Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine January 2020 | Page 180

such as Twich, TGB, Mickey Bubbles, among others. Twizzle started recording in 2009 and was influenced by Kevin Gates in 2012, who has been able to successfully express his experience in life through his songs, while using this medium to positively connect with others. He became one of Twizzle’s main role models. When asked about the name “Darkside Muzik”, this was an opportunity for Twizzle to reminisce about Statia. He shared the memory of living on the island and forming a group called the Dark Side Crew, which was like a brotherhood, and, as a tribute to his early life on the island, he thought it was fitting to memorialize that name in a music label. The name reflects on the fact that “we’ve got to go through the dark before we see the light… experiences growing up, attempting entrepreneurship, going through many things before success is achieved,” these he said are all encased in the name of this label, which to him is all about Statia where the formative years of his life were shaped. Twizzle’s very first single, “Ride for You” was released on November 11, 2018. It is part of the EP which was completed on May 19th, 2019 and includes one song which is a special tribute to Statia, “The Islands”. The EP, Rest When Rich consists of seven songs with Sick and Tired being worthy of special mention, as it is a compilation of different aspects of Twizzle’s journey thus far, including a reflection of having to stay positive regardless of life’s pressures, and unending praise for his Mom. His advice to aspiring artists is to “stay in your own lane. As an upcoming artist, you tend to look at other more successful artists and attempt to mimic them, but focus on yourself and what you want to get done for your next move”. When Twizzle visits Statia, he still looks forward to playing basketball with friends. The peacefulness of the island and the welcoming vibes of being at home is comforting. With such close connections amongst the small Statia population, a trip back home is always a much- looked-forward-to event and, in addition to visiting family, there are many other reasons to go home. Throughout the year, there are different festivals, Summer Carnival being one of them. Easter too sees beach events, music and togetherness, all in a safe, family-friendly environment. There is the fun- filled Statia Day on November 16th with a week of activities, and in 2018, Twizzle was proud to perform for the welcoming crowd during Statia Day’s Youth Night. A huge crowd-pleaser was the performance of “The Islands”, which was recorded and filmed on Statia. Twizzle maintains many beautiful memories of the island where he was raised, and always looks forward to the next visit. An invitation is extended to all to visit this lovely Dutch Caribbean island, and he insists one of the things you absolutely must do is hike up the volcano known as the Quill, and stop off at Mazinga. There you will be treated to the most breathtaking view of the island. The neighbouring islands of Saba and St. Kitts can also be seen from this location. Ulyssese “Twizzle” Lopes is still an emerging artist in the Netherlands, but since the release of his EP in May 2019, his musical journey has now begun in earnest. His music can be found in digital stores and on all the streaming platforms. Islands video Contact: phone: [phone] email: [email protected]