Chat to me! In the bonus episode, we’re back with another feed drop this time from Breadfruit Media family and Style & Vibes executive producer Kerry Ann’s podcast Carry on Friends! This was a particularly educational episode on Race, Ethnicity and Nationality with special guest host Chris Williams of Where Itz At Magazine and Jennifer Tomlinson, professor and interim dean of learning support at Valencia College. They discuss: The true definitions of Race, Ethnicity and Nationality. Intersec...
Aug 23, 2021•51 min
Chat to me! In the bonus episode, I’m collaborating with the Breadfruit Media family, sharing a full episode of Strictly Facts, hosted by Alexandria Miller. You heard a snippet from her in my last episode on Reggae & Spirituality. This episode is focused on the history carnival, fetes and the distinction of Barbados’ Crop Over with PhD candidate in Cultural Studies Shauna Rigaud. I hope you enjoy it. Listen to Strictly Facts: A Guide to Caribbean History & Culture Support the show Style ...
Aug 09, 2021•42 min
Chat to me! Reggae music and spirituality go hand-in-hand. The music has always been a source of storytelling, inspiration and motivation; which contributes to its mass appeal of a global audience. While “Good Vibes Only” is a great hashtag on social media, it’s real foundation is rooted in the admiration of the simplistic, laid back connection Reggae has on the world by the experience people feel listening to Reggae music. In this episode I’m sharing my personal connection to Reggae on a spirit...
Jul 26, 2021•19 min•Season 2021Ep. 82
Chat to me! On Juneteenth actor Michael B. Jordan launched his new rum, J’ouvert. Caribbeans had a field day debating whether or not he should have named his rum J’ouvert with no visible connection to the cultural tradition originating in Trinidad & Tobago, and celebrated across the Caribbean and other countries in lieu of pre-carnival festivities. Some people were calling it cultural appropriation, while others were not bothered by the name nor Michel B. Jordan using it. In this episode I b...
Jul 12, 2021•25 min•Season 2021Ep. 81
Chat to me! We’re continuing our conversation with the e Stush an’ Bush podcast crew, Khadieme and Robert, as we explore the complicated relationship between Dancehall and the LGBTQ+ Community. In the episode we get more specific. Citing lyrics and expressions commonly used in Dancehall, how lyrical content has evolved over the years, lyrics possibly contributing to sexual curiosity and exploration, violent acts particularly impact certain communities and the impact global involvement has had on...
Jun 28, 2021•55 min•Season 2021Ep. 80
Chat to me! In this episode I’m joined by the dynamic duo of the Stush an’ Bush podcast, Khadieme and Robert, as we explore the complicated relationship between Dancehall and the LGBTQ+ Community. This isn’t an episode attacking the genre or they lyrics, it rather and exploration and thought starter on how the music, specifically the reference to #2 being associated with gay male activities has helped maintain social and religious ideologies around being a gay man. We use the lyrics to explore i...
Jun 14, 2021•54 min•Season 2021Ep. 79
Chat to me! Tia is a Lover’s Rock, Reggae, Dancehall artist and singer-songwriter based out of the Virgin Islands. The up and coming singer has a beautiful voice complimented by traditional bassline riddims. Debuting in 2014 with her single ‘Healing’, followed by more singles line ‘Be Without You’, produced by Dean Pond ‘Eyes On Me’, ‘No Love Sweeter’, ‘Regret’ and ‘Come Through’, Tia released her debut EP to the world, titled Black Cocoon . Produced by Troyton Hinds and released on Troyton Musi...
May 31, 2021•35 min•Season 2021Ep. 78
Chat to me! In our continued discussion of Small Axe with Rachel Osbourne of Julie Mango TV , we dive deeply into the Lover’s Rock episode. We discuss the nostalgic influences of our adolescent year witnessing similar events, discuss the Lover’s Rock genre and its growth, important scenes in the series and of course the iconic Janet Kay’s Silly Games . Caribbean Streaming Services to Explore in 2021 Support the show Style & Vibes: Website | Newsletter | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Facebo...
May 17, 2021•40 min•Season 2021Ep. 77
Chat to me! Small Axe is a British anthology film series, created and directed by Steve McQueen. The anthology consists of five films that tell distinct stories about the lives of West Indian immigrants in London from the 1960s to the 1980s. The series premiered at Cannes film, got picked up by BBC and then Amazon. I’m joined by Rachel Osbourne of Julie Mango TV to discuss the anthology series’ as it directly relates to the Caribbean and its diaspora. We explore the name of the series, its focus...
May 03, 2021•57 min•Season 2021Ep. 76
Chat to me! In this episode I highlight a few things happening in the world right now. The La Soufrière volcano eruption on the main island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, DMX passing away on April 9, recap Notorious B.I.G Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell documentary on Netflix, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness vs. the music industry, Jo Mersa Marley virtual listening for his new EP Eternal and Earth Wind & Fire Verzuz The Isley Brothers. Support the show Style & Vibes: Website | ...
Apr 19, 2021•29 min•Season 2021Ep. 75
Chat to me! Kabaka Pyramid is a talented Jamaican lyricist, blending Reggae, Dancehall and Hip-Hop influences to create music that inspires with songs like “Believe”, “Ready” and “Babylon Fallin” he also has. Exploring powerful messages with a rebellious tone with a quality sound that is celebrated by many. Coming off the recent release of his mixtape Immaculate and gearing up for his first riddim product entitled Victory Rock, I spoke with Kabaka about his musical process, how he honed his lyri...
Apr 05, 2021•39 min•Season 2021Ep. 74
Chat to me! Patricia Chin, affectionately known as Miss Pat to just about everyone, is the co-founder of VP Records with her late husband Vincent. VP Records is an independent Caribbean music record label, with music distribution and retail arms of the business. In this episode, Miss Pat shares parts of her musical journey, her impact on the music business, and her making moves in a male-dominated industry. Miss Pat recently released Miss Pat: My Reggae Music Journey a coffee table book filled w...
Mar 22, 2021•43 min•Season 2021Ep. 73
Chat to me! Ronnie Tomlinson is the CEO of Destine Media, a Caribbean artiste public relations and management company. Her successful transition into the entertainment market started in 2008 after the economic crisis. Being laid off from Goldman Sachs solidified her decision to become an entrepreneur and to never be dependent on a corporation for financial stability. She manages the narrative for artistes such as Mavado, Ghetto Youths Intl, Konshens, Shaggy, Kabaka Pyramid, Hood Celebrityy, Tarr...
Mar 08, 2021•55 min•Season 2021Ep. 72
Chat to me! Chino McGregor has a level of consistency in the Reggae and Dancehall space that for some, may go under the radar. Recently releasing a new project, The Process in three parts, Gimmicks Over Lyrics , Gyal Factory and Riddim Ryda Style, respectively; I sat down with Chino and we discussed his journey in music that brought him to The Process; leveraging his access at an early age through his father, Freddie McGregor, developing his skills as a producer, song writer and honing his signa...
Feb 22, 2021•42 min•Season 2021Ep. 72
Chat to me! February is Reggae month in Jamaica, Black History Month in the U.S. and February 6th is the birthday of Bob Marley. His contribution to Reggae music is unmatched and his name rings legendary in any music conversation. While I’ve always understood Bob Marley’s musical legacy, by watching performances and listening to industry heads in documentaries, I’ve never quite experienced his importance through the eyes of fans. In this episode, I invited my mom on the podcast to a candid conve...
Feb 08, 2021•22 min•Season 2021Ep. 70
Chat to me! Domestic violence as it relates to entertainment is nothing new. It exists in entertainment, because it exists in real life. The public gets a bird's-eye view Of the situations and are left to discuss and decide how they feel about the parties involved. Why are we talking about this now might you ask? It was definitely inspired by the allegations of physical, sexual and verbal abuse brought against Majah Hype, a famous Caribbean-American comedian and entertainer, by his now ex-fiance...
Jan 25, 2021•37 min•Season 2021Ep. 69
Chat to me! COVID-19: Vaccine vs. No Vaccine Caribbean music industry organization and collaboration More new music from artists than 2020 Artists developing alternative income streams Increase in Travel to Caribbean and Latin American countries A cautious approach to Festivals/Hybrid events Fashion Loungewear vs. Glamour wear Fashion brands creating more content around their own designs (style, behind the scenes etc.) S&V Werk, Work, Wuk Tee Support the show Style & Vibes: Website | New...
Jan 11, 2021•32 min•Season 2021Ep. 68
Chat to me! 2020 has been an interesting, challenging and emotional year for many. In this episode, I’m discussing the trends that kept us talking and how it impacted us from a personal and industry perspective. The 7 Topics include COVID-19/Corona Virus Black Lives Matter #BLM Elections & Politics Everything going virtual DJs Saving 2020 New Music from Caribbean and African Artists COVID Fashion Trends Listener Survey S&V Werk, Work, Wuk Tee Support the show Style & Vibes: Website |...
Nov 30, 2020•47 min•Season 2020Ep. 67
Chat to me! Holidays in the Caribbean are the best! In this episode, we discuss the festive holiday traditions with Andrew Clarke of Braata Productions. With Andrew’s expertise in sharing Caribbean traditions through performing arts, we not only exchange our favorite holiday traditions, but we talk about how the COVID global pandemic has impacted Braata as an organization, his journey in the performing arts sector, and more. Braata Productions is dedicated to giving Caribbean and Caribbean-Ameri...
Nov 16, 2020•40 min•Season 2020Ep. 66
Chat to me! Earlier this year I made Caribbean cultural predictions for 2020 . There was so much happening in Caribbean music, fashion, travel, especially during COVID-19 that I wanted to revisit my predictions about what happened. 2020 Predictions Culture: More Festivals Travel: Experiences beyond resort life Travel: More Travel to Africa Music: Focus on regional success, versus crossover appeal Music: Return of 90s Dancehall sound S&V Favorites Video Support the show Style & Vibes: Web...
Nov 02, 2020•13 min•Season 2020Ep. 65
Chat to me! Sparked by controversial comments made by social media personality WhiteChocolate758 claiming to, “pave the way for black people” in the Caribbean carnival influencer space, this episode dissects his opinions, but more importantly reflects on how cultural appropriation happens and its impact on the aesthetics of Caribbean culture to the masses. Using this example of the Caribbean Carnival experience we evaluate all the angles and dissect how his sentiments pose a threat to that valua...
Oct 19, 2020•44 min•Season 2020Ep. 64
Chat to me! In this episode we’re on di road with Jamaican reggae singer Tarrus Riley whole recently released his new album Healing which was recorded during COVID. We talked about the experiences that lead to him recording during quarantine and the impact it had on him as a person/artist. He shares how the #LighterChallenge took off, his favorite recipes and find out what I asked him that he’s never been asked before and more. S&V Favorites Video Merch Carnival x Style & Vibes Partnersh...
Oct 05, 2020•24 min•Season 2020Ep. 63
Chat to me! Caribbean Fashion designers are feeling the impact of COVID, especially in the region. An already challenging industry is continuing to be resilient and pivoting with the new trends. In this episode we speak Caribbean Fashion strategist Ain Earle of The Fashion Arch , based in Trinidad & Tobago on how she transitioned to help brands from in-person Pop-up shops to virtual pop-up shops, sharing how designers are getting through the time and being re-inspired by the current challeng...
Sep 21, 2020•49 min•Season 2020Ep. 62
Chat to me! In the past few podcast episodes, we’ve talked a lot about music. I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting on those conversations with artists, DJs and fellow podcasters. We all discuss ways to continue to move Dancehall and Reggae music while preserving its foundation...in a sense. How the music has changed, what are the impacts of those changes and the perception of the business? During COVID alone, we’ve looked at everything from Verzuz to artist releasing music, live performance, COVI...
Sep 07, 2020•23 min•Season 2020Ep. 61
Chat to me! When it comes to musical creativity do current Reggae artists get the same fight as Dancehall artists when it comes to the sounds? Odessa of Reasonings With Odessa Podcast and Shawn ( @ReggaeMusicForever ) of Reggae Talk Podcast join me for a spirited debate on this topic. We give examples of artists and songs, the inspiration for artists, how technology impacted the production and leave you thinking about your own perspective on the topic. Watch this week's video edition of Stylin’ ...
Aug 24, 2020•53 min•Season 2020Ep. 60
Chat to me! While many artists are creating fusion sounds, we’re still trying to figure out what the new sound of Jamaican music is called, Tessellated is just creating music with the foundation of sounds he is inspired by. The twenty-something Jamaican producer and artist has built his music on the foundation of Reggae and Dancehall while adding some Jazz, Hip-Hop, R&B elements. Connecting and collaborating with like-minded artists, Tessellated made major waves with “Pine and Ginger”, drumm...
Aug 10, 2020•44 min•Season 2020Ep. 59
Chat to me! In this episode Jamaican singer/songwriter Sevana speaks to us about the release of her second EP, Be Somebody. Sevana effortlessly flows between her powerful vocals and bold Jamaican patois, blending traditional R&B/soul that influences her sound and the Caribbean’s tropical riddims that raised her. Be Somebody is Sevana’s first major-label debut since signing with RCA Records in partnership with In.Digg.Nation Collective facilitated through the relationship with Six Course Reco...
Aug 03, 2020•23 min
Chat to me! The Reggae Sumfest team did a great job putting together #ATasteofSumfest festival in just a few weeks, while most festivals are being canceled or going virtual for 2020, Sumfest is the only Caribbean festival to keep a presence this year. A Taste of Sumfest had a week-long schedule of digital events including music workshops, panels, re-visited older performances and showcased Jamaican homegrown artists on their own turf giving shorter performances for each artist gave us a great sa...
Jul 27, 2020•26 min•Season 2020Ep. 58
Chat to me! In Style & Vibes podcast ep. 13 I discussed the idea of Cultural Currency , in this episode, I’m revisiting this idea as it’s importance is more relevant than ever. The impact of being quarantined from the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way people access to culture and there are so many conversations happening online about how Caribbean culture and experiences are being revisited. Audio Mack Let’s Talk State of Dancehall Nielsen Mid-Year Report Stylin’ on: Jamaican model Lawre...
Jul 13, 2020•10 min•Season 2020Ep. 57
Chat to me! In this episode we speak with Dancehall artist, Noah Powa. Formerly a selector/DJ we talk about his he transitioned and how the two careers compliment each other. With more and more music being release we talked about how he’s able to stand out, performing while having fun, singles vs. albums vs. EPs and the investment it takes into being an independent artist. Stylin’ on: Cushnie at Target Vibin’ to: Buju Banton’s Upside Down 2020 Album (Listen to full review of the album here ) Sup...
Jun 29, 2020•40 min•Season 2020Ep. 56
