Psychedelic funk, retro soul and alternative rock will permeate the sound system at this year’s Biggest Mouth competition, set for April 21 at the Metro concert hall, 3730 N. Clark St., hosted by the Student Programming Board.

Chosen March 15, the bands featured will be ConSoul, which plays R&B, soul and hip-hop styles;  Zoofunkyou, a psychedelic blues funk band; Momz, an R&B retro soul band; jazz-influenced group Ribs; Tupni, an alternative and hip-hop mesh; Glamour Hotline, a punk and indie rock band; indie rock band The King of Mars; indie pop/rock group Elk Walking; hip-hop artist Ace Da Vinci & The Lighthouses; Oku, an acoustic artist; jazz, punk and metal mesh Blaqrock; and rock and “psych-progressive” Fanaticus.

Auditions were held March 3–5, said Ian Valiente, a junior business & entrepreneurship major and president of SPB.

“We were looking for originality, stage performance and audience engagement,” Valiente said. “[We wanted] anything that would get the crowd moving to make sure they were being acknowledged.”

Gardner McFadden, a sophomore cinema art + science major, is part of Blaqrock, a  jazz, punk and metal group that features rap influences. McFadden added that he wanted to feature his bandmates’ talent alongside his rapping.

McFadden said concert rehearsals require energy and open-mindedness to experiment with new forms of collaboration.

Derek Dare, a senior audio arts & acoustics major and lead vocalist and lyricist of Zoofunkyou, said the band enjoys improvising its songs when performing.

Matthew Coglianese, a junior jazz studies major at Roosevelt University and Zoofunkyou’s bass player, said the band has created a medley of three or four songs with its psychedelic, funk and jam style.

“It is kind of a mish-mash, cutting bits of one song and weaving in and out of another,” he said.

Zachary Restaino, a freshman audio arts & acoustics major who performs under the stage name “Tupni” with Douglas Trap and Lul Sluzzie, describes his genre as a mix between alternative and hip-hop music.

Restaino said he plays piano and drums, occasionally sampling house music and adding hip-hop beats to his songs.

“I want to make sure everyone sees my message and how I am coming across,” Restaino said. “I want [the audience] to feel the emotion behind my voice and radiate that energy.”

Josey Omokheyeke, a junior music major and vocalist of Momz, said the band is expecting “the best” out of the concert and hopes for a strong audience response. Momz has been rehearsing frequently for the big night, Omokheyeke said.

“We want to get on the stage and have fun and represent our music and our journey,” she said.

Eric Rutherford, a junior music major and vocalist of Momz, said the members’ different musical backgrounds contribute to the genre’s variety, which is an R&B and retro soul feel of music.

Rutherford said Momz has figured out how to simplify its set so individual parts do not sound cluttered during performances. 

“You can expect there to be a lot of energy,” Rutherford said. “That is the thing we have really got down pat.”