“You’re alive!
And every second counts,
And as every second mounts,
Every second shouts: "LIVE ME!" - excerpt from LIVE ME!, by Stephan Johnstone
These are the profoundly inspirational words of Stephan Johnstone, 27-year-old spoken word poet, boldly paving his way through Bermuda’s arts scene. As a graphic designer, Stephan makes a living bringing to fruition the visions of his clients, however, through his poetry, Stephan brings to life his own thoughts and ideas, sharing them with those who choose to listen.
Stephan has been writing and performing his own work since 2005. Since then, he has graced the Chewstick stage numerous times, performed in Bermuda’s prisons and opened for Heather Nova at the 2011 Bermuda Festival for the Performing Arts. With the help of friend and producer, James Brookes, Stephan has successfully produced two albums, "Broken Thoughts" (2006) and "The Script Keeper (2009), which won Best Bermudian CD Project at 2009’s Tha Underground Awards. His third album, entitled Librago, is set to be released on September 23rd, 2011.
Through his poetry, Stephan touches on many issues currently facing the younger generations of Bermudians. From the feelings of irrelevance, heartache and the growing gun violence, whether he wants to be or not, Stephan is a voice for many Bermudians struggling to find the words to express their innermost thoughts and feelings. True to Chewstick’s ideology, Stephan is breaking down barriers and encouraging discussion through his work, inspiring all to think harder, dream bigger and live bolder.
Plato once said: “Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history.” For Stephan Johnston, this could not be truer; as time goes on, his words will continue to voice the struggles, triumphs and visions of our generation.
Update!
Stephan's third album 'Librago' will be released on Friday, September 23rd, 2011. The release date has special meaning for Johnstone who was born exactly twenty-eight years before, on the cusp between Libra and Virgo. Librago, as Johnstone explains, is a character based on the combination of the two signs under which he was born, a messenger revealing self, truth and balance.
"My first album, Broken Thoughts, had a lot of personal content," says Johnstone. "The second album, The Script Keeper, dealt more with philosophy, theories and ideas. The third album will be an evolved mix of the two."
Whatever the specifics, Johnstone never falls short of inspiring others through his poetry, a gift his audiences are grateful to receive. If his first two albums are any indication of what Johnstone is capable of, be prepared to be captivated by the impactful thoughts of one of Bermuda's most talented spoken-word artists.
Librago is available for purchase at the April Branco Gallery, the Chewstick Headquarters, Inna Heights and Sound Stage beginning September 23rd.
Johnstone will also host a special Neo-Griot session at the Chewstick Headquarters on September 23rd in recognition of his album release. From 8:00pm to 11:30pm, Johnstone will treat audiences to a collection of his most loved work from his first two albums and perform his newest pieces for the first time. Admission is $10.00 but there is limited seating available. For those who aren't able to make the show, The Chewstick Foundation will be streaming Johnstone's Neo-Griot session live from www.chewstick.org.
Congratulations, Stephan! We are happy to share in the exciting release of Librago and look forward to sharing in all of your future endeavors as well!
