I had a chat with visiting poet and spoken word performer, Calvin ‘Made Son’ Early to discuss his visit to Abu Dhabi…
Paul D: You are of Bahamian decent but was raised in Little Haiti, a predominantly Haitian community. What was that experience like?
Made Son: I’m originally from what is known as the Scott’s Projects and I moved to Little Haiti around 1997. The transition was a culture shock and it was only a 10 minutes drive away, but I caught on quickly and fell in love with the Haitian culture. Many of my very closest friends are Haitian. Many of my own principles and values are those I’ve adopted from them and their upbringing.
Paul D: I moved from Cleveland, Ohio in the Midwest to Albany, Georgia in the South when I was eight. My experience wasn’t nearly as accepting. How has growing up in MIA impacted your perspective on life?
Made Son: Miami has a lot more than beaches and beautiful women. I grew up in the heart of the ghetto. I’ve seen enough death, dysfunction, and destructive behavior to last a life time. I learned two things. One, failure is always one bad decision away, and two, how I turned out in life was ultimately up to me.
Paul D: You are one of few US poets to perform here. What made you decide to come to the UAE?
Made Son: It’s simple: Growth. I believe you come to a point in any career where growth is necessary. The big “What’s Next?” comes knocking at your door and you can either answer it or stay in the house.
Paul D: How long have you been writing, and at which point did you decide that you had a message to share.
Made Son: I’ve been writing for more than fifteen years, but I truly found myself within my writing about six years ago. I took it seriously, and then Made Son was born.
Paul D: You have a message?
Made Son: My message is, “The difference between living and existence is a matter of choice”.
Paul D: That’s simple yet profound. You have a comedic nature about your personality. Does that translate in to your poetry or does your work touch on more serious themes?
Made Son: My mannerisms and overall personality are naturally humorous. So, I don’t always intentionally write for the purpose of being funny. How I convey the words in the piece often causes laughter.
Paul D: Abu Dhabi is your first international trip for poetry?
Made Son: Yes, this was my first international trip for poetry. What I am certain is that it will not be that last. I intended to travel again at least once before the end of next year. I believe in speaking things into existence so my next to stops will be Europe and Australia.
Paul D: Europe is great! How are you feeling about your performance?
Made Son: Nervous, Anxious, and motivated. As this is my first international feature, it is the biggest show of my career thus far. This show, this project, and this trip as a whole take my work to a new level. More than anything, I feel empowered.
Paul D: I was also nervous at the beginning of our coffee session but feel empowered to ask you something if you don’t mind. Can you take care of the bill?
