Media

AZNBBG 05/24 CREDITS: Videographer and Editor: Aaron Huang https://www.instagram.com/aaaaahwang/ Assistant Videographer: Vivian Shinder https://www.instagram.com/vivshinder/ Graphic Design: Lisa Nakanishi https://www.instagram.com/kittenluuv/ Producer: Mari Aoki Songwriter: Mari Aoki Engineer/Mixer: James Sohn https://www.instagram.com/jamessohnmusic/ Choreographer: Rex Perry https://www.instagram.com/__eryixyzj__/ Dancers: Mari Aoki Sonya Chen https://www.instagram.com/neocoolstar/ Ndaru “Roo” Kartikaningsih https://www.instagram.com/roosyelloww/ Justine Luo Lillian Mimi Mckenzie https://www.instagram.com/lillian_mimi_mckenzie/ Rin Nagaya https://www.instagram.com/123_rin_nagaya/ Rex Perry Olivia Zhao https://www.instagram.com/evil_olive_tree/ And shout out to Yu-Wen Wu for their installation of Lantern Stories which made a beautiful backdrop to our night time scene. https://www.rosekennedygreenway.org/lanternstories2022 Thank you to these amazing Asian creators that brought this to life! I'm so so grateful for your patience and respect to carry this out. You guys rock!! LINK TREE TO ALL PLATFORMS: https://linktr.ee/mariaoki Artist Statement: This song was born out of the realization that I was not intolerable to look at. From a young age, I realized that the way I looked was not desirable. "Why is it that the facial structure of an anime character looks disappointingly different from mine? And even in real life, why do I look like…how I do? " Not only this, the blandness of white-American culture (no hate to salt, pepper, and buttered boiled things seasoned tho lol) made my bento boxes seem extra smelly. It wasn't my fault the daily American school lunch smelled like wet nothing. But I didn't know any better as a kid. These experiences instilled a lot of shame in who I was as a kid. Transitioning from elementary to high school, gradually, I'd start to find myself in more situations with yes, you guessed it, ✨BOYS✨. And what was I supposed to do? Just look at them and drool? Or the opposite; throw rocks at them because they sucked because…they were boys? Ohh no no no, I was to be friends with them! They'd be a ✨guy friend✨. Oh man. Sooo cool, the way that rolls off of my tongue. Guy Friend😎 A relationship where your lack of romantic or sexual appeal not only is allowed, but doesn't matter. "Woah, woah, woah, this sounds too good to be true. This means that...I can expect a guy to be nice to be? Like say hi when they see me and stuff? Nice, I'll take it." But this low self worth added confusion to my experience in romance. What does it mean to like someone? What does it mean to be liked by someone? Is it a take what you can get sort of deal, or do I listen to dissatisfaction and look for better (whatever that was.) Do I even deserve to? Was having audacity not allowed because my self worth was so little? And as the years went by this escalated to boys telling me that I was actually attractive to them. THAT. BOOM. I just caught Santa Clause placing a gift under the tree, I just saw God with my own eyes. I am pretty. So, eventually, enough people told me I was pretty. So logically, the idea of me being perceived as attractive was no longer unbelievable. It became normalized. And that should have been enough right? And as if it couldn't get even more fantastic, I got a ✨boyfriend✨ *cue anime "WOW" sound FX*. This was like, the feeling of becoming famous, becoming a millionaire, becoming that thing that we all strive to be and spend so long on the other side of. So how was it where the grass is so green it's BLUE?? Well let me tell you something. It was the quintessential, when you achieve your dream, will you be ready for it? Like no bitch lol. They barely trained me for this shit! They gave me a green apron with my name tag that said "Girl Friend" on it, pushed me out of the break room and spanked my ass on the way out. It was like BOOM okay kiss, BOOM pull away, BOOM look like you've done it before. But it was hard. I couldn't stand staring at my partner. I still can't, with a different partner. It's not the staring part that's hard. It's the part about being stared at. I gotta think what they're seeing. And it's just so unbearable. Still. I write all of this because, at the end of the day, it doesn't fucking matter if you're Asian or an ethnic minority or a sexual or gender minority. Self hate is a mother fucker. And I know damn well each person reading this felt something. I atleast fucking hope so. I know this song is really positive and confident. It's partially a deflection. Also an attempt at writing a social justice-confident female-pop song lol. Either way, whoever is reading this, I hope you continue to cleanse yourself of these false beliefs about yourself. You're fucking fine. In fact you're pretty great, solely because there isn't another one.

Artist: Himang (희망) Title: Young Mixed by James Sohn Business Inquiries - foreignerinkoreaden@gmail.com Follow Den - https://instagram.com/aroundden Follow Akii - https://instagram.com/akiinote Support us - https://bit.ly/creativeden_members Subscribe to us - https://bit.ly/CreativeDen Music - https://artlist.io/Den-90277 COPYRIGHT ⓒ "Creative Den" ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 이 영상을 공유하는 것은 가능하나 허가 없이 변경/배포는 불가합니다.

We had an incredible opportunity to arrange and record Lee Jin Ah’s tune, “Run (with Gray)”. Hope you enjoy! 이진아와 그레이의 “Run” 중 피아노 솔로를 모티브 삼아, 브라스 섹션과 리듬 섹션의 조합으로 편곡하였습니다! 즐겁게 감상해주세요!

MIDNIGHT LOBBIES is an award winning short film by John August Stapp. It is about a boy searching for more: it is an examination of the disconnected and discontented. It speaks on feelings of loneliness and human being's desire for connection, while simultaneously exploring themes of mental escapism and its effects.

Music and lyrics by Alyssa Payne Orchestration by Felita Kezia Chandra This is a concept I thought of in High school and finally got the chance to make this year! My heart is full of gratitude for all the beautiful souls that helped out with this. Teacher...Jessica Webb Tina the Tampon Fairy...Will Giese Students and Dancers Rory Shirley Mikayla Myers Joseph Morell Seth Cooper Carlyn Jade Barenholtz Tap Dancing Tampons (Choreo by Peli Woods) Kristin Greve Peli Woods Piano- Mike Stapleton Flute- Megan McCafferty Clarinet in A- Nicole Mlynczak Alto Saxophone- Jonathan Seltzer Tenor Saxophone- Jonathan Seltzer Bassoon- Talia DiCostanzo Trumpet in Bb- Jasmine Viola Dickson Horn in F- Cameron McCarty Trombone- David Humbertsson Drum set- Alex Wilson Electric Guitar- Erik Ryde Electric bass-Beth Mcpherson Violin 1- Jayna Leach Violin 2- Jayna Leach Cello-Sammy Wetstein Mixed by James Sohn Filmed by Annabella Hunt Edited by Alyssa Payne ___________________________________________________________________________ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/alyssathepayne/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Alyssa-Payne-107873170985083 TIK TOK @alyssathepayne99 VENMO: @alyssathepayne