Today at Apple
Creative Studios LA
From June 29 to August 19, 2021, 40 young artists joined local music and filmmaking legends to hone their crafts as musicians, producers, and singer-songwriters as part of the first-ever Today at Apple Creative Studios LA. For their final projects, they each created an original song and cover art that captured “their LA.”
Co-created with Apple Music and Music Forward Foundation in partnership with Platoon, Beats, Apple Music Creation Apps, the Social Justice Learning Institute, and Inner-City Arts.
Meet the mentors
Meet the artists
“I wanted to capture the energy of LA, the bounce of the city life, creating the feeling of being in a fiesta with the sun going down. This program gave me the confidence to believe I could do this, giving me the tools and the network. I can now call myself an artist.”
“My project is about the leap of faith it took to move out to LA. It was a big risk, but I know the reward will be even bigger. My biggest takeaway is that it’s important to have a wide range of skills, but master a few.”
“My song is about being far from home and learning how to trust my own soul as home. I felt encouraged to grow into my own creative process rather than changing into something else.”
“My project was inspired by my son who is now a year old. I wanted to write about Los Angeles and we love the beach so I took that and used it as inspiration for a love song. This turns into the why I wrote about that, it’s just because when I think of California I think of the life I’m creating for him and the ‘happy ending’ that is to come.”
“I wanted to share with the listener a moment of joy. To uplift my people even when we have many trials, there is still light. The other artists inspired me and cultivated a greater sense of community.”
“My song describes my journey of leaving my home to pursue my aspirations of being a professional musician. My creative process has changed in a positive way and I now see myself as an artist who doesn’t need to be boxed in by a genre.”
“LA can make you feel alive. The “color” of LA all around me made me fall in love with LA over and over again.”
“LA taught me that I am ready to believe in my music 100% and I am right on time in my journey. My biggest takeaway from this program is that being myself is my power. The program gave me the opportunity to align with what my soul wanted to say.”
“I loved the connections we were able to make with new artists and the content shared by the pros.”
“I want to let people know what LA is about and how diverse life is over here. I was most impacted by the time professionals in the industry gave us and their advice on how to release music.”
“I’m here to reach my full potential and I was put on this earth to be the best that I can be me and my family. I learned how to produce my own beats, record my own voice for my music, and the importance of connecting with others.”
“This program helped me see that this is more than a hobby or a passion. I can make it into anything that I want to be and I love the thought of that because it’s MY work that I’m working on.”
“My song was about fun, being with friends riding around Cali, and the realness of being in Cali without being too harsh, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. I definitely took a lot away from the program, this really helped me want to tap back into my creativity ten times harder.”
“My ‘love letter to LA’ is dedicated to the women of color that live in this great city of dreams. This program made me want to create art that pushed my limits and I feel that this has unleashed a new creative side of my artist purpose.”
“My project is about authenticity and remaining true to yourself no matter what stands in your way.”
“My song was about what attracts people to LA along with the idea that LA is the closest thing to paradise some of us will experience.”
“My project is about love and why it hurts at times. I chose this because LA is like love, it’s the hurting and the passion of the moments where you feel the good and the bad.”
“I believe that the captivating, yet brutal and strenuous nature of the city is well translated in music. I felt encouraged and inspired to continue my path as an artist and receiving feedback gave me a positive boost while giving me something to work on.”
“This creator stands for this city and everyone believes now because he never stopped believing then. My biggest takeaway from the program was always keeping your “why” in mind to keep the listener engaged.”
“This project was to take all my emotions and put them in a song. I learned all the skills I need to be a professional recording artist!”
“The why of my beat project was to bring in that authentic West Coast sound into the space.”
“My song was about heartbreak but I’m also where I am supposed to be. Talking to different people from the music industry motivated me to not give up. I learned so much from people who were at a point where I am now.”
“My project was about having love for LA and never wanting to let go. I learned so many things that I am applying to the music I’m currently working on. Getting to speak to creatives I look up to and am inspired by was amazing.”
“I incorporated poetic lyricism about adjusting to life in Los Angeles. This project as a whole marks my growth as a producer and musician. I’m so grateful to take this knowledge into future projects. I will truly be taking this experience, all the knowledge gained, and connections made with me moving forward.”
“Things move quickly in LA and my love for this space is rooted in never wasting time. My biggest takeaway is that art is inherently a part of our being as creatives and that you should trust your internal compass on what is being created.”
“My song tells the story of me growing up in LA, themes of uncertainty and continuing to move forward after loss and change, optimism meeting realism.”
“The what and why of my project is to simply be there. To relish the moment and not think about what’s going to happen in the future.”
“I really enjoyed what I made and can’t wait to share it with the world! I loved how we were able to network and connect with some of the biggest names of the game sharing their experiences in the music/art/design industry. I truly had a blast with this program!”
“I wanted to show my love for LA and write about my pride for my city and the love I have for my community. Being a part of this program was one of the best experiences I have had in my music career. I believe being an artist is a constant learning process and I am definitely more confident in my artistry and want to continue learning as much as I can.”
“My project was about someone whom I was in love with. I really appreciated the real talks we had with industry professionals. Thank you for motivating me and helping me gain motivation.”
“My project addresses the prejudices of others and how I often don’t fit their stereotypes. In this program, I learned that less is more. Sometimes taking some things out allows for other things to shine, which gives the lyrics or production the ability to resonate deeper with the audience.”
“The why for my song is about being a trans-woman in LA and the experiences I go through to embrace my identity and the love I have for my community.”
“The ‘why’ of my project was to thank LA for the hospitality. This program is going to be missed!”
“I had already conceptualized a project and just needed the resources to help me push it through. This experience was great especially for building a creative community and connecting us.”
“My song symbolizes what it was like for me growing up in LA and my feelings for LA are bittersweet since I only know the rough parts. This program added another layer to my thinking when I approach production.”
“The “why” of my song is to highlight relationships formed in LA. Talking to the industry professionals really opened my view on what success looks like. It’s different for everybody and everyone’s journey is different.”
“The basis of my project is for us to realize that whatever we pursue has been innately within us since our first breath. I gained a better understanding of what it means to be an artist and a storyteller. We are our own business, our stories and experiences have innate value.”
“I moved to LA with a book bag and no money to make my dream happen and my goal was to get my sound recognized and also be inspired by LA. Meeting the industry professionals and creative pros through this program helped me on that journey.”