Crushing comes to San Francisco on February 27th and 28th, 2025, and will feature….
American soul singer, ROZZI, released her major label album — Berry (Deluxe), on BMG, in November of 2022. The ‘dangerously personal’ record features collaborations with Nile Rodgers and PJ Morton, and follows appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Talk, The Today Show, and Apple’s The Morning Show. Most recently, Rozzi guest starred on the Hulu series Dollface, playing herself and performing her single "Best Friend Song," which was also featured as the title track for the Netflix film Me Time. An experienced live performer, Rozzi has shared the stage and collaborated with Kendrick Lamar, Jacob Collier, Joss Stone, Betty Who, Maroon 5, Allen Stone, Pusha T, Kelly Clarkson, CHIC, and Duran Duran among others. Rozzi was born and raised in San Francisco and is now based in LA.
SAM SAX is a queer, jewish, writer and educator based in the East Bay. They're the author of Yr Dead, longlisted for The National Book Award, and PIG, named one of the best books of 2023 by New York Magazine and Electric Lit. They're also the author of Madness, winner of The National Poetry Series and Bury It winner of the James Laughlin Award from the Academy of American Poets. They're the two time Bay Area Grand Slam Champion with poems published in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Poetry Magazine, Granta and elsewhere. Sam's received fellowships from The National Endowment for the Arts, The Poetry Foundation, Yaddo, Lambda Lit, MacDowell, and is currently serving as an ITALIC Lecturer at Stanford University.
KARAN MENON is a New Jersey-born comedian, writer, actor, and filmmaker known for his Internet sketches breaking down global issues through humor. Menon has amassed 20M+ views across platforms, with work featured in The New York Times, TIME, CNN, More Perfect Union, and cited by a federal judge. His recent short documentary "How to Make Friends" explores the struggles of male friendship in the loneliness epidemic and is set to premiere at the Phoenix Film Festival in 2025.
GARRETT SCHLICHTE is a writer and a cook and a favorite of the first season of America’s Test Kitchen: The Next Generation. He also runs a dinner party series, virgo supperclub, in San Francisco. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Jezebel, Teen Vogue, Slate, The Advocate, among others. He previously wrote a column about queer love for THEM.
MYLES-ALEXYS “MJ” JONES is a 14-year-old actor, writer and dancer with a deep passion for storytelling and creative expression. Over the past four years, she has been involved in numerous school productions which have earned her multiple accolades. Her experience on stage has shaped her love for bringing characters to life and connecting with audiences on a deeply personal level. She hails from Oakland, CA.
KEEF BROWN is an educator and artist who was raised in Richmond, CA. With a career spanning 17 years, Keef Brown has established himself as a formidable force in the realm of lyricism. Having honed his skills in the vibrant landscapes of hip-hop, Keef's work is characterized by an unwavering commitment to authenticity and a profound understanding of the human condition. Keef's journey is one of growth, resilience, and an unyielding desire to connect. As he embraces the storyteller within, he invites listeners to join him on this transformative path—one where words become more than just lyrics; they become a gateway to understanding the world around us.
DREW SEMLER is a writer, podcaster and fantasy basketball savant from New York City. He is currently the head writer at Glorious Goats Animation and co-hosts the Boris Dirk NBA Podcast. Drew just finished a masters in dramatic writing at NYU, where he concentrated in TV writing and fell in love with the art of the half-hour pilot. He loves his parents but secretly wishes he were the offspring of Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Martin McDonagh.
NORA GOMPERTS (they/them) is a social worker, soon-to-be therapist, former educator, recovering girlboss, and writer.. In 2023, they discovered queer line dancing and quickly reorganized their entire life and personality around it. Their current research and writing is focused on queer women and AFAB people, including themself, who made big changes in their 30s or 40s to acknowledge and embody their queerness. Gomperts is based in Berkeley.
SHAMEEKA “SMEEK” WILSON-BROWN is a proud Southern Black Woman born and raised in rural North Carolina. She relocated to the Bay Area in 2021 to pursue her PhD in education. She’s a true Mandalorian enthusiast, the Queen of glasses, and an aspiring stand-up comedian. Live storytelling is her jam. She’s performed live with First Person Story SF and Love at the Library in Burlingame.