The University’s chapter of Tiny Dorm is on a mission “to uplift the USC music community as well as emphasize collaboration across music and film” via their intimate shows recorded online, with their channel featuring three such performances less than a year into the organization’s Youtube channel being active. 

Led and created by sophomores Lily McLaughlin, a music industry student, and Kaitlin Mendoza, a media arts and practice student, Tiny Dorm SC officially opened in Fall 2023 after one of its founders wanted to emulate a previous musical experience on campus.

“A couple of years ago [Mendoza] actually saw people at USC doing their own Tiny Dorm type of organization,” McLaughlin said. “[Mendoza] and I were talking one night our first semester here and she told me about it. A couple weeks passed and we were just kind of like … well let’s do this ourselves.”

The NPR-inspired organization has quickly established a niche for itself by distributing its performances among music groups on campus, thanks to its cozy, authentic format.

“Tiny Dorm is different than other music features on campus just because of how intimate our space is,” McLaughlin said. “Since we’re in a dorm, there’s not much space to have a lot of people in the room, so a lot of the time when you watch the video, it feels like a personal concert.”

Friday night, the student-run management group left its comfort zone and hosted its first live event, with three student artist acts slated to put on a show for Tiny Dorm SC subscribers and newcomers alike, with all proceeds generated from the show going to MusiCares. The non-profit specializes in providing medical and financial support, a resource mobilizing for musicians affected by the recent wildfires around Southern California.

From the moment the show began, the event was filled to the brim with music lovers, all with varying degrees of connection to Tiny Dorm SC. Xochitl Moreno, a sophomore majoring in health promotion and disease prevention studies, had previously been a fan of the group’s YouTube channel but was drawn in by the promise of live music curated by fellow students.

“I like that [Tiny Dorm SC] is student-run,” Moreno said. “You’re getting music taste from people your same age who go to the same school.”

Alternatively, sophomore music industry student Sophie Ward had a full circle moment as she’d watched the organization grow from the start. After helping Tiny Dorm coordinate the sound of its first video less than a year ago, Ward returned to do the same at Tiny Dorm’s first live show.

“I’m looking forward to seeing all the bands. We have a 10-piece band tonight, just a freaking crazy horn section and all, which is wild,” Ward said. “But I’m just super pumped to see music, see who comes out.”

That extensive horn section came into play thanks to the first act of the night’s lineup, Dairo and Friends, with a lively funk rock performance that set the standard for the night as the premier place for fans of impressive live music played with love.

Indie rock band Ponytrick, headed by freshman music industry student Sarah Hyun and featuring support from sophomore popular music performance student Sophia Condon, took the stage next and carried the momentum to new levels with a set packed with alt-pop hits that kept the audience moving. 

Slated as the last act of the night, kNOLUVV — aka sophomore business administration student Noah Levine — took Tiny Dorm’s first show as an opportunity to get his name out there on his path to becoming an independent DJ. kNOLUVV’s act had already garnered anticipation among audience members throughout the night due to his skillful weaving of indie alt classics, leaving his appearance as an exciting end to the night.

With their first live show under their belt and more shows promised for the future, Tiny Dorm SC ultimately raised $500 for MusiCare and provided a jam-packed night for music lovers. The future is bright for this young student organization with much more to come.