We were lucky to catch up with Zuri Lokken recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Zuri, thanks for joining us today. Are you happy a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

From very young I have always had a passion for performing and creative arts. If you have ever felt like you are in the right place and right time that is how I always have and do feel when I am on a stage. I feel happiness but more I feel purpose.

Of course it is a path that is very sought out and one that isn’t always the most consistent or consistently paying so at times it does make you wonder about other avenues or a “real job”. But being an entrepreneur I’ve learned that you can and should explore other possibilities as far as income. Those other avenues don’t have to make you unhappy or miserable but it is definitely smart to have several streams of income.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As far back as I can remember, I have always been an entertainer. I was always singing and dancing any chance I got and I even booked my first modeling campaign at the age of 3.

But I would say that I knew I wanted to pursue the artist path as a profession / career when I was figuring out what I wanted to do after I graduated high school. I was on the same track like everyone else to go to school and get a degree, when I realized that it would be years into it before I would even get into the classes I actually would want to take and end up graduating with some sort of music degree. To me that felt like a lifetime when I was ready to pursue music then,

So instead I enrolled in a Music and Performing program that would give you the opportunity to showcase your talent in front of professionals and potentially launch your artist career.

Long story short, I did the program and ended up getting signed to a Modeling agency which was awesome, but nothing for music came of it. So again I decided to invest my time, energy, and money in the pursuit to continue to make it happen but through a different route.

I began working with a producer to develop my sound and start my artist journey. That was the first time I stepped into a studio and professionally recorded my first single at 18.

Currently I am still pursuing music and modeling! I am in a music duo with my husband called Willow+Wife. We make Latin/American Coastal Pop Music. In a few short years we have released over 20+ Singles and several eye catching music videos. We are all about being positive and bringing good vibes anywhere we go and especially with our music.

In January of 2020 we performed at the Worlds Biggest Line Dance Festival in New Orleans which was our first stop on a US tour we had lined up. Unfortunately shortly after due to all events being temporarily shut down we had to take a step back from performing but it lead us to really focus on our craft.

This year we have decided to take Willow+Wife to another level. The new music we have, the ideas we have, the video and production we have planned is going to really elevate our brand! Music is our love and passion so we have no plans on stopping anytime soon and we are excited to share with our audience what is next!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me one of the things that is rewarding about being an artist is having an avenue or way to express your creativity and passion, People have many different ways to let out or showcase their abilities but for me being an artist I get to do that with singing, dancing, and modeling. It is the most rewarding feeling you get after a performance is done, or after a shoot is done, You not only feel accomplished but you feel like you have done what you were put here to do, you did your purpose.

Going along with that another aspect that is rewarding as an artist is when your audience or people you care about receive your craft and love it just as much as you do. When friends and family or even people you barley know come up to you and say “oh wow I really loved your song” or simply just play your music without you asking it feels so rewarding. It is rewarding enough to get to do your own craft and love it but to have the people you care about love it too fills your tanks and makes you want to keep going.

: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to get to do the things I love with the people I love.

To be able to do the things your are passionate the most about as a career full time and to be able to provide a life you dream about for your family is my main driving reason.

And lastly to bring positivity and make a positive impact in this world. You only get one chance at this life, so go for it!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zurilokken/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/WillowWife
• Other: TIKTOK: @zurilokken https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdyaWrLS/ @willowandwife https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTdym85FQ/

Image Credits
Larry Bramblett – Photographer Nick Lokken – Photographer