VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Not all business conferences are created equally.
Many times, it comes down to the best continental breakfast, and then, some business forums are flat-out mightier and, in particular, more musically inclined than others.
Whether Pharrell Williams’ Mighty Dream Forum from Tuesday through Thursday turns into a successful annual Norfolk event is yet to be determined.
But there is one point for certain: When Williams, the award-winning hip-hop star from Virginia Beach, holds a function in Hampton Roads, there will be music.
“Really, really dope music,” said Gabe Niles, music director for the Mighty Dream Forum.
Mighty Dream will feature daytime panels and business discussions on topics such as prioritizing equity within corporations, nighttime concerts with nationally known headliners and smaller shows throughout the forum’s three days and nights by local musicians, highlighting homegrown talent.
“I would call it the flavors of the tidewater, the flavors of 757 (a local area code),” Niles said. “Yes, it is a business conference, but Pharrell wanted to include the music for a reason. That’s because the music here is really good.”
Headlining artists will include internationally known DJs and producers Kaytranada and Joe Kay, the rapper Saba and the group Thundercat, Niles said.
“And, there’s always room for another surprise,” Niles quickly added.
While Mighty Dream Forum event passes are on sale for as much as $3,500 apiece, attendees can purchase tickets to the forum’s musical performances at much lower costs.
Showtimes and possible ticket prices for performances by Saba and Joe Kay were yet to be announced. But Thundercat is scheduled to perform Wednesday. Tickets are $40. Kaytranada is scheduled to perform at 9 p.m. Thursday. Tickets are $40. Both shows are at the NorVa.
Local musicians have been hired to jam at the forum’s Business Block Party between 4 and 7 p.m. on Wednesday with a ticket price of $40, and even more local musical artists will play free shows at the Hub Stage at the Assembly in downtown Norfolk.
Mighty Dream’s music director set a goal to create a “diverse soundscape” that influenced every aspect of putting together the event’s local lineup.
“I was looking for an overall sound to include differing styles that really represent the area,” Niles said. “Like Community Witch is a dope band. They’re like a punk band that’s very talented, and then, we have BJ Griffin who plays the cello.”
Ana Velez, lead singer of Community Witch, wouldn’t necessarily describe her band as punk. “We’re kind of snake charmer, garage-like surf-y,” she said, adding the band is thrilled to be a part of Pharrell’s forum.
“I feel so honored,” Velez said, noting that she’s recently been telling anyone that Community Witch would be included in the Mighty Dream lineup.
“I thought that they were just joking and playing round,” she said. “Then I found out from our drummer that it was really happening, I didn’t even know what to say. I couldn’t believe it.”
Natalia Ramos, a local reggaeton musician who performs under the stage name Nat., was equally excited to be chosen for Mighty Dream and sees it as a possible opportunity to reach a wider audience.
“There’s always somebody that can give you an opportunity, even if it’s just your next door neighbor. It’s another ear. It’s another opinion that can really change your life in some way, shape or form,” Ramos said.
Nat. will perform at the Assembly at 7:20 p.m. Wednesday. Community Witch will play at the Mighty Dream block party — also on Wednesday.
In addition to local musicians, Niles cobbled together a collection of local DJs to set the mood and create a real-life soundtrack for the business portion of the forum, spinning records during meals and between industry lectures and panels.
“I am so excited. I’m just trying to hold it in and just humbled about it,” said Jelisa Osouna, who goes by the DJ stage name Jofroxi.
“I’m grateful and feel like honored because I have been very active in the community for the past probably decade ever since and going back to going to ODU and just getting started.”
She’s scheduled to DJ during a Mighty Dream breakfast session from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday and has a pretty good idea of what she’ll play.
“You know, chill lounge music, a little bit of house music, a little dance, and then later on, I’m also at the block party,” Osouna said.
Longtime Norfolk favorite Kyle Siebels, who performs as DJ CanRock, landed a similar gig, cultivating a soundtrack that set the mood, segue and help transition between the business forum’s various daytime panels.
“I’ll basically be the downtime guy from what I understand,” Siebels said, adding that he’s going to add a lot of local musicians and songs from Pharrell’s catalogue to his mix.
“To have a literal music and multi-industry legend come back to Norfolk to provide more opportunities and book all local restaurants, all local musicians and then feature them with national artists, I mean it’s basically a lot of what local artists and businesses have been asking for — just to be included,” Siebels said.
For his part, Niles noted, “I wanted to show people that just because these artists are local, they could be soon to be global. Local to global — easy man.”
On Tuesday, free shows by local artists at the Assembly will start at 6:30 p.m. and include performances by Intalek, Marv P, Bennett W. Wales, Nat., Mack, CocoMamba and Sunny Moonshine.
On Wednesday the “Fuzzy Band” will perform a free show at the Assembly between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.
On Thursday, free shows by local artists at the Assembly will start at 6:30 p.m. and include performances by Tyler Donavan, VTestimony, Carter &and Vince RBLE, Shao-lin, Gee Litt, Paige, and Ni’eve.
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