Phoenix's Hyperbella wins M3F's second, fem-led Battle of the Bands competition

When Phoenix’s Hyperbella were announced to the stage of the Valley Bar not once but twice, the bar’s intimate crowd nonetheless gave them a thunderous roar of applause.

A lot of that’s due to the pair’s deep roots in the local music scene. Cassidy Hilgers and Carly Bates, the vocalists of the experimental neo-soul and pop outfit, are also instructors at ASU’s popular music program. They met in 2017, when Hilgers made a Facebook post hoping to start a new band.

But the audience's cheers weren't just about moral support. When Hyperbella were announced as winners of M3F Music Festival Battle of the Bands at the end of the night, it was clear they were a big deal. So big, in fact, they'd landed themselves a headlining slot at M3F's Valley stage.

This battle (held Jan. 30) was the second of three contests offering local artists a chance to perform at M3F 2025. (Local DJ Bloom Phase won the first slot at event held on Jan. 24 at Walter Studios.) This latest contest was co-hosted by We Make Noise Phoenix, a non-profit focused on empowering women and other gender-non-conforming artists and performers. As such, this event maintained an emphasis on female- and gender-expansive-led acts on stage.

“We got over 20 submissions,” says Marin Wilts, who co-leads the chapter alongside Sadie Asersky. “And all five of our acts get the opportunity to perform, whether that’s at M3F or First Friday, which is amazing.”

The other acts were singers Marloma, Mo and Sophia Bavishi as well as the band Right Rosemary.  Hyperbella performed third in the competition.

On stage, Hilgers and Bates showcased rich soprano vocals over a unique, instrument-heavy alt-R&B and funk sound, with accompaniment by a full band (Benjamin Cortez on synth and guitar, Connor Sample on drums and Jake Silverman on bass).

“We call our music intergalactic neo-soul,” says Bates. “Our first album is heavily inspired by Hiatus Kaiyote, a neo-soul, alt-jazz band, and I think our sound has remained the same, with hints of new influences, curiosities and maturity.”
More than their sound or any technical details of their performance, the passion radiating from each band member was nearly palpable. You could see each player truly getting lost in the music at times. You also noticed their amazing chemistry, because when one member started to truly feel the music across their faces, the others followed suit.

“We all have a blast playing this music together, and I think that really comes out when we play,” says Bates. “We try to be real, connected to the audience and prioritize putting on a strong performance.”

With the competition win, Hyperbella feel like that very connection has paid off in a major way.

“We get to be on a festival with absolute bangers,” says Hilgers says. “It will be such an incredible experience getting to share our music at M3F. I can’t believe I get to play music with such incredibly talented musicians.”

Two other performers in the competition, artist Mo Maduro and band Right Rosemary, also won spots on the Valley stage.

Mo, who plays with guitarist/bassist Edward Sullivan and drummer Pablo Bastidas, took the stage second with a laid-back, groovy sound. Maduro's soulful voice complemented the melodic bass and heavy-hitting drums perfectly. Even Maduro's speaking voice carried a calming energy that helped the band establish the perfect energy with the crowd.

“We’re trying to keep everyone’s vibration high,” says Bastidas. “We want to keep everyone engaged and keep everyone in this space.”

Bastidas, who introduced Maduro to Sullivan after the two met at a party, found out about the competition through a bandmate in another group. Though this band was excited about taking away a winning spot in the competition, the opportunity to play at the show and make new connections was rewarding in and of itself.

“There is something special about the Phoenix music scene,” says Bastidas. “There were so many different vibes going on tonight, and I think that’s really cool.”

Right Rosemary, who ended the night just as voting for the competition opened up, emphasized a more mellow approach, starting their set off with a soft alternative track before transitioning into more upbeat pop-rock songs. Jules Schubert, the band’s lead singer, delivered extra soft vocals as an interesting contrast to the band's more heavy guitar and drum influence.
“We label ourselves as ‘art rock’ so we can add influences for whatever feels right for the song, like jazz, metal and even a little folk,” says Schubert.

Another group formed of colleagues at ASU’s pop music program, Right Rosemary debuted in January 2023. The band named themselves Right Rosemary after the Victorian-era bouquet of flowers to represent their friendship and connection.

“When we lock in together as a band, there’s a certain magic that translates across the audience,” says Schubert. “The best part of Right Rosemary is being not just a band, but a close group of friends.”

The members of Right Rosemary only found out about the competition through their participation as members of We Make Noise. And it's a good thing they did, as Schubert described the set as one of the best of their entire career.

“Being on stage felt amazing,” says Schubert. “We were all just so jazzed to be there.”

The ASU connection doesn't stop there, either. The two runners-up, Marloma and Bavishi, are also student's at the university's lauded pop music program. Both artists won spots to perform on We Make Noise’s stage at this week’s upcoming First Friday (Feb. 7).

Known for her signature green looks, Marloma has been performing music since the age of 14 before she joined the ASU pop music program and began working on assembling a band and releasing singles.

“It’s just exciting to be here,” says Marloma. “Some of these artists I’ve looked up to for such a long time, and some are close friends. To share a stage with people like Sophia or Hyperbella, it feels surreal.”

Meanwhile, Bavishi was involved in musical theatre through high school before coming to ASU, where she learned music production that she now integrates into her performances. (That includes as a participant at this year's Phoenix Rock Lottery.)
“My music is very digital and sound-based,” says Bavishi. “I’ve evolved my sound into an ephemeral, synth/electro-pop.”

While many members of the audience were close friends and colleagues of the artists, the crowd showed support and praise for each act that performed. Many in the crowd walked away calling themselves fans of new artists.

Alex Guffries, a friend of Right Rosemary, initially came to support Bates and Hilgers, but found himself grooving and vibing to all the performers throughout the night.

”Anybody who wins tonight deserves it because everyone was phenomenal,” says Guffries.

Phoenix resident Janahvin Warhol had first heard of Hyperbella after attending a Bad Cactus show, and came to the contest to support the group. She, too, found herself loving the entire show. It's that very attitude of openness, commitment and creative curiosity that made winners out of not just Hyperbella, but will further bolster the credibility of the entire local music scene.

“I think it’s important to support local arts,” says Warhol. “Every single big artist started off as a local artist and it’s really up to us to help them maybe (become) the next big thing."

The third and final M3F Battle of the Bands event is slated for Saturday, Feb. 8 at Crescent Ballroom. (Head to Crescentphx.com for tickets and more info.) Meanwhile, M3F 2025 is slated for March 7 and 8 at Steele Indian School Park, and features performances by LCD Soundsystem, Justice, Sylvan Esso and Alvvays, among others. For tickets and more info, head to M3FFest.com.