Electric Heart Alive: Ten Questions for American Spoken Word Poet and Icon Buddy Wakefield

Buddy. Hearing your poems growing up immersed in the early happenings of the Canadian slam scene circa 2004, your pieces charged my peers and I with inspiration and fuel. I once read a post in your online journal in which you described a community poetry event you visited. I don’t remember where exactly it was on one of your earlier tours. I do remember you detailed everything they did to make you feel welcome and it came across to me as a very sacred and transformative experience. After reading it, I used it as a guide for the way I wanted to run my first poetry slams in Montreal with the Throw Poetry Collective and I continue to now, for the past four years in Melbourne under the banner of Slamalamadingdong. Do you remember that post/moment? Here's the years-old unedited link: http://buddywakefield.com/cleveland/

What do you feel the sense of community at slams and poetry gigs affords its Artists and Participants?

It really depends on the venue. Generally, the sense of community offers a high energy reunion style welcome, which makes it easier on an artist to bring their A-game.

What are your thoughts on the statement that Community=Immunity?

The poetry community has not made me immune to anything, only more accountable.

Okay let’s start with the ten questions we ask everyone we adore. 1) What was the first piece of spoken word, poetry or rap you heard? How did it affect you?

The first rap I heard was in 1984, the mid-song breakdown on "Cool It Now" by New Edition.

I have a 4-page piece about it. I was so excited dancing that I accidentally high kicked my foot into the dining room table. The first spoken word I remember was Annie LaGanga at The OK Hotel in Seattle, WA performing a poem about riding around in a convertible, throwing pudding cups at frat boys.

2) Who is your favorite Artist of all time?

Peanut butter.

3) What is your method for writing lately? (or What does your process look like?)

The song "Chip Away" by Jane's Addiction was the first thing that popped into my head reading this question. I think that jam is about heroine addiction, but I mean "chip away" from a different vantage point.

4) Where is the most fascinating place you’ve traveled to with poetry as your passport?

One of the most fascinating places was a basement in Edinburgh, Scotland with Andrea Gibson, Katie Wirsing and Leigh Adams on the I Am A Lagan Tour. Among the audience members were two Santa Clauses, a dog and an organizer named Vicious Bitch.

5) Do you still go on Vipassana meditation courses? What does meditation do for you personally?

Yes. It dissolves the root of my blind reactions and habit patterns while increasing my equanimity, compassion and clarity. I'll be serving at two different centers in Australia.

6) What does a typical “being an artist” day look like for you?

Touring demands flexibility as the occasional abstract random challenges arise.

Ideally, I wake up, observe my breath and sensations, eat, workout, answer to emails such as this, write, eat more, see the new town on my terms, perform, visit, rest.

7) What’s the hardest lesson you’ve learned as an Artist?

The repercussions of not sitting with negativity long enough for my reaction to become graceful.

8) Fill in the blanks... Poetry can...

be fun, and not tragic, and charge hearts.

9) Why do you do what you do?

"There is no why."

10) Soren Kierkegaard once said: “If you name me, you negate me. By giving me a name, a label, you negate all of the other things I could possibly be.” What are the “other things” you could possibly be?

An Indian woman.

Learn more about Buddy Wakefield at www.buddywakefield.com