It was her first year stepping onto the scene in the capacity of bandleader in 2012 and she nailed it. Nadia Batson and SASS were featured at the 2012 Tobago Jazz Experience. She said the reception of patrons at the event was overwhelming. It ran from April 26 to 29. "From the moment I walked onto the stage, I was greeted with cheers and screams," she said. Establishing SASS Batson says she has been working hard at establishing the SASS band and brand across the Caribbean since C2K12. She understands the importance of marketing and branding and acknowledges that even though the band did have a wonderful reception in 2012, the work to maintain this has only just begun.
Batson and SASS performed in Tobago on April 20. It was their second performance in Tobago, having done a show in Roxborough on Carnival Saturday night. But she said this particular event was special as she got an opportunity to show, not only the locals present, but also the visitors, the power of her musical outfit. Headlining with Bacchanalist singer, Kerwin Du Bois on that night, Batson said SASS being a soca band, performed a set that was 80 per cent soca. "We proved the power of soca music in any setting," she said, highlighting that while the band did show its musical versatility by including some old school dancehall hits as well as a tribute to the late Whitney Houston, the groovy and power soca music reigned supreme.
Batson said it was both humbling and gratifying when she stood back and noticed the crowd's ongoing insistence for the band's return to the stage. "Not even the MC could control them, and we had to come back out," she said with a chuckle.
Taking SASS overseas
Batson assures that her work at making SASS a household name in the Caribbean and internationally will continue as she believes in her product. The singer /songwriter will travel to New York, London and Houston in the next few weeks to continue to fly T&T's flag high.
