Women in Music perform at the ‘Forge

By Isabell Macrina
Hometown Weekly Reporter

Bellforge Arts Center held a performance in partnership with Women In Music Boston, a non-profit organization dedicated to equality in the music industry for women and those outside of the gender binary. On the grounds of the old Medfield State Hospital, three performers took the stage to amongst the stalls of local vendors selling everything from sweets and photo opportunities to woodworks. With food from the local Ribpublic BBQ in their hands, the crowd excitedly awaited their performances.

First up was Anju, a soulful multi-instrumental artist from Minnesota. Most of their songs were from their hometown, as they said a love letter to the rivers and forests. With only a guitar and their voice, they commanded the stage with an ethereal presence, like a song you would hear on the wind. She had an indie-acoustic sound which left the crowd saying and a voice to carry notes to the clouds. Overall, it was an incredible performance.

Next was Yelena Rodriguez, Boston Music Awards winner for Latin Artist of the year. Rodriquez is a soul/Christian artist, with a powerful voice that went from her soul to the crowd’s ears. She is a proud Cuban and Dominican woman and brings that heritage into her songs with two of her unreleased songs sung entirely in Spanish. Her faith and her background are important to her, and that is something to be proud of. Along with covers of some popular songs, and a tribute to late Mexican American artist Selena, she urged the crowd to dance and feel the rhythm. Her soul carried into her performance.

Last performer of the evening was Boston local Sarah Blacker, accompanied by her husband Zev. Blacker brought a lightness to end the evening with. She is a soulful singer/songwriter, writing folk, jazz, and pop with a classic rock twist that got people clapping along. Her jokes between songs, like how one is an “apology to her parents for becoming a musician” and her song Shiver being for the inner child despite the cold making everyone shiver, had a lot of folks laughing. Blacker and Zev had fun on the stage with an undeniable chemistry and rocking to the beat. The passion that has formed Blacker’s career was evident in her talent.

The night wound down, and the temperature along with it, but it was a wonderful day to enjoy music with family and friends. The artists all have more music to share with the world, and we can’t wait to see it.