Booster Shot: Metro wins Soca Star season 5

The 6th season of Synergy TV's Soca Star has come to a close and a new winner has been crowned.  Congratulations go out to Machel "Metro" Pierre.

'Metro' wins Synergy TV Soca Star Nigel Telesford Saturday, February 6th 2010

BIG BREAK: Synergy Soca Star 5 winner, Machel "Metro" Pierre, is lifted in celebration of his victory on Thursday night at the annual competition, which was held at the Jean Pierre Complex, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain. -Photo: MICHEAL BRUCE

Hundreds of young patrons were stranded outside the Jean Pierre Complex on Thursday night as overcrowding brought chaos to the finals of the popular Synergy TV Soca Star competition.

Read the full article here!

Read more...

Eye Unit: Chynee - They Wanna Be Like (Video)

This one comes from the winner of Synergy Soca Star Season 4. Chynee made quite a name for himself with his gimmicky performance of "They Wanna Be Like" last season. When I saw the resulting video, I have to admit I was impressed. The concept is one that I guarantee that you've never seen in a soca video before. Furthermore, attention to detail is evident in casting, costuming, photography direction, and location scouting. (Can you tell that I used to work in film and tv? LOL)

If you never watched Soca Star, the song itself may not grab you. It's pretty much a tune to introduce himself as an artiste. The content is not universal, and the vocals are passable but not perfect. That should in no way detract from this young artist's prowess as a performer. And in the business. Being a good ENTERTAINER is your bread, butter, ham and cheese. Feel me?

So...who wanna be like Chynee?




Love and Soca,


Nurse Karen

Read more...

Booster Shot: Synergy Soca Star 5 Starts this week!

The first TV show to put young performers on the fast track to soca stardom is back! They brought you names like Fireball, Umi Marcano, O.G., Blue and Chiney. Synergy TV's Soca Star is about to launch its fifth season on Wednesday, November 11th. It airs at 9pm in Trinidad and Tobago.  The host with the most, Super Jigga TC will be sure to keep you entertained all season long.

Then next Saturday (November 14), the 15 new finalists will give their first public performance at the St. James Amphitheatre. Admission is free, so if you're down there go and check it out.

Read more...

Nurse's Lounge: Paging Knycky Cordner!

Nurse Karen at Question Mark Entertainment

Ha ha ha... if your'e reading this...please help me find Nurse Karen Etc's own beloved correspondent Knycky Cordner. She's not lost in the traditional sense. It's just that I can't find her. I arrived in Trinidad this morning from a sleepless red-eye flight on Caribbean Airlines.

I'm in transit to Vincy Mas...but thought I'd take a day in T&T to link a few precious soca contacts in our music's mecca before my life is completely overcome once again by the carnival jumbie. On the very top of my list was linking with sister-girl-singer-hostess-blogger-chicky of the hour...Knycky Cordner. Some of you would never believe this...but in spite of the fact lady-girl writes for the blog, the two of us have NEVER actually met in person! Crazy right? Thought that woulda been a simple enough itch to scratch. So far no dice.

Knycky, where yuh? I been looking everywhere. I checked by some of my relatives hear Trincity Mall. I searched over by UWI in St. Augustine. I went up and down the Avenue in Woodbrook.

I stopped in at Synergy TV. This must be the 4th time, I've gone in to meet with Peter C...only to find out plans changed without my knowing. This time I was lucky tho. I met a producer who's looking to chat with me about contributing to their programming. You know I'll keep you POSTED!

Where was I? Knycky...yeah. Whey she dey? I went round the savannah in the rain. I found myself at Question Mark Entertainment (the folks that manage peeps like Kes the Band and Maximus Dan). Who should I see cooling out in front?...a handful of the band members from Asylum.

Nurse Karen Etc followers should know that my travel lines up with Asylum's gigs more often than probably any other band. So, had to pop in. They are rehearsing Saucy Wow's music for a gig at DC's Star Nightclub on Saturday night. ( I won't be there. Check me a Vincy Insomnia) The pop-in turned into a meeting with Simon Baptiste ( The CEO!!!!) Guess who has a nice new shrink wrapped copy of the Kes the Band "On in 5" CD now?!

Yeah...finding all kinda ting today. Still no Knycky.

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

P.S. still in the bandroom...pics coming just now.

Read more...

On De Scene: LIFELINE artists take over Synergy Friday Nights

For musicians & music lovers, Friday Night is Synergy night in sweet T&T, you can get any info about the latest parties, artistes etc. Last night, however, looked like it turned into Sheldon Benjamin night! Oh Guuud! According to Rupee, "Look...at...PEOPLE!" Well artistes. Yes man, we went out in our numbers for what was a sort of a live infomercial for Sheldon's Concert. Well really, it was Synergy Friday Nights hosted by Shal Marshall, but with the Sheldon twist.

This initiative was put together by the LIFELINE committee, Shira Mohammed, Neil Bernard, Rocky, Lyndon Livingston, Klysha Best, Tamara Carpette, Giandre Diaz & Signal To Noise. I must also say thanks to Wendell Naipaul & the Synergy crew for their support.

Some of the artistes present were Machel Montano, Shurwayne Winchester, Blaxx, 3 Canal, Rocky, Denise Belfon, & King David. We were all suppose to sing our favorite track produced by Sheldon-yours truly forgot her CD with my song "Life" or "Fed Up" & had to sing Wet Meh -- planned? Nah! Ah forget real thing at home, will get to that.

The artistes truly represented. Everyone was in high form, but special mention must be made of Granty (General Grant). It's been a while since I saw Granty perform, and allyuh...he better than ever! He had us in the studio rolling & shot calling (remember de dance?) with him. I could only imagine what those at home were doing...

Now ah really cah wait for Sunday (7th June) evening when the real Concert is on...

Now here this aside...Amm, amm, I forgot the DIGITAL Camera at home. Yes man, ah get one. Well borrowed. Yes it was still on the bed, with meh performance CD. How could I? When leaving home, note pad, Camera, note pad, camera, notepad, camera. make it stick!

Anyhow, the ever so sweet committee members, organized a camera for me & were suppose to send me the pics since last night! Ah still waiting. This report couldn't wait so I'm going full speed ahead & if I do get the pics after, I promise to post just for you.

Speaking with Camille, Sheldon's sister, after the show, I learnt Sheldon enjoyed the show. And was most concerned for me and the hip when ah start to throw water. LOL.

Bye Socanites,

Oceans may divide us but Soca brings us together,
Knyxx...

Read more...

Eye Unit: Happy B-Day TC!! (video)

Sending gobbs of birthday love to Trinidad and Tobago to wish a happy day to TC!  If you're a Trini, or a Brooklynite you've known him as a DJ for a long while.   The younger crowd may know him as the host of Synergy TV's Soca Star.  For carnival 2k9 he dropped chunes like "Frontline", "Just Wine" and "Again."  He's co-wrote Fireball's big hit "What I Want."

 Maybe you know him as TC, Super Jigga, White Pants Tight or the King of Swag.  Maybe you don't know him at all. But based on all I just said, don't you think you should?

A birthday is a good time to share a laugh.  Enjoy this clip of TC on Synergy's Wayward Wednesdays as "Insane" Bolt.  

I dunno about his Jamaican accent...but today, lehwe give him a bligh.!

Happy B-Day TC!

Read more...

The Rounds: Machel launches his first book, Boy Boy and the Magic Drum

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds.  First, I want to wish all Grenadians a very Happy Independence weekend.  February 7^th marked 35 years since Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique officially became a nation. 

Cruising south in the Caribbean Sea, we hit Trinidad and Tobago.  The Carnival season is really starting to heat up with new results every day!  ...And we're off!  On Friday, season four of Synergy Soca Star came to a close with Richard "Chynee" Valentine taking the top prize. He performed "Carnival Bacchanal" with KMC in Round One to a screaming house, and really sealed the deal in round two with his solo performance of "They Wanna Be Like". Skinner Park sang along word for word, as the one called Chynee sang his way to victory.  He gets a bMobile recording contact and a brand new car.  Sounds like a great start to his new career.

Last night, the hot ticket in San Fernando was the 2009 Chutney Soca Monarch Finals. Ten acts took a shot at the crown, but it was first time finalist Kenneth Salick who would eventually be named the winner.  Salick has made it as far as the semis 3 times in years gone by, but this time around he took it all the way with Radica/Why You Gone.  The results were decided exclusively by mobile text messages from the general public.  So, the fans have spoken.  

Here's what they said.  In fourth place is visually impaired artist, Asha Kamachee, in third is Hunter with Jep Sting Naina.  Ravi B is runner up with Doolarie, and first...you already know that part.

On Wednesday, Machel Montano launched his first ever children's book, "Boy Boy and the Magic Drum" at Trinidad's National Library.   The fictional tale pays tribute to Trinidad and Tobago, as the nation that magically transformed dirty oil drums, into beautiful musical instruments.  Machel told the media that the project took him four years to complete, but he's already got plans for a second book called, "The Perfect Situation."  The pages of Boy Boy came to life yesterday afternoon in  a live musical presentation at the Jean Pierre Complex in Port of Spain.

I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds.  Check me out online at the Nurse Karen Etc blog at www.mustardseeds.net for video clips of the events mentioned tonight and RESULTS from the International Soca Monarch Semi-Finals, happening RIGHT NOW. Now, back to de docta!

Read more...