Hailing from Muskegon, Michigan, Dear Love the Poet has built a unique voice through honesty, resilience, and the power of storytelling. Her journey as an artist is rooted in real-life experiences that shaped not only who she is today, but also the message behind her work.
Growing up in the foster care system, Dear Love the Poet faced a childhood filled with uncertainty and the constant search for stability. While those experiences came with challenges, they also helped build a level of strength and resilience that would later become the foundation of her artistry. During those difficult years, writing became more than a hobby—it became a safe place. Poetry gave her a voice long before she felt comfortable speaking her truth out loud.
Although she has been writing for as long as she can remember, poetry took on a deeper meaning as she entered adulthood. What began as putting thoughts on paper evolved into a powerful form of healing and self-expression. Through poetry, she found a way to process life, tell her story, and connect with others facing similar struggles. Today, every piece she creates is rooted in real emotions and lived experiences.
Musically and creatively, Dear Love the Poet draws inspiration from a wide range of influential artists. Growing up, she listened to legends such as Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, India.Arie, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Tupac, and Michael Jackson. As her passion for writing grew, she also found inspiration in spoken word artists including J. Ivy, Marc Marcel, and Aja Monet. Their work showed her that poetry belongs on major stages and can create the same emotional impact as any song or film.
When describing her artistic style, Dear Love the Poet calls it cinematic spoken word. Rather than simply reciting poetry, she blends powerful storytelling with music, visuals, and emotion to create immersive experiences. Her goal is for audiences to feel every word and leave with the sense that they didn’t just hear a poem—they lived through it.
Much of her recent work has been developed alongside talented producers and engineers who helped bring her vision to life. Every project is crafted with intention, ensuring that the production enhances the message without overshadowing the poetry itself.
Growing up, she spent much of her time outdoors with friends, participating in school activities, and being present in community spaces where people naturally gathered. More than anything, she became an observer of people and their stories. Those everyday interactions and life experiences would later become some of her greatest sources of inspiration as a writer.
Her latest release, Beautifully Chaotic, is a cinematic spoken word album accompanied by a visual film. The project explores themes of love, grief, heartbreak, healing, and self-discovery. At its core, the album reflects the belief that beauty and brokenness often exist side by side, and that healing begins when people have the courage to tell their stories honestly.
While Beautifully Chaotic marks an important milestone in her career, Dear Love the Poet views it as just the beginning. She continues to develop new cinematic spoken word projects designed to push the boundaries of traditional poetry while creating powerful experiences through film and storytelling. Her mission is to help expand what spoken word can look and feel like for audiences around the world.
As she continues her journey, she gives special thanks to the people who have supported her vision along the way. She credits her girlfriend, Stefanie Scott, for her unwavering love and encouragement, her son, Brenden Waldon, for inspiring her daily, and her cousin, Joshua Holden, for always believing in her dreams.
