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

Hi Sunny, what are you inspired by?
I’m inspired by resilience of nature, shadows and reflections, and the beauty they all bring to our lives. I am genuinely thrilled when I see a dandelion growing out of a crack in concrete, or when the right light makes something magnificent out of something ordinary. To me, art & literature are about raw honesty and being in touch with one’s own feelings.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve dabbled in most art forms, but for the most part I am a poet and a photographer. My book, The Lantern & the Flame, was on Amazon’s bestseller’s list in a few categories in February 2022. What I am most proud of is that I’m a doer, rather than a dreamer. I rather get something done and move on to the next project, than to dwell on whether or not to start doing it. For example, I had never written a word of poetry before this book; had done everything else from articles and screenplays to short and long stories, teaching literature and language, but never really dabbled in poetry. flash forward to late 2021 when I got flooded with inspiration for poetry and decided to do something with it. The book was a success, and gave me enough boost in confidence to start working on another one while I perform the poems from this book in various locations.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I enjoy traveling internationally, and have learned why the tourist attractions in each place are valuable; they offer things that are absent in a different city/country/culture. Since I live in LA, if someone visits me I will give them a good LA experience and definitely take them to the Grove, Walk of Fame, LACMA, Page Museum at La Brea, Venice beach/canal when the sun sets, Natural History Museum & Exposition Park rose garden. If it’s a longer trip, We’d probably go to Malibu, Long Beach Aquarium, Olvera Street, Pantages Thater, Huntington Library and Griffith Park Observatory.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I owe a lot to my professors who gave me the education, and confidence to learn the importance of being opinionated and expressive.

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

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal 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.