We recently connected with Kodisha Bivins and have shared our conversation below.
Kodisha, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
The most meaningful project to me would be my book, “Love with a Compass.” I’ve always wanted to write my own book, but for some reason or another, I didn’t feel like I could do it or that it was too complicated or expensive. I had been talking about having my own poetry book for almost 15 years, but the “know how” or drive just wasn’t there. I was even told that I needed to focus on other things instead of poetry or writing a book by someone really close to me. Even though I had released two spoken word albums, I still had so much doubt about becoming an author. After all, I had read some pretty amazing books in my life. Would anyone buy my book or read it were the thoughts that constantly ran through my mind throughout the years. I didn’t think I was “good enough.” But after a failed relationship with my ex=fiancé and a miscarriage, I suddenly no longer cared if anyone thought I was enough.
For too many years, I’d been living a life to be “good enough” for everyone but myself. During my healing, I realized I was enough and good enough to publish my own book. I didn’t care if anyone bought the book or even read it. This book was for me. I no longer wanted to focus on making others happy first or proving myself. “Love with a Compass,” was my commitment to myself after all the years of needing everyone else to like me or love me. I even celebrated my book release in my living room with a live jazz band…just me and the band because this was for me. I did live stream it for free on social media and whoever wanted to show up were welcome to listen, but this moment was for me and I was so proud of me for birthing my dreams into reality.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Journaling my feelings was something I did to escape and express myself as a child. While in college, I somehow ended up hanging with a group of misfits who I felt were like family to me. We found ourselves constantly around each other and eventually created a new organization on the campus of Auburn University at Montgomery. The group was called Gamma S.O.U.L and we focused on the arts and business projects, bringing fun activities and events to the college, even bringing Comedian Rickey Smiley to the campus before he became the big star he is today. After college, I moved to the Atlanta area where I was introduced to a whole new world of art and entertainment. One night, I was at a wine bar listening to poets on stage and decided I would share some of my own poetry. That moment was magical. I felts like I was home and belonged on stage. The amount of dopeness that ooozed through the room was overwhelming…I felt high. It was that moment that I wanted more of whatever this thing called spoken word was and I set out on a journey to be one of the best poets and to share my words with the world.
Soon, I realized that to be taken seriously in the Atlanta poetry community, you needed to do more than just perform poetry. To be amongst the greats and be in demand, you needed to provide something to the people they could take with them, such a sp0ken word album, book, or other merchandise. My interest was to create my own spoken word album and after speaking to others about how to make this happen, I began my first project and released, “Hopeless Romantic” in July of 2011. Now, that others in the community could see I was serious about my craft, I became more respected by my peers and in the arts community. Following the release of album, I began to see more demand for my performances in different settings across the Atlanta area. It was official, I felt I could truly claim my spot in the poetry community. Throughout my journey, I performed for politicians, celebrities, churches, schools, radio and so much more. I even began hosting open mics in Atlanta where my fellow creatives would come and share.
After years of performing around the Atlanta and U.S., I released my sophomore album, “Journey to Love” which I felt showed so much of my growth as an artists. My style of poetry sets me apart in that I am a very “fluid” poet and I am not within a box. I am able to deliver powerful, empowering poetry and transition easily to sexy, romantic poetry with ease. I’ve seen conscious or militant type poets attempt to perform erotic poetry and completely fail. It seems some poets are only able to sit within one specific style or the other. I’m extremely honored by the Universe to be able to capture and audience’s attention regardless of the type of poem I’m delivering.
In 2021, I finally decided I would become a published author after years of disappointments and distractions in my life. My book, “Love with a Compass” was what my soul had really been dying to birth. Becoming an author was a life-long goal and I had finally focused on myself and made it come true. Having my spoken word albums available on popular digital spaces online for anyone in the world to be able to buy or download, is amazing to me. My digital footprint is widening and I’m so grateful to God for giving me the gift of words and the ability to connect with people on such a deeper level.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I didn’t realize it then, but I realize it now. Becoming a single mother was one of the most traumatic experiences in that you realize you are the sole provider for a child and you don’t have daily help from anyone. About a year after have my beautiful daughter, Egypt, I was determined to do a sophomore album and share all I had been through. With little support and struggling financially, I decided I would make it happen no matter what. Thankfully, my music producer, T-Bag “The Herbalist” allowed me to setup a payment plan so I didn’t have to have all the money upfront to work on music and recordings with him. And on days when I didn’t have a sitter, he allowed me to bring my daughter with me and told me she would be a “studio baby” a term coined in the spoken word community when you are going to work with or without the babies…one thing for sure is, you are going to work by any means necessary. Being embraced and encouraged in that way created this desire and resilience in me to not let anything stop me…not money, time, or lack of any other resources.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect about being an artist is that you get to share your soul. You get to be naked in front of the world with no fear of judgement Being able to move people in a way that resonates with them deeply is hard to explain, but it feels spiritual. I get to to be a storyteller and take people to places they’ve never been or want to go. Creating fantasies or speaking out against injustice allows me to use my voice in a powerful way. I love the people who tap me on my shoulder, either in public or on social media to tell me how my words have impacted their lives. Leaving an imprint on someone’s soul is extremely rewarding and intoxicating.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.soulscribethepoet.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SoulScribeThePoet/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoulScribeThePoet/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SoulScribes
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SoulScribethePoet
- Other: Love with a Compass Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FS9NYWP?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860 Journey to Love Poetry Spoken Word Album: https://soulscribethepoet.bandcamp.com/album/journey-to-love