jamezicarius

While many  know me as a dj, my primary art form is poetry .

I have always loved to read. My mother made a point of keeping a “library”: a giant floor-to-ceiling bookshelf containing everything from the Holy Bible to the Encyclopedia Britannica. Step Up Books (Animals Do The Strangest Things, Fish Do The Strangest Things, etc.) and Time-Life’s Wild, Wild World of Animals series were favourites, alongside Dr. Seuss and the collected Peanuts. To this day superhero comics remain my biggest vice.

I began writing when I was about 12 years old. I wrote letters and notes to God, feeling I had no one else to talk to.

Influenced by comic books and Star Wars, I attempted to write my first novel at about 15. I doubt that “The Solarian” ever reached 15 pages.

In high school I had my first poems and short stories published in the school annual. This continued into college, where my creative writing instructor appointed me editor of the campus arts journal.

Despite having written poems, I never really considered myself a poet. Like many youth, I had fantasies of becoming a “rock star” and having my words put to music. Consequently, I preferred to call my poems “songs”.  In the late 80’s, I was presented with the opportunity to see my dream come true.

My friend, Lenny, was the drummer in a local band in Vancouver, BC. Lenny liked my poetry and asked me to join the band in rehearsal to see what we could put together. Nothing ever came of that idea. However, upon reading through my manuscript, my dear friend Charmaine said,”These are good. They’d make wonderful songs, but they stand strong on their own as poetry.”

A life changing proclamation, which I embraced.

In the 90’s, while living in Seattle, I attempted to establish an artists collective.

[to be continued – Next: The Prophets of the New Tribe]