Published as part of the "Carnival is love" series in the Jan/Feb 2022 edition of Caribbean Beat Is a vibe coming outta we soulEverybody take up yuh roleThis year we playing brave and boldJumbies coming out ah dey hole — Machel Montano, “Jumbie” Picture it: Port of Spain, 2007. For a plucky 20-something, it is …
Continue reading A love letter to doing everything for Trinidad Carnival
The sonic world of composer Tania Léon was shaped by her childhood in Cuba — and by her willingness to reinvent herself, writes Caroline Taylor. Published in the September/October 2021 issue of Caribbean Beat You’re probably not going to find yourself humming the music of Cuba-born composer, conductor, and educator Tania León. That is, if …
I was just going to do a short post on Facebook. But I realised there was too much to say. One of the things I cherish about the way I grew up is that all I saw was that steelbands could be and do anything; choirs could be and do anything; and women could be …
Back in October and November 2020, the young singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Paige Roopchan (stage name Payge Turner) was making her way through the early rounds of The Voice. Over the course of two articles, I talked first to Paige's family — Anika, Rianna, and Jacqueline Johnson — and then to Paige herself about her …
Continue reading Becoming a Payge Turner | Discover Trinidad & Tobago
Jeanine De Bique, Trinidad-born classical singer, on the influence of her upbringing, and why Trinis “could do anything” — as told to Caroline Taylor in the November/December 2018 issue of Caribbean Beat I went St Gabriel’s RC School in San Fernando, and was in choir participating in the Music Festival and SanFest. I had a love for …
Continue reading Jeanine De Bique: “It doesn’t matter where you come from” | Caribbean Beat
Originally written for and published in Caribbean Beat magazine in 2013 The half-century anniversary of Trinidad’s popular Marionettes Chorale It was all a little inevitable. My mother was the conductor, and my two godmothers were the executive management. Some of my best-established blackmailers are those who can recount me “conducting” from the audience as a pre-schooler, with …
Written and published in CariVele Magazine for their special issue commemorating the 50th anniversary of Trinidad & Tobago's independence “I am not afraid to sacrifice for my fellow man Prepare me now to dance this dance, spirit hold my hand… I could make de grade, I could make de grade, I eh ‘fraid…!” – Spirit Dancer Ella …
Written and published in CariVele Magazine for their special issue commemorating the 50th anniversary of Trinidad & Tobago's independence Any list of Trinidadians of distinction would be grossly incomplete if ever omitting Heather Headley. Easily one of the most driven and multi-talented of Trinidadian artists who have excelled abroad, she has already made history as a …
Caroline Taylor 