Poet Rochelle D'silva to release a poetry EP

Poet Rochelle D'silva to release an EP that celebrates spoken word, not songs. Who's listening?

Meena Shamaly

You are salt, overpowering when concentrated, dissipating on contact with water. Together we are either too salty or not wet enough.' Spoken word poet Rochelle D'silva's voice rises and falls in tandem with the music in the background; her tone changing to indicate betrayal, disappointment, confidence and determination. The poem, Salt, is part of D'silva's debut EP, Best Apology Face.

This weekend, she launches the spoken word EP in the city; the official launch happened in Melbourne last month. "For me, this was the logical next step. Nobody here has heard or produced an EP like this. Today, everyone wants to be published. I too wanted to be heard, and not just have my words sit in a book," says the founder of the organisation, Words Tell Stories.

D’silva; (top right corner) The EP. Pics Courtesy/Jessica D'cruze

At the launch, D'silva will perform three poems from the album; poets Harnidh Kaur, Saumya Kaulgud, Aranya Johar, Dan Husain, Nadeem Raj and Lester Cardoz will read some of her work; and there will be an open mic. "It is just like a book launch but with spoken word," she says.

Best Apology Face includes six poems, each with a score arranged by Meena Shamaly, Melbourne-based music producer and poet. On a visit to Melbourne last year, D'silva got in touch with Shamaly and two friends spent a day putting the EP together.

The title emerges from the fact that D'silva is unapologetic about her life. "I have nothing to apologise for and I refuse to be broken," she says. "Last year was good on the poetry front but personally, it wasn't the best time. I needed to remember who I was, and say, 'I'm ready for whatever the universe throws at me; I will take it and turn it into poetry'."

After Mumbai, she will travel to Pune, Ahmedabad, Delhi and Goa. "I want to tour with the EP, inviting local artistes to perform everywhere I go," she says.

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