Month 2 – Used to be Young
Month 2 of my creative series “This Is Just a Tribute.”
This month I recreated a visual interpretation of Used to Be Young by Miley Cyrus.
This project is about exploring music through visual storytelling while pushing myself to create something new every month.
This particular video felt more personal. In my 20s I somehow earned the reputation of being the “troublemaker” among my friends’ parents, even though the truth was often very different. Revisiting this song made me reflect on how much perspective changes as we get older.
For this piece I kept the visual style simple and intimate, filming against an infinity black background inspired by the original video. The process helped me experiment more with lighting, shadows, and editing to create a mood that matched the vulnerability of the song.
Each month of this project is helping me grow as a creator, learn new techniques, and tell more honest stories through video.
Subscribe if you want to follow the rest of the series.
#UsedToBeYoung #MileyCyrus #MusicVideoTribute #CreativeProject #VisualStorytelling #IndependentCreator #VideoArt
This month I chose Used to Be Young by Miley Cyrus, and this one hit a little deeper for me.
My 20s were full of stories that weren’t always told the right way. Somehow I ended up with the reputation of being the “troublemaker” among my friends’ parents—even though the truth was usually far from it. Watching this song and reflecting on that time in my life made me think about how much perspective changes as we get older.
This video is more vulnerable than the last one. I kept it simple and intimate, filming against an infinity black background inspired by the original video. It felt like the right way to let the emotion carry the piece.
Along the way I learned a lot about lighting, shadows, and editing—and how small changes can completely shift the mood of a shot.
Every month of this project is teaching me something new, both creatively and personally.
Month 1 - Tribute
This Is Just a Tribute is a monthly creative video project where I challenge myself to plan, produce, perform in, and edit a new music video inspired by songs that have shaped my creative life.
For the first installment, I recreated “Tribute” by Tenacious D, a song that has lived rent-free in my brain since my college days as a Film, Video, and Media student. Back then, creating music videos was the dream. Life and career paths took me in other directions, but this project is my way of reconnecting with that original creative spark.
This video was produced completely independently. From concept development to filming and editing. I recreated the energy of the original music video by performing multiple characters, lip-syncing the vocals, and experimenting with editing techniques to capture the chaotic humor and theatrical style that makes Tenacious D so iconic.
Month 1 of This Is Just a Tribute represents something bigger than a single video. It marks the beginning of a long term creative practice focused on storytelling, filmmaking, and rediscovering the joy of making things simply because they are fun to create.
Each month in this series will feature a new song, a new visual concept, and new lessons learned in the process of independent video production.
Kicking it off with Tribute by Tenacious D because… obviously.
This Is Just a Tribute is a monthly creative video project where I challenge myself to plan, produce, perform in, and edit a new music video inspired by songs that have shaped my creative life.
For the first installment, I recreated “Tribute” by Tenacious D, a song that has lived rent-free in my brain since my college days as a Film, Video, and Media student. Back then, creating music videos was the dream. Life and career paths took me in other directions, but this project is my way of reconnecting with that original creative spark.
This video was produced completely independently. From concept development to filming and editing. I recreated the energy of the original music video by performing multiple characters, lip-syncing the vocals, and experimenting with editing techniques to capture the chaotic humor and theatrical style that makes Tenacious D so iconic.
Month 1 of This Is Just a Tribute represents something bigger than a single video. It marks the beginning of a long term creative practice focused on storytelling, filmmaking, and rediscovering the joy of making things simply because they are fun to create.
Each month in this series will feature a new song, a new visual concept, and new lessons learned in the process of independent video production.
This is Just a Tribute
This is Just a Tribute is a year-long, self-directed music video series exploring identity, emotion, and creative presence through performance.
Each piece is independently conceptualized, shot, performed, and edited as a monthly creative practice. The project began after revisiting my creative roots during an interview with CanvasRebel, where I was reminded of how deeply I once wanted my career around creating music videos. Telling stories through movement, image, and sound.
This series serves as a reintroduction to that passion. It prioritizes presence over perfection, instinct over polish, and momentum over fear. Across twelve months, the work moves through humor, vulnerability, nostalgia, joy, and self-acceptance, creating a living archive of growth and creative trust.
This is Just a Tribute is not about chasing trends or virality. It is about reclaiming creative voice and honoring the act of showing up.
I will be posting each video at the end of the month. You will be able to see them on my website as well as all my social media accounts.