Interview with Brazilian Youth Author Cotta

February 1, 2023
 by
Cotta (Matheus Cotta) is 23 years old and is a poet. He is Slam Master for Paz em Guerra (Peace in War) and he created Slam Quarentena (Slam Quarantine), which was the first poetry battle byLIVES in Brazil. Since 2016 he has lived the spoken word intensely. In 2018 he represented his State (Rio de Janeiro) in the Regionals for poetry doubles and this year he became National Champion of Slam Brazil and Vice-champion ofAmericas Slam in Spoken Word. He also works with interventions/workshops in schools and colleges. Read more: @ocotta_
Cotta tem 23 anos é poeta, Slammaster do Paz em Guerra e criou o Slam Quarentena que foi a primeira batalha de poesias por lives no Brasil, desde 2016 vive intensamente a poesia falada, em 2018 representou o seu estado (Rio de Janeiro) no Regional de poesia em dupla e esse ano está classificado para SlamBR (nacional de poesia falada), também trabalha com intervenções/oficinas em escolas e faculdades.
Cotta, o que inspirou seu poema Marcelo?
Essa poesia do Marcelo, quando era adolescente e fazia um projeto da igreja com moradores de rua. E nisso a gente acabava interagindo e acabava aprendendo muito e escutando muitos moradores de rua. Essa poesia, é realmente uma poesia de algo verídico, lógico, com algumas coisas que eu acrescentei como o final, foi algo que acrescentei. E essa poesia é a vida de duas pessoas em uma só, uma do Marcelo e outra de um outro morador de rua lá do Alcantra. 
Cotta, what inspired your poem Marcelo?
About the poem, "Marcelo": when I was a teenager and I was doing a church project with People experiencing homelessness. And in this project we ended up interacting and learning a lot and listening to many people struggling with living on the street. This poem is really a poem of something true, of course, with some things that I added; the ending was something I added. And this poem is the life of two people in one; one is Marcelo and the other is another person on the streets in Alcantra, Rio de Janeiro.
Como você se descobriu em"Slam Poetry"?
Então, conheci o Slam Poetry pela internet. Logo após teve um projeto na minha escola, na época que ainda estudava, e assim eu conheci o Slam Poetry. Também tinha um Slam na minha cidade, onde eu também batalhei e foi tudo junto nesse mesmo período.
How did you discover yourself in "Slam Poetry"?
So, I got to know Slam Poetry through the internet. Soon after there was a project at my school, when I was still studying, and that's how I got to know Slam Poetry.There was also a Slam in my city, where I was a contender and it all happened around the same time.
Quais são suas experiências mais memoráveis com seus competidores?
Eu já tive muitos momentos assim memoráveis com o Slam, mas essa semana acredito que tive um momento mais especial para mim. Foi a conquista do Slam Nacional, posso ter agora um outro momento memorável também, porque estou indo disputar agora, neste exato momento, o Americano de poesia, poesia falada. E é isso, acredito que o melhor momento ainda vai acontecer.
What are your most memorable experiences with your competitors?
I have had many such memorable moments with Slam Poetry, but this week I believe was a most special moment for me. I won the National Slam. I might now have another memorable moment too, because I am on my way to compete just now, at this very moment, in the American Slam, for spoken poetry. And that's it, I believe that the best moment is yet to come.
Se pudesse descrever a vida no Brasil em três palavras, quais seriam elas?
Caos, afeto e fé.
If you could describe life in Brazil in three words, which would they be?
Chaos, affection, and faith.

Photo © @luzcameraedinossauros

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UNDER THE MADNESS
A magazine for teen writers—by teen writers. Under the Madness brings together student editors from across New Hampshire under the mentorship of the state poet laureate to focus on the experiences of teens from around the world. Whether you live in Berlin, NH, or Berlin, Germany—whether you wake up every day in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North or South America—we’re interested in reading you!