The Poets Club | Hope One
“Where The Word meets the cafe meets the record store meets the street.”
Barely a month after her successful tour to the UK with fierce femmes Hot Brown Honey, Hope Haami (stage name Hope One) launched The Poets Club.
The intimate space was packed to the rafters when I arrived. So I suppose one of the perks of using a wheelchair is that I always have my own seat! A quick inventory revealed an audience of different ages engaged in noisy conversation which was drowned out by a mix of the best disco beats compiled by Busty Beatz. A well-lit smallish stage with neatly arranged sound equipment tucked in a corner was highlighted by the beams of a revolving disco ball. The music vibe was contagious and I bopped along with the crowd, fueled by the sounds of ‘Back to Life’ (Soul II Soul), ‘Get Down on It’ (Kool & the Gang) and more cherished disco favourites of mine. My imagination was on fire as I revisited my youth. Hope’s excited announcement signaling the beginning of the evening’s events interrupted my brief reverie.
As she stepped onto the stage, Mama Marama’s moko (sacred chin tattoo) immediately caught my attention. I had never seen one of these up close and personal before and I was fascinated by the intricate design. Mama Marama welcomed the audience with her traditional ‘kia ora’, picked up her respective musical instruments (a ukulele and a guitar) of choice and sang up a storm. A naturally gifted singer, this matriarch’s original song renditions in English and Maori seamlessly blended jazz and soul while telling stories of protest, female empowerment and finishing with a golden oldie ‘I got you under my skin’. In between sets, Mama Marama entertained us with her singing journey which she started at the tender age of sixteen.
Keely introduced herself as being a proud Kabi Kabi, Gooreng Gooreng and South Sea Islander woman. She is an accomplished singer whose music genre on the night covered soul, jazz and neo-soul. Keely performed six original songs from her debut album ‘Summer Vibes & Bad Habits’ including a cover ‘Summer Walker - session 32’. Her original song ‘Far from Perfect’ really resonated with me as it reinforces the benefits of having a positive mindset made all the more enjoyable with a catchy chorus and great beats.
When Heru sings, be prepared to be blown away. This powerhouse used to be an opera singer with a singing range that had me in awe of her vocal prowess. Heru sang three songs in her native language of Tok Pisin and English. She told us stories about going to battle, compared a beautiful girl to the rainbow and ended with the classic ‘Summertime’ from the renowned opera Porgy and Bess. Make no mistake, Heru has a soaring voice made even more powerful by choosing to sing acapella.
Huda Fadlelmawla needs no introduction. Also known as Huda The Goddess, she is the reigning Australian Poetry Slam Champion and two-time Queensland champ. Her spoken word poetry comes from a very, very deep place, is truthful, authentic, unapologetically raw and took this audience member on an emotional journey. Her words were mesmerising told through her spoken word poetry which she dedicated to her grandmother (‘They will come for You’), her auntie who was shot during the Ethiopian conflict and her future son in which Huda honours black men. The imagery in Huda’s poems is profound and vividly invokes the senses and she is not afraid of baring her soul through her chosen medium, the spoken word.
The final guest for the night was none other than Hope One herself, a master in the art of beatboxing. Hope’s vocal percussion range is extraordinary proving that she was capable of acing a range of sounds that included drums, a robot, and more interspersed with her captivating spoken word.
The intimate space at ‘It’s a Still a Secret’ was the ideal venue for The Poets Club first ever event. The quirky interior is welcoming with its odd bits of furniture - slouchy couches, booths, stools - and its eclectic art ranging from macrame, tapestries, oils, unusual ornaments and even a print of Jesus! A bar and garden area complete the general layout of this welcoming space while the evening’s showcase proved that the acoustics is first class.
Hope One is an engaging host and MC. Her brainchild, The Poets CLub was aimed at showcasing Brisbane’s finest R&B musicians and spoken word artists. Her mission was accomplished by bringing together award winning performers and community leaders to present a powerful night of poetic storytelling delivered in various artforms.
It was a magical night indeed to be entertained by a group of multi-talented brown and black artists from a variety of ethnic backgrounds and ranging in ages. These aunties and their contemporaries were brave enough to share their journey of language, loss, love, community, hope and more. I came away feeling proud, humbled and empowered to have shared this sacred space with my sisters.
