What's Going On by Hill-Freedman Records

About This Album
What’s Going On with Hill-Freedman Records? In Fall 2017, the student-led label of Hill-Freedman World Academy started preparations for its sophomore album, in collaboration with non-profit partner LiveConnections. As part of the IB Design/Music Technology curriculum of the school’s International Baccalaureate Programme, all of Hill-Freedman’s 10th and 11th graders tuned into Motown music legends like Marvin Gaye (who inspired the album’s title) Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, and the Supremes. During their year-long study of music production, under the leadership of Music Technology teacher Ezechial Thurman, students dug into song analysis (including song structure and instrumentation), joined by LiveConnections teaching artists Luke Carlos O’Reilly and Yolanda Wisher, who then launched them into writing their own poetry and lyrics. As the writing continued, songwriter/vocalist/producer Kristal Oliver joined the project as a songwriting and vocal mentor. Under Ms. Kristal’s guidance, students wrote on their own, wrote to Motown-inspired arrangements created by LiveConnections artists Mr. Luke and Andrew Lipke, and collaborated with each other on lyrics. They also composed their own music, inspired by Motown and contemporary music. Students drew inspiration from themes of love and personal struggle, while also looking at what’s going on in the world around them today. They then headed into the school’s recording studio to lay down their tracks. In blending Motown and today’s music, Hill-Freedman Records’ second installment and proclaims yesterday’s sound reinvented.

Contains tracks

• Introduction by Hill-Freedman Records
• What's Going On (Still Wondering) by Hill-Freedman Records
• Light by Hill-Freedman Records
• Lil' Baby by Hill-Freedman Records
• Perfectly Imperfect by Hill-Freedman Records