New Campaign Urges MySpace.com to Create a Soca Music Category

New Campaign Urges MySpace.com to Create a Soca Music Category

Toronto, Canada - A new advocacy campaign was launched yesterday to officially list soca as a musical genre on the internet entertainment portal, Myspace.com. The initiative entitled Bring Soca to MySpace is lobbying to make it easy for fans to browse soca music online and interact with their favourite personalities.

Bring Soca to MySpace has four main aims:

· The creation of a Soca category in MySpace Music

· The featuring of Soca artist profiles on the site splash page

· The inclusion of editorial relating to Anglo-Caribbean music

· The creation of a MySpace Caribbean regional English-language sub-site.

At present, MySpace considers the Caribbean to fit under the umbrella of Latin America. Therefore Caribbean users often login to into a Spanish-language interface featuring the latest in Reggaeton and Latin Pop. Organizers believe that the end result of the above recommendations will create a win-win situation for the soca music industry, fans and MySpace alike.

“Every other style of Western music is up there,” says campaign organizer and Caribbean entertainment writer Nurse Karen , “We are simply asking MySpace to give soca artists the respect they deserve. Artists already use site, but they have to describe their sounds as Reggae, Tropical, Fusion or Zouk. There is no category that represents them. As a result, Soca artists never have the chance rise to the top of MySpace music charts. Soca is way bigger than that, so the time is now for a change.”

The non-partisan campaign, officially endorsed by (Nurse) Karen (Etc) and Soca Therapy, Canada’s #1 Soca radio program, asks for the grassroots support of all Caribbean media outlets, entertainment professionals and music fans.

Supporters may assist in the following ways:

· Post or circulate this media release and campaign poster

· Join Bring Soca to MySpace in Myspace Groups

· Email MySpace in support

· Encourage contacts to join the Bring Soca to MySpace group

· Add your logo to future versions of the poster



For more information, to get involved or to join the Bring Soca to MySpace group please visit:

http://groups.myspace.com/socanow



To send an email to MySpace in support of the campaign

· All emails must be addressed to: CA-help@support.myspace.com

· The subject line must read: Re: Media - Not listed [ref:00D78NrS.50077iea4:ref]

· An effective support letter should list your name, age group, occupation, country and reasons for supporting the campaign

To get your logo added to campaign posters:

Send an email describing your affiliation, along with an attached .jpg to Click Here



For media inquiries or to receive an updated list of sponsors:

Karen L. Richardson

Mustard Seed Media

1.917.720.7724

WE Magazine keeps the cover sexy for a 3rd time in the last three months

Canadian hottie ‘Jully Black’ graced the February cover and soulful Jamaican sisters ‘Brick and Lace’ donned the March cover. In April, WE keeps the pages burning with Trinidad’s most talked about female artist, Faye-Ann Lyons.

“Sexy seems to work for us” says Jef Lo (Editor in Chief of WE Magazine). “I couldn’t even find a copy of the March issue anywhere, they were gone so fast. With Faye-Ann on this months cover, we may have to print a few thousand extra copies.”

In this month’s ‘must read’ cover story, the 2-time Road March Queen (and obvious 2008 Soca Monarch favourite) speaks out against her critics. Faye-Ann gives very candid responses about the rise of her career, despite the naysayers and negative press over the last couple years.
The latest issue of WE will be available in outlets from April 11th.

For more information visit http://www.wemagonline.com/ or myspace.com/wemagonline

Alison Hinds on the cover of WE Magazine

Toronto, ON - Monday October 29th, 2007 - Not only is Bajan Soca star Alison Hinds hot off the press with her brand new album 'SOCA QUEEN', her latest image will also grace the cover of WE Magazine; which hits the streets this weekend (Nov 3). The Queen of Soca was in Toronto recently to share the stage with Kat De Luna and Elephant Man at Kool Haus and took the time for an an exclusive interview and photoshoot with Canada's premiere Caribbean entertainment magazine.

In the interview with WE Mag writer (Cheryl Hazell), Hinds shares personal details about her family life and comments on her brief hiatus from the spotlight a couple years back. Alison also talks about her new album and the reasoning for the title 'Soca Queen'.

To read the full cover story, you can pick up a FREE copy of WE Magazine which will be available in all the major West Indian outlets this weekend (Saturday November 3rd).

For more info visit www.WEmagOnline.com or www.myspace.com/wemagonline

Just IMAGINE, Soca Reggae and Soul at CARIBANA™

Destra Garcia at Molson Amphitheatre

Just IMAGINE, Soca Reggae and Soul at CARIBANA™

Monday August 6th, 2007 - Ontario Place Molson Amphitheatre was the fresh new venue for CARIBANA's official cool down party on Sunday. Fans at the sold out event enjoyed entertainment by headliners Sean Paul, Destra and Ne-Yo; plus performances by reggae artist Steel, Baby Boys dance crew and singer Nikki Toussaint.

After several years of declining attendance, the FMC (Festival Management Committee) opted to move the CARIBANA™ after-party from the Toronto Islands to a more convenient Ontario Place. A commendable move as Molson Amphitheatre was the ideal fit for the great mix of Soca, Reggae and RnB music.

Photos from the event are available at:
www.toronto-lime.com/pictures/fetes/2007/070805_imagine_music_fest

Harbourfront Centre spotlights the diversity and creativity of Toronto through 'CARNIVALISSIMA'

Machel Montano to perform a FREE 90 minute
concert at CARNIVALISSIMA

Harbourfront Centre spotlights the diversity and creativity of Toronto through 'CARNIVALISSIMA'

From June 8th - 10th, downtown Toronto's waterfront will be transformed into a 'Carnival Square', filled with music, dance, arts and more. Produced by Luminato and Harbourfront Centre, Carnivalissma is will be a spectacular fusion of local, national and international performances. The festival will engage 'Carnival' traditions from all over the world; including Brazil, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, Cuba, Africa, Columbia and more. According to event producers, "never before have all of the world's festivals been combined in a celebration of this nature". Best of all, the event is free to the public all weekend.

Some of the 'Caribbean Carnival' highlights will include; steelpan performances by Afropan and Pan Fantasy, a dance workshop by Tamla Matthews, Calypso Calabash, Chutney Soca Jubilee, and a 90 minute concert by the most sought after Soca phenom Machel Montano.

Carnivalissima kicks-off at Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay West) from June 8-10, 2007.

Carnivalissima Event Schedule:

Friday June 8
~ Viva Mexico, 6:45pm - Congo Square
~ The Masquerade Ball, 8:00pm - Carnivalissima Tent
~ Buckwheat Zydeco, 8:00pm - Concert Stage
~ Brazil Nativa, 9:00pm - Congo Square
~ Dirty Dozen Brass Band, 9:30pm - Concert Stage
~ Nick "Brownman" Ali & Cruzao Grupo Monstroso, 11:00pm - Brigantine Room
~ Banethi - Fire Performance, 11:00pm - Congo Square


Saturday June 9
~ Symphonyx Steel Orchestra, 1:00pm - Topsy Turvy Lawn Stage
~ Afropan Steelband, 1:00pm - Congo Square
~ Past Perfect with Jeannette Zyngg of Opera Atelier, 1:00pm - Carnivalissima Tent
~ The Magic Flute - Shoestring Opera, 1:45pm - Carnivalissima Tent
~ Shiamak Indo Jazz, 2:00pm - Topsy Turvy Lawn Stage
~ Symphonyx Steel Orchestra, 2:30pm - Topsy Turvy Lawn Stage
~ Tambora Sinaloense "La Mazatleca", 2:30pm - Congo Square
~ Big Chief Brian Nelson and the Mardi Gras Indian Collective, 2:45pm - Carnivalissima Tent
~ Magia Negra, 4:00pm - Topsy Turvy Street Tent
~ Chutney Soca Jubilee, 4:30pm - Concert Stage
~ Big Chief Brian Nelson and the Mardi Gras Indian Collective, 4:30pm - Congo Square
~ Lisa Odjig and Eddy Robinson, 5:30pm - Topsy Turvy Lawn Stage
~ Voodoo Magic, 5:30pm - Grand Carnival Café
~ Escola de Samba de Toronto, 8:00pm - Concert Stage
~ Rumba Iyabo - Cuban Batta Drummers and Dance, 8:00pm - Carnivalissima Tent
~ FireWalk, 8:30pm - Congo Square
~ Guiomar Campbell and Parabolica, 8:30pm - Carnivalissima Tent
~ Capoeria, 9:00pm - Congo Square
~ Olodum, 9:30pm - Concert Stage
~ Maracatu Nunca Antes, 9:45pm - Carnivalissima Tent
~ Guiomar Campbell and Parabolica, 10:00pm - Carnivalissima Tent
~ Baro Dunumba, 11:00pm - Brigantine Room
~ Banethi - Fire Performance, 11:00pm - Congo Square
~ Dancing with DJ John Santos, 11pm to 1am - Carnivalissima Tent

Sunday June 10
~ Swiss Band, 1:00pm - Congo Square
~ Tamla Matthews, 1:30pm - Congo Square
~ Ngoma Dance and Drum Ensemble, 2:00pm - Topsy Turvy Lawn Stage
~ Voodoo Magic, 2:30pm - Grand Carnival Café
~ Pan Fantasy Steelband, 2:30pm - Topsy Turvy Street Tent
~ Calypso Calabash, 3:00pm - Carnivalissima Tent
~ Pan Fantasy Steelband, 3:00pm - Congo Square
~ Rhema Concert Choir, 3:30pm - Topsy Turvy Lawn Stage
~ Machel Montano HD, 4:00pm - Concert Stage
~ Lisa Odjig and Eddy Robinson, 4:15pm - Topsy Turvy Lawn Stage
~ Voodoo Magic, 5:30pm - Grand Carnival Café
~ Tout monde ca Danse (The whole world is dancing) 5:30pm - Congo Square

See www.harbourfrontcentre.com/luminato/carnivalissima/music.php for full event schedule and performance details.

For more info call 416-973-4000 or visit http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/luminato/carnivalissima/

Synergy TV now stronger than ever

by Karen L. Richardson

TORONTO-LIME.com exclusive interview with Synergy CEO, Peter C. Lewis

It is a small screen callaloo that leaves the sweet taste of Caribbean diversity sizzling on your tongue. Synergy TV is three years old, and it is stronger now than ever.

Trinidad’s only TV station committed to locally developed music programming first flooded the airwaves like a much needed downpour in March 2004. Since then, it has grown from a repetitive reel of primarily foreign-produced music videos, to a veritable benchmark for quality home-grown entertainment.

The thriving cable channel is the brainchild of former Xtatik frontline vocalist Peter C. Lewis. In decades past, Lewis was a member of the San Fernando vocal group Bread Boys, before recording his first hit Susanna with Atlantik. For Lewis, Synergy TV is a long-time dream finally become real. The visionary CEO says he has always believed that in regards to audio and video, one ought to accompany the other.

The word synergy means cooperative action. Drawing on insider experience as an artiste, combined with eight years as the owner of the film and television production house, Bread Boy Entertainment, Lewis’s career demonstrates some synergy of its own.

With songs like Tay Lay Lay, Gone Clear and Big Truck fading with the drunken memories of carnivals gone by, many have speculated that Lewis has kissed his singing days good-bye. “No, not really. [I could] never personally do that,” said Lewis “Every now and then I still run and jump up and do that kind of thing. You never really lose that. When de time is right I’ll do de live thing again.” In the meantime, he describes his relationship with his former band mates as ‘cool’, sharing that he recently returned with them from a trip to Jamaica carnival.

Synergy has become top priority. Lewis takes an active role in the operations at the studios on Tragarete Road in Port of Spain. Whether conceptualizing original show ideas or hosting Pete’s Picks on-location at home or abroad, Lewis is a necessary ingredient in the stew.

“To be honest I been missing the travelling with the band, but I travelling right now with Synergy. We’re trying to go a lot of places and do a lot of things,” said Lewis regarding current cost analyses underway to make the station available in North America via satellite. At present, only select Synergy programs are available in the United States on the Caribbean International Network in New York City.

One such program is season two of the wildly popular Synergy Soca Star. Similar to its US counterpart American Idol, Soca Star leaves the fate of talented hopefuls up to both the opinions of the viewing public and the judgment of industry professionals. The choice to limit the competition to soca music came easily for Lewis. “Trinidad is soca. We have soca artists who go out on the circuit. Is a big ting for us. I mean look at how people making a living out of it, living comfortable now. Soca is our ting. I can’t teach nobody how to be a reggae artist and even though reggae picking up in Trinidad now, it’s not our thing. Soca is we ting, so we have to deal with it from that perspective,” said Lewis.

Umi Marcano reigned supreme in season two, but Lewis says the real measure of the program’s success thus far is derived from season one. “We actually did make Fireball a star. He came to Toronto recently. That is the whole trick of it,” said Lewis. “You have to get these kids into the mainstream and ting. They have to be able to want it as well,” said Lewis. In June, the station hopes to create the same kind of buzz over the next Synergy Super Model.

Beyond developing new talent and beauty, it is clear that Lewis is committed to helping Caribbean culture as a whole penetrate the mainstream. Lewis, however, is not the only one vying for eyes in this pursuit. In 2006, multinational conglomerate Viacom introduced MTV Tempo to the list of cable options for Caribbean viewers. In the shadows of a broadcasting giant, Lewis’s wry optimism glows brightly.

“Someone could come with a next channel in the morning and people would watch that too. You hadda understand that you’re on cable and people will always want to watch something,” said Lewis “and competition is good, because it gets you into thinking and doing the things you have to do to always be on top. If it affected anything, it’s just in terms of making us be better at what we do.”

For more information on Synergy TV visit www.synergytv.net

http://www.toronto-lime.com/news/news_2007_synergy_tv.htm

The Legacy Continues: One on One with Kernal Roberts

By Karen L. Richardson

Woven deep into the cultural fabric of Trinidad and Tobago is the music of Aldwyn “Lord Kitchener” Roberts. A decade after the death of the foremost steelpan composer and roadmarch king of the seventies and eighties, his commitment to excellence in music survives in the life of his son, Kernal.

“It is only obvious that my life would end up in this direction,” said Roberts from Kitch’s home in Diego Martin, Trinidad. “All the time I was in school, I used to get in trouble always pounding the bench. Playing music in my father’s band, all de time I wanted to make my own music.”

Kernal Roberts does not make music. He makes hits. He is responsible for writing and composing Bonnie and Clyde, Fly and Max It Up for soca diva Destra Garcia. As the Musical Director for Machel Montano HD, Roberts now writes exclusively for Machel Montano and Patrice Roberts

“Any song that come outta my camp is gonna be a hit song and Machel, everyone, Patrice, we all dedicated to that rule right now,” said Roberts. “I’m not spreading myself out anymore. Those days are done.” According to Roberts, not even family can break his focus. His sister, who serves in the army, is a vocalist who sings with Glenn Washington. Kernal says he will not be writing songs for his sibling unless she is able to commit wholeheartedly to taking his creations to the top of the charts.

“I is like one of them horses and dem. Eye patch on de left and on de right. I can only see straight,” said Roberts of his passion to succeed.

“The creativity part of it is always up, to start. With me, 100%, 24/7 music always play in my head like a radio,” said Roberts. “I’ll be composing silently sometimes, driving, and be humming to myself and I know the finished product just by listening to my brain. I go into deep meditation. I look for the theme, the concept, then you look for beautiful lyrics to embrace all of this.”

After 'Band of D Year' secured a roadmarch title for Patrice Roberts and Machel Montano in 2006, song-writer Kernal Roberts made plans to do it again.

In 2007, all eyes turned to the Machel Montano HD camp with the release of a down-tempo groovy song written by Machel Montano himself.

“It’s like every car you pass you hear [One More Time], every radio station, every corner, every bar, every club. It just took over the whole of Trinidad and Tobago,” said Roberts in praise of his close friend and colleague.

After the pace had been set, Roberts fueled his band with instant favourites like Higher Than High, Light It Up, and Down D Road. His method proved to be the right formula for carnival madness when the spirit of Jumbie possessed an entire nation.

“It’s carnival week and we’re on our way to winning our second roadmarch and it’s like there’s nobody behind us. Like we running by ourselves in de race,” said Roberts. Little did he know Jumbie would become the unofficial soundtrack to Carnival Tuesday, leaving all competition in the dust with 388 plays. Kernal’s second roadmarch victory in as many years was ushered in by an historically unparalleled margin. Shurwayne Winchester’s Open the Gate simple could not keep pace by comparison. The official first-runner up was heard a measly 34 times on the road. For the son of a ten-time roadmarch legend, making history was never an option.

“I knew I wasn’t going to pop down my life or turn to drugs or go on the streets to be misguided by friends or led astray and go to no pipe dreams,” said Roberts. “I didn’t put my head up in the clouds, hoping and praying to write a hit song or to join somebody band. I went on a straight, focused path, knowing that I had a legacy to upkeep for my father, and a legacy of my own to build.”

http://www.toronto-lime.com/news/news_2007_kernal_roberts_one_on_one.htm



2006 International Soca Award Winner ~ 'Favorite Soca Info Website'

Your Caribbean Girl: One on One with Nadia Batson

Written by Karen L. Richardson

She knows the soca industry inside and out. From the studio to the stage, she’s been there, she’s done that – and she does it all well. For the last 15 years, Trinidad’s music insiders have known a secret the public is only now beginning to discover. A highly sought after background vocalist named Nadia Batson, may soon take centre stage as the nation’s next soca queen.

Her time is now. In 2007, Batson is continuing to make her mark on Trinidad carnival as a performer. February began with an enviable first place finish in the bMobile International Power Soca Monarch Semi-Finals competition for “My Land” featuring Kees Diefenthaller. In the same night she placed second in the Groovy Soca category for her unifying melody “Caribbean Girl.” Nadia first heard the news from a journalist calling for a comment while she was driving home. “Well, let me tell yuh, I coulda run off de road, eh. It was really amazing!” said Batson.

Last season was Batson’s first appearance in the soca monarch finals. Her zouk-infused anthem, “One Island” earned her an impressive fourth place finish. “It was already so chaotic last year with me being in just one category, I can just imagine being in the two! So right now, I’m working my butt off trying to make sure conceptually that we have a really strong show.”

Batson is a dynamic performer in her own right, fusing talent and charisma to command the crowd rather than scandalous clothing and overt sexuality. However, until recently Nadia’s best known contributions to Caribbean music were for work down behind the scenes.

Batson was named “2006 Songwriter of the Year” by the Copyright Organization of Trinidad and Tobago. She has written songs for fellow Trini artists including two-time Jr. Soca Monarch Young Marcel, Rita Jones, Terry Seales, Michelle Sylvester and Trini Jacobs. That’s just where the list begins. Outside of Trinidad, Nadia the songwriter achieved unprecedented success in 2006. Batson’s composition, “Flames” won top honours for Barry Chandler of the band Jabae, clinching both the Party Monarch and Road March titles. “Expose” earned first runner-up for Tizzy of El A Kru in Party Monarch and placed third for Road March in Antigua.

“I’m sort of like in drop jaw mode where the writing is concerned because for me it was a hobby for many years. I really didn’t take my writing seriously. It wasn’t something that I had planned to make a lucrative career out of,” says Batson. “Singing is my first love. It has always been. It will always be first.” Naturally, the artiste is thrilled to be receiving recognition for that now.

In the past, Batson has lent her voice to provide background vocals for artistes such as Machel Montano, KMC and Bunji Garlin. In view of her current level of success it is a wonder she did not assume the limelight sooner.

“I’ve been recording songs. They weren’t getting much airplay. I guess when it’s your time, it’s your time.” said Batson, “I honestly don’t think that either physically or mentally I was really prepared for the spotlight or for such hard work because at that time for me everything just seemed to be really glamorous.”

Much has changed since then. Batson has become her own competition. The female lead singer of Kes the Band and member of the Big Artiste Crew wrote four songs still vying for a soca monarch title. Besides the tunes Nadia will perform at the finals, she also penned “Dutty” for Blaxx and “Flames” for Barry Chandler.

“It’s not so much about the competition, it’s about putting on a fabulous show, trying to wow de people,” said Batson. “I am out to kick ass!”

For more information on Nadia Batson, visit www.myspace.com/nadiabatson

http://www.toronto-lime.com/news/news_2007_nadia_one_on_one.htm