#get2know

relationship status: single...and still getting used to it

favorite colour: honey yellow / grey

three favourite foods: sweet potatoes, pasta, rice dishes

song stuck in my head: flu by iu

last song i listened to: your pain is mine now by title fight

last thing i googled: oil free sunscreen

time: 12:11am

dream trip: Tokyo and Takayama, Japan, Ireland and Oregon

anything i really want: to get out of Florida and for 4 day work weeks where I can still make the same amount I do now??

tagging @gaybitch96 @merldruck @starcatching @bibillyhillsbaby @soiwatchthestars @mayathemartian @dripdrop (if you want to) and  @longlosttidalwave & @ohshitwrongdroids who I already know a bit about but I want to know THESE answers

How old are you?

Just turned 24 a couple weeks ago!

How did you get started with photography? How old were you then?

In ninth grade I started doing some research on cameras and asked for a Nikon D40 for Christmas- I think I was about 14 or 15 maybe? I took it absolutely everywhere, and I’d probably cringe if I looked at those photos now.

When was the moment that you decided this is it, this is what I want to do?

The college fair rolled around in high school when I came across SCAD (the art school in Georgia I graduated from). I don’t think I’d ever genuinely considered it as a career, but when I started reading into their alumni stories and that they had a building with five floors dedicated to photography I was practically drooling; it all sounded surreal.

How would you describe your style?

Honestly not very refined! I have so much respect for artists who are able to keep a cohesive aesthetic to their work over time, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to. I’ve found that my surroundings have played a big part in the evolution of my style, for example my work in Savannah, Georgia looks nothing like what it does now that I’m in New York.

Who are some photographers/ other artists who have influenced you?

I’m going to speed type the first artists + people I know who have impacted my work in someway or another:

Juergen Teller, Irving Penn, Toilet Paper Magazine, Henri Cartier Bresson, Yves Klein, Helmut Newton, Venetia Scott, Ginx Hudgins, Sally Mann, Angel Emmanuel, Jay Skinner, Filipe Medeiros, MADE, Hannah Hoch, Paige MacCready, Frank Nitty, Miles Aldridge, Ren Hang, Scott Csoke

How do you come up with some of your ideas? Like the animations of bulging eyes and rain clouds on the runway?

I’ve really got no idea where I come up with some of this crap; it varies from photo to photo depending what’s happening / how you could make it weirder / what kind of message you’re trying to send.

Where is your favorite place to look for inspiration?

Personally, I think it’s such a crutch to just throw the subject into designspiration.net, tumblr, pinterest, etc. Do a little research, derive your design from the subject’s roots, make it have purpose opposed to following what’s all over your newsfeeds.

If you could shoot with one person dead or alive who would it be?

Maurizio Cattelan- I think his concepts and use of color is absolutely bizarre and phenomenal.

You recently moved to New York after graduating College, do you think that’s forced you to step out of your  comfort zone as an artist?

Actually, it was kind of the other way around- I was getting bored of Savannah toward the end and flights were cheap to New York so I ran away a lot to freelance with MADE and Paper Magazine.

There are a lot of pieces in your arsenal that have been around social media for some time now. In a way, we’ve really seen the evolution of your work from regular photography to now more elaborate works with motion media and film. What is the force behind your work that motivates you to keep pushing the boundaries of your creativity?

In any industry, I think it’s crucial to have a genuine interest in what you’re doing- you don’t realize how many hours you’re putting into something when it’s what you’d chose to do in your spare time.  

You’ve worked with a lot of huge brands, and been at a few Fashion Week events what’s been your favorite brand or experience?

(This might not be the answer you were expecting) During Fashion Week there’s two billion shows and presentations to go to and you feel like your head is going to fly off. My mom happened to be in New York at that time so I told her about a presentation that was on my schedule to attend. I didn’t look up the brand, but just told her a time and place to meet me. I walked in to find my mom at 69 US- the most insane denim line on earth. On one side of the room the models were posing for photos and then on the other, they were throwing clothes off and changing right there in front of everyone. Not something you’d think to bring your parents along to right? To my surprise, my mom got in without me (which is odd, they’re pretty strict about needing credentials for attendance). I asked how she got in, she replied “through the door.” I told her there was a guard, and asked what did she say? She told me the guard said “Who are you?” and she replies, “I’m Ginger,” - keep in mind she’s in a full length fur coat, all black, and confident as hell. I guess they assumed they were supposed to know who she was, and they let her right in.

As a woman do you think it’s harder to make a name for yourself as an artist?

Never! Don’t ever let men intimidate you ladies!

There is a  level of femininity and empowerment in your work, do you have to consciously maintain that or is it something that comes naturally?

I think it comes unintentionally- but I agree, I do usually prefer more feminine colors, concepts, subjects, etc.

What do you do when you’re creatively drained?

Take a break, go outside, call a friend, do literally anything else, sometimes you just need to step away for a bit.  

When you’re not working what do you like doing? Guilty Pleasure?

By no means will you ever find me at any sort of reading or open mic, but I love to write / play the guitar, banjo, and ukulele.

What can we expect from you in the future? A photography book perhaps? (please say yes).

I’ve always got about thirty thousand projects up my sleeve, you’ll have to wait and see! A teaser though: one badass campaign with Moose Knuckles Canada, a book with the talented Grace Ann Leadbeater, and an insane collaboration with photographer Andrew Blumenthal.

If you could give one solid piece of advice to photographers/ artists, what would it be?

Never be shy, don’t let people tell you that you can’t, ask questions.

100 years from now, when people look back and see your work--what do you want them to say?

Holy shit.

1. So, under societies view you have a lot working against you. You’re gay, Afro Caribbean and an amputee, was there ever a point that those things held you back ? And if there was when did you decide that they wouldn’t hold you back anymore?

There was a time that all these things did held me back because when I was fully open with my sexuality there was so much homophobia from a lot of straight men . Even Girls in my school and I didn’t feel like I could be myself . At home too, I kinda felt like Hannah Montana because you know how she had to live a double life; I felt like that too.When I’m outside I’m Keith Paris, I’m fully open--I’m myself, but when I get home I’m not that confident, I’m not that open because I have to pretend to be that “ perfect son “ for my Mother .

2. What made you write your book "Amputee Story" on wattapad? What pushed you to share your story?

I was just tired of all the judgement & hate that I was getting online and in person. I wanted people to get to know the real me and there were so many challenges that I was facing that I was afraid to tell my friends and I wanted them to know because I needed a good support system around me . My main goal with my book was to inspire others to speak up if they have a mental or physical Disorder. Or just educate them on Disabled people or people who have self harming issues or eating Disorders.

3. What is your favorite thing that you’ve learned about yourself through writing about your life ?

I’m very Open about my life and my challenges that I went through and also if I’m going through anything in my life I always bounce back real quick . I really don’t care what people say about me they could say the meanest things to me online or in person but I really don’t care .

4. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given that you want to share with someone else?

I was watching this interview And Kehlani was guest star and she was talking about online hate and what really stuck to me was when she said “ you can’t please anybody”. This really stuck to me because on my Instagram I do post a lot of makeup & Fashion Selfies but recently I been posting a lot of body selfies, you know, showing my butt and cute underwear. Fifty percent of people love when I show my body and am confident online but then, the other fifty percent of people give me so much hate for showing my body and wearing guy thongs literally a lot of people in my school were so shocked that I posted a selfie wearing a thong lol, get over it .

5. You have a huge audience, your story is one that people will remember. Now that you’ve gone through so much as such a young age what is your ultimate goal in life?

Thank you so much ! I feel like now my ultimate goal is just to make people happy & Confident. That was always my goal when I started began as a Socialite &  Beauty Influencer. Just to educate people on Problems that LGBTQIA people go through .

6. Your highlight is killer, what are some of your favorite products?

Aww thank you so much Highlight is literally my favorite part when I’m doing my Makeup !. My go to highlight is Anastasia Beverly Hills highlighter in ‘ Bronze ‘ and @CheriGlowCosmetic in ‘ Bronze Goddess’.

7. If someone is feeling scared to be who they are, whether that’s conforming to gender norms or their sexuality, what advice would you give them ?

My advice is just take your time, you don’t have to rush so you can give people an answer . Learning about your sexuality and who you are as a person takes time when I was learning about who I was I didn’t come up like the next day, I took my time and I talk to my counselor and I learned more about myself . So, if there is anyone who thinks they are gay or bi or Trans, take your time and talk to your guidance counselor or find a LGBTQ community center if you have any questions and remember to stay strong !

This past week we spoke on the phone and I got a  little insight as to why her music right out of the gate is so crisp. 2WAYZ began playing around with beats during a high school computer applications class, photoshop bored her and luckily her teacher allowed her to opt out to garage band, and so it began. “ [I went to] school for audio engineering. So we learned a bunch of things about music and music business… I wanted something that was broad enough that if everyone left me to fend for myself I’d be able to handle my own shit.” 2WAYZ says, "that’s where I learned I wanted to be an artist more than a producer….”

As an artist being self-sufficient and understanding the process from beginning to end is important for 2WAYZ, and having a strong relationship with her producer, Rubi Rosa, has definitely helped develop her sound as an artists. “Rubi was really the first producer to give me a chance. He actually wanted to work with me consistently. I feel like everybody else was more  money based and Rubi was like 'you’re talented and I fuck with the vibe'. He is a part of a team that we have, Visionlanty, that’s the studio that we all work out of... Rubi would send me packages of beats, just like maybe 10 beats and I’d pick a couple. Now, we’ve grown such a rapport that we just sit together and he just goes off. I’ll tell him which sounds I fuck with and we’ll have a song within that day or week.”

As a producer Rubi Rose has done a great job at honing in on where 2WAYZ shines, and in one song in particular, Rain, it’s the chorus. The beat is smooth and subtle, it drips like ice on a hot day, it’s comfortable and effortless. In short it’s pure icy flames, my guy. In this Song 2WAYZ chops and Screws TLC's Scrubs, and flips it so that it fits her narrative of dealing with a succubus. Another song, Beetle Juice, Although not produced by Rubi Rosa, is another testament to 2WAYZ's talent, the beat starts off slow, eerie like the beginning of a horror, then is followed by a lofty sound clip of Wynona Ryder summoning Beetlejuice from the afterlife. Then, 2WAYZ's voice floats in, the verse is tight no room for error considering the purposeful lack of heavy instrumentals, then the beat drops.

The beauty of 2WAYZ music is that she follows the beat, while many rappers fight the beat and although their punchlines hit the mark they’re almost always swerving trying to keep up. With 2WAYZ, she adheres it, her voice and lyrics work in collaboration with the beat, and make you as a listener feel like you’re on a ride… and that higher pitched reverb in the chorus…. Come on. It adds the perfect touch of detail.

2Way’z discography is a beautiful melting pot of music from the past and music that is to come. She takes influence from legendary artists, treats their work with respect and moves it with much originality to a new era of sound. “I’m so lucky to have such a melting pot of inspirations.” She says, “I remember my mom buying me a Ginuwine CD, the one that had ‘In Those Jeans’. I remember having Lupe Fiasco’s ‘Food N Liquor’, Eminem… Pink was actually my first CD seeing such a different female was a crazy influence.” That representation is important for  2WAYZ, “The fact that I’m gay, and the fact that I’m a woman in an male dominated industry I feel like everyday I have to fight a little bit more to be the person that I am. I take pride in that.”  As an Artist 2WAYZ knows where she’s come from and she definitely knows where she’s going.  In fact before the release of her Ep Mona Lisa, she’d already recorded a 14 track album that she hasn’t released. She say’s it’s not ready, that they don’t have the audience for it yet. 

2WAYZ is going to go far, simply because she’s not an ass. When I asked her how she stays humble, she told me she doesn’t, “I wouldn’t necessarily say that I’m humble because if people asked me if I’m an amazing rapper I’m gonna say yes. That’s not technically humble, I feel like if you’re in the rap industry you have to be hard, you have to have those scars where you know your shit is dope. To me you have to know that. As far as staying true to myself since I was a little kid I had to fight to be myself…. I’m not gonna flash what I don’t have, and I not gonna say what I don’t do. That shit is so corny, it’s been done. Why would you wanna do what the next man does? There’s no better outcome than his, so I’d rather have my own.”

She’s her own biggest critic and there’s a hunger that ignites in her when she talks about her work, I relate to it, I understand her anxieties and when she talks about being nervous on stage, she releases a huge breath of air, like she’s reliving the moment. Through the phone I can hear her smile.  “I always get nervous, no matter what, I could be doing a show for 5 people, or for 500 people, Ima get nervous. I just want to always have the best performance that’s just the way that I am. I critique myself very much, this is still very new to me, I’m always tryna take from each performance, like okay I did a lil too much dancing, or I didn’t look at the audience as much as I should have. Things like that I always try to pick up on that, it just makes for a better show. I always want the vibe to be right, I want people to go home and think about it. When the light hits at the right moment I sit back and think I know exactly who I am and why I’m here so I don’t know why the fuck I’m so nervous (laughing) it just goes away on it’s own.”

As a new artists 2WAYZ has accomplished a lot, the brunt of it applying and dedicating herself to the vision she has for her work. Her first video on Youtube, Beetle Juice has over 14k views,  and her Soundcloud has upwards of 18 thousand plays, and that’s not including Beetlejuice. When we asked her what 2017 had in store for her, her outlook was positive, “Definitely some fire visuals” She began. “The director of Beetle Juice aka Omar Jones, and me bounce off each other so well... we’re just gonna keep building that so the visuals will definitely be sick. As far as new music, I’m working on a project, but I’m not gonna suffocate it right now. I’m just gonna say that I’ma keep putting out music until I have a cohesive project and a sound that I really wanna go off of. I’ma just keep putting out crazy singles you’re gonna have to hear. I feel like Mona Lisa was a more chill side of me and right now I’m excited to be where I’m at so you definitely gonna hear that in the music.”

Follow 2WAYZ on Twitter, Instagram, and most importantly Soundcloud and feed your ears the blissful sound of her tunes.