IQue: Fall Style Tips + 10 Mental Health Practices

Hello Fall. The trees are about to show us how lovely it is, to let the dead things go. Learning to let things go has been the constant theme of my life this year, and even more so this season. So far I have been struggling with depression, financial stability, mental health, loosing friends, and feeling the stress, and anxiety of pursuing my dreams and being in my mid twenties. I feel that I am in a very pivotal point in my life. But on the flip side, I have been feeling, and witnessing myself peacefully, and quietly outgrowing certain friendships. I have been blessed with so many amazing opportunities for my music career. I got a new job at the Tulsa World, a job I’ve wanted for a very long time. I have been practicing letting go of unhealthy thinking, and I feel my vitality. The quieter I become, the more I am able to hear, and I have been listening. The Universe is calling me to vibrate higher, and shed my old skin. 

 “Don’t be into trends. Don’t make fashion own you. But you decide what you are.”

Fall Style Tips: 

1. Color Blocking is a great way to make fashion statements in the fall. 

2. Pulling styles from past decades can help to personalize your own style. This year I’m really into 90’s fashion like velvet, tie dye, and nose piercings. 

3. You don’t have to match, to have style. Sometimes not matching at all makes the most fashionable statements. 

4. Pulling inspiration from nature, such as colors, is an easy way to choose a fall wardrobe.  

5. Be you always. Find out what makes your approach to fashion different then others. Take style ideas you make like on a celebrity, or another fashionable person, and make them your own. 

I have always dealt with depression since child hood. But now that I am an adult, depression has taken an even more bigger role in my life with all of the stress, and anxiety of being a young adult. What I am learning is that your mental health vital to your success in life. Mental Health doesn’t discriminate among race, social classes, gender. No matter how good someone has it, they can still be struggking. 

10 Mental Health Practices: 

 1. Forgive yourself daily.  

2. Talking to yourself is healthy.  

3. Care about the way you feel. 

4. Connect to nature at least once a day.  

5. Spend some time alone.  

6. Get plenty of sleep, and drink lots of water. 

7. Listen to your intuition. It will never lead you to harm. 

8. It’s important to connect with a spiritual foundation, or philosophy no matter what you believe in. 

9. Take a break from social media, television, and electronics from time, to time. 

10. Learn how to say no, and don’t be a people pleaser. 

My Debut Mixtape #DaysInTheMidwest 🌵 now available on SoundCloud

  Days In The Midwest 🌵pays tribute to my hometown Tulsa,Oklahoma. The lyrics in my music reference my struggles as a black, gay man, trying to make it in a World that profits from your own self doubt. Liking myself where I'm from, is a rebellious act. My music also touches on self acceptance, and rising above obstacles of my own personal struggles, that block me from moving ahead, and becoming successful. But little did I know that in the process of creating this mixtape, that It would give my lyrics greater meaning.  

Days In The Midwest is my spiritual journey towards finding myself. I discovered that I am a songwriter, as well as very passionate about being an artist. Making the music, and writing the songs was the easiest part. There have been many obstacles, but I've learned that I am my worst enemy, I've learned that God is speaking to me when my spirit is pushing me far out of my comfort zone. Sometimes what God wants you to do won't be comfortable, but will help your spiritual growth.

The symbol for my mixtape is a cactus, because the cactus plant symbolizes strength, and survival, in an environment that seems damn near impossible to survive. This is how I feel about my own life, a strange plant, growing, and evolving in an environment where I have wanted to give up, or even wanted to take my own life because I didn't see any grass, but only dry dirt. Till this day I am still standing strong, like a tall cactus.

Embrace your journey, & your struggle. Don't compare your life to anyone else's. I would like to thank my producer Sol Ray, & collaborator Azia Lue, for helping give my vision life. It's only up from here. Pressure makes diamonds.

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My First Single #CarefreeBlackBoy Now Officially On YouTube

My first single #CarefreeBlackBoy, released on my Birthday December 9th, 2016, is now officially up on my YouTube Channel with the brand new official single cover. Like Comment, and subscribe. My debut mixtape #DaysInTheMidwest 🌵Is coming soon to my Soundcloud account. 

Performing At Tulsa Juneteenth For The Opening Of The Black Wall Street Times

It was such a pleasure being a new artist and performing for the grand opening of The Black Wall Street Times, commemorating the historical Black Wall Street here in my hometown of Tulsa Oklahoma for the annual Juneteenth festival. I performed an unreleased song titled " Black Wall Street" from my upcoming mixtape #DaysInTheMidWest🌵, along with helping the launch of this new amazing media, and news company. It was really great exposure for me as an artist, and I want to especially give my thanks to the owner, and creator of the Black Wall Street Times, Neo Frank, for believing in me. It's only up from here. My new mixtape #DaysInTheMidWest🌵is coming very soon.

Performing My First Live Show At The Yeti "The Situation" Open Mic

Ever since I can remember music has always been a huge part of my life, and I am extremely grateful, and fortunate to now be actively pursuing what I geniunly love to do. My earliest memories of being around music, is my early childhood, at my Elementary School "Academy Central." I remember my Music class, and my music teacher very vividly. Mrs. Hawkins would annoy me by randomly selecting me to sing in front of the class, much like how an annoying Math teacher will annoy you by randomly calling on you to answer a math question. But what Mrs. Hawkins saw in me, was something I did not see in myself. A talent for music. By calling on me, she was actually helping me to break out of my shell, and let go of fear so that I could share my gift of singing with others. Mrs. Hawkins believed in me so much thiat she asked me to sing the solo at my Elementary School graduation, the song was "One Moment In Time" by Whitney Houston. From my Elementary School choir, my passion for music grew, and I joined my church choir, entered singing competitions, and talent shows. Fast forward to present day, and now I have successfully performed my first single, #CarefreeBlackBoy at a live open mic show called "The Situation," located at "The Yeti" (417 N Main St, Tulsa, OK.) 2017 is off to a great start, and I'm just getting warmed up. Special shoutout to my friends, and family who came out, and stayed late to support me. You can purchase my new single #CarefreeBlackBoy now on ITunes.