
This week’s featured performer on Sessions @33 is the artist known as TYRIQ. With influences ranging from modern pop music to classic soul and rhythm and blues, Columbia College Chicago May 2022 graduate TYRIQ is making destiny become reality as a performer in the Chicago music scene.
TYRIQ’S penchant for performing, as well as his prowess for writing music was evident at a very early age. “My Music journey began at the ages 4 and 8. I mainly sang in choir at church when I was a kid, but at 8 years old I sang my first Stevie Wonder song (Ribbon in the Sky), and my mom snuck up on me and told me to sing it again (lol). At that age I wrote my first blues song for a music class I had as well, so that’s what started it all. It was elementary school that pushed me more into the studies of instruments. I started with the saxophone in 4th grade. Carried over to the guitar, and then came the piano, which is now one of my favorite instruments of all actually but I’ll definitely play them all.”
Growing up in Chicago, he cites his experiences in high school in the southwest suburbs of Illinois as a training ground for his foundations in music. “I attended Argo Community High School in Summit, IL, where I learned a great deal of the skill sets and music training that were needed to build a career in music.”
After graduating from Columbia in May as a Music major, TYRIQ has put his focus on perfecting his live sound. This has resulted in several opportunities over the past two months. Being just the third performer on Sessions @33, he valued his experience, and is grateful for such an outlet for creatives at Columbia. “I think this is an amazing series and I hope it grows and continues to be utilized through the years at Columbia. Everything students can be able to have as far as a stage should be well taken advantage of. They need this, and it’s great to give that to these students here at Columbia. It works for me, and I know it will work for others as well.”
What is evident in his performances is his passion and love for those artists that came before him. TYRIQ had this to say about what can be expected at one of his shows. “A lot of soul with my performances (lol). Might be cliché but I idolize the greats which were people like, Michael Jackson, James Brown, Luther Vandross, and more. They all embraced the aspects of SOUL in their performances alongside every musical genre they have done. So, you’ll get a little bit of everything when my band and I perform, but it all comes from the soul.”
When it comes to shows, TYRIQ had his first show at legendary music hot spot, Reggie’s, located a hop, skip, and a jump from Columbia College in the South Loop. Known for opening the doors to local artists, the venue was a great place for his unique talents. “I was super happy about it and how the turn out went, and now they want us back up there October 2nd which is a Sunday. I’m looking forward to it and for people to come out and enjoy themselves and have a great time.”
Sessions @33 is a brand-new series featuring Columbia College Chicago music artists performing a 4-song set in an intimate performance space at WCRXFM, Columbia’s very own radio station. In addition to the artists getting exposure, students from various departments . Please support these fantastic up-n-coming artists, as well as the collaborative efforts of the students involved behind the scenes, by watching sessions on YouTube, as well as listening to the podcast version on either Apple, Spotify, or Stitcher.
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