Meet AECHKYU

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to AECHKYU. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

AECHKYU, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

I keep my creativity alive by continuing to be a part of the world and allowing myself to feel and dream. For me, I have an ideal world in my head of what I’d want my life to look like and how I’d like to experience the world. By nature, that desire turns my actions into something that creates that– usually internally at first. Then, my actions align with my desires to try to make those things tangible. I believe that as long as we dream and have desire, the creativity stays alive. The work has to be done to realize the reality you envision.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

HEY PEEEEEEPS!!

First, I’m Aechkyu (“HQ”), but I go by Kyu (“Q”). I’m a Black & queer artist, currently based in Chicago but soon moving to LA. What I do is allow myself to be present and as creative as possible with the desire to create a more accepting & joyous world for my people, though that does extend to everyone else as well. How that looks may vary! It could be content creation, dancing, singing, drawing, painting, or even just showing up as myself. I consider the needs of myself and my community, and then I do my best to create some sort of solve to meet them.

I think the world can be really harsh and unforgiving for people, even the everyday people. It doesn’t have to be that way, so why not allow my expression to be something that changes it, ya know?

I ultimately want the world to be a more joyous place overall, so my focus is on creating things that build & encourage that.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I would say that the three most important things for me are to be as flexible as possible, explore my curiosities, and always operate from a place of understanding & love for living.

I say this because I personally believe that character is revealed when contrasted with the world around you, meaning that you learn who you are through experiencing. The more you experience, the more you get to know about you; However, the benefit from this is greatly inhibited if you don’t allow yourself to move through it with a willingness to understand and have care for the experiences you have. Missed lessons, truly.

Understanding yourself is essential to being intentional about crafting the life that fulfills you, and in turn, makes the world a better place.

If I could give any advice, I would really just say to allow yourself to really be where you want to be and to learn to be present wherever you are. What learning yourself reveals to you will help you stay aligned with your best self & interest <3!

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

The number one challenge that I’m facing right now–and many others are–is allowing myself to take up space and be seen more often. It’s definitely not easyyyy, but it is necessary. Representation matters. Period.

How I’m going about this is just understanding that I am not the only one who has needs and support. I know what I need and wish I had in my journey, especially right now. Because of this, I create from a place of giving those things to myself in a way where other people can watch.

I need to be affirmed, so I do the affirming. I need to feel loved, so love is what I dish out. I need community and acceptance, so I offer myself and my values to those who are aligned. It’s really a tradeoff. I give that which I desire, and I believe that the life I’m creating by doing that will reward me as well.

Also, like, having community is really fucking helpful. As individual as the world is now–to its detriment–we actually do need other people. It’s fact. Everything about the way that we exist is through a great collaboration of humanity. I keep that in mind, understanding that I don’t have to do things myself. I’ve made community a priority. I do look for people who share the same values as me though. I think it’d be really sad to have people around but still not feel seen. It’s kinda like… what was the point? :/

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Aechkyu
• Facebook: Aech Kyu
• Twitter: Aechkyu
• Youtube: Aechkyu
• Other: Tiktok: Aechkyu

Image Credits

Alex Hazel, Photographer.
IG: @Alex__Hazel