Local song writers, Trinidad producer stage camp

A number of persons are anxiously awaiting the outcome of a Soca writing camp, a collaboration between four music studios here, local musicians and Trinidadian producer Kernal ‘Kitch’ Roberts.

The music writing camp, which ended on Friday, March 20, began on Monday, March 16 and was the idea of owner of MasterRoom Studios and Productions Mark Cyrus.{{more}}

The collaboration was between MasterRoom Studios and Productions, Island Network Inc’s Heric Horne, 4th Dimension Studio’s Lester Iroha and Non-Fiction Studio’s Alex Barnwell. The camp was staged at the Buccama Bay Resort.

Horne said that the camp, which was sponsored by LIME and Coreas Hazells Inc, concentrated on the writing of Soca music in an attempt to improve local music and make it more exportable and marketable.

“We decided to have them come together and write, four studios in separate rooms,” said Horne, who revealed that the writers and producers are expected to go into the rooms blank, with no pre-made beats, and write songs which would be recorded at the end of each day.

Taking part in the camp were producer Kernal Roberts (Trinidad), Vincentians Gamal ‘Skinny Fabulous’ Doyle, Shaniah Webb, Joel Jack, Lancelot ‘Mad Skull’ Gloster, Kevin ‘Stadic’ Charles, Rondy ‘Luta’ McIntosh, Shaunelle McKenzie, Lester Iroha (4th Dimension), Hans ‘Man Hans’ John, Alex Barnwell (Non-Fiction), Keido Foster, Keith Currency and Delroy ‘Fireman’ Hooper.

Barnwell of Non-Fiction Studios described the initiative as “a symbol of where we need to be.” He said that it is good when persons can let go everything and collaborate.

“We can maintain competitiveness, while working to improve the brand and build the culture and the Vincy Mas brand,” said Barnwell.

Cyrus noted that the entities involved are trying to improve the product of Vincy music through collaborative efforts.

He added that they had hoped to have 20 songs by Friday, March 20, with the idea of having them ready for Carnival 2015 and also export to other carnivals.

LIME’s senior marketing and corporate communications executive Nikala Williams noted that LIME was excited to see what comes out of the camp, while Charles said that he was glad that the group could come together, “as a unit and move as one as together we can move forward.”

Roberts is known for his affiliation with the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Road March wins in 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2011 is currently the creative director at Rama Studios, which operates out of ‘Rainorama’, the home of Calypsonian Lord Kitchener , who was Roberts’ father.

He stressed that he was glad to be able to share his expertise and he is eager to work with the local writers and producers, with the hope of getting the music to a pristine level.