Urban Creator Trudy Kazangu: “To be able to say: there, I did it, that's really fantastic.”

March 18, 2019

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min read

Trudy Kazangu has a passion for photography because she believes images say much more than words. She has been part of the Chase team for a few years now, and with her interest in fashion and urban music, we can count on her for seasonal fashion updates and festival reports. 2019 is the year she wants to do well, everything.

The Chase Urban Creators are digital creatives who make videos, photos, articles, and social stories about topics such as urban music, lifestyle, creatives, and society. It is a diverse group of young people looking for a platform for their passions and to expand their skills.

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Hey Trudy Kazangu, what do you do for Chase?

I mainly write articles about fashion. Often these are seasonal, such as articles about winter coats or colors for the summer. I am also interested in various social topics, as long as I can learn something from them. That's why I wrote an article for Chase about identity crisis among Congolese youth. I am also a photographer at different events. At the moment, I'm studying journalism at Erasmus University College in Brussels, and I am combining my second and third year. So it's still a bit of a puzzle to combine everything.

Where did you study photography?

I don't really like to call myself a “photographer,” because I never studied photography at an official institution. I recently bought a new camera and I really enjoy working with it. I also started analog photography, which gives a different feeling and is super nice to work with. I do not develop the photos myself and leave that task to a professional.

How long have you been an urban creator at Chase?

Maybe I've been at Chase for four or five years already? I ended up here through word of mouth. A friend of mine already wrote for Chase and she thought Chase would match my interests. That's why I did an intake and offered myself as a volunteer.

What are your main interests?

For Chase, I write about fashion, and within that theme I have also written a number of list articles. But the thing is: I would rather not have a “fashion label,” so I wanted to write about something deeper. I wanted to dive into something more serious that is also close to my personality. So in the end, I wrote the article about African girls with tattoos: I have tattoos myself and I notice how difficult it can be to be accepted this way, for example in my own family. From that human aspect and feeling, I want to write. That's also why I wrote the article about the identity crisis among Congolese youth: I started from a personal angle again, and then I interviewed several people to open up the topic.

What was the most exciting assignment you've done for Chase?

The most exciting thing I did for Chase was going to WECANDANCE 2017 on my own. Taking photos at the festival was very stressful, but also very cool and very eye opening. At the time, I did not have that much professional photography experience and I had a lot of stress introducing myself to everyone. You have to take enough photos, and above all enough good photos. Everyone looks at you and wonders whether you are a real photographer or someone pretending to be one. You are alone and you know people are counting on you: I felt a lot of pressure. But WECANDANCE was an amazing place and experience, and I got to photograph many nice people. Being able to say, “there, I did it,” is really fantastic.

Do you also work on other projects besides assignments for Chase?

I recently responded to an open call from the Photo Museum in Antwerp. Their project, Black History Month Antwerp, wants to bring young Afro Belgians closer to art in which they recognize themselves and find inspiration. They made a call to young, talented Black people to think about what freedom means and how that can be creatively expressed through photography. Some of my photos were selected and are currently being exhibited at FOMU for Black History Month under the theme “What does freedom mean to you as an Afro Belgian?”

Which skills would you like to expand?

I would really like to write more, but I am actually very insecure about my writing. So I prefer doing something I am more confident in, which is making videos. What I would really like to do later is make documentaries, because I am quite good with images. At least, I think so, because I hear that often. I want to do everything myself: from creating the images to editing them. I like working on social and cultural topics, but I am also interested in fashion and lifestyle, although I prefer focusing on the social side of beauty

I would like to make a documentary about beauty standards among street children in Congo, for example. Taking photos with a small amount of text therefore suits me perfectly. The main goal of Chase is to publish content about music and lifestyle, but there is also room for more in depth topics, which allows me to publish my articles about tattoos and Congolese youth. All the photos I have taken for Chase are on my Instagram feed, and I always get very good feedback. I think that because people see that I work for Chase, they take me a bit more seriously.

Do you also use other social media to share your work?

I am only active on Instagram. Snapchat is not for me, I do not understand Twitter, and I have never used Tumblr. I do use Pinterest sometimes, mainly to look for photos that match my style. I use Instagram to post photos that I take myself. At the moment, photography is really a hobby and I would not describe my Instagram as “branding.” If I were working full time, I would indeed use Instagram as a channel to present my work.

What would you like to do in 2019?

I'm planning to travel in June and going to Costa Rica for a month. I would really like to do something there for Chase, because there is a very big urban scene there. In the coming days and weeks, I might also travel a bit in spring and do something related to fashion this season. 2019 is the year in which I want to do everything, especially focus more on music. I am a bit insecure about myself, so I thought: “Trudy, if you don't do something with it now, nothing will ever happen.” Making and producing music is therefore at the top of my list for 2019: my style is very acoustic, with my guitar and synthesizer and my own vocals.

And I also want to get my driver's license this year. That is very important when you are young and want to do creative assignments, because depending on other people is inconvenient. I do not necessarily need my own car, but if I have to work at the coast or in the Ardennes, I can just go.

Do you have tips for other creators: young starters or creatives who might struggle with the same things as you?

I have a tip about social media: there is an overload of content and you are influenced by so many things. There is a lot of competition, so many people are already working on the same things, and maybe they are even better at it. But keep in mind that you only see the very best. You quickly start thinking: what is the point of me continuing what I am doing? I think it is very dangerous to compare yourself to other people. It is very nice to receive positive feedback and it helps to build your self confidence. So if you are a creative person, don't do your work for other people, only for yourself!

Interview by Joke D'Hooghe.

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