The following story was written by a student on the staff of The Jaguar Times as part of Hilliard Bradley High School’s Journalism Production course.
by Bri Nutter,
Staff Writer
Throughout the year, a common question has been heard floating around the halls of Bradley: “What has Shades of Blue been up to?” With COVID-19 regulations, numerous extracurricular activities haven’t been seen as much as in years past. However, they have not disappeared. Shades of Blue is preparing to release their first ever professional album. The Jaguar Times decided to get an inside look on the process, and the thoughts and feelings of the members in the group.
Elyanna Rondon (11) is in her second year in Shades of Blue. When asked about her biggest takeaway from recording, she said “We all mutually felt the same feeling of not being able to progress through the music and really express ourselves with the new restrictions. We have learned to work around it and now it’s really cool seeing how we’ve grown through the year.” Being in an A Capella group and not being able to perform is very discouraging to the singers. Without the connection to the audience, and the connection with each other, it’s easy to feel defeated. Recording the album was a great way to regain that confidence that was lost through the pandemic. Elyanna is thankful that the album gave a purpose to the group, which caused everyone to work towards a common goal and feel the magic of creating something special, even if it’s not through live performance.
Jaida Phillips (10) is in her first year Shades of Blue. She felt firsthand the disappointment of not being able to perform. Since she is new to Shades of Blue, she had expectations that were let down due to the impacts of COVID-19. Despite the trials she faced throughout COVID-19, she has found a positive to recording that has made it all worth it. “My biggest take away from the recording process was that you don’t always have to be perfect. A lot of times when singing in a group, I feel that if i mess up, it’s the end of the world. Obviously, that’s not the case, but it’s a completely natural feeling. Recording showed me that it’s okay to mess up, it’s okay if you forget your part, or if you go a little bit sharp or flat. You just have to acknowledge your mistake and try again. Rather than getting down on myself, I focus on what I can do better, and how I can grow as a musician.” Jaida has taken the experience of recording as a way to grow and connect with herself as a singer, as well as overcoming anxieties associated with being new to an A Capella group.
KC Sandy (12) is in her second year in Shades of Blue. She had a very unique take away from recording the album. “The album was my capstone, so I got to see how the equipment worked. It was super cool to watch it all come together right in front of my eyes. I never knew that you had to record sections twice, but now that I did it, it makes complete sense. On the monitor you can see both takes and mix them along with the other tracks to get the final product.” KC was able to not only just take part in the recording process, but also get an inside look at the production to use for her capstone project. Without COVID-19, she wouldn’t have been able to get that kind of experience. Her story is a great example of how even with struggles, unexpected outcomes can surprise, and even benefit you.
Mr. Witt is the Choral Director, and the director of Shades of Blue. Without him, none of this would have been possible. When asked what he wants everyone to know, he said “I want people to know that the title of the album “Courage” is not just because there is a song by that name on the album. The meaning of that title is so much more, because the students of this group have incredible courage. I have seen this group step out into something new and different and step up like never before! People should expect the album to motivate, move, and inspire them!” Mr. Witt has put so much dedication, time, and thought into this project, and everyone at Bradley should expect greatness, because that’s what this group is.
Everyone in Shades has a passion for a certain song, because all of the songs have an impactful message that touches members of the group. Audrey Brown’s (11) favorite song is I Dare You. She says, “I feel like everyone in the group can get into it. Also, because this song tells a story. It starts off soft and pretty, and then grows into something strong and powerful at the end!” Jaida Phillips (10) agrees, saying “Not only is the message behind the lyrics powerful, but the dynamic contrast and musicality we implement into the song really packs a punch as well. This song encourages us to push our voices to the max and we can really let loose.” Another fan favorite is Make It Rain. KC Sandy (12) says, “I love the energy Make It Rain has, and it brings back good memories from last year when we performed it at the ICHSA competition. I hope people enjoy it as much as I did.” Elyanna Rondon (11) agrees, saying “I love Make It Rain because it has a jazzy type of beat and everyone gets really into this song. This makes me really excited to sing it, and hear it on our upcoming album.” If you are considering listening to the album, these are some great songs to start with!
Despite the trials that COVID-19 has inflicted on extracurriculars, Shades of Blue has made the most of it. They strived to overcome challenges and created a beautiful piece of art that will be around forever for the Bradley community, and the choral department to look back on fondly. The Jag Times encourages you to listen to “Courage” once it’s released. This will be an awesome way to support your fellow Jags!