Creating Content material in a New Technology

Kevin Wu is an American YouTuber from Houston Texas beforehand generally known as KevJumba. Wu has garnered over 2.68 million subscribers on YouTube with over 323 million views. His content material consists of vlogs, social commentary, musical parodies and extra. Wu additionally streams on Twitch and has launched unique music in addition to freestyles. His hottest YouTube video is titled “Good Guys” with Ryan Higa. Wu has additionally labored with many people together with A-Trak, Chester See, David Choi, Globetrotters, Iyaz, Jamie Chung, Jeremy Lin, Ryan Higa, Wong Fu Productions, and extra. He has additionally appeared in films equivalent to “Cling Unfastened,” “Revenge of the Inexperienced Dragons,” “Man Up,” and extra. Wu is among the first unique YouTubers gaining recognition in 2008 and even had one other channel titled JumbaFund now generally known as Workforce Jumba. Proceed studying to be taught extra about Kevin Wu’s journey!

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We actually loved the undertaking ‘Beneath the Lights.’ On the observe “WHY U IN LA” the lyric, “Don’t know who I could be, it’d shock me. I might be a hypebeast, That’s nothing like me, It’s so engaging.” How do you’re feeling this speaks to the thought of self discovery and what you’ve realized about your self as you’ve dived again into making content material?

I like that track we did. The artist who sang these lyrics his title is zooty. I actually supplied the vitality and route for the musical piece, however I give credit score to my producer Jonum and zooty credit score for the lyrics. Each guys are a barely completely different era, gen-Z, whereas I grew up as a millennial. I discover that I left lots on the desk after I left YouTube at 23, so after I work with gen-Z I’ve a lot that I need to give. In coming again to YouTube this time round, it’s all about self-reliance. Coming from films and tv, it’s important to depend upon individuals to get a greater product. However with YouTube, I’m going again to my roots and placing my wit and energy into each a part of the method once more (writing, directing, performing, producing, modifying). I need the end result to be authenticity and a homegrown feeling.

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Whenever you began your YouTube channel you have been identified on your vlogs and social commentary. How do you’re feeling concerning the new age of content material creation the place there may be much more content material on the market however people aren’t feeling content material?

It’s laborious to say whether or not or not people are or aren’t feeling content material, the style is simply so huge now. It’s like residing in Los Angeles, meals may be very aggressive, and when choosing a restaurant you’ve each ethnic selection and even fusion meals. I think about opening a restaurant in LA to be very aggressive and the eye to element in what you make must be genuine or hit a sure demographic. I really feel on the web YouTube does a good job of catering to your sensibilities, the so-called algorithm. Nonetheless, the non-public connection you get to content material creators has considerably been shifted, and now it’s turn out to be extra curiosity primarily based (ie gaming, how-to, music, politics, and so on.)

How do you’re feeling the unique algorithm have modified, and what do you miss most about that point?

I don’t bear in mind speaking about algorithms again in 2010 to 2012. Individuals watched their favourite Youtubers as a result of their homepage included their subscriptions before everything, after which in case your subscriptions hadn’t posted something new, you’d sometimes examine the most well-liked web page. Then trending turned a factor and now you’ve algorithms producing your timeline primarily based on a bunch of information. I feel it’s compelled creators to suppose externally and hanging onto identities i.e. What are my pursuits? Am I a gamer? Am I a streamer?

We parodied your music video for “Good Guys” for our Orchestra music camp skit again in highschool. If Chester, Ryan, and also you needed to recreate “Good Guys” right this moment would you give attention to the idea of self love for the present era? We additionally actually beloved “Shed a Tear.”

I undoubtedly suppose self love can be a really good theme. Recreating it will be good, really. I feel it’s laborious to get 3 individuals to all be in the identical room once more, particularly after main completely different lives. However Good Guys was one thing particular for every certainly one of us, and Chester See deserves lots of credit score due to his musical expertise. It’s made me notice right this moment the impression of music. I actually benefit from the expression of music as a result of it forces you to be extra inventive, versus simply saying what’s in your thoughts. Like poetry, or listening to harmonies.

You’ve labored with many people and teams up to now from A-Trak, Chester See, David Choi, Globetrotters, Iyaz, Jamie Chung, Jeremy Lin, Ryan Higa, Wong Fu Productions, and extra. Should you might create content material with any group of people who can be your dream collaborators?

At this stage in my life, I actually get pleasure from coming again and rekindling these inventive connections and checking in with earlier mates or acquaintances. Doing a video with Ryan Higa, Jeremy Lin, Chester See, David Choi, Wong Fu, Jamie Chung, these would all be very enjoyable. However step one can be to simply see how they’re doing. In order that’s the closest factor to a finest case state of affairs for me. I’m not making an attempt to power any collaborations in the intervening time, haha. Except it’s handy.

As an NBA fan you expressed you want to speak extra about basketball on Ryan’s “Off the Capsule Podcast.” How do you’re feeling watching sports activities and taking part in sports activities has helped you turn out to be extra in tune with your self?

After going by means of lots of bodily adversity after my automotive accident, reconnecting with sports activities has been actually useful. I performed basketball for some time and I’d wish to get again into soccer. I wished to speak about basketball on Ryan’s podcast as a result of I used to be nonetheless dipping my toes into Web content material/Social Media and didn’t need to speak an excessive amount of about myself on the time.

As a content material creator how do you stability not letting validation get to your head and authentically connecting together with your viewers?

All of us search validation. It’s innate, but it surely’s about the place you search it. These days I bear in mind to validate myself first, by beginning with my thoughts and physique. After awhile, you will get a way when you’re needing of validation versus being completely unconscious of it. Typically that sense of validation is necessary so we all know to examine in with our dad and mom, or see if a pal wants optimistic suggestions. To attach with the viewers, that’s like quantity 5 in my precedence checklist, haha. Having an viewers could be scary, you undoubtedly need to be in tune with your self first.

How do you take care of feedback consisting of “I miss the outdated KevJumba?”

I simply smile. I miss the outdated KevJumba too 🙂

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As stay streaming has turn out to be a brand new type of content material now, how have you ever loved stay streaming on Twitch for the Head In The Clouds Pageant each in 2021 and 2022? We actually loved seeing Ylona Garcia sing “Good Guys!”

It’s enjoyable, I get pleasure from stay streaming and I actually recognize 88rising and Amazon Music for inviting me each years to be the host for his or her livestream.

What was the choice behind placing your loved ones in your movies?

I put my Dad in my movies by chance, we have been on a ski journey. I feel individuals responded actually positively within the feedback, after which I simply sat down had a dialog with him on digicam, and it turned successful. After that he simply turned his personal character. I feel I have a tendency to come back alive extra when I’m interacting with somebody on digicam.

We actually preferred seeing you add movies to Workforce Jumba beforehand generally known as JumbaFund. Is the mission nonetheless to donate earnings to a charity viewers recommend?

For the time being, no. The Provide, which was the charity I donated to earlier than, has since shut down. I additionally don’t make a lot cash on YouTube anymore since I used to be inactive on my channel for some time, in order that format from 2009 shall be troublesome to copy.

We actually loved the ‘KevJumba and zooty Prolonged Play,’ particularly the observe “With You within the Clouds” ft. fuslie. How has Valorant impressed your music in addition to different types of content material creation?

The album was actually experimental. I discover the non-public connections I made in gaming to be probably the most enlivening. “With You within the Clouds” was impressed by TenZ and since he’s such a legendary determine within the professional FPS neighborhood, we needed to do a worthy tribute. I feel paying tribute to the belongings you like is a very smart way to consider content material creation.

How do you’re feeling your experiences in childhood in Houston and taking part in soccer have formed you to chase your goals of performing? How have you ever loved performing compared to YouTube?

I like performing. It’s a wondrous lens at which to see your relationship to others. I discover that in learning performing, you might be typically actually learning the human expertise or the thoughts. It’s like studying psychology however you might be in your toes, or you might be studying nice theater. Taking part in soccer and rising up in Houston don’t actually contribute on to why I get pleasure from performing, however I very a lot get pleasure from coming from Houston and thriving in soccer. It made me decide to one thing and seeing how constantly “exhibiting up” can actually floor your childhood and show to be invaluable later in life.

How do you’re feeling we are able to uplift one another throughout the Asian diaspora and unify to create ripple results of illustration?

I feel listening might be the very best factor you are able to do. Simply genuinely listening to about one thing or somebody helps you actually put money into them throughout that point that you’re there. So I feel that’s in all probability step one.

What made your choice to return to high school and end your diploma on the College of Houston in Psychology?

Nobody cause particularly. I used to be additionally learning performing on the time again in 2017-2018 after I accomplished the diploma, so it was simply testing my limits and seeing what I might stability. I completed it on-line.

What are your upcoming plans?

Simply experimenting on YouTube for now. Making movies with my very own effort.

Your first video was uploaded again in 2007 and was titled “yard” the place you might be dancing to a track known as “Watch Me” by Little Brother off of the ‘The Minstrel Present.’ We additionally actually loved your video with Ryan Higa titled “BEST CREW vs POREOTICS.” Are you continue to dancing lately?

Sure. The physique does what the physique desires.

Lastly, what do you hope people take away from this interview with Brown Lady Journal?

Nothing particularly, I attempt to let my thoughts move after I reply questions. I could have jumped to conclusions earlier than absolutely investing in a few of the questions, so I apologize. If you’re studying, I thanks on your time and endurance. I additionally thank Brown Lady Journal for placing collectively an enormous array of questions that permit my thoughts to stretch and work out a bit. I hope you discover a stronger connection to your personal truths, and I hope I didn’t disturb these in any method. Regards.

Picture Courtesy of Kevin Wu