Monica Chavez In efforts to showcase and support young local artists the Student Union hosted its first Union Unplugged on both campuses with young local singer and songwriter, Lizzie Astorga.
She performed in front of more than 150 students who stopped by at the Brownsville campus.
“I think one of my main missions here, like doing my music, is just being able to be that friend that’s with you while you’re falling in love, while someone breaks your heart and all that jazz” Astorga said.
Astorga mentioned she has been practicing music since she was nine years old, but it was not serious until the pandemic hit when she received good feedback on TikTok and Instagram.
She said her musical inspiration comes from her own and other’s personal experiences.
“I think that in order to write a good hook, at least based on my experience, they come in my sleep, I’m sleeping. And I hear it in my head, and I’m like, yeah,” Astorga said. “I wake up. I grab my phone, I make a voicemail, I’m like, okay, we’ll save that for tomorrow for reference.”
This year she went on tour with Mexican artist Caloncho and has opened concerts for fellow singers Carla Morrison, and Jesse and Joy.
Sergio Martinez, Student Union associate director, said he kickstarted Union Unplugged in hopes to make it a monthly music series.
“We’re going to try to bring in local artists, artists within our school of music, for next month. We’re partnering with the UCR, G.B. Jazz band.” Martinez said.
Princesa Abdullah, Biomedical science sophomore, mentioned this was her first time listening to Lizzie’s music.
“The one song that I really liked when I came by, I saw her singing Billie Jean by Michael Jackson and the way she had like a nice, soft, mellow voice. Oh, it was beautiful. I was like, wow!” Abdullah said.
Nerve coffee will host a pre-release party for Astorga’s new album Friday at seven p.m. Astorga’s music is available on Spotify and all other streaming platforms.
