Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Butterfly Vaughns.
Rebecca Butterfly Vaughns, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’ve been writing poetry since the age of ten. A trip to pay my car insurance in May of 1997 would set the stage for my 21 years of performing poetry for every kind of event you could ever imagine. My agent at the time told me to wait a minute while she was on the phone. As I took a seat, I noticed a blue sheet of paper on her desk with the word poetry on it. I tapped it in a manner of interest to see it, and so she pushed it toward me. It was for an open mic night Body, Mind and Soul that had just started the week before. When she finished her call, she told me that was why she asked me to wait.
It was in August of 2002 that I would decide to do poetry full-time. A choice that has allowed me to grace so many stages locally from as far south as Florida City to as far north as Jupiter with respect to the driving distance within an hour to an hour and a half. I’ve traveled to half of the map of the United States of America to perform for colleges and universities, special events, and to feature at open mic nights. It was a pleasure to perform in Canada and Bahamas.
Interesting this issue is on thought provokers as my poetry does allow listeners to think. I love metaphors, and I’m an acronym junky. I enjoy taking words to the next level which makes for the individual to see them in a different light with a pinch of positivity and enlightenment. For example, my acronym for SUICIDE helps me at times when I hit a dark point~Sanity Under the Influence of Conversation Initiated by the Devil’s Echoes.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My art is weaving together the 26 letters of the alphabet. The finished work is a poem or spoken word. I started writing as a way to escape from life. Whenever I share my words, I hope for one to leave inspired and motivated. Most of the time my message is for the listener or reader to feel a sense of encouragement. I strongly focus on following dreams and being free. One thing that captivates my audience is my ability to create right on the spot. Some have referred to me as the Jay-Z of poetry. I’m that one you can call on when you need a poem RIGHT NOW.
What responsibility, if any, do you think artists have to use their art to help alleviate problems faced by others? Has your art been affected by issues you’ve concerned about?
I don’t think the role of artists has changed much. Be it a poet, singer, visual artist, dancer, or actor; our artforms have always been provoked in some way by the ills of society. Issues locally and of the world as a whole doesn’t affect my poetry. If anything, it allows for me to artistically inform the people of what’s going on who by chance does not read the paper, watch the news, listen to the radio, or engage on social media.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
One thing that I am always touched by is never knowing who is present at an event. Some of my performances can be found on YouTube. People can support my craft on any digital download source(i.e.cdbaby, iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, etc.). They would go to genre Spoken Word, and my artist name is Rebecca Butterfly Vaughns.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 305-300-3227
- Email: mindpensoul.rv@gmail.com
- Instagram: Soulfulpoet72
- Facebook: Rebecca Butterfly Vaughns
Image Credit:
My Third Eye Media
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