LOCAL NEWS
SOCA STARS MAKE MEMORABLE MOMENTS AT MIAMI CARNIVAL’S RAVE FETE KERWIN COLLABS WITH CHRIS MARTIN WHILE FAY ANN GETS CANDID WITH CROWD
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he recently concluded Miami Broward Carnival featured many highlights. However, one fete seems to have stood out more than others due to some memorable moments created by the artistes. Rave fete was a star-studded show but two performances in particular stood out. The Asylum band had patrons rocking into the wee hours of the morning, but strangely it wasn’t Bunji Garlin who was the most talked about post-performance. His wife, multiple Road March and Soca Mornarch winner Fay Ann Lyons grabbed headlines when she sternly addressed her audience. In a move reminiscent of Machel Montano’s headline-grabbing stunt at Soca Spree that had Tobagonians riled up during Carnival this year FayAnn graphically urged her crowd to be more responsive. “If yuh don’t know how to get on for a soca party you’re a** should not be here,” said the ViQueen. She went on to say “I really don’t give a sh*t”
before eventually moving back into her performance set. Patrons didn’t seem to mind and in fact were a lot more energized after their soca scolding. Video of the exchange can be seen on www.etceterabuzz. com. 2014 International Groovy Soca Monarch Kerwin Dubois also made his mark at the Miami Broward festivities as his performances got rave reviews. It’s only fitting that his most memorable sighting
The ET&T WEEKLY Tabloid is published by ABSTRACT MEDIA GROUP Company Limited in the island of Trinidad and Tobago and is protected by strict copyright laws and is not to be reproduced in full or in part without the written consent from the management of ABSTRACT MEDIA GROUP Company Limited. ©Copyright Abstract Media Group Company Limited 2013. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer: The views expressed herein are expressed by the writers and do not reflect the sentiment of Abstract Media Group Company Limited. Disclaimer: The views or opinions presented in this publication are solely those of the writers and do not necessarily represent those of the company. Employees of ABSTRACT MEDIA GROUP COMPANY LIMITED are expressly required not to make defamatory statements and not to infringe or authorize any infringement of copyright or any other legal right. Any such article is contrary to company policy and is outside the scope of the employment of the individual writer concerned. The company will not accept any liability in respect of such article, and the employee responsible will be personally liable for any damages or other liability arising.
was at Rave Carnival fete where he at one point shared the stage with Jamaican dancehall sensation Chris Martin. Dubois would later create a social media stir as he posted a clip of Martin’s performance on Instagram and hinted that a collaboration between the two stars is
on its way. The caption for the video read: “Memorable moment at Rave Miami. Shared the stage with one of the kings of reggae, @iamchrismartin. Brand new soca this week. Kerwin Du Bois feat Christopher Martin” The event featured a host of other soca stars from around the region including Lyrikal, Ravi B, Skinny Faboulous, Shal and Ricardo Drue.
KES URGES MACHEL & BUNJI TO COME TOGETHER
SINGER CALLS FOR UNITY AMONG TRINI STARS WHILE SHOWERING PRAISE ON TESSANNE CHIN
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resh off a big performance at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City, Kes the Band went on to join the massive list of West Indian entertainers converged on Florida for Miami Carnival. However, before departing to mash up event stages at the recently concluded carnival experience, lead singer Kees Dieffenthaller found time to be candid with the international press in NYC. In an interview with Reshma B of Boomshots TV, Kes spoke on the perceived rift between Bunji Garlin and Machel Montano saying that he did not think much of the so-called rift. However, he did go on to encourage all the “heads of soca” to unite. “Machel, Bunji, everybody come together… in a real way" stated the passionate
bard. Kees reiterated that his hope is that any such coming together would not just be about the music, but “in a real way.” Apart from speaking on unity among soca stars, Kes showered some love on former collaborator Tessanne Chin. He said that be-
fore his performance in NYC he messaged the Jamaican songstress and asked her to listen to some of the new content he had been working on. She logged in to Periscope on Twitter and re-tweeted it to all her fans getting them to take in the live stream of Kes. He went on to refer to Chin as a real good friend who helped him to get through cloudy periods in his life. Kes continued to keep fans up to date with the entire band’s action via social media with several pics to document the action as it occurred in North America. In one photo, he gave props to the people who attended Scruples Blocko and alerted fans to his forthcoming presence at Instajam. Look out for new music and online content from Kes.
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LOCAL PROBLEM CHILD CONNECTS NEWS WITH WITTY DITTY F
inally, an opportunity has presented itself to shout out “F…Dem” without apology. Hold on, before you begin throwing F’s around let’s be specific; Forget, Face, Flatter and Fete are all applicable. When their eyes are recording your every move to strike up neighborhood gossip remember they’re only as significant as you make them. Every movement; wine, jump or wave is ‘For All Ah Dem’ and Vincentian Soca artiste Problem Child is stating this clearly in his track. The cleverly written track that is featured on the ‘Fete Life Riddim’ can easily lead to voluntary tongue slipping as he encourages you to give the confusion makers something to talk about. Released earlier this year for Vincy Mas, ‘For All Ah Dem’ was recognized as one of the more popular songs during the island’s
festivities. The track quickly made its way to Crop Over where it also captured the attention of
many. The song speaks to issues that many partiers and revelers have been experiencing recently.
The turning up of noses must cease! Whether drunk and falling or provocatively wining, it’s the business only of those engaging. Problem Child has captured the attention of the masses yet again. It’s not only for his craftiness on ‘For All Ah Dem’ but also for the penning of lyrics for three other songs on the Fete Life Riddim; ‘Money Done’ (Patrice Roberts), ‘Whole Night’ (King Bubba) and ‘Inferno’ (Shradah). The singer/songwriter and producer Ramon “Fryktion” McDowall are causing quite a stir amongst the Caribbean Diaspora. Some may wonder if the Vincentian artiste has the ability to read minds while others will thank him for helping them speak. Regardless of your thoughts this song is going to heighten your reveling experience. Courtesy Creativa Media
TRAFFICKED HEADS TO DIGICEL IMAX A fter several sold out screenings and winning the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival jury award for Best Trinidad and Tobago Feature Film Fiction, TRAFFICKED the movie, co-produced by Eye on Dependency and Quirky Films, will have its exclusive theatrical run at DIGICEL IMAX from Friday October 16th to Tuesday October 20th 2015. This feature-length, local film tells the story of George, Penny and Nadia who are best friends on vacation on an idyllic Caribbean island. They soon find themselves being seduced by a stranger’s wealth and charm and when the stranger’s true motives are revealed, the three friends discover - much too late, that they have become pawns in a deadly game. Trafficked stars Kia Rollock, Gyerlini Clarke, Aaron N. Charles with Brett Bengochea, 2
The entire Trafficked cast (Photo by Marlon Rouse)
TT$50.00 each. Trafficked will be screened on the following dates and at the following show times in October: Friday 16th 8.25 p.m. Saturday 17th 5.45 p.m. Sunday 18th 4.45 p.m. Monday 19th 7.55 p.m. Tuesday 20th 7.55 p.m.
Abdi Waithe, Brendon O’Brien and Anokha Baptiste. Trafficked was inspired by true events as told to Garth and Natasha St. Clair on their awardwinning radio programme, Eye on Dependency. “The team is extremely ecstatic to have Trafficked on the largest screen in the Caribbean and are thankful to DIGICEL IMAX for supporting local film and helping
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get the film’s message to a widest possible audience,” St. Clair said. There will be a cocktail reception on opening night at IMAX as well as a question and answer session, which will be open to the media and members of the public. Cast and crew members are expected to attend, with opportunities for photographs. Tickets are already available for sale at Digicel IMAX at
Trafficked was written and directed by Sean Hodgkinson, co-produced by the late Marcia Henville and made possible through the support of the British High Commission, First Citizens Bank, The Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, The National Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Programme (NADAPP), the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB), The Tobago House of Assembly, The Ministry of National Security and Toyota.
LOCAL NEWS
MARVAY CHALLENGES YOU
“C
hallenge Accepted” is the phrase that is quite applicable to Damian Marvay’s single ‘Survive The Weekend.’ Quite confident is he, that when challenged to indulge in Carnival he quickly accepted. Truth be told, only a fool would not accept, considering all the factors involved; women, music, costume, alcohol, partying and revelry. Marvay’s acceptance led to the most enjoyable weekend of his life and he now extends a challenge to you to ‘Survive The Weekend.’ The Barbados born singer/ songwriter/performer is the encapsulation of a “full package”; talent, personality and charisma. With a career in music that
stems from Reggae-Soul, Marvay is no novice in expressing himself through music. His debut in Soca during Crop Over 2015 couldn't have come at a better time after lending his vocals as background for the likes of Bunji Garlin, Rupee, Fadda Fox and Farmer Nappy, among others. His breakthrough was a wellreceived surprise with the track
becoming the anthem of many. Marvay’s relationship with production power duo De Red Boyz and songwriters 7th Wing was an unexpected one for him. It was during his performance at a popular night spot in Barbados that he was approached by Scott Galt of De Red Boyz, to do background vocals on one of Farmer Nappy’s tracks for Carnival 2014. Almost immediately he impressed all those present and was called in by De Red Boyz to discuss his career. The conversations that followed led to the recording of ‘Survive The Weekend.’ For a newcomer in such a critical industry, Marvay has experienced a level of success that many have not been able to. The song title and various lines from
the hit single became popular hashtags, it was used for two different advertising campaigns during the Crop Over season and he was recruited by Farmer Nappy for Farmer Nappy and De Red Boyz Band. Marvay has spent the last few months traveling with Farmer Nappy to perform – an experience which he says is both humbling and entertaining. The highlight of his performances with Farmer thus far was his debut performance in Canada for Virgin Mobile’s Indie Fridays finale in Toronto, Canada. Marvay is now officially under Farmer’s Management Company ‘Country Life Entertainment’ and is working on new material for release in coming months.
SAND DOLLARS, CASA BLANCA TAKE TOP PRIZES AT TTFF/15
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and Dollars, the tender story of an elderly French woman in a relationship with a much younger woman from the Dominican Republic, won the Best Fiction Feature prize at the recently concluded awards ceremony for the 2015 trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff/15). Directed by Israel Cárdenas and Laura Amelia Guzmán, the film beat three other films in the official competition to nab the coveted prize. The Best Documentary Feature went to Aleksandra Maciuszek’s Casa Blanca, the moving tale of an elderly woman and her middle-aged son who has Down syndrome, as they navigate daily life in Havana. Casa Blanca also received a special mention for artistic merit by the Amnesty International Human Rights Prize jury. In the Trinidad and Tobago film categories, Sean Hodgkinson’s Trafficked, about three friends on holiday who become drug mules, walked away with the Best Fiction Feature prize, while Kim Johnson’s Re-percussions: An African Odyssey, about attempts to 4
Amnesty International Human Rights Prize: My Father’s Land, Miquel Galofré and Tyler Johnston, Bahamas/Haiti/ Trinidad and Tobago
propagate T&T’s national instrument in Nigeria, won Best Documentary Feature. The prize for best project at the first ever Caribbean Film Mart went to Kidnapping Inc of Haiti, by Gaethan Chancy, Bruno Mourral and Raoul Peck. Here is a full list of the awards:
Best Fiction Feature: Sand Dollars, Israel Cárdenas and Laura Amelia Guzmán, Dominican Republic/Mexico/ Argentina Best Documentary Feature: Casa Blanca, Aleksandra Maciuszek, Cuba/Mexico/Poland Best Short Film, Narrative: Mommy Water, Julien Silloray, Guadeloupe Best Short Film, Documentary: Papa Machete, Jonathan David Kane, Haiti/USA/Barbados
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Best Trinidad and Tobago Fiction Feature: Trafficked, Sean Hodgkinson Best Trinidad and Tobago Documentary Feature: Repercussions: An African Odyssey, Kim Johnson Best Trinidad and Tobago Short Film, Fiction: Fade to Black, Christopher Guinness Best Trinidad and Tobago Short Film, Documentary: Riding Bull Cart, Rhonda Chan Soo People’s Choice Award, Best Narrative Feature: Sally’s Way, Joanne Johnson, T&T People’s Choice Award, Best Documentary Feature: Vanishing Sail, Alexis Andrews, Antigua People’s Choice Award, Best Short Film: City on the Hill, Patricia Mohammed and Michael Mooleedhar, T&T
Amnesty International Human Rights Prize, Special Mention for Artistic Merit: Casa Blanca, Aleksandra Maciuszek, Cuba/ Mexico/Poland RBC: Focus Filmmakers’ Immersion Pitch Prize: Kojo McPherson, Guyana Caribbean Film Mart Best Project Award: Kidnapping Inc, Gaethan Chancy, Bruno Mourral, Raoul Peck Best Emerging Trinidad and Tobago Filmmaker: Michael Rochford BPTT Youth Jury Prize for Best Film: Girlhood, Céline Sciamma, France BPTT Youth Jury Prize Honourable Mention: Güeros, Alonzo Ruizpalacios, Mexico BPTT Youth Jury Prize for Best Film, Special Mention for Cinematography: The Greatest House in the World, Ana V. Bojórquez and Lucía Carreras, Guatemala/Mexico
LOCAL NDDCI’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS NEWS CONTINUE WITH “THRESHOLD”
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s a continuation to its 30th anniversary celebrations, the Noble Douglas Dance Company Inc. (NDDCI) will present its 2015 dance season, Threshold. The weekend production opens on Saturday October 17 at Queen’s Hall featuring new and classic choreographic works by Noble Douglas, Allan Balfour, Penelope Kalloo, Arlene Frank, Delton Frank and Megan Navarro. Trinidad and Tobago’s foremost modern contemporary dance company earned another accolade when it launched its 30th anniversary celebrations with its 2014 season, TEETH. This momentous milestone celebrates the contributions of the seminal dance company to the cultural landscape of Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. Founded in 1985 with a vision to use the body for the expression of a Caribbean aesthetic in modern contemporary dance, the NDDCI has toured locally, as well as on
stages in the United States, Southern Africa and the Caribbean. In 2005, Douglas’ commitment to the development of the arts and culture received national recognition when she was bestowed with Trinidad and Tobago’s second highest award, the prestigious Hummingbird Medal – Gold. She was also the recipient of the Cacique Award for best choreography in the Trinidad Theatre Workshop’s 2005
production of Derek Walcott’s musical, STEEL and a Vanguard Cacique Award for her work with Lilliput Children’s Theatre. She has continued to revolutionise dance expression in the region as she fuses the principles of contemporary modern dance with the instinctive and familiar movements of her Caribbean landscape. As a dancer, choreographer and teacher, Douglas has shone as an icon of the arts in Trinidad
and Tobago and the Caribbean region. The co-founder of the country’s foremost children’s theatre company, Lilliput Children’s Theatre, and founder of the NDDCI, Douglas has stood strong with an unyielding commitment to her vision to use the performing arts as a medium to stimulate young people’s creative energy and to build character, self-confidence and self-esteem. This celebration of dance marks the threshold of a new decade of dance for the NDDCI. Tickets cost $160.00 and are available at Crosby’s Music Centre, from members of the NDDCI and from October 13, 2015, at the Queen’s Hall box office. For more information, join the Threshold Facebook (FB) event page at http://x2t. com/THRESHOLD or connect with NDDCI on FB at www.facebook.com/nddci or on Twitter @NDLFA or send email to liza@ estuaryPR.com.
COCO DANCE FESTIVAL SELECTS 2015 CHOREOGRAPHERS
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he Contemporary Choreographer’s Collective, better known as COCO, presents its seventh annual dance festival and fourth annual dance awards! The COCO Dance Festival 2015 will present this year’s season of dance at Queen’s Hall from Friday, 30th October to Sunday, 1st November 2015. The main aim of the festival is to provide talented local choreographers with a platform for experimental and cutting edge choreography. COCO Dance Festival also provides a stage upon which dance troupes from Trinidad and Tobago may showcase their postmodern forms of dance and innovative mosaics of body motion. The Collective was founded by Sonja Dumas, Dave Williams, Nancy Herrera and Nicole Wesley in 2009 and serves as the premier festival for contemporary dance in the country and the largest con6
temporary dance festival in the English-speaking Caribbean. International guest choreographers are also welcomed to share the stage with their experimental pieces. COCO Dance Festival is an open space for dance expression and the only show in town where one can see the very best of modern contemporary dance for
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TT$100. The first night of the festival will also feature a short awards ceremony – the COCO Awards, honouring a few of the many individuals and institutions that have supported the development of local dance in different ways. The coveted COCO Choreographer’s Award, is bestowed
on the COCO participant who demonstrates innovative and/or consistent choreographic practice both with and outside of the COCO Dance Festival. Previous awardees include, 2012’s Anika Marcelle and Bridgette Wilson, 2013’s Afiya Huggins and 2014’s Jélae Stroude-Mitchell. COCO Dance Festival’s successful choreographers for 2015 include Bridgette Wilson, Afiya Huggins, Kinesha Charleau, Jacob Cino, Sade Chance, La Toya Jasper and Jillene Forde. Through the "COCO in the Community" project, the Festival will partner with the Best Village programme and two groups from the Best Village circuit will appear: Eh Bien Oui Don Don and the Jerningham Junction Performers. The work of COCO founders Sonja Dumas and Nicole Wesley will also be showcased as well as selected international guests.
REGIONAL NEWS The official video for Powerful has racked up just shy of 22 million views on YouTube since its release in July. Billboard praised Riley’s work on the track in the summer, stating, “A sweeping anthem that combines old-school R&B flavour with Major Lazer’s signature full-to-bursting, dance floor-ready sound. Tarrus Riley’s contribution keeps Major Lazer in line with Jamaican musical roots, even if his island lilt is muffled in the production.” Powerful is featured on Major Lazer’s latest album, Peace Is The Mission, which sits at 41 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. That album, released in June also features Jamaican acts such as Chronixx and Jovi Rockwell as well as Trinidadian soca star Machel Montano.
TARRUS RILEY REACHES BILLBOARD HOT 100 WITH ‘POWERFUL’
JAMAICAN DANCER, MYSTIC CERTIFIED GOLD FOR ‘BUBBLE BUTT’
Revered reggae singer, Tarrus Riley has achieved his biggest international feat to date as his collaboration with Major Lazer and Ellie Goulding entitled, Powerful, has cracked the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song entered the chart this past week at number 95, making it the first time he’s ever charted on the Hot 100 in his illustrious career.
Internationally acclaimed Jamaican dancer, Mystic has become the first dancer from that island to be certified gold after her collaboration with American producing extraordinaire, Major Lazer recently achieved the feat. The song, Bubble Butt, featured Mystic alongside Bruno Mars, Tyga and 2 Chainz. An audacious video for the song earned over 40
WORLD NEWS
million views on YouTube, with the single also gained traction on the U.S. Billboard charts. Though the dancer has yet to received her plaque recognizing the achievement, she expressed her excitement regarding her achievement to the Jamaica STAR, suggesting that Jamaican talents only need the ideal opportunity to become successful internationally. This is by far, to date, Mystic’s biggest achievement in the music business, after having for years been one of Jamaica’s most popular dancers, appearing in music videos for local acts such as Beenie Man, to international stars such as Gnarls Barkley. She also featured in the official video for Bumaye, another Major Lazerproduced smash hit, featuring Busy Signal. She currently teaches dance classes via her OptiMystic brand, which has seen her take upcoming dancers across the Caribbean, North America and Europe under her tutelage.
sibility of another Bad Boys movie. "There's a very, very, very strong possibility that you will be seeing a Bad Boys within the next 12-16 months."
DRAKE LANDS 100TH BILLBOARD HOT 100 SINGLE Drake just keeps on getting bigger. Eight new songs for the Toronto rapper made their debut on the Billboard Hot 100. With the new eight entries, his total goes from 92 to 100, marking a huge milestone only a few artists ever achieved. This week’s new entries are all from What a Time to Be Alive, his new collaborative
WILL SMITH DISCUSSES POTENTIAL "BAD BOYS" SEQUEL & TOUR WITH DJ JAZZY JEFF Will Smith recently announced a world tour with DJ Jazzy Jeff on Beats 1 radio with Zane Lowe. "I'm pretty certain I'm going on tour," Smith says. "Jeff and I actually never have done a full tour. I was always on the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. I 8
was always either making a movie, so we've never actually done a full tour. So I'm looking this summer to be the first time that we go out on a full world tour." When asked about his emotional state preparing for such a tour, he laughs that he's "terrified." "I'm really ready, man," he continues. "I've got a whole lot of heart to share and I'm excited about getting it into my music." Smith also addresses the pos-
ET&T • OCTOBER, 2015 • www.amgtt.com
project with Future that debuted No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Drake’s stand-alone single “Hotline Bling” also rose from No. 9 to No. 4 on the Hot 100. From Drizzy’s ”Best I Ever Had” in 2009, which peaked at No. 2, to now, the “6 God” has had 14 of his 100 Hot 100 charted titles in the top 10. His 2010 Rihanna-collaboration ”What’s My Name?” is his only No. 1 single. Drake joins an exclusive list of artists who had 100 songs on the Billboard Hot 100. The cast of Glee, Elvis Presley and Lil Wayne are the other members of the 100 club.
DREAM
GUY
FAVOURITE PLACE FOR A MEAL: The doubles stand (lol). Seriously, I like Ruby Tuesdays. The service is good and the food is always on point. HAVE YOU EVER CHEATED: Does having more than one girlfriend count as cheating? If yes, then yeah… I guess so (lol). THE FREAKIEST THING YOU HAVE EVER DONE: Sex in a public restroom. YOUR WEAK SPOT: Can’t say because everyone would know. You’ll have to find that out personally. YOUR MOTIVATION: Other than my mom, I’m very self-motivated. Everything I achieved is because I believed in myself and I always push myself to become more successful.
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Photographer: Roger Jackson of Absolutpics
NAME: Armando Davies AGE: 28 HEIGHT: 5'9” WEIGHT: 190 lbs CAREER: Personal Trainer BRIEFS OR BOXERS: I prefer briefs because it’s comfortable and offers more support. FAVOURITE SCENT: Kenneth Cole Black. It makes the ladies go crazy (lol). FAVOURITE THING: Making people happy… Helping them reach their goals (either fitness or otherwise) and achieving goals of my own as well. YOUR DREAM GIRL: Looks don’t really matter to me. It’s all about personality and compatibility. She has to be understanding, 100 % supportive, dependable, able to compromise in certain situations and must have a squat booty (lol). YOU WERE HEARTBROKEN: Yes I was. I learned a lot from the situation and it made me stronger. YOUR HERO: My mom… Seeing her as a single parent struggle to raise me and make it through the hardships, helped to make me who I am today. She's my inspiration and motivation. I look up to her every day! FAVOURITE FOOD: I don’t really have a favorite food. It depends on what I’m feeling for at the moment. THE WAY TO YOUR HEART IS: That would definitely be food. Once you can cook for me you basically have my heart. YOU’D NEVER: Umm… go skydiving. WHAT ABOUT PETS: I love dogs. They are the most loyal and loving animals I ever came across. BEFORE YOU DIE YOU’LL: Make my mom become a grandma. That's all she ever asks for (lol). FAVOURITE ARTIST: Jamie Foxx, because he’s not just a musical artist, he's also an actor/comedian. He’s a very talented guy. FAVOURITE MUSIC: Slows/ R&B keep me calm.
MODEL MANIA Name: Krystyna-lee Alexander Age: 22 Hometown: Couva
Hobbies: Dancing, Reading (about psych stuff), Going to the beach, Shopping and random adventures. Krystyna-lee Alexander is a parttime model and full time Clinical Psychologist who has a passion for more things than she can explain. She is as much a philosopher as she is a go-getter. In terms of her goals, she posits “I think no matter what one achieves in life – physically or emotionally – it only ever matters if you are happy and my goal is to be happy and content as I age.” She admits that modeling usu-
ally takes a back seat to her other ventures despite it offering her a nice income during her two years of experience. Yet, she has made her way onto an ad for Wonderful World and has had the pleasure of being photographed by several big industry names. Nigel Reid, Gary Jordan, Ikenna Douglas, Elise Romany and Damian Luk Pat have all captured her visage. When asked who her favourite designers are, Krystyna-Lee didn’t hesitate to big up some local talent. “Rhion Romany and J’angelique! I love their pieces… Stylish and Sexy!”
When it comes to the things she doesn’t like so much, she says her pet peeve is disrespect. As far as Krystyna-Lee’s look she says it was achieved with much less effort than one would think. She is hardly consistent at the gym. Instead she states that she has a high metabolism which makes it hard for her to gain weight. Aside from that, she is really careful when it comes to taking care of her skin. She swears by Coconut Oil and Olive Oil! She also says that she hydrates properly and has reduced her sugar intake tremendously.
KRYSTYNA-LEE ALEXANDER
Photo by Reynold Christian Photo by Nigel Reid
Photo by Gary Jordan
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FASHION N
DEFINING DRESSES
o woman’s wardrobe will be complete without one. Even the tomboyest of tomboys and redneckiest of rednecks should have one. Dresses come in a variety of styles, colours and lengths, but they are all effective pieces of apparel once utilized properly. Here are some simple dresses for varying occasions that just might suit you.
This revealing dress is for the most daring of dames.
This dress option provides old school style with new school shimmer.
A combination of rich blue and black with the right amount of shimmer makes this dress a winner.
Light, airy and short is this pink piece that can be dressed up with the correct use of its flowing train.
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FASHION This green dress with matching shoes is a fun, free number if you have the legs for it.
This dress is a classier number for those truly crazy about couture.
A simple number that is fit for an unassuming first date.
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ET&T
HOT
M
SEAT
MALAIKA BALLANTYNE
alaika Ballantyne is a southern girl with a lot of spunk. Also known as ‘Tigerz’ the talented daughter of local songwriting legend ‘GB’ is roaring her way into the industry via the soca and kaiso route. She recently released her first single entitled ‘Jammer’ and is hoping to build on that to forge a successful musical career. ET&T caught up with Ballantyne – who is also the 2012 Miss La Reine Rive” – for a quick chat about her new song and aspirations. ET&T: Does it work for or against you to have GB as your dad? MTB: Nice question. I've gained a lot of respect from people in and out of the industry and I've been taken a lot more seriously because of the relation. ET&T: We have seen many different incarnations of you from La Reine Rive winner to Fitness model and now soca singer. Do you think this (soca) is the final direction you would like to take? MTB: Not really, but I’ve been doing kaiso for a long time. Soca and Kaiso are related and I've been born into a world of Calypso so they both feel very comfortable for me, none of which would be letting go. However, once I'm doing music I'm OKAY. MUSIC will remain my direction. ET&T: What went into making this single (Jammer)? Whose concept was it and what was the production process like? MTB: the 'Jammer' concept was written by Peter ‘Wildfire’ Noel. The song was given to me by Joel Aming, who I met through the band leader of IMIJ n co, Joey Ng Wai. From the time heard it, last year I 16 ET&T • OCTOBER, 2015 • www.amgtt.com
knew I would eventually go through with the process. Madmen and Joel Aming (Frostbyte) were the guys behind production. I am very happy to know them; they made the process very easy for me. I was able to execute freely/comfortably in studio.
ET&T: What are your expectations for this track? MTB: To gain a place in the finals of Groovy Monarch 2016 and to make a SOLID contribution to the artform. ET&T: Do you have any plans to follow up Jammer, or are you waiting to see the response first before making a decision? MTB: Yes, I will like to follow up Jammer this year. How, is a secret for now. ET&T: Which quote or saying best describes you? 'Hard work and MTB: determination pays off.' ET&T: How do you maintain a balance with your fitness commitments and your commitments to music and the arts? MTB: Music always comes first where commitments are concerned. My Fitness life is very flexible. So I can do the two easily. ET&T: What is the one thing you would most like to see changed about the local arts and entertainment industry? MTB: Nothing really, I've learned to adjust. No one can stop what is to happen. God is good! ET&T: Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? MTB: Touring the world with major hits. ET&T: What is the best advice you have received from anyone in the industry? MTB: “Stay classy” from my dad.
A GUY’S GUIDE TO CARNIVAL FITNESS
FITNESS
Y
ou went to the band launch all excited, then you saw the rock hard models parading on stage and your confidence suddenly took a hit. All of a sudden you have body issues and you start second-guessing that carnival jump up. Fear not, men. There’s nothing that can’t be fixed with a little hard work. Here’s how to get fit for festival day. Monitor Your Diet To keep your metabolism in high gear (which means that your body will burn calories at a rapid rate), guys ought to eat six mini meals throughout the day, rather than "breakfast, lunch and dinner." Opt for smoothies or fruit instead of large starchheavy dinners. Protein is essential to building muscle that will give you that chiseled appearance. Carbohydrates are important too. Add hearty portions of carbs to fuel your cardio workouts. The goal is to tailor your daily meal plan to your daily activity level so that you consume more protein on days that you strength train and more carbs on days that you cardio train. Once your body gets used to eating the same amount of calories each day, then your metabolism will slow down (i.e., become more efficient at using the calories you consume) and your weight loss will plateau. The worst part is that if your metabolism becomes sluggish and you fall off the wagon for three days, then your body won't know how to burn the excess calories that you have consumed. The result: Your body will store the calories as fat. Say No to Beer We know this is all part of diet, but we decided to put it in its own separate place. It is that important. A name was given to people with beer bellies. Nobody is said to have a junk food belly. Now that we can all agree on the problems beer can cause, go to the fridge and crack open your last beer till your first
fete and drink it in our honor. Beer is full of carbs, calories, and other things that make you bloated. It is a good idea to say goodbye to beer altogether, but that might be pushing it for a lot of Trini males. Instead, opt to drink beer for special occasions only. Make sure none of those occasions is in the time leading up to the season. Use Friends To Stay Motivated One of the keys to sticking to any fitness or diet plan is motivation. You need the drive to make yourself work out. Just thinking about looking your absolute best on the road should be enough. However, it hardly ever is. The best way to stay motivated is by working out with others. That doesn’t mean being around random people at the gym. Workout with a friend or family member while keeping a specific date target. Schedule exercise meetings While friends can motivate you, other engagements still pose a
threat to your commitment. Make exercise appointments for the next month in your work diary or Outlook so nothing can interfere. Alternatively arrange workout sessions with fellow employees or clients when possible in place of normal meetings. It’s a clever way to multi-task. Kit Up It’s easy to start making excuses not to exercise if you’re missing any of the essentials – home equipment, gym membership, kit bag, even a towel. Make sure you have everything you need before you start. This will also help you assume an ‘exercise identity’, so that if you look and feel the part you’re more likely to play the part. But avoid Spandex – you are not Lance Armstrong. Be Smart It makes no sense formulating a fantasy workout when you want real results. It is imperative to set specific, measurable, agreed upon, realistic, time-framed, exciting and recorded goals. You will be
more likely to succeed than those who simply ‘do their best’. You wouldn’t go to work and say, ‘I’ll do as much of my job as I can over the next few months and see what happens.’ Don’t do it in the gym either. In the same way, be sure to set a proper time frame leading to C2K15 to get those realistic results you crave.
www.amgtt.com • OCTOBER, 2015 • ET&T 17
THE CULTURE CLUB PRESENTS SAVANTT C
EVENTS
lub 51° was the venue for an exceptional night of fashion and entertainment when the Culture Club series continued with Savantt. The event was produced to attract the true patriots among us who support local culture year round. Local fashion designers, local models and of course local artistes controlled the stage on the night much to the appreciation of the patrons. Asylum Vikings, Flipo, Swappi, Fadda Moses and more kept the music flowing throughout the night and ET&T has some photos of the action. See the full gallery on our Facebook page.
They had fun all night
Entertainment and fashion lovers
Enter the models…
This team brought a vibe
The Vikings engage each other
Flipo works the crowd
Giving the models competition
Whitney hosted the proceedings
Fashion cyar ration
Good stuff
Lost in the moment
In a zone
…And pose
www.amgtt.com • OCTOBER, 2015 • ET&T 19
EVENTS
UNPLUGGED CONCERT EXPERIENCE T
he last time such a conglomeration of overseas talent was assembled on one stage in Trinidad for a concert was… let’s just say too long. The Unplugged Concert Experience held on October 3rd was carded to feature some of the biggest reggae/dancehall stars of the early 90’s. Shabba Ranks, Barrington Levy, Maxi Priest, Chaka Demus & Pliers, Tanya Stephens and Mad Cobra were all on the bill. Iwer George would provide a dose of local talent. Unfortunately, Barrington Levy couldn’t make it due to being stricken with dengue. Everyone else did their thing though and the concert was an eventful one. Here are some pics. For more photos, check out our Facebook page.
Good choice for a double date
Two guys, one girl
Chaka Demus and Pliers work the crowd
Men on strings
Approved
SHABBA!!!
Tanya Stephens pours out her soul
A couple more happy customers
A happy couple
Maxi Priest leaves it all on stage
I’m guessing she’s excited
A chill moment
Cobra took us down memory lane
Happy to be there
20 ET&T • OCTOBER, 2015 • www.amgtt.com
E S O C U L G Y B D E D E R R E E W O W P E S O PO C U L G #
EVENTS
CURE FOR CURE
ou might have heard about Jamaican croonY er Jah Cure’s recent arrest following a concert in Trinidad. It stems from monies allegedly
owed to a promoter by Cure for a no-show. However, we are not here to dwell on the negatives. The actual concert preceding the arrest was one to remember and was held by T&T’s own Cure Family. The O2 Park event saw a thick crowd converge to witness the Prison Walls singer. Patrons came out in their required dess code of white or tribal wear. The entertainment on hand performed admirably making the event one attendees will not regret.
These three enjoyed the proceedings
Do right by white
Posing solo
Enter Cure
Respecting the dress code
Scoring with simplicity
22 ET&T • OCTOBER, 2015 • www.amgtt.com
A rootsy couple
Four female fans
Why so solemn?
EVENTS
Hello ladies
Sharp in shirts
Cure Family
Two of many ladies present
A mix of white and tribal ensembles
Cure fans
Smiles all the while
Jahmoun reps for Jah Cure
Umba and Ding Dong on the boards
Cute coordination
Nice!
Thank you kindly
www.amgtt.com • OCTOBER, 2015 • ET&T 23
EVENTS EXTRA
BAZODEE RED CARPET PREMIER @ TTFF F or decades, soca superstar Machel Montano has enthralled listeners and audiences with his infectious music and electrifying live performances. He also made the leap onto the silver screen with his motion-picture debut in the film Bazodee, which premiered at the 2015 trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff/15). The ttff partnered with Monk Pictures, Indiepelago Films and FilmTT to bring Bazodee and members of its stellar cast to a T&T audience, on Wednesday 23 September at the historic Globe Cinema in Port of Spain. The stars of the film travelled from India, the USA and the UK to be in Trinidad for the event. ET&T was at the gala event which was followed by an after party at Aria lounge. Here are some photos of the red carpet action.
www.amgtt.com • OCTOBER, 2015 • ET&T 25
NEW ADMINISTRATION… SAME PROBLEMS
lections came and went and so did budget day. Some things changed as a result E of these occurrences, while others remained the same. Unfortunately for us at the squad and by extension the wider populace, Fashion Crime is still running rampant. Check out a couple examples.
Really… In this day and age? It is almost 2016 and women are still bathing in body powder before leaving the house. This woman on the extreme right really went in on the talc. It’s all on her face and ears, but you won’t see it because her identity is protected. The sailor mas flick in October does not cut it.
Should we have charged this guy for aiding and abetting? He is entertaining this miscreant by dancing with her while she is in the midst of committing a fashion crime. Is she in her shower at home? She must think she is because she is barefoot.
ISLAND CELEBRITIES
PAPARAZZI
FADDA MOSES SHARES A MELLOW MOMENT WITH HIS COMPANION BACKSTAGE.
SWAPPI A.K.A. THE FIFTH DIMENSION TAKES A PIC WITH A FEMALE AT 51 DEGREES ULTRA LOUNGE.
SPORTING HERO KESHORN WALCOTT IS SEEN WITH A FEMALE FAN AT CURE FOR THE CURE.
www.amgtt.com • OCTOBER, 2015 • ET&T 27
CELEB PROFILE
MEGHAN TRAINOR
Name: Meghan Trainor Age: 21 (December 22, 1993) Profession: Singer, Song-writer, Record producer Claim to Fame: Trainor was raised on Nantucket Island in Massachusetts, where she began making music when she was just seven, and wrote her first song at the age of 11. Trainor attended high school at the Nauset High School on Cape Cod; there she sang and played trumpet in the jazz band, and also studied guitar, taking lessons from Johnny Spampinato, noted guitarist with NRBQ and the Incredible Casuals. In addition, Trainor played guitar and keyboards, and sang with a local Nantucket band called Island Fusion for four years. She attended the Berklee College of Music's Performance Program, a special fiveweek course, in 2009 and 2010, receiving high marks and reaching the finals of their songwriting competition. By the time she was 18, Trainor had self-released three albums of her own material and
landed a publishing deal with Big Yellow Dog Music before she signed a deal with Epic Records. Trainor's first single for Epic was "All About That Bass," in which she proudly declares she's "no stick figure silicon Barbie doll," and "every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top." The pastel-colored video for "All About That Bass" became an online sensation, racking up over 1,600,000 views on YouTube within a month of its debut in June 2014. Soon, "All About That
Bass" started storming the Billboard Hot 100, reaching the pole position not only in the U.S. but throughout the world. As it racked up eight weeks on the top of the U.S. charts, it wound up getting certified five times platinum, selling over four million copies in America alone; international sales reached over six million, cementing "All About That
Bass"' status as one of the biggest singles of 2014. In comparison, its sequel, "Lips Are Moving," paled, but it was still a notable hit, reaching number four on the Billboard charts and earning a gold certification, setting the stage nicely for the January 2015 release of Trainor's debut, Title. The album promptly hit number one in multiple countries.
MOVIES
BIG NAMES CONVERGE FOR UPCOMING DRAMAS W
e are approaching the season where most of the Academy Award fare is released. The post-summer, heavy drama period offers a lot for those into the really riveting stuff. This is where the best actors and directors put in performances worthy of their immense salaries. Here are two such movies.
cinema – he hasn't knocked The Avengers, Batman, et al., he just thinks their box office reign won't last much longer. More than anything, he has said that the success of certain genre is cyclical. So let's hope his reunion with Tom Hanks, which finds the director and
Bridge of Spies Bridge of Spies is about an American lawyer who is recruited by the CIA during the Cold War to help rescue a pilot detained in the Soviet Union. The Steven Spielberg film stars Tom hanks and Alan Alda. Recently Steven Spielberg has had a fair amount to say about comic book movies and the overall state of 28 ET&T • OCTOBER, 2015 • www.amgtt.com
star in deep cover during the Cold War, is more than a sturdy espionage tale – and that it successfully finds the older movie-going audience for which it has been designed.
Truth There’s early Oscar Buzz regarding Cate Blanchette’s performance in this film. James Vanderbilt directs the Newsroom drama detailing the 2004 CBS 60 Minutes report investigating thenPresident George W. Bush's military service, and the subsequent firestorm of criticism that cost anchor Dan Rather and producer Mary Mapes their careers. Robert Redford, Dennis Quaid and Elisabeth Moss also act in these movies.
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