Midsummer Dream House

916 by J. Yoki. The track “916” featuring Sacramento artist Kkid Menace (Kielan Stewart) is a deep dive into the city’s level of creativity. J. Yoki’s opening lines romanticize the beauty of the state’s capital by reflecting on the discovery of Gold in the region’s river in the 1840s. Social and political tensions follow along these lines due to the reality of living in a city where progress can be slow. J. Yoki continues his journey through his hometown and acknowledges that his life is in his own hands and cannot be manipulated by the environment he grew up in. Kkid Menace enters and begins his tale of transformation and dealing with his struggles in love and trust. These two bring together an intimate reflection of their journeys through life.

J. Yoki is an artist from Sacramento and San Diego, California. He combines visual art and music to tackle heavy concepts and themes he faces. His lyrics are metaphor-heavy and reference pop culture in ways that speak to the issues he is addressing within his work. Most of his music is an abstract piece of how he experiences love, betrayal, growth, loss, and other lessons that we all face in life. J. Yoki is not shy about collaborating to create contemporary pieces that illustrate how dynamic art can be by fostering environments that breed creativity. Through trial and error, J. Yoki finds himself in front of mountains, waiting to climb to advance his path of enlightenment. He is on Instagram @j.yokii and @jessemunyoki. His music can be found on all major streaming platforms. SoundCloud: J. Yoki. YouTube: @j.yokiii. Find more of his music on Spotify and Apple Music.

Photography by KJ Hannah Greenberg. KJ Hannah Greenberg tilts at social ills and encourages personal evolutions via poetry, prose, and visual art. Her images have appeared as interior art in many places, including Foliate Oak Literary Magazine,Les Femmes Folles, Mused, Piker Press, The Academy of the Heart and Mind, The Front Porch Review, andYellow Mama and as cover art in many places, including Angime, Black Petals, Door is A Jar Literary Magazine [sic], Impspired [sic], Pithead Chapel, Red Flag Poetry, Right Hand Pointing, Smoky Blue Literary and Arts Magazine, The Broken City, Torah Tidbits and Yellow Mama. Additionally, some of her digital paintings are featured alongside of her poetry in One-Handed Pianist (Hekate Publishing, 2021) and in Subrogation (Seashell Books, 2023).

Photography by Kenneth Perry. BTPGrayNation Photography was born out of anguish, agony and love after the loss of photographer Kenneth Perry’s only brother, Brian. The boys were born and raised in the woods of Gray and New Gloucester Maine. GrayNation photography is bound to its roots and is growing from that base to the sun. Kenneth’s photography is inspired by Brian’s fearless spirit and willingness to try new things even if they fail. Brian Thomas Perry 7-16-75/7-28-23. IG @btpgraynationphotography