Asia Rainey paints panoramic perspectives with words, inspired by the multifarious movements of life. Born and raised in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, she was bathed in diversity, simplicity and adversity – all of which fueled her growth as an eclectic artist with an intense passion for poetry.

Introduced to “open mic” by chance at Sweet Lorraine’s, a popular jazz bistro and one of the historic landmarks of the spoken word community in New Orleans, Asia fell in love with the beauty and freedom of self-expression. She immediately embraced its power to convey positive messages through a rhythmic, entertaining medium. Fed by the plethora of talented artists at poetry venues such as Sweet Lorraine’s (produced by African American Shakespear), Up Close and Personal (Hard Rock Café), Ebony Square, and Pozazz (True Brew Café), she found a renewed connection with poetry that spoke to her spirit, social awareness, and sense of self. Seeking to spread the influence of poetry further in the city, her co-produced venues at The Chocolate Factory (with Lionel King, Spoken Soul Sessions) and The Line stimulated spoken word interest in new audiences.

She earned a place on the 2005 New Orleans National Slam Team with local poetic icons Asali Devan, Sunni Patterson, African American Shakespear, GF Soldier, L. Edwards and Lionel King. Asia has since added recordings of her work to her accomplishments in a poetic compilation entitled, “Soul Chant”, an appearance on the CD compilation Artists’ Collabo (Unknown Poet, 2005), and then recorded her first spoken word CD, No Rainbows for the Colored (2007). Her most recent offering is a guest appearance on the Ashe Cultural Art Center’s CD, Her Name is New Orleans, joining artists Charmaine Neville, Zion Trinity, Sunni Patterson, and more.

She has been welcomed as a featured and guest performer at numerous poetry venues, festivals, benefits, and more in various U.S. cities, sharing stages with some of the most talented independent poets and musicians in the country. In fall of 2007, she added acting to her repertoire, earning the key role of “Aunt Missy” in the theatre production of Purlie (Ossie Davis), directed by Tommye Myrick at Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre; she was nominated for an Ambi Award, and the production also won several Big Easy awards and media acclaim. Enthusiastically in the "theatre classroom" in Spring 2008, Asia went from stage manager to assistant director of the play "The Unacquainted" (Pamela Nolan-Davis), directed by Derrick Deal. She has also starred in two Ashe Cultural Arts Center productions: The Vagina Monologues, directed by Dollie Rivas, with a special taping for the productions’ author, Eve Ensler; The Origins of Life on Earth (David Anderson), also directed by Ms. Rivas.

Asia wrote and performed an award-winning spoken word piece for a television and radio commercial, produced by LPHI for the STEPS to a Healthier New Orleans’ Treat You Right campaign, speaking out about making healthy living changes to the community (Zehnder Communications: ADDY Award®, national TELLY Awards).

She also returned to spoken word venue production at the Juju Bag Café (The Gospel), in conjunction with the group she co-founded, Artist in Action (a collective of creative thinkers dedicated to combining talents and professional skills for social and artistic development initiatives.) In attempts to continue broadening the exposure of spoken word in the city, she partnered with Chris "One Eye" Williams (Truth Universal, New Orleans Renaissance Society, etc.) to produce UniVerses at the Craige Cultural Arts Center. Also at Craige, Asia connects the power of spoken word with education, working with the GED program in creative writing and English as well as preparing to institute spoken word classes at the center. She is currently teaching weekly spoken word classes at Edna Karr High School in Algiers and at Job1 for LSYOU.

Asia now co-produces spoken word venues, is Program Director for WordPlay New Orleans (www.wordplayno.org - spoken word education and related special projects), and was recently selected as a Gulf Coast Fellow in support of her endeavors. While Asia works on her second book and CD, as well as other artistic pursuits including music, theatre, she has been working with the collaborative group Emancipate (Vicki Randle {Tonight Show}, Alix Olson, GaBrilla Ballard, Sunni Patterson, Pamela Means, and Cris Williamson) based in New York (http://www.emancipationinitiative.net).

Of all her pursuits, one brings the greatest smile to her face: serving as coach, mentor and organizer for the New Orleans Youth Slam Team (NOYS). With the help of many other talented spoken word artists and supporters in the city, including sponsorship from the City of New Orleans, Jericho Road, and others, the 2008 NOYS competitive spoken word team placed 10th in the nation at Brave New Voices in Washington, D.C. Asia proudly continues after three years as coach of these talented teens.