First-year Alexa Lahr is already making moves as she begins her college career at EMU. During New Student Orientation in August, she caught the attention of her peers with her unique style and stories from her family’s trip to India. Lahr has been passionate about traveling, music, theater, and art since her childhood.

Lahr, a Philadelphia, Pa. native, is a social work major with the dream of using the arts to heal people. Her parents work with impoverished youth. They have been an inspiration to her.

“Adolescents don’t have enough power, but they are so powerful.” Lahr says. “I want to help them find their voices.”

Lahr found her voice as a singer at age eight. She now goes by the name “Lahrgirl” with music on Apple Music, Spotify, SoundCloud, and YouTube. She released her latest single, “For Who?” featuring Meechy Jay, in November.

Meechy Jay, also known as Maleke Jones, is a 2018 EMU graduate who met Lahr on Instagram last summer. They have been producing music together ever since.

“My first impression was that she was super talented, not only with her singing voice, but just the words that she uses and the metaphors,” Jones said. “Alexa has pushed me to be a better artist. Just by witnessing her musical abilities and the time she puts in: it pushes you! She’s has made me want to focus more on my wordplay, metaphors, and delivery.”

Jones’ favorite moment with Lahr was their first performance at the Golden Pony in downtown Harrisonburg in December.

“I definitely felt like we had a lot of chemistry going into the show, and everything felt even more natural, which can be sometimes hard to obtain with other artists,” Jones said. “Not only can we be an insane duo on a track together, but we can also share important details of life with one another. She’s someone you can trust.”

Their next performance will be on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 9 p.m. at the Golden Pony for Meechy Jay’s album release party.

Lahr has performed on campus with EMU’s choirs. She was a member of the Chamber Singers last semester, and currently sings in the Gospel Choir, which performed at convocation on Martin Luther King Jr. Day last week.

The cross cultural program is one of the reasons why Lahr chose EMU. She is ecstatic about going on the Vienna and Europe Cross Cultural, lead by Justin Poole, theater program director and professor, in the fall of this year.

“Alexa is deeply committed to social justice and using the arts, especially theater, to help other people.” said Poole. “Alexa brings great creative energy, which she is demonstrating through her role in Beauty and the Beast and her job as set crew in the theater program.”

Lahr is in the Art Club and Black Student Union, which are supporting her creative vision with the monthly art show The Black Box, an idea she came up with last fall.

This creative collaborative event will feature a student art display, live art, open mic, and a performance by Meechy Jay on Feb. 21 from 7-9 p.m. in the Black Box Theater in the University Commons for Black History Month.

Celeste Thomas, the director of Multicultural Student Services, said that Lahr stands out at EMU because “she is expressive in her appearance, her creativity, and her activism, [and] is serious about her academics … [She] does an excellent job of balancing it all.”

Thomas added, “She is also very open and accepting of all types of persons, and navigates well among our global majority students, [and] white students, as well as faculty and staff. She has a confidence about herself that allows her to be at ease with others.”

“Everything from her flannels to her cassette tape earrings are what set her apart,” Jakiran Richardson, co-president of Black Student Union, said. “Alexa is proud of her individuality, and that is definitely inspirational. Alexa impacts me by showing me that it is possible to do what you love and still handle your responsibilities.”

This spring, Lahr is releasing an EP called “Elements,” which will include her songs “Water” and “Fire,” along with a music video for “Fire.”

“My goal isn’t to be famous,” Lahr said. “My goal is to help people. I want to heal people, like [with] my song ‘Meditation.’ Someone told me it really helped them with their anxiety.”

To connect with Lahr, follow her on Instagram or find her on campus at the Royal Treatment Barbershop, Common Grounds, or the hill, where she spends her free time when she is not working on music.