Meet Theo Gayle, the model exploring alcoholism, masculinity and love through poetry
This is A HOT MINUTE WITH, a quick-fire interview series championing all the rising talent catapulting into fashion, art and music’s fickle stratosphere. From pinch-me moments to bad dates and even worse chat-up lines, think of it as an overindulgent conversation – like the ones you have in sticky club toilets at 4.A.M. Except these guests don’t regret the overshare…
Courtesy of @caseygemmell
NAME THEO GAYLE
AGE 22
LOCATION London
STAR SIGN Sagittarius
LIFE MANTRA Archers always aim above their target to hit the bullseye. You should too.
“Little Richard, Richie Valens, Smokey Robinson, The Ronettes, Timi Yuro, Freda Payne, The Vogues…” - Theo Gayle lists all of the names off of his most-cherished playlist after promising that he “listens to an ungodly amount of stuff from the ‘60s and ‘70s.” And, although the conversation has taken a sharp turn away from literature and fashion, the 22-year-old poet and model is unstoppable when talking about his inspirations and passions. “Why do birds sing so gay…” he belts out down the phone, explaining that what he admires most about that period of music was its ‘pour your heart out’ approach to unrequited love. “It was like, I don’t care if you don’t love me because I’m going to tell you how much I love you. It wasn’t this macho persona of ‘I have to be stronger and bigger than this scenario,’” he says.
The mention of “this macho persona” isn’t the first, second or third time that Theo Gayle has touched upon the topic of masculinity during the conversation. Rather, it feels much like it is one of a number of issues that sits at the heart of what he is trying to explore through his work. Speaking with him, it’s surprising to discover that the man, who breaks into song and describes himself as “dandy,” discovered his knack for poetry through the darker moments in his life. His writing started three years ago during what he describes as “getting into a muddle with alcohol abuse”.
“It started off as notes. Little bits and pieces here and there to clear the muck out of my head. It started as self-pity ‘poor me, poor me’, and then it became this exploration of understanding addiction within young people, dealing with it, the experiences surrounding it... masculinity, love, intimate relationships. All of this is taken from my eyes.” For Theo Gayle, substance abuse quickly became the door to his creativity; the buffer between numbness and exploring the emotions that he wanted to put onto paper. “I convinced myself I could only write when inebriated,” he says, looking back in retrospect on a time that is very different to the one in which he finds himself now. Now sober, the poet, who regularly shares his suit-and-tie fits with his growing Instagram following, is looking ahead - with great modesty - at plans for releasing his second poetry book later this year. “I’m not some sort of influential person. I’m just a kid who writes poetry… and does it well enough for people to appreciate it,” he concludes, before deciding what to do with the rest of his day off in his home borough of Camden.
Ry Gavin: What would you say to the people who think poetry is a dying passion?
Theo Gayle: It’s far from that! In fact, if anything, it’s only growing. With events in the world ranging from the political to movements such as Black Lives Matter etc. there have spawned many poets. Many young, passionate artisans have come forward to share their views in a way that can be easily digested. Especially during this time, there are events on a daily basis (e.g. on a political spectrum) that are invoking such passionate young people to come forward and speak their mind about topics that really grind their gears, you know? Which I believe is a wonderful thing and will only grow and produce some of the best work we have seen for a while.
RG: Which poets do you draw inspiration from?
TG: Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen. I have 3 of their first edition poetry books that sit on my bedside table next to another first edition poetry collection by the dear Emily Dickinson.
RG: In your eyes, which designer defines British fashion?
TG: Fred Perry is up there. Although, it does have ties to certain groups that I do not endorse. Another primary one would be Vivienne Westwood - a pioneer in my eyes.
RG: What is the best line from a poem you’ve written?
TG: I’m Love,
When love is a newly pressed fiver,
Going up someone’s nose,
I’m crack to a pipe,
Making everything seem alright,
I’m brown to a vein,
You’ll never be the same again.
RG: What advice would you give to people just starting out writing poetry?
TG: With poetry, it’s all subjective so no poem is more valid than another and the ones that are adored are simply just known or older and have stood the test of time. Do not become disheartened by the lack of traction you may get when starting out because it’s your work, your thoughts, feelings and opinions. And do not feel you have to write certain things to fit in with current world events. Write what feels right to yourself and do not listen to all opinions that may come your way, because the work you produce will speak for itself and because your work is your opinion and you should never have to fold in that respect.
RG: Where do you write best?
TG: My room, the couch, the tube, the bath. Literally anywhere that allows for comfort and tranquility.
RG: Only one London borough can stay - which one?
TG: Camden.
RG: What are you trying to achieve with your poetry?
TG: I’ve always said that if I can help one person, assist one person in making changes in their life or have someone go ‘you know what, he gets it’ or ‘I’m going to seek help for that’ means that I’m achieving exactly what I set out to do. For someone to relate to my work and find solace in the words is a dream. Also to bring a new fresh youthful take on what tends to be viewed as an old sort of practice would be wonderful. Inspiring people to produce their own works would also be grand. To show, in the face of adversity, marvellous things can come from such dark, twisted and wonderfully ugly times, and that it will not always be doom and gloom.
RG: What’s one thing that you hate people doing in public?
TG: You know when you’re in central, going about your business, going from A to B and there may be a group of people or a couple and they just stop... literally stop and you sort of have to drift around or it’s so abrupt you just ram into the back of them. Those people.
RG: Who is your celebrity crush?
TG: Heather Baron Gracie, Kate Moss and Anya Taylor-Joy.
RG: If you could collaborate with any designer/brand, who would it be?
TG: Prada or Fred Perry. I’d love to do something with my poetry and clothing, be it a poem on a French cuffed shirt or even a collection under the name of a poem I have written.