The First Wave: Next Wave's First Seven Features of Creative Teens
- Su Abdullah
- Aug 10
- 5 min read
The first wave has officially arrived.
These seven incredible teens are shaping the future of art, culture, and more—and this is just the beginning. From music and to writing to photography, each feature represents the talent and passion Next Wave was built to spotlight. Meet the first group of creators making waves, and get inspired to share your own story next.
Emelia T, 14, NJ – Photography
Emelia never expected to fall in love with the art of photography until she stumbled upon her dad’s old camera, and looking through old photos of her siblings and herself when they were young made her recognize what she says was “the essence of love, family, and emotion all captured in one photo.” From this moment on, she has been taking photos ever since, capturing the beauty of every shot, which all started from the love of her family.
Between her other interests—writing, reading, and piano—she now finds joy in capturing moments of her own, not for likes or perfection, but for the meaning and imperfections of the little things that say the most.
Although she doesn’t see herself pursuing photography as a full-time career at the moment, her passion for the craft has shown her that the realm where she can share and express her creativity is a world where the possibilities are endless for her. Emelia either wants to become a writer or own her own business where she can be her own boss and embrace her individuality, but she has no plans on leaving photography behind.
Katrina Y, 17, NJ – Film/Photography
Katrina is a natural storyteller, and he passion for songwriting and screenwriting stems from a desire to share messages that matter. Whether it’s a lyric about love or a scene filled with hope, her work is rooted in meaning and made to be felt.
She’s currently writing original songs and developing short films—bringing her scripts to life one idea at a time. For her, creating is about doing what she loves and having fun in the process.
Whether through a melody or a movie, her goal stays the same: to inspire, connect, and express something real.
Jolie P, NJ – Writer
Jolie is a young writer who's already crafting stories with depth, purpose, and vision. Right now, she’s working on a dystopian novel, “Lost Hope,” exploring themes that resonate with her, which allow her to share meaningful ideas through powerful narratives. As a teen author, writing isn’t just a creative outlet, but a way to connect and express truths that matter.
But for Jolie, storytelling is only the beginning. With a passion for perspective understanding, she hopes to one day become a lawyer and turn her gift with words into a tool for advocacy, change, and justice. By building fictional worlds to dreaming of a future in the courtroom, she’s using her storytelling and ambition to create a path for her future.
Benedict M (“W3IRDO”), 16, NY – Drawing, Music, Writing, Activism
Benedict is a multi-talented teen from New York whose passions span drawing, music, writing, and activism. He creates on his own terms, with a desire for freedom to explore whatever speaks the loudest.
Right now, he is working on building a mixtape and launching a webcomic, and has the idea of writing a book in the future. Overall, his creative vision is grounded in self-expression and individuality.
Rachael Phillip, 17, NJ – Music, Photography, Journalism
Rachael is a music media content creator, writer, and photographer who uses her voice to document the sounds and stories that shape pop culture today. What started as a love of music at a young age has evolved into a growing platform where she covers everything from her personal life to her fan experiences.
Right now, she’s building her blog, blending music journalism, photography, and day-in-the-life storytelling. Rachael’s vision is to continue to grow her brand and make her own name in the industry, and it is her goal to cover major events like the VMAs and Billboard Women in Music—all while thriving in college.
With creativity and passion, and the confidence to embrace what she loves, Rachael is turning her dreams into her reality—one post at a time.
Dylan Finkbeiner, 16, NJ – Musician
Dylan is a musician who uses his passion for creating and performing music as a way to connect, inspire, and share meaningful messages with others. Alongside his friend Vincent, he is one half of the band Shadows Become Substance, a project born from a mutual love of music and the desire to make a deeper impact through it.
The duo has recently released a 15-track self-produced album, and what started as a shared dream between two friends has evolved into a chance to bring their vision to life.
Right now, Dylan and Vincent are preparing for their biggest live shows yet, with upcoming gigs this month that mark a major milestone for Shadows Become Substance. While new music is already in the works, sharing and promoting their debut record is priority.
Royce Hall, 17 – Screenwriting, Film, Journalism
Last but not least, Royce is a 17-year-old storyteller whose passion for creativity has been thriving since the age of 8. Starting with screenwriting, Royce has expanded his craft to include dreams of acting, directing, and media journalism where he covers music and pop journalism. He has also dedicated a Discord space for Black nerds and creatives to share their interests and find their people. It is clear how passionate Royce is about his interests, especially when it comes to his music and film.
For the past year and a half, Royce has been developing “Half Sailed,” a 10-episode comedy coming-of-age series set at an arts school full of quirky creatives, rivalries, romances, friendships, and all the wild shenanigans of college life. And that’s only the beginning—Royce is already planning more projects, including an action-comedy Christmas inspired by the Hangover, movie and a comedy-drama about a month-long camp retreat where different creative cliques must team up for a worldwide creative showdown.
A proud neurodivergent creative, Royce is determined to keep building a future where storytelling, connection, and representation thrive. He plans to study film at Montclair State University, hoping to one day work at Netflix’s New Jersey studio or pursue their film career in Atlanta. Alongside filmmaking, Royce aims to grow in music journalism—dreaming of covering live events and interviewing his favorite artists as his creative journey continues.Royce has been crafting stories since age 8 and now explores screenwriting, acting, directing, and music journalism. He’s building a community for Black creatives on Discord and developing “Half Sailed,” a 10-episode coming-of-age series set at an arts school. With more projects already in the works and dreams of studying film at Montclair State or pursuing opportunities in Atlanta, Royce is determined to bring his stories—and his voice—to the world.
These seven creators represent just the beginning of what’s possible when passion meets opportunity. At Next Wave, we’re proud to spotlight diverse and talented teens who are already making their mark, and we cannot wait to see how their stories and projects grow. Feeling inspired? Your own creative journey could be next. Stay tuned for more features, and don’t forget: submissions are open anytime. Dive in, share your work, and join the next wave of young innovators and artists shaping the future.
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