"Wake up take a look up at the sky, so absorbed you don't see the birdies fly. Yo chill, I'm sure that you're doing fine tho, just know that you're losing time oh."

These are the lyrics of the most recent song created by junior Kiran Illindala. He was listening to his music as he jogged along the dirt paths leading up to the Montalvo Arts Center during a fall cross country practice.

Ignoring his aching muscles and the hot sun bearing down on him, he focused on the steady rhythm of the jazz music playing through his earbuds, contemplating about what he should change about his newly created song. Two hours later, Illindala sat at his table making the revisions.

Illindala’s love for music began when he was 5 and took his first guitar and choir classes. From there, music has played a major role in his life — even as a distraction at inconvenient moments. He remembers being sent to the principal’s office in third grade for constantly humming and singing in class, which often interfered with other students’ learning.

“I'd always listen to music, and at a certain point it actually became a coping mechanism,” Illindala said. “Out of the time I’m awake, I spend at least a quarter with my earbuds in, if not half.”

Despite an intense course load of junior year, Illindala has continued to devote much of his time to music. Illindala is now a member of the chamber choir and creates his own music outside of school.

Illindala began creating his own music in fifth grade but quit until he took up song writing again this year. Illindala is currently experimenting with electronic music that he creates using Fruity Loops Studios, an online digital audio workstation, and produces hip-hop pop hybrids inspired by artists like Jon Bellion, Bryce Vine, and Luke Christopher. Illindala also draws a lot of inspiration from the swing genre.

In the future, Illindala hopes to share his music publicly through Soundcloud. Illindala is aiming to have five songs completed by the end of the year, but has found himself bogged down by school and other extracurriculars.  

“It takes an extremely long time to put something together,” Illindala said. “For me, unless I'm in the zone, I can't put a song together, but usually when I do, it takes about 3-5 hours. For some people, it takes months.”

Illindala thinks his songs are never truly done.

“There’s always something to change and ways to make my songs better,” Illindala said.

In addition to helping him focus and serving as a creative outlet, music serves to cheer him up and help him study, de-stress, prepare for tests and competitions, and cope with hardships in life. Illindala said that he adjusts his music to different activities. For example, he plays faster-paced electronic music while running, but plays slower more laid back swing music while studying.

Illindala’s passion for music has rubbed off on those around him. Illindala regularly shares both the music he creates and the music he listens to with his friends, including junior William Liu.

“The fact that he’s a high school student makes it more interesting to listen to,” Liu said. “It makes me want to get FL studio more than I used to.”

Ultimately, being a music enthusiast and sharing music with others has made Illindala into who he is today.

“Music is really part of my identity. It has value because it has helped shape who I am as a person,” Illindala said.