Phantom of the WAP-ra Eye Music
The Phantom Of The WAP-ra Eye Music Visualization is a creative exploration that bridges the worlds of rap and classical music through a unique visual and auditory experience. Centered around the mashup Phantom of the Wapra, which combines WAP by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion with The Overture of Phantom of the Opera, the project reimagines music as a dynamic visual language. Drawing inspiration from the concept of eye music, it transforms musical notation into a mesmerizing, mandala-like structure that evolves from structured elegance to abstract complexity. By blending the bold energy of rap with the timeless grandeur of classical composition, the piece invites viewers to see and hear music in a new light, celebrating the diversity of sound and the artistry of visual storytelling.
Client
Self
DELIVERABLES
Animation Design
Year
2021
Role
Creative Direction
The Phantom Of The WAP-ra Eye Music Visualization is a project born from the fusion of seemingly disparate musical worlds and a deep fascination with the visual language of sound. At its core, it’s an exploration of the unexpected harmony between rap and classical music, two genres rarely intertwined. The piece is built around a preexisting mashup titled Phantom of the Wapra, which brilliantly stitches together WAP by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion with The Overture of Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber. This juxtaposition of the bold, unapologetic energy of rap and the grandeur of classical composition became the foundation for the project. Visually, the work draws heavily on the aesthetics of sheet music and the concept of eye music—a historical practice where musical notation is arranged into shapes, often for symbolic or decorative purposes. Inspired by this, I chose to structure the visualization in concentric rings, a common form in eye music, which also echoed the circular motion of a vinyl record, a nod to my earlier Musica Viva project. The innermost rings feature animated musical notes, representing the classical elements of the mashup, while the outer layers grow increasingly abstract, reflecting the rhythmic and linguistic complexity of the rap verses. To further bridge the gap between sound and sight, I incorporated linguistic elements using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The vowel symbols from the IPA were used to visually denote the sounds of Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s voices, adding a layer of linguistic artistry to the piece. This choice not only highlights the phonetic beauty of rap but also underscores the idea that music, in all its forms, is a universal language. The final result is a mandala-esque visualization that evolves as it radiates outward. The center remains grounded in the structured elegance of classical notation, while the outer rings dissolve into abstraction, mirroring the improvisational and boundary-pushing nature of rap. Through this project, I aimed to create a visual experience that celebrates the diversity of musical expression, challenges preconceived notions of genre, and invites viewers to see—and hear—music in a new light. It’s a piece that reflects my love for experimentation, my appreciation for the aesthetics of notation, and my desire to push creative boundaries, making it one of my favorite projects to date.
My approach to moodboards is always a little unorthodox—less as a collection of inspiration and more as a structured map of my thought process. I like my mood boards to either feel like an extension of the final project or to visually lay out the flow of my ideas, and this one does both. I started by establishing my core concept: exploring the relationship between rap and classical music through eye music—a historical technique where music notation carries hidden meaning. From there, I built on my past project Musica Viva, which played with similar ideas of visualized music, using that as a foundation to push this concept further. I then brought in my study of linguistics, specifically phonetics and the vowel space, as a way to break rap lyrics down into something that could be visually structured like notation. I layered in historical references to circular notation, played with ways to merge sound and visual form, and worked through how different elements could interact in a structured, almost mandala-like composition. The last section of the board refines all these ideas into a proposed final layout, listing out potential song pairings and stylistic choices to fully realize the piece. This mood board isn't just a reference—it’s a record of how I build ideas, layering research, past work, and experimentation into a clear visual direction.
Pipe Organ Sheet Music
The main eye music ring serves as a key visual asset for the project, detailing the layout and form of the eye music created from the sheet music of The Overture of Phantom of the Opera. Specifically, it focuses on the pipe organ part, which was chosen for its rich, intricate notation that visually complements the grandeur of the classical piece. To align with the Phantom of the Wap-ra mashup, the original sheet music was altered slightly to match the modified notes of the mashup rather than the original score. This adaptation ensured that the visual representation accurately reflected the unique blend of classical and rap elements in the audio. The process of creating this asset involved meticulously transcribing the pipe organ sheet music into a circular, eye music format. The concentric ring structure was used to symbolize the layers of the music, with the pipe organ notation forming the central, foundational ring. This ring was designed to maintain the elegance of classical notation while accommodating the rhythmic adjustments needed to sync with the mashup. The result is a visually striking representation that bridges the gap between the structured beauty of classical music and the dynamic energy of rap, serving as a core visual element in the overall project.
Piano Sheet Music and Lyrics
For the lyrics of WAP, the only sheet music utilized was a piano adaptation of the song. This choice was intentional, as the piano’s versatility allowed for a clear and adaptable representation of the rap lyrics in musical notation. The piano adaptation provided a structured framework to translate the rhythmic and melodic elements of WAP into a format that could be visually integrated into the eye music layout. By using this adaptation, I was able to maintain the integrity of the original rap while blending it seamlessly with the classical elements of The Overture of Phantom of the Opera. This approach ensured that the lyrical content of WAP was not only audible but also visually present within the concentric rings of the eye music, contributing to the project’s cohesive fusion of genres.
Visualization 1
In the first iteration of the project, I focused on displaying vowel and consonant shapes using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to visually represent the sounds of WAP as they were spoken. This approach closely followed my initial moodboard, where each phonetic sound was meticulously mapped and displayed in sync with the lyrics. By animating these vowel and consonant shapes as they were pronounced, I created a dynamic and visually engaging layer that added to the abstraction I was aiming for. This method not only highlighted the linguistic artistry of rap but also enhanced the overall visual complexity of the piece. The result was a more intricate and captivating representation of the music, where the interplay of sound and shape added depth and movement to the project.
Visualization 2
In the second version of the project, I shifted the approach to make the visualization more accessible and easier to follow. Instead of displaying individual vowel and consonant sounds as they were spoken, I opted to show the entire word with all its phonetic components together. This change was driven by the realization that the first version, while visually intriguing, was too complex and challenging for viewers to read and process in real time. By spelling out the words fully using the vowel and consonant sounds from the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), the animation became more legible and engaging. This adjustment allowed viewers to read and process the lyrics as they appeared, creating a clearer connection between the auditory and visual elements of the piece. The result was a more balanced and user-friendly experience that retained the abstract aesthetic while enhancing comprehension.
Phantom of the WAP-ra Eye Music
The Phantom Of The WAP-ra Eye Music Visualization is a creative exploration that bridges the worlds of rap and classical music through a unique visual and auditory experience. Centered around the mashup Phantom of the Wapra, which combines WAP by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion with The Overture of Phantom of the Opera, the project reimagines music as a dynamic visual language. Drawing inspiration from the concept of eye music, it transforms musical notation into a mesmerizing, mandala-like structure that evolves from structured elegance to abstract complexity. By blending the bold energy of rap with the timeless grandeur of classical composition, the piece invites viewers to see and hear music in a new light, celebrating the diversity of sound and the artistry of visual storytelling.
Client
Self
DELIVERABLES
Animation Design
Year
2021
Role
Creative Direction
The Phantom Of The WAP-ra Eye Music Visualization is a project born from the fusion of seemingly disparate musical worlds and a deep fascination with the visual language of sound. At its core, it’s an exploration of the unexpected harmony between rap and classical music, two genres rarely intertwined. The piece is built around a preexisting mashup titled Phantom of the Wapra, which brilliantly stitches together WAP by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion with The Overture of Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber. This juxtaposition of the bold, unapologetic energy of rap and the grandeur of classical composition became the foundation for the project. Visually, the work draws heavily on the aesthetics of sheet music and the concept of eye music—a historical practice where musical notation is arranged into shapes, often for symbolic or decorative purposes. Inspired by this, I chose to structure the visualization in concentric rings, a common form in eye music, which also echoed the circular motion of a vinyl record, a nod to my earlier Musica Viva project. The innermost rings feature animated musical notes, representing the classical elements of the mashup, while the outer layers grow increasingly abstract, reflecting the rhythmic and linguistic complexity of the rap verses. To further bridge the gap between sound and sight, I incorporated linguistic elements using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The vowel symbols from the IPA were used to visually denote the sounds of Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s voices, adding a layer of linguistic artistry to the piece. This choice not only highlights the phonetic beauty of rap but also underscores the idea that music, in all its forms, is a universal language. The final result is a mandala-esque visualization that evolves as it radiates outward. The center remains grounded in the structured elegance of classical notation, while the outer rings dissolve into abstraction, mirroring the improvisational and boundary-pushing nature of rap. Through this project, I aimed to create a visual experience that celebrates the diversity of musical expression, challenges preconceived notions of genre, and invites viewers to see—and hear—music in a new light. It’s a piece that reflects my love for experimentation, my appreciation for the aesthetics of notation, and my desire to push creative boundaries, making it one of my favorite projects to date.
My approach to moodboards is always a little unorthodox—less as a collection of inspiration and more as a structured map of my thought process. I like my mood boards to either feel like an extension of the final project or to visually lay out the flow of my ideas, and this one does both. I started by establishing my core concept: exploring the relationship between rap and classical music through eye music—a historical technique where music notation carries hidden meaning. From there, I built on my past project Musica Viva, which played with similar ideas of visualized music, using that as a foundation to push this concept further. I then brought in my study of linguistics, specifically phonetics and the vowel space, as a way to break rap lyrics down into something that could be visually structured like notation. I layered in historical references to circular notation, played with ways to merge sound and visual form, and worked through how different elements could interact in a structured, almost mandala-like composition. The last section of the board refines all these ideas into a proposed final layout, listing out potential song pairings and stylistic choices to fully realize the piece. This mood board isn't just a reference—it’s a record of how I build ideas, layering research, past work, and experimentation into a clear visual direction.
Pipe Organ Sheet Music
The main eye music ring serves as a key visual asset for the project, detailing the layout and form of the eye music created from the sheet music of The Overture of Phantom of the Opera. Specifically, it focuses on the pipe organ part, which was chosen for its rich, intricate notation that visually complements the grandeur of the classical piece. To align with the Phantom of the Wap-ra mashup, the original sheet music was altered slightly to match the modified notes of the mashup rather than the original score. This adaptation ensured that the visual representation accurately reflected the unique blend of classical and rap elements in the audio. The process of creating this asset involved meticulously transcribing the pipe organ sheet music into a circular, eye music format. The concentric ring structure was used to symbolize the layers of the music, with the pipe organ notation forming the central, foundational ring. This ring was designed to maintain the elegance of classical notation while accommodating the rhythmic adjustments needed to sync with the mashup. The result is a visually striking representation that bridges the gap between the structured beauty of classical music and the dynamic energy of rap, serving as a core visual element in the overall project.
Piano Sheet Music and Lyrics
For the lyrics of WAP, the only sheet music utilized was a piano adaptation of the song. This choice was intentional, as the piano’s versatility allowed for a clear and adaptable representation of the rap lyrics in musical notation. The piano adaptation provided a structured framework to translate the rhythmic and melodic elements of WAP into a format that could be visually integrated into the eye music layout. By using this adaptation, I was able to maintain the integrity of the original rap while blending it seamlessly with the classical elements of The Overture of Phantom of the Opera. This approach ensured that the lyrical content of WAP was not only audible but also visually present within the concentric rings of the eye music, contributing to the project’s cohesive fusion of genres.
Visualization 1
In the first iteration of the project, I focused on displaying vowel and consonant shapes using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to visually represent the sounds of WAP as they were spoken. This approach closely followed my initial moodboard, where each phonetic sound was meticulously mapped and displayed in sync with the lyrics. By animating these vowel and consonant shapes as they were pronounced, I created a dynamic and visually engaging layer that added to the abstraction I was aiming for. This method not only highlighted the linguistic artistry of rap but also enhanced the overall visual complexity of the piece. The result was a more intricate and captivating representation of the music, where the interplay of sound and shape added depth and movement to the project.
Visualization 2
In the second version of the project, I shifted the approach to make the visualization more accessible and easier to follow. Instead of displaying individual vowel and consonant sounds as they were spoken, I opted to show the entire word with all its phonetic components together. This change was driven by the realization that the first version, while visually intriguing, was too complex and challenging for viewers to read and process in real time. By spelling out the words fully using the vowel and consonant sounds from the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), the animation became more legible and engaging. This adjustment allowed viewers to read and process the lyrics as they appeared, creating a clearer connection between the auditory and visual elements of the piece. The result was a more balanced and user-friendly experience that retained the abstract aesthetic while enhancing comprehension.