Before you see him, you hear him. Strolling around main campus with rhythmic ease and matchless style, the mysterious “musical backpack boy” is quickly making his way to Washington University stardom. Although you may have offered him a quizzical stare, quietly sung along to one of his many tunes on your walk to class or even grown irritated by his musical openness, perhaps you have not had the time or courage to ask the real questions; why, how, or simply, “What is your favorite band?” Here at Cadenza, we could not withhold our musical curiosity. We sat down with Wash. U.’s very own music man, sophomore Demetri Kavadas, to answer some of our burning questions.

Megan Magray | Student Life

After spending his first undergraduate year at the University of Michigan, Demetri joins us this year in the smaller Washington University bubble, and it has not taken long for him to recognize the rhythm of life on campus. As seen through his song-emitting Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle backpack, Demetri dares to be creative in both style and musical interests. His presence, although only in passing, offers a wave of transient nostalgia for music of the past that grows ever more dissimilar to the musical style of today.

Over these first few weeks, he admits to having received strange looks from passersby. “Michigan was bigger. I didn’t see people near as often as I do here,” he explains when asked to compare student reactions to his musical openness on the two campuses. Yet his motives are not to confuse or annoy by any means. Instead, this outward musical expression carries both personal and social purpose.

“In high school, music would help me prepare for the day,” Demetri explains. Although modified to fit the short and sporadic class commutes of a collegiate lifestyle, this practice of playing music from a speaker hidden in a small side pocket of his expressive backpack still holds the very same purpose. While he wisely understands the impossibility of pleasing everyone, he hopes that his music may do for a majority of the student body exactly what it does for him.

Among the many artists Demetri plays, one can expect to hear ABBA, Al Green, the Rolling Stones, Marvin Gaye and the Temptations. “I limit most of my songs to before 1995, but because I love Aerosmith’s song, ‘I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,’ I had to stretch the boundaries a bit.” He adds. When asked whether or not each day had a certain theme or musical genre, Demetri discloses that, aside from the era-limited music, people may notice more thematic tunes, particularly with the holidays on the way. Song recommendations are encouraged, too!

But who is the real reason behind the music? Music can just as well be played in headphones as it can through a portable speaker. Just like many of us music lovers out there, Demetri shares a firm belief in the wide-ranging power of music. As he explains, “I’m all about being stress free and making people happy.” He encourages people to consider his public music as a “lightning rod” for absorbing the negativity of a bad day or a shared expression of excitement for one’s positivity and success. Demetri adds his positively unique and musical twist to the routine of Wash. U. daily life, proving that music has the power to set every day, every semester and every new journey off on the right note.