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 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 …
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 …
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 …
Continue reading Heather Headley: a star with her feet on the ground | Caribbean Beat
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 …
Continue reading Heather Headley: One of Trinidad’s Brightest Stars
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 …
Continue reading Shontelle Layne: focus pon me | Caribbean Beat
