Light and Lyrics to present 1st concert, discuss current issues

A new student organization, Light and Lyrics, will bring together music and people in hopes of stimulating conversation as it presents its first artistic event, a concert featuring local band True Story and student singer/songwriters Jonah Malarsky and Christine Papania.

Junior Loren Gurman, one of the Light and Lyrics founders, said he and his co-founder, junior Holt Clark, wanted a more relaxed climate in which to discuss social issues.

“We’re trying to do so in a not-in-your-face manner,” Gurman said. “Our job is just to produce the events through the arts. ... We don’t ever want to force an agenda on an artist and say, ‘Could you please say this?’”

Clark agreed, saying the group is open to all issues.

“If they have some kind of social message behind them, what happens is the people get talked at,” Clark said. “What we wanted to do was more talk with these people.”

Though it’s still in its infancy, Light and Lyrics’ founders have big plans for the group, which has a handful of members and a mailing list of about 60 people.

“We’re talking about having some meet the artist nights,” Gurman said, adding that their events will include the arts beyond music, including fine and performing arts. “We’re also wanting to have workshops.”

These workshops might include topics such as learning to sculpt, Gurman said.

“We’ve got a handful of really interested, passionate people,” he said. “I think that’s really something, considering we haven’t done anything yet.”

As for potential sponsors, the group is open to many different organizations, including Middle Way House, the Muslim Student Union and the Commission on Multicultural Understanding, Gurman and Clark said.

They plan to have a wide variety of sponsors for each event, Gurman said.

“I think that we’re open to anything,” Gurman said. “I would like to keep it pretty diverse.”

While they will not focus on one area, such as religion or politics, other organizations will hopefully get involved as well, Gurman said.

“We were hoping to do something with the College Democrats and the College Republicans,” Clark said.

The performers are as important as the issues. Gurman emphasized that they want high-quality shows.

“Right now, it’s just kind of through social connections,” Clark said. “We’re trying to find local artists that people want to see.”

Owen Stevenson, a senior and vocalist and guitarist for True Story, is one example of those social connections, having met Gurman in a class last year.

“He just called me over the summer and asked if True Story would be interested in playing,” Stevenson said, explaining that the band plays largely R&B and soul-rock music. “We collaborate on all the cover medleys we do.”

As for the band’s musical inspiration, Stevenson gave a metaphor.

“We love the classics like Earth, Wind & Fire, Chicago. ... The new Jason Mraz album has totally inspired me in new ways,” he said, referring to the album “We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things.” “If John Mayer and John Legend had a kid, it would be True Story.”

As for their first production, Clark and Gurman are confident they have chosen good musicians and a popular location in Dunn Meadow.

“It’s going to be a good time,” Clark said. “You will have fun.”