Meet Xam Eitsirhc, aka "The Snake Oil Poet," a Métis spoken word artist. Explore his journey through addiction, homelessness, and the vibrant fusion of poetry and music.
1. Can
you share the inspiration behind the name "The Snake Oil Poet"? What
does it signify for you as an artist?
At first I
used to just go by me name, Xam Eitsirhc. But as you's could well imagine, no
one could pronounce it (haha).
By's the by, it's pronounced as- "Scam" "ITE-sir-IK.” At that
time there were a few spoken word artists/poets that had atag line to their
name (The Punk Poet & so's forth). I figured that would make it much easier
for folks to pronounce &subsequently find me work.
I love history & growing up in the West, I had always had an affinity for
the "old" West & the snake oil salesman personafits me well...
strange tinctures, esoteric knowledge, ostracized & living on the fringe of
society, but still well received...more examples of the contradictions in me
life.
2. Your collection, "Poets Road – The Wurdz," spans three albums with
diverse themes. Can you elaborate on the overarching narrative or message you
aimed to convey through this autobiographical poetry collection?
The
(continuously ineptly named) "Poets Road Trilogy" consists of 4
pieces at the moment, 3 CD's ("Poets Road," "Poets Road II-
Delusions of Grandeur" & "Poets Road III- Wrong Side ovda
Trax") and one book ("Poets Road- The Wurdz"), which is intended
as a companion guide for the CD's. I think the underlying message can best be
summed up with an exscript from one of me poems titled after a Buddhist Chant,
"Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō"- "And I’s sure you notice How the mud of
a river Produces the bloom of the lotus How shit can deliver With beauty in
symbiosis"
3. As a poet and spoken word artist of Métis descent, how does your cultural
background influence your creative process and the themes explored in your
work?
Being Métis
influences me thoroughly. Being a member of the Métis Nation adds “community”
to me life, a sense of belonging to something no matter where I might be.
Retreating out on the land and feeling your blood based connection to it is a
much needed balance to me life without which I find disturbing.
In particular me track “Porcupyne Hillz” from me first album (“Poets Road”) is
all about being on Métis & Blackfoot land in Treaty 7 Territory with many
local cultural areas mentioned by name.
4. Having performed locally, nationally, and internationally, including in the
UK, how do you perceive the reception of spoken word poetry in different
cultural settings?
I find that
quite interesting actually, the differences betwixt countries. And even the
distinction separating the regions within them countries is vast, even more
so’s between venues in a largely populated city, what is trending in one place and
not so’s much in the other. So a hefty population don’t hurt none, just more
opportunity that way. But it’s still best to tailor me set list for each show
and audience, as overall I find that poetry & spoken word is experiencing a
resurgence all over the world.
5. Your latest collection has been published through Friesen Press. Can you
tell us about your experience with the publishing process and how it has
impacted your artistic journey?
Long (Haha). It’s a very lengthy process that requires reading & re-reading your own work, I’m sure you can imagine how that feels (Haha). But I loved learning the whole procedure and merging it with me own “odd” ways that Friesen Press afforded me the luxury of. As far as impacting on me artistic journey… there are limitations when attempting to break an idea free from it’s internal place of birth to a real world tangibility.
6. The testimonials you've received praise the authenticity and visceral nature
of your poetry. How do you approach the balance between personal experience and
artistic expression in your work?
Well, in a
way I guess I don't. Cause in a way I see them shape each other and become the
same thing... the personal experience is the artistic expression and vice
versa. Going deeper, I feel every experience is an expression... expressed in the
way one lives the experience… and then just as important as the experience
itself is the reflection of it… the attempt to understand and decipher the
meaning and re-tell it in some form, if only just to yourself. In that way they
become intertwined.
I’ll warn ya though… through me own experience… t’is a recipe for madness
(Haha).
7. Your music samples have a diverse range, from bluesy bases to punk and
classical influences. How do you navigate between these genres, and how does
the musical accompaniment complement your spoken word poetry?
I just
really like music… sounds. All types and “so called” genres. Me influences stem
from the music and words that I grew up with & heard as a young’in that
“moved” me, physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually. I feel very comfortable
in the different styles and easily slide betwixt them.
I feel musical accompaniment deepens the experience so’s much more. As music
creates an emotional response alone, when added with emotional words the two
can symbiotically pull the listener along prompting, even dictating response on
multiple levels.
And of course, having immensely talented musicians to back ya up don’t do
no harm (Haha).
8. Your journey involves overcoming challenges like homelessness, addiction,
and a unique stint as "The Impaler" in a traveling sideshow. How have
these life experiences shaped the content and tone of your poetry?
Completely
& thoroughly! All the shit I went through, every little thing in one’s
life… whether voluntarily or kicking & screaming, good and bad it becomes
that person, their ethos, ideology & general philosophy of the world and
their place amongst. It shapes them, makes them who they are. And… I am me
poetry.
9. In "Poets Road III - Wrong Side ovda Trax," you mention facing
hardships that constitute the human condition. Could you delve into the
specific themes and experiences you explore in this particular album?
Of course,
there is a lot of reminiscing on that album. Coming to terms with past
experiences once thought buried, unrequited love, the loneliness of out living
eras & friends and posing questions to irony. Things we all may experience
& react differently to, but things we all know… the human condition.
10. Your book, "Poets Road - The Wurdz," serves as a companion guide
to the CD trilogy. How does the written format add to or differ from the
auditory experience of your poetry?
Well I think with only written word it asks for & requires more centralized concentration… less passivity from it’s audience, one has to want to be there, whereas music has the gift of grabbing folks subconsciously. When added together I think they complement well and help to “round out the story.”
11. Having shared the stage with legendary figures like "The Kinks" and Dr. John Cooper Clarke, how have these collaborations influenced your artistic growth and perspective?
For me it
showed acknowledgement & acceptance of me work producing a renewed vigor to
be heard. And that me perspective, although slightly “bent” is viable. Keep on
keeping on.
12. Your performances include a mix of festival circuits, from "South
Country Fair" to exclusive shows like "Poetrology." How do you
adapt your performances to suit different audiences and settings?
There was a
time when I would do any and all shows that would take me just to survive and
keep going. In doing so I gained a lot of insight into the different
performance arts & the styles that lay within them. I like to think me performances
are pretty versatile from that knowledge, easily swinging from a more
vaudevillian/cabaret setting to a music oriented show at the neighborhood
watering hole or a “bare bones” straight poetry/spoken word show at the corner
bookstore.
13. Your work has been compared to a mix of iconic artists like Lou Reed,
Tom Waits, and Leonard Cohen. How do you feel about these comparisons, and
which artists have had a significant impact on your artistic style?
Very, very honored,
as I am a huge fan of all three of them amazing artists. All of which have had
an influence upon me, but I would say I have a special affinity for Lou Reed
and I would also add William S. Burroughs. I’ve noticed many a parallel betwixt
all three of our lives.
14. The letter mentions overcoming a heroin habit and being clean for the last
8 years. How has this journey of recovery impacted your creative process, and
do you explore themes of addiction and recovery in your poetry?
It’s
actually been 10 years now. Kicking the habit made me creative process explode
to life. When I was an “active” or “practicing” addict life was so busy,
looking to score, looking for money to score or just being so high I could only
nod out somewhere, which of course was the desired effect. There just wasn’t
enough time in the day for me creative process to appear… at least consciously.
Me poetry is all about addiction and the outcome, perhaps sometimes
esoterically, but as it’s in me… it’s in everything I do, but only in so’s far
as I have experienced it… for me. I don’t begrudge anyone’s path in life, what
works for some will kill others.
15. Looking ahead, you mention having more poetry collections ready for publication. Can you provide a glimpse into the themes or directions these upcoming collections might explore?
I am
presently in the midst of recording the 5th instalment in the (as I said- the
continuously ineptly named) “Poets Road Trilogy,” a 4th CD, simply titled “IV”
–referring to both the Roman numeral 4 and “intravenous.”
I reckon there is a lot of searching on that album so’s far. Again working
through loss and then attempting to find onesnew place in a new world, in an
old town.
The Snake Oil Poet| Metis Artist Xam Eitsirhc Western Canada
Xam Eitsirhc ∞ (@snakeoilpoet) • Photos et vidéos Instagram
(36) Xam Eitsirhc- The Snake Oil Poet - YouTube
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