Singer/songwriter Regina Sayles lit up the stage Thursday night with her passionate performance at the Brower Student Center, presented by Women in Learning and Leadership (WILL). Along with Sayles, the College's own hip hop and R&B group, Attic, ended the benefit concert and auction with a performance of its own.
Sayles brought to the stage an eclectic compilation of rock, soul, country and jazz. She opened with a cover of "These Are the Days," by 10,000 Maniacs, followed by a song of her own called "Trophy" from her 2006 solo EP, "It's Home." Sayles' voice is as fervent and powerful as her music and lyrics, and she put on a fantastic performance. Sayles said she loves playing at small benefit concerts because "people come and are passionate about a cause."
Sayles proved to be the ideal musician and showed that she truly enjoys what she does.
"I love what I do," Sayles said. "Not because I'm in the spotlight, but because when I'm singing, my body and soul are taken to another place, and I just can't get enough of wherever it takes me."
After her sixth song, a cover of "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper, Sayles' performance ended for a short break in order to auction off baskets of prizes and gift certificates to places such as Houlihan's and Dunkin' Donuts. The show then continued when Sayles sang one of her own songs titled "Girls With Guitars," an autobiographical piece.
She also told the audience how she enjoys the music of singers from the '60s and '70s since her voice is combination of Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin.
"I have been blessed with my voice, and if you are as lucky as me to have found what makes life worth living, I celebrate with you," Sayles said.
Sayles filled the room with energy with another song from her EP, "I Wanna Be," a song she wrote about an angry break up. Audience members started dancing and singing as Sayles finished up her set with Aretha Franklin's "Respect."
Currently, Sayles is focusing on writing new material for a full-length album, which is expected to be recorded sometime this year.
She can be found playing in clubs throughout the tri-state area, Delaware, Massachusetts and occasionally Ohio, her home state. She is set to return to the College on March 5.
Band members from Attic - Mina Greiss, senior biology/health and exercise science major, Pierre Miller, senior biochemistry/music major, Dan McFadden, senior psychology major and Jeremy Bernardo, senior biology major - closed the night with an entertaining performance that included a few of their original songs and covers of songs such as "Stand By Me" and Rihanna's "Unfaithful." Attic is currently set to release a single.
The money donated at the auction will benefit The Nicaragua Solidarity Project, a cultural engagement trip in which a team of 12 women will be meeting with representatives from non-governmental organizations, women's cooperatives, feminist organizations and political parties in Nicaragua.
The profits will also go to The Women of the Democratic Republic of the Congo through the Vagina Monologues.
