Young, Original & Black

What role does sampling or borrowing play in making art? Do you feel special pressure to reinvent the wheel or make something groundbreaking as a black artist? Should you make a burner account for your art? (The answer is yes.) I dug into these questions and more in this episode with Davon Clark, a poet, photographer and all-around creative. We explored all things form and function as it relates to being a young, black artist creating both the work and ourselves in the social media age. CONNECT WITH DAVON Instagram: @daybydavon DAVON'S “CREATIVES YOU SHOULD KNOW” Toaster Henderson, poet and teaching artist: @hiimtoaster Devin Allen, photographer: @bydvnlln Dave Gaines, poet: @davegpoetry CREDITS Produced by Aisha Oxley Audio Mixing & Engineering by Melody Rowell at Yellow Armadillo Studios Original theme music by Jason Ivy and Chris Bivins Original Music "Lapis Lazuli" by Sarah the Illstrumentalist CONNECT WITH YO&B Official IG: @young_original_andblack Aisha's personal IG: @aishainprogress SEND ME A MESSAGE aisha@alloriginalbyao.com

“The inputs don't go anywhere.” This is what visual artist and relationship manager, Damiane Nickles, discovered after several years when he wasn't actively making art. While he explored careers in hospitality, food systems, and eventually launched his business, Not a Plant Shop, he was collecting some invaluable “inputs” that would lead him back to painting. In our conversation, we dig into Damiane's journey as he found his way into the arts, out of it, and back again, how he balances his day job and career as a complement to his art practice, and his insights on creating in general. INFO ON DAMIANE'S SOLO SHOW “PASS WITH CARE” Closing reception is today, July 9th, 2022 from 6-9 pm at The Martin in Chicago Exhibition info CONNECT WITH DAMIANE Instagram: @notaplantshop DAMIANE'S “CREATIVES YOU SHOULD KNOW” IB, Founder of Refine Collective: IG @ibonitt Lexander Bryant, photographer and visual artist: IG @orgnzd.visuals CREDITS Produced by Aisha Oxley Audio Mixing & Engineering by Melody Rowell at Yellow Armadillo Studios Original theme music by Jason Ivy and Chris Bivins Original Music "Lapis Lazuli" by Sarah the Illstrumentalist CONNECT WITH YO&B Official IG: @young_original_andblack Aisha's personal IG: @aishainprogress SEND ME A MESSAGE aisha@alloriginalbyao.com

What would your art diary sound like? How would you describe your process when you're in the midst of it? What about after? I asked myself those questions (and more) and the result was a series of “dispatches” — raw, mostly uncensored voice notes that I used to track my artistic process and the contexts for it. In this season 3 opener, you'll hear from versions of myself spanning over a year as my artistic perspective and priorities evolved with my life and the world around me. CREDITS Produced by Aisha Oxley Audio Mixing & Engineering by Melody Rowell at Yellow Armadillo Studios Original theme music by Jason Ivy and Chris Bivins Original Music "Lapis Lazuli" by Sarah the Illstrumentalist CONNECT WITH YO&B Official IG: @young_original_andblack Aisha's personal IG: @aishainprogress SEND ME A MESSAGE aisha@alloriginalbyao.com

It's no longer black history month, but let's be honest: black history is year round. In this special solo episode, I share fun facts about two of my favorite black creative icons, Sade and Nina Simone, plus my reviews of two TV shows rooted in black history that have been inspiring me, Snowfall and Queen Sugar. Keep up with Aisha and the show on Instagram: @aishainprogress @young_original_andblack

In honor of Valentine's Day, I chatted with some black creatives about what dating is like as a creative. In this second minisode, I talked to Morgan Jackson, an up and coming photographer and videographer, about why respect is the baseline for all her relationships, dating other creatives, and who gives the best gifts. Follow Morgan and her work: on Instagram Keep up with Aisha and the show on Instagram: @aishainprogress @young_original_andblack

In honor of Valentine's Day, I chatted with some black creatives about what dating is like as a creative. In this first minisode, I talked to Lena Townsell, who's both an art therapist in the making and a jack of all trades creative, about how she sets boundaries in relationships, what it means to be demisexual, how she lets people know she is not chill, and more. Follow Lena and her work: on Instagram on Twitter Keep up with Aisha and the show on Instagram: @aishainprogress @young_original_andblack

On today's episode, we're trying something different to close out the year! UK-based singer and songwriter Lucy DK joins me for a chat about the work from black creatives that has been inspiring us to keep creating. See below for our picks and their respective timestamps: 10:00 I May Destroy You, Michael Coel (Drama TV Series) TW: SEXUAL ASSAULT 16:49 Homie by Danez Smith (Poetry Book) 30:16 I Can Make You Feel Good, Tyler Mitchell (Photography Exhibition and Photo Book) 45:33 For Broken Ears, Tems (R&B/Afrobeats EP) 53:25 Portraits, Bisa Butler (Visual Art Exhibition) 01:02:24 Ho, why is you here?, Flo Milli (Hip Hop/Rap album) Follow Lucy and her work: on Instagram on Twitter website Pass it Forward Creative Shoutouts: Curt Summers: Instagram Tia Carys: Instagram Lisa: Poem in Symposeum Magazine Keep up with Aisha and the show on Instagram: @aishainprogress @alloriginalbyao

In this episode, I talked with Nikk Rich, a beauty and lifestyle photographer whose gorgeous images center black women. We discussed: The sacrifices she's made to pursue photography: from 4 hour bus rides to her internship in NYC and waitressing for a year to fund her move to LA The advice she'd give to younger black photographers Why she chooses to shoot black women How she approaches the conversation around representation in creative industries And much more… Follow Nikk and her work: on Instagram website Pass it Forward Creative Shoutouts: Ervin Johnson: Instagram photodre: Instagram Keep up with Aisha and the show on Instagram: @aishainprogress @alloriginalbyao

In this episode, I was honored to speak with Aurielle Lucier, a poet and radical organizer whose resume has firmly established her as both. We discussed: How she uses storytelling to make the movement more relatable The role of artists in kick starting our collective imagination & Why pace is so important to the longevity of artists/organizers in the movement … & much more! Follow Aurielle and her work: on Instagram on Twitter website Pass it Forward Creative Shoutouts: Imani Davis: Instagram | Twitter Jabari Jawan Allen: Twitter Kelly Augustine: Instagram Keep up with Aisha and the show on Instagram: @aishainprogress @alloriginalbyao

In this episode, I share some solo reflections after my recent 26th birthday and other developments that have brought me peace in my creative journey. I recap my nonlinear career path in the first half of my twenties, my top 3 lessons from those years, and what I'm manifesting in my creative journey going forward. Keep up with me and the show: @aishainprogress @alloriginalbyao

We're back for season 2! In this episode, I was honored to speak with bria royal, a quiet force. They're a multidisciplinary creative whose work spans animation, visual effects, comix, zines, painting, and more. We talked about their journey to finding their voice as both an artist and activist simultaneously, what it means to heal radically, and why making the thing you really want to make can be hard, but so necessary. Find bria: on Instagram on Twitter website Pass it Forward Shoutouts: Olivia Peace: Instagram and Twitter Shakinah Starks: Instagram and Twitter

In this episode, I welcomed the very first guest of the show: Jason Ivy! He's an R&B singer, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur, activist and generally a lovely person. We talked about his background growing up in Chicago, studying neuroscience, what manifestation means to him, everything he's got in the works and much more… Find Jason: on Instagram @thejasonivy on Spotify Jason Ivy Pass it Forward Shoutouts: Ahsley Nosike @nosikelive Sherrion @sherrionn Eartha Slicc @earthaslicc Follow Young, Original & Black: on Instagram @alloriginalbyao

In this episode, I invited several creatives (friends and folks who I admire) to answer some questions about their quarantine experience. They give insight on changes to their creative process, what their self care is looking like, and the future they're hoping for on the other side. Many thanks to all the creatives who participated! Follow them on Instagram at their handles below: Letesha Renee @_letesharenee Kovey Coles @koveyc Melvin Knight @melvinknightmusic Taylor Gray @officialtaylorgray Ciera McKissick@mister.ms Curt Summers @curtsummers_ Chantelle Ekanem @kokoeyen Asanni Armon @asanniarmon Dominique Ashanti @dominiqueashanti Achille Tenkiang @bamichic_ Lovia Gyarkye @simplylovia Kat Looney @thekathedral Lucy DK @lucyydk

In this episode, I get into my background, my identity as a creative and how this show came to be! Remember to subscribe if you like what you hear. New episodes will be released every other Tuesday. + Follow me on Instagram for updates: @alloriginalbyao Special thanks to Chris Bivins (@buddaflywolf_) and Jason Ivy (@thejasonivy) for the intro theme music.