Pali artists experimented with writing, recording and producing original music in the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus while it was parked on campus from late January to February.
The traveling studio, founded in honor of Lennon and his former spouse, Yoko Ono, provides hands-on experiences in music production and filmmaking. Inside the bus, students have access to professional-grade instruments, recording equipment and industry mentors.
At Pali, a group of select seniors worked alongside visiting producers to create an original song and music video, a project many said felt especially meaningful in the wake of the Palisades fire.
“For me, music is an escape from anything,” senior Max Dorband said. “After the fire, it’s something that keeps me going. No matter what happens, I know I’ll always have music.”
Dorband, who played guitar and contributed vocals, said the experience deepened his connection to music.
“I definitely got more into it, researching, trying to make my own music,” he said. “It just became more important.”
The project also fostered a sense of collaboration. “If it wasn’t for the people around me, I probably would have quit a long time ago,” Dorband said. “There’s definitely a sense of community here.”
Senior Mason Deguzman, who participated as a guitarist, said he was invited by Allision Cheng, Pali’s choir and guitar teacher, just weeks before the event.
“They told me they needed another guitarist, and I said yes,” Deguzman said. “Its been really cool, we’re producing a song and even making a music video.”
The group’s song is expected to reflect on the fires and their impact, tying personal experiences into a larger narrative of resilience and recovery.
“I think it’s just great that they’re doing this,” Deguzman said. “It’s a really nice, charitable thing, and it’s helping us get more into music.”
The program brought together Pali seniors and visiting instructors from across the country who guided students through the creative process.
Deguzman notably said that working with the collaboration of the visiting team and Pali’s music teachers gave him new insight into the craft of music.
“They really showed us how to turn ideas and emotional concepts into an actual song,” he said. “I learned a lot about recording and producing.”
Beyond technical skills, students emphasized the emotional impact of the experience and how it became a craft that transformed people’s outlooks on last year’s devastation.
“It’s been really cool to turn something we went through into something creative,” Deguzman said. “It just makes everything feel a little more normal again.”
