5115 research outputs found
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Anime Odessey
No full textThis creative project explores the intersection of fantasy anime and technical rap through five original compositions that fuse iconic anime tropes with personal memoir. By adapting themes of perseverance, existential courage , and identity crisis , the songs employ polyrhythmic flows and lyrical wordplay to mirror anime\u27s narrative complexity. Each track uses sonic metaphors—sampling Japanese vocaloids, chiptune melodies, or orchestral battle themes—to evoke emotional resonance between fictional trials and real-life struggles. Through thematic analysis and musicological examination, the project demonstrates how anime archetypes can serve as transformative lenses for personal storytelling in hip-hop, bridging cultural divides while amplifying universal human experiences.https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-cmat/1137/thumbnail.jp
The Brain That Wouldn\u27t Die
No full textThe Brain That Wouldn\u27t Die is a musical adaptation of the 1962 sci-fi cult-classic film. A surgeon named Jan wishes to be recognized for her intellect rather than her beauty, a wish that takes an ironic turn when she is decapitated in a car accident. Her mad scientist husband, Bill, then manages to bring her head back to life, setting in motion a 72-hour race against time to find her a new body. Fueled by B-movie camp and a retro-modern score, this show is a hilarious, satirical take on the absurd pursuit of perfection.https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-cmat/1199/thumbnail.jp
Disrupción Records Sync Department
No full textThis year, I lead the sync department for Disrupción Records. Our goals were to expand our library of student music and continue to build our network of music supervisors we pitch to. We had a very successful year especially because of the panel at Primavera Pro I was selected for.https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-global-entertainment-business/1398/thumbnail.jp
Research Paper
No full textThis research paper explores the role of jazz festivals as strategic tools for demonstrating cultural and economic value to stakeholders such as government institutions, sponsors, and investors. Jazz festivals are often appreciated for their artistic significance, but their potential for urban development and tourism hasn’t been exploited or even explored. This research investigates how cities can show the financial and cultural contributions of jazz festivals to justify public and private support. Based on an extensive literature and interviews with industry professionals from Memphis, New York, New Orleans, and Valencia, the study offers recommendations for economic models and policy strategies that align festivals with broader city development goals. The findings suggest that jazz festivals can serve as central pillars of creative economies when integrated into a city’s long-term strategic planning, supporting local talent, attracting high-value tourism, and elevating the city’s cultural profile/branding.https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-global-entertainment-business/1416/thumbnail.jp
Head of Legal and Business Affairs at Disrupción Records
No full textAs my culminating experience project, I served as Head of Legal and Business Affairs at Disrupción Records, a student-run label at Berklee Valencia. In this role, I oversaw the legal and financial operations across the label’s imprints and its roster. My responsibilities included drafting, revising, and managing artist agreements, licensing deals, and termination requests, as well as supporting negotiations with artists and external stakeholders. I also created tools such as deal memos and tracking systems to streamline internal processes. On the business side, I contributed to the label’s royalties management, profitability, budgeting and financial reporting to ensure transparency and sustainability. This experience allowed me to apply my knowledge in a real-world label setting, enhance my understanding of the artist–label relationship, and gain hands-on experience in rights management and contract negotiation. It has also deepened my interest in fair music industry practices in emerging markets, particularly in Asia, which I intend to explore further in my professional journey.https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-global-entertainment-business/1422/thumbnail.jp
Anagenesis: Becoming Cypriot
No full textAnagenesis: Becoming Cypriot is a five-movement music suite that represents my artistic and personal journey of reconstructing identity through music. Drawing from Cypriot traditional melodies and rhythms, global jazz vocabulary, and storytelling, the project explores themes of cultural memory, trauma, and transformation. Each movement reflects a pivotal stage of my life: from childhood innocence to national division, military service, intercultural discovery, and ultimately, reconciliation with my heritage. The compositions incorporate unconventional instrumentation, Northwest African rhythmic influences, and traditional Cypriot elements within a global jazz framework. Through this project, I seek to challenge static notions of identity and instead present it as something fluid, layered, and evolving. This work aims not only to reconnect me with my own roots, but also to create a space for healing and the reconstruction of identity, especially within the context of divided and complex societies like Cyprus. Anagenesis is an artistic proposal for how music can serve as both personal therapy and a bridge toward social cohesion. Ultimately, I hope to inspire and encourage others to accept and recompose their identity, just as I reconstructed who I am through music.https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-global-jazz/1193/thumbnail.jp
The View From Here: A Journey Through Politics, Empathy, and Change
No full textThe View From Here: A Journey Through Politics, Empathy, and Change is an instrumental jazz project born from my emotional response to recent political and cultural events in the United States. Through four original compositions, I processed my evolving thoughts on topics like wealth inequality, war profiteering, the rise of fascism, and systemic cruelty. Each piece represents a different point in my journey—from initial anger and disillusionment to research, protest, reflection, and cautious hope. While the music is instrumental, the emotions and narratives behind each piece are deeply personal, rooted in my own shifting worldview. My goal was to use music as a tool to encourage critical thinking, awareness, and empathy in a time where those values feel increasingly scarce. This project is both an artistic expression and a personal reckoning—one I hope can spark thought and connection in others.https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-global-jazz/1192/thumbnail.jp
Outlandish - Original Score
No full textOutlandish – Original Score is a fully orchestrated, four-minute composition created for the 2D animated short film Outlandish, directed and animated by Christina Wu. The score blends traditional orchestration with experimental textures to support the film’s emotional arc: a sheltered child’s journey through a mysterious forest in search of her friend. Recorded at AIR Studios in London and with the Budapest Art Orchestra, the music explores themes of innocence, transformation, and the unknown through recurring motifs, metric modulation, and shifting timbres. This project represents the culmination of a multi-year collaboration between the director and composer, whose creative partnership began at CalArts and matured during their respective thesis projects. The scoring process involved technical challenges such as transitioning to a new DAW (Cubase 14), building a large orchestral template, implementing hybrid sound design, and preparing industry-standard notation for live recording. This documentation reflects on the creative, technical, and collaborative processes behind the score, highlighting the artistic decisions and logistical problem-solving that shaped the final result. Outlandish – Original Score stands as a personal and professional milestone, merging narrative sensitivity with orchestral ambition.https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-scoring/1307/thumbnail.jp
Shooting Star
No full text“Shooting Star” carries two layers of meaning in this EP. On one hand, it symbolizes the intense, heartfelt love and emotions we experienced in our youth—fleeting yet brilliant, like a meteor streaking across the night sky. On the other hand, it represents memory. Though those moments pass quickly, like shooting stars, they often reappear unexpectedly in the universe, reminding us of familiar feelings deep within. The message of “Shooting Star” is to cherish and document the present moment—to fully feel it without becoming attached to outcomes or chasing permanence. In this project, Laura takes on the role of producer for the first time, independently completing the production of all five tracks. Blending elements of pop, electronic, and R&B, the songs aim to create a dark yet cozy atmosphere—something to listen to when you\u27re alone. The overall sound is warm and lo-fi, offering an intimate, immersive listening experience. This EP marks Laura’s official debut as both an artist and a producer. It is the beginning of a brand-new chapter.https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-cmat/1170/thumbnail.jp
Bruises
No full textFeeling bruised from a relationship that ended poorly is a feeling many relate to. However, from bruises, we grow and heal from our tender aches and move on to new things, stronger than ever. This whole concept of healing from past experiences is captured in the music work, ‘Bruises’. Bruises is an EP that tells the long, complicated, and heartbreaking story of separating oneself from a broken relationship, and further more, moving on to a place of peace and acceptance. Touching on topics of relationships, love, and unrequited love, as well as mental health and self-retrospection, Noor shares the perspective of being affected by unhealthy relationships and the acknowledgement of wanting something better for yourself. This concept is carried through descriptive lyric and melodic writing.https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-cmat/1109/thumbnail.jp