Ninth annual showcase highlights student songwriters

On a recent blustery December night, Panasci Lounge was more reminiscent of a downtown coffee shop than part of the Schine Student Center.

Young musicians chatted by a fireplace, their guitars and ukuleles scattered on couches and nearby tables. They were preparing for the start of the ninth annual Syracuse University Songwriter Showcase, where student songwriters perform original work onstage. The event, which took place at 7 p.m. on Friday, was produced by a seminar class within the Renee Crown University Honors Program appropriately titled “Inside the Words and Music.”

This event has showcased close to 100 songwriters since its inception in 2007, said class instructor and musician Jeffrey Pepper Rogers, and is completely planned and marketed by students in his class.

Television, radio and film senior Olivia Klayman, who performs under the name Liv Kennedy, performed her songs “Dangerous” and “Bad News.” Klayman said she has been writing songs since she age 8. She finds inspiration in artists such as Billie Holiday, Nirvana, Johnny Cash and Sia, and vocally resembles the bluesy vibe of Amy Winehouse.

“All my songs are written from a place of emotional truth,” Klayman said. “Sometimes the plot is fictitious. I try to write songs in such a way that they move the listener.”

A moving performance by student musician I. Ndia highlighted the issue of gun violence and police brutality in the United States. A verse of her song resembled slam poetry: “I am your friend, your ally, your witness. What’s going on? Even Marvin Gaye doesn’t know the answer.”

As many artists can attest, the songwriting process isn’t always easy. Freshman songwriter Jordan Reynoso said she’s been having an artistic block for the past few months, but some much-needed family time and relaxation over the Thanksgiving holiday is helped her move out of it.

“I started a few new songs there and I’m having a show in December, so hopefully that’ll be a good step forward,” Reynoso said. Reynoso works with Syracuse University Recordings to learn the recording side of producing music, and she is also in the process of starting a band.

To be considered for the showcase, artists submitted links to their Soundcloud pages. Showcase organizers received around 15 entries, said communications design junior Samantha Aberisk. Aberisk, along with her classmate Jordan Lippman, emceed the event.

Performers included: Abby Welles, Zed Woods, Wilson Slagle, Gabe Krischer, Gillian Pelkonen and Dylan Carroll. Among the crowd favorites were Julia Newman, Jordan Reynoso, Riley Mahan and Jack Fortin.

For Fortin, a freshman acting major, songwriting comes from a very personal place. His smooth, rugged tone paired with his guitar had elements of both pop and folk, with sounds resembling Ben Folds, Sublime, and of course, David Bowie. “Bowie is God,” he said.

“It’s really just bluntly stating where you are at that current time,” Fortin said. “I’m not trying to change the world with my lyrics, but I’m just kind of putting out exactly what I’m feeling.”