“Instead of ‘Coming Out’, What If We ‘Go In’ First?” Echoes Recap: Pride, Reflection, and the Power of Stillness

Jul 22

In celebration of Pride Month, Echoes Beyond: Queer Creators, Hidden Voices, and Global Resonance was held in Los Angeles in June 2025. The event was co-hosted by composer/vocalist Yuwan Zhang and The Night Temple. It brought together a powerful lineup of queer professionals from across the entertainment industry, and focused on how identity and queerness shape creative work, healing practices, and personal growth.

The panel featured composer Freya Berkhout, composer/writer/director Oscar Pan, and actor/director Larryjean Powell. Their conversation centered on three guiding questions: how individuals come to understand their identities, how queer artists maintain their creative voices, and how a supportive environment can be built for those who are not yet able to speak for themselves. The discussion unfolded with honesty, insight, and deep emotional presence.

The event also marked the launch of Parallel Voices, a new interview series created by Yuwan Zhang. This series focuses on emerging composers and sound artists, and its goal is to share stories that are often overlooked in mainstream spaces. These stories reveal the complex emotional and creative processes behind artistic growth.

One of the most resonant moments came from Larryjean Powell, who said, “Instead of coming out, what if we ‘going in’ first?” Rather than prioritizing external visibility, they spoke about the importance of turning inward and building a sense of safety and self-awareness before opening up to the outside world. Oscar Pan reflected on the role of adversity in shaping an artist’s path. He shared that all the challenges he has faced became turning points. His recent autobiographical film explores his relationship with his mother, and the project reveals how vulnerability and compassion can become sources of strength and creativity. Freya Berkhout offered a message of personal responsibility and care. She reminded the audience that we are the first ones to heal ourselves, and honor our own voices first. Her work invites others to experience sound as a space for tenderness, release, and reflection.

Yuwan Zhang, Composer/Vocalist/Founder of *Parallel Voices*

Carisa Bianca Mellado, Composer/The Night Temple

Toward the close of the event, the audience was invited to take part in a quiet and personal moment of exchange. Each panelist selected a message to share, handwritten by Yuwan on individual note cards. Among the messages were reflections such as: “See all challenges as opportunities to grow.” “Make the time and space to hear your inner voice. What starts as a whisper will eventually sing.” “Be HERE now. Everything we need is in the present moment.” To end on a light and joyful note, a small raffle was also held. The audience member holding number 7 was the lucky winner of a special gift to take home.

To carry the spirit of that evening forward, a series of short video excerpts from the panel will be released in the coming weeks. These moments are shared with the hope that the words, insights, and warmth exchanged in that room will continue to reach those who need them. Not just in this moment, but also far into the future. Special thanks to Erv Jeffries and Jesse Barron for their generous support in capturing the evening through photography and videography. Because of their care, the voices shared in this space will continue to echo far beyond it.

Echoes Beyond was more than a panel. It became a space for presence, deep resonance, and collective truth-telling. It reminded everyone that pride is not only about visibility or celebration, but about turning inward, creating space for one another, and honoring identity as a source of strength, clarity, and transformation.

Yuwan with Erv Jeffries, Composer/Photographer

The Night Temple and Jesse Barron, Videographer

Yuwan Zhang