What I do for fun

A large part of my life is enjoying the process of discovering who I am and forming memories. Here are a few hobbies and activities that I fell in love with over the last decade.

Photography

Photography is a recent find, inspired by the increasing reappearances of old digital cameras and film cameras. I took part in a film photography group for a semester, where we took photo walks around Berkeley, took photos of our own likings, and edited them for a zine. The ability of a photo to convey so much merely through a change in color grade, through framing, through lighting and shadows, and through so many other visual means is what drew me into the art of photography. I specifically enjoy street or landscape photography!

On Film

On Digital

Dance

Dance has taught me so much about using body movement and facial expressions to tell a story. There's an inexplicable feeling of adrenaline and freedom when being on stage with other dancers, a moment that strips me away from reality for a bit and lets me explore myself under a new lens. Dance has, most importantly, given me a community that has never failed to encourage each other, always watching each other grow and fall. Here are some of my favorite dance pieces I have both been in and/or directed!

AFX Company World of Dance Competitive Set

ATEEZ - Halazia Cover

YGX - Fire x I Am The Best Cover

Yeji & Ryujin - Break My Heart Myself Cover

Music Production

If I had to choose one thing I can't live without, it would be music. I started songwriting in 7th grade, when I used to take the subway to and from school. I would scribble lyrics on a Hilroy notebook and hum tunes while leaning against the subway doors. I soon transitioned to producing after dabbling in Garageband and sound libraries. In 10th grade, I convinced my parents to let me get a MIDI keyboard, an audio interface, and a mic, and started seriously producing during the pandemic in Logic Pro. Check me out on SoundCloud or YouTube under the name jay!

Pier 904 | This is a lo-fi beat I produced for my friends using sounds from the beach to make the listening very immersive.

Still Life | A mellow piano beat I produced during the pandemic. It has lyrics written for it; they're about the stagnancy of certain parts of life that contrast the seemingly quick passing of time.

My People | I experimented with a new genre and produced my first EDM beat off of a sample I really liked!

Concerts

Concerts allow so much immersion into an artist's creation, into their story. Live accompaniments, raw vocals, and crowds singing along — all aspects of concerts come down to the uniting of people under one, genuine voice. Some of my favorite artists I've seen live are Conan Gray and Wave to Earth!