Come one, come all to witness this year’s Slope Day artists: headliner Kehlani and special guest Louis the Child! For most Cornellians, Slope Day is a time of celebration, when the dreary cold and academic stress melt away, giving rise to a vibrant renewal of springtime energy. It’s a day when the campus blooms with music, excitement and collective school pride that buzzes through the crowd. This year is no different. So, consider this your guide — an introduction to the cultural significance and artistic impact that each of our incoming performers bring to the hill.
Kehlani Ashley Parrish was born on April 24, 1995, in Oakland, California. Her early life was shaped by adversity; her father passed away when she was a child, and her mother struggled with drug addiction. As a result, Kehlani was adopted and raised by her aunt. During this time, she was introduced to R&B and neo-soul, listening to artists such as Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott, who would later influence her musical development. At the age of 14, she became the lead vocalist for her local band “Poplyfe.” By 19, she would release her debut mixtape, Cloud 19, which gained traction on SoundCloud and was later recognized by Complex magazine as one of the "50 Best Albums of 2014."
After releasing her first mixtape, her artistic sound started to develop, a sound that all Kehlani diehards know to be intrinsically and uniquely hers. Known for her soulful voice, conversational singing style and cutting lyricism, her sonic identity is marked by her influences — characterized by a blend of R&B, pop and hip hop, with a unique neo soul influence. This culminates in her most recent release, Crash. Her impact on the music industry has not gone without notice, garnering five Grammy nominations and three albums in the Billboard Top 10. Outside of the industry, Kehlani has been open since the start of her career about her sexuality and gender identity. She continually advocates for queer spaces and identities. Kehlani is an artist whose presence in the music industry opens doors for other queer artists of color; showing the industry and general culture the beauty in diversity and that queer and gender identities cannot and will not be ignored. Her performance on the Hill will mark a musical creative presence, but also an advocate for aspects of identity that make us all human.
Louis The Child, the electronic music duo composed of members Freddy Kennett and Robby Hauldren, was started while both were attending New Trier High School. Their name, inspired by a randomly selected Wikipedia page, reflects the duo’s spontaneous spirit. Both artists began creating music in their youth, experimenting with digital audio workstations like Logic Pro and Pro Tools. Kennett also had a grasp of music theory and gave thanks to his friends in jazz, whom he notes helped in the creation of his music. Louis the Child is mainly inspired by rock, hip-hop, indie and EDM, citing influences ranging from Jimi Hendrix, Kanye West and Kid Cudi to Deadmau5 and Skrillex. All of their influences can be heard in their genre-bending approach to the EDM space. The band first gained notoriety while Kennett and Hauldren were still in high school, following the release of their single “It’s Strange,” which peaked at number 38 on Billboard's Electronic Songs chart on Oct. 31, 2015. The song also garnered praise from notable industry staples such as Taylor Swift, who included it in her "Songs That Will Make Life Awesome" list.
After breaking through, their sound continued to develop. Louis the Child is now known for distinctive future trap synths, melodic landscapes and a pop vibe. From conception, Kenneth and Hauldren always had a tight-knit relationship with their fans — whether directly communicating with every Twitter comment or constructing an album based on what they believe the world could use right now. Their latest release, The Sun Comes Up, explores not being entirely against the hardships of life but, instead, embracing life’s adventures despite lows. They wanted their audience to feel the childlike joy they felt when creating the record, which is apparent through the sonic qualities and lyricism. This connection to the audience is what allowed Louis the Child to gain footing in the ever-evolving landscape of the music industry. The band is a testament to the fact that music can be and accomplish many things, born from many influences and experiences themselves. Kenneth and Hauldren show that music can be used to build connections not only between the audience members themselves, but also between the artist and audience.
This Slope Day, when you are cheering on our performers and dancing with your friends, you are now equipped not only with the tools to prepare for the sonic arrangements by each of these artists, but also with an understanding of their influence on their fanbase and on the larger culture as a whole.
Daniel Addoquaye is a freshman in the Brooks School of Public Policy. He can be reached at da533@cornell.edu.
