Meet Knaqui Germain

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Knaqui Germain. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Knaqui below.

Hi Knaqui , we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

In this life with many obstacles and disadvantages only two outcomes can happen to you. Either you succumb to despair or you fight for hope. My confidence and self esteem comes from GOD. If I didn’t have a strong spiritual connection then I wouldn’t be able to be confident on my own. I believe despite life feeling like a prison (because it certainly does regardless of success); there is still a special quality about who we are. I believe that we are amazing beings with unlimited possibilities. This optimism allows me to do my best no matter how long it takes to achieve whatever goal I conjure up! My confidence and self esteem are a direct result of my belief.

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

Hi everyone my name is Knaqui Germain, I am from Brooklyn New York. My birthday is 12/14/1995 and my career path is that of music. Specifically I sing and produce the music. Currently the kind of singing is the operatic style but is not limited to opera. I sing basically any genre but I don’t like to limit myself to a genre either. I have been focused on this craft for 11 years now and it has been a challenge. A challenge of grit, determination, courage, innovation, and optimism. I believe this to be all that is required of anyone to be successful at anything. I am just now seeing my hard work come into fruition with singing and it is truly beautiful to witness. During these 11 years I was in college, in the studio, open mics, vocal lessons, and 100s of performances. But no one can truly teach you about your own unique instrument. They can only help try to guide you to your body’s natural comfortable technique. Because singing correctly and safely is a technique. I got into singing seriously when this lady at my church stood up in her red dress and looked at me with conviction and confidence and said, “the LORD said you’re going to sing, so you’re going to sing.” I was 15 at the time and wanted to be a model so my reaction to what she said was frivolous. Coincidentally though I have been in church choirs since I was a child. The reason she stood up and told me this is because the pastor asked at the time church was ending if anyone had anything they wanted to say and she raised her hand and said, “ I have a word for him.” And she pointed at me. So I stood up as she began to prophecy. The look on my face was one of interest. Looking back at it now it really was quite remarkable. Her words changed my life. By the time I graduated high school I fell depressed because I was confused about my life path. And then I remembered what the lady in the red dress told me. From there on the journey began.

I’ve been down rabbit holes with the lifestyle of music. From sex, drugs, rapping and general exploration and cliches the life has to offer. However the journey has been perilous. I’ve been through intense moments of pain, fear, doubt and have even entertained suicide. There is a phrase that I’m sure we are all familiar with which states, “all or nothing.” Not realizing in the meantime until you achieve it all you will have nothing. Another phrase that comes to mind is, “there is light the end of the tunnel.” Which means until you approach the light you will be surrounded by darkness. I believe every musician is racing against the clock and we want to be ready at this time or that time but truthfully we can’t control the timeline. My advice is to live your unique journey and relax. But as tough as it is; it is also supremely fulfilling and rewarding as you learn what to do and what not to do. You are alive and experiencing life and all is has to offer on the highest level. No words can describe how satisfying is is to be the best version of yourself and the pursuit of greatness. Eventually you’ll find your way if you stick with it. I explored to the extreme to figure out what I am and where I want to go and it has led me to singing classically and also creating and producing the music I hear in my head. I forgot to mention I’ve been hearing random songs in my head since I was born. I also hear the lyrics. I believe all people are born with a calling and it’s up to us to answer it. Currently as of 02/16/2025 I am preparing for vocal competitions. The biggest one in which is the Cardiff singer of the world competition happening in 2027. I sing at the Abyssinian church choir in Harlem New York and also am very much into incorporating my singing in my content creating. I have a YouTube account, tik tok, instagram and twitter. The name is @adventureswithyhwh. Here you will see all that I have planned or all that I am doing. The music I intend to create at this juncture is about love, peace and inspiration.

Like most artist I didn’t have any money and still don’t have any money but it it’s inevitable when you have a strong will. But this is also a way for you to be creative in your living situation. For example I went off the grid 3 times to focus on my singing technique and get away from the bills and stress that society has. An artist most valuable asset is time and it has to be spent wisely. I travelled to California, Arizona, Colorado etc living off the grid and building huts and also staying in my pick up truck. I did this for solace and a chance to understand my self better. And understanding who you are will allow you to understand your art better as well. Life is all about the path of the unknown because nothing is impossible and we are not in control. I believe our lives are predestined but we have a choice of which destiny will happen. All we need is faith and then the pursuant of the works that is needed to make that faith a reality.

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 will choose three qualities because character is what we have first before the skill. These characteristics should include hope, courage, and determination. Everything else will come after you work these qualities. When I didn’t understand how to sing and was humiliated for it I didn’t quit on my self (this is determination). When success looked impossible for me I had faith that i would make it one day (this is hope). When I wasn’t confident from practicing a song 100 times and I had to perform in front of 100 people knowing I wasn’t ready and still performed; this is courage. My advice to anyone reading this is believe in yourself because it will be the most difficult path you will ever encounter, but when you believe in yourself one day your improvement will make others believe in you. I don’t know why life is so tough but there is a way to make it better. You have to fight because there is light at the end of the tunnel. Victory or die trying.

We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?

I definitely think it’s better to go all in one area before you branch out. But this is a very risky choice. You have to be ready for the consequences of this decision and the suffering that it will bring. You will be unstable for a while and it’s no telling how long this will last. Especially if you’re an artist. But in the end you will be so amazing that your circumstances will change in an instant and all of your dreams will come true. If you divide your time working on multiple tasks you will never be truly mastered at anything. Therefore your skill level will remain mediocre. To change the world you need the greatness inside you to be exposed. Please understand I am talking from experience. If you’re an artist or passionate about something you understand that becoming what you see yourself as in your head is more important than anything in the world. So you will be ok with being broke and ostracized by societies point of view because when that breakthrough happens it’ll make you overjoyed and you will bring immense joy to those who you share your art or products with. Here’s a little story for you, two men hunt for supposed buried treasure. Rumor has it that it’s possible that it’s a myth and the source is not 100% credible. One man hunts and digs with everything he has in him day and night while the other man digs once in a while and pursues other endeavors. 5 years pass and the man who was focused on finding the treasure finally finds it. He found so much that he and his lineage will be rich forever. The man who wasn’t fully invested in digging is still out there juggling trades wishing he had been consistent as the other man.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Adventureswithyhwh
• Facebook: Alohim Knaqui
• Youtube: @Adventureswithyhwh
• Other: Tik Tok @iwillbeofservice

Image Credits

Sofia Ogneva