Premier Issue
CARIBBEAN
The
Afropolitan issue
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www.issuu.com/muzecaribbean
DARK SKIN VS LIGHT SKIN plus features on...
DJ JUS JAY SHAMEER KHAN #MUZIC REVIEWS BRITNEY JEAN & BEYONCE
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Editor’s Welcome We’re here! We thank you for taking the time to pick up and browse, this, our premier issue of MUZE Caribbean magazine. The journey to this point has not been without its storms, but we are overjoyed to present this the first of many issues of our free arts, fashion and lifestyle publication. Our fashion editorial theme this issue is Afropolitan; a succinct yet colourful tribute to the resurgence of Africana inspired trends in global, mainstream fashion and styling. Despite time, geographical and emotional distance having separated us largely from the origins of our African heritage here in the Caribbean, these bold and outstanding elements organic to the cultures and societies of the continent have managed tenaciously to survive and make their way into the wardrobes of modern ladies and gents the world over; there maybe a decidedly Afropolitan piece in your own closet. Who knows what inspiration you’ll find in this issue? Let us be your MUZE. Enjoy!
Lennon Chandler
Meet The
TEAM
There is an African saying, “if you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together” and this couldn’t be truer in the case of MUZE Caribbean. Our vision could not exist and at the standard it does, without the assistance, talents and hard work of our contributors. We thank you and look forward to going even further on this exciting journey with you, growing from strength to strength.
Luke Lascaris
For more from MUZE Caribbean follow us on our social media and browse us digitally. facebook.com/muzecaribbean @muzecaribbean
Lennon Chandler
Publisher Photography Director
@muzecaribbean
Creative Director Editor-in-Chief
www
Contact us here for advertising opportunities and general inquiries.
Dike Noel
Deputy Editor (Trinidad )
muzecaribbean@gmail.com.
Barry Prescod
Shamar Hinkson
Photography Assistant Digital Retoucher
Digital Editor
Contributing Writers
Sharisse Crick
Corey
Sandiford
www.issuu.com/muzecaribbean
Sueann Tannis
Coretta Joe
Thank You
We extend sincere gratitude to the following persons and businesses for their contributions to this issue’s success: Kamilah Codrington and Shanelle Estwick of I Heart Make-Up, Jabari Clarke, Nakita Haynes, Strathclyde Holdings Ltd., Kai Jai Photography, Kevin Small and NYVEK Designs, Damian Edwards, Desroy Reece, Lisa Amari, Ify Ogbue, Jabari Cobham, Doug Joseph and Kareem Howard. We also would like to thank our advertisers who had faith in our vision and our ability to execute it and agreed to partner with us for our premier issue. Thank you for believing in this project!
zambezibus
#NowTrending: Africa
Graphic Prints
A bold, graphic print is the pièce de rÊsistance of Afrocentric fashion. On men or women, larger-than-life prints go great solo or paired with other looks of the season, such as denim or leather.
#NowTrending: Africa
Statement Jewelry African inspired accessories seem to be the accoutrements du jour. Perfect finishing touches for otherwise basic looks, be they wooden, feathered, or beaded, stacked or a simple strand.
MUA: Shanelle Estwick (I Heart Make-Up) Models (L-R): Lisa, Ukweli, Darrio Lisa: printed top from Metallic, denim overalls, earrings and shoes from Black and White Ukweli: leather top, skirt, beaded necklace and shoes from Metallic Darrio: leather tank by NYVEK Designs, printed pants by Damian Edwards for MUZE.
afrofuturism
MUA: Kamilah Codrington (I Heart Make-up) Models (L-R): Rohan, Paula, Lisa Rohan: printed pants by Damian Edwards for MUZE. Paula: golden dress from Black and White, rings from Metallic. Lisa: sequined top and leather skirt, both from Black and White
#MUZINGS DJ JUS JAY Interview by SharisseCrick
Electronic dance music has become
FM, but his successes haven’t been
a dominating trend in modern music
limited to Barbados solely.
within the last decade; the wave has
After winning an international voting
recently re-emerged in the
competition, he debuted on the
Barbadian soundscape,
international scene at the Meltdown
pioneeredlargely by deejay
Music Festival in Dallas, Texas and has
Justin‘Jus Jay’ King.
since graced stages in Jamaica (Bleu),
Starting off as a break-dancer, Jus Jay Trinidad and Tobago (Club Zen) and soon graduated from the dance floor even performed alongside EDM
Jus Jay has graced many stages regionally and internationally; he’s even played alongside heavy weights such as Major Lazer
heavyweights, Major Lazer, in 2013. His
Barbados, but believes its contribution
but you’re probably wondering how
most memorable performance to date, as a genre will be unparalleled once artists both locally and regionally, begin however, was playing in the historic
did he make that next leap into
Webster Hall in NYC.
fusing indigenous musical genres such
becoming one of the island’s top
With a deep passion for his art form,
deejays. “The motivation came while on a trip to NYC in September, 2009, there I first discovered the EDM movement just before it exploded and in EDM,
performing isn’t rocket science for Jus
to the main stage, as one of the lead vocalists in local pop band, Strategy,
Jay; he simply and naturally connects
as soca with EDM influences and exporting it to the international markets.
and interacts with his audience in each
What are Jus Jay’s plans for 2014, you
international artists, but he won’t let the
make the transition from nightclub
absolutely love it…let the audience connect to your personality…never try to fit in”.
performances behind the mic to
While Jus Jay may be on the cusp of a
being an EDM deejay. To date, he
meteoric rise in his career, he believes
has hosted EDM events such as
EDM still has a long way to go in
the deejays are the rock stars”. This inspired King to create ‘Jus Jay’ and
Liquid and JouvRAVE and his own radio show on local station MIX 96.9
performance and urges others who may ask? Definitely more touring and a series of EDM events in Barbados featuring want to follow in the career path “to cat out of the bag just yet. You heard it here first from MUZE.
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DARK SKIN vs. LIGHT SKIN by Coretta Joe
“But you cute for a darkie, ya know!” or, “You skin real pretty, though, browning!” Sounds familiar? It’s a literal battle of the skin colour (and hair texture too). Caribbean culture has been pervaded by references to the intra-racial divide between the lighter and darker skinned, with our very own griots such as Buju Banton praising his “browning”. His early 90s ode to fair-skinned females, Love Me Browning, sparked major controversy and prompted Banton to release a more all-inclusive track to declare his appreciation for darker ladies as well. The entire African diaspora is suffering from the blight of this skin deep rivalry, from celebrities such as American rapper A$AP Rocky stating that dark skinned women should not wear red lipstick, to a recent glut of social media content depicting satirically and oft-times, insultingly, the virtues or perceived lack thereof, of either skin complexion. Don’t even get us started on the team #lightskin or #darkskin phenomenon. Likely a ghost of slavery’s immense socio-cultural impact on the modern black race, the consequences continue to be silently disastrous. Troubling phenomena such as skin bleaching has resurfaced in recent times; once denounced in the
early 90s by reggae artist, Nardo Ranks on his track Dem A Bleach, ironically it is modern dancehall star, Vybz Kartel who has popularized it in a modern Caribbean context, becoming the stark poster child for the practice.
Ify Ogbue
The notion of pitting one complexion against the other is antiquated and quite frankly, asinine. Two of Barbados’ most beautiful and well-known faces in the modeling industry are Tenille Stoute and Leah Marville and they represent opposite ends of the complexion spectrum. Google them. Both of them are absolutely breathtaking. We should all love the skin we’re in without feeling the need to alter our skin tone, and without projecting hatred onto persons of a particular shade. #teamloveyourskin.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS SKIN-DEEP PHENOMENON? LET US KNOW WITH THE HASHTAG #MUZE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
There is always the pressure to find a good gift for the man in your life. Ties and cufflinks simply won’t do. Stansfeld Scott has some gift ideas for the guys who have a palate for the smooth and refined.
El Dorado Rum Cream: El Dorado Rum Cream: We discovered the amazing El Dorado Rum Cream – did we say a-ma-zing!? Silky smooth, sweetish and full-bodied with rich flavours and just the right amount of kick. Something you both can share to warm up a cold night. What’s even better? It comes in a gift box with an attractive price.
Glenfiddich Single Malt Whisky:
SGlenfiddich Single Malt Whisky: Searching the aisles for the perfect whiskey but don’t know where to start? Walk no further. In a recent blind tasting, we pitted Glenfiddich’s 12, 15 and 18 y/o against one another. While it was hard to choose the best, the 15 y/o truly stood out. Being the World’s most awarded whisky, Glenfiddich is indeed a treat as a personal stash and makes an exceptional gift.
Courvoisier Rose: Courvoisier Rose: We have all seen the brandy craze hit Barbados by storm and we think it is here to stay. We have tried and instantly fallen in love with Courvoisier Rose. Simply, it’s a lower-alcohol alternative to traditional cognac and to top it off, it is blended with premium red wine sourced from the south of France. Superb taste, hints of fruits and a gift box option make this an ideal gift for with a twist for the brandy lovers.
El Dorado: El Dorado: Long acknowledged internationally as the Caribbean's premier aged rum, this is the perfect gift for any rum connoisseur. With many options, El Dorado fits into every price point and honestly makes you look at rum differently once you’ve tried it. As the official rum of the Caribbean Premier League, this is a classy deal. Make sure he’s drinking only the best.
Svedka Vodka: Our favourite: the Svedka Colada with its refreshing blend of creamy coconuts, sweet and tart pineapple and hints of mango. Svedka Colada's packaging sets itself apart with a striking white, lacquered bottle, accented with chartreuse lettering, and a metallic gold closure. Tres chic! This vodka is 5 times distilled, making for a very smooth taste while being appealingly affordable. This vodka is so delicious it can even be consumed without chaser and is perfect for a personal picnic.
#MUZINGS PAULA JANE Growing up, Paula’s fitness background was atypical, beyond the obligatory gym class at school. Outside of make-believe fitness video routines with childhood friends, her fitness path was little else than an outsider’s admiration of the taut female bodies that graced Shape and Oxygen.
Now, she is the first Barbadian and Caribbean female to be awarded pro-status within the WNBF, an achievement she attests is a “reminder to the power that lies within me”. The path is not an unattainable one she assures; her golden nugget of advice to others now starting on their fitness path?
“Surround yourself with positive people…do what it takes to achieve it!”
#MUZINGS MAURICE ARTHUR With his entire family being heavily involved in sports, Maurice is no stranger to being active, having competed in track, hockey and even boxing! Hard to believe, it wasn’t until 18 years old that he breached the 100lb mark – his lack of size compared to others his age, “pissed him off and motivated him.” As the awardee of the sole IFBB pro-card for the Caribbean and Central American region, Maurice has come along way and is humbled by his achievement; nevertheless, he’ll only be truly satisfied once he’s earned a pro title. Maurice’s success was not one without its difficulty and not one without encouragement, particularly from his older brother; his advice to newcomers to the fitness world?
“Create the mindset to succeed…never give up…develop a sickening work ethic!”
cleopatra
MUA: Kamilah Codrington (I Heart Make-Up) Models (L-R): Matthew, Lisa Lisa: white cotton top and bottom from NYVEK Designs, Egyptian gold and blue gemstone necklace from Black and White.
MYTH The
of
by: Corey Sandiford
Justified
VIOLENCE
Last year in Barbados, no less than seven women lost their lives as a result of domestic violence. This distressing reality check forced us as a nation to reflect soberly on the notion of justified violence and thus a major debate began. We as a society entertain ourselves with the image of a woman using her wiles to draw a man in to the point of ultimately getting what she wants, material and/or otherwise. Conversely, we then recoil in horror when innocent women are beaten to death as a result of men allegedly not having their terms satisfied in the exchange; commenting lamentably that possibly, it was because the victim teased or made empty promises, which she then failed to keep. At this point, we no longer have an issue but a national problem. Is domestic violence ever really justified? How
do we begin to have serious conversations about domestic violence when many of us believe that adults can justifiably strike each other? Date Night vs. Bait Night – When does it go too far? Let’s talk about sex: men, women and expectations. In our culture, how does one person expect to pursue the other and how does a person expect to be pursued? How far is too far when you’re trying to get through with someone? Is there any difference between buying a person tickets and an outfit for a show, or, buying dinner, a bottle of wine and taking them to a movie? On the other hand, how important are these favours to you? To what extent are they expected and even encouraged in lieu of providing physical or emotional gratification to the hospitable suitor(s)? What we have is a case of two individuals attempting to manipulate each other; in an effort to get what they want, or at least to demonstrate their perceived worth on the dating market. This ultimately will not augur well, since communication lines are easily crossed, presumptions are made and what may appear as common relationship issues, may in fact be the consequence of the entanglement of other
non-romantic elements such as money and with it, the concept of power and ownership over an individual. In short, “I’ve done all this for you! I deserve and demand repayment!” The threat of violence arises when people are reduced to being viewed as investments, with expected ROIs, any failure to yield ultimately leading to buyer’s remorse or worse, death. In reality, people on both sides of the spectrum are guilty in these scenarios, but to say that a person has a right to be beaten if they act in a particular way, is much like saying that the rape of a woman was justified based simply on the way she was dressed. The fact that it happens does not mean it is to be accepted or encouraged. If we believe that violence in a relationship is something that can be justified, then now is an opportune time to recognize that nothing, including the issues under discussion here, gives a person the right to claim ownership over another person by violating their rights, regardless of expectations, circumstance or expense.
In 2013, the United Nations’ chief of Human Rights, along with the EU ambassador to Barbados, denounced the country’s handling of domestic abuse and called for the authorities to seriously address the disturbing trend. The following women lost their lives at the hands of abusive partners; MUZE Caribbean and the author of this article are in no way seeking to imply any cause(s) that led to the untimely deaths of these women: Brenda Belle, 64 Denise Clarke, 41 Carolyn Forde, 49 Kimberly Hinds, 24 Krystal Lovell, 22 Linda Tull, 45
.
.
MUZE Caribbean wishes to extend sympathies to the families of the deceased and calls on all our readers to continue to stand against and be intolerant towards domestic violence. .
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#NowTrending: Africa
Be inspired For a more exclusive, bespoke Afrocentric look steer clear of cookie-cutter styles at retailers. Check out local fabric retailers, thrift stores and designers for inspiration and unique pieces
MUA: Shanelle Estwick (I Heart Make-up) Models (L-R): Kareem, Lisa Kareem: printed tie by Damian Edwards for MUZE Lisa: top from Metallic, pants from Black and White printed tie styled as waistband by Damian Edwards for MUZE. .
#AMUZEBOUCHE THE RUM BARREL Epicurean contributor, Desroy Reece So, you’ve thrown a celebratory dinner, sure the roasted pork loin was a showstopper, but to seal the deal, you need to satisfy the sweet tooth of your guests. We’ve got the perfect weapon of mass confection, crafted by our chef du jour, Desroy Reece of De Kitchen Caterers. The Rum Barrel. Here’s what you’ll need: shot glasses, your preferred store bought rum cake, rum and raisin ice-cream, Desroy’s signature rum caramel (recipe provided) and of course dinner guests to wow. Starting with the rum caramel, you’ll need 6 tablespoons of butter (unsalted), 2/3 cups heavy cream, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, Barbados rum.
Rum Caramel You will need; •
6 tablespoons of butter (unsalted)
•
2/3 cups of heavy cream
•
1 cup of granulated sugar
•
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Directions: 1. Heat sugar in water over medium heat, whisking constantly until sugar is dissolved into a smooth amber liquid. 2. Add butter once sugar is melted and turn off heat. Continue whisking. Be careful, some splattering can occur. 3. Slowly add heavy cream while whisking. 4. Once cream is incorporated, add vanilla and rum 5. Refrigerate to cool and thicken mixture. Assembly: 1. Cut rum cake in half, horizontally. Using shot glass, press down into cake, cutting out perfectly round pillows of the cake. 2. Drizzle a layer of rum caramel at base of shot glass, then cake, then ice-cream, drizzle with rum caramel and repeat. 3. At last layer, drizzle with more of the sinful caramel concoction and top with a slice of fresh fruit (we used kiwi during our photoshoot). Keep refrigerated or in the freezer until time to be served for best results. To enhance, serve up in some accompanying shot glasses, a dose of Barbados’ finest export, rum. Bon appetit!
#MU ZIC TH E QU EEN Bs
Photo: Michelangelo Di Battista/ RCA Records
Br itney
#BRITNEY JEAN
Photo: Columbia Records
Queen Bs? Round 1, fight! #BEYONCE
When Britney Jean was first announced to rabid Britney fans the world over, it was touted as Spears’ most personal album to date, having survived a break-up with her fiancée and still on the upward curve after years of disastrous publicity. Disappointingly, the effort falls short, serving up generic, cookie-cutter break-up anthems instead of sincere introspection. Even the track Perfume comes off as a marketing gimmick for Spears’ fragrances. Alien, the album’s standout scores full points, chronicling a time when amidst her success and fame, Spears emotionally felt alienated and alone in a world she effectively ruled.
Beyonce
Britney is successful at dance pop and that formula is definitely not fooled around with on the new record. Revisiting the sleek production she began crafting on Femme Fatale, Spears’ work with will.I.am is incredibly catchy and club-ready, modern pop music, designed and engineered to bewitch listeners and take over top 40 radio. Lyrical depth is not to be found nor expected here. Britney Jean is far from bad, but it fails to connect listeners with the girl behind the megastar as promised, but at least you can keep dancing till the world ends thanks to its ace pop production.
Houston’s finest tackles private issues she’d never explored musically, from the tumult and euphoria of love, marriage and sex (the drunk kind to be precise) to the emotional devastation of loss. Tracks such as Heaven, considered by fans a veiled ode to the painful miscarriages she endured, reveal a vein of hurt, rarely seen in the near-cyborg persona of Beyoncé, one that any human could relate to. Sasha Fierce is finally put to rest on this record, totally replaced by the mellower grown woman we were first introduced to on 4. Beyoncé, the album, is fuelled by moody futuristic, electro-R&B, setting an ethereal tone throughout, but at times the record can wax too sedately; admittedly, without the hypnotizing accompanying videos, I would’ve skipped through most of it. Some of the tracks alone, dare I say, can be underwhelming; probably why Bey crafted it into “a visual album” in the first place. Beyoncé runs this world in the end. With a fresher and more entertaining package overall, the real Queen B’s (sorry Lorde) fifth studio LP delivers on its promise of showing the innermost thoughts and emotions of one of pop’s most untouchable and mysterious personas.
Standout track: Alien
Standout track: Partition
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