Throughout my life, there have been many artists that I’ve been captivated by. Yet when I was watching the 2019 Grammy’s, I was moved by a breakout artist that was winning Grammys left and right. Billie Eilish. I was wondering who the woman in head to toe Gucci was. As Billie and FINNEAS took the stage, I was memorized by their performance of “when the party is over”. That one performance moved me so much, I have been a fan ever since. Billie’s discography is such an amazing collection of songs about storytelling, honest/open emotions, love, self-reflection, relationships/family, and much more. Billie’s artistry is remarkable not only for its unique sound but for the way her music dives into raw honesty, real emotion, and vulnerable topics. Take a song like “listen before i go”, a haunting ballad about a final message for someone to understand her before it’s too late. With knowing many people & myself having depression and suicidal ideations, it is really hits close to home. A song that captures that feeling that I wish not a single soul would ever experience is rare. Billie’s raw emotion and open authenticity, helps me and millions feel seen, that we are not alone and we are not the only ones dealing with these feelings. With Billie’s raw emotion into her songs, she sings about themes of self-reflection and self-love. Out of all her tracks, ‘my future’ is my favorite. The song is both nostalgic and deeply personal for me, blending my favorite sounds of lofi and bedroom pop—genres that shaped my childhood. Beyond the sound, “my future” resonates on another level, the track about one of my favorite things: my future and journey ahead with its endless possibilities of who I want to become. What makes my personal connection even stronger is the way Billie and her brother FINNEAS collaborate, their partnership reminds me of my connection I share with my best friend/cousin. The trust, creativity, and understanding that flow between Billie and FINNEAS as they write and produce together remind me of how my cousin and I write/produce music under our band. “everything i wanted”, a song about her and her brother’s relationship. That one relationship that will last till the day you die, the love you have for each other, and no matter what, that person will always be by your side. That love/relationship deeply resonates how I feel about me and my cousin and our relationship. Their relationship being one out of many reasons we started to write music together. There is a whole other level to making music with the person that knows you so well. I believe that Billie is the artist of our generation. To shattering records, her eco-friendly/socially-conscious platform, rare/unique songwriting, her relatable/authentic spirit, and her beautiful voice. Unlike many artists who rely on big productions, backup dancers, and flashy stunts, Billie sets herself apart with her approach. All she needs is herself, her brother FINNEAS on guitar, and their powerful songs. Together, they prove that you don’t need extravagance to change the world and millions of people that inhabit it.

Music in my life has been a very big part of me. I couldn’t even think about where I would be in this current moment if music wasn’t in this world. I was surrounded by parents who cherished Hip Hop and R&B. I found inspiration by them to reach out to different genres and fall more in love with music. From an early age, I was captivated by a variety of genres: jazz, rock, hip hop, rap, indie, pop, and lofi—all of which inspired me to appreciate music even more. As I grew older, my dedication to music flourished through more music appreciation and adventuring into playing instruments. I joined my middle school drumline as a snare player, embracing new pieces of music and performance styles. Later in life, driven by curiosity and passion, I taught myself guitar, which expanded my musical talent and encouraged me to explore my creative expression. As I moved through high school, I often found myself uncertain about which direction to take for my future career. However, my acceptance into a High School/College Program became a turning point. After thoughtful reflection/self-finding, I chose to deepen my expertise in music production and live sound, eager to build on my passion and develop professional skills in these areas. I discovered a deep love for the process of music production, live sound recording, and live performance. This newfound passion built upon my lifelong appreciation for music and strengthened a creative outlet for my musical talent, allowing my musical journey to grow in exciting new directions. I am eager to deepen my music knowledge/theory as I continue expanding my overall musical knowledge during my pursuit of a Music AA degree. By using my skills in production with my academic learning, I see endless possibilities for artistic growth and knowledge. These areas truly go hand in hand, providing a foundation where my innovation and self-expression can grow. Ultimately, my aspiration is to become an artist, singer/songwriter, and producer. Music production and songwriting have become my primary way to express myself, tell stories, and make connections with others through the power of music. I hope to reach audiences just as my favorite artists have inspired me. With my degree, I am determined to make this dream a reality and to use my musical talents to inspire and move others. Later in my journey, I plan to give back by teaching the next generation of musicians, sharing my insights and knowledge, so they can explore their full creative potential. The endless cycle of the power of music, as I would say.

In the 21st Century, this generation has new and up-and-coming artists. Breaking what music can be, topping the billboard's charts, and deeply connecting people all around the world. One artist stands out when her music broke billions of online streams, topping charts all over the world, and changing music's history forever. Olivia Rodrigo. Olivia's sophomore album "GUTS" has many of tracks full of emotions, teenage angst, synths, harmonic piano, shredding guitar, and beautifully written lyrics. Olivia has the power to connect millions with her retable life experiences as a young adult. Most of the songs, talk about her love life and the many ups and downs of being in a relationship. Tracks like vampire, bad idea right?, logical, and get him back! But one song stands out to me, this song "love is embarrassing". This song stuck out to me when first spinning the record with its 80/90s synths, loud drum kit sounds, and groovy bassline. I later, watched her NPR's Tiny Desk Concert which she preforms the live version. Which made me more obsessed with. The Verses and Chorus resonate with me especially this lyric " Now it don't mean a thing. God, love's fuckin' embarrassing". This song talks about self-worth and how a guy treated Olivia during a relationship. As teenagers, we always try to look for a companion or true love in our lives. I have liked many people during my time and I would try to impress them. I would be so harsh and crucial about every decision I made when around them. What outfit to wear, what to say, how to greet her, and all these tiny little details just to get their attention. "Crucifying" myself per se. During the relationship, I would give, give, and give so much effort to build a much stronger relationship and then in the end discover the other person gives no effort or doesn't care. Thinking that I finally found the one and then saw them with brand eyes. Trying to make a relationship work even with some rocky challenges but in the end, that person is toxic and missed out on an amazing person to be with. Looking at past relationships, you moved on from the past, and making sure that stays in that past; that is important. Knowing your self-worth and making a promise to be with someone who meets your standards, being with someone who is genuine/kind, someone who treats you as a person first and a partner second, and not treating a relationship as a job/chore but as an honor and a joy. Olivia's songs bring out your inner teenager or have a strong connection to your feelings in the past or the present. Olivia helped so many people out in the world with her relatable and inspiring music. This song captures one of the many essences of being an adolescence. The essence being, love. Thanks, Rodrigo