During Summer 2024, Students from the School of Music and Department of Dance Worked Together to Produce a Music Video Covering the CAIN Song, “I’m So Blessed,” Performed by the Young Ambassadors and Rhythm N’ Soul Collective
The recent collaboration between BYU’s Young Ambassadors (YA) and Rhythm N’ Soul Collective embodies the spirit of belonging. Together they produced a music video covering the CAIN song, “I’m So Blessed.” The project was primarily student run, involving students and faculty mentors from the Department of Dance and School of Music.
The project was born when the director of YA, Nathan Balser, asked his students for music video ideas. JRay Kuhn, who is also the founder of Rhythm N’ Soul Collective, and YA member Luke Christensen brainstormed an idea that involved both groups. Commercial music student Miranda Tan created the track and final mix under the mentorship of Ben Fales from the BYU Music Group.
The students choreographed material with the help of Associate Vice President Lita Giddins’ husband Kevin Giddins. Oba Bonner from the Bonner Family helped them arrange and record the track. After a lot of collaboration and creativity, the video was completed.
“Working with all of these people was crucial in making this idea a reality,” said Christensen. Giddons is a recognized Diversity and Inclusion leader and he taught the groups appropriate choreography for gospel music. Bonner played an important role in teaching and recording the music in preparation for the video. “We wanted to create an appropriate sound that would honor the classic gospel sound, but as a group we generally focus on broadway and pop songs, so this was unknown territory to us,” Christensen said.
Kuhn co-created Rhythm N’ Soul to have a space for Black students to embrace who they are, remember where they come from and express themselves. There is now an official course within the Department of Dance where students learn cultural-specific dance techniques (DANCE 272R). “We were thinking of creating this collaboration to promote unity among the many different students at BYU, especially on a larger scale with song and dance,” he said. “The best thing that I witnessed during the creative process was seeing the two groups of students interact with each other and the education that happened from both sides.”
Making the video was a valuable experiential learning experience for the students involved and taught them important skills applicable to their future careers and their lives in general. “I think learning how to work and collaborate with people of differing backgrounds and experiences is always beneficial in any setting, professional or casual,” said Christensen. “I learned how to help organize two groups of people towards a common goal. I developed and honed my leadership, time management and social skills through this video.”
Tan said, “I hope to be a producer and composer. It was so helpful to be working with so many people and learning how to collaborate and balance a lot of opinions.” Concurrent with this project, she had an internship in LA where she worked with the BYU Music Group. She worked with a mixer and BYU alum named Dee Kei who is in charge of one of the largest audio mixing podcasts in the U.S. and works with various Rhythm & Blues artists.
“The majority of my time at BYU has been involved in projects like this and I’m very grateful for the opportunities BYU provides like this because it is more of a real world experience,” said Kuhn. This real life experience has prepared him for his current job: performing on the national tour with “Shrek: The Musical.” “At BYU we have opportunities to lead, create, brainstorm and see our ideas come to life,” he added.
All three students said they hoped that the music video promotes unity and joy. “I hope that this music video shows that we can tear down the walls and barriers that we tend to mentally build up,” said Kuhn. “I encourage people to educate themselves on the different cultures we have on the BYU campus because it is such a rich place to learn about so many different people. Everyone comes from a different background and everyone has something to bring to the table.”
“Both groups share a unique mission of sharing the light of Christ through song, and the light of these performances is evident not just on stage but also in the lives of the students who perform in them,” added Christensen.
“Ultimately the music was created to show unity and I think that is something people need right now,” said Tan. “It was all about coming together and showing that ultimately we are all God’s children.”