We had the good fortune of connecting with Rylan Benèt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rylan, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
Challenges that feel like they are stopping my entire world can be tough. In times of stress where I don’t know when to give up or keep going, I usually opt to take a break. It can help to take a walk and listen to music to get my mind off of a challenging situation.

In cases when I feel that I’m wasting my time on something I won’t enjoy doing in the future, I give up, especially if I feel that it is no longer bringing me joy or adding any value to my happiness. In cases where I feel my future self will be proud of me, I keep going especially if I feel fulfilled while working on specific tasks.

In the past, I have given up on uploading videos to YouTube because I didn’t know what topics I wanted to focus on. This month marks my one-year anniversary of consistently uploading videos to YouTube. After gaining more engagement on Instagram, I knew YouTube was something I needed to add to my repertoire. At this point, I took a short break from content creation for Instagram to regroup and realign with my YouTube goals.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I watched a lot of television growing up and still maintain that proactiveness to catch up on the latest shows. To say watching tv didn’t influence me as a person would be a lie. My art utilizes many references to the oversaturation of content that we see today and utilizes characteristics of subliminal propaganda.

I started by making short video amv edits and posting those to my Instagram story. Once I gained enough confidence in editing, I started to put myself out there by doing photoshoots at home, editing those photos with a maximalist/glitchcore/cyber aesthetic, and scheduling posts.

I also run an Atlanta art newsletter, We Heart ATL Artists that informs local artists on jobs, art calls, news, and events. Then there are my YouTube channels that discuss themes like anime, viral fashion trends, and nostalgia.

Consistency, self-determination, and a willingness to expand my work helped me get to where I am today. For your next project, you don’t have to have the shiniest and newest equipment. Taking 15 minutes to focus on your goals will benefit you.

If I have 15 minutes of free time, you can catch me researching for my next YouTube video or scrolling Pinterest to spark inspiration for my next design.

It was not easy for me and it is still not easy for me. Honestly, every day is a struggle and I continue to hope that one day my content will hit the algorithm to be seen by the masses. But until that day comes, I’ll continue to look for new ways to relate to broader audiences and upgrade.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Living in the city of Atlanta, there is always some event to attend, or new businesses popping up around your area to visit. My favorite things to do in the city that I would highly recommend to others are visiting some of the weekend markets that showcase local artists, and creators. The Vintage Pop-Up by Artists & Fleas is hosted at Ponce City Market every Saturday, and walking to it on the Beltline is a great activity.

I’m a die-hard fan of any event that is tailored for nerds as well. Momocon is an anime convention that is coming up at the end of May. Anime and pop culture conventions like Dragoncon are big events that I recommend to all my friends interested in those industries.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m not someone that typically asks for help because dependability can be tough to come by. However, one person that has shown me again and again that I can depend on them to lift my spirits or help film my next video is my boyfriend, Justin.

Justin is an Atlanta artist that goes by the name Sleepyhead. He frequently engages in Free Art Friday or #FAFATL, where he offers up his artwork for free in a scavenger hunt around Atlanta. Not only is he an amazing artist and dependable friend, but he is also a huge inspiration to me.

Check out his art on Instagram @sleepyheadatl.

Website: https://rylanbenet.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rylanbenet/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RylanBenet

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rylanbenet

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.