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 156 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