How July-ke Me Now?
How July-ke Me Now
Hey Friends. Last month feels a world away and no doubt next month will again. Having been writing increasingly reflective poems during this period something in me snapped and I have started writing about toilet seats (more details below) and creating German pop bangers. This may sound and look like some kind of breakdown, but i'm framing it as in the absence of a physical audience I have been rediscovering the love of writing for the sheer joy of it, so I can only hope some of that comes across. Here's some things I've been up to since the last time we spoke:
We're officially in the second half of the year, even if the last time I gigged feels like yesterday and forever ago. To celebrate the summer solstice me and Grace went for a sunrise and sunset swim and got this beauty of a snap!
Black Lives Still Matter
In last months newsletter I tempted fate by saying I'd just about come to terms with coronavirus so would probably be fine forevermore, but most of my headspace this last month has been contemplating the aftermath of George Floyd's death and the global Black Lives Matter movement. I feel exceptionally blessed to be surrounded by voices far more articulate than mine on race, but also increasingly aware that we as white people need to be having those conversations too, even if they feel clunky or awkward (and not just when it's in the news!). As Angela Davis said: “In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be antiracist.” If you signed up to this mailing list for pure poems or updates on hot yoga (entirely valid) and are surprised to see me mention racism, hopefully it won't be too surprisingly off-brand to find out I'm not a fan - here are some things I've found helpful this past month:
Reading
This month I re-read Reni-Eddo-Lodge's Why I'm No Longer Talking to White people about Race which has been recommended a lot but is a perfect introduction to some of these topics if it does feel new/overwhelming. I have also just finished N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Trilogy which Is one of the best things I've ever read. It's the most amazing fantasy series which still gives me shivers to just think about, and I only came across it after reading this interview with her but am very grateful that I did. I've also just started reading Audre Lorde for the first time and can feel my world changing already.
Watching/Listening
I think Dave is the best poet our country has. His performance of 'Black' at the Brit awards stops me in my tracks every time I watch it and even if you don't click any other links I'd recommend you give it a look if you haven't already. I attempt a version of it as my 'something borrowed' in the Tony Walsh episode of my weekly show, or recommend the whole Tyrone Lewis episode including his new poem '2 Black 2 Furious' for the power of spoken word to articulate some of the complexities of this. I was also lucky enough to speak to the wonderful Josh Idehen for Greenbelt where before we went on air he reminded me "These things aren't new, we're just more aware of them now" which I have held onto when I've felt at my most despairing. On a non-poetry tip I finally got around to watching Hidden Figures on Netflix and obviously loved it because it's about overcoming discrimination by being good at Maths (the dream!), and found Channel 4's 2-part series The school that tried to end racism genuinely fascinating.
I was also heartened to see the wonderful Vanessa Kisuule's poem about Edward Colston's statue being toppled shared so widely, and getting to share an online stage with her in the video link below has been a highlight of lockdown performances so far.
This is one of my favourite gigs I've done during lockdown. As well as answering crucial questions about whether I would rather be pelted with grapes or crackers I got to hear the incredible poetry of Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan for the first time, and brag about my knees, as well as be referenced in a new poem by Tyrone Lewis !
Toilets and Bread
One of the joys of not being able to perform is finding more time for writing. I've loved having my weekly Something Borrowed show as a regular deadline to be producing new work, but as mentioned above part of the reason I started writing in the first place was to entertain myself and if anyone else enjoyed it it was an added bonus, a headspace I've slowly felt myself gravitating back towards. This means not only have I written an extensive poem about my new toilet seat, I managed to submit it as a verified review on the product website - I have given it 5 stars in my excitement but for the interest of balance Roy only gave it 3 because his disintegrated, so you can make up your own mind about who to trust. I also celebrated Father's day with a new poem about Sourdough because my dad has very much improved my lockdown life by teaching me to make my own via FaceTime !
Something Borrowed
I've mentioned a couple of specific episodes already, but I've been keeping up my weekly poetry show in instagram/podcast with a different guest each week, and I've been enjoying the chance to speak to other humans as well as the poetry/music itself, including old friends such as Bridget Minamore in this week's Brainchild fundraising special or new best friends such as Helen Seymour in possibly my fave episode so far - you can listen to any of the these and previous episodes via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or My Website, and if there are any future guests you'd like me to reach out to please let me know!
While all other episodes have been recorded on Instagram before being put out as podcasts, my dear friend James coming to live with me for a month meant we could perform our hit Christmas song as well as debut our German smash hit 'So Viele Leute', which has changed the game in terms of online performances, mainly because it contains so much raw energy I forget I ever needed an audience in the first place.
What's Next?
A crucial question I tried to answer in an article for the Church Times about the future of creativity and the arts. Since then I posted a picture with the hashtag #SaveTheArts and the next day they announced a £1.57bn rescue package so job well done by me I reckon. Just in case there is anything else that needs clearing up I am taking part in a webinar this Thursday to discuss what the post-pandemic world might look like. Speaking of pandemics (when are we not!?) I have a poem included in the amazing Poems for a Pandemic anthology alongside many frontline staff that is raising money for NHS charities together, alongside Erin Bolens and Hollie Mcnish among others !
To Look Forward To:
I have made a music video for our German banger (should it be a Würst?) that will be released as soon as I get the mastered track back, so if you can't wait until next month's newsletter click any of the links at the bottom to stay updated on my social media.
Also while pubs are back open, poetry gigs are still looking pretty sparse and schools are going on holiday so if you enjoy what I do and were able to support me in any way through the summer that would be amazing, either by donating to my Ko-Fi Page or buying any merch from my store! (if you're unable to that's also fine of course!) - At the moment I'm able to keep making things that I love, and while a lot of the world feels uncertain I know that will never be a bad thing, so I'll try and keep doing that as well as I can.
Stay safe. Stay hopeful.
Stay brilliant x