By Elisa Platonoff 

"Awakening perfectly aligns with the themes of Upside Down Universe. It’s about awakening, about seeing the earth not as something distant, but as something deeply connected to us. The song carries the message of reflection, a celebration of the earth, and a realization that change is necessary. It’s meant to be a subtle alarm, a gentle but powerful nudge that awakens the listener's consciousness.

My goal was to create something grand and impactful, something that could stand alongside an orchestra and still hold that personal, intimate feeling. I’ve had experience composing for film with Emerson students and galleries for the MassArt Festival, and I’m currently part of the Berklee Motion Picture Orchestra as a pianist, so I’m naturally drawn to creating music that is cinematic and powerful. This song, like the themes of Upside Down Universe, is about waking people up to the beauty of our world, and to the urgency of protecting it."