Ebuzz News
Shurwayne As Enticing As Ever. Ladies Excited Over Artiste’s New Releases.
A legacy of being a real hardcore performer, Soca star Shurwayne Winchester is assuring women all over T&T, the region and the world, that he is prepared to give them all they need… Musically that is!
The entertainer has unleashed four songs, two collaboratively done with new artistes outside of T&T, and two brand new singles that are already making heads roll with excitement. ‘Bam Bam,’ produced by Mang Productions and Stone Livingston, was released last week and has been quickly followed up by ‘Iron Man’ on the Bess Box riddim, produced by Shot Master J and Kyle Phillips with Executive producer credit going to Mr. Bessor. Both songs are what Shurwayne calls, ‘tunes for the ladies.’ He makes it very clear that Carnival is woman and unapologetically argues that the more artistes move away from pleasing women, the less enjoyment we’ll see at fetes.
“Women are the heart and soul of Carnival. We love to see them move and enjoy the music. We have to start with them first, please them and when the hardcore music’s released for the real revelry, they’d have already been fed their sweetness. Then they’ll be ready to unleash their fire,” he said. Laughing at his statement, the artiste revealed a bit of his thought process when he sits down to write. “I always think of being the fetter. I think of how the person in the all-inclusive, or the cooler fete feels in the crowd, listening to the music, whether high on life or something else. I think of the man in the fete with his woman – how she may want to be held and danced with. A lot goes into writing and then when I hit the studio, the vocals are the additives really,” he shared.
One of Trinidad and Tobago’s true performers with unmatched vocals, Shurwayne says no matter what, he knows his place as an artiste, and will maintain his standard as a musician and a human being. “I don’t intend to sacrifice being the man that I am for clout or fame. The standard of artistry I’ve delivered over the years will be my legacy in time to come. For now, I want to continue pleasing and finessing these women. Many men aren’t doing that so I’ll take on the job.”
With still more music in his arsenal, the entertainer said he’s over just doing music for Carnival- for a season. “My aim is catalogue building. The bigger, the stronger the catalogue, the greater the value. I’ve done a lot of music, a lot of collaborations,” he said, recalling that he’s worked with Maxi Priest, Christopher Martin, Busy Signal, Major Laser, Serani, Destra, Baron, Bunji, Lord Nelson, Sparrow, David Rudder, Keida, Ultimate Rejects and so many other artistes. “When it comes to music, I really can’t contain what I have inside me. I have to always let it out. Most times, it’s for the ladies, but when the energy is unleashed, the fellas will always get something to get on bad to.”
Two other singles released in late October, ‘Up In Here’ featuring an artiste from Roatan by the name of Jhaytea and ‘Gyal Love Bend’ with It’s Jus from Barbados, Shurwayne says he believes in bringing new artistes into the spotlight, no matter where they’re from. “We all have something to offer the people. Music isn’t a one size fits all. There’s gonna be something sweet in a song that attracts one listener or 10, and another 5 just may not feel it. That’s why the people who share the music with the world have to understand that it’s not about how they personally feel about the song,” he explained.
From Christmas 2023, into Carnival 2024, Shurwayne’s pumping with adrenaline. Soca Parang, a genre of music with hits also in his arsenal, he says he’s just doing what comes natural to him. “There’s no forcing anything. I’m just doing what I love and I hope the people I’m doing it for will receive it in the same way.” Last weekend he got proof of their enjoyment of some of his new music during a trip to Toronto where he performed at a Soca Junkies event. “The ladies again!” he laughed. “The ladies will always be ready for Shurwayne. I love them for that!”
For more on Shurwayne Winchester, follow him on Instagram @shurwaynewinchester. Subscribe to his Vevo Channel, @shurwaynewinchester.
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Ebuzz News
Stevie Wonder Joins KestheBand On Stage at DC Jazz Fest – A Big Moment for Caribbean Culture.
Internationally loved and embraced Soca band, KesTheBand delivered yet another unforgettable moment for Caribbean music last Saturday, September 5th – this time at the DC Jazz Festival. It was there, in the midst of the enjoyment that a special opportunity presented itself – Kees Dieffentaller would meet the global music icon, Stevie Wonder.
The surprise appearance marked a continuation of a weekend that placed KestheBand and Caribbean music at the center of some of the most significant cultural moments of Labour Day weekend. The set included an uptempo lyrical mashup of “I Just Called To Say I Love You” and “Savannah Grass,” which received thunderous applause from adoring fans.
Crediting his parents in an emotional social media post following their debut at DC Jazz Fest, lead singer, Kees Dieffenthaller shared that the Stevie Wonder hit “was the first record I had on repeat as a child.” The moment was a powerful one as Soca music and a Trinidad and Tobago band that dedicatedly promotes the genre along with their country, came face to face with one of the most influential global artistes in music history.
Just one night earlier, on Friday, September 4th, KesTheBand electrified Soca Fest at Brooklyn museum in New York, where the band was introduced by Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. The appearance brought together Caribbean music, culture and community in one of New York’s most prominent Labor Day weekend celebrations and venues.
Kees went on to serve as an Honorary Grand Marshal of the West Indian Day Parade. The honor was shared with dancehall and reggae superstar, Buju Banton.
Kes the Band with New York City Mayor, Zohran Kwame Mamdani
Ebuzz News
A Band That’s Building Legacy for Culture. Blow Mano Blow Promises Memorable Carnival 2027 with Tribute to The Birdie.
Amid a chorus of consistent calls across the length and breath of the country for more creativity and commitment to cultural preservation in Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago, one band continues to answer the call. Bert and Dianne Marcellin’s ‘Blow Mano Blow’ have once again stepped up to the cultural plate, prepared to remind the world, through mas, of the contributions made by a true stalwart of Trinidad and Tobago’s carnival and culture.
Though born in Grenada, The Mighty Sparrow was raised in Trinidad and Tobago from a young age. His achievements over decades at the forefront of Calypso music, have been plenty. World- over The Mighty Sparrow is known as The Calypso King of the World. Now, ahead of another Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago in 2027, ‘Blow Mano Blow’ – an all-inclusive, Carnival Monday T-Shirt band, is set to revel with five well thought-out sections that were revealed this past Saturday night, in Port-of-Spain. The theme is for 2027 is ‘To Birdie with Love.’
The band launch, hosted at the Garden Theatre of the Queen’s Hall in St. Ann’s, saw band faithfuls and friends gather to view and choose the sections they’d be hitting the streets in, come Monday, February 8th, 2027. A well-produced theatrical showcase unfolded just after 10pm – marking the start of what would be a band launch filled with much humour and excitement. From ‘Happy School Days’ to ‘Congo Man,’ ‘Marajhin,’ ‘Margarita’ and ‘Jean and Dinah,’ the songs that have brought great laughter and joy to Calypso lovers around the world for many years, now becomes tangible expressions for the road in T&T Carnival 2027.
On launch night, Bert Marcellin said he was pleased to continue the work that his father, Mano Marcellin began many years ago. With his father’s dedication at the core of Bert’s determination to keep culture alive, the younger Marcellin paid it forward on Saturday night.
Presenting a young, female musician with a gift from the the band, he shared that his father believed musicians were lovers. “Tonight we are paying tribute to Sparrow but we also need to pass the baton on. My dad used to say, musicians are lovers, not fighters so all the folks who have kids, get them to pick up an instrument and get into music; Do something positive,” said Bert, explaining that music is a recipe for stress relief. The owner of Brass 2 the World, the brass band that accompanies his mas band on the road on Carnival Monday, Bert advocates for creatives in a strong way. “Music is enjoyment, it’s an occupation and it makes people happy,” he said, before presenting Tiquana Joseph with an instrument, courtesy Brass 2 The World. “Tiquana started her music career. She is in the Trinidad and Tobago cadets and she just started her theory. She is reading music and we want to give her a start,” he said before presenting the young lady with her very own trombone.
The band is all-inclusive and presents an alternative option that’s reasonably priced, safe and at its core – an ode to Trinidad and Tobago’s culture. In 2026, Blow Mano Blow will be joined in partnership with Sweet 100FM. The radio station presents Jean and Dinah for the road. Over the years, Blow Mano Blow has paid tribute to several well known and well loved legends, among them, Calypso Rose and Lord Kitchener.
Fun, culturally sound and welcoming to every true fan of Trinidad and Tobago’s Greatest Show on Earth, Bert and Dianne Marcellin’s Blow Mano Blow is expected to once again offer patrons an amazing time on the road on Carnival Monday. Live instrumental accompaniment courtesy Brass 2 The World, with Snakey and Sanelle Dempster, food, drinks and a costume that pays homage – what more could a real culture lover want? On Saturday night, patrons got a taste of what’s to come on the road come 2027. The band delivered powerfully, Sanelle proving that she is still the woman who can command any audience. Also appearing as a guest at the event was Ding Dong who made the crowd feel every bit of excitement for yet another carnival on the way.
The energy of the season of revelry in T&T may be months away, but for die hard carnival lovers, this taste of what’s to come was incentive enough to go secure their costumes with Blow Mano Blow. In the audience, one patron could be heard discussing her choice for the road – “I like Congo Man,” she told her friend excitedly. “That is what we going with eh!”
No matter which section’s chosen, one thing’s for sure, Blow Mano Blow will deliver yet again, with the people in mind, on Carnival Monday next year.
For more information on how you can play with Blow Mano Blow, follow them on Facebook.