How has Calypso music influenced your life , if at all , and what role do you see it playing in your future musical endeavors ? Calypso has had a major influence in my life it continues to influence me . Every calypso tells a story sometimes it ’ s not always the story that we want to hear . It has encouraged me to become a better listener and a better story teller , one who pays attention to the current and historical events in order to always beware of what ’ s taking place ; to be careful and mindful of my actions . Calypso has placed me in the spotlight and to some , I am seen as an example so I have to remember to always be mindful of the image I project . It teaches me to be patient and respectable of others opinions . While I have always shared a love for culture , being part of it has allowed me to appreciate our unique culture even more and I am encouraged to share with all I come in contact with . It also shows that dreams can be realized if we really put our mind to it and with hard work comes great reward .
There are times the powers that be showsno interest in calypso and make little effort to revive it . Some calypsonians are also perpetrators of bringing down and watering down the music with their repetitive lyrics , concepts and melodies which cause redundancy . All of that being said , over the last few years with the introduction of younger artist like myself , Filandi “ Stunner ” Jeffery , Heidi Charles , among others , we have seen a new breed of calypso-loving in the younger demographic showing themselves . This is good for the artform because it shows that there is still hope . To many people , calypso have lost its sting , and to some , it needs to be more reserved . To keep calypso and many other parts of our culture relevant we need to start educating people of our history and roles of our calypsionian and cultural icons . More can be done to create greater avenues not just for soca artist but for calypsonians as well . Recognize the contribution of the calysonian and give what is due to them .
Can you share your thoughts on the current state of Calypso music in Grenada and what you believe needs to be done to keep it relevant and thriving in today ’ s musical landscape ? It is my opinion that while we have seen some strides being made in and for calypso , there is still a long way to go . There are times when calypso is treated as the illegitimate step child as opposed to the parent that it is . Calypso still lays the ground work for soca in Grenada and the rest of the world , but the necessary respects are not paid . One of the issues is two-fold . Radio stations do not play calypso so calypsonians do not record . Calypsonians do not record because radio stations do not play calypso , as a result the love and appreciation for the art form is lost .
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