Creating Content material in a New Technology

Kevin Wu is an American YouTuber from Houston Texas beforehand referred to as KevJumba. Wu has garnered over 2.68 million subscribers on YouTube with over 323 million views. His content material consists of vlogs, social commentary, musical parodies and extra. Wu additionally streams on Twitch and has launched unique music in addition to freestyles. His hottest YouTube video is titled “Good Guys” with Ryan Higa. Wu has additionally labored with many people together with A-Trak, Chester See, David Choi, Globetrotters, Iyaz, Jamie Chung, Jeremy Lin, Ryan Higa, Wong Fu Productions, and extra. He has additionally appeared in films resembling “Grasp Free,” “Revenge of the Inexperienced Dragons,” “Man Up,” and extra. Wu is without doubt one of the first unique YouTubers gaining recognition in 2008 and even had one other channel titled JumbaFund now referred to as Group Jumba. Proceed studying to study extra about Kevin Wu’s journey!

[Read Related: Superwoman and Humble the Poet’s #IVIVI Music Video Celebrates Toronto’s Diversity]

We actually loved the undertaking ‘Beneath the Lights.’ On the monitor “WHY U IN LA” the lyric, “Don’t know who I may be, it’d shock me. I could possibly be a hypebeast, That’s nothing like me, It’s so attractive.” How do you’re feeling this speaks to the thought of self discovery and what you may have realized about your self as you may have dived again into making content material?

I like that tune we did. The artist who sang these lyrics his identify is zooty. I actually supplied the power and course for the musical piece, however I give credit score to my producer Jonum and zooty credit score for the lyrics. Each guys are a barely completely different technology, gen-Z, whereas I grew up as a millennial. I discover that I left loads on the desk once I left YouTube at 23, so once I work with gen-Z I’ve a lot that I wish to give. In coming again to YouTube this time round, it’s all about self-reliance. Coming from films and tv, it’s important to depend upon individuals to get a greater product. However with YouTube, I’m going again to my roots and placing my wit and energy into each a part of the method once more (writing, directing, performing, producing, enhancing). I would like the consequence to be authenticity and a homegrown feeling.

[Read Related: JusReign’s Reign on YouTube]

Once you began your YouTube channel you have been identified to your vlogs and social commentary. How do you’re feeling concerning the new age of content material creation the place there may be way more content material on the market however people aren’t feeling content material?

It’s arduous to say whether or not or not people are or aren’t feeling content material, the style is simply so broad now. It’s like residing in Los Angeles, meals may be very aggressive, and when selecting a restaurant you may have each ethnic selection and even fusion meals. I think about opening a restaurant in LA to be very aggressive and the eye to element in what you make needs to be genuine or hit a sure demographic. I really feel on the web YouTube does a good job of catering to your sensibilities, the so-called algorithm. Nonetheless, the non-public connection you get to content material creators has considerably been shifted, and now it’s turn into extra curiosity based mostly (ie gaming, how-to, music, politics, and many others.)

How do you’re feeling the unique N have modified, and what do you miss most about that point?

I don’t keep in mind speaking about algorithms again in 2010 to 2012. Individuals watched their favourite Youtubers as a result of their homepage included their subscriptions initially, after which in case your subscriptions hadn’t posted something new, you’d usually verify the preferred web page. Then trending turned a factor and now you may have algorithms producing your timeline based mostly on a bunch of information. I feel it’s pressured creators to assume externally and hanging onto identities i.e. What are my pursuits? Am I a gamer? Am I a streamer?

We parodied your music video for “Good Guys” for our Orchestra music camp skit again in highschool. If Chester, Ryan, and also you needed to recreate “Good Guys” at this time would you deal with the idea of self love for the present technology? We additionally actually liked “Shed a Tear.”

I positively assume self love can be a really good theme. Recreating it might be good, really. I feel it’s arduous to get 3 individuals to all be in the identical room once more, particularly after main completely different lives. However Good Guys was one thing particular for every certainly one of us, and Chester See deserves a number of credit score due to his musical expertise. It’s made me notice at this time the affect of music. I actually benefit from the expression of music as a result of it forces you to be extra inventive, versus simply saying what’s in your thoughts. Like poetry, or listening to harmonies.

You’ve labored with many people and teams previously from A-Trak, Chester See, David Choi, Globetrotters, Iyaz, Jamie Chung, Jeremy Lin, Ryan Higa, Wong Fu Productions, and extra. For those who might create content material with any group of people who can be your dream collaborators?

At this stage in my life, I actually get pleasure from coming again and rekindling these inventive connections and checking in with earlier mates or acquaintances. Doing a video with Ryan Higa, Jeremy Lin, Chester See, David Choi, Wong Fu, Jamie Chung, these would all be very enjoyable. However step one can be to only see how they’re doing. In order that’s the closest factor to a greatest case state of affairs for me. I’m not attempting to power any collaborations in the mean time, haha. Except it’s handy.

As an NBA fan you expressed you wish to speak extra about basketball on Ryan’s “Off the Tablet Podcast.” How do you’re feeling watching sports activities and enjoying sports activities has helped you turn into extra in tune with your self?

After going by way of a number of bodily adversity after my automotive accident, reconnecting with sports activities has been actually useful. I performed basketball for some time and I’d wish to get again into soccer. I wished to speak about basketball on Ryan’s podcast as a result of I used to be nonetheless dipping my toes into Web content material/Social Media and didn’t wish to speak an excessive amount of about myself on the time.

As a content material creator how do you stability not letting validation get to your head and authentically connecting along with your viewers?

All of us search validation. It’s innate, nevertheless it’s about the place you search it. These days I keep in mind to validate myself first, by beginning with my thoughts and physique. After awhile, you will get a way if you find yourself needing of validation versus being completely unconscious of it. Generally that sense of validation is essential so we all know to verify in with our mother and father, or see if a pal wants optimistic suggestions. To attach with the viewers, that’s like quantity 5 in my precedence listing, haha. Having an viewers will be scary, you positively wish to be in tune with your self first.

How do you take care of feedback consisting of “I miss the outdated KevJumba?”

I simply smile. I miss the outdated KevJumba too 🙂

[Read Related: The Authenticity and Individuality of 88rising’s Niki]

As dwell streaming has turn into a brand new type of content material now, how have you ever loved dwell streaming on Twitch for the Head In The Clouds Pageant each in 2021 and 2022? We actually loved seeing Ylona Garcia sing Good Guys!

It’s enjoyable, I get pleasure from dwell streaming and I actually admire 88rising and Amazon Music for inviting me each years to be the host for his or her livestream.

What was the choice behind placing your loved ones in your movies?

I put my Dad in my movies by accident, we have been on a ski journey. I feel individuals responded actually positively within the feedback, after which I simply sat down had a dialog with him on digital camera, and it turned successful. After that he simply turned his personal character. I feel I have a tendency to return alive extra when I’m interacting with somebody on digital camera.

We actually appreciated seeing you add movies to Group Jumba beforehand referred to as JumbaFund. Is the mission nonetheless to donate earnings to a charity viewers recommend?

In the meanwhile, no. The Provide, which was the charity I donated to earlier than, has since shut down. I additionally don’t make a lot cash on YouTube anymore since I used to be inactive on my channel for some time, in order that format from 2009 can be tough to duplicate.

We actually loved the ‘KevJumba and zooty Prolonged Play,’ particularly the monitor “With You within the Clouds” ft. fuslie. How has Valorant impressed your music in addition to different types of content material creation?

The album was actually experimental. I discover the non-public connections I made in gaming to be essentially the most enlivening. “With You within the Clouds” was impressed by TenZ and since he’s such a legendary determine within the professional FPS neighborhood, we needed to do a worthy tribute. I feel paying tribute to the stuff you like is a very good way to consider content material creation.

How do you’re feeling your experiences in childhood in Houston and enjoying soccer have formed you to chase your goals of performing? How have you ever loved performing compared to YouTube?

I like performing. It’s a wondrous lens at which to see your relationship to others. I discover that in learning performing, you might be usually actually learning the human expertise or the thoughts. It’s like studying psychology however you might be in your ft, or you might be studying nice theater. Enjoying soccer and rising up in Houston don’t actually contribute on to why I get pleasure from performing, however I very a lot get pleasure from coming from Houston and thriving in soccer. It made me decide to one thing and seeing how persistently “exhibiting up” can actually floor your childhood and show to be useful later in life.

How do you’re feeling we are able to uplift one another throughout the Asian diaspora and unify to create ripple results of illustration?

I feel listening might be the very best factor you are able to do. Simply genuinely listening to about one thing or somebody helps you actually spend money on them throughout that point that you’re there. So I feel that’s in all probability step one.

What made your resolution to return to high school and end your diploma on the College of Houston in Psychology?

Nobody motive specifically. I used to be additionally learning performing on the time again in 2017-2018 once I accomplished the diploma, so it was simply testing my limits and seeing what I might stability. I completed it on-line.

What are your upcoming plans?

Simply experimenting on YouTube for now. Making movies with my very own effort.

Your first video was uploaded again in 2007 and was titled “yard” the place you might be dancing to a tune referred to as “Watch Me” by Little Brother off of the ‘The Minstrel Present.’ We additionally actually loved your video with Ryan Higa titled “BEST CREW vs POREOTICS.” Are you continue to dancing lately?

Sure. The physique does what the physique desires.

Lastly, what do you hope people take away from this interview with Brown Woman Journal?

Nothing specifically, I attempt to let my thoughts circulate once I reply questions. I could have jumped to conclusions earlier than absolutely investing in among the questions, so I apologize. If you’re studying, I thanks to your time and persistence. I additionally thank Brown Woman Journal for placing collectively an enormous array of questions that enable my thoughts to stretch and work out a bit. I hope you discover a stronger connection to your personal truths, and I hope I didn’t disturb these in any manner. Regards.

Photograph Courtesy of Kevin Wu