257 STUDENT SPOTLIGHT DESIGNED BY DELLA RHODES Jackson Edwards finds his place in the Harding community through his love for music. WE WILL ROCK YOU Sophomore Jackson Edwards sings at the concert on Jan. 29, 2022. He was the lead singer for the band Zashed. Photo by: Kaitlyn Cutshall SOPHOMORE TRANSFER STUDENT JACKSON EDWARDS immersed himself into the Harding community. On Jan. 29, 2022, Edwards’ metal band, Zashed, performed a free concert at the Center on the Square in downtown Searcy. Edwards was a transfer student from Southeast Missouri State University, but he was not new to Searcy. He grew up attending Harding Academy, and his father, Dr. Lee Edwards, was a faculty member at the University. Jackson Edwards said he was grateful to have made the decision to transfer to Harding after being welcomed with kindness and support from the Harding community. Lee Edwards said he was excited his son transferred to Harding for many reasons. “I knew that he would find a group of people at Harding that would accept him, challenge him, nurture him and love him,” Lee Edwards said. “I’ve been at Harding as a student or employee for 18 years of my life, and I know that what makes us special are the people here.” One way that Jackson Edwards dove into the community was through his music. Jackson Edwards said he had been interested in music his whole life, and, while his decision to return to Searcy was not solely because of his band, he was excited to be in closer proximity to his bandmates. Zashed had four members: Jackson Edwards on vocals, Ian Daughety on lead guitar, Jacob Ash on bass, and Beckham King on drums. Jackson Edwards was the only member that attended Harding. Zashed formed in July 2021. The name Zashed was formed as a result of their favorite pizza-eating spot, the Pizza Shed. They combined the end of “pizza” with the word “shed.” Jackson Edwards said their band was very legitimate, but they did not put too much pressure on themselves. “We don’t take ourselves too seriously,” Jackson Edwards said. “We chose not to partake in the normal metal band approach, because that can include a lot of aspects, in both look and sound, that we do not personally resonate with.” The concert was popular among several in Searcy’s community including several Harding students. Kayla Hallmark, a freshman, said she enjoyed Zashed because of more than just their performance on stage. “I enjoyed Zashed, because it is very evident that they are friends before they are bandmates,” Hallmark said. “They work so well together. Their chemistry is unmatched, and that makes their performances all the better.” Hallmark added that she could see how Zashed had already been welcomed into campus. “We are on a campus with students that love concerts and are welcoming to all genres of music, and it’s great to see opportunities like Zashed concerts,” Hallmark said. Lee Edwards said that he was proud of his son’s band, and he believed their hard work showed in their performance. “The band has so much enthusiasm when it comes to sharing their music and talent with the Harding community,” Lee Edwards said. “I’m proud of Zashed. I’ve seen the concentrated effort he and his bandmates have put into the band, and in particular the few shows that they have played. As a parent, it is so rewarding to watch my child put himself into something head first, to just go for it.” WRITTEN BY BONNIE SPANN PEDAL TO THE METAL
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==