There is magic in words, especially when performed live and Amandeep Singh , a former software engineer turned spoken word artist & storyteller knows all about it. With over seven years of experience, Amandeep is all set to bring his magic of words to Bengaluru next month. On World Poetry Day , he speaks to us about his passion for poetry , creative challenges, & more.
‘POETRY IS THE LANGUAGE OF EXPRESSING EMOTIONS’
Born and raised in Jharkhand, Amandeep grew up speaking English, Punjabi, and a unique mix of Hindi & Bhojpuri. He believes the linguistic diversity laid the foundation for his poetry. “Poetry is a way to translate the language of the heart which everyone can understand,” he says.
‘I FEEL AT HOME ON THE STAGE’
When asked his preference for poetry – writing or performing – Amandeep says, “It is all in the mood. But I am the most honest when I am on the stage.” He continues, “Performing poetry is similar to dance. You feel the crowd, and they feel you. However, he also appreciates the beauty of writing and shares, “Writing gives me the freedom to explore without limits. But on stage, there are constraints. Writing gives me the space to dream and performing allows me to live those dreams.”
'FOR ME, POETRY IS MORE THAN AN ART FORM’
“At times, we find it hard to express what we feel without it getting lost in translation in a normal conversation. So for me, poetry is not just art, but a necessity. I don’t know any other way to process my emotions. The world around me automatically translates into verses,” says Amandeep.
‘DISCIPLINE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FOR ANY ARTIST’
“Creativity cannot be forced. But one needs to be disciplined with their chosen art form. There are days when I can’t write but I try,” says Amandeep. When inspiration hits, he immediately jots it down. “The ideas come fast and I have to catch them. It takes days or weeks to get it ready but I still go back to it and revise them,” he shares. Writer’s block is real and to deal with it Amandeep listens to his favourite songs or reads poems he loves. “Sometimes, just listening to someone else’s words opens the floodgates for me,’ he says. ‘And when all else fails, I just sleep. It works wonders for creativity,” he tells us.

‘INTERNET CAN'T REPLACE HUMAN EMOTIONS'
Poetry has an essential role in keeping us grounded, Amandeep believes. “Social media and technology have their place, but at the end of the day, it’s our human emotions that connect us. Whether it’s a movie or a poem, the core of every story is emotion. If we lose that, we lose ourselves.” He also added that the internet “can help people find their voice, but poetry is about truth— especially expressing what we feel most honestly.”
'THERE IS BEAUTY IN ACKNOWLEDGING YOUR MISTAKES’
What makes Amandeep stand out is his resilience. “There were moments when I forgot words mid-performance. One needs to learn to embrace their mistakes and move on,” he says. When Amandeep started as a spoken word artiste, no one understood the concept, ‘People looked at me like I was from another planet. But over time, with the support of like-minded artistes, storytelling and spoken word has reached a wider audience,” he avers.
‘BE HONEST WHENEVER YOU WRITE’
“Don’t hide yourself while writing. Write with honesty. The techniques and formats will come later, but what matters most is expressing what’s true to you,” he says, to aspiring poets. “At the end of the day, poetry is about expressing what the heart feels. The beauty of poetry is in its rawness,” he adds.