He is Spoken Word. He is Jazz. He is Soul Music. He is a bit of the old mixed with the new. He is ShakespeareBlak.
From his innocent years in the rural town of Montross, Virginia, to his present existence in Norfolk, Virginia, this young man has grown and is growing every day.
"From Dust" his forthcoming debut album, is about self-love, brotherly love, and intimate love. ShakespeareBlak explores joy, pain, and the simple things we often take for granted. By bringing life to words, ShakespeareBlak paints a picture of the world that reveals optimism for the future.
Feel the emotion! Be encouraged! Here to uplift, he is ShakespeareBlak!
Introducing ShakespeareBlak
The lights are dim. The room is a misty blue. Only one bright light points at one microphone on a very small stage. There's a breeze of relaxation in the air. The people are chilled and ready for whatever. This is a place where the mind is exercised, vocal chords are stretched, and anything is possible.
A young man, in his early twenties, steps to the microphone to share a piece of poetry by his favorite poet, Langston Hughes. This brother is different, rough by polished, unique but normal. As he spits poetry from the legend, the audience starts to focus in. After breathing life into this historic piece, he exits the stage leaving the crowd to wonder who he is, and what planet he came from.
This was Norfolk's first encounter with this creature. ShakespeareBlak is his name, and he is poetry, jazz, funk, and soul.
Years before hitting the Norfolk poetry scene, ShakespeareBlak, then known as Timothy Thurston, started reciting poetry and singing in his hometown of Montross, Virginia. He was raised in a loving family where gospel music reigned supreme.
He always enjoyed singing, but writing was Thurston's personal outlet for frustration and typical teenage confusion. At the time, Thurston didn't know how powerful words could be. He was oblivious to the fact that he could touch people with his words.
Later on in his high school career, a teacher over heard Thurston speaking and fell in love with his voice. She knew that he was meant to be in forensics or competitive public speaking competitions. It was at this time that Thurston was introduced to the work of Langston Hughes and other greats. Poetry competitions were tough, and he had to be polished in order to win, but winning wasn't everything.
Thurston identified with the struggle. He learned more about his culture and enjoyed expressing that. Not only did he enjoy reciting poetry, but he was good at it also. People responded positively. The flame was lit within his soul. Thurston knew he had to continue.
Today that flame continues to burn. After earning a degree from Old Dominion University, Thurston, now known as ShakespeareBlak, continues to share his gift. The difference is that he's sharing his own story with a blend of unorthodox vocals, raw spoken word, and a unique musical backdrop.
It's raw emotion carefully crafted with the purpose to encourage the hearts of the masses. There is no category. It is simply unique.
ShakespeareBlak's sound can be heard on his debut album off of TMS Records, "From Dust". "From Dust" is a humble, unique journey through the mind of a work in progress. It's musical, lyrical, bold, and best of all, honest.
In a world where there are plenty of artists with the same sound, ShakespeareBlak is just a bit different. He is a bit positive but real. He is raw emotion with a liquid style. It's a change from the radio reruns. It's time for something different, something like ShakespeareBlak.
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