Tristan Williams performs his original songs dressed as A Him Named Slickback.
Students gathered around Brookhaven’s International Courtyard for a Halloween themed music festival. Attendees walked to enjoy the music and the activities. Some students went dressed as different characters for the costume contest, while others kept things casual.
Before the music began on Halloween Eve, students enjoyed pumpkin carving and coloring pages as the stage was getting ready for the performers. Then the first band was announced, alternative emo band Stone Heart. The band members, Adakin Nickels, Lev Wright and Marvin West, all came up dressed for the event. The band performed songs such as “The Tree,” “99 Hours,” “Rapture” and a cover song by My Chemical Romance titled “I Don’t Love You.” The crowd applauded the band, cheered and yelled for an encore. So, as a final sendoff they covered a song by The Smashing Pumpkins, “Bullet with Butterfly Wings.”
The next performer was Tristan Williams, known by his artist tag Afro Jamz. He talked about the album he was working on and performed original songs such as “Vices & Virtues” and “Exotic.” After the quick and hype inducing music, Juan Gomez, a Dallas College staff member, brought environmental music to the festival. Before his performance, he explained the significance of the Inca Flute and what it means to him. Gomez had played music since high school and he went on to explain how he came from Peru, put his music career on pause and picked it back up three weeks prior to the music festival. He performed “El Condor Pasa” or “The Guardian” with a background of environmental sounds, such as running water.
An intermission followed Gomez’s performance. Nyellie sung a short track titled “Melic” as a break song.
Then the costume contest began. There was a total of five contestants. Williams as Slickback from The Boondocks, Matthew Avalos as Leatherface from the Texas Chainsaw Series, Nicholas Gomez as Venom Snake; and Jack Servin as Deadpool. The audience cheered as their vote for who had the best costume. At the end of the contest, Williams was crowned as the champion.
After the costume contest and a little bit more socializing, the next band set the stage as the audience welcomed Nadia Elise. Much like Stone Heart, the band members came dressed for the event. Elise kicks off with incredible jazz-style music. Elise performed original songs such as “Madelyn,” “Red,” “CATASTROPHE,” “Still Cry” and “Over & Over.” Elise would tip off the audience for “CATASTROPHE,” a newly released song and “Still Cry” an upcoming song that is set to be released in her album next year. Elise’s performance was loved by the audience, leaving them wanting more. Williams, a self-taught producer, who stood back and watched the performance, gave advice to Elise about holding the mic. He gave a final word to Elise, “You can be good at using the instrument: it’s the soul behind it.”
The slow tender music would continue with Pixie Athena who, sang original songs including “Power,” “Forbidden,” and the final song introduced the nights first collaboration as she would sing “Envy,” with the help of Myloh Remora who would take the stage after. Remora would ramp up the scene to fast paced, rap centered music. Afterwards, another fast-paced artist, Demon Feet took the stage. He would hype up the crowd and guide them into a mosh pit, saying, “Start running!” Demon Feet would move the crowd physically and emotionally. His songs consisted of fast or loud ones, such as “Murder Waves” and “GOD,” mixed with upbeat tones and then slower, more tender tunes such as “IC.”
To continue the fast and loud music, My Breathing Remedy showcased hardcore metal music. The band moved the crowd much like Demon Feet did. Their song list consisted of “Song 1,” “Song 2,” “Song 3” and finished their set a their fourth song, “Pray for Plagues.” The next artist to perform was Rennis Jackson starting off with a cover of the song “Unforgettable.” Rennis then flowed with his own songs, including an alphabet song but with his own twist to each letter.
Nyellie, the last soloist, would contribute to the slow, tender music with her song, “life goes on” and a cover of “Luna” by the Smashing Pumpkins. The festival would end with the band, Terrorize the Neighborhood. The dual strumming of the bass and electric guitars, loud beats and vocals from the drums and the band members concluded the event.
The Sound Society Music Club called the event a success with a very active and engaged audience. With the help of the Student Government Association, they were able to set everyone in the mood just in time for Halloween. SGA President Emmanuella Iwuji said, “SGA does a lot of partnerships with clubs to better engage with campus engagement.” She went on to say big plans are ahead for the school year, with a possible event planned for Christmas.
