Anthony Joseph



Anthony Joseph is a English poet, novelist, musician and lecturer.

Life
Joseph was born in Trinidad and was raised by his grandparents. He began writing as a young child and cites his main influences as calypso, surrealism, jazz, the spiritual Baptist church that his grandparents attended, and the rhythms of Caribbean speech. Joseph has lived in the UK since 1989.

In September 2004 he was chosen by Renaissance One and the Arts Council England as one of fifty Black and Asian writers who have made major contributions to contemporary British literature, appearing in the historic "A Great Day in London" photograph and performing at the event at the British Library. In April 2005, Joseph served as the British Council's first poet-in-residence at California State University, Los Angeles.

Joseph is the author of the poetry collections. Desafinado (1994), Teragaton (1997), and Bird Head Son (2009). His debut novel The African Origins of UFOs, was published by Salt Publishing in November 2006. Described as an "afro-psychedelic-noir, a poetic work of metafiction, mythology and afro-futurism", the book was endorsed by Kamau Brathwaite, Linton Kwesi Johnson, and Lauri Ramey, who hailed it in her introduction as "a future fiction classic". Reviewing the book, Ali Alizadeh called Joseph "both a faithful heir and an agnostic rebel; a Black poet haunted by Africa's past as well as a bilingual post-modernist amused by the possibilities of the future. Contemporary literature doesn't come a lot more sophisticated and intriguing than this." Joseph subsequently received an Arts Council award to conduct a reading tour of the UK in support of the book. In 2007, the tour continued to Europe with a ten-city tour of Germany and readings in the US. Joseph also performs and records with his band The Spasm Band. His debut album with the band Leggo de Lion was released in April 2007 by Kindred Spirits.

Joseph's third collection of poetry, Bird Head Son, was published by Salt Publishing in February 2009, coinciding with the release of his second album with The Spasm Band, also called Bird Head Son. The album was recorded over two days in Meudon, France, with guests including Keziah Jones, Joseph Bowie and vibraphonist David Neerman.

Joseph holds an M.A. in Creative Writing from Goldsmiths College, University of London.

Joseph's third album with the Spasm Band, "Rubber Orchestras", was released in August 2011. His fourth poetry collection, also entitled "Rubber Orchestras", was published by Salt Publishing in November 2011.

Publications

 * Rubber Orchestras, Salt Publishing, 2011, ISBN 1-84471-819-0
 * Bird Head Son, Salt Publishing, 2011, ISBN 1-84471-435-7
 * The African Origins of UFOs, Salt Publishing, 2009, ISBN 1-84471-272-9
 * Teragaton, Poison Engine Press, 1997, ISBN 0-9524152-1-6
 * Desafinado, Poison Engine Press, 1994, ISBN 0-9524152-0-8

Discography

 * Rubber Orchestras, 2011
 * Bird Head Son, 2009
 * Leggo de Lion, 2007