Solid Air

When we talk about modern poetry, far too often, our focus is on the big name American poets - usually those associated with Write Bloody or Button. Which is fair, given both those publishers do some pretty heavy lifting in terms of bringing poetry to the hearts of the masses. But it does make it easy to miss some incredible international poetry.

Sadly, Australian and New Zealand poetry is often overlooked, even though our poets are out here making absolute magic. Our poetry is subversive, it’s witty while pulling no punches, and it’s impossible not to fall in love with the work coming out. For fans of spoken word poetry wanting to get an insight into the variety of talent on offer, powerhouse poets Anne-Marie Te Whiu and David Stavanger have got you covered, bringing 100 of our best spoken word artists together in Solid Air: Australian and New Zealand Spoken Word.

Here's what you need to know about the editors going in: this collection isn’t about just hyping the big names. As Festival Coordinators, Anne-Marie and David built their reputations on inclusivity and diversity, championing the voices and perspectives that are often overlooked, and this is a philosophy that also underpins their editorial work. While I love the Aus poetry scene, this collection was my first opportunity to hear from the majority of the featured writers. It feels like a gift, in a way, like two friends grabbing my hands and leading me into a new circle of people to meet and connect with. I loved every minute, even if my budget was less impressed by the aftermath of falling in love with a bunch of new writers.

This is not the collection for you if political conversations leave you twitching and defensive, and fans of more traditional, formal poetic styles might have the same response. There’s neither rhyme nor reason to the formatting, poem length, or subject matter, and there is some swearing in some of the pieces. If that’s not your particular cup of tea, or if you like your anthologies full of work from familiar artists with similar perspectives, this might not be your ideal read. But for those willing to go on a literary adventure, you’re going to love Solid Air.

Solid Air is a dynamic, engaging blend of slam, hip hop, and performance poetry that explores the political, the personal, and the occasionally baffling – basically, all the things we’re taught to avoid at the dinner table. I’ll admit I’m a little biased here because some of my favourite poets are featured in this collection. From the first time I heard Luka Lesson’s ‘Yiayia’, I have adored it, and seeing one of my all-time favourite poems included absolutely made my day. Beyond that, I heartily recommend looking at the pieces by Claire G. Coleman, Omar Sakr, Zenobia Frost, Scott-Patrick Mitchell, Selina Tusitala Marsh, and Lionel Fogarty, not to mention the piece by an unexpected poet I probably should have seen coming, Taika Waititi (yes, I’m talking about he who plays Blackbeard and directs Marvel stuff).

At it’s heart, Solid Air is a collection out to surprise readers with the diversity of talent on offer, a chance to settle in and savour some utterly beautiful pieces of writing unflinching in their efforts to show you new ideas and perspectives.

This is a collection full of unexpected but wonderful surprises, with a wealth of poets likely to leave you desperate to read or hear more of their work. I heartily recommend not being on a book buying ban when you read this one, because the potential for impulse shopping is high. If you’re looking for poetry that will make you think, make you feel, and make you laugh, this is a not-to-be-missed addition to your TBR pile.

Solid Air is published by UQP, and is available through leading online retailers, and through the publisher’s website.