We at The Limelight are constantly inspired by the vibrant arts scene that permeates Chicago’s every corner. In hopes to connect our audience to the infinitely talented artists who make it on our radar (Chicago local or not), we present The Limelight Blog’s ‘Artist Highlight’ series! As per our mission statement, we hope to expand our network as wide as we possibly can, and encourage you to share your creative talents with us so we can share YOU with our audience! As always, never stop chasing The Limelight. 

Currently on tour across North America, The Ivy have grown outta Tulsa, and rooted themselves into the indie scene. The Limelight’s Stephanie Haro sat down with members of the Synth-Pop act, Shawn Abhari, Wyatt Clem, and Jordan Lynch for an interview prior to their sold-out Chicago show on April 5th.

It takes a lot to unite a room of strangers, yet Paris Paloma pulls it off effortlessly. After her rise on TikTok during the pandemic, Paloma proved that she’s a force to be reckoned with in the folk scene. The UK artist is currently touring across Northern America on her Cacophony Tour. On March 15th, she stopped at Thalia Hall for one night only, performing for a sold-out crowd.

Known for his viral single ‘Beyoncé,’ NYC native Hurri Haran is a force to be reckoned with. Having signed with Arista Records in 2024, the Trinidadian-American artist has already collaborated with Grammy winning producers spanning the likes of SZA, Ariana Grande, and Drake. Effortlessly blending R&B, hip-hop, and afro pop, the singer’s polished discography prophesies an exciting road ahead. The Limelight had the pleasure of speaking to Hurri about his relationships with labels, New York City, and social media – along with the effect fame has had on his creative process.

In recent years, Slow Pulp has made a steady pace to becoming one of the most relevant bands in the indie scene, they become more and more recognizable each time they release something new. The 4 piece bedroom pop band formed while in college at University of Wisconsin-Madison, but have since made Chicago their home base. While on the final stretch of their fall tour, the band stopped in Chicago before heading to Detroit for their last show. Stephanie Haro, a writer for The Limelight, attended one of their Chicago performances.

We at The Limelight are constantly inspired by the vibrant arts scene that permeates Chicago’s every corner. In hopes to connect our audience to the infinitely talented artists who make it on our radar (Chicago local or not), we present The Limelight Blog’s ‘Artist Highlight’ series! As per our mission statement, we hope to expand our network as wide as we possibly can, and encourage you to share your creative talents with us so we can share YOU with our audience! As always, never stop chasing The Limelight.

Abby Moon-Sarudi, AKA Tokki Star, is a queer Korean-Guatemalan mixed-media artist from Chicago. Their work mainly revolves around gender identity, childhood, generational trauma, and self identity. Rabbits and star shapes act as a stand-in for themselves, and the use of rabbits within their work is particularly significant as it bridges Asian and Latino cultural elements. All of Tokki Star’s clothing is made and designed by Abby and is inspired by their love for J-Rock, cute things, and coming-of-age films.

The Limelight had the pleasure of sponsoring Columbia College Chicago’s Biggest Mouth 2024, produced by the Student Programming Board. In this interview, we spoke to Bread On Fork, the 8-piece fusion funk band who placed 3rd in this year’s competition!

Respective alumni and current student at Columbia College Chicago, Nurrah Muhammad and Payton Hall explore their various passions through writing.