Nexus International Student Showcase

The Nexus Showcase connects NYC’s international community of artists and creatives. It is an immersive experience where music meets art, featuring live performances, captivating visuals, and special guest appearances. Join us for a night where music and art collide, highlighted by stunning visuals and projections. Whether you’re here to discover fresh talent, network, or dive into NYC’s creative scene, The Nexus Showcase is your gateway to a world of art and culture. Don’t miss this unique fusion of music and design!

Music by Cfra & OWEN oriçon, Jayani, HEESU, Max Aidan & Boxi Chen 陈泊汐, and Mercedes Gala. Sounds by Sae.

MEET THE ARTISTS: 

Cfra is a New York-based Chinese artist who grew up in California. Starting as an emcee in Bay Area and Shanghai, he released bilingual hip-hop and R&B singles during the COVID era, garnering over 20,000 Spotify streams. After collaborating with indie scene artists like Dyna$ty and Chris Fang, Cfra is debuting tracks from his new EP that blend alternative R&B and psychedelic rap, presenting the world through a romantically abstract point of view. He brings with him special guest OWEN oriçon, whose diverse upbringing in Germany, France, and New York were instrumental in their evolution as a producer during the COVID era to a full-fledged alt-pop artist. OWEN oriçon has collaborated with many rising artists in the alt-pop scene including Bachyard Ghost, donny daydream, and Endie. This year, their debut album single “Sing” released in January garnered over 200,000 streams on Spotify.

Jayani is a Hong Kong-born Pop R&B artist based in New York City. Since putting out his debut single “City” at 17 years old, Jayani has released four singles and an eight-song EP titled Songs of The Storm, now frequently performing with his band at clubs around NYC including Pianos, The Bowery Electric, Berlin Under, The Delancey and more. He recently returned from the Intertwined World Tour in August after performing in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, London, Berlin, Amsterdam and Rome.

HEESU is a South Korean artist, singer-songwriter, and producer based in NYC. HEESU’s music invites you into her dreamy world that features a synth-heavy fusion of traditional Korean sounds, Electropop, House, and Alternative R&B. Notable achievements include winning WBUR’s Local NPR Tiny Desk Favorite in 2021 and later being a panelist for the WBUR Local NPR Tiny Desk in 2023. Invitations from the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) in Boston, featuring the CHEONGSAN music video exhibition at Millennium Film workshops, and appearances on ONSTAGE Korea by NAVER have solidified her status as one to watch. In 2022, HEESU reached new heights, earning the title of UK Reprezent Radio Number 1 artist on Pirate in June.

Max Aidan is a pop/rnb musician based out of  New York City and Taipei. Born in California and raised in Taiwan from age 12, he brings his diverse life experiences and exposure to global sounds to his music. His unique harmonies and beats have evolved from his classical music background, and love for modern Pop/Rnb. He’ll be joined by special guest Boxi Chen 陈泊汐, a singer-song writer and rapper ranked at 14th place in Rap of China, New York Division. He has performed for Digi Ghetto, Psy.P from Higher Brothers, JelloRio, ICE’s American Tour. In 2023, he was a special guest judge for the Hangzhou regional competition of The Voice of China and The Voice of NYC.

Mercedes Gala is a singer-songwriter and music producer from Tijuana, Mexico, based in NYC. Mercedes has performed and produced a variety of music, merging in all sorts of different styles including Latin music, R&B, and Hip Hop. Mercedes’ love for R&B is portrayed in her compositions, and her unique blending of styles, ethereal sound design, and soulful vocal interpretations is what defines her sound.