Stephanie Steiner | Arts & Life Editor
Revel in the dwindling days left of the semester and breathe in some much needed island vibes as summer quickly approaches. The Beaver Block Party is a new event happening this year starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 9 on Buena Vista University’s (BVU) central campus. There will be a campus activities fair, games, slushies, food available to purchase from food trucks, and live music from island hip-hop artist Corey Pieper and Caribbean-pop band Cover Drive.
Junior Morgan Langan is the President of Student Activities Board (SAB), the organization bringing this event to BVU. Langan discusses the outcome she hopes to see from this event and her own excitement for it.
“The plan for this is to become our new spring tradition. I really hope students see the Block Party as a chance to unwind. This is arguably the most stressful time of the year, and it’s really hard to find time to relax. I’m hoping that SAB will give them that much needed break, and I hope they take the opportunity to just have fun,” Langan said. “Live music is one my my absolute favorite things, and it’s so exciting to get to bring that high energy environment of a concert to campus. The bands are fresh and so much fun to listen to that I’m so pumped to see them, even though it will be my second time.”
One of the featured musical artists at the Beaver Block Party is Corey Pieper. He blends his unique style of music into the current music scene by embracing his authenticity.
“Island music is part of my culture and runs in my blood so I figured it’s only right. I’m all about good vibes and feel good music,” Pieper said. “I focus on being myself and remaining true to who I am in all situations. People respect me for being real and working hard. There aren’t many artists that sing and rap while adding an island twist like me.”
Similarly, the other featured band of the event, Cover Drive, has their own distinctive style. They are a band looking to bring the sunshine and sounds of their native Barbados to the world. The band is comprised of Amanda (vocalist), T-Ray (drummer and vocalist), Jamar (bassist), and Barry (guitar and keys). Cover Drive deems their sound as an upbeat mix of their Caribbean roots in reggae with a happy pop flair. A quote from Amanda in the band’s biography on their website sums the mission of their songs up perfectly.
“They’re all about being young and having fun. They’re songs that bring that feeling of being on a beach in the blazing sun with your best friends to every day, whether it’s sunny or not.”
Pieper is looking forward to the show. His favorite song to play is “Show You The World” because of its balance between rap, pop, and island vibes. It portrays his Hawaiian culture to the crowd and tends to make the ladies melt. He also greatly enjoys smaller shows because it allows him to get to know the crowd on a more personal level.
“I love being able to actually talk and hang out with students after the show. The most important thing is that they have fun,” Pieper said. “I also hope my journey inspires them to work hard and succeed in their own lives. A consistent work ethic goes a long way.”
Graphic by Justice Gage
Video by Kamsa Thephavong
