A Genesis.

Since embarking on a new journey in May, my life had gone through a genesis, a new beginning. It is now almost October, and I am currently based out of Phoenix, AZ, doing spoken word poetry full-time. I apologize for abandoning this blog, but please continue to follow me on my new site at hosannapoetry.com, and on facebook and twitter: facebook.com/hosannapoetry and twitter.com/hosanna poetry. I have CDs, calendars, and many amazing new stories I'd love to share with you!

"The old has gone, behold, all things have been made new."

Cheers.

Embark.

75% of my wardrobe: donated. 60% of my books: stored. 100% of my furniture: sold. A week ago, I fit my life into the back of my car, with room to see out the rearview mirror, as I hit the road to drive to Prescott, Arizona, my new home for the foreseeable future. I said from the beginning that this blog would merely be a creative resume, talking of poetry events to come and poetry events passed, and never any disclosure that is too personal, as I like to keep that reserved for myself, my close friends, and the blank canvases of my notebooks. So, I will just leave my journey at that for now. I will say though that the road to get here has been incredible, and my journey into the unknown has me squealing with excitement like a little girl. Experiencing the world of poetry in California has been the time of my life, but now it’s time to take it across state lines. Let’s see if Arizona is ready :)

The winds of change

If there were words to describe our journey, I'd take the time to intricately convey the wonders that have been writing, traveling, and performing with Danny and Nathan. Being a part of the Spit in the Mud performance team was an unreal experience. With three people passionate about storytelling, writing, and sharing the Gospel creatively, the last year of our lives could not have been filled with more life, more purpose, and more spontaneity. We had no idea how far we would come as a team. Still, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and on May 6th the team and I ended our journey together. From the beginning, Spit in the Mud was a ministry purposed to bringing spoken word to the church and the youth of our generation, as well as advocating and creating a means for unconventional, artistic ways of worship. For the first year of the project, it came in the form of a performance team, the most conventional way we felt we could manipulate the church into listening to spoken word poetry. As I look back upon our journey, I know we succeeded. The stories and testimonies of people inspired from and touched by the spoken word programs we brought are countless. They minister to me and bless my heart to this day. Working as a team with Danny and Nathan provided not only numerous opportunities for spoken word in the church, but also for me to grow as an artist. Spit in the Mud wouldn’t be where it is today without them. From here are on, the core ethics of the SITM ministry will love on, as I am by no means done with all of the dreams I have for slam poetry in the church. As far the boys, Danny is a part of an up and coming worship band with a mutual friend, Jedley, called The Fellows We Are (they are amazing, keep a look out!), and Nathan will be headed to China this August to pursue his passions in teaching and novel writing. All of us, together, achieved something we never dreamed of, and now, together, we are passionately and whole-heartedly diving into the dreams we’ve always had and always supported each other in. I love teaching spoken word workshops and traveling as a solo performer, so I’m glad to take on a new challenge in directing Spit in the Mud. Still, this ending is sad. Who am I kidding? I’m going to miss being a part of this team so much. It was an incredible time, and I’m glad we ended well. On the 6th we spent an entire day together, filled with sushi, movies, and random adventures at stores with gross nasty treats like spaghetti gummies. Then we had our farewell show, where we each performed four individual pieces, and two group pieces. About a hundred people came out, and we are so, so grateful for the community that has supported us throughout this past year. We had an amazing time at our final show, and we look forward to all being raindrops contributing to the Tsunami of the kingdom of God, wherever in the world we end up. If you’ve ever been to a SITM show, thank you for all of your love, encouragement, and support. It really has been the time of our lives.

Check out select videos from the night on the SITM website HERE, or directly connect to our YouTube stream HERE.

Tomorrow's Poets

What can I say? The next generation of poets is going to trump this generation. Yesterday I had the privilege of teaching spoken word to three 8th grade classes at Tuffree Middle School in Placentia, CA. Three periods, and over 90 kids all together, the experience taught me more than I could have imagined. The students there had far beyond the amount of brilliance I had anticipated, and wrote captivating poems about conventionally practical things like bracelets, pencils, and tomatoes, as well as heartfelt poems about parents, important rooms, and friendships. I loved showing them videos of some of my personal favorite poets Sarah Kay and Daniel Beaty, and had tons of fun exploring creative writing techniques with them through unconventional writing activities. The students seemed to love it, and a few of them are tremendously naturally gifted writers whom I wouldn’t be shocked to see on the mic in the near future. Teaching poetry never ceases to brings a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. I remember the new perspective of life I found when I was introduced to poetry. After yesterday’s workshop, I hope a handful of these students also feel a little more alive.

"In New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made..."

New York has been nothing short of fantastic. My best friend Kasey and I have spent every waking moment running around amidst the brilliant stores, cafes, restaurants, parks, shows, and even a mass or two (yes, the catholic kind). Without a doubt, the biggest hi-light has definitely been visiting New York’s famous Bowery Poetry Club. Not only is this place dear to my heart because it is in a part of the city where the original Beatniks roamed, but its stage has also featured national slam teams and poetic geniuses Bob Holman, Beau Sia, Moonshine, and many others, but most importantly, a personal favorite, Sarah Kay. She started at this club when she was 14, and is a well-known name around this side of the country, as well as for all spoken word fanatics nationwide.I had been emailing with Sarah prior to arriving in the Big Apple, and had the privilege of performing “Vintage Boots” upon the club’s sacred stage. After the performances, Sarah and I talked about poetry, school, traveling, teaching, and other random things under the sun. It’s truly a marvelous thing to hear a poet’s heart outside of their performed pieces. Ms. Kay in an inspiration for mothers, daughters, poets, and people all over the world, and her organization Project Voice (CLICK HERE for more info!) is an amazing project that should not be ignored. The emotions I felt performing upon this stage are unparallel, and conversing with a fellow female poet who resonates with my passions was very wonderful indeed. Also, Jamaal May was the featured poet of the night and listening in on his workshops and an 8-piece set was beyond remarkable. If you’re ever feeling fly like a Beatnik and happen to be in the NYC area, make a stop at the Bowery Poetry Club. Here exists an extreme amount of history, culture, and powerful truths of life. It’ll be worth your time. It was worth my entire trip to New York City.

"We Are Poets."

I remember my first big show. I remember the first time I felt so nervous that I was sweating. I remember rehearsing for hours to make sure I did perfectly. Sometimes, beginner poets are the hardest working poets, and their commitment, dedication, and obvious effort reflect this unparalleled passion. SP!!T this past Saturday was filled with that kind of raw fervor. I had such a splendid time sharing the stage with enthusiastic, hard-working poets. Though many of them haven’t been spitting for too long, their zeal reminded me of why I started doing poetry in the first place. When you work with professional poets often, it all sort of becomes routine. I’ve worked with some of the most prideful, self-assured names in the business, and am no longer shocked when people lose their passion for words and replace it with a desire to merely be popular. None of the poets on Saturday were victim to this fame-driven spirit. Some of them, I would deem greater artist then some of my bigwig friends for the simple fact that it’s still art to them. This show was a lot of fun. There were too many great moments to recall. With nutty things taking place backstage, an amazing, engaged crowd, and topnotch performances, I don’t really see how this show could have been any better. There were a few pieces that stood out so much that I was positive that I was in the midst of spoken word’s next big names. I can’t thank my good friend and director, KasiTeYana, enough for the opportunity not just to share my passion, but also to exist in a wonderfully nostalgic flashback, reminding me of the raw enthusiasm I had for slam poetry when I started 6 years ago. The scariness. The sweating. Practicing for forever. I hope to never lose sight of what it feels like to be a true artist. After all, as artists, aren’t we all beginners? As poets, there is no greater expertise than the ability to begin... over & over again.

It's raining Sp!!t... hallelujah!

Yesterday I hung out with the cast of SP!!T, the second in a series of spoken word shows hosted by Urban Theater Movement. In the archives of this blog are photos and details of the first Spit, which took place in fall of last year. It was truly an amazing event to be part of, and this year it is looking to be just as brilliant. Directed by the lovely KasiTeYana, and with an ecclectic cast of amaeteur and veteran poets, actors, and musicians, it will undoubtedly be a show to remember. Come out this Saturday to Long Beach and enjoy a night of amazing artistic talents...and be prepared for some spit. Umbrellas recommended.



Click HERE for event information! (which you want, trust.)

Beyond the Boots

*Sigh* Where to begin.... Friday night I hosted a show, Beyond the Boots, based off of my piece, Vintage Boots. If you happened to come across my blog entry a few down from this one, you know the importance of this event, and my pressing desire to take the popularity of this piece and do something purposeful with it... go "beyond" it, if you will. A piece primarily about parents without children, this event would give back in a way to support children without parents. Thus, the show was at Monkey Business Cafe, a non-profit organization that provides employment, homes, and programs for foster children in LA and Orange County. Headlining was some of LA's most well-known poets and my good friends, David Romero, Matt Sedillo, and Francois. Also featuring was KasiTeYana, Alex Alpharaoh, Danny Sugimoto, Nathan McWherter, Nghiem Le, Samantha Park, and Joy Oladoku. There was also a good list of open mic. sign-ups, all which brought the house down! To say the least, the night was incredible. I had the privilege of putting on the show with my best friend Kasey, our second show since The Necessary Project, and had the help of my other friends and roommates Ally, Kylie, Roman, and Delsy. It was very special for me personally to put the show on with the leading ladies in my life. And of course, the bulk of the evening had nothing to do with me. All of the poets and musicians brought their own stories, words of heartache, words of healing, words of comedy, and words of romance. Like every open mic or poetry showcase, the poets built the show themselves. There is no way that there was anywhere in California where a more powerful night of poetry was taking place at the same time as ours. These poets are unparalleled, and I am truly blessed to be surrounded and supported by such a profound group of artist. The cafe was packed; people kept streaming in as the night went on and we were busting at the seems. I wish we had pictures that gave the large resulting crowd justice. With over 100 attendees, and over $500 dollars raised for foster programs, the night was beyond the success we expected it to be. To everyone who came, thank you. I hope you enjoyed a night off of your busy schedules to bask in the beauty of raw, vulnerable, brilliant, and authentic story-telling... through poetry. Now it's your turn to write your own. Whatever circumstance you are victim to, whatever life situations have continued to suffocate you, grab a pen, and exhale. Together, let's do something to go beyond it.

(Six days 'til the Boots) Spotlighting Artist...

Last Thursday I had the privilege to visit I.E. legend and friend Judah One at his open mic venue LionLike Mindstate in Pomona (check it out HERE). One of the fastest growing open mics in Los Angeles County by far, every time I perform here or just visit, there's always new voices, new DJs, and new eye opening philosophies shot straight to my brain. This night in particular LionLike was featuring Seth Walker, and for anyone who is radical about social change, open minded to new ways of thought, or just a huge fan of ingenious spoken word, you either already know of him or you're going to want to check him out HERE. Currently touring with Lauren Begent, their lyrics and rhythm both together and separate with take you on a road trip through human emotions that are equally profound, hilarious, and real.
On top of experiencing the one and only Seth Walker live, I attended LionLike to touch base with incredible accessories stylist and spoken word artist, Cayenne. She will be selling an array of hand-made jewelry at Beyond the Boots (click HERE for more info), coming up on the 25th, complete with various stones, feathers, and metals that a lot of artists in the I.E. like to rock. Here in the photo, she is only showing a sample of her earring collection, but on the 25th she will also be selling necklaces and rings as well.

Another friend and amazing stylist will also be selling on the 25th, the one and only Meredith, founder of Made by Mere accessories (check her out HERE). Below is a picture of some of her holiday line this past December, but just like the small selection you saw of Cayenne's, this sample photo does not give justice to the brilliance of Mere's art. She has tons of new fabrics and flairs she'll be showcasing at Beyond the Boots, so bring some extra cash and come out and support your local artist!
Remember David Romero, Matt Sedillo, and Francois are headlining, and we have a huge line up of other amazing features, as well as a limited open mic. Hope to see you on Friday! Six days and counting!

UCYC Day 3: Not ready to leave...

The weekend most definitely went by too fast. Without getting too personal, there were connections and relationships we found with some of the kids that we know we'll hold on to for quite some time. It was hard saying good bye to our new found friends, the wonderful staff, and our relaxing, luxurious cabin. I opened the ending session with a new piece, "Asthmatic." I actually love this piece, and it's one my best friends', Ally's, favorite. It was a blessing to do this piece in front of so many people who I had grown to know and love over the short course of three days. After the session, it was time to say our goodbyes. Saying goodbye to some of the kids was definitely hard, and we tried to prolong our departure as long as possible. We had one last lunch with the camp staff, and then headed back on the road to Orange County. This weekend was phenomenal. It's times like these where I wish I were more liberal with my emotions on the world wide web, so that I could give this past weekend justice. If you'd like to hear any of these more intimate stories, never hesitate to ask me personally, shoot me an email perhaps. To say the very least, it was a life-changing experience. Being on the road with Nathan and Danny, bringing spoken word to a world where many had never heard of it, and meeting new rad people and making new friends was most certainly an experience of a lifetime. Thank you UCYC, the boys of Spit in the Mud, and Trey, our biggest fan by far :) In the pictures you'll see a group photo of the band, sound and stage crew, camp directors, speaker, and Spit in the Mud, as well as a shot of da boyz muggin hard, and a final SITM picture that I shall soon frame and put on my mantle. Stay tuned at www.SpitInTheMud.com for upcoming photos and videos from the weekend!

UCYC Day 2: Prescott is A-Plus

This day was one of those long days. One of those days that feels like it's going on and on and on, but you're loving every second of it, so as long as it feels, you still don't want it to end. Nathan opened up the session spitting his brand new piece, "Zuckerberg Gospel." The kids loved it, seriously. The speaker, Luke Wright, was spectacular, and was able to play off of Nathan's piece, as well as all of our pieces throughout the week. After the first session, we grabbed lunch with the kids, which in all honesty, some of our best relationships came from communal cafeteria time, and then we had the rest of the day off until the night session where Danny would be performing his solo piece. We decided to be tourists in Historical Old Town Prescott, and what a grand decision it was. It took us by surprise how beautiful this little town was. You hear "Arizona" and you immediately think desert and cacti, but this quaint town seemed more like a product of the east coast, with beautiful brick buildings, vintage shops, chic bars and coffee shops, and beautiful courthouses and libraries. We had a great time letting loose for a few hours, touring around the city, and even ran into a few of the campers around town. We stopped in a cafe called The Raven, where we carried out one of our traditions which is to have a toast with cider. It was a first time toasting with warm cider, but it was some of the tastiest cider I've ever had! We then headed back to camp, where we grabbed dinner and then went to the night session where Danny performed one of his newer pieces, "Serenity" (videos of Nathan and Danny's pieces will be on the Spit in the Mud youtube channel soon). Afterwards was Redneck Bowling Night, where all of the campers and leaders dressed up like hicks and went into town to go Bowling. We had a great time hanging out with all the kids and videotaping for our 4 Second Competition (we asked the kids who could do the coolest thing in 4 seconds and at the end of the weekend we gave the winners Spit in the Mud post it notes). We headed back to our cabin and made pizza and ate It's-Its, listened to Jeff play some sick covers, and then headed off to bed. It was a long day sure, but definitely one to remember.