Hearing Colors
Hearing Colors is a creative project that This project's primary focus is thinking deeper and emulating feelings and sounds through the camera lens. Each post of this three installment project will include photos inspired by three different songs: "Garden (Say It Like Dat)" by SZA, "u" by Kendrick Lamar, and "Boredom" by Tyler, The Creator. Each photo installment includes photos that utilize props, facial expressions, body language, and, most importantly, color to showcase the song the images were inspired by.
"Garden (Say It Like Dat)" by SZA
In “Garden (Say It Like Dat),” SZA expresses herself in a state of emotional vulnerability. The sheer dilemma SZA faces on this track is questioning her worth and worth of being in a relationship. Although visually, she is seen as confident (on the album cover), SZA is vulnerable and, deep down, is looking for a relationship and a love that will support her through her own self-growth, her own “ctrl.” When I listen to this song, I always envision the green warmth of the grass and the flowers surrounding us, even when vulnerable. Even though we all don’t always showcase that deep want of affection or support of a significant other, we all look for it, especially when we most need it. We all look for someone to keep us level, be our emotional support, be there when we need it most.
"u" by Kendrick Lamar
These photographs were inspired by the Kendrick Lamar song “u.” Kendrick does not hold back his genuine emotions and doubts with the world on his view of himself within this track. Although the song is titled “u,” the ‘u’ in question is Kendrick. The words Kendrick says on this track are rapped in a kind of third-person view of himself. Kendrick starts the song with the phrase “loving you is complicated” which, is repeated multiple times throughout the song. Kendrick has an internal dilemma with himself and his past, and even present, actions. He is having trouble finding value within himself and worth for what he has become known to be. The song’s fundamental message and motivational aspect come in the track’s second half. Listeners are transported into the hotel room that Kendrick is staying in, as sounds of the hotel’s housekeeping staff are banging on the door. After the banging has stopped, Kendrick enters but, this is a new type of Kendrick. He is now completely venerable, drunk, and is holding back no emotions. Almost spoken in a poetry typestyle, rapping his genuine emotions and feelings about himself, Kendrick talks about leaving Compton, the hardships of being a rap star, and some very dark and emotional talk about suicide and self-harm.
"Boredom" by Tyler, The Creator
These photographs were inspired by the Tyler, the Creator song “Boredom.” After taking the emotional trouble of expressing his sexuality to the world in the last track, “Garden Shed,” Tyler sits and pounders the boredom he now feels. Since he is now more vulnerable than ever, Tyler seems to create a feeling of loneliness and self-isolation within the Garden Shed, where Tyler now recedes at this part of the album. Now, instead of getting up and moving past this vulnerable state, he stays in this emotional mind space. Rather than run away from it, not this track, he decides to embrace it, understanding that now as he just took a massive emotional load off of his chest about his closeted sexuality, Tyler looks to appreciate his mental state. He realizes that his boredom and loneliness come from materialist expectations, that something like a car or a house will make him happy. In actuality, he looks to understand what true happiness is and realizes that materials mean nothing; that happiness doesn’t come from a new car or expensive food. At the end of the track, Tyler exits the safe space, the garden shed, and gets back in his car. The exact vehicle throughout the album represents the egotistical characteristics of Tyler and a materialistic blanket that makes Tyler think he is already happy.
