Also available as audio-only on iTunes, Spotify, & wherever you get podcasts

Can Lady B build the perfect boyfriend?  Can 3 words be a poem? LA poetry royalty Arianna Basco graces the Clique leading the debate about the “Poetic Merit” of poetry on Instagram and Lady B blesses the Clique with a fiery sonnet during the ‘5 For Ya Eye’ poetry prompt.

[Episode Index]

• Soil From His Fingertips” | 0:37 
• Threads & Lines | 4:18 
• 2 Piece | “59” by Harry Baker | 10:55 
• 2 Piece | #poetry by @@costas_kournis | 27:20 
• 5 For Your Eye | 34:38

If you know about Lady Basco or “Our Mic,” the space she holds with her partner Beau Sia, then it’s easy to see why she would be high on the list to be a part of Pen Clique. Our Mic is a special place for artist and the community, a space where the regular boundaries and expectations of an Open Mic are mixed up into a new, more organic and raw experience. Interacting with Beau and Lady B in life can hold the same experience. This was what we wanted to capture, this is what we were so excited to share on Pen Clique.

Those expectations left us with a big lofty goal; create the space necessary for Lady B’s essence to shine through. We arrived the day of filming excited in a new way. Something about being at Lady Basco’s home with her kids running around, and family eagerly greeting us when we arrived made the feeling of arrival stand out amongst previous episodes. Part of the struggle of filming on location, especially in poet’s homes, is finding the right setting. Lighting, angles, furniture, backdrops are all things that need to be taken into account, so when Lady B suggested we set up in her kids playroom it brought a new kind of excitement to the pre production set up. We were not only in the house of the Goddess, but essentially setting up to play with poetry and words in a playroom filled with love and the beautiful messes that the Basco children had left behind. It was one of my favorite settings on Pen Clique to date, and such a beautiful way to display the youthful creativity and inspiration that is Lady Basco.

Kuya and I guided the Pen Clique ship safely through the episode waters, avoiding a few bumps and snares. Hiccups are a part of production and as I edited the audio episode, I found a big smile wrapped up in some behind the scenes magic we had to cut out. Fenix, Lady B’s baby boy, burst into the room curious and wanting to be a part of whatever it was that mom was doing in his playroom. He was removed and reassured that we would be done as soon as we finished recording, but it was a reminder of the essence of Lady B: that her kids are a part of everything she does, her family is with her in all endeavors, and she is willing to welcome so many people into her home and heart.

The actual episode was fun, and that is always the point, but Lady B did exactly what we hoped she would do: Be Lady B to the fullest degree!!! She gave us honesty about herself and reflection on her esteem and feelings. More importantly, she gave people a piece of hope and inspiration, a reminder that there are brilliant people out there that love you and believe in you enough to share a mic with you. Because as Lady B’s show slogan goes, “it’s not my mic, not your mic, it’s OUR mic”, and it was a blessing to see that magnanimous spirit shine true.

Write up by Daniel Hees

[Footnotes]

• Arianna Basco: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
• 2 Piece Combo: “59” -Harry Baker
• 2 Piece Combo: #Poetry @costas_kournis
  
• Music by The Dope Spot Studios Produced by Dom V
  
• Intro title & segment transitions animated by Seth Garnes