We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Wi-Moto Nyoka a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Wi-Moto, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My father had many different small businesses when I was growing up. It took him a while to find the business that combined what he loved the most and when he started the landscaping company things really took off. Watching him try different ideas, innovate, pivot, and land on his feet helped me understand what being a small business owner is all about. It’s risky, you have to step out on faith, you have to bet on yourself and be bold but flexible. I think if I didn’t seem him do that I would be a different person. I don’t think I would know to trust myself the way I do without him having set that example.

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.

Dusky Projects produces horror and sci-fi works in audio, immersive theater, and new media for adult and young adult audiences. Our work and services focus on inclusive storytelling and equity through the production and celebration of BIPOC artists.

When it come to audio we work with independent publishers and the authors they support. We provide high quality sound files, culturally sensitive casting, and an easy collaborative production process.

I started this work to address a need in my industry as a writer and creator. I wanted to uplift the work of BIPOC storytellers in Speculative Fiction because I believe that authorship is powerful, and imagination will help us find solutions to present day conflicts. I am proud to have supported authors, voice actors, directors, SFX artists, and podcasters from communities that don’t typically get the spotlight.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I always wrote and loved Speculative Fiction and, in particular, horror and sci-fi. I never considered that I could tell scary stories for a living. My major was in musical theater and I was working in regional theater for quite some time before switching to a full time musician and arts educator. My intention was to keep doing that but my music kept veering into immersive storytelling so when I went to grad school for interactive media I thought I’d be just be beefing up my technical skills. However, once I began writing and producing work that practice evolved into what I’m doing today. It has helped me to look at ‘career’ as something that is alive, responsive, and adaptive like everything else on the planet, instead of thinking of it as a straight line the way I was taught to. I no longer think that a career is something you build, but something you grow.

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

I’m an artist in any room I’m in and I know that it’s not just about what you make but your approach as well. A creative or artistic mindset is worth it’s weight in gold and I find it rewarding when I collaborate with people from science backgrounds and can use my creativity to build something with them. Those projects have been so fun and have brought together some incredible audiences.

Contact Info:

• Website: wi-motonyoka.com
• Instagram: @duskyprojects
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wi-moto-nyoka/

Image Credits
“Wham!” photo credit Adele Overbey ,Dusky Projects logo by Madelyn Hernandez, Black Women Are Scary logo by Vicki Be Wicked, Eden at The Science In Theater Festival by Casey Moreno