was even an idea.

Photo credit: Kristin Oliveri

Photo credit: Paul Salazar

Megan: What has been the most memorable event you’ve had a part in so far?

Matt: Most memorable would be the last year of warped tour. We got to vend alongside Programme in a booth. It was the Pomona date, and was the first date of the last year of warped tour so it was incredibly televised/had tons of media coverage. Dave Knox, guitarist of Real Friends, was wearing our first during their set. Hundreds of thousands of people saw that. It was a memory I’ll cherish forever. I was at the barricade screaming all the lyrics with them. I remember telling my grandma about it, and saying my life peaked at that moment to which she responded “you gotta set higher standards for yourself. If a guy wearing a shirt is your peak your bar is too low.” It was hilarious.

Megan: What is the process behind coming up with new designs for the shop?

Matt: Originally it was me. I’m only so good at art and like everything in life, there’s usually someone who’s got it down a little better than you. So, I outsource a huge chunk of the deadbeat artwork. We’ve worked with artists all over the world, but primarily we work with Shannon Conway (@ShanconArt) and Cierra Nicholson (@ CierraouslyArt). They’ve done probably 70% of all the deadbeat stuff. I usually give them a rough idea of what I want, and they just push out some crazy shit that I love. I’m pretty casual with stuff, so when it comes to working with commission stuff people like specifics and I AM SO BAD AT IT. Shannon and Cierra get it and really bust their butts on the mess which is me.

Megan: How have you been able to make connections with the community?

Matt: I really just went to shows. When I first started I would bring a huge stack of business cards with me to shows at Chain Reaction, Programme, etc and just pass them out. I love talking to people so it was pretty easy. Eventually as shows kept happening, artists from further away would reach out and ask for dates on their tour run.

As it grew somehow local businesses started to know what it was, and we’ve been offered spaces to book as a result. I guess we must be doing something right if people still like us all these years later.

Megan: You just recently celebrated six years of Local Deadbeat Agency! What aspect of the brand/you as an individual has grown the most?

Matt: I think the thing I’m most proud of is the growth in the last year. 2020 was rough for me. I learned how reliant I was on these shows, and going from seeing people at shows every week, to nothing, really got to me. I took a lot of time to reevaluate my priorities as a company and decided it wasn’t going to be a stressor. 2022 we gained a ton of followers on our socials, and have worked with more new bands than ever before. A ton of diversity in music and creatives that have really been the kindest. People take this seriously, and show respect for me and my company and that means a lot. Having people give a shit about what I do, after all these years, motivates me more and more to be better. As we grow, we get to watch bands grow too. There’s a ton of bands who were playing Programme and small venues, now doing full US tours, signing to labels and just blooming! I love it.

Megan: Are there any goals you’re able to share with us for the upcoming year?

Matt: One goal for 2023 is to expand our booking spaces. We have talks in the works to expand out to further places in southern California for both all ages, and 21+ spaces. We’ll continue to put out new clothes and will ideally keep gaining followers on our socials.

‘‘This year we’ve been doing 2-3 shows a month, and it feels really balanced.’’

Supernova

by Mayra Martinez

I think I cried every night. Howling at the moon, a hurt so strong I’d leave my body. It was the start of my awakening, the start of a lifelong journey of acceptance and healing. Was I this, was I that, was it right, was it wrong? These thoughts filled my head like the stars fill the night sky. Yet it wasn’t beautiful.

And what are you supposed to do when those who should love you the most push you further into the darkness. What do you do when you ask for help and they shut the doors? What do you do when every day you have to hide. And what do you do when you don’t know who you are?

It takes an explosion of a star to create something so powerful and so beautiful, it took the collapse of me to feel the beauty and power that now runs through my body. I’m in control of how I let these thoughts navigate the way I live my life. Don’t get me wrong, there is still hurt.

But growth is a cycle of healing and grieving. When I’m grieving, I know next comes healing. Healing in areas of my life that will go from pain to strength. For that I am thankful, thankful that I hurt, thankful that I’m growing.

I love this version of me, and the ones before me, and I’ll love the ones that come after this. And maybe that’s what the stars that fill the night sky are.

I look up and breathe, knowing all always falls into place, and I’ll hurt again, but not in the way I used to hurt. Not in a way that is like a black hole, where not even gravity is strong, and no light can escape. It’s a hurt that makes me aware of what really is going on, how I really feel, a hurt that makes me challenge myself and say my peace.

Stars are bright, and we’re all stars. But why not not be bright and beautiful, why not expand in the universe, in the world. Why not take up space in the sky, take up knowledge. Why not evolve into one of the most beautiful stages a star can go through. Why not be a supernova.

art by David Olivares

Welcome Back

Sesame. bowling night.

the team.

Julio.

Nik.

Julio’s toys. Bjorked too hard last night.

a collection of writings

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“industrialization is the process of transforming the economy of a nation or region from a focus on agriculture to a reliance on manufacturing.” or at least that's how google defines it. The removal of nuance and specialization builds a world that exists solely for sameness, always in search of monetary profits. Yet this mass standardization does not exist in a vacuum, as the emphasis on religious homogeneity and forced conversion or facing social ramifications alien ates anyone outside of such a rigid binary, significantly narrowing the cultural understanding and knowledge available to the general public. The innately western ideas of “grind culture” and “work till you drop mentality” further push the narrative that we are nothing more than the items we can produce and consume. That we exist to consume, to be a number point on a data sheet to sell to, and steal from. humanhood does not exist in a vacuum, as it is influenced by each complex layer of society, however good or bad. but yet sometimes, i like to sit and imagine a world without capitalism, utterly free of the weight of production. to be more than my body's ability to produce. to exist without fear of being able to afford to survive. without harsh beauty standards that rank humans based on their ability to sell magazines. to be able to escape a rat race i never signed up for. to slip and fall and know i can get up. imagining is never enough, and no matter how far i go, i always find my way back here.

sunset(s)-

i've always considered myself a lover of the sky. Engulfed entirely by the seemingly random display of color across the horizon. Like a painting come alive before my very eyes. Telling a story that i may never understand in full. And yet every day, there she is again, back for more. unabashed in her abilities, beautiful and powerful, yet delicate and glorious. She is fit for everyone's consumption. Though in reflection i think love the embodiment of what she represents. Not only to exist freely, but to be as widely accessible as possible. Art is for everyone, they say, and the sky can do it for free.

the world through my windowsThe modern landscape of our world is harsh. the destruction of natural lands in the name of human expansion feels so much like an oxymoron. How can we be fit to survive in a world we make hostile? Unlivable? Cold to the touch, and warm in the air. With each passing day, we are eviscerating the very world we claim to love, while making daily life equally as inhospitable. How can a world so beautifully tragic still be so precious? To create moments so calm and peaceful, as if the looming threat is never far off? How can we find solace and joy in all this beauty and not fight like hell to save it? Humans are the only species capable of destroying everything in their path, we hold the fate of the world in our hands, yet we play with it like a game. Passed down from one generation to the next, like a twisted game of hot potato, waiting anxiously to see who gets the losing hand.

World Cinema Spotlight With Brandonius

Written by Brandon Walkley Designed by Nireeksha D Gandhi

On January 5, 2020, South-Korean director Bong Joon-ho accepted the Golden Globe award for “Best Foreign Film” for his 2019 film, Parasite. After giving his speech in his native dialect of South-Korean, his translator went up to the microphone to deliver it in English, repeating, “Once you overcome the 1-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.” Parasite went on to receive widespread critical and award show attention, and even became the first international film to win “Best Picture” at the Academy Awards.

Bong’s masterpiece quickly garnered a reputation as one of the most successful foreign-language films of all time, and if not for the magnetism of his words, some of us may have never taken the opportunity to indulge in his work. The American demand for foreign media has grown exponentially in the last two years, and this desire for cultural diffusion in media continues to grow at a rapid rate; take Squid Game for example. Below is a world map of some of my personal favorite examples of foreign cinema. Feel free to take some recommendations, and hopefully they can quench your thirst.

8½ (1963), Italy

Guido Anselmi is a film director at a stalemate in his career. His attempts at directing a science fiction film have been unfruitful because of his stifled creativity. Seeking refuge from his quarrels at a luxurious resort, he starts to fantasize about women (past and present) in his life; however, the more he attempts to sort out the entanglements in his life, the more they start to involve themselves in his upcoming production.

Raw (2017), France

16 year-old Justine has spent her entire life surrounded by vegetarians and veterinarians. When it’s finally her turn to go to vet school, the hazing begins immediately, and she’s forced to eat raw meat for the first time.

As a result, Justine starts to develop unusual cravings.

Worst Person in the World (2021), Norway

Julie is a young woman who confronts every conflict in her life with an indecisive approach, from the tumult of her love life to the uncertainty of her career aspirations. Chronicling four years in her life, Julie searches for personal fulfillment and everlasting contention in the city of Oslo..

Fallen Angels (1995), Hong Kong

Divided in two parts, a hitman tries to escape the violence of his life against the wishes of his infatuated former lover. Everything changes when he meets a depressed woman seeking revenge on a prostitute for corrupting her ex-boyfriend.

Y tu Mama Tambien (2001), Mexico

Julio and Tenoch are two 17 year-old boys fueled by friendships, hormones, and the fast-approaching steamroll into adulthood. Spending the summer on a cross-country road trip with an older woman named Luisa, the friends find connection not just with each other, but the world around them as well.

Lamb (2021), Iceland

A couple living on a farm in the Icelandic mountainside find a half-lamb/half-human newborn on their property. While this discovery brings initial feelings of joy and enthusiasm, the excitement quickly wanes, and destroys the family’s dynamic in the process.

Drive My Car (2021), Japan

Yusuke Kafufu is an emotionally unavailable stage actor and director who, after two years, is unable to cope with the death of his wife. After accepting an offer to direct at a festival in Hiroshima, a timid, young woman named Misaki is tasked to chauffeur him to and from the event. Over the course of their car rides, the two engage in intimate, heartto-heart conversations about their lives.

Force Majeure (2014), Sweden

A Swedish family is put face first into the path of an avalanche on their holiday at a ski resort in the French Alps. After an act of cowardice divides the family, the rest of the vacation pans out in an unsettling and cringy manner.

Flee (2021), Afghanistan

At 36 years old, Amin lives a happy life in Denmark as a successful academic who is happily engaged to his longtime boyfriend. 20 years after escaping Afghanistan as an unaccompanied minor, a lifelong secret of his threatens to ruin the livelihood he has worked so hard to build. For the first time ever, he shares his story with a friend.

Daisies (1966), Czech Republic

Immediately banned by the Czech government upon its release, tells the story of two teenage girls both named Marie. After deciding for themselves how spoiled the world around them is, the two embark on a series of destructive pranks meant to consume and eradicate the corruption around them.

Black Girl (1966), Senegal

A Senegelase woman eager to find a better life away from home becomes a governess to a family in Southern France. Immediately faced with discrimination and marginalization upon arriving in Antibes, Diouana starts to harbor alienated feelings and questions what her life has become.

Train to Busan (2016), South Korea

A mysterious viral outbreak that sweeps the entire country pushes Korea into a state of emergency. A group of strangers on an express train to Busan, one of the only cities that has managed to escape the outbreak, must fight for survival as it makes its way onto the train.

a photo wrapup of No Stress Fest 8, which took place at the Becker Amphitheater with bands Poor Timing, Bland, and Fruit Jelly on December 8th. photos

by David Olivares

alternate poster designs for No Stress Fest 8. don’t mind the lineups.

collage art by Bashar Talib.

art by Sirena Salas.

Titan Radio can be found at the basement level of the southside library, room PLS-51. Our social media is @titanradio on Insta, Twitter, and a bunch of other platforms. Besides our radio shows, we have Street Team meetings, blog posts, a Discord server, ticket giveaways, and events, both on and off-campus.

Reach us at titanradio-gm@fullerton.edu. Check out our site at titanradio.org, as well as our mobile app on iPhone and Android.

Check out our zine team playlist on Spotify.

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