6 • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
CAMPUS
THURSDAY,FEBRUARY 20,2003
Student hosts her'dream'goth show
By Justin LaMort
jiamort@kansan.com
Jayplay staff writer
Meredith Vacek, a DJ at KJHK, says the local music scene means a lot to her. The DJ said she hopes to one day use her German degree to help talent scouts search for new bands in German-speaking countries.
For Meredith Vacek, Lawrence junior, the road to becoming a KJHK disc jockey wasn't always an easy one.
During her freshman year, she and a friend applied for jobs at KJHK and were flatly rejected, she said.
Brandon Baker/Kansan
Her friend gave up, but Vacek tried again and got a job on the production staff that summer.
A year and a half later she is hosting her own show, Dreamers and Liars, on Thursdays from midnight to 2 a.m.
Vacek, who goes by the name DJ Sapho on her show, also manages the daily operations of the station — imposing her musical tastes on the masses and fields the blame when something goes wrong.
Vacek's show features a wide range of less-than-mainstream music. She labels her show the industrial and goth show,but it also includes electronic body music dark electro, synth pop, power noise, dark wave, death rock and experimental electronic.
DREAMERS AND LIARS
Vacek said those types of music attracted her because of the political messages the music carried - racial equality, anti-consumerism, anti-conformity and
Catch Meredith Vacek on Dreamers and Liars from midnight to 2 a.m. every Thursday on KJHK and at her appearances At The Pool Room,925 Iowa St.,on Feb.27 and March 29.
animal rights.
Electronic body music, dark electro and synth pop are all forms of dance music. The beats are simple, and the lyrics range from silly to serious topics such as art, politics and social commentary.
"Goth is rock-oriented and is surrounded with Romantic, Gothic and Victorian themes and has an aesthetic that appeals to me," Vacek said.
Vacek said KJHK meant everything to her because it supported the local music scene, groups and businesses. She said KJHK did not have a marketing panel determining its play lists or a corporate CEO to answer to.
"That is very important to me," she said. "It means I don't have to violate my principles to work at KJHK and I can throw my whole heart into it."
Mark Hurst, a fellow DJ at KJHK and Philadelphia sophomore, said he enjoyed working with Vacek.
"I find that she is committed, dependable and very inventive, but her voice and
opinion are not respected or credited enough," he said. "I hope to see what she does in the future. I'm sure it would be spectacular."
Vacek said she enjoyed working for a radio station that didn't play just Top 20 hits.
She does not have any solid plans for the
future, she said, but wants to continue being a DJ. Someday she wants use her German degree to help talent scouts search for new bands in German-speaking countries.
Edited by Andrew Ward and Michelle Burhenn
Fashion show to feature new, fresh designs
By Beth Braunsdorf
bbraunsdorf@kansan.com
Jayplay staff writer
Have you ever seen a model wear an entire outfit made of paper? What about bed sheets and stuffed animals? These are just some of the eccentric fashions that area designers will show off Saturday in Detour: A Fashion Show.
The show has no theme but focuses on a spring and summer 2003 frame. It will feature 11 area designers whose collections have wild names like Viloux, Halitosis and Electric Graffiti.
Three KU students, Ashlee Hall, Amanda Luginbill and Sarah Stiefel, organized the event.
"No designer who was interested was denied." Hall said.
The show will feature about 50 models. Three of them model professionally Designers choose their own models.As for designs there will be between 50 and 60
pieces including swimwear, lingerie and sundresses.
Hall said that the different styles and works spoke about the unique lives of each designer.
"I know designers using natural dyes and a textile student who is making her own materials," she said.
Even the music for the show will be customized. Josh Powers, Overland Park junior, also known as DJ sceneboostersoundsystem, met with each designer. Hall said the music enhanced the mood and speed of the different collections.
Hall said their love of fashion inspired them to produce Detour. Stiefel and Hall also enjoyed theater in high school.
"Josh is very talented," Hall said. "The music he plays will be something that people haven't encountered before."
"We had a lot of area connections, and got new interest after we posted flyers," Hall said.
Neither of these girls are majorine in
www.urbanent.com
fashion or design.
Hall is majoring in American Studies, Luginbill is in business and Stiefel is a graduate student who majored in German.
"We really are doing it for fun," Hall said.
Designers will have pieces on sale the following week at Spectators, 710 Massachusetts St.
"It will give them an opportunity to sell pieces, make money, gain experience and hopefully some new accounts," Hall said.
"The rehearsal went really well," Hall, Merriam junior, said. "I realize that it will work itself out and be incredible."
They held a dressed rehearsal at the show's location, Raoul's Velvet Room, 815 New Hampshire St. on Sunday.
The three chose Raoul's because of the space and availability. Hall said it would bring people to a new and different venue.
The set-up for the show is not a conventional catwalk. Hall said it was a custom-built raised platform.
"The audience will be looking slightly up
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or down at the models," Hall said. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the program starts at 8 p.m.Raoul's seats about 200 people.
Stiefel, Kentucky graduate student and one of the producers, said that the money would go back to those involved.
"The designers are all volunteers, and we are hoping just to break even," she said.
"Around the Midwest and small college towns it's hard to find unique fashion." Hogue said. "Detour sounds like a great creative outlet for designers and a new way to support local fashion students and designers."
Margie Hogue, Pittsburg junior, said she would try to attend the show.
Hogue said the fashion show would be new and fresh to Lawrence.
"People need to be open to other ideas of creativity and fashion," she said.
For more information, go to the show's Web site at www.detourfashionshow.com.
The audience will be looking slightly up . . . . .
—Edited by Andrew Ward