We were lucky to catch up with Dre Cruz recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Dre, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
Writing and performing are both practices that I’ve naturally been drawn to from an early age. I’ve participated in poetry open mics and recitation contests throughout middle and high school, been an editor of my high school yearbook, done photography and marketing for an entertainment group during my college years, was on the movement arts worship team at church, and so many other minor endeavors in the course of my life. It wasn’t, however, until September of 2021 that I decide to pursue a career in Spoken and Performance Arts and started attending local poetry open mics. It was at these events, especially The Circle Poetry Night at The Loft on Delowe, that I made the transition from a casual writer and poet to a seasoned and respected artist and creative. I learned by doing. For almost a year of my life, I performed at least 4 times a week at any event that would have me. That consistency and hunger drove me to the place I am now.
There’s nothing I could have done to speed up this process. Honestly, I think I was blessed to catch the fast-track to success in this community. If anything, I wish I would have slowed down a bit and really cultivated my relationships. I’m now having to go back and reacquaint myself with people and reconnect with venues that I should have started collaborating with a year ago, before I was established. I could have used being a bright new face to my advantage.
The skills I find most essential to being a writer, poet, and spoken word artist are discipline and consistency. Discipline is the commitment to do it. Consistency is discipline repeated. Basically, the only way to do this work is to do it, and keep doing it. So even when I don’t feel inspired, or motivated, or great… I write anyway, I rehearse anyway, I post on social media anyway, and I just keep doing that until I produce something I’m proud of and want to share.
The biggest obstacle that has stood in the way of my growth throughout this ongoing journey, besides the tremendous financial burden that starting anything new brings, has been the constant cycling between self-doubt and “imposter syndrome.” I’m constantly having to fight thoughts of “nobody is going to feel this piece” and “everybody thinks you’re trash”, which somehow (usually after I receive any amount of positive affirmation) alternates to “you don’t deserve all this applause” and “they would hate you if they really knew you.” It’s a war that still rages inside me, and while I do feel like I have missed out on a few opportunities while battling with myself, I also feel as though those negative thoughts compel me to work harder and keep me humble.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Dre Cruz the MouthPeace. If I were to describe my poetry, which I rarely attempt to do, it would probably be black emo suburbanite mixed with lesbian neo-soul storytelling and a generous dollop of Jesus on top. All of my work comes from my experiences, and I have lived a very colorful life.
I grew up an Army brat so I’ve been blessed and cursed with all the things that come with that. I came out as lesbian at an early age. I have struggled with substance abuse, physical health and mental health issues in some capacity for as long as I can remember. I have experienced great wealth and even greater poverty. My parents have been divorced and remarried a couple times. All of these things have culminated to make what I write all mine. When you hear my poetry, you know that’s a Dre Cruz poem.
More than anything, I just want the world to know that Dre Cruz the MouthPeace is here, that Cruz Thru Poetry (my business) is here, that I’m raw, I’m real, and I will make you feel.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Society can best support artists and creatives by being more conscious of how we are spending our dollars. There are so many local entrepreneurs out here that have worked hard and invested in their brands, and they deserve to reap the benefits of their physical, spiritual, and intellectual labor. As much as society spends on internationally acclaimed name brand luxury items, we can afford to financially stand in solidarity with our local creative ecosystem. Instead of impulsively purchasing that track suit from Amazon, we could make a better effort to intentionally purchase a comparable or better quality track suit from a local vendor at a comparable or better price point. If we have 5 different streaming service subscriptions, we could cancel one of them for a month and invest in a book written by a local author, subscribe to a local podcast, or purchase a ticket to a local show. Rather than buying art and home decor from large distributors like Target and Walmart, consider a gallery that showcases local artists and photographers. BUY PEOPLE’S MUSIC. BUY PEOPLE’S MERCH. We need a network of capital that flows within our community if we want to thrive in a capitalist society.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My goal is make an abundant living from the revenue generated by my craft, and the many different streams of income that pour out of my craft. I want to thrive mentally, physically, spiritually, and financially, while doing what I’m passionate about and love to do.
I think I can get there.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/CruzThruPoetry?fbclid=PAAaZ-N1nzdJbO9DoMU5XE50HVTu62aTpv14ABlZqD8By5Eyg2biE85onc6l0
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/drecruzthemouthpeace?igshid=NzAzN2Q1NTE=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drecruzthemouthpeace?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@CruzThruTube
Image Credits
Jahi Locke @nephilim.fist Paul Yates @iv.league_photography.llc