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Paul J. Watkins offers a poetic voice that
is unique in style, scope, and presentation.
Using a masterful mix of image and narration,
he guides the listeners through the life of
a stranger - a life they soon come to recognize
as their own.
Paul's influences come from rock and roll: "I've
learned more from Rob Halford than from Robert
Frost. The influence is not so much lyrically
or musically; it's really the vibe, tone, spirit,
and attitude. That doesn't mean people will
notice Kiss, Rush, Fish, AC/DC, Billy Joel,
Motorhead, Nine Inch Nails, or the Ramones in
my work. It just means that when I'm looking
to put myself in a mindset to write, I turn
to 'Sweet Leaf' instead of Leaves of Grass."
Paul has performed at the annual Times Festival
of Reading and at First Night/St. Petersburg,
as well as at coffeehouses, art centers, and
festivals. He has performed before organizations
and private gatherings throughout Central Florida
and appeared on radio stations WMNF and WHNZ
and television shows in both Hillsborough and
Pinellas Counties. He also performs with Full
Contact Poetry, a traveling troupe of performance
poets he co-founded.
Paul is a native of Syracuse, New York. He has
lived in Florida nineteen years, the last fourteen
in St. Petersburg. After graduating from Eckerd
College, he became involved in the Tampa Bay
arts community. He made his performance debut
at the historic Beaux Arts Gallery and Coffeehouse
in Pinellas Park. In addition, he became a regular
at CAMS Acoustic Coffeehouse, also in Pinellas
Park, where he was invited to help promote and
run the organization's events.
Paul considers his poems to be "tools"
for his listeners to use: "The idea that
someone listens to my CD to get energized for
the day ahead or to make their commute to work
more pleasant is very flattering. The idea that
someone listens to my CD to help them release
the tensions of the day is an immense compliment.
The idea that one of my poems sums up for someone
feelings they have wrestled with but have been
unable to express in words is very gratifying.
"The work of various artists helps me through
my own day-to-day life. If my work is able to
do the same for others, I feel I've accomplished
something of worth."
"All Things To All People (Give 'Em What
They Want)" is the advance single from
Paul's next CD, which he hopes to have completed
by January 2003 . . . or at least before the
CD format becomes outdated.
Visit the artist's website
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