Since aspiring spoken word and hip hop artist Sean Avery Medlin performed at RAW: Phoenix presents JUNCTION last week, he has garnered considerable attention from the local artistic community. Not one to box himself in, his interests range from fiction to acting to music. After the independent artist’s performance at RAW, people have been buzzing about the 18-year-old’s talent. In an exclusive interview with The State Press, he explained the meanings and challenges of his art form.
State Press: When did you start becoming interested in spoken word, Sean?
Sean Avery Medlin: I became interested in spoken word as soon as I discovered it, during my early years in high school. It wasn't until my junior year that I found an open mic in Phoenix, and through that I became slamming, and eventually went to the Brave New Voices Youth Poetry Slam two years in a row.
SP: Who/what do you consider influential to your art? SAM: As far as other poets go, I'm heavily influenced by Allen Ginsberg, Saul Williams and Robert Hayden. Of course, hip hop also influences my work, as well as alternative rock. My influences are so wide; I could make this the longest part of the interview. SP: So how would you say you define your style?
SAM: My style is definitely rhythm based, sometimes very abstract, narrative, and usually personal. I would also like to think that I'm experimental, and very socially conscious. I try to teach the listener about the world and issues they may not know about. SP: Does your writing have a certain theme?
SAM: My work, if not conveying a social message or revolutionary message, is very personal and deals with my insecurities or relationships with friends, women and my father. SP: And what do you try to communicate with your pieces?
SAM: I try to communicate pure honesty, my deepest and most basic thoughts and feelings about whatever I'm writing. I try to be uncensored. And let the reader or listener know that this is who I am. This is what I have to say. SP: What does being creative mean to you?
SAM: Being creative to me is being brave. Taking what you know, have seen, heard, and around learning, and morphing into something you can call your own. Being creative is hard work, but I believe like a muscle, it can be trained. Not used whenever one pleases but honed to be able to produce creative work in a certain craft.
SP: Out of curiosity, which personality trait do you like most about yourself?
SAM: I would have to say that my blunt honesty is something I like about myself, because it enables me to write things that other people naturally filter.
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