Practical Word Magic Wins Hearts @ ​The Voodoo Poetry Slam -
 
It began as the usual last Thursday of the month edition of the Singapore Poetry Slam™ on 26th of October. But soon, all hell broke loose as poets who had descended on Blu Jaz Café began to cast their intricate and well-worded love spells during the Open Mic and then the Slam competition. In between the three rounds all tried out strange magical concoctions at the bar, including the 'Poetry Slam' - our own custom cocktail which packs a rum and fruity punch. The mocktail version also has its own ginger twist and proved popular. Meanwhile, the volunteer judges dutifully held up whiteboard scores round after round, while the audience in the thrall of weird words egged on each poet.
 
At the end of the night leading outlander voodoo wordsmith Atiq Lukman stood up victorious against runner-up Amber Lin, following her recent poet-shaman residency at Hogwarts Institution. it was a close fight and the audience felt pinpricks or goosebumps right to the last poetic line of the night.  Judges and audience both departed, sated and quenched after a night where no love spell was left untried. We observed many went home with different partners proving the efficacy of poetry as practical magic. Even first timer to the Slam - Piyush Joshi, a volunteer judge for the night won the lucky draw, walking away with a copy of A History of Clocks by Jennifer Anne Champion, published by Red Wheelbarrow Books, Word Forward's spoken word publishing imprint.
 
If you couldn’t make it for this October edition of the Singapore Poetry Slam™ come on down for the 'True Confessions Poetry Slam', the final event of the year on 30 November, the last Thursday of the month. Many thanks to all those who came to support this month, and of course, our venue partner Blu Jaz Cafe.

 Max Pasakorn (L) you did it! Congratulations on winning this month's Zodiac Slam. Now Max is heading off to for first 3 months in-camp National Service training. Good luck and congratulations.
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Meanwhile, Marc Nair (R) came in a close second. This was Marc's return to a Poetry Slam since 2015. Welcome back. You haven't lost your touch.

 Congratutations to Max Pasakorn Konwohrachet (c) for winning Best Written Poem of the Slam from last Month's 'Animal Crackers Poetry Slam' and received his $25 prize money from Chris Mooney-Singh (r). He was also 2nd runner up for the 31 Aug 'We Be Dragons Poetry Slam'. Each month we award the Best Written Poem performed in the Slam or open mic on Aug 31 and submitted in the comments @ http://singaporepoetryslam.com/poems. Hurry poets! Entries for the 'We Be Dragons event' close Midnight, Sunday 3 Sept.

Congratulations to Amber Lin for winning the August 31 'We Be Dragons Poetry Slam' event this month and also Joshua Ip who came in a close second. It was a full house event with 130 + people in the audience with others turned away at the door. What's coming next? Get ready for the Zodiac Slam on Sept 28.

July saw the Blu Jaz Café play host to the Animal Crackers Poetry Slam, and the returning Nadia swept to victory in an impromptu slam appearance. She'd been away for half a year, working on her studies in the UK. Long time regulars will know her as the self proclaimed "Door Bitch", and the audience of the Animal Crackers Poetry Slam will know her as the Winner. 

Ajay, resident emcee, sat down with Nadia and had a little chat about how she started her forays into poetry and spoken word performances, and this is her story.

What's your story? How did you get into spoken word poetry?

I started writing poetry in secondary school but it was mostly a secret and I never showed it to anybody. Then in 2014, when I was involved in Lit Up, I chanced upon the Annual Poetry Slam. It was the first time I had ever heard of spoken word poetry but I was hooked. I didn't know anyone at first but eventually I started making friends and getting involved in more events.

How would you describe your poetry?

My work is very personal. If you knew me well enough you would know that every line has its own backstory. I love it when people say they relate to my poems because it just goes to show that we're not all that different. My writing is also simple. I wish I was capable of using fancy words and create beautiful imagery like most poets do but I'm not about to lie to myself or the audience. However, I am very particular with the way my poetry is read. I have a rhythm in my head that accompanies each poem and I get annoyed with myself if I don't perform it to standard. It sounds irrational but its the reason I avoid publishing the words to my poems.


Are you a seasoned slammer? How does it feel to get up there and slam?

I'm definitely not a seasoned slammer. Although I've been around the poetry scene for a while, I've only ever been sacrificial poet a handful of times and competed in slam once. I have yet to even memorise all my work. I still get nervous everytime I go on stage but I love the feeling of being up there. I get really emotional when I read because whatever memories related to that poem starts to resurface and its almost as if I'm going through it all over again. It's cathartic.

If you missed the Animal Crackers Poetry Slam, do come down this Thursday for the Here Be Dragons Poetry Slam, at the Blu Jazz Cafe! Come. Meet Ajay, Nadia and the rest of the regular slammers

July 28th. Blu Jaz Café. The poets came out, fangs bared and claws drawn to stare down the judges at the Animal Crackers Poetry Slam. The judges threw down their challenges, and the animals turned out in force to fight. From new-born pups to old birds, all dared to appear, and all manner of beasts came to the fore.

In the end it was down to Karisa, Riqi and Nadia, two grizzled lionesses and a relatively short toothed pup. The trio had fought through the gauntlet of beasts and stood on the cusp of victory. The lionesses roared loud, the pup howled deep, and the judges witnessed glory. Nadia, the returning lioness, stalked back to her den with her prize grasped within her paw, as Riqi and Karisa survived to lick their wounds and fight again another day.

If you couldn’t make it to the rumble in the concrete jungle, come on down to the Blu Jaz Café in August, for tHere Be Dragons! Come listen to the poets spin us their tales of dragons faced and dragons beaten, and share their triumphant stories.

This is Singapore, world renowned concrete jungle. All the beasts have been tamed, all the mystical reaches explored and charted, and all the monsters only exist in our minds. But just for one night, at the Blu Jaz Cafe, stare down the barrel at your monsters and your fears, for Here be Dragons!

Tell us what you fear, tell us what you’ve slain, and stand the chance to win $50 and $25 for the best two poets on the night, and $25 for the best written submission! As always, slammers need 3 poems up to 3 minutes each, with no props allowed.

Uninspired? Here’s a poem by the Steering Group’s very own Miran Ng!

Come down and tell us what you fear,
One night to name them all;
What makes you tremble when they’re near;
What has you now in Thrall?
 
From psycho exes to your boss,
To unrequited love,
What makes your eyes then go agloss,
What holds you like a glove?
 
Come down this evening, poets all,
The mic is here for you,
Come slay your dragons, watch them fall,
At this Jaz Café Blu!
 
Sign up Here for a spot in the Slam or on the open mic, and arrive by 7.45pm to claim it. Don’t worry if you’re not signed up; If you’re early, we’ll squeeze you in!
 
$10 for entry to this wonderful place, as well as a chance to win a special lucky draw prize! Students will get 10% off F&B too!

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