Birmingham based poet and musician Rayhanah Rowe, also known as Rayritess scooped up our Best Emerging Artist award at last year’s Wordplay Awards. The achievement highlights how far Ray has come since she first graced the stage as a poet less than three years ago. With a new album on the way we look at where Rayritess has come from and where she’s heading in our latest Flow Feature. Where did the journey begin? A music lover from as long as she can remember Rayritess was raised in a strict household that limited her creative outlet. She began writing poetry at the age of 11 and continued to develop her craft as she got older. Fast forward to now, Ray is letting her creative outlet bloom in more ways than one and we love to see it. You can’t do wrong with this poetry ting! What inspires your work? Inspired by the likes of Edgar Allan Poe and Suli Breaks, Ray reflected on what it was like when she decided to pursue poetry and music on a serious level. I asked myself why I wanted to do this a few years ago and I just know it’s my purpose; my calling. Suffering from low self-esteem in the past, Rayritess didn’t have many people that she could connect with. Dedicating time to her creative ventures changed that as she slowly built an audience who recognised her growing talent. Ray has been determined to put the Birmingham creative scene on the map ever since her own journey started and one move at a time she is achieving just that. Poetry allows me to pour my heart out in a personal way. The amount of people that I’m able to touch with words is mad to me. She realised poetry was more than just people clicking their fingers. People were listening. People were resonating with her experiences for the first time. When she discovered the Wordplay Awards she instantly knew what the next step was for her; becoming an award-winning poet and musician. Winning the award for Best Emerging Artist has set a strong tone for how the musician wants to showcase her work moving forward. The focus has shifted from short form releases to more extensive projects. What’s next for Rayritess? After recently becoming a finalist for the Inspiration Youth Awards, Ray has started her own charity called Rising Levels. The charity aims to support young and homeless people to develop new habits that will help them move forward in positive ways. Her upcoming album, Born To Be Great, sheds light on the perspective that there are always two sides to a story. Not all the time opportunities are handed to you. More time you have to just take it. An advocate for pushing boundaries, Rayritess is always weaving her experiences into her creations. Her work aims to motivate people to take that leap of faith because you never know where it can take you. Through her poetry, music, and charitable causes, Rayritess is ready to make an impact and show the world why she believes she is great. If nobody is going to give me my flowers then I’ll give them to myself. Written by: Tannika Taylor @tannikataylor Photography: Tannika Taylor @tannikataylor Editor: Shariar Graphic Design: Torrin Westerman @torrinwesterman
Tag Archives: charity
Poetic Unity Supporting the Youth of Our Communities
Brixton based charity organisation, Poetic Unity have been creating poetry based initiatives which provide support and safe spaces for young people and wordsmiths alike. Launched by Ryan, also known as Ragz, Poetic Unity has become a fundamental part of the arts community with the aim of using poetry to help youth express how they feel, and use what they discover to navigate through life. Fast forward to 2021, the organisation was awarded £100,000 from the National Lottery Fund to continue their brilliant work showcasing the beauty of spoken word, and supporting the mental health of those who need it. Since being awarded funding, the platform has expanded on their work to provide opportunities for creatives to get involved and develop their own skills whilst helping the charity fulfill their goals. They host weekly virtual poetry events and mental health workshops to keep the words and our minds alive during what we still consider to be an ongoing pandemic. 2021 saw the organisation achieve major goals including providing support to 730 young people directly, engaging over 6000 people who have attended their events, and contributing to over 150 services that have supported the community. We can’t wait to see what Poetic Unity has lined up for 2022, but one thing we do know is that every little helps. To find out more about how you can get involved, donate, and spread the word visit their website. We appreciate all the art based initiatives that are still pushing through these hard times to reach the people who need it most. From events to workshops, Poetic Unity is uniting people through more than just poetry. They are inspiring people to think outside of the box creatively, and use their experiences to excel in what they do best.
Caleb Femi Among Forward Prizes Winners 2021
It’s been a great year for arts and culture as we recover from the pandemic, and it’s been an even better year for poet Caleb Femi as he wins Best First Collection for his poetry publication, Poor. The 28 year-old poet, film-maker, and photographer from London has been praised for his debut poetry collection by the likes of Michaela Coel that draws upon his personal experiences over time living on North Peckham estate. One of these experiences include recollecting the tragic murder of 10 year-old Damilola Taylor in 2000. Poor draws upon some of the dark themes that we rarely see in the world of written poetry. His work provides a visualisation of the raw reality of what it’s like living in a working-class area that has long needed nurturing and investment. Luke Kennard won ‘Best Collection’ with Notes on the Sonnets; a collection of responses to Shakespeare’s sonnets, and Nicole Sealey won ‘Best Single Poem’ for ‘Pages 22-29, An excerpt from the Ferguson Report: An Erasure’. All three winners received mass praises for their work by the judges, the poetry community, and across social media. The Forward Arts Foundation is a charity organisation dedicated to promoting poetry in the UK and Ireland. Their programmes allow people to enjoy the art of poetry whilst supporting the talented writers behind the words. The organisation is also responsible for National Poetry Day, an annual celebration that brings together poets, publishers, booksellers, and organisations of all kinds to embrace the art of poetry in different forms. Find out more about this years winners here.