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The Final Days of Lycoming Mall
Ben Fish
2024The Final Days of Lycoming Mall is an energetic workplace comedy set in one of the dullest spaces in the United States: a dead Mall in northern Pennsylvania. It tells the story of three of the last remaining Mall employees and the risks they have to take to build better lives for themselves. Ben, a relocated T-Mobile employee, is desperate for direction and needs community. Frank, a cashier at his Mom’s restaurant, needs to start his adult life and reconnect with the woman he loves. Sofia, the manager at Burlington Coat Factory, needs to conquer her fear of failure to become the leader that she is capable of being. All of these struggles come to a head when the Mall’s CEO sells the Mall to a storage company, an action that would displace all of the remaining employees. Set to an infectious 1980’s synth-pop score, the show highlights the importance of taking control of your career path and illuminates the glory days of Mall culture before they fade into memory.
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While I'm Still Young
Aasta Frascati-Robinson
2024While I'm Still Young is a whimsical musical about a trans couple who want to be dads. During their pregnancy journey, they move from the city back onto their mom's farm to help her at the end of her life and teach their child how to live on in a world where you never stop coming out of the closet. Its score is a modern-produced polyjamorous mixtape of their lives. It's presented as an accessible 16-episode online video musical series of day-in-life moments of a found farm family of trans, queer, and disabled people who met working as first responders and their supportive family.
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Elysium
Ana Garcia
2024Through this project, Midjourney and stable diffusion are the main tools for making and augmenting image based on sketches. Other than this, unreal engine preview and audio, video, lighting integration in real life are also parts of this project.
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Tu Tu Tu - Ta Ta
Daniela Girado
2024Tu tu tu - Ta ta is a five-sound pattern produced by the Afro-Latin instrument known as "clave." The clave serves as a fundamental rhythmic cell, integral to every Afro-Latin and Latin American traditional genre. This pattern forms the foundation and structure of the music, guiding the arrangement and direction of all other instruments. In this project, the author metaphorically uses "tu tu tu - ta ta" to represent the concept of home, symbolizing the key to one's inner roots and the map to one's own heart. Through this metaphor, "tu tu tu - ta ta" is explored as the sound of home, encapsulating the essence of belonging and identity.
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The Final Days Of Lycoming Mall
Roberto Francisco González Bárcenas
2024The Final Days of Lycoming Mall is an energetic workplace comedy set in one of the dullest spaces in the United States: a dead Mall in northern Pennsylvania. It tells the story of three of the last remaining Mall employees and the risks they have to take to build better lives for themselves. Ben, a relocated T-Mobile employee, is desperate for direction and needs community. Frank, a cashier at his Mom’s restaurant, needs to start his adult life and reconnect with the woman he loves. Sofia, the manager at Burlington Coat Factory, needs to conquer her fear of failure to become the leader that she is capable of being. All of these struggles come to a head when the Mall’s CEO sells the Mall to a storage company, an action that would displace all of the remaining employees. Set to an infectious 1980’s synth-pop score, the show highlights the importance of taking control of your career path and illuminates the glory days of Mall culture before they fade into memory.
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Kitty & Jill
Franklyn Grace
2024Kitty & Jill is a lesbian romance dramedy musical adapted from the novel Jill by Elizabeth Amy Dillwyn, an openly-lesbian author in the 19th century. Set in 1884 industrial Victorian England, Kitty & Jill follows dual protagonists: Jill Trecastle, who runs away from her home in high society in order to forge a new life and identity for herself; and Kitty Mervyn, another young high society woman who decides to go on a sketching trip and hires Jill to be her traveling-maid, leading to the two of them falling in love. Throughout their chaotic adventure, Kitty and Jill must learn how to be honest with themselves in the face of high society façades. The score is inspired by Victorian era music, classic Broadway, and modern musical theatre; and the tone of the show combines historical Victorian-era high society language with pepperings of modern-day jargon, as a tool of emphasis upon the fact that this is a piece of classical literature being revitalized in the present day. Instrumentally, the music is strings-and-piano-heavy, along with various pitched and unpitched percussion instruments.
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Western Therapy
Elizabeth Gray
2024Western Therapy is an intergenerational exploration of Chinese-Malaysian heritage, delving into the personal and collective experiences of three generations of women in my family. Through lyrical nonlinear storytelling, I interrogate my identity as a biracial Chinese-American woman and how it relates to my mother's immigration to the U.S. in the 70s, and my grandmother's life in Japanese-occupied Malaya during World War II. My work addresses themes such as race and gender dynamics, and attachment theory, applied within a non-Western context.
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TØNY
Antonia Groh
2024In my CE, I delve into the journey of creating my culminating experience, a five-song EP titled „TØNY“. My work is characterized by hook-heavy autobiographical songwriting rooted in early 2000s synth-pop production. My Thesis/CE will explore the various aspects of this project, from its innovative components and the new skills I acquired, to the challenges faced and my future plans. This experience has been an exploration of female empowerment, fighting the inner Saboteur, and the championing of the chronically misunderstood, conveyed through emotionally complex songwriting accompanied by upbeat music production.
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Off Campus Performance Featuring Filippo Bubbico
Alex Guimont
2024Entering the program I was set on producing some kind of concert for the final project. I chose Filippo Bubbico as the artist because he was a really talented musician who I believe will have a career after graduation. I did the project myself handling the booking, promoting, light and visual design and operation and stage managing. I aimed to learn more about booking shows in New York city and get more comfortable with the design side of shows. I got in contact with a group of venues that the artist wanted to get in with a booked the show. It was a more stripped down one so I needed to bring my own lighting and projection if I wanted anything beyond the bulbs in the ceiling. A professor suggested using plastic sheeting for the screen and placing an LED bar underneath with both playing on the plastic. Besides making some abstract visuals I was able to hook up my phone to have a live stream of the performers up on the screen as well. The show sold a decent amount of tickets for the venue size and went ok despite a shortened set up time and unprofessional staff.
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A Live Jazz Meditative Concert Crafted for Modern New Yorkers: I Have Found the Prettiest Rose
Yue Han
2024In the heart of the city that never sleeps where the cacophony of daily life fades away, Sakura park opens her arm to welcome whoever with noisy minds, broken hearts and restless souls. As the moon rises in the sky, the essence of live Jazz breathes life into the spirit of swing, meditating, laughing, or even crying ... in the stillness as Moon tells her original stories about love, loss, longing and loneliness in her own language of modern Jazz.
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Reflections
Jenna Henderson
2024Many artists often contemplate their purpose for being an artist. In fact, a common theme that has come up throughout this program is the idea of “finding your reason” for being an artist. For many, the reason may be purely financial. For some, the desire to pursue an art form that they’re passionate about and improve their skills is enough of a motivator. For others, the desire to be famous for their work is their driving force. Some artists, however, see being an artist as a distinct responsibility that they’ve inherited to be a voice and a “reflection” for the cultures and societies of which they may represent. Some see themselves as being obligated to use their art to speak out against injustice and to advocate for those with less influence. The perspective shared by this artist, that is the thread that carries this EP, is one best articulated by famed artist John Lennon: “My role in society, or any artist's or poet's role, is to try and express what we all feel. Not to tell people how to feel. Not as a preacher, not as a leader, but as a reflection of us all.” This EP, aptly titled “Reflections” is not the ponderance of the artist's role, but rather a statement of Jenna’s own sense of obligation to reflect the times as she knows and sees it.
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Make It Make Sense
Marina Hernandez
2024“Make It Make Sense” is the Culminating Experience turned EP that is created off of the concept to make sense of the experiences and emotions Marina encountered throughout her time at BerkleeNYC. A indie-country endeavor, Marina produced every song and wrote/co-wrote the EP composed of Nothing Makes Sense In Nashville, Now I Can, The Joke’s On Me, Do It Again, and Aspartame. The purpose of Make It Make Sense is to set the stage for Marina’s career goals: Convey her lyrical ability to create songs that are both complex and digestible for a listener while showcasing her newfound production skills and the other skills she has developed from her specialization in “Songwriting and Production”. In addition, Marina wants to create a sense of belonging for people who have experienced feelings of shame, regret, and longing for concepts, such as a city or a person, that didn’t want them back.
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I
Yingying He
2024The album consists of 5 songs that were co-written and produced by herself and various classmates to showcase Yingying’s style of songwriting and arranging, blending EDM, Hip hop, and future bass, to create her indie style. The I EP is to intended the listener's awareness of self-worth and provide affirmations through music, to help the listener find confidence and acceptance in a complicated world.
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The World Can Wait
Stormy Hildreth
2024Ten months ago, I walked in the door of the Power Station, buzzing with excitement and nervous energy. It was on that day that my adventure into the art of music production would truly begin, surrounded by a cohort of enthusiastic and awe-inspiring peers. Coming into this program, my goal was to go from being a songwriter that could create demos of her work, to feeling fully confident in my abilities as a songwriter and producer. I am proud to say that I have done what I have set out to do. In what seems like a blink of an eye, I have studied the art of music production, engineering, and songwriting, overcoming the challenges of becoming proficient in multiple digital audio workstations, developing my ear for mixing, and living in New York City. As this semester comes to a close, I am incredibly proud to share my Culminating Experience project entitled “The World Can Wait.” This five track Cinematic Pop EP explores the sonic collision of orchestral and electronic music production alongside the concept of complementary contrast, which echoes my own experience of living in New York City after growing up on Orcas Island, Washington.
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Interruptions
Eleanor Holliday
2024This project aims to manipulate perceptions of the physical world, through manipulation of light, visuals, music and installation work. This manipulation will come to life through projection mapping, using the city and spaces within as my canvas. Interruptions is an ongoing journey. It is constantly being inspired by the architecture, human relationships and interactions that exist within this changing world. I am proposing for this project to have multiple lives. It lives internally but also affects the outside world. I aim to take unconventional spaces and give new meaning to them by creating unique atmospheres with projection mapping. Art is about endless possibilities, not the final answer or product. It is an ever-growing thing and I want this project to be a constant journey. I will be putting on a series of live music events/installations that each utilize projection and locations around the city in a different way. What is the point in living if we don’t make the most mundane absolutely magical?
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Astral
Eric Hsieh
2024Astral is an innovative project that merges electronic music with cosmic themes, creating a unique auditory experience that embodies the sound and vibe of the universe. Developed for my Culminating Experience at BerkleeNYC, "Astral" features a blend of intricate synth melodies, powerful basslines, and classical orchestral elements. This project also includes an interactive space map website that allows users to explore the music in an engaging and immersive manner. By clicking on different spots on the map, users can discover various tracks, making the experience of exploring my music both enjoyable and interactive. The goal of "Astral" is to transport listeners on a journey through the cosmos, offering a meditative and expansive soundscape that connects them with the mysteries of the universe.
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Gateway
Zhe Jia
2024“Gateway” is a 30-minute audio-visual performance by Andy Li and Zhe Jia (Chia), blending classical, experimental, ambient, and noise music with cutting-edge audio-reactive technology to create real-time visuals. The performance explores the complex relationship between human creativity and artificial intelligence (AI), reflecting on how these technologies, while enhancing human abilities, can also lead to dependency that stifles creativity. Through a series of musical and visual sequences, Andy and Chia critique humanity’s increasing reliance on AI, suggesting potential negative consequences if this relationship remains unchecked. The title “Gateway” symbolizes the critical thresholds humanity crosses with each technological leap, questioning whether advancements will ultimately benefit or challenge mankind. Divided into five phases, the performance illustrates the progression from the initial interaction between human creativity and digital intervention to a state where AI disrupts human creativity. Each phase uses music and visuals to reveal the evolving relationship between humans and AI, culminating in a chaotic conclusion that signifies AI's overwhelming influence. The carefully designed lighting and visual content enhance the immersive experience, making “Gateway” a profound exploration of the intersection between art and technology.
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Love Mie Now
Tamieyah Johnson
2024“Love Mie Now” is a self love time capsule that was created to give hope, inspire and encourage all people on a journey to fully loving themselves. It was birthed out of pure desperation to create something that actually speaks, not yells. Challenging the ideas of doubt and uncertainty of her beauty, talent, and worth, “Love Mie Now” beautifully paints a masterpiece of the realization of solidified identity and purpose in the world, while proclaiming theme of healing and healthy unlearning to stimulate mental growth and personal advancement.
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The Come Up
Kevin Joseph
2024“The Come Up" is a culminating experience that encapsulates my journey as an artist through a project steeped in sample-based production. The concept is deeply rooted in the rich musical traditions of the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, aiming to recapture the authenticfeeling and soul of music from those eras. In crafting this project, I employed classic techniques such as a one-take approach and a method known as micro-sampling. This involves taking an unrecognizable snippet from a pre-existing song and integrating it into my production, ensuring the sample is nearly undetectable and mitigating the complexities of sample clearance when executed thoughtfully. The project comprises five songs, all of which I produced, performed, wrote, and mixed myself, with recording assistance from my good friend Sebastian Ontenada. Lyrically, "the come up" reflects my current stage in the artistic journey and my aspirations for the future. It offers listeners a glimpse into my life and experiences as I navigate the challenges and triumphs of my artistic ascent. the cover art, predominantly red, was chosen deliberately to symbolize exuberance, a quality that mirrors both my personality and the vibrant energy of my music. The color red reinforces the spirited and dynamic nature of the project, highlighting the enthusiasm and passion that drive my creative process. Overall, "The Come Up" is a testament to my dedication and evolution as an artist, blending nostalgia with innovation to create a unique and compelling musical experience.
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self_doubt
Zoe Juang
2024self_doubt is a multi-disciplinary exhibition that confronts the audience with the idea of considering self-doubting not as a negative psychological consumption, but as a process to talk deeply to oneself and to understand oneself.
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Cosimo Stone
Shaurya Kapoor
2024Cosimo Stone is a self titled 5 track mixtape for my artist project Cosimo Stone. It is meant to also serve as my portfolio as a songwriter/producer as I enter professional life. The mixtape consists of a collection of songs using lyrical themes that revolve around complex emotions that come from being difficult and unexpected situations while referencing prop music from different eras. Genre-wise it would fall under AltPop and though I explore varied soundscapes through my project, the songs have a unifying undertone that is my voice which is the central element in all songs. For the innovation aspect, I focused on creative referencing wherein the innovation isn't technically in the idea but the execution of it. The perfect example of this is the first song "New Normal" which starts off with a string arrangement and intimate vocals referencing Lana Del Rey & Rhye but then escalates into a drum and bass-synth pop vibe referencing The Weeknd.
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Big Quarterly
Kimberly Kilby
2024Big Quarterly, a hip-hop gospel musical, spotlights the legacy of Peter Spencer – a former slave turned pastor who founded the nation’s first independent Black church and sparked the Big Quarterly–a joyful reunion for freedom in Delaware. For those not yet free, the Big Quarterly was their chance to secure passage on the Underground Railroad. When the first Big Quarterly in 1813 ends in a surprise raid, Peter must face his tragic past to free the heart and mind of his own brother. Big Quarterly shines a spotlight on the burdens one man must shoulder in the fight for freedom in all its forms. All aspects of the book, music, and lyrics were co-created, written synergistically by the authors. The result is a full-length rap-through original musical that pushes the boundaries of traditional musical theater form and has potential to reach new audiences.
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![AFTER[H]OUR HEARTBREAK by Laurenz Kobza](https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-cmat/1068/thumbnail.jpg "AFTER[H]OUR HEARTBREAK by Laurenz Kobza")
AFTER[H]OUR HEARTBREAK
Laurenz Kobza
2024“AFTER[H]OUR HEARTBREAK” is a 6-track EP that fuses the worlds of nightlife and being heartbroken. The EP tells and reflects the emotional rollercoaster of a breakup blended with raw, energetic, and distorted electronic beats and tones.
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blue-haired girl
Remy Kuo
2024In August 2023, I dyed my hair blue and promptly adopted the impression of being “the girl with the blue hair.” I arrived in New York with this new addition to my identity, bringing all the experiences that led up to this moment of walking through the doors of the Power Station. My blue hair has become a significant characteristic of my identity, reflecting the beginning of a new journey in my musical growth.“blue-haired girl” is an introspective 6-track EP that tells different stories from my personal life, documenting experiences of heartbreak, loneliness, and new love. Each track dives deep into my experiences and returns as lyrical morsels of my thoughts and reflections set to catchy melodies.
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Oddity
Kyoung Won (Sally) Kwon
2024My CE project, "Oddity," blends catchy electro-pop beats with underground R&B vibes. It draws inspiration from lively K-pop sounds and at the same time subverts some of the usual expectations of K-Pop. The relatable lyrics reflect my personal feelings and experiences, resonating deeply with listeners. Each track explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery, enhancing the emotional connection. "Oddity" stands out by incorporating sound effects, creatively manipulated through modulation effects like pitch shifters and shapers, transforming everyday noises into integral parts of the music. It uses modern synth techniques and advanced audio manipulation, including sampling and warping. It also uses vintage effects such as saturators and vintage tape to add depth and texture. Meticulous layering ensures each element finds its place within the mix, creating a dynamic audio landscape. Overall, "Oddity" boldly pushes boundaries through experimentation, resulting in a unique sonic journey that is both engaging and innovative.
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