As wintery weather continues in Starkville this weekend, some will be looking for ways to stay warm while still having a good time. Luckily, this Saturday at 9 p.m., music lovers can take refuge in Rick’s Cafe to warm up with a night of dancing to electro-pop sibling duo Between Friends.
Based in Los Angeles, California, the performance duo of siblings Savannah and Brandon Hudson will bring an upbeat, electronic dance music vibe. They described themselves as “laptop-dream pop” in an interview with Galore Magazine, stating that they feel as though their DIY, indie feel does not fit into a specific genre. Between Friends’ innovative sound is similar to popular artists such as Charli xcx and Addison Rae and carries a vibe that is unlike the typical music scene in the area.
Known for their hit song “affection,” with over 250 million listens on Spotify, the duo got their start in 2013 when they were quarterfinalists in “America’s Got Talent.” After leaving the show, they committed to continuing their performance journey by forming the group Between Friends. They released their first EP, “we just need some time together,” in 2019 and have continued to release multiple albums and EPs since then. Their accomplishments also include performing as supporting artists for pop stars such as Olivia Rodrigo and Conan Gray.
Their most recent album, “WOW!,” features a mix of groovy, danceable beats with ethereal synth sounds to create a unique sound. Their performance at Rick’s on Saturday will feature this album and its hits.
Opening for Between Friends to set up the dreamy dance-pop vibe is Starkville’s own pop star, Girlphim. Senior data science major Kait Johnson, or Girlphim, composes her own music, using her love of math and science to cultivate a cohesive experience in her music that she described as “all-consuming” and “meditative.” She will take the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday night to perform these songs and hopes to deliver a high-energy, memorable opening performance.
Girlphim is ready to bring the energy to the stage and get fans up and dancing. She said she believes that dancing is one of the most important parts of life, and everyone should learn to love it.
“My top priority any time I make a song is that I want people dancing. There’s always a good beat — something where you can close your eyes and feel like you’re in an edit,” Johnson said. “There is nothing more powerful than dancing.”
Of course, the dancing will not stop with Girlphim. The music of Between Friends carries irresistible beats that are perfect for people who love to dance.
This performance was set up by Mississippi State University’s student organization Music Maker Productions. Riley Walker, junior marketing major and Director of Public Relations for MSU’s Music Maker Productions, explained that people who love to dance will love this show.
“The kind of people that definitely need to be at this show are people who love to dance,” Walker said. “This is awesome dance music. People that just love a fun, upbeat vibe need to be there.”
Cooper Word, a senior microbiology and interdisciplinary studies major at MSU and student director of Music Maker Productions, explained that he is excited to bring such a new and different sound to the small-town scene of Starkville.
“I feel like Starkville has not had this type of music in a really long time, so I’m really excited to see what their performance looks like here in Starkville,” Word said.
Doors at Rick’s Cafe will open at 7 p.m., with Girlphim opening at 8 p.m. and Between Friends taking the stage at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 for the general public and $10 for students and can be purchased from the link in the Music Maker Productions Instagram bio.
