On Friday evening, Cafe Berlin hosted the True/False Film Fest’s Friday Night Berlin Showcase, which featured three different musical artists of varying genres. At 8 p.m., the floor was filled with fest attendees awaiting the performance.  

First to the stage for the night was Adam Schatz, more commonly known by his band’s name, Landlady. He kicked off the performance with a powerful, jazzy saxophone solo, overlaying part of his playing with a looping device. These layers added a euphoric chord that transitioned into a soft — almost classical — piano melody. 

The ever-transitioning style of Landlady’s music was experimental and artistically thoughtful. Schatz’s soulful voice and expressive face embraced the emotions of his songs, allowing listeners to grasp his feelings alongside him. Throughout his performance, Schatz uses specific lyrics that carry over from song to song, seamlessly transitioning into each new piece of his work. Underneath all of the metaphors Schatz sings, his work discusses the power that other people have on his life, as well as his personal growth. 

Stas THEE Boss took to the stage next, bringing everyone in Cafe Berlin to their feet. Stas’ daughter assisted, DJing Stas’ music for the third time ever — the other two times being the two days before. Stas’ spunk and attitude were reminiscent of rapper Doja Cat. 

Many of Stas THEE Boss’ songs touched on spiritual practices in witchcraft with verses mentioning sage, incense, potions, witches and hexes. She also touched on her previous relationships, expressing her distaste for exes. Stas did this through hip-hop flows that kept a groove in listeners’ feet. 

Some of Stas’ most notable moments were in her songs about racial injustice. In her performance of “Diamond Doris,” she sings that “Black pain is so draining.” Stas kept the audience consistently entertained and engaged, even when conveying an array of messages throughout her performance.

Khari Lucas, or Contour — a genreless, experimental performer, closed the showcase. His performance began with audio clips of Black Americans discussing their dreams,  followed by an ambush of heavy drums. 

Through the chaos of the audio clip and drumming, Contour held a book and read a poem, his voice weaving through the sound. As it all faded away, Contour proceeded to play a slow piano piece, leading into the rest of his slow-paced music. His smooth voice paired with the continuous audio clips and piano was an intriguing mix of media and live work. 

While the Fest is widely known for its movie screenings, the Friday Night Berlin Showcase was a great representation of the music community also involved in the Fest. Filmmakers and the musicians alike, they all expressed strong emotions and ideas through their own creative compositions during this year’s Fest.

Edited by Savvy Sleevar | ssleevar@themaneater.com 

Copy edited by Grace Knight