We caught up with the brilliant and insightful YOGI DADA a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi YOGI, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

My most meaningful project is currently the upcoming release of my newest book, “Djembe Chronicles: Humans, Animals, & Angels”. A compilation of short stories sharing my real-life encounters with divine beings throughout the city of Birmingham, Alabama playing my African Djembe. A spiritual journey unfolds as I learn to let go of the idea of “control” and the revelation that God is everywhere…even in humans, animals, and angels.

YOGI, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is YOGI DADA and I am visual and performing Artist. I have been blessed with a full spectrum of creative talents but I am most widely known for my exquisite hand painted, wooden earrings, “Dadas”. My spectrum includes poet, author, vocalist, cellist, sign language artist, rapper and filmmaker. But the Dadas travel on the ears of amazing humans and have become widely known for my signature style of bright colors, funky designs, and inspiration derived from graffiti and African culture. Dadas are always designed with four different designs on each side with a one of a kind look that’s easily recognizable. Custom Dadas are my most popular as Clients share their life story with me in a one-on-one consultation that is then interpreted through my lens of color on their Dadas. Women glory in sharing the story behind their wearable artwork. They feel empowered and seen.

I have been creative since birth. I went through the educational system of artistry and earned my Bachelor of Fine Art degree, but it wasn’t until the transition of my mother that I went full time into my artistry. I began with the hand painted earrings, “Dadas”, in deep depression after my mother’s passing. I channeled her passion for my artistry and her belief that I was indeed meant to create and after a few years of painting Dadas I went full force and started YOGI DADA LLC. Since then my business has expanded globally as well as my artistry.

A few years later, I eventually returned to canvas painting, self published a book, gained an Emmy nomination for background vocals on a soundtrack, made an award-winning film and more. My greatest breakthrough was learning my identity as an Artist, I am a storyteller, and although the mediums change, overal I am an Artist for humanity. I desire to uplift, heal, and inspire.

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

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an Artist is that I am doing what I was created to do. Oftentimes Artists are made to feel that their divine gift and passion is a secondary course of life. Something not valid to pursue as a way of life. I was blessed to have a mother who not only identitifed my artistic gifts but fostered them in every way my entire life. My family never questioned how I would move in the world as an Artist, they just recognized the gift, the rest was up to God. Today and I enjoy and get paid for the same things I enjoyed doing as a child. That’s the blessing!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was that “value” and “financial investmenst” are subjective and emotional, not based on my personal budget. I often struggled with pricing my artwork at a level that felt good for me and reflected my emotional and creative investment. I sold my artwork from a place of insecurity, repeated rejection, and my own limited budget. In 2017, I attended the CoStarters 10-week business incubation course and it changed my life. I entered the class, unknowingly, thinking of myself as a Black Artist making earrings for Black women. I graduated realizing that I am an Artist for humanity whose work resonates with humans so deeply they will indeed deeply invest. Patiently, I had to find my Client base one at a time, but they do replicate and business began to grow. People invest in feelings, and feelings create the value.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Yogidada.com
• Instagram: @YogiDadaArt
• Facebook: @YogiDadaArt

Image Credits

All Photography by YOGI DADA