Storytelling: Lyrics & the Spoken Word with Stephen James Smith & Kwame Daniels

Join DJ and producer Kwame Daniels and spoken word poet Stephen James Smith for a conversation on storytelling, using song lyrics that have inspired collaborations and melody making. Expect mixtapes and performances! Hosted by journalist Aine Cronin-McCartney.

Stephen James Smith is a Dublin poet and playwright central to the rise of the vibrant spoken word scene in Ireland today. His poetry videos have amassed over 2.5 million views. He has performed at high profile events and venues such as Electric Picnic, other voices, The National Concert Hall in Dublin, The Barbican in London, Vicar Street and the London Palladium (alongside Oscar winner Glen Hansard) and many more. Stephen facilitates poetry workshops in schools around Ireland and is Artist in Residence at Dunamaise Arts Centre & Laois arts office. His poetry is included on the syllabus at Western Connecticut State University and his work has been translated into multiple languages. His debut collection Fear Not, published by Arlen House, was released in September 2018.

Kwame Daniels is a producer and broadcaster, but at the heart, a music-loving DJ and creative with a passion for storytelling through beats, chords, and lyrics. He is also CEO of Bounce Culture, a non-profit organisation using creative digital technology to aid personal development and skills training, primarily assisting people and communities facing disadvantages. A career spanning 20 years, Kwame has amassed vast experience working alongside the likes of Emmy nominee Hannah Peel to critically acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Kaidi Tatham. He has curated, produced, and directed events including projects with Radio 1 and MTV to Citi Group and UNESCO, impacting over 100,000 attendees across UK and Ireland to East and West Africa. 

Aine Cronin-McCartney is a freelance radio presenter, producer, artist manager and label A&R. A regular voice on BBC Radio Ulster’s ATL Introducing show, Aine has played a key role in helping to champion the best new acts and bands emerging from across Ireland, supporting artists across an array of genres. Over the last few years, she has garnered a reputation for creating thought-provoking and engaging bespoke packages, taking an in-depth look at issues affecting our local arts and music scene for a number of shows across the BBC Radio Ulster schedule. In 2019 Aine presented her first show on BBC Radio One on the BBC Music Introducing show where she curated an episode dedicated to Irish/NI talent. Alongside her presenting work, Aine has sat on the panel of the NI Music Prize and the AIM Music Awards. Following an internship at Northern Ireland’s biggest management company, Champion Sound Music, Aine proceeded to set up her own business Flux Music Management in 2019 where she manages indie-pop artist Reevah. In 2021, Aine started working at Faction Records as an A&R assistant. Aine is also a co-founder and active member of Safe in Sound, an initiative set up to provide a safe space for underrepresented voices in the Northern Irish music sector.