TreeHouse Dreams Turn to CNCRT Reality 0003
Photo Credit: Danny Pleckham
This past weekend, July 20th, 2024, we held our third event, a collaboration studio lock-in with TreeHouse Studios in Yorkville, IL. This event was special because it was a way for us to deepen relationships with artists and creatives by doing it in a way we had never done it before. TreeHouse Studios, a studio & creative collective from the suburbs of Chicago is a group I've been involved with for about five years now. This was the perfect space to make this happen. We wanted to create a space that artists could freely create and experience the incredible surroundings at the studio, almost as if it was a retreat for creatives.
We kicked things off at 12 PM, planning to wrap up by 12 AM, but the energy was so high that we ended up going past midnight. We had CPR, a producer/engineer who flew in from Portland, in charge of the music. CPR, who co-founded TreeHouse with Rons back in high school, was essential to making the day a success. He makes his own music and has his own jazz group called "Chef's Collective". He absolutely killed it and kept the vibes at an all-time high throughout the entire day. Rons, an artist himself, was there as well and made sure to be an incredible host while also recording music himself. He recently dropped a mixtape on Soundcloud called "All things in moderation, including moderation".
Photo Credit: Danny Pleckham
We started the day by playing beats that were sent in from our producer friends Prawjex and Yoggi. Nathan Nzanga, an incredibly talented artist who flew in from Seattle, was also there for this event. He dove straight into writing and recording just as Ausar and Kayo arrived from Chicago. Ausar is working on new music and is about to celebrate the one-year anniversary of his project "I Now Know". Kayo recently dropped a mixtape called "Until His Burial" at the end of 2023 and is starting a new era of music with his latest song "Give You Everything" featuring Galaxy Francis. They dove into creating music as well, pumping out multiple verses like it was nothing. It was great introducing them to the TreeHouse crew, allowing them to experience the space, and watching them collaborate with everyone.
After a few songs, we took a break to play basketball and explore the forest preserve outside behind the studio. It was a nice change of pace and gave us a chance to have some deep conversations. As Ausar and Kayo left, other artists started to arrive. Christopher Kaleb, a local Christian rapper, joined us. He is gearing up to drop his debut project "The In-Between". Better Known As and his brother Lemonxde80s also pulled up. They have been dropping music too, recently putting out singles like "4 My Health" and "Made a Way". All three of them brought their own vibe to the event and the day kept rolling.
The atmosphere was buzzing with creativity. Some people were recording, others were swimming, golfing, playing basketball, or just hanging out. Creative friends like Joe Bracero, Melissa Farias, Chris Vergara, and Ethan Mosley began to show up to hangout and keep the energy high. As the day went on, we welcomed more music artists like Jae Ham, CeeBaby, and B.O.N. Moshae, who are longtime friends from Chicago. LEX, a local female artist and TreeHouse original, showed up too. She's been releasing music this year quite a bit, and most recently dropped her single "wounds" on streaming platforms.
Throughout the day, it can't be overlooked that photographers and videographers were there to capture all the memorable moments. I was capturing what I could, but a BIG thank you goes out to Vanessa Celio, Carter Maggio, Melissa Farias, and Nick Miesuk for their incredible work throughout the day. Their efforts ensured that we got amazing visuals to look back on and share with everyone.
As the sun started to set, we decided to finish up the music we were making and head to the forest preserve for a moment together. Sitting on the dock by the lake, we laughed, took photos, and enjoyed the sunset. It was a full-circle moment, having friends from different stages of our journey together in one place. To be able to experience a moment like that together was truly special. It was my personal highlight of the day.
After sunset, we went back to the studio, ordered pizzas, and kept making music. Female artists ShesFace and Clarke Reed, both from Chicago, joined us and added to the creative mix. We were able to change up the vibe and started making RnB songs instead of hiphop which had been the main genre of the day. Their good vibes were infectious and we were able to make a couple more songs before wrapping up the night. The music artists that were still in attendance were able to hop in on the songs and give their input. It was mesmerizing getting to watch the process of all the artists in the room.
For those who did not get a chance to attend, we've got you covered. You can check out all the content we got throughout the day, including a full recap video, on our YouTube channel and social media platforms. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter for updates and more info about future events.
This event was a reminder of why we started CNCRT: to create spaces for creatives to connect and collaborate. It was amazing to see everyone come together and make something special. The energy and creativity we experienced this weekend are why groups like CNCRT & TreeHouse exists. Thank you to everyone that made this happen and to the incredible music artists that came through. It’s about bringing people together, fostering collaboration, and making memorable moments. Whether you're an artist, a creative, or just someone who loves good vibes and great music, we invite you to join us on this journey. We're building something special here, and we’re excited for what’s next.
We're setting the foundation, paving the way, and we’ll keep doing it, together.
