Music Arranged and Recorded by Shayna Hill

Elijah's Visualization Mixed with My Music Arrangement

The Performance

Credits:
Musical Arrangment by Shayna Hill
Original Music by Devotchka
Visuals by Elijah Parker
Performed by Shayna Hill
Documentation Photos by Clarrissa Miller
Documentation Video by Aura Cleveland

BEHIND THE SCENES

This project is a representation of my interpretation of "trans". Definition: moving through, moving forward, against struggle. I see life's journey as a trans-ing motion in which it is being bumped back and forth while moving forward. The hula hoop symbolizes the struggle that bumps the human back and forth as the human continues to migrate in the circle of life. I also interpret the hula hoop metaphor in a social context. The hula hoop represents the social boxes and constructions we all struggle with. The performance starts off with getting use to the hoop then there is a gradual growth in maneuvering it. At the end of the performance, I lassoed the hoop above my head as a rebellion, as a mastering of the struggle.

On a personal level, this project pertains to my bittersweet emotions about graduation. I am anticipating it and what it means for me. It'll be such an accomplishment while simultaneously being a moment of great loss. Every time I hear Devotcha's "The winner is..." no matter what, I feel the same bittersweet feeling that is a mixture of opposites like anxiety, calmness, sadness, hopefulness, fear, secure etc. The impact of the notes is an expression of my feelings.

My first idea with this project was to perform live and figure out how to use a loop pedal or system. This song is multi layered and has the potential to really tran, grow and explode at the end. So I thought I would learn the song for the make-a-thon, but learning how to perform live started getting complicated. I decided to produce the song in garageband using my computer and friend's electronic keyboard with 100s of sounds and things. While I worked on my song, Elijah created a visualizer to compliment the music. Elijah, me, my boyfriend and his girlfriend, plus some awesome friends, socialized multiple times during the week and brainstormed ideas. This project was fun to discuss and pick a part. Some point during the amazing hang outs the hula hoop performance got incorporated. My friend, Tash, is a hooper who makes them, so I went to her house one night and made my hoop which is seen in the performance.

THE MAKING OF

Here are some pictures of me with my friends. And there is Elijah, bedridden with a torn ACL and battle wounds. We are brainstorming and discussing ideas for our projects. Here is where the magic happens!

My boyfriend, Chip, was able to snap a few pictures of me during the week of hell...I mean recording process.

Tash and I making my hoop for the project. She is amazing and a super talented hooper and hoop-maker.