At the heart of Brandeis’s growing creative culture is a club called Basement Records and its subgroup, From the Attic. These platforms are home to those who identify themselves as “Creatives,” and emphasize inclusivity and community, providing a space for students to explore their creative passions while connecting with others. Both Basement Records and From the Attic have transformed the way Brandeis students engage with creative expression on campus, offering opportunities to record, collaborate and share their work in a supportive environment. Founded in 2016, Basement Records originally started as a record label but has since evolved into a broader creative hub at Brandeis. It offers students resources to nurture their creative talents. From the Attic complements this by focusing on turning those skills into tangible projects and producing them for the world to see.
Lizbeth “Liz” Sandoval ’25, the current president of Basement Records, describes the club’s mission as a space where “students who identify as Creatives can have the resources as well as the opportunities to enhance their skill sets and have the support system and community to make their projects into a reality.” This inclusive environment embraces a diverse range of creative pursuit. More specially, according to Sandoval, the Creatives in the club are, “a part of the four pillars which are those who are artists; they paint and draw, and then we have the musicians and songwriters, and then we move into the poets and the folks who are writing short stories and then beyond that we have the photographers and videographers”.
The club provides a nurturing space for all kinds of creativity, offering workshops, networking events and opportunities to collaborate. “Basement Records is more broad in the aspect of being a place for all of us to gather to be able to learn skills and cultivate discussions with each other,” explains Iyegbekosa Ohanmum ’27, the vice president of Basement Records. This inclusive approach ensures that every creative voice can find its place and flourish. She adds that “there’s a lot of connections that can be made. So that’s also the benefit of just being able to have a bunch of Creatives in one space.”
From the Attic focuses on transforming these creative talents into practical endeavors. Aaron “Ace” Kelly ’25, the creative director for From the Attic, articulated that the From the Attic “helps to instill artistic confidence within students so they don’t feel as if their creativity is not worth being seen.” According to Ace, “if you have some creative skill that either you want to learn or you’re ready to get exposure to, this is your opportunity.” In essence, From the Attic acts as a bridge between the learning experiences provided by Basement Records and the practical application of these skills into presentations for the world to see.
Briyant Boakye Frimpong ’27, assistant director of From the Attic, explains its role further: “We noticed that a lot of Creatives here on campus were already so talented and advanced in their craft, so we thought it would be best to offer opportunities like the finale or starting a YouTube series, or whatever it may be that you want to do. It’s really just getting more of that professional aspect.” This hands-on approach offers students a platform to either showcase their individual work or collaborate on new projects.
Events are a cornerstone of Basement Records and From the Attic, with each contributing to the vibrant creative community at Brandeis. Last year’s “Finale”, which is an annual event, was a standout event where “a bunch of people on campus who make music came together and showcased their music on stage,” Frimpong, who was one of the hosts recalls. This event also marked the beginning of collaborations beyond Brandeis, including with Northeastern’s Greenline Records, expanding the reach and impact of these creative initiatives.
In addition to large-scale events, smaller, more intimate gatherings like paint nights and the Creatives Mixer offer a space for students to network and share their ideas and contact information. Sandoval highlights this upcoming event by saying, “The Creatives Mixer is going to be a nice chill session where Creatives can get to know our e-board and we can ask them questions about what sort of events they want to see throughout the semester. It will be in SIMS.” Such events are essential for building connections and fostering a supportive community among Creatives. By having a blend of different types and size events, as Ohanmum explains, “We focus on making sure that people who are creative in all different aspects are represented and included. They are a creative space for you to exist.”
The future of Basement Records and From the Attic is bright and full of potential. Sandoval, looking back at their experience as a whole as the president of Basement Records states “With Basement Records, I’m really proud of the fact that we were able to cultivate this community because there’s a lot of folks who are women or BIPOC [Black, Indigenous and/or People of Color] who didn’t feel represented on campus. And due to that, the amount of folks who show up to our events is so exciting to see.” Sandoval envisions a continuation of their success, saying, “One of the future goals is to finally secure our distribution deal that we’ve been trying to work out with Brandeis and the administration.” She also hopes to see more alumni engagement, citing the achievements of past members as a source of inspiration and a way to give back to the community.
Looking ahead, Kelly stresses the importance of keeping From the Attic thriving: “The main goal is to ensure From the Attic doesn’t fade away. As long as we continue bringing in new generations of creators, we’ll be in good shape.” He hopes to connect more with the Waltham community and to get their members to do more off of campus, such as performing on Moody Street. He feels that when he graduates, he will leave the club in good hands. He explains, “I feel like the other members have the qualities and capabilities of bringing a community together, as well as being respectful to those who are just new to what this space is.”
Ohanmum, aspiring to eventually lead Basement Records, underscores the importance of inclusivity and growth: “I definitely would love to see more people who maybe don’t even have a robust knowledge of something creative they want to do, but they have an interest in it. I really want to emphasize if someone’s just curious about it, this is a place where you can create.” This openness creates a welcoming environment where curiosity is encouraged, and everyone, regardless of their experience level, can find a place to express themselves.
As Basement records and From the Attic continue to evolve, they remain committed to their core missions: fostering creativity, supporting artistic growth and building a community where every Creative can thrive. Whether through the broad support offered by Basement Records or the focused, hands-on approach of From the Attic, Brandeis students have access to a rich tapestry of opportunities and resources to explore and develop their creative passions.
If you’d like to become involved with Basement Records and From the Attic, you can email a member or attend one of their events to meet the e-board. Don’t miss the Creatives Mixer on Monday, Sept. 23, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the blue booths in front of the SCC (or in the SCC TV Lounge as a rain location).
Editor’s Note: The location of the event in the above paragraph was modified after publication. The article has been reflected to reflect that modification.
