Maintaining its promise to expose its audience to unheralded, but exciting female voices, the upcoming edition of Production One Limited's 2013 Songbirds...live series will feature La Brea-born songster, Afiya Aliya Athill. The October 7 event takes place at La Cantina Pizzeria, 12 Victoria Avenue, Port-of-Spain. Athill, like so many others, started with a dream of being a big success in singing. Testing her notes in front the mirror, with a hair-brush in her hand (mimicking a microphone), raspy voice and a vigour-filled soul, she constantly practised; and whenever she got the opportunity, would expose her vocal ability to anyone who would listen. For several years she tried to get it right, but many of her friends described her voice as "just too hoarse": she didn't let that stop her though.
Being the only one in her family with an ear for music, Athill kept at what she thought at the time would be the only way she could truly express herself. She was determined to be a better singer. Her earliest on-stage performances date back to 1990, when she started singing gospel music at her home church in La Brea. She remembered after those performances being in tears when her friends would make fun of her 'rusty' vocals. At 15 she joined Point Fortin's Trinmar chorale and later branched off to the award-winning Trinidad and Tobago musical-drama group, Jeunes Agape Choir, under the leadership of Lois Lewis. But, Athill's big break came at the age of 20 when she won her first competition in Point Fortin's Talent Quest. Recounting the experience she said, "I remember not wanting my parents to be a part of this, for, at the time, I lacked a lot of confidence.
I knew I could sing, but, I was up against some good people and if I did not win, I just did not want my parents to be around. So I gave them the wrong date to the final show." The judges were evidently impressed as her rendition of Lord you're holy won Athill the first place. Little did she know that her father was stage-side, just waiting to run and collect the trophy. Through her success at that competition Athill was given an opportunity to travel to Asia, where she worked as a vocalist for approximately two years. In 2009, after returning to Trinidad, she participated in the local Digicel Rising Stars competition in which she took second place. Next, Athill was asked to perform at Satchmo's on the Avenue (in Portof- Spain), showcasing her skill among the top names in local jazz performance. She shared the stage with such renowned female jazz vocalists as Patty Rogers and Vaughnette Bigford.
Having heard and listened attentively to them, she was convinced that jazz was her "thing". "That's the ideal niche for my raspy voice!" she said. Since then, she has performed as a background vocalist on the cast of Shades of Vaughnette...the concert series, where she further expanded her first-hand experience on the local jazz scene. She has also since shared the stage with artistes like Theron Shaw, elan parle under the management of Michael Low Chew Tung, when she performed at Jazz under the Stars 2013 in Santa Cruz (hosted by Rotary Club) and at Point Fortin's Jazz. Athill's is now a familiar face with popular saxophonist, Anthony Woodroffe, and she was featured for the second time at his concert, An evening of Jazz. Athill's most recent project included sharing the microphone with world-renowned, African jazz vocalist, trumpeter and international recording star, Hugh Masekela, when she sang back ground vocals for his album, which was recently recorded here in Trinidad.
"Music allows me to be who I want to be. Lyrics and melodies take me to places I may never be able to travel physically. But, I am not yet where I want to be". She continues... "I plan to study the art–truly study the art. I am currently composing and hope to release some of my contributions. As for now, I'm soaking up as much as I can and expressing it with a taste of me! I have been fortunate to be around people who are willing to teach what they know: and I hope in the future that I would be able to develop my unique brand. Something my country would be proud of calling their own."
�2 Athill's performance at La Cantina begins at 8 pm and general admission tickets at $125 are available at the venue and members of the committee. Contact 620-6920 or 320-7028 for additional details.