Listening to “Spring Into Summer” by Lizzy McAlpine on her way to a student concert she found on Instagram, biochemistry freshman Niki Kadasani heard the same chords she knew so well. Kadasani said she couldn’t believe the quality of the cover.
Longhorn Artists Connect, an organization giving student artists a platform, held their first concert of the semester, “Farewell Summer,” on Friday in one of their members’ backyards. The show featured four student artists and bands: The Ramparts, AB, Emma Grace and Monara.
“It’s really important to support small artists in general, but supporting fellow students — it’s a great way to make friends,” Kadasani said, “It’s a really good way to support them when they’re just starting out.”
The final two acts of the show featured performances from AB and Monara. AB performed original songs as well as covers, such as “Spring Into Summer.”
“(It felt) electric,” Kadasani said, “It was amazing. ‘Spring Into Summer’ is one of my favorite songs ever, and it’s so weird (because) I was listening to it on the way here, so it’s crazy that they played it.”
The Ramparts took to the stage, a raised wooden porch, first, playing a mixture of indie rock originals and cover songs. Malachy Breen, a McCombs sophomore, singer and guitarist, wrote the band’s three original songs, “Photo,” “Hangover” and “Punkshyt.” Throughout the night, attendees held signs supporting each act. One read, “The Ramparts are so gallantly streaming.”
“(Longhorn Artists Connect) has made it a lot easier for people who are interested in artistic stuff to find each other and to create a sense of community around that,” Breen said. “I feel like a lot of artistic types of people tend to be introverted and like to sit in their room and play guitar, but this definitely creates a good space for them.”
Performing solo on acoustic guitar, advertising sophomore Emma Grace also blended borrowed and original material including her newest single, “Ordinary Places,” released on Sept. 4. As she played, attendees took photos, danced and sang along to the acoustic pop sound of her set.
“Who am I gonna be when you finally look at me? / And see our lives the way I see it,” Grace sang. “We don’t have to live in this pain and silence / Ultraviolet rays painted on our faces / It’s a shame we can’t stay in ordinary places.”
Elliott Saiontz, a radio-television-film junior and Longhorn Artists Connect president, said the organization will be planning more events like “Farewell Summer,” like a Halloween-themed show.
“We’re all going to get to the industry one day … and the fact that that hasn’t been happening here is crazy because there are so many talented people who all want to do these amazing things, and they haven’t been brought together to do them,” Saiontz said. “When you create a space where they are brought together to do that, you find a place where extremely talented people … are able to flex their muscles and, you know, have those skills shine.”