Junior Kaleb Beek realized there was a lack of R&B and hip-hop at the Frost School of Music in fall of 2024. He and two members of his class, Natacha Chacin and Ethan Bowden, decided to change that last October.
The trio performed a sample R&B and hip-hop set during their contemporary studio class. Afterwards, the eager artists told their audience they were still searching for a drummer and bassist. Bass player Isabella Heck and drummer Mateo Gaviria jumped on board and Poster Child was born.
A year later, Poster Child is gearing up for its biggest performance yet: opening for the University of Miami’s Centennial Homecoming concert on Nov. 9.
Several student-led bands competed in “Battle of the Bands” for the chance to open for A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, the highly-anticipated headliner for this year’s Homecoming concert.
Students voted for their favorite band, and Poster Child came out on top.
“Everybody else in the band had stuff that they had to immediately do after we played, so I was the only one still there,” Beek said. “I really wasn’t expecting it, but I was so incredibly excited.”
Poster Child is no stranger to the stage. The upcoming Homecoming concert may be the band’s biggest gig to date, but it’s far from its first. The band played their fair share of gigs at local venues and on-campus events, including the Titanic Brewery and Patio Jams.
Their performances radiate electricity. Beek is usually at the forefront, though he never stays in one place for too long. He raps with a soulful motivation laced in every step and every word.
He trades vocals with Chacin, who offers indie melodies while moderating the keyboard. To Beek’s left, Bowden keeps the beat and the background consistent with his guitar and Heck punctuates rhythm whilst her fingers sing across her electric bass. Last but not least, Gaviria keeps the music lively with his quick skills at the drumset.
Sometimes, they’re accompanied by their “hype-man” — a small, animatronic Elmo doll.
While the songs Elmo sings don’t quite fit with Poster Child’s current repertoire, there’s always room for him to learn. After all, the band members each came from their own unique musical upbringings.
“All of us came from very different genres,” Heck said. “I initially was very Motown heavy, and then I started playing this. We all kind of connect through this music, but we all come from very different places.”
Poster Child sought to combine all five members’ stories when choosing their genre and theme. According to Bowden, they settled on “a live, sort of rock or indie band [with] a modern-day hip hop rapper over it.”
For most of the members, joining Poster Child marked their first time performing as part of a group. That meant that apart from perfecting their own musical skills, they had to learn how to collaborate — a skill which has proved to be extremely rewarding for all of them.
Though many members are solo artists as well, they have been able to join forces to improve musical storytelling through collective instrumentation and new perspectives.
Of course, it isn’t always smooth sailing. They have creative disagreements and rehearsals where lyrics just don’t come. One of the most prevalent struggles they collectively face is time management.
“Yes, I’m busy. Yes, I feel like I’m running around like a chicken without a head, but I’m doing music,” Beek said. “This is what I’ve dreamed of doing my whole life. I can’t be anything but grateful for it, you know?”
The band has reached heights none of the members could have ever predicted. They perform regularly, and they’re well-known across the Frost School of Music. But apart from musical fulfillment, they’ve gained something far greater through their involvement: a group of friends.
“Something I’m surprised about would probably be how fast we clicked together in the sense of how well we get along with each other,” Bowden said.“It can be something that we can all enjoy. I feel like we definitely built a kind of family vibe.”
What’s next for Poster Child? Ahead of Homecoming, they’re finalizing the mastered recording for the first single entitled “Miss Misfortune,” which they hope to release in the coming weeks.