IS
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INSIDE
MS. DESIRE INTERNATIONAL SOCA ARTISTE Culture I Fashion I Food I Health I Music
DECEMBER 2020
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Editor’s Letter
We tried in this publication to highlight Carnival’s core aspects, especially here in the UK, with the hope of stimulating the younger generation to get involved in keeping our culture alive. We’ve also included a few extra treats, just in time for Christmas. Allow me to reiterate how important you are to us at Inside Soca, as we will continue to try to satisfy your entertainment needs. 2021 promises to be exciting, with new ideas and new concepts with an extra commitment to making you our Insider, happy. Inside Soca Magazine would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year. Please continue to follow us and share the Inside Love.
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ello, and a special welcome to you our faithful Insider. If you frequent our publication, we thank you tremendously for your continued support. If you are new, then we are equally delighted to have you browse our magazine. Can you believe it’s almost the end of 2020? It feels like just yesterday when I started this venture and reached out for your support to showcase our beautiful culture and those talented individuals who contribute to the festival. Time truly flies when you’re having fun. For me, it was fun delivering exciting content and speaking to all the talented individuals who featured in earlier publications. But I know, in the bigger picture, 2020 was not a fantastic year. It was a challenging year for everyone. We all either lost someone dear to us or know someone who did. Then there is the financial challenge that has impacted our lives in some way or the other. Finally, we have to find a way around the social challenges. We all miss the social interaction, the opportunity to enjoy our culture, with our fellow revellers. I wish I could sit here and say we (Inside Soca) have the formula to end this misery, but I can’t. What I can say is that West Indians are resilient and can ride this to end. We’ve made it this far, so let us push through to the end. Issue 6 is our final publication for 2020, featuring Notting Hill Carnival. What I love about our publications is, no matter what part of the world is on our front cover, the love for our culture (Carnival) remains the same. London is a cosmopolitan city with loads of variants, but one voice, one people, one love when it comes to Soca and Carnival. WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
SPECIAL THANKS The Inside Soca team would like to express a SPECIAL THANK YOU to the following persons who played an integral part in making Issue 6 a success. Trini Jungle Juice Ruth’s Gourmet Kitchen Vincent John DJ Lokdown DJ Rockshun Ms Desire Martin Jay Sharyece Mcalpin Laura Bryan Burnell McKenna Patrice Lewis Lavie Crafts Kese Cushions Leanne Creative Shasha Designs Sinora Beauty Cosmetics Goddess Dolls Thea Smartt Henry Ereybo Eve Cushions Chef Ricardo Caribbean Pot DJ Stylz UK 3
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Table of Contents 5
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DESIGNERS Creative Designs V A platform to showcase the creative work of some talented Designers
HEALTH Covid and Loneliness
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POLLS PeopleMeter An opinion poll, where you the followers have your say.
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Ms Desire Interview with International Soca Artiste
INSIDER FASHION
66 INSIDER STORIES
Inside the Closet Jumpers and Cardigans
The Spencers continued.....
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72 MUSIC CORNER
CULTURE Main feature Notting Hill Carnival An inside look at the origin of Notting Hill Carnival and its core aspects (Calypso and Steelpan).
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SPOTLIGHT
DJ Lokdown and DJ Rockshun Top 5 Parang Tunes Interview with DJ Stylz UK
INSIDER ARTIST
Burnell Mckenna and Sharyece McAlpin
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FOOD Inside the Kitchen Inside Soca’s Special Christmas Menu
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ISM
HEALTH
COVID 19 AND LONELINESS
Written by: Sheryl Moore BSc hons (DN) BSc (Nursing Studies) DipHE (RN)
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t’s that time of the year, Christmas is looming and Coronavirus (Covid-19) continues to dominate our lives. In the United Kingdom (UK), we are now being held under ‘Tier Systems’ to regulate the Coronavirus (GOV.UK). There may be a chance that we may not be able to spend this valuable time with our family and friends if any at all. How many of us are feeling lonely and isolated? How many of us have had to spend months apart from our families, friends, nearest and dearest? How many of us are ‘dreading’ the Christmas period, which is naturally assigned to being with ‘family and friends’. Do we think about those who have no-one? How does being lonely affect our everyday lives? Maybe, the time is now to start thinking what exactly it means to be lonely and how we can help ourselves and each other to overcome feelings of loneliness, especially at this time of year. WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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Verywellmind (2020) defined loneliness as a “state of solitude or being alone.” Loneliness is a state of mind and described by researchers as feeling lonely more than once a week. Loneliness causes people to feel empty, alone, and unwanted. Lonely people often crave human contact. Life events such as bereavement, relationship break ups, retirement, changing jobs, starting university and moving to a new area can cause loneliness (MIND 2020). People who live in vulnerable circumstances can feel lonely too, such as those who have no family or friends, if you are estranged from your family, if you are a single parent, a carer, suffer discrimination because of your race, gender or sexual orientation, not forgetting those who have suffered any form of abuse may find it hard to build relationships and can feel socially isolated (MIND 2020). Long term feelings of loneliness and isolation can reduce our ability to concentrate, and the inability to connect deeply, interfere with our decision making and the ability to problem solve. Loneliness can also lead to feelings of self doubt, self worth, feelings of anxiety and depression (Cigna 2019). Contrarily to beliefs, loneliness can affect even the most outgoing person, ‘being the life of the party’ does not exclude some from feeling lonely (Cigna 2019). Therefore, loneliness can have an impact on all aspects of lives and affect our health. Loneliness can also affect your health. Cortisol is a hormone that the body produces when it is under stress. Chronic loneliness can drive up hormone levels, inflammatory responses, cause excess weight gain and cause insulin resistance (Cigna 2019). If these issues are not addressed they can put u at risk of depression, diabetes, heart disease, increase blood pressure (hypertension) emotional problems and possibly substance abuse. The UK government has stated that it is tackling loneliness, as loneliness matters to everyone, individuals, employers, communities, educators and health professionals (GOV.UK). The aim being to support people to have meaningful relationships, as we all need to take action to tackle loneliness across society (GOV.UK). Prior to Coronavirus, it was recognised that loneliness was becoming more prevalent in todays world. A ‘Strategy for tackling loneliness’- laying the foundations for change was established
alongside the newest report – ‘Loneliness Annual Report’ published in January 2020 (GOV.UK). Also, Loneliness awareness week’s, main focus was to raise awareness of loneliness, understand the problems and reduce the stigmas attached. The ‘Let’s talk Loneliness’ campaign - was one of the ways in which Loneliness was addressed publically. The aim here was to get people to talk openly about being lonely, to offer guidance and how to support yourself and others (GOV.UK). WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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HOW TO OVERCOME LONELINESS • Talk to family or friends – a simple chat can make a difference • Send text or emails – these can start conversations • Join a book club – this will enable you to make new friends with people who share the same interests • Join online events – for example there are many clubs you can join like exercise classes, zoom soca parties, writing classes. Search for subjects or things that you like. • Talk with people who are in a similar situation as you. This can be a lifeline for some (GOV. UK). HELP PEOPLE TO STAY CONNECTED • Become a volunteer, although this may be difficult during this Covid-19 time, however, there is guidance on how to do this safely (GOV.UK). The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has introduced ‘volunteer responders’ and Age UK have a Telephone befriending service. • Talk to someone about how you’re feeling. • For the Samaritans call 116 123 for free or email at jo@samaritans.org • Silverline: for people aged 55 and over, call 0800 4 70 80 90 for free • The Mix provides free, confidential help for under 25s online and via a helpline. Call 0808 808 4494, text THEMIX to 85258 or use their online chat service on the website. • If you are lonely or finding it difficult to cope in these uncertain times, call the free and confidential British Red Cross coronavirus support line on 0808 196 3651, open 10am to 6pm every day. • (GOV.UK) • Don’t forget to practice ‘self care’, a healthy diet, exercise and getting enough sleep can all help with lifting your mood. Loneliness affects millions of people (Cigna 2019). There are many ways of overcoming it. The key: To realise how you feel, acknowledge how you feel, and finding the best strategy for ‘you’ to overcome your loneliness. Remember, loneliness is also sign that something needs to change. Should you require any further advice or support please see resources below. RESOURCES www.cigna.com www.gov.uk www.letstalkloneliness.co.uk www.mind.org www.salvationarmy.org.uk www.verywellmind.com
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PEOPLE METER Where our very own Instagram followers, #Insiders have their say! Welcome to the fifth edition of our opinion platform developed by ISM, for sharing the views of our followers, supporters and the wider public on a variety of trending cultural issues. From food to Carnival, to fashion. Literally anything Carnival related; we invite your views. The process is relatively straightforward. Simply follow our Instagram page @insidesocamagz and look out for our People Meter post/story polls and leave your views. In this edition, we wanted to know how our followers were supporting Soca Music. We gave a few examples of ways to support Soca Music. As always, we had an overwhelming but majority response. We are happy to report that our followers are supporting Soca Music and pushing the culture forward. Below are the results of the poll.
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ISM INSIDER FASHION
Inside the Closet - Women By: R. Okonfo
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Inside the Closet - Men By: R. Okonfo
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ISM
CULTURE
LONDON UNITED KINGDOM
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ondon, one of the world’s most important global cities, with a history stretching almost two millennia. It was previously referred to as the world’s most visited and desirable city harbouring more than 300 languages. The city stands on the River Thames, in the southeast of England, at the head of its 50-mile estuary leading to the North Sea. London’s city offers one of the greatest concentrations of cultural attractions in the world ranging from Royal Palaces (eg. Buckingham Palace) to parliamentary buildings, cathedrals and museums. You can never run out of things to do in London. This exciting cosmopolitan city is home to several iconic festivals, which attracts patrons from across the globe. These include: The Wireless Festival
Citadel
British Summer Time
An iconic festival held at popular locations such the Olympic Park and Hyde Park. It attracts popular and loved artistes from a variety of genres like James Blunt, Jay- Z, Kanye West, Weekend, Drake and many more.
A wildly popular music festival in London that is set up over six different stages, adding to the delight of music fans in London.
One of the biggest music festivals in London, British Summer Time is the perfect place to witness international celebrity artistes like Bruno Mars, Van Morrison, Paul Simon and Eric Clapton. Also, it’s not just about music, but open-air movie screenings and performances.
Missy Elliot at Wireless Festival 2010
Citadel Festival 2018
British Summer Time Festival in Hyde Park
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Notting Hill Carnival Helmed by the West Indian community in Britain, it is attended by over one million people every year. This festival is a celebration of dance, music, and culture, which brings people to the city from across the globe, making it London’s most prominent festival. Although Nothing Hill Carnival guarantees a total sense of euphoria and it’s a celebration of love and creativity, culture and togetherness, its early British narrative was marred with violence.
Nottinghill Carnival 2018
NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL
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How the West was won.
ot long after the arrival of the SS Empire Windrush on June 22nd 1948, over 300, 000 West Indians settles here in Britain with the largest population being in Brixton and Notting Hill. Workers brought to Britain from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and other islands, to help fill post-war UK labour shortages. On the evening of August 29th 1958, outside of Latimer Road Tube station, what started as a disagreement between a mixed-race couple, soon transpired into an argument, with little thought of what was about to unfold. It became a catalyst for several racist attacks by a subset youth movement called the Teddy Boys, who shared racist views regarding West Indian immigration to the North Kensington area and interracial relationships. Notting Hill erupted in violence the following night as hundreds of young white men took to the streets, throwing home-made firebombs at the houses of black families. The violence continued until September 5th and led to the arrest of 108 persons. The following year, January 30th 1959, in response to the horrific Notting Hill race riots, an indoor Caribbean Carnival was held at the St Pancreas Town Hall and televised by the BBC. It was organised by Claudia Jones, a journalist and influential activist from Trinidad and Tobago, who was the editor for the influential black newspaper, The West Indian Gazette. The Carnival aimed to showcase a cabaret styled Caribbean Carnival with renditions from several Calypsonians including, Mighty Terror and Hi-Fi Steelband, dance troupe. The night ended with a Caribbean Carnival Queen beauty contest and an after-party. Another important contributor to the formation of Notting Hill Carnival was the London Free School-inspired festival in Notting Hill, which was the first organised outside event, in August 1966. It was arranged by Rhaune Laslett, who was unaware of any indoor events organised by Claudia WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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Jones. This festival was a more diverse Notting Hill event to promote cultural unity. Designed as a street party for the neighbourhood children, it quickly turned into a carnival procession when Russell Henderson’s Steelband, joined in. A few years later, in 1970, two music bands participated, the Russell Henderson Combo and Selwyn Baptiste’s Notting Hill Adventure Playground Steelband. The art form was growing and other bands were allowed to participate, funding received and permission for an official route granted. Soon afterwards Ebony Steelband and Metronomes Steelband got involved. As the carnival had no permanent staff and head office, the Mangrove restaurant in Notting Hill, owned by Trinidadian, Frank Crichlow, came to function as an informal communication hub and office address for the carnival’s organisers. In 1973 costume bands and steelbands from the various islands participated in the street parade, alongside the introduction of stationary sound systems, which was view by some as a bridge between the two cultures, reggae and calypso.
Notting Hill Carnival in the ‘70s. Picture by Frank Barrett
Within a few years, the event had become a complete Caribbean affair, with around 150,000 people in attendance. However, in that year and several subsequent years, the carnival was marred by riots, in which predominantly Caribbean youths fought with police. This continued through the years as relations between the black community and police had also been problematic. Despite its troubled past, Notting Hill Carnival continued to grow. As a result, former Mayor, Ken Livingstone arranged for a Carnival review group to investigate and implement guidelines to safeguard Notting Hill Carnival. Today the Carnival consistently attracts over one million people and highlights the Caribbean and black diasporic cultures and is organised by Notting Hill Carnival Limited, supported by the Mayor of London. WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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Huge efforts have been put in place to ensure the carnival’s core aspects (Calypso, Steelbands and Mas Bands) are protected. Today numerous platforms contribute to the success of Notting Hill Carnival and help educate the younger generation to understand and as a result, appreciate the art form. Notting Hill Carnival has been recognised as Europe’s biggest street festival and is usually held on the August Bank Holiday. Like its Caribbean relatives, Carnival is a season and typically has a wide array of parties and live shows in the build-up to the main parade days. The annual street festival core events usually kick off on the Saturday evening (6-11pm) with Panorama – a free open-air evening of competitive performance by national steel bands.
The parade (Family Day) that follows showcases children in their flamboyant costumes who dance along the carnival route to the rhythms provided by mobile sound systems or steel bands.
Notting Hill Carnival - Panorama Notting Hill Carnival - Children’s Day 2015
Sunday morning opens with J’ouvert – a traditional procession before sunrise, where participants cover their body in mud, chocolate, On Monday, the parade is the Grand Finale: paint or powder to celebrate the start of carnival. This is usually the adult bands on display, with dancers, performers and colourful costumes, static sound systems, Soca floats, Steelbands and delicious Caribbean food.
Notting Hill Carnival - J’ouvert
Notting Hill Carnival - Main Day WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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STEELPAN
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he steelpan also known as pan is the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago and was invented in the late 1930s. The modern pan is a chromatically pitched percussion instrument made from 55-gallon industrial drums. it falls into the idiophone family of instruments, and therefore is not a drum (which is a membranophone). Steelpans are the only instruments made to play in the Pythagorean musical cycle of fourths and fifths. The pan is struck using a pair of straight sticks tipped with rubber; the size and type of rubber tip vary according to the class of pan being played. Some musicians use four pan sticks, holding two in each hand. This skill and performance have been conclusively shown to have grown out of Trinidad and Tobago’s early 20th-century Carnival percussion groups known as Tamboo bamboo. HISTORY The instrument developed from the Carnival, which slaves in Trinidad could not take part in so they formed their own, parallel celebration called Canboulay. The first instruments developed in the evolution of steelpan were Tamboo-Bamboos, tunable sticks made of bamboo wood. These were hit onto the ground and with other sticks to produce sound. Tamboo-Bamboo bands also included an orchestra of frying pans, dustbin lids, and oil drums, glass objects such as spoons and bottles. This lead to the invention of the first steelpans. HOW PANS ARE MADE To make a steelpan a 55-gallon oil barrel is stretched into a concave bowl or dish shape. Depending on the type of pan being made, the barrel’s side (or “skirt”) is cut to the proper length. The panmaker uses hammers of various sizes and “pongs” the traced notes making them stand out like bubbles. Each note is then tuned by using a variety of hammers until it reaches a perfect pitch. THE STEELPAN RANGE The Steelpan has the entire chromatic scale and players can perform music in any key. The range of notes is no different from a piano and other common instruments. Front line steelpans: are often used by pan soloist and are called Tenor, Double Tenor and Double Second. In a steelband Tenors are the voice of the instrument and play the lead melody. Double Tenors expand the range of the Tenor and often play the harmony. Double seconds also accompany the melody and play additional chords in what is known as a strumming style. Tenor SteelPan WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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Middle pans: are mid-range steelpans that play the background music in songs. These consist of Double Guitar, Treble Guitar, and Four Pan Cello. They often play chords and traditionally strum chords throughout each composition.
Mid-Range SteelPan
Bass: There are a variety of bass instruments in the steelpan family starting with a five-note bass, Tenor Bass and Basses with 5 pans and up to 12 pans per Bass instrument. The larger basses have much fewer notes on each pan as the larger the notes the lower the sound. Dudup: is a member of the bass pan family - a rhythm instrument made from a single barrel. The name comes from the sound the Dudup makes when it is played with the right calypso rhythm. This two-note drum is the earliest instrument in the steelband family.
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Bass SteelPan
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Is Calypso in the UK a dying art form? Authors: Patrice Lewis Kerlon Winchester
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hen I asked a few friends what they knew about Calypso in the United Kingdom, they all referred to the Windrush Era, when Calypso was reintroduced to the British public by Lord Kitchener, Mighty Terror, Roaring Lion and Lord Beginner in 1948. Some were even baffled that Calypso was still around in the UK with the rise and popularity of Soca, commonly referred to as the “Soca Scene”. Calypso music originated in Trinidad and Tobago during the mid-19th century and spread to the rest of the Caribbean later in the 20th century. Calypso is a derivative of Kaiso which stems from West African music and was brought to the Caribbean by enslaved Africans. Kaiso was used to sing about their masters and Kaisonians would gather in “tents”, a practice which continues today. The art form is still very popular in Trinidad and Tobago and WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
the Caribbean and conveys feelings with pun and innuendo, topics of political context and current affairs. Calypso was first introduced in the UK around the end of World War 1 and was again made popular by The Greats mentioned earlier. Cheeky lyrics in the song by Lord Kitchener “My Landlady’s too rude, in my affairs she likes to intrude” expressed how the British Caribbeans felt and were treated when they came to Britain as citizens of the Mother Country and not as immigrants. Calypso was a way of making lighthearted fun of the dark times they faced. In the early 1950s, the average Brit was exposed to Calypso on a nightly basis on the current affairs programme – Tonight, on BBC television. Throughout the first half of that decade, Calypso dominated the public’s imagination with, Beginner, Terror, Invader, Roaring Lion and Lord Kitchener recording with music labels like EMI-Parlophone, Melodisc, and Lyragon. However, by the late 1950s, the appetite for foreign music veered off in another direction 19
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towards the American-influenced rock and roll and Pop music. In 1959, the first London Caribbean Carnival was held (inside St Pancreas Town Hall), a precursor to Notting Hill Carnival which provided a platform that gave calypso its heyday among the West Indian diaspora, though it was short-lived. A few years later, in the early 1960s, Lord Kitchener returned home to Trinidad and Tobago, creating a long gap for the next British Calypso competition, until the arrival of Ashton Moore (a.k.a. Young Tiger, and later Mighty Tiger) in 1971. Musically, the era was dominated by Tiger and his rival Lord Cloak (Errol Brown). There was a deep sense that the Calypso art form was booming, with the emergence of more songs. However, there was no coherent structure, prompting Ashton Moore to organize the ABC (Association of British Calypsonians) in 1991 with the first official calypso tent a year later at the Yaa Asantewaa arts centre in Paddington. There was a positive effect resulting from the emergence of Calypso Tents in the UK, as the association’s membership was widespread across the Caribbean, even having a period of female dominance from 1994. The comfort zone for Calypso soon started to dwindle, as, with most arts and culture organisations in the UK, funding began shrinking fast, especially for the non-indigenous arts. Slowly the art form started to recede, as, within the UK, Calypso seemed like a niche genre. Compared to the Caribbean islands, where Calypso is a backdrop of their lifestyle, it is appreciated more. Whereas in the UK, Calypso isn’t shared on television or exposed outside of your circle. There is also the added challenge due to the art form’s inability to knock on school’s doors and the notion that Calypso is an art form for the older generation. The explosion of Soca, an offshoot of Calypso, which is intensively captivating, has been credited for the assumed WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
demise of Calypso. After much research and intense dialogue with persons within the industry, the evidence is clear. Calypso is not dead neither is it dying. However, it has been overtaken by the presence of Soca music, due to its engaging nature. Due to a lower bpm, is it fair to say Calypso is an art form only for the older generation? Certainly not. Is R&B a genre for the elderly? Are love songs only for our parents and grandparents? Is long-distance running a sport only for the elderly, because it’s longer and slower? Definitely not. Calypso music runs on a slower bpm but is equally entertaining as its relatives, Power and Groovy Soca. We often act in ignorance to what Calypso truly is and its role in the Soca industry. Maybe if we take a moment to educate ourselves on the history of Calypso, there will be a greater appreciation for it. Perhaps if the younger generation paused for a moment and examined where Soca music was born, then there might be a greater appreciation for Calypso. As a result, we see the importance of The Association of British Calypsonians (ABC), who became a new legal entity in 2015 as the Association of Calypsonians UK and was later made more inclusive, by renaming to Association of Calypsonians And Soca Artistes (ACASA) in 2018. Finally, before we become self-employed bandwagonist, it is essential to remember that in Trinidad and Tobago, the home of Soca music, most if not all the established artistes, for example - Machel Montano, Patrice Roberts, Erphaan Alves, all came through the Calypso Tents. Their journey started at the Junior Calypso Tent before successfully progressing to the bigger stage. Let us continue together to support our art form, representative of our culture, ensuring its life and sustainability for the younger generation to enjoy in the future.
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A.C.A.S.A. ASSOCIATION OF CALYSONIANS AND SOCA ARTISTES
Inside Soca Magazine was fortunate to meet with the chair person of ACASA, Mr Vincent John to discuss the role of the association and its impact on carnival culture. When was ACASA started and what was the motivation behind it? ACASA (ASSOCIATION OF CALYPSONIANS AND SOCA ARTISTES) is the modern name for what used to be called the ABC (ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH CALYPSONIANS), which was set in 1991. The intention was to unite Calypsonians from the Caribbean who resided in the UK, providing a platform for them to perform, whilst looking after their interest and protecting the art form. The association would also ensure the art form reflected the experience of the Caribbean people in the UK. Revisiting the Windrush era, a famous Calypsonian sang – “London is the place for me”, which was the sentiment of those arriving on the MV Empire Windrush into Britain to try to establish their lives across the UK, especially in London. This is where the association was born with the late Mighty Tiger as its forefather. The organisation was established by Mr Ashton Moore and was one of the five arenas of the Carnival, but also an independent organisation in its own right. The name was changed a few years ago from ABC to ACASA, as Soca, especially Groovy Soca, was rapidly developing into a very popular art form. The association also deemed it necessary to include the younger elements into the art form. When did you get involved in ACASA? I am currently serving my 6th year as the chairman of ACASA. I previously chaired Notting Hill WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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Carnival from 2012 – 2014. I was approached by the then chairman and President of ACASA, Ashton Moore and a few other members seeking my assistance, as they were going through a challenging period with certain developments within the Carnival infrastructure around the year 2015. I accepted and with a primary interest in ensuring all aspects of Carnival (costume element, music - either static sound or mobile, steelpan) remain the core of the Carnival, as the Carnival isn’t a street party, but a display of our art form, history and legacy. My skillset was relevant and appropriate to enable us to secure the funding for keeping the association alive and safeguarding the pre-cursor of the Carnival, Calypso, by organising five Calypso Tents. The Tents included a specialist Calypso night, a Groovy Soca night, the UK Groovy Soca Monarch and the UK Calypso Competition, all held on the build-up to the Carnival. There is an article that was published around the year 2016, which spoke about Calypso Tents dying a slow death, due to the emergence of Soca. What is your view on that? There is often a misconception of what Soca and Calypso are. Calypso is the foundation music of all Caribbean music. Regardless of the different forms or offshoot of music from the Caribbean, Calypso is the traditional method of transmitting our experiences to the people. Soca is a derivation of Calypso. What we are trying to do is to ensure there are different sub-genres of the music and the core (example commentary of social conditions and political humour) is protected as they are different presentations of the art form and stem from Calypso. We had international artistes such Kerwin DuBois who was part of the London Calypso Tent, as a junior Calypsonian who won the Junior Calypso Monarch and went on to be an established Soca artiste, winning Soca Monarch in Trinidad. We also have the reigning Groovy Soca Monarch, Ms Desire and Calypso Monarch, G-String, as part of the London Calypso Tent, who are both young and extremely talented. What were some of the main challenges ACASA faced? One of the major challenges the association (ABC) encountered over the years was funding. The association was often left in a very difficult situation having to deliver six Carnivals without any funding as some local authorities deemed the association not fit to host the Carnival. Another issue was a lack of support from local authorities (the Mayor’s Office), which ACASA, once formed was left to resolve. Also, many years ago, when ACASA and Mangrove were set up they formed a partnership known as The Carnival Village Trust. This then later evolved into a partnership which included Ebony Steel band, Mangrove Steelband, ABC and the Yaa Centre. Due to the arrangement of the newly formed partnership under the umbrella of the Carnival Village Trust, which turned out to be a separate entity, all the funding received from the Arts Council went directly to them. Soon afterwards the structure of the board changed, reflecting a more steel band dominated organisation, which made it more challenging to properly function with our ideas. The local authorities then were determined to run the Carnival alongside the newly formed board of the Carnival Village Trust, whom at the time had little interest in hosting Carnival previously. If you compared the challenges back then to the challenges you face now, has there been any progress? WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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Progress has been made but in some areas. This does not mean that the previous organization wasn’t capable, they were simply confined financially. When the new board was appointed at the Carnival Village Trust, the surrounding councils were in full support due to the new management team for Carnival. However, the financial problem remained for ACASA, as although we are influential partners of Carnival Village Trust, it is difficult to approach the Arts Council for funding as they already fund the Carnival Village Trust. We continue to face the same financial issues and the only way forward is via our funding stream from different sources or through a major sponsor. Were there any interested sponsors? There were a few interested organisations, who we had planned to have discussions with, however, due to the pandemic, that never materialised, so we then tried to raise the funds ourselves. Can we deliver five live Tents in the future? That is questionable. Question marks are also being highlighted over the issue of whether or not we will remain part of the structure of the Carnival Village Trust, considering we are one of the founding members of the Trust and today remains the only founding member on the board. When ABC was born, was there overwhelming support from Calypsonians or was it a challenge to convince persons to join the association? One of the drivers in the establishment of ABC at the time was large numbers of Calypsonians around who were all working independently. Most participated in the competition organised by the previous organizers of the Carnival but had no voice representing them. It is interesting to note that some of establishing members, such as Lord Cloak, is very much a vibrant participant and a 14 times winner of the Calypso Monarch. However, in moving forward, today the artiste face similar issues as before and it can be challenging to appeal to the artiste and move the association forward due to three key elements. (1) Funding (2) Capability of black organizations to manage the funding and invest in the development of the art form and (3) Respect for the association and the artiste. Calypso is often associated with the older generation. Is that an issue that ACASA has to deal with in trying to convince the younger generation to get involved? It is important first to understand the art form before you get into it and tackle the perceived idea that you must be in your fifties to sing Calypso. I think that is the problem with the younger generation. Hence the reason why we are trying to revive the Junior Calypso Monarch. We do have some young Calypsonians, who consistently express their talent and can comfortably hold their own against anyone. Also if we have the younger artiste coming through, what they can do is probably fuse the Calypso with Soca and other art forms. Look at the work being done by Triniboi Joocie, although he’s an established Soca artiste, he can diversify his talent. He is also an ambassador for the culture which encourages the younger generation into the Calypso and Groovy Soca art form. This is why it was crucial for us to change the name to include Soca artistes, to make it more attractive and inclusive. WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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What are some of the incentives involved in the Calypso and Soca Monarchs? There is a financial incentive behind the competition, not on the scale of the likes of Trinidad and Tobago, all due to lack of proper funding. We also endeavour to make the appropriate contacts to have our Monarchs perform on stages in the Caribbean, at their Monarch competitions. On a much more local level, again limited due to the financial constraints, we are looking to showcase the art form across the country by touring with a few artistes. This not only gives them exposure but also the music. What does ACASA have planned for 2021? Due to the pandemic, we, like everyone else, were forced to operate virtually. It was shortly after Notting Hill virtual Carnival that we realised how powerful the internet was. Looking ahead, we would continue with a lot of live streaming to expand the reach of live performances and our culture. No doubt ACASA has the challenge to continue advancing and showcasing the Caribbean art form, known as Calypso in the UK and Europe. The Calypso Tents are an integral part of the association’s work. London Calypso Tent is the longest surviving outlet that has positioned Calypso music at the cutting edge of contemporary Black British culture. The “Tent” is a distinct ACASA brand that encompasses live music and performances by Calypsonians and Groovy Soca artistes usually before the start of the Notting Hill Carnival season. It continues to produce some of London’s most talented artistes, and although 2020 is an unusual year, it was business as usual for the Monarch competitions.
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ACASA UK Groovy Soca Monarch 2020 WINNERS
1st - Miss Desire (Soca Raised Me)
Ms Desire (Louise Sterling-Jackman), is the past winner of Best UK Female Soca Artist, Best UK Soca Artist, and Groovy Soca Monarch Winner 2012. She was signed by Caribbean music giants, VP Records to distributing her first album “Desire” worldwide. Ms Desire is a past student of the New London Performing Arts Centre and Sylvia Young Theatre School. Watch Ms Desire’s winning performance below:
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2nd - G-String (Social Distance)
G String (Gerry Archer) is the ACASA UK Calypso Monarch 2020, who captivated the live judges and virtual audience with his song topical entitled song, “Ms Corona”. He has been performing in The London Calypso tent for the last 12 years. He has a distinct slant to the art form of Calypso; he is witty and loves exchanging song and chorus with the audience. A regular finalist in the Calypso and Groovy Soca Tent, G-String won the UK Calypso Monarch 2016, Calypso King of the Tent, and Calabash Calypso artiste of the year 2015 and 2016. He is a keen musician, studio engineer and songwriter, pannist, drummer and DJ. Watch G String’s performance below:
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3rd - Helena B (Feel it) Helena B won the ACASA UK Calypso Monarch and UK Groovy Soca Monarch in 2019. For some years Helena B was a backing singer for numerous artistes including Baron, Sparrow, Inspector and Skunky. Helena B started performing in The London Calypso Tent in 2005. Singers like Singing Sandra and Baron influenced her. Her favourite songs are “Congo Stay” and “Crime Does Not Pay”. Overseas performance includes Kaiso House in Trinidad & Tobago in 2006 and two stints in Grenada. Helena enjoys singing both Calypso and Soca as it’s within her DNA and was determined to represent her culture. She can connect with her audience as her music is powerful, and listeners often relate to her song’s content. Watch Helena B’s performance below:
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www.fineasdesign.com info@fineasdesign.com
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ISM
CULTURE
“Carnival is we ting and it is up to us to protect it for the future.” WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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Martin Jay
A Formidable Soca Force
B
By: Kerlon Winchester Author
orn at Paddington Hospital in London to Dominican parents, Martin Jay was destined for great things. Martin grew up and went to school in Ealing. He was a huge cricket lover, evident by his frequent selection with London Schools Cricket Association and the Middlesex Colts. Martin had family that lived in the Ladbroke Grove area, which he frequented, especially during the Carnival weekend. His earliest memories take him back to 1978/79, where he remembers sitting on his dad’s shoulders watching the floats go by, wishing he could be part of it. Several years later, at the age of 16, Martin was allowed to play in costume with Flyover Carnival Club band, owned by a good friend’s mum. His first costume was that of a giant caterpillar, which he remembers being extremely heavy. Unknown to him, he was entered into a competition which required him dancing in his costume, but strangely, when it was his turn to dance, “Bahia Girl”, a much slower song was chosen. Confused by the change of pace, Martin barely moved, but was quickly encouraged by Pepe Francis (Director of Ebony Steel band)shouting “Boy play ah mas nah, play ah mas.” “Come on nah boy, move yuh body nah”. There was no professional musical influence within Martin’s family. Still, he quickly learnt the DJ trade as a teenager, as it was just the popular culture in the ‘80s along with sound systems. Martin started off playing Reggae, Soul, Revival and Lovers Rock and was quite happy being a street DJ. However, it was the constant encouragement from guests who continuously told Martin his voice belonged on the radio. The opportunity soon presented itself for Martin to feature on the radio at WLR (West London Radio) pirate station, which also featured Smokey Joe. Martin’s DJ name at the time was Krazy MD. One day he was asked to cover for a travelling Smokey Joe, on his Saturday show for about three weeks. During that period, Smokey Joe’s brother Terrence was a frequent listener to the Saturday show. Upon his brother’s return, Terrence made it his duty to notify Smokey, that Martin sounded a lot better. Smokey was then adamant that Martin should be kept on and was invited to TJ Records on Clarence Road to get some records. Martin recalls leaving the record store with about 75, 12 inch Soca records. Once that trip was over, Mikey (owner of WLR), informed Martin that Orbitone Records (a UK record label) would be sponsoring his Soca show, Monday – Friday for one hour. Buzzing with excitement he ventured off to Orbitone Records, to meet the owner, Sonny Roberts, to receive another box of records, consisting of both imports and UK releases. Martin was now a formidable Soca force. MAKING A CHOICE In 1990, the front door swung open for Martin to be involved in a brand new station called Choice FM. This opportunity allowed Martin to grow, developing his radio career. He started The WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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Caribbean Affair which became a beacon for the Caribbean community as they emerged into existence. This was a station for the people, stretching across the various age groups. While his radio career was up and flying, he was invited to Cocoyea nightclub by his good friend and former colleague Smokey Joe, where he was officially introduced to the Soca community and observed the start of an unbreakable partnership. Martin and Smokey partnered behind the decks every Friday, Saturday and Sunday for about five to six years. Martin and Choice FM were a perfect fit, like a ring to a finger, dedicating 23 years of his life to the station. He wasn’t just a Soca DJ on his show, but managed to get on the flagship slot (the Breakfast Show) and remained there for 11 years. However, this relationship sadly came to an end, when Choice FM started selling shares to Capital Radio, who in turn bought Choice FM outright, followed by a couple more ownership changes. Martin was faced with situations where he had to negotiate his culture, for example, being asked to refrain from playing Parang or Soca Parang during the Christmas period, because of its Spanish content. Even after explaining its role in the Caribbean community, he sensed the challenges ahead. Sadly the new owners had zero interest in any form of black culture, as the Soca, Reggae and Gospel platforms all closed. DOWN BUT NOT OUT The end of Choice FM meant the end for a lot of employees, including Martin, who was deeply affected by it. He spiralled to a very low point in his life, which included a battle with depression. Unable to figure out what his next move was, Martin felt like the walls were quickly closing in. Thankfully he had a supportive family unit, that was there for him. It took Martin approximately six weeks to drag himself out of this state. He ventured over to his brother’s radio channel, Bakahnal Radio online. The change to an internet channel needed getting used to, as Martin, was concerned about his older generation listeners. He knew the challenges ahead, but was determined to get back into the thick of things. There were positive signs of improvement, as upon his return from Orlando in 2020 and seeing the word shut down, Martin felt the need for a pick me up session. He quickly jumped on air and started to do what he does best, entertain. He remembered the feeling of euphoria, synonymous to the feeling of walking into Choice FM. FAMILY Martin is very much aware of how easy one can get trapped in the workload of our culture. With the blink of an eye, time disappears when you’re having WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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fun, however, Martin emphasises the importance of having family time, as they are usually the ones that suffer. Fortunately, he has an amazing family support team who is also doing their part to promote the culture. With a recent addition to the family, Martin plans to ensure his granddaughter doesn’t fall victim to the culture’s workload. He regularly speaks about his supportive wife, who he credits for helping him turn things around during the challenging post-Choice FM period. He is known for disagreeing with the famous saying – “Behind every successful man is a strong woman.” He explains; “That statement irritates me, as we (man & woman), were made equal. When we got married, my wife didn’t stand behind me; she stood next to me. Through my successes and challenges, my wife stood by my side. I couldn’t lean on her shoulder if she’s standing behind me.” CARNIVAL IS WE TING It is quite challenging to separate the two powerhouses; Martin Jay and Notting Hill Carnival. From his time at Choice FM to the present day, his work has helped unite the Caribbean community in the UK, giving us a platform to identify and be proud to be from the Caribbean. Looking back at Notting Hill Carnival through the years, Martin observed how it has become more diversified and artistes more creative. However, he noticed diminishing levels of respect for the three facets of Carnival’s core – Calypsonians, Steelbands and Mas Bands. This is key for the continuation of the art form. He also stressed on the importance of having the education about our culture to properly share it and spread to untouched communities. According To Martin, “Carnival is we ting and it is up to us to protect it for the future.” Failing this Notting Hill will be seen merely as a giant street party. Martin feels he has a greater responsibility to the community to ensure Carnival is portrayed correctly, hence, having a virtual Carnival for 2020, was an ideal way of showcasing all areas. He was a co-host on NHC Access All Areas, which was purposely designed to have a broader view of our culture and an opportunity for us to show the world what Carnival truly represents. As a continuation of his efforts, Martin is currently involved in a TV series, Culture Zone, which continues to showcase the Caribbean culture, soon to be released in the UK. As the curtains came down on our interview with Martin Jay, it became clear to me how extensive Martin Jay’s role was, and still is, to the Caribbean community in the UK. From sitting on his father’s shoulders in 1978, yearning to be a part of the Carnival, to the foundation laid, full of experience, knowledge, commitment, tears and passion for our culture. A true ambassador. WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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ISM INSIDER ARTIST
Burnell Mckenna
The Artist What inspired this painting, why are you drawn to this subject? The desire to paint this wonderful red flower came from encouragement from my mother who currently lives in Trinidad and Tobago, my birth place. This flower is very typical of the islands and I recall the brilliant red blooms being very popular in our garden hedges in childhood years. Recently the inspiration came from my mother encouraging me in my artistic pursuits to also paint tropical themed works and I soon took the paper and palette to paint this brilliant red hibiscus. Why Do You Make This Type of Art? Botanical art is appealing to me as it shifts between the purely scientific rendition of the subject and the aesthetically beautiful artistic representation; it’s this interplay that I find exciting in this type of art. In this particular piece, I am able to portray this tropical flower in a realistic way as well as play with the vibrancy of colour focusing throughout on maintaining the vibrancy of colour, the delicacy of the petals and buoyancy of the flower. Where does a painting begin for you? Can you take us through your process? I usually work from photographs or live specimen. I might have carried my phone with me on a walk or field trip and found just the right subject of interest in a bushy undergrowth or in a park. Often, I would take several pictures of the same subject trying to catch the best light or angle and reworking images once I am back at my home studio. At other times, I might seek out the particular subject from content websites where a photographer has the ideal capture for what I am looking for. I don’t shy away from these either. The best however, is if I am able to take the subject home with me, preserve it immediately in water for a few hours allowing me to sketch the plant or flower, take a number of pictures and create the foundation sketch which I use as the basis for my watercolour application. From there, I enjoy the process of deciding on the right colour palette for the piece, matching as closely as possible the variety of shades I can see in the piece. I usually work with watercolours directly from the tubes or by mixing colours to perfect shades and hues I need for the piece. What Inspires You? I love that watercolours sing. Transparent watercolours have a luminous quality about them which is perfect for my artistic preference in a medium. Inspired by nature and being drawn to the outdoors, wildlife and plant life; I am most excited about bringing botanical subjects to life on paper and making the viewer stop for a moment to appreciate how delightful nature is and give the viewer reasons to celebrate its wonder. I find the botanical palette and rich primary colours WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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particularly appealing and this allows for a happy marriage with botanical subjects. How Do You Make It? Why do you use certain materials? What techniques do you use? Working in watercolours can be challenging and one has to allow themselves the curiosity to explore this surprising medium in a variety of ways. I often work, wet in wet, wet on dry and dry brushing. These are the main techniques that I utilise in creating my botanical work and allows for washes of colour as well as finer details. I tend to lay on preliminary washes of colour as underpainting before I set to work on a build-up of layers to intensify the colour and detail in the painting. In this piece I used a yellow under-wash serving to lift and bring out the radiance in the red petals working in a build-up of subsequent wet on wet washes allowing adequate drying time between layers. I find that this way of working also allows me to enjoy the process of seeing the piece develop in stages which can often take a number of days and in some cases weeks.
RED- Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. This painting was exhibited 2-11 of October 2020 at Moscow State Biological Museum named after K. A. Timiryazev, Moscow, Russia. WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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ISM INSIDER ARTIST
A
s part of the commitment to showcasing the art form, we are also dedicated to elevating the persons who work tirelessly behind the scenes, contributing to the culture and also young aspiring individuals with raw talent. Sharyece is no exception. Sharyece McAlpin, is a young budding artist from South London. Although only 13 years old, there are indications of natural ability. We spent some time with Sharyece as she shared her inspiration behind her artwork. How old were you when you started drawing? I started drawing a couple of years ago, at the age of 11. I was in year 7. What is it about art that you enjoy the most? I like the fact that nothing has to be real. You get to use your imagination and make things up. I like using my imagination because anything goes and there are no rules. Where do you get your ideas for drawings from? My inspiration for my characters comes from my active imagination. When it comes to hairstyles, I get ideas from references from places like Pinterest. What career path are you interested in? I am interested in carpentry. I like making things and one day would love to own my shop where I can sell supplies and my artwork. Do you have any other hobbies? I love music. I play the guitar, violin and a little bit of the piano. Is anyone else in your family artistic? Yes, I come from a creative and artistic family. My mum for example, is very creative, designing cakes. Yes your mum is extremely talented when it comes to designing cakes. Is that something that interests you and maybe see yourself doing in the future? WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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Nope, not at all. Have you visited any of the art galleries in London? I have, but not recently, due to the pandemic. I have, however, been to the Tate Gallery a few years ago. You said earlier that you love music. What is your favourite song? Yes, I love music. I love the track – Listen by Beyonce. Recently, someone had expressed interest in purchasing one of your drawings. How did you feel about that, especially knowing that the public is paying attention to your work? I was surprised by it, to be honest. I am not entirely convinced that my drawings are good enough
to sell just yet. What are some of the problems, you often encounter, when working on a piece? One problem I am working hard to get better at is colouring. It can be quite hard to colour a drawing perfectly without messing it up. Another one is clothing designs. It requires a lot of imagination, which I like, but it becomes a problem when I end up with too many options. How long would it usually take you to complete a drawing? I think around 2-3 hours. I normally do the drawings at school and do the colouring when I get home. Do you know of any other youngsters with similar abilities like yourself ? Yes, my cousin Riley, is good at drawing Animes. Also, my friends Taleen and J’Naye are great artists. What advice would you give other teenagers, who are interested in art? I would say go for it. It is a very exciting hobby that can lead to bigger things. Also, try not to criticise yourself too much. WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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ISM
INSIDER FOOD
INSIDE THE KITCHEN
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ERKEN T R IC
U
A STERK CH
s of om i r t.c Ch hef eanpo t C By aribb anpo e w.C aribb w c w @
J TE
MA
I LT
GS
N WI
INGREDIENTS: 5 lbs chicken wings 2 limes 3-5 scallions 1/4 cup orange juice 1/3 cup olive oil 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce 1-2 tablespoon brown sugar
2 scotch bonnet peppers 1 medium onion 3 cloves garlic 2 thick slices ginger 1 teaspoon allspice (+ add 8 berries) 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 10 sprigs thyme
ULTIMATE JEARK CHICKEN WINGS VIDEO BELOW
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of S g N in AI AIL ook uk/ M T C co. g o X O ard rdo. kin c o a Ri fric oco f he .che card C i By www hefr c @
WATCH VIDEO BELOW FOR SEASONING AND PREPARATION
WATCH VIDEO BELOW FOR COOKING
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SIDES
POTATO SALAD By Chef Ricardo Cooking of www.chefricardo.co.uk/ @chefricardocooking
INGREDIENTS Potatoes 3 Medium Eggs Spring Onion Celery Onion Chilli Mixed Peppers Sweet Corn Mustard Salad Cream Light Mayonaise Black Pepper
WATCH CHEF RICARDO’S VIDEO ON MAKING POTATO SALAD BELOW
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DESSERT
CARIBBEAN BLACK CAKE By Chef Chris of www.Caribbeanpot.com @caribbeanpot
INGREDIENTS 2 sticks unsalted butter (1/2 lb) 1 cup brown sugar 6 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon mixed essence 4-5 cups dried fruits (puree/soaked) 2 cups all purpose flour 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon allspice 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (freshly grated if
possible) 2 teaspoon baking powder 1 tablespoon browning (see note below) 1 teaspoon lime zest (grated) dash of angostura bitters (optional) and a pinch of salt
WATCH VIDEO BELOW HOW TO MAKE BLACK CAKE
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DRINK
PONCHE DE CREME By: Ruth’s Gourmet Kitchen www.ruthsgourmetkitchen.com @ruthsgourmetkitchen
INGREDIENTS 5 Cups carnation milk 2 Tins condensed milk 4 Large eggs 1/2 cup dark rum 1tsp nutmeg 1tsp vanilla extract 1tsp angostura bitters
WATCH RUTH’S VIDEO ON MAKING PONCHE DE CREME BELOW
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Cock by
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ktails
M Ï X G Ø D BLENDED TIKI Ingredients: 50ml blended WHISKY 50ml guava juice 50ml fresh pineapple juice 25ml passion fruit juice 25 ml lemon 20ml Almond syrup How to prepare BLENDED TIKI: Add all ingredients into a mixing glass, shake very well with solid ice Double strain into a fashionable highball glass Garnish with pineapple leaves and sliced of passion fruit
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ISM
DESIGNERS
CREATIVE DESIGNS V
Designers
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La Vie
Crafts THE BEGINNING... I attended a birthday in 2018, where the host gave glittered wine glasses as a gift. I was impressed and inspired. As I was getting married later that year, I tried to re-create her idea for favours for the wedding. I added my touches, and a bottle of Cava, which went down a treat, literally.
WHERE GOING...
IS
IT
All of us are experiencing the fallout of 2020 pandemic, and I have not been exempt from that. I had to give up a job that I loved due to ill health. But I think that God was showing me that it was time to do something different. As I had the time and space, I decided to explore my options. Over the past two years, I made a few items for friends and I enjoyed it. This year I decided to take it more seriously and start my business.
I would love this venture to be a fulltime job. I get pleasure from customers feedback when they love their purchases. My work keeps evolving as I learn more. I think now has never been a better time for Black businesses to launch. So far, my products include bags, drinkware, cards and apparel, and I am sure I will diversify. So I invite you to visit my page on:
Instagram: @Lavie_crafts or Facebook: La Vie crafts. Hopefully you’ll see something you love and spread the word. La Vern.
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Kese Cushions
K
ese Cushions is an independently owned business based in London, dedicated to bringing a unique style to your décor. Inspired by the vibrant colours of Africa and the Caribbean, Maxine launched Kese in 2019, creating quality handmade cushions with passion and flair. Since then, the brand continues to grow and includes table linen, A Kese Goodnight pillow spray, home accessories, as well as offering a customised service. The Winter 20/21 Collection showcases striking prints, mudcloth throws and decorative bunting, perfect for the holiday season. Follow kese_cushions for updates, special offers and new product releases on: Instagram: @Kese_Cushions Facebook: Kese Cushions Twitter: Kese_Cushions Website: www.kesecushions.co.uk or visit Kese’s stockist: Hair By Chi, 340 Lea Bridge Road, London E10 7LD. Caption: ‘Pisces Lux’ Upcycled, handmade Ankara wax print cotton cushion with black faux silk at the back for a luxurious finish. Removable envelope style cover, supplied with an optional 20×20″ / 50x50cm polyester foam crumb cushion pad for your comfort.
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Leanne Creative
Leanne is a graphic designer and illustrator based in South East London. Leanne is the creator and owner of Leanne Creative greeting cards and gifts, with over 50 greeting card designs available featuring portraits of people from the African diaspora. Gifts such as notebooks, coasters, magnets, bookmarks and more are also available with a theme of royalty aiming to empower and inspire. Each card is hand-finished with gems and made from highquality gloss card, designed to be cherished.
Website: www.leannecreative. com Shop: leannecreative. etsy.com Instagram: @leanne_ creative
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SHASHA DESIGNS
K
eisha Edwards is the owner and Creative Director of Shasha Designs, a fashion brand based in Georgetown Guyana, that creates event wear and specialises in making traditional and unconventional wedding gowns. Keisha has showcased collections in Guyana, Haiti, Curaçao, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago and in Washington DC and Maryland in the USA. She participated in the first ever Commonwealth Fashion Exchange, where she designed a sustainable gown, which debuted at Buckingham Palace in February 2018. Keisha holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Guyana and has completed a certificate program in Fabric Selection and Design Style at The New School – Parsons School of Designs in the USA. In 2016, she enrolled at The Caribbean Academy of Fashion and Design in Trinidad and Tobago to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Fine arts and Fashion design. Now a graduate, she creates event wear and wedding gowns at her studio based in Guyana. Tel: 592-676-7341, 868-312-6833 E-Mail: shashadesigns@gmail.com
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Website: www.shashadesigns.com Instagram @ shashadesigns
DECEMBER 2020
Sinora
Beauty Cosmetics
S
inora Beauty Cosmetics is the UK’s first Carnival Cosmetic Brand. We aim to provide revellers all around the world with all they need for the road; and that too includes cosmetics. We are a Trinidadian owned brand and have now launched our first
two palettes: Dusk & Til’ Dawn. Our brand is all-inclusive; taking and paying homage to the carnival pioneers our first two palettes pay homage to Trinidad and Tobago; with each shade name attributing to food, local delicacies and Trini Lingo and more. As a Trinidadian, I saw it fitting to not only pay homage but to also educate fellow customers about our culture. Our brand is all about bridging mas with cosmetics and we are truly proud as Trini’s in the UK to have such a platform for the Caribbean community. We offer International shipping to most caribbean Islands, the US and Canada. We also offer a range of UK shipment options. Hope to see you all on the road next year, in the meantime, keep safe.
Email: sinorabeauty.cos@gmail. com Instagram: @sinorabeautycosmetics Website: www. sinorabeautycosmetics.com
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G
oddess Dolls are handmade one of a kind collectable dolls ready to play ah Mas. Adorned in Swarvoski crystals and feathers each doll is hand-designed to stand out. Website: w w w. g o d d e s s g o b l e t s . com/shop Instagram: @goddessdollscollectables
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Thea Smartt Henry Using polymer clay and metal wires, Thea balances texture and colour to create individually remarkable jewellery pieces. Her design approach is largely influenced by ‘clay play’; development through colour blending, polymer clay manipulation and designon-the-table which often produces favourite pieces. Cracks, abstract pattern and hints of fingerprints to denote ‘hands at work’, all become compellingly attractive features when added with deliberation.
The Bauble Disc Neckpiece Inspired by a host of Christmas tree decorations, Thea has created a Bauble Disc Neckpiece in a carnival-red with sequin detail. The 60mm diameter disc is strung onto 4mm natural leather cord with antique gold colour findings, a hand-crafted wire extender chain and hook clasp.
Discs and circles feature frequently in Thea’s work. She takes the ‘most perfect of all shapes’, and floods this base with organic lines, colour and texture using a myriad of tools and surface techniques. Thea’s statement disc neckpieces are eye-catching accessories for the bold-hearted and ‘Relic’ pieces include deconstructed shards of previous projects to reduce waste.
You can find Thea’s work by visiting: Website: www.theasmartthenry.co.uk Instagram: @theasmartthenry
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E
Ere ybo Cus Eve hio ns
reybo Eve Cushions started out of necessity. The need to have soft furnishings that are affordable, but not at the expense of quality and style. Products start from as low as £18.00.
Please follow us on: Facebook: Ereybo EVE Cushions Shop: EreyboEveCushions.esty.com Instagram: @ereybo_eve_cushions
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ISM
SPOTLIGHT
MS DESIRE INTERNATIONAL SOCA ARTISTE
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By: Kerlon Winchester Writer
Early Years Although born in the UK, her Caribbean connection remains evident in her accent and desire to make it to the top. With roots that spread across two islands; the land of Reggae (Jamaica) and one famously known to open the doors of your imagination (Barbados). Therefore, it is only natural for Louise SterlingJackman aka Ms Desire, to claim centre stage. Desire grew up in North London, attending St Mary’s Primary then moving on to Alexandra Park School. Unlike most kids at her school, who enjoyed attending local holiday camps, Desire spent all her school holidays travelling to the sunny island of Barbados, where her mother originated. This played a key role in her remaining true to her culture and the foundation for her success today. When not in Barbados, her childhood was spent attending performing arts school, which she started at the early age of six and touring with Pantomime. Desire describes her dad as the musical influence in the family, although he was never the one behind the mic. He featured more on the management and production side of music and owned one of the most prominent Caribbean music stores in Tottenham, North London Body Music. Her interest in music started at the early age of six. She was heavily involved in the church choir, performing frequent Gospel pieces and a regular in the studios, with CBeebies gigs and other children shows. At secondary school age, there was a growing interest in R&B, which was then magnified by the installation of Cable TV. Desire remembers Cable having only one channel, The Box, a music channel showing music videos. Now exposed to the American music industry, Desire was more determined to WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
take centre stage, which she did with her close friend and neighbour. They utilized a ledge at the front of her home, facing the bus stop. They used the dwell times of the buses to perform random songs for the passengers who often noticed and delightfully approved. As time passed, Desire’s talent continued to develop further and there was a love for Divas Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, who are both credited for influential roles in teaching her how to sing. Their performances were not about the theatrics, but more about composure and the vocals. On the Soca side, Desire was a huge fan of Destra and Fay-Ann Lyons and their ability to command the stage. Performing on a Soca stage is very different from R&B, as it involved more theatrics. However, Desire favoured Destra, Fay-Ann and Allison Hinds as they can sing and perform.
The Stage Is Mine Desire recalls the moment she first realised she wanted to be a Soca artiste. While in Barbados at the age of 17, she remembered wanting to attend a national Kings and Queen Carnival show but knew that her chances of attending were slim because of her family being religious. After an intense round of dialogue, she managed to convinced her uncle to drop her off at the show, with a set time for his return. Nearing the end of the show, he returned to take her home, but Desire was in no way ready to leave, as there was an after-party featuring Allison Hinds and Square One still to come. Desire tried her negotiation skills again but to no avail. She then employed the typical teenager delay tactic, by suddenly requiring the washroom, which obviously had a queue as long as the island. That tact proved ineffective, as Allison Hinds still wasn’t ready and her uncle was getting a bit agitated. As Desire slowly made her way to the exit, the stage suddenly came alive. Smacked into amazement, by the power, quality and smoothness in the 61
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voice of the unknown female artiste (Allison Hinds), Desire remembers having an overload of excitement and questions. “Who is this person?” “She is amazing”. Immediately, Desire knew Soca was her calling and was determined to make the stage hers. By this time Desire was struggling to contain her excitement and with only half of the artiste’s name, she was eager to know more about her. This proved to be frustrating, as Desire spent the most of the night at the mercy of the great grandparents of Fibre Optic broadband – Dialup internet. After speaking with her mum, the unknown artiste was revealed as Allison Hinds. Desire made it clear that the Soca stage is where she wanted to be. Unsure of what the next move was, Desire decided to send a message via Facebook to Mr Anderson “Blood” Armstrong, one of the most talented Soca artiste on the island and a founding member of one of Barbados most prominent and Caribbean’s leading party bands, Square One. Unexpectedly, she received a reply with an offer to assist her newfound Soca career. They then went on to release Desire’s first song, Carnival Love, in 2008.
SUCCESS Upon her return to the UK in 2011, Desire spent a lot of time researching different artistes, producers and getting a better understanding of the Soca industry in the UK. Her first UK Soca performance was at a Colours event at Tudor Rose nightclub. This performance was slightly more nervous, as Desire was unaware of their Soca expectation levels and also their appreciation of the art form. The following year saw more development and the first bit of real success. Desire’s talent was unmatched and landed her the prize of the 2012 UK Soca Monarch, with the track “Ready Fa Dis”, produced by the music powerhouse and founder of Monstapiece Entertainment, Peter Coppin. The song made international waves WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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after being shortlisted by MTV for one of their competitions. There was no turning back from then on, as Desire started discovering her full potential, with her mentor, Allison Hinds. Her biggest inspiration for musical content comes from life in general. Whether it be personal struggles, friendship or anything you can relate to, Desire is never short of quality music. Desire became unstoppable, releasing several more chartbusters, which includes : Ruf it up ft Peter Ram Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Nice Time Soca Dancer My Team Anything You Want Ah Feel Although the year 2020 would probably be remembered by many as a less than fantastic year, the opposite can be said for Ms Desire. The euphoria of winning the UK Soca Monarch was so nice, she had to do it twice. She performed the track, “ Soca Raised Me�, which was actually written in 2019 and has more of a Calypso feel. It encapsulated her life, highlighting the role of Soca music throughout her journey. Desire also felt the timing of the song was perfect, as it was performed during a time when questions were being asked about the survival of Calypso. This song has a narrative behind it, but more importantly, eloquently performed by a young artiste. Her latest track, Queen, an uplifting song, acts WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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as an inspiration to all the women today, encouraging them and making them aware that you can be a queen in your own way. Be you. Celebrate you, manifest you and be proud of you.
VIDEO OF QUEEN
Music is at the core of Ms Desire, but she is also talented in many other areas. She is an entrepreneur, founder of Desire & Aspire, a full-service entertainment and management company, specializing in PR, talent, event and brand management in the UK. Evidence of success away from the music manifested itself in the form of an award for “The Best Caribbean Marketing & PR Company” in the UK. Ms Desire is undoubtedly unique in her abilities, but as you stroll back with her through the years, the one prominent feature is her determination to succeed. From an early age, she knew what it meant to be focussed and although being so young, she probably could not fully comprehend what hard work meant, she did it anyway. Her knowledge of the industry is second to none and mixed with experience, she is the way forward. I am delighted to have spent a couple of hours getting to know Ms Desire and assure all of her fans that there is a lot more to come. Quality is important to her as it solidifies her brand and there will be no shortage of that in 2021. On the flip side, she is charming, entertaining and one of the most chilled out individuals you’ll ever come across, with no difference between Ms Desire and Louise. Inside Soca would like to thank Ms Desire for giving of her time and wishes her continued success in all her endeavours and remains fully supportive of her work.
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ISM
INSIDER STORIES
THE SPENCERS continued.... By: Starrlett Roberts Writer
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s of December 3, 2020 New York, City has had 322,501 positive COVID-19 cases (almost half the total amount of New York State, which totals 646,000.) New York City which comprises the 5 Boroughs (Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island) has also had the most deaths; 24,297 of 34,286 total for the entire state. The *Spencer’s (names have been changed for anonymity) and I reside in Brooklyn, just to put things in perspective; the likelihood that anyone of us has lost a friend, friend of a friend and/or family member is great. When I interviewed them last, COVID-19 infections had surged for two months and then started to get under control with under 2000 cases by June. June- September allowed New Yorker’s to experience; while heavily constrained/monitored some semblance of our usual NYC Summer. There were weekends at the beach, picnics and small outdoor events for everyone albeit if you weren’t in therapy or under the influence of your substance of choice due to the stress of dealing with the effects of Covid-19. Summertime Blues Summer in Brooklyn is usually a time when memories are made, people socialize, secrets are uncovered, love blossoms or fades and our beloved Local Signature Caribbean Events flourish. WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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For a “SSB” or Soca Social Butterfly like myself and many others this has been the WORST year ever! Carnival Island Hoppers and Local Fete Loyalist who LIVE TO FETE have been in consistent state of mourning. I was lucky enough to catch up with our favorite ISM CLTC “Couple Living Through Covid-19” as Part 2. If you missed Part 1, check out ISM “Issue 4: Karneval Der Kulturen” of our “To Quarantine or Quarrel” series. Now here’s the Bush Tea! Blondes Have More Fun *Veronica Spencer nee “Ronnie” and I have kept in touch over these months, so when I asked her for a follow -up interview, she gladly accepted. When Ronnie appeared at the front door, she was radiant with big beautiful smile and that set the tone for the afternoon. Her previously bright red hair is now a sexy Platinum Blonde Amber Rose cut which is very bold and flattering, even in the Fall Ronnie looks brighter than the sun. She actually laughed when she notices that I was now a redhead and said “Oh you switch up on meh!”, We started giggling as we walked towards the infamous kitchen. Ronnie: I now reach home from shopping, haven’t even slept yet. As we embrace each other with a “covid-hug” * just enough social distance to feel the warmth of the other person while looking in the other direction! I guess Joseph heard us talking so he swiftly exited his office and walked toward the kitchen in time to hear me ask Ronnie “How have you been sis? and interjects: “Ronnie is Ronnie, always miserable or dissatisfied with something. She loves to complain. Be prepared…” I must say I love to hear Joseph speak with his Proper Trinidadian Accent so I let of small discrete smirk, but I was still afraid to look at Ronnie (I almost felt to duck because I know Ronnie not takin dat!!) then instantly I hear Ronnie: “Joseph, yuh see you?? As she pointed her index finger toward her husband, adorned with a beautiful pink flower design. “If I tell you why I MISERABLE” (She spells it out phonetically as we Caribbean people do for emphasis) yuh will ball!” turning her back to her husband of 26 years her dialogue continues: “To answer your question Starr my dear, I am quite fine and the kids are amazing Thank God. Joseph, well he have “issues” as Dee Dee (their only daughter) does say “PERIOD with a T”. Joseph: Is that right Mrs. Spencer? Issues?? You playing young since summer, every evening you out under the guise of fitness, ah look dottish to you? Me: Explain Joseph… what do you mean by “She playing young”? Ronnie is young! You don’t trust her? (Me being the Shit Stirring Fairy Princess that I am) So I guess you changed Joseph, No more disappearing acts on Friday’s??” Me: Joseph last time I was here Ronnie said you had a pattern, one that might need placement of an internal GPS to guide you home on a Friday night, IJS! So now Ronnie moving funny?? As he smiles devilishly at both of us. We all start to laugh loudly. Joseph is consistently a great sport but, unfortunately a not so subtle flirt; as if almost to intentionally drive Veronica mad. In that same moment Joseph, turns to me and says: “Eh, eh like you and Ronnie could be twins?” referencing my new-to them-red hair. He continues “It suits you well!” Just as soon as “well” rolls of Joseph’s tongue Ronnie interjects “Boy hush yuh long eye ass! Yuh don’t get tired??” and cuts her eyes with a strrups. We all explode into laughter, (I am secretly relieved and keep laughing, wondering what Pandora’s Box may bring). Joseph: What happen Veronica? Yuh think only yuh could pull off Red -Red hair?? Yuh Bright Red Hair wasn’t enough all those months under yuh bonnet, goggles and N-95? As soon as things started opening up in the summer yuh blonde up yuh hair. WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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All Dressed Up…. Joseph is now taunting Ronnie, “Yuh face full of make-up just to go to de gym?? Who is now facing Ronnie directly. “Ent Blondes have more fun Veronica?” “How yuh so quiet Mrs. Spencer?” Then rhetorically asks me, “How she not spilling her beans now??” Me: Joseph slow down what are you talking about? Ronnie can’t change her hair color or look nice at the gym? Ronnie is visibly irritated by her spouse and tries to ignore his implications, unsuccessfully. Joseph is adamantly attempting to drive home his point that perhaps Ronnie resides in her very own Glass Palace. Could it be that Veronica has much to conceal? I am sitting at the kitchen counter looking at both of them my interest is piqued, yes of course he was correct; I love a lil playful confusion or as my Trini Friends call it Bacchanal! Ronnie: Doh study Joseph, he is a BACCHANALIST! So what if I go to the gym? So what if I made friends who help to train me sometimes? I was getting too-fat during lock-down…. I always change my damn hair oui! Corona To De Rescue Joseph goes to the fridge returning with three ice-cold Corona Beers (the irony), which seems to be either a peace -offering or perhaps a momentary reprieve from the tongue-lashing Ronnie is known to dish out. He reaches for the bottle-opener like a seasoned bartender and promptly but gently removes all of the caps. He and I reach for a beer and take nervous gulps as Ronnie continues to pepper him. “First Joseph fass in he ass! Ah fine you need a hobby, Ronnie watching is not it! You-self should go to the gym; look how yuh belly getting big Joseph Spencer? What happened you and Gemma done nah?” My secret thought: O’ Lawd Oye here we go again. Clearly nothing has change between Joseph and Veronica they have just traded places, allegedly. Ronnie protests: Joseph is clearly an ass!! I am not counting figures whole day…look at the work that I do five days a week? Is Joseph taking care of patients with COVID-19? We lost so many friends, co-workers, neighbors in the past six months; I needed a place to decompress and get away from all of them oui! Joseph: Don’t dig nothing nah woman. Is joke ah joking. Ronnie finally satisfied with her rebuttal, reaches for her beer which appears to be sweating as much as Joseph and takes a long sip. One Padded Room Reservation for Two Please He suddenly leans toward me to whisper “You should see how yuh girl does fix-up she self just to go to de gym. “ I ask him quietly; “You don’t like the way Ronnie dresses to go to the gym?? Why don’t you tell her? Ronnie: Ooh please don’t mine that crazy man Starr…Joseph needs a Psych eval (Nurse talk for Joseph is a Mad Man!) My eyes open up wide, apparently Ronnie has ears like a Dolphin and continues; “I trying to get in shape for Grenada Spice Mass next year, hopefully (with praying hands up to God). Ah miss this year obviously, I don’t want to miss it again.” With that Veronica starts to sing: “Cause to be honest/If I don’t release ah go dead” as she closes her eyes and start whining in the kitchen with the beer bottle in her hand. I swear I could hear Lednek chanting “Boom Chakalaka After Quarantine!” Joseph takes a long slurp and declares serious like a heart attack: “Is that right Mrs. WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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Spencer? Well just know that I am the only man going Down in dat Meat!! I almost fell off the barstool, proper uppity Joseph is officially Mr. Hyde. Ronnie: Joseph please go away! When you was down in Gemma meat, yuh never thought someone might go down in mine eh?? Just move from meh with your fake jealousy oui. Old hypocrite! I had to jump in before it escalated, so I requested a five-minute break. Joseph and I stepped outside to the deck of the house in the cold and light up 2 cigarettes. Ronnie retreats upstairs to check on the kids with snacks in hand. As a woman, I am partial to Ronnie unapologetically. Me: Do you understand why Ronnie is upset with you? Joseph: Starr, I am different now, so now she playing de ass too? Tit for Tat come on man?? I not taking no horn from no woman ok? She have ah man too. I feel it. Ronnie is a sweet woman; is not now man does watch she- even with de extra pounds…. Me: (pulling hard on my cigarette I am watching Joseph and listening intensely.) Excuse me? Explain what “I not taking no horn from no woman” means? Joseph: It means just that. After you left, we had a few sessions (martial counseling). So why cheat too? Suddenly we hear this static-like noise and Ronnie’s voice from nowhere ass if God were speaking: “I am not cheating on you. Jackass!” Joseph and I started laughing at his ingenious wife, who has been upstairs listening to us from the Security System. Joseph: What de ass is this boy? Veronica Spencer yuh mad oui! Ronnie: We coming downstairs! (joyously, finally) As we re-enter the kitchen, we hear Ronnie and the kids coming out of their rooms above. Ronnie: Ms. Starr from Inside Soca Magazine is here again, and your father like actin like ah raaaaal strupidity! You better come save him!” Kevin the eldest waves to me from above and declares, “Oh boy dad you actin’up again??” As he, Dee-Dee and Sean start laughing loudly walking into the kitchen. Joseph: I good man… (Ronnie and I look at each other and wink) Ronnie: Well your father is as good as he will ever be, we going to lock him up in his office and add some padding oui. Joseph: I don’t mind dat attall, as long as yuh mother visits me in de padded room from time to time!!! (with his signature devilish smile). Ronnie folds her arms and starts shaking her head while looking adoringly at Joseph for the first time since we started the interview. As a smart man should he picked up her cue leaned in for a juicy kiss. Sean: (the youngest) yucky, yucky, yucky!! Shouldn’t you guys be six feet apart?? We all let out a laugh but not before his sister set’s him straight; Dee Dee: Be quiet Sean, when you get a wife, you’re supposed to kiss her, no matter what ok? Sounds like solid advice to me. Pandemic or not, the advent of family, trust and respect all remain the same. The rules of the game can easily change in any relationship. Covid-19 has taught us all a valuable lesson about mortality, loyalty, procrastination, courage, resilience and love. If you must quarantine, kiss don’t quarrel.
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ISM MUSIC CORNER
TOP PARANG TUNES 1. TANTY EULYN - BLAZER 2. BRING SIPS - PREACHER 3. CHINEE PARANG - LOS PARAMININOS 4. EAT SOMETHING - SCRUNTER 5. HUSH HUH MOUTH - KENNY J
6. BUY - SNAKEY FT. IMPULSE 7. LIE LIE LIE - DESTRA GARCIA X ROME 8. LAST BRUSH - PELF 9. INVITE MEHSELF - REMBUNCTION 10. SHARING DE HOG - BONGO SPEAR
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ISM MUSIC CORNER
DJ Stylz UK
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THE SOCA TAKEOVER
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oca music is one of the many facets of West Indian culture. Ingrained in our DNA, it helps define who we are. Hence the reason why it is so important for West Indians to have a regular dosage of Soca music, not just via a CD or iTunes or Spotify, but on the airwaves, caressing the inner ear, amplifying the urge to be a part of Carnival. Soca music being on-air, also showcases the artform engaging the interest of others. Today in the UK, exists a multitude of FM radio channels broadcasting a variety of genres, including R&B, Hip Hop and Reggae. However, since the days of DJ Martin Jay on Choice FM, showcasing the Soca/Calypso community, there hasn’t been any representation of the Soca artform on any FM channels, until now. Inside Soca was delighted to have met Mr Raz Bacchus aka DJ Stylz UK from The Beat London 103.6 FM. DJ Stylz UK spent some time with us WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
to talk about his achievements. When did you 1st start showing interest in Djing? When I was around 15/16 years old I was at a family event, I probably had a few sneaky little drinks, But I remember looking at the dance floor and it was rammed, I was fascinated by how the DJ, the music controlled the crowd, and I remember thinking to myself, Yoo, I wanna do this. Do you remember your 1st professional set? Where was it and what was the reception like? My first professional set I believe was when I was around 17. I mean I’ve DJ’d for family and friends at private parties, but my first professional set was at an underground Dancehall club in Dalston. I remember I was absolutely terrified, I’m this 17-year-old Indo-Caribbean teenager Djing for an older Caribbean crowd who would 75
have no problem letting you know exactly how they feel if they didn’t like your music. Thankfully, my 90s dancehall set was FIRE, and the people went crazy. For my first professional set, I came off the decks feeling like a boss. Have you done any international sets? If yes where and what was the reception like? I love dJing overseas. In 2018 I toured Florida, New York, and Canada all in 1 trip. Florida and New York were amazing. The feedback I got was incredible. From a DJ’s perspective as long as the crowd is vibing to your music and brukking out on the dance floor, it’s always a good sign. I’m always djing in Canada as it’s my home away from home. In 2018 I was djing at a Sheesea event and again that was an amazing experience. In 2019 I did a Caribana boat party, a club event and I also did a radio interview which was a great experience. The DECEMBER 2020
Caribbean population in North America is so artiste. big that most of their events are 500-1000+ people, so it’s always a crazy experience. I agree with that statement 100 per cent, but are the UK artist doing enough to promote What makes DJ Stylz UK different from themselves? or are they relying solely on UK other DJs? I try to be as unique as possible, from the way I host and present myself, even down to my mixing and song selection. There’s nothing worse than hearing 5 DJs playing the same music. If I’m Djing out I would often research the event and the type of audience that attend so I know what music to play and what I can get away with, I also remix music to make edits to songs so that they are unique to me. Soca is still without a genre. In your opinion, what is the main cause? Bro, I cannot tell you, we have the Nottinghill Carnival, Europes largest street parade, the heart of Soca music. Soca is now international, from Japan to Europe, soca music is also crossing over to dancehall and afro beats, Ashanti even jumped on a track with Machel for God sake… and we still haven’t even got a genre? It’s crazy. I don’t know what more the soca industry need to do to prove themselves. How would you describe the state of UK Soca? I think UK Soca is growing very slowly, but it’s not where it should be, I have a lot of friends in the UK Soca scene and they are all very talented. But I think uniqueness and versatility plays a key part in keeping your audience entertained. I know the UK soca scene has amazing potential but it just needs that push. DJs to promote them and push their music? If that’s the case, that’s the wrong mentality. It has been recently said that some DJs You should be contacting people outside your aren’t doing enough to promote UK Soca bubble, not just tagging people on your Insta WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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post and hoping for the best, but, sending out emails, find promoters find other DJs, host, radio DJs. I’m not saying that they are not doing that, but from what I can see a lot more networking and a lot more work needs to be
it over social media because I got Dj friends overseas. Out of all the UK Soca artistes I played, I must have had 2 UK artists that interacted with my posts. I mean come on... If your not even going to support your music by sporting the DJ that plays your music, how do you expect the DJs to support you? How did you end up on 103.6 FM? I’ve DJ’ed for many radio stations, from pirate to internet, over the years. Then I took a break to try and find out what direction I wanted to go. I’m a firm believer of not going backwards in life, so I did pirate radio stations and I did the internet radio stations and wondered how else can I progress to the next level? So when the opportunity at The Beat came up it was a no brainer. We wanted to dedicate a show towards soca. Towards getting a genre and showcasing the community. We also wanted to give it a platform to reach out to everyone. So far the show is going better than expected. I’ve interviewed some of the biggest names in the Soca scene and I’m absolutely enjoying myself! Is 103.6 FM , the only FM station that plays Soca music? I believe so, I’m 99 percent sure that the Soca Takeover is the only weekly soca show on an Fm based radio Station in London or the UK. Forgive me if I’m wrong. If yes, why is that?
done. I started the Soca takeover to promote soca Music in the UK and to give new artists a platform to showcase their music. I dedicated a whole show to UK Soca Artistes and posted WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
People think Soca is seasonal, especially in the UK. They will only support Soca on mainstream radio during that carnival month. Even then, the stuff that some of these stations play on the radio during that month of Carnival is NOT Soca. Sean Paul is not Soca, Dancehall is not Soca Afro-beats is not Soca, don’t get me 77
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wrong I LOVE these genres, but they shouldn’t use them to represent Carnival. I just think in the month of August what they call ‘Soca music’ is the “IN” thing to play at that time, but not all year round. Are there other Soca Djs on 103.6 FM? The good thing about the Beat London is that they have certain DJs for certain genre so you don t hear 10 DJs playing the same thing. I do believe I’m the only DJ playing Soca music on the beat.
How would you describe NHC? I love Notting Hill Carnival. I’m not a wild crazy party person, but carnival is my time to bruk out and go crazy. Notting hill carnival is the 1 place where everyone is family, whether your white, black, brown, purple whatever, I mean more than anything, carnival unites people. Yes, you get a few idiots but overall the history and meaning of carnival is beautiful. If you don’t know the history of carnival I suggest you do your research. What is your take on the NHC being virtual?
Apart from Djing, you currently host another show. Tell us a bit more about it. I was happy they did something to represent carnival this year but obviously, it’s not the same. I have an events company called Chutney in It’s not the same vibe, it’s not the same feeling, London, which hosts events where I try to but I’m happy they still represented carnival in promote my indo Caribbean heritage around some way to keep the spirit alive. London, promoting music and bringing chutney artists from the Caribbean to London to How did the pandemic affect your show? perform. I started this about 3 years ago and it’s been a big part of my community ever since. I’m I can look at it in a good way or bad. Yes I didn’t also apart of an artist and development program get to DJ at the big events and I didn’t get to DJ called Center Stage, run by some friends of abroad and couldn’t hold my events. But, I had mine MC Treble, DJ Dange, and myself. What more time to network and to talk to people, to centre stage does is give underground artists a learned skills alongside djin and also get myself platform to promote their music and network on an FM based radio station. I basically used with producers DJs and other artists. It’s fairly the pandemic to set myself up for 2021, so I new, but we are slowly building our foundation think we will come out of this pandemic better and trying to focus on the direction we want to than when we went in DJ wise. go in. What are your plans for the future? What was the motivation behind the show? Progression, I always try to progress, I have a I think both Chutneys in London and Centre few things I’m working on music and events Stage was built to promote, whether it’s my wise, but I’m not gonna say too much until culture or pushing new artists and giving them everything is set in stone. a platform. Chutney in London is also me giving something back to my community and supporting my culture. Centre stage is helping up and coming artists and pushing them in the right direction to achieve their goals. WWW.INSIDESOCA.COM
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INSIDE COLLABORATIONS
@insidesoca Inside soca magazine @insidesocamagz Kerlon@insidesoca.com
