Ebuzz News
Archived: NYC Is Opening Up But Are West Indians Getting Vaccinated? Here’s What This Artist Said.
Rumours and conspiracy theories may be getting the better of many Caribbean people in the US, this even as the US President and others in authority have been trying their hardest to get things back to some semblance of normalcy after more than a year of Covid-19 restrictions. Ebuzztt had a little one on one chat with New York city based soca artist, Rayzor of The Request Band and he expressed the view that many Caribbean people remain skeptical about taking the Covid-19 vaccine.
“Within the Caribbean community there’s a lot of skepticism because really and truly we don’t know the long term effects of the vaccine,” he said, adding that in conversations with his friends and other people within the Caribbean community, there were those who said they would not be taking the vaccine at all, and would simply wait it out. “Where I am on this is kind of on the fence. I don’t know the long term effects of the vaccine, but I’m also seeing that in the near future, a vaccine will decide how fast you, as an individual, will proceed with regaining some kind of normalcy in life,” he said.
The artist says he continues to monitor things. He told us he believes companies in the US will not hire unvaccinated persons and will implement restrictions where that is concerned. “Here in New York they’re going to relax a lot of restrictions – restaurants, amusement parks, clubs, groceries and the workplace… so very soon we may see the social distancing element relaxed a bit. My main concern is if I don’t take the vaccine by choice, and there are restrictions, I can obviously protect myself, but now they’ve relaxed the laws so that if you are vaccinated, you can stop wearing masks ; But what prevents a person from saying they’re vaccinated when they’re not?” he questioned.
Rayzor says there’ll be no law restricting persons from standing close together, and even speaking into the faces of each other, something that in itself, would be a risk to the unvaccinated person. He made reference to the New York City subway, highlighting the usual rush hour interactions. He said for artistes, like him, there is certainly a risk associated with not being vaccinated. “Us as artistes, we get called for shows. Are we now going to go in the club with everybody clustered, because most people are acting like they’ve gotten the vaccine and if there’s no protocol in place by the club to show your vaccination card, everybody will be in there together,” he reasoned.
Rayzor admitted that things will more than likely become a little difficult for people who are unvaccinated. “This virus isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. It’s gonna always be around, just like the flu so it’s really on the individual. My thing is if you don’t have to travel and your job doesn’t require it, you may not need to take it, but if you know you’ll need to travel and if you need the vaccine to get certain jobs or hold on to your job, you’ll have to make a decision,” he rationalised. “While we are gambling on the long term effects of the vaccine, and whether there will be any, we are 100% certain that the virus is serious,” he said.
At home in Trinidad and Tobago, the sentiments have been pretty much the same, with many still skeptical about taking the shot. Several islands across the Caribbean have been ramping up vaccination efforts, aiming to achieve herd immunity. Herd immunity is a form of indirect protection from infectious disease that can occur with some diseases when a sufficient percentage of a population has become immune to an infection, whether through vaccination or previous infections, thereby reducing the likelihood of infection for individuals who lack immunity.
Highlighting the importance of each individual making the right decision as the world attempts to regain its footing, Rayzor admitted that there may be a lot of misinformation being spread. “We live in a funny time and there’s a lot of information out there. We have to be careful of what we listen to, who we listen to and we we’re following,” he said.
The artist has released a new single called ‘I Believe’- a conscious soca single he felt compelled to release at a time like this. Be sure to check it out on YouTube.
Now, tell us, are you taking the shot?
Ebuzz News
“We Have so Much to Offer the World.” Shurwayne’s Bringing The Authentic Tobago to Carnival.
The most anticipated period on Tobago’s annual event calendar is just about ready to start and one of the island’s most successful entertainers is leading the charge, delivering an event on Thursday, October 29th that will prove truly memorable. Shurwayne Winchester is Tobago’s golden boy. He has taken the Tobago Carnival product personally, believing it’s a good tool to market the island, if truly executed with love and sustainability in mind.
Shurwayne emerged on the Soca scene over 20 years ago and has not slowed down. He has cemented his name in the Caribbean entertainment landscape over many years and he has represented Tobago with immense pride. Despite having moved to Trinidad, the two-time Road March champion remains deeply connected to his home and is set to host Tobago Love The Xperience in honor of that appreciation. “Together with my friend and old Tobago classmate, Lester Duncan, we’re using this event to show the world what Tobago is truly about. For me, it’s about giving back to the place that I came from. There is no prouder moment than being able to do something like this on your home soil. We wanted to offer those visiting the island, something more than the décor and the lights and music,” said the artiste, noting that this year’s theme for Tobago Love The Xperience is The Harvest. “We’re doing something that’s built around the heritage of Tobago. As somebody who grew up here it has always been important for me to do this – to give the foreigners a chance to see the real Tobago, to give them a chance to fall in love with Tobago – the things that they see and the feeling they get when they experience what we have to share.”
Shurwayne believes the events happening at Carnival should embody the island’s underlying energy and attributes. “When they come here for Carnival, what they experience should make them want to return even outside of the Carnival season,” he said.
Tobago Love The Xperience takes place at the Signal Hill Secondary School from 6pm on Thursday. “We want our people to fall in love with our island too. It’s important for us to love where we come from,” said the entertainer. “This event is about heritage and culture. It’s about the history of Tobago. When people enter the venue they will see and feel exactly what a Tobago Harvest is like even as we fete and celebrate the Carnival season,” he said.
An artiste, promoter and ambassador, Shurwayne Winchester’s undying commitment to preserving what’s good about his nation, is commendable. He was one of the artistes who performed most recently at the funeral service held for the late, great Calypso King of the World, The Mighty Sparrow. “We have so much to offer the world and there are men and women who showed us how to do it with class and dignity. They took what we have and shared it well with the rest of the world. Men like Sparrow and Aunty Rose represented in a particular way for T&T and I just think it’s a fundamental part of being a patriot – someone who puts country before anything else.”
Music News
Stepping Into Her Own, Jalessa Says It’s Time for ‘Freedom.’
For 16-year-old rising star, Jalessa Lazarus, this month has been bitter sweet. The teenager is set to release her new single, ‘Freedom,’ but even as she delivers musically, she is reminded of her grandmother who passed away in May this year, after being diagnosed with Breast Cancer. “She would always tell me I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” said the youngster as she reminisced on the encouragement, she often received from her family matriarch.
Jalessa Lazarus is a talented, young entertainer in the Soca space, and even as her present focus is on the 2027 CXC examinations, her love for music abounds, and so she is still releasing the Teddy Rhymes penned, ‘Freedom,’ with hope of maintaining her standing in the music space in 2027. “This song is all about expressing yourself – encouraging enjoyment and appreciation for the culture of Trinidad and Tobago. I want people to really get to know what we here in T&T are all about – all that we have and all that we can share with the world,” said the artiste.
The song was produced by Millbeatz Music – a familiar space for the entertainer, as she is also being taught to play the piano and guitar under the Millbeatz Entertainment umbrella – under the tutelage of Kevin Millien. “I’m trying my very best to do both music and school. CXC is serious. I have a time-table that helps me with balancing both my studies and music,” she explained. Jalessa is very aware of the importance of a good education. She has a good head on her shoulders, along with parents who keep her grounded, and guide her every step of the way. “I’m doing Maths, English Language, IT, Social Studies, Principles of Business and Office Administration,” she said, assuring that she will release more music upon the completion of her exams. “I want to be an inspiration to other young entertainers coming behind me. I also want to travel – take my music around the world,” she expressed, adding that she has dreams of stepping into the RnB arena one day – her inspiration being Adele.
A proud student of the artform, under the tutelage of artistes like Preedy, Nailah Blackman, Patrice Roberts and Voice, Jalessa says she loves Soca music and thinks colourful language has no place in the genre. It’s a topic that is fast becoming a cause for concern according to some, this as more artistes experiment with the inclusion of expletives in their music. “I do not support colourful language in Soca. It’s unnecessary and I don’t think it should be used in our music – music that we are sharing with the world,” said the youngster. “I think Soca is a different type of music, from anything else. Music is generally a vibe. It’s therapy for people – our music is all about dancing, freeing up, dressing up in costumes and being happy; it’s happy music,” she added.
Her groovy soca single, ‘Freedom,’ a true expression of her personality and what she wants the world to know about the land of her birth, Jalessa Lazarus continues to reach for the stars, all while drawing awareness to serious issues. “I want to take the time to extend hope and prayers to anyone who’s dealing with any type of cancer this month and everyday onward. God is always with you,” she said.
Rooted in her culture and diligently focused on her future, Lazarus plans on releasing an EP and says even though she will sit out competitions in 2027, she will return after the completion of her CXC exams. Her mother, Phylesha meanwhile expressed immense pride in her daughter’s commitment and took a moment to thank Teddy Rhymes for his support and encouragement. “I don’t think she will be going back into junior competitions but we are looking beyond exams and I want to especially thank Teddy for believing in Jalessa and encouraging her.”
For more on Jalessa Lazarus, follow her on her on Instagram @jalessa_lazarus.
