Introduction
Toria Garbutt is a spoken word artist from Knottingley - a deprived ex-mining town in West Yorkshire. From as young as 9 she kept a diary, and wrote poetry in parallel.
"Toria's words are silk javelins. Frank explorations of self, outpourings of a joyfully pained mind. She means it. Cos she's lived it. I love that girl" Mike Garry
Her resulting début album is an incredibly visceral and engaging collection of confessional, observational and character based punk poetry. With a punk heritage, a staccato heartbeat and a unique flair for storytelling, her work is brutally honest yet breathtakingly beautiful.
The album is being released by Nymphs & Thugs Recording Co., and independent spoken word record label formed in spring 2015. This campaign is also supported by A Firm Of Poets; a nationally established spoken word organisation that provided Toria with a national platform, and ultimately paved the way to this release.
Funding requirements
Right, so this is where we're at financially...
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Manufacturing the albums: £400
- 250x professionally manufactured CDs with on-disc artwork
- Recorded at Eiger Studios in Leeds
- Cardboard sleeves, hand screen printed by Robin Goodall at Wood Street Arts studios in Wakefield
- Artwork designed by Nathan McGrory
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Manufacturing the merchandise: £100
- Limited edition prints and tote bags, hand screen printed and hand framed by professional artists.
- Punk-style pin badges designed by Nathan McGrory
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Capturing the album on video: £250
- Working with a range of talented West Yorkshire-based filmmakers to capture spoken word videos for the Nymphs & Thugs YouTube channel
The label has finances in place to cover the basics if needs be, but with your help, we can give this album the campaign that it deserves, and you'll get much more it.
The Impact
From the moment that people see Toria perform, they're astounded at her work. Her remarkable honesty, her unflinching ability to delve far deeper than most would ever even discuss in private, and her integrity as both a writer and performer.
"These are confessional stories about love, heartbreak and addiction. Getting them off my chest helps me to stay sane. Some of my poetry is hard hitting and dark but there
is hope and beauty in there too. On a personal level I suppose it's partly about
getting closure." Toria Garbutt
"Art's not really considered a viable career option for working class kids. There's this notion of poetry as an elitist pursuit and that's a shame because there are some incredibly talented kids out there whose voices aren't being heard.I'm just speaking my own truth, in my own words, in my own style. I refuse to conform because to me authenticity is everything. There's a lot of bollocks in the media. We need people to say it like it is. These are stories that need telling." Toria Garbutt
Call it "credit crunch poetry" or just straight up "punk poetry" - in a nation in which the most vulnerable areas are strangled by poverty and agenda-driven austerity, Toria is both a shining beacon and a middle finger firmly raised.
Risks & Challenges
Spoken word in general is a hard sell, because most people refuse to engage with poetry, no matter how good it is or what it's about.
"Most people ignore most poetry because most poetry ignores most people" Adrian Mitchell
Toria's style doesn't conform with traditional poetic styles or values - so this album sits between the academic poetry fans, and those who wouldn't touch poetry with a bargepole. It's poetry for the rest of us - it speaks to the masses.
But we believe that she can break through and silence both camps - essentially it's a punk album, and with a nod to artists like John Cooper Clarke, Attila The Stockbroker and Patti Smith, we'll make them listen!
Toria has already charmed audiences nationwide, thanks to the platform provided by A Firm Of Poets - and the more help that you give, the more her audience will continue to grow.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you don't have the wonga but love the idea of Toria's campaign, then spreading the word on social media is just as valuable and incredibly important.
Thanks for reading, and thanks in advance for any support that you provide!