LaRussell and KQED showcase Vallejo’s place in Bay Area music

VALLEJO — Vallejo hip-hop artist LaRussell hosted an event in his hometown on Thursday to highlight five emerging artists from across the Bay Area who performed for a panel of local industry figures. 

The event, a Bay Area Music Showcase, was presented by KQED and LaRussell’s Good Compenny brand and held at Suite Treatments on Sonoma Boulevard in Vallejo. 

The showcase brought together Lovey, a St. Louis-born artist now based in the Bay; Iso, an Oakland hip hop performer; San Jose’s Misa James; Santa Rosa’s Wyatt Woodley; and Vallejo native E’mani Aurielle. Each artist performed original music before a panel that included LaRussell, artist manager Tietta, videographer Splash, violinist Michael Prince, pianist and producer Hokage Simon, and videographer-photographer BGIGGZ.

For Aurielle, the opportunity to perform in Vallejo was significant. “I really care about where I’m from,” she said. “LaRussell specifically has put me in some positions and spaces for me to be seen and heard. A lot of that work was done by him. I just want to make sure Vallejo knows who I am.” 

She added that being able to take the stage in her hometown came with both pride and pressure. “I really care about presenting myself to my own people well. I’m a little nervous, but this is important.”

Aurielle also spoke about wanting women artists to have a larger presence in the Bay Area music scene. “There’s a lot of space for us. There is so much room for new artists, so much room for independent artists,” she said. “I want to see more of us, more women of color, more women period, especially singers.”

Vallejo artist Jourdan Jade, who attended the event, described the experience of connecting with a hometown audience. “Performing locally where I’m from is just a different vibe,” she said. “It almost feels like there’s more unity with it, like, we’re in here together sharing all this energy.”

Jade described her music as versatile but firmly rooted in the Bay Area. “It’s definitely Bay Area hyphy, mixed with a little bit of R&B vibe and some old school 2000s,” she said. “I also do all different types of sounds. You never know what you might hear, but I definitely have to pay homage to the hyphy era and movement that I grew up with.”

She credited Vallejo’s music culture for shaping her as an artist. “Mac Dre, E-40, LaRussell, everybody that came from here has totally inspired me and motivated me,” she said. “I probably wouldn’t be doing music if I was from any other city.”

The showcase also drew artists from outside Vallejo. For Hayward musician Frank Alvin, it was his first time in the city. “LaRussell’s a dope artist and he has a lot of events that the community comes out to,” he said. Alvin, who considered participating in the open mic portion of the night, added that LaRussell stood out for his openness. “He makes himself very accessible, and a lot of people at the top don’t really have that type of accessibility.”

Suite Treatments, the event venue, has its own history in the music world. Founded in 1999, the company started by renting plants to decorate dressing rooms for touring artists and has since provided designs for music festivals and national tours. On Thursday, the warehouse space served as the backdrop for a local showcase that brought together community members, rising musicians, and established voices.

LaRussell closed the evening with a performance that underscored his influence as both an artist and organizer. Alongside his music, he has worked to create opportunities for Bay Area talent through Good Compenny, building platforms for artists to be seen and heard.