This Life!
I first met Brian Vogue at an event where he was performing, and I was completely stunned by his body movement and confidence, especially wearing heels in public. His artistry and presence stayed with me, and when I started working on a project that blended poetry, sound, and movement, I knew he had to be part of it.
At the time, I had poetry pieces I had written, which Basthma produced into experimental soundtracks, and Santuri recorded the poetry and mastered the tracks. These became the foundation of a larger body of work called Awakening, with This Life as one of its key pieces.
Originally, I wrote This Life in English, but I felt that using a native language would give it more depth and emotional weight. I collaborated with Steve Collins, my creative partner, who not only translated the poem to Dholuo but also narrated it, bringing it to life in a way that truly resonated with me.
To visually interpret the piece, I enlisted Brian Vogue, whose body became the canvas for movement. We filmed the dance sequence at AMP Studios, aiming to create a raw, expressive visual experience that matched the intensity of the poem and soundscape.
Interestingly, the piece wasn’t called Life until we discovered lightboxes at the back of the studio and spelled out the word with them. That spontaneous moment solidified the theme.
We used a smoke machine to enhance the visuals, adding an ethereal quality and a sense of movement to the atmosphere. The entire piece was shot on a Blackmagic 4K, capturing every fluid motion and emotional nuance with striking clarity.
The result is a mesmerizing audiovisual project that captivates the senses. In this stunning creation, Basthma's experimental sounds intertwine with a poem by Kins of Spade (my pen name), layered with Brian Vogue's expressive movements that punctuate each syllable and beat.
Beyond its artistic beauty, This Life carries a poignant message of self-love and acceptance—a powerful reminder to embrace oneself fully, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. It is a vibrant celebration of authenticity, urging individuals to find solace in their own truth and the beauty of being unapologetically themselves.
