Caribbean Buzz
Taking A Stance for The Youth with Righteousness. Queen Omega Is Ready to Fight.
A Queen she is.
The name Queen Omega is well respected globally. A woman of strong conviction, yet humble and unpretentious, she knows the power she wields when she stands in a studio booth behind a microphone. On Saturday, December 9th, she will break all chains and barriers at Skinner Park, in San Fernando when she hosts, ‘Queens Awakening.’ The concert is being touted as one to re-ignite goodness in the hearts of her people at home, in Trinidad and Tobago.
“The Queen’s Awakening is really to bring an awakening to the people. There was a time when conscious music was the music played on radio. I would like to bring this consciousness back to T&T, especially with the crime and violence we are seeing right now,” she told Ebuzztt. She added, “love must be promoted to the people, now more than ever.”
Queen Omega has been a celebrated female reggae artiste around the world, for many years. Her vocal strength and powerful cadence places her in a category of her own. She has toured internationally and shared stages globally with major reggae artistes out of Jamaica, however she laments that even with this level of global appeal and recognition, many of Trinidad and Tobago’s people still think that she is Jamaican. “I’m not known in Trinidad as much as I’m known internationally. People still think that I’m from Jamaica. Many people don’t know that I was born in Trinidad until they listen to my songs so I think this is a good opportunity to let Trinbago know the gem that they have,” she proclaimed.
In 2022, Queen Omega was called on stage by reggae artiste, Luciano, at the Redemption concert in Trinidad. Her star power shone brightly then, and much will be the same when she hits the stage at Queens Awakening on the weekend. “The people can expect, Chantuelle Queen, Kushite, Stephanie Joseph, NISA, Sister Efa, Larva Marva from Jamaica and more, along with two additional artistes, out of Jamaica,” Lutan Fyah and Iba Mahr,” she said. She also guaranteed that fans could expect an hour long performance from her, alongside the Kornerstone Band.
THE MUSIC OF TODAY
With her Spotify streaming numbers certainly proving her musical excellence- the artiste having achieved some 25 million streams and 1.2 million new listeners in 2023, Queen Omega still expressed her personal concern for the musical energy being touted. “Trinidad is like a melting pot of talent and I really appreciate that, but I can see the impact the music has – the New Age music, what we call the TriniBad, which is a break-off of dancehall. I just wish it could be more positive content because we can see that it is really doing something to the minds of the youths,” she highlighted. The artiste who recently achieved SONY Music recognition for a dub plate done, that has since gone viral, said, “music is a weapon.” “Music is a powerful tool. It can be misused. It can be abused. If we use it in the right way, it can bring healing effect and if we use it in the wrong way, definitely it can have some detrimental effects,” she warned.
The San Fernando, Trinidad native continued her expression of concern, lamenting that the youths who are listening to this type of music, are proving this point. “The youths are listening to this type of music and if you watch their behavior right now, they are very vile,” she pointed out. Explaining that artistes often reason with each other on such topics and concerns, she went on to note that at the end of it all, it comes down to individual choice, as artistes. “Somebody can only write according to their personal experiences so for instance, if someone had a hard life, or if they were around violence, they would write about that but then that is where the gift comes in now, where you can still take that negative energy and put it in a positive way.”
Likening artistes to alchemists, Queen Omega reminded her fellow songwriters and entertainers that they have the power to take negative energy and transform it into positive music. “We take a bad thing and make a song out of it and make people dance- and still feel a good vibes about it and this is the power of music,” she said.
A MESSAGE FOR WOMEN
Her travels vast, Queen Omega says coming from Trinidad and Tobago, she is always proud to highlight to her audiences that she is from this little twin island. “The highlight of my travels is always to let people know where I am from – to let them know that Trinidad is a little island but we full of vibes – calypso, soca and of course, reggae, because here I am, Queen Omega. I am the female reggae ambassador of my island.”
Giving tremendous kudos to her fellow female reggae artistes, Queen Omega took the opportunity to remind women of their worth. “I want to tell Trinidad and Tobago’s women, you have to love yourselves. You have to love yourselves so much and set the trend that you all must be beaming love, shining love and anybody and everybody that comes around you will feel that love and give you that respect because love comes with respect, honor, humility and peace. Once you are on that level as a woman, you will be respected, you will respect yourself, you will carry about yourself modestly,” she said. The artiste further explained that the old adage, “women are to be seen and not heard,” simply means that a woman should not have to use her voice to be recognized, because a woman’s mere presence should be enough to command the attention of others. She said this could only be achieved when a woman searches her soul and loves herself.
Excited about what lies in wait, even beyond Saturday’s event, Queen Omega told EBUZZTT that her recent success with the ‘No Love’ dubplate done with Little Lion Sound, is quite exciting. “SONY music has now made the dub plate a song and this is the first time in history that a dub plate is being made a song. Not even a Jamaican artiste has ever achieved that.” The dub plate achieved some 33 million digital views and as a result, SONY has officially placed the song for purchase on all major music platforms. “It’s a blessing. No time ever in the history of reggae or dancehall, was a dub plate made a song,” she said happily. “This will open many, many doors and I am prepared to walk through most, if not all of them,” she assured.
Queens Awakening will start at 2:30pm and end at 9pm on Saturday, December 9th. Tickets are currently on sale at a cost of $200 General Admission and $700 VIP.
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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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