Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Blur


Greetings,

We’re rapidly approaching the end of February. This year has been a blur (for a number of reasons). It’s odd to look up and realize that we’re almost in the third month of the year.  A lot has been going on, both personally and creatively. I’ll focus more on the latter though, so let’s jump in.



I’m gearing up to perform in Nashville this Thursday with Ms. Jessica Nunn. She’s a PHENOMENAL musician and has helped me bring my record to life a few times over the course of the past year. Each time, she always does something that’s emotive and brilliant, and it’s really an honor to be hitting The Cannery’s stage with her. We rehearsed last night and got some new, grand ideas on the table, so I’m really looking forward to it. The jams are going to be kicked out, brothers and sisters.

I’ve also been developing a performance arts piece that I’m really excited about. I’ve been writing a score that I think is one of the best things I’ve done musically. I’m also going to be conducting interviews for the piece, too. They’re going to play a really vital part in it, so I’m extremely interested in setting them in motion and hearing the responses and perspectives I get. I have to keep everything else under wraps for the time being, but definitely be on the lookout for more info in the near future.



Oh! I’m proud to announce that the IndieFeed Performance Poetry Channel has accepted TWO of my poems to feature. At some point in the future, they’ll feature Acceptance (from my debut EP Between Beauty & Bedlam available here http://christianjcollier.bandcamp.com/ and here  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/christianjcollier) and Worlds, which I had big fun breaking back out for the Come on in My Kitchen show at Barking Legs Theater last November. It feels great to be back on the site. Every time I take a look at the list of poets who’ve been featured, it’s always humbling.

Well gang, that’s all I’ve got for now. Be good, have FUN, and I’ll be in touch before too long.







  
 
 

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Life Happens


Greetings Everybody,

A lot has been taking place in the life of yours truly, and I’ve really been working hard to adjust and keep things moving. Honestly, it’s been exhausting. For a number of years, I’ve had the saying life happens as a mantra, and this is yet another instance in which that statement is true. Life is happening, and changing in big ways.

Outside of what’s going on personally, I’ve been carrying the torch creatively. I’m gearing up to perform in Nashville on the 27th (tickets can be purchased at , I just joined the 423 Bragging Rights family (check out my profile here: http://www.423br.com/423PK-Pages/Christian-J-Collier-More-Info), and I’ve also been pouring myself into a brand new work.



I’m developing a performance art piece that I think is really important. It’s going to be challenging, both for the artists involved and the audience, but I think that’s needed. I’ve been working on hammering everything out, adding interesting elements, and writing a score. Really, the latter has been such a saving grace. The music has really allowed me to express my current emotions, and I’m excited about how the work has been coming out. I know I’ve said it before, and I know that it sounds clichéd, but art continues to be how I make sense of the world, my place in it, etc. I would genuinely be lost without it.



Well, that’s all I have for now. You can check out my debut EP here http://christianjcollier.bandcamp.com/ and here http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/christianjcollier. Be good, stay in touch, and I’ll see you when I see you.

Blessings

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

February!




Greetings Everybody,

Your Friendly Neighborhood Christian wanted to keep you in the loop on a few things. First, I’ve got THREE brand new videos that I’ve done in the past week. I recently added some music to my poem Weight, which is dedicated to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I wanted to experiment a bit with some visuals, and the images I found really added an intense emotional dynamic to the work. Also, I got together with a good friend and shot a few videos around town this past Friday. We’ve got two ready for you lovely folks to feast your eyes and ears on. You can see the videos here:




Second, this coming Thursday night, I’ll be taking part in an event at The Hunter called Muse of the African American Spirit: A Celebration of African American Artists. It starts at 6 PM. Here’s the official spiel from the museum:

Join us for this celebration of music, dance, spoken word and the visual arts and a chance to view our new exhibition "Slavery: A Continued Legacy." Program produced in partnership with the Bessie Smith Cultural Center and presented by Shane Morrow and THECREATIVEUNDERGROUND.

Next, I’ll be performing at The Cannery Ballroom in Nashville on the 27th of this month. I’m REALLY excited about the opportunity. Over the years, I’ve seen countless acts whose works have inspired and influenced me, so it’s an honor to be able to hit that stage. I’ll be performing some pieces from my EP Between Beauty & Bedlam as well as some other things. If you’ll be in the neighborhood and would like to come out, I can shoot you more information.

Oh, and if you’re interested in checking out the record and/or purchasing it, you can do so at http://christianjcollier.bandcamp.com/ and http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/christianjcollier. 

That’s all I’ve got right now, brothers and sisters. As always, thank you for the support with The Speakeasy, MANIFEST, and anything else that I’ve been a part of.

Blessings

Links:
Twitter - @ichristian3030