Re-exploring Photography From The Queer Lens

Art is most enjoyable when it represents us, much like our favorite clothes to wear. There are many labels in society that assign gender to people according to their appearances, especially with how they choose to dress, and the same can be said for art. Binary gender is pervasive in the art industry, and often times queer artists have been systematically excluded. It needs to be changed. And we will change it. There are artists that are challenging the industry standard through their art. Queer, non-binary, Latinx, fashion photographer Daniel Roa is one of them. They created a fashion photographic series on 120mm film where they photographed queer people who were assigned male at birth as representations of themselves so that we can see what Non-binary representation outside of the cis gaze looks like. The concept is embracing the fluidity of one’s gender and it allows us to see non-binary people as they see themselves because Non-binary identity has no single appearance and representation. Thus, at the end of the day, we realize that we can look the way we are and we can be represented as we want through a queer lens. We talked to Daniel Roa about queer photography series, fashion and the definition of being non-binary. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about Daniel Roa.

Kazy Tauginas - Raising Awareness for Lupus in Film

Kazy Tauginas is an actor and an athlete. You may recognize him from his work in John Wick, Dolomite is My Name, The Broken Tower, and most recently, as Ari in the box office smash The Equalizer 2, starring Denzel Washington. Kazy has a passion for bringing awareness to Lupus in film, a cause close to his heart. After writing several short films (and starring in over 20 of them), Tauginas drew inspiration from his mother who’d been diagnosed with Lupus and his own boxing experience, and decided to write “Standing Eight,” a short about a boxer who is forced to retire and contend with life outside of the ring after being diagnosed with systemic lupus. During the spring of 2015 he oversaw two successful Kickstarter campaigns to fully fund the film. Since its completion, “Standing Eight” has won ten festival awards including Trinity International Film Festival’s Best Short Film, and is currently nominated for another four. Tauginas advocacy for the disease is driven by passion and rooted in art and we are excited to share his interview with you. for more on Kazy Tauginas, please read out exclusive interview below.

Art, zIssue 31, Most PopularForrest JohnsonApril 2, 2021advocacy, lupus, awareness, representation, film, short film, actor, director, disease, athlete, boxing, actionComment

Ain't I A Woman? Cheri Moon's Anthem of Empowerment For All Women

It is International Women’s Month and Cheri Moon is here to kick it up a notch. Cheri’s new single harkens back to a staple in women’s rights history: Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I A Woman” speech. Sharing the same name with the famous speech, Moon’s “Ain’t I A Woman” is a powerful anthem for 2021. The message of her music resonates with soulful celebration with the punchiness of a pop-ballad. Outside of Cheri’s music career, you can also catch her working along side Good + Foundation. In our interview with Cheri, we talk about Sojourner’s influence today for women everywhere and what hopeful emergences we have seen in the past year for feminism. For more on Cheri Moon, please read our exclusive interview below.

When All Hope Seems Lost, There Is FIAA's Music

We all have scars that are remaining from something painful. We carry those scars in our souls and take them everywhere with us. However, not all of us brave enough to find the confidence to heal them and converted them into a masterful piece of music. FIAA was brave enough to do that. She showed her vulnerability and scars with her music and embraces her scars that we too often keep bottled up. We saw her talent with BBC1 Little Mix: The Search Talent Show and now, her newest single 'One Day' which is written with Rag'n'Bone Man reveals our heartbreaks, griefs, and pains, but also shows us we can hold on to music when all hope is lost. It reminds us 'No matter who we are, no matter where we are from one day it will all be ok.' The song tells the story of a fall-out that FIAA had with her best friend that she grew up whilst in foster care. Also, FIAA is using her voice for some of the UK's most important children's charities. We talked to FIAA about her career, personal life and future plans. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about her.

in earnest Uses the Power of Music to Battle Mental Illness

Mental illness has always been a difficult topic to discuss openly due to the negative stigma associated with it. But as it is becoming increasingly prevalent and accepted, it is imperative that the subject be brought to the forefront of conversation. That is why UK based songwriter couple Sarah Holburn and Thomas Eatherton, along with Toby Shaer, created their band in earnest. The trio inspires an honest and candid dialog surrounding mental illness through their alternative, melancholic sound. Their new self-titled EP is both emotionally charged and thought-provoking. Aside from their music, the band is ambassadors for My Black Dog, a charity dedicated to providing free help for those who are grappling with suicide, self-harm, depression, and mental illness.

ARIA Won't Let The Conversation Die!

Aria Brooks alias ARIA is a young creative to be on the look out for. When she’s not starring in Nickelodeon’s revival of the hit 90s sitcom, All That, she’s mixing her artistry and activism to inspire others to continue difficult, yet important conversations. ARIA’s latest single, Am I Next? and its music video are powerfully influenced by the Black Lives Matter defining the Summer of 2020 and beyond. Jejune talks to ARIA about her artistic endeavors, how they’ve looked during COVID-19, and how she is encouraging BIPOC and white youth alike to take a stand for social justice.

Tampon Rock Podcast - There Isn’t Just One LGBTQ+ Story To Tell

If you love a good binge-listen and looking for a new podcast to add to your queue, look no further. The ladies of Tampon Rock just completed their first season and let us tell you… it is binge-worthy. The scripted podcast follows two lesbian narrators, Chloe and Deja, as they luckily and unluckily navigate the Oakland love and music scene. There’s quirky music, there’s comedy, and (what we love most of all) there’s relatable and authentic storytelling. In our interview with the team behind Tampon Rock —Alysia Brown, Sarah Aument, and Sophie Dinicol— we discuss the importance of representation when it comes to telling Queer stories of all kinds. We dive into the show’s unique musical nature, the complexity of character creation, and recording during the pandemic. Want to know more? Please read our exclusive interview with the creators of Tampon Rock below.

zIssue 28, ArtForrest JohnsonJanuary 15, 2021podcast, comedy, music, new, queer, Black, LGBTQ+, lesbian, tampon rock, diversity, media, comedian, podastsComment

Georgia Black - Heroes Stay Inside to Breathe

Many artists have been negatively impacted by COVID-19, especially with the closure of venues and live performances becoming a nostalgic memory of yesteryear. Here at Jejune, we are inspired by those who have found a way to pursue their art and continue creating during these times. For Georgia Black, her new single “Invisible Enemy” is a demonstration of both persistence of art and the unity felt amongst communities during quarantine and shelter-in-place across the world. We fell instantly for the sauntering sound of Black’s smooth voice accompanied by dreamy synths and violins (truly reminiscent of a James Bond Film), which come together in “Invisible Enemy” to positively depict citizens who stay at home as heroes. We speak to Black about her time in quarantine, where she draws inspiration, and about her day job as a Learning Support Assistant in the UK. For more about Georgia Black please read our exclusive interview below.

Otoja Abit Is A Quadruple Threat

Otoja Abit is best known for his award-winning debut short, Jitters, in which he wrote, directed, produced, and starred. Otoja expands on his short Jitters’ theme with his first-of-its-kind urban-leaning holiday film A New York Christmas Wedding now available on Netflix. The film touches on some of the themes involving the LGBTQIA Community and religion. Check out our exclusive interview with Otoja Abit here.

Art, zIssue 27, Most PopularJejune ContributorDecember 23, 2020Actor, netflix, film, writers, producer, blm, covid-19, story, christmas, holiday, Holidays, LGBTQ+, lgbtq, LGBTQ rights, LGBTQ, love is love, loveislove, writerComment

Sirens Of Hope - Diana Sophia

As an individual who lived through the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, I have been waiting for the music and art that would come from it, and Diana Sophia did not disappoint. If you did not have the experience or if you did, please take a moment to listen to her new song “Sirens.” This song will transport you to those months of 24/7 ambulance sirens and the anxiety we all felt, but she also laces in hope that came with them. This song is heavy, and not something I will listen to every day, but it is true historic art and should be respected as such. Diana might be from Mexico, but in many ways, she is nothing but a New Yorker. She is all about grit and passion. In addition to being an incredible singer-songwriter, she is a survivor and helps support an amazing organization for sexual abuse victims called Hidden Water. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about Diana Sophia.

Brooke Law Reminds Us About The True Meaning of Christmas

London-born British singer and songwriter, Brooke Law, is an electrifying artist with a heart. She has written with leading producers who have worked with Ellie Goulding, Dua Lipa, and Lana Del Ray. In 2019, she was selected by BBC Asian Network and BBC Music Introducing Essex as one of their ‘Artist to Watch’. Her new single for Christmas 2020, “Home,” is a highly emotive song that poignantly conveys the sadness of finding yourself apart from a loved one at Christmas. It also sheds light on the homeless predicament impacted by 320,000 people in the UK. 100% of the proceeds of her new single will go to the UK Charity, Crisis. Brooke hopes that her song will not only reach out emotionally to those in need but also provide practical help through donations. It is from this bedrock of family ‘unity-through-diversity’, strength, and positive action that motivates Brooke to express her values and beliefs through her music. Please read our interview with Brooke Law to learn more about her and her new single, “Home.”

Being Outspoken Through Art With Doomsday Entertainment

We are at a time when art and entertainment manipulate society and the next generations systematically but, also, we believe that these days, art has moved away from the manipulative purpose to involve social engagement and political motives. Doomsday Entertainment is a production company founded by Danielle Hinde in 2010 and this is why we are hopeful about today's art. Danielle Hinde has overseen groundbreaking and award-winning videos for Marvin Gaye, David Guetta, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Childish Gambino, One Republic, J. Lo, and hundreds more. She produced many culture-reset music videos like This Is America and according to Danielle Hinde, the success of these videos is a direct result of combining the right director with an artist — together they can tell a powerful story through the music. Being outspoken through art is her priority because she is passionate about speaking about social issues. We see the reflection of this with the projects and the people she worked with. Recently, she produced a music video premiere by FKA Twigs, "Sad Day," and Nike’s ‘You Can’t Stop Our Voice’ campaign, which was directed by Hiro Murai. We talked Danielle Hinde about Doomsday’s latest projects and the role of politics in music videos. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about her and Doomsday Entertainment.

Gina Naomi Baez Shares Some Christmas Candlelight

Gina Naomi Baez is on our radar because she has a knack for putting a spin on holiday music. You may have seen her Youtube music video “Lizzo’s Truth Hurts x Hocus Pocus” that went viral, Lizzo and Bette Midler both sharing and reacting to the comedic parody, as well as another popular (and timely) music video inspired by Hocus Pocus called “I’ll Put a Mask on You”. Now, Gina is sharing her new single, “Christmas Candlelight” just in time for the winter holiday season. Outside of her music career, Gina gives back through a non-profit (which she started) called Kids Performing Who Kare. We’re big fans of Gina and we think you will be too — please keep reading for a dose of holiday cheer and to learn more about Gina below.

Art, zIssue 26Forrest JohnsonDecember 7, 2020music, musician, actor, actress, broadway, star, lizzo, hocus pocus, truth hurts, pop, philanthropy, give back, nonprofit, christmas, holiday, holidays, youtube, influencer, style, iconComment

Felin Destroys The Sexist Structures Of The Music Industry

Women in the music industry have been standing up, whether it’s via their music or their notions in society. Stockholm-based artist Felin is one of them. Her music, which she describes as “good pop melody with an edge and lyrics that makes a statement’,” represents a progressive shift in gendered power dynamics. She is aware that “Society keeps telling us we don’t have a choice but we can’t make too much noise” and her recently released latest single "Heroes and Villains" is making some feminist noises. The song is about women’s rights, gun violence, and social injustices. She also wrote a song called "C19" during the pandemic to deal with all certain feelings of loneliness and uncertainty. She is a vocal feminist and activist and has previously campaigned for women’s abortion rights and promotes women’s rights with The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation in over 20 conflict-affected countries. We talked with Felin about her career and the representation of women in the music industry. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about her.

Art in the Time of Corona

Art has always been a beacon of hope, support, and inspiration. And even more so during times of great tribulation. Throughout history we have used music, novels, films, photos, fabrics, and inanimate objects as tools to comprehend life and our place in the world. A world where anything is possible. A world we are currently unable to grapple with. Art has played a pivotal part in bringing us together despite social distancing. It can keep us grounded during times of panic, and motivates us during hardship.

Savannah Lathem Writes Songs of Hope

Savannah Lathem is giving the holidays a new tune with her singing and songwriting talent and new Christmas single, “Why I Love Christmas Time.” Savannah’s joy is present in all of her music, and her gratitude for all of life’s opportunities (even amidst the current chaos) is certainly inspiring. We speak to Savannah about her journey as an artist and her most recent music, as well as her past Lyme Disease diagnosis. To learn more about Savannah’s delightful and honest outlook, please read our interview below.

Excuse My Accent: We Are All In This Together

“Nowhere to call home, cause it’s burnt to the ground." This is how being an immigrant feels like these days, but this needs to change. We are more exposed than ever to different accents, people, and cultures. But when we hear an accent, this doesn’t have to bring up prejudices and stereotypes, instead, it should awaken a celebration of another group of people who can only widen our worlds. One inspiringly diverse group, between Romanian-American artist Drei Ros, African American artist RobYoung and Dominican artist Sharlene, have wanted to change the current response to an accent and immigrants by teaming up to create the “Excuse My Accent” Movement. This movement is about bringing people together to make a change for the better. They are using the platform for sharing cultural stories of inclusivity and showing their pride over their backgrounds by realizing that all people are in this together. The "Excuse My Accent" song is produced by The Donuts and MP808 (808 Mafia) with creative assistance by Grammy-nominated songwriter Kief Brown. It became an anthem for all the immigrants and minorities with its music video and delivers a message of truth, struggle, and hope. We talked with Drei Ros and RobYoung about the story behind Excuse My Accent, their experiences, and migration issues. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about celebrating our uniqueness and how to support the movement.

Dismantling The American Dogma With Front Country

When Front Country said "What will the people do? When we have nothing to lose?" they really were talking about our moment where we have nothing to lose, and they wrote this as a hopeful question because this November might be one of the biggest elections of our lives.

Front Country is an American folk-pop and progressive bluegrass band founded in San Francisco. The band consists of lead vocalist and songwriter Melody Walker, mandolinist Adam Roszkiewicz, lead guitarist Jacob Groopman, violinist Leif Karlstrom and bassist Jeremy Darrow, and they believe in democracy! Their newest single, Amerikan Dream, is a powerful protest song through storytelling and twangy guitars. It highlights the insidiousness of dogma and familiar inequalities. This song not only stems from one man, but also from the atrocity and exploitation in the country. It has become the rebellion of Front Country. They believe that by demanding change, people can dismantle the dogma within ourselves and reckon with American hypocrisy. And Front Country doesn’t stop with their music, they also do voter registration pushes with HeadCount at their shows. Please read our exclusive interview with band member Melody Walker below to learn more about Front Country and how to be the change.

Art, zIssue 26Başak YirmibeşogluNovember 2, 2020#frontcountry, #music, #amerikandream, #vote, vote, voting, voting rights, music, musician, country, AmericaComment

Piecing It Together with Broobs: The New Wave of Political Posters

You may have come across a colorful and intricate collage picture while scrolling through Instagram. The subject of the image was encompassed by a circle of vividly colored flowers and a bright halo shined behind their head. These famed pieces are created by Ruby Marquez , who is better known by their artist name Broobs. Over the course of their career, Broobs has used art as a political statement. They designed political posters for Bernie Sanders in 2016 (don’t we wish that he was the Democratic candidate for the Presidential election right now) and during the Black Lives Matter movement of 2020 they created memorial pieces for victims whose lives were lost due to racial injustice and police brutality. Read our exclusive interview to learn more about Broobs.

Art, zIssue 26Jejune ContributorOctober 30, 2020blm, art, political art, making a difference, broobs, collage art, drag, california, protests, bernie sanders, artist, paintingsComment

Ella Greenwood Writing The Script On Mental Health

Ella Greenwood is a UK based actress, writer, producer, and mental health advocate all at the age of 18! She does all the things in her new short film “Faulty Roots,” which discusses teenage mental health and depression. It isn’t uncommon for people to be insensitive to the struggles of mental illness. If you can’t see it, you can’t understand it. Ella beautifully uses “Faulty Roots” to show how mental illness isn’t very different from any other health issue. In addition to creating a impactful film, Ella also has teamed up with stem4, which is a teenage mental health charity. To learn more about Ella, please read our exclusive interview here.

Art, zIssue 26, zIssue 26.2Jejune ContributorOctober 2, 2020teens, mental health, film, actress, Actor, kids, depression, writerComment