The themes of nostalgia and a long-gone era are beautifully woven into this teen’s Cultural Identity Audio Biography(CIAB). The entire project unfolds like a classic old movie, complete with vintage film aesthetics.

It opens with a heartfelt scene portraying a parent offering timeless advice, setting the stage for a journey that reflects on cherished memories and lessons learned from the past.

When I was sixteen, my father said

“You can do anything you want with your life,

You just need the will to work hard and get it.”

That’s when I decided when I die,

all of you remember me for the life I live(d),

not the money I made.”

The quote is part of the song “The Nights” by Avicii, and the CIAB includes the beginning of this song, which is a fast-paced roar

Once upon a younger year

When all our shadows disappeared,

The animals inside came out to play,

Went face to face with all our fears,

Learned our lessons through the tears.

The CIAB transitions into more advice with

“7 years”by Lukas Graham.

Once, I was seven years old,

my mama told me

“Go make yourself some friends,

or you’ll be lonely”

Once, I was seven years old

It was a big-big world,

but we thought we were bigger

Pushing each other to the limits, we were learning quicker

and

Once, I was 11 years old, my daddy told me

“Go get yourself a wife, or you’ll be lonely.”

The nostalgic time travelers, CIAB, gracefully transition into a heartwarming series of audio clips that capture a simple black-and-white portrayal of life.

One if these songs is am uplifting ragtime song, “You Got a Friend in Me” by Randy Newman, which beautifully expresses the essence of friendship. This song, cherished by many, especially children, resonates deeply because of its connection to the movie Toy Story.

It’s easy to see why a teen would place it in their CIAB’s past as it likely brings fond memories  and warmth to their hearts, reminding us of the joy and innocence of childhood friendships. The overall atmosphere of the song exudes happiness.

When the road looks rough ahead

And you’re miles and miles

From your nice warm bed

You just remember what your old pal said

Boy, you’ve got a friend in me

Yeah, you’ve got a friend in me

The song is tenderly paired with a nostalgic silent movie waltz from the beloved film “Up.” It transports the listener into a dreamy out-of-body experience.

The song creates an array of emotions in such a short period of time. emotions. In the film, the music serves as a poignant backdrop to the main character’s  recollections of his life with his wife, capturing shared moments from a joyful beginning to a heart-wrenching goodbye—all expressed through the power of melody and animationr ather than words.

This evocative  snapshot mirrors a a clip from *La La Land*, – Joji’s  “Glimpse of Us.” With its delicate piano and soft vocals, the song layers harmonies that evoke feelings of longing and distance, as if the singer is reminiscing about something precious yet fleeting. The poignant line

She’d take the world off my shoulders

speaks to a deep desire for comfort and connection.

If it was ever hard to move

She’d turn the rain to a rainbow

When I was living in the blue

Why then, if she is so perfect

Do I still wish that it was you?

Perfect don’t mean that it’s working

So what can I do? (Ooh)

When you’re out of sight

The nostalgic time traveler’s CIAB is a showcase of beautifully crafted sound effects, highlighted in a snippet from Alec Benjamin’s poignant song “Older.” This  track captures the essence of growing up, finding love, and embracing the journey of adulthood—timeless themes.

In this inspiring rendition, the teen artist showcases their impressive DJing skills by artfully merging the Mandarin and English versions of the song. This seamless blend not only highlights their technical talent but also creates a powerful harmony that resonates deeply with listeners.

The fusion of languages powerfully highlights themes of connection and growth, showcasing the strength of their dual identity as Asian-Americans.

Through this innovative approach, the artist inspires us to appreciate the beauty and richness of embracing multiple identities.

Can’t go back to the start now

Time doesn’t slow down

I’m on my own

Wǒ xiǎng wǒ de tóngnián  (I miss my childhood)

yǐjīng jiéshùle xiànzài (it’s already ocer now)

wǒ zhèngzài qǔ xià wǒ dì hǎibào (I am taking down my poster)

wǒ bǎ wǒ suǒyǒu de dōngxī (I put all my things)

dū fàng jìn kǎo miànbāo (Put the bread in the oven)

jī pángbiān de (next to the chicken)

hézǐ lǐ zhè shì wǒ zuì jiējìn (this is my closest friend)

jiéshù (end)

de shìqíng wǒ wúfǎ zǔzhǐ zhège (the situation is beyond my control)

guòshānchē (mountain pass)

wǒ hái méi zhǔnbèi hǎo lǎole, (I still haven’t finished preparing)

wǒ hái méiyǒu zhǔnbèi hǎo biàn lǎo. (I haven’t prepared for getting old yet)

There are a few ways to interpret this portion of the nostalgic time traveler’s CIAB:

1) the effect may represent the teen’s comfort in both their Asian and American identities,

2) perhaps it is the teen exploring these two identities, or

3) the teen is simply using the sound effect to show their mastery of this DJ technique of crossfading between two versions of the song.

The common theme of the past represents a life review – yet many of the events evoked in the songs are of a life not yet lived. The time travel also evokes a more simplistic view of how life is lived (or should be lived).