When viewers tuned into the WMRE Radio’s YouTube live stream on March 30, they were met with a vibrant retro set with instruments ready to play. Hues of pink and green covered the small recording studio in the Alumni Memorial University Center, along with posters from past WRME events, eclectic doodles and signed artist merchandise. Michael Dehn (23Ox, 25C) and the band Penelope Road were performing for WMRE’s “Tiny Couch” concert — similar to NPR’s “Tiny Desk” events — as the lucky few selected to be a part of the live audience sat cramped in the background, all within perfect view of the lime-green couch center stage.
WMRE Creative Board Directors Terra Wilbanks (24C) and Lexi Brown (24C) introduced the concert by discussing the club’s long journey since its shutdown during the pandemic. One year since their first in-person event post-pandemic, the club continued spotlighting local artists with an emphasis on Emory University student performers. The first act of the show displayed this sentiment as Dehn, also known by his stage name as MJ Dehn, kicked off the live stream with a 35-minute set.
MJ Dehn began his set with an upbeat and unreleased pop-R&B tune titled “Phoebe and Kennedy.” He then transitioned to a mix of songs from his newest release “the nosebleeds” (2023). MJ Dehn performed his old tracks throughout the set, which demonstrated the progression of his sound as an artist. He proceeded to play a cover of Atlanta-native Faye Webster’s “In A Good Way” (2021), broadcasting his musicality and keyboard skills with an inventive, jazzy solo.
Switching to a guitar, MJ Dehn then played a series of songs with an indie folk sound. Somewhere halfway through a song he wrote two days prior, he announced he forgot the words and transitioned back into the chorus. However, MJ Dehn finished the song with raw belting of vocals, capturing the beauty of live events. Throughout his set, he brought out backup singers and a band called “Possums.” MJ Dehn looked his most comfortable here, while also creating a palpable positive energy between him and the band.
As the sets changed, WMRE switched the broadcast to a pre-recorded in-depth interview with MJ Dehn, discussing his music and his inspiration. In this interview, he described his process as a writer and his progression as an artist — he starts with music, playing a tune on his guitar or piano, before the rest of the song comes to him later, often while he’s driving. This allowed the audience a peek inside MJ Dehn’s creative mind while also engaging the viewer throughout the set change.
“The best ones, my favorite songs, have ones that came to me both in melody and in words at the same time, which is a purely spontaneous thing that I can’t replicate,” MJ Dehn said in the interview.
After the interview, local band Penelope Road appeared on the couch, with Emory student Koan Roy-Meighoo (25C) and fellow bandmates and Atlanta natives Charles Eastman, Max Moore, James Kopp and Anthony Smith. Described by Brown as an “indie-rock-pop-funk band,” Penelope Road has appeared across Atlanta and Emory, often performing live at campus events, such as Wonderful Wednesday or Super Bowl tailgates on the First-Year Quad. They kicked off their set with “Tired of Love,” which is a single set to be released on April 20.
Penelope Road’s chemistry as a band was seen clearly after they played through a series of songs. Often blending melodious harmonies together on top of a subtle drum beat and baseline, Penelope Road showcased a masterful sound in a laid back manner. Mixed into their set of original music, they performed a cover of “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” (1985) by Tears for Fears. With the iconic synth chord progression, the band captured the 1980s sound of the song while keeping it fresh with a masterful performance on the electric guitar from Roy-Meighoo.
The band established a funk-pop sound as they continued the set with more original music, adding to the rise of genre fluidity in music today. The band is set to release an extended play in May, according to Moore. They ended the set with a cover of “Murder on the Dancefloor” (2001) by Sophie Ellis-Bextor. The WMRE crew gleefully danced in the background, creating a euphoric listening and viewing experience.
The “Tiny Couch” concert ended with WMRE co-President Ruby Stillman (24C) thanking the crew for their individual roles and hard work in coordinating the livestream. She urged listeners to check out both of the featured artists and continue supporting WMRE. Radiating happiness, excitement and, perhaps, relief that the complicated event went off without a hitch, the WMRE crew joyously exclaimed “turn us on.”
