INTERVIEW: Tshaka Campbell | Soul-D-Out!

Short. Sharp. Facts!

Name: Tshaka Campbell
Birthplace: South East London
Lives: Kent
Poetry Debut: Nuyorican Poetry Café in NYC


Q&A

Dubbed, on the Performance Poetry circuit, as the ‘King of Spoken Word’, Tshaka Campbell is described as a modern day Griot with a generous sprinkling of edutainting lyricism who paints pictures so vivid, you’d swear you can taste them.

In the run up to his forthcoming performance at Soul-D-Out (UK) Live (Friday 4 June 2010) ONiT! had a quick chat with him...


How long have you been performing Spoken Word?
Writing since 95 - performing since 2001


Who would you cite as your influences?
Ben Okri, Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, Octavia Butler, ainsley burrows, Saul Williams, LIFE


How would you describe your style as a performance artist?
I try to connect with my audience as I ask them to engage in the works as much as I engage in them – listen different… we all have something to say so I want time with them to be fruitful and something they can take away with them….. in a few words Thick, passionate, integrity,



What can the audience expect from you at a performance?
Fun, integrity, a perfectly crafted melange of language painted on a blank canvas peppered with imagery and a touch of a reincarnated west African griot [laughs] we will just enjoy each others company.

Watch a snippet of a performance by Tshaka here:

What performances and projects do you have coming up?

Raising my daughter :o)

Poetry n Motion - May
Soul-D-Out (UK) Live! - June

Rum Punch - July
Wales – Oct
Working on one man show
Working on new digital album

Further info:
http://www.naturalkink.com/
http://www.reverbnation.com/tshaka
http://www.twitter.com/pappatshak
http://www.myspace.com/Tshakaisnaturalkink

You can see Tshaka Campbell live, at Soul-D-Out (UK) Live! on Friday 4 June

For dinner reservations, please contact Cottons, in advance, on: 020 7833 3332/ http://www.cottons-restaurant.co.uk/. A two or three course meal will guarantee your entrance fee to the Soul-D-Out (UK) Live! show is frozen at the mere price of £8.

Doors open at 8pm
Show commences at 9:30pm sharp, with an after party until 2:30am

Entry
Advance tickets available at £10 online: http://www.urbantickets.co.uk/
Tickets available on the door at £10 before 11pm/£12 after
Tickets available with your meal, if booked in advance, at the discounted fee of £8


Venue
Rhum Jungle
Cotton's Caribbean Restaurant
70, Exmouth Market
London EC1R 4QP

Nearest Tubes
Angel (Northern Line) / Farringdon (Hammersmith & City or Circle Line)

Listen to the Soul-D-Out Radio Show with D'Nyce on BANG Radio 103.6fm / http://www.bangradio.fm/ at 19:00 BST every Thursday for the very best in Soul music.