‘Release’ encourages artistic expression
Six years ago, a crowd made its way into the High School auditorium for the first ever Release, coordinated by student Jovan Mays. Now, six years later, Release is still going strong.
This year’s Release includes a variety of artists, from National Slam Poetry Champions Slam Nuba, to folk artists like The Maykit, to more hip-hop artists like KB the Kid, to local artists such as Travis Hencey and Dave Hockenbary.
Marty Lastovica, coordinator of the event, said he is looking forward to this year’s quality artists and great talent coming from a lot of places. He said he really strives to bring a diverse artistic experience for everyone.
One of the honored guests this year is Dominique Ashaheed, this year’s Women of the World Poetry Champion. Ashaheed said that it’s really something to win this honor and also to have women come up to her to tell her she was the best finalist they’d ever seen. “There were so many women that are so mighty,” she said. She said that she was very grateful for the honor of winning this competition.
Ashaheed is also part of Slam Nuba, which started in 2006; she won the National Slam Poetry competition. She said that there are five members of the group who write collaboratively. She also said that there are many Slam groups that don’t write collaboratively, however, she likes that Slam Nuba works as a team. “It’s challenging and wonderful.”
Ashaheed said that it is important for writers to write every day, no matter what’s going on. “It’s easy to let the noise of your life create an excuse, but that’s when you have to write, because that’s when you need it most.”
Ashaheed said that she’s looking forward to Release because she thinks it’s a great opportunity to bring together artists to collaborate.
Mays, who graduated from Chadron State College two years ago, will also be returning with Slam Nuba. He said that he is incredibly proud of the fact that Release is still going on today. “I think people need to have stuff like this. People need to be exposed to culture,” Mays said about the event.
“It’s important to understand that your words just don’t belong to you; they belong to the atmosphere,” Mays said about his poetry. “They are a way for people to become more united.”
Max Winne, better known as The Maykit, is a returning artist this year. He said that he feels like all the artists were a community last year rather than just a bunch of people slapped together.
Winne said this year he will be playing a few new songs off his new record.
Not only was Winne impressed by the selection of groups, he also said that he liked that a large number of community members came to the event. He said he thinks it’s great that so many people come out to be exposed to this cultural event.
Lastovica said that this year he is not only looking forward to all the performances, but also the crowd. “The audience is what makes the event,” he said.
The event will take place on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Memorial Hall auditorium. Release is a free concert.