In the conversation of inspiration and where it comes from, Storm Cecile understands the importance of being open to inspiration coming in many forms. Whether it’s learning the technicalities of her craft, being influenced by slam poet Rudy Francisco and Compton-born and raised Hip-Hop artist Kendrick Lamar, or traveling, Storm stays open to the ways that God wants her to receive inspiration as an artist.
Storm’s work brings out the redemptive. While the painful and the hurtful happens, Storm looks at where we can go from here. Ultimately tapping into a greater form of imagination.
Resolute Magazine had the chance to chat with Storm Cecile before How Sweet The Sound UK held at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall, getting to know a bit about her upbringing, being inspired in her craft, and putting in the effort to develop in her artistry.
Shonette Reed: Tell me about yourself. What was your upbringing? How did you come to Christ?
Storm Cecile: Absolutely. My name is Storm. Storm is my real name. Interestingly enough, my parents went on a cruise when I was 6 months in the womb, and there was bad weather on the cruise. They thought they were going to die, two people got thrown overboard. And, they made it. They called me Storm.
I came to Christ when my brother had a car accident. I was 14. He was 8, and it was a rough time. But, I had godparents, they brought me to school. We didn’t go to church too often, but my godfather used to say, “There’ll be a moment when you’ll need prayer because something’s gonna happen and you need God.” I kind of rolled my eyes, and said, “Whatever.”
When my brother had a car accident, oh I prayed. I got on the floor in the middle of the road, well, I got on the pavement and asked God to save him. That’s when I became a Christian.
SR: How did you become involved in the art of spoken word poetry?
SC: I’ve always loved writing poetry. I wrote my first poem around 5 years old, and it was called, “School Break”. Since that point, I’ve found that being able to write poetry helped me to communicate in a better way.
Writing in general helps me get my thoughts out in a way that is appropriate, and allows me to understand where I’m coming from. And, I think, poetry has really given me the confidence to communicate effectively, to process much better, and to be able to think before I speak. Because when you write poetry there’s a heart connection to what you’re writing, and in order to write things that are meaningful and powerful you have to take the time to pause.
When I started writing poetry I thought, “This is a medium that I can do that.” This is a medium that people listen to, they’re drawn to. And they’re impacted by.
SR: Who are influences for you in your craft?
SC: I tend to see life as a gift. So, every day that I go out and I see things, I’m inspired. God’s creation is beautiful and I would like to say that I’m easily impressed, but I don’t think nature is something that is simple. I think it looks simple to us, but it’s complex. I appreciate that. I gain inspiration from the time I wake up, from taking a shower to eating food to going outside. I’m inspired by the world around me. I’m inspired also when I’m full of gratitude. I think when you have gratitude, you begin to see things in a way that brings out the beauty in things. So, I’m inspired by beautiful things, but in order for me to be inspired by beautiful things, I constantly remind myself to be thankful.
I’m also inspired by other artists. I love Rudy Francisco, he’s a slam poet. I’m not really in the slam space, but if I were, I’d wanna be Rudy. I think he’s great. I’m inspired by people like Kendrick Lamar. I really like Kendrick Lamar. I’m inspired by where I travel. Earlier this year I was in Kazakhstan. I was in Uzbekistan. I went to Cairo earlier this year. So, I soak up things. I want to live my life being a life-long learner. A pilgrim in the voyage of life (laughing).
I really do think it’s important to have gratitude. I think as creatives, we’re often focused on our own emotions and our own trials and tribulations, and those things are helpful, but I want to focus on things that are redemptive. And things that, though they may be true and they may be hurtful and painful, I don’t want to bleed on anybody. So, I spend a lot of time studying other people. I also spend a lot of time studying myself, and trying to understand “Where am I?” Where are my thoughts? Where are my feelings? Am I doing okay?”
SR: How did you develop your voice as a spoken word poet?
SC: When I was at university, I used to wake up at 5 a.m. every day and write poetry. I would sit and I would read Lord Byron, Lord Scwartz, Shakespeare, Sylvia Plath. Poets of old. And try to understand what made them relevant and significant in their time. I would sit and read [one] Shakespeare sonnet after [another], and just try to understand why is a rhyming complex significant. What makes a volta important? A volta is a turn in thought in a poem. Why is that important? What is the function of enjambment?
I think, in doing that, it made me a much better writer because I realized that where my writing is currently, it’s not that good. And in order for it to improve, I need to start studying those that have done it before me. Not presume that just because it’s in a different style, or it’s not quite my cup of tea it’s not good. It was obviously good to someone. So, let me find the good in the things that maybe I don’t quite understand at the forefront.
SR: How does your faith interact or intersect with your craft?
SC: I almost don’t feel it intersects with my craft because my faith is who I am. I try not to compartmentalize my faith and other elements of my life. It’s just a part of me, and so it naturally comes out. Scripture talks about how out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. So, I know that when I am reading the Word, studying the Word, I’m not necessarily going to be preaching Jesus died, was crucified, and was resurrected on the third day, but we are part of the kingdom. And as part of that kingdom, there are particular functions, and regulations, facilities that make that kingdom work.
The way I see my faith is I operate within the kingdom, and whatever I write comes from that kingdom perspective.
SR: With where you are on your journey, did you ever expect the world to open up to you the way it has?
SC: No. Absolutely not. Interestingly enough, when I was around 16 I went through the process of giving my life to God, I’m now baptized, and I went to a youth retreat. And, the Pastor said to me, “Storm, you’re going to be at the front and you’re not going to like it.” Although I look like an extrovert, I’m happy to be in my house if I’m being honest.
He said, “You’re going to be at the forefront, you’re not going to understand why. But eventually, it will make sense to you.”
I went to my dorm this retreat and I cried, and I said, “I don’t want to do that.” As time progressed, I was on the circuit doing poems. I was on the poetry circuit just doing it 3 or 4 times a night. Performing poems wherever I could. When I got to university, God said, “I need you to stop that for a minute.” So, I stopped. Then, 6 months later I got a call asking, “We’ve seen you on the circuit. Are you interested in doing a poem for a nationwide building society?” Like, do you want to submit an application? Because they were scouting for poets. And, that’s when it started. The world continued to open up from there.
I continued to enter more competitions. I entered in some slams, which I lost a lot of them. But, I also won some. And it made me a better writer for it. I never expected that poetry would take me over the world. Never expected that. And the clients that I’ve worked with. I feel blessed to have worked with some amazing people. Working with Kari Jobe’s tour and being able to perform and minister to the people that she’s ministering to. I can’t even begin to express my thankfulness for those kinds of opportunities. Doing Passion Conference, I never thought that I would do something like that. Working with YPO, which is a ministry network. Never thought that I’d work for organizations and people like that.
And I think that if I can keep serving people doing what I do and impacting them in the best way I can, then I’ll keep doing it. Even when I sometimes feel a little bit like Moses and a little bit out of place, I know I’m in the right place and I’m thankful for that.
SR: What are avenues of inspiration for you in your craft?
SC: I would say life experiences for one. My dad has terminal cancer and he lives with me and my husband. And, it is a reminder to take life seriously and to pursue what’s important. So, I take inspiration from him in the sense of where he is and his suffering, and the importance of pursuing life in the best way that I can. And to take every moment as seriously as I can with the highest amount of gratitude.
I also take inspiration from reading. I read a lot. I turn over a lot of books. There’s something from the Harvard Business Review, they have an article called, “How to Kill Creativity.” And it highlights three components of creativity. Which I personally apply to my own creativity. The three components are expertise, creative thinking skills, and motivation.
I am inspired by being internally motivated by topics that challenge me. I develop inspiration by finding new avenues to think and new avenues to process information. That may be through reading. That may be through learning new techniques and skills like mind-mapping, and convergent and divergent thinking techniques. Also, I gain inspiration from what I see around me. Developing an expertise across the board so that when an organization comes up to me, or I have an idea for something I have sufficient knowledge, or at least a starting point, to be able to write or communicate what I’m trying to express.
SR: How did you become involved in How Sweet The Sound?
SC: I applied, to be honest, on a bit of a whim. I saw the U.S. version first and thought, “Oh, maybe, I’ll apply.” But, looking at the requirements, you had to live in the U.S. So, it wasn’t applicable to me. I later saw it was in the U.K. and thought, “Let me send in a video. Let’s see what happens.” And, I was shortlisted. That was exciting, and I thought, “Oh, wow, this is happening! I’m going to be performing at the Royal Albert Hall.” I did perform at the Royal Albert Hall earlier this year, I thought, “Oh, wow! That’ll be happening again. How exciting!”
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Writer Bio:
Shonette Reed is the editor of Resolute Magazine.
Photo provided by Morgan Green.