West Indian Rhythm Konnection – Radio Kaiso

West Indian Rhythm Konnection – Radio Kaiso [#sekritivLIVE]

very POWERFUL lyrics

Trinidad James on Synergy Nights

Trindad James speaks with Jason Williams (Palance) on the set of Synergy TV’s Synergy Nights

DESTRA Soaring To New Heights

new heights indeed… its a press release…

DESTRA SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS
PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release
February 6, 2013.

DESTRA – Call My Name

After an exciting 2012 Team Destra is raising the bar again. In 2012, Destra took the time to make strides online building her global following by 40% through well planned online campaigns. Destra also took the time to give access and build with her fans through contests, and personal appearances. The pace will only get more intense in 2013 as the season jumps off. With fresh new tracks and videos Destra’s energized and focused.

Mobile App launch: The Destra app was launched January 2012, giving her fans a way to stay connected anywhere. Destra is very active in social media from Twitter to Facebook book and Instagram; Destra is one of the most active artist online. Destra will tell you, she loves to hear from her fans and makes a real effort to keep in touch. The Destra APP will make this even easier. You’ll find new music, new event listings, exclusive offers for app only users. With plans to evolve the App to offer more to fans, it’ll be something worth checking into this coming year. www.mydestra.com

New Music: Call my name, Carry on , Wassy , Rip D Runway…….. Destra has picked up the pace going harder and building her musical repertoire. Working with GBM, Precision Productions to name a few, many the prominent Soca hit makers have given Destra some certified hits for 2013 . With no plans of slowing down, Destra will be starting to record again come April 2013. She’s excited about being able to try something new as plans are being made to go in the studio with Grammy award winning producer Boi1da (Rick Ross, Eminem, Jay Z, Drake, Nicki Minaj) in the coming months. Not steering away from Soca but seeing whats possible by staying active and open minded.

Renewal of Digicel relationship: As a long standing sponsor Digicel renewed their contract with Destra for another year last summer. With new initiatives and global strategy Destra and her team are putting into play starting 2013, Destra is really looking forward to growing the relationships with her sponsors. Digicel being a long standing supporter of her brand Destra intends to carry them with her through out the world. She say’s “ No matter where we go in the world we have to come home, and building brand loyalty is borderless”. Her plans are to introduce new exciting initiatives and work with.

Destra can also be followed via the following links:

- Facebook.com/officialdestragarcia
- Twitter.com/destragarcia
- YouTube.com/destragarcia
- Soundcloud.com/destragarcia

For more information, contact Chase Parsons at: chase@parsonscreative.ca or Brian Morris at: Bambooentertainment@gmail.com

Trinidad… where my people

we scattered all over the globe. some representing at the olympics. others in Geneva making absolute fools of themselves and giving others impressions of us being totally immature… absolutely true.

And at home we have our panties up in a bunch coz one fella keeps Going for Gold and members of one of our TRIBEs shutterstocked us. Let’s not forget the other group who celebrates being emancipated by annually seeking government subventions.

In other news I am going to attempt some schooling and I am still willing to work for RENT/ MORTGAGE…

ramadan Mubarak and hope you had a Happy no Public Holiday Month of July…

Chutney in yuh Soca

Chutney in yuh Soca

by Riposte Pictures

An arts documentary examining the phenomenon of “chutney soca“, a musical hybrid from Trinidad & Tobago which blends the traditions of the islands’ two biggest ethnic groups – Indian and African. As much political as musical, “chutney soca” seems to offer a way for the two cultures, often perceived as being mutally antagonistic, to come together in a new exciting fusion of sounds.

Directed by Karen Martinez
21 mins
made for the Arts Council of Great Britain & Channel 4 TV (UK)

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COSMIC SHIFT

Cosmic Riddim - J-Rod Records

 

 

i am impatiently waiting for it to appear in my inbox so i could make my lil riddiMIX…

 

on that note i am pleased to see one of the minds behind the Cosmic Riddim get a lil write up in the papers… go Jarrod… no not the Subway dude… this is the man behind JRod Records…  yeah the 2nd Chances, Life Lessons and the BarCode Riddims… i glad he say it and that it in print… i eh no producer so my rants are usually limited to the 50 folk who subscribe to this blog… thanks to you all… here is what J-Rod had to say…

 

“If you look on the Internet right now, you will see soca listed under world music. That has to change. We need to see soca standing on its own.” Touching on the current rift in the local industry with some artistes complaining of unfair airplay, Faria says “there is no real proof” that a “soca mafia” exists. “It’s such a saturated market that it really just boils down to the work you put in and the relationships you build,” he reasoned. And in an industry where an artiste can be “in today and out tomorrow,” the QRC graduate believes that it’s also necessary for aspiring soca stars to take advantage of all avenues available in this technological era. “When you look at it, all the big acts have a Facebook and Twitter page. New artistes need to put in the ground-work and market themselves,” he advised. “It’s a very competitive industry and I don’t think anybody can deny that.”
Jarrod’s taking soca to the world One beat at a time
Published: Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Cherisse Moe

 

some say that it is Cosmic Shift… like you eh listen to Garlin intro… i do say islandPOOP at times… only coz i doh like the genre separation… music is music… strength and powers to you and all associated bredren…

 

 

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PAYOLA – SOCAlled artistes count lo$$es

Soca artistes count $$ losses
…hit by lack of airplay and global economic downturn
Published:
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Michelle Loubon

From fete to fete, artistes like Machel Montano, Iwer George, Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons, Kees Dieffenthaller, Rodney “Benjai” Le Blanc, Destra Garcia and Dexter Stewart (Blaxx) pleased partygoers. For C2k12, they are set to ignite passions with the infectious music known as soca. As the countdown to Carnivalesque celebrations intensifies, other artistes have thrown their hats in the rings. They, too, can lay claim to producing sweet soca songs and thought-provoking calypsoes. However, there is a major setback—the lack of airplay. Wringing their hands in frustration, artistes have complained vehemently that they are not getting airplay. Even if they do, airplay is inadequate.
For C2K12, the situation is even more grave. Popular artistes like Denise Belfon have registered their angst at disc jockeys. In a Guardian interview (January 12) Belfon said: “What happen? Is only Machel Montano it has as an artiste in Trinidad? I am not taking anything away from him. He had done a whole heap of music for the season. But there are other artistes and the songs that can be played between his whole repertoire that they want to push.” While die-hard fans lament the lack of airplay for their beloved soca sons and daughters, artistes have to count their financial losses, too. They have to deal with the loss of dollars and cents on their soca product and battle the buffeting winds of a global economic downturn.

Among those who shed insight into the grave situation affecting artistes was ace arranger Leston Paul. He has been riding a crest of popularity based on “Archbishop of Pan.” It is a collaborative effort between pannist Len “Boogsie” Sharpe and composer Gregory Ballantyne. It has been vocalised by the Lydian Singers. Paul spoke with a great deal of authority since he is inside the core of the industry and has produced mega hits like the late Arrow’s Hot! Hot! Hot! Interviewed on Thursday, Paul said: “The lack of airplay had been a major problem for years.” He was impressed at the proliferation of artistes who had sought the nearest studio.
Paul added: “This year, more artistes recorded. A lot of them got inspiration from last year. The young fellas are recording helter skelter. They are hoping to bombard the airwaves with products just for Carnival.” Paul painted a sobering picture of the reality of demand and supply. He said: “Now the scenario is really and truly, T&T is too small to accommodate a barrage of artistes. There are too many artistes for disc jockeys to play for a two-month period. It is automatic good artistes will fall by the wayside and beautiful tunes will not be heard and enjoyed.”

He felt the problem could be addressed with proper planning and a prolonged playing time that precursed the Carnival season. Paul said: “You cannot expect to have all these CDs and artistes to be played in a two-month period unless they make it mandatory for it to be played.” At the same time, Paul said they are vying for top honours in the coveted competitions like the Soca Monarch, Dimanche Gras and Road March titles. He said: “While the focus is on these competitions, they are not looking at the holistic survival of the  industry. They are using the music industry as a springboard to be heard and to promote and advertise themselves.”

$$ to record
Zeroing on the dollars and cents, Paul said: “A novice might spend about $5,000 to $6,000 to record a song. It depends upon who is producing it and what company they are going to. They might gravitate to a reputable producer: ie, one  who has produced hits for the last five years or so. No matter if they are new or established, artistes still pay their monies for the works they are producing. Even if they are an established artiste and their career is at the lowest ebb they would still have to pay. “It does not matter if they are in the mix like Kees or Machel. They get a quotation, but it would be a lot more than $6,000.” Paul noted artistes were “taking a gamble” each time they recorded a song. He said: “It’s either you make something or do something and if nothing happens that is the reality for the season. It is back to the drawing board for another year.”

There is the need to create a year-long listening audience. Paul added: “If soca music was playing right through the year and people could make it more sustainable, it would benefit the artistes. The majority of people who are recording would not lose out. They might be assimilated in other ways like videos, jingles, lectures and fetes.” But the grim reality is only a few are getting airplay. “The rotation is airplay only for a few.”
He posed a burning question: “What about the ones who got played last year? What about those who will only get played this year? The lack of airplay only becomes news when a popular person’s career is at an ebb or an all time low. The problem of lack of adequate never exists even when they have a hit.” Paul said it was important for the relevant stakeholders to understand the entertainment industry was “bigger than the individual”. He said: “You have to look at in a holistic manner. If the industry was more unified everybody would gain from it. If you are looking at the business when Carnival time comes again, the majority of people would be crying. It’s only a few people that are benefiting.”

Paul appealed for solidarity and unity among artistes. He said: “Hundreds of CDs come out. A lot of people record stuff and the situation would get worse, if the artistes don’t get together as a unified body.” Comparing artistes to masmen and promoters, Paul said: “The average artiste just makes crumbs compared to other people in the industry. The guy who is singing in the tent just makes crumbs compared to the money other people make. That is the reality of the situation. It is left to the artistes to change it.”

Soca artform must be sustainable
Chairman of Caribbean Prestige Foundation (CPF) William Munro says he had approached radio manager Brian Haynes to ensure a couple of hours per day were allotted to playing the beautiful soca music. Munro said: “I feel the hurt for the young people. The office has pointed out to me the lovely tunes which are not getting airplay. Everybody wants a number one. They want all the hits but they are not giving the younger artistes a chance to be heard. It is easy to see why some of them get frustrated. You go into the studio and people are not hearing your work.” Munro spoke about a more sustainable intervention.
He said: “I am working on a document to make some recommendations in terms of agriculture, sports and entertainment.” Commenting on the judging structure of the Soca Monarch competition, Munro said: “You have to judge by the CDs. You can’t ask everybody to sing. Some of them are frustrated when they don’t make it to the semis.” Meanwhile, Munro vowed to do whatever was within his power to contribute to the development, maintenance and sustainability of the artform. Guardian Media Limited is the official media sponsor of the soca monarch competition.

Ajala hoping for airplay
Another artiste who chose to vent his frustration at not getting airplay for C2k12 was Keith Sutherland (Ajala). In his heyday, he ruled the roost with gems like Tidal Wave, Bring Down the Riddim, White Horse and Jump Up and Get On Bad. To date, he has recorded Hey Pray (a nation building song), Dutty Meh Up (J’Ouvert Jam), Horsey Remix and a pan song Return of the Marsicans (Tribute To the late Lord Kitchener). He said: “I feel the pain of people like Denise Belfon. So many good artistes are not hearing their work. What is happening? How long can it continue? Machel is saying he is going to release a song a week. I find the situation is ridiculous?”

Sutherland felt the authorities should get involved to prevent the situation from escalating into “something unpleasant” or heading for a downward spiral. He said: “Something has to be done. The stakeholders, the media all have to come on board. Why is it only the same artistes are on rotation?” Zeroing on the financial aspect, Sutherland said: “Recording costs have gone up from $9,000 to $12,000. You can’t be spending your hard-owned monies and not getting it back. “You can’t be dropping off your music to the radio stations and it is not being played.”

He felt T&T should take a page from the royal treatment meted out to Jamaican artistes. “T&T should do like Jamaica. It is 90 per cent reggae and ten per cent foreign. You hear a lot of dub. Soca/calypso needs help to grow internationally. The Latin markets are growing. But the soca music is just there. Even the Grenadians are supporting their artistes. You see posters. Other islands are booming it up. Just now the outside world would say T&T is killing the mecca.” Sutherland said: “T&T is the mecca. But it is ridiculous what they are doing to the industry. There are about 12 radio stations. So what is going on?”

He said the long term growth of the industry would be affected if it continues. He added: “The recording rate has increased by 300 per cent. People are tapping into their talents because of the recession. Some people can’t get an 8 am to 4 pm job, so they are picking up a guitar and making music.” He noted Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism Winston Peters had been doing a “great job,” but there was still more work to be done in the calypso arena. On a lighter note, he said people meet him and say, “What happen Ajala you stop singing? I respond: “Does a bird stop flying?”

Internet saves the day
Paul noted the Internet was saving the day for frustrated artistes who were not hearing their work on the radio. He urged them to avail themselves on that site. He said: “There is an emerging medium…Facebook and the social networking sites. A lot of artistes are using it to promote their stuff. A lot of people have computers and cell phones with the social media and they are playing songs they want to hear from their favourite artiste. They are searching for artistes they want to hear.” Paul said it should be used as a spinoff to get work out of the Carnival season.

“After Carnival everybody knows those same stations switch off to play urban popular music from the North. The avalanche of tunes are lost.” He appealed to the conglomerates and the business community to intervene and assist the artistes. Meanwhile, Sutherland has sensibly taken advantage of the Internet and launched his work there. “It was launched on 500 radio stations worldwide. DJs and programme directors have access to it.”

the comments on the Guardian website tell various stories…

The majority of these songs are geared towards the Carnival season so why should they be played throughout the year? Carnival is not the time for an interesting thought provoking song. Soca is not the only genre of local music. Machel may be many things, but he doesn’t have international recognition outside of his genre eg. Barbados’ Rihanna and the handful of Jamaican artistes.

Machel Montano is killing Soca as much as he is helping it. We have now built an industry around 1 person. Beyond the shores of the specific Caribbean islands that play Soca and a diaspora in a few metropolitan cities Soca is virtually unknown and not taken seriously.

Worst yet is the fact that Trinidad Soca performers seem to want to run before they can walk. All of them seem to be hussling based upon their current hit fame, charging silly prices and making unreasonable demands for Limos, Grey goose and massive traveling entourages when they should be focusing on building their careers and getting exposure. As a result, only the non-Trini names have really made it into mainstream and usually for 1 or 2 songs. e.g. Kevin Little, Rupee, Alison Hinds. All of the others including Machel Montano still talk of going mainstream as if it is illusive Vision 2020.

Sadly enough, people who make money in Trinidad in general seem to be extremely narrow minded, usually contented with their small empires usually spanning the Caribbean and that’s it. This mentality is quite prevalant in the Entertainment and Music industry. I don’t see this changing anytime soon. So until then, Soca performers will continue to starve or be happy with thousands and not millions both money and fans, and we will only be wowed at Carnival time with a handful of large shows and call it a Soca music industry.

Its sad that it has come to this I agree that in order for this to change it must be made mandatory.
Its a real spring board and those with the high jump in terms of more money to spend win…once I contacted a station they said 9000 per month for air play think about it that’s 1500 us per month for air play think how many blasted struggling artiste can pay it, after the heavy cost of production.
I have seen first hand how stations refuse to play your songs, one program director told me a week of air play once a day was enough free play for that song lol
These people have made a new meaning to the word Payola it now called compulsory to make it lol….Oh well its up to the youths to come and change that
peace

and the crowning glory

Do like Iwer, start your own station

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Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann opt out of SOCA Monarch

TO ALL ASYLUM FANS
No Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons in Soca Monarch this year… 
This year their focus and objectives for carnival are a little different as is evident in the music. They recognize that Soca Monarch has done quite a lot for their careers and the careers of artistes on a whole and that William Munroe must be commended for all that he has done. Look out for Bunji Fay-Ann and the Asylum band at Girl Power on Fantastic Friday.

Thats what was posted to the Asylum Family facebook wall. Not once but Twice… over a 100 shares/likes/comments within minutes… i just had to laugh at some of the comments… especially the negative ones… constant reminder why this ROCK doesnt move forward and that i too am a crab in a barrel…

This also comes on the heels of Ravi B not entering the Chutney SOCA Monarch competition… totally unrelated to the bottle throwing incident last year… (crab in a barrel)…

some of the comments

Glad you all made dis decsion. After years of the same criteria as soon as MM said he is entering 15% of the pts is directed to texts via votes….making it a popularity competition…won’t there a separate people’s choice before? And opening voting from 8 am wen not one artiste hit the stage yet?? How on earth a young artise cud win a competion with such rules?. Clearly politrix!! Everyone knows HD’s popularity outside T&T is bigger than everyone else..in fact muro himself stated MM got more votes than any other…especially from foreign voters. The competition is already a tight one allowing 15% of the total pts based on voting will never allow young upcoming artiste whether they have the better song..or perform the best on the night to win. Bdw I highly doubt they didnt enter becus of HD because he’s not the first to defeat Garlin and Fayann in SM..Shurwayne, Iwer etc did it b4. It’s becus the competition is f’d up…say it as it is Asylum!

if Fay Ann and Bunji with god given personality and talent who have individually and between them a body of work that stands the test of time, catching gripe over the one hit wonders JW and Blaze, then I will eat my hat the big sombrero I buy in mexico city….steups

You will be missed but sometimes perspective changes on reflection. I believe you both would return. Ever since Bunji was in the green ras singing about Bras, he loved that stage and that competition so I expect a glorious return when the time is right. As for Munroe…….hold a burn!!!!!!! Easily the worst promoter ever. I am tired of wasting my VVIP funds on his…….

why bro??we depend on you to represent the grassroots every single year,you are the people’s voice and you are the people’s choice…think it over..

this show lack of commitment to the art form, one good cut arse and you all running,we know it hard to beat Mr Fete ,but at least try !!!! the vybez cant done!!!

you said it …. and the best toting couple goes to …….

i was backing u all for this,stuepsssssssss and when there is cheating like that high-class bullshit that happen last year,i eh give allyuh wrong nah,dey too blasted thief..i backing IWER full hundred now…..

This is the smartest thing they can do for themselves and their career.. #hadnochance

Bunji and Fayann wants to win all the time and dont want too give some else a chance since the JW and Blaze win that yr they change cant stand radio boys beat them

this one is from a seriously crazed facebooker… totally confusing

I always thought the criteria of entering Soca Monarch should be changed. WE are the ones paying to see the artistes perform fete after fete (no pun intended), supporting their music. It should be mandatory that all songs are eligible and a committee then votes to narrow it down. How can a competition that boasts to be the best of its type be “optional” for some of the best artistes?! Rubbish!

and finally

It’s the beginning of the end of soca monarch as we know it…….

hopefully that is right! allyuh done know my views on the policies of SOCA Monarch…

^_^ they calling me RUNAWAY

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Machel & Kes on PRES Honour Roll

Machel, Kes on Pres Honour Roll

Friday, January 13 2012

Soca artiste, and defending Soca Monarch, Machel Montano, right, shakes hands with Steven Samlalsingh, President of the Past Students’ Association of …

Defending Soca Monarch Machel Montano and Groovy Monarch Kes Dieffenthaller have made it on to the Presentation College past students’ Honour Roll alongside two former prime ministers and a retired judge, amongst others.

Dieffenthaller, lead vocalist of Kes the Band, was out of the country for the event. The two popular soca artistes were the latest persons named to the prestigious listing of the Past Students’ Association at a function on Wednesday evening at Mor Vino restaurant on Scott’s Street, San Fernando.

In 1985, former prime minister Basdeo Panday was named to the Honour Roll. Two years later, another former prime minister Patrick Manning, was similarly honoured by the Past Students’ Association. Retired judge, Anthony Lucky, and former Central Bank Governor Dr Euric Bobb are also members of the Honour Roll. Dieffenthaller, lead singer of Kes the Band, was not at Wednesday’s launch as he was out of the country.

Montano, of Machel Montano HD, accepted the honour on behalf of himself and Dieffenthaller. In an address, Montano said it was a special honour to be recognised by his alma mater. “I have received many accolades in my time and I feel very special for this one. I feel like I got it for going to school. I must say Pres has been recognised for education and football,” Montano said. He credited his successes in life to the discipline learnt while a student at the school.

“I owe my success to the discipline learnt at the school. Mr ( Errol) Jaikaransingh was one of the teachers who beat me for reaching to school late.

“The discipline made me become a good father, businessman, musician. I achieved nine subjects at Pres. Thank God I never had to use them. I never had to apply for a job,” he added. Commenting on his defence of the Soca Monarch title, Montano said his “chances are great.”

The Association also announced on Wednesday that its Carnival fete, PREStige — the Double Gold edition, will take place on January 29 at the College’s grounds, Carib Street, San Fernando from 3 pm to 10 pm.

A major highlight of the fete will be David Rudder.

http://www.newsday.co.tt/carnival_2012/0,153618.html

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PREStigeX2GOLD Launch

PREStige 2012 – The Double Gold Edition

Sunday 29th January 2012

3-10pm

KestheBand, David Rudder, Machel Montano HD

http://twitter.com/prestigex2gold
http://www.facebook.com/events/195056420587168/
http://prestigefete.tumblr.com/

synopsis of Press Release

The vision for PREStige is for it to be a sophisticated yet affordable event, such that it becomes a staple on the Carnival Calendar as San Fernando’s Premier All Inclusive Event. Be prepared to have a fascinating evening with King David Rudder, and of course Pres Old Boys, Kes the Band and Machel Montano with TEAM HD (Farmer Nappy and Patrice Roberts).

In terms of FOOD, there will be something for everyone. PREStige has lined up a mouth watering menu of exotic options. Gyros, Gourmet Doubles, Steak bites, Wings, Shrimp and Oyster Cocktails, Crab stuffed Dumplings, Sushi, Chocolate Fondue and a CHOW ZONE await you. The usual Premium Drinks will be included.

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