Gamer Feature: Shemoi Gidden
For Shemoi Gidden, gaming has always been about momentum—pushing forward, getting better, and finding flow. Whether it's behind the sticks or on two wheels, he's chasing the same feeling: movement, mastery, and meaning.
Now based in Los Angeles, Shemoi is a photographer, streamer, and cyclist who’s redefining what it means to live in rhythm with your environment—both digital and physical.
From Kingston to Call of Duty
Growing up in Jamaica, gaming wasn’t easily accessible. But that changed the day Shemoi’s mom brought home a PlayStation 2. “That was it,” he says. “We didn’t have much access, so when we got it, we went all in.”
The spark? Call of Duty. It became a ritual. A lifestyle. “Respectfully, we got addicted,” he laughs. From there, gaming became a constant in his life—an outlet for connection and competition, and eventually, a way to build community through streaming.
Why He Rides
When the world shut down in 2020, Shemoi found a new lane: road cycling. “It started with a ten-mile ride through empty LA streets,” he says. “The next day I did fifteen. Then twenty. Then eighty.”
What started as a spontaneous ride up Sunset Blvd turned into a discipline. “Cycling isn’t just a hobby—it’s a religion. If I’m angry, I ride. If I’m happy, I ride. It’s how I stay grounded.”
Through cycling, Shemoi found a new relationship with Los Angeles. The routes, the rhythm, the physical challenge—it gave him space to think, create, and reset.
Gaming As Balance
Gaming never left—it just evolved. Today, Shemoi balances life behind the camera with time on the bike and hours online with his Twitch community. “Gaming used to be an escape. Now it’s part of my workflow.”
But he’s intentional about it. “I’ve built a community that keeps me accountable. They’ll literally time me—‘Yo, you’ve got 30 minutes, then it’s back to editing.’”
For Shemoi, it’s about harmony, not overindulgence. “I still let gaming consume me sometimes. But I make sure it doesn’t get in the way of the real work. It’s part of the rhythm now.”
The Crew and the Culture
Shemoi’s go-to game? The Crew. He’s raced the Grand Race more than 50 times and still gets fired up about every win. “It’s not about the easiest route—it’s about making it there first.”
He appreciates the nuance—the way the physics make each car feel grounded, the difference in tire grip, the blend of realism and arcade. “People always compare it to Forza, but they’re not the same. The Crew just feels right.”
It’s no surprise. Like riding or photography, gaming for Shemoi is about feel. About getting close to something real, and then chasing it.
What’s Next
Whether he’s on the bike, behind the lens, or streaming late at night, Shemoi is part of a new generation of gamers—multi-hyphenate creatives who live at the intersection of culture, competition, and community.
His setup isn’t just a screen—it’s a space to recharge, express, and connect. And whether it’s cycling 80 miles through LA or placing first in a digital race, one thing’s clear: Shemoi is always in motion.
