P.O.S Trinidad. May 2, 2011--------Musical entertainer Shurwayne Winchester is being raved as one of the persons who will take Soca music to the heights of international fame. The assertion was made on Friday (April 29) by event coordinator in the division of tourism and transportation in Tobago, John Arnold.
Winchester and his band Y.O.U. thrilled audiences on Easter Sunday at the beachfront, Store Bay and again at Signal Hill where an event dubbed Jazz on the Hill was held before a massive gathering of locals and foreigners alike. The Jazz themed showcase featured acts like Oscar B, Sugar Daddy and the Signal Hill Alumni Choir among others, but it was Winchester and Y.O.U. who would leave a lasting impression on Arnold and many others in the crowd. " I have seen Shurwayne perform a million times, but never like this," said Arnold. He explained that Shurwayne was able to prove to many in the crowd that he cannot be labeled, 'just a Soca artiste.' " He's a singer, performer and a real entertainer. He was able to show his versatility as an artiste, and his wide vocal range," said Arnold.
Arnold believes that for T&T's culture and more so, Soca music to gain international recognition, the artistes carrying the torch must not only be able to perform 'wine and jam' tunes, as he called it, " They must have a voice at the end of the day," he said. Vowing to stand in the corner of the Tobago-born artiste, John Arnold said he had high hopes for Shurwayne Winchester who at this year's International Groovy Soca Monarch Competition, chose to draw focus to the bittersweet realities that lie within the twin Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago when he performed his single, Paradisin.
In the past few weeks, Winchester has been receiving quite a bit of positive recognition. In Jamaica, journalists called him masterful, skillful and commanding following his performance at Bacchanal Fridays in the lead up to the island's Carnival celebration. Online, his connection with fans is sincere and noted by many as the mark of an artiste who exercises true humility even while soaring high.
Take a look at the video for Shurwayne Winchester's Manic, from his catalogue of hits in 2011.
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. January 15, 2011- Her sophisticated nature won’t stop her from generating a carnival buzz this season. R&B, Hip-Hop, Reggae, Techno and Dance music have all been done by T&T’s sunpop sensation Krystal Khayne, but as the island’s Carnival takes focus, the world had better prepare to experience the versatility of this super talented songbird. Krystal Khayne’s vocals are presently being plastered from pillar to post alongside that of Umi Marcano in what is certainly the height of the carnival season. To many, this may be a bit strange as never before has the Belmont born vocalist ventured into the Soca spotlight. On Sunday, January 9th, a single entitled,“Bring It”alongside Marcano, was released. The track, which was produced by Trinidad based Mad Men Productions is just a taste of what the young vocalist will offer for the high-energy season. Soon to come is yet another Soca collaboration with HD Family member, Zan. The track, which will be called “So Hot,” will be released within the next few weeks. Khayne’s sudden leap into the soca spotlight wasn’t planned. She however felt the need to answer the call of her fan base. “Many people wanted to hear just how I’d sound, and even I was a bit curious to hear the final product,” she admitted. For Krystal – the girl who’s admired big name artistes like Whitney Houston Mariah Carey and Chaka Khan all her life, the decision to do ‘home’ was certainly a big one. She however knew it was necessary to show the Caribbean that no matter what, her appreciation for her roots, would never dwindle. “I had to show the world that I do have a strong appreciation for soca music. I love soca music. I love listening to it and ‘wining’ to it at parties,” she laughed. Krystal however prides herself as a strong R&B artiste. Having opened for John Legend on his visit to Trinidad in June 2009, Krystal’s talent immediately became known and embraced. Her vocal ability led to performances at the Tobago Jazz Festival last year and the Digicel Outta Conrol Tour shortly after that. Just after the New Years weekend, Khayne returned to Trinidad from Barbados where she lit up the stage at Carib Fest 2011. Now with all sights set on carnival, she’s turning up the heat, stepping onto the local scene with some very hot tracks that are guaranteed to make waves this season and well into the summer. Currently, Khayne who works arduously at her craft is focused on the creation of three music EPs, which she explained, will be used to shop for international consumption in the months ahead. She explained that the EPs, which will fuse dance music with soca will be individually produced by three producers out of T&T, among them, the reputed Richard Charsu Ahong. In the meantime however, she’s giving just a taste of what she’s got and what the world can look forward to, both in the carnival season and thereafter when her crossover hits are unleashed together with the her flavourful R&B, Reggae and Hip-Hop ballads her fans eagerly await.
