Coming back

R. L. Chauhan
Jan 30, 2016
2 min read

So 2016...

I find myself coming back from a long creative break. It started with an invitation to perform for a very niche and small audience for LitQuake 2014. Admittedly, I participated with trepidation and learned from reflection. I felt anxiety about coming back, that came out as anger, and though I can't say I was terribly easy to work with at that time, I can say that I was accepted for who I am, and my work and performance were lauded despite not having made friends or connections. Then, I picked up the guitar in late 2014, and spent the majority of 2015 reconnecting with and hanging out with Rafael Sarria, an old friend and lead of La Gente. Being immersed in the music performance scene and exploring music and art with Rafa was an inspiration not only to get back to writing, but also to explore new production and publishing possibilities. During this time, I reconnected with Guinevere Q of the Wyatt Act (now also performing with Doctor Stryker), Julie Indelicato of Bones of a Feather, Chris Pelonis of The Abiders, etc. There are so many others I still need to connect with from past music affiliations... stay tuned.

LitQuake 2015 was an unexpected invitation. My event partner ended up absentee during most of the planning and promotion, so I ended up doing this on my own. I discovered a new assertiveness in these interactions that enabled me to honor myself and those I represent, as well as to manage these working relationships and respect my own boundaries. I also reconnected with Paul Corman-Roberts, James Warner, Geordie Van Der Bosch, Alia Volz and Kevin Hunsanger, W. Kamau Bell, Andrew O. Dugas, Brandon Loberg, Dhaya Lakshminaryanan, Nato Green, Elijah Jenkins, Anisse Gross, Charlie Getter, Rusty Rebar, and so many others!

I'm still not quite sold on the health of propaganda of self-promotion, and looking for new purpose in my writing that includes social activism, but I do owe some heartfelt gratitude to Rafael Sarria, Paul Corman-Roberts, James Warner, Brandon Loberg, Geordie Van Der Bosch, and Chris Pelonis for their support and encouragement.