Minisode: Newark Sounds

MUSIC: INTRO MUSIC.

NARRATION
Hey. It’s Michael here - sound designer, and composer of Timestorm - with a between-seasons minisode. Let’s listen back to a scene from our season one special when Sonia told Janelly about Newark Sounds.

MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC.

SONIA
Newark Sounds - it...it’s this contest. And Justice, my music teacher, submitted a bunch of song demos including ‘This Is Me’ into this contest. And I didn’t want to get too excited, especially since the prize is amazing.

JANELLY
What’s the prize?

SONIA
A professional recording of the song.

JANELLY
Wow. Whoever wins that is really lucky.

SONIA
I won. We’re going into the recording studio.

JANELLY
Whoa! This is gonna be fun.

MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC.

NARRATION
Now we’ll flash forward to months later when the studio version of ‘This Is Me’ debuts on the radio.

WNRK STUDIOS. NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

SFX: RECORD SCRATCH.
MUSIC: ENDING SECONDS OF REGGAETON SONG.

CECILY
Yes. WNRK, that was Lovely Lopez with their new reggaeton jam “Baila Brick City.”

Hey there, I’m Cecily Simon. It’s been great spending this wonderful Saturday afternoon with you on the radio waves in sunny, downtown Newark, New Jersey.

Now, for the moment y’all have been waiting for. We’re gonna end this week’s show with the song that won our two thousand-eighteen Newark Sounds contest - celebrating the young music creators in our city. This year’s winner is...Sonia Soto Johnson, an up-and-coming Newark musician. In her winning submission, Sonia said her song is about, “...finding your voice and sharing it with the world.”

As a reward for being named two thousand-eighteen Newark Sounds grand prize winner, Sonia received the honor of having her song produced by Newark’s very own music producer extraordinaire, Virginia Dominguez.

And now here’s the public debut of “This is Me” by Sonia Soto Johnson - featuring Janelly Rios - on WNRK.

MUSIC: “THIS IS ME / ESTA SOY YO” STUDIO VERSION.

SONIA
I’m at this party,
they stare at me,
whispering:
She talks so funny

All I want is to stand and scream:
This is all I’ve got
This is me
This is me

SONIA / JANELLY
Hey, I don’t know what you are like /
No sé como eres

No, I don’t know what you are like /
No sé como eres

So, I don’t know what you are like /
No sé como eres

But this is me /
This is me

SONIA
Waves that flow from my head
My skin, my eyes
So misread
This is me

All I want is to stand and scream:
This is all I’ve got
This is me
This is me

SONIA / JANELLY
Hey, I don’t know what you are like /
No sé como eres.

No, I don’t know what you are like /
No sé como eres.

So, I don’t know what you are like /
No sé como eres

But this is me /
Esta soy yo

SONIA
I grab my hand, years ago
I hold it tight and won’t let go
Fly to the sand and waves of blue

SONIA / JANELLY
We sing so loud /
Cantamos fuerte

We sing so loud /
Cantamos fuerte

SONIA
We sing our truth

SONIA / JANELLY
Hey, I don’t know what you are like /
No sé como eres

No, I don’t know what you are like /
No sé como eres

So, I don’t know what you are like /
No sé como eres

But this is me /
Esta soy yo

But this is me /
Esta soy yo

But this is me /
Esta soy yo

But this is me /
Esta soy yo

SONIA
This is me

CECILY
That was ‘This is Me’ by Sonia Soto Johnson, winner of the two thousand-eighteen Newark Sounds contest. We’re going to keep that song in rotation all summer long. So, if you liked what you’ve heard, consider supporting Sonia by purchasing the song at CocotazoMedia dot Bandcamp dot com slash Track slash This dash Is dash Me. That’s CocotazoMedia dot Bandcamp dot com slash Track slash This dash Is dash Me.

Thanks again for joining me, Cecily Simon, for this afternoon’s Life’s Jams on WNRK - where we keep your feet moving and life grooving.

MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC.

NARRATION
Hello again. If you liked what you heard, you can buy the studio version of ‘This Is Me’ and we’ll donate a quarter of the proceeds to ConPRmetidos, an organization that’s building a stable, productive, and self-sufficient Puerto Rico. Find the link to buy the song in our show notes.

MUSIC: “THIS IS ME / ESTA SOY YO“ INSTRUMENTAL.

This minisode was written by me, Michael Aquino. I also did the sound design and composed, arranged, and played guitar on “This Is Me.” Lyrics co-written by me and Dania Ramos. Jessica Bracken sang lead vocals with additional vocals by Frances Ramos. The role of Cecily Simon was played by Monifa Brown.

Timestorm is produced by Cocotazo Media and is a proud member of TRAX from PRX. To learn more about TRAX, visit TRAX dot fm: that’s t-r-a-x-dot fm. If you enjoy the show, ask your parents to subscribe to Timestorm on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or the KidsListen App.

Timestorm is produced in Essex County, New Jersey, which is situated on the traditional territory of the Leni Lenape people.

As always, thanks for listening.

ATABEY
Witness. Find. Remember.