Formerly “Laylat Ash3r” or “Night of Poetry”, Odd Verse is now a collective that aims to amplify peoples’ narratives by creating platforms for the stories, ideas and perspectives of voices that deserve more representation. We create spaces of discourse, education, solidarity between communities, and collective action for causes of justice & liberation. In our monthly open mic, we honor our vision by holding a safer and braver space for local folk to express their art fully and unapologetically.
Join our open mic priority sign-up list at https://bit.ly/oddverse
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BIOS
Passionate Persian. Based in San Francisco, Yalda-Melody Mohammadi, M.A. also known as "Passionate Persian" is an Iranian-American singer-songwriter, musician, dancer, and social justice advocate. Yalda's personal and professional pursuits are dedicated to changing society for the better. Grantmaker in human rights philanthropy by day and performer by night...Yalda shares emotionally heart felt and thought-provoking acoustic guitar sessions rooted in themes around empowerment, unity, and social change. When she's not playing music, she is reading tarot cards, loving cats, immersing herself in nature, and practicing transcendental meditation.
TRYN & mayx are bringing guitar-laced vocals of R&B & alt flavors to soothe the soul. From summertime joy to exploring the world around you to carving your own path outside the norms, their message inspires self-love, kindness, and community care.
mayx is an alternative guitarist, producer and songwriter from the South Bay. they first got their chops in jazz big bands in high school and jazz combos in college, and have since grown into a unique guitarist with a distinct voice. their work has been featured by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, as a featured artist on their recent "Bravespace" exhibition; Kearny Street Workshops emerging musician series; and Silicon Valley Pride. Their self-produced debut EP, time off, was picked up for physical release by the Bay Area tape label Take Care Tapes. They have performed at venues of all sizes across San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and beyond, such as sold out shows at Milk Bar. Their live performances are like no other, as they use a combination of their guitar skills, live looping with digital instruments, and their gentle vocals to send folks to another planet. They are also a film scorer, and most recently wrote original music for Amyra Soriano's film, Miss Hot Mess, which premiered at Cast SF in October 2022 with support from Balay Kreative. They recently performed a longform solo show coming up at the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) as part of OMCA’s much loved Friday Nights at OMCA series. mayx’s set comprised of experimental live looping with guitar and vocals. mayx's music is an extension of their queer organizing and educating. As an educator, they work with trans and queer college students, and they are also developing a lesson plan for recording lessons for teens at local San Jose libraries.
TRYN (instagram)
Tryn's artistry and music career have grown so much over the past year, and she has become a sought-after live vocalist in SJ. She moved to San Jose from her hometown of Sacramento less than 2 years ago, and her lyricism and care have already made her a staple in the local scene, where she not only shares her captivating music, but also provides space for others by hosting open mics and organizing shows with creatively diverse lineups. Her highly anticipated debut EP, SNACKZ, a collaboration with mint.beats, has gained her even wider recognition. She recently featured at the highly regarded San Jose Jazz Breakroom. She performs regularly at popular events in San Jose, including being a regular feature at The Groove, a regular party at Fuze lounge. She is experienced in performing for her communities-- she performed at local colleges for Black Liberation Month earlier this year, and was a featured poet at LEAD Filipino's first open mic in late 2022. She is currently working on live performances and collaborating with artists in a plethora of genres.