After a year off, Techfest is back for 2021—now virtual—and featuring the biggest bill of artists ever. Several different events are currently planned, with the first being on Thursday March 25. While the headliners are promised to be big stars, these events will also feature more local and student artists than ever before. Only the first has been revealed, which will feature a trio of Stevens artists including Randiel Zoquier, Chris Nitti, and Meyersville.
While this Opinion column generally will promote existing works from local and student artists, this new take on the spring festival will present a unique opportunity for those who have been unable to perform this past year. The artists selected as openers are a diverse and talented group of performers and will feature a few familiar faces of the Stevens Music Spotlight.
Randiel Zoquier is a junior Music and Technology major who has been featured in this column before. Zoquier is an independent singer, songwriter, and producer from the Bronx who self produces all of his music from a home studio. He has a series of works on all streaming platforms that are defined by heavily layered productions and emotional lyrics lined with clear narratives. You can read the review of his latest work “Night” in the February 12 edition of Stevens Music Spotlight.
Second on the bill is Chris Nitti. Another junior Music and Technology Major, Nitti is a seasoned singer, songwriter, and producer who is highly respected in the New Jersey indie rock scene. He has an extensive discography already, boasting full length albums, extended plays (EPs), and singles dating as far back as 2016. His music features a unique blend of melodic guitar lines and soft vocals that will translate well to this new medium for concerts.
The third act on the bill will be Meyersville, an indie rock trio from New Jersey that cites a wide range of genres to inspire their unique sound. Everything from classical to bluegrass to punk rock has been listed as influences. Their first major streaming release came in 2019 and since then has grown to a deep discography including three EPs and a single. Their music features a wide range of instrumentation that is as unexpected as it is enjoyable and fitting. As the penultimate act on this first night of Techfest, they are sure to provide an exciting and memorable performance.
All of the performances will have to be pre-recorded to conform to the new virtual Techfest format. This will of course be lacking the in-person excitement of a live show but will give the artists even more creative freedom to fine-tune their performances and make them as unique as possible. All of the aforementioned bands can be found on all major streaming platforms. Be sure to be on the lookout for announcements regarding the headliners and openers for the next Techfest event in the 2021 series.
Stevens Music Spotlight is an Opinion culture column written and created by Trevor La Due to increase the knowledge and give reviews of music produced by Stevens students.
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