Ebuzz News
‘King of Soca’ Cops Top Prizes at ADDY Awards.
Photo credits: Michelle Jorsling
King of Soca, the book by Elizabeth “Lady” Montano has taken two top prizes at the Caribbean Advertising Awards.
The book, designed by Praktis Design Limited, won the top prize for Best of Print and Overall Best in Show. The book also won the Gold ADDY for Book Design and Silver for Publication Cover Design.
This was Praktis’ first time entering the ADDY Awards.Judges cited the entry for exceptional art direction and design decisions with stunning graphics from cover to cover.
“The design is disruptive, unsafe and unexpected. It was storytelling that just screamed beautiful,” the judges said. The Praktis design team comprised Blayne Clark, Creative Direction; Marlon Darbeau, Creative Direction; Melanie Archer, Design Management; and Patrick Rasoanaivo, Graphic Design.
The experienced team — lead by partners Marlon Darbeau and Blayne Clark, have also won three silver medals for campaign, website, and cover design. This award-winning work was also completed for Prudecon, a Trinbagonian engineering firm and Inspiration Labs, owned by noted Executive Coach Scott Hilton-Clarke. Praktis competed with more than 552 entries from 6 Caribbean nations.
Elizabeth Montano, mother of Machel Montano and author of King of Soca, said Praktis was selected to design the book as a result of the work they did in designing the packaging of the Montanos chocolate. “I’m very thrilled and extremely excited about the prestigious win. Praktis did the design of our chocolate package in 2018. I was very impressed so when I decided to write the book, I was convinced that they would do the design. Machel and I decided what we wanted to go with and I gave them the images from our archives and Praktis created the magic,” she said
“They were chosen because they were young, fresh and extremely creative. They didn’t disappoint. Praktis is very impressive. I spotted the talent the first time I saw their work. It’s amazing. To win the Best Show is huge. Thank you Praktis for bringing it home. Thank you to my team also. The work was worth it,” she added.
Praktis was also very honoured to work with Lady and her team.
“Lady is a very discerning client, who expects the highest quality in all things, and we love that. She and her team’s high expectations, allow us to push both our own and their limits, which is why we continue to produce great work together. The MCCL brand, MM60 packaging and now the King of Soca book have all been challenging but very enjoyable projects that resulted in strong design,” they said.
King of Soca is a 308-page book chronicling Machel’s 40-year career.
It is replete with images capturing people, moments and events, as well as anecdotes of experiences and opportunities ranging from exhilarating to harrowing. It presents expected and unexpected voices of contributors to Machel’s career, and purveyors of the wider music and entertainment industry. It does all this while giving us some access to his inner world.
The Caribbean ADDY competition, the first leg in a three-tier awards process, was described as one of the largest competitions in the US and Caribbean.
Winners from AAF-Caribbean will compete with winners from Florida at the District Competition with winners being announced mid-May.
The third and final tier of the competition includes winners from all 15-multi-state districts to compete as finalists in the American Advertising Awards competition.
Ebuzz News
‘I Am Legend’ Concert Promoter, Glenroy Watson Has Passed Away.
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.