*****I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO ANY MUSIC PLAYED IN THIS EPISODE*****Nearing a decade of living, breathing and being poetry, Kia Flow continues her quest to speak her words and learn from the “ways of the world.” As a native of Jacksonville FL she admits she's no stranger to hard times and selfish mistakes. It was poetry that lifted her veil to sharpen her perspective and allow her to reflect in depth. In a short period of time Kia Flow started to make a name for herself in the local poetry community. She began exploring the world of entertainment by being provided the platform to host a local open mic What's the Word Wednesdays at the FLA Riders Club. There she was able to hone in on her improv skills and ability to bring laughter to even the smallest of crowds. After that she began to become requested for more features, benefits, mini concerts and discussion topic shows; which landed her a gig with Under Da Scope Ent as the host of Venus Versus Mars The Open Dialogue to Intimacy. The show focused on relationships and romance and was filled with controversial questions, arguments but most importantly, laughter. Acting has always been the second nature of Ms Flow, so there was no surprise that she would get her “feet wet” in theater. She landed a role on bLackWomanDynamikReBorn written and produced by Jana Bradley. Kia Flow also began to take her works on the road making her presence known outside of Jacksonville, performing anywhere from Orlando, Miami, Tampa and Gainesville FL to St Louis MO, Mobile AL and Atlanta GA to name a few. She participated in the 2012 Savannah Urban Arts Fest and simultaneously released her EP Just Use it as a Coaster that included 5 tracks that she actually wanted you to listen to! In 2013 Kia Flow released her mini web series Going with the Flow on YouTube. Its a humorous comedy about her and her fellow artist friends daily whimsical situations. The series was produced by ZoCode Films and directed by Kia Flow. That year she also was inducted into Black on Black Rhyme Jacksonville and she relocated to Charlotte continuing to make her name reign through the poetry community there. She was honored to be requested by Georgia ME to perform at her annual Tamika Fest in 2014 and was requested to perform for Charlotte's YWCA Stand Against Racism Rally that same year as well as 2015. Poetry competitions peeked her interest once she moved to NC and she gives credit to the art form for sharpening her performance skills and silencing her stage fright. She's competed in Soul Sista Slam CLT and Spartanburg, Bull City Slam, Asheville NC Slam, Respect Da Mic, SlamCharlotte and Queen of the South Slam to name a few. Kia has competed at Southern Fried Poetry Slam since 2015 in Little Rock Arkansas to Fayetteville NC in 2019 always ranking in the top 40 with the exception of 2017 in Louisville KY where she ranked 14th place. She also became the first person to represent SlamCharlotte for both WOWPS (Women of the World Poetry Slam) Dallas TX, and iWPS (Individual World Poetry Slam) San Diego CA in a single season, where she also ranked in the top 40. In 2018 she and her team SlamCharlotte brought home the victory for the National Poetry Slam Competition. BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE! Kia also has been a radio personality on a BlogTalk including her own show Going with the Flow Radio Show. She's also a closet singer that has decided to face her fears and sings whenever she has a band or when her spirit leads her to. She wrote the closing song to her first stage play titled "I Survived" and has had the opportunity to sing background for Christopher Williams, as well as open up for Angie Stone and K Michelle. In April of 2019 Kia Flow was awarded the Poet of Influence award by The Jax Poetry Fest. It was recognition for all of the hard work she has done in the name of poetry from her hometown Jacksonville, FL. What's next for Kia Flow? You can find her featuring around the country and she is als
