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

Hi Ebony , thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I am always excited for projects that will serve as positive representation of black creatives, musicians, etc in spaces where they aren’t expected to be. I had the wonderful opportunity to work with an amazing Japanese group called YOASOBI as a background singer for their international smash hit ‘Idol’ which was the theme song for the anime Oshi No Ko. The anime and song were hugely popular in 2023 and it was a joy to see how much it meant to fans and how happy the song made them. I’m particularly proud to be part of the team of background singers for that project as it consisted of so many black singers, quite a rarity in the Japanese anime scene. Working with the producers and staff was such a fun and rewarding experience. Being able to feel the exciting energy in the studio from YOASOBI, the staff, and other singers involved was really inspiring and made me glad to be surrounded by such passionate creatives.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi! I’m Ebony Bowens, a professional singer, model, voice actress, and performer in Japan for the past 14 years. Notable things I’ve had the privilege of accomplishing in Japan as a black creative include: working with amazing Japanese recording artists as a background singer, walking the runaway for Tokyo Fashion Week and modeling for Japanese fashion brands, touring with Japanese bands and singing all around Japan, voicing projects for major Japanese campaigns and advertisements, and being featured in Japanese TV and print news media as well as other aspects of the Japanese entertainment industry.

I am also a live streamer and content creator using the name Ebunnybee on Twitch, Instagram, YouTube, and other social media sites! Video games, specifically RPGs, have been a major part of my life since early childhood, and I love to delve into intricate open worlds and experience rich storytelling with my community on Twitch. I also discuss topics such as living in Japan long term as a black creative, learning Japanese and building confidence speaking, as well as other interesting conversations while streaming.

My journey with content creation started with a passion for Japanese street fashion, specifically Harajuku street fashion styles like elegant gothic lolita and lolita fashion. The representation of black creatives within this space has always been limited, and when I first started exploring these styles 20 years ago I rarely saw someone who looked like me in the scene. There are many wonderful black femmes that enjoy lolita fashion now, and thanks to social media we can easily connect and share our love for the fashion with each other and the world. It’s been a wonderful experience living in Japan and enjoying lolita fashion, while finding a way to successfully tie it to my professional career here. I am thankful for the opportunity and freedom to do what I love!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The thing that drives me the most is the desire to be the representation I would’ve wanted to see as a child. I grew up in a single family Afro Latino household in the Bronx, NY; an imaginative and creative kid heavily influenced by Japanese music, video games, manga, and anime as well as metal, gothic, and punk rock in a time when it wasn’t cool or trendy for a black kid to do so. There were virtually no other kids around me who had similar interests and social media was not the monster that it is today, so I was very alone and content with my ‘weird’ interests. It would’ve been wonderful as a teen to see black creatives living abroad and exploring aspects of their creatively freely and openly. I kind of had to find my own way, which I don’t regret, but as I flow through life I try to represent myself as someone a younger me would look up to. Basically I strive to be the person that encourages other alternative and creative black kids to be themselves and have the confidence to ‘be weird.’

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I can’t fully explain how it makes me feel when someone tells me I’ve inspired them or I’ve had an impact on their life. To think that being myself and sharing my creativity with the world resonantes with even one person, let alone hundreds or thousands, blows my mind. It’s important to me to live happily and proudly as my true authentic self, and I always encourage others to do so as well, especially those who feel like they can’t. Having the courage to share your passion with the world and it inspiring others to do the same is incredibly rewarding and truly warms my heart.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ebonybowens.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/ebunnybee
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/ebunnybee
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ebunnybee
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ebunnybee
• Other: https://twitch.tv/ebunnybee