THE CULTURE CORNER
“OPENING UP THE POET DANIEL”
Interview and article
by: Felicia N. Winston, Editor-In-Chief
The
rain had been pouring non-stop since the night before, however, after one
reschedule, there was nothing short of a minor/major disaster that could
keep me from my interview with Daniel Jose Custodio
at the Guttenburg Café located in Richmond’s
famed Shockoe Bottom. I arrived to find Daniel
seated and sipping on his Cappuccino already enjoying a healthy meal. We
greeted each other as long lost friends do when they have not been in each
others presence for a while. We embraced physically and held our gazes with
one another while exchanging words of how good the other looked and how
happy we were to see each other. I was excited about the fact of more than
just seeing my friend or to be interviewing him for the magazine. I was
excited about the opportunity to learn more about this humble and complex
man with the boyish smile who is on a personal journey to make his mission,
not himself, an icon. I found Daniel’s story to be inspiring, spiritually
awakening, and motivating in many ways and felt compelled to share his story
with our XR The Magazine family. So sit back, relax, and enjoy as I open the
book to “The Poet Daniel”.
XR: Daniel
thanks for sitting down and talking with me and allowing me to share you
with our XR The Magazine family.
Daniel: Of
course, of course Felicia, anything for you.
XR: AWWW,
thanks Daniel. I know we are friends and we’ve known each other for a few
years now but I’d like to start with some background on you to share with
our XR The Magazine family. Where’d you grow up
and how did you find your Richmond, VA?
Daniel: I
grew up in Sleepy Hollow, NY. I moved from Brooklyn, NY about 4 years ago
looking for a career and lifestyle change. I was going through a spiritual
transition in my life. My best friend Vidal Torres had settled here and was
very happy with his career and family as well as the overall atmosphere of
Richmond. Vidal said Richmond would offer me a good balance which is what I
was looking for and needed. I was looking for somewhere I could build a
stable life and spiritual peace.
XR: Do you
think you’ve achieved what you were looking to find here?
Daniel: Yes,
actually I do. I settled in to Richmond and began working with one of the
biggest financial institutions in the US. That job offered me the financial
stability I needed and the flexibility to give me some breathing room to
cultivate my poetry through slam.
XR: HMM, I
would think that NYC with its melting pot of authentic and diverse culture
rather than little old Commonwealth RVA would have given you the opportunity
to do this. Why do you think it took you coming to RVA to be able to get the
breathing room you needed to expand your poetry?
Daniel: I
feel that the NYC culture is actually very dis-authentic. I feel that RVA
gives you the space to be authentic and to be your own person without the
pressure of not fitting into an NYC mold.
XR: So you
are here in Richmond settling in quite well. You have a great job; you are
making your mark as one of Richmond’s best slam poets with Slam Richmond
having the opportunity to travel to the national poetry slam as a Slam
Richmond Team Member for two years in a row. You start your own poetry slam
team, Slam Nuhautl, and then you get married. (I know I left out a few
details about Daniel getting to this point, however, the real story begins
when all this comes to an end). I mean many would say “that dude Daniel
he has it all”. Take me to the day when all this changed and you decided to
change your life and how “Hooked”, your one man show happened.
Daniel: By
this time I had actually left Genworth and was working as a financial
advisor
with
Merrill Lynch. I was doing a show at ODU and I got a text from my wife
saying that she was leaving to go back home to her country. She told me
where the car was parked at the airport and how sorry she was for doing it
the way she did but she felt she was holding me back from my destiny. When
she left me that’s when I began to write poem’s about how I felt. At first
they were full of hurt and anger but then they began to become more focused
on not fulfilling your dreams. This was one of the most private times in my
life but I felt like I could heal through sharing my experience and emotions
with others.
XR: Wow.
What was the after effect of this happening to you?
Daniel: I
decided to step out on faith and live my dreams. I walked into Merrill Lynch
and quit. That same day I received a call from Neon Entertainment Group
which is the company that helps me to tour nationally.
XR: As a
full-time poet, one would think your life is easy and full of fun. Is this
the case?
Daniel: Not
at all. Actually since becoming a full-time traveling poet time is less
abundant. I have to spend most of my time focusing on building my business;
me. I am currently traveling about 16 times a month. I travel Thursday,
Friday, and Saturday and teach in the schools Monday, Tuesday, and
Wednesday.
XR: I have
interviewed poets who say they have a niche; meaning a group of people who
can connect and relate to their poetry. What is your niche?
Daniel: My poetry is for all people who wish
to rise above ignorance but my niche is the Latino community.
XR: Why?
This is the first of my two-part article on
Daniel. Be sure to read your copy of the May 2009 edition of XR The Magazine
to read more on this dynamic poet.
Larry
Skinner
Chester, VA –
April 7, 2009—19 year-old hip-hop artist, Audra, aka Diva of Virginia, will
present the 2nd Annual Music for A Cause fundraising event on Saturday, May
16, 2009. This is the main fundraising initiative for the Audra M.
Green Music For A Cause Foundation. This year’s event will feature
over 30 artists from New York to Norfolk. Music For A Cause will be
hosted by DJ Zxulu of radio station 106.5, The Beat. 
Audra
says that the foundation has been blessed this year with both sponsors and a
venue. The GCCR has been extremely helpful and supportive. Sponsors
include Williams’ Trucking out of Henrico, Nomega
Recording Studio, ATE Clothing, Another Touch Massage Therapy, MD
Management and Entertainment, TRPhotoz, Allure
Records, and Ramseur Graphics along with artist Trigger Tha Gambler .Trigger
Tha Gambler and Smoothe Da Hustler from New York are the featured artist.
The event will also feature an appearance by Sharron,
jazz clarinetist form Timbrel/Virgini Records and a special dance
performance by Richmond’s own choreographer/dancer Andre Rivers, formerly of
VCU.
