14 March 26 - april 1, 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Páramo says that when the show was first being organized, Debris had already picked some of Páramo’s poems in mind and began working out melodies and riffs to go with each one. “The band was just starting ... so I think this first rehearsal was one of the first times that they’d all come together,” Páramo says. “I just read some of my poems, and then they tried out the riffs that JD had planned, then we only did that one rehearsal and did the show.” A Place for Poets P áramo’s love for poetry began at a young age, but it took him time to ex- plore his journey with the art form. “I didn’t have a lot of stories that were shared with me from my family; they were kind of very quiet and didn’t want to cause too much of a fuss,” Páramo says. “They’re Mexican immigrants, and they became citi- zens here, so they were all work and not much story.” Despite not growing up with stories passed down, Páramo went in search of his own. “My journey to poetry is about kind of ex- cavating my personal history, my family his- tory, and then finding my way into making my own story,” Páramo says. Though the poet has only performed with D-CLAIM once, Páramo has made it his mis- sion to return to the monthly showcase as an audience member to support Debris and the broader Dallas poetry community. Another poet who has collaborated with D-CLAIM is Dallas native and visual artist Xxavier Carter. Also an alum of SMU, Carter received his Master’s in Art before connect- ing with Debris through a colleague. Almost as soon as the two met, Carter developed an appreciation for Debris’ proficiency in poetry. “We had one day of rehearsal, and when we did the performance, there were around four pieces and some improvisation,” Carter says. “We really just worked off each other’s groove ... the process was efficient.” The show’s focus on collaboration al- lowed Carter to build on his own voice as a poet, as he praises Debris and the other band members as a “true band.” “I read the poems in rehearsal, found a few that worked, took some out, and kind of developed the set list,” Carter says. “They gave me a good breath, like a good birth to move the words around and kind of do it my way.” Ultimately, Debris wants to continue to the stage with poets like Carter and Páramo not only to foster rich, creative collaboration but to pay it forward, one poem at a time. “I’m not coming from a real privileged background; I was a nontraditional student and part of the working class,” Debris says. “I’m not coming from a place of privilege, but I have been given great opportunities, so I want to, in my own humble ways, continue to pass those opportunities around.” D-CLAIM’s next performance will feature April Sojourner Truth Walker at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, at The Wild Detectives. Bsides from p13 SCAN HERE TO ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS
