International songwriters complete camp in SVG

Six weeks after staging the first ever song writing camp, Toronto-based music icon, Ivan Berry, and a team of hand-picked song writers from around the world have completed another successful mission here.{{more}}

The team of song writers including Vincentians Kandi Gloucester and long time local music producer, Mark Cyrus, was picked to work on the debut album of 15-year-old Canadian artiste, Veronica, who has just received a record contract with Universal Music.

“We have accomplished something special in the Caribbean,” Berry told members of the media on Wednesday, May 11.

“I always thought it to be a destination where the creative industries can prosper,” he continued adding that the team was here a few weeks ago and that they were able to conduct a successful song writer’s camp.

The country was also handpicked and according to Berry with the signing of Veronica immediately after the team returned to Canada after the first camp a few weeks ago, they had to figure out the best way to ensure that a couple of singles had been released for the summer, plans for future tours and school.

It was then that a decision had been taken to repeat the concept from earlier in the year to have another writer’s camp.

“The bringing together of 12 of the world’s best song writers was the best and quickest way.”

The decision for returning to St.Vincent and the Grenadines Berry explained was based on the atmosphere which

he said would help capture the young singer’s personality.

Invest SVG is the organization behind the staging of the song writer’s camp here and according to Berry projects like this had numerous positive benefits for small island states such at St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“We are not in the sugar industry no more, there are lots of different tourism sectors including education tourism, medical tourism; creative tourism is the next big thing,” Berry explained.

He added that the aim is to create an industry in the region that although a product would be exported, the countries would get something back.

Meanwhile, Gloucester commented on the experience saying that the opportunity to be part of such a project was fulfilling her passion.

“I never thought I would have done it as I have always had a dream of writing and singing – it was just a dream come true,” she said.

Gloucester went back to the first camp which was held a few weeks before saying that she did not know that many songs could have been written in one week.

“It was like magic,” she stated.

Cyrus said that he was overwhelmed that the idea of having a song writing camp had become a reality.

He spoke of the importance of collaborating and the bringing together of lots of talented song writers.

Cyrus also mentioned that he will be staging a local camp with the expected intention that the next time there is an opportunity where big name song writers will be returning to St.Vincent and the Grenadines to work there will be a pool of local song writers to choose from. (DD)