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Twelve up-and-coming musical artists fill the Knutzen Family Theater at Federal Way with their voices on Saturday, August 26. They are the product of a new career-building creation by Federal Way native Shyan Sela called The Artist Workshop.
The Artist Workshop is described by parent organization Brave New World as a series that “teaches practical application to give performing artists, as well as budding entrepreneurs, a solid foundation as it relates to working in the entertainment industry.” Is.”
Performers included Midnight Blue, Taz Enrico, Ayana, Jade, Chaflo, Shyla Jasmine, Gavi, OZ, Cazzie, Pure Art, Sahni Shail and Yung Sheedy.
The evening also saw guest appearances by Sir Darian Dotson and Sela’s daughter Asia Sela. The co-hosts were Muranga Maina and Shyan Sela.
Photo: Keelyn Everly-Laing / The Mirror Artists throw merchandise into the waiting audience during the Midnight Blue showcase.
According to Saturday’s program contents, more than 150 youth and young adults participated in the workshops this year. The cast then auditioned for a coveted spot in the Final Showcase.
Song styles ranged from hip-hop to reggae, pop, acoustic to a cappella. Each artist shared two pieces. Some performed original music while others worked their magic on covers. Some artists included dance performances or incorporated guitars into the mix, and one even threw objects into the crowd.
The show was designed as a competition with a professional recording opportunity as the prize. In a surprise twist at the end of the show, Sela told the budding artists that they would all get a chance to record their own single.
Sela told The Mirror that the tracks would be released as a compilation within the next year, with the aim of recording them before the start of the new year.
Sela intends to make Federal Way’s showcase of new artists and music compilations an annual event. The first workshop in next year’s Artist Workshop series will begin in October.
Photo: Keelyn Everly-Laing/The Mirror Artist Taz Enrico performing at the Saturday Showcase.
artist workshop
Sela told The Mirror, “My ultimate goal was to take the arts culture to a sporting level, respected as a sport and supported as a sport.” For him, it means “building infrastructure and systems and resources and coaching.”
In the past year, eight workshops, two audition days and two career days were held to showcase various topics related to the entertainment industry. In Sela’s words: “In essence it is an alternative education system designed solely for the development of a career path.”
Backstage before the show, several cast members shared their experiences with The Mirror.
Taz Enrico said that he found much to like in Shyan Sela’s “old school” approach. He noted that the exercises were often rigorous, as performers learned to control their breathing in challenging positions, such as lying on their backs on the floor with one leg in the air.
Photo: Keelyn Everly-Laing / The Mirror Artist Shafflo performing at Saturday’s Showcase.
In another exercise where the actors portrayed their youthful selves, many said they almost cried.
“It’s a rewarding feeling,” Tazz said of making it to the final showcase lineup. “After everything we’ve done, it looks like I definitely deserve to be here.”
Describing Sela’s teaching and guidance style, Taz said that she “broke us down in the most encouraging way,” while someone else chimed in, “She didn’t break us down, she built us up, building that kinship. ”
Overall, he said the workshop taught him the power of connecting with others, especially those in the entertainment and music industries.
One artist said, “Win or lose, we’ll get this new community.”
Photo: Keelyn Everly-Laing / The Mirror Artist Gavi received a standing ovation when he performed at Saturday’s showcase. Artist Gavi received a standing ovation when he performed at Saturday’s showcase. Photo by Keelyn Everly-Lange/The Mirror
Sela’s own artistic journey began in a federal way. It is here that drives his passion to focus his outreach efforts.
He told The Mirror, “I love my hometown very much.” He said he grew up to be an accomplished athlete, but had other dreams. “I was an artist the whole time, but I was intimidated by it. I just couldn’t reconcile running for three touchdowns or playing basketball and then saying ‘Yeah, I write poetry’… It just doesn’t fit. I was one of those kids who had to hide it somehow.
He said that if it wasn’t for his eldest brother, Marcus, who took him to the studio while he was still in high school and showed him the ropes, he would never have pursued his artistic side.
With the Artist Showcase and next year’s Artist Workshop series, Sela hopes to continue building the infrastructure and space he wished he had growing up.
Photo: Keelyn Everly-Laing / The Mirror The selected artists celebrate after learning that they will each receive the grand prize of a studio-produced single for a group compilation through The Artist’s Workshop. The featured artists celebrate after learning that they will each receive the grand prize of a studio-produced single for a group compilation through The Artist’s Workshop. Photo by Keelyn Everly-Lange/The Mirror
Source: www.federalwaymirror.com
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