Thank you 2019, hello 2020.
BOIS/BOYS DO CRY shirts by Tender Bois Club - shot at LA Bodega, Los Angeles, CA - 2019
Photos by Texas Isaiah
For us and many others, 2019 was a transformation year - whether that transformation was good, hard, ugly, or prolific, many of us felt the intensity of 2019. Tender Bois Club was pushed to shift the way we think about our work and craft. We started TBC in August 2018 and in 2019 we both left our jobs and jumped into creative freelance, working for ourselves full-time. We were both afraid of losing job security but we also knew it was time to move on because we couldn’t find a sense of joy in our work. We found ourselves designing everything for Tender Bois from the ground and while it was hard work it was creative work that made us feel good. We designed our logo, clothing, website and everything that would be shared with the world. Just after the launch of TBC, Wazi left Oakland and was adjusting to a new life across the country in Brooklyn, New York. He built his home studio, producing and engineering artists and friends. Now he is producing and songwriting from his studio in Prospect Park and performing his music and creative writing in Brooklyn. At the same time, Eli has been DJ’ing and also producing and performing around the Bay Area, CA, backing other QTPOC artists. He’s also gotten more into the fashion world, styling models for several fashion shows as well as modeling for an up and coming queer owned clothing line.
In August 2019 we celebrated 1 year since starting Tender Bois Club and by this time we’ve come to understand what we are building: a music and creative production house, a creative business— one that we want to always prioritize connection, artists/creatives and black and brown trans, gnc and queer folks. Someday we’ll have our own storefront + creative/recording studio where we will create and build with no bounds. In 2019 we accepted that we are both artists and we love creating things - music, fashion, designs, events, multi-media, etc. What we needed to understand was how to create full-time, sustain and thrive in life and financially. We want to follow the lineage of our ancestors, who were workers and some business owners. 2019 was the year that pushed us to work toward this and it is a beautifully scary journey we can’t wait to continue in 2020 and for years to come.
Chico Chi (left) and Wazi (right) in Los Angeles, CA - 2019
We often find new inspiration in all kinds of people and places — 2019 was full of inspiration especially in our creative community. New York is full of creative energy and so many Black and brown, queer, trans, GNC, folks doing creative work - sometimes for a company and many times for themselves, building their own businesses. We got to connect with and be inspired by queer and trans creatives from all around New York, folks like Brooklyn Boihood, Womxyn Amplify, Wear Versatile, Black Trans TV, New Women Space and so many more.
There is another inspiration we have both had for a long time both individually and for Tender Bois Club. The Neptunes, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, are models for us both musically and when it comes to fashion/style. They are both inspirations for us to follow our dreams and embrace creative expression as part of our work. When we released the first episode of Tender Bois Club Radio we didn’t realize at first but multiple songs that we selected were either by or produced by The Neptunes. We’ve always loved the versatility in their music, and P’s percussion is always reminiscent of the DMV area, where Wazi is from. The Neptunes are just one reason why we started producing and created Tender Bois - we have always been inspired first by our community and other queer and trans people of color. This music is a gift to ourselves and a gift back to our community so we can all feel a little more joy and connection. So in 2019 we decided to create an event where we could connect with trans and queer artists around the country, and someday around the world.
We hosted our first Sessions events in Los Angeles and Oakland, California. Sessions is a Tender Bois Club pop-up featuring TBC merch, vendors, DJs and a live beat-making and jam session. Concurrent with Sessions, we dropped our first t-shirts for TBC, a “Bois/Boys Do Cry” shirt now available in white and our Tender Bois Club patch tees in black. We were grateful to be hosted in LA by a black queer owned clothing shop, Stuzo Clothing and in Oakland, our friends at Beauty Botanica (also owned by queer and trans folks of color) hosted us. We got to connect with old and new friends who brought their businesses to Sessions for vending - shoutout to Two Chicks In The Mix, Sky High Club, and all the amazing DJs that threw down on the decks - and we made some great music. If you missed Sessions, click here to check out the recap!
Photos by Texas Isaiah
As we reflect on all the good (and the bad) that came with 2019, in 2020 we just want more of the joy we’ve been able to cultivate with eachother and our community. When the world around us feels dark, it has always been the music and creativity that gave us a sense of hope and light. We know not everyone has the opportunity to know or be their creative selves in this world, so we never take for granted our ability to wake up every day and spend time making music and art. Thank you to all our family and community members who encourage us both to keep creating and sharing with the world, thank you 2019 for pushing us to lean into and confront fear, and thank you to the artists and clients who value and trust us with your projects. Can’t wait for another year to create with all of you. Love on yourselves and and take care of eachother.
With love,
Tender Bois Club
