beats. Vibrating bodies. Continuous movement. Endless energy.

The desire for this dynamic and vibrant environment gave rise to the now popular genre, electronic dance music. In the late 1980s “house” music, a style of electronic dance music began flourishing throughout the United States, especially in Chicago. Now roughly 25 years later the craving for this genre has infiltrated the minds and souls of a number of individuals including the aspiring DJ Charlie F. Meyer III, aka Crunch Theory, who has agreed to share his take on this growing culture.

Charlie grew up in Los Angeles, CA where he experienced diverse lifestyles, music, and cultures. Yet it was not until he entered the college scene that he truly became mesmerized by the art of djiing. As he admits, at first developing songs was very technical and a very intense process, but with time and experience he explains, “ I realized, this is up to me I need to stop looking at the BPM and start using my ear and that’s when I started fully falling in love with djing because just actually closing your eyes and being able to do whatever you want with putting two or three songs together and discipline yourself and training your ear to actually being able to beat match accurately without any visual aids is something that I value a lot”. In essence, djing takes a good ear and trusting your instincts to successfully blending songs in a seamless fashion.

However, Charlie as well as other djs face many issues, one of which are the controversial questions that linger in the minds of those skeptical people: Is djing really that difficult? Should it really be praised and recognized as highly as it is today? Charlie expresses that the art of djing is much more complex then it appears. For example, those who do utilize digital mixers are expected to use much more technical methods. Yet others, like himself, prefer to create their own beats and songs in order to better express the “feel” and energy they wish to convey. As Charlie states “When I create my own songs my own tracks its truly expressing myself. It’s like a little piece of my brain is spit out into a beat or into like a drop or a track”. Like any other art forms, djing is a means of self-expression.

Yet there is much more to djing then just expression. Thus the next questions of those who remain skeptics would most likely entail: What is djing about? Why has it become such an acclaimed culture and genre that seems to be taking over the music world? It’s all about the energy, the spirit, the power. “The ultimate goal is that they feel good and they feel happy but for others who are listening carefully to what you are putting down its kind of a more intellectualized thing, it’s like your passing on a message and it’s a positive message and not everyone will hear it but it’s there and it’s for people who are listening hard enough”. In essence it is a global phenomenon that is injecting energy into our very world, free for interpretation for all those who are willing to listen and participate. It is something that is happening here and now calling for all to come and enjoy.

But as for now, dedication and perseverance are highly required characteristics to keep this electronic culture expanding. As Charlie advices to other aspiring djs and “house” listeners in his last remarks, “Never stop not even for a moment, invest yourself every day there is always a question of how much you’re willing to sacrifice your personal style, sometimes you have to compromise your style to survive and you just have to keep your head up”.

Join this djing culture and experience it for yourself!
Check out DJ Crunch Theory and RockPaperThizzles (a collaboration with Justin Spagg) on Facebook and on MySpace

By Marcela Villegas Castañón

, frozen pizza and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches—Cheap and easy, these college diet staples work for students short on both time and cash. But while convenient, they lack flavor and nutrition, often resulting in the infamous freshman 15. Everyone knows that fruits and vegetables are key to a healthy diet—but these nutritional powerhouses unfortunately get a bum rap among college students, as they’re seen as boring and expensive. Let’s face it—after a long day of studying, pizza seems a lot more appetizing than broccoli. Add that to the fact that they require cooking—not just microwaving—it’s easy to see why vegetables have fallen by the wayside in the college kitchen.

But what if students knew that a healthy, delicious diet was not out of reach, and that it could accommodate their schedule and wallet? While not only providing nutrients necessary for a well-functioning body, eating natural and non-processed food can also solve and even prevent several health issues, promote weight loss, and provide a more satisfying (and delicious) alternative to processed, microwaveable foods. Furthermore, they cost the same, if not less than packaged foods, and can be prepared in the same amount of time it takes to have a pizza delivered.

So what’s the secret? A few simple cooking techniques and your local farmers’ market.

While farmers’ markets have grown incredibly popular in recent years, they’re often stigmatized as hangouts for trendy foodies with disposable incomes. But in reality, farmers’ markets actually tend to offer produce at cheaper prices than supermarkets, especially those around college campuses that take advantage of their captive market by jacking up prices.

How does this work? First of all, because you’re getting your food directly from the food grower, it doesn’t have to pass through a middleman, which often drives up the cost of food. Second, because it’s locally grown, it doesn’t require the expensive transportation that supermarket food often does. And third, the market only offers seasonal fruits and vegetables, which are produced much more efficiently and inexpensively than food that isn’t in season. For example, a bunch of supermarket asparagus runs from about $4.99–$6.99/lb. during the winter, whereas local farmers offer it at $2-3/lb. during the spring. Though supermarket asparagus will drop to about the same price (roughly $1.99–$2.99/lb.) around the same time, it still lacks the freshness and taste of fresh market asparagus—giving the market variety much more bang for your buck.

Because market produce is so fresh, it requires little preparation to make it taste good. And because it has traveled so little distance and has likely been picked only a day or two before you buy it, it has retained its natural flavor, therefore requiring little effort to make it taste good. In the time it takes to prepare a pot of ramen, you could stir-fry a succulent medley of fresh vegetables—which, served over rice with a side of protein and a splash of teriyaki sauce, makes a delicious and balanced meal.

When you also consider the fact that most local produce is free of harmful pesticides, you’ll realize that there’s really no reason not to buy locally, for the sake of both your health and your budget. Farmers’ markets tend to run on weekends, so on the occasion that you’re up before noon on a Saturday, check one out to discover a wide world of delicious—and affordable produce. To find one near you, visit www.localharvest.org.

By Lauren Silk

ne look around the bustling San Francisco warehouse and it is hard to believe Rebel8 started with nothing more than $500 dollars and a prayer. It’s the end of the winter fashion line. Mid-size brown boxes clutter the floors and shelves. Baseball hats line steel shelves. A handful of employees line the circumference of the room, operating computers and occasionally glancing out the window to take in a glimpse of the south side of the city.

Rebel8 creators Josh D. and Mike Giant met in 1999 and instantly became friends. In 2003, Josh D. had Giant sketch out the Rebel8 design. Later, Josh D. used it as the logo for the brand. But Rebel8’s success was not immediate.

Rebel8 began in Josh D.’s bedroom. Using only $500 dollars, he printed a few of Giant’s designs onto t-shirts and sold them to friends. Money from the first shirt sales went right back into the company to print more shirts.

Just like Rebel8, Josh himself grew up in the Bay Area. With dark denim jeans, black sneakers, and a sleeveless Budweiser shit exposing arm-length tattoos, it is easy to picture Josh D. blending into the Mission district of San Francisco. During the interview, he even pulls down his lower lip to expose a “Fuck You” tattoo.

Yet despite what his appearance may suggest, Josh D. runs his apparel business meticulously. He attributes Rebel8’s success to its natural growth.

“It did not come together all in one day,” says Josh D. “It’s been all organic growth. It’s been evolving at a fast, but natural pace.” Jokingly, Josh D. explains that he runs his business like a drug dealer.

“I don’t give out the product without getting money first,” says Josh. “Anytime you grow too fast you could set yourself up for failure, but not if you grow naturally.”

Apparently the formula works. The apparel company now threatens to outgrow its current warehouse. The big clothing stores that once declined to carry the brand are now clamoring to stock the shelves with Rebel8 gear.

But Josh D. wants to remain loyal to the humble roots of the brand.

“We’re not willing to sacrifice the brand, and we also don’t want to sell out when we have so many loyal fans,” he explains. Josh D. attributes many of his loyal fans to the company’s San Francisco location. Originally, Josh D. says, it was hard to get noticed.

“Being in San Francisco hurt us in the beginning,” he says. “It was really hard to get attention at first. We tie a lot of [the city’s landmarks] into our apparel. But now we’re legitimate in the city because we started here.”

In the meantime, Rebel8 is gearing up for the spring and summer apparel lines. Fans can anticipate further progression of the cut and sew-style clothing as well as several new t-shirts and hats.

Website

Story by: Nicolet Corliss
Photography by: Coby Zeifman

night of the week she can be spotted at the popular Miami hotspots. On Wednesday you see her at the Electric Pickle, a local cocktail lounge and music emporium. Again, on Friday you notice her taking pictures at the Vagabond, her favorite local venue.

Pamela Wasabi does not blend into the background.

Pamela’s personal style oozes color. Her dreadlocked hair, while currently a rainbow of colors (blond in front with strips of purple, hot pink and turquoise in the back) changes from pink to red frequently. She is no stranger to blue lipstick and streetwear fashions. Her desire to stand apart from the crowd began in high school, she says.

“We had to wear uniforms: the tall socks, the skirt. I had to express myself through dying my hair or painting my nails. It started as a rebellion, but later I realized it was not just because I was a teenager, I just realized it was my personality.”

But Pamela Wasabi and Miami have more in common than love of a vibrant nightlife. Pamela adores Miami because it is a young, emerging city.

“A lot of people started coming here about 20 years ago – a new generation – looking for a chance to express themselves,” says Pamela. “Like me, I came here from Colombia, where people are more close-minded. Miami is getting a chance to grow as a small culture.”

Pamela documents this growing culture with her camera every night. Traveling from nightclubs to galleries to pubs to concerts, she captures the people and style that make up Miami. Yet, unlike most photographers, she does not concern herself with the perfect picture. For Pamela, the art lies in documenting the raw.

“I care about catching people in the street because I like what they are wearing,” says Pamela. “It’s different than fashion photography.”

Pamela shares her love of raw expression with readers as creator and contributor to Wasabi Fashion Kult, a web-based magazine dedicated to the Miami art and fashion scene that originated in part from her experiences in Paris, France. During a 10-month stay in the city of fashion, Pamela was inspired by those involved in the industry, from the smallest boutique to the biggest designers.

“I realized that culture needed to be documented,” Pamela explains. “It helped me transition into my own magazine. My goal is to create a magazine that will be a textbook on Miami culture.”

Pamela wants to use Wasabi Fashion Kult not only as a means of documenting fashion, but as a method of encouraging readers to embrace their own personal style. She encourages readers to follow their intuition and choose clothing that appeals to them personally. Readers should not be limited to the clothing brands they see advertised, Pamela says.

To achieve this, she has one piece of advice: “Turn off the TV.”
And, to that, we say “Bravo!”

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By Nicolet Corliss
Picture by Artraged Photography
Make-up by Natalia Lopez de Quintana

of a student artist is not an easy one as the witty and vivacious emerging musician Austin Pigdeon can testify. This 20 year old Arizona born sophomore at Santa Clara University, was but a young boy when he heard his musical calling at age six. And since then he has done anything and everything to expand his career while maintaining a strong educational background. All of which can be a challenge as Austin shares with us, “I would love to keep making music, the recording process is kind of intensive, it’s a time commitment and it’s hard to do it with school”. Yet here he is, 14 years of developing his skills and music, releasing his first album in collaboration with his friend Jason Root, Austin Pidgeon: the Early Sessions EP, through his record label Inspired Recordings, LLC.

However, this lively, yet mellow album, was not only created to share his talents with his audience but rather it was intended as a more personal expression of himself and his life. In other words, to him, music is an art that serves a number of purposes, especially the objective of self identification. As he comical states, “Music is another medium of art and I feel like if you look at every medium of art it all has the same intention which is self expression, a lot of it is emotionally based which is why it gets that feminine connotation and which is why I am the only guy in all my English classes”. The dedication and persistence has led this young artist to emerge and develop an album that encompasses who he is.

And if this isn’t enough from such a committed student/musician living his dream, Austin decided to turn his success into something for the better of society. Because of his past experience in a program in Ecuador called Ristro de Cristo in which he assisted the less fortunate, Austin choose to donate some of the revenue he collected from the album to this blessed program. Austin explains “We did 5 tracks and have a bonus track and the way we kind of set it up is that we threw the bonus track on the album and bumped it up a dollar so that if you buy the album every dollar you spend for that extra track then we will donate it to Rostro de Cristo. If we are going to make some money we might as well donate some.”

This unique and enthusiastic young man is an example of how one’s passion and motivation, takes a person to extreme ends to pursue dreams and share their talent with the world. And in turn he is able to express himself and give back to a community, while at the same time attaining an education. It takes time and dedication as he mentioned, but if Austin Pidegon is able to live in both worlds of music and schooling, then there is hope for other new and emerging artists to do the same.

“For me music is an auditory expression capturing that emotion and portraying it through lyrics”.
-Austin Pidegon

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By Marcela Villegas Castañón