Wait, is this a sports or music article? Well, it’s both! The influence of Drexel students on sports is immense, from their energetic presence in the audience to the student staff wearing blue and gold. Students use their talents to promote school spirit and share a love for the city of Philadelphia. This past week, however, has blurred the lines between student music artists and the beloved women’s and men’s basketball teams even further.
On Nov. 3rd, 2025, the Drexel Men’s Basketball team won their opening game 93 – 59, against Widener University. Now, this isn’t an article primarily about basketball. Rather, this article highlights the hyper halftime performance staged by Valentinesday, Joontoon, and Obvi. Concluding the first half of Drexel vs. Widener, students took the stage for sports fans, many of whom were more accustomed to halftime dance music than the subgenre of hyperpop, in which these artists specialize. Those who attended Dragonfly 2025 recognized this unique style of the trio’s performance. Each artist performed about three songs which created new excitement for both Dragon spirit and the basketball team.
Hyperpop was the main course, but the performance was a short,well-combined combination of three spectacles. Hyperpop is an internet-driven subgenre of electronic music that came from the rise of internet use due to COVID-19. This music pushes pop music into extremely high-energy glitchy vocals, and of course, emo. It combines the means of digital life and intersectionality identities coming to the masses.
The performance consisted of the following: Valentinesday, also known as Valentine Blue Howard, a sophomore student at Drexel. Originally from Massachusetts, Valentinesday is a Philadelphia-based musician, rapper, and trailblazing songwriter. Joontoon: a combination of Joon and Toon, a “Philly-based bubble gum pop duo.” This dynamic, dazzling duo of Drexel students Sabrina Winford, a member of Drexel’s Cleftomaniacs, and Merritt Hyman, an innovator of experimental technology and aesthetically pleasing coding. Finally, can there be a proper halftime show without a DJ? Obvi is Oliver Vecellio, a junior at Drexel. He is a songwriter and a DJ based in Philadelphia, PA, and Cincinnati, OH. Vecellio is also the director of Creator’s Studio at Drexel University’s Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnership.
This collection of talented students showcased their talent in a condensed performance similar to Dragonfly 2025. Speaking directly to one of the performers, Valentinesdayday explained the ins and outs of how sporting events work for entertainment performers. She explained that she and the other performers had rehearsed for several weeks beforehand, and how the performance itself felt almost on-the-fly (no pun intended). Overall, Valentine enjoyed the experience. It was interesting to hear about her journey from practicing choreography in her bedroom to performing in front of hundreds of people. These creators performed on a different platform—a unique form of networking. In this event, industry boundaries were crossed, merging sports and a new form of electronic music.
Both emo artists and sports enthusiasts came together, enjoying the game while listening to live music. While student performances at basketball games are common, original artists playing their own music courtside is rare. The event was an opportunity to share diverse perspectives, all united under the umbrella of Drexel pride.
Small creators are so named because of their limited audience, which, as Valentine notes, can be both a “blessing and a curse.” Intimate, smaller venues provide an environment for raw and authentic artistic expression. With these smaller platforms, artists are free to share their thoughts on topics they care deeply about. With a limited audience, it is easier to maintain a strong, personal connection with the artists and their listeners, and even with other artists other than themselves.
Networking is important for any career, athlete or artist alike. But alongside those memorable moments, small creators and athletes take on multiple roles. The people courtside—regardless of their main career—are students, with most attending Drexel. As they develop their craft and physical skills, athletes and small creators often face inconsistent income and may use personal funds to cover expenses to support their work, which may make it difficult to thrive.
But those reasons, positive and negative, are exactly why it is so important to support not only our local sporting events, which bring the community together and foster Dragon pride, but also the small music creators, whose unique sounds and talents contribute so much to our academic landscape. Each group, in its own way, makes invaluable contributions to the vibrancy and diversity of Drexel’s community, and by supporting them, helps ensure a brighter, more creative future for everyone.
Link for the performer’s socials:
Valentinesday: @valentinesdayblue on instagram, https://linktr.ee/valentinesdayblue
JoonToon: @joontoon.music on instagram, https://www.joontoonmusic.com
Obvi: @olivervecellio on instagram, https://www.olivervecellio.com