How long have you been on the music/entertainment scene? Just over three years but the last two in soca.
When did you figure out soca was the path you are going to take? I have always loved soca. But 2014 is when I made up my mind that I would pursue soca professionally. I decided to try it out and enter the Sweet Soca and Party Monarch competitions. I was a reserve in the Party Monarch finals and a reserve in the Sweet Soca semis. From that encouragement I decided to continue and I have been loving it.
When would you say people started to take notice? When I won the Banks Calendar Girl competition is 2014. The Party Monarch semi-final stage last year gave me the opportunity to show my talent as a soca artist at a national level which gave me great exposure as a new artiste.
I was also nominated for Best New Artiste at the BMAs. However, my 2015 sweet soca single Take Me Out produced by De Red Boyz received tremendous support from the public and got generous air play. There was a time when people would stop me and say “hi” to the Banks Calendar Girl. Now, I get more and more “I love your song” comments and that to me shows that I am making progress.
Musical track record? Soca Therapy (2014) Sweet Soca semi-final reserve. Lock It (2014) Party Monarch Finals reserve. Road Rage (2015) Party Monarch semi-finalist. Listen Careful (2015) Movie Soundtrack (PayDay 2).
Have you ever thought of quitting? Never – I don’t even know what that word means.
Hardest lesson you have learnt as a female in the music industry. Not from personal experience, but I’ve observed the need to always stay humble.
What is your most memorable moment? The overwhelming feeling after coming off stage in the 2015 Party Monarch Semis. I was flanked by my idol Alison Hinds and so many others. They were telling me how well I performed and how genuinely happy they were with my growth.
As a female artiste how important is image to you? Image is extremely important on two levels. Perception is reality. People will form opinions and respond to you and your art based on what they see. On a personal level, when you look and feel good, you perform better.
How do you stay grounded? I am a family oriented girl and my mum and grandmother keep me in touch with the values and morals they taught me.
How do you turn off and get away from it all? I shut out everything and take a trip to the beach or someplace I can relax. A good games and movie night with friends and family also does the trick.
What is your focus now in terms of your career? I am doing all that I can to become the total soca package. Power Soca, Groovy Soca and performance.
Thoughts on entering competitions? Some people may have reservations about the competition, but right now I’m just enjoying the music and performing. I love every moment of it and sharing the stage with the veterans is a great experience. I will continue competing.
As an entertainer, are there any risks that you took that paid off or didn’t paid off? As it is so early in my career, I consider every risk an investment to my future. I believe in every misfortune there is a valuable lesson learnt.
Have you ever turned down any song that you now regret? I hope it never happens.
Name your favourite song in your catalogue? Take Me Out.
Pet peeve? I’m a bit impatient. Long lines or anything I have to wait on for an extended period really grinds my gears.
Plans for rest of season? Go all out in my upcoming performances and continue to soak up and learn from the vets.
If it wasn’t music what would it be? Something in accounting as I am currently finishing up my bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance at UWI [University of the West Indies].
How do you pick competition songs? Apart from listening for infectious hooks and great melodies, I try to choose tracks that resonate with me . . . that tell a story that I can identify with so that in delivery and performance the subject is familiar to me.
