THE INTERVIEW - GISELLE CARTER
We have heard your vocal ability and it is amazing. But why did you choose soca music as a genre to perform?
Thank you for the compliment :) First and foremost I am from Trinidad and Tobago the land of Soca music. Growing up in my home as a child Soca music was always played, so Soca music is me, I love Soca music! As far as I’m concerned there is no music that is as rhythmic, infectious, creative and full of vibes as Soca music PERIOD.
Why this one more than any other?
I’m not sure if you are aware but I also perform other genres of music including Calypso, Reggae, Jazz, R&B. But I have to say that when I look at the music trends across the world, Soca music is gaining popularity from Africa with AfroSoca to Europe with merging of EDM and Soca to North and South America. People from all races, regions and walks of life are gravitating to Soca music in ways that have never been seen before. I think Soca music is on a trajectory that will soon surpass Reggae music as the dominant Caribbean music around the world.
What would you say you bring to the industry here in the UK?
I would like to think that I bring a lot of drive, creativity, passion
and energy to the UK Soca industry. I certainly think that the
UK Soca industry is not where it should be at the moment and I for
one will be working tirelessly to put the UK Soca scene on par with
Trinidad in terms of scope, participation, organisation and
enjoyment. That is why last year I started a charity
(Organisation for Caribbean Arts Culture & Heritage) which I
believe is going be pivotal in terms of bringing people together
under one umbrella to push for unity and understanding of our
culture and to open it up to people of all races, backgrounds and
diversity to fully participate. At the moment we have some work
to do but that work has most definitely begun.
Do you face any challenges being a woman in the industry?
Not anything different to the challenges faced by women in general
in the industry. Soca in the UK isn't mainstream yet but I think the
signs are very encouraging as far as the UK public warming up to
Soca music and the Caribbean culture as a whole. As I have already
indicated, there is some work to do but I’m very confident that we will rise to the challenge. When I look across the Soca scene here in the UK, I see more and more young people including myself wanting to get involved, dipping their hands into their pockets to organise events, the majority of which, I suspect are run at a loss but, it is the foundation from which we must build upon now in order for the UK public and beyond to gain full understanding and acceptance of the music.