Free Download: Free Steelpan App brings Caribbean Culture to the iPhone

I downloaded what I think is a pretty nifty app for my iPod Touch a few weeks ago, and I have been dying to tell you about it ever since! Carnival Steel Drum by Carnival Village, brings a basic introduction to the tenor pan to your fingertips (Quite literally.) Not only do you get a pretty realistic sense of how to play pan by tapping around on the screen. They also offer a simplistic play along game a la Guitar Hero  where the player must repeated tap their finger on lit sections of the pan in order to gain points. The soundtrack is Alison Hinds` "Roll".

The sound is a melodious steelpan synth that's pretty fun to play around with, and not a shabby distraction if you've got little ones who like to play with your gadgets.  Not to mention, it makes Caribbean culture cool and accessible by blending Trinidad and Tobago's national instrument with state-of-the-art popular technology.

You know I'm all for culture!  Kudos goes out to CarnivalVillage.org.uk for the foresight and the resources spent on being the first to bring pan to the iPhone.  What's next?  A Wii game?  If allyuh do dah one, I hope I get a lil piece of the action ($$$ - in case I was being too vague)


So the best news about Carnival Steel Drum is that it's free!!! Tell your friends on Facebook, Myspace and Twitter.  Call your little cousin, and that boy from your Philosophy class! I would be ecstatic to see download shoot through the roof.  Let's show the iTunes App Store that Caribbean people are proud to support their own!

• Price: Free
• From: Four Digital
• Genre: Rhythm / Music
• Release: Sep 14, 2009

More Technical Details

Download the Game

iPhone/iPod Rank:

8947 of 13403

(Link will open iTunes on your computer, if installed. Alternatively Search "Carnival Steel Drum" in the App Store on your iPhone or Ipod Touch.)

Love and Culture,

Nurse Karen

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Eye Unit: Terri Lyons ft. Ataklan - "Smile"

Wow!  Does anyone else love this song?  Pardon the schupidity of the following comment, but it makes me..."Smile!"  This is a groovy soca love song.  Yes, love.  Not tabanca, not horning, not "raise yuh han' if yuh single". LOVE!  **sigh**

Terri looks fabulous. Directed and produced by Walt Lovelace, the video may as well be an ad for Lyons' dentist. Between them teeth and dimples, you couldn't have found a better girl to sing a song called "Smile". Ataklan's laid back vocals are lyrically heart-warming, and gentle on the ear.

Just thought you ought to be exposed to this ditty, in case you've been ignoring the fact that it's been soaring up the Toronto-Lime charts and receiving favourable airplay in T&T.

Feeling smiley?  Come join me...

Love and Soca,


Nurse Karen

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Eye Unit: Something's Happening with RPB at Dainjamental's Studio

Here's a short in-studio video from Dainjamental's studio in Brooklyn New York.

Bajan "Pic-o-de-Crop" Winner Red Plastic bag is recording a dub plate of his hot Calypso tune "Something's Happening".


I've been a big RPB fan since I was in grade school, making up soca dances with my girlfriends. Check out the master at work!






Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

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Booster Shot: Calypso Tents kicks off for St. Kitts Carnival

Carnival never stops and this time of the year, is a pretty busy one in several Caribbean islands.  St. Kitts Carnival is starting to heat up, a good indication of which is the opening of the Proud Sounds Calypso Tent


Source: The Democrat Newspaper

CALYPSO, CLOWNS & A COOKIE MONSTER! -- ‘Proud Sounds

Tent kicks off’

I-Soursop -In Time you gon answer THE CALYPSO COURTS are now open; audiences are being called to order; and Calypsonians, who have witnessed the events of the past year, are imparting their interpretations, making their appeals, and passing judgement on politicians - some with predictions for the future.   “Time you gon answer..” sang I-Soursop; “Same old Slaves,”chanted Jungle Lion while Lala crooned “You got to have Love if you want to make it in this world.”

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Eye Unit: Kes the Band - Till the Morning

Here's the latest video from Kes the Band.  They dropped this one Michael Jackson style with an official release date, time and location last weekend.  Ironic that they're taking cues from the King of Pop, considering that KES has their eyes and heart set on pop exposure in 2010.  I was brought up to speed about this very fact by management the last time I was in Trinidad (The very same evening the MJ sadly passed away).  We wish them luck!

Anyway....back to the video.  Check out "Till The Morning" from the amazing album, On In 5.

No fireworks or crazy concepts here, but most definitely a little something for both the ladies and the men!

Enjoy!



Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

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