On Thursday Oct. 28, the local hookah bar Karma hosted a small event highlighting a couple of San Antonio’s up-and-coming performers. Dressed in their Halloween ensemble, UTSA students Emily Ford and Tori Allen lit up the stage with their quirky personas and trained vocals.
Allen, originally from Austin, is a music education major that began exploring her musical talent at a young age. She opened and performed several of her original pieces throughout the night. Her folk rock sound, similar to Regina Spektor and Priscilla Ahn, and her interactive crowd-pleasing style, drew in the audience as she sang and jammed on her guitar in her black sneakers and French maid getup.
When asked who she was influenced by and why, Allen answered, “Taylor Swift, because of how she writes and targets her audience.” The night’s show visibly established her fearless performing. Even though she had mentioned earlier in the evening that a smaller crowd was always more nerve-racking; she performed with ease to the eyes of a bystander.
Allen is currently working on signing with a label and has a very supportive father who has been guiding her to help her reach her dream of one day becoming a well-known recording artist. Her music can be found on iTunes and on her website, toriallenmusic.com.
Ford, the second performer of the night, dazzled the audience with her eccentric indie sound and impressive guitar picking skills. Her self-written songs were raw, witty and very relatable. She was an open book, and with each song, she shared a piece of her life story, leaving the audience feeling as if they knew her. Her sound was mellow and soothing all the while incorporating a touch of humor. Ford currently has 105 videos on her YouTube channel, Emmyfordmichelle.
Karma has a weekly custom of hosting a diverse group of performers, ranging from salsa dancers to magicians and even stand-up comics. The ambiance and décor in Karma is laid back with a modern theme; it is the perfect place for students to unwind and relax with friends, and not to mention good for students on a budget.
