#MeTooMpls —The Music of the #MeToo Movement

The power of a single story becomes stronger when that story becomes a movement for change. That is what the #MeToo Movement is about: survivors sharing their stories of harassment, assault, and violence in order to promote awareness, change, and empathy. In using music as a catalyst for storytelling, Mischa Suemnig organized the #MeTooMpls project, a songwriting collective of Minnesota Women/Femmes/Trans/Non-Binary Folk. The mission of #MeTooMpls is straight forward: It is aimed at creating songs to raise Minneapolis Women/Femmes/Trans/Non-Binary Folk voices; Supporting sexual assault survivors; And raising funds for Planned Parenthood. All the songwriters involved were asked to write and record an original song on the subject of #MeToo. Without any further guidelines, the artists delivered songs ranging from heartbreaking songs about surviving sexual assault to inspiring songs about feminist icons and their influence on their lives. The album that they created is at once polyvocal and unified —it is a a mixture of lamentation, hope, and demand for change. It is the music of #MeToo.

Lalalow- The Electro-pop Duo Taking the World Of Musical Expression By Storm

Music has proven to be a cathartic outlet for many. But Lalalow takes that notion to the next level. Finland-based group Lalalow has integrated electric pop sounds with psychedelic aesthetics that will liberate your mind. The group consists of two members. Nina Jackson, vocalist and keyboard player, and Tommi Laivama, guitarist. Lalalow’s mission is simple: They let the sounds, rhythms, harmonies, and melodies do the talking. In a world where words often fail to capture the true essence of meaning, music serves as a direct form of expression. On the topic of expression, Lalalow’s latest single “Sensory Deprivation” will certainly get you into your feels. Most importantly, it reminds us we are all in this together. In our interview we cover all things “Sensory Deprivation,” the collective struggle of mental health, and Nina’s course, Generations ‘Lab, which is suited for creative thinkers who value inclusivity and wish to dedicate their time solving societal problems with modern solutions. Please read our exclusive interview with Lalalow below!

The Emoji Story: Emojis As The Voice Of The People

Have you ever spent hours thinking about an emoji that was sent to you? Trying to make sense of it and/or attaching new meaning to it? Trying to see symbols within symbols or personal meaning of you who are in character form. Maybe it is about who you are and sometimes who you aren't. In the current digital age, emojis are the voices of people. These little visual symbols have a big world which consists of infinite meanings. They aren't just for communicating, they’ve become an accessible symbol of activism, sexual identity, and politics.

Art, zIssue 33Başak YirmibeşogluJune 4, 2021#theemojistory, #documentaries, #film, #jennifer8lee, #emojis, representation, Art, generation, gen-z, emojis, emojiComment

Pockets Warhol Will Paint His Way Into Your Heart

Ok, to say I’m obsessed with Pockets Warhol might be a little bit of an understatement, but you don’t meet a monkey who does paintings for charity everyday! His style is a bit more Pollock than Warhol, but his abstract pieces of art are colorful and raw. Pockets, who lives in Canada, was once a therapy animal eventually handed over to his current home, the Story Book Primate Sanctuary. Story Book is a beautiful space created to give primates a second chance after being research animals or victims of the exotic animal trade. It is also the only primate sanctuary in Canada. When Pockets came to Story Book they were quick to notice how smart he is. He would constantly be playing with toys to entertain himself, and since his handler was a big fan of primate art, it seemed worth a try on Pockets. It was love at first paint stroke! Now Pockets’s pieces are being used at charity auctions and sold to help support the sanctuary. To learn more about this adorable artist and Story Book Primate Sanctuary, please read our exclusive interview below.

Sarah Podemski - Celebrating Indigenous Content & Perspectives

As an actress, media entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Sarah Podemski is making her mark in Hollywood and in her local community. Most recently, Sarah has a recurring role in the new sci-fi mystery comedy-drama series Resident Alien airing now on Syfy. She also brings her passion making room for Indigenous perspectives with her new project, Shine Network, which is the first-ever digital platform celebrating Indigenous content from a female perspective. Outside of acting, through her business Totem Designs, she designs unique dreamcatchers which give back to her Indigenous communities. This past year, she was able to donate over 100 dreamcatchers to raise funds for charities including, Black Food Toronto, The Regis Korchinsky Paquet family, Six Nations Child and Family Services, and the Navajo nation. Sarah is truly a shining star as a professional and as a person. We’re so excited to share our interview with Sarah with you. Continue reading below!

Tsu Nami: A Party You Just Don't Want To Be In

You are at a party. The music is loud and you are surrounded by many strangers. The anxiety wave is coming to your body. With Covid-19, we forget this feeling with the craving of socializing, but this feeling of anxiety has always been there. Producer Tsu Nami makes us feel this emotion with her recent song 'Party'. It is not like any other song about partying; it reflects the social anxiety of not wanting to be at a party, and even the energy of the song holds the anxiety. In addition to her music, Tsu Nami inspires other women, especially women of color, who want to pursue a career in electronic music, which is a male-dominated industry. She has some very illuminating ideas on the topic. Currently, Tsu Nami is sharing her music to thousands with the emergence of virtual festivals. We talked to Tsu Nami about her music career, anxiety, sexism, and being normal again. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about Tsu Nami.

Springtime With Izzy Frances

Singer-songwriter Izzy Frances reintroduces us to the wonders of nature. The indie-folk artist is nothing short of sophistication, finding inspiration from the natural world and her own life experiences. A trained neuroscientist, Frances gracefully intersects science with art, and we couldn't be more excited to talk with her about how she does it. Frances discussed the story behind her latest songs, her ode to Earth with Beautiful World, her fascination with the BBC’s Big Cat Diary and her partnership with the Sacred Nature Initiative. To learn more about Izzy Frances, continue reading below.

Art, zIssue 32Jejune ContributorMay 13, 2021environment, climate change, nature, singer, songwriter, activism, UK, indie, women in scienceComment

rIVerse Is Going Viral - The Future of High Concept Art Pop

rIVerse is the viral, multi-racial, LGBTQ+ and body-positive pop group that is breaking the internet. An independent Canadian pop and R&B group, rIVerse is a band known for making international waves for their high concept art pop and inclusive messaging. The group is comprised of band members Dizz, Monroe, Khadija and Zak. rIVerse recently released their newest music video for “BaeBeeBoo” off their critically acclaimed album, Poison IV. The album has been heralded for its innovative, genre-bending aesthetic and inclusive messaging which tackles themes ranging from body positivity, self love to systemic racism. We couldn’t wait to talk to the members of rIVerse and share the impact of their music and creativity. Please read our exclusive interview with rIVerse below.

Art, Editor's Pick, zIssue 31Forrest JohnsonApril 27, 2021music, musician, inclusivity, LGBTQ, LGBTQ+, body positivity, women, womxn, band, singer song writer, k-pop, producer, youtube, viral, content, canadaComment

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.