![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
Coldplay reveals 4 songs from upcoming album at SXSW
Parlophone
Coldplay prefaced the release of Ghost Stories by performing four songs from its upcoming album at the 21st Annual South by Southwest Interactive Festival (SXSW).
SXSW, which occurs in Austin, Texas, always features a wide range of artists from musicians to filmographers to YouTube sensations. iTunes held its own mini-festival at SXSW for the first time and boasted an impressive line-up of artists including headliners such as Keith Urban, Kendrick Lamar, and Pitbull.
Coldplay kicked off the week-long series of concerts with an 11-song set. Its performance was live-streamed online by Apple to allow fans all over the world to revel in the music.
While revisiting old favorites, the band used the concert as a medium to test out new material from Ghost Stories by intermittently including songs from the new album in its setlist.
The concert began with the mysterious and nostalgic “Always In My Head,” the opening song of Ghost Stories. Chris Martin’s crooning voice is accompanied by a steady drumbeat as he sings about a lost love: “I think of you / I haven’t slept / I think I do / But I don’t forget.”
“Magic” followed later in the setlist. The syncopated beat of the music and pervasiveness of instruments, such as guitars and organs, provide a unique melody.
The British alternative rockband also played “Another’s Arms,” a haunting song in which Martin laments the loss of the comfort and safety of always having someone by his side:
“Late night watching TV,
used to be you here beside me,
Is there someone there to reach me?
someone there to find me…”
In response to shouts for an encore, the band returned to the stage to play the lead single from the album, “Midnight.” Faintly reminiscent of “Paradise” from the fifth studio album, Mylo Xyloto, the track incorporates synthetic elements and muffled sounds of instruments.
If these songs are any indication of the rest of the music Coldplay is scheduled to release, fans can rest assured that the band will be producing fresh, new content, while still remaining loyal to its original style.
Ghost Stories will be released on May 19 in the United States.
Natasha Mayor is a reporter for Harker Aquila and the TALON Yearbook. She is a sophomore and has been part of the journalism program since freshman year....