Penn State’s annual music festival, Movin’ On, fell on the last day of classes this semester, providing students with a chance to celebrate their accomplishments with a day of live music, activities and priceless memories.
Of the many notable singers and performers, Slayyyter, an artist known for her hyperpop beats and distinct sound, truly stood out. As a rising pop star gaining traction and recognition at an increasingly fast rate, especially after her recent performance at Coachella, she was the perfect pick for this year’s Movin’ On.
Slayyyter started as an independent SoundCloud artist and released her first mixtape in 2019. Since then, she has produced three studio albums and toured for each, getting her name out there and growing a very devout and unique fan base. Her recent Coachella performance has gone viral for how energetic and involved the crowd was, and how impactful and powerful her performance was as a whole.
At Movin’ On, this impact was put on full display. The energy of her set and the crowd watching was truly unique, with many fans wearing bunny ears to represent her latest album, “Wor$t Girl in America”, visuals from previous music videos displayed on a big screen behind her, and a bass present throughout that could be felt in the chest of all onlookers.
One of the many talents displayed by Slayyter was her incredible range. Fans were provided with a lot of songs from her latest album, including “Gas Station,” “Crank,” “Brittany Murphy” and so on. Her signature death metal growl made an appearance for “Yes Goddd,” where she switched from her rich singing voice to a controlled yet powerful death metal roar and back. This had the crowd completely enamored and fired up, and cheers were almost loud enough to drown out her throaty roar.
Slayyyter herself was dressed in a simple black corset and flowing skirt, with her distinctive long blonde hair and cowboy boots on full display, reminding us of who she was. She walked the stage and interacted with the crowd throughout the roughly 45-minute set, keeping onlookers completely immersed and entertained.
Her outfit and overall presence were a great reminder that being yourself and following your own path will always be the best thing you can do. I think one of the reasons she has such a strong fan base and successful career is that she doesn’t succumb to the industry’s norms, instead forging her own path and creating music that truly resonates and reflects her experiences.
Slayyyter’s time slot occurred earlier in the day, and the weather was slightly overcast and rainy for the majority of her set. While many artists could see this as a negative and let it bleed into the quality of their performance, it seemed to only add ambiance and energy to hers.
As a part of the crowd, I witnessed people dancing in soaking wet ponchos, smiling and recording what I am sure were priceless memories. It was a lovely reminder of the community that exists at Penn State, connected through events such as Movin’ On and artists like Slayyyter, who have a special way of getting us all to come together regardless of rocky weather, life stressors or final exams.
I am so grateful that I got to witness such an iconic artist and that I attend a school that allows me to have such incredible experiences, and I will be thinking about her performance for weeks to come.