Students studying in the downstairs lounge of the Student Union were given an unexpected pleasure of live music drifting out of the Union Cabaret. From 8 to 10 p.m., the Carolina Union Activities Board hosted a Singer/Songwriter Night, an intimate gathering that showcased student musical talent in the performance space. About 20 people attended the event, sitting in the dimly lit area. Songs ranged from a simple ditty about a day off work to an ode to a Croatian underwater organ, an instrument that plays music with the waves. The tune about the unusual instrument was played by Jeremy Lev, a local and UNC alumnus. "I like being able to play in front of my peers," he said. "I like playing the Cabaret." While the venue certainly didn't draw the kind of crowd typical of most CUAB concerts, Lev said the atmosphere was just what he was looking for. "People are quiet, responsive and listen, as opposed to being in a bar or music venue where people are drinking and talking," he said. He said he chose songs for Tuesday night that complemented the atmosphere. "I played songs with an interesting musical complexity," he said. "That gets noticed better than in a noisy sort of venue, where some of the nuances in the song might go overlooked or unnoticed." The Singer/Songwriter Night also was held last year, but there was no leadership to head it up again this semester until senior Stephanie Stewart got the ball rolling. "Everyone liked the idea again, so we just went with it," she said. While she is a CUAB member, Stewart is also a singer-songwriter herself, and used these connections to draw performers. "There's so many local artists, not just outside of the campus, but within UNC as well," she said. As Stewart saw it, the event's goal was not just to entertain students, but also to help musicians. "Here's a place where they can express their talent and meet other singer-songwriters," she said. "It's kind of a community." While the majority of the music was solo acoustic guitar and vocals, Stewart said she is open to other kinds of music being performed at the next event in January. As a performer, Stewart said she enjoyed the event. "Being up there tonight really feels like where I belong," she said. "It means a lot to me to share what I enjoy to people who mean a lot to me." Quietly sitting in the audience while doing schoolwork was junior Laura Anders, an exchange student from London. "It's nice to listen to live music and get some work done," she said. Anders said the intimate environment only made the performances more enjoyable. "It seems really personal." Stewart said the appeal of the event was that some of the performers also are students. "It's really inspiring just to see what talent people have," she said, "People I go to class with, people I see walking around, people I don't even know - it's great." Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
