Tye Blue is one of Barbados’ best kept secrets . . . but not for much longer.
For years she dreamt of performing to global audiences and having a fan base at least half as large as Barbados’ own superstar and fashion icon Rihanna.
For some, such a dream might be a mere fantasy but for this talented beauty it may soon become a reality due to the fact that he she is the latest Barbadian to be signed to well-known producer Evan Rogers’ prestigious record label.
Many would recall that Rogers was the same man who gave Grammy Award-winning entertainer Rihanna her first break while still a student at the Combermere School. Rogers, of SRP, signed the then unknown 15-year-old Robyn Fenty and as the old adage goes: “The rest is history”.
Real name Tyra Trotman, Tye Blue is a fellow Combermerian. Also discovered at the tender age of 15 singing karaoke at a local spot by her now manager George Thomas, Tye Blue revealed that she got what she considered the chance of a lifetime on a mere whim.
She was back in the island recently and performed at her alma mater’s model search. Tye Blue told WEEKEND BUZZ it was fate that she got to perform for Rogers because it wasn’t even planned. She recalled that in April last year Rogers was in the island for a planned series of meetings when her manager made the link.
Thomas introduced them to each other and though a bit nervous, he was confident about her skills. Rogers then invited the 19-year-old for an impromptu audition at Hit Island Studios.
Laughing, Trotman said she freed herself of the growing fears and simply sang.
“[Rogers] loved what he saw and flew me and my mother to United States to meet with him,” she said.
Since that time Tye Blue has been back and forth between Barbados and the United States recording, trying different sounds, meeting strategic partners and getting stuff together so that “when we are ready we are ready”.
“We’ve been working on an EPK (electronic press kit) which is going to have a couple of demos, maybe a video and we are going to ship it around to major labels and try to get a distribution deal – that is what we are focusing on right now,” she added.
The young Christ Church resident described her sound as a weird mix between Janae Aiko and Taylor Swift – ‘urban popish’. However, she stressed she was not afraid to explore other genres such as reggae, rhythm and blues and soul.
“I don’t limit myself to any genre. Whatever is popping at the time is what I will be doing,” she noted. Her songs include Sexy Together, Damn, as well as a ballad called Radio Song.
In addition to being a talented singer and songwriter, Trotman holds an associate degree from the Barbados Community College (BCC). After graduating Combermere in fifth form, the youngster attended BCC where she pursued law and politics. An odd combination for an aspiring entertainer, she admitted, but law was one of her passions. This latest opportunity ccoincided with her acceptance into the University of the West Indies. She had to make a choice and she opted to take the risk and go for the music.
“. . . But if it doesn’t happen I always have law to fall back on,” she said.
“The lawyer in me always believed about standing up for things I believe. I always had this thing where I wanted to stand up for people who didn’t have their own voice and this also is reflected in how I write songs.
“Rihanna is a great person but I really don’t like to compare myself because we are individuals but it would be awesome if I can be an internationally known artiste just like her and have a fan base all over the world. It would be great, it would be a dream come true – it really would,” she said. (SDB Media)
