By Pauly
Explosive! We all imagine our dramatic entrance into the world of entertainment will be that way. Fans gazing on as we energetically charge the arena and electrify the crowd with our amazing talent. Then we awake from our lucid day dreams and realize that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done before we can accomplish our goals. Today’s featured guest, Wonkachild, dares to surpass explosive as he leaps off stage into the crowds of spectators before him. So close your eyes, and come with WYS to his world of Pure Imagination.
Wonkachild
BIO: In a world of make-believe, creative spontaneity, and fantastical imagination, lies a funky, fashionable, Chuck Tailor rockin’, multi-talented entertainer named Jaqwan “JQ” Sirls aka WONKACHILD (but you can call him ‘Senator Funk-Master’).
Born and raised in Kansas City, MO – the home of BBQ and Blues – Wonkachild was raised on the jingles of live music, Funk, Doo Wop, R&B, early Rock, and Hip-Hop. Pulling his unpredictable sound from each one causes what some refer to as, “The Wonkachild effect,” where people of all ages groove in agreement that dancing is indeed necessary.
As a well-rounded, high energetic dancer and performer, he manages to wow every audience – no matter the genre preference – with high energy shows, leaping from stages and break dancing on dinner tables.
Furthermore, Wonkachild manages to push artistic boundaries and reach beyond statistical limits becoming a professional, “Jack-of-All-Trades,” in the creative field altogether. Seeing the relationship between various creative outlets, he has managed to become a professional actor, graphic designer, web-designer, hip-hop & ballroom dance instructor, music producer, playwright, fashion entrepreneur (Happy Rhino Clothing Co.), and now – published children’s book author and illustrator.
“I have to keep my creative engines well oiled,” says Wonkachild. “In order for my music to remain fresh, innovative and original – I believe that I must also remain a constant student to various art-forms, steadily searching for the many ways they can translate amongst each other. Music is theatre. Theatre is music, and so on.”
In August of 2007, Wonkachild unleashed “Carnival,” his first solo art exhibit showcasing over 60 pieces of fantastical art, which gained major media attention in the Kansas City, Kansas and Missouri areas. The exhibition led Wonkachild to a ‘dream come true’ working alongside Shane Evans – an award winning nationally recognized children’s book illustrator and writer – as his protégé. Being that his first dream is to take over Disney World, he finally gained the tools to see his second dream (of writing and illustrating his own children’s book) come to life with The Book of I.F., available in bookstores worldwide late August, while ambitiously awaiting for his unique place in music to emerge.
Pauly: Wonkachild, tell me: What’s Your Strive(s)?
Wonkachild: My “Strive” is to be the best me I can be at ME and WILL DIE before I let that strive or my dreams go. You can quit, you can say I am strange, weird, odd, unrealistic, and don’t fit in…. But I will not quit. I don’t stress over who I am or who I want to be, because who I am IS who I want to be. Now, my job is to work on being a better me inside and out. I am setting minor goals and being and doing the BEST I can at those goals. True success comes when many minor goals are achieved, not ONE big goal. One big goal creates the HIGH chance of a hit with no lasting skill.
“TALENT you have naturally, skill is only developed by HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS of beating on your craft.” Will Smith (MY #1 INSPIRATION)
When I was in elementary school, I started seeing similar patterns in the arts that related one with the other, such as relating the artistic quality of a famous painting with the format of a hit song – taking that format and relating it also to a blockbuster movie or award winning Broadway play. So in a sense, I am a creative scientist “striving” to find the “ONE” relationship, or pattern, that all VERY successful creative venues share and applying that research — the best way I can to all that I do artistically.
Musically, I market self-validity. Why? The only true validation one needs is the validation from their reflection and God. No one is more powerful than a man or woman who believes in themselves and what they have to offer. But the entertainment industry says that you have to look, sound, and act like something or someone else. False. I don’t need to sell 20 million records to feel important – I need to sell 20 Millions (+) for the people behind me who have something to say but feel they can’t.
“If you are not making someone else’s life better then you are WASTING YOUR TIME.” Will Smith.
My job is to bring positivity and a level of innovation to all that I do, and because I am a creator, that is where I apply it.
Pauly: Where are you from?
Wonkachild: My mind is from a lost section in unseen fairy-tale where ridiculousness and freshness reside – I call it Fantoria. My Body is from Kansas City, Missouri.
Pauly: How did you get started?
Wonkachild: I’ve been an illustrator since the age of 3, drawing posters for my teachers. It wasn’t until I was about 9 that I became very intrigued with and began pursuing music and all of the arts as a whole. I began performing around the age of 10 entering many talent shows by myself – as a dancer at first. I won 90% of them.
While in college, I did a side program (with MUSIC as my only professor) studying the creative strives and stage presence of Fred Astaire, Prince, Andre 3000, The Beetles, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Ryan Leslie, WILL SMITH, and Michael Jackson. Every successful artist, to me, is a magician. What they do creatively is a nothing but an illustrious magic trick aimed at generating one thing or the other. But, behind the illusion (if you can get behind the illusion), there is a “how to” manual or “How I did it” manual.
That’s what I have been on a mission to find. I created Wonkachild as guinea pig where I can apply my research, spread my own message (or magic trick), AND be funky all at the same time. I am now starting to realize that they all are doing the same thing, either consciously or subconsciously, to their inspirations. Artists are evolving constantly.
Pauly: What steps are you taking to achieve your goals?
Wonkachild: Moving forward and seeing failure only as “The lack of doing.” I have to become a train, and like a train I have to set my destinations (or goals) and will not stop until I get there. Each small step adds up to a mile of accomplishments. Again, I accept who and what I am, so I am not trying to find myself – I am cutting a path to get what I want to get done… done.
Pauly: With everybody trying to make it into the entertainment business, what do you do to separate yourself from the crowd?
Wonkachild: I am better than NO ONE at being someone else, but I am better than EVERYONE at being myself.
Pauly: What are you currently working on?
Wonkachild: Aside from Graduating College this December, I am currently and constantly working on new music (writing, producing, and choreography) so that when I am signed, I am a few steps ahead. To help maintain a level of creative spontaneity, I just finished writing my fifth stage-play (and film) at the same time. I recently published a children’s book (to which I wrote and illustrated www.thebookofif.com) and working on my acting craft — working on finding that pattern. I don’t feel overwhelmed, because they all relate to each other. When I am doing one thing, I see a little bit more of the pattern that the arts share and apply it. I leave nothing unfinished – and yes, I do sleep.
Pauly: Do you feel that your art form is a way to express yourself, or a way of life?
Wonkachild: When you express yourself, you are showing a way of YOUR life. My art form is classified as freedom. I never really know exactly “what” I am going to do or create, but I do know that it will be positive. I have idea, but I let the idea develop on its own without my interference. I am me and I want you to be you no matter how odd it looks to everyone else. We can’t move forward and inspire when we are blinded by our lack of believing in ourselves and who we are.
Pauly: What’s your resume?
Wonkachild: Professional Illustrator, Actor, Performing Artist, Author, Choreographer (since age 10), graphic designer, web-designer, and FUNK-A-TEER.
Pauly: Do you have a recording deal, or are you currently shopping around?
Wonkachild: Still shopping around. I have some bites, but I am looking for the best suit.
Pauly: What’s your opinion of the current entertainment scene?
Wonkachild: The music industry is going through a reset. It’s happened every 20 – 30 years. Harlem Renaissance (jazz), Rock, doo-wop, ragtime, Disco, Hip-hop. The business model is changing once again, that’s all. People want something new. Now is THE PERFECT time to be original because it is here that legends will emerge. The music genres are not dead and they are not dying – they are evolving. But like most things, there are those who hate change or learning something new and there are those who want to destroy. All of our musical kings are gone, and no one has emerged to take, not their thrown, but the thrown of a whole new genre or movement. It’s coming though… we just need to stop panicking and enjoy this unknown realm.
It was a moment like this where Michael Jackson fully emerged on Motown 25. People don’t see it, but the 80s were a time of reset and Michael emerged with Thriller.
Pauly: What suggestions do you have for other aspiring strivers?
Wonkachild: In the words of Walt Disney, “Keep Moving Forward.” What others call failures, you should look at as “experiences.” And it’s the persistent, the motivated, and the experienced that succeed. Look at the greats, and while looking at them… look closely at their strive.
Pauly: Any other upcoming projects you’d like to mention?
Wonkachild: YESSIR! Bp3 After Party Concert in Chicago 11/12/2009 and various shows around the states… check www.WONKACHILD.com for all info.
http://www.Myspace.com/wonkachild
http://www.Facebook.com/wonkachild
http://www.Youtube.com/thewonkachild
PROJECTS:
Album “URkEL” now available on ALL major digital retailers.
Performance alongside J.Cole 11.12.2009
Now published children’s book (thebookofif.com)
Pauly: Well much success Wonkachild, keep striving!
Read also
J.Q. Sirls also known as Wonkachild, is the author of a great kids book “The Bookofif”. It would make a great gift for the holidays.