#soca producer

[havatabanca]

[omgsuperstarg]

Market Day- Toto Wolff x Black! Caribbean Reader

Author's Note: This one shot is based on another function of Caribbean Life. Going to the Market or Farmer's Market to get fresh food for the household is a normal occurrence and Toto decides to tag along with you and assist.

Saturday mornings are usually a staple of your household. That's the day when you head down to the local farmer's market and pick up the much-needed fruits, produce (ground provisions), & seasoning herbs for the meats and fish. Today, you wake at the crack of dawn to get ready. Toto was fast asleep during the summer shutdown taking the much-needed rest from flying for weeks at a time. This is usually a solo trip, so going out and returning in record times is an art form for you.

All that you needed was in your car, you proceed to leave a note so that he knew your whereabouts and with that, you're off for another fruitful Saturday morning.

Mini time skip..........

You're already halfway through your list when your phone begins ringing.

Hello

"Good Morning darling, I see you've left me all alone", your love speaks playfully.

"Morning to you as well Toto. I decided to let you sleep in because GOD KNOWS you need it and market trips have always been a solo task for me. Plus, I'm getting all the ingredients for SOUP SATURDAY!!", you state matter of factly.

"So where are you?", you inquire.

Turn around.

What!?!?", your voice

In doing what's instructed, you observe your boyfriend in some dry-fit shorts, a t-shirt with silver arrow logos, and some aviator shades with sneakers completing his relaxed outfit. Knowing Toto he always wore the love for his team on his sleeve in both figurative and literal senses. He jogs up to you with a bright smile on his face, one that you've come to love in your three years together.

"Im surprised to see you here, I thought you would be sleeping in since Saturdays' are usually my day", you profess as you hand him one of your market bags.

"Well, I couldn't let my darling do her shopping unaccompanied. Not only that it's a perfect way to catch up and spoil yourself with the florals you admire soo much", the statuesque man states with his accented speech seeping into your bones.

"Well, there's still a few more things that need to be purchased and since I already have meat seasoned for cooking, I say when we arrive home I can make us some soup. Judging the clouds it's going to be a heavy rain shower." you speak observing the bleak sky.

"Ahhh yes, soup is always comforting on a rainy day," he says smiling.

A fruitful trip was completed, you both were now home and cutting up vegetables for a hearty lunch. Dancehall and Soca music is blasting throughout the kitchen which is typical of a Saturday Morning. Toto observes you dancing along to the music and even finds himself nodding along to its infectious beat.

"So its always this noisy when you're back home?", he inquires as he sits near the granite countertop.

"Yes, this is a pretty normal vibe for a Caribbean household. Sometimes I would do my Saturday chores on a Friday so I wouldn't have to and the second Saturday or whenever the funds arrive would be market day. After coming home, I would assist my grandma in making soup, my favorite is Chicken foot and I would add ramen noodles to it as well. Early afternoon we would either bake homemade bread or coconut bake'', you profess wistfully as you think of your island home.

"I think that's quite sweet and I'm glad that you're able to share this part of your life with me,'' he confessed.

"I hope I can drag your butt for Trinidad & Tobago Carnival, get some seasoning in you as well as a little more colour, the fangirls I know would appreciate it, me being a major one," you say as you shut the stove off and begin to distribute the food.

The rain finally came down as you both began to eat, the warmness of the soup filling your soul, and the man sharing his love making you feel even more cozy.

[thesinglesjukebox]

TINASHE - "NASTY"

The TikTok career-heating inferno strikes another match...

[6.46]

Alfred Soto: "Is someone gonna match my nasty?" she wonders. The listener might wonder whether this midtempo R&B track with a trap beat does more than tease.  [6]

Rachel Saywitz: Nasty Girls (nasty), rise up, our time is now! As the hot summer months sweat into our skin, now is the time to turn your ho-ing into overdrive. Now is the time to be a "Nasty Girl (nasty)," everywhich-way-when-where-how. You might be thinking: "but Rachel, I'm not a 'Nasty Girl (nasty)!' I don't grind on guys in the California desert dressed in raunchy Fast & Furious garb! I don't grab my crotch and then roll into a bridge pose!" My friends, listen to me. The nastiness of us has always existed deep within. It can be sex, sure, but nasty's birthplace is not sexual in nature. It is our soul's most primal desire—the desire to fuck. shit. up. Nasty is buying a pizza made for two people and eating it by yourself because this nastiness can only hold one worldly being. Nasty is reaching out to that friend you haven't talked to since college, then deleting all the photos you have of your college ex in your phone. Nasty is the carriage scene in the third season of Bridgerton where two characters hook up to an orchestral version of Pitbull's "Give Me Everything," and you watch it and realize: "Oh my god, listening to Pitbull is going to make me horny from this point onward," and you just kind of sit with that for a few months. Nasty is a white boy dancing soca with so much rizz that he lands a collab with Marc Jacobs and turn a Tinashe song into what might be a genuine hit, 10 years after "2 On." Nasty is your freak, unmatchable and entirely unique. One quick note on what Nasty is not—the reeking smell of your two-week old takeout leftovers. You should really throw those out. [9]

Julian Axelrod: How did it take this long for Tinashe to score a TikTok hit? She's been producing bite-sized morsels of freaky pop perfection since the Obama administration, so if it takes a nerdy white guy wining to recreate the magic of "2 On," that says more about us than her. "Nasty" doesn't reinvent the wheel because Tinashe's been honing that wheel for the past decade. She knows what lines to loop, she knows which beats will bang, and she has an endless arsenal of tawdry Tinashe-isms just brazen enough to make you blush. The success of "Nasty" is a testament to her unwavering commitment to horny excellence. Tinashe is the Malcolm Gladwell of matching freak. [7]

Ian Mathers: Match your freak? In this economy? [7]

Jonathan Bradley: Making a hot meme is nearly as good as making a hot song, but "Nasty" is too low-key to really be called a comeback. What is here is charming enough — robot voice, melodic kick sequencing, some nice vocal technique on the pre-chorus — but each idea comes back too soon, wearing out its welcome like a tired prompt tweet. [5]

Katherine St. Asaph: I have little to say that wasn't said better by Steacy Easton, about "Freak" by Estelle and Kardinal Offishall: "In two weeks I am going to a library at the Leather Archives in Chicago, and watching a video described as: 'unknown individual that calls himself Cowboy appears to be a master at whipping. Videos show various men tied to trees being whipped while having their genitals played with. Videos are home made and from his personal collection, they are copies of the originals according to a note found in the donation box.' This is my new standard of freakdom. Estelle does not measure up." Tinashe does not measure up either, not by monotonously matching the freak ante of a saucy Tinder ad on the subway. Basically, it's just moving kind of slow. [3]

Tim de Reuse: Something deeply funny to me about repeating the word "nasty" over totally clean, dry, unadorned sine waves: a dial tone in minor key, stark, inhuman, like the smell of a hospital. It's the opposite of sound design. Does that sound like I don't like it? I mean, on a purely sensory level, I don't, but it's a deliberate choice that's impossible to ignore. It's a lens that focuses everything down to that single repeated hook and the crunchy, over-articulated way she pronounces it. I let the whole track rattle through my skull three times on the bus yesterday and felt like I was being put under hypnosis. Your freak has my respect, Tinashe, if not my heart. [6]

Wayne Weizhen Zhang: The type of runaway, mind-zapping hit that has even the straight white boys in my classes humming along unconsciously.  [8]

Jacob Sujin Kuppermann: Is it a good song or just a good collection of bits — the "match my freak" bit that everyone is doing, yes, but also the hook itself, the soaring, horny grandeur of the pre-chorus, the way Tinashe says she might just let this guy pay her lease? How much does that matter? In terms of shiny objects, this is stronger than anything she's done since "Superlove," but a song made just out of hooks can get a little tedious. She's independent now, but this is still factory pop: a delivery device for an attempted hit that lacks the connective tissue that her best misses have. [6]

Nortey Dowuona: Tinashe went a whole decade constantly failing to launch then suddenly slipped out of the iron grip of RCA and started dropping classics. But a lifer like Tinashe wasn't meant to stay away from the industry that's had her since she was part of the Stunners (which also included the excellent Hayley Kiyoko), so she signed to Ricky Reed's Nice Life imprint, released the bouncy, light BB/Ang3l, and went back on tour like any industry pro would. Now, we have "Nasty," a light bubbly fizz drink of a song co-produced by Ricky Reed and the fantastic Zach Sekoff (architect of "Crabs in a Bucket," "Homage," and "Party People" off Vince Staples's Big Fish Theory, as well as sharing in the spoils on "Freeman" from Dark Times). "Nasty" feels so comfortably settled and relaxed that you foolishly feel like volunteering to match her freak -- until the beat switches into a rippling bass wave over the drums that presses you until you crumple. Guess it wasn't you. NEXT! [8]

Taylor Alatorre: As good an illustration of the Duality of Tinashe as you'll find anywhere, almost as if it was constructed by her and Ricky Reed for that exact purpose. She sounds downright proud of herself in the chorus for pulling off such a clean bait-and-switch, with the "nasty girl" mantra a mere wind-up for the kind of angelic R&B slinkiness that she rightly feels should be her trademark. The problem with nastiness-as-pretext is that it threatens to make the parts of the song that aren't the chorus seem more vestigial than usual, but this is a problem that singers with half of Tinashe's talent would love to have. And it's not like there aren't steps taken to mitigate this issue: the pre-echo of the chorus gently hand-holding us into the confession booth, where Tinashe plays with her enunciation in weird enough ways to keep us invested until the portal to 2002 opens up.  [7]

Dave Moore: I'm happy to see Tinashe reach official meme status, but "match my freak" is also the highlight here and it happens in the first 20 seconds, which makes me wonder how much of the single's success is the opening bit insinuating its way into popular consciousness. The song stalls out afterward.  [6]

Michael Hong: "Nasty" is a solid distillation of Tinashe: confident and playful, with a hook that's immediately memorable and a pre-chorus melody that's just skillful but not showy. Doesn't stop the fact that she's released at least a couple dozen tracks in the past decade that are more interesting. [6]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox]

[forgedfromlove]

From the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago:

“Happy 50th Birthday to Machel Montano!

The Trinbagonian soca artiste, calypsonian, entertainer, and record producer celebrated his 50th Birthday yesterday, November 24th 2024!

In 1985, Montano first became famous at the age of nine, with his song "Too Young to Soca" that was released while he was still in primary school. It won him the Junior Monarch crown, and began an acclaimed local and international musical career that continues today.

His infectious Carnival hits have led to six International Soca Monarch titles, ten Trinidad and Tobago Road March wins, and this year, he became the 2024 Calypso Monarch winner.

Additionally, Montano is known for his philanthropic efforts, and support towards charitable organisations and initiatives that support youth and the arts in Trinidad and Tobago, such as the Machel Montano Foundation for Greatness, and "Montanos' Chocolate Company".

Last month, he received the Entertainer's Keys to New York City in Queens, New York For his work and contributions to the cultural and social fabric of the community. Previously, he had also been awarded the Keys to the Cities of Kingston, San Fernando, and Port of Spain.

This photo is courtesy of the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian Newspaper, Feb 5th 2024. It is part of the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago Newspaper Collection.

References:

Montano, Elizabeth. King of Soca: The Ultimate Insider Reveals How Machel Montano Became One of the World's Most Popular Soca”

[mistavybe]

I used AI to cut together highlights from the various videos and IG Stories I was tagged in over the last week or so… 🤖

It’s been just about two weeks now since I sang on a truck on the road as part of iconic Soca Music Producer & Bandleader Carl “Beaver” Henderson’s all star Soca band, and as you’ll see from this Highlight Reel, a time was had! 🚙🔊🎭

Shout out to all the musicians in the band, technical crew on the truck, Kinetic Mas camp crew and of course the masqueraders who jumped and wined and danced and kept us feeling the love all day (and night) long on Carnival Monday & Tuesday. 🙏🏾

Fun fact: the mas band (Kinetic Mas) that we played on the road for wound up winning the title of Band Of The Year - Medium for 2024! 🏆

These two days of street partying were win/win for us all around. 🥇

[randomvarious]

Today's compilation:

After the Hurricane 1989 Pop-Rock / New Wave / Pop / Soca / Calypso / Hard Rock / Progressive Rock

Yikes, folks; this one was *pretty* bad. Back in 1989, a devastating hurricane named Hugo had managed to strike the tiny Caribbean island of Montserrat, and one of its foremost ambassadors, UK super producer and legendary 'fifth Beatle' George Martin, decided that he would try to raise funds in order to help rebuild it, in part by having a benefit comp put together that consisted of songs that had been recorded in his own famed recording studio there, AIR Studios. A whole lot of starpower had passed by AIR in the decade prior, and so here we get a comp that's chock-full of immensely popular names.

But these selections end up leaving a whole lot to be desired. So much of this album, despite the undeniable talent that's featured all throughout it, seems to suffer from an excruciating level of listless and generically disposable, radio-friendly 80s malaise 😒. I mean, I personally love a lot of 80s music, but I'll be damned if most of this doesn't just somehow strike me as "songs to close the garage door and turn your engine on to." So many of these tracks just feel so devoid of any soul or meaning. It's brutal.

And while most benefit comps come packed with previously unreleased, hard to find, and exclusive material, nothing on this comp was actually anything close to being rare, with only one of its songs having not appeared on any studio album: The Rolling Stones' "Fancy Man Blues," which was on the B-side of their 1989 single, "Mixed Emotions." So, while most people know in advance that when they're purchasing a benefit comp, they're probably not getting something that's very good—because why would an artist contribute some of their best material to a release that's not even their own?—this comp can't use that defense, because every single song on this thing had already been previously released by its respective artist, and all of these songs were pretty easy to access by the time this comp had come out too.

But what's more is that some of the white acts on here really took the whole island vibe of Montserrat to heart, and then they either tried to incorporate it into their own sound (😕),  or they just straight-up tried to play Caribbean music (😩). And let's just say that white people, for the most part, should've really, at the very least, stopped doing the latter in the early 70s, after Harry Nilsson's "Coconut." The law firm-sounding prog rock outfit of Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, who were an offshoot of Yes, deliver "Teakbois (The Life and Times of Dread)" on this album, and I *really* don't think that that song has aged too well. And sure, there was plenty of embarrassing music to go around in the 80s, but one of the cringiest fads of that entire era had to be the deluge of tunes that came courtesy of pop and rock acts who decided to temporarily adopt a Caribbean style. Remember how non-disco acts tried to cash in? Well, people did it with Caribbean stuff too! And almost none of it was good in hindsight! 🥴

Still though, credit where it's due: although AIR Studios served as a destination for a who's who of UK and American 80s pop, George Martin still afforded its space to Montserrat's own biggest native star too, Arrow. And in 1982, Arrow would record the album, Hot Hot Hot, whose eponymous title track would end up serving as his own magnum opus, and quite possibly the most famous soca/calypso song ever made. But don't confuse that actual very good original version with the far more famous cover by former New York Dolls frontman David Johansen's tongue-in-cheek lounge-singing alter-ego, Buster Poindexter, because that version, even though it was all the rage at plenty of weddings, was made with a huge dose of silly irony. And Johansen himself has come to hate it too!

So, overall, I think something that's wholly reinforced by this album here is that while there was a ton of great music in the 80s, there was also a lot of it that's completely regrettable as well; moreso than there was in either the 70s or 90s. Musically, the 80s were a fantastic decade for a lot of reasons—as all decades are—but I also think that, as of right now, in our history of contemporary music, it also tended to churn out some of the most insufferable stuff that we've ever heard. And even a whole lot of the most popular acts of those very years, who we'd all nearly unanimously agree were undoubtedly talented, weren't spared from some of its worst indulgences either 👎.

Highlights:

Cheap Trick - "Just Got Back" The Police - "Invisible Sun" Arrow - "Hot Hot Hot"

[curryvillain]

OLDIES SUNDAY (CHRISTMAS): Scrunter - De Parang Now Start

It’s that time of year when Ham is being sold for record-high prices, and crates of Sodas and Beers are being ordered. It’s Christmas time on Oldies Sunday. In Trinidad and Tobago, Parang is recognized (this year celebrates 45 years of Soca Parang), and for today’s selection, we go there to check out Scrunter’s “De Parang Now Start“. Produced by Earl Crosby and released through JW Production,…

[meganmodeste]

St.Lucian Music is praised but not recognized

The Caribbean Music Awards aired for the first time on August 31 in Brooklyn, New York. Hosted by Haitian musician Wyclef Jean at Kings Theatre, this was the first award show to be solely for Caribbean music. Musicians from all Caribbean islands attended though some islands had more attendees than others. Honorary Awards were given to a few artists from the islands of Jamaica, Trinidad, and Haiti. Some of the winners include Buju Banton, David Rudder, Mikaben, and more.

Soca, Dancehall, Kompa, and Reggae music were the focused Caribbean music genres at the awards. Within these genres, each island makes its style of music. Many other genres in the Caribbean were not represented such as Bouyon and Dennery Segment. These genres can be found in Dominica and St.Lucia. Dennery segment and Bouyon are forms of soca music.

Many well-known Caribbean artists attended the awards as well as new artists. Only one artist from the island of St.Lucia was present. Teddyson John, well known for his hit Vent, attended the awards and performed alongside Nailah Blackman and Jada Kingdom. Teddyson John doesn’t sing St.Lucia’s Dennery segment but he does sing soca music. Some of St.Lucia's biggest artists like Motto, Umpa, Mata, Shemmy J, Ricky T, and many more were not even invited to the event. St.Lucian music was even played during the award show but no light was shed on the genre's achievements.

The Dennery Segment originally came around in the late 2010s. The music genre grew in popularity in St.Lucia and spread throughout the Caribbean. In 2017 the genre got lots of recognition when a single called Split In Di Middle was released by Freezy. West Indian islands all over the Caribbean began to play Dennery segment at parties or events on the island and internationally. The genre continues to produce more artists and great soca hits for the Caribbean islands. Some Dennery segment hits include Split In Di Middle by Frezzy, Plat by Umpa, Fire by BlackBoy, and Big Ride by Motto featuring BlackBoy and Ezra.  

Motto Lashey Winter has made one of the biggest impacts on St.Lucian music. Motto has produced and recorded many of the Dennery segment hits from the past to the present day. He spreads St.Lucia's music culture yearly performing in all Caribbean islands, Europe, and America. Motto was not invited to the Caribbean Music Awards which was eye-opening to many soca music lovers. When I asked Motto why he thinks this happened his answer was simply “I don’t know”.

Here is one of Motto’s hit songs:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeGsSjhkXa8   

Elmo Norville, a young rising musician, born in St.Lucia also was not invited to the awards. Norville has produced hits for artists in many different Caribbean islands. Elmo also plays many instruments including the ukulele and bass. His instrument playing has been featured on many tracks in the Caribbean. Although he wasn’t in attendance, Norville still celebrated, a track he performed bass on called “Down Dey” by GBM Nutron, and DJ Spider won the Collaboration of the Year Award. Norville said, “The fact that I didn’t know it was nominated and it won an award was shocking”. The win brought emotions for him and he was proud of himself for the achievement.

Both Norville and Motto wasn’t even aware of the awards. St.Lucian music was even played at the award show but the musicians who made these songs were not present. St.Lucian music has been mainstream for a few years now. Norville even said, “All soca songs now have an element of the Dennery segment in the beat”. If the music from St.Lucia was able to make such an impact why are the musicians not respected like others?

Norville believes the problem begins with the St.Lucian people. “St.Lucian people don’t support St.Lucian people like other islands like Jamaica and Trinidad do,” said Norville. Envy and fear are the root of why some St.Lucian artists fail to grow. Norville said, “If we don’t respect and uplift each other, how can other people”. Not all artists are like this and it shows through their work and progress. Many artists respect themselves and their craft and push hard to reach their successes.

Desray Desir, a St.Lucian going to school in New York, tuned into the Caribbean Music Awards and was excited to see all her favorite artists. Desir saw that Teddyson John was at the awards and was excited saying “ I saw him and I was excited because it was my first time seeing an artist from my country on a platform like this.” Desir was hoping to see more artists and was confused when she didn’t see Motto present, “ I thought he would be there after I saw Teddyson there because they are a part of the well-known artist but I was looking for him”.

This was the awards show's first airing, maybe next year they will bring more people to represent St.Lucia. The island has created a big influence on soca music while growing in the last nine years. Some St.Lucian people may have toxic views causing other islands to reflect these views onto other Lucian people. On the inside, you can see the truth more than you can from the outside. This may be why misconceptions are created. St.Lucian artists working internationally like Motto and Elmo Norville have found ways to push through these toxic habits and reach for their biggest dreams.

Soca and Dancehall music are continuously evolving and for Caribbean people, this is nothing new. All Caribbean genres and subgenres should be celebrated because the standard style of the genres is not the most known in the present day. Hopefully next year, The Caribbean Music Awards will be more inclusive and bring more of St.Lucia's biggest artists to represent St.Lucian music. The award show has the platform to help push these artists to the place they should be based on their talent and streaming numbers.

[lindsaywesker]

Good morning! I hope you slept well and feel rested? Currently sitting in my study, attired only in my blue towelling robe, enjoying my first cuppa of the day.

Welcome to the working week although, for those of you working in the NHS, welcome to just another day.

Friday night was pretty chilled. It was too hot to do anything, really! The Americans think we’re mad for not having air-conditioning in our homes but, realistically, how often is the weather like this? I sleep naked and, on Thursday and Friday night, it was so hot, I didn’t even bother getting under the duvet!

Many thanks to everyone that listened to ‘The A-Z Of Mi-Soul Music’ live or listened to the recording on Mixcloud. Most people were probably thinking, “How the hell is he going to fill two hours with The Letter Q?” Well, as it goes, it was a really good blend of tunes! Hope you enjoyed it? Thanks for all your fabulous feedback!

I’m away for Saturday, September 16th, so The Letter R begins on September 23rd. Many thanks to Marcia Haynes G-Champion for being the executive producer on Part One.

Straight after the show, I caught some hot, sweaty underground trains to Camden Town. I didn’t know where the Mi-Soul stage was. I thought to myself, “I’ll just follow the music.” I needn’t have worried. Came out of the tube station and the Mi-Soul stage was right there! Camden Council had shut off Camden High Street for the day. Drivers must have been properly upset! Anyway, who cares about them? Big-up to Camden Council for pedestrianizing the whole area for the day!

The Mi-Soul stage was killing it, as usual! When I got there, just before 5.00, it was still 32 degrees but people were consuming lots of fluids and having a good time. By the time I finished my set, I was done for the day and most of the crowd looked knackered too! Well, they had been drinking and dancing for seven hours! I trudged wearily to Camden Road and caught my train home. Thankfully, my son had made a ton of ‘finger good’ (spring rolls, goujons, fried shrimp, sausage rolls etc.) which I gobbled down greedily and immediately fell asleep!

Didn’t watch the England v. Ukraine game. No West Ham players in the squad. What’s the point?

Congratulations to Ezra Collective for picking up the Mercury Prize 2023. Every school should have music classes, so that kids can catch the music-making bug and hopefully become as good as these brilliant young musicians. The other thing I love above Ezra Collective is they are genuinely genre-defying. You could try to put them in a jazz bag but that would totally be ignoring the funk, salsa, soca and afrobeat. Don’t stream their music! Buy a vinyl or CD album, so the band make some money!

Sunday was brilliant! The Trouble was out at a local craft fair selling jewellery. My son took The Mighty Josiah to a cool, garden party. I had the house to myself. Love that! I made lunch, watched a movie, then got on with some marking. I actually hope to be finished my marking by Tuesday evening so, when I get to the hotel, I can just eat, sleep and swim!

Hope your week goes well? I shall be saying my atheist prayers for you. Have a marvellous and momentous Monday. I love you all.

[momomaytrix]

🚨 B I U G - May Trix OUT NOWWW ON ALL DIGITAL AND STREAMING PLATFORMS 🚨🃏🖤🎶🤸🏿‍♀️🔥

[kamtru]

Kam Tru | In The Mix | 80-90’s Dancehall Vol 1

Full Mix: https://m.vk.com/video328157625_456239044

Kam Tru | In The Mix | 90’s Dancehall Vol 1

#dancehall #reggae #jamaica #hiphop #music #dance #soca #dancehallmusic #afrobeats #reggaemusic #caribbean #vybzkartel #reggaeton #dj #rnb #party #dancer #rap #trap #popcaan #love #shenseea #newmusic #afrobeat #dancers #kingston #dancelife #bujubanton #jamaican #dancing #dancehallartist #explorepage #dancehalldaily #africa #dancechallenge #viral #jadakingdom #repost #artist #trinidad #miami #producer #vibes #life #dancehallreggae #jamaicanmusic #follow #like #bhfyp #youtube #gazanation #alkaline #spiceofficial #dancevideo #instagood #trending #newyork #masicka #dancemoms #london

[singeratlarge]

SUNDAY MATINEE MUSIC VIDEO: “The Standard” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNcfBR_Rm0k —Think Caribbean—Time is relaxed. Sun is friendly. Imagine singing this song on a colorful beach, birds swirling around, and waves lapping the sand. I’ve done several music gigs around the Caribbean, and I never dreamed I’d enjoy it there so much. This song takes my head into that zone. It’s from the Word2Soul Project, a gospel/neo-soul/pop assembly envisioned by lyricist Amy Mintzer. She hired me to produce demos with the goal of shopping a publishing deal. The demos turned out so well that DJs started airing them. People got excited! W2S became a series based on the templates of albums by Quincy Jones and the Alan Parsons Project—where producers created songs then used a panel of singers to interpret the songs. “The Standard” describe an immovable bottom line “standard”: A lifeline of God’s love and strength being there for me no matter how crazy I get or how life tests me. It has an upbeat island/Afro-pop vibe, and I was pleased with my keyboard work (mixed by Tim Breon). 

#standard #love #god #jesus #gospel #gospelpop #caribbean #islandmusic #soca #afropop #neosoul #quincyjones #alanparsonsproject #upbeat #beach #CCM #contemporarychristianmusic #keyboards #williamsport #williamsportpa #pennsylvaniamusic #word2soul #johnnyjblair #singeratlarge #amymintzer

[gonehollywoodrp]

JOIN US ON ST. KITTS.

There are many reasons to see St. Kitts, an island of a thousand treasures. To splash in warm, iridescent waters along pristine island shores. To dive ancient shipwrecks and virgin coral reefs. To sway to a soca beat, sipping local rum around a bonfire on the beach. St. Kitts is small enough to see in a day, and big enough to explore for a lifetime.

Visit the Capital: Learning more about this charming city is simple. Book one of the local walking tours and let the rich storytelling transport you through history. Tour highlights will include some of St. Kitts’ most significant landmarks. Independence Square dates back to the 1700s and once served as Basseterre’s municipal center, and today, it serves as a site for cultural events. If you’re looking to take a day trip to sister island Nevis, make your way to the recently renovated Basseterre Bus and Ferry Terminal and take the ferry to Charlestown. Whether you’re visiting for a day or a week, Basseterre offers a glimpse of Kittitian life, yesteryear and today.

Sunny Blue Dune Buggies: Drive through the dense tropical rain forest and through our quaint and charming towns - all the while riding in comfort in your Buggy.  Excellent for couples and families to explore St. Kitts in a fun and adventurous way. Sunny Blue offers you the option to explore the island on your own or through a guided tour. You can experience your adventure through the mountains or while travelling along the sandy beaches.

Brimstone Hall Fortress National Park: This is a site of historical, cultural and architectural significance. This centuries-old citadel is a monument to the ingenuity of the British military engineers who designed it and to the skill and strength of the African slaves who built it on the steep at the risk and probable loss of lives. The walls are predominantly made of stone, painstakingly carved from Brimstone Hill’s hard volcanic rock. The mortar was produced from the limestone that covers much of the middle and lower slopes. Begun in the 1690s, the fortress finally took shape as a complete military community in the 1790s. This prominent citadel is one of the earliest and finest surviving examples of a new style of fortification known as the polygonal system. 

South Frigate Beach: Here you will find the most action-packed strip of beach on the Caribbean Sea. And here the party goes on until the wee hours of the morning. This one-mile stretch of white-sand beach, is ideal for swimming, windsurfing, water-skiing and various other water sports. It is also lined with various types of beach shacks - island bars that serve drinks, food, craft, and trinkets in an atmosphere infused with infectious Caribbean rhythm.

Kindred Spirits: Carry a collection of St. Kitts’ famous cocktails in your pocket. Designed for rum experts and enthusiasts. Your three-hour itinerary begins at 10:00 am. Once you’re in the good company of your chosen adventure buddies and soon-to-be Kittitian RumMaster, settle in for the day ahead and prepare to dive deep into one of St. Kitts’ most celebrated cultural excursions that includes a tour of our distillery and spice mill.

Sky Safari: Take in a view of the island from up above with our sky safari! This is a two hour tour that gives a full exploration of all five ziplines. You will begin your journey on line one where you will be given a detailed orientation of our complete system. Afterwards, you will embark on a short off road drive where you will then fly our next three lines over 250ft above the valley floor. A short walk down hill will take you to line five where you can race your partner or other visitors on our dual line system.

Sugar City Trains: Join our fun-filled Sugar City Train and learn of the history of our twin island Federation, once known as the mother colony of the British West Indies. Tour the historical spots of the beautiful city and its immediate surroundings while exciting tour guide brings history and modern living to life. We offer a unique experience which gives an entertaining view of our island’s past state of struggle towards our present state of victory and unity. Climb aboard our road train and let’s journey through the passage of time!

Leeward Island Charters: Leeward Islands Charters has been sailing the seas between St. Kitts and Nevis for over 25 years. The fleet of signature navy/gold catamarans has been locally built in St. Kitts. Your time aboard will be an unforgettable experience. They are passionate about ensuring that your experience with us is memorable, whether it is just you or your group for a sail and snorkel to lunch on the beach or a sunset cruise. 

Blue Water Safaris: Experience the best of St Kitts & Nevis on a thrilling tropical adventure aboard one of our Catamarans. Blue Water Safaris has legendary day charters and half day cruises, a perfect way to settle into island life. Bask in the warm sun while enjoying the crystal clear turquoise waters and a tropical cocktail to keep you cool. Enjoy service with a smile from a fun loving crew that aims to ensure you have a memory making experience. Consistently rated as the best activity in St. Kitts, sailing with Blue Water Safaris combines the romance of the tropics with the adventure of the sea.

Eco Park: Explore the natural beauty of Eco Park!  Taking 3 years of hard work and toiling to complete building, the SKEP manages to be forged as a masterpiece of cultural mixture of both St. Kitts and Taiwan. And it successfully combines three fundamental calibers in substance: agriculture, green energy and tourism.  May the natural and manmade beauty of the Park awaken visitors' environmental awareness.

Natural Farm: Nestled 1542 ft above sea level in the rich forest region at Phillip’s Level, the cabin retreat has a spacious porch with impressive views of the surrounding mountains – perfect for relaxing, drinking a cup of coffee or tea or a glass of wine, and taking in the fresh mountain air. Consider Liamuiga Natural Farms your retreat. Visitors will be touring a fully operational coffee and citrus farm. Visitors can expect the peace and tranquility that comes from being over 1500 feet above sea level in St. Kitts’ mountains.

Paint & Sip: This paint and sip experience allows everyone to paint their very own custom masterpiece on a 9in x 12in canvas, as they sip on wine, provided by us, and have a great time! Events usually last 1.5 hours and can accommodate between 6 - 30 guests. For those who prefer not to drink wine, you’re allowed to bring your own alternate beverage to sip.

Dolphin Recovery: You cannot refuse to visit a place that will captivate you and make you enjoy every moment since your arrival to the farewell. Dolphin St. Kitts introduce you to the best friends you can find on this island and provide the most fun activities and experience of a lifetime to perform any of our programs with dolphins. This place is ideal for the whole family. Children and adults will have fun and will learn and perform the activities we have.

These activities are simply suggestions, and you can always visit the website to see what else is available and plan accordingly!