The Rounds: Usain Bolt jumps into the action for Bacchanal J'ouvert

Good Evening Soca Lovers, I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Jamaicas two carnivals come to a dramatic end this weekend. Friday night, revellers, artistes and local heros got together in a cloud of mud, powder, paint and water for Bacchanal J’ouvert. Jamaican dancehall king and carnival lover Sean Paul, was sorry he had to run away from the excitement early to catch a flight to Australia, but the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt was in no rush for J’ouvert to end. Nope, not at all...he was in the middle of the action at Mas Camp in Kingston covered from hear to toe in Blue and White paint!

Photo of Usain Bolt courtesy of www.jamaica-gleaner.com

Over in Virgin Gorda, King Paido won his 4th Calypso Monarch Title with the songs “Time to Check Ourselves”, and “Dey Pon Farmville” a chune about that game on Facebook that half of you are probably playing right now. So now he’s got four wins in Virgin Gorda, the last being in 2000, to match the four wins he has in Tortola as well. If you ask me, there’s a good reason they call the man King.

St. Thomas has crowned their first ever party monarch last weekend, and HER name is Rudy! The addition of the competition, is a definite step in the right direction for Soca Music in the US Virgin Islands. The tune is called Pressure Me and a video for said song is just around the corner. So don’t forget to check me for that when the time comes.

After this weekend, the next big carnivals on deck are St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia. But New Yorkers will be plunged headlong into both carnivals before the soca lovers in the island even get to. Last night in Brooklyn, the Vincy community paid tribute to one of its best loved calypso and soca artists, POORSAH. This year marks 30 years in the biz for the iconic political and social commentator. Known for his tiny stature, nasal voice and frantic running and pacing on stage, Poorsah has 5 road march titles under his belt.

Poorsah at SVG Soca Monarch Semifinals, 2008

St. Lucians in New York are gearing up for... “I must be in dat” the event dubbed as the Official US launch of St. Lucia Carnival. It will feature 2010 mas presentations from a variety of popular mas bands, top DJS, and of course, performances from a cast of St. Lucian artists. I think the best thing about it is that Brooklynites will get a chance to register for Lucian Carnival costumes on site, before they even book flights to head to home in July.

When I was in Trinidad for Carnival, I was surprised to turn on the TV and see that Akil Borneo, a popular DJ on 96 We FM had put out a song as a soca artist under the name 5Star Akil. Well, that same guy made news for a completely different reason this past week. On Thursday Akil narrowly escaped death after being shot 5 times in St James Trinidad. He was rushed to hospital where he was swiftly operated on. While he’s not completely out of the woods yet, the good news is, he is in stable condition with hopes to recover.

My shot of Akil on the mic Carnival Tuesday 2009 with Evolution mas band, Trinidad

Before I go, special belated birthday greetings go out to Knycky Cordner who celebrated her special day on Monday in Trinidad. Patrice Roberts turns 25 today, and Sizwe C turns 30 on the 16th. Happy Birthday to all. I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. For more info on everything I mentioned tonight, visit me online at Nurse dash Karen dot com, or follow your favourite non-medical Nurse on Twitter. Twitter dot com slash Nurse Karen. Now back to de Docta!

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The Rounds: Benjai walks away from Soca Monarch...

Originally aired on Sunday, January 24, 2010 on "Soca Therapy", FLOW 93.5 FM

In this edition:
- Soca Monarch Seminfinals (Trinidad)
- Benjai backs out of Soca Monarch (Trinidad)
- Fire Empress is Tobago Soca Monarch (Tobago)
- Poongalunks Factory dominates 2010 Chutney (Trinidad)
- Sizwe C helps send aid to Haiti (USA)

Good Evening Soca Lovers,


I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds. January 24th is a big night for soca in Trinidad! This is the evening when the semifinalists for international soca monarch, show their stuff for the judges to determine who will make it to the finals.

Notably absent today is Benjai, who was successfully named as a groovy semifinalist. He said and I quote. "I Benjai will be pulling myself out of the soca monarch. It is because as artists we are too good and honest to be a part of dishonesty. People need to speak out."

People have, and people will continue to do so...but that won't be ME tonight!

Benjai and Nurse Karen (Miami, October 2009)

What I will tell you is that Tobago, for the first time ever has a guaranteed competitor in the Power final on Fantastic Friday. Last Sunday, Fire Empress successfully defended her Tobago Soca Monarch title, placing ahead of Princess Adana, and Dave Samson. Her winning song may be called "De Session Done", but if you ask me....her SEASON has just begun.

Fire Empress and Nurse Karen in St. Vincent (July 2009)

For all my Chutney lovers out there, the Chutney soca monarch goes down on January 30th. ...And Kenneth Salick will have to defend the crown that "Radica" won him last year. 12 competitors will compete in the final, and check this out 11 of them will be singing songs produced by Big Rich of Pungaloonks Factory fame. So no matter what happens on Saturday, one studio will come out as winner!

As you are well aware, the struggle to rebuild Haiti continues, and the generosity of caring people around the globe is very inspiring to see.

Several soca artists have been busy doing their own part to make a change. Many people don't know that Sizwe C is an active member of the American Armed forces. He told me that he spent 5 days on the Air Force base in Miami loading tons of cargo, specifically water, food, and power generators destined for Haiti. There is a chance he may be deployed there, and if that be the case, he is ready, willing and able to serve.

Sizwe C

I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds. For more information on anything you heard today, Check me out online at Nurse dash Karen dot com or follow Nurse Karen on Twitter. Now back to de Docta!

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Q&A: Sizwe C fighting wars as a military man and a soca artiste!

As a writer, one of my biggest pet peeves is reading the same old info about the usual suspects over and over. What's worse is having to write a feature article that some other writer has already written. In the soca world, and artist has a big hit or wins a title, and all eyes are on them. That's all fine and good, but don't you want to know about more than just where they got the idea for the song, and how it feels to be this year's whatchamacallit?

Yeah, I thought so! That's why Nurse Karen Etc will be taking the time to compile YOUR unique questions, and shoot them out to artists...and find out what they're really dealing with. The idea is to get opinions and open dialog between the artistes and their fans. So stay tuned every week as other featured artists chime in to answer the general questions of the month, plus a couple that are just for them!

With Miami Carnival around the corner as the next big who's who event of the socaverse, I thought it would be a great idea to start with an artiste who lives and works there. Allyuh, say hello to Sizwe C!

Wine on You - Sizwe C

Sizwe C is a US-based artist who grew up with music and carnival all around him. He's son of a DJ who says that he decided to be a singer when he was just six, after seeing Machel Montano perform "Too Young To Soca". Years later, his career would be begin as a solo artist, then as a member of a reggae band called Crucial. Now with roughly 8 years under his belt in the music business, Sizwe C main focus is soca, which he starting pushing in 2007. Fans in Miami also know him as the co-host of Soca Bashment on Blaze 107.1 FM, Saturday from 1 to 3 pm with Dr. Esan.

Now, let's do this already...


NK. Soca music can be very thankless, what keeps you motivated to keep doing what you do?

Sizwe C

THE "SOCA" ITSELF... SOCA FOR ME IS MORE THAN JUSS MUSIC, IT'S MY CULTURE, IT'S MY WAY OF LIFE ! IT IS MY LIFE!

NK. Tell us one thing your fans don’t know about you, but probably should.

Sizwe C

THAT I AM ACTUALLY BORN IN MONTREAL, CANADA!

NK. What is the greatest moment of your career so far?

Sizwe C

I HAVE TWO: PERFORMING IN TORONTO AT "SOCAVIVOR" IN FRONT OF 5,000 PEOPLE LAST YEAR, AND ALSO BEING NOMINATED IN THE INTERNATIONAL SOCA AWARDS!

NK. Of all the songs you’ve worked on, which is your favourite and why?

Sizwe C

"FIYAH" IS MY FAVORITE. I JUSS ENJOY SINGING IT. IT SEEMS SO POWERFUL LOL! AND WE DID ALL THE MAJOR CITY REMIXES TO IT, SO WHEN WE GO TO THOSE CITIES AND SING THE REMIX THE PEOPLE JUSS GET MAD!

NK. Who would you say are your mentors in this business?

Sizwe C

WOW THERE ARE A FEW... THE LATE MIGHTY DUKE, LEON COLDERO OF CODE 868, PROBLEM CHILD, KAMAU, BARRIE HYPE

NK. Name an emerging artist you rate, and why?

Sizwe C

I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU TWO: OMARI FERRARI AND KAMAU. OMARI'S STYLE IS JUSS SO FRESH AND NEW. HE HAS A HIPHOP AND R&B BACKGROUND THAT COMES OUT IN HIS MUSIC. KAMAU BECAUSE HE DOES IT ALL! ENGINEER, PRODUCE AND WRITE.

NK. When you were small, what did you want to do with your life?

Sizwe C

I WANTED TO SING SOCA! I WANTED TO BE THE NEXT SUPER BLUE... LOL

8.

NK. What is one goal you have for yourself that you have not achieved as yet?

Sizwe C

TO PERFORM IN THE SOCA MONARCH

NK. Apart from Trinidad, what other Caribbean heritage is in your background?

Sizwe C

MY MOTHER IS HAITIAN. SO SAK' PASSE TO ALL MY ZOES

NK. Tell us a quotation or word of advice that helps you through the rough times.

Sizwe C

TOGETHER WE ASPIRE TOGETHER WE ACHIEVE; LET'S GET IT; NO SLEEPIN NO STICKIN

NK. Do you listen to soca from various islands? If so, which ones, and what do you enjoy about it?

Sizwe C

I LOVE ALL SOCA FROM ALL THE ISLANDS, HOWEVER I REALY LIKE BAJAN GROOVY SOCA. IT'S JUSS FULL OF FLOWING MELODIES!

The next few questions are just for Sizwe C!
NK. As a member of the US Military, how does that experience affect your creativity?

Sizwe C

WELL I'VE BEEN ALL OVER THE WORLD AND EXPERIENCE A LOT OF GOOD AND BAD TIMES. SO I THINK IT ALLOWS ME TO BE MORE OPEN AND WILLING TO FLIRT WITH DIFFERENT FORMS OF MUSIC AND MERGING THEM TOGETHER TO MAKE ONE AMAIZING RECORD!

NK. How does being based in the United States affect the success of your music?

Sizwe C

I DONT THINK WHERE YOU ARE BASED IS AS IMPACTFUL AS WHAT YOU HAVE AVAILABLE TO YOU, AS WELL AS HOW HARD YOU ARE WORKING TO PROMOTE YOURSELF. YOU HAVE TO BE DRIVEN AND SELF MOTIVATED AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE INTERNET!!! LOL

Thanks Sizwe for letting us know more about your battle to achieve in the soca game. He lets me know that he's gonna be up in everything for the 2K10 season, so consider yourself warned!

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

P.S. Here's Sizwe C's favourite song...Enjoy!

Fiyah (WISC Road Mix)(2009) - Sizwe C

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Booster Shot: Original artiste interviews coming to Nurse Karen Etc every week!

Thanks to you the fans, I'm very excited to be able to provide you with more "soca news from the source!" every week! I'm talking about regular pop interviews with soca artists, djs, promoters, and personalities in general. It's called Q and A, and the format is simple. Every month or so Nurse Karen Etc team will pose a general set of questions to a group of soca heads, plus a few specific questions submitted by you!

I love your questions. You send 'em, I give them to the artists, no matter how outlandish. If they answer, it up to them! So far, you guys have me rolling with laughter!

"What is Benjai's Cranberry to Vodka Ratio?"

"Is Kees single?"

"Why is there so much politics in the Toronto Soca scene?"

"Is Zoelah married"

"Is Nurse Karen dating a French white dude?"

...and the list goes on...

Keep posing your questions anywhere on the blog, or hit me up on twitter, the facebook group, or via IM at nursekaren@hotmail.com . We promise you at least one new "Q&A" every week!

So keep those questions coming...

Stayed tuned this Wednesday for a Q&A with Florida-based artiste, Sizwe C. Even your Nurse learned a few things she didn't know!

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

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The Rounds: Ma$tamind Productions to drop two albums for Christmas

In this Edition:

- Cambridge Carnival

- The parang season starts now!

- Two Christmas albums for Ma$tamind Productions

- Belize Road March postponed

- Bunji and Fay Ann promote their own Miami Carnival Fete

Originally broadcast on Flow 93.5 FM's Soca Therapy on Sunday, September 13, 2009

_________________________________________

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. After a couple of weeks in the U. S. of A., I'm BACK!!! I made my first visit to a very cold and rainy Boston Carnival, I hung out in New York, doing some major networking with some soca heads over there. Then I took in some Labor Day action in Brooklyn.

This weekend, Massachusetts is jumping up again at Cambridge Carnival. If you’ve never heard of it, that’s because it’s usually overshadowed by the festivities held across the river in Boston. Cambridge is the community where you find prestigious universities like Harvard and M.I.T. 2009 marks the first year that Cambridge has held its celebration on a different weekend than its Beantown neighbour. At a balmy 26 degrees Celsius, carnival goers in Massachusetts must be happy they gotta a second chance at carnival this year.

Here in Toronto, we may be just getting ready to say goodbye to summer, but Trinidad and Tobago is moving full speed ahead into the Christmas Season. Yesterday, the world’s largest Parang music festival began in at the Arima Velodrome. Between now and January there are 13 scheduled shows featuring 36 bands. That means four straight months of Christmas!


Speaking of Christmas, I’m getting in the spirit too. While in New York, I found out that Mastamind Productions will be releasing two Holiday albums in 2009. One of them will be their much anticipated Parang and Soca Parang album, A Mastamind Christmas. But the second will be a compilation of Caribbean Artistes performing holiday classics in styles ranging from rock to jazz. Oh, and by the way....yours truly, Nurse Karen, recorded a spoken word piece called “Question’s for Mary” that will also be on the album.

But no worries Soca massive, we still have lots of time before we gotta think about shopping or snow or anything like that. Well..I sure hope so, anyway. Before Christmas...is Carnival.

Belize was supposed to be jumping up this weekend, however the organizers made a last minute to shift the street party to next weekend, in favour of a hosting a large scale cultural fair instead. Belize road march will take place next Saturday instead.

Now, if somehow you didn’t catch this news the first time around. Please allow me to remind you that South Florida will be having just ONE Carnival on our Thanksgiving weekend. For the last few years, two separated parades of the bands were hosted on the very same day, one in the city of Miami, and one about 40 minutes north in Broward County.

But 2009 is all about unity. ...
Bunji and FayAnn are taking advantage of the special occasion to host their own signature event that weekend called Miami Vice. They’ve invited a handful of their friends in the business to put on a star studded show featuring the likes of Beenie Man, Denise Belfon, Benjai, Problem Child, Sizwe C, Hunter, Trini Jacobs, and Skinny Fabulous.

What you think? Shall we book a little vacation? I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s rounds. For more info on everything you’ve heard here, surf on to my blog at Nurse dash Karen dot com. Now, back to de Docta!

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