The Rounds: What Soca artists wish for 2010

Good evening soca lovers, I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jays rounds. Happy 2010! It’s a new year here at Soca Therapy and I look forward to bringing you the latest insider information from the soca world every Sunday...just like you’ve come to expect.
         This year already proves to be a busy one for many soca artists with Carnivals wrapping up in the Bahamas, St. Kitts, Monserrat and St. Croix...and carnival bubbling to a boil in Trinidad, Dominica and Guyana.
             BVI soca artist and producer Kamau brought his brand of music to St. Croix for New Years, performing jazz saxophone at one event and jamming with a traditional band at another.

Montserrat Festival went on, despite the recent threats posed by the Soufriere volcano. Some describe carnival as Bottom in De Road. When I caught up with Scrappy a few days ago, he described it as ``ASH`` in the air. (That`s A-S-H, by the way....this is a family show)
                  Slammer Cutter should be taking a rest today after a video shoot last night on the Danforth.

 Umi Marcano rang in the new year at a gig in New York, but he's wasting no time. Now that he`s back in Trinidad, Today is all about shooting his second music video for the season, "Folk Reality".
Trinidadian reggae artist Junior Don is making a foray into the soca arena for 2010. He’ll be gigging with Peter C and the Orchestra as a frontline vocalist.

Peter C in Miami 2009

Before I forget, lemme say Happy Birthday to Peter C Lewis formerly of the Xtatik band. He turns 38 today in Trinidad. But he`s not the only one celebrating both a personal new year and the public one...Bajan soca twins Barry and Bruce Chandler rang in their 26th birthday on December 30th, while Lucian former monarch Mantius also celebrated his arrival on the planet that very same day.
I hurried through the other items, in order to share something I read today that inspired me. The Trinidad Express Newspaper asked some local entertainers what they wish for 2010. Here's what a few of them had to say:

Fay-Ann Lyons (soca artiste): ’My wish is for peace on earth and goodwill to all mankind. I also pray that my daughter grows up to be a loving and joyful little lady. For the nation, I pray that there will finally be a reduction in crime and for my family, I wish that we will all be happy and learn to truly love each other.’

Blaxx (soca artiste): ’Most importantly I wish that my fellow artistes will seek to have better lyrics in their songs and be more responsible. Some of them are not setting good examples for the younger ones wanting to come into the arena because of the sexual and violent lyrics. I also really want to see something serious done about the crime situation. All my other wishes have come true already. I got married and I have good music for the season.’

Blaxx and Nurse Karen in Toronto (August 2008)

 Kees Dieffenthaller (artiste/musician): ’I always want the same thing every year and that is to really push the music of Trinidad and Tobago and achieve something on a global scale. This year we are working to get closer to that realisation. Also, for a developing Trinidad, things will be even tighter financially next year with the recession and I really hope we don’t lose our sense of community and spirit of giving because of these tough times. I pray that we would not forget our neighbours as we seek to get ours in those tough times and we will look out for each other. As for crime, as we work to that 20/20 vision, with growth come bigger problems such as crime. We are losing that village lifestyle where everyone raised the children. Listen to what the children and youth are saying.’

Iwer George (soca artiste/owner Soca 91.9FM): I pray for a miracle as far as crime is concerned, that the murder rate will read minus zero at the end of 2010. I would also like to see more young soca artistes get an opportunity to make it. For me, I am hoping that God will deliver what I have asked Him for, it’s a personal thing, in the coming year.

For more info on anything you've heard here, check out Nurse-Karen.com or follow me (nursekaren) on Twitter!
Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

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Eye Unit: Rap Artist Drake makes an appearance at White Out!

My carnival has begun! For me, when Dr. Jay throws his annual White Out party, the season is officially on. This year, I was strickly on personal vibes. These days, I seldom get to enter de party and jus leggo. Well, this time around I stuck to the plan. Went backstage to hail up Problem Child, Blaxx and Olantunji, then it was time to party.

Three days later my aching back and thighs are stick recovering! What a fete!

Shot you a couple of clips in between wines. You'll see Blaxx, Rita Jones, Olantunji Yearwood, Shyann Bailey and Problem Child, all backed by Roy Cape Allstars. Towards the end is a special treat. Toronto-bred hip hop phenom Drake passes through and touches the mic to send some greetings. Big up T-Rexx for controlling the MC duties for the urban part of the night.

Doh vex over the video quality. My liming spot at Koolhaus is to the very back right hand side. The view may not be the best, but the vibe is always sweet!

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Booster Shot: Iwer George retiring as a soca artiste?

Warning: This one is debatable.  Even so, you heard it here first!

Last Saturday, the big event in Toronto was CVR Fire Fete.  The evening featured performances by: Scrappy, Kenneth Salick, Ricky T, Zoelah, Edwin Yearwood, Super Jigga TC, Skinny Fabulous, Blaxx, KMC and Red White and Black.  Geez, that was a mouthful.  A bunch of other artists were advertized, but those are the ones who actually performed.

Here's the big news.  Iwer George made a couple of big announcements during his performance backed by Red, White and Black.

Lemme sum it up.

• 2009 will be his last year releasing music as an artiste
• He wants to be the next President of Trinidad and Tobago
• He's going back to school to get his Master's

No doubt, the man said every word. 2000 patrons heard it too. Still, it appears I have a few items to confirm, before President George Maxwell Richards should start shaking in his boots.     I know how it goes when a room full of people jumping to your songs, that Carnival Jumbie starts to wine up with the Hennessy Jumbie...and your mouth could be possessed.

Stay tuned!

Love and Soca, 

(Nurse) Karen

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Booster Shot: Fay Ann takes it all!!!

The goods....

2009 Play Whe Groovy Soca Monarch Results

 

1. Fay Ann Lyons – Heavy T Bumper
2. Shurwayne Winchester – Make It Yours
3. Benjai – Drunk Again
4. Zoelah – Wine Up On Me

 

2009 bMobile International Soca Monarch Results

1. Fay Ann Lyons – Meet Superblue
2. Bunji Garlin – Clear De Road (tie)

2. Iwer George – Ready(tie)
3. 
   
4. Blaxx – Tusty

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Nurse's Lounge: Adventures in BK, part 2

Cafe Omar was so so. For me, the best part of it was liming with friends and re-living a bit of the energy of Vincy Mas. But seriously, I can't take New York police officers. The fete ended abruptly at 4 am...with the lights coming up to end Bomani's performance. The security went batty on the crowd, forcing people to get out the club.

Nurse Karen and Blaxx at Fire Fete, Toronto Caribana 2008

From (Nurse) Karen (Etc)

Then the po-po weren't even letting people get they little sidwalk pimp on. RUDE. Anyhoo...I certainly didn't come to NYC to pick up, so if we hadda go... we gone. Next stop, the annual Foreign Base Backyard Party.


Nurse Karen and Jalena (Cafe Omar - Brooklyn, NY a few hours ago!)

From New York 2008

That was a fete. I have to shout out Toronto's own Blackberry Sound Crew for keeping the vibes flowing sweet sweet till morning.

Blackberry Sound Crew....sweet for dayz (at the Foreign Base Backyard Party)

From New York 2008

Blaxx was there, Skinny, Problem Child, Jamesy P, Jalena. I'm sure there were others before I reached.

Nurse Karen and Jamesy P (Cafe Omar - Brooklyn, NY a few hours ago!)

From New York 2008

Here's a small sample of the vibes at almost 6 in the morning Sunday. The bar was still moving units after 7. Only in New York!

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Nurse's Lounge: Going to White Out!

I'm heading out to KOS White Out tonight. Took me ages to find an outfit and I'm thinking that I may not get there in time to see the performances: Roy Cape All Stars featuring Blaxx, Trini Jacobs and Olutunji Yearwood!!!!

BREATHLESS!!!

Nurse's Lounge: Going to White Out!

Guess what? I got to see the show. The fete went till 6 in the morning, and I was there till the bitter end. Sweet party. The DJs played quite a lot of new music from Barbados and St. Vincent, and naturally all the Trinidad favourites as well. Unfortunately, I didn't have a good vantage point in the dark to really show you the stage.

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The Rounds: Trinidad Results Wrap-Up

Good Evening Soca Lovers,
I'm nurse Karen, and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds. Shhhh…. If you listen real close, you can probably hear the voice of reigning groovy soca monarch Shurwayne Winchester singing:… "Carnival please stay, don't go away, for another day…I'm beggin yuh, I'm beggin yuh." OK, Maybe you can't hear it, but for all of us in the studio, we have some combination of those lyrics haunting our memories. We've just returned from Trinidad and Tobago Carnival and boy LET ME TELL YOU. Coming back to Toronto is ONE shock to the system. From 30 degrees celsius to minus thirty with the wind chill. From dehydration and sunburn to hypothermia and frost bite…winter in Canada is not easy at all. And I really wish we could have brought a LITTLE piece of carnival back for all of you.

So here's what you missed. Last Friday night was the final showdown of international soca stars: The Bmobile International Groovy Soca Monarch and Power Soca Monarch Competition. Last year Biggie Irie surprised the world and himself by becoming the first non-Trinidadian to capture the groovy crown. Well, that was all fine and good for 2007, but Shurwayne Winchester was all too pleased to bring the title back to the twin island republic with a performance of Carnival Please Stay that was immeasurably better than the one I just gave. Then Miss Patrice Roberts filled the stage with abevy of beauties to secure at second place finish for Mo' Wuk. Kerwin DuBois and Shall Marshall weren't happy with the judges decision to put Gal Farm in 3rd place. Toronto's own producer/writer extraordinaire transformed the stage into a Western ranch as the pair rode in a horse and a pony, creating a feast for the eyes. Farmer Nappy chipped into 4th place with his own woman…sorta.

In the power category, it was battle royale. Bunji Garlin blazed through Queen's Park Oval with his revived interpretation of Maestro's "Fiery", complete with an exploding car to snatch the soca monarch crown out the hands of defending king Iwer George. The popularity of Bunji's remake actually inspired a neew event called the Retro Soca Monarch, that should be staged in time for the 47th anniversary of T&T's independence. So anyway, De Boss placed second with Over Your Head… in front of 3rd place finisher Fay-Ann. Call it robbery, call it politics. Most people who attended fantastic Friday call it a crying shame that Lyons wasn't crowned the first ever female soca monarch for her flawless performance of Get On. FayeAnn has told the media that she won't be performing in another Soca Monarch show in the future. She knows and even Bunji admitted his wifey gave a performance worthy of beating him.
Well her redemption came four days later when GET ON was pumped out for the judges nearly twice as often as its nearest competitor to win Road March. Faye-Ann is once again the road march queen five years after Display became a carnival anthem. Second place was Breathless by Blaxx…and third went to Machel Montano's Blazin De Trail.

No matter the song - out on the road…dey with MY friends I enjoyed two days of Carnival in the Caribbean sun with King Curtis Eustace's new band, Evolution. The whole KOS was there keeping the music flowing just the way I'm accustomed to. So much to discuss, and sadly there's just not enough time. So, if you want to know everything I got up to in Trinidad, including a day-by-day blog, complete with pictures…check out Nurse Karen Etc on triple W Dot Mustard Seeds Dot net.
I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds, please send your comments to 9-3-5-9-3-5 now back to de Docta!

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