Pop Conference 2022 - "When I Think of Home: Race and Borders in Popular Music"

For our musical breaks between the daytime sessions, we've curated/created short bits of "bonus beats" of original music videos from students and recent alumni of The Clive Davis Institute at New York University—videos that connect, in some way, to this year's conference themes of race, borders and/or home. Plus: we've worked with acclaimed singer-songwriter-educator Jamila Woods (this year's Clive Davis Institute Artist-in-Residence and a first-time Pop Conference presenter) to curate a suite of her music videos as "bonus beats." Woods will perform a free Pop Conference concert and join in conversation with Fredara Hadley later this evening at 8 pm ET. All Pop Conference attendees can watch the concert live online (and NYU students can attend in person), and Jamila Woods will also conduct a special writing mentorship session on Sunday at 4 pm ET.

For this break we have:

1. "Eartha," the 2019 video by Jamila Woods from her album LEGACY! LEGACY! 
Woods said this about the song: “Who gonna share my love for me with me?” These are the thoughts that play in your head after an argument with your partner. These are the pages you write in your journal the next morning. This is everything you wish you could have said, or everything you’ve said a million times without it being heard. The moment you realize you are worthy of more. Inspired by the badass spirit and wisdom of Eartha Kitt."

2. "homesick," a 2022 video music by LIYATHATGIRL. "homesick" is a song I wrote during my time at The Clive Davis Institute when I missed Maryland a little too much. There is a lot of pressure that surrounds being an artist in New York, as well as holding up the prestige that comes with New York University. In a broader sense, at some point in every young adult life, there comes a time where you have to leave home to start your life as an adult. I think the epicness of the hook speaks to the true yearning emotion of the safety that comes from "home." This celebrates the youth of our childhood and missing the good days.

3. "Brand New," a 2021 music video by Mi-kaisha. "This performance encapsulates me as a performer, member of my Indigenous community back home in Australia and also as an individual. What I find most important about this performance in relation to the theme is that my Indigeneity (my 'race') and my sense of home is interwoven and inherent in the work. My culture represented itself."

4. "Pulpit," a 2021 music video by Rodney Chrome. "Pulpit is a music video that was created off of the stereotypes of masculinity within the black community. Growing up in Little Rock, Arkansas I was always told that my femininity was deemed un-lovable and unattractive to the world. When I began to conceptualize the video for Pulpit I knew that I wanted to portray a message to other black & queer listeners that no matter what your identity is, you are deserving of a love that is boundless."

5. "You See Me," a 2020 music video by Océane. "Can you ever truly see or know someone? "You See Me" portrays the ways in which a person can be seen over the passage of time. We all fit into the story of history, and with this comes the ups and downs that come with life. Although it may be impossible to ever truly see a person, there is a beauty in appreciating darkness and light within each of us."