Lauren Wainwright



Projects by Lauren Wainwright

Journalism Story

Local band sparks listener’s interest with new sounds at The Bishop

By Lauren Wainwright, Chloe LaVelle and Taylor Waterman 

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.  (April 3, 2025)

Electric energy surged through The Bishop on the night of March 21, 2025. The DIY noise rock band, Mourning Star, took the stage, striking a chord with the audience. 

But for the audience, it was more than just a concert. 

It was an immersive experience showcasing noise rock’s raw, unfiltered spirit. Founded by Thom Kitchel and Anna Pregger, Mourning Star has become a beacon for those seeking music beyond the polished. They offer a sound that’s as much about connection and inspiration as it is about the music itself. Even being down a drummer for the performance, the members were able to compensate. Nova Hardie moved to the drums while Pregger played bass and sang. Mason Taylor was one of many Bloomington community members at The Bishop that night.  “They had a loud encompassing sound that like I just haven’t heard from anywhere else,” Taylor said.

Mourning Star group photo
After an intense band practice on March 20, 2025, Anna Pregger, Thom Kitchel and Nova Hardie walk to the local Village Pantry and purchase some snacks. On the walk, the band discussed their plans for the next performance. Photo by Taylor Waterman.

In just one short year,  Mourning Star has rapidly grown in prominence. “I don’t know if I would call it a rise to fame. It’s been very fast, but it’s also been very satisfying,” Kitchel said. What began as a small hobby has now become something much bigger. The band has been booking three shows a month and is preparing for out-of-state gigs in the coming months.  

While booking shows is critical to their growing success, the true test for any band lies in its dynamic. For Mourning Star, this cohesion is essential. “Our dynamic, I think we work very well. I think that when we perform live, we are really good at it; even if there are little mistakes, we are really good at recovering from those,” Pregger said. Pregger can recall only one instance where the band had to completely reset during a performance—a testament to their strong chemistry and adaptability. But band dynamics don’t happen overnight. “I remember our first ever practice, it was in a garage and we practiced and it was just like ‘oh boy we got a long way to go, ’” Kitchel said.

Thom Kitchel tuning his guitar
Thom Kitchel meddles with the guitar tuning before band practice at band member Anna Pregger’s house on March 20, 2025. With practice starting, the band prepared to execute new sounds. Photo by Taylor Waterman.

A band has to start from somewhere, it starts with a passion. For Pregger, the dream of forming a band began years earlier, in high school, when she first encountered the DIY music scene. “Hearing that other people could start it with just nothing, just make like garage band music just like in the car, that was very inspirting to me. Throughout high school, I would just make, like, really not good-sounding things, but I would do just sorta the same thing. And I was like, maybe I can actually do this one day,” Pregger said.  While she dabbled in music creation throughout high school, it wasn’t until she encountered other college bands and started collaborating with Kitchel that she truly believed it was possible to create something of her own. Kitchel, who moved to IU this year, wanted to create a band that created a sound that was conducive to the sound he was envisioning. 

The band goes beyond the music, though, hoping that they can make an impact in the Bloomington scene. Pregger has hope that they have accomplished this goal. “There’s been a couple people that have come up to us after shows who have seen us, and they have been like ‘Wow, you guys make us want to start a band.’ And that’s been sorta crazy to me, and that’s made me want to perform more to inspire people’s goals because like the way that I got inspired was seeing other college students being in bands and being like, oh yeah, I could be able to do that.” Pregger said.

Anna Pregger playing her bass
Anna Pregger sways and plays her bass at band practice on March 20, 2025. Down a band member, she worked to make this performance loud and powerful. Photo by Taylor Waterman.

While fame is on the minds of many bands, Pregger has other ideas. “I don’t need to be a big band to be happy. I just want to play with bands that I really like.” Pregger said. The Bloomington scene is shaping up to be a launching pad for the band’s continued success, but the foundation for Mourning Star’s journey lies in their shared passion for creating music that resonates with them. It’s not just about the noise they make on stage, but it’s about the moments of connection that form both within the band and with their growing community of fans. 

 

Mourning Star caught the attention of their audience on March 21, 2025, at The Bishop Bar in Bloomington, Indiana. Beginning in 2024, the noise rock band reflected on their successes and hopes for the future. 

Public Relations Story

Apple Announces ‘New’ Apple Watch

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Apple Announces ‘New’ Apple Watch

Media Contacts
Brady Owen
Lauren Wainwright
Jordan Shane

CUPERTINO, California (Sept. 9, 2024) – Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook revealed the new Apple Watch, the first wearable device in its catalogue, with a sleek design for personalization features.

 Groundbreaking and innovative, the reveal at the Flint Center left the audience in awe with the new standard set for personalization, health tracking, and seamless connectivity all from the wrist. Following the reveal of the iPhone 6 and representing the company’s first entry into wearable technology, As the lights dimmed in the Flint Center for the Performing Arts, an air of anticipation filled the room. The crowd, composed of journalists, tech enthusiasts, and Apple loyalists, murmured with excitement as the massive screen on stage flickered to life. Moments later, Apple CEO Tim Cook walked onto the stage, smiling as he prepared to introduce Apple’s next groundbreaking innovation. 

Apple Watch is available currently in three different collections: Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport, and Apple Watch Edition. Each designed to adapt to different lifestyles, the watches come with a retina display built for its Force Touch and Digital Crown features. Aesthetics and functionality are synchronized for the best possible creation.

Teacher uses watch in class to keep track of time
A math professor at IU admires her Apple Watch for its sleek design and comfortable fit. She uses her watch in class everyday to keep track of time, and class discussions.


Apple Watch has four different pillars of its product. The Sport Band, The Leather Loop, and the Handcrafted Leather Modern Buckle, and the Stainless Steel Link bracelet. “We thought not only of the function,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “but the way it looked.”

“With a design that connects with the wearer at an intimate level. The Sport Band is made from a tough, durable, sweat- and chemical-resistant high-performance elastomer. The Leather Loop comes in a soft quilted leather that conceals magnets for fastening and adjustment. The supple, handcrafted Leather Modern Buckle closes with a solid metal clasp. And the Stainless Steel Link Bracelet has a slim deployment clasp that is contained within a 2.6mm band.”

Fitness Tracking is taken to a new frontier with the applications that the Apple Watch incentivizes. Experiencing technology with this is engaging and rewards progress spent on personal goals.


“Apple builds great products that enrich people’s lives.” Said Tim Cooks. “And arguably, we can take that to a whole new level with Apple Watch.”
“If you’re just someone who wants to be a bit more active, or maybe you just want to track what you’re doing during the day, or perhaps you exercise regularly, or even if you’re a very serious athlete. The Fitness app monitors all of your activity and movement throughout the day. The Workout app allows you to set specific goals for specific types of workouts like cycling or running,”

Student tracks exercise
An IU student checks her Apple Watch to track her exercise for the day. She uses the watch everyday to set exercise goals for herself.

The Activity Rings feature provides users with a visual snapshot of their daily activity, while the Fitness app is offering personalized structure for everyday exercise tracking. No matter the level of intensity the variety of activities will be monitored and managed with engagement of the wearer.

Kevin Lynch, Apple’s Vince President of Technology, demonstrated Apple Watch’s ability to track workouts, and monitor heart rate, also further exemplifying how seamlessly it syncs and interacts with the iPhone.

The announcement was met with magnetic attention, enthusiastic applause, and success in moments of hilarity. The revolution was being televised, and all attendees were highlighting the potential catalyst of this invention to change wearable technology. Technology journalists and analysts were very quick to praise the device’s mix with the iPhone that they also had announced a new product to, and noted its unique blend of fashion and function.
Cook closed the event with a declaration:
“Apple Watch is not just a new product. It’s a new way to experience technology.”

Tim Cook talks about important features and the wearable design of the Apple Watch. 

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