Alex Pryce is a 21 year old poet, originally from Bangor, Northern Ireland, who is currently studying English at the University of Leicester.

Alex received a Creative Sparks award from Ignite! (then a National Endowments for Science, Technology and the Arts pilot programme) in June 2006. In 2007, she also received a bursary from the John Hewitt Society, and in 2008 was the winner of the G.S. Fraser Poetry Prize. Her poems have been published in Gists and Piths, Pomegranate, Agenda Broadsheet, Mslexia, Fortnight and nthposition.

Alex is Director of PoetCasting (www.poetcasting.co.uk), a UK based poetry podcasting enterprise, created in 2007. The site is funded by the Arts Council England. She has also provided podcasting services to the National Poetry Society, Salt Publishing and currently works on Magma Poetry’s website.

In 2008, she won the Art and Culture Woman of the Future Award, presented by Real Business Magazine, supported by Shell. She has featured in $uccess magazine and the RSA Journal (Spring 2009). Alex is a member of the Inspiral Women’s Network, and is a Fellow of the RSA.

Internet poet Alex Pryce has been dubbed the ‘one to watch` in the art world by judges of the Women of the Future Award. The youngest category winner at just 20 years old, Alex picked up the Booz & Company Art and Culture Woman of the Future Award for her work conceiving and launching PoetCasting, a popular poetry podcasting enterprise which secured Arts Council funding earlier this year.

The judges said: “Alex`s success is an outstanding example of what can be achieved with clear vision and dedication -showing established organisations operating in this field the way forward. She is also plainly interested in her work for what it can do for others rather than for her own gratification.”

PoetCasting (www.poetcasting.co.uk) showcases poets from all backgrounds who share the medium of the internet – a place that poets can be read and heard in one place. The site features the traditional sense of podcasting where poets simply read their work. The initiative has received funding by NESTA – supporting innovation in science, technology and the arts – and Ignite! which works with young people to promote creativity.

Alex said: “The arts has historically been a man`s world – we haven`t even had a female poet laureate yet – so it is fantastic to be recognised. It would be amazing to one day be a mentor for women in the arts like the director of the Poetry Society, Jules Mann, has been to me.”

Name: Suliaman Amoako

Location: London

Business: Poetry

Suliaman aka Suli Break, a young law graduate from University of Sheffield with a known Talent. His un – hidden Talent is creating poems but most of all putting life into these poems on stage or by voice. His sole aim is to make Poetry kool, which explains how his poems generally consists different styles. Suli Break makes you think in a humorous within his poem.

Suli Break is a strong man of God with the intention to emulate the prophet, Mohammed who is also a role model to him. Along with stars who are the best at what they, such as Kobe Bryant and Denzel Washington. He is shown to write by the feelings of his heart; writing is not a routine or a compulsion. It’s his way of being an individual, a young man, a poet but most of all…his true reflection are on display by the words he speaks in his poems.

Read his interview with YHP

Suli Breaks just recently graduated from University of Sheffield with a degree in law.

Suli breaks is a poet looking to use his witty controversial, yet enlightening style, he is slowly becoming the crowd’s favourite. Using a style which he describes as a “mixture of everything he has ever seen or known” he light heatedly jokes that his aim is to make “Poetry kool!”.

Hey Suli, how is it going? Welcome to YHP.

Due to the grace of God, I am fine thank you very much.

Before we move, can you quickly give the YHP readers some background information about yourself?

Suli Breaks aka Suli Breezy aka Mr Riddle Riddle(Laughter), I am a Poet, who has performed at numerous venues across the country, has been featured in the Voice, was winner of Aspire Talent 2008 and was also a finalist in the 2009 Uni’s Got Talent Competition.

You’ve just graduated from the university, how do you feel closing that chapter in your life, or are you going for a masters?

Rahh…it was ALOT. ALOT in the sense that it was a big experience, but also in the sense that it was ALOT of work.
I’m half and half right now. It’s quite a relief, because finally I get to work on my own schedule, no one telling that this has to be due at this time and I have to write this, exams are this time etc.
However, it is also quite intimidating, because this is where everything starts. Everything I do from this point onwards is a step towards creating the life I want to be living in the future. It’s like every move is geared toward the bigger picture, whereas for me personally in the University it was like your always working towards the next exam or next assignment. I rarely looked at the whole thing in context.

So how did the name come about?

It would seem quite confusing to most readers.
Quick summary, if you’re a Baller (basketball player), you know what it means when you “break someone’s ankles”. Let’s just say I did quite a lot of ankle breaking in my day. My name being Suliaman, everyone already called me Suli. So it was quite ingenious that my coaches’ brother Ben Peters came up with the name “Suli Breaks” and it stuck.

So tell us? How did you get into poetry?

I didn’t really get into Poetry, you could say that it got into me. I did my first performance, because someone had told me to come and rap at a show(probably trying to embarrass me) and I told them that I don’t rap no more and that I would do a poem instead. BADDA BING BADDA BOOM!! Here I am now. That show went extremely well as could have imagined.

What do you feel makes a good poem?

Being yourself. Channelling what you feel and believe. It sounds corny, but that’s what works for me. It’s like the poem is an extension of yourself. Things I talk about in a poem would be the same things I talk about on the phone to my wife.

Describe your poems in 5 words?

Inspiring, Creative, Insightful, Thought provoking (that’s 2 I know) and lastly Suli Breaks(my poems are basically my views brought to you in different mediums)

Who are your roles models/influences?

Being a Muslim, my obvious role model is the prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) who practices I attempt to emulate to bring me closer to God.
Aside from that, my role models are everyone who is the best at what they do. If it comes to basketball-Kobe Bryant, Acting-Denzel Washington. I just admire people who have strived to perfect their art of are recognised as one of the best in their field.
I also have another one, but it’s a secret because that person doesn’t know( I don’t think) so I will keep it to myself.

What is your favourite poem from your collection?

I don’t have one you know. I like different ones at different times.

What is your favourite poem and poet?

I don’t really listen to poet or follow it to have any favourite ones, but I really like this one though:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iVAqePmZMI

Do you have a writing routine?

Not really.

What do you do away from writing poems?

I used to play basketball, but right now I’m stressed trying to find a job so am at home most of the time. I hit the gym quite often too.

What do you feel it takes to stand out as a poet?

You have to hit the crowd at angles they don’t expect. You know they expect poets to be like this and like that, but if you show them that you’re a little different that usually catches their attention.

Who is your favourite poet at the moment?

Jay-Z (Bursts in Laughter)
I really don’t pay too much attention to poetry!!

What current project are you working on and would you like to share it with the readers?

Well, those of you that are avid fans will have been aware that I did a weekly competition called “Riddle Riddle” last year. (Check Facebook group: Riddle Riddle for more details).
I am planning to launch Season 2 when semester resumes this year God willing. That’s all I’m giving away.

This year’s project is going to involve quite a few more parties.

Who are you currently reading?

Stephanie Myers.
Well, actually i’m reading James Caan “The Real Deal”, but I feel it is my duty to highlight how amazing Myers books are. I have just finished reading “Breaking Dawn.” She is hands down one of the best writers I have ever read the “Twilight” series is actually too SICK!! Let me not get too carried away and lose half my fan base.
No homo!!

If you weren’t writing poems, what else do you think you will be pursuing as a career?

Errrmm….Basketball. However, the game kind of outgrew me, literally. I got too short to play.(Laughter). I would probably be pursuing a law career as I did study a law degree.

If you could offer only one piece of advice to your fellow poets, what would it be?

Well, I think they should just try and be themselves that sounds corny too, but I mean don’t try to do what I’m doing or the next person is doing. Just do whatever feels most natural to you. As James Caan says ( I told you I been reading): Observe the masses and do the opposite.

So what’s next for you?

People need to wait and see, because I have the kind of ideas that people couldn’t imagine, so it’s hard to describe and only really time will reveal. Just know that God willing, I won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.

Thanks for your time.
YHP Wishes you the best.

Contact Information

Facebook- Suli Breaks
Myspace- www.myspace.com/sulibreaks11
Youtube- http://www.youtube.com/user/sulibreezy

Interviewed & Edited by Joseph Ajilore

Congratulations on getting this far in life
It’s not by your power
Not by your might.
It’s important to seal the moments which matter,
It’s essential to do everything to make these
Minutes last longer.
What better way than to purchase a digital camera?

Fill the camera with positivity,
Optimism, faith and the
Belief in something good.
This spits out an amazing picture.

A picture capturing an idyllic life
A joyous utopian situation;
Where nothing can really bother you.
Its prophetic, it’s sacred perhaps even
Too good to be true.
Now you know the secret.
Add these spare parts to the camera
Over and over again.
To guarantee a high quality picture.

Digital cameras are the way forward
Their fast. Quick and easy to use.
What else could give such good results?
For high definition at its best,
Look after this precious electrical device
Keep it away from liquids,
Disallow it from even getting splashed
With a drop of negativity, self chastisement
Resentment or regret.

In instances where the camera
Is submerged in a deep pool of such dangerous liquids
Where there seems no hope of survival
Take it to the specialist engineer
He’s a spiritual consultant at the weekends
The creator, Alpha and Omega.
When the camera seems drenched
This engineer can return it
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Be mindful of the flash
Sometimes it can be too bright
A camera filled with wisdom, can give out a blinding flash
This flash may open your eyes to things you never expected.
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Good luck with your new camera
Follow these simple instructions
And you can believe in the camera warranty.
A great photo is promised each time
You take a stroll
Through life.

Written By Binta Balogun
Copyright 2009 Binta Balogun

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