This column is a part of a series of alums reflecting on their time at The Eagle in celebration of our 100th anniversary. If you would like to submit a column, visit this page. The Eagle is also fundraising to support its future. If you’d like to give a donation to support The Eagle, please consider doing so here.
I’ll be the first to admit that my time at The Eagle was unique because of the pandemic. I unlocked a new way to freely express my passion for music by writing articles and sharing my musical interests with my colleagues at The Life section. Interacting with other people while working at The Eagle helped me keep my sanity during the pandemic. Despite working from home during the pandemic, I made friends during my time at The Eagle who I still have to this day.
I created many musical playlists during the pandemic that I was proud of. The playlists gave my colleagues a sense of my musical taste, which has continued to evolve ever since. Creating my playlists also gave me an outlet to express myself that I may not have had otherwise. I discovered artists such as Maggie Rogers, Doja Cat, BENEE and Leon Bridges, all of whom I would not have discovered if it weren’t for The Eagle.
I will also cherish getting to see Bruce Hornsby in concert a week before having to go home to Connecticut due to the pandemic. The photo I took of the empty concert hall felt like a foreshadowing moment. I am glad it was the photo chosen for my article because the Strathmore Music Hall would be empty for months to come. Little did I know my writing would take off in ways I would never have imagined.
One of my favorite pandemic memories was writing a review of Taylor Swift’s “Folklore” album for The Eagle. “Folklore” gave me a window into the concept of a song trilogy. I noticed a change of direction in Swift’s music and later came to realize how large Swift’s cultural impact was. I learned the ways in which fans tried to decode every lyric and really invested themselves in her music.
I also wrote an article about Bruce Springsteen’s album “Letter to You.” Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get the opportunity to write about someone whose music I have easily listened to the most out of any artist. Writing the article was also memorable because throughout 2020, I enjoyed fun moments and laughter with my friends and colleagues who loved my poster of Springsteen’s “Darkness on the Edge of Town” album cover.
When I went back to D.C. in 2021, I focused more on music events at the University while working on my interviewing skills. The virtual concerts I covered were my favorite virtual events to write about. Most importantly, my final article showcased my growth in writing throughout my tenure at The Eagle.
Lastly, I enjoyed the opportunities I had to meet my colleagues and friends in person. Even though the pandemic limited these opportunities, they were fun when they came and we built memories filled with laughter and conversations. My time at The Eagle was my best working experience to this day.
Thomas Recchio SPA/BA ‘21, MPA ‘22 was a staff writer and music editor for The Eagle from 2020 to 2021.
