Interview by Hannah Collier

It was great catching up with Ashlee Haze for this interview. An inspiration to many within the poetry community, Haze continues to leave an undeniable mark on spoken word and contemporary poetry culture. Read the full interview below and share it with others in your network.

Hannah Collier: Tell us about yourself.

Ashlee Haze: I am a poet and spoken word artist from Atlanta by way of Chicago. I earned the nickname “Big 30” because of my consistency in receiving perfect scores in poetry slam competitions. I’m honored to be considered one of the most accomplished poets in the sport of poetry slam.

I’ve appeared on NPR’s Tiny Desk series alongside the collective Blood Orange. I’m also the host of Modern Philosophy, an educational and cultural podcast for modern thinkers. My sophomore book, Smoke, was released on April 20, 2020.

Hannah Collier: What made you decide to start writing poetry?

Ashlee Haze: When I was about 10 years old, my mom asked me to help her write something for a church event. I’ve literally been writing ever since.

Hannah Collier: What has been your greatest inspiration?

Ashlee Haze: I’m most inspired by my life and the issues that affect the people around me, especially Black women. I’m always observing what’s happening on both a local and global scale and examining how we respond to those issues.

Hannah Collier: How does that inspiration translate into the development of your poetry?

Ashlee Haze: My poetry is a direct reflection of that inspiration. I’m constantly writing about those issues and telling those stories from different vantage points.

Hannah Collier: What questions do you get most from people who follow you?

Ashlee Haze: (Laughs.) The most popular question is usually, “Where are you off to next?” or “Where were you recently?” I’m really active on Instagram, so it feels good knowing people are paying attention when I’m traveling.

Hannah Collier: What can audiences expect when they come to one of your shows?

Ashlee Haze: I generally describe my work as funny, heart-wrenching, and apologetic. It’s my job to make people feel something at my shows.

Those feelings vary. Sometimes I want us to laugh together. Sometimes I want us to be angry together. Sometimes I want us to honor our jealousy or be willing to admit what we truly want. You can definitely expect to hear how a Black girl from Chicago, raised in the South, sees the world.

Hannah Collier: Who do you hope to inspire?

Ashlee Haze: I hope to inspire anyone who encounters my work. However, my work is for Black women first. I hope Black women encounter my work and see themselves—their sisters, mothers, aunts, cousins, and homies—in my stories. Everyone else’s approval is simply the cherry on top.

Hannah Collier: Who do you follow?

Ashlee Haze: If you mean literally, my social media is full of creatives—frequent collaborators, friends, family, and colleagues. I also follow people who’ve already been where I want to go: Beyoncé, Missy Elliott, Queen Latifah, Megan Thee Stallion, and Tank and the Bangas. My timeline is really all over the place. (Laughs.)

Figuratively, I follow people who pursue truth. I’m inspired by creatives and entrepreneurs who work toward something bigger than themselves.

Hannah Collier: What’s coming up next for you?

Ashlee Haze: I’ll be hitting the road this fall. People can keep up with where I’ll be at ashleehaze.com/calendar.

I’m also working on a book and an album, both eponymously titled KIERA. I’m excited to incorporate new genres, including prose and even rap, into my upcoming projects.

I also recently launched my media production firm, Philosophy Media Group. We’re working on new episodes of the Moderne Philosophy Podcast and even developing a television series.

Hannah Collier: Where do you draw your strength from?

Ashlee Haze: My audience gives me strength. Knowing people listen to and read my work motivates me to become a better artist and a better person.

Knowing there are people who may have waited months—or even years—to see me perform live keeps me going when life on the road becomes difficult and lonely. People are my strength.

Hannah Collier: Are there any challenges that come with being a modern poet?

Ashlee Haze: Poets and artists, in general, sometimes get a bad reputation for not being great at the administrative side of creative entrepreneurship. We tend to avoid things like accounting, emails, and taxes.

That’s part of why I created Moderne Philosophy—to serve as a workshop space that teaches artists how to become better entrepreneurs and better people.

Hannah Collier: What do you believe your impact has been so far, and what do you hope your audience learns from your work?

Ashlee Haze: I think my impact has been telling stories that are not often told by people who are not often heard. I believe people have found fresh language and new ways to articulate their own experiences through my work.

I hope to teach my audience how to be authentic and responsible—not only in creative work, but also in relationships and in the way we treat others. I hope people learn to express what they feel instead of ignoring or denying their emotions and stories.

If that happens, then I feel I’m successfully doing my job.

Hannah Collier: How can people support you and your poetry?

Ashlee Haze: Visit my website at ashleehaze.com and check out the Shop and Media pages.

Follow Ashlee on social media: Instagram: @ashleehaze | TikTok: @ashleehaze | Twitter/X: @ashleehaze | Facebook: Facebook.com/TheAshleeHaze

You can also tune in to the Moderne Philosophy Podcast at anchor.fm/ashleehaze.