Saturday night marked the second round of MoPop’s Sound Off!, and the performances were loud, proud, and angelic. Full of diversity and amazing vocalists, the competition began to boil as the youth showed the crowd what they could do. 

The first semifinal was a mesh of punk and neo-soul, but I didn’t know what to expect when walking into this round. I knew I would be surrounded by music and people who share the same interest, but never did I think of the level of emotion I would feel. Everything started when a band named after their cat — Mr. Dinkles — gave us a continuation of punk from the previous week. Mac Rettig and Gretchen Elliot opened the night with some hardcore punk rock, screaming about how much they wish every city in the world was California, and I found myself chanting their songs long after they left the stage. The powerful duo from Seattle gave us nothing less than energy and motivation to go to the beach. 

As my mind was stuck in sunny days and sunbathing, the hip-hop group 49th Parallel came to grace the stage. They presented various styles, as they included inklings of singing, spoken word, and rap into their set. The crowd was locked in as the group spit about their lives growing up in Seattle and how they have grown as young men. Their lyricism was motivational and told a relatable story about how they have overcome life’s obstacles. Every song was a distinct message they were seeking to deliver to the audience.  

Usure what would happen after a performance like 49th Parallel’s, I was in awe with the next act. Portland’s Searows — the stage name of Alec Duckart — enraptured me in his angelic vocals. The entire room stopped as he opened his mouth and made us dangle by our heart strings. In tandem with his acoustic guitar, he was flawless in his crescendos and gave us a wing of an angel with every word he sang. At one point, I began to cry because I felt every emotion he was giving us. 

Still in awe, it took me a few minutes to gather myself for the next set. I took a seat across from the sci-fi exhibit for a brief moment before I re-entered. Soon, the Bainbridge Island native and birthday boy Thom.ko was in action. On stage, he was his own DJ and emcee. Dropping some intricate beats, he built up the crowd, preparing us for something amazing. Showing inspirations from Mike Posner and Post Malone, he enmeshed his r&b singing with high-tempo hip-hop beats. Ambitious and confident, he performed and had a lot of the crowd dancing and enjoying his set.  

At the end of the night, 49th Parallel took home the top spot, and Searows got the wildcard. Next week, Mirabai Kukathas, Talaya., Seven Sky, and David’s Van will take the stage for a chance to compete in March 7’s final.