Senior capstone projects are a rite of passage at HPA — an opportunity for students to spend time pursuing a passion, a question, or an area of interest, and to demonstrate not only what they’ve learned, but who they’ve become. For Zoë Garff ’25, that passion came through loud and clear.
At the year-end Capstone Ha‘ina Showcase, Zoë shared the creative journey behind “Circuitry,” a self-produced, nine-track album that explores themes of identity, emotion, and the cyclical patterns that define the human condition. With only a computer, a microphone, and an enduring curiosity, Zoë taught herself how to compose, record, and mix music that speaks directly from — and to — the soul.
My capstone project is writing and producing a nine track length album encompassing the human experience as I know it. Each track covers its own unique set of themes: desire, confusion, contentment, etc.
Zoë began producing music as a freshman, but this project pushed her to approach it with new depth and discipline. Using Logic Pro X, she navigated the technical challenges of home production — including faulty equipment and software setbacks — with persistence and grace. She described her process as rooted in “spontaneity and a judgment-free outlook on creation.”
The album title, “Circuitry,” is a nod to the mechanical systems we build — and the emotional systems we inherit. “I really like the idea of intertwining a rule-based, tangible, man-made object with the soft and malleable nuanced aspects of life,” Zoë said. “A basic circuit board can serve as a metaphor for the cyclical nature of life.”
From reverse samples recorded on her phone to whale calls captured on her dad’s GoPro in Maui, Zoë’s compositions blend experimental sounds with poetic storytelling. Her voice is both resonant and light — in the upper registers, it sails smoothly and confidently over lilting notes, and in the lower registers, it is confident and deep. Unexpected harmonies, especially on the track “Stranger Unloved,” reveal a sophisticated ear.
Her final track, “Haaa,” was built from a beat created using her breath and guitar as percussion. “This song is representative of my personal meaning of life,” she explained. “To dance, sweat, sing, and connect with others is all that really matters in the end.”
Her mentor throughout the project was her uncle, Taylor Hartley, who helped mix the final tracks remotely. To communicate her vision clearly, Zoë created detailed notes for each song — explaining not just the sound, but the deeper emotional arc of the album.
Zoë is a verified artist on Spotify with more than 1,400 monthly listeners — a rare achievement for a high school student — and a testament to the reach and resonance of her work. When asked about her future, Zoë shared that she plans to pursue music technology in college.
I’m very fascinated by different ways that you can warp and create sounds just technically. That’s what’s most interesting to me.
With this capstone, Zoë has given listeners a rare gift: a brave, artful, and wholly original reflection on what it means to be human. And at HPA, that’s exactly the kind of innovation and heart we aim to nurture.
“Circuitry” is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music.