Amid the prevalence of the punk and grunge scene in Seattle, singer-songwriter music has recently made its way into the U-District. Much of the rise of the local singer-songwriter scene stems from concerts and house shows returning from their pandemic hiatus. The UW Songwriters Circle, an RSO where students have the opportunity to create and perform their own music, fosters the growth of the singer-songwriter community on campus.
The music of singer-songwriters encompasses a variety of genres and features a solo performer as opposed to a group. It encourages an audience to focus primarily on the music itself without the added extravagance of a big performance.
“It’s more about the songs themselves and the emotional artistry of the individual,” said Songwriters Circle leader Liv Victorino. “It’s different because you don’t have anyone on stage with you, so sometimes there’s a lot more pressure. And also, it’s not like you’re trying to get them to dance; your goals are different trying to entertain them.”
The singer-songwriter community gives those looking for smaller-scale shows the opportunity to enjoy live music. This gives people the opportunity to experience a wider variety of concert environments.
“I hope people want an alternative to crazy house shows where it’s all about dancing and moshing and stuff, which is fine, but… there’s more types of music than that,” Victorino said. . “I hope people are open to more musical experiences this way, and maybe that’s why people are interested in it now.”
On April 16, Seattle Records hosted a show with the Songwriters Circle, where four artists sat around a fake campfire and took turns performing.
“One of the hubs of the UW scene is Seattle Records, a record store on the avenue that not many people know about, I think,” Victorino said. “They do a lot of events and are basically open to any type of event you want to book.”
The Songwriters Circle provides a space for artists to connect and collaborate. House shows in the U-District at venues such as The Nook, The Country Club, Seattle Records and the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity allow audiences to interact with the artists on a more personal level than they could in venues. larger places.
House shows in the U-District area offer a range of settings in terms of crowd size and include both solo and band performances.
“There are a lot of shows going on in the U-District that feel like crowded parties with hundreds of people, but there are also a lot of smaller events that are really cool, where it’s more artist-driven. solo and just kind of having a more intimate appreciation of music,” said Lambda Chi Alpha member Zack Shafer, who is planning shows at his frat house.
There are many ways to get involved with this growing scene for those who are interested, such as attending the shows, volunteering at the venues, and speaking with the artists themselves.
“I strongly encourage anyone who wants to get involved to show up at an event and start talking to people,” Shafer said. “Everyone I’ve met has been really nice and really inviting, and just wants to have a good time.
Singer-songwriter content is a source of creativity that brings local music fans together and offers local artists a platform during the re-emergence of live music.
Contact Contributing Editor Zoë Nichols on arts@dailyuw.com. Twitter: @zoenickels
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