The Student Union Programming Board hosted a virtual concert Jan. 22 featuring artist Quinn XCII, who became the height of popularity after he released his debut album, “The Story of Us” in 2017  SUPB President Emma Kosicek commented on why SUPB wanted to continue the Welcome Back Concert tradition. 

“We did want to ensure that we could continue the [Welcome Back Concert] tradition in some capacity, so this is the compromise we came up with,” Kosicek told The Carroll News. While the concert was a little different from the concerts in the past, it was still a great way to welcome new and old students back to campus.

Mikael Temrowski, also known by his stage name Quinn XCII, is a popular artist who combines elements of rap, electronic and pop music into his songs. His set list provided the perfect atmosphere for finishing homework assignments or relaxing after the first week of classes with your friends. 

Quinn XCII opened his concert with his title song from his most recent album called “A Letter to my Younger Self,” which features the famous rapper, Logic. Instead of including his usual electronic sounds , he performed an acoustic version with guitar and piano.. 

The set had an extra layer of storytelling and creativity. Quinn XCII was surrounded by three large screens that projected different images.  A video of animated candles played during his song “Candle,” and a video of Quinn’s morning routine played during his song “Coffee.” These visual effects allowed the audience to get a glimpse into his creativity and the message of his songs.

Some minor setbacks during the concert added to the  casual tone of the performance and showed that it truly was a live show. During one of his songs, the speakers? microphone? began to make a screeching and buzzing sound, but Quinn XCII never missed a beat. Later, he forgot the beginning of his latest single “Stay Next To Me,” but he played it off by laughing at himself —an appropriate response in a situation that could have been awkward.

Many students enjoyed the concert simply because they love Quinn XCII’s music. First year Rachel Surkala was excited to see one her favorite artists perform live. “I love Quinn XCII! He was my No. 1 top listened to artist on Spotify, so it was exciting to see some of his songs live,” she said. While the concert was not in-person, Surkala said she still enjoyed listening and watching in a safe environment.

While the Welcome Back Concert looked different this year, students were still able to enjoy live music within the comfort of their own rooms. Kosicek mentioned that one of SUPB’s priorities is ensuring students can have fun in a safe way.

“The world is so serious nowadays, and SUPB wants to provide students with the opportunity to have fun this semester while still being safe and following all the COVID-19 protocols,” Kosicek said.