Interview With Rising Star MONCHERIE

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Hailing from the smallest landmass In the world that is governed by TWO super powers (The Netherlands and France); St. Maarten/St.Martin is a 37 square mile paradise for travelers of all kinds, especially us " MUSIC HEADS" Now, I am from the Dutch side and love my local "limes" but every Friday you can catch me at the premiere dancing spot Lago Heights located on the French side. The infectious vibes, delicious food and beautiful people only offset a passionate night of dancing to the sweet sounds of primarily Zouk music. You can't predict your night, but two things you can be sure of is, a great time and one of the French man- dem to ask you to dance by starting with MonCherie.
 

Sweetheart is only one of the many attributes that describe this gorgeous, talented rising star MONCHERIE. Representing one of my neighbouring islands, ST Lucia, this gem from the emerald isle, shares it all about her daily activities "back home" to her Patra, Diana Ross and Lady Saw fused and influenced music. #jumpinthecab Mon Amies

 

You have a gorgeous, exotic look! What is your nationality?

I am from the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, and I am biracial.

Explain a typical day in St. Lucia for you when you go back home.

Well, I wake up to my mother’s cooking, take my siblings to school and link up with my friends to do something fun! Like go to the beach.

Describe your musical style and who are you influenced by.

I am a very diverse artist; I grew up on gospel but ventured out and started listening to dancehall and reggae music. My influences are Patra, Lady Saw and Dianna Ross.

Why 'Mon Cherie'?
Well, it is my real name and it also represents where I am from, MonCherie is a French name which means “sweetheart.” St. Lucia was colonized by the French seven times and we also speak French creole.

When people listen to my music I want them to: A) Feel B) Hear C) See..... What?
When people listen to my music I want them to feel good about themselves, about their confidence and about their lifestyles. I want them to hear all the hard work that I put in in order to give them quality music. I want them to see a young girl who made it out of bad situations and following her dreams.

What is your favorite #CARIBBEAN genre to listen to? And what are a few of your favourite songs/ artists from it?

My favourite genre is dancehall music. My favourite songs, I have so many of them, but my songs are really my favourite because I made them up from being inspired.

When people hear the name MON CHERIE, what's the one thing that you want to come to their mind?

When people hear MonCherie the first thing that should come to their mind is “Confidence.”

 

 

 

By; Sharlisa Peterson

The CABTV

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Copyright 2014 Caribbean E-Magazine All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without credit..
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Interview With Contemporary Visual Artist Amy Theard

Monday, June 9, 2014

I met this girl from Haiti, a pretty gyal for real All together! You cannot imagine just how she, make me feel All together!

Whey my calypso fans at?!

Amy Theard

 

T

he song Sak Passe from the well-known and loved band, KROSSFYAH perfectly describes Amy Theard.  I met her annual DIGITAL DIVAS CONFERENCE as she was a guest speaker on a panel of successful Caribbean women who worked in different aspects of the Industry. Gorgeous and well accomplished like her fellow panel discussion members, her extremely bubbly and refreshingly candid conversation and confessions really made her separate from ANYONE in the room actually. #jumpinthecab to meet AMY THEARD, celebrity requested and resident painter of our beloved MILK RIVER (located in Brooklyn, New York) and see the live testimony of God's will, beauty and Destiny in the midst of torrential trials and tribulations, like a rose from the concrete.

 

WHAT IS YOUR NATIONALITY?

I'm Haitian, newly American so I guess Haitian-American.

 

WHERE ARE YOU ORIGINALLY FROM AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?

I was born in Port au Prince, Haiti, came to New York when I was 2 and currently reside in Queens.

 

DESCRIBE YOUR CHILDHOOD (RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR PARENTS, YOUR SCHOOLING, YOUR DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS AT THE TIME ETC, FRIENDS ETC.) 
My childhood was great. Grew up on a quite block in Hollis, Queen, in a house with my mother, grandmother and older brother. My mother was a single parent mother. My father lived in Haiti; he was an artist as well. He died when I eight years old. I was in Catholic school up until junior high. I can't say I had an exact dream or aspiration growing up, I just knew I was always creative and always looked into or was interested in anything creative. I always for some reason stayed away from painting because it was my father’s thing and I never wanted to be reminded or compared to him. As for friends I always had tons of those, my personality type is very much the extrovert.

 

HOW DID THE ABSENCE OF YOUR FATHER AFFECT YOU (POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY)? 
I never realized it until I was older just how the absence of my father affected me. I will say at first it was a negative because of the typical daddy issues most young women experience when a male figure isn't in their lives, but after coming to terms with it. I realized parents aren't perfect and people make mistakes and it's best to let go and forgive. My father loved his children and he left us much to be proud of.

 

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO HAITI?  

What made me go to Haiti was sheer curiosity and a yearning to know my people, history, culture and country first hand.  

 

WHAT MADE YOU START YOUR ARTISTRY? AND WHY PAINTING IN PARTICULAR?
A series of unfortunate events in my life at that time, everything was going wrong and I felt I needed an outlet. A family member suggested I started painting so I did and instantly became obsessed with it; it was as if something inside of me just came alive. Finally, I had a passion for something.

 

WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AMY WHO LEFT NYC TO GO HAITI AND THE AMY WHO CAME FROM HAITI BACK TO NYC?

Amy, who left NYC was looking for herself and her place in this world, Amy who came back to NYC was wiser and now has a purpose and a mission. She is also more confident and sure of herself because she has found her strength.

 

WHAT WAS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT ESTABLISHING YOUR SELF AS AN ARTIST?
The Hardest thing I could say for me was learning to be patient and not so anxious of every opportunity. I had to learn the business aspect and be more strategic.  

 

WHAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE OF YOUR FIRST SALE OF A PAINTING, HOW DID IT GO DOWN?
My first sale actually happened while I was still  living in Haiti, a friend of my aunts had come over to dinner and seen my work and purchased two paintings on the spot. It was exciting for me to know that people besides my friends and family enjoyed my work and would pay good money for it. He was also an art collector.

 

WERE THERE NEY-SAYERS WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED YOUR JOURNEY? AND WHAT IS THERE OPINION NOW?

No, I was very lucky and surprised on how much family support I had and still have for my decision to become a professional artist.

 

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR WOMAN SUFFERING FROM A SERIOUS BREAKUP?
Be better and not bitter! Allow yourself the time you need to heal but don't dwell too much on the past. Do a lot of self-reflecting and try to get into a hobby or activity that serves for the betterment of you. Just take it one day at a time.

 

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR ASPIRING PAINTERS?

Practice makes perfect and there is no right or way to paint, learn as you go and don't be too critical or your work.

 

HOW DO YOU FEEL PROUD AS A SUCCESSFUL HAITIAN AMERICAN WOMAN?

I am grateful for every opportunity that has come my way and even prouder to be able to do what I love all while representing who I am and where I come from. I'm very happy and excited to be able to reach people through art.

 

WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO PAINT?

My feelings, moods and experiences.

 

TAKE US THROUGH YOUR PROCESS WHEN YOU START A PIECE

I don't really have a process, I just start to paint and don't stop until I'm finished or utterly exhausted. 

 

IF YOU HAD TO DO A CUSTOM PIECE FOR A SPECIFIC CLIENT, WHAT WOULD YOU NEED TO KNOW OR FEEL OR SEE FROM YOUR CLIENT?

I typically am lucky with clients who trust my judgement and let me do my own thing. But most of the time I can gather my own info about my clients just by asking them what they want. 

 

DESCRIBE THE IRONY ABOUT YOU AND YOUR DAD'S REALTIONSHIP- AND YOUR CAREER NOW IN ONE WORD 

Destiny

 

By;SharLisa Peterson

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Copyright 2014 Caribbean E-Magazine All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without credit..
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Interview with Eva Greene Wilson – Blogger and Author

Thursday, March 13, 2014

T

he C.A.B Sharlisa sat down with Editor in chief and blogger of SocaMom.com, Eva Greene Wilson to learn more about what she does.

Learn more about this fascinating blogger below!

 

Here at THE C.A.B we clearly love a good 'play on words' and amongst other things, that's what draws our attention to you, SOCAMOM! What inspired that name?
Ever since my dad brought a Byron Lee and the Dragonaires cassette tape (that’s how long ago it was) home from a trip to Trinidad, I have loved Soca music. One of the great things about Soca music, is that just about every island (and non-island) in the Caribbean has embraced it, and found a way to make Soca its own.  It is a sound that brings us all together.  I wanted SocaMom.com to be a place where Caribbean families, from all over the Caribbean could find events, stories, and content that highlights the things that unify us, but also makes each country unique

Where are you originally from, your island origin?

My family is from Trinidad and Tobago.  I was born here in the US when my parents came here for college.

How do you as the SOCAMOM keep your Caribbean culture prevalent in your kids’ lives here in America?
We are lucky that we live nearby family that cooks, so they are very familiar with the food.  My husband and I keep a kid friendly Calypso and Soca playlist readily available, and mix it in with the other music that we listen to when we are in the car or relaxing on a weekend at home. They just came back from a trip to St. Vincent, Trinidad, and Tobago to visit family.  Going there and letting them see and hear everything for themselves is really the best route, but that isn’t possible for a lot of families. That’s why I feel like the content that we provide on SocaMom.com is important.

THE C.A.B, it’s a Vlog site, where STARLISA goes and checks out the best lime in the NYC area. As the SOCAMOM, how would you describe your blog site and you yourself as a blogger?
SocaMom.com is a blog and community for Caribbean parents.  I am the editor in chief, and I describe myself as a Caribbean American parenting blogger.  I cover anything that relates to Caribbean parenting using videos, interviews, educational downloads, and events.  I host two offline groups in Brooklyn, NY and Washington, DC so that we can take their relationships offline and socialize with like-minded families.

In honor of women’s month as we feature you, who would you say are your favorite women figures in our culture?
There are so many wonderful women with Caribbean heritage, it is so hard to choose just a few.  Since I have started blogging, I have met many who are not necessarily famous, but are doing great things for the diaspora.  In blogging, I would say Patrice Yursick of Afrobella.com and Karen Walrond of Chookooloonks.com, and Claire Sulmers because of their longevity in what has proven to be a very difficult line of work, as well as their continued connection to their Caribbean heritage. Actresses; Cecily Tyson, Nia Long, and Sheryl Lee Ralph.  I grew up watching Cecily Tyson, and I remember my parents being so proud of her Caribbean heritage, even though she was born here. It made me understand that being Caribbean is about what is in your blood, not necessarily where your cord was cut.

What is your favorite subject to blog about?

I love adding new educational downloads to the blog.  I feel that it is one of the places that I can do the most good for the most people.  I also like to blog about books for children by Caribbean authors.  Since I wrote my own children’s book, Anancy’s Family Reunion, I have gotten to talk to so many wonderful authors who are working to make sure that kids learn about Caribbean culture, and see themselves in the books that they read.

What can we look forward to in 2014 from the SOCAMOM?
In January, I started co-hosting the Caribbean Mom Chat on the second Tuesday of each month with three other Caribbean bloggers on Google Hangout and Twitter.  I have also been hosting Google Hangouts with Caribbean authors to discuss their writing process and books.  I have started filming my first documentary on Caribbean parenting, so hopefully that will be complete before the end of the year.  In 2014, you can look forward to more offline family events, guest posts, and educational materials as well.  This is our third year, so we want to continue to produce fresh new content in the most innovative ways possible.

At #teamcab most of us have grown up here and in the Caribbean so we have gone to school, lived and have not only family but good friends too. Tell us about your kids, and then give our mothers out there raising 1st and 2nd generation Caribbean children in the United States advice on how to appropriately keep them connected to the culture.

I have three children, two eight year olds (not twins) and a 14 year old.  I have four pieces of advice for moms raising Caribbean children outside of the Caribbean. One, tell them how they ended up living outside of the Caribbean and why.  They need to know the story of their family. Two, find restaurants that serve Caribbean dishes and take them there. Find Caribbean recipes, and learn to make them alongside your children.  Research where the different ingredients came from, and how they ended up in the dishes that they are eating.  Three, make sure they know all about the countries that their family comes from.  They should be able to recognize the flags, speak at least some of the language (including patois), and be able to find the countries on a map, at the very least.  It is hard to stay connected to a place that you cannot see, so find videos on YouTube that highlight the wildlife, music, and culture of their country of origin.  Find local events that highlight the culture.  This isn’t always easy, but on SocaMom.com we try to gather as much information as we can and add it to our calendar. We also have recipes, downloads, and videos that can help.

Eva Greene Wilson Bio

Eva Greene Wilson is the editor in chief and blogger at SocaMom.com, a website for Caribbean parents.  The blog has won two Black Weblog Awards - Best New Blog and Best Parenting Blog.  Her blog posts have been featured on BlogHer.com, and she has been a contributor to b3 Caribbean Magazine (print and online) and Outlish Magazine (online).

She has interviewed former Essence Editor in chief and Jamaican mom, Constance White, Trinidadian fashion trailblazer  and winner of Project Runway Anya Ayoung-Chee, and Trinidadian stage and screen actress Hazelle Goodman, Jamaican TV personality and beauty queen, Kamila McDonald Alcock, writer and director of the feature film on Caribbean immigration, Home Again, Sudz Sutherland,  American comiedian and actor Craig Robinson, as well as the most recent American Idol winner, singer and performer Candice Glover have all talked about career and family with Eva.  She has provided sponsored content from a Caribbean perspective for companies like WeTV, Dodge, Warner Bros., Disney, HP, and Gaylord Hotels.

Eva runs two offline meetup groups for Caribbean parents, one in Washington DC and one in Brooklyn, NY. She published a children’s book, Anancy’s Family Reunion, in 2013.

Her family is from Trinidad and Tobago.


Social Media:
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/socamomdotcom
Amazon - http://amazon.com/author/evawilson
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/socamomdc
Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/socamom
Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/socamom/
LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/in/socamom
Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/user/socamomusa

Contact:
Eva Greene Wilson (no hyphen)
202-643-SOCA (7622)

 

By;SharLisa Peterson

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Copyright 2014 Caribbean E-Magazine All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without credit..
www.ShiekhShoes.com

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Interview with Bacchanalist Atlanta Carnival Founders

Thursday, February 13, 2014

I

n this week's spotlight we are featuring two great ambitious and hardworking ladies who have started a Carnival in Atlanta Georgia called Bacchanalist Atlanta.

The C.A.B TV Sharlisa sat down with one of the founders to learn more about Bacchanalist.

 

FIRST OFF, WE LOVE THIS NAME, BACCHANALIST! EXPLAIN YOUR BACCHANAL MOVEMENT AND WHO ALL IS INVOLVED?
Thank you! The Bacchanalist movement is about the perseverance of the Caribbean culture. We represent the future leaders, and thinkers of various Caribbean communities around the world. We thrive on exposing our culture and providing a distinctive carnival experience for masqueraders of all races and background. 

HAVE YOU ALWAYS LIVED IN ATLANTA?
No, Bacchanalist founders are from Brooklyn, NY and Tampa, Florida. We were both drawn to the Atlanta Metro area to pursue our Bachelor degree in our various majors. We come from communities with a strong Caribbean presence. This is why our culture is so important to us. 

WE CANNOT WAIT TO JUMP IN THE C.A.B TO THE AIRPORT AND JUMP INTO AN ATL TO THIS CARNIVAL! WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT?
It's a new movement! Atlanta Carnival Bandleader Council! We are 13 different bands, some carnival pioneer bands as well as new ones. Expect the unexpected! We will blow the city of Atlanta away this year and for many years to come.

WHAT CARIBBEAN ISLAND DO YOU/YOUR FAMILY COME FROM?
Bacchanalist founders Katara is of Jamaican and Bajan decent, and Jazairi is of Vincentian and Trinidadian descent. This variety makes for a great soca mix on the road!

WHAT MORE CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE BACCHANALIST MOVEMENT?
We are barely a year old and God has opened so many doors for us already. Expect to hear and see us everywhere as we continue to build our brand. There are no limits to what may be in store for us in the future. We are passionate and dedicated to continue to prosper as leaders of our culture.

WHERE/HOW CAN OUR VIEWERS KEEP UP WITH THE EVENTS AND ACTUAL CARNIVAL OF ATLANTA?Atlanta Carnival Bandleader Council Facebook, and website www. AtlantacarnivalBC.com will keep you inform about the latest parties/fetes for Atlanta Caribbean Carnival 2014 

WE HAD NO IDEA THAT THE “A” HAD SUCH A WICKED CARIBBEAN SCENE BESIDES CARNIVAL AND MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, WHAT OTHER EVENTS HAPPENS HERE IN THE ATL?

The Atlanta Caribbean Scene is year round. From live Soca, reggae, concerts, and fetes to weekly Soca/dancehall themed clubs all across the Atlanta metro area. There is something for every Islander to enjoy no matter the season. 

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO NEW YORK? WHERE WAS YOUR FAVORITE CARIBBEAN PLACE TO LIME/EAT ?
Yes! New York is home to bandleader Jazairi and a second home to Katara. Some of our favorite Caribbean eateries include Footprints and Sally's in Brooklyn, and Negril in Queens.

Bacchanalist International
Atlanta Caribbean Carnival
ACBC Members
Katara Phelps: 813-391-7647
Jazairi Alexander: 718-207-3556
www.BacchanalistIntl.com
InfoBacchanalist@gmail.com

Follow Us:

Twitter: @BacchanalistATL

Facebook: Bacchanalist Atlanta

 

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GETTING TO KNOW THE TALENTED - GYPTIAN

Monday, February 3, 2014

L

ike every great artist, Gyptian has layers and multiple facets to his artistry. There’s the conscious reggae singer who listeners first came to know on his breakthrough 2005 hit ”Serious Times.” Then there’s the champion lover who captivated females worldwide with his crooning on “Hold You,” the sultry island pop smash that topped charts globally in 2010. The song even caught the attention of rap superstar Nicki Minaj, who jumped on the remix. It’s the latter side of Gyptian who takes center stage on his fourth album Sex,Love and Reggae, a musically diverse set that takes the listener from dancehall to soca to global pop sounds.  “This is the Gyptian album that I want people to hear,” the singer says. “Each album that I do advances my career, but this one is Gyptian—the next level.”

Born Windel Beneto Edwards in rural St. Andrew, Jamaica, north of Kingston, Gyptian grew up singing in church with his Adventist mom by day, and at dancehall sessions organized by his Rastafarian father by night. “I didn’t grow up in a way where I’m limited,” Gyptian says. “It’s all about two things at the table, take whichever you want.”

First taking work as a butcher—yes, cutting meat—a young Gyptian gained his entry into the Jamaican music business after meeting up with talent scout and promoter Ravin Wong and Earl “Chinna” Smith, the legendary reggae guitarist known for his work with Lee “Scratch” Perry and Bob Marley.

Under Smith’s guidance, Gyptian wrote “Serious Times,” a single that would instantly put him at the forefront of the roots revival that was taking over Jamaican music when it was released in 2005. No fluke, a second hit, “Beautiful Lady,” followed shortly thereafter, as did a third, the heartfelt “Mama.” A debut album, My Name is Gyptian, landed in 2006, earning him comparisons to the great Gregory Isaacs for its mixture of conscious reggae and sultry lovers rock. That year saw Gyptian take home the “Most Promising Entertainer” title at the 2006 International Reggae and World Music Awards in New York City, an honor he has certainly lived up to in the years since.

Gyptian’s second album, I Can Feel Your Pain, followed in 2008, which featured the title track hit and smash single “Love Against The Wall.” Two years later “Hold You” would make Gyptian the toast of reggae once again, providing a jolt of energy felt throughout the music world. The track instantly took over airwaves across the Caribbean in early 2010 and by summertime became the most played song on New York’s influential Hot 97 radio station. It was eventually certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of over 500,000, becoming the first reggae single to attain that status since Damian Marley’s “Welcome To Jamrock” in 2005. Gyptian’s third album, also called Hold You, followed later in 2010, spawning a second crossover hit in the infectiously catchy “Nah Let Go.” Gyptian would take home a range of awards over the following year, including a MOBO (Music Of Black Origin) Award for Best Reggae Act and a Soul Train Music Award for Best Reggae Artist.

Never one to leave his fans hanging, Gyptian has stayed active in the three years since “Hold You” took the music world by storm. He kept his voice ringing in the dancehalls during 2011 and 2012 with his hit single “Overtime” on JA Productions and the RVSSIAN produced single “Wine Slow,” which created viral dance frenzy worldwide. The lyrics video alone for “Wine Slow” has received over 7.5 million YouTube views to date. During this time, Gyptian also recorded a cover of Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors” (produced by Shance C. Brown and Stanley “Rellee” Hayden) for Chevrolet and MTV Iggy’s “Cover The World” showcase—highlighting his versatility once again for the global audience.

All of these songs are among the tracks that make Sex, Love and Reggae, Gyptian’s most diverse and biggest-sounding set yet. The album is co-executive produced by Jerry “Wonda” Duplessis, who is known for cranking out hits for superstars such as Miguel, Mary J. Blige, Lupe Fiasco, the Fugees and many more. Sex Love and Reggae features guest appearances from R&B divas Estelle and Melanie Fiona and soca stars Bunji Garlin and Kes the Band. Global dancehall ambassadors Major Lazer also lend a hand with co-production on the title track. Singles include the dutty wine-inducing “Nonstop” and “Vixen,” an anthem for independent women with a classic dancehall sample (from legends Fuzzy Jones and Reggie Stepper), and a big-room club feel.

“Vixen is a song for the really strong women, who like to be in control,” Gyptian says. “It’s for all the boss ladies.”

Its latest music video is directed by Jamaica’s talented Ras Kassa of Damian Marley’s Welcome To Jamrock fame. The track, co-written by and featuring Angela Hunte (of Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind” fame), is currently picking up steam on radio stations across the U.S., bringing a much-needed dose of dancehall back to the airwaves.  “It’s all about being versatile,” Gyptian says of the album, and his perspective on music overall. “For me, there are no boundaries in music. Pick one—there is a Gyptian song in that category for you.”

 

Source: VP Records

 

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Copyright 2014 Caribbean E-Magazine All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without credit..
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