Get to know the contestants in this year’s Spring Sing competition through videos and stories produced by Daily Bruin staff.

Andrew Marian, a fourth-year psychology student, is one of the soloists for this year’s Spring Sing at UCLA. Marian has a blues background and draws his inspiration from The Black Keys, Iron and Wine, Modest Mouse, Kings of Convenience and John Mayer.

Andrew Marian

For most, being forced to sing in front of their middle school class would be cruel and unusual punishment, but for one 2013 Spring Sing contestant, having to learn and sing “Mi Burrito Sabanero” in Spanish class marked a turning point in his life: it was the moment he learned that he could sing. Andrew Marian, a fourth-year psychology student, is one of this year’s performers in the soloist category. Read more

Ariana Afsar and Andrew Cedar

Fourth-year ethnomusicology students Arianna Afsar and Andrew Cedar perform a duet of their original song “Trade Hearts.” The song, which explores heartbreak and the desire to move on, will be featured in Spring Sing 2013. Watch the video profile above.

Free Food

Free Food, a hip-hop, soul, and retro funk fusion band will be performing at this year’s Spring Sing. Listen to how they feel about transitioning to adulthood in their original composition, “Circus Funk.”

India Carney Band

Second-year voice student India Carney and her band perform “Drive,” a song about the questions that come after heartbreak. The India Carney Band will perform at Spring Sing this Friday.

Paul Haro

Philip Haro, a fourth-year philosophy student, will bring his R&B-inspired music to Spring Sing for the first time with his original song, “Matter of Time.” Haro, who has his own YouTube channel, will be performing as a solo vocal-and-guitar act.

From Kerckhoff Coffee House to Royce Hall, Philip Haro has performed almost everywhere on campus. But this Friday he will be performing on Pauley Pavilion’s much bigger stage as a Spring Sing soloist. Read more

Ruby Lee (aka Halle Charlton)

Third-year theater student Halle Charlton will perform as a solo artist at Spring Sing again this year. Just before last year’s performance, Charlton created her alto ego Ruby Lee.

The prospect of singing to 8,000 spectators in Pauley Pavilion would be terrifying for any UCLA student. But for ’40s vixen Ruby Lee, this kind of thing is old hat. Third-year theater student Halle Charlton and her alter ego Ruby Lee will perform “I Owe You Nothing” at Spring Sing. Read more

Sarah Summers

Sarah Summers, a first-year dance student, is one of the selected participants in this year’s Spring Sing. She will play the banjo and perform her self-composed piece “Meagan’s  Song” for the first time.

The spotlight will shine directly on her, as she picks at the banjo, producing a twanging sound that combines with her mature, deep voice, and sings about her past and the exciting mystery of her future. Sarah Summers, a first-year dance student, is one of the students selected to sing in this year’s Spring Sing. Read more

Suze Papazyan

Fourth-year history student Suze Papazyan will perform her original song “Forever for Now” as a solo artist at Spring Sing.

A first-time participant in Spring Sing, Papazyan will perform an original song, “Forever for Now.” Papazyan said her lyrics usually embody a personal experience or feeling, but the content of this song portrays the concept of a hope or a dream. Read more

The Street Hearts

Winner of the JazzReggae Festival Battle of the Bands, The Street Hearts performs “Head in the Clouds” and talks about the confusion that accompanies impractical passions, which motivated them to write the song. The band will perform in this year’s Spring Sing. Watch the video profile above.

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