Issue no. 6
ST O R I E S / I N S P I R AT I O N
G E N E R AT I O N MAGAZINE
stories & inspiration for the generation.
G E N E R AT I O N MAGAZINE
Editor-in-chief olivia walls @livvwalls host: https://issuu.com/generation-mag submissions: genmagpublication@gmail.com
Generation Magazine extends a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to our
CONTRIBUTORS Dr. Mario Hood Contributing photographers: Ashley Maisonet Barragan Angela Carabelas
follow along on @generationmag_
3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
6 6 THE EDITOR’S LETTER
8
A CURATED READING LIST FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH
4
8
10
20
10 NEW HEIGHTS, NEW SIGHTS
20 NICOLE JOY: ‘A CURE FOR HEART TROUBLE’
5
THE EDITOR’S LETTER DEAR READERS,
It’s an odd feeling coming into a new year that just doesn’t feel quite “new”. The same difficulties are still present. What feels like a bad dream continues to linger and we press forward in the reality we live in: the unknown. Nevertheless, it doesn’t take a new year to start doing new things. The “new” we long to experience is readily available to us in every new day. February is an inspiring month as we pause to reflect on the African American historical figures as well as present-day leaders who have changed the trajectory of our nation in a powerful way. I look at my own family with a heart full of thankfulness because of the road that was paved by these courageous men and women. In a small effort to honor Black History Month, we put together a reading list on page 8 that I hope will not only inspire you but awaken a newfound hope for humanity. As we navigate the waters of our new normal, one thing remains an uncertainty—the safety of travel. Whether you are back to flying on airplanes or still waiting for things to completely clear up, there is still an opportunity to dream. On page 10 we invite you to start turning ideas into fully realized plans of action.
6
In an interview featured on page 20, recording artist, Nicole Joy, speaks on her journey of becoming, facing fears, and the release of her brand new EP. We look at what it means to lean into the moments that scare us the most; it’s in those moments that we find something new rising up within us. It’s the stories of others that truly encourage me to take that leap of faith into something completely new. It’s my hope that this issue sparks wonder and excitement within you for the future. With every dawn, there lies the hope of brand new possibilities and opportunities. Take the leap. with love,
Livv
7
FE BRUARY “In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings,
we pay ourselves the highest tribute.” —Thurgood Marshall, first African American U.S. Supreme Court member
8
B O OKS WE’RE READING: Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr., | edited by Clayborne Carson (1998) George Washington Carver: In His Own Words | edited by Gary R. Kremer The Third Option: Hope for a Racially Divided Nation | Myles McPherson I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969) | Maya Angelou Is Christianity the White Man’s Religion? How the Bible Is Good News for People of Color | Antipas L. Harris Shift Your Brilliance | Simon T. Bailey reading list curated in collaboration with Dr. Mario Hood, PhD @mariohood
9
New Heights, New Sights story by Olivia Walls
photography by Angela Carabelas
10
where will you go?
11
12
I
f you’re like me, you have a mental list of places that are must-see’s but still have yet to go to any of them. Since the pandemic hit, travel has become more of a harzard than an avenue for adventure. It now comes with mixed emotions and the fear of contagion. While people are still traveling in the midst of COVID-19, domestic and international travel is temporarily not an option for many others. All of this has put things in perspective for me and I realize how much of a privilege it is to go out and see the world—to see the heights and sights this earth has to offer. I always put off the ‘‘big’’ trips for the future and never execute any real plans to make it happen. However, I think now is the time to turn that mental list into a real, written out strategy. On the next page, I invite you to write down your top five destinations that you’d like to travel to. Start off with the most feasible destination and begin planning out the logistics. Starting is always the hardest part. It’s much easier to plan out a trip way ahead of time when the pressure is off and while there’s plenty of time to look at all the options. Whether you are planning your trip for next year or for the year after, you’ve gotten the hard part out of the way and you’re several steps closer to your dream destination!
13
top 5
list the top 5 destinations you’d like to travel to:
14
15
Explore locally If you’re not quite ready for traveling, there is a world of new sights right outside your neighborhood and perhaps, right in it! A friend and I were discussing a few local cafe’s that we’ve scouted out on Instagram but have yet to physically go there. There are so many nooks and crannies around town with special gems tucked away. Local shops, cafe’s, and nature reserves are all around us just waiting to be rediscovered by the people who pass them by everyday. After a season of strict quarantine and waves of new rules and safety regulations, I’ve gained a sense of desire to see and try new things. It’s no longer enough to say ‘‘we have to go there one day’’. In safety and wisdom, we can explore what’s right outside our door. Most often, there is inspiration and beauty that’s waiting patiently for our attention. In turn, our local discoveries may lead to a greater appreciation for the community we live in.
16
17
READ MORE GEN MAG
check out our previous editions on our digital platform!
18
available to read for free on issuu.com https://issuu.com/generation-mag
19
NICOLE
20
JOY
A CURE FOR HEART TROUBLE INTERVIEW BY OLIVIA WALLS
When it comes to music, Nicole Joy is no newbie. While listening to her newly released EP, you’ll find that there is a story behind the melody. There is an intertwining of poetry with real life experiences that deeply influence her writing. In our interview, we discuss what growing up in a musical family is like, her inspiration for “ACFHT”, and what we can be on the lookout from her in 2021.
21
22
I’d love to start off by talking about your earlier days. You grew up in a very musical family, how much of that has influenced who you are today?
I also never really considered myself a songwriter until recently (I still struggle with this thought as well). My sister started writing songs at 10 while it took me until I was 17 to write my first song. I grew up in an extremely musical family, And it was crap. yes! Not only are my parents musical but their parents and their parents’ I would write here and there but I really parents are musical as well. All of my wanted to take my time and learn about aunts/uncles/cousins sing or play some songwriting before I tried to force sort of instrument, so I couldn’t escape anything else. Over the last 2 years music if I tried! Growing up, my parents though, songs began coming out of made sure we either learned how to nowhere and it got to a point to where sing, or learned how to play some sort of I felt like I was being disobedient by not instrument. Thankfully my siblings and releasing them. I all learned how to do both and I am so so grateful for that! After working on my first single with my producer, William Garcia, he You’ve posted on social media about encouraged me to show him other songs your journey with fear in regards I had [written]. Honestly, if it wasn’t for to fully pursuing your dreams and him and his encouragement I 100% allowing your gifting to grow. would not have released an entire EP this year. How were you able to overcome those fears? What did you learn about Overall, I learned how important it is to yourself during that time? have someone that isn’t a family member listen to your songs and tell you they’re I love this question! If I’m being super good enough to release. The process honest I still kinda feel like I’m learning of showing these songs to a producer a lot about myself in this area even now. that I had just met was terrifying but so Even though I grew up in a musical rewarding once it was all said and done. family, I always hated when anyone So, I’m learning to lean into those scary asked me to sing in front of a crowd, moments rather than run from them. even if it was just 2 or 3 people.
23
“I’M LEARNING
L E A N INTO THOSE S C A R Y M O M E N T S R A T H E R THAN RUN FROM THEM.” TO
24
25
Before releasing your EP, you released your single, ‘A Cure For Heart Trouble’. What was the inspiration for that song?
As I’ve listened to each song on your EP, also titled “A Cure For Heart Trouble”, I can sense that your songwriting comes from a very personal and authentic Simply put, “A Cure for Heart place. Trouble” is literally my life story in a song. When I was 15, depression With this being your first EP, swept over me out of nowhere; I what message are you wanting literally had never experienced your listeners to hear? anything like that before. There were moments here and there as I just want listeners to hear these a kid where I would feel slightly songs and feel understood. With anxious, but this was hopelessness all the craziness that happened in on a level I didn’t know existed. 2020, my prayer has been that this EP can bring some kind of hope to Since then, through the help of whatever people are experiencing. relationships and community, I want them to hear pain and I’ve been able to overcome things vulnerability, but also hope and I never thought possible. In that life. season of my life I promised I would fight everyday if that’s what I had no intention of titling this EP it would take to overcome it. “A Cure for Heart Trouble”, but by the end of it I realized that’s exactly My breakthrough didn’t happen what I want it to be. This EP may overnight, and even now I have to not be “the” cure, but it can offer be careful to not to let my mind go some kind of cure for whatever back to certain places. This song is you’re going through—whether a reminder to myself and to others it’s a battle of trying to control going through the same thing to everything, trying to run or hide keep fighting, even if it feels like from something, or maybe feeling you’re fighting hell. numb after everything that’s taken place this past year.
26
Please elaborate on your creative process while producing music. What keeps you inspired as an artist? Honestly, my creative process looks completely different for each song! My favorite songs are ones that come out of nowhere. Those are the most exciting to work on because they almost feel as if I didn’t write them. I typically have some type of vision when sending it over to my producer, but it’s more fun to work on it together and see how it unfolds.
“ I think the thing that keeps me inspired
the most is knowing how quickly songs can come when you’re not even trying. ” There are days where I’m super unmotivated and I swear I’ll never write a song ever again, and the next day I’ll write an entire song out of nowhere. I’ve also learned that life is the only thing you really need to inspire you. The more that I go through the more I have to write about. Most times, patience is key.
27
What can we anticipate from Nicole Joy in 2021? What kind of topics are you wanting to explore in your music? So, I am actually so stoked for this year because I already have stuff in the works as we speak! The songs we’re working on shed light on pain and joy in ways I’ve never really explored before. These songs are probably the most vulnerable songs I’ve ever written—which actually makes me more excited to release them. As a consumer of music, I always love finding artists that aren’t afraid to be real with their listeners. I’m hoping I can do that for future listeners as well . follow along @nicolejoy___
28
AVAILABLE NOW
ON ALL STREAMING PLATFORMS 29
ST O R I E S / I N S P I R AT I O N
G E N E R AT I O N MAGAZINE
30
