Music triggers emotions.
“To me music has been that emotional lubricant,” said Canadian spoken-word artist Shane Koyczan. “Music has this key ability to dial you back to a time you felt the song.”
Music will influence Koyczan’s performance when he steps onstage with the Vancouver Island Symphony during the Music and Spoken Word show Saturday (Feb. 13) at the Port Theatre.
Koyczan embraces a range of emotions. He said that even on good days there will be lows and on bad days there will be moments of levity.
“Not everything is going to be perfect all the time. Not everything is going to be light and beautiful. There are challenges,” he said.
Koyczan writes every day. He said for some poems it can be a “long and arduous” process and others just happen. He’s inspired by daily life experiences.
“I write a lot about what I go through and people relate,” he said. “That’s what I love about poetry. It connects people.”
He said poetry allows people to see they aren’t “so different from each other.”
When people hear Koyczan’s spoken-word performances they gain insight into his character.
ng to put myself out there and say this is who I am,” he said.
Poetry is his communication vehicle because Koyczan said it allows him to clearly state his thought and get his feelings across.
The Canadian poet was born in Yellowknife and grew up in Penticton. He has written several poetry books, which deal with issues such a social justice, mental health and others. He created an animated video for his anti-bullying poem, To This Day, which went viral on YouTube.
Koyczan has won the National Poetry Slam for the individual champion title and the Canadian Spoken Word Olympics. He performed his piece We Are More at the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. He has also created several spoken-word albums.
Koyczan’s pre-Valentine’s Day performance Feb. 13 is at 7:30 p.m.
“If you are single on Valentine’s Day, don’t worry,” said Koyczan. “I am too and you can be my date.”
Tickets range in price from $38 to $68 or $18 for students and are available by calling 250-754-8550 or online at www.porttheatre.com.
For more information about Koyczan please go to www.shanekoyczan.com.
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