Island Signatures Magazine 14 - Awaken Edition

EDITOR’S NOTE

Welcome to Island Signatures’ publication for 2022 – ‘The Awakening Edition’.

“The year gone by has been a big eyeopener for me. Life is definitely not easy, but it is also not as difficult as we make it out to be. It is entirely within our power to emote or react to any given situation. We cannot control fate, but we can certainly control how we respond to all of life’s curve balls. You can spend a lifetime whining and crying about it, or you can simply accept it!

I realised how gratitude could actu ally be the solution to our array of problems. We have in this fastpaced world forgotten to stop, intro spect and take a moment to count our blessings. Be it career, kids, or even festivals like Crop Over [Carnival], we have forgotten to enjoy the spirit of the festive season. Many get overwhelmed or down at this time of year, and the main focus is on clothes, better gifts, better décor, and better Instagram pic tures, and the essence of the festival itself is lost. As the world moves on post-Covid, we as people have begun to regain a sense of normalcy because at the end of the day… We Outside!

In this issue, we celebrate what brings us together: party, party, party! We hope you enjoy our current edition and as always, we bring you excep tional content and images. As the Caribbean began having parties with limited Covid protocols, everyone came

out to celebrate since prior, all the restrictions held the entertainment sector hostage. We party! We drank! We danced! All till sunrise, slept, repeat! Embrace the freedoms that you have as world lockdowns has been associ ated with negative mental health. YOLO – you only live once!

Write poetry? Island Signatures is for you! Have a hot take on a current issue? Island Signatures! Interesting carnival journeys? Island Signatures! Whatever it may be, we hope you find your creative (or serious) niche with us. So now it’s over to you. What do you like about Island Signatures and what is missing? Let us know on social media @ISLANDSIGNATURES or email  islandsignatures@gmail.com and we’ll see what we can deliver in our forth coming issues.”

Editor’s Note: Damien Porter

Damien

Porter

Chief Editor

Elliott Writer

CONTRIBUTORS

Justin Ellis

Publisher Shanice Jordan Writer

Simone

Katrina King

Writer

Michron Robinson

Writer

Kayla Harley

Writer

Time

by Katrina D. Collymore

Where does time go?

Is it someplace that we don’t know? Does it hide in the atmosphere up high... Or dwell in a secret place below. Is it like a bird, flying free in the sky Or a tree, waiting to bloom and grow.

Where does time go?

Is it swept away in the winds that blow? Is it in the sun that shines so bright Or in the rain and rivers that flow... Is it found in the dead of the night Or in the daylight’s glow.

Where does time go?

Is it something that we will ever know?

It often moves fast, And sometimes, rather slow But to what destination, Only time knows...

Written By: Simone Elliott

Father Philis

Social Media is the newest talent scout, and Father Philis is the latest rising star.

T he 26 year old shot to fame as a result of going viral on TikTok with “Sweet Girl” his first trending song, which racked in thousands of video remakes using the sound from average users to celebs. “Brawling”, his first tune had taken platforms by storm with its groovy rhythm and catchy hook and also garnered TikTok fame. Laced with bajan terminology and a witty demeanor, Philis sings hilarious lines in the most diplomatic voice and “cawlen” we can’t help but sing along.

I t is as a result of his delivery style that he got his name, as people likened it to that of a pastor giving a sermon or lecture.

F ather Philis’s style is what makes his sound unique and sets him apart. He takes a fresh perspective on the calypso genre by singing dialect in a standard English tone. There’s nothing brawling about this young man whose initial persona seems very reserved, but his small frame houses a larger than life personality!

B ut who is Father Philis?

P hil is a man of varied tastes, as quoted on his fatherphilis.com site

“I forgot to mention a deep rooted passion for Boxcy’s big and small. I don’t even think this is how you write a Biography, but that’s okay cause we

are just here for the vibes families, catch you outside.” and outside is exactly where you are sure to spot him.

P hil is an easy going 26 year old Barbadian/American Recording artist and entrepreneur. He is the embodi ment of the concept of island life, and adores ‘all things water’. When he’s not in the studio or making his usual “gaff” on social media, Phil can be found enjoying Water Sports, eating out and loves group activities like hikes and drives. He has an avid inter est in Sailing, letting it be known he has “delivered small sailing / racing boats across the ocean from Barbados to Martinique, Antigua, St. Vincent & Bequia.”

W hen it comes to stability and grounding, he credits his core team of friends for his support but notes that his family; including his father and cousins, are always there when he needs them.

P hil knew success was inevitable; he just wasn’t sure how but when his music career took off that was his answer.

M usic has taken Phil, who was a full time Digital Marketer at Yello from the office to the international stage! He is now traveling the world doing the thing he loves most; creating music and making people dance.

W hat intrigues listeners the most is Philis’ lyrics. They flow so eloquently with the beat. I asked Phil what inspires these lyrics and his reply was quite simple, he builds the riddim first “...and then let the words flow once

we’ve built something new and ener getic.” His beats are quite unique and if you’ve ever listened to any of his music it is this inimitable sound that captivates you.

P hilis’ music has stretched far beyond the Caribbean but that is where his success began. He says his initial song had unmatched success in Trinidad and Tobago and he has a great appreciation for that fan base, but that does not compare to his home base, Barbados. He is both a social media connois seur and stage master and can boast he has rubbed shoulders with interna tional stars, most famously opening for Burna Boy at Tipsy Barbados. Burna Boy, an international recording artist known as “The African Giant” headlined Tipsy Barbados whilst kick-starting his album tour and had none other than Father Philis open for him. The energy Phil brings is electric and even through video snippets, the vibes were felt. Opening for such a giant had to have been exhilarating, and he says that this is his most proud moment but defi nitely not the climax of his career!

L ike most local artists , he noted that bajan crowds were a little harder to please as they can be initimidating and he “ had to work harder to dis tinguish himself among the artists”, however, the local support has still been overwhelming.

B arbados’ music scene is a tough one to break into and Phil was not without his own challenges. We spoke about getting his music distributed and pro moted on platforms and he noted this in itself can be a challenging process. The intricacies involved in the distribu tion process should not be overlooked

as it is the bridge between the artist and the listener. Philis speaks of the relationship with booking agents and promoters and it also being detrimen tal to the promotion of the music which is the most important for the artists’ chance of survival in the music arena. The relationships between artists and distributors need to be developed from the onset to secure a platform for their music. Phil emphasizes the impor tance of formulating relationships with booking agents, promoters and distrib utors as they are key to maintaining an artist’sexposure. While an artist can promote themselves via social media platforms, the media houses provide a larger and more diverse audience.

So what’s next for Father Philis?

B uzzing with excitement about upcom ing ventures and new music Phil revealed there were collabs in the works with other Caribbean artists, the latest being Trinidadian artists Nailah Blackman and Salty with a track called Teknique. Phil spoke of a potential track with world renowned Dj Puffy for this season (festival season).

A dditionally, with much elation he announced “Next up I’m looking forward to Enjoying Miami Carnival in October, releasing my new Single Fresh Trim and the Official Sweet Girl Music Video will be coming soon.” Both works we too are excitedly anticipating!

B arbados is a musical talent hub with artists spanning across all genres. Father Philis takes his inspiration from the likes of Lil Rick, Klassik, Stiffy, Puffy, Marlo and Dundeal who have helped to create opportunities for upcoming artists. If one had to address

similarities, we could see the influ ence of Lil Rick on Philis’ persona when we examine their stage pres ence: The jumping on stage, the grind ing and “wukking up”movement and lyrical flow; both small in physique but packed with energy.

P hilis’ career though, having begun in the modern technology age, had an upper hand as social media gave him the edge. Tik Tok overflowed with videos of users dancing and creating viral challenges to his songs, which gained even more traction when celeb rities caught on. The undeniably bajan “sweet girllllllllllll” line had users in a frenzy and when searched on the media platform generated hundreds

of videos with challengers doing their best to perfect the dance. ‘Matter of fact, the song is so popular that one mention of Sweet Girl can encourage a crowd of singers finishing the chant.’

P hil plans to take the international stage by storm and has already thought about markets outside of the US and Caribbean: “There’s a surprising amount of Support in the UK & Africa, so I look forward to performing in those areas more regularly one day soon.”

Sweet T & T: An American Travelista Perspective

Writt en By:Kayla Harley

Bermudian-American, Travelista Kayla LaShell Harley decided to put her Mental Health first, after a few bumps in the road left her without a home, a car and answers for her future. “It is Spiritual -…you just know when it’s time to go. Timing is everything” she said. What was meant to be a week long trip to Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, effortlessly became an extended stay. This simple intent to change her scenery, to clear her mind and reconnect with her diasporic roots turned into a whimsical upheaval of her soul.

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ayla had just wrapped up working on a major motion picture film, “King Richard”, a story detailing the family life dynamic of America’s beloved tennis superstar sisters Venus and Serena Williams. “It was both thrill ing …… having made a contribution as part of the Production team …… and devastating that after all of my handwork, I contracted the COVID-19

Delta Variant virus for the first time! Right smack in the middle of pre miere weekend in Los Angeles, CA!

I couldn’t attend any of the events, affairs or parties; I couldn’t believe it. I missed out on an opportunity to enjoy and just be normal.” After quar antining for 10 days, Kayla flew home to Washington, D.C. to host a quaint watch party amongst her closest friends and family. The next day, she got an eviction notice from her land lord stating that for no apparent reason, ”… he just didn’t want to rent to her anymore.” The following week, while sitting in traffic - a driver under the influence (with an expired driver’s license), hit and totalled her truck.

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ayla decided — that it was all too much; Too close together; Too coinci dental and too apparent of an oppor tunity to ignore. She booked her one-way flight to Piarco International Airport and didn’t look back! Her gift of cultivating strong relationships, a sense of community and brilliant ideas, served her whilst she was in

Trinidad and she had the time of her life. She was inspired to start a new series on her Youtube Channel called “Sweet T&T” where she featured everything from an average day going into town; to an interview with Celebrity Soca Sensation Nailah Blackman.

F or the sake of her own well-being ,she devoted her days to taking it easy……a luxury for an American who is typically hard wired to be overly booked and stressed, attend endless events, work gigs and constantly be on the scene. Kayla leaned fully into Trini - life: “No worries, Don’t take Yourself too Seriously. Make Yourself Happy.” She found fulfillment and ‘Travel Joy’ in having this sense of ease by taking yoga classes, going on long walks in Queen’s Park Savannah, sipping Tamarind juice every night, liming on the Avenue and attending cultural affairs.

Moreover, Kayla felt like living in Trinidad was a resurgence for the Soul, a return home and experience that more Black Travellers should embark upon when they voyage to their home country, or something like it to strengthen that Diasporic and Pan-African tie to their sense of identity. She says that, “Trinidad is a very highly spirited place, it’s fast but not as fast as the US. I can actually take a second to breathe and just ‘be’ and not feel guilty.” Kayla values active rest now more than ever since adapting to her island life and taking on this mindset as an Expat.

“This was one of the best decisions I could’ve made for myself. A mental health break, rest. Island Ease; Soul Food; Soul Music. A return to my true Loving and Free nature surrounded by Beautiful Melaninated People. Yes! The Spirit just…knows.”

F ollow Kayla on Instagram: @na.bee to keep up with her Travel Joy. Subscribe to her Youtube Channel for full episodes of her time in Trinidad and Tobago and visit her website: www.beebodi.com to learn more about her Mind/Body Wellness Restoration Retreats (going this year to True Blue Bay Resort, Grenada)

Written By: Katrina King

. Nadelle advises to follow the infamous Nike quote - Just do It!

Nadelle on a mission to make carnival body positive Play Ah Mas with Nadelle - Next

Stop Miami!

Carnival or as the Caribbean diaspora likes to call it, “playing mas” is the epitome of freedom and frolic. Regardless of race, gender, sexuality, and SIZE, thousands flock to the streets to be merry. However, despite our best efforts, inclusivity isn’t always the case.

N adelle Lewis was publicly humiliated for her full-figure figure in 2018. The plus size model from Toronto, Canada went viral when images of her costume circulated around social media. “I was attacked. It was a lot,” she shared during a virtual interview with Island Signatures. She was bombarded with negative comments about her body. The Canadian of Dominican parents is no stranger to carnival. She has been ‘playing mas’ from childhood and annually participated in carnivals in Toronto, Miami, New York, and Trinidad just to name a few. So, when she was in Jamaica, she knew she needed her costume to be altered. However, upon picking up [the costume] from the band house, she discovered the alterations weren’t done.

“They offered me extra cloth, and I am like….. what am I going to do with

this cloth? I took it upon myself to go out. From that, I learnt you do have to speak up for what you ordered, [and] make sure that you have it. Especially when people are travelling for carnival, have options in case your bra is too small or your underwear doesn’t fit. I did learn from that experience,” she recalled.

T his wasn’t Nadelle’s first experience being body shamed at carnival. The “professional masquerader” established #everyBODYplahahmas in 2014 after recognising that there was a void in the market for plus sized women.

“When I first went to play [mas], costumes were a lot more than you get now but I still wasn’t comfortable, so I asked for bicycle shorts and a tank top. However, when I received it, it looked like a sumo wrestler’s outfit. It was horrible!!”

“There were people there [at the band house], who were able to sew it really quickly and gem it a little differ ently. In the end, I still had a piece that was covered but from then, I knew that I didn’t want to always

wear what was on the mannequin because I wasn’t comfortable wearing that ..... that kind of ties into how the brand even started.”

N adelle noticed that carnival costumes did not accommodate for the fully-fig ured, moreover, the models used for costume launches were slim. It gave the impression that carnival did not accommodate those who were thick and curvy.

“Something I think that is very different for North America, is that people look at the images that they see in the media, so they will stay away from attending or participating because they don’t see themselves represented.”

H ence, Nadelle became a voice for plus sized women who had similar concerns. She brought the question of inclusivity in carnival to the fore front in Toronto. Nadelle disclosed that she reached out to multiple bands and highlighted the absence of fully-fig ured prototypes and models in their costumes.

T he now 37-year-old went into action, modelling herself and recruiting plus size models for bands. Speaking on behalf of the plus-sized masquerader, she also educated others on what a full-figured person will need for mas querade and expanded her business to provide accessories such as stockings and tights for carnival.

“I feel so bad when I hear people say they can’t do [mas] because they must lose this or tone that. I mean why?! Let’s do it now and think

about that after.”

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he acknowledged that aside from her experience in Jamaica, she found carni val across the region to be very inclu sive. She pointed out that it was “a period for the entire country to cele brate so nobody was ‘watching face’.”

“When it comes to the Caribbean, people that are going to play mas [or] if they want to play mas, I don’t think body image or their size holds them back as much as I would see it hold somebody back here [in Toronto].”

N adelle also highlighted that full cov erage for costume referred not only to full-figured women, but there were women of all sizes that wanted to mas querade but were hesitant.  “I am seeing a lot of costumes where women - no matter what size they are - are saying they would be uncomfortable wearing them and I think even though we have these new styles of panties and bottoms that we still have options to showcase. If there are four models on stage, you can have less material, but still have a full panty so people can see the difference.”

T he two-year pandemic has not stopped the founder of #everyBODYplahahmas . While carni vals across the region were on hiatus, Nadelle has been filling her quota of at least one carnival a year. She attended Trinidad Carnival in 2020, which was the last carnival in the Caribbean preCOVID-19. When restrictions started to lift in 2021, she attended Miami Carnival and thus far for 2022, she has already participated in Atlanta, Toronto and New York City Carnivals.

W ith the world resuming normalcy, Nadelle was heartened to see the vibrance and exhilaration return to the streets.

“I think it is so important for the dia sporic Caribbean community to have our moment in our city. Carnival is more than the events that lead up to it….. it is the community of people that come together to put it on. As Caribbean people, we like to ‘lime’ and we like to be together, and we like to have a good time and I can definitely see people’s spirits were really high this year. People were really happy and excited just to be together, just to have what we consider to be normal back.”

“I think you really appreciate some thing when it is gone and having to sit out two years of having a carni val in Toronto was extremely hard so this year, we had a new route and they tried different things to elevate the parade on having it this year....It was good to be back.”

N adelle’s next stop is Miami this October, and hopefully, she will be coming to Crop Over in 2023 after Caribana.

F or those interested in jumping or playing mas, Nadelle advises to follow the infamous Nike quote - Just do It!

Interested in learning more about #everyBODYplahahmas ? Check out their socials at:  https://everybodyplayahmas.com https://www.instagram.com/ everybodyplayahmas/

Nauti Lime

Written By: Damien Porter

After missing parties for nearly 2 years, Nauti-Lime pre CropOver party ‘Liberty’ was a great start to get back in action. Totally sold out and burst with excited party-goers that follow one of the premier events on our social party calendar. It may not be on the offi cial Calendar of events but those who know,knows this is the place to be seen!

T his rave like atmosphere was held at Deia Beach on Maxwell Coast Road, Barbados where people partied, drank like it was the last time before a lockdown! The party scene boasted of mixture of people who enjoy EDM, Soca, Dancehall and Techno. The music set the tone and there was never a lull in the party! We jumped, partied, ‘wine and wuk up’ to all the hottest music and when it got too hot, the swim ming pool was a good cool down to get back in the hype!

J ust experiencing the event was a great production; bar fully stocked, ambience excellent and sound system was the best! One event where anyone was surely to meet new people and make some new friends while holding a cup of rum! Next up was their Christmas Beach party called Nauti or Nice where bikinis and beach shorts was the theme. If ‘Liberty’ was a good indicator of what to expect, then imagine how ‘Nauti or Nice’ was experienced by all that attended!

I t was clear that everyone was just happy to be outside clubbing! Anyone who visits Barbados should check out a Nauti Lime event!!!

Kandyss Trancoso

“Understanding problems and needs in our communities will lead us to develop businesses that solve big problems. Empathy and compassion to problems outside ourselves, needs to be at the core of business and technology. We can’t ignore the human element if we want to progress and make life easier.” - Kandyss Trancoso

Call it an information revo lution if you wish and Kandyss Trancoso, who is the founder of The FinRoute Inc. said she’s stop ping at nothing to educate the masses on financial empower ment. The FinRoute Incorporated is a company which focuses on financial education, financial freedom and financial opportuni ties particularly for people within a Caribbean context. While speak ing during a recent exclusive with Island Signatures, Trancoso shared the reason why she started her company.

“How I got into this is through the development of a platform that I did in 2019 and it kind of gave me an entrance into the finance space and so then we noted that there’s a space where we can help persons financially specially [those from] the millennial generation,” she said. The grad uate of the University of the West Indies in International Business Management which she studied for her undergrad said that she has seen too many people suffer financially and she felt the need to take up the mantle to fix that.

“Too many times we see persons are not able to afford homes, we’re sometimes up in a lot of student debt and that lies where you can achieve the small things but not [the big things] and so we saw a space where we can help customers and to help financial institutions to be better able to serve us,” Trancoso explained.

The registered company is one year old since starting within an ongoing pandemic and the Trinidadian native informed us that the reception has been exceptional. However, difference about The FinRoute she says, “You know I think it’s impor tant to have information tailored to the Caribbean…… so it’s within the Caribbean context that we are able to guide persons financially although there might be a lot of information online, it might be for North America and even South America - the Caribbean is just in the middle translating that infor mation to make it applicable to us,” she said.

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dditionally, this young CEO says that she’s moving the company along to not only improve the financial situation of her and her team but the entire Caribbean. “We’ve taken up that mantle to say okay, we are going to supply this information to the Caribbean [but]within our Caribbean context and to better help us.”

A s for what are her thoughts on why there’s so much underdevel opment in terms of financial edu cation and sprouting misinfor mation, Trancoso said: “A lot of people know but they don’t have that information and we all know that information is liberating; there is so much more you can do if you have that information. What caused us to not have that infor mation in the first place, I would carry it all the way back to our education system.”

T rancoso said that the application of what is learnt in school and what people apply in real world situations is disconnected. “We started our venture and we did a bit of civic duty where we started our school tour and we are looking to extend that to St Vincent and Barbados in the coming term but I think that’s where we started and that’s where we will return. Finance is a life skill and something that should be talked about in the home; passed down from parent to child and we hope to bridge that gap” the Founder of the FinRoute added.

K andyss shared that her company is supported by exceptional leaders throughout the region but she also has backing from her

sister Petriann Trancoso, who is the Director of Engineering and also her brother Kwame Trancoso, who is the Lead Engineer. “I have an amazing team and I know some people won’t want to hear that the team is like a family but we are like a family -they are so humble and strong,” she said. Having the support of her family to support a company close to her heart has also inspired her tre mendously. Her sister Petriann is no stranger to excellence and was actully a national award winner in Information and Communication in Trinidad and Tobago. “To have her with me is amazing! Trancoso said with a smile in her voice. She also spoke glowingly of her brother Kwame. “My brother is also into cyber security so we have a lot of security built into the FinRoute and so he’s very supportive as

She also has a vision to include every Caribbean family as she looks to inspire them beyond the present. “I get very excited about the future because I know how many lives we would be able to change. We are going to be really able to change families and so my goal is to have the entire region as part of the FinRoute and to be weaved into the entire lives of Caribbean persons,” she added.

Her advice to young people who think they don’t know enough about finance and want to get started with the FinRoute is simple: “First of all I’ll say just reach out to us, even if it’s just via our website or social media but really we’re trying to push a lot of workshops and those are some really

good spaces to start,” the business major added.

T he FinRoute can be found on all major social media platforms @ thefinroute.

INGREDIENTS

Blue Lagoon Cocktail

1 1/2 ounces vodka

1/2 ounce Blue Curacao 6 ounces good quality lemonade

INSTRUCTIONS

In a chilled highball glass, combine ingredients over ice. And garnish with a cherry and an orange wedge.

Bajan Fishcakes INGREDIENTS

1 onion, diced

1 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 egg lightly beaten

1 small hot pepper, finely diced

chopped parsley, thyme and marjoram

1 lb boneless, skinless salt cod

1 cup water

INSTRUCTIONS

To prepare the salted cod, boil in 6 cups of water for 4 minutes. Throw off the water and boil a second time for 3 minutes. Flake the fish with a fork.

In a bowl, combine the flaked fish with the other ingredients. Stir until a thick batter forms. You can add more water or more flour to get the desired consistency.

Drop the batter by teaspoonful into oil over medium heat, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. You may need to turn the heat down to medium-low if the fish cakes are burning before being fully cooked.

Drain on paper towels. Fish cakes are best eaten hot!

Fish cakes are even more delicious when dipped in traditional Barbados pepper sauce or Marie Rose sauce made by combining mayonnaise, ketchup and pepper sauce.