We explored some of that path with Yuni Wa as we talked about race in the electronic scene, feeling at home, and the Yuniverse he’s built around himself.

Kendra: When you moved on and started to create sounds of your own outside of the gospel choir, you mentioned creating a ‘Yuniverse’ to in many ways escape the world around you in Little Rock. I grew up one of the very few Black kids in a very trailer trash town so I can relate to feeling like where you are ain’t where you’re supposed to be. Now that you’re older, have you thought about relocating or has the Yuniverse you created made Little Rock a place you’re able to call home forever?

Yuni Wa: Honestly, I battle with the idea of leaving Little Rock all the time. I find it hard to be here because I don’t feel like my type of music resonates with people here as much as I’d like for it to. I feel like most artists from Little Rock eventually have to leave because no one really takes them seriously here most of the time and you can only give so much of yourself until you realize all these other states are going to show you more love. I’d like for Little Rock to be the place I can call home for a long time, but I don’t know how much longer I will stay.

Kendra: Maybe there’s something in the air there pushing you though because since you started about 10 years or so ago, you have dropped like 500 or more songs. That’s something people who have 20, 30 years can’t always say. Is it safe to assume that there is always a new creation brewing inside your head?

Yuni Wa: Yes, I’m always working or thinking of something new. Even when I’m putting out a project 9 times out of 10 I’m working on another project as I release that project. I’m also into making sure you hear the growth in the sound with each project. I’m always trying to find the next evolution of sound that I’m about to go through because my creative process evolves constantly. Honestly, with my music career, my evolution is one of the most defining things about me.

Kendra: When you started, you noted you faced challenges as a Black person in the electronic scene. I found that to be kind of strange seeing as electronic music is based so much on movement – much like everything from tribal music, jazz, and hip hop, genres all brought to life by Black people throughout history. Why do you feel the electronic scene felt that way when you started, and do you think it’s improved for not just yourself, but other Black artists since then?

Yuni Wa: Well, if you think about rock and roll too, people know Black people are responsible for it, but it largely doesn’t serve them because they have been gutted out of the experience. Electronic music pushes white faces to the top of the mainstream because they see that as the most marketable, yes Black people are responsible for a lot of the 90’s Electronic House movement and Techno movement but Black producers in Electronic music aren’t pushed to the mainstream like that. I’ve had a hard time because I’ve experienced a lot of gatekeeping from white people even though people love my music around the world and you can tell if you look at my sites. Even though we are responsible for a lot of movements in Electronic music we aren’t treated with the same respect and we aren’t seen as being as marketable as our counterparts.

Kendra: Your music has movement, electronic foundations, and an overall Afrofuturistic feel. Afrofuturism is something that brings images of TLC’s “No Scrubs” video and HBO’s ‘Lovecraft Country’ to mind. For you, what role do you feel Afrofuturistic music plays on the long line of Black art?

Yuni Wa: It’s a foundation of Black art. It thrives off imagination and everyone from Sun Ra to Outkast in many different ways has articulated different sounds and visuals around the concept of Afrofuturism. For us, we have battled to belong in places around the world, especially in America, and Afrofuturistic music is a statement saying “we are visionaries, even though we have been largely left out of the history of the past in multiple ways, we will exist in the future and continue to change the landscape of thinking for modern music and art.”

Kendra: We can hear all you have going on and then some on your 2020 release, ‘Yuniversity 2.’ Was this album inspired at all by the chaos of the year that will forever live in infamy?

Yuni Wa: It wasn’t inspired by that, but it is a continuation of an album that I released in 2015 when I was 18. The concept was based on living in space and space travel. I felt like it would be good to release an album reminding people of all the possibilities of the future and remind people how big the universe is. We of course are caught up in the middle of one of the worst pandemics in 100 years but the earth is small compared to the great unknown. We get so caught up with what’s going on Earth sometimes we forget we are surrounded by billions of light-years worth of space and limitless possibilities.

Kendra: Speaking of ‘Yuniversity 2,’ what three classes do you think would be taught there, and why?

Yuni Wa: Quantum Physics and string theory.

Kendra: Lastly, it’s hard to have a definite answer when it comes to future plans given the current state of everything, but as far as what you can control when it comes to your career and creativity – what do you have planned in the coming months for yourself?

Yuni Wa: Man trying to rest after my next album comes out a little bit but mostly creating new things until then. I have a project dropping on my birthday April 27th and I’m focused on making quality and passionate music for all my supporters. Keeping them satisfied is my main initiative but also taking some time to relax because sometimes I don’t relax enough as I need to. Hopefully also playing shows by fall later this year but I don’t know we will see though.

The post The Electronic Ways of Yuni Wa appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: I recently talked to another couple where the wife started the business and after the husband left his IT job, he joined her. Was that the case here? Did Jakob see how freeing photography was and leave a 9-5 to join in?

Erin Johnston: Jakob works with me, but not full time. He saw that he could help, so he took a photography class while we were still in school and now he is a great second shooter for me! Jakob also manages the administrative work like taxes for me so I can focus on the creative side.

Kendra: Erin, what did you learn in college about photography that you truly feel you wouldn’t have had you just continued to treat it as a hobby?

Erin Johnston: Having several college classes helped me to take it seriously. There are a few “rules of design” when it comes to photography like color balancing and exposure that when followed will keep your photography timeless. There are a few trends going around now that don’t follow these rules and those trends will eventually look dated. The classes also helped me learn how to deal with complicated lighting situations that I come into contact with…especially during weddings!

Kendra: Was wedding photography always the focus or have you dabbled with other subjects/genres?

Erin Johnston: I just love weddings! I also do portraits of all kinds and I actually have two births scheduled before the end of the year. I’m always looking to broaden my experiences, but weddings are my favorite. I am always able to capture so much emotion with weddings because it’s such a special day that can never be recreated.

Kendra: Every photographer has to be grateful for their locale because every city and state has its own unique beauty to share. For you, what’s the most picturesque place for an Arkansas wedding? Then I can pass that information along to my nieces who live down there.

Erin Johnston: Petit Jean State Park has some of my favorite photo spots. Jakob and I had our engagement session done there. I’m dying to shoot an elopement on a bluff over there!

Kendra: With Instagram and Facebook causing us all to be all about a great photo, have you found that people are more rabid for the best shots more than ever?

Erin Johnston: Yes! People are always wanting photos to post! Social media has been around since before I got into photography though, so it’s all I know! I have often wondered what it was like to be a photographer before social media and camera phones!

Kendra: On top of photography, you deal with fine art. Is that something you create or are you dealers of fine art?

Erin Johnston: I started with pencil drawings. In my art program at school, the first drawing class was a prerequisite to any of the photography classes. All art can be reduced to drawings, and practicing that as an artist helps to develop your eye. I create large scale drawings and paintings alongside my photography work. I do fine art photography as well in addition to my more commercial photography like weddings and portraits.

Kendra: Has anything changed for you two in terms of business and drive since becoming parents?

Erin Johnston: I am driven more than ever because I want to provide for my daughter’s future! I have also become more interested in newborn and birth photography. Having my own baby has made me more confident in photographing others, because I know how to make them smile or calm them down if they are upset.

Kendra: Lastly, what’s to come for you two and the business as we head out of 2019 and into 2020?

Erin Johnston: My main goal for 2020 is to photograph a destination wedding or elopement. We will see what happens! In addition to that, I am excited to see what comes of my first experiences with birth photography.

The post Erin Johnston Photography: Catching Once in a Lifetime Moments appeared first on ZO Magazine.