Guardian November 19, 2020

“From calypso to steelpan to today’s soca, the music of Trinidad & Tobago has long been a source of inspiration for artists, songwriters and producers in the broader music world. While borrowers of our cultural capital have sometimes credited the original sources, in many instances they have not. Similarly, interpretations of our music have often gained access to promotion and corporate investment that is simply not afforded to our own local musicians, producers and songwriters.”

As someone who constantly talks about GLOBALIZING OUR MUSIC, the solution lies in understanding the subtle changes THEY MAKE and working BACKWARDS into our genres; and COLLABORATING with OUTSIDE SOURCES in some of our productions.

The problem is that OUR ARTISTES are scared to FULLY COMMIT to the GLOBAL MARKET; they always hedge their bets and keep the music TOO LOCAL. But if KES could fully internalize the statement above -- he could make the NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS and give himself a chance to BREAK THROUGH GLOBALLY.

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  • " ... interpretations of our music have often gained access to promotion and corporate investment that is simply NOT AFFORDED to our own local musicians, producers and songwriters."

    When I was growing up my father always told me: "Claude, the world does not owe you ANYTHING."

    So I am giving the same advice to KES, now: The MUSIC WORLD is not there TO AFFORD anything to you. It is ON YOU to make it happen for yourself. But you have already made a BIG STEP by recognizing the UBIQUITY and INFLUENCE or OUR MUSIC (in the broader music world) and how it is modified to suit THEIR MARKET.

    I have never been a KES FAN -- but if he understands (and could internalize) as much as he expressed in that statement ... then there is a LOT OF HOPE for him and I have to start giving him a CLOSER LOOK.

    I don't care WHO BREAKS THROUGH from TRINIDAD -- as long as SOMEBODY BREAKS THROUGH!!! GO FOR IT KES!!!

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