With four published books –three have been translated here, and in Spanish at Seix Barral and in Catalan at Empúries– and more than ten million readers in more than 42 languages around the world, the Indo-Canadian poet rupi kaur (Punyab, 1992) –he writes in lowercase due to Sikh tradition– he performs on Wednesday 26th October at the Aliança del Poblenou (9pm) with everything sold out, and on Thursday 27th at the Apolo on a tour that has taken him to 83 cities in up to 15 countries.
It is unusual for a poet to tour the world like a rock star, and even less so considering that you don't record albums, you just write books and give... How do you face the stage?
Acting comes very naturally to me. I started acting 13 years ago, long before I wrote books, so I feel at home on stage. My readers always tell me that their experience reading the books at home is totally different from seeing me at the live shows. They say that seeing me perform live makes the words feel much more powerful and electrifying.
And will you record an album?
I'm working on putting out a few spoken poetry tracks on streaming services soon, and I have one of my previous shows live streaming on Amazon Prime – only in some countries, not Spain – so people can experience my poetry from other way than just reading at home.
In his first books he was dealing with abuse and depression, and love has also been an important part. As she writes more, how does her writing style and topics change?
I often explore and write about the changes that happen to me in life. Depending on what I'm going through, the topics I explore vary. For example, when I wrote Other Ways of Using My Mouth I was talking about topics that I was exploring in my personal life during those early years between 2012 and 2014 or even earlier. When I was writing Everything I Need Is Already in Me I was addressing my own mental health struggles and pressure around work, which is why that book contains entire chapters on productivity, depression, and anxiety. As I get older I will explore topics that I have never explored before. I look forward to writing as I get older and seeing what I write when I'm 70 or 80 years old. I think my best work has yet to come.
Three of his books have been published here, and in full world tour he presents the fourth...
I am excited for my fourth book, Healing through words, to finally arrive in Spain. It is now being translated and will soon be in bookstores. During the pandemic there were many people in Spain who joined my Instagram Live writing workshops and were very enthusiastic, so I hope you enjoy the journey that the creative writing exercises in this book offer.
Will there be new poems, then?
The Rupi Kaur World Tour consists mainly of unpublished poetry. I wanted to create a show with a very special experience for all my readers from all over the world who come to see me, so I wrote new poems for them. But I recite many of the previous books. The response has been incredible and the European leg of the tour is completely sold out. I am deeply grateful to readers from all over the world who decide to spend an evening experiencing poetry, music and my stand-up!
Poetry is often understood from an elitist point of view and of overcoming and mastery of language, beyond the fact that it is a vehicle for emotional expression and growth. How do you see it, bearing in mind that the English you write in is not your native language?
The way I experienced poetry growing up in the East is as an art form and a medium that people use frequently: it was accessible to everyone regardless of class. Poetry was a collective, intergenerational experience, shared at parties, weddings, inside the house and much more. Being a Punjabi Sikh woman, this has always been my poetry experience. A medium that explores emotions and many of the topics I write about today. Poetry is music for the soul, and it is an honor to share this kind of poetry myself.
Do you see poetry as a process toward spiritual salvation, a lay prayer, whether or not the reader has a relationship with God?
Poetry can be different for everyone. For me, some poems are a spiritual experience and others feel like a prayer. With some poems it is as if you connect more deeply with yourself or with others. I think it depends on the theme, but at the end of the day, writing and reading is a cathartic experience.
As a highly successful writer, she has surrounded herself with a work team, something that is not common in the world of poetry. How do you work the poems?
It is thanks to my team that I can have time to work on the poems. They are able to manage many different things in the business so that I can dedicate myself to writing.
When you tour the world, do you meet other local poets and rhapsodists to share experiences?
My books in Spanish have been translated by an incredible Spanish poet, Elvira Sastre, with whom I have shared time before. I also had the privilege of participating in a poetry event during the pandemic organized and led by poets here in Barcelona, so I feel very connected to part of the poetry scene here. I hope that as more come I can be more and more connected.
And how do you think your poems are received at recitals in places where English is not so widespread? Do you adapt any to the language from which you recite?
I have read my poems in English and so far they have been very well received, regardless of the country I have been to. My audience in each country is different. For example, in Portugal they were very passionate and affectionate. They connected a lot with my poetry and with each other. Since my books are sold in English and local languages in European countries, I think readers have a connection to both versions and connect.
Catalan version, here
