| Writers' Spotlight on William "Phate" Feagins, Jr./Author/Poet/Producer |
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Interview with William "Phate" Feagins, Jr.
Author of "Deep Within Us All" by Bonita Lee, The Soul Pitt
PHATE: Having previous experience providing music for local hip-hop artists. Some of the music and instrumentals I had written beforehand, I specifically saved to use in a future project and some music came to me as I wrote the poems.
SP Bonita: I love how the ending of each piece blends into the next, like a rhythm blossoming into something larger and more beautiful with each beat. Excuse me for acting like a star-struck child but I never realized anything on this creative level could be produced locally. I thank you and your publisher, LaMont Jones, for showing me wrong. You both must be so satisfied.
The concept of the book with the accompanying CD covering selections from the book performed as spoken word. How did this concept evolve?
PHATE: A long time ago I said I wanted to do a book. Around 1999, I had recorded some of my poems with music, just playing around to see how it would turn out. I gave these CDs to family and friends. I received a lot of good feedback from the CD. It inspired me to produce a full-length CD. I had always wanted to publish a book, so I said why not do both.
Some of the poetry I write is best performed as spoken word, others were written to be read. The ones I felt that I could “present” or “deliver” the best, I placed on the accompanying CD.
SP Bonita: Your poems in the book are dated from the 80's to the present, in what way do you feel your writing has grown over the years?
PHATE: My writing style has changed in form and manner. I have also tried different patterns of writing, but the topic stays the same. I feel my focus on these topics have become broader.
I often don't intentionally write for any specific group of people. But sometimes what I have to say needs to be heard by our community and our people because it covers topics that directly affect us. Then many pieces have a universal appeal to them such as, domestic abuse and death of a loved one.
SP Bonita: On the Author page, you state you believe change is possible. Even in the state of present Black America, do you feel change for the better is possible?
PHATE: Yes, I do. Even in the state that we are, I feel change is possible. There are many like-minded people putting forth an ongoing effort to change. A lot of people want change right now but it's not going to happen right away. What brought us to this point did not happen overnight and it is going to take time for a change to come around.
SP Bonita: I don't expect it to happen over night, I would like it to happen in my lifetime, so I can go to my grave knowing it is getting better for our children’s children.
PHATE: I know it seems bleak, but we have to keep on trying. The negative factors aren't going to give up, so we have to keep on.
SP Bonita: You are a versatile writer, you designed your book cover, the layout, and you produced and arranged the CD. Some could label you as the Prince of writing. How do you feel?
PHATE: Well, I had a vision on how I wanted everything to look, feel and come across to my reading audience. Sometimes it's easier for you to carry out your own vision than it is to try to translate it to someone else. Since I had the capabilities, I wanted to do if for myself and save some money.
SP Bonita: Who edited your book, as that is an important factor to you the writer and to the readers. From personal experience I know grammar, English and verb tense and I don't get along. I would definitely need some assistance.
PHATE: My fiancée, Michelle, edited the book for me. One thing about poetry is, you can go outside of some of the rules and that worked well for me. There were some grammar concerns my fiancée pointed out to me, but I wanted it to stay how it was, the way that I wrote it.
SP Bonita: I understand, sometime the way you write a poem even though the grammar or the spelling isn't Standard English, it gives an important feel to the piece.
So, tell us Phate how did you choose which poems to include in your book "Deep Within Us All"? This is hard for me, as I have many poems and choosing the ones I like the best would be like someone asking me which of my three daughters is my favorite. Then again, I always like my newer poems best, until I write another new one tomorrow, then that will be my favorite. Of course, there are those select few that will always be my favorites.
PHATE: I had an idea of the feel of the book and where I wanted to go with it. The poems that I ended up choosing contribute to what I had in mind.
Some of the artists I have produced and myself pretty much feel the same way that you do. If it's old, it's not good anymore. There are some that are my favorites. There are a few poems on the CD which I carried over from my first CD. For example, I think Concrete Quicksand, Still, Sometimes I Cry, That’s Us, A Child’s Scream, and Critical Condition were all on the first CD, but some had different music. For this CD I produced new music for Still, That’s Us and Sometimes I Cry.
SP Bonita: Why don’t you tell our readers what happened to you as a senior in Westinghouse, which lead you to explore writing?
PHATE: Back in Westinghouse High School around 1989, my English teacher Dr. Spencer saw that I was bored in class and she asked what was my interest. At the time we were doing poetry so I said I liked doing that. From there she gave me an assignment to put together a book of poems and present them to the rest of the class. When I finished my work she would allow me to go to the library and type them up.
SP Bonita: I remember working with Dr. Spencer through my writing group Crossing Limits, we received a grant to go into to the public schools and share our writing experiences with the students. It was interesting, as it was during the height of the neighborhood gang wars. I was from Manchester, speaking to students from the Homewood area, and what we all felt about our neighborhoods, were the same exact fears and concerns. To me it was a very enlightening experience.
How did you come up with the design of your book cover concept? Are you available to others as a cover designer?
PHATE: From being a free-lance designer, I am used to coming up with imagery and concepts. I thought about the title and how I would portray the concept of all of us being interconnected. That is how the multiple pictures in one person came about. I chose the shades of blue and black because they made me think of x-rays. Hence the title "Deep Within Us All."
And, Yes, I am available to anyone who is interested in a book cover design. I placed a business card in each of my books. I can also be reached through the website.
SP Bonita: What other future project(s) are on your horizon?
PHATE: I have an idea for another spoken word CD. At this time I am waiting for more feedback from "Deep Within Us All."
SP Bonita: Do you have future book signings scheduled? If so, where/when?
PHATE: I have scheduled some community book signings, such as Spirits Embodied (November 2004) and I am working on a future date with the Family Support Center in Homewood, a place I used to work years ago. We (LaMont Jones, my publisher, and myself) taped an episode of Black Horizons on WQED. It will air January 7 at 9:30 p.m. and January 9 at 2 p.m. I also have a book signing and performance scheduled for February 19, 2005 in Columbus, GA.
SP Bonita: How did your collaboration with Pneuma Publishing International come about?
PHATE: I knew him from several relationships. He worked with my fiancée Michelle, at the Post-Gazette. We have another mutual friend, Kendra Ross, and we both are members of the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation. Through those different venues we kept bumping into each other. When he published his book, “Living in the Winner’s Circle,” we had both participated in the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation’s Literary Christmas event. It was there I expressed to him my desire to publish a book of my poems. LaMont reviewed my work and expressed his interest, so it worked out for the both of us. He also assists me with public relations for “Deep Within Us All.”
SP Bonita: Your book has a positive, uplifting theme. The hip-hop style oozes from each piece. The topics range from drugs, violence, driving while black (Who is the Real Thug), self-hatred and domestic violence (Torn). As a writer I use a lot of personal emotions. Your writing hits hard on all topics relevant in today's world. Do you write from personal experience or listening to what is going on and feeling others' pain? Or happiness?
PHATE: I write from all of the above. A lot of it is from personal experience. I grew up in Homewood and I had friends that were involved in the gangs. Also, as a young black male, I have been pulled over and searched by the police on several occasions for no reason and was never given one.
SP Bonita: Who Is The Real Thug? Caught me off guard, particularly the ending, I won’t spoil it for readers, but it will have you shaking your head.
PHATE: Who Is the Real Thug? The beginning part of the poem is actually about a particular person who had been stopped by the police. My brother-in-law is a cop, I had to let him know it's nothing personal, but it happens.
SP Bonita: On your CD you have guest lyricists Tomorrow (from the group Liberation), Prophe-C, LaKeisha Wolf, ChaRon Don (of Hands Down), Scott Simon (of HutchSimonProject) and Jo Smith. Did you hand pick them? How was it working with such a diverse group?
PHATE: These are artists I have worked with before. I liked what they were doing. I approached them to see if they would be interested in working on the Deep Within Us All project and they were all very willing, accommodating and some of even went out of their way to make sure I met my deadlines. It was a good experience and I would love to work with them on my next project.
SP Bonita: I don't like my recorded voice. At times I envy people who perform spoken word. I think you did a really great job.
PHATE: I actually don't like my voice, but I said I would have to get over it. I believed in what I had to say more than I hated my voice.
SP Bonita: Karen Harris Brooks says your poetry takes us back to the era of Afros and Dashikis. It takes me back to the Last Poets. How do you define your writing style?
PHATE: I really don't have a style, it’s whatever comes to me at the time. Some of my influence comes from hip-hop. But other than classes in high school I’ve never taken any formal writing classes. I don't know if it works for or against me.
SP Bonita: Personally, I from reading your book, I feel it has worked for you.
Your book may be purchased at your website www.deepwithinusall.com or at the address of William Feagins, Deep Within Us All, P.O. Box 17254, Pittsburgh, PA 15235. Is your book available at any local or on-line bookstores?
PHATE: The book can be purchased online at the website, or via mail and at Spirits Embodied Gallery of Fine Arts on the North Side at 607 East Ohio Street. I am working on having it carried by a few other retail outlets as well as getting it listed on Amazon.com in the future.
SP Bonita: How will you be promoting your book?
PHATE: At the present time I am promoting the book via book signings, the internet, word of mouth, some open mic venues and flyers.
SP Bonita: I tried to pick my favorite piece from your book, Hear Me Please, is one of them. The more I read the more favorites I collect. No matter what I read in the media that black folks don't read, I know we read and we write. I am encouraging all our Soul Pitt readers to pick up your book “Deep Within Us All”, it has something everyone will be able to connect.
Just Trying to Write
My name is synonymous with everyone that you know and nobody that you knew at
the same time
I could provoke thoughts with my poems even if they all shared the same line
We’re all made of the same design but not of the same mind
They’re saying I’m a brother but not of the same kind
Of brother who follows another like they share the same spine
This ain’t kind, it’s life and it will smother a brother that ain’t trying to
fight
We’re all living in darkness, I’m trying to shine a light
because too many brothers are dying tonight
I need a sign of life in my line of sight
Or just give me a pen and paper
Because I am just trying to write.
w.feagins, jr.
Phate