Rewriting my story and owning it!

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I was clearing out my “drafts” folder and realized this post was never published. Two years ago, just eight months before the release of my debut EP “The Restoration”, I was given the opportunity to share the stage with two Maryland-based poets which was my first time as a paid feature. For me that was a milestone. I don’t get asked in my own city, maybe because I’m new on the scene, maybe my age and maybe because I don’t fall easily into any type of spoken word category but I am learning to sit comfortably with being not popular. I am okay with being different because it’s about the process of creating art for me and the energy I get when I know the audience is responding and feeling my written word. Ironically a month from now I will be featuring for the same poetic prowess Simply Sherri in Baltimore for her Heard it Through the Grapevine and I am looking forward to the experience. It’s a treat to be surrounded by the energy of the artists in the DMV and I can’t wait to see them again, they always give me so much love in return!

Anywhoo…just thought I’d post this and I hope that I will see you in October! Visit my  Facebook page for updates and more information or CD Baby to hear samples and download my debut EP titled “The Restoration”.  I truly appreciate the love!

I’m starting to understand how this life journey works. Half way into writing my story, just a few months from reaching what is supposed to be my golden year and I am finally giving myself permission to rewrite my story. Every few years I get to the end of a chapter, look back, reflect, revise, and restate my vision for my life before I move on to the next. This past Saturday night was one of those times when thoughtful contemplation met up with years of unconscious manifestation and moved me towards a new chapter in my life. When Sherri of Simply Poetic Entertainment contacted me to see if I would be interested in co-featuring at her first Philadelphia edition of Heard it Through the Grapevine, I was pleasantly surprised! I met her once as the spotlight artist (opening up for her and the other feature) last August so when she contacted me I had to make sure feature meant what I thought it meant before I got really excited. As she expanded on the details I knew I had to say yes. An evening of wine and love poems; that had Toni Love written all over it!  I started to think about the poems that I would recite. The flyers and event page went all over social media and I promoted the show with the same reserved passion that I always do but I was still nervous about making sure I carried my weight as a performer. 

I arrived early, asked them to save me a glass of Sangria from the wine tasting (I can never eat or drink before a performance, it makes my stomach uneasy!) and sat down to calm myself. What many don’t know is that I almost always completely blank out before a poetry reading. I can’t remember anything I’ve written and I often grab a book or start printing out poems so that I’ll have them in written form just in case. My biggest fear is that I’ll stand up and forget everything.  I panic, I pace and then I remember to sit down and breathe. As I sat I saw faces of love walk into the small gallery one by one. Friends who lived on the block I grew up on, a sorority sister who drove a few hours to get there, fellow poets, my Italian mother (that’s my nickname for her), and my brothers. I watched them add chairs as the room filled and the walls expanded. By the time I took to the mic it was standing room only. I was still nervous but excited and overwhelmingly grateful at the same time. Sherri said “you have a lot of support here..I’ve been asking who they are here to see..”  It was a vision that I didn’t know would be replicated seven months later at my EP release party. There’s nothing like looking out into a room full of faces that reflect genuine love. Nothing. 

I recited four poems and sang a bit too. It was an exciting night! The quote below is a comment sent to me the next day from the host of the event. I hope to see you at a performance venue soon. I will always return the love.  #loveistheanswer

Toni Love: I knew when I met you last year you were a dynamic performer and would wow that crowd. Your energy is incredible and your words were amazing. Let me know when you get that CD done, so I can get one.

Who Am I? I Am You & We Are Connected!

MTONITA FEATURE AD JPG

You may have seen my face, maybe took a minute to listen to a sample track or even purchased my debut EP titled “The Restoration”, but do you know my story? I love poetry because I love telling a story. I love music because it adds color to lyrical expression. When you listen to my CD, you experience the two dancing together. I tell a story of love, loss and renewal within each track on “The Restoration”. You can purchase it on iTunes, Amazon Music and CD Baby. If you would like an autographed copy, please purchase from my site —-> Toni Love Merchandise where you will find Toni Love T-shirts as well!

I am excited about my interview with Connected Woman Magazine! Although I’ve been fortunate to have my poetry featured in other online publications in addition to being interviewed for several online radio stations, this is my first magazine interview! It was a new experience for me and a lot different from radio interviews because I was given detailed, probing questions in advance and had to take the time to  write thoughtful, honest responses. Some of the questions were more difficult than others because it required me to dig deep into my past and revisit places I’ve long tucked away. This interview process was a welcome experience because it made me think about how my poetry could be used to guide other woman towards healing so they too can be restored.

I hope you take a moment to visit the Connected Woman Magazine online edition tomorrow, June 8th. I am honored to be featured along with several other fabulously connected women, and I hope you are inspired by us all. I am you, you are me and we are all connected!

Thank you in advance for the LOVE!

~Toni  #loveistheanswer

 

 

The Restoration: Toni Love’s London radio Interview with Wayne Boucaud

I am so excited to announce that my debut poetry EP titled “The Restoration” has gone international! Last week, I was interviewed on the Wayne Boucaud London radio show Black in 3D, and a few of the tracks as well as the fun and engaging interview can be heard by listening to the broadcast below. If you like what you hear, the EP is available for download on iTunes, Amazon Music and CDBaby in addition to other outlets. So don’t delay, press play and enjoy the great music and the love!

I thank you in advance for your support and please comment!

~Toni Love #loveistheanswer

Give the Gift of Love this Season!

wpid-wp-1441404724872.jpegGive the gift of LOVE this holiday season! Order a special edition Toni Love CD and/or T-shirt by accessing the link below. The CD is available now for only $10 and shipping is FREE! You will not be disappointed and your heart will thank me!
Please visit my artist page on Toni Love Facebook Page or Toni Love on Reverbnation to see me live and in action. I thank you in advance for the love!

#supportthearts  #loveistheanswer
Click Here —> Order Online. Free Shipping!

Original Poetry, Original Music – Toni Love CD “The Restoration”

Toni Love Limited Edition CD
Toni Love Limited Edition CD

My baby has finally arrived! I’m so excited to announce that my first ever poetry CD/EP is available for purchase. There are six tracks and one bonus track of my original poetry and original music produced by Robb McCall of RPX Productions. I am currently working on getting the tracks formatted and uploaded to CD Baby so that the EP can be purchased digitally but until then you can email me at: tonitalove2@gmail.com and I will send you a PayPal invoice for $15 which covers the total amount of the CD and postage. I have a limited number of these special edition copies and I will personally autograph it for anyone who orders a physical copy. I am also happy to deliver the CD to you personally if you are in the Philadelphia area. Once again, I couldn’t have done it without the support of my GoFundMe.com contributors, family and friends. I’ve shared some of the comments I’ve received about “The Restoration” below:

Dope!

Loved it and the music enhanced the words. I would like to purchase a copy to share also!

Don’t ever stop doing what you’re doing!

You made me believe in love again!

I need three more copies!

Captivating!

Blown away in the most literal sense of the word!

I am thrilled at the responses but I think you should get your own copy and form your own opinion 🙂

I truly appreciate your support and thank you in advance for the LOVE!

~Toni Love #loveistheanswer

Toni Love “Love Restored” – Spotlight on Jazz and Poetry Featured Artist

SOJP Feature Aug 16 to 29 2015I am so honored to be chosen as the Featured Artist on Spotlight on Jazz and Poetry  this month from August 16th until August 29th.Click on the link below to listen to a few of my poems so perfectly infused with Jazz. There is also an in-depth radio interview that you can access on the same website under “Spotlight Conversations”. —-> Spotlight Conversations

I truly appreciate the host Big Trigger for inviting me and making it a memorable experience.You’ll get the chance to hear some tracks from my new EP as well as some poems that I have never performed. Please check it out and let me know what you think!

via Toni Love “Love Restored” – Spotlight on Jazz and Poetry.

Arts and Artists Extravaganza Today! Voorhees NJ

2015 Arts and Artists Extravaganza
http://www.bit.ly/artsandauthors2015

Good Morning! Toni Love will be appearing at the 2015 Arts and Artist Extravaganza at The Mansion in Voorhees, NJ today! The event will take place from 4PM-8PM and there will be a showcase of the area’s finest artists and published authors. I am honored to be invited to share some of my poetry with the attendees. I will also have copies of my new CD “The Restoration” available before it is officially released to the public at my CD Release party on August 22nd. In addition, you can get Toni Love t-shirts and purchase tickets to the show! It’s a family friendly event and FREE for children under 10. Check out the link below for more information. I hope to see you out on this beautiful Sunday!

Click here for more information —->  2015 Arts and Artists Extravaganza

Celebrate My First Poetry CD Release and Birthday, August 22nd!

I am so excited..in a little over a month I will be presenting my first poetry CD to a room full of friends, family and fans and I can’t wait to share this moment with everyone! It has been quit an experience from the first recording to working with a Producer, registering the tracks for potential royalties and copyrite, deciding on the cover art and planning the release party. I’m exhausted just thinking about it! I’m so thankful for all who have contributed to this project through my Go Fund Me account because none of this would have happened without their generous support. Thank you! I am humbled by all of the family and friends who have encouraged, advised and supported me and I hope that you will not be disappointed. It will also be my golden born day celebration so I have so much planned for the night; live music by Moka Soul, special invited poets, Visual Artist Terrill Johnson, of course my own performance and a DJ to close out the party. The evening will be hosted by the poet Sim Ply Sherri and I promise you will have lots of fun. Wine and beer will be available for sale and there will be a private VIP reception. All of this will take place in the main Gallery of the Community Arts Center in Wallingford, PA (see flyer for address). Some out of town guests plan to stay at either the Loews Hotel or the Marriott Hotel in Center City Philadelphia so that they can enjoy the city before and after the party. You don’t want to miss this fun! I hope to see you there! #loveistheanswer!

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Save the Date for the Toni Love CD Release Party! August 22nd!

Toni Love with Robb and Pauline Houston McCall
Toni Love with Robb and Pauline Houston McCall

Three years ago, I finally got the nerve to attend an open mic and step up on the stage to recite a poem I had written just a few days prior. In just a few weeks I will be sending seven mixed and mastered original poems that I have recorded with Musician, Producer, Arranger and all around wonderful being, Robb McCall of  Charging Bull Massive Productions. Exactly three months from today I will be presenting my first work of art to the public. I am still pinching myself. When I stepped onto that stage a few years ago, I was shaking so badly that I had to hold the microphone with both hands and I could even feel my face trembling! The band played behind me, I held on to the paper in front of me and with the love and support of my family and friends attending, I made it though the poem and received a warm, supportive applause from the audience. Even though I thought the crowd was being more than generous with their applause, a host of a much larger open mic approached me and suggested I come out to his venue. A month later I went to the Harvest/Spoken Soul 215 to sign up on their open mic list and whenever I could, I would attend venues throughout the area to hear poetry and possibly get a chance to recite my own. None of what happened was planned. I just opened myself up to the possibilities of it all, and gave myself permission to explore the unknown. At this point in my life, I have awakened the passionate writer/poet that laid dormant for decades and she does not want to stop. But I am first a Mother and an entrepreneur so I take it a day at a time, I take suggestions from those whom I admire and respect and love, and if the door opens, I walk through it. And here I am, planning my CD Release party. Toni has been recovered and restored and for that reason the title of my CD is “Toni Love: The Restoration”. My celebration will be at the Community Arts Center in Wallingford, PA on Saturday August 22nd at 8:00pm. The entry fee is $12 and includes light fare, live performances by some of the greatest artists in the area, beer and wine and a DJ for your dancing pleasure after the show. CDs and Toni Love T-shirts will be available for purchase. Please “like” my Facebook Page and join the party if you can. I have supplied the link to the Event below. I hope you come, and I hope you will enjoy The Restoration as much as I have. I thank you for the part that you have played in my journey.

Peace and Blessings ~ Toni Love
—>  Join the Toni Love CD Release Party

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