Julian Saporiti / No-No Boy

Dr. Julian Saporiti is a musician, songwriter, and scholar who performs under the name No-No Boy. His acclaimed Smithsonian Folkways project brings overlooked histories to life through original songs, archival materials, field recordings, and multimedia storytelling.

With a Ph.D. in American Studies from Brown University, Saporiti explores themes of migration, memory, identity, and belonging through an interdisciplinary approach to music and historical research.

His latest work draws inspiration from mountains, rivers, ancient forests, and the people dedicated to protecting them. Through music, storytelling, and research, he explores the connections between people and the natural world, encouraging reflection on our relationship with the environment.

During his residency at UC Merced, Saporiti will collaborate with students, faculty, and community members through outdoor exploration, collective songwriting, interdisciplinary conversation, and live performance.

Guided Nature Walk & Creative Workshop

Discover the Central Valley landscape through guided observation and creative exploration with Julian Saporiti. Participants will engage with the natural environment, reflect on the relationships between people and place, and explore how ecological experiences can inspire artistic expression.

Collective Songwriting Workshop

Explore the creative possibilities of collective songwriting in this participatory workshop led by Julian Saporiti. Through storytelling, listening, and collaboration, participants will explore how shared experiences and relationships with the natural world can inspire original musical expression.

Julian Saporiti & UC Merced Faculty in Arts, Humanities, and Sciences

Join Julian Saporiti and UC Merced faculty for an interdisciplinary public conversation exploring the relationships between creative practice, environmental research, and the natural world.

Bringing together perspectives from the arts, humanities, and sciences, this discussion will consider how music and storytelling can deepen our understanding of environmental change and our connections to place.

No-No Boy: Live in Concert

Experience the acclaimed Smithsonian Folkways project No-No Boy live at the Merced Theatre.

Julian Saporiti blends raw acoustic songcraft with field recordings, ambient textures, and reflective storytelling. His newest work turns toward mountains, rivers, forests, and the people who protect them, creating a sonic sanctuary that invites audiences to quiet the mind and reconnect with the natural world.

Collective Songwriting Workshop

Continue exploring the connections between music, place, and shared experience through collaborative songwriting with Julian Saporiti. Participants will engage in creative exercises that connect storytelling, environmental reflection, and collective expression.