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January 2018

man playing the drums

Animals in the Attic Q and A

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The refreshingly Californian band, Animals in the Attic, paid us Renonians a visit to perform at the Holland Project and sit down for an interview with Insight Magazine. Frontman and co-guitarist, Spencer Rakela, keyboardist Clayton LaFlamme, drummer Mitchell Grimenstein, and guitarist Stefan Sorgea grabbed some chips and salsa with me before their performance to discuss their beginnings, their inspirations, what’s next for the band, and more.

How did this band come about?

Spencer: Animals in the Attic came about, about three years ago when Clayton and me started playing music with our other friend, Jeff, on drums. We just started writing music together in high school and then we moved to Seattle after high school. We’ve kept playing together ever since.

Where did the name Animals in the Attic come from?

Spencer: Alliterations. It was just kind of catchy.

How did you boys get into music?

Mitchell: My dad has played for years, so I was just born into a musical family. My mom plays piano and and my siblings also play music. I have just been immersed into it since I was a kid.

Stefan: Mitch and me are cousins so his dad got me into music. Most of the good music I heard as a kid was in Mitch’s dad’s car.

Clayton: I really got into music because of my mom. She just showed me music from a young age, and I loved it. I just have a craving for it.

What inspired you then and what continues to inspire you now?

Spencer: I feel like if I didn’t write music I might go insane. There’s too much going on. It’s the perfect outlet.

Clayton: I think everything inspires me. I don’t know. I’m just going for it, man. I’m just going hard on it!

What’s your favorite song to perform?

Clayton: Off the old album my favorite song to play is “Not Foolin’”. It’s really fun and chill. We have another new song coming up called “Drop Me” that’s awesome to perform.

Mitchell: I think mine would be the same as Clayton’s.

Stefan: Same. Those are the fun songs.

In what state of mind are you guys in when you write?

Spencer: I think I write the best music after meditating. I try to be in a very calm state. I’ve always talked about writing our music in a tranquil state to have a peaceful vibe. We want people to feel calm when they listen to our music.

What’s next for the band?

Spencer: Just releasing the new album.

 

Air B'b'B logo on a whiteboard

Airbnb’s Purchase of a London Startup is Allowing for the App’s Consumer Market to Expand

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Students at the University of Nevada, Reno are well versed in the usage of technology, especially when it comes to popular apps, such as Airbnb. After almost 10 years of service, Airbnb has been recognized as America’s fifth most popular travel app and recently bought out a website formerly known as Accomable.

Accomable was a London startup that offered similar services to Airbnb, but focused on providing disability friendly places for users to stay. “Accomable co-founder Srin Madipalli, 31, started the company two years ago after quitting his job as a corporate lawyer and embarking on a five months of travel around the world. He said he repeatedly found that information about wheelchair accessibility at hotels was inaccurate,” according to an article in Fortune Magazine.

Airbnb was founded in 2008 and currently has 4.8 stars and 30.9K ratings on the Apple App Store. The app set up a forum for house owners to continuously rent out their facilities for vacation purposes. Rather than being forced to stay in a hotel, users of the app are able to browse the properties for their desired destination and period of time to plan the perfect trip.

Accomable was a similar platform, but it specialized in providing a place to stay for those who have disabilities. “The deal includes adding to the Airbnb website Accomable’s roughly 1,100 house and apartment listings that can accommodate guests with physical disabilities,” according to Fortune. Buying Accomable signifies that Airbnb recognizes the importance of accommodating the needs of disabled citizens who are going on vacation or planning a business trip. In the past, the disabled were not treated with as much respect and were often forgotten about by businesses. For example, wheelchair ramps were often not as easily accessible as they were needed to be.

Before the 1990s, there were few regulations that protected the interests of disabled Americans. However, this changed with The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA ensured that, when it comes to lodging facilities built after 1993, there are rules to ensure that people with any type of disability are able to use an establishment. Some of these rules include modifications such as required handicapped parking, ramps, automatic doors, and handicapped bathroom stalls.

Many hotels claim to have handicap accommodations due to ADA laws, but it is the simple things that are often forgotten. Freshman and kinesiology major, Zane Roberts recently had surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). In general, common tasks have proven to become complicated for him, even in his own home. He said, “People do not realize how hard it is to get into a bathtub, if you are hurt. It can even be difficult to get into a shower. There is a step for my shower, so I have to use my crutches to get myself in there.” For individuals like Zane who have a difficult time maneuvering in their own homes, the idea of a vacation is often thought of as impossible.

Organizing a vacation with a loved one who is disabled may also prove to be difficult. Freshman and economics and international affairs major, Jacob Bourgault said, “My brother is crippled and required a wheelchair for transportation on our family trip to Disneyland. We did not call the hotel ahead of time because our family figured it would have something to work with. Things were inconvenient, but definitely doable.” To avoid inconvenience, Airbnb encourages communication between the homeowners and vacationers. There are even examples of how to approach such conversations on the Airbnb website.

Those inquiring about staying at an individual’s property are able to have direct contact with the owners through messaging within the app. Airbnb has added features for homeowners to name details about disability accommodations within their listings. Homeowners are encouraged to explore their homes for features they already have. Some beneficial things to look for are a well-lit path to the entrance, a lack of steps, or a wide hallway, according to Airbnb.

Before reservations are booked, users may also request certain assistances. According to Airbnb’s Customer Service Team, “Just as you might accommodate a late check-in time or help a guest arrange transportation to the airport, you are expected to accommodate reasonable requests to make your home safe and comfortable for guests with disabilities.”

Airbnb’s protocol to handle reservations that include a disabled individual is similar to how UNR’s Disability Resource Center (DRC) assists students. DRC’s goal for the university is to act as a catalyst for the elimination of both attitudinal and architectural barriers that remain present in the community. Collaboration, creativity, and communication are essential in fulfilling an individual’s needs. Geoff Kattlint, an employee at DRC, said, “We treat everyone on an individual basis, so that everything is case by case.” Airbnb recognizes that disabilities are unique and the importance of communicating with guests about their needs. Both Airbnb and DRC prioritize meeting an individual’s needs.

For students at UNR, not every vacation revolves around booking with Airbnb. The opportunity to study abroad provides new learning opportunities for students, but if a student is disabled, the trip might require some adjustments. According to sophomore business major and University Study Abroad Consortium (USAC) employee, Miranda Ossio-Marin, “People with disabilities are still able to study abroad. However, there are some things they might not be able to do. We work with the onsite staff to help accommodate them.”

Much like the common obstacles that disabled students might face while navigating UNR’s campus, it is expected that other universities will possess similar disadvantages. The student can get in contact with the university they plan to study abroad with and see if changes can be made to make the school experience easier. Kattlint recognized that in some instances, DRC has had to move classes for a student to have easier access.

Everything relates back to the importance of collaboration, creativity, and communication. Airbnb’s efforts to acquire these three qualities will benefit both the company and the app users in the long run.

Individuals with disabilities are often forgotten about when it comes to accessibility, so the fact that a large company such as Airbnb has drawn attention to the matter could create a positive chain reaction. Private businesses and corporations could increase their consumer market if they took disabled individuals into consideration. Airbnb’s actions are some to follow.

SnowGlobe Concert

Joyzu Uses Live Elements to Bring in the New Year

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The duo, Joyzu, that consists of Quinton Pope and Carson Willms, helped bring in the new year by opening up the main stage on the final day of SnowGlobe Music Festival. The two performers met in high school and started playing just for fun at parties, but soon enough both of them realized that making electronic dance music was their niche. The duo’s performance stood out from their previous shows done because this time they wanted to focus on the live elements and connecting in the moment. “We’ve changed up the vibe of our show,” said Pope. Willms and Pope brought out live performers including Olivia Reid and Lilianna Wilde. Wilde just debuted in their new single “Famous.”

“Someone super close to me got a little famous and let it get the best of them,” said Wilde. When asked if there was any advice that performers can take to avoid letting the fame consume them, Wilde responded with “Just don’t get an ego.” Wilde brought a certain energy on the stage that connected the performers to the fans. Having the new single sung live brought out the originality and passion behind the song.

The performance that went on at SnowGlobe was not planned overnight. “We’ve been working on this show for 3 months” said Willms,“This is the first time we’ve done the whole live element thing.” The duo has been practicing everyday for three months leading up to New Year’s Eve at SnowGlobe. They hope to move away from the stereotype of just regular DJ’s and bring more diverse and alive elements to their music. Their best friends mindset behind their creation of music is to “Just make a good song,” said Pope, “Every song is different, there’s no right way to create a song.”

Willms and Pope have a lot of big plans for the New Year. Willms explained how their goal is to really break into the “roots of edm.” This past year they have stayed more focused on the radio style of electronic music and are hoping to cross over to the more heavier style of what is EDM. The duo recently signed onto Armada Music and with their help they plan on releasing five more songs in 2018. “They’ve given us a lot of opportunities,” said Pope. Three years ago Willms and Pope were in the crowd attending SnowGlobe, and now with the help of their fans and new record label, they are driving in the New Year with their fun and divergent style of music.

 

SnowGlobe Concert

SnowGlobe Day 3 Photos

By burningman, california, culture, dancing, edm, festivals, laketahoe, Millennials, music, musicfestivals, newyears, partyNo Comments

2017 ended in style as SnowGlobe Music Festival came to a close. Neon blue and red lights lit up the Igloo as the Los Angeles based band, Justin Jay, played trance-like, dreamy music. The crowed swayed back and fourth as guitar player, Ben Glasser, jumped up on an amp in front of the stage. Jai Wolf turned a crowd of people into a magical sea of music lovers all on the same wavelength. As the 2018 countdown began, Alison Wonderland slayed the main stage to end the year.