January 19, 2022 - Artist Weekly

Award-Winning Documentary, the Author, Takes Audiences Around the World to Ask the Question, “What Is Happiness?”

Artist Weekly Staff on January 19, 2022

The documentary, The Author, is a feature-length documentary that runs over one hour and forty-five minutes. The Author follows two filmmakers, Nima Soofi and Daniel Irias, as they journey to find purpose in the pursuit of happiness.

Although not the first documentary to pursue such a project, The Author stands out for going beyond a single setting. Whereas other similar films focus on a single individual’s life, The Author invites the audience into the lives of people from all walks of life, from the lives of extremists to the average joe.

The Author addresses the big question, “What is happiness?” From the United States to Hong Kong, Daniel and Nima attempt to learn what everyone is looking for. One of their many stops is the deserts of Nevada, where they encounter an almost surreal world in the Burning Man festival that allows everyone to be as free as they could be, celebrating the joys of life.

They also meet a man who finds a new purpose in the sport of boxing after signing with a gym. The gym takes children from the streets headed for a darker path and gives them something better to strive for. Along the journey, learn about the rise of a nightclub, meet a drug addict who is looking for peace, a career-focused man, a transgender woman struggling in the streets of Bangkok, and a rabbi who has dedicated his entire life to his beliefs. Additionally, in Dan and Nima’s journey, they encounter a monk who discusses his spiritual lifestyle and how his parents sent him to pursue the calling.

Despite the different lives each person has gone through in The Author, they all share the same goal of achieving their idea of happiness. The film explores different cultures, meeting, and understanding the impactful journeys and lifestyle that each individual has endured, bringing the human connection to life by breaking down the barriers put up by races, cultures, societies, and even by ourselves with social media.

The Author has already won several awards worldwide, earning the best documentary feature in New York Independent Cinema Awards, Vegas Movie Awards, Hong Kong Indie Film Festival, Docs Without Borders Film Festival, The Impact DOCS Awards, and Great Message International Film Festival, to name a few.

Nima and Daniel first encountered each other in an airport to film separate projects on the same island. The duo started collaborating for more projects, utilizing their backgrounds to bring a balance to the productions. Although they had completed many projects, they both felt something was missing. Nima and Daniel then decided to work on passion projects to give back, including the upcoming award-winning film, The Author.Learn more about The Author Documentary by visiting their official website.

Singer and Songwriter Jeyaia Releases Debut Single “Rising” in the Hopes of Inspiring Others to Find Their Truth

Artist Weekly Staff on January 19, 2022

Sydney-based soul singer and songwriter Jeyaia is stirring up the music industry with her newly launched debut single “Rising.” The songstress has elucidated how “Rising” is a self-empowering narrative of recognizing true freedom and breaking free from the chains of conditional love. Jeyaia’s music is a passion-driven, artistic expression of connecting with the soul through her sultry tones, ethereal harmonies, and neo-soul influences. The song’s lyrics are heavily inspired by Jeyaia’s metaphorically-compelled story of a butterfly emerging from the cocoon, representing the songwriter’s particulars.

Jeyaia’s “Rising” was created after her spontaneous jam session with a Sydney-based multi-instrumentalist and music producer, Otis James, at his home studio. The delicate songstress remembers how the producer was totally in the zone, playing with some soulful piano chords until she clicked with it and began to form the song’s chorus at the back of her head. She hurried home later that day and penned the rest of the lyrics, ultimately creating her marvelous debut single.

Jeyaia’s musical prowess is undeniable, partly thanks to the fact that she grew up in a musical household, with her mother being a singer and saxophonist and her step-father being a singer and pianist. Surprisingly, it seems that both her parents are in the same blues band, with some of Jeyaia’s memories included being nestled among the many amps stuffed in the back of the van and dancing under the summer night sky as they fall asleep in the grass to the sentimental sounds of Duke Ellington, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan.

“Music was a huge part of my childhood, and my earliest memories are all shaped around what I think of as the soundtrack of that chapter in my life,” the songstress affectionately recalls. “I remember my nan and pop playing Nat King Cole on the player while we put up our Christmas tree. I remember singing in the back of the car with my family on the way to our summer holiday, and I recall experiencing this certain excitement when I’m off to attend my parent’s weekend gigs.”

It comes as no secret that music has played a defining role in Jeyaia’s journey. Coming from humble beginnings, Jeyaia started her career with the help of social media, performing covers of well-known songs and putting them up in spaces like YouTube. As she continued to improve, Jeyaia built quite a dedicated fan base, awaiting the release of her original music. Finally, through her debut single, “Rising,” she can establish her message and energy to the world.

“Music is my everything. I believe in the amazing power music has when it comes to shifting our energetic state; and I would be so lost without it,” Jeyaia shares, adding that it brings her honor to bring forth all the lessons she’s learned into the energy of her music and continue to inspire others to find their inner truth.

Jeyaia hopes to inspire others to take the leap and be the masters of their fate through her soulful music. She aspires to awaken as many individuals as possible to the truth of their divine sovereignty, innate power, and freedom.

Check out Jeyaia’s Spotify to listen to “Rising,” or visit her Instagram page for more updates on her and her music.