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Free
from Bondage, Writers Flex Creative Muscle
Leading
the charge is none other than veteran performers
and stalwarts - steelband music song writers
like Crazy, The Original DeFosto Himself,
Designer, Destra, “Smooth,” Goddard and many others.
They all understand
that the delivery system by which one reaches
the masses with their music has changed
dramatically, with the
accessibilities of emerging
internet
and web
technologies. Moreover, one has got to meet
the masses where they are - or become irrelevant
and cease to exist.
An
unprecedented number of artists, writers and
practitioners of the steelband music genre has
come forth with
new music creations for the 2010
panorama season. The vast majority has
taken full advantage of the opportunities the When Steel Talks (WST)
steelpan music network affords them. One of
the main advantages the WST network provides is
immediate access to an extremely large,
supportive, and - very important - eager global audience, that is, for the
most part, technology savvy. Furthermore,
the WST network interfaces seamlessly with other
existing and developing technologies like
WST-Ning
RSS,
Facebook,
YouTube and
Twitter just to name
a few.
2010 -
Choices, Choices and More Choices
There
is a large number of musical choices for 2010 -
covering a wide range of subjects and musical
themes. From Gia’s melodic ‘Pan
Revolution’ stating the position and
contributions of women in pan globally, to Mark
Robert’s socially troubling and haunting ‘PowPow, DoiDoi
(Bad Boy), with which too many
communities can identify globally. ‘Two Sticks in Meh Hand’ by Percil Nock-Boyce
and ‘Large’ by Leon “Smooth” Edwards call for
self-examination of some of the questionable practices
in the steelpan artform by its community. Again, Crazy the
‘loveable lunatic’ of pan music and veteran writer
The Original DeFosto Himself have provided the field with a host of
gems - from ‘Pan On Fire’ to ‘When Steel Talks.’
Composer Miguel Reyes
returns with a flurry of great tunes. And of course there are newcomers to the field
like the young talented pair André White and Kadeem “Rasta Grammy” Alleyne with their 2010
offering ‘Wild and Free.’
Blockade Over
Once
again the voices of steel have the platform to
be a news source,
expound on culture, and entertain - all in a fashion and
format where they can actually be heard. Again they
are calling a ‘spade a spade’ and letting the
chips fall where they may. After years of
being treated as carnival’s stepchild and being
“dissed”
by moronic radio program directors and DJs -
particularly in Trinidad and Tobago but
definitely not limited to - the song writers have now gone
global in outreach through the power of the
internet. Without the restrictions of
time, reach and bad taste by radio program decision makers, tone-deaf media owners and rhythm-less,
ruthless wannabe social butterfly scoundrels -
these artists can, and are now, reaching massive
growing receptive audiences while avoiding the
usual frustrations and blockades set by
those who partake in the promotion of musical
nonsense, and the deliberate ‘dumbing’ down of
unknowing audiences.
From
Lord Kitchener to Ralph Macdonald, calypso music
and its derivatives have always called upon the
higher intellect of the listener. At the same,
the artform summons instinctual human
responses, while invoking and provoking vivid scenery, imagery, raw emotions and
even haughty laughter - all
through storytelling.
New
Global Marketing Strategies - World Audiences
Often feeling left out,
underappreciated and helpless - steelband music
writers are back “online” in a big way.
Technology again becomes the great equalizer.
No longer muzzled creatively and intellectually
by short sightedness and mental music midgets
who have no business in music and culture
- look for the genre, musical content and
popularity to continue to increase.
Here they come
- Cyber steelband music song writers and
composers in the house...
With the floodgates now open, and the gauntlet
thrown down, the challenge is on for
excellence in ‘steelpan’ songs, as only
the best rise to the top. One can just
imagine what composers/writers from all over the
world will now bring to the table of musical
offerings, for the possible consumption of steel
orchestras worldwide.
Click for list of 2010 tunes
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