“Page Against the Machine” Featured JPDL at Gloucester Guildhall. He performed the first two pieces of work from a series of five and is hoping to develop the work as illustrated books. Dave was joined on stage in conversation by Artist and illustrator Emily Shilton to discuss their future collaboration.
The pieces Dave (JPDL) performed were two stories/chapters from a body of work that continues to remain nameless
It’s basically a collection of contemporary interpretations of fables he used to read and were read when he was a child. He feels they’ve mirrored and correlated with interactions he has had with people whilst growing up.
Aspects of character that he witnessed and continues to see in others have ultimately shaped the way he navigates this world and choose to conduct himself. By projecting those aspects of character onto the fables, Dave has imprinted from his mind from childhood, a way of detailing how he has come to understand how we operate and find our place as the people we become.
Emily is an illustrator, animator and storyteller. Her works are highly personal, capturing memories and moments in time, and creating stories that engage and inspire. She draws live at events, creates hand-drawn animation and illustrates for books and graphic novels.
“Above all, I love drawing people. Everyone has a story to tell and I’m always delighted when my work gets to become a part of that.” Emily Shilton
JPDL is an accomplished spoken word artist, who currently resides in Gloucestershire. His relationship with the rap world has led him to form a hybrid version of the two artforms, which in turn has earned him placements, plaudits and accolades from across the spoken word scene and beyond.
As with the hip hop side of his artistic persona, his first entry into writing and performing spoken word was employed as a form of cathartic therapy. And while his work has now moved on in terms of its subject matter and poignancy, those same initial connections to the craft still bleed into his writing.
JPDL’s career has seen him involved with some notable events and organisations over the years, including a special piece he produced for the BBC as part of the Armistice Day centenary memorial. He was also commissioned by the Everyman Theatre to write and perform an accompanying piece for The Walk, which was produced by The Good Chance Theatre Company and which was centred around the plight of refugees.
Those themes of social justice and equality are prevalent in more of JPDL’s work, as heard in his work with the Viv Gordon Company, which contributed to a piece called She Walks, that aimed to raise awareness about child sex abuse. There was also a piece which was produced for Nurses Day, in conjunction with Evenlode Productions, which was performed by nurses at Gloucester Royal Infirmary, as well as being projected on to the exterior of the hospital itself.
JPDL is also a prolific live performer, which has secured him a headline slot at the Cheltenham Poetry Festival, alongside a performance at the opening night of Ken Loach’s acclaimed film, I, Daniel Blake, which took place at the Playhouse in Cheltenham. He was also involved in the Cheltenham Literature Festival and the Rooftop Festival in Gloucester.
His work in and around the Cheltenham and Gloucester area, also saw JPDL earn a nomination for the Gloucestershire poet laureate appointment.
Which brings us to now and JPDL’s plans for the future, which include him branching out into the publishing world, with plans for a series of allegorical children’s books. The books will be adapted from a short film that focused on Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. There are also plenty more live performances and written works in the pipeline.
For all bookings and enquiries, please contact jpdlukhh@gmail.com
