“When you want something bad enough, there is no room for bad faith”
KayraJay
What happens when you decide to solely trust your gut and move according to what your creativity and passion steer you? You become an audacious and badass creative doing things on her own accord and carving a path specifically for her. Truly the artist Kayra J is the example of going all in and trusting your passion above your fears.
Four years ago, she chucked the deuces at doing what was expected and began designing the creative reality she was meant to experience. Her creative roots go as deep as the 7th grade, where she first became involved in art and theater and branched into her college years with her background in Communications giving her the formal training in production that set the trajectory she is on.
In line with the personality of many Gen Z creatives, Kayra is a disruptor of sorts. Not to be misnomered as a content creator, but rather as an artist that uses her thoughts, observations, and emotions as catalysts for creation to communicate her experiences and fuel her work. “My space is a world where people can follow my journey & learn from my experiences, witness my art, be connected to other creatives, and connect with me.” This space is not just a platform of expression but an axis of authenticity that is infused into every project she creates and shines through every reel she produces. Knowing that others relate to her work and what she expresses and are left feeling good about it is a gratifying experience. That feeling of positivity and enjoyment is something she wants others to continue feeling as she shapes the creative space around her.
Creating a reality that surpasses your wildest dreams is not easy, and it comes with challenges and setbacks. Life is a bitter pill when it’s ready. Add that to being her worst critic and simultaneously burning the candle at both ends- burnout, imposter syndrome, and grief have been challenges Kayra has had to tackle. But even the most headstrong creative knows when to take a step back and realign themselves.
Life happens, and sometimes it affects my creativity. When I get into those moods, I usually try to disconnect and show myself extra self-care until I feel like myself again and make art for fun and not for the consumption of others. Lately, I’ve been pacing myself with my projects and not putting any pressure on releasing things until I’m ready.
Taking that time to shift and put things in perspective is vital to creating space and removing any residue of bad faith. It requires Kayra to live eyes wide-open and imbue that perspective into what she does. “Infusing yourself into your work is how unique perspectives come through, and when working with others, it allows different pieces of people to shine in the final product. Your perspective is valuable; only you can see the world as you do. It’s what makes her work relatable, relevant, and refreshing.
The ADULTIN’ creator (a digital series on YouTube) is like most of us, caught between returning her adulting subscriptions but proud of where she is and where she is going. Supporting herself and pursuing her goals against an ever-changing pandemic has not been easy, but she keeps it pushing! With the support of her #1 cheerleader- her mom, the community- especially Crucians, and her family and friends, Kayra continues to show up for herself as only she can.
She hopes to always spark progressive commentary with her art while being a bridge to untapped opportunities for Virgin Islanders throughout her professional career. The budding DJ and future sommelier has a lot left to create and figure out but at her own pace. “You can expect me to continue figuring out this thing called life in real time and transmuting those experiences into various art forms across different mediums.” In the meantime, check out this #SITIGirl’s excellent series and make it your new favorite digital series.
Kayra Clouden, aka KayraJay, is a digital artist and the creator of the web series Adultin’ from St. Croix, USVI. She is a 2018 University of New Haven graduate with a B.A. in Digital Media & B.S. in TV/Video Production.
Follow her at @kayrajay on IG & Twitter
Website: www.kayrajay.com
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