by Hannah Sever | May 5, 2022 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Previously secular artists such as Chance the Rapper, Justin Beiber, and Kanye West have all come out with gospel music in the past couple of years- so what does this mean for the gospel music community? And the Christian community? A gospel choir member and musical theater major at Lipscomb, Téa Doherty, shares her take on artists like Kanye West. “If God’s word is being preached… whoever is not against us is for us! So, what’s it to me if Kanye does gospel music? That’s great! I dig it.” Ever since 6th grade, student Ryan Lusk has been an avid Kanye fan. “I think a lot of Christians get weirded out by swearing and talking about substance use and things like that. I think it’s actually really cool to be able to blend it…I think normal people can also love Jesus and I think they do a good job of expressing that through music,” Lusk said. “Sometimes Christians fall into the judgemental side of stuff… What are you doing? You are being a jerk in the name of religion, and I don’t think Jesus would do that.” Téa loves Chance’s single, “How Great.” “The fact that it’s acapella and I still feel like nothing is missing is really powerful,” she said. “There’s no limiting to gospel music- it’s just big and bold. I love it.” Aaron Howard, the director of the gospel choir at Lipscomb University, gives credit to secular artists where they are due. “We have a debt of gratitude for Kanye West because West starting his Sunday Service Choir has caused gospel music to be more intriguing...
by Hannah Sever | May 2, 2022 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
How do Lipscomb students take a study break from finals? By visiting our furry friends! Lipscomb’s therapy dogs have been visiting the school through Music City Pet Partners since pre-covid times. This past Wednesday, our furry friends came from 10 a.m.to 2 p.m. at the Beamen Library. Each group, one person and one dog, has gone to several places through Music City Pet Partners. “… We mostly visit universities during finals and Vanderbilt hospital to visit with the nurses and staff,” Estella said about her Pomeranian, Monti. “We are fairly new to the program. But, he had been going with me to Room in the Inn, which is an organization that helps people dealing with homelessness. So, even before he got certified, he was doing some of this,” said Jean about her Goldendoodle, Ralphie. Monti and Ralphie’s owners shared several moments that have touched their hearts throughout their time at Music City Pet Partners. “My favorite moments are when we visit the nurses and staff at the hospitals… you can tell when it’s been a super stressful day- and they don’t just hug my dogs, they lean into them,” Estella said. “Those are my favorite because that is why we are doing it, it’s to offer relief and comfort.” “One of my favorites is when we do go to the Room in the Inn, and folks who are living on the streets just love the fact that they can be loved by him,” Jean said. “What is so special to me is that he is able to offer that love to them and they soak it up.” Students at...
by Jayme Foltz | Apr 18, 2022 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
As the weather changes from a biting chill to a warm breeze, what better way to welcome the Spring season to Music City than with some fresh and flowery tunes. Musical Acts River & Rail, Garden, and Grace Russell made an appearance at the Black River Stage at the Well on April 14 for Spring Fling. “We thought it would be cool for all three of us, who each have a different sound, but are a little similar, to have a performance where each could bring something cool to the table,” Alex Fincher said. Fincher is one-half of the Americana Folk duo River & Rail alongside his wife Grace. The guitar-wielding duo met in 2019 and eventually pursued a relationship as a couple and a musical act. “Out of that just came with a whole bunch of really great stories and a new passion for storytelling through music,” Grace said. “Which I think if I had to narrow down what River & Rail is really about, it’s about telling compelling stories through good music.” River & Rail swayed their audience with a couple of fresh songs. “Gentle on My Mind” is a personal favorite for Alex, and “Monsters in My Head” is a song led by Grace’s sugary vocals that tell a stirring story. “It’s the first song the first time I’ve played that song for a group of people other than just Alex and so it’s just nice to have that vulnerable moment, like with an audience sharing this story you wrote and see how they respond to that,” Grace said. The duo released their Ep, “Vows” back...
by Jayme Foltz | Apr 11, 2022 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Soft pop and the whistle of coffee machines fill the air as students bustle through the Starbucks entrance. Baristas are hard at work making beverages for caffeine-hungry students, while others flock together to catch up with their friends between classes. In the far corner seated in two leather chairs are students, Jakholbi Murry and Shelby Talbert, casually chatting. I sought out their expertise on a subject they should be well informed about. Shakespeare. Is he still relevant in modern culture? “Yeah!” The duo exclaimed after stealing a glance at one another. The duo has been preparing for months for the performance of Romeo and Juliet, in which they play the role of the tragic couple. “I think his stories keep getting pulled over and over because they resonate,” Talbert said. “They continue to talk about topics that are important to us and there are always new ways to reinvent them.” Shakespeare was known and still could be considered the greatest dramatist of all time. The poet wrote over 150 poems and more than 30 plays that span a range of genres including comedy, romance, and tragedy. He continues to inspire creatives with his legacy. Such as Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” inspired by Romeo and Juliet and The Lumineers’ “Ophelia” inspired by Hamlet. Disney’s The Lion King is also paralleled by Hamlet and the classic rom-com 10 Things I Hate About You is loosely based on Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew. “A lot of places see Shakespeare as the pinnacle of theatre, like, that’s what good theatre looks like,” Murry said. “I think it’s why so many places, all across...
by Shelby Talbert | Mar 28, 2022 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Fairytales sometimes do come true. That was proven by co-directors Nate Pearson and Erin Bell, directors of the sweepstakes winning Team Fairytales in this year’s Singarama. “I just feel on top of the world, it feels so good,” Pearson said, after the top award was presented to his team by President Candice McQueen. “ I told myself that this year I would make a great Singarama show, so it just feels good.” Pearson, an elementary education major from St. Charles, Illinois, and his colleague Bell, a psychology major from Nashville, both are seniors and said they consider this a perfect farewell. “It’s been so much work going into it, and it’s been fun getting to this point and just seeing it all come together,” said Bell. Team Fairytales was followed by Team History which gave a performance inspired by a real-life 1990 robbery. Team Mystery relied on the intrigue of a murder mystery for its performance. Over 300 students participated in this year’s Singarama either on stage or behind the scenes. “The cast, and really everyone put in so much work into it,” said Pearson. “And I am just so proud of them and they are all so good.” Photo by Kathryn...
by Jayme Foltz | Mar 26, 2022 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider, Student Spotlight
She may not have the accent, but that doesn’t mean she ain’t country. Sydney Brown, a commercial music major from Parker, Colorado, took to the Black River Stage at The Well to perform 12 original songs. “I have a lot of country influence in my writing,” Brown said, explaining the inspiration. “That’s what I grew up with, and that’s what I love. “I don’t have the Southern accent, of course. So it doesn’t always sound the most country at first. But that’s definitely a major influence.” Brown’s musical tales of young love, heartbreak, and growing up quickly commanded the attention of the crowd. This was especially true during her performances of “I Got You” a story about love, “Vienna” which shared her hope to see the world, and “Walking Through a Memory,” which is one of Brown’s favorites. “It’s about going back to your hometown, like, after you’ve graduated and left and moved on, and just go into the same places that used to be, like, your stomping grounds and it just doesn’t feel quite the same,” Brown said. “Like, it’s still that special place, but you don’t quite fit in there anymore. It is one of my favorites I’ve ever written.” Jay Meng, a student who attended the event, said she was pleasantly surprised by Brown’s performance. “It was very sweet and calming to hear her voice,” Meng said. “All of her songs were so soothing, but I especially loved the one about her hometown.” For Brown, who has been singing all her life, it was clear what she would pursue when she made her way to Lipscomb....
