Boost Shot: Give the gift of Soca, albums for your Christmas list

With Christmas just two months away, why don't you give the gift of original music to everyone on your list?  Soca fans can talk day and night about raising the music to a higher level, but if we don't put our money where our mouth is...the wait will be much longer than necessary.

Browse the selections below.  You can even click to get a sample of the music, and follow the link to buy you own copy!

Here are a few 2009 titles for the soca lovers on your holiday shopping list...






















This great new holiday album features an original poem by yours truly!


Let me know what you think of these gift suggestions.  I will be sure to post some more for you as we go forht into the season!

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

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The Rounds: What happens in Miami, makes The Rounds!

Dr. Jay's Rounds: Originally aired on Sunday, October 18, 2009
"Soca Therapy" on Flow 93.5 FM

In this edition:
- Miami carnival round up (USA)
- El a Kru new album (Antigua & Barbuda)
- Crossovah's Ricardo Drue shoots a video with Patrice Roberts (USA)
- Lil Bitts starts a new charity organization (Trinidad & Tobago)
- Shurwayne Winchester and Y.O.U. about to celebrate 1st anniversary (Trinidad & Tobago)

Good evening soca lovers, I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s rounds. Even though it's carnival time in Los Angeles, I’m back Toronto! Last week at this time I was back stage in Bicentennial Park, Miami for the 25th Anniversary of Miami Carnival. This year two carnival committees joined forces to put on the biggest event in its history. The big show at the end of the parade was featured performers from all over the Caribbean, young and old alike. David Rudder, Swallow, Iwer George, Peter Ram, and Biggie Irie, Skinny Fabulous, Problem Child...DEEP BREATH...Fay-Ann and Bunji...the list goes on. This year, the parade had about 25 thousand paying patrons, not to mention the thousands that lined downtown Miami to see the bands roll by.

Antigua's King Swallow and Nurse Karen

I sure do miss the sun and the music, but I grabbed a lot of good info while i was away...especially for YOU. I got to interview Tizzy for a Miami radio station. Did you know that EL A KRU has a new album out featuring all of Tizzy’s heart pumping songs from Antigua Carnival 2009. It’s called “De Road Show”, and it’s available on iTunes and your favourite online retailers. She says her favourite song on it is a track called “Groovy”. So we all need to buy a copy and give it a listen.

Tizzy in Miami

The next night, I hosted some TV interviews behind the scenes at a fete called Miami Vice. That’s where I got to meet Florida’s own Caribbean boy band, Crossovah. Now, I know they don’t like me saying that..but when you have 4 cuties all you rep different islands, who are cute, fashionable and sing like R&B stars...what else do you call it? Patrice Roberts was there that night too. She told me that she will be featured on a new groovy track called “Nah Leavin’” by Ricardo Drue, who is the Trini member of Crossovah. Ricardo and Patrice shot the video for Nah Leaving yesterday.

Ricardo Drue of Crossovah

While I was in Florida, Trinidad’s bite-sized soca darling Lil Bitts was using her star power to affect change. She and three friends started a new organization called M2BC, that stands for Music to Benefit Charities. They held their first initiative called Do Re Mi Karaoke last week Friday. In a packed high school class room, they raised about a thousand bucks for charity. Nice work ladies!

Nurse Karen and Lil Bitts at the FLOW studios

Lemme see, what else... Shurwayne Winchester and his new Band Y.O.U, had just one official performance in Miami. They absolutely rocked University Fete with a stage performance like I’ve never seen before. There was great music, choreography and energy that was nothing short of contagious! Y.O.U. will be celebrating their 1st anniversary together on October 27th in Trinidad.

Shurwayne Winchester and Nurse Karen in Miami

Last night, I checked out performances by Ms Paige, Mista Vybe and Shyann Bailey at De Enforcas 15th anniversary party at Embers banquet hall.  Congrats you guys... it’s a big year for you. Especially with your first even best international DJ nomination at the Soca Awards. If you haven’t cast your ballot, as of October 6th voting has begun at triple w dot soca awards dot com. Make sure you surf on over to support your favourites.

I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. For more information on these soca stories and more, visit me at Nurse dash Karen dot com. Or follow me....nurse Karen on twitter. Now back to de docta!

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On De Scene: Caribbean Snow Storm Antigua

Party Flavours presented the annual pre-carnival fete Caribbean Snow Storm, more commonly known as White Fete. Even though it was raining heavily, partygoers still came out in their whitest white, which by the end of the night with all the rain and mud was not so white. Miraculously I was able to find parking close to the entrance, and was quite delighted until my shoes and pants was covered in mud.

As usual the venue was fittingly decorated but the pouring rain and mud distracted me and I was unable to enjoy the music or the drinks. However, my displeasure dissapated when El A Kru featuring Tizzy hit the stage and launched into an exciting and energertic set. Singing hits such as 'Expose', 'Bounce' and 'Rocket Launcher', the band fully prepared the crowd for the Carnival season.

Quite a number of partygoers were annoyed by the rain while others could not care less and danced to their hearts content, some even playing in the mud. Hopefully next year the promotors will make the necessary changes, so if it rains as heavily again patrons have sufficient shelter.

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Eye Unit: Happy Birthday Tizzy (Video)

It's Carnival Monday in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and somewhere out there the first lady of the Little Antigua Crew (El A Kru) is celebrating her birthday.

So, while I take another jump on the streets of Kingstown with the LIME and Mustique company t-shirt bands, I'll be taking a jump for Tizzy! She'll be my inspiration any time I need more stamina to keep going till late into the night. Who am I kidding, I'll probably be posting up on the truck as soon as my feet start feeling the pain!

Well this one is for you Tizzy!

Happy Birthday!

So join me people...time to take a BOUNCE!!!

Love and Soca from Carnival Monday in SVG!!!!

Nurse Karen

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The Rounds: Canadian music pirates get shut down in RCMP raid

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. If you were snowed in this weekend, you might enjoy knowing what de soca people were doing on the sunny shores of Jamaica! Friday night the pre-carnival fetes continued at the Bacchanal Jamaica Mas Camp with a special performance from Kes the Band. Kes was in Toronto last month. After the show, lead singer Kees came out to lime with us in the crowd. Watch sweat nah!




Over so, the students at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus revved up their OWN carnival celebrations. One of those fetin’ students happens to be Skinny Fabulous from St. Vincent. He’s finishing a degree in - get this - MASS COMMUNICATIONS! Am I the only one who finds that funny? Anyway, he was on hand to premiere a few of his new releases for Vincy Mas 2008. Here I am with Skinny Fabulous and Mr. Vegas at Club Xcape in St. Vincent in 2006.



The other hot ticket in the Caribbean last night was WOMEN POWER in St. Maarten, Netherland Antilles. Ms. Alison Hinds and El a Kru made sure to show dem why DEY hot.

If you were paying attention last week, you’ll remember that I ended the rounds with a charge to go out and LEGALLY purchase soca music. The idea came to me after a conversation with a friend over at Homebase Entertainment in Grenada, who showed me a link to their Soca City Volume One CD, and Da Mastamind Project 3, both being ILLEGALLY sold on a Canadian website called Audiomaxx.com. This week Audiomaxx was finally brought to justice. The Winnipeg based counterfeiting operation was shut down in an RCMP raid on Wednesday after THREE years of duplicating and selling pirated CDs and DVDs. The police seized more than 200 thousand discs to be sold at a dramatic retail discount over the internet. Personally, I can’t believe the nerve of these guys. They actually took the time to superimpose their logo on the cover art to fool shoppers like you and me into believing their product was actually authentic. It is alleged that 30 per cent of all pirated CDs in Toronto were manufactured by the bandits at Audiomaxx. Again, If you WANT soca music, BUY it from a reputable source like Trinidad Tunes or iTunes.

Speaking of iTunes, Soca Therapy has a brand new podcast available free of change for soca fans everywhere. Thanks to MP studios. Now you can subscribe to Dr. Jay’s Rounds…download it your computer…and I’ll keep you up to date with your weekly dose of soca news, artiste gossip and carnival info.

I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Please text your comments to 9-3-5-9-35, or post them 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 - June 29, 2007

Good Evening Soca Lovers,
I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. With one week to go till Caribana, the city is on fire with hot events blazing soca. All the entertainers are packing their bags, checking their passports and boarding their planes…because Toronto is THE place to be.
Last week, Trinidad was home to some major soca action. When radio station Soca 919, hosted their annual Soca for Summer Showcase. About a month ago I mentioned to you that this year’s concert marks the 20th anniversary of Iwer George’s career in soca. He’s the reigning soca monarch…AND the owner of that radio station. Well…after 20 years in the business, IWER GEORGE has called it quits…well…not HIM, but his name. The big man has retired his government name in favour of…THE BOSS. Ah hope de odda BOSS, Bruce Springstein is OK with DAT choice. Personally, I kinda like Iwer betta.(under my breath)
Since last Fall, the soca world has been mesmerized under the enigmatic spell of Machel Montano HD. Even die hard fans agree that this year’s stage show AND music showed a marked improvement over some pretty amazing years gone by. So next week, the HD posse will be on the road, At Lamport stadium AND at Fire Fete 6, but after that? who can be sure? What I do know is that the band has already finished writing and recording about EIGHTY percent of their NEXT album. Yeah, I’m talking about 2008. So, be sure and lap up the last of this year’s presentation…because before you know it, it will be time for something new.
Carnival vibrations sweep through the Caribbean all Summer long. So THIS weekend would have been a great time for a get-away. Whether in Antigua, Grenada or Barbados, Friday and Saturday were all about moving one step closer to crowning the next Monarch. Antigua’s groovy competitors have been narrowed down to 9. Claudette Peters leads the pack with “Go Claudette”.
On the UpTempo side, El A Kru’s Tizzy, is making another attempt to BOUNCE she way to that crown. At Grenada’s soca semi’s on Friday, the show mostly gave newcomers and emerging artists a chance to expose their music to a wider audience. But, some of my greenz posse will be happy to hear that favourites like Nnika Francis, Boogie B and Inspector are back in the running THIS year.
BIM is looking for a Party Monarch too and Barry Chandler has got some stiff competition. The 2007 music is sweet fuh so. So whether it goes to Khiomal, Hypasounds, Lil Rick, or Mr. Dale, All my Bajans can rest assured de title will be in good hands.
Well Toronto posse…this is we time. So save up your pennies and support the culture. Friday we going to KOS J’ouvert…and then it’s no sleep at all till Tuesday morning.
I’m nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds . Please text me your comments at 9-3-5-9-3-5. now back to de doctor.

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The Rounds - April 1, 2007

April 1, 2007
Dr. Jay’s Rounds
By “Nurse Karen”
Good Evening Soca Lovers, I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. We’ve entered Spring and I’m actually starting to believe it.
As Easter rolls around, Jamaica is gearing up for carnival again. Last Saturday, Bacchanal Jamaica founder Byron Lee got the people of Clarendon in the mood at the Supreme Venture Carnival Blowout. The night featured covers of soca songs by Biggie Irie and Alison Hinds, plus the popular annual Tiney Winey competition.
St. Lucia is ushering in the new season by coaxing the big tourist money. There’s a new star studded celebrity event at the Rodney Bay Village Music bash, April 23 to April 25th. The inaugural festival will feature Destra, David Rudder, Beres Hammond, Sean Paul, Maxi Priest and Shaggy. With tickets set at $60 US, it’s obvious that they prefer foreign money to the local kind. For Lucians wanting to check out their favourite artistes, $160 EC is not much of a welcome mat…if you know what I’m saying.
The next big North American street party happens in Atlanta next month. DJ Tony Tempo tells me he will be bringing a mas band this year, which is guaranteed to encourage more participation from the youth. So, if you want to join the action, the parade of the bands takes place on May 26th.
T and T police are out to capture the true pirates of the Caribbean. Perhaps you know of them, you know the kind of people who try to get rich selling things that don’t belong to them in the first place. I have to hand it to the copyright organization of Trinidad and Tobago. Last week they nabbed a couple of street entrepreneurs who were selling bootleg soca CDs for which they don’t own the license. If you’ve ever traveled to the West Indies…or Brooklyn for that matter, you know how much of a problem that is. These guys selling bootlegs on street corners with no shame….and you have to remember, soca music is still an emerging industry. The artists have a short window to win the ears of fans during the carnival season and once it’s done, marketing and promotion is often done at a grass roots level. While I think the fine ought to be much higher then $3000 TT ( about $700 Canadian), I’m happy the cops are finally teaching a them a lesson. Since February of this year they’ve made more than ten arrests. The only people who should be making money off the sale of the music…are the people who are making the music.
In Antigua, spirits were low this week as West Indies fans witnessed their team tek some serious licks from Australia. A rain cancellation pushed the date back one day, which led to lower attendance. Some would say the only highlight of Wednesday’s game was a lunchtime performance by El a Kru. When tizzy hit the stage singing Expose, the crowd got together to jump and wave…which really couldn’t save the team anyway.
And according to Marxman Sri Lanka done knock de West Indies back to 1957. This week I asked Dr. Jay to run a little cricket set to encourage these guys to step it up… I thought I’d better ask the kingdom of soca to give our boys a little inspiration…but inspiration could never substitute for runs….i think I going and cry.
I’m nurse Karen and those were Dr. jay’s Rounds. Send your comments to soca a Flow 935 dot com. Now back to the doctor!

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