Taking the poetry that develops during a spoken word performance and marrying it with the lyricism of hip-hop, Calligraphist has created what he calls audio literature. With a page-turning new single he stopped by ZO to talk about the music, and consequently what is on the way.
Kendra: New York City equals the hometown of hip-hop, so what got you interested a world away in Bulgaria?
Calligraphist: Part of it was precisely the ability to transcend worlds within seconds. You can physically be in a room, an ocean away, but through lyrics, you can travel as far as imagination can take you.
Kendra: You decided to move from Bulgaria to Manchester, as a result what was the hardest thing to leave behind?
Calligraphist: Family and friends is the obvious answer. I’ve lived in Holland and Greece before that, so change has become somewhat of a habit. Part of it is wanderlust and part of it is my professional path as a marketer.
Kendra: On the flip side, what’s been the most rewarding part of relocating?
Calligraphist: The ability to observe and learn from some of Europe’s most prominent and distinctive cultures.
Kendra: You’ve noted that your style is more like audio literature. Where did that wonderful sentiment stem from?
Calligraphist: It’s the best description I could come up with. I suppose it implies that the literary concepts are at the centre. Then we look to translate that into music.
Kendra: If you had to compare your latest single, “Crossroads,” to a piece of literature, which would it be and why?
Calligraphist: I wouldn’t dare compare it to any of greats because a lot of work to be done still.
Kendra: You pair your tracks, like “Crossroads,” with great art pieces that look like they’re straight out of museums. What made you want to create that classic aesthetic?
Calligraphist: I try to match visual works with the audio to showcase it better.
Kendra: What can people expect from you in the coming months? More music, touring, hitting the states?
Calligraphist: I’ll try to release one track per month and go from there for the time being.
