Each month, the University Programming Council (UPC) hosts a series of events titled Soundbites. These events serve as a unique way to bring various artists to perform while students eat, hang out and tune in at Iberville Dining Hall.
This month’s song artist, Ysa, performed original songs and covers of songs. Ysa is well-known for her work on reality television, as she wrote and produced music for shows such as “The Kardashians.” Besides this, her own work as a musician creating songs for the rhythm and blues genre is what truly makes up her style.
Ysa started creating and covering music when she was just in high school.
“I started making little songs and posting them on SoundCloud and doing that organically,” she said as she recalled her music journey.
Ysa attended Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, and learned how to produce and write music. There, she met musicians who helped her to turn her passion for creating into a full career.
Her unbothered responses to negativity and continuous mindset of “loving it more than the bad comments make you feel about it” is what got her where she is today: on her first tour where she visited NSU.
Ysa’s setlist started with songs the crowd knew and loved like “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter and “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse. She also performed original music she wrote and will be playing as she goes along on her tour.
The show lasted around two hours as students went in and out of Iberville. Even if students weren’t too familiar with Ysa or her work, her vocals and personality kept students intrigued and entertained as she worked her way through her set.
Mackensie White, a double major in fine and graphic arts and theater, liked the atmosphere Ysa’s music brought to dinnertime.
“It was very nice to have dinner and a show,” White said. “She very much played songs that we would definitely recognize and then played her own songs in between, so it was like, ‘Oh — caught your attention, listen to my music.’”
White’s remarks cover the feelings a majority of students get when attending Soundbites. Provided entertainment while hanging out with friends creates an environment most can’t help but enjoy.
The student body’s positive reactions to events like this is what keeps UPC motivated to continue organizing and planning. Kamryn Shelton, a senior communication major and the spring team manager for UPC, considers the best part of hosting events for students is seeing their reaction to the event and the turnout.
The next opportunity to experience this lively atmosphere while dining with friends and listening to live music is Nov. 19, the third and final Soundbites event UPC will host this semester.
