Student Spotlight: Cindy Latin The Berklee NYC songwriter talks about her journey from musical theater to writing songs, getting inspired by the Big Apple, and how freestyle rapping stretched her artistry.
By
Editorial Staff
January 30, 2023
Image courtesy of Cindy Latin
What's it like to study at Berklee? Our Student Spotlight series asks current students all about their Berklee experience-what they're learning in class, what kinds of projects they're involved in onstage or behind the scenes, how they recharge, and of course, what they're listening to. This week, meet Cindy Latin, a second-semester graduate student from Roslyn, New York, enrolled in the songwriting and production track of the Master of Arts in creative media and technology program at Berklee NYC.
Tell us about your path to Berklee. What made you decide to come here? I actually started my undergraduate studies at Boston Conservatory at Berklee as a musical theater major in August of 2015. I auditioned for Berklee and decided to transfer (the merger wasn't fully completed at this time) and started at Berklee in Boston in summer of 2017. Being near the campus while I was a Conservatory student, I was so inspired seeing all the students playing different instruments and talking about all the various opportunities they had for collaboration and creation. I had started writing a little bit of my own music at this point and decided I wanted to dive in deeper and that Berklee seemed the perfect place to do so. I can't believe how much I learned and grew as an undergraduate, so coming back for my masters just made sense.
Whats been your favorite class so far, and what has it taught you? I took the Essential Engineering for Creatives elective with Brett Mayer this past semester. With my prior Berklee studies, I was actually fortunate enough to test out of the class and get early studio access, but still decided to take the course after asking Brett about topics covered. I'm so glad I did because there was still a lot in the course that I didn't know before, and I was definitely challenged! Brett was an incredibly patient and knowledgeable teacher, always taking questions and often being available outside of class.
Whats a project youve worked on since coming to Berklee that youve been especially excited about? For fun, I decided to take the freestyling/rap course with Raydar (another favorite class). It's not something I've ever done before, and it ended up being one of the highlights of my weeks last semester. I wrote some really cheeky and silly material for that class that has inspired a whole different part of my artistry. I've always been told that it's great to find new methods of writing or new starting points, and starting to write some rap has proven that for me. I'll be including a lot of this material for my culminating experience. A standout track was one I wrote about how incredibly annoying the construction noise is outside my apartment on the weekends!
How do you typically recharge or find new ideas outside of class? By socializing and doing things that have nothing to do with music. New York City is arguably the most exciting city in the world. I always find things to do and love going out and meeting new people around the city. This is how I find stories and ideas for my music, and it helps me to have some space from my work. Many of my close friends are artists, but sometimes socializing with people who aren't artists exposes me to other lifestyles and perspectives, which I think is essential for any artist. I also have been reading a lot lately, which is just another way for me to hear other artists' thoughts and get inspired.
What careers are you interested in pursuing in the future? There's really so much that I want to do in music. I've always loved performing and creating and releasing my own artistic projects, and I plan to continue to do so, but I would also love to continue producing for other artists as well. After the engineering course, I realized that working in a studio would be an excellent choice for me long-term. It's incredibly challenging to get all the pieces to fit together (especially for more complex projects) but so rewarding when it's done. All in all, getting to help other artists and creatives reach their own goals is really fulfilling to me. I also currently teach and would love to teach at the collegiate level, at Berklee especially. Working with students who are eager to learn and already pretty skilled is any educator's dream.
When you think towards your own future, who inspires you most? Musically, I've always been inspired by Stevie Wonder. He is so prolific and hardworking. He used to write five songs a day! Additionally, I've always loved how his music is stimulating and uses some really challenging musical techniques but is still enjoyed by everyone. His melodies are so catchy, even with the challenging harmony underneath. I hope to be able to create a wide body of work and also work with other artists, as he has done.
Whats one piece of advice youd give to your high school self? Try anything that sounds cool. Even if it feels like something so far removed from everything you've learned so far in life, there's no better time to start, and sometimes you'll surprise yourself with how naturally inclined you can be towards new skill sets. Even if that's not the case, you will grow and learn about anything by putting in the time; doesn't matter where you're starting or coming from. Early recordings of John Coltrane were okay, but once he put in the time, he became one of the greatest. Also, start playing instruments earlier!
Cindys Current Favorite Songs We asked Cindy to share some music she is currently enjoying. Listen to her list of five songs, and read w
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
16/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/07/2026
Zixi, a leader in live video delivery and workflow orchestration, and Comcast Technology Solutions (CTS) today announced a strategic new integration to deliver ...
16/07/2026
Blackmagic Design Cameras Capture Immersive Flight for New Cirrus App
Brie Clayton July 15, 2026
0 Comments
Leader in Personal Aviation taps URSA Cin...
16/07/2026
XenData Announces LTO Archive Appliances with both File and S3 Object Storage In...
15/07/2026
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is a big deal for DAZN, which has distribution rights in three markets: Italy, Spain, and Japan. Each requires a different editorial app...
15/07/2026
As sports-media organizations manage rapidly growing content libraries and incre...
15/07/2026
HBS director of digital Johannes Franken talks SVG Europe through the operation built to serve FIFA World Cup 2026 rights holders remotely from Stratford, east ...
15/07/2026
IBC has unveiled the conference program for IBC2026, with this year's event ...
15/07/2026
Software-defined wideband RF platform supports 96-kHz monitoring, streamlined fr...
15/07/2026
New AI-powered module enables broadcasters and content owners to extract dialogu...
15/07/2026
Weeklong gathering at EBU headquarters will test new IPMX capabilities and expand certified product ecosystem...
15/07/2026
Force Tech has announced the appointment of Bryan Adams, CTS, as Vice President of Integration. Adams will oversee AV and broadcast integration project delivery...
15/07/2026
USA Sports has announced an exclusive English-language agreement with the Bundes...
15/07/2026
ITV Sport's FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage has been produced from one of the m...
15/07/2026
Program will provide professional camera kits, training, and technical support to participating local newsrooms...
15/07/2026
San Francisco church becomes first U.S. deployment of the 2 M/E production switcher...
15/07/2026
Former ESPN and NFL Network executive to advise startup league on media, distribution, technology, and fan engagement...
15/07/2026
The Houston-based RSN is the live-game home of the Astros and Rockets...
15/07/2026
Launched alongside new FreqSoft installer
Designed to bridge the gap between hardware and software, Freqport's FreqInOut FO1 unit provides a simple way ...
15/07/2026
Save up to 55% on software until 23 July 2026
Expressive E have just launched their Summer Offer sale, with discounts of up to 55% now applied across their ...
15/07/2026
Real-time stem-separation tool updated
zplane have recently released a new and improved version of their real-time stem-separation plug-in which they say ma...
15/07/2026
A new benchmark in bass enhancement
Described as a new benchmark in bass enhancement , Baby Audio's latest release has been designed to augment the lo...
15/07/2026
DMC Production's AR 1 and AR 2 units reverse the conventional OB workflow, keeping all production-critical processing at the venue while operators work remo...
15/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/07/2026
GigaCloud, a leading Ukrainian cloud service provider, and Cubbit, the first geo-distributed cloud storage enabler, today announced a new Business Alliance Part...
15/07/2026
SMPTE, the global society for media professionals, technologists, and engineers, has announced the launch of the SMPTE 110th Anniversary Campaign, a fundraising...
15/07/2026
Studio Technologies, a leading manufacturer of high-quality audio, video, and fiber-optic solutions, unveils the new StudioComm Model 762 Stereo Level Control, ...
15/07/2026
COW Jobs: Producer, Virtual Events - Hybrid, Full Time, Salaried
Brie Clayton July 15, 2026
0 Comments
Producer, Virtual Events (Hybrid | Full-time | ...
15/07/2026
Brazilian media organization builds nationwide CDN with Broadpeak's high-performance software for low-latency streaming and new content distribution service...
15/07/2026
DHD announces a new utility designed to increase the efficiency of its audio mixing systems during initial installation and subsequent configuration.
Anyone w...
15/07/2026
BCNEXXT Brings Next-Generation Vipe to IBC2026, Breaking the 1:1 Channel-to-Server Ratio New innovations liberate broadcasters from legacy playout infrastructur...
15/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/07/2026
General-purpose robots and autonomous machines are moving from research labs to ...
15/07/2026
Wednesday 15 July 2026
Screeners and press pack now available: Gomorrah: The Or...
15/07/2026
Trinity's Treasures features Ruth Negga, Eleanor McEvoy, and David Norris, a...
15/07/2026
Join geographer Dr Susan Hegarty, Engineer Tim Joyce and Architect Orla Murphy a...
15/07/2026
Home to leading manufacturers, robotics pioneers, infrastructure builders and iconic gaming companies, of course, Japan is one of the world's centers of AI ...
14/07/2026
South end zone videoboard, cloud-based control system will be ready for 2026 football season...
14/07/2026
Redesigned website, enhanced mobile app unify content, ticketing, and personalized fan engagement...
Student Spotlight: Cindy Latin The Berklee NYC songwriter talks about her journey from musical theater to writing songs, getting inspired by the Big Apple, and how freestyle rapping stretched her artistry.
