Creative Souls, Big Love, and Texas Heat: A Pride Month Conversation with Oni & Kari
This Pride Month, we caught up with a couple who truly live out loud. Based in Texas, Oni and Kari are married, in a band together, and constantly creating—whether it’s music, art, or new adventures. They're active, expressive, and totally in sync, from the trails they hike to the stages they play. We chatted with them about love, style, and what Pride means to them, especially while navigating life in the Lone Star State.
1. Your art, music, and lifestyle all seem deeply intertwined. How does your relationship influence the creative process—do you find your personal connection shaping your work, or do you each bring distinct energy to the table?
Oni: To say that my wife, the consummate professional, is merely a student of her craft would be grossly reductive. Before her I had never seen her particular flavor of dedication. She is constantly analyzing, refining, critiquing, honing her skills learning about her industry and it is so inspiring to see her locked in. There is this mode she clicks into when it’s show time that elevates everyone around her, including myself. She is definitely my muse in a lot of ways. When I was playing pro ball I always wanted her to sit in the front row, right behind the ref stand, when I’m on stage she is usually on stage even if it’s not our couple act, and sometimes we have the create dates where we’ll each be doing our own thing in silence, it’s just about her presence. That someone whom I love and respect so dearly will lend their energy with me while I honor my gifts for sure impacts my work.
Kari: To me, our love is art. The connection we share transcends every genre. It’s poetry, music, movement, and more. I especially love when we both lock in to create something beautiful together. Oni is my partner in every sense, so becoming creative partners happened naturally. We were already artists in our own right before we met, but when we come together, what we create is undeniable. Oni has a bold, dive-right-in approach, while mine is more calculated and methodical, and somehow, it fits perfectly like two pieces of a puzzle.
2. As a couple that's constantly creating and moving—whether on stage, in the studio, or outdoors—how do you maintain balance between work, love, and rest?
Oni: This is a tough one because we are not excelling in the “find time to sleep” department but where I suppose we lucked out is that we both love our work so much and we love creating with each other and we love to go hard. This is a Work Hard, Play Hard house so burn out usually feels like more a feature than a bug. Don’t get me wrong I am not recommending what we do for anyone else but I find that in those moments when our schedules are the most demanding we grow even closer, not to mention that we are a Neuro-spicy household so we click into hyper-focus and then completely unplug and go camping or something to reset. It’s lovely!
Kari: Prioritizing rest doesn’t come naturally to me, but Oni really believes in it, and they’ve brought so much balance to our lives because of that. They’ve helped me truly recognize the importance of slowing down. I’ll admit, I can be a little stubborn sometimes because I love to work! I love what I do. I love what we do. Rest for us can look like anything: camping, gaming, a road trip, a staycation, or even just sitting in silence and sharing space. As two neurodivergent people, we’ve had to create all kinds of systems to make sure we both feel loved, seen, and supported. And it’s worth it every time.
3. Who are your pride icons?
Kari: Rupaul, Willi Ninja, Lorraine Hansberry, Alvin Ailey, Leiomy Maldanado, Jinkx Monsoon, Sapphira Cristàl and Josephine Baker to name a few.
Oni: James Baldwin, RuPaul, Janelle Monáe
4. Our Signature question here at Les Belles, when do you feel most beautiful?
Kari: When I dance like no one's watching.
Oni: To go back to a previous point I made, I love watching my wife work, because it’s so beautiful to watch her swim in her purpose, seeing that in her helped me identify that in myself, that is also when I feel most beautiful.
5. Have there been moments in your relationship where your shared physicality—through dance, performance, hiking, or movement—deepened your emotional connection?
Kari: There are so many moments like that and I love and cherish them so deeply. Honestly, they happen more often than not. We dance all the time and at the most random times, in the most unexpected places. It’s one of our favorite things to do together. Physical touch is a big part of how we show love, so there are always little “I love you” touches being exchanged throughout the day. Hiking, dancing, and cuddling are probably our favorite ways to connect physically. They bring us closer, keep us grounded, and remind us just how in sync we are.
Oni: We absolutely love getting outside, going for walks, hikes, camping. I grew up in a household where we didn’t hug much, it was my normal, but I realized how starved for touch I was when I met my wife. Innocent little pokes and tugs, sometimes I will just graze her chin while she’s driving or she’ll caress my arm on her way past me in a hallway in our apartment. No words just our little “hey I’m here and I love you, carry on”
6. What advice would you give to younger queer couples trying to carve out space to live unapologetically and creatively?
Kari: If they won’t make space for you—take it. You deserve to be here. You deserve to take up space. I’d also say it’s so important to stay informed about what’s happening in your area. When you’re aware, you can move with intention and live fully and authentically, while also protecting your peace and your safety. And finally, the love you build and the family you choose will make all the difference. Lean into that. Love hard. Love honestly. Let it be your anchor.
Oni: The person you choose to design your life with is the single most important choice you will ever make. Honor the gravity that holds by always prioritizing connection with each other. You are an artist, the art will come. By prioritizing your connection you create a space safe enough to do your best work. Loving and being loved by my wife has made me the bravest and most creative I have ever been.
