Surrounded by archival news clips and close friends, student band LOTUS performed a concert in The Daily’s newsroom Saturday afternoon as a part of Notes from the Newsroom.
The event, which was sponsored by student club Local Mojo, consisted of a multi-genre setlist ranging from “Zombie” by the Cranberries and “Black Magic Woman” by Santana to “Sir Duke” by Stevie Wonder and “Them Changes” by Thundercat.
Saturday’s event brought back Notes from the Newsroom, The Daily’s concert series modeled after NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts. The last edition of Notes from the Newsroom happened in February 2024.
Unlike LOTUS’ past concerts, Notes from the Newsroom provided a more personal setting for the band to perform and produce long-form content.
“I’m excited to have the chance to have a more intimate space where we can bring in people that want to hear our music and jam and have fun in the space,” said Medill senior Eric Smith, a LOTUS keyboardist and vocalist.
LOTUS, which has 10 members, was founded by Weinberg senior Sid Chalasani during his sophomore Spring Quarter to bring together musically-inclined friends. The lotus symbolizes “infinite potential for transformation,” something that transfers over to the same practice of playing and performing music with friends, Chalasani said.
Using instruments ranging from a trumpet to a guitar, LOTUS performed a fusion of genres including R&B, jazz, pop and rock. The band switched amongst singers and instrumentalists during different moments of their setlist.
“Having such a diverse range of instruments really gives us a very full and robust sound that not a lot of bands on campus have,” said Medill senior Jade Garcia, Local Mojo’s arts director and a LOTUS vocalist. “It has also opened up the ability for us to play so many different genres.”
In addition to those tuning in via livestream on The Daily’s Instagram account, a crowd of spectators gathered in the newsroom, many of whom said they came to support their friends.
As LOTUS performed in the back of the newsroom, audience members found seats at desks or on chairs, with some standing near the doorway to watch the show.
“I know a couple of songs that they do covers of, but I know they’ve also been rehearsing some new material, so I want to see how they’ve grown since I first saw them last year,” Weinberg junior Amy Argueta said.
LOTUS played its first two events during Spring Quarter and hoped to bring more visibility to their group with Notes from the Newsroom.
Garcia also noted that by playing a range of genres, the group is developing a sound of its own for when it starts producing original music.
Being in the newsroom with an audience of friends enabled them to “curate a different vibe” that was “a little more intimate,” Garcia said.
Looking forward, the vocalist said she hoped the band, consisting of mostly seniors, would gain exposure in their last year.
“We are LOTUS,” she said. “We’re not here for a long time, but we really want to make these last six months on campus count.”
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
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