Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Kawan Moore of Atlanta

Kawan Moore shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Kawan, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Thank you for having me again.

I wake up early. Sometimes. Thank God. Thank the Universe. Pray. Make my bed. Meditate. Brush my teeth, wash my face. Make an iced espresso shot. Walk or run my secret trail. Stretch. Gym. Shower. More coffee. Check emails. Catch up on news in the background — Late Night, The Breakfast Club, and a few inspiring YouTube channels like School of Hard Knocks, UpFlip, and The Venture Room.

“Hey Google, play music.” — while outreaching, plotting, and getting organized — setting the tone for the rest of the day.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Kawan Moore, and I am known as Hommeboy. I’m an artist, DJ, event producer, creative entrepreneur, and professional dot connector. (We love a multi-hyphenate!) While I do many things, I aim to do it like a rockstar — that’s my north star.

I’m working on a few things right now, but everything I do sits at the intersection of community, art, culture, and business. I’ve produced unique experiences and events, working with entities like Art Basel, Afropunk Festival, Teen Vogue, Atlanta Contemporary, High Museum, SoHo House, Red Bull, and more.

I just started DJ’ing — after years of booking other DJs for events, I finally answered the call. So be on the lookout for my contribution to the city’s soundscape. Other DJs and event producers, let’s collaborate and create something together!

I also started a jewelry line called HARDWARE™ in December of last year. It’s statement-piece jewelry made of locks and chains for everyday rockstars who are “locked in.” It’s already made its way to other cities and states. I’m working on a couple of other projects and quite literally locked in!

At my core, I’m driven by the idea of creating things that feel fresh, disruptive, and bigger than just me — projects that redefine boundaries and invite people to see themselves differently and give culture and community a new kind of language.

I have a few other projects in the works, and I’m currently putting in the work for them to manifest. We are in such a pivotal and crucial transition with AI and things are moving so fast, so I’m excited to leverage these tools to take it up a couple levels. I can’t wait to come back to talk about them with the readers of Voyage!

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I love this question. I actually just wrote a letter to my younger self, and it reminded me how proud I am of that curious, fearless kid I once was. Before the world told me who I had to be, I was just making things up as I went along — drawing, singing, building, throwing little shows in my backyard — always creating worlds and bringing people into them. I didn’t care about titles or boxes, I just wanted to express myself and connect. In a way, I’m still that person; I’ve just had to unlearn some of the limits the world tried to put on me.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
This is actually a perfect chance to share the letter I wrote to my younger self. I encourage anyone to do it for a moment of reflection of healing ✍🏾:

Dear Mini Me,
We made it. Spoiler alert: Adulting’s harder than it looked on TV. I mean – 9/11, recessions, global pandemics, and even rumors of WWIII— but don’t worry about alladat right now. You’ll figure it out. Step by step. Baby steps.

You still wear your hats to the side, and your heart on your sleeve, and that twinkle is still in your eye, too. And yeah—you still got that big ol’ head (don’t worry, other things get bigger too).

I know you’ve got a lot of questions, but here’s the truth: nobody has all the answers. Don’t stress. The things that make you different are your superpower. Use them.

Life won’t always be easy, but you’ll heal, you’ll win bigger, and you’ll rise higher than you ever imagined.

I’m going to try to send you the winning lotto numbers from the future, run it up!

I’m proud of you. I love you. And one day, you’ll be so proud of who you become. 🫂

With love,.
Your Future Self

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
Ahh, there are so many, but I’ll expose 4.

1. “You have to pick one lane.”
Multi-passionate creatives are often told to specialize, but your breadth is your power. Answer all of your callings and do everything if you want to. Do it well, and do it like a rockstar.

2. “You need permission to start.”
Gatekeepers want you to wait, but you can start creating before anyone signs off. Start somewhere and don’t be afraid to fail. The industry stigmatizes failure, but every misstep is a learning opportunity. Most breakthroughs come after repeated mistakes.

3. “Success is overnight.”
Viral moments look easy, but the truth is years of invisible grind, failures, and lessons no one talks about.

4. “Your worth is in your followers or metrics.”
Social media likes, streams, or clout don’t define talent or impact — your work speaks for itself, and you never know whose watching. Keep going.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I actually stopped drinking recently, and I’m now on a sobriety journey. I’m 60 days in as I type this, and I plan to keep going. If you’re reading this and needed a sign — this is it. It has been the most fulfilling battle of my life.

My relationships are better. My health is better. I feel more present than ever. Too much of anything is a bad thing, and if I only had 10 years left, I’d want to experience and remember every single moment — even the boring ones.

This shift has inspired a new part of my journey: I’m starting a non-alcoholic beverage brand for the sober/ sober-curious. Right now, I’m looking to connect with co-packers, flavor houses, and other entrepreneurs who are in F&B, or who have similar aspirations. Let’s connect! More on that soon 🙂

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hommeboy808.univer.se/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homme.boy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kawanmoore
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@heyhommeboy