Exclusive Interview with Sa Jules
- Soundz Grate
- Jun 25, 2017
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 30, 2019
In the underground world of Augusta, GA lies countless forms of art in all forms and representations, yet one in particular stands out. It's one thing to go to a performance and stumble upon the Holy Grail of fresh talent. Yet when said talent is presented to you like a treasure map, and you have to go on an adventure to find them. It makes it all the better.
1. Hey Sa Jules, how do you feel?
I am doing GREAT! Just letting my light shine and pushing this dream being fueled by passion.
2. What inspired you to get into making spoken word?
To be honest I didn't know anything about poetry/spoken word until I was about 11 or 12. My mother sent me to an arts school and I focused on acting and production. One day I stayed after school with a friend who was on the Forensics team and I started sifting through this bin of papers and it was the works of great poets and authors like Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes(my favorite), Nikki Giovanni, Angela Davis, just to name a few. I fell in love with their works and joined the Forensics team that day and began competing with their works and eventually started writing my own and competing with my original works. Later I learned spoken word which is performance poetry and continued to work on my craft from there.
3. What are your plans for 2018?
My plans for 2018 is to take advantage of EVERY opportunity God sends my way because I asked him for it. I want my monthly show Dope Spit & Open Mic to grow beyond my wildest dreams, I want to travel more and I will be releasing my first short film that has my original poetry in it.
4. You do more than just spoken word, would you tell the readers a little bit about everything you do?
In addition to spoken word, I am an actress. I have been in several web series and stage plays. Some of the web series are Bondage, Karma, and ExFactor under Victory Productions Network. I have been in the stage play Alice In Wonderland, The Quilt, To Whom the Son Sets Free, It Ain't Always Him, just to name a few. I am a radio personality on Round Here Radio with my show Dem Say What airing every Saturday night from 8-9pm. I have added director, casting director, producers and screen writer to my resume as well this year. We just finished editing the short film I wrote. I am working on another script that will go into production early 2019. I am also a coach. I teach stage presence lessons. This is simply a session on how to engage and captivate your audience on stage or on camera. I plan on adding many more things to this list as well. Just give me a little time.
5. Who are some of the artists that have the biggest impact on you?
I listen to so many artist. I listen to a lot of Nas, Lyfe Jennings, Jennifer Hudson, Jill Scott, Lauryn Hill. Erykah Badu, Gorganus, The Kidd Justice, my Rideout Crew(we have poets, singers & hip hop), a lot of music from the 60s and 70s inspire me as well.
6. What were 3 of the biggest milestones in your poetry career so far?
I would say the biggest is moving to a new city and not knowing a soul and pursuing my dreams. In 2016 I decided to get back on stage. I created my annual showcase entitled L!fe Logues which is a poetry and monologue artist showcase. By the grace of God some of the biggest known poets in the city blessed me by being on my lineup and the show sold out. Nobody in this city knew me and I didn't know anyone either. I don't know how God pulled that one off, but I made a promise to him that if he got me through that one, then I would never give up. I refuse to let poetry or the arts go ever again. This is my ministry and it's how I reach people and it is therapeutic for me as well.
I started Dope Spit & Open Mic in April of 2017 and this show is gaining more and more success and exposure. I couldn't be happier. It has been a monthly challenge, but I am forever grateful for ALL of the supporters out there.
Lastly, the biggest poetry showcase in Augusta is Salmon & Grits and having just been spitting in the city for a year(2016) after taking a 12 year hiatus I was asked to be on the lineup for 2017. When I tell you I cried tears of JOY! I was so honored. There are people who have been putting in work for far longer than I have, but it was my time to shine on that stage and I owe that to God and Anthony SleepyEyez Carter(it's his showcase).
7. What was one of the worst experiences you've faced in the business so far and how did you bounce back from it?
The entertainment business is can be funny. In 2017 I connected with some individuals who didn't have my best interest at heart even though I thought we were building something genuine. It hurt me to my core and that hurt soon turned to anger and hatred. At one point I was consumed with that anger because I couldn't figure out why these people would do what they did to me. I had to pray about it and work at not being around them. It's hard because we are all artist and we are bound to see one another. I have since let it all go and moved forward with what God has for me because no one has the ability to take that away from me because it was designed for me. When I released all of that negative energy, God opened up new doors for me and he is continuing to bless me beyond my wildest dreams.
8. Is there anything else you would like to plug? Any shout outs?
Thank you Soundz Grate for talking with me and getting to know me. Thank you to DeeJay Swagg of Round Here Radio for giving me a chance to be a personality at your radio station and for our conversations that get me right back on track. Thank you to my sister Tasha for always being my day one. Thank you to my son Rocky DTM, it's your time and mommy is right here cheering you on. Thank you to all of my friends and family and strangers that I have yet to meet but support me and understand my vision.
My annual showcase L!fe Logues is coming back January 23, 2019. Be on the lookout for that! I'll be gracing the stage at this year's Arts in the Heart in September! Commetry(Poetry & Comedy) is coming July 15, 2018 at the Doris Bldg. Dope Spit & Open Mic is the 2nd Saturday of every month. Dem Say What airs on Round Here Radio every Saturday from 8-9pm. The screening for my short film Never Too Late to Leave & Live is coming October 2018.
Be on the lookout, I have a lot of things coming down the pipeline and I am excited about all of them!
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