DJ's View: Ms DJ Revz on Toronto Revellers Launch 2009

The Soca business is tough on females. The story is the same whether you are an artiste, promoter, or media person like me. I dunno if it's that West Indian men have a hard time believing that we come out to WORK just as hard as they do, or if it's that our natural hottie-hott mystique coaxes out their inner idiots, but one thing is for sure...we have to hold ourselves to an incredibly high standard in order to earn a little respect.

One female DJ, in Toronto raised her stock considerably when she signed on to be one of the official DJ's on the road for NBA player, Jamaal Magloire's oh-so-popular Toronto Revellers mas band. The band that swept Caribana Band of the Year in both 2007 and 2008, boasts 1200 revellers, and now a hot Guyanese-Canadian DJ named Ms DJ REVz!

She attended the 2009 presentation launch of "Brazil, Bacchanal in Rio." Read below to see what she thought of it!

At first thought, it was hard to see how the Toronto Revellers, “The People’s Band” would pull off a 2009 mas that could top their back to back wins as Band of the Year in both 2007 and 2008. Both “Viva Las Vegas” for their 2007 theme and “Alkebu’lan” for 2008 were very extravagant with unique, vibrant and sexy sections that generated quite a following and the ultimate recognition. Knowing that the “Revellers” put on some great shows and come up with some fabulous costumes, I was eagerly waiting for the launch of their 2009 theme. Their website proudly states “Brazil – Bacchanal in Rio will be a shimmering celebration of the colour and vibrance that is Rio Carnaval.” With Caribana just a few months away, soca fetes every weekend and mas camps in full swing, I was practically running out of the car when we got there. I was excited to see the band I would be working with for Soca Summer 2009 and I was in awe of the presentation, of the mas, and of the people that put such a great show together.

The Toronto Revellers band launching was held at “Events and Catering on the Park” at Leslie and Eglinton. When you walk into the huge event room the first thing that jumps out at you is the 50 foot, 2 metre high catwalk that juts out from the enormous stage area. That catwalk was the best thing I set my eyes on all evening and I’m not saying that because I wanted to go up there and walk it myself, even though the thought did come across my mind more than once. The catwalk was a great way of broadcasting the mas to the people. The fact that it was so long and so high gave the masqueraders the opportunity to be more creative in their movements and how they showed off the costumes. We were treated to a Capoeira Brazilian martial-arts dance group and Brazilian Samba dancers at the start of the event.

There are a total of 10 sections and in no particular order, they are “Dingolay”, “El Dorado”, “Pink Pleasure”, “Rio Tempo”, “Samba Dancer”, “Scandalous”, “Aye-Ya-Yaye”, “Heat in de Place”, “Moonlight over Copacabana” and “Soca in Rio”. You can just tell that a lot of work and creativity went into this mas from the bright neon pinks in “Pink Pleasure” to the fiery colours that make up “Heat in de Place”. My personal favourite was “Scandalous”, a costume that is on the slightly skimpy side and has blue and yellow as its main colours. Looking at the mas, you can not help but feel the energy of the masqueraders and of the people who are so hard at work trying to secure that 2009 title.

Soca is in my blood, and this is my second year as an official dj with the “Toronto Revellers”. I was at the mas camp in 2008 every Sunday giving them some soca music while they worked on the mas – and they worked very hard. There was always a friendly smile, always a small chat, and I am honoured and excited to be apart of the 2009 Toronto Revellers presentation. Not only am I working with people who have a passion for what they do, I am working amongst those that are committed to seeing “Bacchanal in Rio” receive the Band of the Year title for three years in a row. Good Luck Revellers! I will be seeing you in the mas camp and on the road!

xoxo
Ms DJ Revz!

For more pictures and information visit:
www.torontorevellers.com
www.toronto-lime.com

DJs on the road:
Ms DJ Revz
Soca Monarchs
DJ Remedy
TNT Sounds
Eternal Vibes

Congrats on the new gig Revz. See you on the road!

Love and Soca,

(Nurse) Karen