Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikolas Wilkens-Hays
Hi Nikolas, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a content creator from the Midwest looking to make a mark in entertainment via movies, music, and fashion overall.
I am 23 years old, transgender male and was born and raised in Chicago Illinois. I currently am an undergraduate studying Communications and Film at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and I am happy to call that place home, across the river next to St Louis. I am looking to expand my fan base, work and grow as an artist.
My inspiration comes from Mac Miller, Pharrell Williams, Korn, Rick Rubin, animation and pop culture from the 90s and 2000s.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I struggle with Autism, ADHD, along with chronic health issues such as Epilepsy and Gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying). It gets hard to wake up and not be in pain, have an aura and then go into seizure all of a sudden then deal with an overwhelming bright room, and feel intense emotions. For me I struggle with the loneliness of it all and compared to my healthy counterparts, it takes me a day, two days or weeks for me to recover , get with the program and be at my best.
I feel that my struggles and the downs of my life and the events that continue to happen are purposely leading me not to give up and are leading me to something greater. It’s hard for me to live life on life’s terms, so for now I’m learning to take things a minute at a time, take in the moment and be with the ones around me that fill my heart rather than take or drain time I can’t get back. I then try to allow myself to play and make space to be creative, and make a project that reflects how I am feeling in the moment.
One out of the two of my recent songs “Simpleman” plays on the idea of being an ordinary person, but also the fact of trying to save someone else isn’t possible, and you can or have to save yourself to then help someone else. I also played around with singing about what I do and played with using references about heroes and villains because I’ve escaped and found an identity with comics, anime, and action figures. It was a song made out of pure boredom, it got a hate comment but I look forward to more releases along the way with what I’m going.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an alternative hip hop artist and director from Chicago Illinois, currently studying both my communications and cinema undergrad degrees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. I was diagnosed with Autism at 3 years old, struggle with chronic health issues and have ADHD, Depression and Social Anxiety. It’s depressing not having friends up until 23 that get you, but honestly it’s the way my life turned out. I’m just looking beyond to what I can make of it despite the setbacks and to make new memories and connections starting out my adult life now.
All the pain, uncertainty with my conditions, bullying, mistreatment and what I’ve been through has driven the passion behind my music, my photography, and my films. I am
Always doing a form of art whether it’s coloring, digital artwork, film editing, or working via Lightroom or Create. It’s my way of getting sadness, misplaced aggression, positive energy, or a form of tragedy I feel out in a creative and not a self destructive matter. I feel things differently and I’m very sensitive so it pretty much is the only outlet that doesn’t use science, math, or analytics that isn’t overwhelming to the point where I vomit and panic.
I just wish more of the world gave a chance in my artwork and me as a person rather than box me in as some socially awkward reject going for a degree that will work in academia their rest of their life. I don’t mind that, but I’d rather be talking and doing shows at Red Rock Amphitheater or somewhere in Los Angeles or at the Wembley. Personally I like St. Louis and can settle for a show at the Fox.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I am lucky enough to wake up, breathe, walk and have the motivations despite my insecurities, flaws, and weaknesses to persevere and accomplish my goals and endeavors. Everyday is different for a person like me on the spectrum and can get easily overwhelmed. However it’s luck that is able for me to tolerate environments I am not comfortable with, interact or say hello to a person that walks by and treat someone with kindness because there really is uncertainty and I feel a lot of it. I’m lucky to tolerate the amount of bullying I get for being in uni and having these dreams of making both music and movies and teaching. I’m lucky enough to be adopted into a loving family who wants to see me thrive. I’m lucky enough to receive care and encouragement from a team of doctors and nurses that can help my seizures and keep me alive and well. I am lucky to conduct this interview and share my talents and inspire a kid or another person to keep dreaming.
Rather than someone already feeling uncertain or insecure about themselves, I choose to be kind when I’m feeling down or critically low of myself because they could use that encouragement or support more than I need at the moment.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://underclassproductions.weebly.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/underclassproductions/profilecard
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@upxstudios?feature=shared
- Other: https://gofund.me/ec11cd05
Image Credits
Photographer: Nikolas Wilkens-Hays
Editor: Nikolas Wilkens-Hays
Software: Adobe Creative Cloud
