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Mount Hood

Trip out over Brent Faiyaz’s latest single, “Gravity”

Trippy visuals and bass guitars come together 

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

Music artist Brent Faiyaz has gained traction for his talents and recognition in the music industry following the huge response from his album, “F–k the World,” which was released in February 2020. Fans have been long anticipating another album or single, and when the time finally came, Faiyaz didn’t disappoint. Released on Jan. 27, Faiyaz’s latest hit, “Gravity,” comes stacked with vocals and lines from DJ Dali and Tyler, the Creator, and has Steve Lacey on the guitar and bass. 

Through the song, both Faiyaz and Tyler describe their lifestyle on the road and the way it impacted their relationships. Both artists experience a type of “gravity” from their partners, who try to pull them back home from the rush of a luxe lifestyle, and the amount of energy it takes to maintain that balance. 

Faiyaz boasts a bit about his fame in the chorus with, “I’m on (Don’t act like I’m average)/ But you want me home (Home)/ I’d get you what you want (Superstar status)/ But you want me alone (I’m gone, baby, I’m active).” And Tyler, the Creator echos the message of finding a balance between here and there in the third verse, “Now when I’m gone, and I roam ’round the globe for three months/ That’s too long without somethin’ that’s sweet/ So I phone, little treats, that’s a snack, not a feast/ They don’t mean much to me/ ‘Cause I know that I have a bakery back at home.” 

There are effortless transitions between verses paired with strong vocals and unique melodies, which all together form a trippy auditory time-warping experience. Following this theme, the album cover includes fluorescent colors that look like a psychedelic oil spill, resulting in a warbling and eye-catching artwork. 

The melodies, layers of instruments and laid back vocals create a pop song that will hit the top of the music charts and stay there. As of right now, fans wait to hear if an official music video will be released within the coming months. While they wait,  a video of the audio alongside engaging visuals is currently on YouTube. 

Find Brent Faiyaz’s ⏤ and other accompanying artists’ ⏤ latest music on Spotify and other streaming platforms.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Look into these four poets this month

Find a real page-turner with this poetry recommendation 

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌

Poetry is often enjoyed because of its versatility ⏤ especially since there are so many different poets and genres to explore. To help narrow down the search, here’s a list of four poets and their works to help get the ball rolling:

  • “Among the Dog Eaters” by Adrian C. Louis.

Louis covers material centered on being Native American in the 20th century and recounts his experiences in a vivid, vulnerable way. From the foreword written by Jimmy Santiago Baca, “[Louis] deals with margin life, the blood and betrayals, the bleak joys and raging ecstasies of our lonely, primal dance as humans living in a world insanely intoxicated on cheap thrills.” Broken into five parts ⏤ all jam packed with poems ⏤ the titles alone are enough to make a reader intrigued. Some of my personal favorites are “Sometimes a Warrior Comes Tired” and “In the Ghetto on the Prairie there is Unrequited Love.”

  • “at the helm of twilight” by Anita Endrezze.

With a tough love, no-nonsense attitude, Endrezze uses lyrical poetry to wrap the reader into the natural rhythm that is created, and her sharp imagery keeps the pages turning. She takes closely familiar, universal experiences, examines them and then uses original approaches to poetry, such as the ways it can be read and enjoyed by many audiences. The poem, “Sunflower Woman,” is a poem that can be read in vertical or horizontal columns, and another poem, “In the Horizontal Sky,” consists of twelve short sections.

  • “The Captain’s Verses” by Pablo Neruda.

Neruda is a staple among many people’s poetry collections and is well known for his artistic use of language that pulls at the readers’ heartstrings. He addresses the visceral feelings of new love and ecstasy, relationships with one another and the deep connections people share through their lives. In his poem, “Not Only the Fire,” he describes, “Ah my life/ it is not only the fire that burns between us/ but all of life,/ the simple story,/ the simple love/ of a woman and a man/ like everyone.”

  • “War of the Foxes” by Richard Siken.

Siken takes a compelling and haunting approach to his poetry, touching on issues around morality, personhood and the ways people find meaning and purpose in art. He uses raw language that can also be found in his poems from earlier published collections, such as “Crush.” This collection holds stories of birds, war and tales about the moon.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Celebrate the season of love with these activities

Ways to spend time this Valentine’s Day if alone or single

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, but not everyone has plans this year, or a significant other to spend it with. However, the holiday doesn’t have to be full of sadness or longing for a partner; instead, it can be an opportunity to make the most out of singledom and celebrate love in other ways. Here are some of the best ways to spend time alone when single or without plans:

  • Write letters to family or friends: If spending this holiday solo, love letters or letters of gratitude for friends and family can go a long way. This past year has been hard on everyone, and a small moment of appreciation can mean more to someone than initially thought. It doesn’t have to be pages long, but can highlight favorite memories, inside jokes or a cute message. Go the extra mile and mail them out if needed. 
  • Pampering: There are a ton of takeout and delivery services available to enjoy a nice meal, beverage or sweet treat from home. Or the day can be spent cooking favorite meals or treats at home, with a movie or music. Take a nap, get out of the house, enjoy time in nature ⏤ do whatever brings the most relaxation through the day.
  • Spend time with pets: Valentine’s Day can be spent with pets, either out on a walk, playing, lounging around or by giving them treat after treat. Have a fun photoshoot with pets to commemorate the day together, give them a little Valentine’s with a toy or treat in it and bestow some extra attention (flowers are optional, chocolate not recommended).
  • Random act of kindness: There are plenty of people in our community that need a helping hand, from folks facing homelessness to families in our own neighborhoods. Donating time and resources can make a big difference to those who may be struggling, even if it’s something small. Spread the love by going through old clothes, dishes, home items or unwanted food products and donating them to food pantries and homeless shelters. 
  • Valentine’s Day cards: If there are any kiddos or youngsters in the family, they may really appreciate some chocolates, a toy or Valentine’s Day cards — since they aren’t in classrooms and can’t quite celebrate in the traditional way. It can be an exciting time for children to soak in the holiday, so try out a themed activity with them. Have them make their own cards to give to family members or friends, decorate the house, bake goodies or have a spa day. 

          Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

          Find classic hits in this Valentine’s Day playlist

          Add these classic love songs and heartbreaker anthems to a Valentine’s Playlist

          Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

          Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and this season of love can best be enjoyed ⏤ or not ⏤ with music. Jam out with these 40 songs, half being love songs and the other half being heartbreak anthems. These songs can create an upbeat tone during date night or enjoy quality alone time if flying solo this year. Or, hit shuffle, grab some ice cream and see how the night goes. 

          The playlist has artists from Etta James, Prince, Cyndi Lauper, Oasis, and all the way to Soulja Boy and The Pussycat Dolls. This lively playlist can add some excitement to this year’s Valentine’s Day, no matter someone’s relationship status. Find the official playlist ready to stream on Spotify @thewesternhowl:

          Love songs:

          1. “A Sunday Kind Of Love” — Etta James 
          2. “If I Ain’t Got You” — Alicia Keys 
          3. “Every Breath You Take”— The Police
          4. “Wonderwall” — Oasis
          5. “Cupid’s Chokehold / Breakfast In America” —  Gym Class Heroes
          6. “Kiss Me Thru The Phone” —  Soulja Boy, Sammie
          7. “Tainted Love” —  Soft Cell
          8. “She Will Be Loved” —  Maroon 5
          9. “Hopelessly Devoted To You” — Olivia John-Newton
          10. “Can’t Take My Eyes off Of You” —  Frankie Valli
          11. “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love Babe” —  Barry White
          12. “Let’s Get It On” —  Marvin Gaye
          13. “My Girl” —  The Temptations
          14. “Love Her Madly” — The Doors
          15. “Kiss” —  Prince
          16. “More Than A Woman” —  Bee Gees
          17. “Lucky” —  Jason Mraz, Colbie Callait
          18. “Better Together” — Jack Johnson
          19. “My Stove’s on Fire” —  Robert Lester Folson
          20. “Baby, I’m Yours” —  Barbara Lewis

          Heartbreak songs:

          1. “One Is The Loneliest Number” —  Harry Nilsson
          2. “I Hate This Part” —  The Pussycat Dolls
          3. “Everybody Hurts” —  R.E.M.
          4. “Jar Of Hearts” —  Christina Perri
          5. “I’m Not In Love” —  10cc
          6. “What a Fool Believes” —  The Doobie Brothers
          7. “Time After Time” —  Cyndi Lauper
          8. “Heartbreak Hotel” —  Elvis Presley
          9. “I DON’T LOVE YOU ANYMORE” —  Tyler, The Creator
          10. “F*** Being Friends” —  Jessie Reyez
          11. “Bad Religion” —  Frank Ocean
          12. “Sign Of The Times” — Harry Styles
          13. “when the party’s over” —  Billie Eilish
          14. “Someone Like You” —  Adele
          15. “Fix You” —  Coldplay 
          16. “Baby Come Back” —  Player
          17. “Gonna Hurry (As Slow As I Can)” —  Dolly Parton
          18. “I Have Nothing” —  Whitney Huston 
          19. “My Heart Will Go On” —  Céline Dion
          20. “We’ll Meet Again” —  Vera Lynn, Sailors, Soldiers, & Airmen of Mer Majesty’s Forces

          Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

          ‌A list of 15 TikTokers to definitely check out

          Here are some TikTokers you may not already know

          Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

          One of the beauties of modern technology is how easy it can be to discover new content, music, videos, DIY’s, recipes and various creators and communities. With so many options out there, it can be hard to know where to start with some of these apps. Jump into TikTok by checking out these 15 TikTokers who have a variety of engaging stories, inspiring personal anecdotes, creative characters and useful information:

          1. blakesdailybread makes videos as a serious, and slightly creepy character, who jumps on new trends. 
          2. calebwfrancis has plenty of off the cuff jokes, situations and characters, and also shows clips from his Twitch streams. 
          3. candlereviews highlights satisfying melting and pouring videos of antique, detailed candles and reviews them.
          4. chantyb97 does videos with her bird, Hamlet, who likes to sing in the shower about bacon pancakes and always asks his owner, Bridget, “What doing?!”
          5. chaserutherford has immaculate music taste and dance moves, all while doing perfectly timed facial expressions that are perfectly timed. He also makes me want to buy a fisheye lens. 
          6. caseykfrey makes content that seems so effortlessly funny ⏤ and is definitely his own authentic sense of humor ⏤ through the use of POV’s, characters and dancing to trendy audios. 
          7. christiaan.long uses his energetic presence to talk about current happenings in his life, his mental health and interesting experiences he’s had. 
          8. davidyrodriguez creates characters and situations that are relatable but wild, plus his reactions and comedic timing are great.
          9. fascinatedbyfungi shows up-close clips of fungi and other aspects of nature in order to educate viewers. He also identifies the species of mushrooms and their qualities.
          10. flambothedog is a very smart pup who can speak about toys, walking, his owners and sister Espeon by using buttons on the ground ⏤ after being trained and learning how to do so.
          11. oldtimehawkey helps people with his calming nature vibes, grounding conversations and walks with his dog.
          12. shanewhalley is on a weight loss journey that has inspired many people; he gets vulnerable with his audience and is determined to keep working hard toward his goals. 
          13. truecrimecam has videos on true crime events and describes them with haunting detail.
          14. telehuefood takes food for thought to a whole new level with her cooking videos and stories. 
          15. what_about_bunny is another chatty dog, who also learned how to use buttons to communicate with her owners. 

          Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

          ‌Meet new people at WOU by joining a club

          Look into these clubs and organizations at Western

          Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌

          These clubs and organizations at Western can help winter term pass by with the help of new friends, building fond memories and getting involved in campus life. There are a ton of selections out there that have taken safety precautions and are holding virtual meetings over Zoom. Even if meetings aren’t in person, there’s still the chance to meet new people with similar interests. Get involved with a handful of these clubs: 

          • Abby’s House: Their hours have been recently updated as of Jan. 6; advocates can be reached by email, and staff and hours of operation can be found at their website, wou.edu/abbyshouse. Don’t forget to check out their Facebook, “Abby’s House at WOU.”
          • American Sign Language: Winter term club meetings will be held twice a month. As announced on their Facebook and Instagram, there will be a study event on Wednesday, Jan. 27, from 6 to 7 p.m. Look out for their newsletter ⏤ which has the Zoom link ⏤ their Instagram @wouasl or their Facebook, “WOU ASL Club.”
          • Black Student Union: For this term, meetings are held at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays over Zoom. The link can be found in their Instagram bio, @woubsu.
          • Cru: They have club meetings on Mondays at 7 p.m. at the Praise Assembly in Monmouth, and have Bible study at 7:45 p.m. at Munson House on Wednesdays. 
          • Mecha: They’re having bi-weekly meetings on Tuesdays from 5 to 6 p.m.; updates, information and the Zoom link are all on their Instagram, @mechadewou.
          • Triangle Alliance: With weekly meetings on Mondays at 6 p.m., folks can find Zoom links and current information on their Instagram @wou_ta or join their group on Facebook at “WOU Triangle Alliance.”
          • Unidos: They’re holding bi-weekly meetings, and have a newsletter that is regularly released. Meetings are held on Mondays at 5 p.m. over Zoom, and the link can be found on their Instagram page @unidoswou. Their Facebook page also has more information and can be searched under “Unidos Club At WOU.” 

          Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

          Artist Spotlight: WOU student and poet fuels the art scene

          Sam Marshall, a poet, rock climber and The Northwest Passage editor-in-chief

          Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌

          Sam Marshall first started writing poetry at 14; originally drawing inspiration from poets like Edgar Allen Poe, they moved on to experimenting with darker elements and themes in their own writing. The writing process isn’t always an easy one ⏤ and Marshall is no stranger to writer’s block ⏤ but after spending years of writing, revising and keeping old poems to reflect on, they were able to begin building a strong skill set. 

          As a young poet from Sherwood, OR, they learned to identify and try out different poetic devices in their works, such as stanza breaks, rhyme and meter. Now, as a senior at Western, they have taken their skills and enthusiasm for the writing process one step further. 

          Marshall is an English major with a concentration in literature and a writing minor, and they have utilized the writing skills they developed to good use. This determination earned them the position as editor-in-chief at The Northwest Passage, which is Western’s literary and fine arts magazine compiled of students’ work. 

          The latest issue of The Northwest Passage was released fall term, and Marshall gained a lot of valuable experience working with other students while curating it, saying, “I have to thank everyone who submitted their work to the magazine. There was a wide range of submissions, and I tried my best to highlight each individual work while creating a cohesive product that students can enjoy.”

          Although most of their writing is private for now, they look forward to the possibility of publishing works one day. They recently wrote a poem called “Can’t Stargaze Under a Cloudy Sky,” which was inspired by their experiences while stargazing at the Big Dipper and finding comfort in the vast night sky. Given time, they learned what worked for their writer’s block and what didn’t, and found that the right words will come to the writer when they want to.

          Marshall elaborates on their work when they were younger, stating, “[Edgar Allen] Poe is still one of my favorites … there’s substance in pain and melancholy, and I found it easier to write with those kinds of themes. I still write in that same vein of melancholy. I find it difficult to write anything happier than bittersweet.” 

          When they aren’t writing, Marshall can be found reading, rock climbing, finishing up online classes, listening to music and working on The Northwest Passage.

          Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu 

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