Starlift does the double in 2023 Panorama

The run-up to the big carnival weekend was a kaleidoscope of melody and colour with the staging of Steel and Glitter at the Victoria Park on Thursday, July 6.

The Pan Segment of the show was dominated by repeat winners, Starlift Steel Orchestra, allowing them to walk home with both the 2023 Junior and Senior Panorama titles.

Songs by Winston Soso appeared to be a popular choice for arrangers in this year’s competition with the top three bands performing the late veteran’s calypso hits.

Musical Director for Starlift, Kingsley ‘Hero’’ Roberts spoke to SEARCHLIGHT about the band’s quest to being pan champs with ‘How Some Men Love Dey Woman’.

“We made several attempts to do a Winston Soso song … I always looking forward to doing pieces from him because his melodic lines and his song just have that touch for pan. This is the first time, but it will not be the last time.”

Sixty seven performers packed the stage at Victoria Park led by arranger, Dante Pantin. The Trinidadian musician is well familiar with operating under the title Starlift as he also functions as the Musical Director and Arranger for Proman Starlift Steel Orchestra in the twin-island republic.

Roberts said the decision was made to make use of the provision in the competition’s rules that allows bands to use up to 20 percent of non-nationals for arrangers and players.

Pantin, who has worked with local steel orchestras from as far back as 2015, admitted to SEARCHLIGHT that he was initially hesitant about the song selection.

“When the captain called me about the song back in May, I was a bit hesitant. I love the song, … it is really a good put-together tune, but I just did not know the popularity status. I listened to the song about 100 times in Trinidad before I even started to write a note. I wanted to make sure and get inside of it.”

Describing his relationship with music as a “soulful and natural thing”, Pantin said he allows the music to guide him, revealing that the introduction for the arrangement came to him while he was preparing to travel to SVG, just two days before the competition.

Thursday night was a whirlwind of emotions for arranger and band members as the group was scheduled to perform in the final slot. From the first notes, Pantin set the pace for the high-energy performance and he told SEARCHLIGHT his Trinidadian musical roots influenced the band’s delivery.

“We Trinis tend to have a kind of aggressiveness in our music. As much as I try not to bring the aggression over there, the players interpreted the music in that way.”

Pantin said that shortly after Starlift’s performance got underway, his musician instincts told him that the win was secure.

Roberts echoed similar sentiments to the arranger, noting that Starlift places much attention and focus on musicianship when preparing for competition.

“The edge that we have over other bands is that our players are well trained.”

Robert said despite the curtain coming down on Vincy Mas 2023, “the pan yard is still there”. Both the director and the arranger urged Vincentians to choose pan as an avenue to feel the joy of music and put their energy into a positive activity.