EMMA PIRHALA / NEWS EDITOR

On Friday night, USD students  gathered on Torero  Way for the long-awaited Olé Fest. The annual  concert featured    California   rapper   Blxst as the  headliner. Known for hits like “Chosen” and “Overrated,” the West Coast performer drew a crowd of around 150 Toreros. 

USD’s own junior, James Scott, known onstage as  Noluv.james, and   alternative   pop   artist, Alemeda, hyped up the crowd as openers for the main event. 

Organized each year by the Torero Program Board (TPB), Olé Fest is a much-anticipated event for Toreros with former performers ranging from 070 Shake to Ross Lynch’s Driver Era. This year, the concert took four  months  to  plan.  

USD  junior  Josephine  Chia, who serves as the  vice  chair  of TPB  and   played a key role in the planning of Olé Fest, shared a peek into the process of creating the event.

“We basically started with the initial brainstorming part,” Chia said. “We were able to get connected to  different agents and see what artists would fit best  for the vibe  of our school, as well as  what artists  would  fit the budget. From then, you know,  we   coordinated   a  lot   with the production company, Show  Imaging, [and] coordinated a lot with campus facilities  to make this all happen. We also work  with TPB’s  marketing team  to  market the event. It just took a lot  of   weeks  of  coordination and  close  communication   with a lot of the vendors  that we used.”

Chia explained that she and the TPB team were excited to watch the concert come together and to provide a fun experience for USD students. 

“It’s really  exciting  to see  so many weeks of planning finally come to life, and I’m really excited to just see, you know, people enjoy it and just have a really, really good time,” Chia said.

After much planning, the night finally arrived and students filled the street. The concert attracted Toreros who were both big fans of the artists, and  those  who  had never heard their songs before.

USD first-years Franky Sandoval and Kathleen Cao were two of the first students crammed by the barricade.

“We’re here for fun,” Sandoval said. “We don’t know the artists, but we listened to their  music    beforehand …     We’re most excited for Blxst. We hope he brings out a special guest.”

Matthew Dean Burdette, also known as Blxst, is an R&B, soul, hip-hop and rap artist. With a feature on a track with Kendrick Lamar and through work with other artists such as Ty Dolla $ign and Tyga, he has seen much success in the music industry.

Other students came out specifically to see the beloved artist. USD sophomore Zahid Mateos-Torres was the most hyped to see Blxst. 

“I listen to him a lot, so I’m really excited,” Mateos-Torres said.

Scott,  known as           Noluv.james,    opened the  show  with a 10-song set. In addition to studying business administration and playing on USD’s football team,    Scott    also   has    a   lifelong   passion    for    music.

“I started singing in the church  choir when I was like four,” Scott  explained. “I  always listened to music with my grandfather, Phillip Scott, who was just so musically inclined and always really showed me so many different types of  music.  As I grew up, I just  loved  music  more and more … And then in eighth grade, I  started  making  music.”

Despite   performing    in  front  of   a   big   crowd   of   his  peers  —  and    football   teammates — Noluv.james showed  no  fear.   Throughout   the  entire   set, the   crowd  showed  their  love  for the  USD  student.  Noluvjames’s   engaging stage presence encouraged students to sing and dance to his R&B  style songs,  including Scott’s new “How You Move.”

“It’s cool to see USD shine a light on student artists,” USD sophomore Michelle Graeber said.   “Noluv’s    performance   was fun and I’m  definitely going to  start giving  his  music a listen.”

Once the sun set, Alemeda took the stage as the official opener.   Alemeda’s     performance  highlighted   songs from  her  new   EP  titled  “FK IT,” which  many   students  in  the  crowd  passionately sang along   to.  The  pop  princess’ songs  feature  lyrics   that  discuss best friend breakups and hookup culture, which may appeal to a younger audience. including college students. By the  end  of  her  set,  students  were  begging  for  more. 

Blxst  delivered  an  energetic performance alongside his spirited eagle mascot and Good Morning Gabe, a DJ who warmed up the crowd for the artist. Blxst  kept the  crowd lively with his hits and frequently  shouted  out  the West Coast. Students matched his energy, having an obvious blast. 

Olé Fest proved to be a memorable night  for Toreros,  showcasing  talented  student performers alongside popular artists. From Noluv.james’s spirited  open  to  Alemeda’s  pop  performance and, of course,  Blxst’s   finale,   students  enjoyed  the   evening  filled  with  music,   dancing  and  spirit.  After  TPB’s months of  planning  by TPB, the  event   successfully  brought  USD   students  together  to   have   a  great  night. 

Olé Fest headliner, Blxst, delivered an electric set for Toreros. Emma Pirhala/USD Vista