Mount Hood

Artist Spotlight: WOU student and poet fuels the art scene

Sam Marshall, a poet, rock climber and The Northwest Passage editor-in-chief

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌

Sam Marshall first started writing poetry at 14; originally drawing inspiration from poets like Edgar Allen Poe, they moved on to experimenting with darker elements and themes in their own writing. The writing process isn’t always an easy one ⏤ and Marshall is no stranger to writer’s block ⏤ but after spending years of writing, revising and keeping old poems to reflect on, they were able to begin building a strong skill set. 

As a young poet from Sherwood, OR, they learned to identify and try out different poetic devices in their works, such as stanza breaks, rhyme and meter. Now, as a senior at Western, they have taken their skills and enthusiasm for the writing process one step further. 

Marshall is an English major with a concentration in literature and a writing minor, and they have utilized the writing skills they developed to good use. This determination earned them the position as editor-in-chief at The Northwest Passage, which is Western’s literary and fine arts magazine compiled of students’ work. 

The latest issue of The Northwest Passage was released fall term, and Marshall gained a lot of valuable experience working with other students while curating it, saying, “I have to thank everyone who submitted their work to the magazine. There was a wide range of submissions, and I tried my best to highlight each individual work while creating a cohesive product that students can enjoy.”

Although most of their writing is private for now, they look forward to the possibility of publishing works one day. They recently wrote a poem called “Can’t Stargaze Under a Cloudy Sky,” which was inspired by their experiences while stargazing at the Big Dipper and finding comfort in the vast night sky. Given time, they learned what worked for their writer’s block and what didn’t, and found that the right words will come to the writer when they want to.

Marshall elaborates on their work when they were younger, stating, “[Edgar Allen] Poe is still one of my favorites … there’s substance in pain and melancholy, and I found it easier to write with those kinds of themes. I still write in that same vein of melancholy. I find it difficult to write anything happier than bittersweet.” 

When they aren’t writing, Marshall can be found reading, rock climbing, finishing up online classes, listening to music and working on The Northwest Passage.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu 

Artist Spotlight with musician Neal Cranston

A Western student and musician with many talents 

Natalie Dean | Entertainment Editor

While majoring in history and minoring in geography at Western, senior Neal Cranston has still been able to build himself a strong audience for his music over the years. Cranston taught himself how to play the guitar, harmonica and has continuously developed 14 years of experience with the piano. He regularly explores different areas of music, but the piano is his favorite instrument to play. Cranston said he learned to “train the ear to play what you hear;” he admits it’s not the most traditional route to go when mastering instruments, but it’s kept his passion for music alive because of its organic roots.

He first found his passion for music in the third grade, where he began teaching himself to play piano by ear. He was first drawn to music on his own and spent time at home in Canby, OR ⏤ where he trained his ear to pick out melodies and practiced his piano skills. After he started honing his talents in different music genres and gaining more experience, a family friend encouraged him to take lessons and explore the scales on the piano. 

The years of his hard work have paid off, with his talents booking him in-person gigs at restaurants, weddings and wineries. Cranston described one of his favorite experiences which occurred last December. He was playing Christmas music on a beautiful grand piano at a winery and saw CJ McCollum from the Portland Trailblazers in the audience. 

When he isn’t playing for venues or famous basketball players, Cranston works on his own music, and even released his first single, “Make it Without You,” this September on all streaming platforms.

With help from some friends, he was able to record and produce this single that incorporates old school rock with a modern vibe. He wrote the lyrics in a few days and crafted the rest of the song for a few months before releasing it, taking time to make sure the song stayed true to his rock roots and live band feel, while also taking influence from modern music.

Along with developing more albums and EPs, Cranston is also curating music that highlights his strengths in piano and other instruments. He hopes to release more music that incorporates raw human feelings and experiences, as he believes that “there’s a lot of power inside the human aspects of music.”

These days, Cranston can be found performing socially distanced shows at certain local restaurants and venues, like Wayward Sandwiches in Canby, OR. If he’s not performing in person, he’s probably developing his website, or posting more music on his YouTube page, Neal Cranston. Make sure to keep up with new songs, shows and interactive posts on his Instagram @neal_cranston_music.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu