Meet Gregory “seth” Harris | Author & Performance Poet

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gregory “seth” Harris and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gregory “SETH”, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Actually, the career chose me. I had a talent for writing and found increasing joy working with language. I was also a voracious reader and the reading I loved best were novels that increased my understanding of the human animal and this world we occupy. I contribute my own mental health and emotional stability to the many authors I devoured. So when it came time to decide what I wanted to do with my life, the choice was easy: to understand the world as honestly as I could, and reflect that understanding in everything I wrote such that readers might gain a greater understanding of their world and consequently heal themselves.
As Fate would have it, I befriended numerous musicians and actors over the years which spurred my pursuit of becoming a musician and performer. One thing lead to another, and then another, and now I’m a performance poet with a long history of performing my words and the words of others in all sorts of creative and innovative ways. None of it was planned or conceived. It merely evolved.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My career can be divided in two phases. First and foremost, I am a writer. My dream was to write novels. As a precusor, I have written and published numerous short stories. But have written only one novel. That novel was about 20 years in the writing from start to publication, but I consider it my greatest work. As a writer, I am probably most admired for my innovative use of language. While still writing my novel, I detoured into writing poetry. Poetry fed the playful nature in which I approach working with language. I perpetually play with new ways of expression and form. Years of experimenting with poetry bleed into the later drafts of my novel. That novel, The Perfect Stranger, contains the intricate complexity of the 19th century novel (think Dickens, Thackery, Dostoevsky, Eliot, Flaubert) with both a lyrical and almost irreverent approach to language.

The other phase is that of a performer and ulimately a performance poet. I’d loved banging out beats as an adolescent. In my mid-to-late 20’s I’d had an administrative job in which one of my responsiblities was to book and coordinate variety shows. Through this I developed an intuitive sense on how to put on a good show. During that same time, I wrote and learned to perform for a radio theater comedy troupe. Here I transformed from a stilted, monotonous reader to one in near full command of my voice. Years later I would befriend two similar poet/musician/actors. We formed an ensemble (Open Rangers) that would apply my love of playing with language to playing with how to perform and present poetry. Open Rangers would be the first of three groups I would join in this same pursuit, the current group being Art Compost & the Word Mechanics. The rest, as they say, is history

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Denver has an incredibly rich and diverse literary community. If my friend was a writer, we’d be sure to hit one or two of its many open mics. We would definitely hang out at least one night if not two at the Mercury Cafe, not only for the open mic and literary readings, but for the music and dance. Spending an afternoon in Boulder is a prerequisite for anyone visiting Colorado. Another afternoon in Evergreen. An evening at Dazzle’s or the Soiled Dove. Laughter at the Comedy Works. And one day if not camping out somewhere in the Rocky Mountains.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
As a performer I would thank all the musicians, actors and other artists I have encountered and collaborated with over the years. I had long recognized the interconnectedness of all the creative arts. There were things I learned from musicians, theater people and visual artists I could apply directly to my writing. Although we use different medium, we apply the same aesthetic principles. The world would be a dull place without the arts and all that artists inspire. I am delighted to be among that family.

Website: https://www.wagingart.com

Linkedin: poetseth@gmail.com

Facebook: Gregory Seth Harris

Youtube: SETH & Art Compost

Other: Bandcamp SETH w/Art Compost & the Word Mechanics

Image Credits
Kit Hedman