Caribbean Buzz
Archived: Problem Child is Winning and The Soca World is Watching. Artist Expresses Curiosity!
He’s one of the Caribbean’s most humble talents but ahead of the Carnival season in Trinidad and Tobago, St. Vincent born songwriter and artist, Problem Child is prepared to show the world just what he’s got, recently explaining to EBUZZTT exclusively that he’s got a very smart strategy that he cannot reveal just yet, but one that will certainly be recognised as time rolls on. Today, the singer celebrates his birthday.
Problem Child was one of the Soca artistes aboard the Soca on the Seas cruise in October.
We met up with Problem aboard the Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas in October. He was a part of the contingent hired by the Soca On The Seas team to deliver Soca music on their first ever Afro Soca cruise to the Bahamas. He did not fail to execute. In fact, Problem Child was among the artistes who represented with a level of pride that proved to us that Soca is definitely in good hands. The artist has released two major anthems heading into Carnival 2019 with plans to possibly unleash a few more. He recorded with production powerhouse, Precision Productions recently, a project that also saw him pen lyrics for a song delivered by Patrice Roberts who he refers to as his sister.
In our chat, Problem revealed that it was Patrice, who gave him the opportunity he needed. Together, they unleashed a song called, “A Little Wine” and since that time, he has written a lot more anthems for Roberts and other artistes, including Shal Marshall.
In 2018, Problem Child’s name began calling in Trinidad and Tobago. It wasn’t the first time but there certainly was some level of attention being paid to the artist. He had written all three tracks, including his own on the 2AM Project. He said he’d made the conscious decision to release the single done by Patrice and Kees first, telling EBUZZTT that he studies people’s behaviour and knew it would create a stir. Next up, he worked with Shal on ‘Splinters’ a song that essentially caused mayhem on the soca scene. “Shal is a natural born competitor, so there was no doubt in my mind that he was going to execute that song,” said Problem. His song came later. ‘Middle of Something’ was released in the aftermath of the success of both Kees and Patrice’s ‘Like it Like That’ and Shal’s ‘Splinters’ and according to Problem, what he piggybacked on was the fact that he knew his name would be credited for the songwriting of the other two singles. He said he knew people would then become curious to hear the third track and so it proved effective. All three songs on the 2AM project were on consistent rotation throughout T&T’s carnival 2018 season and even thereafter.
Problem Child is a prolific Soca songwriter. He wrote Shal Marshal’s hit single ‘Splinters’.
A seafood lover, the very health conscious artist told EBUZZTT that he’s curious to see what will happen in 2019. “I’m not anticipating anything really. I’m just very curious.” He knows his two tracks, “Good Up, Good Up” and “Love De Road” are doing well, and he has since released another- a song called “Whole Heart” on the 10X Over riddim. He also has other projects in the pipeline, some involving music that he is personally involved in and others that he is not. Amid that, Problem is set to deliver his first album- a volume of work he’ll call, “Problem is A Problem.”
Proud to be a part of the Soca music fraternity, the entertainer told EBUZZTT that he feels the genre is doing very well.
“I think it’s growth has a lot to do with social media where we are not depending on certain people to take it to where it needs to go. If you have talent and your work is properly put together and showcased via social media, now you stand a better chance. “
On the topic of soca music’s rotation at Carnival particularly, the ‘Party Animal’ singer said he feels it for programme directors, lamenting that the seasonality of the genre has its downside. He said each year he releases approximately nine tracks for St. Vincent’s carnival and he has just as much for Trinidad and Tobago carnival. He, however, says he understands that many of those songs simply cannot receive the rotation he’d like, no matter how good they may be. He plans on releasing at least two more songs for Trinidad and Tobago’s 2019 season and says he is curious to see what will take place then.
Problem Child is a huge fan of his country’s authentic Carnival vibe.
St. Vincent his homeland, the social media stunner who keeps his female fans intrigued with some of the most exotic looking photos, told us St. Vincent’s carnival is as authentic a carnival, as there could be. “It’s a lot less commercial than T&T’s carnival and there is a lot of vibes in Vincy carnival. It almost looks like a riot,” he said laughing. “Nobody ever gets hurt though,” he said almost immediately. The artist explained that much of the energy and enthusiasm experienced in St. Vincent at carnival time is probably owed to the humility of the people, explaining that the partygoers are not able to dress and ball out with bottles like the people in Trinidad and Tobago do, so what they do is party hard. He says Grenada’s carnival closely mirrors St. Vincent’s, telling us, “There are some semi stush events, but if the right people get into the event, it can escalate quickly.”
Here are 3 things you may not have known about Problem Child:
- He’s left-handed.
- He doesn’t live in St. Vincent. He lives in New York and he’s lived there since before he sang “Party Animal.”
- He hasn’t missed St. Vincent’s Carnival since 2005.
Problem visits Trinidad and Tobago in November when he will do his promotional run ahead of Carnival 2019. Join us in wishing him good health, strength and happiness as he celebrates another year of life, today.
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Caribbean Buzz
Destra Delivers Powerfully at Reflections.
“If this sharing that I’m doing touches anyone, I’m truly grateful. None of us are perfect. Some days you’ll feel good, some days you won’t, but it’s all part of the journey. Sometimes what you’re looking for is right on the horizon, and the moment you give up, you miss it. If my testimony makes anyone feel something, then my work here is done.” – DESTRA GARCIA
Trinidad and Tobago received a musical showcase of spiritual awakening yet again this past Saturday, at Destra’s ‘Reflections: Sound. Spirit. Surrender.” The event took place at Queen’s Hall, St. Ann’s and proved to be a truly inspiring and uplifting musical experience.
From the onset, the show set a standard that fans of good music with powerful lyrics, would rave about for weeks. David Rudder – a cultural icon of Calypso music out of Trinidad and Tobago, welcomed the audience as he hit the stage first delivering the very fitting, ‘High Mas.’ It was a powerful blessing no doubt – something that would lead into a seamless spiritual production. He was subsequently joined on stage by Destra, something that created a full-circle moment that drew immediate emotion from the audience.
Known for her unmistakeable vocal ability, Destra took her audience on a carefully curated musical journey, opening her set with Free Again before transitioning into slowed-down, soul-stirring renditions of some of her most beloved songs, including Love Somebody and Fly and with each performance, she revealed a different layer of her artistry, offering vulnerability, reflection, and strength.
One of the night’s most touching highlights came as Garcia shared the stage with her daughter, Xaiya, for a heartfelt duet of The Prayer. Beginning at the piano, Xaiya gently set the tone before joining her mother in song, creating an intimate moment that resonated deeply with the audience.
The production, which was creatively directed by Zara Bartels and Isoke Edwards, also showcased the incredible talent of father and son pan duo Martin and De’jean Cain as well as the Maria Regina Grade School and St. Joseph’s Convent Port- of- Spain choirs, whose vibrant and polished performances brought a refreshing, youthful energy to the stage. Gospel artiste, Nisa joined Garcia for a powerful duet of Bridge Over Troubled Water. She also performed her original composition Make Me Over, adding another layer of spiritual depth to the evening.
As the show built toward its finale, Garcia delivered a commanding rendition of Ella Andall’s Bring Down the Power, followed by classic hymns including A Little More Oil in My Lamp. This climactic segment was elevated by the presence of traditional belle dancers and African drummers, creating a rich, cultural fusion that brought the audience to its feet. Beyond the performances, the overall production, brought to life through Bridgette Wilson’s choreography and Atiba Borde’s costuming, stood out for its seamless execution, immersive ambience, and thoughtful storytelling, reinforcing Reflections as more than just a concert, but a transformative experience.
Reflections certainly delivered a powerful blend of music, filled with deep messages and meaning. In what is a very spiritual season, Destra, through the delivery of ‘Reflections,’ has carved out a space for inspiration and connection within Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural landscape – something that many would agree, is a necessity more than an option.
Caribbean Buzz
Belize’s Shyne, Talks Culture and Governance at Island Music Conference. Challenges Caribbean Leaders.
Belizean political leader and notable Hip Hop figure , The Honourable, Dr. Moses “Shyne” Barrow has identified Jamaica as a regional blueprint for how culture and governance can work together to build sustainable industry.
Delivering a keynote address entitled, ‘From Stage to State’ at the Island Music Conference (IMC) in Kingston, Jamaica last week, Barrow urged Caribbean governments to move beyond symbolic support of the arts and toward structured public–private partnerships.
“These conferences are so very important,” he told delegates, describing information exchange as critical in an evolving global music economy. Responding to a question from Overtime Media about cultural influence as an economic engine, Barrow pointed to Jamaica’s global footprint. “The work of great musicians such as Bob Marley and Shabba Ranks, as well as the development of Reggae and Dancehall music, has done more for the Jamaican tourism product than anything else,” he said.
PHOTO: Overtime Media.
According to Barrow, Jamaica exemplifies how successive political administrations, despite partisan rivalry, maintained consistent implementation policies that enabled private-sector investment in the music industry. “They were fighting each other, but giving the same implementation,” he noted, crediting that alignment for helping Jamaican music achieve unmatched global recognition.“There is no one in the world who does not know about Jamaica — its music, its food and its culture,” he noted.
Barrow framed his own political evolution as rooted in Hip Hop’s entrepreneurial DNA. Calling his transition from performer to legislator “quintessential Hip-Hop,” he cited moguls who expanded beyond music into business and influence, arguing that creative thinkers belong in positions of power. “We belong in parliament. We belong in the cabinet. We belong in the Prime Minister’s office and in the President’s office,” he said. He also addressed emerging challenges facing the creative sector, particularly artificial intelligence and intellectual property protection.“We need to protect our rights. We need to protect our work and that can only be legislated,” Barrow warned. “If we don’t get involved in the legislative process, we’re going to wake up one day and find that our rights are gone.”
Calling the human mind “the greatest thing on planet Earth,” he cautioned against over-reliance on technology, stressing that creatives must remain central to innovation. Reflecting candidly on his past, including a decade of incarceration following a 1999 nightclub shooting, Barrow described his return to Belize as a shift toward service. “By then, my dreams had already come true,” he said. “But when I looked around my country, I saw people still struggling. So I chose a life of service.”
Barrow also revealed plans to return to the stage with a world tour marking the 25th anniversary of his debut album, while reaffirming his commitment to public service. Closing his address, he challenged Caribbean leaders to diversify the profiles of those shaping legislation.“The Caribbean’s creative class has already shaped global culture,” he said. “Now we must shape policy.”
– NIGEL TELESFORD / Overtime Media.
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