On a recent evening at a coffee shop on the ground's of the University of Southern California a line-up of R+B and soul singers owned the stage. Performing an array of songs - some covers but a vast majority of original songs and music, all headliners were under the age of 30, all stirred standing ovations, all are unsigned artists. 

A little-known coffee shop on USC's campus offered perfect acoustics. (NeonTommy/Ashley Riegle)

Dom Williams, who goes by the stage name Elias, is an R+B singer and song writer from Washington, DC. Taking the stage first, Elias performed a set of original songs with unmistakable joy radiating from his lean figure. During a momentary sound glitch, the range of Elias' voice was put on full display, but carried through hitting unexpected high notes. His vocal range is really impressive- more importantly his original songs, particularly "Fade Away" brought the crowd to life. This is the kind of soul (with hip hop down beats and a catchy chorus) mainstream audiences could really get into. This handsome young guy has a serious arsenal of talent. With a voice like Usher and the song-writing skills he possesses, Elias is going to go far. 

Taking the stage with a five piece band, including Elias singing as one of two back-up singers, Hewan Abebe started with a Jill Scott cover and quickly moved on to a selection of original songs. "Don't Run" jumped out immediately with it's lyrics "thought I'd be someone's wife by now, sipping champagne…" The band as a group was fantastic- with terrific harmony. An electric guitar, drums and keys sent vibrations through the floor of the venue. Hewan is tall and glowing at the center of this musical collaboration. Her final song, brought in a salsa beat and solid lyrics "Get off the bleachers", making audience members get up and dance.

Acoustics in the under-appreciated "Ground Zero Cafe" were right on point and perfect for a set of live performances. The show was curated by group of USC students studying music management, including Annenberg graduate journalism students, Cortney Rae Riles and Amen Oyiboke-Osifo.  

"Today, in the music industry, there are so many ways for artists to create, produce and promote their music, be discovered and to develop a fan base. But, with so many artists trying to make their mark, it can be difficult to spot the gems. Our goal, with SC Soul was to shed light on a few of the gems we’ve come across," said Riles.

Pop-soul singer and songwriter Maggie lights up the stage. (NeonTommy/Ashley Riegle

Maggie Szabo, a blonde-haired dynamo from Ontario, Canada was the last artist to take the stage at SC Soul. At 5'2" tall, Maggie is a powerhouse of vocal capabilities. Known simply as Maggie, her sound is a mix between pop and soul with the ever so slight glimmer of twang. She plays with a four-piece band of bearded men on guitars and drums, but it's her voice that steals the show. Her latest song and video "Tidal Waves and Hurricanes", which recently debuted on Ryan Seacrest, is so catchy it sounds like something that should be the theme song of an ABC primetime drama. Previously signed with a Canadian record label, Maggie is a free-sprited artist at the moment, playing shows in Los Angeles and looking for the right representation. Given her song-writing and vocal capabilities, it seems inconceivable she'll remain unrepresented for very long. 

Organizer Oyiboke said the blend of genres on display at SC Soul was intentional. "This showcase allowed students from all musical likings to come and listen to music that moved them, brought back childhood memories and sprouted images for the future. No matter how big or small the names were, people had the opportunity to listen to music that they may have missed in their everyday lives."

That fact was certainly true. As a spectator not intending to write about my experience, I was so moved by the talent in the room, I felt compelled to write about it. These young artists are motivated, innately gifted and ready to take the world by storm. 

Check out their websites and social media profiles here: 

Hewan— website: http://hewanmusic.com/ twitter: @HEWANmusic 

Elias— https://soundcloud.com/houseofelias twitter: @houseofelias 

Maggie—website: http://allaboutmaggie.com/ twitter: @allaboutmaggie 

Reach Arts and Culture Ashley Riegle by email. Follow her on Twitter here.