What sparked your interest in music?
My interest in music was first sparked when I performed as a child in my church and school choirs. After years of wanting to perform a solo at church instead of singing with the children’s choir, I decided to ask a question as a young teen and I finally got the chance to perform a duet for the first time with an older singer in my church and everyone was really surprised and impressed by my voice and I was encouraged, supported and invited to perform many times after that.
What’s the best career advice you’ve been given?
The best career advice that I was given came from an unexpected person who is a very established songwriter and calypsonian; it was to focus on all the parts that make you who you are and to always highlight and promote these aspects. I was told that this is what will make you different and stand out by following your own path and not the path that many have walked before.
How do you stay inspired?
I stay inspired by keeping a positive mindset as much as possible, writing music that gives people a sense of hope, peace and love (the essence of life), working on my talent as often as needed, and working as a vocal trainer with my students who are passionate about music and singing and seeing their improvements, development of their confidence on stage and off stage and being able to enjoy themselves.
What’s one thing you’ve learned from an artist you admire that has shaped how you approach your craft?
I have been learning to always remember the joy of singing, to find and express the joy in it, and the audience will always be impacted in some meaningful way.
What do you ultimately want to achieve?
There are many goals I have set for myself and have been working on all throughout my life so far.
Some of them have included improving my voice through being classically trained and doing various music exams and courses by Berklee College of music and London College of music, to learn at least two musical instruments; I have been taught the guitar which I can now play at an intermediate level. I would eventually like to further my higher education in the area of music; so far I have completed my Bachelor’s in International Relations.
I also would like to become more involved in philanthropy which first piqued my interest when I was a member of my school’s Key Club.
Furthermore, I was a part of a volunteer programme while studying at University called Vision and Fortitude where we often gave back to the Barbadian youth by reading to children at schools, visiting, singing and giving gifts to sick children in the hospital and those staying in children’s homes.
Moreover, I volunteered in Naples, Italy to teach English to refugee children and even when I left there and returned to Barbados, I decided to raise some funds to purchase some books, school bags and a laptop to be used by the refugee children who lived at the volunteer placement.
When the photos were posted online of the books in the volunteer placement’s library and the bags and laptop were received, the refugees were thankful for this gesture and thanked me for the educational material to help them to improve their English, writing and studies.
As a singer and songwriter, I want to perform at my own concerts and bring communities together through writing more music that speaks to the heart and soul and that uplifts people.
