By Ava Geaniotis
The singer, writer, performer, Larson Legacy Grant recipient and artist behind the viral song “Little Miss Perfect” Joriah Kwamé returned to the Adelphi campus on Monday, October 1 following his showcase at Adelphi’s Performing Arts Center in September to engage in conversation with students about his career and current projects. 

Hosted by the Adelphi University Performing Arts Center Mr. Kwamé provided students with an  opportunity to discuss projects he has in development, his career as a NYC artist and answer questions.  Junior acting major Katie Battaglia said, “It’s just really exciting to get to meet someone who’s creating in the theater space.”  She added how excited she was to “kind of pick his brain to see how do you move forward as a creator and as an actor, and also get a preview of some stuff [she] could be working on in the future.”

Originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan, Kwamé began his career by opening for artists at local venues.  He realized his love of writing (or, as he puts it, “got the bug for writing musicals”) when he created his first original piece inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.  He described the ensuing production as a “phase of experimentation and free expression,” in which he further developed his passion.

While studying Musical Theater Performance at Western Michigan University, Kwamé developed skills that many Adelphi students in attendance relate to. Now based in New York City, he is working on multiple projects including a full-length musical based on his song “Little Miss Perfect,” a spin on Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” named “Lady M,” and a modern day story based on the Akan folklore spider tale “Anansi.” As a multi-hyphenate creative with a career in musical theater, Kwamé explained how having a varied skillset benefits a performer. “It becomes symbiotic,” he said. Then added, “All these things live within us.” 

During the discussion with students, Kwamé accepted questions from those looking to learn more about his experiences, gain advice and even discover what are his musical interests. He said he listens to “a little of everything” and declared himself as a “music geek.” 

Students were especially interested in what he did in college to set him up for future success. “Everything I could,” said Kwamé.  He emphasized the importance of learning about digital audio workspaces as a music composer, as well as knowing where to look for opportunities. He suggested that actors look at Playbill and Actors’ Access, and writers should be aware of who is commissioning and what potential networking events to attend.

Kwamé advised students to continuously create, and to learn about diverse genres, musicals and creators.  He emphasized following instinct, working even when no one else believes, advocating for oneself and taking action for a better future.

After the event, students left feeling motivated and informed about their career and the rest of their years at Adelphi. Junior acting major Ally Covone said, “I thought it was really interesting that we got to hear personal experiences from somebody who is actively working in our industry and to give us advice.”

Kwamé’s words emphasized the importance of hard work and passion and left Adelphi students feeling inspired, informed and motivated to take action towards their goals in the musical theater industry.