Today we’d like to introduce you to KaySey Speaks.
Hi KaySey, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
For me, it started my sophomore year of high school when my English teacher gave a writing prompt to create an extended metaphor. I ended up writing a poem using a rose as a metaphor for my life. My English teacher loved it so much she gave me another prompt that was poetry specific. Before this I never considered taking up writing poems as a hobby; I was just a teenager ready to get school over with. She introduced me to a poetry group that would regularly perform for audiences and compete in local competitions. As a result, I fell in love with poetry and became a huge fan of the art of spoken word. I was part of a few projects but then life happened, and I had to put my passion on pause. Years later, after some self-reflection, I found myself returning to spoken word and poetry. I would call myself “a new kid on the block” again because things are so different from when I first started. Now, I’m a part of an amazing collective of poets called the GOATPen Society. Our goal is to use high-quality spoken word and poetry to entertain, heal, and inspire audiences. I love the poets and spoken wordsmiths of our group, not only as artists but also as friends. I find myself in midst of a season of new beginnings.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Oh man…struggle is an understatement. In no way has it been a smooth road. I had several moments where life was going smoothly but as a whole it wasn’t easy getting to the point where I am now. I can truly say God has carried me through a lot and I fail to give him more credit than I should. A few years ago, I went through a divorce that wasn’t ideal to say the least. I’m also a single mother and many don’t understand how much work goes behind rearing a child while working on your ambitions simultaneously. I have my best friend, my sister, my mother, my closest aunt, and grandmother, as well as several others (too many to even name) to thank for helping me along the way and being nothing less than supportive of all that I’ve attempted to accomplish and have successfully accomplished so far.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
So, I think of myself as a multifaceted woman. I’ve done more odd jobs than I can count. I’m just not satisfied with doing one thing so I’m always looking for a new challenge. I treat my spoken word the same way. “What perspective can I bring to this topic? How can I elevate my performance? Can I write a poem only using the letters in the word love or existentialism?” I will say besides spoken word the other thing I’m passionate about is my schoolwork. I’m pursuing a double major, which is on brand for me challenging myself. Time is short and we only have one life so I want to use all that to do as much as I can. When I’m old, I want to look back at everything I’ve accomplished (and even things I failed at) and say, “I lived a real life.”
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Aside from the ones I have mentioned previously, I have people like Jerris “Quick The Poet” Evans, L. Michelle, and Katrina “Poettis” Sapp to thank for opening doors that allowed me to share my story through spoken word. L.Michelle actually booked me for my first spotlight position. Then Quick, who has been an amazing mentor and friend to me booked me for his, and I quote, “One of kind, Flo-tastic annual show” called Flo’pocalyse. Poettis is a trailblazing woman of God that found it fit for me to share an intimate space with her closest friends and family when she asked me to perform for a private event of hers. These people and so many others have contributed to my journey so far. Webster and Oxford dictionaries don’t have enough words that could help me to express my infinite gratitude for them.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @iamkayseyspeaks
Image Credits
@mr_brockstar
@lau_mii
@AllHailBradley
