Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine July 2017 | Page 68

This performance led to more ideas to produce a
fusion of music such as kizumba, zouk and reggae.
My new song , “Woman Like We” is a collaboration
with the Impressive Reggae artist “Pressure
Busspipe” who is originally from St. Thomas, USVI.
I thank “McBogle” from St. Croix for making this
collaboration happen, which is a dream come
true for me. Pressure Busspipe is a big example for
me. His “Righteous, Truthful” songs about life and
situations are soothing to listen to. He is multi-
talented, not only singing Roots, Dancehall or
Reggae but also love songs. His song, “ Virgin Island
Nice” is a tribute to his place of birth and a song
which became a cultural icon - it was an honour to
work with him.
About her Introduction to Music
At a very young age, I was exposed to many styles
of music with a mother who loved the music from
Peter Tosh, Bob Marley and the Wailers to Blondie
to Bigi Pokoe (Surinam Music) to the classical
music of Europe and a two-step Merengue - it is no
surprise that I love dancing and music. Joining the
African dancers was the beginning of it all. Having
lived in the Netherlands, South America, Jamaica,
Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Trinidad and a few
other places I love all kinds of music. Having the
privilege to perform, working all over this big ball
called Earth made me who I am today.
I am thankful to “The Most High” for my family,
opportunities, talent and meeting up with the
right people at the right time, to be able to stay
humble and have enough stories to share with my
grandchildren when I sit in my rocking chair with
a group of friends and grandchildren over-looking
the Caribbean Sea. (Probably with a guitar in my
hand singing Bob Marley’s One Love as music is a
language that unites us all together)
About her favourite genre of
music
Depending on whom I am performing with it could
be Reggae, R & B, Zouk, Soca, Kadans, Salsa or a
“Criollo” Local music sound, but all with a touch of
Reggae.
About Aruba being a melting pot
of many styles of music
Aruba is a multicultural Island where music is
influenced by Afro Caribbean, Latin, European,
Caribbean, South America as well as African music.
An example - in December for the Christmas
holidays in Aruba we have our South American
influenced music called “Guiteras” and of course,
the American Christmas music. In the last week
of December, we have the “Dande”, which is a
Caribbean way of caroling, passing by various
houses and establishments to sing about the year’s
highlights. The instrument playing the biggest role
in “Dande” is the accordion.
The moment the year comes to an end and
January 1st arrives, you will start hearing the
sounds of calypso and road march songs from the
previous years, as the Carnival Season will now
have officially started. there will be a few weeks
of festivals “Queen and “Prins & Pancho” elections
as well as children and adult Tumba contests
which is an African-influenced music native to
Aruba and Curacao. To top it off, there’s the Caiso
& Soca Monarch contest which is influenced from
islands such as Trinidad, St. Kitts, St. Vincent, British
Islands as well as St,Maarten. This guides us into
the street parades where months of preparation
is showcased in costumes and music. It is a street
parade not easily forgotten - the combination of
music and the dancing mass of participants, with
their feathers and spectacular outfits is one that is
unforgettable.