Isis
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Isis

Band Spoken Word R&B

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Music

The best kept secret in music

Press


"Raising Denver's Social Consciousness"

Artists and poets are generally able to find creative outlets for their work. Harder to come by are safe, non-threatening settings where they can express themselves without concern about censorship. Café Nuba, the Pan African Arts Society (PAAS) poetry lounge, is a rarity in that regard.

“Café Nuba's open-mike environment puts no limits on artists' creativity. People flock to our events, and they don't judge us,” says Ebony Booth, known in Denver's poetry circles as “Isis” and famous for her lucid poetry style promoting the self-empowerment of women. “I relate to young black women and give them a voice to articulate their own internal and social issues.”

In part because it values free speech and expression, Café Nuba attracts exceptional artists. Its format clearly celebrates blackness – at the mention of the venue's name, the crowd yells out “It's Hot and It's Black!” – but artists from all backgrounds fill the space and participate each month.

“The word ‘African' can put people off, even people of color, but Café Nuba overcomes those associations,” says Ebony, now the Café Nuba's emcee. “It is incredibly powerful to speak to a crowd of white, black and Hispanic men and women, young and old, who all celebrate blackness.” - Gay & Lesbian Fund


"One for the Home Team"

It was the ultimate steel-cage death match -- but with performance poetry.

"It's all these eccentric artists that get together, and a lot of times there are some pretty big egos that get involved," explains Ebony "Isis" Booth, one of the five members of the Denver Slam Team who clashed with slam powerhouses from Chicago and New York at the 2006 National Poetry Slam Championship in Austin, Texas, two weeks ago. The August 9-12 event drew over 74 teams and 500 poets from across North America -- and the Denver crew won it all, bringing the spoken-verse championship title to the Mile High City for the first time.

t was the ultimate steel-cage death match -- but with performance poetry.

"It's all these eccentric artists that get together, and a lot of times there are some pretty big egos that get involved," explains Ebony "Isis" Booth, one of the five members of the Denver Slam Team who clashed with slam powerhouses from Chicago and New York at the 2006 National Poetry Slam Championship in Austin, Texas, two weeks ago. The August 9-12 event drew over 74 teams and 500 poets from across North America -- and the Denver crew won it all, bringing the spoken-verse championship title to the Mile High City for the first time. - Denver Westword


Discography

Soul Lovely (Compilation 2002)
Almost Conscious (2004)
Beauty in the Dark Vol.1 (2006)
Honey Suckle: A Collection of Memories and Misremembered Journeys (Holiday 2006)

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

Who are you when you are “Almost Conscious”? New Jersey born Isis, (Ebony Booth) presents herself and poetry honestly so that all can see the beauty and the scars that have made her a woman. Unlike most spoken word artists, her words come not from pulpit or soapbox, they come from the heart. To Ebony, “consciousness” is not a goal, but rather a journey towards finding divinity in yourself and others. It is that attitude and brilliance of her poetry that belies her 24 years. Her family moved from New Jersey to Denver, Colorado before the fast paced lifestyle of the east coast could take its toll on her. However, spending the majority of her teens in Colorado’s pacifying clime did little to snuff the flames burning in her belly. She has always been aware of social injustice even as a child, and unfortunately came face to face with an abusive boyfriend as a teenager. Add relationships with a host of characters such as prostitutes, preachers, revolutionaries, and drug dealers to weathering the storm of an uncertain personal life Ebony was forced to grow up quick. Isis was born from those tumultuous times.

It wasn’t long before Isis was snatching mics and spotlights at poetry venues all over the Mile High City, and Colorado. Isis has been performing poetry professionally for 3 years, and has already become synonymous with excellence. Isis’ poetry explores universal themes of empowerment, reclamation, love, abuse, healing, and the mistakes we all make. She has a tenderness at the center of her work, which comes thru in her performance. Isis chides and instructs but never forgets to love, nurture and teach by example. Isis acknowledges that her journey is that of many women, and in order to get where she wants to go, she must bring many women with her.

Already local and national spoken word luminaries are taking notice. In 2004, Ashara Ekundayo, executive director of the Pan African Arts Society tapped her to become the new host of Café Nuba, Denver’s premier spoken word poetry set and television program. Isis served as MC of the show broadcast on Free Speech Television all over the country for two and a half years. She is an in demand presence at spoken word events and has featured at the University of Colorado’s Poetry Slam. After an overwhelming response, Isis was invited back to host the next year’s Slam. She has shared stages with the late Oscar Brown, Jr., M-1 of Dead Prez, the legendary Last Poets, and when the Def Poetry tour arrived in Denver, Isis was the sole opener.

Performing professionally as Isis for just 3 years, she has already amassed an Impressive body of work and acknowledgements. In December of 2004 prior to her CD’s official release, her song “Grindin’” a collaboration with DJ Musa (Saul Williams) was charted and played by non other than BBC Radio 1 tastemaker Gilles Peterson on his “Worldwide” radio show. “Almost Conscious” the DC has received airplay on the “Worldwide” show, Colorado radio stations KGNU (Eclipse Hip Hop show), KUVO (So What!), and KS107.5 (Radio Bums Mix tape Show). To date she has sold several hundred copies of the CD through touring, Café Nuba, and local record store chain Independent Records.

Staying busy as always, Isis teamed with none other than Denver’s own DJ Style N. Fashion to co-produce and write for “Beauty in the Dark, Vol.1”(Independent Records), a double disc mix tape of love poems and classic grooves sure to tantalize and warm the coldest night. Eager to share her work and words on a national level, Isis charted a solo tour of the East Coast in Spring of 2006 where she educated crowds about “Why Isis Speaks” and provided a positive example of what culture and art lies nestled in the Rocky Mountain range. Audiences from the legendary Nuyorican Poets Café in New York, to packed coffee shops in Washington, D.C. were left enthralled, touched, and wanting more.
In 2006, Isis has catapulted herself into an elite league of artists and writers with her astonishing win of the 2006 Denver Slam Off, where she attained the title of Denver City Champ. Not stopping there, Isis went on to gel with 5 of her friends and colleagues to lead Denver to the National Poetry Slam where they took first place. Beating over 400 poets and 75 teams from across the country.

Not content to further just herself, Isis spends time in Denver creating and hosting poetry workshops through the Denver and Cherry Creek Public School systems. Isis is most passionate about the plight of young girls and is one of the educators of Denver’s Young Sistah’s Bootkamp, a 4 week intensive health, self, sex, and art seminar for girls age 8-18. Her desire to make art a premier focus of the community at large keeps her actively volunteering with several non-profit organizations as Marketing Coordinator, Consultant, Promoter, and event Host.

Isis is busily working on her sophomore album and chapbook both titled, “Honey Suckle: A Collection of Memories and M