Dallas spoken phrase artist Paul Harden, aka “PJ Phrozen Phantasy,” shall be featured at Wednesday Evening Poetry, at Kollective Espresso + Tea, 110 Central Ave.
The common open mic session for all poets, musicians and storytellers will start at 6:30 p.m. at the moment. Harden will start his characteristic set at 7:30 p.m., adopted by one other spherical of open mic. Admission is free and open to all ages.
Born in Royal in 1989, Harden spent most of his life right here, and not too long ago settled in Dallas the place he’s the CEO and proprietor of a development enterprise.
“I graduated from Lake Hamilton Excessive College again in 2007, then went to Southern Arkansas College for 4 years,” Harden stated in a information launch.
“I entered the Military in 2011 then proceeded to go to Arkansas State College 2012-2015. I majored in psychology and minor in English however by no means graduated — I fell out of affection with college whereas determining the way to love myself,” he stated.
“I’m now the CEO of Harden Serving to Palms Development. Been in enterprise happening 4 years, however I do not actually work, as a result of I really like doing what I do which helps these in want,” he stated.
“Whereas God protects everybody with the world in his palms, I do my greatest to guard everybody I meet with a roof over their head.
“My hobbies could be listening to poetry, being a poet, and I’m a giant music head, particularly. concerned about R&B. I really like to bop and have a great time with pals, however above all my greatest passion is serving others in no matter format the stage is offered.”
Harden’s mom handed away when he was a younger man. “My mom has been dwelling spiritually with my soul for the previous 18 years, which is why my father and I are simply now discovering strong floor to face on collectively. I’ve heroes which are my sisters and my brothers who do not understand how a lot they imply to me irrespective of how a lot I inform them,” Harden stated.
So far as his writing, “I’ve been creating poetry since I used to be 5. My mom may sing, my brothers may draw, and I could not do both one so I realized the way to paint with phrases my feelings on the folks’s hearts. I finished placing pen to paper as soon as my mom handed in 2005. All of my poems at the moment had been darkish, scared, lonely, and dreadful to get via — a whole lot of ache that I couldn’t appear to bear,” he stated.
“I understand that generally, you run outlines on the paper, or pencil or pen. That does not imply that your coronary heart ran out of what it must say, and I’d really feel dammed if I left my feelings trapped in a cage web page. In different phrases, you by no means should learn how I am feeling as a result of I do not thoughts exhibiting you. However I’ll admit there are downsides to creating like this at instances, as a result of whenever you achieve this, you are consistently making a life by which the folks you like essentially the most are usually not there, and that is onerous to do,” Harden stated.
“I contemplate my poetry my legacy, it’s what I used to be born to do. I compose largely about love and spirituality — I do know who created me, so I do know who I create for. Hopefully, it conjures up others to be extra of themselves, and unleash the monsters we generally maintain inside. The monster and the Creator are one and the identical; you bought to undergo one thing to speak about one thing. My favourite artist as a toddler was Edgar Allan Poe. I really like his capacity to have the ability to create darkness in so many alternative methods. In the present day, my favourite artists are Tadnips, and Miss Until, two phenomenal native poets in Dallas.”
Harden stated his connection to Wednesday Evening Poetry “began actually one month earlier than I used to be born in 1989, which means I used to be born to do that all of my life. Bud Kenny impressed me to make use of all of myself and all the things that I do once I carry out. I’m humbled anytime I can communicate in entrance of anybody who could not but understand how particular they are surely — it’s a privilege to reintroduce you to your self via my artwork.”
Harden is seeking to have his first audiobook recorded and produced printed by his birthday in March 2024. Harden gained Finest New Up and Coming Poet in 2008, in addition to Finest Poet of Arkansas again in 2013-2014. This shall be his first characteristic efficiency in over a yr and a half.
Harden has a canine named Zeus, including, “I really like him very a lot. I really like soccer like loopy. I coached peewee soccer for a while. I additionally went to therapeutic massage remedy college for a while, and I used to be even a chef right here at The Resort Sizzling Springs.
“I really like coming again right here to assist anybody with their properties, their roofs or something that they want. Each time I carry out I am tremendous nervous, as a result of I am undecided if it is my final time or if it is the primary time God lets my mom hear it in heaven.”
“Paul is such a young soul and an excellent poet. He’s a charming performer, memorizing all of his poems in order that the main focus of his work is just not on the web page however on the sound and motion and move of his power via his spoken phrase — a real artist in that sense. I’ve been an enormous fan of his since our outdated WNP days when Bud was nonetheless with us, and internet hosting. He took PJ beneath his wing as a inventive father determine, as he did for many people. I do know that tonight, Bud Kenny and Paul’s lovely mom shall be cheering from the celebs,” WNP host and Sizzling Springs Poet Laureate Kai Coggin stated within the launch. “It is going to be a particular evening.”
This week marks 1,805 consecutive Wednesdays of open mic poetry in downtown Sizzling Springs since Feb. 1, 1989. “Wednesday Evening Poetry is the longest-running consecutive weekly open mic sequence within the nation,” the discharge stated. For extra data, e-mail [email protected].
