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02/04/2009Jacinta’s world: Cheap shampoo and other secrets of the Berlin underground

Jacinta’s world: Cheap shampoo and other secrets of the Berlin underground Jacinta Nandi-Pietschmann a.k.a. Candi Girl gets some dirt on Berlin’s up and coming poetry star and dishes the details of what's on in Berlin this month.

Catching up with up & coming Berlin poetry star... it's Niti!

JACINTA: So, Niti, how long have you been writing – and performing poetry?

NITI: Well, I’ve always written here and there – a bit – teenage stuff – you know – and then, in 2007, I was at a gig in Café Ohio, it was an English Class gig actually – and I saw Moon. And I saw what he was doing – being funny and writing poems – and then I bought myself a notebook and pen and had a dabble. That was my first dabble. But after a disastrous gig at Scheinbar I got completely turned off. And I didn’t write again until 2008, when I came to FUEL and saw Paula Varjack. She really inspired me to get going again. And the next month I performed at New Word Order in Kreuzberg.

So tell us about the poems you wrote as a teenager. What were they like?

I had a really horrible teenage existence – I was a total loner – and not through choice, not because I was secretly into really great music or anything, nothing like that – but I was, like, 75 kilos and I always had oil in my hair – it was an awful time. But one thing I really loved was English Lit lessons, and I used to try and copy the poems we did there. Rossetti and stuff. I’d show them to my teachers and they’d try and get me to send them somewhere. But I never would.

And who would you say are your greatest influences then?

Things that inspire me are old movies, funny people, old punk bands … more than poetry, actually. I’m a real nostalgic person.

And what are your favourite Berlin events?

New Word Order, definitely – anything can happen, and I like the “anything can happen” factor. It’s exciting. And My English Class, obviously, even if I have to say it. And Gaby’s new night, Movin On With Verses, that night I’m really digging. Don’t write that word, though! I meant digging in an ironic way. You’re going to write it aren’t you?

Yeah.    
niti
I shouldn’t have said anything. You always do everything I tell you not to do.

Okay, so where do you write your poems?

I come up with most of my poems when out walking, out on long walks, or in the shower. Or in bed! I normally write them down on paper. But I do type short stories straight into my laptop.

Now we want to know about the pain, Niti. What was your worst ever gig?

Scheinbar, definitely. It was one of those open mic things. I forgot my lines, all of them, and ran off the stage, bright red.

That doesn’t sound too bad to us. There’ll be worse to come, honey. Okay, and what about your best ever gig?

Oh, that’s easy. That was in London, the Archangel in London. I really gave it my all.

A lot of people probably ask you this one. You have the most fantastic hair we have ever seen in our entire lives and we once got a BJ off Jennifer Aniston. What shampoo do you use?

The cheapest I can find. No, joke! Look, I would say but I don’t wanna product place. That’s capitalist bullshit, that is.

Awright, so give us some opinions. Why do so many English-language poets and performers come to this city – what is it that attracts us?

Good question. I suppose it’s kind of traditional for Berlin to attract artists. Artists have always come here and been inspired. And there’s something really poetic about Berlin – this city that’s been divided and then put back together – this weird little jigsaw puzzle of a city. If Berlin were a person, it would be a person who’s suffered a lot. And suffering feeds creativity. Doesn’t it?

As long as you don’t suffer too much, right? So, what are your plans for the future, baby?

You know what I want, I want to create more English/German events, because I love listening to German poetry. That’s what I want to do. And just generally organize events where different kinds of artists come together – poets, musicians, everyone – it just makes a more interesting evening. And I want to encourage more people to write, with workshops and that. Because writing’s given me so much. I know that sounds a bit beauty-pageant-mäßig but it’s true.

Has our interview with Niti whetted your appetite for more? Well, come and see her perform at the two My English Class gigs this month – and add her on Myspace:

http://www.myspace.com/nitid


APRIL HIGHLIGHTS:

Don't miss My English Class Birthday Special

Everyone's favourite Essex Girl is turning 29 next week and she wants to celebrate with a fantastic spoken word performance piece called YouFuckingBitch, which she may or may not have quite finished writing yet. Followed by disgusting stand-up by Ben Knight and poetry and stories from Niti and Paradox Paul. If you say the secret password you'll get in for a mere three euros – that password is “Let us eat cake!”

WHERE: Karakas Bar, Kurfürstenstr. 9, U1-Kurfürstenstr., Schöneberg
WHEN: Sunday, 5th April, from nine onwards

Jaci & BenExperience the fun at New Word Order

Niti's favourite Berlin spoken word event – because, as she tells us, “anything can happen.” That means poetry, prose, comedy, mime, dance, song ... personally I'm holding out for striptease. Keep your fingers crossed everyone. I've never forgotten that stripper who stripped off in Cafe Rosa that one time. It was personally the highlight of my entire life, but maybe that's just me....

WHERE: Mano Cafe, Skalitzer Str. 46a), U1 Görlitzer Bahnhof, Kreuzberg
WHEN: April 8, starting at 9 pm

Go to English Theatre Berlin

There are two great new plays on at the English Theatre next month. First up, Ashley Brandt, who wrote last year's hit The Harvest Chamber, has written a new play called Prophecy of a Nameless Eskimo. It's gonna be darkly humorous, absurd and thought-provoking.

You should also check out the Albee play, Three Tall Women, which Priscilla Be’s directing. At first I thought it sounded like a Dr. Seuss book but apparently it's the best thing he wrote outside of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? And there'll be an all-female cast & crew on this production! Check it out:

WHERE: English Theatre Berlin, Fidicinstr. 40, U6-Platz der Luftbrücke, Kreuzberg
WHEN: Prophesy of a Nameless Eskimo – April 8 – 11, 8 pm
Three Tall Women – April 21 – 24, April 28 – May 2, 8 pm

Enjoy some Midnight Poetry

I only just realized that it literally is Midnight Poetry – duh, Jacinta. What it is, that, starting midnight, three poets get one hour – that's twenty minutes each – to present some of their works. Afterwards there's time for a question & answer session, my personal nightmare. Writers can read in German or English. This month's writers include Idyll Wilde and Sven Grasman.

WHERE: Coffee Karma, Sonntagstr. 30, S-Bhf Ostkreuz, Friedrichshain
WHEN: April 10 – 23:45 hours!

Beatstreet it up!

And don't forget to check out Beatstreet – a night full of poetry and music and loads more – hosted by Rob Grant.

WHERE: Coffee Karma, Sonntagstr. 30, S-Bhf Ostkreuz, Friedrichshain
WHEN: April 24, starting at 9 pm.

Pay tribute to Alexis Colby

Paula Varjack and Tom Mars will be among the musicians, poets and performers paying tribute to Alexis Colby at Wonderbar. Hosted by Tom Mars. For more info check out Paula's Myspace: www.myspace.com/paulavarjack

WHERE: Wonderbar, Wienerstr. 45, U1 Görlitzer Bahnhof, Kreuzberg
WHEN: April 25, starting at 10 pm

Get your fill of My English Class

JacintaOnce a month's just not enough, is it? We thought not – and that's why we're also performing at our favourite old haunt, the East of Eden bookshop. We'll be back with Jörg too – and special guests Niti and Stuart Austen.

WHERE: East of Eden, Schreiner Str. 11, U5 Samariter Str, Friedrichshain
WHEN: April 28, starting at 9 pm

Go to Kaffee Burger

And don't forget ExBerliner's legendary Wednesdays at Kaffe Burger night, which this month will be graced by Rose-Anne Clemont, writer and journalist from New York, and the Cowboy Killers.

WHERE: Torstr. 58/60, U2 Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, Mitte
WHEN: April 29, starting from 8 pm

OTHER STUFF YOU SHOULD DO:

Buy a copy of Dummy magazine. Ben & I wrote an article about English people living in Berlin in there. To order, go to their website: www.dummy-magazin.de/

Become our fan on Facebook! According to the Guardian, MySpace is on its way out – it's all over, Red Rover. Well, I prefer MySpace to Facebook. However, I am more addicted to Facebook and I refuse to twitter. But anyways you can join our group on Facebook or become our fan, simply search for “My English Class.”

Check out lady gaby's article in 3 AM Magazine – she says we're “not Benny Hill, like.” www.3ammagazine.com/3am/deutsche-girl-poets/

Come on, check out my blog on http://bitchslutcuntgirlwoman.blogspot.com/

Look out for a new fanzine around Neukölln and Kreuzberg. It has a story in there about my Muschi itching, it's all fictional, of course. It's called the short age and you can find out more by mailing theshortage@gmail.com.

And last but not least, even if it is a dying social networking site, become our friend on MySpace: www.myspace.com/myenglishclass.

See you next month, possums!

Jacinta XXXX


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