Name: Simon Osako and Olivia Heller
Hometown: Cedar Rapids, IA and West Des Moines, IA
Year: Senior
Field(s) of Study:
Simon: Marketing
Olivia: Communications, Minor in Cinema, Event Management Certificate
SCOPE Position: General Manager and Assistant General Manager
Spotify Playlist
SCOPE Selects: Simon and Olivia Spotify Playlist
The Deep Cuts
Simon:
What I’ve curated is, I think, a wonderful mix of what I’ve been looping recently, but also some classics that always seem to sneak their way into my rotation. A common theme, however, I always find myself pulled towards is music that is tastefully odd—I think that’s why I’m a huge Arca fan, but I’m just a huge sucker for some weird and quality production, composition, and something super danceable. I’m not made to be a Hozier listener—I struggle to keep engaged if a song lacks a strong repetitive bass, which I view as the spine of the song, and everyone knows it’s probably best practice to have a spine. Outside of that, I think my music taste really is influenced by the CDs I would constantly play in my car during high school. Waking the Witch is a song I would love to be able to experience for the first time again. Also, Sly by Massive Attack is another high school fav of mine, and it’s so criminally a B-side.
Olivia:
Feel-good end of summer songs : )
Three Favorite Albums
Simon:
Entroducing by DJ Shadow
The Dreaming by Kate Bush
Vespertine by Björk
Olivia:
These change so often, but recently I’ve been into:
Erotica by Madonna
Comfort To Me by Amyl and the Sniffers
Worst Girl In America by Slayyyter
Favorite Concert Experience
Simon:
I usually talk about my Björk concert when answering this question, but another experience I come back to when I think about good live music is actually an organ concert. I remember being in Iceland and stumbling into a cathedral in Reykjavik, and as I was sitting on the pews, admiring the architecture, suddenly a bunch of people started filling into the hall. Obviously curious, I waited around to see what the buzz was, and an organ concert eventually started. Besides the just beautiful arrangement of chords, I loved sitting in that room with a bunch of random Scandinavians because, even though we couldn’t really communicate with one another, we were all there to listen to one instrument—I think that really speaks to the power of music to bring people together.
Oliva:
Lollapalooza this past Summer was an incredible experience, I got to go with a few SCOPErs and friends for 3 of the 4 festival days. Seeing huge artists like Between Friends, Monaleo, Audrey Hobert, Ninajirachi, Muna (3rd time!!!!!), and Charli XCX was genuinely insane and I loved getting to share it with my fellow friends & SCOPErs!!!!! Slayyyter brought me to tears several times too it was lit.
Hobbies / Interests / Fun Facts / Campus Involvement
Simon:
I think my main hobby right now is cooking. I’ve been really into making pickles this summer, and I’m oh so sad the produce season is coming to a wrap. I also enjoy writing (poetry specifically), and repairing watches! Outside of SCOPE, I’m a digital marketing associate, working with social media reporting and analysis.
Oliva:
I’ve been on my crafting game in an insane way this year so lots of DIY projects, collages, upcycling, and home decor for chophouse <3. I also DJ on KRUI with my cohost Mary on Face4Radio every Tuesday 9-10 am, check us out!!! Reality TV, specifically Vanderpump Rules, is becoming a major sector of my media consumption, so I’ve been clocking in excessive hours on Bravo shoutout Andy Cohen. Ooh also I’m a barista at Prairie Lights Cafe!