MUSE Magazine’s Mini Desk concert is now a staple on the Queen’s music calendar.
MUSE’s fifth ever Mini Desk concert, held on Sept. 24 at The Mansion, showcased a wide range of student talent. Inspired by NPR’s Tiny Desk series, where artists perform stripped down sets in an office-like setting, MUSE’s version has grown into a fixture of its own. Featuring performances from Michael Zuzek, LHRK, Jinx, and Blunt Force Llama, the night highlighted the wealth of talent right here on campus.
MUSE’s Head of Music, Marijka Vernooy, ArtSci ’26, and Editor in Chief Rhea Matharu, Comm ’25, spoke to how the event has evolved over the years, and the exciting opportunity it presents for student musicians to share their craft.
As a student-run creative magazine at Queen’s that has a focus on creativity, events like these are vital.
“I think MUSE as a magazine really represents the artistic talent at Queen’s and the student expression of art,” Vernooy said in an interview with The Journal.
The selection process for the event wasn’t easy. “We had a really strong group of applicants—everyone was really talented. Ultimately, we wanted to cultivate kind of a house-show vibe for this specific mini desk,” Vernooy said.
The event was energetic, with a sold-out crowd filling The Mansion’s top floor, creating a ive environment for the performers, as well as an opportunity to play for a packed venue. “We’re pretty friendly, and kind of accommodating to whatever style, or set list, or whatever people want to bring to the table,” Vernooy said.
The night opened with a solo performance by Michael Zuzek, ArtSci ’25, who played a mix of covers and originals from his new album Everest, which released in August. With only the piano accompanying him, Zuzek’s voice took centre stage.
Already involved in MUSE on the podcast team, this was a chance for Zuzek to show his musical talents. “I have the ability now to play my stuff, and there’s an audience that wants to hear it. So, I’m very grateful,” Zuzek said in an interview with The Journal.
Next up was band LHRK, composed of Brandon Liang, CompSci ’25, Connor Dore, ArtSci ’25, Joseph Raco, Sci ’27, and Thomas Wilkinson, Sci ’25. Their set included original songs alongside covers, their spin on Clairo’s “Bags” being a crowd favourite. The group’s second EP, Honesty is set to drop next week.
The band appreciated the tight-knit music community Mini Desk cultivates. “I love the MUSE thing because they get a couple bands, and then the whole community comes,” Dore said in an interview with The Journal.
Third on the bill was Jinx, fresh from a performance earlier in the night at Artist Impact Movement Kingston’s backyard barbecue event. They played a string of covers during their polished performance, with “Rhiannon” by Fleetwood Mac, and a rendition of “Sunny” by Bobby Hebb which upped the tempo as it went along.
The band, made up of Joey Center, ArtSci ’26, Heath Danylewich, Sci ’26, Paul Windmoller, ArtSci ’26, Sophia Schallig, Sci ’26 and Charlie Mayo, CompSci ’26, enjoyed the chance to perform for a new crowd after their performance at Clark Hall’s battle of the bands event last week.
In contrast to the Clark crowd, mostly made up of their friends, this performance was different. “It was nice to play for new people and see how they reacted to all the songs we played,” Danylewich said in an interview with The Journal. “The energy that the audience gave us was electric,” Center added.
The last band of the night was Blunt Force Llama. Playing their first show with their new lineup, the group is made up of Eleanor Guy, ArtSci ’27, Andy Ganea, HealthSci ’26, Vardan Deroche, HealthSci ’26, Ronin Offman, HealthSci ’26 and Maxwell He, HealthSci ’26.
Closing the night on a powerful note, Blunt Force Llama’s funk-infused sound differed from the previous musicians. A memorable highlight was an encore performance of ABBA’s “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” to end the night’s performances.
“What I like about mini desk is that anyone can come, it’s widely d, and it’s really strong musical talent,” Vernooy said. “So, hopefully the success from tonight will encourage people to come back next year.”
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