Dive into Syracuse’s Student Music Scene

Four student artists/bands to listen to this year.

by RHYLEE HUDSON ★ JANUARY 15, 2024

It’s no secret Syracuse is known as a party school. I mean, that's at least what I heard from every YouTuber who posted a “Things You Should Know Before Coming to Syracuse” video back when I was looking at colleges. The party and frat scene are obviously very lively at Syracuse, but the music scene here lies under the radar. Something I didn’t know is that through the music scene at this school, stars are born every day.

Don’t believe me? Take Clario for example. Yep, she was once a Syracuse Orange. And she’s not the only one. If you’re a music lover like I am, I think it's time for you to learn about who on campus will be next on the Billboard charts.

Luna and the Carpets

Hello dynamic girl duo! These two sophomores, Anjali Engstorm and Grace Ferguson, are the heart and soul of Luna and the Carpets. Anjali is pursuing a minor in Music Industry and Grace is in the Bandier Program here at Syracuse. Although their discography isn’t large yet, the quality is amazing. “I Wish Venus Had A Moon,” is the title of their freshman year album, and it is nothing short of brilliant. A listen to this album will have you truly thinking about the highs and lows of girlhood, and serve as a reminder that many others feel the same way as you. A few of my favorites on the album are “Saint”, “Stay Away From Me”, and “You”. Their recent Halloweekend performance at The Mud Pit was too good to be true. They played some of their latest releases in addition to “I Know The End,” by Phoebe Bridgers! If you get a chance to go to one of their shows, don’t miss out. When they go on tour and their tickets are sold out, you’ll regret not going to see them before they blew up.

Bella Fiske

Bella Fiske is a freshman here at Syracuse, and she has been performing nonstop. She has released singles like “Break” (a personal favorite of mine), and “Of Light”. She also released an EP titled “Eliot Street.” Something that I have noticed about Bella is that she genuinely enjoys performing, which is something we need to see more of. Her lyrics are written with endless expression and meaning that it feels like she wrote the song just for you. After watching her perform live, I wrote in my notes: “I was going into this thinking I was going to see an off-brand Clairo, but no. This is Bella Fiske, the next Syracuse household name.” When she releases the dates of her next performances, I suggest you grab tickets before it's too late.

Padma

Padma is a student in the Bandier program here at Syracuse, and she has over 16,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. In October, she released a new song called, “New City, Same Song,” which is all too relatable for those of us who have recently moved to college and are getting used to a new place. In the past year, she has released an album and three singles, which are all insanely good. Along with her own music, I have heard her cover, “American Teenager” by Ethel Cain and “Satellite” by Harry Styles. Did I mention this girl can SING?? Somehow she and her band know how to make a cover sound even better than the original. 

Nancy Dunkle

The last student artist who I am highlighting is Nancy Dunkle. She is a singer-songwriter, who in the past year has released a single, “Poster Child.” This song has reached over 4,000 streams on Spotify, and for good reason. Dunkle pours her heart out in both the powerful lyrics and melody of this piece. “All of the benefits, they start to fade / Into the shadows of the doubt you made,” she sings. I was amazed the first time I listened!! Not only is this song spectacular, but she also puts on stellar performances at house shows around campus, so make sure that you check her out! She also has some super cool unreleased songs that you can find on her Instagram: @nancydunkle.

Syracuse is constantly producing starlets, and these girls are just a few of the student artists around campus who need to be supported. If you are sick of hearing the same old music played at the usual parties every weekend, I suggest you take some time to go to music shows put on by places like Red Gate, The Mud Pit, and The Recital, so you can find new sounds to add to your monthly playlists!