Meet CaribDirect’s “Personality of the Month”. We proudly introduce poet Tshaka “Tar Man” Campbell.
1. How did you arrive at the point in which poetry and spoken word was your chosen avenue for self-expression?
As a kid, I was always artsy. Drawing and building things, but I think the key was an inherent love for language that my father instilled in me. I grew up with him quoting great orators from Churchill to Marcus Garvey and showing an overall love for the English language. If you then combined that with growing up in New York when rap music was developing and kids began to cultivate a recognized medium to express themselves; then I guess it makes sense that I do what I do. However I still wrote in ambiguity, it wasn’t until a group of friends in Brooklyn New York got together every other Friday to share poems; shortly thereafter I went to a Friday night poetry Slam at the Nuyorican Poetry Café in NY and the rest is history
2. You describe yourself as a “Tar Man Celebrating his Natural 
Kink” – Give us a bit more insight into how this relates to your work?
TarMan Celebrating his Natural kink (“kink” as in Hair) refers to my desire to celebrate my heritage. As people of colour there is so much history in our lineage and I want to share and celebrate it. A lot of the things that have shaped us as a race have been born in areas of the world that are now seen as third world. This want to celebrate the history and lineage is seen in the language, the mannerisms the rhythm and content of what I write and perform
3. Do you feel oral poetry is more ‘powerful’ than written poetry?
Ahhhhh — that is a touchy question. I think they both have a very important place but can serve different purposes “Poets” so to speak and spoken word artist have been having this debate for as long as I can remember and even before. I was once at a speech given by the American Poet Laureate at the time and when asked what place he felt Rap or spoken word had in literature, his response was “once you take away the sequens and the music, there is nothing left. Poetry has to be written” I disagree wholeheartedly; What about oral traditions; stories past down from generation to generation in the form of spoken word; before writing even existed. This power cannot be discounted. The difference, which can be argued, is that Spoken word allows the ability to inject more of the author’s/performer’s intentions into the piece as you can add in a bit more attributes than that of the written word. Cadence, volume, emotion as well as physical movement can be added in Spoken word that can’t necessarily be added in the same manner in written work. However, the purity of a written piece is unabashed. The reader can more easily digest and interpret the work quicker from their own personal perspective. They are reading the words in their “own” voice so to speak and I think have more of an opportunity to take away what they need to as opposed to what may have been stressed by a poet to deliver a poem outlined. I do think there is a right or wrong. I only hope and aim to bring the two together such that the written word is just as intense as the spoken. Hope that makes sense.
4. What is your favourite piece of poetry you have produced and why?
My favourite piece of work….Wow ……. it changes often but I think it is a run between “America” and “Ceylon” …….okay if I have to choose, it would be Ceylon…. Ceylon is a piece I wrote about my wife prior to actually meeting her. It was a gut wrenching piece for me as I completely let myself go. No hang ups , no worrying about how it would be perceived or read; it was me losing myself in the moment and expressing how her existence made me feel on a subatomic level. We actually named our daughter by the same name as well.
5. What effect if any do you feel growing up in the US as opposed to the UK has had on your work?
UK vs. US — I think growing up in the US had an effect on the way that I feel ”we”.. the “collective we”, are acted upon by government and or any type of oppressive entity. One of the fundamental freedoms that you learn in the US from primary school is how the forefathers of America fought for the freedom of speech. I think that inherently breeds a sense or desire to challenge the powers that be and have your voice heard. It sort of made me want to question things and not just go along with things simply because that was the way it has always been. This is from religion to politics.
The other major influence is Slavery and how that one occurrence has shaped a nation and the world. Not to say that slavery did not and does not exist elsewhere, but I think when you have a country that was grown and developed on the direct proceeds of this act, it really changes the lens that you look through when you do life. It is built into the very foundation of it. Names, descriptions, prejudices, misinformation have remnants all around. It’s hard to say who I would be had I stayed in the UK; my mother’s gentle nature, my father’s influences around race and culture all would have shaped some of what I would have become, but it wasn’t until University in the States for instance that I came into my own and actually understood what it meant to be black. To be a Black man in America specifically. All the positives and negatives that it comes with.
6. What has been your favourite venue to perform in and why?
My favourite venue is a close tie between the Apollo theatre in NY and a small venue called the D Gallery in Ontario California. The Apollo is easy…it’s the Apollo – the likes of Ray Charles, James Brown, Steve Wonder, Marvin Gaye etc., all stood on that stage and shared those dressing rooms. It was an amazing feeling to be within those historic walls performing. However, there was a small venue in Ontario, put on my kids that loved poetry (ages 14-21); these guys were pure writers with a love for the craft and not yet tainted by some of the pitfalls that come with the broader spoken word/poetry scene. They were passionate and attentive. They made me fall in love with poetry all over again
7. Which poets/spoken word artists past or present do you like?
Past and present poets I like —- the list is large Khalil Gibran, Talaam Acey Langston hughes, Claude McKay, Lord Byron, Saul Williams, Ainsley burrows, Zena Edwards, Indigo Williams, Aja monet, Ben okri, Maya Angelou; Pablo Neruda and so on
8. You admonish everyone to ‘listen different’ – what are you hoping people will hear?
I think people/audience as well as the poet have a job. We perform and they listen; but not just listen in the way they listen to Beyoncé in the background as the TV is on and making a sandwich while texting. We as an audience must grant the work the same power as they do when in church listening to a vicar talking about the scriptures. I challenge people to remove the limitation of words that they have grown accustom to and stretch it. It’s like listening to a child who does know the limitation of physics and the hang ups of the world tell a story about a flying giraffe who dances on a cloud made of peanuts and granting them that freedom to create. Poetry is like a blank canvas and the poem is the art work. Listen as you would examine a painting. Hope that makes sense 🙂
9. You’ve written pieces about a variety of African-American societal issues, what are your thoughts on the African-Caribbean society in the UK?
I am still learning the African Caribbean society in London. I have been away a long time and often feel like an outsider even though both my parents are from Jamaica. Not so much because I’m not welcomed but from what I gathered so far it is a tight community that is and has seemed to be flourishing. I didn’t grow up with many Jamaican friends but what I think is amazing to me is how homogenous it is here. Jamaica culture is everywhere in London. It’s entrenched….West Indian culture is deeply in British culture. From language to food to mannerisms to music to slang if you know what to look for, you see it everywhere. I think it is fantastic that this is so apparent and strange for me coming from a place where for the most part everyone loses a piece of their identity and become more or less “American” overtime
10. Your spoken word pieces seem heavily influenced by Hip-Hop, Afro Beat and Reggae sounds and rhythms. Did you ever consider a music career?
Never considered a music career really, I have too much respect for singers rappers etc to call myself one or try and do that. I do love rhythm and music is therapy for me so it does come out in my work and I play around with it often. Plus we are a musical people right 🙂 Yet somewhere deep inside I am jealous of how far reaching music can be regardless of language or time. Although my latest project due out in March 2012 is much more musical than what I’ve previously done….. Stay tuned
11. What music do you listen to?
I listen to all types of music from Rock to alternative, dance hall, hip hop, house (I love house) folk music. All types
12. Do any music artists inspire your sound?
A few artists inspire me and so I guess then in turn influence my sound. Fela kuti. Michelle Ndeagelo, Da la soul, Prince, Nina Simone, Donny Hathaway, Jay z, Pharaoh Monch, Mos def, the Roots
13. Any parting words for our readers? How can readers get in contact with you or your work?
Parting words. Well this is off the top of the head- no thinking: protect the integrity of anything you love, listen different, examine not just words but the texture of language. Live life like this means something. Inspire the young as often as you can and laugh as much as possible. I am on Website: naturalkink.com Fb: facebook.com/tshakacampbell Reverbnation.com/tshaka Or jus google Tshaka
Campbell
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