Electric Heart Alive: EMILIE ZOEY BAKER talks David Bowie, Unicycling and giving a shit! We love thi

1. What was the first piece of spoken word, poetry or rap you heard? How did it affect you?

I remember the mid 80’s mostly being a blur of floral pants, lip gloss, Madonna on a gondola and Cindy Lauper floating in a bin. Then I heard Laurie Anderson’s OH SUPERMAN and I was like, Wat Dafuq? (Except not spelt like that, I only learnt how to do that yesterday.) I looked her up (before the internet, I DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW) her fearlessness, avant-garde creativity and wild experimentation blew my mind. It wasn’t till years later I saw her live and I was like damn. I want to try that!

2. Who is your favourite Artist of all time?

David Bowie, hands down, my electric face lights up whenever he opens his mouth, he is man-poetry. MAN-POETRY

3. What is your method for writing?

Turning off the internet. Sometimes if I can’t do that I’ll go to a place where it doesn’t exist (in the forest) and make myself stay there till I’ve written SOMETHING. It’s so hard to do, and it makes me feel so good when I’ve done it.

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

Poetry has unlocked the world for me, I always tell my students ‘look it doesn’t pay much but I’ve been to some of the most amazing places on the planet cause, poetry! So therefore I’m a millionaire.’

5. Most memorable moment in your life as an Artist working in community/schools?

I did a residency in a primary school recently and there was this little kid who said ‘NAW I HATE POETRY!’ and I was like, damn cause I had to spend an entire term with him but after week 2 he came and said to me ‘I thought poetry had to be about old people and flowers, (seriously?) I didn’t know it was fun, this is going to be fun.’ He turned out to be a little master of his craft that kid.

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

If I had even an smithereen of a routine it would be amazing but I don’t. No two days are the same I wake up, whirlwind out the house and try and write poetry in the cracks.

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

Selling yourself. It’s truly horrible and I hate doing it. It makes me squirm. Some people are naturals at it but sometimes it feels like I have to force it and it’s the bit I hate. But oh boy is it necessary, otherwise who gives a shit? You need to give that shit. Embrace that shit.

8. Fill in the blanks... Poetry can... help you see in the dark.

9. Why do you do what you do?

Come to SLAMALAMA AND I’LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING.

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?

I have worked as a clown (no shit) an actor, a facepainter, a voice over artist, a TV editor (got fired for watching German film clips, also I was terrible at it) a mascot at ‘AFL world’, a teacher, a clerk, a waitress, (got the most tips every night thankyou very much) a sock seller, a bookseller (got fired cause I was caught unicycling when I should’ve been at work) an event coordinator, a hungover fairy, a receptionist, a judge (not a real one with a wig, a poetry one) a make up artist and a door to door salesgirl. Those are the ones I can remember. If I could be anything I’d choose to just be. Then see what happens next.