The Recital kicked off its second year of performances with an intimate show featuring seven female artists.

Words by Dayna Bhatti Roberts / Photos by Dayna Bhatti Roberts / Graphic by Maxine Moses / Graphic Inspo by Lily Greco and Griffin Turner

Live pop-rock music venues are easy to find in the Syracuse area, but acoustic settings are not. The Recital, a sit-down music event, had its first show of the year on September 16th and established itself as the place to be for alternative and indie music lovers. 

This past weekend, a crowd of people found themselves in a cozy home on Livingston Avenue listening to female artists share original pieces and covers. From indie originals to Phoebe Bridgers covers, the Recital showcased a variety of pieces throughout the night that left the crowd in awe. What made this experience unique is that, in contrast to a lot of the music events near the Syracuse University campus, the Recital places an emphasis on music rather than socialization. 

“We wanted to create an environment where people were sitting and actually listening to the artist,” said Maria Nido, one of the hosts of the Recital. 

Although show-goers buzzed and socialized in anticipation of the first act, a silence would fall over the crowd as soon as the musicians began. The audience was reflective and showed appreciation for the artists, which made listening to the original songs all the more memorable. During one of Bella Fiske’s pieces the audience was so attentive that by the end of her song they were singing along. 

“I feel like people really care about the music if they come here, it’s really cool to have people’s attention fully focused on your performance,” said Bella Fiske, the first performer of the night. “As a society we don’t focus on actually listening to the music enough.” 

The atmosphere of the Rectial is electric. All of the artists who shared their music were incredible because of the originality and courage they showed in sharing their own pieces. There wasn’t a single act that didn't leave the crowd enraptured. Lyricism and guitar picking were strong suits amongst all seven acts, and the live experience of soft acoustic guitar with the storytelling nature of the songs made the show truly remarkable. 

Along with the amazing lineup of musicians, there was a snack table at the front of the venue where people could purchase drinks and baked goods. Every part of the night worked cohesively to create a fun and comfortable environment for guests. 

“The Recital is a place where I can be appreciated and where people will truly listen,” said Nancy Dunkle, one of the performing artists. “It’s well run by great people, and every time I am here it is one of my favorite nights.” 

A venue that provides a safe space for female artists to share their music and be inspired by each other is hard to ignore. It is special to be able to hear somebody's music before it has been put out to the rest of the world. The Recital is sure to be looking forward to an array of original musicians for their next show as well. 

“The Recital is the only venue here where people really come to listen, and it just is a really nice, comfortable safe space for female artists to share their stories. It’s just a great night,” said Lauren Juzang, a singer-songwriter who played at the Recital last Saturday.