We recently connected with Krishna Narra and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Krishna thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Currently, I’d say my most meaningful project is my debut poetry book, Linguistic Therapy. It is a book where I take fifty Telugu words and make English anagram poems out of them.

As a Telugu-American, it’s a really special representation of how my mind works, constantly translating Telugu words and statements into English, or even at times, English to Telugu. While all my projects are personal and special to me, this one feels especially close, because it actually puts a spotlight on various aspects of Telugu culture, with a hint of positive nostalgia as it slowly works its way towards deeper and darker aspects of my personality. It felt like a project where, for the first time, I was showcasing all sides of who I was, the yin and yang, and embracing myself, whole, for who I am. I’m sure by now, many of us, have heard about self-love and how crucial it was. But this was the first time, I was able to implement it in a way that was reflected in my work, both gracefully and authentically. I look at this book and see it as a benchmark for the pathway I plan to move towards as an artist, regardless of my medium: a path of brazen authenticity, embracing of both the pleasant and traumatic.

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?

“A jack of all trades is a master of none.”

We have all heard this quote before. Oftentimes, it is utilized as a way to encourage one to stick to one particular skillset in life and master it… Unfortunately, those who interpret this quote as such have not heard it in its entirety:

“A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”

This is the philosophy I, currently, live by and this is how my journey as an artist progressed. It began as a child, with a fascination for movies and a love for playing pretend. That led me to take a special interest in acting. As I entered middle school, my first poetry assignment led to my interest in playing with words. In high school, I slowly realized how getting better at acting meant more practice and and more practice meant I needed more ways I could perform. That led to make YouTube videos, where I developed my skills as not just an actor, but also a filmmaker. In college, two things happened: I found a newfound interest in books and went to my first spoken word event. Both of these factors led me to pursue writing more extensively. Today, I still continue to create, one way or another. Whether it is in the form of a book, a video, a short film or a live-performance, my journey continues forward.

Is there a mission driving your creative journey?

I’d say, at this moment and time, the main thing that drives me is a need to be seen and understood better by both myself those around me. We all live in this world with different experiences that shape our worldview. These past couple years, for me, has been about breaking down my world view and questioning previously held beliefs. In a way, I feel our best work comes when we either discover new aspects of ourselves and who we are or go out of our way to create the identity we wish to have in this world and lifetime. In a lot of ways, that fueled my book and it will continue fueling the way I continue to create moving forward.

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

The most rewarding aspect, for me, is when I am able to connect what I’m trying to say with the elegance of the art form I am operating with. It is very much like connecting a puzzle. Oftentimes, our ideas are like various puzzle-pieces that are scattered. Sometimes, I’ll have the message but not know what medium works best for it. Sometimes, I’ll know exactly what medium I want to work with and what kind of story I want to tell but I don’t always have the take. When both aspects connect, it feels really rewarding. When you are a creator, you get be the the first audience and witness to your creation. And when it comes together, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing what you made take form. For me, I feel like a proud dad.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amazon.com/Linguistic-Therapy-Krishna-Narra/dp/B0B71GWGDK/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=linguistic+therapy&qid=1665634207&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=linguistic+ther%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-2
• Instagram: @krishnanarra
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJyHAh0weCi55A9-4D7SSsg
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOgp9ONUSz8&ab_channel=WriteAboutNow

Image Credits
Write About Now – Xach Blunt