![“[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)
Album Review: Soft Friday by the Coves
Nettwerk
The indie duo Coves (Beck Wood, vocals, and John Ridgard, instruments) released its debut album “Soft Friday” through the German label Nettwerk on Sept. 2.
Featuring a blend of influences ranging from bands like Tame Impala and Phil Spector as well as the genre of psychedelic rock, “Soft Friday” has gained Coves a respectable and unpretentious sound to call their own.
The album opens with “Fall Out of Love,” which features a memorable blend of dreamy vocals and dragging guitars reminiscent of the country genre. Wood’s crooning is the icing on the cake. “Take what you want and leave me standing here,” she sings. “All your effects break my brittle heart, brittle heart.”
Minimalism plays a role in several tracks on the album, including “Honeybee,” which picks up where “Fall Out of Love” left off with a pleasant synthesizer and a beat that sticks with the listener easily.
“Beatings,” the next song on the album, was released separately as a single on Oct. 1, 2013 on YouTube. Though the various instruments used make the piece relatively interesting while listening, this track is not particularly memorable.
After “Beatings” comes “Let the Sun Go,” a catchy song which remains one of the strongest songs on “Soft Friday.” Wood’s vocals and harmonies complement the bassline and ethereal quality of the other instruments extremely well, making this one of the tracks that listeners will remember long after the album is over.
“Let the Sun Go” segues into “No Ladder,” which, similar to “Beatings,” is an enjoyable listen but fails to be catchy enough to stick around in the listener’s mind.
“Cast a Shadow,” the other single from the album, dropped on Jan. 14. This track is a lackluster lapse in the album’s quality and is repetitive to a fault.
Following “Cast a Shadow” is “Fool For Your Face,” an upswing in the album’s quality. The vocals mesh well with the lo-fi guitar and synthesizers. “Trying to keep myself serene,” Wood sings. “My head’s awash with troubled dreams.”
“Soft Friday” concludes with two strong tracks, “Bad Kick to the Heart” and “Wake Up.” “Wake Up” especially gives the album a perfect finishing touch; Coves definitely waited until the last track to sock readers right in the ear with a flawless guitar riff echoing throughout, matched with breathy vocals.
A triumphant debut, “Soft Friday” has made Coves a lasting and noticeable space in the psychedelic pop genre. While the lyrical content becomes slightly dry, Ridgard’s instruments more than compensate for this, making Ridgard the literal unsung hero of the duo.
Coves will attend the Midpoint Music Festival 2014 on Sept. 25 in the U.S. at various venues.
Elisabeth Siegel (12) is the editor-in-chief of the Winged Post. This is her fourth year in Journalism, and she especially loves production nights and...