Wordplay & Flow have handpicked a sensational selection of creatives across poetry and music that will continue paving the way for emerging artists with their inspiring stories, and the different ways that they have navigated their creative journey’s. There is never one way to get to the same destination, and these four creatives highlight this is the best way. Anusha Anusha’s life as a musician started at the tender age of three as she used music to communicate the complex feelings that she felt she couldn’t express with words growing up. After joining local choirs, music groups, and learning cover songs on the high street she started to realise that she was good at relaying stories through music. Whether it was fabricated or not, I could put on a show. That feeling of entertaining people, whether it be through my lyrics, my vocal ability, or just the feeling I get being on stage was what encouraged me to start making music the way that I wanted to. Anusha – Musician What is the story behind your latest single, Loser? Loser is a single that is so much fun and I think people would really like it. I wrote the song about a conversation I had in 2019 where I wanted clarity on a friendship, but instead I got called all sorts of horrible names. The who song is sarcastic. I had fun with it. Anusha – Musician Anusha likes to confront things that are uncomfortable through her craft. She isn’t one to shy away from topics that are close to her such as sexual assault, her disabilities, and what she feels about the functionality of society. Confronting her own emotions is what inspires her to translate those feelings in a positive way through her music. What are we watching out for in 2022? Anusha reassures us that 2022 is looking like an exciting year for her creatively. From exploring new sounds to moving to a new home, the New Year will be one of growth, development, and savouring the joys of doing what you love. Without revealing too much, I’m going to be releasing more singles and multimedia projects that expand on my last single Loser. It’s going to be a transitional year personally. Anusha – Musician You can stream her latest single ‘Loser’ across all major platforms and keep up with what’s next: @anushaldn Marc Marcel Marc Marcel is an American based poet that found his love for poetry through writing and publishing his first novel, Saint Thomas. He used the art to provide an overall view of his longer body of work; writing a poem that gave the reader the same feeling that his novel did, but in a shorter version. I started writing other poems that wasn’t associated with the book and started to fall in love with the way I could get an idea out in a much shorter time than a novel. Marc Marcel – Poet & Author What is the poetry scene like in the United States? The scene in the US has changed a lot over time. I came up during a time when social media wasn’t as big as it is now. To get a gig today is much easier than before. We really had to grind. I would get in my car and drive around the country going to poetry venue after poetry venue, city to city selling my CDs. Marc Marcel – Poet & Author Technology may have changed the way Marc pushed his work out to the world, but it didn’t change the authenticity that went into each poem and performance. He has engaged with the poetry community across the globe and feels as if the friendly, ambitious vibe is always the same. What are we watching out for 2022? Like many creatives, writing is just one of Marc’s many talents. He has created his very own cartoon called Guru’s which he hopes to get streaming in the near future. Although the cartoon doesn’t have poetry involved, Marc expressed that all the years he has spent working on poetry made it possible for him to come up with the idea. I used to draw when I was younger, so all those years of drawing came in handy when I decided to animate the cartoon. Marc Marcel – Poet & Author If launching a new cartoon wasn’t enough, the wordsmith is looking forward to releasing his 20th spoken word album which we’re sure will encapsulate some of the great moments Marc has achieved over the years doing what he does best. Be sure to keep up with what’s next: @marcmarcel @guruscartoon Curly Wordy The last 15 months have been a soul-warming experience as Curly Wordy after fully immersing herself back into the poetry scene to share what she had to say. Since renewing her vows with her pen she feels as if she has gone full circle, having returned to a path that was always intended for her. ‘I feel woke.’ I have always been a writer; it’s in my bones. Poetry is my power. Storytelling is in my DNA. Curly Wordy – Poet & Creative What are some of the inspirations behind your poetry? Curly has always been inspired by the stories of others when writing. As a journalist, she enjoyed shining a light on the heroes that walked among us; the underdogs that triumphed. Writing poetry is a form of release for her; a sacred and personal experience that she picked up again a decade after her mothers passing. Now, through my poetry I have found the confidence to shine a light on my own story, my rising, and how I triumphed over adversity and trauma. Curly Wordy – Poet & Creative What are we watching out for in 2022? Not only will she continue to grace stages across London with her powerful performances, Curly Wordy is keen to expand on her journalism work by pursuing new areas such as voice overs and musical spoken word. SheContinue reading “Wordplay & Flow: One’s to Watch 2022”
Tag Archives: Poets
How the Poetry Community Survived Through the Pandemic
The year 2020 was, without a doubt, one of the most difficult and event-filled years in the last decade (perhaps century), as panic and pandemonium filled homes all over the world, leaving nations in complete and utter disarray, with concerned parties being forced to ruminate over the very essence of their day-to-day living, expecting answers from a government often incapable of providing a solution. Some chose to clash over false notions of a shortage of everyday necessities such as toilet paper, inevitably enkindling mass hysteria, while others used news of the pandemic’s origin to blame and brutally attack members of the East Asian community, ignorantly making scapegoats of the innocent, as though expecting them to take responsibility for matters outside of their control. It was… terrifying. Fast forward to 2021, where, after an extremely harrowing and undeniably frustrating year, we witnessed the revitalisation of the poetry scene. Event venues once again opened their doors to breathe life back into the scene we all so dearly missed. For the first time in a year we listened in awe as poets returned to the stage to share their thoughts on the Coronavirus pandemic, government ineptitude and vaccine passports, and suddenly, despite everything that suggested otherwise, all seemed right with the world again. Poetry… was back. Now as 2021 draws to a close and we approach the year 2022 with talk of new Covid variants, vaccine passports and another potential lockdown firmly on the tips of most tongues, I want you to remember, no matter what, we still have this. Whether it’s in front of an audience of many at the FLO Vortex or Poetics, or in front of an audience of one at home stood before a mirror, poetry is always relevant. And more importantly, YOUR poetry is always relevant. Keep writing. 2022 is just another year to be great. How great? Well… that depends on you. Written by: Liam Spencer
The Power of Healing Through Words with Kali Gld
Our 2021 Flow Feature series continues with the one and only Kali Gld. The musician, producer, and poet gave a magnificent performance at ATL’s Word On The Street’s debut open mic event earlier this year, and has so much more to come as the New Year approaches. The Jamaican-born creative is determined to make her mark whilst sharing her raw truths with the world. What encouraged you to start writing? Kali started writing at the age of 12 after her mother passed away. The loss of a parent isn’t easy at a young age, but the bereavement was a significant trigger for her creative process, and over time her process of expressing through a pen evolved into a passion that has brought her to many stages across London. Although she had love for her craft, life took Kali in a different direction where she became a chef for eight years. Whilst in this line of work she still had a great passion for music and poetry which led her to study music production at London Metropolitan University. This was the first step towards her pursuing what she believed was the path that was truly meant for her. My Dad was also a musician who used to sing. I performed with him once and loved the feeling that I felt. I knew that this was what I wanted to do. Kali Gld – Musician, Producer, and Poet Tell us about one piece that explains the inspirations behind your writings? My piece called Anxiety was written when I was in a delicate place in my life. Kali Gld Kali eventually came to a crossroad when it came to what she wanted to pursue in life. After being a chef for so long, it seemed like the most secure option, however her love of music and poetry wasn’t going anywhere. The more she was inspired by the life around her, the people she met along the way, and the world in general, she realised that these art forms need to be a part of her life, and took a leap of faith. Kali works from a place of healing. When people listen to her music, she wants them to feel a sense of progress; a sense of power. She is an advocate for overcoming hardship by doing the things you love the most where possible, and we couldn’t agree more. What are you currently working on? Music has been Kali’s main focus recently. She hasn’t been working on poetry as much, but alongside studying music production, she is now working on her debut EP. The project titled ICU (Intensive Care Unit) draws upon her experiences this year between April and July. All the lyrics for this project were written during that period of time, and now I’m working on the music side of things. Kali Gld – Musician, Producer, and Poet Tapping into our life experiences is something that many creatives do and use to produce some of their best work. The same goes for Kali Gld. Despite her personal experiences, music and poetry has been arts that have allowed her to discover her own way to deal with those experiences. It’s safe to say that Kali Gld’s new project is going to be one of a kind just like her, and we can’t wait to hear what this great talent has coming in 2022. Keep up with her journey on socials via: @kaligld_ Photographer: @souldiaries Creative director: @tannikataylor Writer: @tannikataylor
Discover the Endless Creative Talents of Abdul-Ahad Patel
The term ‘hard worker’, reserved for an individual with an outstanding work ethic, is often used to describe and commend any individual that displays a keen and determined inclination for ‘going above and beyond’ to achieve their goals. And when it comes to spoken word artist, actor, and writer Abdul-Ahad Patel, I can think of no designation more fitting to describe the aforementioned creative’s remarkable resolve, industrious attitude and conscientious work ethic. In a span of just three years, Abdul-Ahad has catapulted himself from the open mic to headliner, from aspiring writer to self-published author, and from occasional extra to facing off with Joel Kinnamon in ‘The Informer’. These feats are all incredible in their own right, but when you factor in that Abdul-Ahad does all this while holding down full-time employment, it becomes even more impressive. Abdul-Ahad’s indubitable commitment to quality is both confirmed and exemplified by his diligent approach toward each individual project he undertakes, wholly applying himself to every endeavour, determined to give the absolute best of himself regardless of the role. Whether it’s performing in front of an audience of poets at BBC’s Word First competition, painstakingly handcrafting his debut short story ‘Ghost of Shaolin’, or intimidating Joel Kinnamon’s Pete Koslow as Vermin, Abdul-Ahad exudes excellence, embodying a resoluteness that can only be found in the most ardent of individuals. As we move towards 2022, the future looks bright for the incredibly gifted Abdul-Ahad. With his sights set on releasing a fourth book in the summer of the new year, and later, in the year 2023, a sequel to 2019’s ‘Ghost of Shaolin’ (a story aptly titled ‘The Shadow of Shaolin’), as well as his upcoming debut in a brand new Netflix show ‘The Last Bus’, the sky’s the limit for this uber talented individual. Abdul-Ahad is a spoken word artist, actor and writer. He is best known for his role as Vermin in 2019 film ‘The Informer’. He is the author of the novel ‘Native’, short story ‘Ghost of Shaolin’, and novella ‘Escape’. He has appeared on BBC Xtra’s Word First competition and the Cheltenham Literature Festival. He currently writes for Link Up TV and MMA UK. Written by: Liam Spencer
Exploring the Poetic Rise of Maryam
Every so often, a very special poet comes along, graces the stage and reminds us here at Wordplay of exactly why we love this. In 2021, that poet has been none other than the graceful and incredibly gifted wordsmith, Maryam. Since her emergence, Maryam has wowed audiences with spellbinding wordplay and breathtaking manipulation of the English language; captivating audiences with mesmeric storytelling and unmatched attention to detail, Maryam has quickly become one of the best poets performing on London’s poetry circuit. In less than a year, Maryam has catapulted herself from largely unknown to one of the scene’s most valued and sought after wordsmiths. Maryam combines a distinct and profoundly eloquent delivery with a masterfully complex and thought-provoking writing style to create an idiosyncratic experience like no other. What makes Maryam’s poetry so distinct and memorable isn’t only her astonishing command of the English language and poetic technique, but also her ability to construct pieces of work that transcend the quintessential composition of a modern day poem. It is bountifully clear with each individual performance and poem shared that Maryam not only wants you to hear her poetry, she wants you to feel it. With a catalogue of work that addresses and explores a plethora of pertinent topics including faith, politics, identity and injustice, Maryam has already found herself front and centre headlining poetry events across London, an expanding list that includes renowned spoken word nights like Mind Over Matter and Bring Your Own Bars Poetry, and brand new initiatives like Poetics. By meticulously interweaving layers of depth and substance into every sentence (or ‘bar’ for the poetry scene aficionados), and passionately exploring current affairs with faith-inspired poetry that is as relevant as it is enthralling, Maryam hasn’t just quietly arrived on the poetry scene, she’s effectively kicked the door wide open and announced to the entire scene: “I’m here… and this is just the beginning!” Written by: Liam Spencer
Birmingham Poets Set To Launch New Poetry Event Aiming To Empower
Birmingham based poet, author, and actor Ryan Sinclair is launching his very own spoken word event in his hometown. Empower Poetry aims to showcase the brilliant poets that Birmingham have to offer by giving them a new safe space to perform their art. Ryan was inspired to launch his new event after exploring the London poetry scene which is filled with open mic nights where poets share their truths. After featuring at various London poetry events and attracting a growing audience, Ryan has inspired more poets from Birmingham to connect with events in London. Currently there are only a few consistent poetry events running in Birmingham and Ryan wants to change the narrative of how poets from outside of the capital city are perceived and received. Alongside his Empower partner Kohinoor, Ryan and his team are determined to put Birmingham and Midland poets on the map, and we are 100% here for it. Kohinoor Yasmin is a writer and poet that has featured on Hayati Open Mic by Ort Gallery in addition to performing for virtual poetry platforms based in the United States. She found her love for writing at the age of eight drawing upon her early experiences as inspiration, and has been indulging in the craft ever since. I love reading, travelling, and cooking. I’m especially passionate about alternative education, and investing in our youth. One of my goals in life is to change the lives of those around me; one poem at a time. Kohinoor Yasmin – Poet, Photographer, and Mentor Ryan Sinclair highlights that it isn’t easy for all poets based outside of London to access the poetry events we have to offer on a weekly basis. Empower Poetry will be another step in bridging the gap between poets from Birmingham and London, and we are eager to see the new talent that the spoken word circuit has underground. I think it’s only right that I use my resources to boost the poetry community in Birmingham and help poets to get paid. Ryan Sinclair – Poet, Author, & Mentor Empower Poetry’s debut event is on the 24th November from 7pm onwards at the 7 Sins Lounge based in Digbeth. The night is set to be one to remember with feature performances from Birmingham based poets that have something to say.
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.
Five Poetry Competitions You Should Know About!
Here is a list of five poetry competitions you can enter now to win great cash prizes and the chance to have your poetry published: 1. Anthology Poetry Award 2021: Entries are now open for the Anthology Poetry Award, but be quick because the deadline is fast approaching. Poets have until the 31st October to submit a poem of no more than 40 lines on the theme of ‘Freedom’. The competition is open to all nationalities regardless of where participants are living in the world and there is a small fee of €15 to enter. There is no limit to entries per person. With a €500 cash prize for the winner and potential publication in a future issue of Anthology up for grabs, what are you waiting for? 2. National Poetry Competition 2021: Another competition with its deadline fast approaching is the 2021 National Poetry Competition. Entrants have until the 31st October to submit a previously unpublished piece of poetry of up to 40 lines on a subject of their choice. The competition is open to anyone over the age of 18, including international participants. It costs just £7 to enter and £4 thereafter for any subsequent entries for those that wish to submit more than one piece. And the best part of all, there is £5,000 cash prize up for grabs for the winner of this illustrious award. 3. Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Competition 2021: This competition is for original, unpublished and not previously broadcast poetry. Participants can enter poetry on a subject of their choosing for as little as €7 or opt to enter five poems to increase their chances of winning for just €30. The 1st prize winner will receive €2,000 and the opportunity to perform at Cork International Poetry Festival 2022. Additionally, all winning entries will be published in the Southword Literary Journal. For this one, you still have a lot of time to prepare, as the deadline for the Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Competition is November 30, but don’t leave it too late! The sooner you start, the more time you’ll have to perfect that spellbinding piece of poetry! 4. Cafe Writers Open Poetry Competition 2021: This wonderful competition is open to all poets for an entry fee of just £4 for a single poem or £10 for three. Poems can be up to 40 lines long and, like all of the aforementioned competitions, must be written in English. There is a cash prize of £1,000 up for grabs for the winner, with second prize taking home £300 and third place £100. There is also concessionary entry available to low-income writers. The deadline for this competition is also November 30. 5. The Moth Poetry Prize 2021: To round off this list is The Moth Poetry Prize 2021 competition, which is one of the biggest prizes in world poetry for unpublished work. The competition is open to anyone over the age of 16 with a fee of €15 for a single entry. Unlike some of the other competitions previously mentioned, there is only one entry per poet. But don’t let that deter you! There is a €6,000 cash prize available to the winner with three runner-up prizes of €1,000. So, make it into the top four and you’re guaranteed a nice sum for your efforts and contribution. The deadline for this one is December 31. So, there you have it. A list of five poetry competitions you can enter now and be in with a chance of winning some great cash prizes. For more information on each competition, please visit the respective websites. Written by: Liam Spencer
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.
The Vortex Has Reopened!
Hold onto your seats and get ready to be blown away because on the 31st October, FLO Vortex makes its long-awaited return! Hosted by the multi-platinum, award-winning singer, songwriter and poet, Natalie “The Floacist” Stewart, FLO Vortex became an instant success following its inception in 2014. Since then, the Vortex has welcomed poets, rappers and singers from all over the world with artists from America, Canada and Africa joining members of the UK’s increasingly popular poetry scene to take to the stage and wow audiences with mind-bending wordplay, captivating storytelling and hypnotising lyricism. Now, after a lengthy hiatus due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, for the first time since early 2020, England’s leading spoken word event reopens its doors to the public when Breakin’ Convention presents Let’s Do Leadenhall (an initiative designed to provide free cultural events around London). The rules are simple: at the start of the night, FLO Vortex founder Natalie Stewart will open the Vortex. From there, each poet has 3-5 minutes to share a piece of their choosing. There are no introductions. When the Vortex is opened, it is upon the selected poets on that night to choose when they wish to enter. They state their name, they recite their piece, and they state their name again. It’s that simple. This is the unique and incredibly exciting formula that has helped FLO Vortex become the most exhilarating night in poetry. And that’s not all! If you really can’t wait for the 31st, you can whet your appetite on the 20th October when FLO Vortex in collaboration with Blackbird brings you FLO Vortex: CIPHERS live on Twitter. 20 incredible poets from all over the world enter the Vortex and FLO! For more information on the highly anticipated return of the FLO Vortex at Leadenhall Market, head over to the official Breakin’ Convention website. Written by: Liam Spencer