Elise Sensabaugh



Projects by Elise Sensabaugh

Journalism Story

Up and Coming Band ‘New Semantics’ dives into World of Indie Rock

By Elise Sensabaugh, John Doyle and Laila Baluk

BLOOMINGTON, IN (April 3, 2025)

In the basement of a Bloomington home, surrounded by cords, amps and holiday lights, four IU students found something rare: a collective harmony of creative expression. 

It is not just musical harmony, but one formed when four like-minded students came together at the perfect moment. After meeting in a jazz ensemble and house party, New Semantics was born into what they described as a “DIY Indie Band,” formed from a real connection and the need to create an exciting outlet for its members and fans. New Semantics is a refreshing return to authenticity in a musical generation that feels artificial and overproduced. Their sound is pieced together with spontaneous beats and organic flow, fueled by their wish to be unique, unlike other bands. Their music moves and breathes as they try to create music that means something. “I knew a few good guys who wanted to get together,” says Rocco Fugate, the band’s frontman and guitarist. “All the songs come to life here when we all get together, that’s the magic.” 

Guitarist Rocco Fugate excitedly waits for his cue to join in song alongside his bandmates. Fugate also plays for Real Peak and appreciates the artistic freedom that comes with these collectives.

This band creation came from making something out of nothing, overcoming challenges, and using each person’s skill set to become one. Their first show, held in a makeshift venue in their own rehearsal space and band member’s home, drew a much larger crowd than expected. They had an excellent turnout, and the crowd had a great time overall. Jack Buinicki, a New Semantics base player, said he felt “it went splendid” while smiling ear to ear. Buinicki met Fugate in an all-campus jazz combo at Indiana University and then decided to play alongside him during winter break.  Despite being full-time IU students with hectic schedules, they continue to find time to make the band succeed. Buinicki admits scheduling is challenging, but said “[they] have gotten good at communicating to schedule things, and [they] are pretty on top of those things.” Buinicki’s passion for music started when he was 11 years old while he played viola in his school’s orchestra. He didn’t pick up the base until his senior year of high school and missed the passion of playing with a collective. Now, he and the rest of the New Semantics have found their place, not just in followers or fame but as part of something greater.

Jack Buinicki’s concentration on playing bass is fueled by the musical passion he’s had since he was young. Buinicki hopes to continue this work throughout college.

New Semantics gets a thrill from creating unique pieces as a team, which makes this band stand out the most as a listener. The band’s name came from a heated conversation about language and meaning between two members. Fugate originally pitched Turpentine Cheese Wheel and Connor’s Secret Girlfriend as their band name. These options served more as inside jokes among the group and didn’t welcome their audience as much as they wanted them to. His friends were on board, but eventually, someone threw out  “Semantics” and it stuck. Because “Semantics” was taken on Spotify, the group decided to throw “New” in front of it, which fields their band’s goal of creating a revived meaning to their style- music, words, and how they connect as a collective. 

Redefining meaning is built into everything this band continues to work towards. Their sound consists of a blend of a Modest Mouse style, a rock band, and classic indie rock. Buinicki admitted that “it’s a little bit of country, too.” They aren’t easily categorized, but that is a part of the point they are making. They’re carving out a space in the music world for something different that doesn’t fit into just one category. 

The collaborative energy they hold is what makes their performances matter. Their debut was only a few weeks ago, and as they continue to build their sound, they will face challenges in navigating and combining everyone’s unique skills and ideas. New Semantics had an unexpectedly exciting first performance and experienced an electric connection between the other two bands, Daytripper and Real Peak. It faded away the struggles of student life and became an essential moment in continuing to build their band. They were able to hold their first gig when they asked around other local bands and found the best place to launch their passion. Fugate has experience playing for another band, and the New Semantic’s lead guitarist Maxwell Woehler offered their practice space and made it happen. 

Maxwell Woehler happily leads the band on vocals, piano and often guitar. He continues to welcome the band into his space week after week.

New Semantics has two more performances on the calendar- April 11th and 25th- as they begin planning their next move for the summer. This band is the kind of brand that is ever-evolving each day. They’re imperfect and unsure but use this to curate the perfect sound and team. New Semantics is redefining it in the world of music that often feels only focused in one direction, making their music worth listening to. They are unknowingly creating a message for artists that it’s freeing to create something imperfect, something entirely new. 

 

https://youtu.be/Yde34lPBAec?si=ZVoBFMXP7qpyZSH

Public Relations Story

The Future of Wearable Tech

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:
Brynn Schwartzman, schwarb@iu.edu
Elise Sensabaugh, ejsensab@iu.edu
Elle Schuermann, elschuer@iu.edu

 

Release Date:

September 9, 2014

[CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA] – Apple CEO, Tim Cook, announced the company’s new products, Apple Watch, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus at Apple’s Spring Forward event on Tuesday. 

Apple Watch is a digital age watch that comes equipped with multiple features made to make its users lives easier. Packed with new cutting-edge technology, Apple Watch comes in three distinct collections–Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch Edition. Provided with the watch will be a band that is available in two different wrist sizes–38 mm and 42 mm. Each collection is designed to be water resistant and can last up to eighteen hours of battery life. 

When purchasing this item included in the box will be a magnetic charging cable, USB power adaptors and quick start guide. Features on the product include a heart rate sensor, accelerometer, and gyroscope all along with one of the watches most notable features, its language support and diction variety that spans languages spoken across five continents. This makes Apple Watch one of the company’s most innovative advancements in Apple history. 

“Apple introduced the world to several technically-defining products, the Mac, iPod, iPhone and iPad,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “And once again Apple is poised to captivate the world with a revolutionary product that can enrich people’s lives. It’s the most personal product we’ve ever made.” 

Indiana University student, Mia Aboukhaled, checks her text messages after returning from class. Her Apple Watch creates an opportunity for efficient, real-time communication without searching for her busy phone.

Apple Watch is extremely customizable allowing its users to express a piece of their personality on their wrist. Apple Watch comes with 11 watch faces ranging from the traditional analog faces to the new faces like the dynamic Timelapse face; the Asonomy face with its realistic and real-time 3D model of the earth, sun, moon, and planets along with different colors and characters from iconic Disney movies across the ages such as original 1930’s Mickey Mouse. Once you slip past the face page, Apple Watch takes you to its own version of the iPhone home page that displays mini icons of all the applications included allowing quick and easy access to all its uses. Apple Watch can be personalized in appearance with the ability to add upcoming events, moon phases and even a health monitor when working out. 

Apple Watch takes advantage of its location on your wrist and allows you to not have to take your phone out of your bag. Smart Replies allows you to quickly start messages and continue where you left off on your iPhone, control your music or your Apple TV and get directions which along with Digital Touch allows for endless possibilities of interaction and engagement like; sending a sketch, an audio message through Walkie Talkie and even your own heart beat. These groundbreaking innovations are designed to help you build a more efficient life. 

Local middle school educator, Megan Morseth, gears up for her daily run after a long day at work. She loves her Apple Watch because it allows her to customize and track her evolving workout with a press of a button.

Apple Watch will be available in three different collections; Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch Edition. Apple Watch and Apple Watch Sport both have a starting price of $349 with the Apple Watch Sport ranging up to $399. Apple Watch, with a polished or space black stainless steel case and a choice of straps; Apple Watch Sport, with a space gray or silver anodized aluminum case and Sport band. Apple Watch Edition, made with an 18-karat rose or yellow gold and a choice of straps exclusive to this collection, has a starting price of $10,000 and goes up to $17,000. Apple Watch straps include the Sport Band in black, blue, green, pink, and white; the Classic Buckle in black and midnight blue; the Leather Loop in bright blue, light brown and stone; the Modern Buckle in midnight blue, brown, soft pink, rose gray and bright red; the Milanese Loop in stainless steel; and the Link Bracelet in brushed stainless steel and polished space black. 

Apple CEO Tim Cook also announced the company’s new iPhone, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus which can be paired with the new breakthrough Apple Watch. The two devices will be running on the latest version of the IOS 8 along with the iPhone 5, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s; all phones that are also compatible with Apple Watch.