Grammy weekend was a non-stop whirlwind of excitement and celebration and we were honored to attend poet J. Ivy’s short film premiere in partnership with Bulleit Frontier Whiskey & UnitedMasters.
The night was filled with live performances by J. Ivy, poet Dailyn Santana, UnitedMasters artists like Col3trane, innovative complimentary cocktails, unique and sustainable lite bites, DJ sets by DJ OHSO & Siobhan Bell and the world premiere of J. Ivy’s s short film “A Toast To The Times” directed by Academy Award-nominated Director, Carlos Lopez Estrada.
Bulleit transformed a two-story warehouse into their Grammy weekend wonderland and it was giving. From cute cocktail carts and decor to the food display to the excellent vibes curated by the talented DJs, the night was nothing short of iconic. Not only that, the entire event was environmentally conscious from up cycled furniture to a “root to stem” menu, and local recycling and compostable partnerships.
“Designer and builder, Jimmy DiResta, created the furniture across the space including tables from 100-year-old doors and recycled metal table legs. Sunbeam Vintage in Highland Park, Los Angeles, also provided vintage pieces throughout the space.”
“Michelin Star Chef Josh Gill was responsible for food, alongside Stephanie Reading on cocktails. Both are known for driving forward the sustainable food and drink movement across California and produced menus using the same ingredients, utilizing the root to the stem to minimize waste. The produce was sourced from within 30 miles of the event venue, from eco-conscious purveyors, and was served on palm leaves.”
The guests in attendance were pioneers of art, sustainability, food and technology aligning with The Bulleit Pioneer Project which is a multi-year commitment to championing and amplifying those breaking new ground which includes J. Ivy and his new short film. “A Toast To The Times” is a 90-second motivational film that’s meant to uplift and inspire those living on the frontier of culture. J. Ivy speaks on “those who aren’t afraid to tap into their greatness”, and states “wisdom is weaved in the waves we make” in his new film. His words are intermixed with imagery, animation, typography and original footage curated by Carlos Lopez Estrada.
In addition to the premiere, Bulleit announced the Bulleit 100-Hour Commitment -” a promise to provide emerging pioneers with 100 hours of mentorship from established talent thanks to Bulleit’s long-standing relationship with music and creator platform, UnitedMasters.” UnitedMasters research revealed that mentorship is one of the most valuable and yet least accessible tools for growth. “The mentorship hours will be distributed across 2023 through activations, partnerships and digital content.”
Not only did J. Ivy take home a Grammy win for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album, he made history as the first poet since Maya Angelou to take home the gold. Post Grammys we caught up with J. Ivy to discuss his win and his plans for the future.
The Knockturnal: How does it feel to be the first poet since Maya Angelo to win the Grammy?
This must be truly an unforgettable moment, you literally made history!
J. Ivy: “Wow. Just hearing that- Maya Angelou- Dr Maya Angelou- one of the greatest“, “…to be the first since Dr Maya Angelou, the first poet. That’s a huge honor.”, “That statement alone sounds like a dream, it doesn’t sound real, but it is… and I’m just so grateful to be able to stand here and represent poets worldwide.”
The Knockturnal: What do you hope to accomplish next or what doors has this opened for you to achieve the next big thing you want to work on?
J. Ivy: “[I’m] working on more music, more collaborations, more creativity, more poetry and just continuing to put in work to help create a space for poets worldwide.”, “I’m super excited for y’all to see some amazing folks who are featured throughout like John Legend, Slick Rick, Verse, Coodie, and more.”
