Okay folks, so for our third instalment of the #spokenwordlowdown, we cross the water to the states, for a man whose lyricism, makes you REALLY, have to listen ! So, let's find out more about the ..... Ant1-Her0 Project ......
Okay, hey there Travis, aka ... Ant1-Her0 Project, good to catch up with ya, so, why the name, " Ant1-Her0 Project ", and why the numbers, instead of letters in the name ?

Thanks for the interest, I appreciate it.
The ANT1-HER0 Project is the name of a multimedia art installation I created, and have showcased in five states so far. The project is an ongoing art narrative about a graffiti writer trying to instigate rebellion in a corporate-controlled police state. The project is comprised of illustration, graphic art, poetry, prose, and spoken word performances. The numbers represent binary code, which I also tend to use as a metaphor for social programming. On a less-exciting note, there is also at least one band, and a skateboard company that uses the name "Anti Hero" --so using the numbers may help me avoid any alleged copyright/trademark infringements if my project ever builds a large enough audience to present potential conflicts on the business end of it. You can never be too careful.
------

Where are you from and how old are you ?

I just turned 36, and I'm from New London, CT. I'm relocating to New York State in October, due to the fact that my work is better received in NY than it is in CT.
------

Passion, Intensity and intricate wordplay is what I get from your material ....
How would you define what your brand of Spoken Word is ?

I'm not sure I can speak for any particular brand it's akin to --but I can say that I'm heavily influenced by 80's 90's Hip Hop and Punk Rock. I'm certainly not a traditional person or poet by any means, so in my experience, no particular brand of anything is usually quick to adopt what I do, despite being appreciative of it. In terms of delivery, it's kind of an unfamiliar territory, but I like it that way. I've always been a fan/supporter of raw, unapologetic poets and lyricists who make a habit of raising the bar for technical ability while challenging the status-quo --and at the end of the day, I'd like to think I'm doing my part to pay it forward. As one of the fastest and most effective vehicles for influencing thought and behavior, I think art has a duty to serve on the front lines of social change.
------

Do you find that audiences connect with your material easily ?

Yes and no --and for deliberate and unintentional reasons, if I'm being perfectly honest. I work hard to ensure that I'm entertaining, and thankfully, for years now, the applause has always been very favorable to me --but the work I do is also confrontational and complex, so it depends on how open they are to sociopolitical topics and how much they enjoy a good challenge. On the deliberate side, I don't create art with the intent of it being fully-grasped in just one sitting. Personally, I prefer works of art that require many visits to digest, so I don't go out of my way to hold anyone's hand. Many people argue that all good art makes a clear and simple case, but I don't think that's a golden rule --ease of accessibility may also make it disposable.
------

What was your worst performance experience and why ?

I was in the final round of a poetry slam, competing for a spot in CT's national slam team --and I got distracted, and tripped myself up while performing a brand new poem that I think would have advanced me. A drunk dude stumbled loudly into the venue, and disrupted me while he was looking for someone he knew--normally, I'm not so easily distracted, but I was a little more nervous and excited than I usually am, because I really thought I could win. Overall, it was still a great experience, and I met some really dope poets. Though I've won many smaller titles, I don't go into any competition with expectations of winning, because my style is so unorthodox --so knowing I could have just spiked my nerves a bit.
------

Is writing therapeutic for you ?

Definitely --even at a young age, I found myself better equipped to express myself through writing; as I would imagine most writers probably do. I've been writing as long as I've been drawing, which is longer than I can remember. I do a lot of independent research regarding sociopolitical and socioeconomic topics as well, and though that depresses most people to no end, I also find that incredibly therapeutic. I have an insatiable desire to learn and understand as much as I possibly can --it's too bad that it'll never be enough.
------

What's going on currently with the Ant1-Her0 Project and is there anything fresh in the pipeline ?

After self-publishing a "more accessible" introduction to my work with a chap book/DVD combo, I'm currently working on a full-length book called "WAR PAINT - The ART of DISSENT". The full-length book will include all of my illustrations and poetry, several essays, two sequential short stories, and a spoken word DVD. It's an in-depth introduction to counter-culture initiatives for the anarcho-curious, and examines the roles art and entertainment play in both pacification and activism.
------

Musically speaking, who are you listening to currently ?

I'm very picky when it comes to music. A few of my favorite bands are Propagandhi, Bad Religion, Anti-Flag, Rise Against, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. A handful of my favorite Hip Hop acts include Supastition, Hail Mary Mallon, Doomtree, Blueprint, Foundation, and always Boot Camp Clik...but you did say currently --there are many other artists who've had a tremendous amount of influence on me over the last 25 years, and I'd be more than happy to talk about all of them if asked in the future.
------

..... and Finally, in Trumps' America, do you think that Spoken Word, can touch the type of people who voted for him ?

This is a tough question. Yes and no. If I didn't think people could be reached, I wouldn't bother doing what I do --I also feel it's most important to focus on young minds that are still malleable. Anyone over a certain age is so well-indoctrinated and polarized in their views, that the only thing that may change their minds are life-altering experiences --challenge those people, but know that they're probably too far gone. Even in debate, know that your opponent's mind is not likely to change --your audience is the silent observer watching the debate unfold. I'm 36, that means the future already belongs to someone else --much of my generation is too old to care-- any chance we have is to influence the way that our kids think about things. Social change can be equated to watching hair grow --if you're in it to see significant changes in your lifetime, you're likely to find yourself being deeply depressed and discouraged almost every step along the way. I would argue that one's energy is best spent on those who are willing to change. The world is changed by the ones most willing --the ones most willing are a mindful minority. The compact majority are largely incapable of critical thought, and are going to do what they always do --follow their leader.
------

.... and, as with everyone, is there any merchandise you'd like to promote ?

For anyone who's interested, I have do have an online store on my website --www.ant1her0.com -- where my first multimedia chap book is for sale, and high quality prints of all my original illustrations. I ship anywhere in The United States.

Okay folks, now you're in the #SpokenWordLowdown Zone, and Yes, I, Big Virge, am your host, and am very happy to be featuring this young talent, Nicodemus Reuben, an interesting, and very gifted wordsmith .....
I had a chance to catch up with him, so, with no further ado, let's find out a bit more about this #SpokenWord Artist & Writer ......

So, firstly, good to connect, and thanks for chatting with us,
where are you from, how old are ya, and how long have you been doing this ?

Hi Virge and Deep Underground. Thanks for reaching out to me.
I'm from Essex in the south of England originally, but I've mostly been about Wales for the last ten years or so. The hip hop scene in Cardiff especially, was a big reason for me to stick around down there, homegrown labels and promoters like, Mean Business and Rockpie, are keeping it vibrant and varied.

I am currently steadily hurtling out of my twenties like someone pushed the airlock button, clinging on to every excuse for recklessness and immaturity I can find on my way out to the unknown void.
As for writing, it's pretty much been a constant thing. I have my first 'book' from when I was about five or six in my draw still. It's mainly a bunch of drawings of me as a superhero, but each page is a chapter. That's what I assumed you had to do to be a serious, adult writer at that point presumably.
The spoken word thing generally evolved from me playing with language to the point where it made more sense in a performance format, than on the page.
-----

Okay, so, why the name, in fact, NAMES, NicodemusReuben & your alter ego, Dorian Grayskull ?

Nicodemus is my actual, legal first name. I usually have to come up with psuedonyms that sound less outlandish and ridiculous. Reuben is my middle name. So that's that one.
Dorian Grayskull is from 'The portrait of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde, and Castle Grayskull from He-Man. I'm fairly obsessed with exploring dualities, and the duality between literary culture and pop culture I find pretty interesting, so that's mainly what that is.
Dorian Grayskull was sort of an excuse for me to channel some aspects of performance, and myself, that I found fairly ridiculous, or at least, worth examination, into a character. But also because I love grand theatrical tradition, like burlesque, japanese noh theatre, the idea of the cosmic jester and the tragic clown. It was basically just a bunch of stuff I liked I threw into a melting pot and Dorian Grayskull was the outcome
-----

You're pretty fearless in the topics you cover, is there anything you won't cover , if so why ?

Ha, ok, I don't think anyone's said that to me before. I won't get too deep into politics, but I think that if you want to create in a certain climate, you have to make something that's true to that climate, otherwise it's just popcorn entertainment. I've always valued abrasiveness that gets people talking over inoffensive wine bar piano music.
-----

How do you come up with the concepts for your visuals ?

The words usually inform that stuff in some way. I think one of the videos I did I just used a music video generator program, so top tip there if you're pressed for time or lacking in talent, both of which applied to me at the time. The 'sniffergods' video is pretty much all the genius of the absolute zen master that is DocBlackdaWho, I basically ranted some vague concepts at him and he made it all happen. The XXIII Music clips were pretty much all down to the talent of those guys too. I love visual art but it's something I'm still learning how to implement, but I like being ignorant about things like that so they retain a bit of magic for me.
-----

Incredible depth in your work !
What do you do to relax away from writing, etcetera?

Haha, Different kinds of writing help. I've actually decided to just go for it and started on a novel this year, just to say I've done it really. I still read as much as I can too. Before I build up the pretence of being massively scholarly and dedicated too much though, I am a massive videogames nerd. Like, obscene amounts of time, though I do think well written games have huge artistic value too. Music as well, whenever I can, usually instrumental stuff like jazz or trip hop when I'm writing. As for hip hop, 'Otherworld' by Turna Phrase and 'Barrydockalypse' by Joe Dirt, both super lyrical Welsh MC's, have been on pretty much constant rotation this year. I do have a feature on Otherworld though, so I skip that track.
-----

Also, gotta say, you have a sweet flow, and cool dynamism in your delivery!
How long do you take learning your work ?

Appreciate it. As long as it takes man, as long as it takes.
-----

and now, for some cheese ?
Favourite Food ?

I am actually well into brocolli at the moment. That's proper lame I know. I'm vegan though, so it's like steak for me.
-----

Do you have a favourite spoken word artist, if so, who & why ?

I can't really pick one that stands above the rest. There's a load of more well known people I'm into, but I've been absolutely floored during my time in Cardiff by some of the local stuff. Turna Phrase, Johhny Giles, Zhubat, pretty much the whole Mean Business Records roster, I was just constantly surrounded by people that made me want to up my game significantly. They're mostly hip hop artists but all of them implement such a focus on word craft it all feeds back.
-----

What Night/ Event, would you recommend to SW Artists ?

Honestly, any event with a microphone. If it's not a spoken word event, go down there with your best work and make it a spoken word event. It's a great way to get your work out to people who wouldn't normally consider a poetry night but are secretly craving something to break up the barrage of Mumford and Sons covers.
-----

Great, Thanks for your time man, and finally, any upcoming projects or merchandise, you wanna talk about ?

I haven't got a great deal spoken word wise happening at the moment. I recently spent a month in Berlin and wrote a ton of weird stream of conciousness gonzo fiction about my time there, which people can find on my blog along with other writing of dubious quality.
https://zenandtheartofartificialsweetener.wordpress.com/
-----

Oh and, just one more thing, we won't have you hacking the webpage' if we hashtag this interview will we LOL ??

haha, hashtag away mate.

#spokenwordpoetry #dupoetry

https://www.facebook.com/DUpoetry/posts/10155481356758665

Welcome to the #dupoetry Spoken Word Lowdown. The Spoken Word Lowdown is on a mission to find and feature the best #spokenword artists on Deep Underground Poetry and beyond. Our first instalment of the #spokenwordlowdown features BigVirge. He's the outspoken DU Poetry member, and spoken word enthusiast, who will be hosting this spot next week. So let's get to know him better with an interview and spoken word video.

What was your first encounter with poetry?

Ha, that's a tough one, so i'll go for, Being BORN !!!
------

How were you introduced to spoken word, and how would you describe it to those unfamiliar?

I think a young lady from America gave me a CD of HBO Poetry, that had Black Ice on, and I was like, I can do that, so now, I do.

It's Poetry, just with some twists, and a variant of the fundamental style of writing, to enable it to be read and performed, in a way that entertains, flows and takes it out of the closet of being, something that only studious heads are into, it's a movement, in many ways now too.
------

You've worked on numerous music projects. How similar are writing lyrics and spoken word, and how do you approach them differently?

I actually don't approach them differently, or have that conundrum to deal with ! What people hear from me over music, is rarely, tampered with or edited, it's how I wrote it and delivered it in the studio, so, my stuff is separate from Hip Hop in that way, not done, " to a rhythm ", but completely the other way around, the producers who work with me are the ones who adapt, and work around me, which is nice for me, but i'm sure, pretty difficult for them !
------

Which life experiences have most influenced your spoken word poetry?

Wow, too many to mention, but I think the pivotal one, was the World Trade Centre destruction, I wrote a piece soon after, and sent it to my girlfriend at the time, and she was like, "I cannot believe that you just wrote this at work !". That's when I knew for sure, that I had something !
------

How did moving from the UK to Barbados affect your Spoken Word?

Shhh, i'm in between lands Ha Ha .... but yeah, spending so much time in Barbados has definitely changed, developed, and i'd say, improved my style of writing, it's so peaceful and beautiful here, that, as serious as I am, there's a slightly, lighter tinge to how things come out here, just a case of sun, sea and good food right ?
------

How and when did you join DU Poetry, and what role do you think it can play in promoting Spoken Word Poetry online?

I joined about 4 years ago now, due to a woman who I knew at the time, putting me onto it.
I think, as with all of these sites nowadays, it can play a huge role, but that's down to the quality of what it presents......
------

Next week, you'll be hosting The Spoken Word Lowdown on our Facebook page, what are your plans for it?

I plan to get as many, top quality artists work in the same space as possible.

https://www.facebook.com/DUpoetry/posts/10155453628193665

hello, I would love to join the group and see and hear your poetry. Are you guys local? (in NM?) or national?

I have been reading publicly since the 90s. Either that or fronting a band.. My jacked up phone won't let me post a pic. Look at Lex Hoebel on that Facebook thing where everyone feels so self important that they build a shrine to self to bless this world with profound words not to be missed

Hello, I'm new here too and I look forward to sharing and seeing people's lyrics jobs! Songwriting is a passion of mine. Have a good day everyone.

Hey! Brittney here, I'm new and would LOVE help on my stuff. I can take criticism very well due to the fact that, Criticism is the only way i know to get better at my work. So if you guys can take the time out to view my poetry and offer some advise. your words mean everything ! ☺

Hello i am new here and i love slam poetry...

Because we can all use a good laugh...

https://soundcloud.com/mistress-heather/gothefucktosleep

Hi guys I wrote this and I included just audio because I make weird faces when I do it but any feedback is great

Hey-hey loud-speaker peeps.

This group has been running a couple of weeks now and we are really excited and encouraged by the response it is getting from you all. Thank you for being part of it.

We want you all to feel a part of this group - therefore I'd just like to leave this here to discuss any suggestions you'd like to see in the group, or any topics that you'd like to see that we haven't already discussed?

The floor is yours!

- Missy

I am at my first poetry performance event at a hookah bar in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I am not performing and it hasn't started yet. curious to hear stories of when you guys have performed? how did it go? I will report back

<3