Roman J Leyva Interview

Here is the second in my series of interviews with artists who use words, sound and images. I asked Roman J Leyva, AKA Plague Mother, how these forms interact in his creative process, what experiences have recently inspired him and if he would share a few lines.

"I've always found myself particularly vulnerable to words and visual art. They tend to create emotion within me. My choices and explorations in music, on the other hand, is more often a reflection of my emotions. So, oftentimes if I am writing or working on music, I am meditating on words and images that inspire something in me.

I have to say, the past year was a very tumultuous one, personally. I dealt with a great deal of loss and frustration. As my works are often outlets for negativity more so than positivity, this showed through, I'm sure.

'I've got glass in my foot. How'd it get there in my cement shoes?'"


Thanks so much Roman J!

Shooting Children

Driving dawn is wider did I remembered

what in my headgrasp died

up against skull clanging

waking waking waking dry.

Sunrise spread out over Cleveland like a Mother.

Here is a song – builds a well – welling chest – Here.

Here is this life

this life never so close so sweet

so close to the end of America.

O’ shell America.

Bridges coming down.

Water sitting empty.

And sudden March heat

exposes how dirty the air

dirty the air how dirty the air has become.

And never new again, not even in sudden spring.

Shame on us shame in our lungs shame the dirty air.

O’ Sweet Earth MAA – men are shooting children on your shaved body.

Florida – France – Afghanistan

Sweet Earth MAA – men are shooting children on your shaved body.