Find Your Place
Find Your Place (2020-2021) is a series of conversations and photographs with artists in their homes, captured online. It examines the current intersection of our physical and digital space, sharing perspectives across different cities. Each discussion explores the theme of identity, creativity, and how we find our place and sense of self. Published as an editorial series on Adolescent Content, the series features musicians, artists and creatives photographed over Zoom during lockdown discussing their journey, identity and coming of age. Linked below are the full interviews with the featured artists:
Nilüfer Yanya
IDER
Lowertown
Sophie Hur
Kylo Freeman
Excerpts below. All images and interviews taken over Zoom.
Nilüfer Yanya
Nilüfer Yanya, photographed over Zoom, 2020
First in the series is musician Nilüfer Yanya. Her debut album Miss Universe last year garnered critical acclaim with beautiful, electrifying songs held by earthy yet surreal lyricism. Punctured by intersperses of almost dystopian narration, the album sits in a tier of its own, holding a place in your mind long after the tracklist pauses, carried by the echoing stitch of Yanya’s voice. On December 11th she released her EP Feeling Lucky?—a compilation of three songs encapsulating thoughtful, lyrical genius wrapped around eclectically designed tracks.
For our interview, Yanya and I discussed what her adolescent soundtrack would be, creative influences, and the advice she would offer her younger self.
For me, personal identity is a journey. I feel like I’ll have a different perspective on who I am in 10, 20 years’ time. You tend to gloss over things you don’t want to include in the way you see yourself but whatever you try to gloss over now, you’re going to have to come to terms with later. Sometimes you feel some sort of fear or shame or disconnect from things you feel like you shouldn’t be connected to. Try to push past that.
The more love you can give yourself now, the better.
IDER
Next in the series is IDER, musical duo Megan Markwick and Lily Somerville. Stitching genres and weaving their voices seamlessly, their music bears witness to the intimate, shining a light on the intricacies of familiar experiences. The release of their debut album Emotional Education in 2019 captured the complexity of relationships, identity, and mental health with their sharp, evocative lyricism garnering critical acclaim. Two years later, they’re back with the release of their sophomore album shame, a bold collection of songs unveiling a new era for the band. This time they delve deeper, composing a tender declaration of all the things we’ve learned to be ashamed of. Standing in the face of these feelings, the album speaks unapologetically, never trying to edit or erase—but instead offering a moment to sit still.
I sat down and spoke with them about how their artistic practice has changed this past year, the conversations that inspire them, and their friendship.
If you could go back, what advice would you give to your younger selves or those in the same position?
Lily: There’s actually so much and it’s everything that’s a cliché! I think your biggest weakness, especially when you’re younger, is also your biggest strength, so embrace it.
Meg: I guess I would say to young women especially, although boys experience this too—that I wish there wasn’t so much worry, shame, or regret. We carry that a lot. It’s so much easier said than done, to say don’t worry, but I wish there was more of that being said. The main thing really is to not worry about fucking up, because fucking up is good in the end. You learn from it.
Lowertown
Avsha Weinberg and Olivia Osby met in math class. While bonding over their music taste, a friendship was formed—resulting in their band, Lowertown. Listening to their songs you feel invited into their orb, a space filled with understated, impactful lyrics and an absorbing sound. Recently signed with the label Dirty Hit, they are quickly expanding, carving out a path for themselves as rising stars. Their latest release, the EP Honeycomb, Bedbug, is a moving collection of songs; at different times, it feels like a diary entry, a conversation, or a secret you’re being let in on, nestling into headphones to feel at home and transported at the same time.
Having recently relocated from Atlanta to London, I called them to discuss how they first met, what music has meant to them, and coming of age.
Olivia Osby: I first started getting into music and the culture around some of the genres I was listening to around thirteen, when I started getting into emo music. I thought those people were the coolest people in the world. They were really important to me. I’ve also always written poetry and I’m someone who likes to write down my feelings. I’ve found that music is a healthy place to explore things that I’ve been struggling with, or to take myself out of my emotions and see my situation from an objective point of view.
Sophie Hur
Originally from Australia, Sophie moved to NYC when she was eighteen, pursuing her dream of becoming an actor. While studying there, she quickly fell in love with the world behind the camera, compelled by the empowerment she felt in controlling the narrative. Since then, she has brought her love of storytelling into her work, working with exciting brands and publications internationally. Speaking across different time zones, we discussed following your passion, moving to New York, and building confidence in yourself and your work.
Sophie Hur: At the end of the day, I love who I am and I love what I get the opportunity to put out in the world. I don’t want to take that for granted.
Kylo Freeman
Kylo Freeman is driven by the desire to see and make stories. Founder of the production company Boycott Entertainment, they are inspired by the power of film and diverse storytelling. In addition to their work pioneering artists behind the screen, Freeman stars as the lead character alongside Liv Hewson, Bobby Salvör Menuez, and Lex Ryan in the acclaimed independent film Under My Skin. With its recent U.S. premiere at the Santa Barbara Film Festival in April, it centers the story of nonbinary character Denny, highlighting themes of identity and understanding. For our interview, we discussed upcoming projects, the escapism of film, and finding community.
It’s a great way of expressing that everyone goes through these evolutions but it doesn’t always look the same.
Kylo: That’s so true. If you take the word “gender” out of it and just think about “who am I? How do I want to present to the world and how do I present in private? How do I want the world to see me?” We all go through that...
What advice would you give your younger self?
Kylo: Seek community wherever you can find it.