Spoken Word New York got a chance to chat with one of the HOTTEST poets in NYC. If you don’t know the “Rain Maker” – the talented man who has the ability to bring out the real of poetry; who inspires and creates enlightenment; whose words creep inside your mind and play peek-a-boo with your psyche. If you don’t know “Rain Maker” – the man who spit “…Silence is Louder than Screams!” – you betta’ act like you know! Get inside the mind of Peter “Rain Maker” Seaton and see for yourself why this poets reign(pun intended) is not letting up any time soon.

What exactly do you do and how did you get started?

Well I do a number of different things besides writing and performing poetry. I own and operate a writing performance laboratory called WPL. We assist artists in finding their voice, working on their stage presence as well as their life skills because we do not want to just help you write hot poems if your life is messed up. So we work through the feelings and emotions that happen and are connected to the words of what the artist would like to relay. There are a number of different reasons why someone picks up a pen and writes a poem.  We help them identify these reasons and show them that the belief in what they are saying is just as important as what they are saying . I have been writing poetry since I was nine years old and started to take it seriously in high school.

I was introduced to the Nuyorican Poetry Cafe in 1999 and have been none stop over the course of the last eleven years. I have seen and have made a lot of changes and personal growth in my life I am truly a testament that poetry saves lives because it saved mine.

When did you know you wanted to get into performing Spoken Word for the public?

I think it was that night on stage at my first poetry venue. A friend of mine secretly put my name on the list. Back then I was just Peter Seaton, no Rain Maker.

When I got off stage an audience member came up to me and said, that what I said from this wrinkled piece of paper I had in my back pocket, changed their life. I believe in that moment I wanted to learn everything I could possibly know about performing poetry/writing.

What or who inspired you to become an artist? What or who are some of your influences?

There are a number of people who inspire me though I think when I first was introduced to the stage it was the poets that looked like they were doing it for a long time I wanted to be like. Then I met Abiodun Owelle from the “Last Poets” and he mentored me along with a whole bunch of other artists. I started to realize that poetry is not just poetry but a vehicle in which life can be illustrated and plans of action made and acted upon.

How does your style of Spoken Word differ from the other artists?

I believe the way I interpret the world is different from most people so naturally my poetry will follow suite. I am image driven as an artist so my poems tend to be figurative and laced with metaphors but with a sense of the gritty reality that we all can touch and feel. I don’t really believe any one artist is better than another, we just have different ways of saying what needs to be said.  I try to make sure the audience can come along with me on my journey and experience the same emotions and thought process that I went through in writing the piece. I want them to feel like they were right there when I was writing and reciting that particular poem.

Who are your favorite Spoken Word poets?

Well, there are a lot, but some of my favorite Spoken Word poets are: Queen Godis, Mahogany Browne, Tshaka Campbell, Rob Hylton, Jive Poetic, Amir Suliaman, Sunni Paterson, Redefining Freedom, Kassim Allah, Ainsley Burrows, Sabrina Gilbert, Ngoma, Kamone Felix, Black Ice and Jamal St John.

What have you learned throughout your life about this business.

I have learned that every connection you make is a valuable one because if it was not for the common interest of poetry then you and this person probably would probably never have met and never would have spoken to each other without judgment of the other  in love of the art and the community. “Poetry, I have learned, is about the study of the world around you and most importantly the study of yourself and what you choose to speak about on the mic – the vulnerability that such a thing calls for.”

Any advice to artists that are just starting out?

The advice I have for a new artist is make sure you are living what it is that you are talking about which is not an easy thing to do for most people let alone most artists who can get lost in the fantasy that we create for ourselves sometimes. Remember to take things slow and deliberate don’t rush anything

Who is your target audience?

My target audience I believe is everyone. No matter what walk of life you are from and no matter what your journey, I am for those who are listening and for those who don’t want to listen. I speak of transformation, love, revolution and good times.  I believe everyone needs some transformation at some point, some love at times, some revolution and always good times.

What have you accomplished since you began performing?

2004 hosted an open mic twice a week at Stono’s Restaurant
2005 Second in the Sugar Shack Last man standing Slam
2006 Nuyorican Slam Team member
2007 Wild Card Slam Champion for the Bowery Poetry Club
2008-09  Coached the New Jersey Youth team
2010 CEO of the Writing Performance Laboratory

What projects are you currently working on?

This year has been a year of new material and new growth and if you know anything about growth it is always painful but a necessary process.

• I conduct Writing Performance Workshops every Saturday at my house in Newark, New Jersey
• I’m laying the ground work to release 6 albums this year plus two books of poetry
• Featured on the compilation album entitled “For Those who Are Listening”
• Featured on Tuan X’s album coming out the end of this year
• Heading up the “In The Mirror Project” started by Queen Godis
• Will be featured at Freak Nasty, which is an erotic poetry showcase produced by Burrows, Inc.

**NOTE** – For tickets please message “Rain Maker” on Facebook(Peter Rain Maker Seaton)

I am also involved with creating the momentum, the movement and the interest in the project which deals with transformation, self evaluation and growth of the individual. The concept is what do you see in the mirror . I am really excited about it for more info on the project you can go to:

• http://www.auntiequeengodis.blogspot.com
• http://www.theseventhalgorithm.blogspot.com

Where can people see you perform .. how does the public reach you for information about your group?

I am usually at most open mics and readings but generally I tell people to check my face book page. I post everything that I am doing as a day to day process.

Facebook - Peter Rain Maker Seaton

Also you can check out my blog at http://www.theseventhalgorithm.blogspot.com

And checking him out… we definitely will …

Tags | Peter Rainmaker Seaton, Spoken Word New York, Spoken Word Poetry, Writing Performance Laboratory(WPL)