By: Kurt Romero, Hoang Phuong Vy Nguyen, Jingyi Dong, Miggy Cruz
Our song was inspired by Elijah Thao's Kuv Zoo Siab/I’m Happy song
and Eminem’s film 8 mile. We wanted to continue the discussion on
mixed-race. The focus is on common misconceptions society has in terms of
biracial individuals having the ability to choose who they want to be. However,
mixed raced individuals have internal struggles between accepting their identity
versus the stereotypes and belief systems that determine who they should be. We
sought to utilize music as a building block to construct the interconnectedness
between race, ethnicity and culture with the purpose of embracing the intricacy
of multiracial identities and struggles through the eyes of a Filipino-American
boy living in a white neighborhood. We wanted our song to be relatable, so we
chose a common mixed race group.
In the process of creating the lyrics, we began writing in diary
format. The final composition includes key phrases and significant experiences.
The song is performed through a mix of ballad and rap. Although a ballad sets
up the arc of the story, the rap allows the artist to express their emotions
even more.
There are many different ways to define an artist. Here, to be an
artist means being able to create a piece of work that reflects the
individual’s life struggles and/or achievements, and allowing the audience to
feel those experiences. When the beat drops, all that is suppressed is released
through the song. Our core belief in creating art is that it is limitless, and
with any medium, we can do so much. Any piece of work can be considered art; it
is a matter of personal interpretation.
Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbSig0EVj6E
