caribbean, music, theatre and performance, trinidad and tobago

Jeanine De Bique: “It doesn’t matter where you come from” | Caribbean Beat

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 music, and was very good at it. I believe it … Continue reading Jeanine De Bique: “It doesn’t matter where you come from” | Caribbean Beat

Caroline Taylor1 December, 201828 April, 2019Leave a comment

festivals and events, music, theatre and performance, trinidad and tobago

Golden voices | 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 frilly white socks on my hands. Dubbed a “Marionette-ette” by … Continue reading Golden voices | Caribbean Beat

Caroline Taylor1 July, 201317 January, 2017Leave a comment

music, theatre and performance, trinidad and tobago

Heather Headly shines on

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 ground-breaking actress and singer – and she is not even … Continue reading Heather Headly shines on

Caroline Taylor20 May, 201315 January, 2017Leave a comment

caribbean, music, theatre and performance, trinidad and tobago

Ella Andall: spirit dancer

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 Andall first captured many people’s attention en route to the … Continue reading Ella Andall: spirit dancer

Caroline Taylor20 May, 201315 January, 2017Leave a comment

music, new york, theatre and performance, trinidad and tobago

Heather Headley: a star with her feet on the ground | Caribbean Beat

Originally written for and published in Caribbean Beat magazine in 2012. The full interview transcript is published here, and at Discover Trinidad & Tobago. In 2000, news spread about a Trinidad-born actress making waves on Broadway. Her command of her emotions made you sure that her onstage tears must come from some fresh real-world trauma. The truth was very different. “I would be in the moment, thinking of the … Continue reading Heather Headley: a star with her feet on the ground | Caribbean Beat

Caroline Taylor1 May, 201217 January, 2017Leave a comment

music, new york, theatre and performance, trinidad and tobago

Heather Headley: One of Trinidad’s Brightest Stars

This interview was done for and published in full on Discover Trinidad & Tobago, and formed the basis of another article in Caribbean Beat magazine. It took a while, but I finally caught up with Heather Headley for a proper interview in late January 2012, just a few weeks before Whitney Houston’s passing. We talked about her memories of and ties to her homeland, Trinidad; preparations for her latest … Continue reading Heather Headley: One of Trinidad’s Brightest Stars

Caroline Taylor31 January, 201217 January, 2017Leave a comment

musings

Shontelle Layne: focus pon me | Caribbean Beat

Originally written for and published in Caribbean Beat magazine in 2008 Focus pon me: that’s the title of one of the tracks Shontelle Layne wrote for her debut album. But really, it’s all about the music. It’s been a busy few years for Shontelle Layne. In between working towards a degree in entertainment law at the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill, Layne has penned … Continue reading Shontelle Layne: focus pon me | Caribbean Beat

Caroline Taylor1 March, 200817 January, 2017Leave a comment

Exodus in action at Panorama. Courtesy the TDC, via discovertnt.com

carnival, music, trinidad and tobago

The Making of a Steel Pan | Discover Trinidad & Tobago

Originally written for and published in the 2008 edition of Discover Trinidad & Tobago travel guide The steel pan (it’s really a bit of a faux pas to call it a steel drum!) is one of Trinidad’s proudest exports. It distinguishes itself by being the only acoustic, non-electric instrument invented in the 20th century, and one incubated right in and around Port of Spain during the second world war. Origins … Continue reading The Making of a Steel Pan | Discover Trinidad & Tobago

Caroline Taylor2 January, 200818 January, 2017Leave a comment

Caroline Taylor

Snippets of work & life in Trinidad, the UK & the US

Tag: music