Heart filling ballads enchanted the Royce Terrace on Tuesday.

The Student Committee for the Arts at UCLA hosted the Royce Welcome Concert to kick off the school year and welcome newly admitted students. Featuring students artists Sub DeVillain, Nico Brouwer, TYLON, Konani and Ryann Barnes, the evening brought musicians and audiences together through songs. Performers chatted with the audience while tuning their guitars as other attendees enjoyed snacks and bracelet making in the lounge.

“UCLA is really good at music, but we never got first-hand experience on that,” said Anusha Khobare, an event attendee and first-year computer engineering student. “It feels nice to see how talented the students are.”

Fourth-year music industry student Payton Kashdan, also known as Sub DeVillain opened the show with “Bereavement,” an original song about heartbreak and maternal love. Swinging between belting and falsetto, her voice resembled a mix of Sigrid and Olivia Rodrigo and cut through the chatter. Fourth-year music industry and American literature and culture student Nico Brouwer joined her performance, playing digital renditions of bass and drums to accompany Sub DeVillain’s guitar and vocals. The duo’s delivery of original songs “Do Not Fear The Dragon” and “Bug Machine” attracted the audience all the way to the front of the stage.

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Brouwer then began his solo performance. His five-song set included “Long Hair, Smooth Child” and “Lizard Tail,” a track he said he finished the night before. Brouwer mostly sang about emotional experiences, while occasionally dropping comedic lyrics such as “We got a coupon at the Ralphs.” Brouwer’s incorporation of heavy kick drums sprinkled some groove on top.

Tylon Quaites, a fourth-year music industry and psychology student also known as TYLON, stepped up in a fishnet shirt and leather jacket and switched the gear for the night. The prerecorded synth-heavy bass got the participants on their feet. All part of the artist’s newly released album “A Siren Named TYLON,” the five-song set blended R&B and hip hop with a pinch of electronica. “Red Light Green Light” received the loudest reaction from the crowd as its cheeky lyrics, interactive nature and Afro-esque beat easily got the audience dancing.

“We’re gonna play a little game.” TYLON said. “Can we do that?”

TYLON’s continuous audience engagement produced some of the biggest cheers of the night. First-year mathematics of computation student Lilian Wu said his set was electric.

“I enjoyed the energy of how everyone is vibing to his music,” Wu said.

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Konani Chinn, a fourth-year world arts and cultures student then took to the stage and slowed down the tempo. The singer’s smoky voice dialogued with the saxophone and keyboard in their cover of Liim’s “Is Loving Really Bad?”. Not bounded by instrumentation, the trio – comprised of Chinn, third-year global jazz studies student Ivo Maringouin and fourth-year global jazz studies student Melak Makonnen – showed sonic variety through a mostly jazz-filled set and with a rap song to close its performance. The instruments faded into the background, and the singer delivered a monologue that revealed personal doubts and struggles.

Fourth-year music industry student Ryann Barnes closed the night with her guitar and was joined by Brouwer on bass and drums. With a belt reminiscent of Carly Rae Jepsen, the artist rounded out the night with an uplifting performance. While playing her original song “Architect,” a mantis landed on her head and stayed until the next song.

“I think it’s my grandma,” Barnes said while playing the guitar.

Barnes summoned Sub DeVillain back onto the stage and they performed “Bug Machine” again – this time, together. The audience gasped as the bug finally flew away during the song. For what was supposed to be her final piece of the evening, Barnes performed “Chemical,” a quiet, mellow ballad with a sparse texture. After an encore request from the crowd, she closed out with the original song “Daisy Chain.”

“Thanks, guys,” Barnes said after she wrapped up her set. “See you on campus.”