We were lucky to catch up with Shem Louis recently and have shared our conversation below.

Shem , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Hello Hello Hello! Thanks again for having me share my story, I really appreciate it.

Artistry is something that runs DEEPLY in the Louis ancestry. I think If I recall correctly, I’m like a 7th or 8th generation artist.(maybe a little over/under). I know immediately my Father was a musician, my Grandfather was an actor, my Great-Grandfather was an actor and my Great-Grandmother was an actress and opera singer. That’s just the tip of the iceberg in regards to that.
However, I found all this out AFTER I was already walking on the Artists’ path. I’m the first artist of my family to make it out of NY, so there’s that.

I was always a very expressionistic child. In my opinion, if you could sum up art in one word (I don’t know why you would, but I digress) it would be expression, so I was always an artist without even knowing it. I was definitely very dramatic, very sensitive, and very curious about the world around me, so you could almost say I kind of had no choice – HAHAHA. I vividly remember being 17 and telling a bunch of close family-friends that I’m going to become an actor and everyone almost at the same time all said “yeah, that makes sense,” It’s almost like having a child who looks to the stars every night and then one day they come to you and say, “I want to be an astronaut.” (shocked I say, shocked!)

So I would say it was a combination of genetic factors, personality traits, and an eternal love for the craft, the form, the experience, the being that is art. The elements were always there, even though I’m just realizing it now.

Shem , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Of course.

So I’ll start off by saying hello, my name is Shem Louis! I am an actor/singer currently based in Atlanta, Georgia and loving every day of the journey that is being an artist. (Yes, even the days where I want to give up, as those are the days I look back on fondly in appreciation for pushing me to keep going) If I could introduce myself in one sentence, it would say, “Shem is an artist who is grateful to eyes that watch him, ears that hear him, and hearts that connect with him.”
So basically, shout out human beings! wait and dogs! Oh, and ladybugs! You know what at this point, shout out planet Earth!

Anyway, so I’ve been acting since 2017 and it is singlehandedly been the best decision, and most consequential of my young life. The number one thing I love about art and the creative fields is that 100% authenticity is always a North Star. The camaraderie you feel when you TRULY connect with others whether during a scene, writing a song, performing, or watching a performance, is something I hope every person feels as least 2x in their life. (1x is just not enough).

I’m originally from Queens, NY, so I’ve always lived in a city that appreciates the creative fields in one way or another. However, the more I really think about this, the proximity to the entertainment industry is not really what I’m happy about, it’s the people that live within the proximity to the industry is really what I’m happy about. I personally believe that “art inspires art.” Just being around people who think, love, and feel similarly is a gift in and of itself. Humans need other humans, and more meticulously, artists need other artists. Right, the question was how I got into the industry…

My journey into the creative fields was not straightforward one, and one could almost say backwards. As soon as I started, I went straight into the craft, so studying Meisner, Stanislavsky, Uta Hagen, and jumping into theatre.
I’m an actor who predominantly does film, but I view theatre as the ultimate “tool-sharpener.” I was speaking recently with another actor friend of mine and we both agreed that every actor should do 1 stage play and more specifically, 1 separate Shakespeare play. (I’m currently in a run for a “Shakespeare in the Park” play Twelve Night in Atlanta and loving. every. second. of. it.) Additionally, I don’t find it a coincidence that the American film acting greats (Denzel Washington, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Viola Davis, Meryl Streep) all have a theatre background.

I would say one thing that defines me as an artist is that I am not afraid to explore the depths of the human soul to get to the truth of a situation. Yes, at times, that can be scary, but that’s ok. Whether we do or do not find the answer isn’t necessarily the goal. It’s the fact that in spite of the uncertainty, we decided to continue on anyway, and that’s where the value is.

Oooo fans! followers! people who can spell AND sound out my name correctly (you have an extra special place in my heart)
What I would say is first, thank you for even taking a small time out of your day to hear what I have to say.
That means the world. Honestly, I never thought this far about things of this nature. *shrug emoji*
I will say this – whoever has decided to listen, watch anything I have created/am apart of, again thank you and I hope you are 1. Healthy. 2. Well, and 3. Working towards the life you envisioned for yourself, no matter what it is, with a smile on your face.

(yes I am THAT corny). :)

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

Connecting. With. Others.
I have this theory that there’s a difference between Artists & Entertainers. Entertainers focus on the “quantity” of things. (How many people are watching me? how large was the box office of my last film? how well did my last album sell?) Entertainers want to be SEEN.

Artists deal with the “quality” of things. (Did I connect with even just ONE person through my performance? Did the people who did show up to watch me leave better than they came? Did I express myself more authentically on this last record than the previous one?) Artists want you to FEEL.

In a perfect world, a good pathway would be a healthy balance of both. It is the called the “entertainment” industry, not for “artistry” industry for a reason. 75-90% of the reason a stage production, film, single, or album is being released is because the higher ups believe it can make a profit. Noting more, nothing less. Entertainers figured that out, and that’s why they’re consistently successful. Surprisingly enough, when I figured this out I became a lot freer in the way I would approach certain projects. My confidence levels SKYROCKETED when I knew that I could confidently address the #1 question on everyone not directly involved in productions mind (so, how will this make me money?)

Wait, sorry, I went on a tangent… back to the original question. One of the main purposes of being an artist is using your inherent gifts for ways to help others see the value they can bring into society. If you can sing, SING WELL! If you can act, ACT WELL. If you can crack jokes, CRACK EM. If you can dress, STYLE.IT.DOWN. You never know how being your authentic self can
help someone in that exact moment.
I’m of the belief that Art is actually a being (has a life source), and a specific piece of creation (song, album, movie, play, artwork, etc.) has the ability to find you when you need it the most.

Being an Artist is about helping everyone but yourself, and that’s why I love being one.

How did you build your audience on social media?

So I love this question for a unique reason…I just got social media in 2025.
Quick backstory – I was determined that when I started acting, all my efforts would be dedicated strictly to the craft (and I still think that was a great decision to this day). However, as I began to expand my artistry and started to get more opportunities, the unavoidable question (so what’s your Instagram/Facebook/Twitter or X) kept coming up and… honestly every conversation went like this:

Person: “So what’s your Instagram?”
Me: “Oh, I don’t have one.”
Person: “Interesting – so what’s your (enter social media platform here)”
Me: No, like I have no social media…
*awkward silence for about 5 seconds while staring at each other*
Person: “walks away”

Okay, maybe that was a little dramatic, but you get the gist. It really became apparent when I wrapped a film late 2024 and wanted to help out with promo. I remember the director saying like “Yo, I want to tag you in some posts, but I can’t cause, you know…” and I felt.so.bad. So I decided after that experience that being completely invisible may not be the best course of action in 2025. So I decided to get a website! Through getting a website, my mindset towards social media started to change.. “What if I got social media for everything BUT self-promotion.” Like what if I could use social media as a way to effectively connect with the other artists, fan of the art form, people with a beating heart, & use it as a tool to create value in others lives..? Almost like a becoming a resource that other people can reach out too. When I had that revelation, I accepted my fate and well…

@shem.theartist (Instagram)
shemtheartist.com (Website)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shemtheartist.com
• Instagram: shem.theartist
• Youtube: Shem.theArtist

Image Credits

4th photo – Screening of my film at the Anthology Film Festival in Atlanta, Georgia (January 2025)

Personal photo – a still from a short film named “Oh Johnny” (director: David Cartaret)