Poetry Chapbook - make it a habit each night by Gary Barwin and Dani Spinosa

make it a habit each night is a collaborative collection of visual poetry — accompanied by a suite of multimedia Special Features — derived primarily from the Adler J2/J4 Typewriter Manual (1966). Gary Barwin and Dani Spinosa’s remix of the instruction manual format playfully intervenes in conventional notions of gendered labour, mechanization, and capitalism. The Blasted Tree has produced a limited edition of fifty 5.25” x 4” chapbooks printed full-colour on newsprint paper and staple-bound into cardstock covers. View make it a habit each night along with its video and audio Special Features on The Blasted Tree’s website, copies of the chapbook are available in our online store.

View make it a habit each night

Photo booklet + video - crystal and clay by sophie anne edwards

"crystal and clay" is a selection of durational ecopoems from the series Interview with a River by multidisciplinary poet and geographer sophie anne edwards. The Blasted Tree presents two parts of her Interview series, each 'co-authored' by the river's natural processes, in a video poem and photo booklet. A numbered edition of one hundred, 5” x 8” hand-bound photo booklets are available now from The Blasted Tree Store, and you can watch the video poem version of “crystal and clay” following the link below.

view crystal and clay

Multimedia Chapbook - The Sims in Real Life by Ben Robinson

Ben Robinson’s The Sims in Real Life makes use of YouTube’s auto-captioning function to put words to clips of otherwise nonsensical gibberish. The poem is made from captions generated for a video wherein a prankster acts like a character from The Sims video game series, jabbering unintelligibly at strangers. The Blasted Tree has produced an edition of multimedia chapbooks featuring a booklet of this poem plus a bonus CD loaded up with digital content, including an introduction by the author, production images, and more. Copies from the limited edition of 40 chapbooks, each tucked with its disk in a slim jewel case, are available to purchased from our online Store.

Read The sims in real life

Spoken Word - Complete Verbal Vol. 1 Anthology

The Blasted Tree's first foray into the publication of spoken word recordings, Verbal Vol. 1, is complete! Each of the eight tracks can be listened to and read on our website, plus now you can download the entire anthology from our Bandcamp. Thanks for listening, and thanks especially to the poets, musicians, and recording experts who contributed to putting this thing together: Audrey Lane Cockett, Anthony J. Gavin, Ilona Martonfi, Laine Pineo, Prairie Chola Ayatollah, Ian San Agustin, Adrien Smart, Michael Smilovitch, Alec Panikian, SHIGETO, and Josh Cunningham.

Download Verbal Vol. 1

Spoken Word - Chased by Bears Across Marshmallow Bluffs

 

The eighth and final entry in Verbal Vol. 1 was written and performed by poet, musician, and scientist, Michael Smilovitch. Chased by Bears Across Marshmallow Bluffs, which previously appeared in Smilovitch's chapbook obscuritysquared, has now been expanded upon and set to music by Alec Panikian. The poem is one hell of a romp, and Smilovitch makes full use of the vocal talents he's developed singing for the progressive metal band Bird Problems. Chased by Bears Across Marshmallow Bluffs can be heard (and read) on The Blasted Tree, and you can download all of Verbal Vol. 1 as it becomes available, one track per week throughout spring, on Bandcamp.

LISTEN TO CHASED BY BEARS ACROSS MARSHMALLOW BLUFFS

We recommend beginning with the Forward by Blasted Tree editor Kyle Flemmer if this is your first exposure to Verbal Vol. 1, or are interested in the documentation of spoken word.

Spoken Word - They don't want you to talk about it by Laine Pineo

 

The penultimate track in Verbal Vol. 1, our digital spoken word anthology, is a seriously moving poem about surviving domestic abuse. "They don't want you to talk about it" comes to us from Laine Pineo, a Calgary-based poet, aromatherapist, and wonder-mom, who has lit up stages all around town with her empowering words. This poem challenges us to believe and support victims of abuse, to discuss these issue more open and honestly. "They don't want you to talk about it" can be heard (and read) on The Blasted Tree, and you can download all of Verbal Vol. 1 as it becomes available, one track per week throughout spring, on Bandcamp.

LISTEN TO THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT IT

If you have recently become acquainted with spoken word poetry, we recommend you begin with the Forward to Verbal Vol. 1 by Blasted Tree editor Kyle Flemmer.

Spoken Word - Hello Hollow Sunrise by Anthony J. Gavin

 

Today we unveil the sixth track in Verbal Vol. 1, our ongoing digital spoken word anthology! hello hollow sunrise was written and recorded by poet, academic, and repeat Blasted Tree contributor Anthony J. Gavin. In turns political screed, rant against the daily grind, and reminder for self care, hello hollow sunrise is a roller coaster of a performance. Anthony's poem can be heard (and read) on The Blasted Tree, and you can download all of Verbal Vol. 1 as it becomes available, one track per week throughout spring, on Bandcamp.

LISTEN TO HELLO HOLLOW SUNRISE

If this is your first listen to Verbal Vol. 1, or to spoken word poetry in general, check out the Forward to the anthology by Blasted Tree editor Kyle Flemmer.

Spoken Word - CHILLY CHILLY by Prairie Chola Ayatollah

 

Verbal Vol. 1 continues with a spoken word track by Prairie Chola Ayatollah, Calgary's own third-eye word clown and performance artist. As with many of her poems, CHILLY CHILLY employs looping pedals to build sonic emphasis, variation, and intensity. This comic and creative spoken word poem can be heard (and read) on The Blasted Tree, and you can download all of Verbal Vol. 1 as it becomes available, one track per week throughout spring, on Bandcamp.

LISTEN TO CHILLY CHILLY

For a quick introduction to spoken word poetry and the challenge of "publishing" literary audio, check out the Forward to Verbal Vol. 1 by Blasted Tree editor Kyle Flemmer.

Spoken Word - #myfavouritepersonintheworld by Ian San Agustin

 

This week's addition to The Blasted Tree's spoken word anthology Verbal Vol. 1 is performed by Calgary-based poet and sneaker freak, Ian San Agustin. Ian has performed at many open mics and poetry readings around Calgary, and his laid-back delivery of #myfavouritepersonintheworld, an ode to chill times in the best of company, is soothing to listen to. #myfavouritepersonintheworld can be heard (and read) on The Blasted Tree, and you can download all of Verbal Vol. 1 as it becomes available, one track per week throughout spring, on Bandcamp.

LISTEN TO #MYFAVOURITEPERSON-INTHEWORLD

For a quick introduction to spoken word poetry and the challenge of "publishing" literary audio, check out the Forward to Verbal Vol. 1 by Blasted Tree editor Kyle Flemmer.