Junior finds her voice through campus Open Mic

By Aryle McCutcheon | Staff writer

For junior communication major Shivali Subreenduth, performing has been a lifelong passion. She is a seasoned performer who has been singing publicly since middle school. 

Recently, Subreenduth took to the stage at a campus Open Mic event at Maxwell Theatre, an event that featured singers, poetry and more.

“I’ve loved singing since I was a toddler,” Subreenduth said.

Her interest in performing continued to grow after watching one of her best friends participate in theater productions at a young age. Attending those performances inspired her to pursue the stage herself.

When asked to talk about the Open Mic event, she described the environment as welcoming and supportive, calling it a “safe space” for students who may not otherwise have the opportunity to perform.

“I would highly recommend it,” she said. “This gives students a chance to perform who might not be able to.”

Once she gets on stage, Subreenduth focuses less on specific thoughts and people and more on emotions she gets to portray and feel.

“I really do feel the music,” she said. “I like to channel certain emotions through my voice. I try to tell a story on stage.”

Her go-to performance song is “Stay” by Rihanna, an artist she has long admired, is a song she said is easy to perform and allows her to connect with the audience emotionally.

Despite performing in front of a crowd, Subreenduth said she did not feel anxious at the Open Mic.

“I wasn’t nervous because I’ve been performing for forever,” she said.

For Subreenduth, the stage is less about spotlight and more about storytelling using music to connect, express emotion and share her voice with others.

Contact Aryle McCutcheon at amccutcheon@augusta.edu.