Author: Jenny Lee
In the newest installment of your Student Spotlight Series, we’re joined by Playlists for a Change San Jose! They are the San Jose Chapter of Playlists for a Change, an organization created for sharing stories and creating change through music.
Q1: Please introduce yourself and the mission of Playlists for a Change San Jose.
Hi! I started the San Jose chapter of Playlists for a Change around two years ago, with the hope of creating change locally through music. The San Jose chapter is a group of students in this area who are passionate about creating playlists that tell stories, especially stories surrounding the youth experience.
Q2: What first drew you to using music as a way to express yourself, highlight stories, and spark change?
I grew up surrounded by music, as a classically trained pianist. So, from a young age, I was introduced to the melodies and cadences of composers such as Chopin and Ravel. And I also enjoyed listening to pop music on the radio. When I grew older, I fell in love with other genres, like R&B, alternative, indie, etc. I found myself relating to many songs and their lyrics, and connected with my friends through our shared love of music. So when I learned about Playlists for a Change, I became really interested in creating my own space for youth to discuss music and create change through it.
Q3: Some themes across your playlists highlight Asian American culture and Asian heritage. What inspires this theme, and how does it shape the way you approach music curation?
Well, I’m Asian American! And I think listening to Asian music has been a great way that I’ve reconnected with my heritage. It’s hard to feel connected to your heritage when you live thousands of miles away from where your parents grew up, and when who you are has been villainized nationally. Additionally, there are few Asian American artists in the mainstream, which is why I’ve wanted to highlight the Asian American artists that I listen to. A lot of these artists uniquely blend their ethnicity and nationality, like Sunkis, a pop R&B artist that sings in both Chinese and English. This blend can be uniquely appreciated by other Chinese Americans, who understand both languages, and it’s nice to feel represented through the usage of both languages in songs.
Q4: What is the first time you remember music resonating with you, emotionally or physically?
This is a good question. I think I first found music deeply resonating with me as I played piano. In specific, the piece “Harmony of the Angels” by Burgmüller. I remember loving how beautiful and flowing the melody was as I pressed on the piano keys. Also, with “stronger” or perhaps more “tumultuous” pieces, such as Fairy Tale Op. 20 No. 1 by Medtner, I remember they would be pretty therapeutic to play when I was feeling mad or frustrated, since I could kind of release my emotions onto the piano keys because the pieces require you to play really loudly or strongly at parts.
Read part two here: https://megaphoneyouthregister.blog/2026/02/23/student-spotlight-series-playlists-for-a-change-san-jose-part-2/
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