SUNSET MiCRO WAVE ll
Table of Contents Helen Kenderov
---------------01
Kaia Brulane
---------------02
Alyssa Yin
---------------03
Bella Paterson
---------------04
Sasha Nakamura
---------------05
Sophia Shen
---------------06
Becky Zhao
---------------07
Matthew Chen
---------------08
Karen Situ
---------------09
Grey Smith
---------------10
Jennie Lin
---------------11
Austin Nie
---------------12
Claire Low
---------------13
Charlie Persuk
---------------14
Helen Kenderov
The Armor Within
Kaia Brulane
Muddle
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Alyssa Yin
Alt-Subculture Fashion
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Bella Paterson
2020
the bridge i look out and i see the bridge I crossed it today, yesterday, everyday but what about tomorrow? next week? next year? will i start a new trek? with the bridge behind me will i cross a new bay? at the start of a new day
barbie, do you remember? barbie, do you remember slipping on the heels, the dress, the makeup? hoping to impress Ken he never noticed barbie, do you remember when it was you competing with your friends who’s the prettiest? who’s the coolest? I do I remember and I wish it were still you
Sasha Nakamura
Fading Forward
turning gold into old shining gold standing high gracing my bookshelf with your presence but guess what third place speech contest and track participation you don’t matter I don't need you I feel just fine I am my own prize
fading ink with the click of a button a moment becomes a photo a photo becomes a memory taped to the wall a blinding light lingers for a second the light blinds for a second the moment disappears even faster the ink fades from the photo as the memory leaks out of my mind
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Singer-songwriter Sophia Shen, bassist Gabe Grimaldi, and percussionist Jack McCann of the newly-formed band Girl Crush explored the boundaries, struggles and opportunities of pandemic-safe band practices. Their hours spent on Garageband in Sophia’s garage have brought “Parts of You” to life.
Sophia Shen
Parts of You
Becky Zhao
Space Made Wicked
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I’ve always struggled with fitting in, hanging out with many different friend groups, but not knowing where I belong. Sometimes I feel like the group of people I’m with doesn’t really want me there. Sometimes I walk up to a circle of people and don’t know whether to force my way in or hang back and wait for a chance to speak. It’s not uncommon for me to twiddle my thumbs, kick the dirt, get caught in my own head, or inevitably look for a convenient moment to retreat to the safety of my bed. I talk about these feelings on The Place for Me, the title track of my upcoming album. “I never fit in with the others, Always hiding back in the covers” You don’t have to be a detective to know that I’m a hopeless romantic. I’m that guy who will fall head over heels the first time I meet someone new, and then instantly write a love song. I believe in serenading the person I have feelings for, regardless of weather, distance, gas price, or singing ability! So bluntly put: I am in love with love itself. I believe that The One for Me is out there somewhere, and it’s only a matter of time. So far, my relationships haven’t really worked out though. Heartbreak has been my most loyal companion, as I always find myself left with less than I started with, which is something I didn’t even know was possible. “I know time can’t change you, but I tell myself that I can.” This approach tends to spill over into my friendships too, where I often find myself giving more than I receive. I believe in a best friend, someone who makes you smile when you forget to, someone who’s there for you in times of need and there for you when you need nothing at all. I’ve had my fair share of inseparable friendships and fallouts, all of which I’ve never quite understood. The effort to maintain the friendship needs to be mutual, but I guess some feel that the emergence of challenges and hard feelings would be easier to walk away from than to deal with, even if it means leaving what used to be important to them. I’ve thought a lot about why this happens to me, and I’ve begun to wonder if I am prone to forming toxic friendships? “Sometimes people change their minds, and it hurts me too much to realize.” Growing up in an Asian-American household, my parents are super fixated on a practical profession for me. I‘ve always known that I was passionate about music, so at this point, I’m tired of it all. I’m sick of people telling me what I should do, where I should go, and who I should be. To be honest, the determination to prove them wrong has motivated me to keep on pursuing music. Music has given me a way to feel accepted and valued by others, without losing myself in the process. In order to share a piece of music, I have to be at peace with my work and myself, which is where good things begin. “Why can't you ever understand, I am and will be my own man.” Finding my identity as a musician hasn’t solved all my problems, obviously. I’ve always believed that I need to hide away feelings and emotions because sharing these would just push people away, and make me seem “needy”. When I was at my lowest and desperately needed someone to talk to, I was all alone. At times
Matthew Chen
Stages to the Debut
like these, when I feel like the whole world is crashing down, it makes it even harder when there’s no one there to help me. I’ve never gotten to the point of feeling suicidal, but sometimes life just feels so heavy; without someone to help take the weight off of my shoulders, the walls of heartbreak, fallouts, rejection, and disappointment get to be too much. “Still keep gasping for more air, when there isn’t anyone out there... My scars and wounds stay hidden deep, waiting for the day I take the leap.” As someone who puts themselves out there, I have had my fair share of haters. This hate isn’t the middle school petty bickering in the long hallways – it’s being judged for the choices I make, the passions I pursue, and the things I find joy in. I’ve heard comments about the clothes I wear, the music I make, my ambition, the list goes on. I’ve found myself reading hate messages directed towards me because I felt the need to know what people were saying. But what I learned from reading them was that people feel the need to hate on others because they’re jealous - plain and simple. In the final song of the album, I talk about how the hate and negativity have only made me grow a thicker skin and helped me develop my inner resolve. This album is my first step in letting my feelings and emotions out in a healthy way. I hope this inspires others to address their own demons and realize that there are people who are just like them. “I know these scars won't fully heal, but at least I know the pain was real. Still don’t know how I got here today, thank you for making me this way.”
”And now for a word from our sponsor…
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Karen Situ
No Rest
Grey Smith
SPOOF
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Jennie Lin
SkyLand
Austin Nie
Can I Call You Tonight? (
(Dayglow Cover)
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Claire Low
Life is a Highway
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Charlie Persuk
B.S.N.L.T.M.I.L.T.
CLICK TO LISTEN TO SPOTIFY PLAYLIST WITH THE FULL SONGS FROM THE VIDEO.
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SUNSET MiCRO WAVE ll We can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we can see the tunnel! Or perhaps the light at the beginning of the tunnel? Or maybe we are inside the tunnel? Soon we will have a new president. A vaccine is on the way. After a year of virtual hibernation, we have some actual reasons to be hopeful. Looking back, who would have thought that we could have produced the media in this zine without seeing one another? Text threads grow to epic proportions. Long phone calls are the new normal. Group Zooms feel like ‘quality time.’ But as strange as it’s been, where would we be without one another? These micro waves have kept us connected and offered up an artistic lifeline to the outside world. We are thankful to everyone who has supported and believed in our work this year. We wish you a happy and healthy holiday season. Throw a virtual log on the fire, put your feet up and enjoy SUNSET MiCRO WAVE Volume 2! Editors Jon Bernson Rachelle Banares Michael Falsetto-Mapp Connie Liu Layout Design Jacob Thompson Special Thanks: Bella Paterson for the cover photo, Matt Pemberton, Helen Lee, Jasmine Toy, Sasha Nakamura, Campbell Gee, Leah O'Neil, Glenn Jackson, Mandy MacGowen, Ella Boyd-Wong, everyone at SNBC, BACR & DCYF. IG: @SUNSETMEDIAWAVE
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