A long way from the block

Ep. 130-Darling Revolutionary-my conversation with Sascha Akhtar

In this episode I sat down with the London based poet, author, editor, educator & activist to discuss her journey as an artist. Born in Pakistan, she earned a BA in Liberal Arts from Bennington College, where she studied writing, photography, filmmaking and multi-media installation art. In 2003 she was awarded a fellowship to attend the MFA Creative Writing Programme at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. "My own life has been dictated by this desire for freedom. I left Pakistan when I was 18 in a quest for this elusive freedom."

Ep. 129-A true hip-hop head-my conversation with Jonzi D

In my latest episode I sat down with Jonzi D, he is the foremost advocate for hip hop who has changed the profile and influenced the development of the UK British hip hop dance and theatre scene over the last two decades. Since founding Breakin’ Convention in 2004 Jonzi has triumphed in raising the profile and giving a platform to hip hop disciplines, which has gained worldwide recognition as being at the vanguard of the development of the art form. Through professional development projects Open Art Surgery and Back to the Lab, Jonzi has supported hundreds of hip hop dance and rap/poetry artists on their journey to creating theatre. His critically acclaimed works include 1995‘s Lyrikal Fearta, 1999’s Aeroplane Man, 2006’s TAG… Just Writing My Name, 2009’s Markus the Sadist and 2013’s The Letter: To Be Or To MBE? about his choice to decline an MBE from the Queen. Jonzi’s has been featured in HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, had his short films Silence da Bitchin’ & Aeroplane Man screened on Channel 4, toured his work extensively all over the world and delivered his own TED Talk about the influence and evolution of hip hop culture. In 2020 Jonzi directed Our Bodies Back [https://www.breakinconvention.com/bctv/we-want-our-bodies-back] which won ‘Best Artistic Film’ as part of the Detroit Black film festival, followed up by the sequel, AUTOCORRECT [https://www.breakinconvention.com/bctv/autocorrect] in 2022. He also wrote Here/Not Here, a short film directed by Bim Ajadi which won the ‘Best Film’ category in Deaffest 2022. In 2023, Jonzi D was awarded a citation from Al Taylor of the 71st District - New York State Assembly in recognition of his efforts for advancing and advocating hip hop culture in the UK and abroad, and the De Valois Award for Lifetime Achievement by the Dancing Times Critic’s Circle. In 2024, Jonzi D was nominated for his artistic direction of Breakin’ Convention, cementing the festival’s two decades as a mainstay in the world of theatre and beyond.

Ep. 128-Divine principles-my conversation with Xhosa Cole

Critically acclaimed saxophonist, flautist and composer, Xhosa Cole is an embodiment of the success of numerous community outreach arts programmes in Birmingham, UK. Holding his spirituality at the center of his creative practice, Cole has been forging a career across communities in the UK and beyond. Having developed his unique mixed-heritage, black British queer voice in the Jazz tradition, Xhosa’s musical roots are in collaboration and improvisation. This alchemic mix has opened the doors to work alongside a diverse and expansive pool of creative forces from different traditions, cultures, backgrounds and practices. The output of Cole’s artistic practice manifests through performance, composition and teaching; all informing and reinforcing each other. With a musical language that is informed by and spans across cultures and modalities, Xhosa is a sought after composer in the contemporary classical and improvising industries in the UK. Having been commissioned by the BBC, Symphony Hall, Ideas of Noise Festival and Flatpack Film Festival and Aldeburg Festival Cole is building his own methodology for composition that puts islamic geometry, natural structures/processes, West African rhythms and non-hierarchical orchestration and performance at its center. This unique combination is the foundation of highly invigorating music that has the stability of sacred music structures found in Wester- Harmony and free combustion of Black improvising traditions. Cole’s teachers include John O’gallager, Hans Koller and Pat Thomas, who supported in building an understanding of Western Classical composition from the foundations of Schoenberg’s ‘Fundamentals of Musical Composition’ through to the modalities of Messiaen, Bartok and Thelonious Monk.

Ep. 127-Traveling Shoes-my conversation with Tongo Eisen-Martin

In my second interview with Tongo Eisen-Martin, former Poet Laureate of San Francisco. We sat down to discuss his latest project "Traveling Shoes" which features composer Damani Rhodes and vocalist Vadia.

Ep. 126-Life lessons on the hardwood-my conversation with Nicole "Colie" Anderson

In this first installment of my coach's series, I sat down with San Diego girls basketball legend Nicole “Colie” Anderson. We discuss her days growing up and honing her skills at Memorial Gym.  Being the young sister of four older brothers and always playing with the boys helped Nicole become a great player and inspirational leader. She talks about her connection with one of the most respected and important figures in her neighborhood, coach and mentor Jose Hall. We dive into her illustrious career at La Jolla High and UCLA, she was a four year starter at both. She takes us on a journey of one of the most impressive basketball stories of passion and resilience, where she was one of 572 women trying out for the newly formed WNBA. Lastly we talk in depth about her coaching career, her role as a leader and mentor of young girls and adults.  Colie is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of San Diego County girls basketball. She was also named one of the 15 greatest players at UCLA.