There’s something for everyone in Carnival and it’s proven. Skimpy, sensual designs are hot on the streets of Port-of-Spain on Carnival Monday and Tuesday, but when the spirit of a patron resonates more with the music of the season than the costumes, there’s always Blow Mano Blow.
Band leaders, Burt and Dianne Marcellin. Photo: TRG Concepts
The carnival Mas band – a band that honors the late, great musician, Mano Marcellin, heads to the streets of the capital city in Trinidad and Tobago, on Monday, March 3rd, 2025. It’s their fifth time heading out, and in 2024, they won the hearts of the judges at the Queen’s Park Savannah, taking home the title for Most Original band on Carnival Monday. It’s a full-fledged t-shirt band that comes complete with the all-inclusive trimmings- drinks, food and even air-conditioned buses. In addition to that, masqueraders bask in the carnival thrill of a live percussion band, literally on the road.
A taste of the road ready look. Photo: TRG Concepts
The band launch for the 2025 presentation- a tribute to calypsonian, Lord Kitchener, dubbed, ‘Mama Dis Is Mas,’ unfolded at Quties Restaurant and Lounge, on Saturday, September 28th. Four mas sections, ‘Bees Melody, ‘Miss Tourist/Mr Tourist,’ ‘Flag Woman,’ and ‘Sugar Bum Bum,’ were shared with the crowd who came out to party and get a taste of what they can expect on Carnival Monday.
Theatre and arts aficionado, Penelope Spencer. Photo: TRG Concepts
Band leader, Burt Marcellin- the son of Mano Marcellin, maintains that the band’s overall aim is to deliver a traditional and authentic T&T mas option to patrons coming to the island of Fete, Steelpan and Soca. On launch night, music lovers were served a real treat with the live musicianship and vocals of the band, ‘Brass 2 The World.’ Frontline vocalists, Snakey, Sanelle Dempster and KC brought variety, excitement and certainly, vocal prowess to the stage at the One Woodbrook Place entertainment hot spot. Soca artiste, Sekon Sta also hit the stage, adding to the energy and vibes of what was certainly, a festive experience.
The band’s new mas camp is located at 35 French Street, Port of Spain. Last weekend’s unveiling of the band’s costumes proved to be an exciting start to what is expected to be an enjoyable Carnival 2025 season in Trinidad and Tobago.
For more information on Blow Mano Blow Mas, visit their Instagram page @blowmanoblowmastt and Facebook @blowmanoblowmas.
Caribbean fashion is top tier. In a world of copy and paste designs, Caribbean brands like the incomparable Ecliff Elie, stand in a class of their own. Earlier this month, the menswear brand made a major announcement and whether you’ve heard or not, we’re here to tell you, this is huge.
The Ecliff Elie brand will now be delivering its seamless, tailored appeal to women. The brand is known for its precision tailoring and disciplined garment construction so with that at its foundation, women can now feel the complete effect of the Ecliff Elie touch. The company steps out into this aspect of its business after what it says has been years of delivering this service privately to women. Dubbed ‘Bespoke — Tailored for Women,’ Ecliff Elie is now offering the service, at scale.
The introduction reflects a focused extension of Elie’s established approach to tailoring – one built on proportion, control, and consistency. Each garment is developed through a guided process that considers posture, movement, and presence, ensuring that the final result aligns with how the individual operates and presents herself.
From custom blazers to trousers, skirts, and dresses, customers will now be able to get their custom designed Ecliff Elie apparel, through a consultation-led process where every decision—from cut to finish—is deliberate. The company says fabric selection will be approached with the same level of discipline, with materials chosen for structure, performance, and longevity, allowing each piece to maintain its standard over time.
“This is not a new direction,” Elie states. “It is a continuation of work I have done over time, now introduced with structure and clarity.”
With more than three decades of experience, Ecliff Elie has consistently positioned presentation as a defining factor in how individuals are perceived. His work has guided clients across industries to approach style as a matter of precision and intent rather than preference.
“When the garment is correct, everything changes,” he adds. “You move differently. You carry yourself differently. That is the standard.”
As more women continue to operate at the highest levels across business, leadership, and professional environments, the demand for tailoring that reflects both authority and individuality has grown. This offering responds to that shift with a process designed to deliver consistency, clarity, and control.
Through Bespoke — Tailored for Women, Ecliff Elie continues to refine his approach while maintaining a clear focus on craftsmanship, attention to detail, and a disciplined standard of execution.
One music producer in Trinidad and Tobago is calling on all artistes to create more meaningful music. He’s however advocating for positive content and says the time has come to counteract the negative as much as possible.
Khadeem Edwards is the man formerly known as Twin Island Studio, but he switched gears around 2023, after what he describes as a rebirth. He now runs Xklusiv Music Productions and earlier this year, saw the success of his Relief Riddim- a project that featured the likes of Skinny Fabulous, Rae, Dev and Mr. Lee. In the aftermath of that, he’s pushing more positive energy with a new project called, The Only 1 Riddim, and this time he has worked with several talented artistes, among them, Christo and Island Boy Preedy.
Producer, Khadeem Edwards
For Edwards, the mission of creating music is one that’s as important as it is necessary. He firmly believes that music’s influence can be uplifting or damaging, and because of that belief, he is advocating for change. “As a producer, I know that my work influences people. Because of that, I’ve made the conscious decision to work on this particular project with the intention to influence people positively,” said Edwards. The Only 1 Riddim is a fusion of Afrobeats, R&B and Soul music. By its acoustic nature, the production demands lyrics that are soulful, sweet and life-giving. “We were given emotions, and music plays with these emotions. If you have an aggressive style of music and you consume that frequently, that aggression will begin to develop in you as a person. For this riddim, I’ve incorporated Afrobeats so we can still dance, but the harmonies deliver on the typical R&B and Soul sounds.”
The release of the songs on The Only 1 Riddim coincided with the celebration of Mother’s Day. Edwards explained that each song is meant to stir something inside the soul of the listener and engage them in a way that promotes love. “I think it’s important for listeners to be offered a choice when it comes to music. There’s a great opportunity for our artistes to bring forward more music that counteracts the negative, and I think the onus is on the people who hold the power to promote positive music, to do just that,” said Edwards. His expression comes in the aftermath of several incidents of violence in Trinidad and Tobago in recent weeks, which have been linked to gang warfare. Many across society have argued that music which perpetuates criminality plays a powerful role in the end result that often spikes the murder toll.
LFS Music returns to the music scene with ‘Sweet Love.’
Artiste support weighs heavily on the overall thrust to deliver music that’s needed for a better outcome in today’s society. Edwards says between the marketing and promotional efforts and the consumer’s reaction to the music, a lot can happen. “Delivering music takes a big toll on all artistes as well as the producer. Marketing costs and all other associated costs are heavy. What’s sad is that after all those expenses, the consumer hardly ever makes a purchase. They rip pirated versions or stream for free. A song is 99 cents on iTunes. When you pay for the music, you feed the artiste and the producer. We need more people to buy the music and support our artistes,” he urged.
A single acceptance of a new life by Khadeem Edwards a few years ago altered his life’s direction. “I accepted Jesus Christ. I wasn’t perfect and I’m still not perfect, but I’m working towards perfection, being a better person, and I believe any artiste, any person, can do the same,” he said. He hopes The Only 1 Riddim will decrease the sense of urgency presently consuming many across the world. “My hope for this project is for all of us to really slow down. The world is moving really fast and we need to slow down and appreciate the people who truly matter. The songs on this riddim express that. I believe that if we listen to this style of music, we’ll slow down, reminisce, capture a vibe of love and appreciation for the people we love, and return to tenderness and vulnerability.”
Brooklyn based artiste, Maki is also apart of the new project.
Plans are afoot to generate more music that promotes the positives of life. Edwards and his team at Xklusiv Music Productions are answering a call that runs deeper than the eye can see. “The bonus track on this riddim will be a gospel single and in that song, The Only 1 will ultimately be God. I’m pleased to be doing this and I hope that its value will be appreciated.”
The artistes on The Only 1 Riddim are Christo with “Woman,” Maki who delivers “D Only One,” Preedy who sings “Fight No More,” Mr. Lee with “Take Care,” Temisha from the US Virgin Islands, who sings “Paradise,” and LFS Music returns with “Sweet Love.”
error: This content is protected. if you wish to use this content in anyway please contact us.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.