Who are the coolest people you have met?
Egypt: So many. Actually too many to name. There was a point where a while ago I had actually met and played with all but one of the artists on my iPod ha. From the top of my head I can tell you that meeting Switchfoot changed a lot on both a personal, spiritual, and musical level. I couldn’t thank them enough for what they’ve done and meant to me. Juan Devo, Tony Hooper, Phil Keaggy, and The New Respects are all up there. Literally the entirety of the Danny Gokey and TobyMac band. The Protest will never not be cool to me. They guys in Random Hero and the entire SafeKept clan. On the other hand I’ve made some incredible friends through all of this like Rachel Nicely, Grace Fershee,the Nales, my Camp Electric family, and the Mott Family who may not be touring, but still mean just as much to me as anyone else in that list and the ones that I didn’t have the time to name.
I was blessed with the opportunity to tour throughout my late childhood, the entirety of my teen years, and I guess now at least the first part of my twenties. My Mom always said that it takes a village to raise a child. I just so happen to know that my village is this super mixed team of nomadic musicians and random people I happen to call Mom who are all scattered around the world at this point. Cool to me doesn’t mean that they play in a band, or travelling. It means that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they will push me to not only better my craft, but also move forward in my faith. I know that any of those people can be good examples of what it means to love people and love Christ. That’s why they’re awesome.
Will you be touring for most of the year?
Egypt: Yep! And I need a nap just thinking about that.
Do you have a following outside of the United States?
Egypt: Actually, yes! This is another one of those things that I never imagined would happen. I mean, I started recording my poetry in my bathroom so the idea that anyone would want to listen to it is humbling and confusing all at the same time. On an international front I’ve noticed I have a pretty solid Canadian and a United Kingdom following on Spotify. Although I have been requested in Brazil as well as parts of Mexico. I played a series of shows literally on the border earlier this year with DDF so we had a pretty diverse crowd. It was probably one of my favourite tour memories because of the language barrier. My very limited Spanish meshed with a pretty fun game of charades so it worked out but it must have looked pretty odd.
Do you have any offers yet?
Egypt: I can neither confirm nor deny the probable existence of hypothetical plans to come and possible visit my friends across the pond. All I can say is that I’m trying to figure out whether my Manchester United jersey still fits.
You have just recently turned 20 years old?
Egypt: Yep! On August 5th.
Do you still feel like a newbie in the industry or an old hand already?
Egypt: As a poet, I’ve never really felt like I was a part of the industry. Really, it’s more like I’m hanging around outside of the house and hiding in the collective industry’s bushes, occasionally making comments about what they’re eating for dinner. Every once in awhile I get to come inside, but generally I stay outside of it all. This also isn’t really a bad thing. Usually this is because poetry itself is relatively new to the music scene in my genres. I enjoy the ability to get to bounce back and forth between genres. I know that I have been around for awhile, but also that Egypt Speaks is more concerned for those who may not traditionally have a spot at the table. I’ve always wanted to be the person I needed when I was younger. If that means that I may end up on the outside of the mainstream “industry” I’m OK with that too.
What kind of advice would you give kids wanting to start out?
Egypt: First and foremost, if you are calling yourself a Christian artist, your music, your actions, and your message are all going to be representative of Christ. If you are unsure, unsteady, or otherwise unstable in your faith, consider strengthening your foundation before you attempt to lead others to a light you may have gotten lost in finding. I cannot tell you the amount of people, artist, fan or otherwise that I have met that while having great intentions found themselves stumbling and tripping others in their walk because they were not prepared for what all artists deal with. Music itself is a ministry, and as a member of a ministry you’ll find that nothing is as straight forward as you think that it is. It’s OK to have questions, to take time to heal, its OK to be honest about where your walk is, because if you’re not, touring itself could be more harm than good.
Remember that you are worth more than your Facebook numbers, album sales, and publicity. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean that someone isn’t listening to you. Be the person that you needed when you were younger and show God wherever you go. You never know who is watching.
Very well said, last year in 2017 you released your full-length Letters & Scars, what inspired you to write the album?
Egypt: For me 2017 was a very very weird year. It was filled with a lot of highs and lows, but what it left me with was a lot of questions. I remember that whenever I had questions as a kid, I was encouraged to ask them, to write out my problems in letter form and deliver them to whoever I had written them for. It helped me to organise my thoughts and reason through complex issues. Letters and Scars is just that, except these are letters to things that don’t have a mailing address.
You are quite the storyteller, I also see that you have also written your own book?
Egypt: I did! The book was entitled Stories named after my first national release in 2015. We only sell those in digital format now but a second installment of that book is on its way.
Has poetry always been a passion of yours?
Egypt: Yes! Though it does have its ups and downs. I love the passion and intensity that poetry can bring if done correctly. It’s where the message meets emotion and I find in that middle ground things can change.
What kind of topics really interest you the most?
Egypt: This varies wildly based on how I am feeling. Poetry wise I love deep and introspective questions. I have a whole poem about how light has weight, and if being wise means that I am enlightened then how much more of a burden am I bearing. At the same time I am also pretty ridiculous, so the poem right after that is about how incredibly awkward I am. A lot of my writing is my prayer life. The lyrics are things that I have asked and the answers that I have gotten from those questions. Because it is my prayer life though, you’re getting both the deep questions and whatever the Egypt equivalent is of “Why is the sky blue?”.