Troubled Youth Guam, or TYG, is a collective that started in 2017 to bring diversity to island music. The young artists discuss the barriers and opportunities in the music community.  

What began as teenagers writing music about their struggles growing up on Guam naturally developed into a platform to turn those struggles into art. 

TYG started as high school friends who were musically gifted and wanted to make music. Their shared passion gradually grew into a collective of local young artists. 

Emann Adonay is the group’s producer and helped establish TYG. The group develops every original piece at his home studio.

“TYG uses music as an outlet for our emotions. Our troubling experiences as teenagers from Guam inspired the music, “ Adonay expressed.

After five years, Troubled Youth Guam expanded with twelve artists who bring their diverse experiences to the local music industry. 

Their talents range from rapping and songwriting to playing instruments and creating beats. They experiment with genres like reggae, hip-hop, and indie music.

As the group’s producer, Adonay agrees that TYG can be called island music. 

Each song explores the artist’s social life with references to living on Guam by weaving in the names of villages, relevant issues, and local slang.

“Even though we tap into music genres around the world and across history, I find myself bringing in what it’s like to be from Guam. Island music is music where people feel connected and relate to the island lifestyle, and I use this element in our music.”

Adonay admits that their path to musical success is not simple. 

The group’s greatest barriers are financial strains and commitment to the craft. Most members of TYG have lives outside of the group to support their families.

“We are so much more than rappers. We are also students, employees working minimum wage jobs, and islanders just trying to get by.”

Even with the countless hours and creative energy placed into one song, it takes months, even years, to visualize success. Pursuing a music career in Guam can be difficult and evoke feelings of self-doubt and impatience.

Yet, the group is committed to improving every stage of the song process until it is “undeniably good” by chasing quality over quantity and respecting each other as a family.

Troubled Youth Guam is grateful that the island supports aspiring local artists with opportunities to build the island’s music industry.

Opportunities that introduced TYG to the music community began in the group’s high school days. Their first public appearance was hosted by the radio station Power 98.

“We feature local artists hourly on our shows. We show our support by featuring their latest songs and interviewing the artists live. Listeners can request a song from their favorite local artist to be added to the day’s playlist,” Power 98 stated.  

The push to “support local” helped TYG grow from being rappers on SoundCloud to artists now playing at gigs across the island. 

Other opportunities emerged like mentorship, collaborations and promotion on social media.

TYG is currently working with Blklst Media, a local business specializing in photography and videography. They combined their skills and collaborated on several hip-hop cyphers and music videos. 

The group describes this collaboration as a “great experience working with professional, talented people who bring the music community together.” 

Both TYG and Blklst Media look forward to their future projects and supporting each other’s growth.

Over the years, TYG has received donations, performance offers and endless support from the local music community. 

The group has grown their fanbase and upgraded their studio by networking online and at their live performances.

“The dream is to make it big and show the world what Guam offers across music genres. Troubled Youth needs our island to listen, like and share our art,” Adonay shares.

Their love of music and representing the island motivates the group to be humble and create every day. 

Troubled Youth Guam hopes to inspire other artists to pursue their aspirations at any age and against all odds.

This article was written as an assignment for CO-226: Media Writing.

The post Supporting Young Local Artists featuring Troubled Youth Guam appeared first on The Triton's Call.

As a young indigenous CHamoru, Nolan Flores feels a sense of obligation to help Guam advance towards decolonization. His identity and work strongly influence his role as a local activist.

“I have been told that my personality is only decolonization,” Flores jokes.

Flores is an outstanding member of his community and began his journey into Guam’s decolonization movement as a college freshman.

He is an undergraduate student, a member of the Guam Youth Congress, and a research assistant with the Commission on Decolonization. 

As a graduating senior, he realizes that his college experiences shaped his motivation to become a decolonization activist. 

“I guess it came from a sense of obligation, from reading about it and understanding the historical perspectives that made me attune to the fact that this issue is still ongoing.”

This moment opened his understanding that decolonization is a critical issue for Guam.

Flores gives back to his community by pulling from and adding to “what our ancestors left behind.”

Some of his work includes organizing forums and conducting an islandwide survey to gather public opinion.

Flores credits the Political Science program at the University of Guam for his “awakening.” The program connected his CHamoru culture to political and social issues. 

Most of his classes enhanced his interest in government and politics by focusing on local and regional topics. His academic background involving politics on Guam allows him to reflect on his CHamoru identity and inform others about what he is learning. 

He shares his voice for decolonization at public speeches and in several articles in the Pacific Daily News.

His research led to an awareness that Guam’s core issues, especially socio-economic, are based on the island’s political status.

Flores’ work tries to educate the community about decolonization. He learns more about the issue at the local level while actively spreading awareness. He works closely with the community to correct misconceptions and resolve the lack of information. 

“I want to help others experience what I have experienced.”

He strives to confidently navigate casual conversations with the community sharing what he knows and feels about decolonization. His indigenous CHamoru identity empowers him to address the colonial situation and fight for the future of his people. 

Flores shares a quote passed down to his generation and often said by his community to capture Guam’s decolonization journey.

“Anggen ti hita, pues håyi” or “If not us, then who?”

This article was written as an assignment for CO-226: Media Writing.

The post Navigating Guam’s decolonization journey with Nolan Flores appeared first on The Triton's Call.

The University of Guam invited the public to its first Green Night to showcase how the College of Natural and Applied Science gives back to the island with science.

On April 20, UOG students, children of all ages and community members joined in celebrating 50 years of Land Grant Heritage. Visitors were encouraged to bring cash, use reusable bags and take a plant home.

Green Night was fun for the whole family. Visitors enjoyed food trucks, a live petting zoo, sunset yoga, garden tours, local produce and plant sales, free giveaways and more!

The college gathered its network of organizations and local businesses to host exciting presentations in the courtyard.

Luke Fernandez, the event coordinator, wanted Green Night to be an opportunity for the community to learn about the college and what it has to offer. 

He used his experience working for the College of Natural and Applied Science and as a UOG student to plan the special event.

“It is so important for others to recognize the trend of sustainable living and to build up our island’s agriculture community. Even if it takes coming to Green Night and learning from our different programs,“ Fernandez shared.

The theme was inspired by how the color green is associated with plants and sustainability. All of the activities and presentations aim to expand one’s perspective on science. 

Before sampling free honey or buying a papaya plant, each host explained how their organization or business helps the island.

Dr. Jeng-Heng Liu, an associate professor in the Animal Sciences program, hosted the farm animal petting zoo. He discussed the possibility of locally farming livestock to help Guam’s meat and poultry industry.

“With chickens and pigs, we can build a sustainable food industry to stop relying on imports and eating processed foods slowly.”

Liu’s presentation combined the topics of agriculture and health to encourage the public to support their local farmers and butchers. 

Student organizations like the Agriculture and Life Science Club represented how those interested in science can help the next generation improve the island.

Kiron Rios, president of the student club, hosted the cornhole game to win pepper plants. He shared how his club plans to teach students and the community about science. 

“We go on hikes to explore the island and learn how to transplant different species of trees. For the future, we are planning beautification projects on campus and around the island.”

Rios hopes to lead island beautification efforts by planting more trees and keeping villages clean. His club welcomes all students to join their adventures and give back to the community regardless of major.

Some visitors suggested that Green Night should be a college tradition. There are more ways for this unique event to grow.

“We look forward to including more student involvement, pushing sustainability to limit waste and expanding the number of visitors and agencies,” Fernandez explained.

Everyone who came out to support local and learn more about science contributed to Green Night’s success.

This article was written as an assignment for CO-226: Media Writing.

The post UOG Green Night promotes science, sustainability, and fun appeared first on The Triton's Call.