Today we’d like to introduce you to Deniz Lopez.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I have been a writer for as long as I can remember being able to write. In grade school, I penned short stories and poems almost daily and in college, I kept an online blog that only certain friends were privy to, but included my daily ramblings and hot topic commentary.
About 2005, when I was in class for my minor in Mexican-American studies at the University of Houston, I met several community rights activists and organizers and decided to become a member of the national organization, MEChA. Through that, I became heavily involved with the immigrant rights movement and began to question my own self-awareness. I began to study my culture, my history, the things that made me a woman, how we are majorly impacted by mass media- all at a time when the internet, sites like MySpace & Facebook were just taking off, and social media was still in infancy as well. I began to meet people who were ‘in the trenches’ with all types of social movements and who had rejected many societal norms and were carving their own paths. I began to write about my research and these relationships, and it shaped me into a politicized poet. I was getting on stage to get the message out to those that weren’t going to sit in meetings, but would definitely be at the art and poetry shows.
I learned about independent media, entrepreneurship, and knowledge of self. I realized that because of this, the status quo no longer meant anything to me. I celebrated my differences and found outlets for this new Self.
Please tell us about your art.
By 2009, I was a poet with a mission in Houston, going by the stage name, dee!colonize. Through that connection, I was a part of the amazing Word Around Town Poetry Tour, curated poetry shows, and began to dabble in creating my own media- videos, audio, art, poetry. I became an MC for several events dealing with the abolishment of the death penalty, indigenous pride, and began to work to bridge the Black/ Brown community under our historic intersections.
In 2013, I began building with Wali Aqueel, better known as Zin (Rest in Power), a Houston dj, producer, and radio host, and we founded our own radio station, All Real Radio. I currently host the morning show, Tre Brew, alongside one of Zin’s best friends, Risky Cereal, and together, we highlight what is happening in our city, nationally, and around the world and bring people that are creating art and making positive change to the forefront for our listeners. I manage most of the social media, create flyers, book guests, and manage the station’s other shows as well, along with planting food periodically in our station garden.
Through all my work thus far, I have learned that knowing who you are, who you really are, changes the World around you. That’s my message. We are the handymen of Creator. We are given certain gifts to expand ourselves and nourish humanity and protect the Young so that they can imagine the next phase of existence. We are all connected in this purpose. As a Brown girl, I need Brown girls to know that we are so capable, it’s scary- and that’s why our gente are being persecuted; Because we are powerful. Still, let it shine. Manifest. Innovate. Take calculated risks. It all connects, and there is always room to grow.
I am also involved on several levels with different organizations/ art institutions – the Mas Que Tres Collective, the Community Artists Collective, and Harambee Art Gallery.
I know my thoughts and words have power, and that is what guides me to shift the public idea of what an Indigenous woman can be and is. Overall, I just want my daughter to look at me and say that her mom is a pretty ‘firme mujer.’
As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
Success is if you have created something that will help positively mold the next generation when you create something that speaks to the core of someone so much that it’s planted in them to take to the next level themselves.
I take it day by day, and if I can soundly fall asleep at night, I’m good on my success for that day.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
People can support my work by following @deecolonize & @allrealradio on IG, download our free app, and listening in to the morning show, Tre Brew, Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 11 am. I would love for people to listen 24/7 because it is a 24/7 station with several shows. They can also like my facebook pages – All Real Radio & deecolonizepoetry.
Lastly, you can order my self-published book on Amazon, dee!collection by Deniz Lopez.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.deecolonize.com
- Email: deecolonize@gmail.com
- Instagram: deecolonize
- Facebook: deecolonizePoetry
- Twitter: deecolonize
- Other: www.allrealradio.com
Image Credit:
Tina Hernandez
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition, please let us know here.
