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: Wordsmith
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
Words Crossing Borders with Dead Poet
Social media has bridged gaps in so many ways that have allowed creatives to build an audience from anywhere across the globe. Dead Poet, also known as Vipul, is a writer based in India that has used his social media network to spread his words and build a fan base of over 70,000 followers on Twitter. Aiming to inspire people to heal, Dead Poet found his love for writing through his love for reading, and is currently working to reach his goal of becoming a full-time writer. As someone who has always loved reading as a form of meditation, Dead Poet was encouraged to write by the writers that he loved. The art of poetry has become a foundation of his life, and he aspires to create motivational work that triggers positive emotions in his readers. Dead Poet wants to leave a legacy that so many beloved writers have achieved, and is using social media to establish his lane. Without his platforms, Dead Poet expressed that he couldn’t imagine connecting with the large audience that he has. He considers the tech evolution as a blessing that has contributed to his growth as a writer, and given him the means to connect with the masses. After taking a lengthy break from writing, the 26-year-old is now developing his debut book and has plans to travel internationally so he can finally meet some of his fans in person. Challenging himself to adapt to different writing styles, 2023 looks like a prosperous year for Dead Poet when it comes to expanding his audience. We look forward to seeing what’s next from the emerging creative in the New Year but you can keep up to date by following Dead Poet here on Twitter and Instagram.