Coming Together to Say the Word: A Night of Art and Action for Abortion

Devastating news breaks on June 24, 2022. The Supreme Court has officially reversed Roe v. Wade declaring that the federal constitutional right to abortion in the United States has ended. This ruling erases nearly 50 years of precedent but this fight is far from over! On July 31st (next event on September 21st at 9:30pm!), The Meteor, a group of journalists, artists, filmmakers, and media leaders who embrace the value and importance of stories through the power of words, hosted Say the Word: A Night of Art and Action for Abortion at Joe’s Pub. This event consisted of various talented artists performing a personalized piece addressing this crucial moment in time. You will want to continue reading below to learn more about the event and performances along with further information about The Meteor.

Art, zIssue 44, Editor's PickSophie LaSalaSeptember 2, 2022Abortion Rights, abortion, feminism, feminist, female power, empowering women, women supporting womenComment

Save the Penguins with Davey Harris!

Save the penguins with Davey Harris! Singer-songwriter Davey Harris is producing music not only for us to enjoy but also to promote awareness and change. Harris was a member of the band "The Tins" for ten years before going solo and releasing songs like "Predictable" and "Self Saboteur," as well as his most recent single, "PNGN DNCE." which was released on June 16, and addresses the negative effects of the global climate crisis. Harris not only writes songs about change but also participates in them by working with an organization called ASOC, or Antarctica and the Southern Ocean Coalition. Keep reading if you want to learn more about Harris's transition to a solo career, his singles, "Predictable," "Self Saboteur," and "PNGN DANCE," and how you can assist with the current climate crisis.

A Talk of Peace With Belle Scar

The war in Ukraine is far from over. We spoke with advocate for Ukraine, UK Based music artist, Belle Scar about her recent single “Kyiv in my heart”. This song and music video not only features Ukrainian Artists, but also depicts the horror and destruction the ongoing war in Ukraine causes. We highly suggest you stream “Kyiv in my heart” to gain insight into the importance of advocacy and staying connected with Ukrainians, even if they are an ocean away. The 16 Ukrainian artists featured in “Kyiv in my heart” tells a story, and each creation is compelling as the next. If that isn’t enough, Belle Scar’s vocals mixed with the work of a choir are sure to leave you with chills. Please continue reading below for more information about Belle Scar and her new single!

Art, Editor's Pick, zIssue 44SAMANTHA COLÓNJuly 11, 2022music artist, Musicians, Ukraine, Art, artist, Advocating, advocacy work, peace, end war, Kyiv, war, stopwar, change, hope, future, russia, AmericaComment

SafeUp with Harry and The Chicks

Say hello to Harry and The Chicks! This UK-based music group is dropping music with a moving and all too familiar message behind it. Harry and The Chicks’s new single “Snakes in The Streets” depicts their experiences with street harassment from stalkers and cat-callers alike. Her outspoken and informative tone when addressing these topics is refreshing and reminds women everywhere that they are not alone in their experiences. But most importantly, that men should do better and steer clear of predatory behavior. You will love Harry and The Chicks just as much as we do! If you are interested in their newest single, “Snakes in The Streets,” their work with SafeUp, an app that keeps women safe, or their upcoming projects — “Miss Oblivious”, please continue reading the interview below!

Let's Embrace Our Flaws with vanillacooldance

Amsterdam-based American cartoonist Jessica Stahl, vanillacooldance, is empowering women to to live a shame-free, unapologetic, and confident life, embrace your vanillacooldance! In a world where dating is hard and women are underappreciated vanillacooldance has our backs with humor and truth. Stahl is helping to change the way women see themselves in relationships, breaking taboos about sexuality, body appearance, romantic and even awkward situations on dates, and much more. When Stahl isn’t giving women a voice through vanillacooldance, she is the Creative Director at Dopper and is responsible for making ocean-saving campaigns. Keep reading to learn more about this incredible artist!

The Future Perfect Project: The New Generation of LGBTQ+ Storytelling

Meet the Future Perfect Project (FPP)! This New York-based Organization promotes LGBTQ+ Youth expression and their music! Founded by Celeste Lecesne and Ryan Amador, the Future Perfect Project amplifies the queer youth narrative through workshops and social media. If you wish to see their work in action, the Future Perfect Project is hosting a free immersive event at Lincoln Center's Hearst Plaza on June 4th at 12 pm EST, kicking off Pride Month nicely! Nine artists from all around the country will perform their collaborative album “Not What You Pictured” at the event. All performances are of course LIVE! Jejune is ecstatic to get to know this small collective of artists through their music, and can wait for the show! If you are interested in the Future Perfect Project’s story and want to support LGBTQ+ youth, please continue reading the interview below!

Raising Awareness for Refugees With Rapper Star2

Star2 was born in a Thai refugee camp, Mae La, in Thailand. He lived there with his family until the age of six, then his grandmother and her four children migrated to San Diego, CA. Star2 and his family are Ka-ren, a persecuted indigenous tribe from Burma, now named Myanmar. He currently lives and works out of San Diego as a rapper with an affinity for conscious songwriting. His newest single, “Run Away” was recently released. The single is about the current state of the world, with references to the Black Lives Matter movement and current refugee crisis in Thailand, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. The music video for the single is just as powerful, with videos of current atrocities happening throughout the world on loop in the background. Star2’s hope is to raise awareness for these issues and give back to those helping out. He works with several nonprofits such as The Border Consortium, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Thailand, The International Rescue Committee, and Karen Outreach to support refugees in Thailand and Ukraine. Read on in our interview with Star2 to learn more about his music, upcoming EP, and how he is offering support to these organizations.

Cirque Du Soleil's Ovo Will Have You Crawling To Go! - By Quentin Fears

Cirque Du Soleil's Ovo is an insect-themed kaleidoscope of wonder and color, a fantasia that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. Visually the show is dynamic, thanks to a wall of projected colors and images measuring 64 feet wide and is 30 feet tall. Initially, Ovo was created as a touring Big Top show but was revamped in 2016 for arenas. The show starts with a curious inflated "ovo," the name for egg in Portuguese, taking center stage, representing the enigma of and the cycle of the insert's lives. The egg stands at an impressive 22 feet and is 28 feet wide, making for an impactful first visual of the show.

Art, zIssue 42, Most PopularJejeune MagazineMarch 25, 2022circus, live shows, theatre, Art, artist, LA, contortionistComment

Folk Duo HuDost and the Collective Voice

HuDost is a Kentucky based musical group made up of members Moksha Sommer and Jemal Wide Hines. The folk duo recently released their newest album, ‘Anthems of Home’ with singles ‘Our Words Will Be Louder’ and ‘Home is Bigger Than Us.’ The single ‘Our Words Will be Louder’ was inspired by the painful polarization around BLM in their own community. The duo put together a powerful music video to match the song and invited friends and local activists to join. Additionally, all proceeds from the song went towards The Poor People’s Campaign, a local non-profit that empowers people with greater challenges to register to vote. Moksha and Jemal are also social activists and representatives for ONE, a non-profit organization working to end extreme poverty. The pair has lobbied with their representatives both locally and at their offices in DC on various issues such as extreme poverty, the rights of girls and women and HIV/AIDs. They also work with ONE’s sister organization Blood:Water, a grassroots organization that addresses the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa. Read on in our interview with HuDost to learn more about their new album and the non-profit organizations that they partner with.

Art, zIssue 40Kaylyn WenzelFebruary 15, 2022Folk, Music, Music Group, Duo, Album, New Single, BLM, nonprofit, Vote, social activism, Poverty, HIV, AfricaComment

Laura Turner: The Underrepresentation Of Abuse

East Midlands-based screenwriter Laura Turner gives voices to those who suffer from abusive relationships. With her recent film Lapwing, Laura aids us with a magnificent period piece that highlights the rather underrepresented topics of emotional, physical, and verbal abusive partnerships. Laura makes it her mission to dismantle stigmas around the conversation of abuse and, of course, uses her love of screenwriting to push harrowing stories like Lapwing to the forefront of media. Laura and Lapwing's story is empowering, and Jejune is so excited to share them both! We highly encourage you to check out Lapwing. The film's streaming link can be found at the end of this interview! Please enjoy! And if you are intrigued by Laura's screenwriting talents, her work with domestic abuse victims and organizations, and her upcoming projects, please continue reading below!

zIssue 40, ArtSAMANTHA COLÓNFebruary 7, 2022Film, film festival, producer, domestic violence, #emotionalabuse, movie, Directors, executive, charityworkComment

Adi Yacobi Reminds Women How Special They Are!

Songwriter, singer, and an advocate for body positivity and women empowerment, Adi Yacobi shares her trajectory and how music changed her life. She uses her psychology and sociology background to understand not just her own feelings, but also to understand and help her listeners create a better reality. Everyone has a story or something related to their bodies and appearance that they want to change. Still, Adi comes with a message, "I'm Special", which reminds all women that they are “special, unique, beautiful, and gorgeous naturally — just the way they are”. Please, continue reading to learn more about Adi, her music, her projects, and how she has contributed to the world and community with the #WEMproject, Plastic Free Israel, and 4Ocean.

'What She Said': Amy Northup And The Unheard Voice

Amy Northup is an actor, director, Intimacy Coordinator, and a trained victims advocate with the Crime Victims Treatment Center. Amy has dedicated her career to advocating for sexual assault victims, which led to her recent directorial debut in the film ‘What She Said.’ This film follows Sam, a sexual assault survivor, as she deals with the trauma of the assault and the process of convicting her attacker. Sam has a strong community of friends and family who want to help her heal from this experience, but she ultimately feels frustrated with herself and others as she tries to build back her autonomy. In this interview, Amy eloquently answers all of our questions regarding the film, the production process, and how she is advocating for sexual assault victims in all aspects of her career.

VUCA On The New Immersive Album - 'The Geometry of Lies'

VUCA, which stands for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity, is an art collective based out of Milwaukee, WI. The first project within the experimental art collective is called The Geometry of Lies and is an immersive alternate reality concept album, featuring a novel, album, and Augmented Reality (AR) experiences. The idea for this immersive album came to be during the thick of quarantine in 2020, when the backstory of the songs started to blend into chapters of a novel. Over thirty artists have worked on this project, and they partnered Drops - an AR startup out of NYC, to bring the experience to life. With the release of the collective’s new singles, ‘Shine’ and ‘Glamour',’ listeners can really dive into the story that VUCA has created. ‘Shine’ was featured at the Planned Parenthood of WI at their annual event to support this year's theme of "Be Visible,” marking the second time the collective has partnered with the organization. Read on in our interview with VUCA to learn about their creative process, the artists they have collaborated with, and their new singles.

How Linda Varg Is Handling Life 'Like A Boss'

Linda Varg has the feminist bad ass punk sound that you will want to jam out too. The Swedish born pop star just released her new single, ‘Like A Boss,’ which was a collaboration between her, Anders Wrethov, and her husband Ulf Nilsson (winner of The Voice Sweden). The song is the ultimate party tune and a great addition to her list of singles. Linda also recently put out, ‘Standing In The Middle Of The Road,’ which is her response to the bullying she has received as an adult. Inspired, Linda shares some advice to those who are victims of bullying below. Additionally, Linda talks with Jejune about Project iRISE, a survivor-led, community-based nonprofit organization with a mission to educate and empower survivors of human trafficking and those at risk. Read on to learn more about Linda Varg, her upcoming projects, and her involvement in Project iRISE.

Art, zIssue 38, Most PopularKaylyn WenzelDecember 9, 2021Sweden, Music, Artist, Singer, Femenist, #badass, punk, Like A Boss, Fun, bullying, anti-bullying, iRISE, survivors, charity, activismComment

Kjersti Long Is No One's Princess

Kjersti Long is challenging all of your stereotypical thoughts in her new single, ‘Not Your Princess.’ The song was written after her dad made the mistake of calling her one, and after expressing her displeasure, Kjersti put pen to paper and wrote a song about it. The song celebrates the fact that we are all individual people that are more than a title or the judgement of others. While Kjersti is super fierce, she also has a heart of gold. This can be seen through her interpretation of the song ‘Eleanor Rigby’ by the Beatles. Her music video for ‘Eleanor Rigby’ highlights the feeling of loneliness, a feeling felt by most throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Read on in our interview to learn about Kjersti’s volunteer work with America’s Grow A Row, her live gigs where proceeds go to Mental Health and Wellness initiatives, and a sneak peek on some upcoming projects.

A List of Indigenous Artists in a Variety of Mediums

Art comes in various forms, and is widely celebrated throughout all cultures. It has the power to bring people together, and tell a story that is not felt the same through words. In celebration of American Indian Heritage Month, Jejune wants to showcase some amazing indigenous artists who are telling the stories of their heritage through a variety of mediums. Within the article, you can find painters, musicians, dancers, film and television directors, and photographers; all bringing their native magic to their art. With Thanksgiving just behind us, it is our hope that you may also commemorate the people who were here before us, and acknowledge that they are still here with a very powerful voice.

Assemble Is A Capella of the Future

You may imagine the soundscape of London as an ambiance of taxis, busses, the echoes of the tube, the pitter-patter of rain, and of course, new music from the thriving music scene. We’ve been listening to Assemble, an a capella band based in London known for their futuristic, experimental electro-pop sound. Fusing together elements of synth, jazz, and pop, Assemble’s new single “Blue Monday” is a vocal experimentation that pulses with human-meets-machine energy. We sat down with Assemble to hear more about the recording of “Blue Monday” (done completely remote!) and to learn more about their efforts to give back to multiple causes over the past year. Please continue reading for our exclusive interview with the a capella group of the future, Assemble!

Art, zIssue 38Forrest JohnsonNovember 18, 2021singer song writer, music, music industry, acapella, a capella, assemble, musician, london, music group, give back, philanthropyComment

Lauren Bucca is The Queen of Our Hearts

Author and British Monarch enthusiast, Lauren Bucca just published her first book, titled Queens. The book highlights 250 Queens, from historical to the present day. The book is separated into five chapters, each a different chronological period, and each chapter describes the role of a queen, the challenges they faced, and how they were depicted. After reading this book, Lauren hopes readers are inspired by the determination and drive these Queens had to shape the modern world. Queens can be found through independent bookstores or wherever you order your books! Continue reading Jejune’s interview with Lauren Bucca to understand the making and inspiration of this book!

The Fantastical Mind of Benjamin Von Wong

Bringing an idea to life takes innovation, passion and a whole lot of patience. What's more powerful is if the creation brings people to another world for just a moment and sparks a new notion in the viewers. None other than Benjamin Von Wong is doing it as we speak. The Canadian-born artist is a big advocate for Ocean Plastics and has been creating art pieces to bring awareness to the most critical issue faced today — Pollution. Known for his environmental art installations and hyper-realist art style, he recently launched a new campaign, Turn Off The Plastic Tap. Jejune got the opportunity to converse with Von Wong to learn more about his creative endeavors and mission to make positive impacts unforgettable.

Art, Zissue 37, Editor's PickRachel LaiNovember 2, 2021Art, asian artist, save the planet, recycle, plastic-free, environment, earth, trash, artist, save green spaceComment

Holly Clausius: Exploring The Transformative Power Of Music

Sometimes we pay more attention to what others are saying about us than actually who we are, and we end up getting lost in their noise. However, some people eventually can connect with their true self like Toronto-based musician Holly Clausius, thanks to music. Her social change single ‘Big Plans’ placed second in the Cross Canada Artist For Social Change competition in February 2021. This song focuses on marginalized youth and individuals who have been outcasted in society. She dedicated the song to those who felt isolated and pressured not to be their authentic self. Also, she wanted to take the idea of a tour indoors, with opening acts from people's kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms, making it a virtual apartment-wide tour to raise funds for Black Lives Matter Toronto. We talked to Holly Clausius about her latest album, BLM, the queer music industry, and more. Check out our interview below to find out more about Holly Clausius.

zIssue 36, ArtBaşak YirmibeşogluSeptember 29, 2021#music, #queermusic, #lgbti, #feminism, #BLM, #hollyclausius, music artist, queer, music, female artists, LGBTQ, bisexual, BL, blmComment