Taylor Waterman



Projects by Taylor Waterman

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. 

Apple Reveals the Apple Watch- A Huge Leap in Wearable Technology

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

Media Contacts
Archie Messinger
messingermess@gmail.com

Phoebe Hyun
phhyun@iu.edu

Taylor Waterman
twaterm@iu.edu

Apple Reveals the Apple Watch- A Huge Leap in Wearable Technology 

Cupertino, CA-  Today, in front of a massive crowd Apple’s CEO Tim Cook revealed the “next chapter in Apple’s story” the Apple Watch. With this enormous unraveling, Apple instantly set a new standard for wearable technology. During the big reveal, Tim Cook demonstrated how the Apple Watch is designed to seamlessly integrate with everyday life. It provides a powerful, intuitive, and stylish device that enhances how users communicate, track their health, and interact with the world. “Apple Watch is the most personal device we’ve ever created,” said Cook. “It reimagines what a watch can do, connecting technology with people in a way that feels natural and essential.” According to Tim Cook, this new innovative device is intended for everyday use with features that assist in communication, and health tracking as well as a plethora of other day-to-day uses. In addition, Apple’s new device has applications that assist with navigation and give users discreet messages when they receive messages. The Apple Watch has a range of adjustable bands and materials, such as 18-karat gold, stainless steel, and aluminum. The device also offers the option of interchangeable bands that allow for personalization, offering a variety of styles, including the Milanese Loop, Leather Loop, and Sport Band. This attention to detail demonstrates Apple’s keen marketing tactics and Apple to keep users fascinated.

Young Woman Using Apple Watch during studies.
Kassidy Allen, a student at IU, is referencing her new Apple Watch while planning her week in Ballantine Hall.

The Apple Watch isn’t just a timepiece but a comprehensive health and fitness tool that can help you track and control your health while attaining your fitness goals. “Apple Watch motivates people to live a healthier life,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Operations. “It provides the kind of insights and encouragement that were previously only available through dedicated fitness devices. By flicking your wrist, one can send and receive messages, make calls, and receive notifications thanks to the device’s seamless integration with the iPhone. Also, Siri is implemented within the watch, providing voice-activated support for tasks like using Apple Maps for navigation, creating reminders, and checking the weather. Many Apple devices such as iPhones and Macs easily pair with the Apple Watch, forming a connection that improves convenience, and productivity. Early in 2015, the Apple Watch will be on sale for $349. To accommodate varying tastes and lifestyles, it will be available in three collections: Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport, and Apple Watch Edition. Security and safety are a major priority with Apple’s new innovative device. The device’s “Tap to pay” or Apple Pay capabilities allow secure, contactless payments directly from the wrist while requiring biometric authentication for enhanced protection as well as other security methods. The Apple Watches contactless payment capabilities are a major step in the future of digital transactions as well as the future of secure payments. 

Woman using Smartwatch.
Jennifer Blotkamp ,a professor at Bloomington, uses her Apple watch to check when her class starts. She is preparing for her next lecture.

The Apple Watch has many partners such as Nike, Twitter, and American Airlines, showcasing the diversity of Apple Watch in various industries. Many institutes can utilize the Apple watch to make a plethora of tasks more affordable and effortless.  From fitness tracking to travel and social networking, the Apple Watch can use its many applications to assist working people in accomplishing their career goals and aspirations.  The new Apple Watch is a bold step forward in technology for a variety of reasons such as advancements in navigation, healthcare, fitness, and communication. The introduction of the Apple Watch demonstrates Apple’s dedication to innovation and pushing the limits of what technology can accomplish to improve daily living.  The Apple watch will surely revolutionize the industry and possibly the way humans interact with each other in the future. Apple’s position as one of the most significant tech corporations globally has been cemented by its unrelenting pursuit of innovation, and the reveal of the innovative Apple Watch proves this even further.

Tim Cook unveils exciting surprise during the Apple event in Cupertino California. What was originally supposed to be an event about the new iPhone, turned into a thrilling reveal of Apple’s latest product, the Apple Watch. 

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