Music festival season is in full swing, and if you’re looking for the perfect city to check out your favorite artists, Las Vegas might be the one for you. Just think about it: You could have a weekend filled with good food, great drinks, one-of-a-kind pool parties, exciting times at some of Vegas’ many nightclubs, and then a festival of your choice. The point is there’s so much to do in Vegas and that’s the beauty of the city. So, to ensure that your time in Vegas is as magical as it should be, let’s take a look at the many festivals, concerts, and events that you should be aware of for the rest of the summer.
Festivals
Life Is Beautiful
Exodus Festival
If you’re looking for a weekend of absolute summer fun, the Exodus Festival might be the place for you. The epic showcase boasts ten parties and 20 DJs that include The Chainsmokers, Diplo, Kaskade, Alesso, and more. Parties will go down by the pool and in nightclubs, so you’re guaranteed a fun time regardless of the setting that works best for you. With a weekend of fun locked in for later this summer on September 1-5, Exodus Festival is set to put on an absolute show for its 12th season.
While Las Vegas certainly provides plenty of opportunities for folks to do things by themselves or with another person, Desert Drip is here to cater to you and your group of eight or more people. Between September 1-5 later this summer, Desert promises a cost-effective and hassle-free way to have a blast on the Vegas strip. Whether it’s having a splash at pool parties or dancing the night away at one of Vegas’ nightclubs which include Drai’s, Jewel, Hakkasan, Ayu Nights, and others, Desert Drip will make sure you have the weekend of a lifetime.
Heavy metal and psychedelic music fans, this one is for you! Psycho Las Vegas is back for its sixth edition this year, and they’re bringing their talents to Resorts World Las Vegas on the strip for the first time ever. This year’s bill promises performances from metal favorites like Mercyful Fate, Suicidal Tendencies, and Emperor as well as other notable acts like Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Warpaint, Monster Magnet, Wu-Tang Clan rappers GZA, Raekwon, and Ghostface Killah, and more.
There’s no doubt that life can be beautiful when you’re out in the sun and there’s plenty of music around you. That’s exactly the scene that the 2022 Life Is Beautiful Festival will deliver to attendees. The showcase will take over Downtown Las Vegas for a show that’s headlined by a genre-spanning list of acts. Arctic Monkeys, Calvin Harris, Gorillaz, Lorde, Jack Harlow, Kygo, Migos, Sage The Gemini, and Beach House all lead this year’s lineup while others like Rico Nasty, Big Boi, Charli XCX, and Isaiah Rashad also appear on the bill for a lineup that is guaranteed to deliver an exciting moment to all kinds of music lovers.
In addition to all of the festivals mentioned above, there are also artists that will make stops in Vegas for exciting concerts. The Weeknd will deliver an experience that combines funk, R&B, pop, and more for a show at Allegiant Stadium on August 20 while The Killers will set the stage ablaze for a concert on August 26 at the T-Mobile Arena. The following month, Demi Lovato will bring her soaring vocals to the Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas on September 30. The aforementioned names are just a shortlist of what to expect on the music front, in addition to the long list of residencies, when you visit Las Vegas.
Purchase The Weeknd tickets here.
Purchase The Killers tickets here.
Purchase Demi Lovato tickets here.
DJ Sets
Las Vegas is also where your EDM cravings can be satisfied as a number of iconic DJs, up-and-comers, and modern stars throw a series of outright parties and exciting shows throughout the summer giving people multiple opportunities to get lost in the music. Alesso, DJ Snake, DJ Pauly D, Illenium, and Lil Jon are just some of the names on the list of DJs you can catch in Vegas this summer.
Purchase tickets for Alesso’s Vegas shows here.
Purchase tickets for DJ Snake’s Vegas shows here.
Purchase tickets for DJ Pauly D’s Vegas shows here.
Purchase tickets for Illenium’s Vegas shows here.
Purchase tickets for Lil Jon’s Vegas shows here.
Unforgettable festivals and concerts await in Las Vegas. What are you waiting for? Go plan your trip at visitlasvegas.com
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Season four of Stranger Things deals with a lot of heavy topics like trauma, death, and whatever squelching is. The show does a decent job at letting fans know that it’s OK to feel depressed after witnessing your step-brother be possessed and killed by a demonic being, and now med students will be able to learn from that experience.
Dr. Anthony Tobia of Rutgers Medical School explained that he integrates pop culture into his lessons so that his students will be more engaged. “95% of students, are engaged through discussions like this. I find something they’re interested in. I meet them there. And then I introduce psychiatry within that interest,” he told My Central Jersey. What better way to get people interested than watching a group of quirky kids investigating a portal to another worth in rural Indiana?
The professor will use the most recent season of Stranger Thingsto help lead discussions about mental health and psychiatry. “Stranger Things is very Stephen King-ish,” Dr. Tobia said. “It identifies a vulnerable cohort or population – children. It delves into the subjective experience of psychosis (unreality) versus dissociation. As soon as you open that door, you can go in any direction you want.”
Dr. Tobia has taught the same course before by using horror movies and even episodes of Seinfeld. “Whether it’s a film, whether it’s Stranger Things, your mind subconsciously identifies with aspects of that character good and or bad. To identify those feelings in oneself, ushered with a relationship forged with a fictional character, there is a window of opportunity for individuals to identify and therefore take action in their own lives,” he said.
Social media users can follow along with the course and even be a part of the conversation on Twitter. “If you just push play on your TV at 8 p.m. and follow us on Twitter, you’re automatically part of the discussion,” the professor explained, noting that the hashtag will be #RWJstrangerthings. Everyone is welcome to be involved, not just prospective doctors or Upside Down demons!
If there’s one thing Donald Trump never forgets to remind people of, it’s the fact that for four dysfunctional years—and despite two impeachments—he was president of the United States. OK, we get it. And yes, it’s a job that comes with lifetime perks, but using the presidential seal like it’s your personal logo isn’t one of them. Yet the seal has been seen brazenly plastered all over the place—from towels to Trump’s personal golf cart—at his golf clubs.
On Thursday, The Washington Post reported that the presidential seal was getting as much love from Trump as a can of Diet Coke or a McDonald’s burger might at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, which is currently hosting the controversial, Saudi-backed LIV golf tournament. This, of course, is a violation of federal law, which The Hill notes “prohibits knowingly using the printed or other likeness of the presidential seal ‘for the purpose of conveying, or in a manner reasonably calculated to convey, a false impression of sponsorship or approval by the Government of the United States.’” By violating this law, Trump could be fined, or even imprisoned for up to six months—but he’s clearly not sweating it. Just as he didn’t bat an eye at taking money from Saudi Arabia to host the event, despite the country’s abominable record of human rights violations, including the murder of Saudi reporter Jamal Khashoggi. (People just don’t grow ethics overnight, after all.)
According to The Washington Post, “The seal was plastered on towels, golf carts, and other items as the former president participated in the pro-am of the Saudi-sponsored tournament Thursday.” It’s not the first time Trump has leveraged his disastrous presidency for financial gain, particularly as it relates to his failing golf courses. Just over a year ago, the Citizens for Responsibility & Ethics in Washington—a nonpartisan watchdog group—filed a complaint against Trump [PDF] for “improperly displaying a likeness of the presidential seal in violation of federal law.”
Still, even though Trump is flagrantly flouting federal law, The Washington Post noted that charges are rarely made in these cases. And with Trump already looking down the barrel of a DOJ investigation regarding his involvement in January 6, a golf towel isn’t likely at the forefront of his mind.
As for defending himself for welcoming the Saudi event to his business, Trump seems to have forgotten that he blamed Saudi Arabia for 9/11—or he just doesn’t care.
While it might not conjure quite the same cooling image as an ice cold glass of beer or a fizzy cocktail, a nice whisky on a hot day is never a bad idea. The juice from Scotland is full of summer vibes, with flavors evoking bright apple orchards with plenty of summery floral notes to backyard smokers full of sweet billows of smoke and pepper-fatty meats. There’s a little summer in every bottle of Scotch whisky if you know where to look.
That’s where I come in. Below, I’m calling out 10 bottles of Scotch whisky that are full of summer vibes. I’m not ranking these bottles per se, just splitting up this list into three categories with three options in each: Blended whisky, Peated Single Malt, and Unpeated Single malt, with a wild card at the end. I’ll rank a top three of sorts for each category. This way you can grab a bottle that speaks to you without getting lost in a big list of everything all mashed up.
The best part? These are all under $100 per bottle and should be pretty easily findable at most good liquor stores. My suggestion, find a flavor profile that suits your palate and go from there. You won’t be disappointed by any of these picks.
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Scotch Whisky Posts of The Last Six Months
Chivas is renowned for its iconic blended whisky. This expression — originally created for the Japanese market and released in the U.S. in 2019 — adds a unique dimension to the classic blend. A portion of the whisky is finished in Japanese Mizunara casks, adding a layer of nuanced flavors to the standard Chivas.
Tasting Notes:
Caramel and dark dried fruits mingle with tasty pears, soft orange zest, a touch of leather, fresh and floral honey, and maybe some old oak staves on the nose. The palate has a dash or two of winter spice next to walnuts and honey-soaked raisins with a hint of sun-burnt heather and wildflowers. The finish lets the spiciness warm the palate as pear and leather fade through the end.
Bottom Line:
This is a great place to start. This whisky is light and damn near airy. The honey and pear vibe is bright and helps carry the sip to a soft and silky end. All of that said, I do think this is best enjoyed over a few rocks, especially on the hotter days.
This blended malt leans into apples as a predominant flavor note of sweet Scotch whisky. The juice in the bottle is a blend of 39% Linkwood single malt aged in ex-bourbon barrels, 20% Clynelish single malt also aged in ex-bourbon barrels, and Benrinnes single malt from ex-bourbon barrels. The next 8% is a single malt from a distillery in the town of Aberlour (not the distillery) that aged in ex-sherry butts with two percent from a Highland malt blend that aged in custom-built and toasted French oak barrels, and the final 2% from a peated malt from Caol Ila that matured in ex-bourbon casks.
Tasting Notes:
Naturally, apples burst forth on the nose with tart, sweet, and juicy notes next to a soft pear vibe, lemon and lime zest, a touch of sweet pineapple, and a soft echo of dry but fragrant Earl Grey tea leaves. The palate leans into fresh ginger soaking in a pot of floral honey next to minor notes of fresh strawberry shortcake with a soft vanilla sponge cake, fresh berries, and a dollop of vanilla-laced whipped cream. The finish leans into a light white floral note while the pear and apple return with a ripeness that feels like they’re fresh off the vine and a final note of lightly spiced malts with a whisper of applewood smoke.
Bottom Line:
This is a summer and slightly tropical fruit bomb that screams “summer sipping.” The overall feel is bright and sweet with a hint of spice to keep you on your toes. Again, this works wonders over the rocks or in a refreshing and ice-cold highball.
Johnnie Walker’s Green Label is a solidly crafted whisky that highlights Diageo’s fine stable of distilleries across Scotland. The juice is a pure malt or blended malt, meaning that only single malt whisky is in the mix (no grain whisky). In this case, the primary whiskies are a minimum of 15 years old, from Talisker, Caol Ila, Cragganmore, and Linkwood.
Tasting Notes:
Soft notes of cedar dance with hints of black pepper, vanilla pods, and bright fruit with a wisp of green grass in the background. The palate really delivers on that soft cedar woodiness while edging towards a spice-laden tropical fruit brightness. The finish is dialed in with hints of cedar, spice, and fruit leading towards a briny billow of smoke at the very end.
Bottom Line:
This is a great pairing for grilled salmon with plenty of lemon oils eaten while sitting on the grass in the backyard. Throw in a few rocks and a splash of fizzy water and you’re set.
This Islay peated malt is another great gateway whisky, especially since this is an extremely lightly peated malt. This expression is made from 12-year-old barrels that once held bourbon or sherry. Those barrels are vatted and the whisky is proofed down and bottled as-is.
Tasting Notes:
The nose on this opens with mild notes of smoked cherry next to burnt candle wax, tart apples, and salted caramels laced with orange oils. The taste mellows with a creamy vanilla pudding base with notes of Black Forest Cake and plenty of brandied cherries and dark cacao and a faint hint of cherry wood smoke way back in the background. The finish leans into that dry and fruity wood and leaves you with a touch more vanilla silkiness and singed cherry wood.
Bottom Line:
This is super light for a peated malt. The fruit is center stage with an echo of smoke that’s more like sitting next to a BBQ while pineapple and peaches are grilled and you’re popping salted sour cherries while sipping — on the rocks of course.
This Campbeltown whisky is distilled at the iconic Springbank Distillery. The whisky is a no-age-statement release that leans into the peatier end of the Springbank offerings. The whisky is bottled with a bit of water added to cut the proof down but without filtration or added color.
Tasting Notes:
Vanilla pudding mingles with a line of smoke from a smoldering backyard firepit while a savory herb garden grows nearby and then the nose veers toward singed marshmallows and burning fruitwood. The palate leans into that burning fruity wood before creamy vanilla leads to a brand new Ace Bandage. That medicinal note gives way to a wet clay with a nice minerality before the sweet and fruity smoke kicks back in and layers together vanilla, winter spice, and leather on the finish.
Bottom Line:
This is all about sitting outside in the summer. The backyard firepit peatiness and savory herb garden are big notes to key into during the summer. That said, this does have a big medicinal note that can be pretty off-putting to the uninitiated.
This is a quintessential Islay peaty whisky. The juice is aged in a combo of Pedro Ximénez, charred virgin oak, and ex-bourbon casks before being married and rested again in Ardbeg’s bespoke oak “Gathering Vat,” allowing the whiskies to really meld into a cohesive dram.
Tasting Notes:
The nose draws you in with smoked peaches next to a smoldering chunk of cherrywood with singed sage and rosemary leading towards an echo of smoked brisket fat covered in a lot of black pepper. There’s a burnt toffee sweetness that leads to soft nutmeg, green herbs after a rainstorm, and sweet potting soil. Then an ashen vibe — kind of like a campfire the morning after — kicks in on the mid-palate and gives this away. That ash leads to walnut shells, old black tea bags, sweet black licorice whips, and a touch more of that smoky brisket fat.
Bottom Line:
“Smoky brisket fat” is about as summer as it gets. Plus, this whisky is so well refined that you can’t help but want to pour one once the weather heats up.
The Balvenie is renowned for doing everything in-house, from growing grains to making their own barrels, while also being the distillery that spearheaded the whole “finishing whisky in a different cask” movement. In this case, the juice spends 14 years maturing in ex-bourbon barrels. The whisky is then batched and transferred to barrels that The Balvenie aged their own blend of West Indies rum in.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a welcoming rush of buttery toffee up top with hints of brown spices, bright red berries, and a touch of sweet malts. The palate brings around creamy vanilla dotted with those sweet and slightly tart red berries next to a very soft and sweet oakiness. The finish is medium-length and full of soft wood, vanilla cream, and a touch of that brown spice.
Bottom Line:
A rummy whisky feels very summery, especially with a good dose of bright berries in the flavor profile. This whisky has all of that with a good, malty base that shines the brightness on the rocks or in a highball with a few tart red berries as garnish.
Speyburn is an old-school Speyside whisky that was huge in the time of Queen Victoria and still wins awards to this day. That long-lasting quality is due to slow whisky making just off the River Spey, where everything moves a little slower from the fermentation to the stills to the aging. The juice spends 15 years aging in both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks before vatting, proofing, and bottling without any filtration.
Tasting Notes:
Interesting. This opens with a pinch of Kosher salt next to dried grass husks with soft leather and a hint of carambola on the nose. The palate sweetens toward a pear candy with a touch of passionfruit tartness next to grapefruit oils, nutmeg and allspice, and honey candies. The finish rides that bright and fresh fruit toward a soft landing in a pillow of malts and subtle winter spices filtered through a vanilla cake.
Bottom Line:
This is bright and deep with big citrus notes next to almost juicy fruitiness. That’s all tempered by a bright and floral honey vibe that makes this feel like a summer refresher in a Glencairn. Add a little ice and this might well be your drink of the summer.
Revival 15 takes its sherried nature very seriously. The juice is aged in a combination of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks for 15 long years. Those casks are married and this whisky is brought down to a very easy-drinking 92 proof with that soft Highland water.
Tasting Notes:
Dark berry brambles with tart and sweet fruit, stems, thorns, and even a little black dirt draw you in on the nose with a hint of walnut shell and cherry pie. The palate is a creamy-yet-bitter dark chocolate orange that leads toward a semi-savory fig countered by ripe apricot. The chocolate comes back with cinnamon spice and more dark berries and walnut on the end.
Bottom Line:
This is good any time of the year (all of these are at the end of the day) but really hits a nice, deep note in the summer. Bright stonefruit and dark chocolate feel right on the palate here and a single rock really helps this one bloom in the glass to find those deeper notes.
This is a great gateway to both Oban and scotch, in general, to have on hand. The juice is classically made and then matured in the Oban storehouses for 14 long years — all within a stone’s throw of the sea. The whisky barrels are then blended and proofed by Oban’s tiny distillery team (only seven people work there) before bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Citrus, salt, and a billow of peat smoke open this one up in classic fashion on the nose. That citrus carries on as a foundation for mild spices on the palate as a note of honey, hints of pears, and plummy dried fruits mingle on the tongue. The oak spice and extremely mild peat smoke meet on the end with a slight malty sweetness as the sip fades.
Bottom Line:
This feels like another great pairing for eating grilled salmon or prawns while sitting on fresh green grass in the backyard — maybe there are a few smoked oysters going around too. The citrus and honey really help this one pop as a summer sipper, especially on the rocks.
In a post on Instagram, The Roots drummer gives the album a 4.5 out of 5 rating and writes, “I still maintain that a good 4 weeks has to go by before you give a rating. I definitely have walked back many a high rating album some 20 years after the fact. I listened 7 times. Which is 8 times more than the last time I listened to anyones record from start to finish. She definitely made her ‘Off The Wall’ with this one (dance album of the year———this being 2022 we can’t give her decade accolades but so far the mix, quality, etc are so dope. This will hold high in her cannon. Love the growth: made classics in her teens, her 20s her 30s & getting better.”
Off The Wall, of course, is Michael Jackson’s 1979 album that is widely considered one of the best music releases of all time, so comparing Beyoncé’s latest to it is a tremendously high honor and not something it seems Questlove would do without good reason.
Drake is living his MTV millennial dreams lately. After joining the Backstreet Boys on stage to perform their hit song “I Want It That Way” alongside the late-90s/early-aughts icons, Drake brought another 2000s hitmaker to his All Canadian North Stars stage last night.
This time, it was fellow Canadian star Nelly Furtado (now there’s a name I haven’t heard in years *puffs on a cigarette*), whose Grammy-winning 2000 song “I’m Like A Bird” was as ubiquitous in that year as any of Drake’s songs are now. And yes, Drake put his whole soul into it, insisting that, at least for one night, he wasn’t a rapper but a fan. As one commenter put it, “this is Canadian history.”
drake and nelly furtado singing i’m like a bird together.. this is canadian history pic.twitter.com/KhIh5qan20
The All Canadian North Stars lineup was just night one of Drake’s October World Weekend, a three-day festival at his Toronto venue History. Coming up next is a reunion show with Chris Brown (meh) and a Young Money reunion show with Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj (yay!). The OWW (one letter short, Jimmy) is Drake’s way of making up for the lack of an OVO Fest proper since he’s turning that show into a world tour for 2023. While Nelly Furtado was a surprise guest, The Boy’s billed performers included Canadian rap pioneers like Choclair, Kardinal Offishall, and k-os, who all helped pave the way for Drake himself to have a flourishing career stateside.
Earlier this year, Disney was criticized by its fans and employees for staying silent on Florida’s Don’t Say Gay bill for much too long, before finally calling for its appeal after a series of backlash. Of course, Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis warned the company not to get involved, turning into quite a big mess for the company, which has a major presence in the state. Now, the company is trying to win back some support from its LGBTQ+ fanbase by signing an open letter written by The Human Rights Campaign.
The letter was written in support of the Respect For Marriage Act, which would repeal the Defense Of Marriage Act from 1996. The letter, which is signed by nearly 200 companies that represent over 5 million employees, calls for the Senate to pass the act, which was introduced earlier this year.
The Walt Disney Company, along with other big-named companies like Sony, Starbucks, Comcast NBCUniversial, Twitter, and Amazon, signed the letter asking the Senate to pass the act. The letter states the following, via THR:
Our employees are the foundation of our companies – they drive our ability to successfully do business, invest in
communities around the country, and create the products and services we proudly offer. As business leaders
committed to inclusion and equality for our employees, their families, and the communities we serve, we call
on the Senate to pass the Respect for Marriage Act.
The full letter and its signees can be read here. Despite the rough year for Disney, it seems like they are trying to make up for its many repeated mistakes regarding the LGBTQ community.
The Los Angeles Angels are not especially good and boast the most unique baseball player of his generation. With Major League Baseball’s trade deadline just around the corner, this would suggest that Shohei Ohtani is attainable via trade. In recent days, however, the Angels have stressed that Ohtani — who is slated to become a free agent after next season — is not on the table.
That has apparently changed. According to Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Los Angeles has finally gotten to a point where it is willing to take calls and listen to offers for the 2021 American League MVP. Per their reporting, this does not mean that an Ohtani deal will be easy in part because one executive said “they want something like your top four prospects.”
A trade involving Ohtani might be only slightly more likely, considering longtime Angels owner Arte Moreno loves his biggest stars and seems to be more involved than most owners. Two executives calling about Ohtani expressed doubt that the Angels would pull the trigger on such a megadeal based on the history of the team and the owner.
Two executives with interest rated it this way: “Very slim,” and “almost zero.”
Following the Angels’ 2-0 loss to the Texas Rangers on Thursday night, Ohtani was asked about his future and told the press, “Regardless of where I’m playing, I’m going to give it my all and try to win that ballgame in front of me. I’m with the Angels right now, and I’m very thankful for what they’ve done. I love my team and my teammates. Right now I’m an Angel, and that’s all I can focus on.”
The Angels are 42-57 on the season. An All-Star selection this year, Ohtani is hitting .254 with a .835 slugging percentage and 21 home runs while boasting a 9-6 record with a 2.81 ERA as a pitcher.
As nearly everyone with internet access knows, Will Smith made headlines for slapping comedian Chris Rock during a live taping of the 94th annual Oscars ceremony. The slap came after Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair loss reportedly caused by alopecia.
Four months following the incident, Smith has released a video showing a formal, official apology to Rock.
“It’s been a minute…Over the last few months, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and personal work…” the onscreen text read before Smith became visible.
During the video, Smith addressed why he didn’t apologize to Rock during his acceptance speech while claiming the “Best Actor” award for his role in “King Richard.” The actor admitted to being “fogged out” during the moment, but has since reached out to Rock to open up a dialogue about what happened.
“I’ve reached out to Chris and the message that came back is he’s not ready to talk, and when he is, he will reach out,” Smith said in the video.
He then apologized to Rock’s mother, after seeing an interview she did. “I didn’t realize how many people got hurt in that moment.”
Getting emotional, Smith shared, “There is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment. There’s no part of me that thinks that’s the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect or insults.”
Smith also spoke to the theory that Pinkett Smith’s alleged eye roll caught on camera prompted him to get aggressive. Smith took full ownership for his actions, saying, “I made a choice on my own, from my own experiences.” Where Smith confessed that his prior choice “hurts, psychologically and emotionally,” he is doing everything he can to “be remorseful without being ashamed of myself. I’m human.”
The five-minute video concluded with Smith vowing to transform a mistake into a growth opportunity.
To his disappointed fans, he promised that he would be “deeply devoted and committed to putting light and love and joy into the world. And, you know, if you hang on, I promise we’ll be able to be friends again.”
Sometimes the best part about watching “America’s Got Talent” isn’t seeing extraordinary performances—it’s witnessing extraordinary courage.
Eighteen-year-old Ava Swiss displayed both talent and courage with her breathtaking rendition of “Remember” by Lauren Daigle. Swiss’ vocal chops and stage presence were certainly enough to make a lasting impression. But the reason behind her song choice made it all the more impactful.
“I chose this song because back on November 30, my brother and I were a part of the Oxford school shooting,” Swiss told judge Simon Cowell. “We lost four of our students, and seven others were injured, one of which was a teacher.”
In an exclusive interview with People, Swiss shared that she had been close friends with 17-year-old Justin Shilling, one of the four students killed. The trauma of such loss and surviving a harrowing (though sadly, not unimaginable) experience made the thought of going back to school seem impossible.
“It’s been hard. I remember my brother and I, we were talking to each other, and we said, ‘There’s no way we’re ever stepping foot back in the school,’” she told the judges.
The high school senior’s audition had been filmed prior to the recent series of public shootings across America. It’s heartbreaking that these tragedies have become so common, no question.
But as Swiss demonstrates, resilience can be immensely healing. Swiss added that she and her brother had been back at school for about two months … all before singing so powerfully she was met with a standing ovation.
Mandel told her. “The fact that you can break through that, and shine the way you did today, is so inspirational for every human being.”
This was, of course, before receiving a unanimous “yes” to move onto the next round of the competition.
If the resounding praise from all four judges wasn’t enough, fellow students of Oxford High sent a flood of loving comments to the video posted on YouTube as well. One student wrote:
“Hi another student from Oxford high school, this performance will stay on repeat in my head for years to come. It was extraordinary and so beautiful it gave me chills down to the bone. This was something I didn’t know I needed, it made me cry a lot but also gave me a lot of strength. I’m so proud of our community and of Ava for sharing her voice with us and the world and making our healing process a little less rough. Stay strong Oxford.”
It’s not easy to get up on stage and bare your soul, especially after trauma. Swiss’ performance was a big win before she hit a single note.
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