Nicolas Espinosa and Sean Wouters are the binary stars who power the Deaf Poets, a two man garage blues and rock band from Miami Beach that formed about a year ago. The duo met in elementary school but their music is anything but elementary. It’s passionate, raw, complex and soulful. The Deaf Poets are set to release their first album March, 2011. Next month their new music video comes out. And, they’re currently preparing for an upcoming performance at the Carpe Noctem Benefit Concert for VH1’s Save the Music Foundation. Last week I spoke to Espinosa and Wouters between gigs about their musical collaboration and what powers and empowers them as performers.

Neil de la Flor: What was the genesis for the Deaf Poets?

NE: We have known each other since we were in art club back in elementary school. As our friendship grew, so did our understanding of music. By the time we hit high school we have both been in different groups together, including school related projects. The last music project we were in together fell apart due to lack of consistency in getting all of the 5 members together for practice. Most of the days Sean and I would be alone working and writing music. We decided to just write our own separate songs just for fun while we waited for everyone else to arrive. So what turned out to be just jamming and passing time ended up turning into great feedback from the audience. We scratched that group and decided to become Deaf Poets since there was more of a musical connection between the two of us.

ND: Define energy.

SW/NE: Energy basically means we have a good vibe on stage and a great amount of showmanship with each set. We don’t really know how good we are since we are not in the audience. Usually we tend to focus on each other and make sure that we feel great about the set.

ND: What elements do each of you bring to the band?

NE: There are no labels to a musician. Each person brings something unique to what they do with an instrument and everyone should embrace it.

SW: We’re both really hard on ourselves and we always want more. It’s hard for us to think we’re good but we definitely feel that were going in the right direction.

ND: “All Your Lies”, your first music video, is beautiful. Do you consider yourselves to be performance artists, musicians, or both?

Sean Wouters: I don’t know. That’s a hard question. I consider us both. We are performance artists because we’re known for our energy on stage but we have everything that we need to qualify as musicians. I played classical and jazz guitar for three years and Nicolas was the drum captain in high school.

ND: Sean, there’s a dark yet quirky and playful quality to your voice. Where does your voice come from and where does it live?

SW: When I am on stage I push my body. My throat and my diaphragm usually suffer after. When we play our slow songs we relax, usually close our eyes and allow everything to come out naturally. Basically nothing we do is pre-mediated. We try to have different experiences on stage while still being “tight”—we support each other on stage no matter what. Our voice comes from inside and we are passionate when we sing. ND: I’m curious about what motivates you and moves you to perform live. It takes guts.What was the defining moment in your career, either individually or as a group, that made you realize you had to be a musician?

SW: What motivates us is everything around us and the experiences we have had. Our motivations I think are very simple and circle around the idea that we love music, we love what we do, and we want to do this for the rest of our lives.

NE: As a child, I was surrounded by music. My father was a musician so I guess it’s safe to say that’s where I got my musical side. I’ve had an interest in percussion since I was a little boy but I never picked it up until I was 13. Ever since then I’ve dedicated my life to improving as a performer and as a musician. Being on stage lets me express myself in ways that you wouldn’t pick up on in a one-on-one conversation.

ND: Five years from now, Deaf Poets will be…

SW/NE: It’s hard to see what the future holds in a business as hard as this one. Whatever happens down the road we know that we are going to be doing what we love and stay friends.

ND: Who is your hero?

NE: Chuck Berry is my biggest musical hero.

ND: When you perform on stage in front of an audience, what does it feel like? Do you ever just want to run away or leap into the crowd?

NE: It’s a feeling that is hard to explain. I guess it’s almost like a first date. You feel pressure to make sure you do your best and leave a good impression. Have to watch what you say and wear and hope that they want to see you again.

ND: Tell me about what we can expect from the Deaf Poets in the next year. Album in the works? Any gigs planned?

SW/NE: We are working on our full length album which will hopefully be released early next year. A new music video is also being finished and should be out by the end of this year.

The Deaf Poets are scheduled to perform at the following venues: December 11 Carpe Noctem Benefit Concert for VH1 Save The Music Foundation, The German American Club, 11919 SW 56th Street, 6pm – 10pm, [email protected] or call (786)326-9658. December 17 Ben Katzman Going Away Party at Churchill’s For more information about Deaf Poets and their upcoming performances visit them on Facebook or Myspace.