Singing in the Rain at Juice Jam 2023
Article By Kendall Luther and Ava Portney, University Union Productions Board, Assistant Editors | Photo By Vivian Porter.
The lineup presented music for everyone, from mellow pop to hype rap. Artists Rachel Grae and Ryan Beatty opened the show, followed by Denzel Curry and Flo Rida. The crowd not only watched the show but also had the chance to hop onstage, catch signed merchandise and interact with the performers from the crowd.
When students weren’t dancing to their favorite Flo Rida hit or getting in their feels with Ryan Beatty’s vulnerable set, they were often jousting in the bouncy house attractions or grabbing makeup from NYX Cosmetics.
Rachel Grae opened Juice Jam 2023 at 1:30 p.m. with her hit track, “Friend Like Me.” Aided by her stunning vocals, Grae crafted an intimate setting in the Skytop lot.
Grae enjoyed making her music relatable to her audience, often setting the stage for her next song by explaining her inspirations or the meaning behind the lyrics. Her humor resonated with college students, who have often had various encounters with “Artists Athletes Assholes” — one of the unreleased songs she shared with the Syracuse crowd.
She also serenaded with a beautiful cover of “The One That Got Away” by Katy Perry,
which the audience gladly sang back to her.
She ended her set with one of her most recent releases, “You Suck.” Grae’s set warmed up the crowd on a gloomy day with fun and upbeat pop music, and she reappeared during the sets to watch her fellow artists’ performances at Juice Jam.
Next to perform was Ryan Beatty, whose folk/bedroom pop-style music laid out a relaxed vibe that allowed students to unwind. Beatty’s performance focused on his profound lyrics. Hits like “Evergreen” and features from his latest album, Calico, combined to create an intimate set that got students swaying back and forth, embracing the sentimental nature of Beatty’s songs.
After Beatty, Denzel Curry bounded onto the stage to a crowd-favorite “Walkin.” DJ Posh set the stage for Curry’s grand entrance, helping the transition into Curry and Flo Rida’s rap and hip-hop songs.
