Story

Diverse music artists express themselves through song, story

By: Samantha Festin

May 4, 2022

Story highlights

• Diversity in music shows through cultural, social and community events held at San Diego State such as GreenFest Battle of the Bands, Nooner and Diamonds Are Forever Showcase.
• 3CityJay, Haddie the Baddie, Irvin DelaCruz and Christine Sako are examples of musicians with diverse music and ethnic backgrounds in San Diego.
• Open mic performances like Trilogy Sanctuary Open Mic Night in La Jolla showcase performances of diverse acts including instrumental and lyrical pieces.

SAN DIEGO – San Diego State is a diverse campus filled with musicians of different ethnic backgrounds and cultures. 3CityJay finds the university a place of ethnic and cultural diversity with support for Black communities and developed his name from the three cities he came from, which he thinks cultivates the meaning of his music and variety of beats.

Jj Gaines, 22, senior, is a Black rapper who goes by the stage name 3CityJay. Gaines performed at the SDSU Diamonds Are Forever Showcase. He has always had a passion for creating beats and making music to express himself. The story behind his stage name is because he grew up in three cities: Dallas, Chula Vista and San Diego. He has moved around these areas throughout his life.

Gaines incorporates southern and West Coast beats into his music and shows diversity through rap sounds and lyrics. In addition to going to school and playing basketball, Gaines called making music his pastime.

Gaines is just one of many musicians in San Diego who represent the music scene. Nationally, the music scene consists of 74.7% males, 20.4% females and 4.9% unknown genders.

Watch an interview with Gaines about the meaning of 3CityJay on YouTube!

Students showcase their passion for music

Hadiyatou Diallo, 22, senior, is a Black hip-hop singer and rapper who goes by the stage name Haddie the Baddie. She performed at SDSU Diamonds Are Forever Showcase in Student Union Theatre with her songs “Closer” and “Big Day.” Diallo has always been passionate about music ever since she was a young girl and developed her interest in music growing up with two musically inclined brothers and getting inspired by close friends who helped push her to become a music artist.

Alexya See, a fan of Diallo, said she sees a successful music career for Diallo.

“I think she has the sound and the drive to be a very successful artist,” See said. “If she keeps applying pressure the way she does now, we’ll be seeing her on the big screen in no time.”

Lea Kassew, a friend of Diallo, said she loves the music Diallo creates because it is empowering and enjoyable. Kassew likes listening to her songs at home and in the car.

“Whether it is getting ready for a party or driving home late at night, I can always find a song that fits the vibe for my playlist,” Kassew said. “I also love the focus her songs have on her background and a life goal to be able to take care of her loved ones, as it is something I personally identify with.”

Watch original song performances by Diallo called “Closer” and “Big Day” and an interview about her music career on YouTube!

Self-expression and emotion show through music

San Diegan Irvin DelaCruz, 31, is a Filipino singer and guitarist who likes performing at open mic events, yoga studios and restaurants. DelaCruz performed at Trilogy Sanctuary, a wellness center, rooftop vegan restaurant and yoga studio in La Jolla.

“Expressing myself through music helps me be vulnerable and has helped me get through many challenging parts of my life,” DelaCruz said.

Kevin Hom, 31, a fan of the music DelaCruz makes, said he sees talent, passion and personality when he watches his performances.

“Irvin is a natural musician with good musical instincts and solid rhythm,” Hom said. “He can sing in the correct pitch. He has creative ability, frequently likes to make up riffs on the spot and come up with a freestyle.”

Hom said DelaCruz gets inspiration from a wide range of music. The musician likes songwriting and making music in the comfort of his own home, at the beach or with a group of friends.

“He’s inspired by different genres, but his style is a mixture of mainly hip-hop, rhythm and blues, reggae and rock,” Hom said. “He loves to share his music with others and draw people in by uplifting them in the messages he gives before and after performing. He’s passionate about music and wants to bond with people through it.”

Watch an acoustic guitar cover DelaCruz performed of “Southern Nights” by Glen Campbell on YouTube!

Pride and positivity shine through performance

Christine Sako, a Japanese American alternative and indie singer and guitarist, considers herself an out and proud LGBTQ+ musician. Topics of queerness and queer relationships are part of her songwriting because most of her songs are anecdotal. She tries to apply these themes subtly. She wants her lyrics to be relatively esoteric and mysterious.

“I am also Asian American,” Sako said. “I don’t tend to write about this fact specifically, and I think if anything, it is apparent in the way I am presented as a musician (as a minority).”

Sako started writing and producing music at the age of 12. She wrote lyrics with a melody and recorded it on a toy tape player owned by her baby sister. She let one of her close friends listen to it, and she told her never to sing for anyone again.

“After hanging up my songwriting towel, I randomly heard Avril Lavigne’s ‘Complicated’ on Music Television and started playing guitar the summer before my freshman year of high school,” Sako said. “I learned all the songs off her debut album and wanted so badly to be able to create my own melodic stories. That’s when I started writing and recording meager little songs and sending them to friends over America Online Instant Messenger, telling them I had ‘found’ these recordings randomly online. When the feedback was positive, I ran with it and have been writing ever since.”

Sako uses music as a form of expression and a way to release her inner emotions. She calls these emotions ugly and her songs cute, so she channels her moods into her compositions. She has performed at the San Diego County Fair. She is also a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Staying in the greater San Diego area, she is currently not performing in person, so she advises fans to find her music on social media.

Watch an original song performance by Sako called “Woodwork” on Instagram!