Courtesy of Joshua Lozano-Carbajal, Zaida Rio Polanco and Marin Korenaga

Making music is no small feat; but for some campus artists, the challenge is an opportunity to share their stories and connect with the Yale community. The News spoke with three student songwriters about their musical journeys—the inspirations behind their lyrics, their creative process and how being at Yale has influenced their work.

Zaida Rio Polanco ’26 faces heartbreak and growing up in her music

Courtesy of Zaida Rio Polanco

Music has been a lifelong friend for Zaida Rio Polanco ’26. 

“It’s not just for me that I write these songs,” Polanco said. “It’s for the possibility of healing someone else that experienced something similar.” 

Polanco was first introduced to music through Hannah Montana and her father and brother — both of whom are singer-songwriters. Growing up, Polanco said she was “constantly surrounded by music.”

She recalled how, when she was in third grade, her father started letting her play her music at his Songwriters Club at a local high school. Polanco cultivated her love of songwriting all throughout high school and released the full-length album “Leaving” — a musical culmination of adolescence heartbreak. 

From there, she took the stage of her local coffee shop, Hastings Tea. Performing her blends of bedroom pop, R&B and indie folk, Polanco said she loved connecting with the crowd to explore themes of heartbreak, defiance and redemption.

“There was nothing like the energy in a room full of strangers,” said Polanco. 

Now a junior at Yale, Polanco continues to stoke that spark and play her music to a growing Yale fanbase. When 17o1 Records, Yale’s only record label, re-launched in 2023, it signed her as one of its first artists. She cited the label for many of her opportunities on campus — from performing at Battle of the Bands to organizing a release-concert with her band Solstice to performing at Toad’s Place. 

Marin Korenaga ’27 pours her heart out in her lyrics

Courtesy of Marin Korenaga

For Marin Korenaga ’27 — who goes by the stage name Marin Clarisse — songwriting is also a form of connecting with others. Music entered early on in Korenaga’s life, as she played the violin piano in her childhood. Her singing debut came at 9 years old, when she sang a Japanese song to her family upon hearing them fight, urging on a reconciliation. 

Since then, her audience has only grown. 

 “There was always a voice inside me that wanted to write music,” said Korenaga. “When I got my first yellow journal when I was 11, I started writing lyrics into it.”

In high school, she started making music in her basement, pairing her lyrics with music from her piano. 

During that time, she said that making music was a way to cope with stress. Now, her pursuit of music has become increasingly community-focused. Korenaga hopes her music resonates with listeners, who might be inspired to make her songs part of their daily rotation. 

Since her arrival to Yale, Korenaga’s songwriting approach has transformed — in part due to the on-campus resources and opportunities. 

She pointed to her involvement in the Yale Student Songwriters’ Collective and support from her friends, lauding them for inspiring her to release her first single, “growing, painfully,” in 2023. 

With her older brother as producer, Korenaga’s sound has evolved to include elements of bedroom and electro-pop. 

“I think I’ll be pouring out my heart to you,” she sings in her most recent single, “true, true love?” — in turn pouring out her heart to listeners with her lyrical explorations of love. In “growing, painfully,” Korenaga sings “Tell me that I am the person I want me to be,” begging a partner or friend, the listener, or perhaps even herself for reassurance in the ballad about change and self-discovery. 

Korenaga recently joined 17o1 Records for the 2024-25 school year.

“I hope to release an EP this year and continue to work on music and connect with friends,” said Korenaga of her future plans.

Joshua Lozano-Carbajal’s ’27 beats are an escape from reality 

Courtesy of Joshua Lozano-Carbajal

Many consider music to be an escape from reality and a form of healing from wounds of everyday life. This is especially true with Joshua Lozano-Carbajal ’27, who creates instrumental music as an outlet to express the “realest” parts of himself.  

“[Music] was the only thing that was really helping me move forward or feel better,” he said. 

Lozano-Carbajal’s instrumentals are “all over the place.” Taking inspiration from multitudes of different genres like R&B and alternative, his music is a unique blend that complements his life experience. Currently, he is compiling a vast repertoire of original beats and demos, hoping to share his music to a wider audience via TikTok. 

Music is something that helps him relieve the stress of everyday life, said Lozabo-Carbajal. As a result, he wants to devote more time to it. 

“​​Why not put a little bit more effort into making something that’s fun,” he explained. 

Luckily, for artists like Lozano-Carbajal and others at Yale, there are a vast array of resources available, including the recording studios located in select residential colleges. Students can reserve a time to record their projects using professional equipment. 

He also gives credit to his “creative hearted” peers. Without them, he would not be able to reach his fullest potential. They sing his songs or add their own instrumentals, creating a beautiful cacophony of student creativity. 

“They are inspiring and amazing, and I’ve met so many people that can help me get even better,” he said.

17o1 Records relaunched last year after an eight-year hiatus. 

KAMINI PURUSHOTHAMAN
Kamini Purushothaman covers Arts and New Haven. A sophomore in Trumbull College, she is double-majoring in History and Archaeology.
CAMERON NYE
Cameron Nye covers theater and performances. He is a sophomore in Branford College majoring in political science.