We are proud to introduce the brilliant Blessing Adetunji to the Wordplay & Flow family after scooping our Best Spoken Word Performance award last October at the Wordplay Awards. The poetry power house graced the stage with her winning piece ‘Outstretched’. From writing songs as a teen to working with organisations such as Hackney Empire, Blessing has made her mark with so much more to come. Where did the journey start for you? Around the age of 14, Blessing began to feel disconnected whilst singing at church. She wanted to think about what worship meant to her and decided to start writing her own songs. They were so long and didn’t mirror what I saw in school to be poetry but they were poems. Not long after finding her own way of expression Blessing went down a rabbit hole of American spoken word and battle rap that led her to discover artists like Jackie Hill Perry; one of her biggest inspirations today. What are some of your memorable moments? Blessing has had the opportunity to work with both Hackney Empire and the Royal Court Theatre. Her experience working with these organisations helped shape the performer we see today and highlights how crucial initiatives like these can benefit creatives in different ways. Hackney Empire helped me grow as a performer and writer. Joining the Royal Court Young Writers group gave me the chance to write and shoot my first screenplay. Winning our Best Spoken Word Performance award was another significant milestone for Blessing. Not because she had just achieved something amazing as a spoken word artist, but because her winning poem touched upon her family dynamics; a topic she was always taught not to share publicly. Her poem showcased what breaking barriers looked like and it was wonderful for our audience to witness. I hadn’t performed from memory in a long time and was filled with fear and self-consciousness, but I did it anyway. That piece ended up resonating with so many people and it opened the door to where I am now. What can we look forward to in 2026? 2026 will see Blessing writing more across different areas. The poet and musician is working on both a poetry album and a musical EP which she is really excited about. In addition, Blessing recently launched her hosting platform called Blessing Occasions for events that need that added special touch. I’ve been rocking the mic in more ways than one. I’m getting more involved in MC’ing and hosting. It doesn’t stop there. We can expect a full length one woman show and more as she explores her love for theatre and film. If you haven’t already, you should check out her latest single ‘Wanted’ out now across all streaming platforms. It’s safe to say that Blessing is one to watch this year and we look forward to seeing what’s next on her journey to greatness. Writer: Tannika Taylor Photographer: Tannika Taylor Editor: Shariar Graphic Designer: Torrin Westerman
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Finding T.M/O with T Monterisi
Our Flow Feature 2022 series continues with the superb T Monterisi; a creative icon that has come and conquered in more ways than we will ever know. As someone that feels like she doesn’t fit in any type of box, Monterisi shares with us the turbulent yet beautiful life that has shaped her into one of the best poets to watch out for. A woman on a mission to express unapologetically to heal and entertain, we dive into the story behind this dynamic individual and her adorable pup Beppe. Tell us about T Monterisi From hardship to growth, T Monterisi is someone that is very familiar with both concepts and has used her experiences to produce art in her own way. After losing her mother and feeling as if her world was spiraling, she went back to what she knew and loved, which was writing. What started as a way to vent turned into a way to inspire others on how to overcome their own challenges through expression. I feel like I’m now living beyond the two year period of grief after losing my mum. It feels different but very exciting. T Monterisi An advocate for acknowledging her achievements no matter how big or small has enhanced Monterisi’s thinking when it comes to her craft and how she views the world. Since bursting back on the scene she has travelled all over the UK spoken word scene performing at events such as Groove Verse, Word of Mouth, and Vagina Fest. Monterisi also had the amazing opportunity to run her own exhibition event called ‘ALL PAUL’ in collaboration with Leeds Poetry Festival. How has your writing journey progressed? Monterisi first started writing out of frustration and confusion when she was based in Italy living with family, and had no Wi-Fi. The creative isolated herself for six months to focus on getting her emotions on the page which eventually evolved into her writing with a purpose to convey the messages she wanted people to hear. I’ve been motivated a lot by my anger at the state of the world but I embrace that anger. T Monterisi Since returning to the poetry scene her writing style has adapted to fit the exceptional performances she delivers time and time again. Never one to shy away from expressing raw emotion through her work, Monterisi has the ability to captivate audiences when they feel their most vulnerable. This is what makes her work that much more relatable to the masses. She is constantly challenging herself to explore her internal roots and gain more understanding about who she is as an individual and the world she lives in. What is coming next from the great T Monterisi? With an extensive portfolio of features and collaborations under her belt already, we know that 2023 will be a bright year for Monterisi. We’re looking forward to her highly anticipated debut EP ‘Finding T.M/O’ produced by Charlie Boud which is due for release early next year. She describes the style of the project as paranoia inducing poetry and has given us a cheeky preview of what to expect. I’ve released ‘The Shining’ on Spotify and other streaming platforms as a teaser for the upcoming EP ‘Finding T.M/O’. T Monterisi When asked about the process behind creating ‘Finding T.M/O’, T Monterisi laid it all out on the table. Producing an EP is never a small feat but producing one that aims to expose so much of oneself can be difficult on many levels. Touching on topics such as misogyny, masking, and capitalism, the EP discusses in depth about personal hurdles that have come with expressing herself. I trigger myself heavily and in doing that I think beautiful answers are found. I don’t want it to look easy. The past five years have been unbelievably traumatic for me and I know I’m not the only one feeling it. I believe in stripping pain from its power, and for me, this project has done exactly that. T Monterisi ‘Finding T.M/O’ is set for release early next year which will be followed by a string of performances from T Monterisi across London and beyond. It is very clear that there are no limits to this artist’s ambition to become one of the best spoken word poets to grace the stage, and we are wishing her all the best with this new venture. Creative Director & Writer: Tannika Taylor @tannikataylor Photographer: Matty @mattys.gallery Cover Design: Simplexcity @simplexcitycc
‘Yours Sincerely, Asim’
On the 29th of December, one of the spoken word scene’s most prominent performers, Asim the Poet, released his debut poetry anthology titled Yours Sincerely, Asim. The 100-page collection coincides with the poet’s recent marriage last December, which saw the newlywed dedicate the collection to his wife. Asim the Poet, a regular at events such as the FLO Vortex, of which he was personally named a FLO Poet by the “Floacist” Natalie Stewart in 2019, and the one-time event Just Rhyme, which he headlined later the same year, has proven time and again that he is one of the most gifted and versatile poets on the entire scene. Whether he’s wowing audiences with superb wordplay and intricate metaphors or earning the applause of a captivated audience following an unexpected twist at the end of some masterful storytelling, Asim can do it all. Yours Sincerely, Asim is not only another example of the poet’s impressive versatility, but also a testament to his extraordinary work ethic and willingness to explore avenues, some may consider, out of his comfort zone. The collection, now available to purchase on Amazon, is more than just a feather in the poet’s proverbial cap, it is the consolidation of the multifarious nature of his work, further cementing that there is no genre too daunting for this wordsmith to tackle. Since his arrival on the poetry scene, Asim has been one of its keenest supporters, often travelling over a hundred miles from Leicester to attend spoken word nights and staying put until the event’s conclusion. Now with 2021 behind him and the title of author added to his list of accomplishments, Asim the Poet looks to make 2022 another fruitful year filled with success. Asim the Poet is an award-nominated spoken word artist and FLO Poet. He is a creative workshop facilitator and motivational speaker, and the author of ‘Yours Sincerely, Asim’. Written by: Liam Spencer