By Emma Dognin & Genesis Oquendo
On January 24 and 25, the Songwriters Club held their first annual original showcase where 15 students performed songs they composed amidst the stressors of midterm week.
After twenty-seven members graduated last year, the club is under new management. This year’s committee, a group of elected co-presidents, consists of seniors Arin Dean, Emma Dognin, Frankie Flora, and Skyler Rosen, and juniors Nick Bucaj and Brian Guedes. The committee works together to help pick the set lists for showcases and manage the club.
“This year is a rebuilding year; we have a lot of fresh faces, and we need to build up to how Songwriter’s Club used to be. It will take time, but we can definitely work on everything we have to offer as a club,” said Guedes.
“We ended up getting many new and talented members with potential, so I’m looking forward to what new strengths they can bring forward to the club,” added Rosen.
First on the set list was Dean, who performed her song "Teach Me How to Run" with Lucas Calhoun on lead guitar, Bucaj on bass, and Guedes on drums. Later in the night, she performed an emotional and contemplative solo piano ballad called "Yesterday,” in dedication to her friend who graduated — the song's atmosphere was reminiscent of Fiona Apple's tracks.
Next, Jace Melendez performed their song "Addiction in a Jar," a song that combines both English and Spanish lyrics in a melodious blend. They performed with Stella Khachatoorian on piano, Esperanza Cylich-Schneider on backup vocals, and Amara Woods on drums.
Laila Roselle performed her song "Pathetic," which she wrote in her music technology class and brought to life on stage with guitarist Guedes, bassist Bucaj, and David Zuckerman keeping tempo with the tambourine. Despite it being her first showcase, she was able to bring a welcoming energy to the audience.
Rosen performed “Fool For You” with Guedes on guitar, Elena Bediako on bass and Frankie Flora on drums.
“I wrote my song ‘Fool For You’ over an experience that a lot of people can relate to when it comes to the aftermath of a relationship. The song is about the reflection on a heartbreak of loving someone who never valued you and the struggle of moving on, knowing it was never truly what it seemed. I had a few lines before I started writing a melody to the song. Once I had the first two lines of the song, the rest kind of finished itself. It took me a few months until I was satisfied with each part of the song...Overall, I was really proud of the outcome of the song and my band,” said Rosen.
Closing the first half of the show was the band Out of Order, consisting of freshmen Naia Gopoian, Alexa Dioguardi, Sabrina Blum and Dominic Flora and their song “Hallway Breakdown," a catchy tune about the stressors of school.
Freshman Abraham Beals played his song “House of Cards” with whimsical piano notes and poetic lyrics alluding to fairy tales and the Wizard of Oz. He performed with Melendez on guitar and backup vocals and Bucaj on bass.
Emma Dognin performed her song “Runaway Dog,”a piece that tackles the frustrations of watching people she cares about repeatedly make poor decisions, despite her advice. The culminating sense of frustration and exhaustion is exemplified as the chorus “runaway dog, you’re my runaway dog” gets louder until it ultimately dims down.
Angela Bediako played her song “Flurries” reflecting the winter weather with Sabrina Bonelli on guitar, Elena Bediako on bass and Amara Woods on drums.
Brian Guedes showcased his song “Aversion” alongside Lucas Calhoun on guitar, Nick Bucaj on bass, and Frankie Flora on drums — emphasizing his love for the metal genre.
"I started off with the chorus riff and then wrote around that. I didn’t really have an idea for what the song was about, so I just wrote about being angry and how it can control you. At the end, I wrote a [guitar] solo to wrap up the song. This is the most involved I have been in writing a song,” said Guedes.
Closing the show was Nick Bucaj with his instrumental piece, “Peanut Butter and Jam” where he made it apparent that bass is more than just rhythm, leading the song and showcasing funk solos among all instruments in the four-part piece. He played alongside Guedes on guitar, Beals on piano and Flora on drums.
"My song began as a brief jam between me and Frankie when teaching a session about rhythm, but as we added instruments it blossomed into a full song. I did the primary composition on bass, with an intro and three distinct sections. The first section establishes a simple groove, the second section is a fast bassline with syncopated guitar that picks up the tempo, and the final section is an elongated jam over a fast riff, where Brian had the opportunity to solo. Overall, the song was a lot of fun to perform, and I was honored to close off the show both nights,” said Bucaj.
Other performers included Sandra Garcia with“Not Enough for Me," April Antonecchia with “Past or Future," Mila Tomlin with “Weight of My Love," and Daniella Garcia with “Tide.” Each of these pieces wove a melancholic narrative through thoughtful lyrics.
Not only did the original showcase allow new members to display their talent vocally, but it also allowed them to exercise their talent creatively through songwriting all while collaborating with their peers. The broad range of music genres brought forth at the showcase—from emotional ballads to rock pieces—ensures the club’s versatility and bright future. The committee hopes that these showcases will inspire more students to get involved in the club, whether they serve as gaffers, songwriters, vocalists, or instrumentalists.
For students who missed the live showcase, each student’s piece is available for viewing via the Songwriter’s Club YouTube channel. Additionally, for students looking to get involved in the club, the club meets every Thursday after school in the little theater.
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