23 March 2020

Welcoming our new Creative Producer, Jesse Oliver!

Here at Express Media, we’re excited to announce that Jesse Oliver has been appointed Creative Producer! 

Jesse Oliver is a poet, performer, and producer from Nyoongar Boodja (Perth), passionate about words and building platforms for young and emerging writers. He brings 5 years of experience in the facilitation of creative events and programs to Express Media through a number of fun and exciting roles. These include Co-Director / Co-Manager of the National Young Writers Festival, Engagement Programs Producer at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, Producer of numerous community events for youth arts, and coerced family performances in the lounge room. 

As a writer, Jesse was crowned the Australian Poetry Slam Champion in 2017 and has since toured both nationally and internationally featuring at the Byron Bay Writers Festival, Ubud Readers & Writers Festival, the Singapore Writers Festival, and the Hong Kong International Literary Festival. He predominantly writes poetic love and solidarity propaganda, with a touch of ‘lecture from your enlightened dad’. 

We are absolutely thrilled to have Jesse join the team, and sat down for a chat to learn a little bit more about him.

1) What part about being Express Media’s Creative Producer are you most excited about?

I’ll be completely honest (this isn’t being published, right?).. Being Express Media’s Creative Producer is part of my elaborate ploy to meet some of the country’s rising writing stars and absorb their experiences and knowledge to better myself as a human bean. Part of that is making sure underrepresented voices have the loudest microphones and I’m most excited to provide skills and space for people to scream their truth to the world through whichever form of writing they choose. 

2) Are you a writer/artist/editor yourself? What do you like to create, and what do you like to read?

I’m a performance poet, so I predominantly enjoy creating writing to be consumed through the ears – but I’m also a fan of the reach of writing for the eyes! Right now I’m reading fellow WA mate Holden Sheppard’s ‘Invisible Boys’, whilst annoying my boyfriend with vocal noises of excitement as I hard relate to the struggles of growing up queer outside of the big city. I’ve also been known to dabble in a good essay now and again, as well as enthusiastically engage in discourse regarding world-rule plot holes in sci-fi/fantasy fiction. 

3) What do you hope to do after your time with Express Media?

Tough question! I guess I haven’t really thought that far ahead. I’m told the aim is to progress in your career, get a mortgage, and avoid avocado on toast. I love avocado on toast, I’ve written poetry about it. I think I’m lucky in the sense I’m really happy and grateful for where I am at most points in time. If anything, I’d want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to feel that way – so more platforms, more voices, more community, more love, and never stop writing until my breath fails me.