The sound of soul music rang through The Habitat for Oakland University students to enjoy on Thursday, Oct. 17.  

Nico Franc, 24, is a Los Angeles-based soul artist who recently brought his talents all the way to OU. 

His music filled The Habitat for the Thursday Night Mainstage: Coffeehouse event that was put on by the Student Program Board (SPB). 

Thursday Night Mainstage is an ongoing event series which features all different kinds of performing acts in OU’s Habitat.

Samantha Miller, the marketing director for SPB, first met Franc at a conference for the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) back in 2018. She said it was so different and unique to bring someone in their early 20s to show students they can follow their dreams and be successful in what they want to do. 

Franc, who travels around the country performing at different universities, said playing in front of college students is really exciting. 

“When I play a show in L.A., people are coming out because they know me and they want to hear the music,” Franc said. “When I play a show to students who don’t know me, I have to win them over, and it’s so much fun.”

Because of this, he equates college shows to the semblance of street performing. 

“Nobody knows you but you have every opportunity to make their day,” he said. 

Franc said he doesn’t remember a time where he wasn’t around music. He grew up in a musical household where he was surrounded by all types of instruments and genres.  

He grew up writing folk music, but said he found himself in soul music. 

Franc said folk music is “an incredibly emotional way of storytelling, and soul music was a more rhythmic way of capturing that same storytelling method.”

His performance consisted of songs that will be on his new album, which he is excited about. When he performed his new songs, he said he used the audience’s reaction to gauge where changes can be made in the songs.

“I was just happy to be on stage again — that’s my favorite place on Earth,” he said. “It’s been a blast being here.”

For more information on Nico Franc, visit his website and social media accounts. He will be releasing his new album in 2020. 

Looking forward, Thursday Night Mainstage will be featuring comedian Feraz Ozel who, after being recruited by the CIA, decided to follow his passion for comedy instead. 

Mackenzie Hill, the SPB annual events director, said Thursday Night Mainstage is a great way for students to learn a more about the different student organizations that are available on campus.

Miller said she loves the unique variety of people that perform at the event.

“It’s really nice to be able to bring students together on a Thursday evening, especially being a commuter school,” Miller said. “I think it’s so cool that students actually want to wait around and see what’s going on on Thursday night.”