pauldbwatkins Literature, Music, Poetry, soundin canaan

From the Stage to the Site: Wayde Compton Interview and Soundin’ Canaan Updates

The website for my book is nearly complete — the final piece, a “create your own remix” section, is on its way.

Recently, I added audio and photos from the Victoria Book Launch on March 13. A huge shoutout to Susan Sanford Blades for organizing the event as part of the Wild Prose reading series (https://www.susansanfordblades.com/wild-prose-reading-series). 

After a remixed reading of my book, I sat down for an on-stage interview with Wayde Compton. This was an incredible full circle moment, and audio (as well as a transcript) are now available as well.

I’ve also added a new remix to the Remix section: “Kind of Blue in Green (for GEC),” which reimagines Miles Davis’s “Blue in Green” and offers a poetic riff/reading of George Elliott Clarke’s “Bluing Green.”

Head over to www.soundincanaan.com to explore this new material and more from the book. If you don’t have a copy yet, you can grab one here — and save 20% all April with the code POETRY2025.

pauldbwatkins Poetry, soundin canaan

Exciting Soundin’ Canaan Updates: Website, Talk, & Book Launch

Hi Friends,

There are three things I wanted to let you know about.

I’m pleased to announce a new website to support my book, Soundin’ Canaan: Black Canadian Poetry, Music, and Citizenship. Created for readers, listeners, courses, and research and discussion groups, the companion site soundincanaan.com is designed to benefit both readers of the book and anyone interested in Black Canadian poetry, culture, and Black music. The site features audio and transcripts of interviews with poets from the book, as well as resources mentioned in the book—including newly added materials of interest. You’ll also find playlists from the book (available on both Spotify and YouTube), a section of remixed audio, and additional media and news. An Open Access chapter is already available to read there.


On Friday, March 7, from 10–11:30 a.m., I’ll be giving a performance/talk at Malaspina Theatre (located on VIU’s Nanaimo campus). In my colloquium talk, I will combine sound (including a live DJ mix), images, material from the website, and text. Adopting a self-reflexive creative approach and cueing samples from interviews with the poets featured in my book, this presentation promises a captivating journey through the dynamic world of Black creativity in Canada.


Finally, I want to encourage you to come out to the Victoria book launch, which will take place on March 13 at Paul Phillips Hall (1928 Fernwood Road). This event will feature one of my all-time favourite writers—and a major influence on the ideas in the book—poet Wayde Compton (Performance Bond, The Outer Harbour, Toward an Anti-Racist Poetics). Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

As always, thanks for the support. I hope you read the book and, especially, seek out the work of the fantastic poets featured in it.

Warmly!
Paul

pauldbwatkins Academic, Event, Literature, Music, sound poetry, soundin canaan

Scenes from My Nanaimo Book Launch

Thanks to everyone who came out to my book launch on Feb. 6 at The Vault! We packed the house, and I sold my entire box of books. It was a night to celebrate my book, Soundin’ Canaan, but it was also a night of poetry and music—a night of community. It was a night of sonic solidarity in honour of Black History Month. I’m very grateful to both Neil Surkan and Sonnet L’Abbé for sharing the power of their words. The night left me feeling a little more hopeful about the state of things.

On March 7, from 10–11:30 a.m., I’ll be giving the final colloquium talk at VIU in the Malaspina Theatre. The talk will combine sound (including a live DJ mix), images, material from a new website to support the book, and text.

A second book launch will take place in Victoria on March 13 at Paul Phillips Hall (1928 Fernwood Road). This event will feature poet Wayde Compton (Performance Bond, The Outer Harbour, Toward an Anti-Racist Poetics). Doors open at 6:30 p.m.