‘Black Souls Welcome’ spotlights Black student artists

By South Loop TV News Team

Students gathered at Columbia College Chicago’s Student Center for this year’s “Black Souls Welcome” showcase, which highlighted a range of visual and performing artists. 

One of the performers, junior music major Sarai Cheek, said she grew up surrounded by music, singing in church, school and choir before beginning to write her own songs in high school. Encouraged by her parents, who both studied music in college, she applied to Columbia to pursue the craft more seriously.

Inspired by artists such as Laufey and Lizzy McAlpine, Cheek blends jazz influences into her sound and writes about her lived experiences. She said songwriting serves as both therapy and a way to shape her identity as a Black queer artist.

Cheek said she hopes to pursue music full-time, and events like “Black Souls Welcome” provide a platform to share her work and connect with audiences. 

Reporter: Andria Childress

Camera: Eleanor Lusciatti

Web Writer: Kate Larroder