Story #1

Atlanta-based music producer Trey Phillips has created quite the stir among students in the Athens electronic community.

By influencing a combination of down-tempo melodies and heavy bass drops in several recent shows preformed in and around downtown Athens, Phillips’  has made a local name for himself during the spring semester.

Phillips most recently performed for a visually ecstatic crowd at New Earth in downtown Athens this past Saturday.

Known best under his stage name Satoru, Phillips played a variety of upbeat, bass-driven tunes infused with samples of gritty rap music. Other genres, such as metal, dubstep, and jazz, impacted his specific sound heard Saturday, generating a potentially wider ratio of success by drawing in a larger, more diverse crowd.

Satoru’s style, complimented by the newly remodeled venue of New Earth, generated an infectious amount of dancing and good spirits throughout the night.

Lauren Schwitters, an Atlanta native and regular attendee of Satoru, was spotted glowing under a blue light in front of the stage for most of the evening. As an avid concert-goer and major fan of Phillips, Lauren was eager to express her excitement surrounding Satoru’s ability to expand his talent outside of the metro area.

“I couldn’t be happier that Satoru is playing in Athens,”  said Lauren. “It’s awesome that people outside Atlanta are so accepting and willing to hear him jam, because I sure as hell know I do.”

Although Satoru’s largest following is prominently located in Atlanta, it is obvious from Saturday’s set that this will not be the case for much longer.

Phillip’s genuine onstage charismatic attitude and capability to infuse different types of music in his work have already contributed tremendously to his newfound success.

“I love what I do and couldn’t see myself doing anything else,” Phillips said after his performance on Saturday. “It’s a legal addiction that I don’t have to recover from, and actually get paid not to.”

Satoru’s unique name could also be a driving factor to his constantly growing following. Based off of a song titled, “Satori” from the famous electronic jam band Sound Tribe Sector Nine, Phillips’ on-and-off again drummer Jono Chavez shed insight to the creation of the name.

“In Japanese, Satoru is a term meaning ‘to understand’,” said Chavez. “Because of this [definition] and the fact that Soundtribe has been such a major influence in Trey’s growth as an independent artist, Satoru seemed like the perfect fit.”

Phillips has been asked to come back and perform again within the next few months, according to his representative Al Santana with the promotion company R.E.P.

Although Phillips roots are set in Atlanta, Athens will not forget to acknowledge Satoru’s presence anytime soon.

In the near future, Phillips plans to move to Colorado and explore the option of furthering his career outside the state of Georgia. He hopes to expand his musical talents and specific style by stepping out of his comfort zone and encouraging others in his field to never give up on producing music.

“In ten years, I definitely still plan on making music,” said Philips. “What kind of music it will be? No one knows. Technology has gotten crazy just in the past year and I’m sure it will just keep going up and going up… but I will definitely still be making music.”

 

Story #2

At the University of Georgia, tradition is everything. From the timeless football chants to the on-going preservation of historic downtown, Athens has remained glittered with local history.

Although many traditions at UGA are held sacred, one notable fixture remains infamous for slightly more unusual reasons.

Located at the head of North Campus, a prominent cast-iron gateway known locally as the Arch has faced downtown Athens since the late 1850s.

For seniors preparing to graduate in May, walking in between the aged pillars traditionally signifies the final step in an academic journey.

While this ancient structure is originally modeled after the Georgia state seal, the Arch embodies a tradition of it’s own.

According to a notorious university legend, undergraduates who walk under the Arch before their graduation date may later reap the undesirable consequence of not graduating on time.

Holly Corley, a senior at the university, unwittingly walked under the Arch as a naive freshman nearly four years ago.

“I felt like an idiot,” Corley said. “Looking back, I can’t believe I had never heard anything about staying out from underneath the Arch before you graduate. I mean, for the past four years, I have basically freaked out every day since! But hey, maybe that was just enough motivation to keep me on track- I’ll be graduating in May as planned.”

Another campus superstition states that any undergraduate who walks under the Arch will become sterile.

James Zarello, an English professor at Georgia Southern University and alumnus of UGA, was even aware of this peculiar Athens’ belief.

“That [myth] is still circulating around campus?!” chuckled Zarello. “My buddies and I used to try and trick one another other into walking under [the Arch] after a late night downtown. It never seemed to work, though. Looking back, I’m glad it didn’t-today I am a proud father of three!”

David Finder, a junior at Georgia, also acknowledged that he is very conscious of this superstition.

“I would never in a million years try walking under that Arch before I graduate!” Finder said, exploding in a combination of laughter and slight distress. “I’ve never even met anyone who was willing to try-it’s that serious.”

Story #3

Dim fluorescent light darted through the room in cone-shaped cylinders. The smell of smoke and perfume flooded the air.  Electronically infused bass music vibrated out into the parking lot. Typical behavior of local Atlanta hot spot, Terminal West. But this night was anything but typical.

RAW: natural born artists, an independent arts organization for artists, by artists, was held for the first time in Georgia at Terminal West last Thursday.

Based in Southern California, their mission is to provide independent artists within the first 10 years of their career with the tools, resources and exposure needed to inspire and cultivate creativity.

Known for innovative and inspirational exhibits, RAW welcomes all genres of art including independent film, fashion, music, visual art, performing art, hairstylists, makeup artists and more.

Katelyn Clark, a RAW Atlanta representative, helped attract and promote all 40 indie artists featured in this month’s showcase.

“We gathered an amazing group of local talent for Atlanta’s first ever [RAW] show, and since we booked this awesome space [Terminal West], I’m hoping that there will be an incredible turnout!,” Clark said.

Terminal West reputation mixed with many local visionaries and storytellers attracted a sold out show filled with homegrown hipsters, talent agents and art buyers alike.

Marquis Bizzell, one of the independent artists featured in the exhibit, was one of the first faces seen after entering the show.

His creative talents offered a modern look into the eyes of recreational spray painting, referred by Bizzel.

“I’ve been tagging buildings with spray paint since I was 11,” Bizzel said. “Over the years, I have evolved my illegal passion into an art form that can be appreciated on the inside of buildings instead of just on the outside of them.”

Glenn Farakesh, small-time Atlanta-based electronic music producer, was also seen preforming at RAW throughout the night.

“I get such a rush being on stage preforming,” Farakesh said. “Usually, my audience consists of a few friends, my girlfriend, and my dog. This is a totally different experience-it’s exhilarating.”

Farakesh was right. People could be seen overflowing the dance floor and art exhibits like water from a bathtub. Bursts of laughter and infectious cheering radiated from beneath the dim lighting. Nothing but positive vibes and good energy were generated that evening.

RAW continues to host exhibits every month in different cities across the United States.

In late 2013, they plan to extend their showcase to China and Eastern Europe, spreading talent and ideas far beyond their humble beginnings.