Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Student Spotlight: Adalia Martin

22/08/2023

Student Spotlight: Adalia Martin The fifth-semester professional music major and vocalist talks about how studying harmony and production has boosted her confidence as a songwriter and artist.

By

Editorial Staff

August 21, 2023

Image courtesy of Adalia Martin

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 Adalia Martin, a fifth-semester voice principal and professional music major from Boston.

Tell us about your path to Berklee. What made you decide to come here? I went to an arts high school, and as my senior year unfolded amidst a pandemic, the prospect of college was quickly approaching, and I was encouraged to consider my options. Through my own exploration, and with the help of teachers and guidance counselors, I discovered the remarkable resources and facilities that Berklee had to offer, as well as the faculty that I'd be studying under. The thought of learning in such an environment was exciting. Fast forward to today, I'm approaching my junior year and I can say that Berklee has been an agent of transformation in my life. The opportunities that have come my way have propelled my growth as an artist and advanced my professional development. A particular highlight would be my role as an ambassador at the Career Center-I love my job. Yet, my individual achievements pale in comparison to the friendships that I've made and cherish. The privilege of collaborating and learning alongside very talented individuals is the best part.

Whats been your favorite class so far, and what has it taught you? Harmony 2 with Ayeisha Mathis. Professor Mathis is a great teacher. As hard as it can be, Harmony is definitely my favorite class here at Berklee. Harmony 2 is usually when you start to delve deeper into harmonic analysis. Analyzing different chord progressions and applying them, in projects and assignments, really helped me in terms of starting to compose my own music.

Whats a project youve worked on since coming to Berklee that youve been especially excited about? My EP. I've been getting into the habit of practicing writing songs and writing down my thoughts for some time, but it wasn't until I arrived at Berklee that I started using writing and producing music as an avenue to process my thoughts. I've been developing and loving my sound as of late, and I'm excited to share.

How do you typically recharge or find new ideas outside of class? I go to jam sessions/sheds. Being in an imperfect and yet beautiful environment where creatives are sharing their ideas and just vibing kind of feeds the soul. It's a great space for inspiration.

What careers are you interested in pursuing in the future? I aspire to be a pop/R&B star. I want to be a touring artist. I love writing and producing music, and it's definitely something that I will continue to do throughout my whole career. Im also a performer, so for me, being on stage and singing, there's no other feeling like it; I'm in my element-I'm in love. I want to create and be the face of my art; I want to do it all.

When you think towards your own future, who inspires you most? When I think toward my future Beyonc inspires me. Her work ethic is unparalleled. She inspires me to share my gift and my light with others in an authentic way, and move with intention. Don't talk; just do it.

Whats one piece of advice youd give to your high school self? Just be yourself-you're weird, but that's okay.

Adalias Current Favorite Songs We asked Adalia what her top songs of the moment are. Heres what she said:

1. It's Not Right but It's Okay, Whitney Houston This song just gives sassy and powerful and the production elements are very native to the time (1998).

2. ATM, J. Cole This a great song for the gym. Helps me focus.

3. Know that You Are Loved, Cleo Sol This song is nothing short of a beautiful masterpiece. It's very simple, and when I'm feeling sad or overwhelmed, this song is helpful.

4. Bette Davis Eyes, Kim Carnes This is a put-on-headphones, dance-in-your-room, and daydream type of song, and I'm a heavy daydreamer.

5. On My Mama, Victoria Monet If I'm about to go out with my friends, to a gig, or to a jam session, this song is definitely in the rotation while I'm getting ready and doing my makeup. It helps me feel beautiful.

Related Categories

News

Student Spotlight

Most Popular

Goose guitarist and vocalist Rick Mitarotonda B.M. 16 performed with the band at a sold-out Portland, Maine, show on July 6, 2023.

Image by Adam Berta

Both Sides of Goose, Americas Premier Jam Band On a new Sounds of Berklee: Goose's live act attracts a devoted following-and the bands studio work highlights the sharp songs that spark their legendary jams.

Latest

Image by Kelly Davidson

Berklee Students Give Advice to Their High School Selves As the semester kicks off, students reflect on what they wish they knew in high school-from knowing when to slow down to not worrying if My Chemical Romance would reunite.

John Paul McGee, assistant chair of Berklees Piano Department

Image courtesy of John Paul McGee

Gospejazzical Pioneer to Moderate Panel with Hip-Hop Icons Dr. John Paul McGee, Berklee's assistant chair of piano, will guide a discussion with a group that includes Cheryl Salt James of Salt-N-Pepa about the influence of jazz and R&B on early hip-hop.

Danielle Queen D. Scott

Image courtesy of the artist

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill Turns 25 Berklees Arun Pandian and Danielle Queen D. Scott talk about the groundbreaking album and its impact on their lives.

Read All
LINK: https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-now/news/student-spotlight-adalia-mart...
See more stories from berklee

More from Berklee

09/05/2025

Berklee Popular Music Institute Announces UK Festival Debut and Tour Dates

Berklee Popular Music Institute Announces UK Festival Debut and Tour Dates For the first time, BPMI will bring Berklee-affiliated artists and students to the ...

08/05/2025

Student Spotlight: Grigori Balasanyan

Student Spotlight: Grigori Balasanyan The Armenian composer, who was named Boston Conservatory at Berklees 2025 student commencement speaker, talks about his ...

02/05/2025

Students, Alumni, and Faculty Represent Berklee at International Computer Music Conference

Students, Alumni, and Faculty Represent Berklee at International Computer Music ...

02/05/2025

Four Boston Conservatory Alumni Nominated for Tony Awards

Four Boston Conservatory Alumni Nominated for Tony Awards Fifteen alumni from Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Berklee College of Music contributed to nomin...

30/04/2025

Tania Len and Kelli O'Hara to be Honored at Boston Conservatory at Berklee's Commencement Ceremony

Tania Le n and Kelli O'Hara to be Honored at Boston Conservatory at Berklee&...

30/04/2025

Andr 3000 and Sara Bareilles to Receive Honorary Doctorates at Berklee College of Music 2025 Commencement

Andr 3000 and Sara Bareilles to Receive Honorary Doctorates at Berklee College ...

25/04/2025

Listen to Kim Perlak and Francisco Mela's New Album, Recorded in a Single Afternoon

Listen to Kim Perlak and Francisco Mela's New Album, Recorded in a Single Af...

24/04/2025

Berklee in Puerto Rico Program to Host 30th Anniversary Concert

Berklee in Puerto Rico Program to Host 30th Anniversary Concert The event will feature Grammy- and Latin Grammy-winning artist Miguel Zen n BM '98, cuatro...

24/04/2025

Detach Yourself from the Herd': Fito Pez Inspires at Berklee

Detach Yourself from the Herd': Fito P ez Inspires at Berklee In a session hosted by the Mediterranean Music Institute, the influential Argentine musician...

23/04/2025

Berklee Abu Dhabi's Jazz Night Kicks off Global Celebration of Music and Culture

Berklee Abu Dhabi's Jazz Night Kicks off Global Celebration of Music and Cul...

19/04/2025

Berklee NYC and NYC Media Launch Season 3 of Inside Power Station @BerkleeNYC

Berklee NYC and NYC Media Launch Season 3 of Inside Power Station @BerkleeNYC This season features faculty member Arun Pandian as the new host and interviews ...

18/04/2025

Berklee Student Yukai Yang Named 2025 Yamaha Young Performing Artist

Berklee Student Yukai Yang Named 2025 Yamaha Young Performing Artist The drummer secured a spot among the elite winners in this years competition. By Maddie...

18/04/2025

Boston Conservatory Alums Bring Real Women Have Curves to Broadway

Boston Conservatory Alums Bring Real Women Have Curves to Broadway The Latin American immigrant community takes center stage in a new musical featuring Tatian...

17/04/2025

In Return to Berklee, Lucius Looks Back and Moves Forward

In Return to Berklee, Lucius Looks Back and Moves Forward From mood boards to live demos, the alumni band gave students an exclusive look at the process behin...

17/04/2025

Edward J. Lewis III Named Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement

Edward J. Lewis III Named Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement Lewis has more than 20 years of industry experience, leading fundraising initiati...

16/04/2025

Charlie Puths Homecoming Was Also a Victory Lap

Charlie Puths Homecoming Was Also a Victory Lap The pop star, songwriter, and producer talked about his career and shared stories behind his biggest hits, inc...

12/04/2025

Career Jam 2025: Insights, Images, and Inspiration

Career Jam 2025: Insights, Images, and Inspiration Charlie Puth, Tiny Desk, top A&Rs, and more came together for a day of professional development and energet...

11/04/2025

Electronic Music Genres: A Guide to the Most Influential Styles

Electronic Music Genres: A Guide to the Most Influential Styles Discover some of the many types of electronic music and how they've shaped contemporary mu...

05/04/2025

Students to Perform with Earl Slick in David Bowie Tribute Concert

Students to Perform with Earl Slick in David Bowie Tribute Concert Known for his work with Bowie and John Lennon, the influential guitarist will also visit cl...

04/04/2025

Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Present Beloved Works and World Premieres at Spring Dance Concert: Limitless

Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Present Beloved Works and World Premieres at S...

03/04/2025

Berklee's Ty-Juana L. Flores Appointed Board Chair of the Boston Cultural Council

Berklee's Ty-Juana L. Flores Appointed Board Chair of the Boston Cultural Co...

03/04/2025

Berklee's South Asian Scholar Association to Host All-Ages Concert

Berklee's South Asian Scholar Association to Host All-Ages Concert The student-led event, Mehfil, will feature songs in eight different languages and blen...

03/04/2025

Berklee Announces Paul Dworkis as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Berklee Announces Paul Dworkis as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial O...

02/04/2025

Music Therapy Students Awarded First Internship Stipend from Children's Music Fund

Music Therapy Students Awarded First Internship Stipend from Children's Musi...

28/03/2025

Student Spotlight: Ava Della Pietra

Student Spotlight: Ava Della Pietra The singer-songwriter enrolled in the Harvard-Berklee Joint Studies Program talks about her love of medicine and music, ov...

28/03/2025

Berklee's Africana Studies to Host Gospel Extravaganza 2025

Berklee's Africana Studies to Host Gospel Extravaganza 2025 The Signature Series event will celebrate over 40 years of gospel music at Berklee. By Colet...

28/03/2025

Berklee Online CEO Debbie Cavalier Recognized for Extraordinary Leadership

Berklee Online CEO Debbie Cavalier Recognized for Extraordinary Leadership Cavalier receives the rare Julius M. Nolte Award from UPCEA. By Colette Greenstein ...

26/03/2025

New Music USA and Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Announce 2025 Next Jazz Legacy Cohort

New Music USA and Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Announce 2025 Nex...

22/03/2025

Antonio Snchez, Bla Fleck, and Edmar Castaeda Push Boundaries on BEATrio

Antonio S nchez, B la Fleck, and Edmar Casta eda Push Boundaries on BEATrio The trio's debut album drops May 16, but you can hear the first single, Archi...

21/03/2025

Neil Leonard's Matanzas Sound Map Turns Sound into Place at Tate Modern

Neil Leonard's Matanzas Sound Map Turns Sound into Place at Tate Modern The Berklee professor's immersive installation transports visitors to Matanzas...

21/03/2025

Berklee to Host Annual Jazz Composition Festival

Berklee to Host Annual Jazz Composition Festival Performances will feature modern jazz masters Sean Jones, Ayn Inserto, Miguel Zen n BM '98, and Christine...

21/03/2025

PARADEs National Tour Is a Procession of Boston Conservatory Talent

PARADEs National Tour Is a Procession of Boston Conservatory Talent Michael Tacconi BFA '12 and fifth-semester musical theater major Olivia Goosman talk a...

21/03/2025

Neil Leonard's Matanzas Sound Map Brings Immersive Sonic Cartography to Tate Modern's East Tank

Neil Leonard's Matanzas Sound Map Brings Immersive Sonic Cartography to Tate...

21/03/2025

Boston Conservatory at Berklee Presents the Tony Award-Winning Musical Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Boston Conservatory at Berklee Presents the Tony Award-Winning Musical Natasha, ...

20/03/2025

Berklee's Trailblazing Music Inclusion Ensemble Debuts at Berklee Performance Center

Berklee's Trailblazing Music Inclusion Ensemble Debuts at Berklee Performanc...

19/03/2025

Music Marketing: 5 Proven Strategies to Engage and Grow Your Fanbase

Music Marketing: 5 Proven Strategies to Engage and Grow Your Fanbase Find out how you can get your work in front of more people with these music marketing str...

19/03/2025

Watch Berklee Valencia Alum Wow the American Idol Judges with an Otis Redding Song

Watch Berklee Valencia Alum Wow the American Idol Judges with an Otis Redding So...

17/03/2025

BPMI Presents 2025 Festival Artists at 23rd Annual Showcase

BPMI Presents 2025 Festival Artists at 23rd Annual Showcase The Berklee Popular Music Institute will showcase eight artists performing at this summer's ho...

15/03/2025

Student Spotlight: Rachel McFarlane

Student Spotlight: Rachel McFarlane The Canadian composer talks about being drawn to the storytelling power of scoring for film and video games, working with ...

14/03/2025

Singaporean singer-songwriter JJ Lin on Craft, Courage, and Creativity

Singaporean Singer-Songwriter JJ Lin on Craft, Courage, and Creativity The artist shared candid insights into his musical evolution, personal challenges, and ...

13/03/2025

Watch Student Naomi Soleils Folk Pop Performance on The Voice

Watch Student Naomi Soleils Folk Pop Performance on The Voice The songwriting major sang Stars by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals during the blind auditions. ...

12/03/2025

Berklee Awards Fenway Neighborhood Improvement Grant to Four Organizations

Berklee Awards Fenway Neighborhood Improvement Grant to Four Organizations A total of $17,000 will be distributed among the Boston-based nonprofits. By Madd...

11/03/2025

New Book Explores How the Quiet Storm Shaped Modern R&B

New Book Explores How the Quiet Storm Shaped Modern R&B In The Quiet Storm, Berklee Online alumnus Amani Roberts explores how the radio format defined America...

11/03/2025

The Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Presents the Grand Gathering

The Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Presents the Grand Gathering The Signature Series concert will feature performances by all nine of the instit...

10/03/2025

Berklee and FIFA World Cup 26 Debut Official Boston Host City Theme

Berklee and FIFA World Cup 26 Debut Official Boston Host City Theme Boston is the only host city to work with an educational institution to create its unique,...

06/03/2025

Boston Calling and Berklee Partner to Showcase Student Talent

Boston Calling and Berklee Partner to Showcase Student Talent When Boston Calling comes to Allston this May, student performers will light up the festival'...

06/03/2025

Building a Home Studio? Start Here.

Building a Home Studio? Start Here. Berklee professors and alumni break down the basics of setting up your home music studio, and share tips on how to get the...

03/03/2025

The Art of Connection

The Art of Connection Alums Melanie Bacaling and Gabriella Reyes share a deep bond that's carried them to the heights of the opera world. By Sarah Godch...

03/03/2025

Scripting Her Path

Scripting Her Path Writer Alexis Scheer takes on a wide range of subject matter, from the stage to the screen. March 3, 2025 Alexis Scheer Photo by Gabriel...

27/02/2025

Student Spotlight: Manuela Snchez Goubert

Student Spotlight: Manuela S nchez Goubert The vocalist from Bogot , Colombia, talks about releasing and touring her album, RA CES (roots), and how Berklee ha...