Tantra-zawadi profile picture

Tantra-zawadi

About Me

“...because seats find spirit stealers at open mics reading between the lines of souls and poems I never wanted to write...”

My work as a poet can best be described by the love that I make through my art to the vision of the unseen reality. Those of you that have experienced the healing powers of spoken word poetry understand its transformative influence in saving lives through education, inspiration, peace and love.


Black Love

Tantra-zawadi's new EP “Love Planet”


"Collective Spirits combines the talents of producers/DJ's Jonny Montana and Neil Maclean, singer Dana Byrd and spoken word artist Tantra-zawadi. Together they present the outstanding 'Love Planet EP' that is comprised of three wonderful productions that combine Dana Byrd's soulful vocals with Tantra-zawadi's spoken poetry. 'Let it come' is a laidback track on a latinesque tip featuring subtle keys and a marvelous organ ride, while "People of the world" features infectious synths and classy strings over a smooth percussion enriched groove. Lastly we have 'Just wanna dance' that is a nod to the classic New York dance anthems, built around a kickin' groove that is guaranteed to rock any dance floor." - Michael Fossati (www.spiritofhouse.com)

Lyrics and vocals by: Tantra-zawadi and Dana Byrd
Music written produced and arranged by: Jonny Montana and Neil Maclean at Montana Studio's
Keys by: Bennett Holland
Additional Keys: Jonny Montana
Artwork by: Anto Vitale
Photography by: Cornel Christie
Mastered by: Benedict for Phuture Audio Mastering - http://www.phutureaudiomastering.co.uk/
Tantra-zawadi and Dana Byrd are both highly respected artists hailing from Brooklyn, New York and Newark, New Jersey respectively. Their lyrical fusion of spoken word and vocals are something the underground house scene has seldom witnessed.
Tantra-zawadi, an award-winning performance poet and the author of “alifepoeminprogress”, has been spreading her spoken word message to global, standing-room-only audiences for some time now. Her poetry was featured in Essence Magazine and she is the host and founder of WORDSPACE - A Spoken Word Series. Some of her performance credits include Def Poetry-Plugged In at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn NEXT, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, the Guild Theatre, ‘When Sisters Speak’ in Toronto, and the Product(RED) video-wall.
Dana Byrd is a classically trained vocalist, whose talents embody previous underground smashes on Francois K's Wave Music ('Your Love' with the legendary Pal Joey, remixed by Danny Krivit) and Tony Humphries' Yellorange Label (I Wanna Be Free). He has also worked with some of the biggest players in the business, including John Legend, Kool & The Gang and Mos Def.
The Love Planet EP has been produced and arranged by Jonny Montana & Neil Maclean. Jonny is the label owner of Camio Recordings responsible for releases and remixes from some of the scene's most talented producers. Jonny is an in-demand remixer in his own right, with projects in the pipeline for 2008 for Noel Mckoy & Acid Jazz Records, Colonel Red, Alton Miller and Monique Henry, amongst others. Neil, already an established DJ in the UK, has also made a name for himself in the production arena with various edits and remixes with support from DJ's such as Timmy Regisford, Spen, Ian Friday and Patrick Wilson. Together, Jonny and Neil have previously remixed the track 'Broken Dreams' by Ceramic on NY Soul Records, which is currently riding high in the Traxsource top 10, under their Jazz Theory moniker.
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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 7/30/2007
Sounds Like:

"Girl"

"I wonder if anyone will want my tissue wrapped universal offerings of love...sisters of the round table, hear my voice...send me a love note when no else does...this is my blackgirl song.”

I thought that all black women were poets I recall my momma spinning verses during my youth telling stories about my feminine ancestors like sistah harriet and her crew who kicked a rhyme or two on that underground railroad and let's not forget those unnamed sistah poets who worked the fields/birthed the babies/tended house and loved their black men all the while kicking it in verse and song these women mixed it poured it and cried it on a regular and their tears became so funky that rivers of knowledge puddled from their wetness hence birthed the beauty of the spoken word yeah to me all black women are poets.

“...remotes in hand/jaws slacked as handwritten signs penned by desperate people held up our television sets with images of despair and hopelessness...like casualties on the homefront with weapons felt but not seen...sedated into why these evacuees were abandoned to survive...loved less into hope...cramped into quarters with unclean breaths without french kisses...fish bowled into slave ships...really tell the truth about everything you've always wanted to know about color, but were afraid to see..."

New video “Scarlet Waters”
featuring Michael Cox

The video was created to raise awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS in Africa. For more information about this effort please visit Product (RED)



Record Label: Unknown Indie
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Poetic Stimulus, the CD is available now on line at www.poeticstimulus.com!!!

What Is This About?   We all know that it takes more than bail-out money to sti mulate self-motivation within the many people who stir the economy at the grass roots.   In Nov...
Posted by on Mon, 11 May 2009 19:55:00 GMT

Brooklyn Fashion Weekend...performance by tantra-zawadi with vonduvoisdancecollective!

Join Tantra-zawadi and the vonduvoisdancecollective performing live atBrooklyn Fashion Weekend, Friday, April 10th, at Brooklyn School forCareer Development and Brooklyn Technical High School Field, 5...
Posted by on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:29:00 GMT

Remembering Emmannuelle!

I received a text message from a friend of mine this afternoon in remembrance of poet, playwright and friend, Phillippa "Emmannuelle" Duncan.  She became an ancestor on March 22, 2003 at the age of tw...
Posted by on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 01:42:00 GMT

Our Stage.com

Peace & Blessings Poets! Please check out this important message from Tshombe (The Poet, Verbalist/Artist), regarding www.ourstage.com! OurStage was created specifically for you and your art.  OurStag...
Posted by on Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:44:00 GMT

Danny Simmons' Corridor Art Gallery Presents - "Women in Poem: Living, Loving and Reciting"

Danny Simmons' Corridor Art Gallery Presents"Women in Poem:  Living, Loving and Reciting"A Women's History Month ShowcaseHosted by Tantra-zawadiFeaturing:Autum AshanteAlexis CaputoQueen GodisI'serene ...
Posted by on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 06:29:00 GMT

Yours truly, in the spotlight @ www.RainTiger.com

Peace & Blessings!   Let's keep this wonderful creative momentum flowing from day one of 2009! Yours truly is in the spotlight @ www.raintiger.com in the Poetry Cafe. Stop by and spend a litt...
Posted by on Thu, 01 Jan 2009 11:57:00 GMT

New year...new attitude?

In life, each person takes one of two attitudes:  To build or to plant.  The builders might take years over their tasks, but one day, they finish what they're doing.  Then they find the...
Posted by on Thu, 01 Jan 2009 11:53:00 GMT

www.sayitinpoetry.com is doing amazing things...

Peace & Blessings Family! www.sayitinpoetry.com (S.I.P.) is doing amazing things for poets/spoken word artists.  S.I.P. believes that 'poetry is a voice that speaks inside us all' and inspires the liv...
Posted by on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 08:06:00 GMT

Cleansing...

It is 1:20 PM and I am taking a break&   From my end of the year cleaning&I mean cleansing&internally and externally.  This has become sort of a ritual for me.  I am in the habit of t...
Posted by on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:37:00 GMT

Ahhhh...Why I love Toronto!!!!

Ahhhhh....my Toronto family showed me sooo much love!!!  This event at Trane Studios is going down as one of my favourites.  Every star in "T" was in the house...on and off the stage!  ...
Posted by on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:44:00 GMT