Nyota Issue 31 by NYOTA Magazine

featuring

Michael Le Issue 31

CONTENTS Music

Culture

Cyberspace Playlist 07

Michael Le 35

Mereki 09

Julia Rose Muller

Kylin Milan

Yelena Friedman

Rachel Bochner 15

Ally Petitti 45

Eighty Ninety

Who Do You Really Know? How Social Media is Altering Who We Consider ‘Friend’

Shannon McNulty

Fashion Fernanda Ramirez 21

Malik McIntyre

Ariel Adkins

Theo Shakes

Bridget Kenahan 57

THE 3

TEAM

Editor in Chief

Carol Wright is a graduate of American University. At a young age, she became interested in telling stories through photography which eventually led her down the path of creating NYOTA. Now, her passion for storytelling has given her the opportunity to pick the brains of musicians, actors, and influencers across the world.

Art Director Nicole Cox is a American University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design. She has always enjoyed the arts, from making pottery to painting and sketching in her free time. Thanks to her wonderful professors at school, she was able to explore her passion for the arts and further implement her skills in her professional career and hobbies.

FEATURES Mereki

Michael Le

Kylin Milan

Julia Rose Muller

Rachel Bochner

Yelena Friedman

Eighty Ninety

Ally Petitti

Fernanda Ramirez

Shannon McNulty

Malik McIntyre

Theo Shakes

Ariel Adkins

Bridget Kenahan

CONTRIBUTORS Sophie Sachar Arielle Ostry

EDITOR’S LETTER In the wake of a congressional hearing on whether there should be a ban on TikTok in the United States, the timing for our Digital Issue could not be more appropriate. This issue celebrates digital stars, creators, influencers, and those making a change in the digital space. Social media, no matter its pitfalls, has continued to be an integral part of our everyday lives, and it doesn’t seem like that will be changing any time soon. I hope you enjoy reading the issue and learning about content creators who have continued to make positive disruptions in the industry, like our cover star Michael Le, and the musicians who have used social media to connect with their listeners worldwide. With Love, Carol Wright @_carol_wright

Everything Is Alright / Finn Big City / Kero Kero Bonito

Welcome To My Island / Caroline Polachek

Cyberspace Playlist Curated by Sophie Sachar 7

#NYOTAmusic

Don’t Give Up / Tanukichan

Cross the Sea / Alex G

Echolalia / Yves Tumor

A&W / Lana Del Rey

There Must Be a Song Like You / Helado Negro

17 / Indigo De Souza

Shining / Grapetooth, Squirrel Flower

Mereki Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Rose Waite

Singer/Songwriter Mereki creates pop with a purpose. Her songs are often inspired by nature and conversations with loved ones, with lyrics that are both honest and refreshing. Her dazzling lyricism can be seen on full-display in her debut album Death of a Cloud, out now. Mereki talked to NYOTA about her song “Twin Flame,” her non-profit Be Kind, and connecting with listeners via social media. Was music a large part of your upbringing? Yes and no. There wasn’t a lot of professional music happening in the small coastal town I grew up in, but I’ve forever been singing. Even as a baby, apparently. My dad would pick away on his Martin guitar in the living room, and my mum was always very supportive of my voice. I wrote my first song when I was about 10 and nervously sang it around the campfire to family and friends...cute. Do you have a particular songwriting process? I write every morning just to see what’s inside and if there are any potential songs waiting in the wings. In that respect, I’m a bit of a ‘dear diary’ songwriter. I also find that when I’m inspired, I get gifted melodies from the sky, and I’ll record them into my voice notes. A lot of them dream away inside my phone for eternity, but the real ones find their way into a song. I often get ideas by having conversations with loved ones and also nature. And I really love to collaborate and work quickly, casually, and joyfully. Tell our readers about your single “Twin Flame.” What inspired the lyrics? True love, of course. When you meet someone and just know that no matter what happens in life, that person is going to be with you- physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. There are different types of twin flames, and I’m very lucky to have experienced true love in different forms- platonic, familial, musical, romantic, etc. The first verse is definitely about trying to run away from romantic true love, though, and then surrendering to it, and the second is more about embracing it. The chorus was heavily inspired by the Bulgarian Women’s Choir and The Beauxbatons. As you grow your listenership, do you find that social media platforms help you connect with new listeners? I would hope so! God knows why else I would spend so much time doing it. I want my music and my truth to help others, and social media seems to be the most effective way to share my message and my art. 9

#NYOTAmusic Your music is very focused on positive messages. Do you hope that this resonates with your listeners and influences them to go out and spread that positive energy? Truthfully I didn’t really make any of this music for anyone but myself. I needed to work through a lot, and making this record was part of that. But, of course, I would love to positively influence my listeners. I hope that my connection to my own truth can shed light on the possibility of encouraging someone else’s journey to self-realization. Outside of working on your music, you have a non-profit called Be Kind. What is the mission of the organization? The mission of Be Kind was to simply help those who needed it. I think 99% of life is about intention, so I just set about with a very simple message and hoped it did something good, which I feel like it did. Has Be Kind helped you to build a community of like-minded people? In LA, definitely. I’ve since moved to London, so I am trying to build that community again from scratch, you know anyone? What advice do you have for aspiring musicians? You have all the answers you need inside of yourself, so just work on being the best you that you can be. The best artists are the ones who take their lives as seriously as their art.

#NYOTAmusic

Kylin Milan Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Ashley Wright

Growing up, Kylin Malin used storytelling to express herself, whether it was through writing poems or performing dances and songs she made up, so it is no surprise that she is a singer/songwriter on the rise. Malin talked to NYOTA about her song “Could It Be You,” connecting with listeners via social media, and her advice for aspiring singers. Has creating music always been a way for you to express yourself? Music has always felt like a release of energy, and I think that same feeling carried over into my songwriting. The storyteller in me growing up had the tendency to come out through writing poems and performing dances and songs I had made up for my family. Now my songwriting has evolved into expressing my hopes, inner thoughts, frustrations, and feelings through the lyrics and melodies in my music. Who are some of your music inspirations? Some of my current music inspirations are Olivia Rodrigo, Dua Lipa, and Ariana Grande. I love how Olivia is able to tell a great story with so much detail. Dua Lipa’s sound to me is so fresh, and her music is really fun and catchy. Ariana Grande is an incredible vocalist; she has so much inflection and depth in the way she phrases and sings each line of her songs. Each of them has something different that I take inspiration from, and their topics are relatable and so catchy! Tell our readers about your single “Could It Be You.” What story are you telling through the song? I went into “Could It Be You” with no relationship experience. I often ponder the question of who I could end up with, like “Is it someone I’ve met before?” “Are we already friends?” “Are we total strangers?” So I decided to bring these ideas into the song. I tell a story of that perfect person, but they have no criteria they have to meet. It doesn’t matter what you look like or how tall you are because what’s most important to me is what you can’t see, your heart. I think “Could It Be You” captures the essence of someone who is searching for that special person. What were some of your influences when it came to how the song would feel and sound? I really wanted “Could It Be You” to be an experience for listeners. Having it be upbeat and danceable was one of my biggest priorities. I approached it with the intention of having it be EDM based, but I also wanted that pop flare as well, so it came out to be a cross between the two. Some inspiration behind the feeling of the track was a very real yet sort of euphoric house party. The type where you just feel as if you’re in a dream, with the grit of reality. An influence for the sound was the idea of bouncing between your inner thoughts and then being brought back into the present party. 12

You worked with Poo Bear on the track. Did you learn a lot through that collaborative process? It was an incredible experience working with Poo Bear on this track. I learned a lot from him, as he’s an incredible writer and producer. There were many great ideas that we were throwing around. He would then come up with melodies and lyrics that I could bounce off of. There was a radiant energy of positivity that was infectious to the song. It was symbiotic and creative to sum up, my experience into just a few words. Has it been helpful for you as an up-and-coming singer to connect with listeners via Instagram and other social media platforms? The majority of my current listeners are my long-time fans who have followed me on all my social media platforms over the past several years. I think it is very helpful being able to listen to the people who support me and put the most attention towards my music. Of course, I am always connecting with new listeners when I post new content. I love hearing their opinions and reading their comments, so connecting with them by commenting back is a priority of mine. Do you ever connect with other musicians via social media? Yes, I do have several musician friends that I have connected with online and I’ve also met several at events that I was invited to through social media. It has been one of the most valuable assets when it comes to connecting with people in the industry and other musicians. What advice do you have for aspiring singers? I would tell them not to give up on their dream. It doesn’t matter how early or late you start, you can get to that place you want to get to. Know where you want to go and really commit to getting to that place. Take voice lessons if you can, watch YouTube videos on how to do this run or that song or whatever you may feel you want to work on. Just do something everyday to better yourself in your craft to move yourself closer to your goal, even if it’s just an inch. Dream it, believe it, and achieve it. You’ve got this no matter what any hater may say.

#NYOTAmusic

Rachel Bochner Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Carina Allen

Rachel Bochner is a New York-based singer-songwriter who isn’t afraid to be vulnerable in her music. With the release of her single “Sucker Punch,” she is gearing up for the release of her upcoming EP and giving listeners the perfect post-heartbreak revenge fantasy. Bochner talked to NYOTA about the pros and cons of sharing music on TikTok, creating the cover art for “Sucker Punch,” and using songwriting to process her feelings. Growing up in New York, were you often inspired by the vibrant music scene? I grew up in the suburbs outside of New York City, and I have such vivid memories of going to Manhattan with my family to see Broadway shows when I was younger. I loved watching people perform. It made me want to get on the stage too. Before you started creating music, did you write poetry or short stories? I’ve found plenty of old journals and diaries from my childhood with random poems and “lyrics,” but I don’t think I ever took it too seriously. I was more obsessed with memorizing the lyrics of my favorite songs, dancing around in my basement to them, and filming incredibly embarrassing iMovie music videos. As I got older, that desire to write came about organically as a way to process things I was feeling. When writing songs, are you ever nervous about being too vulnerable in your lyrics or is songwriting an outlet for you? I try not to censor myself when I’m writing, but there are definitely songs that I have been holding onto until I feel ready to share them. Sometimes when a song feels particularly vulnerable, I think it’s important to share it - odds are it’ll resonate with a ton of people and make them feel a little less alone. But other times, the songwriting process is a cathartic way for me to understand how I feel a little better, and some of those songs will maybe stay mine forever. Tell our readers about your song “Sucker Punch.” What inspired the lyrics? The chorus idea for “Sucker Punch” actually came to me while sitting on the subway. I kind of love writing on the train - I get a lot of ideas there. If there’s a melody I’m thinking of, I have to repeat it in my head until I get off so I don’t forget, or I’ll shamefully mumble-sing it into my voice notes app if there aren’t too many people around. The thing I love about writing is that sometimes I don’t know exactly what I’m trying to say until I’ve written a verse or a chorus, and then all of a sudden it clicks. “Sucker Punch” is an example of that - it wasn’t really until I typed the words “sucker punch” that I realized where I was going with it. After that, it was clear it was inspired by the feeling and reaction to having your emotions played with and your time wasted by someone you thought you knew better.

#NYOTAmusic

#NYOTAmusic You created the cover art for “Sucker Punch.” What was the process for making the cover art, and what was the original idea behind it? The cover art for “Sucker Punch” is a small part of a bigger picture. When I decided on the EP title It’s Not Me, It’s U, I immediately knew I wanted to make an evidence board. I wanted to poke fun at the ways we justify why things like breakups, heartbreak, problems, pain, etc., aren’t really our fault. Sometimes it’s true, and sometimes, it’s… a stretch. I love planting little easter eggs in my visuals, so the board has little nods to each track on the EP, hints about visuals, inside jokes, and even handwriting submitted by fans of mine! You’ve been working on your upcoming EP, It’s Not Me, It’s U. What story are you telling through that body of work? This EP airs out some of the messy emotions that come with navigating relationships, heartbreak, and self-image as a twenty-something-yearold. When I write, sometimes I’m inspired by a personal experience that I really want to tell the story of, and sometimes I’m more so tapping into an emotion that I want to capture, which then allows me to pull from different places (my own life, my friend’s lives, or letting my imagination run free). “Sucker Punch” is the kind of song where there was a clear emotion I wanted to convey that I think so many people can relate to, especially right after getting your heart broken. I love that the song sits in this revenge fantasy and lists out all these things I could do to get back at the person who hurt me, but at the end of the day, it’s just me lost in my head, trying to make myself feel better. A few songs on this EP toy with that - the things we do to make ourselves feel a little better, even if they aren’t the healthiest. On TikTok, you often post snippets of your work or other musicmaking tidbits. Does the feedback from viewers keep you motivated? Yes and no! TikTok can be a really great tool for up-and-coming artists, and it can also be a pain in the ass. I won’t go on about the pros and cons of it as a platform, but I will say that I’ve had to change my mindset a bit about the way I use it to not let the pressure of “going viral” make me enjoy making music less. I use it to promote my music, obviously, but if a song doesn’t immediately click, it doesn’t hurt my feelings anymore. I love and believe in the music I put out, so I’d rather just use it to connect with my fans and find new ones, show a bit of my personality, and not take it too seriously. Keeping it fun is obviously more enjoyable for me, and I think it translates into better content for my audience too. What advice do you have for aspiring musicians? Don’t overthink. Just go for it. Don’t be afraid to reach out to that person, to post that TikTok of the song you’re working on or to take up space. Whether you’ve been making music for 20 years or two days, you’re a musician, so own it. I think I let my imposter syndrome hold me back for too long, and I wish I could go back and tell myself that nobody reallyyyyy knows what the hell they’re doing… so just make music you love and can stand behind, and the rest will follow. 18

Eighty Ninety Interview by Carol Wright Photo Courtesy of Eighty Ninety

Eighty Ninety, the indie-pop project of brothers Abner and Harper James, can already count Taylor Swift as one of their fans. With the release of their debut album, they’re gearing up for a big year ahead. Eighty Ninety talked to NYOTA about their song “Stay Alive,” the support streaming services provide and chasing the sounds they want to hear. Growing up, did you always plan to pursue music together? When we were younger, our two-year age difference felt a lot more significant — but we did always plan to move to NYC after high school to start a band. We made a deal and, kind of amazingly, seemed to have followed through! How did you choose the name Eighty Ninety? We wanted a name that meant something to us but also had no pre-existing meaning for others so that we wouldn’t feel boxed into any kind of genre, expectation, or sound by the name. We like keeping the exact meaning to ourselves, but we’ve heard guesses ranging from decades of music, speed limits, highways, radio stations, and eras — we like and accept them all. Do you have a particular song-making process? Our process changes, but one thing that’s consistent is that the song is usually fully finished before we bring it into the studio. We’re pretty firm believers that a song should really work on its own terms — played on a guitar or piano — and that the production process is a way to bring it to life but not a way to save or complete it. Kind of like finishing a script before shooting the movie. We don’t want to be relying on special effects or big explosions to hold the audience’s attention. Those can be fun, but only if the emotional stakes are real. Your song “Stay Alive” is very personal. Was it a difficult song to write? Abner: It was hard to get to a place where I felt ready to write it. Often, when I’m at a low point, I think I write songs to transport myself to a different place 19

or world that maybe I’d like to be living in. Almost as an escape. But at a certain point, it became clear I needed to face these feelings head-on. Once I made that decision, the song poured out. When I brought it into the studio, we tracked almost all of it in a day or two with our good friend Gian Stone who helped to produce it. The whole process has been really cathartic. Do you find that music can be a way to start conversations on mental health and other important topics? Abner: I know for myself I was inspired by so many artists today speaking openly and honestly about their struggles. It made me feel seen and safer. I felt like I owed it to myself to join them — and maybe help someone else out there feel less alone in the way these artists are helping me. The more we talk about it, the more we heal. One of your songs, “Your Favorite Song,” had a bit of a viral moment. Is there truth in the idea that certain platforms can change the trajectory of a song? Absolutely. Our first single, “Three Thirty,” got on a Spotify playlist and went viral as a result — that moment allowed us to even have a career in music. It gave us the runway to really build a life around making songs. When Taylor picked “Your Favorite Song” for her playlist, it was another one of those moments. It exposed the song, and the rest of our music, to so many new people who have really stuck around. She has such a dedicated fan base; it’s almost like they are as enthusiastic about us as they are about her because of their loyalty to her. We’re so grateful for it and try to live up to it every day. That said, in both of those cases, creating any kind of viral moment was

#NYOTAmusic the furthest thing from our minds. We were really just chasing the sounds we wanted to hear, and trying to make music we loved and were proud of. We’ve tried to internalize that lesson — rather than try to orchestrate “viral” moments, try to be as authentic as possible. And when that resonates, it’s that much better because you are really finding the people who see the world the way you do. Your community. Last year, you reached 30M streams on Spotify, which is a huge accomplishment. Have streaming services been a helpful way for you to gain new listeners?

What advice do you have for aspiring musicians? The only success we’ve ever found has been when we’ve been following our intuition and making the things that we’re excited to make. We try to put our heads down and do work we love and are proud of. That way, it doesn’t matter so much what happens afterward, and you can feel like your wins are creative and not dependent on any metrics or reception. That stuff is out of our control!

Spotify has been so incredibly supportive it’s hard to overstate. We are so grateful to them for giving indie artists like us a platform to be heard and discovered. Before Spotify, the idea that we could have listeners all across the world and so quickly — it just didn’t even occur to us. We’re really excited about streaming services, and the way technology allows us to reach so many new people.

Fernanda Ramirez Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Georgia Love

Fernanda Ramirez creates content that resonates with viewers around the world. With a YouTube channel that boasts over 1M subscribers and large followings on Instagram and TikTok, she has cultivated a community that loves watching her everyday vlogs, beauty routines, motivational videos, and more. Ramirez talked to NYOTA about how the pandemic led to her creating content, collaborating with brands, and teaching her viewers how to manifest their dream life. What initially made you want to start creating content online? Ever since I was a little girl, I was always very energetic, bubbly, and talkative. I loved being in the spotlight and using my creativity in any sort of way. As I got older, I got really involved in watching female YouTubers with similar interests as myself and felt an urge to create content just as they did - about my routines and daily life, and overall use storytelling to express my experiences. Once the pandemic hit and I was stuck at home, it was the absolute perfect time for me to fully jump into learning and experimenting with content creation myself. I fell in love with the process of filming, editing, and putting myself online and I haven’t stopped creating consistently in about three years! You’re big on manifestation and working toward your dream life. Can you tell our readers a bit about your level up series and the goal of the series? For the past two years I have been creating videos on how to make the following year your “best year yet.” I talk all about goal setting, manifesting, and creating your dream life. For this year’s annual video, I decided to create a 3-part series where I could go in much more depth about these subjects, as well as new ones with a fresh perspective from what I have learned in 2022 to “level up” for 2023. I’m a big believer that you can turn your dream life into a reality by having a clear vision of your ideal future by incorporating the habits that embody that intention in your everyday life. In the first episode, we covered the importance of goal setting and creating a physical vision board to keep us inspired 21

and focused all year round. In the second episode, we talked all about radiating confidence from within and how to embody this “main character” energy as this has really allowed me to reach my dreams and show up authentically online and in person. Finally, in the third video we go into a full reset to help “clean” all aspects of my life such as my environment, my physical self, mental health, emotional wellbeing, etc. It was such a fun series for me to make and the ultimate goal was to inspire anyone who comes across it to take control and action of their own lives and have step by step videos to come back to for whenever they need a little extra motivation! In the comments section of your video “HOW TO BECOME YOUR BEST SELF IN 2023!making vision boards, goal setting & raising your vibrations” your viewers seemed truly motivated and inspired. Does seeing that your content is having an impact serve as your inspiration to keep going? Absolutely! When I started my channel back in 2019, I never imagined the role I would be taking on as an influencer like I do now. As the years have gone by and I’ve gotten to truly see the impact my videos have on other people, I’ve realized that posting my videos on YouTube is not just for me, but rather to serve as my purpose by helping others! Whether that be to inspire and motivate, or to help people feel seen and understood. My ultimate goal is to be of service to others and seeing this impact through the words people write in my comment sections, direct messages, or even in-person fan interactions. It is extremely fulfilling and I couldn’t see myself ever stopping!

#NYOTAfashion

#NYOTAfashion Fashion is another big part of your life. Did attending NYFW reinvigorate your love for fashion? Are there specific parts of the fashion industry you would like to be involved in? Yes! I have always loved fashion and styling ever since I was young. Many of the fashion influencers and brands I had always loved would be featured during these fashion weeks, so it was a dream of mine ever since I was younger to attend the shows in person. Seeing the energy and excitement that takes place during NYFW is such an inspiring environment and I’ve learned so much about fashion and the industry through my experience there. Seeing how creative individuals style themselves and even design clothing is so amazing and reminds me why fashion is so important for personal expression. I would absolutely love to continue learning more about the industry and potentially collaborating with another brand on a collection or designing my own articles of clothing in the future! I also think that learning how to design and sew pieces would be a great skill to learn as we are approaching a new era of sustainability and showcasing our personal style through fashion. Last year you collaborated on a clothing collection with Ardene and a jewelry collection with En Route. What would be your dream brand to do a collaboration with? I think an iconic collaboration would be to do a collection with Aritzia or Sunday’s Best as that is one of the most popular stores in Vancouver, Canada. I love that all of their pieces are extremely flattering and timeless, which make up the perfect capsule wardrobe. I also think that doing a collaboration with an athletic clothing brand would be very fitting for myself and my audience! Nike, Adidas, or Lululemon would be a dream!

your wardrobe for your everyday look. This way you can experiment with new items and mix and match with your favorite pieces. I personally love thrifting jewelry, heels, and purses! You make content across platforms (Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok). Do you study what’s trending and the latest editing tools to ensure your content will resonate with viewers across apps? I usually try not to consume too much content about whatever I’m creating so that my ideas can stay unique and authentic to myself, but occasionally I will also see what is trending to gather new inspiration! I love asking my followers for their opinions as they are the ones I’m creating for and they always come back to me with great feedback! The same would go for editing tools. I am always open to trying new methods and learning through guides on the internet to sharpen up my content making skills. What advice do you have for aspiring content creators? My advice would be to create content on topics and subjects you are truly passionate about! It is so easy to create quality content from a place of excitement when you are talking or teaching about something you love and can give others value and knowledge on. This way you will be inspired to learn more about the topics yourself as you go, and it will also be more sustainable if you end up turning content creation into something long term. I would also say that one of the most important keys to success in this field would be to stay consistent and maintain drive. It is certainly not always easy to grow on all these platforms, so you have to remember the reason why you’re creating in the first place and constantly learning about ways to improve your craft.

Now, probably more than ever, young people feel the need to be trendy to fit in with what’s popular online. Can you share tips on how someone can make trendy pieces fit into their personal style? Since trendy items can switch in and out of style really quickly, I think it’s best to find a similar version of what you’re looking for in thrift or vintage stores so it won’t hurt the bank every season! You can find really unique looking pieces that match the trend you’re looking for at a much cheaper cost and pair them with high quality basics or other staple items in 24

#NYOTAfashion

Malik McIntyre Interview by Carol Wright Photos Courtesy of Malik McIntyre

Malik McIntyre was interested in fashion design since he was a teenager but took an unconventional path to reach that goal. While working in the army full-time, he took his days off to put collections out and used social media to gain traction. McIntyre talked to NYOTA about becoming interested in fashion design, staying creative while in the Navy, and making designs that can’t be found anywhere else. Take us back to the beginning. What initially sparked your interest in design? Did you grow up drawing or have a unique personal style? It was all the above. Anybody who went to high school with me will tell you that I always wore really crazy colors growing up. My first passion was actually drama club. I wanted to act at the time because I was really into writing books, songs, and stuff like that. So I was really into plays, and the school that I went to was a very underprivileged school; and the programs for the creative kids got merged into one club. I originally joined the club for drama, but there were also kids there who liked to paint and kids who liked to sew. When I joined the club, I made a friend named Charlie, who loved sewing. After I got cool with him, I started seeing the process of taking fabric and making whatever you want out of it. I was really fascinated with the concept and became obsessed with fashion design. At that point, I was either 17 or 18 years old and was confused because I knew that I loved fashion, but it was a new passion of mine, and when I went home, and told my, mom, I wanted to be a fashion designer. She was like, “Just a couple of weeks ago, you told me you wanted to act, and now you wanna be a fashion designer?” So, she was very confused about what I wanted and was very hesitant about letting me go to college for fashion design because she thought it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. So I didn’t know how I was going to move forward when I graduated high school. One day, the military came to our lunch to talk to us about military opportunities, and when I was walking past, the guy said, “Hey, do you know what

you’re gonna do after you graduate?” And I was like, “Actually, I have no idea,” and he asked what I meant. So I told him I liked fashion but didn’t know how to make it happen. Part of this was because my mom warned me that a lot of times when people get degrees in art, it’s very hard for them to find work afterward, and starting a brand costs a lot of money. He told me, “Well, if you give four years of your life to the military, we’ll pay for your schooling. Even if it is a risk, you’re not going to be taking it out of pocket. And it would also give you more time to actually think about what you want to do.” So, I went home, and I told my mom. I’m an only child, so her first response was immediately, “No.” She was so scared and she said, “You cannot go out to the military. You’re crazy.” I started telling her about all the opportunities that can come from it. I can get out of Chicago and make a name for myself. Over time, she caved in, and I went out to the military. The military pays you pretty well for an 18-year-old. The money that I was making, then, was a lot to me because I had never made that amount of money. As soon as I got out, I immediately started investing in my brand. I dropped my first collection. Literally, I want to say, a month or two after I graduated boot camp. And I’ve been balancing both careers ever since. It’s crazy because it wasn’t a spur-of-themoment passion. I still love it. I still love what I do. Every day I find new inspiration, and I just love to create. That’s basically how I started, and eight years later, here I am. I’ve done three collections. I’ve done New York Fashion Week twice. I got invited to Paris Fashion Week. It’s crazy how everything unfolded.

You grew up in the suburbs and also in the inner city of Chicago. Do you pull a lot of your inspiration for your designs from the clothing/ streetwear you saw in Chicago? So, it’s funny that you say that because that’s actually the inspiration for my next collection. I designed a coat that has gone viral multiple times on Twitter and Facebook. The interior lining of the coat is graffiti, and the reason I did that was because, growing up in Chicago, I was surrounded by it [graffiti] and fascinated by art in general. Every day I walked home from school, I had to see it [graffiti], so I definitely took that into consideration when I designed that piece with all the colors. So, I do think about Chicago. I agree that Chicago is not really known for fashion, but fashion in Chicago is different. It’s not mainstream. I also wanted to shed light on contributions to fashion that Chicago has offered that a lot of people don’t know about. Like, a lot of people don’t know that the zipper was invented in Chicago, and a lot of people don’t know that spray paint was invented in Chicago. So, I kind of want to incorporate that into a collection and get Chicago mentioned in the fashion conversation because I feel like they never are. While in the Navy, how did you keep yourself feeling creative, and what would you do to pass the time? It was really, really hard because of the type of job that I have. I work with underwater ordnance, which is missiles, torpedoes, and guns. So, I have a very serious job. If I make mistakes in my job, people can get seriously hurt. So it’s like night and day because, as a creator, you need space just to relax, be calm, be inspired, and then in the military, everything is ten and two, everything 27

#NYOTAfashion is very serious. So, it was always really hard for me not to get into creative blocks. They happened all the time, but when we used to do a deployment, a lot of people don’t realize there is a lot of off time. So, in that free time, that is when I would sketch and come up with concepts. Then as soon as we hit the port, I would put the collections out. Now, the only downside to that is, we live in a social media era now, so everybody’s attention spans are very short. So, what would happen to me is I would put a collection out, and it would be great and would have a lot of buzz around it for a week or two, and then I would have to go away again for deployment and come back in two or three months, and it’s, like, I lost all the buzz. So, in order for me to combat that, I had to make sure that everything that I put out was extremely eye-catching. I don’t know if you’ve ever been on my website, but if you notice, all of the pieces are bold, and everything is colorful. I did that strategically because people had no choice but to pay attention to it because every time I dropped a collection, it was, like, I was starting from scratch. I didn’t have a following because I lost so many followers, and people tend to forget after you’re gone for a while. Like, when you’re coming up, you can’t just go on hiatuses; that only works for people like Beyoncé or whatever. But when you’re coming up, and you’re trying to make a name for yourself, after you disappear for a couple of months, people are going to forget you. So, I made sure that my collections were always very attention-grabbing, and it worked. Now it’s not just a strategy anymore; it’s just part of how my mind works. I’m very attracted to colorful fabrics and pieces that make you look twice. So the military did help me in that aspect. It gave me a very sharp eye for color. 28

You’re very honed in on social media and are always connecting with your audience. When you first started doing storytimes on TikTok, was it something that you did because you thought it could lead to customers, or was it just something that you did naturally, and then the rest followed?

very inspired by you, and this is what a collaboration would look like if you’d ever be down to collaborate with me.” And she loved it. I think it was maybe three weeks later, we were shooting it. And then we released it as a collaboration, and it’s one of my biggest collections.

Honestly, when I first got on TikTok last year, the point of it wasn’t to promote my brand at all. I actually had moved to San Diego from Hawaii, and I didn’t really know anybody in the area. And I’m an only child, so I’ve always been extremely introverted. So sometimes it’s hard for me to go out and meet people. I used TikTok simply to express myself because that’s kind of what TikTok is. TikTok is a bunch of regular people, most of the time, going on there and talking about their day and finding people who can relate to them, and that’s where it started off for me. I didn’t expect it to blow up. I didn’t expect a lot of people to pay attention to it, and when they did, I was like, “Oh, so now I have a platform here, so now how can I use that to my advantage and promote my collection?” I was scared, to be honest. When the videos started getting a lot of attention, I was like, “Is this gonna hurt me as a designer if I’m on here talking about my personal life? Is that going to scare people away from wanting to support me?” It ended up being the exact opposite. I found a lot of people who liked me personally, and I felt like they could connect with me, and because of that, they supported the brand. So it was really very random and it happened so fast. TikTok is kind of scary because of how fast it allows you to reach thousands of people, but it worked out.

So, if I hadn’t had my brand, I probably wouldn’t have reached out to her. But it was like, “This is something that I want, this is something that I see.” I’m the type of person where, if I have a vision, I’m going to do everything I can to make it happen. I don’t care how many walls I hit. If there’s a bump in the road, I’m just gonna find another route. That’s how I am when it comes to brands and sometimes I’m more bold with my brand than I am in my personal endeavors.

On TikTok you’re very open about a lot of things from your brand to your mental health. Does the brand push you out of your comfort zone and put you in new areas you wouldn’t have been in before creating your brand? Absolutely, because growing up, I was a very anxious person, and still am. I was terrified of rejection and just wouldn’t do things if I wasn’t sure that it was gonna work out in my favor. But when you’re a designer or a creator sometimes you have to take a chance. Like when I did my collaboration with Choice, that happened because she liked a few of my pictures on Twitter, and I was like, “Oh my gosh, she knows that I exist.” So, I sketched the idea because I went to her page, and I was like, “I know exactly what I would put her in” and I designed the body suit to compliment her figure. I sent it to her, and was like, “I’m a designer and I love your look. I’m 29

#NYOTAfashion What advice do you have for aspiring designers? My biggest piece of advice is so cliche, everybody says this, but it’s really just to keep going. I’ve been designing since 2015, and I didn’t start seeing any type of return on what I was invested in until about 2019/2020. If I would have taken those first couple of years and said, “Oh, this isn’t working out,” and just quit. I wouldn’t be where I am today. Another brand that I looked at for inspiration was Telfar because they were founded in 2005, but people didn’t start wearing Telfar bags until a couple of years ago. Now, every time you go on the website, everything is sold out. So that 10-year gap, that 15-year gap, if they would have quit and just said, “Hey, nobody knows who I am, and my work isn’t selling the way I want it to,” they wouldn’t be where they are right now. They are literally one of the biggest Black-owned brands in America right now. So, my biggest advice is don’t stop and also create things that people can’t get anywhere else because there are so many designers in the world. Don’t be like everybody else.

What inspired the colors and design behind your Micasso Puffer collection? Sometimes puffers can be very simple and boring. Did you want to do something out of the box? When you’re an upcoming Black designer, your work has to be excellent because we live in a fast fashion world, and everyone wants to go into fast fashion because it’s cheap and it’s quick. When I create for my brand, I always think to myself, “What’s gonna stop somebody from going there instead of going to my website?” Because my pieces aren’t necessarily cheap, so I have to tell myself that I can’t put out things that people can get anywhere for a fraction of the price. If I want to establish myself as a luxury brand, I have to create things that are unattainable anywhere else. So, when I create the puffers, and I create the collections, I always try to make them unique to me and my brand. Every time I sketch something, if it looks like something I’ve seen before in any way, I stop because I want everything I put out to be recognizable to my brand. People should be able to say, “Oh yeah, that looks like a Malik McIntyre coat.”

Ariel Adkins Interview by Carol Wright

Ariel Adkins, aka Artfully Awear, grew up in an environment where creativity was encouraged. Her upbringing taught her to value art and allowed her to use art as a way to heal, which eventually led her to create the account @artfullyawear, where she shares clothing inspired by different artwork and makes art more accessible for all. Adkins talked to NYOTA about how Artfully Awear was born, using social media to build community and the research that goes into making her garments. A lot of the time, when someone grows up to be artistic or work in the arts, it’s because their love of art was encouraged growing up. Since your mother was an artist, did you always see the arts as something to be celebrated? Absolutely. Growing up as the only child of a single mother who was an artist, our resources were limited. But she taught me how to work with what we had and to use my creativity to create opportunities. Because of her encouragement, I have always valued art as the way to picture and then create a brighter future. That’s why my work and career are dedicated to making art more accessible. As a child, were you very into dressing up and putting together your own outfits? Yes! From a very early age, I saw clothing as my chosen form of expression. What led to your Instagram account @artfullyawear? Were you looking to build a community with fellow art lovers? I initially began the creative practice that would become Artfully Awear as a healing practice after my mother’s death, and it was a very personal exploration. Through the process, however, I realized that I could also use my work to connect with others, and that is what inspired me to share it on social media. It is really inspiring to be able to connect with others around the world with similar experiences or perspectives, and the creative exchange that can happen via social media is really valuable. How much research goes into the looks you create? I am always reading and learning about art, so the research that goes into Artfully Awear pieces is an ongoing process. When I am planning a new piece, like a collaboration with a museum, I spend quite a bit of time with the work and in the space to understand the inspiration and how to translate it into something wearable.

#NYOTAfashion

Photographer: Meri Feir Artist: Yayoi Kusama

Artwork: Yellow Pumpkin, 1994 Institution: Benesse Art Site

Artfully Awear has truly become a social media community for art lovers. Has it been special to connect with your followers in real life at workshops and other events you’ve held? One of the coolest things ever is getting to meet someone in real life that I’ve only known through social media. I LOVE connecting with the community in a more direct way, and am always looking for opportunities to do so. Has social media helped you discover lesserknown or underground artists? Definitely. I discover most new artists or even movements that I’m interested in through social media. It really democratizes the discovery process because you no longer have to know which galleries, residencies, or studios to go to - you can access artists all over the world much more directly. Do you hope that your account can also teach people about art and get people interested in art who might not naturally be drawn to it? Yes. That is my number one goal through my work: to break down the barriers of understanding and engaging with art to make it more accessible. If you could recommend one museum and one art piece within that museum for people to visit, what museum and what art piece would you recommend? Nick Cave really inspires me in the way he is able to explore tough topics through such beautiful works (many of which are wearable!). His exhibition Forthothermore at the Guggenheim Museum in New York is a must-see.

#NYOTAfashion

Photographer: Allison Chipak Artist: Hilma af Klint

Artwork: The Ten Largest, 1907

Institution: Guggenheim Museum 34

#NYOTAculture

Michael Le Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Raul Romo

Michael Le is a content creator, entrepreneur, and professional dancer who has carved out a unique space in a crowded influencer ecosystem. With over 52 million followers across platforms and over 1 billion likes on TikTok, he has become a creator that can guarantee engagement and views. Le talked to NYOTA about creating authentic content, trend surfing, and his company Joystick. Why did you initially start posting dance videos online? Were you hoping to find a community on social media? I started posting dance videos online because I wanted to share my craft and my art. I felt like social media was a great way for people to see me as an artist as opposed to just being a dancer. What I mean by this is that as a dancer, typically, the most you can hope to achieve is either becoming a successful choreographer or backup dancer for someone else, but it’s more of a supportive role. For me, I was really excited about social media because it seemed like the sky was the limit in terms of the opportunities to share my art with the world. As you started gaining a following, did you feel pressure to keep making certain content or make content that would ensure eyeballs? I don’t think I felt pressure; at least in the beginning, I didn’t. I started out posting a lot of content that I genuinely enjoyed, which was great because everything that I enjoyed, people also enjoyed, so that was a cool thing. In 2019 when I started gaining a considerable amount of followers on TikTok, that’s where I started relying on what was working as opposed to creating content that I felt passionate about, which ultimately was a mistake. As a creator, it’s important to always create content that’s authentic and a reflection of you! When you realized you could make content creation your career, how did you decide which brands to partner with and work with? In the beginning, I was a lot more open to working with a variety of brands. I think right now, I’ve come

to a point where the brand has to align with me and make sense. For example, if I’m doing something in that category and I feel like the company is something that I would genuinely support, that’s the kind of brand that I want to be promoting. A lot of creators realize that it’s one thing to post videos consistently, but it’s another to stand out online. Did you have certain tactics you used to differentiate yourself from other creators? There’s this thing that I believe is called trend surfing, which is essentially where you can hop on a trend and utilize it, but you can also stand out in your own way. So I kind of actually do a bit of both. It’s important to know what’s hot and trending, but you don’t want to be just like every other person nowadays. There is so much fluff, noise, and people who are trying to do the same thing, so the best way to stand out is to ask yourself how can you put your own spin or take on this trend and make it your own so that you do stand out. That’s definitely an important thing that I do. Through making content, you ended up gaining skills as an editor and videographer. Are those skills that still come in handy for you today? Yes, absolutely. I think that before you hire a team and bring other people on board, it’s very important that you know what to do and understand everything yourself so that you can communicate more effectively with the team and explain your vision. If you don’t understand videography or editing, it’s a lot harder for other people to be able to give you what you want. It’s really important for you to know what you want so that you can lead the team. 36

Outside of making content, you are passionate about gaming and the web3 space, which led to the creation of Joystick. Can you tell our readers a bit about Joystick and its mission? Joystick is a gaming and esports platform I started with my co-founder Robin DeFay. It’s our goal to help teach aspiring creators to make money in the evolving digital world with content creation and gaming. We’re essentially building tech to enhance the experience between creators and fans, as well as hoping to lead the eSports and gaming world with incredible tournaments, both online and in real life. In order to start Joystick, you and your co-founder had to raise seed funding to do so. Did you learn a lot through the process of raising funds and pitching your business to investors? I’ve definitely learned a lot about business through this process. I was new to the investment world in the beginning; I didn’t know that much about seed rounds and how everything worked. It’s been an interesting experience that’s really opened my eyes to a completely different world that I wasn’t aware of before. Although people always say the influencer space is oversaturated, Joystick shows that there is room for everyone. Do you hope more people would be as open to teaching others how to get involved in the content creation space? I definitely think so. I think there’s a place for everyone. The space is oversaturated in particular markets, but I believe there are a lot of different categories that have a lot of opportunities. You just have to find your niche. I think a lot of people are just looking for that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but don’t necessarily know if that path is actually what they want. I think people are completely open to teaching aspiring creators, and I think that’s really important. It’s important to grow with other people and support the community as a whole.

Is there anything about the world of content creation that you wish more people knew about or myths about the industry you want to debunk? I want people to know that anyone can do it, and it’s not actually impossible, no matter how hard it might seem. Social media has allowed everyone to be able to take control of their own careers and either make it work for them or not. I also believe that it’s way harder than people think. A lot of people are under the impression that you just create a video, and you’re done. However, there’s a lot of time and effort that goes into content creation. The idea that content creation is easy is definitely a myth that I want to debunk. What advice do you have for other creatives who want to start creating content for social media? My advice to other creatives is to focus on your passion and do whatever you want. What I mean by that is, don’t feel like you have to set certain parameters on yourself (i.e., “I want to be this,” etc.) I think you should create whatever makes you happy and allow the content to speak for itself and the audience that you garner from it organically to help you find your niche. It will happen over time. You also have to understand that things always change. For example, you could start off wanting to be a dancer, but end up making food content. I think that’s the beauty of social media and life in general.

#NYOTAculture

Julia Rose Muller Interview by Carol Wright Photos Courtesy of Julia Rose Muller

Julia Rose Muller has always viewed art as a way to express herself and get her energy out. So, it is no surprise that she is now sharing her art with the world through her shop, JuliaRoseMuller, on Etsy. Muller talked to NYOTA about finding inspiration through traveling, gaining customers through social media, and connecting with other artists online. Have you always felt most comfortable expressing yourself through art? From a young age, I always found that art was my way of getting my inner energy and rambling ideas out. I grew up around other artist family members, so there was always a project or craft being done. Growing up, my mom always encouraged me and taught me to express myself in whatever ways I wanted to and that there are no limits to what you can do and try. I recently turned 25 and also found out that I have ADHD. Ever since I was little, I always felt something was different about me, and so when I found this out, everything just seemed to make more sense to me. I think that art was always my way of coming back to myself and not having to try to fit in but to just be free. Creating in any capacity is me expressing myself and being my truest and most honest self. What inspires the different abstract designs in your prints and ceramic pieces? I am always finding inspiration around me. My travels to different places, like Mexico, Paris, Arizona, and California, have had an impact on what I’m currently influenced by. My most recent sculptures were inspired by a trip to the desert lands of Joshua Tree and Tucson. Going into shops and getting to see and touch pottery from local artists really sparked inspiration for me. The way they use color and texture, and resources from the earth to create it always feels like a fresh start, and new ideas begin to emerge after spending time out west. I love diving into other cultures and noticing all of the small details that uniquely make up each place. The seasons also have an influence on my work. In the spring and summer, I find myself more drawn to lines, cut paper collages, and oil pastels because of the fluidity of the movements, colors, and shapes; these all remind me of the return of warm sunlight, flowers, and nature being reborn. In the winter, I am more drawn to clay because of how slow-paced and restful it is.

Do you have a specific process when it comes to working on a piece? I like to get into the right headspace before working on a piece. Some people create to find inspiration, but I like getting inspired before creating and seeing where the inspiration takes me. I usually light a candle or burn incense, put on a playlist for whatever mood I’m feeling, open a window, feel the sunlight across my workspace, and calm my mind and body before jumping into a project. I also allow myself to rest in between - never forcing my way through completion, but pausing and coming back when it feels right to me. I always have music on in the background because it allows my thoughts to quiet. Lately, I’ve been playing Harry’s House or an indie road-trip playlist. Instagram and other social media platforms can be great ways to find and connect with other artists. Have you found different artists’ communities via social media? Because of social media, I have discovered a lot of people that I would have never been connected to if it weren’t for the internet. There are a lot more opportunities to find communities and customers through having an online presence. I am still learning my way through it all, but it has been fun experimenting in the digital space. Instagram, in particular, is an amazing way to see the full vision behind a brand or artist and connect with them in a more intimate way. Your personal Instagram page and the Instagram page for your artwork are very curated. Do you find social media to be another fun, creative outlet? Social media has definitely become another outlet of creative expression for me. I follow a lot of creatives that are doing their own thing and sharing their light so that when I spend time on social media, it doesn’t feel so heavy and depleting. I think a person’s Instagram can be a snapshot in time and a glimpse into the diary of their life through photography, art, and just random things. I always loved curating images and seeing others’ unique aesthetics.

#NYOTAculture Opening up an Etsy shop can be a big leap. Has social media been helpful when it comes to finding customers or feedback on your work? I started my Etsy shop back in 2016, and I still, to this day, find it so cool when someone purchases something that I made. I’ve always been a big believer in the idea that art is subjective, and there will be people that don’t get it at all, and then there will be people who completely resonate with certain artists and artworks. It’s a lot of fun to discover others and to be discovered by others. Interior Designer, Bobby Berk from the show Queer Eye came across my work and shared about my Etsy shop on his website, and the pieces sold right away! That moment led to some more people finding me and my work and was also a boost of confidence for what I’m putting out there. Opportunities like that really show the impact of being in a shared digital space and how those with larger platforms have the power to help small businesses grow and get connected to their own audience.

Who are other artists that inspire you? Some artists that I am inspired by are Matisse, Rodin, Georgia O’Keeffe, Calder, Simone BodmerTurner, Jeanne Oliver, Rachel Saunders, and Joanna Szachowska. I love intentional artists because they give light to a simple and fulfilling way of living. Georgia O’Keeffe has inspired me a lot in this current season of my life. I see a lot of myself in the way she lived. She loved her solitude, she loved exploring the desert and experimenting with earth elements, and she loved her creative bubble. She always honored her inner guide by listening and following her creative instincts, regardless of the outside noise. I aspire to be more like her in the ways she always followed her heart, wherever it took her. What advice do you have for aspiring artists? Just go for it. Try anything and everything! If you’re not sure where to start, explore different mediums, find the ones that you gravitate towards, and continue to find your style within that space. Some people are born knowing they are artists from a young age, and others don’t discover it until later in life. It’s all about intuition and selfacknowledgement, trusting your inner guide. Whatever is meant to be your path will find you one way or another. Just have fun, be free, express yourself, try something new, work on your craft, and share your creations with the world. There will be people along your artistic journey that will question you - but don’t let them take away the magic. It’s not theirs to understand. You will find your people and your audience and be seen. Never stop being true to who you are! Those who can’t understand the artist don’t understand the self.

Yelena Friedman Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Sina Sajadpour

Yelena Friedman uses TikTok as a way to act freely. Whether she is making up characters like “Note Girl” or creating skits like “POV: you say medium instead of grande at Starbucks,” she can connect with people while focusing on her passion, acting. Friedman talked to NYOTA about observing everyday moments, coming up with ideas for skits, and growing as an actress through working on the coming-of-age film O Brawling Love. Did you see TikTok as a way to kick off an acting career, or did you start posting for fun? Acting is my true love and I love that TikTok is a place where I can create my own characters and skits basically anything I’d want to act I can. I think TikTok is really fun and I’ve been insanely lucky to have found the success that I have. While I love my fans and doing sketch comedy on TikTok, I would love to one day be on a sketch comedy show or be in a funny film - and I think no matter what my acting and career dreams are, I can always do TikTok for fun! One of my favorite videos of yours is Rockstar Academy. Do Disney Channel and other networks we all grew up with serve as inspiration for your skits? Rockstar Academy is one of my favorite skits I’ve made. It’s a parody of the Disney movie, Camp Rock - which is a classic. I do take a lot of inspiration from Disney and the early 2000’s teen movie era in a lot of my videos! It was just such a fun, colorful and crazy time. For sketches such as “What to do if someone offers you drugs.” How do the ideas come about for those more out-of-the-box videos? For my “Note Girl” videos…I keep an ever growing list of funny/silly ideas for “what to do when someone or something…” - then once I’ve picked which one I want to do next, I write out a mini/loose script so I have an idea of how I want the video to go, but more than 90% of the videos are just me improvising. 43

I’ve done improv at UCB and WE Improv. It’s super, super fun to do and I think a lot of the most iconic catchphrases or moments in those videos come from just improvising! A lot of your videos show comedic moments in everyday life. Are you often observing the people around you and mentally taking note of amusing situations? I take ideas from all the weird and funny situations I’ve been through, throughout my life. But, I’m also very lucky to have a lot of super funny friends so I think it’s just a mix of what we all think is funny at the time, and what I randomly have experienced or think is funny about everyday life scenarios. How did you perfect the “What?” at the beginning of each of your videos? Funny enough…the first time I did the “What” I just said it kind of normally, haha. I didn’t think much of it at the time. But as my TikTok has grown and as the “What” has become such an iconic staple of my videos, I try and make it as derpy and funny as possible. I love how much people love it! Who are some of your acting inspirations? Oh man…that is a tough question because there are A LOT! To name a few women who inspire me, though, I’d say, Reese Witherspoon, Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Kristen Wiig, Jameela Jamil, and Viola Davis.

#NYOTAculture You’ve done a couple of different independent films, and you were able to be in an SNL sketch. Have you grown as an actress through those different projects? I am very lucky to have gotten the work I have so far in my career, and with each project, I definitely have grown and learned a lot. Especially with the larger, feature films I’ve been in. And I’m excited to say, one of the features I most recently worked on as the lead will be coming out this year! It’s called O Brawling Love and is a really wonderful coming-of-age story. I believe that as an actor, you never stop growing, and so I’m excited for what more I have left to learn and experience in the future. What advice do you have for aspiring actors? Be yourself. You are unique, and what you bring to the table is special, beautiful, and worthy. You’ll only ever be yourself, so might as well be you! But also understand that with auditioning, it’s a lot of ups and downs and no’s and yeses, and so you have to be patient, and you really have to trust and believe in yourself. One of the best pieces of advice I got years ago (regarding acting) was, “If you don’t believe in yourself, why should we?” - which might sound harsh, haha. But in actuality, it really means that YOU are the full package! So when you embody that and believe in yourself, you exude that energy and positivity, and people will see it and be drawn to it.

Ally Petitti Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Ben Cope

They say, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” and digital content creator and podcast host Ally Petitti did just that. After going through mental and physical health struggles, she created the podcast Trying To Figure It Out; through it, she shares the most genuine version of herself and invites guests to share diverse, interesting stories. Petitti talked to NYOTA about mental health stigmas, vulnerability, and standing out in the podcast space. Did you always envision yourself working in a creative field? I always knew I would work in a creative field but I never envisioned myself starting a podcast. I think the podcast idea came after feeling like I had so many experiences and stories to share but didn’t really know how. You started your podcast Trying To Figure It Out due to mental and physical health struggles that happened in your life. Did creating the podcast and connecting with listeners through it help pull you out of some dark places? It absolutely did. I feel like every time I tape an episode I go to therapy and I feel like the response and feedback makes me feel less alone and makes others feel less alone. That’s all I could’ve ever asked for when starting TTFIO. Are podcast episode topics chosen around a guest or are guests chosen based on the topic you want to cover? I typically choose guests with a topic idea in mind but then once I speak with them, I ask them what specific topics they want to touch on and what they are comfortable sharing. Trying To Figure It Out covers topics ranging from sobriety to divorce. Are you ever nervous to be too vulnerable on the podcast? I think when I first started there was a lot more nervousness around my vulnerability. When I started 45

the podcast, I was in the thick of my battle with depression and PTSD, so I was very afraid to share such personal stories and afraid what the response would be. I still am navigating what I am comfortable sharing and what I am not. It is commonly said that everyone seems to be starting a podcast nowadays. How do you make sure Trying To Figure It Out stands out in such a crowded space? I think that when it comes to mental health, there is room for everyone. We live in a world where we are slowly destigmatizing mental health and anyone who can reach anyone through their platform to make someone feel less alone is doing something amazing. I think one thing that is different about TTFIO is that I am not a specialist. I share my stories and my guests share theirs and it is a safe space for truly anyone. I am not interviewing people for tea or gossip, it is all very genuine and stuff that will be listenable now, and 10 years from now, because these topics are not viral, they are lifelong. Going into Season 2 of the podcast, are there new tactics or interview styles you hope to implement? I really just plan to expand my ability to ask different kinds of questions and continue finding my voice and confidence in the space. We have so many new guests that I cannot wait to share and we also are going to go much deeper into some of the topics we addressed in season 1.

#NYOTAculture Mental health advocacy is very important to you. What are myths or stigmas around mental health that you would like to debunk? There are so many, but a few that are important to me are debunking the use of SSRI’s, normalizing therapy, better access all around to mental healthcare and just the entire notion that people who are anxious or sad should “just stop” - it is so much deeper than that and once we start recognizing these struggles as real illnesses, maybe people will be able to strip away their negative beliefs surrounding it. What advice do you have for others who want to become podcasters? My best advice is to sit down and just start talking, see what you come up with, see what your niche is, be confident with it and trust that you can do it. I said I was going to start TTFIO and I had no plan. Now, I have a team of 6 people and it is the best thing that ever happened to me because I set a goal and went for it.

Who Do You Really Know? How Social Media is Altering Who We Consider ‘Friend’ By Arielle Ostry Photo by visuals on Unsplash

From short snippets of a makeup tutorial on TikTok to long-form storytelling covering an entire trip abroad on YouTube, we are increasingly consuming content made by and centered around the lives of people we have never – and most likely will never – meet. While our understanding may start and end with what we witness through our very limited phone screens, many viewers can’t help but feel a certain level of camaraderie and familiarity with the people we watch, admire and follow. And who can blame us when influencers and public figures are sharing everything from what they did with their kids today to how their Starbucks coffee run went to the new brand of shoes they can’t wait to buy? We consider them ‘friends’ because we know so much about them: they may have posted videos about their first kiss, their favorite family recipe, their hopes for the future. But for many influencers sharing their lives with the internet, their experience could not be more skewed. They have hundreds or thousands or maybe even hundreds of thousands of ‘friends’ just like us. And to them, their community is a privilege with its own set of benefits and challenges. So what happens when people get too close? What happens when online interaction meets the realities of the real-world? What can you do when your “fans” mistake a public online presence meant to foster support and affinity at a distance for true friendship? Many online influencers from Instagram to YouTube to TikTok are navigating this challenge, and what I would consider a major burden of having a large online platform.

With large online platforms come large audiences, a potential breeding ground for parasocial relationships. Natalie Pennington, a communication professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, defines a parasocial relationship as a one-sided relationship typically between an everyday individual and a celebrity or fictional character. Nowadays, social media makes it possible for average, everyday people to ‘blow up’, go viral and accumulate large followings. Their intimacy, candidness and relatability make them appealing to watch, but these characteristics can simultaneously make select viewers feel like they have some sort of friendship, even if it is parasocial, or one-sided. There is nothing inherently harmful about parasocial relationships, but there are certain lines that if crossed can make this phenomenon harmful to both parties. For instance, if parasocial relationships are the only type of social interaction a person is experiencing, it can foster online dependency and social isolation with people in the real world. Additionally, with so much information about these everyday influencers available online, the potential for a parasocial relationship to be misconstrued by a viewer for a twosided relationship can result in stalking, harassment or other unsafe behaviors putting influencers at risk. I’d argue that in addition to the challenges influencers with large audiences are grappling with on social media, the average social media user is also exploring questions concerning who they interact with online. Is the connection I talk to everyday through a dating app my friend, even though we’ve never met? Are the other members in my college Facebook group my friends, despite not being able to recognize them

#NYOTAculture if they walked past me on the street? Are my virtual interactions with people – from friends to followers to likes to comments – lopsided? In the digital age, acquaintances, friends, and the possibility of obsessions are becoming harder to separate. COVID lockdown certainly didn’t help us in rooting out this problem. It forced more of our lives and social interaction online than ever before. Our school, work, personal communication and entertainment all migrated to living in the virtual space – and for some of us, they all still do. I’m not writing about these issues to provide solutions, because I don’t have answers when it comes to life online. I spend a majority of my time here, from writing for work to writing for pleasure, catching up with friends and interacting with my family. For the most part, it all happens online. More than anything, I hope this glimpse into my thoughts on friendship and the Internet provides a speck of awareness – a touch of clarity for those who recognize themselves in experiencing the challenges of a virtually social world. I hope you take a second to think deep and ask yourself: who do you really know? Because the true answer is likely a whole lot less than you – or anyone else on the Internet – might think.

#NYOTAculture

Shannon McNulty Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Shalom Imaginative

Shannon McNulty started sharing wedding reviews on TikTok to prepare for her forthcoming nuptials. Little did she know that her videos would bring together a community of people who love to swoon over a bride’s dress and discuss wedding reception venues. McNulty talked to NYOTA about looking at Vogue weddings for inspiration, TikTok connecting her with Sophia Bush, and starting a new chapter in New York. Growing up, were you always interested in love stories and fairy tales? Were you a romantic? You know, I’ve never really thought about it in relation to my wedding reviews but yes, absolutely. I love a good love story in any form, but also, I love a show– a production! I like to be dazzled and entertained. Maybe that’s why I’m so fascinated by weddings. They are this unique combination of joy, love, commitment, and, let’s be real, theater. What initially led you to start reviewing Vogue weddings on TikTok? I really did grow up on magazines and turned to them religiously to develop my taste and style growing up. I may not have been able to afford or have access to any of what I was seeing, but I got pretty good at faking it. I got creative. Perhaps because of this, when we got engaged, I wasn’t scared to look at these extravagant weddings in Vogue for inspiration. I really believe if you train your eye a bit, you can see through the money of it all and recreate what you like about almost anything. So mostly, it started as research for my own wedding alongside my goal to post content on TikTok as a creative outlet. Are there any trends you’ve noticed through your wedding reviews that you hope fizzle out or trends you hope to gain popularity over time? Generally speaking, when it comes to trends, I think as long as you’re super clear on why you’re doing something, it will be great. If it has meaning and is important to you, even if it’s “trendy,” you will love it for years to come. If you’re doing something just because you saw it on TikTok or Pinterest or your planner/vendor said it’s what everyone has been doing, I guess I’d just caution you to take a beat and be intentional. It’s certainly easier said than done, especially when we are constantly flooded with imagery and ideas, and mood boards. There is so much waste in the wedding industry, which often can’t be helped, but that’s something I’d like to see fizzle or at least be considered a little more when decorating and planning. Not sure if this is a trend, really, but I feel like I’m seeing an overall shift in how we think about the wedding day as a whole that I appreciate. Of course, it’s your big day, and you should prioritize your peace and happiness, but I maintain that you, as the bride or groom, are ultimately hosting your guests. Try to think of how best to structure the day and make your loved ones comfortable. That can inform so much, like having a shaded seating area for an outdoor ceremony, providing programs that double as fans if it’s a warm day, making sure there are elevated non-alcoholic beverage options, having gluten-free or vegan desserts, small baskets of emergency toiletries in the bathroom, or even just a very clear and informative wedding website so everyone is on the same page. Small touches that make your guests feel welcome go such a long way. 50

#NYOTAculture How do you go about choosing which weddings to review? At first, I was mostly looking at all the articles in Vogue selfishly and only deep-diving ones that spoke to my specific tastes because I was genuinely just brainstorming ideas for my own wedding. Once my videos gained a little traction, I did my best to make sure I was featuring all types of celebrations, even if I thought they would look nothing like my own, and I seriously learned something or borrowed an idea from almost every single one. Now I try to share ones that are a little different or have something unique about them. The wedding “it” factor is real! Sometimes you can’t exactly describe why a specific wedding is so captivating, and that’s what still makes them magic to me. Have you ever found your opinion swayed by viewers’ comments and opinions on the weddings? No, not really. When I’m doing a review, I try to imagine I’m talking to the bride or groom directly, and that ended up being a really good call because I would say more than half the time now, they see my review and watch it, which is obviously just the coolest. But can you imagine if you opened TikTok and a total stranger was ripping apart your big day? Terrible vibes to be putting out into the world! I’m also really lucky in that, for whatever reason, the people who follow me and comment on my videos are the nicest people ever? Even if someone disagrees or would do an element differently, it’s always so respectful. Or at least it is 99% of the time, which seems pretty good for the internet. Aside from the Vogue reviews, though, when I made videos during the planning process of my own wedding, I often asked for my follower’s thoughts and opinions on things, and it was so incredibly helpful. Do you feel that you’ve built a community/safe space through your TikTok? I’d like to think so! As I said above, I feel really, really lucky that all the people who have found my content are so kind and seemingly love and appreciate weddings in the same way I do. When I started doing follower wedding reviews, I was just overwhelmed by the response I got. I honestly couldn’t believe people were down to email me and share in detail about their life, love, and sometimes even loss. It was the best perspective check when I was stressed

in the midst of planning and helped me focus on the big picture. But there really are a million epic love stories all around us. It’s all so special and beautiful, and I’m truly grateful for the friends I’ve made along the way. Through these reviews, you ended up being connected with Sophia Bush, who found ways to add magic to your wedding day. Could you have imagined social media would lead Sophia Bush to personally thrift blue and white vases for you? Umm, no! Absolutely not. When social media uses its powers for good, it’s the coolest thing ever. I haven’t really gotten a chance to express this anywhere, and I’m not sure if I have the right words yet, but the thing that still baffles me about Sophia’s involvement in my wedding is like, who am I to her? You know? I was a literal stranger on the internet who fangirled over her wedding. It really speaks to her character and her heart that she didn’t hesitate at all to just be incredibly nice and generous to someone she doesn’t even know. She helped make our day that much more special, and she didn’t have to. I want to strive to be more like that, assume the very best in everyone and let joy be contagious. It has to be the most enjoyable way to live your life! Are there other areas you’d like to make content in outside of wedding reviews? Absolutely. In a pre-pandemic life, I was acting, writing, and directing in Los Angeles. TikTok sort of scratches that same itch, and I get to combine all three things in a unique way that I enjoy. We just moved to New York, and I’m really excited for this new chapter in my life. I hope I can be someone who retains and possibly gains followers even after retiring the title of “bride” on TikTok. We’ll see! I want to keep sharing about the things I’m googling until the wee hours of the morning. That’s usually a sign that I can talk about it with genuine passion, curiosity, and excitement. And quickly, because I typically have a lot to say.

#NYOTAculture

Theo Shakes Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Freddie McKenzie

If you spend enough time on TikTok, then it’s likely that Theo Shakes has become a familiar face on your FYP. Seen as ‘the man who’s lived every life,’ his videos are funny and relatable. Shakes talked to NYOTA about being a lifelong learner, using the in-app camera on TikTok, and developing video ideas. Has acting been a passion of yours from a young age?

It has definitely lived inside of me, I just didn’t know I wanted to pursue it as a career until much older. From the age of 5, I would have been up the front of my living room presenting skits and characters to my parents. Between the TV and the couch was my stage. I remember this one time my friend Aidan and I put on a three-minute show in the living room. We were obsessed with the Harlem Globetrotters in 2013. We must have been 11 or 12 at the time, and I had just seen them live in Auckland. We found this squishy football and threw it all over the place with the Harlem Globetrotters theme in the background. We created what felt like a real dope routine, and of course, our parents watched us like we were the best in the world. You are one of the most popular creators on TikTok right now. What led you to start sharing skits and POVs on the app? TikTok itself. That fact that you’re sitting there and suddenly inspired/entertained by content that people are making at home felt too easy not to get up and do the same. I saw Millie Ford do manager impressions and had to try it myself. I opened the camera in TikTok and haven’t stopped. To this day, I still use the in-app camera feature inside TikTok to film and edit all of my videos, which isn’t common among big creators. Viewers often comment on your videos that you’ve had every type of job. How do you pick up such specific quirks from jobs in videos such as “POV: You arrive at the hotel late at night” and “POV: You’re at the physio?” Ok, great question. The hotel was simple. It took hearing a distant echoing siren to make me go, AHA! That sound you hear is only in the city. The siren bounces off buildings. You’ve gotta be in some warm, humid city, unlike your own, to be checking into a hotel at 10 PM. Now the physio idea was sitting in front of me the whole time. I had gone to the Physio three times over three weeks. It wasn’t until the third visit that I realized the lady rubbing my sprained ankle was a character. Almost all of these POVs are real people with real lives and real situations, and you (the audience) are a part of it, but you don’t realize that until someone shows you the ordinary thing you’ve done in a day. It’s like dreaming; you don’t know how clever or imaginative you dream unless you’re reminded of it; otherwise, it just simply disappears.

At this point, do you have a specific creative process for your videos? Are you taking time out of your day to plan content? All my ideas are written in my reminders on my iPhone. These can stack up to about four or five before I gradually shoot them all and then repeat. How I get these ideas, though… OUTTA NOWHERE. My body is warm to this niche thing I’m doing, so in that sense, it’s no surprise, but they come to mind based on the things I see. For example, I moved into a new flat a couple of weeks ago, and I walked into this big living room with wood floors and vintage art. I’m chilling in there for three or four days, but it wasn’t until the fifth day that I went in there and said to myself, “I wanna make a TikTok.” I’m switched on, I start scanning the room with another lens. Instantly an old chair perched in the corner with a real character caught my eye. That became a TikTok: “POV: Those old people who run outta steam at the family gathering.” You’re one of the few accounts on TikTok that creates ads that seamlessly work on your page. How do you go about deciding which brands to work with and how to make the product you’re promoting work within the content you create for your page? These brands magically fly into my inbox (my manager - wink*). I work with brands and products that I know I can find a way in. This is integrating. INTEGRATE, INTEGRATE, INTEGRATE. If it isn’t in my style, it won’t work for me, and it won’t work for them. We could try and move away from my style and the style of TikTok, but these brands will quickly learn it just doesn’t work. You’ve worked on short films in the past, such as “Your Vomit” and “Bygones.” Would you ever start posting more cinematic content on TikTok in the vein of @dannijuhl? No. Here’s the thing, to me, TikTok asks for a short attention span, and let’s be honest, that kinda sucks, but I respect that’s what it’s about. Long-form cinematic content deserves to be in other spaces better than TikTok. I enjoy figuring out what works best in this medium, and cinematic portrait style ain’t it. However, there’s no doubt more innovative creators and 55

artists are finding ways to get jiggy with it. I see you. But put it this way, content has to feel native to the app. If not, the average user can sniff you out and scroll off. Currently, you’re training at Toi Whakaari as an actor and artist. How much of what you learned in school do you apply to your own acting in your videos? Based on craft, very little. Based on social experience and lifestyle, I apply loads! My acting training keeps the TikTok creating warm. TikTok creation keeps my acting training warm. You just can’t afford to be a one-trick pony. You have to be able to look at the word actor and say, how many places does that word apply? Where can you act? The phone is the biggest tool right now to start before you can say go. Too often, people show up to their chosen study or training and think, when the clock hits 9 AM I start. NOOOOO. You don’t stop absorbing. To be an actor, you’re a lifelong learner. And to quote my drama teacher, the great Heather Timms, “Real learning is a deeply dangerous act.” Do you see TikTok as a way to help you achieve your goal of acting either on stage or on screen? Absolutely. I’m running a track race right now. It’s 400 metres and I’m in my first hundred. I can’t get to the next without grabbing a hold of the vine that takes me there. Not that there are vines near a track lol. But these vines hang around all the time. The more you engage with one, another drops down. It’s a network. It’s a fan. It’s a scout. It’s a muscle growing. It’s empathy unlocking. It’s listening. It’s watching. And at that point, a hand literally reaches out for you, which takes you into the next 200 metres. And it’s taking you there because you’re bringing the tools.

#NYOTAculture

Words of Wisdom

Bridget Kenahan Interview by Carol Wright Photos Courtesy of Bridget Kenahan

Bridget Kenahan makes wearable art that will heal your inner child. After working in the service industry for years, she pivoted and started following her passion, and Tiny Made was born. Kenahan talked to NYOTA about marketing the shop on social media, the piece she’s most proud of, and being inspired by television shows. Have you always been a creative person, even as a child? I have definitely always been creative in some fashion or another, from childhood I was always making jewelry or different little crafts, knitting, sewing, etc. In high school I was more into digital art, and it sort of just transformed over the years appearing in different mediums, until I finally landed on where I’m at now! It is a big risk to decide to start a business. What motivated you to open up your shop? It is definitely a huge risk to start a business, I’m still sort of in shock that it’s my job. What motivated me to start, and continue for that matter is my daughter! When I found out I was pregnant I really just looked for any means of revenue - aside from my current job as a waitress, to make additional cash. It was very slow to start and I was probably losing money initially but it was getting my name out there. When it came time to go back to work, after having spent some time with Kennedy as a new born I really wasn’t looking forward to going back. Then as I was about to reapply to my job, it closed a few days later due to the pandemic and I really just took the time I was given, as well as my unemployment checks to invest in taking my business full time, and once I realized it could actually be sustainable I just went full send, and haven’t looked back! The home decor you create is unique. How do you take Squidward and envision a tray out of his face? What is the design process there? Thank you so much! I’m really enjoying getting into home decor items more lately, they certainly can be easier to make when working with larger pieces of acrylic. When I see specific moments, I imagine what it might look like if it were actually 3D instead of flat in a cartoon. I find the idea and then see if I can actually make it come to life. Once I’ve designed it and assembled each layer - I wonder what use it could have. I’ve made another tray which is a pool, the water is set in and the tiles on the edge set above, it feels like something I’d want on my dresser to hold rings or some sort of tray use. 57

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#NYOTAculture When it comes to marketing Tiny Made, has social media been the most helpful tool? Unfortunately as well as fortunately, yes! Social media is a huge part of my business, I think most small businesses currently. It’s super helpful because the reach truly can be so wide, also it is free which is another benefit. I try to use TikTok, instagram, barely twitter, but running social media itself is a full time job so it can be consuming and stressful, to keep up with trends - try to follow all the specifics of what will get you seen, and then of course dealing with the times your work isn’t being shown. It does seem to be the most relevant means of marketing currently, and although it can be a double edged sword it’s been crucial to my business. Out of all of the different collections, is there a piece you’re most proud of creating? Yes, actually one specifically comes to mind! When I made my first round of Sopranos inspired earrings two summers ago, after having watched the show for the first time, I really wanted to make a Big Billy Bass earring. I ended up sublimating (ink transfer process) an image of an actual fish, onto acrylic in a way that it was double sided, as well as bent forward so it looked like it was in motion. I was able to use wood as well and all the other small details that made up a mini replica. It’s like I’m “Honey I Shrunk The Kids”ing something and I love the ability I have to make an idea like that come to life. The Adventure Time pieces have been a hit online. After finishing a show, does your art serve as a way to let the show live on forever? For sure! This was my first time watching Adventure Time and I was super inspired by the show. I’ve never made a collection of something I haven’t watched/ been inspired by, although I’m sure there’s tons of fandoms I could hop on just for cash but that’s not really my style. When I see something in the show that really speaks to me I’ll almost immediately think of how I can sort of keep it around the studio for awhile. And I’m always constantly picking up little characters around the studio exclaiming how cute they are because you can really grow to love specific moments/characters! I know that a lot of my customer base feels the same, as they reach out to me about that as well. Which is super cool to connect with others on something we all love.

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Do you unlock your inner child when you work on your pieces? Absolutely, especially when it comes to SpongeBob, as that was a childhood favorite of mine. I am nostalgic for a lot of different parts of my childhood inside of my work as well as outside, I’m always buying toys I used to have when I was a kid. Healing my inner child is like the core of my life it seems. What advice do you have for others who want to start a business? My advice as corny as it probably sounds, is to just keep going. Social media, especially can be super overwhelming, and really the biggest issue I believe people have, conquering or even beginging to try. I truly believe that there is a community of people for everyone’s type of artwork. And everyone really does have something so unique to bring to this world. It’s just a matter of getting your work seen, which can be the most daunting task. I say, just go for it, post whatever you feel like posting make the artwork you want to make, keep trying, and believe

in yourself, because there is definitely a space for you! Secondly, it doesn’t have to be some big elaborate production to start. When I first started, I was making clay earrings buying the cheapest supplies and just making sure things were packaged well, and let people know I was putting my passion and heart into my work. People want to support the person behind the art and your product doesn’t have to be super detailed or intense to start. Also, don’t put so much pressure on yourself to be exactly like other businesses or other people you see! I never want anyone to come to my page and think that what I have is unattainable, because three short years ago, I was exactly where someone in a new business position is and because people believed in and supported me I am where I am today.

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Nyota Issue 31

Articles inside

EDITOR’S LETTER