We recently connected with and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Yuki, thanks for joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

It’s totally different world, and I’m happy in different way in both. Being an artist is an exciting journey where you can express all your emotions through music, and being a creative allows me to visually manifest ideas, concepts as art, and give me the opportunity to visually communicate powerful messages with audiences.
Both paths offer their own set of challenges and rewards, and each one is fulfilling in its own way.

When I’m connected to both, I am happy in both ways.

Regular job seems very stable and calm, however I love challenges and love to be creative, that’s where I find my piece.
Even if I had a regular job, I would be creating something unique, imagining or writing, I can imagine myself doing that.

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?

Yuki Shundo is a new alt-pop artist with over 15 years of experience in the entertainment industry as a dancer, choreographer, and creative director.

She was borned and raised in Japan. As a teenager, although it was not as popular at the time, she liked listening to US music and watching their live shows and music videos. Even in those early days she was inspired by dancing and singing in front of the TV. She even got an opportunity to join singers and actors school.

But instead she moved to Los Angeles. That was the beginning of everything.

Being at 18 in LA, she trained everyday at major dance studios such as Edge, Debbie Reynolds, and Millennium Dance Complex. After years of study and meeting choreographers, she started to get opportunities as a dancer, performer, and assistant for choreographers.

While she was assisting choreographers, her creativity kicked in, and began choreographing her own work and getting good feedback.

And that’s when she got her first gig as a choreographer and even got hired to teach at the renowned IDA Hollywood studio.

She has worked as a performer with stars such as Justin Bieber, Sean Kingston, and RAY J, appeared on the BET 106, the TV show Park, and numerous live shows.

In addition, she has choreographed the performance shows for Sanrio, CAA, UTB TV, Carnival choreographer’s ball, IDA Hollywood and more.

With her name also growing in Japan, not only has she appeared in a commercial for Tokyo Buono, but she also stepped into another role as a creative director, and worked for commercials like Doutor Coffee and Water Company Melodian.

As a choreographer and creative director for an idol group, Yuki won the “Best Performance” Award in Taiwan.

Live events are flowing in her blood, she has directed and choreographed for countless events across the world.

Working closely with Multi-Platinum Iranian Star “Andranik Madadian” and “Shani”, Yuki created the concept and choreographed their show at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles.

As her creativity and art expanded more and more towards Music, she added another arrow to her quiver and took a new path as a singer/songwriter.

When dancing and choreographing, she not only pays attention to the rhythm but also to the emotion and the story behind the songYuki is one of those unique people, who can imagine everything in her head.

When she sits on the side of the stage, she’s not resting, she’s creating, refining and envisioning the whole choreography and show..

Now that she writes songs, you can imagine her creative process hasn’t changed.

In 2022, Yuki started to show the world another side of her. She released her first two original songs, and is actively working on more. With 6 songs close to being done, 2023 will be a new chapter for Yuki

Dance is her roots, music is her life and passion.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Whether creating something visually or writing, I was told to be like successful people whose style and approach were highly admired in the literary world. People around me believed that emulating their methods would lead to similar success. So, I tried to mimic their writing style, structure, and even their choice of topics. It seemed to work for others, so I assumed it would work for me too.

However, as I delved deeper into this imitation, I started feeling like a mere copycat rather than an authentic a creator / writer. While I managed to produce content that pleased some, I couldn’t escape the nagging feeling that I wasn’t being true to myself. I began to lose sight of why I started creating and, creating / writing in the first place – the joy of expressing my thoughts and emotions through my own unique voice.

One day, I decided to take a step back and reflect on my journey . I questioned my motivations and what creativity truly meant to me. I realized that my passion for storytelling and self-expression were the driving forces behind my desire to write / create. I wanted to share my experiences and perspectives with the world in a genuine way, not just as a carbon copy of someone else’s success.

I stopped comparing my work to others and embraced my own creativity. I started focusing on my unique voice, letting my heart guide my writing, and creating content that resonated with my true self.

As I started sharing my original work, I noticed that the response from readers was different. They appreciated the authenticity and passion in my work. Not everyone may have connected with it, but those who did expressed genuine admiration and respect.

Through this journey of unlearning the need to be like someone else and discovering my own creative path, I found a sense of fulfillment and respect for my craft that I had never experienced before. By following my heart and staying true to my original intentions, I learned that true success comes not from mimicking others but from embracing one’s unique voice and creating from the heart.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

For a long time, I thought that focusing solely on doing my best, producing high-quality work, and honing my creative skills were the only factors that would propel me further in my creative journey. I believed that if my work was exceptional, success would naturally follow. While this is undeniably crucial, as I ventured deeper into the industry, I began to realize the significance of other aspects that I hadn’t paid enough attention to.

One of the most important realizations was the power of networking and building meaningful connections. Knowing the right people and having a supportive network can open doors that may have remained closed otherwise. Collaborations, opportunities, and valuable feedback often come from the relationships we cultivate within the creative community.

Additionally, I learned that presenting my work effectively to the audience is vital. It’s not enough to create great content; I needed to showcase it in a way that resonated with the target audience and captured their attention. Understanding the needs and preferences of the audience and tailoring my work to cater to them became crucial in gaining traction and recognition.

If I had known about the importance of networking and presentation earlier in my creative journey, I believe I could have saved a lot of time and effort. I might have seized more opportunities and reached a wider audience sooner. However, I also acknowledge that this realization is part of the learning process, and it’s common for many creatives to go through this journey of discovery.

Today, even though I understand the significance of networking and presentation, I still find it challenging. It’s an ongoing effort to balance creative expression with strategic promotion. But looking back, I sometimes wonder how things might have been different if I had realized the importance of these elements earlier and incorporated them into my approach from the beginning. Nonetheless, I remind myself that every step of my journey has contributed to my growth, and it’s never too late to adapt and embrace new strategies for success in the creative industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yukishundo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yshundo79/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yshundo
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuki-shundo-4abaa71a6/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/YukiShundo

Image Credits
1. Artwork – a single “Follow My heart” 2. Photo by ddc.visions 3. CAA event premiere 4. Location and photo by IDA Hollywood (dance studio) – during teaching a class/choreography/filming 5. Photo by Karina 6. Photo by ddc.visions 7. Artwork – a single “Fire-Memories never die” 8. Artwork – a single “Follow My heart”