We had the pleasure of catching up with the emerging talent taking spoken word to new levels, Joseph Roberts. The literary teen has made quite the impact in London after winning Best Spoken Word Newcomer at our Wordplay Awards last year. His superb visuals and relatable words have made Joseph one of the most captivating poets the London scene has come across in a long time. The artists passion for poetry began in sixth form when he was asked to perform at an assembly. This experience gave him his first taste of performing live and he hasn’t looked back since. At the age of 16, Joseph realised he wanted to take poetry and performing seriously as a career. He began investing in his creative practice by writing more, studying the greats before him such as Suli Breaks, and networking at different open mic events. Last year, Joseph took home our Best Spoken Word Newcomer award at the Wordplay Awards and was nominated for Best Male Spoken Word Poet at this years celebrations. His incredible piece V.I.P is what first landed him on our radar and his latest release ‘Luggage’ has landed a spot on the Voices in Power Instagram page with over 100K followers. Being a Liverpool based poet penetrating the mainstream London arts scene hasn’t intimidated Joseph in any way. Over the last year his focus has been to build on his performance style and become one of the greats himself. I like to consider my style of poetry genuine, real, and accessible. Joseph Roberts Poetry is not only an emotional outlet for Joseph but a way to inspire those around him in unique ways. As he performed more often it wasn’t long before schools were contacting him to connect with students through his work. He has worked with various educational bodies including Everton school, St Bedes secondary school, St Vincent’s school for the blind, and many more. When asked what advice he would give to those that want to establish a career as a poet he said: You have to be ruthless. You have to be persistent, know who you are, and know your worth. Joseph Roberts Joseph plans to continue producing new work and securing commissions from organisations that want to engage their students and audiences through spoken word. Very confident in his abilities to excel, the creative has big ambitions for the future. I want to become a member of the Recording Academy and one day win a Grammy for spoken word. Joseph Roberts There is always something in the works when it comes to Joseph Roberts. His profound work ethic has landed him opportunities that many established poets are yet to achieve. He plans to continue recording new poetry material and release new visuals that we know are going to be a hit with audiences due to the high creative quality he produces. The artist is relentlessly working towards becoming a prominent name in the world of spoken word poetry and we’re looking forward to seeing what’s next. Creative Director/Writer: Tannika Taylor @tannikataylor Photographer: Seun Sontana @seunsontana Cover Design: Simplexity Creative Counsel @simplexitycc
Tag Archives: Performace
Speaking Visions into Existence with Swvrthy
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
Breaking Boundaries Through Spoken Word and Theatre with jodY
With another intense year coming to an end we wrap up our 2021 Flow Feature series with the magnificent writer and performance poet, jodY. With his comedic energy coupled with his free-spirited personality, we have enjoyed seeing this creative evolve over the last year both on and off the stage. With aims to break both personal and professional boundaries through his work we explore where jodY plans to take his art next. What has 2021 been like for you as a creative? 2021 has been an active year for jodY, but he never thought that he would be headlining multiple shows doing what he loved due to the pandemic. From open stages, to headlining events, to performing on the Bafta winning Sky Arts programme, Life & Rhymes, this year has been one of opportunity, growth, and development despite the global challenge we have all had to face. He began performing snippets of his play that blends spoken word with seamless acting and subtle comedy. His previews have received grand responses from all the audiences that have had the pleasure of getting to watch one of his biggest projects in the making come to life. The play is about specific memories relating to my childhood. I touch on themes such as masculinity, abuse, alcohol, and general mental health issues that aren’t spoken about as much as they should be. jodY – Poet & Creative What can you tell us about the play that you’re producing? I don’t want to rush it. I don’t believe in half-assed performances if you’re going to pay money to see me. I always think about people that sculpt ice. You can either rush it and get your 15 minutes of fame, or you can take your time delicately crafting away and people will remember you for years to come. jodY – Poet & Creative In order to make sure that what he reveals to the world through his play is worth it, jodY is working at his own pace; a trait that all creators should embrace where possible. He has been working on the project, entitled Divulge; Evolve, for over four years as he peeled back the layers of how he came to be the man he is today. Divulge; Evolve has revealed a lot about jodY’s capabilities to himself as he exposes the darkest experiences of his life in an artistic way. The semi-colon is used to support the semi-colon project that focuses on mental health. The semi-colon tattoo is used a message of solidarity against suicide, addiction, and other mental health issues. jodY – Poet & Creative Where do you want to take your craft in the upcoming future? Taking poetry to the theatre stage isn’t the only thing that jodY wants to achieve in the near future. He has grown to love the thrilling and competitive nature of slam poetry which he believes would fit his unique performance style. After making his mark within the UK poetry scene and being ready to take to the theatre stage, we have no doubt that slam poetry will bring out even more slick and comedic wordplay that we love so much. I believe I’m a great performer, and I’m a big believer in giving yourself positive words of affirmation. jodY – Poet & Creative If you’re a fan of slam poetry, then you definitely know that the US has some brilliant events featuring some of the best wordsmiths on the scene. jodY aims to go international to explore what the poetry community has to offer outside of London. He would love the opportunity to perform at The Poetry Cafe in LA and experience the Public Theatre in New York City which will allow him to connect new creatives, and develop his talents across the board. We look forward to seeing where jodY’s journey takes him in the New Year. Photographer: @souldiaries Creative director: @tannikataylor Writer: @tannikataylor Videographer: @themetaphorest
The Creative Evolution Of Leyenda Speaks
As Black History Month draws to a close, we introduce the brilliant Leyenda Speaks to end it with the bang it needs. The 25-year-old spoken word poet and creative from South London launched his latest EP, Metamorphosis this year, and already has his eyes set on new heights. Since accepting that art and creative expression was going to be a major part of his life, Ley has become “obsessed” with documenting the journey along the way and we’ve had the pleasure of being along for the ride. Metamorphosis – ‘A change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one’. Where did it all start for you? Ley Speaks’ area of South London had a big influence on his work as he used his personal experiences and how they have shaped his mentality as a foundation for the work that he creates. Like most writers, he found his love for his craft studying English in school, but wanted to explore how he could combine words with other forms of creative arts. Music has always been a passion of his, and when asked about how he felt about fusing spoken word with music he said: I’ve always loved music, combining my poetry with music felt like a natural process to me. Ley Speaks How did your first EP ‘Spring Baby’ come to life? Released in 2020, the themes of Spring Baby are centred around new beginnings and nature. The EP encapsulates his journey up until a certain point whilst highlighting the rebirth he was experiencing in both his personal and creative life. Spring Baby descended when mother nature gave birth. Metamorphosis – Lion Cub He doesn’t hold back on confronting his emotions head on as he shares his truth on the world around him with effortless flows that you can’t help but relate to. The entire body of work is its own little world that anyone would want to take a mini escape to. Ley has mastered how to weave his interests and intellect together with ease, whilst drawing upon his ups and downs to bring you spoken word poetry in his own unique form. Working on Spring Baby allowed me to express different aspects of what I’m about. My lyricism, quirkiness, and creativity. Ley Speaks Stream Spring Baby here Tell us more about your latest project ‘Metamorphosis’? Ley openly expressed that he followed his intuition when creating this project, and once it was finished, he instantly started to think what was next. He likes to think that Metamorphosis takes you through an experience of accepting ones self and acknowledging the process of growth as an individual. Each track features raw and honest wordplay, and storytelling, yet doesn’t compromise on the beautiful sounds that come together to create something truly exceptional. Being ahead of what the body understands is one of the reasons I launched Metamorphosis when the pandemic had settled. Ley Speaks He named one of his tracks on the EP Lion Cub because there is a line from his track Equinox that features on his Spring Baby EP – ‘Birth of a dandy lion, raw determination’, which highlights how Ley meticulously ensures that his work is a true representation of his evolution over time. What would you say your favourite tracks are from your projects? Asking any artist what their favourite tracks are from their projects is always a difficult one for them to answer, and it’s no different for Ley Speaks. Having produced two brilliant projects in less than two years in addition to singles that are just as great as the collections, we got him to break them down for us: If I HAD to choose I would say that March 20th, Vincent Van Gogh, and Why Does Bad Come Fast But Leaves Slow are probably my favourites from Spring Baby. They each tell their own individual stories. It’s really hard to choose a favourite from Metamorphosis. I love Lion Cub for so many reasons. One being the Lion King references but also the references linked to my Spring Baby Ep. My second single Hearticulate is definitely one of my favourites, not only because of its lyrics, but it allowed me to explore my creativity when releasing its official video. Ley Speaks What is next for the great Ley Speaks? It shouldn’t come as a surprise that there is more on the way from our poetic genius Ley Speaks. He is currently working on another detailed project which has more soul undertones in terms of genre. I love musical poetry so I’m really excited to work with soulful-ish instrumentals, guitarists, and pianists etc. Before that I’d like to try a few other things including facilitating workshops and releasing more visuals. Ley Speaks We know first hand that Leyenda has so much more to come regarding musical spoken word, but until then you can stream both Spring Baby and Metamorphosis on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, and various other streaming platforms.
Dialectic Dee Talks Debut EP Utter Confusion
We catch up with Dialectic Dee to talk about her debut EP Utter Confusion and where it all started.