For Joshua Gitta the connection between art and being your best self is the most important part of his process.
Gitta, 27, is a Ugandan from NYC who is both an actor and a musician. And for him, there’s an undeniable connection between his upbringing and artistic passion. His father was trained to be a religious leader and brought many of those same characteristics of discipline and devotion into their home.
Now Gitta sees art as a vocation. As an artist he has given up plenty, including friendships or work, to become a better creator. He often channels his personal life in his work. “I dropped a video recently for a song that I wrote, which I directed with my friend,” says Gitta “And I am always going through this mental process of ‘people can like the stuff that I write because it feels so personal.’”
After taking a year pause in releasing work, he views this as his reentry into the world. “Sometimes the things that I write about are so bitter. But I dropped this one recently…which is about family and gratitude.”
His lyrics on his latest project, Smile, read “I have a younger sister too, she keeps her cool. Even in the eyes of the storm. She is so strong. When will she smile? When will she cry though?” He works to challenge societal expectations and create discussion around how to face difficult emotions.
Gitta is currently a director in his former high school’s drama department. He coaches students on how to tap into some of these same skills he developed early on.
“Acting is almost like meditation. I used to be very nervous to talk and express myself but I think it really has just taught me to slow down normal speech and communicate more intentionally.”
Giovanna Slon has known Gitta since he was 14 years old. She started off as his mentor and now the two of them co-teach the same drama department that he started off in.
“I would probably tell people that he is a person who thinks outside the box. He seems to me somebody who’s always looking for a different perspective to bring to the table, which I think is a really good characteristic to have.”
Slon describes Gitta as patient. For her, she most admires his willingness to fearlessly and unironically partake in the absurd. His devotion to his craft is one she acknowledges is not easy, and yet she finds he approaches these challenges with grace. His willingness to try new things, be present on stage, and always bring new ideas to the table is something that she believes makes him so special.
This transition from student to teacher is only one level of who Gitta hopes to be as an artist. He began acting and creating music at an early age, but it’s only now that he is comfortable enough to define himself as an artist and dream bigger.
His current art focuses on masculinity and the evolution from boyhood to manhood, exemplifying the societal pressure of what it means to be a man. “I really love taking a look at interpersonal relations and human emotions, not so much grander ideas,” says Gitta.
As a musician, he pulls inspiration from every genre. Incorporating guitar and piano, and combining beats to create music that he feels fits into his own genre as a musician. Gitta’s ability to think outside the box is one that is felt by his community.
Sean Stover met Gitta while interning for a course in music and sound. Their friendship was formed when the two of them listed Zack Villere as one of their favorite artists. They connected online and the rest was history.
At the time, Stover lived in Massachusetts and Gitta in NYC. They formed a team on the site Satellite Sessions to virtually make live music. The duo decided to meet weekly to share ideas and create songs. Eventually, they became so in sync that their tracks would flow together perfectly even without discussing their ideas first. Stover now lives in New York and this virtual friendship grows stronger as they’re finally able to workshop in person.
Now, Gitta has formed a band where Stover is the guitarist. “Seeing the way he steps into the top role has been really cool… you feel happy that this person is the leader,” Stover says. “Every once in a while, he’ll say… ‘can you do that again? But like it was a metal song.’”
Their mutual interests have pushed them to become better musicians, friends, and thinkers. Stover admires Gitta’s ability to show up prepared, and credits him as being a friend who pushes everyone to be their best selves.
Smile was released on March 21st, Gitta hopes this project evokes joy and positivity.
Gloria Alyssa 