“WHEN I GROW UP, I would like to be a singer!”
That was six-year-old Aziza Clarke who, like most youngsters, fantasised about what she wanted to be.
But the ambitious child, who built courage from watching Terencia TC Coward on television, took it a lot further.
She made her first step towards that goal a year later when she entered a talent competition at Vauxhall Primary School. Interestingly, it was a calypso competition and she placed second. She was immediately bitten and there was no turning back.
Today she is three times a calypso queen.
Her first taste of victory was in 2007 when, as Li’l Az, she took the eight to 12 title in the Scotiabank Junior Calypso Monarch competition with a song called What Happen To Paradise, which was written by her mother, Carol. She would savour victory again in 2010, this time in the 13 to 18 category with a Mistah Dale composition titled Briefcase.
Then in the wee hours of last Sunday morning, she went where only one other woman in the history of the local calypso competition has gone before. Aziza joined Rita, who took the title in 1988, in being crowned calypso queen. It also meant that she would join ten-time monarch Red Plastic Bag in being the youngest person to be crowned, at age 21.
The still overwhelmed queen reflected on all three feats with the SUNDAY SUN and said there is none sweeter than this most recent title.
“All are wonderful memories to me, but this third crown was the most memorable. Because I have made history now on a bigger stage, which is the Pic-O-De-Crop competition. Also I’m the first female in a long time, so this made me proud and I’m happy,” she said.
Queen Aziza added: “It’s an honour to be queen. I am very proud of myself. I have worked hard and it has shown me success – success that I have always dreamed of. This is a moment to always remember . . . . I shall continue to walk in a path that is bright. I have heard about Rita, but I wasn’t born in Rita’s time so I don’t know much about her. I know a lot about Plastic Bag. I love his music, and I would like to emulate him by learning to write my own music and working with that.”
It did not take her to the mountain-top, but Aziza said her favourite calypso throughout the years is Guardians Of Calypso written by Viper, whom she says “is the best songwriter in the world”. That song took her all the way to fifth position in the Pic-O-De-Crop finals in 2013.
“Now that I have reached the stage of becoming a queen as a junior, I would say that I am truly a guardian of calypso and my song has really come to truth.”
The St Michael resident, whose only vocal training is warm-ups at home with her youngest sister Rabiah (Small One), listed Chris Brown, Rihanna, Bag, Gabby, MRBLOOD and her songwriter Viper among her musical influences. She said she likes R&B, hip hop, reggae and soca. Social commentary is in a class by itself.
“I love, love social commentary. Social commentary is my life,” she said.
Aziza enjoys running, painting, drawing and a good game of squash, which she does not get to play any more, but her passion has always been for singing.
“Singing is my soul, my everything. And having a baby now, I am grateful to read to her and sing nursery rhymes and spend most of my time with her,” she shared.
And speaking of baby, Aziza looks to the day when her own Aria can walk in her footsteps.
Will it start in the Junior Monarch competition, you ask?
“Of course! I can’t wait to see Aria reach eight years old and have her join Junior Monarch. Aria is already a singer, and as her mother I can see that Aria takes up pencils or if she sees something she places it to her mouth and she sings. She actually sings One People, One Nation, so from that I can see that she too will become a singer just like her mother. A very beautiful singer. She has a really wonderful voice at this stage, and I will be backing her 100 per cent,” the proud mother of the one-year-old said.
Aziza is also “happy, happy” that Rabiah, with whom she competed at the junior level, is coming back to calypso.
“She, too, is also a great inspiration. I love Rabiah’s theatrics on stage. She just gets out there and delivers her song. She is my sister, and I really want to see her continue singing like me. She has a great talent like that and I don’t want her to let that go,” she said.
Her Majesty is already looking towards defending her title next year. For now, she will be practising her craft. Her immediate sights are on joining a band and possibly working on the hotel circuit.
She thanked Viper for helping her to make history with One People, One Nation and Bring Back Respect, which were both arranged by Ricky Brathwaite. Gratitude was also extended to her fans, supporters and her Cave Shepherd All Stars family. Her former principals Clarkeston Brewster, of Vauxhall Primary, and Dr Winsmore Butcher of Princess Margaret Secondary were also credited for assisting in her development.
Aziza’s advice to the youth: “Always stay focused. Stay positive because people bring negative vibes to you, so it’s best to stay positive and focused. Always live your dreams, believe in whatever you want to do, because God is good. Always remember that,” she said.
