Joolz Denby
Encyclopedia
Joolz Denby is a poet
, novelist and artist based in Bradford
, UK.
" performance poet
, one of the first to gain recognition in modern times and one of the only women to do so. She does not consider herself a "performance poet" as the style has changed radically since she began performing, but rather designates herself a "spoken-word artist" as she considers that title more accurate in view of her unique presentation skills and the fact that her poetry is serious. This has gained her the media description of "The Queen Of UK Spoken Word".
She often performs at the same venues as musical acts and has been a regular performer at music festivals such as Roskilde
, Reading and at Glastonbury Festival
(where she has performed in the Theatre and Cabaret Marquees for over 24 years) as well as art and literature festivals globally. She is known internationally for her performance work and her constant search for excellence in all her artistic fields, which have led her to be considered one of the UK's most polymathic and high-achieving working artists. Starting in 1983 with singles, spoken word
recordings, sometimes solo, but usually in collaboration with musicians Jah Wobble
, the underground cult band New Model Army
with New Model Army's singer/songwriter Justin Sullivan
and the band New York Alcoholic Anxiety Attack.
Denby is also an illustrative artist, professional tattoo artist and photographer who exhibits regularly. She designed all of New Model Army's and New York Alcoholic Anxiety Attack's merchandise ranges and illustrated the vast majority of their sleeve art, as well as those of her own releases and has an Arts Council/Yorkshire Museums & Galleries international touring exhibition of her work for NMA entitled "One Family, One Tribe: The Art & Artifacts Of New Model Army".. Her exhibition on the theme of elective body modification, 'The Body Carnival' ran from October 30, 2008 until November 30, 2008 at Cartwright Hall, Bradford and is held in the gallery's store as a touring exhibition.
Subsequently, she published poetry collections and, from 2000 onwards, novels. Denby continues to perform regularly to large audiences at live venues and appears on television
and radio
. Known for the beauty, musicality and emotive tone of her speaking voice, she has also recorded a number of unabridged audio books, including two based on two of her novels (for one of which, Stone Baby, Denby won the US Audio Industry 'Earphone Award'). Denby also manages the upcoming young Northern band "New York Alcoholic Anxiety Attack" with whom she also has a side-project, 'Death By Rock N' Roll' featuring live performances of her poetry set to rock music written especially for her by the band. Denby works on screenplay project "Exilée" and "Secret Angles" with film maker Nemo Sandman
and accepts commissions for her poetry, including an eponymous one (later adapted into a short film) for Bradford Council as part of the city's bid for 2008 Capital of Culture
. She also wrote the poem Northlands, commissioned by Yorkshire Forward
for their Regional Economic Strategy Document, and poems for The Royal Armouries, The Captain Cook Museum Whitby and Alchemy Asian Arts amongst others. In 2006 Denby was designated a Cultural Revolutionary by the Northern arts festival Illuminate for her contribution to the region's arts and her home city of Bradford in particular. She was also given an Honorary Doctorate by Bradford University for her role as a cultural ambassador for Bradford.
Denby won the Crime Writers' Association
Debut Dagger award for her first novel, Stone Baby. The CWA also nominated the novel for a John Creasey Memorial Dagger prize for best first crime novel. Her third novel, Billie Morgan, based on some of her personal experiences in the biker
subculture
of the 1970s, made the shortlist for the 2005 Orange Prize. Denby's fifth collection of poetry 'Pray for Us Sinners' (Comma Press) was published in 2006 and her fourth novel, Borrowed Light (ISBN 1-85242-905-4) was published in February 2006 by Serpent's Tail
). An autobiography, The Invisible Child, is among other forthcoming works which include her new novels, Wild Thing, Midnight at The Rat N' Roses and Miss Larkin Disappears.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, novelist and artist based in Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
, UK.
Biography
Initially known simply as Joolz, Denby first gained recognition for herself as a touring "punkPunk subculture
The punk subculture includes a diverse array of ideologies, and forms of expression, including fashion, visual art, dance, literature, and film, which grew out of punk rock.-History:...
" performance poet
Performance poetry
Performance poetry is poetry that is specifically composed for or during a performance before an audience. During the 1980s, the term came into popular usage to describe poetry written or composed for performance rather than print distribution.-History:...
, one of the first to gain recognition in modern times and one of the only women to do so. She does not consider herself a "performance poet" as the style has changed radically since she began performing, but rather designates herself a "spoken-word artist" as she considers that title more accurate in view of her unique presentation skills and the fact that her poetry is serious. This has gained her the media description of "The Queen Of UK Spoken Word".
She often performs at the same venues as musical acts and has been a regular performer at music festivals such as Roskilde
Roskilde Festival
Roskilde Festival is a festival held south of Roskilde in Denmark and is one of the six biggest annual music festivals in Europe . It was created in 1971 by two high school students, Mogens Sandfær and Jesper Switzer Møller, and promoter Carl Fischer...
, Reading and at Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
(where she has performed in the Theatre and Cabaret Marquees for over 24 years) as well as art and literature festivals globally. She is known internationally for her performance work and her constant search for excellence in all her artistic fields, which have led her to be considered one of the UK's most polymathic and high-achieving working artists. Starting in 1983 with singles, spoken word
Spoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
recordings, sometimes solo, but usually in collaboration with musicians Jah Wobble
Jah Wobble
Jah Wobble is an English bass guitarist, singer, poet and composer. He became known to a wider audience as the original bass player in Public Image Ltd in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but left the band after two albums...
, the underground cult band New Model Army
New Model Army (band)
New Model Army are an English rock band, who were formed in Bradford, West Yorkshire in 1980. They have been variously classified by Allmusic as post-punk and alternative rock.-Overview:...
with New Model Army's singer/songwriter Justin Sullivan
Justin Sullivan
Justin Sullivan is an English singer and songwriter. He is also the frontman and lyricist of the British rock band New Model Army, which he formed in 1980 together with drummer Robert Heaton and bassist Stuart Morrow in their hometown of Bradford, Yorkshire...
and the band New York Alcoholic Anxiety Attack.
Denby is also an illustrative artist, professional tattoo artist and photographer who exhibits regularly. She designed all of New Model Army's and New York Alcoholic Anxiety Attack's merchandise ranges and illustrated the vast majority of their sleeve art, as well as those of her own releases and has an Arts Council/Yorkshire Museums & Galleries international touring exhibition of her work for NMA entitled "One Family, One Tribe: The Art & Artifacts Of New Model Army".. Her exhibition on the theme of elective body modification, 'The Body Carnival' ran from October 30, 2008 until November 30, 2008 at Cartwright Hall, Bradford and is held in the gallery's store as a touring exhibition.
Subsequently, she published poetry collections and, from 2000 onwards, novels. Denby continues to perform regularly to large audiences at live venues and appears on television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
. Known for the beauty, musicality and emotive tone of her speaking voice, she has also recorded a number of unabridged audio books, including two based on two of her novels (for one of which, Stone Baby, Denby won the US Audio Industry 'Earphone Award'). Denby also manages the upcoming young Northern band "New York Alcoholic Anxiety Attack" with whom she also has a side-project, 'Death By Rock N' Roll' featuring live performances of her poetry set to rock music written especially for her by the band. Denby works on screenplay project "Exilée" and "Secret Angles" with film maker Nemo Sandman
Nemo Sandman
Nemo Sandman is a French composer, film director and illustrator.He is best known for his controversial musical videos on MTV for New Model Army, Lustral, Ten Mother Tongues, M.I.E.L, Gabriela Arnon, End of Orgy, Rise and Fall of a Decade and his arty commercials for VirginFrance.Nemo Sandman also...
and accepts commissions for her poetry, including an eponymous one (later adapted into a short film) for Bradford Council as part of the city's bid for 2008 Capital of Culture
European Capital of Culture
The European Capital of Culture is a city designated by theEuropean Union for a period of one calendar year during which it organises a series of cultural events with a strong European dimension....
. She also wrote the poem Northlands, commissioned by Yorkshire Forward
Yorkshire Forward
Yorkshire Forward is the regional development agency for the Yorkshire and the Humber region of the United Kingdom. It supports the development of business in the region by encouraging public and private investment in education, skills, environment and infrastructure...
for their Regional Economic Strategy Document, and poems for The Royal Armouries, The Captain Cook Museum Whitby and Alchemy Asian Arts amongst others. In 2006 Denby was designated a Cultural Revolutionary by the Northern arts festival Illuminate for her contribution to the region's arts and her home city of Bradford in particular. She was also given an Honorary Doctorate by Bradford University for her role as a cultural ambassador for Bradford.
Denby won the Crime Writers' Association
Crime Writers' Association
The Crime Writers Association is a writers' association in the United Kingdom. Founded by John Creasey in 1953, it is currently chaired by Peter James and claims 450+ members....
Debut Dagger award for her first novel, Stone Baby. The CWA also nominated the novel for a John Creasey Memorial Dagger prize for best first crime novel. Her third novel, Billie Morgan, based on some of her personal experiences in the biker
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
subculture
Subculture
In sociology, anthropology and cultural studies, a subculture is a group of people with a culture which differentiates them from the larger culture to which they belong.- Definition :...
of the 1970s, made the shortlist for the 2005 Orange Prize. Denby's fifth collection of poetry 'Pray for Us Sinners' (Comma Press) was published in 2006 and her fourth novel, Borrowed Light (ISBN 1-85242-905-4) was published in February 2006 by Serpent's Tail
Serpent's Tail
Serpent's Tail is a British independent publishing firm founded in 1986 by Pete Ayrton. It is notable for its translated works, particularly European crime fiction, and is the British publisher of Elfriede Jelinek and Lionel Shriver...
). An autobiography, The Invisible Child, is among other forthcoming works which include her new novels, Wild Thing, Midnight at The Rat N' Roses and Miss Larkin Disappears.
Collections of poetry and short stories
- Mad, Bad, & Dangerous To Know, (Virgin BooksVirgin BooksVirgin Books is a United Kingdom book publisher 90% owned by the publishing group Random House, and 10% owned by Virgin Enterprises, the company originally set up by Richard Branson as a record company.-History:...
, 1986) - Emotional Terrorism, (Bloodaxe BooksBloodaxe BooksBloodaxe Books is a British publishing house specialising in poetry.-History:It was founded in 1978 in Newcastle upon Tyne by Neil Astley, who is still editor and managing director. Joined in 1982 by chairman Simon Thirsk, Astley was later awarded an honorary D.Litt by Newcastle University in 1995...
, 1990) - The Pride of Lions, (Bloodaxe Books, (1994)
- Errors of the Spirit, (Flambard Press 2000)
- Pray For Us Sinners, (Comma Press, 2005)
Novels
- Stone Baby, (HarperCollinsHarperCollinsHarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
, 2000) - Corazon, (HarperCollins, 2001)
- Billie Morgan, (Serpent's TailSerpent's TailSerpent's Tail is a British independent publishing firm founded in 1986 by Pete Ayrton. It is notable for its translated works, particularly European crime fiction, and is the British publisher of Elfriede Jelinek and Lionel Shriver...
, 2004) - Borrowed Light, (Serpent's Tail, 2006)
Select Discography
- Love is Sweet Romance (EMIEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
with music by New Model Army) - Bad, Mad & Dangerous to Know (EMI, EP with music by New Model Army)
- Hex (EMI, 1990; music by New Model Army)
- Weird Sister (Intercord Records, 1991; music by Justin Sullivan)
- Joolz 1983-1985 (Abstract Records, 1993; compilation of Abstract Records material with music by Jah WobbleJah WobbleJah Wobble is an English bass guitarist, singer, poet and composer. He became known to a wider audience as the original bass player in Public Image Ltd in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but left the band after two albums...
, Justin Sullivan and other musicians, collecting her first audio recordings) - True North (Wooltown Records, 1995 or 1997, music by Justin Sullivan)
- Red Sky Coven, Volumes 1&2 (1999, live collective recording of Red Sky Coven, with Joolz on some of the tracks)
- Red Sky Coven, Volume 3
- Spirit Stories (poetry set to music by Justin Sullivan) Attack Attack Records: 2008
Audio Books
- Stone Baby (2000)
- Billie Morgan (2005)
- The Accidental (written by Ali Smith; audio recording by Joolz Denby)