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1) Your debut book "What If What's Inside Me Isn't Me?" is a mix of light and dark poetry. What's the deep message behind these verses?
One of the biggest takeaways I have discovered, since taking poetry writing seriously, is that everyone has their own interpretation. Because of this, I find that, even if I have my own personal view of what a poem is 'about', I cannot (nor should I) guarantee that this message will be transmitted to the reader. A lot of my poetry in the past were more judgmental, more didactic, but I have, since moved away from this style. What If... shows some remnants of that old style, as it's a collection that spans my writing efforts thus far. But, I aim for future writing to be in a different, more focused vein.
To reframe your question slightly, what I would like for people to take away from some of these poems is encouragement to be open about your experiences. I included elements of mental health, death, and other stark realities, because I feel that Western society as a whole (with which I am most familiar) often shies away from them. Authenticity, is a key aspect of my identity, and if I can be a part of starting discussions around these topics, or making the reader feel that they are not alone in their struggles, then all the better.
2) We noticed that you've got an interesting style of writing poems. How did you develop it, and how did you first started writing?
Like many people, I discovered creative writing as a teenager. I had quite a difficult upbringing in terms of my mental health, bullying, and other issues, and I found writing (especially poetry) a good way to channel that. I imagine that's where the more visceral and emotional elements come from - the catharsis of lived experience, supplemented by a vivid imagination. I'm also a language nerd; I enjoy the power of words, and what they can evoke. Discovering hip hop and metal (both genres which can have a propensity for deep and meaningful lyrics) at an early age, informed my love of a lyrical approach and - as detailed in the notes at the back of What If - many of the poems take direct influence from bands I grew up listening to, or even discovered last week. I may not have a 'conventional' knowledge of poetry, but I'm working on that!
3) In your book, you made a reference to George Orwell's famous slogans in his book "1984". Why did you use these slogans? And, what do you think about "1984"?
Like many, I read 1984 in high school, and while I enjoyed it at the time, it was only going back to it a few years later, that the true genius of Orwell was revealed. I don't re-read many books, but that's one that's stuck with me. It's one that I firmly believe everyone should read at a certain point, as it provides ample food for thought in critical thinking and questioning authority. As for why I used the slogans in the poem? I always found the juxtaposition a bittersweet irony, and it ties in with my above-mentioned love of language. So much is said with so little.
4) Recently, during the pandemic, we saw a lot of books that highlighted this time period, where many authors wrote about their personal experiences. Do you ever think of writing about your own experience during lockdown?
Honestly, I'm torn on this answer. On the one hand, the Internet and publishing marketplace, are flooded with people providing their experiences on this subject, so it would feel like treading over old ground. On the other hand, I can see the merit, as my experience of the pandemic was quite different from many in the countries my readers reside in. I'm not sure it would lend itself so well to my style of poetry these days, but perhaps an essay or a post in my newsletter would be an option.
5) Now, we'd like to know more about your upcoming projects. Are you working on another book? And, is it going to be a different genre?
I have several irons in the fire right now. I have the bones of another poetry collection (this time thematic), plus a few shorter cycles sketched out. I plan to hone my writing style more for my publications, and leave the experimental stuff to either my newsletter, or my Ko-Fi page. I've also begun sending poems to anthologies and magazines, so you'll see my name crop up in more places in the future.
Thank you for the opportunity for this interview and the insightful questions. Until next time, all the best.
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