I like the term spoken word because it can refer to almost any form that poetry takes on when recited aloud. My work is a tapestry of genres, drawing on the many traditions of storytelling and phonesthetics I encountered growing up around the world.

My artistic practice weaves together inspiration from episodes of history, current events, and every once in a while, my own life. Returning to the roots of spoken word as an art of commentary and community, I’m motivated to address challenging and uncomfortable topics in unexpected ways. How can we think about the state of the world we live in without spiraling into a pit of despair? How can performance help us engage collectives and commonalities in new ways? And who is the ‘we’ that figures in these questions?

Over the years I have performed in venues ranging from living rooms to Amsterdam’s famous church-cum-cultural-venue Paradiso. Will I see you at my next show?