Meet ZBassSpeaks aka ‘Z’ | Spoken Word Poet and Lafayette’s Poet Laureate

We had the good fortune of connecting with ZBassSpeaks aka ‘Z’ and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi ZBassSpeaks aka ‘Z’, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I am an explorer of many things when it comes to art. Though coming from poverty there were limitations. Scraps of paper and 16 used crayons was all that little me had to rival greater artists. I wished I could sing, or play an instrument so others could listen to what I had to say. But I wasn’t given a singing voice, nor did I have a sense of rhythm. I lacked the charm or skills of a person who could engage in small talk. Writing essays was too boring, especially when it came to writing anything for school. Too many rules and bland forms of expression, but poetry lifted those rules that limited me. I love how I can say things that would otherwise sound strange in normal conversion, my thoughts and emotions morphed into art. Art that fed me this sense of purpose and therapy. The paper would gladly take whatever shape you gave it, and hold onto it. The microphone wouldn’t judge nor draw conclusions just based on your appearance, it would listen intently. Poetry and Spoken Word gave liberty of expression and allowed me to contribute something to my community.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My name is ZBassSpeaks, I am the poet with the copper voice. I became Poet Laureate of Lafayette Colorado in 2022, the first of many in over 60+ years. It was no easy achievement for someone relatively young as me. I started writing competitively in the 4th grade, and competed in Spoken Word competitions in highschool. My achievements came at the cost of going against expectations that were set for me. I was a kid in poverty with no shot of being heard of, I was to drown with the washing dishes working from 8am to 10pm in a kitchen going hungry. I learned to bring my poetry to life with the conductivity of lightning and thunder known as my voice. Giving birth to my stage name, ‘Bass’ being the homonym for the low and deep sound of music. And ‘Speaks’ in honor of my kid self who was mute for a couple years after birth. Poetry has become an essential part of my life, a thing that I refuse to let go. I use fusions of my Maya culture, Hip Hop, Performance Arts, and Philosophy for my Spoken Word. I mend Spanish and English words together to express a spectrum of emotions and ideas. I like to experiment and try new things that break the mold of what people know to be poetry. I unknowingly gave 15+ years of my life writing, and in my journey I would go on to speak out against racism and other social issues in my circles. While the topic of politics and injustice are heavy and dense by nature, my goal is to bring people together through the power of words. Another goal is to spread my love of poetry and literacy as a tool to express oneself and to break invisible barriers when people think about poetry.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
For breakfast or brunch location, I enjoy going to The Read Queen. Great for coffee or tea and a great place to find an amazing new book. For dinner Pho Cafe is pretty delicious or Fish & Chips for something a bit more western.
No day can end without a treat, for drink and smoothies Crossing Nutrition. Healthy and tasty drinks are a win win. But for ice cream Eats & Sweets is a great mom and pop shop with a variety of desserts.
If you are looking for art, Public Road is chalk full of amazing art at every corner and street. The Collective always has new art in their galleries and has very friendly people. But let’s you are in the mood for a live event, The Arts Hub is the prime location for plays and other fun events. For a great evening stroll Lafayette has trails that have amazing views of the mountains and of the city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to give a shout out to Maria Ramirez for believing in me and for pushing me to pursue something bigger. Elaina Verveer for giving me many opportunities and for being there for me and becoming part of my family. Karen Rafthor for supporting my work. My two younger siblings, for always putting up with me and always helping me improve. Cliff Bridges for giving me wisdom and challenging my perspective on the world. My beloved friend Emma Piller for her continued love and support from the start. To all of those who have been with me and taught me so much throughout the years.

Website: www.zbassspeaks.com

Instagram: zbassspeaks

Linkedin: ZBassSpeaks

Facebook: ZBassSpeaks

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYs5E3EJ4CXepDIH5HFIasw or zbassspeaks

Image Credits
Karina Wetherbee Creative Yellow Scene