
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 ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
02/05/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
25/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
25/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
25/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
25/03/2026
SipRadius, specialists in secure, low-latency media transport, will drive innovation and interoperability still further with the launch of the SipMX Alliance at...
25/03/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote contribution solutions, will showcase its award-winning StudioPro ecosystem at The 2...
25/03/2026
Alfalite, the only European manufacturer of LED screens, will once again be present at NAB Show, the leading global event for the broadcast, media and entertain...
25/03/2026
PC, a leading provider of integrated communication solutions, will make its NAB 2026 Show debut in Booth C 3341. The company will highlight the newly branded On...
25/03/2026
Open video transport network simplifies satellite transition with new partnerships and global reach as spectrum auction nears
LTN will demonstrate how its purp...
25/03/2026
Test & measurement innovator, Leader Electronics, will present the full range of Leader, PHABRIX and LeaderPhabrix T&M solutions at the NAB Show, which takes pl...
25/03/2026
MNC Software, a global leader in network management and operational support systems tailored to the broadcast and media industry, today announced the appointmen...
25/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
25/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
25/03/2026
Starfish highlights flexible TS Splicer releases and new Monitoring Dashboard at...
25/03/2026
XLNTSOUND Elevates Video Production with Blackmagic Design
Brie Clayton March 24, 2026
0 Comments
Audio company upgrades workflow with Blackmagic Cine...
25/03/2026
First Time Exhibitor IPC Introduces One Link Keypanels for One Connect Intercom ...
25/03/2026
At the half-time whistle of the UEFA EURO 2020 round of 16 football match betwee...
24/03/2026
Utah Scientific to Showcase a Variety of Hybrid SDI/IP Innovations at the 2026 N...
24/03/2026
Mediaproxy will showcase an updated version of its LogPlayer interface at NAB Sh...
24/03/2026
C gep de Jonqui re, a public college in Qu bec, has upgraded its TV studio complex with five Calrec Brio consoles and a Dante IP network. The installation was c...
24/03/2026
The American Association of Professional Baseball (AAPB) has announced new and r...
24/03/2026
National Telecom Public Company Limited (NT) used Ateme's KYRION platform fo...
24/03/2026
Grass Valley has expanded its relationship with ImSoPROD, the TV production entity of FDJ United, with the deployment of LDX C98 compact cameras across its nati...
24/03/2026
The E.W. Scripps Company is launching Scripps Sports Network (SSN), a free, ad-s...
24/03/2026
NEP Group has launched NEP Platform, a new software orchestration system that un...
24/03/2026
Daktronics has partnered with the Arizona Diamondbacks to design, manufacture and install a new LED video display and three ribbon boards at Chase Field in Phoe...
24/03/2026
Grass Valley has completed an upgrade of University of Pittsburgh Athletics'...
24/03/2026
Daktronics is upgrading eight LED displays at Wrigley Field in Chicago, totaling more than 8,300 square feet, using the Daktronics Renew product line. The upgra...
24/03/2026
Advanced Systems Group has appointed Kevin Poole as Senior Project and Support Manager within the ASG Workflow and Tools practice. The position is newly created...
24/03/2026
In an increasingly streaming-centric world, protecting high-value live sports co...
24/03/2026
Mediaproxy will showcase an updated version of its LogPlayer interface at NAB Show, April 19-22 in Las Vegas, booth W1423. The update includes AI tools, native ...
24/03/2026
The production studio has worked with content juggernauts such as MrBeast, The R...
24/03/2026
The event will also feature a State of the Industry address from sports-media veteran and strategic advisor Patrick Crakes....
24/03/2026
Victory , a free sports streaming service owned by A Parent Media Co. (APMC), has launched its NWSL Sunday Night Soccer franchise. The platform says the launch ...
24/03/2026
Sports content in free streaming is still relatively scant, but it's growing, right along with its monetization capabilities
Streaming-tech company Wurl re...
24/03/2026
Directed by Greg DeHart, the doc will feature Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famers...
24/03/2026
For the first time ever, Tubi - Fox's free streaming service - is working w...
24/03/2026
As the music industry gathers for Canada's Juno Awards, the local edition of...
24/03/2026
Behind every great song is a complex web of people, stories, and inspirations th...
24/03/2026
Few filmmakers have shaped popular cinema as profoundly as Steven Spielberg. So ...
24/03/2026
Latest Eurorack modules revealed
ALM/Busy Circuits have just introduced another two Eurorack modules, delivering a powerful new modulator that builds on the...
24/03/2026
Smallest, most affordable MPC to date
Akai Pro have just introduced their most accessible standalone sampler to date, making the iconic MPC experience avail...
24/03/2026
Create & manage presets on Windows & macOS
Electro-Harmonix have announced that their free Mac/Windows application now allows users of their Oceans Abyss re...
24/03/2026
Rohde & Schwarz amplifiers enable high-field immunity testing expansion at IB Le...
24/03/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invites eligible Tier 1 and 2 South African production companies to submit proposals to serve as the Facilitating ...
24/03/2026
L3Harris ramps up production of its VAMPIRE C-UxS system....