Band debuts series featuring Richmond creatives

Ghailah Nyeanchi, Contributing Writer

Different art mediums filled the room as people pooled near the stage talking, laughing, dancing and singing — music came from speakers, crocheted designs hung from hangers and drawings were set on tables. 

Offkey featured their debut series “Showcase of the Keys” at the SHIFT Retail Lab at VCU on Nov 11. The show included performances from Offkey, The Notochords and Parsley. 

Offkey is a collective of artists and musicians eager to collaborate, according to Timothy Johnson, co-founder of Offkey. It acts as an intersection of community and creativity in Richmond. 

“We’ve been performing for just over two years together,” Johnson said. “The first show we ever played together was Aug. third, 2021, and we’ve just been growing in terms of members and as individuals ever since.” 

The “Showcase of the Keys” series aims to hold a monthly event to showcase talent that doesn’t make it on the front page, according to Johnson.

“The inspiration for Offkey came directly from Richmond’s local creative scene,” Johnson said. “There’s so much talent in Richmond that does not get seen. So, we thought, ‘why not show it off?’”

Offkey wanted “Showcase of the Keys” to be a safe space where artists and creatives can be themselves, according to Johnson.

“We also want to create opportunities for all types of creatives who don’t have the resources or the reach to achieve their dreams,” Johnson said. 

The Notochords, who performed at “Showcase of the Keys,” have been performing for over 30 years, according to Ronson Carr Jr., president of The Notochords. 

“The group was started in 1992 on the MCV VCU campus which is now based on the Monroe Campus,” Carr said. “The founders were just a group of friends who wanted to sing together and make music.”

The Notochords were asked to partake in the “Showcase of the Keys” series to collaborate with a community of aspiring musicians, according to Carr. They said they felt honored to be included. 

“As an acapella group, we perform primarily in concerts and competitions while bands show their talents at house shows and local gigs,” Carr said. “But here, we can collaborate to showcase our individual talents and work together as groups.”

Parsley also performed at “Showcase of the Keys” and has been around for about four years, with performances that started two years ago, according to Junyoung Sim, a member of Parsley.

Our work is a mixture of truth and fiction, according to Sim.

“Sometimes I would write music based on personal experiences, and other times, my band members and I would sit down and create fun little worlds slash stories, and we’d write songs based off of those ideas,” Sim said. 

“Showcase of the Keys” illustrates how accepting and diverse Richmond’s music scene can be, according to Sim.

“We play with a whole variety of artists whether they are rappers or punk bands and somehow it all still fits,” Sim said. “Being able to mingle with different groups is an awesome and interesting experience.”

Parsley performed second at “Showcase of the Keys.” Their performance dipped between slow, low-pitch numbers to faster, intense songs. The crowd followed every act with hoots and applause. 

A brief intermission followed each band’s performance. Popular songs played as attendees socialized and swayed to the beat of the music. 

Art vendors were organized opposite the stage at the other end of the hall. Attendees could explore, support and purchase work from different Richmond artists. 

Eliza Darnell, co-founder of The Spunky Closet and vendor at the event, said she heard about the show through a member of Offkey. 

“It feels really rewarding and validating to be amongst such a wide array of talent,” Darnell said. 

The Spunky Closet’s pieces ranged from crochet bags to denim skirts and satin tank tops. 

“I think it’s really good for other people to see that you can do it too,” said Jordan Calvert, co-founder of The Spunky Closet. “You can go from mixing materials in your basement to having your own clothing brand.” 

Tianna Roane, a VCU junior and attendee at the event, heard about the event through Instagram. 

“The vibes here are really good,” Roane said. “And it’s nice to go to a performance with so many diverse voices.”