Local StoriesJune 26, 2023

Daily Inspiration: Meet UNIITY

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to UNIITY.

Hi UNIITY, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I first got interested in music from loving dance at a young age. One summer, my cousin and I were very bored and decided to try listening to different types of music via cable. We selected a song by a band called, “Lamb of God” and we quickly made jokes because of how different and almost “foreign” it felt. I kept asking my older cousin to play the song again and again until I found myself enjoying it. This was the band that started my venture into heavier sounds.

Once I started middle school, I started to attend basement punk shows in West Philadelphia which made my love grow fonder. I grew up in a community (essentially the “hood”) where I was the only black kid that liked heavier music and embraced different aesthetics when it came to fashion. This often led me to be bullied.

Eventually, I left Philadelphia to get a start on college when I began throwing events and making music seriously. I took on the name “UNIITY” to represent what I wanted to have at my live shows along with how I wanted to cultivate a community for young POC creatives other than a fanbase.

After throwing shows for a few months, I began getting some attention.

Balancing two jobs on top of college, and playing shows while managing my career.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have faced numerous challenges within the industry and smaller music scenes.

Being a black woman in a predominantly “white” music genre and making heavier music has exposed me to a lot of racism and sexism that’s very present within punk/metal/alternative music communities. It sucks because most of the shows i’ve played in my career, i’ve always been the only women and POC performing for the night while constantly needing to prove myself based on the mere fact that i’m a black woman. It’s even worse because there’s tons of other POC bands and musicians that could be on the stage with me.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
UNIITY is the new, genre-warping, avant-punk brainchild of Asia “Raven” Clark, a Philadelphia-raised artist currently based in Cleveland, OH. Her mission and legacy is the unification of the emerging scene of independent, LGBTQ+, POC women in punk.

I specialize in heavier vocals, music composition, and minor production with help of Phyuture Phyx and Sickboy. I’m known for delivering high-energy performances that bring people together.

What sets me apart is my raw energy and my reasoning for why I continue to make music. I am most proud of being able to cultivate a strong community that supports each other.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
In the next 5-10 years, I see myself in a strong enough position to help kids growing up in poorer communities (similar to mine) help grow and learn about turning their music passions into sustainable careers. I see myself with a nonprofit, venue, and hopefully an impactful discography that’s recognized. I hope to normalize POC women making alternative or heavy music genres while being able to pave the way for sustainability within that career field.

Contact Info:

Website: linktr.ee/Whoisuniity
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whoisuniity/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whoisuniity
Youtube: https://youtu.be/BX-zB5moPzQ
Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0z7wWrguEEEtHMUFlQlsxF?si=-c476KidQDi0Xmsx5fuOcg&utm_source=copy-link

Image Credits
Nathan DuCongé @coafntr and M Hunsaker

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