Meet Johanny Kim” Guzman | Art Director & Percussionist Musician”

We had the good fortune of connecting with Johanny “Kim” Guzman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Johanny “Kim”, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I am a Latin woman, with Spanish roots, I was born in Caracas, Venezuela, from an early age I was introduced to music thanks to my father’s melodies on his saxophone. My mother, a visionary woman, pushed me and my father towards the arts from a very young age. The activities I did as a child, such as modeling, participating in beauty pageants, music, dancing and acting, have undoubtedly had an impact on my personal development and who I am today as an adult. These activities helped me develop artistic and creative skills, such as body language, emotional interpretation, and aesthetic appreciation. These artistic skills influenced my current approach to graphic design and production.

During the 2000s, I participated in numerous artistic shows in important venues in Caracas. These experiences gave me a sense of commitment, discipline, and dedication to my passions. Participation in artistic activities fosters creativity, imagination, and problem solving. I feel that I learned to think independently, to look for innovative solutions and to develop critical thinking skills. I have had the opportunity to perform in front of different audiences and in various settings, building self-confidence, developing communication skills and adaptability to connect with people of different ages and cultures.

During my teenage years, my interest was turned to music, and I joined my school band. Later, I was a member of the renowned System of Symphony Orchestras, where I belonged to the children’s percussion group in the Chacao municipality of Caracas, Venezuela. This musical experience strengthened my love for music and allowed me to develop as a percussionist. Learning to regularly practice, hone my skills, and be challenged in these activities has contributed to my ability to consistently work and persevere in my artistic and professional career. The arts offered me a safe and healthy way to express my emotions, thoughts and experiences. It allowed me to find my own voice, I learned to value my own work, to trust my abilities and to communicate creatively, which contributed to my emotional and social development.

These passions have driven me to continue exploring and developing my abilities as an artist and a human being throughout the years. After graduating from high school, I started a university degree in Visual Communication and focused on brand creation and production. At the same time, I continued to cultivate my passion for music, particularly in Latin and Afro-Venezuelan rhythms. I joined different dance music groups while receiving classes with renowned teachers in the area. Art activities gave me the opportunity to work collaboratively with others. I learned to listen, communicate and respect the ideas of others, strengthening my social and teamwork skills.

I invite all parents and future mothers to consider including artistic activities in the daily life of their children. Whether through music, painting or any form of artistic expression because these experiences will enrich their emotional, cognitive and social development. The arts allow children to explore different forms of expression and learn about various traditions and values. This gives them a greater understanding and respect for cultural diversity, fostering the inclusion and empathy that we lack today.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
For some reason, I feel like I was born to leave a big mark on this world. I got married at 21 years old, but my mind was ten years ahead, as was my ex-wife’s. I met her in a salsa orchestra made up of women called Son Kribeñas. At that time, I was still studying and working with Omar at his production company. I was a road manager and photographer for their events, where I put into practice skills such as time scheduling, logistics and leadership.

The salsa orchestra was a great step that I took in music. Definitely, the good thing my ex-wife left me was the rhythm lol just kidding. Martimbal helped me perfect that Sabor Caribeño. I was on the Congas and she was on the Timbal, she is a very skillful percussionist. At that time, she toured the world with Chino and Nacho and the song “Mi Niña Bonita”. @martimbal was like my thesis, I did all the branding for his brand, designed his logo, added motion graphics to his videos, created the website, and it also seemed like a good idea to invest in clothes and add his sponsors and the truth is that If it was a success, you have to ask him what he thinks. When we moved to the US I suggested that she teach and after several proposals for flayers and a bit of motivation, that’s how she did it. It was also a pleasure to support her with the editing of the video “Martheadas” We were devoted to love and our passions. But as Hector Lavoe says: Todo tiene su final, Nada dura para siempre.
Someday, not too far away, I will have my female salsa orchestras.

Money is everywhere, we just have to learn to see the opportunities, design the right cover, have the right packaging and use the right keywords. That is what some European-Venezuelan clients and good friends with whom I worked for a couple of years between Caracas and Miami taught me. I was managing product photography, social media, and design for some of the packaging they sold on Amazon. I also managed to showcase one of the products in one stores located in Wynwood, until the pandemic hit. But nothing stops me. I took advantage of all the confinement to develop my soft skills. I enrolled in “Platzi”, an online learning community that allows me to enhance my professional growth. It was there that I learned what soft skills are and how their development can make our path easier.

The development of these skills gave me the confidence to polish certain aspects of myself. And for a few years now I have been interacting with Brian Chesky’s platform, Airbnb. There I have a profile where I am a super host and I manage some properties located, for now, in Venezuela with the intention of partnering with high-level investors to manage their properties in Latin America. I think that service and hospitality is what moves the world. And what I like about this platform is that you can do it from anywhere in the world, just like amazon. After hours, perhaps a year of study, I can say and be thankful that I have been selling on the largest e-commerce platform for three months. Right now I am in the process of sketching the packaging design for my board game, it will have cards and another object apart from the board. I can’t wait to see it come reality. I’m so excited.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I think I’d take him out for some crunchy and delicious large size empanadas at Parguito Gourmet. Then we could take a walk down Lincoln Road or the beach and finish with some wine on Española Way. Another good plan would be to take a road trip to Key West or Naples and enjoy dinner on those quaint streets. In the City of the Sun, it is also a good plan to kayak, rent jet skis or simply sit in front of the sea.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Everything that I am today I owe not only to the arts, but also to my desire and willingness to improve myself as a human being, something that I definitely inherited from my parents.

At 17 I had my first girlfriend. She studied near my parents’ house, where I lived, and she often used to sleep at my house. However, several problems arose with my parents and at that time, I was not mature enough to talk and explain my tastes and preferences at home. It was then that I made the decision to leave home. A rebel without a cause, but that experience allowed me to face adult life up close and learn to face reality without depending on my parents. I started paying for my studies thanks to music, and fortunately, at the university I met Omar Alonzo, who today is my best friend and colleague.
Omar is a visionary man just like me, we share the same interests in design, business and spirituality. He is a very special person in my life. Close to finishing university, we decided to invest and create our first product, all of this before our twenties. an eminence.

After several years and some therapy, I was able to reconnect with my parents. Today my mother is a Family Constellator and our conversations are extremely enriching.
One of the business books my parents gave me was “Why We Want You To Be Rich” by Trump and Kiyosaki, which is a great value. However, if you asked me to recommend a book, it would definitely be “The Four Agreements” by Miguel Ruiz. the second and third agreements are not taught to you in school and it is very important in the world of work, well, really everyone. read it and write me

Website: https://www.guzmanland.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimguz24/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimguz24/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KimGuz24

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guzmanland.creative/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KppvYT93Qrg