O Lawd Oye…Baila Mami…Iron Love, and, of course, the popular refrain "We want More Sokah" in 2020 are popular hits by fast-rising soca star, the vivacious songstress Nailah Blackman over the past three years since she burst onto the scene.
The 22-year-old (she will be 23 in December), the granddaughter of soca/sokah inventor the late Lord Shorty/Ras Shorty I (Garfield Blackman) and daughter of Abbi Blackman, had soca flowing in her veins even before she was born! She is intent on taking soca worldwide and to the Grammys with her unique sounding voice which has attracted fans all over the world from the Caribbean to Africa, Asia, and Sweden.
Blackman tours all over the world and has touched stages such as Olympia in Paris and countless others in Japan, Switzerland, Canada, USA, and the Caribbean. She has also worked with some of the Caribbean’s biggest artistes such as Calypso Rose, Tarrus Riley, Shenseea, Konshens, and Kees Dieffenthaller.
Among her many accolades in her relatively short career, in 2018 Blackman was nominated for the best new international act BET viewers’ choice award and to date has close to 100 million views collectively on YouTube, not counting other musical platforms. She won Groovy Soca of the Year Female with Baila Mami at the International Soca Awards in St Lucia, and she was nominated for Best New Soca Artiste and the Best Collaboration at the Your View Awards in Jamaica. She won the Best New Crossover Act at the TTCO Awards in T&T, and her song Sokah was chosen by NJAC as one of the top 20 calypsoes of the year. She was also presented with a Cultural Ambassador Award from the New York Senate during 2018 Labour Day celebrations in New York.
Blackman continues to make waves by being the first soca artiste to be invited to Al Jazeera TV. She was also featured on Toronto’s top two morning show programmes--Your Morning and CBC Metro Morning, Japan’s #1 performing platform--Abema TV, top French Network--Trace TV and Canal + and Hot 97’s programme--Who’s Next. She has also been interviewed on New York’s top radio programmes such as WBLX with David Levi, Hot 97 Summer Stage, and Power 105 with Nyla Simmone.
In 2019 Blackman showed her musical versatility and talent with the release of her first EP 'The Reel' and a performance at Coachella with Calypso Rose. She was also featured in the Coachella Curated series aired to over 50 million people in April of the same year.
Her 2020 season’s hit More Sokah was played by many steelbands at Panorama including winning the large band category, played by Desperadoes on their way to their 12th title.
Although Blackman has been offered deals by top international labels, she is still awaiting the right offer. Until then, she is taking T&T, the Caribbean and the world by storm.
9 QUESTIONS WITH NAILAH
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Pleasantville, San Fernando and raised in various areas in Trinidad, but the main two areas were La Fillette, on the north coast, and Rio Claro.
What schools did you attend in spite of spending more time determined to become an international star?
Lol. I attended the La Fillette RC Primary and Rio Claro East Secondary schools.
Born with obvious talent, who would you say have inspired you the most and how?
My mom, Abbi Blackman, definitely inspired me the most because she was always so happy, beautiful, and positive. She is everything I always wanted to be in a person. She is one of my biggest role models and one of the most talented and resourceful people I know.
The Grammys…your goal…how do you plan to achieve it?
I am determined to reach the Grammys by doing soca in a manner that will appeal to people from all walks of life and by collaborating with top artistes from every corner of the earth until everyone knows what soca sounds like, feels like and falls in love with the genre.
If you had to solve the ills of T&T, what would you do?
Firstly, I would target the children by playing an active role in shaping their minds to be good, decent human beings. Secondly, I would have a mandatory family life evaluation done to try to repair and build better family life in every home in T&T. I will also give every citizen an opportunity to 1) make money or 2) follow their dreams. I will work on fixing the identity crisis Trinbagonians have which I feel could instil a level of pride and togetherness which may cause crime to dwindle as we become each other’s keeper knowing that we are all from the same country. Lastly, I will target corruption, wiping it clean at every level.
If you could choose one local and one foreign entertainer to perform just for you, who would they be?
Hmm…Kees, and my foreign artiste would be Rihanna.
If you could pick one person to dine with, who would it be?
That would be Yara Shahidi, she’s so young and an inspiration to me.
Describe your perfect soul mate.
Good one! Let’s see…someone who is understanding, easy going and open, spiritual, one who knows exactly what they want in life. Ambitious but always content, gives me the perfect balance of freedom, security and control. Very intelligent and seeks knowledge. Respects every human and living thing and understands how to care, comfort, protect and nurture me. A passionate person who is selfless but understands their worth and never lets anyone take advantage of them. Just an all-round good person who would take the time to understand who I am, what I love, and why I live.
In two words, describe yourself beginning with your initials N and B.
Natural Bliss.