The Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism has a plan to expose nine specially-selected local music artistes and bands to the international scene, in the hopes of getting them signed to a record company and to promote T&T's spectrum of talent to a global audience.The initiative is called Trinbago Interactive Music Expo (Time).
At a press conference yesterday at Nicholas Towers, Port-of-Spain, line minister Dr Lincoln Douglas told the artistes about several international recording and touring agents which were recruited by the ministry to come in to Trinidad at the end of February.The objective is to provide the musicians and singers with the opportunity to present their work, and network with fellow professionals in the business.
This would hopefully lead to them signing contracts for their entry into the international music scene."We will throw all that we have behind you to make sure you succeed," Douglas said. During this process, the selected artistes will undergo training which includes coaching on image and branding, vocals, musicianship, stage presence and performance.Douglas called on them to embrace this learning process, despite their current level of local success and development.
"Submit yourself to be trained. We have a thing in Trinidad here, where everybody feel they know everything," Douglas said.Marge Blackman, daughter of the late Ras Shorty I, who was selected for Time, said she was ready to do as the minister suggested and learn as much as she could from the experience."I feel so excited, I am grateful...I look forward to the training. I am open to it, I am always willing to learn," she said happily to the T&T Guardian in an interview.
Her hope is to get signed to one of the labels, and represent T&T on a global scale with her style of music.The artistes will also have the opportunity to showcase their talent as they perform at the Normandie hotel Under the Trees, St Ann's, Port-of-Spain, on February 27, and at TASA Fete at Queen's Hall, St Ann's on March 2.
Selected acts
Five Miles to Midnight
Gyazette
Freetown Collective
Nebula 868
Johann Chuckaree
Orlando Octave
Sandra Forson
Erphaan Alves
Marge Blackman