Interview with Poejazzi: London Spoken Word Architects

1. Before we get to the specifics of Poejazzi, how do you view the role of poetry in today’s society and how is it tied to music?

We think of poetry as part of everyday life, especially in music, so we have always put the two together because we see them as related. Through our poetry and music nights we wanted people who wouldn’t necessarily have been exposed to much in the way of poetry or who may have believed they wouldn’t enjoy it to find themselves liking it through its connection with something that most of us like: music. 

2. When did you start Poejazzi and what was the original idea?

Poejazzi was originally a monthly night that started six years ago, its founders wanted to create the kind of night they wanted to go to. It developed into an organization and online magazine, poejazzi.com, 18 months ago. Now we are publishing poetry apps (our first one comes out in a month), producing concept shows like our new re-imagining of Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl,” and visual content like live sessions, as well as putting on our regular nights. 

3. Can you define what Spoken Word means to you? How is it unique as a medium of expression?

Spoken word equates to honesty for us. It is unique because it can be accessible and deeply personal at the same time. 

4. Tell us about the tradition of your live events. What is the vibe and who should attend?

The vibe is generally very eclectic, both of us have very broad taste in music so you can expect to see all corners of the alternative world represented, even if it’s pop music, at a Poejazzi night it would be pop music with a twist. We always consider the mood each act evokes and who they should be with on a line up so people get a range of experiences from the night. All of our spoken word acts are as amazing as the music acts, there’s always that equilibrium, so neither is an afterthought. 

We love championing people we think people will be hearing more of or should be and people who may be established but we feel are deserving of even more fandom! From the responses we get from both regular Poejazzi-goers and new faces, the night is a beautiful medium between challenging and entertaining, so there is always a level of innovation or surprise from our acts but there will also be an element of no matter how alternative this may sound that it could be popular once people have been exposed to it because it sounds fantastic. 

We’re pretty selective as a duo about what we like musically and we have to be very critical running an online magazine as well as a night, so we are always putting ourselves in the shoes of the crowd watching and thinking “is this entertaining?” “is this life-changing?” “is this interesting?” because that is what we want from a night out like this. 

5. Who are the minds behind Poejazzi and how did you all come to work together?

Poejazzi is run by partners and music/spoken word obsessives Joshua Idehen and Charlotte Morgan-Nwokenna and all visuals are created by the wonderful director Bruno Ramos. Joshua Idehen is also the vocalist in the band Benin City, founded Poejazzi six years ago with friends and poets Musa Okwonga and Inua Ellams. Inua Ellams is now a guest curator for special nights whilst Musa Okwonga has a very busy and great career in broadcasting, journalism, and music/spoken word. Former editorial assistant Charlotte Morgan-Nwokenna was looking for new challenges and so Joshua convinced her (with cake and promises of future success) that that challenge could be Poejazzi: she joined Poejazzi 18 months ago to help expand the night into an organization that published poetry digitally and has an online magazine. 

6. Can you leave us with your favorite inspirational quote?

Life isn’t about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself.

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5th August 2013