Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine October 2016 | Page 160
Where do you usually
perform?
We mostly perform at night clubs,
weddings, other private functions
and public parties.
Will you say your
performances have
changed over the years
and if so, how will you
describe these changes?
Did it change because
of fans demands or did
shifts within the industry
drive that change?
I would say they have changed
some, mostly because of fan
demands. Nowadays we play
much more Latin music and less
reggae/pop music, compared to
in the beginning where it was
a bit more balanced out. Fans
here seem to prefer dancing to
live Latin music by the band and
reggae/pop from the DJ. However,
to this date we still stay true to our
all-round style and even though
we play mostly Latin, you will still
hear some soft, reggae and pop
tunes from us.
What has been your
biggest challenge
as a band? How did
you overcome that
challenge?
Our biggest challenge is to keep
the band exciting and interesting
for our fans, it’s such a dog eat
dog industry on a very small
island with lots of bands to choose
from. So it’s our goal, rather than
challenge, to keep both our fans
and our band members engaged
and interested in what we do.
We strive to achieve that by
offering a dynamic music mix,
characterized by unparalleled
sound, an extensive repertoire
and rich orchestrations; all while
having tons of fun on stage which
is reflected onto the crowd.
Individually, what do
each of you enjoy the
most about being a part
of Highway Band?
For our female lead singer, joining
an entertainment band was a
natural progression from where
she started. As a member of the
choir in her church, Judienne felt
the need for more performances
and exposure, despite the jitters
that come along with performing
live. For our male lead singer,
Roald, it was more of a “calling”
that lead him to traverse the
musical landscape in Curacao
and ultimately joining Highway
Band. In my case forming a band
fulfilled my desire within to
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create music, instead of merely
playing what some other artist
produced. For every member
there’s a different reason and these
reasons and motivations might
seem worlds apart but it is the
music that brings us together and
keeps the people wanting more.
Together we generate an energy
that gets people on the dance floor
with big smiles on their faces and
their hands up in the air and that’s
what we do it for.
What advice do you have
for people who may be
thinking of f