We love great conversations here at Wordplay & Flow so we had to connect with the one and only SWVrthy. Also known as Spoken With Vision, SWVthy is a London based poet who has a magical way with words and effortless one-liners that will have you laughing for days. The writer takes pride in his slick wordplay and flows that have made him a household name on the London arts and culture circuit. We unpack how it all began and where it’s heading for the brilliant SWVrthy. Involved in the arts from a young age, SWVrthy participated in community work when he was 15 years old. The organisation’s focus was to tackle knife crime and this inspired him to start writing about subjects that were most meaningful to him. Movies such as Freedom Writers along with hip-hop added to his motivation to write more and eventually take the step towards performing in front of an audience. Over time I started to unpack different memories through writing. Movies, rap, and hip-hop all encouraged me to write and rhyme. SWVrthy SWVrthy has always had a love for being on stage. He started with school plays and dance as a teenager before an injury forced him to direct his creative outlet elsewhere. Drama monologues were a favourite until he realised that it wasn’t so different from spoken word. SWVrthy produced a monologue fused with poetry for the Big Deal showcase as a part of Studio 3 Arts which was the catalyst for his development as a formidable wordsmith. Performing from a young age has helped me eliminate the fears associated with having all eyes on me. SWVrthy After a spell living out of London, SWVrthy returned in 2019 to his first headline before the pandemic hit. Once lockdown lifted he made it clear that nothing was going to stop him from being heard. He featured at as many live poetry events as possible and secured headline sets at prominent spots like Poetivity, Poetic Unity, and Luna Legacy to name a few. Describing his style of work as abstract, he let’s us know what this means to him: The beauty of my abstract work is that it is created when I’m most present. It allows me to express thoughts, beliefs, values, and emotions without restraint. SWVrthy Outside of writing and performing, SWVrthy is a passionate painter and art lover. Just like his monologues and poetry, his artistic style is abstract, leaving the viewer to make their own interpretations of what they see. This fits in perfectly with the Master Arts event that he will be launching which will combine a masterclass and exhibition for an immersive experience. The creative is also working on his debut book called ‘Poetical Violence’ which will act as a blueprint of his growth for his future generations. The book will give insight into the physical, mental, and emotional battles that SWVrthy has survived to become the artist he is today. I master peace like Pac by taking you on a journey that allows you to witness a blossom in a concrete jungle. SWVrthy Creative Director/Writer: Tannika Taylor @tannikataylor Photographer: Seun Sontan @seunsontana Cover Design: Simplexity Creative Counsel: @simplexitycc
Tag Archives: Flow Feature
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