The Rounds: Shaunelle McKenzie is a Mommy!

Originally aired on Sunday, March 28, 2010 on Soca Therapy with Dr. Jay de Soca Prince (Flow 93.5 FM Toronto)

In this edition:
- Trelawny Carnival this weekend (Jamaica)
- Bacchanal Blocko 2010 Cancelled (Jamaica)
- Fadda Fox, Skinny Fabulous and Monstapiece rock UWI Carnival (Jamaica)
- Rupee remixes "Frenzy"
- Bomani plans new Vincy Mas fete (St. Vincent)
- Shaunelle McKenzie gives birth (St. Vincent)

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I’m Nurse Karen, and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds.  Easter is just one week away, which means just a few days till Jamaica Carnival for Soca fans in Trelawny. ...Three days of revelry to the sounds of Byron Lee’s Dragonaires led by Oscar B.  Other events include a soca / reggae party on Good Friday, Family Fun and oldies disco day on Saturday, and a sport bike show on the Sunday.  It’s definitely not your traditional expression of Carnival other Easter for that matter.  But then again Jamaica has always been on the forefront of cultural innovations!

            Jamaica’s other carnival,  Bacchanal Jamaica, just announced the cancellation one of it’s signature events this season.  Sad to say, the Bacchanal Blocko is off for 2010.   Organizers cite unforeseen circumstances.

Nurse Karen and Skinny Fabulous in Toronto (2008)

Students in Jamaica celebrated UWI Carnival last night.  They lucked out on a hot show  from Fadda Fox, Skinny Fabulous.  In a just a few minutes the action will continue on The Plumbers Boatride.  With the weather we’ve been having over here, doesn’t a boatride in sunny Jamaica sound perrrrrfect?

Meanwhile , Barbados’ soca sweet boy Rupee  is back home after one month of touring in Europe.   Toronto Hip Hop fans will be excited to hear that he’s got a remix of the song FRENZY on the way.  It feature’s T-Dot rude bwoy Kardinall Offishall, so keep your ears to the ground for that.

Nurse Karen and Kardinal Offishall in Toronto (2008)

Toronto fete-goers had a couple of great indoor options for entertainment over the weekend.  One fete featured Bomani from St. Vincent.  If you missed him, he tells me  he’s hard at work organizing his first ever concept show for Vincy Mas 2K10.  It’s called Soca in de Dark.   The dimly lit, intimate night of groovy and raga vibe is set for the Month of May and will feature a cast of SVG artists as well as a guest appearance from Krosfyah!

Bomani and Nurse Karen in New York (2008)

           If you know the Vincy scene, you would know that Bomani sings in a band called HS Phaktor with a talented female vocalist by the name of Shaunelle Mckenzie.  Last Saturday, Shaunelle became a new mom, giving birth to a bouncing baby girl named Sade.  She weighed in at 6 pounds 13 ounzes, and from all accounts, she’s happy, healthy and verrrry hungry! 

Shaunelle McKenzie and Nurse Karen in St. Vincent (2008)

            I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds.  For more info on everything you heard.  Check me out online at Nurse dash Karen dot com, or Follow me...”Nurse Karen” on Twitter.  Now, back to de Docta!

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The Rounds: October is Calypso History Month!

Originally aired on Flow 93.5 FM's Soca Therapy with Dr. Jay de Soca Prince, Sunday, October 4, 2009

In this edition:
- MSU Carifest (USA)
- UK Soca Music Awards Results (UK)
- IMA names Kes the Band "Spotlight Artist" (USA)
- Roy Cape to be honoured at Word Creole Festival (Dominica)
- Ras Shorty I Tribute and birthday (Trinidad)
- Bomani's birthday (St. Vincent)

Good evening soca lovers, I’m Nurse Karen and these are Doctor Jay’s Rounds. It’s October! We already know that next weekend is Thanksgiving and Miami Carnival. But are you aware that the entire month is Black History Month in the UK and Calypso History Month in Trinidad? If you ask me, the two go hand in hand. So let’s celebrate!

Yesterday 275 Caribbean Students in Texas took time out to educate the population of Midwestern State University about Caribbean Music and Culture at their campus “Caribfest”. Students from a variety of islands packed everything from Steelpan, and Soca, to yummy Caribbean treats into just a few hours of Carnival to show of their pride and power inspite of their very small numbers.

Last week during the Rounds, the London Soca Community got all dolled up in suits and dresses for the 2nd annual Soca Music Awards. Congrats go out to all the winners. Honourable mention to Scrappy for winning Best UK Soca Track, AND Best UK Male Soca Artist. Miss Desire took best UK female. The international acts voted ...The Best were Destra, Brother B and Kes the Band!

Nurse Karen with Nigel and Kees from Kes the Band (Toronto, 2007)

Speaking of Kes the Band, this past week, they were named and the 9th Spotlight Artist by the Independent Music Awards. Pretty great exposure for a Soca band!

For generations when Calypso and Soca lovers have thought of bands, and musicians, Roy Cape is one of the first names that comes to mind. Just found out that he will be receiving a special honour at this year’s World Creole Festival in Dominica. It’s the first time a country outside of Trinidad and Tobago has paid tribute to the veteran bandleader.

Nurse Karen with Roy Cape (St.Vincent, 2009)

As we continue to recognize soca history. The man who is considered by many to be the creator of the soca genre will be honoured by the Trinidad Unified Calypsonian’s organization. If Ras Shorty I was still alive today he would be turning 68 this Tuesday. So, a special tribute concert will be happening in San Fernando as part of Calypso History Month on that very day!

Before I go, happy belated birthday goes out to Bomani. He had a birthday on September 30th. Here’s hoping it was happy, happy, happy!

Bomani and Nurse Karen (New York, 2008)

I’m Nurse Karen and those were Doctor Jay’s Rounds. For more exciting soca news and my online journal from Miami Carnival, check me out online at Nurse dash Karen dot com. Now, back to de Docta!

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Eye Unit: Happy Birthday Bomani (Video)

Nurse Karen and Bomani (Vincy Mas 2006)

It's September 30th! I was just about to hightail it to the suburbs to cut cake with my brother who turns 28 today. When I phoned and found out that he was getting ready for bed, it occurred to me that somebody else I know is celebrating a birthday today as well.

So...birthday greeting go out to Bomani! I happen to know he's not 28...but who's really counting?

As per my usual custom, I figured I'd share a little viz for your viewing pleasure.

Check out the video for "Sweetness". This song was released for Vincy Mas 2006. The video which came out waaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy after, features a cameo from 2008 Vincy Ragga Soca Monarch Queen, Danielle "Dani-O" Ollivierre.

Bomani is definitely a cutie. This one is even more entertaining since you get to see de yout man dancing choreography.

Enjoy...



Love and Sweetness!

Nurse Karen

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The Rounds: TriniBashment Turns 4!!!

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds. As the weather begins to dip up here in Toronto, all eyes are on Miami for carnival. The action takes place next Sunday in South Florida with Road parades in both Miami and Broward. And YES, I WILL be there.

Naturally there's an air of excitement as the Caribbean community prepares for the annual festival. However, last week this excitement was met with grief when Miami Carnival CEO, Selman Lewis passed away on Monday. Lewis, just 60 at the time of his death was born in Trinidad and migrated to the US in 1969.

He's responsible for North America's third largest Caribbean carnival, after Caribana and Labor Day, and was ALSO the president of the China Mas group, a carnival band having won Miami's band-of-the-year title for 7 consecutive years. A public memorial was held for the community leader on Saturday. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Mr. Lewis' wife, and family.

You've heard me mention it before, the west Indian community in Florida means business when it comes to getting organized. Now, with a Federal election right around the corner, it's time to Soca D Vote once again. Soca D' Vote is a non-partisan community collective working to educate the Caribbean American community about their rights as voters. Next weekend representatives will be attending both carnivals with voter registration applications to make sure...we lil island people could have a big impact on Washington.

Other news this week....Soca 919, otherwise known as TriniBashment Radio celebrated its 4th anniversary last week. The world's first 24/7 soca music radio station was launched in Point Fortin Trinidad in 2004 by none other than De Boss...Mr. Iwer George.

Limin' with De Boss in Toronto, May 2008

And lastly, Bomani rang in a birthday on Tuesday with friends in New York...but if you're in New York two weeks from now, maybe you can celebrate with him at his annual Birthday Bash in Brooklyn. He'll be hanging out in the US for a month working on some projects.

Bomani celebrating his birthday in Toronto last year!

We also send out b-day wishes to some key players behind the scenes in the extended soca family: Natasha Andrews Noel of Mastamind Productions and Mark Cyrus of Master ROOM Studios.

The birthday girl herself, Business Manager of Mastamind Productions, Natasha Andrews-Noel in Trinidad (2008)

I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds. Please send me your comments online at the Nurse Karen Etc Blog at mustardseeds.net, and get your weekly podcast of The Rounds at Soca Therapy dot com. Now back to de docta!

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Nurse's Lounge: Vincy Fete at Cafe Omar

The action last night was late in coming...but eventually things heated up Brooklyn stylee! One thing I kinda like about the New York vibe, is that no matter where you're from... you can find a group of your people from back home liming at all hours. We hit up Cafe Omar in Flatbush.

That was where most of the Vincies dem were making merry. I joined in for a bit.

Big up to all the performers: Dennis Bowman, Gideon James, Dani.O, Lively, Icon, Skinny Fabulous, Jamesy P, Bomani.

Soca Jones, as always...I appreciate what you do. Keep promoting the culture.

Blackroots...next time walk with your phone, but thanks anyway!

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Booster Shot: 2008 Vincy Soca Monarch Finals (Video)

So, the best way to tell you what happened is to show you.

Check out all the video clips and let me know who is YOUR soca monarch!


First up: Dani.O, Skarpyon, Coyaba and Poorsah...

Next up: The title winning performance from Skinny Fabulous!


Congratulations on your first Soca Monarch win. You called it! I'm soooooooo happy for you.

Introducing: Danielle Veira


You've heard/seen me talk about her in The Rounds. Here's her debut solo performance in the soca monarch show. She's just 18, with a voice like a lion. The tune is called "Wuk up your waist" on the Gladiator Riddim by Studio 758, St. Lucia.


The man and dem are waiting for a little more meat on the bones before they decide, but if you listen to music with your ears, you know what time it is.

Performance Time: Fire Empress and Bomani

Fire Empress is a stylish woman with an ear for quality. This year's entry Mamalaya is blazing up the charts on Toronto-Lime.com.

Bomani is no stranger to the Soca Monarch stage. In 2004, he was crowned SVG Soca Monarch with I AM SOCA. This year, he's riding down the highway and looking great doing it.

Chune Again!: Problem Child and Icon

Problem Child was the 2007 road march king of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but he's never entered the SVG Soca Monarch Competition until now. Decked in designer duds, Problem...it's gonna be a serious problem!

Icon on the other hand is a country boy with a flare for two things, Booming vocals and Kicksy lyrics. Overseas, most people only know him from his song on the 2005 Lavaslide Riddim. Country, country, side!!!! Before that, he had a song called Coconuts that will help you make sense of the double entendre slackness he brought in 2008: A Pain!

Vincy Variety: Alla-G, Fullclip, Homey, Maddzart

Alla-G likes to keep the mood light and local. This time he's "Sharing Horn". How generous.

As for Fullclip, remember his tune Frenzy last year? If not, go to YouTube and check out my video UK Frenzy. That's the song I used. In my opinion, it was the most slept on song of Vincy Mas 'O7. He can do it sweet or rub-a-dub style. Move - Big Truck Coming!

Homey's song is called Drunk and Dutty. Well, in the spirit of the lyrics a loyal fan bowled him a Hairoun can in he head. I know that has nothing to do with the clip I have attached here. It was so mean...but classic. Don't mess with that crowd. I have to hand it to him for continuing without missing a beat.

Maddzart! It was so good to see you on that stage tonight. Carnival is mine! Every time you sing "Nasty Wukking Up", I have to get on bad. Thanks for making me dance.

The Home Stretch: Zoelah, KGB, Tamisha Nichols, Fireman Hooper

Miss Go-Down-Low has her Hand In the Air this year. Each of her 3 releases did well this carnival, but not well enough to place in either Ragga Soca or Soca Monarch. We all know that's not going to stop Wine Up On Me from tearing up internationally.


KGB is a rather sweet guy who was totally confused that I knew who he was. Well, Kevin Browne...you're a soca artiste and I study soca. We on the same page now? Single Till Carnival Done? OK, but I'm sure your girlfriend can figure out how you spend your time too!

Tamisha is completely adorable. Earlier this season she competed in the Miss SVG pageant. And from what I can tell she's getting friendly with fellow artiste, Landlord. There are a few soca romances in SVG, but that's besides the point.

Somebody say FYAH!!!!! six-time soca monarch champ, Fireman Hooper lost his crown tonight.
As you can see from the video, he's still the king to many of the fans in the crowd. By the way, Tabia and Mr. Playhouse, allyuh get ketch in this one.

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Nurse's Lounge: Glow oh no!

OK, I can't sugar coat this one. Glow turned out to be a boring fete this year. I think half of SVG must have known in advance, because they mostly stayed home.


This review in no way reflects on the performances. In my opinion, they were great. I taped a tiny bit of Zoelah, but then I started goofing around with my girls. Sorry, eh.

For what it's worth, Here's Miss Z.

The crowd was all concentrated on one side of the stage...um the side closest to the bigger bar. On the other side was a set of bleachers were the music fraternity decided to make the most of it. Oddly enough it was a really nice lime. Everyone looked great in their white. Thanks to a less than exciting vibe in the air, we all stayed pose-worthy cute the whole night through.

If you're wondering how cute, it would be my pleasure to show you!


Bomani





Winston Soso





Kubiyashi





Gideon James





Problem Child

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Nurse's Lounge: Vincy Soca Monarch Semi-Finals

Every time I'm in St. Vincent, I am amazed at how many people down there are singing soca. When you tune in to the radio stations, there are nuff songs to be heard, but you may not realise how many more are pumping out of speaker boxes, in ipods or just on other radio signals.

Now that I'm hear, I'm noticing that again. There I was, thinking I was up to date, just because a handful or producers are nice enough to forward their releases to my inbox, but yet again, I feel like I had no idea.

So tonight, the lime is Soca Monarch Semi-Finals. 35 artistes are vying for 20 coveted spots. Everyone is hoping to defeat 6-time soca champ Fireman Hooper from his perch as soca monarch. We'll see if this will be the year.


Here are three videos full of clips of the semi-finalists competing:












This year, the Monarch will earn automatic entry into the International Soca Monarch finals in Trinidad and Tobago 2009. So, the stakes are high. The winner doesn't just walk away with $20 000 EC, but also an additional $100 000 TT appearance fee once they grace the stage in Trinidad. That news brought former soca king Maddzart out of hiding, and brought soca monarch virgin, Problem Child into the ring for the first time.

It's been such a rainy weekend here in St. Vincent, so I suppose the moderate turnout isn't so bad for a Sunday night in Kingstown. None-the-less, the music community made sure to show up.

Here are a few of the artistes I ran into at Victoria Park.

Ras X

DJ Twenty

Fire Empress

Colin Peters from Mystik Vibration

Shaunelle McKenzie

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Good Evening Soca Lovers,
I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds.

Have you ever felt the pain of heart break? Ever wished you could get something back that you know is gone forever. Around here, we does call dat Tabanca! And last night a few hundred people who vex with winter and missing the soca riddims of T&T crammed into Islandmix in Pickering for Dr. Jay's remedy. Before there was any reason for the tabanca to kick in. Dr. Jay, a big Toronto posse and yours truly were soaking up the oil and music in Trinidad last month. Check we!




When you feel that way, there's nothing better than a good celebration to get you by. So let me tell you what has other people smiling…And if yuh still working through allyuh Carnival Tabanca, you'll soon realize there's plenty more love to go around.

First off, New York's Ma$tamind Productions, the husband and wife duo that's responsible for bring you all those Mastamind Projects and Christmas albums celebrated 3 years in the business on Monday. Three years, five albums, collaborations with artists from all over; including Rikki Jai, Bomani, Sheldon Douglas, Adrian Dutchin, and Maximus Dan to name a few. We say congrats to dem …and keep making that music! This is me with Shawn "Mastamind" Noel, and Natasha Andrews-Noel in Trinidad last month.




Now down in Trinidad, everybody's favourite loverboy was doing a little celebrating he-self. Kees Dieffenthaller of Kes the Band rang in a birthday on Wednesday. In case you're curious, that little baby face and fit body now boasts 27 years on this earth. God bless us all!

In Miami, they are spreading the love Cuban style today with their annual Calle Ocho street fair. It started off 30 years ago as celebration of La Cultura Cubana, but nowadays it incorporates musical elements from thoughout Latin America and the Caribbean. It spans twenty-three city blocks with sixteen concert stages and the best part is, it's FREE. This year Shaggy, Wyclef and Chaka Khan join the action at Carnaval Miami's big Latin-Caribbean party…that features soca music too!

Now over in Jamaica, the carnival surprises keep on flowing. We usually don't expect a lot of new soca music from JamDown, but up and coming reggae star Da'Ville is adding his voice to the mix. He's making the ladies swoon with a SOCA release called none-other-than TURN ME ON! This soca track was produced by Trinidad's Sheldon "Shel Shok" Benjamin. If you didn't know, he the midi guy in Atlantik... and he produced Roll for Alison Hinds…plus a slew of other very big tracks! Here I am with the boys from Atlantik in St. Vincent last July. Shel Shok is the one standing behind me!

So there's no reason to feel sad and lonely when is out there celebrating life. So forget de Tabanca, cuz it go be Spring before you hear my voice next.

I'm Nurse Karen, and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds. Don't forget to subscribe to my podcast, or leave me a comment online at the Nurse Karen Etc blog at triple W dot Mustard Seeds dot Net. Now back to de docta!

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The Rounds - September 30, 2007

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Lately, I’ve found mehself thinking about the life of a soca artist. Not anyone in particular…just what it’s like to sing WE music for a living. If you spend your weekdays chained to a desk, or changing poopy diapers, it sounds like the career of a life time. But there’s so much more to singing soca music than travelling the world and entertaining adoring fans.

On Friday, Trinidadian soca sweetheart Nadia Batson released a letter to the media bemoaning some of the not-so-fun realities that come with the territory. She seemed pretty ticked off about Show Promoters who negatively exploit artists they’ve booked. She echoed the feelings of so many artists I’ve met, who have not been paid for their time and work, or haven’t received OTHER things that were promised under contract.

It’s important to spend your entertainment dollar supporting promoters, like Dr. Jay who work tirelessly to set a standard of excellence. That will benefit the industry as a whole. If you’ve never been to a Dr. Jay party, get your tickets NOW for Soca or Die 7 on Saturday, November 3rd. Trust me, you’ll see the difference! Like Iwer George says in the second verse of Fete After Fete. Artistes want Dr. Jay…doh take no chance.

It was just announced that Alison Hinds long anticipated solo album will finally drop on November 6th. She is the undisputed “Queen of Soca” (write that down, IS de name of she Album - Soca Queen), but till now, she has never had the mainstream clout to produce a commercially viable album. So, now it’s happening…and I’m curious to hear what it sounds like. The collection is executive produced by Salaam Remi. He’s worked with Amy Winehouse, The Refugees, and fellow soca artiste Kevin Lyttle. Which makes me think, there sure eh go be anything sounding like Wine and Go Down and Stick.

Soca Music is a young medium that is still fighting for international respect and acceptance. So it’s a VERY hard road when artists can’t even expect their local radio stations to play their songs outside the Carnival season. So the pay off comes from a grueling tour schedule that takes some artists away from their families for months at a time…like Bomani, who’s spending his birthday on de road in Toronto tonight while promoting tourism as Caribbean Week comes to a close.

It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it. And I’m so glad they do. It gives me the sweetest music to motivate me on the treadmill. Soca gives Dr. Jay and entire Kingdom to be prince of. And it gives YOU something to look forward to each and every blessed Sunday.

I’m nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Tell us what you think about Living La Vida Soca by texting 9.3.5.9.3.5 . Now, back to de docta.

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The Rounds - May 5, 2007

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I’m nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds.
It’s been pure CRAZINESS in the world of soca this week, if you ask me. Let me fill you in.
So on Monday, Machel returned to TNT from the Brian Lara farewell party in Barbados. It was finally time to face the press. Last week, if you remember, I told you about some High Definition blows licking out at Zen night club after Winerboy refused dance with a patron when “All dat she wanted was one wine from He”. He says, and I quote: "Firstly I did not burn anyone. Secondly I did not slap anyone. I did not hit anyone with a glass or a cup and definitely I did not knock out anybody." Maybe so, but atleast now we know what the rumours are -- BRAPS!!
Akon, still tekking licks after his indiscretion at Zen a week earlier. Thanks to his caught-on-tape lude conduct on stage with an underage girl, that CONvict is paying in a BIG way. U.S. telecommunications giant, Verizon just pulled the plug on a partnership with Akon, which means they will no longer be sponsoring the Gwen Stefani tour. Akon was supposed to be the opening act. I bet that will make him think twice before giving any young girls a free RIDE to Africa.
Trinidad’s Lyrics King is getting set to release his next album on the VP records label. “Global” will drop on May 22nd, and Bunji Garlin will be in New York from May 13th – 20th, promoting it. In between radio interviews, release parties and in-store appearances, Bunji will make a little time to shoot a video for a song call “Brrt.” at Club TNY and the Riddim Driven Showcase Room in Manhattan.
St. Vincent’s own Bomani, is also in New York putting the finishing touches on his debut album, DEEP, which is set to release in June. The album promises to catalogue his old favourites like Booty Call, Wet and I Am Soca, while giving listeners some new favourites as well. The album will be available through iTunes.
Back in the jewels of the Caribbean, Vincy Mas 2007 was officially lauched yesterday. To commemorate the event, yours truly booked a plane ticket to join in the fun.
Down in Grand Cayman, Batabano carnival came to a climactic CLOSE yesterday. Atlanta’s heats up in three weeks. And in St. Kitts they will be celebrating the Worker’s Day holiday tomorrow with a huge Soca Clash.
Right here at home, if you’re eager for Carnival. We won’t make you wait too long. The 40th anniversary of Caribana is just around the corner. If you want to play mas, check out the band launching. Starting now, they comin’ fast and furious. Next Saturday, Tribal Knights and Jamaal Magloire will be displaying their colours for all to see. Check your favourite online soca news source for details
I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Send me your comments at Soca at FLOW 935 dot com. Now, back to de docta!

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